Johnson on the Maple Leafs' starting defeat, McKenna's debut and Jarry's issues with the Oilers

0:00This break is brought to you by Adobe Photoshop. Here to help you make that thing only you could make. Here for when you've got an amazing idea you can't wait to share and you need it to look exactly as you imagined. Photoshop gives you the ultimate image editing and design tools. So you can dial in your creation perfectly down to the last pixel. Make epic images for zine covers, posters, brand graphics, social posts or anything else you can imagine. It's your vision. Go all in! Get started at Photoshop.com Here's Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst. Johnny, what did you, I guess we'll start with 34? I mean, there were eyes on a lot of different players last night. What did you make of Matthew's game? I thought he was good. He certainly won the matchup up against Nick Suzuki, right? Not very often that Nick Suzuki line gets outplayed by the margin they did last night. Marchenko looked dangerous. Powerplay wasn't very good. He wasn't great on it there. I thought he was solid. He wasn't dominant.

1:00Didn't generate great chances, but they controlled the play more often than not, which I guess a good team is a positive, but more to... They need more and there's more to give. So, MJ, what did you take away from last night's game? We were at the starting of the show. It's like, I know it's only one game, but you know, X, Y and Z. Was there a main concern coming in with that roster or with that group that kind of just showed a little bit of your concern still? Or is it just a matter of, hey, we got a bunch of new faces in there and they got to settle in. No, it's almost like you're not quite sure how good the defense has gone in being moving the pop up the ice. I believe they need more time. I believe they need more reps and games and minutes to get better at it, but I still think we need to see it. It was great to see Tana play big minutes and look pretty comfortable. Great to see Jake McCabe not be heard, but obviously the Riley Rattage pairing, the pop management turning it over while trying to make plays is a bit of a concern.

2:01And then all of this revamped depth was supposed to be very important. And some identity stuff and some quality player stuff. And third-fourth lines didn't have much of an impact, didn't play great big minutes or have big moments in last night's game. So a lot there, Bob is Bob going to be the guy he was last year. The guy he's been the previous five years. Last night he was closer to the guy he was last year. So these are all things they got to get better at. They can and probably likely will, but you know, this is the first game they look like a team with 10 new players and a new coaching staff and a major piece that was just traded in 24 hours earlier. They looked disjointed. They looked a little disjointed. And they're planning against a pretty good team. Johnny, do you have any internal data that you thought was positive and a trending in the right direction that we need to know about for a first episode of this or data? I, not too, too much there. Other than the fact that you don't want to have to talk about it all,

3:02old as well camp is Eastern Cowan. Like he has been sort of an afterthought in the conversation with the Ibober McKenna and the his spawn the top six and everything else that went along with it. Eastern Cowan played well down the stretch. He was good in camp. He was good in the games. He is a highly decorated junior player. Any other prospect that did what he did in junior would be, we got to get this guy immediately onto the top six and on the power, but everything else. And I think it's a positive to see him play well and then sort of be rewarded real time. Oh, I know sometimes you've talked often like, hey, you're not going. You don't get to keep going. You don't get to keep going back on the ice run the power play. And on the flip side, if you are going like Cowan was going, then you do get more ice time. You get a ship with Neil and her to bars in the third. You get out there for the six on five. I think that kind of accountability and reward is a nice thing to see in the first game. This or data. Yes, I love it. I think, you know, he looked really good last night, really good.

4:05But they're going to need the third line to produce some offense, right? Like do Heyman, Beluga and whoever else is playing there, probably isn't going to do it on the fourth line. Not that any team in the league is really expecting a ton of offense from the fourth line. But they have a ton of talent and a ton of skill and a lot of opportunity for offense in the top six. But, you know, season struggled last night, first game, just like everyone else. Nick Paul thought was okay. Wasn't great either first game. He got to give him a chance. Mrs. Saga guy planned at home for the first time. But Cowan was buzzing. And I, you know, I think there's a real opportunity there. If he stays in that position, you're up likely against lesser competition. Maybe some difficult zone starts and all that kind of stuff. But if he could have a big year and kind of drive a third line, I think that would be very beneficial for them. Yeah. It's asking a lot for a guy who's a second year pro winger to drive offense on a third line with guys that are making, you know, system makes formula and bucks.

