OverDrive - Button on the Maple Leafs' roster future, Pelley's impact and McDavid's stance in Edmonton

Episode Date: March 23, 2026

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button joined OverDrive to discuss the Maple Leafs' organizational future, Keith Pelley's imprint on the team's landscape, Connor McDavid's perspective on the Oilers' season, fitting a coach to structure a team, Hart Trophy selections in the sweepstakes and more.

With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. Here's our TSN director of scouting Craig Button joining us on the Maple Toyota hotline. Craig, where do you stand on, you know, the perceived disconnect, the coach, the room,

how Craig Barube maybe handles this down the stretch? Well, first before I get to any of that, I'm tipping my cap. I'm tipping my cap to Jeff O'Neill. Because the way he's dressed today, that's got to be a tribute to Chuck Norris. Yes. There you knock it off. Exactly. Got the same tanning bed and everything.

Well done, Mr. O'Neill. Well done. And you look fabulous, Jeff. I know he had a well-deserved little recipe. but you look great. So where does it come? Here's what happens when your team is garbage. And I'm talking about on the standings and, you know,

I'm not talking about it's people. Your team struggle, right? Like, tell me what team that's been really bad, like, functions well. Like, tell me. No, you're right. It doesn't happen. You talk about a rookie, like what rookie gets to have a say, right? Well, tell me what bad team has ever function well.

Yeah, it doesn't happen. It doesn't happen. The players don't. players don't care, the fans don't care. Like, that's what happens with bad teams. You're right. And that's precisely what's happening here. And it's not exclusive to hockey.

Every single sport's the same thing. And, you know, like the position Barube's in, where I'm sure he's been around the game for 40 years. Like Craig's, he knows the way the things work. And I'm sure he's kind of aware of what is possibly waiting for him in five or six weeks. How, you know, if you're the GM, where now he is under, I would say, a very similar microscope and probably on the same precarious ground right now. And I'm speaking of Brad Tree Living. But how often are the GM and the coach talking about trying to get to the finish line with some class here, trying to keep everything on the rails?

You know, like how can they handle this behind the scenes? Well, what you do behind the scenes is after every game and when you're on the road, you go, hey, let's go have a beer and let's talk about how bad it's been. Like honestly, like let's stop kidding ourselves here. Brad Tray Living knows that he's under the gun, that everybody's there talking about who might be the new GM, that Keith Pelley might be looking at a new thing. Jonas Siegel writes an article today about Austin Matthews maybe being the guy that could be leaving.

You don't think Keith Pelley is not reading this? Like, let's get right to the heart of the matter here. This is a dysfunctional team right now. And it's a dysfunctional team where nobody knows what the future is. not Austin Matthews, not Keith Pelley, not Craig Bruby, not Brad Trilabee. So, yeah, you're trying to get to the end. You're trying to kind of console one another. You're trying to say, hey, geez, what went wrong over a beer or two or whatever number you want to stop at?

But this is what happens when your team just falls, I don't want to say falls apart because that's not the right way to put it. It's just you look and you go, okay, what are we going to hang our hat on? What are the Toronto Mapley's going to hang their hat on over the next month? Nothing. What? Well, yeah. Is that right, Jeff? Like, there is nothing to hang your hat on.

So you're sitting there waiting for the shoe to drop. And how that shoe drops, that's where Craig Bruby's at. That's where Brad Trislewling is at. And if it comes with, hey, no, we're going to have you guys do it. Tell us what you want to do. But at the end of it all, there's just so much uncertainty surrounding this. team starting at the top. Well, that's where I was going to go, Craig.

Everyone seems to think, okay, it's foregone conclusion, X, Y, and Z is going to happen. But I think what you need to do is obviously, and it's been a slow, painful death here, we were talking about it like, you know, I get to understand it's the last five or six games or whatever, stuff like that, but it's been a lot longer. And now you're, you're hammering right to the end of the season. But you have to figure out what's going to happen. at the end of the season, whether new president, new manager, new coach,

as you mentioned, players that are either putting their hand up or not putting their hand up, expiring contracts. That's why I don't think it's just decision X has to happen and that's going to fix everything. To me, you've got to figure out how this is all going to fit together. And you do have, unfortunately, the luxury of some time at the end of the season because you're not going to be playing. So you can take a month to do a forensic audit of

