OverDrive - Johnston on whether the Leafs will want a definitive answer on Marner, what's next for the Leafs, and this year's free agent class

Episode Date: May 26, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston on whether the Leafs will want a definitive answer on Mitch Marner, Sunday’s meeting between Keith Pelley and Brad Treliving, what’s next for the Leafs without Brendan Shanahan, his thoughts on the depth of this year’s free agent class, and how active the trade market could be.

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Join today and be part of something amazing. Sunday on Ask the Experts, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board President Alicia Barry-Sproll and CEO John D. Michelle discuss market trends and why using a professional realtor is essential. Sunday at 3pm on News Talk 1010. Are you prepared for this? Yeah, we've been garbage today, man. You guys sound like you're really having a Monday.

Yeah. This is big Monday energy here. Oh, it's bad, man. It's bad. The Canadian Screen Awards are this week. They're on Friday. They may tell me, you're out, dude. Do you think you have a shot? Do you have a realistic shotist not after this hour? Yeah, I'll be there on Friday I'm going it's Duffy and Ron McClain and They don't need it you need this. That's true. I need a sprinkle it. You sprinkle it in there. Yeah, right They've all won everything their legends. They've been legends for a long time

But anyway, my invite might be rescinded after what we've witnessed today CJ. So we need you to save us here and I'm curious now that we're a week out, you know from the Leafs and obviously we talked to you on Friday after the Shanahan News and You know, I'm seeing some Marner stuff. I'm curious. I know everyone believes he's he's going to market and that's just a matter of time But would you expect the Leafs to get that type of an answer from him? Like are they gonna demand in the next couple of weeks if they can? Like can you give us a definitive answer that you're not only hitting the market

but that you're leaving? Would you expect them to get that answer from him? I'm not sure if they will, to be honest. And you know, I think that's part of what's still interesting here. You know, we haven't had a chance to speak to Brad Trilliving You get the sense internally In the Maple Leafs front office everyone, you know

The dust is still settling a little bit after the Shanahan news and and you know They'll soon get into those sort of types of conversations and and you know I'm just curious how they approach the situation in general Do they do they want that kind of definitive answer? Do they try to negotiate with them? Do they have some sort of discussion with his camp about maybe looking to move his rights if he isn't willing to sign here because that could obviously get Marner an eighth year on his contract if they went about it that way and get the leaves back some kind of draft pick or something like that. So I think how

they choose to go about this will be you know pretty pretty fascinating. I don't think that there's necessarily a playbook or you know there's probably different approaches to that. I mean some teams might look at it and say okay you don't want to be with us goodbye and just just cut off communications. Others you know might might want to work with them. I don't know which tack the Leafs are going to take yet and and I'm not sure you know necessarily that they do either but You know where I think we're all assuming it goes that way for Mitch, but but you know there could be a chance here There's some kind of Hail Mary

I mean right now we just don't have a lot of answers in terms of how the Leafs are gonna approach that situation That's probably the biggest one when it comes to player personnel in the next month or so CJ. Do you know? where the the asking to go to Carolina and wave the no movement, like do you know how frosty things got after that? Cause I can't imagine it was very good. Well, I mean, put yourself in his shoes, right? And, you know, I'm not saying that the Leafs did anything wrong, but you can imagine that when you get to that stage it's it's probably isn't the the

best thing and I didn't know that it's that well with it with the martyr side of things but at the same time you know they weren't willing to negotiate with the Leafs on the contract and so at that stage I think the Leafs are trying to do what's best for the organization. It could be pissed off CJ but what did you really expect if you're not willing to negotiate on a contract? Right. And so, and look, he had the right to not waive it and to Marner's credit, you know,

it didn't affect his play on the ice at least in the immediate term. I think he still, you know, can make it himself in the way you'd expect and anyone moved on from that. But I'm sure that was a bit of a fishing point and one where you know it's probably stuck in his mind a little bit but you know you only get to that stage because you're you know you're not willing to engage in negotiating the contract I really do believe that the beliefs would have signed them to an extension in September October December you know earlier in the season and would never would have been something that came up in March, but it did.

And, you know, I think they, you know, in under the light of the circumstances, I think everyone, you know, did what they could and, you know, Marder kept playing well for the team. But, you know, now that we're kind of getting close to what feels like an unraveling, I'm sure we'll get a little more insight into how everyone truly talked about things like that. CJ, do you expect any more maybe news trickling out as far as, you know, Keith Pelley talked at his press conference, he, you know, sit down with Chief, you get to sit down with

Brad Tree Living and maybe get all on the same page as to, you know, where the direction goes. I don't know when those meetings were taking place or if they have or not, but it's more about, you know, is, do you think there's any more communication from the organization or they go go dark here until they start to make some moves? No, I think that's where we're at right now in this time and place. You know, Keith Pelley had dinner last night with Brad for a living and, you know, now they're they're kind of into the first week, know Poe Shanahan essentially business week and I think it's a lot of that is about

gaining a comfort with each other you know figuring out how the communication is going to work how you know really just how everyone feels comfortable operating a front office I know it's only one person gone from the the operation at this point but you but it's a pretty significant figure and someone who I think set the tone in some ways for how things worked in the Maple Leafs offices. So I think that's what's happening now, Noodles, and we've been sort of told to expect

that Bradshaw Living will address the media at some point here in the near future. And once that happens, obviously he'll get a full gamut of questions about his approaches to the roster about Marner about potential ways he might spend money if Marner is gone and but I think also notably will be how he sees the front office taking shape moving forward because you know that's that that is I think a pretty significant thing for them to work out and I do believe they're just in the early stages of kind of determining how everything's going to work.

With Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. So TSN has revealed their top 50 NHL free agent list. Mitch Marner at the top of that. Sam Bennett, number two. Tavarez, three. Nicolai Ehlers, four. Brock Besser, five. Other names that are on the list are Aaron

Echblad, Brad Marshand. I mean there's a bunch of guys that are still playing but you know how would you define this crop compared to other years and if you take away Marner I guess if he decides he's not returning to Toronto then obviously he's not a part of this program. Like how much work do you think Tree Living and Company can do via free agency and how much work do you think Tree Living and Company can do via free agency and how much might they actually have to do via trade if it gets to that point? Well I mean you're gonna have to get creative that's kind of my initial take on things here and and look I think you know put it

Martin or I just for a moment and we do expect you know he's probably out of the picture here. The Leafs are gonnas are going to need two centermen, I think, behind us and Matthews. And, you know, what it just might be one of those is John Tavares. And there you go. One ready-made solution. But when you look at that board, I mean, you know, what, once you get past Sam Bennett, it's not too long before you're into like PSC suitor territory.

And I say that with respect to PSU, or had a pretty good year in Vancouver, but you know, it wouldn't be what anyone would sort of circle and say that's the kind of guy you want playing second line center for a team trying to win the Stanley Cup. So I think the Leafs are going to have to get creative in how they do it and maybe the Trader does offer some solutions. I mean, certainly I think that this is poised to be a year where there's a lot of teams with cap space and needs. And once you get past, say, 10 names on that list, it goes south in a hurry. And it's not to say they're all bad players, but I think you stop getting out of the idea

that they can be a lot of difference makers for agency. And so I think the trade market should be pretty ample this year. You know, the one concern I'd have from the Leafs end of things when it comes to trade specifically is just what they have to trade. I mean, obviously they've dealt away a lot of draft capital with their deadline deals the last number of years, the sort of go-forward deals. You know, maybe there's some pieces within the organization, younger players and the like that they can use, but I don't think they have as much, maybe they get in the trade conversations as some other teams.

So, you know, it's not a certain sign of doom. I do think that there's some intriguing players that could help the Leafs be a, you know, very competitive team again next year if they have to patch all those holes and Marner does leave. But, you know, it sets up as a pretty big five weeks here leading into July 1st to make sure they're well positioned to handle all the moving parts that'll come with that. CJ, you just discussed John Tavares and it seems like that is basically going to happen and you mentioned the word creativity. Bringing him back just doesn't seem like it's that creative.

You just said the words like you need a second line centerman, well there's John Tavares sitting right there. Don't you want to look into a different option? They haven't won with him, so why would it be a need or a necessity to bring him back into the fold? I really don't understand it. I feel like you and I have this out every time I do a hit oh dog. This is what I is what I see

I see a guy who wants to be here scored 38 goals this year, so I want to do a lot of stuff to Chris I want to do a lot of stuff to that. I just some people say you're not doing it Well, who's your solution though? I mean at the end of the day we have to deal with what's in front of us like I'm not convinced Sam Bennett even becomes a free agent even if he does you want to be to be paying him the money he's going to be worth? I mean I just don't know where you find the other players to fill this void and you have you know a player who's still extremely productive sitting right here on the roster who wants to play for your team. I mean to me that's a tough tough thing to pass up and we'll see what the Leafs do. I mean, I'm not in charge of the team I just think it's the most obvious and

Sort of easy next step among all the decisions they have to make what well that to jump in here I think what I was saying and I don't disagree like if John Tavares wants to come back and and the contract looks very Affordable because again we can have this argument until we're blue in the face But if Tavares comes back on a very value contract then you go okay we don't have to replace 38 goals or maybe 30 goals you call it. But from O's standpoint if you're looking at it and just looking for a different type of player or different face, Matt Duchenne is the same age and maybe you can get a guy like Duchenne or somebody comparable like that.

