OverDrive - Johnson on Canada and Finland's semifinal, Crosby's injury status and McDavid's captain role

Episode Date: February 19, 2026

TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines for Canada and Finland's semifinal matchup, the team playing without Sidney Crosby and his injury status, Jordan Binnington's mentality, Sam Bennett as a replacement, Mitch Marner's heroics for the group, the next captain with Crosby's injury and more.

With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. All right, joining us now on the Maple Toyota Hotline, live from Milan. Here's our main man, our TSN hockey analyst.

Mike Johnson. What's happening? Johnny. Ciao. Ciao. Jiao. Bonjour no, fellas. How are we doing?

It's been a minute. I've been watching, but I haven't seen you. It's 11 o'clock here. Canada recovering from that tough overtime loss by the women played a great game. I actually was able to go to Canada Hockey House to watch it with some of the parents and staff and a whole bunch of people were there. Wayne Gretzky was there. It was great, ready to celebrate.

And then it's the worst when you lose because it just want, want, want, whatever. Everyone just walks out of there like nothing. It's a party and then just get home. It's the worst. It's terrible. Yeah, it's tough. Yeah, it is. And with, like, where this game lines up in the scheduling, you can party, right?

It's Thursday. You can party for two or three more days. You know, it's different on the men's side. I saw Brendan Morrow was on Chaser's podcast, Chaser and Brett Hall. And he was talking about winning the gold in 2010 and how guys just took off because they're like, we've got to get back to the NHL. We're out of here. There's no party.

We're leaving. We're gone. Like, we're showering, saying goodbye and we're leaving. The women, the Americans are going to party for like three days. in that village. And I don't know if you're... That would make me on the opposition to want to go home immediately. I just, I can't watch them.

Like if I saw them running around, hammering beers and carrying their... It would make me sick. I couldn't do it. Yeah. And they're all friends, right? Like, they all played W.HL together, college together. It's not like they're just randoms. You're like, you kind of have to talk to them and see them.

I'm with all. I'd be like, nope, next flight out of here. I'm out. I don't need to the world. I don't want the closing ceremonies. I always want to get out of here. here and process this on my own. Yeah.

No, that one's stung, man. It was a great good. They had it. They had it. They had it. They played so well. Yes. Best game they played all tournament by a mile.

Definitely. Well, you know, we were wondering coming off that, we don't believe it changes anything for the men's side in terms of pressure. They had the pressure anyway. Canada, USA, whoever won the game today on the women's side, it might be inspiring for the Americans. Maybe it's inspiring for the Canadians, but the pressure wasn't going to change. If Crosby doesn't go, how does that affect your viewpoint of playing Finland tomorrow?

If you get through them, presumably playing the Americans on Sunday. How much does it change your prediction of Canada winning the next two games if Sid can't play? It changes it quite a bit when you couple it with Nathan McKinnon playing like he's not 100% healthy either. Like if Nate was full bore and going like McDavid is, then I would. would be totally okay with Nick Suzuki sliding in that hole, playing with Stone and Marner and being pretty good, because they would have two lines charging. But what Sid has done for that line has made it the second best offensive line,

while Nate has had a hard time finding chemistry or finding the connection or finding the game or finding the health to be as good as they need him to be. So if you take Sid out and you put Nate in even compromised, then it starts getting a little bit thinner down the middle because, you know, supposed to be the great advantage of Canada. Nick Suzuki's going to have to be really good, but to beat America without Crosby, without Morrissey, maybe, and without a healthy McKinnon, that's going to be a task the way they play defense.

The Americans would and should go into that final if they play each other as a pretty considerable favorite. So, Johnny, I'm sure we're going to bring up Mitch Marner at some point. I'll leave it to the guys, but I want to talk about Jordan Bennington. And, you know, again, what do you make of his performance? We were talking about it yesterday of him being, you know, a clutch goaltender in big situations, makes the big save at the right time. I mean, you laid eyes on it. You're right up and close and personal.

