OverDrive - OverDrive - March 19, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: March 19, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joins to discuss the spotlight around the NHL general managers meetings. Calgary Flames Goaltender Dustin Wolf joins to discuss his impressive season with the Flames, progressing throughout his career and playing at a Calder Trophy level and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

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They all so buzz much, yeah. Kane Brown's new album, The High Road, is available now. Final Hour Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Dustin Wolf later in the hour, Darren Dreger coming up. The GM meetings have wrapped up down in Florida and there was some news that came out of it in terms of maybe some of the plans moving forward with you know overtime rules and

the scheduling I guess the first game of the NHL season next year will be October 7th which is a little bit earlier than it was this year as they prepare again for a big stoppage with the Olympic Games next year and um... you know we discussed it yesterday that they're going to announce, I guess, every country, six players by June 15th, I think it was, or some point in the middle of June, just

like they did with the Four Nations. They just want to keep it on people's minds. That's what it is. Don't forget. Don't forget. Yeah, and it's smart play in terms of promotion. That'll be the cup final. You're in the cup final and also promote, hey, we're also going to the Olympic Games.

And the final roster has to be in by December 31st, which is a little bit later than what they did for the four nations faceoff. Who did we say yesterday for Canada would not be an automat- Marchand? Marchand, yeah. Marchand won't be an automatic. No, not his age. No, he can't be. He won't be an automatic. No, not his age. No, he can't be. It'll be McDavid, McKinnon, McCarr, Crosby, Point, I believe.

I think those five will be guaranteed. We said yesterday, Hayes, you might as well just, like, Taves is playing with McCarr, just throw him in there and make it easy. You might. Yeah, that might be the play. Might be the play. Yeah, he's a great player. The other thing too, why I could see October 7th guys is Labor Day is September 1st this

year. There usually sometimes it's like September 5th, September 7th. Labor Day is the first of September. So people are back to work all that September 2nd so that's almost like a week earlier than October 7th like why not start on October 1st or October 1st is a Wednesday I mean there you go you guys in the training camp September let's call it September 10th and three weeks later you're playing your first game noodles not even man they don't need three weeks anymore they need two weeks. I understand that, but what I'm saying is you bring guys in on the 10th, you got the

physicals on the 11th, you get through the weekend, you play. I think they should shrink the amount of preseason games to four, maybe five tops. I know again owners are going to reach in and this is all about money, but you shrink it and you get going. I could realistically see, depending on when training camps are scheduled to start next year, you could make it October 1st, but they're talking October 7th, which is a Tuesday. But I keep saying kids will be back to school September 2nd next year.

Exactly. Get ready. Get rockin'. Go time. But there's still a lot of games this season and the Stanley Cup playoffs, which begin back to school september second exactly next year get ready get rocket go time yeah uh... but the still a lot of games you know this season of the standard cut playoffs which begin a month today and a lot still up in the air and he at least colorado tonight and we've been you know talking about this and how the leaves they got a

carryover their effort from uh... monday night joseph wall's get the start but they're going with the same lineup you know david camp is not plan and philip myers is not going to get in and they're relatively healthy the wait for patch already i don't think you are talking pause really an option i guess i guess we'll see that's right walls going

yet joseph wall joseph walls plant are you surprised at that no i'm not i'd spiced i think when you consider stores got the opportunity against florida and against ottawa there's you know walls played okay as mcgrady the last month month and a half statistically but he didn't get challenged a lot of money but he played pretty well

and still a guy that they have faith in you know stores is not a hell of a buck vasilevsky type words automatic so right I'm cool with putting Wallen give him an opportunity and I and like you said earlier noodles they played in New York tomorrow Stolaris is playing that game yeah one of you know they're playing one of the games you choose it on the front end of the back end the kind of Jersey area he's probably got family going to the garden tomorrow night like that may have been a consideration as well I think there's a lot of different factors that go into it. But Joseph Wall played well Monday night,

so Berube goes, hey, let's go back with him. It's a scenario sometimes, it's just a gut feeling. It's not laid out six weeks in advance. It's just like, hey, let's see how this week shakes out. We're going to have to use both of them, so how are we going to deploy it? That's really what I factor that in. Absolutely. And and then Saturday you're in Nashville and they still got to go through, California Yeah, they got they got a couple of big trips still going here and again the playoffs begin a month today So it's gonna be very busy for the Maple Leafs the GM meetings wrapped up down in Florida Here's our TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger and Dreggs you were there you were on the ground was there one item in particular one news item that you think stands out above the rest that every hockey fan should be aware of or what?

