OverDrive - OverDrive - March 24, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 24, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' defeat to the Predators, the best option to start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Eastern Conference playoff race. They also discuss the close goaltender fight between Jeremy Swayman and Darcy Kuemper and Sheldon Keefe calling out Johnathan Kovacevic after the defeat to the Senators.

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This Hour of Overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go, Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app your home smart speaker up on TSN2 Brian Hays, your dog Jeff O'Neil, Jamie Noodles, McClennon. What's going on? I find tensions to be high in the sports world I don't know what it is. Golfers are smashing sprinkler heads into pieces, throwing clubs, just going crazy. College coaches are having meltdowns. Soccer coaches are getting red cards in big games.

And Leaf fans with every loss are just, man, they get disappointed. They just, they build up the three games. They're like, man, they get disappointed. They're, they just, they build up the three games. They're like, man, love what I'm seeing. Team's got a chance. They lose a tough one in Nashville. Go to the gym. It's like clockwork. They're like, that's the same team, Jeff.

I've been telling you about all your, I'm like, I know, man. It's a quick reaction. It is a quick reaction and I get it. It's easy to fall back and say, that's the team they are. You know, they just, you got to win a game. It wouldn't have been helpful to win in Nashville. Absolutely.

Like, just try to get this Atlantic thing. Florida stumbled earlier in the day, but then Florida goes ahead and picks up a little cheesy, greasy one against Pitt yesterday. Then it wouldn't shock me if they ripped off three and Amora and then it's kind of game over but it's just not the end of the world in the West you got Winnipeg and the East you got Washington then you got some good teams that are kind of inconsistent like basically the whole league the top even the teams that are making the playoffs and then you got the dumpster fires at the bottom that's

what you got it is sorry that was a little long-winded fellas like it it's overreact like this how many games they got left well they got 12 left yeah I I don't think they're gonna go 12 and oh so I mean there will be losses you're in and relax well okay San Jose I think you guys are losing your minds okay because I think you guys are losing your mind here Okay, because I think I did you hated Saturday night. Well, you know, but here's this is this is at the core I get a little pie chart. I might get to oh, I love the pie. I got a little pie chart I might decide to sprinkle at some point. Yeah, I love I got a lot today All right

I got a seven I got a rankings of the seven Canadian fan bases and how they're experiencing things right now. From at the top, who's having the most fun, to at the bottom, who's having the least fun. We should just, oh, you and I could just put up a new. I got that later. I got that later. Wow. I'm glad I got my little blurb in at the beginning.

But here is at the core, I think, of every Leaf fan, is that they just are begging for this team and specifically the leadership to do something different to make it feel a little bit different and and that uh... because of the game on saturday night doesn't mean that that can happen but they're actually is

a carrot that you're chasing here that is very different than anything in the past right this this the Leaf team this Leaf organization literally never wins their division never ever they've done it like twice in a hundred years so it never actually happens and has this group of players ever done it no well the Canadian division that was it the COVID year which that I again it doesn't it counts but it doesn't really count because there's no fans and you're playing seven Canadian teams and they ran away with that division to their credit then we know what happened in the playoffs they're up

3-1 against the Habs the rest is history but there actually is something worthy of chasing down the stretch in the regular season yes and you're up to nothing against one of the worst teams in the league that have been awful all year and they were horrible in the first period. Horrible. The Leafs rolled in there and just smacked them around for 20 minutes. That was an 8-1 win. And that's what it should have been.

An easy two points, take your points, go home, Florida, you're behind us, Tampa, you're behind us, come get some. And instead, the Leafs get into the first intermission, their feet up and say well we've done our job here boys. You're right about that. And you're right about Nashville they get smacked and then they're like fine take the two points. Yeah and that's what drives I think Leaf fans crazy. You're gonna lose games of course you're gonna lose games.

Of course they're not going 12-0 down the stretch. Neither's Florida neither's Tampa that's not expected. If you're expecting that you're gonna lose games. Of course. They're not going 12 and 0 down the stretch. Neither's Florida, neither's Tampa. That's not expected. If you're expecting that, you're delusional. And you don't actually know what's going on here. That's not at the core of the reaction. That O's getting that you're getting that I'm getting. No, and I get that, and you make a great point. The context of it means a lot. That's the point. It's like two points are right there. You've got a wounded duck there in Nashville. That's, they're all dying to go home. They're dying to leave.

