If there was a contender in the Eastern Conference that had to acquire a top-2 pairing defenseman by the deadline it was the Toronto Maple Leafs. With pressure to go all-in this season and make a deep run while the likes of Auston Matthews/Jake Muzzin are still on their entry level contracts, first year GM Kyle Dubas just had to make this type of move in acquiring Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings. Muzzin is the perfect type of defenseman to bring in for Toronto in filling an immediate need to play top pairing minutes, while also being insurance next season if Jake Gardiner prices himself out of Toronto due to their cap situation. Muzzin’s $4 million cap hit for next season is manageable for the Leafs. An issue lately for the Leafs is having Ron Hainsey playing a 2nd-pairing role. The trickle down effect of adding Muzzin is it likely pushes Hainsey to being properly deployed and suddenly many will look at the Leafs top-6 on the blueline in a much different way.