OverDrive - Colaiacovo on the Capitals' dominant season, Winnipeg's aim for the Presidents' Trophy and Crosby's tenure in Pittsburgh

Episode Date: February 26, 2025

TSN Hockey Analyst Carlo Colaiacovo joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Canadiens' season turnaround, Winnipeg's winning run, the Capitals' dominant season and Alex Ovechkin's impressive goal scoring, Sidney Crosby's stance with the Penguins and more.

Lights camera action the 2025 Juno Awards are hitting Vancouver on March 30th and IHAR radio is your ticket to the stars Hosted and performance by Michael Pooble Plus a final performance by Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees some 41 and more you can win an IHAR radio Experience with tickets flights and a three-night stay at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Head online to answer the Daily Juno's trivia question at IHeartRadio.ca Carlo Coliaccavo in the house. What's up fellas? How we doing buddy? Heard you guys had a nice Discussion about a tush push. Yes early on. What is this philosophy on the tush push? Where do you stand on it? If you can't stop it, it's your loss, man. Yeah. This whole Green Bay Packers, of course they're the guys that can play it. This guy wants to ban it.

Finally someone steps up and has the stones to realize he's bad for the sport, bad for entertainment. Here's why I say don't ban it. Because a lot of people thought it was Jason Kelsey that was the guy that orchestrated everything. He's gone. Yeah, and still works. And they still found a way. And so there's a skill element to it. I heard your defense to it and I agree Dave. I just think that if everybody in the league was doing it you can understand okay maybe taking a look at it but there's only one team in the league that really has that's perfected it that's perfected it. Yeah I mean listen credit to the Eagles like I'm not it's not like I'm taking their flowers away. I understand why they got their flowers what they've done

I do think there is a health and safety element to it. That's fair that Appears to be getting a little bit louder within the game in terms of like how players are attacking the line of scrimmage and what's gonna Happen at some point But again, I also I would ask you guys like sure It's easy to say that credit where credit is due Is there from an entertainment standpoint as a viewer? Is there entertainment in something in a play that is a hundred percent successful? Yeah, there is if there is a team that can do it

Okay, every time that Eagles get short yardage, I'm like, okay here comes coming and it works every single time I mean, I wanted to say that about my billsills. They're pretty good at it tell that one time in Kansas City. It's like okay we gotta get it. I was nervous watching it they didn't get it. Yeah well and that's the thing once someone does stop them then the problem is also there's there's an element of embarrassment that terrifies defensive coordinators and I'll admit it I'll admit this is a loser's mentality that they're going set up for it and they're gonna fake it and someone's gonna go deep and they're gonna somehow pull a play-action tush-push and you're like what are we supposed to do here? How are we supposed to handle this because we have to sell out? Yeah, and anyway, well, let's just say this like at least we're in an era in the NFL where people aren't punting on fourth and one

Remember that remember that era. Yeah, everybody just was that was that fun, Hayes? Was that fun to watch? No. Mike Tomlin did it against the Ravens. Down two scores, fourth and inches, and he punted it from his own 40. Game has changed drastically. Is there any chance that they will develop a way to stop it? That's the, because everybody is- Everyone's trying to. They're trying to, but I'm just out where is some defensive coordinator out there?

That is a savant that is gonna be like you need to do this to shut it down I also think too like there's a skill element to the quarterback like Jalen hurts is a Beast yeah when it comes to you know lift and weights the the power that he uses with his legs Not every quarterbacks built like that. Patrick Mahomes ain't executing that if you're pushing him from behind. Yeah, well, and also I do wonder though,

if Hertz is gonna, if he gets injured on that play at some point, is he gonna look back and say, you've taken advantage of my ability to get that extra yard or two? I don't think Kansas City would wanna do it because they wouldn't wanna allow Mahomes to be in a position to get hit. Yeah. that's you know, that's another part of it. That's why I have a problem with the rule change here. Like this is, to Carlos' point,

this is so specific to the talent that is Jalen Hurts, the body that is Jalen Hurts, and the talent and bodies of that offensive line. Yeah, that's that is a state-of-the-art offensive line. So it's not like this is just, you know, something that everybody else can replicate and suddenly the game is not fun anymore because it's it's basically you'll have to get nine yards and i think it's anymore because the last year is but that's basically what it is for them yes for them in particular yes is effectively if it's

