OverDrive - Dreger and Johnston on Matthews' injury status, the Oilers' goaltending choices and the injuries in the league

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston joined OverDrive for the insider roundtable to discuss the prominent injuries in the league and the impact to the teams, Auston Matthews' injury status and the Maple Leafs' team performances, the powerhouses in the NHL, the highest contracts in the league and more.

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Restriction supply ships registered in Panama and Malta. Darren Dregger, who we see quite often, and Chris Johnston in here. Cleaned up, nice, too, huh? CJ looks top nine. Tight. Got lost. Good luck, man. You got lost?

I know, I haven't seen you around here. I think July 1st was the last time I was in the studio. Well, it's good to see you guys. And tell me if I'm wrong, but one of the constant themes in the league right now, besides fan base is griping about their teams, and we will get to a couple of those in a moment. But injuries. like headman's out for a while McAvoy just had facial surgery

the Leafs are obviously depleted like there's nothing the league can do about this but it seems like a pretty consistent theme league wide how many injuries there are to star players and any complaints about the shortened training camp like is that a factor or what well or the condensed schedule and all that

but I you know talking general managers about this and I applied to the league to get some comparisons and the league doesn't like talking about injuries, right? I mean, normally it has to do with club personnel, so that's a club issue. So I didn't get a response to the National Hockey League,

but the comparison has to be high this year as compared to other years. So instantly, you think of the shortened training camp, you look at the condensed schedule of the Olympics, but we're not looking at groin poles and knee stuff. Like we're lucky at kind of bigger picture, longer term sort of issues. So I'm not sure why it is, but a lot of teams in the league are dealing with it.

Funny, I just was talking to someone who works for a team as I was driving out here. Got to say his name? I will not, but I actually hope he's going to listen. I told him I was going to do the show and he said he'd tune in. He was railing against the Olympics. He was like, what are we doing, going to the Olympics? He's like, these guys are not robots. He's like, we're basically playing the same schedule as normal, minus three weeks.

His team, and this was in the, like, near 20 back-to-backs. And an owner? No, it's a front office person. But anyway, the point is, he was just saying, these guys aren't robots. Like,

even as good a shape as they're and you can't push them. He's like, we don't even practice at this point. We're just trying to manage everyone's bodies. And, yeah, it's not great for the product. Well,

and that's another thing. The product, right, we talked about it yesterday with Ray, and the fact that no one practices ever, ever, you know, is a big part of it as well. Like, what can you expect

in terms of details and getting guys, you know, playing at a level you might want them. But that also, I think it's a built-in excuse, guys, sorry. Like, it's the best league in the world. And if you really need to figure out what your systems are, give me a break. Well, systems are one thing.

I agree. The injury issue, though, is amplified by not being able to practice. Because you've got guys that can't get their reps in, right? So that's why it's taking players longer to seemingly get up to speed when they miss 5-10. But Struddy, let's say you were a D-Man on a new team. Like, would you be really confused or need a bunch of? your reps to do with something different on a different NHL team. I know you

probably needed some reps, but would you really need it or what? That nice shot. No, the problem, if I didn't know the system, I would be gone. I would be somewhere else. But I will say this, and I think this makes a difference. I think it's just the reps and having that feeling of, for

a D man, you know, it's maybe making breakout passes or it's battling in front the net or locking guys out. Take it one or once. Like, you do need reps because it's hard to just find that part of your game if you never do it. You're going to show me a video a thousand times. It doesn't mean I can hit a hole in wanted

and on a par three, right? So you need to do it and be out there, guys. Okay. You know what NHL clubs are going to do now? You know, you're going to ban all sorts of glassware and stuff from team functions and dinners. And you can't have a barbecue on your premises if you're employed by the National Occupy. That makes a lot of sense

to me, a lot of sense to me. Is there, can either of you tell us anything about this Austin Matthews situation that is not publicly known at this point because well like for me specific injury well I heard

