OverDrive - Duthie on the Maple Leafs and Panthers' battle, the race in the Atlantic Division and Marner's significant role

Episode Date: March 13, 2025

TSN Host James Duthie joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Panthers' showdown, the Atlantic Division close standings, the fanbase views around Mitch Marner and his contract, Chris Tanev's return to the lineup and more.

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Bell, getting a new phone just got better. James Duffy will be on the panel and he's in the house and he joins us here in studio. What's happening JD? Not too much. How are all the boys? We're doing very well. We got Struddy out in Edmonton. He's Jack for the Leaf game tonight. Oh there he is. There he is. Oh yeah. Hello.

He's setting up shop. There he is. Struddy, one of the stars of Certified Beauties, the sequel to Beauties, a popular book coming out next fall. A full chapter on Struddy. Oh, jeez. I love it. How much of it is about his... He may be on the cover. It may just be him on the cover. From the Spangler Cup, his Spangler Cup. Sex sells. I don't think

Sure does I don't think the Spangler made it now the Spangler years did pretty much every well a lot of great studies Okay, very lucky to have that we look forward to that had to hassle him for about six months He's tough to get I had to go through his people He's tough to get. I had to go through his people. Who's that? Rashog? You have to go through Rashog to get strutty these days? My dog, Walker. Rashog wants a piece of everything these days. Absolutely. He is a business

man out there and he runs a tight ship. But this is a good one tonight. Every, what is it? September I guess it comes out like the different games we're gonna have on TSN every year and you look through it and this one is as good as it gets with the-

Like the dog days are over now. Yeah, it's go time now. And not just, you know, it feels that way, it's starting to feel like spring outside and we're past the deadline and, you know, you always get those games in Jan and Feb and early in March, but now it's, I feel like this is kind of the official start where it's real. And these three games, I mean, they may not decide the division,

but if one team was to get five of the six points, they probably win the division. I'm not a good odds guy, but don't you think they probably win the division? Yeah, it's very significant. And it's interesting if they would, like, who would be more comfortable just splitting the points like if each team. Well I was looking at schedules the strength of schedules Florida's is a lot easier not I shouldn't say a lot easier. The Leafs have an easy schedule compared to like the rest of the league do they not? They don't this is Tankathon.com but I don't know how accurate this is okay but the Leafs are 22nd and Florida is 13th.

Okay, the strength of schedule thing though, because I've been quoting it non-stop for the past few weeks, and then we put up a board the other night, I was doing the Sens game, and you know, the difference between like the third hardest strength of schedule and the easiest strength of schedule, it's like, you know, you're from facing a 522 points percentage to a 522 points percentage to a 501 points percentage. So it's not like one team has all dogs and the other team is playing Colorado and Tampa and the Aves sort of back to back. But if you look at Florida it zeros in on their toughest matchups their toughest matchup

is basically the Leafs and Tampa. Okay. And the Leafs have Florida three times Carolina, Colorado, LA, Tampa and Ottawa. Yeah, that's fair. Oh, yeah I don't know. Yeah, you're right. Well, I mean ultimately if you're either team I mean these three games are incredibly important to you to winning the division is more important to Toronto that is to Florida Would be something I think we focus in on these three games and they go, you know Battle battle battle and in tampo in city which is a lot of that we had a little bit of best of seven yeah we need to say which is possible to win uh... by and florida listen florida's always got more going to go tank a

fun live the opposite david strength they have while the other way around as well as the way how do we think you don't know what trust anymore never trust the guy runs in shorts runs in shorts interest not trust the internet oppositely my impression was that the Leafs do not have an overly difficult schedule but what they're gonna do is run into a number of teams that are fighting for the playoffs right like that's that's the reality as well you got Ottawa on Saturday night Ottawa plays them incredibly well. They always have.

And Ottawa's in a really good spot. And like Vancouver, that was a big win for them last night. Huge win, right? And is that an overtime or a shootout last night? Did Garland win that in a shootout? I think it was a shootout. Garland won it. Yeah, Garland won it in a shootout last night. But, you know, it kind of feels like we're going to get five Canadian teams in there, JD.

