At the beginning of last season, we saw Jake Muzzin suffer an unfortunate neck injury after colliding with Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller just a few games into the season. After playing just 4 games, Muzzin's season was derailed and the veteran defenseman didn't play another game for the Leafs in the regular season or the playoffs.
His absence from the Leafs' blueline was noticeable because of his physicality and size, something the Leafs didn't address until later in the season when they acquired Luke Schenn from the Vancouver Canucks just before the deadline.
Muzzin remained with the team throughout the year, attending practices and watching from the bench and working out with the team away from the ice, which had some wondering if a potential return was in the cards in 2023-24. Unfortunately, Brad Treliving announced today that Muzzin will miss the entire season as he continues to deal with the injury he suffered last season.
Muzzin is in the final year of a 4-year extension he signed in 2020 with the Leafs that pays him $5.625M per season. With Muzz being on LTIR the entire season, the Leafs will benefit from the cap space it will provide, but will still miss the presence of the former Stanley Cup champion.
If the veteran blueliner has played his last game, he will have skated in 683 games with the Leafs and Kings, registering 294 points to go along with 2 Stanley Cups. Very unfortunate turn of events in Toronto, but at least the Leafs know they'll have his full $5.625M available this season while he plays out the season on LTIR.
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