OverDrive - OverDrive - April 3, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: April 3, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Frank Corrado for Hour 2 on OverDrive! Longtime NHL Defenseman Mark Giordano joins to discuss the Maple Leafs' looking to make a statement, the star perspective on the roster and the defensive approach to the team. They also discuss Anthony Duclair's conundrum with Patrick Roy and Alex Ovechkin sitting close to Wayne Gretzky's goals record.

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Gio with his take on the Leaf win last night leaves again back in action on Saturday night and then down in Florida back-to-back Panthers on Tuesday Tampa on Wednesday those are two massive games man yeah massive massive games but you got Ottawa down there Tuesday and Wednesday haze yeah next Tuesday against the Panthers next Wednesday against the Lightning and then right back home and they play the Habs next Saturday night so like you get you got a lot of big games still to come here for the Leafs who scares you more Leafs or sorry Lightning or Panthers I would have said a month ago the Panthers

it's starting I'm starting to turn on the idea that it could be Tampa that would scare me more to play in the first round is that where you're asking? I don't know in general like the Leafs play well against the Lightning like I think they're seven and three in their last ten against the Lightning and like it's been outlined Vasilevsky's numbers haven't been great against the Leafs but there's just always that like the lightning could flip the switch well and here it on you I already said it best guys you're gonna have to be the team from Florida. You're gonna have to be the team from Ontario Yeah, that's likely what's coming here as long as Ottawa who we all said guaranteed locked up that first wild card spot

I don't think that's the case in the playoffs. I don't think too. They're making the playoffs, but they got Tampa tonight and Tampa's red hot. Like if Tampa goes in there and beats them, they'll start to get nervous in Ottawa a little bit. Well, Ottawa's got Florida on Saturday. Yeah, exactly. You got Tampa and Florida coming up. You can do the Leafs a massive favor or- Then they got Columbus on Sunday.

That's what I'm saying. Like Ottawa's got some serious games coming up. Again, they have a five-point buffer with eight games to play. Yeah. They're in a very good position here. But, you know, nothing's guaranteed until you get the X beside your name, which the Leafs got last night for the ninth straight season. And not a lot of playoff success, if any, but it's still something to say you made the playoffs nine years

It's the longest run in the NHL right now Ask Vancouver if they would have liked to make the playoffs this year like it's no guarantee right? We need to put this up ninth straight playoff appearance You know like there's no way Joe from the bridge made this Just what it killed him from the bridge did make that that is he made that I don't know I don't know if Joe from the bridge did make that. That is he made that? I don't know. I don't know if Joe from the bridge He probably did because he's a professional, but he did Joe come up with that and he posted that well It's not about coming up with it. It's factual what we're looking at

What we're looking at is the nine straight playoff appearances by the Leafs and what happened once they got to the playoffs obviously remember Remember the first year nine years ago They were eliminated in the first round Against Washington 4-2 all the way up until last year when they lost in game seven In the first round against Boston, but if you look at 2023 Eliminated in the second round to Florida. So that's big right that sticks out. But here's let me let me finish my case Obviously, I'm joking but listen nine years in a row is still It's an accomplishment like good for them

during the regular season. They have been a regular season juggernaut for a long, long time. But my reasoning for why I have maybe flipped is when they beat Tampa a couple of years ago, Tampa, I think just ran out of gas. And I wonder if Florida is gonna run out of gas. Like they've gone to back to back cup finals.

I don't know if Kachuk's gonna be at a hundred percent is Marchang gonna officially like assimilate to that team and really be you know able to help them you know what what is that what I look like these are all question marks Gio will tell you this there's only one way to find out if they're gonna run out of gas you force like you force your hand to see if they can run out of gas absolutely saying absolutely that is saying Oh, what are these guys gonna bring to the table? You ram it down their throats and say you guys gonna you guys got any other thing left in the tank

That's how you approach. Well, that's what the Leafs did two years ago like and listen. They went to overtime a bunch They won three games in overtime in Tampa Like that's a bounce goes the other way and it could be a very different history. But a guy that was there for that run joins us now. Here's former Leaf, longtime NHL-er. There's our main man, Mark Ciordano. FaceTime Gio, we love it. What's happening Gio?

What's going on guys? How you doing? We're doing very well. Yeah, we were just discussing the idea of the Panthers possibly running out of gas because they've been to two straight cup finals and They're dealing with injuries How would you approach that like are you buying it? Do you have to believe it? You have to see it to believe it

Where do you stand on that? I? You know what I thought about that watching the game yesterday I thought you know it looked like a team who played three and four last night I thought they the Leafs had way more pop and it got me thinking a little bit like, yeah, two finals in a row, long runs, you know, they played a lot of games too in both playoff runs. So I think that's a huge factor. And then, you know, is Barkov going to be a hundred percent? Is Kachuk going to be a hundred percent? You know, you take those two guys in a lineup and you take Ekblad out think it's what two games. Yeah, it's a different team

It's a different team for sure. Yeah, exactly and last night, you know was significant for the Leafs And I think it was significant that they won it in regulation, right? Like they end up they're down one nothing they tie it and then in the third period It's the Matthews Marner nice line that put them over the top How how significant in your opinion was that third period in particular, the top guys dragging them to the finish line and the fact that they did win in reg? Yeah I thought it was big. I think you want to separate, you want to win the division obviously and you want to separate yourself. But I liked what I saw from you know Mitch, he's been doing

it all year. He did it in the Four Nations. I don't think he gets enough credit. In that final game he was the reason those doing it all year. He did it in the four nations I don't think he gets enough credit he in that final game. He was the reason those two assists He made he was one of the big reasons him in Bennington why they won the four nations and then last night I thought he was unbelievable again I thought the goal and an unbelievable pass that stretch pass, you know to sauce it and land it like that So he deserves a lot of credit this year for what he's been doing up until this point and and I like you said, I liked that the guys through that third period last night and it wasn't only the goals, it was a six on five play diving all over the place, blocking shots,

you know, to me that, that shows like to your teammates, like you want to win, you, you know what it meant that game yesterday. So I think it's huge for the least, but I, I am going to admit, I did think yesterday for a little bit, I was like, who would you rather play in the first round? That thought crossed my mind. Yeah. A Florida Panther team who's missing their top

three guys, maybe there were three of their top guys with Eklad, Kachuk and Barkov. If, if that's the scenario, I don't know, I'm making it up or whatever, not really making it up but it might happen or a fresh Ottawa team with everybody healthy with Allmark and Ed who's been playing well. We've been doing this for nine years even when you were on the team, Gio. There's fears all over the place. There's a hot goalie. There's a hot power play. I mean, I called

it fear factor. It's like, what, what do you fear most? Brady Kachuk or Matthew Kachuk or Vasilevsky or Tampa's power play? There's all kinds of ghosts and goblins out there that can affect the Leafs right here. The goalie, the goalie did get me yesterday. The goalie, I was like, when, to start of the game, I'm like, oh no, he's doing it to them again. Like, when we played Florida in the second round and we lost in five games, it felt way worse than it was

because we couldn't score on this guy. And he made timely saves and at the start of that game yesterday, I was like, oh my God, he's got it back again. There he is. So I don't know, but I did think about that scenario in my head yesterday. Gio, you talked about Mitch getting it done

and playing well, the Four Nations. Do you think it's possible with these guys? And I know you were part of the group for a couple years. After all that time, and we just posted a board after all the first round losses and the second round losses, do you think as pro athletes it could click in after all these years that maybe this is what we need to do?

And if the answer is yes, then what took so long? Yeah, I think they can. For sure I think they can click in. I think there's a bunch of years that go by at the start of your career where you're like, you know, you're trying to find your way in the league, but you're also trying to establish yourself. I mean, they're superstars, so they establish themselves quick. But I think it takes a lot of different things.

And I think, you know, maybe the changes that they made, you know, you bring in a new coach, you bring in some new players, sort of a new look to their team, like a little bit bigger, playing a different style. Maybe that's what it's going to take. But, you know, I mean, I'm biased. Obviously I've played with these guys and I know them. And I think, I think, you know I mean I'm biased obviously I played with these guys and I know them and

I think I think you know the first round exits and the heat that comes down on them is justified a lot of the time but I do think that they they have that that desire I've been in the room they have that that what it takes to win that desire to win like I think they all look different. Mitchie's more you see it more he wears it more but it's like Matthews is more reserved Willie's more reserved but you know I always go back to like different guys have different attitudes if you look at Mitchie like he takes a lot of heat sometimes because you know he wears like his emotions like but if you go and watch a five-year-old play who would you rather have the kid who just floats around and doesn't like get mad or get pissed off or like you know that that kid or who or the kid who cries when he loses the kid who

cries when he loses cares more you know about winning so i go back to that but i think like it always it's gonna fall on your top players and I do think they can make it happen for sure. When you watch this team play this year, Gio, there are things that look different. You spent a lot of time with these guys and you would have seen the evolution of them. You think these guys, they're willing to adapt to this style of game and now they're seeing the success? Like, did you always kind of think that these guys would be willing to change the way they

play in order to get to this point? Or was it like, we've got to stay with what we do because we know this is going to work and they just never got the results and now things look different doing things a little bit of a different way? Yeah, you know what I think? I think a lot of the time with skilled guys and super skilled guys, and there's three or four of them or five of them playing on the same team,

you can outscore your problems a lot of the time, right? So, especially in the regular season, you outscore your problems, things don't look as bad, you look great. But in the playoffs, you're gonna have to play the way they're playing now and the way they started the season. I thought they had a little l but in the playoffs, you're gonna have to play the way they're playing now and the way they started the season. I thought they had a little lull in the middle,

but I do think it looks to me like there's a big time buy-in. You know, I think Barube coming in, that's his style of play, right, as a coach. And he's really hammered at home. And I think you see it, I think. But the problem is, is when you're that good, you're that skilled, it's hard because you know you can just outscore your problems in a lot of those games in the regular season.

