OverDrive - Johnston on Matthews' timeline to return, the Maple Leafs' search for centers and the Canucks' injury bug

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the biggest headlines around the NHL, Auston Matthews' injury status and timeline to return to the ice, the team's center additions, the Stars' fine for a holiday practice, the Rangers' search to make moves, Jeff Skinner's scratch with the Oilers, the Canucks' injury bug in the spotlight and more.

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The smarter way to book travel. Joining us now on the Maple Toyota Hotline is Chris Johnston, our TSN Hockey Insider. CJ, how are you? I'm doing well, guys. How are you? Good. Is there any tidbit you can give us on the Austin Matthews? Just a small little morsel.

Anything. I mean, I wish I could. Is there any tidbit you can give us on the Austin Matthews? Just a small little morsel, anything. I mean, I wish I could. You know, I'm hearing a lot of the same sort of encouraging comments that obviously Craig Brubay made to the reporters in Toronto today. But, you know, it's a bit of a frustrating kind of situation. I'm sure no one's more frustrated than Austin Matthews himself. You know, only being able to play 24 games. I think tomorrow's

number 38 for the leafs so you know he's only played 60 or so roughly the games this season and and i'm with dave in in a sense this could be one of these things we don't have the crystal ball we don't know where to go it could could wind up being a whole lot of nothing and we might say hey who cares what the first half of the season when he was only in and out of the lineup a little bit because he had this monster second half and a great playoffs. But it's certainly not a great sign that he's had to take so much time off. It doesn't sound like it's anything that they... I do think at this point what I've heard is

they have a really good idea of what it is. I don't have an exact idea of what it is myself, but it's not an issue where they're wondering this or that. I think it's a lot of how does it feel for Austin? Is he comfortable playing? And obviously I think that the general

decision that's been reached is why push it at this point? If there's any doubt, if there's any feeling that it's not at 100%, it's wise to just sit out the games now versus you know hoping you can get to a point where that's not the case when they get more important yeah no doubt about it cj that that makes a lot of sense but we when you look at the center depth problem on this team and i think it's going to be a conversation we have more than once between now

and the march 7th trade deadline i mean what kind of prospects do you think are out there for Brad Tree living in the early stages of the trade talk around the league? Because Camp hasn't produced at the level they'd hoped he would. Holmberg hasn't produced at the level they hoped he would. We've talked about Minton, Taddy, and I just now about, you know, it would be nice if they could maybe count on him, but it's a lot to ask from a 20-year-old. But how do you think the Leafs see their need for trade,

to trade for a center in terms of depth, and what do you think might be out there? Well, it's definitely a high priority. It actually has been before this Matthews situation got to where we are today. This was something the Leafs front office kind of had in the back of their minds or even closer to the front of their minds, you know, all season long, that it was the most likely area where they'd have to, you know, try to bolster things. And, you know, I think ideally what you're looking at,

I mean, obviously you're not replacing Austin Matthews in any way, shape, or form. So you're hoping if you're in the front office that you've got him in the number one spot, that you've got John Tavares most likely playing as the number two center on this team and then you know you're probably finding someone who fits as a number three centerman and and you know traditionally those players are out there you know I look at the Oilers last year for example trading for Adam Henrik from Anaheim at the deadline you know they had a nice playoff run with him re-signed him I mean he like that that type of guy is probably what's available. You know, you look around at teams that are probably not in the playoff spot.

