OverDrive - OverDrive - February 11, 2026 - Hour 2 - Craig Button

Episode Date: February 11, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button joins to discuss Canada at the Winter Olympics, Connor McDavid's spotlight and the line combinations for the team. The guys go around the Olympics headlines in the latest edition of Role Play Level of Concern and Hayes and O-Dog hand out their FanDuel Best Bets for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

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Brian Hasey, O'Dog, Jeff O'Neill. Jamie Noodles, McClennan, up on TSN, up on YouTube Live, everything, podcast, wherever you want to find your podcast. catch up with Craig Button here in a few moments. The men's side of the tournament is officially underway. The women's side have been going for a couple of days. And we've got some role play level of concern a little bit later in the hour. Do you guys follow up with the guy?

Apparently the ex-girlfriend has made a statement or came out of the woodwork and she shut him right down. Did you see that or no? Danish biathlete who professed his love to a woman that he cheated on a few months ago. Exactly. She came out and said, don't, like, don't even ask. I'm not doing this. Take a lap. That's basically, I'm paraphrasing.

Sorry, Norwegian. I'm paraphrasing, but apparently she was like, I didn't ask for this attention and beat it. Good for her. Now this guy has outed himself. This guy's got no shot the rest of his life. Ever. Hey, who are you? Meeting some, like, woman in a European cafe.

I'm a triathlet, whatever he is. And, oh, are you the guy that made that, yeah, I am that guy. His whole life. Yeah, he's the guy. He's the guy that outed himself for cheating on a woman after he had his most triumphant moment of his life. And now he's done. Now it's over. And he didn't even get her back.

Like, he just decided I'm going for him, man. That was like, he probably thought it a ton of times. Like, maybe this would be like a movie. I'm going to say it. She's going to come running to. You've got to. You've got to consult somebody on that decision. Yes.

Where is this best friend or whatever to say like, what you doing? Like, one of us were going to pull that stunt. It would be like to the other two guys, I'm thinking about making this play on the air at 401. Yeah. What do you think? And you guys would say great call or absolutely, if I made that recommend that, you guys would be like, oh, dog, you're not doing that. No, you can't. Don't you dare.

You can't do it, man. He had these Hollywood visions of her flying him along. Exactly. Exactly. That's what he thought. A lot of people think they live in a movie. That's what it is. This guy thought he was living in a movie and going to profess his love and, you know,

like the movie Serendipity or something like that at the end. They run to each other or find each other. She just looked it up on social media. It was like, go to hell. Yeah. I've moved on already. See you later, pal. Enjoy your biathlete medal in Milan, but you're on your own.

Yeah. Yeah. He's, hey, he's jammed himself in the viz. village like now he's going back in the village and people like i don't know you might get a little bit of he's a little bit different than the average joe bo blob slatter possibly maybe we'll see we'll see somebody might be crushed and look at him and say that that guy's down on his luck yeah he's down on his luck yet he just won a medal so again you think he'd be in a better place but anyway the men's side beginning today slaglia beating finland earlier today sweden's up three two on italy now will

William Nealander is scoring a goal. Believe the go-ahead goal. Yeah, the three-two goal. There you go. So Willie's plan. Just starting the third period now, I believe. Yeah. And, you know, every game counts.

You know, the group stage, we kind of know likely the teams are going to get through. But Canada is starting against Czechia tomorrow, the American starting. And I'm looking forward to watching Canada and the American team. Like, I will admit, I am, they are a very good hockey team. Yes. On paper, they look like a very good team. And, you know, when you think of the amount of pressure that are on these guys, it's natural for the Canadian team to feel pressure

because it's always gold or bust. Right. Where the Americans, it's a different level of pressure because they've never won gold again best on best. They've never won it the Olympic Games best on best. And historically, when it's not in North America, they've been actually terrible. You know, like they've made it to the gold medal game in 2002 and 2010.

But everything in between not so good. Yeah. But so they're looking at it from a pressure standpoint of we got to get over the top at some point. You know, like someone's got to break through here and win gold. Someone's got to do this if you're the American team. And, you know, they've had some great teams in the past. They've obviously had great players. But this very well could be the best team they've ever put together.

I think so. And it is stacked. It is loaded. And they are going to be a full. force to be reckoned with. There's no questioning that. All right, let's bring in our good friend. Joining us on the Maple Toyota Hotline, here's Craig Button joining us.

Craig, I know you're a pretty big booster for the American side in terms of how good they are. We've talked a lot about Canada leading up to this tournament, but what is it about the Americans that sticks out most to you? I think just when you were just talking about, Brian, the depth of talent. Go back to 2010 and look at the lineup. The lineup wasn't anywhere near close. being able to match Canada.

2014, obviously, I won't even go back to 02. This lineup is you look at the quality of players they have. And yeah, you can look at it. And we talked about this the other day, Brian, about, you know, Stanley Cup winners and how many there are on Team Canada. But you consider that the U.S. as high-end players, high-end talent,

major award winners. And I think that becomes a real significant difference for Team Canada or for Team USA entering this Olympic tournament. I don't think there's any doubt this is the best collection of players they've ever been able to put together.

