OverDrive - LeBrun on Tkachuk landing with the Panthers, the Maple Leafs' targets and Werenski's potential departure

Episode Date: June 22, 2026

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joined OverDrive to discuss the major storylines around the NHL, Brady Tkachuk's trade to the Panthers and what led to the deal, the Maple Leafs' organizational next steps, Matthew Knies' future in Toronto, Zach Werenski's potential departure from the Blue Jackets, Jason Robertson's next steps and Sergei Bobrovsky's outlook.

Catch everything soccer with Bell's game time bundle. Get 5 TV with TSN plus 5150 internet, all for $99 a month. Price guaranteed for two years with a two-year internet and TV term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Let's bring in our TSN Hockey Insider joining us here on the Maple Twitter hotline. Here's Pierre LeBron. Pierre Worensky to the Leaps.

Your thoughts. You guys are just trying to raise. me on one of my last appearances of the year. Reasonable question? No, listen, I reported this a couple of times. I know it rankled a lot of people in Columbus, and that wasn't the intent, but a lot of teams around the league are keeping a close eye on where that's head of Rosack Werencki. He is not officially asked for a trade.

I think that's important to note, but there are certainly indications that him and his camp, his agent John Moldover, are having conversations. about what the future looks like. He's got two years left on his deal. You know, this certainly could be a thing that plays out over another 12 months because he has two years on his deal, but I think it's certainly very possible that at some point before the end of the summer that it's communicated, maybe the Columbus, that, hey, we're still going to play hard here, but we don't think we're going to sign an extension, so take that information for what it is. And so that's why so many teams are keeping an eye on it, because,

I mean, that would be quite an auction in terms of how many teams would want to get in on Zach Wrensk. You know, a question about it? Before I ask this question, I'd like to get Joe from the bridge to maybe center you a little better, Pierre. You look like you're 14 feet tall compared to us. I like it. I like it. So Brady Kachuk gets traded. Quinn Hughes is gone.

Like, we were talking in the first segment, Pierre. Is there anything to be done about it? about this or is this just tough luck for teams that are, if you're on that team that one of these players asks out and ultimately gets traded? Yeah. I mean, I wrote about this today in the athletic. I mean, I think you guys touched on a lot of the key points. It's so dangerous to just generalize and say this is the symptom because I think there are a lot of unique situations. I think if you're going to find one overlapping theme in all this is that all the players in the league want to go to teams that win all the time or have a chance of winning all the time. And yes, it happens to be a lot of

them are also in no state income tax states and often warm weather. But I'll say this. Like I know today I was talking to to an agent who said that he was surprised to hear from his client that that his client wanted Montreal added to his list of places where he wanted. out to goal play. So Montreal now is changing their perception around the league because now they've had a deep run. They're young. They look like they have a good future. So running a team the right way is still a very important part of this equation. I don't think this is all about no one wants to play in Canada or no one wants to play in, you know, certain markets in the U.S. I still think running a good ship like Vegas does, like Florida does, like Dallas does, it's still the number

one factor for me. I mean, Mitch Martner doesn't pick Vegas if they're a 500 team. Yeah, but Pierre, they've made a lot of transactions and trades. They've made a lot of transactions and trades. And other organization, Mike Buffalo might be to say, we can't be that active, because when we go to make the transaction, the guy coming the other way, we're on his list, and we can't make the transaction. There's a bunch of other organizations that would be loved to be as active as Vegas. But guess what? A lot of the players, they say those are the teams that we're not going to. So you can't be as active as Vegas. True. And that is true. And the reality is it's harder for the Winnipeg Jets to get guys, for the Ottawa Senators to get guys, for the Columbus

Blue Jackets to get guys. That's the reality. I mean, the salary cap has gone a long way to even the playing field financially, but they're not going to even the playing field in terms of where people want to play and live. I mean, that's still part of all this. And here's the tough part is that now that the salary cap is escalating in a very dramatic way over the next few years, that is going to add to the have and have-nots too, because not every team is going to stay right at the cap. We've had two-thirds of the league spending to the cap for the last seven, eight years. That's going to diminish. We're going to have a smaller group of teams now being comfortable going at that very high number in two, three years. Some teams,

me even surprise you, by the way, that are talking internally about having a budget suddenly and not being a cat team. So that's going to be a layer on top of all the fact that you got players taking ownership of their careers and wanting to play in certain places. So we're headed in a very interesting era, I think. Well, to Jeff's point, Pierre, do you think there is anything the league can do now with the no moves, the no trades? Or is it like the GD's out of the box and like, there's nothing you can do now? It's gone. Someone joked with me today. sure, we'll convince, you know, the NHL will convince the NHLPA to get rid of no trades and no moves and then the NHLPA will turn around and say, fine, let's get rid of the salary cap.

