OverDrive - Duthie on the Oilers seeking a final berth, the Panthers' incredible season and the best Stanley Cup teams

Episode Date: May 29, 2025

TSN Host James Duthie joined OverDrive to discuss the Oilers seeking a berth in the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers looking for the win, Paul Maurice not in the handshake line perspective, the list of the best Stanley Cup teams in the NHL, the Canadian Screen Awards experience, winning the Best Sports Host and more.

Squinting through bright days? That's a no. Struggling with glare? Also no. What about sunglasses over regular glasses? Big no. But prescription sunglasses from Pearl Vision? That's a huge yes. They're a must-have for enjoying the sun in style. Choose from designer frames like Ralph Lauren, Coach, Michael Kors, and more. Arrange an eye exam at pearlvision.ca and get 40% off lenses. Some restrictions and exclusions may apply. See participating stores for details. Are you age 16 to 30 and ready to make a real impact? The Youth Thrive program, funded by Canada Service Corps and delivered by the Career Foundation, is your chance to develop

leadership skills, connect with mentors, and gain real-world experience, all while giving back to your community. Best of all, it's a no-cost program available across Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and BC. Thoughts are limited, so register now at careerfoundation.com. That's careerfoundation.com. Join today and be part of something amazing. James Duthey himself in studio. What's happening, JD? Not much. Looking forward to the game. Looking forward to sitting next to Brian Hayes tomorrow as he perhaps wins his first Canadian Emmy Award,

is what we like to call it. Yeah, that's right. The screen awards are tomorrow. Dutty's my competition. I know, but would you turn and shake his hand, or would you do the big time, like, you know, you know, it's not on TV I always wanted to do low like when they

Used to put this award like at the Oscars, right? Right. Yeah exactly. Yeah Now now they run the sports awards at like noon. Yeah And the funny thing is a couple years ago they had this big hall where they have the main awards but there's only about 80 of us at the sports awards so we're all in the first three rows. But they used to put the sports award in the big show that was on CBC or CTV or whatever every year. And I think it was only because you know Ron McLean's a big deal or Brian Williams they

were usually winning and they were probably as big as celebrities as you get in Canada, so you put those on there. But they'd put you in the boxes, you know? Oh really? And the nominees for best host star, little Jimmy Duffy for Sports Center, you know? Ron McLean for Hockey Night in Canada. And I always wanted to just, when I lost, because I would always, those early years especially, I'd always lose to like Ron McClain and I always wanted to just like give the finger, just get up and leave, you know that moment

when they announce it's not you instead of doing the polite applause. Did you have a losing face? I didn't have a losing face, no. I would just, no I had the fake, I was very much the fake clapper. You have to be cordial, right? You have to pretend like you're really happy. Somebody did. I think it was Regis Philbin actually. I mean, like Emmys did that actually. Like, got all mad when he lost. Did the Kanye. Did the Kanye and went up to... That's storming up, right? Doing the Kanye, no one wants to do the Kanye anymore. Because it does, I'll warn you, like, as much as it as it's look the Canadian Screen Awards nobody cares about, but it's still kind of like especially early in your

career, it sucks, still sucks to lose a little bit. I've never, I was shocked I got nominated someone from the company sent me a text and said hey congratulations I thought they were punking me like I wrote back LOL that's funny I did not think it was true and then I looked into it like wow this is actually serious. Do you have to give a speech if you win yeah I think you actually go up there 30 seconds you're kidding me yeah are you gonna write something I have nothing planned you said don't write something I will not be writing it I there is no chance I'm gonna win this thing it'll be Duffy there's there's Ron McClay Andy's there but the Olympics all his wages and I benefited from that because I won when when you do the

Olympics you usually win yes so how does overdrive ring out in the voting capacity but literally what if they showed a clip and it's like oh talking about the walls squat and that's what's gonna happen and the way and the nominee is three of us talking about yelling and screaming yeah so quickly it's cuckoo stories the first time Drake's got nominated they put him in the in the balcony so you pretty much if you're in the like most of the nominees are in the first three rows or whatever and so I think Drake said to the usher or whatever if I win how do I get down there? And the Usher was like, you don't have to worry about that. And so there was a year,

Landsberg and I were nominated and it was Ron McLean and I think Scott Oak and somebody else. And so we get into the theater, it was at the CBC building, and those guys, I looked down and they're in the front row. And Landsberg and I are in, they made these bleachers at the back. And there was like a standing room only crowd in the middle. So I looked at Landsberg and I said, we got no shot. So I just started doing cocktails at the party. Yeah, of course. And then they announced the winner and I won. You're kidding me. And my first thought was, how am I going to sober up to make a speech? And the second thought was, I don't think I, how am I going to get to the stage? So it took me three minutes to get, I going to sober up to make a speech? And the second thought was, I don't think I... How am I going to get to the stage?

