OverDrive - LeBrun on Canada and USA's Championship Game, the mentality of the teams and the acclaim of the tournament

Episode Date: February 20, 2025

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the 4 Nations Face-Off, Canada's Championship Game matchup against the USA, Jon Cooper's mentality for the team's roster, the injuries throughout the tournament, Quinn Hughes' injury with Team USA, the popularity of the tournament around the league and more.

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Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet, awarded by UCCLA. Starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. We've got a big one tonight down in Boston. Jerome McGinley in about an hour, but Pierre LeBron's been down there, I guess, since Saturday night, since Sunday, I guess, and he joins us now courtesy of the Maple Toyota Hotline. What's happening pierre well i'm staring at the garden from my hotel room i think you got a picture might use my hotel room

and uh... it's not like a beach or something cool but you can't send that back and i think it's a great hotel though i don't care we don't know that we don't get a sense of that i don't want to see a traffic jam in the past uh... it is uh... it by the way you mentioned Jerome McGinley i still remember uh... being at the Salt Lake City Olympics and i could hear a young Jerome McGinley celebrating after Joe Sackett i think it was Joe Sackett cemented

the win for Canada the west of the gold medal games the media of the Olympics sits closer to the ice third or fifth rose center ice covering that event and you can hear the celebration from ice level uh... cementing that when one one of my favorite memories of covering best on best that's for sure and we got another one playing out tonight

for sure well with that in mind you know it obviously either team could win it should be a great game. What kind of celebration would you be expecting? Would you think it'll? Mirror what you saw in 02 and 010 gloves in the air helmets in the air crying on the ice Like what are we expecting? I Think it's gonna be a pretty big deal, especially if it's team USA I'm not saying that team Canada the wine is about they believe me the the the look on the faces of everyone from Krazy, they gave it all down the last two practices here in Boston. Oh my goodness, it's all business for Team Canada.

It means as much for each. But it's clear, even just in the reaction from Matthew Kachuk and a number of American players last Saturday at the Bell Center, Matthew Kachuck called last Saturday the biggest moment in his career next to winning the cup in game seven. There is a lot riding for this generation of Team USA. They want to take ownership of the sport. They believe they're opening a window of winning best on best and being the kings in the Hilton hockey. I mean, that's what they want. And a lot of it is and being the kings in the Hilton hockey. I mean, that's what they want. And a lot of it is a tip of the hat to the development program and Plymouth, Michigan, and everyone that's coming out of that program now. So there's a lot riding, you know, for USA hockey. I think for Canada,

there's just this quiet confidence going into tonight that I think a lot of people around the program are like, number 2010, the US beat Cannon around Robin, but Cannon won when it mattered. So it's just, the vibes are unbelievable to be around both these teams. You can paint a picture and figure out a script on why each team might win. I mean, I think Connor Alba is the best goalie

in the world right now, and you don't have to go too deep to understand why he might be the difference here tonight for Team USA. At the same time, there's 14 talent cup winners in Team Canada's dressing room, so only two for Team USA. And I asked John Cooper about that this morning. I said, you know, does that mean, you know, is that a thing? Like you guys feel that in your room? He goes, there's no question we feel it. And the last 48 hours, Cooper said, guys have been there I love it know how to win on the big stage. They're ready for games like tonight So in your opinion, who is your X factor really for both teams?

Like who do you get a sense of of could be difference makers for Canada and then you know over to the US side Well, you know the captain obvious is that Connor McDavid has opened the scoreboard from Canada in two straight games and he just has that steely eyed look right now. But if you want a less obvious player watch out for Sam Reinhardt. You know, I still think that because he plays in Florida, even though they won

the cup, his the details in his game are so insane. I just have a feeling he's going to have a moment tonight if Canada wins. For the US, the player that, he's already having a Norris Trophy-type season, but this has been a bit of a further coming out party as far as the rest of the world understanding where his game is at. Zach Wawrzynski has been all world in this event between USA. Um, they miss Quinn Hughes for sure, but I'm telling you, Zach warrensky has filled his boots. Like he is playing like a guy that may not just be in the conversation

