OverDrive - Johnston on the Maple Leafs' first triumph, the stars' atmosphere and Rutherford's comments around Hughes

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Maple Leafs' domination to begin the Battle of Ontario, the stars building their confidence, Jim Rutherford's comments on Quinn Hughes' future, Dylan Larkin calling out the management's approach and the Red Wings' plans and more.

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Join today and be part of something amazing. Here's Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. CJ, you were in the building last night from a Leaf perspective. What do you think was the most kind of important ingredient that went into that victory that would lead to maybe some confidence going into game two. Well, I can't imagine anyone on the team not having some confidence after that game. I mean,

basically every aspect they did what you would expect them to do. They were more composed, they got the specially teams edge. You're mentioning with Solars outperforming Olmark on the night. You know know all the big guys got some points which I think is always helpful because as we know when things go you know get a little skittish in the playoffs usually there's a lot of focus on that and so I think if they can you know be feeling it offensively and having some of those those numbers in their columns it'll just help things moving forward. So that was that's probably of this core four era, whatever we want to call this, one of the more,

I guess, comfortable games if you're watching it. I just think everything looked as it should. It's not to say it was a perfect game, obviously there were a few breakdowns there and some great chances of Stolars had to be big four, but you know, that was pretty, pretty complete from the least end of things and there weren't really any areas of concern that I could see.

No I'm with you on that and the core four, I would add Riley into that core five. Morgan Riley has been here longer than anyone and they all get on the board outside of Matthews and Matthews has two assists himself so the best goal scorer of the bunch actually didn't score, but they've put up numbers early in series in the past. They put up big numbers at different times against Boston, against Tampa. But with those players in particular, we've spent so much air time on those players for nine years. What have you noticed being around them before the game, after the game, witnessing

last night that would lead you to believe some lessons have been learned or the scar tissue actually could be beneficial this time? Well, the biggest takeaway I have, and I felt this in the last week or two before yesterday's game, not related to just last night, is everything just feels a little bit more relaxed around the Leafs. I don't know why that is. I don't know if it's the way it is with Craig Barube as a head coach maybe compared to Sheldon Keefe or maybe it's just after all these years, there's a little bit of a more of a relaxed

attitude. But I just sense that they're having a little bit more fun honestly I think that they know you know they know what the record is better than any of us can recite it but I just I just sense that they're a looser group and you know they're obviously performing at a pretty high level they've been winning a lot of games over the last two months and and have entered the playoffs you know feeling pretty good about themselves so you know I think that's that's probably my biggest takeaway that just doesn't seem like it's you know, feeling pretty good about themselves. So, you know, I think that's, that's probably my biggest takeaway. That just doesn't seem like it's, you know, crippling pressure, the

shouldering of all this, I mean, at least right now, and it's, it's still very early. And we know the playoffs are known for wild swings and all kinds of directions. Lots of things are going to happen. Um, but to start this, this playoff run, the Leafs are, they're healthy and they really just seem to be in a good place as a team very very confident very poised and as I said I mean they're playing the Senators team with nowhere near the experience level that they have and I think it showed in that game one. What do you make of Morgan Riley's night because about halfway through I was like I would

be concerned in one sense if Kachuk scores on that breakaway we're looking at a little bit different night but I just I was so happy I would be concerned in one sense. If Kachuk scores on that breakaway, we're looking at a little bit different night. But I just, I was so happy for him when he scored, where you're like, okay, you know, you didn't get a lot of offense from the D. They were last in production as far as this season from the D-Core in the National Hockey League. And you got two goals from defense last night.

So you look at Riley's night It was solid. He had the one turnover to Kachuk Stolars bails him out and then he ends up scoring and you're going man like now Morgan Riley You know some confidence like it could have been a reverse of fortunes there And if anything you're talking about Morgan Riley having a really good game, which I thought he was solid Yeah, I mean certainly that that could have been a glaring error that that made the night feel differently when we're talking about Morgan Reilly having a really good game, which I thought he was solid. Yeah, I mean, certainly that could have been a glaring error that that made the night feel differently when we're talking about Morgan's performance, especially if Kachuk scores and you know, maybe Ottawa takes control.