And again, like, you know, it's one thing to think you're better than Canada, you've got to go out and show it. And that to me is the objector for Team USA. And I think that that's their goal and that's what they got to try to find a way to do. I will also add one more thing

and I didn't realize this. because I hadn't done the work. But the Finns have 11 Stanley Cup winners. They lost the Slovakia today, Brian. So I wish I would have known that the other day when we were doing our little piece on TSA. Yeah, that is a good note to have. Yeah.

Well, Craig, what do you need to see from Team Canada for you to have that confidence that, you know, hey, they can take home gold? We've just talked about it. I've been talking about it at nauseam. I'm afraid of the Americans from Team Canada and some of the teams involved. what do you need to see from Team Canada in these first couple games that you feel comfortable that they're on the right path?

Yeah, Jamie, I would say I want to see how they work the three defensemen not named McCar, Cays, Theodore, or Morrissey into their team plan and into how they're going to be used and what they're going to be doing. And I think that becomes an area that becomes really important. I mean, we talk about McCar and how many minutes he can play and what a workhorse he is and how great he is. And we know that. We know his partner pays is good. Theodore and Morrissey. Well, you can't play those guys, all of them, 30 minutes each.

They're going to need some support from Greco, Harley, Dowdy, Sandheim. They're going to need some support from those guys. And I think that that's going to be one thing that I'm really watching. I mean, I think that, you know, for John Cooper, you know, there's no more need to talk about Jordan Binnington being on the team. Or he got on the team for loyalty and great. And now John Cooper gets to play the loyalty card. He should play it. If it's me, I'm playing him in game one because I got the loyalty card.

Now it gives Jordan Binnington a chance to back up the bravado. Is this year been a mirage? Has it been something that he couldn't do really? much about and not all his fault. Well, he gets a chance. But most importantly, if he doesn't play well against the checks, then the exit door is there for John Cooper

to move forward. And I don't care if they win or lose. I think Jordan Bennington's got to go in game one and show that he is what they think he can be and what he professes to be. Craig, you know hockey people. They like to sit down, drink beers,

grab some napkins and start getting creative on the napkins about different line combinations and different plays. They've got creative with these lines, but when you've got Crosby, McKinnon, and McDavid, do you not think in some capacity two of the three, and I don't know which two it would be, kind of need to play together to kind of have that dynamic, I don't know, I'm not going to, like, say Gretzky Lemieux, but you just put those guys together and it seemed like magic happened. Well, I think so, Jess.

I mean, think back to the four nations. Like, back to Crosby and McKinnon playing with one another. Like, like, Crosby was excited to play with McKinn. McKinman was even more excited, and they were good together. And again, I don't know, like again, okay, you start the tournament, you know, you're at least in a qualifying quarterfinal before you get to the quarterfinal. You know, there's not. I'm losing early.

Maybe John Cooper wants to find out some things. But if the four nations mattered, and I keep hearing. about, well, we selected players with the chemistry of the Four Nations, and we saw what we did in the Four Nations. That becomes a real big factor in how we're picking the team. But now you're not going to use it to put your lines together? You're not going to put Crosby and McKinnon together? Like, seriously, what are you trying to do?

Twist yourself into a pretzel? Like, to me, it's real simple. Crosby's playing the wing. Suzuki's my third line center. McDavid, McKinnon, and David, let's go. Well, you look at that top line where Cooper has been committed, to that. He's flipped other wingers around. He is stuck with McDavid, McKinnon,

and sit up the middle of the ice. But McDavid's playing with Celebrini and Wilson. I'm very intrigued by this. I love the idea of giving Celebrini a shot because he's obviously been that good. And he's a tenacious player. I think he'll fit in well. But put yourself in the shoes of Connor McDavid

for us. Role play here. Roll play. You're playing the role of McDavid. Celebrity's 19. It's a big stage. Never been on a stage like this. This is new for Tom Wilson. Wasn't a world junior player. Wasn't there at the Four Nations.

He's kind of been an outsider a little bit in the hockey world. How comfortable do you think McDavid is starting what is the biggest two weeks of his life, maybe the cup finals notwithstanding, with those two players on his wing? Well, let me add this. Let me just add this. You say maybe outstanding, does Toma McDavid want to be a three-time loser? No. Twice in the Stanley Cup final and now in the Olympic Games?

I don't think so. No. So there's a huge spotlight and a huge responsibility on Connor McDavid. And he's not going to shy away from it. But you just nailed it. How is he feeling? I believe that he is Canada's most important player. And because of everything that he represents,

the best player on the planet, you know, the desire and the determination to be the next big player for Team Canada. at the Olympics. And to me, when they didn't name Zach Hyman, I think it was a big mistake. Because I think the most important thing was to get Connor McDavid into a state where he could be as comfortable as possible,

as confident as possible. And I think they took that away from him by not naming Hyman. Okay, we know what Celebrity can do, but to your point, Brian, he's not there. He doesn't have the experience. I love Tommy Wilson up there.

