OverDrive - OverDrive - February 11, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: February 12, 2025

Join Jeff O'Neill, Jamie McLennan and Frank Corrado for Hour 3 on OverDrive! Former NHLer and NashCast Tyson Nash joins to discuss his experiences playing in the NHL, the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament and Canada's power on their roster. The Athletic NHL Writer Michael Russo joins to give his views on the United States' lineup, Quinn Hughes' injury impact and Auston Matthews' captain role for the team, Jim Tatti joins for Yes Guy, No Guy and Doogie hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

An iHeartRadio experience to see Teddy Swim's life. We'll hook you up with tickets, flights, two nights in Chicago, plus $500 spending cash. All you need to do? Stream iHeart new music on the free iHeartRadio app for just 10 consecutive minutes a day. Another day, another shot to win. Details at iHeartRadio.ca. Don't miss Teddy Swim's new album, I've tried everything but therapy part two available now We got one hour to grind We got one hour to grind and then someone else is going to be in this host chair tomorrow Oh boy, do you know who is hosting tomorrow? I have no idea. I think it's Karelnik. Yeah. Oh, yeah

Do you know who is hosting tomorrow? I have no idea. I think it's Karelnik. Yeah. Oh, yeah Okay. Did you see this tweet that just came through on our overdrive 1050? Odog hosting at overdrive 1050 is like tiger winning another major Wow, I think that's a ridiculous comment. Cesco Corrado, by the way, Jamie McLennan, and myself, Jeff O'Neill, overdrive. We are grinding through the last hour. And I mentioned to you guys that there has been, down south of the border, the president

has decided on a change today. And I found it very interesting, and I don't like getting political on this platform, but I had to bring this one up. He has decided that he's getting rid of all paper straws. Executive order. Dude this guy's going plastic straws and I read that and I'm like this guy a lunatic or is he bang on with that one? Because who wants a smoothie with a wooden straw? The whole experience is ruined or you get dinner and it's a, we've all ordered food

at work and you have a wooden fork and spoon, whole experience is gone. Terrible. Yeah. The chicken Caesar salad that we ordered from time to time with that wooden spoon is not a pleasant experience. But how about that, you're like, of all the things that you've got to get to, you've got to get to the plastic straw. I think you're listening to the people. I think that's what you're doing at that point. You're listening to the people.

I guarantee you he's not listening to anyone. he's just himself for his whole life. He's like, I hate wooden straws. And if I ever, it's like a guy winning a contest. He's like, if I ever become president, I'm making it mandatory plastic straws only. And that's what he's done. I saw that. It was funny. I mean, and he had a few comments with it. He's like, ah, you know, you put hot water, but it was paper straws.

You put them in hot water, they melt and all that. It was pretty funny. But you're right. At the end of the day. I'm not complaining about it I have no problem with it. I know you know everyone's climate change I get that but he's like even he made a comedy like the whales are choking on that He's like they eat everything. I'm like oh my god You know what happened hey this guy's been on the course so many times where he's ordered a Diet Coke and it came with a paper straw and he just had enough. He's like, this is one of the first things I'm going to do when I get back in office.

It went down on the course, guaranteed. Probably. I mean, that's a lot of big deals do go down on the course. Do you guys have chats? I mean, you think about it, a lot of business people will go golfing and they'll get a deal hammered out in 18 holes. That's how it rolls, right? This is a classic conversation that happens when you get home from golf. You'll play with like, Jeff and I will play together or I'll play with a buddy. And I'll come home and

my wife goes, well, how's Jeff? And I'll say, yeah, I think pretty good. What, you didn't ask him how he was? I'm like, no. Like, what'd you guys talk about? Yeah, we talked about golf for four hours. Like, yeah, that's basically what we talked about. How's his family? Didn't come up.

I don't know. I would assume pretty good or he would have said something about it. It's crazy how little you could take I can't fathom that we would spend four hours with somebody and not discuss all of those things They get together. It's a full blab session and it's crazy Anyway north of the border. We've got the four nations face-off going on in Montreal How big of vacations do you think the guys are taking that are not participating in this?

Pretty big. Do you think it's like a 10 day absolutely floor it? Or is it five days and then get back on a bike and get back in a gym? I think it's a week. I think guys are getting a week off. I don't know, I was in Phoenix the other night and I saw an NHL player at the bar I was at.

