OverDrive - OverDrive - June 19, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: June 19, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Oilers' end-of-season viewpoints, Connor McDavid's comments on his future in Edmonton and his next steps... in the franchise, Matt Duchene's extension with the Stars and John Tavares' incoming contract value. Panthers Director of Player Personnel and Former NHLer Bryan McCabe joins to discuss winning the Stanley Cup, the foundation of the Panthers' roster and the celebrations for the team.

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Starting point is 00:01:08 Alright, here we go, Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker. And up on TSN4, Brian Hayes, Zodog, Jeff O'Neil, Jamie Noodles, McLennan. What's going on? What's going on? What's going on? Just another day in paradise fellas and McJesus has risen and spoken out in Edmonton. Yes he did speak and we got a couple of clips we're gonna play and everyone's got a different interpretation of what's going on out there with Connor McDavid and the Oilers and you know I
Starting point is 00:01:47 appreciated how they he said you know felt it was heartbreaking last year this year you're just you're more pissed off that you lost like that that seems reasonable you know the first time you lose you can't believe it the second time you're like I it would just be gut-wrenching. But yeah, you're talking about the contracts, and it's gotta be an awkward situation for any athlete where you just lost the biggest game of your life, and you know what's coming. The next day, two days later, three days later,
Starting point is 00:02:20 naturally the media's gotta ask, and they're gonna ask in a million different ways. Are you gonna sign? What's gonna happen? It's like the best player in the world? You know that those questions are going to be asked He knows that was coming. Of course. I mean, it's fair I mean they they didn't even what Mitch Marner at his his end Like his media after the game people were like do you feel like this is your last game is a leaf like yeah Now his is different. He played it out
Starting point is 00:02:42 This one is still got lots of time and all David's got a year left on it, but but but you're right It's fair like you're gonna ask him. How do you feel? What did you think went wrong all of that type of stuff? Oh, which where's your head at with the contract? You know what I mean? Like that's the that's the next big thing for him personally and for the empty noilers So though they've got you know, they got to deal with the roster and everybody breaks down sound bites differently and there was one word that got my attention okay do what are we which clipper you talking about are you talking about when
Starting point is 00:03:18 he he says winning is the priority cuz i have that clip and i'm i'm gonna play that clip for you and i'm gonna want to play that and then we will circle the wagons. Okay Here is Connor McDavid on his future in Edmonton and what he he Deems to be a priority moving forward This core has been together for a long time and we've been building to to this moment, you know, all along.
Starting point is 00:03:50 The work that's gone on behind the scenes, the conversations, the endless disappointments and some good times along the way, obviously, as well. Yeah, we're're holding this together trying to get it over that finish line. With that being said ultimately still need to do what's best for me and my family and you know that's who you have to take care of first, but of course there's unfinished business here. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:04:28 You know, winning would be the... It's the most important thing. If I feel that there's a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem. Okay. So this isn't TMZ. I don't want to... Noodles, don't get mad at me. But the only one thing that got my attention is that he said, if we're set up to win over and over again, which made me think he doesn't think
Starting point is 00:05:08 that that's the case right now or he would have said that. You know what I mean? Like he would have said, we're set up to win, so this shouldn't be a big deal. He was almost leaving it like, we better be set up to win come next season and years after or maybe it's an issue. That's the only thing I took from that. I don't want to. That's fair. That's not TMZ. I think that's fair. But the thing is,
Starting point is 00:05:28 is they're, you know, he said disappointment, this crew, like I think it's fair for him to take his time and see what the plan is moving forward. Like there's nothing wrong with that. No, I was joking. I'm more mad about our clip yesterday. I had people reaching out to me going, you guys are three idiots talking about a McDavid trade already and I said, of course we got we got radioed By our by people I don't know who the idiots that do the the headlines We're sad you can hypothetically but here's here would be my response to whoever those people are How about you watch the thing and then you realize that it's not about what the actual
Starting point is 00:06:07 clip is. How many people do that? Well, how about the people who do our headlines get their head out of their ass and stop radioing us? That's the problem. Or actually read the articles instead of just looking at clips and thinking the world's coming to an end. I understand that.
Starting point is 00:06:20 There's far too many people in society that don't actually read anything or watch anything. They look at a clip from somebody or a headline and then say, oh, the world's coming to an end because someone tweeted something. Actually watch it and read it and realize that we came upon that spontaneously. Some 20-year-old who writes our headlines did that to us and made us look like idiots. I don't think we look bad at all. I got another proposition on those. writes our headlines that that to us and made us look like i don't think we have that personal i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i
Starting point is 00:06:53 i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i think everything he said today was true you've got to take the time if you can assign you're going to sign an eight-year deal or four or five or whatever You got to make sure you got a your understanding What if he goes in there to sign a deal and they go that we're running the exact same team back next year And he goes hold on a second. They probably aren't gonna do that But how much can they reasonably change like that?
