OverDrive - Johnston on the Canucks in the trade market, the Maple Leafs' offensive issues and Doughty's replacement status at the 4 Nations Face-Off

Episode Date: January 30, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Maple Leafs playing through offensive issues, the Canucks' rift on the team and the moves for the group, the trade deadline outlook in the league, Drew Doughty on the 4 Nations Face-Off roster and more.

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Let's go. New year, new you. New you. New you. Explore it all. Feel brand new. At iHeartRadio.ca and on the free iHeartRadio app. Here is our TSN hockey insider Chris Johnston. CJ, how would you describe the lack of offense by the Leafs right now and how concerning it should be for Craig Barube, Brad Treeliving, etc. as they project what could happen the

rest of the way well certainly i think there's a level of concern there and and you know to me it's not just three games where they've been scored one goal in each of them it's the fact that if you do not and you know seventy five percent of goals from from the team of in score by six guys and you know right now maybe in the short term you can

explain some of the lack of offense because two of those players have been out injured, you know, in this stretch with Tavares and Matthew Nyes. You know, obviously last night you got Matthews and Nylander each, you know, ringing a shot off the bar. But, you know, really what we're talking about here is the Leafs don't have a lot of secondary push outside of their top two lines. And so, you know, I do think as we start to look ahead to the trade deadline and the changes that might occur in the next five weeks, you know, that's got to be a consideration. You know, at times obviously the Leafs score well when their big guys are humming.

That's not an issue. But the nights when maybe they're either not getting a bounce or they're not on top of their game, I just don't see enough of a secondary push. And so I think that'll be part of you know what we're talking about here Is is Brad tree living and the front office get to work? CJ do you like where things are at it seems like there's a lot of we got to ride it out right now Where it seemed like the 90s it would be like Offensive stale we got to go out and get a guy to kinda juice things up and the

team would like make a trade. And it was exciting for fan bases. Do you kinda miss that? Well, of course. I mean, I'm a child of the 90s when we had the 10 player deal that brought Doug Gilmore to Toronto, right? I mean, that sort of thing just doesn't exist really anywhere. Even the Shake It Up trades, like we just wanna shake it up.

Those were awesome Right and look we are getting I think there's been a little more activity around the league It you know, it hasn't actually been centered here in Toronto this season and it started to feel like that there's teams that are thinking about doing some bigger stuff and You know just a typical deadline things but you know the cap definitely has put the brakes on that now You know one item that perked my ears We just recorded insider trading with drags and you know the cap definitely has put the brakes on that now, you know one item that perked my ears We just recorded insider trading with drags is you know He was talking about that the fact that he thinks the league's close to finalizing next year's cap somewhere You know, he didn't provide the exact number but like 95 96 million maybe and so it maybe if we start to get some bigger jumps

Which seemed to be on the horizon? You know, there'll be more of that. Oh dog, but you but right now it does seem like it's a bit of a ride it out league. And look, it's probably better for some of the players lives, but it's not as much fun if you're a fan. CJ, I want to go a little bit off the board here. The player hasn't played much. Your thoughts on Jordan Greenway.

I know he's injured, but I see him as a playoff performer for some team. What's the situation? Is there anything going on with him as far as talk with him potentially being traded out of Buffalo? Well, certainly I expect Greenway as a player on an expiring deal to be shipped out by the deadline period. And I know there's already some top teams that kind of have him circled on their list or on their short list. The production hasn't been there offensively for for jordan greenway

but the number that I think is easy to focus on is the fact he's six foot six and On any given day somewhere 230 pounds or maybe even a little bit above that on the scales and so Because he can play that power game Uh, and you know, I think that especially on a good team slotted in the right role Um, you know makes a lot of sense, you know, I think that especially on a good team, slotted in the right role, you know, makes a lot of sense. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if actually the team in your city there, Stradi the Oilers, you know, might look closely at him. But you know, other teams looking to have a long playoff run love that that size,

love the fact that they can have him as a four-checker. And you know, he's got some hands too to chip in a little bit offensively if he finds it. And so probably the biggest question mark that greenway space in his career is this consistency you'll see it for a few games race plan a bit of that power game and he goes away but uh... just given that he's on a three million dollar contract and that that baffles of the very bottom of the east and obviously will be

