OverDrive - OverDrive - February 18, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

Join Michael DiStefano, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss Canada and USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game, Jordan Binnington's performance in net for Canada and the Maple Leafs' impressions in the tournament. The guys discuss Quinn Hughes taking the ice at the Canucks' skate, his status with Team USA and how players will play in the return to the regular season.

Welcome back to Kids Played, where we break down school stuff, kid style, so everyone gets it. Today's topic, class sizes. Let's go to a call. Emily, what's on your mind? Hi, I love learning, but I need more one-on-one time with my teachers. My classes are just so overcrowded. Oh, I know that feeling, Emily. It's like being lost in the crowd. What we need are smaller class sizes. Want to help support students? Visit nomore.ca. That's K-N-O-W-M-O-R-E.ca.

A message from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association. Hour two of Overdrive underway. Mike DeStefano filling in for Brian Hayes. Got Jamie Nootles-McClennan with me and the O-Dog Jeff O'Neil. We'll have Johnny join us in about five minutes or so. We'll get back into the Canada-U.S. bowl, the rematch that's going to be happening in just a couple of days. And something to chew on is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP when you get an entree, a side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less.

A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza our poll question today is do you think the Four Nations final will be as compelling as it was on Saturday so far 70% say yes I don't know man it's just what if it's like yeah what if it's like a bogged down 2-1 game? Not that that won't be entertaining. Some things are just meant to be left alone. It's like, I don't know if you can match that. I don't think you can either.

What if somebody is going to say, oh, you want to fight off the face off? It just won't be original. It won't have the same jam to it. I don't think it's impossible to see a fight But it'll be natural like it'll be within a game something happens You run a goalie and someone answers the bell So it's not that I don't think there doesn't have the opportunity for a fight to occur But it's not gonna be staged like it was to start

Saturday night's game. I just I think it's like anything The more you talk about it and build it up it I feel like it disappoints everybody because I if it's just like you say Oh if it's a 2-1 and a 3-1 with an empty netter and it's just a hard fought game, but that's what Saturday was I mean take out the first 10 seconds, but that's what Saturday was it was a tight close checking game, but it was phenomenal I just don't think there's gonna be the the fights. And I think the intensity will be high. You might see more goals on both sides too. I mean, it could be a 4-3 or a 5-3 with an empty netter. I think Canada is going to get some goals, but I don't know. Bennington's got to have a performance.

And the US looks on paper like they're a bit weakened because of the injuries. Now we'll see what they come up with on Thursday night. I think we all agree, Quinn Hughes is going to find a way to play. They're going to, you know, somebody's going to be six, not available, whatever, he's going to play. Even if it's a forward that comes out and they go 7D, all of a sudden Quinn Hughes will be in the lineup. But how are they going to it like it's it'd be

Embarrassing for somebody if they're just gonna go up to somebody and say hey by the way Are you not feeling well? Like I don't know how they're gonna do it Like somebody's dying to play in there get in there if it's jakes anderson or whoever the hell it is I do for the flag go that country, but I do believe and it sounds like there is a flu going around Yeah, cuz what do a bunch of you know all marketing play? But I do believe, and it sounds like there is a flu going around. Yeah. Because a bunch of, you know, Omar didn't play for Sweden. You think for the flag someone's going to put their hand up and say, by the way, I'm

kind of. Well, I don't think anyone's putting their hand up, but I think there could be a conversation had where it's, you're not feeling good tonight, are you kid? And that's probably how it would go. That's what I would not like kale mccar though that guy missing Saturday and then coming back watching that guy play he's disgusting he is disgusting he is like Lidstrom he does his business differently but he controls the whole pace of the game like that that that is the one thing that playing against Lidstrom for so many years and

listening to other players like he controlled the game somehow. And that's what Mekar does. Like his anticipation, his natural ability to skate, shoot the puck. He's got this little wrister, man, that's like an Al McKinnis slap shot from the point. Like it's just a flick of the wrist and it's a laser. And I'll tell you what, he doesn't get enough credit. There's a guy That's not there's Quinn Hughes. There's Kale McCarr that guy Columbus is not far behind. Zachy Wierenski? Dude, this guy is disgustingly good

He is a he's Roy Hobbs the natural man He's unreal his skating ability and the way he moves the puck and all this poise. I fell in love with that guy and it's not through all the games I've seen him play. It's not for the Four Nations Cup game. It was at practice. I just watched him and I was like, oh my God, this guy is an absolute stud. Like I always knew he was kind of good or really good, but man is that guy is right there with those other two guys.

You might not think it, but I'm telling you he is. No, he is. And he's like a guy sneakily who's right up there for the Norris. I think he's third or fourth shortest on the fandom. Should not even use the word sneakily. No way. It's the market though. Oh, he plays in Columbus and it's not the sexiest market.