You know, Yanni Gord, for example, is someone, you know, who's played center throughout his career, been on the wing a little bit more recently in Seattle. But, you know, maybe Fitz is a third-line center. I mean, we're not probably talking about a trade in all, you know, unless something unforeseen happens in the next seven eight nine weeks um it's probably not going to be a big headline grabber but i think you're trying to fill find someone who can produce a little bit of offense but you can trust defensively to lock things down on the

third line because you know in the the lineup that's playing right now i mean pontus homberg was their second line center i mean clearly they don't want to go into any playoff series uh with that as the plan. You know, sometimes you make plans and someone laughs and you've got to adjust on the fly. But certainly, you know, I think you're going to be looking at a third line centerman for them. You know, probably someone with some experience,

someone who can win face-offs that can be trusted defensively. You know, and ideally for the Leafs, chip in a bit offensively because, you know, for all the ways we might look at what this generation of this team has been, they really have not scored enough in the playoffs. So I think if they can get anything that can help the bottom six contributing a little bit in a playoff series

could be the difference between a short spring and a longer one. So a couple ways they could go at this, they could bring in somebody for short term or what I hope happens is they actually bring in somebody that speaks to Tavares over the next two or three years, depending on what they're going to do there. Does that one make any sense? It could.

Those aren't the kind of trades we don't see. But do you know what? Actually, if you look around the league, there's been, I would say, different sort of trades in the NHL than we usually see to this point in the season. so i can't rule it out i mean i i agree it makes sense you know the leafs have some big questions to answer with their salary cap picture i mean are they resigning mitch barter what's that going to cost are they bringing back john taveras what's that going to cost you know everything kind of flows out of i think those decisions because if the answer is no to either of those questions they obviously have you have a fair bit of cap space to work with

in terms of looking beyond this season. And maybe it makes sense to bring in a player with some term on his contract. Those haven't been the sort of trades we've seen, but this is a unique time in the NHL. I mean, the cap is finally rising after a number of years around those pandemic years where it was kind of flat and made it really extremely difficult to move players around.

Now this is an environment where there's going to be more money to spend. I think there's a lot of optimism, and frankly, I just think there's a lot of teams that are kind of getting to panic mode. I mean, there's just a lot of teams around the league that haven't progressed the way they thought, and so now they're thinking a little bigger in terms of the sort of moves they might make.

I don't have a player to toss out right now and say that this could be the one for the Leafs, but I think that they would be open to that idea if it does present itself. This might be kind of this chaotic year where that sort of trade is out there, and it makes sense for Toronto. In the category of why do teams do what they do, CJ,

explain to us why Peter DeBoer, the Dallas Stars, would call an optional practice on Boxing Day when it's clearly a violation of the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players. They know they're going to get fined $100,000 for it. They do it anyway, and they get fined $100ed 100 grand for it what do you make of that well i think there's like a there's a small amount of gray in this and you know i followed just enough players on instagram to know that there were other players for other teams that were skating on those those days 24 25th and 26th

uh where it's where it's not allowed to call sort of what we would call formal team events. You know, I think where the Stars tripped out, quite frankly, is Pierre De Boer gave an interview where he talked about it as a practice, you know, insinuated that the young players, as always, when it becomes an optional practice, you know, didn't really have the option, so to speak. And so I think it was in the framing publicly that they really got nailed on this one. The truth is, I think a lot of NHL players do skate during that window, you know, three days, as much as it doesn't sound like a big deal.

You know, as high end of athletes as these guys are, that's a long time to take off the ice, and a lot of players don't want to do that. You know, where the CBA comes in here is the team can't make a player, which is essentially an employee, you know, come to work on those days. But if they maybe open the rink and say, hey guys, just so you know, there's ice time at this time, have at it. I certainly don't think the Stars were the only team that had players skate during that window, but it's the framing of it as a practice that got them nailed. And you might remember the Leafs got nailed sort of on a similar thing a couple years

ago. They flew on December 26th instead of waiting until the 27th, and they got a similar $100,000 fine. So it's not to excuse it in any way, but I think that it was a little bit in the gray, and they crossed a little bit. The way it was framed publicly is frankly what nailed them. So this is probably why coaches don't want to talk to media guys, because that's what cost them $100 one of the reasons um i want to ask you about if there's a team that could actually sort of open the trade uh window and get ahead of