5:08Nick Paul makes whatever he makes, same thing for your four million dollars. So these guys have to push more. So yeah, I think that he will move around Cowan will. He'll be on the second line at times, the other third line at times, might be on the first line at times, Ross Levick maybe up and down. I think that's probably different stuff. But I think that is a positive that he looks so good. Oh, one more dis or data for you. I just recalled. I got a second memory. I think I just started. Dad, go ahead. I don't think Austin Matthews or John Tavares started one shift at five of five in the defensive zone. Big dad. That is different. Big dad. That is wildly different than what they've done in the past. Like, that would have been unheard of last year. So I quickly scanned the thing. I'm like, wow, zero for Matthews. That is very different. Taylor said he was going to try to do it. Oh, that's an example of something he's trying to do a little bit different that I bet those guys appreciate. I got the idea. I get the idea guys like start the offensive zone.

6:11But there are situations where I want my big boy go out there and take control with the green stuff. You know what I mean? Agreed. Not 100% of the time, but as a rule of thumb, if you can have that ice time chewed up by Colton, this is line. That's better than then and then freeing up Tavares and Matthews. Okay. I'm with you. I hear you. He was killed in penalties last night too, which I guess was a part of the plan. I don't remember talking about that a lot in the preseason. But Matthews was out there doing that. As for McKenna, you know, there was so much build up and hype and the last time a first overall pick had a game, we know what happened in this market anyway for that jersey. I mean, everyone saw the same thing. It was not comfortable. It was at nerves in your opinion. Was it the pace of the game? What would you chalk that up to? I would imagine this nerves the moment because the pace was obviously higher

7:11than the Ottawa exhibition games. We're the Montreal exhibition game. But the stakes are much higher and his family wasn't town and all the build up and mic'd up and warm up and shooting like it's all preshendowing last night. And you know he felt after that last preseason game like here we go. I'm going to be rocking and rolling and it didn't happen. And he's a guy that unfortunately when it goes well, it will look spectacular. And he will blow our blow our minds. But when it goes poorly guys, it will look bad because he only knows how to make plays. He can have an, I could have an off night and you might not notice it was that off of a night because I'm shooting the puck up the boards and I'm chipping it in and I'm chasing it down. I'm not trying to pass it through guys' skates. I'm not trying to stick out of the blue line. I'm not trying to spin away from a guy in a dangerous spot. That's all he sort of is wired to do. Another time in place for everything. But you don't want to take that out of his game, but on nights where it doesn't work and it wasn't working.

8:11Timing, pace, nerves, all of it, it looks more noticeable because of the way he plays, because of the way he's wired. Same thing if you said piratis. Yeah, it wasn't ideal. Great for him that he's playing again tonight. I think that is really good news that he goes right back to it. Doesn't have to think about it. Doesn't have to sleep on it for two days and answer to us or the media about it. Just go back out and play. I assume he will be better, but there will be moments like this throughout the year. Not every game is going to be clean last night's wasn't. So, we an hour ago were playing. It's only one game but which is a game we love to play, especially in the NFL. We almost do it for 84. We may do it for 84 games, just for sure. Let's shift to the capital of beautiful Alberta where we're going to be in a couple months. Yeah. You better watch yourself talking about my oilers. Your oilers, you've always been a fan and you've always been a fan of Tristan Jari. What do you, like Babcock was obviously not happy.

9:13They stormed back, they got themselves a point. You look at the actual chances and everything. The others, diss or data kind of tilted the eyes. Yeah, it was 2011. Yeah, it wasn't really that close. But that was that goal was the change of the game. That one you just played there, that three to go. The oilers were in complete control of that game until that goal. Then they realized what the hell is going on back there. Then they changed their game. It was crazy. Okay, so I mean, Babcock, he has been labeled as this guy. It's almost like he's got insulation now because if they don't get it right, he's like, what do you want me to do? Everyone's already asking, hey, see that. You see how the odd man rushes? You see Jari's giving up all these goals again. Babcock, he's a coach. He's not a magician. There's only so much he could do. But what stood out to you the most from an oiler's perspective last night? Some of their breakdowns were big breakdowns.

