OverDrive - OverDrive - May 28, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: May 28, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! Got Yer Back Podcast Host and Former NHLer Jason Strudwick on the Oilers getting close to a Stanley Cup Final berth, Zach Hyman's significant injury impact and Stuart Skinner's turnaround between the pipes. The guys circle around the sports world in the latest of edition of Role Play Level of Concern exploring the Florida dominance in the NHL, the Oilers' chances to win, Masai Ujiri's future in Toronto and the Stars' performance in Edmonton.

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Powered by North by Northeast. Taking place June 11th to 15th across Toronto. iHeart New Music. Discover new music. Stream now online on your smart speaker and on the free I heart radio app Speaking of golf hazy Hope Joe from the bridge put it up soon in this hour The Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley's watching overdrive right now. It's got a nice pick with the fellas right in the background

He's watching overdrive right now. He's got a nice pick with the fellas right in the background He's ready to rock. He knows what's up. I love it man. I love hearing that that's great stuff when our boy Scotty Vail, right? I'm sure so he's right in the middle of everything as he should be and I need to see that pick Rider Cup captain right there watching overdrive getting dialed in he's getting he's rehearsing speeches listening to us to talk to the boys to fire him up for day one let's go keegan i love it an absolute legend keegan bradley we love seeing that we love hearing that and um yeah listen man he's rocking right like keegan's still chasing wins and and he's he's chasing playing he's gonna be on the rider cup Cup team. He's going to be on the Ryder Cup team. I would call Freddie Couples and say, you be the captain.

I'm on the team. Right. I'm playing, man. I want to play. I want to play. It's Bethpage Black. It's in New York. It's going to be unreal.

And we got the Memorial this week, then the Canadian Open next week, then the US Open. This is one of the best, if not the best, three-week stretches in golf, man. It doesn't get much better so we'll have picks on that a little bit later on I might have to take Keegan I think I'll take him first right now that pick fired me up I'm emotional I'm fired up like I'm taking him first he's my first pick okay then I'll maybe take Scheffler but I'll think about I want Keegan I might want Bradley I might want Struddy right Strud caning out there and hack and whack

and and jason strudel could join us here in a moment and uh... he always complains we only invite him on after a loss and here they are winning your others are winning they're almost in a cup file somehow he'll spin this into a how you know how he were well you know he's never think he just says screw it i'm going into the past that undercover tonight in blossom steam put on a mustache and uh... anything had or so i don't know if you have some glasses and just are causing problems

out there i'd love to see you have seen him do it on the dance floor with a couple and i'm but uh... i don't that was back in the day i don't think he's got i think he's got the moves anymore let me ask you this models and i know you guys were probably shattered back in the day and you had a hundred drinks and white Russians or whatever You used to drink trying to like Saturday eat China white. Sorry. Do you think he was a good dancer when he was into it? I will say this, you know how everyone has liquid courage and they think you're doing good things out there. He had a routine I'm not like I like I wish I had it on video.

He would have a routine. He would go into the middle of the dance floor and start stretching. He would touch his toes and loosen up and then he would start the moves. And he's big. It's not like he's 5'8". Back in the day he was 6'4", 230 and jacked. So you've got this monster in the middle of the dance floor touching his toes, stretching out and then starting to move.

He would have like, not a moonwalk, but you know that, I can't remember what it's called, the one leg and the arm and they go backwards. Oh yeah, that's a tough move to pull off man. If it goes south, you're the biggest loser on earth. If you fall and you're the biggest loser on earth if you fall and you're holding on to your leg he had this move where he'd kick forward grab his leg and then spin down and and do like a spin around it was impressive it was actually like he had some moves back in the game moves that's idiocy that's a vibe check that's a vibe check

that's letting everyone know there he is that's what he looked. That's letting everyone know. There he is. That's what he looked like. Strutting. That's the difference. Not when he... You fast forward. You don't have those aging apps. You put an aging app on that. That's what's calling us in five minutes. Not that guy. I don't know who that guy is.

That's from 30 years ago. I don't know who that guy is either, but the other guy will join us, the actual version of Jason Strutwick. Exactly. We'll get his take on the Orlers win last night, why they're so successful at home, the loss of Zach Hyman, he's done, you know, at surgery today. I just feel for the guy. I mean, it sucks when you're this close to getting back to a cup final.

They could win a Stanley Cup and you're going to be the guy coming out in what a suit. You can't even hoist the Stanley Cup if you broke your wrist. Yeah, you can. Dougie Wade did. I think he separated his shoulder and he hoisted that thing up okay I guess you'll be running on adrenaline and everything maybe it's worth a shot and if it can't be damaged anymore you're like screw it I'm doing it but that that sucks right like there are black aces that never played you know you're not playing like Hyman would play 18 20 minutes a night

in every cup final game yeah it would be a prominent member in early in the Stanley Cup rotation line, right? Like I got to think and this is silly to even put the cart way before the horse I got to think it goes McDavid Nugent Hopkins Wouldn't it go nudes to I think it's probably big boy time Like it might be like I think kind like it's just David dry so do you think dry subtle gets its second I mean I think that I think nudes has been there the longest dude I get it I get it but I think sometimes it's like when you're talking big boys I might go big time

like nudes might say dry side will get up there and grab the cup next and then we'll go in normal order. That might, we're getting way ahead of myself. I understand. We're way ahead of ourselves. Just so you know. Crazy talk. They haven't done, they haven't beat Dallas.

