OverDrive - OverDrive - April 8, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: April 8, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Michael DiStefano for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joins to discuss Ivan Demidov's signing with the Canadiens, the Maple Leafs' matchup against the Panthers and Connor McDavid and Brady Tkachuk's injury timeline.

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Join today and be part of something amazing. Final half hour, Overdrive continues, powered by Fandua, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score, Brian Hayes, Michael DiStefano in a beautiful green jacket, courtesy of Augusta National. Yes. It's a beautiful looking jacket house brother and you revealed to the world the ultimate champions dinner

and you had a power rankings of the three greatest of all time Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama which I appreciate because you've got an American, an Australian and a Japanese player. Yeah. So really a lot of different options. A lot of different cultures. And I got to talk, like the Matsuyama, like that to me, hands down, the second I saw Wagyu on the menu, my mouth starts watering. Immediately skyrockets up the list for you.

100%. OK. And I think Scott's also had a Wagyu steak on it as well, which is why that was very high for you. 100 percent. Okay. And I think Scott's also had a wagyu steak on it as well, which is why that was very high for me. And I knew when I put mine together, we were going to have a nice wagyu ribeye. Yeah, I can't say I've ever had one in my life. And I guess I'm not living. Yeah, it's something that's mandatory. And a lot of people have been sending in suggestions of great restaurants throughout the city that may have it on their menu and I will have to look into that because I have to live like that.

Yeah, well if any steakhouse wanna invite us out. We'll be there. We'll be there. We'll be there. Absolutely, we'll be there with a full review. I mean we're basically a walking, talking Yelp review. Right, like we'll just step in and we will immediately either blow up your spot or, you know, I guess

it could go the opposite way, but I think there's a lot of confident chefs in the city, right, as there should be. So maybe we'll look into that. We got a Leaf game tonight. The Raptors are, you know, it's coming down the home stretch, the NBA playoffs starting real soon and Stanley Cup playoffs. We've got the Masters starting in a couple of days. We're going to have our picks tomorrow.

The O-Dog will be back in here. Noodles would be in here running the whole show. It's always a fun way to day a fun one the day before the Masters. But it's interesting. Joseph Wall is going tonight and Craig Barube's explanation for that was that Strollers has already played his former team three times this year. Yeah. And he wants to flip it around a little bit.

And we had Johnny on last hour and MJ kind of looked at it. Like Tampa is the game that really matters in terms of pursuing the top seed. Yes. Because Florida's kind of gone, Ottawa's gone. It's either Toronto or Tampa that are gonna finish one two. That's what's coming. And if you keep Stolars,

who is the presumptive number one at this point and likely game one starter for the more important game it's probably showing your hand a little bit. I think so and honestly I think Stolars has earned it like you look at the he's five and oh his last five starts with like a 944 sappers. He's been so good all year. He's been great. Yeah he's been so good. There's that tiny little blip I think in like it was an early March Maybe but since then he's turned it around. He's been excellent and a couple quality wins to like that win against Against who they win LA LA on the trip. That was a big win big win for them

I think that was a statement win then last week against Florida. Yep, big win Yep And I think he did he start I think he started against Colorado at home when they won that game as well. So you know there's been some signature wins for them the Colorado game the LA game the Florida game like those are those are legit teams especially LA at crypto.com like they never lose in that building. Yeah. And the Jay the Leafs have had that going for them recently I mean I again I think they're starting to peak at the right time and they're 8-1 and 1 in the last 10 and this is a trip where you go down

there and get three or four points in the next two nights. You're home free man. Absolutely. You've won the division for the first time in a long time. Well, that's another one of those things where it's, is this your different, right? We keep asking ourselves like, why is this your different, right? Craig Berube, that's a big one. You've got good goaltending. They brought in a Chris Tanev, you're bringing up Brandon Carlo completely reshapes the back end. There's a little bit of depth now within this lineup, but something they also have not done is win the division. They won the Canadian division that year, short season, didn't play, you know, it has an

asterisk on it. Absolutely. For league that's for sure different but prior to that their last one was like ninety nine yeah prior that and before that nineteen sixty three yeah like they knew they never when i was in never and i think it might be you know a big deal for them to win the division the problem is in this is going to most leaves leafiest thing ever is that you win the division and then get rewarded with the florida pan yeah that is very possible because Ottawa's got Columbus

tonight. Ottawa's got a pretty soft schedule coming home. Very soft. They're playing well they're getting great goaltending right now. Fourth easiest schedule down the stretch. Yeah it's shocking to me there's three teams with an easier schedule than them when you consider who they're playing. So I think Ottawa's gonna rack up points here like well Ottawa I think is gonna get three or four more wins at least yeah, and Ottawa's got Columbus Montreal Philly Chicago and they got Caroline in the last game

