OverDrive - Button on McDavid's future trajectory, the Oilers' roster and Kaprizov's tenure in Minnesota

Episode Date: September 18, 2025

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the start of training camp, Connor McDavid's future with the Oilers, the factors that will go into the next choice, the Panthers' reign on the league, Kirill Kaprizov's contract in Minnesota, Jonathan Toews' season in Winnipeg and more.

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Just go all in there, Brian. I'll cover half your losses if you lose. I don't think I need to be swayed too much here. I'm pretty sure we're leaning into the bills big tonight. Oh, yeah. I'm fairly confident in that. The only big injuries are the entire Miami Dolphids organization. Yeah, that's true.

Like, honestly, you could go back and get almost anyone in their prime, and it would not make a difference because they're just going to get pumped tonight. But, yeah, it's fun to have hockey back. And, you know, you look at it day one of camp, I see Ovechkin's already got a lower body injury. A little bit concerned about that. Doing what? I don't know what he was doing.

Those sprints I told you about last week? Bag skating last week and cutting it short. But are you bracing for this to be his final season, Craig? Yes, I am. I am. And not for any other reason that I think that at the age that he's at, he's got the record that he goes out on a high. And, you know, I think for Alex, you go back playing the KHL, play for a number of years, you know, he might play as long as you're going to get paid millions and millions of dollars where he won't be able to make that same money in the NHL.

He's had a great career. He's the first ballot hall of favor. But I am. I am bracing for that for this being his last year. Craig, Jamie was talking about McDavid and Edmonton, and he thinks he's already got his mind made up as far as what's going to go down. Do you buy into that theory? and do you think Stan Bowman understands that theory or knows the theory? Yeah, that's a good question about that, but does he know the theory?

I haven't thought about it that way. You know, listen to Stan say, I take him in his word that he wants to win in Edmonton. Yeah, I believe that, you know, players want to win wherever they're at. But I think last year at the end of the year, when Carter McDavid made a statement that I want to know that I have a chance to win again, and again and again. And I think that that's where he's looking at it and going, am I better off waiting or should I commit?

And, you know, one thing that a manager can do or an ownership, oh, no, we're committed. Well, they're just words. Like, why wouldn't Connor McDavid, in my view, and I'm a proponent of I'd love to see McDavid, Caprice, off, I'd go all hit the free agent market. Because I think it would open up the whole market and open up the whole NHL in a significant way.

Now that being said, if I'm Connor McDavid and like I know what I want to do so my mind's made up in terms of winning, why wouldn't I wait? Why wouldn't I wait? Why wouldn't I wait to see if your actions can match your words? Yep, I agree. I think you, that's where I was going with the comment, Craig. And it was actually Hayes that said he's had his mind made up. I said he's still waiting on, you know, what he needs to see from Evanton and moving forward. But the comments took out for me, Craig, and he's been pretty consistent on it,

is the opportunity to win year in, year out. That's the biggest thing that is stood up for me. Big ass, though, too, Jamie. Like, year-in, and not everybody is Florida year-in, year-out. You're right. I think, but he's in a situation where they have been close, and that's the thing. Can they be close for many years, or is this a window where you've got, you know,

three or four kicks at it, and then you have to move on? That's the biggest challenge. So I think time is on his side, and he does want to win in Evanton. But if he wins this year in Evanton, I think all bets are off. So he's giving himself a window and not forcing it. That's my opinion. I have no insight on that from anybody in his camp or anybody in Evanton's camp. Yeah, nor do I, Jamie.

And again, you watch him. I mean, he's wired to win. You've heard me say this previously. you know like the amateur always have been in the Stanley Cup final the last two seasons we know how great McDavid and dry side along

and I we all say it I think the greater than I've even given them credit for because they've dragged that team deeper than I thought they're capable of going just because of those two guys and then inevitably what ends up happening

and this is where Connor's experience I think right now is really playing in to his thinking is he knows where they're short he knows as a player where they're short I mean you look at

last year, I mean, they just felt, I mean, they were never winning a game at the end of regulation in the six games versus Florida. L.A. had them on the ropes and let him off the ropes. I think that Connor knows very well what he feels they need to do to become a Stanley Cup winning team. But how does he start his checklist, Craig? Like when does he start saying, okay, that's what I wanted, that's better than, because he obviously doesn't have it yet, or he would have signed? I agree with you, Jeff, and that's exactly it.

