OverDrive - OverDrive - January 22, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Eastern Conference's race, the Maple Leafs playing Dennis Hildeby against the Blue Jackets and The Athletic's list of centers in Toronto. TSN Hockey Analyst Frank Corrado joins to discuss the Canadiens' season turnaround, the conference race and the best options for the Maple Leafs.

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I never have any clue where you are Jamie, but I don't know what's been leaked, but I just like to apologize for what happened yesterday but I'd just like to apologize for what happened yesterday. Jonas and Brian, they were talking in terms of they had no business about certain goalies, this and that. I tried to hold the four together and that's all I can say. That's all I'm going to say. Hayes had a take on Vasileski, Jonas talked about Shusterkin, it was crazy and I tried to just temper things, and I said, you guys just wait until he comes back.

So Friday I think Jonas is coming back, and we're going to get to the bottom of everything. Let me guess, Joseph Wall is better than both of them. Is that what you're saying? Is that basically what he said? I don't think he went that far, but he did take a little jab at Vasilevski, and listen, I didn't love the Evans goal last night. It was a little kind of a flutter. I don't even know how to describe that.

Or he got it off quick and it didn't like the Stankhoven goal the other night either. Didn't love that. Yeah, didn't love that happens. You know what goalies allow bad goals. Sometimes it happens. Don't tell me I didn't say anything. I just passed through Joe. He came on the show and he let this show on.

It wasn't even Hayes. It was all Jonas. All Jonas. He believes that Vasileski is a complete stiff and should no longer be taken seriously in the national hockey league. Hey, I think we could all agree on one thing as far as Vasileski. There are some goals going in that didn't used to go in on them that's not even know if that's opinion that's kind of just back to you like you see a goal going you're like that guy just had everything used to have everything announced them stuff slide by him

yeah i mean i still think you if i'm taking one goalie that's the guy i mean you know how about vasilevsky you should start and i watch the starkin last night i mean if you think you made one tough save on why Ottawa had no juice last night. Shosturkin was more interested in fighting Kachuk and, you know, going crazy there. He was, it was a, it got emotional in the end. I like that. Yeah, it was. But, I mean, there's, I still think there's a, there's a Mount Rushmore,

there's a four or five pack that I I love Vasilevsky still in there You know you can't have your best season every year, but boy. You know I'll take that guy When it's needed and when he plays at the top of his game I don't do it also a tribute to the trees that they had back there in front of them You know what I mean and when the trees start dropping like guys start disappearing and going to other teams And when the trees start dropping, guys start disappearing and going to other teams. You notice it back there. When you're plugging in younger guys, just guys that are not experienced, not big tall dudes and the goaltender realizes it, you know it.

Yeah. I mean, that's why they probably, I mean, their top three are what? Headman, McDonough, Cherneck. I mean, those are trees. They just, I like the radish kid. Like i like to have a bay i just they've lost the few in a row here they've you know i i think their schedules been tough but uh... i still think they're uh...

uh... top tier team in the east but you know what you gotta prove it they don't have some back to the pack that's the amazing thing like you get columbus here tonight any look at it columbus is in the race in in the race and Boston and Tampa and Montreal won again last night They've won two straight since that kind of debacle on Saturday night where they had the Leafs and they let it get away from them And Ottawa obviously is still in the hunt They're still I believe technically in a playoff spot, even though they lost last night and you know, they're having issues scoring goals They've been shut out with three of the last seven, I believe, Ottawa is.

But yeah, it's it's going to be a race. I mean, this is we talked about it earlier this week, I guess it was. Or late last week, I think earlier, I think on Monday, where we said it felt like, you know, the the page was turned and all of a sudden everyone recognizes, OK, it's really go time now. Like we're into the second half and you better start picking things up. Sheldon Keefe again, I guess, stopped practice today and started snapping on his team because Jersey's starting to lose some ground here and they're trying to keep up and they want

to hold on to their positioning. But look at that East. I feel like we're going to do it every single day the rest of the way. We are. Like every day it's going to be a jockeying for position and as of today it's five teams from the Atlantic and as of this time next week it could be five teams from the metro and things are gonna yeah really fluctuate a lot and that's the craziness about a night like last night where Montreal ends up beating Tampa in regulation that's big right really really big and they beat the

Rangers in reg that was big like to hold them off and hold off the points and not allow those other teams to get it. You know, you got obviously Ottawa losing, you've got a lot going on, man, every single night. It's pretty fun, and we're into mid-January. We need it, right? Because you gotta start turning the page. And Hayes, I said at the beginning of the season,

and you always say it, like it is a sprint, like a sprint to get to places where Toronto and Washington and Carolina are, like you got to go on an absolute heater as soon as the ref drops the puck at the beginning of the season to get any kind of breathing room whatsoever. Like look at the teams that have somebody breathing down there. Now you just saw the list, that's insane right but the thing is this down the stretch you have a five game losing streak or five game winning streak that could be the difference honestly I get there

