The partnership between Alec Martinez and Jake Muzzin strengthened over the summer like bromance scenes from a movie.
Muzzin has made Southern California his year-round home, and he worked out frequently with Martinez. The Kings defensemen are neighbors and can communicate like kids shouting to each other from their tree houses.
“We can both be standing on our roof deck and throw a football to each other,” Martinez said. “I can talk to him if I’m out there.”
Much of those discussions centered on improving on last season. The pair combined had a plus/minus rating of minus-38, a concerning number for the usually stingy Kings defense.