OverDrive - OverDrive - February 21, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Frank Corrado for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss Canada's victory against the USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game, Connor McDavid's game-winning goal, Jordan Binnington's impressive performance in the crease and Mitch Marner's big plays throughout the tournament. TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie joins to discuss Canada's superiority on the ice, the triumph against the Team USA and the winning mentality of the roster.

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a glorious, glorious afternoon it is. Brian Hazy, oh dog, Jeff O'Neil. There's Frankie Corrado. How we feeling this afternoon? Not as good as you last night. Not as good as you last night. You were Joe from the bridging it. You were super fanning it. And you said said you guys are not that good and this is our sport and this is our country that's right about Paul Bisson that's video the Brian Hayes tweet it resonated I appreciate that I appreciate that I think someone had to come over the top because I had heard enough I had heard enough about the Americans they've arrived it's their game now and they're gonna take it over

And what did I say leading up to the game? They never win those games never they won the 96 World Cup That's it 30 years ago Canada always wins they found a way to win last night. I was nervous at times I was nervous, but I'm not gonna forget that game anytime soon man. That was a blast. Put it in the vault man What is it classics the ESPN classic? Yeah, well, I've rewatched that 20 years every shift of it Yeah, every year for the rest of my life I'd sit there and say pop that game in because it was a great 65 years old retired Brown liquor out and just pop the game in and have a great time

out and just pop the game in and have a great time. Porch cigar, bring a little portable TV out front, porch cigar, brown liquor, and relive the glory days of Connor McDavid getting his international career in full flight at the men's level. In Florida, while you're in Florida with no shirt on and just love life and say that's my country and that's how we play hockey and then look over at your neighbor and give them the bird

So you like that look at McDavid? Yeah, look at McDavid. What do you think of that? Connor McDavid shows up last night And I told you yesterday I really think that this is an avenue for Connor McDavid and let's be honest did not have his a plus stuff Yesterday did he not even close. For 60 minutes, it was setting up. If the Americans went in overtime last night, the whole story is where was McDavid? The whole story is what happened to the guy, where was he, and why didn't he show up? And now it's the complete opposite.

He wins MVP of the game, which he wasn't the best player in the game, but he obviously factored into the most important part. He won the game. Of course he's the MVP of the game. I guess so. But it wasn't the best player in the game, but he obviously Factored into the most important he won the game of course he's the MVP of the guy guess But it wasn't his body of work you can't even was compelling are you clarify that that? I'm saying that that game is over four or five times over if that doesn't have the game that he had Bitting Tim was the MVP, but I understand why you give it to McDavid of course I mean he scored the goal. He's the face of the league, best player. That's his moment. Uh, it was, it was incredible.

It was an incredible experience as well because, you know, we obviously follow the Leafs and we track the Leafs as closely as we do. The fact that it was in Boston made it just feel different and weird. Yet there was a lot of deja vu and a lot of nostalgia. Like I'm sure we all have the same experience going into overtime. It's like you're waiting for another overtime in that barn. Yeah. You were waiting for Zdeno Chara to skate out with a USA jersey and just score somehow.

Yeah. Or Patrice Bergeron. I'll tell you a couple other things. You mentioned Binnington and he made the coach look like a genius last night because he kept saying this guy in the big moments, he's kept us in there. There's also the idea that they didn't trust anybody else to make a change but you've got to give the guy a ton of credit to be that composed. Like the third period and overtime, there was some great A chances where it was like the Canada, the Canadians look tired and they

look to loosen up and given up some opportunities like these ones here and it should have been game over. Yeah. But this guy made the incredible saves and I also give John Cooper a ton of credit. The like to handle that group is not easy business and being in Montreal and seeing the pressers and seeing them walk a ton of credit. To handle that group is not easy business. Being in Montreal and seeing the pressers and seeing them walk around, seeing them practice, run the practice, deal with players, that guy's a real deal Holyfield coach, man. I'm telling you, you got to see it close up just to see the whole package. How he operates a practice, dealing with the media media how to deliver messages how to send again it's just I and I'm not just saying this

because I know the guy and but he's a real deal coach how we handle Bennington and how he handled like Mark Stone deserved to be bumped down last night and he just looked and said you're not gonna bump you down and Mitch Marner you're going up you made a great play in the in the second period or in the first period whatever it was to tie the game The Bennett goal in the second period The Bennett goal, yeah You know what's crazy about that O is that there are some coaches that would have said I tried Marner with McDavid already And I'm just crossing it off my list and I'm just not going back to it