I'm thinking outside the box Jamie like I don't know If you can pick Nazem Kadri out of Calgary, I don't know what their plans are with that organ I'm talking about something like that. Well, I would I agree with you Oh and also let CJ weigh in as well, but it's it's I Think you you need more down the middle of the ice like not just replacing John Tavares as a two, like if Tavares comes back, he might end up being your three. You might have to go for Tavares and Kadri and somebody else or somebody else if you can't get it in a trade. Like to me, I think Tree has to be creative because to be honest, Max Domi makes almost four million dollars. I didn't think he was

very productive this year overall. I mean, you might be looking to move away from players like that as well. Definitely wasn't a great season for Max. And I just think you need a better option in him as your third center. And let's face it, even if he brings Tavares back and we'll see where the price point lands, maybe he's basically the third center. And what you're trying to do is upgrade at the 2c spot with someone from the outside. It's look it's that's why it's it's not going to be there's not you know, 12 things at the store here you can go buy if you're Brad True Living. I think

that's why you're right. I mean, maybe trade is a solution. I just I don't know what you're trading. I think at this point, you have to be careful trading some of the younger players. I mean, Easton Cowan's playing right now in the Memorial Cup finals there this week. I mean, do you want him in a deal? I mean, obviously that's something other teams would value. You know, it's the least right that tough spot of contention windows where they've just, you know, they don't have a ton in the coverage right now and they still have to try to find

ways to get better, which is no excuse. Other teams do it. The Florida's have done it. They see seven guys walk out the door last year, two days after they won the Stanley Cup, and they still found ways to fill in their roster and have a really deep team today. So this is where the Scouts and the front office makes its money. And this is the time that they at least have to uncover some gems. Maybe it won't be obvious players at first, but they find some guys that fit in with what

they're trying to do that can have better seasons next year than they've had in the past. Yeah, that's a big part of it as well. Like, it's not just amateur scouting. You're pro scouting. You've got to find players that, quite frankly, you know, and every team is guilty of, they have let go. Yeah, you know, they have Marcia. So find a Verhegy find something. Well, they had Verhegy.

They had Marchman, you know, they decided they're not going to fit and they're not alone. That happens with every team. But, you know, this again, you can't go back and find and pluck them now. But at one point, Verhegy was there for basically anything mason marchman was there for gene o'malgan You know like you got it. Those are trades the jose bautista types were at the time you look at you're like no, okay Whatever then all of a sudden he turns into a player like you got to do it man. You got a gene o'malgan one boy I'll never that one Was playing last night on the world Championship. No, no, no. Get the kicker though, guys, and I'll say it again.

Not once, twice! He came back, Gino Malgan. He came back! The second time was from Europe. And the second time at training camp, he was dancing out there and everyone was like, I told you about that, Gino Malgan. And then sure as you know what, like 10 days later was like, guy can't play. Yeah. You know his name is Dennis. Yes. I forgot his name was Dennis. I actually,

I just Googled Gino Malgan and I'm like, Oh, it's Dennis. I forgot. I called him Gino Malgan from the day I put eyes on him and I love it. Yeah, well we gotta find the next Geno Malgin up here. That's the role of Brad Tree Living here. Well, CJ, what do you make? It just feels like it's Florida Edmonton will meet in the cup final, doesn't it? Yeah, I mean I'm definitely getting those vibes again. I mean certainly Florida's not a, there's no risk in making that pick at this point the way they've been rolling through the hurricanes and even the end of the Leaf

series. And you know, Edmonton's got something. I mean, I think it'll be an interesting final. If there's one of the teams remaining, I, I, you know, I do believe Edmonton can give Florida a bit of a run for its money, but let's face it. I mean, the Panthers I'm sure are going to be favored, you know, whoever they play just with, you know, winning seven of their last eight and you've got a chance to sweep the Eastern Conference final. Maybe the biggest thing standing in their way is the 12-day wait that they're gonna have for the start of the cup final if they end up finishing that series off tonight. Well that's a very good point. Like they win tonight and Dallas gets

back in that series which they definitely could. Yeah. You know that goes six or seven. Florida's gonna be sitting there for ten days before they play another game if not more than that. Yeah, it's set for June 7th, I'm pretty sure, the start of the cup final. So it's 12 days if they win tonight. Wow, that is a long layup. But that's probably why, like Reinhardt probably isn't capable of playing. He didn't play the other day.

But why even force them to play? Like just say, we'll see you in the cup final, man. Like we'll take it from here. Let Reinhardt sit. All of them. Let Michalas sit. Career, career exactly like you're that what a luxury to have you're in the conference final and you can load manage To a certain extent no no Hayes. It's in the conference final and you're telling guys no rush. Yeah, don't worry about it We'll see in a cup final be ready for June 7th. That's pretty good. Yeah, that's the dream I have ten players between 10 and 15 points

Like it's it's not how balanced Florida's been this playoffs. Yeah, that is a great point I saw your tweet earlier like that. There is there's just no Ability to breathe like whoever they put over the boards. You're on your heels or you're ready for a fight You better be ready for a fight Crazy. All right, CJ. You saved this man. That was great. We needed that. We needed some help and you supplied it for us. Thank you for this. Love it, guys. Well, good luck with the rest of your hour here. You're almost to 7 p.m. We'll try our best. Thank you. There's Chris Johnston, our TSN Hockey Insider.

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