I know, but it's completely disrespecting the man to say sneakily he deserves to be up there with her sure conversation absolutely he's got 59 points this year so far but 59 points if Columbus makes the playoffs he's there he's in that conversation Quinn Hughes is there McCarr's there like there is there is guys who are having amazing seasons that might be heart worthy conversations If he can drag Columbus into the playoffs telling you guy you put that guy on the Montreal Canadians or the New York Rangers They'll be talking about the big three he would be he would be in the same combo as Quinn Hughes and Kale McCarr. I think the players that good. Yeah, he's he's absolutely unbelievable

Joining us now on the Maple of Toyota hotline is Mike Johnson. How's it going, Johnny? What's going on fellas? Plane, trains and automobiles. I was in Boston for the game last night. I was supposed to get home today. Obviously, that is not happening given everything that's going on in Toronto. So I'm just chilling in Boston for a couple days here to see how we get to the next game. You gonna hammer some Sam Adams tonight, Johnny? Go down to Hobbit and get some Sam Adams. Get after a little bit. Just get in a fight.

Just do it the Boston way. Go down to Harvard to a crappy pub and then just fight somebody. That's how you do it in Boston. Do you like apple? That's all I'm telling everyone. Do you like apple? Exactly. Exactly. Speaking of fights, Gianni, let's take it back to your, kind of where you were at Saturday night at the Bell Center. Not one, not two, three fights in the opening ten seconds. I mean, where were you? Who were you with and what was your reaction to it all? Well I was there in the building I was four feet

away from O and watching it and sort of stunned disbelief. Not that these guys would fight but just in this tournament right off the bat I just don't think anyone, certainly me, thought that this would happen. Even if they wanted to be physical, if they wanted to be emotional, even if they wanted to make a statement. I didn't think it would go like that. But, and I'm generally, maybe, you know, I'm sort of not maybe the biggest proponent of fighting and it's how it can impact the game.

I don't know how much it actually does. But in that moment that felt so real, so raw. It was beyond exciting. It was one of the most energizing moments I can ever even remember in a building. It was that electric when it went down that way. And I think that was sort of the seminal moment of the tournament, which by all accounts been a resounding success yeah the building was so loud the players were into it media was everyone was could not believe what was going on it was that it was that exciting so Johnny explain to me if this Quinn Hughes gets on an airplane he ain't flying to Boston to watch in the

press box Is he like is there a defenseman from the states eating raw chicken right now on purpose or what? Salmonella on line one coming down. Yeah, I mean Yeah, it's quite huge you're not pulling A young guy like Jake Sanderson or Thomas Harley that would be sort of You know you're you're happy to be sort of, you know, you're happy to be there and to participate and whether you get on the ice or not, you're just, you're happy to be called.

It's quite news. And the Canucks are back in action now. Like they're back to practice today. So yeah, I would imagine and I don't know if anyone is hurt or not. But given the state of the American team, there's both illness going around that, you know, yeah, what car was suffering from as well, like a flu bug going around. And now that's the last game of the tournament. Oh, you could say anybody if you wanted to, you could say anybody was sick. And who are they going to question it? Right?

There's like, okay, I mean, if you say so, then that guy is out of the tournament. Well, the tournament's over. So it doesn't matter if Zach Baranski, it won't be him. That's why I said him. They say he's sick because then he'll just be done for the tournament. So I don't know how it's going to go. It seems unlikely that he comes all the way here and does not play. But we're sort of there watching this.

And the tournament, the rules for the tournament are vague and not really well understood and kind of being made up as they go because it's the first time through it the different situations crop up they have to address like the macar being taken the military so dot and i don't know what i'm doing made this is how the rule books being

made i get six great goose and waters please? Hey, what do you think about that? Let that guy come? That's the rule book. How do they not account for this? A potential injury or illness throughout a two week tournament? How did that not come up at any point

when putting together the rules for this tournament? Well, it did, but I mean I think it was what injury. Like, if a guy got hurt without a tournament, then you'd be allowed to call somebody else up but you know then the PA is part of this as well because they didn't want guys cutting shuffled in and out they didn't want guys getting called when they weren't going to play so trying to sort of protect the players maybe they did too good of a job and it's not like and the other language was I don't know if

they ever distinguished like if a defenseman gets hurt, then a defenseman gets to come. Because America presumably will have 18 skaters for Thursday's game, they just might not have six defensemen, if that's the way it went down. So, yeah, I think it's just sort of on the fly, figuring out as they go, trying to do what makes the most sense. Johnny, what do you think the takeaways, even for both teams, but more for Canada, losing that game on Saturday, maybe some adjustments that they would look at to try and be able to beat Team USA on Thursday? Well, I mean, I think the first thing they've done is they've continued to try to find wingers

for McDavid and for McKinnon. And I thought in Finland getting Braden Point to play with Conor McDavid made a lot of sense. They're both really good points fast. He's good defensively strong on the boards. It just worked better. And Mark Stone there just kind of works with everyone. And then getting Reinhardt with Crosby and McKinnon It was Reinhardt's best game by a mile against Finland So they've made some some lineup adjustments which seemed to make sense and then I'm part about it when they go against

