Leafs Acquire Jake Muzzin

[herman]

Is there advanced stats on the results of hitting in the game?

I haven't really seen any, other than by definition having lots of hits as an indicator of not having the puck. There's a lot of narrative though.

His hit on Guentzel was noisy and cool and well executed, but it resulted in an immediate 2-on-1 crossing our blueline and chance on net thanks to the Penguins' good support.

At the same time, it pumps up the crowd and pumps up the team, which in strategic spurts does have some affect on confidence/momentum/whathaveyou. I don't think there is a reasonable way to measure hitting impact until the player tracking info starts coming in.

 

[Kin]

By all means we should definitely credit the Leafs? turnaround to big memorable hits and slapshots instead of forward depth regressing to their mean performance and curtailing an offensive black hole on the backend?s minutes and replacing him with better puck management and controlled exits.

Do winky faces mean nothing to you?

 

[Bullfrog]

herman wants credit where it's due, gosh darn it!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1093175972075995138

Oh no please keep Rielly on the right side.

 

[Zee]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1093175972075995138

Oh no please keep Rielly on the right side.

LOL, let's give Muzzin some credit.  Maybe he was listening to Dion and thinking "ok, so I won't do what you did..."

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Muzzin is a nice addition and is obviously going to be lauded a hero by Leafs fans nostalgic for that traditional blue collar hockey.

By all means we should definitely credit the Leafs? turnaround to big memorable hits and slapshots instead of forward depth regressing to their mean performance and curtailing an offensive black hole on the backend?s minutes and replacing him with better puck management and controlled exits.

Fans are emotional man. Isn't that the best part of being a fan? The rollercoaster that a season can present?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1093175972075995138

Oh no please keep Rielly on the right side.

From what I've watched since Muzzin joined the line up, the two players kind of float from left to right and vice versa. It seems the only time there's a defined position is during a face off.

That being said, is there a reason you prefer Rielly on the right side?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

That being said, is there a reason you prefer Rielly on the right side?

Just purely anecdotally, it usually seems to me that offensive defencemen have an easier time switching. I think that as a puck-rushing defenceman it suits Rielly a little to move from the right to the left as he goes up the ice as opposed to the other way. I also feel like some of the disadvantages of being on your weak side (like having to play the puck on your backhand a little more or having to make passes across your body) are something that a guy as talented as Rielly wouldn't have much of a problem dealing with.

Also, while I think Muzzin is better at moving the puck than our previous right side defencemen, I really like the fact that Rielly being there breaks up the notion that the team only uses the left side of the ice to break the puck out of the defensive zone.

 

[herman]

Muzzin is a nice addition and is obviously going to be lauded a hero by Leafs fans nostalgic for that traditional blue collar hockey.

By all means we should definitely credit the Leafs? turnaround to big memorable hits and slapshots instead of forward depth regressing to their mean performance and curtailing an offensive black hole on the backend?s minutes and replacing him with better puck management and controlled exits.

Fans are emotional man. Isn't that the best part of being a fan? The rollercoaster that a season can present?

Sure. I just don't want it being part of decision making.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Muzzin is a nice addition and is obviously going to be lauded a hero by Leafs fans nostalgic for that traditional blue collar hockey.

By all means we should definitely credit the Leafs? turnaround to big memorable hits and slapshots instead of forward depth regressing to their mean performance and curtailing an offensive black hole on the backend?s minutes and replacing him with better puck management and controlled exits.

Fans are emotional man. Isn't that the best part of being a fan? The rollercoaster that a season can present?

Sure. I just don't want it being part of decision making.

Well isn't it great then that the fans anointing Muzzin aren't making decisions?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

That being said, is there a reason you prefer Rielly on the right side?

Just purely anecdotally, it usually seems to me that offensive defencemen have an easier time switching. I think that as a puck-rushing defenceman it suits Rielly a little to move from the right to the left as he goes up the ice as opposed to the other way. I also feel like some of the disadvantages of being on your weak side (like having to play the puck on your backhand a little more or having to make passes across your body) are something that a guy as talented as Rielly wouldn't have much of a problem dealing with.

Also, while I think Muzzin is better at moving the puck than our previous right side defencemen, I really like the fact that Rielly being there breaks up the notion that the team only uses the left side of the ice to break the puck out of the defensive zone.

