OverDrive - OverDrive - May 27, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: May 27, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys dive into the Maple Leafs' offseason priorities on the team, Brad Treliving's checklist for the roster and if the team will run it back with the Core Four in Toronto. ESPN Hockey Reporter Emily Kaplan joins to discuss the Oilers and Stars' series, Edmonton's impressive run and the Stars looking to bounce back. They also give their opinion on Rory McIlroy not calling Jack Nicklaus about not playing at The Memorial Tournament. 

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How are we feeling? How are we feeling this afternoon? Feeling good and I can already see signs. I see signs out there from different areas, walks of life, how the pattern of behavior can stay the same. Because I think some people are like, it takes about a week, and then they're like, you know what, maybe we're not as well off if those guys leave.

Gotta bring them back, let's go, I see it! Dude, I see it. I see it in Costco. I see it online. I'm not talking about Paul Bissonette being a goof and a donkey on Twitter. I'm talking about peeps out of Costco, wandering the streets. It's like there's something in the air. I think the timeline is about a week and then it sets in where they're like, I'm getting on board with that. I think it about a week and then it sets in where they're like I'm getting on board with that. It's Stockholm syndrome. I think it's a week.

That's what it's called. Stockholm syndrome. It might be noodles. It might be, but I am. Am I alone? I'm picking up on the same thing. I had a conversation with a group of guys earlier this afternoon and I was taking it back because naturally when they see me, I'm sure it's the same with you guys.

Yeah. You know, launch right into what do you make of the Leafs? What do you think's going to happen here? And I was taken aback because naturally when they see me, I'm sure it's the same with you guys. Launch right into what do you make of the leaves? What do you think's gonna happen here? And I wouldn't say it was everybody, but a number of them were, I think Mitch is coming back, I think it makes sense, and then a round table on all this kind of stuff, and always believed it was gonna happen.

Now I will say, there's the real world and then there's the online world and the online world is a different reality. It's a completely different existence. Explain that comment, please. Well, online it's 90% got to change, Marner's got to go, get rid of Tavares, maybe you got to think of ripping the sea off Matthews. It's not stable online. Yeah, Trae Riley do all of this stuff.

A lot of different stuff gets thrown out there online. Doesn't mean those aren't real people or real Maple Leaf fans, but it's a massive fan base and it always has been and there's always been people at both ends of the spectrum and then millions of people in between. And I'm curious what you guys think we will hear from Brad Tree Living because it was announced today.

He will meet with the media on Thursday and he's, I guess, been sitting there with Keith Pelly, you know, out for dinner with Pelly and talking with Pelly all day. I would expect to have an answer by Thursday on where the Leafs kind of stand on the Marner situation, wouldn't you? No. If I was Tree, I'd have a definitive answer, either we're going to bust our ass to try to re-sign this guy, or we've caught bait and he's moving on. Exactly.

That's what it should be. One way or the other, I would come with that. You owe that to your fans. One way or the other, be decisive and say what you're going to... Say what your plan is. Because if your plan is to walk Why does it matter if you announce it Thursday? Like you might as well just say we are changing we love Mitch Mitch won't be a Maple Leaf anymore But I'm not convinced we're gonna hear that well Thursday

I I don't here's why I I feel like we're not gonna hear that on Thursday is because we don't know what the marketplace is for Mitch Marner and like we're not going to hear that on Thursday is because we don't know what the marketplace is for Mitch Marner and so if he goes out it might if it's the Stephen Stamco situation where he walks himself to July 1st and then realizes I don't like what's out there I really enjoyed staying here I might take a home hometown discount in the end again I, I'm not, I'm being crazy. I'm talking about hometown discount. We think that's coming now, a hometown discount.

It's not coming, I know, and I'm instantly regretting my comment. Yes. But, understand, why would you commit to cutting bait with anybody this Thursday as opposed to going, we're going to see how unrestricted free agency, like I don't think, I don't think we want, I know we want the answer, I don't think he's going to give it to us this Thursday. I wouldn't, I guess I should say I probably don't think he will either because Tre Living has a great way like all these GMs of saying a bunch of stuff without saying anything. And my guess is he will say a bunch of stuff without saying anything.