So it took me three minutes to get... I have to walk through down these bleachers and then there's a standing room only crowd and I'm pushing people and they don't care who I am. I'm like, who's this guy? I'm like, sorry, I got to get through here. I got to get to the stage. So it's... Poor planning.

Well, I'm going to know... Yeah, that's... I'm concerned about where I'm sitting I still don't know exactly where I'm sitting. You should you should have a little tight little 45 second speech Okay, I'll some point better be teary tearjerker. Does it have to be I want it to be tearjerker. I'll do my best I mean, I am NOT anticipating winning Yeah, but you don't want to be that person who gets up there and is like I didn't plan anything I okay, I'll play it believes that anyway. I know that's the truth. No, it happened to me

I think I told you guys when I won the master tin. I didn't plan a speech I was so drunk the night before at the Madison the Maddie Yeah, the man I remember waking up and then pronger was calling me and going we got a head over I thought it was at 7 o'clock at night and the awards were like at four or something and I was like out to lunch at 2.30 still. And he goes, did you write a speech? I'm like, no, do I need to? He goes, oh, I was... So proud to accept the Madison Award.

The Maddie. Love the Maddie and Mastodon. Poisoned the night before. Poisoned. You wouldn't be alone in that place, man. I got some stories for you. But yeah, we'll see. We'll see

will see now uh... not be fun though it's gonna be good to get down there and check it out i've never been there before the whole career under well that's what i'm i'm anticipating i give you a little bit of a lighter like a yeah that's a good idea here for you i'll give the i might tell you this i'm on team haze

yes i appreciate that. And ultimately, whoever wins, I'll just say I finished second. It doesn't matter. Actually I was told someone told me I was second. Runner up. Runner up. I'll just tell everyone. You came two points short.

I was right behind you. Because some writer in Winnipeg didn't have you on his ballot. Right, exactly. Someone excluded me from the ballot. Do you think the Eulers get it done tonight? Where's your head at? I don't know about tonight. I think Dallas probably has deserved better somewhere along the way in the series and I mean I'm terrible at predicting these things. Maybe they'd feel defeated at three and one. I've heard they're what they're

they're 0-1-16 went down three and one and Edmonton 17 and one which all that means nothing except it does because it just shows you the historical odds that you're facing but I think Dallas probably has kind of like a Carolina game for type effort where we're not gonna we're too good a team to go out this way now whether McDavid and dry side a little nudes decide forget it we want to get it over with, I'm not sure. I could see Dallas getting some puck luck too. You know, they've generated, we talked about it last show, like, they had 22 high danger chances. So they've had some looks, and if Skinner has an off night...

Isn't he, I hate to say this, but isn't he kind of due for one? Yeah, I would think so. And that's not a shot at him, he's been unbelievable, but he does have a tendency to have one of those every few. Like O said yesterday, even if he has an off night, they give up five. Maybe those two and the supporting cast, which is Kane and guys like that, maybe they get six.

They get a lot of, is it gonna come down to Autinger and Skinner? Well, look at last night, right? Where Carolina's up two-nothing, and you're thinking they're not gonna go down to Ottinger and and skin well and look at last night, right? Where Carolina's up to nothing and you're thinking they're not gonna go down look like Carolina like that. I was like Oh Carolina's playing really well. Yeah, I thought they played really all of a sudden bad penalty wheels to two and then all of a sudden you're chasing it and even they end up tying a game in Verhege and Barkov make that incredible play Verhege and Barkov make that incredible play

Barbaric Barkov is so good. He was so good last night. He's so he's always just so good Right and you know, I think he in a way even though he's the captain of that team Like it's Kachuk that comes up first We talked about Bennett all the time Bob's gonna come up a lot the head coach like Maurice is in the middle of everything Well, now what did you make of the handshake? I think he's I just feel he is, quote machine, he's going too far. I've said that for a while now. I think it's now you're policing what other, you know, he's telling Rod, I don't think we should, well who are you to determine what everyone does in the league? And he's just decided this in the last, like apparently he did it in, did they do it for Toronto? I believe he did it against the Tampa series in the first round. And the cup final last year he couldn't wait to get in there and shake hands with Mick Davis.

