OverDrive - Callahan on the Maple Leafs' roster strength, the Rangers' season overview and the Sabres' rough run

Episode Date: December 12, 2024

Former NHLer and ESPN Hockey Analyst Ryan Callahan joined OverDrive to discuss the latest around the league, the Rangers' search for success, the experience as captain with the team, the Sabres' downfall throughout the season, the Maple Leafs' roster strength and more.

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or visit askkelvin.ca here's ryan callahan back on overdrive how you doing ryan i'm doing good guys thanks for having me on i like the uh guelph storm shout out as well yes mandatory oh it's not on today but it's it's in his contract that whenever we have a former Guelph Storm on, we have to make sure to pump their tires. But yeah, we were discussing it a lot throughout the week and certainly leading up to the game last night. Rangers found a way to get a win, but the Sabres, man, they haven't made the playoffs in 13 years. Now they're at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

It doesn't feel as if they're going to find a way to get out of this. How desperate is the situation in Buffalo right now? I mean, I think it's code red. If you look at it, just, you know, like you said, 13 years without a playoff spot. I think it's only the New York Jets are the only other franchise that has been longer of a playoff drought. But I guess the big question is, when you look at the Sabres, and it kind of has me scratching my head too,

is what is the path out of it? You know, you change your coach many a times. You've changed the GM there. And it just keeps seeming to be the same recipe. And I was watching that game last night, and you're sitting there, you're watching it, and I think it was their fifth game of a five-game homestand they've lost four in a row things aren't going great you're expecting them to come out you know absolutely on fire with desperation urgency and I sat there for two

periods and I didn't see that you know and then I thought they played a pretty good third period which showed a little bit of that but but it's just surprising to me. You know, where is that urgency? Where is that desperation? You know, I just don't see it in that group, and is it you have to change the personnel somewhat? You know, that makeup of that team, it just doesn't seem like it's working. So the team that they were playing against, you're very familiar with as well, the Rangers, the true betrayed, but, you know, I don't know if there's an actual so the team that they were playing against you're very familiar with as well the rangers um the

truba trade but you know i don't know if there's an actual just one thing that could fix that group but from you know from your outside opinion there and just watching this team nightly you know what do you make of it i mean is it as simple as hey now we're going to have to deal with the coach if they don't get on track is it you know you're going to use some of that Trouba cap space to bring in another player? Like, what do you make with the Rangers and kind of how they've had that inconsistent start? Yeah, you know, and you go back, and I was one of the guys that, you know,

early on before the season started, I thought the Rangers were going to be one of the top teams. You know, I thought they would come out of the East and potentially with Florida be right there. Especially after making the conference finals last year, going six games with Florida. I think three of those games were one-goal games. They were right

there, a bounce here, a bounce there. They could have been the Rangers in the finals. See the way they've started and it kind of started in the offseason with them. I don't think the Trubis situation was a great situation. You know, obviously they tried to trade him in the offseason. He denied the trade because he had a no-trade clause, which is his right.

That's why he negotiated into contracts. But, yeah, that's out there, right, as you enter the year. And that's tough being a captain there in New York, knowing that the team has already tried to, you know, deal you in the offseason. You start with that distraction a little bit as you start the year, and they started off good. They looked like the team they were last year to start the season, and then they take this dip, and then Chris Drury comes out,

and he doesn't come out, but it gets leaked out that he's looking to move some players. Maybe Kreider's name gets thrown out there, Truba, which wasn't a surprise because they've already tried to move him in the offseason. But, you know, I think the team can respond one of two ways. You know, either you take that as a challenge and realize that things aren't good enough and, you know, we need to improve or there's going to be changes. Or, you know, you go the way they did and, you know, you don't respond to it. And, you know, unfortunately, that's the way they went.

And, you know, you look at the team and you guys know it's hard to move players, right? It's hard, even with cap space, to add players to that group. But something needs to change. And, you know, obviously, Lavelli, that's a really good coach. I don't condone anybody getting fired or want anybody to get fired. But, unfortunately, in this business, that's what seems like the answer always is, and it probably shouldn't be because he's not the one on the ice, right? He's not the one that's not performing.