You know, what do you make of his performance and maybe a little bit of his legacy and what you can make of how he's able to raise his game in big situations? Sort of the lies reason, doesn't it? Like, there's not a lot of – like you watch. his play this year and you look at his numbers you're like, why would this guy be able to do this? Because they can just do it. Why doesn't he do it for St. Louis, right? But

for whatever you want, like, he has a way to win games. Like, I don't love his rebound control noodles. He's kicked some pucks out in some bad spots, but you know, he made a save on nature, just on a breakaway two times. He had Simmix staring him down in overtime. He gives his team a chance to win when he plays

for Canada. Now, he clearly has asked to do a lot less for Canada than he's asked to do for St. Louis. and maybe that helps him. But he does enough. And I think in Canada, we care, especially internationally, only about one thing.

We do not care about gold save above expected. We do not care about save percentage. We care about Ws, golds, titles. And if he wins that, Stanley Cup, four nations hero, somehow gets into a gold medal on what is now a sort of injury-de-de-team,

he's checking off a lot of the boxes of stuff that the greats, haven't done as the starter. So it would be impressive. There's still, though, like a sense of a little unease. Like, you know, you're confident because he's done it, but you're not positive that he's going to make every single see. There's a little bit of that, oh, boy, but he does enough, and that's all that really matters.

Johnny, I have a proposition for you and your nerd bean counter friends, but I don't think you'll like it. What about with the absence of Sidney Cross? the absence of Sidney Crosby, Sammy Bennett, elevation. Say Sammy Bennett, it's your time. You're the second line centerman for the Panthers on cup runs. Why don't you do some damage out there, Sammy Bennett?

Or do you and the bean counters say no to that? Me and all my bean counters would say no to that. That's disgusting. He's been sick. Well, I mean, I look at a guy who's got 40 points. they're going to put Nick Suzuki there, a guy who's got 70. You tell me. Well, who won the conspice who won two Stanley Cups and is the best player that steps on the ice?

What are your bean counters think of that? I think that Nick Suzuki won the MVP at the OHL, and when he's been in the playoffs, he's produced very well, albeit not all the way to the Stanley Cup. And Sam Bennett hasn't been impactful yet in this tournament. Now, maybe he's waiting for this time, but I can see him being a bit of a roverall. I'll give you that much. I'm not going to ask him to drive a line because right now I think you need sort of as much cohesiveness as you can find because the line's going to be all over the place. You got McDavid's line.

McKinnon's line. I think Suzuki goes right into Crosby's spot if Sidney Crosby can't play. But I think Sam Bennett maybe find some time with McKinnon or maybe if McKinning goes to the first line, they put a Bennett, Wilson, Horvatt, Energy, Physical line together. but he just hasn't played a lot of minutes. He hasn't played a big role. He hasn't had a huge impact despite his great resume. I think he'd be asking a lot to throw him into a game that's be pretty tough and expect him to drive a line on his own.

As a professional puck-knower, and you are as well, I'm surprised you dropped OHL playoffs on me right there like it was some kind of mic drop. It wasn't. I'm just saying you can only be. good in the big moments in the big moments that you've played in, right? He's not been in a world championship. He's not been to the Stanley Cup final.

So his next biggest moments, NHL playoffs, he's been very productive. And the next biggest one before that was where he was one of the best players in the OHL playoffs. I mean, you can only go by what you have. It doesn't mean everything, but it means something. Yeah, I mean, Bennett, we'll see. Like, the illness is interesting. I didn't realize that's why he didn't play the other day.

That came out, I believe, today. And did you see him, Hayes? In the stands? I was wondering when they showed him. He was by himself. I'm like, where's Kemper? That's not good. Where's Morrissey?

I think it's because he was sick. Right. And he was sort of isolated, even in the stands to watch the game by himself. Yeah, that's trouble. But I just, I think, you know, Finland's a different beast and they've got to get through that. It does feel like the Americans, you know, we've talked about this for the last year. The IOC, H.