So why all of a sudden? Well first of all I thought it was eloquent what he said. I think he's actually right and I think he's well intentioned by it but I agree with you that you have no like it's not up to you to tell Rod Brindam or what to do if he wants to go and It's not up to you to tell Rod Brindamore what to do if he wants to go and shake Barkov's and whatever hand. Like I just, you're right. I think most great... And he was a player, Brindamore too. Like he was actually a guy that...

I think... He won, he hoisted the cup. Yes, for that team. In his speech though, in Maurice's media availability, he said he talked to chief about it. Like I'm thinking in my mind Did they shake hands with the the Leafs? Because he said I don't write the Ruby Was fine with it last series So you'd almost have to go back in the tape and go did the coaches go and shake

Matthews and Marner's hand and all of that. I don't remember it was such a weird ending the last like game seven It was 6-1 and no one was there and it was awkward and strange I don't I don't remember just exited the building. Yeah But he did bring Berube up. He said he played Brenda more played I understood it he was saying you don't need you know The the third PR guy in a track suit because they're gonna be on the ice for the the pictures in that Shaking hands with the other team that they're pissed that they lost. I get that but again it's not really up to Paul. I mean they it's up to them if they... I would

have told them all of those floaters stay off the ice until we shake hands and then we'll bring you out. Just a weird thing to say after a series like that if that's the thing you're gonna say to the... I'm sure he said nice things to the opposing coach like Maurice has always been a class guy so I don't I want people to blow this out of proportion No, but I think you're right This is a little bit of a misstep and you also miss moments like when Pete to bor was mic'd up in the last series Against Winnipeg. Did you see that clip of Pete to bor going through the line was shut like that was a that was a cool moment So if a coach wants to talk to those players, I think

In the in the end, what did he do though? Did Brendan Moore go through the line? No I don't believe he did. I don't believe he did but it also there's like there's a part of me the cynic in me is like he's up 3-1 in the series he's thinking about the handshake line he's like we're gonna beat these guys tonight. I gotta figure out a way to like and if I'm Brendan Moore I'm like have you been planning this little speech like you were Your head wasn't in the game. He's like Brian Hayes preparing to host overdrive exactly Where am I going with Rod? How do I break the new? I'm like dude the game's still on we pulled our goalie here

And that's how confident he is in his team But yeah, we I hope I kind of hope that the Oilers just win tonight. So it starts on Wednesday next week I think we all in unison probably as a nation want this thing over with with we love hockey But June 21st or whatever the game seven is going to be is ludicrous. Yeah, and you know lebron and has been on this forever and I am i have his back on all of it and it's just never never gonna change because of American TV but it's I see my buddies who are die-hard hockey fans just tune it out.

Yeah you get to this part of the year especially up here because the weather and people getting outside you get distracted you get into different things. Blue Jays are playing there's different stuff going on. The Canadian Football League is they're up and running here like it's it's almost go time for them so there's just different stuff going on. The Canadian Football League is, they're up and running here. Like it's almost go time for them. So there's just different things going on. And then once your team is out, you know, it's difficult to follow everything. It's still a regional sport. The oil is key. You know, a Canadian team will keep everybody here. Very much so. But whether they're in it or not. I mean, imagine if this was, let's say Dallas comes back and it's Dallas, Florida, and we're sitting here on June 21st for a game seven or June I think the possible the latest possible

is the 24th is it not no it's the 21st I 21st now it's the Saturday when the playoffs started I think the latest possible date was the 24th that's insanity insanity exactly and it's and think about those markets like it's 45 degrees in both places and it's just a yeah but to your point it's not going to change because this is the way it's going and it's it's never going to go backwards and yesterday we were discussing like it does feel like we've kind of buried the stars before they've actually lost like we've just moved past them yet i'm willing to do that again here with this conversation because we're talking about the Oilers and if the idea of

