OverDrive - OverDrive - January 21, 2026 - Hour 2 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins/Sal Capaccio

Episode Date: January 21, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jason Strudwick for Hour 2 on OverDrive! Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the 1,000-game milestone, his career in Edmonton and his season with the Oilers. WGR Reporter Sal Capaccio joins to dive into Terry Pegula's shocking press conference, Brandon Beane's larger role and seeking a head coach and Bryan and O-Dog give their American Express PGA TOUR picks.

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Brian Hasey, O'Don, Jeff O'Neill, Jason Strudwick, Ryan Nugent Hopkins coming up here in a few moments, playing a thousand games, all for the Oilers, which is pretty incredible. A thousand games for the Oilers. The Oilers lost last night, Doogie pointing out the only team in the NHL who has not won three games in a row. The Oilers, it's a pretty wild statistic. Pretty wild stuff. Crazy, considering McDavid's heater with Leon cooking at the same time, like, you'd think that would be a slam dunk three in a row. You sure would.

Recently, they've been goalied a couple times. Serochen, you know, last night, Jake Allen, was pretty good. You know, and it's, it is odd. Like, you think that, you know, every other team of the league's done it. You know, it's obviously something you have to achieve to get on a bit of a heater and, you know,

bang out a ton of points in a couple weeks. The Vancouver Canucks have done it. If the Vancouver Canucks have done it, and you haven't, that's not a good sign. But anyway, the Ours are in a good spot. The Leaves, you know, they're on the outside, looking in right now in terms of their division. I was doing radio today and, you know,

talking about that two, three, seed, how people in Toronto are going to freak out. If it ends up Montreal, Detroit, nine years ago, to the playoffs, every year it was Tampa waiting for you, Boston, Florida, and those two teams are like, really? We get Detroit, if you're Montreal. If you're Detroit, you're like, we get Montreal in the first round with possible home ice.

Like, what a setup that could be for the two, three seeds. where our beliefs, if they get in, it's likely a wild card. If you're barely in, it's probably going to be Tampa. I don't know about you guys, but I've kind of taken a liking to the divisional rivalries and keeping it the same way. I was always one versus eight.

I kind of like how it's just right there, and it's like you know what you're up against and you've got to get through the same thing every year. Maybe I've just got comfortable with it, accustomed to it, but I kind of dig it. I kind of dig it where it's like, Whatever's in your division, you've got to get out of first and deal with it. Yeah, I don't know.

Tampa Florida, you don't want to see that? I love seeing that, right? No kidding. What are you hyming and haying about fracker? Fracker. I wish I was into fracking. I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you two idiots. I'd be a fracker and I'd be a billionaire and all the bills.

You are a fracker. I could be. Fracking for takes. That's what I'm fracking for. We got to do a segment for Jerry Pagullo. fracking for takes. Fracking for takes on the bills or just the idiocy of ownership in pro sports. It really is astonishing how many owners just completely put up a roadblock for success.

You know, like they own the team, but they're so stupid, or they just have a process of going about their business that does not allow for winning. You know, does not allow for a positive kind of atmosphere around the team. You can say what you want and have your own opinion and an old cocoa. By the way, one of my favorite things to do, and it's really ignorant and it's really stupid of me. But I always phone Carlo Koliakovov within 14 minutes of the bills being done for the year. This guy, he didn't know this, but my kids were in the car. You do that a lot.

Can I just, before you finish, the amount of times you've done the pick up and call, and I'm blasting away about something and then five minutes in straight ago oh by the way my kids are in the car I'm like are you kidding me dude like I've been dropping F bombs and you know like you're talking among two adults two buddies

like we talk freely you've done it to me a lot of times dude it doesn't matter yes it does you're like a family you're like my kid's uncle I get it but you're who cares well I guess you're the parent I guess who care fine who cares go ahead

But I saw a tweet that said, this is a classic case, and think what you want about it, that McDermott is a real quality coach that got fired by an idiot. And that may be the case, man. I think it's possible. I think it's possible because I'm sure you're about to say, I know, Carla, I'm listening to him. He thinks it's all McDermott. They'd be a dynasty if it weren't for McDermott. He hates his guts.

So is Billy Dodson, and they hate the GM too. Yes. I saw Bill the other day goes, Bill was so happy. He's like, got what I want. I'm like, your team lost. The Bill's lost. Yeah, but McDermott's out. You know how many Bill's fans I've talked to saying,

thank God it happened, wanted him gone, wanted him gone, I wish the other guy was gone too. That just goes to show you that Bill Dodson and Carl Ollo Koliakival do not know what they're talking about when it comes to football. It's crazy. Yeah. Struddy would be like Oilers fans be like, I'm happy the Oilers lost so that Stuart Skinner's out of there.

You know what I mean? Or some scenario like that, which would be like, What? Why would you be rooting against your favorite team? The only time they've ever said that is, I'm glad the Oilers lost. Maybe they buy out Jason Strudwick. I wish I would have had a bad contract that someone would have buy me out. This is a terrible deal. Remember the finger?

