Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 Defenseman, Goalie, Management Grades

Again, once you start thinking of the dirt cheap price the Leafs paid to get Jake Muzzin, and how cheap his contract is, and how, if he hadn’t been injured two playoff series in a row, the Toronto Maple Leafs almost certainly would have advanced both times, it’s hard to believe  how much heat Kyle Dubas is taking.

“Hey I will intentionally ignore how you made one of the best trades and subsequent signings in the last decade of NHL Hockey and complain about how you signed two of the best players in the world to contracts that keep in them in Toronto for their entire primes.” 

Sound like anyone you know? Jeez!

Muzzin is an elite defender who also makes Justin Holl into an elite defender.  He’s like two stars for the price of one. (Seriously, Muzzin alone, based on last year’s stats, is worth at least what the Leafs pay him and Holl combined).

5v5 offense? 90th percentile.

5v5 defense? 85th percentile.

Overall (includes special teams)? 93rd percentile.

Oh and he not only plays some of the toughest competition in the NHL, but he does it with Justin Holl (Holl is fine, but he’s not on this level).

Muzzin is a beast, and he’s dirt cheap for what he brings.  If he can stay healthy for an entire playoff series, the Leafs will stop losing them.