OverDrive - Boudreau on the Maple Leafs' cold skid, Berube's mindset and the Canadian playoff contenders

Episode Date: November 17, 2025

TSN Hockey Analyst Bruce Boudreau joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Maple Leafs' losing streak, the main problems leading to the downfall, how Craig Berube can right the ship, the Canadian teams that can make the playoffs and more.

Before the sun rises, we're already out there. We face early mornings and long days. And there are days we wonder if it's all worth it. But we keep going because we are Ontario's grain farmers. And what we do is more than just farming. We build communities and we feed families here at home and across the globe in the province we proudly call home. Joining soon on the Maple Toto Hotliner, TSN Hockey Analyst, there he is, Bruce Boudreau.

Bruce, where are you at here with your leafies? Are you in a positive frame of mind or what? I always try to be in a positive frame of mind, even if you can only see half my face. Boy, that's all I can see on this anyway. But listen, I agree with you guys 100%. I could feel it on Saturday against Chicago. I'm saying, they're going to lose. They're playing to lose.

They're playing just, let's just get it out. Let's not attack. You know, I mean, they were playing like a team that has got very little confidence right now and that they just wanted to survive against a team that, I mean, really, I mean, is playing better, but it's still not one of the top 16 teams in the NHL right now. I was really disappointed because I knew it was going to happen. and I was hoping they'd get it to overtime before they lost, but that was not the case.

But they don't look like a team that's really comfortable right now. Bruce, the question is, do you think they can ever get comfortable? And do you think they could ever turn it around? Because the facts are that even with everyone in the lineup, with the exception of Walt, they were playing the same way and not playing well. So now they've got some injuries, and it seemed a bit drastic for this time of year, but the way they've been playing, maybe not. We came to the question,

like they've got to decide soon whether they're going to punt on this season or try to make something of it. Which way do you think they'll lean? Well, I think it's way too early to decide on whether they're going to punt. There's 63 games left in their season, and a lot can happen in there. But here's what I think.

The Leafs, it's not, It's not easy, but they can play good defense. They're just not playing defensively at all. They can get better, they have seen better goaltending. Maybe with Wall and Stolars, they can get back to where their goaltending should be. Because they're fourth in the league in goal scoring, whether they've lost martyr or not. They're still fourth in the league in goal scoring. So you think about that.

And I mean, so their scoring is right there. They're just doing some really non-leaf things of a Craig Barubi team of last year. And I'll give you an example. I mean, that Pasternak goal where he scored on the breakway, I don't know where anybody was. If they were playing a one-two-two in the middle, they were playing a one, a one-and-a-half, a one, another one, and a one. They were all in a straight line. They weren't matched up at all. They were so out of sync.

I couldn't understand it when I watched, especially when I watched it over and over again. again on the replay, because it's way too easy, and I think that was like the fifth or sixth breakway. They've given up in two periods, in two games in the second period. So they're way out of sync, but I think they can recover from it. I don't know why if they're panicking, if it's because they're missing a couple players or what have you, but I mean, I think defensively they can get into sync again, and if they do that, but it's got to have them fairly quickly,

then I think their goal scoring will always take care of itself. I mean, I think they'll always be in the top ten. So, I mean, I always have hope for it. I'm a very positive guy when it comes to thinking about the Leafs, but right now they haven't shown a lot of positive signs for me to think that way, but I still think that way. So, Bruce, you just laid out a bunch of different things. This is one thing that you needed to see out of the whole group tomorrow.

What would it be? Where would you start? Where would I start? I would, there's so many places to start. I'd start on the power play. We've got to get a goal. If we can get a goal on the power play, where usually every player that's,

and Jeff would tell you this, when you score it on the power play, you feel better about yourself. You'd really feel like playing. When you don't score, you get frustrated for a lot of your game stuff. So if they started good on the power play, that would be great.