I that's the point and I'm if he might watch last night that ranger team is six oh and three in their last night like just you know quietly that's their things are starting to fall together for that just started that's doing that I mean he said he was a test much last night but yeah I'd like to fall together for that. That's just dirt. That's doing that. I mean he said he was Last night, but yeah, I'd like they have I think that 20 shot Like it wasn't he made one big glove save on Kachuk in the second period outside of that There was could have played in the lawn chair. They just didn't have much like on I had no juice Yeah, that's three games in four nights for them and travel and they get one day off today

Now they got three games in four nights again like schedules catching up to them. But like if I was looking at it, you know a lot of teams have had the heavy part of their schedule either through the start of the season, the middle of the season, Ottawa's is the middle of the season. They had the nine game road trip, came home for one, back out on the road for two, home for one, back out on the road. Like they're, you know they got a ton of road game or a ton of home games down the stretch you know if you look at it the LA Kings play their 18th home game tonight like that's they played 18 home games the Leafs this is

their 29th home game yeah that's a games on the road coming on ton of games coming out that they play one more game next week I was looking at just you know for for balance of schedule and the Leafs play one more game at home before the they go out east or whatever or out west sorry before the break they'll have 30 played 30 home games and then so they got 12 the rest of the season so there's a lot of road and some travel for them whereas you know there are other teams that have played like 26 27 or you know 25 26 on the road and they get the lion's share of home

games. Now you still have to win those games like it doesn't matter there's nothing guaranteed but strength of schedule comes into factor in some of these races that we are going to see down the stretch including the Eastern Conference. Well what's intriguing about where the Leafs are at and again they're kind of out of that rat race right now, but you lose three or four in a row, you can get dragged back into it, is the fact that they play so many teams in the West, those three point games don't mean as much either, right? Like you're going to see when divisional teams play, like tomorrow night, Ottawa and Boston, I think off the record, both teams would say, why don't we start in overtime?

We'll fight for an extra point. Like let's guarantee we each get a point and let's fight for the next, for the extra one, I would take that gamble. Like I would accept that deal if I had that opportunity, executive order, if I could step in and sign one, give me a three point game every single night. Because you know, that at least allows you to stay in the race and keep chipping away. Yeah. You're collecting something. You're collecting, you're guaranteed to collect something where with the leaves, if you're playing all these teams in the West and keep chipping away. Yeah, you're collecting something. You're guaranteed to collect something. Where with the Leafs, if you're playing all these teams in the West

and that's what they have left because they have to go through Western Canada. They go to California, they go through Vegas and Colorado and Utah and all that. Those are all teams that are in the Western Conference. They don't factor into their race and their races, which is also kind of a unique element to how you project what's going to happen with them the rest of the way but yeah it is pretty interesting to see and Boston Boston's on the road in Jersey tonight against Sheldon Keefe's group like so it's a you know every night there's somebody in the Atlantic playing and you're your scoreboard watching like you know Florida is

actually out west right now, right? Because they're in LA tonight. They played in Anaheim last night. That's a team. They're doing their western swing just before this Four Nations, what do we call it? Face-off? Four Nations, Face-off. Sheldon Keefe snapping in practice. That's like... practice? That's concerning. How many times do you see him snap at least practice. Probably not a lot. Couldn't over the music.

Now there's no music. No music, now you can really get loud. Can you imagine? I still like, I will go back. Can you imagine if they're like, we're not changing the, like, Chief, you're taking over everything. You can do whatever you want,

but the music stays at practice. Could you imagine like? Well, noodles, there whatever you want, but the music stays at practice. Could you imagine like... Dude, well, Noodles, there were some times where they had gruesome losses, like just 5-1, no energy, no life, and Mark Masters would send out a tweet, just music and skills development today for the Leafs. And I was like, holy god. Pretty good living, man, if you can get it. Pretty good lifestyle.

There was a DJ. And not that you need to be skated into the ground with how many games you play and everything but Sometimes you just need a little bit of last night wasn't good enough or whatever and it was like skills development in music well It's I found the the description of why Joseph Wall is not playing tonight to be Somewhat unique. I mean again, I just... Is that what you're gonna call it, unique? Yeah, I mean we'll play it here in a second. Baruba explained it and it comes off the heels of me yesterday raving

about how I love the fact that he's playing and battling every single night because Noodle's, you've talked about it for almost 15 years with me that you know yes statistics are important and you've got to make stops and all that kind of stuff of course is important but I think his welcome to the NHL week has actually been in the last week for Joseph Wall because there were no questions he was planned he battled hard he gave them opportunities he made huge stops to either hold the lead leader keep them in games at multiple times of the last week and it was like routine so we need you you gotta play it was

the a true like starters mentality like no one's questioning who's playing and they got columbus tonight and they don't play again until saturday at autttawa dennis hildeby will get the start tonight joseph wall didn't practice yesterday. They kept him off the ice. He wasn't, I believe, on the ice today. And here's how Craig Barube described

the reasoning behind Hildeby going tonight. Well, it's had a lot of work. A lot of emotional games, I would say. Montreal, tap, big games and emotional games. A lot of work. So, just with the schedule and everything just time for Hildeby to get in there. Emotional games I don't think I've ever heard a coach describe it that way and again it gets

back to the playoffs every game is so emotional in the playoffs. That's where I go haze it's like where what are we going to do after game three of a playoff series? I'm going to give them a break tonight. It's emotionally special. A lot of emotion in game three the other day. I don't know about that one. I read that too before we came on. I don't think that's helpful.

