Shortly after Jake Muzzin was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported he would slot into the team's top pairing beside Morgan Rielly.

What remains unknown, however, is which left-shot defenceman will play on his off-side when the Leafs return from their bye week. 

Darryl Sutter, who coached Muzzin with the Los Angeles Kings from 2012-2017, said the Maple Leafs may be best served having Rielly switch sides, since Muzzin has no experience on the right. 

“He’s never played the right side,” Sutter told the Toronto Sun. “Anybody who says he’s played the right side isn’t watching the games. He’s played zero times on the right side in L.A. I know they’re looking for the perfect guy to pair with (Morgan) Rielly. He might be that guy, but maybe Rielly has to switch to the other side.

“Some guys are better rushing on their off-side. You see a lot of left guys playing the right side but you don’t see a lot of right (shooters) playing their off side. It’s just the way it is.”

Rielly has spent the season to date on the left-side of the Leafs defence with Ron Hainsey, his partner for the past two seasons, on his off-side. Hainsey is expected to drop to the third-pairing and again play on the right beside Travis Dermott. 

Sutter said he doesn't believe the pressure of playing in Toronto will affect the 29-year-old Muzzin and added he's excited to see him have a chance to chase his second Stanley Cup.

“I’m glad for him that he’s going to a team with a chance to win,” said Sutter. “When you’ve played a lot of playoff games, like he has, you get that in you. You want to have that Cup run. You want to be in the big games. I don’t think Toronto will bother him at all (pressure wise). What’s harder, living in California where it’s beautiful out and it’s tough to prepare, believe me, or living in Toronto, under the microscope. I think it might be tougher in California than you think.

“The thing about Jake is, he plays top-four minutes on defence and he understands what that means. It means you’re always facing the top lines on the other team. There’s a certain responsibility that comes with that. He’s in his prime, he’s a big guy and he’s a mature guy and he can do a lot of things.”

Muzzin is expected to make his Maple Leafs debut on Friday night against the Detroit Red Wings. The team announced Tuesday he will wear No. 8.