I know that. Dallas is a formidable team and the team that potentially they faced beat them last year. So I'm just speaking hypothetically. Yeah, but just a hypothetical question. We've got to be careful here because, you know, there's people on the Panthers that watch this show and they're going, really? You're going to be planning it? All right, let me flip it. Let me ask you this hypothetical, just to even things out.

Okay, fair enough. Say Florida wins the Stanley Cup. When does Brad Marchand come up? I think it goes Barkov right to Marchand, don't you think? Really? He's already won one though. Like he won one in 2011 Okay, who am I missing there? That's new on that team set Jones, but I think Jones that's not but he's not like wow You've had this grizzled career and you know, it's so great, you know that you're with us this time

Just saying like I feel like Marchand would be really high on the pecking order. From what I understand, he's stepped right in and the guys love him. Like you see them shooting the rats after the wins and all that, Adam. Like I don't know if you've seen that. Like he's really endeared himself to the dressing room and become a leader. Not just a guy that, hey, you know what, we picked up this 36-year-old veteran to slide into the background. Apparently, Marshann's a big part of that room already as far as leadership groups. that hey, you know what, we picked up this 36 year old veteran to slide into the background. Apparently Marchand's a big part of that room already as far as leadership group.

Because he's pulling his weight, right? You guys say it all the time, you can't be a rah rah leader and stink. That's true. No one wants to hear from you. Yeah, like if you were junk at this and you were like, you gotta be, I would be like, no thanks. Thanks, pal. I appreciate your opinion.

If you're Wayne's world, I'm like, you don't give directions to any of us. No, you gotta pull your weight. You gotta pull your weight. All right, here he is joining us on the Maple Toyota Hotline after an Oilers win, which is the way we always prefer. Always prefer ahead of a press conference in Toronto tomorrow. Here's Jason Strudwick. What's up, Strudy?

I love that you didn't tiptoe around it don't press conference season i can't can't believe it you have to let me get this straight tomorrow's a strong eating morrow's a scrum or no they'll find a table and a and a nice uh... it's a good put over top of that thing so the jams going to talk about the media had his boss will be different in the bosses talked previously, that the other boss already had.

Right? Is that kind of... Yeah, we're spreading it out. Got it. We've got time to feel here, right? I mean, at least got to stay in the interesting news cycle. Yeah. That's right.

At the press conference, I saw that. You know what? It was kind of a gutless tweet the other day because you put it out right at 4 o'clock, right as our show was about to start. And you know what to our credit we didn't acknowledge it did not do it we won't fall for that type of buffoonery we're not doing it strutty we're excited for the press conference tomorrow it's gonna be a great press conference and we look forward to it anyway what's life like out in Edmonton? I'm guessing everyone's pretty happy. Is it the Zach Hyman news? Is that kind of a black cloud over things?

How do you marry the two considering what happened last night? Yeah, that's a really hard... You know, you saw the play. It looked pretty innocent. I mean, what team would want a guy that can score 70 goals one year, the next year have 100 hits and two and a half playoff rounds. I don't know why any team would give up on that guy. But unfortunately, for the owners, he's out. And it's, you know, like the head coach talked about, it's likely he's out for the playoffs. So upper body, shoulder or wrist, doesn't really matter. He's out.

So the owners have quite a bit of depth, but he's a hard guy to replace but like let's just be completely honest here he he he plays his side Connor he can score he can hit he's a good leader in that room he's just everything you know that you want for a team that's trying to win the Stanley Cup so it really challenges Chris Alblock to find the right way of getting it done I mean I guess the question is can the owners win five games about Hyman? Well there are a lot of people who didn't think that the Orders could win, you know, four games without their best team and Matias Echol. That play reminded me of Kirby Dock in the World Juniors where

he just avoided getting hit and he was missed the tournament. Like, he hurt his hand. It was almost the exact same building, same hit. It's got to be his hand or something. But then you've got a feeling Strud that they'll just... I was telling these guys and they were adamant it won't happen, but I was claiming next man up it won't phase the Oilers. You say yes or no? I guess yes. I'll say yes. They have a lot of guys that are- Not very convincing, Struddy.

No, well, because it's hard. You look at the players you can lose on this team, he'd be at the top of my list. Connor, Leon, Beckholm, Bouchard, Nudge, there's Hyman, the next guy up. So you're talking about one of your top five, six, seven players. That's not easy to replace. But what Nauvlox done when he builds his line, I think he's trying to add speed, some muscle, and then, you know, another guy on top, like a smart guy like a Henry or not to make David is and all those things, but a McDavid to every line.

