OverDrive - OverDrive - April 2, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: April 2, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' matchup against the Panthers, the importance of the Atlantic Division lead for the team and the goaltending approach in Toronto. St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong joins to discuss the Blues' incredible run, the offer sheet vantage point and the mentality of the roster.

That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos. Canada decides 2025. Stay informed with my exclusive iHeartRadio podcast, available Friday afternoon, straight through till election day and beyond. I'll have your weekly highlights and my unvarnished analysis of the campaign of a lifetime. The candidates, the quotes, the polls, and the momentum.

That just happened with Vashi Kapelos. Canada decides 2025. fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeart radio app. This hour of overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go. Overdrive off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker and up on TSN for Brian Haseo dog Jeff O'Neil Jamie noodles McClennan. What's up? How we feeling this afternoon? What the hell's going on outside? I'm sorry guys sickening It is sickening. It is disgusting weather. It's snowing. It's ice

It's cold. It's windy It's disgusting for and what cold, it's windy, it's disgusting for a... And what it does is it delays golf for like 10 days. Every one of these days feels like it's five days. That's right. I thought of both of you. I'm not lying, which is the weirdest thing because I should think of so many other things. But when I saw a blizzard outside my window this afternoon,

all I thought was you two tinkering in the garage with your drivers and everything going, these guys are jammed up for golf. And would that mess with the courses and stuff? Were they already setting the course? Yeah, it can be. It can be. It's like the time of the year where they're,

they wanna get their greens going and they want to take the tarps off and like, okay, here are the greens. But then you have a day like this and the superintendent's probably like, that ain't happening today. Yeah. Yeah. And yet it's supposed to be really nice tomorrow and on Friday. So I don't know.

It depends on where you are, what you're playing, like even ranges and you know, people want to get outside and play tennis and pickleball and golf and walk your dog in peace. Like watching people today, it's crazy how miserable people are when it's bad weather in April and you think you're out of it and you just want to move on with your life and you got to get your jacket back out, your hat and your gloves. It's depressing. Yeah, it's disgusting It's it's still kind of hockey weather and I guess we're still in a position like that I will also say we were reminded and I had no idea that this was a big anniversary for the show

Four years ago Al's brother and the old dog ran their 40 yard dash and it was sunny and beautiful outside. Glorious. We would have had to cancel the 40 yard dash four years ago if the weather was like what it is today and there's a chance you guys would have weaseled out of it and said forget it we don't have to do it. We got so lucky four years ago that we got perfect weather for a 40 yard dash.

Video gold for the rest of our lives. That's right See I write what it concerned me about that thing popping up on my phone from you guys and on Twitter is After that race I had more keys to get into like there was more damage After that race, that's right. In terms of feeding and all that stuff. I didn't get to my... That wasn't an awakening for you. That wasn't peak. That wasn't your peak. That was a coma.

No. That actually knocked you out and put you in an even worse place. That did. It's like snapping you out of it. I watched myself running the 40 and I'm like, it's game over, man. That was basically my beat up minivan. Like, I saw the minivan, it's a pile of crap and I said that's it. Like it's over.

That's how I'm going to operate. And the sour keys and all that kind of stuff was still a part of the rotation. Yet, four years later, much better position, right? Now's brother, much better position. I'd like to see both of you compete again I'd be curious if you could clock in you know less than 10 seconds worse see there's a this is but guys I will say right here is so this right there right there that's the I was so stiff ever ever ever ever hey you know that I run better than that I just got out of the car and my lower back and my knees were so stiff, dude You can't give me that that's my actual running strike. See I find that I'm gonna push back on that because you always go at me And I'll use a golf analogy where I will I will pull into a parking lot on two wheels and

Run to the first tee this Strike here is sad. That's house brother He beat you I mean I know shocking that he actually he beat you by significant margin like he would move up draft boards He would be drafted in the third round based on those numbers. You may go under house brother was moving up based on those numbers you may go undrafted. Hal's brother was moving up draft boards. Up draft boards with the agility and with the skill and with the athleticism but when it comes to other things you do in your life you show up early and you put in effort beforehand. I'm not convinced you went right from behind the wheel to the starting line.

I think you were limber. You think he was in the back parking lot? The things that I show up early and prep for are things that are enjoyable. There wasn't a whole lot of enjoyment in that. I was like, I got to run a 40 and this is probably not going to be good. Literally Al's brother, that's my truck, I think, right there. And I got out and I said, is it time? Look at how slow that is, man.

I've got many questions as to, like this is before you are after now. Do you still own those? Those are like blue knicker pants. I don't know what you were running in. They were like loose up top and then tight on your like calves, I think. Those have a drawstring. You still own those pants. Those things.