He said no this guy's going tonight I'm gonna put him back with McDavid because I thought it was going to work the first time. It didn't work, but I'm going to try it again because I believe it. And that's just a, that's just a gut feel. That's a coach has got thing. The Bennington thing, going to him, sticking with him, never deviating from that coach has got same thing last night with Marner, putting him back with McDavid. That is an elite coaches gut. If you want to call it anything if you want to call it anything yeah I was just stole my thunder and finished my thought for me but I hammered you over the sorry what he did it was an elbow off the top turnbuckle and I'm gonna take control of this comment and he did I let you know it's coming is we're gonna post this on YouTube it'll say

like karate Cooper genius you know and it's gonna go viral I'll tell you right now. That's coming line people do that. They're getting an email tonight. Okay Well, I think it should be a duo. I think it should be O'Neill and karate agreed. John Cooper knows what he's doing That's that's what we need. You know, that's that's click bait enough, but do it What a night for Mitch Marner as well hazy unbelievable. sets up two of the goals and I thought we're doing a segment I believe today called lock or not we are he vaulted himself potentially on our segment which means nothing to possibly going from not a lock he skyrocketed to one of the top locks for next February absolutely he you talk about just so good contributions and you can go through other guys and it's not about comparing Mitch Marner to other guys, but he scored an overtime winner.

He disappeared a little bit, but Cooper hung with him and kept him kind of bebopping around the lineup. And then when it counted the most, he had two massive assists and the most important assist in the whole tournament. He vaulted to a lock and I'm really happy for him and he should be proud of himself the way he contributed last night That's what he's always expected to do. Everyone knows he can contribute offensively. It's when chips are down Where are you? Can you do it? He did it last night. It's a stepping stone. Absolutely I was really happy for him too. I thought he was phenomenal all game

I thought he was and united guess a couple defensive breakdowns of points in the first period but i thought he looked very comfortable with the pocket well he's fine fascinating and this is what i'm going with defense forever and i get it because of the nature of the sport the nature of a game like that words tight checking you gotta get inside and people revere you know in this town forever the the darcy Tuckers and the Gary Roberts and the guys that go in first

on the four check and throw hits and go to the net and score goals with their teeth. That's not Mitch. Like, that's never going to be Mitch Marner. So if you're expecting that, then you're always going to be disappointed with him. Why he hasn't worked in big games is because what he does so well, he wasn't doing so well, which is create time and space for himself and his teammates

better than maybe anyone else. And his IQ is as high as anybody in the sport and his ability to read the play and make the opposition feel uncomfortable, whether they have the puck, don't have the puck, that's his strength. And for whatever reason reason big games of the past with the Leafs He just hasn't been able to do it and then it looks worse because he's also not gonna crash the net He's not gonna throw a hit not gonna be the middle of a scrum

Why it pop last night was because he looked comfortable and he did what he's capable of doing and the past of Bennett was brilliant That's Mitch Marner in a nutshell. Slow the puck down, slow the play down at the blue line, create time and space, he cuts to the middle, Bennett scores the way he scores, which is huge. And then obviously the read with McDavid, that's not an easy play, man. That's a high leverage play where he had to, like, Matthews was in between and Matthews got his stick out and he kind of went out and around matthews stick to make sure that mcdavid could get the pass and

i thought he was brilliant i thought martin was was unreal last night and well he needed that. yeah i'll piggyback off your commentary there the one thing that he hasn't been able to do in the playoffs or in a particular series is make an adjustment because we know how he can make plays and you said he wants to buy time and get black guys get open when that shrinks up he hasn't been able to adjust right

and say because it's not like he's going to switch up his game plan and start as you mentioned off the top that really got me fired up score goals with his teeth yes wall i love those guys. He's never going to do that, but he has to find the ability to adjust and say, this game's going faster, how can I contribute offensively?

Because I make a ton of money and that's what I'm paid to do. And I can do it. That's what you always got to do. Exactly. That's the expectation. The coach isn't going to go outside of the boundaries and say, hey man, go and knock Brady Kachuk on his ass and then start a line brawl. That's not what you do, man. Everyone gets paid for a specific reason. And under the circumstances, you have to find a way to do that. Look at Kyle Conner, man. That

guy's gonna score 50 goals this year. He could leap into some heart trophy conversations. Didn't play last night. That was insane. That was crazy. Why would you want to go into a game like that where you need all the potential ammo that you can have and go in short handed like that? The coach didn't like what he saw and he didn't trust them. He didn't trust them to perform and he thought he might be potentially a weak link in the most important critical times of the game. And the other guy they put in was a big body. He scored the game before that, and he's an energy guy,

and he's just built differently. And in a short tournament, you can lose trust quickly. Yeah, they doubled down, tripled down, right? No Tage Thompson on the team, he scored a ton. No Caulfield on the team, he scored a ton. Kyle Connor scores more than anyone on that team, you're not playing. Like, they tripled down on their philosophy.