So you'll have to kind of move it around. So they have some options, you know, Kaepernick really well, uh, so for them so far this year, or this last little stretch, um, you know, Jeff Skinner, does he get a tap from, from the sidelines? We've seen them one game. Uh, you know, can he come in and play some good minutes for the orders? Our person got back in there. It is still got Derek Ryan. You got, uh, Max Jones, you know, another guy that they traded for with some having it said, even Trent Frederick,

can he handle more minutes? I saw last night he was moving pretty well. So there's options, but it's hard to replace Zach Hyman. Let's just call it as it is. It's like Reinhardt not playing for Florida. He's back now, it sounds like. But it's a big one. That's a big hole to fill.

So Struddy, in looking at this, I wouldn't call it a turnaround now, they're 11 and 2 in their last 13. But is it, I would call it the chicken or the egg, is it Skinner playing a lot better or is it defensive play or a combination of both because they seem to find a recipe regardless of what it is every night to find that win? Yeah, it's incredible. You look at, you know, we're still skinner's day percentages now, and you know, whether people believe that or not,

you know, you want the highest one you can. I think he's over 900, like 910 or something. And just, you know, last week or even two weeks ago, he was well below that. So I think it's the structure in front of the orders has gone more consistent. And then when that happens, think for the goalie, your shots where they're coming from, the opportunities are coming from makes a difference. And Stu Skinner isn't great off the rush.

And against Vegas and against Dallas, two teams that love going off the rush, they've done a really good job of limiting those chances. So that means you're coming up the ice as a forward and what do I do here? Do I turn it over at the blue line? Do I drive her deep? Do I trim her behind the G-man and go get it? Just not allow them to have the counter punch. Then when they do try to break out, the orders try to get their high guy, then they back

check hard and they're holding up. Stu Skinner has had to face a lot of off the rush chances the last couple rounds and that is one of his kryptonite and everyone's got it. So I think it's, to answer your question, I think it's that ability to understand how you have to play in front of him and then he's found his comfort level. Because right now, he is not the same goalie he was in those first couple of games in LA. He looks so calm and way more poised. With Jason Studwick, so

we were throwing this away earlier, throwing this around earlier and admittedly again we're getting ahead of ourselves to an extent, but it does feel like we're looking at a rematch Edmonton, Florida in the cup final. And I'm curious if that is something the Oilers would relish, like they want that opportunity? Do they feel like they want redemption, redemption could that be inspiring the idea of playing the Panthers again in the Cup final how do you see that I think that this team would play against their own moms and beat them up to try to win a Stanley Cup but they want to win the Stanley Cup so badly they would take on anyone and what

better way of doing it than to try to beat the team or to beat the team that beat you last year. For me, I think that'd be a massive opportunity for them to get. It does look like we're on track for that. And this team, I think they're hopeful to try to finish this tomorrow so they can have two short series and be rested.

They're getting at home back, they got pickard back, and I think that playing a team you know really well. I mean, there's been a few changes on each team. Steph Jones coming in there. I know here at the Winners, you got Wallman, a few tweaks, but for a lot of it, it's the same players, same coaches, same managers. And can they be a team like Pittsburgh who lost and went to next year? Can these things happen?

I'd want to beat the team to beat me because I want them to feel the same way I felt the year before. Strudy, what did you make of... I didn't have Evan Bouchard on my bingo card as the guy who's going to give hints a tap on the laces, but what did you make of that whole thing? Well, I'm sure that there is a lot of morality police They're talking about Darnell nurse and his slash on hints to start with I love it I mean they're in a battle and you slash a guy in the foot. He got full value two minutes and hints didn't play one game

That's a great deal. That's an unbelievable deal and then seeing boo sharks get off and flashing him on the lake again I was blown away. I couldn't believe it I tears my eyes seeing that someone did that. And you know, I don't know, Nils, you probably did it a few times. When you slash someone and hit them, you know, on that weak spot, you just know it. It feels different on the end of your stick than when you slash pads or slash stick. And it's such a good feeling. And you know, you're not trying to make friends out there. This isn't, you know, the church bizarre. You're trying to raise money for new pews. You're trying to beat the other

team. You're not making friends. So you're not there to make friends. After, bizarre, you're trying to raise money for new pews, you're trying to beat the other team, you're not making friends. You're not there to make friends. After, yeah, you shake it and say, great job, but during that series, no one cares. You're trying to win, not trying to make friends. Yep. That's the truth with Jason Strudwick. And then you look at the other side of things. Florida, they got a chance to close tonight.