third and anything inside a yard and a half they're going on for him on their own twenty-nine yard line twenty yard line you can go for it yeah yeah but I mean well not to you to the noodles point though I don't think it'll last for him well no that hurts might not want to do it much longer I mean he may have a player safety issue at some point in his

career where he says I'm just guys I'm getting to well you also have to know in those piles there's probably guys taking liberties somebody's gonna get cut in half in there and they're gonna go go, ah, we got to deal with this because, you know, it might be old school prison rules in there. And somebody comes out with a broken leg or a pulled off face. That's old school.

I don't know if we're living in that area anymore, but it would have been the case back in the day. Who was the guy? Was it LT? Who was like the meanest? Lawrence 10. Well, Dick Budkiss back in the day was known your eyes out to be absolutely insane what he'd be yelling and saying to the quarterback the running back yeah like just obscenities that would make your stomach turn yeah like I am going to be

just yeah you and you can imagine what he's saying I'm gonna kill you I'm coming for you I'm gonna get you and he was you can imagine what he's saying. I'm going to kill you. I'm coming for you. I'm going to get you. And he was an all time great. Yeah. All right. So you're in here tonight. What do we get the Habs in action tonight?

We got the Leafs on TSN tonight. The Habs are an interesting spot because like three weeks ago, it felt like they might be buyers and they're red hot. They're in it. And now you get through the four nations and you realize it's probably not gonna happen. Jake Evans is a name that's out there, David Savard's name is constantly out there. I mean what does your read on on the Habs and what would be their best course of action between now and the trade deadline? Well look they put themselves in a difficult position going

into the break losing six of seven considering there was that month stretch where they had the best record of hockey between early December and early January and they actually sniffed the last playoff spot and It's amazing how things can change in the league between you know winning streaks and losing streaks Yeah, you go on a you know handful winning streak You're in the playoff mix you lose five or more games and earlier out of it. I think for the Montreal canadians like a lot of their success Came because there was a fire that was lit under this team when Patrick line. It came into the lineup

everybody, you know sort of Piggybacking off off of that, you know Just incredible serves that he had scoring all those goals and they were playing just with a newfound energy and that catches up to you right and they were winning games they probably shouldn't have won and then in games that they probably should have won they were losing those in those six and seven games so for Montreal I think look if they can still be competitive it'd be great but I think they can't lose track of where they are

and they've done a great job of you know accumulating assets over the last couple years and I think they can't get away from that. If Jake Evans is a guy who's been a really nice fit as a role player on that team, third line center him and Armia found a nice chemistry together. If they can find a way to keep him you know he's a guy that they've developed on their own. He can kill penalties. He scores a bunch of short-handed goals too. Davis Savard is a piece that everybody's gonna be going after, that rugged right-handed shot defenseman. Lucky for them, they've been developing a lot of young defensemen in their system over the last couple years,

so maybe that loss of him this year and maybe next year won't be you know impacted as much but I think they really got to see what happens this week they started off great with their first game against Ottawa I believe you did that game no I didn't I watched it right and me in Ottawa was asleep and Montreal wasn't yeah and I think well if they find themselves back into the race I mean you know how it is every year Nothing's guaranteed. I would I would love for them to see them give this group a chance to go for it But you know, you got a manager five points out right now Yeah, and five teams to leap and all that I've I think they weren't as bad as they were at the start of the year

I think they overachieved in that run and they're kind of just a meddling. I've always said this I feel like they're an eighty four point team this season and which is not bad It's you know, it's playing meaningful hockey down the stretch. Mm-hmm. You're a former defenseman Is you? Thank you for the inclusion. Both of you to weigh in. When I played with him he was a forward. Yes, six center ice men. Really? Him and stage? Him and stage. Stage? I took him under my wing. Where's Lane Hudson? I mean where do you think his ceiling is once he really settles into the league and gets maybe a little bit more meat on him just gets a little bit of

man strength too. So this is my fifth season doing Habs on TSN and I'm not gonna lie the last couple years have been really rough. Yeah. There's been a new level of excitement for me watching the house play this year just because of Lane Hudson This guy just he's always making stuff happen when there's nothing there So like there's no play to be made. He just It's either a quick shoulder check. It's a quick spinorama. It's a quick foot shuffle. It's something Outrageous that he's doing and he's creating something out of nothing, especially in the offensive zone. He's got such a creative mind when it comes to the way he thinks offense, the way he tries to

produce offense. If you're a forward, you gotta love playing with this guy because you know you're getting the puck and sometimes in unexpected places. I think his ceiling, I think he can easily, I wouldn't say easily, I think he has the potential to be as good as Quinn Hughes one day. Really? Wow. That's as high of a praise. The high bar.