I mean, there's the beauty of the playoffs and go a lot of different ways. I mean, at the risk of being a prisoner of the pass, I think what stands out too is look at the ice time allotments for the blue liners I mean there wasn't a lot of variance I mean at this point it's pretty clear that the coaching staff is comfortable playing you know all three pairs and it feels like there's a little bit less on Riley shoulders I'd say that in the past I mean you know that the power play is cooking that they've taken him off the top unit obviously it's a five forward you know alignment that they roll with now on their first

hour play and you know with with some of the players they've signed the Tanevs and Boyals bringing in Brandon Carlo at the deadline I just think that they're a better balance group back there so you know for Morgan I think he probably feels like he has to do a little bit less um you know he's still playing big minutes and important minutes for the team, of course, but I think that he's maybe shouldering a little bit less of the overall weight of what needs to happen. And you know, you see the results of the game like that because, you know, certainly a couple of breakdowns on the Leafs end. I mean, I don't want to look past those, but in general, you know, even in some of these

games where they're outshot, it doesn't feel like they're completely underwater in them. And I do think they're playing a much better defensive game overall but with the personnel changes they've made in the last year cj in the press room after the game did it go somewhat quiet when the question was phrased about the elephant in the room and then greenies head look like it was going to pop on his body at whoever asked the question how did that go down in there what was the vibe like well it was ken cab at whoever asked the question. How did that go down in there? What was the vibe like? Well, it was Ken Cavill that asked the question.

Long time writer in this town, probably was working at the Toronto Star back when Travis Green was on the Leaf. So I'm guessing it's, you know, the funny thing with this series, it feels a little bit like, it's very familiar, right? Between Travis Green, you know, obviously he's a stranger to the market, to the people on our side of the microphone you know a lot a lot of

people that have worked I guess on both sides of the Battle of Ontario and so I don't think anyone was surprised by that question Ken is known in our in the media ranks for it was a dumb question I thought it was a dumb question well I mean fair enough you got a great answer and that's i mean selfishly when you're sitting in the crowd as a reporter you're happy to see

that kind of that kind of you know get some of that answer but i can understand why if you're travis green you're sitting there going oh man i mean last night for the goalie

but this is this is put to me in a in a way that i'm not sure what to do with right yeah the elephant in the room about all mark after one game but listen all marks going to me in a in a way that i'm not sure what to do with right yeah the elephant the room about all my can have to one game but listen all marks going to go in tomorrow and someone's got to lose game one and we've been talking about it that you know i was not alone

dallas lost a jersey lost in st louis lost in minnesota lost in uh... someone's gonna lose at mitten l a tonight montreal washington there's there's going to be be someone's gotta lose game one In terms of what else you've seen throughout the league The Dallas Colorado series in particular Do you feel like that like the we saw something that would indicate? Colorado is gonna kind of cruise home or do you think Dallas is gonna have that pushback because that series Had been hyped up and promoted as this you know out of the

universe type matchup and game one and 5-1 Colorado and Dallas has lost a lot of games here coming down the stretch. Yeah I'm an optimist I still think there's a chance that that series lives up to its billing I mean you know having the injuries and stars dude it's not to make excuses for them, but it does change maybe some of the dynamic there, especially Hayskinn and it would be playing so many minutes for them in a world where he was healthy. But you know, the Stars are a pretty battle-hardened team and you know, they've been to a couple conference finals here in recent memory and I just have to believe that they're going to

find a way to get back in the series and win the game tonight because going to Denver down 0-2 would be a pretty difficult position and would suddenly turn that series that we did hype up into one that could be over much quicker than most people would have expected it. Even with some of the absences, I think the Stars have the players to make this an interesting series and really it's on them to go get it done. So I don't overreact too often to just one game. I'd say the same in this battle of Ontario. It might feel very different in a couple days' time.

So the Stars, this is you know game two for them tonight i don't think the rather just cuz game one didn't go the way with christian sonar tsn hockey insider uh... i'm sure you're aware of the vancouver canucks press conference where uh... they were discussing the future of quinn hughes setting up blockbusters yet jim rutherford you know basically said they've maybe money isn't going to be what matters

most to Quinn in the future. He's indicated he wants to play with his brothers, and maybe Vancouver has to get Luke and Jack into Vancouver in order for them to have the control over that. How do you think the league and how do you think New Jersey may respond to that? Well, I'm sure it's one of those ones behind the scenes that, that there might be a bit of a, a wrist slap. You know, I don't think that. Hey, look, I, they, they have to take anything that that borders on

tampering seriously, obviously. You're talking about two players that are under contract to the devils. And, you know, I think that the gym Rutherford in that case, you'll probably provide a little too much info on that answer. But you know, I, I, I think with where everyone's at contractually it's maybe not as, as big a deal for the league, but you know, it's, it's going to be one. I'm sure there's a, at minimum, there's a phone call being placed as a reminder of the rules. And, and,

