OverDrive - Johnson on the Oilers' search for a triumphant run, Panthers' biggest X-factors and the Conn Smythe favourite

Episode Date: June 3, 2025

TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joined OverDrive to discuss the Oilers and Panthers' matchup in the Stanley Cup Final, Florida's players looking to solidify their legacy, Connor McDavid leading the charge, Stuart Skinner and Sergei Bobrovsky's duel, the Conn Smythe Trophy favourites and more.

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Some restrictions and exclusions may apply. See participating stores for details. Here's Mike Johnson joining us here on the Maple Toyota hotline. Johnny, would you agree or disagree of all the Florida Panthers if you look forward two weeks if they win the cup again that Bob has the most to gain in terms of his legacy? Would you take Bob? Would you take Barkov, Zito, Kachuk, Marchand, someone else? Where would you go with that? Yeah, I, Bob doesn't jump off the page to me. You made a compelling case.

I kind of, you're like, oh, maybe. But I think his legacy is largely intact. You know what I mean? I think given what he's accomplished, I just checked he already is tenth in career wins. I didn't even know he was that high. He'll likely be coming up on top five what it's all said and done, but it feels like to me. Maybe it's Maybe it's Paul Maurice Maybe it's Matthew Kachuck as the ultimate culture definer in the modern game

Well, you know in this sort of generation Maybe those guys jump up more because they have more to gain like I don't know if Matthew Kachuck's a Hall of Famer But Bob Rossi certainly already is going to be and so you know I think about those terms maybe I don't go if Matthew Kachuk is a Hall of Famer, but Brodsky certainly already is going to be and so you know I think about in those terms, maybe I don't go for Brodsky, but Listen you make three in a row you win two in a row Anyone who is involved in all that stuff is going to be held in a very high regard for a really long time. I Agree. Yeah, that's the biggest You know when you look at it, and O was talking

about it, Johnny, like the goaltender matchup, we know sample size for Bobrowski, but you know, last year, Stuart Skinner, you know, his game got into order. And I don't think when you think the Oilers losing in seven, like Stuart Skinner wasn't the reason they lost game seven, I didn't love the Reinhardt game-winning goal But it was 2-1 like it wasn't like they lost 5-1 and Skinner couldn't get in the way, you know, what do you make of Skinner's run recently? What does he need to do here in the finals to give them, you know get them over the hump? so I heard oh said I think oh is correct in that

There is a hesitancy to trust that Stewart Skiller won't have an off night. There won't be a game where maybe you think that he might have been the reason why the Oilers have lost and I think against Florida given how good the Panthers are I don't know if Edmonton can afford to play a good game and not win it because their goal-tending was up to par. It doesn't feel as risky to say that will happen with Bobrowski. It feels like if everything might win a game 6-1 but it won't be because Bob was terrible because the Panthers were terrible which can happen. It happened last year

in the final but is it possible that the Oilers could play well and lose 4-1 because Stuart Skinner wasn't up to the task that night? Yes. And I think that's the greatest challenge. If he can play a series where he's never the reason why they lost, he doesn't even have to be the reason why they won Stuart Skinner. But just don't be the reason why you lost. I think they have the noise of the Stanley Cup. So it's a different sort of pressure, which he hasn't always been able to up to. Now he's on a great run right now. He seems to be in a great place mentally and focused and he put the LA start behind him, but there is probably that slight concern that the series should be close enough that

there's not a lot of margin for that kind of off night for a goaltender because that might be the difference in winning or losing. With Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst, in winning or losing. With Mike Johnson our TSN hockey analyst, putting the goaltending aside where it's clearly an advantage for the Panthers, I mean it doesn't mean it has to be that way, maybe Skinner outplays them, that's why you play the games, but on paper before the series starts, Bob is a better goalie than Skinner. In which other areas do you think it's clear-cut on either side? Do you think the Panthers or the Oilers own any other category you can think of? Forward, defense, coach, special teams, where you can say, okay, this team has a definitive advantage in this area.

Well, the Oilers have a definitive advantage in that they have the single greatest offensive player that we've ever seen. And I think that's the difference. And the fact that they're at home right now to start the series is a difference. I think if you look back to last year when Barkov and McDavid played against each other, like 40 minutes score was 1-1. When McDavid played against Sam Benesline, score was scores five one in favor of McDavid. I think, and maybe you guys can tell me like as far as the, the greatest home ice advantage individual feels like that's McDavid.

Like if you can get him out there against the wrong people on the other team and Bartoff and Reinhart just finished one two in the Selkie. So they're the right people. Florida is uniquely positioned that they have the right people to handle them but if they don't get to play against them then it feels like McDavid is the clearest separator that as good as everyone else is and obviously Florida got great players there is nobody else in this series like him and if you don't match up properly against them which will be harder to do

when you don't have last change in four to seven games again in a tight tight series that might be the difference maker in winning or losing against johnny were you sniffing around uh... practice today i saw mcdavid skated but uh... you know any concerns uh... because he left practice early the other day and then obviously everyone didn't skate yesterday.