And he'll be pressed on it and he'll say listen We love Mitch and we're gathering information But I hear what you're saying about the mark that you're you're speaking to it from a Marner perspective If the Maple Leafs are deciding Finally change right then there's no reason why you can't there's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing unprofessional In my opinion, that's not You know be that's not throwing M marner under under the bus right like if you're just being honest that we are going to go in a separate direction mitch's deals up on june thirtieth we've loved them for nine years he's a great

leaf you know there's a whole another conversation with marter down the road about you know jersey retirements and all that kind of stuff that will come up at some point because nine years is a long time. And this guy I believe is top five in points, he's top five in assists, he's put up a ton of numbers and that's a completely different situation. So they should absolutely respect him,

they should pay him that respect. But I'm saying from a leap perspective noodles. Okay again you yeah, I guess I'm answering my own question I don't think tree-living is gonna come out and slam the gavel down and say change is You know here and it's over and we're there I don't think I'll do that because that's not his nature and I don't think that's in the nature of most GM's But that's very different than we better keep our cards on the table like what are you keeping your cards on the table for either you're going to make the massive change and rip the band-aid off or you're not yeah which one is it no I I'm not I'm not trying to be a contrarian with this all I'm trying to do is look at it and

go why would definitively the decision have to be made this Thursday as opposed to obviously it doesn't have to be made this Thursday as opposed to... Obviously it doesn't have to be. Like obviously, Noodle. So I'm not saying... That's called a haze timeline. Yes. I'm just saying...

Well, an overdrive timeline. Sure, we want it. Well, I mean, listen, by then you're a couple of weeks out of the playoffs. You're into June at that point. And it's like you got less than a month. And they're not playing anymore to make a determination of what you're going to do. Yeah. No, I guess guess let me put a question back to both of you is

change One or both of them gone and I'm talking Mitch Marner and John Tavaris. So what if they what if it's We're not reciting John Tavaris regardless if he wants to play for $12 That would I a significant change. You know where I stand on this. I understand. And I continually have people, I'm being, I'm not kidding, harassed. No, you're not.

Do we need security for you? We need security. Guys, it's not funny. I'm being harassed by bots and burner accounts. Uh oh. Okay. And they think I have something personal and it's almost like, do these people think that I'm stupid like the did they think I don't talk to any other

people around the league where I get comments like if they bring those guys back as a unit and try I think they're gonna win and anything's gonna change their absolute like I don't need to get into who I know and who I talked to but I almost look at it as like an analyst perspective where I Dread if they run it back if they actually had the balls to run it back and me sitting on that desk and sitting with You guys saying yeah They just couldn't find a way to get it done and score a big goal and look different and be different and get different Results that to me would be absolutely bananas if I had to do that Like you

It's almost like I know what's gonna happen But if you want to go ahead and do it and dump a bunch of money into it and then have us all at the end Of the season put our hands up and say wow they just couldn't find a way to get it done Then like we have a job to do well go ahead and do it, but I know what's coming It's not zero percent that's gonna happen Take it zero. You don't think it's zero percent. So you don't think it's zero? Okay, quick around the table. You are running those burner accounts. No I'm not.

Quick around the table. I harass you to your face. You guys do, exactly. It's face to face harassment. Is it, so Hayes you're obviously, it's not zero percent that the Core Four is coming back. No, I would say the reverse of that, that it's a hundred percent that that it's not a hundred broken up Like if the mini Jerry's is you know that it's being broken up what like someone's going You know I Yeah, I'm trying to figure out how I would calculate that but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion

I just I've learned too much from this franchise from the way that they operate and from the players you know like there's also a of like that the bar cellman is a very different conversation john has been very forthright uh... he's on the record wants to stay this open to work it out right all of our insiders continue to suggest that that may happen in the next you know we could still let me let me just uh... and don't hate John I know that I'm just you know you just your opinion is different from what could happen though I guess the point but as far as Tavares do people

understand how not normal that is for a guy to lose year after year and he's like I got a guy I just I'm staying I got to come back like a lot a big percentage of players would be like I got to try this somewhere else man I'm 35 years old. I got to try it somewhere else Did like did they not know how abnormal this is for someone to say it's just got to be here and in a weird way It's a bizarre old world man. That would scare me a little bit Yes That it's like are you staying because you really believe you can win you want to win or you stand because it's you know

It's your home. It's comfortable. Everyone's here. I don't know. I mean that is something Like are you staying because you really believe you can win you want to win or you stand because it's you know It's your home. It's comfortable everyone's here. I Don't know. I mean that is something I think that is worthy of being asked You know, I don't think that that is a question that Brad true true living if we would ask would be again uncalled for And I'm sure John would be diplomatic in that moment and say of course, I want to win I think they can win again It's not like he's sticking around in San Jose or in Chicago like the Leafs are a really good team and they've been a really good team. They go to

the playoffs every year he's been a Maple Leaf. He's never seen what pain is like to be a Maple Leaf. None of these guys have. That's kind of the amazing thing. Ever since Matthews and Marner and Nylander and Tavares Arad they have made the playoffs every single year. Yes it hasn't gone well for them for the most part since when they get there but every year it's been a great ride. Regular season being a Maple Leaf there's nothing better than that. Paid a fortune, treated like gods, biggest hockey market in the world, every game matters, packed house. What a life. It's a great life. But that's the question if you're tree-living. You know how much How much can you stomach the change the uncertainty?