I like the idea of Tommy Wilson up there because he can create so much space. And Connor McDavid needs the smallest amount of space to be dangerous. So I like that idea. But I think that Connor McDavid, he knows what the responsibility is. He knows what the demands are. And we know how badly he wants to win.

So I think that when you were selecting the team, you have to be having that in mind. And then the opportunity opened, and they didn't take it. And I think it's a mistake. Well, yeah. And they had multiple opportunities, obviously, with Sorelli and Point out. And we know who they replaced them with. obviously with Jarvis and Bennett. And I'm curious where Bennett is going to factor in here

because I think politically, whether you want to, you know, we want to like it or not, politically they're going to start with, well, you didn't make the teams so we're going with the other guys. You couldn't be the 13th or 14th forward. I got to believe Sam Bennett plays and factors in here. Where do you stand on Bennett and not his role tomorrow, but his role in this team by the end of the tournament? So let's go back.

Let's go back to the comfort level, to everything that we talk about. So, and again, like, I think it's wonderful. Every player that, you know, got named to the team, you know, they earned their way there. There's nothing negative about any player being named to the team. But John Cooper said, well, we want Seth Jarvis, you know, what are you committed to doing for us at the Four Nations, you're together for 10 days, it's really important, you see a lot in a player, you see everything. And then you don't play Crosby and McKinnon together?

like John like I love John Cooper but what are you doing here? He might be playing games right now more than anything but I'm kind of thinking like so that's what you're doing well you saw what Sam Bennett did at the Four Nations you just saw what he did to your team in the Stanley Cup playoffs you saw him win the Con smite and you're not going to give him like a like a piece of the team

like to me you got to and he oh yeah he was part of the Four Nations team so you're not going to have him be there I mean when Sam Bennett steps out on the ice every single player on the ice is sitting there going, we're San Bennett. Yep. That's an advantage.

You want that. Yeah, and Chakio will know it. The Americans will most certainly know it when you play them, if and when you play them. But, you know, it's going to be interesting to see how much changes between game one and the end of the tournament, obviously. And, you know, you could expect it. It's going to happen.

There could be injuries. There could be guys who just don't fit in properly. But I think in the defense. end of things. You know, you mentioned the top four guys who we all believe will play and play a lot. You know, I've been talking about McCar, recently. We were talking about it on Sports Center a couple of days

ago. Like, I think there's, that's the biggest discrepancy for me. It's not that the other guys aren't great players. They are. But McDavid to McKinnon is razor thin. You know, the three goalies, I don't know. I don't know who's going to play better one night to the other. McCar to whoever you think

is the second best defenseman, I think it's a pretty significant gap. What can you reasonably expect from him, Craig? How much is too much to be on Cal McCar's plate? I'll answer it this one. I don't think there's too much for Cal McCar. I think Cal McCar plays with an unbelievable sense of skill and purpose, and that's the mind, how smart he is as a player.

It's one thing to say you're a workhorse and you can play the minutes, but you've got to be able to think the minutes. and the level of competition, he'll be matched up against other teams, top players and everything that goes with it. But Kail can handle that. He understands from a thinking point of you. Obviously, you need the skills to be a top-end player like he is. But he also can manage it because he thinks so well. So to your point, so you got McCar draw a hard line.

And then as I just talked about the defense, I think Kay's, Morris, Fy, Fyodor, draw another hard line underneath that. So there's a drop from one to whatever, how. The next three I'll call it. And then I think there's a significant drop then to your next four. And what does it look like? And to your point, Brian, like I think back to 2010. So Rick Nash was on the team. They had them up on the top line and it didn't work.

And so they put Rick Nash down with Marlowe and Thornton and moved Brendan Morrow up to the top line. And so those are the types of things you've got to be ready for. You've got to be ready to make those adjustments. You've got to see what can work and whatnot work. But Keel McCarr is going to work. Cal McCar, I don't worry one bit about them. What you do start to think about is that those next four defensemen, after the four renamed, can't carry some significant play?

How vulnerable are you in having to play them and not playing McCar more? That's where the challenge comes. With Craig Button, so we were talking about the Americans out of the gate and how good they are, you know, obviously not only on paper, but in practice too. We know how great they are. Taking the goaltender out, because just the nature of the position, obviously, that could scare anyone if Hullabuck stands on his head. Who do you look at in this American lineup?

You pick one player and go around the table here, but who do you look at, Craig? And you think that guy, I'm bracing for impact here, I think he's going to have a great, great tournament. You know, I think it's Jack Eichols. Like, I watched what he did for the Vegas Golden Knights. after getting that opportunity to show. And certainly Jack has probably been in the back, in terms of Austin Matthews, Quinn Hughes and whatnot. And I think Jack can impact the game in a significant way.

So, I mean, he's not the only guy, but he's the guy that I'm picking to watch real closely. Yeah, I think he's going to be great. I look at Quinn Hughes, man. I just think he's going to be dancing. Like you got McAvoy playing with you, who is just a perfect D-partner, I think, for him. You want to know how good my scouting is, Hazy?

