OverDrive - OverDrive - February 21, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Frank Corrado for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss Canada's victory against the USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, Connor McDavid's massive game-winning goal and Jordan Binnington's incredible performance. The guys hand out their selections for Canada's Olympic Games team and decide who is a Lock or Not on the roster.

We're back on Kidsplained. Today's breaking story, what's missing in schools? Let's go live to a classroom to find out about the lack of school supplies. Thanks Kate. We always seem to be out of paper and pencils and we don't have enough textbooks. Ugh, it's like trying to do math without numbers. What we need is more investment in schools, right Jamal? That's right Kate. It's hard to learn without the basics. Want to help support students? Go to knowmore.ca. That's K-N-O-W-M-O-R-E.ca. A message from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.

Powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, the O-Dog, Jeff O'Neil, Frankie Carrotto. We've got Locker Not a Lock later this hour where we will be welcoming players to the 2026 men's national team for the Olympic Games next year. We look forward to that in a half an hour. And Mike Johnson coming up. Johnny was in the building last night, getting his take on everything. And I think it's safe to say Jordan Binnerton is a lock to make the team.

He's clearly going to be one of the three goalies. Yeah. There's a few guys where they're a lock to make the team potentially. There's no Jerry's it's either you know you can't go confirm or deny But is there guys where it's like you're a lock to make the team, but your status on the team might be a lot different I don't know maybe maybe that is for Bennington Well, that's what I was asked you you think he's a lock to start game one next year at the Olympic Yes a lot because of last night? 100%.

100% lock. You think after seeing, like John Cooper, after seeing what he saw last night, he's going to say, actually, I'm going to try someone else? Did you see them after the game? Cooper's hugging him. He's talking in his ear. He's pumping him up.

I think that's enough right there for me to say, he's starting game one next year. Think about this. Who would you possibly think that could rise up from the ashes and say, now actually he's going to be our guy? Who would that be? You think Sam Montembaugh is going to play from now until Christmas of next year and you're going to watch him and say, you just got to put him in the net like who are you gonna watch?

You know, they got Logan Thompson. That's honestly the only answer because of how well a point this year It's a great point right? Yeah, what if he's average? What if he's just an average goal? It's been a 9-0 for next year then it's then I do believe Bennington will get the nod game one out of respect to how they feel about him what he did last night how well he played he shut everybody up and he was phenomenal but let's say Thompson continues at this pace and has a great playoff run they get to a conference final and he's phenomenal and then next year he's playing really well and he's clearly the best Canadian goalie at that point like

the way he's playing then you know the conversation will be had in terms of if you put a bit for game two if he plays well what do you do i think what would be difficult for any other goalie to overcome is now what bennington has has cemented is he's a big game goalie is he's he's the guy that is capable of showing up in making massive saves

and it's just such a huge benefit to get there first and to do it and have everyone see it where with Thompson and everyone else you're just imagining what that's going to look like. I know but hockey people they're like they're what I would call greedy competitive where they're like Bennington you were the guy in Boston that night but if they start licking their chops over something else they'll be like the screech picture like Bennington in the corner screech yeah I also think there's there's an element of Bennington where he loves being the guy that's counted out the guy that's the underdog like he's he's kind of done it a lot in his career. In the OHL, it was his draft year,

he won the starter's job for the Owen Sound Attack, and then they won the OHL championship that year. They went up against Mississauga, who was heavily favored, and he won. And then you fast forward to the NHL, he's in the AHL, not even playing for his team's proper affiliate, started in the coast, and then works his way up. He's the underdog against the Bruins, Tuca Rask, he works his way up he's the underdog against the Bruins to Carrasque he wins and then he's the underdog last night Connor Hallibugs the best goalie in the world Jordan Bennington was the best goalie in that game the underdog again finds a way to win there's just something about that man where you just you can't count that guy out it's a great point that's been his his whole career and at the chip on

the shoulder you know we haven't mentioned Hellebuck yet There's a brilliant shot by McDavid. I mean it was like tic-tac-toe shelf quick But you know, was there anyone any of those goals you can look back and say Hellebuck should take some heat The Bennett goal was a great shot. He got it got it up quick. The only one is McKinnon It's like can you not you got to find the puck or whatever, but it's like there was heavy screenage and that little McKinnon wrist or man, like I just wish people could see that thing up, up, up close and personal him and my car. They have these little sizzler wrist or shots

that are like Al McKinnon, slap shots. They're outrageous, man. The two of them on the same team is disgusting. It is man. Like they must just say, Hey, when we're out there, don't look at anyone else. Don't acknowledge they're alive. Let's do given goes wherever we are and no one else gets to touch it. They're that good. Imagine those guys getting a fourth line, a tired fourth line on a shift in the offensive zone. Yeah. Good luck. Light out out, trout gone, like they're so fast and so good and they have that like that engine where they want to crush you. They're going to be like no, we'll skate you into the ground and then we'll skate you into the ground a

