OverDrive - Johnson on the Maple Leafs' team structure, Stolarz's mask-free save and the Canadiens' ceiling

Episode Date: October 17, 2025

TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Canadiens' overtime performance and the ceiling in the Eastern Conference, the Maple Leafs' win against the Rangers and the foundation of the roster, Anthony Stolarz's mask-free save and the rule for the goaltender.

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Let's go to the agent himself, Mike Johnson, Mike Boros. Mike Barros. Exactly, all right. Play the role of Vladdy's agent, all right? Let's pretend he didn't sign, and he's having this incredible playoff run. And, you know, three weeks from now,

let's say in this magical role that Jay's actually end up winning the World Series, and you're Mark Shapiro and you get a call up, or you get a call from Shapiro. And he goes, Mike, I got to, we just want to know, lay it on the line for me. What do I have to pay your guy to keep him in Toronto? Mark, who's the highest paid batter in the league? I'm not sure he pitches.

Soto? Juan Soto. I got a guy here. I got a guy who not only does it in the regular season can do it in the playoffs, can be the lightning rod of a team coming together and winning a championship. Oh, did I mention he's the best defensive first baseman in the entire league. so we'll take Soto plus 7%.

I think it's only fair Soto plus I think the Mets would do the same thing right now. Yeah. Well, you're right though. It's interesting because forget the Yankees. The Mets might say we'll give you $800 million. We'll give you $800 million.

You think Shapiro the only big market team. You're right? You think they've sat back a couple times and said thank God we didn't sign him? Soto? Yeah. Soto?

That's an interesting question because if they did, Vladdy would not be signed. It would not be here in the future. That's Jonas's guy. You guys be careful there. Soto's still a great player. Let's be clear here. Soto's still pretty definitely, man. Exactly.

All right. I wouldn't want to negotiate. A's job is asked for as much as possible in a non-cap environment. Brian Hayes is not even asking for me to take a discount. I can still be a great teammate who wants to win by going for Fort Knox and every last said's available. So that's what I'm going for. Totally. I got a good case. Absolutely.

If he keeps doing this, he's doing historical stuff. And if it weren't for the stumble on first base, he would have the cycle last game. That's right. You're right, man. This guy is a machine. He's a machine. There's no other way to put it. Vladia is so dialed in. He's so locked in. He's a driving force for a team. And he's likable. And he's likable guy.

It's likable. Very likable. You can build a fan base rooting for him. That's the unusual. you're right very likable and i give him a lot of credit man he's doing a lot of interviews and he's speaking english and that's difficult like that's that's not an easy thing you know it's his second language but he's doing it and i think that's what comes with the price tag too johnny you get paid 500 you're the man you're going to be you're going to be the face of

this franchise for the rest of time his number's going to be retired he's going to own every single record you know i i think what comes with that is an obligation like you got to get out there. You've got to talk. You've got to speak for yourself, for the team. You've got to be representing and wins and losses. During the off season, we're going to call you. You're going to have to go do some things. I think that's kind of the way it works.

You had me until the offseason, then you lost me. In my contract, you don't call me until springtaining starts. There's no banquet meet and greets for me, all right? Don't worry about that. But you're right. You're the face of the franchise, marketing campaigns, all the rest of it. And the one interesting component, you mentioned

doing the interviews in English. English. Because for a long time, you're using the translator, the interpreter, or whatever. And I understand that. Like, it's tricky. But I think the appreciation people have. And I, you know, the hockey idea, like in Montreal, like, you don't have to be fluent in French. But if you try, just try a little bit, the fans would appreciate it so much more, even with your not good. It's amazing the goodwill that you could absorb. Like, if I'm Nick Suzuki or Cole Coughill or any of those guys are going to be there for a decade, like, rudimentary French lesson grade three French

yes I'm happy yes good game yes I like the city yes I like my teammates you do that in French and they'll love you forever and Bladis you know I appreciate that in him like going out of his way

to do something uncomfortable he probably doesn't have to interviews in English I do like that I also think though guys like he probably speaks better English or understands better English than he led on for a while there but it's probably uncomfortable in front of the camera talking it, correct? Like, you know, we've all known guys from Europe and all that, understand, they understand

