Quoting: LGBstl
Fair points I just think Pesce is much better than Muzzin value wise, Muzzin isnt getting better Pesce will.
He MAY get better, as defenseman do sometimes peak later than forwards, but at 24, he is likely close to or at his peak. I would love to have a player like Pesce on the Leafs, in a lot of way, I think he is what the team needs. He is the 2019 version of a "shutdown" defenseman or defensive defenseman. Instead of the slow, lumbering but terrifying and demolishing hitters of yesteryear, with the increasing speed the defensive defenseman of today who are most effective are strong positional defenseman, with good defensive IQ, strong stick work, often still intimidating hitters and, this is the key, good skaters. I think he has a lot of that and could comfortably slow into one of our top two pairs. However, his value will always be limited, as he'll never be a true top defenseman as he doesn't have enough offense in his game. While a defensive defenseman is a very useful piece, top defenseman are good at one of offense and defense and dominant at the other (the rare Doughty/Hedman's of the world are dominant on both ends). Pesce looks like he will always be somewhat limited on one side of the puck. This holds back his value.
Looking at his whole career (
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/121869/brett-pesce) he has not shown much offensive potential besides one year in whatever the AYHLU is (appears to be some sort of New Jersey under 16 year old league) back at 15 years old. Even in the NCAA, he never had more than half a point per game, and frankly most defenseman who make the NHL out of the NCAA, are used in all situations because they are so much better then the rest, and rack up some PP time.
If a guy wants to be a true top defenseman he needs to be able to consistently get 30 points, and crack 40 points occasionally, while being dominant offensively, or crack 60 points while being dominant defensively.
Muzzin, has the minute eating that Pesce has. Muzzin has cup pedigree. Muzzin has, at least to my eyes, much of the same defensive ability, skating, net clearing, and zone clearing, but he brings an above average (though not incredible) offensive game. Even if Pesce is better defensively (and he certainly has the RD that we needs), he is worse offensively and thus a similar value.