So let me ask you both, does USA Hockey deserve some criticism, saying, Scores more than anyone on that team. You're not playing like they tell me I don't know their philosophy desert Does USA hockey deserve some criticism saying you had some game breakers sitting around? Well, you deserve some criticism I think so and that's it feels like the Canadians at the World Juniors here It's funny how that's flipped right where it was like well, why didn't you bring these guys who are game breakers? You wanted different players, but I would counter that with and I do think you know at times We can be victims of the moment and prisoners of the moment where you get you get stuck in it you yell and scream about anything that happened that specific

game the other side of that was Sam Bennett last night where there were a lot of people in hockey saying you can't put Sam Bennett on this team you can't have Sam Bennett out there he can't dangle he can't do what other guys can do and last night I thought he was as good as anybody on the ice quite frankly last night. What do you have seven shots on net? he scored an unbelievable goal through his body around and That's that's the the dangerous kind of element of these conversations where you got to have a middle ground Yes, you you want the Kyle Connors you want the Cole Caulfields, you want different players

like that, but you also got to consider the Sam Benets because they're big game players. They're guys that are going to factor in to a game like last night where if it's a skills competition Sam Benets not one of the 13 best Canadian forwards. No, I guess not. But if anybody's watching the Stanley Cup playoffs last year and what he did for the Florida Panthers. You got to have them on the on the team Yeah, and you don't think the coach had a heavy kind of influence on who was being selected

I'm not saying it wasn't the right call. It was clearly the right call I'm just saying John Cooper cross-state rivals watches Sam Bennett a lot and he probably just said to army and the staff Gotta get this guy off to have him on he's a gamer He's a killer and he could potentially score a massive goal didn't play the first game of the tourney either and the first shift he had he wasn't even close to coming out of the lineup after his flow was inserted two guys that didn't play the first game of this tournament Sam Bennett and Thomas Harley I thought both those guys were unbelievable that kid Harley for

him to step in and on that McKinnon goal say I'm actually gonna make this pass and I'm gonna nose dive into the zone You know not not playing cautious opening up that space for McKinnon like I think that's that just speaks a lot about the the confidence of that kid and You know going like going with the American side Okay Austin Matthews is about six inches from having the game of his career.

If he scores one of those shots that goes six inches under the bar or over Bennington's glove or over Bennington's blocker, we're talking about that guy was a physical dominant force. He outmuscled McCarr on the one goal, he outmuscled Crosby on the one goal, and then he just couldn't get that one for himself to finish things off He was an absolute beast. He was one goal away from becoming Mike Iruzioni 2025. Yes, he was a beast. He was six inches away from exactly that. Iruzioni 25. Yeah, it's uh I'm glad you brought him up in this first segment because I think that's a big topic of discussion because I don't I don't think any athlete

Wants people to feel sorry for them. No grown adult ever wants to hear that. But I felt for him last night. I felt for Matthews because I thought he was outstanding. I thought he was the Americans best forward. He got primary assist on the two goals. And you mentioned the three chances he had in overtime.

He had two great eight chances and a grade A plus plus plus chance. That Gensel Pass, Cross Ice, where Bennington goes across and now that lives forever. That's one of the great Canadian saves of all time. That Bennington save on Matthews to save the game will be played for eternity for the rest of his life, for the rest of Austin Matthews life and Bennington's life in our lives. And you're absolutely right Frankie because Now he's 0 and 7 in his career in must-win games. This is different than the NHL But if it's a big big game 0 and 7 he's 0 and 4 in that building

18 19 24 25 and If he scores that goal It's Captain America and he is an icon in that country. Like he's on every ESPN show, Fox Sports He's on the front page of Time magazine It would have been so big for his career and his life and it would have been look what he did Three points the game winner place goes nuts and instead Bittington just robs him Robs him because he got he got those shots off man. All three of them. The one he went top shelf. Like he got something on that. And I would

say the one that went low blocker. That was an unbelievable save by Bennington. Like he got that off from the hash marks. And now you look at Matthews and you just have to ask yourself like what does this guy have to do? Like is he is he is he can he show up in the biggest moments? Is he the most snake-bitten superstar of all time? Like I don't even know what else to say about this guy because I thought he was great and then to add insult to injury. It's his guy in overtime. The lasting image of the tournament is his guy Connor McDavid wide open in the slot to win the thing and

I'd go one more dash on top of that in terms of insult the guy he chased into the corner Mitch Marner his boy Mitch Marner drew him into the corner and Went around him and McDavid closes it and the lasting image could have been to your point Frankie closes it and the lasting image could have been to your point Frankie Captain America he's done it he's a winner he's clutch instead it's that's his guy and he can't do it and I felt I really fell for him last night because I thought he was great and you mentioned he might be the one of the most snake-bitten superstars but when as soon as they tied it up and I had this feeling it's almost like a it was like a Tiger Woods feeling how he always made the putt where you're like is this guy

really gonna do this and then you're like as soon as he makes it you're like of course he's gonna do it I kind of had that feeling with the likes of Sid and Connor McDavid and Nathan McKinnon on the same team I'm like these guys aren't losing they're just not losing. And as soon as McDavid won the game, and I remember, I always remember this conversation, and Hayes, I probably told you this numerous times, I was driving in my car when I was a kid,

and my dad had sports radio on, and I remember asking him about the Edmonton Oilers. They're winning the Stanley Cup, a lot. And he's like, when you got the best player in the world, you're always going to have an extremely good chance to win. And it just seems like Sid and Mario, like Gretzky, and then now McDavid. We talked about X factors yesterday, who can contribute.