Buffalo, New York. I watched Quinn Hughes play for Team USA. And I looked at him, and I said, I don't think there's any chance that that guy's playing in the National Hockey League. I did. I put eyes on that kid, and I'm like, it's just, that ain't there. It's too small, too frail. There's no way in hell that that guy will be able to manage himself out there in the National Hockey League.

that's when I completely retired from scouting at that level because guy is a stud. Games changed, though. Well, the game has changed. Ask Craig about scouting. You know, think about people who were so undersized when they were, you know, at 16, 17 years old. Yeah, Jamie, he looked like he was a guy that delivered papers. Like, he was so small out there. I was just like full props to anybody that saw that, especially Vancouver and picked him.

but that's incredible, man, how good he is. Craig, how have you had to adjust your scouting eye? Because for a while there, it was a 6'4 defenseman could barely escape, but, you know, project, right, because he's 6'4. Like nowadays, I talk to somebody today that laid eyes on Landon DuPont last night, not big, but can play. I mean, you know, Mickey's son sounds like he's a player, right, Craig? He is a player.

There's no question about it, and you're right. I mean, in 05, when the NHO came out of the lockout, and the emphasis on making sure that interference, holding, obstruction was going to be eliminated. It forced the dynamic to be, you've got to be able to skate. You've got to be able to move. The bigger player, you know, when they were younger, they could latch on, they could grab on. You know, if you were getting beat by half a step, you just put your stick out there, and you just impeded enough.

And that was where the game was at. But in 05, and now start to think back, these players that were all here in the Olympics, the vast majority of them, like they only know the game this way. It's skating, it's moving, it's fast, it's the pace. You know, you think about how fast the games are being played now. I mean, an NHL game that takes over two hours and 20 minutes or 225, we're going, oh, geez, really, this game? They used to be three hours. You know, we never batted in I lots because that was just the way it was.

But you've got to be able to skate now. And it's like Jamie and Jeff and Brian, I used to go to games. You used to all the day skating. Okay, it's okay, how much room does he have to improve? Well, it looks like you can get better. I watch a kid now, younger kids, 15, 16. If they can't skate, no chance. They don't get anywhere near my list.

Yeah, that's what it's got to be now, right? You've got to move. You've got to skate. And, well, we'll see what comes with it. I mean, we had a couple of games on the men's side today. In Canada, the Americans getting started tomorrow. So it's going to be a great tournament, a fun tournament. And we'll catch up with you throughout it.

Thanks for doing this, Craig. Yeah, thanks. It'll be fun to watch. Can't wait. You got it, Craig Button, joining us here. On the Maple Toyota Hotline, it's time that Toyota in the 2025 Prius, go up to 72 kilometers on battery alone, then seamlessly switch to hybrid mode.

Check it out of Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland of the Maple Auto Mall. What's the word of the goat, MPP? Is she coming back? Yeah, they're comfortable she's going to return. Yeah, it sounds like Marie-Philippe Palinand will return later in the tournament. And listen. They got their work cut off for them.

They're in trouble. Like, the Americans have been beating them up for a couple of years now. Like, that's just the reality. And, you know, the Summit Series and all that kind of stuff, like, the Americans, they blew their doors off them yesterday. And if you don't have your best player, that's even more trouble. So they're going to need her. And I think the expectation is she will return, but will she be at 100%? I mean, you can't guarantee that.

But hopefully she will be. And hopefully you get another crack at the Americans in the gold medal game, you know, and find a way to grind it out. That's what it's going to be. You know, the Americans can skate. They were flying past them yesterday on the women's side. So you got to find a way to grind out a gold medal game. Don't count them out, man.

They can always find a way. I remember when my great friend Kevin Deneen was coaching them in Sochi. They pulled off the big victory in the gold medal game. And Marie-Philippe Palin was a huge part of that. Always is. Always is. All right, roll play level of concern coming up. Best bets later in the hour.

We got pebble starting tomorrow night. Tomorrow, I love it. Only if you want to, the wedge story. one more time before Pebble. I think I can run it through. We got to give a shout out tour. We saw Al yesterday, Joe Narsa. We saw the original Al.

Is a tailor-made tour rep. Yes. Al is so dialed in up there. He looks so beautiful, top the bottom, and the tailor-made gear. It was great to see him. It was great. He's gorgeous. I forgot how tall he was.

He is a tall dude. He is. Tall? Are you sure? Yeah, positive. Is that the same guy we're talking about? Yeah, we were sure. He was a youngster back then, noodles.

I bet he's six, too. He grew a foot since he was producing us, or what? Yeah, I guarantee you he's six two. Al, I think, might be six two. Club speed, what would you say? That's twice the size of Al's. You stack two of Al's brother on top of each other. That's what Narsa looks like.

That's exactly what's happened. It's a big development. Big development. Yeah, I'll get back into that story for you. Just before we do the past. pebble pit, I want the tiger. It's my favorite golf story. I'll give you the tiger wedge story one more time. I'll give it to you and a couple of pebble picks coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support.

