OverDrive - OverDrive - May 5, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: May 5, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Host James Duthie joins to to discuss the Maple Leafs' clash against the Panthers, Toronto's keys to success in the second round and the Jets and Stars' large wins in Game 7 of the first round. They also discuss the reasons for optimism for the Maple Leafs in the series, the players who will make the most impact and the Blue Jays' issues against Cleveland.

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here to help you every step of the way. If you're a proud pet owner, shop at Global Pet Foods. Support local, shop Canadian. Global Pet Foods, helping pets thrive since 1976. Hour 2 Overdrive continues, powered by Fandual, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hayes the odog, Jeff O'Neil, Jamie Noodles, McClennan and there's James Duffy.

JD? I would have worn a jacket for you but I locked myself out of my dressing room halfway through dressing. Uh oh. That happened. How do you get back in there? I have to go to security just before I ran into your studio and said can you let me back into my dressing room?

Okay, so did they look at you like really yeah You have a dressing room. It's not really a dressing room. It's like a closet with my clothes But well, I guarantee you your dressing room is probably in better shape than somebody else's on this. No, no, no, no I told you guys When I was a moose the car was a mess everything was a mess dressing room a mess now everything's immaculate really oh yeah what's the correlation between not being a moose and being organized as when you're a fat slob you just like I just didn't care about yeah if my truck was a mess it

took me a month you guys saw the back of my truck it was disgusting. It's an apartment. I'm not sure I'm buying it. The locker room thing dude. I'm not buying it either. I don't think so. I could walk by and do a drive. You'll have an hour to get down to the Scotiabank arena why don't you make a pit stop and have a look. I will. I'll pop in there. Do it. You use the term immaculate. Yeah that might be used to walk by there it would just be a pile of shirts and ties and suits just in a pile. It was like a giant it looked like a laundry pile. Because I would go in I would ask you you, I've got to get changed, do you mind if I pop in there? Yeah, go on in there.

I'd walk in there and I was flabbergasted. There were golf balls, dude, you had like Pro V's and TPX's and golf keys. You would think a normal person would say, actually you're not going in there, don't you dare lay eyes on that. No, it's under renovation. There's an iron that hasn't been used. It's honestly a wild scene you have going on. I totally invite you for just a little handshake, hello, and have a peek.

And maybe a posting of the shot. I think that, I'll ask you if that's okay to be posted. Totally okay. I'll post it on socials, okay, on my social media accounts, Instagram, Twitter, everything will be posted later. Jimmy, you gotta answer this. We started out the show. Which game on the weekend kind of captivated you more?

Was it the Dallas game or was it the Jets game last night? The entirety of it was the Dallas game just because the hockey in that entire series I thought was spectacular. But if you were to ask me which I'll remember more it's the Jets game because I that one was over to me I never thought the Dallas Colorado was over and the Jets thing I have a couple of Jets fans friends who I reversed jinxed because at three minutes left when they had nothing going like they had nothing going at all and I was like man. This is a tough one. Sorry guys, you know, man I can't imagine being hellebuck you're gonna win the Vesna

Maybe win the heart and still have the most miserable summer of your life. Imagine what that's like and they were come back Yeah, it's tough one and then boom Just it was crazy man. One of the craziest things I've seen in hockey I think. Like two seconds left and I don't know if there was an argument, I don't know if you guys talked about it, I don't think he meant to pass it, I think he kind of fanned on it half way. You're talking Kyle Connor on the tie ball.

The shot that ended up getting to Perfetti. I think it was just like I got to get this somewhere. Just whack the thing as hard as they can. I think he took a one-timer as hard as he could towards the net, and it went right in that area. That's what I thought. That Perfetti skated into it. But, you know, the beauty of it though, Ehlers, you know, he fans on it,

and then he goes, I gotta zip this across. And Connor is on his back foot, and he turns and fires this, and. You know what's crazy? The goal light goes off because it's one point you can't hit the button quick enough to stop the clock right right so like if you watch it from the other view the the goal light is going but i think it's like the end of the period like it's not the goal light the light the light that says game over yes like it's

like yes it's like this game is over now and anyway, it was just an incredible scene last night. The video, as much as the video of watching the Jets fans is unbelievable, I went down a rabbit hole of about 15 minutes of watching Blues fans react and it was almost more fascinating and tortuous. Can you imagine? Is it a choke in your opinion? By the Blues? your opinion by the blues yeah absolutely come on man you got to close that out I'm just saying an 8 seed

down to nothing in there I don't care I don't care you're up 3-1 with 255 left or whatever the hell the clock was you got to find a way I don't think so I think it's just hockey like weird stuff happens in hockey and well you just give a built-in excuse to every team I chokes a lead up. We'd probably call it a choke if it was a Canadian team. Exactly. If that was the Leafs that coughed that one up and you went to me, what happened? I'm just going to say, hockey. Can you imagine if that was the Leafs?

