OverDrive - Pang on the Maple Leafs' tandem viewpoint, Bedard's impending contract and Ovechkin's incredible goal scoring

Episode Date: March 6, 2025

NHL on TNT Darren Pang joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, Connor Bedard's impending contract with the Blackhawks, Seth Jones's fit with the Panthers, Alex Ovechkin's goal scoring run. and the Capitals' solid season, the Maple Leafs' tandem, the teams under the radar in the NHL and more.

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Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet, awarded by UCCLA. Starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Here's our good friend Darren Peng. How you doing, Pengar? I'm doing fantastic. Oh, dog, I would never take you to arbitration. I just give you what you wanted, bud. Yeah, Jimmy Rutherford did.

And he also had some comments for Oh, dog as well in the, in arbitration. What? Yeah. Jimmy said- That doesn't seem right. And he also had some comments for Oh dog as well in the in arbitration what? That doesn't seem right Guy asked him first Said Jimmy would Jimmy would you consider yourself a hockey expert and he said yes, and then he said well How would you assess Jeff O'Neil's play in the series against Boston and Jimmy said of all the hockey? I've watched that's the worst the player could possibly play in a seven game series the

i literally was so pissed banger and i get an arbitration you gotta come up with some content that's kind of get the pleader case but i was so i didn't want to play for carolina ever again well So I didn't want to play for Carolina ever again. Well, that's just why I went though. Okay. Let me, let me ask you this. Oh, Doug, were you any good in that series? I mean, I don't think I was terrible.

There's no way that I was the worst of player that like the worst he'd ever seen. That's, that's not good. That's not good. That's tough negotiating. That's not right. Yeah. Arbitration. I, what I don't understand understand hangar is why the player

needs to be in there like it's just arbitration should gas the players from being in the meeting like forget it stupid yet it's it's too many harsh things get said in and like i was like you were guys like i said you have a few layers of thick skin you're not gonna want to come back you don't feel like you're wanted yeah that's a tough position boy really tough it's a great it's a grind and we're just talking

about Connor Bedard he's you know I don't think he's got a point his last seven games and he's you know he's had some ups and downs this year but he's you know he'll be in a position where you could sign an extension as of July 1st and we were curious, you know should Chicago try to get out in front of this and offer an eight-year deal at 10 million and hope he signs it or is that asking too much from a kid that Hasn't really proven enough over two years. Like where do you stand on this? Yeah, you know

I look at some of the other deals that were that were signed early that caught me by surprise. I mean, Benir signed like right off the hop, didn't he? You know, I think Fantilly's up as well. Leo Carlson. So, you know, you like to see where those guys are at, but none of them have been marketed or played up or have had as much responsibility, you know, in growing the game or being responsible for so many different things in the game like Connor has. So there's a lot of, listen guys, there's a lot of value that I see here in Chicago that Connor brings to the table. I mean there's a, you go around the rinks and man that's all you see are 98 sweaters.

They're hovering around, you know, going onto the ice and signs for them and what have you. So he's had it different than those guys. He's had a lot more pressure than those guys have had make no mistake about it But what I mean would Kyle Davidson I tell you one thing about Kyle Davidson right now that I'm all really impressed with is There's no information that comes out of the Chicago Blackhawks is there hey You know like you talk about a young general manager and his staff Brian Campbell Norma Kiver and his his group and nobody heard a peep about Seth Jones. So I would imagine in this scenario that, you know, whether things are talked about

now or whether they're discussing where they want to go on it, I'm not sure. But I do know one thing, you're not getting much information out of this organization right now, which is really good to hear. Now going back to your original question, would he be worth, you know, you go eight times $10 million a year with the cap going up. He's the star player of the team. He still had 30 points in 30 games. He's still going to be only the suit.

