OverDrive - Dreger on Rantanen's interest around the league, Hughes' season-ending injury and Lightning acquiring Bjorkstrand and Gourde

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines the around the NHL, Mikko Rantanen creating a list of possible next steps, Jack Hughes' season-ending injury with the Devils, Dougie Hamilton's timeline, the Maple Leafs looking to add a center, the Lightning acquiring Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde and more.

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more dregs? Miko Ranthanen being traded again or Elias Pettersson being traded by Friday? ranton and being traded again or allies peterson being traded by friday uh... live yeah peterson yeah only because they're just there there are different place i know more in information on the correct them and uh... yeah what's going on there with ranted and i saw your tweet reference that we just talked about it but

yeah so i don't know how many teams are on it and i'd i'd believe the ratman submitted a list and management and ownership of the carolina hurricanes this week but they created a big ameth and i tell clubs just gauging their level of interest now that doesn't guarantee that he's getting created for a second time but it certainly pick problems

like the good carolinaricanes are nervous about him walking out the door, you know, them perhaps not going as deep into the playoffs to make it worse and then they get nothing in return. So, you know, no guarantee of trade but it seems like there's a more aggressive approach to trade specific to Miko Rantinen now with Carolina then. Yeah, I got you. So when you. So when you asked when he said like they asked Ranton it for a list what does that mean that he'd be willing to sign with in the future or that he'd be like does he have

trade protection? No he's got a 10 team. The 10 team okay so okay so that's what it's about then. Yeah okay so I mean we're still ironing out the wrinkles of this one it's an interesting one and mean, there's been a whirlwind of speculation around guys specific to the reality that appears to be unfolding. But again, hey, you know, Tom Dunn and Eric Teltsky could, could gauge that level of interest and just say, well, shockingly, it's not as high as it should be. And maybe it won't be like, if there's no guarantee of Mika Ratan and his agent, or Andy Scott are telling teams that have interest that we're not signing. We're going to July

1st, teams may just say, okay, we'll forget it because we're not giving Carolina roster players off our playoff team. Like they did. Like they did. Yeah, like they did without that level of certainty. So I'm cautious with this one. So literally we're going to do play by play of how this whole scenario unfolds. Think about that conversation, Titovsky. Actually, we're not going to be so stupid as to give you a roster player and then not

sign them. And he'd be like, well, that's what I just did. I don't know what I did. Yeah, well, I mean, oh, you played in, and not to go back to those days, but I think they were counting, obviously they were counting on Miko coming in, playing with his buddy, Ajo,

being a good fit with Rod Brindlemore and the way that Brindlemore likes to play and all that. I honestly, I think this tracks back to Ratman more or less getting blindsided in the trade initially. And I think of ladies been a better player for them but, yeah I still, I think I said this last week or the week before. I've yet to find a hockey person that can make sense of that trade other than Carolina got the best player in the deal but make sense of it that they didn't some level of certainty which is you know borderline unbelievable given on

Marty Matress is playing in Colorado. So Drex before we get into more trade talk we had a spirited debate on the show yesterday about a 2008 clip and your salad do you want to verify and maybe go through I mean there was no fresh dip that was just your hair correct yeah hold on though what like I don't recall the pictures is the color of my hair how dark it was dude it was jet black dregs it was jet black were you doing any monkey business with that no I was not And I think it was maybe sitting beside Bobby McKenzie the years following that kind of tarnished me.

But it's one of the reasons I make fun of James all the time. His hair color really hasn't changed since way back then. And look at me, I look like I'm 1,000 years old, but maybe it speaks to a level across. Hey, back in those days, though, I was really trying to pull off the John of crust. Hey, back in those days though, I was really trying to pull off the John Ferguson Jr. look and I thought I did a pretty good job. I agree. I can confirm that. I will not say confirm or deny. I can confirm it. So with

Darren Drager and TSN Hockey Insider, the New Jersey Devils have confirmed that Jack Hughes is done for the year with the shoulder surgery what does this mean for them over the next two days and the rest of the season? That's nasty, it's just flat out nasty right? Nuggy Hamilton is going to be out potentially week to week so the news is slightly better there because you know as you say I mean training camp next year. I guess most managers would say okay uncle that's enough let's just lie down and I don't think that's gonna be the case with Tom Fitzgerald and New

Jersey Devil. Yeah and I'll get that in a second I'm just trying to envision the slow burn that you have going on right now. Oh, I'm trying, man. I'm trying here. I'm being very professional. You know, Toronto's position really hasn't changed. And yeah, Florida goes out and does what they did in acquiring Seth Jones. And you know, they might add a bit more.

I don't know that'll be significant. And then, you know, Julian Breeze, one Tampa, man. He just finds a way to get stuff done. He does. And that's a real nice move, couple of moves, while bringing in players for the Tampa Bay Lightning. But Toronto's focus remains at center ice and bringing in a defenseman. And I guess they have to be willing to pivot.

If the centerman isn't there that you'll want, and we're talking still, guys, even though it's a long shot at best, Braden Shinn, Brock Nelson, right? Scotty Lawton is a number three, that's what he is. Now, not saying they have no interest in Scott Lawton, I'm just saying that until the other two have been exhausted, you know that those deals can't be made, I think Brad Trillium is going to stay focused on that.

I had a team tell me earlier today that Doug Armstrong is still listening on Braden Chien, and the reason he's still listening is because he's positioning for somebody to step up and make a crazy offer, right? So, let's have that conversation. What would we define as crazy? It's not going to be a main roster player, at least not for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but maybe it is somewhere else. Maybe it's a couple of roster players. You know, I think LA, maybe some other clubs. So beyond that, what does that look like? And would Toronto have the stomach to not deal off one or two, but maybe all three of the prospects that have been rumored, like Cowan, Minton, and Benny Danford?