Then I would really want, secondly, I would like say, okay, what's the key to the, the game, let's limit them to 25 shots or less. And then so if you can, then you can break it down into periods, then your defensive play can get better. And then thirdly, if you can allow two goals or less than a game, I used to put it up on the board all the time. Our goals tonight, two goals are less, two minors are less, and 25 shots are less, and we win the game all the time. Those are things that I would focus on. If they can do those three things together

and get their power play going, they will start to become successful again. With Bruce Boudreau, it's been a pretty fascinating start to the season. Obviously, in Leafland, it's not overly positive, which is changed because they've been so positive in the regular season for nine years. And they're dealing with the injuries. And there's been a lot of big injuries, though, throughout the league. Like, that's a pretty consistent theme. And then you look at, you know, just the points leaders.

You've got McKinnon with 33 points, McDavid with 30. No one's surprised at those two guys, the two best players in the league, jockeying for position. Then it's Celebrini, Baddard, Leo Carlson, 3, 4, 5, which is pretty incredible, that Badard and Carlson won two

in the draft a few years ago. Celebrini first overall two years ago. What does that tell you about, you know, the talent and that next wave kind of, I think that's kind of a cool just thing to see there. McKinnon, McDavid, Celebrity, Bedard, Carlson,

chasing them down. I think it is. too. I think it's, the league's getting better when it was always Sydney up top and Alex and that and then all of a sudden McDavid came in and McKinnon came in and you could see their rise. You can see the rise of these guys too. Like I mean, Celebrini, it's only a second year for goodness sakes. Bidar is his third year. They finally got some people to play with Bidard and he's showing that they're becoming men and they're growing up and they're playing that It shows me that the state of the game, hockey is okay.

We're going to lose superstars in the next couple years, guys that have been iconic. If you look at Sid and Alex, you know, eventually retiring, but the game is in good stead because these young guys continue to come up. There's another one coming up for next year. And, I mean, I just think the talent is getting better and better. And so I'm not worried about the state of hockey. I think there's going to be stars for many years to come.

Bruce, what about the state of hockey in Canada? If you were to look to the future, how many Canadian teams would you say would be making the playoffs this year? Who? Well, let's go. Vancouver, no. Calgary, no.

Winnipeg, yes. Toronto. I want to always say yes, because I'm from Toronto. You had a tough time saying it, though, Bruce. Come on. You had a tough time saying it, Bruce. I want to say, hey, listen, there's a little bit of home. Homerish in me, I got to admit.

And then you want to say, I think Montreal is, even though they've gone into a three-game funk right now, I think they're going to rebound and make it. And I think Ottawa is going to make it. I mean, they've got points in seven out of the last eight games, and

they're doing it also without Kachuk. So, I mean, I think if they could stay healthy, that they will make it as well. So how many teams was that? One, two, counting three, four teams from Canada are going to make it. Okay. I like them. Oh, Edmonton, yeah. What about

Edmonton, Bruce? You got them getting in? Oh, yeah, I forgot. You know what? They're so far up north, I always forget about them. But, you know, how can you say Edmonton's not going to make it when they've been in the Stanley Cup final the last two years? So, at any team that has Connor McDavid on it,

I got to believe, is going to be there when push comes to shove at the end. When you need something, he's going to be playing 26 minutes a night and he'll get it done. I'm always worried about their goaltending. I don't think they can win with their goaltending that they have, but I think they're good enough to make the playoffs. Yeah, and they got

Hyman back, and he made an immediate impact and that's the same that's the same five that you made it last year. Yeah, right? Yeah, they all five made. Well, yeah. All right. Well, I mean, I'm big on Canada. I may live in the States, but I'm big on Canada. What can I say? I'm telling you, there's no more than three teams, three teams max from Canada.

Okay, name your three. Sorry. I'm not going to do that, Bruce. I didn't go that far into it, but it's no more than three. I think there's four for sure. Four for sure. Who's the most guaranteed? Who would you say, Bruce?

Is it Edmonton for you, Nudels? You're guaranteed if you had to put your life on the line. As of right now, you have a stronger belief that Edmonton is going to make the playoffs over Winnipeg. No, Winnipeg should have been one. Edmonton 502. Yeah. Winnipeg should be one. Yeah, Winnipeg should have been one.