Okay, but Carolina probably is home free in the two seed there and they're not playing for anything Probably doesn't mean they won't feel the team and go out there and put forth an effort But it will be a completely meaningless game. Now there's a chance that will apply with Ottawa as well. They could get to that final game and know who they're playing, where they're playing, when they're playing, and it's irrelevant too. But Philly and Chicago, Columbus is cooked, man. Yeah, they're done. They have hit a wall here. I think Ottawa wins in Columbus tonight. Montreal is a different

story. But you're right. I mean, that is definitely a possibility where the Leafs, and listen, it could go the opposite way though. Tampa could leapfrog them, and Tampa could play themselves into a situation where they get Florida in the first round. Yeah. So that's why it's completely unpredictable at this point, and you gotta play the games, and if I'm the Maple Leafs,

go up there and try to win every single night. Absolutely. And wherever the chips fall, that's where they're going to fall. And try to remain healthy, try to peak at the right time. But I like the way they're playing. I like where they're at. I like where they're heading. I think the East is wide open.

I don't see a powerhouse team. There's some teams that scare you. Tampa scares you. Florida scares you. But I think this is an opportunity for the Leafs, and this is probably the last opportunity, stop me if you've heard me say that before, for them to finally prove, okay, all of these were learning lessons and we're going to apply these lessons this spring. And we're about two weeks away from class starting.

How much would that chat Keef's ass to see those lessons finally get applied, the year relief? Lessons finally applied in Sheldon's down in New Jersey, although Sheldon's ass to see those lessons finally get applied the year-in-elite. Lessons finally applied in Sheldon's down in New Jersey. Although Sheldon's going to the playoffs too. So it could be worse for Sheldon Keith. Here's our TSN hockey insider Chris Johnston. How you doing CJ? I'm doing good. I heard Allen's brothers were in the Masters Jack. Yeah and it's authentic. I don't know where he stole that from or where he got it from but this you got to see this thing it is so beautiful CJ and came signed I don't know it was a it was a blank note came signed delivered to me and it had EW on it I don't know what that means okay but EW I love that yeah and I love where you're heading with this so yeah it's a beautiful look CJ if you

haven't seen it live you got to find it man you got to find it. I'll definitely be looking up the Eldrick Woods jacket that he's rocking. I like it. I didn't know you knew his name was Eldrick. Old friend. Old friend. You and Eldrick are boys from back in the day you guys run hot at Perkins diners back in the day. I have been a Tiger fan for about 30 years. When I was a teenager golfing up my golf course as a kid, I won some money with the members betting on him winning the U.S. Amateur. So he's had me since about 96 or whatever that was. That's a beautiful thing, man. It sucks that he's not down there this year. And I don't know if we're ever going to see him play the Masters again.

You find it's hurting the buzz. Like I feel like, because there's a lot going on in sports and it feels like this week the Masters week may be... It is different when he's not there. It's definitely different when he's not there. How do you feel about that CJ? Yeah I think unfortunately there's some truth to that. I mean look I'm a pretty big fan. Like I'm watching even the non-major events if I'm around on a weekend. I'm always checking in the Vlaro Texas Open, the Houston tournament. So I mean I'm, you know, I would say I'm a PGA regular but I do think that you lose just a bit of the casual viewer when he's not there and as much as

people used to say they hated that they'd show every shot even when he was in the tournament I just think he was a natural focal point. There there's still some stars. I mean, look, Rory's having a great year and I think it'd be a pretty cool story if he found a way to be in the mix on Sunday. There's other good players, but no one's captured the imagination the way Tiger has and with good reason. So, it's still a great sport.