And then you go back to last night's game, I didn't see much from the Rangers either. I thought it was a pretty sleepy game to start, you know, and two teams that, like I said about Buffalo, that, you know, you think you're going to come out and see that effort and see that desperation, urgency. I didn't really see it from either team. So I kind of left that game last night, kind of scratched my head and wondering, you know, if Rangers came out and dominated that game

and played well, you know, you're like, okay, that's something you could build on. That's something, you know, maybe a stepping stone to kind of take off and put this bad play behind us. But I don't think they played an unbelievable game either last night. So, you know, is that a game that you can build on? I'm not sure it is. I mean, you know, you beat the Buffalo Sabres. It's not like, you know, they're going to – a Stanley Cup favorite that kind of

could give you that momentum. So it's going to be interesting for both those teams. I mean, where do you go, right? What direction are you going? As I said, it's hard to – you know, with cap space to find players in the middle of the season that are going to come in and make an immediate impact. Callie Strutty here.

It's great to chat with you. You know, and I don't want to bring this up, but, you know, you were a rookie when I was in New York, and I kind of guided you through and bought you a couple of meals. You never paid me. You know, when you were there, you were like, you came in, you had a chest like a surfboard. You know, is there ever any thought of you paying me back for those dinners?

Like maybe as gift certificates or something? Even flowers delivered to my house. Like I don't want to make this a big deal, but you do owe me, buddy. I do owe you, Stretch. But listen, you know, I might have had a chest like a surfboard, but I tell you what, your pins and your legs were nothing to write home about. I don't think you've ever gone squat-wracking your whole career. I love it. Well, Cali,

you had a great career there in New York, and you ended up being the captain, and you were traded as the captain. So I'm wondering, in your experience, because there seems like it's at times more difficult to be a captain with the Rangers. Is that fair, and if so why would you feel see that or what did you see when you were captain and then you know just prior to you

being moved out down to tampa yeah i think you know just going back on my time i didn't find it be difficult to be a captain there really at all and i think part of that was is because i started with the rangers right so i guess the media around it and expectations original original six team, I didn't know any different. So I didn't know how the rest of the league really operated. So I was kind of used to that kind of internal pressure that you have, especially when we're in the sea with the Rangers. But I guess similar to Trouba's situation, what I found difficult is my last year I was up for contract.

There was negotiations going on. And that's where it kind of got hard. It's you know am I staying am I going I wanted to be there um you know what kind of you know throughout that year the negotiations kind of went south and everything else it was hard to go to the rink and you know stay focused on what you had to do every single night and I think for Troopa it was probably the same thing you know it's hard to go into that room and lead knowing that you know there's a good chance that you know for Troopa it was probably the same thing. It's hard to go into that room and lead knowing that there's a good chance that in Troopa's situation that they're looking to move him.

He knew that. That's a hard situation to go to the rink every night in battle and try to put your best foot forward knowing that the team is trying to move you and doesn't want you there and are looking to make moves. As my negotiation went on as well, with Glenn Sather, he was telling me to go talk to other teams and he know as my negotiation went on as well I mean you know with Glenn Sather

he he was telling me to go talk to other teams and you know he'd trade me to another team so as that year went on it was tougher and tougher for me to go to the rink every day and be like you know what I mean the GM's telling me right now that they're looking to move me you know I'm going to go in here and lead and try to do everything I can and block shots and take the bodies similar to Trouba's game right you know so I can feel for Trouba a bit in that situation where it's hard. And the rest of the room knows it too, right, Strads? We've been there. You know what's going on with guys and their deals

and what's going on behind the scenes. I mean, you know a lot more than the media does or the fans do. So it's not a secret. For me, everybody knew in the room what was going on a lot of it you know guys would talk to me about it kind of what's happening and you know what we know what's going on with your deal and um it's just not an easy situation so I feel that for Truba but within with saying that too like you know now that he's moved guys move on quickly too right like it's a business guys understand that so guys in that

room once Trouba's gone you kind of turn that page you know you lose a buddy but you continue to go forward and um you know trades happen so much throughout the NHL you're used to guys coming in and going out so I don't think that affects the team at all him getting dealt um but I think while he was there it's a it's a tough situation for both the guys in the room and Truba. With Ryan Callahan of ESPN, and you've got Edmonton and Minnesota tonight. The Wild are 19-5-4. Are they a legit cup contender for you, or is this just a really, really hot start? I think we're at the point now where you have to call them a cup contender.

