The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without defenceman Jake Muzzin who has been ruled out with a broken right hand. It is estimated that he may miss four weeks. He could also be back before the end of the season. Muzzin had just signed a contract extension on Monday with the team worth $22.5 million over four years. The team obviously feels Muzzin can contribute going forward, so this injury is going to put them shorthanded.
Jake Muzzin Out Four Weeks With Hand Injury
Defenceman Jake Muzzin is expected to be out of the lineup for approximately four weeks after suffering a broken hand last night.
Defenceman Calle Rosen has been recalled from the @TorontoMarlies (AHL). pic.twitter.com/ViVIkseAK3
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 26, 2020
Muzzin has been a steady blue line option for Toronto this season. The 30-year-old has six goals and 23 points in 53 games. He has been picking up his offensive numbers and that was what had been expected from the veteran. Muzzin has scored 0.43 points per game. He is one of the team’s more reliable puck movers. Muzzin’s 52.8 Corsi For currently ranks him among the team’s regular defenders.
What this Means for the Future
With the hole left on the blue line, the Maple Leafs recalled defenceman Calle Rosen from the AHL Marlies team. He has two assists in eight games with the Colorado Avalanche. It remains to be seen if Rosen can contribute in Muzzin’s absence. Rosen was sent to the Colorado Avalanche last summer along with Nazem Kadri in the Tyson Barrie/Alexander Kerfoot deal.
Rosen had 15 points in 35 games with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. He is well thought of by Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe who told the Athletic’s Joshua Kloke, “I like (Rosen) a lot,” said Sheldon Keefe, who coached Rosen when the two were with the Marlies. “He’s really worked hard over his time with the Marlies to become a top-end defenceman for the American League. I thought he was right there in terms of being prepared to play in the NHL.
“Getting him back I think really adds a nice layer of depth to our team.”
It’s now time to use that depth.
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