OverDrive - OverDrive - February 19, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: February 19, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss Canada and USA's matchup in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game, the physicality in the game, how Canada can get the victory, Quinn Hughes not playing with Team USA and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. failing to sign an extension in Toronto. Got Yer Back Podcast Host and Former NHLer joins to discuss the championship game matchup, Connor McDavid's massive impact and the goaltending performances for the teams.

Let go from your job without a severance package? You need EmploymentLawyer.ca. Your employer is legally required to give you as much as 24 months pay when you lose your job. Call Leor Samferu and get what you're owed. EmploymentLawyer.ca. This Hour of Overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right here we go overdrive off and running TSN 1050 on the TSN app your home smart speaker and up on TSN for Brian Hazy, Oduck, Jeff O'Neil, Jamie Noodles, McClennan.

Doogie and JP I'm supposed to be on the far left. I'm supposed to tell JP and Joe from the Bridge to put me on the left and have you on the far right to have your head explode as soon as you looked into the return. Oh I heard all about it man. I heard all about it. I saw a lot of people saying you guys did a great job, the players only. And I heard it, so online, I tried to disconnect. I want to wait for a week. Yeah, of course.

By the way, you look golden brown. You look golden brown. I got a lot of sun. Tomato head. I got a lot of sun. Yeah, I really overcooked down there. It's golden brown. It's golden brown.

It's tomato head. I was like, oh my god, look at the color in and I have Joe from the bridge fix the color a little bit But dude, but I know what you're not happy. How close out were you? They look out where you when you got off the plane and saw the amount of snow in your driveway Well, here's okay So this is what I got to get to first of all the day before flying back. I see what happens at Pearson, right? I checked my phone for the first time in eight hours. I was putting my phone away, we're going to the pool,

we're doing all our stuff, and I'm like, oh, this is not good. This could have a real issue. Luckily, no one died, and it was obviously a crazy story. And all I kept getting was texts from my parents and people back home. You wouldn't believe the snowstorm. You wouldn't believe what's going on in Toronto right now zero visibility zero

visibility so I'm thinking okay. This is gonna be a tough flight home or fly flew home on WestJet Which is into terminal three like I don't know if I'm gonna get home like I have no idea if the terminal is gonna be open what's going on there, and I get on the plane and If the terminal is going to be open, what's going on there? And I get on the plane and sit down. I got my kids, my wife, and my brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, niece. We're all kind of settled. And then all of a sudden WestJet employees start coming down the aisles and offering

waters to people. And a WestJet employee comes up to me and he stops and goes, the players only show was electric. He goes, the boys only show was electric. He goes, the boys did a great job without you. I'm like, I don't need to hear it from you for the next five hours. I can't do this because he's like, it was great, man. They really had some great shows. I'm like, thank you very much.

See you later. He's a great guy. Big fan of the show. He's like, I'll be watching tomorrow and tracking if you can keep up. So apparently you guys did a great job. And obviously I heard about everything that was going on back home. I missed a lot of stories. It's good to be back. So what you've missed, it's a typical hazy bee vacation where there's some absolute bombs out there. What has got your attention the most? Like i want you to get some things off your chest okay

let me let me go a chronological order here if you guys will allow me yeah i have a large hours i have a lot of our now the first i have a lot of my mind i don't know and the show we're like we don't even need to show up because this guy will be elegant screaming for a little while box but i don't want that back at the top up because this guy will be yelling and screaming for three hours. Put him in a one box. Put him in a one box. Just a solo shot of me for the next 40 minutes.

We got Strudy coming up later. We're looking forward to that. Doug Armstrong on the show today. Obviously ahead of tomorrow. I heard a lot about the weather back home. I heard a lot about the players only. I heard a lot about AK doing a great job. Al's brother doing a great job.

I also had a lot of people saying, I want to hear from you about how you feel about the Four Nations, because I was skeptical, I was very skeptical, and I wasn't sure what to expect, and I have to give credit where credit's due, to the players. The players were the ones that showed up and said, we want to play, and we care about this, and we're going down fighting, literally figuratively to prove the last ten years It's been a joke and it's go time So full credit to the players obviously the league in the PA as well for putting this thing on and it's all about Canada us Yeah, let's also clarify that if it was Canada Finland tomorrow night. Yeah, okay, that'd be fun

You know now dude, you're wrong like you don't know it will be a little bit it would care that we would care that much yeah and if it was u s a sweden tomorrow night we would care that much either it's all about canada u s a and i can i give full credit to the players because they've they've shown up they've they put their bodies on the line they hit they fought they've scored they've said all the right things

there's back and forth in the media it's been awesome do you know what it's been a lot of the loss this you all mike johnson an apology because he picked up your shrapnel we did a live hit on t v and there was a drunk old guy in a luxury suite and he was yelling at mike johnson he goes you said on the radio the tournament would stink