Two minutes left and you're up 3-1. Can you imagine if the Leafs were the Blues? Oh, don't even start. And you looked at me and said, oh dog, what happened? And I went, that's hockey. I think there were mistakes made on that empty net because st. Louis had opportunities to chew that clock down and they did yeah didn't they fire one right over they did which never fired the the length of the ice over the

net he could have crossed cross-cornered it into the neutral zone for a foot race because I do believe Thomas was there in that direction yeah you're if he chips it into the neutral zone for a foot race, because I do believe Thomas was being in that direction. If he chips it into the neutral zone for a foot race, that puck doesn't come back in the neutral zone. It's probably one of those things where there's four or five or six different moments there where one little thing has to happen and it's over. But in the end, this is where I would agree with you,

it's just hockey because it's like, we can all go back and dissect it and go, you could have done this, should have this could have got to save you know Falk misses that one timer by two inches as far as with his stick in the lane you know there's things that that were missed assignments really because a lot of times on plays like this you collapse to the middle we see teams that don't let that puck come back through or guys are in the lane blocking it like it just it seemed like maybe and I know it's lazy to say but like the hockey gods lined up

and it was like they just happened to get yeah it happened to work out perfectly but there are things we talked about it before the show Quinton Bifield he gets that puck out against the Edmonton Oilers that they go around 3-1 right well Rob Blake is possibly out against the evident in order to that they go on three one right well rob blake is possibly still running the show in l a like it just like literally rob blake is no longer running the show in l a you don't want to eat not just quit by field or to challenge the city but there are not on quit and by field about probably fighting moment but it's one

play that you're right they when they probably win that series just different right because now you're down three one now You're really chasing it like in the end You know there are things like Evan Bouchard bats the puck out of the air like he's you know She and then scores the goal scores like if if if he misses the net on that one-timer a 95 mile an hour Slapshot they lose like it just it happens And but last night like that profetti like that that redirect if that if Bennington had any luck that hits a cross

bar it could have hit the crossbar absolutely I'm trying to think of a weekend that was a better commercial for hockey in the last whatever like foreign nation trade stuff okay you're right he was going about 10 years yeah I'll kill this a NHL Better advertisement for the NHL. I guess Four Nations would be that as well. I totally agree. But you know what I'm saying. Just to have two games like that as the only two game sevens be that spectacular. I don't remember a scenario like that. Well, and I think to use the Four Nations again as a kind kind of barometer you look at the nba remember that weekend people

goof on the nba in the all-star game they had to be in sevens and they were awful games yeah like the the clippers denver game was horrendous and up those are up against the dallas game on saturday and last night the warriors were mostly control the whole night the entire game yet the entire game so it was like comparing in contrasting you like look at over here. This is nothing I don't know over time not even close and in the NHL It was just bedlam

And then you reset and then we got game one of the second round already tonight the basketball fans would say that there's an inverse relationship with hockey where The NHL the first round is always the best and it wears the hockey gets worse as it goes along because the teams get worn down and the NBA the first round always sucks and usually by the finals you get the best basketball. Not always the case. Somewhat true sometimes.

I think generally the NHL first round is 100 times better almost every year than basketball's first round. We'll see what happens the rest. I mean, I think we always love the hockey more no matter what, but there is something to be said that the second and third round there sometimes is a nose a bit of a nose dive with drama. We'll see. Do you buy into the the odds or what they are that the Leafs are the biggest underdog in the second round of all the matchups? We've got four series and Leafs beating Florida is the most far-fetched that you can think of of all the other

combinations. I don't I don't think so I'm just I mean on paper it shouldn't be because they're they won the division and talent leveled there and I think they're a grittier team than they've been in the past. I think it's kind of equal frankly. I think Carolina, Washington, Vegas, Edmonton. I would have said Vegas should be favored but the way Edmonton looked in the last couple of games

Dallas Winnipeg. Yeah, I suppose that's I suppose you can make that argument, but I I don't think that they're I Think it's like if you were to put odds on it. I put it at 60 40, Florida I don't think it's 75 25 or your percentage that you do I think it's I think the Leafs are closer than a lot of people give them credit for. Yeah, I think so too. But you said it in the four o'clock hour too. It's the history and what Florida, like Florida's the reigning champion and the Leafs don't have a history in 23 years to get there. Where you know Vegas, Edmonton, you watched Edmonton and Vegas is one of the, you know Winnipeg would be an interesting one, but they won the President's's trophy, right? But they get the same history and hell about who knows what you're gonna get right so you can spin it

You know in in different ways even dallas like they it was a great series, you know great series But they had to storm back like colorado finds a way to just close that and they're out in colorado's into the next round So everyone's kind of dealing with something with the exception of I would say the teams in the east Because florida got three in five Carolina in five Washington in five But the fact that the Leafs have home ice and they're healthy like this is as good of an opportunity as you're gonna get Yes, it's a tough challenge. Florida is a very good team. You know what they're going to bring but If you can't get through this considering what you have leading up to it Well, it's I mean, it's the ultimate go go out you know put up or shut up moment for the Leafs. You just never know till you see it. I mean

two years ago the Leafs were I think we considered them solid favorites in that over Florida for sure. Florida was this upstart underdog who just upset Boston and it felt like a freakish series that they upset Boston and everybody's chanting we want Florida. They limped in that year in the final day of the season. And then when the series was over you were like oh this is what Florida is we never saw that so I think from a Toronto's perspective you have to hope that the rest of the world sees the same way that this series ends and Toronto wins and you go oh these are new Leafs I didn't see that coming at some point does two straight finals take a toll on Florida? I think there's an element to that

I don't know about the second round and because they got through Tampa in five It I might feel differently if it was like a seven game brawl And you guys guys like that glad and Kachak you really haven't played that much in the last few months Right exactly and that plot will be out tonight. Like that's another big thing. He's serving the last game of that two-game suspension it does It does feel like tonight like for the Leafs That's another big thing. He's serving the last game of that two-game suspension. It does feel like tonight, like for the Leafs, of all the other seven teams in the second round, they have to make a statement, in my opinion, game one, more so than any other team.

