OverDrive - OverDrive - August 22, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: August 22, 2025

Join Jim Tatti, Jason Strudwick and Dave Feschuk for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss Shane Bieber making his Blue Jays' debut against the Marlins, where he fits in the starting rotation and getting back to winning ways, William Nylander's comments on Mitch Marner's departure and how the team will look going into the season with the Maple Leafs. Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic joins to discuss his season with the Oilers, the experience in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and his position on the roster and they play Yes Guy, No Guy delving into the sports world headlines.

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Fisrael License 12-6-16-1-6. Ah, that's leaving town music. That's mail-in-Friday. That's a great way to start the show. Welcome aboard, everybody. Jim Taddy, Dave Festchuck in studio, and Struddy in the Man Cave. Welcome, guys. You know, here we are to launch into a Friday,

launches into another weekend. The final, I guess, regular weekend of the summer. Next weekend is, of course, the one that ends it. But we've got plenty of stuff to talk about. Just let me map out the show for everybody. Trent Frederick, Struddy, your buddy from Evanton. It'll be by at 430. 5.05, Jim Ducat. Of course, Shane Bieber starts tonight for the Jays, and that's a launch into something.

Herm Edwards at 530, talking about, I guess, maybe the Jones stuff with Micah Parsons and all the NFL talk. Richard Griffin at 605. Bob Weeks at 630, the LPGA event in Mississauga's grinding on, and the youngster Aphrodite ding is at 6 under through 10 holes and three off the pace. So plenty of stuff to deal with there. Let's deal with Bieber. I think we mentioned this yesterday. Can you remember, you know, in your career where you were on the ice and somebody was debuting that caught everybody's attention? You know, I don't remember, the one I remember, I was involved in it,

but when Marilyn U came back, and that was, I mean, we were, I remember we were in our, you know, getting ready for a game, and we all stopped and put the TV on so we could watch him. You know, I think they showed warm-up fire. I remember, maybe Fast Check, you remember better than I do. I remember watching him. I think he scored that game. if I remember correctly.

And it was, it's like, it's like, you know, Jesus coming back, you know, like it's Maryland, you know, everyone's got to watch this guy play. So, you know, that is the one I remember the most, even though he wasn't on my team. Well, yeah, and let's not, yeah, that's a great one, Struddy. I mean, that was, that was an incredible moment in hockey history and you can't forget seeing it.

But I know the Bieber, the Bieber fever, which is kind of hard to say, has infected Toronto here. and there's high, high expectations. I'm not sure they're Mario Lemieux-sized expectations, but they're high. But I was wondering, struddy, like, it's clearly the talk of this town. I guess it's a test of the Jay's national reach that I'm wondering if it's part of the talk of Edmonton right now. Yeah, I'd say, you know, the Blue Jays, the way they're playing, you know, every time that the Blue Jays peak or the Raptors, you know, two teams that we don't have out here in Western Canada, NBA, major league baseball people get into it but i'm telling you guys this team i think they're different

than teams we've seen in the past especially the ones with bautista this team is very likable they play for each other the manager right from that all the way to kirk to to the pitching staff like they're very likable team and i think that this more than other teams i recall people are talking about i know some of my buddies we've been talking about today hey we got got to watch this game we want to see this guy you know pitch what does he look like how does he feel out there um and i think there's excitement because it's a complete wild card. You have no idea. I mean, he's trending the right direction. We've heard Keegan talk about

it, but there's no guarantee. But, man, if he could be the guy that they think or even close to that, Tatch, that's a big pickup for the Blue Jays this time of year. It is. I mean, his credentials are impeccable. It reminds a lot of us as David Price when he was acquired from the Tigers. And this is like a Cy Young winner that you'll plug into your rotation and leads the way. And that's

the expectation. Of course, coming off Tommy John surgery, hasn't pitched in 507 days in the major league. So obviously there'd be a pitch count tonight, but you're just looking for something that sort of foreshadows where this thing goes. Well, I think it speaks to the Blue Jays knee, right? Like there's a reason they acquired this guy. It wasn't because, you know, they were hoping he would come back and be a contributor to their starting rotation.

It was because they were expecting he would come back, right? This was a gamble in some ways. We certainly characterized it as a gamble on trade deadline day. I guess any time you're dealing with elbow ligaments and guys who throw 90 plus miles an hour, you know, you're inherently gambling because we all know that those ligaments can be dust in one pitch,

the wrong pitch. But I think there's a real expectation here that this guy can really upgrade the Blue Jays pitcher rotation, which obviously, you know, their starters are below league average in collective ERA this season. And so there's a lot riding on this. This isn't just like a bonus.

Wouldn't it be nice if he came. back. I think the Blue Jays feel like if they're going to be the World Series team that they feel they can be, that he's got to be a huge contributor to that effort. But they know who else is watching, not just the media of the Blue Jays or the fans of Blue Jays, it's the Boston Red Sox and their fans. It's the New York Yankees and their fans. Because, you know, when you're on a team that you're competing against and they are getting potential weapon back, that's massive. And so they're going to be watching. They're going to see how he pitches, how the team.

reacts around them, you know, how the other team plays against them or bats against them. So there's some, there's probably some nerves, you know, as much as nerves can be for major league baseball players. But if this works out and if you can be there, I guarantee the rest of AL East and the American League, they won't be happy about it. They don't want to see them succeed. Let's just be honest here. Oh, for sure.