Us is they got suffocated with lots of plays trying to go East West trying to go through the box Across the ice through the seams and the Americans just collapsed knocked down Pucks and just didn't give Canada those kind of looks and I think they will make a concerted effort to be more direct more straight line get Pucks to the net a little simpler because the way the Americans were playing just those those options weren't available so those are probably the adjustments they make and well, he's maybe, Kel McCarroll will be playing and hopefully continue to get better than he is feeling the last few days. And he is great enough that he alone would sort of be a difference maker if he's able

to play for Canada well. Just a quick follow up on that. Did that Team USA not look like a little bit of a, I know when you look at it Sullivan is the coach, but it felt like it had Torz's fingerprints all over it. You had some fights, you had blocking shots, you had collapsing to the middle of the ice. I mean, that's how Torz coaches. I know Sullivan might have a lot of that and drives the bus there, but I just felt like maybe Tortorella's fingerprints were all over that game plan for the US side.

Yeah, yeah, you're probably right. And in Torquance, they've gone back for ages. Rangers cannot live together forever, so they are sort of one and the same. But also remember, Doodle, 2014 Olympics, was that so cheap? When Canada won gold? That's how they played. Like, they gave up nothing. Like, 12, 14 shots a game, no chances whatsoever.

When top players are invested and decide to apply themselves and all their greatness to defense, it can become really hard to make plays because they're good enough, it's fair enough to make it hard for you. Whether it's Torz or Sully or just the excellence of top players, they were really, really good in understanding what they're being asked to do and then being able to execute it. Johnny, the three Maple Leaf players that were there or that are there, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, could you give a quick grade on each of their performances in this tournament?

Well, yeah, often Matthews, I think, well, first off, is there anyone, any alarm bells that he missed the game yesterday? Kind of a weird one. It is for me. It is for me. I'm sorry. Nobody's talking about it. Like, Sullivan said, now we've got some upper body injuries and then everyone scrambled

to go, ah, we're just relaxing them. Like, to me, I don't know. Maybe I was wrong about that. Given it's history history noodles how can you not be a he's been dealing with some of the only don't know if that was this game doesn't matter so take the night off i don't know i just i i had a player short though all but they played a new word short

like even if you want to keep the captain and yet the chocolate obviously hurt and macklemore is not will be hurt you know, you would've dressed the guy, even if you wasn't gonna play a lot, you play him eight minutes, you dress him. So, for Austin, I guess that's my thing. He's like, I'm a little worried if I'm a Leaf fan, okay, did he re-aggravate?

Was he never entirely healthy? Well, what's going on here? Or is this something different? All of which are concerning. All of which don't bode well for him down the stretch. I'm gonna give him a B minus. He's the captain, he's done a good job leading. He's played hard, he's rung a couple posts.

First game against Finland, pretty good. Second game is Canada, not so much. Third game he didn't play, so I don't know, B minus, C plus. He hasn't been a difference making player for them just yet. Maybe he will on Thursday, and that'll salvage the whole tournament. Willy will probably get, based on his expectations for how important he was gonna have to be for Sweden,

and he was good, he had two or three points in the tournament, and he gets a, I don't know, B- as well, because he was okay, but he wasn't as dynamic with the puck and a difference maker every single night. Couldn't find the big moment when Sweden was those close games. Sweden is going home having never lost a game in regulation.

They were that close to overtime games and Willy couldn't grab one when it mattered most, so B minus or something. And Mitch, probably a C because he started on McDavid's wing. I had him there on my team, so it's not like he was, I think he was put out of position. I thought that's where he belonged as well. It didn't work. They didn't generate a lot. He had the one great, maybe a B-. This guy's throwing overtime game, you know, but which is a great moment in three on three. Awesome, incredible for him. A real important moment for him and for Cannon in this tournament. But as far as just general impact on games, it hasn't happened with the puck, although of course he's been good defensively like

everybody has in the tournament. So not necessarily a standout banner tournament for any of the Leaf guys right now. They're all they've all been fine, but none have been great. Well I think that's the thing that's kind of troubling some leaf fans here johnny like yes he's got the goal at at three on three and overtime but at five on five when it's been tight and it's been you know taking away time and space very reminiscent to the playoffs he's been silent i mean like leaf fans are too happy about about that did going into the playoffs is that's the mariner we can see i mean i was i can't a concern to you how he's played

well it's hard to pay a concern like i didn't be jack you do too much in the tournament rejected either well what the players you can say that are there are there are credible that haven't had amazing off at the tournament uh... that are incredible that haven't had amazing offensive tournaments. You know in three games it's such a small sample. Last game he largely was in a checking role and a defensive role.