things i'm looking at the rangers here just absolutely befuddling uh in detroit with a new coach maybe you know there was some talk that the previous coach didn't play the young guys enough, and maybe the new guy doesn't, and you figure out the young guys aren't good enough. I mean, who sort of sets the or opens the door here for the trade deadline? Well, the Rangers probably would be at the top of the list. You've identified the right one there. I wonder about Buffalo. That was a team I know before the holiday freeze kicked in on Rochters

was involved in a lot of different trade discussions. I mean, obviously not anything that was so close that it got done the day that that it that freeze lifted here in the last couple days but you know they've been similarly kind of struck with you know frustrated expectation and I think they have a lot of players teams like they have a lot of players that are supposed to be better than they are that are young that haven't performed well and so you know those those might be bigger types of trades and and you know even vancouver uh you know kind of a strange time they're obviously petterson and hughes currently out injured uh but with all the smoke around jt miller and petterson and you know the status of their relationship you know with that team not you know kind of clicking at the level

they did last year when they got all the way to game seven of the second round. You know, if I was to pick one, I think it would be, or pick three rather, would be the Rangers, the Sabres, or the Canucks. I could see sort of kicking off the fireworks the most. And, you know, the Rangers probably have to be number one because it's, I mean, that's, I don't even know how to describe this team. I've been around the league a long time. I don't recall a team that was really good last year and for many years prior to that that that really didn't make

a lot of you know personnel changes and it's just just has not worked you know it feels like an organizational almost a culture issue it feels feels like you know maybe the players you know going to work is just not like this i can't really explain it i guess is what i'm getting at is because on on paper that team is not that much worse or shouldn't be much worse than the one last year which won the president's trophy and they can't even win a game in december right now so um you know i i do think that there's a high level of alert there in terms of trying to shake things up even more than i already have with the true betrayed and and the like cj what do you make edmonton i mean they bring in jeff skinner in the offseason on a one-year deal for $3 million,

not exactly chump change, expecting him to be a goal scorer that can contribute. He's got, what, six goals to start the year. He gets healthy scratched last night in Anaheim. They blow a two-goal lead. They lose their second straight on a little California trip. What do you make of Skinner not fitting in there and what they might do about it? Well, I certainly don't think it's a foregone conclusion.

He'll still be there beyond the trade deadline. Edmonton's a team like a lot of teams that have been trying to win the Cup over multiple years. They don't have a ton of cap flexibility. If they're looking at bigger changes, it means, you know, money going out the door, not just, you know, the players that they can bring in. And you're right, it really hasn't worked for Skinner.

And it's, you know, to be scratching him at this point in the season is obviously not a good sign about how it's gone. I mean, they picked up Kasperi Kapan. Leafs fans obviously familiar with him off waivers. You know, he's basically outperformed Skinner. You know,, they picked up Kats Perry Kappen. Leafs fans obviously familiar with him off waivers. You know, he's basically outperformed Skinner. You know, he was picked up for free in season

and has kind of found a spot at least a little bit in their top six for the time being. And so, you know, those were minutes that were earmarked for Skinner when he signed on July 1st

and, you know, just hasn't really blossomed. And I do think that, you know, given how much is riding on the season for the Oilers, that they can't necessarily be patient. And so there's still a bit of time for him to salvage things. The training line isn't tomorrow, and there's a world maybe he gets put on a line in the next game and things take off,

and all this is just a little bit of water under the bridge. But at this point, I certainly think it's his spot on the team, even just for the rain or the season, is tenuous because they're going to have to look to replace him if they feel they can't use him. And they're also looking for a defenseman, which they have been all year. So I think Edmonton will be one of the pretty active teams

as we get closer to March 7th, and that could be players going out in addition to those coming in. You know, a close second of the Rangers story is Nashville. They're just a point ahead of San Jose. I mean, big things were expected there. They spent a lot of money in the offseason. What's going to happen? They're a total wild card.

You know, they have three first-round picks this year, too. So they spent all that money in free agency, and they were sort of geared up potentially to be a team that would be adding, obviously, this season at the deadline with all that the picks had accumulated. And obviously, that isn't going to be the case now. But, you know, they've made sort of a variety of trades. They're trading away some of their older pieces.