So it was probably you know we're Johnny me the shrapnel it was me I have been you know pretty skeptical too, but I know but this guy I would not stop at Johnny He was like you said on the radio this tournament And finally I said sit down old man. We gotta let us do it leave my god it was painful but it was your at the your right i was literally a while i and i admitted it though like i think i've been on this show apologizing every day about it saying i was wrong i thought first of all i didn't like the words best on best because the best wasn't there

you change the narrative these guys showed up to play this was unbelievable hockey. This was a level above the National Hockey League, I felt, as far as the speed, the skill. Like this was playoff hockey and I loved it. And it's a tribute. The league should be proud of what they put on. Yes, you're always going to complain about something and you know whether it wasn't enough nations involved whatever but I'll tell you what I it's I've been thoroughly impressed and I was wrong and every like the player show every show that I've started I've said I was wrong in that scenario

I've owned it because they've been they proved me wrong and he's was the Gary Batman of this tournament sucks and noodles you were his Bill Daley along the way we were I was skeptical but here's another thing I'd like to point out. I think what we have here is we have a perfect storm of so many different things that have led to this as well. We have ten years of no best on best. We've got all the political stuff going on and everything that hangs there. We've got the fact that it's NHL rules, I think is something that's very important to point out. They are killing each other out there. That is not going to happen at the Olympic Games next year. It's not going to be even

close to this next year. That's where an interesting, if you want to point to one player, I didn't know going, I just really didn't think about it, but the Tom Wilson talk started really amping up after that start of the game on Saturday night. And I didn't even understand going there that this was NHL rules, because I didn't know what to think. I was just thinking international, like it's just going to be like referees were going to be like, don't hit that guy. The referees have had their whistles away like

That was the amazing thing on Saturday Not another one the rest of the game it was even any other game I watched I'm like this guy is like that guy just Tomahawk chopped a guy in the corner. That's just like this looking around nothing to see here Well, did Armia get a penalty when he buried McEvoy? Like he buried him from behind. I'm not sure about that but Tom Wilson if you think about it like that it would have been like Tom Wilson you're one of the six guys originally going to be on the team. Right absolutely. But then when you think of like a big ice in Olympics and the referees like does that game does his game really tailor to that? Maybe I don't know now I know I and I think listen I understand why and we'll catch up with Doug Armstrong and ask him about this why you would use this for nations to

catapult yourself into the Olympic Games that's smart practice right and there's gonna be guys that you know will perform well in the Olympics including the guys that play in this town we'll get to that a little bit later on even understanding that at the Olympics things will be different. Totally different. Like totally different. Like the game on Saturday, there's three fights in nine seconds. Obviously there's no fights at the Olympic Games. Like clearly that doesn't happen. I think you get thrown out of the tournament. You would. Double IHF. The IOC would, they'd be, they'd walk onto the ice and say everyone out

Rene Tardeep would walk you out in handcuffs Rene Fassel's mustache would fall right off his face if he saw that in international hockey. He's not involved anymore, right? It's your your other buddy there. Oh, but he's already mr. Tardeep Mr. Tardeep, but Fassel if that ever happened his mustache would fall right off his face. It was though I don't know Hayes. I don't know how you felt about we talked about the other day That was the most surprising start I've ever seen to a game in a long time like Especially at this whatever level all of that type of stuff like a three banger And it sounds like it was kind of pre-planned too

Which was crazy too like that that's that's even better and I love the fact that like Sam Bennett was like yeah I'll do this Brandon Hagger I'll do this like Sam Bennett is just an I just can't that guy they talk about Sid walking on water that's Sam Bennett walks on water I love him and that's where Tom Wilson comes in though you're right you think Brady's going to the bench saying you're next Tom I don't think so. No one is saying you're next if Tom Wilson's on the no, sorry No chance that's where he steps on the ice and goes who am I grabbing? Yeah, who wants a piece for me and and that's where you know, listen we came to the table here admitted

I was skeptical. I wasn't sure what to expect because I wasn't sure the players mentality I wasn't sure how committed they would be to putting everything on the line. They have done that The hypocrisy that I've seen as well from some bleeding hearts over the years Oh my god, and then all of a sudden they're all like this is the greatest game I've ever seen Well, you know what made it you know what started that were the fights? Yeah, exactly fights is what started that That's what like the Bell Center was rocking anyway. It exploded after those fights. There was some pencil neck comments

where in years past it was, this is disgusting. And their Twitter was like, that's the best hockey I've ever seen in my life. So I was like, oh, interesting. Which one is it because because you can't say i hate fight fighting should be out of the game and then sit there and say all this is the greatest thing i've ever experienced

it was a habit but that was a either this is disgusting her this is how ct and all this stuff starts the fighting its garbage get it out of here and they were loving it on saturday how could you not? It was incredible theater. It was incredible, incredible theater. It also shined a light like we were talking about it yesterday Hayes. This NBA like can't even hold a candle like the NBA All-Star game compared to this.

