OverDrive - Colaiacovo on the Maple Leafs getting back in the win column, the roster standpoint and the Canadiens' playoff pursuit

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

TSN Hockey Analyst Carlo Colaiacovo joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Canadiens' roster overview, the Hart, Norris and Calder Trophy sweepstakes, the Maple Leafs' roster outline and the landscape of the team and more.

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Bell, getting a new phone just got better. Here is Carlo Colliacovou. You hear him every morning on First Up. You're gonna see him on the panel tonight. Is it Habs panel or Sens panel tonight? I'm doing Habs panel, but there's a panel for both games. We just actually recorded an SC hit and we had all four of us Me Frankie Lindsey and Laura do a Sports Center hit with talking about the same game. It's actually pretty fun. Awesome

Yeah, okay. How of a game? I mean, when's the last time these two teams? Played a meaningful game at this time of year. Exactly. We said that Saturday going into the the Leafs-Sends game It was the same thing. Yeah, and when the Leafs have played the Habs this year, I mean Toronto's been in the playoffs consistently for a long time. The other two teams we've been waiting for them, but tonight is a massive, massive game. Yeah. Especially for Montreal. Big time for Montreal. I know Ottawa has been hot and they've given themselves a little bit of a cushion here, but Montreal has been just as hot. There's 7-1 and 2 in their last 10.

Montembeau's been one of the best goal tenders coming out of the four nations. He owns a 6-1 record. His goal's above expected, is number one in the NHL. They're getting great goal-tending from him, and this is a bigger game for them than I think for Ottawa. Sure, man.

Ottawa's banked their points. They have really good plays. And in Montreal, it's interesting because that top line which Marty St. Louis has just consistently kept them together yeah like Suzuki and Caulfield and Slavkovsky like it started last year even though they weren't winning anything weren't going anywhere he just put them together and said you guys are going to stick we believe in this line and it was rocky at times earlier in the year, but this year that line is like popping down the stretch here. It has especially like you remember Slavkowski last year after the All-Star break.

He took off. Yeah, it was really good. It's the same thing this year and he said during the break that he watched Brady Kachak play a lot and he kind of wants to model his game around him and he's come out and played with that same attitude as Brady like he's not Not gonna fight. He's not well. He did fight the one game. Okay, I mean but again It's not what we expect to see from him, but the power forward type of game That's what he has to be he has to be is a beast man. Yeah

I really didn't go at the beginning of the year Carlo Yeah, I don't know like he found it at the end of last year, and you're like, you've got a prototypical 30 goal scorer here who's a monster, and he's going to kill people in the four check. And then to start this year, he was on the fourth line some nights. Like, where did it go, and how did he get it back? I have no idea where or when. It's a great question. I think for him, he probably got too comfortable.

You know, he gets the long-term extension and he's like, oh okay life in the end is good. He's still a very young player. And he learned a hard lesson at the beginning of the year, that's for sure. Yeah, well they need him. And they need Lina too, right? Lina's up to what, 15 goals on the season? Yeah, 13 of them on the power play. Five on five, he's a ghost at times. But still, that's every goal counts, it doesn't matter. This is a team that could not score goals in the past. Do you want to know how important Patrick Lainé has become to the Montreal Canadiens? Like, you talked about that first line, they've relied on them, and they've been like,

dying to find secondary scoring. When Patrick Lainé scores, that team is 11-1 and 2. When he doesn't score, they're 9-11 and 2. That's how important Patrick Lani has become to that team, just because they're getting production from somebody else other than their top line. Yeah, that's huge, man. Yeah, he's a good story. It's like, oh, Doug, oh, Doug always used to say, right, oh, Doug, that you could be

the designated power play shooter, and that's basically what this guy is. Yeah, well, he makes it work, man. Hey, at least he's not bluffing it and he's staying true this guy is. Yeah, well he makes it work man. Hey, at least he's not bluffing it and he's staying true to himself. Hey, fire me out in the Powerplay, I'll do some damage. But you would think sooner or later the guy would contribute something five on five? Well, I mean he was playing, I guess he was playing with Kirby, Doc at this, like... Doc and New Hook. Yeah, and Doc's been out for a while, but...