When you have the best players in the world, and it's probably the top two with McKinnon and McDavid on the same team and then you've got the incredible kind of spirit of Sidney Crosby who is still so talented it's almost like you can't beat it. I think it's a great point and I think it's ultimately what separates Canada from the United States and what will continue to separate them because Everything you just said you look over, you know best on best Canada Cup started in 76 Frankie You're younger than us, but I'm sure your parents talked about this. Oh, you would have heard from your dad Bobby or in 76 You wouldn't believe it. You wouldn't believe what Bobby or looked like in 76 best player Canadian

They went an 84 87 91 Gretzky, 0-2 Lemieux, 10-14 Sid, 25 McDavid. The best players always Canadian and it's always a game breaker. They always factor in. They always factor in and that's why when we were having these conversations and it's not to take anything away from the Americans. They're a great team. They're a great, great program. Great program. We're having fun with the rivalry and it's a great rivalry It's only gonna grow what I can't wait for more of this But why I never bought into the Americans being better is that they don't have the best player They never have and guess what? I'm not sure they ever will maybe they will at some point. They're not going to next year

Mcdavid's gonna be in Italy and so will McKinnon. And so will Cale McCarr. I think the generation still belongs to Canada. This generation still. Exactly right. Matthew Kachuck came out and said, we think it's our time now. And we're going to start a golden era of USA hockey. Well, no you're not.

Because those guys last night, you start messing around with those guys, McKinnon and McDavid and McDon. We haven't even talked about my car exactly guys out there half a game See how good that guy is on the line about true dowdy last night, too I thought dowdy was true doubt he was really good, but think about this true dowdy were taking them off of the fenceman Like he's not he's a lock drew doubt is a lock to go to it Allow true daddy is the biggest beauty in Canadian hockey. He's such a gamer.

He's such a gamer. And they were missing three, they were missing Petro, they were missing Morrissey, and they were missing Theodore. And a lot of those guys on that blue line really stepped up. I understand the Americans were missing McEvoy and Matthew Kachuk didn't play. That's all very valid. But to miss three of your top, I call it four or five defensemen in the country, that is very valid. But to miss three of your top, I call it four or five, defensemen in the country, that is very significant. Canada overcame that and Guy stepped up. I just wanted

to say one thing on the McDavid thing before we move off it. He just had a game seven in the spring where I think a lot of us talked about that and said, this is it. This is stuff that cements your legacy. Game seven, Stanley Cup final, McDavid's gonna have the night where he scores the big one or he has the big night. It didn't happen for him. The Panthers won. I don't even think he got a point in that game.

And if last night he doesn't score that overtime winner, that's two. That's two in a do or die with the championship on the line. It would be our opening comment. It would be our opening comment. Right? And he got it done. and that is massive for him Like that is, you know starting to etch his his legacy as a winner and he starts it on, you know

Best on best for nations. Yeah, it was it was just an incredible night incredible game You know, there was a lot of Canadians there obviously the crowd and again If you've been watching the Leafs playing that building forever It was a completely different vibe watching all the local Boston fans Funnel out of there right and just say we're out like this is it But it was it was an incredible night and you know in reality in the end It's Canada still on top and the Americans are still chasing and it's gonna come up quickly though right we're a year away from the Olympic Games and we will do lock or no lock in terms of this

roster will throw in a couple other names couple of guys who were maybe on the bubble or injured, right? Maybe throw in a couple of other guys. Dude, welcome to the team in Italy. Welcome to the club. Yeah, you made the club last night. That's right. We're welcoming people to the Olympic Games.

Personally, I'll let you I'll save that for you. the club last night. That's right. We're welcoming people to the Olympic Games. Personally. I'll save that for you. As soon as they've made the club hazy, you say, welcome to the team in Italy. Okay. Buongiorno. I love it. Buongiorno. And it's a three-man panel here, right? Three judges and you got to get two or three votes to be welcomed to the club. I love that. You got to get two of three to be on the team. I love it. So we'll do that a little bit later on We got Bob McKenzie coming on Bobby Mack

We haven't heard from him when you think international hockey Canada you think of Bob like Bob's he's done it all he's seen it all he's covered it all and Now I think you can just be a fan watching the game last night You know that's call him Bob father for a re he'll dig something up from the 84 Canada Cup that will just father for a re he'll dig something up from the 84 Canada Cup that will just It will fire you up. It'll change the YouTube Algorithms will be off and it'll be Bob's 84 anecdote. That's what's gonna take over this first hour of overdrive So Bob McKenzie coming up we got MJ who was in the building last night Dear hazy be coming up later this afternoon

We got MJ who was in the building last night Dear hazy be coming up later this afternoon We're again continuing to chat about what happened last night how great that game was what it sets up for the future of both programs and The Leafs are back in action tomorrow. The Raptors are back in action tonight So there's a lot going on in the sports world will continue to touch on all of it Frankie Corrado is in here with the o-dogog Jeff O'Neil. I'm Brian Hayes. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Mail It In Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar.

Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree, a side and a drink. And you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston Pizza. Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel. bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. We've got Bruce Cassidy coming up now. Bruce will join us just after six.

He was on the bench for Canada last night. And Bob McKenzie coming up here in a few moments. Kurtis tweeting in, very good question. Curious how you guys would respond to this. Kurtis wondering if Kyle Connor, who was scratched last night, would have been shooting daggers at Matthew Kachuk for taking a spot in the lineup to sit on the bench

basically all night and not play. That is, it's a fascinating question because if it's one of those things where you're just morphing into hero mode saying at all costs I'm going in there but in reality you kind of knew you had no shot then that's ridiculous. Yeah that's kind of how I read. Probably if you can read between the lines it seems like that would have been what happened right? I'd never judge people's injuries. I know. Modern medicine who knows somebody

could have said, but in the reason I say that I'm not really buying into that is because I believe he practiced the day before. Well, and he did start the game and play, you know, it just he got halfway through the second, it couldn't go, you know, just like the Canadian game on Saturday night. And it's like, I don't think the Kachuk brothers, though, we're going to take themselves out of that spotlight You know it was their moment. They were talking the most they were the ones saying we're gonna do this and do that Do you get about Kyle Connor? What about Bill Zito?

Yeah, well exactly Exactly, well how they help us hold on ruins man like they like Charlie McAvoy these guys are in a playoff hunt They're not gonna have Charlie McAvoy. These guys are in a playoff hunt. They're not going to have Charlie McAvoy. Good luck. And they just spent so much time without him. Yeah. He's been hurt all year, basically. And goes there, gets injured. You're right. I mean, Kichuck now goes down to Florida. Florida's in a good spot, clearly. But what's his status going to be moving forward? And that's going to apply to every team.

You know, it's like tomorrow afternoon. There's a game at 1230 I think Minnesota's playing Detroit tomorrow at 1230 in the afternoon. There's a game and Edmonton plays in Philly at 1 o'clock McDavid's out there tomorrow like this time tomorrow the game's over. He's off the ice These guys are going to have to hang in warp speed Yeah, like the guys that were just playing this for nations They're gonna be out there saying like this these guys are in slow motion and I am flying around the ice Yeah, you'd be a little bit like I've had some games not a lot where I would say to Ronnie Francis I need things teed up rather nicely this evening

Like perfect one timers in this i need basically an empty matter to get cooking here yeah and he would always deliver some of these guys are going to be like twelve thirty starts yeah come on man like after four nations face off and half you guys stink you want to talk about looking at rosters going through hockey games man i hope you enjoyed the last ten days because i talked about the league being watered down for about a year now Watch it. Just take all that's it man. Like you're gonna get like a lot of guys on every team

No business being in that league Larkin's going back Brock Faber They're gonna play each other tomorrow and be like what is going on around here? Look at who were who's like the fourth line? They're gonna get out there on a fourth line and be like We would just had McDavid, you you know we were chasing McKinnon around 36 hours ago imagine throwing your industry standard fourth liner into that game last night and just dropping them in and saying let's see what you got it would be like it would stick like a great experiment just put this the average fourth liner right in the middle of that game and just to see how he sticks out

How quickly it sticks out? Alright Mike Johnson coming up Bruce Cassidy will join us dear hazy be later this afternoon But we have the luxury of a good friend joining us today because you know we oh you and I were talking earlier We're like we got to call pop like you got to see if Bob's willing to come on because he's done it all he's seen It all you know he's he's done it all he's seen it all You know, he's he's been all these events and last night. I got a chance to just watch it. I guess as a fan Here he is the hockey outsider Bob McKenzie Bobby Mack. What was that like last night watching that game? Hello, gentlemen. Nice to talk to you

Yeah, you know what it was a lot of fun Because you're right. I did did watch it as a fan. I think it's got to be probably the first major international event, like not Olympics or Olympics and World Cup, whatever, that I haven't been working for. So it was a unique perspective and it allowed me just to be a fan. And that's different for me because as O will tell you, and I think I told you guys this story before, I try not to be emotionally invested in international hockey. And hey listen, I'm a very proud Canadian. Always have been, always will be.

And now maybe more than ever for all the obvious, excuse me, all the obvious reasons. But in 1996, the World Cup, I was so sideways and emotionally upset that Canada lost to the Americans when Bret Hall booted the puck into the net that afterwards, I worked for the Frontal Star at the time and I was like, I was fit to be tied and I was like, this is a stupid way to do my job. I'm too emotional. I need to be more rational. So I said, if I'm going to do international hockey, and I do a lot of it at TSM, World Juniors every year, I got to back off the cheerleading and the wanting team candidate

to win and be a lot more cool and analytical. And that's exactly what I did. And to the point, 2010, I might've been the only person in the rink in Vancouver when and be a lot more cool and analytic going back exactly what i did to the point two thousand and ten i might be the only person in the rink in vancouver when sydney scored the golden goal i would like ten feet behind the net worries courted and right holders that year uh... everybody's emails and writing pieces on it

not just out there everybody i don't think that everybody just out there and celebrated and i just sat in my chair and didn't do anything. And it's not because I'm not a proud Canadian. I'm happy when Canada wins for them. But you know what? I know I got to know a lot of Americans and international people over here. Jimmy Johansson, the late Jimmy Johansson USA hockey was just the prince of a guy. And when they won, I was happy for him.

