OverDrive - Duthie on the Maple Leafs' core defining matchup, the future in Toronto and the Jets heating up

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

TSN Host James Duthie joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Maple Leafs facing elimination against the Panthers, the spotlight around the Core Four and their trajectory in Toronto, the pathway to success on the roster, the Jets gaining steam, Jamie Benn's punch on Mark Scheifele and more.

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Let's go. James Duffy in the house. JD, how we feeling? I feel fine. It was a beautiful day out there. In with my boys watching the game tonight. We have some good times. Okay.

There should be a camera in that room don't you think the off-camera banter could be a show it's a podcast anyway yeah the swearing and stuff yeah there wouldn't be a lot of it some of the stories are a little offside mostly by the person to my right yeah we've all witnessed them we've all heard them we've all seen them and i'm sure

there's going to be more to it tonight uh... what's although drager can go a little blue yeah he goes to some darks he is he's the Darren Drager like is quietly dark okay I like that so do you expect him to be dark in the pregame leading I don't think he's not there tonight I think it's this or that is that's right that from Buffalo yeah Marty Braun's in the house that's right we're gonna see Marty a little bit later so where are you guys going with the pregame then JD like we've done our pregame the last hour we'll continue to do it the games at 8 tonight but yeah I mean I think I mean

it's probably gonna start the way it always starts with can the big boys show up and I feel I laugh asking it because how many times have we asked it in the big boys show up and i feel it's i i i'd laugh asking it because how many times we asked in the past eight years and but it is really the question i'm sure marty will get into wall who's numbers aren't very good he doesn't he seems way down the list of problems right now but it is still a problem and he's eighteen and

a percentage isn't eight out of the nine goalies left who've actually played is He has a factor like if he stinks the jar down the first period that's like who cares with. Well here cuz here's my my sort of thought is you know okay obviously the Leafs have to show up and Borube says it's all about mental it's not about the other stuff and I mean the thing is they could show up they could all show up and still lose just because panthers are the panthers i mean if both t we expect the panthers to show up so both teams show up and play their best game

the panthers could easily win this game i think that's part of the storyline in the goaltender the other end has been significantly better so that's one issue the one thing i would say about the whole attitude thing is that I Think Wednesday night was rock-bottom and So I don't think the Leafs have anything to lose tonight in regards to reputation Etc if they lose five nothing again tonight. I don't think it's any worse I don't think people think any worse than they already do because of Wednesday and

so worse than they already do because of Wednesday. And so, you know, I think that they should be able to just go out and lay everything on the line because of that, you know, it's kind of like you have a horrible front nine in golf and then you stop caring and you stop, you start just swinging and sometimes you suddenly play better. Maybe there's an element of that to Toronto tonight.

How many games have we started the pregame with? Well, nothing left. Like empty the tank. And then after the game, we're like, man, that was disappointing. Yeah, but it's not about emptying the tank. Like I'm just more from the mental standpoint of, I don't think there's any reason to squeeze the sticks

or be anxious or I be just because everybody already always already thinks the worst of you right? Well, but if you listen to them, they'll claim that they don't hear any of that. Of course they do But we don't we don't we never believe it. You know, I totally I'm being sarcastic Yeah, because Matthews referenced it today, you know about scoring and you keep shooting and all the other stuff Well, we don't we don't care. We don't hear any of that. Of course. Yes, you do. You're well aware They're all well aware they live here they're from here they've been here for a long time they don't exactly how people responding person and uh...

