OverDrive - Orlesky on the Jets' dominance on the roster, the outlook to the playoffs and Connor's offensive game

Episode Date: February 27, 2025

Winnipeg Jets Host Sara Orlesky joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the Jets, the team's dominance throughout the season, the focus on the Stanley Cup Playoffs success, Kyle Connor's impact to the team and more.

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they give a deal that is in Winnipeg the kind of history books being split between Winnipeg in Atlanta as opposed to this, you know run of the Winnipeg and atlanta as opposed to this you know one of the winnipeg jets in the previous one part of the movie there is on i think you can imagine what a hot topic it is yeah it has been ever since the team came back to winnipeg in twenty eleven because you look at their records and and especially i think it'd be different if this had been

and team that didn't go back to that original name of Winnipeg Jets. When everyone thinks of the Winnipeg Jets, you think of Dale Howerchuk, you think of Timos Solani, you do not associate records with Ilya Kovalchuk or the Atlanta Daze. So people would love to be able to amalgamate the two and especially now, Amina, I heard you mention that they're kind of sitting nowhere with the records because Utah is its own organization that was, it didn't bring over the Arizona records with it, if you remember. So now no one has them at the moment. So when Mark Shieffley did pass Kovalchuk with 329 goals with the

franchise, he said it was great, but essentially it was there's another one that I'm looking forward to more. And that's a record that he wants to take down. Obviously his connection with Dale Howarchuk is very well known. He had coached Mark for years. They were very close. And so he's looking at that 380 goals that Dale Haurichek scored with the Jets. That's the record that he really wants. And I think in this city, you always hear people talk about Jets 1.0. That is what they associate with this team. And it bothers a lot of people that the record book does not show 1.0 aligned with 2.0. Sarah, we talked about all the winning the current streak they're on, how they started

the season. Like you've been around the team for a long time and I know they've had disappointments much like in this market, but does anything feel kind of different this year where this might be a year where you would say, I really like what they're going to do come playoff time there's just a different feeling about it or is it all felt the same throughout the years? Oh no, I think this could be your year, oh you always buy in. This could be the year that they are with you.

I think that there is, look I heard you guys talking about obviously the start that they had 15 and 1 and yes it was an NHL record with respect to the start but I think that there is. Look, I heard you guys talking about obviously the start that they had 15 and 1 and yes, it was An NHL record with respect to the start But I think that even players will tell you there were games in that original stretch that they were fortunate to win It wasn't as if they were just blowing everybody out of the water. They were lucky to get to that point But this has been a very consistent team this year We haven't seen a lot of lulls in it, and it's the way that they've been playing.

It is a sustainable style, and they haven't just been relying on Connor Hellebuck. Yes, he is inevitably, I think, going to win his third Vezina this season, but they haven't done it all because of him. And sometimes in previous seasons, I think that he has masked some of the issues that the team has had, some of their shortcomings.

This year, they are scoring. They are scoring at five on five. They are scoring on the power play. They have been playing strong defensively. You look at their goals against one of the top teams in the league, and it's not just because of him. This is a team that has bought into the system that Scott O'Neill and his coaching staff have been preaching.

A lot of it has been a carryover from that mentality and the ideas that Rick Bone has first implemented when he came in here and they have just continued to build upon it. This team feels different than what it has in the past. We all know that goalies in D are what win championships and it's clear that the Chets have a top four than kind than their guys Stanley and Miller. Is there maybe a thought to add a little more, another player to be maybe included in that top four, top five? Yeah, I think so.

Look, I've covered the Jets since the first year that they returned in 2011. I always joke about this actually at Darren Dra out that every year i feel as if when i was with tsn that's every time i was speak to james that's trade deadline and he would say what are the jobs looking for an answer well they're looking for a second line center and a top forty no possible but pot move that they got out of the park moving on the tour

but the and this is i mean find me a team that would like that but i think that it's one where it gets some additional dad is something especially when you look at how are just that the playoff run is right if they're going to be able to make it as every jet span hopes that they would be able to make it to the sam like a final to be able to get there you know, you know the toll that it takes,

how you don't just rely on six or seven D, injuries are inevitable, styles of game, whatever it might be. And so yes, do I think that you could utilize some more or use and benefit from some more depth in the department? Absolutely. And I also think that it'd be great if they got a player, whether it be upfront on the blue line, I would love to see a player that has had some postseason success and some postseason experience because look, these guys are playing really well. I think

that they have matured from what we've seen in previous seasons. It's not all linear. We know that in order to be able to eventually get to a cup final. But I think that they have matured. But an area that they still don't have a lot of is postseason success and understanding what it really takes in order to be able to be playing in June. I think that it'd be great to see something, someone like that come into the organization as well. Also though, it's that fine line, as I mean mean you guys can attest to better than anybody that if you have a close dressing room A tight dressing room I think that you also have to be cognizant of how of who you're bringing in the type of personality that it is because

You got away the the pros and the cons when you've got a group that has the chemistry that this team appears to have So Sarah Leske Winnipeg in tonight, Jets going for 11 in a row. The reaction, I'm curious what the reaction was in Winnipeg last week when Kyle Connor, it was announced that he was scratched for that championship game. We were all floored by it. Clearly in retrospect, it seems like a mistake. He's had such a great year. How did the Winnipeg market react to that news?