better than we do, but when the coach yells at them or when something goes wrong, you're like, you know, they throw their arms in the air, no, no English, I've always felt, maybe this just personally, I've always felt that Vladdy speaks fluent English, but it's like, I don't want to do all of that. You know when the Europeans really forgot English when they got pulled over? this is true no clue Andre Markoff

that defenseman in Montreal Andre Markoff obviously a lot of media in Montreal and he'd be like no speak no speak and then we go out to dinner together he's like Jerry Seinfeld in English he's the funniest guy you can imagine

but he for a decade he went with I can't speak English so he didn't have to do any interviews so yeah that that plays well when you can get away with it savvy and he played like a thousand games in Montreal too man he was there for a long time

Well, I'll tell you what, Cole Coughfield, he keeps scoring goals like he did last night. The tying goal and the O-T winner was, who do you have more of an appreciation for with that play? Was it Suzuki knowing he had enough time to pull it off or Cofield, you know, not panicking in the moment and actually scoring the goal? I mean, Coffield shot was great, right? Cross-body, back against the grain, wobbling puck off the heel to get it up, not easy to do. but Suzuki amoehays like the fly-by drawing Yosi

flip it back to Caulfield screen the goalie while you're on the way and keep him on his goal line I thought that was an amazing play also I don't know if he had the awareness that there was three seconds left or not but I just thought

not just to stuff it in the pads on sorrows but to make the play be the distraction and then kick at the coffield yeah right now Montreal is riding on the electric train like they are everything that could be going right in Montreal the games the late results the overtimes they

It's feel good party time right now If it could be such a thing after five games Where do you think they can take it though Johnny Like building off of last year Where they were overwhelmed in the first round Even if they have an ad Like a quality player at the deadline Where do you think those guys can go

With what they are? Because they are exciting right now I think they can grow pretty quickly Like I think they could push into the upper echelon Of the Eastern Conference I don't know When push comes a show but a full Florida healthy team

walks into Montreal like that's probably a tough assignment but if Florida is not healthy um like I think Noah Dobson is playing incredible defensive hockey which is a bit of surprise for him but he's doing it and Matheson's been better than he's ever been right now Hudson is what he is

if they get one more forward oh and probably a centerman like you know they are thinner down the middle but they get one more their first line is as as good as any in hockey and second line probably needs some work but down the roster they're really good veteran guys i think they have the pieces and if you believe in montevil maybe that's noodles department but yeah they're they're really good

and they seem to be fearless and i wouldn't surprise me if they sort of have the ability to maybe jump a few steps in their evolution they don't need four years to figure out how to get better and maybe win a bit more maybe they get there right away they're they have the pieces now you know one more center which is a big a big piece but other than that they're they're pretty good yeah quickly on the HABs before I wanted to ask you about the Leafs, but I agree. Like, does Doc seem like a guy who could be your two or maybe push him down a little bit farther? That's my big question mark there, right? Is Kirby Doc?

Yeah, I mean, you get into the playoffs and you go, okay, can he outplay? Sam Bennett in the second line? Probably not. Can he outplay Taylor Dubois? Can you probably not? Can he outplay? Nico He's sure, probably not. Like, you know, there's second line centers around all those guys that are,

better or better than him now he might get there he's not there yet physically too much time off whatever maybe maybe he doesn't get there but yeah so if he was your third line center or played some other kind of role perhaps but if you could put in i don't even know what big sort of second line center would well sydney crosbie hayes for you would sit in that lineup and at the expense of anyone not named demidov right michael hayes like a really good prospect they drafted first round at michigan right now You put Crosby in there, if you have to give a page in a first rounder for him, whatever. Yeah, I think they'd stack up against any team almost personnel-wise in the east.

It's impressive. So, Johnny, the Leafs get one in overtime last night. You did the game. You know, what do you make of their last couple games, obviously, scoring, feeling a little bit better. Their top guys getting some points. You know, it's funny, we were joking about it last week. Austin Matthews hadn't scored on a live goaltender.

and now a sudden he's got four and five games and people don't remember those empty netters. What do you make of everything and where they're headed? And I brought up the other thing, Johnny weigh in on as well. Their schedule's quite soft for the first, like the next like 16 games to play like five playoff teams,

if that. Yeah, and I think eight of their first 11 at home. So you've got to make, hey, right? You're playing teams that you're supposed to beat which they've done a good job by the last several years. They don't lose to the terrible teams occasionally, but they beat the teams generally that they are supposed to beat.