Absolutely not. I mean, let's be honest here. I mean, the Red Sox are a young and up-and-coming team. I mean, and you're probably right about that. The Yankees got their own problems. You saw it last night yet again. Like if you're in a series against the Yankees, there's an awfully good chance that they just give you the series.

Because what they did last night, another four errors to add to their total, nine walks from their pitching staff collectively in losing 6-3 to the Red Sox. Like that Yankees team, it feels like if they're not killing you with home runs, they are just shooting themselves in the foot with self-inflicted wounds of the base-on balls

and booting balls all over the dot. diamond. And it goes back to last year's World Series where they had that, you know, series kind of ending, uh, inning, infamous fifth inning against the Dodgers where they kind of booted it around. And, and nothing seems to change in Yankee lands. So I'm with you, Strud, like there's, everybody's watching everybody in the American League East because everybody wants to win it and get the easier path and the buy and less games needed to win to get to the World Series. But man, you know, you wouldn't mind playing that Yankees team. if they play like they played last night.

You don't cops. Absolutely. In terms of where this one ranks, the Beaver debut, did a little research today. So we'll go from top to bottom. Vladdy's debut in 2019 was rated as as one of the more impressive debuts and anticipated.

Kauai's debut with the Raptors is also there. And we put in Austin Matthews. We all remember the four goals against Ottawa. And his debut, Giovanni, and Connor McDavid with the NHL. So these are, I think it'd be on that list, wouldn't it? So on that list in terms of just, you know, stuff you're excited about, right?

Like, I think the thing is with this guy, there was a certain unknown when it's a rookie debut. And you have never seen a guy play in this league before, like a Matthews-Zer-McDavid. But it's ready to me, like, this guy's a known quantity, right? Like they're just hoping that he just kind of gets back to who he was. And that is a guy who's got a Cy Young, on his mantle, a guy who who's a very smart, savvy veteran major league pitcher

who knows how to get people out, knows how to miss bats when he needs to. They're just hoping he can be who he was. And I guess there's always that, you know, there's always that unknown about whether you will be when you come back from surgery, although the Tommy John surgery is so routine now and so common in the baseball

industry that it doesn't feel all that scary tonight. I'd be shocked if he didn't show up and pitch great. I don't know about you guys. Yeah, I mean, just he's trending in that direction. You know, we've seen some of his starts and some of the results of it starts down in AAA. So I think he's moving that way. And for him, I would think even though he's a veteran player, I think there will be some nerves for two reasons.

One, you're in a new team, and two, you have pitched, but you haven't pitched in the majors for a little while. I think it just get through it. So I think for him, I'm watching this first inning, you know, and how does he look? And not that if he pitch is bad or good, that that I was going to. going to go to the World Series, but just kind of get through that first inning, and then it's like, have done it, I'm back in the groove, and here I go, and his teammates will support him. So, you know, I think five, you get five, six innings.

If things go well, I see that'd be a pretty good outcome for him. Yeah, absolutely, being a pitch count. And the good news is, like I say, hasn't pitched in Major League Baseball in 507 days. The Tommy John surgery has been around long enough for decades, so everybody understands the rehab. it's no longer what do we do that everybody knows how long this goes almost two years well over a year and a half that that's a long time but there's so much data there's so there's so much experience in knowing how to bring guys back from it right that yeah they just sort of

trust that this is sort of clinical it's not it's not it's not like they're rolling dice here I think there's a real confidence that it's going to work out I think hey the bigger wildcard the me study is the idea that these guys just had two off days in Miami I don't know what surgery's done to Shane Bieber. What has South Beach done to the Blue Jays? Yeah, that's a long time. That's a long time at a nice place just to be hanging out. You know, we heard Keegan yesterday talk about maybe they went golfing. But I do think you need to allow teams the chance to blow some steam off as a group. I do believe that's a healthy thing for a team and team building. That's the buzzword. I think it's important to do that.

But when you do get that opportunity from your manager or just a break in the schedule, you've got to show up that first game. I remember a couple of our captains we had a couple nights that were pretty fun and he'd say guys we got to show up big time otherwise the next time we get this they won't be quite so loose with kind of the rules. Yeah well that's interesting

strutty because today we heard Willie Mielander was speaking over in Milan Italy at the media shindig for NHL players over in the European side of things and Nielander made the point about made quite a few points about Mitch Marna that I'm sure we're going to get into today but one of the

points he made was that Marna was sort of the in some ways like the social convener of the team. Like he sort of organized a lot of the fun stuff, the Halloween parties, the blowing off esteem on the road occasionally, and they're going to need a new one, I guess. Not only are they going to need 100 plus points on the right wing on the first line, they're going to need a new social convener. How important is that, Strady, to have a guy that sort of is the glue

that brings you together off the ice? Oh, 100%. When I was at the Rangers, Brandon Shanahan was one of the leaders, if not the de facto captain. If we'd walk into the lobby hotel, you know, we just, let's say we flew in from wherever, flying into a new place, and he'd go, guys, six o'clock at the lobby, and you'd be up to you if you wanted to go, and everyone was invited. So we'd have sometimes four of us, sometimes there'd be 20 guys.

