Jason Lewis: Dear Jake Muzzin Haters, Curb the Criticism!

Muzzin and Brown for Bobby Ryan

I don't hate Muzzin though. He does make some costly bonehead plays though, but I don't really see other options. I don't know any of the kids who are ready to come in where he can be expendable. Plus d-men usually take longer to mature than offense. If he was involved to bring back a better upgrade on D, then do it.

Nope Muzzin sucks, absolutely trash. Tell you what, we'll make you a deal. We'll toss you a couple of our prospects and maybe a fifth round pick for him.


Please.

Nope Muzzin sucks, absolutely trash. Tell you what, we'll make you a deal. We'll toss you a couple of our prospects and maybe a fifth round pick for him.


Please.
- freelancer

Jake Muzzin > Alec Martinez

Great post. Mantra: Muzz is not bad. Muzz is good. He is young and makes mistake. Anyone who says s/he "hates" as 25 yr old kid for his mistakes should be shunned.

- Jason_Lewis

but really, I do think Muzzin is a great young player. Going to the possibility of Gagner to the Kings. I would love to see Muzzin coming back our way. King and Muzzin to Edm for Gagner as well as another piece.

Great post. Mantra: Muzz is not bad. Muzz is good. He is young and makes mistake. Anyone who says s/he "hates" as 25 yr old kid for his mistakes should be shunned.
- Bruin1818

"Good" is a strong word. But I agree with not bad.

Honestly, I don't want Jake Muzzin to ever be more than a bottom pairing defenseman. He's never going to turn into a Duncan Keith or Drew Doughty (solid two-way defenseman), which means he's always going to be a puck-moving defenseman with a point spot on the 2nd power play. Between Doughty and Voynov, we already spend over $11MM on puck-moving defensemen. If Muzzin turns out to be a 2-4 d-man like Lewis suggests, he's going to cost us in the neighborhood of $4-5MM. That's way too much money to spend on a trio of offensive defensemen.

As long as he can play in the 14-16 min range, score 5-10 goals per year, and not make too many dumb mistakes on the point, then he's served his purpose in my book. We should be able to keep him on the books for $2.5MM. We can then go out and spend $4-5MM attracting a solid defensive defenseman to replace the hole left by Rob Scuderi's departure.

Muzzin blows , he is a complete puxxy for his size and strength, he makes moronic plays shooting the puck into opposing pads on power plays, he doesn't use his brain. He ruins potentially good plays on the ice every game...this equals sending him down to Manchester, but since Greene & Mitchell & Voynov are sucking this year...they keep him here as a filler, until he is moved, I hope they trade him.

He is nothing but bad luck on the Kings D corps no matter who you put with him. DD needs a stud, not a guy you have to look after constantly. DD needs a solid D partner. Greene's penalties blow and he is slow >Checking and toughness great. Mitchell is donage. Voynov is thinking about his plane back to KHL.... I like Amart, but the coaches & staff give him no confidence to build on, somehow keeping Muzzin in the lineup. I don't give a rats ass about his stats, he needs to go. I like Deslauries in Manchester, he is ready, and better than Muzzin will ever be.

Kings need to trade for younger faster mobile D. Regher can be same as Mitchell and Greene as far as slow, but hes respectable as a player night in night out. Mitchell & Greene are as streaky as Muzzin

The shutout last night.......yah okay so? Was it really the D? or goals being scored and Quick playing well......... The Kings forwards make up for the short fall on Kings D these days, with puck control and defending more than just the D does.

I like Deslauries in Manchester, he is ready, and better than Muzzin will ever be.


- Kings fan since72

Hate to be the bearer of bad news buddy but Deslauriers no longer plays defense. He plays left wing.

Why?

Because he was so bad in his defensive zone that they experimented switching him to forward to lessen the pressure put on him. It stuck.

If you think Deslauriers > Muzzin then I don't know what to tell you. Not only is he not playing the same position, he couldn't play defense in the AHL without being exposed. Left wing switch has essentially saved Desluariers NHL hopes. Incredible natural talent, but he wasn't playing the right position to excel.

I would really like to see Muffin and Martinez stick around and progress if possible. of course we have to look forward and figure how to retool with greene Mitchell and regher, I see Mitchell being the first one to retire or not get resigned and I also feel like if we are going to address defensive issues we kind of have to unwillingly look at Voynov, I know he is loved by everyone, and I will be scolded for not looking at his past performances, but he does have high value and I think we could find a better defensemen. Voynov is just not doing much on the blue line now, he is getting flustered when pressured and certainly not using his wheels, so if we move someone I would like it to be him because I think other teams would over pay for him.