What could come with that you know who's who's available who you think you can get who you can trade for who you can sign who? You can develop all that kind of stuff, and that's I'm sure what tree-living and Pelley are talking about the last couple of days But I don't know i just uh... i've i've been saying this since they came to an end i i think safe monies on change of the state monies on maybe more relieving and that's right that's that's probably safe money that's that's probably the right bet been down this road too many times

with this team and with these players when they go. Everything is a negotiation. Everything is. And this could be two in the end. I guess the dust is settled and people are back on the golf course and up in Muskoka and having a good time and you know it's exactly it takes. It's like 10 days and back as it's like guys like golf it takes 10 days like they were like get Him all gone and then 10 days later you tee it up and it's like It's like it's like something as someone just a smell black man

Yeah, it's like they get hit with the men of black and they're like run it back Let's run it back and they all start nodding their heads and they're like run and back That is the definition of insanity yes like we've got enough data now I just I'm the other way too I don't think like the way that Mitch Marner's body language and the way that he was speaking in his media I know he's very careful but that sounded like a guy who felt like he played his last game as a Maple Leaf like he talked about his time in Toronto. He didn't once say, I'm committed to this. Obviously, his agent is a guy who wants to negotiate.

You can't say you're dying to stay. They'll take advantage of that. I would point one thing, and I don't know if we brought this up, but a defenseman in the NHL brought this up to me the other day and was like, I was sitting where D men sit and a forward with dry hair was yelling back at the defense and yelling at the team going let's wake up and he goes it's halfway through the game and this guy has not one bead of sweat in a game seven on his bought on his person be like maybe look in the mirror like I we haven't talked about that like I was chuckling about I went back and watched the replay this guy's screaming at the bench he didn't break a sweat and warm-up he didn't break a sweat with nerves heading into a games watch him take his helmet off zero

sweat dry hair screaming everyone had to wake up. Like that is insanity. That's his McDavid moment. Dry hair, wake up everyone. No, listen, I respect the passion. I think Mitch Marner wanted to win. I really do. I'm not, I'm just saying like optics. If I'm sitting on the bench and a guy with dry hair

is screaming at the bench going, let's wake up, maybe you can put in a little extra effort yourself that's the way i look at well i think that's reasonable across the board i think it's again or true indictment of things when you consider this is even a conversation in a game seven uh... but it is and it was all right let me let me throw a few more likely to happens at you guys

all right you tell me where you stand just to try to get a read on this maybe we get a pull up, because again, I did say what I said about online activity and Twitter and all that. Maybe it's not truly conducive to what's going on out there in the real world. But where do fans stand? And I don't even know how to frame it.

Is it, do you want him back? Do you think he'll be back? Those are two different stories. Right, do you want Marner back, or do you think Marner will be back? It's two very different stories. And the truth is, the fans and us and everyone else on the outside have no power in this It's Marner first and foremost

He's got to make the call and the Leafs right on whether or not they want to make it happen, too And if so what it would look like but let me throw this out to you guys more likely to happen Mitch Marner re signs in Toronto or Sam Bennett signs in Toronto Mitch Marner I Say neither No, I got a big one though. Neither's it's not here. Yeah, but you got to pick one Marlon Bennett is gonna be the exact same thing as Reinhardt where it's gonna be the end of the season Either win the cup or they don't it's gonna take about 24 hours and he's like I don't I'm not leaving Florida I'm not leaving this

team and they work it out that's what's gonna happen. I think you're probably right. I'm saying Marner then I agree because I think Sam Bennett will realize I mean if he hasn't already obviously he wants to maximize this contract but he also has to realize his situation and he is gonna have just like Mitch Marner they're gonna have a lot of teams you know begging for their services because they're both very good players in their own right different situation I watched your Jay hit last night oh did you very good you were the voice of Toronto sports it's not boys of reason it's the voice of Toronto

voice of Toronto sports I don't know what's not voice of reason, it's the voice of Toronto sports. You are the voice of Toronto sports. I don't know, voice of reason? Listen, that's subjective. Yeah, it's subjective. But I thought it was a great hit. I was firing on all cylinders last night. You were, and I thought you articulated it perfectly. Because if San Jose's signing Sam Bennett and gonna go, you're delivering us to the playoffs, he has to realize situational awareness, which he does. He's a smart player and he gets it.

But Mitch Marner, again, I come back to my comment yesterday about Ken Holland and how he liked to build his teams and what I heard. Brad Treeliving is going, that's 100 points, it might be walking out the door. How am I going to change? How am I going to replace that? Or is it going to look different? Or is it going to be the same player? Or is it going to be a combination of a bunch of different players to make up those hundred

points like that is the multi-million dollar question that Brad tree living has to go to right now because he has no idea if Mitch Marner wants to play for the Leafs. Yep, it's his job. Come July 1st. If he doesn't, it's also 11 million dollars to work with. Correct. Right? There's a lot of flexibility that comes with it.