Does that mean they have to win? Or does that mean they have to play? I think ideally you win clearly, but you definitely have to play, I think, with the style and with the system that you're portraying, like, okay like okay this is a fight if we're here for the fight in Florida wins four to one then concerning very concerning yeah but is it overreaction it could be because I asked leading into this win or lose tonight do you feel like there will be an overreaction a hundred but it's just I mean I think more so for a loss than a win I don't think people are gonna

freak if the Leafs win tonight that to their credit amazing. I agree I don't think people are gonna be Last two years that no one's gonna go Leafs in five if they win tonight But I just think we've learned from you know, the Oilers being down to oh and these the first two games even You got a win. I say honestly it feels weird but I think a leaf split is fine in the first two games which is not usually what you say for the home team but I think in this particular matchup if the leaf split the first two games and look good then I think that's okay that's okay going back to Florida and you mentioned the reaction to Florida a couple years

ago where after they got through that round you you said, oh, okay, this is different. They actually are like a team that's capable of doing this. Which category is more likely to change your mind or not even change your mind, but make you feel more bullish about the overall chances based on the way these categories played in this round? The core four and them showing up and elevating. It feels like a quiz. It is. It is. The defense core which I think they have their best six

pack of defensemen in a long long time certainly in the Matthews era or Stolar's. Sorry are you saying going into it? Yeah I'm saying if you get through this what do you think is most likely the reason for it? You think it's because the core four elevates? Is it because Stolar stands on his head or because the defense core which has been so good continues to play really well? No I think it's the first thing because I think the second and third thing will be fine. I think that the defense... So you're confident in the goal-tending of the defense? I'm confident in the defense and I'm confident in the goal-tending. I don't think the goal-tending is gonna be spectacular, but I think it's gonna be good enough and I think the D is what it is so I think it still comes back to those guys no matter what Craig Barube

says about it. Yeah. I still think they have think they have to outplay the likes of Barkov, Kachuk, Reinhard Verhege or whatever. So I mean that's a simple way to look at it, but I just think that's still the case. And I think it'll always kind of be with this team. Well, and also with every team. Like I was talking about this yesterday, like I don't think anyone in Toronto or any Leaf fan is asking more of their best players than any other fan base asks of their best players. Like no one in Edmonton is like, you know, man, I really, I need Jan Mark to keep cooking here. Like, no one's saying that.

Yes, you got to play well and pull your weight, but it's McDavid and Dry Settle and Nugent Hopkins and in Vegas it's Eichel and Stone and Petrangelo and Morrissey. Like, that's what is expected. You're just expecting them to be on top of their game. Your best players have to be your best players. And what you don't want is to say- No one's asking for anything else. After the game, I didn't even notice that guy.

Yeah. Because if you do that a bunch of times, you're out. Right, exactly. Max Domey can't pull you out from this. No, he can have moments. Yes, of course he can. But it's the same thing. If Florida gets through this,

it's not because AJ Greer or something it's it's it's not because you know AJ Greer or like that's not the way it goes It'll be Barkov and Kachuk, but you can have got like Cole Profetti rescued the Jets to an extent I think that was a bit of a surprise right with Shifely down so you can have surprise He's a top six player and he's on the ice with a man No, I know that's not that's not a third or fourth liner But it's still a guy who hadn't really done it on a big stage stepping up.

I mean, those two deflects, that first deflection was ridiculous. Unbelievable. Unbelievable angle. It was so perfectly placed. Like, it was, I don't know, man. There were some amazing plays, some amazing goals, and even Hellebuck coming. I just was so happy for him coming back to life a little bit like he just looked

Different he looked different in the in in in overtime compared to in the first period it just looked like mentally I've been given this sort of second chance To salvage this whole thing and there's no way I'm going to well Hayes sparked him with his tweet Yes, I did. I said... Did he say he read it? Hella Buck owes the Jets' teammates perfection in overtime. Do you think it was read to him? I hope so. Came across a ticker and the dresser. I know Scott Arneal follows me. I know Scott Arneal's on Twitter. He's checking things out. I would like to believe that I inspired Connor

