OverDrive - Dreger on Canucks’ naming Foote their new head coach, the NHL coaching carousel, and the Leafs heading into Game 5

Episode Date: May 14, 2025

TSN Hockey Analyst Darren Dreger joins the show to discuss Adam Foote being named the head coach of the Canucks. Dreger shares his thoughts on GM and head coaching candidates from around the league and the Leafs heading into Game 5.

Listen to Tech Talk with Mark Saltzman Sundays at 5 p.m. on Newstalk 1010 and the iHeart Radio app. The show that makes sense of the ever-changing world of technology. Brought to you by LG CareQ, keeping the life's good promise with elevated customer care. The bugs are back in town. Ovo by Cirque du Soleil. The classic everybody loves with new characters, new staging, and new mind-bending acrobatics. You don't want to miss this one. Ovo,

playing May 1st to June 28th at Lakeshore Boulevard West. Ovo thanks its presenting partners Sun Life and official partners Air Canada and Mastercard. T at Cirque du Soleil com. There he is Darren Drager. Yeah Darren Drager joining us in studio. What a crazy day all of a sudden Talk It to Philly, Adam Foote to Vancouver. Yeah. What's this all about? Where did this come from so quickly? You know they tried did Vancouver try to top the Philly news by like if you're if you're announcing Talk It we're gonna come over the top top without him for it well they weren't aligned with the kind of our because if rick talk it well that i'm putting get the vancouver head coaching job then

i think that it would be a safe bet that he was sliding over the philadelphia fliers and he was going to continue to working rick talk it you know in this case uh... you know the connects like that they had in rick talk. They like what they have in Adam foot There's familiarity there the players like Adam foot So that's a consideration and despite the fact that he doesn't have NHL head coaching experience

He's been around the game his entire life You know coached a bit with Colona in the Western Hockey League So I think it really came down to foot mo Holter who's also in the organization in the western hockey league so i think it really it really came down to foot moholter who's also in the organization the american league uh... and then they kept our son some other candidates are marco sturm uh... mitch love is another one with washington capitals i heard they they interviewed luke richardson but at the end of the day it felt like they want to keep it in the filias peterson thinks that sometimes the assistant coaches like a buffer to players now where it's like, hey, you know, everything's good.

You're not as bad as you think. If he thinks it's going to be any more of like. A rough ride, because Adam Foot is now it's going to might be worse with Adam Foot as his head coach, because he is going to say, I want to like he will be all over that guy. Well, I do know that even before right Rick talk had told the Canucks Okay, I'm not coming back the conversations that he had exit meetings with players conversations with management

Talk it told players. Okay, here's where I need you to be when training camp starts Here is what your marching orders are for the offseason so you can imagine what that conversation was like with Peterson because that that was the knock on him right like he showed up in training camp but he wasn't ready and it's tough to get ready in the season and and then that caused all kinds of of rifts inside that room and and you know maybe to degree what happened with JT Miller and and all of that but I mean Adam Foote is gonna be all over this group but management still has to you know put their fingerprints on it as well. There's work to be done

there in a big way especially up front. Yeah well I mean best sir where do things stand with that like is it foregone conclusion he's walking or or what? I wouldn't say foregone conclusion but it's it's headed that way. Yeah I think so I mean why wouldn't he at this stage at least get to the open market and see what's available to my i can imagine the vancouver can actually roll out a contract that would encourage him not to go to july first it might be best for everybody just we know so drags with the coaching carousel do you you know sense that

more risk coming you know i i i who are the nets next wave the the hot names that are being bandied about by the other organizations are still jobs to be filled there there is uh... you know jay woodcroft's name is out there again uh... and now you know i mean i i i don't know specifically where he's interviewed but i know that he's he's had a few interviews with uh... with teams that have that level of interest that i'm hearing david quinn's name is out there in some capacity again

uh... david carl's name from denver has been out there for a while and you know then you get into all the assistant coaches like you know the trauma believes they're in deep here against the florida panthers but lane lambert is is the guy whose name is out there on a consistent basis and probably should be i mean he's deserving of that you'll go and go out some with uh... the edmundson orders again they're tied up but there are a number of good qualified nhl associate or assistant coaches

