OverDrive - OverDrive - March 27, 2024 - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 27, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jason Strudwick for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss John Tortorella's departure from the Flyers as head coach, the best fit for the position and Stuart Skinner's performance and injury for the Oilers. The Athletic Flyers Writer Kevin Kurz joins to discuss John Tortorella's dismissal, his head coaching tenure with the team and the next steps for the franchise and Struddy shares his best Spengler Cup stories.

Young investors may be able to ride out today's volatile markets, but investors over 60 can't afford big losses. If you're a boomer with a portfolio tied too closely to market conditions, it's time to enter the decumulation years, a phase of financial management for people over 60 seeking to simplify their portfolio with risk management top priority, a strategy that's less market-focused and more you-focused. Contact Kelvin the Money Guy for more information. Call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca.

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 and up on TSN 4, Brian Haseo, Doug Jeff O'Neill, overdrive often running tsn ten fifty on the tsn app your home smart speaker and up on tsn for brian hazee or dog jeff o'neill and there is jason strudwick back with us on time

at four o'clock internet who does new internet who does good to see a strud yeah i have upgraded internet right we got rid of dial up so pretty exciting times in strudwick also that's great that's great i want the guy who you're replacing yesterday said that john torn are all i he's a part of management night wouldn't be shocked to see him sign a long-term deal no yeah i did

uh... and i don't know dot take yesterday noodles was adamant that towards his into the cake there, right? Hey, a lot of other people thought it too. Absolutely. I think we had Drex on. Pierre Lebrun's coming up later this afternoon. That, I think, was the general belief throughout the hockey world that John Tortorello was, the plan was for him to be there long term and help

the transition from this kind of rebuild into whatever next stage it was. And then when he came out after the Leaf came out after they got pumped and now you look back in the quotes. Dude. He basically quit. He basically quit. Yeah.

When you say I don't have an interest in coaching at a, I don't want, I don't have an interest in coaching a team that's at this level. That is basically you're firing yourself. Because you can't walk back into the locker room because you walk in and everyone's like oh what you're too good to coach us. But I don't want to kick towards in the junk on the way out the door but did it ever fit? They had a good run last year and then they totally collapsed but other than that as soon as it was like he got there and then Philly was in rebuild mode I'm like, well that doesn't work.

Torz is there. It never made sense. It never did. To me it never really did. I never saw Torz as good a coach as he is and his track record speaks for itself. I just could never piece it together where I'm like towards associated with working with young guys and dealing with the mitch coughs and tippets and other young players i'm like i don't i don't know how this is

going to work i don't see the connection i don't either and we have we said this yesterday but uh... we've we've been saying for years said yesterday before you got fired this is not in reaction to him either being fired or him stepping down and I am curious exactly what happened here because the Flyers announced it as if they relieved him of his duties which very well could have happened but it may have been a you know the Pat Burns back in the day I'm leaving a note on the plane like get me out of here type situation I wouldn't be

surprised if Tortorello was... Oh you got to be careful with that as far as he's still got paychecks coming in four sheets well year that's valid too I mean that and maybe I don't know maybe maybe it was just simply Philly and the owner and management slept on it and said we can't have this guy around but yeah it was never gonna work they're they're not gonna be better next year I can't imagine they're gonna be better I think that's a part of the problem too is Tortorello is realizing that you, it's one thing you jump in on a tank rebuild, you're hoping it takes a year, year and a half, two years. It might

take five years. It might take six, seven years. And why would a guy of that stature have a stomach for that? It just, it's not surprising he's not there anymore. I can't say I thought he'd be fired this morning but that's the end of the road for John Tortorello. You look at you talk about the timeline guys you watch that game the other night and watch them over the last three weeks what's to say that they're gonna be any different impossibly like if they don't completely change out their goal to get somebody in there that can make a save. They could be garbage next year. Absolutely terrible. I don't know what kind of coach as good as

coaches you. Who wants to be like, you got to have some hope at the end of the tunnel. Do you go in there saying, oh, once that Michkov turns the corner, we're going to be into the promised land? I don't think so man like it's tough it's a tough to do on it i i i look at phoenix in utah rights of andrea turn you i i thought when he was going in there he's a placeholder to his team starts turning the corner that's generally what we see you know if there's some bad years someone's grinding out then they hope they were to get rid of you and i would bring some of we think is going to be

the fresh voice of the starting you know know, we're winning now. But I look at Philly, they've got some nice pieces there, but I'm not sure how they all fit together yet. It feels incomplete. So any coach looking at it, this isn't one year. I think it's a couple years, three years before they're pushing out of it. You know what it looks like to me, Stratty?

