OverDrive - OverDrive - February 20, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: February 20, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Canada and USA 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game in the tournament, Canada's biggest players in the game, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner playing against each other and Connor McDavid's spotlight. TSN Host James Duthie joins to discuss the matchup, the meaning of a win for Canada and the best players in the game. They also chat about Victor Wembanyama out for the season with the Spurs.

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. This Hour of Overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Alright, here we go, Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app your home smart speaker and up on TSN to Brian Hayes the O'Dog Jeff O'Neill Jamie Noodles McClennan. What's going on? How are we feeling this afternoon? I don't know if you guys have ever had this nightmare but I had a nightmare this morning

that I was playing in the game tonight. Oh no. And Sid text me and said O'D dog, you're late for the game. And then I get to the rink and I started taking my gear off and all the guys were looking at my frame and they were like, come on man. It was not a dream. It was a nightmare. Yeah.

Well that is a nightmare. First I was late and then I got there and I took my shirt off, put my underwear on for the dressing room and the guys were like, come on, man. And I legit in bed started sweating. I'm like, thank God. You know the ones you wake up and you're like, thank God I woke up? That's one of them. That's a nightmare.

Yeah. That's a nightmare. Well, could you imagine if they were like, we're short one player, we need O'Dog. Get in here, O'Dog, and you go in and start gearing down. I was going to say, think about it though. Drew Doughty was, what did he sleep through on the final game? That's a Drew Doughty moment. Like, I'm fine, I just go in and play 30 minutes that night.

But what if you quarterback the power plays? Like our power play, we need you, need you Oh dog bumper position one-timer Just go stand there you could do it. I I think you could do that you're the only thing I could do is if there was a five on three and They said go stand at the far blue and then on entry stand on top of the dot and you can hammer away at some one-timers I Thought you're a winner. I think you're net front now, man. I think you're a contest winner. I think you're net front now man. I think you're... You don't think I could take one-timers on the top of the dot? Not anymore. You gotta

get there though. That's the problem. The speed of the game. Can you imagine they would have five passes. I don't want to get too far deep into this on such a big night. If you just let me get to the top of the dot. I don't... Like I'm the stretch guy on the breakout. No, I know what you're... Sid sitting me and mckinnon feeding me and mcjee's is feeding me now get me there your net front block hella buck and But turn around and try to whack something in it. They're barely 511. You want me net front? Yeah, hello buck is 6-6 I'm not well. I'm not never front the thing is is those guys will you're at the far blue line They will enter they will find a way to get in the zone before you

Yeah, and then that you're gonna they're gonna have to Hannibal Lecter you in the wheel you down to the front net or To that bumper position as you're talking two years ago the new me. I'm like goal line top of dot I I hear you and there's an SNL skid now This is you're the new it's the new year and I let me guess the guy that's in it far Yes, farley and Nancy Kerrigan they do there's a famous skit where they're doing a Figure skating duo and Marley Scott skates on yes And his name's Wolfgang or whatever and David Spade and I think Kevin Nealon are doing the play by play and they're like Wolfgang he's put on some weight he's having a tough time keeping up and this that would be you Farley chasing Kerrigan around

would be you trying to get to the top of the dot. I thought you were going to talk Farley. You gotta get some viz of Wolfgang skating. Get Wolfgang skating with Nancy Kerrigan. I thought you were going to talk Farley and patrick's way the swazie in the chip chippendale that was you in the room before the game in the nightmare there's ced is swazie and you're farley right beside him gearing up for the big game tonight yeah but uh and that game tonight what a what a momentum swing we literally had the conversation are they gonna try there's people dubbing this the biggest came in hockey history and is absurd It is I have completely pulled a 180 But the amount of idiocy that is being poured out here that this is bigger than 2010 or bigger than oh to

This is bigger than you know the summit series. It's it's and it's all coming from the states Let's clarify that it's all Americans states, and I don't want to repeat it because if it's not true I don't want to embarrass a guy saying it's a bigger than a Stanley Cup win. Give me no It's I mean come on guys. It's the four nations face-off. It's come out of nowhere. It's still manufactured It's a massive build-up massive game It's gonna be awesome and whoever wins it There's there's gonna be a Lation in the it, there's gonna be elation in the building. And it is going to be on your resume.

And we had that conversation. These guys going to the Hall of Fame, will this be referenced? Yeah, I think it will be now. Like I actually do think it really is something of substance, but let's not get stupid. Even if Canada wins, doesn't mean now this, you know, it's close to the World Cup in 16

Then it was the Olympics right right? That's that's what it is But that's not to rain on the parade because the hype is there in terms of the buildup for this, right? It's not gonna match the numbers that 2010 there were like 25 a million Canadians that watched the gold medal game in 2010 There's not gonna be 25 million people tonight watching the game. But I wouldn't be surprised if it got to eight or 10 million. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

