OverDrive - Johnston on the Maple Leafs' keys to success, Woll's spotlight in net and the team's ceiling in Toronto

Episode Date: May 9, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Maple Leafs' keys to success against the Panthers, Joseph Woll's spotlight in the crease, the depth making their mark in the series, Craig Berube's character for the team, the standpoint of their ceiling and more.

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I feel pretty good about at least one of them finding their way through. Don't know which one it'll be, but having three of the final eight is sort of uncharted territory and obviously with the Oilers and Leafs each grabbing that two-nothing series lead, the odds are pretty well in their favor. This could be a special year. Maybe we get one on each side of the bracket if the Leafs can find their way through the Panthers. That would be crazy if we got an all Canadian final.

CJ, what do you make of tonight's game as far as being the most important thing for the Leafs? Is it the start? Is it the goaltender? Is it special teams? Is it a combination of everything? What do you think would be number one on the docket for Craig Barubi's team? Well, I'm fascinated to see what we get from Joseph Wall in this game. Just being down on the road, building, he has played in in the past, of course, in the playoffs, but I think that the Leafs have had,

even with Solars going out, and kind of a weird game one when you just look at the goal-tending position specifically, but the Leafs have gotten better goal-tending in the series through two games. I mean, Sergei Vrbrovsky has been a story on the Panther side, but not for the reasons we're accustomed to the last few playoff seasons. And I think if Toronto can get another solid outing out of Woll, I mean, they're going to have a shot here to go ahead three-nil in the series, which is not something I think too many of us would have predicted heading into it.

So, you know, he's probably the the the individual player most curious about the tron ellen of this thing that could be a week if you started from last game uh... don't you need to be a little bit more comfortable than that it goes more settled in what he's doing it and you can help we come on the road and find a way to get what would be a massive victory? With Chris Johnston in terms of Joseph Wall and you know the way he approaches the game his demeanor like he seems like a very laid-back guy and You know every goal is a little bit different

But it does seem like there's there's two ends of the spectrum maybe noodles you can speak to this more than I can but There's either the lunatic who's like if you touch my stick I will kill you you know what I mean like don't talk to me if you look at me the wrong way it's gonna be a problem or there's the other guy who's just you know like turns left when he's supposed to turn right and he might miss the game and you're like what are you doing like you're a net tonight we need you I'm presuming he's he's the latter is that fair unfair or is there like a burning intensity there with Joseph Wall that maybe we just don't see all the time? Well, I'm sure there's a quiet intensity to him, but there's certainly zero evidence of lunatic in him. You know, whether that's off the ice the way he conducts himself or certainly on the ice he games, I can't recall him ever getting too fired up about anything.

So he definitely doesn't fall into that category, very laid back, kind of zen guy, the sort of guy that goes on vacations in the mountains and hikes and meditates. So he definitely doesn't, it's not coming through his ears, right? There's no Ron Hexall in him to take an extreme example from the past. And I think that the biggest challenge for him in the game, and it doesn't just, you know, the spotlight, the pressure, all those things, which I'm sure he's accustomed to given he's grown up and been a pretty high level goal sender. But, you know, it's handling the puck.

I think they're trying to ask him to do more of that. You know, obviously with the Panther score check, you know, there's a real emphasis from Toronto's end of things, not just on the goalie, but on everybody to limit the amount of time they're in their own zone to get breakouts. I noticed this morning at the morning skate, there was a lot of conversation with Wohl, with the assistant coaches even, just in terms of what they want the handoffs to look like for the D-men. I think Solars is probably a little better, more comfortable, better suited at that than he is. But obviously, you know, in addition to playing the position and trying to keep it out of

the net, they're trying to help, you know, have him help the zone exit so that the Panthers can't do what they do best. So surprising names, guys like Max Patcheretti, you know, being a difference makers. Anybody else you circle maybe a little farther down on the roster that you expect to be a difference-maker or maybe has a little bit more and can make an impact in tonight's game and Sunday's game? Ooh, down the line-up. I mean Bobby McMahon is probably the obvious answer.

I thought he had actually a good game too in this series. I liked what he was doing there. He had one particularly good look, was almost a partial type of breakaway early in the game and was getting into the blue pain around Bobrovsky. It seemed like he was getting a little bit more to the insula of the ice where obviously the coaching staff has been asking him to do. I actually lost track now of what the number is, but it's been 20 odd games since he scored a goal you know this is the guy who had 20 total in the regular season you know when he's at his best it seems he can be a finisher and I think you know from the Toronto end of

things you know if he could get going a little bit it doesn't have obviously to be a primary producer for for the Leafs but you know he's someone I think is capable you know he's not getting the same type of matchups as you know the Matthews Marner line is seeing. If he could pop a big one in there, it might be a difference maker. One of the great stories so far in this playoffs release is you're getting all kinds of goals from the blue line, which obviously isn't something that's happening in the regular

seasons. You're getting the patcher ready contribution. Obviously Nylander's really popped here the last few games. So it's getting spread around in a way that they've been able to score a lot more than we've seen in playoff years prior. And that's, for me, probably the biggest reason why they've grabbed the big series lead against Ottawa and they've raced out in this one and had more success. They've just been putting the puck in the net more. i think that that that's what the little left strap another into the game and

allowed them to have a night like the other night where three going against the but still fight away the winner with chris johnston artisan hockey insider game three tonight lease panthers right here at the s that radio uh... part of it seven o'clock and you know the correct berube effect is is one that everyone can sense everyone can can pick up on. You look at the way that they're playing, the way that they're, you know, the amount of shots they're blocking, the physicality.