What's the name? The finger liquor? Jeff Finger? Is that you're talking about? That contract, I would have loved to people to say that was a worst contract. That's right, and I signed it. There was rumbling. There was rumblings with hockey people that had to check.

check the numbers on that because they thought the $4 million term was for the length of the contract. It was per year. Everyone in the league was like, oh, actually, that's not bad. Four years at a million apiece, but actually it was like four million per year. That's our dreams. That's what we dream about is someone getting it wrong. Jeff Finger.

So just quickly to establish this before Ryan comes on, you were a part of the team the year before he got drafted. So, like, he went first overall in large part because you were on the team. He contributed to Nugent Hopkins getting there. Is that a fact, Struddy? You could say that. Yeah, and I did. I was part of the reason he arrived there.

So really, many ways he should be thanking me. He should be like, he got to where he wanted to be. Like, do I need a card or anything? I mean, just a, hey, thanks, Struddy. I think an acknowledgement. All right, well, let's accomplish that. Hopefully right now. Here he is.

He's played 1,000 games in the NHL. The longest standing orler, there he is, Ryan Nugent Hopkins. Great to see you, Ryan. Thank you for doing this. Are you aware of the fact that the reason you're in Edmonton is because Struddy was on the team the year before you got drafted? Yeah, very aware. Yeah, he played a solid part in that, for sure.

There you go, Struddy. You got your, thank you. You got your sake. You're finally acknowledging. I appreciate it. You're the guy Struddy. It took 15 years. 15 years.

He sees you down the hallway and grab someone and says, see that guy right there? He's the reason I got drafted here. Yeah. The connection. A couple bad games for sure. 15 years, man. A thousand games.

Like, obviously now it's, I'm sure it's sunk in because you've experienced it. You've hit the 1,000 game mark. They did a great job of, you know, obviously, you know, saluting you. And I thought the pregame ceremony was outstanding. But what does it mean to you to play 1,000 games and more importantly, or more over 1,000 games for the same team, the Edmonton Oilers? Yeah. it definitely, I didn't know what to expect

actually going in to the whole ceremony and the whole day, but I mean, the guys definitely went over the top and beyond and made it a very special day and kind of just listening to them and it definitely helped sink in as much as I think it could. But it was a great day and obviously it always helps

when you have a day like that and the guys play so well. And obviously, Ingram was outstanding and got the shut out. So it was a really fun day. And we had a lot of family and friends come in for it too. So, yeah, a day I won't forget, for sure. Ryan, a lot of guys seem to talk about it these days, more so when the three of us played hockey. But, like, playing for the same organization for the whole career,

like playing the thousand games all for the Oilers, like, is that something that was important? to you or something that you you dreamt of and wanted to happen when you joined the Oilers? Yeah, definitely. When I got drafted here, that was kind of, I would talk to my agent and my family about that, that it was kind of the dream to, first of all, play my whole career in Eminton. And obviously the big one is win in Emmington. And then you play your first five-ish years,

and you start to see guys going in and out of the lineup. and in and off the team and start to think, well, maybe that's not going to be a possibility, but I was very fortunate to have stuck around through some tough three years, and definitely now we're on the other side of it, so it's a lot more fun to be on this side than it was for the first few years, as obviously Straty can attest to there.

Nude, you know, you played with a lot of different players over that time, a lot of coaches. What was the most random, communication texts or call you got from someone, you're like, wow, I can't believe this guy, you know, sent me this note. There was some old teammates that I haven't talked to in a long time that, to be honest, I didn't have your number. So I'm sure they've got different numbers since then, but there is a lot of messages coming in,

and I definitely felt the love on that day for sure. Is it like a new phone who it is? how do you respond when you don't know who's writing you? I drop my phone to doork. That's the trick I use. Yeah, no, it's more so just a thank you and I appreciate the message. Yeah, I think that's the play with Ryan Nugent Hopkins.

And, yeah, I mean, that run of first overall picks, Taylor Hall in 2010, yourself in 2011, Nail Yakupov in 2012. Like, what was that experience like? because it wasn't like the Oilers were dead last in the league every single year. They won lotteries, you know, and a couple of those to, you know, get the first overall pick. When you consider Taylor Hall was there the year before you, did that help you at all? That he had kind of just been through the ringer, he'd just been through that experience as a first overall pick.

How did that maybe affect your first year as a rookie in Edmonton? Yeah, it for sure helped. He had, like you said, he had literally just gone through the same experience as me. So not just that, but also a young guy kind of getting his feet just into the league as well. And Ebb's obviously the same thing. So Ebs wasn't as high as a pick, but he was still just getting his kind of dipping his toes into the water. And so we had a great group of young guys and then obviously he nailed the year after. And it helped the transition a lot easier because coming from junior, obviously,

there's a lot of guys that are way older than you, but also to have some guys that are similar age and kind of have the same mindset. And I think the same as you was really important. I felt at that stage for me. Nuge, your teammates seem to love bringing up that they believe in their heart of hearts that you're the coach's favorite player.

