OverDrive - Dreger and Johnston on the Maple Leafs' injury bug, Hughes' next steps in Vancouver and the Oilers' team issues

Episode Date: December 4, 2025

TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Maple Leafs' injury bug and the timelines to return, Quinn Hughes' future with the Canucks, the Jets in a losing skid, the Oilers' next steps and more.

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Is that a flap room, too? You get the beard cooking. Look amazing, but... It looked like Tony Hawk, man. You look cool. Tony Hawk. I love everything about it. I love everything about it.

Pulled that one out of the vapors. Wow. Oh, it's a good reference. It's excellent. Beautiful reference. CJ, I guess we'll start with you in terms of the Leafs and, you know, them in Carolina and good vibes. Like, a couple wins. All of a sudden, everything's moving in the right direction.

But where do we stand? man with, you know, Tanev, Carlos, stole ours. That's what we get asked about all the time. What's one of these guys possibly going to return? Well, it doesn't seem like any of them are particularly close, right? So, you know, in terms of looking at where the leaves are today, I think that they just have to keep muslin through more or less with the group they have for the foreseeable future, you know.

We obviously heard this week about the setback for Carlos, so he's ways away. I mean, Tanev seems to be in the same boat. And, you know, if you figure out what's going on, Anthony Stollars, please let me know because I'm not sure exactly what his status is of just being straight up on us. So, I mean, I don't see anything on the horizon there that's going to help them. But that being said, they have obviously gotten healthier for this stretch. The forwards are jelling a little better, you know, getting everyone back in the lineup up front, and they managed to put some wins together here.

Are you guys not somewhat surprised that some teams just had, and I know trades are difficult, and that's the new life of the NHL, but some team that's struggling hasn't said to another team that's struggling. I got three guys that I can't stand right now. You've got three guys that you can't stand. Like, let's just try to flip-flop and do something to change up the energy of these teams. Are we just stuck in a world where teams, like, they have their roster set in September and October, and that's what we're getting all year.

Gaze has talked about it for years, drinks, where it's like the fan engagement and excitement, it's terrible. Yeah, and it might be worse this year because of the obvious, right? You've got the Olympic break, but that break also includes a trade freeze from February 4th through February 22nd. So now you've got a limited amount of time. And, you know, I've talked to a couple of general managers about this. I mean, it felt like last week there was more trade buzz, and that's primarily because the Vancouver Canucks just announced their shopping list. And that caused a bit of a stir.

It's a bit more quiet this week. But there's so many injuries across the NHO. And you wonder how much that is starting to influence these decisions as well, right? I mean, maybe you don't want to overpay to get that player. And the change, as O described for sake of change, isn't there in a perfect scenario. So you don't really have much of a choice other than wait for your guys to come back and see how they fit moving forward. Well, we talked about Quinn Hughes last week, and I've noticed in the market, there was one shift of his that's been isolated. I'm sure you guys have all seen it.

It was not a good look for Quinn. He's just kind of floating around. We're down 3-1 to Colorado. It was a really bad look. It's tough to isolate one shift on a player, but it's happened before it's, and when you get a profile guy like that, and I sense in the market, they're getting worried about him. Like worried about what's going to happen, what's the PR going to look like. Like the fans, management or everybody?

Bands, media, like, because, you know, just, again, tracking guys in Vancouver. We're all friends out there, media types. My understanding is he was like, he's off limits. You talk about anyone else you want. Quinn's a guy you leave alone. of a sudden he's in the fire a little bit and based on some of his play recently, maybe that's deserved. But how

much of this is about preserving his PR in the market? Like if you're the owner, if you're Quinn Hughes, don't you have to get out in front of this and prove I want to be here, I want to win here, and how does he handle this moving forward? Well, I think it's simply based on wins and losses

and it has very little to do with the PR of Quinn Hughes. This is all about the Vancouver Connects trying to do whatever they can do to plug their holes to prove to him that there is long-term viability here. Like, there are some that just believe that it's not going to happen with Quinn. You know, he's already made that determination that, all right, you know, I have to play out my contract.