I mean, it's Hughes and McCarthur, two of the best defensemen in the league. Yeah. That's as high as it can get. And look, it's gonna take him a little bit to get there. He skates as good as him. Yep. He moves the puck. He's got confidence him yep he got confidence like crazy confidence for a rookie yeah and he's probably gonna put up 60 points this year in his rookie season I mean we haven't seen probably between him and Celebrini is it not yeah I think in

terms of like the the odds on FanDuel Celebrini's like minus 350 or something minus 300 and Hudson I think is to dustin wolf i think is whereas get a lot of love to have a little about it and i think that's a lot of sure will feature uh... my love the kid man and he's fun to watch he's got a brother coming into the league crazy washington and washington right as if they need any more that's a's scary Washington's got a great farm system They get two or three kids like knocking on the door to be sick. They've won the color cup the last two years, haven't they?

Yeah, they've they've got some depth there and guys knocking out the door. So all that does is just push guys out Oh, man, it's that's a guy's that are pushing through that are on cut, you know Cost-effective contracts you can push somebody out out that's making a lot of money, make him expendable. Like that's a nice system there. I don't think the management gets enough credit in Washington for kinda this, I don't think that was a retool on the fly,

but it was just weird. We all thought, okay, this is it, it's just about OV scoring goals. That's it. That was my impression. Just, and every hit, I've said this ten times on this show every move they made in the offseason has worked out but Dubois too Dubois, Mungiapani, Logan Thompson, Chikrin that Duhame on the fourth line brought in the Roy defenseman is it really yeah Matt Roy like

that's another just under the radar really good signing like they're a really good team But a lot of that is because of the offseason moves of the manager. Oh big time Yeah, big time and and yet Winnipeg won their tenth in a row and leapfrogged them last night And yeah, it was I mean it went to overtime against San Jose, but Shife Lee wins it in overtime and Like they have won ten in a row. Hayes, I did their game. It's incredible Winnipeg. I did their game. It was the week before the break and it was, I'm trying to think, it was against Carolina.

Okay. And Comrie played. They shut out Carolina with Comrie and Nett and their power play is absurd. Like so good. You take a, they score two power play goals that game and that's literally all the offensive chances that they got. That team is so deep in just guys that know how to play their roles, like they don't have like brand name type players, aside from Shifely, Connor, Velardi, Morsey's Unreal. But other than that, they just have guys that

just know their roles, know what they're expected to do when they're on the ice, and they plug and play so nicely. They're so hard to play against defensively because they're big and they're physical, but on the offense too, they're just so well disciplined in their position. No one's talking about them, and it just feels like everyone's like, ah, because it's Winnipeg. But they're literally an unreal team. Yeah, they've done it from the heart, man. 15-1.

But I hate to say it, but they're a little bit like the Maple Leafs West, right? Like where it's kind of just... In terms of their playoffs, yeah. Yeah, when it comes to the playoffs. And look, maybe I wonder if Hellebuck having a really good Four Nations where he's had some real disappointments and big moments In the postseason does that change the landscape in the way? We're you know, the people are spinning that you know Marner being a clutch player from Canada might change his outlook in a playoff series

Hope so do you buy into that? Look for Marner you mean or Hellebuck. Do you think that that Four Nations thing can actually propel a guy? Yeah, do something he hasn't done in the postseason? To me what amazes me is how much of a split there is between Connor Hellebuyck's playoff stats and regular season stats. To me I don't understand that. I think he's an amazing goaltender and I think it's due to turn for him, is it not? It should be, but it's due to turn for the Leafs.