So that's kind of where I went with the cold detached approach. But now that I'm not covering it, and now that Canada is in a trade war and who knows what else, and the total lack of disrespect our country feels because of the Donald Trump and the annexation and 51st state BS,

I was like a raving lunatic watching that game last night and and in the grand scheme of things the winner of the loss really in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter and I can look at that part of it analytically and just say Whatever is going to happen on the trade war whatever is going to happen on all this annexation talk and everything else It's going to happen regardless of whether Canada won or lost last night. But I've got to be honest with you, it wasn't so much about celebrating the win as just getting an opportunity to avoid what would have happened if the Americans had won. I don't think I could have taken it and I think most Canadians probably feel the same

way. Bobby, the term political undertone was involved in almost every panel we did. Do you think that crossed the mind of the players before that game or do you just think they're good Canadian boys, stick puck, let's play hockey, we want to win the game? I think it's a mixed bag oh and I gotta be honest with you. I mean let's be honest. This whole thing between Canada and the United States is even harder for those of us involved in the NHL and Hawkins because it's almost like there is no Canada in USA when it comes to the NHL.

Everything is like reciprocity, total free trade, back and forth. The whole NHL community is a community and it's a mixed bag of Canadians, Americans, and obviously Europeans. And a lot of the, let's be honest, a lot of the players, a lot of the coaches, a lot of the managers, they support Trump. They're Republicans or what have you. Um, that's pretty, I think that's pretty well documented. And so I don't think that the Canadian team was sitting there saying, we've got to do this to the annexation.

But I thought John Cooper was very eloquent after the game last night when he talked about the fact that the players are aware of it, and I was really happy that they addressed it as directly as he did to make the Canadian fans know that they were aware of the political overtones of the entire thing and it wasn't their reason for wanting to win the game. They want to win the game because it's Canada and they haven't lost a major international competition at the senior level for who knows how long. But they were aware of it and as I said, you know, some of them might not give a damn about the political side of it. Some of them maybe are aware of it, but they certainly understand stakes on a hockey level and I

think they were well aware of the other stakes that they might not in their own mind have a direct connection to but certainly they're smart enough to know how the Canadian public is feeling. Yeah and how the Americans like you said would have responded to a win last night. It would have been so over the top with Bob McKenzie. So let me offer you these two stories, or these two players. Let's say you're in the press box last night,

you gotta write an article, or you're going on SportsCenter and you can talk about one of these two stories. Sidney Crosby winning again, or McDavid finally having that moment. Which one would you choose? Which one do you think is the more compelling story? I'm like the huge, the biggest Sid booster in the world, but last night I probably would have said McDavid. And I saw, and O and I were talking a little bit by text during the game, not much,

but a little bit. And I saw O's hit on Sports Center last night and he nailed it. And Connor himself said it. It wasn't his greatest game. I thought he really had a tough time keeping the puck on a stick. Pucks were bouncing over a stick uncharacteristically. He was just things weren't in sync for him but at the end of the day he gets alone in the slot. I don't know how he got that alone and he puts it in the back of the net and beats the best goalie in the national hockey league with a clean shot one on one boom in the back of the net so that was connor's moment it's always going to be connor's moment until there's other connor moments to deal with so i would probably go down that road so the one other thing i would say is and I've always believed this. I don't, and I know a lot of Canadians

want to say, oh we won again, we never lose, we beat them in 2010, we beat them in this year. Hayes just said that to start the show. I say that all the time and I'll say it for another year. We beat them, we're the best, we're the best, we're the best. And I would say fair enough, when you win you get to claim We're the best. We're the best. We're the best. And I would say, fair enough, when you win, you get to claim you're the best. And when the Americans finally do get around to beating Canada, and at some point they will, they're going to say they're the best. And they're okay to say that.