I'm going to give you everything I can as captain of the organization. But the end of the day, I'm likely not going to extend there. So if it goes right off the rails in Vancouver this year, and there's no reason to think it will entirely. But what does that mean? You know, if you're a non-playoff contender at the trade deadline around, March 6th. If you're Patrick Galveen and Jim Rutherford, are you having that conversation about potentially throwing them out there? And I think that's what's starting to churn

a little bit in that market because of the recent optics more than anything. Right. How they're playing and how things are going. And listen, he'll be at the Olympic Games and be a huge part of that. But CJ, you look at the injuries with the Americans in particular. Like how might that affect what Bill Guerin decides to do or what he even can do? a lot of his main pieces or a lot of guys are banged up right now. Yeah, it's kind of a tough spot. I think if there's a silver lining in it is they don't believe any of those players at this point are going to be out of the tournament, you know, that even the Hellobox

and then some guys like that are going to have a window to get back up and running. But, you know, it was kind of amazing, actually, to me, looking back that the Four Nation sermon didn't have more injury issues. But it just feels like the way this season has gone. I mean, these teams get named end of December. first week of January, you know, there's still quite a number of games to be played before the actual event gets going February 11th for the men in Milano. So, you know, I just have to believe we're going to see more injury replacements everywhere. And so maybe if you're the U.S.,

you're just hoping that this rash of injuries, you know, Jack Hughes, all these guys, that there's going to be an opportunity for them to get back and playing and then that the bad luck's getting used up now. Drags, you got those Winnipeg roots, Manitoba roots, I guess. There's a lot of So do we, Dave. So do we. Oh, and I, we love Winnipeg. It's their second home. Their second home.

Literally, it's my second home. I'll say it again. It felt like home. I've got some connections out there, and there's a lot of dismay emanating from the prairie about this team. And I think, hey, head coach Scott Arniel, when you're saying your team embarrassed themselves in Buffalo, you're calling team meetings, you lose again last night,

albeit you get a point at least against the Canadians in Montreal. But, you know, what is there to be done? if you're running that club right now? Well, they're selling hope, and that comes from inside hockey operations. And, you know, I watch that game, and Winnipeg was obviously a lot better than they were the other night in Buffalo. I mean, that was abysmal in Buffalo, particularly the first period. And I think I read somewhere, Buffalo scored on four rush chances, and they had nine chances overall. I mean, that's just not Winnipeg Jets hockey.

It really isn't. I mean, the history of success in Winnipeg is primarily based around their defensive structure, right? They spent way too much time of late in the defensive zone. It looks like they're out of juice, but that's not all of it. And then instantly we turn to goaltending because Connor Hellebuk, the savior, isn't there. Well, Eric Commery's a backup goalie in the NHL. He can make saves, but he's probably not going to make too many 10-bell saves. See, the amount of stress that is on that goaltender is too much.

But then, as O talked about the other night, Tuesday night, I mean, their secondary scoring, by and large. Non-existent. It's not there. It's not there. can't always be about Mark Schifley and Kyle Connor. And you can't fix that externally. That has to come from within. Yeah.

Yeah, it's interesting. Like, they're in a bad place, man. Like, they're in a, that division we talked about it yesterday because Colorado and Dallas and Minnesota. Yeah, you want to dig a hole in that division, man. Watch out. Yeah, like the wild cards are there. You're chasing the wildcards and you're in a wild card race with teams that are not

that comfortable in the position. Like right now, it's Utah, San Jose, Seattle, Chicago. I don't think you'd be scared of those teams because they have any history of making the playoffs. Right. But still, it's not just Winnipeg. It's Edmonton, too. Yeah.

Like, the Oilers are in the same spot. Now, they can still track down, I think, L.A. and maybe other teams in their own division. But you look at them tonight. They have, is it Seattle, I believe, in town in Edmonton tonight, C.J. And, you know, what, what's the vibe check like out there when you're checking in on Edmonton and what they think they can still do? Well, it's funny.