Yeah, I feel like, and this is probably disrespectful to the Canucks and the Flames, but I kind of feel like that wild card is going to be fodder, first round fodder a little bit. Although they're playing Winnipeg in the first round. Yeah, but I think that's disrespectful to Winnipeg just because they were bad last year. They've been great this year. I think Winnipeg will win whoever they play if they win the division. Gets a little dicier if it's Colorado or Dallas. Like the Central and the Atlantic are very similar. Don't you feel like?

Like how critical it is to win the division because the two versus three in the Atlantic and the Central I think are going to be the two best first round playoff series. Now, of course, we know it's hockey so any second wild card could. Now we were saying the other night with Ottawa, if you win the second wild card in the East, this is now this will sound disrespectful to Washington because I think Washington is a wagon but they haven't really been there recently and Carolina's kind of damaged by the whole Rantan thing and Jersey's damaged by no Jack Hughes and

You feel like the second wild-card team whoever that is if it comes out of the East You know might have a decent shot to go through the metro big time. Yeah So I think it's a great spot to be in if you're Ottawa because they played Washington very well this year, too Like they've played them really really well, but then you get the first wild card and you probably get Florida Tampa, Toronto and then you get the first wild card and you probably get Florida, Tampa, Toronto, and then you get Florida, Tampa, Toronto in the second round. Although if you're playing Toronto in the first round, it's the same reputation. Right. Like whoever gets the Leafs in the first round, if it is a wild card,

they'd be like, I wonder if you did a strong pull like in a Senators dressing room. Would you rather take, you know, Washington in the first round or the Leafs in the first round? That's a great question. Might be split. That's a great pull question. Who would Ottawa prefer to play to the first round of the lease in the first that's a great question might be split that's a great poor question who would auto a prefer to play in the first round i think they'd just rather play somebody they just want to have a lot of seven years yet they want to and that's that's not a that's no guarantee they want to be able to take you on the spoiler if you're the centers to play the lease you know you're gonna be on the road i mean i think that the pressure all beyond the lease i don't think i have

all any pressure on that series there series. It's not another drop. Wouldn't even be close. Especially after we build up this one. As long as you win the Atlantic you're in great shape. If they avoid you know they finally avoid Florida Tampa and Boston and then they would lose to the Senators that would be the disaster of all disasters. By the way I have this thought in my head that I can't get out of my head since ready said uh... running in shorts with jonas running in short my first Stanley Cup final was the two thousand six family cup final carolina and edmonton

and you know i was still you know go to the suit on the off day where the suit on the off day you know go to the practice for availability i was stunned one day when ken campbell on al Strachan both ran to the rink and so they were in the scrums in those little like you know the kind of shorts we wore in gym class in grade eight the ones that went like well above

the thigh yeah like halfway up the thigh kind of like Daisy Dukes but Adidas shorts that's not a good look I'm leaning a a mic in. For those two guys too in particular. Bracken and Kenny Campbell sweaty in these little tiny shorts and I'm like what world have I joined here? Yeah that's. Larry Bird. Old school man.

It did, it looked like two Larry Birds right next to me. Only they're each like five foot four. Like they're not six foot nine like Larry Bird. I just didn't know you could run to the rink for availabilities. I guess that's the writer's world. We had this conversation the other day. For me, that is completely unprofessional.

Do you ever show up at the scrums in the shorts? No, but here, let me ask you a question here. So in the playoffs, they don't really, you know this, James, they don't practice. So on off days, they usually do their availability at the hotel. And when you're in Florida you don't really want to be in it's 40 is that okay I know what he wears on a pair of pants in a golf shirt about like shorts like you would wear to a golf are you talking in

the golf shirt are you laying stand now is it a tight tuck never you will not tuck in a golf shirt you would you a hipp? Is it a tight tuck? Never. You will not tuck in a golf shirt. I refuse. What are you a hippie or something? You refuse to do that? Jonas. Why do I need a tuck? Why? Are you a tuck? A tuck is a professional move. If you tuck in your shirt it's lame. That's the job, Jonas. No, that's a loser move. I think you need to get with the times here, Jonas. That's a no. Well, I think it goes a long way. I think if you're going to wear shorts you got to tuck in the shirt at a minimum. I think you got to, I think it goes a long way. I think if you're gonna wear shorts, you gotta tuck in the shirt at a minimum. I think you gotta put in some effort. I think Bobby Mack in his last years

at some cup finals would show up in sweatpants for those avails, but it was Bobby Mack. Yeah. He could get away with anything. Are we talking like Lululemon, like somewhat stylish? Yeah, Bobby always had style. Okay, so that. Sweatpants.