Muzzin blows , he is a complete puxxy for his size and strength, he makes moronic plays shooting the puck into opposing pads on power plays, he doesn't use his brain. He ruins potentially good plays on the ice every game...this equals sending him down to Manchester, but since Greene & Mitchell & Voynov are sucking this year...they keep him here as a filler, until he is moved, I hope they trade him.

He is nothing but bad luck on the Kings D corps no matter who you put with him. DD needs a stud, not a guy you have to look after constantly. DD needs a solid D partner. Greene's penalties blow and he is slow >Checking and toughness great. Mitchell is donage. Voynov is thinking about his plane back to KHL.... I like Amart, but the coaches & staff give him no confidence to build on, somehow keeping Muzzin in the lineup. I don't give a rats ass about his stats, he needs to go. I like Deslauries in Manchester, he is ready, and better than Muzzin will ever be.

Kings need to trade for younger faster mobile D. Regher can be same as Mitchell and Greene as far as slow, but hes respectable as a player night in night out. Mitchell & Greene are as streaky as Muzzin

The shutout last night.......yah okay so? Was it really the D? or goals being scored and Quick playing well......... The Kings forwards make up for the short fall on Kings D these days, with puck control and defending more than just the D does.
- Kings fan since72

I don't even know where to begin with this....

Jake Muzzin is the single best defenseman on the Kings (including Doughty) at getting the puck on net through traffic. Sure, he shoots into shinpads sometimes, but no more than any of the other defesemen on the team.

Jake Muzzin has 130 shots this season, and 62 shots that were blocked. That gives him a "good" shot to blocked shot ratio of 2.1:1.

Drew Doughty has 139 shots, and 67 blocked for a ratio of 2.07:1
Alec Martinez has 48 shots and 39 blocked for a ratio of 1.23:1.
Slava Voynov has 104 to 48, 2.16:1.

http://www.extraskater.co...t=shb&season=2013&team=la

So if you want to look at someone who shoots into shinguards, look at your buddy A-Mart.

I agree that Muzzin shouldn't be on a line with Doughty. Doughty lobbied for that pairing pretty hard at the beginning of the season, and when it was clear that none of the defensive-minded guys could keep up with the 26+ minutes that Doughty logs every game, they gave Muzzin a try. Like Lewis says, we desperately need a top pairing defensive-minded guy that is able to keep up with Doughty. Mark Giordano from Calgary would be my ideal pick, but he has a NMC and a few years remaining on his contract. Calgary is in the middle of a rebuild, so who knows if they would ask him to waive it for the right package of picks and prospects.

The Kings don't have the best GAA in the league for no reason. Some of the credit definitely deserves to go to the excellent goaltending that we have received thus far this season, but a lot of it goes to our defense. Sometimes the team doesn't show up and we have to rely on our goalie to stand on his head to bail us out. However, the Kings have 10 shutouts this season, 3 more than any other team in the league. That is 100% puck possession and team defense, which starts with the 6 guys on the blue line.

Finally, Muzzin is 2nd on the team behind only Doughty in Quality of Competition (the skill of the opposing players when he is on the ice).

http://www.extraskater.co...on=2013&team=la&min_gp=10

He has the best Corsi For % of the defensive corps by a wide margin.

http://www.extraskater.co...p&pos=D&min_gp=10&team=la

So while your subjective analysis may tell you that Muzzin "blows," evidence would seem to suggest that he does not.

Jason Lewis: Dear Jake Muzzin Haters, Curb the Criticism!
- Jason_Lewis

I agree that some of his miscues can be written off because of his youth, but some of them are hard pills to swallow, regardless of the level. If a D on the high school team I coach fired as many shots directly into blockers like Muzzin does, their only chance of seeing ice would be with binoculars. He does it way too much considering it's unacceptable at any level, from squirts to NHL all stars.

That said, I do agree it's way too easy to overly critical of him. I sometimes have to stop myself from holding him to the same standard as Doughty since they're the same age, and remember Doughty is not the nor for a 24/25 year old D.

I don't even know where to begin with this....