It's due to turn for him is it not? It should be but it's due to turn for the Leafs. It's due to turn for everybody. Like in the end when you're playing the same team potentially seven times in a row so much can change. You start to pick apart like okay this is what this guy does well this is what he doesn't do well. You look at that first game go back to and we talked about it at Naus. Colorado, Winnipeg, that first game was 7-6, I believe. Yeah. And Georgie Five looked like me in the net. He was awful. And we were like, okay, that's like Winnipeg's gonna rinse them, Colorado doesn't have a goalie. And but lost in all that, it's like, okay, well, Hellebuck gave up six that night. Yeah. Right. And then Colorado locked it down, Georgie Five played all that, it's like, okay, well, Hellebuck gave up six that night. And then Colorado locked it down,

Georgia five played all right, and they were like, that was it, Colorado just took over. And I don't know how many, we did the stats, it was screen plays, just get in front of Hellebuck, keep it in the net, and he couldn't see the puck. And Colorado just rinsed him. And then afterwards, his media's like, you guys aren't gonna believe this, but I felt great in that series. You were giving up five a

night. You can't stop but you can't see. They found a way to get to him and and and really focus on his weaknesses which every player has weaknesses. I think that's the reason why people aren't all in on Winnipeg. They should be all in on Winnipeg based on what we're seeing. But they're going, okay, playoff hockey looks different. Ehlers, smaller guy, you know, like maybe not as, I think their third line could be the best third line in hockey. It is.

Like when you've got Lowry, Niedermeyer, or Nieda Ryder, and Appleton. But you know, does it translate into the playoffs? Those guys do. You need saves, you need systematic play. I don't know what's happened the last couple years, but I'm, when it comes to Winnipeg for me, you got to show me. It's the same thing with Toronto Maple Leaf. Talk about it. You got to show me. Well, I would argue the same thing with Washington. Like, Washington's had a phenomenal year, yet I think we're going to look at a scenario where both these teams are going to run away with the one seed and there's going to be a lot of doubt. Like if I offered you guys right now the

one seed Washington and Winnipeg versus the field, which pick it would you take? The field? Exactly. Hockey right? No I know that but like if this was if Vegas was doing what Winnipeg's doing No, I know that but like if this was if if Vegas was doing what Winnipeg's doing Yeah, and Florida was doing what Washington's doing you'd take Vegas and Florida I believe you would I think most people would be like I'm taking those two man They've won I know what they are and stop and they look unstoppable. I'm not betting against those two tickets Yeah, but Washington Winnipeg has the ticket you're taking the field. Yeah, and I think the majority of people would see but here's Here's where I think Washington has a massive advantage over anybody. They had nobody on their team play at the Four Nations.

So their whole team got a two week break. And you see the way they've come out of the break? Right. Yeah. It does make sense. And they're massive too. You always talk about a Noodle. It's like they're a big team.

Well, even their... But you're right. Their players are big. That Brodish. Oh, he's a he's a monster and you can fly like fly He's a great skater Dubois who looks Reinvigorated yeah, like he's he's mean well you see it from you see it from the ice level ice level Ice level gives you the perfect perspective of how big that team is and you're not the only guy that said that I've heard it From any people Johnny Johnny said it too. Tom Wilson, forget Tom Wilson plays there like he's an animal. Yeah. He's so big like Manjia Pani is a nice addition he's playing on the

fourth line. He had 28 goals a couple years ago in Calgary like they have a really good team and sometimes a trade works out for both organizations. Shikran is a perfect fit and Nick Jensen is a great fit for the Ottawa Senators. And Washington is really happy, Ottawa is really happy with their player. It's just been a great fit. Logan Thompson has been unbelievable, probably more than what they expected, but it comes back to Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren they don't have a deep history in the playoffs. It's a lot like the Leafs like you know what's how many playoffs starts does Woll and Stollers have

combined I think Stollers has zero because he came in on a mop up last year with Bobroski that ugly game in Edmonton and walls got six five five five single-digit yeah we'll see but you gotta go through the process that's the thing and you know you you you have to play like whether it's wool or Stoller's they're gonna have to play same thing with Lindgren or Thompson who knows how that's gonna unfold yeah. Yeah, Hayes, I got to ask you, do you think there's a part of you or a part of Sidney Crosby that will surprise everyone between now and the trade deadline after knowing what it's like to play with his buddy Nate McKinnon at the Four Nations, that he rethinks his situation in Pittsburgh?