yeah i i think there's something to that you know an element of uh... you've got nothing to lose uh... yeah i mean nothing to lose is not the right way to phrase it yet of course there's a lot to lose and this will probably be the last goal that with this group if they lose i'm just saying that there is no reason to be anxious tense nervous what are they you know because like I said I they hit rock bottom on Wednesday night with that performance I don't think it can possibly be worse and I don't think it will be I don't know that they'll win

but I do think they'll they'll show up tonight Jimmy if they if they don't get it done tonight and I know you like to direct traffic behind the camera for different docs and videos and if it all gets broken up and Tavares doesn't come back it's just the end of the line for these guys and you were in charge of the documentary of the core four what would you focus on the main thing to be I unfortunately I think a documentary has to have like highs and lows and there aren't too many highs unless you didn't have to really dig unless you just do a regular season doc the core for Regular season five part series on crave that would be amazing I would be outstanding right you can't do a doc you series unless there's what but there's no there's no

like the great doc you series are you know great triumphs and and and and Humiliating losses in between and there's just there's nothing there unless you count by going to the second round twice as the great victories that's that's the problem right it's like the old four socks you know like if they just lost in game four and kept losing all the time you can't do a doc on adreau and panney now again a perspective step back again i know that's really hard to do right now in the city but it has been it like it's a good run to make the playoffs all these years in

a row is is an impressive feet that you could be detroit or buffalo yeah there's a lot and right now there's this how many teams left with the teams have been knocked out whether sick for the one to two teams of one is this six teams left yes teams left six i don't know why i took longer than it should have in my mind. I wasn't even going to attempt it. But you're, so you're one of the last six teams left and that again there's an awful lot of teams would love to be in your position down three, two in a series and you've made it to the second round and there's little steps there, but back to your question of the documentary, it's still not,

it's certainly not the highest of highs is just not enough highs in there too make that film on and the thing is to guys it's not like he said they're not down three nothing it's three two if they went tonight they've got a game seven and an opportunity to win the series so it's critical yes

statistically you know you we were quoting the numbers yesterday, I didn't even remember them like 23%, or something like that, wasn't it Hayes? Something like that. But it in the end, like, I don't think we should talking looking ahead or looking back until we see what happens tonight. And then you go, hey, they gave themselves a chance. Now we got a game seven, or didn't go well. And then we do the post-mortem I feel like yesterday we did Too much post-mortem, and it's not over. That's the thing It felt like that and was such an ugly loss

And we were you know rightfully as fans and in the media member and all of that to talk about it That's that's our job But in the end you know they lost and you got to find a way to get off the mat and try and win a game tonight. That has to be the focus. And I think that's what Craig Bruby's been trying to say is like, I can talk about X's and O's all I want. What I need is guys to go play and play hard and let's see how this unfolds here. And then, you know, they don't forget how to play hockey. It just, you know, Florida is a damn good team and I think it's going to be a coin flip tonight i really do i think it'll be a hard fought game

well and if it is that's where again joseph wall will come into play that's where you know bounce one where the other could come into play do you feel any better if they win tonight and have a great effort in game seven but losing overtime or something do you feel better i think from a big picture standpoint from a documentary standpoint no right it doesn't allow the doctor to get greenlit for a big budget because in the end they there was no triumph but i i do think it would be worth for something it's it's that we're something to go out the way they went out the other night into proof if you're performing any capacity to you know in a similar fashion tonight uh... that is that is incredibly daunting so i do think it would be worse

something i don't think we're in a world anymore toronto where uh... you know there's no moral victories uh... there's no patting on the back of your lose like you've got it you get a win seven or eight years ago there would have been but it would have been a lot it could have been a learning experience it could have catapulted you into something new in the future stocking up the cycle and now it's not going to be worth anything now

ultimately but i think in the moment it would it would it would leave a better case in your mouth for the summer yeah exactly about it there's a weird there's a weird kind of torture element to that, like dragging everyone back into the building on Sunday and then it's a close game and you lose a game seven as opposed to just getting it out of the way. You know, like if you're going to lose, maybe it's better just to do it tonight. But it's a horrible way to look at it.