Reinhardt's going to return. It sounds like Mika is okay. AJ Greer is okay. The Panthers, what do you see out of them this year that would stick out as a different characteristic than maybe the team they had last year? Is there anything in particular that might scare the Oilers if it gets to that point that they're built this way or playing this way compared to even how they played last year and They won it last year

Well, I look at their D. I think their D is better than it was last year. You know I think that you know Seth Jones The situation of that class suspension was probably good for him because he got to play a ton Everyone got to know him he got to fit in to figure it out I think he's he's big he takes up space you know and different than, you know, who would have been their guy last year, was it Adelaide Krummel-Arston, probably been the other guy. But I think, you know, Nico Mackle, I think he's improved, he's also kind of improved. You know, he scores some goals every now and then, and he's in there too, and he's a bit annoying, and he plays heavy. So I think that D is, you know, either improved individually and or added a piece that's better than what

they had last year. And that D was already pretty good. You look at some of the guys they had. So that to me is going to be a pretty big challenge. Now Brad Marchand presents a whole other way of doing it, but the owners are playing against those type of guys. And they have the cane, the nurse. Trent Frederick I think has another gear to find in that kind of annoying style

of play. So I think that would be okay. But that D, I don't know what you guys see, but that D is pretty good. It's pretty stacked. Yeah, they are. Yeah, they are. And that's it. Go ahead, O. Sorry, there's been a lot of coaches or look-alikes behind the bench. There was a Knoblock guy. If somebody from the older organization or anybody in the National Hockey League rink had to hire an actor to replace Jason Strudwick to have a lookalike, who do you think they would select? Well, probably pretty expensive to get this guy, but I know people are going to laugh but I think I look just like Aston Kutcher. Right?

I think a little more muscular and better hair but yeah, like I, very similar. He doesn't have the shoulder musculature that I have but he's like, I swear, you look at us together, we're very similar. Very similar people. I was going to say Gary Busey but... Gary Busey but uh... uh... uh...

you see uh... here he's he's he's all of the crazy here just if you had to carry bc was short hair that could be straight out of a yeah i could see the resemblance that's not what how do you respond to that story uh... i think that's a golden security coming in and i mean like he's like uh... that what's a good name who shimmy whatever it's a new family

that's me that's not a lot of people shimmy he was in conair he was the creeper on the on the plane yet that's me for sure that he's all over the place he's all over the place. He's all over the place, that guy. Yeah, I like that. Gary Busey. No, you didn't say Gary Busey. Who'd you say? Yeah, it was Busey.

I saw that Gary Busey man at a Charles Barkley karaoke man. And that guy, Gary Busey, he got carried out before it even started. Out of security, like complete like he was sleeping with three security guards carrying him like he was sleeping.

In two of them all, and out he was, he was gone. He was out of there. Wow. Struddy's doppelganger. Gary Fusing. Actually Struddy, we had Raffy Torres on last hour, and he said how amazing the alumni is as far as bringing guys in.

Raffy flew in and they put him on the Jumbotron last year and he was you know raving how classy the organization was and how they pay for things and then we we said you know with you would they just give you a bus ticket to make it to the game like instead of like what did they do for you because I don't think it's the limo or anything like they did for Raffy so't think it's the limo or anything like they did for rafi but they make it hard they send me to a bus via red deer i gotta go down

and then they let me listen to it on the radio outside of the break that's not bad that's still a decent alumni work there's nothing wrong with that trying to get into the ring of honor. I mean, I'm probably a long shot. Maybe when I pass away, like Pete Rose getting into the Hall of Fame, you know? Absolutely. You can make that happen.

How about the Kamloops Blazers? Is your number retired up there, Strutt, or what? It's a travesty, I'm not. I did more in two years than Tyson Ashdale. I think he played there like seven years. Seven years, 200 games played. I don't know how he's on there I'm not Ryan Huska head coach of the Flames what are you talking about he's on there yeah that's believable like just give put the stars up there why wouldn't you

put the stars up there that's disappointing you should be up there we need to start a campaign to get you up in the rafters and cam loops. You know what we need is strutty. We were asking, like, would you go in and put a fake mustache and a hat on and go and dance in the moss pit? Just to blow off steam. I don't know. I mean, I'm pretty noticeable in the crowd. My moves are pretty unique. Oh, we've heard. It gets pretty hot in there too.

It's a sweat box in there. I guess I could go in there, you know, maybe a couple of beers to slide in. Okay. What kind of dance are you talking? Strutty, we have to ask you one thing. When you got all boozed up back in the day with Noodles, Noodles said you did a stretching routine on the default. Why did you do a stretching routine? Like day down the deep why did you do a stretching routine

like were you warming the limbs up so you know I great I great actor kind of gets into character right and then they get people like oh man this guy's stretching like this guy must be really good so I pretend I was stretching and then every now and then i could have a cold my hands but and he keep the party for a little bit but you try you go to a wedding he starts stretching people on the dance floor next actually on the dance for a home i got this kind of ticket for

it uh... only to completely do it all once you actually start moving but i like that you're right, man. It's a vibe check, that's what we're saying. Well, it does get people excited. It's like McDavid burning around in warm-up. People are like, this guy means business, man.