They could be on a path to where Detroit is, they drafts him like Detroit drafted cider and Larkin and Raymond and it's like what has that gotten them a few years later like just missing the playoffs It's like that if that's your rebuild and kind of turn around Like do you expect those guys to turn Detroit into cup contenders next year? I don't know That's not the skeleton of a cup contending team though it's not like do you see what did like as much as i like uh... raimen

who's our number one sentiment is it right now it's not be largely larger large-scale number one much as i like larkin it like is a team led by that if that guys your number one center i love the player but i don't know how much of a chance to win you have like you need some of the talent and I just don't know where it's coming from for both teams yeah it's a very good question and listen in Detroit they're turning things over like they brought in Todd McClellan because he's supposed to get them over the top you know and that's just the nature of

coaches like you get labeled you're either a closer or an opener or a lifer you know maybe you are a lifer maybe you're a guy that is there for transition like maybe you're both John Cooper's both John Cooper can be both they're trying that with Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh right they're trying it stick around for a decade we're gonna have some ups and downs here but Tortorella is a class he's a catch and release coach and there's nothing wrong with that he's had an unbelievable career but he's a guy you throw in when your team's underperforming that you think is better than the way they're playing he He gets the most out of them for like two or three years. And then everyone's like, I can't listen to this guy anymore. You got to get rid of them. And in Philly,

they just never had the start because they when he got there, they were terrible. And they're young. And it just, it never made any sense. And I think this would be a blessing in disguise for both sides. Like if you're in Philly, you can't listen to Torrance, woe is me stuff, which I take a little bit of issue with because he's Mr. Professionalism, Mr. You Gotta Do It, This is the NHL, Do It My Way or the Highway and he comes out after a bad loss and his I don't want to go through this or I don't think I can do this anymore like that that I'm curious how that plays the next time he gets another coaching job. Those were disappointing

comments. I don't see him coaching next time he gets another coaching job. Those were disappointing. Yeah, those are disappointing comment I don't see him coaching again unless he gets a heater team offer where it's like You know, there's a massive disappointment with a loaded roster That's like I'm with you because I'm seeing people in Buffalo. They're like go get torrents. I'm like why why would he want to go to? Buffalo it's the same story. See yeah, and like they're not pushing Lindy Ruff out right now But why would tortorella and even conversely the other side there's connections now to Rick Tauke it because he's got an opt-out after this year Did his connection to Philly? Why would Rick Tauke want to go to Philly though? No kidding Why would he not as fan team dude that is fan craziness? I've heard fans over the last couple days. They're like

This is from Vancouver like Vancouver Twitter We should get Bo Horvat back and it's just like what the hell you are Bo Horvat back for he just went to the island He's been gone for a couple years and you're looking for a centerman and what you got tunnel vision into Bo Horvat is the guy to get things back on track. Why hit a glory days of Bo Horvat the guy to get things back on track? Why him? The glory days of Bo Horvat. The reason they trail him is because they... No, but dude, why is it Bo Horvat? Well, I don't have an answer for you. But Philadelphia Flyers are like, nah, I smell talking around the corner. Ricky Tocket used to play with the Flyers. It's like, do you think Rick Tocket, as much as he's a Flyer and a Flyer legend, just says, oh yeah, I'm dying to get back to that roster

in Philly? I don't know about that, man. He's got to look at both rosters. Which one is better for him? And maybe because you want to get back to, I'm not sure, maybe that's something. But we look at both teams, I don't think either team is perfect. But I think Vancouver is at least further down. They have more things in place than we see in Philly right now. Absolutely.

I mean, just go watch Quinn Hughes. And last night I was a big win. Demko, when he's healthy watch Quinn Hughes. And last night, that was a big win. Demko, when he's healthy, is a game changer. He was unreal last night. Absolutely. And like now they've picked up a couple of wins here going through New York. And you know, I don't St. Louis, the percentages of the blues getting in are still very high. And they have been red hot and they haven't lost in a long, long time.

They've won seven in a row. But Vancouver is lurking. You know, Vancouver is still there in the hunt. They're only a long long time. They've won seven in a row but Vancouver is is lurking you know Vancouver is still they're in the hunt they're only a few points back they got a game in hand on st. Louis so they're still in it and it's if Demko is healthy and playing like that they got a shot and if Queen Hughes is doing what he's been doing he's got a shot and you know they it's it will see what ends up happening there but if I'm comparing and contrasting outside of a lifestyle thing if it is rick talk it's got some connection wants me in the east coast again this is all speculation rick talk

is not going to answer this and i don't think anyone has this answer right now anyway but if it's comparing and contrasting the teams i'm still taking the canucks as big of a circus as it's been in vancouver if you can get peterson playing where he's supposed to play, if Demko's healthy and he got Quinn Hughes, Billy can't even come close to matching that. Like that's a number one center, number one D, number one goalie. They don't have any of those.

Like to that level. Like what is it, everyone's like saying, oh, I just wait for next year for Pederson to come around. Well. What the hell says next year, dropping the puck, that he's just going to return to the guy? So what he's just allowed to take 14 months off and just be like, yeah, I just disappeared there for a while. Like, I hate using the term back in mind you were out, you're almost out of the game, out of the game. And everyone's

like, just be patient with this guy. Don't have a choice. Got seven years left on his deal. Dude, no kidding. But who, like what, what's the mini Jerry Hayes on Pederson showing up and being a hundred point player next year in, in Vancouver, 10%. Yeah, that's exactly what it is. It's 10% seems to get on track, right? Since last Christmas last year, right? Where we're talking half the year last year, we're talking the playoffs invisible. I was his biggest supporter too. I love the guy. I was like, this guy looks like a little

Gretzky out there. The way he shoots. He's quick and like he's shifty. I love the way he shoots. Oh yeah. And I was like, it just fell off the mat, man. And he's not there at all. So if I'm looking at a Vancouver, I'm a coach. I love Hughes and I'm hoping Demko can be healthy and that Patterson is a complete wild card I have no idea what he's gonna be and then now every coach probably thinks he can unlock this guy

But I'm not sure what you have to unlock. Like what do you what's there to unlock or build back up? I don't know. I'm not in that room, but it is a that's the challenge that that that that player it sure is and he's not a kid He's been in the league for a long time He's got a ton of security ton of money as of july 1st a full no movement clause full no trade I I don't think it's a guarantee. He's in vancouver next year Like they if they miss the playoffs, I think that opens the door for them to do anything with peterson Anything to your top centers in one in six months like just think where they were last year I know that I remember thinking man., this team is gonna be hard. They're gonna be a Pacific division staple.