It is a horrible way to look at it. But it's a lot of truth. But I've heard that from half a dozen Leaf fans over the last few days. Oh, I think if you offered the Leaf, I think if you offered Leaf fans, they either lose tonight or lose game seven. Most would say just get it over with tonight. I'm going to outpuffy our producer who's a diehard blue and white. I passed him in the hallway right now. I said, he says, how you feeling? I see he goes, fine, fine, hoping for a loss loss want to get it over with yeah sickening mentality it is but you blame the team and the players for that like that that's what they've That's what they've done to their own fans Unfortunately, that's what they've done to their biggest diehard fans that it's a sickening vibe And yet, you know

The crazy thing is there two wins away from completely flipping that. Well, and those fans will be right back on that bandwagon. Absolutely. The doc is green lit if they come back and win this series. I don't care what happens in the next series, it's green lit. Hayes is executive producer and you are the main dude. Director or voice, just the voice guy. It all began.

Who's above executive director? again director executive producer producer probably be executive producer probably be the anyway you and haze if they get back here Sunday the doc starts and you guys have to get in a room and start putting your minds together because I'll be on board all of us are in it all right we're all gonna we're all gonna work together here make this happen but it is crazy that they're still they're lucky enough to have that opportunity like they and who knows how the players might react. You know, if it ever got to a point where they went on some great run, they might resent people and resent fans. And I remember the Raptors had that I remember Fred van Vliet

having this really weird kind of drop the mic moment at the parade about people doubting them. It's like, why is why is that even coming up now? You're one every every team does but every does it every athlete remembers it? And I'm sure the show the world. Yeah, exactly how many perpades upset everyone shocks the world exactly Some team goes like they finish first in their division by you know Whatever the sport is 15 points or nine and a half games and we shocked the world right the dodgers shock the world last year uh... but you this would be shocking the world if the least could find a way to do it in with the doc still be greenlit

if the lease came back in one in seven and then got swept by carolina it would be a damper it would not stop the dock in the middle of the dock I think someone would shut down the funding it might go right into we'd all be cc'd on an email Sean Cohen the head of Bell Media we cannot do this guys this crave will not be associated with this this is something if you want to do a podcast for him you you can do it on your own. But yeah, I think it would probably be better.

I heard a podcast the other day. Somebody made a documentary about Prince. The same guy that made the OJ doc, the really good one. I know there's been a lot of OJ series, but like the four five-part doc that I think aired on ESPN five, six, seven years ago, won I think an Academy Award. He made a doc about Prince. Netflix made an agreement with Prince. He's got all these behind-the-scenes footage and he made like this eight-part documentary. It's like 12 hours or something that is

supposed to be one of the greatest films ever and then the Prince people saw it and they vetoed it and then Netflix didn't want to lose the thing so they cancelled it. So this movie is never going to be seen by anyone It's never gonna be seen and that would be the reason I tell this too long story is that that would be our documentary It would be it would be shoved down Got swept by Carolina. Yeah, why isn't the more print stuff? That guy was crazy. I saw him in concert live in Minneapolis He was unbelievable he was is like four feet tall yeah i was wearing red hat high heels she like these rare for free high heeled by my boots or what i'm not lying i really

small with the idea where the guy probably didn't sleep like a really there's like you know hundreds of hours that he shot of himself performing in his house and everything but the guy wanted to do an honest talk about the dark side of prince and the the prince people want to know part of it uh... purple rain movie at that was a little bit of a documentary wasn't about his life and stuff with his dad and yeah like it was

that movie was powerful man like that was when i honest to god when i played in minnesota like that was he was everywhere i'm sorry that i just completely other dollar here but you know i was in minnesota from their house and he was a regional drake you lived on the braddle path for a while that is unbelievable like that

very talented to for a uh... five three is the official height he was was gonna suck four feet five foot three in heels. Five three in heels. He definitely wore heels at some point. Yes, but I saw him live on stage and he was wearing the big heels and I'm telling you