This guy has serious moves. All eyes are on this guy. I love it. Oh, there he is. We got a snapshot of you and Gary Busey. Busey looked great back in the day. Yeah. Like he was, you know. Busey looked great back in the day. Yeah, like he was whiter teeth

Alright strutty well enjoy yourself out there and make sure you tune in tomorrow We got a press conference in Toronto tomorrow morning. What time is that? 9am Eastern time? I just want to make sure I don't miss it. 10am Eastern time. Yup, 10am Eastern. 10am.

Yup. So are they going to tell us when the next one is or is this... That's a good question. I don't know. It's possible. Yeah, Brad Trillivink, maybe he announces the next one. I guess we'll have to tune in. That's the beauty of this type of year to tune in that's the beauty of uh...

of this type of year right that's the beauty of press conference season you never know what you get cliffhangers watch pc yeah got a habit thanks trudy uh... to your voice jason strudwick joining us here in the maple toyota hotline drive the built in canada fuel efficient funded drive toyota rav4 gas or hybrid models available visit maple Toyota comm

Yeah, Gary Pucey man. He was doing an interview recently about Everybody started yelling about sausage and stuff like that's a lunch like I think he's like Didn't they have him on that show where Vince the movie star? Yeah, he was on that briefly that show were Vince the movie star. Entourage. Yeah he was on that briefly. Wasn't he like the nut job like he was a crazy person. Yeah he was chasing turtle around or something was going on with him and because he used to be in a lot of movies. Yeah like he was in that movie Under Siege remember with Stephen Seagal. Yeah he always plays like the you know the evil guy. I always thought like he's but yeah I don't know

like for some reason I just came to the top of my head he doesn't really look like Strudy maybe it's the the attitude or something but he definitely doesn't look like Ashton Kutcher yeah that's pushing it I think Strudy's been a little bit too you know liberal with the the doppelganger but the Knobloch one behind the bench was pretty good like that guy looks a lot like Chris Noblock. And to like actually follow through and wear the suit and the tie. That guy's a pastor. Like is he doing, is that just by accident or is he just the guy wearing a suit to the game?

I think, he's been saying that apparently since last year, people at the grocery store come up to him and start talking hockey because like he does that could be the closest Doppelganger I've seen like that is pretty damn close like that Remember it was at the McLean Paul McClellan McLean had a beauty because with the mustache man It's difficult to really play that role any of the glasses and everything Yeah, there's a few of them recently that have gone viral But that one was really good. The knoblock doppelganger was really, really good last time.

I think they must have given him that seat and said, dress up in a suit, like same part in the hair. Like he looked exactly like... The Bednar guy was just... He looked... Yeah, Bednar. That wasn't a good one. That one was okay, wasn't it? It was pretty good. But that was okay. Is there any doppelgangers out there for us? Like is there anybody be like hey? I know that guy man exactly like that man the Paul McClain

There's not one pretty now the mustache is actually a little bit different, but it's pretty close. Yeah pretty close Yeah, send them in send in the doppelgangers.angers i roleplay level of concern coming up were uh... possibly gonna have oklahoma city into the nba finals as of tonight shagel disalexander not dragged on their really good team but it sounds and feels like that's the direction we're going in indiana paces on the east side of things uh... bernie johnson in about an hour from the nba on tn t

and inside the nba earnings coming up in about an hour from the NBA on TNT. And inside the NBA Ernie's coming up in about an hour. Role play still to come this hour. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on TSN 2. You can never, never ask me to stop drinking. Do you understand? I do. I really do. Alright, roleplay level of concern. Always one of our favorites on a Wednesday afternoon. And a lot of different roles to be played here.

Alright, you guys ready to go? Yep. Alright. Let's rock. Oh, you are playing non-F non Florida teams in the Eastern Conference. What is your level of concern this dominance from the lightning and the Panthers will not be stopping? Stevie Caldwell. A couple of whiskey's and five or six beers. Because there's so many moving parts and injuries and a

Goaltender could go down. It's Not looking like it's not an automatic that the Florida Panthers or the Tampa Bay Lightning Do I see a possibility of Tampa Bay responding? And but they got to get through Florida man Like it would not shock me if Florida the Panthers are awesome again next year because you saw them this year man. They did not care about the last 20 games of the season. Like they were in and they were like we don't care where we start, we don't care who we're playing, we're going to start mashing teams. And I think Edmonton was kind of similar. You want to start in LA? Well they coughed them up but they were like that's no problem, we just want to get there and we'll start killing teams and that's what they're doing

I would be Stevie Caldwell where It's not a guarantee, but they would still scare the hell out of me. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I'm I'm Rick Bush would Because there's two of them. It's not just one That's the difference and who else is like nipping at their heels where you're like wow Like obviously Toronto gave them a good run, but well, is Washington going to keep going? Like are they going to get better? Because they had a great year, you know, everything broke their way.