We'd all go out for dinner together. And, you know, you need that guy. You need that guy that, you know, understands that maybe he has to go talk to the coach and say, hey, we need a day off, or we need, we're having a Halloween party this night, two days before a game, or wherever the case is. So someone else has to backfill that, and it doesn't mean there's no one that can. can't do it, but someone else has to take that on. They'll do it their way. Even a DJ, you know, a DJ in the room, I know that sounds like

it's pretty mundane, but trying to appease 22 or 23 different players with the musical tastes that are so different from country to rock to dance music to, you know, some people like James Taylor, whatever it is, you've got to find a way to do that. So all those are important roles, but there's always someone to take it on, but it's not easy to do it the same or as well as the guy before you. I'm curious. So if Shanney would say six o'clock in the lobby and one night there's five and the next night there's 20, does anybody care if there's only five? Not really.

No, because, you know, you know that like when they'd come to Emerton, there was a lot of us from Ementon, so we'd be there or maybe some other guys, they didn't want to go get whatever Italian that night, they wanted a stake. So you kind of change it up. But, you know, oftentimes, and the nice thing is just a mix, and that's how you include the young guy. So a guy that's just got called up, especially now where they don't share rooms, you know, like, well, what am I doing? hang out with? Well, one of the leaders on the team just said six o'clock in the lobby, and they're there. And I thought it's a great way of bringing in the young guys, and the usual guys would pay for the young guys' meals, especially the ones that were just called up, who maybe weren't first rounders. So it's a great way of making those guys feel comfortable because you need them.

You need them feel comfortable away from the ice. So when they get on the ice, they feel like you're a part of the team. Yeah, it's interesting stuff. Struddy, I'm wondering, you know, you talk about Shannie being a good social convener. Obviously, you know, he's, he's not going to be around the Leafs either. Him and Martin are both departed, but you know, we, earlier this summer we were talking about noodles when he had

the, what was it, the nine-seat Cadillac convertible that he had when he was playing for the Panthers, and we saw the famous shot of, I think you were in the third row of seats somewhere back there, like, like in terms of social outings in your NHL career, where did riding in

noodles's massive convertible Cadillac rank? That was up there. That was at the height. And, you know, No, this is a funny guy, and he just calls him one day. He's like, I bought an old car. I'm like, oh, what did you get? Like a Mustang or a Camaro or something? He's like, no, he sent me a picture.

I'm like, oh, my God. And so this thing, like, it took two gradges to fit in. It was so long. And we all went down there, stayed at his house, a bunch of his buddies and our wives or girlfriends, whatever they were at the time. And then he took us out for dinner. This huge thing. But it was like, the front of the car got the green light.

By the end, you were in a red light situation, right? like that's how long it took to get through the intersections and I was worried the breaks weren't going to work like I was a little I was a little nervous but yeah he as far as social guys he was the best one to organize and still does organize most of our guys trips and I guess you know part of that the training camp is just around the corner is revisiting the marner situation and there's people there that will talk about it Neilander's line was marner wasn't thinking about leaving the maple leaves

and there's all this sort of retrospective analysis on how that could have been avoided. But the fact is he's gone and we're going to talk about it a bit, but at some point we all move on. Well, look, this whole thing about, you know, Marner having a preconceived notion he was leaving, which seems to be a narrative that's emerged through a collection of anecdotes, right? You've heard him talking about how he spoke at the Four Nations Cup to guys that play on the Golden Knights about living in Vegas. And, you know, Ryan Reeves is, you know, elaborated on the fact that Marner had been asking him about what was Vegas like and because Reeves had played there and Max Patch Ready the same.

And I totally understand why people assume that. But I'm sort of with William Nealander on this. Like the idea that there couldn't have been a choose-your-own-adventure alternative ending you the Mitch Marner saga, of course there could have been if the Leafs would have done what a lot of people expected them to do eventually, which was win some playoff games they were supposed to win and get deep into a playoff run. And, you know, if they would have done that, I can't be convinced that he was a preordained signed Sealed delivered Vegas Golden Knight.