How they're going to call the game. You know, it's not four nations. It's not fights off the draw. It's not. It's going to be played differently and called differently. but I look at Sam Bennett, if he's healthy, as a guy against the Americans, I want him over the boards playing 12, 13 minutes. Like, go create space.

100%. Go hit people. 100%. You know what's going to happen? They're going to try to sick the Kachucks on McDavid the same way they did on dry saddle. Right? It's the same idea. Bump, boom, barborum, face wash them, always a bridesmaid them, whatever.

And in that moment, guess who I want. on McDavid's wing. Sammy. Sammy Bennett to go to Matthew and Chuck say, Matt, love you. You touch him again. We're going to fight. We're both getting kicked out of this game.

Or I'm going to run Quinn Hughes into the 14th row and get suspended, but I don't care because I'm not playing another Olympics. That's what I want that guy there for in that game. I'm so jacked off for Sunday. You're not finding that on a grid somewhere. But they have to get there.

Yes. And I think, you know, coming off the emotional. and the fatigue and the injuries and the illness and Finland's actually played quite well other than their first game where they were sort of goalied by Slovakia. I think

Suzuki's probably a better fit in that game but you get to America O we'll have this conversation again I would start them. I'm like send a message. That's it. Charlie McAvoy you're running around. Guess who's back? It's going to be McDavid between Wilson and Bennett.

Have that it, boys. Try them. And see what they do. Yes. Like it won't be the same. There won't be the fights. But that kind of energy, especially early for Canada, say, we're not dealing with any of that nonsense. You guys, you guys want to play that chippy in your face,

really push the limits. We got guys who can push them further than you. And we're going to use them. That's what they're here for. So, Johnny, we were talking about earlier. Again, this is if Crosby goes. I still have a feeling Crosby is going to find a way to get into a game if they get to the gold medal.

No, not tomorrow. If they play on Sunday. if they get there, and I'm saying if, because I don't want to put the cart before the horse. But do you envision as far as the deployment of minutes, could you find double shifts from McDavid in a center position? Like that's, you know, to me, this guy can handle, we were talking, like, he can handle 24, 25 minutes. And if it's only two games, you do it against Finland, and if you make it to against the U.S., would you not be, you know, not too shy to be moving him around? the lineup. Yeah, 100%. But I don't think it's a double shift noodles. I think they just play his line a boatload. Like I think it's a single shift, but it's Celebrina and him get, you know,

22, 23, 24. They did not play a lot early. The first couple games, like 16 minutes, 17 minutes, 15 minutes. So for Connor, that is way less than usual. But what you can't do is what we saw Germany do. Like they ran Leon Dreisel into the ground. So by the end, he could bear it. He could they play. Like you need Connor to get there and be great, but it was wild watching against Chequio where, you know, the super deep, Uber talented

offensive team by Canada, you were basically saying, God, I hope Connor McDavid can get them a goal. Because nobody else is going to. Like that's sort of what, it's not quite that. And it didn't because Zuzuki got one and Marner got one, but that's how it's sort of developed a little bit with McKinnon's injury

and Crosby's injury. With Mike Johnson, and you know, you mentioned Marner and we had a lengthy discussion about it was a remarkable and how he's played and the reaction Mark Stone saying the clutch thing maybe it's a Toronto thing and that was a dick comment I couldn't stand that comment well you know what that says oh it just tells you that the Toronto Maple Leafs love them or hate them like they matter and resonate more than anything else around the NHL as far as a club what Hayes said but like every Everybody sort of loves to take pot shots.

Everyone loves to poke out the, you know, needle them a little bit, the fans, the 67. Like, you know, if Mitch Marrard had the exact same track record in Nashville, Mark Stone is not saying that. He only says it because it's Toronto. If he had that same track record in Winnipeg, he wouldn't say that about Carter Hellebuck. No. And Winnipeg. Same thing sort of holds true, doesn't it?

But he would never say it because he's not going to bother. But they do it to Toronto because they know it gets a rise. Marchand. Dowdy, all the great guys who come in and got to stir it up that way. Yeah, it just sort of tells you that how much Toronto resonates around the league. Yeah. Well, and listen, it was a great play. It was a phenomenal play.