And this is where you're speaking about the Atlantic division. But if it's the East in general, I don't want to be disrespectful against Washington, but they kind of showed you two years in a row. Year one, it was bounced in the first round and and year two it was bounced quickly in the second round. They're They're kind of regular season heroes like a lot of the teams that we see where it's like you don't have the stuff Whatever the stuff is you don't have it. Yeah, I can't argue against it I mean this if Florida does does it be six years in a row? We're three from Tampa that three from Florida the cup final?

Right, it's remarkable and they're both gonna be really good next year. They'll be turnover and change but Cooper and Maurice will still be behind the bench and Vasileski and Bobrovsky of being net superstars up and down the lineup and they're big and tough Yeah, it's not gonna be easy man. Yeah, I can't be easy up and they're big and tough yeah not gonna be easy man yeah I'm gonna be easy all right noodles you're playing the Edmonton Oilers here's a topic we've we've talked about a lot today but we'll get you to revisit it what is your level of concern your chances of winning the Stanley Cup are now in serious danger without Zach Hyman I mean I would be Stevie Cole, more Rick Bushwood but Stevie Cole was there anywhere in between?

No, it's not a Fergie, this isn't Fergie. No, I'm trying to remember, we've added so many along the way. Wade Boggs in Tampa, but that's a lot of boos. I don't know man. I mean it's not, I'll say Rick Bushwood and I'll tell you why after they play. Six Bushlight, six Budlight and I love them tall boys. Someone said this guy was my doppelganger to relax That's assault brother, but I don't like it. You know, I love Rick Bushwood, but come on continue. Sorry

The reason being is there's no guarantee they were gonna win the Stanley Cup and there still isn't so the point being is Losing a key component of your core is to make it that much tougher if it was a 50-50 coin flip between let's say they make it and and Florida makes it that looks like a 50-50 or maybe Florida slightly Favored based on their experience now you lose a key component That makes it a little bit less so I would be concerned. That's that's my you know I'm trying to be honest about it Yeah, I think it's a big it's a big blow. Absolutely blow now the big boys are still playing Yeah, and they may be unstoppable and new just been great defensively

They've been good and oh brought up a good point of at home steps in yeah I come you know you're moving on a you're jumping on a moving train man really good player But he hasn't played in a long time and the pace and the physicality is gonna be really really significant zero concern for me zero concern zero concern as far as Matias at home yeah he's probably worthy of that level of respect but you know whoever he plays against whether it's Dallas or Florida talk about targeting Like Florida is gonna circle his name and say bury this guy every chance you get now. They probably do that anyway But I think more so than ever with him returning. All right. I am playing the role of TV executives around America, what is my level of concern about the potential NBA and NHL finals?

I have to I have to play it Never Asked me to stop drinking I will say the NBA more significantly like Oklahoma City in Indiana like the NFL is a different beast I'm gonna hear this a lot while the nfl you can see the city plan buffalo it's not it's totally different in a fell is not like any other sport

in north america or really anywhere else around the world the nba and the nhls regional you need big markets like indianapolis and oklahoma city or two of the smallest markets in pro sports and they're gonna compete in the nba finals and then edmonton in fort lauderdale slash miami miami's a big market but you know not historically a hockey market

it's gonna it's going to be i think tough to sell now this you're gonna have to get creative mcdavid and dry subtle you know kichuk and the panthers shea and haliburton, there are stars here. And I hope I'm wrong on this. I hope in two or three weeks we're like, man, everyone's jumped on board.

It's been great finals and they each go six or seven. And that's a big part of it too, right? Like we could talk about TV executives during these rounds. They can't be ecstatic that the conference finals are all at 3-1. It could be done in five games. That sucks. You're right. But you know what, Brian? There is ratings and stuff from last year. Like we could almost check to what Edmonton, Florida looked like last year as far as in the final.

And especially at 3-0 and then it goes to a game 7. Do you know what any of those like were they off the charts? Up here they were big. up here. They were of course It's a Canadian team. It's McDavid and right like I guess you're talking about executives in the US I guess the North American general we there is There's data. We just have to look into it to see how successful that particular final was Right and then see if they run it back then you know Maybe there's another layer to it

We all didn't think that the four nations face off was actually gonna, I kinda thought, maybe it was just me. I thought it was gonna be a bit of a sleeper and end up being. I thought so too and it was great. It ended up being great. The thing is that the ratings are down in the playoffs, I believe on both sides.

And again, I think it's market based. That's why if you're in the NBA, you're praying the Knicks. Like if the Knicks were in the NBA finals, it wouldn't matter who they played. It would just be a bonanza. It's New York. It's the Knicks The Garden would be rocking people people get behind that This is this is gonna be about storytelling and ultimately a great series You know, if you have a great cup final great NBA finals They go seven and it's back and forth and lead changes and greatness people are always gonna be on board for that Oh, you're playing the role of Masai Yajiri. What is your level of concern that

your future in Toronto may not last beyond next season? Play it. You can never, never ask me to stop drinking. As soon as Shani got like all i would have actively started looking for work warden at that shah shank just remember the sirens like the writings on the wall they want to move away from the president of their sports teams is not kind of clear see that when he got gas shannon got gas wouldn't you think of the side

the only reason is probably get the benefit of the doubt is because he won his team a championship. Which is worthy of mentioning. Of course. I mean, for sure he's earned that. But I hear what you're saying. It does seem like almost the wheels are in motion and there's nothing that can change it.