If you put those pants on, you could wear that as a body suit now. Yeah. Part of the psychology for me. You can blow your shoulder out on looping those. That thing, the drawstring on that started behind your ass and you had to fire that thing out like starting a motor. That was a lawn mower pull. Yeah, that was a lawn mower pole yeah that's a lawn mower pole but what i did is once i started working out with the life coach

and i started digging through everything and if it said double xl on it i lit it on fire good for you that's inspiring you don't want to go backwards yeah never again will i ever see that and then soon after that anything x, lit it on fire. I only wear a large or a medium. And it's the day I even told my lady, the seamstress,

I go, any time I ever come in here and say, can you make something a little bit bigger? Because I went through those phases where I'm like, you got to make this. Can you give me some, like, a couple inches on this jacket here? And then she'd look at me and she's like, I don't know. I'll do my best.

Tough to add thread. Like you could take thread off. Dude, when you're adding thread, you need like a magician. I think she had to send them away to a magician. Dr. Oz. That was Dr. Oz. I've been there I've been in the threads that you still somehow think you look good in and you go in there're like, I'm begging for a goddamn half an inch on these things because that's all I got. She's just looking her eyes pop out of her head and she's like, I don't know, man. Well that's them, like the mistress or not the mistress, the seamstress or the tailor sending you a message. If you come back in three or four days later And there's a completely different color that they've used they basically said yeah, don't ever do this again

Don't come to me. I can't do it I can't make it work that if they use a different like a pattern material on a blue jean that is basically saying blue jean that is basically saying at all that's a good somewhere else at all i got a lot of material on the blue jeans patty have all that yeah that's called it that's good that that's basically them that's spray painting that that is what i told you guys setting, after that, it's an amazing transformation because what I didn't realize

and I told you guys this before is how much beef you put on like on your upper back and your shoulders. Because when I had to shrink my jackets, I had to take seven inches off the arms. Oh, I know. Dude, I went through this because I started losing weight when I was almost getting married. It was between engagement and marriage where I kind of lost weight. I went in to wherever I bought the suit and this was early in the process of losing weight, like five to 10 pounds.

You guys know I lost like 60 or 70. I lost a lot of weight and you know the guys like all right, you know fire up a suit come back in a couple weeks and and Sure enough. I came back. I don't think I even I don't know why I didn't try it on anyway I went back like a month later, and the guys like what are you doing this suit? You can't wear that suit It's your wedding suit. And you've lost like 30 pounds, you know, and you realize it in the arms in the in the chest everywhere, man, it'll find a place. But you just shrink that that video is it's one for the ages. And like I say, it's great for us to have some fun with it. But it's, you know, that was a weird

time anyways. Was that before covid during covid no it was four years ago it was 2021 so yeah so we're kind of yeah i guess i don't know i don't know we were at home i feel we were at home because i you look at the video like i'm wearing like a velvet shirt or something the only reason i was in there that day is because i had a leaf game that night so it it might've been only in for certain times. It's probably the tail end of it. I don't know what else brother was doing in there, but anyway, speaking of which,

we got a Leaf game tonight and a big one. Yeah. And the Panthers are, I guess they're licking their wounds because the Habs got them last night. Like Nick Suzuki scores with like nine seconds left and then scores 30 seconds into the overtime and the Habs steal two points. Like they stole a point and then I guess they earned one in overtime, which was just an

incredible theater at the end of the game at the Bell Center last night. And you know, the Panthers, they've struggled against Montreal and this is going to be a scenario tonight where two different worlds are going to collide. The team coming that's about to play the second night of a back to back versus the team arriving home from a West Coast road trip. Like which one is more of an disadvantage I guess in your opinion? Is it the back to back for the Panthers or is it the Leafs who haven't played since Sunday but had to fly in from California and might be a little bit rusty? I think the advantage

goes to the back-to-back team because you know the ugliness of going and whatever the reason if you have one day or two days or you play the very next day when you come back from the West Coast and the Leafs have been thrown into the mix I think they bucked the trend maybe once or twice but you just think the join out. You have no life, your body clock is off and your legs aren't moving, your brain's not thinking. So you would think the scenario alone would just force them to mentally erase all of that. But I don't know, as a goalie, goalies don't play back to backs typically, but I always loved the second game of a back to back because

there was no kind of, your warm up could be shorter. It was like, I'm already loose and fired up and it's just a continuation. Just get the engine fired up again and away you go. It is. I think they're equal because you make a great point. But I think what happens, especially with how fast the game is, the fatigue could come in. If it's a fast game, it fatigue could come in to you know if it's a fast game, it's a high-paced game, if there's some physicality, maybe that's where the third period