So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. I'm Dylan Playfair and I'm Tyler Smith We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship This is bromance Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers proudly Canadian owned and operator Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years And you can find bromance on the IHeart Radio Network or wherever you get your podcast

You can never Never Ask me to stop drinking. All right. Quick role play level of concern. We've got a few of them here. Olympic hockey related, which I think is the nature of the show going forward here, right? Like we were talking a lot about it the last couple of days.

And once the game starts, which will happen tomorrow morning, it's go time. Go time. Full breakdown on what's going on here on TSM radio and here on Overdrive. All right. Let's start with O. Oh, you're playing the role of Austin Matthews. Austin Matthews. Okay.

What is your level of concern if you don't show up large in this tournament? You won't be the captain again for America. I'm... Play it. You can never, never ask me to stop drinking. You can't keep being the captain if they don't get it done for a team that everyone is gushing about and raving about. And you were a couple shots away. And if he plays well as one thing, but Billy Garoner, who's ever in charges, like, these guys aren't dummies.

They're not just going to say, oh, yeah, you're the captain. They'll switch it up and say, we're just going to do something different. They're going to say Matthew Kachuk's are captain. Brady's our captain. They're not just going to keep handing it to him. This isn't kindergarten. His dad's not the coach. Like, if it doesn't work out, they're going to do something.

When would be the next time around? Is there a World Cup of hockey or something? Possibly in a couple of years. And four years from now, I mean, it'll be 32. You expect he'd be a part of that team. Absolutely. But if they don't do something with him at the helm, I'm sure they'll switch it up. And it'll probably be a simple conversation.

We just got to do something different to try to change our luck. I don't think anyone's going to pinpoint him and say your performance was terrible. But his performance is going to be interesting to watch because this is big time stuff. Yeah. So let's see how he does because we know what he does when the Maple Leaf jersey is on and it's the playoffs. He hasn't played his best hockey. I don't even actually think he's been close to playing his best hockey come playoff time. You know, like, I don't ever remember a series where you're like Austin Matthews took over that series.

Like, do you ever remember him being the spotlight guy where it's like, you know, and McDavid did that stuff against Dallas and then L.A. or whatever. L.A. Like, it's just McDade. He becomes the spotlight player where obviously has teammates, but he's the spotlight guy. I don't ever remember Austin, like, having a series like that where it's like, he's had like blips and flashes where you're like, that was a good goal. That was a good play. Some plays against Tampa and the goal last year in Ottawa. Yeah, in Ottawa and Florida.

He had that five-hole goal. But for a series or a stretch of time, very few times have you said, that's the spotlight guy out there. Watch him. Hasn't been the case. Yeah, I think the captain's not even opinion. It's just fact. It's a fact. I think the captaincy is more of a figurehead thing because all of these guys are captains on their own respective team.

But I think it's imperative that the USA makes some noise. And, you know, like you say, Brian, if he's the figurehead, if he's the head of that snake and they don't make the noise that they want, they probably look at something different. But I don't know, like it's easy on Team Canada. Like Sid was the easy pick. It's not, Sid didn't get chosen the captain because it's a legacy thing. This guy's the most consistent player, arguably, in the history of the game. When you look at it, he's got more, I think it's more point per game, or what is it,

21 seasons. Yeah, point per game seasons than anyone in history. Than Gretzky, right? So, like, Sid's game hasn't dropped off. There was no question. Even though McDavid's the best player in the world, there was no question in Canada's dressing room why the captain's he was given to Sid. I think there's lots of captains in that room in the U.S.

And you could argue guys who've had, well, not argue, guys who've had more success because they've got cops, all of that type of stuff. Matthews has a heart, he's got some scoring titles, so it's not like he's without trophies. But I think it's an imperative just this team, this Team USA team, to make some noise here this time around because they're poised to do it. I think there's a lot of people think this is the best team that they've iced in, maybe ever. Yeah. So it's fair. I think Matthews is under the gun, and it's under the gun for the right reasons because he arguably is one of the best American players. Yeah.

The expectations are high. Exactly. You want pressure if you're an athlete. This is what you're craving, right? Exactly. Take advantage. All right. Notice you're John Cooper.

What is your level of concern? Your goaltender will sewer you when it matters most. The ultimate question. What a confirmer to this? I'm Stephen. He was asking it, though. Stevie Caldwell right now. A couple of whiskeys and five or six beers.

You have to think about it. You have to be aware of it. But you know what I watched this morning is when they won the Four Nations, everyone went into the pile. Everyone was high-fiving each other. I remember watching the extended conversation Cooper had with Bennington when he was hugging him and he was in his ear. And I remember afterwards, people asked him what a Coup said.

He goes, that's between me and him. I just feel like he said, you know, you proved a lot of people wrong, or, you know, you proved everybody right. Like, we knew from day one you were our guy type of thing. Like, I don't think, I think there was probably some special words kind of traded there. That seems like a million years ago, Jamie. It was a year ago. It was a year ago, this, you know, literally, calendar year.