Starting point is 00:07:21 Like let's be honest here when you look at what's of and this applies to every team in the league let me clarify that you look at the free agents that are available there's not a lot of like groundbreaking players and transactions now trades are obviously possible but then everyone's trying to improve no one's just gonna take your four or five guys you don't want and give you stars so like I just I don't know what Stan Bowman can even say to him or Leon like let's face it, Dry Settle deserves to be in the room too to ask what's going on and how are you going to help me win? What are they going to possibly say? Like how can you possibly make make date and
Starting point is 00:08:03 again you can apply it to Toronto. Let's say Austin Matthews goes in, hey Brad, how are you going to help me out? What's he going to do? Who's he going to get? I mean, you've got to work, you've got to find pieces. It's immense pressure on the general manager. Absolutely. Because even their performance or not, it's like the general manager, if it's like on the straight up it's like well you got to perform too. I can't control how you play in these playoff
Starting point is 00:08:30 series and you're gonna come at me and say you better put the best foot forward to put the roster together. It's like help yourself. I think a lot of that is fair. Your top players do have input and they should because they are the guys that drive the bus and that's not just in Edmonton or Toronto, that's everywhere. Nathan McKinnon, we saw how that worked out. Nathan McKinnon wasn't very happy that his right hand man got dealt out of nowhere and that didn't work out well for Colorado.
Starting point is 00:09:01 I would never ever take a shot at Colorado for trying to change things and that's what I you know I've been trying to you know bang on the drum yesterday is is They've they've gotten to the final and they've reached a certain point Something has to give there with their thought process It might be simple as like we're gonna change our goaltending out or we're gonna do this We're gonna do that like that's I think Connor McDavid would want to know the plan moving forward but you know Bill Zito took a big swing but three years ago Jonathan Huber that was a president's trophy winning team that was very very good well I'm not gonna ask
Starting point is 00:09:38 you hypothetically who that would be on Edmonton because heads are gonna explode I'm not saying I'm not saying trade a big player. What I'm saying is it starts with the mentality. I'm not saying trade a big player. What I'm saying is having the stones to go, this is where we've made it so far, but it has to look differently. It might just be a goaltender. It seems that's the simplest way of doing it. I mean the goaltending, if you look at the stats, which is never 100% accurate, this is where you have to marry the two, stats and high test and context and all that kind of stuff. But if you looked at the stats of their goaltending in the playoffs the last couple of years, you would say it is an absolute miracle they were a win away a year ago and two wins away this year
Starting point is 00:10:26 You'd say that's impossible to have your starting goal. They pulled multiple times and go it's impossible and yet they were and they did and like we spent weeks talking about the Leafs where it's such a a small, you know like incremental amount of growth a small, you know, like incremental amount of growth, but it's so tough to get it because you're not going from Chicago to the cup. You're not even going from like Detroit or Montreal
Starting point is 00:10:53 to the cup. You're going from being, you know, Edmonton literally couldn't be closer. Literally could not be closer. Like they're in two straight cup finals, game seven and game six. You literally couldn't be closer. One went away and two went away.
Starting point is 00:11:04 But that's- Yes, but how do you change Like they're in two straight cup finals, game seven and game six. You literally couldn't be lesser. One win away and two wins away. Yes. But how do you change and get the fourth win? You know, it's tough. You're right. Like that's the, the margins are small, but that's, like I always say, like I don't blame somebody for trying to change a different look. Like that's, and again, they've got to figure out.on, collectively, is a management group with Conor McDavid.
Starting point is 00:11:28 Anybody who has input in that organization has to figure out. Same thing here in Toronto. We've said it right when the Leafs lost out. Damn good team. Can't get over the hump. Trying to get over the hump. That's why they kept running it back. It's like they're this close, margin of error, all of that type of stuff. It's not wrong. But, you know,
Starting point is 00:11:50 Toronto went one way. It's like, we're not changing it. We're just going to, hey, eventually, the numbers are going to do it. Like, it didn't happen. With Edmonton, they have to have a thought process too, is what are they going to do? Because there's no guarantee of health. There's no guarantee they're an older team, they gotta figure stuff out. I think you've gotta identify one or two things and go, yes, we like the framework, we know what we have here, but look different in this position, look different in that.