Hella Buck. So funny. I tweeted something out about Mikko Rantinen on Saturday night too. Did you? No. Are you getting a reputation as a guy that will fire you? I'm a whisperer man. That would be hilarious. Do you feel like- That's the greatest story. But do you feel good for Rantinen? I mean I'm- I do? Yeah I guess so. Why wouldn't you? I don't know. I feel like in the back of his mind he's like I still want to be in Colorado though. Like this is great, I'm in cool and we're in the second round. Did guys don't think he'd rather be like maybe that was a thought after the game like why the hell did you guys trade me in yeah exactly did you see the handshake line yeah well he was miked up

it was more just I love you bro I love you but like everyone on that Colorado team was like hugging him like it was well they had they just released a miked up version I don't know I haven't seen that I guess he was mic'd and it was just a lot of he hugs you Shane I love you, buddy. I'm so happy for you. Let's hang out in the offseason hugs landisgog sort of same thing So there was a lot of love. Yeah, well as there should be I mean the guy put on and he he didn't ask to be traded They were negotiating and then Colorado flipped them. I do wonder what Carolina's thinking watching that play Like his Rod Brendan Moore sitting there saying but if you had to use that cat in the second round here it was so bad when he was in carolina and i don't even think rod

bryndam or saw anything close to the house you see your buddy peter bora like leaning back in his chair going it takes guys some time little deals when he got here he didn't you know like pete had this analogy is like you know he's a great player eventually we knew it was gonna come out he goes you just sometimes you hope it comes out earlier and he goes it just took him a while to settle in. Did you think Leicester Branton because of the Carolina situation before this or do you think that was just Carolina's problem? I would he had when in doubt I would blame Carolina Blame on rent. Oh, I think he deserves a professional

I will I will you could know but if you if you're in a position to be a USA and you get traded Unbeknownst to you like without any knowledge. Well, he just told him I'm not resigning. No, but he also didn't play well I guess no, he did say I'm not resigned in a little bit Yeah, I mean, I understand what you're saying the human element has to be considered. He rocked his world and he's in Carolina and he didn't clearly didn't want to be there but you're also when you lace your skates up and you go out and play you're supposed to perform and he did not for the Carolina Hurricanes. I still find it bonkers that they didn't want to find that information. I know they wanted to keep that deal on the down low. To have

a guy, like you gotta ask him if he's gonna do that. To give up those assets and just say no he hates it here. I mean it worked out beautifully for Dallas. There's no other way to put it. It just fell right in their lap and Stankhoven and Picks or whatever going the other way, good for them. And Stankhoven's still playing and Carolina's in the second round like it's not like they they fold it after they made that deal But man, it worked out really well for Dallas Sydney Crosby Nathan McKinnon Mark Andre Fleury are going to the World Championships I bet you there's a couple guys that were asked that said no, I don't know they're saying yeah, I'm coming

How do you how do you say no if you're a young guy trying to make the Olympic team and these guys are going? Yeah, I mean like that's what it says to me. Like we got the Olympics a young guy trying to make the Olympic team and these guys are going? Yeah, I mean... Like that's what it says to me. Like we got the Olympics... Now, Flower's not going to be in the Olympic team. He's retired. He's done. This is one last dance for him.

Who knows if he'll even play. The timing and going with your buddies is three weeks. They're going to bring their families over. The first week, they're going to drink their faces off with their buddies. And then the second two weeks, they bring their family... Like McKinnon just went through a grind. He's like, I'm in. Like that's a pretty cool story.

The one that caught my eye was Connor Bedard and I don't know maybe he's dealing with something but if he indeed said no that would, that's surprising to me. Yeah. Suzuki. I don't think he didn't get to play a lot last year. Did Suzuki say that he was going to have the trainers weigh in or something? Yeah. Is that cryptic for like.

I've never heard of a play, so Nick Suzuki. He's battling with something apparently and he said he wants to get verification from the that was yes he said I'm not I can't I can't confirm that I'm gonna go over it cuz I'm waiting on the medical staff and I guarantee you it's I'm good to go now oh man I you guys know I think about it's three weeks it's a grind you know I totally agree Jamie if I just got kit if I just got punted from the NHL playoffs I'm like okay but that's fine but I think a big reason why Suzuki was You know, I totally agree Jamie if I just got kit if I just got punted from the NHL playoffs I'm like, okay, but that's fine

but I think a big reason why Suzuki wasn't on the Four Nations was because he kept saying no and the program Player often leave him off but that's that would be the arrogance of hockey Canada because if you want him on the Olympic team this year and Because he didn't go to the tournament of losers at the end of the season He's never been to any of them Well, but it doesn't matter if he is he good enough to play in the Olympic team next year? Yes he should be of course. Does Nathan McKinnon?

Yes. Okay. Nathan McKinnon just had his heart broken. I think he was in the long and he talked to his buddy Sid and he goes okay when are you gonna be back in Nova Scotia and he goes I'll be back after the World Championship. Okay I'll meet you over there. Like those are those are three buddies that are going like, I understand that. But maybe you want to be buddies with the guys who kind of run the room when you go to the Olympic Games. I think guys like it's their people don't realize how hard an NHL season is of a

grind. And then you're going to go over and play three more weeks. And for nothing, like you know, but I think two things can be true at the same time. I think players have every right to do that I think you're 100% right for whatever reason if physically they're not up to it but I do think that if you were a fringe player and you don't go then if that factors into you not making the team if there's a decision to be made between you and some other guy and the other guys always answer the call then you have to accept the fact that that might cost you going well then shame on management for team

canada being arrogant enough to not taking that guy when he can make your team better if nix is ukey doesn't make the team he but i was just saying if it's a decision between nix is ukey and some of the guy that's almost equal and he's always at the travel and then the strata is a little bit of a player so i i would say since it is a better player but connect is there mcghee's i guess my point is is like dog armstrong and those guys there they're smart enough to go with the best team not the guy

who all you didn't even he was banged up in the needed three weeks off the end of the season i think that should be the case i'm not convinced it always is the case. Well we heard whispers that he didn't make the Suzuki didn't make the foreign agents because he didn't go last year. It was something that was considered anyway. Right. And let's face it again when they announced the team he wasn't rocking the way he was in the second half. Exactly. Right like Suzuki had a great second half. But there is a difference between McDavid saying sorry but thanks but no thanks and maybe the fourth line center