Like compared to like that it was embarrassing compared to what the Four Nations was like literally. And it sets up for tomorrow night I'm very curious because I don't think you can have the same energy you had Saturday like I don't and this is what I'm I'm not concerned about because again I love the game we love the game we'll be watching the game after this yeah you know like where I don't care if there's new people in involved in the game and that's a big you know storyline right now all these people jumping on the bandwagon which is great for the sport yeah but if they're showing up thinking there's gonna be fights to start every game that's not reality like there's a lot of ignorance

out there that's not be pretty risky because the JT Miller fighting against Pareto JT Miller got an extra two right exactly do you really want to risk doing something at the beginning of the game to try to be a hero and rev up the crowd with the risk of taking a two minute penalty and seeing Nathan McKinnon and Connor McDavid jump over the boards? That's what I'm thinking. Like Saturday I thought it was very fitting that GSP was there. It was a fight. It felt like a heavyweight fight in Vegas. Like it was the place was going nuts. Oh you were there. Like what a ticket to have at GSP

Like I did not know like I knew he was from there, but I did not know how much that They were chanting GSP Like it was Mario Le Fleur and the in the best of all like they love that guy Yeah, he's on that level in terms of like how much he is man I did not know that they were into that like that big like town big you have a Maytown and GSP's you know one of the all-time grades, but it was it was you know energy and exuberance and You know like every bravado on the line all these different things I Would expect it might be a more nervous energy tomorrow night, right? Yeah tomorrow's Tomorrow you got to win, you know, you don't just you can't win the fight. You gotta win the game tomorrow

Yeah, I think that I don't know how you guys feel but it's trickling out. There's more and more injuries There's sickness on the US side like I think his favors team, Canada Like you you got a hit the ground this at tomorrow night his favorite team, Canada. You got to hit the ground. I love where Canada's at tomorrow night. Quinn Hughes was kind of touching up on Ohtani territory. First their coach comes out and says, yeah, Quinn Hughes is flying in. And everyone was like, excuse me? Why is Mike Sullivan? Dude, I don't know. But he blurted that out. Quinn Hughes is flying in on a PJ, so no worries

here. And everyone was like, what the hell is going on and then it just turned into a circus And I think just now Pierre Lebron updated the circus saying this guy's not even medically cleared to play by the Canucks He's not coming here. No, he's not going to Boston. Yeah, he's not gonna be there, but even his brother Jack was like I don't know. I've been chatting with him. It should be interesting. You're going to have to wait and see. I was like, what kind of story is going on here? I know. I know. And listen, as much as I would love to see, it would be amazing to see Queenies play in that game. Like it's a bummer he's not a part of this and there's other guys, but you do have to set some sort of rules to make it feel like an, if you want

it to feel like a real event, you can't just wing the rules whenever you see fit. Just making things up as you go along. You want it to mean something, and I think based on what happened on Saturday night, it does set up for this to be a very meaningful game tomorrow night for the legacy of the players. Sure. And that is something, that's probably the biggest surprise for me is that we're at a point here going to the game tomorrow night where this

really will be referenced you know who won this game who was the best player who scored the winning goal it get feels like it's going to be on that level it really does crazy to think that we were questioning what this was going to be all about and the intensity and how much to the guys care do they want to be there and now you fast forward it and there's a moment tomorrow night where somebody could have a golden goal type of situation like

whoever score if someone gets something in OT or scores the game-winning goal with a minute left like that call with what this tournament that like what it's built up to be it's going to be a legendary goal. Regardless of the tournament has no big picture meaning or not. Yeah. Like this is probably the end of the four nations, right? They announced the world cup now every four years. And so this is truly a one off and you're right. Someone scores an OT winner. It's probably gloves and helmets and off on the ice.

Except for Jeff O'Neill. If you were on the ice, you'd probably leave your helmet on. And grab the flag. And grab the flag. And go flag and skate around. But yeah, it sets up that way. It's a legacy moment for someone tomorrow night. I think it's great. There's lots to unpack there. To me, what I've loved about it is just the individual stories too. There was fights, there was obviously goal tending has been, Benner's kind of been under

the gun a little bit. We talked about it yesterday. But he hasn't cost them a game yet, but he hasn't won them a game. I said yesterday, he's allowed at least one bad goal per game. And O pointed it out. You go from the Kempe game. Who was the Finn that scored? Lindell scored from there that kind of started the nonsense.

And then the Jake Gensel goal, I think that was a big goal against just because, think of it, if you have all the fights, McDavid scores, the roof almost pops off, and you finish the first period up first, 1-0, you're looking pretty good. Big. You know what I mean? That goal was a real big deflator. Yes.

And you got to make that save. So to me, obviously it's going to come to goaltending, but Bennington has to just play his game. He cannot allow a bad goal tomorrow night. He cannot allow a bad goal tomorrow night. He cannot allow that. Totally agree. I'm sure you've all pointed that out. That McDavid goal was so sick.