Yeah I guess the fact they really drilled down on goalie interference and the good news is they're not... What part about it Draggs? How are they going to figure out what it is? Well, they tell us that everybody should know what it is. And I'm not convinced that we know, but, you know, I can tell you the managers here believe based on the number of clips that they saw of the contentious goalie interference challenges this year, they're on side with how hockey operations calls it and I guess to

simplify it and it's not a simple issue the so they boil it down to three things okay is the player in the blue paint in the crease how did the player get there and that's where it gets complex, right? Was he guided in by a defensive player? Like, how did he get there? And then three, can the goal tender play his position or is he allowed to reset? And then how you kind of navigate around those three things is ultimately how they come down to determining whether it's a good goal or it's it's a call back goal and whether they can overturn what was called on the ice the kid arresting to me is so it's okay like the general manager

Here are basically in lockstep with how hockey operations calls it, which is good I mean before guys that help make those calls in the situation room have been there since You know The goalie interference review was was introduced so they're gonna have a GM and a coaches meeting in September Do we think coaches are gonna see the same way or the goalies are going to see it the same way? I don't know. I mean it's just, I think all it was as they started at the beginning of the week they said it was a compass check and that's exactly what it is and they believe that they're calling it the way that it was designed to

be called and that's the way it is. So I guess we have to live with that. Okay. All right. Well, I don't know what to make of it. I don't know what to make of Goaltender Interference. Go ahead. I mean, that's the thing. Wasn't Connor Hellebuyck in there somewhere talking about goalie interference? Yeah.

And you do have to have Goaltender's point of views on it. Sure. For me, it's become like past interference. It's just what is it? Define it. The five of us could sit down and watch a play and we might have five different interpretations. We would have yes or no, but it's just how we arrive at it. I do like the parameters though, Dreggs. You lay it out like how did it arrive? Is it in the crease? All of that. There are parameters. There are boxes to be checked. But in the end, and this is what's concerning, is it still may be open for interpretation.

And that's what might cost a series, a game in the playoffs, who knows? They've kind of dodged that bullet here. I can't think of a goalie interference that was huge, controversial in the playoffs recently. I'm sure there was one. But I think they want to never get to a point where it's the Brett Hall type of thing, or you've got to call guys back or have a seven minute video wait for everybody while the refs and Toronto get through it. So it's still subject to interpretation, but if everybody knows the rules, maybe there is a little bit of softening of a stance. Well, but here's what we should do, and I'm not, this isn't tongue and cheek.

I honestly, this would be an exercise. Noodles, you for sure would do it. Haze might do it. Oh, dog, I don't think you're gonna wanna do it. But I can probably get the 54 examples. And these were the most contentious challenges. And imagine if you're a general manager, one of 32 guys, and that was your exercise on Monday,

which it was. All 32 of those men watched all 54 examples, and then they had to tally what they thought. Good goal, no goal, inconclusive, whatever. And then the end result, as was disclosed yesterday, is 52 of the 54, the managers agreed with what came out of the situation. Right? So, I'm not sure what that tells us other than in the eyes of the architects, which

are the general manager, they feel like how the system is working right now in video review is best case scenario. I mean they, you know, they were inconclusive in two of 54 calls and those were again the the biggest Nevada. So honestly I got a respect to to you guys uh who played the game, Noodle's and O'Dog. uh... 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 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 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 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 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 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 i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i okay we can understand but it'd be an interesting exercise with from the analysts around the game to see if they thought the same way so in terms of where the the cv is going i think that been said today that he intends on you know you have talks with with the financial p in the spring

is everything kumbaya at this point any reason for anyone to have the backup against the wall you know the caps been revealed for the next three years everything seems great right now is that an honest and accurate assessment or what i think that's fair brian i do uh... you know i think there have been times where either the league or the players association wanted to engage a bit quicker probably more

that women in a child would have wanted to engage a bit quicker, probably more, Betman and the NHL. And for a variety of reasons, I mean, the NHL, our PA does its tour, Marty Walsh, has gotten to know each team reps, and he's gone through all of that process, and that takes time. So it's a little bit behind schedule, and Betman was quick to declare,

like, okay, well, we've had discussions, but we're not actually in negotiations and that's going to happen early April. So I think you're right. I don't, I don't see anything contentious, um, coming out of the four nations face off where the NHL and the players association were partners. I think that was a huge step in the right direction to having that level of harmony. The fact that before that event, they announced that they've got, uh, you know, salary cap harmony for the next three years.