Yeah. And, you know, again, if Sid's out, I know we're going to look up the middle of the ice, but Marner's not playing with him anymore, you know, and he's got to elevate and he's got to keep playing well. And, you know, I'm curious what else he has in store. And guys, did you think he had a great game against Jackie? No, I didn't think he did. And I don't care. I could care less.

I could care less. He had his moment. It was spectacular. I didn't think they all, no, anyone played great, Johnny. I thought they were, you know, I thought McChani was moving, Celebrini was moving, but it wasn't like a great performance all around. Right. I mean, that was, that was the team.

They played against, forced them to look that way. And that's right. Oh, like take nothing away from Mitch Martin. That is, I'm saying he probably in his entire athletic career will never have a moment where he feels the same electricity in his body that he would have felt when he scored that goal. I don't know if it can

ever happen. I mean, gold medal, obviously, if he scores an overtime goal. But I just don't know if it can happen. That's how unique the environment was yesterday. And he took it and he had to make a big play and he did and he won on three. And if Connor McDavid did that, we would be putting him on the $5

bill. Like we would be celebrating that forever. But I was doing, talking to somebody like, why can't he score goals? in Game 7s in Toronto. And I'm like, well, he had assists, but he didn't score goals, but I'll just say this. And again, I'm not diminishing anything, but just pointing out facts.

NHL game 7s are played at 5 on 5. His two overtime goals for Team Canada are three on three. You have to be great, but it's a different skill set to do what he did against Sweden last year, against Czech the other day, than it is to maybe do it in NHL overtime. So incredible for him,

happy family, all of it, it's great. But it's just the discourse around the Leafs is just all a little, it's all a little much. And it's, yeah, very predictable. I mean, it plays, and everyone's on board with it, and everyone's got a take on it. We'll get you out of here with a prediction here. If Sid's out, the rules are someone has to be named captain, and I would presume they'll add another A to someone's jersey. Who's the captain if Sid's not playing, who gets the extra A?

The captain is Connor, obviously. the way he's playing and the respect that he has, it's got to be him. What is, Kail McCar, the other assistant? Is that right? I think it is, right? McKinnon will get the other. So, McKinnon will get the other one, man.

Drew Dowdy's a lifer there, dude. I know he's not a cap in L.A. Throw an A on his jersey. Come on. I think that would almost bother Nate. I think Nate's okay with it as it is. Yeah. He'd be probably tweaked by giving it to somebody else.

And Drew, tomorrow, if Morrissey plays, True might play six minutes. So, yeah, I'm going to think Morrissey will play Johnny? Because he's an important guy too. I just spent two hours with his brother. I couldn't get it out of him. He would not give me anything at this hockey house in Canada. He would not tell me anything about him.

He is very important. Like, when they elected to take Pareko, Sanheim, Dowdy, those are all defensive defenders that don't move the puck great. But they had McCarr and they had Morrissey. and a little bit of Theodore, when you take Morrissey out the lineup, they miss what he does because there's not many other guys in that core that do it quite like him. My sense is, oh, no, I don't think he plays tomorrow. I think he plays Sunday.

I think everyone's just going to load up Sunday and give it a world. If they get there for the goal, if they get to the bronze, none of them are playing. Marchand's not playing. McKinnon might not be playing. Morrissey not playing Crotley, but if they get to the gold, then everyone would probably be available. Well, you've got to get through Finland first. 1040 tomorrow. Have a great call, Johnny.

Good stuff, buddy. We'll do it again soon. All right, fellas. Have a good weekend. There he is. Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst, joining us here on the Maple Toyota hotline. It's time to Toyota with the all-electric Toyota BZ.

Goes from zero to 100 in just 5.1 seconds in charges from 10 to 80 percent, just 30 minutes. Drop by Maple Toyota today. I'm Dylan Clayford. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting lonely. in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is bromance.

Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeartRadio Network or wherever you get your podcast.