It was such an unbelievable goal for him to break through the neutral zone and then bar down backhand was such an unbelievable goal. But you're right. It's disgusting. The reality is this is what Hockey Canada has been saying for the last year, year and a half, and now proving with their actions they're going to trust Jordan Bennington because they believe he is a killer mentality or a dogged winning mentality when everything is on the line.

And that's all you need from him is that tomorrow night it's asking a lot but it's the nature of the position because nobody cares what happened in the group stage nobody cares nobody nobody cares you know you go back to when they beat Boston I don't know what he did games one through six I don't really remember I know what he did in game seven I know very well what he did in game seven. I know very well what he did in game seven. In that building. In that building, exactly. So this is the whole Bennington philosophy is about him tomorrow night saying, I got you, right? And maybe not winning the game, and if he's in a position where he has to win the game, you're in big

trouble because this Canadian team should never be in that spot, right? You've got too much talent, you've got too many good players. You should never be hemmed into your zone or, you know, trying to battle uphill for 60 minutes. But, you're right, you can't give up a bad goal. And if they give you a lead, you've got to close. You've got to close. And that's all they're going to ask out of him tomorrow night.

And that's why they keep going back to him. Because they believe in this situation, he's the guy that gives them the best chance. And listen, it applies to the other guy too. Halibuck's been great. The numbers have been unreal. The two games he's played, he's only played two games, but it's a big game for him too. All the chips are in now. It's like everyone, the coaches, everybody's talked about the slim margins like razor thin.

And if one of those goes in on either side it could be the it probably will be the difference in the game. Yep. Because there will be as great a talent is that's on the ice. This is not going to be a 6-2 game tomorrow night. You're looking at a 2-1 3-2 hockey game at most. So who can make a play like who can make a play and who can give up that one that's kind of greasy and it might be the difference in the whole thing.

I can't wait for the game. I mean it's it's incredible like teams are back on the other leagues are practicing you know like teams are back practicing the league resumes on Saturday night. Well that's a nice too. They could have played tonight. Yes. You play tonight and then like I'll give an example in Edmonton Edmonton plays one o'clock on Saturday in Philadelphia McDavid McDavid plays a day and a half later like they could have had it last night Have it wrapped up and then the game starts Saturday for the league and kind of bleed it back But these guys are gonna be either win or lose on a Thursday night and have to play on Saturday

For their club team, which I feel like this is soccer now We're talking to go back to your club to write exactly go back to your club team and and try and go down a stretch here Where you know lost in all of this the NHL the standings are still waiting for you there when you get back especially on the eastern side, so waiting for you there when you get back, especially on the Eastern side. So it's been, I've been completely wrong though, Brian. Like I thought this was gonna be the all-star effort, maybe a little bit more, and I've been pleasantly surprised. So have I, and listen, I'm sure this is what the NHL hoped for when you put this together. Obviously it's Canada, USA, and Boston, you can't ask for anything better,

but you know there have been complaints in the past about the Olympic Games during their season shutting it down we lose players well what's your explanation now because there's a ton of players getting injured I'll bet you someone gets hurt tomorrow night yeah like that's just a reality the way they're playing right now feels like someone might go Bobby Clark tomorrow like there there's so much energy and hatred and you know Built up pent-up energy at this point anything could happen tomorrow night and to your point guys are gonna be on the ice playing games 36 hours later. Yeah, so, you know, I don't want to hear next year

Wow, the owners don't love that the Olympics and this and that you you set up your own games that is Crazier. Yeah. It's crazier because of the rules that are being played. I'm pretty sure with the viewership and the interest in everything, the owners will kind of sit back and quit. They should. Because you can't pay for this kind of press. Like with injuries and we don't want to lose our play.

Exactly. You can't pay for this kind of press. Yeah. There was people all over the sporting world that I've never heard a peep of hockey about they're like Did you see the start of that hockey game? And I was like oh that guy that guy's watching this game and the ratings have been Massive and they'll be huge tomorrow, and you know we'll see what ends up who who's in attendance and who's gonna be there tomorrow But it's going to be the talk of the sports world.

That's what's coming tomorrow night and on Friday. And the NHL just is never generally in a position to do that. Yeah. I hope that it's not a dud. And you know what I mean? That Saturday night game, there's no way you could follow it up with that type of the fights and that start. It's just I don't want it to be like one team just, it's 6-1. I mean maybe, unless it's Canada and we're biased.