Jake Muzzin is the single best defenseman on the Kings (including Doughty) at getting the puck on net through traffic. Sure, he shoots into shinpads sometimes, but no more than any of the other defesemen on the team.

Jake Muzzin has 130 shots this season, and 62 shots that were blocked. That gives him a "good" shot to blocked shot ratio of 2.1:1.

Drew Doughty has 139 shots, and 67 blocked for a ratio of 2.07:1
Alec Martinez has 48 shots and 39 blocked for a ratio of 1.23:1.
Slava Voynov has 104 to 48, 2.16:1.

http://www.extraskater.co...t=shb&season=2013&team=la

So if you want to look at someone who shoots into shinguards, look at your buddy A-Mart.

I agree that Muzzin shouldn't be on a line with Doughty. Doughty lobbied for that pairing pretty hard at the beginning of the season, and when it was clear that none of the defensive-minded guys could keep up with the 26+ minutes that Doughty logs every game, they gave Muzzin a try. Like Lewis says, we desperately need a top pairing defensive-minded guy that is able to keep up with Doughty. Mark Giordano from Calgary would be my ideal pick, but he has a NMC and a few years remaining on his contract. Calgary is in the middle of a rebuild, so who knows if they would ask him to waive it for the right package of picks and prospects.

The Kings don't have the best GAA in the league for no reason. Some of the credit definitely deserves to go to the excellent goaltending that we have received thus far this season, but a lot of it goes to our defense. Sometimes the team doesn't show up and we have to rely on our goalie to stand on his head to bail us out. However, the Kings have 10 shutouts this season, 3 more than any other team in the league. That is 100% puck possession and team defense, which starts with the 6 guys on the blue line.

Finally, Muzzin is 2nd on the team behind only Doughty in Quality of Competition (the skill of the opposing players when he is on the ice).

http://www.extraskater.co...on=2013&team=la&min_gp=10

He has the best Corsi For % of the defensive corps by a wide margin.

http://www.extraskater.co...p&pos=D&min_gp=10&team=la

So while your subjective analysis may tell you that Muzzin "blows," evidence would seem to suggest that he does not.
- tkecanuck341

Shots getting blocked below the top of the circle or around the hashmarks is one thing, but too many of his hit shin pads within 10 feet of him. That's just a bad decision. That really is the only major issue I have with his game and development though.

Don't get it. He was fantastic Wednesday night. Very smart, simple player.

Jason Lewis: Dear Jake Muzzin Haters, Curb the Criticism!
- Jason_Lewis

Jason, where are we with trade talks? it has been too quiet, I can't find any updates anywhere!!!!

Jason, where are we with trade talks? it has been too quiet, I can't find any updates anywhere!!!!
- MikeOxbyg

Monday and Tuesday things will heat up for sure.

Keralahti & Modry were good pulls, but you are obviously not old enough to remember Rob Palmer and Neil Komadoski.....

I don't even know where to begin with this....

Jake Muzzin is the single best defenseman on the Kings (including Doughty) at getting the puck on net through traffic. Sure, he shoots into shinpads sometimes, but no more than any of the other defesemen on the team.

Jake Muzzin has 130 shots this season, and 62 shots that were blocked. That gives him a "good" shot to blocked shot ratio of 2.1:1.

Drew Doughty has 139 shots, and 67 blocked for a ratio of 2.07:1
Alec Martinez has 48 shots and 39 blocked for a ratio of 1.23:1.
Slava Voynov has 104 to 48, 2.16:1.

http://www.extraskater.co...t=shb&season=2013&team=la


So if you want to look at someone who shoots into shinguards, look at your buddy A-Mart.

I agree that Muzzin shouldn't be on a line with Doughty. Doughty lobbied for that pairing pretty hard at the beginning of the season, and when it was clear that none of the defensive-minded guys could keep up with the 26+ minutes that Doughty logs every game, they gave Muzzin a try. Like Lewis says, we desperately need a top pairing defensive-minded guy that is able to keep up with Doughty. Mark Giordano from Calgary would be my ideal pick, but he has a NMC and a few years remaining on his contract. Calgary is in the middle of a rebuild, so who knows if they would ask him to waive it for the right package of picks and prospects.

The Kings don't have the best GAA in the league for no reason. Some of the credit definitely deserves to go to the excellent goaltending that we have received thus far this season, but a lot of it goes to our defense. Sometimes the team doesn't show up and we have to rely on our goalie to stand on his head to bail us out. However, the Kings have 10 shutouts this season, 3 more than any other team in the league. That is 100% puck possession and team defense, which starts with the 6 guys on the blue line.