Starting point is 00:12:19 That's to me what they're trying to do right now. Goaltending is the most significant one, and to me, I don't know how they're trying to do right now. Yeah, goal-tending is the most significant one, and to me, I just, I don't know how they're gonna do that to appease McDavid in this case, or Dry-Cytle. Yeah, goal-tending and then everybody's numbers piling up, like somebody sent out a tweet the other day, it's like, is Edmonton now gonna be the new core four, where they've got Nurse and Bouchard,
Starting point is 00:12:42 and Dry-Cytle and McDavid, and you pile it all on top of each other, other and you're like that's a lot into four players and what do we talk about with the florida panthers depth like that have a bunch of good players making five million four million six million i don't know i don't know what the breakdown is but if you're just gonna if you're gonna have that that many guys
Starting point is 00:13:02 and everybody's a good seller i don't care if the salary cap is going up Loading up with that much money invested in those players. It really kind of takes a dent at the depth well yeah, it does you do it does but you do have to factor in the salary cap going up because Where the Leafs got jammed is a cap was flat for three or four years So those guys ate up the most amount of percentage the The cap going up does give some flexibility for another five, six, seven million dollar player. And if two years from now, if the cap is at 105, where it does, but if you're spending 50 million on four players, which is very possible that Bouchard gets 11 million, something
Starting point is 00:13:42 like that, that would make 20 million between him and Nurse. Dry Suttles gonna be at 14. We know McDavid's making 15 or 16. That's literally 50 million. And you're right, Noodle, the cap goes up, but it doesn't for the other teams who are locked in, who you're competing with. And what I mean by that is, you look at Florida,
Starting point is 00:14:00 Reinhardt's deal's done. Forestling's got seven years left on his deal. Jones has five left and Chicago is eating money. Barkov has locked it. Florida is going to look at it and be like, you're right, the cap is going up. And guess what we got? We got 12 guys making that money. You got four. And that's the issue that all these teams are going to have. And that's why, again, you look at the market. Like today, news broke this morning, Matt Duchenne has signed an extension with Dallas, four years at 4.5 million, which I think is a great deal.
Starting point is 00:14:35 Honestly, I would say for both sides, because Duchenne clearly wants to stay in Dallas. Yeah, and they probably told him, you want to kind of hit a home run here and make seven or eight or nine. Not going to happen. Do the Brad Marchand numbers thing. Yeah, and they probably told them you want to kind of hit a home run here and say seven or eight or not I do the Brad Marsh and numbers thing then it's not gonna happen here So make it make a choice. So that's a great and I know where you're heading this. Yes It's forwarded right to John Tavarez. That's our offer. That's our offer. Take it or leave it Right like that simple. I don't care about state tax either. Let me clarify that right now
Starting point is 00:15:04 Four by four point five if you don't like it. No problem. We'll move on you've got to start winning negotiations You got to start because what do Shane did there? Okay, and let me let me rephrase that maybe state tax is five million or whatever I'm saying from a leaf perspective, but do Shane clearly looked at it and said I want to stay here I got a young family that likes it here all these things We've heard from John. Yeah, I think I can win here. It's a good team. I'm a good player at a great season Just as good as John Tavares like oh basically the same season. They both came into the league at the same time He went third overall John went first very similar and
Starting point is 00:15:42 I'm sorry if he's going to take four by four point five if I'm the leaves if I'm broad tree living How could you possibly justify? Any more than that with the exception of maybe a hundred, you know 500 grand 750 It can't be seven million for four years if Matthew Shane's getting four point five Yeah, it's got it's got to be in the same neighborhood What it has to be it has to be or you're simply cutting yourself out of the knees yeah you are if you're the least you just admitting we can't we can't win negotiations are players will never take a discount
Starting point is 00:16:14 and yet the rest of the league has a massive advantage that they apply to their players in their players accepted we don't have we can't i don't think for years but you guys know what I think of this scenario. I know I understand that. The changing up the personality and I'm not gonna use we're done with the DNA word by the way we've just that's the that was the 18 wheeler like heavy for about a month here so that's over with the DNA just why is it four years? I don't know. I think what you're trying to do is keep that number down.
Starting point is 00:16:48 Like you're seeing managers... Maybe, Jamie. I get it, but we're just talking about every dollar being so important. So when you're constructing your team and going, okay, I'm just going to look at this next year in a vacuum. If I can get my 2-slash-3 centerman or or left winger depending on where these guys are going to play with something with a 4 in it or maybe a low 5, that looks a lot different. Yes, you might have to kick the can down the road.