But I got to be honest with you. Everybody talks about how far American hockey's come and it has. They get some brilliant players. I mean, that that Slaven pair last night was unbelievable. Wawrinski is being incredible. So now they're producing an astronomically wide swath of really good players. It's going to make it difficult for any nation to beat them coming up. But you know what? In 2010, the Americans won the round robin. They lost in the gold medal game on Sydney's Golden Goal. In this one, they lose in the round robin and they

lose on Conor McDavid's Golden Goal after Bittington has to stand on his head. And I've always believed this about hockey, especially short tournament games like Olympics, World Championships, World Juniors. There's so much luck involved, it's not even funny. And to be able to draw a pronouncement and say, based on winning the world, winning the four nations face off last night, Canada is the dominant, superior hockey nation. If the Americans had won that game in overtime,

I wouldn't say, there'd be a whole bunch of, the Americans would say it, and there'd be a bunch of Canadians who would be a little upset about the way things have gone. And they would say, you know, well, we're not, we're never going to catch up to them. They're, they're beating the pants off us. Now these things tend to run in cycles and a hockey game is a random series of events. And I mean, between Austin Matthews and Brady Kachuck, the chances they had in overtime last night How they didn't end up in the back of the net how Bennington got those I have no idea

that easily easily easily easily could have been an American win and Nobody would be talking about oh, we're the best we're the best and they would be talking about we're the best and I would say tone that down because it's just a hockey game in a short tournament and It goes it goes both ways. So I mean if in 2010 we needed a golden goal to beat them and in 2025, 15 years later we needed a golden goal, I mean have they gained that much or have we lost that much? And the answer is no.

It's two great hockey nations and the game is better for them playing each other and best on best. And we get to do it again next year and every two years from then on. So it's going to be fun to have best on best finally back. Bob, it's always great to catch up with you. We appreciate you doing this today. That's awesome. Hazy B, I just want you to know i'm gonna see your former o h l team

tonight to bury culture is memorial auditorium in kitcheners so i know what number did you what number did you work and i'm sure that number being retired by accident number four i was it probably the greatest number four defenseman possibly never have a video itself is bobby or number two i believe for the church and try to get i believe you were number two so i could take a look at it yet will go colds every if you want to be here at the leader of the so i can tell you later yet or go colds every if you want to get a little bit of a not so i'll be asked

somebody from sarnia berry about brian haze in the heat is got so much that doesn't get you right in the pills uh... it's always one of them one final thing we're in the monobank re-entering my wife and i picking up some stuff one day and the the guy behind the counter says, we were picking up lasagna, and the guy behind the counter says to me, hey, Bobby Kennedy, he goes, hey, Brian Hayes talks about his lasagna all the time.

He talks about how great it is. You know how good it is? And I said, I have no idea. And he goes, I'm sure it's good, but it can't be that good. I mean, not like this. Look at how good this lasagna is. And I said, you know what? If you want me to, I'll tell him Hayes is a fraud.

His lasagna is a fraud. He obviously didn't get the joke, but he said, he goes, I wouldn't go so far as to call a lasagna a fraud, but I just can't imagine. My wife says she can't imagine it's as good as our lasagna. Well, I put it to the test. That's a great place. It's a brilliant, brilliant bakery. But I love how he doesn't say, well as good as our lasagna. Well, I put it to the test. That's a great place. It's a brilliant, brilliant bakery.

But I love how he doesn't say, well, haze is in a fraud. My lasagna is in a fraud. I wouldn't go that far as to say my lasagna is a fraud. But I'll put it up against anyone, Bob. Whenever you want some, you just let me know. It's all yours, buddy. It's crazy how many Italians you've

offended over the years by saying you have good lasagna. I am out to offend as many people as I can. That is my man thing. Great talking to you guys. Boys, I'll have a good one. All right, Bob. There he is, Bob McKenzie. See you, Bob.

Rangers Colts on a Friday night in Kitchener. That's a great barn. Great. It'll be rocking in there. It'll be great to talk to Bob about those Canada story. The games he's been at, he's been through Gretzky right through all of them. Yeah. Seen it all, done it and you know the way he views it and listen He's right about the nature of the sport that as a bounce here a bounce there and it

Things would be very different like if the Americans had of got a bounce in 2010 Obviously that history is different if last night But the amazing thing is they didn't and then the guy that got the bounce was Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and it just allows like the best players the generational players to have their moments and also you know what I was thinking last night was because it's been so long since we had a best on best there is a younger generation of Canadians that have never experienced how fun it is to watch Canada win and play You know where let's say you're 20 years old you were 10 back in 14

You wouldn't really remember that like you wouldn't remember the 2014 games or certainly not the 2010 games So if you're 18 20 22 like last night was your first chance to really puff your chest out and get to witness that. So that was awesome. And getting to see, like getting to see Crosby, McDavid, McKinnon together like that, I think there was always this intrigue factor as far as what's it going to look like. And you know, it's the made up tournament. And then you get to see it and you're like it's everything I thought it was gonna be man like I Know there's ups and downs, but you're playing against the best guys like you're playing against four first lines You're playing against six shut down defensemen essentially on every team and those guys still had flashes where you're like that guys dominant

And then together they're dominant for me like I watched that and I said that is the most like crisp efficient Cleanest hockey that we're gonna see until next year's Olympics And it was everything that I wanted it to be watching all those guys play together one thing I'll take away from the four games, and it's a quote from Ken Hitchcock, and it's a guy that's been around a long time He's a Stanley Cup champion, and I think Sullivan will tell you I think coupe will tell you I think Craig Borubi will tell you if You can't check you're not gonna win It's as simple as that like when it comes down to a seven game series against the big burly team like the Florida Panthers or the United States if your skilled guys can't check you're screwed

Yeah, is that the park that's such an eye-opening thing though? All those guys are the top dogs, the most skilled players on their team. You throw them in the middle. And if you can't check, you're not gonna win. Throw them into that game and say you guys are all so skilled you actually have to check tonight and it's gonna be a defensive masterclass. Go do it. Well, somebody from the New Jersey Devils is gonna have to pull Jack Hughes aside and say if you can't check Barkov over a seven game series we're not going to win the Stanley Cup. Or an Austin Matthews or a Nick Suzuki or whoever you want, Braden Point, Sorelli, if you can't check that guy continuously and regularly over a seven game series we can't win the Stanley Cup.