Now, the Rangers are funny. I mean, always on the broadcast with us last night, and we know they're having a hard time scoring goals. But if you watch their games and listen to their coaches and you look at their numbers, they're actually playing well. They just can't score, which is partly bad luck,

partly good goal-taking, and maybe partly lack of finishing skill, but they play well. They outplayed Edmonton, which not many teams have been able to do this year by a considerable margin. They out played Washington. They got shut out-0-0.

Charlie Lindgren turned into Dominic Hachick. But they've played well, so it was not going to be to eat. There's not been one time where you're like maybe the Rangers aren't that good this year. You haven't said that? You're fully confident that they're going to get caught. I'm saying they're not as bad as a team that got shut out three games at home. They're not like some terrible bottom feeder team. And they're not playing like it.

They are playing much better. And they got a goaltender who is playing right now like he's one of the best in the world. So I'm saying, oh, yeah, they're not cream of the crop, but they're not bottom. on the barrel. And I think the Leifes played last night. They didn't play great actually. I think Stolars was the reason they won the game, right? The Rangers had more good chances. Should have been, should have won that game

4-1. But Stolars was amazing. And I guess that's what he's there to do. And yeah, there wasn't a lot. This is my one concern. How many stretches, whatever the good version of the Leifes are this year, how many stretches of

five minutes or more have we seen them play, secondively in a game, we're like, there it is. That's what it looks like, and look how much better they are than the other team. Like, they have their moments clearly, but every game is sort of 50-50-ish. So every game sort of up in the air, and maybe that's how they're going to play it, and then hopefully their better high-end skill wins it like it did last night. Like the play Neil Leonard and Matthews made it in overtime was stuff that most players can't do,

and that's why they won the game with great goaltending. But it's just another game that was choppy-ish. not a ton of sustained pressure and, you know, not that confidence-inducing that they have it in them to just really dictate how games go against team. They're always sort of in a scrap every game. And I feel like we had that conversation about them a lot last year,

and yet they won the division. And that's kind of been what they've been. You wait for this overwhelming attack or this overwhelming sense of dominance from the leaves, and it's not really in their DNA or it doesn't appear to be. And, you know, maybe Matthews is the personification of that. Like, he's not, you know, he's not like McDavid that's going to overwhelm you with his skating, and he's not this big powerhouse like Lindross or something that's going to have that impact

and show it. He just kind of, you know, he's just very smart, very crafty, picks his spots. You know, he's a guy who's going on an assist, look pretty good, but that's kind of the way that they play. I don't know if it's pick up. up on his personality. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but there's still three and two. And last year again,

I remember having these chats a lot. Like, are they going to dominate? Do they dominate? What are they at their best? And they won the division in the end. So it's hard to complain. Exactly. I guess that's what I'm saying. Clearly, what they're doing is working. But I think under Craig Barubei,

what they look like and what they feel like is different than what they look than felt like. Now, maybe they're more successful under Barube, but the numbers would tell you they're not as good. They don't create as many chances. They give up more. But what they got under Baroube

and what they have right now and last night is better goal tend. Now, if the goaltending holds up, you can play 50-50 games because you've got a goalie that's better than the guy on the other end, generally, and you have stars that can finish maybe a bit better than the other guys, because they've had that. And maybe that's the recipe.

You know, so long as Stolars doesn't take a step, because if Stolars goes to 9-10 from a 9-25, that's 10 points in the standing. So good goal-tending makes a lot of things look good. But it was just a, it was an interesting kind of game. Like not a lot going on, not a lot of space. But they found away. And they won the game.

And now they would have, what, Seattle next? Seattle tomorrow. So they have a chance. And then they have Jersey next week, it will be tough. We got their game on Tuesday. That'll be a tough game for them. Johnny, all of us are going to be saying sooner or later when it's not Matthews or Nyes or Nielander or Tavares.