That's the point. I think is if you're like Bedard I don't think is even in the running I think he's had a really tough couple of years in the league and it's just like I can't speak for him He said I wouldn't be surprised. He's like, I just got to get away from the sport here and he knows he's not Gonna be on the Olympic team. It's not gonna happen Suzuki based on merit the way he played the second half should absolutely be on that team right would sign what if the dark comes out of the uh... where he goes on lights

it up i don't think about it i i don't see a making the team what if you went to the world's this year and got to play with you know one of those who have answers not doing that by all account i'm just saying uh... but if he went to the world's and i don't know I think you're probably right that he's on the outside right now for the Olympic team. I think he's not at the Worlds because he went last year and he didn't hardly play and they were like... Yeah but you can't do... you can't... if that's the reason that's that's gonna get you in trouble if you do that. Oh exactly. That's a

good point about Celebrini though. He was looking... 24 hours ago was the first line center and now McKinnon and Sitter over. He's like great, where am I playing? Like, thanks, Sid. Am I on left wing now? He might be playing left wing. He might. But if I'm him, I would want that. You tell me I can play left wing with Sid for three weeks? I am pouncing at that option. You gotta have somebody on the second line. Remember they won in Riga, I only know this because I've written it in the new book, and that was, that year was in the middle of COVID. So this because I've written it in the new book, and that was that

year was in the middle of COVID. So imagine these guys, that was after the Canadian division thing. They asked these guys to go. Here's the deal guys, you're going to Riga, Latvia for the world, so you're going to be there for three weeks. When you arrive, you have to spend four days in your hotel room, and we're not leaving the hotel. We have a room in the basement with like pinball machines and stuff. That's it Who's gonna that team if you look at that roster and there was like Connor Brown and Manjapani ended up being a hero came over late. Yeah, they're all heroes, right? But and they lost the first three games and these guys were so miserable they're all sitting there going what the what the heck have we done here

and and they come back and win gold have memory of a lifetime right so but that was one where nobody said yes basically because it looked like hell. The one advertisement for the world is go to Prague have a great time in Europe. Then bring the family over after a week have an extended vacation

and uh... so that was the hardest draw ever that will championships and somehow you know these guys got the memory of lifetime and it's hard and you're right like with the olympics down around the corner this is the preempt like this is the you know the four nations face off whatever it was it ended up being a

fantastic tournament it wasn't you know before the tournament we're all going what the hell is this going to look at but it ended up mattering what's happened being great i just think that it would be i would i would look at in both sense and you said it could be on both sides but shame on hockey canada if they don't take the best players available if they're gonna be that's the way it should be that's fair that's the way it should be

petty that you didn't do something at the end of the season when you've just played 82 games and you know Suzuki had a great season. If he chooses not to because his groins are sore, he's got a bad you know sore back or something or he just wants to spend time with his buddies he should be able to do that. Yeah. Not obligated to do that. No you're not obligated to go. Like did you guys ever go? I was in there was one time I was like they asked. These guys Suzuki'd like five times. Why would I go over there? I gotta talk to the trainers. Did you ever say no? I said no I think four times. No your trainers said no the medical team. That's

the play. Just say I never got the green light. I honestly like when I get eliminator from the Stanley Cup playoffs I'm not going anywhere man. I'm sorry. And I had to say no to Lanny McDonald. He's like, come on, man. I need you like we'll fly first class me and you will have some beers in the plane. I go Lanny, I'm sorry, man. I love you. I ain't going. Yeah. I have a tip in the ground tomorrow morning at 748 Eastern time. Well, all the stories I've ever heard was guys are just over there and they're crushed and they're hammered. It's not like it was very serious back in that day. So I'm like, thanks but no thanks. It was a little different back then. I think it's a lot

different nowadays. Put it that way. Quickly here before we get you out of here, the draft lottery is tonight. Which team in the lottery, if they win, causes the biggest reaction? So it's San Jose, Chicago, Nashville, Philly, Boston, those are the top five. And Seattle, Buffalo, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, the Allenders, the Rangers. Probably the biggest reactions. Boston?

Pit maybe? You think pit? I feel like Boston bottoming out and then getting the first pick overall would be crazy considering they've been so good for so long. Most exciting for me would be San Jose or Chicago. Because they've already got pieces for so long most exciting for me would be would be San Jose or Chicago because they've already got they have and they got pieces that now you add another player in there. Mm-hmm Now you're kind of awesome. There's so many players away though. It's not even Nashville would be interesting How about the Rangers at 11?

