OverDrive - Johnston on Berube's coaching philosophy, the Oilers' injury issues and Demidov's debut in Montreal

Episode Date: April 14, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, Ivan Demidov's debut with the Canadiens in Montreal, Craig Berube's philosophy entering the playoffs, the Oilers' injury bug with the team, the playoff schedule for the Maple Leafs and more.

Hey, who invited climate action to the party? We did! Hey, I'm Shannon Burns. And I'm Sarah Christie. Together, we host the Earth Day Party Podcast. Where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion to getting a prescription to spend time in nature. Plus, we hear from David Suzuki.

This is a party where everyone is invited. The Earth Day Party Podcast on the i i heart radio app or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast here's chris johnston rts and hockey insider uh... what do you think will be the bigger story tonight is it dammit of just playing or the fact that a playoff spot is on the line for the house weirdly and i'm leaning downodav on this one. You know, and part of that probably is because,

you know, the Canadians have had their hands pretty close to that playoff spot for a while. It's not yet, you know, totally in doubt. Although, man, if they lose tonight, it gets pretty interesting because they only have one game left on their own schedule. You know, Columbus beat Washington twice over the weekend. It could get a little nervy when it comes to the playoff situation.

But at this point, I do think, you know, the excitement, the hype, everything that this demidov is going to bring to the game is probably the main headline, you know, at least entering the night. And, you know, I'm with you. I think it's great that their fans are excited. But it was a little weird how many people were at Pearson waiting for them to arrive. Dude, no kidding, man. It veered into the bazaar there for me, but in general I get, you know, I'm excited to see them play myself.

But there was no reason to give them the petting zoo treatment a few days ago. Well, I mean, listen... Welcome to Canada and welcome to the Habs. Exactly. Didn't we track Babcock's plane here? Like,'s there's been some things in this like in Canada. Kauai got a tracking. Kauai had a big tracking. And then this just isn't reserved just for Toronto or Montreal. This is just a it's an excitement thing from fandom. You have to think that there's probably other markets that have done this have it not? Like maybe it just trying to remember. i don't remember an airport in a different city

yes that's what makes this so unique like have spans were on the way to pearson in its inch like i originally thought those for those images i'm ready for a trial yeah i thought it was a guy some what now that was in toronto i'm like what on earth and you know what the cost of park at pierce into like what do you know how that i don't know why i said i i would have if my if it was tiger woods and i wanted to go see him when he is a really like a salary gonna find this guy but

these people just figure it out man i don't know how they do it it's creepy as hell i think in the canadian tried to disguise when and where he was arriving too so they they did it not with the team's help in any way. And they found a way to discover his whereabouts and they were there and he's in action tonight we're seeing him warm up right now I'm sure he was the first one out there that's just like standard practice down the end. Which was the guy the Dragon's Den guy was that show Robert Hurshav Hiroshimura yeah that was for Otani wasn't Otani's yes be honest that

was we thought it was Otani but it turns out it was a Dragons Den guy yeah he was on his way to Toronto like you said though that's Montreal fans coming to Toronto to wait for the guy. That's the most... That's a completely different level of fandom. Now there's a lot of Habs fans that live in the greater Toronto area. I'm not convinced those were people that live in Laval that made their way down here. Right, it's local people. They may have been from here that are just freakishly excited for this kid. But yeah, it's... we're and we're getting closer to the Battle of Ontario and The Leafs that was a really impressive weekend for them. Wasn't it CJ? Yeah, it's funny. I mean, I know why we're here

We've all been in the market for a long time and you know everything that's gone on in the prior playoff seasons But Toronto's 17 six and two since four nations. They have the second most points in the league over the last two months. And I've just not heard anyone get too excited about it. And as I say, I can understand why that is. There's definitely an attitude of, you know, let's see it in the playoffs. Let's, let's have a playoff run before anyone, you know, gets too excited. But, you know, I think the Leafs really have put themselves in a nice spot here. Um, you know, the Atlantic is, is right in their fingers. I mean, they need one points really have put themselves in a nice spot here You know that the Atlantic is right in their fingers

I mean they need one point or they need Tampa to lose a point and over this final two games I had to set up that battle of Ontario and well by no means When am I dismissing the Senators or think it'll be easy? I just think that's that's obviously a more favorable matchup than playing one of the Florida teams that have You know rosters dotted with guys that have gone to the cup final and, you know, been through some of those battles and frankly have had some success against the Leafs. I think, you know, getting a team like Ottawa is probably as good as you can hope for if you're on the Leafs end of things and they've set themselves up nicely with this winning run for the last few months. Yeah, they have been on fire.