I think it would be corny, Jamie, if one of them said let's fight off the opening. You can't do it again like that. No. What you need, ideally, is you have a spontaneous fight like you get the game going You know right ten minutes it you get it that though. That's generally the nature of fighting in a scenario like this right is something happens there's back and forth in a scrum and Someone says let's go, you know, yeah and and that maybe in a scenario like that You can have your cake and eat it, too

But I also think because this game now evidently means as much as it does Players don't want to be out of it for five minutes in the box, right? You don't really want to take yourself out of the game So that that will probably change the complexion tomorrow night, but I look at you know The Kachuk brothers have obviously this for a huge platform for them massive uh... brad marsha tomorrow night is a guy

it's it's gotta be his time like it's his building his town everyone in canada has hated this guy for fifteen years and you got an opportunity tomorrow to do something you know and i have a look beyond looked beyond Brad Marsh and for tomorrow night We had Johnny on yesterday and we I think tomorrow tomorrow night belongs to me. Jesus the big boy Yeah, I really do think it's one of those platform games. He's got to be around Sid He's you know, he's heard everybody talk about Sid and the coach said he walks on water in the country

and i really do think that it's his time to make a statement it's and it's there'd be no better time it was like he took his team in the stanley cup finals last year and there's a lot of a lot of emotion in this one tomorrow night in its just it's just a massive game they've all said it and i really believe that it's not

kail mccarr and it's not McKinnon. I just think it's 97 that steps up and has the game. I think that's ideal. I mean I think everything you say there is 100% accurate. He should be expected to do that. He's the best player. Like, he's the best player on the ice tomorrow night. Wherever that guy is, he's the best player.

Period. And he needs that moment. guy is, he's the best player, period. And he needs that moment. You know, game seven, we had the conversation after. I didn't love his game, game seven of the cup final. I thought they checked him well, but he just kind of blended into the game. You can't have that tomorrow. Oh, and they're going to check him tomorrow because that's the one thing. If you look at the way Canada's played, they haven't overwhelmed you with a four check. But I'll tell you what what you let McKinnon in alone. It's in the back of the net you let McDavid in alone It's in the back of the net It is one of the greatest strength to have those two guys who can move like that like that McDavid goal in Montreal

Do you know who the two defensemen were Zack Rowensky and Charlie McAvoy? They made them look like peewee players blowing by them by them. So they have got, they're saying to themselves, that's just one thing we can't allow. But it's almost impossible to stop those guys. They come out of nowhere. They come barreling down at you 100 miles an hour. You can't stop it. No. Listen, I'm with you, man. I'm looking at McDavid. I would say if I'm Cooper, I'm thinking I'm going to trust the guys who have won before. Like I would play Sid. I would trust Reinhardt's going to have a game. I would trust my guys are guys who have won before. Like I would play Sid, you know, I would trust Reinhardt's gonna have a game, I would trust my guys are gonna have a game.

Point, Stone, like guys like that. Doughty, guys like that, McCarr, you know, Bennington again, that's why he's playing here. Because he's won before and they said, you're the guy. Yeah. The exception to that is McDavid. And you go to him and you say, this is your moment, man. Like you're the top dog, you gotta play.

And we're gonna have a quick turnaround on Friday fellows we're gonna play lock or not for the Olympics who's a lot of who's not a lot okay I love that I can't wait this is one I can't wait for I can't wait to hear what this guy's got to say about this Vladdy character the oh I got so much going on there is so much going on like we just I much going on. Like we just, I don't know. Take a break. Let's get some popcorn. Brian Hayes. Hang on a sec. Brian Hayes on the way back. You're going to hear about Vladdy Guerrero. This is Overdrive on TSN. Powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score.

Struddy will join us later in the hour. Jerry joining us in an hour. That'll be exciting. I'm sure he's down in Boston waiting for the big game tomorrow night. And yeah, it's good to be back and good to see pitchers and catchers arriving down in Dunedin while I was away. Oh, man, there were some pressers floating out yesterday that you would have. I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of the pressers and the people wondering what we're talking about. No contract for Vladdy. The president and the GM couldn't even get to a definition of close and... But we said it yesterday, Hayes. If this guy was asking for $585 million, they might have just said, stuff it, man.

We're not paying you. So we don't know the numbers. if this guy was asking for five hundred eighty five million they might have just said stuff about our opinion we don't know the numbers yeah i i think when it comes to flatty two people that have affected this probably more so than anyone else who are not even in the organization and that's one so don't steve cohen and i think what's happened here is and one so don't lie you're And I wouldn't be surprised if Soto said you won't believe this free agency thing man You got owners flying in on their private jets all over the world coming here to kiss your feet and beg you to play for them

You got to try it. Yeah, try it and every for every fan the idea of doing that one time in your career and You might realize like Steven Stamkos, who flew up to Toronto, he met with a bunch of people in a boardroom, he immediately flew back and said, this is not for me, I'm going to be a Tampa Bay Lightning. But to experience it once, like that must be a hell of a drug. I would think so. How much and what do you want and what kind of chair do you want in your

stall? How do we fly your, you can use the bird to bring your family in. It's got to be intoxicating. I think that's exactly what's at play here. I think Vlad is this close to free agency and he wants to test it out. He may have been willing to stay if they offered him or willing to pay him a huge amount of money. And that's where the equivalent here of Steve Cohen had to be Edward Rogers. You know, I think Rogers, if he really wanted to pay Vlad, he probably could have stepped in and said, what's it going to cost? Put it on that piece of paper.