Like, do you have a full understanding of that? And are you aware, like, do you aware you are the coach's favorite player or is that just something that they like to joke about? I think it's mostly just joking around, but I think they kind of say that because I kind of put me in different situations on the PK on the power play five on five and stuff like that but I would say Connor's got to be any coach's favorite player so let's be honest there. Yeah, that might be the right choice and another first overall pick.

We're chatting with Ryan Nugent Hopkins and you've, played on a line with him, you played on the powerplay with him. Like, what's that mentality like when you see McDavid start to pick up steam? And maybe it's back behind his own net or, you know, down below the circles. What is running through your mind when you're like, this guy is going to take off and I have to keep up? Like, do you think of it that way that I have to keep up? Or what are you thinking when he's doing that and you're out there on the ice with him? Yeah, definitely.

As soon as you see him getting his feet moving and those crossovers, I kind of put my head down and I'm like, all right, let's get going here. I'm not going to catch him, but a lot of the time he's going to pull up and be able to make a play. So you're trying to find that timing. Sometimes it's harder in practice when all of a sudden he just gets cooking and you're doing a drill and you've got to find a way to find him. But in a game, when he gets going like that, yeah, you've got to get on your horse. And at this point, I kind of can see it when he is going to start get moving, which is quite often.

But I've learned to kind of read off him that way. What would you say, like people often describe playing with Sid. Like, it's actually difficult because there's an immense amount of skill, there's a demand from the player, and it's just one of those difficult things. But it seems like there's so much hockey smarts and great playmaking, it can't be that challenging, can it? Like, once you know how fast you've got to be going and just the hockey senses off the charts,

it's got to be a ton of fun as well. Yeah, it's always a ton of fun. I do think every year there's a bit of an adjustment, obviously that it helps in preseason, but just getting used to his speed again because he's going to be on the fly and moving so much that you've got to find that timing, right? it's not the same as any of the rest of us,

where you're used to that timing and we're all kind of similar, but he's kind of on a different level in that sense. So once you get used to it, like you said, he reads off you so well that he understands when you're going to be able to move on the puck, and you just have to be prepared more than anything, and on your toes for sure. You know, Newt, your teammates are so complimentary,

and so different ways about you. But the one thing I always hear from Leona Connors, how you're kind of, they're out on a really successful power play. So, you know, how do you prepare for that, whether it's on the entry or just when the guys are in trouble? It seems like you're the guy they pass to. Then you kind of reset the clock for everyone and go. Well, I mean, I definitely try to help on the entry. I'm trying to distribute a lot.

Obviously, with those two guys, you're trying to give them as much time and space as possible. They're going to create a lot on their own. but I do my best to kind of wait for the right opportunity to give them the puck and then obviously let them make their plays and get open when I need to. But yeah, it's more of a support and beware. I know they're going to be maybe in trouble here or there. So try to find the right opportunities to strike, but also just kind of be around the puck and supporting them.

with Ryan Newgen Hopkins Florida the last this year is kind of struggle they've run into some injuries they're on the outside of the playoffs looking in and there's kind of a sense like man they've played so much hockey it's an Olympic year how are they going to get this together

and conversely you guys have been in this played the same amount of games the last two years you guys have been the cup final twice you have a condensed schedule you have more traveling because you're in the West how have you guys handled that how are the players in particular they're dealing with seemingly playing every other night?

It definitely takes its toll physically, but at the same time, I think maybe going as long as we did the last couple of years helps in that sense. Just you're used to playing so much hockey and so much hockey in a short span of time, really. And we had a really tough first couple months just being on the road all the time. We hit every Eastern team before Christmas. so in a lot of ways, like that's tough and we played some good teams. So our record probably wasn't as good as we had hoped it to be.

But at the same time, it helped us bond as a team. And when you spend that much time on the road, you're going to get to know the new guys and you're going to have lots of time to spend together and whether it's on the bus, on the plane, going to dinners and stuff. So I do think that having that much time on the road to start a season is actually probably a good thing, if anything, and then you reap the rewards later in the season, of course. So it's obviously a lot of management and taking care of your body

and making sure that you get the rest when you need to. But I think maybe playing so much hockey over the past couple of years kind of has us in that mindset that we're just going to keep going. Absolutely. With Ryan Nugent Hopkins. So on an individual level, I know you're going to say win the Stanley Cup. that's the next goal. That's the next achievement for you.

But you've played 1,000 games. Do you have a next individual goal that you're chasing a thousand points, you know, a few hundred goals? What is it next on the checklist for you? That's a good question. You know, the 1,000 games has kind of been coming up. And to be honest, in some ways, it was such a great experience, but in some ways it's a bit of a relief to kind of be through it

and move on, but I don't know, you know, I feel good. I feel like I have a lot of hockey left in me, so I don't know how many games I can get to, but I think next season I can pass Kevin as I think he's like $1,337, so I'm sure that will be something that people will talk to me about and it will be another milestone to hit. But like you said, obviously the end goal is going to be winning the cup. Absolutely.