So yeah like you would have preferred if in a super tight game you're like boy do you ever notice Marner? Does he have it a lot? Is he ever trading even though nobody else is? He's one of the few who can but on, the only... McDavid you could say that about, right? What was there? McDavid was the guy you're like, okay, that guy always looks dangerous. But against the US, Nathan McKinnon looked quiet. Almost nobody did. So I'm not going to pile on him too much. You prefer it be the opposite. And it would be concerning if he had this kind of impact in a playoff game.

But I'm not going to say that he won't do well in the playoffs because he hasn't necessarily thrived here. Johnny, you mentioned McDavid. Do you think the Thursday night's game is a platform for him to just kind of put the stake in the ground once again and say, I'm McJesus and that's just the way it is. Yep. 100% oh. 100%. Now if he doesn't, I don't know if it necessarily harnesses anything, but if he does, if he goes out there and is the best player and if he scores three points and a 3-2 win, if he goes Mario and Gretzky and 87 all ruled into one. Like if he does that, then yeah, I mean, I think given the quality of competition,

how close the games are, the stakes and everything else, then it'd be once again, I don't want, you know, I don't want to hear about McKinnon talk or Matthews talk or Kucherov talk or Hughes talk or Hellebuck, it's me. I'm the guy, I'm the best and watch me do it when it matters most, when it's toughest. And it would not surprise anybody If he was able to pull that off to me, he's just

He's just that good. I want to say even amongst the best He's better So Johnny Goaltending where you at with Jordan Bennington? Do you think that there was a conversation? a conversation for a Hayden Hill or that you thought they were just maybe pot committed on Bennington the whole time? So New World, would you have gone any other way than what they've done?

What would you have done? No to be honest, no I thought and Owen and I talked about this, I thought there may have been a snivel to go okay let's see's see what Hill's got against Finland and then, you know, maybe run him into the final. But I don't think Bennington has been the difference of cost them games. There's been an old laid this out and he's actually been perfect and bang on. Bennington's allowed one bad goal per game, you know, minimum, but at least one bad goal where he's got to clean that up because you can't do that in a final game.

So you're going to, on Thursday he cannot have a goal against that would be on him and I know that's a lot of pressure but he's got to live up to that. But I could see them running him and you know, sticking with him. He hasn't cost him a game but he, in essence, he's been just okay. Like I think he's been solid and made a couple big saves but also wanted one back per game but he in essence he's been just okay like I think he's been solid and made a couple big saves but also wanted one back per game that he probably should have had yeah so I think both things can kind of be true right like the game they lost wasn't necessarily solely Bittington's fault they scored one goal that's not on the on the goal turning alone right watch I was sort of on board

the entire time that I thought Hill should have played against the Americans, Nudels. I thought after what we saw against Sweden in the beginning, the first game, I'm like, get him against the Americans. If he plays great, then you roll him. If he plays okay, then you go back to Bennington as though it's a rotation and play Bennington against Finland and then I get that he's going to be your guy. But by going Bennington-America, you made it tough to go any other direction

because if you went to Aiden Hill, you're putting them in a game where they had to win in regulation with a guy who hasn't played in nine days and said, don't screw up. So they're going to Bennington. He's been just okay, as you mentioned. I think at this point, I don't think in Canada cares. I don't think he cares that his numbers might not be great as say percentage is 85 or whatever it might be, I don't even know what it is. In the eights, I think he's in there because he's perceived from the management as a winner, a gamer, a guy who just finds a way to get it done. And so far he sort of largely has done that even though you know there's lots of goals you can point to say I don't like that one but it will catch up

to them. Then that's just it. He's gonna play again and they're playing against an opponent who's better where the margins are tighter and giving up one bad goal is one too many that might stop them from being able to win the whole tournament so it sort of played out exactly how you thought it might, right, Nodal? Like goaltending wasn't an area of strength. There was going to be rocky moments, but the team was going to be really good and they will probably be good enough to get it done with less than great goaltending. So far that's what's happened.

We'll see if they can do it when it matters most. Johnny, how many players were named to this team for Canada? 23? Yes, well 24 now with Harley, I guess, or whatever. most. Johnny, how many players were named with this team for Canada? 23? Yes. Well, 24 now with Harley, I guess, or whatever. Okay. Let's call it 25. Out of the 25 guys, how many will stay on the team for the Olympics next year? I mean, without trying to them out, I don't, you know, the goaltenders, I don't know if I can say any of them. So who knows there, uh,

the eight defense when they've come back with, obviously McCarr will be there, I think Morrissey will be there, and that's maybe it. That I can guarantee, so that's two I will guarantee. Up front, Sid will be there if he can, McKinnon will be there, McDavid will be there, Marder will be there, say what you want. Point will be there, McDave will be there, Martyr will be there, say what you want, Point will be there, is that five?