He walked in with a hoodie and you know, it was, hey, we recognized him right away. I'm like, oh, that looks like that guy and we were chatting. We didn't go say hi to him but he looked to be enjoying himself. Nothing wrong with that. But to me, I think that you take a week off but there are guys that are concerned oh we've talked about this before if there is a guy that looks at a cheeseburger and puts weight on they are terrified on this day break because you come back if you come back ten pounds heavy because there might be somebody in the league that comes back with a ten or twelve you know pound difference and

you're gonna have to put ten grand in an envelope and hand that to your trainer and say Write down a number because I'm not stepping on that scale It's you know what though man guys get paid so much money now like how how can you justify making five six million dollars? And then coming back ten pounds heavier, and you're a mess there are fat pigs in the league You gotta be there is like there's guys that there's a like you have a little responsibility I love booze and food, man. Trust me. It can be done. Oh, I know. You could just have a normal time, just being a normal person having a good time, and put

on a 10-pack. The guy that we got on the line would never put on a 10-pack because he's still chiseled. Wow, he's ripped a shred still. I know. Yeah, he's tanned, he's got the hair, he's got everything. Let's bring him in here, Tyson Nash, the host of the Nashcast. Nashor, how you doing, pal? I am doing fantastic, boys. Little rough, I got to admit. The waist management opened.

It did me in. I think I need a liver transplant here. You don't suck me to the dark side, so I'm trying to recover a little bit, but thanks for having me on, guys. I love how I get blamed for that. I was on the show yesterday I had vodka voice we called it but Aren't you guys too old for that garbage like you're 50 years old We don't we don't recover quite like we used to. I can tell you that, but hold on. I don't think anyone had more fun than we did at that tournament.

We didn't see one shot. I didn't see one shot. Different kind of shot. Nasher, what were your vacations like? With all due respect, I don't think you played on any Olympic teams or anything like that back in the day. What were your trips like? Did you just say, and I know you got a family, did you just say, I'm going to take a couple

days and then get back to business? Or how did you treat it? You know what? That's a safe bet. That's a safe bet, oh dog. Yeah, no, I always had the trips planned at training camp. I mean, we were like, all right, where are we going now? Boys?

Um, you know, and I don't know, I used to go with a couple of couples like Dylsadore. Um, I don't know how Mike McDonough always ended up with us, but he was on a few of our trips and we'd always go to Cabo. Cabo is my favorite place in the world. Um, just the, the food, the booze, the service, the weather, um, and obviously some, some golf, but, uh, yeah, that was food of the booze the service the weather uh... and obviously from from gulf but uh... that i was kind of my place in chlorella was always easy to get to write a tissue being in phoenix and they are in ten minutes later up and down your speedo and pool side

uh... you know before noon that that uh... nashir before we you came out we were talking about guys who go on uh... you know trips or whatever in the All-Star break, Christmas break and that. There are a few guys that could put on a few pounds. Did you play over your career with a guy you were concerned about? You were like, if you give that guy five days off, he might not make it back here or he's

coming back with an extra 10 to 12 pounds? Oh my God. I hate to rip on these guys and I got no business ripping on these guys and it wasn't all 15 days. You don't name names, you can talk about the player, just don't name his name. There was a legend who retired fairly early, I think we all saw him at the NHLPA meetings one year. I don't think he ever played after that.

They had to cut him out with the jaws of life out of his black turtleneck. I think he showed up in. I play with obviously a big Walt, Keith Kachakis. I think he can toss the food back, there's no question. And my good buddy Holly, those guys could pack him on, but they could get it off in a hurry too, a need be. I think I heard you guys say i think they're possibly uh...

the checkbook around to the traders going ahead it a bit number trust me it's if this kind of you want to get your but the end of the year do you think it's a little bit different now though nash are like you know guys get paid it's not even necessarily about the money but just about like how competitive things are. You look at the standings and the white t-shirts. Frankie, what about just being as simple

as they don't live like we used to live back in the day? That's true, too. They don't, they straight out don't. It is different. Guys bring the video game television set on the road and all that kind of stuff. I don't know, how different would guys be handling it this time around compared to when you guys

were playing Nasher Yeah, that's dead on. I don't know who said it, but that's absolutely dead on. I mean we were absolute savages, right? I mean, especially when we flew commercial I mean you're staying over after every I don't really had a couple years of commercial flights middle rows But I mean after every game you're getting beat up. You got a black guy, you're going to write it out to the rocks. You're going right out to the bar. Nice steak dinner. I mean, it could, it could pile on quick, right?

These, these kids now, and it has to be that way just because I think just the, the internal pressure also, right? I mean, and the money they make for sure, but, um, these kids and the cam, the cameras, now the phones just kill these guys. I think it's just the worst thing for the game because I still feel like the best teams and the teams that win every year are the tightest teams. Right, I remember when St. Louis,

when they won a few years back, I mean, you look at Florida, I mean, all of it. Those teams are the tightest groups because they stick together. I mean, I flew, I worked with Gret Gratz as, as our head coach, um, and an owner for a long time and, and Gratz, and you knew why the Evantern others won for so long. Obviously they had a pretty damn good team, but I mean, it was mandatory as our coach. He was like, all right,

everybody, you throw your bag in the room and you come down for one drink, one drink and you can leave after. And he would pay for everything, but it was story time with Wayne Gretzky and he would sit there and tell stories In the hotel bar and it was nothing crazy. There was just team bonding and building, you know Comradery and and I was just a broadcaster but we were invited and we got to be a part of that and boy Do we ever feel like you know, we wanted to do a better job at our job. We wanted to go the extra mile because the coach loved us and I think that's just a testament to why the Oilers and everywhere Wayne Gretzky and I'm sure Mark Nassar had the same thing, why it always worked because they were great leaders.