I would say more likely mariner stays that better signs in toronto more likely to happen mariner signs in toronto or morgan riley gets traded this summer morgan are that these are all turning up mitch signing in toronto is this really dirty trick now i'm just point out i've got a number of them here i got even non-h if you want me to throw some I use you know how much term Morgan Riley has on you have five

Years left. I believe at seven and a half full no trade. How many years has he been in the organization? Eleven maybe twelve now might be twelve like listen. He's a lifer. He's he is a lifer and Like he's committed to this organization long term. You know he could easily over the years put up his hand and said check please. You know at some point maybe he will but at some point the organization might try and force his hand and say we want to head in different direction as far as the mix on the back end. You might be a part of this.

I don't know. He would he controls everything. He's got no move correct. Yeah. Yeah he's got a full of this. I don't know. He would he controls everything. He's got no move, correct? Yep Yeah, he's got a full note trade. Yep And listen, he's at seven five with the cap going up if he can get back to where he has been at times in his career This there's a lot of value in 100 a lot of value. We love morgan, but yeah kind of feels I guess like Maybe marna re-sign. All right, let me throw this one at you. This is gonna get you All right more likely to happen marna re-signs resigns in Toronto or Carolina comes back to win the series. Oh

Gotta be what do you go? Just really like these are I'm just trying to put this into perspective It's not as long of a shot as you guys as everyone has been maybe saying it It is the last 10 days just I I like and i'd my dust hasn't settled that looked like a player that was on i a m area i agree i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i was coming. He knew it was like this is going to be so nasty and it's going to get ugly for everybody and it was and everyone was taking bullets. I think clearly they put forth their plan, the Marner camp on how they were going to negotiate this year.

So I think he was well aware of how he was going to answer all those questions because he knew that they were that they were coming and if you want to make if you if you wanted the team to believe you're out so that they beg you to stay with more money I would say that was an Oscar-worthy performance if that was the intention I don't know that it was but if it was I'd say he sold at hook line at sinker. Oh you're right but again you keep using the core four or whatever or just Marner like it could be hey we're gonna put you know a long-term deal in front of Mitch or we were gonna work out a deal yeah but Tavares is out of the mix. Yes like that would be change that would be a lot

of change. That's in the end that's probably again what you're looking at and this is no slight on John especially if he wants to play for, you know, what we would term pennies on the dollar, a three or four million dollar contract type of thing. But that's that would be changed because you're using that 11 million to change that position. You're looking now you're actively looking for a second line centerman. And you're going to have to acquire that potentially through a trade unless you feel like Matt to Shane's an option and he wants to come here yeah I don't think they need to look for a site like I have a strong

feeling that John Tavares is locked in and signing whether that's a second I think so too I don't think I think it's a slam dunk like it's not even it's just working out details as far as i could go then so then the change is mitch marner leaving well that would have to be a yeah for the most guys said that i was just saying again let's just get into the spirit of things and or joined the run it back called ike well can't lose a nine years of this

and you guys literally think that you're okay run it back again well it's not about a an opinion if that's not my opinion i have made a call that's what happens they suck you into buying stupid they know they're not sucking me on it me and they're sorry i don't know like i say you want to be regular season heroes go ahead that's what they've been for nine years. In the playoffs, they've got two playoff wins.

Yep. That's it. That's correct. And we talked about it. The four players are excellent players, but they're all the same player when it comes to push, comes to shove in the playoffs. They don't bring different things to the table.

This year, how many times have we talked on this show, blue in the face going this is different got different coach different this feels different i was saying the last three and no it was used to you said it i'd know i heard you said it feels different mj said it cj said everybody on the board no i'm sorry it's a very very high and i don't think i did either right i'd i'd i'd i was

hoping it felt different we We all said it. Yes We all what is this nine years? I gotta be honest with you I think I would have pulled the plug after the Columbus Montreal blow up back-to-back I think that's what I would have said. This is that was four years ago, man I was getting that was pandemic times dude. We're outside mask list now Yeah, like we're cruising around golfing buffets are open man We can hide our opinion behind a mask. Yeah, that's it. That was those were mask takes. We're in a different world No, I I listen I I don't want to sound that sharp or harsh on it. I just get

Frustrated where it's like I I'm getting the same comments that you guys are and people going well You know, they're they're that close. If Florida goes and wins the cup, then you took the cup champions to game seven. They kicked your ass twice in your own building. Like yes, in the first two games, the goaltender was no good for Florida. And yes, you played well, but it just, yes, you made the final eight. If that's what you, Carolina's now won a game in the conference final. So now they've broken through. So what people are saying was maybe it's the Leafs they can get to there and they can break through finally