I think shocked as well. I think it's great to be able to take a look around the league and see how other people in other markets are responding to it because I think you sometimes see it periodically in Toronto, rose-colored glasses come on and you jump in. Sometimes. That one is for you, Stretty. I loved it. I loved it.

I knew you would. Wow, this is a takedown, man. We're getting teamed up here, the Western Canadians. Western Canada, exactly. That's why I was brought on. All right, okay. But seriously, sometimes you wonder about what the perception is outside and of players outside the market.

And I think that across the board, everybody was shocked to see that Kyle Connor was not in the lineup considering what he can bring in. And even though he hadn't had a really productive first few games there, and you look, I mean his ice time was certainly, he only played I think it was eight and a half minutes against Canada in that first game. But with what his abilities are, he is a finisher and he has that goal scoring ability and to have him out of the lineup I think shocked a lot of people in the city. If you look at one of the benefits, I guess, that

you could say is that you never know if injuries could have happened and they will certainly hope that the motivation that I think you see off from Mark Shifely with not being named to Team Canada back in December and the way that his season continued to excel, you hope that maybe Kyle Connor can play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. And I think the first game back, St. Louis, if I remember correctly, first game after four nations in St. Louis, he had 10 shots that night and scored. I mean, so if you're if if this is able to

help the Winnipeg Jets longer term, they'll they'll take it. But certainly there was a lot of shock and disappointment over the fact that he wasn't able to play or he wasn't selected to play for the Americans in that final game Sarah will end it like this Jamie has to leave and do senators games and we have to find a replacement Where would you rank Struddy as? Replacements like as far as being funny Just doing the job all of the things that going to being a substitute for noodles. Where would you say for now? Hang on a second good-looking

Everything right strut everything that's here to all of it Sarah like where would you rank strutty? It's not like it's a high bar to be better looking at noodles like Take that into consideration, please, Sarah. It's not Brad Pitt. You're going to try to get me into trouble here. I think that it's always, I always love being on the show when Noodles is on, obviously, but Struddy definitely a very, an A plus, an A plus villain for it. Wow. Wow.

Strud, that's the greatest. Plus I appreciate, look, you need to be able, this show sometimes we know needs to be able to, you guys are going across the country, I know you're a Toronto radio show, but everyone watches you across the country on TSN. Thank you. You need to be able to have a little bit of balance. You like the idea of next year everyone watches you across the country on tsn they are concerned you know i don't know

you like the idea of next year across country training camps like a week long thing vancouver edmonton calgary winnipeg across the country you think that's a brilliant idea i'm brilliant was the word i was going to use yeah i think it is a brilliant idea i think it must be done so that's great and you you still hold a lot of power and weight around these parts, Sarah. So the Orlesky push is going to get us over the finish line. Go ahead, Stu.

Well, at the very least, I'm hoping you guys are going to be out here sometime in April or May. Yes. Huh? Maybe? Start it out, show how great it would be and then you can translate it into pre-season. Okay. Look, Sarah, I just want to let you know what we're dealing with. I was asked a short time ago, well, probably about six, seven months ago by Brian Hayes

if we have Labor Day out west. That's what we're dealing with, Sarah. That's what we're dealing with. That's a moron comment. That was ignorant. That's what we're dealing with. That's a moron comment. That was ignorant. You know what? That sounds like a man that ran a casino during university and did not attend many of his classes.

That is 100% accurate. It is 100% accurate. It's fair. It's a fair comment. The casino, I was playing the role of a pit boss when we were going through Western Canadian culture. I missed that day at school and I need to revise it and i need to revisit it and it's great to know you guys have week like you you responded

you guys get weekends out there on monday's and tuesday's you know it's great i wasn't aware of that outside of the greater toronto area but you guys are really living life out there and i support it greatly it's long overdue think of how insightful a road trip for overdrive and be thinking what he's with lern uh... i know

i and i is a little history trip it would be fantastic yeah i was a lot of ignorance when it comes to me when it comes to what happens basically west of mississauga i just don't know what's going on out there and uh... i hope it happens and i like that they may be a part of well maybe it won't just be backed by tsn maybe ctv news may be is there a discovery channel something right at the election coming up i think right we

think we're gonna have a federal election coming up so maybe i could be kind of boots on the ground kinda guy and bring canadians together i was confused all I really like that. The unifying force on Brian Hayes. That's right. Appreciate it Sarah as always. Thank you for the support. We need it and enjoy the game tonight. We'll do it again soon. I enjoy it too. Thanks for having me on guys. There's our good friend Sarah Orlesky. Black History Month radio. We're shining a light on the music, stories and culture that inspire us all.

Black history is our history. Celebrate with us. History to make it. Listen on the free IR Radio app.