Nassar, I wanted to ask you, obviously everybody knows that the Coyotes moved to Utah. Do you think of that market out in Arizona in Phoenix, do you think the NHL is a slam dunk to return there? Because you see it all the time in sports. Teams leave and then they show up again. Do you think that happens in Arizona? It's going to happen anywhere in the world. It's going to happen here.

I mean, you guys know. Noodle, you were just here. I mean, you guys know, noodles, you were just here. I mean, it's honestly the best thing in America. It legitimately is. The sunshine, you know, they have just never, ever had a rink in the right place, right? And until that happens, no, it's not gonna come back here, but my feeling is right now, and the rumors around here,

that they're trying to put something together. I know the mayor is pushing it big time. He's embarrassed that we lost the team in Arizona. I think everybody should be embarrassed that we lost the team in Arizona. So it will be back eventually when that happens, four or five years. I would imagine it will be the earliest but I but every player in the world you guys coming down here for Olympic break, All-Star break, you know, a cheer or a couple basically. And you can see why, but you just need a facility and you need an ownership group like they have in Utah now that would make this work here. So Nasher, the Four Nations face-off starts tomorrow.

You look at a lot of these countries, they're just loaded up with talent, especially the Team USA, Team Canada. You watched Austin Matthews pretty much grow up, correct? I mean, he was around you, around the Phoenix area for years and had a buzz. What do you make of the tournament? What do you make of a guy like Matthews being the captain of it and all of it? Well, yeah, this kid is certainly something special. I used to train for the back of the day.

I think he had a picture of that one still making fun of me and my swim shorts. I got to make sure I put the sock in the front uh... next time not in the back but uh... uh... we used to you know we used to train together a little better this guy is just an absolute uh... challenge i mean i'm seventeen years old is cleave and jerk into twenty five for eight reps i mean i was i was a man old man at the time and i could be a wide i'd look at that weight and get hurt

but this guy was a savage and it's just carried over. He's turned into a man just watching him develop. He's an unreal kid, unreal human. You guys know that very well being in Toronto, but the time he takes around the community here, he still spends the summers in Arizona, always skating over the ice, which is about five minutes away from me. And lots of pressure on the guy, right?

I mean, there's going to be a ton of pressure because he knew that I say, I got a, you know, chose me to say it, but looking at the rosters, I mean, you would think that they're probably the favor to, to win this witness deal. Right. And they're stacked. Um, I love their decor. My goodness. I mean, it's by far the best in the tournament and they they have that gold tender on the planet right now and then car hell about

so uh... i am canadian so i'll be cheering for the boys uh... therefore words by by far the best forward group of the bonds but now they're going to have a certainly scary what do you think it's going to be like for teams to have to play against not one but to kachucks. You have Matthew coming over the boards and then potentially the next shift Brady's coming over the boards. If you just got ran and you're stuck on the ice, now Brady's going to run you over. They're

going to be in your face. I don't know. What does that dynamic do for the American team? You know what? That's a great point because that was the one intangible for me that I think is really going to be a difference maker. You look at Florida, right? You look at their team when they won the cup. I mean Sam Bennett, I mean Kachak, they just have so much grit which you have to have, right? You got to have those stay at home grinding heavy defense then, right?

You can't have a whole team of, you know, Quinn Hughes' I mean you just can't but I think Team USA, they scare me, those two guys in particular, I watched a few of Matthew's, Kitschuk's interviews today and man, as he fired up, I mean he's got that look in his eye already that we, I think we all saw in the playoffs

when they won the cup so, you know, wouldn't be fun to play against Matthew or Brady. There's certainly, you know, they got big shoes to fill. They want to, you know, obviously that runs very deep in their family with their dad and all the, uh, the silver medals he won over the years. Um, so I don't know how we categorize this, but I always bust everyone's chops down here in Arizona But just in the u.s. In general, I'm like I am so sick of the miracle Can you guys finally have a sequel like it's been forty what forty three years since you once my god?

