OverDrive - OverDrive - November 6, 2025 - Hour 1 - Jason Strudwick

Episode Date: November 6, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' victory against the Mammoth, Jonas' impressions of Toronto's beginning of the season and the Maple Leafs' pedigree to win the Stanley Cup comparable to teams in the league. Struddy's World Host Jason Strudwick joins to discuss Macklin Celebrini's impressive start, his Olympic shot and the Oilers' recent stretch of games.

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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, Brian Hayes, the O'Dog, Jeff O'Neill, Jonas Siegel of the Athletic. What's happening this afternoon? Jonas, let's rip some goaltenders if we shall, because the noodles is away

and he loves it when we take aim especially at Vasilevsky. That guy is terrible. Well, he's in Vegas tonight, right? I think Vasilevsky's got the start in Vegas. He might get shelled this evening. They are coming off a loss.

Losses and losses are big right now. Those old Maple Leafs, boy, we were just carving them on the phone the other day. You wake up today on their record. You look at their record. record and it's like, wow, they're two wins away from being the best team in the East. They're a wagon. They're a wagon. The Maple Leafs are a wagon. Like everyone's looking at

Montreal, which I understand. They deserve all the credit. They've been awesome. They've been a lot of fun. Don't you even dare flip, Hayes. Belief are a weekend away from passing them, is my point. Like, it's, it's, it all comes down a perspective. I'm not flipping on the way that things have played out, the way things have gone. But it really comes down a perspective. because the leaves like you're some type of rational person i'm very rational and i'm going to get very deep and philosophical on you jonas hey what have you done for me lately last year i want to hear you out i want to hear you out and then i want jonas you better start thinking of a comeback jonas because i want you to be honest and put everything into perspective here and be reasonable hey's the floor is yours

okay floor is mine everyone came into this season with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder as a part of the fan base, you know, what happened last year? What have you done for me lately? That game seven against Florida, you're not going to just overcome that with three months off. That's not going to end. That stench is still going to be kind of hanging around. There was nowhere near as much attention on them during camp than every other year, probably in their existence, short of maybe 15, 16, 92, 93, right? And that's obviously because of the team down the street and what the Blue Jays were doing. Mitch Marner is not here. It was easy for people to say, well,

Marner's not here, so they're worse. Marner's not here, not as much talent, you know, and all this kind of stuff. And watching the games, I'm not saying they've been great. They haven't been great. I thought they played really well last night. Deserved to win last night. But they're 8, 5, and 1.

They've scored more goals than any other team in the league. Their power play is abysmal, and they've scored more goals than anybody in the league. William Nealander, John Tavaros, have more 5-on-5 points than anybody in the league. Matthew Nise is second, I believe. in that category. The big dog is starting to chug. The big guys

come alive, right? He was hibernating there for about seven or eight games, and I'm talking to Matthews. That was a vintage Matthew snipe last night, and he's scored in three straight games, he's chugging, he's playing a lot. The new guys are starting to find it. Machelli had his best game last night. It might have simply been because of who he was playing

against. Very well could be the case. I liked Robertson's game again last night. They're dealing with injuries. Wall still hasn't been here. The glass half full, but 8-5 and 1. is pretty damn good, Jonas. But you go ahead and you take the floor and tell me why this team is terrible. Where should I start?

Tell me why this team is terrible. Dude, I don't know. All I know is the other day. Yes. After the Pittsburgh win, I was like, yes. They need four new players, man. Like, they need two quality, like if they want to be a real deal hockey team,

they need a couple of forwards, and they need at least one guy back in the back end that can move the puck. I agree. And they still need those things if they want to be considered a real deal team. Yes. But the way that Hayes just described it is, look at what they are and they haven't even brought their best stuff. Exactly. And you know who also needs those players you're talking of?

Montreal, Detroit, Boston, Tampa, Ottawa, New Jersey. Like, you've got to have perspective guys. As we discuss, Jonas, the league is diluted. Yes. Like, no one is stacked. A healthy Florida team is stacked. a healthy, ready to play on their A game, Florida team, still on paper, and I would presume on the ice, stacked.

How many other teams in the East are stacked? Tell me something. Go ahead, Jonas. How many other teams are stacked? No, I'm not going to answer that question. I'm going to ask you a question. No, no, Jonas, you have to give your thoughts on what the Maple Leafs are right now. Are they frauds or are they legit?

Are they just coming into their own? Is this a typical Toronto Maple Leafs start that they always do? end up with a hundred and five points every year three and oh november like every year november is when they chug are they a serious contender right now i don't know i didn't ask you that okay what are the maple east right now i don't know i don't know it's not good enough on this show man this is that's prime time dude yeah that's this that's you know what you know you can't say i don't know yes you can that's something i say to my wife which she says when are you raking the leaves, I say, I don't know.

Right. I don't know. Like I, you were not saying this two days ago. Because why would you have? I hear you. You can't watch one game against Utah and say everything is fine. They're great. I don't know. Like, everything you said was true. Like, I can't dispute what you said. Like, Tavares has been really good. Borgas's been really good. It was credit. Really good. For sure. Their power play has not been good. Their goaltending has been, eh. Those things can change. Do I, know if they're a great team yet? No, I don't.

I came into the year thinking they were like 100 to 101 points. And then I watched that Pittsburgh game and thought maybe this is more like a 90 to 95 point team. And then you see a game like last night and you're like, hey, maybe they're more like what I thought they were. But they've had like a really soft schedule.