you start to see some fatigue in a back-to-back. I think they're equal in a sense because you are coming back from the west coast but both teams are aware of it. That's the crazy part. So I'll say this, you know I didn't get a chance to watch that Florida game. I was calling a game, but I was tracking it obviously. And I'm like, okay, looks like Florida's in pretty good shape. Sam Bennett, or sorry, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart had a tough we'll call it 39 seconds because the puck was behind the Montreal Canadians net was 17 seconds left. They go to dump it in, he goes to like short stop and it goes to Suzuki on the back door. I don't think they could do that again. No. That was one of the luckiest plays. It might

be just, you know what? It might be fate for the Montreal Canadiens. Good for Nick Suzuki's in the right place, right time. And then Suzuki's, like that play, I don't think they would do it 99 out of 100 times. If you look at Suzuki, he's going behind the net thinking that Hudson's going to fire it around the net. And this play in overtime is great, but that's Reinhardt chasing him and he's late on the play. So, you know, I'm looking at it and oh, you could speak to this is on a night like that

where Reinhardt like that's you circle that and go that's a tough one minute of your life Okay in hockey and he's an unbelievable player But all I could think of is Reinhardt's gonna have a game tonight to bounce back That's all I thought about because i'm like that guy, you know, he didn't have the best I don't think he had his best night period. I was watching him like you just you noticed him for the wrong reasons It was like man, is that sam ryan? He wasn't on his a guy didn't have a respond it happens But both of these teams are gonna go through this type of cake coming back off the West and back to back It could be a unique game tonight. Yeah, I'm wondering if the Leafs like I watch

Kind of OV like you watch the excitement level of the Habs and I think they're really fired up and you watch the capitals like you watch and I just pay attention to little things like the capitals before a game standing in the hallway like they're getting pretty jacked up like Ovi's singing with Chickren and they're all high-fiving they're all getting their juices flowing like I'm wondering if the Leafs can like bring some Energy and some mojo tonight and I the crowd on a Wednesday night I don't know if they all kind of go together, but I just want to see some juice. It's like, this is a big game.

Let's play like it, let's bring it, let's bring our own excitement, because God knows if you wait for the crowd to do it, it might not happen. But I just want some juice. Like you saw that excitement in the crowd last night, the second best fan base in hockey last night in Montreal, it was pretty exciting.

Yeah, it was. So, they're riding a wave right now, man. And it feels like it's just... They're getting everybody on board, Brian. The way they're doing that and you're seeing the fans and the players, it's like the whole hockey world's on board with Montreal, and I hope that team gets in. It's incredible. They're a very, very fun team to watch.

Like with Hudson had three assists last night. He's a blast to watch. He won the Calder last night. Yes, he did. Absolutely. In my opinion, there's no excuse for him not to win it. I get it. Celebrini's been good.

Michal's been good. Wolfe's been good. This guy's got, I think, as many assists as Kelmclarf. 57 assists. Yeah. This guy's got, I think, as many assists as Keown was far. 57 assists. Yeah. And he's hit over 60 points, and he's putting a big numbers plan, big minutes on the point. He's a big part of the driving force behind this story in Montreal.

It's Montreal. I'm sorry, that matters in terms of the way people react to things and the way people vote. So, yeah, I think Hudson had probably he was the lead horse before it. I think he won it last night. And it is just one of those energy building teams. And it reminds me of the Leafs back in 1617. That first year with Matthews and Marner were, you know, coming down the stretch, they were jockeying for position and they were this young, exciting team and everyone

jumped on the bandwagon. And ironically enough, they probably run into the same team like that. That year, the Leafs played Washington in the first round. And that's what is going to happen here with Montreal. If they can punch their ticket, they're going to play Washington in the first round. And that will be that will be a great, great series. But yeah, I'm with you in terms of where the Leafs are out. Like the I'm curious, the body language, language I'm curious the energy around the team and whether

we asked Jonas this last week like are you sensing that they realize what's coming here like where we're going they're almost there you know like after game seven it was you know can we fast forward 50 weeks and return to game one and show the world that we're gonna be different and that we believe in ourselves that is rapidly approaching here and They keep paying lip service to how big this game is, but I don't think you can undersell it I mean you got a you got a buff run on Florida here You haven't beat them this year your own two against the Panthers stole ours has played both those games stole ours will get to start tonight

So I think it's big for him and net and I think it is big for the Leafs not only For the standings, which is clear cod but also to set the tone for the playoffs and you got to beat this team You got to get them like, you know in March and making his debut Against Toronto as a Panther. He's played a couple of games now, but you know, he's gonna be buzzing tonight and I will I am quite curious to see what Toronto brings energy wise, you know, early in this game. And I want to see, I want to focus on one thing because we got another Florida game coming up and I got to do a little pre-scout on it. I want to see what they're going to bring to the table, five on five.

