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Forums/Armchair-GM

Retrospective Was the Muzzin Deal Worth It

Created by: MG1986
Team: 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs
Initial Creation Date: May 24, 2019
Published: May 24, 2019
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
Short answers....No.

Longer answers.....ABSOLUTELY NOT, but I will to objectively as possible provide an analysis.

The roster you see below illustrates what a Leafs team would look like minus Muzzin. As you can see, there would still be defensive holes left to fill (even more so with Muzzin not there) and a salary cap issue to deal with in the event the Leafs are successful at resigning Marner, Kapanen and Johnsson.

On the flip side, the Leafs would have Carl Gundstrom, who had a brilliant NHL audition with LA at the end of the season. He could have been to the Matthews line what Hyman is to the Tavares line.

Additionally, Durzi, a right hander with speed and skill, has played extremely well all season long, which has continued into the playoffs for a OHL winning Guelph team and is now leading all scorers at the Memorial Cup. I am not going to say he would be ready for the NHL next season, but he can't be far off. On a rebuilding LA team, I think he makes their roster opening night.

Finally, the 22nd overall pick in 2019. I project that had the Leafs had this pick, they would have selected Brett Leason. His size, shot and age gives him an inside track to the NHL even if his speed projects more of a top-9, then a top-6.

Here's the bottom line. Even with the Muzzin trade erased, there would still be issues the Leafs would need to deal with this offseason. With only 1 year left on Muzzin's current deal, and this entire roster getting more expensive, plus hindsight knowledge that the Leafs, once again, lost in round 1 of these playoffs, I say the deal was not worth it.

What are your thoughts?
Free Agent Signings
RFAYEARSCAP HIT
4$3,250,000
4$3,250,000
6$9,500,000
Trades
TOR
  1. Durzi, Sean
  2. Grundström, Carl
  3. 2019 1st round pick (TOR)
Retained Salary Transactions
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2019
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the STL
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the DAL
2020
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the EDM
Logo of the SJS
2021
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
21$83,000,000$77,178,866$0$0$5,821,134
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$3,250,000$3,250,000
LW, RW
UFA - 4
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,634,000$11,634,000
C
UFA - 5
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$3,250,000$3,250,000
RW
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,250,000$2,250,000
RW, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,000,000$11,000,000
C, LW
NMC
UFA - 6
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$9,500,000$9,500,000
RW
UFA - 6
Logo of the Los Angeles Kings
$925,000$925,000
LW, RW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$4,500,000$4,500,000
C
M-NTC
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$6,962,366$6,962,366
RW
UFA - 5
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$700,000$700,000
LW, C
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$675,000$675,000
C
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$775,000$775,000
LW, RW
UFA - 2
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$5,000,000$5,000,000
LD
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$4,500,000$4,500,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 5
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$5,000,000$5,000,000
G
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$863,333$863,333
LD/RD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$750,000$750,000
G
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$894,167$894,167
LD
UFA - 3
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$775,000$775,000
C, LW, RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$5,300,000$5,300,000
RW
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$675,000$675,000
RD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,100,000$2,100,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1

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May 24, 2019 at 4:43 p.m.
#1
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Leafs should have tried to make an offer for Spurgeon IMO. Not sure if Fenton would take it, but something like Kapanen + 2019 TOR 1st + maybe a smaller piece like a Durzi.
May 24, 2019 at 4:44 p.m.
#2
Just Keep Swimming
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I did not read anything past the no bit.

You're just wrong lol. Muzzin has made zaitsev a top 4 dman and frees up Rielly to run rampant. Muzz brings that physical edge and the composure we needed on the back end, and now that the core will be very young, we need that (especially the cup experience).

Tldr Muzzin (who is everything we ever wanted gards to be) for a late 1st (basically worth a 2nd), a bottom 6 forward we have 3 of and what MAY become a 2nd pair OFRHD that we had 2 of

Was totally worth it
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May 24, 2019 at 4:45 p.m.
#3
Just Keep Swimming
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Quoting: TanSor
Leafs should have tried to make an offer for Spurgeon IMO. Not sure if Fenton would take it, but something like Kapanen + 2019 TOR 1st + maybe a smaller piece like a Durzi.


Assuming your gm isn't an idiot (big if) I would say a Kappy for Spurgeon deal (that is just the base trade not the whole deal lol) is very possible
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May 24, 2019 at 4:45 p.m.
#4
Habs for 25
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Quoting: Random2152
I did not read anything past the no bit.

You're just wrong lol. Muzzin has made zaitsev a top 4 dman and frees up Rielly to run rampant. Muzz brings that physical edge and the composure we needed on the back end, and now that the core will be very young, we need that (especially the cup experience).

Tldr Muzzin (who is everything we ever wanted gards to be) for a late 1st (basically worth a 2nd), a bottom 6 forward we have 3 of and what MAY become a 2nd pair OFRHD

Was totally worth it


the 1st round exit was worth it?
May 24, 2019 at 4:46 p.m.
#5
GM Hockeysaurus Rex
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IMO it was worth it. Durzi is great prospect but he is on same level as Hollowell. Grundstrom would be bottom six winger on Leafs. Not really getting much ice time and Mason Marchment looks like similar player with different stature. That 1st would be as worthy as next years second round pick due to the depth of draft.
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May 24, 2019 at 4:47 p.m.
#6
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Quoting: Random2152
Assuming your gm isn't an idiot (big if) I wouldn't say a Kappy for Spurgeon deal (that is just the base trade not the whole deal lol) is very possible


Why not? Is it because Kapanen isn't available? Spurgeon is a legit #1, he's our best defenseman and even our best player IMO. He'd be a massive upgrade for Toronto.