No. You know, unless they move off Bobby Webster and they tell miss i like your gm for you can be the one guy but it feels like it's gonna be one guy for all these teams streamlining you know up through keep allian to the board and they go from there i thought i thought with the the rumblings of the

the unwillingness to want to pay miss i early before his contract was signed i thought that he would have been first for where the raptors were at because it's like the raptors are john can you pay them all that money it's like do you really need a high-profile president took like what what exactly what expertise you bring into the table to be garbage what do you think well that's where i thought the chips are gonna fall yeah it what's interesting is i'd love to hear from the side of the background

he he has autonomy you know as much as anyone else possibly could yeah and he would just be decided to move off the old guard but he was very reluctant to do it and you look at the way cacom's plan and obis plan band really it's been planned is that's why does he believe they were very good because he believed they were very good. He believed they were a good enough team. And eventually it got to a point where they all had to be paid and it wasn't going to be quite good enough to be championship level.

But the Eastern Conference is not great in the NBA and if you had Siakam, Ananoby, Van Vliet, all healthy with Barnes and whoever, that's good enough to be a playoff team in the East. And Messiah may say that. It may not matter. It may fall in deaf ears. Again, he's the guy in charge. He made the decision in the end to move off them, but I'm not convinced he ever really wanted to. But yeah, it does feel like that is the direction Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment are going in. That Keith Pelley made that call and Keith is going to be more involved. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I don't. I mean, I'm a little bit cynical of where that could go. But to be fair to him and everyone else,

you certainly have to give it time. The one area I don't agree with is like, nobody I don't care what you've been doing the last 20 years of your professional life, nobody, like if you, like you're just not an expert in all the sports, so what, someone's got to bounce an NBA possibility off of you and then the next day's an NHL and then professional soccer? That's too much on anybody's plate. You're spread too thin. That's where I don't understand it. I think in Pelley's role you've got to be a business guy and trust the people that are in place for those particular sports to do their job. Okay, then if that's the case, Jamie, if you're trading for a sixth defenseman, you're not calling him and saying, are you okay with this?

Because I don't know if that would be the case anyway. I agree I think what you are doing is hitting a budget understanding it obviously on the big things if you're You know if Brad tree-living decides he's gonna wants to or Mitch Marner and him are gonna work out a deal I'm sure that has to go up the chain if they're gonna spend a hundred million dollars on a player, right? I mean that's regardless of the sport, whether it's basketball or baseball, you name it. So I think that's where the business side comes in. But, you know, shouldn't that isn't how it should be? If you're acting in, we'll call it the owner's role, the owner trusts the general manager. And if there's a president in place to go, go put a good

team on the ice, the field, you name it it and if you don't do that there's repercussions but i i think that's where keith pally if the if he's smart which i i don't know i'm sure he is he's gonna entrust brad travel tree living in his group to go and do their job right now here's another thing though that i don't think we've brought up is yes you're right that happens in a lot of places

but now palis the one that has to assess whether not trailer things doing a good enough job yeah where before it was shanahan that would make that determination from hockey person right yet like that that is what is going to be interesting in the future that if you get rid of all these presidents and you know the blue jays do not fall under the umbrella of m l s c they fall under the umbrella of rogers

you know i think a lot of people pointed out like his march of pyro safe long-term like it is getting rid of presidents what do you need to pyro therefore all of the police mandate is it universal with all the organizations like if it's like you just said what are we going to be judged on its cool clearly it's winning so i think whatever tree does this season if they don't win the stanley

cup clearly it's a failure according to what he says is that the same for the baseball team but you're not even close it should should be but you're right i mean if anyone it believes that's gonna happen i think you're getting yourself right now the way that's so what's the mandate of some time all these different organizations one of them it's like was stanley copper bus the other one it's like you're just over there you go suck and nobody cares and then you just, nobody pays attention to anyway, so I'll just, I'll save my heater speech

for something else. You just wonder what the mandate is. Yeah, and obviously there's, you know, different roles and different contacts and different expectations, yet, you know, historically all these teams have spent a lot of money and you know I don't I'd like to believe this isn't a cost-cutting decision this is an efficiency decision or a change of view decision but Shanahan made a lot of money and Messiah makes a lot of money and Shapiro makes money and man Bill Manning made money and if you get rid of all those jobs you've saved money you know and and I hope that's again not the reasoning for and man bill manning made money if you get rid of all those jobs you save money