Like their U-Hauls are packed. They've got everything done. All you gotta do is come out in the second and lean on them. Instead, they were horrendous in the second period. That was the crazy part. Horrendous. Because all I kept thinking about in that first period

was like God Nashville looks awful and the Leafs are just out here flying and it's like two different teams I felt bad for Andrew Burnett but you know you we call out your team and all your you but then they got going and the Leafs absolutely went to sleep yes and it was you know it was noticeable that's the difference it was noticeable okay, maybe they'll turn it on, maybe they'll find, like you mentioned, oh, like Florida didn't have their goods yesterday, but they greased their way back,

they tied it with five minutes left, they went in a shootout, like, they got their two points against a team that wants, you know, that's going home, Pittsburgh. But Saturday night, it was a tale of two teams it was two games within one and you can go back you know a couple weeks before that was San Jose in town they're up to nothing against San Jose and they piss away a point and that's three points where over the course of the season you can look at different games different things but when you're up to

nothing against an awful team that is dead in the water you got to close that that's all it is like that it does you have to get deeper than that you don't have to look at specific players you don't have to say well what happened here why didn't you change this or that or it's it's really not that deep if you're up to nothing against Nashville or San Jose you got to close yeah and if it's Nashville Hayes it might have been as simple as you you get you play for number three And that ends and it's over the white flag Yeah, it was all it was almost over and if you play for number three and just do like get number three

Yeah, and that really they say I'll find take the two points Right, they score early in the second period is Kurt. I think it's over Yeah Yeah or even if you get to the second intermission up to nothing. Because Nashville, if you look at it, had scored four goals in their previous four games. They never scored goals. They weren't scoring and then they find a five spot. Guys, that team, I'm telling you, that team, if they think that they're going to be any better next year, I'm sorry. They got that team. I mean, you plug EOC back. They've got

some players there. I'm telling you. I disagree on that. They need some guys to snap out of it. Well, I agree. I agree. agree there's a couple guys making some money down there that it's like what even Stamco's looked did he play on Saturday well you had one one-timer in the second period like that it was like mmm that looked dangerous but outside of that like he wasn't a dangerous five on five player Mars is so I noticed like I you know they miss yose that they have Blanken ship running at the power play on the back end that that's not yeah, you'll see this I don't know and he that that's significant, but that's at the core of it again

That that is where I have to fight back on people are all reacting. They're not overreacting Yes, they won the previous three games But it's because of the connection to what they're chasing here And and that's what I think is is different is again If Florida was was 12 points up and a lock to win the division and the Leafs were playing Tampa Then I think most Leaf fans would actually kind of be asleep right now. Yeah, just would say I'll just get there You know, maybe fight for home ice. That'll be great You know, maybe Marner hits a points. Awesome. And Willie gets to 45

goals and Austin chases down something and the new guys settle in and who's going to be like, there's always things to talk about that people will be connected to, but it's not going to drag you in because honestly, the Leafs have not had a regular season like that drags you in as a team in quite some time. Matthew's chasing 70 this time last year was really starting to flare up. Like this time last year it was like, all right, this cat's chasing 70, this is amazing. This year, you're chasing the division

and they still can win it. Like they're two points behind Florida, I think they have a game in hand and they still play them two more times. So there's ample opportunity for them to kind of rope a dope this and get there and you got Philly tomorrow night a team that is kind of walking crawling their way to the finish line. A touchdown last year. Yeah like they're kind of just and then you're in San Jose yeah like tough travel in a late game but you got to

win that game yeah so you can pick up four quick points in the next like four days and then you're right back on the saddle you're right you got it is positive thoughts to look at contacts that's in you know in the end they won't be positive though noodles cuz the window be philly and then they'll be channels a and then believe fans are going to be happy for two minutes and then they're gonna say they have a dash for a while if they miss by a point or two, I mean, people, there's going to be a forensic auditing here the whole season. In the end, you're going to play a good team regardless. You've got to worry about your

game. That's the way I see it. You know, I still, and I was posed this question today, like, 12 games away, who's starting a net game one? Honestly, I continue to... I said Stollers. I think it probably is Stollers. But with the short leash as to, like, i can't i said scholars i think it probably is still like with the short leash as to like i'd i can't tell you why not wall but i can't tell you why not scholars like both of them collectively stolen dollars has zero starts in the playoffs yes one appearance wall has four starts so it's not like they have a wealth of experience

it's who you're going to trust who who you've got a gut feeling about. You know, I did say Stolarz watched and went to a Stanley Cup final last year, but watch the experience, watch Bobrowski go through it. Like maybe... There's probably some value in that. I do believe so. You guys both know that if you ask, let me ask you this, if you ask Chief right now and said, if you ask him, do you know who's starting game one of the playoffs?

Do you think he would say yes? no I I don't think he would well you're talking privately like not announcing it on the show of course I have you just had a minute like you had a coffee with him in the stands before a morning skate and you said hey do you know who do you know right now who's who's gonna be starting in game one I don't know if he says yes I know well I think I come down to the last week of the season. But that's where the platoon system comes in. Now, Boston used it until they didn't, right? So it was, hey, remember we were talking about on the show, it's like it's going to