You know, a guy like Alexander Carey, they traded just to Montreal, who they had signed. I feel like they're completely open for business and looking at a lot of different things. I mean, I think what you'll see in Nashville is that they have some younger players they like in their farm system they're going to bring up as the second half goes along. And, you know, more than likely, I think, there's going to be more guys going out the door.

I mean, it's not going to be a complete teardown. You know, we're not talking the Stamkoses. You know, the ones who just signed, I don't think that that's what they're looking at. But certainly it didn't work this year. They'd really like another centerman. I think that's been one of the issues is they brought in Marcia Show and Stamkos who both play wing at this point in their career. They already had Gus Nyquist and Phillip Forsberg.

You know, they have pretty good top six wingers, I would say. They didn't have enough centers to play with those guys, and the season's sort of gotten away from them. But Barry Trotz, I think, has made seven trades already this season, and I wouldn't put it past him to get to ten or more by the time the deadline comes. So they're a team to watch both as a buyer or a seller, I guess is what I'm saying, Jim, is that I don't think it it's one or the other they're just open to doing anything to to to shift things up because

you know this season is not gone as planned in any way um the guy who actually uh jumps off the page when you look at their salary list as a fit uh in toronto is ryan o'reilly is that even possible i don't know if you can rule it out honestly i mean, I'm not saying he's the least top target or what have you, but I'm with you. It fits in a lot of ways. I don't believe he has any no trade protection in his contract, so obviously it's something that the Predators could look to do. I mean, he's the top line center in Nashville.

He was last year when they made a run to the playoffs, and so he's an important part of their team. But I think that they will have to make a decision on him and and you know he didn't he chose to go sign in nashville as a free agent after his brief time in toronto a few years ago when he was brought in at the deadline and and so you know i don't know exactly how he'd feel about it but i don't think you can rule it out as a possibility and and you know the fit is there i mean i think certainly at this point his career whether he's a second line center with a team like the least or third i think it makes a lot of sense for a team trying to to win the cup a competitive team

um you know i don't want to start any rumors but it you can never say never i i just i don't think nashville will be looking to move him if i'm being honest it's just you know but they they are a team that it feels like they're they're willing to consider everything there's not a lot of no's i don't get the sense in talking around the league to people when they call barry trotz it's not a it's not a big list of things you can't do he's open to doing business and so uh let's stay tuned and see if there's there's a little more smoke there on o'reilly well if there's if there's smoke on o'reilly cj i Leaf fans, of course, looking to recapture the one shining moment of playoff glory they've had

with the win over Tampa a couple years back. Why not Luke Shen as well? Why not make it a package deal? Who says no? I mean, I don't think the Leafs would, honestly. You're hitting the nail on the head here. I mean, the defense has been better as a whole this season. Not as good lately, of course.

But I feel like something's a little off in that if they could get someone who could sort of anchor a third pair on the right side, which Shenton did pretty well. I mean, I don't know if it was even the third pair, because he played with Riley a lot in that playoff series against Tampa. But that would make a lot of sense. Maybe there's a third go-around for Shannon Toronto. There's worse rumors out there, and certainly at this stage of Luke Shannon's career,

I think that it would make sense for Nashville, if they can get something back for him, to move him. And so, look, I think that those are, honestly, from a high level, those are fits. It doesn't mean I haven't thought through the Caps' perspective or I haven't heard specific intel on maybe those players going there. But, you know, both would make sense. And strangely enough, both were with that Leafs team that beat Tampa a couple

years ago. CJ, thanks very much. Happy New Year. Yeah, same to you guys. Have a good day tomorrow. Thank you. CJ, join us in the Maple Toyota Hotline. Check out Maple Toyota's huge truck and SUV lineup, including Tundra, 4Runner, Highlander

and Grand Highlander in stock ready to deliver. Visit mapletoyota.com.