Maybe you know, but at some point you got to go Change might be for the better because we don't know what's on the other side of the group of the Defense because we haven't seen it in nine years and I think that would actually be very encouraging and very refreshing and you know like i said earlier it's like writing a script for a hb o sure crave show like you gotta mix it up and hit a change up the characters of the in the story line of the once in a while right what i will say to finish this thought because this all came up because of the trail of the news just that he's speaking on thursday

if they're out on mitch or john i don't i'm not convinced he'll say it i think it would i don't see why he's speaking on Thursday. If they're out on Mitch or John, I'm not convinced he'll say it. I don't see why he shouldn't. I think it would be actually very beneficial to the fans to prepare them. Like this, we're going to officially change. But I'm not convinced that'll happen

just based on the nature of himself and GMs in general. What I do think we'll have an answer on is if he wants both of them back, we'll know it on Thursday. Because he'll answer in a way that'll be, listen, we love these guys, we believe we're real close. And he'll start bloviating, here I am playing role play Brad Tree Living. He'll start saying, well, change comes in different fashions.

Maybe we need change in this area and it'll be a distraction thing you know toss out internal improvement internal improvements will come up maybe Ross Atkins will show up who knows anyway I got more Marner signs or more likely to happens a little bit later on so buckle up these are great I got a bunch about guys i think we should puncher ticket and join the cult back home ron it back i don't think so i'm not so i mean it was on that were reasonable reasonable

people if i come up with a one scenario you got a solace i'll tell you this you get till seven p m tonight you're told we get off the air you got a sauce you to come up with a pitch think about it and noodles and I will tell you if we've been swayed at all we got Emily Caplin coming back and I'm gonna give you reason number one to run it all right you got reason number one we got Emily Caplin coming up in Edmonton ahead of game four tonight confirmed with the nice still to come I was witnessing firsthand Absolute lunacy on a kids soccer Group chat last night that I have to run this story past you guys

The world man is just a weird place. It's a weird place I'll run this little dilemma past you guys and you both have kids so you probably know exactly where it's going Get to that a little bit later this afternoon overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app Powered by Fanduil bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score I nailed that breed after yesterday's the bockle Wow. I was a tough one yesterday. That show was Went off the rails after that. Yeah, it wasn't good. It wasn't good It wasn't good because

you know it's talking to someone about it this morning that uh... you know when the leaves are in the playoffs it's uh... you're on a high others a lot energy you're talking about them all the time they're gonna win they're gonna lose routine of games you're breaking down games it even the first couple rounds of the playoffs are just a lot of fun you know the jets are playing in autowas in there and you got Edmonton going. You got all these real there's a lull cooking right now. Yeah. And yesterday was, um, you know, a week removed and the Shanahan News was done and all the players

were gone and it was, it was a weird vibe and the Jays were playing in the afternoon and you're tracking that. And, um, anyway, Jay's back in action tonight. We got game four of the oilers and the stars and Emily Kaplan is out there She'll join us here in a moment. You want my first pitch? Yes, give us a picture give us the picture why the core four should return for another dance guys The one thing that you're forgetting is We need another chance with a healthy stole ours. It hasn't been talked about enough We had to go through the whole series without our starting goaltender and it's just been dismissed we deserve another shot because our number one guy wasn't in the

cage for all seven let's do it okay tag run it back I'm not gonna sell me but pocket also talk about it after we speak with Emily yeah it's a compelling case I don't think it's gonna land but it's an interesting first pitch yes it's not bad stop that i can land alright game for tonight we've got a lot of to get stars and here's emily caplan of the sbn who's out there how much fun is this emily watch a mcdavid and dry subtle play

every night uh... it's such a treat i'd take it for granted right like we live in an era where the hockey is better than ever. Like, the guys are so skilled and so fast. And I just remember game one, right? Like, they lost. But they were just buzzing at a different gear. And you just see the motivation. You see how badly they wanted. And it just feels like a privilege just to get the vantage points. And I do, and the access that I do, to get to talk to these guys. to get the vantage point and i do in the act that i did you get to talk to you guys

emily what kind of mood is your colleague ray ferraro in these days to see happy and bubbly or what kind of spirits is he in at this but that guy is that i have a guy yeah i knew the only one that i know of that got out in the one off day to go fly home to vancouver apparently i can be run the pot chip get them all along walk the dog and got back here though he was very refresh this morning uh... i don't know if you did a laundry but he came with clean

clothes and that's always a good time yeah we know so we spoke with yesterday and he's he's let that in that he was in vancouver i think he was actually cleaning office golf clubs because he said he's closing in on the end of the season so i was actually why he went home. Spend a day like golfing with his co-worker here in beautiful Edmonton. That's another way to spend the day. There you go. That's very true, very true. And you're right about the McDavid and Dry-Suttle kind of taking it for granted and how well they're playing. But they're not alone. Like Zach Hyman is a guy we're obviously very familiar with here in Toronto and Toronto guy played for the

Leeds for a long time the other night. He had two goals in ten hits like double digit registered hits in the playoffs For a guy who scored twice in two beauties like high blocker on a breakaway And then taps went out of midair on a two-on-one that basically turn the lights out from a vendor came the other night watching that live like how how physically is how we skates and any he has hands like he did pretty special player and like basically the definition of a playoff player the way that zack harman's

plan right now yeah i don't have to make any comparisons of all what would it be like if he's in Toronto? We can just focus on him, where his feet are now. It's special. He's one of my favorite guys to talk to, too. He's so humble, right? Like, when you ask him about those hits, and it's really remarkable, right?