All-Mark, it's going to Swainman, and then, you know, Swainman won and they went to All-Mark. But they also committed to that plan weeks in advance exactly and they and they made sure everyone knew it like we remember montgomery said it after game one where he said we have a plan and we're gonna stick to it and you're gonna see it and that kind of tip everyone off all marks going in game two right like swainman started game one all mark and swainman played really well and they won that game and all mark when in and everyone realized okay they made up their mind yeah like weeks

before regards to what happens and that would suggest because we're weeks were we're only a few weeks away we're four weeks away I think I think he would I think he knows I think he I think he knows how does he know Hayes what are you talking about they played 70 games what I. What else are you waiting for? Of late, Stolar's early was the guy and then he hasn't been as dominant and then walls come on. I gotta say one thing, I thought it was insane to even think about a two goalie kind of rotation in the playoffs. But if that's what these guys want, man, go for it. Go nuts. How about it? If that's what they want to do and they play better with like a rotating thing

I've always said if you've got two guys you don't have one. I hate it I think it's stupid, but I'm almost on board with that's what they need like what's crazy That's disappointing to hear from you That's disappointing to hear from you. Because... That's disappointing to hear from you. I hate it! You're a shell of your former self. And I hate to see it.

A year ago you were yelling about Boston's goaltending going, That's ridiculous! Well here's the thing. You're right, the old saying, If you have two number ones, you don't have a number one. Because you're always second guessing. So let me paint a picture for you. Game one.

Pick a goalie, Stollers. Stands on his head. second-guessing so let me paint a picture for you game one and pick a goalie Stollers stands on his head it goes to the triple overtime they lose one nothing mm-hmm I lost you know what could you go to wall what do you do like yeah you're right I'm on that's that's all you had to say you talk out of it what about what about the opposite game one Stollers is then gives up you know three goals on five shots gets pulled that wall stands on his head and starts game two

regardless of the result probably just before i go after wall i guess i i i guess my whole thing is is it's situational i'm very uncomfortable with this whole situation it is but it is but very it's very unsettling most teams are like that now no they're not not that the not the big boys. Let me ask you this. Like Hellebock, Logan Thompson, Vasilevskiy, Bob. Pace, you're chief. Yeah. You're in your desk. You're in your office. You got your feet up on your desk.

Stolarz and Wall come in and they say, we're both comfortable kind of rotating. What do you think, coach? What's your answer? I hate hearing that that i hate that attitude because that means i i want them coming in saying i'm number one i want the net i don't want ever see this guy again but i want him to jerry sparks on a different rake when i get into the playoff i want to have a hard pad to warming up the ups i want him to read a letter and it's a pat's hat on the other for break number eight at the back for the idea that i want him a

george bell or we practice that's the attitude i want i want these guys to come in i don't want to come by off holding hands they were all in this together no you're not about that all right i want a dog i have a lot of weakness and i i i apologize that i even thought that well i guess it's because i can't decide because i know there's quizzes coming up yes and there's going to be one saying

who is the starting goalie for the leafs here is laughs and it's a week by week thing yeah flip-flopping all year but maybe maybe that i guess this is why i would say I think Barube would have an answer And I think it's an organizational conversation, but they'd all be in on this over the course of the season, but Stollers based on his play. I think he's had the upper hand like he's he's played very well Yeah, all year his stats have been great. He's been been very consistent for them he's won them a lot of games

yep so the case for stole ours from that standpoint if you're if you're jocking based on what happened in the regular season and it's all ours is your number one guy i'm not convinced wall won't be the guy in the end because i think he i think they look to him as a guy that has the potential to be a clutch the more the more upside the more him as a guy that has the potential to be a clutch bully. The more upside.

The more upside and a guy that in the moment has shown them at times already as a Maple Leaf, the lights are not too bright for him. And I do think that is something that has to be considered in this conversation when it comes to Stoller's, that he just hasn't been given that opportunity and maybe he thrives. But if he doesn't, you're putting yourself in a bad place. Like if you put him out there and you're like, okay, we're going to commit to him for two games because we owe him that. He's had a great year and we want him to be our number one. And you're down two-nothing because

it's just a couple of bad goals, flaky goals, or even just Samsonov-like goals. It doesn't get shelled, but two-two and the third and some guy comes down the wing and floats one in and it goes in yeah And you're like man gotta have that there was that wasn't that was Trent Frederick last year It was on it was right after they tied it for Tuesday tied it I think to make it to two and he came down it floated one down the side wall side, right? Yes, and it was a brutal goal that could not go in it was a backbreaker Yeah, and that's I think what you have to be considering here, and I'm sure what they're thinking right It's not necessarily like who's the best statistically who's in form. It's who is not gonna break our back

So trust like yeah, and I think I think you could make the argument wall could be that guy Because he did he has proven that in the playoffs in the past until he didn't until his back Well, it's a nice show on though. That's whatever blue out. So Craig Barube wasn't here for game seven So he did not live through Whatever the hell I was somebody that was there. Well, I was free living was there and Shanahan was there Okay, but he's gonna make up his own mind, but you're right game seven there and Shanahan was there. Okay but he's gonna make up his own mind but you're right. Game seven. Do you remember that whole nonsense like there was whispers like hey Joseph Wall like hey Samsonov. It was shocking. It was it was an insane development. Day of the game. Right like I remember a dragger tweet