Like they're peaking, man. I think they're playing their best hockey. They're in a very good position. And we mentioned Craig Barube's role in this, that this is why he's here. Like this is when it starts for him, because Sheldon Keefe got them to the playoffs every year. Mike Babcock got them to the playoffs pretty much every year. The expectation was the playoffs,

but this is where he is supposed to have a different effect on this team. Is there anything that leads you to believe he is supposed to have a different effect on this team. Is there anything that leads you to believe he is going to have a different approach or what makes you think being around Craig Barube, being around the team, what makes you believe he's prepared for this moment? Because this is when the clock really starts for Barube in Toronto. Well, I haven't seen his pulse go up too often since he's been here,

you know, at least publicly. I feel like he's a pretty steady coach and I think that's probably the sort of thing the Leafs need at this point in time. I mean, I'm thinking yesterday, I know it's a weird thing to draw maybe, but watching Rory's round and all the ups and downs, right? I mean, any team that goes through the playoffs is going to have things go wrong. There's going to be the equivalent of those bogeys or, you know, dumping it in the creek on 13 and you still got to find a way to push forward.

And, you know, this isn't necessarily a comment on Keef or Babcock before that. I mean, I think that those were different versions of the Leafs. But, you know, I think that what they have to find to stretch this into a longer playoff run than they've had is, you know, a way to navigate some of those tough situations situations because obviously the temperature gets pretty hot around here pretty quickly and they've dug some holes. Look at last year's series falling behind three run right out of the gate, obviously some mistimed injuries there with Matthews and Nyland are missing those games early on

in that series. But I just feel as though Borube know, Berube doesn't put his foot in his mouth with the media. It doesn't really give us storylines in that manner. And, you know, I just don't think that anything's going to happen, whether it's an injury situation, a blown call or anything like that, that's going to, you know, see him veer from his plan. And I think if somehow that can feed through the dressing room, I think the Leafs have a better chance, you better chance to push through because, let's face it, winning the Cup is hard and the Leafs have had trouble enough winning

just one series over these last eight years. I do think they needed a different voice there and we'll see if it works now that the spotlights are about to go up. C.J., you said in reference to Borube, you know why he was here and you know why there's kind of a You know a tempered expectation with what's happened with the Maple Leafs in the past If there was one player that Craig Borube could have a positive impact or it go different for them in the playoffs Who would you suspect that would be?

You know, I think you got a look at Marner for that one I mean, he's had such a great year this year, you know, right on the precipice of 100 points. And you know, you've seen him come through in some big moments. He scored the overtime goal on Saturday. I think he's been a real rock for the Leafs through this season and had some really nice moments with Team Canada at the Four Nations. And so I think if you could, you know, find a way to keep him in the right mind frame and just pushing through because, you know, we know it's going to be tough. It's not, you know, the one thing that won't change

a playoff start and all of a sudden all the room out there goes away. All the sort of prime scoring opportunities disappear for the players that are under a lot of pressure to put up points and goals. And, you know, I do think that, you know, that he's someone that, that can, can benefit from, from, you know, having chiefs there. And honestly, I just think that it's going to be a different feel in general around the group. So, I mean, that's, that's the best case scenario. You know, clearly this team, I think is they've rebuilt the blue line,

that the goal-tending has been much better Across an entire season than the Leafs have had in a lot of the recent years I mean no guarantees of course you start third game one and everyone gets zeros in their stats columns again and You know something that's gonna be replicated, but I just think that the Leafs are in a better space in a lot of ways entering this playoffs and You know I think that the Borube will have a different effect on them ultimately when they get into those moments. CJ, we've seen some injuries around the league. I mean, you look at the Leafs, even their back end,