So the major kind of stumbling box appeared to have been resolved or everybody's just on side. So I'm not saying it's going to happen like with a snap of fingers, but I don't get the sense that there's that one thing where the players are going to dig in and say, well, we're not agreeing to anything unless this happens and I would say the same thing with the NHL. Draggs, Gary comes out and he always says, I just don't like the idea of changing one versus eight. I like the way it is right now and it's kind of like a player agent speaking for a player where he's basically

saying what the player thinks and Gary says is supposed to represent the owner so is that what the owners all think? They don't want to look into any kind of change because man is he ever adamant saying this is the way it's going to be as far as the playoff format which I think is crazy. Yeah every single time little don't every single crime so that's him and the owners obviously that they have i mean it works for the owners here i write so and i don't i wouldn't say that all owners are on five that i mean it's a

very selfish uh... discussion because you know if if you're an owner of that you know if you're the trauma believes that you end up finishing where you can finish and every year in the first round you get bumped and you're looking at a different scenario or other teams for sure you'd want to explore other avenues. So I would think that, yeah, I would think that he speaks on the collective for sure. And yes, absolutely.

He, he represents the owners, but he, when it comes to the idea of changing the playoff makers, whether it's one versus eight or look, there wouldn't be many owners who don't think that the idea of expanding the playoffs from 16 to 18 or 20 is, is a conversation worth continuing to have. Gary just pushes back on it every single time. And I don't know what the magic number is. You know, and I'm not talking about one versus eight. I'm talking about, you know, expanding the playoff number here. You know, do you need to expand

the 34 teams before you do it? I know, but he's adamant because he doesn't want it to linger. He wants to shut it down every year at this meeting the way that he does so that collectively as a media we stop talking about it yet we always ask the question for sure. Yeah, he was contentious with it. You could see that he was bullish on it. What about overtime and extra games, all of these things that they're they are tinkering with or at least talking about or at least you know on the agenda you know any any headway of any of it? Not really you know they they're crafty in how they have manipulated the media over the

last number of years and I know that sounds harsh and it doesn't it shouldn't because it's just supplying data, but they've done a good job. So again, they carried us into the meeting like I described earlier and we saw the examples of the goalie interference and how those calls went. But they also supplied a myriad of numbers, right? In certain areas of the game, shooting percentage, like 10.5% across the NHL, 21.6% I think, percent was the success rate in power plays.

The number that jumped off the page for me was, I think it was 74, maybe 75% of overtime games, three on three, that are decided three on three. And I mean, it's a good number. I'm happy to hear that because I'm not a fan of the shootout. I understand the spectacle. It's a gimmick. It's something that the commissioner's office has wanted to protect, but I think that's a fair balance.

And I think the reason we're even having a conversation about overtime is because what we saw, we didn't see a lot. Well, we saw it for four nations, right? And they went through 10 minutes, and Bettman today talked about how he's aware and he appreciates how that's more wear and tear on certain players. So if, he doesn't speak for Marty Wallace, but if that's the pushback, then the numbers don't bear why you should

even consider altering three on three, and I think he's right in that. Like, a 75% consider altering three on three and i think he's right in that seventy five percent scoring rate in three on three i mean i think we can live without a big bad you can't get games where you see players and uh... in teams and and how the structure of the regroup and all of that and have issue with that but i mean other seventy percent again seventy five percent scoring rate i think everybody's happy with that but I mean at a 70% again 75% scoring rate I think

everybody's happy with that number. Yeah with Darren Drager our TSN hockey insider what's it like being around all those GMs when you consider there's only a month left in the season and they're all in a different position you know there's yeah like Mike Greer the GM of the Sharks is in a very different position than Kevin Sheveldale. Yeah, exactly. What's it like when they're down there and their teams are in a very different position? Yeah, it is different for sure and it was funny.