little bit more and then we're going to score. And then the next time we're on again, she we're going to do it again. Mekar's sick, man. He's sick. Oh, man. He was jumping last night. What a difference it is having him in that game where it's like the first time they played the United States, the States were heavy, they disrupted a lot, the middle of the ice, there was just not a lot available. And then you get a guy that once he gets it behind his own goal line can make like a tape

to tape through the middle pass. That is the difference in spending another 15 to 25 seconds in your own zone and now exiting. And you do that four times a night. You know what a difference that makes in the grand scheme of things, not spending that time in your own zone, just being able to alleviate that. And it's such a, it's, it's, he's such a difference maker. And then you add the stuff that he does at the offensive blue line it's hard to start to compare oh man he's got no pulse like between him and Quinn Hughes the way they walk the line and they will go cross ice passing that is like no one else in the league

has that green light like no one else if there was a draft in that game last night like who are you taking first overalls at a slam dunk? McDavid's your first overall pick? Yeah I think so I mean before the game you're saying or after we saw how it play Let's take McDavid out of the equation. Who's the first overall pick after McDavid? Wait, just just based on their performance and last night's now just if you're going into the game based on who they are Just after the game who they are like, what do you got? I guess I go I think I mean, I don't think there's a downside to take a Nathan McKinnon the way I would think long and hard about my car. Yeah, I think you absolutely could and yet, you know

You can make a case for the Grizzled veterans like Sid who I didn't have a he wasn't stand He wasn't standing out last night You know, I didn't think he had his best game, but he was fine. Then you look at Drew Doughty, who is a lifer now, and he steps in. That was his seventh game of the year or whatever last night. Thought he was awesome, man. Welcome to Team Canada. Let's see what Johnny thinks.

All right. Here's Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. What's happening, Johnny? What's going on, fellas? I'm finally back in Toronto. I spent the week in Boston, trapped there because I couldn't go anywhere between games, but was there last night. Oh, I was with you in Montreal, sitting beside you watching the game. And I will say for sure, the game was great. We'll get all into it. the atmosphere and it's not because I'm Canadian at all. It was nowhere near what it was in Montreal It wasn't even close. It wasn't even close. It was tense and it was tight and it was nerby But just sort of that energy that that buzz that is palpable. It just it was just wasn't quite the same

Yeah, he would be happy to hear that because at the beginning of the show, Johnny said, or Hazy said, Johnny, he's just so pumped to be Canadian. They're the best. They always win these games and he loved every second of it. Well, it's okay to love every second of it and they tend to win these games. Oh, you and I have had so many conversations about this tournament over the time and you said some, you know, you've always said, yeah, you know what, you may like the depth of the American roster or whatever, but Canada has the best players.

And sometimes the best players in games like this is enough when the rest of the roster is really quite good. And that's what this tournament was. This tournament was a testament to McKinnon, Frosby, McDavid. And I think, some of you will tally up the final thing, but I think it's like, Canada scored 14 goals in the tournament, something like that,

and those guys were in on 12 of them. At least one of them would get a point on 12 of them. Like it was driven, oh, exactly as you said, by the stars of the team. They were the difference makers in a very close tournament, in a very close final game. And if you're asking me who I would take, McCarr is incredible. But I think I'd take McKinnon. I think in those kind of games where it's sort of the skill but also like you need the physicality to

get there, McKinnon offers that rare duo of like the power and the talent to create off of those games but you can go wrong either way but I think I'd go McKinnon. He's just a bull. I don't know if you guys saw the one play on a back check. Jack Hughes, nifty, incredible player. He tried to pull a stop up on McKinnon. McKinnon hit him, basically picked him up, three feet in the air just sat him down but it was like a it was like a 20 year old playing against a 12 year old and you're like McKinnon is just different that way different than Connor different than just about everybody who's so good, but also so physical Yeah, he's skating. You know, that's the amazing thing like McDavid never really got going He had that one wind up in the third, right?

I want to say was sandhine was so funny funny to watch cuz sandhine was going back and kind of I'll go get the puck and you could hear McDavid Sam like I got yeah exactly put it on a tee for me and get the hell out of the way and he took off McKinnon was chained. I want to say it was favor He was chasing down and he was doing like the the running on the beach like picking up his stride to chase a guy down I'm telling you man. The guy's a black. He's the black stallion. You remember that movie black stallion? Yeah, please I he almost took down the building in Brassard Quebec the practice rink for the happy toss He starts trucking out there and the place starts shaking. I've never seen anything like it. It's obscene It's crazy how good of a skater is and my car too

That's the thing about the three of them, right Johnny? Like the three of them, they all can skate better than anyone else. You'll love this exchange, okay? So I'm going to the final game yesterday. It's like five, six o'clock, whatever. I'm heading to the game and I get in the elevator hotel and there's a woman there and she's got like a Canadian scarf and a little Canadian hat on. I'm like, oh yeah, you're cheering for Canada, that's cool. Where are you from? And she's like, I'm from Calgary. I'm like, oh yeah, you're obviously going to the game? Yeah.

