Muzzin injury forces roster changes for Leafs and fans are NOT happy

In case you missed it last night, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin left his team’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after suffering a freak neck injury after colliding with Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Here’s the play in question:

Muzzin was taken off the ice in a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for observation and treatment. The Leafs issued a statement this morning indicating that Muzzin had been discharged from hospital but will remain unavailable to his team for the duration of their Qualifying Series against the Blue Jackets.

Check it out:

After being transported to hospital following an on-ice collision last night, Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin is back at the team’s hotel.

Muzzin was discharged overnight but will not be available to the club for the duration of its series versus the Columbus Blue Jackets as a result of his injury. He will remain in quarantine within the hotel and look to rejoin his teammates upon recovery.

Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, who initially cross-checked Muzzin from behind and caused the collision, will face no supplemental discipline for his actions.

Meanwhile, soldiered on in practice today but head coach Sheldon Keefe has a tough job finding a replacement to fill Muzzin’s role on the blue line. His choice? Veteran Martin Marincin, despite an outpouring of support from Leafs Nation to dress rookie Rasmus Sandin.

Check out the team’s lineup from practice today:

Why? Why!? WHY!?

This team has used Marincin as its fall back 7th defenseman for almost five years now and, frankly, he's not good. The Leafs have two promising rookies in Sandin and Timothy Liljegren both of whom have proven that they're ready to become full-time NHL defensemen, yet still this team is insistent on putting Marincin ahead of them on the depth chart. It took almost 2 years for Travis Dermott to surpass Marincin on the depth chart due mostly to former head coach Mike Babcock's old school ways. With Keefe though, things were supposed to change. His hiring was going to issue in an era of youth on the Leaf's depth chart... so much for that, I guess.