They're going to have some guys step up and provide some offense. Like other than Yarn Crunk that's had some goals here early, who are you confident that's going to kind of dig in and get that job done? Because that's coming sooner or later where we're like someone, I've got to sit on that panel or all of us are going to have to

say, like someone else has got to step up and do something here. I mean, two guys I like individually, Bobby McMahon and Max Domi. Like, McMahon, like the way he plays, he will get goals he'll get 20 goals he won't make a boatload of great plays and put up a whole lot of assistant points oh but he'll score he'll get 20 goals and i think they need a couple guys to chip in

like that and then max is the other one max has the talent and the game and he's you know sets up he sets up nice plays and he could score himself but that third line right now is kind of the rest of the guys, right? Like Robertson and Domi and Bobby McMahon, they're all good players and they all can be effective, but together it doesn't really feel like that's, one that coaches really trust. So they don't get a ton of opportunity.

And two, like, are they really maximizing each other's game? It doesn't necessarily feel like it. And it feels almost more than anything. Like I think Lorenz is playing next game, right, tomorrow. Steve Lorenz is playing. So I think Nick Robertson will not play that game. And so, you know, if Robert's, is not playing, is he getting traded?

Like, there's going to be changes coming because they have too many bodies. Easton Cowen didn't play the last 13 minutes of the game last night. And I'm not saying changes are coming for him, but, you know, does he slide down back to Lorenz? When Lawton gets back to that fourth line come back together. Things are going to change again, but I think those two guys, though, are the two guys I would look to. And Machelli, you know what, Machelli, to his defense, we've seen what he looks like when he's good, which is quick plays, sets up teammates, really good passer. pretty smart player he won't score a lot because he's loath to shoot but he's a really good

passer and so if you get up with guys who can score he'll pick up some points as well but that's going to be a question that's going to be a question quick quick follow on easton cowen johnny you know you play a uh a tougher team in the rangers a little heavier like a team that that does have some skill in that and and you know chief decides to sit him down like where does he go or what do you do with him do you put him right back up there or do you give him maybe a little bit of look farther down in the lineup with Lorenz coming back? I mean, I don't think you can take it like it's that significant of a blow. He's three games into his career.

He's going to have some ebbs and flows. He's playing on a really good team with really good players. The fact that he plays pretty well, most of the game with him, is a positive. He's only going to get better. I don't think it's, you know, you have to worry about pulling him off that line just yet. They've won a couple games. guys have scored. The guys in his lines are certainly scoring. So all that, probably

stay with it a little longer. I think Lorentz coming in shuffles the bottom, but Cowan stays there for a little bit longer. But I think we talked about the other day. Like, I don't know that he's going to be there forever. I mean, there's going to be times either this year for sure, he's going to get pulled off the line or maybe pulled out of the whole team. Like maybe he goes to

the minors for a little bit up and down because he can, salaries and bodies and everything else. But he's doing okay. And what I liked last night actually before he got sat down, But the first couple times, he had chances to score. We've seen him make good plays. We've seen him bang around and fight for pox.

And that's all good. And you have to do that every game. But if you're playing there, you also have to occasionally be a threat to score yourself. And the first couple games, as good as they were, I don't think he had any chances to score that I can remember. He never really was around it. And that's okay. But last night, he had great chance for Michelli on the back door. She Shirk had made a good save.

He got in a high slot. He elected to shoot a couple times. Now, the one time he looks like he's 20 years old, other than when you look at his face, all baby face, is when he shoots it. He does not shoot like Jeff O'Neill shots. Like, he just doesn't shoot that hard. He just, you know, he shot like I shop, like a lot softer.

And it's harder in today's NHL. If you can't zip it from 25 feet to score, because it's hard unless you're Connor McDavid to get to the front of the net all the time. So that is one thing, I'm sure, skills coach, strength, maturity will help him. But that's one area that he probably has to get a bit better to consistently help scoring. But at least he was around it. He had looks, which is a step in the right direction.

Yeah, he did. Like, I liked his first period. I thought he was in it. And, like, they gave him a taste of the second power play, I believe the first. Right away. Right away. But then the second one, they put Robertson back on. And they didn't put him out.