Like if these guys beat Florida, they don't blow that game three. They show up in game five and game seven. I just can't believe that it couldn't have ended differently from Marner. So for Nealander to say he didn't think he was, you know, had one foot at the door, I see some semblance of truth to that. Yeah, listen, I wasn't there for those conversations that Reeves or Patrick may have made to have with Marner. But I can tell you, you're always kind of trying to gather an intel on what

teams are like always you know you just acquire new players so whoever it is you're like hey man what was the coach like you know what what's like living that city what is this guy like you're always kind of and you're trying to get to know the guy as well but you're you're always interested on what the organizations are like and just to kind of compare to what you have and not that you think i'm going to leave this organization but you know what's the standard they have in in anahm compared to what they have in phoenix or whatever at utah i guess now so i think that some of those conversations are going to happen no matter what because you're genuinely interested what's it like other places who wouldn't do that i mean that's just normal behavior yeah it makes a lot of sense i mean

the other thing neander said was same thing matthew said was hey it's just just part of the business that this is all about business which to me sort of implies about money which is which to me is part of the problem here like the idea that you know whatever they're saying publicly let's hope they privately recognized strutty that this had nothing to do with money this had everything to do with the business of winning hockey games, and in the least case, the business are losing too many important ones in big situations in the playoffs. I mean, that's simply what this is. And what happens in a city over time to the main players when they lose again and again and disappoint their fan base. And I think that's, you would hope they know that

privately. They're not going to maybe say it publicly. This idea that this is just about, you know, the cruel business of hockey, that's not what this is about at all, Strady. And I don't of how you see it. Yeah, when I hear the word business, I think it's more than just the money. I think it's everything, right? I mean, like you're, I think part of the business, you know, quotations would be losing friends. You know, like, they're friends. They're all friends. So the business would incorporate friends you, or guys you like, you know, really good friends. They leave. They go somewhere else. So I think that's kind of a broader way of looking at business. But I think that they do because these guys want to win as well. You win a Stanley Cup in Toronto.

You know, your name is whispered on the win for eternity, right? And even looks at some of the great players away, they're still revered there. Wendell Kark, one of my favorite players growing up, didn't win the Stanley Cup, but my God, that guy is revered there, and by all these fans, and well, he should be. So I think that these guys want to, they want to win, and they see other teams that are winning, and how much fun it is. So I'm sure they know, as smart hockey people, things have to change, And you have to continue to evolve to find the right recipe.

And unfortunately, sometimes that's tough decisions like Marner and the Leafs kind of did. Well, Wendell, Doug Gilmore, a sister for sure, Coojo, when they do that salute to the troops and they bring out the jersey to the armed forces member. And any of those guys who are announced, the place lights up. So, yeah. Yeah, but I mean, for sure, for sure. And I think that's partly because those guys got a little deeper into the playoffs. and those guys, there was never any question about their competitive spirit and their ability to compete, right?

And I think that's, and maybe look, I mean, it's all going to be in the eye of the beholder. I mean, there was a time when, you know, Vince Carter was a hated figure in Toronto and got booed every time he came to town. And now that time has passed and he gets cheered and gets his number retired, right? So things can change about the way you see a player. But in the moment, I think, you know, there's a lot of bitterness about the way this team has performed. and there's certainly a lot of bitterness toward Marner, and it'll be interesting to see how he's received when he comes back. I think it'll be a mixed kind of a mixed reaction in the Toronto crowd

when he gets back here with the Golden Knights. But you're right, Struddy, like they want to win. They see what it would be like. They can kind of sense what it would be like because they've seen even a modest amount of success winning two playoff series gets this town into an absolute tizzy and gets everybody on an absolute bandwagon that is unstoppable. But, you know, wanting to do it and doing it are two different things,

and these guys just haven't shown the ability to figure out the difference. Well, unfortunately, there's 31 teams that are thinking that every year. What are we missing? You look at for, you know, teams have gotten really close. You know, I think back to Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks, really good team, really, really good team, but never got it done. You know, so far the orders are another team that haven't got it done. But then you see guys like the Kings or the Hawks.

I know recently the teams down in Florida, They figured out a way to get over the top. And, you know, all the teams that win seem to have more than enough talent to get it done. You know, there's never a doubt about, you know, a player here, a player. Everyone seems to be slotted in the right place at times. You think back to that, I think it was the first Tampa Bay team that won. That third line was the second line. Even in Florida last year, like their third line.

I mean, is that a second line anywhere else in the NHL? I bet you it is, right? Yeah, for sure. For sure. And so when I look at the Leafs, if we go through their lineup, and I'm not here to beat up on the Leafs, but if you go through it, how many players are you sitting, wherever you slot them today?

Are any of them they were saying, oh, man, that fourth liner, he should be a second line, or that third line should be a second line. Like, I don't think that they're there right now, and I don't want to put a damper on their season before it's even started. But that's kind of how those teams win it. I think that's the job of Trayleben and company, and the players to get that point where you're like,

man, that guy is slotted too far down the line, but he's blocked by these two studs above him. Well, look, you know, when 100 points walks out the door, you better be saying that about your third line. It should be your second line. If you're not saying that, you've got a big problem. Well, look, it's like you said yesterday, that man, like something's got to change.

Like, they have to play differently. Right. So far, in the history of this team in the Matthews era, you know, the sum hasn't added up to more than the parts, right? Like, all these great parts have not added up. to something transcended that's kind of gone on one of these magical runs they're going to have to Craig Brouet's job it's Craig Bruebe's job

it's Austin Matthews job as the captain it's John Tavares's job as an assistant captain it's it's the job of the core guys to find a way to make this team become more than it's been and you know whether the education of all these losses all these scars as Mike Babcock used to call him add up to experience that helps them

or whether those scars kind of weigh them down to the point where they never succeed. I mean, that's going to be the interesting thing to figure out. But don't you think, like, for me, I think you can somewhat guess what the top two lines are going to be like. I know there's maybe the question beside Austin Matthews, but, you know, you have Tavares. And I think we can kind of guess what their point totals will be. For me, for the Leafs, can their third line be a difference maker?