Starting point is 00:17:14 You did it with Tanev. You've done it with who else got the long term deals. We were talking about it with Frederick. You're seeing i think term is the currency right now with some of the players that are on the look at it let me tell you how i look at it what did you guy how would you characterize john to borrow his play
Starting point is 00:17:35 and the series against the florida panthers a lot like the rest of them invisible i'm not sorry about the rest of them I want to focus on him individually. Okay, yeah he blended into the series. He didn't make an impact on the series. So if the Florida Panthers aren't going anywhere to your point Hayes, how they've got all these guys locked up and that's the bar and you're looking to get over the hump and topple over them, why is it a priority for a guy that blended into a series if you're looking to get over the top is it just cuz you need a guy is like is that what we're well that that would be my assumption i mean listen they they respect john i
Starting point is 00:18:12 like john john's a good player like it's not a lot of respected years in the league but they're just not handed contract i had to not respected i totally agree with you and i i would guess yeah i don't know this but my assumption would be there's a fear can replace them now i'd i don't think that's my assumption would be there's a fear can replace it that now i'd i don't think that's a smart way of managing if you're managing out of fear your you're probably losing before you start quite frankly
Starting point is 00:18:33 if you're if you're move is why just gotta do this because what else am i going to do then you're it's probably going to be malpractice it's probably not going to start like uh... and that's where again with john what's a little bit different again it's kind of similar to dishing a little to be even more extreme because this is a small town and he's been here longer
Starting point is 00:18:53 frederick has no allegiance to edmonton to the american kid i got traded there you know he's he's probably like i mean you have to get a pay me to stick around like this is the way it works that's fair you know john again and it's easy for us to say, but if I'm the Leafs, I'm playing the role of the Maple Leafs, I think you have to put pressure on him. And we've said this for a month and a half, but you got to, John, you got to prove how badly
Starting point is 00:19:16 you want to win and be a Leaf. If you really want to win and be a Leaf, you can't make six million a year that can't be the cap it it's got like and literally it's matt du shane he wants to stay he'd be wants to be in a good spot he wants to win ensure the state tax stuff i get it maybe that again maybe a tack on five hundred grand a year it can't be three million more it can't be
Starting point is 00:19:41 while the player needs the money then he doesn't he doesn't get go post Amcos I told you they gave him 80 million dollars already. Yes, and listen He deserved it as a free agent and I signed it to us like it wasn't charity The least but the return was to playoff series with us. So why is there more of a reward here? Why are we circling back? And that's what's more extreme even about the stamp goes lesson He gave them two cups face of the franchise for like 11 12 13 years and they said Matt Duchenne going in a different Well, yeah, they probably said Matthew Shane deal and he's like no way. I'm out of here. That's alright
Starting point is 00:20:15 So you're like in the end? Yes moving on but we actually started the show just like this though You got management that was, you just pointed out Tampa, willing to be hardline and go, we're gonna move past our captain face of the franchise. Here, it's been different. It's like been core four, core four, core four. Now this seems like the first year that that's not gonna be the case.
Starting point is 00:20:41 Mitch Marner is forcing that issue, but you do have options of how you want your team to be constructed if you're Brad Tree Living. Because right now, technically, if he lets this walk to July 1st, he's got $11 million extra in his checkbook on John Tavares' contract. And Mitch Marner's will call it $11,000, too2. So like Brad Tree Living has an opportunity to really reconstruct this roster if he wants and if he deems. Now he might deem John Tavares' value at 5 million. That's a hell of a bargain and we like him and we know him and we think with the other players were coming in he would be fine with the again that word you don't want us to say but that's the of the group so you know in the end like there is flexibility here
Starting point is 00:21:30 that's and a lot of it Hayes what you're saying Brad tree-living owns the flexibility right now it's not John Tavares if he wants to play here it's what tree puts in front of him puts it in office yeah that's kind of what you're saying I do wonder I'd like to be a fly on the wall on this to shane dealing even how how it affects the conversations you know because both parties have been talking you know it's been well reported that john of the leaves and you know it's been last six weeks it's been like what's could happen any
Starting point is 00:21:59 day now it never happens and i'm curious if there was a deal close and this has some effect on it one way or the other. All right, we got Brian McCabe coming up. Caper is back on the program. God, for a guy in management, he couldn't have gotten closer to the front of the picture. He was right in the middle. First time, the first thing we got to ask him her like what a creep isoid move to get that far He basically was one of the players holding the cup on the bottom I think he was blocking Bobrovsky out of the picture. He was blocking guys an idiot. I love it
Starting point is 00:22:35 He's listening to time cup cup winner, man He's gonna have his day with a cup again We got to ask him like when you had your day with a cup was Prichard you're offering him drinks is he like what's the story what happens here so we're gonna know if Richard commented on the capers bald spot that's what I want to ask well I think he's facetiming it so we're gonna meet in front and center I think his salad is glory I didn't see it ask I thought he looked great I don't think it's unprofessional to say, ass, can you turn around and show us your bald spot?
Starting point is 00:23:07 Well, this is the thing. We got to be careful here. This is a two-time cup champion. Yes, he's a dear friend of ours, but we need to show him respect. You can't... He deserves it. First of all, remember, is it ass face or ugly face? Ugly.
Starting point is 00:23:20 We'll go ugly. We'll go ugly. Okay, but it's still... We cannot joke on the going to don't you dare fontan is ugly fat the end i'm gonna say ugly can you show us your your small spot i hope he's where his copper is what he should be wearing right uh... he's he'd be bracing for a second one
Starting point is 00:23:39 uh... so capers coming up they got to a craig on the show today tracking the j's we're game six of the NBA Finals tonight, Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Right now, Bell Blue Dot Days are on. That means the offers are amazing at Bell. And these aren't just any Blue Dot Days, they're the first, the premiere, the debut,
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Starting point is 00:24:16 Bell, getting a new phone just got better. All right, Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line of the finals score. We've got Craig Button coming up in just over half an hour. We've got game six of the NBA Finals tonight, our best bet's on that. Your boy Rory McIlroy with a pretty decent first round. Wow.
Starting point is 00:24:36 Dan at the Travelers, everything's all good. My guy Jordano Spieth though, he was... now he's got a back problem and it's a mess, like... That's it. That's it for you, You're not doing this anymore If I take Jordano's speed again, you have to say actually no, you're not and I'm selecting a guy for you Okay, I'll cut you off. I'll cut you off. Yeah noodles and all you have to step in and pick a guy I don't care. But if I say Jordano's speed, it's not it's not a real pick. Okay. Doesn't count anymore. No.