and then you dive into you know some of the college guys that have been rumored i mentioned carl uh... and you look the american hockey league and and you know it's interesting we just dart back to Vancouver for a moment here I think that Manny Mulholland was plan B you know they decided on Adam Foote probably because of maybe his experience dating all the way back to Colorado right I mean maybe but they they have a lot of time for for Manny Mulhollter but most clubs do now with their american league head coach are not afraid to promote their

guys why is it so difficult you see occasionally young fresh coach pop on the scene but at the g m spot it's like is it just because of fear of lack of experience that a guy like ken holland i get why is it so difficult i mean cal dubas is is an example that happened a long time ago you don't really see like a a younger different mine kinda enter the equation for a g m position it it's a good question now you're talking about

at g m job or the g m coming in and hiring hired as a g m fresh face on the scene some kind of young now you mind words like this this guy deserves a shot I mean Danny Brier is an example of a player he kind of was in the organization but it seems like for the most part an organization will go to when an older veteran guy that's been around the block yeah you know I I haven't really dug deep on what's going on with the New York Islanders Matthew darts his name is out there again and I mean that's a name that we're all familiar there's an example of a guy where you would think that he's going to

get a shot sooner or later has to get a shot and deserves to get a shot he's worked very very hard and and continues to to do good things i wouldn't be surprised if if you landed with the new york islanders but that's that's not on point with what john collins and the ownership group of the islanders have been looking for like they would have loved to have lured ken holland into the islanders uh... jeff borton's name is kinda loosely been speculated

out there while i mean here the material canadians here you're probably not letting him go right now why would you you know so if if you get to that place or mark burgeon man is out there too uh... you know so if if you get to that place or mark burgeon man is out there too you know the LA Kings decided that Ken Holland was their best fit and they've had mark burgeon and they're working closely with Rob Blake for at least a couple of years now so maybe burge is another candidate that that surfaces with the Isles but that doesn't that that doesn't service what you're talking

about though Darge would and and they're they're qualified guys like that out there that just need and are waiting for do you think lula morello is like actively seeking employment to do it he was getting his visa done i know i i understand that but that like if this you would he would have more than enough reason to if you got a call saying guys i think i'm i've had enough but if you got a call would he feel that they'll be there tomorrow for an interview let's just like to see why you are working for us is a question

isn't the man eighty two years old yes yes i'm saying is like retire already uh... but if someone calls lou and in goes i wanted interview for the gm job you think you would accept that invitation in was again was he not spotted in the buffalo yes but it wasn't i was a bit of a head-to-head he was in a bottle renewing his nexus uh...

but i mean i'm always amused by that look i mean somebody spots lulu and real walking through an airport i especially in buffalo with everything that's gone on around ke Adams and the Buffalo Sabres, he snapped a photo, you post it, maybe he's coming in to take over the rocked operation. He's in a suit man, like mixing some Lululemon. I have never in my life seen Lou in anything but that dark blue suit. Maybe it's a senior advisor possibility, who knows-lost the nexus in a senior advisor i know that there there has been dialogue between the buffalo sabers and lula morel but it was initially in an advisory capacity and it didn't sound like he was

keenly interested in that uh... but you know adams is a general manager untold that philosophy directions still lines with terry bagula the owner of the buffalo sabers though i lose not going into buffalo to answer to kevin out growth there if they're not going to hire somebody in that could be i think

kenny holland would have an interest in buffalo job again in that you know president or or senior of hockey operations capacity so we'll see but it answered your question right I mean I doubt it that Lew lands another general manager job I doubt it yeah but he's an incredible shape for an 82 year old dude the mind is as sharp as it's ever been I mean Islander fans if they're listening going what are you talking about, right? Like, Lou, that's a mastermind play. So here's the other thing, and I think that Islander's job is a bit of a spicy one, you know,

for a couple of reasons. If Lou is still there, nobody with any NHL experience wants to go in there because you know that Lou is still pulling the strings, or at least it feels that way and you've got patrick waa with three more years at three point five schmell per well they're not firing patrick waa anytime soon and patrick can be a challenge i know that'll come as a surprise to you guys but he can be a bit of it especially if if lou is out the door and patrick wants to completely renovate his roster which some think he does well we should that we should ask you know one of the first moves pierre engvall could level up concern he had a great he had a great stretch run noodles he did he got the message that's got to go down as