That's one thing that i was disappointed about at the deadline those a big hole for montreal and now they wanted to play the young kid down on back in that position now they've taken a matter of lineup they bought they brought up joshua water play the left wing moved to look to the middle in i wish montreal been a little bit more aggressive at the deadline and bring in like a veteran type guy that could help fill that void not not take it over but help fill it because

It's such a huge hole that they need to replace right now Especially if you want to keep up that that that balance scoring that they've that they've somehow found absolutely now Yeah, it's a big game in Montreal big game in Vancouver. They got the Jets in town tonight and Absolutely. Right now. Yeah, it's a big game in Montreal, big game in Vancouver. They got the Jets in town tonight and You know you look at their lineup and it looks like Bessers back with Patterson tonight on that top line and Quinn Hughes is still in the hunt for the Norris. Like I think McCarr Likely has you know, he's certainly in the lead right now I think we're Renske is still in contention there But Quinn Hughes man, he he kind of deserves that

McDavid treatment where you look at it and say he's still got 15 games man He could poke his nose in there Yeah, like if he drags them in and when he's on the ice, they're a completely different team So I heard you guys talking about goal scoring coming in. Kyle McCarr might have 30 goals as a defenseman Yeah, he's already got 25. Yeah, so if he gets that I think it's it's a lock He's gonna win it and again, I don't want to take away from the season Quinn Hughes has had this guy's clearly not been healthy the whole season grinding his way through it and You just wonder how much more he has left to give that he need they need they need

Give because even even what he brings it looks effortless at times, but he still brings such an important game. That's all they got. It's almost like that's all they got right now though. That's it. Patterson's been better lately. But now Besser's not been good. No, I know. I know. And yeah, I hear you. It's right there. It's an opportunity for them. St. Louis got a pretty soft skid. St. Louis is still in hunt Utah still in the hunt they're in all they're in Edmonton tonight yeah um and drives out of Calgary 50 and between those 14 yeah Calgary like they they were not impressive last night they're kind of starting to leak oil a little bit I think they might have a rude awakening at the garden tonight they're in New York playing the Rangers at yeah Rangers have

not been a great team or been consistent at any point this season, but I think that's a tough back-to-back I'm curious if Wolf will play after he got pulled last night. I haven't seen if he will or not, but Yeah, the rookie of the year is another race, you know with Hudson doing what he's doing He's like fourth in the league in points by a defenseman Yeah, and he's leading all rookies and he's leading all rookies and then Wolf, you know We saw him last night and don't use that as an example of the way he's played all year He's been phenomenal and then you you know we saw him last night don't use that as an example the ways played all year he's been phenomenal and then you got Celebrini so I'm glad you brought this up because if you watch the fan duel odds

Celebrini is still a massive favorite when the Calder I'm surprised I don't understand that yeah I'm surprised Lane Hudson is gonna have possibly 60 or more points as a rookie defenseman the last two defensemen that won the Calder Was more insider and kale mccarr both had 50 points. What about act bladden and I'm glad wanted to he did win it his year Did he yeah, yeah 50 points though. I don't remember the points he had but he wanted he wanted. Yeah, I Said the last two rates. Yeah, and those were the last and like Hudson has Montreal on a playoff rate exactly splint on a minute's main twenty three minutes and i get like celebrate has been great it's not a taking away

from him but he has known from day one of camp third not good winning and losing is not it is not something that they're even thinking about and i think i do think those intangibles don't come up enough but they do in other categories and for other awards. Like if you're gonna win the heart, your team's gotta be in the playoffs. And the odds have Celebrini Hayes ahead. Minus 220, Celebrini's minus 220 on FanDuel,