Starting point is 00:25:06 It comes to an end and we'll pick somebody else. All right. Brian McCable will join us here in a moment. And I was talking to someone about the elbow room today and the amount of free press that they have got in the last two years. Where everything's elbow room. Are there any other bars in Fort Lauderdale and Miami-Arna?
Starting point is 00:25:28 There are, but it's just. Zillions. I mean, you go back. I was there in 06. That was the place we went as players. That's been the hockey bar since hockey got down there. I don't know why that is, how it happened, who was the original guy that started hammering beers
Starting point is 00:25:43 in there in the afternoon. Yeah. But, Hayes, you were down there. Oh, yeah. You know what's amazing? The draft. Yeah, the draft. Every hockey person went there at night.
Starting point is 00:25:52 Of all the nice places in Lauderdale, everyone went there. Do you remember whose draft it was that we were down there for? Mitch Marner, McDavid. Connor McDavid. That's how it came up this morning. I'm like, you know what? I was in that building when he got drafted and he's been in there twice to watch the opponent skate around the ice with a Stanley Cup.
Starting point is 00:26:08 Kind of crazy. What a building for his memory. Yeah. What a wild building in his history. That's right. Like you think about that. I forgot. Like, yeah, we were there.
Starting point is 00:26:17 I mean, the proximity of that bar is just perfect, right? It's, you know, right on the corner, right on the beach the beach like every but it's just gritty and it great it gets great Gets great pub because everybody goes there in the league used to go there as players, but yeah 97 man he's had man Great moments there to get drafted first overall and then now since coming back and I think even regular season There's a stat where they haven't gone in there and won like it's been a house of horrors for the the Oilers Yeah, it does propose like an interesting question next year like that. It'll be a build-up when they play They only play each other twice, but yeah, you know
Starting point is 00:26:59 It's a it definitely is gonna have a different feel this time around for McDavid and the Oilers. Yeah But yeah, the elbow room man. That's where the players are. They've been there the whole time I don't know if the staff is kicking around like to the players allow I bet you like a caver You can around there. He's probably in there in a pair of khakis and a tight Tight polo shirt can't keep all Here he is two time Stanley Cup winner with the Florida Panthers, Brian McCabe. Yes, Caver, how you doing buddy?
Starting point is 00:27:31 The boys, the band's back together. It's been a minute, fellas. Great to see you. Now that you won back to back cups, we're allowed to talk to you, Caver, we love it. We wanna ask you first, we wanna ask you first off, were you contemplating getting on the ice front row in the pick because you were in tight? Oh, well last year I made the corner of the book there, right on the edge where the last
Starting point is 00:27:59 part of the pitcher was just my face, so I had to kind of squeeze in a little closer and get this big fat head in there this year. I love it man. It's got to be incredible. What has your last 48, 72 hours been like? How much can you remember? How many people are asking you what it's like down there? What has life been like for you the last couple of days?
Starting point is 00:28:19 It's been crazy, a little surreal. It still hasn't sunk in. I honestly cannot believe we just went back to back. All know, all the credit goes to this group of guys, man. What a team and I was a different feeling this year. You know, last last year we're on the edge of our seat to one game game seven, they're all over us, the goalies pulled so it was different emotions, anxiety and stuff. And this year, man, the boys just you know dominated like it was like they just freaking willed their way to this thing the last two games and it was obviously special um had my whole family here this time which means a lot had my mom or brother fly down all my kids and wife
Starting point is 00:29:01 were here this year so it was nice to be able to enjoy with them this time around So Kaber you just said the domination especially games five and six where you really took control was there a point where? Maybe anywhere through the playoffs that you you had a little bit of doubt We were like god I don't know if it's all gonna come together even maybe near the end of the season where you guys were resting and had some Players that you know you had to move around and all that type of stuff was there any doubt at any point until obviously everything came together against Edmonton? I was nervous the whole time because obviously you guys know it's worse sitting up in a frickin press box than it is being on the ice so I'd say there was some
Starting point is 00:29:44 definitely anxious nerves after the Leafs came in here and beat us in game six. I didn't know what was going to happen going back there. Obviously, they have a good team too. But like I said, our team, man, they just go about their business. They figured it out. They know how to win. They're well coached and they obviously love each other. This has been such a special team to be a part of the last few years ugly when you say they know how to win can you explain to a viewer somebody driving around what that means
Starting point is 00:30:15 like what does that mean to a guy that this place purely i'll tell you what like memory here we want the president's trophy and then lost? We were winning games like six, four and seven, five and you know, you can win games like that in a regular season, but we didn't know how to win in the playoffs because you can't go out score teams in the playoffs. It's just muck it up and do what you do.
Starting point is 00:30:40 And you know, I've just felt like since the last, I guess, probably three years like that, they've known how to buckle down and we can win games any which way you got to win them, you know, close games, tight checking games, physical, you want us to score goals, the guys can do that too. So I just think that they have just turned a page and they just know how to do it against different types of opponents and it's just like old hats to them now. It's really awesome to watch and be a part of. With Brian McCabe and you're in player development, so I guess a primary role for you is to try to find those characteristics in players.
