The Washington Capitals have loaned defender Leon Muggli to EV Zug of the Swiss National League (NL) for the 2024/25 season. Senior Vice President and General Manager Chris Patrick announced this today. Muggli will nevertheless return to North America for the Capitals’ rookie camp in September.
The Capitals selected the 18-year-old Muggli with the 52nd pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 6’1″ and 175-pound defenseman scored 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) in 42 games with EV Zug in the 2023/24 season. Muggli, who turned 18 on July 9, was the NL’s best U18 skater and his 12 points were the most ever scored by a defenseman aged 17 or younger in league history.
The Swiss also appeared in four matches with Zug’s U20 team, recording two assists in four games. Muggli represented Switzerland at the 2024 World Junior Championship, the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and captained Switzerland at the 2024 World U18 Championship, where he scored one goal in three games.
Muggli spent the 2022-23 season with Zug’s U20 team, where he recorded eight points (1 goal, 7 assists) in 22 games, and the U17 team, where he served as captain and recorded 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in 16 games. In addition, Muggli led Switzerland to a gold medal at the 2023 European Youth Olympics as captain and was named the tournament’s best defender after recording four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in four games.
Muggli was ranked 5th among international defensemen and 11th among all international skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
