OverDrive - Boudreau on Marner's return to Toronto, the Maple Leafs' season position and Berube's role

Episode Date: January 22, 2026

TSN Hockey Analyst Bruce Boudreau joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Maple Leafs' recent stretch, Mitch Marner's return to Toronto, how Craig Berube has a larger role in the lineup additions, the Atlantic Division's race and more.

Bruce Boudreau joining us now. How you doing, Bruce? Hey, I'm doing okay. I was not a member. I was not a teammate, though, but I'll take the tickets if you want. Those are must-house. Like, what are you, you're a Toronto guy. You're born and raised here, Leaf fan, played for the team.

What kind of reception do you expect Mitch to get tomorrow night? Well, I hope. I hope it's the same kind of reception Jonathan Tays got in Chicago. I mean, he has contributed quite an awful lot to the Maple Leafs. I mean, I'm sure the playoffs haven't gone that good, but for 82 games every season every year, he's up there with 90 plus points, exciting player.

I remember when the first game that I coached against him, he had like six breakways. He didn't score any, but, I mean, he gets open. I thought he was a superstar from day one. and I hope the Leafs appreciate him like that, or the Toronto people appreciate him like that, and not the guy that was used as a scapegoat or was warranted for bad playoff runs. He was a great Toronto Maple Leaf. I hope he gets the reward that the Toronto Maple Leaf fans can give,

and they're good at it when they want to be. Brucey, we know, I think we all know that's probably not going to happen. Just from the vibe I got in Vegas, where he was in his home building and the Toronto fans that ventured out there. They were giving it to him. So it's going to be interesting. And what's going to be interesting is like the tribute video, where if you played two games for a team, you get a tribute video now, which is completely ridiculous.

But this guy, if they're booing his ass off, it's going to be uncomfortable for the video to go up where it's going to be like, oh, now I'm going to cheer you, but then after that I'm going to boo you. Yeah, that would be uncomfortable. the ball. That's why I'm hoping Toronto doesn't boo. I mean, don't you think he was a great player for 10 years here or nine years?

I think he deserves more than booing. And you know what? I don't think anybody really knows whether he wanted to leave or he outpriced himself or what the where he was used as somebody that, well, we have to change the Corps 4

and he's the one that's got to go type thing. I don't know if anybody knows the true answer yet, but I just thought he was a great player for the Maple Leafs, and that's why I think you should be cheered and thanked. Bruce, if you're coaching and you're in the room, whether it's, you know, a player or coach, what do you do in this situation? You try and get him through this game.

You know, there's going to be some guys maybe put some money up on the board, try and really get the win for him. But, like, other than that, like, what are you trying to do for Mitch to help him get through a game like that? Well, I'm trying to keep the, it as normal as possible. I'm not going out of my way and doing anything, but he should put about 10 grand up on the board himself, I think, because I think he'll want to win this game pretty badly to some more night.

But I know that's, hey, when Oveskin signed his $120 million deal, he put 10 grand on the board that night. And so I'm thinking Mitch is making more. He can do the same thing. But I would try to keep it as normal as possible. You know, like, I mean, like he's going to have so many friends and family in the arena, but not try to over-emphasize how important it is to Mitch when you're talking about the game plan or anything else. Just try to keep it as if it's just a normal day.

Bruce, the Maple Leafs, and it didn't really dawned me until yesterday, like there's only 30-something games left for a lot of these teams. like it's going to go fast. It's a sprint to the Olympic break, and then it's going to be a sprint after. The Leafs, they certainly dug themselves a hole with a favorable schedule at home, and they did not take advantage of it, and they got some tough opponents. They've got injuries. How tough of a grind do they have here to make the playoffs?

Well, I think it's a tough grind. I mean, when they went through that unbeaten streak just recently, And you still look at how many teams they had to climb. I mean, I'd look at the standings every day. And now every game they lose, whether it's a one-point game or a two-point game, it seems like other teams are gaining. And, I mean, I think they're going to, they've got to get to 13 games over 500, I think, as a minimum to make it.

But like I do look at the standings every single morning. And I'm looking, I'm going, man, they're still there. They haven't jumped up anymore. and no matter how good they're playing. And eventually, you know, I mean, I look at these injuries. If, you know, their defense is depleted. And thank goodness that their goaltending has been pretty good in the last 12 or 13 games.

But, I mean, my goodness, that can only stay for so long. So I'm a little, I'm ready to see what Brad Trelevings is going to do because, I mean, if OEL is out for any length of time and, you know, Tannava is out for any length of time. Who knows if Carlo, I don't know. I'm not in Toronto, so I don't know if he's skated today, but he looked like he got hurt the other night. So, I mean, it's, their defense is pretty decimated.