I can't take it anymore. What a story, but let's let's hopefully win again. So I don't know if this counts in that I know it's not Olympic gold medal, but hey stop chirping the miracle They had Mike your is Ionia buddy of mine. They had a meeting with the team yesterday. She's guys are not even born yet Craig and Mike your Roojie Odeh, you know those guys you're right. What is that 25 years ago or more? No, it's more 45 years 45 years ago or more. No, it's more. Forty-five years. Forty-five. Forty-five years. 1980. Yeah. I didn't think. Nidalee's got his shoes off right now. He's trying to count. It's been too long. It has been too long. Nasher, so you mentioned Wayne Gretzky. I mean, you have a long history with Wayne. You're good him. You know take us back to him coaching you in Phoenix.

I mean this is the greatest hockey player of all time and he becomes a head coach and he's looking down the bench and he's got to look at you and go I need you to go out. What do you think was going through Gretzky's mind and what was it like playing for the greatest player of all time well first of all i got out here with me uh... it was draft day i was in colo noah uh... and i was clear out one of my red bull houses and i get a phone call and it's just kind of on one hand to the other swing red key

uh... we just made a trade for you know if i can tell get good one i thought i was one of my idea but he buddies right just playing a joke on me he's like no serious serious i'm like yeah whatever it sounded like my buddy bob so i hung up on him he called me back he goes tyson tyson seriously we just made a trade to you and i'm like well larry clowe hasn't called me so i don't even know if this is real or not anyway we got talking and sure enough it ended up being grass I was like holy cow I can't believe this like I grew up with Wayne Gretzky wallpaper and bedsheets and now this guy's on the horn telling me how excited he is to have me on his team well the excitement didn't last all that long I could tell you because I don't think he ever really understood what I did what I did as a player what my job was

I got beat up a lot that year. He was like, you haven't won a fight, you haven't scored a goal, what is it exactly that you do again? And I'm like, I draw penalties. He goes, we have the worst power play in the league. Stop drawing penalties. You look like you're in a...

Well, it must be difficult for anybody that considers themselves to make an attempt in offensive play being scrutinized by Wayne Gretzky. It's difficult for anybody that considers themselves to make an attempt at offensive play being scrutinized by Wayne Gretzky. It must be just horrifying, Nasher. Yeah, and you know what? When you watched him work, he wanted to be great at it. I think to be super fair with Gretzky, it's a full-time job being Wayne Gretzky. Like everywhere this guy goes, there's so much demanded from him.

And he had that autograph company and he had just had so much stuff going on that I don't know how you can focus the way you need to focus as head coach. Right. And then that understand it on, you know, on our level, which is way below his just had to been really frustrating. But I'll tell you what, one of the best human beings you will ever meet. And that's the coolest thing about Gretz

and any star or hero that you meet, right? When they're even better than you imagined, that's what makes it super, super cool. And that's always been Gretz to me. Nashor, when the NHL fires up again, have you put your eyes on a team out west or anywhere, whether it be in person or on the tube that you think like maybe these guys get it done this year, whether it's Florida again or Colorado in the west, have you have any thoughts on who could do

some damage? Well I always got thoughts, always gets me in trouble, I get a big mouth too. So I think just you know when you look at Winnipe a big i mean anyone who have the best goalie on the planet aren't they always dangerous i mean and then i'll ask you to and they didn't they didn't get by the fair i don't know i know what they're all under a moment and now there's a there's something special going on i think i think we all feel it all year uh... evan said no i think it was a really good opportunity. I feel like you got

to lose bad, right? Which they obviously did last year. It's got to hurt, it's got to sting in order to win. I think that's how it has to play out. And then Florida, I don't know, they just have it, right? They're a scary team. Once you know and learn how to win and once you have success, I think it just becomes that much easier for guys like Kachak and Barkov who is just an un... I had no clue that guy was as good as he was. I mean, I just didn't watch Florida play at all, but man, was he an absolute beast. Nash, you bring up Winnipeg and they've been so good, such a great story. It's still Conor Halibut that plays so much in comparison to the other goaltenders

around the league. Maybe there's a thought that at some point they try and scale things back because once he gets to the playoffs, it's like the guy that was in the regular season, he doesn't necessarily steal one for you. He hasn't in a long time. Is that any kind of concern with the Jets to like peel back the workload for Hellebuck a little bit so when it comes April it's like this guy's ready and he's fresh and he can steal one for you?

Well, let me, I mean this is interesting because you got noodles on the show and I'm sure you guys talk about this a lot but I, it is my number one pet peeve and frustration with coaches and goalie coaches. I'm like can you imagine telling Patrick Wall and Martin Boudure, Dominic Kasich and Ernest Joseph who I played with, oh you know you had a shutout tonight you're not playing tomorrow because you're gonna be tired. I would be like I can't even imagine what those guys would do. I mean being a goaltender I got to think if there's so much momentum and rhythm involved as well just like like a player. Like imagine, oh dog, you have a three point night and they're like, oh, we're

gonna, you know, monitor your workload. We're gonna sit you out tonight. You'd be like, what the hell you are. This is when I get my cookies, right? I mean goalies are no different. Like, I don't get it. I don't know how they can't play two, three, four, five games in a row. I think you want to get into that rhythm. Obviously you don't know how they can't play two, three, four, five games in a row. I think you want to get into that rhythm. Obviously, you don't want to be exhausted by the time playoffs come, so you've got to manage maybe your practice time rather than your game time. I mean, I just, I don't get it. These boys are a different breed.