Finally, Muzzin is 2nd on the team behind only Doughty in Quality of Competition (the skill of the opposing players when he is on the ice).

http://www.extraskater.co...on=2013&team=la&min_gp=10

He has the best Corsi For % of the defensive corps by a wide margin.

http://www.extraskater.co...p&pos=D&min_gp=10&team=la

So while your subjective analysis may tell you that Muzzin "blows," evidence would seem to suggest that he does not.
- tkecanuck341

this (couldn't find a golf clap emoticon)

Jason, where are we with trade talks? it has been too quiet, I can't find any updates anywhere!!!!
- MikeOxbyg

to be a fly on the wall in DL's office...............

well buffalo just shipped out miller and Ott...

"Good" is a strong word. But I agree with not bad.

Honestly, I don't want Jake Muzzin to ever be more than a bottom pairing defenseman. He's never going to turn into a Duncan Keith or Drew Doughty (solid two-way defenseman), which means he's always going to be a puck-moving defenseman with a point spot on the 2nd power play. Between Doughty and Voynov, we already spend over $11MM on puck-moving defensemen. If Muzzin turns out to be a 2-4 d-man like Lewis suggests, he's going to cost us in the neighborhood of $4-5MM. That's way to much money to spend on a trio of offensive defensemen.

As long as he can play in the 14-16 min range, score 5-10 goals per year, and not make too many dumb mistakes on the point, then he's served his purpose in my book. We should be able to keep him on the books for $2.5MM. We can then go out and spend $4-5MM attracting a solid defensive defenseman to replace the hole left by Rob Scuderi's departure.
- tkecanuck341

I normally agree with just about everything you post. That being said Muzzin has the physical potential and ability to be a player along the lines of Jay Boumeester.... Do I think Muzzin will ever be an Olympian, no I don't.

I do think his upside is incredible. Theres no point in trading him before we know what we really have he's still a season or 2 away from being fully developed. I personally really like Jake, Its hard to find a defenseman especially as physical as he is with his size that skates as well as he does.

All of Muzzins problems are between his ears. I think he can figure it out given time and confidence.

How bout that huge deal Miller and Ott for Halak, Stewart, Carrier a 2015 1st and a 2016 3rd..... The Blues just got scary

I normally agree with just about everything you post. That being said Muzzin has the physical potential and ability to be a player along the lines of Jay Boumeester.... Do I think Muzzin will ever be an Olympian, no I don't.

I do think his upside is incredible. Theres no point in trading him before we know what we really have he's still a season or 2 away from being fully developed. I personally really like Jake, Its hard to find a defenseman especially as physical as he is with his size that skates as well as he does.

All of Muzzins problems are between his ears. I think he can figure it out given time and confidence.

How bout that huge deal Miller and Ott for Halak, Stewart, Carrier a 2015 1st and a 2016 3rd..... The Blues just got scary
- QuicksEnnormous

I don't disagree that Muzzin has potential. He could turn out to be great. However, if he turns out to be Jay Bouwmeester, the Kings won't be able to afford to keep him unless we ship out Voynov or take some of the budget away from the offense.

I'm hoping he turns out to be average so that he will stick around for $2.5MM or so. He's the best 5/6 option we've had in a long time. He's certainly better than the likes of Peter Harrold, Davis Drewiske, Mike Weaver, and Jeff Schultz.

How bout that huge deal Miller and Ott for Halak, Stewart, Carrier a 2015 1st and a 2016 3rd..... The Blues just got scary
- QuicksEnnormous

The Blues have been scary for a while. Adding Ryan Miller to the fold makes them Stanley Cup front runners IMO.

I hate Steve Ott. That guy is a giant pile of donkey poo.

The Blues have been scary for a while. Adding Ryan Miller to the fold makes them Stanley Cup front runners IMO.

I hate Steve Ott. That guy is a giant pile of donkey poo.
- tkecanuck341

Hahahaha thoroughly agree. Except like Dan Carcillo and Adam Cooke, Steve Ott has tuned down his tool ways since getting traded to Buffalo. That being said in a 7 game series I guarantee you his full ginger comes out.

No matter how well the Blues young forwards progressed they never scared me because well Halak and Elliot don't scare anybody. but adding Ryan Miller..... That changes everything.