OverDrive - Johnston on Hellebuyck's future, Larkin's next steps and the Maple Leafs adding players

Episode Date: October 19, 2026

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the Maple Leafs searching to make moves, the defensive additions to the roster, Connor Hellebuyck's future with the Jets and his next steps in Winnipeg, Dylan Larkin's stance on the Red Wings and more.

Here's our TSN Hockey Insider, Chris Johnston, joining us from the Maple Toyota Hotline. Do you, is there any connection there, C.J., Brady coming back. Let's get some real positive news. Everyone loves Travis Green. He's got himself an extension two days before Brady returns. I don't know if that was the point, but it's certainly not bad timing. And, you know, you look at the two full seasons Travis Green's had in Ottawa. They've made the playoffs.

They've taken some steps. I know last year was a sweep in round one, but you talk to the two. the hurricanes and they say that might have been their toughest challenge on their run to go into win the Stanley Cup. So, you know, it's the way the sons have started this year. I think there's no reason for, you know, any reason to think that they're going to take a step back. And then this is a reward for a coach who kind of, you know, what's interesting to me is he signed a four-year deal initially. So he's only at the early stages of year three. They're obviously locking him in early the way you might with a player. You know, clearly the bet from the

organization if you want to call that is that this is a good time to do it because Travis Green was only going to get more more valuable to them if they waited longer CJ what do you what's your gauge on the temperature in Leafland it's been a bit of a blip on the radar here we've all kept our emotions in check at the beginning of the show hazy made some apologies like we're all positive all positive like just we talked about this being a big week like is John Chica and Jim Hiller like do they understand that this week kind of goes south, things could be a little wonky around here? I'm sure they understand that.

I mean, one thing, John Chica doesn't strike me as someone who rides the roller coaster too much, he does seem like a pretty level-headed guy, maybe tougher to do that when you're behind the bench and you're in the emotion of the game, the way Jim Hiller is, obviously that's something every NHL coach is looking at, but, you know, the Leafs are teetering a bit. And, you know, I don't think there's any reason to be going too far. I think you're right not to maybe go too far in that direction just yet, but, you know, they had some obviously good vibes to start the year.

Everyone's excited. It's a new team. You're trying to get your mind around it. Well, now all of a sudden we're coming up on the 10-game mark, and we just know how quickly these things go, and they've lost a few in a row. So, you know, that definitely gets your attention. And if you're prone to having your mind wander, sure, if this is a tough week, I imagine next Monday's show will be a little bit more alarmed belly,

But the flip side of that is I look at these games as a lot of opportunity for the Leafs. You know, the sharks have had trouble holding some leads this year, obviously an exciting young team, have some things in common maybe with Toronto. But, you know, this is a winnable game. It's on home ice. You know, back-to-back is an ideal. But, you know, Columbus hasn't been set in the world on fire to start the season. So, you know, these could also go the other way where these are a couple games,

the Leaves can get some points in the bank, maybe settle things down and then get on the road next week in Western Canada. CJ, do you sense that the league is starting to heat up as far as trade chatter, or at least maybe seeing what the market place is for a few teams and a few players? Well, I suppose there's some desire in certain places to look at ways to address the team. What isn't really seeming to happen yet, Noodles, is I don't think the teams that we're going to have one day call sellers are sellers yet. You know what I mean? And that's not to say there won't be any trades, but, you know, I, you know, I'm,

imagine you might be winking a little bit at the leaf situation. Obviously, a lot of focus on their blue line. You know, it's just a hard time of year. You know, you go make the calls if you're in John Chikas shoes, but you don't know exactly who's truly available. They only have so much to give up in these types of trades. And so I think you're constantly weighing those factors. But, you know, it's a bit of a strange season.