Was it hard to get tickets? And she just kind of looks at me like real deadpan says, I don't know. I'm like, oh, how did you get your tickets? Oh, my son's on the team. It's Kayle McCarr's mom. No way. It was awesome.

And she's like, oh, what do you do? And I'm like, oh, I work on it. She's like, let me come down and she's like oh what do you do? and i'm like oh i work out and she's like let me come down and meet the husband who was in the lobby waiting for it and he's like oh mike johnson and he was totally down and like say hi to everybody at tsn he's like watching lots of sports but and i asked her i'm like are you guys nervous?

they're like no not yet and i'm like well why would you be cause that kid of yours is he's so good and he's got like a chip on his shoulder man yeah he's got an attitude problem and I love every second of it he also has the right amount of fearlessness because my game last night it was cautious it was conservative it was safe and you know I'm watching it intently and

Kale when he has a chance like he doesn't, you know, he does it smartly, but he doesn't just concede, Al's got to chip it in, he's like, no, I'm gonna jump and I think I can get it. If I don't, I'll get back, no big deal. He is wired to wanna do it and not wait and not defer to somebody else. He wants to be the guy and when he's as good as he is,

he can often be that guy. He was, when he played 26 minutes in regulation and probably ended up about 32, 33 when it was all said and done. He's, and never even looked tired once. Never even looked like he was out of breath. Johnny, did you see that coming from Jordan Bennington last night? Nope. I'm sure a lot of people going into that game may have had some nervous energy about, okay, when's that bad goal coming? Is it going to come at the wrong time? Is it going to be too much to overcome?

And then he steals the show. What did you make of Bennington and his performance? I mean, hats off. And I'll own it. I even saw it on record. I would have started Aiden Hill in the second game against America. I would have started him there and have options, Bennington or Hill. Everyone knows every single goalie in that tournament is good enough on one night to win a game by themselves. Every single guy. The question is, you know, how many bad goals you let in or how often can you come up with that effort? And the whole exercise in the goaltending

decisions for Canada was that John Cooper firmly believed that Jordan Bittington, when it mattered most, would find that game. And there was not a whole lot in the tournament and in his season that would lead you to believe, oh yeah, yeah, he'll ratchet it up and be incredible when it matters most. Cause he just, you know, he's been so good, but not even as good as last year in the net for St. Louis. And in the tournament, he's been okay, but okay but he's you know same percentage down at 880 whatever it was but Cooper was almost defiant in in the suggestion that he should do something else and as you saw the hug that Cooper gave Bennington after the game it was like the two of them saying see

you believed in me I believed in you we the world. I didn't see it coming. Although I fully acknowledge, of course he's good enough to do it. That game should have been over four times in overtime easily. And now three of them would have been Austin Matthew scoring the goals, but he was, I mean, the back door password against all honestly, Frankie, you, me, Oh, we expect to score that goal seven out of 10 times.

We expect to put that in the net. And let alone Austin who expected to score it 97 times out of 100. And he took that away and made it look like it wasn't that big a deal to reach back on Brady, the glove save off the face off, all of it was incredible stuff. So I did not see it coming.

Kudos to him. He was actually at the airport this morning. He was dropping some family off that were coming up to Toronto. And I think he just has that energy about him now where it's not so much about my stats because the stats are in the middle of the pack. It's about the wins and he believes in himself that he's capable of that and I mean that's half the battle and last night he showed it deserved it he should have been the MVP of the game and I was watching you guys earlier when I got home and you lock him up now he's on the team next year for Italy 100% oh my but Johnny you stole my question right out of my mouth when he put him in the headlock that he say come into my office i got your plane ticket you're the starting goalie in

italy next year or did he say i gotta see some more out of some other goalies it might be a question mark next year in italy he said make sure your passport is up to date you're coming overseas that's all he said I don't think he gave him the start the starters position just yet. Frankie did half an hour ago he said he's your guy in the first game in the net not even declared it. Wow. I have declared it.

AZ do you declare it? I'm willing to declare right now yeah I would declare right now I think he's worthy of that because of what he did last night again It's not like the next Marty brodur is gonna show up between now next year I think Logan Thompson, you know as a guy that's having a great run We'll see what he does the rest of the way and if he's still red-hot that'll be a legitimate conversation at that point But I'm gonna black what is going you're not like well, we gotta give it to him exactly saying I think He answered a lot of questions a lot of doubters. I think he loves doing that he's got that sort of

chip to him. I was one of the guys who would have doubted him 100% I said several times that the three best boys in the NHL from Canada were not in the tournament all three of them Kemper, Blackwood and Thompson but you know what They picked Minnington because they thought he was gamer, winner, gutsy, whatever you want to say. And he proved to be last night that he was that. So that night, he was that. He proved that all correct. With Mike Johnson. All right. You're playing the role of Austin Matthews. You're on the plane back to Toronto. What's running through your head? How much can I swear on radio?