Joseph Wall is not playing tonight. I think it was driving. I almost drove off the... Yeah, it was staggering. It was absolutely staggering. That won't come into play, but if... Like you look for many... Now this year he's played. This year he got injured off the bat,

like out of the gate to start the season. And it was a horrible start for him because of what it... Last time we saw him, it was... Well, he wasn't available for game one. It was the shoot-ball game seven we saw him we wasn't available for a long game seven yeah he wasn't available games in game seven and then game one of the season he was not available game thing like basically day of the like joseph wall i don't think is playing tonight's and all the

sudden going on and then he didn't play but since then he's been healthy and he's played through everything worked and work through that and nothing like no hiccups or anything can't look back but i i still believe i just went with stole ours on age size the way they play in front of him and it's got nothing against joseph wall

i just uh... i agree those stores would be your guy but i i don't have a definitive like technical answer for you it's a gut feeling going i look at stole ours when he's been when he's been healthy, he's been very consistent, he's played well. The style that he plays, like, and this is a Freddy the Goat comment from Babs, but 6'6 is 6'6, right? Like, he covers a lot of net.

Every day. Every day. And, and to me, I like Joseph Wall's game and I don't disagree with you I think the ceiling is higher for wall. I think two years from now It's walls net and we're not even it you know, we're not even discussing it. Mm-hmm But right now in this scenario, there's still a great unknown because again Anthony Stoller's has zero starts in the playoffs. Zero. Yeah. Like I have one.

Yes, you were ahead of him. Hockey DB. But I, but he, I think he's got a lot of like jam and I think he plays hard and I think he would be given the opportunity. But you're right, like, I think Craig Berube and his staff would probably have an inkling of who they would lean to.

But either way, it's a short leash because you've got a guy who's capable sitting beside you where it's not your traditional it one and two it's hellebuck and eric comrie it's hellebuck his net it's a salafskis net you know that's it's just urchin i don't think they'll make it though that ranger team and i do that they were awful and one of the rick and they were

it was a miracle because lankan it was terrible but And Demko might be returning actually yeah tonight I ever seen a team that Rangers where it seems like they lose eight in a row and then they win one and they're right back In the play. It's just it's an amazing like they're they're just hanging around They're terrible for a week straight. They win one and it's like back in it. Yeah, well, I think they're point for a week straight they win one and it's like back in it. Yeah. Well, I think they're awful. They look terrible, man. They look lifeless. Like they had 13 or 14 shots the other day.

13 against Calgary in the fact and lost. No, this is the one. This one, they beat Vancouver. They had 12 shots and one of them was an empty netter. Their 12th shot was an empty net winner. So in two games, because they had 13 against Calgary, check to see how many they ended up with against Vancouver if it's a 12 or 14. Let's call it, let's round up to say 15.

You're under 30 shots in two games. Two combined games. I don't know watching that team, there's something missing and it's not, hey, the JT Miller effect or whatever. That team, there's something there. Like I don't know. There's something bigger problem. They don't deserve to's something there like I don't know it's a bigger problem Yeah, they don't deserve to get in like I don't want them to get in like I have no interest in New York getting in I say like the Islanders a good story. They're hanging around your pier

Pering ball and the Islanders they are you on the islanders your no team. No, no god No, I have no interest on Montreal if I want Montreal to get in because I will say this the Habs are thoroughly entertaining Yes, they are fun to watch like they battled back on Saturday They were down and it's three nothing in four one at one point against Colorado and they storm back and they get into overtime And it was kind of a crazy overtime and if there's a playoff Deservo meter the Habs should be the first wild I agree because they're keeping their heads above water and they're battling and they're picking up late points and they did that against the Islanders they did it against Colorado they lost but they got that extra point yeah which and put them in the playoffs it might it

might like they're they're right there man it's it's it's kind of it's fun to watch them and like the Bell Center is alive Montreal I'm always gonna root for for a Canadian hockey market you've got Montreal the Rangers and the Islanders and and technically Columbus too because they you know they're right there. They've lost six in a row. Yeah Columbus is in one Detroit's in one Boston's in one they're gone. Boston's gone. But they like okay so let's just be. I think Detroit's probably gone too. Let's be realistic though let's let's go Columbus Islanders Rangers Montreal I think Ottawa is sneaking there, but they you know they won

Yeah, they got to get you know they got to continue during the driver's seat though They are in the driver's seat, but everything can anything can happen so out of those five teams you got two I mean, I see Ottawa as a team that can make it so there's one spot Yep, I think we would all agree, or close to it. So now you've got Montreal, Rangers, Islanders, Columbus. Yeah, and it is going to come down to the wire. Because they're all flawed teams, they all have had their ups and downs. None of them, you know, it's, who gonna get hot with the final 12 13 games love on paper