If it's the first 10-15 games, you kind You know, if it's, you know, first 10, 15 games and you kind of wonder, is it just a good start for them? But, you know, you look at that team and, you know, they're already, you know, 20, 28 games into the season, you know, I think they're the real deal and the way they defended and, you know, what kind of surprises me is in Minnesotanesota is you know their power play and penalty killer aren't off the charts right you know they're 20th in the league in power play 29th on penalty kill usually a team like that that's you know first in the nhl you look there they're they're their power plays cranking or their penalty kills really good um you know they're below average in both special teams. It just shows how well they play

five-on-five, how well they're defending. I think Kirill Kaprizov is right there for the heart conversation, the way he's playing. He's such an impressive player, and I think he's starting to get some more love now that Minnesota is up more in the standings. They're having such a good year as a team. He's being recognized more, as he should be, because he's one of those guys that's just fun to watch every night, right? You know, you're scrolling around in games, and I find myself stopping to watch in Minnesota just to watch to see what he's going to do. So I have to point this out because I'm a former Ranger as well.

I played a solid six weeks for the New York Rangers. They still talk about it. They didn't even let you finish your cup of coffee, huh? It was back when they were just flushing people down the toilet left and right. I think we had an $82 million payroll, and it was leech outs. Messier finished his career. He had about 10 more root canals to finish with all of us slugs there at the end of the season. But, you know, Callie, before I get to my question, do the New York Rangers have alumni coats? Because it's a big topic of conversation on our show because the toronto

maple leaves have an official alumni coat to the point where jeff o'neill has multiple ones i think he's got designer ones and all that i never received a new york ranger alumni coat strutty i don't think you have one if if you know maybe you sold it or something in one of your one of your facebook facebook marketplace for $35. Callie, is there an alumni coat with the Rangers? Oh, don't feel bad, because whether you're there for six weeks or you're there for eight years and more to see, I don't have a coat either. So I don't think there is a coat. I'm a 42 regular, though, if anybody's listening.

There's an extra Ranger code available. I've seen you lately. You're not a 42 regular anymore, buddy. These meals are getting to you, Callie. Come on. So my real question is, from the outside, if you've watched the Toronto Maple Leafs, do you see anything different this year? You know, they've had a little bit of turnover.

They brought in some defensemen, a guy like Tanev, Oliver Ekman, Larson to shore up that defensive core. Craig Berube is driving the boat here. What do you make of the Leafs in some of the games you've watched? Yeah, I think, obviously, I think Berube coming in was a big move, and it looks like they're defending a lot better. Another big thing, too, is goaltending. They're getting their goaltending as well.

Solars have been unbelievable for them. You look at this team, and the Leafs are always a team I always look at. They've got that high-power offense. They can score goals. But it's always for me, can they defend? Can they keep the puck out of their own net, especially come playoff time where that's where it matters. You have to defend, and it starts with defense.

Going out and getting a guy like Tanev, I love that move for Toronto, and it's paying off. I absolutely love him as a player and the style he is. I think that's something they definitely needed. But I feel like you bring a guy like Brube in who can just kind of change that culture a little bit more, just that mindset, right? You don't have to completely change a culture, but just that mindset of defending. They're a good enough team and enough skill.

They're going to score. They're going to get goals, right? So I've seen that shift this year in them where they're defending a little bit better, good goaltending, and I'll tell you what, come playoff time, that's going to pay dividends. And I think Toronto is on the right track to not only have another good regular season, but I think this

style of play that they're playing can now translate to the postseason and bring them more success come the postseason. That's what Leaf fans want to hear. And they've got Anaheim in town tonight. There's a lot of games throughout the league. So enjoy those, Ryan. We appreciate you doing this, as always.

Thank you for those. Awesome. Thanks, guys, for having me on. And, Strutty, don't be scared of that squat rack either, buddy. You still can get grown, even though you're getting older. My legs are great. I don't know. I'll send a picture.

You can check them out. They're getting more. I play tennis now, buddy. Here we go. Quick short shorts. Still telling your stories like you were back then, huh? Still got it. Still got it.

Still got it. Can't challenge any of them. You know what, Shreddy? I always used to say, why change the lure? You're still catching fish. That's why he was a great vet. I'm sure the best in the league back in the day thank you appreciate it awesome guys thanks for having me on there's a ryan