I think with the shorter training camp, you know, certain teams still figuring out what they have. We've seen a lot of injuries early in the year, I think, across the league. I don't know if it's exactly tied to the different preparation for the season. So, you know, some things may start to move, but, you know, I don't certainly get the feeling we're going to see a rash of trades anytime soon, maybe as we get into November, because the truth is, look, like, what's the talk in Philadelphia right now? I mean, teams that have expectations, you can only say it's early for so long, and obviously we're moving beyond that stage now.

And, you know, so that means if your team is underperforming, you know, as a GM, you've got to be looking for ways to get them out of that. Yeah, I would think if there's a team that's committed to patience, they could really pounce right now because you reference Philly. L.A.'s got Peter L.A.'s got Peter L. Vialette there. They haven't won a game yet. So you don't hire Peter Lavillette without the intention of turning things around and trying to be a competitive team. And, you know, I don't know who that is. If it's Vancouver, is it, is it? Who is it that might be like, all right, I can give you someone, but you got to

really pay for it. They might be able to lurk in the way. weeds here and get things done. You know, obviously the Larkin and Hellebuck situation are different than what we're discussing here. You know, this is not, you know, GMs making trades where they don't have players without standing trade requests. But the Hellebuck front, you know, I get the impression, C.J. That it's a standoff now to the point where if Hellebuck decides I'm showing up,

I'm doing it to disrupt you to force you to trade me. Like, that would be his stance, in my opinion. I know a lot of people think it's about the money, which is back to right. You think this reason for showing up is to cause a disruption? I think that's, I think if I'm his agent, I'd say you go there and you let them know I'm walking right in that room. You don't want to trade me? Okay, I'm showing up. And I think they trade them before they let them do that, right?

Be willing to, I'd risk it anyway if I was a agent. That would be greasy, man. It would be very, it's greasy anyway. It's greasy anyway. It's demanded out. He doesn't show up. He doesn't care about the Jets. He wants out.

Like, that's what he, anyway, C. I'm rambling here. You go ahead. Where do you stand on this? with Hallibuck. Well, I guess my only thought is, I haven't seen any evidence that he wants any part of going back to Winnipeg himself, right? I mean, he could have just come to training camp day one, and that would have been its own

disruption, I think, just by him being there. You know, and obviously it's almost a month later here, and he, you know, this suspension and he lifts on Friday, but, you know, I don't think the Jets believe he really wants to even come to Winnipeg. You know, obviously he wants to move the process along in terms of, yeah, he'll get paid. presumably this will open up the opportunity from to train a little bit more to be an NHL player. And ultimately,

his first wish, of course, is just that a trade happens. It's a bit of a standoff, though. Like, I really don't know how we're only talking about days from, from this lifting,

the suspension. I don't know how it's going to go yet. I'm not sure the Jets do. Maybe even Hellebuck doesn't, because if he does want to come back, you know, I think there's perhaps some other things in the CBA that they could look at potentially using in terms of his fitness.

and being ready to play. You know, at this point, it's already, I guess, a little bit ugly. This is not an ideal circumstance for either side, but, you know, you can only imagine they're looking at each other and say, do we want to make this worse? I mean, ultimately, you should think that they both will benefit from the same thing, which is a good trade happening at the closest possible date. So, you know, I don't know if he's coming back just to cause the disruption.

I think he wants to resume his career. Quite frankly, I think it was a mistake for him not to show up at start a camp, you know, because that really would have been its own disruption, whether he did anything or not. Just him being there after the way the offseason played out, I think would have made it less comfortable, would have made it put maybe a little bit more pressure on making a deal. But, you know, I just think Kevin Sheveled that. He hasn't been through anything maybe quite like this just because of what Helbach means to the team. And, you know, he's talking with a three-time Deslin winner and all that stuff.

But, you know, he's been through his share of, you know, distractions before. And he's actually got a pretty good record, I think, in the trades he's made. So, you know, I don't think he's going to be one to blink no matter how these next few days play out. Yeah. I mean, he hasn't blinked yet. And obviously the Red Wings haven't either, and there's some suggestion that this is the week for Larkin to be dealt. Is there any reason to believe that's the case? What makes this week different than any other when it comes to Dillon Larkin?