You imagine Mike Sullivan walks up there day one with a first overall pick that would be sick Yeah, what about your Buffalo Sabres? They they they deserve deserve it man I would love to get another good young defenseman I love the idea Schaefer being added to that group yeah I love that idea all right I don't know I mean there you can make a case for everything Boston would be cool well cool is a stretch I don't I mean they've had they had one word they had a bad second half yeah and if they end up winning like they had an awful second half to get there But they were in the playoffs like four months ago, but they did but they did that again like Strategic beautiful bottom. I do that thing when we had when we had the rights

We did about eight lotteries in a row during that span when Edmonton won four out of five years Yeah, was it three out of four years and it almost got uh Who was it Steve Tambolini. It got awkward. It got awkward. Like he would win the draft lottery and go, ah, sorry. Okay, there you are, Steve. Not you again. I'd have to go over and interview him. He'd be like, ah, we won again. Yeah. Well, then they finally won it and he wasn't even there.

Looks like Neil Yakupov this year. You get McDavid and there's Peter Sciarelli. Standing there. That one stings for Steve D'Appellini. All right JD, O-Dog, catch you guys on the panel. It's gonna be a fun one tonight. Yeah, full breakdown after the game right on SportsCenter YouTube. Yeah, YouTube too. The hot zone. YouTube. O-Dog is very, he's a creator now, A content creator on YouTube. Content creator, I love it. Okay, we'll catch that on the TSN YouTube page. All right, boys, enjoy yourselves. All right, Chris Johnston coming up from the rink.

Jimmy Ralph is well in about an hour. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. All right, TSN 1050 is giving away tickets to the Leafs and Panthers in round two down at Scotia-Mack Arena, and all you have to do is listen to us on the iHeartRadio app for your chance to win them. To enter download the iHeartRadio app, create an account and listen to TSN 1050 for at least 15 minutes straight. You can enter twice per day so listen to first up and overdrive and the more times you listen the better your chances of winning. First up we'll be calling our game two winner Wednesday morning so don't make plans for game two on Wednesday night. Monday, Wednesday,

Friday, Sunday. That's game one, two, three, four. No Saturday nights in the first in the second round. Yeah I found a little bit interesting. I thought I mean listen you you got to line it up and play and the league is playing every second night and and i do think it's it's good they start right away if you know the get their loan monday night rates the only only team or on else's plan so one else's plan tonight but

you know wednesday that dallas uh... winnipeg series joins they just finished yesterday i thought they would start tuesday actually thought it would be a quick turnaround but but. Yeah, I guess again, it's, you're trying to jockey Edmonton, Winnipeg, cause they're both in the West and they're both going to have later games. And that's really what it comes down to because Edmonton Vegas will start on Tuesday.

But yeah, I like it. Like if you're the Leafs, take advantage of it, man. You've got the only, you're the only team in town, man. You're the only team going. You're the only game going right now in the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight. And Mitch Marner, talking about a guy who's like on top of the world right now.

Yeah. His birthday today, he and his wife had a son yesterday. Now he's playing tonight. I thought he had a great line. He's like, my kid was smart enough to know, don't show up on a game day. Yeah. Because you never know. And he's like, we didn't know. How would you know show up on a game day. Yeah, cuz you never know, you know And he's like we didn't know how would you know, you know

You got a two-week window there three-week window where you're like anything could happen. That's good and it all worked out now he's you know, miss practice yesterday was out skating today and Yeah, he's gonna be at the forefront of everything like he always is. Well, he will be I mean and he has to be that's the You know the truth of the matter is that you know, he going to be a big part of of this series you know positive negative you know you know he's going to be front and center him in austin matthews willy don to virus morgan riley but then it'll be supporting cast

like i did game one is you're feeling out each the series feeling out you know the what they like to do tendencies and all that but then then it's adjustments It's how are we going to adjust the lineup? You know systems penalty kill power play all of these types of things because that's what you've seen Like watching that Colorado Dallas series there was fascinating to see there was adjustments right through and obviously there's injuries and

inconsistencies and goalies like you know there were some lopsided games in there where it's like goalies coming out because we're losing this game we're going to save them for next game and it happened you know Blackwood got pulled, Ottinger got pulled there's all sorts of things that you might see and I'm expecting a long series you might see a lot of different things happen, unfold. Well and the Stolar's element you know Joseph Wall is always there in the background. He hasn't played in weeks. Yep.

But Broski, there's no discussion, unless there's an injury, no one else is playing. Yeah, Vanacek is there too. Yeah. Like he's there, you know. But he's never going to play. Like they, the Leafs could score seven on, seven shots tonight. Bob gets pulled, he's playing game two. Oh, 100%.

Like nothing is going to change that. I don't think any, I don't think anything that Stolars does tonight would lead to Wall playing game too. I think you gotta commit to Stolars here unless something crazy happens, which obviously if it does you're in big big trouble. No I agree. You're talking Joseph Wall in any capacity that's big trouble. Like I understood why he was hovering around the first round because because Stollers didn't have playoff experience right because he was playing more than he was used to playing Joseph Wall when he did in you know get inserted into series in the last couple years he played really really well he

played against Florida Dan the series two years ago yeah but I think now that Stollers has his feet wet for me that's very significant. Him getting his first playoff series win was huge. Like I think that checks a big box in terms of pushing Joseph Wall even further into the background. Well playing six games in condensed time like he hadn't done that. And overtime games. Like to me that's yeah I mean the overtime that wasn't you know they were they they were quick right? Yeah, the first two were that if you six minutes Or whatever. Yeah, you're right. But

You're right. Like there's there's a few things that have to check off for him the biggest concern for him was lack of not lack of experience but lack of You know back-to-back games, you know, there's never gonna play back-to-back at the playoffs, but you're playing every second day Tough to do it's tough to, you know. A lot of energy, man. Fire up the body again, fire up that. And that's where, you know, he was able to push through. And, you know, now we'll see what he's got.