I'm not sure it happens before the trade deadline. It feels like an off season move for Sid, right? Now, if he's gonna eventually conclude that he should win. He got the taste of winning again. That's the thing, and if you're gonna get to that conclusion, do it as quickly as you can. Like if it's in the back of your mind that you kinda realize, all right right I don't think I can finish this dance it's gonna get worse before it gets better and that's likely what's

gonna happen in Pittsburgh then you don't think I'm a part of you that that Nate that sees Nate McKinnon sending this guy text messages all the time oh you know McKinnon would love to come on come on let's do it again absolutely could be doing those you know pregame practicegame practice drills, postgame practice drills. We can be riding Zambonis through Tim Hortons. Come on, bud. Well, for sure, man. We can be doing it. But listen, Sid just had an incredible two weeks where he was front and center. That Sweden game, he was the best player on the ice again. But it's also a scenario where he's a guy, he's won so much in his life and in his career that I don't, like

it's not as if he hasn't won in 10 years or 15 years. Right. You know, like it's, yes, it's been a while in Pittsburgh and we haven't had best on best in a while, but all the guy knows is winning effectively. Like the whole Pittsburgh situation is very, outside of his rookie year, they've been in the playoffs basically every year up until the last two years. Yeah. And again, it's driving the wrong way. I'd like to believe it, but I'll believe it when I see it that he that Sid finally says I need to get out of here. He's a guy that nobody knows

anything about. He doesn't have social media or anything. I just feel like this could be one of those out of left field. Do you think it would likely be quiet too? Do you think like it would leak? Like do you think Sid would make it a mandate? I'm doing it and I'm doing it to this team and I want it done tonight and then it gets out or do you think it would leak out like hey there's some rumors like Sid's names out there. Okay so how about this then? The two teams, anybody hear anything?

Did any insider get an inkling on the ranton and trade no that was feathers for everybody yeah well that's the same team you're talking about so on one side they've been pretty quiet i'm pretty sure that they go if we're going to do something this is you know cloak of the veil veil of secrecy yeah so maybe that would be i'd just i'd for some reason i think it's an offseason thing but maybe that random have sailed is colorado you know is a good team right now they've got caps face it just look to get around five million caps face they

can add a really good player at the deadline well as you have to work any money and the idea that you have the money on said would be crazy but what i'll make it happen the other things but he's- But he's got a term on his deal now. That's the thing. He's not a UFA. He just signed the extension. Not that Colorado or any other team would handle that or deal with it.

They'd find a way to make the full salary work. Yeah. That's the thing about Sid going there. It's not, hey, give it a three-month shot. Once you go, you're there and you're presumably playing the rest of your career there. And I'm not convinced this guy's just going to retire when he hits 40. I'm not convinced of that at all. All this guy does is play hockey and live hockey.

He's a freak for hockey. He still talks about it like he's a five-year-old kid. And I wouldn't be surprised if he plays another five years. That's what I'm saying. But doesn't it bother you the sense, like you heard Brad Marchand come out the other day too and said, I'm a lifer, Boston Bruin for life. only in hockey do guys say that yeah you don't see it in the NBA you don't see it it's like these guys have been there for forever and they got a chance to go somewhere else to win like I'm comfortable here yeah yeah well and move on which brings us get out of there

and worry about legacy great everyone's gonna remember your legacy where you're at, but people still want to see you compete for championships. That's been my argument with Sid the whole time. I don't want to see it just because it's already happened. For two weeks, it was Sid. He was in our lives again. How many people love watching him play at that level? Exactly.

Now he's back in Pitt and I won't spend one second watching him play hockey the rest of the year. Wow, I watched him play. Not one second. Look, I'll say this. That's the truth. Yeah, noodles would be the guy watching him, but for sure. But I'll say this, you understand it to an extent, Carlo, because when you're royalty

in a city, there's something special about that. And there are many guys that do it. But that's not going to change. Well, there's something special about that, right? And there's not, there are- That's not gonna change. Well, it changed, you're right. It probably won't change in the grand scheme, but it's gonna change for a few years, if you leave town for the remainder of your contract, if you're sitting in Crosby, right?