Like on it, I mean, I say whatever you want. No, but like, you know, he would have to be beside himself. Absolutely. Like obviously Austin has nothing to be sort of ashamed. They don't make, you know, his career, his game, his presence in the league, his stature is all there. But what he hasn't had in his Hall of Fame career is like a moment. Right?

Like a moment that was his, that a player of his stature generally gets to have. And last night he was on his way to that moment in a massive massive stage. Like bigger than a game seven round one. He gets the two assists, he's the captain of the team, there are all these sort of exterior ramifications and noise around the game. He's Captain America and he's got the puck on his stick in overtime as this generation's greatest goal scorer trying to make a case that he is the all-time greatest goal scorer in the history of this sport and he couldn't find a way to do what he does better than anyone

else. And like that train of thought going through your head over and over and over and maybe he's incredibly strong mentally and he can like park the Binnington blocker save and park the glove save and park the rush one that he went blocker side and just not worry about it. I would not be able to. That's what I would be thinking about. I can't believe I wasn't able to score. And I think you'd be thinking about that more than I can't believe I chased Mitch Marner in the corner

I should have just sat in the middle Fox was behind the net like more than the defensive breakdown Which was his at the end of the game primarily more than the defenseman. It was his own But I think it's more he never should have been in that spot. The game should have been over he should have been getting carried around like he's Michael Ruzioni and Michael Modano and then, you know, put them on a stamp. And I think that like that kind of energy would, would, would be going through them and maybe he gets out of his system in a week or 10 days or whatever and he moves past it. And when he gets the fly off, he has his own next moment and it's better

for it. But that's a tough one. That's a tough one. I can't you guys were up here I was down in the States for the last five days and I can't I've never in my life and I've been in and out of states for about 30 years now since college Seen the NHL get this much attention for anything Anything ever has gotten this much attention in America at this tournament and last night's game. And that was the stage that all the players knew they were walking onto. And he had it there on his stick right where he would want it, right where America would want it. And you know, Binninton got the best of him. It's not like he didn't do it, just Binninton got the best of him and that's what he's thinking about. Yeah, I felt I was sick for the guy and ultimately it benefited me as a Canadian as a fan because

he didn't close. As a human. Yes, I felt for the guy. And here's another element to it. He's not going to Utah now. He's got to fly to Toronto and the scrum's waiting for him and they're going to ask him a million questions. You know the Toronto media and I'm curious how he responds and how he handles it tomorrow

night. And I'm curious how he responds and how he handles it tomorrow night But you look at his career now. Oh 0 and 7 and must win games in that building is 0 and 4 1819 24 25 three of them for leaves last night for us You know, is it is it's is it snake-bitten? Is it that he is it a gene that he's missing? Like what what is it with Matthews? Is there potential here? And I'm reluctant to even throw this out here because I've been waiting for it after playoff loss, after playoff loss, after playoff loss, but the fact that this is closer to the playoffs

and the heart could sting that much. Could this inspire him to just be a machine come playoff time? Because I've never noticed them get pissed really or look like it when they've lost in the playoffs. The fact that this happened in February on this stage like you said, it's so massive. The numbers are coming in on ESPN. It's like 9 million people, probably more for overtime. It's probably 11 or 12 million it peaked.

For Americans that's just a massive number for hockey. Are you a believer or have we seen too much, that Matthews will take this and say, I'm not letting that happen again? I mean, I believe in Austin Matthews, the athlete, and his strength of mind and his strength of character. I don't think this is gonna ruin him. But it's hard to say that, you know,

I guess you're saying well because the previous disappointments happen in the spring by the time they got the next bring they were no longer fresh and right for motivating that one of the whole thing they'll be for still tangible and and they're driving i don't know i i i don't want to believe that uh...

i i i thought the case i i would be disappointed that he didn't channel that earlier in his career for all the other disappointments I'm gonna take it at some point. I guess Yeah, but I guess You watch all those games in this games He plays pretty well and there's games where he does score in game seven, but they just don't win it Whatever the case may be

If you were to run like a mathematical probability If you were to run like a mathematical probability formula that he would lose all those games you just talked about given the quality of his play and his teams, it would almost be damn near impossible. Seems that way. Yeah. Seems that way. There he is. And that's not on him.

That's situational. But he is the best player on all those teams. So people will turn to him. It's tough. It's just a tough situation. And there's no answer for it from me from you from him there's only one answer and that's you gotta do it on the ice it's a weird one when you say hey it's not on him but he's always there

yeah i am but i think that's like i can't put it like you know you you you're terrible in every game that's why they lose that's not why but the bigger I guess the better way to put it. He hasn't been why they win and That's what were the Leafs fans would be all be waiting for be the reason be the best player Go get four points in the hatchery and win four to like you're good enough to pull that off And last night he and thing is last night. He almost did They almost won a 3-2 game against Canada and McDavid and Sid and all of

it. And he had two points. He almost had the goal overtime goal and the two helpers on the two goals. Like it would have been, it would have been the master piece. It's a master piece game. It would have been the moment that would secure his lore in American hockey history. Maybe all of hockey history, and I would have been more confident Hayes if you would have said, does that success propel him differently in the playoff as opposed to does the failure or the lack of winning motivate him to do

something different in the playoff? Well Johnny, on the other hand, Mitch Marner has been right there with Austin Matthews in all these playoff defeats, in all these big moments where these guys didn't win the big one. And guess what? Mitch Marner gets the game-winning assist in a big moment and has his best game of the tournament. So, you know, what does that do for Mitch Marner?