Starting point is 00:31:20 Now that you've seen it twice with your own team, how does that apply to younger players coming out? You have that Charlotte team that's been unbelievable too. Is there a characteristic you feel like you've found as an organization that has helped you here? Because there's a lot of talented players in the world, but you guys have winners, talent with the winning pedigree. How have you managed to find that ingredient in so many players?
Starting point is 00:31:49 Well, I just think from the top down, it's just a trickle down effect. And, you know, I give Jordy and his staff in Charlotte a lot of credit for basically playing the same way that the Panthers play. It's like we don't really have one genuine superstar in Charlotte, and we're playing for the Calder Cup right now. And they've done that from sheer will and structure and just outworking teams and grinding teams down in series just like our teams done here. And it's been a lot of fun to be a part of. I couldn't be happier for that team in Charlotte. That staff there worked so hard. And as you guys know, we haven't had a ton of draft picks over the past few years trying to build this team up and they've had to sign college free agents and develop
Starting point is 00:32:31 guys and they've done a fabulous job and we're in the mix to hopefully win another championship big game tonight in Abbotsford so hopefully they can tie that thing up too too. With Brian McCabe, you look at what the panthers did the superstars throughout this run like completely neutralize kucherov in the first round point the first round matthews and marner in many ways in the second round all home the third and then mcdavid and dry subtle games three five and six you know effectively were kind of blending into the series uh... like how how kind of blending into the series. Like how impressive is that to watch it live and to know like what's going on with the
Starting point is 00:33:09 secret sauce behind the scenes to prepare for it. But like beating McDavid in dry subtle back to back cup finals. Like how is that even possible? It's a total group effort and I know a bunch of the guys spoke on this during the interviews the other night but the depth that we have in this team and organization is and everyone playing the same way and there's no drop-off and no one cares about accolades or points and stuffs they're all in for one goal and it just shows like the way they played and just shut the best players in the world down as a group. It was really, really special to watch.
Starting point is 00:33:53 Kaber, you've, you know, you're in that managed group with Billy Zito. You know, you got, as you mentioned, you win the president's trophy, but you didn't get to the, you know, you didn't get to win that year and you have it's a build. But Billy Zito has been a guy who's been not shy to be proactive and think outside the box and take big swings. I mean, you feel like that's a recipe as well to, you know, to not just safe as death type of thing. Like he's made some big trades that have been organizationally changing. And even you add at the deadline this year, you gotta bring in a guy like Marshand, who was a difference maker.
Starting point is 00:34:28 Do you feel like Billy's found an aggressiveness to him that pays off? Yeah, like 100%, he deserves a ton of credit here. He showed some serious balls in some of the trades that he's made, like the two truck trade, obviously started this whole thing bringing him in and then you know we got freaking Jonesy we got Rhino we got Marshy at the deadline like those are some of those trades weren't easy to make like you're getting rid of a lot of really
Starting point is 00:34:56 good players or draft picks and stuff and it it takes some go hunters to to like put it out there and actually go through with it. We can talk all we want in the rooms about it, but he's the face of the franchise and at the end of the day it's his call. He's put a lot of these pieces in place to make us successful. As you've seen, the proof's in the pudding. Everyone's clicked and gelled together. I think Marshy was just the icing on the cake. I think everyone agrees like he fits the way we play like it was like a
Starting point is 00:35:29 seamless transit. I don't think there was any better fit in the history of the world than him coming to our club and the way he embraced and our guys embraced him I think it just you know it was spectacular. You mentioned started with Kachuk like what what about him coming to Florida other than his hockey skillset was so important in the development of the team? The biggest thing for me, like as you know, there's a lot of different, hockey players a little different nowadays and stuff. First thing Chuckie did when he got down here was took the whole training and equipment
Starting point is 00:36:05 stuff out for a big dinner and night out. Old school style like we grew up doing. He was brought up like that, you know, big wall and did a great job with those boys and I think he just brought that energy and that old school mentality and you treat everyone, especially those guys, you know, the heart and soul of every team, the trainers and the guys that are hanging bags at five in the morning.
Starting point is 00:36:30 I think it started with him just bringing that group together. And I think it took a little pressure off of Barky. You know, Barky's a quiet guy, but he shows up every night and leads by example. And I just think that their personalities meshed well together. And the other group just jumped right on their
Starting point is 00:36:45 backs and just kept going from there. With Brian McKay, we were talking about the elbow room prior to you coming on. What's the rules, regulations with management in the elbow room when the players are there partying? Were you jumping in on that or what's the deal? Well, as much as God knows, you guys know I'd love to be there. I kind of feel that it's the players' time. They did the work.