So why don't we go back to last summer? And I think that's where the mistake happened. Broberg, Holloway, Fogel, Ryan McLeod. They had the death. They had the weight. They had the size. They had what you needed to do to push. They went all the way to game seven, despite falling behind three games to nothing.

And I think that I think Connor saw it. And I think that Carter is going, we don't have that anymore. And I don't think they do either. And that's why I give 29 to 97 such. high accolades of being how great they are to get the team as far as they can get. Yeah, and that does seem to be a pretty consistent conversation or debate. You know, have the Oilers done enough for him in 10 years? Yet, you know, I agree with your assessment.

The two of them are so great. They've somewhat, they've kind of dragged them there, but they have gotten to two cup finals, game six and game seven. Like if you're the owner, forget, forget the GM, the president, those guys have come been gone over the decade. You can throw that back at his face. Yeah, Kate's been there since day one. He's probably like, hey, you know, you got game seven and game six.

I mean, it's not like we're a lottery team every single year. You're not, but when you're, like, Conner's got a single-minded focus. I mean, so he's won the four nations, whatever you want to put weight into that. His next goal is the Olympic gold medal. And then the Stanley Cup is the ultimate for Connor McDavid. I think what's fascinating and fascinating might not be the right word but interesting is Connor

McDavid is looking at this he knows he's a top player, he knows how he knows how great he is too but he knows that there will be a little bit of tarnish on his greatness without the Stanley Cup it's just the way it goes and he doesn't want tarnish on his reputation

no 100% he's a he's a hockey historian like everyone else that loves the game that's played the game he knows he's got to get one. And he's been right there. That's what's probably so frustrating

is they've been in back-to-back cup finals. And he's not going to pull it to rant and go to Florida. I don't believe that's going to happen. I don't think he's just going to walk over there for a one or two-year deal and try to pull off a cup or two and then, you know, take his talent somewhere else.

So it's a big decision. And yet you look at, you know, the way the season sets up, everyone's technically tied in first place right now. And, you know, Florida's clearly the Coach, love that one. It's such a great line. We're all tied in first.

Tied in first place right now. I don't know. Technically tied last, too. You could, I guess, argue that. But how big of a gap do you see between Florida and the rest of the contending teams? I think there's a little bit of a gap. I don't think you can say there's not a gap just because what they've done the last three years, the final all three years, back-to-back cup champions.

I don't think it's a wide gap I think that everything that they have the ability to do is still in place but other teams have improved their lot in life too and I look at the Vegas Golden Knights I look at the Colorado Avalanche I think they're more than capable Tampa Bay

Paul Maurice said that that might have been their toughest series last year whether you believe Paul Maurice or not he's the one that said it I think Tampa Bay is a really good team Can Washington replicate what they did last year? I'm not so sure about that. But those are the teams right now, the two Florida teams, Vegas and Colorado,

that I would put just a notch above everybody else. Florida hold on the top spot, those next three, wherever they're at. Now there's got to be approving grounds, obviously. We'll see where it goes. But right at this point in time, with everybody being tied for first place, I've separated those four teams. Craig, I think a player's poll that came out recently or was talked about in the media tour,

the players were saying they would love the old format, the one versus eight in the playoffs. I mean, we haven't talked about it yet, boys, but I would love to see it. I don't know how you feel on it if the league is just too stubborn in certain situations. They feel like they've had good matchups, but would you like to see maybe a different format in the playoffs, either expanded or just even, you know, change up to go one versus eight instead of seating within your division. Yeah, like the expansion, I mean, there's so many different opinions on expanding the playoffs. I mean, we have an 82, about to be an 84 game regular season. I don't know if we need more teams to do players.

I think that the top team in a conference should get rewarded with the opportunity to play the lowest seeded team. I know what division is and I know what it's done. but I'd like to see one versus eight, two versus seven. I think that rewards teams to a little bit greater extent going into the playoffs for having a really good regular season. And for that reason is why I'd like to see one versus eight. With Craig Button. So Bill Garen spoke on the Kepresov situation today. What's he saying?

Well, you know, he said, hey, we're trying. You know, like to paraphrase, he said, we're trying. When's that going to be trying to screw you? Well, I guess, Craig, you can answer that one for us. When does it flip? Because Bill Garen, I don't think of Bill as like a cool, common, collected guy all the time. How do you see this one playing out with Caprisov in Minnesota? Well, a couple of things I'm going to go back.