I bet by Sunday, even people that aren't watching normally will be tuning in, but it's not quite the same. No, absolutely. I mean, he's will be tuned in but it's not quite the same. No, absolutely I mean he's he's he's still a needle mover when he's not playing like the Gulf Channel They were doing it last night live with the Masters. They had Butch Harmon breaking down video of him swinging as a teenager Like it's it's the first night of still using it Using them as the needle move live from the Masters. Here's Butch Harmon still using them as the needle move. Live from the Masters, here's Butch Harmon looking at a video of Tiger when he's 16. 30 years ago. Like it has no relevance to anything

that's happening and yet you know night one of Live From they're like we got to get this Tiger video in and this will move the needle. Tiger's basically champions to her now even if he is healthy so I mean it's time marches on fellas. It sure does. Let's I guess begin with the big news in the NHL today that would be Ivan Demidov making his way to North America and he's left the KHL and the Montreal Canadians have signed him to an entry-level deal. What is the timeline? What should be the expectations here? Because Habs fans are bursting with excitement as I'm sure you're aware of CJ. Like when does he arrive arrive when could he play and and what is the plan here from a Habs

perspective when it comes to Demidov? Well believe it or not there's still a little bit of mystery about when exactly he's arriving and so I think that the Canadians just in talking the next couple days you know want to want to be careful just about you know making sure they get him out of Russia and get them to North America. Obviously, you know, introduce them to the team environment, get them in practice. And so, not entirely clear when you could see them play, but I think it's fair to say that they didn't sign them now just to, you know, have them watch games and be an extra practice. And so, you know, once there's a reasonable amount of time, I think they'll introduce them slowly and basically get a gauge for where he's at.

I mean, you've heard a lot of comparisons to some of the other great Russians of this generation, the Kaprizov's, maybe Michkov, you know, some people think he could be even better than those guys at the same age. And so, you know, I think that the expectations probably should be muted a little bit, but no one's listening to me if I say that. I mean, the vibes in Montreal are already just electric with them making this charge and being, you know, now on the verge where they can get into the playoffs and just,

just even getting to see now your top prospects play right away, whether it's this week or in two weeks time. I mean, it's going to be here in the short term and it's going to be games that really matter. And he's coming out of a KHL season too. So, you know, it's always he's not It's not quite the same maybe as even you know an NCAA player like Ryan Leonard who jumped into the Capitals lineup I mean, this is a guy who's been playing pro and played playoff games, you know in Russia until his team was beat out recently so, you know, I think that that he'll

it'll be Treated to quite a Montreal welcome here when he gets there and you know I think that that he'll you know he'll be treated to quite a Montreal welcome here when he gets there and you know this is a pretty exciting time to be around the Canadians. Absolutely and it's fascinating what the Habs have done here really all season like they started so slow they were playing so poorly defensively they were a disaster and then they started chipping away and scoring some more goals and Linus showed up after his injury and his rehab and since the Four Nations they've been this team of destiny winning almost every single night and Lane Hudson's gonna win the Caldera now

Ivan demedov is here, and I can't help but connect like the the Jeff Gordon arrival Plus his exit from New York, and I know that the Rangers won the president's trophy last year We're in the conference finals, so it's not know that the Rangers won the president's trophy last year and were in the conference finals. So it's not as if the Rangers just completely collapsed when he left. But if you're being objective about this, like I feel like James Dolan might've screwed this up, CJ. Like you push Gordon out, he goes to Montreal,

look what he's building. And now Chris Sturries in New York trying to make moves and they're not gonna make the playoffs. And probably the most disappointing team in the league this year is the Rangers and they look completely disinterested and I have no idea what they're gonna do in the future. They have to be the most disappointing both because of the season they had last year even if you go back to October the Rangers had a hot start like it looks like they were you know

branched in early days you know the first couple weeks of the season then there's no reason I think they wouldn't be among the best teams in the league again. And, and it's just been sour from November on. And, you know, they've obviously had some spurts where they've won games and at least, you know, maintained a spot in this race. But I mean, this wasn't supposed to be a team scratching and clawing, you know, on April 6th, April 7th to get in the playoffs. They were supposed to already have an expat that had their name and we'd be

talking with who they play. So you know it's an interesting, I haven't thought of it in that framing, but certainly the arrival of Jeff Gordon and Ken Hughes to Montreal, I mean those guys are managing the team very well. And you know I just think of little things that might get forgotten now, but you know they got Sean Monahan for a first round pick and traded him for a first round pick shortly afterwards. I mean they just they manage their kind of rebuild in a way that now you're getting to see the dividends. You have Slavkovsky on the roster and obviously Caulfield there.