And that's a massive, massive amount of people. So are you guys, where were you? I think we talked about this yesterday. Is it watch party time? For me, I think it's couch and enjoy it type of thing. But there are people like flat out, like planning watch parties. Yeah, which is great. And that is a testament to it. And what also makes it different is it's a Thursday night, right? Like generally the Olympics, the gold medals on a Sunday,

sometimes it's at like noon, or you know, it's in the afternoon, generally speaking. And this is a Thursday night, prime time eight p m boston but that's another big part of we talked about the nl rules and how much that is factored into the ability for fighting in big hits the two markets the two markets in the time zone is very significant as well i mean it's eastern time zone eight p m you can ask for anything better than that yeah it sets up for a great game it's going to be an outstanding game of the

emotional game i can't wait for people like there are a lot of people who i wouldn't expect to reach out and say what do you think you know i was at a meeting this morning and this woman was like the big game tonight who do you think's gonna win i never would have this conversation with her you mean yeah we got a business on the side i was at a meeting it was i was doing here

i was like me i got meetings left and right all of a sudden you're at a meeting it was I was doing here. I was like me I got meetings left and right all of a sudden You're at a meeting. Yes, I had a meeting. I had a very important meeting this morning. You're cream cream Erica You're walking with that. I was essentially like you're talking boardroom. You walked in with a briefcase There was tactic. It was tactically in a boardroom. How did it go over with your with your spray tan? I mean, well, that's the thing too. Here's another thing that has to be addressed. I have an eye issue. Ozen here. Did I put eyes on this guy?

It was like the guy, I forget the movie, where his eyes just all bugged out. Something about Mary or something, his eye was all creeped out. Well yeah, that was the guy, Woody or whatever his name was. There was also lechifra Which was the bond villain or I think he took a bullet to the side of there is that's basically That's his I that's got like white. I like it just like Was when I saw your eye I'm like don't touch that's pink. I know what I know It's I blew a way blood vessel and said you blew a blood vessel and I'm good with that

I have had sinus issues for the last like three days. My flight home, I didn't get into it yesterday, was probably the most miserable experience of my life. My head was in a vice. Well the pressure, I couldn't imagine, like it's probably the pressure that caused your sinus to explode. I was dying man. I showed up at Pearson and because I was in the Dominican, I didn't bring a jacket or

anything down. So I'm freezing on the plane, because I'm dying, so I got all these different layers on. I get out of Pearson, my eye has exploded. I look like I've been in a trench for six months, and I'm walking to pick up my bags, and some guy goes, hey ZB, what's up man? Like he was, he kind of stopped,

he's like, is that even him? That guy looks like a troll. Like he saw the one side of my face, I turned and he's like, oh, hey man He didn't know there's only one way out of that on the airport You roll up three hunch and you pass it to the lady on the plane or man and you say I need some booze Like ASAP and don't stop bringing it until this thing lands. I I'm not sure that would have got me out of dodge I really don't but I tried to get out of it yesterday because we were at home and we do the three boxes and Then I was on with Jay last night and they go to a single shot in my face

Just tomato head. I saw this morning I laid eyes on you and I was like but you know that that hit with Jay last night was so funny They were talking about the handshake and shake their hands as a whole handshake or what do you do with the handshake on jay he brought that up last night as he asked me about it and i said i know that movie every i got a handshake this guy all the time you are a habitual handshake the best part is what you said after a good comment you know if you get a handshake after you have a good comment

Yeah, what do you think? Shaking your hand for saying the Canada's gonna win tonight Let's do that That is a for that's supposed to go into the archives and never come out again You can't you're not gonna escape those guys Kyle and everyone over there. They're on top of things. They're so sharp Yeah, it's there on top of things. Yeah, I I have to a quick shout out to, I mean, oh, you're familiar with the Peele Police. I've been dealing with them for the last 24 hours. They've been unbelievable. Ashton and Papa, I want to give you guys a shout out. Shout out. And Jeffrey as well.

I've been dealing with him today. But that's why I'm at home today or else I'd be in there with you guys. Yeah, well, I might throw the sunglasses on later because the I might have to go McCown on this I don't think I ever have but just shut go old school go old school I think people in Toronto would appreciate that The chip at Dale picks are coming Is this I gonna read I'll retweet one and my heads on Farley and I'll retweet one and my heads on Farley and Well, Market sent one in on the ice where Farley is just throwing yeah, I don't see care there there's

Anna and Wolfgang At one point he launches her That's you at the top of the circles. Watching Sid and Nate dangle in the corner. That is you saying, feed me Sid. I am starving right now for pucks and anything else you have. Get it in feed. Yeah, that's all we've got tonight. At the garden in Boston.

Oh, that is awesome. But yeah, no, listen, it's gonna be great. We got Duffy coming in later this hour. And you know, listen, there's a lot on the line. And we've talked extensively about who has more at stake. And I believe it is the Americans because of the way that they're talking like they're man do you think it's Canada I think it's Canada because we all know what's happened with

hockey Canada in the last several years we all know what's happened at the World Juniors the last two years being bounced in the quarterfinals and a lot of talk has been about the american program catching up and surpassing the canadian program and with the americans winning the last two world juniors and then possibly defeating canada i think everybody who asked would say their program is ahead

regardless of the fact that canada has sydney crosby or connor mcdavid or nathan mckinnon it's about the team wins and if it happens tonight everyone's gonna say now now we're the king daddy topper and you guys are well not bad us it's it's it's certainly is bragging rights for this situation you know the olympics are right around the corner but i don't think it's it's there's no argument.