You know what you say? I don't think that one's helpful. The word unique, you're saying, like if he just said, hey, he's played a lot of hockey and a lot of high intensity hockey or whatever, emotional, the word, that's where we're twisting that word around right now. That's what we're doing. All you can say is, hey, the schedule is, it's a heavy schedule right now. We're giving Hildeby, didn't love Hildeby's last game against Columbus, get a game, an

opportunity to get back at it. Right, exactly. Against the team that beat you 6 one was a six one something like that it was an ugly score so to me i you could have gone the other way and said you know what hilda b this was scheduled start joseph played a lot of hockey you know i'd give him an opportunity to get some some work in or do some rest that's it the the and and craigs not a guy to mince words the emotional starts that's how they were

does it is a short is but I'm just I'm surprised it's coming from Craig Barubei because it doesn't seem like something that you know he he would necessarily attack that way I don't even think anything of it in the moment where it's like rest or emotional games or whatever all I wanna know is I bring it to the future which is like two three months from now. It's like, is this guy ever, if it's decided it's him to start the playoffs, A, can he

play a bunch of games in a row? And B, stay healthy. Like, can he play good for a long stretch and can he stay healthy? Because we all know the playoffs is every other night if they want to go all the way it's two months so you look at this and you're like how could that even be possible well i mean i again i i guess to be to be fair to the leases that it's you were not in the playoffs yet

you know it is a january has played well uh... but we're not gonna get that answer until we get there you know like there's two things that we are going to get that answer until we get there. There's two things that we are going to debate endlessly between now and the beginning of the playoffs that we're not going to get answers to until they actually play it out. That is, what is the goaltending going to look like? Who's going to play? How are they going to play?

How reliable are they going to be? And what are the big players going to play like? That's going to be, I can tell you, I can forecast what it's going to be about. Yes, there'll be combinations of chats about who's going to be on what line and is the special teams good enough right now? What do they do with the trade deadline and how do those players mix in? All of that kind of stuff will absolutely be a part of it as well. But when the dust settles and we get to game one, it's going to be who's in net, how's he going to play, how can we rely on that guy, I'm speaking of Lee fans, and secondarily, maybe even actually on par, probably is and probably should be, will Matthews, Marner, Nylander finally say

screw it, we've learned enough, we've done it enough, we're not failing again. Like we're going to be so good and so dominant that jump on our backs and we're going. Those are the two topics. It's not going to change between now and the beginning of the playoffs. So they'll use the next two or three months to prepare for that. And as you get closer to the deadline, we had Jonas on yesterday and Jonas was teasing his article in the Athletic with Chris Johnston know the ten centers that they believe the leaves should be going for did that come out today it did come out

today uh... why would you just say that centers but it's easy you're on a show as a guest just like what the hell is he doing i don't i don't i'm gonna have to have a conversation with jones and i love jones he's a dear friend of mine i've known him forever yes you can't be coming on the show and not giving us something You know like you can tease it because we'll promote it for you And here's the thing the list very good list very well written very detailed

I read it this morning. None of it is unique to what other people are already suggesting They have Ryan O'Reilly as the number one target Everyone's buzzing about that we'll get into it Brock Nelson at two Yanni Gord at three what I found intriguing is they had Trent Frederick at four Charlie Coyle at five both of the Bruins I just don't see the Bruins in a position where they're gonna sell and if they do that they're gonna sell to the Maple Leafs well isn't this like Frederick what is this list like Like one through ten, is that based on like they should get or available?

Yeah, that was kind of how it was described. Like the likelihood of it happening and also meshing it with what would be the perfect fit. And listen, the way they described O'Reilly, I would absolutely agree with. I don't know if he wants to come back here. I don't know. Nobody really knows. Only Ryan O'Reilly knows that. And I'm know if he wants to come back here. I don't know. Nobody really knows. Only Ryan O'Reilly knows that.