So who is it going to be? Derek, is it Waugh, or not Derek, Nicholas Wassery, Nicholas. And then who is it, Bobby McMahon? Bobby, and then, like, I've got Dakota Joshua in there. I know that that seems to be not the consensus here, and maybe there isn't consensus until we hit game 20 or 30 this year. But I think that third line has to be one that can, you know, you can have guys that can score, they can push the pace, play against anyone.

And so I think that that third line is really important. And then who's the guy they traded from Philly, that's Scotty Lotton? Yeah, that's a lot. He's got to be better than it was last year, too. And that fourth line can get going. right so i i mean i think you're looking at that bottom six and they've invested some some obviously some money in wa and um dakota joshua like those guys and lot just those three they need to impact the game nightly and we've seen joshua do it and well as well well all three

them really we've seen we do it during stretches their career yeah so just just looking at the grit in front of me mcm and joshua in the third line loughton yarn croak and lorence on the fourth line. We don't know where Nick Robertson plays. Don't we slot it in the left side of the second line and Michelli on the right side of the first line. I mean, all of that is just on paper. There's a lot of movement there. But I think the point is you need consistent

offense from that third line and some out of the fourth line. And in the past it was centered on the Fab 4 up front. Well, look, I mean, it's, yeah, consistent office during the regular season is one thing that's great. I mean, this is a team that scored four goals in its final four playoff games, which is not an unusual trend.

But I mean, you're right. they've got to get more than what they've gotten. And I don't know how you get that. Like, how do you sort of become a different type of team, become a team that scores when it matters instead of a team that doesn't score when it matters? I mean, I think that's on Matthews as much as it's on anybody. This is the guy with four goals in his most recent 18 playoff games. I mean, he hasn't scored enough when it matters.

He had that big goal in Game 6 on the setup from Marner that broke the stalemate there and was a big, you know, extended the series. Then they had the big face plan in game seven. And so, yeah, something's got to give here if anything is going to change. And there's a lot of question marks. Well, I believe that Mariner and Matthews killed penalties, correct? Well, Marner more than Matthews. Yeah.

So now Mariner's not there and he's not killing penalties. So that gives someone, I try to get more guys in the bottom six involved. And, you know, it's, yeah, they need to get more guys. And not that their minutes are totally out of whack, but when you have one of your best players killing Palmy, you're sitting on the bench thinking, I can't kill penalties. Like, I'm just going to sit here while he's out there. I think you've got to try to get as many players involved in the game

and give them ownership of said job, right? Whatever it is. You're the third-line winger or third-line center, and you're our first guy over the bench to kill penalties. Like, I think they need that. They need to get to everyone feeling like they're going and contributing in this. And that's up to Craig to make that happen.

Well, and he's done it before. So that's sort of the silver lining. I'm sure this conversation will continue. I'm going to have Trent Frederick from the Oilers coming up next. I should tell you that Overdrive is brought to you by Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final scores. We grind on live on YouTube, TSN 2 and TSN-1050. Overdrive, and a mail it on Friday.

Jim Taddey, a fast truck from Toronto Star and Sreddy in the Man Cave. Please stop with us now from the Evanton Oilers, Trent Frederick. Trent, welcome. How are you today? I'm doing well. How are you doing? Good. Sounds like you're driving around. I am. I'm actually, you're in the car right now with John. Lawn Ferry out of Boston. We're actually pulling up to the rink right now.

So, I mean, you've got a nice eight-year deal with the Oilers. You've got sort of an audition, getting into the Stanley Cup final. Your thoughts and all of that? Yeah, it was a very cool experience, obviously. You know, we want a different outcome. But hopefully in this eight years, I get a couple more chances and take a couple more runs at it. So, Trent, where are you on the, sort of the off-season routine?

Take us through when you have a shorter off-season because your team makes it all the way to the Cup final. How does that affect the way you prepare for the next season? And where are you in that arc of getting ready? Yeah, I mean, I was kind of dealing with a little bit of an injury, so I was just dealing with that, like, kind of right away when I got home. And then I would say about two weeks, two weeks

once I was home, started working out and started skating when I got cleared with kind of what I was dealing with. So I've been hitting it pretty hard recently, skating about, I don't know, four to almost five times a week now

and doing the whole workout deal. So kind of back into a full swing, I would say. Trent, yeah, congratulations on the big deal with Edmonton. Just a couple things, Where is that ankle at? How are you feeling? And then, you know, where do you feel or where the coach's staff feel you might play this this year?