redemption would mean something to them like if it's more inspiring the idea that they get Florida again but what about the other side of that because I'm sure you guys saw and heard Matthew Kachuk last night maybe was speaking of it today where he's like you know we're all business not our first rodeo is there an advantage on the Florida side of things that they already have the ring and that they're so freed up from that that like that like relax and play. Yeah. In a weird way. It's like like Edmonton is is so they're dogged right now and I think they're prepared

and I think it's going to be a great series and I would not be surprised at all if they beat them. But in the back of their minds at some point they got to think if this happens again man I don't know how we get up off the mat. That's all I kept thinking about watching them win the other night was I kept thinking about the scene in the dressing room and McDavid breaking down and just I mean happens every year when you lose in the Stanley Cup final but for those guys and to go seven and lose by a goal, and I kept thinking if this happens again to the same team, how do you recover from that?

Because it's really hard. The possibility though too, like it's a really good possibility it could happen. Florida be favored probably? Yeah, I think they're a slight favorite. Hypothetical right now, it's very slight. And Ebbinton has home ice, that's the only difference. But Hayes, the flip side of the way you're looking at it and it depends on the teams involved is that Florida has the ring and you know the whatever the five percent maybe

more desire by the other team wins you a few more battles right and even though it's subconscious it's not but Florida still wants to win the cup. They're that close But maybe there's that one or two percent that the other team's hungrier So does that translate to an edge or is it is it the way you say it where the other team's a little bit looser? You never know till you see it. Yeah, give me one comment What did Austin Matthews say? He's like Florida, you know They didn't he say he's like right in his press conference right at the end of the year where he's like, they wanted it more. Yeah, he did say that said that about the Florida Panthers just to the point, the team that won last year, the team that should have been tired, going to two finals in a row once

you've found it, you're like, I gotta have more. I could I could see on the other side of that coin, Florida going, hey, we're going to double down here. And we're going to do whatever we can to win it again Well, it's it leads me to what we were gonna workshop throughout the afternoon And I think we should do it now with you in here JD so Here in no particular order This is how I would I would rank or these are the teams I would include in terms of

You know since the salary cap was implemented. Cup winning teams over a certain amount of time. These are my five best. I don't think there's gonna be much argument with this. You feel free to. No particular order. Pittsburgh Penguins. I would say more the second window.

I think somehow they were even better than the first window where they went to two, but only one one. But when they won the back to back in 16, 17, I think somehow they were even better than the first window where they went to two but only won one but when they won the Back-to-back in 1617. I think it was yeah, Pittsburgh Chicago three cups in five years. I think or three and six six. Yep The LA Kings. Yeah Tampa Bay Lightning Florida Panthers like those for me are the are the five sorry this generation Yes of the last 20 years since the salary cap was implemented. There's no argument there.

Do you think Florida, if they win, like how high on that list can Florida get in the next two or three weeks? Wait, the nine straight playoff appearances by the Leafs might edge into the top five. Number six. I just, I had to cut it off somewhere. I would have just continued forever and ever. So how high on that list? I guess let me throw these, we'll just go, we'll roundtable it here.

Who do you think which is a better team in your opinion and i understand it's it's difficult because recency bias for living it right now or tampa you like to have a three straight finals and as they do and they went to the final on fifteen orders as well or is in their third straight cup final

the open to that, just like Tampa They have not yet won. Okay, so you're on Tampa. Yeah, and they went in 15 Are you they didn't win in? Tampa we're not ready. No, I'm gonna use Florida's the barometer and then we'll get into these Florida or Tampa Florida or Tampa I do say Tampa right now, but again talk to me in two and a half I yeah, I don't know how you can say I think if Florida wins the cup then they're probably... All right let's presume they do then. Then it's one and one A. Okay. Why would you say... Here's my only thing on Tampa is that

the COVID years to me throw stuff off. But that's not fair it's not their fault. I know but it's like we're playing in a bubble and then the next year it wasn't the real, it wasn't a full schedule. It wasn't... Blake Coleman told me. He's carrying around the cop in the rink in Edmonton and he says all he's looking at is tarps. Yeah, there's nothing in there. And then he said the coolest thing was they went into the room after and you know there's nobody there. Their families aren't there, no one's there. He said, which was great, because you never get that as a team. But he said after like an hour, they were kind of bored. And so they started doing like slippy slides through the shower, all a bunch of naked guys with the cup.