I guess so. I mean, and listen, Strachan and Campbell like that Strachan covered the game for a long time also you know I'm in the Hall of Fame barely legendary writers yeah but I wanted the shorts to go a little bit further down the thigh I think that that is reasonable this will be Mitch Marner's first game back home since the wave no wave what do you expect tonight like do you think I think the crowd has any acknowledgement for him or is it even on the radar what do you do I don't know I mean if anything I suppose you give him

a warm roe of Asian because they want him to stay sort of thing and that the fact that he I mean what does it mean what he did does it mean he wants to go to free agency or does it mean he never wanted to leave the lease? That's the thing. I think the average mass fandom would interpret it in a positive way that he didn't want to wave that he wanted to stay here and ride it out with the lease. But I don't think there'll be any more or less reaction. Don't you think it changes it?

It changes a little bit. It's like if you're in a relationship and someone says to you, just stay here for a second. I'm going to go over and look at this corner and hopefully to find someone better. Then you bring it back. I think it changes the relationship between Marner and the team. But what about the fans? It doesn't change the relationship between him and the fans though.

No, no, not the fans, but the team. I mean, because it's like you wanted to take somebody else over. We love you Mitch, we love you, but we love this guy a little bit more. And when in fact we want to trade you for him, I think it changes it. I'm not saying he's leaving, but I don't think it's as sweet as it was two weeks ago. Yeah and that angle hasn't really been talked about a lot. Like how Marner is supposed to interpret beliefs asking him to wave. Like is that... No they would say we tried, we want to sign you, that's our priority, but if we can't sign you we'll take this guy who's

better than you basically. Well arguably better than you. Well it can't sign you, we'll take this guy who's better than you, basically. Well, arguably better than any of the states. Well, it wasn't their spin, it was our obligation to come to you because they asked us to. Which is completely bogus. No, of course, if they didn't want to... If they just said, we love you, we're not trading you for anyone. Well, exactly, like what if Carolina called and said, we want Austin Matthews? Well, we better go tell Austin.

Someone called us. Ashen Ajo, we better go tell Austin. Someone called us. Yeah like it's our obligation to tell you obviously that is completely ridiculous. You know what though might be different is like the perception that they want to sign him and he's saying we think I'm not ready to sign. So it's like does he want to stay? Well what about the equation like as a guy who's in that scrum all the time, like do you, how do you think the scrum in Toronto is going to respect his wishes to not talk about it the rest of the way? So he hasn't spoken since he came back and they just got back.

I don't know, like he clearly, you saw it on Saturday, he did not want to talk about it. Right. And answered as best he could without talking about it. So I think he would do the same. Well, I'm sure he's gonna have a similar messaging. But like not as much media was in Colorado on Saturday night as there will be tonight after a game like this. It's an awkward thing to ask in a scrum too, like to really, if you actually want to

Right. Get what's going on. Especially after a game if something crazy happens during the game. This is the thing though, about the way the room works now, there's no just pulling a guy aside. Not like it used to be 20 years ago. I thought you'd just sit there and maybe talk to him or whatever. Like the Leafs aren't going to allow that. Marner's not going to allow it. But yeah I'm curious what kind of you know how that story kind of hangs over him the rest of the way and then the team and then the fans you know because like a game like tonight he's got to have a big

game like Marner's got to big game but Mars got a perform tonight and i think there's more pressure on the lease obviously with florida you know doing what they've done the last couple years and with the least are trying to achieve and we mentioned it earlier james that like stole ours is a big one for him because he's played his former team once they lost five one in florida back in november he's got to get after tonight that's a big stretch for both of those guys because we spent most of