I mean, listen, I mean, that's an extreme response, but those no trades and no moves are, those are CBA negotiated items that the PA cares a lot about, that the players care a lot about, because it gives them leverage and protection. I get why that conversation is out there, obviously in the wake of Brady Kachuk, forcing his way to Florida, but good luck getting the PA to relinquish on that. I mean, what would you have to give up if you're the owners

to clean the slate on no trade laws? Well, maybe the owners just say to their GMs, you're not allowed to give these out anymore. Couldn't you just say no? But then I guess you don't get the player, right? Yes. Right. That means you don't get the player in most cases.

Maybe they need to collude. You've answered your own question there, Jonas. Because like Nashville, when David Poil was still GM in Nashville, they were the last organization left, as I remember. I remember writing about this. They were the last team left that had no moves other than Peca Renei had one. And the rest of the entire roster, no one had one. Like that was like a culture thing in Nashville.

And eventually it broke down because the predators were not going to get anyone because the agents saying, dude, I got five other offers, and they're all including the no trade, and you guys aren't including no trade. And it just became a position where the predators couldn't negotiate against the world that way. So, yeah, I think the horses have left the barn on that one. Pierre, there's a group chat at Hamilton Country Club,

golfing country club, that want to know. Richie wants to know. Are you 100% confident, and I said I'd ask you the question, that Austin Matthews will be on the opening night roster for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I've learned never to embrace 100%, but my understanding is

that Austin Matthews intends on being here next year, that that more or less has been communicated, still not in an official way from the agent John Moldaver to John Chaka, but in a way in which those guys are having conversations all the time, Chaka and Moldaver,

in a way in which that's where it's absolutely pointing that Matthews will at least give Toronto another year. Now that he's seen the Leafs off-season play out here with a GM hire, a coach higher, some moves, more moves to come. I think Matthews is, I put it at, I

don't know, 95%? How about that? Okay. What more moves would you be expecting, Pierre, when it comes to the Maple Leafs? Yeah, it's interesting. Just a couple hours ago, I was digging

in on that a bit, and another team said to me that the Leafs, the Leafs are in on all kinds of things. They're looking to upgrade in gold. They're looking to upgrade on the blue line. They're looking to upgrade up front still. So they've got a lot of balls that they're juggling. And I think, listen, I think John Chakas shared that with the Toronto Media last week, that he was a pretty busy guy that way.

You know, I think everyone's trying to figure out the Matthew Nye's situation. I know that Chakas said that it's most likely that he's going to, retain him. I think there are conversations being had there, I will just say. So I'm not saying he's definitely getting dealt because I don't think that's true, but I will say there's a lot more meat on that bone than not in terms of team's interest. And it might get to a point where Toronto's no choice, but to dig in on those conversations. The teams keep showing how serious they are trying to get Matthew Nyes. So yeah, that's one particular item on the list. And of course, Morgan Riley, as Jonas wrote about last week. I mean, he's

open to a move. You know, my senses, teams like San Jose and Anaheim would be high on his list of destination. Certainly I know for a fact that he sent a Western Conference heavy list, suggested list to the Leafs Morgan Riley did. So we'll see what the Leafs can do with that. What would, like this Matthew Nye's stuff is fascinating. because everything's like, well, they'd only trade him if they were blown away.

So what does that mean? What are they looking for? Because I've heard it's got to be a top 10 pick or it's got to be a number one defenseman. They have to have an idea of why they would be peddling him. What is your understanding on that front of like what would be mandatory in return for the Maple Leafs? So that's an excellent question. because what I was told today is that it depends on the team you're talking about, that the Leafs have had ideas thrown at them where one team is offering, you know, a really good defenseman.