It's gonna be a little different series. He's familiar, I will think it's a bit weird for him. And what I mean by this, playing against your former team, it's's you got friends on that other you know we saw the Cousins gate or whatever you know their buddies and but like this is a guy that won the Stanley Cup with those guys last year and went through you know ups and downs spent a lot of time with them it's a it's on a one-off you're playing Nick Cousins this is the this is

the guys like that you were with and won a cup with. It might be a bit weird for him and he's going to have to block that out and go, I don't care that I won a cup with Matthew Kachuck, he's going to try and chop my hand off if I put my- And you got to treat him like Ridley Gregg if he does. Right. That you got to be ready to chop broccoli. Yep.

Right? Because I think that was a significant moment within that series where he was like, I'm a big dude. And if you come close to me, it's trouble for you. Yeah. And that's what he represents. He's a massive, massive goalie. He's huge. He's a daunting goalie. Like if you look at him, like, you know, he just, he takes up a lot of net and if he plays with intensity and he plays a little bit mean, I think that goes a long way. Well, they know him. That's the thing. And they'll know, he's gonna know what they're gonna try and do and they'll know what he's gonna counter with. So it's a fascinating case study.

Yes. Like Oliver Ekman Larson will know like, hey, this guy's like to do this stuff. And he's kind of sneaky, you know, gray area guy. And he's gotta do that even more this series. He's gotta do that. And you know, Lorenz is Lorenz. He's straight line guy and fourth line guy. big and can play physically right you know at times

not nasty is not like now should over the line but he is a guy that will he's big enough to play with some physicality yeah but yeah I look at you know this series and from a lead perspective like trying to spin positives we all know what what Florida's gonna represent right but I think if you the Leafs I have said this before that Florida has played a lot of hockey the last two years. Yeah. And I get Kichuk didn't play a ton down the stretch. I don't know if he's at a hundred percent or not. Like he, I'm not convinced he is at 100%. That's something maybe you can lean into. Um, you know, yes, Marchand took some time off down the stretch and all that kind of stuff. Ekblad not playing tonight and he was suspended.

But fumes can show up at any time and then it's on you to expose them. Like a crafty team may be able to get through that but if they show any inkling of like, okay we've played a lot of hockey, we're running out of steam here, the willpower's not necessarily there, you've gotta manipulate that man.

You've got it because there's no reason, both teams are hungry. Florida once you get a taste of it you really want it and they know what they do it they have the winning formula like over the last two years only Vegas has beaten them and it was in the cup final but the Leafs like there's no excuse for them not to be as hungry if not significantly more hungry. So show up and lean on them and hope that those fumes show up this series because I would not be surprised at all if they did at some point the next month and a half. Yeah it just runs out of steam for you. Yeah or that you just run into a team that has your hot goalie or hot scorers you name it like

you know that's the that's the beauty of these games you don't know when it's going to end as far as when a team just outperforms. You don't have it. Yeah you don't have it. Yeah, you don't have it. Or beats are four out of seven. That's really, you've got to find a way and that's the game within the game. Tonight, like I say, I'm fascinated to see how it's going to unfold and how the story lines go because pretty much no.

Vasilevsky said in his post-game meeting, he said that team very consistent, kind of know how they're going to play. Yeah, Florida we can probably map it out. How the Leafs are going to play. Why I feel optimistic about how the Leafs are built this year compared to two years ago, I would look at the 3D pairings and say I have not been this comfortable with basically any matchup. And obviously you still want to set up Tanev and McCabe against

probably the Barkov line I would think. And maybe you want to avoid Morgan Reilly in certain areas. But I think the three deep pairings they have, healthy and really consistent, they didn't get overplayed in the first round. That is probably the biggest boost in my confidence In terms of the ability for this Leaf team to beat this Panther team compared to what we saw two years ago Where two years ago it was you know, Timothy Lilligran is out there and right you've got you know There's there's I think Joel Edmondson was that two years ago. I think it might have been maybe was last year

But yeah again good players it's not that these guys can't play but I look at it right now like Ekman Larsen and Benoit they were great pairing in the first round they were good like you don't want to overexpose them at some point that can bend you know go from bending to breaking but if I'm Craig Barube I feel comfortable with the three deep pairings I have yeah I think that's a big boost for the league. Well, and on home ice you can manage that if you feel like the one thing, you know, Florida's four check is, is.

They'll take a piece. Relentless. And that's, that's the one thing I'm, when it comes to the D, they've got to find a way to move the puck quick. Because that's, you know, they don't have guys who handle the puck overly. Like it's Morgan who can skate it out. Everyone else is, you know, Carlo, it's just a chip.

