OverDrive - OverDrive - June 26, 2026 - Hour 2 - Craig Button

Episode Date: June 26, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button joins to discuss the NHL Entry Draft, Gavin McKenna's career trajectory and Connor McDavid's future in his career. They also dive into the Blue Jays' search for consistency, the Travelers Championship and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

Catch everything soccer with Bell's game time bundle. Get 5 TV with TSN plus 5150 internet, all for $99 a month. Price guaranteed for two years with a two-year internet and TV term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Hour 2 overdrive continues, powered by Fanduel. Bring any more ways to play your game, your way. Leaves with the first pick tonight, the NHL draft.

Ten years after they took Austin Matthews, years. It's been 41 years since they took Wendell. Wendell Clark, and man, Wendell looked perfect draft night. He had the stash and a little mulee going, A-suit. Wendell's gone along. You can't remember many years seeing Wendell without a stash. I've never seen him with anything but a stash.

Check to see if he had one on the island. I played with him in the island. I'd be shocked if he did noodles. I don't know. I can't remember. I just remember Mike Milberry. And he had full handlebar. Mike Milbury annoyed him to the point where I think Wendell just was like you say another

word, I'm going to rip your face right off. Honest to God, like I loved Wendell. How do you annoy Wendell Clark, though? Don't you just say that guy comes to play every night? He hits, he works. That's one guy I'm not bothering. Well, Milbury was. going around the room bothering everybody.

And I can't remember how it went down, but he said he annoyed, he annoyed Wendell. And I don't think Milbury expected Wendell's response. Let me guess what happened. Milbury stopped bothering Wendell? Yes, exactly. Those are always the best interactions. Some guy thinks he's got the upper hand. And then Wendell says, actually, you don't.

He's like, okay, good point. Great stuff. that's not going to happen on my watch. Yeah. All of a sudden, it comes to an end very quickly. Probably a smart play. So, Doug, you just put a picture in there in our group chat there that Wendell did have a glorious staff. Yeah, absolutely. He also had that.

He was on the captain Highliner team with me. That's right. Well, he'd grow the beard out in the playoffs. Like, Wendell in 93-94 was so phenomenal. It was so good. Like, he scored every night, and he hit every day. and he hit everyone, he fought all the time. And his shot was like it was in its prime.

He had mastered that little, he had this little kind of half-snapper. It wasn't even like a wrist shot. It was just, and every kid in school was like, that guy has the hardest wrist shot that's ever played hockey in the world. It was legendary, man. Well, it was 93 when he knocked Kujo's helmet off, right? not St. Louis series. Yeah, that was wild because Kujo was shook, man.

He was like, get me out of here. He went for the skate, and I think he had a teammate come over and try to console him or see if he was okay, and he's like, get away from me. And the game was out of hand at that point, too. I think they were up like four or five nothing when Wendell hit him in the head. You know what? Just for fun, maybe at the end of the show, let's play the Bruce Bell hit. You know, like just a couple of Wendell.

I was St. Louis, too, noodles. Man, he loved playing St. Louis. Like, Wendell loved playing St. tormented them. But, yeah, that hit is still, like, I don't know. Vegas hit of all. Oh, no, this, okay. This is a slap shot the head.

Look at. I don't know why I'm laughing. No, I know. But look at this. He's like, are you okay? And look at Kudjo's like, get away from me. I'm fine. But he was like shook, man.

That would rattle your cage. If you get, of course. Basically, your head taken off. And it was 5-0. It rips one off the goalie. Five nothing. He hits him in the head. Anyway.

Yeah, so Wendell, Austin Matthews, and then we assume it'll be Gavin McKenna tonight. And, you know, if it's not. There's your charities on that. Like, are you 99? I'm 99% sure it's Gavin McKenna. I am. But I'm going to say 99, too. I can't say 100.

I can't say 100. Like John Chica, you know, when he hired Jim Hiller, I didn't see that one coming. I didn't see that coming. I didn't see them acquiring radish the way. they did. This would be much more extreme because it's the draft and there's generally consensus on who the first pick is. Now this is not

the equivalent of a McDavid or Crosby draft where even Matthews, there was some you know, possibility that line A would maybe be the guy, but by draft night I think we all knew they were taking Austin. I kind of feel like this similar thing plays out here that

you know, maybe it's Stanberg, maybe it's Mahalach or maybe it's Reed, But in the end, they just take McKenna, and they say there was never any debating it. He's been our guy the whole time. We believe in him. But we're going to find out in a few hours. And the draft is always fun because, you know, once you get through the first couple of picks, it can go anywhere. Do you think we're going to hear Gary Batman say we've got a trade to announce?

I think we're getting it once. You think we're getting that once where we're going to get, you know, you're going to want to hear this? Yeah, for sure. We've got a trade to announce. Someone's moving up or down or something. Now, will it be more extreme than that? I'm not sure. I wouldn't be surprised if Batman stepped up and said that tonight.

I wouldn't be surprised at all. But I think, you know, picks, even if it's like pick 22 is moving back. Yeah, that's, I get that. I'm talking like right off the hot. Like more extreme, like the fourth pick overall has been traded or something like that. Exactly. The Leafs pick McKenna and, you know, whatever happens. and then all of a sudden the third or fourth pick, Buffalo trade to announce. Well, listen, big night for Canadian teams, right?