USA and Canada are pretty on par. Yes. When you look at it, I mean, take a look at the first rounders. Take a look at Austin Matthews, Jack Hughes, the Kachuk brothers. These are stars in the league. Just like McDavid, Crosby, you go down to McKinnon. Yes, generational you could have the argument. But I mean, they are on par.

And we shouldn't look past that. But Canada has the pride. This is gonna be a hell of a game I think Canada wins tonight. Maybe that's just my my national pride involved, but I do believe You know, oh you were saying Bobby Mack, you know, generally Says that you don't beat the same team twice in the same tournament That could be true, but I can't wait to watch that. That's what you're hoping for. I mean, listen, my point about the Americans is you can say all that and the World Juniors is one thing and I know they've had a good program. We've run off years where we've won five in a row. I wouldn't be surprised if Canada won next year,

the year after that, the year after that. Yeah. But when it comes to the, the best on best of the pros, they are not on Canada's level. And if you lose again, then it's, to me, it's just like, move aside. Like you're, you're not with us. Like you, you know, you can say on paper this and that, and we won in the group stage, but they never win this game. Like they didn't in 2010, they didn't in 02, they weren't even around really in 98, 06. They brought a team to Sochi that was loaded

and they literally crapped the best. Exactly, exactly. So that is my argument, is that there's all of this momentum with the American hockey scene that we have caught up or it's ours now. Well, if you're gonna do that and say that, you better close it. You better win one of these because if Canada wins again, it's just like we knew we were going to win. That's why I feel confident that they will. Like I love that Sid's on my side that we got McDavid, McKinnon. I think Kale McCarr

in tonight, McAvoy out is huge, massively significant tonight. And you know, listen, it's there's pressure on both sides. For sure, everything you say about Canada is accurate because if you're the top dog, people are coming for you constantly. And you gotta sweep them away. And we've been doing that for 50 years, right? Whether it's the Russians or the Americans

or whatever it is, and that's not gonna stop. And it would be very disappointing if they lost tonight, but it's just it ever in the states They're trying to pretend as if this is truly a new era well Then they better prove it by actually winning is if you can't win this game No one's gonna remember that you won on Saturday. Nobody cares and and you know we talked about it briefly yesterday And I figured figured we'd get into it today These are I't say legacy moments,

but are platform moments for a lot of players on both sides, 97, 34 on the other side. You know, you said it yesterday, Hazen, we kind of glossed over it. I mean, Austin Matthews, this is an opportunity for him to go on a big stage, I want to be the big dog. I'm looked, I'm the captain of this team, I'm you know, I'm looked on the captain of this team I'm you know in the goal scorer. I'm the guy won a heart to have won the Rockets like

Why shouldn't it be a platform game for Austin Matthews? You know Mitch Marner's got to get a you know, we'll call it a monkey off his back as far as winning one of them's winning Tonight, why don't they be a contributing factor to help that win? Mitch Marner did it in in the round robin tony you'll see what austin has a few what other guys have do you think marnars contract has anything to do with the game tonight in other words of the place great doesn't help his cause of the place poorly does it last godly as any effect on the way the leaves and i know that

in absolutely nothing you know i think so i think it has anything to do with what the maple leaves to this playoff run. Yeah, they fizzle out and he doesn't contribute and he's not noticeable. That's where Who knows they might have already decided whether Mitch Marner is going to be here long term or whether they really want to go down That road or not, but I would assume that the playoffs Well, it should be much more important if you're the Maple Leafs clearly, of course I go go do what you're gonna do for Canada in a one-off but you gotta... I wouldn't be shocked if they literally in their minds as far as assessing their

own players shut this off and said we're not... this isn't a factor for anything. Yeah. Well there's a chance a good player might be scratched. Well it sounds like Kyle Connor might not play and like being scratched. That is a real possibility based on what has been seen at skates. He was a placeholder for Kyle Connor might not play and like being scratched that that is a real possibility based on what has been seen at skates he was a placeholder for Brady Kachuk yesterday not a good sign and today he stayed out late after the skate it sounds like Krider's going in and Connor's coming out wow like he's been he's been phenomenal this year dude probably top five five to seven in heart trophy conversation outstanding for Winnipeg and that's a huge shot.

For Chris Crider. That's what it's, don't hold me to it, like this is the speculation, because Sullivan did not concede to anything. He said you'll find out at game time, but there's a lot of whispers coming out of Boston that Crider's going in and Conor's coming out. And listen, if you're Kyle Conner, if you're the Jets Jets there's nothing you can do but obviously that's not a good sign.