And I'm sure Brad Trey Living knows by now. He probably knew when he left how he felt and he might know how he feels about the idea of coming back. He's got this year and two years after it and he's a really good player. He's a winner and he won with Craig Borube. He won a Conce Mith with Craig Borube. And he steps in and he's a middle six center winger they can do it all and you can rely on them

uh... i can totally accept that now what the price would be is where the leaf leaf and all the sudden start getting up uncomfortable because it would cost you a lot he's gonna cost you a lot to get a ryan o'reilly or a brock nelson who was number two on that list johnny gordon i don't think nearly as much about number nine on that list Johnny Gourd I don't think nearly as much how about number nine on that list? Nasm Kadri and Calgary is that who it was yeah it was yeah I've heard lots of years and money left on that is that there's three years at seven

I mean you'd need to be very creative But I mean that's I think that's a pie in the sky wish list you know as far as getting him back But he is the type of player that you need. Really. Nas coming back to Toronto, O'Reilly coming back would be cool, but he was here for such a short period of time and he never felt like a maple leaf. Nas would be a vibe. The idea of Kadri returning would be, it would not be Wendell Clark-esque, it would not be

the same hype. When Wendell returned to the gardens in the 90s, it was absurd. When Gilmore was acquired at the deadline, he never got to play in Toronto, which is still sickening that he got hurt that game in Calgary. That was something else. Man, they reacquired Dougie Gilmore and he's coming back and it's going to be amazing. Nas would be a step below that, but it would be wild. I really think the vibe in the city and the vibe down at the rink, put the cap aside,

put all that kind of stuff, which has to be considered if you're true living clearly. We're just talking a vibe trade. If you're talking a vibe check and fans saying, man, they got Nas and Kadri coming home and Nas is back and he's, you know, I have a pretty good idea that he would love to be a Maple Leaf. That doesn't mean he loves being a flight He loves being a flame. He's committed to Calgary. That's not yeah, I'm not put I'm not Reporting like a Nas is I think he'd be down with I'd be sorry All we're doing is talking about this like the only crazy thing is is what if he hits somebody headfirst from the boards for a Third time game two in on to the same corner

because wasn't that the same corners action corner same-size in corner like it which is insane still to talk about but if they're trying to have mojo out here where it's a positive story i think you've not as much as you're joking we're talking about this is listen this is a list that jonas made up and chris johnston cj's okay so that i don't remember cd collaboration

collaboration collaboration i didn't know that but it i mean this is pie in the sky and we talked about it it's wish list all of that type of stuff i still think isn't rent frederick he's a winger he like i combo kind of a combo he's i think he's a combo. But I think of him as a winner. He's a really interesting, he's an interesting player. Yeah, he's not having a great year. No one really is in Boston, but he is a tough and playoff performer.

He burned them last year. Remember, he burned them a couple of different times. But there's lots of guys on that list you could see and make a case for that would help. Just depends on what the cost of doing business is for them like that's what i said to you i think i said you guys the lot in kid out of philadelphia i really like that i don't know if i said that off i love that guy too i was on this list they got him in seven scott lawton

yeah i i'd i was yet seven in trend frederick said for i guess it's it frederick's got a lower cap and and's a UFA at the end of the year. And I think Frederick brings a different, a unique skill set because he's got skill he could skate but he's tough as nails. Like he crosses over to, you know, into that Tom Wilson territory where he can handle big bodies and stand up. It's rare to have a guy who plays in the top six like that right like I watched that Washington game last night there those guys you

know I haven't been deserved to win I think the chances were like 22 to 10 or something but it but Washington gets it done and they've got a massive team like physically yeah and Logan Thompson again man like there that's gonna be the Canadian reaction Connect and again, it's it's not it'll be disingenuous because it's not the same timeline, but we just went through with the juniors Why didn't you bring the best players? Why didn't you bring it Logan Thompson has been the best goalie arguably in the league the last month and a half Like his stats would indicate that it's not he doesn't lose

Wins every single night has been incredible and he's you know it was just an unsexy name that's why yes it's almost like you can't talk yourself into believing he's that good it's logan thompson didn't he play in the canadian university league or something no but he's he what it is is he he doesn't have a lot of there's not a lot of uh... history there like it's not like he has three hundred games in the league. So

you're going, okay, Logan Thompson was brought in, free agent into Vegas, played really, really well, made the all-star game, but he got hurt. And then they had Larry Bressois there. They had five different, brought in Jonathan Quick. They had all these goaltenders there. Aiden Hill ends up winning the cup. But Logan Thompson and Aiden Hill are like best buddies because they're both calgary guys are calgary area guys and thompson's a goalie like i've you know what's really other night he's playing great and and he's a lefty which

kind of jams up guys to there's only uh... there's only four lefties in the league two of them play for washington which is you know charlie lindgren's the other guy there you know it's it's pretty interesting but, but he's been awesome in your right pace. The argument is, you know, he doesn't have a sniff with the Canadian team at Four Nations and if the goaltending struggles, they're going, that guy's Canadian. How did he not make the team?