Toronto at one, Vancouver at three, Calgary at six. You got Winnipeg in the top ten. Like those are four, there's a lot of conversation. Like, what's going to happen with the American players? What's going to happen with the players who are still here? Do they want to be here anymore? They're going to want to move on. But it seems like big stuff only happens in the top five picks.

Like after that, it's pretty much business as usual. I mean, you can't get a team that likes a guy and trades up or down later in the first round, but it seems like only big stuff possibly happens in, like, the top 10. I hear you. What I'm saying is those teams, like, it goes without saying you've got to hit on these picks. Like, if you got a top 10 pick, you've got to find a player here that is going to be an impact guy for you in the future. And I think it's, you know, more important than ever with expansion coming, if you're a Canadian team and you've got the uncertainty of who's on a trade list,

who isn't American players playing. You've got to get it right, man. You go through any, Craig will tell you better than anyone. You go through drafts of years past, even top tens, and you're like, man, how'd they take that guy over that guy? Or what were they doing thinking about taking that guy? We do it all the time. We go by Brian, you've got such a great memory, but we do this all the time where you go back.

What about that 2016 draft? and it's like, oh, the Leafs took Tyler Biggs or whatever that guy's name was. All the time. Hockey News can't even find these guys. You know, it's crazy. Mailed in Friday, brought you by Boston Pizza. Canada's favorite sports bar, enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree of side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less.

So fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch of your local Boston pizza. Craig Button is not mailing it in. This is go time. He's putting in a lot of work leading up to tonight. The draft is here, and there's our main man, Craig. studio. How you doing, Craig? I'm doing good. See the headphones I put on? I like those. They're like

yours. I don't want to mess up my quaff. That's it, right? You've got to be thinking about that. Vanity's okay every once in a while when we're in TV. Vanity's part of who I am. That's right. Exactly. It's a very quality piece of the characteristics that you bring to the table here.

We saw you on Jay last night, and a lot of people have been asking a lot of people. What is Craig insinuating? What is he insinuating? What is he insinuating? There's the word I'm looking for. He's going for the headlines. That's what he's going for. What is he got?

What do we got? McKenna to the Leafs, not McKenna. Where do you stand on this? Oh, that's straight clickbait. Okay. Well, it works. Right? Like, you know, the analytics, as Jeff knows, like, are really good with clickbait.

Yes, sir. Yes, I'm aware of it. Here's what I said. Were you surprised when John Chaker got named manager? Mm-hmm. Were you surprised when Jim Hillary got named manager? Yes, I was. Why wouldn't you be surprised if Gavin McKenna's name isn't the one that comes out of

the announcement of Pick First overall. That's fair. That's been a consistent theme. And the margins between the players are razor thin. See, that's what's important. And you can expand on that. Like this is not, this isn't McDavid, this isn't Crosby. Not Maclin-Cellebrini, Matthew Schaefer,

where the jersey's already done, the name plates on the back, you know, Maclin-Colabrini, 71. And that's based on what you project their careers to be, obviously, not just who they are today and right now. Exactly. I mean, that's where you're at. And to Jeff's point and Jamie's point earlier, you know, when we look back, we're going to say, okay, who hit? You know, I get this question, Jamie and Jeff often. They go, what kind of draft is this?

Is this a good draft? Is this a bad draft? So let me give you a little data that this is a data-centric show. Always has been. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL with varying degrees of success. 350 games, that's just over four seasons. That's the numbers. Seven or eight of the players drafted in the first round will not have a career.

Those are the numbers. You know how a draft is? If you hit on your players, you had a good draft. If you didn't hit on your players, you didn't have a good draft. Right. And whether you're picking in the top five, the top 15, we know there's going to be players come out of the third, fourth, fifth round that are going to end up being really good.

And we're going to say, how did they last that long? Right. Lane Hudson went 62. How do you last? I can tell you why he lasted. He was 5'9, 142 pounds. That's why he lasted that long. The people watch. But that's what goes on in the draft.

This year's draft, whether it be McKenna, whether it be Stenberg, Karls, Chase Reed, Vigo Bior, Caleb Malhotra, it's razor thin. Verhoff. It wouldn't surprise me.

Veerhoff is in the top two or top three. It just wouldn't. Do you have a feeling for who you think will have the best career? Who do you think is the best player, I guess, Well, I think at this point in time it's McKenna. Yeah. But, I mean, but again, I allow for the fact that other players could end up, I shouldn't

say surprise you. I said this about the 2020 draft. I said it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Tim Stutzel ended up being the best player in the draft. At the time, I thought that LaFranier and Bifield were one, two, and Stutzel was three. Well, who's the best player in the draft? It's either him or Jake Sanderson. Yeah.