for the Norris this year, but honestly guys, and I didn't think I'd say this before the season started. I think Cale McCarr and Quinn Hughes are conversations for best defenseman in the world. Yep. Yeah. I don't disagree. I think Cale McCarron can use that conversation for best defensemen in the world. Yep. Yeah, I don't disagree. Pierre, where do you think Coop kind of falls in this pregame? I know that he's just, he's got a vibe about him and I think he loves these moments. And I think he loves the idea. He told everybody the other day that he's had this speech in the chamber for a couple years now and he's looking forward to bringing it to the boys like he's probably got something special to give the fellas to get them fired up not that any of them need it yeah you're still banging on on that oh

i mean this morning both shaggy and i noticed this but uh when they were doing the stretch at center ice they don't they don't have a player go in the middle like you do for NHL skates whatever reason then coop went in the middle after the stretch was almost over and tapped his stick. All right, we ready? That was it. Everyone nodded their head. There's just he's he's the perfect guy for this group. He's awesome. And I love him. He loves it. And I love him. and I love him. He loves it and I love him. Yeah, he just, just the way he treats the modern player and his social demeanor. You can just tell the players reacting to him.

I wrote a story last couple of days, an athletic guy. In 2017, John Cooper decided his international path. I mean, he's a dual citizen, right? He's born and raised in Prince George, but his mom was from San Francisco, and he actually coached for USA Hockey at the 2008 Ivan Hulinka as an assistant coach. But in 2017, Tampa missed the playoffs, which is rare,

and he was sitting by his phone, and hockey Canada phoned him 10 minutes before USA Hockey did about the world and he went with it you know he obviously the proud Canadian and he was hoping it'd be on Canada but my point is 10 minutes apart and who knows what path there been different what side he's coaching on so and again I don't want to misconstrue this I mean beyond proudly coaching Team Canada. That would have been his first choice for sure,

given where he was born. But there was certainly a world in which if Hockana had never called, and Brian Burke talked to me about this, because Burke, he was trying to get USA Hockey to land him. The reverse is true, 10 minutes apart in 2017. Who knows who's coaching Canada tonight? It's kind of a crazy thing to think about with Pierre Lebrun So he John Cooper is putting

Seth Jarvis in tonight taking Travis connect me out there are rumors That someone is really perpetuating on this show that Chris Crider is going in and Kyle Connors coming out for the Americans Have you heard those and what is your read on? Yes. Yeah. I mean, I'm wondering the same thing. Mike Sullivan would not confirm his lineup neither yesterday nor this morning. He just said everyone's available other than Charlie McEvoy, of course, who's been ruled out. Yesterday in practice, Kyle Connor was skating sort of as a placeholder where Brady Kachuk skates, because Brady Kachuk took the practice off yesterday. He was ill. So he was skating on one of the top two lines in practice,

but he was also skating on one of the Pirate Play units. So you could easily see a world in which was he just a placeholder as the extra forward, or why is he skating on the Pirate Play? So I think team notes, they try to be coy but it has led a lot of us watching practice wondering if it's Kreider or Connor at the very least. That's a legitimate question. We'll find out soon enough here. Pierre, do you think it would be easier or there's more mystery involved for insiders

like yourself or would you rather they just come out with like this guy's got this because there's a lot of stuff where it's like illness where you can tell the guy's not ill or he's not hurt like would you rather just a straight to a truth does it make your job easier or is there more mystery involved with this and more reporting to do when they do it like this yeah I mean oh I don't mind I mean that's what I. So I guess I don't want to take my job away from myself. So I don't mind, you know, the whole 24 hours that the, the C.G. and I and Greg spent on finding out whether or not

Quintu use was coming from that group. That's what we do. So that's fine. And listen, I guess what I would say is I'm still surprised in 2025 that coaches and coaching staffs believe it's that big a deal to be coiled. No kidding. About who's in your a deal to be core. No kidding. About losing your lineup.