And a lot of the times you play a horrible game and you win. You get the result. So I think that hurt them at times in the past, but I think they're maturing enough and they've got a mature coach who's won before and I think it might push them right to the next level. It's a very simple recipe though, Gio, a skilled team. There was a play last night that the William Nylander passed to Jon Tavares. It was like the skill came after the simplicity.

If you remember in the neutral zone, William Nylander, he didn't try a toe drag, he didn't try some stupid pass, he chipped it off the wall and let somebody go get it and then he got it back. This play right here, that's a chip off the wall to McMahon and then checking comes into play, hunting pucks come into play and it pops the puck loose and the skill can come after that. But the stuff that led to that, to give you that opportunity, was very cookie cutter stuff, simple stuff that anybody can do. And you just have to work at it.

And you just hope you get opportunities like that. So if there's any lesson in that one simple play, that one particular play right there, it's like, let's get the simple stuff first and put us into areas where we can be allowed to use our skill. And then we can go ahead and do it. But if you start using your skill right where KneeLander got the puck, you're screwed.

Because you turn the puck over, you don't put it into places where you get it back, and you're just chasing all night. So that was a great little play started by Simplicity. I agree Owen. And you know the other thing too is like, you gotta, sometimes you gotta understand that you're not gonna score every shift. No kidding. And you gotta put that in your mind and you gotta put the puck in and you gotta you gotta set the next line up for a shift and I think that's that's that's the mentality in playoffs like you're setting up your next line for a shift like nothing bothered me more when

I played when you know like guys would stay out for a minute and a half and get tired and then just chip the puck and let the other team have a set break out behind the net while you have to jump on the ice and your set break out and you know you're defending for maybe 30, 40 seconds, right? So I think I saw that too, last night, a bunch of times where they, they, they set, set each other up and when they didn't have the play, they chipped it in their top guys, their, their bottom guys bottom guys they were they were more aware of okay we're not gonna score every single shift let's let's set each other up here with

Marc Giordano you were one of the many guys over the years that that took a turn with Morgan Riley and tried to get you know Mo moving in a certain direction he's had a lot of different partners over the years and now he's got Carlo and the numbers have been great. The eye test has been great. I thought the two of them played really well last night. Like, and I think they've played collectively well really since Carlo arrived. What is it about playing with Riley? Because it's a constant conversation. It has been for like 10 years. You know, who can play with them? Are you on the offside? Does it have to be a right shot defenseman? Does it have to be someone who's a quote unquote stay at home guy?

Like what do you think works with Carlo in particular that has Riley Poppin? And what does Riley in particular seem to need in terms of who he's playing with? He needs, yeah, it seems like with Mo, he needs, I like when Mo gets a lot of puck touches, but he needs a guy who's simple. I found like when Shen was here,

he's a really simple, big right-handed shot too, like Carlo, but just simple, just predictable and simple plays. And I think you've noticed Mo, it looked like, it looked like to me too, like the last few games, he's up in the play a lot more, he's jumping in, he's back to his old skating self. So that's gonna be great.

But I think it's the predictability for him, simple. I think he's better with a partner who's more defensive minded and makes simple plays, let him run with the offense. He doesn't need a skilled guy beside him or a puck mover beside him for whatever reason, but I think, yeah, I thought they looked as a pair, they had a sneaky, quiet, great game last night. They didn't give up much. They were good.

They were simple. They made plays in the ozone when they had to, but they didn't force anything either, much like the team. So it was good to see and happy to see it for Mo because I know it's been a tough year, a tough start, but the last time Mo had a little bit of a tough season was that playoff where he really lit it up and was probably one of our best players, if not our best player.

So, you know, hopefully he can repeat that. Gio, how do you explain to people what Chris Tanev does extremely well? Like when you walk in, you get an appreciation for him because there's all these subtleties to his game. And I think sometimes when you see it in person, you really get more of an appreciation for him because there's all these subtleties to his game and I think sometimes when you see it in Person you really get more of an appreciation for it But like some of the stuff that he does that maybe would fly under the radar. How do you explain all that?

Yeah, it's hard it's hard to explain like it's hard to explain to the I don't want to call it like the average fan But like a lot of times in hockey what you see on TV or what you see when you're watching the game is the big player, the goals and the assists. With Tani, it's just like, it's stick position, it's gaps, it's knowing when to get down and make the block and it's like he closes time and space at the right time. There's, you know, there's closing time and space sometimes and some guys, some guys do it too early where, okay, the guy's just not going to pass it. Guys like Tan have actually, when I played too and Tan, I played with Tani, sometimes you're giving the pass up on purpose because you know where it's going and as soon as that pass is made, you're going to close and stick check the guy and it's a turnover.