Well, three and five. and so I've allowed that Chase Reed it wouldn't surprise me one bit of Chase Reed turns out to be the best player in this draft Interesting that's Craig I wanted to ask you like Was Slavkowski a little bit of a surprise Like you know when

What was the Shane Wright draft? That was 22 Yeah, that was 22 Like that you know was that one You know like everybody kind of thought Wright was going to be the guy and then you know Maybe I'm wrong that was maybe just the consensus outside, like in the media and all that,

is that the same type of scenario here that could happen tonight? Yeah, it could very well. And that's why I say, I'm not saying don't be surprised. I'm saying I wouldn't be surprised. So it's not about any information I have. I lay it out just on some different, the players, you know, just how Toronto's operated. If it was me, I'm taking McKenna. Oh, you would take McKenna.

Oh, yeah. Just to be clear, I would take McKenna. I think he's the right fit for the Leafs where they're at right now. I think he gives Matthews what he needs. But back to your question, Jamie, I think this Slavkoski had really gained up. And it was one of those – and I don't think any players like that in this year's draft, where it was kind of – oh, Shane Wright's the number one guy. Shane writes the number one guy until the Montreal Cade and said, maybe for somebody else, but not for us.

Simon Nemitz went two, Cooley went three. Cutter Gochay went five. Yeah. There's a pretty good example. You know, we saw that Shane Wright went forth. Jason Robertson just turned down $15 million a year for eight seasons there. Maybe they should have drafted Cutter-Goce. Good point.

Yeah. Yeah, no kidding. Craig, what kind of preparation is a general manager I have to go through for tonight? Like everyone, it's different now with all these people on Twitter coming up with crazy scenarios. but if you're the actual GM of a team, like how prepared are you for madness or is it pretty straightforward where there's only a couple situations

where a crazy scenario would present itself? You're prepared for the scenarios that you've been discussing for whether it be days, whether it be weeks, and you have your finger on the pulse right now. The tough thing about the NHL draft is that you only have so much time to make a maneuver or to make a trade.

like they've really locked it in in terms of time. So if you want to make a trade, you've got to do it ahead of time because you can't sit down and go, okay, we're going to talk. You know, we watch general managers in the past go over and talk to another GM and everything that went with it. That's not allowed anymore. You have so much time. Then if you want to make a trade, you've got to do it within a certain period of time.

So I think it limits kind of that last minute chaos, Jeff, those last minute scenarios where somebody goes, Well, we give us the fourth pick. If you haven't really talked about it, it's hard to execute a trade at that time. So you're on top of it. You got your finger on the pulse. You got your finger on the list.

You've told the scouts, hey, listen, no dithering here. We need to know exactly what we're doing. And I think the preparation is sound by all the NHL teams, but I just don't see the same type of. It used to be like that, Jeff, where you could have some of these last-minute scenarios happen, but for the most part,

because of the time constraints that you just can't execute that quickly. Craig Button with us ahead of the NHL draft tonight. So the potential for a very unique situation to play out tonight with Vancouver picking third. They've hired many Mulhulchra's their head coach. Caleb Mulhulchra, his son, is the highest rated center on the board and projected to be a top five pick. If you're running the Canucks, how would you handle that? Well, I'd go two places. And I think they're not mutually exclusive, Brian.

Number one, you evaluate the players. Okay, who are the players? What do they mean? How do they fit into our organization? I mean, Vancouver is not in a spot where they're looking for one player to come in and be the difference maker. And I think that there's other players right in that group. I talk about the margins with Caleb and others. So you do that evaluation.

And unless Caleb Mahhotra is clearly better than anybody else there, then I think that you go to the second part, which is said, okay, what does it mean if we take Caleb Mulcher? I think he's a good player. I think he's a really strong two-way center. How does he fit into us?

How does it work? You sit with Caleb. You sit with Manny. But you also have to consider what it means for the other players. That's a pretty big, significant element of this whole thing. So if you think that he's clearly better and you're satisfied with the fact that Caleb fits some,

or check some boxes for you, I'd have no problem taking, Caleb. But if I think there's another player there that's just as good, I'd be leaning towards passing. Me too, man. I just don't see how that's going to work. Yeah. I really think it's,

I think it's unfair to both of them, quite frankly. Like, Mani's never been a coach in the NHL too. And now he's stepping in in a Canadian market with his son is the top prospect, a place that's going to go crazy for him. So you're going to have fans saying, why is a manny playing him more? And him having to explain why he's not playing him, but he's got to answer it as not his kid.

He's not playing. He's number 18, he's not playing. But what Manny's mother says to the coach, you've got to play by my son a little bit more. What's going on here? But even the guys on the plane afterward, like it's, it's an awkward situation.

It really is, Jamie. Yeah, I agree. You know what. saying, I can't stand this, you know what. Well, Jeff, like, people might, like, we laugh, we lean back, and that's, that's true. Yes. You've been, you've had, you've had some conflict on the bench, you've had some conflict in the dressing room, and you need to vent, and everybody's going, and they go, geez, I can't believe,

like this, they name this guy the coach, and not everybody's going to like the coach. Not everybody's going to, that's the fact. So, again, if it was clear cut that he's the best guy, and you're satisfied with how the dynamic could work, okay. But in my view, I'm not going there. Calgary at 6, Winnipeg at 8. I guess start with Calgary. What do you see them prioritizing?

