Kings trade Muzzin to Leafs for first round pick, Grundstrom, rights to Durzi

Lots, lots more to come on a conference call at the top of the hour, but the LA Kings announced Monday that they have traded Jake Muzzin to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2019 first round draft pick, 21-year-old forward prospect Carl Grundstrom and the rights to defenseman Sean Durzi.

Los Angeles now has nine picks at the 2019 NHL Draft: their own picks in each of the seven rounds, as well as Toronto’s first round pick and Arizona’s fifth round pick.

VIA LA KINGS:

The Los Angeles Kings today acquired a first-round draft selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, forward Carl Grundstrom and the reserve rights to defenseman Sean Durzi from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Jake Muzzin. The announcement was made by Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake.

“We feel this trade was necessary for the future of the organization,” said Blake. “Moving Jake was not easy as he has been a key player for us and a significant part of our most historic and memorable achievements. We are grateful for his contributions to the Kings and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Grundstrom is a 21-year-old forward from Umea, Sweden, who was selected by the Maple Leafs in the second-round (57th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft. The 6-0, 194-pounder is currently playing for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he has 13 goals and 29 points (13-16=29) in 42 games as a rookie. His 13 goals are tied for sixth and his 29 points are tied for ninth among all AHL rookies this season.

Grundstrom helped lead the Marlies to the 2018 Calder Cup championship with eight goals and 14 points (8-6=14) in 20 playoff games last spring. He led all AHL rookies in playoff scoring.

He has also represented Sweden on the International stage five times, including twice at the World Junior Championship, totaling four goals and eight points (4-4=8) in 14 career games. Sweden finished fourth in both the 2017 and 2016 tournaments.

Grundstrom debuted with the Marlies during the 2016-17 AHL playoffs, scoring three goals and four points (3-1=4) in six postseason games. He joined the Marlies that season after completing a highly successful regular season with Frolunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League. In 45 regular season games with Frolunda, he collected 14 goals (tied for first on the team) and 20 points (ranked eighth on the team). He also skated in 14 postseason games with Frolunda (1-1=2) before joining the Marlies that year. He also suited up for Frolunda during the 2017-18 season, collecting 17 goals (ranked second on the team) and 24 points.

Grundstrom will be assigned by the Kings to the Ontario Reign (AHL).

Durzi is a 20-year-old from Toronto. The 6-0, 196-pounder was selected by the Maple Leafs in the second-round (52nd overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Durzi, who shoots right, has 28 points (8-20=28) in 26 Ontario Hockey League games with both the Owen Sound Attack and the Guelph Storm. Durzi opened the season with Owen Sound (3-14=17 in 18 games) before he was traded to Guelph earlier this month (traded on January 9; has 5-6=11 in eight games since the trade). Durzi, an OHL Second Team All-Star in 2017-18, has collected 131 points (35-96=131) in 171 career OHL regular season games.

Muzzin, 29, has played with the Kings since the 2010-11 season when he made his NHL debut after originally signing with the Kings as an unrestricted free agent on January 4, 2010. In 496 career regular season NHL games, all with the Kings, he has recorded 213 points (51-162=213), 298 penalty minutes and a plus-24 rating.

Muzzin has also played in 50 career NHL postseason games and recorded 20 points (7-13=20) and 18 penalty minutes. In 2014 he played in 26 playoff games as the Kings captured the Stanley Cup.

This season, the 6-3, 213-pound native of Woodstock, Ontario, has appeared in all 50 games for the Kings and recorded 21 points (4-17=21).

–Lead photo via Bruce Bennett/Getty Images