Like, he's lapping the field, more than 100 hits so far in the playoffs to lead the league. He's like, well, you know, most of them are on the four-check, and he's trying to, you know, humble himself there. But I just think it's so unique and just to see the buy-in from every other guy on this roster and I think that that's the standard that Leon and Connor demand, right? Like we know what it takes. We've been to game seven of the Stanley Cup final. You've got to ride this roller coaster.

There's going to be lows. You can't dwell there. Like, come on, let's keep going. But also you got to play on a high level to keep up with us and we're going to need some depth production because it can't just be the two of us. And I think Hyman is a guy that is bought in as well as anybody. He's just such a delight again, you know, as a personality, but also just in the way that he plays.

It's such a good role model to younger players too of how you have to evolve your game and evolve your role and evolve your role to stay relevant and still do this at a high level. So Emily, you know all focus is on Edmonton but it's such a swing game either 3-1 or 2-2. You know what's Dallas saying and what do they need to do to get back into this series to to push it back to Dallas and and regain home ice advantage? You know every time we've talked to Pete DeBoer, he keeps the same line, which is, I know we lost the last two,

but I see our team getting better in each of these games as we go along. And I don't know if that's just to spin the narrative or actually what he sees, but we all saw last game, especially in the second period, where they're not going away. Like, they're getting a dominant number number of chances and they look really good. It's just those pucks aren't going in the net.

And it's really tough when you're playing such a quick strike and opportunistic team, like the, I've been to the Oilers are because okay, all of a sudden like they score one goal and then boom, two, three, four, five, and you know, you're off to the races. So, you know, I was talking to Tyler Sagan today a bit and he's been around forever and he's like,

look, I've been in so many of these situations and so many of these different types of playoff rounds where we feel like we're playing well and just nothing goes in. They just have to stay at the course. I think they feel good about the fact that Jake Ottinger, throughout his career, tends to get better as playoff series go along

because they know that he hasn't been at the top of his game so far. So as long as they mentally stay there, I think they feel that they're right in this. You know, it's just a matter of, okay, well the other team's pretty good too and they're continuing to make adjustments because that's all that Chris Nobloch does is just adjust and advance. Emily, what's the deal with Rupé Hintz? Like does he have a broken leg or foot or is he going to play tonight? Like what's the scoop with rupee hints like does he have a broken leg or foot or is he gonna play tonight?

Like what's the what's the scoop with that guy? He's an important piece for Dallas Yeah, it feels like the slashes happen to like the one area where you just can't take it I mean I was right in that upper foot lower leg area You know I was really surprised when it came out for warm-ups And then he left early figured okay Maybe just getting some treatment so they can play in the game. And the fact that he didn't go and suit up kind of shocked me because we know these guys are gamers and you know, we know what they play through.

We're paying himself his place through a broken foot at one point in his career in the playoffs. Um, I think last game being an afternoon game was definitely helpful for some extra hours, maybe to get that swelling down, um, to heal a little bit. He practiced yesterday and honestly the way he was cutting and turning, he looked really good and there was a lot more than we saw from him in warm-ups where he wasn't quite doing that. Didn't skate today so maybe why risk it to aggravate it. He's going to go out there for warm-ups again, see how he feels. My gut says he's gonna play, but we'll find out. With Emily Kaplan of ESPN ahead of game four tonight, Oilers stars out in Edmonton. The

story of Stuart Skinner is quite compelling, man. It has been a wild ride for him. He's still a very young player. It feels like he's been in the league for 15 years, the amount of times we've talked about him and the amount of great games he's played, then poor games, and then he's on a heater, then he gets pulled, then Pickard goes in, and Pickard's going to return, we believe, tonight, and we'll back up. How do you cover the story of Stuart Skinner going into tonight and the rest of this series, and possibly the cup final, considering how well he's playing right now, how well he's played the last two years against Dallas, but everything else that we also know about stuart skinner

yeah well it's an incredible that we're not talking about the oil erin colt ending at the position of strength to let their benching a guy who'd been undefeated in the playoff like how many teams have ever done that i think we've got to get our it he called it a roller coaster all the time. And so you have to, you know, go with him that it is a roller coaster. And when he got benched so early in that first round, I think that absolutely would have been gotten to most players in this league. But because of what he's been through throughout his career, because of the work