one of the most bizarre contracts of all time seven-year deal at three points something for Pierre Ingval I actually when it was tweeted I remember looking in and thinking that somebody's account got hacked yeah I'm not being as smart I honestly that's that's how it read to me we're like in that silly season where there's you know at real Pierre Lebrun to yeah I'm thinking someone was I have the same impression I still think it may be a it was reminiscent of your finger where it was like people thought the money in the years were screwed up where it was four million over four years but it was all or

year i was the one of the funniest experiences i've ever had a live television at the s and with gordon or when he reported that and i i can't i mean it was jeff jackson is cliff fletcher was helping jeff at on live television at TSN with Gord Miller when he reported that and I mean it was Jeff Jackson it was Cliff Fletcher was helping Jeff at the time and I remember Gord whoever he was talking to saying like that's total. He holds the phone out like this no that's per year. Per year man we love this guy. Darren Drager in studio so when you think of uh... game five tonight leaves panthers from a lead perspective where does your head go first who well be more discipline than they were in the first period of game four

and in florida i mean that's just common sense and if you're lucky enough to get a power play wouldn't be nice to get everything rolling get the five on five fuel with a power play go on preferably it's number thirty four or sixteen that get the job done there right that's right in on any of the itself like i mean we're going to talk about this all night long i know this but it's not to a lack of effort we can appreciate what those guys are doing and i want to flip it a little bit okay i understand austin matthews gets paid what he gets paid largely

for being game breaker in scoring goals in national hockey league and mitch gets paid and will get paid for being a playmaker for the guy who who sets up that sort of scenario but i'll be a little bit of credit for the florida pathers here right like i mean they know that you're not gonna lock down austin matthews but what you need to try and you and they've been very effective at least they were

you know on home ice in florida is limiting the time that margaret's right said it i a series is like they're going to get there's the that the thing is with austin is he hasn't got is yet yeah well that's that's the thing i mean and it didn't happen in boston it didn't happen the year before against florida i get some point yes you you credit the opponent they're allowed to play, they're allowed to defend, but he's just gotta break through it, it's that simple.

And Marner's no different. I mean, you look at Mitch's career in games five, six, and seven, the stats fall off a cliff, right? We've got game five tonight. Like he's, I think he's played 18 career game five, six, and sevens, and he's got eight points. I think it is, eight assists, no goals. He's got, I think, what is he got,

one shot on goal in the last two or three games? Like it's right there for them. Like they've gotta perform. They've gotta perform. And you've just gotta help lead your team to wins. It's not, people aren't, I've been saying this for two weeks now, I've been saying it, it feels like for nine years.

No one is asking anything of these two players that any other fan base is not asking of their two best players. Like people in Florida, like hey, Bar Cub, you gotta have a night. Right? Like they're not saying hey, maybe AJ Greer could possibly do something.

No, they're looking at their best players. Same thing in Vegas tonight. You look at McDavid and Drysott, you look at Eichel and Stone. You gotta get it done. And it's a great opportunity for them like the right here it's right in front of go take advantage where you guys as sage hockey people on the idea that

you know berube thinkers will align him i mean he wouldn't give up anything after the morning's the game time decision if we make changes it's not injury related i would have tried willie with austin just the kind of i think willies got a tinker a little bit with it I would have tried Willie with Austin just to kind of I think Willie's got a tenured a little bit with it He figured a little bit but not I would I would tinker with it to dregs and and even put in some different players like that You know bottom Robert son Campers of you know he hasn't played in like a month and a half

Robertson is the guy for me at least he's just a different look like he's got some speed he can score you know obviously he's probably been chomping at the bit because it didn't go well for him at the start of the playoffs like that's the thing it's it doesn't you're not married to the it saying this is what it's going to be the rest of the playoffs right it's a one gamer I I look at the adjustments teams make throughout the these last eight teams that are that are still here There's guys they're getting added in and you know Debora gets haste getting back But he keeps 11 7 because he wants to find some more ice set like to me