Another team is offering a different type of Ford, but another team is offering a futures package. So my sense is the Leafs haven't told teams this is the only thing we're interested in. They're just taking calls and saying, you know, Put your best foot forward. Again, I think John Chica is being genuine when he says it's more likely than not. He's keeping Matthew Nyes. But he's also taking calls. And again, what I find interesting is that I think the Leafs have had a lot of different type of offers thrown at them.

Not one generic brand, i.e. Toronto's not going out saying this has to be the exact ask. They're listening on different things. Pierre, there's a group chat at the Winnipeg Golf and Country Club. that is wondering and asked me to ask you whether or not you think Connor Hallibuck is still going to be a Winnipeg jet come opening night next year. Yeah. I tell you what, when O started that question, by the way,

I thought he was going to ask me about Wyndham Clark. I couldn't figure out why everyone hated him so much yesterday on the course. But then I figured out the background story. That was tough to watch. Listen, Connor Hallibuck is very much, open to a change. I mean, that's hardly breaking news. But I think to the point where, you know, I think he'll work with the Jets, you know, I mean, he's got control with a no trade, but I think he'll be pretty flexible so that the Jets can try and maximize his value. That's my understanding.

I will tell you that for sure, the Florida Panthers continue to hover around him. I don't know now that they've spent a lot of assets. some Brady Kachuck if they can pull it off anymore. And the reason for that is, I just don't think the Florida Panthers will trade Anton Lundell. Anton Lundell is a guy that Ottawa originally wanted in those conversations with Florida. And the Panthers just stayed, they stayed absolutely 100%, you know, no-fly zone on downtown Lundel.

The Panthers view him as a number one center, even though they have Sasha Barkoff. They feel they have two number one centers. And so, you know, Winnipeg's looking for a number two. center. I mean, I just think Florida will not include Lundell in any Hellibuck deal, so it would have to somehow be packaged differently, and I don't know that Florida can pull that off, but I don't know. Belcino keeps adding superstar after superstars, I shouldn't put it past them. But there are other teams that have interest in Alibuck. So that's an incredibly fascinating one to me, because I know you talked about Helibuque's struggles in the past in the playoffs, but believe me, teams still

view him as a top five guy and at eight and a half million a year with term, that's seen as a heck of a contract now with a salary cap escalating. So, you know, we'll see where that trade goes. But for Winnipeg, they need a second line center out of that, I think, and they need plus plus for them to be comfortable moving him. Pierre, you mentioned the Sends. What do you think they do now? Yeah, I mean, listen, Steve Steyos, you know, there's no way Ottawa wants to to go. backwards here and get younger and and back up, you know, back up in terms of not being a playoff team like they've been in the last two years. They want to go turn around, use some of

these picks and get players. I know that it's been speculated out there about Jason Robertson and Dallas. My understanding is I don't think Robertson would sign in Ottawa. Listen, that could change. But my sense is I don't view Robertson as a realistic fit for Ottawa. So, you know, why is Robertson not a fit in Dallas? Am I missing something with that guy? Well, no, you're not missing anything other than clearly, I mean, listen, my understanding is they had, you know, they really tried to go out of last week in contract docs and obviously didn't get it done. So, you know, they are not on the same. field in terms of what a contract looks like for Jason Robertson. So that could change. But if he gets

dealt, and believe me, in the last 24 to 48 hours, Dallas has taken more and more calls on him. If he gets dealt, it's purely because his ask was not something Dallas felt could work with their payroll. Do you have any idea what his ask is? I'm not criticizing. I don't know exactly, But it's, I think it would open your eyes. It was described to me. And listen, I don't begrudge agents with star players. Like this, the cap is exploding. And I think everyone's trying to get comfortable with, you know,

like the Buffalo Sabres would have loved to re-sign Alex Tuck. And by the way, maybe they do at the 11th hour before next Wednesday. But, you know, the gap forever there was that Alex Tuck and his camp led by the Bartlett family, they looked at Adrian Kempi's day. deal in LA, which is I think 10.25 million a year and saw a pretty good comparable. And of course Buffalo looked at Nick Schmaltz is eight times eight in Utah and they saw. So, you know, you understand where everyone is in this new world and why agents are trying to maximize what they can get for their players. But, you know, I think Alex Stuck thinks for sure he's getting double digits

on the open market per year. And I think for Jason Robertson, I think they're, you know, and by the way, They changed agents, Jason Robertson did. And so whenever that happens, it's about two things. It's either about, I want to shoot for the moon on my next deal or I want to get traded. In this case, I think it's shoot for the moon. Like, I think he wants to stay in Dallas. But ironically enough, it might get him traded.