that he puts in, like there's a guy that's seen a sports psychologist since he was a teenager, he's all these books by a stoic. Like he really has leaned into the mental game. I think that he used that and framed it as an opportunity to work with the goalie coach and hone in on some technical aspects of the game. As you guys know in the playoffs, there's typically not that much practice time, so that was like a rare moment where he actually could

train and work on some things. And he came out of it so much stronger. And so I think right now in terms of covering it, you celebrate the success because it's such an amazing story, we can learn so many lessons from it, he's got such great perspective in the way that he speaks about those vulnerabilities open,

at the same time, he's the one that calls it a roller coaster and so you know it's gonna be a roller coaster, and you know at some point, maybe it's gonna give for him, and so you've gotta be aware of that, and then I think the next time he hits alone know that like he's probably not going to stay there forever because he always find a way to get himself out of it now so carolina goes to the conference final all the time and yet they won their

first game of the conference final and like twenty years last night uh... and yet they played well as a a tough hockey game to watch it was a grinding tough not a ton of entertainment value hockey game. Low event we call it. Low event, perfect way to express and explain what happened last night. That's a good mechanism. Lovely.

So I think most of all four of us, and I think everyone still believes this is Florida and it's over, but the idea that Carolina pushes it to six or beyond, you know, like how much benefit do you think Florida would get from ending this quicker as opposed to allowing Carolina getting off, you know, the mat, so to speak? Well, I think Florida would really benefit from ending it quickly, especially because, I don't know, I'm still gearing up for a long series here in the West and they seem a bit banged up right like We don't know what's really going on with Ryan Hart Nikola AJ Greer is not gonna play like if you just give those guys up to 10 11 days to

Not play hockey and not have to play the physical grind you'd have to imagine that's a massive advantage Plus of course what happened last year in the Stanley Cup final where okay? They allow one you know game and all of a sudden it's like, wait, is this the team that's capable of allowing a team to climb back in? My experiences with Florida, specifically this year, they're just so advanced mentally. It's just such a disciplined and structured game

of the way that they're able to toe the line of being a tough team to play against, but not allowing it to affect them. And so I feel like they always self-correct. like, okay, maybe this is a wake-up call, a good opportunity, and they're going to go down there and rally and take care of business. At the same time, like, it just didn't look like the Canes team were used to, right? Like I covered them through the first two rounds at various points, and I'm like, I get it, Montreal and Washington are not nearly as good of a team as Florida is.

But like this also just doesn't feel like the Canes, they were unrecognizable. So now that they're starting to find themselves, maybe it's a bit of confidence, maybe Freddie just needs to sit for a bit to reset so he could regain that form and Nikisha now feels like a weapon, right? Like Rod was so scared to put him in because he didn't speak English or worried about communicating and that kid looked pretty good to me last game. So I think we have a bit of a series now. I just, I feel like the platitudes were saying

about Florida are probably too exaggerated, but they still feel like they're on a different gear on a different level than Carolina is. Yep. They have been lights out for a while. That's for sure. But Carolina stopped, stopped in the bleeding last night. All right, Emily, do us a favor and make sure ESPN, the camera and the directors, they have a shot of Ray when everyone's jumping on the ice tonight because that was our favorite shot the other night. He looked so rattled for some reason.

He had his hand on his hip. It's like he's never been to a hockey game before, right? Yeah, exactly. So we want more ISO camera Ray. We need more Ray on ESPN tonight. Please do us that favor. Yeah, I thought you were going to say like make sure a get snacked in the water if you get cranky but now i love that but i'm all totally on the assignment

appreciated thanks and we enjoyed tonight things that i get on there's a wake up characteristic and honest like let's go just go on the ice and get it like i don't know he just lies i laughed at myself it was the beginning of the game guys are skating onto the ice and he was like I am so mad Everyone's that knows Ray has seen him where he's just disgusted Maybe it was just one of those things. He was looking away who knows but it was so funny

I had to laugh to myself. Well, I mean that's the amazing thing like we asked Emily out of the gate you know the luxury of being up close and personal and watching McDavid and dry subtle. And Ray has been in the game for 40 years. Like he's he's seen everything where too many people would pay for that seat, like just to watch McDavid fly by, which money you could get in an auction, like a charity auction, like stand where Ray stands and watch McDavid do laps. People would pay thousands of dollars for that. For sure. And Ray's like, all right, let's go. Come on.

He's annoyed because I know he talked about his headset, the cords only about two and a half feet long, so it's short. So he's stuck in his headset kind of leaning back against the wall. Right. Like it is an awkward place. And that's position noodles. It doesn't for play for play I mean you go to all the building that one doesn't exactly look inviting you're basically on the Oilers bench. It is you are and there's certain spots like I'm like Ray loves being between the benches

I like being between the benches in a safe spot like Ottawa's got a nice safe spot there even though I've been a chunked place there. But if I was in that building I'd be like I'm upstairs. I don't want all that traffic. I don't need all the people like. But Ray is right in the mix there. And then same thing in Dallas. He's literally on the stars bench. Like the backup goalie I think sits right there and you're like having to look and find sight lines. It's in certain buildings, I'm like, put me upstairs. I've got better views.