Yeah, I don't have any information myself that that confirms that or suggests that. I mean, you know, I still believe the Red Wings would like to try to pass. things up with Dylan Larkin, if they can. I'm not at all predicting that's going to happen, but I don't think they've even ruled out the possibility of keeping him. You know, what you might have happening around the league is maybe some of those teams that are on his list. You know, he's got 10 teams, is my understanding at this point in time, that he's willing

to go to. You know, maybe some of those teams are getting a little more itchy and trying to make something happen. But, you know, I don't sense that anything is imminent here. I still think ultimately he's likely to be traded. I mean, to me, if you're the Red Wings, you know, getting the business done with Simon Eddinson's probably a little more pressing. I know he doesn't, you know, command the same level of headlines,

but you're still talking about a young defense going to play it on their top pair last year, who is still sitting, you know, not with their team as a restricted free agent. And, you know, that's one I wouldn't have predicted. The guy came to training camp with no contract, and here we are three weeks into the season, and he still has no deal done. So, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's, been a strange start to the year in Detroit. They did get a win over San Jose over the weekend.

Maybe that win, coupled with the debrinket deal getting done, maybe some of the pressure is easing up around that front office. But, you know, I still think Edmondson gets sorted out before Larkin, unless there's some surprise out there lurking around the corner. C.J., like, just big picture on both these scenarios, why haven't teams stepped up to make these transactions? Is a lot of players not wanting to go to Winnipeg a part of the Hellebuck? problem with Larkin.

And I just wonder about the agents. We've touched on this numerous times. Like, don't you have to know or have a sense that teams are going to step up and make a play or make the transaction happen before you actually go and say, I'm out of here and then have all this nonsense happen? Like, it's bizarre. Yeah, it is weird. I don't think, you know, especially the Larkin case when this first, you know, went down in

terms of the discussions ever had, this was never intended to go public. this wasn't a case that I believe, you know, Dylan or his side of things leaked everything to try to spur the trade market. And so, you know, maybe the fact that became so public. And then in the initial days, he really did only have three teams he was willing to go do. I mean, that obviously limited the kind of business pretty significantly Detroit could do, you know, fast forward a couple months. And here we are. You know, the Hellbuck situation is different because, you know, he was pretty outspoken after the exit meetings last year. First time, I think you're like, okay, wow, what's going on? You know, ultimately puts out his own statement to say that, you know, he has formally requested a trade,

you know, following some reporting on that front. You know, I think the toughest thing with Hellebuck is goalies don't usually bring back what you expect in deals. You know, this is a pretty specific, I mean, goalie that's won a hard trophy. I mean, this guy at his best has been a huge part of Winnipeg's regular season success anyway. And they just feel, I think naturally that they really can't give up even a couple pennies on this dollar. I think they really feel that they have to take a bigger swing. I think Larkin, where it got a little sideways, is there just wasn't enough teams in the mix at the beginning,

and then we get into the year, right? And I'm sure of the 10 teams on Lirken's trade lists, I'm sure some of those teams like them, there's no doubt about that, but how much do they like them? How incentivized do they feel to make a move right now? Some of the teams on that list are off to a good start this year. They don't need to be worrying about this three weeks into the season. They don't have the same desire to make the move.

So, you know, I think procedurally how it played out is just different starts. You know, the Hellibuck one, to me, this is going to end by trade. Like, I really don't believe, as I've heard Greg say, number of times, we're going to see him back in a Jets jersey. But Larkin thing could go on a little while because he is playing, the team's playing, and, you know, what are you going to do now? I mean, other than just, I think he has to kind of suck it up and wait for the right situation to come together,

whereas, you know, in the Hellibuck case, he's probably not playing another NHL game until the trade happens. So that needs to happen quicker, I think. All right, CJ, we'll leave it there. Thank you for this. All right, boys. Have a good night. Chris Johnson on the Maple Toyota hotline.

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