Muezzin gets a 5 year extension.

[lasportzphan]

For those weary of the money paid.... is there a better option out there for the same dough?

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Most people around the league consider this a great deal.

Most people around the league don't have to see this guy and his poor decisions and blocked shots nightly either.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

For those weary of the money paid.... is there a better option out there for the same dough?

Not yet, but players contracts' are always expiring. All this does is lock him up at AAV $4 million per year, there is no guarantee he will finish it out in LA.

Taylor was the master of poaching players who were about to become contract headaches for their current teams (Allison for example), Dumbo is smart enough to where he would do the same thing. This contract gives him negotiating power ("hey, my dude has 2 years left in his contract, so he won't be a rental. That 3rd round pick should be a 2nd for that alone").

Worst comes to worst he earns every penny (I hope), or he doesn't and they have a player who is under a decent term contract who a team would be willing to take a chance on because while $4 million at this stage of his career is a huge overpayment in a few years it won't be because he will have earned UFA status and those guys are always overpaid for the most part.

 

[Deader2818]

Most people around the league don't have to see this guy and his poor decisions and blocked shots nightly either.

I dunno man, you seem to hold shit against players for some reason. Since the Olympic break last year Muzzin was very strong and was solid during the playoffs. His Advance stats are great too so I think you are still holding things against him he has since corrected and can't let it go.

 

[Kings4OT]

One things for sure, he hasn't made any of those mistakes this season......much improved in that area of his game!

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I dunno man, you seem to hold shit against players for some reason. Since the Olympic break last year Muzzin was very strong and was solid during the playoffs. His Advance stats are great too so I think you are still holding things against him he has since corrected and can't let it go.

So 6 months of good play warrants a $20 million contract? Not even close in my opinion but because of his age and how soon he will be a UFA he got this deal.

Keep in mind he has been a FT NHLer only 2 seasons, and his first few stints, even his first full year, was extremely suspect. I'm not holing anything against him, I'm calling him for what he is - someone with very little track history to justify this type of contract.

He could just as easily shit the bed this year as he could maintain his post Olympic play, we don't know yet either way.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

One things for sure, he hasn't made any of those mistakes this season......much improved in that area of his game!

I am anxious to see him play actually for a few reasons - I'm not sure McNabb is dependable right now, it was one thing to look impressive on a crappy Buffalo team where there are no/minimal expectations but it's another to play and show you belong on a Stanley Cup contender roster. Right now he has not shown me that, and I think when Muzzin returns he is the guy who will sit.

Secondly, and this is piggybacking on my comment above, I want to make sure Muzzin has indeed turned the corner and it wasn't some flash in the pan play especially after getting this contract which to any reasonable person looks like a huge gamble or a flat out overpayment - take your pick.

His advanced stats don't mean much to me because he plays with Doughty, who is the true driver of advanced stats for that pair and for a majority of the offense. Doughty does all the work, so I would like to see Muzzin and if he truly has evolved into a T4 defender or if he just had an extended run of good play.

He's going to be rusty coming back so I'll give him that benefit for a little bit to get up to speed.

 

[Deader2818]

If you think Muzzin's Corsi numbers are so good because of Doughty then I don't think you really understand advance stats.

In fact, you can take a look at this article.

http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2014/8/7/5973213/2014-season-review-jake-muzzin

 

[PuckinUgly57]

If you think Muzzin's Corsi numbers are so good because of Doughty then I don't think you really understand advance stats.

In fact, you can take a look at this article.

2014 Season Review: Jake Muzzin - Jewels From The Crown

Advanced stats can be skewed anyway you like just with any other stat. The best way to know about a defender/player to simply watch him, see their tendencies.

Sure, he doesn't turn the puck over much. But when he does, what happens? How about those great passes from the corner to the middle that get picked off? How about those blocked shots that was a bad idea to begin with and he's chasing the other way flat footed while the the opposing player has a 4 stride head start? Plenty of evidence to prove those too but I didn't see this guy mention any of that.

He improved last season, I have admitted that (playoff run 2013 - he was targeted every round and exposed. Cup run 2014, much improved and he didn't panic much for example) but $20 million over 5 years improved? Not a chance in hell.

 

[Kings4OT]

Advanced stats can be skewed anyway you like just with any other stat. The best way to know about a defender/player to simply watch him, see their tendencies.

Sure, he doesn't turn the puck over much. But when he does, what happens? How about those great passes from the corner to the middle that get picked off? How about those blocked shots that was a bad idea to begin with and he's chasing the other way flat footed while the the opposing player has a 4 stride head start? Plenty of evidence to prove those too but I didn't see this guy mention any of that.

It might be just Puck and I but it sure does seem to me that a lot of Muffins mistakes end up in the Kings net, if not at the very least a great scoring chance by the other team.

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

I think the problem those that think it's too much money for Muzzin is that they don't believe he has truely turned the corner and that the good last season and the great playoffs could be a aberration. Myself I'm going to trust in Lombardi and Sutter and their evaluation of his development. They've brought 2 Cups in 3 years to Los Angeles when I was beginning to think I'd never get to see the Kings win 1 before I died.

Ox

 

[Kings4OT]

Yes, of course we all trust Lombardi and are glad for the success the team has had. But they are people too and will make mistakes, why even have this message board if you cant talk about likes and dislikes? Sure its their job to know their players development but I watch the games and don't need inside scoop to form an opinion of what I see. I don't mind keeping the Muffin man, but I can be skeptical of his future success much like I am with Richards.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I think the problem those that think it's too much money for Muzzin is that they don't believe he has truely turned the corner and that the good last season and the great playoffs could be a aberration.

I don't see that as a problem, I see that as a legitimate question being posed. Muzzin has exactly 1 solid season from beginning to end on his resume. That's it - that's not an opinion, that is a fact.

Some guys you could just tell they were going to be stars from the get go and were awarded huge contracts well before they were due (Kopitar for example - remember his first NHL game? Two goals, one where he burned around Pronger? He was in his second year of his ELC I believe making squat when Dumbo gave him the 7 year/$47.6 million deal but he was almost a sure shot star the second he hit NHL ice, it was THAT obvious) but Muzzin isn't one of them.

I really hope I am wrong about this deal, but right now my gut is telling me the Kings just overpaid big time.

Myself I'm going to trust in Lombardi and Sutter and their evaluation of his development. They've brought 2 Cups in 3 years to Los Angeles when I was beginning to think I'd never get to see the Kings win 1 before I died.

Ox

Hey I trust them too, but that doesn't mean every move they make is gold.

These are the same guys who gave up not one but two 2nd round picks and gave out a 2 year/$6.2 million extension to Dan Cloutier before he even played a second of RS hockey for LA and while he still had 1 year left on his 2 year/$5 million deal from Vancouver when he was traded here in summer 2006. That worked out extremely well, correct?

I want more Cups too, but I want it done responsibly. Muzzin's contract is a huge gamble.

 

[smackdown380]

Didn't know where else to put this but he is ready to go. Hopefully he isn't being rushed back because of the circumstances: