OverDrive - OverDrive - April 30, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: April 30, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider on the Maple Leafs' series-clinching failures, the Jets looking for success and the head coaching options in the NHL. The guys go around the sports world in the latest edition of Role Play Level of Concern and the Blue Jays' struggles with the bats against the Red Sox.

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Join today and be part of something amazing. Hour two Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. A little role play level of concern later in the hour. Darren Drager coming up in a moment on the games tonight, the Stanley Cup playoffs. See what Tom Wilson has in store the Montreal Canadians that'd be a good game tonight. I think it's gonna be good. I'm excited for that one. Yeah

Yeah, I just feel like the third period the other night was so crushing for the Habs man I think they're in tough tonight, but they've been a resilient group all year They've been very good idea what's going on with Lina? Is he hurt or is he scratched or? Well, they're saying hurt. He had that brutal couple periods and St. Louis sad him for a period and he's just been gone. Well, and he was a game time decision the other night and now this one is just not playing. So I don't know what's going on with him, but it Listen, he's not he's not gonna contribute. He's not gonna play quite frankly I wouldn't put I don't know if I put him in the lineup anyway, dude, like what's the point of having him in the line?

It is You're in tough. What are you actually gonna do with them next season? Because even when he was out there and he might be dealing with a bum wrist I don't know what he's got going on But it's like he was slowing the whole team down It's five on five play. Oh, it's always a new was slowing the whole team down. It's five on five play. It has always been an issue.

It's always been a problem. How do you like those guys? You got to admit the kids that have been invested like Sapkowski, and he had Cole Caulfield and the other kid, Demidoff, it's like, okay, they want to be engaged here. They want to get this that you, I don't know, you just, you got to figure out what you're going to do a line a man. Well, yeah, I mean, if it's an injury, it's an injury. Also, keep in mind, he's had some mental health stuff.

We don't know the nature of what's going on. Jamie, I'm talking about what he does on the ice. You put your gear on, that's what I talk about. I don't know what you have going on. If you're going to put your gear on, I'm going to talk about what you do on the ice. 100%. And what my point is is He gets benched the other day and all of a sudden the now he's not available upper

I don't know there's something weird there, but he hasn't played well enough, and I agree with you 100% Oh, we talked about his play on the ice When if you put a jersey on you're expected to play a hundred percent. This is the playoffs They're in the first round of the plan that team made the playoffs and he is a hell of a player they should be relying on him and it's half-ass here and you're not sure there if it's an injury or something else going on I understand it but something reeks there and I just don't know what it is and it's just hard for us to point you just look at the ice look at him on the ice yeah he's not playing well and he's got a year left and and I think that's

what you're driving at always that now you've got Lane Hudson who's arrived yeah you've got Suzuki got Caulfield now you got this demidoff kid like Lina was gonna represent a spark the fans were behind it because they were intrigued by his ability to play like a superstar I think that ship is sailed I think if you're in Montreal you're like what are you gonna do with Patrick Linus? You can't just be a special team, you can't be a power play specialist. Before the playoffs he's like I don't care about playing against a Vetchkin, I could care less. Yeah, I hated that. Maybe this guy's fired up and he's gonna just come out. Yeah, it's exactly it. It's so unnecessary to play. That just just feels more forced than anything like you do get that from a lot of athletes

That are very uncomfortable with the media. They don't know what they're gonna say. They overthink things And it's like there's no one's gonna hold it against you if you say hey I'm excited to go up against Ovi and we're gonna challenge them and we're gonna it's our job to stop them and I'm gonna match Them that doesn't mean like you're in awe of the guy and you're going to go easy on him checking. It feels like it was an over thought approach that was completely unnecessary. Not necessary. Very heroic. And then he's watching Ovi score the OT winner in game one.

It's like, hey, what do you think of him now? Exactly. He makes 8.7 next year now I don't know if that is that real money or if there's someone I thought his cap it was in the sixes yeah so I believe probably that Columbus or somebody's chewing a bit of that but yeah but in the end it's a lot of money and you're right oh like what are you gonna do with they probably push them farther down in line up they've got some big decisions to make anyways and other

players yeah you got to get there first in terms of, you know, where you're going in the off season. And if you're in Montreal, you're very uncomfortable with this conversation before they play game five tonight. But yeah, I'm curious to see what comes of that. And then like the game for me is Winnipeg tonight. Like they're at home, they've been so good at home. They were really they were good game one and two. They were very good at home. Yeah, you know, and Halibut Hal. They were very good at home Yeah, you know and held buck. Hello buck was really good He's a little bit shaky at times in game one, but second third period gave to he was outstanding You know shy flea Connor you got velarde back. So you're gonna complete that line again Morris

He was not he wasn't any good in st. Louis. You know, like you gotta get espresso at 905 p.m. To get cooked up for that one yes I am fascinated so am I I think you got it it's a it's weird because both teams I think are thinking we got to get through the first 20 minutes because that building is going to be going nuts but if st. Louis gets a quick one man it could be quiet in there like the whiteout could be quiet quickly here's Darren Drager at tsn hockey insider

where does your head go first is it simply halibut is it shy flee lardy coming back with the blues have been doing where do you where do you go first with game five tonight winnipeg well look i mean i start with the st louis blues because obviously they've won the last two so they've they've earned the respect of everybody in our attention they've won the last two so they've earned the respect of everybody and our attention. I was in the building for game one and Braden Shen the captain of the Blues, I mean he was a one-man wrecking crew. He hit everything in sight in the first period. Now as that game wore on the Blues couldn't sustain it and Winnipeg ultimately took over in the second

half of the hockey game. So I'm looking at Braden Schenn and I want to see what he's going to bring right off puck drop and I suspect that he's going to be the most motivated guy out there. I just believe that. Now, you know, comparatively, Winnipeg is saying, all right, this isn't a Connor Hellebuyck story. Of course he has to be better. Of course he does. But they feel like they've got away from their game. They didn't play their structure, detail, throw out all the cliches this time of year that we like to roll out there. They weren't able to establish that or didn't get to it in St. Louis games three and four. And that's their plan. That's that they're just adamant that they're going to do that. And that's going to take some of the heat off Connor Hellebuck. But I mean, it started with Hellebuck. Everybody

in that Winnipeg lineup has to be better. Agreed. The goalie is the focal point given, you know, Hayes said this yesterday and I agree 100% where this guy set the bar so high. So you expect him to not have, and if he has one off game, you expect the bounce back. But I want to ask you about Scott Arneal's comments. Even after the game, he seemed pissed, kind of, you know, he's being asked questions, and I get it, you've been run out of the building twice in a row, but he was almost defiant, you know, when the questions were asked. How are your adjustments?

I'll keep that to myself. I'm not going to give in. How has his demeanor when you've been around either changed or affects the team? Because he seems like a fiery guy. I don't know him that well, but is he an intense guy back there? Is he yelling at the guys or is it more just he's trying to you know keep things close to the best as far as his game plan i think the latter noodles quietly fiery for sure i mean competitive obviously you know i mean man played in the league so you know that that's just the way all

you guys are wired brian you included um... the health so i i i don't think that he's got a high standard of the way that team needs to play and preaches it and probably didn't have to preach a whole lot of it as they continued to have success in the regular season. And you know, they were nervous in game one, but then they found their footing and found a way in game two. And then the series shifts over and

they have two bad games and I for me I think that's where some of the if not pushback just the standoff of this comes from from Scotty Arneal is I just don't know how to explain what happened in St. Louis other than we didn't execute our game. But I think for the most part, he's a very approachable guy and he exchanges interactions I've had for sure. He's not happy-go-lucky, but he's a guy you can have a hockey conversation with. I wonder if, you know, that's because of the market

and because of the organization, how small it is, the pressures that they have financially and otherwise, I mean, I think everybody is wired tight there. I think I told this story after game one, they win that hockey game and we're standing outside the restroom, the Winnipeg Jets and shovel that logs by and he was borderline purple. Like, and they was borderline purple.

And they won the game, and played pretty well in the second half, didn't have a great first period. And so I always give these guys their breathing space. It's like binder hockey, the 24 hour rule. So I checked in the next day, I'm like, is everything okay? Ah, yeah, you know, geez, we should have done this, we could have done that, and all of those things. That's just how tightly wound

That group is I just I think they feel the pressure of knowing that they've got to win Darren chief was seemed a little bit chippy this morning when the idea of the core four was brought up Where do you stand on? the media if it's a on the media if it's a loss in St. Louis, we go right to Hellebuck. If it's a loss in a series clinching game, which is hard to ignore, it goes right to the core four. Like in the fairness level, is that just the cost of doing business when you're high priced athletes or where do you stand on that? Yes, it is for me, but I'm biased, obviously, as a member of the media. You know, that's very much a field issue between whoever's the head of public relations,

and then you have to have a consult with your head coach and likely your general manager. I thought if we just go back to Winnipeg for a moment here, and then I'll bring it back to Barubeubi. And just to be clear Darren, I'm talking about like the criticism that comes about them from us after losses. Like we go straight to those players. Yeah, yeah I get it but I think that there was a conversation Winnipeg where they maybe weren't going to make hell about available to the media. Not just post-game the next day and maybe even the two-day gap between game four and game five, and I'm glad they did.

Look, I mean, it's not about the money, but sometimes you just gotta face the music. If you're a leader on the team, and he is certainly that, Connor Hellebuck, he's a star, the core force of the Toronto Maple Leafs are stars in the National Hockey League And I think they do a decent job of being held accountable. I look the Marner interview postgame the other night Tuesday night. I thought that that's as good as we've seen Mitch postgame in the playoffs, right?

So I have no problem with withholding those guys accountable. I think that the message from Craig Barube was more about, all right, I understand it. Of course, pretty obvious those guys are going to have to find whatever gear is necessary to end the Battle of Ontario and it better end in Game 6, but other guys can contribute. So I think, and look, oh oh we talked about this as part of the pregame too right? Of course again it's the star status but what is Bobby McMahon done of late? You know Max Patcheretti I mean he's working on

borrowed time we can appreciate that but he looked tired to me in games four and five. Honestly at times the the Lawton and Lorenz combination line four has been arguably Toronto's best line in the last couple of games. So I think that that's what he was doing the head coach trying to spread some of the accountability around. Well I also think there's a I'm curious how the Leafs feel about the core four being a shield for all of the players individually, because I think they've all benefited greatly from just this blanket being thrown over all of them and it's core four as opposed to any individual in particular. And I'm sure the Leafs are aware of that and I think the Leafs probably love that it's

there and I guarantee you the players do. Because like you look at it, there's a pecking order here. Like when you go back 20 years ago, it wasn't Matt Sundeen with Roberts and Tucker and Domey coming out, it was, Matt's was at the forefront. You're the captain, you're the best player, you gotta be the best,

you're expected to do more than everybody else. And that doesn't really happen here. And it hasn't happened in nine years. Austin's not out on a plank. He's out there with Mitch and Willie and John. And they all protect each other. I actually, I think it's in their best interest to keep this core four label alive.

Because if you wanna get rid of that, then we can start talking about Matthews with only two goals in his last 15 games. We can talk about how Mitch Marner just doesn't score big goals. Willie at 45 this year has got one this series. Yeah. Like, okay, you want to talk about the individuals, we can do that. And I know that's not what he was driving at. He's trying to talk about the team. But I would be careful if I'm the Leafs trying to crack the core four shield, because I think it's been very beneficial

for these players individually, Dreggs. Yeah, I agree with everything you said. And I think that for the most part, it's been very beneficial for these players individually tracks yeah i'm with you i i i i agree with everything you said and i i think that the most part the criticism in the analysis in this market is fair at times the volume gets a little bit loud and probably too noisy for the players and for the organization uh... but if that's any other player.

That costs up the puck the way that Austin Matthews did that led to the shorthanded goal scored by Dylan Cousins. I mean, sure. You know, Mike and, and Oh dog, uh, analyze the play and rightly identified that, you know, that's a bad pass. You can't make that play, you know? Uh, but it is any other player. If Marner makes that play that guy is he play, that guy, he's vilified, right?

So I fully appreciate what you're saying. And also we acknowledged on Tuesday postgame, you know, when, when Borubi was specifically asked about Matthews and the Matthews line, oh, you pointed it out, right? Like long delay. Yeah. about Matthew's and the Matthew's line. Oh, you pointed it out, right? Like. Long delay. Yeah, not only did he choose his words carefully, there was hesitation in how he answered the question because he is blunt, he is honest,

but he is also very aware that it's a 3-2 series lead. He said that three, four times in his post-game media comments, but there was a message delivered there without him saying it. It's obvious that that line and the core four of the stars of the Toronto Mane's Leafs have to be better. Well, and that's the amazing thing about like the Matthews pass.

And I think you're right that if Marner did that, it would have been a more visceral reaction. I think Matthews got hit last night with the criticism, he deserved it. But again, it's almost like Willie said, hey man, I'm here for you too. I'm not gonna let you Austin take this heat on your own. I'll contribute to this so that some of us could, or other people could look at Willie and say,

what was that back check? It's almost like there was like this core four, like assemble anchorman news team thing last night. It's like Austin pizza Mitch is in one because he's a forward trying to, you know, defend it two on one. That's tough. And Willie's like, all right, I'll help you out here with the way I'm going back check this but it just it's amazing how they're just constantly all they're all connected all the time and there's there's just no way of breaking out of it like there's just i don't care what berube tries to do tree livings tried to do it shanahan's try to do it

there's no way of of ending it unless the there there are players that that either leave or they win like that's that's the the winning is still there And that does need to be recognized you have the opportunity to win this series and multiple series and change everything and guess what? Everyone's you're gonna get to all the accolades in the world because you would deserve it at that point No one's gonna hold this against you if you if you go on a run That's not gonna happen But if you don't then everyone knows you know what's coming and I'd be curious how Barubei handles that

You know tomorrow night if it doesn't if it goes if it doesn't go well again tomorrow night Does he pull a Jim Montgomery from last year where Montgomery called out Pasternak like that was pretty that was something man It was something. It was yeah. We saw what happened in overtime two nights later. I don't know, maybe we, Owen and I joked about this off air on Tuesday night, but maybe we get the Craig Berube, St. Louis Stanley Cup speech, right? We've seen it a thousand times in the dressing room. And I don't know how motivating that might be

for each individual guy. But the one thing I do know going into game six, that building is going to be volatile. Like that's not just lip service by Travis Green and everybody, there it is. It's just, it's going to be an electric experience and an environment. And I feel like, you know,

if you're breaking down the individual play and the sum of the parts, Ottawa all of a sudden has a little bit more going right and that's obvious I mean they found a way to win a couple of games sir but I thought Shane Pinto had an excellent game the other night I you know Jake Sanderson has emerged as a star and we know he's that. How about Tyler Clopham? The guy's enormous. I mean, yeah, he absorbs hits, he's elusive. I mean, they've got a lot of things going their way right now and chances are they're gonna bring it all tomorrow night. Yep, I think you're right.

We're Darren Drager, a TSN hockey insider. Taylor Hall signs an extension today, which I found interesting timing. Rick Tocket these Vancouver tomorrow or yesterday uh... any calls which should be expecting that is not directly related to actually stanley cup playoff games because there's been a lot

of wild stuff in the league this week i mean really wild and what is becoming trendy in the last few years anyway is just the coaching carousel in the off season. But right now you've got a quarter of the National Hockey League looking for a coach. Eight teams looking for a coach. And maybe their deal's cooked. I don't know.

I mean, does Mike Sullivan leave 10 Schmill plus on the table with Pittsburgh and just say, okay, let's have a mutual. No, obviously he doesn't. You know, there's something that's been negotiated there. Lots of people think that he's just going to slide into New York. They've got the Brink's truck lined up and what's that number going to look like? It's going to be enormous. I'm reading speculation out of New York and around the league on well what if Capper Bay loses in the battle of Florida tonight and John Cooper gets exposed and he gets cut loose

where's he going? You know and you think that's possible that Cooper could be out in Tampa? That seems, would that be something? It would be something Brian but is it possible sure it is But for two reasons and one might be John Cooper just saying look guys I don't you need you to tell me when my expiry date is every coach has one with an organization And I feel like mine is up Personally or otherwise I haven't talked to Coop about that. I'm just saying that I've seen it with other coaches who have been with the team this long. And Sullivan's probably the same with Pittsburgh and why he decided to leave.

But I also don't get the sense that on either guy, if it happens with John Cooper, it has happened to Sullivan, that there's going to be this, you know, feeding frenzy. And of course there are teams, multiple teams interested in Sullivan. Vancouver for me is going to be interesting. And I include Rick Tauke in this assessment. I honestly, fellas, I mean, look, I don't talk much to get back to Eastern USA. That means Philadelphia. Maybe he's a fit in Pittsburgh.

I hear David Glym's name might be somewhat attached to Kyle Dubas and the Penguins. We'll see how that plays out. But there are also some close to Rick Dockers that think that he might just slide into the TV chair. I mean, Noodles, Oh Dog, you guys, we all know how easy that gig is. You don't get paid as much, but come on. You have a lead. It really is. It really is.

You know, maybe you're pissed off because the team didn't win and now you gotta talk about it for another three hours, six hours, 90 hours, whatever, but it's a pretty easy life. However, Toc also pushed away from a five-year extension in Vancouver at big bucks. So that's a lot of money. That's a lot of money and he'll get paid by Philadelphia.

Philadelphia will pay. So let's see how it all rolls out. Don't you think though? I mean, there are certain people that, you know, go to TV and then but their coaches, you know, Paul Maurice, Paul Maurice was a coach, you know, he's great. He's fantastic on TV. But Paul Maurice is a coach at nature, you know, in by his heart. Yeah. And I would think that talk if he, you know, for us, obviously, we do our TV gig, as long as we don't swear on air, you know, you can sleep at night, those guys going to live with win, win or loss, right? Like wins and losses and their competitive nature. And yes, the amount of money that they are, you know, we're talking about with a guy like Rick Tauke at on the free agent market, that's, you know, I think somebody might sway him, you know, it'd be interesting to see though.

You know, Ray raised a very obvious comparison. We all remember Sheldon Kiefkint to let go by the Maple Leafs. An hour later he's standing on the shores of Lake Ontario and I had luck it wasn't it was sincere. You're gonna be back there? Well no no no well I guess eventually because his family still lives in Ontario but he in his message didn't he say look I want to take some time I want to be with my family I want to do this one yeah like two three weeks later max there he is announced as head coach of the New Jersey Devils so that might be all talk needs well first if he is coaching again he needs permission from the Vancouver

Cubs so that these teams can get to him but he definitely is gonna have options yeah yeah there's there's some there's some names out there i mean i have sharon there's definitely vacancies yeah uh... all right riggs well we'll see what comes of it tonight we got the habs in action we get the orders now up three and things they flip quickly

don't they like with edmonton playing the way they played yeah i think they are they are a chip out at the line from being down three one and now they're in the driver's seat and everyone's like, oh the Kings are done, it's over. Finished that quickly. It's incredible. It kind of feels like that especially you get I think Zach Hyman, didn't you say post game, if that's the best game they've played collectively all year where everybody chipped in. So yeah they're on an eater now. We'll how it plays out the boys my biggest fight tonight I mean obviously I gotta watch the Jets game like come on like nine was a 945 puck drops something like that

what is that what's the deal with that cuz I'm working it obviously is that yeah and at seven yeah that's why I was you they want to know what is that local like when a bigger tenets of eight four-hour you know yeah well and and i'm not complaining about from st louis and when i think that it feels like they're deep has been bounced all over the map just to accommodate well some of the other series we got me they put a one o'clock here that's right i, I said that, Dreggs, the other day.

How hard is it in the playoffs when you're trying to get a heated rivalry going and it's 108 puck drop in the afternoon? I mean, come on. That's crazy. That's what I struggle with, and I get it. It's people above us. It's TV. Yeah.

I get that, but it's just hard to fire the engine up sometimes. Like, that's prime time seven thirty at night like you've your body revved up for it all day i i love that i'm forty tonight man he already want to know what he is that exterior white out is going to be well oiled by the time they drop pocket you're right about that there's people that have shown up there at noon.

Tailgating, full blown. Remind me, I was, like I don't know, in the, what's it called, the leaf pit outside. Maple Leaf Square. Sorry, yeah, Maple Leaf Square. Are they allowed to drink in there or no? No, they're not drinking. Although it's probably sponsored by a beer company. I think it is.

I was down there but I don't think they're drinking well yesterday i'm watching and like the oilers pet there are people with beers that are just blue hairs it's just it's interesting to see the province where the contrary i don't think allows you to they don't allow you to drink on the street alberta the pilot go ahead who cares what they can eat the out there? Go ahead, do whatever you want.

I was seeing people in the background, they're just oiled. Wow. I mean, it is what it is. Legal or not, I can assure you that there is consumption near Portage and Main tonight. Yes. Yes. And at Maple Leaf Square. I can guarantee you there's some crafty people in there that have found a way to make that work. That's true. You can guarantee

All right, Drex. Good luck with staying up and watching the games tonight Alright boys enjoy it. Thank you Darren Dreger joining us on the maple Toyota hotline drive the built-in Canada fuel-efficient fun to drive Toyota rav4 gas or hybrid models available visit maple Toyota comm that is what I coach is gone haze like it's just uh... it goes back to the main thing that i talk about all the time the league is so watered down their scrambling to put a team together and then when they realize it's just not that good a t and i got a fire the coach gotta get coach bump

it's yeah well any coaches like come on. And exactly, and you can't ship players out. Everyone's got a no move, and there's a salary cap, and there's bonus structures, and so that's the play. And it's probably the owner calling up saying, I've had enough, just get rid of this guy. Just get rid of him, I'll pay him. And that's another thing.

Someone was making that point recently. I can't remember who was but saying that now like these owners for so rich yeah every owner is a is like a multi billionaire where that wasn't the case you know back there were cheap owners the runners rose like a little bit of a lot of people are not there's tears to their owners that are like we're not paying a coach no thanks yeah i mean comparatively speaking erasing you're right They got money but not... Oh, dude, there's cheap ones now. There's just... There are owners that are like, we're not paying a coach. No thanks.

Yeah. I mean, comparatively speaking... That's embarrassing. You're right, but it's... They still... You know, they got a lot of money. They got a lot of money. And now you've got...

Like, in the NBA, there's guys... You know, and in the NHL, for that matter, there's a lot of co-owners of multiple teams. But you got Steve Ballmer, you got Cronke, you've got... You got guys in the NBA that are worth 30, 40, 50 billion dollars. Yes. Like, what do they care about a 25 million dollar expense to get rid of somebody? You know, it's like, yeah, go ahead, just fire that guy.

It's crazy. Yeah, the only guy, I mean, the family business, isn't Lloyd Christmas in Vegas. That's his family business Yes, yes that and he is one that and the same thing with the bus family with the Lakers the Lakers like there's their business Yeah, their business is the basketball team Jerry Jones his business is now They you know the Cowboys for the most part although he had his money in other areas How many years were left on Babcock's contract when he was in there four years? Yeah, well, he signed an eight year deal, I believe. And I think he got through four.

Yeah, we're paying him six a year. Yeah, basically, I have 20 years to go away. Yeah. See you later. All right. Role play level of concern Nules, you're off to do a little panel work. You'll be back right back. We've got Eddie old Chuck coming up.

We got Steve Phillips on the Jays game two of their series tonight overdrive continues DSN 1050 and on TSN 2 you can never never ask me to stop drinking you understand? I do. I really do. Alright, so, um, I have been informed by multiple people that apparently you can get booze in Maple Leaf Square. That if you're there for the games, you can actually, I guess there's certain areas, a small area where you can actually get beers and drinks and you know that's a level of concern what's your level of concern? Naples Square for game 7. You can never, never ask me to stop drinking.

I'll tell you what, those boys out in Edmonton there's been video surfacing of some just knockdown Drag'em out brawls Yeah, they're getting into fights man during like with their own fans It's like dudes are an oiler jerseys. It's like what do you what are you doing? I told you before you getting a fight in a building like that you put other people in date You never allowed back in a professional building. Sorry, that's very simple. Yeah, very simple very never again Eradicate that type of behavior but you look at the crowds like i i walked by it when i was in the building i was

you know it's a cool shot as you're in there you're looking outside gate five and you know there's all these leaf and some are all staring up at that incredible screen but everyone's like under the age of twenty five and i couldn't think of a more awkward scenario then like the two of us in our forties in may play square watching the game

like in a suit just sitting around with all these twenty-year-olds it would be the most awkward i think situation of all time by honestly if you send me a text uh... i don't know this is a weird scenario because of you would never send me this tax in the jobs that we have but if we were buddies and you said you want like at our age and you said you want to go down there and then hang out in the crowd I would just not answer no I'd be mortified to send that yeah hey I got a I got a couple of exclusive tickets

through Maple Leaf Square to watch the Leaf game in like outside the building yes outside the building it's a block type of move yeah it's just I would block you as a friend no exactly it's like it's going to the club like it's it's going to a club in your 40s and 50s you're like I just understand this is not for me it was at one point 20 or 30 years ago sure but not anymore all right roleplay level of concern all right noodles will be back here momentarily oh you're playing the role of Craig Barube head coach of the Maple maples what is your level of concern that it's your responsibility to get

the core for to show up in these elimination games he is probably at the point he looks at things very different he's up close and personal but he's an old-school guy and he's seen it for two games now and he's probably come to the realization that everyone else has and there's only one way out of this and you guys either do it or you don't. I've told you guys a million times it's a do it or don't league but the thing is with the incredible stat packs that have been

coming out with points in these elimination games and their power play in their overall record like it's becoming it's getting to a point where you have to ask the question are you even surprised like it is no that's my thing man yeah no one can be so it's almost like it's at a conclusion type of scenario where it's like that's just what's gonna happen so yeah I mean you can be up three nothing elimination game you're gonna get that which is kind of been a downer for me because I went through the whole thing of we are Getting rid of the leafiest things ever and it's a new thing a new coach new systems They compete and they understand how to play defense, but I've been getting the last couple games

I'm like Even if you do go to Ottawa and beat them you got the Florida Panthers with all due respect to Ottawa Ottawa was a good young hungry team they're playing great and their goaltender might steal them this series possibly but the Florida Panthers are Ottawa like on steroids like no totally different piece yeah totally so what's gonna happen during that series Like really? What should the expectations be? Yeah, I mean they're gonna be whoever plays them will be an underdog the Leafs included and

Yeah, I mean listen as I've said countless times There's there's a separation between the five players have been here forever and everyone else because I can look at everything else And get behind, you know, okay, I like Stollers I like Barubei and his approach and winning pedigree and the way that he's kind of handling things. I really like their deep pairings. I think they have three consistent deep pairings for the first time in 20 years, like where you can put any of them on the ice in any situation and I feel comfortable.

That's a very unique situation for a hockey fan. Yeah, well, but that's the thing. It gets to a point where you have to look at the other guys and say, I, I just you can't get there where you can truly believe that they're going to rise to the occasion and be have this killer instinct. We'll see that the beauty of sports is they have the opportunity tomorrow night, and then they'd have the opportunity on Saturday, you get to the second round That's the ultimate test against Florida, but Yeah, I mean listen. There's not a leaf fan Put it this way It's probably the only fan base in the league including ones that didn't even make the playoffs Where in a situation like this if I had if I told any leaf fan

I jumped into a time machine and I went into the future and I and I know they lost game six and seven not one of them not one leaf fan on earth would be shocked be disappointed maybe they would launch into apathy unlike anything we've ever seen but not one could say I'm shocked and I don't believe it and that's silly and you're stupid and stop lying to me not one can do that and that's probably exclusive to this fan base Alright, I'm playing the role of Mark Savard who was in charge of the power play. What is my level of concern that the five Forward power play has run its course I'm going to say I'm gonna I'm gonna go Stevie I'm gonna go Stevie on that.