Baroube say today while he's shooting better which is a good sign I'm like I heard him say that 25 times last year and that makes my radar go off like I thought it was a lower body injury it's unrelated to what he is it so it's not what it was last year 100% not what it was okay so that's a positive

and I think that's what leave fans would like to hear because they never say anything about this guy particular. And I know it's mostly him. He's not interested in telling anybody anything. But considering the year he had last year, and then all of a sudden he's on IR, and now he's not playing, and now there's no timeline. Like, where do we stand on Matthews and the

leaves? Because usually when a guy takes the ice like that, isn't he like usually like five days away or something? He looks pretty good in the skate. Or is that not the case here? Matthews could be five days away. Yeah, I think the question... I don't think he'll be ready on the weekend, do you? I'd be surprised. Yeah. But now you're looking in the middle of next week, because

they have a bit of a break. My only caveat is just how important every game is for Leaves right now. And he did stay out for a long time today. So, you know, hypothetically, if they lose tonight, I could see maybe pushing for Saturday. But if not, they have until Wednesday off. And so, you know, it's a muscle type of injury, I was told, you know, one that responds to rest a little bit, which is why I think it took a little longer. But given that fact, I mean, I think it, there's an argument to be made why rush it for Saturday when he gets three days until the next game.

the Leafs, you know, aren't in one of those situations where their schedule is going crazy in this exact moment. So, you know, I don't want to put any, I don't want to say he's 100% back on this game because it just, you're right, it's, it is a mystery, right? If it drifts beyond next Wednesday, then we got a problem. Then we got a bigger story. And my sense is that's, it's hard to pinpoint targeting it. Like I said, I don't think he'll be available on Saturday. I'd be surprised if he was. but if you get to Wednesday and he's not an option at that point

or very, very, very close. All right, all right. Now it's time to start digging a little harder. And there's a lot of gray right now with the Leafs. Like Anthony Stolar, remember when he left the game in Boston. A game or two, right? Greg Brubay was hoping he'd be back right away. He hasn't been on the ice.

You know, obviously that's the nature of some of the injuries, I guess the players can only go when they can go. But it's not just that Leaves are missing a lot of guys. We don't know when they're coming back. I know. That's like the Nyes thing. We were joking the other night. We were on a panel.

We signed off at 555. He was playing. We did a pregame at 605. He was out. In 10 minutes, he was out of the lineup. It was like a tanking thing with the guys that were out. We got down there. These guys tank, everyone's gone.

Right. Carlos gone. Nye's gone. And it's not the reason they're in the position they're in, but now it's a reality. I mean, this is a real difficult goal for the leaves. Like, they're really in one with injuries. It's not why they're in that position, but it's a hurdle to getting out of it. Exactly. Exactly. They're already in the bottom of that hole, and those guys did play. A lot of them played during those times.

But now they have to win games. I mean, they're getting late in the season. The general manager, though, would quick to point out, that's why you don't trade Nikki Robertson. That's why you don't make rash decisions. You embrace your depth because you're going to need that depth at varying points of the regular season and obviously the playoffs. So why didn't I apply to David Kemp then? Well, he wanted out. And the coach, let's be honest. It wasn't him in July saying I want out, right? Like, the Leafs didn't want him anymore. Well, I just don't think that he fit the eye of Craig Baroube.

Yes. I think that's fair. So, if he... What he was scratched for 12 with 13 playoff games? What did you call that? Fitting the eye? Yeah. Yeah, for whatever reason. I mean, coaches and players, that happens all the time.

That's right. Every team in the league has that. You know, now, again, in hindsight, I'm sure Brad Trilliving would say, well, if David Camp had reported, and he had played for the Marleys, he'd be. back in the National Hockey League with Toronto Maple Leafs right now, right? He might be like their second-line center at this point the way things are going. Like, seriously. Yeah, it's a pretty good opportunity for David Camp.

But, listen, yeah, they're Scott Lotton returns tonight, and that's pretty significant. I like Quillan's game the other night, played aggressively. You can skate. It seems to be a big, like we keep talking about specific positions with this team. Might need a top six winger, maybe you need a puck-moving defenseman. They need some pace. in their game. Well, and guys who finish checks, too.

That would be helpful. I think Colin had, what, like four hits in that hockey game? You know, how many did Max Domi have? I didn't know. Zero, I think. And I'm identifying him. I mean, you can probably, you know, as we look at the lineup now, you know, Machialli, I don't know.

I think he had one hit. Maybe zero. I didn't notice Michelli at any point other than when he dumped it over the glass. I think he's got a skate and a half in the doghouse. Yes. David Camp like. Does he not 15? He doesn't fit the eye. He stole the other half of the skate in there.