And then I was thinking, well, they could have both of them gone. What is Quinn Hughes thinking? He's looking around thinking, who is my number two center? Who's my number one center? Yeah, that's it. You don't have a one or a two.

It's like Philip Headle's your number one center at that point if he's healthy, and he rarely is these days. So yeah, listen, a lot up in the air out there and and we'll catch we'll head down to Philly later in the hour and kind of get more update on what happened here to Tortorella basically talk his way out of Philly what happens with Tortorella in the future the Habs are in Philly tonight I don't think it's a good sign for the Habs because now the the Flyers might be so far gone in such a mess that it doesn't matter what happened

But there's a chance for a new coach bump tonight Like there's a chance, you know, Mitch Goff is gonna play 23 minutes or whatever Like with Tortorella out the message will be play the kids play them a ton give them an opportunity be light on Oh, it's a raw raw fest now. Absolutely, and if you're in Montreal, you're thinking, could you not have fired him on Friday? Like, let us sneak into Philly, get two points, and get out of there and then fire torts and let everyone start to play again.

Because it's a big game in Montreal. You've got Ottawa and Detroit tonight. So the Wild Cards, you know, they're significant. The Leafs are in San Jose. We'll get to that coming up. and your neck of the woods strut I mean I don't know what to make of it where I thought you know Edmonton of I didn't see the whole game last night but to their credit they really pushed late they they significantly outshot Dallas but Skinner you know really struggled

then he takes the ranting and knee to the head and he leaves the game and now the story is like what's up with Skinner should you go to Pickard anyway which I sense a lot of people in Edmonton are kind of suggesting Stroud I'm curious where you stand on that but man it's that was a tough one last night because the team battled and they were they were in it but I didn't think Skinner gave much of a shot when he was healthy and playing. You know, the game, the winners could have won. I think of the four goals that went in, specifically the third goal, I think it was Robertson's second. To me, that was a goal that he wants to stop.

It's two on one and he shoots a five-hole. As a team, I'm like, you've got to help me out there. The other ones, I'm not too worried about. The challenge for Skinner is he's had a bit of a rough stretch here the last while and there's been some that don't like his whole year, but there's been some good times, but the last of the while has been a little bit rough for him. And then we factor in the hit last night. Now I think this was incidental contact.

What do you make about all of this? We've seen it in Toronto with Marchand hitting Lillagren I think in the knee. You've seen it in Buffalo. How they all talk about it after the game about a lack of response. Like I gotta be honest seeing Rantanen go in front of the net. I don't think Rantanen tried to hit Skinner's head. Not a chance. Not a chance. Skinner is outside. Is it just one of those things where it doesn't matter what his intention was he's got to pay somehow? Like is that just the nature of the beast?

So what happened if those didn't see see it Skinner was outside of the crease and he falls forward ranted is in the white paint and he skates through and you know accidentally clips him in with his knee in the head now I hope skin is gonna be but look how far he's outside the the blue paint are we now gonna ask skaters to stay outside of the white paint yeah don't ask Drex and noodles they say that's illegal and it it should be a five-game suspension. No, no. No, well, Noodles thinks that the whole end zone should be blue, so no one can come close

to him. But listen, that's an end zone. We slow it down. So there you slow it down, so it looks, oh, he had a lot of time to jump out of the way. In full speed, or sorry, regulation speed, it's hard to get out of that way. So I think it's accidental. Now later in the game, Sam Steele runs into Pickard. In that situation, it's prison rules.

Now it was a power place, I probably would have been out there, but if I was, right away I'm jumping. I'm not face washing him like Wal Meddud or rubbing his back, I'm grabbing that guy and I'm throwing bombs at him and I'm saying, okay, we gave you a free one, that's second time intentional. And Steele could have gone a different way. He didn't have to choose that path to the net.

So I think there, even though it's a lesser hit, because I believe that intentional, now you just let him and they're really not doing anything. How we got a penalty there? I don't know. It's crazy. I know. It's absurd, man. I think we have to understand the difference between accidental contact and intentional.

And Rantino was incidental, steel was intentional and because it's a second one that he just get after the guy yeah you might lose your power play but you've got to protect your goalies they got to know you got their backs yeah and Corey Perry was on the ice for the ranting and one and nothing really happened to ranting and do we have the audio of Perry after the game this is Corey Perry on I guess his reflection of the moment no I was pissed at myself I didn't see what happened that that's I was on the ice and when when Rantin hit hit Skinner and that's on that's on me I should never let that happen you know it's I didn't see what happened I saw

Stu go down and everybody just standing there I didn't I didn't see it until until afterwards and I was pretty pissed at myself i didn't see it so so afterwards and uh... spritz myself and instead and fair enough to the same time into a degree it's everybody's responsibility to keep you done a good job of this as a group this season comes to will talk about it uh...

but i don't know if you are just asking the question because he knew the answer was no he uh... he shawter loves it he wants to be a call every time somebody looks at your goalie and warm up uh... and i get like i like korey perry is a very old school guy and i i understand what he's trying to say there but it if no one really sees what happens how are you supposed to jump in

and i've never had situations where that happens for your kind of nice you know playing the puck and all of a sudden something happens off and you turn around and there's one guy laying on the ground and everyone's kind of looking around like what the hell just happened. You're not sure so I think in that moment it's hard. But even afterwards you can't go ask Miko Rantzen, hey we've got to fight me because you're Manitra Goli.