A couple of westies and five or seven beers. I'm concerned because they're old for their last seven and they've given up two short-handed goals. Dude, do you take the chance? Like I know they have to get on the board offensively because that was Mike Johnson's comment, they have to score. And I was like, can you risk them giving up another shorty? Well, I don't know, man. I would contemplate putting Morgan Riley back out there it's not like you're putting some stiff out there and saying take slap shots at the goal like he can do it it's something it's something you got to contemplate it is and that's why

it's Stevie Caldwell which is kind of a Fergie can't confirm it than I because earlier in the series what was so potent for them was this five-man power play. Like it was a cheat code for them. It was automatic. It was breaking the back of the Ottawa Senators and quite literally putting them into a position to win the game. Now it's had the complete opposite effect. And we had Marc Giordano in here, you know, two weeks ago and Gio was talking about this. And now he's a defenseman. He's got a different view. But he said it before we've seen the last two games he's like i'm very

uneasy with the dip uh... five forwards in the defenseman ploper forward playing defense because a shorthanded goal is way more damaging to momentum than a power play goal to know can you let me ask you this if use if they made adjustment put morgan riley on the power play would you consider it a panic type move

i don't i don't think you can say it's a panic type move because of what we've seen the last two games like to short-handed back-to-back short-handed goals and you know the pinto was a break when and last obviously but that's of course what's gonna happen to be a two one one or something like that a full breakdown and guys are gonna be

tired and they're not gonna get back it's unfair to Marner like Marner's trying to shut down a two-on-one it's tough tough to do yeah they can throw them back out there throw those five guys back out there but man if they get another shorty tomorrow night you'd be saying wow how yeah how could you have done it again but it does feel similar to like the switching the goaltender conversation in terms of panicky in terms of like, and again, those are, those are your core four guys with Matthew Nives. Who's your core five upfront? Those are your five best players, you know,

and you can talk about defense and Morgan Riley and all that. But if you're, if you're going, if you're going to win, you need them to have an impact on the game. And especially on the powerplay. And again that's what such a staggering stat in the last 14 elimination opportunities the Leafs have had. We know the record, 1 in 13. 0 for 30 on the powerplay in those 14 games. With that level of talent.

With those guys all on the ice. It's just an insane cooler of a streak like that's that's just wild to tells brother it is it's al's brother quarterbacking a power play with jp and do you on the wall that front net on a front yes and honestly it's just it's a it's an absurd start yet it's a reality jp on the half wall back to al's brother on the point, Jugee and Joe from the bridge net front. Yes, yes. Who would be the fifth guy?

Do we have a fifth guy? I don't know if we have a fifth guy. That's disappointing. Maybe it's Kirolnik or something. We'll throw Kirolnik in there. All right. Oh, you're playing the role of the University of north carolina football program she's what is your level of concern bill a just play it never past this country level of concern bill belichick could turn into an absolute disaster as the head coach of your football program outside already told you what i

do i i know the guy seventy three years old i know is one of the best football coaches that's ever lived on earth i would go out to him and say i don't want to see any more media about you the only time i want to see was on the bench for a football game i understand you have a girlfriend understand she's twenty four years old i don't want to hear any more about i don't want to see you is very strange man. It's very strange that like the whole your your dating life is a big part of your story You're 73. Yeah, I don't want to you or you but don't be out in public. Yeah, I don't want to live your life

No one's telling you you can't like obviously it's your life. It's your personal life But what's fascinating about Belichick is for 30 years if you asked about his personal life life but what's fascinating about Belichick is for 30 years if you asked about his personal life he dagger you into the ground dude and I don't get like the guy's got a hundred he's worth a hundred million isn't he well I'm sure he is I mean yeah and I just made millions of dollars coaching I've never understood maybe it's just ego where you the bright lights and you need to be in it somehow why he would need to come back to a university of all things in in the girlfriend stuff is like look man great for him but it's because it

was beyond its bizarre it's very bizarre yes a very bizarre story like it just is in the whole operation and the running of the PR and in their free interviews interviews, it's very strange. Yeah, then he comes over the top and issues a statement about the interview and the comments. It's like, dude, shut up, man. Well, and trying to explain, like we said, we met on a plane. Okay, then why couldn't you just talk about that on CBS?

You know, I don't know. It's a very strange scenario. Okay, we'll come back with a couple more role plays. Noodle's will be back in about 15. We've got Eddie Oh coming up, Pucks and Ponies with the Kentucky Derby taking place this week. We can get his take on the Maple Leafs and other things going on throughout the league. Vegas, you know, they're up 3-2. It's been tight, man. It's been a great, great series out there.