Like it will not affect anything. Either team is doing depending on one or two players. Come on. I mean, it's that's the part where I just, you know, coaches is told what names are goalies. Come on guys. Like the game is so modernized beyond that, but, uh, but I don't care. But I'll tell you this we should touch on this for sure before I go one one of the major trade-offs lineup was I don't

think it's getting talked about enough maybe because it's obvious but Kale McCarvey didn't play against the US last Saturday Charlie McAvoy out that is some kind of huge huge like McAvoy changed the game forget the three fights in nine seconds. Of course that was entertaining, but McEvoy's hit on McDavid changed the game. Everyone within that Team USA group told me that and I feel the same way. That was huge, that hit on McDavid. He's out and as deep as their blue line is, and it really is, and they got a lot of talent

there, they don't really have a player with his particular toolbox to replace him. Jake Sanderson comes in. He's a great Two-way player great puck mover skater. He's not Charlie McEvoy. So That's big for them. Of course just having the car back I mean they worked on the power play a lot this morning by the way from morning to even Having the car back on that unit with Crosby McKinnon McDavid Reinhardt hello, I mean that's that's a maker. Well, to follow up on the Quinn Hughes thing, can you confirm, like, did Quinn want to fly

and Vancouver said no? Like how did this play out? Because there's, I've seen different things and like you said, there was all this confusion, like Mike Sullivan just goes, yeah Quinn Hughes is on his way. Fly again. Yeah, flying in, which is a crazy comment,

reckless in retrospect. Yeah. But, like, was it Vancouver that said no? Was it Quinn? What happened here? Yeah. So, Brian, great question, and I think there was confusion. You know, one thing I'll say just globally before I answer that question, if there's

anything NHL and the NHLPA have to glean from this event, which has turned into an unbelievable success, but they need to clean up the roster rules and everything else for the World Cup in 28 when they host this, you know, a deeper event here. First of all, they need to go to 25-man rosters away from 23 for obvious reasons, and the league has the knowledge that behind the scenes here. But to your question, I mean, I spoke with Quinez's agent, Pat Bresson yesterday, who walked me through the whole

process and what's clear is that this isn't just about one person making the decision. There was a lot of interaction between the agent, the player, the Canucks, Team USA. There was a lot of group conversations happening here to get to a final decision. And what Pat Bressisson said is, um, the bottom line is he wasn't clear to come back and play.

So I would put Salmonis on the Canucks, but at the same time, as Pat said, if he's flying the bus and he's likely not even playing, I mean, the U S has six healthy defensemen and bill daily doubled down yesterday and said, he can't, Quinn Hughes can't play if they still have those six healthy D's. Those are the rules. So I think he came down to A, Quinn Hughes hasn't played in 25 days. He just shed the non-contact on it yesterday. If he's coming to Boston, he's probably in the press box.

Everyone just kept circling the wagon. And then the other thing I should say, if I have a sense that it was unbelievably hard decision for Quinn Hughes. I mean he wanted to be part of this so badly and the poor kid now has been through this twice. He had to excruciatingly withdraw before the event which was hard enough and then he went through this. So I certainly feel for the Canucks captain but it wasn't one person make a call I guess is what I'm saying. There were a lot of different people in ball that helped get to this decision.

So outside, I mean, tonight it's over. Saturday, the league starts back up. How nervous or I mean, nervous might be the wrong word, but how frustrated or concerned are a lot of general managers where all of a sudden back to their club team and in limps, some of their star players are not available to their team down the stretch. Yeah, no question. You know, I mean, that's, that's for sure an undercurrent and you say general managers,

I'd say owners, you know, definitely some griping already that I'm hearing, but we'll see when the smoke clears who comes out of this meeting a game or two. I mean, you know, Matthew Kachak is definitely not 100% going into tonight. You know, does he play the next game for Florida? Sydney Crosby is playing with one arm. It's unbelievable what Candice Captain is doing for his country, but he's not 100%. Let's get real. Does he play or not next week?