Having that and having that success, especially after a tournament where scores an overtime winner against Sweden, goes quiet, and then has a great game last night in a do-or-die you know with the championship on the line it's almost like the opposite of the Leaf time where he's generally pretty good but in the biggest moments he can't get the offense in this game the biggest moment he got the offense but otherwise was generally pretty average so it's not the it's not the norm for him, but he will take the confidence he deserves and will walk on that range saying,

they'll come back, I guess today, tomorrow's game and will feel as though he has answered some critics. And I think for Mitch, it feels as though maybe he hears some of the praise, some of the criticism more than other of some of the other high end players for Toronto. Like you know, he hears it, maybe he listens to it more. He will hear the praise and he'll deserve it and he will feel himself that he has now silenced some of the doubters about a silence, some of the critics about his ability to get it done in big moments, his ability to score goals in big moments because he did it. I mean you think about it they won two games in overtime of the tournament. Mitz was in on both of them and

and played a pivotal role and I thought even beyond the assist both super nice. He played really well last night like he was comfortable with the puck, he was making plays, he had it and was more involved. Cooper recognized it and put him back up with McDavid, you know, middle of the game, said, you know what, you're going, we want you with our best player and we think it'll make it work. Like he was good. So I think he should take the confidence into the rest of the season and maybe when it gets tight in the first round round you'll be able to draw from a very recent

pressurized positive experience or he can throw the clutch and that won't hurt him in the playoffs that's the plan right we do know in the game one of the least would have a positive experience the other would have a negative uh... i'd we just weren't certain that we're going to be a so primary like that. Hey, if Canada wins and Mitch plays on the third check in line with Serrallian Hagel and

plays 13 minutes and has one shot and no points, yes, it's a positive winning experience. But I don't think it resonates the same with him like you did, where he played well enough to move up, where he scored the primary assist on the tying and winning goal in overtime. I think it's so much more than just, well, he was on the winning side because he was so involved in it. Yeah, I agree. I agree. And conversely, you might say the same thing in a weird way about Matthews is that he was

so good and so on it that it was like, man, you had it. You had that. And it's going to make it feel just that much more crushing. Who feels worse, Chris Crider or Austin Matthews today? Austin. Yeah, it's Austin. The guy who plays a lot, the guy who had a chance to be the difference. Yep, for sure. All right, Johnny, welcome home.

Enjoy your weekend. All right, boy. We'll talk again soon. I'm off to my dad's birthday, turning Sidney Crosby today. Yes. So birthday dinner, shout out Ronnie, the coolest 87-year 87 year old. I know yes the king of Scarborough Ronnie Johnson We love it shout out happy birthday. What I know Ronnie Johnson screams rich guy Ronnie

There's Mike Johnson the son of Ron Johnson Joining us here on Maple Toyota hotline count on Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota trade in your old tires Buy a new set and get $40 back visit maple toyota.com All right block or not a lot coming up. We've also got Bruce Cassidy joining us just after six He was a part of the obviously the coaching staff and he was in Montreal and Boston and now Vegas is Getting right after it and getting after it quickly So we're getting into a number of things with Bruce and dear hazy being about an hour overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 4 Leaves back in action tomorrow the Raptors in action tonight. I saw Darko telling the media that his plan is to

Basically play a lot of guys and it's all about growth all the players have to grow which means They're tanking and they're gonna do everything they can to lose as many games as they can and they get 27 left and I think they gotta lose 20 of them in order to kind of stay in the same range that they're currently in. Cuddy Barnes who is old star? That means you're getting your teeth kicked in on a nightly basis when you're saying we're gonna have to grow a little bit. We gotta play some guys here. That's the old, oh, that's a weird rotation,

but okay, I guess we'll get dummy tonight. If I were him, I wouldn't even coach. I would honestly sit with management and make observations about what he likes and doesn't like. There's no coaching to do. Yeah, and it's gonna be a one-off. They've signed Brandon Ingram, they brought him in. Next year, he'll be healthy, you presume you presume Scotty and whatever pick they get and they're gonna

try to turn the corner quickly and we'll see what comes of it but 27 games left and starting tonight with Miami in town leaves Carolina tomorrow. Alright, lock or not lock? So we're gonna go down the list and obviously there's a number of guys that I'll name them but we can all just quickly move on because we know who they are, they're locks. So this is based on the list that Dougie has sent me. So no rhyme or reason for the players that we're going to go through but we're going to hit everyone and we'll do it relatively quickly.