He's like no, I don't want to fight you and that's, it's over. So that's why the second time it happens you then send the message that it doesn't matter display does have a choice right in and that's the you know it's kinda strange perry staney's pissed at himself but then also many he didn't see it so what is it we supposed to do who like you know i said i can never let that happen i can ever let that happen but you didn't see it what the hell can you do exactly everywhere now exactly everywhere and i like i like that that's what he's saying.

A bit too harsh on himself, I would say. He is. And now I bet you the next time somebody even, you know, shoots a puck too hard at their goalie, they're gonna jump the guy. There's gonna be something happening. Maybe that helps the team. I just don't know what's wrong, Strudy. As much as I like responses, I like tough hockey, I like finishing your checks, it's okay to say, you know what, next game you better keep his head up because will be coming out of them that's all you gotta say instead of over such a bunch of weasels and got his losers cuz we didn't not taken taken number you know what was it was ninety six white if you were i don't even think you should do anything is i think it was an accident he did it by accident

so it's like it should you should tell your goal is smart enough it just it all the stuff to seems to get blown out of proportions. You want to go fight the guy next game, go ahead. But you don't have to put yourself down after saying, oh, I didn't see that properly. I can't let that happen. It's nonsense. Well, I wonder is it a part of what he's doing there. It's kind of savvy. It's almost what you would expect a coach to do is let's focus on the injury let's focus on Skinner not be a you know we didn't step up for for Stuart Skinner as opposed to when he was playing it was a

mess and his he's got a sub 900 save percentage and the whole markets turning on him like is there an element of that where it's almost premeditated like I got to come out and be a hero and be a, I gotta put a shield up for Skinner because you're in the market, you can tell me better than obviously I would know Strut. But everything I read, everything I see online is like, or their fans are like, we can't play this guy anymore.

Like he's killing us here. Like his numbers are staggering. They're awful Strut. Like the numbers are really, really ugly for Skinner. It's almost a miracle they're in the position they're in with the goaltending they've been getting. Like you get a starter that's got sub-900 and you're still in a position to maybe win the division. That's pretty amazing. Yeah, I think I was reading something the last little while here. I think 15, 16 games he hasn't had a safe percentage except twice over 900 a game. That's pretty tough.

That's staggering, man. That's pretty hard. So, you know, for him, I advocated for him to have a bit of a time off to kind of get his game back in with a goalie coach. Pickard's been, you know, he's been fighting, he's given him everything he can as a backup, a low-paid backup. So, it's been pretty good for him, but Skinner just can't get on, doesn't seem to be able to get on that role. So, I'm wondering what's going gonna happen now when he's out. He didn't travel the team in Seattle

They're calling up an emergency backup And so is it is that a good thing for him that he's not gonna play for a bit or is he to play to? Get his game in order. I'm not sure I know as a player. I'd rather just keep playing as a goalie It might be different. I know noodles would know I would know what the best thing is for a goalie. Right. Well, Noodles is calling a game tonight. I'm sure we'll get that answer from him tomorrow. But yeah, it'll be interesting because he's your number one guy.

He's played in 49 games. It's not like Pickard's some 22-year-old kid coming up where you're like, I know he's the future so maybe he can take it and run with it. I'm not sure how confident people are going to be with Pickard, but Darren Peng coming up just after five pangers, a former goalie will get his take on this. And the protection of the crease and what do you expect from your players and your teammates? It's opening day down at the Rodgers Center. It's not going well for the Jays.

Five-nothing Orioles. Yeah, the Orioles are pumping the Jays and Barrios is getting pumped. Not the best start. There's a couple things I want to ask you guys in relation to opening day, comparing and contrasting to the NHL, because I saw something, ceremonial first pitch, calling the names out, and I just, I'd be curious how it would work in the NHL if someone from the Game Ops asked you to do what was asked of a player today. OK, so we'll get to that a little bit later on. Panger's coming up, Pierre Lebrun still to come. Overdrive continues.

TSN 1050 and on TSN for young investors may be able to ride out today's volatile markets, but investors over 60 can't afford big losses. If you're a boomer with a portfolio tied too closely to market conditions, it's time to enter the decumulation years, a phase of financial management for people over 60 seeking to simplify their portfolio with risk management top priority, a strategy that's less market focused and more you focused. Contact Kelvin the Money Guy for more information. Call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca.

All right, overdrive continues powered by FDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hays, the Odog, Jeff O'Neill, Jason Strudwick, we've got Darren Pang still to come, Leafs in San Jose tonight, we'll get to that. It's opening day in baseball and the Blue Jays are at home for the first time in a long time and I noticed something Kevin Kiermaier threw out the Ceremonial first pitch pretty cool, right? For me I did his little dance around with his two outfielders Springer and Varsho Yeah, and that's what I wanted to ask you because Varsho is on the IL. He's not playing and he got in full uniform To run out and you know get the name called out and runs out there up the third base line

And then he's behind the plate for the ceremonial first pitch like how would that go over if the Hurricanes? Let's say you were heard opening night 1999 season I clarify one thing first yeah signed with the Jays this season who Varsha No, Keir Meyer. No, Keir Myers working mars working for the team yeah i was gonna say he's like like a guy he's not because remember last year they were like you you gotta go many men up in in in l a world series one world series he didn't play a lot but he was with them he's like a special advisor now so he's working within the organization

okay answer your question if i'm injured I'm telling somebody from team ops, game ops, I'm not putting my gear on and going out there and then coming in and taking my gear off. I'm not a part of the team right now. When I'm a part of the team, I'll put my gear on and go out there. Right. Sorry. Yeah, exactly.