you know and i hope that's again not the reasoning for all of this but one thing with m l s c is always been they got so much money and they're gonna spend and no leaf unturned okay we're going in a different direction here but if you're trusting keith pally to now evaluate all these GMs, how can he do that? You know, how is he going to, to your point, evaluate a hockey player or a hockey team, then the NBA team, then the soccer team, then the football team and come back and say, you're

doing good, you're not doing well enough, I like you, like, I don't know. I don't know if it's possible to expect anyone to be able to do that. No. Yeah, that appears to be the role that he currently finds himself in uh... i will come back with a couple more roleplay level of concerns uh... overdrive continues to use and at fifty and on tsn to right there coming up for a chance of a drugs and six thirty we got our picks for the

memorial as well get to those uh... roleplay level of concern continuing noodles. I'm gonna throw this one at you Okay, it might apply to both Dallas or Carolina, but I'm gonna go with Dallas because they're in the West You're playing the role of the Dallas Stars. What is your level of concern? You are the new modern-day San Jose Sharks from a decade ago. I Don't know. I mean, I saw that comparison today online. I thought it was a pretty good one. I stole it. I brought it. It is pretty good though. I mean, that being said, I'm Stephen Caldwell. I got my Westies in five or six beers. Here's

why because there you look at the way we always say it, the spine of the team. The goalie, the number one defenseman and the number one centerman. They're all mid-20s. There's lots of runway there for that Dallas team. Lots of runway. Quickly on the goalie, Jamie, I know it wasn't his fault, but there's some I'm just like, I don't know, man. Well, I said this last night.

Hayes, you told me that last night. I repeated it. That's not true. Hayes, you told me that last night. I repeated it. Oh, did you? That's not true. Did he? It wasn't in the group chat where it was. I am not talking. All Marcus in his head.

I stay out of it. I stay out of goaltending. No. Don't do it. I said this last night. Darcy Kemper didn't allow, he allowed five goals once this season. And then once Edmonton got to him, it was like three games in a row. Aiden Hill, same thing. You know, Edmonton found a way to get to him.

Right now, it looks like the Oilers are finding a way to get to Audre. Now it was a 2-1 game, like, you know, and power play goals. Everyone on the planet thought that R&H was going to shoot that puck from the slot. Instead, he puts it to dry saddle on the goal line. Like how are you going to make that? That was an unbelievable play. Man, you can score from anywhere though, right? Like dry saddle. Unbelievable play. And then R&H's pass alone to Perry on the back. There's nothing. I thought Ottinger played really well. I actually thought Ottinger made some big, big saves. Same with

Skinner. Like that was a goalie battle Keep in mind those are two empty net goals. So that's a two one game And you know, DeBoer was chippy afterwards like they asked him about Otter. He's like it's his job stop the puck So, you know, he wasn't overly thrilled. I think he's more, you know looking at guys like Wyatt Johnston and and Duchane and storyline guys guys are looking young and olderuchenne. They're more storyline guys. Young guys are looking young and older guys are looking old. And it's like, how many years can you look at that? I don't know.

Maybe they should just keep running them back and say. I think they will. I mean, I don't know how much is left on Ben and Sagan's deal, but they take up a lot of money as well. And Duchenne's a free agent will he return really not i don't know what i mean i don't like just in conversation i do think like you know look at harley look at haste can it like they've got to have a very star like and

and they're they're going to be fine it just you know sometimes you're you you need something to get through and and right now you know down three one it doesn't look that good for them, but they are they're pretty damn good team. Yes, they're a really good team And again, you they they are not like a core four thing like that was Thornton and Marlowe and can they do it? Here I'm not even sure who would represent those rules, you know Would it be Henson and Heiskenen and Robertson who's now all of a sudden has scored a couple times in a

row and maybe he's coming alive I'm not sure all right last one I'm playing the role of Ross Atkins what's my level of concern Anthony Santander is killing me and will not turn it around this season Rick Bushwood I'll play rare. It's a rare Bushwood plus Stevie Caldwell. Yeah that's what it is. It's a disaster watching this guy at the plate and last night you know I saw Keegan tweeting and talking about a Keegan Matheson that he's had these injuries. He's had you know shoulder and hip and now it's affecting his swing and he's hitting for Contact like that's his mentality guys sitting below the Mendoza line

Yeah, and he's not hitting for power and he's here to hit for power I don't even think about it like that Brian and this guy could turn it around and who knows he might be a stud But I look at that guy becoming available and I have to ask myself and take a deep dive Why the hell did Baltimore not want him? Why? Well, in a league of pro sports where guys are dying to keep their own talent, why not him? It's a great question and it never felt like it was going to happen.

You know, like Baltimore, they got a lot of young players. I think they feel like they're, they made mistakes clearly in Baltimore, clearly. Oh yeah. But they feel like a lot of young guys are going to make a lot of money, I'm sure, in the future. But you're right they looked at Santander like no take a nice and they got him and he's been a mess for the J's he's got to be way better final hour coming up overdrive continues TSN 1050 and up on YouTube live the biggest songs in the world

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