Yeah, I think that they're, like, obviously I think they'd love to get a center. I really do. I mean, they're trying to get high-end skill in there. It just feels that this draft at that part is offering a lot of defensemen. But, you know, I don't think Chase Reed would get that. to six, but that high-end defenseman. I mean, they have Nemitz. They have Perak. I don't know. I think Carl's is an excellent

defenseman. I think Smith's is really good. So I really think that it comes down for Calgary. Would they take Vigo Bjork at 6? Would that be a reach in your opinion? Not for me. I think he's a Swedish Nick Suzuki. Oh, okay. And so

I think that Vigo's a really good player, but everybody rates it differently. So they think Carl's or Smits or Veerhoff is better, I think that they'll clearly go and take the player that they think is better. But I think that the conversation comes back to Vigo Bjork. And I would say that if Caleb Mahaltrow got the six, he won't go past six. Right.

Right. They would jump on that. That's my sense. Yeah. I wonder if the Rangers, though, would jump on it at five. You know, like if Mahaljah's there, who knows. But, like, because they need a lot of help too. They could use some help up the middle of the ice.

Yeah. And they drafted his dad, too, in the first round. Yeah, they could, they could, they need to get the five, six, seven, and eighth picks, so they need a lot of help themselves. They need a lot of help. Yeah, Calgary's an interesting one, you know, picking at six and they got a ton of picks over the next couple of years. They've acquired some young players. They just don't have that, like, that Perrek, I think they believe could become, like, a true star. They got the goalie, too.

The goalie is a star. Yeah, the goalie is a star and the D might be a star, like the Perak might be a superstar. but they need help up front, don't you think, guys, like Craig, too. Like, you know, they've got good players. They don't, like you said, Brian, they don't have a... Any game breakers. Yeah, clear-cut, super stud, you know. But Connie and his management team, they've done a really good job there of getting picks

and, you know, and they've had a couple really good, strong drafts in the last couple of years. So now they've got some currency. Just be interesting to see what they do with it now, because now they're, you know, You've got a new building coming, what is it, a year from now? Yep. So, you know, they're kind of, what we were talking about earlier in the last hour, the Anaheim rebuilt, Chicago, San Jose, all these teams want to get better now and are getting better. They're ahead of Calgary, but Calgary needs to turn that corner and try and get that high-end talent.

And you can get in the draft. You've nailed it. It's the high-end talent, right? And it's not about just one player. You're not talking about Maryland Mew or Sidney Crosby or Eric Lindrosk coming in. You're talking about a piece that can now help that along. Because you look at their top line, they don't have a top line. They don't have number one first line players.

And so they compete, but it's a real struggle for them to get on the right side of the game. And you compete and compete and compete. You need to get some rewards at the end of the night as well. And I think for Calgary going to the new. building, that's got to be a focal point. But I also think, too, as it comes to Winnipeg at 8, like, it feels like Montreal looking for a second line center, Winnipeg looking for a second line center, Calgary trying to get to that top line.

What can you do with those picks? Because I think that those are the, it seems, I don't know, quiet, it might not be the right word, but that's where I'd be focusing my energies and my efforts. Can I take the sixth pick? Like just look at what Chicago went and did with the fourth pick. They said, we need a top-end defenseman. They went and traded for. Well, you got to go try to find a way.

I said this about Kevin Shevel Day off. You better turn over every stone. You better be relentless in your pursuit of a second-line center. Because if that team doesn't improve, there's going to be an exodus there. Well, and keep in mind, Halebuck may be exiting regardless of what you do. Right. And, you know, I'm very curious how that might affect what they. plan on doing in the next week and a half.

Like if Sheffled Dayab knows more than the general public. If he has concluded this guy's going, that I would have to believe is going to have a serious effect on what else they do this summer. And whether or not you're trying to sell, no, we can still be good, or are you going to turn left significantly and say, okay, we're going to be bad here, but we're going to have to build it up through the draft. That's a long way to go. Well, and you also might have to just.

sit back and say, okay, it's not right right now for us to do it? I mean, there's going to be interest in Connor Hellebuck. My own feeling on that is, as you go to Connor Hellebuck, let's just say that he's feeling maybe it's time for me to move on. Play hard, play well. We'll work at this. The time is not

right right now. It's in your best interest. It's in our best interest. Work with us. And then as the season unfolds, you might be able to really get a good return on it. because everybody believes in their goaltending now. Everybody believes in their defense right now. Everybody believes in their forward group that they look at their holes.

But Connor Hellebock. Ten games in. It's different. Yeah. It might be five. Yeah. Might be a training camp. And if Edmontons believe in any of their goaltenders, then they're just delusional.

They should call Carolina to see if they can get Eilers out of Carolina for Hellebuck. That would be interesting to flip the two of them. Bussy and Eilers. I like that. Well, Edmonton's, you know, they're the, I wouldn't say they're the odd man out here because Montreal hasn't really done anything so far. Ottawa clearly has with Brady. And Edmonton, you know, they hired Mike Babcock, which was pretty loud. And a lot of people had a conversation on.