They've played all these games at home. They've won once and four tries on the road. I don't know. Like a lot of the guys, you're talking about like Machelli. I don't know if Michelli's going to be good. I have no idea. Joshua had a really good game last night, really impactful physically. Do I know if that's going to last?

No, we haven't seen it. So, like, there's just too many questions. I don't know what this defense is going to look like without Tanaev. How long is Tana going to be out? Can they get the defenseman you're talking about? Oh, can they get the forward you're talking about? Like, I think you're, I'm trying to evaluate them as a Stanley Cup contender.

Is this a team that can win the Stanley Cup? That's the goal. Let me, let me phrase it this way. And both of you guys are going to play this. game. All right? We're going to play the Who Would You Rather Be? I love a good game. Who would you rather be a game for this season? Not long term. I wasn't prepared for a game

of this magnitude. When you say, let's play, who would you rather be? Yes. I was not prepared for it. Well, you got 30 seconds. Stop filler busting and think about it quickly because you have a pretty good idea of what names are coming at you, okay? And this is for this season. Because it's not

it can't be long term because then you're taking cap into play, you're taking farm systems, all that kind of stuff. We're talking to 25-26 season. Who would you rather be if your goals and your ambitions are, I want to win a Stanley Cup? Toronto or Montreal? Toronto.

Do you have to explain your answer? No. Well, ideally, you do. This is prime time, man. This is a weekend programming. You got to bring the heat here on this one. Foof. I got to say Toronto as of right now, sorry, or, sorry, Montreal as of right now.

I'm not going to pump the tires of Montreal the last month and be some kind of fraud jokester and just all of a sudden say, I'm taking Toronto now. I've said I've been pumping Montreal's tires for a month. It's just hard to, like, make that leave. And I'm not going to say after a week's performance, all of a sudden say Toronto. So I'm going to say Montreal right now. What would you have said coming into the season? Probably Toronto, because I did not know what was going to unfold.

I just deal with what I'm dealt with, right? Like, play the games and I make assessments. Yeah, and that's valid. Now, I would say, and again, Montreal has been thoroughly entertaining to watch. Four wins in regulation. Remember that was the big Leaf storyline a couple years ago? They never went in regulation. They only win in overtime.

They only went in shootouts. That's what Montreal is doing. What happened? No, I know that. But the point is, like, Montreal is they're winning a lot of overtime games and shootout games. And it's unusual to be. Dolbush is the guy who's been kind of carrying the weight for them. Make the playoffs and then next year win the cup.

Right. That doesn't use it. Right. They're a younger team. Like, you know, Damadov has been phenomenal through 13 games. It's a long ride. It's his first full ride through the league. How does that work?

You know, what happens with, you know, goolies already injured. What's going to happen with him into the future? Okay. So one of you's on the Leafs, one of you's on Montreal. Who would you rather be? Toronto or Tampa? I'm going to say Tampa because if the goalie gets cooking Jonas. Jonas hates.

Jonas hates. I'm going to say Tampa. Vassah Stifsky. When is his stats right now? Vassah Stifsky. This is prime time, man. You can't dig on Google for stats. Why?

Do you know it offhand? I like to be accurate. He's, what is he? I just go by the eye test. The 900 say a percentage? Exactly 900. Prime time. Prime time.

I don't need Google. Wow. I will take Tampa as well. They have not gotten off to a great start, a worse start than the Leafs. Yes. Why is that not considered here? It is because the thing is, if we were in Tampa, this was Overdrive Tampa Edition. But they won their cup a few years ago.

I know they did. That window closed. They haven't done. They got smoked by Florida in the first round. Like as bad as the Leafs were because of game five and seven, and that was. thoroughly embarrassing. Tampa got completely dismantled. Like it was way worse

than the Leafs. It wasn't as emotionally triggering because it was like after Game 2, I think people realized this is done. Like they're just sweeping them and it's over. But they completely dismantled them. Completely pushed everyone out of the...

I'm just saying, this is my point in the Leafs. I'm not here defending the Leafs. My point is the goalposts move with the leaves compared to everyone else. No, As we cover it, we cover them more closely. If you were talking about Tampa every day, you would be saying the same thing. So how does that change your answer then? So if you were in Tampa, you'd pick the Leafs?

No, because you would be saying, well, why are we hard enough on the Leafs? It's because we're not talking about the Leafs. No, I understand that, but you just said you'd take Tampa. I take Tampa. I think Tampa is more higher-end players, and they've done it, and their goalie has done it. Like, I've seen it. But they haven't done it in a while. But, like, you know, when the last time the Leafs did it a long time ago.

I understand that. So. And in terms of their high-end players, I think that's worth investigating. Okay, so let's count them. So, Point, Kutrov, Matthews, Nielder. Well, I'm doing Tampa. Okay. Hedman.

Mm-hmm. Vaselowski, who else? Hegel. Yeah, so that's like six. Okay. Five or six. How many? Matthews, Nealander.

Yeah. I think Nyes is playing himself into that category. Sure, but he's, yeah. Like, I think Nyes, by the end of the year, you could say is as effective as Hegel or, you know, whomever. And Tavares is probably going to do his 32 goals and 71. I'm talking about it. Okay.

Yeah. But I'm just saying, like, again, with the Leafs, like, here I am being the Leaf booster, it's a lot of it was, well, like, the fact that they've scored more goals than anyone in the league. I don't think anyone's, has anyone mentioned that in 14 games? They scored more than anybody, and Mitch Marner left, and everyone was like, well, Marner's gone, so that nothing can happen here anymore. Like, Marner's not here anymore, so the offense is going to greater. Do you know how many goals they give it out?

Power plays horrendous. Jonas, excuse me, for one second. They're like fourth or fifth worst in the league. Are you not shocked from how many performances and phone calls we've had midgame that they have scored more than anybody in the league? Yes, that is. I am shocked to hear that. I don't know.

What is that worth in terms of like what? Like, is it worth in terms of a team being capable of winning the cup? I don't know. I don't know. I don't go in the playoffs being the high part of the league. Like clearly it's not a negative. It's got to be worth something. I don't know.

So what is it worth? Tell me what it's worth. I don't know. Well, I think it's worth a lot. Okay. Like the objective of the game. God Tavares has scored a million regular season goals. It hasn't gone as well on the place.

Again, we're not in April right now. We're not in May. We're trying to discuss what these teams are made of. Maybe what it's worth is you lost your excuse to go to the coach and say, well, Mitch isn't here. We can't score anymore. Maybe that's what it's worth. So he has a reference point to go back and say,

well, the first month and a bit, when you guys were terrible, you were scoring more than anybody in the league, so I don't want to hear it. I don't know. Maybe that's what it's worth. Now, to be fair to Marner, and you brought up a good point. Defensively, they would not have given up as many goals if he was on this team. much worse defensively so far. Well, much worse is hyperbole.

Is it? Yes. Is it? We have literally. The goal tenting is a big part of it. Is it? Blame pie. How good were the goalies last year?

What percent is? I think they were way too, like way too good compared to how the team played defensively. Last year. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. I know. But so this year, I would say it's 70% defensive way, 30% goalies. What do you guys think?

In terms of why they've given up as many goals as they have? Yeah. That's probably a. appropriate. Okay. I'm just saying maybe get the goalies a little more. I'm just saying I didn't see them as a

defensive juggernaut early in the year last year. No, it was that Stollars and Wall was so good. I agree. Aside from Tanev and McCabe, like I don't know. But then, but Marna was on the team last year

and they weren't a defensive juggerna. That's fair. He's one player. He only plays 22 minutes. I know, but a big part of the narrative is Marner's not here for some people. That means the organization is going to crater.

Do you think, I mean, you know the answer of this? They lose Marne. they're worse. It's not really rocket science. I don't know. Do you think they would be 8-5-1 with Mitch Marner?

I don't know. I've seen them be 8-5-1 or 5-4-1 and-1. They're 8-5-1. They're 8-5-1. They're 8-5-1. I'm still scarred. Do you guys remember? You probably don't remember.

But there was that game in Anaheim where I think that was a game Marner got benched for a shift. He was asked after the game if he was going to lose his job. Yes, that game. Like I'm still, I still remember that. That was like October. when Dostal played so well? Yeah.

But they had like a million shots in that game. Oh, maybe it was that game. And that's, yeah, I don't know. Basically, it was a terrible loss, and it was like what Jeff said, like Sheldon Keith might get fired. Like they've had awful starts. Oh, yeah.

All the time they have awful starts. And they somehow in November, they find a way to figure it out and stabilize. And last night's one game, but they played well and they've won three in a row. With this team, then I did those teams. What? But what is the question?

Here's where I would, let me go, this is where I take issue with that. I like really ticking you guys. No, no, no. Here's where I take issue with that because, again, we're going all over the place because half the time you're talking about the playoff projection, the other half you're talking about, you know, them in November. How can you have, now maybe they can't do anything in the playoffs, but we had nine years of answers on what they were in the playoffs.

100%. Zero in the playoffs. Yeah. So maybe this is the same and it's zero. Maybe it's worse, but maybe it's better. Maybe. Like, at least it's worth a shot. No, exactly.

I'm not saying they can't win the cup. I don't know if they can win the cup. But like, I don't know if they can't. At least you can't say this, gentlemen, you could say, well, it can't get any worse. Exactly. I know, we had nine years of data on the other guys connecting. Really, Jonas? They lose in the first round every year.

Did you think it could get any worse than before last year? You were like, there's no way they can have anything worse. And it's like, actually, they can. Well, yes, this team can continue to prove. that they will damage your soul as much as possible. My thing is, again, the previous incarnations of this team, we actually had the answer. It wasn't going to be good enough.

It wasn't going to break through. And they haven't made that many big changes. Like, Marner's out and a few new guys are in. It's not like they've changed a ton. They're trying to change the style they play a little bit more, like consistently through the lineup. We'll see if it works. Okay.

All right. You want to keep playing this game? Who would you rather be? Yeah, I wrote down some teams. Go ahead, Jonas. Well, you can fire some at us if you want. All right. I know exactly what team you're going to pick.

Who is that? Vegas. Exactly. That's number one on my list. I'd rather me. I know. I know. I'm taking Vegas. Although their goaltending, I don't know about their goaltending.

Well, their goalie's out. Well, and they've got another guy coming that hasn't played in a couple years and could be radioactive and who knows what that's going to look like. Like, I don't know what Carter Hart's going to be like in Vegas. Their guy that's healthy that's out is sometimes, even when he's, he's healthy ever since he won a cup, as has not exactly been a world beater. Right. Exactly.

Aiden Hill is not, and Mark Stone's hurt again. But he's always hurt. But that's the point. He's always hurt. He wasn't when they won the cup. Like, he actually made it to the finish line. So, you know, they're really, they're a very good team. But missing Petrangelo, I think it's pretty close. Like, I'd go Vegas based on

their history. I think they deserve that respect. Okay, I think all these teams I'm going to list, you're going to say the other team. Colorado. Yes. Jeff? Colorado, man, like they seem, although Colorado, there needs to be a deep dive into not wanting to give Miko Ranton in 12 million, but you gave Marty NACS 11 and a half. Yeah. Like, who in the hell is deciding that? Like, however much you want to say NACIS is a good player, to not want to give Rantan in that, and then you pay NACS that amount of money.

That is insane. Yeah, malpractice. That is, I'm sorry. And all these teams, you wonder what's going to happen. Everyone talks about, because I don't know if Colorado was one of those teams that say we're only spending this. And I know the McCar deal is coming up, but some of these teams are going to be screwed, man. I don't know if it's the small market teams that don't want to spend $113, $120 million. They're not going to want to do it.

And there's going to be teams that are getting dummied because we talk about the league being watered down or diluted. Wait to these teams say, I just want to. We don't spend that. They will be getting crushed. All right. But for this year, I think we'd all agree, Colorado. Okay, we got you. Dallas.

Dallas. But Ottinger, is he ever going to be playoff, Ottinger? I've got a new coach down there, too, right? Three straight conference finals. Yeah, and they're a very good team, very deep team. Okay. Yeah, I'd go Dallas. Edmonton.

This is where I don't, I think it's a coin flip on this one, man. That goal attending still scares the hell out of me. I'm scared of the holiday of the year before. I know. They got to the Cup Final. I got it, but I think they've gotten increasingly worse the last two years in terms of their roster. But you know what I've seen? Their two best players are just rock star.

They always show up. I had no idea. Like there's been talk about Celebrini and other guys. I had no idea that Connor McDavid was leading the league in the story. Well, he's tied now. Celebrini tied him last night. I think he saw, weren't you slandering him with me a couple weeks ago? I have.

Celebrity, by the way. I have. First, like, if we're going to do a 10, 15 game MVP, Celebrini, MVP. Yeah, he's been phenomenal, and they're winning games. Yeah, they're starting to win. They're starting to win. Can I finish his kids? Yeah, exactly. He had to, ever since that comment, talk about the inspirational speech of the year.

Their coach said he'd give up one of his kids for a win, and they haven't stopped winning. Yep. That's a dad and that's a coach. It's an inspirational general right there. Here's where it gets a little, actually, no, this one, this next team, I think you'll say this team. Florida. I know the injuries.

I know Barcove. I'm going to say Toronto, because I think Florida might be at the end of the line with injuries and stuff. I think they played too much hockey, and I don't know if they dig out of this one. I think they might, they could be in a jam come like a couple months.

Barkov and Kachuk are just so massive. Like, Barcove's done. He's not returning. And... Could return for the playoffs. Maybe for the playoffs. That's still available to them. But I do think there's something, too, you play that much hockey, and Bob's 37 years old.

Like Bob's numbers, I think he's got a sub-9. Here comes the goalie chatter we want. It's valid, though. Like, Nunoz can yell and scream all he wants. Dude, he's not here. It's our chance. I know. Dig in.

Dig in. Yeah. All right. I got two more teams. Jonas, take a quick shot up of Brodsky before you go to another team. I don't know. Does he stink right now at 37? I mean, I would have said that like two years ago,

and then he won two cups. in a row. I don't know. Goaltending is like, who the hell knows? Yeah, it's a bunch of weirdos. And it's like, up is down, down is up. Do you ever watch the Twilight Zone? No.

This is primetime guy. We don't say that. We don't reference shows. All right, two more teams. This one's interesting. Carolina. Now, you would say that it's not like they've had a ton of playoff success. They've made a conference. They win around every year.

Yeah. Like they do. Their goaltending still scares me. Going in the net come playoff time even scares me. And not that the Leafs have like future Hall of Famers in that. I'd say those two teams are a coin flip, even if Carolina's done a bunch more winning kind of not like ultra-impressive, but they've done more winning.

You can't argue with that. But there's still a coin flip. Yeah, I think they've had the benefit of being in a better division to do that too. What would you rather be, Jonas, Toronto last year that took Florida to game seven or be Carolina that just totally got your ass handed to you by Florida? I mean, what difference is it? There's no difference, but one is in the conference final and the other is not. I mean, like, go back to it.

I'm going to say Toronto. Again, I do think the division counts for something. Like, I know that's kind of a loser's mentality, but the leaves, they play Tampa, Florida, Boston every year. Like, Carolina has had a number of layups in the first round, like a number of, layups. Where the Leafs had Ottawa last year and they overpowered them and they got through it. But Carolina seemingly has

you know a Jersey or the Islanders or a Coloss, you know, they have, they get kind of they get boosted in the first round where the Leafs have not had that luxury. Yeah, I agree. Go back and look at their history. I don't care. If you have a really solid record, you may be,

you earn that. Yes. It's not like you're just gifted some joke show in the first round. That's an insane. That division. It's been a joke-show division. It's an insane comment. It's terrible. Amazing penalty kill, amazing control. Very good team.

Great coach. Super skill, great coach. Totally. Non-prime time. Flanders, Connick, David, and now Rod Brady. Last team, and this is another coin flip. Jersey. The leaves, dude.

That's not a coin flip. Yes, it is. What is Jersey done? I don't, just look at their young skill. You're taking Jersey? Young skill? I'm going to take Jersey. Have you seen Jack Hughes playing big games?

Have you seen Jack Hughes? Can I can't, do you want me to count? Have you seen Jack Hughes in big games? Me and Jonas are Jersey Devils. Go ahead, Jonas. Speak on behalf of us. Leaves all day over Jersey. I just think, like, I watched them come in here a couple weeks ago.

And they're young and they're skilled and they're fast. Yeah. Again, they play Sheldon Keith regular season hockey. I love Sheldon. I'm a big Sheldon Keith booster. No one cares about what people in New Jersey think. But I'm taking the Leafs over Jersey all day. If you give me a ticket, one ticket I can take for the rest of this season,

I'm taking a bigger, more veteran team that I think will be much more sound defensively by the end of the year. Their goaltenders, Marksham's hurt all the time. Just re-up for a couple years. I don't want to have to keep countering, but you keep saying things that make me counter. You're like, Markstrom's hurt all the time. Have you heard of the stuff here? Is there a team, like, what can I throw at you? Are you going to say the league?

Buffalo? No, so I have like four or five teams, six teams, I think definitively I would take them ahead of it. And I think that's felt. That's about where they are. I think that's felt. Like, I would, I would, what about Winnipeg? Oh, it's a great one. Leifes or the Jets.

They have had less playoff history than the Leafs the last few years. Like worse. And they're, I'm taking the peg, man. I'm taking the pig. I think their team is, like one of these years, and I'm sure everyone's been saying this. Hallibuck's got to be Hallibuck. Well, that's what you're banking on is.

Dude, how many times last year did you see a guy cross the blue line at the top of the dots and just hammer a. wrist shot by him like he wasn't even there it's crazy yeah well his playoff performances are absurd he got he got pulled like especially on the road go look back on his number they were crazy yeah

like crazy bad so yeah I mean I like I like Winnipeg's I probably take the jets on paper over the leaves but I think they have I think Winnipeg shockingly has maybe more playoff demons they do

sure all right I'll take the Leafs. There you go. That should be the name of the segment. I'll take the Leafs. Well, someone's got to defend a team that's 8, 5, and 1. They've been to the last nine years in a row. You're just saying, like, are they real deal? There's a vibe in this town that this team stinks, and believe me, I have been there

at times with them watching the flight. And you would have been, you would have been at the front of the parade after the game on Monday night. You would have been leading it. But they won that game. He had a giant. After 40 minutes, I was. He was the flag bearer on Monday night. After 40 minutes, I was. they won the game

you are John Kerry they won the game though yeah well did they not sure did they play well in the third apologize if you win right well they won the game they've won a lot of games recently

all right what's their no I'll ask you go ahead what's their best win of the year was that their best win in the season last night was hands down their best one of the year they look like they were playing a national hockey league game there was some energy intensity that was needed to play at that level

it's pretty scary to think it's November something and we saw it for the first time there you go 8 5 and 1 they have they barely played their best game see half half full guy you're Mr. Brightside eh always have been always have been always always will be always will be all right strutty's coming up

Luke's coming up hazenborough on a clock tonight Denver Vegas in the Thursday nighter we'll get to that and Shapiro and Atkins man did they look comfortable today man were they relaxed up there how's everyone doing hey how are you good to see you Man, it's got to be fun having a press conference like that compared to the one they had this time last year where they would have probably been on no sleep for days

like PR planning. This is what's coming. You're going to get crushed. People are going to go nuts on you, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, we'll get to that as well a little bit later this hour. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. All right, overdrive continues by Fandul,

bringing you more ways to play your game your way. Thursday night or tonight, Battle of the AFC West. Luke's coming up in studio in half an hour. Al's brother will be coming in, and I'm sure he'll be chock full of tremendous information. Hazenbro on the clock tonight. That means people are... Do or die for you guys need us to punt on this and fumble this pick.

You need us to start losing because we have such a lead at this point. If we just stay consistent, it is over. You guys win tonight? I turn into a host of the segment. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. I can tell Luke's in a dark place, too, man.

He's calling guys named Pudgy and the Sal for advice. Not good. I've been there before. I know it. When you can't see the board and the other team is chirping you and laughing at you, it's awful. It's horrible. It really is. It's horrible.

It really is. Yeah. But what goes around comes around. Why don't you guys get like a phone-a-friend segment involved? Like if you don't know It's just we don't do that But maybe you should But how can you trust your friend

Being able to see the board properly I guess It's like when you're on who wants to be a millionaire And you don't know the answer You're like I'm going to call Brian Because he knows But that would assume there is a definite answer That's the beauty of sports

You have no idea Who's going to win or lose tonight All right we'll see That's desperate times In desperate measures Luke coming up in about a half an hour See Jordan Kairu's a healthy scratch for the blues tonight

after they got pumped last night and they're in Buffalo tonight dude they're in trouble man they stink yeah they're not good it's a weird time of year like everyone outside of four or five fan bases everyone seems a little bit better you want to know it's weird

a goalie staff for you guys do you know who leads the league and wins for goalies is it dobbish no you could guess 500 names and you'd be like but if you connect it to the team who do you think it is

not blackwood Wedgwood. Wedgwood? Wedgwood. Scotty Wedgwood. All right. Here's Struddy. Jason Strudwick joining us here. Struddy, how's the mood out west, man?

Everyone around the league seems to be up in arms about different things. How's everyone feeling about hockey these days out in Edmondson? Well, it's not ideal. I mean, it's a lot of ups and downs. Still, it looks like a team that, you know, went to the final last couple years. and isn't too dialed into play just yet. But, you know, this is just the way it is, I think, this early part in the season for them.

Struddy, but, like, is there some master plan to add or use some of these younger guys in the lineup as chips or something? Because I don't know if McDavid's saying he's going to stay for a couple of years. It just doesn't look like this is one of those years where they want to strike or they can strike, to be honest with you. There's some problems, much like the Leafs, much like other teams that are struggling out of the gate. I don't know what to make of them, to be honest with you.

It's not good at times. Yeah, no, you know, and listen, so McDavid signs back, and I must have missed your guys to call me and you talked about that, but I apologize for missing it, guys. I still lost my number. I actually changed my number and sent Johnny a new number. But anyway, so let's all get over that. But, you know, so he's back for a couple years, the extension.

And, you know, this year is not unlike the last two years, right? The last two years, I mean the exact same. Two years ago, it costs a coaching job for the orders, brought in knoblock. Then last year they kind of slept walks through it as well, and then they kind of got themselves going. A couple things are different this year. I think that I know Zach Hyman is a difference in this group. I think he's a voice in that room that is listened to, and he's a stabilizer. And when he put him in this lineup, and whether he starts right away beside McDavid,

and that's to be determined, but eventually he'll get his way up there, and then you push someone down. So is it Majapani that goes down probably two lines to the third line? Or is the Nudja Hopkins who's off to a terrific start to the year and does he become the third line center? And now it's on your top three centers are McDavid, Leon, Nuge, and then Henrique would probably be the fourth line center. And then the wings. Now that's where they have to kind of figure this out.

And this seems to be a yearly thing for the ointers with swingers being out. But if I'm going to go to last, McDavid, and right now, Ross Lovic offensively looks pretty good beside Leon and Pod Colson, who got his second goal the other night. Then the third line, you know, Trent Frederick, you know, he's looked better recently and there's a young Matt Savoy beside him. So I think they're still trying to sort some things out, but make no mistake. Having Hyman back in and then Yanmark returns at some point, some veteran guys that helped

the Oilers close out some two nothing leads. Like they've been, what's it, five, six times? They had two nothing leads, and they've either lost or tied him. So, you know, that's not what the championship team does. but it is when you're sleepwalking and not putting in full 60-minute efforts. So I'm sure you guys have been on the ice

for big moments, and Alex Ovechkin scored his 900th goal last night. And I'm sure you saw Jordan Bennington trying to smuggle the puck into his pants and... I think he wants that one back, man. You think so? I think there's a part

of me that appreciates the fact that he's consistently doing stuff like that. I think he just... I think he wants that one back. man think that's a bad look like into the pants not a bad look it's just the team's really struggling it's like just i'd rather him shoot the puck on the glass if you need to but i don't know i just think he if you asked him in a candid moment maybe he wants that one back strutty no yeah i mean but that's who he is right he's always acting like he's tough you know he's challenging guys and he skates by the bench to get a drink and i think eventually someone might just say okay

all right bingo let's do this and they're just going to jump them right and then fight him. And maybe 20 years ago, he wouldn't have gone away if it. But here we are. And I think that's who he is because he's never really been stopped or challenged that I remember. No, exactly. And like he plays a game. There's a part of them, you can call it petulance, you know, maybe it's competitiveness, where I actually think he just hates the other team and hates being scored on. And he's being scored on a lot. Like he's really struggled, the blues have struggled. And he knows the significance of the moment. He gets what it was. and I think it was just his natural reaction was screw these guys like I'm taking this puck like I'm taking it and you can come try and get it if you want

and then eventually cooler heads prevailed and afterwards he claimed he was always going to give it to him which I don't believe but I think if this was anyone else you'd say that was really goofy and silly it seems more consistent and fitting with Bennington like if there was one guy that was going to do it it would be him and yeah he tried to pull it off

and Ovi had no comment after the game. And I thought it was a pretty crafty goal by Ovi. Like for him to whack that on net and, you know, finds a gap and it gets up in the air and it goes in. But 900 goals, man. Just incredible. This guy is not slowing down. Yeah, it's pretty incredibly.

Listen, where his places in the game is at the very highest levels, right? He's right up there amongst the greats of the greats. And I've said to you guys before, I never thought that I'm going to break Wayne Greske's record. And here we are talking about a guy getting 900 goals. It's just, it's absolutely incredible. The way he's done it, pretty consistent, right? Very few injuries over the course of his career.

You know, whether this is the last of it or not, I mean, he's giving the H. all a lot to cheer about and fans and history. You know, this one is going to get broken. I don't know. I guess there's some guys on a pretty decent pace, but it's good to be on pace for maybe eight, nine years, but give me 20 years of pace.

Then we can talk about it. Stradi, I know you're an Euler super fan. a Marner super fan, but I'd like your expert analysis on what's going on down the road. Like, is Calgary good? Are they terrible? Are they trading people? Are they keeping Cadry? Like, down the road, like, what do you make of what's going on down there? You know, I watch them quite a bit. You know, I've got, I think it's important to have your rival being a good team, right? Like so whether it's, Onder's Flames or Ottawa least, I think those are really important things to happen. So as I watch this team, man, they work hard.

I think they are well-coached. But there's just not enough skill in that lineup to score a lot of goals. So, you know, let's say it's 1-1 and then, you know, someone goes down and just misses scoring. Okay, whatever, it's not the end of the world. You know, a team that knows they can score, maybe they hit the poster, they're able to come back. Well, the other team comes back and scores, now it's 2-1. And then you're like, geez, I just missed that chance. And then they score again because you're pressing too much.

Now it's 3-1 and game over because you're not putting up three more. more in that night. So I think they're a really transition phase here. If I was running that team, I think you have to be honest with yourself and say, listen, we have some young players that are pretty good, some coming like the young defenseman, but he's not ready. Like he's just a youngster, you know, 19 years old. So what you do is I think you do move away from some of these older guys because when

your young core is ready to go, you're not going to be, they won't be with you. Like they're not going to be there in three years, let's say, and still being at the production. If they are, they're going to be dropping off pretty quickly after that. So I'm looking at Khadry. There seems to be a lot of need for Center. And I'm looking at Rasmus Anderson and who, you know, those types of deer are always at a premium. It seems like everyone always sex is going to Vegas.

So, yeah, to answer, I, I'm, I'm going to eat it this year. I'm already eating it pretty bad if you're a Flames fan, if you're a Flames manager. Let's move on, take the next step and then say, okay, this is the bottom. And then we'll start lifting out of it. Like we're seeing some of the other youngest teams that kind of bottomed out. come out this year, a little bit better. So, Strud, we were talking about that Washington Blues game, and what was also on display last night was Binnington versus Logan Thompson.

And Thompson has been outstanding. His numbers have been incredible. Bennington's numbers have really struggled. And I'm curious if anything can happen in your opinion for the goaltending discussion to change leading up to the Olympic Games. In other words, can anything happen where it's not just a formality? Bittington is going to start game one. I mean, you know, I think that Bingenton's the guy.

I really do. I think what he did last year, I think that gives him the inside track. No, because Logan wasn't there last year, right? No, he wasn't at Four Nations, no. So he's never been through that. And, you know, Binghamton, we all had questions about Alaska, and he came in and delivered in the big moments they needed. So I would be floored if it's not him.

And it's funny, look at this roster. Like, there's so much depth at every other position, you know, is Celebrating are going to make it? is Tom Wilson going to make it, Bardard going to make it, you know, Shifrey, I don't know how he doesn't make it, then he's on the back end. There's so much depth.

And then at a goal, it's like we're kind of at a thin time in Canadian goalie history. We've always had the guy, right? Like, you know, Luongo or Burdur, or whoever goes through the list of the last number of years, and we just don't seem to have it right now.

I'm going to hijack the show for a second. Can I do that? Yes, please do that. So you mentioned Celebrating. Can we play a mini game of Jerry's? Yes. Celebrating right now is tied for the league. league lead in scoring with Connor

McDavid. David, I'll start with you. Jerry's, mini jerrys, that Celebrini will be on Team Canada. Oh, I think it's 95%. I think he's played himself on it. Watch and play, man. 100. 100% for O'Don. I was going to say the big guy, but I don't use that term. I do not

use that term anymore. You say, Dad. Yeah, for my dad. My dad has 100% Celebrini going to the Olympic Games. Struddy, what is your mini Jerry on Celebrini on the team. I'll be the bad guy, 50%, 50%, and this is why.

So listen, I love watching him. You know, he's so much fun to watch the talent, undeniable, but there's a lot of players that have already been on the team that have done things at the highest level in those pressure moments, and is he going to just push one of them out of the way?

Like right now, if I said you can take Shifeley or Celebrini, who are you taking? Oh, man. Great question, man. I think I'd take Celebrini because he's a better skater. Okay, but I think that's important. Like, you're talking about those type of details. Like, he looks like a, he looks like sit out there to me.

Like, the way he battles and grines. Elite player. He is, not that Shifley isn't, but I'll take young legs that are flying and... I'm taking Mark Shifley because I think you can use him in different areas. You have to think about Macklin-Sellibrini and his skill set. Is he good enough to be on a power play unit? probably not is he good enough to be on a secondary

power play unit maybe not so what the hell is he going to do for you ask yourself that and so listen he he is going to be a massive player for team counter for years to come but when I try to pencil him into this lineup and if he isn't in either of those

let's say he's not in either of the two things which maybe should be here but let's say he's not either power play what is his role he's able to shift into a different role and become you know we always hear about guys taking on morals of a checker, being a little bit physical or whatever the case, or massively reduced minutes.

You know, like, is Connick David's minutes going to go down because Celebrini's there? Well, maybe one day, but that's not this day. You know, it's not coming up right away. So I think we've got to be careful to the victory lap of Celebrini. Yeah, you know, because there's extra players, maybe he's a guy that comes a little bit extra

and they have him as, you know, offense in a box. But everyone there is good. Everyone there on that team is really, really good. Now, he's done an incredible year, he's going to be a massive part but I just I can't quite do it just yet I can't wait until I can

but I just it's not him the players where he fits in yeah it feels like this is a world junior topic where why would you bring the really skilled guy who's playing great

when you can bring an older guy that isn't as good so these are this is a roster from the four nations so you can say celebrini or this person celebrini or Bennett the way Bennett's plan

right now I'm taking Celebrini. Bennett's off to a terrible start. He is. Okay. So I would go Celebrini. Strud, do you have an answer on that? Bennett or Celebrini?

Three Stanley Cups in a row. He's heavy. They're totally different players. So honestly, you and I, we always see eye and I. But I think that's an unfair ask because they're such different players. Okay, but I'm going to go through the roster. We're going to find a finite amount of place that can be on the team. So the next one, I'll say no.

No. Okay, you're taking about it. Celebrini or Anthony Sorrelli, who's off to a pretty good offensive start and is a favorite of the coach. Yeah, he knows and trusts him, so I think Campa... I feel like Sorrelli would make it over him. Yeah. The next one is Crosby, so we knew the answer to that.

Celebrini or Hegel. I'd take Celebrini. Cellebrini right now. I think Hagel's got like one or two goals. He does. And Hegel's a, like, he's a very good player. Celebrini can be great. like he is he can be great

hagel has a ceiling in terms of what he can do it any shift any game I would take celebrating so but but he's predictable for the coach yeah you like predictability right it's that same lunch or do you do every day right

it's just predictable and he likes that and it's high end predictability that's not no he's really good player how many goals do you have last year I think he has 30 goals yeah he's a really good but we're getting into the territory where it's like you can make a case Celebrating or Seth Jarvis I'd go Celebrini

Okay, Celebrity or Travis Kenneckney Yeah, for those Celebrini or Brad Marchand I'd go Celebrini As good as Brad Marchand has played Yeah, I think that I take Marchand

And I think I take Shifley over Both of the guys connect me And who was the other one you had before? Seth Jarvis And then you got to believe Nick Suzuki's going to be on this team And he wasn't on it So that's, they may not even be about Celebrini first. It's like, all right, Suzuki's in, maybe Shifley's in, and then he's got to take the third guy.

But the only thing is like Shifley had an unbelievable year last year, and they didn't bring him. Because, again, it's not young. And, you know, you get over 30 and you're not the fastest guy in the league. Yeah, they start to overthink that stuff. He's still a damn good skater, hey. He's not like he's slow. No, he can skate. He can skate.

But Celebrini's a better skater than him, in my opinion. I hear what you're saying. But I think that's why. Now, Bennett's not flying around. Like, Bennett's not a fast skater. He's just heavy and savvy and clutch. But the other guys can move. Like, Jarvis can move.

Hagel can move. Anyway, we'll see. Tom Wilson can skate. Tom Wilson moves around. Is there any love for him on that rostered guys? I don't know. I don't see Tom Wilson. The time for him to be on it was Four Nations.

That was for me when he was going to be on it. And if he wasn't, I don't see how he makes this one. But that's why we would. wait to see. All right, Strutt, good stuff. I think we established a lot here this afternoon. That's what's important. Case closed. Case closed. All right, Tom, we got your number back in the fold, so we'll call you again soon. Next time Conner deals up, you guys will call me. We'll give you a shot in a couple of years. Thanks, Struddy.

See you board. See you board. Jason Strudwick joining us here on the Maple Toyota hotline. Get in and go where adventures take you in a new 2025 Tacoma from Maple Toyota near Canada's wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall. Visit maple toilet.com. All right. Luke Wilson coming up. Shapiro and Ackin speaking today. What did they say on Bo?

What did they say on possible moves this offseason? The future of themselves with this team. We'll get to that more coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube live. Crazy comment from Billy Armstrong when referencing his new practice facility. He said they have a TV set up in Utah for video that's probably worth more than their whole entire setup practice facility in Arizona.

I can't be surprising. That can't be surprising. I mean, you talk about a guy who is so happy. Every time you hear Bill Armstrong talk about Utah and how great it is and a new owner. Imagine walking in that college barn for an NHL game, like on the daily saying this is the team that, like, what it? So embarrassing. And furthermore, you'd have all.

all your counterparts coming into town kind of looking at you saying, what the hell is this, Bill? Like, hey, Bill, what are you doing, man? Like this, we got stuck. There was a student protest we couldn't get through. And what if they stayed in there was like, would they still be there? I don't know. I guess so, man.

I think that lease was for a couple of years. And they're talking about going back. They ever get to 36 teams? Yes, they are. They're not going back there. I'm not. If Atlanta can get a third team, third chance, Why can't Arizona get a second one?

The dumbest thing is they built a new arena. They just apparently built it in the wrong place. Like, who does that? Or it just, like, that's such a cop-out-to-the-wrong place. Or maybe it's just not a hockey market, you know? Maybe it's not the wrong place. It's just the market doesn't care and never will. That's fine, too.

All right, hour two coming up. Luke will join us, and we'll get into the Shapiro and Atkins presser from earlier today. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN4. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fanduil. Fandual, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. The biggest songs in the world. You've heard them countless times. Now, learn the details of how they came to be.

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