It should be the Rangers, but it's not yeah, it's Montreal. I don't think it's yeah. I don't think the Rangers I mean unless they just miraculously snap out of it, but why would they all of a sudden game 72? Yeah, you know like they've been so disappointing all year What about the Islanders the Islanders are there? I mean to their credit like they're and you know, they've got a goalie who can do it like that's the thing like what's gonna happen in net It feels like to me. It's yeah Canadians Rangers Islanders now and I'll lean halves because that like Montembeau's been playing pretty well Yeah, they're like that top line that's love a cosky got to the other day. Yeah, he's

He's a nice player. Just look him a couple couple you like this crazy part is he's 20 like we forget and he's a moose of a person and Suzuki like that team watching them last week against Ottawa Monta Bo allowed a wrist shot from Travis Hamannuk for the go-ahead goal that made it three two and I thought to myself as curtains like Ottawa had a little juice Quieted the crowd. They came right back and scored like they're there are really There they're it's almost like they're willed like they're there's they got something there. Yeah, they do going on They're leading the league. I believe in third period comebacks Yeah, which you know is a sign of you you're digging yourself a hole you're playing with fire if you're Montreal

But there's also you know a testament to the willpower of the team and the fact that yeah yeah they see some life and they see some you know a light at the end of the tunnel all right so we've got Bruce Boudreau coming up today Jesse Marsh will be on the show Canada third place they beat the Americans yesterday Marsh got a red card and booted because he was snapping yesterday so we'll ask him about that whole process and what is the significance of this they went to win it they didn't but they beat the Americans now and that's twice in a row they've done that that's something that rarely happens so we'll

catch up with the head coach of the men's national team that's coming up in a couple of hours the Jays the 26-man roster is set they're back home home opener on Thursday Richard Griffin will join us. Alejandro Kirk with a five-year deal. Kirk, Kirk getting a big deal. A lot of commitment, a lot of money. Get a good spring. He's ready to play. He's ready to perform. We'll ask Griff about that and what it means for him, his future and the rest in terms of moving money around for the Blue Jays. So that's coming up later this afternoon. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.

I'm surprised to hear that we haven't had a goalie fight in the NHL since 2020. Did you want to see it dust up last night? Yeah, Swamen and Kemper were going to go and the in the restaurant they all three of them are three of the four jumped in immediately and stop that action see I should I think it should they should have let him go only for one reason is Kemper actually started the fight his Kemper yeah he was pissed he was pissed that he got run into so he grabs the head I can't remember of 92 and so Swainman comes down and they drop the glove let him go. Yeah, exactly Do you remember Mike Smith and in camped out Mike Smith is a big big boy that fight was that was the last one?

Yeah, but that's five years ago. It knocked him down. I was an ugly. Do you remember? Who was was it Rick D Pietro and Brent Johnson Brent Johnson broke his his Brent Johnson was a he was a lefty and he's a big guy I played with him in st. Louis And he could fight and DiPietro who had been on and off injured his whole career Drops the gloves and if you see if you can pull it. I don't remember that fight It's a left and it hits DiPietro in the cheek it breaks his cheekbone he's out for months again 15 years for 15 that's the rest of his contract so in my era I think the toughest goaltenders there was a lot of them but what a quick pull that was a

great show from the bridge is on fire so So, D. Pietro's playing for the Islanders and Brent Johnson's playing for Pittsburgh. They square off and we're watching it. Like this is, watch the left. D. Pietro's no idea what he's doing. Like you can just tell the guy. That was me versus Sheldon Surrey. I was like, all right right let's drop the gloves skilled defenseman from the quebec league oh yeah sheldon seray one punch like that but that's seray and then you're like he's from northern alberta or something like that he is he hunts bears exactly tough as nails but my memory and i'm sure there'll be a few others but ray emory was legitimately like a tough guy. Emery could fight.

Ray Emery? Emery could fight. Dan Cloutier. Yeah, he had a loose cannon type body to him. He had a lieutenant Dan. I loved Dan Cloutier, like loved him. Old school bucket too, remember his helmet? So I felt bad because I've been involved in a couple, Dan Cloutier, I think it was Tommy

Sallow and I was on the bench and Cloutier was playing for the Rangers and he went crazy and he like Salo came in third like it was ugly but that Dan Cloutier was like he was like player tough like that's yeah he had that reputation I think he fought a couple players he did like Billy Smith there's the old school one on Instagram where he waves off it he fights Lanny McDonald. Okay. That one is... And Lanny was tough, man. Well, so was Billy Smith. Okay. Billy Smith dropped the gun. I'll tell you one thing about that Swamen incident. I think Swamen, I don't want to read too much into it, but Zadorov had some comments after the game. And I don't know if Swamen's routine is kind of wearing on people. Yeah, it's a door off