It's kind of a baseball thing. Everyone gets out and gets your cheer even though you're not playing, but do they need to be in uniform to do that? No. I wouldn't even be around. I'd be like treatment whatever I got to do to kind of rehab this and move forward I'll do but after that goodbye. Yeah exactly. Strud would you be cool with throwing on the old islanders gear or the Canucks gear or whatever and going out for a twirl and then taking your gear off immediately or what? At the first game of the year they introduce the guys But you're standing in your street clothes on the bench right so it would be better to be in your street clothes on the bench and then walk off and kind of scurry away because you're embarrassed you're Not playing or standing on the ice in your gear and then scurrying off I I think I'd rather be in my suit at least try to look you know to have decent then get the boot say

You weren't good enough today, buddy. Get back there. I agree's a hard no. Hey, has you seen me in a work environment when something stupid comes across our desk? It's just a hard no. Yeah, it's gotta be. No! Yeah. Sorry, I'm not, I'm like, they always say like coaches back in the day would say you're injured and not, you're actually officially not a part of the team. Yeah. You come in, like remember the day strut where it was like come in early, get your stuff done, get your therapy, get your workout and get lost before the regulars come in. Lonely. That's lonely. That's so lonely. Yeah. That seems so unnecessary. It is. And I would always stick around because I wanted to see the guys and hang out and have a laugh and do whatever. But there were some teams, it might be like Keenan type errors,

but like come in, get your, you're not a part of the team, nobody wants to see you around, because there was some guys, like poopy pants with bad attitudes that would just, they would literally suck the life out of everybody. And you can't have that, you can't have it around. Yeah, it is kind of depressing to see the guy that's been injured forever and he's not really

getting better and he's not gonna play. Oh, and if he's pissy about it, it's like, please just get lost. He's always on the medical table and you're like, there's other guys here that are actually playing right now. Can you do this at a different time? I feel like John Tortorello would be a injured guys not around type coach. Possibly. I could see that old school type of mentality where if you're injured, you're not playing, you're not around the guys. Well, he he's not gonna be around the guys tonight either because the Flyers are playing to get the Habs in town and it feels like Toronto that was the end of the road

for John Tortorello you know what watching it play out the way it played out and then what he had to say after the game and then this morning he was relieved of his duties here's Kevin Kurz of the Athletic covering the Flyers down in Philly. I'm curious Kevin, your thoughts on the timeline here and when you heard Tortorella say what he said after the game in Toronto the other night, was your radar going off that that could be the end of the road for him in Philly? Honestly, no because you know I was standing there when he said it. It didn't even register right away and i think when you type the quote out and then you look at it in print uh... or on twitter or wherever you see it it comes

up a lot harsher than if you actually watch it uh... so you know i i don't i i'm not drawing a line directly from those comments uh... to him getting fired today but you know you could tell he was he was really downcast and and and he was you know the fact that he's coaching a team that's not gonna make the playoffs was wearing on him. So I think if he could do it again,

he'd probably pick his words differently. But I doubt that Danny Breyer, and we haven't spoken with Danny yet, it's about a half hour away. I would doubt that Danny just read that on Twitter or whatever and said to himself Oh, well, we can't we can't have him around anymore. I mean You know, maybe maybe that was the case, but I have a hard time thinking it was just that

Kevin it was a factor and I said it yesterday You can tell me if it was a part of the equation or you believe it to be Like watching Philadelphia play. no one is playing well. I know it's a depleted roster, but they've got some, like just no one is playing well. And that's got to be what somebody's seeing up above saying, I got to make a move here. To have no one playing well is alarming. Yeah, yeah, it absolutely is. Now, you know, the last two games are going to be, I think, what everyone

is looking at. And those were maybe the worst two games they played all season. Giving up seven goals to a lousy Blackhawks team and then seven to obviously a pretty good Maple Leafs team. You know, that's the end of a five-game trip. It was almost, you know, You know, that's the end of a five game trip. It was almost, you know, how do I put this? I mean, it's not a good team right now. I think everyone realizes that. And I think John Tortorello realizes that. And they weren't playing well on top of having

a depleted roster from the trade deadline. You know, Brear deals away three top nine forwards in the span of six weeks on a team that wasn't very talented to begin with and then you know there was the emotional aspect of it. Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee were two pretty well-liked guys and then Scott Lawton was frankly the emotional heartbeat of this team. I mean I think that's become become that we knew that before he was dealt and we definitely know it now considering some of the results so it was just a

confluence of a lot of events. And, but you're right, you know, I, I, I think you, you look at a few of the younger guys that have maybe not progressed like they would have liked. Owen Tippett would be on that list. Cam York would probably be on that list. But on the other hand, you've got guys like Jamie Drysdale,

who's really settled in, looks like a different player from October, Noah Cates. So it's been a little bit of mixed results with with the younger players, but Yeah, it's gonna be interesting to hear what Danny says just because I didn't expect this, you know I was surprised to happen now. I Obviously I figured there was a chance it was gonna happen the end of the year because the s just one year left but Why they do it with nine games left is at least in the moment, it's still a little bit of a mystery.