So he does that a lot. He reads the play like unbelievable, but I played against him for my whole career and then got the chance to play with him for like 25 games in Calgary as a partner and I was like wow He's sneaky underrated as a puck mover unbelievable an unbelievable puck mover makes a lot of place through triangles But yeah, it's just his hockey IQ. He's hard to explain, like you said, but he's been a great defenseman his whole career. Yeah, he's had a great, great year. I mean, you talk about a first impression. Like, Leaf fans know him. He's from the city, but man, he's played so well. With Mark Giordano, in terms of playing the role of a defenseman, I'm curious, you know,

how you approach what the Leafs have now with their top two lines where they've got Matthews and Marner together Tavares and Nylander but the the importance of having Nyes and McMahon both guys with size both guys that can move both guys at four check both guys that go to the front of the net like how does that it's a very different element of the game different component in terms of their skill set and the style that they play how how does that maybe effect negatively the opponent when they're trying to defend against it because you got to keep your eye on sixteen thirty four eighty eight but then there's you know

this absolute moose and matthew knives or mcmahon coming down on you and do whatever they're going to do as well how how does the mixture of those guys with the other four uh... affect the way teams are going to do as well how does the mixture of those guys with the other four uh... affect the way teams in the defendant quads it's they're hard to defend right now bobby looks like he's on another level he's skating he's finally i think he's finally feeling like a hundred percent or close to a hundred percent i think the last couple years he's had some injuries at the wrong times

and then you see it he has an extra step out there he's flying around is making plays is getting in on the forecheck and then nice. He's been doing it all year. So it's it adds a huge element Let's hope Pray that they stay healthy and everything is okay because it's a huge difference When those two guys are in the lineup and playing in the top six It's a huge difference as good as the top four guys on the team are, they need those complimentary big bodies that go to the net and make hard plays. You still like the five forward power play?

Like I feel like as defensemen. Wow. Like listen, I feel like as defensemen. I don't like it in a playoff series, like especially against a Florida or Tampa, I don't like it at all. But how can you argue the results right now? It's been on fire for a long time, and I think as a defenseman, we have a duty to almost like not like it at all. And it's on fire. But how can you argue the results right now? I get it. It's been on fire for a long time, and I think as a defenseman we have a duty to almost like

not like it just because we have to have a defenseman out there, but how can you argue with the results that they're getting? It's been unbelievable, Gio. Yeah, they look great, but I'm never going down that road where I'm saying that there shouldn't be a defenseman on the power play. I think you need a D-man out there and I think that short-handed goal is the big momentum killer and you don't want to give one up in playoffs. So find the way to get Mo back out there and get him his touches, get him feeling good, you know, and you got that safety net back there,

the defenseman. Okay, but let me ask you this. So if you were to put a defenseman back on that power play, who comes off? Is it Tavares or is it Nize? Because I think Nize at net front, he's more of a handful than Tavares, but Tavares has always been in that spot, right? Like someone's gotta come off. John's hand eye and his ability to tip. Go ahead, Joe. How would you answer that? Nizey's coming off. Sorry,izey I love you but you're not I'm not taking Johnny off the power play I think Johnny's so good around the net and I think he's you know he's proven through his career that on the power play he can bury the biscuit so we'll just go with the game's played number here and take Nizeise off.

I don't think it would be as an easy decision for the coaching staff as we're making it out to be because you just defer to Tavar as the points as long as he's been around. Matthew Nise has been pretty valuable in front of the net and down low. I think it would be a decision for those guys to look at that and say, what are we going to do here if they ever went back to it? Well, that's the difference. I don't think they are. Well, think about this.

Two big guys at net front. Now if you were defending that, Gio, you would know, okay, there's a guy in the bumper or I can leave a guy to the goalie, let's say, or the defenseman who's playing the strong side, he can come down. But with those two guys kind of parked out there like you got a you have more decisions to make in in short periods of time And then that split second that you get on the wrong side of nice. You're screwed. He's too big Like he's too hard to get around after Yeah, you're right. He's he's he's made such a difference this year with with that net front presence

I mean, yeah, you get on the wrong side of him, but he does, a lot of the times, if you watch him, he's so smart at how he positions his body, he boxes out, he's boxing out the defenseman. Like he's actually playing, it looks like he's playing defense and he's boxing the guy out. But again, they have so many threats on that power play. It's like, and you know what they don't get enough credit for is like, they're so good at finding the open guy and finding the

right option. The whole unit, all five of them, they make the right play all the time it seems like, especially when they're hot. When they weren't going there at the start, they were forcing it a bit, but now it seems like they're hitting the open option and there's no defending that. You're a man down, like you're literally a man down and if they hit the open option it's usually in the back of your net or a quality scoring chance. Yeah, I'm not sure they're going to change it man. I don't think they're going to put Riley out because you know that was an issue the last couple years you were there Gio like the power play went ice cold down the stretch for some

reason and then come playoff time that just it couldn't come alive and I know it's a new coaching staff this year but I'm sure they're aware of the history and the importance of special teams come playoffs if you have a power play that's cooking and it's been cooking for months I don't know I don't think they're gonna change it like I think it'd be difficult for them to justify changing it outside of thinking on the negative side of things which is what you're pointing to you give up a shorthanded goal it's so deflating but they would probably counter by saying well if we score a power play goal, it's incredibly inflating. So, like, are we going to gamble and

push forward or are we going to play on our heels? And I think that's probably what's at stake here. If it's 2-1 in the third with two minutes left, they're throwing out a D-man, I think. Yes. Other than that, if they need a goal, if they need to put, you know, the nail in the coffin, I think they're going to stick with it. The other thing is, I think they really truly believe in, they tried it when I was there, they put Mitchie on D for a regular shift when I was there.