Is it wing, center for the team? Yeah, the ankle feels, I think it feels really good right now. I feel like it's over the last month, it's really turned a corner, which is great. I'm running, jumping in the gym, and I'm skating as hard as I can. So it feels good. Still doing a lot of work on it every day. There's a lot of good people here that have helped me. But as in your second question, I don't know, I said it like when I first got there,

I call myself Freddie Phil, and I pretty much play left, right, and center. So the thing is just all depends on camp and how camp goes. And, you know, hopefully in the preseason games in camp, I'm kind of, I guess, doing all three and see what fits best for the team. so that what you described there the the freddy filling thing i mean it's almost like going back to your first training cap isn't it like trying to figure out how you fit in uh yeah i mean i think every year you know uh obviously it's my first uh it's going to be my first training camp in emminton uh even when i was in boston i feel like every year uh there's new faces and new guys

and uh you're just trying to find your your role on the team and make the team uh if successful as possible So in terms of your When you're skating in the summer, Trent I mean, did you say you're based in Boston? No, I'm based on a St. Louis. You're based on a St. Louis. Okay, so what's the scene there like in terms of NHL caliber guys that you're skating with?

Or do you just skate on your own? Are you with a group of guys in the league that are in the St. Louis area? How does it work for you? Yeah. So it's kind of a good setup here. my workout, my gym and the rink are in the same spot

so I'm able to skate with like a small group of guys and work on skills and we've Stamos isn't like the biggest I guess NHL hotbed or guys hanging here so we kind of have college guys and everyone

all over the place when we do more scrimmage stuff but like I said I'm in the car right now with John Lonsbury he's actually based out of Boston he just got into town and we're going to work on some skills this weekend so it'll be good Trent, you know, the team, the Oilers had a great run. Obviously, didn't quite get what you want.

But for you, your first real deep trip in the playoffs, what's your take-home, you know, learning lessons about what it's like to run for four rounds in a row? Yeah, I guess the biggest takeaway would be, you know, it's hard to get there. You know, guys would say when I was in Boston, like you just got to appreciate each run, and nothing's really guaranteed even making the playoffs. and I would say just appreciating, you know, going each round.

And, you know, it's taxing for myself. I was dealing with something. So, you know, that part was, you know, a factor of just trying to get healthy each round and get better. I didn't play too much hockey leading up to the playoffs. So for me, and I think even if I was healthy, it's just about getting better each round because each round, you know, the opponents get better and better.

So let's go back to the trade deadline. Is this a surprise to you? And when you walked into that Edmonton dressing room and looked at that lineup as you're playing on various lines, I mean, it's fairly impressive, isn't it? Yeah. I kind of knew I was probably going to get moved, especially, I guess, when I got hurt, I knew probably my time in Boston was probably done, just being, I guess, expiring UFA. So it wasn't like the biggest surprise to me.

Then obviously, showing up to Emerson, everyone was so great. They made it really easy on me. And, you know, it would have been nice to just hop right in when I got traded and play. But it was also a blessing that I was, I guess, hurt because I got to meet, you know, the staff. And I got to know everyone, I guess, on a better, more time spent with them. And I think that was a big part of why I stayed. And when you look at the team that's been toting the cup around these past two summers now, I know you know them well because you've played them an awful lot in the regular season

and the playoffs during your time with the Bruins and the Oilers. When you see what they've been able to do, when you see what they've been able to do in terms of retaining their impending free agents, including your old captain in Boston, Brad Marchand, what do you make of it and sort of how does the league topple them off that pedestal? Yeah, I mean, that's a good question. I think that's what everyone's got to figure out this year. I think, you know, last year and in the year before,

I believe they're the best team in the NHL, and that's the reason they won, as much as that kills me to say, they were a heck of a team, and they played a great team game, and, you know, they probably have deserved the win the last two years. Trent, there's a few new faces in the lineup for the orders

in heading to training camp. What's the message been from the coaching staff, as far as, you know, just maybe preparing for what they hope would be another good run at this year? Yeah, I mean, basically at the end of the year meeting, and Nobs has been good. He's been checking it on me and seeing how I'm doing. I haven't gotten too much in the strategy of things,

but, you know, my end of year meeting, I think it went really well, and it sounds like, you know, our goal is to get back there and to win it all. So, Trent, you've got an eight-year contract, and at some point in the next, what, 13 months, that won't be available. anymore. The max will be seven. How did you arrive at eight and what do you think about it? Yeah, I'm really happy with it. How I got to eight, I guess I just want to be committed to a team and be a part of it. You know, it's in Boston. I was there for seven years and

the last couple years are great being around there and feeling comfortable and just have the long-term commitment to Edmonton. And I feel like the core, the group they have there, it gives me the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup, and I feel like that's a hockey player, that's all you can ask for. Yeah, we were just having a fun conversation with Struddy about the importance of having a social convener on a hockey team to sort of take, you know, organize the off-ice stuff and keep everybody together through the long slog of the season. I mean, what's your take on that, and where do you fit into that hierarchy during your career?