10:14They were giving up the odd man rushes. There wasn't that many of them. But when you give it up two on ones and three on ones and breakways, those are big breakdowns that you can't have in a game. That's on the coach. The system and the player is executing the system because there's obviously not enough layers there. That could be explained a little bit, but that could be covered up by not great goal-tending. Just give me mediocre. You can make saves on hard shots. You can make saves on plays in tight. And the concerning part is this is what we saw from Jari. It's more that's not like, oh, he was great last year. It's a one off. He was miserable last year and it's more the same. That's the problem. And from what I understand, Freddie Anderson is not returning until December. Like it's not imminent his return. So it's Levi, Devon Levi, who's going to be the guy. I have to go that badly that early guys. I know it's just one game and so it doesn't matter. But it does in that situation because the start fresh clean slate for him.

11:18It lasted 30 minutes. And then it's right back all the damage from last year, all the scar tissue that the team has with their goal-tending is not very good. It's all back. The Johnny. It's all back. It's all back. It's all connected. It's like they can play a dominant 20 minutes of hockey or 25 minutes of hockey. By the way, some more distra data. Justin Jari's played 21 or 22 games for the Ebb and the Noilers. 11 times four goals or more have gone in the net. That's a lot. It's not. So but when that happens, it's almost like the goal is going into the net. And yes, they do have breakdowns. But when it always just goes into the net, it almost like pushes the panic button on McDabit or dryside. It's like, oh, so we're giving up for tonight. I guess we got to get six. And that just turns, it's a vicious cycle where it's like, you know what? How about when there's a two on one when you've got the game in your hands and your in control, you actually get a save. That can change the complexion of the game. Instead it goes in the net and McDabit make Jesus in dryside or on the bench.

12:21It's like, all right, man, go time. We got a rip home six tonight. If we're going to have a chance to win. You're bang on because the goal tender is going to give up goals. It just it happens. It's like the joke about fear is fear will give up three, but he wouldn't give up that four. And when it was when it was most mattered, the owners were in complete control of that game at two, at two, two. Because Lincoln was standing on his head. And then, you know, just a matter of time, just chipping away. But they give up that three, two, and then it's four, two. And like you said, all of a sudden you're sitting on the bench and you guys can speak to it as players. When you don't trust what's going on back there, how do you play? You all of a sudden it's like, they reverted back to what they were doing last year to go. We're going to try and outscore this. Now they got a point out of it. And, but it's crazy. They were at five, two, and then decided, okay, let's storm back. Lost in all of this. Evan Bouchard puts up five points. Five points. And we're talking about like, there were some great individual performances.

13:25And I laughed about this because Hayes, you brought this up. Austin Matthews first game, he scored four goals. We thought that Mitch Marner might have been the best player on the ice. Lost in all this, the Leafs lost that game. Yeah, they did. They were pretty, pretty good score on an overtime. Right? Like, this is Evan Bouchard put an all-time performance up. And we're talking, the goalie couldn't give you one extra save hero there. Where is this cycle? Where does their tandem rank in your opinion? You can go first. League wide. Are they bottom five in the league? That last. That last. Not dead last. There's a few. There's a few out there that, yeah, it would be painful. I invite you to name one. I don't love New Jersey's tandem. There's not a starter there. Like that's Jake Allen who I want you to know. Jake Allen, Nico Dawes. Yes. Like, there's not, you know, like I say, bottom five, you could say, but if Freddie Anderson's in there, but not different, that's the difference.