Like, that's been the big issue with the Leaf Star players. Can they get inside ice and can they make things happen? Five on five against big, tough, competitive dudes that want to win. And that's what I'm going to be focusing on tonight. How does Mitch Marner fare against a guy like little ice and it's competitive and it's very physical and it's kind of a man's game out there?

All of them, all the usual suspect and bigger picture the whole team. How does this team fare in those circumstances? But most importantly, what they can accomplish five on five offensively. Can they get opportunities because that's what's failed them in the past. Yeah. Yeah. Big time. And you're healthy and you're ready to play. Like their power play can go and score a goal because you're on a power play. You got time and space and you can zip it around or whatever but five on five if you're talking about a seven

game series against a quality opponent like the one they're playing tonight it's a big difference what you can muster up because the Florida Panthers watching them go on two cup runs they just went out there and they like it wasn't McDavid skill and obviously there's Barkov and there's some special players up but they literally mauled you up front like they would crush you in the corner and they would maul you and that's how they they were like the Hansen brothers out there every line it wasn't like a skill first game so it's gonna be fascinating to see how the Leafs stack up with that. Yeah Florida plays a I

would call it it they contest ice. That's what they do. That's how playoff hockey is, is every piece of ice you got to fight for. And there's not a lot of space to do the circle back and, hey, dust the puck off of snow and all of that. They contest you, and they're on you, and they play with pace. But this is a playoff stretch this is a playoff team

i don't we don't know what the standings gonna look like this tampa teams not going to hear red hot band and that's that's the thing that it could still be tampa one cd leaves florida your plan for all my stomach you know as much as anything it could be about a you want to get points to to make sure if you end up playing for the first round again home ice you gotta take care of what you can control

that's all you can do but you got two more against 40 you got another one against Tampa Tampa is red-hot they're not losing right now and you know it's any combination of who the Leafs are going to play whether it's Tampa whether it's Florida whether it's Ottawa you're gonna be able to spin it both ways you know we mentioned fear factor and we'll get to a few in terms of the Panthers later this afternoon but It's it's long overdue the Leafs You got to take the bull by the horn and tonight would be a big big example of that big opportunity for them

It's a big game. You know there's there's it's a playoff field tonight Doug Armstrong will join us in ten minutes as good as the Habs story has been the st.. Louis Blues team, they've won 10 in a row. They did it again last night. And they are as red hot as anybody in the league. I think they leapt over Minnesota last night. So all of a sudden it looks like they could be going to Vegas as opposed to Winnipeg. Although Winnipeg lost in LA. They're only four points up on Dallas, and Dallas has a cakewalk of a skid coming home, including a game against Winnipeg at home in Dallas. They're in Vegas tomorrow night, Winnipeg, and Dallas is right behind them, man. They've got a game in hand, they're four points back, and they play Winnipeg, and then they

play like Nashville a couple of times, Chicago. They've got some layup gas here Well, and and the beauty of it if you're just a hockey fan like there there's a lot of races here It's not just like hey, you know like you look on both sides you mention it like Winnipeg's trying to win the the president's trophy. They might not even win their division You know what? I mean like it's crazy how Dallas has crept up on them But you know, it's the races Dallas has crept up on them, but you know, it's the races at the bottom, the races at the top, in all these divisions,

conferences and that, it's pretty impressive. You know, this St. Louis team, they're not losing right now. At some point you think, okay, I thought last night Detroit had them. Like it was one-nothing late and then they find a way and man ten in a row and and and they're rolling their feeling. That's what happens with these incredible stories you're gonna win games where you think you don't deserve to or you think it's over and the lights are going out and you find a way to keep that streak cooking at this point and that's exactly what st. Louis is doing right now so their GM Doug Armstrong would join us and get his take on how it's turned around is it

giving him flashbacks to 2019? Is he getting 2019 vibes here when they came down the stretch red hot and Rode that wave all the way to a Stanley Cup final and ultimately won it so catch up with him Chris Pronger coming up today We got arbitration. I got another bit. I'm trying to work on here I might lay out and let you guys kind of feel it out. See what you guys think overdrive continues TSN 1050N on TSN 4. That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos, Candidate Asides 2025. Stay informed with my exclusive iHeartRadio podcast, available Friday afternoon straight through till election day and beyond. I'll have your weekly highlights

and my unvarnished analysis of the campaign of a lifetime. The candidates, the quotes, the polls, and the momentum. That just happened with Vashic Apello's Canada Decides 2025. Fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app. Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Doug Armstrong of the St. Louis Blues here in a few moments Chris Pronger in about a half an hour Leafs Panthers tonight. You got a bunch of games in the NHL and Leafs Panthers as well and I am quite curious to see like Brad Marsh and in a Panthers uniform looks