They believe his hockey IQ is that good enough where he can defend if he has to, if it comes down to it. What was that like, Gio? When Michi came down the bench and he's like, okay boys, I'm filtering in on D here for a couple shifts. What gets said there on the bench? Not much. I think it gets kind of crowded down there. You never really have six guys sitting on the bench.

It gets a little crowded. In the preseason, when they did it in the preseason, you're kind of like, come on, maybe let the other team get one here so they don't try this again. So we get our ice type back. No, I mean, I think, you know, I did, I've never seen it in my career till when did it start? Like a year ago, or maybe two years ago, like was the first time a team tried it. And I was like, as a DMA, you're just like, you're a little bit sour in the back of your head, especially if you're a power play guy. But then, I mean, I guess it's,

it's these new trends, right? It's offense is just gaining steam. Well, that one wasn't a trend. It was two shifts and it was over with. Sorry. Although remember the Bruins used to put Chara in front of the net on the power play. I mean like did anyone chirp Big Z? I doubt it. I don't think any of the forums were saying get out of here. I'm pretty sure if it was a delayed penalty Chara would just like abandon where he was and just go right to the front of the net and stand there and it was just known that on a delayed penalty that's what he's doing.

No one's touching this guy. Good luck man. All right Gio, great catching up with you man. We appreciate the insight. Let's do it again soon. Thank you for this. Okay boys, take care. You got it. There he is, Mark Giordano. Yeah, that's great to catch up with Gio. Like great insight in terms of what he's seeing and yeah listen they're in a pretty good place and it's interesting like the points that you make oh and Giordano was kind of pointing to as well like the chip and chase and the go fight for pucks and we had Pronger on yesterday and we asked him like what do you want to see out of the Leafs and he said maniacal compete and you'll notice

you know the underlying stats and possession game and expected goals the least are not where they have been in the past like their numbers are not the same in terms of out shooting out chancing their opponents etc etc yet they appear to be playing with a bit of a different mentality in a different style that in my opinion is way more conducive to winning in the playoffs. No kidding. Which is what matters. It doesn't have to be all the time.

I'm not expecting if you have a three on one to chip and chase it because that's just moronic. But it's about what's available in front of you. And in that situation with the Nylander goal, it was like, I got guys moving one way, I'm going to put it into an area where you can go get it. of some toe drag or stupid cross-eye saucer pass that gets picked off you got a chance to make a play you make a play but you better damn well make it and if you have opportunities like that a lot of the quality teams that win they have a congested neutral zone that's not a secret it's been like

that for a long time that's how they win they don't give up too many odd man rushes they're always at the top of the puck and supporting the puck. And to beat it, you've got to put the puck into different areas. If you want to be a hero and be a one man show and try to dangle around it, that's what they prey on. So that was a perfect example how it can work. Yeah. That's a great point. And furthermore, you've got to trust the guy that's going to go get it too. And I think that speaks to McMahon and it speaks to Knives. That's the thing with their skill players.

And I'm just going to use Mitch as an example. If Matthew's chips one and Mitch is like, I don't know if I want to go do that, then it's useless, right? Yeah, you've got to go get it. That's the difference of playoff mentality and playoff hockey. There is no option. There's no option to say, I don't want to get the chip and chase and then I got it. Too bad.

That's what you got to do. And that's called buy-in and that's how you win. Yeah. And everything's rooted in defense in the playoffs anyways, right? You've been in those pre-scout meetings where you go down the whole of like, here's what this team is throwing at us for seven games potentially. And 80% of that is talking about how you're defending. And then the other 20% is like, here about how you're defending and then the

other 20% is like here's how we're gonna generate offense because it's pretty boilerplate stuff it's what you just said you know what I mean like it's just how are we getting through their defense and how are we defending so that it's hard for them to make their offense that's what it that's what it always boils down to and if you do what Bobby McMahon did and you do it successful what happens is you put it like if you if you make McMahon did and you do it successful, what happens is you put it, like if you make that play and you grind it out and then skill plays happen, you get a two-nothing lead, guess what happens after that?

Florida kind of abandons what they're used to doing all the time and they stretch out a little bit. Then you can catch them and say, oh, you want to cheat a little bit to try to score offense, now we'll bury you. And that's how you crush teams. So it's like, it's there if you want it to be, but you've got to take control of the game by doing the simple little things. And then you get the team to do things that are out of character, and then you can bury

them. That's it. You get a lead, teams are going to have to cheat. That's right. They can't have the guy high all the time. They have deep pinching. They're taking risks because they're trying to get back in the game and that's where you can expose them and crush them yeah and Florida's a perfect

example though like they've they have applied all those philosophies the last couple years and you know when when in doubt like it sometimes simple is better sometimes plays safe I think what geo was just saying about setting your your team up for the next shift like set setting the next line up, it's really important. And like Florida did it brilliantly on their cup runs is, you know, if they were in trouble, they'd flip a puck out into the neutral zone and say, we'll reset and we'll make you fight through it again. And I think the Leafs are starting to do, I've noticed that with Carlo a lot recently, like he's, if he feels like he's in trouble, he'll just flip it into the neutral zone.