Exactly. At a minimum, if I'm Logan Thompson, I'm thinking, the Olympics that's I just got to play my yeah I gotta play through this have a good playoff run and put myself on the radar for next year But yeah, it's it's it's quite something the way he's playing and Washington went in there beat Edmonton last night Vancouver lost a Buffalo last night. There were two one two Yeah, man, it's like Vancouver lost Ottawa lost but Montreal with a great win and there's there's Buffalo Sabres at home Like that's something you got it that one here. Yeah I want her that's like boating the easiest par five on the course whenever the rest of the field is making birdies and Eagles That's right. I just can't do it. You're a hundred yards out to land to like no

You're on into on into and you for your echeverria in Hawaii. Yes, you're on in two That's right, because that's what it was. They're up to one at home against Buffalo. You've got to close and yeah Demko didn't love his game. He didn't love he hasn't loved this season so far. Obviously. He had the injury We'll get to that a little bit later on Frankie Corrado will join us Jason Strudwick today We've got roleplay level of concern and uh... routine at least columbus tonight overdrive continues to yes and ten fifty and on tsn four overdrive continues powered by fando will bring you everything from the opening line of the final score

roleplay level of concern in about an hour jason strudwick coming up with the strutty is still shedding tears over mcdavid three-game suspension and uh... the david spoke to the media today so it is what it is i was too much but you get a move on to those with the mall protest like what what was that you know what you mean

like it there were some yet at that time people were protesting at west edmonton mall like i like what is that what the hell is it gonna do? I don't know man. I don't know don't get me started on protesters but I mean it's just insanity people like obviously that market is pissed you know. Of course. Of course it's the best player in the world three games I still think it's weird for people to be like well He should withhold his services to play for team Canada like don't do anything for the league like I don't know I kind of just think it's it's a didn't protest at the mall I have to come clean doogie said it was a fake story. I was going to say man

I thought we were joking about that yesterday Like no, we brought I saw a picture of a bunch of people with the oiler shirts on twitter okay at the mall and someone tweeted their protesting at the mall and i'm like that is reason and would be a wild story like i'd like that that's why we're not insiders i'm not an insider there was no protesting at the mall and also wouldn't you protest at the rink like why would you bother people at? Well, you know protest anywhere. I understand it if you're going to be

Goofy enough to protest a suspension to a player who's gonna be fine. Connor's gonna be alright Wouldn't you do it at the rink? Maybe that was what happened last night Maybe they got the nachos the number that would cast a number that would cause this kind of outrage would be five or six. I didn't think three games would cause this kind of outrage. Well, again, I think the nachos being thrown on the ice last night. My read on that was that's a protest. That's a nacho protest towards the league. But it's the nachos. If you were watching the game, they were all over dry sidle.

There was a whole plate of nachos. If you watch after the goal, Logan Thompson is pointing to the nachos saying, that distracted me because if Perry fans out for that one-timer, he actually goes around the nachos. I don't think he saw it, but the nachos were there and I think it did kind of distract Thompson going, like, what is that? And all of a sudden it's by himself. But I saw the most clever thing on Twitter last night. It said, Goal by Perry, assist nachos, which I thought was funny. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know what to make of that last night. But anyway, here's Frankie Corrado Frankie have you ever been involved in a game where someone's throwing nachos on the ice?

No, no never seen anything like that. I was playing in the playoffs in Utica and they were crazy down there there was a guy with a prosthetic leg and Every time we scored a goal He would take it off pour his beer in it and then chug the beer out of the Prosthetic leg and stand up and wave it to everyone else in the crowd that was wild but that never made its way onto the ice Wow That's wild That's funny that's from state New York like you want to talk about gritty upstate New York the Paris of upstate but real gritty

Yeah, that's Cooperstown vibes man. We I got a lot going on a yesterday were road trip to cooper stout what's that course out there leather stock or something like that is very shocking dolphin country club although what about turning stone just outside syracuse i think i just played there i love it and there's a famous one upstate new york in rochester to just have the was that the u.s. open there the pg a so name of that one worries anyway it doesn't matter

but uh... that is commitment man that that is commitment taking the prosthetic leg often chugging beers every time they sort of the and uh... yeah we saw the not just last night and i'm i'm assuming nothing was thrown on the ice in montreal your call that habs game last night and man they're buzzing they are boston they responded well to saturday night to beat the reindeers on assuming nothing was thrown on the ice in Montreal, you were calling that Habs game last night and man, they're buzzing. They are buzzing. They responded well to Saturday night.

They beat the Rangers on Sunday and then they beat Tampa last night in regulation and you wake up in Montreal today and they're in a playoff spot. It's very interesting, man. 13, three, and one in their last 17. And they had the day off on Monday. And then so Tuesday morning, we show up to the rink. We're kind of expecting a whole team skate and it's a very lightly attended optional. And it kind of dawned on me, like these guys have been on the road so much since the Christmas break and the schedule has been such a grind so much so that Sunday's game against the Rangers

was the first time in almost, I want to say three weeks that they didn't have to get on a plane to play a game. And there's been a lot of games in that stretch. And so the result of that was a really sleepy first period. Like there was not a lot of energy, not a lot of juice in the game. They were kind of just a step behind it. The penalty kill kept them in it. And then it was like, they just kind of shot out a cannon from there. Like all of a sudden they found it. Tampa looked a little bit slow. Vas all of a sudden they found it.