Massive game and you're the guy they're saying you're coming out. Yeah. Like if that happens. That would be a massive kick in the pills. Massive. Massive. Massive. That you're a guy that might win the rocket you might score 50 you're a leader for the best team in the league this year. You spend your break going there in the last game They pull the play pull you out of the game well in Boston It is I mean it says that they want to play a bigger game right like Connors not a physical guy Connors not a You know he's more of a team Canada guy speedster and skill and shooter and that and they're going with a

Yes, a guy who could skate a million miles an hour in Criter but that's a big body that says that to me they want to get to the front of the net and make things tougher yeah for the goal time. Jamie I think it really does it really does make you realize how McKinnon's a speedster and McDavid's a speedster it just makes you realize that they are on a completely different level because they're not even being close to being talked about. Like they always get it done. They always perform. Yeah. Like the heaviness of a game is never in question. Them being noticed is never in question. They're just those guys. Like it's a different level.

Yeah, it is. You're talking about a guy that's gonna score 50 goals in Kyle Conner And there's a level above that and that's those guys, right? And I do wonder if this is saying something about the status of the Kachuk brothers, too Right that Sullivan may not think they're they're not a hundred percent And if they can't bring what they have to bring someone's got to play like that Well, it's gonna be fascinating tomorrow when regular season kind of kickstarts Like if you're a coach and you're a GM and a guy comes back from the four nations and says I don't know I'm not feeling that hot I'd be like excuse me well I'm glad you brought that

up because Craig Barube was at skate today and you know the Leafs are skating and there's stuff going on it's weird that the Leafs are skate this is how big this tournament has become that no one is even paying attention to the Leafs like and that's a testament to the tournament the Leafs are literally skating and playing and there's guys talking and no one's paying attention Nobody cares. I was sitting with Masters there and he came back and I was like, why are you going back? He's like well the Leafs are starting up and yeah nice. Maybe you got to check in on him I'm like really? Yeah, nobody like like tomorrow will fit will be into that for sure But the Leafs come back they play three games in four nights in three

different cities and Borubei was asked you know is there a chance Marner or Matthews maybe take a night off get a little bit of a break here's how he responded to that. With Austin and Mitch playing tonight would you consider at all like giving them a rest for that first game back if they felt they needed it or whatever or do you kind of need them to feel the roster? You got somebody that's gonna go in and play? No no as of right now I mean they're they're playing the game so you know it's there's a big games. I love that response like if you want to go play do your thing But by the way, that was a silly question. They're playing but you're playing

Yeah, like Austin don't come back and say something happened there No, you're playing man, like you you wanted to be there. You had the right to be there be proud of your success Mitch the same thing you're playing because it's go time Saturday night. Like the Leafs are, they're comfortably in a playoff spot, they're not running away with one and they got Carolina on Saturday night. Like that's not a free two points coming home. Like it's go time and your two best players or two of your best players get over the hangover quickly because you better be ready to play. That's the toughest part. And I got a great appreciation for that.

Like that's, Arubay just, no, they're absolutely playing. But we talked about it. Like the club team is waiting for you. Yeah. Like you've got to go back and go down the stretch. Now you can take and draw off of the experience and some of the things that you've learned and enjoyed and maybe through osmosis guys around you rubbing off but you're taking that back to your club team and make no bones about it.

I don't know this. I should know the schedule here the next couple of weeks but these guys who played together are going to have to battle head to head. Yeah. So Marchand's all fuzzy and giving Mitch some love and all that in the in the dress room. Marchand will punch him in the back of the head if he has to in a week if they play Boston. I'm just paraphrasing. Well they do.

They play in Boston on Tuesday. Okay so there's Marshand's going to punch him in the face if he has to on a Tuesday night. Like that's the one thing. They're going to be teammates and they might win and celebrate tonight but they're going right back at it and a lot of those guys play for keeps in the in the regular season to so well boston's fight for their lives you talk about them having to get you know hit the ground running

that's where the lead the least plate caroline on saturday at home at chicago back-to-back on sunday then at boston on tuesday then at the rangers on friday so uh... rangers are desperate, Boston's desperate, you know, Chicago doesn't have anyone in the tournament, so they're waiting, they're ready,

and they're gonna be at home. It's not gonna be an easy start. Like, it's not, and then they head through Vegas, and it's gonna get heavy here, man. Like, it's gonna get heavy for the Leafs. And, Marner, he's been healthy all year. He's played great Matthews has had his injury problems. It's a big guy, you know, like he's got to be ready to go man Are you still big on Marchand being a factor tonight in Boston? I think it sets up to be that way, you know

I'm not gonna guarantee it but I like this that's his house the garden in Boston. That's his house This crowd has supported him for 15 years. They love him down there. I think he feeds off them being on top of him. And if you're ever gonna supply some sort of spark with something, tonight's the night. Go right at whoever it's gotta be. Get in a scrum, do whatever you got.

Just be Brad Marshann in some way. Because I think if he scores tonight, too Especially if it's a big goal the reaction from the crowd will be fascinating. I would just start McKinnon McDavid Crosby Yeah, this is what our heater is. Yeah, you want to try to run around and bully us out of the rink? Go ahead. This is our start. Let's get playing. Let's go. Yeah, let's get playing But yeah, I think Marchand it's got a factor and everyone's got to supply something tonight. Got it. Yeah. Yeah.