We know that. You guys know that all too well with noodles there, but I don't know what they're going to do, to be honest, but it drives me crazy. I agree. It is a different position, but we all talk about it on our show all the time. There's gut feeling and then there's the analytics. To me sometimes you've got to throw it out the window and just go, you've got to go with your gut or you've got to go with the player and what the player wants too. A lot of times there are players that are gamers that just say, you got to go with your gut or you got to go with the player and what the player wants too.

And a lot of times there are players that are gamers that just say, you know, I need to play, I need to be in there, I need to be a difference maker. And then you get into sports science and they're saying, okay, you know, you're only going to be at 90% tomorrow because of your sleep patterns and everything like that. Like that stuff is frustrating. I get over a season, but if you're in a short tournament or if you're in a groove, to me, you want to be chomping right at the bit. So Nasher, I want to get two things or one question and then one comment on the way out.

But we've talked about it, I mean, on our show. It's weird. You've never been on the show. He told me that over the weekend. Oh, have we not had this guy on our show ever? I swear it. Nasher's been on our show. Yes, yes, several times.

See? There you go, Nash. Long time ago, maybe, no, it's been a while. Dude, stop drinking the vodka. We've had you on at least three or four times. How much booze did you drink on the weekend? Hey, hey, oh, I know you lost a lot of weight, but you keep telling lies like that. Your nose doesn't look like mine mine too, so be careful. There are not enough lies in the world to grow my nose as big as yours, and I know I'm telling the truth.

Well, that's why I had a nose full of nickels for a contract. And you made two million a year. We talk about it all the time. Take us through the call. Take us through the Marion Hossa situation, because we talked about it. Wasn't it, oh, like, was it last week we were talking about? Yeah, we were talking about it last week. Yeah.

Like, how much did people in Chicago hate you after you made that call? And honestly, I mean, so you guys have got to let me off the hook a little bit. This is when the rules, like, really kind really kind of changed like almost overnight, right? So I play a certain way I mean, I lived for those hits especially in the playoffs, right? I mean we're frosting at the mouth to run over the Chicago Blackhawks Best player with an open-ice hit because he's got his head up his butt and he's looking down at the puck. He deserves to get crushed. I mean, Jonas has got to be someone on host side in this play.

But again, it's Rafi Torres, right? So I should have took notice. But I still stand behind my call that it wasn't a dirty, I mean, a dirty, dirty hit. I don't think he jumped. I think maybe if there's anything, he's a little bit late. But I basically said, Oh my my god that's one of the best one of the cleanest hits I've ever seen and then all of a sudden the host that doesn't get up and he's literally not breathing and then all of a sudden there's like a fog, a masked fogs up and now he's breathing again and they're carrying him off in a stretcher and I'm like, oh my god

I guess I should have pulled back on that comment a little bit So needless to say I had Chicago fans calling the Ritz-Carlton and I had about 25 messages on my phone They and the messages you guys I had like Twitter stuff going crazy like i don't know if i don't you get cancer and i i hope place you know i'm gonna find you on michigan avenue and run you over you piece of garbage like their budget and there's a light so we respect that but i was a little aggressive on on both sides my side and obviously the fans

yeah actually when i when you watch the hit nashir it seemed like you made the right call. Like back in our day, it looked like the right body check. We got to fly, pal. Really appreciate you taking time after a weekend with noodles for doing this, buddy. We'll do it again soon. All right, boys.

Yeah, great job. First time hosting. Well done, old dog. Yeah, it's not that hard to say hi and bye to people, man. It's really not. Thanks, Nasher. We'll talk again, pal. All right, guys. Take care and bye to people, man. It's really not. Thanks, Nasher.

We'll talk again, pal. All right, guys, take care, boys. That guy's a beauty, man. You can just tell by his voice that he would be a great teammate, great storyteller, great drinking buddy. He's ruthless. All he does is chirp. All he did the whole weekend is give it to Struddy

and again, the whole weekend, just chirp them. And it to Strudy and Aguila the whole weekend just chirped them the and apparently Like Strudy and and again or Strudy and Nasher beat Aguila and his best friend Bill Engulfed two rounds and and boy it was it got ugly like they were arguing and yelling It was just anyways good times good times. He's a great great guest. All right, let's take a break when we come back We'll get Michael Russo who's following the USA team at the Four Nations Face Off. This is Overdrive on TSN 1050 and on TSN 2. Alright boys, we're coming down the home stretch.