It's McCabe is a chip. Like these guys are, you know, they can absorb contact and they got to move the puck and get it out. That would be the biggest thing that I would look for because if you, you know, analytics, I don't want to bring all the numbers in, but it was, you look, Florida was the, the team that dumped the puck the most in the National Hockey League, but they're really good on puck recovery So they dump it with a purpose their physical and they support it So if you're Ruby and and the coaches, how do you counter that? Well, you're gonna move the puck quick

You have to have support and that's the biggest challenge You know Ben wall great first round got to flush it because yeah Gonna be a lot different. You're gonna feel a lot of pressure Can you handle the puck take a hit and move the puck? Carlo those type of guys like Benoit was making plays with the puck Yeah, which was something that probably stood out more than anything. We haven't seen that No, like legitimately like leading rushes and you're like where's this coming from and right it worked against Ottawa again it it may not necessarily against Florida but what he can consistently do is hit everything in sight block every shot you

possibly can and then the rest is probably gravy right if you get anything else from Benoit you'll you'll love it but really what you want out of him is give me 17 18 minutes hit everything in sight block shots and don't ever back down if you're in it with Matthew Kachuk and he wants to go out get the coincidental penalty every single time he punches you you bury him and then look at the refs and say both yeah that's gotta be the game plan every single time all right Chris Johnston from the rink ahead of game one tonight Jim Rolfe coming coming up in about forty five minutes as well we've got a best bet powered by fandol

jay's are off there in anaheim starting tomorrow night we got a couple of games in the nb a class as well overdrive continues to yes and ten fifty and on the t s and out chris johnston coming up to me ralph as well we get the draft lottery tonight right in game one, Leafs Panthers. No Jays tonight. Jays dropping two of three over the weekend. It's just...

Two under five hundred now again. Yeah, it's not good. Like the bats, they had some moments to really break the game loose and they just don't hit for power. They just don't have it. And now, you know, there's a lot of concerns about Scherzer. He's been placed on the 60 day IL, which is retroactiveactive The hope is by the end of the month. Maybe he returns. I'm not I'm not holding my breath You're like chirping the ump though. Yeah, do you see him doing the coin toss flip thing?

I mean, that's kind of I hear you you're a lifer and you're a Hall of Famer But dude you pitched two innings this year, right and the team stinks and you know I don't think it's gonna help the reputation of the Blue Jays, right? I got it was kind of funny, but I thought it was funny, but he did it like a lot Yeah, he was going on a lot like there's a long history with that um, but he's a lifer He's been around for a long time. I would assume Scherzer has had personal issues with him in the past for sure Was it? Yeah, I think it was Buckner, was it? Or I believe it was. Yeah, it was Buckner and he's a pretty famous ump.

But. Yeah, you're not doing yourself any favors. Like that's what you're famous for now as a blue jay is kind of mocking the ump and flipping the coin and closing your eyes. Cause you haven't done anything on the mound. No, he's been hurt. Yeah, you've been hurt.

You know what he's good at is self diagnosis. He figured that out from connected to the uh... here is bonnie i just went on and on and on and bad frances get lit up and the other you know the three starters are open they're fine they're okay they're not there's no no one's gonna win uh... a sigh young and now group but it's it's

concerning now what the global glass half full is that the American League and the American League East is really not doing much there's not much going on so you're still in the hunt but not running away like nobody's running nobody's running away no one is overly concerned about anyone running away right now but it it is a it's ugly baseball man it's the same kind of issue thank you Yankees are okay but Yankees aren't. Like Judge is putting up numbers that are absurd, man. Like he's getting better. It's crazy.

Every year he gets better somehow. Like he hit 62 home runs a couple years ago. And he wasn't using those paddle bats or whatever either. He wasn't using the turbo bats or anything, man. His numbers are absurd. Like the numbers he is putting up are crazy. So shout out to Aaron Judge, but the rest of the Yankee team is not overly impressive and the rest of the American League is not overly impressive.

No, a lot of 500 or below 500. Yeah, exactly. Like everyone's just kind of plugging along and the Jays are right in the midst of that. All right, final hour coming up. So shout out to the RBC Canadian Open, big day. They announced Max Homas coming up this year, Wyndham Clark's coming up, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry. Big names. Those are big names.

Rory's gonna be there, all the Canadians are gonna be there, so that's big. Shout out to the RBC Canadian Open. We're less than a month, we'll be up there. Right, we're gonna be up there doing our thing. Lawrence Applebaum. Lawrence will be up there doing his thing. You know, he's gonna ask you to play golf.

That's his thing. You coming out to play this year, then you're gonna say no, and then he's gonna chirp, and that's how we operate every single year. That's our Yep. That's his that's his thing. You coming out to play this year then you're gonna say no and then he's gonna chirp and that's how we operate every single year. That's our routine. That's our routine. That's what we will be doing in about a month up at TPC Toronto but wanted to get that in. Shout out and get your tickets get up there we'll be up there the overdrive crew. Morning guys, Golf Talk Canada we're all gonna be up there all week it's gonna be a great week. Alright game one tonight we'll tee it up. CJ will join us from the rink.

Jimmy Rolfe coming up from the rink. Game one, we charge towards it. You can hear right here on TSN Radio. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Introducing Brian Adams Radio. On iHeart Radio. Got my first real sick string.

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