But it is, I feel like it's going to be an unsuspecting hero tonight. We should before the end of the show today, pick who we believe is going to score the game winning goal. Doodles, I can already see the presser after the game. That's why we had him on the team. Yeah. Some guy that's been a ghost for three games is going to score and someone's going to say that's why we had him on the team. Yeah. Some guy that's been a ghost for three games is going to score and someone's going to say that's why we had him on the team.

Well, listen, it could be Kreider, right? For the Americans. Seth Jarvis is going in for Konekne tonight. It could be Seth Jarvis. Tony Cirelli. That's my guy. He's a winner. Tony Cirelli.

He's a winner. He won in junior. He's won in the NHL. Yeah. Yeah. That wouldn't surprise me at all. All right. James Duffy coming up in studio to continue to tee the game up tonight There's a lot going on also in the sports world will touch on Throughout the afternoon overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN to overdrive continues powered by fan duel bringing you everything from the opening Line of the final score. Here's James Duffy in studio ahead of the big game tonight

How we feeling JD? final score here's James Duffy in studio ahead of the big game tonight how we feeling JD feeling good feeling strong I did about three other radio hits today and they all asked me so what's the atmosphere like in Boston producers never asked if I was actually in Boston yeah there's that hesitation where you go should I not embarrass them and just pretend i'm in boston have you ever bluff something where you're like i'm live from uh... i have not done that there have been some writers who've gotten in trouble in the past where they've written a

a game story from their basement and uh... i think mitch album the great writer got got caught on that once in the couple of other people got caught on that how would they get caught as somebody ratted them out and said, hey bud, you weren't even out there. Yeah, somebody probably said you weren't in the press box or whatever. I know of a scout. I'm not going to say the team, but they would credential him. So what would happen is the team, you know, team secretary or whatever would have to credential

scouts on the road for them to pro-scouts. And they got a phone call going, this scout hasn't showed up in a month to get his credential. And the guy had been submitting reports left and right. I'm like, this guy's doing it either from his house or he's watching the game somewhere, but he's not in the building. And you're supposed to be as a pro-sc the building get the atmosphere maybe talk to people in that This guy was a fraud literally you wonder how much that happens now though like in this day and age when you can watch any No, you can I asked I asked the scout working out at the world juniors

I'm like, why don't you guys just watch you can see replays and stuff and I never understood it Well, it wasn't that long ago the world juniors in Ottawa but being at that game in Montreal I picked up a lot of things guys coming back to the bench intensity like I know that's that's not the argument I'm just saying if you wanted to be a lazy ass you could get away with watching it on TV and filing your report not doing your job correctly but you're right you obviously see way more at the game but you know snowstorm outside I don't feel like driving up the berry or whatever well a lot of it too like there's some group think in all of the scouting processes right like it's mock draft well this guy everyone believes

he's the best so what do you mean you see one tweet so-and-so looks good tonight yeah like hot down so-and-so look good today right well it's you just you see the mock to everyone's got the same players I'm like how do you all have the same like one through ten there's no no dissension there no one sees it differently and that happens with every sport and it's the same thing I'm sure was scouting where it's like yeah just well the different easy things to say yeah he's great is that you're in the lists that aren't public Right like every team has a guy rate. There might be 20 slots different, but they're not publicating there. No of course

It's not going to be known Exactly, but Bob's list Craig's list and some other guy another network might have similar lists. Yeah, but each individual team They're all way different sure So JD in terms of the meaning then, what does this mean tonight? Like if Canada wins, what does it mean? I think it's more of a symbolic where we are in the world, 51st state BS, that it just means a lot for our Canadian pride, and it's a win at a time where we probably really need a win that way as far as our national collective confidence. I know you guys were talking

about it before. I think people have gotten a little overblown. This is not the Olympics. This is not 2010. This is not 1972. I agree that, you know, we never had the political backdrop that we have for this and some of those other games. But I'm telling you a year from now if Canada in the US or in the Olympic gold medal game again, it's gonna feel like this times With several multiples, I believe so you don't think any of the players would accept like a win tonight Which means a loss next year like in other words if that was presented to the Kachuk brothers you win the Four Nations But you're not gonna win the gold medal next year

I mean if you ask them today a few hours before the game that might be a tougher thing because if that was presented to the kachuk brothers you win the four nations but you're not going to win the gold medal next year i mean if you ask them today a few hours before the game that might be a tougher thing because i've been waiting for this moment all the life we've heard it over and over again but i think if you remove them given perspective everybody would take the gold medal yeah that's why i agree with you on sports and the other night saying all the

pressures on the americans because yes if canada lose it will suck for our morale and there'll be discussions as to whether the Americans have passed us as the preeminent hockey nation. But if Canada comes back and wins the gold medal next year at the Olympics, this will be a sort of forgotten an afterthought because Canada's now won three best on best or four best on best out of the last five Olympics and the Americans don't have any. So yeah, I just don't think, I think everybody would take the Olympic gold medal if you asked