First thing this morning, I'm an early bird, right? So I always like to be, Dave Dave Parker our Superman camera person, right? He's always in the hallway because the meetings start at 8 a.m So there's some sculpting in the hallway that you can do so he has this tripod this camera set up probably around 715 and he's just shooting the walk-ins the managers and whatnot I always like to get down over the coffee around 730 because I can Shoot the breeze with a couple of managers as they go in and whatnot. So I saw Steve Scales come in and Steve looked okay. Wasn't upset. I mean, the honor of senators have been on a

good run. He's happy with how the team is playing and all that. But he didn't love the outcome obviously of last night's game against Montreal and then I see Kent Hughes and he's like bopping down the hallway like everything is great. We're in a playoff spot in Montreal like things are just awesome. So you get a little bit of that and then you're right, you get Mike Greer. I crossed paths with Kevin Adams with Buffalo Sabres a number of times and you know Kevin is always a happy-go-lucky guy but he's got to be looking into the offseason and going well you know with all due respect number one am I gonna be the general manager question one and then if I am how do I try and and check this because

it sure sounds like Terry Pagul is getting more involved. It sounds like he's diving into a road trip with Buffalo. Yeah, like a three or a four gamer. You know, nobody wants their owner on the road. Well, honestly, it's probably just, you know, getting eyes on what's going on and, you know, kind of an owner review of what he's you see. No there's nothing you can do not at this point but there's a lot you can do at the end of the season this comes with you know letting people go and spending more money to bring

others in. That's a John Ferguson jr. move we'd lose seven in a row. I don't like the cheating arrangement on the plane. But Pagula's been there for four, like he's watched us for 14 years. Like that's it. Maybe he's the problem. What's he seeing different? Maybe someone should watch him and say, hey, Terry, do you have any idea what you're doing? Come on the road, we're going to watch you. Yeah, watch what you're up to.

Because it's a nightmare, thisylan cousins is not on the real did you see the stat pack on that guy yes a lot of shots yeah most everything first on the sand it's like is it gonna happen again this is the new reinhart like that we have awesome yeah i was like it and that's the issue right and each so

i mean he either believes in Kevin, which some still think he does or he doesn't. But I always say the same thing when you're firing managers or coaches, who's going to be better? Like who's the next up and comer? You know, it feels like in Buffalo anyway, they should have gone the path of, you know, Shanahan, Tree Living, Gordon, Hughes, go down the list of all the teams that have that one-two punch. And I like Kevin.

I think Kevin works hard, but that team is messy and it doesn't look like it's getting better anytime soon. No, that is accurate. It's not in a good scene. All right, Drex, safe travels. Thank you for doing this a different uh... say hi to you today uh... brad who's up no one

uh... this way that's that's not a high all this one uh... uh... you can tell you that's a little bit earlier with the frauds that are there that's not the other thank you drags for everything by the way you know you're nice Mitchell got me earlier with the fraud stuff down at Denver. And it's completely uncalled for. Thank you, Dreggs, for everything. Bye, buddy.

Have a good night. There's Darren Dregg or TSN hockey. That's like a high school comment. It is. It's grade eight. I don't know what I'd be prepared for. You got the rank the other day? Nobody.

Nobody. Nobody said hi. I admire it. I kind of think it's funny. It actually landed really well because I fell into it. But why would I be prepared for a 55 year old guy to say that? I would have never gone for it because I've done too many Leaf games with that guy and I think I've heard it on a nightly basis and I just said, here it comes.

That's his player, you know it's coming. Oh yeah, a lot. I fell into the trap on that. I was well played. I was in Winnipeg yesterday, you know who asked about it? Everywhere he goes he comes back and grabs a cameraman or somebody. Yeah, it is a good line. It's a good line if you haven't heard it in a while.

It would get old very quickly if you hear it all the time. Oh yeah. But yeah, Terry Pagula. It's got to be so uncomfortable for everyone with the owners there. It's already been a dreadful season and there's nothing you do. It's his plane. It's his credit card. Like he's...

Yeah. And just even like you think of the dynamics you get on the plane. you do it's his plane it's his credit card you know like he's yeah and just even like you think of the dynamics you get on the plane let's say you're Kevin Adams is he sitting beside me do I have to move like does he want my seat you know what I mean like what am I supposed to do here with Jerry Pagula I don't I don't I don't like the owner like as as much as like even mike and larry's a great guy uh... i would feel like awkward with the owner right beside a take your private plane me that's what they do like and i know that they want to sit in the box like the owner in vegas is right beside kelly mccrimin

and george mcfee like that's where he sits well i would be like but they have a lot of the after sit there are you gonna question that signing when a guy tosses a pizza? I don't know. It would just feel weird, man. I think the Vegas situation is an outlier because I think those three, the owner, the Kelly McCrimmon and I'm drawing a blank on. McPhee. Yeah, McV. I think they're, they're, they all are like-minded. Like they, they talk