14:26Like, Freddie Anderson, but I don't think you'll be there. I think they're getting 30 games out of them. I think the Levi kid has a chance to be a good goal-tender. But again, you got to go out and prove it. Last night. I couldn't do it in Buffalo, right, Levi? Well, but you could not do it in Buffalo. A young weak team in Buffalo. Up and coming, right? Like it is. They Buffalo is now turned the corner. Keep in mind you had Dalline and all those guys as young players. Now they're getting older. I think Levi's a good young goal-tender, but you got to go prove it. And, you know, it's not a game of perfect, but last night was the difference was goal-tending. You give me a save on a two on one or a breakway where there's a breakdown. The team doesn't panic. They reverted back to their habits last night based on what they were seeing. Yeah, and the goal-tending exacerbates whatever message Mike Babcock's trying to put in, right? Because you stay with it when you're in the game. When you're getting saved, you might make a mistake because you're trying to figure things out.

15:26But when you don't get saved, keep in mind you don't want us to do a new coach, ready coach? Well, one other thing too. Their power play was had chances, but wasn't very good. They're penalty kill. I don't know why they put McDavid on the penalty kill. He never stops and starts. He just circles like that. There's little details that need to be cleaned up there. And Babcock wasn't wrong. I liked his post-game media. He just straight at it. Like, we got work to do here. Didn't like it. I don't know what his comment was. But they got work to do there. Well, what are you talking about, McDavid circling on the penalty kill? And I thought that was the whole reason for all of this. All that garbage is stopping. Well, but that's a detail. Right. Don't put on the penalty kill, though. The thing is, you're not the penalty kill. They were going to have all the other four. It's the take minutes of what. Yeah. I understand that. But like, you know, you got to have the second or third pair out there, which is what McDavid should be if he's playing even a new Joe. Nobody else. You know, but put Coleson out there, put Capon out there, put other guys out there to do it.

16:27That's the whole point of establishing a role for those lower bonds. Six guys agreed. Like, you know, you get new Dickinson, Savoy back. Those all three of those guys played penalty kill last night last year. Well, that's another thing they got their deal with injuries. Obviously early in the year with Mike Johnson. We got the honors in town tonight. What is your projection on Matthew Schaefer this year? I would expect him to be a better player, sort of better defensively, better reads. But maybe not scores many goals. We scored 23 last year. That's an enormous number. Now, he takes a ton of shots. He's up to rush all the time. But I just wonder if the other parts of the game get a bit tidier. He's not a bad defensively, but just a bit tidier. And not that it comes the expense of his offense. You'll probably get more points. I just don't know if he can score 23 again. It's hard to score that many goals. He might score 16 or 17.

17:28And somehow it'll look like a step back. It won't be. It's just sort of the nature of the position. Not many guys score 20 years. It just doesn't happen in today's NHL. So I think he will be top 10 defense in the league, briefing inside that. And the other parts of the game will continue to get better to go along with the overwhelmingly gifted stuff of the puck. Yeah, that's, I think reasonable. I mean, yeah, 20 plus. I remember Deon Funeff did that early in his career. Yeah, 19 at the end. Yeah. And then it just kind of, and Ekman Larson, I think, did the same thing and it never returned. And I, Schaefer, is a much different player than both those guys. But he is, I mean, he's a ticket seller already at 19 year two. Like he's a guy if you're in the building tonight, back to back Hudson last night, who I did not think had a great night. No, no. Like Hudson didn't do really much at all. It didn't affect all the stars were bad for much of our last night by their standards. And that's a missed opportunity for the league.

18:28Profit, yes. Yes. Big time. Exactly. Like when Anderson, Boldou can carry air scoring to win the game. That's probably not. That Josh Anderson, if he played his whole career against the Toronto Maple Leaf, Cp at all. Yeah, the Ovechkin scores every game. Every homeowner that's been in Toronto that he's been a part of for the Habs, I think he scored a goal quickly on Schaefer, Johnny. I think that he could, I think he could fast track things. And I think he could establish himself as being the man this year, as far as blue liners, it would not shock me. You heard it here for me. So I can still agree that version of defense. Yes. Yes. Where you're like, wouldn't shock me at all if this guy wins a Norris. Like just, I think there will be a market correction on him at all. None. I have talked to inside people that not a lot of people are privy to watch out inside people. Watch out. Okay. I was inside people are dangerous. I got it.

