I haven't dropped Green yet, stashed him on my IR.
As for Muzzin - I'm not sold yet.
Head over to NHL.com and watch his 5 goals.
Just click "video".
Muzzin is consistently flicking things on net. It's not even a clean shot often, seems to go end-over-end sometimes. He likes to put it high corners - which has been working.
Yup, it's going to go in occasionally... and his 5 goals on 35 shots translates to a 14% shooting percentage, which puts him
top 10 among defensemen. Sustainable - nope.
Typically, defensemen (not named Karlsson) who are mostly releasing points-shots will score at about 5%. An excellent lucky season for defensemen will
come in around 10%. (Kronwall, Garrison last year)
Muzzin is also playing mostly the left D spot and he's a left-handed shot, which isn't ideal angle for a scoring defenseman.
I think he's had several seeing eye pucks.
I will say that he
appears to have a good hockey-sense at avoiding an approaching defender and using their body as a screen. Is this really his intention though?
Overall, from playing hockey growing up - I never remember a coach that was fond of seeing his defensemen shooting for upper corners from the point. Very few rebounds.
I don't know... he looks a little bit "clunky" out there.
I'll be surprised if long-term he's better than the wonky Mike Green.
We'll see.