OverDrive - Johnson on the Canucks' rift between Pettersson and Miller, Kaprizov's injury status and the impactful players on the Maple Leafs

Episode Date: January 28, 2025

TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, Jim Rutherford's views on the rift between Elias Pettersson and J.T Miller, the decisions for the Canucks to bolster the team. Kirill Kaprizov's injury for Minnesota, the most impactful players on the Maple Leafs and more.

Don't miss Tech Talk with Mark Saltzman, Sundays 5 p.m. on News Talk 1010, brought to you by the all-electric Chevrolet Equinox EV. Here's Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. What's happening, Johnny? It is multiple of the starter. I am sitting here above the Bell Center Ice in Montreal, checking it out. So yes, it is, you prep these games, it'll go with what it's like, and you just look at Winnipeg's numbers and they are so good. Like it's across the board, everything, yeah, they're just really, really dominant. And then you factor in the special teams where their power play is such a difference-maker for them

that it's uh... it it makes it makes it up after for anybody yeah johnny before we get into the hard-hitting questions i've got one question for you now you're you said you're above the ice right now probably in the in the in the box where you're gonna call the game correct case so why are they not a lot why you're not allowed the hot dogs in there because

i don't know if you've ever heard the story where we, as Overdrive, we went there and Oh asked me for a hot dog and I had to go down there and I had to sneak it in in my inside pocket of my coat and then I handed it to Oh and Oh goes, where's the mustard, where's the ketchup? I said, well I'm not going to put that in the inside of my coat is there a story of why you can't bring them from the media room into the luxury like them press box i'm assuming it because somebody on sunday

true one i got got to be the only reason right i mean i i don't know about the travel dentley like a football playing popcorn you're flicking on people so uh... but fact, just let go like yeah, let me garnish it up with some maybe some onions on there I'm not gonna grab a paper towel or something. I don't know As good as those hot dogs are I'm sorry you give a hot dog with nothing on it it ain't good No, yeah, it's gotta be more to it than that, the guys smuggled in any we've read maybe a lifetime idea and do it it was a plus effort but then you're looking like I'll get a packet all hunt for a packet

somewhere and I'll sneak the packet and along to go all the way the packet to play yes you can put a couple of ketchup in your pocket yes that would take more sense than garnishing it before, but that would be full service by noodles, nothing else. I was trying to be a good teammate and I felt like they were watching me anyways because you go to walk out there, like they know something's up because I ordered a hot dog and then I put it, kind of took, I palmed it and then walked it out of there. I felt like eyes were on me anyways.

If I ask for packets of ketchup, they're going to be like, what are you doing here? So house like eyes were on the anyways if i ask for packets of ketchup they're gonna be like what are you doing here so i just put it on the inside any you go boss code on i put it it up a hot dog inside there the pocket of it for this guy and then i get the complaints though that was that the big they were sure to get he got caught eating it say well i can't brought it to me i don't know and you know i don't know. He told me it's okay. Yes, it's a complete sewer job.

Complete sewer job. Anyway, so we're talking about, well we actually haven't really got into these Jim Rutherford comments yet. So Jim Rutherford who is the president of Hockey Operations with the Canucks was doing an interview with the Globe and Mail

the columnist out there with the Globe in Vancouver or in BC. And is now on the record was doing a an interview with the globe and mail the columnist out there in the with the globe in vancouver and bc and uh... is now on the record admitting there is a rift between peterson and j t miller which is just a wild like it's just you never see this in sports you see this in a thirty four thirty twenty years later right you never see it in the moment never without now it never comes out in

the moment always ten years later all those two could stand each other they you know there was a fight in the room or whatever this is Jim Rutherford saying yes there's a rip between these two and he went as far as to say it's just simply untenable now and something's got to give like I'm paraphrasing but he basically admitted we've given it everything yeah he's like we've tried everything we can they've tried it gets better for a bit And then it goes sour again, so this can't continue But like what do you make of the the honesty and