and, and, you know, there's a, there's a level, the owner to the president down to the GM and I think they're all on the same page. It's just, On the bottom line, Jamie, is what the owner says, that's what's where I'm sitting. That's the thing. It can be on the same page until Bill Foley goes, eh, we're not in the same page anymore. No, I agree. He was on the same page as Pete DeBoer too until he said get rid of Pete DeBoer. And that is, ultimately he writes the checks, he can do what he wants. Like Michael Landlour, I don't know if he's on the plane with the senators or he takes

his own plane, but he's not a guy who's like in your face. Like I like owners that- I know he wouldn't, but I would still feel weird with the owner right beside me. Yeah, I mean it is and it is like it's this you know is it a singular owner is it a a visual guy or is it you know by committee or there other owners I remember this is a crazy story. The Edmonton Oilers I remember they were supposed to be sold or something like that this is years

ago I think I was playing for the Flames or St. Louis. And there was like 27 owners. They saved the Oilers from leaving Edmonton. And there were people that put like 100 grand into the team and they were walking through the dressing room like they own the place. It was just floater central because I think prongs played for the team when there was like 20

owners and it was like ridiculous because they were all asking for things and bringing guys that aren't always yeah they're all the oilers it's insanity you got it like this chipped in too many cooks in the kitchen that's what it was yeah ridiculous there's one cook I guess in Buffalo and you know on the other side you got the Bills who were Constantly well run and always win and make the playoffs every year so You know, you can only be so critical but the hockey team 14 years The only constant has been Terry Pagula he's been there the whole time as the owner No one's more excited to put eyes on Josh Allen than Jerry Pagula. Oh, he can't wait until September shows up.

Dude. Cannot wait. OTA, whatever they are. Everything. Any kind of Bills thing, he's probably just so fired up to be there. And Josh Allen's comments. He's like, yeah, I could have, what's an extra five minutes? I'm like, oh my God.

Oh, what a comment. What an unbelievable comment. What a plug. You know? Brilliant PR. Brilliant an unbelievable comment. You know? Brilliant PR. Brilliant PR. And he made that point. He said, I didn't need to hold them over a barrel on everything. Like, I don't need the owner to think, I don't want to be here, or you got to do this, or you owe me this or that.

Let's make it simple. You're going to pay me a lot of money. I'm going to play hard for you. What a brilliant concept. I loved it. Just such a brilliant concept. He became it. Such a brilliant concept. Became a legend immediately, not that he already was. He already is probably the greatest Bill ever. It's him and Jim Kelly at that position, but Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, the guy. OJ was there for a bit. OJ was there for a bit. OJ literally was the greatest Bill ever. Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah,

oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah, as a football player. And for justified reasons, nobody cares anymore. I know. It's not recent. Especially that doc, like that Netflix thing. The last three years. Yeah, it's like, you just want to kick that guy. It's sickening, man.

Yeah, it is sickening. It's awful. The guy as a player was just, and they had nothing else down there. He would just, loading up the box, and this guy was running for 2,000 yards Dustin Wolf coming up chasing a Calder and he's right in it man the guy has been outstanding this year we're gonna catch up with Dustin at his take on why it's worked so well for him what he makes a

plan in Calgary Ryan Huska as his coach it's you know all going pretty well man and that team showed up big-time last night at the garden that's a big win for Calgary last night against the Rangers so So we'll catch up with Dustin Wolf We'll get to our best bet still to come as well Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN to all right best bets later in the hour Leafs avalanche tonight It should be a great game and We got a guy on the line here is having just a phenomenal rookie season He's already started or he's

played in 41 games. I know you love that Noodles, right? Young goalie that's he's going to hit 50 like he wants to play. He's going to play. His numbers have been great all year. He's he's really young. You've been talking about him for years. Like this guy's coming. Dustin Wolf is on his way. He's on his way. They believed in him greatly. They moved Markstrom out to open up that opportunity for him. and he's taking full opportunity of it and full advantage of it And again, like we've been saying we've been pumping his tires all year He's in the hunt for the for the Calder Trophy. Here he is the starting goalie for the Calgary Flames. Here's Dustin Wolfe How you doing Dustin?