With Pierre LeBron or hockey insider. So I'm going to keep this bit going. Is this a phone friend? Oh, country club. Yeah, the Surrey Gulf and Country Club. sent me a text and said, Elias Pedersen, wanted to ask Pierre if, you know, Patterson is going to be a Vancouver Canuck as of opening night next year.

So go ahead, Pierre. Can you answer that for the boys at West? I mean, listen, not if the Canucks have their way, I think they would love to be creative and find a way to work with a team to move him. But, boy, I've asked a lot of teams about what kind of world would it take for you to take that on, you know, long term at north of 11 million a year. Obviously, the conducts would have to eat. But it's not just about that.

It's teams worry that Peterson looks content. There's a concern about, I think, how Hardy he wants to work. And listen, this is the danger with eight-year deals, by the way. Not every single player in the league is going to be Cindy Crosby and pretend that he's a fourth-line center working for his, you know, for his job. You know, money changes some people. And I think there's concern about whether how much of the former EP40 that even a fresh start can deliver.

So I think it's more likely than not he's still in Vancouver, but not because the Canucks won't try everything to find a way to move him. Yeah. You think the Matt Sundin angle factors in there, Jonas at all? I was just thinking like if they ate half, would I think about it? about it. I probably think with Sundeen, with Willie here, you know, is there an element today? If they just gave them away and retained half? Yeah.

Although at the same time, the Siddins are running things in Vancouver. So you think if anyone could get to them, it would be possibly like. And they've been there the whole time too. Right. And it hasn't mattered. Yeah, you're right. Lastly, Pierre, you know, obviously the news of the day is Ottawa, Florida. We talked about Halibuck.

But where does Sergei Bobrowski come into play on things? Yeah, so the Florida Panthers have not closed the door there. They're still trying, like, heck, to resign him. It's absolutely mind-boggling to me, by the way, that this has played out this way with Broboski and the Panthers. I mean, you want to talk about the perfect fit. Remember, Bobroski left Columbus. He wanted to go to Florida.

He got the contract he wanted, 10 million a year. He's won two cups. Every time I see the guy, you know, during the last couple of cup finals, He seems like the happiest man alive being a Florida Panther. It boggles my mind that there is no extension in place so far for Sergey Beroski in Florida. And listen, again, it has to do, my understanding is, with quite the ask from his agent at the start of these negotiations. But the Panthers are still trying to sign him. He turns 38 in September.

But in the meantime, you know, the Panthers have Plan B, Plan C, Plan D. like I said, they're keeping, they're staying in touch with Winnipeg on the Halibuck. And then there are, you know, there are other goaly targets that they have, and I think some actually might be surprising. So Florida has a plan. It's just not clear, I think, where it's going to end up.

But it starts with making sure, for sure, that the doors close or not with Vovrovsky. They love to find a way between now and next Tuesday at midnight before the Wednesday market to reel him back in. but they may not, you know. He may go to market, and then the Panthers have to go to Plan B. Great stuff, Pierre. Awesome catching up with you, buddy.

We'll do it again real soon. Right on, right on. We'll chat probably next week before July 1st. You got it. 100%. There is. Pierre LeBron, our TSA Hockey Insider, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline.

It's time to Toyota check out the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra pickup trucks, both available as hybrids, Maple Toyota, and your Canada's Wonderland of the Maple Auto Mall. Pride is like love. You feel it in your heart. IR. Radio, Canada's number one streaming app for radio and podcasts, including IHart Pride Canada, your favorite hits and must have party bangers, plus personalized and curated playlists, like back in the day pride.

Come together, celebrate, love. Take pride with you anytime, anywhere. Just ask your smart speaker to play IHartPride Canada. Stream us on your phone or listen now at iHeartRadio.ca.