But they still, yeah, the goaltending, they got to figure out, what are they going to do with Darnell Nurse? Like, how much more do you expect in Edmonton? Well, it was interesting because when Stan Bowman said we feel that. that Mike Babcock is the missing piece. Like, really? Like, does Mike play goal? No kidding. I said that last week.

He's going to look at this, look at the tape and say there's no goal. I think the sister will help them be better, though. That's the thing. That's like, I can't judge Tristan Jari. He was ninth and goals saved above expectation in Pittsburgh last year, and then he got to Edmonton, and Dog Park Defense just destroyed him. There's not been a goaltender in Everton that hasn't been destroyed in the last 10 years. Really? And I know, listen, I'm not defending Tristan Jari. He was not good there.

But it's not just goaltending. It's structure. They can't defend. They stink defensively. So if they get playing better, then maybe the goalies don't get exposed as much. But I still think they need more roster construction there. You're not just done. You're not just hired Babcock and say, okay, structure's going to protect this. You do need another goaltender. You need to deal with Darnell nurse. You need to. You need to deal with Darnell Nurse. You need. need to figure out another forward up there. Maybe it's Mike Howard who gets an opportunity. But they're not done yet.

I'm sorry. If they're done, they're not at the top tier with the teams in the West. I'm going to wait and see what they do because all I know is this, and it's fact. There were one win from winning the Stanley Cup, lost 2-1 in game seven with Chris Knoblock behind the bench. There were two wins the next year away from winning the stand. And Mike Babcock hasn't won a Stanley Cup playoff series since 2013. Yeah. And he hasn't coached since 2019.

And I'll say it and I'll say it again. After they lost in 2024, management did a hell of a job of downgrading that team. So you can come in with structure. You can come in with all kinds of strategy. That team isn't good enough. Yeah, that's kind of what I was saying. Like, they need more work on their roster.

Like that was arrogance of letting Broberg and Holloway go. And McLeod, like, just continue to go through. I mean, Kulak just signed a contract there. Like, hey, listen, Carter McDavid said we're an average team. Leon Drysettles said we've downgraded our team. Oh, they know. That's their words.

I'm just saying it. I'm just saying what they've said. Well, it's asking a lot out of Mike Babcock, right? Like to... 2013. No, I understand. But in their, you know, the implementation of a system, Like those guys, they can say all they want in June that this is what we want and we're going to buy in.

We'll see if they do or not. You couldn't buy in after you were one win away from winning the Stanley Cup? You couldn't buy in when you were two wins away from the Stanley Cup? That might be an indictment on those players. Well, that's not allowed in this country. No one could say. Only I'm allowed to say anything about McDavid publicly, apparently. But I'm the only one.

What have you said? Well, I don't think I'll ever win. went a heart again. And I don't think he'll, you know, I don't know if it won a heart again. And I was very critical of him game seven in the cup final. I have a suggestion for Connor McDavid. You want to know what it takes to win? Watch Crosby. Just go watch tapes of Crosby. You want to watch how a young player comes in the league and plays. Watch Macklin Cellebrini. Celebrity. I'll bet you'd take offense to that. Why? Because he's two years into the league. He's 20 years old. I'm not saying it's not an accurate statement.

So that doesn't mean you don't play the right way and don't play and invest in all the right areas? What did the coaching staff for Team Canada to say about Celebrini? I mean, they said he would never seen a guy hunt a puck like that. We had Peter DeBore on our show. Remember? DeBore was like, this guy was impressive. Never seen a guy hunt a puck down, never give up on a puck. Never, like, Celebrini.

He's a gamer. The details of his game are unbelievable. year one, I believe he was up, I think, third place in loose puck recoveries. Like, that's a stat usually for grizzled vet the Mark Stones of the world. John Tavares has a heavy stick. This celebrini was right there. I think for most of the league or most of the season, I think he was second or third. That's a compete, man.

Connor McDavid is a hell of a player. He's one of the, the most skilled player, whatever we want to call him. All I know is Chris Knoblock did a hell of a job with that team. management didn't do a very good job with the roster and how they manage it, and now they think Mike Babcock's the answer? I'm not buying. Well, it's going to be a lot of pressure on them, but they're used to that. I mean, McDavid, I don't think, he's not going to be overwhelmed by the spotlight or pressure.

No. Like, he knows what's coming. Yeah, and let's not get crazy where Connor McDavid has to completely reinvent the way he looks at hockey. No, I agree. Oh, you're right. Oh, you're right. 100%. Very sensible.

But I think it's more the, but I think it's more. the details of their game. Like it's... But Craig just mentioned, it's one win away and it's two wins away from a Stanley Cup. They don't need to reinvent the wheel. But what they could have done is different areas of the team could have helped out, i.e. goal-tending, depth players always build up the defense core, younger legs. And they didn't do any of that.

And now we're talking about Connor McDavid, reinventing his game, I think all of that that you three gentlemen just had is crazy talk. Crazy dog You go and look at game seven Or sorry, game six When they lost the cup in Florida There's Matthew Kichuk's goal That's details

And McDavid over back checks on that play Because it's dog park defense I watched Florida Practice that morning I watched Edmonton's pre-game skate It was night and day The details of their practices the details of their game.