You know before the four nations break talking about how this was the best one-two combo in the last whatever decade 15 years for Toronto something like that and Though they've been you know they had that five game winning streak coming out of the break But they've both been kind of I think think they're both sub-900 save percentages since the break. And so, look, Craig Barube says he's going to keep the rotation going, there's no urgency to pick his guy yet, but you want to, when he's going to pick his guy, let's say if he's going to pick a guy, because that's still, I suppose, debatable, but he's probably gonna pick a guy with a couple weeks left in the season, and you would wanna be making it a tough decision

on which guy to pick because both are rolling. You don't wanna have a default pick, or oh my god, which guy do I pick? I don't think that'll be the case. They're both good enough goalies, and I think Stolarz will get going. But you're right. This is, like, for both these guys time because

you know you i don't know what you think that will work ready what would you want you know you're starting goalie by the playoffs is europe your defenseman in front of them would you like to know five games before something i think that the players and know who they like to start so in my head of my i think it's this guy uh... and then you're just hoping the coach goes along with it

and i think i think a coach has an idea this far out guys. I really do. I just can't believe that you wouldn't know. Right. But he wouldn't know for sure, right? Like he would have Stolarz is like right ahead right now. Probably got to be faking Stolarz. Right, but it's not like it's like it's a layup. It's not like Vasilevsky, Johansen. Fair point. Fair point, right. Fair point, Jonas. Yeah, and that's what comes with a tandem,

but he can't have an idea of what he wants his opening night lineup to look like. Now that we're through the trade deadline, there's nothing else. Like, yeah, you might run into injuries or slumping players. I mean, that's something you might possibly have to adjust to on the fly, but no one is coming through that door

that isn't available to you as of tonight and Chris Tanev possibly returning tonight that's pretty heavy that would be massive that's big man like they've really really missed him which says something about the way the other guys have played but also the way he's just settled in like he's just been a great addition to this team like that's to see those two together too he and carlo together yeah like i think that that's something i want to see that That's what they've been looking for, right? These big guys that can do those things. So I think the two of them together will be interesting. Will they put them together though? No. Not together. You're right. To get our first look at what a playoff defensive core would look like. Yeah. That's right. Yeah. So not together. Just in the same

line of. Bill, there's Oliver Ekman-Larson into a position where he should be, like a third pairing veteran, you know, get him in better matchups, maybe start him in the opposition zone more, and just everything's gonna filter in properly, and that is significant about tonight as well. Carlo makes his debut and Scott Lotton as well, and I'm sure Lotton's gonna have family and friends and everyone, those are always cool stories.

Like how thick do you lay on tonight? Yeah, everyone's gonna be there, I mean, I'm sure you. Yeah. The other thing is you should be able to pounce on these Panthers. There's no Kachak. They don't have Brad Marchand yet. They don't have...

No, I have Vlad. I mean, Seth Jones is... You wonder if they knew about... Yeah, I'm kinda wondering that too. Do you think they knew about the Eklad thing when they got Seth Jones? Like, this stuff filters through, right? Well, isn't there little negotiations behind the scenes on these suspensions sometimes?

I'm always, I'm always thinking that there's, the team has a few day heads up on this. I don't know if that would have been about a week heads up, maybe more, right? More. Yeah, so they probably didn't know. Like, if they came back and said, we gotta test that guy again, that's when you're like, maybe we should get Seth Jones. Hey, can we see Aaron Echblad for another test please? Anyone else? No, just Echblad.

Who's that guy that's mad in Chicago? Let's see if we can get that guy. Yeah, let's see if we can find that guy, right shot defenseman. But yeah, that's a good point. And listen, Jones plays a ton of minutes. Like he plays a ton of minutes. He played a lot the other night. He'll continue to do that. Ian Forsling is a top pairing. That's gonna be tough. Tough not to crack, but the Leafs have got to do it. I saw like, I don't know, it was FanDuel that Florida's odds of winning the division are listed at like 51% and the Leafs were 34%, which I found interesting with what you said about strength of schedule. But I was wrong. No, but you said the Leafs was an easier schedule.

Yes. I don't know. I still don you said the Leafs was an easier schedule. Yeah. Yes. I don't know, I still don't know if that makes sense because I'm looking at the teams they played. Are you going to flip again? Yeah, well like the teams the Leafs play are harder than the teams the Florida players. Add the tariffs, drop the tariffs,

add the tariffs, drop the tariffs. What are we doing here, Jonas? Who are you? Yeah, that's who I really want to follow. I see that plan, it makes a lot of sense. That seems like you're wavering a lot right now. So roll it closer to you, Jonas. What's going on with the players?

