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Toronto Maple Leafs: Big Expectations for Jake Muzzin’s First Game

By James Tanner

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 5: Jake Muzzin #6 of the Los Angeles Kings takes a slapshot during the third period of the game against the Edmonton Oilers at STAPLES Center on January 5, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 5: Jake Muzzin #6 of the Los Angeles Kings takes a slapshot during the third period of the game against the Edmonton Oilers at STAPLES Center on January 5, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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With the acquisition of Jake Muzzin earlier this week in exchange for a first round pick and two middling prospects, the Toronto Maple Leafs have set expectations sky high.

Muzzin gives the Toronto Maple Leafs something approximating the best first pairing of blue-liners in the NHL, and it gives them something approximating the best roster in the NHL.

Add in the fact that they haven’t played for over a week and that their first game back is against the NHL’s worst team – at least on paper, if not the standings – and you’ve got a recipe for high expectations.

Frankly, the Leafs should crush the Detroit Red Wings.

Leafs vs Red Wings

So far this year, the Leafs and Red Wings have played three times.  The Leafs have the only regulation win, and the two teams have split a pair of overtime decisions.

That’s not really a good look for the Leafs, as one of the most important aspects of being a first place team is beating the sad sack teams.  The Leafs have held their own, for the most part, against other teams contending for a Cup, but it’s bad efforts against the dud teams – the Islanders, Red Wings, Wild and Panthers that is the reason Tampa is so far ahead of them.

The Leafs practiced yesterday for the first time since the trade and all indications are that Rielly and Muzzin will partner together, but contrary to expectations, Muzzin will play the left side.

This is most likely just because he’s learning a new system, so also learning a new position is a lot all at once.  I would still expect Muzzin on the right eventually, as Morgan Rielly is known to prefer the left side, and also, why mess with a good thing?

Morgan Rielly is the NHL’s best defenseman so far this year and a leading candidate to win the Norris.  That despite having the worst partner imaginable.

In other news, Mike Babock is being Mike Babcock and putting the veteran player ahead of all statistics and common sense.  He has decided to sit the effective (and right handed) Igor Ozhiganov for the slow and ineffective Ron Hainsey.

Just because everyone knew this would happen doesn’t make it the right move.

Quality of Competition is not enough to explain away how bad Ron Hainsey has played.  It can’t explain away the fact that everyone who has played 100 minutes with Ozhiganov improves while the exact opposite is true for Hainsey.

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It can’t change the fact that Ozhiganov brings a needed physical element that Hainsey does not, or that Ozhiganov is right handed and playing Hainsey means just one right handed defenseman is dressed.

Finally, Dermott and Ozhiganov have been so great as the third pairing, it’s really a shame to mess with it.

Here’s hoping common sense prevails.

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