And then you bring in Demidov in. They have also the best team in the American Hockey League right now. And then about Rockets have the top record down there based on some of the prospects. And so they you know, they just they appear to be reaching that critical mass where they have a lot of really good young players and you know, you can't help but think that that's only going to spill over onto the big roster. I think there'll be a player. I mean, this isn't a great free agent year, but I could see them being a player for, you know, basically some kind of top

free agent if anyone comes available or maybe at impact centerman is is on the market for a trade and i think that that this could be a summer you see a canadian make that kind of move because you know not only they can apply out this year i just think they're going to be better wherever they are now they're gonna be better next season and for the foreseeable future just at the age of that the players are introducing the

roster he's a gunny updates for us when it comes to the two Maple Leafs players? I know they're not playing this weekend in McCabe and Camp but like could this be a situation where we don't see them again until the playoffs possibly and could that be a way for them to maneuver around this cap situation they're in? Well I mean there's no real cap benefits so I don't think that's what they play here as much as really just, you know, being extra careful. I mean, I'd say especially with McCabe, you know,

who's, who's really emerged as an important shutdown defender for them. Um, you know, I think that they're going to want to just, just no reason to rush anything as much as yeah, they're trying to get as many points in the bank as they can and win the division and all those things. I mean, having Jake McCabe ready to play, you know, some April 20th is what's most important for the Leafs. So, you know, I don't have any reason, I think it'll actually go all the way to the playoffs,

but they'll just take it day by day and see where those guys are at. I mean, with camp, maybe it's a little different sort of calculation because they do have, you know, other options at forward and they've been scratching players, including him, you know, recently. So, you know, his absence could just be more like, hey, things are going well, why even put them back in there?

But they didn't bring another player down to Florida, as far as I know. And so I think that they'll obviously out to tonight's game and tomorrow and then we'll see where they're at come the weekend. But there's still a back to back Saturday, Sunday and a couple of games next week that might not end up meeting a whole lot. And so we'll see how they use the roster in that situation but the Leafs don't have cap flexibility at this point and so you're not going to see someone like Patch Ready or Hawke and Potting to say they're ready anyway but they couldn't be eligible to play before the end of the regular season as it is so kind

of what you see is what you get until we get to the playoffs now. With Chris Johnston or TSN hockey insider So let's play level of concern here Brady Kachuk is out tonight. That's his fifth straight game He's gonna miss and Connor McDavid's not playing and I'm not really hearing a lot on him I'm curious where you stand on that any reason for concern on the status of Kachuk and McDavid in Ottawa and Edmonton respectively? No, I think McDavid, the expectation is he'll be back later this week so you know I think that he's basically on the verge of his return unless you know something

changes but my understanding has been that that you know that he would be back for this last stretch of games after they finish up their road trip so I don't think that there's much to be worried about there. I mean, the Kachak one starts to become a bit more of an eyebrow razor only because it was meant to be at one game since last week. It went to, you know, obviously I've checked in and don't sense any alarm from the people involved and the centers have managed to win some games without them, which I think again, you know, reduces maybe some of the pressure

because, you know, this time a week ago, they looked a little less certain than they are today to make the playoffs, and so they've bought him some time. But this is a different injury than the one he had at Four Nations, but he missed time during that Four Nations tournament and a couple games afterwards with the lower body issue. This is an upper body one.

Obviously, they're trying to get him the rest they can before the playoffs, and so I think it's one of these things that the both the guys will be in the lineup from game one of the playoffs and I would put a lot of a lot of stake in that but I guess the question is how healthy will they be when they and and the hope of course is there's close to 100% as possible because you know those are captains of their teams but also key performers for both Edmonton and Ottawa. Absolutely. All right CJ enjoy the games tonight enjoy the Masters do you have a pick for us on the way out? Yeah I'm going

with Rory I'm a front runner he's played great this year and I picked him up from my pool so I'm hoping he completes the career grand slam this weekend. All right buddy enjoy it we'll do it again soon. All right, guys. Chris Johnston. Yeah, the thing is with McElroy at this place, like he's missed the cut two of the last four years. And, you know, he's had the runner up, he's had top fives, top tens.

It just, he's playing something like his 16th or 17th Masters, like he's been there forever. Yeah. And he had that lead in 2011, that was 14 years ago. something like his sixteenth or seventeenth masters like he's been there for ever and he had that lead in twenty eleven i was fourteen years ago uh... but i want to see it so desperately i want to believe in his on form is playing well he just want the players in the one of pebble beach and that's the best story out there right now by far not tigers out of the way

it's like a now it's all rory yet point. Absolutely, and he's such a great player. It just, this course, he just hasn't been able to do it. He doesn't hit enough greens, he doesn't get up and down very clean, and then it gets into his head. He gets off to a bad start, and he's just haywire from there. So, like the smart play is to fade Rory McElroy