Overdrive, Chesco Corrado, Jamie Noodle, McClennan, myself, Jeff O'Neill. And you talk about a tease. I got a surprise guest for you guys. Yeah? In about 20 minutes. After we get into the four nations and we dive in with Michael Russo here in a second, but there's a surprise guest coming who might blow your socks off, okay?

Love it, love it. Let's head down to Montreal and bring in Michael Russo. How you doing, Michael? Good, I thought I was a surprise guest for half a second. Well, you are. You're a great guest. We're fired up to have you from the athletic. We've been pumping you up, though.

Yeah, we've been pumping your tires for two hours, man. It's funny enough, I sat next to CJ yesterday as he was on with you guys, so it's funny you I sat next to CJ yesterday as he was on with you guys, so it's funny you guys called him today. Oh yeah, how is the media contingent down there? Are people fired up or are they just grinding away submitting pieces? Shocking enough, CJ was still at the rink when I just left there.

And yeah, we're missing the media reception. It's started at 6, and you know sports writers don't like to miss free food and booze, so I'll be heading over there. Is that why they enjoy like a stiff, is that why they enjoy a stiff scotch is because like the timeline is tight and it's a bunch of work and your brain's kind of fried, so it's like booze time? Pretty much. That's been my life for 30 years.

You don't get to look like me for no reason. And funny enough, I mean, CJ was doing, we were in the concierge lounge yesterday when he was doing the interview with you, which was also free booze and free food. So we were very on brand. So Michael, tell us about the vibe around the USA team. I mean, obviously they're big, they're strong, they're very talented, and a lot's been made of their goaltending, having the best goalie in the game. So just, what do you think their overall vibe is

heading into this Four Nations faceoff? Yeah, I think it's, I mean, to me it's exciting. I'll be honest, you know, as much as I'm honored to cover the tournament, I was, you know, a week ago I was like, what's this gonna be like? It's gonna be like a glorified All-Star weekend or what? But then watching these practices the last couple days and how intense it is,

I mean, these guys are here to win it. And when you, you know, just when you're at Team Canada, when you look at their power play unit and you see, it's like, you know, Crosby and McKinnon and McCarr and McDavid all in the same unit, Holy moly, it's pretty exciting. And I think that's what the way the US feels right now. They feel like they're the deepest team in the tournament. We'll see once they obviously suit up, they have an extra day to prepare than Canada. They've got incredible goaltending and, you know, because of that in a short tournament, you know, there might not be much wiggle room for hollow duck i mean how long can

you wait if all of a sudden he does struggle out of the gate which i'd be a little shocked at but but we'll see but the vibes are good uh... the practices have been shockingly intense uh... you know even canada's practice today brad marsham's running over guys uh... it's been pretty uh... fun the first couple days and we'll see how the tournament starts tomorrow. It seemed like the USA has put an emphasis on, they want big and strong out there. I

know they got some real talented players, but with some smaller guys passed over, they said, we're going big and strong and fast and we're going to be tough to beat. Do you not get that sense? Yeah. I covered Bill Gueran as my day job covering the Minnesota Wild and that is his MO. I mean, you know, you remember those lines that he was on in all his USA tournaments playing with guys like Keith Kachuk and then I remember Mike Madonna used to call them con and creed, right? So, you know, Madonna was always in the middle of concrete, essentially with Garan and Kachuk and that's the way that he's built this team and the way that he

wants them to play. You know, obviously there are some guys that I think that he left off that were, that some people were very surprised on. You know, the Clayton Kellers, the Kolkhoff feels, but it's through that very reason that you just said, and you know, they want, you know, players that are gonna accept roles. You know, there's a lot of guys that are go-to guys on their NHL teams the Dillon Larkins of the world that are you know playing fourth line wing here and at least to start the tournament so that's just the way you get in a best-of-best tournament and I do think that they want them to play hard and

fast. How big of a loss is it going to be for Quinn Hughes not on the back end? Yeah, I think it's a massive loss. To me, it's just like losing Heiskind in Finland. And you see it. Quinn was going to quarterback their number one power play. He's obviously going to be on the ice in all key situations. And to me, he is, along with McCar, one of the two best defensemen in the game right now and very easily could be a North candidate again this year. And so I think it's a massive loss. I was a little surprised just the way that Bill Gehran and Mike Sullivan and John Hines

have been talking up Zach Warrensky all season long, especially the last couple months, that he actually wasn't on Power Play One in today's practice that they're they are going with Adam Fox He's had a little bit of a down year. I think he's been playing with an injury But Fox is obviously gonna get the initial look there that Warren ski on power play too But but you know losing Quinn is just such a massive loss. I mean, he's just such dynamic defenseman You know, you got what 25 points? I think he's up on uh... and leading scoring for the bank of a couple of three now you know i think rockbusters second behind them and uh... it's just a it's a big big loss another jack i talked yesterday

about supporting it is for the family but but i know the whole thing that the both the healthy uh... next year's olympic was it a slam dunk for austin matthews to be the captain of this team and and what's the the feeling around matthews being the leader of this USA group? Yeah, I think so. I mean, he's the best American in the world and so I think that you go with that right from the beginning. They have a lot of captains, a lot of leaders on this team.