You don't have to say skate and a half. Yeah. Darren Dregor, Chris Johnson in studio. All right, let's get to where Sturdy's waiting patiently. Yes, he is. Edmonton, gold tending. Like, is it just a foregone conclusion? Skinner, Pickard, they're playing out the rest of the year?

Because if they were going to make a move, why didn't they do it in the summer? Or is it still possible? It could change at some point this year. I don't see, Brian, how you guys can comment on it, but I don't see how that could be. something that happens going forward. That can't happen. If they are going to make the playoffs,

scared to even say that sentence, their goaltending cannot stay the same as it is right now. Sorry, no way in hell. I mean, they have to explore it. You know, every time we talk about goaltending, it's probably talks about it minute by minute in that market. But look, you get the same response from Stan Malman and management. It's the same tandem that help us get back to the Stanley Cup final again.

All right, okay, I can accept that, but that's in the past. And the reality is now the tandem isn't working. So I can't imagine that Bowman isn't making calls. The Buffalo's carrying three guys, right? Boston has depth in that position. There are teams that have goalies not playing in the National Hockey League that could be considered an upgrade on what Edmonton has.

And then you've got the Connor Ingram experiment that's going on in Bakersfield. So it has to be a topic that they talk about inside hockey ops. Yeah, and I guess drags it's what we're looking at here, right? if you're them to owners. You're not going to get a Swaman-like player, not that I'm saying he's available. You've got to get someone that is budget-friendly at this time. Is that going to be good enough?

That's the question. For a team trying to win a cup, that's the hard part too, right? But I guess it's like anything. We're looking at the leaves, like Troy Stetcher, like he can help, right? Quillen can help get them out of it. These guys aren't white knights to save everything. Maybe

for the Oilers, they just need a guy who can come in and make a few saves it's tough. They put themselves in a spot, though. You need to learn out to defend. Yeah. That's a part of it as well. That's a part of it as well, but

I don't know. Their goaltending stats are pretty off the charts, man. Like it's pretty stagnant. Yeah, both teams struggling right now. Injuries in Montreal as well, like in pretty big ones, right? Docs out, new hooks done basically for the season now and googly's out for a while. Like, they had such a hot start now they're really cooling off.

Like, I know Ken Hughes, I believe, was speaking recently about, you know, but they got flexibility and they got prospects. Like they seem like a team that could be possibly active at some point. Well, trying, no question about that. And you got to wonder, like Johnny Beecher, he was put on waivers, which made no sense to me by the Boston Bruins. I mean, granted, not in the lineup, but there's a big kid who could flat out skate, a centerman, right? Well, obviously Calgary is going to take him. I mean, if he'd slip deeper, Montreal for sure is I'm not sure the Toronto Maple Leafs wouldn't.

I mean, there would have been a number of different. different teams. So is that an area that maybe Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadians explore? I mean probably they had interest in David Camp if things hadn't worked out in Vancouver I would have thought that Montreal would have been

a player. Well short term there's no forward in the league that could come available they won't look at. Just because they were already looking obviously down the line they're looking for their second line center but right now we're talking bargain bid shopping they just need some bodies and guys to fill in and so

they're very active. I think they're looking at situations. There's some rumors out there. There might be a couple more contract terminations like we saw with Camp. I mean, this is the state we're in. We're not talking about trade at this point. I think there's someone else, too.

I haven't got, I haven't sleuthed it out yet. But it sounds like there's a couple forwards league-wide still that might be looking to copy the Kempf model. I like that. So those players, you know, could end up in Montreal, too. I mean, I just think they have to look at everyone

that is available. And the trade market's paralyzed right now. There's just nothing going on. Are we officially extending the deadline of figuring out what your team is, which is for the longest time since I've been involved in the NHL? American Thanksgiving, you know what you got. Like, has everyone pushed that back? Are we doing Christmas now?

Yeah, probably, but, I mean, it's all related to the standings. Like, how many teams are below 500 right now in 32? Five, maybe? And every division, you know, I mean, the worst place, The last place team in each division is still within striking distance of a playoff spot. I know, but Dreggs, how many phony teams are out there just trying to fool their fan base saying, we got a chance. Yeah, but those general managers are also trying to fleece the guys who are calling.