Starting point is 00:37:07 They went through the grind. Yeah, we're a small little piece of that, but we got to enjoy it, obviously, the night out with the group. Let them go crush the elbow room. They deserve everything the next couple weeks. Let them have their fun. I'm sure we'll have some staff fun here on the sides, but you know, I couldn't be happier for him I love the fact that they were there at 9 in the morning and they're doing it up right they deserve it
Starting point is 00:37:29 Yeah, absolutely and we always talk about You know days with the cup and I know you had one last year and you'll have one again this year What does it deal with like the Philip Pritchard or the keeper of the cup while you're having your day? Are they involved? Are you offering them drinks? What comes with the cup when it shows up for your day with the cup? Oh my God, those guys are unbelievable. You think looking at it looks like a great job to have, but when you've been to a couple
Starting point is 00:37:59 of these cup parties, it's a tough job, man, dealing with a bunch of hooligan friends from Canada. parties. It's a tough job, man, dealing with a bunch of hooligan friends from Canada that, you know, like, it's basically they're babysitting every day. But those guys are unbelievable. I had Mario and Glenn for my cup day and Mario made himself breakfast and cooked a family breakfast and they hung out with us all day. They are unbelievable guys, that whole staff, the keepers of the cup. Just to be a part of having those guys around. That cup day was really special. I went, I think I had 200 and some people.
Starting point is 00:38:35 I didn't leave any stone unturned because it took 50 years to get here. We did it up right. It was certainly special. Those guys are the best, man. Honestly those guys guys they go through a lot naked to see a lot but uh... they're the salt of the earth crew and i can't wait to see them all again uh... he said your brother was
Starting point is 00:38:55 at the celebration who has possibly the best nickname in the n a chile how did this snake enjoyed the cup snake snake enjoy it it was nice to have me here this year like last year was kind of a gong show with i had in their game for we got pumped eight to one and then unfortunately june in the process of the couple final lost my father-in-law before game six so
Starting point is 00:39:20 there was all that to deal with the funeral and stuff so none of my family could be here so it was special have snake and bar, a funeral and stuff, so none of my family could be here. It was special to have Snake and Barb, my wife and kids here, and he was on the ice and got to have some fun with all the festivities. We actually had a laugh. We had dinner last night with my mom and brother, Noodles. To this point, we were talking about this because I said I may go on with you guys tomorrow. The most my brother has ever laughed in his life, we're at STEMP week one here and Noodles went on the dance
Starting point is 00:39:50 floor and pretended he had a club foot and I've never seen my brother laugh so hard. I think he almost peed his pants and we were sitting at dinner last night and he was laughing his head off again giggling and I said I'd give him a shout out today. But Noodles, I'm sure you remember that night. I do remember something like that. It wasn't late night. It was something like Stampede night. I know those types of stories.
Starting point is 00:40:16 Stampede, I've gone every year since I was 16, so we've done some things there. We talked about even Jason Strudwick dancing on the dance floor. Yes, we've all had our moments on the dance floor at Stampede. As you should. Oh, no, I haven't seen you guys in a while, oh dog. I got to say something sincere, buddy. You look fabulous. Like, you look unbelievable.
Starting point is 00:40:38 Like playing weight, oh dog. So cheers to you, buddy. I've never seen you look so good. Can you do me a favor for like just what I've done in the gym? Can you show the boys your salad like did you go full mess? Hey, I'm riding this till she bucks I'm going 90s Messier we just went back to back Hey if it ain't broken, don't fix it. I'm going to ride this wind wheel right until she stops working, boys.
Starting point is 00:41:10 As you should, man. That's a salad that's won two cups, Kaber. Do I get the leather straps on the hat now or no? Should I get the old wind wheel leather straps? Cone it in a circle. Just comb it in a circle. It'll work. It'll all blend together.