looking to sell as the equals the deadline to expect in the move with chris johnston so bottom of the East and obviously will be looking to sell as we get close to the deadline. I do expect him to move. Chris Johnston, so we just spoke a moment ago about moves and how tough they can be. I'm just curious how that jives with the Rantanen deal that just took place, which was an absolute blockbuster. Are we just to believe that that was just simply a one-off and that's it and no other team would ever do that or no other player would ever negotiate that way. Hazy, you think another team's gonna say oh we can move this guy now? Well yeah I

mean I get fine print and I get no trades and all that and that complicates a lot of stuff but like Colorado is going to the playoffs they're a really good team. Rantinen is a top 10 player they said we're done with we're off we're done you're out see you later, Ranton is a top 10 player, they said, we're off, we're done, you're out, see you later. Like, why is it just Colorado could do that, CJ? Like, could this potentially be a tipping point, a domino effect, like how does the rest of the league react to something so significant?

You know, I'd like to say yes, but my gut's telling me no. Like, my sense is, you know, there's not like an arms race that comes out of this. And there's just such specific circumstances here. I mean, ultimately, Colorado decided it wasn't just that the negotiation wasn't going well, it's that they decided they couldn't pay. Basically, they don't want to do what the least decision has been, right? They don't want to pay random his market value plus theon at 12.6 plus Kale McCarr or whatever he's gonna come in on his next contract they just didn't think that that was a

You know a path as great as those players all are they made a choice at Ratan Was was the one that they could move on from rather than tying up a huge percentage of their cap space in those three guys And so I think that's ultimately what drove the bus on this decision And I just don't know I think that's ultimately what drove the bus on this decision. And I just don't know if that's going to happen elsewhere. You know, the Marner comparable is real just because he's in the same situation as Ratan and is one of the Leafs top scorers, you know, pending UFA. But what's not the same, of course, is that trade protection. I just I don't see the Leafs pursuing a deal with him. I don't see them going to him, you know, amid the year he's having.

I mean, I just talked in the previous answer, but other, the team doesn't score enough. I mean, in the short term, it'd be hard to imagine they'd be in a better spot. If you're talking about moving him. So, you know, I do think it's specific circumstances a little bit, but that being said, let's, let's, you know, be real here. There's other teams that want to make moves. There's some bigger names out there.'ve been over the vancouver stuff and i think

and this isn't just a year where it's it's you know deadline rentals on the market i think that there's a lot of more interesting players in in the parks and you know maybe a few more of the deals will come together cj mentioned vancouver and it seemed like a deal was going to go down especially after some of the comments Jim Rutherford made Like is there are they not getting the offers that they were expecting is that market dried up somehow or like

What's the mini Jerry's percentage that neither of them gets traded like if they had? Like account for a couple more wins in a row here, how does it take away from that buzz about one of them or both of them are getting traded? Well, I don't think team performance is going to dictate it. Oh, I think really it's going to come down to the offers and they just haven't been there. And I think Vancouver probably knows deep down that these, if they trade either of these guys or if they end up trading both of them Probably not trades you're going to win But you you can't you can't lose seven to one on the trade

You know, they're trying to lose three to an overtime and at least you know Have it be a respectable deal have it be something that can allow them to move forward because you know Their team is trying to win the stanley cup And and trying to build around some of these guys and let's face it They got quinn hughes only couple of years away from his next extension, you know, where, you know, they're going to be fighting to why keep him on board too, because he could be a potential UFA. So I think that there's a lot of things to consider when they make those trades.

So yeah, it's certainly a possibility both guys remain with the Canucks beyond the deadline. I would be surprised if both of them are members of the organization to start next season. But right now it's a grind because they team sense that maybe they, the Vancouver's in a tough spot, this is playing out so publicly, they're trying to wait for the price to come down. The Canucks are saying the price isn't going to go down. You get into a little bit of a stalemate that way, but there's certainly been ongoing dialogue even this week with the Canucks on these players. So, they're trying to make something happen, but they also are aware that they can't sell them for pennies on the dollar. They've got to at least get something a little closer to even value.

