Chris Johnston

Like tonight's game, it sounds crazy.

I think it's a huge game.

Sometimes we build up games that don't really deserve building up.

Like whether or not they can at least get one win on the back end of this homestand, go out on the road and get some work done.

Because to me, their season is hanging in the balance in these next five games.

If it doesn't go well and then they have whatever, almost three weeks off, the conversations that happen during that three weeks behind the scenes are going to be pretty stark in terms of the direction of the team.

And most of those games are on the road.

Two-thirds of those games are on the road left.

All I said is the guy wants to stay here and he wants to win.

Maybe you didn't say that.

Who knows?

I think, crazy as it might sound, both ends are very much still open as possibilities.

And look, the Leafs have 11 games, including tonight, before the deadline.

There's a lot of time between now and March 6th, but there's not a lot more that the front office is really going to learn about this team before the big decisions need to be made.

You know, I think they're going to let this five-game stretch before the Olympics play out.

You know, barring something unexpected, I don't think they're going to make any moves in the near term before that period of time.

And then they're going to assess over the break, you know, what the best path forward is.

You know, let's look at both ends of what you're projecting there, Hayes.

Buying, I don't think, will ever be that aggressive.

That's just my feel.