what is the plan moving forward? Because, again, we're talking, whether it's Craig Barubi just thinks he's going to get fired, what if the team changes? And the team moving forward is a younger team that works hard and straight line. Maybe Craig Barubi is the coach for that type of team that they're going to build. So I don't think anything's a foregone conclusion until you have the answers of anything moving forward. Like, what would you start with? What do you make of, you know, it's a long question, apologize,

but what would you start with? Like, where do you think you would go? No, it's not a long question, Jamie. I mean, you're laying out the scenario. For me, it's real simple. It starts with Keith Pelly. Like what, Keith Pelley needs a month at the end of the regular season, do a forensic audit? Like, that would only happen if he's been living in Spain

and not doing a bloody thing watching the trial Maple Leafs this year. Keith Pelley's done the forensic audit, and he knows exactly what's going on. So to me, like, season ends, it's incumbent upon Keith Pelley to right then and there, whatever the day after the season ends, to establish what the future is going to look like. That's where it starts and ends. But nothing can continue past that point until he declares what the future is going to look like with the people. Nothing else, not the players, not the contracts, until he comes in and says, this is what the future is going to look like, nothing else can happen.

We can speculate, we can talk about what should happen, what could go first. He's the one. He's the one that's going to put the key in the ignition, and he's the one that's going to put it into drive. Craig, how much confidence? And let me just tell you this. Reverse ain't going to work. Craig, how much confidence do you have? I think he's a really smart guy, his track record and positions around the globe have established that.

But how much confidence do you have? that he understands the dynamics of a hockey organization when he's never been a part of one. Yes, he's been around the game and the television side and behind the scenes, but how does he know what to do and what to pull the trigger on as far as what this organization is and what it needs? Well, that's what he should be doing now. That's what he should have been. That's what he, the work he should be doing now is talking to people that know more than him, that understand, okay, here's what you should be looking at,

guiding him. I mean, you talk about smart people. Smart people don't have all the answers, but smart people know where to go and look for the answers. And so I think Keith is a smart guy. And there's lots of resources there. He's got lots of resources that he can turn to. I'm talking in within the league, right? You can talk to people. Keith's got lots of contacts in the sporting world. And I don't think Keith is going to try to come out and try to portray himself as, oh, I'm Lou Lamarillo here. I know what to do, or even from that point of view, Tim LeWiki, who had been part of running a sports organization before he came to Toronto.

I think that Keith is intelligent and will look to others to help guide him for such an important decision. With Craig Button. So, Craig, we play a game called role play level of concern on this show where, you know, I'm sure you're aware of it. I think you've played it with us before. I'm going to ask you to play the role of Connor McDavid. You're playing the role of Connor McDavid. What is your level of concern in terms of what's happening in Edmonton right now? Well, I think the level of concern is probably 11 out of 10. Because he's wired to win.

He's wired to win. And I think, listen, I mean, we all know in sports and we talk about it. We bring it back to Toronto. The players know what they're dealing with in Toronto. the players know what they're dealing with in Edmonton and the top players and a player Connor now he's been through it he's seen okay this is what we can do when we're functioning at our best this is what our team looks like he's seen a lot of good players leave the Edmonton Oilers and I think that Connor knows that two years ago their team was pretty bloody good he knows last year probably a lot of things went right and certainly when you have 97 and 29 carrying it he looks at the team and goes this team isn't very very good. Starting in goals, starting on the blue line, starting with the depth of the forwards. And that's not on Connor and that's not on the coach. Management has done a really, really poor job in terms of what they did post-2020-Final until now. They've let too many good players go out the door

and Connor McDavid knows it. Yeah, it's amazing. Like he, you know, he signs that extension, which I think relatively speaking is probably the greatest discount in maybe. sports history. I mean, the fact that he said, let's just roll it over, keep me at 12.5. And just an incredible gesture towards the organization. Now, he's got two more years left, so it doesn't, if it's not going to work this year, he's still got two years for them to figure it out in Edmonton. But the idea of them being in the position they're in,

where he acknowledges they're lucky to be in the division they're in, which they are, you know, and they're going to make the playoffs, how much can be expected from him? I mean, that's the thing. He's going to try. He's going to try. You know he's going to show. up. You know he's going to be great in the playoffs. I fully expect that. I just don't know if Dry Settles even going to be available to play with them, and that's one more hit. Like if Dry Sato can't go, like this team is already depleted based on the previous two years,