It's not worth it, man. Like why do you have to try and do too much? Yeah, you can't do it all the time You got to be able to break out you got to be able to take control of plays but when in doubt man nothing going on get it out, yeah get it out and force them to try to battle back in and Again, we'll see what comes of it as we move forward here But the Leafs are in a good spot bunch of games in the NHL tonight. The Jays are off They're in New York playing the Mets tomorroways are off there in new york plan the mess tomorrow steve phillips coming up in just over half an hour she show it on the walking off last night the dodgers are eight no

uh... i guess it's disgusting and it's disgusting and of tony hits and not like a walk-off bomb last night and uh... it's just crazy how good they are and but did like it got me thinking like there's a team they're clearly making more than any other organization in the league mm-hmm like what a run if you're a die-hard Dodgers fan like Mary Hart behind home

plate like what a run you're gonna be getting here you've got Otani locked in this is their second World Series championship in the last five or six years. They're probably going to pick off two or three more. Otani every night, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, it never stops. It's like, that's where it's like the team that kind of makes the most, can blow the most and have the best team it seems like. Why well this is the second wave because it started like a decade ago yes kershaw and with you know like they went to the world series in 2017 16 or 17 when houston and you know all that controversy and them totally turned it over yeah

exactly and and now it's just it basically is a different team they went out and got matched they got freeman they got sho, like there's a couple of characters. Like Turner was their first baseman. That's right. Yeah, they- Or his third baseman. Third baseman, absolutely.

At least now it gives us- He was a beast. For them. It also gives everyone something to track around the league, right? Like when it comes to these all-time records, like there's a team that it actually is attainable, you would think anyways, considering the stars that they're having. Like they had Manny Mach auto there for a season did they traded for many much auto at the deadline one year that's right they've

been exactly they've they've been in the hunt for a decade and they will be likely for the next decade as the pace car do you have a second i was like if you're a diehard like if you're just got some banking your retired now retired in LA and you're a die hard Dodgers fan, like what a run you're going to have. Drive your convertible up there and park yourself at Dodgers Stadium and just have yourself a great time.

That's a must see ballpark, easy Dodgers Stadium. That's number one probably on my list now. I've been everywhere else I want to be. You have never been there? Never done Dodgers Stadium. Now I've done all the other big ones that I can think of. Did the Jays Go this year? I don't know about that. They were there a few years ago.

Remember Bichette hit two home runs at Dodger Stadium. That was a while ago. That would be overdrive from Dodger Stadium. Yeah, that would be great. Dude, we don't do overdrive outside of Vaughan. Yeah, Christie Pitts. I don't know if we can set up shop you say there in l a one in august all they are not uh... they go and well i have to be a tele

will circle there might have to take a look at this trip hazy wives included a little l a dodger stadium riviera belair country, and home. That makes a lot of sense. It does, dude. That just sounds correct, right?

It just sounds like that's meant to happen. Maybe we mix in like an LACC or something like that. You got hookups? If we could get away with three rounds, if our wives will let us play three rounds, I'll do LA Country Club, Riv, and Bel Air, a Dodgers game and we're out. And we're out of here.

Yeah. Anything else? No, that's probably it. That's going to be my 50th birthday present and I want you to share it with me. I love that idea. I love that idea. I like that for you. All right, let's chat offline.

Let's chat offline. Steve Phillips coming up in half an hour. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Talk about the first place Toronto Blue Jays off to a good start man off to a really good start and they're at the Mets on Friday and Kevin Gosman will be on the mound for that game and Ohtani walking off for the Dodgers last night there's a lot to get into with Steve so we'll catch up with

him in about a half an hour. And I guess we're, what are we, three away from the record now for Ovechkin, and Betman was there last night. Had Leonsis, the owners, obviously gonna travel with the team, he'll be there. He'll get his nose right in there. You know Leonsis, he'll be right on the ice when he scores that goal.

You know what though? Remember when they drafted Ovi, he was like, this guy's gonna be the greatest goal scorer in the history of the earth, and we were like, settle down, bud. I'm almost positive he said that. Yeah, relax, Ted. For him, though, like,

they end up winning a Stanley Cup, the roster gets turned over to the point where it's like unrecognizable from that team to this team, and here they are in first place. And they've found a way to not only just have Ovi chasing the record, but for them to be a really good team. Like it's a perfect situation. It's a perfect spot.

Like ownership has to play some kind of part in that happening. Of course. I'm joking, but the guy obviously has owned the team the whole time. They bottomed out. It's another example of when you get that first pick, you just, you have to pray that you get a guy like this. You get an Ovechkin, you get a Crosby, you get a McDavid because you may come, your year may come up

and it's like, we got a good player, but he's not a life changer. Like get Nelly Acapob. You could get a guy who will not even be in the league in a few years. That can happen. And that is Nelly Acapob. You could get you could get a guy who will not even be in the league in a few years that That is now Yakupov or you could get a guy That's just a really good player, but he's not going to completely change the value of your organization

Or a vetchkin has made that guy a fortune like a Fortune of terms of within the market within the league Jersey sales ticket sales winning goal scoring now this chase like it's a cherry on top and I Would say that Sid is probably surprised supplied more value to Pittsburgh because they've won more cups and they've been to more cup finals And that's a really make bank like the ticket prices for a cup final even in Pittsburgh Washington compared to Toronto, Montreal, New York It's still gonna to be really, really high. But I would think, you know, Ovi and Sid have got to be two of the four or five players, like most valuable players.

