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# Jake Muzzin takes to the ice for the Leafs in his first practice
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/jake-muzzin-takes-to-the-ice-for-the-toronto-maple-leafs-in-his-first-practice/
- Published: 2019-01-31T19:28:43.000Z
- Updated: 2019-01-31T19:28:43.000Z
- Description: All of the Leafs are on the ice in Detroit Thursday afternoon ahead of Friday’s game.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:01

Today with the bye-week coming to a close, the Leafs are back at work in Detroit having a practice late (because of the bye-week rules) prior to their game tomorrow. This is Jake Muzzin’s first chance to get on the ice with his new team.

> 👀  
>  
> Jake Muzzin takes his first strides as a Maple Leaf. [#LeafsForever](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafsForever?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/v0f21CTA2l](https://t.co/v0f21CTA2l?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) [January 31, 2019](https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1091051886700982272?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

See, he uses two sticks, that’s his secret.

In other good news, both Jake Gardiner and Andreas Johnsson are skating with the team. Johnsson had practised with the team once before the bye week as well.

> Andreas Johnsson (concussion) and Jake Gardiner (back spasms) both on the ice at the Leafs hold their first post-bye practice [pic.twitter.com/zL4p4cTDHh](https://t.co/zL4p4cTDHh?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Mark Masters (@markhmasters) [January 31, 2019](https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1091048599692156929?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

If they are both able to play tomorrow, no roster moves will be needed, and the Leafs can sit at 23 players with three extra defencemen if they choose to. That seems like an unlikely long-term choice, but until Tyler Ennis is back on both feet, it might be how it stands.

These are the pairings from this practice:

> Leafs D pairs at practice   
>  
> Muzzin-Rielly  
> Gardiner-Zaitsev   
> Dermott-Hainsey   
> Marincin-Ozhiganov [pic.twitter.com/IiJ7YEOsKo](https://t.co/IiJ7YEOsKo?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Mark Masters (@markhmasters) [January 31, 2019](https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1091052642648903680?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Justin Holl is said to be skating as a forward in some drills.

With Morgan Rielly on the right side, if that is how they keep things, the challenge is to integrate that famous low-to-high pass the Leafs like to use offensively on the right side as well as the left. With Jake Gardiner and Rielly splitting the offensive minutes on the left, the forwards could keep to the same patterns, no matter who was on the ice, that saw them favour the left-side defenders for offensive pinches.

> Leaf lines  
>  
> Marleau-Matthews-Marner   
> Hyman-Tavares-Kapanen   
> Brown-Kadri-Nylander   
> Lindholm-Gauthier-Johnsson [#LeafsForever](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafsForever?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) [January 31, 2019](https://twitter.com/HennyTweets/status/1091054501719695360?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

And the lines will be sure to please some and not others, and are of course, always subject to change.

If there’s anything interesting from the players or the coach after practice, we’ll update you.

Added:

> Muzzin chatting with assistant coach Hiller during special teams drill  
>  
> Babcock usually prefers four forwards on PP but Muzzin and Gardiner both on the second unit at practice [pic.twitter.com/ehz3SZ1ac7](https://t.co/ehz3SZ1ac7?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Mark Masters (@markhmasters) [January 31, 2019](https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1091058736200908800?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The two Jakes on the second unit. I feel like I heard that idea somewhere...?

Muzzin speaks! And says about what you’d expect.

This left-right shuffle thing is going to get talked about a lot. I think I’ll just wait a week and see what happens.