Okay. I mean, the thing is about Winnipeg, like, they're in a bit of a rut right now. You know, it's, they've, Colorado and Dallas have been so good. Yeah. I'd probably say Winnipeg one. You know, it's recently biased, but Ottawa's been really impressive lately. Ottawa's got points in 11 of 12. Yeah, like really impressive, and they're hungry.

and Brady gets back, he's going to be like a caged animal. 11 of 13, sorry, they lost on the weekend, won nothing. So that was, yeah. But Ottawa's... You know what I'd love to see them do, the Ottawa Senators? I'd love to see them get Brady back and then just make some kind of acquisition. Like, get some kind of really good player just to say, we've got a good team here, man. Why not?

Yeah. Instead of, like, a... I don't want to say, like, a typical kind of Sends type of... Like, you know how they... I just want them to get a really good player to say, we're going to do something. What do they need? Where, oh, where do they need?

Like, you know what I mean? I would, if you're asking me, I would. Well, Jamie, do you think that the, the, the kind of Amadio types guys that are put in roles of being, I just want like a premier type of forward or a defenseman, an impact player, because you can only get so much out of those guys? Well, Amadio's pretty good on the third line. I would say maybe a fourth line. Who's their second line?

Right now, depending on, if you get Brady back, then that pushes Zetterland down, right? How many goals does that guy have? Zetterland, two. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Someone different than that. I just want an impact player. Brady's going to push him down, like he's not going to be in your top six. Okay, they should stand pat and just go with what they have.

I don't know how you can argue against what I was saying. I'm with you. like it's not you i look at it like i'd be thinking i want to move drew down paron down like just put everyone reshuffle just get better on the third line right now i know i'm not modio pinto and jeru i got you at noodles i i don't see how there's any downside to having a better player than what you have it's not a shot at the guys who are currently there well i'm just saying i know but like what type of play i just he's saying an impact player yeah whoever that is i don't think tom wilson if you if you could get tom wilson from

the caps when brady comes back they have a playoff team that can't do it can't do it zetterland's there okay but what do you i think what do you trade for tom wilson what do you trade for tom wilson you guys are all the sudden joke from the bridge zetterland okay straight across you think brian mcclellan okay if you if steve steos calls up brian mcclellan and goes how much uh you know tom wilson for fabian zetterland what do you think he does just just what's the reaction that's not going to happen. Jamie, we're just saying it's not a bad idea if they wanted to bring in an impact player. Yes, of course he does.

It's just like you're going to have to give currency up, but I'm saying like, yeah, Zetterlin hasn't played well to his capability. I'm saying he's not going to be there when Brady comes up. Let me just make this perfectly clear. I don't want to put down anyone in the roster. I think they've been fantastic. But to get Kachuk back and then make an unexpected play where you're bringing in an impact player. I don't think that's a bad idea for any

team. You're not wrong in it, but I'm saying the cost of doing business is going to, you're going to lose somebody out of that. Then the league sucks. Then the league sucks then, where it's just, you stuck with what you got, and that's what you've got to go to bat with every night. The league sucks. That's what I think of it. Tom Wilson, what would it

cost to get Tom Wilson? I'm not talking about Tom Wilson. That's ridiculous. They're not giving them. I just threw out a name. I just threw out a name, and I firmly believe that if you could, Just going by what we're talking about here, if we could get one player and a GM wants to make a trade, and even if he loses the trade in the long term,

they can always make that trade. But, you know, like, I mean, if you had to give up, and I don't know what it is, but I mean, if you had to give up two number ones or three number ones, if you thought you had a chance to win it, I would do it. But that's me, and that's why I'm not a GM. This year seems pretty wide open right now.

It's November, but right now, you know, it's kind of like the East is waiting for a powerhouse to take over. And maybe it's Ottawa. Maybe it's one of the teams that have been sleeping out of the gate. Who knows? But it's, uh, Ottawa's been really impressive. And that's without Kachuk. You add him and maybe another piece, maybe they don't need it. But man, that would send a message, I think, to the rest of the East.

All right, Bruce, we'll leave it there. Great stuff. All I can say before I leave is there's 75. percent of the season left so let's not count out the leafs yet it's only there's still 75 percent of the season left lots of time eternal optimist i love it good toronto boy yeah thank you bruce good seeing you okay that's bruce budro joining us here it's beginning to sound a lot like christmas with i heart the holidays non-stop christmas music 24 seven All your festive favorites.

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