Yeah, I felt like in Boston, I can't really see. speak too much on the emminton part the only time i was really on the road with the team was uh in the playoffs which is a little less you know more time at the hotel less time outside of it uh but in boston i was um i would say one of the younger guys it was an older team um so i hate to say but i was probably a follower but i was always there uh whenever we had something and uh you know hopefully down the line here i can uh help out there you know playing against great players is always something to see, but then playing beside them. What's it like interacting on the ice with Connor McDavid

and the skill set he possesses? Yeah, it's pretty amazing. You know, obviously, I feel like he's someone that, you know, I inspired to him in the sense of how he works. A lot of stuff he does, I always tell people probably don't watch him because you can't do it. He's so good. but he's someone to inspire

of how hard he works and I feel like the takeaway from me playing with him it wasn't really his talent level it was just to that the dedication he has to the game of hockey and how much he really wants to win it's pretty crazy Trent thanks for your time enjoy the drive thanks very much

I appreciate thanks guys you have a bit you too thank you Trent Frederick from the Evanton orders starting when I look at this lineup first of all Isaac Howard do you think he plays on that top line? Oh man But you know what, great player, great guy can score for sure, really paste his college team for scoring and didn't have a ton of help around him. I think he's going to get an opportunity there, but, you know, just putting those young players, you know, saying for sure he's playing there, I think that's a lot of pressure on a player. But he has confidence, and, you know, by our reports, people talk about how he's quite thick and strong, even though he's not, you know, a massively tall guy.

So I think he gets the opportunity. If he can play in the top six, that is humongous for the Emton orders, just with everything, you know, even considering the contract. I mean, is that, like, when you look at that strutty, I mean, you know, what does that say about where this team is? That they're willing to give a guy, you know, fresh out of college, that type of an opportunity with that level of talent next to McDavid. Well, listen, talent is so important on any championship team. And I think that just looking at what their orders did this off scene, they're trying to get, younger, right? You move on from a cane, and I think Trent Frederick is, you know, a similar style player. Maybe he doesn't have the upside of scoring, but I think he has a little bit more

versatility where he plays the lineup and it's just as tough as Evander. You know, Corey Perry, you know, with the contract, he got to go to L.A., they kind of moved on from him, or not moved on, but they, again, they got a little bit younger there. But guys, again, Hendrik, they're getting older. Even some of their DM are getting older. So you have to start bringing in a few younger players. When the opportunity was there to trade Sam Raleigh for a very dynamic offensive player, I think that makes sense because you have Henrique and then Trent Frederick, who could be that third-line center.

That's kind of what I would see in the future for Trent. But I think you've got to get younger. You've got to find some younger legs and then keep that freshness, that enthusiasm in that lineup. So there's another guy named Matt Savoy. These two guys are crucial. Their development is crucial. It doesn't mean that to be all-stars by Christmas of this year,

but they need to become regular winners and fixtures on this team for years to come if they're going to continue to have success with Carter and Leon. So, I mean, this is almost like the least. We're talking about who plays on the right side of the Matthews line. This is the left side of the McDavid line. If you had to do a job description for who that guy is, how would you describe what player they need there? I mean, Zach Heim has done a pretty good job on the other side.

And he foreshacks hard, he's physical, and he goes to the net and pounce puck's in. And so, you know, Conner's going to have the puck a lot. So you have to be able to, A, get pucks back for sure. But even more importantly of that is think the game on a high level, right? Be smart. Understand what these great players are trying to do. So I can see Trent Frederick getting some opportunity up there. But when I look at the owner's top six, it's Zach Hyman, it's Connor McDavid, it's Leon

Drysiddle. I think Monjapani is in there. Then after that, you know, is it Basilipal Colson, a guy that, you know, had lots of chance to score. I think you only got eight or nine goals last year, but a big body. and Leon likes playing with him because of all things I just mentioned. He's big. He gets pucks back and he's got a good hockey IQ.

So does Trent play beside or is it Howard? Does Massivoy play in there? I think we'll see a really kind of a rotating cast of players beside Con or Leon. But that's okay. I mean, we've seen that before, but you have to give those young guys a chance. These two young players are so important for the next five years for this team.

Hey, Struddy, when you look at this league, I mean, we've been talking for a couple of years now, it seems like, about maybe the potential Stanley Cup hangover for the Panthers, like they've been to three straight finals, they've won two cups. Maybe they're going to get tired out eventually. But I wonder, how do you see that, and it hasn't shown up yet, of course,

but, you know, how do you see that from the Goler's perspective where it almost feels like it's more draining when you get to two straight cup finals? You don't win either, and now you've got to come back after another short off season and try and climb the mountain again, and having never gotten to the top in your career? Well, isn't that the big question?

I mean, this team has poured so much into those last two runs. And they've played as much hockey in the playoffs as any team. I think there may be second to Florida the last four or five years, I think, if I remember that stat. So there's a lot of hockey on these guys, and now we're mixing the Olympics on top of that for some of their stars and other teams as well, not just orders, but other teams. So I think managing that energy for Chris Knoblock

is going to be really important, you know, managing their ice time, making sure that they're able to, the guys have gone, you know, on for a number of years, the core. So that's where these young players really come in. And they have to bring their energy. You know, if I'm going to training camp and Mike Howard or Massivoy, I'm bringing as much energy as I can to every practice. So the coach is like, we've got to get these guys out there

and let them Conor Leon feed off that. Not that Conor Leon or lazy, but it's been a long run. So a game in, you know, a game in November in Columbus, is it super exciting? Probably not when you're comparing yourself to game seven or game six in the Stanley Cup finals. So Knoblox jobs can be really tricky this year to manage that. But he can take a look at what Florida has done,

and I'd take a look at the ice times thereof guys played and how they manage that over the course of the last three years. Because what Florida's done has been, to me, incredible, just incredible runs and such a good team. Yeah, and probably still something left in the tank, like a lot. Like a lot. So playing hockey talk, we'll get into Shane Bieber at the top of the hour. Jim Duquette will stop.

