OverDrive - Johnston on the Maple Leafs' room for improvement, Marner's contract direction and the NHL general managers meetings

Episode Date: March 17, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Maple Leafs looking for improvements during the stretch, Mitch Marner's contract situation and the interest from the league, the NHL general managers meetings and more.

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Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet, awarded by UCCLA. Starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Here's Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. CJ, you're down at the GM meetings and we'll get to that momentarily, but have to ask you about the Leafs considering the way things are going up here. Are you expecting a show of urgency tonight? They got a big one with Calgary in town tonight. I would think so.

I mean, you can't guarantee a result, but I think in a certain level of effort, urgency is probably the best word. The one you use would be the minimum you'd expect because look, there's not that many games left in the season. We're down to the last month or so. And it's it's

it's a truism. I mean very few teams have a successful playoff run that don't find a certain level of their play in that that final stretch of the regular season and I think that's really where all the focus is for for the Leafs internally now. I mean we can on the outside we can talk about the division and this and that seedings but you know know, I think for them, you know, where a lot of some of the, you know, the frustration of latest command is just, they haven't been able to get to their best level. And, and so naturally, they've gone through this stretch with them and picked up many points in the standings. And so, you know, given that they've, they've been at home now,

there's no sort of schedule related, you know, there's no, there's no excuses built in. I think that there's, this has got to be a good game for them. it's got to be the start of you know piling those one after another because it's another busy week for them. C.J. coming leading into the playoffs like who do you think is in the spotlight? Like is it Austin Matthews? Is it Mitch Marner? Like Austin Matthews he is the captain he got to C this year, he looks like he's dealing with something, God knows what it is or what he's dealing with or why he's even playing. But is he the guy that's kind of under the gun here for the Leafs?

Like get your game together and lead this team into the playoffs? Yeah, I mean, there's a beautiful thing about Toronto, there's lots of spotlight to go around and obviously we could pick a few candidates. But I think for Matthews, he's the player where, if he can get right physically and can just rediscover some of his best form, I think that that could be a huge difference maker for Toronto. I mean, last year, this time we were talking about him chasing 70 goals, he's not yet to 30. And obviously some things play into that, you know, some things

play into that, including the fact he did miss a bunch of games this season. But, you know, we, we all have seen him enough over nine seasons here to know that he can on his own, be a difference maker, he can be, you know, almost a goal, a game type of player. And he hasn't been that I think for a variety of reasons this season. And so, you know, who, who cares about where is regular season stats end up? I think, you know, when I talk about just getting to a certain level over these next 15, 16 games before the playoffs begin, you know, he's, he's probably the top candidate where, you know, it's not as though he's been bad. He just hasn't been himself. I'd say he

hasn't been the best version of himself. And I think a lot of that is the physical limitations he's dealt with, with with with multiple injuries this season. But the hope is that he can, whether that ends up being some rest on the stretch, I don't know what that looks like. But I do think that that could be a huge swinging momentum in the positive direction for Toronto if he can get back there.

CJ, are we through the whole Mitch Marner contract talk? You feel like it's going to die down or is that still going to be you know bubbling on the back burner here as we head down to the playoffs? You know tough to say like I don't think the story itself will change or be advanced any noodles in the next few weeks or until the season's over. I mean I'd be surprised if it was but it you know doesn't mean that the conversation's gone away. I think it depends a little bit about what we see and read from Mitch's play to see if it's something that might be on his mind. I mean, to be fair, before any of us knew about all this, he's been dealing with some of this behind the scenes all season long, and he's had in a lot of ways, you know, one of his best regular seasons, you know, as a Maple

Leaf. So, you know, it does appear that he can obviously play, compartmentalize whatever needs to go on with, with the business and then obviously what he needs to do to perform. But you know, I think that there's certainly the chance it remains at some kind of a talking point. But, you know, it's, it can't be a day to day one. I mean, there's only, there's only so many ways for it to go. I mean, we kind of understand now that he was pretty serious

about not negotiating during the season. There's no more trade deadlines to be concerned with really. It's about finishing the season strong, and then obviously the business end will, I think, be revisited at some point once we get to the off season. CJ, it seems like a pretty tough happily ever after though. Like you go through a can you wave to go here and then to recover from that and end up like

in some long-term arrangement together. That seems kind of far-fetched, doesn't it? I just know personally from being a player, as soon as I found out that Carolina was sniffing around and players in warmup were saying you might be coming on the bus with us after, I was like, get me the hell out of here. It seems like it's a far reach to think of this as a kind of marriage after this, don't you?