Hudson's plus 200, Wolf is plus 950, which is pretty wild. It's just, again, Wolf could get the flames into the playoffs. If he gets the flames into the playoffs, like that should put him near the top. That's a pretty good case to make if you're Dustin Wolfe yeah but yeah dry saddle going for 50 tonight sitting on 49 do you think he could get to 60 how many games they have left 16 15 16 games you see him try to they left them on the ice for almost three minutes last game in with the Rangers with the

goalie I think it's better to do it at home hit 50 and everything tonight man I mean that place would go nuts for him. I mean would you put it past them to get 60? I wouldn't the way he's playing right now and McDavid still has to get hot. Exactly and if if McDavid does and that power play gets clicking like this guy Dry Settle it's a down year for goal scorers you know which is weird to say that because the Ovechkin story is so compelling and Dry Cytl's had himself a great year but he's probably the only guy that's gonna hit 50. And I was just gonna say,

cause in the last couple years we've only seen, we've seen like what, four, five, maybe six guys score 50? Yeah, but usually every year it's like Matthews and Pasternak and Dry Cytl and yeah you know there's a number of different guys that might just creep over Reinhardt last year Reinhardt and Hyman both had 50 plus yeah and I think Dry Cytl had 50 last year and obviously we know Matthews had 69 Carlo Colleacvo in studio so the Leafs where are we at with the Leafs where are you guys at in terms of your daily conversations everything's good in leaf

land now isn't it? Everything's positive. Big win last night. You know, I talked about this this morning. I couldn't believe the outrage that Leaf fans had yesterday after pregame skate when the lineup, the lines were released. And they saw Max Domi centering the third line and Scott Lawton centering the fourth line and there was like

What's Barube doing? There was some reason to be like what is that like they gave up a first round pick for Scotty Lawton And he's on the fourth line and Max Domi hasn't really produced a whole lot at center and he's there He is back at yeah, but I think it was less about the Lawton position and more about Barubei recognizing that before the trade deadline the lines that he had in the top three lines were going they were clicking this team's been Struggling to score goals, and I think that's what he's trying to you know Reengage with this group is that hey we got to find a way to score goals

He put that Domi line back together that had success with McManon Robertson and clicked again last year. Now they've been hot and cold at times. Right. And I guess it's the third line you have to be realistic. Right. It's not gonna be a great line. Remember Craig Barube's message when he had his press conference when he's introduced as a coach? Yes. He said he wants to build a four-line team. Right and he wanted a third line in particular that had an identity. Right. And we were talking to Johnny about this last hour and MJ brings up a very valid point that that line with its flaws is separate from the other ones because it's actually got speed. Like Domi can skate, McMahon can skate and Robertson can skate.

Like where the other lines are not like they're more big and lumbering and there's you know it's not like Tavares isn't flying. But that fourth line has more of a feel of being a checking line because of their experience, their size, like Yarncroc is known to be a checker, is he not? Yeah, I mean, it's kind of incredible that Yarncroc's on the fourth line,

deservedly so considering he's barely played this year. I mean, you gotta give him some time. David Camp isn't even playing. Yeah. those are two guys that that are getting paid a decent amount of money with a decent amount of security but it should be a meritocracy like you gotta you gotta earn your spot. I mean Barube he doesn't care that Dubas brought these guys in or that Tree Living decided to keep them like once you get post deadline it's on the coach to figure out what he wants to do. Right the manager can do what he wants

before the trade deadline after that it's on the coach to figure it out so do you think and look obviously it's no secret Lawton isn't playing close to his best right now and whatever the reason is and the price to acquire him was the price I mean it was a center it was a little center market writing and there wasn't many options out there when i look at the way don't use playing right now you think i was a move that got don't use attention and said wait a minute

that's an interesting point wait a minute i've been the guy that was paid to be the third line guy you don't trade for guys and take my spot is don't use elevated his games and i don not a lot of the last week and a half that's also a lot of nation if that was the secret motivation cocoa props to whoever to write that uh... that i don't know it wasn't intentional on the national motivation but he is a picked he has picked up the the message yeah yet i mean that is a good point because

but don't we've got prior all these guys have pride. They're veteran guys. Like this is a veteran team and they should be stable and confident and comfortable and at many times this year that hasn't been the case and I don't think that was the intention but Domi's not stupid. Like he knows the market's saying they've got to figure this position out and what's gonna happen with Max and Max hadn't been pulling his weight. No. He hadn't been playing well enough and ever since Lotton's arrived the guys had his three or four best games. Right. You know and there's a couple guys on this team Domi's a guy that has a reputation of kind of elevating the playoffs Morgan Riley but I think you look at Brandon