And I think you're referencing Kevin Lowe, right? Most games. Would that be most games all time for the Oilers? And there you go right around the corner. Very cool stuff. Well, congrats on a thousand games. You know, it's an amazing accomplishment. First overall picks, Dylan Everton.

You guys are rocking. Great seeing you. Really appreciate you doing this. And we'll do it again down the road. Awesome. Thanks for having me, guys. You got it. There he is Ryan Nugent Hopkins.

That's pretty cool. Like passing Kevin Lowe with all those greats, Gradsky, Massier, coffee, Doug Waite was there for a long time, right? Would Ryan Smith be, he's got to be way up that list, Ryan Smith, I would think. He played a lot of games for sure. That guy's played a thousand games,

and he probably still gets carded, like, for booze. He does like he's 24 years old. Listen, you know, he plays every game almost, right? He plays all the time. He's, he really, and that's something that really matters to playing all the time. But he's from, you know, for those don't know, he's from around Vancouver, played his junior hockey in the Western League in Red Year, was drafted by Eminton.

I mean, you know, he's been very close to his home in Burnaby. You know, he's right here, some family and friends all over the place. So it kind of worked out really well. And he's beloved in this market, right? I don't know who would be a similar player in the lease market that is not local, but, you know, really close to local. He's absolutely beloved in this market. Committed, right?

Loves Edmonton, wants to be an oiler, stayed there. He makes just over $5 million, which, you know, in hockey, like he chose to stay there. He wanted, this is the number he was happy with. He's playing his heart out. He's really liked in this market for sure. That's a great point. Yeah, he was in that 2011 draft.

Landisgug won second, Hubert O'3rd. Adam Larson, who was a teammate of his, went fourth. Brian Strom. Schifley was in that draft. Dougie Hamilton. Oh, man. Pretty good draft. Miller?

Yeah. Pretty good draft. Okay. That's where Dougie Hamilton got drafted, too. The Boston Bruins, courtesy of the Toronto Maple Leafs. What a trade for Phil. And Phil, it wasn't Phil's fault. Phil Kessel was a really good player.

Just the timing of it and the decision to do it. It was so silly. But anyway, all right. More on the bills and the presser today. We'll sneak in a couple of arbitrations. We've got Best Betts still to come. We've got to make some ammack. picks, right? Like, it's a race for

Schaeffler. Both of us just want to pick Scotty Schaeffler, clearly. I might let you have them. You know what I think we should do for the golf picks? We should have some kind of quiz slash draw where you get like five staples

and I get five staples. If this guy's in the field, it's yours for the year. Those are numbers almost like Lotto 649 or something. You just play your numbers. Yes, yes. You get a five pack and then if the guy's not in the field. Dugge can tell us how many people we got to draw for that week.

Interesting. And then maybe, yeah, we always add a couple of picks for sure. Yeah. Got to have one Canadian. Yes. No one can have Schaeffler, though. Like, Schephler doubles up every single year. He doubles up everybody.

You know what I mean? Like he had double the amount of wins as anybody else on tour last year. The year before he had seven, no one had more than two. This is pro sports, man. What are you? The fracker? You're acting like the fracker. Okay, I'll be a fracker.

I'll be a fracker and I'm coming for sure for that. I'll take it. Fracking is very lucrative. Very lucrative. You can buy a football team. You can buy a football team. Yes, you can. All right. Overdrive continues up on YouTube live.

All right, best bucks later in the hour. Mixing some Amex picks. Sprinkle in some arbitration cases. Sal Capaccio will join us here in a moment on the Terry Pagula presser this morning. Yeah, we can't say Jerry around. I guess not. Like Sal's a dignified guy.

He's a reporter. He's from Buffalo. He'll hang out the phone. Yeah, he probably would. If we talk about Jerry and fracking, he hangs up. Probably. So let me throw this arbitration at you guys. All right, the Buffalo bills step into the arbitration room.

And they are awarded a trip to the Super Bowl next year, but they lose the game. No, wait. You wouldn't take that? No. I'm not taking that. Strud, are you taking that? I'm not taking it. That fan base deserves better.

Like, I mean, I remember watching those teams lose and that poor community. Like, I felt so bad for them. I don't usually cheer for other cities to win. I would like Buffalo to win one. I would, too. It's a great point. Like, the fans suffer from this stupidity of that presser, too. Like, one of the best, like, Bill's Mafia is just crazy throughout North America, the world.

Yeah. And to have them go through this, saying your owners, it looks like a dummy in the comments. slap to the fans too. I hate that for the fans. Big time. Well, Sabres fans are catching shrapful. From guys like me who are like, see why the Sabres stink? The Sabres are good right now.

I know they're on a heater right now. Are you buying that? Like, are you a believer? The Sabres, they're going to win rounds and chase the same. Right now I am. Yeah. And by the way, Kevin Adams, Kevin Adams, my buddy, good job. He put together the team.