I don't know if we have that clip, but yeah, I was like The door off was like they was asking like what do you know? He's like, what do you think about Swamen like protecting all your tell of his team and the end? The door off was like oh is that what he was doing okay I think we have it yeah let's let's play this was Zdorov in the scrum afterwards about the Swainman almost fight with Kemper. Do you guys appreciate that Jeremy stuck up for Lucenino? Is that what it is? I don't know. No comment. No comment. So I don't want to like go down a road where maybe Swayman's actions getting a little bit thin. I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but he didn't exactly seem like

he was... That's a weird response from a guy that like Zdorov not exactly said they know chara right the whole teams playing poorly yeah swain has been awful lately yeah they like his numbers are staggering how bad they are the teams put up the white flag and they've been bad yeah but I know that is like why do you know comments was swayed that's what I said I don't want to like dig I know this weird one it's a weird one man I'm like that's a weird one where usually say that a weird one, man. I'm like, that's a weird one where usually you'd say, that's what Swamen's all about,

man. He's my guy. He looked at the guy and said, oh, is that what he was doing? No comment. Well, it is weird. That was weird. I was like, you mentioned it off the top that people are ornery right now. Yeah, everyone, too.

At golf tournaments, at soccer matches. Let's play Schelt. We got two clips here. Jonathan Kovacevich and Sheldon Keefeon keep over the week that one was insane this one is wild so cover savage is is is is going for for the devils yeah and the amazing thing that you have to keep in mind and i'm not taking a shot at them this is just a fact because he's talking about playoffs he's never played a playoff game in the nth over savage no other services never talking to your

term point out guys your time you know that's what you playoff game in the NHL. Kovacewicz, no. Kovacewicz has never played. He was talking two-year, ten-year, ten-year. Guys, the best thing about this thing, early in the season Kovacewicz scored and Sheldon Keefe came out and he's like, that's Kovacewicz, my guy Kovacewicz. Okay, well, here's how he feels about Kovacewicz. These are the comments and then the response by Sheldon Keefe. We're in a fight and hopefully that gets us in that playoff mentality, 10, 11 games out and we carry that into playoffs. So, yeah, obviously the results are tough, but we're in a fight here and we're not going to back down.

Cobert Savage just mentioned to us that he thinks the team kind of needs to have that playoff mentality going down the stretchers. Cobert Savage just needs to play better. That would help. That would help. Then he walked off. And then he's gone. He storm walked off. And then he's gone. He

stormed off. That's a mic drop, but I don't even know, like do you blame Sheldon or do you blame Coach? Absolutely not, because when I saw Kova Sevich, like some of these guys, they get in such a routine and it's such player-coach speak where it's been drilled in, they have all these cliches and terminology that they throw out there and he's like player coach speak where it's been drilled in. They have all these cliches and terminology that they throw out there and he's like, we gotta get into a playoff mentality. You've heard it from the Leaf guys for six years here. They say all this stuff and it's just nonsense.

It's not real deal stuff, which real deal stuff would be, we're not playing that good right now, I gotta play better and we gotta snap out of it. Instead he came up with all that mumbo jumbo and the coaches sick of hearing it to it he's like he's just got to play better start their yeah exactly that that is uh... i like that keith has been unleashed down in jersey like he that he's always been a fiery guy it

was i still think it started about a month before his he ended here Remember he was kind of shooting from the hip. Yeah, I know like yeah There's a video of him losing it on a guy behind the glass But I think it's I think he was so he knew the landscape here He was so buttoned up here and then about a month before He was done here here I felt like he kind of loosened the reins and now in New Jersey is like I'll do or say

whatever I want because I'm coaching this team and you're right like he has he was a fiery player yeah he's always been a guy that he runs hot I love Sheldon like we know yeah well listen they're in one right now yeah like they're they're holding on for dear life and You know, they're they're not defending well They're giving up a lot Markstrom's really struggling when he's been playing like since returning from injury his numbers Not not good and they've lost Hughes for the year and yet they made acquisitions at the trade deadline To try to bolster the team and said we're not mailing it in here just because Hughes is gone and Hughes was injured before the deadline and they're they're likely

still gonna make it it would have it would be a full-blown 18-wheeler if they fell off. Because the Rangers would have to catch him that's it. Or the Islanders but yeah because the Islanders could too there's six like the Islanders are seven points back the Rangers are six point well it would be shocking. The Islanders have two games in hand too that's the crazy thing. And I'm sure that I'd have to look at this, get I'm sure they play each other, but that is, and that's the guy who's he's getting nervous down there a little bit. I don't know.

