The Toronto Maple Leafs should have a better idea if Jake Muzzin will return to hockey or not after a follow-up appointment scheduled in “two weeks.”
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas says Jake Muzzin is scheduled for a follow-up appointment “in two weeks,” at which point they should have a better idea of the playing status of the veteran defenseman.
"We'll have an update, internally just for the remainder of the season in terms of what his condition is going to be as to whether he can get back at it or it's not possible," Dubas said on Thursday.
Muzzin has been out since Oct. 17 and has been limited to four games this season. Less than one month after his last game, the team announced that the veteran defenseman was out indefinitely with a cervical spine issue and would be re-evaluated in late February.
The 33-year-old Muzzin has spent most of the season on long-term injured reserve and the Maple Leafs have made use of the $5.625 million in salary-cap exception made possible by the defenseman's injury. The player has been around the club virtually every day working out and sitting in on team meetings.
In his availability with the media on Thursday, Dubas said that looking to find a physical defenseman like Muzzin ahead of the trade deadline was part of the initial thought process, but the GM has been encouraged by how the defense has performed without several key defensemen out with various injuries at different points in the season.
During that time, the Leafs have seen several other depth defensemen get tested in new situations.
"We feel somewhat comfortable with the group and how they performed," Dubas said of his defense. "If we can improve it, we'll do that,"
Muzzin has one more year remaining on his contract. He has one assist in four games this season.