I'll just sign it and we'll pay you. And obviously that didn't happen. He trusted the evaluation process of Shapiro and Atkins, who are two guys based on their words and their actions actions made it very clear they really really really really really like Vladdy really like them I don't think they love him I don't think they love Vladdy but I think what happened here with Vladdy Grout Jr. is he's a year out from free agency he wants to test it out Soto and Otani completely changed everything from a player's perspective and the agent's

perspective and they want to test that out. I don't believe for a second winning is his highest priority. It's so ridiculous. Absolutely not. He saw two guys that haven't played one game for the Blue Jays organization and he saw his management team throw 600 and 700 million dollars respectively towards those guys. Yeah. And he every season has got to go into arbitration.

So he's got to be thinking, are you like are you jamming me up here? Are you kidding me? It's my turn and you're not even close? Screw this. Yeah. A player could take that personally. When guys that are on different teams get offered the world and then your kind of turn comes up and I'm going to Arb again for the third time,

give me a break. Yeah, well that's it. Like there's a part of that where you just must be like, screw these guys. And listen, the team, and they're not alone, mostly, basically every team in the league does this. It's about team control. How often do we hear that? Team control, right? We're not gonna all mostly basically every team in the league does this it's about team control How often do we hear that team control right? We're not gonna call him out up yet because we don't want the clock to start

We want that extra year at the end of team control. They've been doing that with Ladi the whole time They're entitled to that but as a result now it shifts into his corner where he has all the power He's 12 months away less than that from having all the power. So I think the Soto deal, I think the way Steve Cohen said, just pay him whatever it's going to cost, is like you said, very intoxicating for players who are going to be 26 and are stars. He knows there's going to be a market for him, but I don't believe winning is going to be the highest priority. I think these actions by Vladi would prove it's going to be about whoever pays him the most money. I think if the White Sox gave him the most money he'd be in the South Side of Chicago saying I believe they're gonna win here. You know

yeah sure they lost 122 games or whatever last year but I think he's looking for the money. I think I have no reason to believe he doesn't love Toronto, doesn't love being a Blue J and wouldn't prefer to stay here. So I'm not closing the door completely But I think Ty would go to the blue jays, but he's not he's not coming here for 50 million less 25 million less it's not gonna happen so and the Jays have put themselves in this position because they never tried to negotiate with them in the past and all of a Sudden at the end they go. Oh, we really want to sign you so here's a lot of money and

There's a gambling element to it as well for Vlad E because I'm sure they did offer him a lot he turned it down So he's got to go out and perform and he's he's got him He's gonna have to go get paid but Brian there is a thing where the Jays the Jays see something in him where they're in a world where The big star in the team gets the dough and well And I don't know whether it's first base, it's conditioning, it's falling asleep at second base in a big moment. There's something about him where they're like,

we're not committing that large amount of money. Somebody else can do it. Whether they're right or wrong, we're gonna find out in five years. But it's a big gamble on the Jay's end too. Oh, it's a huge one. Put it this way, for Shapiro and Atkins, for me it's a big gamble on the jays and two thoughts and you don't like put it this way for ship our actions for me it's a lose-lose

because in order for them to stick around long-term alike surprise gonna stick around but ross ackins job very well could be on the line this year and for them to have any pendulum swing from the fans into their favor they got a win this year in order for them to win laddie's gotta be great

he's got a great year so he has a great year they win and then he walks and possibly within the division it's a disaster if he underperforms they probably lose so it's a lose lose. That's the biggest question I've got is what's plan B if this guy walks and then Moses get me out of here too they got no system. They got not like I can tell you I'm gonna be this is what it's gonna now Orgars your garbage for ten years it if Shapiro's here. He's never gonna admit it that they've made this many mistakes So that's why they should be linked for me if they're both gonna stay they're gonna stay or they both have to go But I can tell you what the future is gonna look like. This is what's coming

They have a Daniel let's say they win 75 games Flattie walks Bo walks and they get rid of the front office the new gal come in and he'll say pain is coming This is a mess and it's gonna take some time and that's what's coming. Yeah, that's what's coming couldn't they I mean you could let those guys walk in and spend the money somewhere else You could do that ride noodles. That's the that's the other issue is if I can't get Vladimir signed you couldn't get Soto you couldn't get Otani you couldn't get burns he couldn't get you know yeah why would you trust that these guys are gonna find a way to put the right pieces together you know they've been here for a decade they get

a sub 500 record all right strutting coming up more on this later in the afternoon there's a lot more to chew on. A lot more to get into. With whether Jay's right or not, what they do. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. All right, Doug Armstrong coming up in about 20 minutes. Jerry's percentages as well. And we got the NHL season again resuming on Saturday, which is crazy. Yeah, you missed it.