And so that's apropos of nothing. But that's what happens when you win during COVID. But I don't think, I know what you're saying, Hayes covid but i don't think i know what you're saying hayes but i don't that's not fair in a way to tampa yeah i think is it this is presumptuous it's a reality though it's not it's i guess listen we're talking about are you basically saying they're tainted cups well no i just i do think there's an asterisk like i think the lakers championship in 2020 has an asterisk i think it should so those ones have an asterisk. They're different. Did New Jersey win the cup coming out of the lockout in...

94-95. Yes they did. That was a shortened season. No, it was a 48 game, but you had to win 16 in the spring. It was best four out of seven, all that kind of stuff. One of Chicago's cups was in a lockout. Tampa won in five over Montreal and who did they beat in the other one? Dallas? Yes. It was Dallas, yeah.

In five or six? Yes. Colorado they lost. I'll give you this, Florida's winning in seven. It's close. Yeah, it's close. I still think Chicago trumps them all. See, I would have Chicago at the top for me too.

Chicago's number one. Chicago's number one. I almost say LA might be second. The a did it was in one of the most impressive too indigo sixteen and he didn't have those here when they squeaked in a row like they are all together over how to be vancouver in five and then they said i think it was a sweep sweep and then they want to cop against the rangers i think in six maybe

yeah i'll give you florida over the edge over tampa because of what you say if they win this cup just because okay if that there's the tiebreaker and plus you know Montreal in the final in that one year for Tampa wasn't the second best team in the league and you're beating McDavid and Dreisaitl twice in a row so I'll give you that if they win. Exactly like they beat Montreal who's in their division in the cup final which was I think you're disrespecting Pittsburgh Okay, you'll go ahead and make your case Yeah, no, I well the getting there bad getting there twice like in two separate there and they were there four times because they lost

Their first time like now now that is more extended because it's it's almost feels like two different errors Yeah, like it was a part that throws me, but it's the same core. Yeah How many years But it's the same corps. Yeah. If you're all encompassing. How many years between? It's like 08, 09 and then 16, 17. Almost a decade. Seven years, man. But the same corps four. Was it the same corps four? Yeah, the corps three anyway. Flurry, LaTang, Crosby and Malcolm. You probably have to go Chicago, Pittsburgh, and then you can make your debate where LA falls there and the other two. Yeah, that's probably reasonable. That's why I was workshopping it.

I needed help with this. But yeah, I would go Chicago definitively one. I think Pitt too, even out of respect to Sid being a part of that. It's almost like that's the Trump car. That's the separator that Sidney Cross was on that team. Look how good McDavid is and like he's still trying to get one. Yeah he's not even in the top five and even if he wins they won't pass any of those teams. Yeah it is crazy but that's the parody of the league. Does Edmondson get sixth besides my Toronto joke because of going to two straight finals

even if they lose this one? Maybe, maybe Boston though. I think Boston should be in consideration. When was the last time we had two teams playing the finals back to back years it it was uh Detroit Pittsburgh 08 09 yeah Hossa Bowl yeah yeah and then prior to that it was the Islanders and the Oilers back in the early 80s so I somebody said this to me today the Oilers might have been an bigger dynasty, the Steve Smith goal. Remember that was Calgary's. Yeah. Like that was right.

There's people that like, I have friends who are still scarred by that. I like they remember where they were. Like that was like, Oh, Steve Smith jammed us. It's like, dude, you want so many. Do you remember that? I'll fix cups and literally go, I remember where I was when that puck went in, when that hit Fierzy's leg and went in. I'm like, yeah, I think I was in my basement watching it, but I don't care.

These people are traumatized by that goal alone. Like your Matt Fratton moment for you, Hayes. They don't know trauma. The breakaway? The Matt Fratton breakaway? They don't understand trauma. They don't understand trauma. They don't know pain. Alright, so the NHLPA and Golf Canada have been up at TPC Toronto, Osprey Valley today.

Is this, is there a scoreboard and everything or is this what you're about to reveal for us? I don't know what is happening here. Doogie, what are we about to witness here, Doogie? Although Duthie doesn't have any headphones in here, so I'm not sure exactly how to do this. It's okay. You guys can just... I think we can hammer our mics off and you guys are going to play it. So I think this is Koli Akevo, I'm assuming.