Stone, six, Reinhardt, seven. Like those are the guys I would say no matter, like kind of guaranteed though that I would say there's no doubt it's very, very likely that they'll get there. The rest will sort of have to earn their spots back on depending on how the next year goes. So yeah, not the majority whereas I think you know the American team you might say 15 of those guys 18 of those guys we likely be there next time because you know they're definitely the best that they have to offer in Canada there's there's still sort of conversations for

those players well Johnny if you look at the guys who I guess still have to prove their worth going into next year maybe some of the more you know underwhelming players shouldn't say underwhelming but think the guys who you're pleasantly surprised that were named to the roster have any of those guys really impressed you and made a bid for next year at the Olympics? Like Brandon Hagel is a guy for me I'd like the way he's looked at also i called per a co2 i'd like to his game to as well yeah you know hey go probably would be one could be with the little bubble guys

and beyond the fight but he's been energetic he's been good defensively he really had you know he's going to kill penalties uh... he's been reliable doesn't need to play a lot. Like he's sort of one of those players that can play a smaller role and still be impactful. So, yeah, I think he would be an obvious candidate for it. Perenco. Yeah, so he he's been fine. He's been good. He's obviously a very good player. I just think sometimes, you know, he's involved in a lot of stuff.

You see him. He's big. He's range. he's in the way, he's sort of involved in the plays. Then you look at the underlying number of game over game, you're like, why did I get no shot with him on the ice? Like, why isn't it the other guy? Like, the net results aren't always quite as clean as you'd like. So I, he's been good, but I don't know if he's been good enough to me that I would just sort of put him in ink, that he'd be on the team.

I agree, Johnny. I think his decision making with the puck, he just tries to save play it up the boards. To me, nowadays, the defensemen, especially at that level, you have to make plays. To me, there's been too many just bump plays up to neutral zone bump plays here and there. I think you're going to have Petr Angelou, yes he'll be a year older, but there'll be other guys I think that slide into those roles where maybe Pereyko takes a step back in that. That's just the way I look at it. I think he's been good and I love that he stood up and fought and he's a good St. Albert

boy which I always love. I grew up there. To me it just, I think his, by eye test to the underlying numbers, to me it matches. I think he tries to be safe, but you've gotta make plays at that level. And I don't think his first instinct is to make plays. I think at this point,

it's sort of being a larger base defenseman conversation. Defensemen who wanna skate the puck up by themselves, and shoot from outside look good but probably aren't as productive as defensemen who can move a little bit and then pass the puck really well. And I think, you know, Pareko might be more in the former category as opposed to latter. Like the best defensemen can do all of it, but the best defense are the ones who can skate well but then pass and read the play and pass well and you know Braco does it okay but maybe not as well as some of the best guys like Zach Wawrowski's been

a revelation this guy in the tournament has been so good make makes America not miss Quinn Hughes a little bit which is hard to say crazy I was talking about him Johnny I think that he's right up there with those two guys like McCarr which is hard to say. Crazy. I was talking about him, Johnny. I think that he's right up there with those two guys, like McCarr and Hughes. Like, he's that good of a player. And you can watch games, and you can watch games live. But I just watched him at practice,

and it was just disgusting what he was doing out there. Like, he's one of those. Like, he's such a natural. He makes everything look so easy and I don't know, he's a competitive guy and he's just so talented. I can't get enough of him. I can't speak highly enough of that guy. Well you'll love this Johnny. Zach Wierenski, according to Dom Sison's net rating model, leads the tournament with 1.47 net ratings. So He's been a rock star net rating

Don't get That's I'm saying the numbers support what you're with the eye test to see and that's the whole point We all marry them all together. Oh, eric carlson with second in that reading i think i read that article earlier today he actually looks like a certain about now you have to go to a yeah he actually looks like yeah i do know how about the other guy we got to let you go here soon johnny but the other guy this vancouver centerman that peterson might be in one

or or she's you're used to know all you what you would be hoping if you're Vancouver or Pederson or someone you know who's rooting for him is that the change of the dynamic on the Canucks would free him up mentally, emotionally and with his confidence and just let him go play and have fun and be light and be excellent like he was before. Hasn't happened in Vancouver. So you're thinking you know what maybe getting back with the Swedes, where the trade is thrown, that will be a different environment for him to flourish where he has to be great, will play like-minded players and people and it'll

be great. Didn't happen. He played less than 10 minutes yesterday. And in a game that was pretty fast and loose, that American game, like there wasn't quite as locked down as the Canada version of the American team You could notice them and now he's got to go back to Vancouver all the pressure on him And I don't know his no trade kicks in we don't have to get there. Yeah, there's no trade kicks in in July 1st. Mm-hmm Is the next 10 days or whatever it's two weeks until the trade down line about enough for a regular to figure out came we were to build around the guys or i don't know what they do there because this version of him

uh... well we're all set into whatever is going through for this version of him is not the guy that he signed to that contract and not the guy they need to have their long-term now it's it's an interesting situation they got to know you had a couple weeks then a couple more months after that to figure it out with Elias Pedersen. Johnny appreciate the time as always we'll catch up again later in the week pal. Alright boys have a good night. Take it easy. Mike Johnson joining us on the