Well, I think that what's different in this case is it wasn't like, you know, the conversation started with the Leafs saying, we want to sign you. So, you know, I don't think that this was a case where the Leafs, you know, sometimes, I guess, maybe as a player, when you hear your name and those kinds of rumors that might catch you off guard, you know, in this case, I think the Leafs really want to do whatever they can to keep Mitch Marner. I don't, for a second, believe that isn't, that hasn't been the case all along. It's, it's, you know, they got to a point where, you know, they're approached by Carolina with an opportunity at a time when they just

have an uncertain future with the player. So, you know, I don't know that it's a tough athlete ever after, because, you know, in this case, it's really Marner and his camp that are driving where things are going. Um, so, you know, I don't know how that, that conversation, the fact that's public, I don't know how any of this may fact that it's public, I don't know how any of this may change anything. It probably doesn't.

I mean, two things remain true. Mitch Barnard is playing for his hometown team. He's got a chance to be a legacy player. I mean, he probably already has a legacy already, but he's got a chance to do something special here if he wants to resign in Toronto, and he's told everyone that that's what he wants to happen. So, you know, I still think that there's a way this all ends up in a place where the Leafs are happiest which would be with him signing an extension but it's got to

be on his terms and right now he doesn't want to negotiate as his season's going along. Well it may just be a coincidence and he's not alone but the last three games have been the worst three game stretch he's had in a long time like Utah Florida Ottawa not good for Mitch and really put himself under the gun for worst three game stretch he's had in a long time. Like Utah, Florida, Ottawa, not good for Mitch. And really put himself under the gun for the playoffs coming up too. Like I'll be fascinated to watch every single straight. Well because he you know it sounds like the league he could sign a deal right now and then whatever happens in the playoffs has no bearing on his future. He knows he's here

and he's signed and he's choosing not to do that and you know at times it gets referenced well his agent Darren Ferris he prefers to do that get his players to free agency etc. That's such nonsense Hayes if you want a team like you've got a situation that you like and you're playing with players that you like I don't know I don't understand that comment he likes to walk his players to free agency that's ridiculous and Sam Bennett's his guy right CJ it sounds like Bennett may have told them actually give Bill Zito a call He likes to walk his players to pre-agency. That's ridiculous. And Sam Bennett's his guy, right, CJ? And it sounds like Bennett may have told him, actually, give Bill Zito a call here. Let's try to figure this out.

Like, that's what it sounds like. All of a sudden, the player is dictating what's going to happen and not his agent, which is generally the way it goes, especially with superstars. Exactly. I mean, and I say this with respect to agents, but agents work for players. Exactly. I mean, and I say this with respect to agents, but agents work for players. Exactly. Obviously agents present players with a whole range of ways to approach situations, but, you know, ultimately it's a player that calls it.

And I think someone, look, Mitch Marner is not a kid anymore. We, you know, we can sort of think of him that way because we've seen him grow up here with this team and then this organization, but you know, he's, he's a veteran in the league. He's one of the better players in the league he's gonna be one of the highest paid players when all this is said and done and he's got to you know determine you know while working with his agent and his family and everyone that's important to him what's best for him but you know I don't think that ultimately you can you know hide behind an agent I'm not for a second suggesting Mitch is but we

can't pin this strategy on an agent I mean an agent can tell you a lot of things, but you know, really it's the player that has to live with, you know, whatever arrangement he makes, wherever he wants to play. And so, you know, I think ultimately, you know, we have to, to judge Mitch's intentions by what, what he does and, you know, look at lots of players have, you know, including last year, Sam Reinhart, uh, who has a different agent, but, but you know, played out the season in Florida had a great year they won a Stanley Cup and he managed to sign his deal in that five or six day window from between game seven

and July 1st I mean there's there's still there's lots of those sort of stories that are at the ready here that you know lead me to believe there's still a really distinct possibility Mitch so ends in Toronto it's just it's just hard to know at this time how it's gonna to play out because they're you know as we talked about last Monday I mean they just they haven't really gotten anywhere with discussions because Mitch and his camp don't want to have those discussions. With Chris Johnston our TSN hockey insider so you're down at the GM meetings. Breakout groups. Breakout groups yeah you got everyone's got to break out make sure the morning group then you mix it up a little bit in the afternoon

The length of the season my understanding is that's a topic of discussion You know with the Olympics and World Cups and all that and this has always been a I think an evergreen chat Like when should you start the year? When can it finish? How do you make TV partners happy? Is there anything going to come out of that? Is there any reason to believe that the league could shift in any way in terms of scheduling in the future? Well, I certainly think it's possible. I mean, the big thing with that is that's an issue that has to be agreed upon by both the NHLPA and the league. And, you know, we're at a time right now where collective bargaining talks with those two bodies are happening.