19:28I wouldn't. It's, it's Bacar. It's Werencky. It's Hughes. Could he join that big three along with Hudson, like right in that mix? Yeah. Certainly. I also wonder, oh, how good New York will be his team, right? A part of being perceived as the best defenseman. Generally, as you have to play a pretty good team or be heads until the best player on your team, like Orenski. So we'll see what happens there. Well, let me ask you this, Johnny. I'm a little bit offended. If we want to go back into the huts, if we've got the defenseman hut with McCarr, Rewenski and Hughes, how come and I'll say it again, my five point guys, not in that hut. I just was about to say that warming his hands on the fire, like it just that afterthought. Well, I don't think he's an afterthought. I mean, hang on. Again, getting him to be putting him with those three, I think that's fair. I don't think that's a massive slight to have in bootshard. I personally had him on my Olympic team. So like any, I'm not here for the bootshards slander.

20:29I recognize what he does. He does almost better than anyone. But what he does not do is not anywhere near as good as some of those guys. So yeah, if he's five, six, seven league, I just don't think both sides of the fuck are there to be considered the best in the league year over year. Regardless of who is the Norse, just the best defenseman, but he's either top eight guy. You know, he just he just not a top three guy. Yeah, it's interesting because like when Carlson was was wrapping up all those Norse trophies, he wasn't exactly Scott Stevens in his own zone, you know, and yet he would say those years, was he the best defenseman in the league? Was he the best defenseman league? Well, it's arbitrary, right? It's your definition of defense. Right. Yeah, like you're slaving a better defenseman than bootshard. Who's better? No, it's both sides. You got to do everything. Like that's what makes it the best. Obviously, those years Carlson was heads and tails the best offense of defenseman. And that was enough to win the Norse, but was the best all around?

21:29You know, maybe you saw a great offense that he might be and maybe bootshard will be so great offensively. It will compensate for some of his other shortcomings and that's possible. 100% possible because his offense is ridiculous and it's not going to get any worse. The power play with those guys, he's going to get a lot of points all the time. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and the thing is like the big boys he's competing with their point getters too. Right. Like McCarrer and Hughes and Werenzky, they're going to have 80 plus points. So it's not like they're in the 50s. Like when Doudy won his here, like 55 points, you know, when other guys have won Norestrophies with 50 points, 60 points, Lidstrom wasn't a point of game guy, but he just played every situation and controlled the game the way he can control the. Anyway, we'll see night one night one. And we got another one tonight leaves Islanders tonight. All right, Johnny? Oh, are we feeling is this must win tonight? No, well, it's not must win, but you might as well pick one off here.

22:33Come on here. Here's what's crazy. It's not must win clearly. But for a team that need that's coming off an awful year, you start home two or two home games. It's not going to be fun around there tomorrow, right? And then Ottawa always plays them well at home on a Saturday night. Always like Josh Anderson in the senators. They always roll into town early in the season and win. Like all the time. Little some little love to for Jacob Markström, a little shout out in it. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, really good. Yeah, really. Even was phenomenal. I mean, I have some good goals. Florida holding Carolina to three shots in the first period on a banner raising night. That's that's the group of Florida Panthers that has the rest of these scared like hang on. But they can step into that place. If they get goal tending in a series and a seven game series, that's the group that scares the rest of the league. Yeah, this or dad. Yeah, Markström's the guy right. Got to play well. Got to get a goal. All right, Johnny. Great stuff. This or dad, I love it.

23:33We're back. It's amazing. The other boys talk to you in a week. There's Mike Johnson joining us here in the Maple Toyota hotline. Miley is having a moment. New name, new album. Two exclusive shows. So I or radio is sending you to experience it all. Live at the Hollywood pool. Lights hotel tickets and a thousand dollars cash. Listen to I Heart new music for 10 minutes a day on the I Heart Radio app and click enter. Every day you listen is another chance to win. Stream Miley's new album, base persuades today.