Maple Toyota hotline. Count on Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota. Trading your old tires, buy a new set and get $40 back visit MapleToyota.com. Speaking of Vancouver, there's another turn of events here when it comes to the Quinn Hughes saga at the Four Nations Tournament. I think we should take a break and get to it on the other side. I'm Mike DiStefano with Jamie Nunes-McClennan and Jeff O'Neal. You're watching Overdrive on TSN2 and up on TSN1050. Overdrive continues on TSN2 and on TSN1050. Overdrive brought to you by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Mike DiStefano, Jamie Noodles-McClennan and the O-Dog Jeff O'Neill with you. And

apparently Quinn Hughes is not en route to Boston. there's a quinn hughes sighting in vancouver he's at practice now he's wearing a non-contact red sweater but he is at practice not in boston so uh... what the hell's going on here so tony hughes yeah tony hughes exactly he was never on the bird never on the bird to boston how there's some reports coming out where it's like This guy's not going to Boston unless he's playing what are the chances? I don't know what are the chances because he's not able to skate with the team or practice with the team

Unless somebody gets hurt and they're down to five D-Men. What are the odds that he's getting to skate? Let me clarify one thing first, Alex, brother. Let me clarify one thing first. The red jersey is non-contact? Correct. Yes. That he ain't going to Boston.

If he's in a non-contact jersey with his club team right now on a Tuesday, he is not playing for them on a Thursday. Sorry, it's not happening. No, if I'm Jimmy Rutherford, I'd say, bud, you've made the right decision at first. You're just not going. We got a game in Vegas on Saturday night. You are not going non-contact Jersey flight to Boston and then to Vegas. I'm just not allowing it.

Yeah. I mean, it could all be smoke and mirrors, but you're right. The non-contact jersey is the thing that sends up the red flag for me. Because if he's practicing full today, I have no problem with that because you know that he would be ready to jump on a bird tomorrow after practice if they need him, if somebody comes up sick in that defense corps tomorrow. But I the red jersey the non contact jersey is a concern for me. I don't think he's playing either.

But you know stranger things have happened. They might be playing games with us. Well that's what I think. You guys keep saying the red jersey. He could just put this red jersey on just so that he didn't get hurt. That's their golden nugget out there He's one of the top three or four players. I get that I get they're not going non-contact to a bird to Boston Playing in that war out there and then to Vegas. It's just

Seeing him that like that puts the scenario into a suit I just don't see what you're doing it you have to have perspective too. And let's just put our business hat on. Francesco Aquilini is sitting there going, we're in a playoff spot and we have had nothing but chaos this year. We've had our starting goaltender who hasn't been available. We've had in fighting where we had to trade one of our top players, a hundred point guy, and get pennies on the dollar. You know, the nice players that came back,

but not a star player like Miller. And now, you know, Pedersen isn't playing well, and Quinn Hughes is banged up, and you're gonna force feed him to play in a Four Nations faceoff, where, you know, you're trying to make the playoffs, and you're, like, that's millions of dollars in gate for the owner

I have just a little side note here. Yes, saw a tweet Thatcher Demko not expected to go on the Canucks five game road trip Lower body injury. Well, yeah, he's he had another injury the other day. I mean Lanken in is their only hope I don't but they've just they just went ten days with no games and this guy He's not going on a five game road trip He left against the Leafs that with that injury didn't look good like I don't know what that was but yeah He's he's in one and and Lankenen is their guy I just I think they have to like say if he comes back

It's a bonus you have to look and build if he comes back, it's a bonus. You have to look and build your team that Lankin is going to be your guy because Demko's had, we'll call it three separate injuries now this year. I don't know if they're all linked the same. The one where he fell on his tailbone or whatever, that one was different than the lower body, whatever the back of the knee was, which was last year and the start of this season. And maybe, just maybe, hopefully that, Oh that all mark hopefully he can feel better for the Sens on Saturday because I know he was really sick yesterday. Thoughts and prayers I

hope you get better. I'm serious I want him to be ready for the Sens and I hope he's okay he must have been really sick not to be able to go yesterday. He better play Saturday like the Sens got to come back like again you we're all locked into this Four Nations face-off which is great. It's gonna be there are absolute gong show on that gets a sprint. There are games at one o'clock on Saturday the Edmonton Oilers play in Philadelphia on one o'clock on Saturday. Which makes the scheduling just that much like puts a more in a question Why why not on the Wednesday?