And you know, you're trying to you're trying to thread the needle. I mean, look, we, I think everybody that loves hockey love that four nations tournament. And so no one's complaining about that break. But you know, the result of having events like that, of course, is you have more compressed schedules, you just have more teams doing what the Leafs are doing this week for four games in a week. You know, which is a lot to ask of the top players and then you couple on top of that that they're talking about going to that 84 game season you know which I think is

what it can literally be interpreted as a straight revenue play I mean the NFL went to 17 games from 16 in the last few years and and you know we've done well shortening the preseason so you know it's not as though in the next few days, I think there'll be clarity there, but it's definitely a discussion point behind the scenes about what makes the most sense. And I do think ultimately we'll probably end up in a place where there's more regular season games,

way less of a preseason. And, you know, they're gonna try to find ways to stretch out the schedule where they're not taxing the athletes quite to the same degree, but I mean that's that's a tough Rubik's Cube It's hard to it's hard to do everything by maximizing how many games you play but not playing too deep into the summer You know, you're trying you've only have the calendar you have to work with But you know, I do think that you're gonna see some shift there You know once they reach those discussions with the players and the owners.

What about, never mind 84, has there, did anyone bring up the idea there needs to be 70 games played? Like would that just be flushed down the toilet immediately? I mean, the second part of that question would be do you want to put, you know, 14% of your paycheck taken off the top? I mean, you know, as you know, oh, I mean, players are only played for the regular season games that they're only paid officially to do their job in the regular season. So if you shorten the number of games and thereby limit how much money is made by the

teams and ticket revenue, I don't think anyone's lined up to take a pay cut. I know I wouldn't be. I don't know how you're going to add two games. I think it's ridiculous. We had one. Why the schedule alone? Watch how much hockey these guys. Yeah, it's insane. We had one why the schedule alone watching how much hockey these guys Yeah, it's insane such a physical sport

Olympics next year. That's what we're saying. Like it to me. It's just how do you add games? There's too much, but I don't it's money No, I get it's money you want to get to a hundred and twenty million dollar cap here in the next spot What it what when do you think it'll be a hundred and twenty probably within the next ten years for sure? Right, I think it's supposed to be 120? Probably within the next 10 years for sure. Right. I think it's supposed to be what, 110 by three years? Okay, so let's say seven years just to be conservative. Yep.

They're not cutting games, they're gonna add. No, I hear you, but I mean, listen, they don't care about the average viewers' viewing experience clearly, because it's, if it's gonna be a watered down league, and they're gonna expand, and they're gonna play more games in shorter time you're just gonna get a worse product you're gonna load like you're gonna get players who are gonna miss games in the future like that's what's gonna happen

management load management eventually will arrive the embay done and be yeah all George is done for the year now Paul's now you can start podcasting again I guess that's a positive. But I don't know. Yeah, you're going to be finding the teams like they are in the NBA for not dressing guys on certain nights and things like that. Right. Which is a circus. I mean, the NBA is it's gone too far the other way where the tanking and the load management and everything is a real concern. And the NHL isn't dealing with that right now. But then I get it. It's two different entities where the NBA's TV deal is so exorbitant. Right. Like the NFL, it's the same thing where the NHL isn't dealing with that right now, but, and I get it, it's two different entities, where the NBA's TV deal is so exorbitant.