Is it leading you to believe like it's starting to lead me to believe there's a chance both of them Are gonna go and it's not just one that ends up going So first of all, I think we should always give credit for an honest, assessment of what's going on and not doing a small screen. So like I don't want to criticize him now. I think when it is so widely rumored slash accepted as some degree of truth that there is some issue between those two players,

it's not, he's not, you know, dropping a bomb on people. People sort of assume that's the case already. Then he's willing to say it. I think the entire league would know what's going on so it's not like he's making his trade any more difficult by putting that out there and all of a sudden it's a harder deal to make. So in that sense I guess it makes it makes sense that he would do that. It just is, again, it's a reminder of it's just so rare that a personality problem, some capacity, and we don't know still exactly the genesis of it, would be so significant that they can't exist together. Like you can, like I know how tight teams are, and I get it, I've played

on them for 20 years, but like you don't't have like if oh and I are not great friends Like we don't have to be around each other that much away from specifically at the rink You know, we don't sit beside each other playing we don't do dinners together you know, you don't have to be around each other that much but obviously that not even that is Is going to be feasible long term So I don't know about Bostel is like the difficulty in trading one guy is one thing,

but you're trying to pull two off and get, you've already sort of accepting maybe not great value on one or the other. That would be my issue. Trying to pull two trades off around the league of that magnitude would be hard to do. Why would you make the comment though, Johnny? Like, wouldn't that kind of let teams know that

if you kind of have the stance whether it's true or not, like everything's great, we're just trying to focus on hockey, that might make teams kind of pick around a little more? Doesn't it kind of show a position of weakness when you say that this is just not fixable? I would imagine that everyone around the league in the front offices, if you're at all considering a trade for Miller or Peders Pederson you're obviously going into do your due diligence and find out what the heck's going on there and so by saying it out loud sure you and I may know concretely now it's an issue but anyone

who they're dealing with would already know as I don't think he's he's telling any news to the teams around the NHL because if you're trading for either one of these guys we talked about the last couple weeks you would want to know is going on why why why do you guys that political uh... i don't think he's hurting it his bargaining position all cut team that are you know this

well if you got to add in that this is a sensitive topic but j t miller left the team for a month so you you if you're trading for that asset, you're going to have to know 100% what was behind that and if that is something that could crop up. You have to leave again. Exactly. That could crop up in the future. It's not like he's a 22-year-old player. He's 31 and coming 32 in March. And this know and this is a guy who is you

know I wouldn't say well-traveled but now it's Tampa, it's the Rangers, it's Vancouver and if he moves on there you know there's a bit of a pattern. He's a hell of a player but you do have to do your due diligence and go okay if if he couldn't make it work in Vancouver and why did he have to leave? There might be a correlation with all of this and respectfully you have to find that out if you're trading for him because he's got lots of term left as well. Yeah, and you're presumably going to trade for him because you want him to be good this year.

Right. Let's say it's something not sort of salacious. Maybe it's a tragedy. Maybe he's got a sibling who was sick You know, you would need to know that if you know, he might not take time away again You would need to know that and so yeah I don't think this is news to the league even though it's confirmation to what everyone was widely reporting it on and guys can we rerach the tape for Peterson and Miller when it first broke

Everyone they're like, oh, we're totally good the tape for Peterson and Miller when it first broke, where everyone was like, oh, we're totally good. We can bring it out here, we can do this together. Again, everyone's like, I'm not buying that. What else can you say? I'm not really buying that. And now, I guess, again, confirmation that that was not entirely truthful. Yeah, and I understand how complicated it is

to make any deal. That said, the ranting and deal came out of nowhere, and trades can happen, and if understand how complicated it is to make any deal. The ranting and deal came out of nowhere and trades can happen and if you have good players out there, teams are going to want them. My thought is on the two of them is if it's difficult to separate who the actual issue is, the instigator was. If I'm an owner, I'm so mad at both of them. They've sewered my season. I've paid these guys a fortune. I'm looking more at Pedersen than anything else. Miller, okay, Miller, you're

going to move on from whatever. He's older. Reading the tea leaves, it doesn't look like he's ecstatic with the way things are going. If I'm an owner in Vancouver, I'm looking at Elias Pedersen and I'm demanding an explanation. If I don't like it, I might fly off the handle, say get rid of this guy. I don't want him. I don't want him. I paid this guy a fortune and look how he's repaid me. Something similar might have happened, Brian, already.

Absolutely. So, you know, I guess that's my take on it. Like the overly emotional owner take. Where it's like saying I'm paying this guy 11 and a half and every time I look at him on TV, he looks pissy and whiny and he doesn't play well and it's always grumpy and just kind of ugh. That would drive you nuts, man. Drive you crazy making the case to keep Elias Pettersson.