Like because they're, they're losing a lot of games. They're playing poorly. They're giving up a ton. And you're right. Kova Savage is a guy who, you know, he's been in the league for a few years. He's a depth guy. Not again, no playoff history, which I always find kind of funny when you're drawing on playoff experience when you don't have any. We've got to just have a playoff

mentality. When have you played playoff games in the NHL? And Keith is just like, I don't want to hear that. Because you're right. I'm not like, Kova Savage is saying what he thinks you're supposed to say there. It's a classic, you know what I gotta say is, we gotta play like it's game seven, you know, and it's like, and Keith just like, A, that was a name that was triggering because he saw him play. He must have seen something that night where he was like, I can't believe this guy right now. I know, but why don't you, like honesty will just help you as a player because it just

doesn't come out like a crock of you know what. Yeah. And you could, you could say something as simple as this. My playoff experience is clearly limited, but what I know is we have to play better as a team and I have to play better as an individual if we even want to get there. End of story. And if you say something like that as opposed to the playoff mentality and you throw out cliches anybody with half a brain can see it and there's nothing, there's

no substance to it. It's nonsense and it's garbage. And that's what the coach thought of it too. Well that's why, but you'd have to go back and look at that particular game. Was Kova Savage like minus three? Like who's putting him in the media too? That's the other thing is who, you know the PR person should understand, okay we're in one we just lost, who could I put in the media that would say the right things and all that? Like I don't know the media is going, hey, we need to talk to Kovacevich. He's the guy.

Well, put Brett Pesci in the captain in front of the media that he needs to kill him alone and don't put him in there. Well exactly, like he's not, I think he's 27 or something. There's also guys that hang around and they can't, like other guys are in the shower and it's like i'm not talking to these well another guys just hang around there are guys there's slow guys that are like hey i'm over here anybody want to chit chat i played with a few guys that would literally be the slowest undressers like waiting for like that because there would be there a healthy scratcher a guy who played six

minutes that night and he's quoted in the paper the next day You're like, why is that guy? Playing right who are you with? Yeah Newark star ledger. Yes, I have a word with you It's funny because we'd have to go back and look at I watched that game, but I just don't know It's not ever not a media market either. That's like Flooded with you know, had Keef on earlier this year it's like no one's ever asked me to talk before the game yeah in Jersey you know what I mean like there's other things going on down there there's

a few beat reporters probably a couple of media that work for the team and anyway Kova Sevich ends up speaking and Sheldon gave a great answer and it had Garrett Sparks Mike Babcock vibes to it remember we referenced that last week where Sparks says something cliched and then they go to the coach and Babcock's head explodes because he can't believe it's coming from that source and this is the same thing. It's the exact same thing. Keith would have a different reaction if it was Heesher. Hey, Heesher just said he would probably be breathe a little bit and then give a bit of a different response and maybe sharp and maybe, Hey, Nico's gotta be better too.

We all gonna be better. It would not be the same. No, cause he interrupted the reporter. Cova seven. We gotta listen to him again because watch, watch Sheldon. That would help when he says Kova Savage. Like he literally is like this guy's talking. Yeah, he is.

It's, it's staggering to it is like that's here shall that one more day one more fire fire about that we're in a fighting and hopefully i have to say that playoff mentality you know ten eleven games out and we carry that into class so yeah i'll see the results are tough but uh... we're in a fight here and we're not going back down

covers that was just mentioned to us that he thinks the team kind of needs to have that playoff mentality of going down the stretchers. That's what he's having to play better. That would help. He literally interrupted. It was like, he just needs to play better. And he couldn't have said a worse name. Kobe Kovacevich did nothing wrong.

No, he's not a reporter. Said an answer. It literally made his whole head wanted to pop off of his body. You could not have said a lot worse name in the moment of the covas having at the stats like he played seventeen minutes that night that he had a third pairing i had a penalty like that was it like he's actually on their second pairing but ok he's but he's a guy that they do rely on any sister stay at home kind of solid guy good hamilton boring but yeah i was able to give him love but it's just I'm looking at that I don't think there's anything he said that

should trigger a reaction like that other than the fact that he's you're right he doesn't have you know playoff wins and doesn't have a cup yeah doesn't have anything like it's like you know that's a comment like a true doubt he says yeah you know hey we got a draw on what we've done and I need to be better because I've I've been in Cup finals and shown up and right right then it's like the coach is probably in a different position, but Yeah, to be careful after a loss to just throw out cliches Jerry's that's right. We got to dig that Oh, we got it. We got to get Babcock's response is what we need to get because we can find sparks

Oh, yeah spark. I need a bad and his Babcock was response is what we need to get because we can find Sparks. Oh yeah, Sparks with the flat rim pad. Because Babcock was... He was silent for a second. I think he had to collect himself. Yeah, I think he wanted to... Why? Babcock reacted to Sparks? It was the exact same thing.

The media went in and just said, hey, Garrett Sparks has said something and Babcock was... Can we take a break and play it? We got to find it. Oh my God. We got to find it, man didn't I don't know wasn't on the show when you and I were talking Oh, yeah, you must have missed. Oh, you might have been in Florida's Jerry Sparks because we were talking about those st Pack Pat's jerseys and I'm like, yeah, I feel like they're like those those games have always been wild and I said I think there was an auto. I was on the show i remember you guys to hear about that talked about that i had a little try to find it will see if we can find the babcock response to because co i'll i'll it's the best in the media loves it to the like all this is great i gotta go out sheldon

yes he probably knows like maybe the media spoke to him off the record who's bothering you these days covis average drive me crazy and this has a guy got a great quote that i i i i'm bringing the heat right into the coach's room here. All right, Bruce Bujo in about 20 minutes. Bruce can speak on that. What it's like, we'll ask him, like have you had any experiences like this where some guy said something and you just,

you could not, you could not compute that thought. Like it just, it immediately triggered a response. We'll get to that. We've got Jesse Marsh again coming up later this afternoon CJ on the show overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. All right Bruce Brugio coming up I've got my rankings of the seven Canadian fan bases and how they're experiencing the stretch run right now. Just their general feeling. Yeah like how much from it's like a fun meter basically like how you're enjoying this ride right now. Just their general feeling. Yeah, like how much from, it's like a fun meter basically, like how you're enjoying this ride.