This is in game adjustments sort of our game to game adjustments I would have no problem if I saw just a little bit different tonight Just throw something a little bit different Well and arguably if you're looking at bottom six rolls here Like max Domi's the only guy that scored a goal in the bottom six Well that goes back to the best players because it looks like some of those guys they are so far away from even getting a shot On net like I don't remember the last time cart Kelly Yarncroft's got a shot like no no they're just there they're really far away from it so these guys there's not much of an option for guys that have to step up yeah and that that is

reasonable i mean and at some point they've got to contribute something you know whoever it's going to be whether to your broker lorenzo would have you but if it if it's not going to be there at a minimum they've got a chop up their shifts like they gotta get out of their zero zero every time you time on the ice and then you're relying on your best players to take it from there yeah i i mean if you're looking for change for the sake of change i i mean you can see camp coming in despite fact as a played

yarn kirk comes out you've got the penalty kill spot basically sealed off there should you know now it's debatable but i i'm with you like that why wouldn't you give nicky Robertson a crack if it doesn't work well and there's guys that have played themselves into questionable roles like Yarncrocus one let's face it Bobby McMahon hasn't done anything so I think it's a mid-ill time penalties yeah exactly so like if McMahon came out it's not it would be I think a two-way street you maybe want to get a new new look with Robertson

But you're also maybe sending him a message. I'm just you got a man guys I thought he kind of established himself as like a not a top-end player, but a guy that or 20 goals this year I thought he could find his way on to a top-six role and kind of stay there So for him to go I think it's like 20 games or something without scoring a goal I didn't I thought he would be like a key guy, like just the way he moves. North-South guy. Yes, I thought he would be really effective as it hasn't happened for him. I think he's better suited as a top nine, so he's going to have to settle in on a third

line and play North-South, play heavy, play physical, and chip in offensively when he gets his looks. Like that's really what it is because he didn't have the chemistry with Tavares and Nylander that you you wanted or expected right that that that top six role that left side has been a revolving door all year long now right yes you expect any carryover from the kind of nastiness of the last game I mean I that was not like Barkov and Domi are gonna fight off the draw tonight Only Domi thing that happened would be one of five for another team I've got it. I found it amusing and I can't share who it was somebody from the Florida Panthers

Said to me after watching the Oilers in the Vegas Golden Knights because I keep I keep hearing you guys not necessarily us here the Vegas Golden Knights. I keep hearing you guys, not necessarily us here collectively, media in general, talking about how nasty and mean this series is between the Leafs. It's not mean at all. It's not even close to being nasty or mean. I'm watching battle after battle between the Leuters and the Vegas Golden Knights the other night. There's a scrum after every whistle. I'm thoroughly entertained because that's playoff hockey were not there yet so you know playing is campers and other layers one of the testing okay let's get to that tonight

yeah i like that i think you know what it wasn't that frederick a goal or hagg fight that was the first fight of the playoffs now what now first of the playoffs which is kind of surprising is it not like there was enough fight in i love what i'd have fun right now i get all the time in the world for him yeah frederick's a good player man he says perfectly suited for the role that he played out

you know like there's a ceiling on him but they are just i'd are you guys not shocked that that was the first fight yeah you're right i mean i also like when you think of there's been some moments like you know the the Wilson Anderson that wasn't a fight but right like you thought maybe those I was waiting for those two to go it never happened yeah you're right Tampa Florida there were some multiple suspensions nasty plays it never led to gloves dropping. Right. Yeah, I guess you're right. I mean, again, maybe that's just the nature of the playoffs.

And that's why, like, if you're the Leafs and there's been this chatter about Kichuck and Nylander and, you know, them not happy with the... Florida's not fighting tonight. That egg looks like a tough bastard. He's a big guy. Jesus. He's an ombre big guy. He is. He's an ombre. He is. But, you know, that was just like I, you know, watching that and the announcers go, yeah,

the first fight of the playoffs, I was like, what? Like I kept thinking I must have seen a fight. You're right, Hayes, like Anderson, Wilson, Bench, you know, that was like pretty heavy. That was close. It was close, but it just actual gloves off. And I thought that Tampa series like they that was a bloodbath for five games. And there was no fights in that one. That's just very unique.

Nothing anyway. All right, Drex. Introducing Brian Adams Radio. I have a radio. Have a first real six. Hosted by Brian Adams Radio on I Heart Radio. Got my first real sick string. Hosted by Brian Adams himself. Join me for an insider look on a wild ride through 40 years of global rock and roll. Gonna rock to you.

Brian Adams Radio. I'm ready. Now available on the free I Heart Radio app. To love you. Or ask your smart speaker to play Brian Adams Radio on I Heart Radio. I was ready to rock. Got nowhere to go. The kids wanna rock.