To follow up on that, guys, I'd be like, hey, if this was so... I didn't hear about this when I was signing you to an 80 million dollar extension. I didn't hear about the issues in the room and how things were uncomfortable and how it wasn't a happy place. I heard the 90 million made you pretty happy. Where the hell was the news about this? There's no conversation about this.

When you signed the extension, it's only after you secured the bag that now it's like, well, you know what? It's not really a great environment for me. That's the part that would, if you're an owner, if you're gonna get emotional, that would irritate you. Like, well, hang on. Like, you know, you got what you needed out of me and then all of a sudden now it's a problem? Why wasn't it a problem before?

And if it was such a problem, why didn't we hear about it when you might've said, listen, I wanna resign, but I'm not resigning with that guy. Because I can't coexist with that guy. Because then maybe they would have done something differently Back then and I don't I don't blame Pederson. I would have done the same listen I hate Jeff O'Neil, but I got 90 million dollars coming to me I'll probably take the contract and sort out all later

But as an owner if that's the case if that's how it went which is you know Maybe in some capacity did go that way that again if you're getting emotional that would be a trigger point for you Well sure here's the crazy part guys two two different things They have a chance that I think they're a playoff team like I you know it's between them and Calgary legitimately I mean st. Louis is right there, but I think it's between them and Calgary and Secondly Quinn Hughes could be arguably one of the best players on the planet like it and they're just pissing away it is a must i was in saying he's such an amazing player like it is good and lost in all of this is this quinn-hughes is the captain all he does is go out and

dominate every night and he's got a you know he's got a shine up what the hell's going on now they've won two in a row, they're one point behind Calgary. Like I say, if I'm a betting man, I lean towards Vancouver just based on paper and where Calgary was at the start of the year. I think Dustin Wolf and all of those great stories, Mackenzie Weger, all these guys have had great seasons for Calgary. But I look at Vancouver, they could be a playoff team with all of this Fiasco going on that's that's I think which is the biggest spiciest meatball in Vancouver Because if you trade one or both of them you better get something back to either continue that path on

Or all of a sudden you're gonna piss away Quinn Hughes is the time of his career Yeah, that's what's that's what sickening is Hughes is playing as well as he's playing. Yeah, and it feels wasted That's what sickening is. He uses plan as well as he's playing. Yeah, and it feels wasted If you're going to be like if you're running Vancouver and you're Patrick Alveen or Rutherford and you're trying to be optimistic What you are really hoping for is that you'll trade one of the two guys Presumably Miller, but whoever one of the two not only to get back whoever you get back Dillon cousins and whatever And a draft pick but you'll also get back the other guy. Like that would be part of the story.

Like so Pederson's been not good, sort of moping around this year. You know, sure he could dig in defensively, but he's not paid 11 million to be good defensively. I think he'd be the first guy I talk to, Johnny. He'd be the first guy I talk to. Miller goes out the door, I'd call him up, and I'd be like, okay, he's gone. You better start providing what you're worth or I'm gonna get you you better bring it like you think you can't even

That would be the whole but you're getting the other guy back as well Sort of addition by subtraction because of the friction in the room. Yeah. Yeah. No for sure we got Bill Guerin coming up just after six and No, for sure. We got Bill Guerin coming up just after six and You know, spicy reaction inside. Yeah No kidding, man. No kidding. Well, he's not ecstatic with the way his team's playing right now that Kaprizov had the surgery I guess he's out for at least a month You know, that's a pretty spicy meatball. It's a big opportunity for the Leafs, right? Because you're getting it's a good team without Kaprizov that that That's a big benefit to Toronto tomorrow night.

And Kaprizov, after what, 25 games, he would have legitimately been the MVP of the league or he would have been a finalist from the heart. Like that's how good he is and that's how good he was playing and his season sort of come off the rails with injuries. And Minnesota's been struggling after their great start. They're like a sub- 500 team the last couple months. And so yeah, it's a chance to play well, the Leafs themselves are trying to get it back on track and finding some pace and some goals and some wins. So anytime you get a team without one of their big stars, especially Minnesota, who maybe

relies on Kaprizov for their offense, as much as any team relies on anybody in the league for their offense, that is an advantage you would be irritated if you don't take advantage of it. Yeah, big time. Big time. And the Leeds are dealing with their own injuries, but Knives likely returns come the weekend, Tavaro's likely returns come the weekend, Stolarz is going to take the trip out while his team may play.