He's right in the mix. Oh, he loves it, man. Which is, and he's great at it. In the trenches. It is in the trenches. Cause you, like you can't tell a guy to sit down. Like I don't know how many times, like there's D that stand,

like Thomas Chabot likes to stand like 30 seconds before he goes out. So I'm not gonna knock on the glass, go, can you sit down, I'm trying to watch the play. Like you gotta watch your monitor and go around him. Like that's the hazards of doing color when you're right in the mix because certain guys have their routines

and you're not gonna break them because you're trying to find a sight line. So it's pretty interesting stuff. Some guys would, I think, would have the audacity to be like, hey, sit down and- Ray would. Ray might,. Hey sit down I'm trying to call this yeah

Speaking of calling did Jack Nicklaus get a call from Rory McIlroy about pulling the shoot at the memorial we have an answer on that we'll get into it and Of course, we're continuing to look ahead to game four tonight and always on the clock up until 7 p.m Making pitches for bringing back the core for making the pitch another one you've got another one all right well hear it we'll get to it overdrive continues to yes and 1050 and on TSN 2 all right Mike Johnson in about 15 minutes confirm with an eye in about 40 minutes it is a big golf week this week the memorial down in Ohio Jack Nicholas beautiful course always plays

really tough and always gets a great feel. It's an elevated event, right? Tigers, the Genesis, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, every single year those guys tournaments are gonna be huge and have a massive amount of money on the line and generally everyone plays in it and especially for Nicklaus, right? Like Nicklaus generally is a guy where players are like I got to kind of be there for the most part Anyway, not for everybody but for the most part and as we know McElroy will be at the RBC Canadian Open next week So McElroy is like I'm gearing up next week, and then you got the US Open the week after that so Nicholas Jack Nicholas

Did his press conference today? From your field village, and he was asked about the Rory situation. You guys want to hear this? Yep. Go ahead. Okay. Hmm. Classy answer, man. Yeah. Like, it's big with McElroy. What's crazy is Rory apparently called this guy to pick his brain about the do's and don'ts of Augusta and like a Kind of refresher on the way Jack played the course and like so you go through all that and you don't have the decency to at

Least place a call and call the guy and say look man. I'm committed to the Canadian Open I'd like to play the wig before I just can't do it and I can't show up like you Can't call the guy That I don't guess where Rory's taking some heat again It's you know, we're talking about giants of the industry giants of the sports world like Nicholas is so classy Yes, and you know he that's an incredible answer. Like I made decisions that were tough. I know blah blah blah I'm a big McElroy fan, but it's his tournament and McElroy's McElroy I love that fact that Jack said that though

He goes you know what I basically what he was saying was I pulled the pin on some things too when people weren't happy About it. Yeah, this stuff happens in pro golf for sure, but he basically was saying that does happen But I think you can just tell by his gestures and the expressions a phone call would have been a little bit helpful relationship that we have yes agreed exactly and uh... i will hear from a correct

interestingly enough next week up at uh... t p c toronto that's that's time we're gonna see a bit here for a moment i guarantee is going to be asked you know how do you respond to nick lerson all that but this is the beauty of a guy like him you know it picks his schedule is entitled to that

he's missed elevated events i don't believe you played at harbort county doesn't play in hawaii to start the year and did this might be a decoy so he doesn't have to answer the questions about his driver because all you have not speak at the last major for four days in a row after his driver was tested and taken out of his bag. Yeah, and I get the impression that that's why he didn't speak because he was bent out of shape that his name got out when it's not supposed to. Right.

Right? Apparently that happens a lot. They test randomly like a third of the field and I think it was Shaw flea that said actually Scheffler's had an issues too or something like that and no one said anything to him and it didn't go public but I think McElroy was like why why is my name out there like why are you why is this being you know tagged on me but I think you might be honest something yet I'm sure he's figured it out by now and you know he's gonna have the right help beloved q i thirty five in the bag

next week i guarantee it and i have matching that just for the record no i am here or a call i have matching the q i thirty five units of the driver driver man it's so good uh... right our to come out mike johnson will join us conformed with the night coming up as well overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN to TSM plus is taking game day to a whole new level with NFL red zone

Subscribe now for every touchdown from every game every Sunday afternoon NFL red zone available on TSM plus Hey, this is Ruby Carr the host of the podcast on court this week a song so good new NFL Red Zone, available on TSM+. Find out more with Encore, the stories behind the songs you love, and the unbelievable story of Shania Twain's Man, I Feel Like a Woman. Listen to Encore on the iHeart app or wherever you get your podcasts for that and more stories behind the songs you love.