CJ, the Caps are having a great year, and they're a huge team, absolutely huge. As I watch them, I'm concerned about their overall team speed. Do you think that's an issue and if it is are they going to need to kind of add some through that lineup? Yeah I mean they're certainly among the teams looking at forward help at this deadline. So much has gone right for them this year. They made the playoffs last season but they kind of snuck in in the East and then here they are setting the pace, you know, through, you know, more than half the season in the conference right now. And so I do think that they'll be a pretty aggressive front office.

You know, they've always kind of operated on the mantra that they want to remain as competitive as possible as long as Ovechkin was there and they've managed really to transition from their cup era from 2018 into this new one. And so I do think that they will look for opportunities to add a little more speed to the lineup. Deep Up, the forward group in particular, obviously they swam Logan Thompson to his extension earlier this week. And so I think that they'll be one of the buyers, but they're somewhat limited from a cap perspective as well.

So I don't know that the kind of names we're talking about will be huge headline grabbers, but I think they've identified that the forward group is an area in particular that they can beef up. With Chris Johnston, our Tia Sennhocki insider, Drew Doughty returned last night, played over 23 minutes, did not ease into the lineup at all. What do you think the likelihood many jerry will fire another one i a uh... likelihood that that dowdy ends up making this canada team in ten days

i think that's even a possibility or what yeah i think it's better than fifty percent myself and and you know the expat or in his in health. Jerry Smith again. There you go. I mean it's just the unknown for me is how you know he hasn't played all year because of a fractured ankle till last night. You know as you mentioned he plays almost 24 minutes last night. He's right back into it you know against the lightning tonight on a back-to-back. You know what's interesting is Dowdy did have a chance to speak with John Cooper this afternoon

while in Tampa. So obviously it's a sign of how closely Hockey Canada is keeping tabs on him. And I just think with his pedigree, with his history, with the program, everything he's accomplished, the fact they need a right shot, he, with the trans low down, I mean, a lot is lining up here

that could get Doughty to the tournament. He also really badly wants to play there, guys. I don't know if you saw his interview, but he has made it abundantly clear that he would love to be part of this. get your down into the tournament he also really badly wants to play there guys and i think it's on the interview but you know he has made it abundantly clear that now he he would love to be part of this and so i think it was one of the health of the good spot which is you know still be determined little bit of an x factor

now i would expect him to be that that the replacement and that'll be spicy cuz you get a galactic daddy in there and they need that. My curiosity is how are these guys going to affect this or approach the tournament? Are they going to care enough? If Doughty goes out there and his guns blazing, that's tough not to follow suit. I guess that's kind of what the tournament needs, CJ, is you need the veteran like Marshans and the Crosby's

and the Doughtys and guys like that to go out there and say we're here to play like we're throwing hits and blocking shots and that happens I would I would assume everyone else will follow but if those guys are going out just for a skate then they probably follow that too and the tournament could just be a sham in the end. Yeah I mean I think it says a lot about the tournament and the tournament could just be a sham in the end. Yeah, I mean, I think it says a lot about the tournament and the prospect that someone like Doughty wants to do it. Right? I mean, one way, and obviously Alex Patrangelo

is dealing with an ailment, but you could view his decision not to go there as a veteran guy who doesn't want to go. Well, Doughty's an even longer in the two veteran in the sense that he's already played at two Olympics for Canada, not just the one with Petro in 2014 and he's aching to get on there. And I think it's the veterans that helped set the tone, but let's face it, it's also that next generation that's getting to do this for the first time. The McDavid's, Matthew's, Matthew Kachuk. I mean, all these guys, I think that they're going to drive sort of the spirit of it. A lot of those players are the best

players on their country right now McKinnon will throw them in there, of course and the car So, you know, I think if those players engage and you know, especially that Saturday game Canada US If there's if there's some real energy and emotion in it, you know I think that that'll go a long way towards making this tournament a success Alright CJ. We'll leave it there. Thank you for doing this as always. We'll do it again soon towards making this tournament a success.