And McDavid said after that game, it was like we were buttoned our heads up against the wall because they were picked apart defensively. They were picked apart systematically. They need structure. They didn't have it all season this year. Zero structure. That's the only thing.

But to Craig's point, is there not a guy that's won a playoff series or had more recent success than 2013? How did they handpick Mike Babcock of all the people in the world? That's what it is. It's Bruce Cassidy, and he's going to sit at home and make $5 million this year because, you know, Kelly McCriman said you're not going to Edmonton. That was the pick. That's true.

Well, the other thing I would, just to add to that, too, and we talk about Steve Eisenman, and people say, well, look what happened. Well, what happened with Steve Eisenman is Chris Draper showed up and Kirk Maltby showed up, and Martin LaPointe was older, and then Darren McCarty was there, and then they built out that, just to what Jeff said, the depth. He had a deeper blue line. deeper players in the lineup. And so you take some of the burden and the pressure off those guys.

Top players, when things aren't going the right way, they always want to do more. Why do they want to do more? Because they don't have the help. So when you get the help for them, they don't have to do as much. Yeah. Great point. Yeah. And that's kind of been the way Florida has been operating for the last few years.

And that's their MO. Tampa Bay, just quickly. Tampa Bay went out in four straight after winning 62 games. They went and traded for Berkeley Goodrow and Blake Coleman. They won back-to-back cups. Worked out for them. Yeah. Draft tonight. Full coverage on TSN.

Enjoy it, Craig. It's been a long, slow build to get here, but we're finally here tonight. Thank you for doing this. Appreciate it. Thanks. There's Craig Button joining us here on the Maple Toyota hotline. It's time to Toyota. Check out the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra pickup trucks,

both available as hybrids. Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland of the Maple Auto Mall. Best but still to come. Jay's in action tonight. Overdrive continues up on YouTube live. Catch everything soccer with Bell's game time bundle. Get 5 TV with TSN plus 5150 internet, all for $99 a month. Price guaranteed for two years with a two-year internet and TV term and auto pay credit.

Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Close your eyes and you can hear the entire world come alive. 2026 FIFA World Cup is on and you can stream it all live. on TSN Radio. From the opening kickoff to the final celebration. Every match, every moment.

Listen to FIFA World Cup on TSN Radio. Is Canada the Lift Off? Available on IHeart Radio. Mail it in Friday, brought you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. No one mailing it in, though. We've got the draft tonight.

We've got the World Cup. We've got the Js in action. The Jays, And it's really frustrating to watch. And the only saving grace is the American League outside of four or five teams stinks. So they're still technically in the hunt. But it's getting more and more difficult to see them turning things around based on the way they continue to play. People aren't shying away from going down there.

Packed house every night. Packed last night. Like, you know, they've got Ernie Clement into the All-Star game. They've got basically every other player in the roster into the finalist of, you know, know when it's Vladdy Okomach. I'm sorry. Vladie, I'm sorry. Absolutely no right to be an All-Star this year.

Not even close. Just decline, man. Like, I'm sorry. You're popular, and it's a showcase game about the stars, but you have no business being there this year. Listen, he barely did last year. Springers in the running, he is, he's got an OPS

and like 680 right now. Like, but they're all in on. Okamoto's got a legitimate shot. He's, you know, he can, he hit another home on the street. Dude, is somebody rigging these votes? It's all Canadians. You remember going to the games. I don't know if you guys, you would remember this.

But you used to go, you get punch cards at the don't. You put the ballot in. Yeah, it was unreal. And back in the early 90s, when they were getting four million people going through there, the Jay's had six, seven, eight guys at the All-Star game every year. Because there were so many fans and everyone was voting. That's what's happening now. Like, Jay's fever was so big.

And it's so disappointing that they didn't, like, bottle it. Like, it's not completely dead because the, The seats are sold and people are still tracking and people still know all the players. But if you missed the playoffs this year and finish with 78 wins, the 2025 season fades pretty quickly. You know, because Springer's going to go. Gosman's going to be done.

Scherzer's obviously not coming back. You know, like things are going to turn over. Bichette's gone. You know, like that whole, that magic is, it's fleeting. You know, you got to pull your weight to keep it alive. and that was the beauty of 92 and 93. They went back to back. Same thing in 15 and 16.

Yes, they didn't win, but they went to the ALCS back to back years, and they were so good both years, exactly. So the Js, they've, you know, from a pure marketing standpoint, not our priority, but you got to think, you know, the team is thinking, guys, come on, just find a way to get in so that there's some life into August and into September. Yeah, and you talk about teams where, like, Jamie will reference it. Like if that team just had like just above average goaltending. Like if they could just get guys just above average hitting wise and playing wise, that's what we're talking about.

Like, Vladdy, we just don't need you to be terrible. Like you're a superstar in the league. The one thing you can't be is look like a guy that doesn't belong in the league, hitting wise. Yes. And that is legitimately, that's not overstating how awful he looks right. And Springer is in the same boat as you mentioned earlier. If they were average, this team would be two or three games above 500, like, at least. And clean up their defense.