It's like the NFL, it's the same thing, where the NHL is gate-driven, it's more regional. So it's a business, it's tough, but I don't know. I don't know how the fans benefit, I guess, is where I would be at. Like, I don't see how the product's gonna be better. And ultimately, when the NHL POPs, CJ, is in the playoffs, you need to make sure players are

healthy, ready to go, feeling good, because you do not want to mess with that part of your program. It's the best hockey going. I was going to say, not to open another can of worms, but if you're going to add games to me, adding some sort of play-in or wild card, whatever you call it, to me, I would add a little bit more to the playoffs. I know you can't go too crazy, but know, I know when baseball gets around and it's like those wild card games are exciting at the start of the playoffs I think you know in a 32 team league that might be growing again at some point in the near future

I mean, I'd be adding more playoff teams before I'm adding more regular season games What's the update on that CJ because if they bring two more teams into this league? You're gonna be watching the East Coast Hockey League, man. Like, what the hell is up with that? Oh, more jobs for everyone, Oli. Aren't the players supposed to like that or what? I'm talking about the quality of play. Yeah, exactly.

There's eight guys on every team right now that shouldn't be in the league. What's it gonna look like if two more teams are in the league? Well, I guess the good news is it's not happening in anyone's perceivable future, but probably within five or ten years you're looking at a couple more teams. And it gets you so much money when you look at what franchises are going for. If you're an existing owner, the way the league does the expansion fees, they split those among all the current owners it's a lot of money to say no to and I

think that's ultimately why they probably won't but you know there's nothing of that nature that I'm aware of coming anytime in the next you know two or three years how about sniffing around the reseating or the playoff seating one eight all of that fun stuff or even like go get crazy and go 1.16. I know the travel would be crazy, but I mean, to me there has to be an appetite to at least look at it. You could do 2.3.2s. Yeah, no you could. I mean, I don't know, it's just been so traditional, but if you

want to try and get outside the box, go 1-8 or 1-16. And I know, hey, it could be LA versus Florida in the first round or whatever, but I don't know. I think the league needs a refresher, something there. I guess the appetite might not be there at the NHL level. I really think the fans are sick of the, like they wanted to build these rivalries up. I think the fan bases in all areas of the league are sick of the same matchups in the first round well well that's where the like adjusting the play in would come into

play right like like CJ what you're saying is if if you're gonna have a 9 and a 10 seed play their way in right how that can't really jive with a divisional 2 versus 3 you'd prop probably be forced into a conventional 1 versus 8 right which I think would benefit the fans greatly exactly minimum you'd have to have two conferences or you could go crazy like noodles are saying and do the whole league in the same but I think there's too many challenges logistically with that but yeah I think it just makes sense look one of the great series of the first round is probably going to be

Dallas and Colorado this year because there are two teams that loaded up that are great teams. Either could win the cup, but it shouldn't be a first round series. At the end of the day, that team's that good. One of them being out at the end of the first round, it just doesn't seem right when clearly some lesser teams are probably going to find their way through just because of the janky way it works with the divisions. Do you know how incredible it would be if it was like no conferences, one versus 16? I know.

Do you know what we would be looking at daily? Okay. For starters, it's not right now and a lot of this is point percentages and I'm just looking at the standings. You mean the matchups? It could be Edmonton, Toronto in the first round as like the eight aces, nine. Wow. Like that, because they're right there right now. Edmonton's got 82 points the Leafs have 81 the right in the middle

that could filter out any which way. But just as a right now. But you could have a scenario where you're looking at it counting down the game saying there's a chance the Leafs play the Oilers in the first round. Who doesn't want that? That would be so phenomenal. 2-3-2. Yeah it would be so phenomenal. I just I yeah exactly go to 2-3-2 like Series, and you just, you take out the concerns of all the travel. I just feel like there's something there that could reinvigorate. Yeah.

Send them, get in there, CJ, and tell the GMs. Why don't you bring Overdrive down there for a breakout group? Do you think they would take us seriously if we wheeled in there and Jerry had a meeting and said, we're bringing in some and Jerry had a meeting and said we're bringing in some guys for a secret breakout group and we walked in. That's what the GMs meeting need for a spice up. Forget the playoffs, that would be unreal. That would be great.

Imagine the GMs in the league having to listen to us spitballing ideas. You're going to want to hear this Well, enjoy yourself down there CJ it we'll see what comes out of it news wise and a lot of activity I'm sure on SportsCenter and online throughout the next few days. So we'll catch you there. Thank you for doing this as always All right. Enjoy the game tonight guys. Yep You got a Chris Johnson or TSN hockey insider again the insiders down in Florida the GM meetings catch them on SportsCenter TSN dot CA Beaver hi, this is Terry Clark. We are Nickelback made in Canada on I heart radio rock pop hip hop And when it comes to country, it's the true north all the way.

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