It does seem like a million years ago because with goaltenders, we see it all the time. Guy has a great year, guy is a poor year. You know, like the inconsistency with goaltending up and down. Look at Jonas going after Vasilevsky, and then, you know, like, I've been bullish on Vasilevsky. You don't forget how to put. Yeah, but you think about it. Yeah, Jonas loves to go after Vasilevsky. That's when you're away.

Yeah, when I'm away. The thing is, though, I remember these conversations about Kerry Price. Gino Reda, I don't know, once a week on that's Hawkins. you. What's wrong with Kerry Price? That was the header because Kerry it allowed five goals on 19 shots, you know, is it over for Carrie? And I would be bullish and saying, you don't forget how to play. Yes, you have good years, you have bad stretches, whatever. I'm hoping this is the case for Bennington because he's been on a crappy team this year and been hung out to

dry and not played very well himself. So, you know, Stevie Caldell. Long last, long answer. Okay. Yeah, I mean, that's all you can hope for. I mean, it's a It's a tough role play, but it's a reality of what every Canadian is asking right now. And listen, they're asking it in the States, too. Every country is, you know, like, what's the goalie going to play like? How is he going to, like Hellebuck isn't loaded with cup rings and, you know. Do you think that Leach is short on Hellebuck? Yes.

I think it is. I think so. I think so, too. It's not as short as, you know, Bennington or Thompson or whatever. Right. But it's short. I think you look at it, and I think Helibon. Buck who, you know, injured and has been good.

I still think he's elite and the best, arguably. I'm a Vasilevsky. I don't think the other two guys have been lighting it up either, have they? Ointinger is the guy who got pulled by Peter DeBore. Yeah. Swayman's a pretty good playoff, Gawley. Yeah, like he's... And Swayman is, like, they have swagger, though.

That's the thing. Those three, they're number one clear-cut guys that are, you know, on their teams and making a ton of money because they deserve to be. You know, with Bennington, he got paid after 19 and has kind of, you know, struggled to find his game consistently every year. I still think he's a very good goaltender, but if you had to do a rating system, does he make top 20? Probably not, right?

Like it's where the other guys should be in your top 10 or close to it. You know, that's the way I look at it. All right, I'm playing the role of Connor McDavid. Connor McDavid, what is my level of concern? Leaving Italy without a gold will be crushing for my legacy. I don't want to play it because I'm not, eh. I don't think so. I'll say Stevie.

It's Stevie Cole. How about Rick Tris? Yeah, maybe. Here's the thing, though. This would be three consecutive years of a loss, you know. Like, as the man, like the best player in the world, you know, an all time for... One four nations. One four nations for sure.

And, you know, that tournament means more after it was played than before because I do think it was a cool tournament. It was a really cool tournament. Both sides, Canada and the U.S. played it seriously. But, you know, you go over for three and three years in the biggest platform you can get. Cup final, Cup final Olympic Games. as the man in your like prime 26, 27, 28, it'll hurt. I mean, you can't deny it. It hurts.

No, but it really hurts. It's a team game. Like, it's not tennis or golf. Like, that's the thing. But you can't drag them to the, he dragged them to the finals. He drag, like, at the end of the day. It's a team game in football, too. It's a team game in basketball.

You know, when you're the best of the best noodles, you just, you can't, you know, Dan Marino can't say, well, it's team game. And people are like, well, that guy never won anything. It's fair. But I mean, you got to be a damn merino gets dragged down at everything. Always. Always. You've got to get one to shut people up.

And it's not enough, like in the, in the, in the, in the, in the, in the, NHL, you got to win a Stanley Cup. Yeah. Like, you just have to. I don't know how else to explain it. Jack Eichol be looking around at all these superstars and you guys can just keep on trucking. Yeah. I got mine.

I got mine. You got to get one. Like, are the all-time greats. Yeah. He actually got to rely on your teammates and all that. Of course you do. And you can't do it without a goalie. Yeah.

And it may get to that point where it's just like you lose six, five and you did everything you could. And I don't know. I hope that's not the case. I'm obviously rooting for him heavily. I cannot wait to see him play. I'm pulling for Canada. I think they're going to win. And I think if they do and he's great, I think it just allows him to breathe so much.

Yeah. Because his legacy, he just wrote in that article. He knows. He knows. like he knows he's on a level with Sid and Mario and Gretzky and like that's the company he's in man

right and I just you got to get one now man you got to get one you got to get one yeah I don't know how else to put it like I just like you got to get one you're all time great you got to win you got to win yeah I agree I mean there's always

there's always there'll always be that question if you don't that's who's the great this player right now that's never won a Stanley Cup. Jerome McGahnler for me. There's probably somebody else. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there's... There's probably, but think about it. Like Marcel Dion and stuff like that.

This is modern day, but that, you know, Dion and those guys played when there wasn't 32 teams or, you know, 30 teams in the league. Those guys were playing in, you know, expansion area, but half the teams or 21 teams. A guy like Jumbo Joe? Yeah, the last 30 years. Yeah, he'd be there. I still think it's a Ginla. I think a Ginla is better than Thornton.

