Keefe provides update on Jake Muzzin

Muzzin joined the Leafs in LA, but not because he was beginning to skate, rather to see a specialist regarding his injury. The Leafs are still waiting the results of those further tests from the specialist, but Sheldon Keefe provided an update on Muzzin this morning saying that there is still no timetable for his return. He also said that not having Muzzin has been a "significant absence" and the "penalty kill hasn't been the same" without him.

While Muzzin being on LTIR provides the Leafs with needed cap flexibility, it also hinders their blueline depth significantly and has made the errors by Justin Holl much more noticeable. Not only has Muzzin's absence created a massive hole on the Leafs' blueline, but he is missed in the room as well. He and Mitch Marner are very close friends off the ice and not having Muzzin around daily to provide that extra boost when he needs it may be contributing to Marner's play early on.