Ekman Larson, McCabe, any updates on that. And then you start to look around. Edmonton's banged up. You look at Colorado. There's some question marks Have you seen I mean these are some significant injuries down the stretch I can't remember a season where there's been a lot more question marks Maybe it's just more Canadian flavor

But I I can't remember a time around the playoffs where we've seen this many injuries this close to playoffs Yeah, and you know Edmonton situation you know, the most difficult just because it's not just this week. I mean, it's going back several weeks now where they've had a lot of their top guys in and out, you know, losing at home now for at least the first round is Chris Knobloch announced today. Clearly a big blow. I mean, if there's an area of concern, I'd say for Edmonton, it's their ability to defend

and at times, you know, goaltending is an extension of that, but their defensive play will call it. And that's, you know, their, their most. Relied and trusted defensive player. That's not going to be available for the first round. In addition to the fact that, you know, dry title and McDavid, you know, while it appears they're going to play, we just don't know, you know, what, what percentage, what, what version of them, uh, we're going to get to in these playoffs.

So you're right. It's, it's, that's, it's that feels like a really significant one and there's a number of players elsewhere too. Unfortunately for Leafs, obviously with McCave in particular, I don't think that he's been skating. I think really they're just being mindful and smart about his return to play, but no reason to think he won't be around for the playoff time. And that's what makes these last couple games especially hard probably to watch from the

press box. I mean, obviously the Leafs are going to go out there focused on winning in Buffalo tomorrow to secure that Atlantic division, to make it so that it's 100% in the bag. And then we'll see what decisions they make if they manage to do that before their final game because you don't want to be losing any of your top guys at this stage. With Chris Johnston our TSN hockey insider so the Winnipeg Jets wrap up the President's trophy. Are you a believer in the President's trophy curse? In other words generally speaking a team that wins it

does not end up winning the Stanley Cup. That's what happened since 2013, I think it was. Where do you stand on that, CJ? Yeah, I mean, it's hard to deny the numbers, right? It's just over time. I don't know if it's a curse or if it's a sign that the playoffs are different than the regular season and a little bit more random, but it's very difficult to go wire to wire.

Only a select number of teams have done it in sort of, we'll call it a modern era of the league. And you know, I think it'll be tough for Winnipeg. I mean, look, they're, they're, it's probably not going to be easy for them in round one. We're still waiting to see exactly who they'll play with the wild card situation in the Western conference, still up for grabs. But you know,

even if they get through that series and they're, they're right into Colorado or Dallas in round two and so you know I think it's a big feather in the organization's cap I don't think too many of us were calling a Jets president's trophy win you know back in September or October and they've pretty much been at the top of the league all year long but you know when you start fresh it is a different kind of ball game and you know I do think the Jets have a chance to go on a run here but it's going to be tough to come out of the central division for any of those teams you know whether we're talking the Avalanche of Stars

or the Jets. All right CJ final week man and then it's go time any word on the scheduling of the Stanley Cup playoffs you're hearing anything in terms of when it could start? When the Leafs could start? What's going on out there? Yeah, we're expecting Leafs Sunday, Tuesday to start. So that means by the time if we do our hit as scheduled normally on Monday next week, they'll have already played game one.

That's how crazy this is. Obviously the playoffs themselves get going Saturday. I think you'll see Edmonton play that night. I think Montreal might not go to Monday for game one. Okay. There you go. Thank you, CJ. Appreciate it.

Okay guys. Be well. Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. That just happened with me, Vashi Capellos, Canada Decides 2025. Stay informed with my exclusive iHeartRadio podcast, available Friday afternoon, straight through till election day and beyond. I'll have your weekly highlights and my unvarnished analysis of the campaign of a lifetime.

The candidates, the quotes, the polls, and the momentum. That just happened with Vashikopelos. Canada decides. 2025. Fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app.