It's going to be very loud. O is going to be in the cart. You know he's going to be playing it very cool. Something's going on based on how they played at Osprey Valley today. Let's hear this and let's see it. PGA Tour. RBC Canadian Open. Let this guy play in the tournament next week. Maybe a sponsor's exemption.

I just witnessed the round of my life and his life. Say hello to Mr. 64. It wasn't enough though, Coco. These grounds, they're hollow grounds and I've been screwed twice on this course. The first time by James Duffy and today by you. Sorry. It was a good day, but two of my colleagues

have screwed me on this golf course. First Jimmy and now you. Thanks for that. Thanks for ruining my 64. This guy's unreal. All right, so what's the backstory? How are you involved in that? The Dubas thing. Yeah, we had that match years ago, me and O against Kyle Dubas and Jerry D. We were up by five strokes on the 11th hole. I was playing great and I basically hit a hybrid sideways into the woods and we made like a nine or something and lost by a stroke.

And he's never let me forget it. And we're actually having another match, which I think you might be a part of, against each other now at the end of June. But there's no chance, he's the best golfer I know. Yes, he's a phenomenal golfer. There is no shot that he shot 64 from the Canadian Open Tees on that golf course. There is no chance. This is going to be like that conversation that time he came in with you guys and said he shot 66 at Weston and there was some controversy about him losing a ball and deciding to call it a par. Yeah or something No, exactly. I'll just take a free drop here. The greenkeeper ran over his ball, so I'll just take a par here. Yeah, there's got to be there's going to be a documentary behind the scenes

that's going to bring into question that 64. Well, and it's very liberal in tournaments like this. Go ahead and take that. Oh, Coco is the king of the 25 foot gimme too. Yeah. Like, oh, that looks good to me and you go ahead and take that. Coco was fishing probably. Yeah, he probably was. He probably wasn't paying attention. Although it sounds like they were planning a team event and Koliakova must have been

just horrendous because of the guy shooting 64 doesn't get the job done. That's some trouble. Maybe it was a two man scramble 64 that we're talking about. It could have been that. And they only used a few of Coco shots. That is exactly what possibly happened. Anyway, all right, well I'm sure we'll hear all the details in all its glory. 64 for the O-Dog up at TPC. Because, I mean, he hits the ball very straight, but that rough from even from media day a couple of weeks ago, they're, you know, the rough is pretty sizable there

So I I have some some doubts. Yeah, I just I think it's worthy of being skeptical Anyway, now the sponsors exemption though would be if they were smart that would be you know That it would kind of be the equivalent of letting Steph Curry into some events like they've done before Yeah, you're right. That would be a good Horn Fairy tour But having oh in there would Oh have maybe the third biggest gallery, maybe, okay, take the Canadians out of it. Rory, maybe Connors or Penderith, Ohberg, and then Oh. Yeah, I think that's probably true. Top five biggest gallery. I think he would have a top five gallery. Let's workshop that. He doesn't want that. He would choke everywhere. That's why he doesn't play the Pro-Am. He did it once for nine holes. He was slashing the ball everywhere.

Well, I mean, that's the unwritten story of that match with Dubas and Jerry D. There were a few O chunks in there that is not talked about because everybody talks about my miss. Right. Again, when you make the documentary, the truth will come out. Okay. It's on YouTube. I look forward to it. Find it on YouTube. It wasn't in his DNA. Maybe it wasn't in his DNA. Maybe they need a DNA change when it comes to the ODOT and team golf. All right JD, good luck with the panel tonight buddy. Yeah and you good luck tomorrow buddy. I'll see you down there. I'll be down there. I'll do a fake clap for you when you win. And I'll do the same. I will make sure to do the same. I don't think either of us are gonna win. And I'll do the same. I will make sure to do the same. I don't think either of us are going to win. No, we're probably fine. Neither of us are going to win anything. But

there he is, James Duffy of the Canadian Screen Awards. There's a tag on the way out. Unmistakably Canadian. Made in Canada delivers 100% homegrown hits. All day, every day. Tap into Made in Canada now on iHeartRadio.ca or the free iHeart Radio app. Proudly powered by all your friends' vests, June 28th and 29th. Featuring Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan and more.