Very strange. I think it looks great in that uniform. You think it works for him? Yeah, some guys get traded, and you just look at them in the jersey, and you're like, I think this is really superstitious thing. I think the way the jersey fit and looks is a big part of success. If it's a bad look, and you got a different number sometimes you're

just a different guy but it's 63 he's a little rat and he just he's playing with a bunch of other rats and he fits right in and it's just a perfect fit yeah I think it is the way that that team plays the reputation oh yeah we helps yeah where you know if you if you go to a team that just you know if he's playing for the Utah hockey club or something, they're like, I don't know. And he's trying to face wash guys. Yeah. Doesn't work, man.

But Florida works. Florida does work. Well, they work. They play irritable, but you're right. There are guys who have changed organizing. Like, Stamco still looks weird in a Nashville jersey for me. Like, it just doesn't, I don't know. Watching him, it just doesn't.

The whole scenario is weird for him and the team. And they've had a rough goal, I get that. But it just, you know, it doesn't look right. I mean, Tampa's fine with that. That Jake Gensel, he does the score goals and enjoy life in Tampa. But you know, you look at a legacy player that changes, sometimes it just doesn't look right.

Marchand, he looked comfortable. I watched his game the other day. He was fine. I mean, he passed to Bennett in overtime, wasn't that? That was the... Yeah, he set up the OT winner. Yeah, I mean, he'll be fine there. It's just a matter of health. But, you know, what is Echblad's 20 games up? He's going to miss the first two games of the playoffs. So that's it. Like like Florida's this you got to take advantage of them like they're they're kind of leaking oil a little bit Kuchuk is still out you know Akblad's out there you got it you got to get them tonight like if you're the Leafs you got to get them and put

them back why not man yeah tonight's the night like you put put the motor down I think it's really important too for Stolarz against his former team I don't know how you guys feel about it when you would go up against former teams but that's the one that you know is still he's they still got him you know they got his number and he was there and they let him walk and he signed within the division and it sure sounds like he's gonna be the guy we'll play this clip from Craig Borube a little bit later on about his approach to a tandem goaltending setup come playoff time I've never done it it was a pretty pretty interesting answer from Craig I think it might have

possibly shine a light on what his philosophy will be come playoff time but I think it's big for Stoller's tonight noodles for him you got it you got to beat your former team man you gotta get him if you think you're gonna play him in the playoffs well that's exactly that exactly where I was going to go. You can get them. If this is November or December, you could be playing them three weeks from now for keeps. As much as he knows them, they know him. It's about confidence.

It's about timing of stuff. Throughout a seven seven game series, there are adjustments. So these guys played with him last year, they know exactly where they believe they can beat him, and he knows their tendencies of how they like to play and attack the net. So it can go hand in hand to me. It'll be an interesting approach, but he does need to solidify himself as a one or the guy that they want to go to in the playoffs

Yeah for sure and and he gets that opportunity again tonight. Oh one two against the Panthers the team I think Barube handled it really well today when he was asked about that He said we are oh and sir like not just stole ours. The team is is oh one two against Florida and You know, I would anticipate it. It's going to have a playoff feel to it tonight that's what all the players are saying and they understand what's on the line tonight. One team that we were not certain was going to be a playoff team I'd say about three weeks ago would be the St. Louis Blues. In fact I think if we were going around the table I'm not sure any of us would have picked them to get in and now

They've won ten in a row. They're red-hot. They're in the driver's seat. They did it again last night Yeah, and now it's not about sneaking in that second wild card like they're they're in the first wild card right now Yeah in the Western Conference It's just been an incredible run and the GM of the team and the man that's been there for a long long time joins us Now back on overdrive here is Doug Armstrong how you doing Doug? Tell them I'm good how are you guys? We're doing very well it must be a lot of fun I would think for you to put your feet up and watch your team win ten in a row. Yeah certainly beats the alternative that's for sure. Doug how did you see

through this like sometimes we've been critical of GMs in the past for falling in love with ideas that clearly weren't going to work, but is this what you saw? And how did you see this type of team play in these results when they weren't there? Is that the most difficult thing being a GM of knowing it and seeing it and it's just not happening? Well, I would say that when we can be started uh... a couple years ago we we've had a really nice nice run for but a part of the decade but that that group could have matured in

and we had to go on to that next group and we boston younger players and we knew we were going to go through some difficult times but as we're doing that i think of the more if you could just try to build a a foundation that when we got up and running, it could be sustainable. And we're getting, starting that, I think, obviously bringing Montgomery in certainly helped us. Uh, you know, what I, what I like about what Jim has done, you, you look at,