And Jersey, they're the first team to go home. The New Jersey Devilsils your new jersey devils so disappointing at a three nothing lead last night what a flat ending choked away season what like i said it before jack he was great player but that's how you guys play and we talk about goalies all the time i'll just throw this one out there that markstrom he was terrible no i mean he's up and down his whole career like he has a great year or a down year great and he's breaking his stick and snapping. Yeah, it's like he, the second half of the season,

he was not good for them. Like they thought that he was the missing piece. Not good, can't win with it. Well, look who it is, Sebastian Ajo, a superstar. Their star, their man, their guy, gets the job done last night for Carolina. No one cares about what people in New Jersey think. Yeah, you can play that now, man. Now I can really play that, I might add to that. It's the job done last night for Carolina. No one cares about what people in New Jersey think.

Yeah, you could play that now, man. Now I can really play that. I might add to that. Once a day we're going to play that. Yeah, we should. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 2. All right, Eddie Olchuck coming up. Eddie's take on the Stanley Cup playoffs. Eddie's probably got takes on the NBA playoffs. He's probably got takes. I know he's got takes on the Kentucky Derby I haven't heard of any like horse that really sticks out, but Eddie's probably got a read on that In fact, I know he does how far away is that coming up this weekend, man? Oh Yeah, Hux and ponies with Eddie Olchuk. Yeah, he'll be there covering it for NBC

I'm sure he does because he doesn't work for NBC Anymore because they don't have hockey anymore yet. They brokered a deal with him to allow him to come back and work for the Triple Crown. So Eddie, every year he gives us a long shot, he gives us just a read on a couple of ponies you want to keep your eye on, which I love. Well, on Saturday it could be crazy. You love a guy that can talk about a one-timer in the slot and then pivot to yes a pony that can turn on the Jets down the stretch There is no one more versatile than at all Chuck nobody Because Eddie will come on and say well, here's what I saw at a Mitch Marner last night

And then you'll be like what do you think that Brett Houdin Oh T-winner? Well, if you'll notice in the neutral zone, and you'll say what's up with this jockey on the five horse And I'll be like I'll tell you about that joc. He's from Scranton, and he'll just- He's a piz-tag and I hate him. Yeah, exactly. Like this guy, Eddie's got jockey takes. Like that's when you know you're getting deep, man. That's when you have to appreciate it.

And generally this time of year, he's got some future bet that he drops. He's like, well, I got a future on the Pacers, and I parlayed that with this and that and the other. Eddie's usually got a couple things on the fly. So catch up with Eddie Olchuk and Steve Phillips coming up and tell you what, man, the Blue Jays, like they had a rally in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on Friday night to their

credit. Good for them. They were registered a couple of hits, put some runs on the board, found a way to win that game. If they didn't do that, they would be in the midst of nine losses in a row and that is what eleven games in a row now where they haven't scored more than four runs they scored two last night completely irrelevant because it was already over at that point

but bad frances six start last night three of them have been not that great three of them been okay that's a guy you don't know really what you can get the future i'd just three of them have been not that great three of them been okay that's a guy you don't know really what you're gonna get the future i'd just they're they're so lucky the lease are playing they're so lucky like the blue is a so lucky because i i know jays fans in jays media of course are on it

if the leaves eventually go out which they will at some point people are going to turn their attention to a collectively as a city in a market and say if they haven't been paying attention they're gonna say are you guys are doing what yes sorry your run differential is what sorry you've hit how many home runs you know they're 13 and 16 and they're a minus 35 run differential yeah I'll never forget when Ross we had him on after the Vlad E deal was done and he said that offense is so close and when it arrives, watch out. And I was like, wow.

Yeah, they're true believers. I guess you have to be right. Like if you're Ross Atkins, you have to believe it's going to hit. You have to. It's the team you put together. Okay, that was 10 games ago. When is it like? Honestly, I don't think, it's just like the core four in big moments for big moments and i'm sorry i've seen enough of the blue jays offense

has bowie even remotely opened up his eyeballs yet not in terms of power not in terms of getting power for power no me as it is in a home run yet yeah i mean i don't know what's the tell you don't bar show back okay and see what he brings to the plate. Yeah, no kidding. A great catch, but who cares? But he also blew a wheel to make the catch.

Like, it was a brilliant, brilliant recovery. Brilliant, brilliant catch. But who cares? But you blew a wheel, exactly. And you shouldn't have been in that position, and the game was over by that point. All right, Steve Phillips, Eddie Olchuk. There it is.

Yeah, the old boy. It's almost like it was a Willie Mays play. Like I'm back and wait till you see the moves I've been working on. New shoulder, who it is. Alright, Pucks and Ponies with Eddie O, Steve Phillips coming up, best bets and noodles will be back as well.

Overdrive continues, TSN 1050N on TSN2. That just happened with me, Vashie Capellosos. 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.

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