It's a little like we had in Toronto here, and that they just feel like. they haven't played enough good games. Like, it's not a matter of, oh, some bad bounces have led to their record being where they are. I think they've been very up and down. Perhaps they can draw something. They did have a shutout win in Seattle here recently, so they've had some success against the Cracken.

You know, the loss to Minnesota, it's a one cool game, tight game. But, you know, they've just been kind of all over the place, have the Oilers. And, you know, I think they're starting to feel the push. A lot of teams would be that the Panthers are feeling it now. Obviously, the Leafs, I think, are still in this position where you realize it's getting late. Like, you can't keep putting off when your best hockey is going to come around because maybe it's not going to go. So, you know, I think there's a fair amount of urgency around the Oilers. And just in trying to get, they almost feel like that they have their own house in order before we're talking about, you know, external, trade this guy for that guy, solving any issues.

I think they need a more consistent, you know, brand of hockey they've had in previous years or else this could be one of those years. they just never get it going. Yeah. Well, Florida, I don't know, man. I'm not convinced they can get back up off the mat. We talked about this the other day. Like, those injuries are so substantial. They played so much hockey. They've all won.

They've all gotten their contracts. It's difficult. Like, psychologically, it's tough to be into December and dead last in the East and say, screw it, we're winning 10 in a row. It looked like the other night they didn't, there's not enough there to climb out of it right now. And I'm curious what you think Bill Zito is going to do about that. Like, does he have the stomach?

Say, you know what's in our best interest here? Sit for a year. Yeah. Accept it, reload, let everyone get healthy, get a high pick, and come right back roaring out next year. Do you think they have the stomach for that, or will he try to push and prod and try to get them back in that? Yeah, he's going to try and push.

I mean, not necessarily because he's feeling, you know, pressure from above or any of that. I mean, they're back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. They made nothing but money in Florida over the last number of years now. but he's a fierce competitor, Belly Zito, and he's not going down without a fight. But, you know, because of the changes to the CBA and how you have to manage, you know,

your injury scenarios, you know, they do need a firm answer on Sasha Barkoff. You know, are you coming back? And if you're not coming back, period, because, again, it has to drift all the way to the end of the year, you can't come back at some point in the playoffs, right? It just, it's not allowed anymore.

It forces teams like Florida to make a more difficult decision transactionally with what you're trying to trade for and what you're getting back. We know Matthew Chuck is more or less back onto the ice. He'll come back, so that'll be a big boost, but he's not going down without a fight, the GM, that is. Yeah, could Chuck have been interesting to see what he looks like when he gets back. I mean, obviously we're well aware of what he's capable of doing, but this is a pretty substantial injury. yeah like it's a pretty big one and again he's got the olympics coming up we'll see it wasn't exactly a packed house the other night when the leaps were in town either kind of embarrassing for a two-time cup champ and they had 40 people in the building anyway you just love it's disgusting though

no i know but tell me you're not offended by that i know but they'll just come back at you and say well your team never might i understand that i totally get that the counter could be your team The time cup champs, 40 people in the building, disgusting. I just wanted to make a point that it was very noticeable. Very noticeable. All right, guys. We'll leave it there. Good stuff, as always.

DJ, just before we get out of here, how many books were just getting a count from people? And Dregs, by the way, accused care of reading comic books. Let's that be noted. That's what we're doing. We're throwing each other onto the body. CJ, how many books last year did you read? Not more than three.

That's a good number, though. That's a normal number. And that's a perfect way to get people off your back. I actually just finished out of these book. He gave me a copy a week ago, and I finished it off in the last couple days here. Great read. Because you had good read. It took me 11 minutes to read.

It's a great read. All right, CJ. Dregs, good seeing you guys. There they are, the insiders. Chris Johnston, Darren Dregor. The lights are twinkling. The playlist. I Heart the Holidays is here.

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