If we have time, get to a couple of other players who are not on the team. Whether it was due to injury or performance earlier in the year, what have you. Lock or not lock, this is a three-man panel you need two locks in order to be welcomed to the 2026 Olympic team all right. Let's begin here. Sam Bennett. Lock. Lock. I guess my vote is irrelevant. Welcome aboard. Welcome aboard. I don't think he's a welcome aboard i don't think it's a lot i don't think it's all my god i don't think you know i think that tournament next year is going to be very different i i i really

actually concerned about that how great this was how physical it was i was still a couple of style yeah that's not the olympic games man it's but dude if you think about a fourth-line centerman like if even on Olympic ice whatever the hell the conditions are Who are on earth other than Sam Bennett? Unless the guy ahead of him in the lineup is so rally like yeah, that's the question right like open the first game Bennett was out they had so rally then make point McKinnon So let me get this straight. are you gonna say not Locke?

I don't think he's a Locke. I don't, I mean, let's be clear, guys. He was, again, the 13th forward, the first, he was unbelievable last night. I love Sam Bennett. He's not McDavid, like, he's not. Not everyone can be a Locke. Like, Bennett, I love this game,

I just wonder if hockey Canada will look at it and think, how does it translate to the Olympic Games? Double IHF rules, hitting is really out of the game over there. It's not about big hits and as fast as it was I think it could be faster next year. So I would guess he's on the team I just don't think he's a lock but it doesn't matter. You guys have given him locks so welcome aboard he's in all you should have been tried they should have been private ballots

so we could reveal that's actually a great point next year will get it next year will do that right anthony so really lock or not a lot i mean if the coaches there that's his guy he seems like he's a lot any he's easier shut like he's a shutdown guy he checks well what do we just talk about you need guys that could check yeah I think he's a lock I think he's a lock because his coach like critical moments starts a periods big teams that line went out there man all three of them I agree I think he's a lock as well even if it's 13 forward

they think he'll bring 14 forwards to the Olympics. He'll be one of them. Like it's tough to see Sorelli still in his prime with John Cooper as the coach not being on that team. All right. Sidney Crosby lock, right? We'll just move on. Welcome aboard Sid.

Brandon Hegel. As much as I don't like saying this, the fight was amazing. It was for the flag. But if Cooper, I don't know, you're bringing into play guys like Zach Hyman and possibly some other ones and it might take somebody off the table and he could be a casualty. Like how many checkers do you want? Like Zach Hyman can check too. Yeah, he's not a lot. Exactly. many checkers do you want like we not a hyman can check too? Yeah, he's not a lot actually doesn't mean he won't make the team like let's clarify that we're not we're not predicting They will or not. There's a difference between lock and not a lock. Hey go is not a lock

He's not a lock to be on the team next year. Yeah Great group chat comment though. You see him post that on Instagram the group chat You know what I loved about that? I love it. It's that I think what he's saying with that is, yeah, we have one group chat. We don't have different little clicky group chats. The boys just talk in this one and we all let it fly in the open. I love it. Little jabs.

All right. Seth Jarvis. He's not a lock. Good player, not a lock. Yeah. No, not a lock. Not a lock. Once again, you're talking. Yeah. No, not a lock. He's not a lock. Once again, you're talking about Hyman's different people that are, different people that you

were surprised were not, Mark Shifely, like I'm telling you, Mark Shifely in that tournament, he would not have been a question to come out of the lineup or be responsible or check or be competitive. That guy's a hell of a player, man. Yeah, I agree. He's having a great year. I think he's in trouble to make it next year though. If he didn't make this team, how's Shifely trouble to make it next year though if he didn't make this team how's Shifely

gonna make it next year? I don't know I don't know I'll have to talk to somebody but what the hell's wrong with Mark Shifely? It's not about that what I'm saying it's not even about Shifely I'm saying hockey Canada determined he's not on the team this year a year older next year this this this was about catapulting towards the Olympics like that's what this was about catapulting towards the Olympics like that's what this was I think they put players in place that they thought would be ready to play next year and Shifely's having a phenomenal year this year and he didn't make this team how's he gonna make it next year yeah well I love Seth

Jarvis and I love his buddies driving across that was awesome I don't think he's a lock no I agree Seth Jarvis not a lot Travis connect me not a lot a lot of Lock didn't play last night. Not a lot. Yeah, Nathan McKinnon lock Brad Marsh and not a lot of luck No, not a lot. He's Brad Marsh and a great player love everything he represents But you can't just say he's a shoe in for next year like there were times where it looked a little too fast Yeah, and that's not a knock on like this. It's not a knock on Marsh and it's just the reality of how fast You can't just say he's a shoe-in for next year. There were times where it looked a little too fast.