uh, our younger players, I'll take a player like Bull Duke, who's playing his best hockey of his young career, but then a player like Shen who's been here in the NHL for a long time was playing his best hockey of his young career, but then a player like Shen, who's been here in the NHL for a long time, is playing his best. So I'm fortunate enough to work with a coach now that is getting, if that's the goalpost, your youngest and oldest players and they're both playing great, I assume the guys in the middle are doing well too. So, Monty's done a really good job, but I give the players a ton of credit. They understand that where we are as an organization, our belief is that we have to have a team mentality, a pack mentality. And when we do that, we can overcome injuries like we are right now with Franco and that's helpful. But I think really what we're trying to do is just build something of a foundation that we can grow

on over the next decade and have these younger players come into something that they can believe in. Doug, you were bold. You made, obviously, every headline. We've talked to you about it before, but you make the offer sheets to Broberg and Holloway, and they're both fantastic players. I don't think anybody would argue about that, but did you see this much success this early from these two young players?

No, I know you know we were excited about about their potential and and They they had been really brought along at a proper pace quite honestly young players get thrust in the league and they were able to the hone their skill in the American Hockey League and they were at a good point for us and we were able to give them the platform to play and play all the time and play through ups and downs and they both played fantastic and we hope that this is just the starting blocks of what are going to be really good careers. They're

both in their 22, 23, 23, 24 in that, in that range. And so they're just not even entering, but they're just, just about entering the prime of their career. So hopefully they can, they can build off this and continue to grow with people like neighbors and Bull Duke and whole fur and Tucker. And we have a bunch of younger players, Thomas and Cai Rue, that are in their mid-20s too so it's a good group and hopefully a group that can skin their knees together and learn together and then grow together and win together. For whatever reason, offer sheets have just not really been a part of the program in the

NHL for the last 20 years or so but now that you've gone through what you've gone through, offer sheeting those two players, getting both players and then performing the way they're playing, do you think we could be witnessing a new era here? Would you anticipate more offer sheets in the future in the NHL? Yeah, I actually go the other way. I just think that we needed a perfect storm. We needed a stagnant cap, you know, which had been there for a while. And right now, the NHLPA and the league announced the cap growth over the next three years. It's going to be large.

And so I think, you know, and this is my belief, I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone puts an offer sheet in to harm a team. They put it in if they think they can get the player. And I think as the cap continues to grow and there's new money in the system, the ability to match these is going to be greater and greater. And there's 32 owners, they could all, you know, There's not a number you can say that they can't write a check for and sign. So it's not about having the money or not wanting to spend the money, it's about having the cap space.

And I think the cap space is going to continue to grow which is going to make offer sheets maybe a little more difficult to see a vision of where you're going to get the player. With Doug Armstrong, the GM of the Blues and around the trade deadline, there were some players on your team that were out there, you know, on the grapevine, so to speak, and we were buzzing about them up here in Toronto. I don't know how truthful it was or not. You would know that answer. But as you look back on it now, it was was it ever close to you saying,

you know what, I got to move in a different direction here? Or as I asked you a few moments ago, was there always that belief that if you kept the core together and the veteran players in particular, that with Montgomery, you guys could pop here and I guess as you look back on it, you don't have any regrets based on how you handled the trade deadline.

Yeah, there's belief, There's not blind belief. And really when we came out of the, at least this is how the blues operate, you have a plan. We came out of the four nations. We were honest with ourselves and to the teams around the league that if we don't start winning games, you know, players will be available because that's, you know, we, that that's just what, you know, I'm a big believer players tell you what to do at the trade deadline more than you tell players what to do.

And, um, we came out of that break. We started to win some games and as we won games, we were honest with our, with our people we were talking to that. That's less likely we're going to move current players for future players because they're earning the right and then they went on that heater and then at the end probably the last three or four days we were pretty consistent that any any deal we would make would have to be a hockey trade meaning we're gonna get an NHL player back that can help us and I'm obviously yeah I'm happy that nothing did, that we didn't make any

trades, but going into it, you always have to be, have a plan, but be flexible to other things that might open up. And I give the players a ton of credit. They understood where we were at and they did their job and they won a lot of hockey games and they continue to do that and you know we're still not in a playoff spot yet, we still got to earn or we're not have that X by our name, we got to earn that but we're pushing towards it and I give the guys a ton of credit. Armin, you think Benner after the Four Nations kind of got a little shot of adrenaline to kind of freshen his game up and kind of have some renewed confidence? I do. I think that he's a big stage player and I do believe that if we can, we talk about internally, let's supply him a team

that's good enough and see what he does and usually when we supply him that team he doesn't let us down. I think we saw that at the formations. That was a great event and you know he gets, the accol, obviously go for what he did against the U S in the, uh, in the final game. But if you go back to that Sweden game, he made some great saves in the overtime there, if we don't win that game and overtime, we don't get to the finals. So, uh, you know, I've seen him perform like that. It was great for him.