Good. How are you guys? We're doing very well I think we just pumped your your tires enough, but I'm sure you're getting that everywhere. What has allowed you to be so comfortable in your rookie season in the NHL? You know, at the end of the day, it's still hockey, right? You're still getting the play, the sport you love. Nothing changes with that. The only thing that changes is how good the players on the other side are. It's always an adjustment period.

You've got to figure out how to manage your game and figure out what works best for you. It just kind of started to click from the start of the year and obviously there's still kinks you have to work out along the way but things are going pretty well. Well Dustin, you've had everywhere you've gone, right from the Western Hockey League to the AHL and now to the National Hockey League, you've had success. From the AHL to the National Hockey League, what have you noticed as far as the biggest adjustment in the shooters and the style of play and everything? Yeah, I mean, the obvious answer would be guys can shoot the puck a little harder and

place it better. Guys are crisp with their plays and they know what they want to do before they execute it. You know, that's the biggest thing is there's no dust. It's on their tape, off their tape and kind of just being aware of what's going on around you is super important and that's been a big piece of my game this year. And you're playing against the best players in the world and if you're not ready they're going to expose you. So it's kind of a treat to get to see everyone's best each and every night and you're trying

to do your best to shut everyone down to the best of your ability. So when you started cooking at the beginning of the season, did you go to the coach and say I think I should play more and I think I'm it's kind of early but I could be the guy or did he tell you that was it a conversation or did it just happen organically no not at all I think it just kind of happened as time went on you know the first 40 games me and Vladimir pretty much split equally and know, when you're in the moment, you obviously want to play more.

You play well and you think you be getting more opportunities, but at the same time, they have a good idea on what, you know, the plan they had in mind. And, you know, it's kind of worked pretty flawlessly if you look back on it now and really be able to get my feet wet, kind of feel comfortable with, you know, the theme and the system and, um, you know, all the extra things that come with, with playing an intro with the travel

and all the other stuff and, um, but once the midway mark kind of hit, they were obviously happy with how I was playing and they gave me more opportunities. Obviously, I'm super grateful for them to give me that chance and I want to keep proving them right with that. So, it's your first full season in the National Hockey League. You got 17 games last year, but now it's your first full season in the National Hockey League. You got 17 games last year, but now it's full-time job for you. Do you have a favorite rink outside the dome now? Maybe a favorite team you like to play against? Or you've had a little bit

of success and you feel real comfortable? Yeah, I mean any rink is outstanding. I think one that sticks out was probably Montreal. That was an incredible atmosphere. You know, that's the hotbed of hockey and you know, it's certainly a pretty remarkable building. I think I really enjoy playing against any California theme. You know, I think that kind of provides a little extra motivation being from the state and I've kind of provides a little extra motivation being from the state and

you know, I've kind of been around all three clubs to some degree, you know, growing up and you know, just going back to the home state is, it's fun and you know, you want to show out when you're there and I certainly have enjoyed playing them thus far. You mentioned California, like what what was the getting into hockey? Was it just all your buddies did it or it doesn't seem like a normal, you know, California's baseball, golf? How did it develop in California, you growing up playing hockey? Yeah, my parents had tickets to the Sharks for numerous amounts of years, so that kind of got me into hockey.

Honestly, like you said, hockey is not big in California, at least it really wasn't at that time. My mom just took me skating one day and next thing you know, you're enrolled into the Learn to Play program and it kind of flies by after that and the next thing you know you're strapped on pads and you're getting in front of a rubber and you know here we are. It's kind of crazy how things are. How did the pad start though?

Most parents say my kid's not playing goalie. Yeah I mean I didn't I don't think I really gave my parents much of an option No, I was always the one to volunteer to Stand in the net with with player gear and at that time. I didn't really have goalies for for teams But I just said screw it let's do it and you know they were there for me behind me on and uh... that's worked out the firm so my understanding is you were at nabby fan first the bach off and then on to

jonathan quick you imagine your goaltender coach uh... barb's right now to say if you made a skate save like the bach off there's no chance you could play like him in the national hockey league right now but i do believe he was one of your idols early on, was he not? Absolutely. Naby was the guy I grew up watching and he's a one of a kind and I'm very grateful to have been able to cross paths with him over the last few years. Playing in the marital league, he would watch the barracuda a bunch. So I'd see him walking around the rink

and kind of shit the shit with him a little bit. He's a one of a kind dude. And obviously when I moved to LA, Quickie was in the middle of his ridiculous years there. And I was kind of around the organization, with Rob Blake and Nelson Anderson being our coaches growing up and so when they won two cups and I got to just kind of be around that atmosphere

