Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Trades to Replace Jake Muzzin

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that defenseman, Jake Muzzin, will be on injured reserve until at least March. He will be re-evaluated in February to see if he will play any more games this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will miss Jake Muzzin, but as compensation they will get his out of having his contract count towards the salary cap.

The 33 year-old Muzzin is out with a cervical spine injury. It’s a serious injury that threatens his hockey career as well as his quality of life in the future beyond hockey.

Leafs General Manager, Kyle Dubas, has said that in the short term, Jake Muzzin will be replaced on the ice internally. He mentioned that Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin will both continue to see increased ice-time.

However, if Muzzin’s re-evaluation in February determines that he will not return this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are sure to be active in finding a replacement by the NHL Trade Deadline on March 3rd.

Jake Muzzin’s current cap hit is $5.625 million. The Leafs will have enough space to bring in an exceptional player at the deadline without expecting their suitor to retain much salary if Muzzin must sit out. (player salaries from capfriendly.com)

When healthy, Muzzin brings a lot to the Toronto Maple Leafs blueline. He’s a great two-way player with size. He hits, blocks shots, and kills penalties, and he’s underrated offensively as well.

Here are 3 defensemen who could be on the trading block at this year’s trade deadline that could help fill the gap left by Jake Muzzin:

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 20: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars . (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

John Klingberg – Anaheim Ducks

John Klingberg is a very different defenseman than Jake Muzzin, but he may be the best defenseman available at the NHL Trade Deadline.

He’s a big defenseman like Muzzin, but other than that they’re quite opposite.

Klingberg is an offensive defenseman who doesn’t hit much or block many shots. He’s a powerplay specialist who doesn’t see much time on the penalty kill.

Klingberg is also a right-handed shot, so he would likely slot in beside Morgan Reilly on a high offense top pairing.

T.J. Brodie would likely take Muzzin’s spot on a shutdown pairing with Justin Holl.

The Anaheim Ducks are currently in the basement of the NHL standings and are likely going to miss the playoffs. Klingberg signed with them for just one season at $7 million and will be looking for term next summer, so he will likely be on the move at the deadline.

I’m not sure if John Klingberg is the type of defenseman the Leafs really need for the playoffs. There are some cheaper and more appropriate options out there but adding another skilled offensive player wouldn’t hurt.

Klingberg has been connected to the Leafs in trade rumours before.

ST PAUL, MN – MARCH 13: Matt Dumba #24 of the Minnesota Wild looks on against the Nashville Predators in the first period of the game at Xcel Energy Center on March 13, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Predators defeated the Wild 6-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Matt Dumba – Minnesota Wild

Matt Dumba plays a similar style to Jake Muzzin. He’s a great two-way player with a physical presence.

At 6’0, he’s a little smaller than 6’3 Muzzin, but he plays a big game.

Dumba is also right-handed, so he could back up Reilly on the top pairing or form a shutdown pairing with Brodie to move Holl to the third pairing.

Dumba currently makes $6 million AAV which is similar to Muzzin’s $5.625 million, and the Leafs should afford to resign him if Muzzin isn’t going to return.

He’s 28 years old and could be one of the younger rental players available.

Minnesota is sitting on the outside edge of the playoff picture so far in this young season, so his availability will depend a lot on the team’s performance.

Dumba has played in Minnesota for his entire 10-year career so far, so he may want to sign an extension before the deadline as well.

Dec 16, 2021; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets defensemen Vladislav Gavrikov Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

Vladislav Gavrikov – Columbus Blue Jackets

Vladislav Gavrikov may be the best bet for the Toronto Maple Leafs to replace Jake Muzzin through a trade.

He’s another great two-way defenseman who hits, blocks shots, kills penalties and can chip in offensively.

e’s the same size as Muzzin and is also left-handed, so he’d fit right into Muzzin’s roster slot perfectly.

Gavrikov seems like a bit of an under-the-radar player and isn’t as popular as Klingberg or Dumba, which could work to the Leafs advantage. The asking price for Gavrikov should be a bit cheaper.

His AAV is a bit cheaper too at only $2.8 million. If the Leafs re-signed him, he should get a bit of a raise, but he should still be cheaper than Muzzin.

He’ll be 28 years old at the trade deadline, so he still has some hockey left to play. This is his fourth NHL season since leaving the KHL, and I don’t know how loyal he or his agent will be to the bottom-feeding Blue Jackets during contract negotiations.

Next. WJC Predictions for Leafs Prospects. dark

There are many other options for the Toronto Maple Leafs if Jake Muzzin doesn’t return. Perhaps Liljegren, Sandin and Jordie Benn will play well enough that the Leafs will decide to upgrade with a forward instead. I hear Patrick Kane may be available.

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