Ciampa looked a little bit slow. Vasileski looked a little shaky. Like he lets in the one from the sharp angle by Slawkowski and then Evans kind of beats him with a little bit of a knuckler and another pretty gritty effort where, you know, they had that Sunday against the Rangers four times they came from behind and eventually won. Didn't play with the lead until two minutes

and 15 seconds left in the game last night. There's something, you talk about vibes, man. There's some kind of vibe going on with that group, but it's not a fluke, it's not an accident. They are, they have found something within that group. Yeah, they really have, and the goaltenders, this Dolbish guy, and his commentary after the game on Sunday, I believe it was his commentary after the game on Sunday

I believe it was right after the Rangers win Where that was his first home start at the Bell Center and he played to the crowd brilliantly and I'm assuming that was organic He may have been been helped out But talking about the greatness of Montreal and the history and the fans and how awesome it was Like you can't ask for anything better than that because he's been a revelation for them ever since they put primo on waivers like this could show up he's been great mott the bo's been pretty good at times you know they get at times and

they kind of have this two-headed monster and i'm i'm sure people montreal or are loving that idea cuz that's the best way to chip away to playoff spot is make sure you get good goaltending well think about that he played five games, he's got five wins, that's ten points that you maybe weren't budgeting for. Like ten points in this, you know, span of the season, that's massive, you know, in the grand scheme of things. And so, you know, you're probably not getting those ten points realistically when Primo was in the net. And this guy, like now you know the way the

hype train starts It's the same way in Toronto as it is in Montreal it's like oh maybe Dobish should be the starter and they got to give him a run of consecutive games, but You know and then last night Montebeau has a nice bounce back performance where he was getting peppered early in that game And he kind of showed he showed signs of the goalie that he was, you know Right after he got named to the Canadian Four Nations team so it's a good situation in net and I think you like if you look at Dobish you say this guy got us ten points that weren't in the budget and that is like that's found money those

are those those are bonus points and that's why you sit there in a playoff spot today and you know I come back to this like it's just it's not it's not an accident and and Marty St. Louis had an interesting quote early in the season when they were struggling they were giving up goals left right and center and he was asked about a number of things but his one quote was I'm not looking for a band-aid solution so if it gets worse from here I don't care as long as we come out the other side you know feeling better as a group and like you can honestly say when you go thirteen three one over your last seventeen

there wasn't a band-aid solution there like they've they've they figured it out whatever was ailing them defensively and and now they're one of the highest scoring team in the last month in the n.h.l. never in my wildest dreams what i have a imagine that but uh... you know line a at that the star players are playing really well and it's a yeah it's a good situation in Montreal. Frankie could you pull your crystal ball out I don't want to put you on the spot we were talking about how tight the races in the East with the wild card do you see them there at the end of the day when it's all said and done? There's a

very good chance like you and I were talking about this not too long ago like there's a yes or no question. Yes or no question. I'll give you a yes, no problem. I'll give you a yes. And if you're giving me yes or no, I'll take the yes, just because think about what they've had to do since the Christmas break, all the teams they had to beat on the road.

Like this is the part of the schedule that was gonna sink them. Florida, Tampa, Vegas, Colorado, Washington, you know, Dallas, they won all those games on the road. Like that's, that's kind of what can cave you in. And they made it through that. So if they've, you know, if they've kind of come out the other side and there's still going to be some hard games for them and they're going to have to stay healthy, just like everyone else. But, um, I would lean more towards yes than no. And I would even put Ottawa like right there with them and say like Ottawa might be

that team that's just a step above all the teams in the wild card race right now and it's crazy to think that like there could be five teams from the Atlantic making the playoffs and the Bruins might not be one of them. Frankie do you do they have to be careful with Dobrish as far as playing him like maybe a market correction on him? What I mean by that is Merrill Lyon has come back down to earth a little bit in Ottawa. They've got Montembeau to go to. Omar isn't close to playing yet.

I still think he's another week or two, so Ottawa may have to go to Forsberg. What do you make on Dobush? Do you think it's adrenaline early on, or do you think he's really a tender and they're going to ride him? He's a tender, but he's not a 1, 6, 5, 9, 40% safe percentage goaltender. It's so hard to do. It's impossible to do that over the long run. There is going to be a market correction and he is getting a little bit of that, I'm, I'm naive new in the league and all that, you know the way that works, right? Like you don't

overthink things and you're just kind of in the moment and everything's new and you're just, you're there and enjoying it. But I don't know, with five games into his NHL career, he has shown signs that he can, you know, battle. He's shown signs that he can bounce back. I thought his last game was pretty telling, the one against the Rangers, where he looked – it was the first time he looked jittery and he looked a little bit nervous. And it was actually the first game that he had played at home. And so, you know, like you want to put on a good show, like regardless of how much you read out there, you kind of get the vibe that people are talking about you and there's a little

bit of buzz. You can't avoid it in a city like Montreal. Um, and, and he battled through that and he settled into that game. So if he can do that, uh, once, you just hope that he can do it a little more consistently, but like, you know, he's not a one 65, nine 40 gold tender. Um, there will be some what of a market correction but if he keeps it within reason uh... there they're still going to get points around him uh... but you're right like it it is similar to the

the levy maryland where like nothing could beat the guy in like his in at some point is going to have a game where everything goes then it's just a matter of how do you bounce back after that can you forget about it or do you dwell on it and let it snowball from there? With Frankie Corrado, the other end of the Atlantic is where the Leafs have been standing for the majority of the season as the top seed and they've got a few point buffer on Florida right now.

How do you project the top end of the division playing out? Do you think the Leafs can and will hold on to that one seed and if so how how beneficial could that be for them come playoff time yeah i i think i'm hanging on to it why not like they've they've kinda you know we we talk about it all the time where it's like a little more of a boring style again but it may be it's more conducive to success in the playoff and

like they're they're still showing that but if the offense ever explodes the way it can and you know even the way we saw it go on Saturday where everything goes in and then they follow that up on Monday against Tampa Bay it's like you know that's the nice combination that the Leafs can have moving forward and if that's going to be the case you know there are Tampa's doesn't look like a team that's going to charge up the leaderboard. You know, Florida is what they are. They're just a team you don't want to play in the playoffs. And so with that being the case, you know, getting first place in the Atlantic

is probably going to give you, you know, the top wild card team, because Washington, it doesn't seem like they're slowing down and they're the second highest scoring team in the NHL right now so yeah it is it is beneficial although the Leafs the Leafs play really well against Tampa like we were we were talking to Dave Randolph and Brian Engblom last night before the game and I was like what is it with the Leafs and Tampa like why can't Tampa beat them and it's like it's a good question for some reason whether it's like the star guys or the matchups it doesn't go well for Tampa against Toronto so like it's nice to win the division give yourself

an opportunity but we've seen this team have the easy road before and not be able to get it done so yeah I at the same time it's like what what does it even matter just just win in the first round ofoff doesn't matter like if it's the easy road or the hard road frankie in your tour throughout the league watching different centermen are good friends and colleagues jonas and chris johnston put out a list of available centerman free agent are not free agents guys that could be available via trade for the leaves do any kind of stick out

i'm sure you're aware of the different names that are available. Yeah, I saw the list. And you and I did a quiz back a couple weeks ago with the Carolina game and some of those names were on the quiz. I said Ryan O'Reilly because A, he's familiar with the team. He can give you a little scoring punch more than... Well, Craig, what about the idea that he had an opportunity and he said no already? Like he could have came back. Like doesn't that factor into you deciding that that's your guy? It's hilarious though. Yes, it does for sure.

But we're almost like, it's like we're playing fantasy hockey. We're almost just operating under the pretenses that like, yeah, this guy just wants to come back or you know what I mean? Which is not always the case you're right And and so that's the case like if he doesn't want to or the cost is too high Then my my initial thought is I want someone who can buzz around and bring a little speed to the table Like O'Reilly's not speedy, but my first priority would be the offensive punch. Outside of that, whether it's Lawton or I heard you guys talking about Trent Frederick, that would be my next priority. Add a little speed into the lineup and see if they can

find a little offense at the right time, those guys. But yeah, you're right. We can't just assume someone wants to come back Especially given that they had the chance and there's turn left on that deal So that that makes it more expensive to bring in that that type of player I know there's term for Lawton as well But just a different type of player the cost, you know should be different Well, I saw Kevin shoveled day off GM of the jet speaking to the media in Winnipeg about Jonathan Taves right and him Possibly working towards a return and shoveled a off was pretty blunt about his interest if and when Taves

Decides that he wants to return to the NHL was he like hands off. That's my guy I would think so. I mean, he's a Winnipeg guy, right? Taves is from Winnipeg and Obviously, you know who he is and what he represents you talk about buzz We were joking about cadre returning to Toronto and how the city would respond I think the idea of Taves signing in Winnipeg would be just remarkable theater But let's say let's say between now the deadline Taves says I'm back. I'm ready. I know I can play What what kind of pursuit would you expect the Leafs? Winnipeg like I would think every playoff team in the league would be calling them and just begging them to accept the deal