He leaves and all the sudden, like. How weird is that? You fire the GM. I know he's around the team, but the guys not running practice. Same roster. They haven't done anything differently. Like nothing has changed. Just Kevin Adams is out.

Now they go on a heater and he gets no credit for it. You know who's going to take credit is Terry Pagula. I was a believer in the savers. I'll tell you what, I think I'd take this, though. I know it's, I know it's... Really? I'd rather, I'd love to see the... That's a loser mentality.

Who wants to go to the soup? They went four times and lost. Yes, that was 35 years ago. What if they hire the wrong guy here? What if they hire the wrong coach? it's a possibility that they hire the wrong coach. After what we just heard, of course it's possible to hire the wrong coach. Here at least I know they make the playoffs and get to a Super Bowl.

I know they win some games. And Stradi, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Why is everybody clamoring for Brian Daibel? Why? I saw that and I'm like, and I think Patrick Kane actually saw him tweet say, let's bring him home. Carlo too. He's like, get Daibel in there. He's from Buffalo, blah, blah, blah.

I know. What has he ever done that makes him? him the next coach of the Buffalo Bills. I don't usually tweet at athletes, but I always said to Cain, like, buddy, did you see what happened with the Giants? I know. Like, he's emotional. He's all over the place. He's abusing doctors

under the blue tent. Yeah, I just don't think he's the answer. I agree with you. What's that saying that one man's junk is another man's treasure? And I think Dayball on some level is probably a competent coach, but a head coach of a team that is trying to get to the Super Bowl. I

don't know, man. I couldn't I believe seeing Kane say that. I was like, what? He must know him personally. He seems like a good guy. Like, Dable seems like a guy that would just pound beers and wings. You know what I mean? He seems like a great guy.

But as her head coach. It's not about, yeah. Josh Allen and you're trying to. Exactly. Can you lead us? Can he lead us to where we want to be? Furthermore, can he handle the duo of Brandon Bean and Terry Bagula? You know, and this presser this morning, if you missed it,

I'm sure you've seen it online. It's like Pagula up there. It's just a wild scene. I thought Bean looked awful because it looked to me as if Bean had just been feeding him everything, but he probably wasn't expecting Pagula to actually announce a lot of the stuff that he did. I'm curious what it means for the next coach. If you're Josh Allen, how do you feel about this this morning? If you're a fan, let's head to Buffalo now.

Here he is reporter for WGR 550. Joining us on the Maple Toyota Hotline, there he is, Sal Capaccio. Sal, what has been the overall response to the presser we saw this morning? Kind of wild, a little unexpected, and some twists and turns, I guess. No doubt about that. I think the reception from the national media has been a little bit more critical. I think if you're in the room like I was, it wasn't as contentious or anything like that. There were definitely some points of like, whoa, I can't believe that was said.

And we came out of it with a couple of storylines we didn't know going in. But I also think it was good and healthy to finally hear from Terry Pagula. we haven't heard of him in seven years since 2019, really, owner of the Bills and Sabres. And, you know, that was healthy and that was good, getting perspective from him and Brandon Bean, but no doubt it was not your typical press conference, I would say. I know you said you were glad to hear from the owner, but there were some explosive comments, especially referencing the draft pick and whose decision that was. Like, what do you think the general consensus is within the fan base, the city of the

the actual comments that were made by the owner who actually spoke. So I think what's interesting is that that was a bit of a really detailed part of, I think, a larger picture, which is I came out of this press conference thinking one of my biggest takeaways was, boy, there was a real concerted effort here to make sure that we all knew that Brandon Bean wasn't just handing a roster to Shaw McDermott and saying go coach it. That there was a concerted effort that we all knew that Sean McDermott had some influence on the roster. If Brandon Bean didn't necessarily agree, he still would acquiesce and say, okay, if that's what you want, then that's what I'm going to get you. And I think that that was a way for Terry Pagula to interject. And what happened was McDermott was, I'm sorry, Bean was asked about, you know, the roster and the construction and all that.

And that's when Pagula interrupted and said, he said, let me say, the coaching staff pushed for Keon Coleman. So unfortunately, as the kids say, Kean Coleman caught a lot of strays in this one, right? and now we're talking about this for the rest of the day. But I think the larger point was they were trying to convey, hey, it's not like Brandon Bean just went out and did anything he wanted on the roster. The coach had a lot of say here, so we can't just pit one against the other with roster versus coaching, if that makes sense.

I think what I always take out of a press conference like this is, you know, what is the next coach thinking about it? You know, what is the prospective coach thinking about this dynamic now with Bean, with the owner. You mentioned that the owner has not spoken publicly in seven seven years. He'll obviously be speaking privately with the new coach. And we've always kind of from a far looked at this and said, how do the bill

is so successful but the sabres are a disaster? And, you know, how does this work? Was it McDermid? Is it Josh Allen? What do you, what would you expect the next coach, the prospective coach, to take from this press conference? And is there more positive that he would take out of it, more negative. How might it affect the coaching search in the future? Well, look, if you had to take anything out of it, it would be negative, but I'm going to tell you this guys. I don't think it matters a damn bit from any coach's perspective what happened today because Josh Allen is the quarterback on this team. That's what it comes down to.