Kevin, what is the legacy, although it's not 10 years with the franchise, but what did he leave? Did he leave it better than he found it? Tortorello, that is? Yeah, you know, it sounds like a cop-out, but it's just a little too early to say, right? I mean, they brought in John Tortorello and for the two years that he reported to Daniel Breyer, the Stanley Cup was never the goal. Frankly, the playoffs weren't even the goal, right? They surprised last year. You know, it's only a year ago,

people were talking about John Tortorella for the Jack Adams, right? Because he had this team in the mix for a playoff spot, but he made some mistakes over the course of that final month, you know? A team doesn't choke away a playoff spot like that without some coach having some of the responsibility. And I actually wonder if Breyer over the course of that final month. You know, a team doesn't choke away a playoff spot like that without some coach having some of the responsibility.

And I actually wonder if Brie'er maybe saw some red flags that we don't know about that maybe worried him that Tortorello is going to make some further mistakes here from here on out, considering that he, you know, was pretty dejected having to coach a team that was just going to play out the string. So if this group of young players learns some of the things that, or takes some lessons away from the standard he was trying to set, the culture he was trying to set, and they go on to further success, I mean, he will have played a role in that.

But on the other hand, if they go the other way, if you're Danny Brouillyer, you're probably going to be wondering, well, maybe this wasn't a good match in the first place. So I think it still has to play out a little bit, but you know, at the same time, Breyer shoulders some of the responsibility here too. I, the teams had the worst safe percentage in the league for each of the last two years. Um, you know, there's not much a head coach can do about the goalie, right? And what's the old saying, you know, show me a bad coach, I'll show you a bad goalie.

Well, these guys haven't had reliable goaltending since Carter Hart left in January. That's something that I think is on the general manager. And you know, obviously this year, it's just been all about removing pieces, right? It was, as I said, three top nine forwards they took out of the lineup over the course of the last six weeks. I mean, I'm not sure any coach was going to be able to remain in the hunt with this team. But clearly, they have to be better than they were the last two games. But it wasn't even that long ago that they were hanging in.

They were still working hard. It was, I think, March 1st, they beat the Winnipeg Jets in a shootout. And it wasn't even out of the realm of possibility that they were going to kind of hang in for a little while, but some further trades before March 7th sort of, you know, I think, led them on the path that they're on now. Chatting with Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, covers the flyers John Torello fired this morning. You mentioned Scott Lawton and the role he played in that room in Philly I'm sure you're aware of his struggles up here in Toronto he still has not recorded a point even the game the other night I think all but two forwards didn't you know or all but four two forwards did record points the other night and he was one of the two that didn't I'm not sure if you caught up with him at all when you're in Toronto but what do you what do you make of

this kind of difficult transition and do you have faith that Lawton will figure this out come playoff time? I do think he will figure it out. I was on with another Toronto Network I forget which one and there might have even been you guys too and the question was you know what's gonna tell you that Scott Lawton is on his game and to me you guys I don't know if you've probably seen him, right? He's not an overly big guy, right? He's, you know, he's got some decent size, but he's not, he's certainly not huge. When he plays bigger, when he looks like a bigger guy on the ice, when he's running around, winning board battles, throwing

hits, getting in the front of the net, getting in the dirty areas, no, he's effective when he plays bigger than a five so i wonder if that just hasn't happened yet you know maybe he's just not comfortable doing that yet i uh... i don't know if it's it's it's surprising to me that it's been that much of a struggle for my obviously you guys know he's from up there so maybe still a little bit extra pressure

spent twelve years in philadelphia right when you switch organizations it can take some time but i would be surprised if he doesn't have some sort of impact for that team come playoff time I would just say be a little bit more patient and let him settle in a little bit because I think he's the kind of guy that when when the playoffs come around he's gonna be he's gonna be a player that you want in your lineup yeah that's what people are looking forward to I know it's a busy time down there we appreciate you finding some for us thank you kevin yeah no problem to correct kevin curves of the athletic

uh... i mean luckily again for lot is not expected to come here and be a heavy lifter i mean i don't understand how he said that comment with a straight face you just have to show a little patience up there and things will turn paint well it's not been a great start but he does. He's got it. He's got this year in next on his deal.

And ultimately any move you're going to make at the deadline, it's going to pay off in the playoffs. Like that's if Lawton shows up now, he's got to be in the lineup come playoff time. And that's on him to stay in the lineup and keep performing. Like he's got to be better than this clearly. But you know, he's on the third or fourth line. I guess Barube you know was asked about the status of Pacioretty and whether or not he feels confident that Pacioretty will be available come playoff time and he said he does you know I think I don't

remember the exact quote but in I'm pretty confident Pacioretty will be yeah and he said kind of with a smirk and that makes me kind of wonder if this is this was always the plan kind of a load management thing you know get to get get him up to the Four Nations and then shut him down for a month and a half and let him just protect his body and be ready anyway if that's the case and he's gonna play that's one more guy that is gonna be in the lineup that lot is fighting with and I think you know Lorenz is gonna play and if Domi's gonna be up the middle of the ice and you know

peru bay loves this pontus home bird like he uh... he would it would have crushed him to take him out of the line up the other night like he loves pantes home bird so lot has got to find his role there's no disputing that but if he does any performs in the playoffs no one's gonna care about his first eight to ten games and i do you think about a third line with scott lot and i think i still think you should be

playing third line center but he's gotta get his game better he'll tell you himself days i have a lot of watch them a lot of full career is that you watch him and you're like man the guys fast he gets on parks you can create a goal he could score he hasn't brought any of it and he would be a good news on this with himself he would tell you that it's gotta like people are like I'll be patient his games got a long way to go. He has not been good. No, that's the problem You can't just say you can get to a me three and find it