them, but maybe not two hours before this game. Yeah. Well, there's so much hype and it's in Boston and everything that comes with that. But from a Canadian perspective, the idea that Sid is still playing and playing such a prominent role like it. He scores a big goal tonight he'll get MVP of the tournament. Yeah he probably deserves it the way he's played. Yeah you know and one-off game this the the game against the US he didn't do much and that bad turnover but right nobody on Canada did. But the Sweden game he was the best player he closes the door on Finland and then if

he has a big one tonight and he just you look at his history I was reminded of the old four World Cup where Lemieux was in that okay that oh four World Cup was weird because it was Right before the lockout it felt a little bit funky But that's from 87 to oh four Lemieux was there like he was doing it all for the most part mm-hmm And here's Sid from 2010 to 2025 Doing it again, like as the man, as the leader,

and as a guy who's actually contributing. I really thought, perhaps naively, that it might just be a symbolic, great leadership from Sid, but that he didn't play a prominent offensive role in this tournament. And that's, I think, been one of the greatest stories of this tournament, is that he's had such a huge role

in both of their wins to get here though if by get he's already already getting statues multiple statues the up when he retires but if he does something tonight uh... then uh... i don't know how you ever the momentum is that he sees the he's gonna be on the ten

the twenty dollar bill or something yeah right jd how close he's he's he's gonna be on the ten the twenty dollar bill or something yeah right agree jd how close outside whether you it's a win tonight or not how close do you believe the american program is to canada is this the closest it closest it's ever been in your opinion i think it's probably even

already yeah they are in a touch ahead probably a i mean this is inevitable there's an inevitability to this that it's going to happen and it's just sheer numbers of population in the volume of people playing hockey in right and we've seen it coming for the last decade really maybe twenty years and it you see that the world juniors i i think it's already happened probably at

the world juniors that doesn't mean can is not going to win gold medals will be it's it'd be these things happen slowly the states aren't going to suddenly you know let's say they beat Canada tonight and they win the gold medals not like Canada's never going to win again and the Americans are going to be up here and Canada's going to be you know the equivalent of Finland or something like that to the Americans it's it's going to take they're going to be even for another 10 15 years or whatever and the Americans will just get slightly ahead but I think if you look at the

overall roster if you look at the programs if you look at world juniors it's already even if if not the Americans being just a little bit ahead now the one category where they have never competed and they still don't is best player in the world I don't think they've ever had that and you know when you you talk how and or in the gretzky in the lemeu in the said you know you might argue about skin these russian and now it's mcdavid like i feel like

that will be a bigger shock yeah the canadians then there will be one of the some phenom of the texas for something right that uh... that'll happen or will be the shock that if there's a better and that as player in the world yeah because we've never ever had that conversation we can talk okay they won the world juniors all right they won the 96 World Cup maybe they're gonna win the four nations maybe not gonna have to worry about it for ten years never we basically gone never been close smoothly Gretzky Mario Crosby Mcdavid yes kind of right exactly and everything before was obviously Canadian so there's never been an American that's even been close I

Don't think there's American an American. That's one of the top ten players ever I'm not sure there's a one that would be considered top 15 of all time. You know we'd go down the list Red Hall Maybe who was sort of Canadian. Yeah exactly Yeah, yeah, I don't think Kane's now ten or fear you're right No, and and that and I got'll be so and I still think that's a lot of a cano and a fear you're right now and and that and i got to be so and i still think that's you know this is captain obvious but that's to me the big advantages canada has in the game uh... are to on saturday night you know we've lost macavoy and we've gained

mccarr and that that is a it's a massive i think that's a ten percent overall team quality flip both ways yes Yes. Right? So that Canada 20 total Canada has gained well done. Canada has gained 20% as far as I'm you know I'm terrible at doing odds and things. Now that doesn't mean they're gonna win all a million things can happen but that's why I would pick Canada tonight and I think they should be a slight favorite and the other reason would be if you pick the best players in the game you go one, three before you get to an American, right? Yeah. I mean, I think Sid has earned that in this tournament.

I agree. And the way he performs on this type of stage. Like, that's the thing about the Americans. You look at, you know, I'm trying to, you go down the list, like Matthew Kachuck has done it. Jack Eichel's done it. But how many guys do you look over there and say like I know what that guy's bringing in the biggest game Where I know what Sid's bringing I know what McKinnon's bringing McCarr's done it He's won a cons might you might go so rank the players in the game right now the best players in tonight's game Would you go McDavid as far as what who you feel comfortable is gonna play it on the line and play well, okay? Let's we're doing a draft. This is a shinny game is going to lay it on the line and play well. OK, let's we're doing a draft.