And look, he's looked at, you know, the Mario Lemieux model and where he, you know, you essentially, you are a regal, king-like figure in town. You know, what could be in your future? There could be ownership in your future. There could be, you know, regal, king-like figure in town. What could be in your future? There could be ownership in your future. There could be executive opportunities in your future. And he might get those if he becomes a Colorado Avalanche for a few years here and goes back to Pittsburgh.

I'm not saying he wouldn't, but I think I see that as very attractive. Say I played in one jersey, it's now retired, this is my town. You think it's noble to do that though, like it gets all up to him obviously, but if he wants to finish his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, at some point they're gonna have to blow it up and go scorched earth and that's sooner than later. They're basically already there. I understand that, but I'm saying really scorched earth. Yes. They don't have assets. They don't have a bunch of guys pushing through like the Washington Capitals Like got a lot of draft picks coming up

I think they you've got 30 years so you got 30 in the next now you look at there's a lot of third-round picks From third round and back. Yeah, it's not that the thing about it is you've got to find a way If you're Sidney Crosby to go, okay, what's going to challenge me the next three years? It's the Olympics? Because he'll play there next year. Absolutely. And maybe chase another Stanley Cup. Exactly.

If he goes somewhere else. If he goes somewhere else. But who do you think, I mean, this is more a big picture. Is there anybody right now that's halfway through their career or heading towards the end of their career has been with one Organization that will finish it out. Well, Ovi clearly is right guy now. I mean Mark and maybe I mean our chance the other one our Shan would be the other one captain of the Boston Bruins Larkin's younger But what I mean, I see him as like Captain Detroit seems like he's mr

Detroit but you know at some point if they don't turn a corner and i know they're in a playoff spot now maybe he has i just some different ideas on what he wants to do is you know i'm never going to speak for all malcolm and latan can follow his suit there too that's amazing thing is all three of them right and they're the whole time they could share that same legacy together yeah yeah but it's i mean i know it's different with sid but they just said at some point you hear Carlson's name being floated Of course now, I mean do you get rid of who wouldn't want to move on? Carlson right now. He's got two years left at 10 million or whatever

Man, if he could get his act back together at a hundred points two years ago, you know the worst team in the league I mean still I mean that's a hundred points is a hundred points like I I don't know He just he looked like a little bit invigorating there in Sweden. I wouldn't touch that. There is nothing you could do to convince me to take Eric Carlson. Tomorrow, it's rumored that the Leafs

are in on Eric Carlson. Unless Sid's coming with him. Bro, sit in there. Make him a $5 million defenseman. With Sid. No, we're gonna stick with Connor Timmons yeah for five million dollars I'm not paying him five million dollars you're saying if they're gonna eat half I'm saying if Eric Carlson was a five million dollar defenseman I think there'd be a lot of

teams I wouldn't I wouldn't touch it because of the power play oh they don't have a power play defenseman the Leafs don't if I for they don't I don't know it's just an interesting like that's you know making up BS things. Well I mean that I think that would be available. I think at Bradshaw Living, now maybe not with the Leafs, but I think if someone called them up and said we'll take Carlson you got to eat half the, I mean in reality I think Pittsburgh's gonna have to likely do that. Likely have to eat half of it or at least a significant portion of it. You could do that deal I think. Yeah. Is anyone gonna do it? Do

you think Carlson's a penguin on March 8th? I think he is. I can't. I can see him getting traded. I could see him getting traded. CJ was on with us this morning and he said there's a lot of anxious fingers out there with the GM's with their phones right now. About Carlson? No no no just about trades just about trades in general. Sure I got you. Comes back to maybe where everyone feels like the league is wide open why not go in on it right? Okay all right. There'll be a leaf on March 7th. Eric Carlson is coming and you just know it. And it'll be electric. All of a sudden you'll be like, what a great trade. Always love that idea. Always love that idea. All right, Habs on TSN tonight. We'll catch you on the panel and we'll catch

you tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. There he is, Carlo. Thanks boys. One half of First Up, every morning Monday through Friday right here on TSM Radio. and Black History Month radio. We're shining a light on the music, stories and culture that inspire us all. Black history is our history. Celebrate with us. History to make it. Listen on the free IR radio app.