You got to start trending in that way. Yeah, you know when you're not feeling it It's it's a challenge because you don't just I wake up and feel it's like all city I had a couple good periods like things are better and it's he's just not moving out there strut Like he's not as confidence in easy is lost kind of what he's supposed to be doing he's always a standing still it looks tentative

it looks like i was trying to think what should i do what do you want to do i'll tell you what i do i want to skate skatered people just do that for a game and then maybe something comes down lock something else afterwards that that's probably the exact message that needs to be sent. And maybe it has been. But just go out and skate and hit and go to the net.

And then whatever happens, happens. If you miss an assignment, so be it. If you're, somehow you're supposed to be the F3 and up higher or whatever, although you should be able to do that too. I mean, the guy's been in the league for a long time you can't be completely reckless you know it but yeah like make sure that just find your confidence find your game find your confidence because they're committed to him I mean they

brought him in he's he is a local guy and there's an element of that I'm sure you know this is pretty overwhelming he's been in Philly for a long long time and you're coming home and he's a Leaf fan he loves the Leafs and like it's you know there's a lot that comes with that There's no he's an old school guy He would be the first player to say when if somebody came on board he'd be like okay your vacations over officially Yeah, like the overwhelming stuff and moving and family and your buddies are in Philly like yeah It's over and you played them now. It's over not to write like yeah big one? That's a big one. Yeah, big one, you check that off.

They're done, it's over, you're not gonna see them anymore. And listen, it would be more concerning, I guess from a deadline review standpoint, if Carlo didn't fit in as well as he's been fitting in. You know, and that's the more important piece. Lawton is a bonus, Lawton, they, I think, thought could be depth on the third line, maybe he's on the fourth line may be some of our client

carlos again simply twenty minutes in the plant is it amazing how carlo and can't have been so effective by doing so little if you look at the busy b defense in that they've had buzzing around out there doing absolutely nothing and furthermore causing problems in their own and because they're so out of position those two guys simple out of the zone, off the boards, out quick outlet passes, put out fires and away you go.

God, that's amazing. Yeah. Funny how that can work, right? Funny how effective that can be. Simplify things, but you got to have faith in yourself and you got to be able to, I guess, follow through on that, right Strud? Keep that pulse down. But that's the beauty of being a D-Man like that is that you have to understand that you

are out there to calm things down because everyone's looking around, their heads are on fire and you just go out there and you just calm things down. I understand your job is shut down any kind of cycles, put guys in the wall, get pucks back quickly. That's it, put out fires. Put out fires. Put out fires. Move it up. Then you don't have to be fancy.

I think that what's happening now with Instagram and social media is that everyone wants to quit Hughes moment where they dangle through everyone. Those are great moments. There's a handful of players that can do that in the world of the highest levels. But what these guys, what you're talking about them, just a quick puck movement, getting on your zone is so valued by coaches because they know exactly what they're getting out of you every every shift and that's what they want they want predictability from you doesn't mean unskilled it means predictable and

trusting and that's why those guys are out there so much yeah ready and I know you're a guy that put out fires you played physical but before we go to break if you can take us back to the Spangler Cup, did you have any Quinn Hughes type moments? Geez, I should really get the VCRs out one day and I'll bring the VHS and show you I mean it. Not Quinn is I think we gotta do it one day. Some of your shifts will do will do breakdowns of your shifts at the Spangler Cup.

Just flying around that big ice. You know, it's the thing of beauty. Was it figure skating or hockey? I don't know. I know it was art though. It was definitely art. It was art. It was poetic. It was poetry on ice.

It was such a beautiful thing. Strutty at the Spangler. Was Pat Quinn the head coach? Pat was. Yeah, yeah. Pat Quinn. Pat Quinn coached at the Spangler Cup? What?

Yeah, so he wasn't coaching and he came in and he only knew two like myself and then I want to, I can't remember the other guy whose name and so he'd always call, study you're up. Yep, sounds good. And I just go out all the time because he didn't know anybody else's name. Right. And like this is amazing. That is a perfect setup.

I can't imagine him over there not knowing anybody's name. He didn't know. It was such a short term, he'd walk up in the morning, you know, your name plates are above and he'd walk up and look at you and look up like, hey, whatever, not Dom McKelley, have a good game for us today. Like, he had no idea. But it's a short term. I don't know if you're aware of this, Pat was in Edmonton. He went in, full three piece suit,

he always used to wear these gorgeous suits. I was there. And he was getting dialed in for the games, and people were, like he was trying to give a pregame speech and someone said, the game's tomorrow. Oh yeah. The game's tomorrow.

He's like, yeah, he gave us a 10 minute about going over, we have a huge game today, we gotta play, we have a practice today, game tomorrow, we'll have a good practice, boys." And we all went out there. And he still had his suit, not his jacket on, but his dress shirt on underneath his tracksuit. I could tell you a thousand Pat Quinn stories.