he was still four feet tall then. He was just a little little man, but he was unbelievable. He could shred a guitar, man. He was good. Unbelievable. JD. Let me throw this at you We got breaking news in the NFL the Niners in quarterback Brock Purdy are finalizing a five-year 265 million dollars. Oh, dude. I'm sorry. That's a mistake. I love the guy He puts up numbers, but no way in hell no way. Oh, I agree with you I just don't think

he's that I think he's a really good quarterback on a really good team I think he's a decent quarterback on a bad team but it's kind of I resolved myself this was gonna happen because I said in the offseason if they could get him like 35 or 40 million as crazy as that sounds for people that don't follow the NFL that would be a bargain yeah Yeah, but it's just impossible It's impossible That you don't get 50 million now if you're you know One of the top 15 starting quarterbacks in the league when your deal comes up. Yeah, that's

It's kind of a shrug-to-shoulder reality, but I'm with you guys. I think I Don't think he's gonna be ever a top, you know think uh... i don't think he's going to be every top five six seven quarterback in this league and that's what two hundred sixty million dollar million dollars should get you that's what's concerning because he only has got going for miss the niners have easy schedule in the nfl this year so they might have a little bit of a comeback season maybe at home

and he still got shanahan who's great the regular season shanahan's a lot like not quite the leaves in the playoffs because he has been to Super Bowls, but you've got a scenario there where he walked into a perfect situation. Unbelievable offensive line, best left tackle in the game, McCaffrey comes over, they got Kittle who they just paid. My, yeah, the concern is like, what is Purdy when these guys aren't there?

Well, and they didn't draft a single, maybe one offensive lineman, and so they're a guys are there. Well, and they didn't draft a single, maybe one offensive lineman, and so they're a little weak there. They're kind of rebuilding a little bit on Ds, so it's a huge year for him. I mean, the guy played for nothing the last whatever years and got him to a Super Bowl and did some great things, so you knew he was gonna get paid,

but I'm with you. I wish that you could look at a guy like that, or I wish a guy like that, for sake of The team would take 40 million a year Leave you, you know 15 million to whatever go get You know a couple of offensive linemen, but that's just not the way it works Well, Luke Wilson's one of his biggest fans Maybe his biggest like Luke goes to war for Brock purdy all the time He thought he should have won the MVP a couple years ago

So I think it's kind of become a bet though between him and Davis a little bit. Okay. Well then that's that might be understandable, but he's he's always he sold it well with us man. He sold it as a Purdy guy, but man, that's big money. That is big, big money for Brock Purdy. James Duffy with us, which Canadian team that's down 3-2 in their current series think has a better chance of getting through, the Jets or the Leafs? I'd say the Jets, only because they're the ones coming off a 4-0 win and the Leafs are coming off a 6-1 loss and both are going on the road in tough places the way the Jets have played on the road, but i just think maybe they got a little more jam going to them

right now uh... and if they got back to a game seven they might be favored i'm not sure trial would be favoring the game seven at home uh... against florida so i had marginal differences i think that maybe the jets bias light that yeah i think that's reasonable recency bias to an extent based on what we just saw but uh... yeah i i think is probably worthy of being the case

because you have to believe we keep talking about bounces and all these intangibles that some point the jets gonna stop out of the road i get some point hellebuck is going to play like he's capable of playing on the road may give them a chance to bernard i'll tell you what, that last night, Winnipeg was all over them. They couldn't beat that Autinger early on.

And I was thinking, oh my God, they're going to do it again here. And then they get a favorable bounce, goes off of a stick, off of a skate in the net, and then they find a way to break through. But Winnipeg was a better team. And that Shifely took a pretty good left which i i didn't think that was a suspendable punch though personal i mean that way that's fine to write a good idea by the box it's not just and because you're engaged like i think a sucker punch has to be

when you're not engaged right in if you're i've i've heard hockey people say this for years because we had a few debates on these before and uh... i think that if you if you somehow engaged in a something that you had that there would be the idea is that you have to expect that it could happen there that's a two-minute penalty for roughing let's