was pretty neat and obviously pretty cool to see Quickie on the other side i haven't gotten to play against him but uh... you know you get from a a stick in the mid part of the season and though from the beyond my wall forever with uh... dustin wolf of the calgary flames so as of now it's it seems like it's a three horse race for the calder

uh... you mentioned playing a Montreal lane hud Hudson would be right there playing against San Jose, that would be Macklin Celebrini. You've referenced both markets now and those are two guys you're kind of battling with. Do you see it that way? Is it a battle in terms of these individual awards and how do you balance that which would be an incredible achievement with the fact that you guys are also in a playoff hunt right now? credible achievement with the fact that you guys are also a playoff on right now yeah i think about right now is the playoff

i don't ever want to look at you know individual accolades and sam pushing for for something when the reality of it is that i i don't have control that right you know i have control of stopping at any part of can and helping our team get two points every night. Our team has battled each and every game all year and we're continuing to prove people wrong. Getting into the playoffs is the number one priority and if the individual

stuff comes along with that, you know i don't take it absolutely played to you you're deserving of it the way you've been playing i mean it's been a great great year uh... your team got a big win last night at the garden that that i'm sure was a really cool scene and uh... were pulling for you guys so good luck the rest of the way dustin good luck again with the the call the pursuit and uh... we appreciate doing this today

thank you no thank, thanks guys. Thanks for having me on. You got it. Dustin Wolfe of the Calgary Flames and of Gilroy, California, which is just south of San Jose. It is interesting. A ton of players, man, in the NHL that would never... Who knows?

What the hell would they be doing? They'd probably be a pro athlete in a different sport. Yeah. There's a perfect example of it. My parents had tickets to the Sharks, so I was like, yeah, I like it. This is something I'll play. It all goes back to Gretzky going to LA. Exactly. He mentioned the little Sharks club or whatever. That's how these teams have embraced the community and got gear for people and and you know you see it Austin Matthews talks about it all the time

like the kid from Phoenix you know like if if Shane Shane Doane was his idol like if if Gretzky didn't take itself to the board or get traded whatever not him but you know get traded down there you know to me hockey has grown so much and a lot of these markets are spitting out some great players and Joe from the bridge put you know put in our chat Nick Robertson is a Cali boy with the Robinsons like absolutely you know it's it's like players like good players being developed in Florida now yes but but But a lot of retired Panthers, you go down there, you go, it's Joseph Stumple. It was Oli Yocan. Those guys are working at the academy, hanging out, allowing their kids to grow up into it. It's second generation players, and then it's going

to be third generation players pushing through St. Louis as a hotbed. The Kachuk brothers, because of Keith and a lot of guys have come out of there. You're seeing now these pockets, not just Boston and Minnesota, where that for years in Michigan and places like that that were more north that were almost Canada anyways. You get NHL players putting their kids in programs, they're going to have a voice and they're going to say, that's not good enough that's the like they can they can I Always remember playing with guys who are like hockey parents are crazy. Yeah, I guess who's the craziest ones of all NHL hockey players when their kids are in hockey I

Couldn't believe it. It was like they all they said and it's true hockey parents are crazy, but NHL hockey parents I think are the craziest Not at this house. I'll tell you that parents are crazy but NHL hockey parents are the craziest. Not at this house, I'll tell you that. I'm not yet. I mean my son's seven but Cammie is a great coach and his son's seven. He's not there yet. But I can admit though, I know a few and there's dear friends of mine, they've headed down that path.

Yeah, they're lunatics, man. I had one guy say to me, which was actually very true, he said, if your parents or accountants or you name it, whatever they did, the family business, you might go into the family business. He said, our family business is hockey. We grew up in hockey. I want to pass hockey onto my children. It was actually a great point. Our family business is hockey. His dad was a lawyer. You name it. It was an interesting take. Some people just have more passion about it. Yeah, you're

right. NHL players are passionate about their kids playing, man. Yeah. They set up and it's interesting you see, you know, we've been seeing this for a long time and Probably I mean, I'm sure there's other references, but you think of like great Canadians who Go down to the states and live in the states and have kids down there and then their kids grow up and play for the US You know, like like Zach Barice. It was probably the first one I could think of where his dad was on the 72 team, like fighting Soviets over there. Parise is playing for

the US. Yeah, you know, and that's it. Like they set up shop in Florida, the Bay Area and in LA and Arizona through Texas and all that. Yeah, here's another example. Recent one, Jake Sanderson. Yeah, I played with his dad in Hartford. That's right. He has this good Canadian boy from Alberta and all of a sudden his kid's American. Well, they have a house in Calgary, but their summer house is in Montana. And he's born down there, so he's got an opportunity to go both ways and, you know, he stays down and go in the US program. I mean, you know, it's, it's, it's, you're right, like these players, US program I mean, you know, it's it's it's it you're right like these players who depends on where you know Willie Nylander technically for a very right like you play for Canada for sure. Yeah, but Yeah, anyway

