The Maple Leafs said Wednesday they had a follow-up consultation this month with various specialists, and their medical staff has determined Muzzin would not be able to play again this season.
Muzzin, who turned 34 on Tuesday,
was ruled out indefinitely
with a cervical spine injury by Toronto on Nov. 15. He last played on Oct. 27 when he left a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes at 11:03 of the second period after a collision with Coyotes forward Clayton Keller.
Muzzin, who has one assist in four games this season, has sustained several major injuries the past few seasons. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher after he fell chest-first onto the legs of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers on Aug. 4, 2020. He missed the rest of that series, which the Maple Leafs lost in five games.
Muzzin sustained two concussions last season, when he had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 47 games, and missed part of training camp this season due to back discomfort.
Selected in the fifth round (No. 141) by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL Draft, Muzzin has 294 points (69 goals, 225 assists) in 683 NHL games through 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings and Maple Leafs, and 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 72 Stanley Cup Playoff games and won the Cup with the Kings in 2014.
The Maple Leafs will have a further update on Muzzin's status at training camp in September.
Toronto (35-15-8) is second in the Atlantic Division with 78 points, 13 points behind the Boston Bruins and three points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Maple Leafs host the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Arena on Friday (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, BSNX, BSWIX, ESPN+, SN NOW).