You know what, I'm actually still in Toronto, I'm heading out there right now so I haven't been out there just yet but you know a little bit I was watching the reports of him on the ice and apparently today he was also mucking around. He said it was skate related like he's trying to just finicky with the skates, which ones he wants to wear for the final series. But he seemed to suggest that nothing was bothering him. I will be watching, we all will be watching very closely on how he looks,

how he plays, how he's used to interpret if there's anything bothering him. Because it'd be a real shame if there is, given how great he is. But he was on the ice, he did practice, and he looked fine moving around. so they said much ado about nothing they said he'll be good to go and it looks like from the way he was skating out there that that is going to be the case which is which is what you want I mean listen

you get a week off you'd like to have everyone on both teams other than Zach Hyman I suppose something close to 100% so that it's truly a best on best test and the better team can win. Johnny, there was a guy on a show that was on the radio, TV and YouTube yesterday that said the Oilers are going to spank the Panthers. If you heard such talk, what would you make of that comment? It's bold. It's bold. It's bold. I think Florida may have an off game like they did last year at

times but they are so resilient and I think we also learned against Toronto. If you go back to the first two games against Toronto where the Leafs, oh I was in studio with you, where the Leafs were able to break the puck out of the end quickly and transition quickly and catch Florida trying to be so aggressive on the forecheck which is the one spot they're vulnerable. If you can pass the puck past them while they're coming at you, you will get chances going the other way. That might happen but I just don't know if you can do it consistently enough to make it a close series, to make it a spanking.

No team has shown that they're capable of doing that, and I don't know even as good as the Oilers are. They're capable of doing that. And then you factor in the goaltenders, which I would trust Bob to steal a game, more than I'd trust maybe Stuart Skinner to steal a game. You think about them down in Florida where they can put Barkov and Reinhardt, one-two in Selkie voting up against McDavid.

Like it just seems hard. You can beat Florida, but it seems really, really difficult to see a path where that happens quickly. Johnny, this is crazy, and I mean, I know the answer, but I wanna float it out there. Stewart Skinner has been on a run here is there any time right if he has a if he has a Final don't even stop it She's on smile. I just say the cons might this handed out usually for who's unbelievable in the finals the body of work obviously I get it and all that.

I think it's because... It's just tossing around a mini Jerry. A mini Jerry Stu Skinner wins the comp. It's very low. I'm just saying, and this is crazy talk, because I think if the Oilers win, I think it's McDavid or Dry Settle. That's the bottom line. Like McDavid's been driving everything.

But if this Stu Skinner just has a series like you did against dallas even think about what he'd be a vote would be like third in voting many jerry stew skinner's unreal in the final i've been a very wide behind bush shard uh... i mean that five percent i mean you have to go on like a three shut out run most war time and how we gave this cal pickerbren I mean you have to go on like a three shutout run most of wartime games I mean how many games it's Cal Pickard win six six six in a row

the games that got them here didn't play half of the games that they won that got them to the final now because The Collins-Miles is not the final MVP. It's the playoff MVP now You're right noodles everyone sort of fix it on what happens in the final what the better mini Jerry is that I like your old tell me yeah okay mini Jerry's what is the chance of McDavid winning the cons might if the Oilers lose I don't think it's gonna happen two years in a row right even though he deserves it more than anyone I'm forwarded right now I'm gonna go five percent. Oh

It's got I think it's higher than that, but it would not isn't it's almost Jerry is gonna say you had your fun last year You didn't we're not having you know a mock We're not making a mockery of this and giving right losing team again Yes And I think I don't I think he would be mortified like David to win it again in a losing fashion and he hasn't been as good as he was last year points wise. Like last year he had 44. Yeah 42. He could get there if he has 16 points in the final or whatever but I think that's unlikely I mean I think he falls short and I don't see it man I think it would be Barkov or Bob probably maybe Sam

Bennett like if Bennett scores five or six goals in the in the finals and ends up scoring more goals than anybody else in the playoffs that should be worth something I would think so so let's say it goes game seven super tight and McDavid gets ten points in seven games. That's you know, something like that. Ended up in 36 and the leading scoring Florida Panthers get five points in seven games, six points in seven games. Then Barkov ended with twenty three thirty six twenty three.

And it's hard to make a case for anyone but Mc... on Florida because they are so balanced. It's almost the issue because why they're so good is also why I can't pick anyone. And as Bob stands on his head, it's hard for me to see even if Edmonton loses if the final play that sort of the way the first three rounds did points wise in production and everything else, how you can pick a Florida positional player over McDavid or maybe even Dry Settle at this point. It's just it's hard to kind of, but oh I think you're right. I think they're like no we can't give it a second year.

No way. We've got a losing team who will have seven or eight fewer points than even had last year when we were sort of gave it to a guy good not was a Jaguar And X doll and how many guys are losing teams get this award to do two years in a row would be would be tough Guys the only mini Jerry that anyone cares about this year Jerry hands out the cup and a black Skechers with a white logo Yes, that's his move. That's his move. That'll be on FanDuel. I guarantee your FanDuel might have a broad bed on that. Dude, this guy does not wear a nice Italian loafer with an expensive suit. It's comfort, man.