And I just think going into that event, we're not naive. We knew that, uh, goaltending was a topic, um, around, around our team. And I think it allows him now to breathe the rest of the summer and enjoy it. Uh, winning that event. And, um, I'm happy for him. I'm happy for, for the country to have a guy like that that Was able to do that when the lights were the brightest with Doug Armstrong GM of the Blues They've won ten games in a row. Are you getting? 2019 flashbacks

There's a big difference I think liquid we're excited about our winning streak right now but if you look back at that 2019 team that we had been on a, the better part of six or seven years of always competing, believing we were cup competitors and not getting to the finals. We've been to the semis a couple of years before that. And that year we sort of pushed a lot of, um, a lot of our chips into the middle. We traded for Ryan O'Reilly. We brought in, uh,

Perron and Bozak and, uh, Pat Maroon. So that was a mature team that was trying to take the next step. This, this is a not a, this isn't built like that. This is a younger team. A lot of guys in their early, early twenties going through this for the first time. So, uh, the, there, there are similarities when you look at where we've come from to our record but the way the team was constructed and the expectations of the team going into the year were much different. I always believe that that team in 2010 was a good hockey team that had a really bad start where this team is more maturing and growing and we're learning how to become a good team. It's been an incredible run. Congrats on the recent success. Good luck getting that X behind your name or beside your name and we'll do it again

down the road. Thank you, Doug. Always enjoy Conor with you guys. Take care. You got it. Doug Armstrong, the GM of the Blues. Yeah, I mean you compare and contrast I guess every team that makes the playoffs and that team in 19, they came out of nowhere and then come playoff time though they were such a well

oiled machine it was incredible. You think about that January 1 they were the worst team in the league I think. Yeah it was January 8th I believe that Bennington got called up or whatever it was like they were last place in the National Hockey League. Last place. That's amazing man. Wow. and then marched right to the cup and Like we forget like they wanted in game seven on the road in Boston Yeah, I got that's a you know, tough barn all of our Ruby had the legendary speech

Yep, exactly like it just you know, they found something and ran with it But they you know, they had the players to back it up. So obviously they had underachieved throughout the season and then put it together at the right time. This is why it's interesting. I don't, if, if they're, are they going to have a market correction or are they going to keep going? That's what's really interesting for me. Cause watching them, they, they don't give up much. Like Montgomery's a hell of a coach like

you see where boston is right now he's my guy yeah no exactly well that's why they jumped on him yeah Armstrong said that off the bat he's like now i've got a coach now that can do you know this that and the other clearly he sees a lot of positive out of jim montgomery do you remember what he said said the money when he called them yes state i want to eat it here my state monty yes very happy with that state and he should be a minute there are obviously an incredible story

uh... in saint louis right now all right uh... chris pronger in about twenty minutes we've got arbitration coming up and i'm gonna sprinkle in something a little bit different. We're gonna see how you guys feel about it. I don't know. I don't know if it's gonna land, but we're gonna try to make it work at around 5.30. Darren Drager coming up as well.

And Leaves Panthers tonight will continue to tee that up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on TSN 4. That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos, Canada Decides 2025. 50 and on TSN 4. the polls and the momentum. That just happened with Vashjikapelos. Canada decides 2025 fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app. All right, we've sent out his brother out into the city with a pair of leaf tickets and you have to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them. Are you guys ready for the third clue of the week me a overdrive and it's wednesday and i'm back to give you another clue

to hopefully get you what's that close to finding out where i've been hiding at all week here is your clue for wednesday this area of the city becomes pretty electric during the big soccer tournaments like the world cup or the euros uh... else brother and you know what about college college street right it's probably a little yeah i think it was a little italy but what what can we get

cope uh... cocky caffin nations league by why can't be fired up for those i think it probably is probably should be uh... tune in tomorrow for the fourth and final clue in the first call through on friday with the correct location was a pair tickets to see the maple is played a be. Tune in tomorrow for the fourth and final clue in the first call or three on Friday with the correct location wins and pair of takers to see the Maples play the red hot Montreal Canadiens April 12th finals brother brought to you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora our family the Ford family and you. So Stoller's goes tonight for the Leafs. Do you want to

hear Craig Barube on the idea that maybe they contemplated attended gold heading situation left on that serious uh... i never have you know i mean i've had to put bullies in in situations but uh... that's something i've never done it's always so i guess uh... question or will discuss and will uh... go over at some point here. Maybe we already have We'll see Absolute no. Yeah that he just screams like old-school. I don't want distractions

Ra-ra we need energy one guy's playing get hot for us and that's it. Like that's kind of the messaging one guy's playing, get hot for us, and that's it. Like that's kind of the messaging I'm getting here, is we're not gonna overthink it and be overly analytical about this, and well, if we put this guy in and that guy on the road, no, like I'm gonna simplify things, play off hockey is meat and potatoes, and we're gonna go out and hit everything in sight

and block every shot and one goal he's gonna play. And if you're gonna ask me, someone in the media is gonna to say, are you worried about the lack of playoff starts for Stolarz? He's never done this before. He's going to say this to you. He's going to have to figure it out on the fly here because that's what the NHL playoffs is all about.