I thought, I recommended you were away that the first game Canada comes out, it should have been Strudwick and Lemieux holding the Canada banner. The Spangler Cup, a lot of things he contributed. Can you imagine Struddy walking out there at the Bell Center, center ice with Mario? Crazy. Would there be one fan that said who is that guy not all not one not

one spangler cop memorial cop right lot of women's history here's our boy jason strudwick and they fly me into boston struddy or what uh... well no no they're not going to but how how's your tan? Do you get some tan or you like noodles or you just hide in the room? I got too much sun. I'll be honest and I'm fighting it. Really?

Yeah, he looks like the collar's a little too tight on his neck right now, Struddy, as his face is beet red. Yeah, it's a struggle. It's a struggle. I'm not going to lie. Curly fries at every meal? Is that what you went with? It was honestly one of the most fear-mongering moments of your life is when the scale is staring at you when you get home.

Did you go nuts on the food department? Not really because the food wasn't the greatest food to be perfectly honest i was a florida food well you just kinda you pick your spots you do your thing and you know it was more just kind of drinks and just the lifestyle of your just you're kind of taking it easy uh... and as you can't yeah i deserved it and strut i mean that's ultimately what medias i think so

you're going to your grinder i'm a grinder yeah i'm a grinder and uh... it's good to hear from and i'm sure you're jack for tomorrow night everybody seems to be uh... you have a read on the game tomorrow night we don't happen on saturday does that in your opinion the americans are the clear cut favorites is this a coin flip where's your head yeah you know what i i was blown away by the start. I didn't see that happening Saturday

night at all, the three fights, and I loved it. I mean, those Kachaks, I think they're great for the game. They brought a lot of eyes to that game. They'll bring eyes to this game tomorrow. Anything that brings eyes to hockey, I'm all for. I think that the challenge for Team Canada is to get to the middle of the ice and get past that deep. They built a wall around their net. So I think trying to get through there is going to be tough. It's a tall task. So I'm looking at the Stones, all the Tampa guys, and O'Connor, McKinnon, Scrozzie, drive

that air, get in there because they were satisfied with staying on the perimeter in the third period and I don't really think they had an a-grade chance in that third period You know when you look at Connors game, he had that first goal against the US He just exploded but I think they you know a lot of teams have done a pretty good job of trying to limit him You know, it's tough dry side. I was talking today too about playing with Conard. Is the narrative in Edmonton that they missed the boat of not having Hyman play with him, given that Hyman had come on in the last six weeks to two months? Yeah, I know. Much like Lee's fans, others' fans are very reasonable in their takes. So they, you know, just very calm.

But I do think that the instant chemistry makes sense. You know, if Hyman was there, there'd be chemistry with he and McDavid, there'd be the McKinnon Cosby, and then he'd have the Tampa guys, right? There'd be some, every line would have some chemistry, at least their top three lines, that, you know, off the top of my head.

Because it took them a while to find the right chemistry and I said before the tournament that Reinhardt and Marner weren't the right guys for McDavid. He plays kind of like a fourth line pace and Marner, that's not his style. A player wants to slow it down and he have, I think Reinhardt was probably caught the wrong place at the wrong time but I think it didn't fit right away with him. So now they have Brainerd Poit, who is super high hockey IQ and plays fast, and then Stone, who other than the skating is not maybe at elite level, he does everything really well and he works hard and drives the net.

So I think they got that right. But the fans haven't been pushing too hard about Hyman. I think it's easy now to look back, but I do think that it would have been the right move for instant chemistry in more duos or trios in the lines. In terms of McDavid, we were just having that chat, like how much is on the line for him tomorrow night? This isn't going to bring you back to the spring and if he plays great they win all the sudden that means it makes up for what happened as

Florida or whatever but in Edmonton I'm curious what that view is because the rest of the country looks at him like all right finally we get to root for this guy like he's on our team we get we have McDavid playing for our team or if you're an oiler fan you've had that luxury for for 10 years now if he plays great and they win tomorrow what do you think it means for McDavid and his legacy? I mean, I don't have this up there with the Stanley Cup or the Olympics. It's probably somewhere around the world championships below the Spangler Cup.