So, I mean, that's, I think it was a Ginla. I really do. The Siddins, like, people writing in, you know, there's different guys. Matt's Sundeen, Sun Dean's in the Hall of Fame, first ballot guy. Matt's number one. Matt's would be up there, you know. But McDavid, that's, McDavid's different from all those guys. We all love those players.

Generational. Yeah, like, like, he's just in a different world, man. He's in a different category. He's been the best player in the world for like eight years. You just said it, Brian, it scares me. Like, what if they get to the finals and they lose seven, six? Yeah. Like, there's not that you know.

And obviously, here's my point on this, I guess, Nudles is like, context in the moment everyone knows it and remembers it. They don't in like 20 years. You know what I mean? Like, everyone references Marino. I don't even know what happened in that Super Bowl. I just know, like, you got there. And vice versa, guys like Gretzky or.

or Lemieux, like, they all, it didn't matter. They always found a way to be the winner. Right. And there may have been years where it's like, hey, actually it wasn't even that great, but they won that year. You know, it was more these guys or that guy. The way I look at it, too, though, when you look at some of these teams that won,

like when Gretzky's winning, like how many Hall of Famers were on his team? There's fear, there's coffee. Coffee, Messier, Anderson Curry. You know, you look at those Detroit teams. like, you know, there's six, seven Hall of Famers. You know, that's the thing that, again, as the league gets more and more watered down, different world. Different world. It's harder and harder.

I'm not making excuses for it. But the Olympics is actually still somewhat pure. Like, it's no different than 98. You know what I mean? You know, the Canada Cup. Like, if anything, it might be easier because the Russians aren't playing. Yeah. So, like, people are saying, like, Carrie Price.

Very Price won a gold. He won a gold. That's why he got one of the planet and got a gold. It was the man on that team. He's got that. He's obviously not a cup, but... Right. All right.

Interesting to see. Best tomorrow. I'm pulling for him. I hope he gets. I just want to see Canada win. I'll see McDavid be great. I'd love to see Canada, USA. Just have a great game.

You know who I think sneaky might be good? I know people don't want to hear us. Mitch Marner. Yeah? I'm pulling for Mitch now, too. Come on, what I'm saying is, on paper, apparently they got him farther down in the lineup, right? With Sid and Stone, potentially. But, like, that might be a guy he, you know how Cooper found shifts for him higher in the lineup?

It might be, hey, Marner for in for Wilson and go play with McDavid. You know, you had some magic at the Four Nations face up. He might be a pivotal guy. Somebody asked me about who's your X factor. I think it was today or yesterday. I think Mitch Marner might be, because he might be a guy who can go up or down your lineup. And again, did he learn anything last year? Well, obviously, you know, people be pissed off of how things went in the playoffs in Toronto.

But as far as the Four Nations go, Jamie, he was exactly that guy. He had some success early, then he disappeared for a little bit, and then he had the biggest moment of the tournament. I'm trying to remove emotion from it, and people just ask me. And I said, well, he might be a swing guy. For sure he can. That could be a difference maker in a time where they need it. I don't know. Again, it would be interesting to see, but that's...

I think you're going to need basically everyone, right? Like at some point, you're going to need everyone to kind of chip in. You're going to need depth. You're going to need guys to kill a big penalty, you know, all this type of stuff that's going to factor into it all. Why am I so nervous for it? I'm nervous too, which is great. It's great feeling. In other years, I haven't been as, maybe it's just been so long or whatever.

but, you know, 1045 tomorrow morning, whatever the hell it is. I'm pissed about that, but I'll still be fired up about it. But it's just I have more anxiety about it this time around than I have in previous years. Yeah. I don't know why. I'll be honest. A lot of it is McDavid driven for me. Like, we've talked a ton about them, you know, and I've said what I've said about, yeah, we win another heart and all that.

The guy's the best player in the world. I love watching him play. I want him to complete the story. Like everyone does. You know, I get it. Even Flames fans will say, I hate McDair. I get it. But he's playing for us now for the next two weeks.

And when you get a player that status, who's this great, the chosen one, so to speak. We heard him around Toronto when he was like 12, 13 years old. Absolutely. I went to a building. I think he was 14 years old. I went to that North York arena. Yeah, exactly. And Carnicke Arena.

And it was like, you got to, this kid's on his way, man. You got to see this kid play. And, you know, the heartbreak of the last two years, been tough. Florida earned it. Florida was a better team. You know, Florida went out there and crushed his soul and everyone else's in Edmonton's the last two years. But that's kind of where my anxiety.

And McKinnon, to an extent, although McKinnon's got his cup. Like, it just feels like McDavid. It's like, just go out there and be great and get one. Like just win it, breathe, and everything. everyone, you know, then it changes the complexion a little bit. You know, part of it is obviously other good teams, and it's been 12 years since you went to the Olympics, and, you know, it's completely different era. But that's what's kind of driving my anxiety.

