Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman already battling injuries, expected to miss time
The Toronto Maple Leafs finished last season in what has become their traditional fashion. Eliminated in the 1st round after another promising season. But for the first time in year's things begun to look up for the Maple Leafs defensively. The Leafs were no longer the defensive liability they'd once been.
Kyle Dubas had assembled a defense built around Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, Justin Holl and TJ Brodie, with young players like Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren taking their next steps. Dubas then added veteran Mark Giordano for additional depth. Things seemed promising, but fast forward a few months and the Leafs defense is in tatters already.
Timothy Liljegren is out after having hernia surgery, Rasmus Sandin is holding out and now Jake Muzzin is dealing with a back injury that's plagued him for the better part of a year.
Muzzin missed nearly half the season with back, hip and concussion issues last season. If those issues are going to persist it leaves the Maple Leafs in a very difficult spot. Unless Sandin signs a contract in the coming days he's going to miss part of the regular season and the Leafs will be forced to rely heavily on new additions Victor Mete and Jordie Benn to help the team.
| POLL | ||
How many games will Jake Muzzin play this year? | ||
| Below 50 | 26 | 50 % |
| 50-60 | 10 | 19.2 % |
| 60-70 | 9 | 17.3 % |
| Over 70 | 7 | 13.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
