Muzzin healthy, ready to play for Maple Leafs if NHL season resumes

Jake Muzzin said he has fully recovered from a broken right hand and is ready to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs if the NHL season resumes.

"The hand is feeling great, the body is feeling good. I'd say pretty much 100 percent ready to go," Muzzin said Tuesday. "Been getting treatment and staying ready like everyone else."

The defenseman was injured blocking a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman in the second period of a 4-3 win Feb. 25. He said he was closing in on a return when the NHL paused the season March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

"A couple of weeks on the ice before wouldn't hurt to get back and get some touches and feels," Muzzin said. "Should be ready to go when called upon."

Muzzin rehabbed the hand at Maple Leafs facilities for a short time after the season was paused.

"It's obviously a different feel," he said. "Coming in and there's only two people, three people, really. You have the whole arena to yourself. It's kind of an eerie feeling. I was actually lucky and fortunate to get treatment and get the work done that needed to be done to make sure I heal properly."

Muzzin has been in self-quarantine in Toronto with his wife, Courtney, and his daughter, Luna, who turned 1 on April 18. Though he admits there is uncertainty when it comes to the season, he's relieved his future with Toronto has been taken care of.

Muzzin, who could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season, signed a four-year contract with the Maple Leafs on Feb. 24. He said having job security is precious given the unknowns pending free agents face.

"It's the uncertainty [for them]," Muzzin said. "I think that would be at the back of your mind. [Thoughts like] 'Guys are going to get what they should get. Or it's going to be fine. Or something is going to drastically change. Or maybe you have to structure a deal differently.' I don't know.

"For me, I don't have that because I was fortunate to get a deal structured before. Maybe everything's going to be fine. I don't know. Maybe that's the part of the uncertainty of what's going to come in the future."

Muzzin, who was traded to the Maple Leafs by the Los Angeles Kings for forward Carl Grundstrom, defenseman prospect Sean Durzi and a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft on Jan. 28, 2019, grew up 88 miles southwest of Toronto in Woodstock, Ontario, and was familiar with the passion of Maple Leafs fans.

He said it took a couple of months to feel comfortable but is now happy to be signed for four more seasons.

"The direction the team is going, the personnel, the people, the organization and the buzz in the city, there's way more positives than negatives, so we wanted to be here," Muzzin said. "And we felt the team wanted me to be here. We're glad and we're really fortunate we got a deal done before all of this happened."

Muzzin has 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 53 games this season for the Maple Leafs (36-25-9), who are third in the Atlantic Division.

He described the season as a roller coaster, said players were becoming comfortable with coach Sheldon Keefe, who replaced Mike Babcock on Nov. 20, and are confident about their chances should the season resume.

"There's room for improvement. We're looking at our games now and trying to get better," Muzzin said. "Just reflecting on certain areas of the game right now. Like I said about the contract, just excited about the group, the personnel, the people, and I think we have a bright future. Just excited to get back and go on a run here."