To me, there really was, like I heard that Matthew Kachuk got a couple votes. I'm sure that Bill Guerin, it wouldn't shock me, was one of them just because of his history with Keith. But, you know, to me, Austin was just an absolute shoe in. But they've got just so many great players. I did a huge story on Jack Igole that's going to run in tomorrow's athletic. Here's another guy. You know, what he's turned into in Vegas being one of the top two-way centers in the league

has been pretty impressive. I think he's gonna be their top matchup center in this tournament and go head-to-head against the best. But Austin is obviously such a tremendous player. I think that nobody would argue that he's the best American player just because the leader that he is with Toronto. It just made all the sense the world. I mean he is the face of American hockey in my opinion. Michael, before we get you out of here, Hellebuck always seems to be a little bit chippy. He seems to be confident in his ability. And it seems like this tournament has really got

his attention. Can you see a bit of a look in his eye where he's like, I want to show everybody that I truly am the best goalie in the world? Yeah, I absolutely agree with Ian, especially because of the way that last year's playoffs went for him. I think on the big stage, he wants to show that he is the best, not only the best goalie in the world, but specifically on the United States, because there's so much talk of just how good

Jake Odenger or Jeremy Swainman could be if they ever needed him. So I think he's gonna wanna go in there and shut down every team that he plays. You know, he is, I mean, the guy is enormous. I mean, just again, just being around him the last couple of days, it's hilarious. I'd love to see a little Canada-U.S. goalie fight on Saturday night. That'd be something in Montreal.

You know, Jordan Bennington would be a game for that. But I do think that Hellebuck is, you know, and Doodles could tell you, I do think that hella buck is is you know and doodles could tell you I just think that he's just from a Elite standpoint. He's just been so impeccable this season and you know put himself in the conversation Obviously not just for a second straight Vezna, but even the heart trophy talk Michael really appreciate you hopping on giving us the skinny on the USA team So have fun the tournament and hopefully we'll do this again soon. Yep, anytime guys, take care.

Michael Russo from The Athletic covers the Minnesota Wild on a daily basis. Guys, I got something special lined up for you, okay? I don't want to give too much, but hazy, Hazy B's away and we can do whatever we want. So we're going to take a break and we're going to do something extremely fun next. Nice. Well, I don't want to waste any time because I know you guys are more than fired up. Yep. Overdrive, no Hazy B. I'm hosting today, Jeff O'Neill with Jamie McClennan and Chesco Corrado and

I promised a little surprise. I didn't want to get too carried away But with no hazy B. We get to do something that we truly truly love JP hit it Yes guy no guy Scribers and passengers time now for the over diversion of Yes Guy, No Guy. Go ahead, sir. Jimmy, welcome to the show.

Oh boy, the lawyers are upset. Oh boy. Hey, we didn't say it. We got you to say it, pal, and we wanted you to come on and do a quick couple little Yes Guy, No Guys for us. Can you do that for us? Oh, what a thrill this is are you kidding me that past

have you been watching the so jimmy what do you think of the show without hazy b well i like hazy be it was one of my favorites but but also i was going to get the host and pranking you posted before noodles serving you could do what i mean anybody can host right but that anyone who's been through the jimaddy mentorship program can do it buddy exactly that's right that's right that man alumni here that's what we are the Batman alumni I'll be sending our invoice at the end of the show we know

you go Jimmy do you have any yes guy no guys for us I do I have one right here so right off the cuff. Yes guy no guy the Raptors signing Brandon Ingram for three years and 40 mil per season. Yes guy no guy you wish the Leafs could act that fast. Well Jimmy being a underpaid hockey player I wish the Leafs paid that much money for somebody for three years but I mean who knows what happens with this? This seems like a slam dunk for raps, and who knows what happens with it.

But it just goes to show you how much more money NBA players make than hockey players. Like William Nylander signed a shocker last year for 92 and a half. This guy's never put on a raps jersey, and they just gave him 120 sheets, Jimmy. I'm not going to say no guy to it. Frankie?