Big soccer match tomorrow night Canada. Yeah, Mexico and LA will touch more on that tomorrow But that's that's a big one tomorrow man and shinettys out there I saw hair the shinettys have fire out there fire Feeling it in LA the weather beautiful. He just exclusively brought golf shirts I think he's doing like drone shots where they just him on the pitch by himself and the drone catches him up top and just Floats down and it's only Shinetti. It's gorgeous work out there.

It's beautiful. Yeah, it's a great scene. It's going to be great tomorrow night. It's a big match and it's a chance for them to win something. You can win a cup here. You can win a trophy. If they can get through Mexico, then probably play the US on the weekend. So more on that as we get closer to it tomorrow night

Best bets still to come Leafs have tonight will tee that up overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 2 Alright today's best bets are powered by Fanduil make your picks and assemble a same-game parlay in seconds on the Fanduil sportsbook gap Leafs in the puck line plus one and a half. I think it's at least a close game tonight, Colorado If they win I could see going overtime I think the Leafs are gonna they have to show up tonight and I expect them to I know we've said that a lot Recently, but I think they they get a snap out of where they were a week ago It's a big game with Colorado in town and Austin Matthews anytime goal scorer feels like it's finding them Like when he gets on to a bit of a heater, it just keeps rolling

Feels like it's finding them like when he gets onto a bit of a heater. It just keeps rolling That's paying plus 160 tonight best bets powered by Fandall live same game parlays are now available for every NHL game on the Fandall Sportsbook app, please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario So yeah, we got a big one tonight. Yeah, yeah game tonight Are you planning any revenge on Darren Drager after that comment? No, no I'll let bygones be bygones. I'll take a number and I'll get them Yeah, I'll get them but it won't be it won't be next week. You want to go NHL styles? That's like slashes tires or work or something

Phyllis car with popcorn anything. You've got to have some kind of... He deserves it because he comes on my show and does something like that. That's completely unacceptable to pull that move on us, on me in particular. We were walking to the rink yesterday. We were talking about the J's and, you know, and Vladdy, all of this stuff. And all I can remember is, was it Joe Carter that gave away that rookies car yeah Bell it's still one of the greatest pranks on his face when he's driving that green pickup with the rims on it they were so happy driving

it driving it out of the bullpen. They were dying in the truck and the look on Bell's face was like, is that my vehicle? My God, that is still one of the things. They were giving it away to a fan. You had to have security involved in that. You'd have to get ownership to be like, fine, go ahead. It's during a game. There's 50,000 people there.

They sold out every single game. This guy's car is being driven out. That's still one of the best pranks ever. Oh, it's incredible. It's incredible. The tournament's starting tomorrow. And again, speaking of Fandol, it's the place to be if you're gonna lay bets on any of it

and there's gonna be a million games. And I don't know, I guess I'm not pulling for Duke because that's such a loser move. That's like being a Yankee fan or a cowboy fan but Cooper flag like I want to see what this kid's got you know the biggest moments and Auburn I was talking to Fester yesterday they've got guys that are like 24 25 on that team they could make an LNIL money I think they're gonna show up there are one see they kick the tournament off tomorrow I think so we'll see what comes of it lots of coverage on that as we move forward and full breakdown obviously leafs as as well coming off the game Tonight thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciated everyone for tuning in today TV radio podcast web

We appreciate that we're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at Woozy and stats start cranking up the engines engines. You know what's up the butler cabin and some whiskey. 4pm. We'll chat then. All new, all Canadian. The best of our great nation, one song at a time. This is Justin Bieber. Hi this is Terry Clark. We are Nickelback. Made in Canada on iHeartRadio. Rock, pop, hip-hop and when it comes to country, it's the true north all the way. Loud and proud. An all new digital radio station from coast to coast.

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