Jake Muzzin, once ranked as the top defensive prospect in the Kings organization by MayorsManor, is getting a huge pay increase starting next season. In the summer of 2013, the Woodstock, Ontario native signed a two-year contract that pays him $1,000,000 per year through the end of this season.
Earlier today, it was announced GM Dean Lombardi has inked him to a five-year extension that will begin with the 2015-16 season. In year one, Muzzin is set to earn a base salary of $3,000,000. That number increases to $4,000,000 in year two (2016-17), then $4,100,000 in year three (2017-18), $4,450,000 in year four (2018-19), and $4,450,000 for the final year of the contract (2019-20).
Back in the 2010 OHL Coach’s Poll, he was chosen as the player with the hardest shot, named the best defensive-defenseman, the second-best offensive-defenseman, and tied as the conference’s best body-checker. You may also recall, it was Drew Doughty openly lobbying for young Jake to be his partner during training camp in September 2013 – coming at a time where he only had half-a-season of NHL experience. Then, just this past weekend, Jim Fox was praising Muzzin’s development as perhaps the key to their 2014 Stanley Cup.
Overall, not too shabby for a guy who was originally drafted in the fifth round by Pittsburgh. The Penguins didn’t sign him following back surgery, and he eventually chose the Kings among a handful of offers he had, as a free agent coming out of the OHL with the legendary Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