They have Josh Allen. And any coach who wants to be a coach in the National Football League, a head coach, I don't think there's anyone that's going to look at today. I go, no, no, no, I don't want to go there because the owner in the GM had a really awkward press conference. No, they have Josh Allen and they've made it to the playoffs and won division championships and playoffs for what, eight out of the last nine years and five at the last six years division championships. So as much as that might be something that makes you go, ooh, you know, who am I working with and what does that look like when I get there? I don't think any of that is anything compared to the fact that someone has a chance to work with Josh Allen.

And these jobs, as much as regular NFL jobs don't come along, jobs with the best QBs in the league, never come along. You just mentioned Josh, and it's been reported that the players were not happy with the McDermott firing. Is that just Josh on board with that? Or like, how pissed off are these guys that this guy got canned? And where does Josh stand on it? So I'll start with the first overall players. You know, we haven't heard from every player, but we have seen on social media.

A lot of guys are upset. You know, they've aired their frustration. But look, guys, I mean, there was a way I look at it. It's pretty unique here in Buffalo. We've had the same coach for nine years. Most of these players have had the same coach. He built a culture. He built a relationship.

He built a bond with all these guys. Most NFL players, professional athletes, go through their careers with multiple coaches, right? So I think that it hits a little bit different here for a lot of these guys. And it's not like they were consulted. It's not what they were told that they were told. So I understand that. I totally do. I'm sure they're upset.

But at the end of the day, they have contracts to play for the Buffalo Bills, regardless of who the coach is. And that's generally the way it works in any market. But in here, because they've been with this coach for this long, It hurts because they formed a relationship. Now, what Terry Begoula was asked about Josh Allen, like, was he on board? Did he endorse it or anything like that? He would not give that response. But he did say that Josh will be a part of the team that's involved with finding the next coach for the Buffalo Bills.

So, Sal, looking ahead to the next coach, in your opinion, what would they require something different in what they had in their previous coach to get this team to where they want? Yeah, I think the bills have to go one of the first. of two directions and that's it. Number one is somebody who has a Super Bowl ring who's been there. Because I don't think you can move on from Sean McDermott, who's been as successful as you can be without making a Super Bowl, right? I mean, he is very successful, but you fired him because he didn't get there. Can you really bring someone in who's been coaching and pretty successful that hasn't been

to a Super Bowl and say, yeah, we fired this guy for that guy? I don't think it works, right? I don't think that fits at all with the fan base. That wouldn't look very good. That would be bad optics. The second option would be the brightest, probably young, offensive mind you can find because you have Josh Allen who's turning 30 this year, who's probably got a good four or five years left of, you know, really great football in him

that you're trying to win here. And I think that that's the next step. I was listening to you guys talk about Brian Dable and you're debating. Why would you do that? Well, look, if Josh is going to be involved in this, the reason why Brian Dable and Josh Allen, they were great together for two years. Brian Dable is a big reason why Josh Allen is where he is today. Josh Allen in 2018, he only had one offensive coordinator for his first four years.

is 18, 19, 2021. And when he really made his ascension in 2021, a lot of that credit is to Brian Daible, they're very, very close. So I'm not saying that you should hire a guy because Josh Allen is close with him. But Daible actually held Josh very accountable. He wasn't like he was just his golf and or drinking buddy

or anything like that. And I agree with you that Daibol's time in New York did not go that great. But if you want to know a reason why they would do it, that's why, because if you want this quarterback to be the best version of himself, that guy already got him to that point. Yeah, I'm just,

Not sure who that is, like the former Super Bowl winners. Obviously, Tomlin's out there, but that's not going to happen. I don't think. I mean, he'd have to be traded, right? I don't think he wants to coach. And I'm not sure he wants to coach. I think he wants to do a TV thing and then maybe do what Peyton did, get back in a year from now. Belichick is out there.

Do you think Buffalo would even contemplate calling Bill Belichick? I do not. I just don't think that this organization would be of the mind to bring in a guy who has that kind of ego when you're talking about a guy who just promoted to vice president of football operations, a guy who, by the way, you just fired a man who beat down Bill Belichick in the playoffs in his last couple years there, right? I mean, Sean McDermott, that game in Buffalo. So, plus, I mean, the luster of Bill Belichick's kind of worn off the last couple of years.

I think we've seen away from Brady, away from, you know, from that scene in New England, like after Brady left. So, no, I don't think so. As far as Tomlin, I'm a big Mike Tomlin fan. But again, I'll go back to, could you really fire Shaw McDermott, and then bring in a guy who McDermott, this time one hasn't won a playoff game in 10 years. You're going to fire a guy who just can't get to a Super Bowl in nine years

for guys who won a playoff game in 10 years. And at top of that, you'd have to give up draft assets. And the guy who'd have to give those up is responsible for drafting and replenishing this roster. He's not going to do that. No kidding. Well, that's what, like, once the dust settles here, and they've got to get on this coach.

