OverDrive - Johnston on the Maple Leafs' line reconstruction, the lack of depth scoring and Berube's calm demeanour

Episode Date: May 12, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to dive into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Maple Leafs and Panthers' series tied up, the possible lines revamp with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Anthony Stolarz's timeline to return, Bobby McMann's plummeting role on the team, the lack of bottom six scoring, Craig Berube's demeanour meshing on the lineup and more.

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Here's our TSN hockey insider joining us here in the Maple Toyota hotline. Here's Chris Johnston. TJ, can you recall any points in the playoffs where Nylander or Marner got crushed to either make a play or just were in the mix of making a play and got hit that hard? Nothing jumps to mind.

I mean, I have to think over nine years it happened at some point. Sure. You know being in the building last night and obviously Noodle's is highlighting it there like that Reinhardt hit that was one that almost brought me out of my seat because it was you really noticed it. I don't recall that. I mean it seems like with Marner especially I mean the guy he's I don't recall him being hit too hard too often ever in his career not just playoffs so you know I would take that some of his agility in his skating and and yeah you're they're obviously not going out

there trying to get hit either mm-hmm yeah in terms of you know Barube's approach to the game where there he wasn't happy with everyone's effort last night. He indicated that last night that some guys need to be better. What was your read on on his impression, Craig Barube, of the effort his team gave last night? Well, I think he liked the aspect of the game, you know, the physicality, the way they did battle through the night. What he didn't like, of course, is all those penalties they take in the first period, which

he felt really disrupted the game. And you know, he also didn't like the second period when they had some power plays of their own and they didn't make good on them, not just scoring, which, you know, obviously you would have liked to have seen. But he didn't feel that they got enough out of those in terms of You know looks or opportunities where it were, you know They had a chance to apply some some pressure back on the Panthers, but you know, I got the sense big picture You know, he looks at that is, you know back in like see bum Venois eight hits in that game Including the one you're mentioning there on Reinhardt

I think that there was he likes, the compete level of the team obviously likes what he sees from Joseph Wall and that, um, but needs to see more going on the offensive zone and was kind of ruining some of, uh, some of the, I think what he felt was like the team's impatience, um, in that game, because the Panthers are frankly a team that can frustrate opponents. That's what they've done in winning eight of their nine, uh, you. I think it's something that he'll be looking for a little bit more commitment come game five. CJ, a lot of praise has been heaped on Austin Matthews complete game, his face-offs and

200 foot whatever people call it these days, checking and all the other aspects of his game. If you could give Craig Barube some truth serum, like what do you think his honest answer about the evaluation of a star player would be? Well I think he likes those things. I mean they're all there, they're undeniable. I mean that they've reflected the stats but you know Austin Matthews is who he is because he scores goals and so you know I think what Matt to me it's Matthews and Marner both. Did we lose CJ? I think we lost CJ. Alright we'll see if we can get him back. I think he's

back in Toronto as far as I know. Yeah. Do you think Perube like we discussed it earlier oh you threw it out the idea of splitting them up Matthews and Marner. I'd give it a shot for a period. Yeah just like Barube's been so committed to those two playing together Nylander playing with Tavares he's barely gotten off it all year and when he did instinctively he went right back it felt like after a shift or two. Well maybe both said I don't think John Tavares had a good game yesterday either I I didn't hardly notice. No, he scored two goals in game three.

I like this game in game three. I like a lot of guys game in game three. But you're right, I didn't notice. I thought Tavares was really quiet last night. I don't like panicky type moves, obviously. But I would hate to have the same roster, same lineup, and the same thing happen again, where it was like, man, we decided to make a change too late. My idea would be to throw something fresh at it and just

see what happens okay let's let's bring in CJ Chris Johnston back with us CJ do you could you picture a scenario where Barube splits up Matthews and Marner for game five I think it's got to be on the table because it just before the call dropped out there I think for me both those guys you need a little more offensively out of and you know it's not something really throughout the year we saw happen too often you know they spent most of their time when they were both healthy you know playing together under Craig Borubey but you get to this stage of a playoffs series you're looking for a little shot energy, a little boost anywhere

you can get it. And you know, maybe it's in rearranging those chairs. Um, you know, there was a shift early in the third period when the Leafs actually started pressing where he simply flipped Marner and Nylander and had Nylander up on Matthews right wing. Maybe that's the switch but you know I do think that I'm expecting something a little different look for game five. I mean the Leafs other than Anthony Stolar have been pretty healthy they've been rolling with the same lineup and the same lines but you know it feels like we're at a moment now after you know getting shut out not really sustaining much in the offensive zone in that last game that he's going to be looking for some kind of spark and that might be where he goes.