I'm talking on a spreadsheet of all time. Winning Stanley Cups, you move merch, big time merch. You move merch big and after. And when those guys came into the league, Jersey Guy became a real popular thing. I don't think in the NHL Jersey Guy was always that much of a thing, but right when those guys came in, it started to be. Even in Toronto here, I don't remember ever seeing Jersey Guy at the game. Now everybody buys a Jersey, man.

They buy numerous Jerseys. Think about these guys, OK? The jerseys are one thing. But then all the Stanley Cup merch, they moved that for months, probably, probably the whole year after. Now, OV is going to break this goal record. That's going to be a whole other line of merch

that you're moving. Oh, yeah. These guys. And that's just one small thing on the grand scheme of it. But still, that's another one small thing on like, you know, on the grand scheme of it, but still it's like, that's another money-making avenue for them. Big time. And again, I would think the prices for these tickets down

the stretch in Washington and the secondary market, which the league may not actually get anything from, but these are going to be massive prices. Like if he's on 894 and he's playing a home game on a Saturday night that that feels like Aaron Judge trying to hit 62 you know what I mean like it may not be at the same level because again the market is a little bit different in the sport within the city this is an example though like if a veteran was a Maple Leaf or was a Canadian or a Canock or something

like that if he had spent his whole career in Canada, the prices would be absolutely insane. Well, he's got to get into the building to watch him try to do it. It's at home on Friday against Chicago, and then Sunday, it's on Long Island. Like those- That's the thing, there'll be 5,000 people in the building. No way.

There's gonna be- I hope not, but- It is gonna be sold out, and I think people are gonna be buying tickets for like triple the price that they would normally pay- You think so? For Islanders tickets tickets and they're gonna be like I can't believe I'm paying $500 US to go watch the Islanders right now do you think it'll be I'm not convinced it'll be sold out I'm not with the Islanders with what's going on with them and they're starting to fade and now they

got a gong show on their hands with Anthony Claire and like he if you're not familiar with do we have the Patrick waddy why don't we just play Patrick Waddy from a couple nights ago where the Islanders didn't play well they lost Duclair in particular didn't play well this is what Patrick Waddy had to say about his play. And Duclair played only a little over 12 minutes. He was god awful. He had a bad game. That's why I didn't play him a lot and he's lucky to

be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on them right now, but that's all I feel. Just what are you seeing that he's not doing? He's not skating, he's not competing, he's not moving his feet. He's not playing up to what we expect from him. Do you feel like that's an effort thing? I think it's an effort thing. Oh man, that's harsh. That is harsh, like at the end saying I think it's an effort thing. I think it's an effort thing. Oh man that's harsh that is harsh like at the end saying I think it's an effort thing. But the latest today, Duclair was

not on the ice and Patrick Wa, we have Patrick Wa's explanation. All right, look at us, Journalism 101. Here's Patrick Wa on why Duclair wasn't on the ice this morning. Before we go anywhere, obviously you saw that Anthony was not at the practice today. So this morning Anthony and I had a very good conversation, very positive one. And Anthony asked me to take some time off and reflect. So obviously I agreed to that and will give him all the time that he needs so that should close the discussion over Anthony. Well it's not going to obviously I mean this is a very rare scenario where a player asking. How much time does he need with eight

games left in the season? Exactly I mean I I don't see how it's gonna work again in the future I think Patrick Wall and the Islanders are gonna be very you got to be very careful here yes you know and it's gonna work again in the future. I think Patrick Waugh and the Islanders are gonna be very you got to be very careful here. Yes, you know, and it's a different era that we're living in but The players saying I need to reflect and I need to leave he got carved up But that happens like coaches carve you up that happens all the time one of the things happen. He needs a mental break He's got something going on in his life or him and Patrick Waugh just had a conversation and one said, I hate your guts, and the other one said, I hate your guts more, so I'm just going to not come here and not see you.