you take 29 off that roster. I guess the question I'm getting to is do they scare anybody? Like those two alone scared anyone they would play. Florida included, even though Florida beat them. Does Edmonton scare Vegas, Anaheim, Utah, do they scare anybody in the play? House. Well, the Pacific Division, they do. Like, I don't think, like, Vegas or Anaheim or, and don't think Edmonton making the playoffs is a foregone conclusion. Because Nashville's right on their heels, like, I'm talking about, like, in terms of wild card and everything, do I think they'll fall out? It would be really difficult for them to fall out, right?

but in the Pacific division Brian Jamie and Jeff I mean he called it a pillow fight like I mean I mean so and when they play hey listen I saw and we've seen them play some really good games and we've seen them do it so when you have 97 and 29 can you do it yeah you can do it yes there's no question that you can find a way to do it

but all that being said you start to look at at those two guys, they've shown it time and time again that give on an opening and sometimes it might be a slight opening like this year, but I don't know how you can bet against them, based on the division, based on the division they are in.

And what I would say for the Edmonton Oilers is their best spot is to stay in the division. Do not become a wild car team. Right. Yeah, you move over to the Central. That is a completely, different situations. Let me ask you guys this, though. At some point, let me ask you guys. Or finishing first. You want to play Utah if you're

Edmonton? I don't think finishing first is in their best interest. Get healthy. Try to find a game. Get dry, settle, healthy. Two or three is where I'd want to be if I was Edmonton if I was trying to handicap it. I don't like to have that luxury, Craig, of picking and choosing to be honest with that. I think they just got to play. Exactly. I said

handicapping. I know they don't have the luxury, but if I was handicapped it, I would say that might be your path. Let me ask you guys this. I've just been thinking about this last couple of days. At what point do organizations stop catering to just one situation or one player in that? Like, you know, Hayes, you made a good point. I think you and I were on the show last week or maybe it was the week before saying, like, if Austin Matthews wants to be a part of the organization moving forward,

he will decide, right, like with his contract status and all of that. Like to me at some point, you create a culture, you create the organization. These players have given a lot of years and commitment to their organization. I'm saying all these star players. But at some point, you see organization bending over backwards, doing all these things, afraid to lose these players. At some point they're going to move on, whether they just get older, age out or whatever. Like you've got to build something where you're not afraid to lose these players

and you're catering to like all this guy's coach or this guy's best friend. With the timeline too, right? Got to trade this pick. Got to trade that guy because we got to win right now. Like at some point, don't you just say like you play, we'll take care of this, you worry about this? Like to me sometimes there's, I feel like again, there's just too much control given to some of these players where it's like you're so worried about it instead of just going,

you go play and worry about yourself and we'll worry about what we're putting players around. you are putting a situation around you. That's the only one thing I say. You know, it's knoblock. Everyone, knoblock's on the hot seat. Well, you know, he coached him to the finals the last couple years. You know what?

I look at the, if Edmonton really wants to change things, you know who I'd bring in? Darryl Sutter. The problem is that Daryl Sutter probably might hurt somebody's feelings and you'd have a problem with something. Because, like, Daryl will say or do something, but he knows how to win. That guy's a winner. That's the one thing. You want to get crazy. That's what you do.

You do something like that. They're not doing it now, but I hear what you're saying. Where do you stand on that, Craig? Like the power of players and wielding that power. Well, the players have power, and there's nothing wrong with them having power. And like, understanding that, you know, you have good players and they're part of the organization, you ask a lot of them. But at the same time, they want to know that they have a chance. to win. I'll get to the Daryl Sutter

thing in a minute too, but like, you know, Jamie, you were in Calgary and I, you know, our coach had done a lot of good work in Calgary and, you know, I ended up being able to come in there and for whatever, but my soul, I shouldn't say my sole goal was, but

it was really important to try to show the players and Jerome McGillam, being at the top of that list, that we were serious about winning. Because if you don't show the players that you're serious about winning, why will they be serious about winning? Why are they going to dig in and commit and sacrifice?