Like, they used to be, last year they were just unbelievably defensive. Like, no errors, no, you know, the details. This year, they're a mess. Like, they're inconsistent. That's what it is. Defensively. Defensively, base running, their fundamentals. You know, it's an all-encompassing term, but it applies.

So thanks to Craig for coming in. We'll get to our tailor-made picks here in just a moment. at what's going on with the travelers. But I've been meaning to bring up like the butterfly effect of a couple games and series over the last few years, like how different the league would look. If Edmonton won game seven in 24 or 20, yeah, 24, if Canada beat the U.S. at the Olympic Games,

like how different would the landscape of the league look? If Edmonton got it, like is McDavid, is he signed an eight-year deal? Or maybe he's a free agent on July 1st. Maybe he's like, guys, we won our cup, we did it, I'm going to play this out, and I'm going to go somewhere else. Knoblox is clearly still the coach. It's a completely different world than Edmonton.

Backrocks not in the league. Yeah, the one you just mentioned, though, I think he's in bigger ripple effect, is if Canada won gold. You think so? Because I don't know how many people I talk to is like, you know, you see other teams, like other countries have caught up. Right? Like, we always thought, and this is wrong for me to say, but there's been this arrogance that we've had as Canadians, and we're not really arrogant, but it's when it came to hockey.

It's our sport, it's us. And now you just, you can't, you don't got that bragging rights. Regardless of all, Halibuck stole the game. Doesn't matter. You lost the game. And there's a layer that's been shaved off. I was talking to somebody about it last night, literally, at a function. And I just said, like, it's, you got four years to wait.

and World Juniors hasn't done great. Like it's just Canada right now is in a downtrend. Even though we've got great players. But the butterfly effect is also the U.S. doesn't win. They don't go to the White House. They're not at the State of the Union. There's not all this, you know, chatter in Canada about if they want to play here or not, you know. What about if the players didn't go to the Olympics?

All of the chatter amongst the player might not have happened. That's true. Absolutely right. The Four Nations is a little bit different, but remember, Marner said it. He was talking to Mark Stone throughout it. What's it like to play in Vegas? That never happens if they're never at the Four Nations. Does that mean Mitch is here?

Maybe not. But there has been a lot of chatter among the best players from the Four Nations to the Olympic Games that have seemed to kind of consolidate their relationship and possibly push it towards the Larkins, the Werenskys, the Hellebucks, the Cichucks, maybe the Matthews, you know, other guys saying, hey, that was pretty fun, that was pretty good. We should get together somewhere else. I don't know, I don't think they'd have the same feeling,

obviously, if Canada won the gold medal game. Yeah, that Larkin one, man. I don't know where that's going to go because Stevie Y, man. You're not telling that guy what to do. That will be fascinating to see how that plays out. You're right, oh, but the one thing is, is Stevie Y, they got to get going there. You know, three years in a row in January, they've been near the top of the Atlantic and have missed the playoffs.

Yeah. Fated. Like drop-offs. And that is, you know, they didn't get saves, so they went and addressed the goaltent and getting gifts. No kidding, Jamie. And you know what Steve Y said after this one? He said, we need to get better players. And now the captain of his team is heading out the door.

So now what are they going to do? Well, who's the guy who signs the players and drafts them in that. Like, there is some pressure on Steve Eiserman in Detroit to, you know, he's put together a program there, but they haven't crossed over into that next level yet. That's a team to watch here. Will they be proactive? Will they be, like that's, you know, another little spicy meatball cook in there? Definitely.

And I'd have to believe, you know, kind of like Ottawa, Ottawa went a certain direction with Kuchuk. Right. Now they made, you know, they picked up Becklin afterwards and they're going to. Prerikovsky today. Yerkovsky today, and they're going to try to, you know, obviously add pieces, but they want to stay competitive and remain a playoff team. I have to think Detroit's probably thinking the same thing. You know, they might have some offers for Larkin where it's, you know,

a first round or a couple second round, and they're like, we don't want the picks. You know, we need a player, we need a player or a couple of players here. And I'm sure that's complicating things. And, again, he's got a no-movement clause. Minnesota seems to make a lot of sense. I could see Vegas showing some interest. You know, we'll see what happens with Dylan Larkin. The overdraft P.J. Pigs were brought to by Taylor Made.

Feel the straight distance, feel the forgiveness, and feel the confidence as you step into every shot. Learn more about the new QI. Max Irons at TailormadeGa.ca. My boy, Scotty Schaeffler, almost, he was on 59 watch today. He shot a 10 under, he's 16 under for the attorney. That's my guy. Duggy, next time we make picks, and I don't take Rick Hovlin, come in here and smack me.

What am I doing? Like, Victor Hovlin's my guy. He's my pro-am guy. Everyone knows when you're around me at the pro-am. You launch into the winner's circle. Hovlin's 14 under at the tourney, and I didn't pick him. Dude, that guy either misses a cut or shoots 59 and 60. Like, he's so up and down.

Shame on you, Brian. Shame on you. You're right, Noonle's pathetic. And you know what? He'll shoot 60 and go to the cameras and say, I hated the way I hit it today. I know. He's crazy, man.