Exactly why not have the game tomorrow then the next game Saturday like you're force-feeding. It's Thursday night in Boston CJ said it It's like they're trying to capitalize on TV and stuff. I get it. I get it one day You got to play the game and get the hell out of there everybody out. I I get it one day you got to play the game and get the hell out of there everybody out I do want to follow up on something that you We kind of touched on earlier and it was the Austin Matthews him missing and sitting out of the game and noodles you said it Kind of kind of piqued your interest a little bit and people are trying to swipe it under the rug a little bit like so Where are you at on that noodle? I? Just okay, maybe I always try and check Leafs' Twitter temperature and all that.

I try not to get too worked up about it one way or the other. I saw Austin Matthews not playing. I'm great. It was a nothing game. They've already made it. But then the comments of the coach kind of concerned me because the coach doesn't, you know, Sullivan understands the Toronto market sort of. I mean, he's American, he's a coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

What does he care what he says that could light a fire in Toronto? Because I honestly think that he might have misspoke and then there was all of a sudden the insiders were jumping on top of it going, oh, you know, it could be this, it could be that. Like that's just, you know, resting him type of thing. But I, that sent, you know, some sort of spidey sense for me going Matthew's upper body and then, you know, along with McAvoy. Like McAvoy spent the night in the hospital. I know you're not going to tie the injuries together. But what I'm talking about is Austin Matthews missing a game with either upper body or the

resting him. I'm not 100% sure. We'll find out Thursday. I don't know how teams wouldn't have said, like if I'm Don Sweeney who's on Canada, I'm like Charlie McAvoy no matter what. I don't think McAvoy's playing on Thursday. No, but I would have said like, under no circumstances what I don't think McAvoy's playing on Thursday No, but I like I'm gonna know it earlier today. I believe yeah So I but I would have said like did you under no circumstances are you putting your gear on Thursday?

And if I'm the Leafs to I'm like Austin Matthews any kind I'm calling him What the hell is this and if it's any kind of upper body sorry pal get your ass home Yeah, I don't even know if you could do that, but it would be like, Oh, you really got to put our season in jeopardy to play that one game. It's, it's a very dicey situation. Yeah, I just, it is concerning because I look at the Vegas gold nights like shade theater. That did not look good. I don't know what the, is it broken wrist? I know people have been speculating that whatever week to week, that's a massive injury. You know, Matthew Kachuk, Brady said on an interview, you know, I'd be surprised if he

doesn't play. But, you know, he's not 100%. Like the guys are getting banged up in this tournament and it is going to have a ripple effect down the stretch here on teams that are either bubble or battling for position. So you know, you got to put your business hat back on and I know this is a league sanction thing the four nations face off. But if I'm some of these teams, you're just praying that these guys make it through and then that they're available to you down the stretch when the critical points are necessary.

Yeah. I just like going into it like the they they're gonna change the way they play though So like if you are, you know the senators or your Florida You are just hoping and praying that those guys don't hurt themselves more than they already have in this tournament on Thursday night Like you're just hoping and praying that no one gets hurt. I guess everyone around the right but You know, it's it's one more game though And it's it's for a chance for ultimate supremacy like you said everyone keeps talking about how this is the best game you know Brady Kachuck said he's waiting nine years for this nine years for this and you just know that they're gonna go absolute balls to

wall and and they're gonna play physical because that's how the Americans are built that's how they're gonna play and that game took a chunk out of him on Saturday you know it did they had a 100% did and I expect them to you know look each other in the eye and say hey We got one more. Let's go out and get it. It might be a factor on Like if US can't get healthy and they got like and there's no math you can shock her No math Mac avoid to me like that guy was a tone setter for the physicality in that game like the hits he made on McDavid There was four of them and I was sitting beside Rashad and he's like Never seen that before generally never like one and he got him like three or four times

Yeah, I just all over him now. Let's look at it in a different way guys, and let's I'll put my positive hat on There every person that's played in this tournament, especially the – let's just look at Canada, US, but you can talk about the Swedish Finn too. This is a level that some of these guys haven't played at in a long time, either in playoffs or haven't sniffed playoffs, like a Brady Kachuk. This could be valuable for these guys heading down the stretch into the playoffs, the level that is achieved or being around these players that have gotten to that next level. So if I'm sitting in that Canada dressing room and I watch Sidney Crosby on an empty

netter run a guy over and put the puck in, ice the game, just the attention to detail that some of these, and I'll quote unquote, winners have done. And being around that, and being in that environment for two weeks, I think that does bode well for some of the experience that you go through and maybe you bring out those. All those guys that haven't been there, as soon as they walk into the locker room and put eyes on those guys, it just does. Seth Jarvis, right, Connecty, Marlowe.

All those guys, yeah. All those guys it just does it Seth Jarvis right connecting all those guys yeah it's like yeah there was a lot you should have seen the reaction when there was an optional the day after that game and McKinnon and Crosby went out on the ice first on it was like these guys love hockey they're just junkies like everybody went crazy that was like there's no more commitment in the country than these two guys going on the ice. It was kind of funny to me, but it was still true. It's like nobody was out there except those two guys.