And when you're trying to look at it, look at it from his legacy. I think it's better obviously to win than to lose, but I think an Olympic gold or Stanley Cup ranks way above it than what this is. We think back to Wayne Gretzky, that 87 count of cup, that was a pretty big one, but he had a few Stanley Cups kicking around also in his back pocket so I think it'd be nice if they won but I don't know this is just Connor McDavid having to win it. I think Canada's important for them to win right there's a little bit of doubt right now you know that Canada lost to U.S. and the U.S. talks a lot about how good they're getting and how much better they are and that's kind of what Americans do so I think it's an opportunity for Canada to prove that we

are still the better hockey hockey nation at the highest level. Yeah big time I think the pressure is totally on the Americans like almost a hundred percent on the Americans because of what you just said they're talking all hazy. It's like the blowback of what the world junior performance the last couple years and it's like the idea of the US Overtaking Canada as the top hockey nation. You think the players want to deal with that? Well, it obviously wouldn't be ideal clearly But I think if you're Canadian and you have perspective the Americans have not won anything ever They won the 96 World Cup and now maybe they'd win this. You know, they've never won Olympic gold. They don't, you know, they're juniors. They come and go. Canada's always

won that tournament clearly. So I just, I think this is for the Americans. Now it's on home soil. It's in Boston. They've set the tone. They're talking a big game. They're claiming it's all about them and they're bad. They got to go go prove that like I think if Canada wins tomorrow people will be relieved and it will be awesome and that's cool But it's not gonna change pressure or change, you know anything in terms of the landscape of the sport Or if the Americans do it. This is where the pressure comes into play They can actually puff their chest out say see we told you like we're legit here and now we're going to the Olympic Games We're gonna do it again So for me, they're the ones without the hockey history you know

Canada has all the history we're the hockey country they got to prove that they have caught up can't just talk about it you can't just win group stage games you got to win a big one and it's the biggest tomorrow night you know that's as big as it's gonna get for them in terms of this generation because they haven't had best on best in a long, long time. Yeah, and I agree with you there, but I think that there'd be reaction if Canada loses. There'll be a reaction within our community, within our country for sure, and you know, there'll be someone who may be a scapegoat and I think that you know probably people look at the netminding will probably be one area that

and not to pick on Binnington but you know be like why is our goaltender not as elite as what the Americans can bring or if the Russians were here or you know Sweden even though they didn't have Mark Stromm like there's some pretty good goaltending and I don't know that we have an elite goalie right now and maybe he is in Washington but he didn't come at least for this year so I think that would be something that the conversation will be around if this doesn't work especially if he lets in a week one or two tonight and Halibut doesn't. You know Stretty when you look at it I I mean, we're talking, this is a, we call it best on best.

I, you know, there's still some nations missing. But when you go back to your club team, we call it, there's got to be some general managers that are sweating on this because this has not been just a friendly, you know, friendly match here. There's injuries, there's guys that are banged up and you look at the standings now like it's go time starting Saturday. McDavid's playing Saturday at one o'clock in Philadelphia after playing Thursday night for the Four Nations and

a lot of these teams are battling for position and you've got Shea Theodore injured, the Kachuk brothers, we don't know what's up with them McAvoy with Boston, there's been some significant players that are banged up here and you've got to think that the club teams are a little bit stressed about that. Yeah, and those are just the members of the players. Imagine some of the members of the media like Hayes dealing with the Sunburn. You know, these guys have to dig down and find another gear. You know, you think about it too, like too like for Team Canada, our USA, whoever teams wins I'm guessing they're

gonna have more than one Michelin of Ultra light after the win you know what I mean? So you might you might have a pretty good night Thursday then roll into an afternoon game on Saturday. Like that's a that's a pretty tough turn around even for an elite athlete. But you're right it it is go time and you can't hit it softly. Like the owners, they have five games on the road and there's some really good teams are playing. I remember when we had Honeysuckle Anquist rookie year, he went off to the Olympics and they won the Olympic gold. And I think if I remember correctly, I think they went back to Stockholm and partied and I had a great time. He came back and he was slashed.

I'm like, are you okay? And he was tired, and it was his rookie year, so he played more games than ever. It was a lot to take on. Now, that was a rookie, and maybe a little bit bigger stage than the Four Nations, but it can take a little bit out of you. So the other guys on the team have to be ready to go.

There's still a lot of players that aren't there that are elite, they can help out their teammates, but you cannot ease your way into this last stretch of the season because it's so tight. Either you're at the top fighting for top spot or you're a team in that 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, especially in the East spot trying to hang on to a spot or to capture a playoff spot. Strati, quickly before we get you out of here, can you take us back to the Spangler Cup? Did the European fans warm up to you like the Russians did to Rocky Balboa when he fought Drago over in Russia?

You know what? I won't, the first couple of games, no. Then I decided to take a warm up without a bucket. Oh man. It was like They loved it they loved it They got what they want to sexy boys to sexy. Yeah, I love it. We'll leave it there. Thank you strutty We'll do it again soon He'll up. He's heel up buddy. I'm trying buddy. I'm trying Jason Strudwood grinding here in mid February.

Doug Armstrong coming up, the GM of the Blues and of Team Canada at the Olympic Games next year and Jerry's percentages at 530. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 2. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Lights, camera, action! The 2025 Juno Awards are hitting Vancouver on March 30th. And iHeartRadio is your ticket to the stars.

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