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A Full Season of Jake Muzzin Will Make Big Difference for Toronto Maple Leafs

By Nick Barden

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 6: Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks to Morgan Rielly #44 at an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators during the third period at the Scotiabank Arena on February 6, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 6: Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks to Morgan Rielly #44 at an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators during the third period at the Scotiabank Arena on February 6, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Jake Muzzin just weeks before the trade deadline.

While his first couple weeks with the Toronto Maple Leafs were just okay, he’s ready to start this season off with a bang.

Last season, Muzzin finished with 37 points in 80 games between the Leafs and L.A. Kings. That ranked him 36th for points as a defenseman in the NHL. And, even got him 11th place in Norris voting (I bet you didn’t know that). But, this year is going to be a little different for the Leafs d-man.

Muzzin was paired with Nikita Zaitsev for most of last season, and still managed to put up decent numbers. Now, fast-forward to this year, Muzzin is going to be paired with one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL, Tyson Barrie.

This is going to be a huge year for Muzzin. While many might not know this, Muzzin and Barrie were paired together on Canada’s 2015 World Championship team.

Canada won the gold medal, and the numbers that Barrie and Muzzin put up while playing together are special.

Muzzin had nine assists in ten games and Barrie had five assists and one goal in that same span. Also, I have to throw this in there; one of the Leafs newest additions, Jason Spezza, led Team Canada in with 14 points (six goals, eight assists). While it may not be NHL talent that they faced, it’s still pretty decent numbers.

But Will This Be Enough?

Well, Muzzin has already won one, so he knows what it takes. Barrie has gotten close, he got to the second round last season versus the San Jose Sharks, who eliminated the Colorado Avalanche in game seven.

As I’ve said many times before, this Leafs team knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup, the players know what it takes, and so does Mike Babcock (if he’s changed). I think this defense core, with some subtle changes, can be one of the best in the NHL.

But, if Muzzin has a career year and Barrie has a career year, this second pairing could be very scary. By the time December rolls around, they could even be the top pairing. By then, they may not even be paired together anymore, but we won’t talk about that unless it happens.

As of right now, it looks very likely that they will be paired together. And, I can’t believe I’m saying this before training camp, but this is the best the defense has looked in a long, long time. And for the people who don’t like Cody Ceci, he might be gone soon if they sign Jake Gardiner, which is what James Tanner thinks.

Next. How the Leafs Game the System. dark

If that was to ever happen, I would be comfortable saying everyday that this team is going to win the Stanley Cup. But right now, with Ceci here – who may actually be good (remember we haven’t seen him play yet). Even with Ceci, this defense is looking it’s best it has in a very long time.

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