This is a shinny game. And we are doing a draft of the two teams. Sticks in the middle. Let's do a draft. You pick first. And we'll go down the line here. Or who I think will have the biggest impact on the game. No, on the impact, you're playing this game

to win this tournament tonight. Who do you want first? McDavid. OK, I'll go McCarr. McKinnon. Noodles? Halibuck. Yeah, I knew Halibuck. I was thinking Halibuck. So there you go. That's where probably the chain breaks. Yeah. okay i'll go mccarr yeah i know that i was thinking how much though there is so they go out of our

problem chamber yes and maybe hella bucks that's our later comment noodles held in the summer summer you know about could be first i i i was he was thinking that because the nature of the position is that it's just the position that's all i mean i got you know let's take all these out if you don't take him at least take the goal is out noodles who would you take i've so what what are the picks again David McKinnon and McCarron and in my car off the board Wow, give me Crosby. Okay And then one American right there. Yeah That's the thing. I you know, like no one's taking a good truck. No one's taking Jack Eichel yet

Yeah, Zach Warren's maybe we're talking are we bias into Canada having an advantage? Are we biased though? We're biased. That's I don't think there's bias with those players I mean you can argue sick as worries in his career For me the three best players in the game are McDavid McCarr McKinnon Like I believe that I even like you you could argue, you know, okay dry sidle in that conversation Matthews make him slave and you bright. I Slavin, you're bright. Might wanna take away the way he's played. Yeah, but those three, like that's as good as it gets. One, two, one.

Like first line center, second line center, top dog in defense, you can't beat that. But when you're as good as those players are as guys, one of the biggest keys tonight is the Americans are gonna try to run them out of the building in the first 10 minutes. Regardless, they're not gonna try to, probably not going to drop their gloves and have a brawl again, but they are going to try to get that crowd on their side and run them

out of the building and see if they can get a 2-0 lead and see if they can wrap it up after that. And for the Canadians, they got it, like you just talked about the players that they're going to be involved in the game, if they get any open ice they capitalize. So that's where the two sways are gonna come are we going to see a you know maple leafs in another Canadian city at all factor tonight like how many Canadians have bought tickets for this I think a lot I think there's a lot of Canadians down there are we talking what's what's capacity there let's say it's 18 19

thousand are we seeing like six seven thousand Canadians or something like that there no I have many easily I we seeing like six seven thousand thing and something like that there no i'm easily i i could see five to seven thousand really that you think five to seven thousand people i talked to a ton of people and it's not five to seven thousand that they've some package they're going there that it's not a lot for montreal they went right to boston that's what it is it's packaging i just think more canadians would have bought this final game ticket in advance than americans would have i think it's not really as as big as it's gotten here it's gotten huge in the states over the past few days as well

uh... but that that that'll be interesting to me when you say that the the crowd feeding into it is going to is it going to be are we gonna be able to notice on television if canada scores but really loudly like a Leaf game on the road. Paul, the producer always finds you know what it's like the director. No, but I'm talking like the sound. Yeah. You know just like the raw sound of is it going to be equal or is it going to be a third? Like a Leafs in Calgary type of thing. Well that'll be fascinating to watch as well. Yeah, listen I think you bring up a really good point how many Americans are scrambling for tickets and if they're available because you know

the way this was working was it was packages you get you know the two games in Montreal you can buy the two games in Boston and it's a gamble because there's no guarantee your team's gonna make it. But I had a buddy that was flying down there with a you know group of eight or ten going to the game today tonight like that's anecdotal it's one group of guys but they're gonna be in the building. Apparently Seth Jarvis has buddies that drove from Winnipeg to Boston for the game tonight and he's going in he's gonna play Which is pretty incredible going in for I connect me. Okay. Yeah Jarvis and this it sounds like cried her in for Kyle Connor

Wow, that is the rumor down in Boston. That's now That's me. I'll take I'll take folk that I'm just reading the tea leaves from what I'm seeing. That's shocking, like, from what we thought going into the turn. If it's wrong, then go talk to somebody else. I think the only thing, too, we have to factor in is we do not know behind the curtain. Sounds like there's a flu going around. Like, if Connor's sick, then that's... I could see it. If it's just, hey, Kreider for Connor, I mean, that's a gut instinct play by management saying, if he was sick, Jamie, he wouldn't go out there and bag skate

this morning. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, you're right. You're right. You know what? If it's just a gut instinct, we need a bigger body to get to the front of the net and we need middle ice, then that's what they're doing. They're going, Chris Kreider, go stand on the back door, go stand in front of the net and see if we can get an ugly one on bennington or a jam away rebound here's another question of quinn hughes have been playing tonight where would he have gone in a draft great question but what do you would you have taken him before mccarr no right out before

crosby yeah i knew he would be in the top five for sure i wouldn't have i was the fourth pick i would have still stuck with Crosby based on one game tonight what I've seen In this tournament in this tournament alone, not just his career. Yeah, Sidney Crosby for me the other night Oh, you said it yesterday. That was one of the best empty net goals. We've seen in a long time He was so pissed. He came off the bench and go this is enough at four three. This is enough We're not letting Finland do this I'm gonna knock somebody out at Santa Rice and throw it into the net and that

Grandlin felt the wrath of Sid. Yeah he sure did. He's my four. You guys just mentioned that Quinn Hughes just talking to people at the tournament that guy is getting love like his respect in the game where he stands amongst the players like he went from really talented young defenseman to Norris winner to People are talking to they're like there's McDavid. There's McKinnon. There's my car and this guy's right there like he's These he's up there man. He's his skills are not going on notice like he's one of the best in the game Yeah, every time he steps on the ice. He's something else man Like that's a big miss like and obviously was injured and that's why he couldn't be there But that would be a game changer.