Right now, I mean it's a time capsule, right? So this can change night in night out, but we'll get to that in a little bit. We have the Sparks and Babcock here. I don't remember the Babcock, I gotta be honest. I don't either. I remember us talking about it and kinda laughing about it,

but I don't remember exactly what he said Here is Garrett Sparks. This was after a game wearing the same pants gear after they got shelled You got to remember this is his rookie year Yes And this is what Garrett Sparks had to say about his suggestion for how the team needs to respond to a loss Like the one they had in Ottawa had no actually like that messaging that years later and he's right they do need to be a little bit more i don't like it it might be surprising coming

from him but i i didn't mind the comments i don't buy them that and now it is again this context yet wrote like his tenth starter something rookie in the league and gave up like a six-part and he got shell and then i go well he's a passionate guy he needs everyone else to be more passionate now this is babcock the next day responding. When Sparks came on after his last start and said the team needs more emotion, does that put more pressure on him coming into this next start? I would think so.

What are you expecting from him? I expect him to play well. I just know in life when you own everything yourself, so the way I look at it when the team isn't playing well it's my fault. And it's my fault. If I take responsibility for that, I can fix that. If you're the goalie and you play and your team doesn't win, if you own it, you can fix that. Anytime you're looking for any other help in life, it doesn't usually go your way.

So just own what you do and play as hard as you can tonight. We're going to play hard for Sparky and he's going to play well. All right. Actually, that's not bad. Not bad actually, that's pretty responsible and reasonable answer. It's been a minute. You missed the Babcock pressers? It's been a minute since he's Babcock.

I haven't heard that guy in a while, man. Wonder what he's doing now. Like he's not gonna coach again at the NHL level. I think that was the last straw in Columbus. But his media messages every day, guys with families. That was his thing. Oh, God. The scary thing is, you know who the Chicago Blackhawks

need to hire right now? Like, they need to hire Mike Babcock. Yeah. I like that. Yeah, and they need something. They need a lot. I need Mike, remember what Mike did, as soon as he came in, It was like, you're going to

probably lose 3-2, but you're not going to give up a whole lot and you're just not going to cheat the game. A team like the Chicago Blackhawks could desperately use the hire, but I just think he's used up all his credit, man. I don't think he can go back from that. That was so stupid. Not that organization too. Yeah, Chicago's got their history. Their history and his history just with Columbus. That would be, there's zero chance that would work.

You're right, there's other teams that would probably, that could use that, you know, the way that he operates as far as an on- structures that i'm not talking the off ice stuff i just i just don't think i think teams have moved past that type of scenario the reason why john tour tour tour to relish still last is because regardless of what people think he still progressive yes you don't like some of the things that he's done those teams compete every i and he's true to himself yeah like he said tomorrow right absolutely like

he's a throwback tortorello but he's you know what you get and he's honest about it yeah you're still allowed to be tough on players and all that kind of stuff that's still allowed and that's how he operates and you know Philly they've lost five in a row they're in town tomorrow night and that's when the Leafs you know you got to get you got to get tomorrow night you got to get two points and then they head out west and they still got you know you get 12 games left it's pretty crazy they go they go through California and they play Thursday night Saturday Sunday and then back and play

Florida on the Wednesday yeah so it's like a quick trip. That's quick. And it's gotta be a business trip. Like I'm curious to see how they respond to it. Cause California, like you guys have always said, is generally one you circle. Yeah, you know. And you know, you get a little sun,

you get out, you get into LA. I don't think you're going to. I don't know, are the Leafs bringing the golf clubs on the road? I'm not sure that's gonna happen. It just depends what the pressure points are and how many days off. And that all depends on if you're doing a solo mission

or you engaging with numerous other teammates that becomes obvious. Right. I don't, I mean, I don't think they're gonna have time out there, they're there for like four days. I don't think you golf. I think if anything, it's team meals and you're just continuing to try and bond down the stretch. Yes. Yeah. Because it's Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and you're out.

Like it's a quick hitter in California. You don't see that often. Usually they're out there for a week. But not going to be the case this time. Hour two coming up. Bruce Boudreaux and Richard Griffin on Alejandro Kirk's deal, the Jays and what we can expect come Thursday. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050N on the TSN app. You've been listening to Overdrive powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All new, all Canadian.

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