So if he was playing for Canada, if Hughes was playing for Canada there would be a lot of talk about the tournament he had And some of the stuff that went on like even the game-winning goal like I know he's playing out of position But you can't you can't go like and help in the middle of the ice you're kind of just standing there saying like I got I got my guy like you know responsible for this But I don't know like there would be like overdrive New Jersey would be talking about that Yeah, sure focus on your own guys for sure and and I don't know like there would be like overdrive, New Jersey would be talking about that. Yeah sure focus on your own guys for sure and and

Yeah, that's that's the reality of it You got to win your matchups and again to put a focus on like the Matthews versus McDavid Matthews won his matchup for 70 minutes of the game Actually dominated his matchup and yet it's irrelevant because the one check you had to make you didn't make and McDavid scored. Mike Johnson coming up in 20 minutes, Dear Hazy B later this afternoon, overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Alright Mike Johnson in 15 minutes, lock or no lock at 530 we will be welcoming players to the 2026 Canadian team of the Olympic Games. We will be doing that at 530

You're gonna welcome them. You were gonna say their name and say welcome to team Canada 2026 please go sit down. Yeah, I'll be like Jerry at the draft, right? I'll be up there at the podium and do the shake and the bro hug and all that you and Jay I like it I don't mind guys goofing you guys goofing on me But the people are coming up to me about the handshake and now it's just... People are coming up with the full head and they're like, hey, how are you?

And I'm like, no, I don't do that with everyone now. It was a one-off and it was a weird thing. I thought it was hilarious, oh, like I was sitting there in my living room watching that and I'm like, that's just such an oh thing to do. I thought it was awesome and I think you should continue doing it when you're on with Jake because you're not there on the set. I know, but why didn't he just let, he could have did me a solid man and let it slide. No way, man.

No way, man. You're the handshake guy. That's not a bad thing. I mean, you can, you're a man among the people. You're the king of Kensington down there just shaking hands, right? The king of Kensingtonington down there just shaking hands that's who you need to be cruising around just handshaking people at random

that could mean so many things man down there yeah if you're the king of kensington oh yeah the king of kensington there's a lot of different possibilities that come with that title well you're the king of callingwood generally i'll be up there this week at twenty four hour blue mountain shout out I'm going up my favorite event. I'll be there.

I'm seeing and doing my thing and stopping chats and handing out handshakes to people. Right. Do you want to do dinner tomorrow night? Fem dinner. I'll take your family out for dinner. I think we I think the plan is to do a little dinner thing. Okay. Let me let me figure out our plan.

I'd be great. I'd like you to figure it out. You know why? Why? It's my birthday dinner and I'd like your family to join me i would love that i think that would be phenomenal there we go okay the birthday is the birthday of the world is slightly a little bit of a shake that's a shame as a share of the shake on it thanks i don't know that will be shaking it

uh... yak is we're raising money for special olympics ontario it's a great event i know you do that every year it's great to you do you know it's an awesome one of the part out to you'll be there so you can support them and fund their pursuit of how many runs they can do it twenty four hours it's a really cool that up there so i'm looking for to get there and it is a lot of canadian pride a lot of people are excited right you got hockey games going to a basketball games going tonight and about this beards on the way to the aches the aches you know what people

start growing facial hair for the first time since the 70s I believe. So we'll touch on that as well because this, I just naturally go to Vladdy. I'm like Vladdy's a guy who's got a lot of hair, he's got the beard going. Oh dude, they're not changing that rule for Vladdy man, trust me. There's been other guys that have had to shave and you're like what? That Johnny Damon was one of them.

Remember that guy? He was an animal in Boston. He shows up, he looks like a different human being. There's been other guys that have had to shave and you're like what that Johnny Damon was one of them every night I he was an animal in Boston. He shows up He looks like a different human being totally different and now you look what he's all about and that was wild that he went from The 04 socks and jump to the Bronx like a lot of World Series in 09 to Johnny Damon did yeah He was a great player man great player. He likes to have fun to He's a great player man, great player. He likes to have fun too. He looks like he likes to have a very good time. Oh my god.

Howard's you coming up, 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, iHeartRadio celebrates Black History Month by amplifying the voices that define black excellence. Select upon and celebrate history and culture. From curated playlists, celebrating iconic black artists,

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