I wish he was playing and I know that the Canadian, the fan in you wants as many Americans injured as possible to give the advantage to Canada, but I think it would be the greatest thing if all the best guys were available to go and hopefully we'll see that in Italy next year. That's the plan. All right, JD. Well, we'll catch you guys on the panel tonight. It's going to be a fun night. It's going to be awesome. Yep. All right, JD, well, we'll catch you guys on the panel tonight. It's gonna be a fun night.

It's gonna be awesome. Yep, all right, buddy, good seeing you. Thank you. There he is, James Duffy joining us. We got Pierre Lebrun coming up from Boston. I'm pretty sure, Doogie, make sure you ask him. I think he's down there. Fairly certain he is.

He's definitely there. Okay, he's there. And Jerome McGinley coming up later in the afternoon as well. We'll catch up with Jerome. That's gonna be a blast ahead of the game tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on TSN2. All right, Pierre Lebrun coming up later in the afternoon as well we'll catch up with Jerome that's going to be a blast ahead of the game tonight overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 2. All right Pierre Lebrun coming up in about 15 minutes. That's some big news in the sports world man like Wemba Nyama done for the year Victor Wemba Nyama done for the year with blood clots that's scary man yeah that's scary like blood clots are scary

the way it was described is the Spurs believe it's isolated they didn't say they know it's isolated they shut them down for the year the Spurs likely weren't gonna make the playoffs anyway but they're within striking distance but he's awesome the defensive player of the year well that's it he was he was a hundred percent in the running to win that or at least be in contention for it and he's the guy like he's the guy everyone wants to see and now he shut down for the year and it's really panic inducing if you're the NBA because it just keeps like

Pouring on you dude. I just saw a tweet Lucas out. Yeah, like Lucas out They lost to the Hornets last night and Luca looked terrible. You know, and don't the maps suck. Yeah. Well, the maps are struggling and now they're talking about Kyrie Irving and how much he's going to make. Cause now he's got them up against it because street closes aren't already. It's just crazy. It's just Bedlam and the NBA. Like there's no other way to put it. It's Bedlam. It is. It's a bad, you know what's a bad, it's a down cycle right now for the NBA. Like it just, when it rains, It is. It's a bad, you know what's a bad, it's a down cycle right now for the NBA.

Like it just, when it rains it pours and it didn't help that the NHL got a little bit of bump and then the NBA players talking about it too. That's the crazy part. Yes. Like it's been a buzz throughout the league and the fact that you've got some NBA players going boy, I really like what's going on over there. You know when the players are saying the All-Star Game Weekend's a joke? That's it.

Yeah, that's real trouble. Like Draymond Green obviously went off on it, and Kevin Durant's been talking about it. Yeah, when the players are like, this stinks, or this is a real issue. Dude, the scary thing is, I've talked about it for years, they all love being there.

They all show up to it. Well, it's a status. Yeah, it is, but they don't wanna play the game with any kind status just more that is but they don't want to play the game yeah any kind of intensity no and i don't know how you get the cat back in the bag like i i don't know how you do it and i'm not i don't think adam silver has any clue now he clearly doesn't you know he's trying and he's doing all these different things and he's trying to turn them in sin that's just not let me just

make it you make it a fan expo you gotta if you want to go there and have a social hour with your buddies at night show up during the day and have meet and greet with the fans like make it a fan expo. If you want to go there and have a social hour with your buddies at night, show up during the day and have meet and greet with the fans. Make it an expose. You don't play, but you're just, hey, if you want to go and enjoy what comes with the NBA weekend, and that's what these guys want. I know, but Noodles, it's been such a part of the fabric of the fans to go to an All-Star game. I get it. It's been such a fab like part of the fabric or the fans to go to an all-star game like I

Get well massive fan thing. It's like I get to see all these guys on the same court. That's a huge part of it Skills competition too. That's like the big like the dunk contest is one of the coolest Uniquest events, you know affiliated with any and I used to have a lot of prestige to a man I would turned into a sir. Well, it's Mac McClung every the guys in the G League They're like like no one knows who this guy is and he's a great dunker But you're like yeah, you gotta have got you got of stars in the league like that was what it was Jordan did it Vince did it? You know the best players Wilkins did it? They all were in it and yeah, you know, that's that just doesn't happen anymore

All right, Pierre Lebrun coming up. We've got another Instagram like that has people buzzing in the city. All right. Yeah There's another Instagram and I'm sure you guys know who it's from if you don't I'm sure you're not gonna be surprised So someone in the Toronto sports scene who's been in the news a lot this week is liking Instagram posts So we'll tell you about that into the next hour and we'll continue to tee up the game tonight down in Boston. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. You've been listening to Overdrive powered by FanDuel. FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. This February IHER Radio celebrates Black History Month by amplifying the voices that define Black excellence.

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