They've been very, very good in terms of off the draw and certain details in terms of that. They've kept their composure. I mean, these are all things that, you know, you wait for a coach to bring to the table. And maybe when you don't have them, you't notice it necessarily but when they're very evident to you you can realize the effect that the coach is having and credit to the players for going out there and doing it. But how much do you think, you know the DNA of the team forever was just core four core four core four. How balanced is it now in terms of the positive effect and the winning ways

do you would you contribute to the presence and coaching style of Craig Barube? Oh I think a lot I think he you know they've made some changes that that Sheldon Keefe didn't have at his disposal on the blue line which I think has helped but you know he's he's brought everyone together I think he's got them rallied around a common goal. I think he's the kind of coach that does a good job of making everyone feel important. And the biggest thing I think of is he's been very comfortable,

so maybe not, he doesn't have to exert his authority all the time. I think back to earlier in the year, I remember really in the season, Neelander had a comment in the media about how little he was playing and wasn't happy about that. I mean, keep in mind, Craig Gourvet is a new coach in that situation. There's a world where he might step in and want to be heavy-handed about how he handled that. And instead, I think that he and Nylander hashed it out and gave him more minutes as he joked after the last game.

He said, I just leave him alone now. I think that he's got a really good handle on how to kind of deal with the personalities obviously you got a lot of players with a lot of pressure on themselves a lot of guys with a big paycheck I think he's really done a nice job of you know just kind of handling those players in particularly well but but you know obviously the whole team and he carries a little he's he can walk in with some swagger too, as someone who's won a cup before and has been there and done that. So you know right now it's hard to find much fault with the Leafsman. They're 6-2 in the playoffs, they

won something like 18 or 20 odd games on the stretch. I mean they've really hit a new level since March and through this point now and into early May and you know I just think that his presence is, all the praise he's getting I think has been earned. And the challenge now is to keep doing it. You've got to keep pushing the buttons. You've got to not let them squander a lead like the one they have in this series.

And obviously from the players end of things, you've got to keep them sacrificing their bodies, which is not an easy thing to do with all the shots they block, how physical they're playing these games and how emotional. I think they've come with more urgency in the series than the fans. That's one of the reasons they've grabbed this 2-0 lead through those first two home games. How important do you think Chris Ketanev's role is in all of this?

Not a sexy player but certainly very effective in a lot of facets. Quietly, I mean he did score a goal, but he even joked that it bounced six times before it hit the back of the net. But how effective do you think or how important is he to that stability on the back end? It's massive, right? I just think it gives them a second sort of top, I mean, they're top defensemen, really, all around defensemen. And even though it's the defensive side of the game that he's made his living on, I mean, that's what this team does better. I mean, right now, they have the fewest goals against for 60 in the playoffs at any speed, at least have been

the spigiest heaves in terms of what they're giving up so far in the playoffs. And I think that that all runs through the way they play and Cristana personified that. And they have 50 block shots through two games of the series. What do we all know him for? His willingness to show his body instead of pucks. Going back to his days in Vancouver and last year with Dallas, it was a big part of the Stars reaching the third round. Had some tough match-ups in those early series against Colorado and Vegas. And helped them shut down the McKinnons and the Jack Eichels and the dangerous players in those series.

And he's played a role in doing so early in this playoffs for Toronto. So look, you sign a long contract and there might come a time when we're talking about him, the conversation shifts that we can't keep doing it at this level. So look, he signed a long contract and there might come a time when we're talking about him that conversation shifts that we can't keep doing it at this level. But right now, I mean, he's been incredible, I think, and is kind of an identity guy in addition to the way he's actually contributing on the ice that's helped change the way these Leafs play. How many Leaf fans you see down there?

I have not seen too many just yet There was to feel on the flight, but I will say just driving through the parking lot here tonight It's pretty red right now, so I don't know I don't know how split the building's gonna be doesn't doesn't look too promising at the moment okay? That's all right. I mean we got to carry over that storyline It was a big one against Ottawa a lot easier to get to Ottawa than it is to South Florida clearly but What did you guys make of I meant to bring this up like I was asked this morning on on first up like Ottawa fans had some chance I mean we you know they

were going after Matthew they had some good chance we never really talked about it CJ I'm sure you were right were you I'm you were in Ottawa were you there I mean those those thoseants were ringing out. I can't see that happening in Florida. I know Leafs Nation travels pretty well. Florida's starting to become a much more educated fan base, but I can't see them going after Matthews and Marner the way that the Sens fans did.

Yeah, I would be surprised if they did. I mean, I was down here in the cup final last year. I don't recall anything like that against McDavid, you know, even the 2023 playoffs. Right. It's become a great fan base down here. It really has. I mean, this used to be one of my least favorite places that comes to the game and it's a loud building now and obviously with all the success the Panthers have had, I think they've energized the community. But I don't think there'll be any chance around anyone care line or anything like that uh... from coming from the the crowd here tonight

yeah i don't think that's i think matthews is safe on that one and uh... you know martyrs uf a status is not on the line for people who are for that uh... right now i don't think they're really necessarily are you know cap crunching before they get to the rate of a but uh... it should be good it should be an electric evening game three it's a big one man they call it a swing game for a reason let's see what comes of it enjoy it CJ enjoy your weekend we'll do it again soon well do I'll just say this I was talking with someone in the league today is not

connected to the series he said the Leafs are the best team in the East so you know there's some belief in other places that aren't Leafs Nation too about this playoff run. All right. Well, you'll take anything you can get if you're a Leaf fan right now. That is for sure. Thank you, CJ. All right, guys.

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