I'm going to say no guy because I don't want to see the Leafs in a situation where we're talking about do they bottom out or do they go and make a trade just to keep themselves right in the middle of the pack because that's what the Raptors options were. You bottom out for five years and you try and build it back up or do you keep yourself somewhat relevant? I want to see the Leafs near the top and if that means they don't have to make a move like that, I'm okay with it Jimmy. So it's a no guy. No guy for me. Right around. Right around. No guy for me as well. I mean, can't have

that money thrown around. I agree. Like Frankie just said exactly what I was going to say. I want to see the Leafs near the top and we can't have any of this nonsense going on so it's a hard no guy for me well anything else i do have one more against i know that based on the five players that will be on the ice at all times for team candidate golden means should be a non-issue yes guy

frankie go ahead as a ahead of raito it infat it yes guy like you're you're telling me we had the pick of the litter here at the best canadian players in the world you want defensive guys you want offensive guys you got it it's the full buffet uh... so chances are you selected properly to the point that you know you can just get average goaltending any shouldn shouldn't bother you, I 100% agree with my good friend Jimmy here.

Yeah, I'm going to go yes guy as well because I think, I said it at the start of the show, the goaltenders just have to be, they have to be just good. They don't have to make the saves you should, maybe a couple that you shouldn't, but I believe the team in front of them will be able to prop them up so I think you just have to be a good goaltender to play for this team and they certainly have good goaltending so I'm there. Jimmy I'm glad we got to do it I'm a yes guy as well I think with the players that they can throw onto the ice I think goaltending it just it shouldn't be an issue for these guys. Well there we go we wrapped it up we have more time

now we're out of time how you know how important it is to hit the clock so we're out of here that's what i thought that uh... no thanks by that that i had to do that to you jimmy gotta go thanks by we appreciate you doing this by cfd but i think it's a jimd what times leaves guy on every day uh... noon

no no i can we find it i'm gsn ten fifty the air radio app and where you find a podcast uh... what you know thanks jimmy we appreciate it thank you have a good night i do do you ready for your little uh... you said you put together a little parlay here i'm gonna i have you okay you put together a little parlay here. I'm going to. I have. Okay, you better be ready.

Today's best bets are powered by FanDuel. Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the FanDuel Sports app. Doogie, what do you have for us this evening? Boys, I think this is a yes guy. We're going to go with Scotty Barnes. Ah, not allowed to say it. Not allowed to say it. Oh, do that.

Awesome. He's already interrupted. Go ahead. Yeah, my bad there. So Raptors taking on the Sixers in Philly tonight. Let's go Scotty Barnes, 20 plus points. We'll pair that with the Raptors plus 10 and a half. I think that's an achievable number. And Joel Embiid is in the lineup tonight against the Raptors. We're going go Embiid 25 plus points. That parlay totals plus 255 on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. You think Embiid is like healthy again or what's his deal doogie? It says he's good to go. We saw earlier in the week that he wants to talk another surgery but the Sixers want to get back in the playoff on here so he needs to play. Yeah. Well if it doesn't hit Pell it's your responsibility. Today's best bets are powered by FanDuel.

Bet the NBA live from first basket to final whistle on FanDuel. Please pay responsibly. 19 plus and physically located in Ontario. So I just want to, you know, like after a game, you get onto the bus or you go have dinner with the guys and you kind of just debrief the whole thing like this or that Over, you know a couple glasses of wine. I just want to say this was a very good show I thought we asked great questions Jeff. I thought you took us in and out of break impeccably There was some good banter, but we stayed on topic just enough

Like this is this is a really like spick-and- spack show here. It went well, I think. We had fun, a lot of fun, got some hard-hitting facts out there. To me, we did the job. Good stuff, O'Doug. Thanks for driving us. I think at the end of the day, we always talk about it, and we goof on Brian, and we goof on Duffy.

And I know that two of you felt the responsibility. When you've got a stud that hosts a show like that and he leaves, you want to do the show the proper respect and not have an absolute gong show. Because that guy, his head would pop off. So you gotta do it properly and you gotta put your best foot forward. But I'm looking forward to tomorrow guys. Four nations. I can't wait

to see all the Canadian guys out there together. I think it's going to be absolutely awesome to see Crosby and McKinnon and McDavid. Like it's going to be incredible. Yeah. I want to see that power play unit cooking. I want to see McDavid and McKinnon a million miles an hour on that drop pass and just see the underpants cam on Whoever's playing D for Sweden at that given moment. That's what I want to see I want to see McDavid flying up and down the ice I want to see mckinnon right after him flying up and down the ice more than anything though I want to see good intense hockey, you know, yeah, that's all I want to see. Thank you guys for today

Doogie behind the scenes JP JP, Joe from the Bridge, appreciate everything. We're going to do it all again tomorrow with AK at 4pm. We'll chat then. TSM plus is taking game day to a whole new level with NFL red zone. Absolutely incredible. Subscribe now for every touchdown from every game every Sunday afternoon. NFL Red Zone available on TSM+.