Rumor: Another Leafs trade coming?

In case you somehow, some way missed it, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings yesterday evening in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to Sean Durzi and Toronto’s first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Muzzin, who still has one year left on a deal that pays him $4 million annually, has four goals and 21 points in 50 games with the Kings this season. He's a three time 40+ point defenseman who has played the majority of his career alongside Norris Trophy contender Drew Doughty, and as a result has often been overshadowed by Doughty, but he's a fine defender in his own right. Suffice it to say though that the Leafs have paid a handsome sum of three good young assets for Muzzin this season and next.

The Muzzin acquisition should enable Leafs head coach Mike Babcock to send Morgan Rielly’s usual partner Ron Hainsey down to the team’s third pairing with Travis Dermott, while Nikita Zaitsev and Jake Gardiner continue to hold down the second pairing. This likely means that a trade or waiver dump is likely coming for one of Justin Holl, Martin Marincin or Igor Ozhiganov.

Ozhiganov seems like the odd man out, given that he’s waiver exempt and can be sent to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies without concern of him being claimed. Leafs insider Jeff Veillette however, wonders whether or not there’s a fit for Ozhiganov on the trade market?

I wouldn’t rule out an Igor Ozhiganov trade in the coming days. Can’t see him wanting to go to the Marlies for a steep paycut, and his combination of “tools” and playing sheltered with Dermott has probably inflated his numbers enough to make him an asset that interests others.

There’s also the possibility of Ozhiganov flying the coop entirely and taking his game back to the KHL. Still… if he can remain in the NHL, you’d have to imagine that there would be takers. The Edmonton Oilers are looking for defensemen, as are the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins. Might these teams come calling?