by and do that. But up next, yes-guy, no-guy, as Overdrive continues, live on YouTube, TSN2, T-S-N-1050. Awesome. Classic. Plastic intro. By the way, next hour is going to be some baseball and football. Jim DeKat at 505.530. Herm Edwards will stop by. In an hour number three, Richard Griffin, baseball again, and Bob Weeks golf. But in the meantime, yes-guy, no-guy. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, drivers, and passengers. Time now for Yes, Guy, no-guy, and overdrive the radio and television show. So here we go. Yes, guy, no guy number one.

The Oilers will have a better record than the Maple Leafs next season. I'm a yes guy on that. I mean, I think, look, they've proven themselves as a two-time cup finalist. I think McDavid is going to be as motivated as ever. You know, I think they've got the makings of a team that can keep doing what they're doing. Although, as Struddy points out, there's question marks there, and just as there are with the Leafs in the post-Marnarero. I think that what's going to happen is the daughters are going to be fatigued,

and we've seen them struggle out the gates a few times in the past couple of years. And I think they're trying to find where everyone fits. So I think they will struggle. I mean, they're a playoff team. I'm not suggesting they're not. And I think that we've seen some improvement in the Pacific Division. You know, I look at Anaheim, they're not going to, they took a pretty good step. I think they could take another step.

I don't think the sharks are going to be, I mean, they've been bad. Like, they've really been rough. I think they've improved. You know, even Calgary, you know, maybe another team. And in Vegas, I don't know if they've gotten better, but I don't think they've gotten worse. So they're going to be another. So it's competitive teams, L.A. So I think it'll be harder within the Odevision.

So I'm going to say that the Leafs have more points at them at all. So starting, the judges have ruled that your mic was off for the utterance of the phrase, no guy. You said no guy, right? I said no guy. Yeah, sorry. Just to, yeah, just to be clear. And I think the Leafs, you know what, I think they have something, they'll have a chip on their shoulder. I think they want to come out and kind of prove everyone that they're okay with

I'm going to say yes, Guy. I think the Oilers will have a better record. I just think that when I look at the Leaf story, there's a lot of reconfiguring that has to go on here. And I don't know where it ends. I think it'll be for the better at some point. But it's a transitional year for me for the Maple Leaf hockey team. Just because, as we said, Fess, you and I on the way out, 100 points goes out the door. They can't really play the way they did. So I want to know how they reconfigure this so that they sort of, they changed how they played last year. They have to change again. So I don't know what that means in terms

of points, but I would, I'd be more comfortable with the Euler's situation than I am with the Leafs. I'm with you. I mean, it's, there's a lot of question marks around, you know, Brube, how, how is he going to reconfigure this team? He spoke about the breakdown of structure when it mattered most last season. Well,

what, you know, what is that structure? How do you make sure it doesn't break down in the playoffs? I think that's going to be a season-long project, and I'm not sure it's going to easily translate into just running the table like they did. in the Atlantic divisions of old. Okay, yes, guy, no guy number two. We'll start with Struddy.

William Nealander will reach 100 points this season. Did he get there last year? He got a, or was he just under 100? What was he at? I didn't get there. I don't think he got to 100. Dugie, what do we have? He was at 90, what, 98 the year before 84 last year.

He's been close. Yeah. He's been close. You know what, guys, I'm going to say yes, guy. I think that with Martin or gone, there'll be more opportunities for him to touch the puck in those moments. So I think that they'll be looking to him more, not that he was always playing second fiddle, but just there's more opportunity. He's going to be the guy on the right side. So I think with those opportunities, he will get to 100.

Yeah, I'm a no guy. He's never done it. And I'm not sure that, you know, the style brewery is going to want them to play. I think he's going to continue to take risk out of their game. He's going to continue to stress structure and defense first and work. playing for the playoffs. We're not playing for regular season stats. I feel like that's going to dip into everybody's stats to some degree. And if he hasn't done it at this point, you know, at age, what is he now, 29, I don't think he's going to do it at heading into

his age 30 season. I'm going to concur with Fess. I'm going to say no guy. He won't do it. And I just think that, as I said before, we're going to have to play a different brand of hockey. You know, the big points are nice, but they haven't guaranteed anything in the past. So I think the way out of this where they are is to get more production from the bottom end of that roster. And if you didn't have 100 points, yay, but I wouldn't count on that. Coming up next, we're going to talk baseball, get into Shane Bieber's debut with the Toronto Blue Jays. They're in Miami to start a weekend, and we'll explore that as Overdrive continues. TSN2, TSN1050 and live on YouTube.

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