Jake Muzzin
A hard-hitting, late-blooming defenseman who won a Stanley Cup in Los Angeles and became a heart-and-soul player in Toronto.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 21·Millennials
Biography
Jake Muzzin's hockey story is one of resilience and an unwavering belief in his own game. Initially drafted by Pittsburgh, he was let go without a contract, a setback that would define his character. Returning to junior hockey as an overage player, he dominated, winning the OHL's top defenseman award and proving his doubters wrong. This perseverance paid off when the Los Angeles Kings signed him as a free agent. In LA, Muzzin's physical, two-way game blossomed alongside Drew Doughty, and he became an integral part of the team's 2014 Stanley Cup victory. A trade to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs saw him evolve into a defensive anchor and a vocal leader, beloved for his punishing checks and playoff intensity. Injuries eventually cut his playing career short, but his understanding of the game and his journey made him a natural fit to move into a player development role, helping guide the next generation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jake was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.
- Awarded the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL's most outstanding defenseman in 2010.
- Represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship, winning gold in 2015 and 2016.
Did You Know?
He was not signed by the team that originally drafted him (Pittsburgh Penguins) and entered the NHL as an undrafted free agent.
He served as captain of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in his final junior season.
He and his wife, Courtney, are avid supporters of mental health initiatives, sharing their personal experiences publicly.
“I had to go back to junior, dominate, and prove to everyone they made a mistake.”