So, you know, we just talked about Montreal and some of these other clubs of need because of injury. Well, they're calling the teams that should be selling or considering selling, but the asking price in some of these players, I'm told, is outrageous. So to your point, maybe that's what it is. It's just because of the log jam, you extend whatever that magic game's played number is before you pull the trigger. O'Dog, Jim Montgomery, the Blues coach this week said December 1st. So he's delaying it a little beyond American Thanksgiving, but only, you know, a couple days. Right before the holiday freeze, just stick it to the player.

I like it. Merry Christmas and we just traded you to wherever. Here's a one-way ticket to a city you don't want to live in. I think anybody with half a break can watch a team for three weeks and say, that's what you are it's like scouting trips you see a guy five times you pretty much know what you got how many teams are good right now though

like to put it back on you like how many teams are we like this is legit for sure right now a good team Colorado's Dallas Dallas is good Winnipeg's good Carolina Carolina is good other than New Jersey can be good

when they get Hughes back but they have issues in the playoffs but what a year to be like Colorado. Like you should be thinking, like they're talking the locker room should be, this is our this is like we should be full

steam ahead. Like when we have a team dinner, stay away from the cover. Just get, be careful. You should be clean and everyone get in and get out. That is the move. They've got every position covered though, right? Like Wedgwood is playing out of his mind. Obviously their defense is as solid as any and

you got Nate McKinnon and Marty Natch is just filling in that. Yeah, Natchez has been really good. So if you're in the Eastern Conference so it's wide open based on what you guys... Yeah. Like, I think... I find it weird when you go back to... Sorry, CJ.

But when you go back to Natchez in Colorado, like, they paid him 11.5 and they walked away from Rantan in at 12. Do you not think that's bizarre? Yes. Or did they just... Yeah, it was... No, it is. It is.

It is. And that's why I think not to go back to that story. But, I mean, that's why Rantman was surprised when he spoke to the media like five days after that trade. we were just kind of in the early goings of a negotiation what they're looking ahead they're looking at Cal McCar who they're going to deal with

in the offseason you know what I'm out 12 was too rich 12 and a half can't do that they end up giving it to Martin Nature like considering McDavid didn't take any more money like is it reasonable to expect

McCar to be the highest paid player in the league after he signs there's a case like why would he take a penny less than Caprizo like he doesn't have to it's his call but like why Why would he? Or does it take less term?

They're probably going to say to him, do you still want to play in Colorado if you want to ask for that? Well, that's a great question, too. Are they going to apply the Rantanen strategy to him? I mean... Maybe. I wonder, though, and I'm talking about the top dogs, and certainly K.L. McCarr fits into that strategy. How many of those top guys, and Connor McDavid, isn't that far away from its study? How many of those guys, when they dive into that unrestricted free-eagent market,

they're not looking for 120 mil. They want a three-year deal. Give me top dollar for three years So that, okay, I'm going to make good money But I know what the window is with this team And then I'm going to cash in again after that I think with some of these big guys And McCar could be in that mix as well

We're going to be surprised at how short some of these terms are Okay I think that's so stupid Yeah You take the security Yeah, they all have that already though financially They have 100 million in the bank How much more security do you need?

Why not another 100s? Not everyone's like you that has a hunch in the bank. The way you used to move the puck back there. Someone paid for that. A lot of money. Underpaid. A lot of money. All right, boys. Good seeing you guys.

Thanks for coming in. You sick, by the way? I was. I feel actually fine now. If I'm sick next week, we got a problem. It could be my last overdrive ever. Blame Manitoba. Providence of Manitoba. Don't say a bad word against Manitoba. We love Manitoba. And they love us.

clear. Very reciprocal. You know the classic line. It felt like home. This guy was so sick. Hold on. I'm going to read a text. If you do that, I will honestly snap your neck in here. This guy was so sick in Manitoba.

And as soon as the light came on for the show, I'm coughing already. Professional. This guy's a professional. Professional. From 4 to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, 100%. Everything else? Zero percent. All right, boys.

Great seeing you guys. Darren Drager, Chris Johnston, joining us. It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas with IHeart the holidays. Non-stop Christmas music 24-7. All your festive favorites. Unwrap the magic of the season. One song at a time. Ask your smart speaker to play IHeart the Holidays on IHart Radio.

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