Maybe, I don't know. Austin Matthews suffered a different injury this past week. He told us yesterday, it wasn't the same one as earlier this year. I don't think he's a hundred percent going to tonight and feel better. He said, but, you know, um, so list goes on, um, you know, Kelley McCarr is not a hundred percent. So yeah, it'll be interesting to see. And that's where I think, you know, as much as the NHL, the HLPA are 100% committed to

having a February World Cup in 2028 in between the two Olympics. There are some who would rather see it in September, like the old Canada Cups and the World Cup in 2020. Absolutely, man. So, and it's the players, by the way, it's the players that don't want to attend the World Cup. It may feel like extender season. But on top of all that,

you may have seen some of Gordon Miller's postings. I mean, the double HF is also not in line right now with the February World Cup. And if the double HF is not in line, what does that mean? So still some things to debate as we move forward out of this. But no matter how you look at it and obviously a very politically charged few days here and obviously Trump

addressing the two USA this morning and players being asked about that this event will have taken on I think way more meaning than I think if everyone was honest when they announced this last year in Toronto the All-Star game I don't think anyone could imagine that the four nations would get this much attention. I'm telling you here in the states mainstream news non-sports Talking about this game tonight like hockey is front and center Yeah, it's it's big man. And we were wondering how many canadians would be in the building tonight And I wonder well, there's lots of my hotel

That's what I guess that's what we're asking like through the streets of boston Canadians would be in the building tonight and I wonder Well there's lots of my hotel I guess that's what we're asking like through the streets of Boston. How many Canadians are cruising around? seeing lots of maple leaf team Canada jerseys for sure and Chef Jarvis said that his buddies have their flights canceled for Winnipeg so they drove 30 hours to come to the game tonight from Manitoba and to get some TV garden. And John Cooper was told that he could see the look on his face. He was just beaming with national pride. So I tell you, it's a, you know, when you have these best on best events, you don't,

they don't always hit it. Honestly, no one remembers the old four-year-old cup that, that walked us into that lockout. It's one of the least remembered best on best events. 2016, outside of Team North America and the kids, almost no one remembers Canada being Europe in that final. That's no one's fault. I'm just saying sometimes you get an 87 Canada Cup and a 96 World Cup, sometimes you get a nothing and this one is a something.

Yeah, and it's because of the two teams involved clearly I mean obviously that goes without saying if it's if it's not Canada USA then it's the hype just simply isn't there even in the States if the States are playing Sweden tonight it's not the same it's the fact that Canada is involved. And the last thing I would say you know one of the reasons this is four nations and not a World Cup, I mean, officially they'll tell you the League of the PAO, it's because they're not fine to organize a full-fledged World Cup.

But let's be real, they can't have Russia involved. So they make it four nations for now to buy themselves time. And I get it, I do the same thing. Buy themselves time to see what the IOC ends up doing with Italy and you know sort of go from there. Well one of the reasons Russia's not here is of course is to eliminate the politics from the event well guess what we have yeah exactly yeah politics involved in the event so it's kind of fascinating well and that's the thing man it's unpredictable like what's going to happen in the future like with with Russia

when they get back in no one has that answer right now but and no one really wants to touch it but you know I wouldn't be shocked if Trump tweeted out get Russia back in and that's like what's Batman gonna do how do you respond to that you know he might do it he might be might tweet something out like that he might say something like that and then I'd like to see the reaction from Bill Guerin and others. But, you know, right now it is what it is. And maybe that's the history of this event in some ways. I mean, the Cold War backdrop of the 81, 84, and 87 Canada Cups can't be forgotten in those classes between the Soviets and Canada.

That was mixed in. That was part of it. And now it's, you know, US-Canada political tension. It is absolutely part of the story. Yep. It's a huge, huge part. All right, Pierre. Well, enjoy yourself tonight, man. When you're walking over to that building, it looks great in the photo, but when you get in there... Right now, live hit with Shoggy and Chris Johnson inside TV garden at 605 for Sports Center so I'll do my usual sprint I'll be my usual sprint like I did okay get a sweat on before you get in there and get on TV enjoy yourself it'll be a fun one tonight we'll do it again sir alright guys there's a Pierre Lebron joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Lights, camera, action!

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