Fenton has certainly made some questionable moves, but I don't think it's all bad. The Boston trade seems to be working out well for both sides, Fiala is our most skilled forward and Granlund didn't look too impressive in Nashville. I'd say the only trade he has blown was the Rask deal, which does look pretty atrocious.
May 24, 2019 at 4:48 p.m.
#7
Just Keep Swimming
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Quoting: BrandonMcD11
the 1st round exit was worth it?


He is still a leaf this year.
Also, I don't know if you were watching, but the leafs very nearly beat the B's (as in they choked) and would have gone very deep had the playoff system not put two of the best teams against each other in the 1st round.

In this system, there is no "lost in first round lol" when that series was basically the ECF
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May 24, 2019 at 4:48 p.m.
#8
Just Keep Swimming
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Quoting: TanSor
Why not? Is it because Kapanen isn't available? Spurgeon is a legit #1, he's our best defenseman and even our best player IMO. He'd be a massive upgrade for Toronto.

Fenton has certainly made some questionable moves, but I don't think it's all bad. The Boston trade seems to be working out well for both sides, Fiala is our most skilled forward and Granlund didn't look too impressive in Nashville. I'd say the only trade he has blown was the Rask deal, which does look pretty atrocious.


Typo, should say would lol
I think it COULD happen
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May 24, 2019 at 4:52 p.m.
#9
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Quoting: Random2152
Typo, should say would lol
I think it COULD happen


Gotcha, yeah a deal like that makes a lot of sense to me. One very interesting piece that I heard on a podcast with our beat writer was that Spurgeon is watching what Fenton does this offseason very closely. If he sees move that suggest more of a rebuild direction, our beat writer thinks he will want out of MN. Fenton wants to keep him so I'm wondering if trying to trade for Kessel was a way to please Spurgeon as well as our owner who wants to win now. Toronto fans should be very happy if Kessel decides not to waive his NMC since that could persuade Spurgeon to want out. Toronto and Tampa are the two best fits for Spurgeon IMO, but Tampa doesn't really have pieces we'd need for him.
May 24, 2019 at 4:55 p.m.
#10
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This is like asking for Columbus buying Duchene, Dzingle and keeping Bobrovsky and Panarin at the deadline was worth it. Yes, they bowed out in the second round, but it was in 7 games to the eventual ECC and a good possibility to the the Stanley Cup champs, but they pushed Boston to their breaking point and was Boston’s hardest series. Yes, I’d be disappointed that they lost, but would the end result be any different if Muzzins wasn’t there? I’d have to say yes, they could have easily lost in 5 or 6 to Boston as they’d have no one to stand up toe to toe with Boston’s heavy forecheck.
May 24, 2019 at 4:57 p.m.
#11
GM Hockeysaurus Rex
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Quoting: BrandonMcD11
the 1st round exit was worth it?


At least make the playoffs then say **** like that lol
May 24, 2019 at 4:58 p.m.
#12
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Quoting: BrandonMcD11
the 1st round exit was worth it?


1st round exit had nothing to do with Muzzin, with out Muzz would have been 4/5 game series not a 7
May 24, 2019 at 5:11 p.m.
#13
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I agree, they paid too much for Muzzin
May 24, 2019 at 5:28 p.m.
#14
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Yeah, I dunno. I love Muzzin, and he is everything we need, except that he's left handed..

Something doesn't seem to add up with the Muzzin trade. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't that trade happen as soon as Dubas got Matthews #? So, we have our cap taking shape with AM in place and then the leafs add another 4M right away. Why?

Part of me thinks that Muzzin was meant to be add for this year and a push, as well as become Gards replacement at his existing cap hit. I don't think the leafs ever thought they could afford to keep Gards once he goes UFA. This part makes sense to me..

But I am confused with the trade given the reasons you laid out in the description on how Muzzin further complicates this coming offseason at a time when we knew this would be a tough year cap wise... so, what's the plan?

I used to think maybe Marleau gave a hint that this would be his last year, and if true then Marleau out and Brown traded for a pick makes the cap fit like a glove. But Marleau retiring doesn't seem likely given recent reports. So, what's the plan?
May 24, 2019 at 7:36 p.m.
#15
Lets Make a Deal
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Muzzin is exactly what the Leafs needed for the next couple of years. Solid and experienced defense in the top 4. Their window to succeed in the playoffs does not last forever - and the 2019 first rounder and Durzi would at best make a difference at the NHL level in 2-3 years from now. Toronto has a serious flaw on defensive side of the puck, and whether you love him or hate him, Gardiner walking away as UFA this summer does not help that.

Could Durzi have been be a solid top 4 by 2022 or 2023 season ? Maybe so but that's too long to wait when the Leafs have already entered their window for success. A guy with Muzzin's ability and experience is worth paying a little extra for to help a young team get over the hump.

With a couple of bounces in their direction (or even a 3 game suspension for Kadri instead of 5) the Leafs could easily have had a long run this year and potentially be in the final right now. They need to bring in the pieces to bring success in the next 2-4 years, rather than hoping 18-19 years olds drafted late in the first round or deeper will magically make the jump and be impact players in the NHL before they turn 20. That's a very rare accomplishment for any player drafted outside the top 10.
 
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