Starting point is 00:41:24 It'll be perfect. It'll all blend together I love it. Odung's getting younger better looking and thinner I'm just kidding I just turned 50 balder fatter just I'm going the opposite direction. It's all good. You're the best pal thanks for doing this. You look like a winner. His teeth look great too. Your teeth look great. They look phenomenal. Yeah they're phenomenal yellow anymore and they look awesome there are beautiful now you guys are the best for us great catching up with you care for congrats man thank you for doing this our boys thanks chairs you got it there is prime k
Starting point is 00:41:58 uh... mister government is we have some of the funniest chapter ever have around the draft with caper back in the day. I'll never forget you guys met him for a beer one night. I don't know what they were. And you guys came before we had to work the next day and you were both crying and laughing at the stories that you guys were telling. And you said that guy's so funny. Oh, it was so good. Remember how happy he was? He showed up to meet you and me, Brian, and he was wearing khakis and it looked like he had padded underwear on he was just jammed into these pants And he had a tight tuck with the Panthers golf shirt on yeah
Starting point is 00:42:33 He looked like a free Panthers golf shirt and he came in motoring like James Brown I just was on fire immediately. It was the best what a night. Yeah, it was the best man. And that was uh, that would have been a great party and he's gonna have another one I guess this year. Like that's the beauty of it right? One that dust settles and you see they did some damage to the Stanley Cup too. Like there were there were some chips taken. I like that though. I know but I my mom calls me and she's first thing I don't even say hello she's like do you see they broke the cup? I'm like it happens every year mom But these guys are animals
Starting point is 00:43:09 So I honestly think that when Prichard comes down on a different flight later that day There's two other replicas that follow it around for the case something like this. You're probably right It could be because they're like we're not wheeling this thing around and it's gonna come back to Toronto cut in half It like that original if that was the original and who knows do you think the players are looking? Because they're like, we're not wheeling this thing around, and it's going to come back to Toronto cut in half. Like that original, if that was the original. And who knows? Do you think the players are looking? Because I was at an event one time where it's not like, you do these things with a Stanley
Starting point is 00:43:34 Cup there. It's not the original Stanley Cup. There's replicas. Like there's other ones floating around. So who knows how they handle that. But I'm sure when they see that damage,'re like, okay guys the replica is out now Have fun with that one exactly like the the most famous one. I think was the dallas stars one where they were at vinnie pantera's house and you know the
Starting point is 00:43:55 And somebody threw it from the second window Tried to throw it in the pool and it missed the pool it falls short So it bounced and then went in the pool and that missed the pool. It falls short so it bounced and then went in the pool. And that rattled a few people. I have a few buddies that were at that party and said that was insane. That one would look and feel kind of bad. That would give a horse eye from Philly Pritch. Yeah, that one might snap someone out of a stupor and say that's enough. But the whole
Starting point is 00:44:20 thing is, guys in their 20s and 30s who are drinking non-stop for 48 hours What do you think is gonna happen? You can hand them anything a water bottle you can hand them It doesn't matter what you hand them. It's not gonna survive keep in mind in the 80s There was no Phil Pritchard like a grand fear and messy those guys have told me stories of what they used to do Messy it was famous because he's from St. Albert where I went. There was a strip club called the Brewin Inn downtown St. Albert. The Brewin Inn, the cup would be at the Brewin Inn. They'd leave it there. Like that would be amazing. We're all leaving and everyone's you know black out at that. No one even takes the cup. It's just sitting there
Starting point is 00:45:01 at a peeler in St. Albert, Alberta. Yes, like that type of stuff is only imaginable. There's a reason why it has a chaperone and I think it was those 80s oilers that did that. Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised at all. That would be a great, maybe one of the all-time great, you know, you give me a documentary where you show me the greatest, you know, weak run with the cup, you know, like whatever it is, whichever team it is, and, you know, 30 for 30 where you're going to break it down from like five to one or 10 to one. And, you know, because it could be any, like, it may surprise you. It was actually the 1964 Detroit Red Wings. You wouldn't believe what these guys did or you know whatever it might be but uh... right craig button in about fifteen minutes were tracking the j's we have bobby marks coming up later this afternoon on the lakers uh... ownership change the amount of money that is going into the lakers
Starting point is 00:45:56 it will be a game six of the nba finals as well overdrive continues to use that that fifty and on t s at four this is fred hey how's it going Fred. Hey, how's it going? This is fraud. Hey, how's it going? Can you tell the difference? Bell can. We'll identify unwanted calls and help block them. For more information, visit bell.ca slash call detection. Bell, peace of mind, just got better.
Starting point is 00:46:17 This is Pam. Congratulations. This is Spam. Congratulations. Can you tell the difference? Bell can. We'll identify unwanted calls and help block them. For more information, visit bell.ca slash call detection. Bell. Peace of mind. Just got better.
Starting point is 00:46:32 Alright, Craig Button coming up. Best bet still to come as well. TSN 1050 wants to give you the ultimate iHeartRadio experience this summer at Oceaga Music and Arts Festival in Montreal. Just listen to TSN 1050 on the free iHeartRadio app for 10 minutes every day. Click enter when prompted and you're in the draw. You'll see Olivia Rodrigo, The Killers, Gracie Abrams and more. The Gold Weekend Passes Plus will hook you up with travel
Starting point is 00:46:57 thanks to tripcentral.ca, a four-night stay at Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain, and $500 spending money. Listen, every day for more chances to win. It was great catching up with Brian McCabe. He's obviously a happy guy, as he should be. It's amazing the juxtaposition between watching Panthers people speak and do stuff and watching the
Starting point is 00:47:25 Oilers today, you know, it's just like it's so demoralizing. You're that close twice. Yeah. Like it just... He talked about even as an executive, like there's no like comfortable moments. Like when that was four-nothing, you want it five and you want it six and you're like make this over. Interestingly too, he said after the Leafs went in their game six and played the way they played and that's again We don't have to keep digging that up, but that's the crazy thing They played so poorly game five and then game six they were outstanding in Florida. Yes completely shut them down Completely pushed them out of the game
Starting point is 00:47:59 Matthew shows up big Marner shows up big and I felt the same way. I'm like, you know what? They're ready to play Game 7, and we all know what happened. Hour two coming up, Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. You bring the vibe, we bring the experience. to the final score. Marriott Chateau Champlain and $500 spending cash. You are so loud! Just listen to iHeart new music on the iHeart Radio app
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