You know, a quick follow up on that CJ. Any updates on Stolarz? Has anybody spotted him skating or anything? Have they been a little forthcoming with it? Because it's been, obviously with the team down in Florida, he might have been skating, obviously working out or doing something back here. Have they been willing to update or have you heard anything on Stolarz? No, if he skated, I'm not aware of it.

You know, as the days are blending together, as of Saturday, he hadn't yet skated. Um, and really the expectation seems to be that, that we're probably not going to see him in this series. I don't think we can rule him out a hundred percent, but you know, I think at this point, obviously there was, there was a head trauma there and, and you know, let's face it, you know, head to head related injuries can, there's not always a clear path to recovery. Um, but you know, the fact he wasn't skating, you know, head to head related injuries can, there's not always a clear path to recovery. Um, but you know, the fact that he wasn't skating, you know, almost a week after that injury, you know, there's, there's going to be a timetable here.

And I guess you get to a point and, and some of this will probably depend on, you know, how Joseph wall builds on what was, you know, clearly a pretty strong start from last night, you know, if he is healthy, even say for a game seven, that might happen. Would you, would he is healthy, even say for a game seven that might happen, would you, would you want to put them in there? And you know, it's, it's hard to know if that option will be available and how they'll view that. But I think at this point, you know, you're, you're looking at the least

likely need to win this series in order to give stores a chance to come back. But I'll put a slight asterisk on that because it's the playoffs and you never know what's going to happen. Game seven wouldn't be till next Sunday. But I'll put a slight asterisk on that because it's the playoffs and you never know what's going to happen. Game seven wouldn't be till next Sunday. But that doesn't appear right now that we're likely to see him against the Panthers again. With Chris Johnston, Sam Bennett with the he wasn't a game winner last night, but it ended the game effectively.

And as I'm watching him and I'm watching his role in this team and thinking that he's a u of a at the end of the year like how can florida possibly not like how do they possibly let sam bennett go uh... can you picture a scenario where they just can't come to terms or is this just a formality it's going to get done i don't think it's a formality because i know they've they've tried to rep the season to sign em and and so obviously the fact they haven't been able to do that suggests at

least possibly walks away but he brings such an important element to their team that I don't think the door is closed on those conversations just yet. It comes down to how the Pan Panthers going to spend their money? They have both Sam Bennett and Aaron Echblad up as potential UFAs, you know, given even with the cap jumping up, you know, it might be tough to keep both of them. There might come down to a decision about how, you know, how they're going to navigate, you know, keeping one or the other of those players but you know Bennett will have a lot of suitors if he gets to July 1st largely built frankly on what he does in

the playoffs I mean it's hard to say he's not an effective regular season player but he's a 50-point guy in the regular season and well there's a lot of forwards that that are in that kind of class in the NHL where what we don't have a lot of is you know guys that can make the sort of difference he does, the play with the edge he does, you know we don't always celebrate it especially when you see the still are his injury but even the way he can get under opponent's skin and you know find a way to you know operate in the gray we'll call it when the physicality of a playoff series is so important. I mean, this, this does add value to what he is.

I mean, even in that four nations tournament scored a gorgeous goal in the championship game for Canada, you know, playing with the best of the best in the country was able to find a spot in that lineup. So, um, I, I don't think Florida will willingly let them go. And we saw them go right down the wire last year with Sam Reinhardt Before ultimately extending him. I mean no mystery players like living in the Fort Lauderdale area. They love playing for the Panthers. It's a great team So, you know, I think they've still got a shot at that keeping them

But they're gonna have to up their offer from where it was earlier in the year to make it happen So if you look at you at a potential roster change for Wednesday, I mean, we were talking about maybe flipping lines around and that, but is there anything more you could see happening maybe at the bottom of the roster? I don't know, Nick Robertson coming in, moving bodies around, a guy like your own croaker, you know, somebody else maybe that hasn't had the the series that they've wanted and maybe chief decides to To change things up for a different look. I Think it might be time for that. I mean look we saw Paul Maurice do something

