Toronto Maple Leafs By The Numbers: Marcel Mueller

Marcel Mueller was picked up by Toronto over the summer in 2010.  Mueller played in the German DEL, on the German Olympic team and the German national team.  Best described as a powerful 2-way forward, Mueller even stepped in to play as a defensemen when his team’s defense was riddled with injury. Mueller is not afraid to hit and led his team with 122 PIM’s, 6^th highest in the DEL.  This 6’4” 212 lb player ranked 12^th in the DEL in offense.  It is said he hardly ever loses a battle in the corners.

Without ever playing in the NHL, it is hard to determine how Mueller will make the transition.  However, there are examples of other German players now in the NHL, and by looking at their statistics we may be able to determine what kind of player Mueller will be.

In the Del, Mueller had a career high 24 G and 32 A in 53 games.  That is steady and significant improvement from 3 previous years in the DEL where Mueller had little offense.

Looking at other German players from the DEL; Marco Sturm, Jochen Hecht, and Marcel Goc.  Each player has pretty much translated their points in the DEL, directly into the NHL albeit over the longer 82 game schedule.  Offensively, each player has shown steadily improving offensive statistics as they grew accustomed to the NHL.  Hecht and Goc each spent a year in the AHL, where there point totals were very similar to that in the DEL.  Sturm went straight to the NHL, and his point totals did not change much from his DEL days.

If this is a trend, then Mueller could be a 20 goal scorer in the NHL or AHL.  Not bad for a guy that can play defense, hit hard and win the battles in the corners.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see Mueller in the lineup on opening night, especially of no forwards are added to Toronto.  Mueller could be a benefit to Grabovski on the 3^rd line and give the speedy centre some room.

By the Numbers, point projection for Marcel Mueller:

18 goals, 25 assists,  43 points