Give me a players update. Yeah, well you know what? The scoreboard or the leaderboard was not exactly chock full of big names. Yeah, I was like, Vejegas was sixth under when I left my little room to see you. Yeah, it was like Aaron Smalley and Bud Colley. That's a very typical first day at the players.

Yes, but. And you always get scared and usually by Sunday there's some combination of Scheffler, Shofley, McElroy, something in there. I'll give you a few big names so... If Scotty's like three under then you know he's gonna be up by three come Sunday. Lucas Glover's in the clubhouse at six under he's got the lead right now. He's got that what's what are those putters called? Those... I don't know what they're called. The Lab putter. Yeah because he... All my buddies have them now they're like a grand and they apparently balance everything out so you can't open

or I was rich friends yeah I've never used one before I've seen them they look much wealthier than I am they don't look comforting they look they're too big I would try my buddies last year because yeah there was there's a lot to them but the science says they're great I wasn't trying to get on a lab putter. Lucas Glover knows, obviously is very supportive of them. He has one, yes. Glover's doing well but McElroy's three under, Fleetwood's three under, Scheffler's two under, he's still on the course. Did any of you watch the Creators Classic yesterday? I guess you were on the air. No, I didn't see it. So YouTube Golf has taken off. So they actually had a tournament with like the most popular YouTube golfers. Right. Which was pretty, pretty fascinating. You know, some of them are really good. But there's one guy on Barstool, Trent Jones or something, I think his name is. And I guess he won a Barstool playoff to play. He was

20, they played eight holes and then one hole playoff to win. He was 28 over. Yeah. So, and it was fun to watch a guy they had real commentators right and they're playing from the backs that's the players and this guy's making an 11 he put five balls in the water on 17 and he kept hitting yeah which was kind of icing the guys who were in the lead group behind him but it was I've always said there's a there's a place for the every man golfing under normal golfer circumstance. Especially at these type of courses. Fascinating to watch. Yeah, I don't want to see him at

some course in Florida that has no affiliation with the tour. I want to see you play a place like this. Now, think Augusta will ever do that? No, no shot. It would be the best, but they will never do it. Come on in Trent, come play Augusta National and let's see what you got. No. Yeah, but you're right. I probably got his name wrong by the way. the national it's not only god now yeah but you're right i probably got his name around by the way i know it's trend i don't know his last name but i i saw i saw him on seventeen just like dot he should already have a thirteen or something like that all i got is one of all that have like a two hundred and thirty yard carry and you can't do that though he didn't do it he just hit a he he did to the

side but no other player would ever try it about a hundred yards the side so i was second over it but it was but i don't I find it oddly fascinating. I think it's like watching clowns like you and me golf. Exactly what it is. And then you have a greater appreciation for how much better the professionals actually are. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, it's just not even close. They were in short shorts. Yes, they were. Okay, well that makes it even better. All right, JD, we'll catch you on the panel tonight. a little pregame at six thirty and game at seven marty b ron in for uh... jeff o'neill's so are you getting his daily updates on golfing he claims that he said six birdies every round

uh... that's like writing it today i'm like dude please stop that's like the epic time i was last summer two summers ago where he came in and said he shot his career low 66 that At Weston and then came up with a story about a lost ball that he just took a free drop. Yeah Oh, I remember yeah, well, I mean we knew it was around here Yeah, I got 66 but I you know, I couldn't find my ball once I just dropped it was I would have found it Right white steak and I should have reteed and actually I shot 73 but never mind

All right, buddy. We'll catch you on the pre guard. Thanks guys James Duffy Leaves Panthers on TSN for and I should have reteed and actually I shot 73 but never mind. Alright buddy, we'll catch you on the pre-game tonight. James Duffy, Least Panthers on TSN4. radio experience you'll never forget. With flights, hotel, and $500 included. For your best chance to win, enter daily at iHeartRadio.ca. Kane Brown's new album, The High Road, is available now.