He's a different cat. You know it was wild was like watching him. You know, he was doing the aim point. He was doing everything, like his whole routine, the whole pro. I was a bit surprised. At one point I thought, it's a six footer. We're at the pro app. Maybe you can just walk up and hit that.

But nevertheless. He kind of did the whole routine. Yeah, he did the stepping thing and he did the hand up. And I'm like, Rick, it's, you know, our team's like four under. We're nowhere close to contention here. You can just knock that one in. But, yeah, Hovlin's at 14 under. Akshay Batia is 12 under.

Fitsy, your boy, 12 under. Bud Colley, my boy, 10 under. Good to see Bud. But, yeah, right now it's Sheffler, and he's the pace car. This guy doesn't miss, like the stats, the numbers. He's just an unbelievable player. He is. He's an unbelievable player every single week.

And, dude, unbelievable. What I can't figure out, and you should take note of this, Let me ask you this. You consider yourself a good putter? Not particularly. The best player in the world uses the claw grip, but you, Brian Hayes, thinks he's too cool. Not doing it.

It's not about cool, for starters. No, it is. I know you. You don't want in front of all your cool buddies with your own golf carts. You don't want tucks in the boys saying, oh, look at Hayes has got the claw grip. You won't do it for that reason. You think it's a vanity thing?

I know it. I know with you, it's a vanity. It's a comfort thing. I can't do it. I don't like the claw. It feels, I don't know how anyone does it. Like, honestly, full disclosure. I have no idea how you go.

Like, Schaeffler was 27 years old and flipped. The guy had been playing for 20 years of the time. But he only does it with 10 feet and in. Well, regardless, I don't care. I'm not doing it. I don't care what Sheffler's doing. I'm not doing it. The overdrive PJ Picks, brought to you by 10.

Taylor made, feel the straight distance, feel the forgiveness, and feel the confidence as you step into every shot. Learn more about the new QI Max Irons at tailormadegolf.ca. All right, best bets coming up. World Cup. We've got a couple of big matches tonight. Very big matches, very important matches. It's going all night. There's a couple of kick-offs at 11 p.m. tonight.

So, like, if you're putting in a shift, tonight's your shift. And then we're going to be into the knockout stage. And, of course, we're marching towards Sunday. 3 p.m. on TSNCTV, Crave and the TSN Radio Network where Canada will play South Africa in the round of 32. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN5.

Catch everything soccer with Bell's game time bundle. Get 5 TV with TSN plus 5150 internet, all for $99 a month. Price guaranteed for two years with a two-year internet and TV term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.c.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Close your eyes,

and you can hear the entire world. Come alive. 2026 FIFA World Cup is on, and you can stream it all live on TSN Radio. From the opening kickoff to the final celebration, every match, every moment. Listen to FIFA World Cup on TSN Radio. Is Canada the Lift Off!

Available on IHeart Radio. All right, best bets powered by Fandul. Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay. seconds on the Fando's sports book, yeah. I think Canada's going to win on Sunday. When Canada to beat South Africa, first and foremost, and I like the over in the Blue Jay game tonight. Corby on the mound for the Jays.

I just think you're looking at a 5-4 game tonight, 6-5 sloppy defense. I just feel like... I just miss the excitement a little bit when I'm watching it. It seemed like... And they tried to make a comeback last night. night but it fell short. But the rallies and the excitement and all of the hits and all the excitement, it's like

that ain't really there right now from a viewer's perspective. It's just sometimes you turn it on and it's 4-0 for nothing for the other team. You're like, that's it. The president. That was last night. They were down 6-0. Gosman was getting hit and you're like this, you know, it's troubling for Gosman. He's really, really struggling right now.

And, yeah, I mean, the big boys you look to kind of get you over the top, they're just not there. Carger's still out, and a lot of injury problems. Yeah. I just don't know who you can rely on right now. It's not like Texas is some great team, but best bets powered by Fanduil, same game probably is available for every World Cup match

on the Fandwell Sportsbook gap. Please play responsibly 19-plus physically located in Ontario. NHTO draft tonight, and I expect some activity this evening, certainly throughout the weekend, as we're moving towards July 1st and free agency, and Canada in action on Sunday, man. This will be a very historic weekend for the Canadian sports scene.

Yeah. Very big weekend. I think the Leafs do something. I think they take McKenna personally, but I think they also do something at the draft. You got McKenna and something at the draft this weekend. A trade or some sort of something. Okay.

That's what I think. All right. I'm down with that. I think that's definitely, you know, highly likely that they're going to be more active. You know, it doesn't mean it's going to be something crazy, but I think they will likely look to make moves. So Canadian teams front and center starting tonight. We look forward to breaking it down on Monday.

All right, thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV, radio, podcast, web, up on YouTube live, and soon to be streaming up on Crave. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy your weekends. We're back Monday at...

Hey, is yesterday you went after OVee. Today, McDavid, by Monday, you better fix your damn self. 4 p.m. We'll chat then. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza.

Close your eyes and you can hear the entire world come alive. 2026 FIFA World Cup is on. And you can stream it all live on TSN Radio. From the opening kickoff to the final celebration, every match, every moment. Listen to FIFA World Cup on TSN Radio. Gives Canada to the liftoff! Available on IHeart Radio.