I'm going to do a little bit of rewind here with history. Bill Garen was on the New Jersey Devils in 1995 when they won the Stanley Cup. And Bill Garen, the reason he left the New Jersey Devils was, and he got into a contract dispute with Lou Laverill. Lou Laverrole said, you're out of here. I mean, Billy, Billy was a really good player. Nobody's knocking Billy. I mean, he believes in what he believed in.

And that's Billy Garon to a tee. I mean, he's not going to back down. They got Jason Arndon in New Jersey, and they won another cup. So there's nothing wrong with what happened there. But Billy knows when players dig your heels in what it's like. And I think that having that experience will help him. I think the biggest challenge for Billy was when the owner came out and said, oh, no, when we feel really confident we're going to get this done.

And, you know, I've been in negotiations where you're going to come to that, oh, yeah, we're going to get this done. And you realize, oh, we might be a little bit further away than we thought. And, you know, oh, we're going to get this done. We're going to offer them 16 million straight years. and you think that that's the that's the that's the that's the high bar and the agent goes no I don't think so I think what the hell is the number if that's not the number Craig like God well you're right about the number Jeff but but I think it's about term

I think it's a it's one or two things he wants a shorter term it near that number or he doesn't want to play in Minnesota yeah and that's the fear of it's the latter you know then then it gets into you know there's certain markets that fight this all the time, you know, that you just don't want to become the market where players don't want to be, or you can't attract superstars, you can't keep superstars. Unfortunately, Minnesota's kind of got that

reputation. That's why it just feels so important for them to find a way to get this done. Well, if they don't get it done in terms of signing them, then they got to do what the Quebec the Roed East did when they traded Lindross. Lindross said, I'm not going to Quebec. And they went and got a whole bunch of really good young

players. And I think you go to Caprisoff and his rep representatives and you say hey listen you know we know you have a no move or no train whatever he's got i'm not i'm not totally up to speed on what the exact details of it but you know work with us we won't get you to where you want to get you but we need to work for our future here and again if a player says he doesn't want to play there look what had to Columbus they have bobrowski and they had panarin they were a pretty good team they made the playoffs they they had some promise there and then all of a sudden panerran and Barbrowski departed and they left

his free agents and Columbus wasn't able to recoup anything for those two guys and I'm not criticizing them for the decision they made and not trading them. You're a good team. You don't want to trade good players but I think that's where Billy's going to have to evaluate where he's at. Billy made a bold decision a couple years ago when he bought out Souter and Perisi. I don't think that Billy gets scared

like in the house of horse. Right. with Craig Button, and within that division, obviously, Winnipeg, they're going to be the pace car you would presume again this year, considering how great they were last year. And Jonathan Taves was out there with Perfetti and Nyquist today. Big theme on the show today is tracking the lines day one of camp, Craig. It's something we really thoroughly enjoy doing.

But this is going to be a really cool, cool story. And I'm curious what your projection is in terms of impact that you think Taves can and will have for Winnipeg this year. I think the impact will be really significant. just because of his personality, what he's experienced and winning cups and being around it. Mark Sheifley is like a superstar in my view. I think he's a top-notch player.

Adam Lowry, him and Anton Lundell, I think are the two best third-line centers in the league. So Jonathan has the front-end, like support. He's got the back-end support. Jonathan's not the same player he was when he was younger. But I think he can have a real impact just with his presence, playing on a second line with that type of front and back support with Sheifley Lowry and be a really good strong player.

I think he helps Luke Shen. Luke Shen doesn't have to be the only voice of somebody that's won a Stanley Cup in there. And I think Jonathan can just settle in and just be a really good solid player. We overuse the term play the right way. But Jonathan Cage might be the poster person for that just because of that. And I think that helps your team. I think it'll help shyfully. I think that Jonathan Tate is not going to be afraid to say,

hey, listen, here's what we need to do, and we better start doing it now. And those moments don't just happen in game four of a Stanley Cup playoff game. They happen at different points in the season, and Jonathan's going to be able to have his finger on that pulse, when the time is to dial players' attention in. And I think that impact becomes really important for a team like the Winnipeg Jess who are trying to find the way.

to the right side in the playoffs. Absolutely. They want to camps. We're on the ice, but a lot to talk about. We can't wait for a full season. Great catching up with you, Craig. We'll do it again soon. Yeah, for sure. Great to chat with you guys. There he is. Craig Button, our director of scouting here at TSN, joining us on the Maple Toyota Hotline.

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