at Augusta National. And he hasn't won a major in 10 years. Not just Augusta. He has not won a major tournament in a decade. It's been a decade, Alice Brother. I don't think that gets brought up enough. We always bring it up during the Masters because like he's never won it. This would complete the career slam and he would do something that I think only five

other players have ever done in golf history and you talk about a legacy builder and all that kind of stuff so there's way more focus on the Masters but it's not like he's picking off US Open's every two or three years or the British Open he hasn't won a major in ten years long time a long long time and he's not a young guy man that's it like this kind of feels like your last opportunity you've got to take advantage sheffler's been banged up this year not playing as well as he can shop with the same thing cap could have a great season last year

that'll open field this year yeah i think it's more wide open then people giving it credit for but again i think that's why a lot of people pulling for rory because it does seem like that opportunity is in front of him last year Scheffler was so it was almost like a formality the way he had been playing leading up to the tournament like he's gonna win wins every tournament yeah like he didn't lose leading up to it and he had already won at Augusta you knew he was primed for the course you knew he knew

the course and loved the course and it just felt like a formality he was going to win it. It's very difficult to go back to back. We've only seen it three times ever. This would be his third win in four years. That's only happened once. Nicholas back in the 60s and 70s, so that feels unlikely. Right there for McElroy, you just got to take advantage of it, but maybe Cory Connor steps

in. Connor's been great recently, your boy, good Canadian boy. Anyway we got Least Panthers tonight, Habs Detroit tonight, Ottawa, Columbus, a lot of good games in the NHL. Yeah I mean busy Tuesday slate right? We got 10 games tonight. Like we're getting so close to go time like this it's it is so close to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Vegas Colorado tonight too? Yeah it's great game. It's gonna be great. to the Stanley Cup playoffs and Vegas Colorado tonight, too. Yeah, it's great It's gonna be and tomorrow you got Luca back in Dallas The Lakers back in Dallas and like Dallas is holding on to be a part of the play in here Well, who has more to play for in that game cuz a D's back now, right? Yeah, I think I ready

I think it's the Mavs. I think it's Davis. I think it's Nico Harrison their GM. I think it's every the owner I think it's Davis. I think it's Nico Harris in their GM. I think it's every the owner Like you because you just it feels like Lucas steps in there and Jack's 50 shots tomorrow night, right? Like you just he is going to be a shooting machine tomorrow and you you he's gonna have a chip on his shoulder But that may not break his way. It may be overwhelming for him to return to Dallas Like this was a shock to the system was a heartbreaking moment for him to return to Dallas. Like this was a shock to the system. It was a heartbreaking moment for him. He's still probably trying to really, I guess, recover from it or figure out exactly what happened. And he may not do that for years. He may never quite get over the shock of being traded from the Mavericks. I'm not sure I'm over the shock of him being traded to the Lakers. Like when that happened,

again, we talk about earlier, when Malone got fired today, it's like, is this real, is this a real tweet? Felt the same way when Champs tweeted that. And he even said, no, this is not a fake tweet, this is happening, Luca to the Lakers. Yeah, that, we should do the time sheet, the hot tub time machine thing we were gonna do in the past where you can go back and ask the question like what would have been crazier to wrap your head around.

Let's say two years ago. Luca being traded by the Mavs or Vladik grow junior signing a 500 million dollar contract with a blue Jays. Yeah, because he was coming off a bit of a down year to write two years ago. Wasn't wasn't that great? Yeah. No one was making 500 million. O'Tonny hadn't hit that number. Like Mike Trout signed for 460 or whatever and he was Mike Trout. Probably Vladdy, I guess. How crazy is that? Yeah, that's Vladdy. Both are a reality. It might have been Vladdy two years ago. Yeah, just because the NBA is so crazy and wacky. It's like anything could happen in the NBA. Exactly. Baseball a a little more reserved like I would phrase it more as I could see it because Luke had demanded out Right like it might happen as Luke it demands out and LeBron gets his way all the time

Exactly and LeBron somehow always gets his way Al's brother great seeing you They read really see her junior Fred Ridley jr. Rocking the champions green jacket We love it Al's brother and his champions dinner can be found all over the place online. I posted a beautiful picture on Instagram, re tweeted or regram by Doogie and our TSN staff here. And the beautiful, beautiful things. Great seeing you. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes.

Least Panthers up next. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4 PM. We'll chat then. All new, all Canadian, the best of our great nation're back tomorrow at 4 p.m. We'll chat then. the way. Loud and proud. An all new digital radio station from coast to coast. Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeartRadio app and at iHeartRadio.ca. It's gonna get

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