Jake Muzzin is making a strong case to be the next man up in Toronto’s player development setup.
With Hayley Wickenheiser gone this summer, the Maple Leafs are left with a real opening in the front office - one that touches both assistant GM duties and the day-to-day work of helping prospects grow. Muzzin, who is already embedded with Toronto’s player development staff, has quickly become a name to watch because of the way he’s connecting with young players and the kind of feedback he’s giving them.
He’s been working closely with the team’s defensive prospects, and the praise has come fast. The appeal is obvious: Muzzin brings a long NHL background, but more importantly, he’s been able to translate that experience into advice prospects can actually use.
Ben Danford said Muzzin has been in regular contact, often a couple of times a month, with calls built around video and shifts. Sometimes the communication comes through text, with Muzzin sending clips from NHL games that highlight mistakes young defensemen need to avoid.
“A couple times a month I'd have calls with Muzzin. It was mostly just my kind of video, my shifts.
If he would send me a text or something, it might be a clip of an NHL game on just that night. Maybe a D-man had a broken play and it turned into the other team scoring, like things you don't want to see, so things like that.”
Noah Chadwick had the same kind of appreciation for the way Muzzin works. He didn’t just praise the teaching - he praised the person.
“I couldn't really ask for anything better. He's a fantastic human being.
Good character. He's special to work with and passed a lot of good lessons on to me.”
That kind of hands-on attention matters, especially for prospects trying to figure out how to handle the ups and downs that come with a pro career. Muzzin has been through plenty himself, including trades, serious injuries and playoff losses, so he can speak to the mental side of the job as well as the technical one.
Toronto’s player development work has also benefited from the fact that Muzzin can still skate and join drills during practice. That gives the prospects a chance to see him on the ice, not just hear him talk through the details. For young players, that kind of direct demonstration can make the lessons stick.
Muzzin moved into player development in 2024-25 after spending the year before as a pro scout, and his choice to remain with the organization has kept him in a position to mentor players even after his playing days. The Leafs clearly value that presence, especially during a front-office overhaul.
The bigger question now is whether he’s ready for a larger job. Replacing Wickenheiser would be a significant step, and Muzzin has not had a front office role beyond pro scouting. Still, Toronto kept him in the fold for a reason, and his work with prospects over the past two seasons has made him a legitimate candidate.
He’s approachable, patient and deeply invested in helping players improve. That combination has already made an impression on the Leafs’ young defensemen. Whether it’s enough to put him in charge of the entire player development department is the next call for John Chayka.
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