So what do you do, Hayes? That's it. Both of those guys need the puck touches of a power play, both of them to get whatever you're going to get out of them. They need that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, their game with the easier touches, with the time and the space, with maybe some of those secondary points to help

drive everything else they do. And Craig Brubay knows this. He knows he's got to kind of get them both in there, and he probably will sort of alternate until one of them's not in the lineup, which may might be Robertson tomorrow. What was it like when Stolars his helmet fell off and

all of a sudden someone's teeing up a slap shot from the slot? J.T. Miller, a one-timer from 15 feet. Like, did you imagine if you went out of the bar there? I hold my breath. It was wild. And I get the rule, Nuddles may not like it, but I get

the rule where when there's a scramble around the net and you're allowed to complete the play. And I see that as like, well, there's a puck sitting on the goal line and someone's going to poke it in. Not that a puck is popping out for a slap shot from 20 feet away. You probably could have blown that a little easier.

But some of us had J.T. Miller on a two total shot prop. Nice. So I was happy that shot. counted and he made the save but like it's it's crazy it's crazy that in the NHL the way guys like that the goalie would and and that noodles I don't know

how if I was him and that happened to me like I get not bailing on the play but I'm going to make the save like this like I'm putting the glove over my face while I try to stop the puck I'm not going to sit there in a normal stance and hope that he doesn't hit me in the head

with a puck like I'm going to protect my face and then I'll do the rest the best I can but he went at it in a full normal butterfly glove on top of his pad chin down ready to take one johnny bower style it was it was wild i mean the bench was roaring crazy crazy the crazy part is is if miller did even if he shot it low there far side but what if it rolls on him like that's the that's the scary part if that puck at the last second jumps up and he heals that and that takes off that's a scary situation because he does like look at it Miller goes one knee down on that Jamie look at the refs right behind the net what

is he not seen just blow it down I mean like you're behind the net it's it's the league is we're all around it the league is quite a gentleman league for the most part especially in the regular season like you know last night in a mid-October game like and Miller's one knee going to one time that under the bar like let's be careful i agree i think the minute the bucket comes off at least put the glove over your face like just in case the puck takes off but good on him he got credit for a save with no bucket on yeah that's pretty cool that is pretty cool and i listen not go ahead

that was mat rampi passing the puck there's no telling that puck's gonna sit flat like that might not be taped to date perfect and that was with five minutes left in the third period so the ice is a bit choppy in the defensive zone oh it's right like that could have bobbled in a heartbeat and like I get you know as a shooter if you saw a guy without a helmet almost instinctively you would want to put the puck on the ice like you wouldn't be thinking

buzz the tower but what if you don't know like things are happening you don't even notice you're like worrying about the shot and positioning and you're just like you let it go and you drop to a knee like to get it up ah anyways good on them I don't know that kind of courage I don't get I don't understand how your mind

doesn't super impose your hand in front of your face I don't know how that doesn't happen true but then you also see you know in the playoffs guys are dropping down a block shots with their chest arms feet you know it's like it's the nature of the sport yeah it's a tough sport all right johnny have yourself a great weekend buddy we'll do it early next week all right fellows uh enjoy the jays game tonight should be what they listen sunday should be wild sunday's going to be fun regardless win or lose but if they win i'm going to the game haze i'll be Are you on the game on the field?

I will be down there on the field. This guy. This guy. Anywhere he goes. Running the whole operation. Making sure everything's going off without a hitch. The good luck charm. That's right.

Ryan Bose and Paul with his bow tie. I will wear a bow tie. I will wear a bow tie. They make the World Series. I'll do Bowtie Sports Center. I'll make that pledge right now. Botei sports center. Right there.

Clip that right now. Done. That's a keeper. World Series. All right, Johnny. Thanks, buddy. All right, boys. Have a good weekend.

Mike Johnson joining us here in the Maple Toyota hotline. Get in and go where adventures take you in a new 2025 Tacoma from Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall. Visit Maple Toyota.com. Unmistakably Canadian. It's the music that raised you. The artists raising the bar. Hi, this is Brian Adams.

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