I think they know each other, they know each other from Quebec City days in the Q. They could be best friends from high school, they aren't anymore. No, and that's like, how does he get back into the room is the question. If you're on that team, the Islanders are fighting for playoffs and forget Patrick Waugh. This gets into a dressing room dynamic conversation where the players are like, really dude,

we could have used you last night, but you're not here. Who knows? That's tough. There's just, there's usually a reason that goes up and there's a positive blip and then it just, the wheels fall off. And like I said, there could be something going on with Anthony Ducaire that he needs to get assistance with I'm not sure but he's been on a lot of teams so something

always pops up and who knows what's going on behind the scenes well anyways people will be spending $600 to watch the Islanders who have lost four in a row and they're a tough watch you think they know yeah I hope you see the writing on the wall like you see it with Vancouver like the air comes out where it's like they got smacked by Seattle last night yeah you could tell it's game over man well it's getting ugly you talk about dynamics like Juan Duclair now it's pocket versus Pederson where Rick Tocque made a cut well he made some comments that have the

marketplace believing that he's indicating he thinks peterson should be playing and peterson's not plays injured he's not skating much either well it sure he was pretty quick to go back to vancouver after hurting something off of a face off and i'm not getting into it as i just can't stand part of this but here we go again the team was desperately dying and needed you so bad and you had a face-off play and and he just got on a bird and Went back to Vancouver

Bizarro world the bird the bird on the road trip It's got like it would it has to be bad if you are wasting that bullet on Something that is not like if you're just saying saying I gotta go back because you can't hang out and you're gonna be bored or something, that's crazy talk. No, but Frankie, more importantly, who the hell doesn't wanna stay around the New York area and hang out with the guys?

Like, are you kidding me? Yeah. It's, the Vancouver thing is fascinating. But this is gonna get ugly, man, because now, again, it doesn't have to and they can control the narrative, but it was Pederson versus Miller, and now it's going to be peterson versus talking and if that happens who knows what happens with talking he might leave it yeah he might just say it's not going to be me and peterson anymore because I'm not

dealing with him anymore right talk it was on he coached he was the assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins when they won Stanley Cups and this guy saw not only the most skilled players in the world, like they were the most skilled players, but he saw them go to war. Like guys getting shot up, playing through injuries, getting surgeries at the end of the year. What about Sid Frankie? Right. Was the hardest working of all the people that have been labeled the best player in the world. Yes. And Sid was the hardest working best player in the world and now he's got to deal with this garbage. Well, exactly. And he's like, I have seen these guys do what it takes and I

know they know how to win and you he probably looks at him and says are not that and you can't and you're not gonna be that and so that's you're hitching your wagon to as a coach so if you lose that belief where do you go from there? Seven years at 11.6 million. It looks like a hipster that hangs out at coffee shops doesn't care less about what's going on at the rink it's embarrassing. Well listen it it's just a reality in Vancouver and again if I don't think you can allow it to get to a point where that becomes a story the star player against the coach now like you've already played the Pettersson versus Miller and Miller left I don't know if it is bubbling over where Tockett's gonna have

an issue and again we're speculating based on what he said but if he's got an issue with Pederson and listen he has a right to criticize the way the guys played. He's played horribly this season based on his expectation. Relative to expectation. We'd have to go find him. We will find him and we can, again, some of it is putting two and two together and it's like, well, what does he mean by that? Again, I think the marketplace is on edge and they got spanked last night and it's over. Like last night, the white flag went up. And I think they're losing hope for next year.

Yeah, and that's another part of it. It's like this is not a quick turnaround now. Right, exactly. Well, then guess what? The hope is lost after that for everybody and it's for quinn-hughes because he's going to be like no thanks to have on a land that's what he's got two years left

by steve phillips come up chris johnston on this and more as well overdrive continues to your son ten fifty and on to your son for battles brothers out hiding somewhere in the city with a pair of Leaf tickets. You have to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them. Here is the fourth and final clue of the week. Hey, Overdrive fans. It's Thursday. I've got one final clue for you to get yourself a pair of Leafs and Habs tickets if you can

find out where I've been hiding at this week. And here is your final clue. The street signs here have three very distinct colors on them marking this a specific Toronto neighborhood. All right, Alice brother, very good stuff, very good. When you hear the cue to call tomorrow, the first caller through with the correct location wins a pair of tickets, Leafs Canadians April 12th. Fine, Alice brother, brought to you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora, our family, the Ford family and you. That's the last game of the season.

No, they're the last game is like the 17th. Right. The, the Leafs are, who do they play? They last game of the year. They play the red, right? The 17th. Yeah. They still got one against Buffalo in Buffalo, which is like, it's always They play the Red Wings on the 17th. Yeah. At home.

They still got one against Buffalo in Buffalo. Which is like, it's always, you never know what you're going to get. That's like a minestrone soup, man. It could be anything in there. That's the scary thing again. It's always like dark thoughts with Leaf fans is they're going to have like a two point buffer. You always say it Hayes, it's because of past experiences.

That's exactly it. And the past experiences in Buffalo are horrendous I can justify it I'm just saying they're gonna have like a two-point buffer on Tampa and Florida it's like all you got to do is beat Buffalo or Detroit and they're gonna lose to both of them and then it's gonna be like all right what happens now so I'm gonna leapfrog you because that's always dangerous those two teams won't be playing for anything the least I'll think we can go in there and cruise and we'll find a way to pick up a win.

Positive thoughts, positive thoughts. Steve Phillips, Chris Johnston still to come. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on the TSN app. Hey, who invited climate action to the party? We did. Hey, I'm Shannon Burns. And I'm Sarah Christie.

Together we host the Earth Day Party Podcast. Where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion, to getting a prescription to spend time in nature. Plus, we hear from David Suzuki. This is a party where everyone is invited.

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