That's going to be his answer. So prep yourself if you're going to ask it. It's true. And regardless of who they play, the guy at the other end will have more experience than them. That's just the truth. It doesn't mean anything because you have to play the games, but whether it's Bobrowski, whether it's Vasilevsky or even Almark, they all have more experience in playoffs than

Stoller's and or Wolfe put together. In the end, those guys have to stop the puck and do their job. So, you know, it's not going to be like, oh, this guy hasn't done any. Look at Washington's goalies. They've got eight eight playoff games total between Lindgren and and Thompson. But one of them is going to have to play for them. You know, it's it's it's ultimately, yes, there are certain scenarios where there is a lack of experience at the position but still got to go out and play.

That's really what it is. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, no, that's it, man. That's not going to change with either guy, whoever it is in that. That's your reality that the other team, like Bobrovsky's going tonight. They didn't play Bob at the Bell Center last night. And Florida's like, we're going with him tonight because we know what's coming and you know Bob is is a guy that two years ago was a he went on one of the great runs we've ever

seen I mean that playoff run when he took over in game four game five against the Brewers in the first round he never looked back and he was incredible and Vasilevsky had done that the previous two years. So if you face any of those guys, Olmark a bit of a different story because he doesn't have like a history of success in the playoffs. But he has played a lot more. That's what I mean. He's got starts and yeah, he doesn't have like...

But he can't really sit there and say, I've dragged my team to a cup final like the other two. The other two are rare breeds. Like Bob and Vasilevsky are different breeds. Arguably two of the best goalies on the planet. Yes. They've held out for quite some time. And yes, they've won cups.

Vasilevsky's won a Kahn Smythe. And they both seem like when they get into a groove, they can just put miles on them. They're just like, I'm in the net. And some of these, I'm not going to get into my disdain for some of the goofy things I've seen from goaltenders is like Peter Morazzic went to Detroit. What do you play two games? And then he's like, just gone.

Ninja dust. Like these guys are just anyway, those two guys, Vasilevsky and Bobrovsky. Not going to name names. They're warriors. that's a less the info broths key right now not gonna their names their warriors was not a good name so you just like uh... continue the dot those those two guys are great i love what the broths key and vessel as they show up at the plate but you're right about the boogie man element of their game

and their reputation right now at the least broke down vastly a couple years ago called Jonas up Jonas Oh tight it looked like the oil we're gonna take down Bob Ross key last year, too They've got a great game five or six and it was like what's this guy gonna have in the tank for the rest of this thing? It looked like the end was near but he bounced back man Well in the previous year against Vegas he ran out of steam the whole team did yeah, but the magic pixie dust Evaporated in that cup final but don't forget that cup final last year against the Oilers Bobrowski

stole them games one and two yes he did it was not there were breakaways and odd man chances odd man rushes like he was unreal well they yeah Edmonton was down three nothing but you could have argued that they might have been you know if Bob was just average might have been tied or down to that they might have been, you know, if Bob was just average, might have been tied or down 2-1. They might have gotten one of those two, one of those three at least, or maybe been up 2-1 based on how well he played. But you know, that's why you play the games. And you know, Bobroski, I remember talking to him on the ice after they won the cup.

And I said, did you treat game seven any different than the three previous as far as your prep? Because they had lost three in a row He just looked at me is like no like you like of course you could say that once you won Yeah, you're so relaxed, but he was like no I didn't change my routine didn't you know he's like I wasn't getting you know the saves that I wanted But he said I didn't change one thing as far as prep which I thought was pretty cool That's impressive and necessary I think right if you're at the top of your craft and you can't you start panicking and changing things up man and i can't that can spin you out

of control yet and we all remember famously florida the private plane were flying up you know all the wives and kids and parents and remember that for admittant game four yeah i was uh... we're we're flying everyone up they've been and they they didn't do that for game six like we're not doing this again all right Panthers Leafs tonight more on that coming up Chris Pronger will join us and Darren Drager still to come later this afternoon as well overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for you've been listening to overdrive powered by Fandual. Fandual, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.

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