Oh my God. He was yelling at, he'd yelled at the refs the whole time. He'd be going around in warmup before the game and the ref come by, like, is Pat in a good mood? I'm like, he's not. we've been losing. He's like, oh God. And then just give it to him. Offside, too many men, icing. I'm like, oh my God. Unbelievable, this guy. Wow. I can't believe I'm just learning that. That A, you were in Edmonton with Pat Quinn and then you're at the Spangler with Pat Quinn. Did you have two stints at Edmonton's strut?

No, just one. So he came, remember he coached the world junior and then he're at the Spangler with Pat Clark. Did you have two stints at Edmonton Strud? No, just one. So he came, remember he coached the World Junior and then he came over after. Right. Were you at the end of the line at Edmonton or was that kind of new? No, I was at the end. Yeah, I was at the end. So, but we had Craig McTavish was there for my first year, then Pat. And yeah, Pat was, he was a treasure.

He's a national treasure. Like he, he would tell us, he'd go in'd go in there to yelling you gotta play hockey like Bobby Clark We play hockey battle and I sat beside this guy Luber bear Viznowski really skilled D man Yeah, and Luby looks over he's like study who is the Bobby Clark and like he used to break Russians ankles like oh That's not good like no it wasn't good. They're like they had no idea who's talking about right? Yeah, gotta play like Bobby Clark. Oh,. No idea. Got to play like Bobby Clark. Oh, it was crazy. Get out there and play like Bobby Clark.

Some 19-year-old from, you know, Moscow. I was like, who is that guy? I don't know. Dude, nothing beats the Olympics, man, when he put in Luongo over Brodeur. And this is how he did it. Right before walking out, he goes, Luigi, you're in net. Not Roberto or Luongo, he called him Luigi. Luigi, you're in net.

Luigi, you're in net. Oh, man, I wish I was a fly on the wall when he said Luigi, you're in. Was he yelling at the refs at the Spengler Cup, too? Like, did he bring the same kind of attitude to the Spengler or was it more relaxed for him? I remember, but to be honest, I was on the ice so much I don't know what was going on. I was out there a ton. I even thought I was getting played too much. This is crazy. My

dad's like, why is he playing too much? Isn't he trying to win? Exactly. I think so. Maybe blend in a couple of other shifts here. Strudwick's out there way too much. I'm bagged way too much That's amazing. Look at YouTube both both in the pack Quinn coaching tree the two. Oh, yeah amazing All right, Darren pang in about 20 minutes We got pure Lebron still to come later this afternoon as well Leafs in San Jose overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for

Young investors may be able to ride out today's volatile markets, but investors over 60 can't afford big losses. If you're a boomer with a portfolio tied too closely to market conditions, it's time to enter the decumulation years, a phase of financial management for people over 60 seeking to simplify their portfolio with risk management top priority, a strategy that's less market focused and more you focused. Contact Kelvin the Money Guy for more information.

Call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca. All right, I did confirm yesterday that Al's brother is currently cruising somewhere. So I guess we're, uh, yeah, tipping people off that he's not actually at the location he's supposed to be with leave tickets. He's just giving clues about this place But alice brother on his second cruise of 2025 very comfortable in that cruise line, man He loves it and alice brother, you know It's supposed to be hiding somewhere in the city with a pair of leave tickets You have to guess where he's hiding your chance to win them Are you guys ready for the fourth and final clue of the week go nuts?

guess where he's hiding, your chance to win them. Are you guys ready for the fourth and final clue of the week? Go nuts. Hey Overdrive fans, it's Thursday and I'm back with your final clue of the week to try and find out where Al's brother's been hiding at all week long. You get yourself a pair of Leafs and Panthers tickets if you can figure it out. And here is your final clue. Some of the greatest Leaf players of all time have been immortalized at this location. Alright, we know where it is now. And when you hear the cue to call tomorrow, the first caller through with the correct location wins a pair of tickets. Leafs Panthers, April 2nd, Finals brother brought to you by McAlpine, Ford, Inaurora, our family, the Ford family, and you. Full details at TSN1050.ca. Those are big tickets, A, because of the significance of the game, but also Brad Marchand will be playing in that game. Right? He's likely to make his

debut tomorrow night in Utah, which means Brad Marchand in Toronto as a Florida Panther that's coming up in less than a week. By the way, where is this guy? Was he at the Hockey Hall of Fame? He's at, I think it's Legends Row is where he happens to be but yeah legends legends row A lot of legends a lot of legends in this city How many captain's dinners you think he's attending on his cruise? Oh since he loves that he is captain duty is the captain He's so comfortable. He's so comfortable on these cruises, but strutty we were saying yesterday He probably gets kicked in the junk on the tables

That's the only reason him and his dad keep getting invited back sir yeah there's when you get friends they're like we have love to have you back everything's covered always very liberal with the freebies and gotta get your back on hospitality is top-notch meanwhile if you clean the house out they want to go kick you off the cruise never allowed back yeah but if you're dumping house out, they'll kick you off the cruise. Never allowed back. Yeah, but if you're dumping money in, hey, anytime. Actually, they do want you back because they want some of the cash back.

They want you to put it back in there. That's fair. Fiat's, yeah. That's valid. I have free captain's dinner. Absolutely. All right, Hour 2 coming up. Darren Pang will join us.

We'll keep teeing up the Leaf game tonight as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 in 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. 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. Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeartRadio app and at iHeartRadio.ca.