Carlo and how he has kind of stabilized that top four and specifically playing with Riley like he's been really good the last really good and he's killed penalties at a decent rate uh... explain a lot of minutes and you look at the underlying stats they're very positive when he's on the ice you could tell he has a long way habits you guys are both defensemen can you not see the simple little things that he does out there brennan carlo on a nightly basis tells you he's from a winning environment and it's just there there's been a standard where he's played to for a long time and yeah sometimes the best

thing about being successful defense been is just watching the fence and do the quiet things out there yeah simplicity simplicity you know good positionally hard to play against in the corners in front of that good first pass doesn't fool around with the pocket is on and

simple game parks directed towards the net they're you're right i mean the the evaluation of the defenseman you know a lot of times you do talk about skating ability and can they get up in the play in that first pass very important but really it has to start with how they play around their own nets yet if you notice him he's very smart around his own now like he's called and around his own net. Like he's constant. No panic.

No panic. Exactly. No panic, but reading the play and positionally and strong and pushing guys out and battling. And that's only going to elevate. It has to elevate come playoff time. And the more comfortable the guys too, right? Literally is the definition of the position. You have to be able to contribute positively around your own net. What's the one thing that we've been begging for for the Leafs defense over the last couple of years? Right-handed shot defensemen.

Yeah. Well, that's what we saw. Now they have two of them. And physicality. Now they've got two of them. And size. In the last eight months, they've added Chris Tanev and Brandon Karlo to their top four. And it's completely changed the look.

The best top four they've had on paper anyway in a long long time. You know and it's also it's pushed Declan Larson into a better position where he doesn't I think he's played pretty well actually the last couple of games. Like a little bit more aggressive a little bit more like realizing I got to stay in the lane here and he's much more comfortable there because that's what he did when he's in Florida. That's how he revitalized his career. Wasn't going back he can't get back to being closer to the top pairing Yeah, then to the third pairing. He's more of a third pairing guy Yeah, and you know, he's gonna be playing with Ben one Ben was gonna be I see at times and maybe mine

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if they gave Myers a shot I think they gotta find a way to keep him in the mix. Yeah in the next two games You got a back-to-back put him in one and let him play and see what you've got All right, Carlo, well, we'll see what we got tonight. It's a big game at the Bell Center, man. It's gonna be a fun game. It's super fun, man. I'm Jack Ford. I've been doing Montreal Canadian games for a long time now and at this time of the year, it's kind of like...

This kid getting a debut tonight. It's kind of like, you know, tough to analyze because there's not really much to play for. And I think Montreal had a goal to start the season. And I don't know if many people pegged them to be a playoff team, but they wanted to play meaningful hockey at this time of year. They've accomplished that. Yeah, they really have. Like they've been impressive.

You got to give credit where it's due. Like they're they've had a lot of good stories. The Lane Hudson story was big when we were there for the president's cup. It was he was the talk of the town either this kid showing up I wait till you see him play and he's buzzing around you leave there's another one coming in the league Yeah, we even talked about him Hayes when we drove four hours to the golf course every day On the way there and when we got there we were talking about Lane Hudson like man this kid's impressive like let's see what he's got he's exceeded expectations

and uh... you know it's a relatively healthy and very good place montembo your boy yeah i'm very well all right carlson could see him and we'll catch it when you do you guys no kuralnick a cause of all the cause tomorrow erin karo brothers edition at six a.m. tomorrow first up Carlo Coli Ackerman Matt caught

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