Patioretty, I think, think was practicing today he may play tomorrow night and even cali on croc appears to be get a little bit closer and you know we were just we we brought up the word impact which is somewhat of an arbitrary term like you know how you determine it what what what you what you look for in in impact players it as simple as goals and assist that's one thing is it physicality is it leadership is it special teams etc but of guys like patch ready like yarn croak you know these kind of veteran guys yanni hawken paw if he's healthy let's presume how they're at play would they represent

impact for you like if you're if you're mocking out this this lineup for game one of the playoffs which of those guys do you think could have the biggest impact on them actually winning a series? I mean, I don't want to be dismissive. I mean, I don't see a situation where it would be likely that any of them would have a significant impact. Maybe Patcha Ready, if he is slotted on the second line, whoever that six forward is, like man, Patcha Ready if he is slotted on the second line. Whoever that six forward is, McMahon, Patcha Ready, Domi, trade guy, that guy is the guy. Because of the opportunity, because of who would be playing with, because of the role he's

going to have to be played. Other than that it's going to be you know physical reliable and maybe Yark Grove scores a goal and maybe Patcha Ready you know makes a play for one goal but A's I don't know if any of those guys, by the way the team works and operates, that I would expect any of them to be massively impactful down the stretch, into the playoffs, in a series. They can be contributors, what you think? Really all Toronto wants them to be.

Like be a positive contributor to our team. Help us win, whatever that means. Face-offs, killing penalties, good four checks. But I just don't have a team. I'm not sure many of those guys I would suggest that to expect something more might be helpful. Right. Yeah, I think that's reasonable. Again, I think that is what...

The impact, guys, we know who they are. We know who they have to be. Yeah. And they got lots of them, right? Yeah, they do. They who they have to be. And they got lots of them right? Yeah they do. They're not lacking exactly like if you have a healthy Matthews Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Riley Tanev, McCabe and a good starting goalie that's pretty much all you can ask for. You know like what more can you ask for but at some point you're going to need depth players

to have big moments. You know impact would indicate that they have a two-month run of doing that. I'm not sure that's reasonable for anybody. And it might be once in a while. It might be Ross Colton, you know, scoring that goal. Right. Or Bobby McBann pop up there out of nowhere, two goals, and you might not hear from him again the whole series, but it doesn't matter.

In that game, he was a difference-maker. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. It's going to have to happen at some point. And again, they've got Minnesota here tomorrow, then they're heading out West later in the week. All right, Johnny enjoy Montreal and we'll do it again later in the week I'm going to smuggle a hot dog into the booth just for you on a picker. It didn't happen

High alert out there be careful alumni I can do these things. That's very valid. They can't do anything. What if they catch him though? What if they catch you and be like, sorry, you're not going to do it? I get kicked out of the game and I can't do the game tonight. That might be worth it for the story. That might be. Is it money?

Have him go Vince Scully tonight and just call by himself? Listen, guys, Phil Bork, the color guy for the penguins last night in san jose i took all the game their play-by-play out west ill and phil bork basically what the play-by-play slash vince gully while johnny could you do it tonight it all i don't like it you like i i would struggle like we know the players but like the cadence and stuff

like that we really don't know how i would be a mess now i'd like to think i can but i know i can't expect yet i'm all to tell you all that you know me at the end right of my note i got nothing i am not capable well i have to fill up our job that's so tough as i read the article that i can't believe you did that i didn't hear about Shout out to Phil Bork. Such a hard job. That's so tough. It's crazy that he pulled it off. I'm so impressed.

I can't believe he did that. I didn't hear about that story because I knew they lost. I want to listen to it. Is it boom goes the dynamite or is he pretty good? No. He knows what he's doing. The old 2-Niner came through. Wow.

No way. Phil Bork, what a stud. He's a beauty. That guy's a beauty too. I love that guy. That's awesome. All right, Johnny. Well, good luck. Let's hope money shows up tonight. If not, you're on, man. You can't pull the shoot now. Phil Bork did it. You have to do it.

The bar's been set way too high. Exactly. Alright, thanks, Mike. There he is. Mike Johnson joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Count on Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota