OverDrive - OverDrive - November 20, 2025 - Hour 1 - Darren Dreger/Chris Johnston

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jason Strudwick for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Oilers' tough stretch of the season, the team playing in a bad patch, Stuart Skinner's problems in the crease, the Maple Leafs' matchup against the Blue Jackets, Bill Simmons calling the Columbus the 'most irrelevant franchise' in professional sports and the Bills looking to continue their winning streak against the Texans. TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston join to discuss the NHL headlines in the insider roundtable going around the league.

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Restriction supply ships registered in Panama and Malta. This hour of overdrive is powered by Fanduil. Fanduil, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go, Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker, up on TSN4, streaming live on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel like we do every single day. Brian Hasey, O'Dock, Jeff O'Neill, and Jason Strudwick, Struddy in the house. Look at Struddy, all dialed in out there, as if the Oilers are on a 10-game

winning streak. Wow. Just look. Wow. It looks great and looks comfortable out there. Oh, man. Misery loves company, right? Leaves and owners fans are in the same boat right now.

Yeah, we sure are, man. It's funny. Someone sent me a note today. Being like, man, you guys are yelling about the Leafs. What don't you yell about the Oilers? We do. We do. We do every day.

We point out that they both stink right now. I'll tell you what. I watched last night. It's like, okay, oil. No Leaf game. Let's check in on the oil. you got to check in on the Canadian teams. They make it adventurous.

They make it entertaining because those two monsters go out there and they score at well. But my goodness, they have some serious problems, serious, serious problems. I was thinking today's strutty, like, I love Chris Knoblock. Are they actually trying to get this guy can too? Like, what on earth are they doing? They're terrible. Yeah, you know, it's funny. What do you see as the biggest issues?

Because I have my opinions. You know, I think mine are a little bit different than others, but what do you see? Oh, when you watch that, Q team. Well, let me just tell you the first thing that's not like X's and O's related. With the lack of kind of interest they're showing and kind of lack of spunk out there, it looks like there could potentially be some type of issue from my experience playing the game where somebody's pissed at somebody, I don't know if, like I'm just dreaming a scenario. They didn't change the goaltending and the guys know it that it's a problem.

and it wasn't a, like, do you know what I mean? Like, there's some kind of deep-rooted issue that's showing its ugly head on the ice. That's not X's and O's or not personal. I don't know. Do you know what I'm talking about, Strud? Yeah. It looks like there's something that could be behind the scenes that's hampering the group, their performance, and then as far as the way they play away from the puck,

it's actually quite laughable. I mean, I'm not, I don't claim to be any kind of defensive specialist, but the chances they give up are still. egregious and so crazy that they almost don't give themselves a chance to win they have no chance to win it's it's interesting to bring all that up so i'll talk about the first part i mean is there something going on behind the scenes i'm not sure i mean i'm not in there i'm not in that room i'm not an insider like a dragger would know um but they do look disinterested but we've seen this two other times right dwight this is the third time but this almost has like a different feel

where it's like i know you guys have been to two cup finals in a row you there could be some fatigue but they might they might get caught this time they might be caught this time but the challenge i have for this group and you know in some ways it's similar to the leaps is the way they're playing in front of their net minder and they're managing the puck it's it's very careless both of those areas and it's i mean these are these aren't skills i mean these are just attention to detail and desire to manage the puck properly and to be you know hard in front of your own net and to be defensively sound they just haven't done that at all Well, guys, I hate to break it to you, but Noodles isn't here.

So we're allowed to point out the obvious issue. The goalie is horrendous. Like, that's the truth. You shut your mouth right now. I know. It can never be the goalie's fault completely when Noodles is around. So we've got to kind of tip, tap, you know, tap around that. When Noodles isn't here, let's just, we put the pedal down.

Stuart Skinner should not be playing, like he cannot be a starter in the National Hockey League. It's not a debate anymore. The stats would indicate that. they're dead last in the league and everything across the board that matters. Defensive stats, I think they're dead last a lot. And save percentage and everything. You know, like, yes, do they give up chances? Absolutely.

And they got to clean that up. The fact is, you guys know the game. No one is perfect. The best defensive team in the league gives up six, seven really good chances every game. It's just the nature of a free-flowing sport. It's going to happen. Especially the way it is now where you can't hook, hold. Right.

There's no clutching. There's no grabbing. You can't control a game where it's the only give a, up nine shots or something. Like it's just very difficult to do it. It's going to be a free-flowing sport at some point. And Stuart Skinner just can't do it. He can't do it right now. Maybe he starts doing it after last night. I don't know. But for me, that is where you start. And this is on Stan Bowman. Like Stan Bowman's been there a couple of years. He's set after the cup final. Got to be changes here. They changed the goalie coach. And they have a couple of young guys that have been

inserted. We're not going to work. How are they going to help you win? It's not going to work. It's a miracle. They made it to cup final after cup final with that tandem. It's a miracle. And they did it. Credit to them. Unbelievable.

Amazing. Not doing it a third time. You can comment on this part. But it seems like Ekholm is a year older where he was the guy that always shored things up back there. And he was the steady guy where it was like, Bouchard, you can kind of slip a little bit and I'll cover for you. But it seems like he's a year older. And it seems like it's a challenge for him now, too. I don't know. It's kind of messy.

Yeah. So they have 5D that are really good. And then they have Regula and Emerson, who are 60. That's what you are, right, when you get to that point. What I'd say about, well, Ackholm, I think Ackholm was coming off a pretty significant injury in the playoffs. And I think he took his October to get back to normal. I think now we're starting to see him at his best. When him and Bouchard together in November, it's been pretty good. But as far as the netminder, I think Stu Skinner would function best in an environment that's more

predictable. Right now, the play in front of him is radically, radically unpredictable. It is there, you never know what's going to happen. You know, you have D-Men can beat one-on-one. You know, that gets, getting, as a D-May should we take great pride in not getting beat one-on-one on a rush. I mean, oh, how many times did you beat a guy one-on-one? Jason. It's hard to do in the NHL. In practice, if you tried some kind of stupid tow drag, a defenseman would stop you and say, even if you were a 12. 27-year-old, eight-year veteran in the National Hockey League, and practice a guy who would stop you and say,

stop the junior crap around here. It's not going to work, so don't even think about it. You know what I mean? It's true, and we've seen so many times Oilers' D-Men get beat one-on-one. Like, that is the job. That's the number one job. And then even flybys in front, not tying up sticks, and I could go through all the D.

So I'm not pointing at one or the other. So these are details they know because they've done them in those situations. They haven't done them, and they're capable. So Chris Oblock must be pulling his hair out and say, what am I to do here? I don't even know where to start. Yeah, well, he looks flustered. He was last night, you know, and I know, I think it was nurse. He had a couple goals last night, but said it's, you know, tough to win when you're giving up five.

And then he caught himself and said defensively, we've got to be way better. Like, there was more to that comment that went viral last night. But it's almost like they're mind screwed where it's like, if, like, they're so afraid to get caught being a aggressive where they're like, I don't know, they're caught in between because they know that if there's any kind of quality chance it's going to end up in the back of the net. So like the year Carolina won the Stanley Cup, they were super aggressive, deep pinch, deep pinch. When you know you've got a goaltender back there that's going to shut the door, you can be so aggressive when you play the game. But when you know what's going to end up in the back of the net, then you just got a whole different world of problems. And I think their nature is they want to be aggressive.

But they're just, I don't know, it's a mess. There's no other way to describe it. Yeah. No, it's weird. It's, again, it is early. And like you said, Strud, they've been kind of down this road before. I don't know if it's been as extreme as this, but they're still in a position where, you know, they're right there. I mean, it's not, I talked about it yesterday.

Like with the Leafs, the Leafs, it has not been good. Like, without knowing the results, you would watch the games they play and say, man, that's not great. They're 9-9-2. It's not like they have, you know, nine points. on the season. They have somehow found a way to rack up points. The Oilers have done the same. The Leafs are in a similar position tonight to the one they were in the other night.

Columbus is a better team in St. Louis. They're playing better than St. Louis. But they're not a world beating team. And Scott Lottin's reinserted into the lineup. So they've got some guys coming back from injury. But Matthews is still out, Nize is out, Waz out, Tanev, Carlo, Stolars. hasn't even skated yet, so we don't know what's going to happen there.

And you're going to have to find a way to win like you did the other night. I think it's going to have to be 3-2. Like you just, I don't see how you could expect this lineup to score five or six goals. Not happening. Yeah, it feels like you kind of have to win 3-2 or 2-1, and Joseph Wall is going to have to play really well, which he's capable of doing. And that might be the TSN turning point for their season.

His wall returns, goes on a bit of a heater. You know, the easiest way to clean things up, really is goaltending. It's not a full-proof plan. It's certainly not a long-term plan. If you're just relying on your goalie to stand on your head every night, not going to happen. I said that the other day, and I told noodles, I'm like, it's sad to say, but sometimes your goaltender's got to dig you out of this stuff. Yeah. And just put up a performance where it's like, okay, we feel good about ourselves now. Let's just build off of that. And they've got to do it. And maybe avoid the five-on-one, the dreaded five-on-one, the dreaded five-on-one against the

Columbus Blue Jackets tonight. That's what happened a few weeks ago. Yeah. The dreaded five-on-one. five on one that's fun but see i i think when you're a team and you are struggling as far as maybe you have injuries and maybe the season hasn't gone what you want it's okay to say we're just going to lock it down and and the least still have guys they can just you know they can they can they could score uh get it done they get enough to get the win but just say we're going to lock it down here as much as possible and then when we get healthy now we have that as their base and now we're going to be to pump a few more goals so those three two games turn into a five two game so i i i look at

I think your point about this being a turning point for leave is a fair one. I mean, Columbus is a pretty decent team. And they're not, they're fairly talented. They're pretty well coached. They're disciplined. Werensky is worth the price of admission every time. Really is, man. He's unbelievable.

He's a forward with the plays D. That's what he is. He's so, so good at the puck. Yeah, he's, he's fun, man. Like, we'll see him at the Olympic Games. Oh, obviously. He wanted. Yeah, exactly.

He's one of those guys that he's, like, doing the four nation stuff. watching him in practice was enjoyable, just his skill set. You know, like just going D to D and doing the drills. I was, you're captivated watching him. He's just so good, man. He's so good. But he shoots that puck, to me, like, really elite goals scores, and they shoot it, the puck shrinks off their stick.

And I know that doesn't maybe add up to a lot of physics, but that's what I always saw. And he, to me, is that guy. And he shoots, it just shrinks and poof, it finds a little hole to get through. A lot of golfers, and you guys both wouldn't understand this. But when they compress the golf ball, It seems like it stays on their club face for a long time. That's what Werenski does.

Yeah. Compression is a beautiful thing. Dude, there's nothing better than just butter compressing a six iron. Yes. It is the greatest feeling in the world. Now, if it's not hooks on you. No. But it can't because you can, for a millisecond, you think you launched that thing,

and then it just starts to curl. For four seconds, you think you're Tiger Woods, and then the curving starts. And it starts hucking and you're like, I didn't get that thing. I thought I got it perfectly. And it turns out I actually snap hooked that thing. But, yeah, Werensky, he averages 26 minutes and 40 seconds a game. Crazy.

That's an average, which means there are many games that it's 31, 32, that balance things out. Doesn't blink either. Does not blink. He can play more. He makes it look so easy the way he skates around that ice. And he controls a lot of the game. And he's, you know, Proveroff, and then who's it, Severson from Devils? Like, there's some decent skill back there.

Yeah. Yeah, no, you're right. Like, they got some speed, too. They got some youth, and they're not off to the greatest start. You know, Columbus is just kind of plugging along and doing what they seemingly do every year. But last time the least played him, John Tavares, scored his 500 goal, and it just fell on deaf ears. I just got to say that that one guy, Bill Simmons, that wrote that article and said that Columbus is the most irrelevant sports franchise. That was a D-Bag move with what they've been through the last year to come up with that.

Like, does he not watch the Sacramento-Oklanez or whatever the hell they are? Well, Sacramento Kings, yeah. Like, he's still in my bed. Where's the baseball team playing? Well, yeah, they're playing in Sacramento games. So are they not in a relative? Yeah. It's just what they've been through for him to come out with that.

I thought it was complete trash. Yeah, I don't know if it was an article or if he was talking about it. Okay, why don't we play it? You want to play it? We'll hear. I haven't even heard the whole thing. I've just seen it clipped everywhere. Here's Bill Simmons talking about irrelevant sports franchises.

I'll just assume it's my Columbus Blue Jackets who are celebrated in their 26th season and only have a total of 15 franchise playoff wins. So I had no idea, which I think speaks to Patrick's case, that the answer is the Columbus Blue Jackets. Columbus's case is incredible. So they come in the league in 2000. They haven't made round two of the playoffs ever. They haven't made the playoffs since 2020.

They've missed the playoffs 20 of 25 times. Their best blue jacket ever is Rick Nash. They've had 17 captains. Lyle O'Deline, Ray Whitney, Luke Richardson, Adam Foote, Rick Nash, Nick Fuligno, and Boone Jenner. I've never heard a single conversation about the blue jackets. all right so it goes on and on and on now that's like just be quiet but here's the thing man here's the thing i know what you're saying because the the gudrow tragedy i think that's what you're you're indicating like how bad it's been and how difficult that was there's no

disputing that there's also not disputing some of the facts he just mentioned i think if we're just being fair is it a tough conversation yes am i guilty of that's to how often do i say new jersey this sacramento you think everybody sucks exactly and if if we're being clear and I think a lot of people in hockey, they get sensitive. Of course, an American sports guy is going to say it's a hockey team. That's the most irrelevant big force sports team. And as he just issued, Columbus has been in the playoffs very few times. They've won one playoff round.

They're not like he's, it sucks, but he's not wrong. Like he's just unfortunately not wrong. Like Columbus is not a team. This is why we should prep before the show. Well, I know. And I, like, I were probably going to throw to the clip and say, no, I couldn't agree more with. this guy. It's hard to argue.

Columbus is in town for us tonight. So like Columbus, in terms of the hockey teams and we talk hockey a lot, I take shots at Sacramento all the time. I say the Sacramento Kings or the Charlotte Hornets, like those are the most irrelevant teams in the league. I'm sure they would look at that and say,

who are you kidding, or that's uncalled for or what have you. Yeah, but let me just say one thing about the clip. It seemed like he didn't have a true passion for what he was talking about. No, I think he's reading it off and coming out with an answer. gang guy, Lou Faligno, he was calling Feligno. You didn't know who the

hell you were talking about. No. No, I don't think Simms is not a big hockey guy. No, there was no conviction there. But exactly. Somebody sent him a stat pack saying, look at this and he was like, oh, okay. Tough to argue it. Like Columbus... Tough to argue it, Strud. I'm sorry. Yeah. So Columbus came in and

had a cool logo, they had the candidate to go off for the guns. I'm like, okay, you know, these guys make it going, well, this has been many years where they haven't really got over the top. And, you know, and I I'm going to pick a moment in time where they made a mistake. I believe it was the year that they beat Tampa Bay. I think Barowski was their netminder there,

and they had other free agents, pending free agents they could have traded. Not only did they not trade those free agents, they actually loaded up on others. They went around, and then everyone left. And I think that was on, who's the gym at that time? It was Davidson and... Was it Kekalinen, I think. Yeah, Yarmal Kekalinen.

Now, I get it. Your owner wants to get into the playoffs, great. but if they would have unloaded all that they might be at a different place now not that they're in a horrible place now but I believe if they did it correctly they'd be the better place and that to me is the number

one Columbus Blue Jacket moment of the last 20th of the quarter century that was a mistake yeah it was a great moment but I think my timing's right if not it you guys know what I mean no you're right they went out and got Matt Dushain they went out and got like a bunch of guys yes and then Duchenre I think was there maybe

I think he was and he's like I'm out of here to New York and Dushain went to Nashville and Bob went to Florida like they all just scattered. Check please. Seth Jones said check please. A lot of guys said check please. A lot of guys have left. Tough to run your operation like that. It is difficult. It's very difficult to do.

And that's on them to find a way to get over the top. But if you're not in the playoffs every year, especially in the States as an NHL team, you're just not going to be on people's radar. And I'm not here defending Bill Simmons. He can do or say whatever he wants, but

kind of tough to argue. It's not like Columbus. They're not the Knicks. They're not the Lakers. Like they're nowhere close to it. Bill's in action tonight in Houston. Short week, they're a favor. Two, five and a half point favor. They have been terrible on the road. Owen Wilson on the clock tonight.

I'd be shocked if you don't take the points here. I'd be shocked if you don't take Houston tonight. Shocked. And I would, I'd be willing to put a lot of money on that that Luke comes in and takes Houston. But we'll see. We'll see. I don't know. It's their pick. I don't want to indicate one way or the other. Who am I to

say anything. I'm only plus 10. What's this Holman character up to that he's not playing? He's not playing again tonight. Why? Because of the incident? I don't know. He wouldn't be dumb enough to do it again. Would he? I don't know. Maybe or maybe he didn't respond properly. You know, maybe

there was some sort of, I don't know, I don't know what happened. Maybe, I would guess it would be in response. Like, hey, they wanted to see more and then it was. Wasn't the craziest one, Billy Belichick in the Super Bowl, sat one of his key players for the whole game? Yeah. He's He sat the guy who picked off Russell Wilson in the Super Bowl.

Blank. Malcolm Butler. It was Malcolm Butler. He's out of the whole game. He never explained it, never played him. Nothing. Nothing said about it, just said they're not going. You're not playing. Crazy. Super Bowl. That's like one of your top two or three corners, not playing. So Luke is coming up in studio of five. We've got John Snyder on the show today. It should have been the AL manager of the year. It would have been a World Series champ. been a World Series champ we're that close

we'll ask him like as he relives game six and seven dude he has to relive at Hayes I wake up some mornings and I'm like I can't believe the Jays didn't win the world's ever me too so much fun to watch I have so many images that just pop it in my head being like I

can't believe that happened yeah I can't believe that happened I can't believe they didn't score here I can't ball lodged in the in the field and then he gets doubled off yeah and then the two guys colliding making that catch that had no business. Oh, crazy.

Crazy stuff, man. Yeah, I thought it was out. Vladdy almost hit a home run. It was crazy. But that's what Jennifer Hedger, that's why she says all the time. Sports. That's sports. Hedges on to something there. Hedges one of the great sports philosophers of our time.

How about Schneider's watches? I always look for his, I mean, he had that one at the blue. He's got a blue and a red one. I want to be, I want to ask him that maybe at the end. Why do you, what's the why do you go with the red why the blue because they're giant watches they're probably expensive watches man no it'd be like a championship wrestling belt they're so big yeah they are yeah you're right he's got pretty thick wrists i think he's a he's a big dude john schneider he's got i believe two

brothers because i saw them on the field and both of them are massive human beings really like the yokech brothers walking around the dome that's what it looked like when i was down there i'm like who are these guys running security what exactly did those yokitch brothers do like they're scary individuals. I don't think they do much, but they just intimidate people. Dude, I'll tell you what, you've got to see the groceries these guys eat at dinner. They take a lot of pictures at dinner together. There is booze glasses on the table all over the place and just 15 different plates of groceries. Yeah. I can't imagine what these guys are pounding. I got to think they're just on his payroll. To do what? I don't know, just to be there

and hang out, right? Like that would be... He's in the horses, isn't it? He's horse. Isn't he hardest racing. He is Eddie Old Chuck, like times 10. Yeah, he's a bit bad. I see him to a lot of that stuff. He loves the ponies. Can you imagine you're a pony, see that guy walk up to you? Like, just shaking your head like, no. I know. This guy hungry? What is he doing?

I'm not carrying on my back big guy. That's a good question. Does he ever get on the horse? Is there a limit? Like, to your point, like if you're a horse, are you looking at this guy? Can you imagine other jockeys and that guy wheeled up in one of those outfits? He carries a horse.

He's just running with the horse on his back. Exactly. All right, well, we'll get to the bottom of that. Find out what the Yokage brothers actually do. Or if they're just in Denver, basically running security and being his kind of company. Hey, I've realized in pro sports that there's hangers, there's hangers around, man. Yeah. Sometimes the old man just shows up sight unseen and his never leaves.

And I would be fine with that. I'd be like, you can be a floater, but. But I'll tell you what, when I go out of town, the fridge better be stocked, groceries, like all of it better be done. Dry cleaning, house clean. These guys are making so much money now. So much. Like, Yokage must be making $60 million a year.

You know, so like if you tell both your brothers, come in, stay in Denver. I'll give you each a million dollars a year. Dude, you know when I realized it, when watching hockey, how many, like, how many games the parents get to, what, like, oh, yeah. My parents would come see me in Ottawa, maybe Buffalo, Monday, Montreal at the hot time. That was it. Yeah.

And they would do like one special trip like every other year where him and their friends would go to Nashville or New York or something. I think there's some parents out there that are watching three quarters of these kids games in the NHL live. Lying. Like going to all the games. I'll tell you guys this, noodles had no hangers-ons.

Every apartment I went to of his, I honestly, when I walked in the front door, I thought we'd walk directly into a closet. It was so small. is the smallest apartments he didn't have room for friends he had no room for anything brilliant that means no after parties at his house that's a smart play we had one time a party there we couldn't it was like three of us me noodles and maybe pronger there was no room for anyone else three cups yeah great hospitality by noodles i'll tell you what that guy is squeaky clean though like when he travels everything is dialed in his luggage like he knows when it's he is dialed in

everything's in order all of his affairs are in order Yeah, they're in order. Hand sanitizer. Oh, God, does he love that hand sanitizer? My God. Hand sanitize, a hand sanitize. He must have the driest hands. I've seen him not sanitized.

It's germs. And then not touch anything and then go back in. I'm like, what was the purpose of the second round of hand sanitized? He acts like he's a surgeon. He'll touch his own laptop and then go back in. It's like, what's on your laptop? That's your laptop. Yeah, you're right.

Gets a bad haircut, sanitized. It's always the same. Maybe that's what he thinks. Get him past like a bad haircut, bad meal. All I need is a little hand sanitizer and I'm back on. He is fully addicted to hand sanitizer. It's crazy. Yeah, he's got an addiction.

We might have to have like an intervention with him. I'm not kidding you. I agree. Okay. Struddy, you're in for that? I am in. I admit for sure. I mean, you've got to wash your hands, but it's all the time with this guy.

Yeah, it's excessive. He's doing it right now. guaranteed in Anaheim right now sleeping all right the insiders coming in studio we'll catch up with them we'll get you an update on what's going on around the league we got luke coming up we got john schneider coming up leaves columbus tonight overdrive continues tsn 1050 and on tsn 4 overdrive continues powered by fanduel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score brian hazio dog jeff

o'neal jason strudwick out in edmonton alberta and look who we have in studio Darren Dregor, who we see quite often, and Chris Johnston in here. Cleaned up, nice, too, huh? DJ looks top-knott. Tight. Got lost. Good luck, good, man. You got lost?

I know, I haven't seen you around here. I think July 1st was the last time I was in this studio with you. Well, it's good to see you guys. Tell me if I'm wrong, but one of the constant themes in the league right now, besides fan base is griping about their teams, and we will get to a couple of those in a moment. But injuries. Like, headman's out for a while. McAvoy just had facial surgery.

The Leafs are obviously depleted. Like, there's nothing the League can do about this, but it seems like a pretty consistent theme league-wide. How many injuries there are to star players? And any complaints about the shortened training camp? Like, is that a factor or what? Well, or the condensed schedule and all that. But I, you know, talking to general managers about this.

And I applied to the League to get some comparisons. And the league doesn't like talking about injuries, right? I mean, normally it has to do with club personnel, so that's a club issue. So I didn't get a response to the National Hockey League. But the comparison has to be high this year as compared to other years. So instantly, you think of the shortened training camp, you look at the condensed schedule of the Olympics. But we're not looking at groin poles and knee stuff. Like we're lucky at kind of bigger picture, longer term sort of issues.

So I'm not sure why it is, but a lot of teams in the league are dealing with it. Funny, I just was talking to someone who works for a team as I was driving out here. Got to say his name? I will not, but I actually hope he's going to listen. I told him I was going to do the show and he said he'd tune in. He was railing against the Olympics. He was like, what are we doing, going to the Olympics? He's like, these guys are not robots.

He's like, we're basically playing the same schedule as normal, minus three weeks. His team, and this was in the, like, near 20 back-to-backs. An owner? No, it's a front office person. But anyway, the point is, he was just saying, these guys aren't robots. Like, even as good a shape as they're in, you can't push them. He's like, we don't even practice at this point. We're just trying to manage everyone's bodies.

And, yeah, it's not great for the product. Well, and that's another thing, the product, right? We talked about it yesterday with Ray, and the fact that no one practices ever, you know, is a big part of it as well. Like, what can you expect in terms of details and getting guys, you know, playing at a level you might want them? But that also, I think it's a built-in excuse, guys, sorry. Like, it's the best league in the world, and if you really need to figure out what your systems are, can you break? Well, systems are one thing. I agree.

The injury issue, though, is amplified by not being able to practice. Because you've got guys that can't get their reps in, right? So that's why it's taking players longer to seemingly get up to speed when they miss five, ten years. But Struddy, let's say you were a D-Man on a new team, like, would you be really confused or need a bunch of reps to do something different on a different NHL team? I know you probably needed some reps, but would you really need it or what? That nice shot. No, the problem, if I didn't know the system, I would be gone. I would be somewhere else.

But I will say this, and I think this makes a difference. I think it's just the reps and having that feeling of whether for a D man, you know, it's maybe making breakout passes or it's battling in front of the net or locking guys out. Take it one or once. Like you do need reps because it's hard to just find that part of your game if you never do it. You're going to show me a video a thousand times. It doesn't mean I can hit a hole in wanted and on a par three, right? So you need to do it and be out there, guys. Okay.

You know what NHL clubs are going to do now? You know, you're going to ban all sorts of glassware and stuff from team functions and dinners. And you can't have a barbecue on your premises if you're employed by the National Occupy. That makes a lot of sense, to me, a lot of sense to me. Can either of you tell us anything about this Austin Matthews situation? that is not publicly known at this point. Because, well, like, for me, specific injury?

Well, like I heard Baroube say today, well, he's shooting better, which is a good sign. I'm like, I heard him say that 25 times last year. And that makes my radar go off. Like, I thought it was a lower body injury. It's unrelated to what he felt with. So it's not what it was last year. 100% not what it was.

Okay, so that's a positive, and I think that's what Lee fans would like to hear. Because they never say anything about this guy in particular. And I know it's mostly him. He's not interested in telling us. anybody anything. But considering the year he had last year, and then all of a sudden he's on IR, and now he's not playing, and now there's no timeline. Like, where do we stand on Matthews and the leaves? Because usually when a guy takes the ice like that, isn't he like usually like

five days away or something? He looks pretty good in the skate. Or is that not the case here? Matthews could be five days away. Yeah, I think the question. I don't think you'll be ready on the weekend, do you? I'd be surprised. Now you're looking in the middle of the next week because they have a bit of a break. My only caveat is just how important every game is for Leifes right now, and he did stay out for a long time today. So hypothetically, if they lose tonight,

I could see maybe pushing for Saturday. But if not, they have to Wednesday off. And so, you know, it's a muscle type of injury, I was told. You know, one that responds to rest a little bit, which is why I think it took a little longer. But given that fact, I mean, I think there's an argument to be made

why rush it for Saturday when you gets three days till the next game. the Leafs, you know, aren't in one of those situations where their schedule is going crazy in this exact moment. So, you know, I don't want to put any, I don't want to say he's 100% back on this game because it just, you're right, it's, it is a mystery, right? If it drifts beyond next Wednesday, then we got a problem. Then we got a bigger story. In my sense is that it's hard to pinpoint targeting it. Like I said, I don't think he'll be available on Saturday.

I'd be surprised if he was. but if you get to Wednesday and he's not an option at that point or very, very, very close. All right, all right. Now it's time to start digging a little harder. And there's a lot of gray right now with the Leafs. Like Anthony Stolars, remember when he left the game in Boston.

A game or two, right? Greg Brubay was hoping he'd be back right away. He hasn't been on the ice. You know, obviously that's the nature of some of the injuries, I guess the players can only go when they can go. But it's not just that Leaves are missing a lot of guys. We don't know when they're coming back. I know.

That's like the Nyes thing. we were joking the other night. We were on a panel. We signed off at 555. He was playing. We did a pregame at 605. He was out. He's out. In 10 minutes, he was out of the lineup. It was like a tanking thing with the guys that were out. We got down there. It was like, are these guys tank? Everyone's gone. Right. Carlot's gone. Nye's gone.

And it's not the reason they're in the position they're in, but now it's a reality. I mean, this is a real difficult go for the leaves. Like, they're really in one with injuries. It's not why they're in that position, but it's a hurdle to getting out of it. Exactly. Exactly. They're already in the bottom of that hole, and those guys did play. A lot of them played during those times. But now they have to win games. I mean, they're getting late in the season. The general manager, though, would quick to point out, that's why you don't trade Nikki Robertson.

That's why you don't make rash decisions. You embrace your depth because you're going to need that depth at varying points of the regular season and obviously the playoffs. So why didn't that apply to David Kemp then? Well, he wanted out. And the coach, let's be honest. It wasn't him in July saying I want out, right? Like, the Leafs didn't want him anymore. Well, I just don't think that he fit the eye of Craig Baroube. Yes. I think that's fair.

So if he... What he was scratched for 12 with 13 playoff games? What did you call that? Fitting the eye? Yeah. Yeah, for whatever reason. I mean, coaches players that happens all the time. That's right. Every team in the league has that.

You know, now, again, in hindsight, I'm sure Brad Trilliving would say, well, if David Camp had reported and he had played for the Marleys, he'd be. back in the National Hockey League with Toronto Maple Leafs right now, right? He might be like their second-line center at this point the way things are going. Like, seriously. Yeah, be a pretty good opportunity for David Camp. But, listen, yeah, they're Scott Lotton returns tonight, and that's pretty significant. I like Quillan's game the other night, played aggressively.

He can skate. It seems to be a big, like we keep talking about specific positions with this team. Might need a top six winger, maybe you need a puck-moving defenseman. They need some pace. in their game. Well, and guys who finish checks, too. That would be helpful. I think Paul had, what, like four hits in that hockey game?

You know, how many did Max Domi have? I didn't know. Zero, I think. And I'm identifying him. I mean, you can probably, you know, as we look at the lineup now, you know, Machialli, I don't know. I think he had one hit. Maybe zero.

I didn't notice Michelli at any point other than when he dumped it over the glass. I think he's got a skate and a half from the doghouse. Yes. David Camp like. Does he not 50? He doesn't fit the guy. He stole the other half of the skate in there. You don't have to say skate and a half.

Yeah. Darren Dregger, Chris Johnson, in studio. All right, let's get to where Struddy's waiting patiently. Yes, he is. Edmonton, gold tending. Like, is it just a foregone conclusion? Skinner, Pickard, they're playing out the rest of the year? Because if they were going to make a move, why didn't they do it in the summer?

Or is it still possible? It could change at some point this year. I don't see, Brian, how you guys can comment on it, but I don't see how that could be. something that happens going forward. That can't happen. If they are going to make the playoffs, it's scared to even say that sentence. Their goaltending

cannot stay the same as it is right now. Sorry, no way in hell. I mean, they have to explore it. You know, every time we talk about goaltending, it's probably talks about it minute by minute in that market. But look, you get the same response from Stan Malman and management.

It's the same tandem that help us get back to the Stanley Cup final again. All right, okay, I can accept that, but that's That's in the past. And the reality is now the tandem isn't working. So I can't imagine that Bowman isn't making calls. The Buffalo's carrying three guys, right? Boston has depth in that position.

There are teams that have goalies not playing in the National Hockey League that could be considered an upgrade on what Edmonton has. And then you've got the Connor Ingram experiment that's going on in Bakersfield. So it has to be a topic that they talk about inside hockey ops. Yeah, and I guess Drags, that's what we're looking at here, right? If you're them to owners, you're not going to. you're not going to get like a Swayman-like player. Not that I'm saying he's available.

You've got to get someone that is budget friendly at this time. Is that going to be good enough? That's the question. For a team trying to win a cup, that's the hard part too, right? But I guess it's like anything. We're looking at the leaves like Troy Stetcher, like he can help, right? Quillen can help get them out of it. These guys aren't white knights to save everything.

Maybe for the Oilers, they just need a guy who can come in and make a few saves. it's tough. They put themselves in the spot, though. You need to learn out to defend. Yeah. That's a part of it as well. That's a part of it as well, but I don't know.

Their goal tenting stats are pretty off the charts, man. Like, it's pretty staggering. Not good. Yeah, both teams struggling right now. Injuries in Montreal as well, like in pretty big ones, right? Docs out, new hooks done basically for the season now and

ghoulies out for a while. Like, they had such a hot start now they're really cooling off. Like, I know Ken Hughes, I believe, was speaking recently about, you know, but they got flexibility and they got prospects. Like they seem like a team that could be possibly active at some point. Well, trying. No question about that.

And you got to wonder, like Johnny Beecher was put on waivers, which made no sense to me by the Boston Bruins. I mean, granted, not in the lineup, but there's a big kid who could flat out skate, a centerman, right? Well, obviously Calgary's going to take him. I mean, if he'd slip deeper, Montreal for sure

is, I'm not sure the Toronto Maple Leafs wouldn't. I mean, there would have been a number of different teams. So is that an area that maybe Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens explore? I mean, probably they had interest in David Camp. If things hadn't worked out in Vancouver,

I would have thought that Montreal would have been a player. Well, short term, there's no forward in the league that could come available. They won't look at. Just because they were already looking, obviously, down the line, they're looking for their second line center. But right now, we're talking bargain bid shopping. They just need some bodies

and guys to fill in. And so, they're very active. I think they're looking at situations. You know, there's some rumors out there. There might be a couple more contract terminations like we saw with Camp. I mean, this is the state we're in. We're not talking about trade at this point. I think there's someone else, too.

I haven't got, I haven't sleuthed it out yet. But it sounds like there's a couple forwards league-wide still that. In Pittsburgh? Might be looking to copy the Camp model. I like that. So those players, you know, could end up in Montreal, too. I mean, I just think they have to look at everyone. is available. And the trade market's paralyzed

right now. There's just nothing going on. Are we officially extending the deadline of figuring out what your team is, which is for the longest time since I've been involved in the NHL? American Thanksgiving, you know what you got. Like, has everyone pushed that back? Are we doing Christmas

now? Yeah, probably, but I mean, it's all related to the standings. Like, how many teams are below 500 right now and 32? Five, maybe? And every division, you know, I mean, the worst place, the last place team in each division is still within striking distance of a playoff spot. I know, but Drex, how many phony teams are out there just trying to fool their fan base saying,

we got a chance. Yeah, but those general managers are also trying to fleece the guys who are calling. So, you know, we just talked about Montreal and some of these other clubs of need because of injury. Well, they're calling the teams that should be selling or considering selling, but the asking price in some of these players, I'm told, is outrageous. So to your point, maybe that's what it is. It's just because of the log jam, you extend whatever that magic game's played number is before you pull the trigger.

O'Dog, Jim Montgomery, the Blues Coach, this week said December 1st. So he's delaying it a little beyond American Thanksgiving, but only, you know, a couple days. Right before the holiday freeze, just stick it to the player. I like it. Merry Christmas and we just traded you to wherever. Here's a one-way ticket to a city you don't want to live in. I think anybody with half a break can watch a team for three weeks and stay. that's what you are

it's like scouting trips you see a guy five times you pretty much know what you got how many teams are good right now though like to put it back on you like how many teams are we like this is legit for sure right now a good team Colorado is Dallas Dallas is good Winnipeg's good

Carolina Carolina is good other than New Jersey can be good when they get Hughes back but they have issues in the playoffs but what a year to be like Colorado. Like you should be thinking like their talk in the locker room should be

this is our, this is like we should be full steam ahead. Like when we have a team dinner, stay away from the cover. Just get, be careful. You should be clean and everyone get in and get out. Yeah. That is the move. They've got every position covered though, right? Like Wedgwood is playing out of his mind. Obviously their defense is as solid as any and you got Nate McKinnon and Marty Natch is just

filming that. Yeah, Natch has been really good. So if you're in the Eastern Conference, So it's wide open based on what you guys... Yeah. Like, I think... I find it weird when you go back to... Sorry, C.J. But when you go back to Natchez in Colorado,

like, they paid him 11.5, and they walked away from Rantan in at 12. Do you not think that's bizarre? Yes. Or did they just... Yeah, it was... Yes. No, it is. It is.

It is. And that's why I think not to go back to that story. But, I mean, that's why Rantman was surprised when he spoke to the media, like, five days after that trade. we were just kind in the early goings of a negotiation what they're looking ahead they're looking at Cal McCar who they're going to deal with in the offseason

and wow 12 was too rich 12 and a half can't do that they end up giving it to Marty Nature like considering McDavid didn't take any more money like is it reasonable to expect McCar to be the highest paid player in the league after he signs

there's a case like why would he take a penny less than Caprizo like he doesn't have to it's just call but like why Why would he? Or they're probably going to say to him, do you still want to play in Colorado if you want to ask for that? Well, that's a great question, too. Are they going to apply the Rantanin strategy to him?

I mean, maybe. I wonder, though, and I'm talking about the top dogs, and certainly Kail McCar fits into that stratosphere, how many of those top guys, and Connor McDavid isn't that far away from it, Struddy, how many of those guys, when they dive into that unrestricted free agent market, they're not looking for 120 mil. They want a three-year deal. Give me top dollar for three years So that, okay, I'm going to make good money

But I know what the window is with this team And then I'm going to cash in again after that I think with some of these big guys And McCar could be in that mix as well We're going to be surprised at how short some of these terms are Okay I think that's so stupid Yeah

You take the security Yeah, they all have that already, though, financial You have 100 million in the bank How much more security do you need? Why not another 100s? Not everyone's like you. you that has a hunge in the bank. The way you used to move the puck back there.

Someone paid for that. A lot of money. Underpaid. A lot of money. All right, boys. Good seeing you guys. Thanks for coming in. You sick, by the way? I was. If I'm sick next week, we got a problem. It could be my last overdrive ever.

Blame Manitoba. The province of Manitoba. Don't say a bad word against Manitoba. We love Manitoba. And they love us. clear. Very reciprocal. You know the classic line. It felt like home. This guy

was so sick. Hold on. I'm going to read a text. If you do that, I will honestly snap your neck in here. This guy was so sick in Manitoba. And as soon as the light came on for the show, I'm coughing already. Professional. This guy's a professional.

Professional. From 4 to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, 100%. Everything else? Zero percent. All right, boys. Great seeing you guys. Saren Drager, Chris Johnston, joining us. We got Luke coming up. I'm sure Luke is going to take the points in Houston tonight, but we'll see

we'll see where his heads at with the bills playing the Texans on Thursday night football and John Schneider in about 40 minutes. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. I'm going to have to leave the National Hockey League beat next spring. Do you

know where I'm heading? No idea. to Guelph, Ontario. Congratulations to the Guelph Storm for hosting the Memorial Cup. Wow. No city in Canada is more deserved. I love that. And I'm going to go cover the MEM Cup for TSN.

Yep, I saw that today. That's a big, big get for Guelph, man. That's big. Guelph deserves it. Way to go golf. I'm really happy for you. And I'm thinking Laura Dyken, me, Frankie, Ryan Callahan, former Guelph storm

and Craig Button we do the storm games should you have some of this won it there or no does that matter yeah who's has Guelph ever won the Memorial Cup dude why do you got to I'm just that I'm just talking about TV no I know but I think that'd be great

is that they have a history of excellence in Guelph that I'm not aware of I hate to say this but doogie look that up kind of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the O dude you better that's a dick thing you're saying I did I'm just saying, I'm just saying, if I had to associate an NHL team to the Guelph,

I'd probably use Columbus. Dude, take it back right now. But why are they deserving? Like, what is? Great town. It is a great town, great building. It is. Everything's awesome.

They deserve it. How long did you play there, O'Duck? I'm guessing you played there? How much did I? I played three years there. Three years. Drew Dowdy was there. Drew Dowdy was a great, Guelph storm.

He was a, he was a storm. I think they did win the Memorial Cup. Yeah, you and Bertuzi were teammates. Yeah. I think they did win it one. I know they won the O'HL championship one year. Maybe when Callahan was there in the captain, they had, no, it was probably just before him, but Dustin Brown was on that team.

Dan Jarrahdi was there when they won it. Damn right. Danny Chi. Yeah. And they had like. Burtuzi. That's a lot of big, two big helmets, eh? You have Bertuzi?

Oh, not? Yeah, I would assume so. Yeah. Massive buckets. Imagine those two in Guelph. Well, your hair started fading strutty, probably in junior. You went with a kid's bucket. I forgot.

Struddy's a part of one of the all-time great dynasties in H.L history. Him and Tux, Cam Looke's blazes. I've never heard of mention that before, though. No, we don't. I've never heard of mention it. How many times has Tux mentioned at the Memorial Cups and around the golf? Every third or fourth round of golf. Every third or fourth round, I'm sure it comes up.

He loves it. He loved it there. He loved it. And it was fun. It was so. Junior hockey is so much fun. play. Oh, it's the best. Best time of my life in Guelph Ontario playing hockey. And it's getting the Memorial Cup back. I love it.

Shout out to Guelph. We love it. I'll be on the panel for the MEM Cup in 2027. All right. Luke Wilson coming up. John Schneider coming up. Leaves Columbus tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fandul. Fandul, bringing you

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