you know, this has been a bit of a, I would say a bit more of a focal point in the last year, not specific to the Canucks comments, but after July 1st last year there was a memo that went around to teams reminding them about not talking to free agents too early. This is a little different circumstance, but I think it falls under the same broader category of being very mindful of how little you're supposed to say, which is basically nothing about a player that isn't under your employ. So I give the Canucks credit because a lot of those press conferences have a lot

of truth bombs in them and that was probably the biggest one I heard dropped today. I took this a different way. I don't know how I want all three of you guys to weigh in on it. To me I thought that was Jimmy Rutherford painting a picture. It's like we could offer this guy 50 million. He wants to go play with his brother somewhere else but when he tossed in the other guy the other guys coming here well i well obviously because look jimmy's honest and i think he's been in the league long enough where he just doesn't give a rat's ass it's just he was just speaking the truth he was but i i think if something like

wouldn't you be fearful in vanc Vancouver that if one of his favorite coaches, Rick Tuckett, doesn't come back and you've had the JT Miller or the... Well Jamie, we were just discussing what does the organization do if this guy has demands, it's like build the team up to this and go get that guy and do this. And then all of a sudden he jets in a year and a half and all assets are blowing out the door and you tried to make him happy and he leaves anyway. Well that's right. You would have to have some kind of guarantee moving forward a hundred percent and that's right you know CJ you can wait when I when I listen to those comments I felt

like he was almost you know saying we're a little worried here that this guy doesn't matter what type of check we can write he might put his hand up and say next summer I'm playing this out because they can sign him next this summer correct July 1st not this some of the net following two years left sorry I was unfair to Quinn Hughes though I mean if I'm Quinn Hughes and CJ you you jump in but if I'm Quinn Hughes I'm like let me get this straight Elias Patterson's a disaster JT Miller whatever the hell happened there he's gone. We don't know who our coach is going to be. Demko never plays. We don't score. I'm the only guy that

actually plays. I'm the guy with the captaincy. I'm the guy that shows up. I'm the superstar and now you're putting this on me? Because I have brothers that play, I may not want to be here? I think that's unfair to use where you stand on it cj i agree with you on a percent and needed and also opening the door to your fans they're really start imagining a world where he's not there now i guess i'm sure the realistic and that their brains might have already you know dot to that point but when you hear the

the president of the team people openly basically how dire the situation feels that you know if you can interpret the way you know center corrected a business side battered us not paying them there's no nothing we can offer him a month to get a brother here uh... you know that i just it feels like a very very very very honest uh... comment unusually one unusually soon when at that kind of setting

yet sure is uh Concerning though. It is, it is. And again, it's like a cherry on top. It's been a disaster and now this on the way out, like what's going to happen with Quinn Hughes. We also played the Dylan Larkin comments from earlier today where the captain of the Red Wings was reciting the vibe in the room at the trade deadline in March. I didn't like those comments. I didn't like them.

And yeah basically said hey it wasn't great for morale and we struggled because Steve Eisenman didn't make any trades. How do you think Eisenman could react to that? How might ownership in Detroit react to all of this? Well it seems like there's a fair bit of soul-searching going on with the Red Wings. I don't know what the next direction is for them. I mean, certainly their team that I think wants to be very active in trying to get a star there, whether through free agency or maybe the trademark at this offseason. But things aren't settled with the Red Wings, and probably rightfully so.

I mean, they've spent a long time here outside the playoff window and, you know, they were, I guess vaguely in the mix this year, but, you know, didn't feel like they were ever going to have the juice to get there. And I suppose from where the player sits and it's your captain, you know, he felt that they needed a little bit of boost at the deadline, but I'm with you. I feel like the bit of, you know, airing the laundry in a way that might be more productive in private meetings behind the scenes as they chart their way forward. And so there's no way Steve Heisman's like that being discussed publicly.

But at the same time, we've seen this in the past. I actually remember the Blue Jays doing this a few years ago, coming out and speaking in this way, some of their players after their work moves made at the deadline. And I think it applies a certain amount of pressure, but the fact is that pressure was going to be there anyway because the Red Wings need to be a playoff team next season or I think that we're talking some real organizational changes then. Yeah, I could definitely see that. CJ, great seeing you.

We'll catch you down there tomorrow night. Can't wait guys. See you then. Here is Chris Johnson, our TSN Hockey Insider. uh... cj gritsin you will catch you down there tomorrow night can't wait guys here is chris johnson artisan hockey insider uh... who invited climate action to the party and shannon bern and i'm sarah christy 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

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