Wouldn't you think like there's you wouldn't have to pay him a ton and give it a crack and see what he's got Yeah, for sure. I just I just what it's been what two three years since he's played I mean, I know he's one of the you know He's so beloved and was so good in the playoffs and won and all that kind of stuff. Is there not just part of you that is like, this guy's gonna join the team potentially in March, you know, or right before the trade deadline,

and we're expecting him to turn back the clock right away? Like, I still would be a little bit skeptical of that, you know, and so if that's the kind of way you wanna throw your eggs into that basket, that's fine, but you're putting a lot of faith in a guy that hasn't played in a little while and you're just not sure what you're gonna expect. So I don't know, I'm sure every team will,

like that's looking for a center man, is gonna pick up the phone and they're gonna do their due diligence. And like maybe it's one of those things where like, I don't even know if you can do this like CBA wise, but can you do like the old football kind of where you bring them in, skate them, see what he's got and then, you know, kind of say, okay, we'll call you in a week once we make up our mind. Like,

I don't even know if that's a thing you can do, but, um, there, I think there would still be a little skepticism just because it's March. If this was happening in September or you had the whole off season, you have training camp, you can ramp up. Totally different story. But the timing of it, it seems like it would be hard for him to get up to speed. I don't know where he's at, but that's where my first thought goes. Yeah, and that's reasonable for sure.

All right, Frankie, we'll let you get on that plane. Safe travels. We'll do it again soon. Okay, boys. I actually brought my shorts and flip-flops because I'm heading to the Hot Pocket Detroit. Oh, wow. Very Hot Pocket-y down there. Yeah, I'll be trading in the parka I'm currently wearing for the sandals and flip-flops in

a few hours. I love it. Enjoy the balmy weather down there. Say hi to everyone for us and thank you for doing this. There's Frankie Carrotto. What's the sample size of a guy? I think Timo Solani did it. Justin Williams did it. What's the sample size of a guy being dynamite and really kind of helping you out? For Taves, you mean? Listen, I think the skepticism is 100% warranted because he hasn't played in so long, but I think you balance it with You don't have to trade anything for him

And it doesn't cost you a right and he doesn't have to be your guy like you can play for and it's John I'm the tape and it's aves exactly like if he's anything close to what he was Three years ago, and he's on your fourth line costing you nothing Yeah, I gotta be thinking even if this guy's kind of bad he's cheese pretty probably a pretty damn third-line settlement that's what you're hoping for and keep in mind where did kevin chevrolet off start his managerial career he was the you know a g m in chicago system right and so he has a long history with

jonathan tapes i'd i'd i would think he has the inside track. That wouldn't surprise me. And again, I think Dregg's reported recently, I think he said on our show, it's more likely Taves would return for next season, as opposed to between now and March. But if you start ramping up and you're an athlete

and he's not a young guy, and you put in all this work, I could see him thinking, man, I got the motor rev in here. I want to play. How old would play how old would he be 36 35? Yeah, he's in his mid 30s I think he was drafted in oh Six he's 36. Yeah, so, you know not a young guy and he would understand that Jason Shredwick will join us in about 15 minutes Jason Strudwick will join us in about 15 minutes. Roleplay level of concern at 530.

Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 in on TSN 4. Jason Strudwick coming up. Roleplay level of concern. Get Struddy's take on obviously the McDavid suspension, how Edmonton played last night. I'm sure it's cold out there. I haven't checked the weather.

It's amazing the amount of people from around the country that they hear us talking about how cold it is in Toronto and southern Ontario and I'm getting it from everywhere, Twitter, Instagram, DM. It's like you're so soft, you wouldn't understand what it's like out here. I'm like dude, I get it, I understand. It's very cold in a lot of different places. Even our good friend and colleague Jesse Pollock had to chime in and say, everyone talks about how cold it is in Winnipeg.

It's minus 30 in Toronto right now. That's right. Thank you, Jesse, for that update. Thank you for stepping up. And he's right on that. I had a rude awakening on how cold it was this morning. I don't know if this applies to you guys. We get the blue box picked up every week right wednesday mornings and fifty weeks out of the fifty two in the year

this thing what comes around the corner at two p m in the afternoon so was in the afternoon it's always an afternoon pickup so last night i'm like it's too cold i'm not put the blue boxes i'll do it in the morning i had to get the kids to school come back throw it out there sure enough today i'm a very nice sevenm. The guys buzzing around the corner. I run out flip-flops. I saw that today, too I can't believe you're saying that yeah 7 a.m. This guy wheels guy chasing the guy down the street with two blue boxes

I'm like you got to get these man my garage is a disaster We got too many things going on here, And I'm having a stop and chat with the guy, the blue box guy at 7.45 in the morning in a t-shirt. I also, when we come back, Hayes at 5, I want to ask you, because you used to be a pizza expert, didn't you, when you were a monster? Okay, sure. Yeah. Well, when we come back, I want to ask about some conduct I saw with pizza that I'm just

like unnecessary. But you can fill me in. I'll give you my expertise. I have a PhD in this, evidently. Hour two coming up, Strudy will join us. Roleplay level of concern. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by FanDuel.

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