I don't recall, you know for game three switched out his entire fourth line and you know They wound up getting a goal in that game. Last night when Rodriguez was injured, you had Nocek moved up from, he went from scratch to start the series, the fourth line, to playing some shifts on the top line because of that injury situation. I think one of the strengths the Leafs have now is they do have some depth and it's both a reflection, maybe some players that aren't giving you a ton, as you say, like a Kelly Yarncro, and, but also just why not get some fresh legs

in there if you have them? I mean, um, this, it's kind of a normal thing for, for teams to do. So you know, I, they, they had a nice little run going, you know, win the first three games against Ottawa. Like I could see how they got sort of locked into this lineup, but you know, I would think that there's a good possibility. Maybe David Camp comes back in. I realize these are just moving pieces around the bottom six, but you're trying to get a little bit more out of the team. And you know, really, the biggest question is what they ever considered doing with Bobby McMahon. You know, he's,

I believe 21 games now without a goal and then was a 20 goal scorer for them in the regular season. I think they've tried to be, you know, hold on as long as they can with him because, you know, clearly he's a great skater, a big guy, he can score. They're thinking it's coming at some point, but, you know, we'll have to see how dramatic they want to get. My read on Craig Brubay is he's very much a settle things down kind of guy. He doesn't get too excitable when maybe the pressure goes up. I think quite honestly that served the team well, but maybe this is the moment to send them maybe a little larger message

and get everyone's attention with with some of the moves He makes the lineup boys. That's kind of the reason why it's so important it's one of the main reasons not just because they're the best players, but You mentioned some players there like Kelly Yarncrook and Bobby McMahon They seem so far away from scoring a goal like it It's doesn't seem like it's gonna happen. I don't remember the last time Kelly Yarncrook's had a shot on net.

And I'm not being a jerk. They're nowhere near the net. They're not anywhere near it. So some guys that are getting the puck near the net, they're gonna have to make do with it. Because some guys are so far away from... You look at the depth players on that team they are so far away from scoring a goal or it seems that way yeah that somebody's got to step up this weekend in particular was really exposed like the

bottom six last night never got close like never not even like it's just cycle in the corner chip it in chip it behind out Well and and with Bobby McMahon, I think you just got to be I think maybe Collectively everyone's lost sight of the fact that a year and a half ago This guy was still in the minors and he's never played a Stanley Cup playoff game part of this year It's like what were we what were we expecting Bobby? I expect more because we're gonna pump his tires all year and say he's becoming kind of a Power forward guy with a great stride and he's really strong. So if we're gonna jack up his tires during the regular season It's not like you just get a hall pass that just disappeared and say oh last year

I was in the minors that is garbage. Okay. All right Well, then but at the same time if you don't pull your weight, you don't pull your weight like if he came out of the line That's what he's doing. He's not pulling his weight. Yeah, plain and simple. It's not like he's still growing He's 28 years old like he's got a play better god. I guess I guess that's what I'm saying though and CJ you can jump in is you know, he's he's had some magical hot streak runs, but I'm not sure exactly, you know, Bobby McMahon's probably closer to a fourth line player in the league you know like that's probably around where he is and

if you're on the fourth line in the league there's chance you're gonna come in and out of the lineup right so yeah I mean I don't think it should be off the table I think that they're worried about losing him a little bit by by taking that tack but you know might get to where they have to. I mean look, last night's game, even as poorly as the Leafs were in stretch, it's one nothing for most of the night, right? I mean, one goal from anybody would have been so big in that game.

It didn't come, but you know, I think that that's how the Leafs are looking at it. And you know, let's not shift it too far away from the big guys, so I'm sure you've been all, you know, been discussing for four o'clock hour. I mean, you know, those guys need to score a goal at some point. And look, I think back to game six in Ottawa, right, the game five at home here was no good, didn't have enough pressure at all.

And then, you know, Matthew scores that night, Nylander gets a couple. They finish off the series. I mean, I think you got to be looking at that kind of bounce back from the top players you know on Wednesday that they're gonna need those guys to set the tone and lead the way and look they've done it before already in this playoffs but you have to keep doing it again and again again if you're gonna play for another five or six weeks. Yep Absolutely, that's it's always the same breakdown man. You need your best players to be the best players. They have to lead That's the expectation on Wednesday night. All right, CJ. We'll do it again soon. Thank you for this

Alright boys talk soon Chris Johnston joining us here in the maple Toyota hotline drive the built-in Canada fuel-efficient fun to drive Toyota RAV4 gas or hybrid models available visit mapletoyota.com Nostalgic unmistakably Canadian Made in Canada delivers 100% homegrown hits all day every day Tap into made in Canada now on iHeartRadio.ca or the free iHeartRadio app and homegrown hits all day, every day. Tap into Made in Canada now on iHeartRadio.ca or the free iHeart Radio app. Proudly powered by all your friends' vests, June 28th and 29th. Featuring Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan and more.