And that's not a knock on, it's not a knock on Marshann, it's just the reality of how fast that game was going. Dude, the guy's no kid anymore. He's not Sid the Kid and he's probably 37, 30. Yeah, he's 37 I believe. Yeah, he's gonna be 37. Everything comes to an end, but if there was ever a situation where I could bring a guy a current player, and I don't know what he would you think of this like to be in a non-playing role to just be around I would ask the guy

Well, that's the thing like again if it's a 14 forward scenario this guy was one of the six they announced originally Totally get it Hayes. I totally get it now That was a year ago, and it was in Boston, and I think that factored in but he's got the Sid connection He's got the McKinnon cadet. I think he's really important in that room I by the end he was the fourth one. He was by the 12th forward close to it last night Yeah, he wasn't he did look like it was a little bit over his head but I don't I Think he might be a lock. I think he might be because of who he is.

What the hell are you just, did you not hear us just talk? Yes, yes. And you're entitled to your opinions. But this guy, Hockey Canada, loves this guy. They love him. And they love what he represents. So I don't know why. Pencil him in.

Pencil? Well you guys already voted him out. You voted him out. You got him penned in. Like, you know, that's perfect. He just said, I really think this, he talked to us, he's like this at times. You guys already voted him out. You voted him out. You got him penned in. That's perfect. He just said, I really think this... He talked to us and he's like, this at times it looked overwhelming for him, but you know

what? He's a lock. I don't know. He would have to get off to a great start. Dude, you bring that... What O said, maybe you bring him as just like... He's not a player. He's just a team glue guy.

He's just a glue guy. He's around. Okay, but then he just a day but then he's gotta be around not coming over as a mascot I'll have to give him 200 cash come over and not happening not happening I mean he's either on the team or he's not Mitch Marner lock he locked himself up last night yeah John Cooper loves him and you know what's interesting about that I always thought it was a little bit lip service because john cooper understands the game you know the game within the game he knows how to play up to the toronto media some like that maybe he's just you know

saying things that aren't exactly genuine note this guy loves mitch martiner he really believes it and we saw it with the way he kind of deployed him is a lot he was he was likely a lock anyway again like like you said the way they love this guy the way he plays he's in his prime but he was he played really well last night factored in everything looked very comfortable i think you'll be even more comfortable

likely in the double i'd jeff i o c type of world to write your in europe you're out of north america uh... marzaloc right david's a lot points a lot i think's reinhardt's a lot i think i think he is you guys okay sam ryan are coming for i don't think he's a lot i think i don't have to continue to play well to stay on

that team so you're okay you're i'd i'd like to write our to lock your your frankie you're saying not a lot all you have the choice to either say common join us and sit over here Sam Reinhardt Or take a hike and you are no longer a part of this program Tutto bene. Welcome to Italia. You're on the you're on the squad. Yeah Minuto listen the guy he's a winner. He's a goal scorer. He's a smart player He's he's a depth guy on this team, but I don't this team. Let's not sugarcoat this, he did not play well. He didn't have a great tournament.

He did. He was put in some butter zone spots. Bumper on the power play with those turkeys out there. PP1, that guy Sam Reinhardt. PP1! Stateful to it. Yeah. And you would think he would hear his name, he great assist against finland with the mcdavid goal

but i don't think you had a great tournament man i don't think he had a great tournament k i don't see mark stone up there i don't know why let's let's throw him out there lastly mark stone before we break will come back into defenseman and goalies mark stone lock or not lock i don't have a mess a lot i really don't i think in a position if you're the guy in the in the must win game that you get bumped down a bit

i just think it puts you in a position to be not a lock i don't believe that he is a lock i would agree i don't i i i don't have a mess a lot because there's also guys they will be able to do what he does. Maybe they're a little more fleet of foot and maybe that's what you want, but not a lock at this point. Yeah, I don't think it's a lock either.

Also his health, it's almost impossible to predict whether or not it'll be at 100%, what it's going to look like. He's such a crafty, smart player though, man. You know Cooper and that stuff. They love him. They love him. Yeah, and he's not young anymore. He's not 24 or 25. So I don't think Stone is a lot.

All right, we'll come back, rifle through some defensemen, the goalies, and we got Bruce Cassidy coming up. Mark Stone's head coach. He'll join us in 20 minutes. Dear Hazy B in 45. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N 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. All right, Bruce Cassidy at 15. We got Deere Hazy B coming up, continuing lock or not a lock for the Canadian Olympic Edition next year. We've already welcomed a number of people in to the club. Welcome aboard. Go sit down over there And there's been some controversy some back-and-forth and some debate on some of these players as well

Let's get a few defensemen out of the way that we don't need to waste time on. Kael McCarr Obviously a lock. His partner too. I was gonna say De DeVon Taves, the two of them are playing together. They're going to play together. They're a lock. I think Doughty's a lock personally. You guys push back. I think Drew Doughty's a lock. He's a lock.

I think he's a lock. Oh, you're quiet over there. Gwell Storm got... Drew Doughty, he played him... If he starts off slow next year, he puts himself under the gun. But as of right now, that performance last night, all the defense course stepped up, they lost Shae Theodore, man. That guy's a good player. Big time.