I mean, so it feels like that's what it's going to take to get the interest of Armstrong, and even then there's no guarantee that he does that. And then you look at Brock Nelson, if he's plan B and nobody seems to know what Lou is doing because Lou isn't telling anybody what he intends on doing with these players. So that's where Toronto's at. So if centre-rights kind of falls apart in front of Brad Trilloping, maybe shifts whatever of the assets that he was willing to use and tries to acquire a better defenceman. Darren, we talked about the body issue issue the number of them with the maple leaves

how do you how does an organization go about addressing this uh... like just in terms of rockers spots a salary cap and all that yeah i like to know how do you know how do you make people disappear what why notice pat already wasn't on the ice again uh... in vegas does that mean it's almost close to game over for him, Draggs? Like as far as...

Yeah, I don't know that but whatever his issue is, it was explained to me that it just keeps flaring up. So it's definitely something that I've got on my radar but here's a guy that has worked pretty hard to get back and is very effective when he's healthy but he just he can't stay healthy so we'll keep an eye on that but oh that's that's part of why this whole Toronto trade scenario whatever it is is a challenging one it's not just about you know the pieces that have to go out if you're not moving or Oscar players then you're not making room you know Braden Shen six and a half moving forward.

He isn't gonna walk in a park. You gotta make room for that, not just this year, but the remainder of his contract. So, bodies are coming in, guys have to go. It's that simple. Yep. Yeah, and that's, you know, we're waiting to see if guys go on waivers or whatever,

and other teams are doing that consistently. And you still have a couple of days to figure that out. But, yeah, it's gonna be interesting that consistently and you still have a couple of days to figure that out, but yeah Yeah, it's gonna be interesting to see where else this goes man Well, we did have a Jerry's that we at least have a seven out of ten trade that happened today before today at four o'clock And you that was I think so Yanni Gordon Oliver Bjorkstrand I mean they gave up two first and a second and there's some protection on the first round picks But like that's a pretty hefty price but to

your point Dregg's like a GM down there when he wants somebody he goes out and gets them. Yeah and and that's where it's not pressure on the general manager it's pressure on the opportunity and you know that we've been singing this song for a while now around the Toronto Maple Leafs, right? If you're not embracing, and management is, they're 100% willing to go all in to try and help this team contend for a Stanley Cup, but the pieces have to be available and you've got to find a way to make it set.

All right. All right. I'm gonna share some information that might make your head blow right off his body here. He's outside that door. Who is? Drager. He's here. Draggs is here? You're in the building? Yeah. What is happening around here? The first time the phone went haywire I was maybe 50 feet from where he's at. Oh my god. Doogie. This guy behind the glass is hiding now. What do we, yeah, how do we get you in guy behind the glass is hiding now. What do we, yeah.

How do we get you in here? It's too late now. Hold on. I warned him though. I said to Josh, I'm like, bud, the last time the phone crapped out, I said, you're going to hear about this. This is amateur hour 101. We're bugging him that he's in his basement.

I thought you were at home. Exactly. I just figured you were at home. He's 12 feet away from us. Guys right around the corner. Doogie better put on a sparring cap and some boxing gloves. There'll be a conversation in the break. Doogie and I.

Oleg Blokin, is that the guy's name? A man conversa- Yeah, the old Brazilian, what was he? Oh, he was Ukrainian. Yeah, Ukrainian. Ukrainian soccer coach. You want to have a man conversa- the local is that the guys they've been and covers all yeah bill brazilian uh... was the reserve secretariat you created a great soccer club you want to have a man come to go outside for a man conversation uh... at the beginning of the having a very good question about that well what we got to get inside a training you basically updating that every hour between now and three p m on friday or what

and i kind of have to write well tonight especially i mean between now and 3 p.m. on Friday or what? I mean you kind of have to right? Well tonight especially I mean geez we're on the air till what two o'clock in the morning with the least regional game in Vegas. You'll get the extended version of insider trading and the pre-game and oh I'm sure they'll dust me off and my gray hair in the second intermission as well. There you go beautiful. All right well I guess we'll see you in 30 seconds. I'll come out and say hi.

Keep an eye on Pete Rose on the panel tonight. Take care of him tonight. Oh, he's calling his shot. He's going to fall asleep on the panel tonight. I got nothing tonight, man. I'll have nothing. You better bring it. You better bring it.

Be prepared. Be ready. All right, thank you, Dreggs. Hey, guys, thank you. Dan Dregg, our TSN hockey insider from 20 feet from here Joining us here in the maple Toyota hotline 20 feet from here not live not lot and his phone keeps dropping We've dropped him three times the guy could have been in here I don't what would have made his what would have made his head pop off is if drags had have made contact with Hayes through that glass through

Al's brother's old office and then like can't hear you It's not working if you gave you that one back there though Dathi was standing back there and then I look at my phone and drags is like I'm in the hallway This is so amateur that we wouldn't do that This has happened before with guys that they were on the other side or they're walking over there. Oh six Yeah, like I remember I think Ray had one of those and Ray's phone was going on. I'm like, where are you? I thought he was in Vancouver. Yeah, I'm walking over to the studio. I go why didn't you come in? Yeah He said something about his driver

He's like wow the driver this and I was like, you know I just had no didn't want to do it. Or at the time, the grappler didn't ask him or something. Yeah. Unbelievable. Women run the charts. Lead the conversation. And make history.

This International Women's Day. iHeartRadio celebrates them all. Turn up the Women of the North playlist for iconic Canadian artists. Lock out with queens of every sound and take a trip with hits through herstory. Plus empowering podcasts by women for women. Stream now and celebrate the power of women everywhere with the free iHeartRadio app.