All good points. One positive to Muzzin on the off side is that his stick is towards the centre of the ice which will help with his shot. If allows him to skate towards the centre of the ice for the shot from the point instead of backing towards the middle?

Grasping at straws here really.

 

[herman]

Well isn't it great then that the fans anointing Muzzin aren't making decisions?

They certainly do try, media as well. And for some management teams, that is a factor.

At the same time, when I try to read the game, I'm the type of person to want to view it as an informed fan. So while I'm not devoid of emotion, I do find taking a longer view helps steady my reactions and observations (kind of like learning to drive and taking a ramp or bend for the first time) in hockey and in the rest of meatspace.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Well isn't it great then that the fans anointing Muzzin aren't making decisions?

They certainly do try, media as well. And for some management teams, that is a factor.

At the same time, when I try to read the game, I'm the type of person to want to view it as an informed fan. So while I'm not devoid of emotion, I do find taking a longer view helps steady my reactions and observations (kind of like learning to drive and taking a ramp or bend for the first time) in hockey and in the rest of meatspace.

Meh, I take most of the ups and downs that the media and fans go through in this city with a grain of salt. They've anointed 6 to 7 players this year as being the next great player on the team.....then they, you know, forget about them.

I tend to stay fairly neutral when it comes to this team. I mean, I'll yell a few things at the TV from time to time(that's my hockey playing days driving me), and then I'll quietly turn off the tv and not think about the game I was watching for the rest of the night. I don't think it's too healthy to get too up or too down on your sports team. But I do kind of get it.

 

[herman]

Muzzin really checks all the boxes for every flavour of Leafs fan.

[x] Big
[x] Skates well
[x] Positive Corsi (etc.)
[x] Good at Zone Exits
[x] Hits hard
[x] Good ol' Ontario/Canadian Boy
[x] Grew up a Leafs fan
[x] Stanley Cup winner
[x] Inexpensive
[x] Solid beard

All of this will be forgotten after his first turnover.

So do we still love Muzzin or are we ready to Gardiner him?

 

[Bender]

Muzzin really checks all the boxes for every flavour of Leafs fan.

[x] Big
[x] Skates well
[x] Positive Corsi (etc.)
[x] Good at Zone Exits
[x] Hits hard
[x] Good ol' Ontario/Canadian Boy
[x] Grew up a Leafs fan
[x] Stanley Cup winner
[x] Inexpensive
[x] Solid beard

All of this will be forgotten after his first turnover.

So do we still love Muzzin or are we ready to Gardiner him?

Burn him at the stake!

 

[cabber24]

Muzzin really checks all the boxes for every flavour of Leafs fan.

[x] Big
[x] Skates well
[x] Positive Corsi (etc.)
[x] Good at Zone Exits
[x] Hits hard
[x] Good ol' Ontario/Canadian Boy
[x] Grew up a Leafs fan
[x] Stanley Cup winner
[x] Inexpensive
[x] Solid beard

All of this will be forgotten after his first turnover.

So do we still love Muzzin or are we ready to Gardiner him?

Hahaha, wasn't surprised to hear people were throwing chairs at Gardiner.

 

[sickbeast]

I'm a big fan of the Muzzin trade.  Dubas isn't finished IMO.  The trade deadline is on the 25th.  We'll see what he does.  I know people say we need a big and mean forward but IMO we should go for more defense.  Another guy like Muzzin perhaps.  Even if it means we have to lose Gardiner.  In fact I think it makes sense to parlay Gardiner into picks and other assets.  He's gone at the end of the season and he hasn't really been a good playoff performer IMO.  There doesn't appear to be a way to retain Gardiner under the cap next season.  So they should try to get something for him IMO, if the right offer comes along.

Zaitsev would clear some cap space if they trade him but that's not too pressing right now IMO.

 

[herman]

https://theathletic.com/876920/2019/03/27/from-woodstock-to-toronto-the-remarkable-journey-of-jake-muzzin/

Another (happy) hockey robot

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1111304102502371339

He plays alongside Zaitsev lol

 

[princedpw]

https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1111304102502371339

He plays alongside Zaitsev lol

Are Zaitsev?s numbers similar in this time frame?