He goes with a Skecher loafer, like a Skecher running shoe. It may be a Skecher slip-in though, or just a skech-in like that. It has to be, dude. You can't get Skecher without a slip-in. Dude, if you see Jerry, you have to ask him, are those Skecher slip-ons, or just regular Skechers? I'll talk to him. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk.

I'll talk to him. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk.

He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk. He'll come on our set for a few minutes, and then we'll talk It has to be dude. If you see Jerry you have to ask him are those sketcher slip-ons or just regular sketchers? You know what? I'll talk to him, he'll come on our set for one of the three games and I'll do a sneak picture for you of the... Dude, if you sneak a pic of Jerry's wheels, I don't know what I'll do. Security's gonna chicken wing him out because they're gonna be like this guy's snapping photos under the desk of Jerry, like get him out of there. Put a shoe fetish, you get a foot fetish for Jerry.

Can I smell your shoe Jerry? Keep in mind actually we should give a happy belated to Gary Bettman, he turned 73 yesterday. Yes, happy birthday, there you go, I love it. At 73 where the comfort shoes that's what i guess i don't know is going anywhere either man i think he wants that they'll hang around these eighty korean-american what do you like it like a boat they bought it last or on this for nation extravaganza he got the new television deal in canada he's gonna get them back to the Olympics. He's gonna get a new seed VA without a stoppage and then you mix in two tiny

expansion teams the next couple years and he can just bruise a little stretchers onto the golf course and he's 80 and not have too much stress because he's left the league in a very solid position. Yeah. And he makes a lot of money. I know. Wouldn't you want to retire like you're seventy three but you've made a lot of those go shut it down all you're probably addicted to make a lot of show now i get it and it's the power and it's a big you know it's a big responsibility and you're in the middle of everything sixty four or fifty six and i don't know

how to say he doesn't look like the guy that spain a hundred dollar nasa with his bodies on saturday sunday and i don't know if jerry's asking for handicaps from the first he uh... i don't know if it's dialing in numbers and plan birdie game a wall yeah exactly exactly i'm not sure that's coming or that's happening but anyway i don't do not snap a picture of his foot and get in trouble Three do you have to man he's so I mean honestly every time I see him he always comes up shakes my hand

We have a little chat in that stop and chat He's so like he's a great guy visit visit with. He is. You guys are alumni. He loves you guys. Well, I mean, Bill Daly, same thing. Like that whole group, they all come in together. Coley Campbell, they all come in together. They sit and visit with people. Like it's a good and they're at the final.

Like they're shaking hands, kissing babies. Like this is their bread and butter. Like and they're always pretty proud of it because usually it's a pretty darn good final. Well, it's another crazy travel too, right? Like Edmonton to Florida, man. What is that flight, Johnny? There is no flight available from Edmonton to Florida. So you can go through Denver or Chicago

or I'll be connecting through Toronto. I'll fly back to Toronto and then go down to Florida from there. So there is, so far we were on a charter provided by the NHL last year. We had to stop, refuel halfway on the way to Edmonton. On the way back from Edmonton because of the wind you could make it straight.

On the way up to Edmonton you could not. So it's a monster. It's like, it's fine six and a half hours in the air so they're going to London England from right it's that far so it's it'll be that's why there's so many days off because it's not for the players it's for us media idiots who it'll take the full day to try to get from one place to the other right and that's the too. Remember, I think Florida had a big enough plane. Edmonton didn't. They had to stop for gas.

They had the side of noodles in Idaho. They were like, that's the same tarmac. I'm like, there's the oiler's plane. They're refueling as well, which seems ludicrous. Just get a bigger plane. And once we go to Australia, get that one. Exactly. Get us one that'll take us down.

You want to talk about little things you learned last year Guaranteed they probably talked to the owner of the owner is well aware of that saying we're getting a bigger plane from air I believe they're probably contracts with Air Canada go and give us a bigger plane so we can make it in one flight I don't have to stop. You can't be stopping at the con air airport You know make David's motor We had to do that when we were in rally on the car back that's not like you're like what is going on right now this is not the way

to be you know you can have that you can't have it by johnny good luck man send us pics all right have a good time out there at that i don't know if i was right the old dog with my pick delivery and i think that might be a show you a person only okay no digital footprint and i think that's fine i wouldn't argue

against that and i wouldn't dispute it i'd i only wanted if his dress pant is pulled up in you see half a brown sock and half a lot of the process the that that will not do it uh... so can start with thank you johnny

uh... mike johnson joining us here on the maple toyota hotline drive the built in canada fuel efficient funded drive toyota route for gas or hybrid models available visit maple toyota dot com one night Canada fuel-efficient, fun-to-drive Toyota RAV4, gas or hybrid models available, visit mapletoyota.com. One night, one city, one live stream, you don't want to miss, Khalid. Headlines, Billboard Canada, the stage at North by Northeast, June 12th. Khalid!

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