The Toronto Maple Leafs announced a series of position changes among the front office on Monday, including former Leafs’ defenceman Jake Muzzin moving permanently into a player development role.
Muzzin last played for the Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 season, and once injuries derailed his playing career, he began working as a Pro Scout for Toronto. The 35-year-old Woodstock, ON native joins the player development side of the front office, which should be a seamless transition for Muzzin, who has been known to communicate regularly with some of the Maple Leafs’ top defensive prospects. In 683 career NHL games, Muzzin recorded 294 points, winning a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.
Along with Muzzin’s new role, general manager Brad Treliving also announced the Leafs hired Jason Taylor as a Pro Scout, Jerrod Smith as an Amateur Scout, and Scott Carter as a part-time Pro and Amateur Scout.
Taylor spent the past three seasons as an Amateur Scout with the Calgary Flames. Taylor has a long history covering the Western Hockey League, and his decorated executive resume includes dating back to the early 2000s when he was an assistant general manager and coach in the Dallas Stars’ organization.
Smith joins the Maple Leafs after coaching the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League last season. He spent 12 seasons with the organization, including not only as head coach but also spent time as director of player personnel, and was also an associate coach to then-head coach Marc Savard, who is now behind the Maple Leafs’ bench.
Carter returns to Toronto and will work scouting both professional and amateur games on the West Coast. It’s a reunion of sorts, as Carter served as an amateur scout from 2009-15 before spending six seasons as the GM of the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League.
The Maple Leafs open up the 2024-25 season on Wednesday when they travel to Montreal to face off against the rival Canadiens.