get serious here with the help of my i couldn't believe that debate that it was a suspect why people and he popped up the other people outrage for a suspect what are what are you watching like that was a two-minute roughing penalty especially in the playoffs i agree the other thing to though all i can think of the fear of the winnabee except this guy's just coming

back up a concussion last thing you need to be doing is getting popped in the head trying to figure this out uh... brad may suckered the onsen i guess was anaheim maybe Minnesota the year that Anaheim won the cup I think oh seven and there was a big controversy and discussion over it because it if you could look up that if you look that up

on YouTube it looks pretty much like a sucker punch but Brad still argues to this day I think that Jans i don't say you do anything wrong the he got to see if you got to see the cd common because i think there was some sort of scrum or something common but mayday uh... yeah they won the cup that i didn't matter so that that's the last time i remember for the uh... a sucker punch being suspended the playoffs i'm sure i've

missed four five well what was don't means on Booga Boom? Was it Domi on Booga Boom or Domi on the theater? He was on Alf Samuelson. Alf Samuelson. Alf Samuelson. That one was. He got eight games or something for that one. That would have been a hundred in today's game. Oh that one was vicious, man. That was a gutless soccer punch. That was one of the worst soccer punches you've ever seen. You'll ever see in Europe. And also Samuelson, you know, he earned a lot of like people hated his guts Like he was a dirty dirty player, but that was that was one of the most Drop his glove right in front of the net It was right in front of the net and Domi did the like I'm looking this way

Oh, what's going on over there? And then he just turned in Smoked him like it was Matt Johnson on Jeff Boogaboom too that ended his career. That one was ugly. Yeah. Ugly, ugly. There's been some bad ones over the years. Like bad punches, bad elbows thrown. But that would, last night that wasn't.

That's not even close to a suspendable. I'm surprised they find them. I mean I think it was Arneal was angry and it's shifely and you mentioned the head. Yeah, it's coming off of concussion. Is that a concussion issue or I think it was our Neil was angry and it's shifely and you mentioned the head yes that's an issue or we believe it was you know that that's something that possibly could have factored in but right let's get let's keep a roll in here going into game six tomorrow all right JD well here we go oh yeah which ones is this the this is on Samuelson all right so this is like that's a crazy dive by Samuelson right there. But here we go.

All right, looking the other way. Hey, what's going on over there? Wait a minute. The glove comes off too. I forgot about that. Yeah, he drops the glove and knocks him out. That was a wild, wild sucker punch. I think the worst one is Matt one is is is Matt Johnson on jab Boogaboom because they were both they're both six foot five monsters like like and that one was the like one of the I don't Remember that one. I'll look I'll look for yeah, cuz Boogaboom was playing for the Rangers. It's all I remember Yeah, by right by the net it was ugly. Yeah, that's That's tough. That's tough. All right. Well, we've got a possible documentary in the works here JD And we could have a very busy weekend, right always putting us to work Boys if they take it back Sunday morning, we have a conference call. We have a meeting

We have a meeting start storyboarding this thing We'll have a vision board vision for ideas abby are episode one the drafting of austin matthews yes i don't know where this is going it's tracking on the right tracks days come on everything's coming together for release lease miracle and a documentary that is equally as miraculous voice by will our net or do we have to go little further great quality we go up

joe bowen and i was born not not mike myers but uh... well mike myers elbows up you know i don't know what he's on the daily list not for him but i jd enjoy the game tonight we will always good luck to all you leave fans out there yes we will everyone's looking for to various james duffy he'll be on the panel tonight

oh you're off to do some panel work yourself tonight right? we'll be chatting this evening boys we'll be around get that group chat going i don't want to instigate it every night i try i try to get everyone engaged monday morning we start fundraising okay fundraising on monday morning i love it there it is james Duffy, Jeff O'Neill. every day. Tap into Made in Canada now on iHeartRadio.ca or the free iHeart Radio app. Proudly powered by all your friends fest June 28th and 29th featuring Avril Lavigne,

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