I mean, I'm sure the timeline, they're probably waiting for this weekend. And, you know, maybe they want to interview some quarter. on, you know, one of the four teams left. But once you have the coach, you've got to make moves, right? Sal, like, how much of it, how much turnover do you expect in Buffalo? We know Allen's coming back. We know certain players are going to be returning here. But how much turnover is even reasonable to expect they can put this team in a better

position next year? Well, I think they're going to be right back in the same position next year, which is knocking on the door, but who knows if they can get a couple of breaks their way and play a little bit better in that ultimate game? reason I say that is because they have number 17 and they do have one of the best offensive lines of football and they do have James Cook and all those guys are coming back but your question is great because this is unique for me this is nine years of the last nine years I basically said well Sean really likes that guy and I know he fits in the building he fits in the

culture all that's kind of gone now right so you don't know now everything's on the table for guys that you don't know that you would normally say oh they're totally coming back I don't know I can't say that anymore they do have a lot of cap restraints because the way the roster has been built the way they've been going forward and trying to really go after it every year. But Brandyne is going to keep doing the same thing. He's always said, as long as he's the GM, they're not going to take a step back. Nor should they, by the way, now with Josh 30 years old and making $55 million. That wouldn't make sense.

You know, you have to keep going forward in trying that. I do expect a lot of changes because any time a head coach has changed, so are your coordinators generally. So are your position coaches generally. If Shaw McDermick gets a job, he's probably going to take guys with him. And the bills are going to have to figure out whoever they bring in as a head coach is going have say on who his coordinators are going to be. So I expect a lot of changes coming up here. New Era, man, in Buffalo. It's going to be fun to see how it plays out. He is Sal Capaccio of WGR

550 down in Buffalo. Great seeing you, Sal. Thank you for doing this. You got it, guys. If the Sabres break the drought, we'll talk again. Yes, we will. And we'll hear from Terry Pagullola, I think, at that time, the Sabers do you. He won't. He will be dying to get out and talk at that point. We will definitely talk to this, sir. Thanks, Sal. Appreciate it. Sal joining us here in the Maple Toyota hotline. It's time to Toyota in the 2025 Prius, go up to 72 kilometers on battery alone,

then seamlessly switch to hybrid mode. Check it out, Maple Toyota, near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall. Yes. I'm going to do a couple things from that interview. Under no circumstances, am I having a player, and I don't care if it's Josh Allen, the best football player in the world right now.

He's not picking the coach. It's a dangerous game to play that. Dude, it is such a dangerous game. It's undermining the guy that's making the decisions, and it's just, I think it's completely ridiculous. I don't care who it is. I just got an old-school belief that it's just like, you're not bringing a player in to pick the coach.

It's just a bad scene. It's a bad vibe, and guys get win. Imagine being a player saying, or a player in the off-season looking that your quarterback is, like, in a room picking the coach. It's not right, man. And the second thing about it is, is we as sports people in general, we are totally overusing the word culture.

Like, there are people that are designing cultures with bad players that don't win squat. Like, I would rather have some A-holes that just know how to win and play to win every night. Like, this culture term is just getting abused, like, in these meetings. It's just like, we're building a call. Not everyone's a 200-foot player and does this and goes to bed at the same. time every night. I just want a guy that wins. And that guy might be out later, and that guy might swear, and he might be a little different. Like, there's some great athletes, Ricky Henderson, Lawrence Taylor, they just weren't run-of-the-mill guys. It's just, they're winners, though, man.

Like, this culture thing is nuts. It is a catch-all phrase that gets used both ways, right? Bad culture here, good culture there. And I think you make a very good point about the power balance, even with the quarterback. How is Alan really going to take the coach seriously when he's like, dude, you're only here because I hired you. Yeah, I selected you and you're going to try to tell me that what I... You're basically giving him a playbook and he does whatever he wants. That's what you're doing.

Like you want him to feel good, but go ahead, Strud. Don't you think it's more... I think you have to run it by him. Your best player on the team with the best quarterbacks. I don't want him in that room. There's no way. I don't need him in that room. You know what?

Give him two or three choices, say, do you lean either way on one of the these guys, I'll take it into consideration, but I'm going to decide next week. But I would even take it that. I would take it even further. We've decided on Brian Hayes. What do you think of this? We're coming to you for your thought process. This is why we like him.

This is why we do it. Like I, because I think Lamar Jackson there was a report there was a report he was going to be involved. I don't need that guy in that room. I do not need him in that room. You know when they say being a part of the decision process basically means he's picking the guy. That's what that means.

We don't know what that means. Oh, Doc, you don't know if he's in the room. Is he taken in resumes? You know, like email me at whatever. You know, like Josh Allen at gmail.com. Like, I don't know. I think we've got to be careful. We don't, I can't imagine them sitting in that room.

And I wouldn't even want to be in that room if I was that guy. But I'd like to run by. Resumays? Resumays. Yeah, resume. Resumet. What did I say? Did I say resumet?

