Worst case scenario to be confirmed for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jake Muzzin
The Toronto Maple Leafs have not had veteran defenceman Jake Muzzin in the lineup since mid-October when he suffered a neck injury; the full extent of the setback was revealed to be a cervical spine injury.
Chris Johnston was speaking on TSN Overdrive and provided a pretty adverse update on Muzzin's future:
"My understanding is he has a follow-up appointment in California with the doctors he saw there," he said, "It is at some point early next week, and then there will be a clear direction. It would be a surprise if he was able to come back and make an attempt at returning. He has stayed very close with the team and has been with them on the road, but I don't believe it will be in the cards that he will be back healthy and playing again."
Muzzin is signed until the end of the 2023-2024 season at a cap hit of $5,625,000. If Muzzin can't return this season, Toronto will have around $3 million in cap space available to acquire some help ahead of the March 3rd trade deadline.
If this is the end of Muzzin's career he retires with a Stanley Cup and 683 career games under his belt. When it comes to cervical spine injuries you always have to begin to look at life after hockey. A return could cost Muzzin long-term quality of life. Like Jason Spezza, don't be surprised if Jake Muzzin finds himself a job within the Maple Leafs organization once his contract officially ends.
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