I just want to see them win, and 97 be great. Be awesome. Let's hope it happens the next two weeks. All right, we're coming back. We've got some pebble picks, best bets powered by Fanduel. We'll get to those in more overdrive, continue. TSN 1050 and on the TSNN out. With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support.

So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. I'm Dylan Playfair. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes

about the importance of friendship. This is bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charmed Diamond Centers. proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find bromance on the IHeart Radio Network or wherever you get your podcast. Best bets powered by Fandoul. Make your picks and assemble the same game, Parley and seconds on the Fandau Sportsbook app.

All right, we got the AT&T, Pebble Beach. Ranks pretty high on the list of cool tournaments to watch. I know the amateurs are out there. I think they're still out there. Although it's a signature event. Are they still doing that now? I don't think so. Like Bill Murray falling in traps and stuff like that.

I think they might just do something like a one-day thing or something. I can't stand watching amateurs hit golf shots. Well, this is where Brady hit that brutal shot off the first tee. Is that pebble? Yeah. I know one thing. Brady doesn't go get tested at the lab, Taylor-made Lab, and a guy doesn't say you and TW only two to allow to test this.

Yeah. That is a true story. It's a true story. I mean, there's some embellishment there. No, there's not just me and Tiger. But yeah, we were at Taylor Made yesterday and was hitting wedges and the MG5. And my man, Jeff said, I don't do this often, if ever. Take a look at this Tiger Woods proto.

Gets me every time. 12 minutes. Once a week, you got to tell me because I love it. It was phenomenal. He would have made me cry if he said to me, I don't do this often. That is a true statement. That I am telling you definitively, he said, I rarely put this in someone's hands. That's impressive.

But your action right now is just giving me Tiger vibes. Wow. Anyway, you got the first pick. I'm giving you a five-pack, whoever you want. Within reason, you can't get greedy, right? Let's split up Scotty and Macaroy. Who do you want? I mean, I hit the ball like Maceroy, right?

I mean, that's what I was being told. I mean, the QI-4-D, there was. saying I was hitting it like Macaro. I guess I'll take Maca Roy to go back to back at Pebble. You're going to take Rory McElroy over Scotty? I don't know what to tell you. I mean, Scotty's plus 300. Macroix's 14 to 1.

Like, that's a huge gap. That's how good Scotty Shephler is. I'll take Macalroy. I'm going to take my boy Tommy Fleetwood. I love Tommy this year. I love Tommy. I'm going to take Siwu Kim has been sniffing the last few weeks. I will take Siwu.

I'm going to take. Michael Thor Bornson, that guy absolutely, he is a ball-staking genius. And then I'll take Nick Taylor, who's won of Pebble as well. If I get an extra pick, I'll take Maverick McNeely as well, who grew up on Pele. You got Rory Thor Bjornson. Seawoo, Fleetwood, Taylor, and then I'll throw in McNeely. Okay. I'm going to go Ludwig Overg.

I'm going to go stinky slow Patrick Cantley He never wins though man He hasn't won in three years I know Go ahead take him Patrick Cantley I'm gonna go Sammy Burns I like a Sammy Burns

And maybe possibly some windy Windy conditions Rocking the Peter Millarge here too man He looks phenomenal out there Yeah he does I'm gonna go Shafley To get off the Schneid Shofley

He stinks right now He stinks He stinks He's terrible right now I'm going to go a size 5 foot 8, 140 pounds with a size 17 sketcher. Fitsy. Fitsy. Fitsy.

I'm going to go Fitsy. Okay, you got one more pick, I think. You know what? Gauter up again? No, you can't take Goddard up again. You're not going to win again back to back weeks. I'm going to go two more picks. I'm going to go Gauter up.

and I'm going to go Giordano Spieth. Oh, I was looking at him. Dude, that guy is such a wild card. Yeah, he is. Can you figure out how his caddy or his coach hasn't told him, let's figure out a way to get something in the fairway? I know. Like, just let's squeeze a little driver out there with a little fade,

and it'll go too way. I know. Get you on the fairway, but he can't hit a fairway, dude. All right. I got an extra pick. I'll take JJ spawn and take JJ out there. There's so many good players in the field this week, man. Matt Siamas been good recently.

Gauter up, it wins. Henley, Russell Henley could win at that track. 100%. All right, picks her in. Powered by Fandul. Must be 19 plus physically located in Ontario. All right, I love it. Pabell's signature event.

It's going to be a big week. Big, big week. Tracking that tomorrow. Coming off Canada, check you tomorrow. Full breakdown on TSN4 and TSN5 tomorrow. And of course, up on YouTube Live. All right, thanks to everyone behind the scenes for hopping out. We appreciate it.

Everyone for tuning in today. TV, radio, podcast, web, up on YouTube live. We're out of here, enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at... I don't do this often or ever. 4 p.m. We'll chat then.

I'm Dylan Clayfair. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charmed Diamond Center, proudly Canadian-owned and operator.

Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeartRadio Network or wherever you get your podcast.