Well, we say different out here, right? Yeah, it's a little bit different. You guys, you don't have the same, you know, holidays as us and education and all that. You asked us if we're on holidays the same time you were. Don't you guys have grade 13 in Ontario? We used to. They got rid of it. Holy geez.

Don't talk to you about education. I was one of the last grade 13s. What a year. What a year grade 13 was. Man, it was great. 19 years old, grizzled veteran. Booze and darts. Everything.

Going out on Thursday nights, like rock star stuff on a Thursday night and trying to get to school on a Friday. It was great. It was a great lifestyle. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out, you know, like where Alan stands, where Lamar stands. But it also speaks to the power those guys have within the organization. They're the most powerful athletes in North American sport. If you have a great superstar quarterback, no one holds the cards more than that player.

You know, so they're still denying it. I think the NBA. Possibly the NBA. But the quarterback is, you know, it's the most revered position in American players. sports strud. Like, it's the dream position. What do you guys think about this? What happens if the, like, what happens if John Gruden's

name comes across somebody's desk? That's, I threw out Belichick, but that's a good point. Gruden's won a Super Bowl too. Gruden, and he's like, he remember the video sessions he's done in like the quarterback camps and the, like, he loves the quarterback

position. I don't know. It's a name. He's a winner. It's an interesting thought. He had a weird, didn't he Wasn't there a lawsuit between him and the other? There was some weird stuff going on. There was some weird stuff with emails. He would fit the requisite of being a Super Bowl winner and having a larger-than-life personality.

It has been a while, that's for sure. He won a Super Bowl 25 years ago. That's a long time. It didn't go to Vegas. It didn't work out well. Didn't go well. Before they were even in Vegas. I don't know.

I want someone a little more. A little more modern. Well, we said it yesterday, Strutt, But if you're not going to get the Super Bowl winner, you've got to go get the next McVeigh. And maybe he's not out there right now. That's the thing. I don't know if he's out there. Anyway, Best Betts coming up.

MX picks. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. All right, Best Bet's powered by Fando. Make your picks and assemble the same game probably in seconds on the Fando's Sportsbook app. Looking at the Fando Sportsbook app for odds for the American Express. I have a five pack of players. I believe you have a five pack of players.

The concern is there's going to be some overlap here. But you can go ahead. I'll adjust on the fly. Very quickly. I'll give you, Scottie Sheffler. Go ahead, Scottie Sheffler. Sam Burns, Oberg, Oberg, Akshay Batia,

and Sahith Thigala. Okay. That's a lot of the favorites, but, okay. Scotty's paying plus 300. You know who I want? I want Sam Burns. You know what I saw today?

He's a Peter Millar guy. Sammy Burns is going to be dead. backed out in Peter Millar, and I want a piece of that. There it is Peter Malar. It's the best gear in golf. You know what? I'll replace Sam Burns with Nick and Taylor. No, I'll take Nick Taylor.

You have Sam Burns. Okay. Nick Taylor? I want Sam Burns. Sam Burns paying 25 to 1. I think he's going to look great, play great, feel great. I think he's in contention. Dan Berger, Daniel Berger, Danberger just doesn't sound right.

Daniel Berger played well last week. It wasn't for the back injury. I legit think this guy would have like five, seven more wins on tour. He's a stud, man. Daniel Berger, Bob McIntyre, did you pick him? No. Okay, Bob McIntyre, plus 2,500 on Fandwell.

Sap Straca, did you pick him? No. Plus 3,500? Did you pick Fitsy? Because I think he's going to have a monster year. I never would. I think Matt Fitzpatrick, with his cross-handed chipping, is going to be dominant. Sketcher White Wheels.

Dude, he's 5'7 has size 17 wheels. All right. There you go. Best bets powered by Fandole. Police by responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario. Of course, you can bet on golf, the NHL, the NFL, whatever it is. It's all available there, courtesy of the Fanduals sports book. Yeah, Sam Burns, man, I love it. Diled in, looking good, feeling good, playing good, plus 2,500. Diled. Peter Millar, I think it's going to be a great, great week for Sammy Burns. Leaves Red Wings tonight. Let's see what they got, man. It feels like not a must win. Not a must win. Not a must win. But. It is. Close to it. Must win in reg. If you're going to win, you got to win in reg.

Right? Got a win in regulation tonight. All right, Shreddy, great seeing you, man. Thanks for doing this, as always. Thanks, boys. I enjoy the game tonight. Always great having you. There's Jason Strudwick. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today.

TV radio, podcast, web, and of course, up on YouTube live. Every hour of every show up on TSN's YouTube channel. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at Keep fracking, Hazy B. 4 p.m. We'll frack then. Seasoned gamer or just video game curious. This week in gaming is the podcast for you.

We break down the latest in the world of video games, from basics to beyond. The hottest gaming news, insight and industry leaders and more weekly. Join me, Naomi Kyle, and stay ahead of the game with all the latest updates. Even if you're a total news, stream this week in gaming on the free iHeart radio app or wherever you get your podcasts quest complete