Toronto Maple Leafs: Rumored Jake Muzzin Deal Is a Nightmare

The Toronto Maple Leafs are close to extending Jake Muzzin.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are close to making their biggest move right before the trade deadline with extending defenceman Jake Muzzin, according to TSN’s Darren Dragger.

Ever since it was reported Muzzin wanted to stay in Toronto, it’s the first substantial look on what his extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs might look like.

As reported, the contract will be in the range of 4 years with a total worth of $22,- million dollars, $5.500.000 annually, instantly making Muzzin the highest-paid defenceman on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs should try to keep Muzzin in Toronto, is he worth the $5.5 million per year for the next four years to come?

The short answer to that question is no, absolutely not.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Jake Muzzin

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Muzzin at the trade deadline last year, sending prospects Carl Grundstrom and  Sean Durzito the Los Angeles Kings along with the Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

So why would that be a bad contract, you ask?

Easily put, considering Muzzin’s age, he’s past his prime. His play on the ice and role on the team will justify his salary for the first 2 years of his contract, but after?

Rasmus Sandin will be a top-four defenceman, forcing Muzzin to the third defensive pairing eventually, that’s evident. Are the Toronto Maple Leafs willing to pay Muzzin, turning  33 in the third year of his contract $5.5 million for two more years while having a third-pairing role?

The term on his contract would mean Dubas will likely have to move him to a low seeded team during his final contract year to shed salary. A deal that always needs to be sweetened by either prospects or picks.

If Dubas should take anything as a learning point from the Cody Ceci contract, it’s that you don’t want a heavy contract on your third-pairing, period.

That doesn’t, however, mean Muzzin shouldn’t be resigned.

Contract Value

His physical presence and ability to shut down plays on the ice makes him a valuable asset, regardless of which pairing he plays, especially when it comes to killing penalties.

Defencemen of his caliber and experience don’t come along often, so there’s an absolute urgency to keep him Toronto, just not against every price.

If anything, Dubas needs to try and sign Muzzin against a deal closer to $4,- million dollars annually, a value that with the increasing salary cap would be worth every penny.

If signed for four years against $5.5 million annually, Toronto will have a nightmare of a contract that will cost them to rid off in the end.