But for anybody to put eyes on that that haven't been around it, and Brady Kachuk, like trying to get over the hump and do things for the Ottawa Senators, just seeing winning hockey and having that expectation as the captain going back to Ottawa saying, not good enough, not good enough, not only for his teammates, but for himself. Well, that's kind of what I was thinking about is, we can talk about injuries,

we can talk about the lack of production and stuff, but just being around it, maybe it will help these guys going back to their club team going, you know know what we need to find another level or this is what winning looks like or this is what determination feels like it might help them for a playoff stretch regardless of what team you're on I think it does help absolutely I think it does and you know going forward I think people are gonna talk about that you know like oh seeing what they already have talked about that you know seeing

what this Sidney Crosby does the way he works out his work ethic what's he doing on the ice I mean it's it's it's unparalleled there's a reason why he is one of the greatest of all time it's because the work ethic is absolutely off the charts Keegan Matheson still to join us we've got some confirmed deny to get to also in the 6 o'clock hour So that's all coming up next here on overdrive on TSN 2 and on TSN 1050 Something to chew on is brought to you by Boston Pizza Canada's favorite sports bar Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less

A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. Overdrive continues on TSN2 and on the TSN radio network. It's Mike DeStefano with Noodles and the O-Dog. Noodles, I know you obviously cross over the border quite often. Oh, I'm sure you've done your fair share of travel these days. But I had an incident this weekend crossing over the border. I just went over, had some dinner and came back and I had the security guard who's kind of giving me the business asking me, you know, a series of questions. Where were you? You got anything coming back to me? Last question, is Hayes really a fraud? I kid you not. I kid you not. That was a question

posed to me by a border security officer this weekend. So this is after grilling you? Because I have no time for the guy that's grilling and then all of a sudden wants to be buddy buddy. Oh, at least six or seven questions I was asked. Put your window down in the back. Who's this next to you? And then all of a sudden it's, is Hayes really a fraud?

I'm like, that's my partzy, come on now. Listen, you always have to kill them with kindness at the border because they can mess with you. So I, you know what, just comply. I answer the question. I do my answer to the question. I have nothing to hide. I roll up with my necks this high.

I always roll every window down so they can see what's going on. You just got to give them the love because they do have the power there. You've got to make sure. You're right. When they do get personal, I love that. I drive down to Buffalo to call a game and then I drive back and how was the game or whatever. I haven't had a hazes of fraud though.

That's pretty good. I don't mind that one. Yeah. That gave me a good chuckle. Any hazes of frauds where you're down in Montreal oh oh it's countless that imagine how place like I was fans were amazing by the way Montreal let's get some salt or something on the sidewalks I don't know what is there they refuse to plow the sidewalks where it's like I get it people embrace the winter Let's just get one of those little machines that plow the sidewalks. I don't know what's going on there

It was freezing there, and it's not exactly warm here, but yeah, it was it was like February hockey weather and people were walking around I mean I think they were half in the bag prepping the thing I don't understand is and I used to like I like to have a good time back in the day these people like I sat down and had breakfast beside two guys that were having pints and they were going to an eight o'clock game and I'm like how do you keep it together? Full day event. A full day event. A full day and night. 8 o'clock game and I'm like How do you keep it together?

Full-day event a full day and night like they had to know how that's gonna fold though You know how that's gonna unfold they're gonna be so buckled. They'll be on camera somewhere. They'll get tossed from the game They'll be in a fight or if you're drinking at 8 o'clock in the morning and 12 hours later The game starts wasn't an 8 o'clock p. morning and 12 hours later, the game starts. Wasn't it 8 o'clock PM game? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Puck drop not to like 8.30 for that one. Exactly. So you are Bernie Lomax.

They are literally somebody is walking you out or wheeling you out. We were doing our hits in the building, basically in the stands, and there was guys in luxury boxes and there was one in luxury boxes and there was one older dude that was just given it to me and Johnny. He was like you guys said this tournament wouldn't have intensity and he just would not stop. It was outrage. I finally told him I said bud you got to sit down we're trying to work here and you are

disrupting it. It was just crazy. They just wouldn't stop. Yeah. I think a lot of us are in that same boat though. I think we didn't know what to expect but I think we're all pleasantly surprised and happy to be wrong. There's not a lot of times I'm happy to be wrong. The intensity and how great this tournament has been, I'm happy that I was wrong about that one because I was a skeptic just like you guys. Coming up on the other side Keegan Matheson still to join the show and some Confirmer Deny, Hour 3 of Overdrive coming up next. The Juno goes to... Hosted and performed by Michael Pouble. Good evening, Vancouver!

Plus, a final performance by Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees, Sum 41, and more. You can win an iHeartRadio experience with tickets, flights, and a three-night stay at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Head online to answer the daily Juno's trivia question at iHeartRadio.ca.