And so I think when I use the word collaborate, you're not saying, hey, would you make this trade, would you make that trade? You've got to show the players, and now that bond becomes deeper and tighter and stronger. And so I think that that's where it's at. Now, there's going to become times when, you know you have to move on. In Philadelphia, Eric Lindross, and I heard Ed Snyder, the owner, talk about,

hey this was in 2000 a lot of people were saying Eric Lindross what are we going to do and he said let's not forget we had a lot of success we came out of a dark time he helped us build a new arena but maybe it is time to move on

so the owner understood that it was time to move on and you have to do that and so I don't think it's just about catering to the players it's about partnering in a way that says hey you can count on me to help you to have success and I'm going to count on you to dig in and be part of it.

As it relates to Daryl Sutter, and I thought that's really interesting, Jamie, because in L.A., when he took over in 2012, Terry Murray was the coach, and Terry Murray was a damn good coach. And Dean Lombardi told me, he said, we had a structure in place defensively and we had a team, and we needed a little bit something different. We need a little bit more of a direct approach, a direct push. That's what Daryl brings. Darrell's knowledge of the game is outstanding.

He's an outstanding coach. Hall of Famer in my view in every regard. But you can say we're going to let go of the coach. It's always who are you bringing in to replace them? And I would hate to hear what anybody says about Chris Knoblock in Edmonton if they had only got to the second round or the third round the last two years. This is the guy that got him to the finals. Two years in a row.

Nobody had a problem with him last year or the year before when they were in the finals. But right now, like you said, Brian brought up a great point. When people are on edge, you're just looking for things, right? You're looking for, and they're certainly on edge in Ebbinton. So it's, oh, it's the coast. And at least they're in the playoffs. You know, I mean, that's the crazy thing. Like, they have the luxury of at least making the playoffs,

or it seems like that's going to be the case. Yeah. I would argue the GM is taking as many hits or close to it, too. Like, Stan Bowman, like the Tristan Jari thing is just exploded. Like, it's just, it was. They're lucky they have Ingram. Exactly. Exactly. Craig, I'll get you out of here on a question that is going to be asked a lot over the next four or five weeks, and that's the heart pursuit.

Kuturav versus the field. Which one are you taken? Well, I mean, right now Kuturoff will get my number one vote. You know, Connor McDavid has been great. McKinnon has been great. I'm not so sure Zach Werenski doesn't get my second place vote. He has been phenomenal in Columbus. I don't think enough people are talking about how valuable Zach Werenski has been. And, you know, Rick Bonas, who's only coach for a short period of time, you know, probably won't be the coach of the year, but he shouldn't be some votes.

Yeah, no kidding, man. Yeah, I agree with you, Jeff. But Zach Werenstke has been phenomenal in there, just phenomenal for that team in Columbus. Any love for Matthew Schaefer at five, maybe? Yeah, I think you have to put some love for Matthew. I mean, what Matthew is doing is really special. And I think the Islanders know it. And the guy that's won a lot, the guy that stands behind the bench,

I think that he knows how valuable Matthew Schaeper has been to that team. It's been beyond impressive. It's so good at 18 years old. Crazy good. All right, Craig. We'll leave it there. Great catching up with you. Did you guys ever hear the funny story?

I got to tell you, do you guys ever hear the funny story with his dad, Todd? Todd, a wonderful guy. I told Shannon Hogan the other day who hosts the Islander show. But last year, and you all know this, okay? So Matthew and his dad, Todd, were in the studio with James doing a pre-draft show. And Steve Dryden was drilling Matthew on the questions he was getting at the combine. Now, you can only picture Steve, right, doing asking them all the questions. He's not where you're asking everything.

Well, I mean, he was drilling him, right? So Matthew's polite and everything And finally Todd says to To Steve and a couple of us are standing He goes, you know what I don't understand? He goes, not one person ever asked Matthew How his eyesight was Because when do you want to know how he didn't see the goalpost

And running into it? That's a great one at the World Juniors Yeah, he's on fire Apparently his dad is just a beauty Like Duffy was telling us some stories Awesome, well he'll be, he's down there a lot and they'll be there hopefully in the playoffs if the Islanders can hold on.

They're in a wild card spot right now. All right, thanks, Craig. We'll do it again soon. Okay, thanks, you guys. There is, Craig Button. TSN, Director of Scouting, joining us from the Maple Toyota Hotline. Red Tag days are here with the all-electric Toyota BZ

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