I think they have to make some kind of move because it's crunch time. I think they got to start playing, you know, at a 650 pace just to make the playoffs because I think the top three teams are pretty well settled in the Atlantic right now. with Bruce Boudreau. And, you know, you bring up Brad Trayliving. He's in an interesting spot right now because of all these injuries, because of the position they're in, they don't have a ton of prospects and picks.

You know, their pick this year is in Boston. And it's top five protected, I believe. So, you know, that complicates things. You know, the guy who hired him, Brandon Shanahan isn't here anymore. You know, there's a lot in the air in terms of what Tree Living can do and what he might do. you know, if you're a coach, do you take that into consideration? Like, what would the interaction be, you think, with Brouba and Tray Living on a daily basis? Well, I think they're talking on a daily basis, but, you know, Craig is not stupid either.

He knows what the salary cap situation is for the Leafs. And he's probably going around and saying, Brad, like, I mean, if these are long term, any way we can get this guy and what would you give? for this guy type thing. And, you know, I mean, I think it's just casual conversation between the two of them on a daily basis. I know I used to meet every morning with a couple of my GMs and we'd talk hockey. And I remember just asking Chuck Fletcher, say, Chuck, can we talk hockey like you mean today? And so we'd get to meet and we'd just, you know, throw our ideas out.

And I think between the two of them, Craig knows better than anybody what they need because he's seeing them every day. He sees them more than anybody. But Brad's the one that's going to have to pull the trigger eventually. Bruce, what do you do now in net, if you're the Toronto Maple Leafs? Like, they went on this stretch of games when they had Joseph Wall play, and it felt like consecutive nights all the time, and eventually it led to an injury. Now they have the Olympic break coming up. Do you look at that and say, I'm going to try and run this guy as much as I can,

knowing that he's going to have a break, or you still have to be cautious about that? Well, never being a goalie. I think you're always cautious. In the back-to-backs, you probably don't play him. But if Stolars ever gets healthy, I don't know how he did when he went down to the Marley's. I haven't checked if he's even played a game yet. But I think that's probably the one chip that they've got to make a trade for somebody good if they wanted to do it, is one of the two goals.

He's not Hildeby. I don't think he'd bring in anywhere near as much. But, I mean, one of those two. and I think they're both really good when they're healthy and they've both had great times at certain parts of the year. But I wouldn't kill Joseph Wall by playing all three games in a three-and-four-night stance that have to play Hildebee or Solars, whoever's available.

Yeah, it's going to be an interesting few days here because they're at home. Vegas tomorrow, that'll be an emotional game. Colorado Sunday, Buffalo on Tuesday, all three teams, you know, obviously really good right now. And then, you know, you look at the East and it appears as if it's a wild card pursuit for the Leaves. You know, I would agree with you. Tampa's getting in as a top three.

Detroit's now nine points clear of them. And the HABs, you know, have been really tenacious and they find ways to win and pick up points. And they've got a decent buffer on the Leafs, not as significant. But if it is a wild card race, then it brings in the other division where, you know, it's just not nearly. is strong, you know, with the Islanders in Pittsburgh and Philly and the capitals who lost the Vancouver last night. And I know you're close with that team and you cover that team. What's up with that division and, you know, any of these teams going to catch up with Carolina and make it a fight or is everyone just going to kind of stumble in with the Metro division?

Well, I think if you look at the Metro, Carolina is the best team. but none of the other teams like on any given night look really good like I mean you don't sit there and it's not like when the Leafs are playing Colorado we're up against a wagon tonight you know this is going to be a tough one

I mean you can look down and any time you play one of those teams you go hey you know we can beat them like or they can beat us I mean they're all the reason it's so close is they're all very close together and I mean is Florida going to make a run yet

like I mean we remember a couple of years ago when they, when Paul Marisa went nuts in Toronto the one night and then they went on the run and made the playoffs and ended up in the finals. But I mean, we keep thinking that if they get anybody back and they just got to Kachuk back, they're going to make a run and they're further behind as well. Washington, I don't know, they've lost four in a row and they play Calgary, Edmonton back to back tomorrow and Saturday. And boy, you lose a few of those games and now you're sitting way out of the playoffs,

and there's so many teams to jump. It becomes difficult. I know I tried to, when we were losing and looking for a playoffs, but I tried to stay in my own lane and then just look at what we had to do and not try to look, oh, we've got to win five out of six short-term goals, and then eventually hopefully you can get there. Great catching up with you, Bruce, as always.

We'll through it again soon. Thank you for this. All right, you guys take care. Thank you for having me. There he is, our good friend, Bruce Boudreau. Seasoned gamer, or just video game curious, this weekend gaming is the podcast for you. We break down the latest in the world of video games,

from basics to beyond. The hottest gaming news, insight and industry leaders, and more weekly. Join me, Naomi Kyle, and stay ahead of the game with all the latest updates, even if you're a total newbie. Stream this week in gaming on the free IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Quest complete.