And I just think Doughty, he's the ultimate Canadian. Like, he's just a guy you need in those games. He's always comfortable, always. When it was 2010 and he was like 21 years old, he was comfortable. He's still comfortable now. All right. Thomas Hardly hardly lock or not a lock lock Big-time lock yes this guy is on the team. He was one of their best players last night He was great. I thought their best players not one of the best

Yes, one of their best players Saturday at the Bell Center. I thought he was great. Yeah But the guy wasn't even on the team and we're giving a lock vote for Frankie. Oh, where are you at? As crazy as this sounds and as much respect as I have for that guy, I don't have him as a lock. I think he's one of those guys where, again, if he starts off and doesn't have a great start to the season you know what I'm I'm I'm locking him in welcome to Italy. He's not a lock but I get out voted again what I will say is he's got a great opportunity

with Heisken and out in Dallas now he's the number one guy on the left side down there. Let me just say this about the guy Hazy this tournament could catapult him into great things. He looks great. He looks so good. And I'm not about taking anything away from the guy. It's that there's only so many amount of spots. He can't have everyone be a lock. There's always turnover. No, I got it. I got it mapped out. I got my seven. So we'll get through it. What about Josh Morrissey? Something we haven't talked about that he didn't play last night due to illness. Bizarre, man. Do you know how sick you would have to be?

He actually would have had to watch that game on the toilet or hugging the toilet. Yes. Full blown Harry Dunn nail clippings. Have to. Is Morrissey a lock? Yes. He was incredible the games that he played. He's a lock.

Lock. I agree. Welcome aboard. Step aside. Colton Pareko.'s a lock lock agree welcome aboard step aside colton parejo not a lock i'm only this is ridiculous like you've got to you've got to do this exercise with some thought in some intent

yeah i'm just gonna say not a lock because all these guys can't be lost again next year exactly i'd i I would say not a lock because, well, a number of different reasons. If Dougie Armstrong's in charge. He is in charge. He is. He loves Pareco. Pareco, I thought, was good. Yeah, and it's his guy and he brings a different element, but what does that look like on Big

Ice? Yeah, but also think about this. McCarr is your top pair right-handed guy and what if Petro and Doughty are also available to you? Well, if Petran is healthy is he a lock? I think so. I really do think so. And here's a question, if you had to pick between Perreco and Doughty who are you taking?

Doughty. Doughty. I'm not not playing Doughty. I don't know what this guy needs to do or show for you to, for anyone, to ever question this guy's ability in big games. He plays without a pulse and he takes hits. He got smoked again last night. Kachuk got him again. Brady buried him behind the net. He doesn't care, man. He does not care. He just gets up. He's old school. He's old school. Look at where he is in the lot like little stuff

You've noticed he's right in the middle of everything like it. There's something about him Well Patrangelo, okay. Yep I've gone back and forth. I wonder if he looks back on this now saying I made a big mistake What was I thinking not playing in this like how did I miss that? well, it turned out to be what it was in the end and You know Vegas will resume play on Saturday. I believe he's playing. I'll play 27 minutes tomorrow and Didn't choose to play in the tournament, but I think he will be a lot because of who he is and what he's done Alright Travis Sennheim not a lock not a lock. I don't think he's a lock

Although I was pleasantly surprised with Travis and I thought that was really good like his skating ability is really he's a lot of the other although i was pleasantly surprised with travis and i thought that was really good like a skating abilities really is a really smooth really good player play really good where are some tallies lately and he's rangy and he's yet i like them but i i just can't call them a lock now i think you could be on the team but it's not a lock in theater i would say is a lock as well i think you could be looking at like caves the car morrissey dowdy Looking at like Taves, McCarr, Morrissey, Doughty, Theodore Petruch.

Theodore Petruch and who was the seventh that we said? Well you guys said Thomas Harley. Thomas Harley is your seventh. There's your 7D right there. Yeah. Okay. Yeah but guys there's also like a full season ahead of guys that can go up or down. Well I think we were a little bit too horned up on the locks.

We're so horned up on these. You guys are horny horny i'm i'm pushing back on guys and you like how could you how dare you i'm like yeah you guys gave locks to everybody you just handed out role that well is now we thought i was chargers or not is seven is evan bush are gonna play over doughty petro macar or perico doesn't seem like it all the way they are with no adoption yeah so you know what i like about the d with those top two guys you're looking for four guys to fill in slots man because those other two cats play the whole game

exactly like you just fill out your roster work work backwards like that man like who's knocking those guys out that's why i think those guys are locked and again that's the thing up front like could hyman get in there yes you know we mentioned shy flee And again, that's the thing up front like could Hyman get in there. Yes, you know, we mentioned Shifely could Nick Suzuki have a great start next year and play himself into a role where He knocks bet it out, you know, I don't know or connect me out something like that There's gonna be battles and we just you know, there's going to be turnover. That's just the nature of it It's never the same team ever

Alright Bruce Cassidy in the next hour. Dear Hazy, be coming up. Final hour, overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 2. 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. Introducing Brian Adams Radio on I Heart Radio. Hosted by Brian Adams himself. Join me for an insider look on a wild ride through 40 years of global rock and roll. Brian Adams Radio. Now available on the free iHeartRadio app.

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