What is it? The fourth teenager to go consecutive, what's consecutive 50 point seasons and lead his team or something like that. I mean, there's the players in the last 30 years that have done it are pretty elite players. He's got a lot of growing to do. But I think when you see that deal, if that deal were to be the deal, I think that would be a win-win for both sides in my opinion. So Panger, just to stick in with the Blackhawks, obviously, you know, they're a team in transition

and looking to add and all of that as far as, you know, building around Baddard. Just a little insight on Seth Jones. What do you think is left in the tank for him do you think you'll be reinvigorated in florida different role different setting all of that type of stuff yeah number one do those that that guy he treated us all real well here you know a real pro not it not a boisterous guy at all you kinda got it

seek him out you noted to you know to talk to about hockey then you start talking about hockey and life, and he's a pretty even-keeled guy. He's got a lot left in the tank, easily. He plays 25 minutes a night, Noodles. He probably was more scrutinized here on the offensive side of it. And still, he was having a really good year and scoring on the power play. But I think his defending Noodles is what's going's gonna be the difference maker for Florida in the playoffs. He's good, he stops the cycle.

He's the long stick, the long reach, I mean just great on Anglin and not overly physical, but I think he's gonna be really effective in the playoffs. And I think the pressure's on him too, because he said a lot of things here that kind of put Kyle Davidson in a really rough spot, put the coaching staff in a rough spot he was frustrated he said some things he talked about getting out and then he's got a no trade no move so he's

only got a couple of teams and from what I understand one of the teams had already said no so really there was one team left on the table noodles and that was the Florida Panthers so to strike this kind of deal was pretty impressive and now it does put the pressure on him he's going to a winning environment and he's got to play ultra competitive hockey right there and not just blend in. I mean, he's got to go in there and step in and be a difference maker for him for all that they gave up and you know, for what he gets paid and I think for what kind of player

he is. So already, what did the first game, didn't he play 22 and a half minutes like right off the hop? He's a guy that just, he just craves the minutes and the coaches just see him and he doesn't seem like he's ever out of breath. And then he breath and then they just throw him right over the boards again and he's got a pretty good engine. With Darren Peng, that would apply to Alex Ovechkin as well. He scored again last night.

You were calling the game and he's now nine away from Ty Angretski, ten away from setting the record. What's he still look like? Unbelievable. Most impersonal. Unbelievable. I mean, you know, one of it is who was with the rangers that looked over at him it was i do is that young often

and and it will be with sit on the bench right to my right uh... and and uh... in the commercial break and often just look over to go space here and i thought that people like he just he still looks like such a prominent guy exactly right and then you know that came last night i think you would admit that there was a whole lot going on in the game. They had a couple power plays. I thought the Rangers did a really good job of kind of taking away, they pushed him to the outside. And one of the things I wanted to convey last night was as a goal scorer, he scores, or people assume he scores a lot of goals in that one area. So I showed

some video of him this year scoring in other areas areas like he is scoring in the slot. I think he's got the biggest percentage of goals are right in the house. Not not off to the side. I think he's only got six or seven one timers off to that same side. And so he's, he's changed his game. He's getting around the ice a lot more. He's less predictable. And I think they're having some success with that. And last thing I tried to say, I really give the coaching staff,

young coaching staff, Spencer Carberry, and Kirk Muller and that staff are really good. But they're also really good at negotiating and selling too. They're saying, hey, maybe the back stream days are gone. Maybe the OCE and the bumper spot, that's not there anymore. We gotta move you around a little bit more and make you more unpredictable.

And I think he's done an unbelievable job of that and you know what he scored last night is 31st goal at Madison Square Garden so including playoffs in regular season that's the second most in the history of the National Hockey League at MSG only Mario had more at 37 so take that team pretty good night for him. You think that team scares anybody Panger like everybody says the same thing about the Caps, or I've heard it a lot. They do a lot of great things, very well-coached. But at the end of the day, I don't

know if they scare anybody, or is that just something that they just have to prove come playoff time? You know what, I think, oh, Doug, I think the experience that they gained last year getting into the playoffs was really good. I mean, just getting their toes in the water and experience from going to Madison Square Garden for the first two, facing the President's Trophy winners, although they lost,

I think that experience is absolutely invaluable. So I'm going to say this, I'm going to say that a team that plays them in the first round is going to say the same things that you say, oh Doug, and then when they're down three to one, they're going to go, uh-oh, we better get this thing going. Because they just come at you. They're very systematic. You look at some of their set plays five on five in the offensive zone, and it is like a power play. So they're on the same page, they're getting points from their D.

I'm not sure if they can succumb like a big injury or two, that's the one thing. I'm not sure about the depth that they would have at the NHL level to bring up. But as we stand right now, great check in line in Wilson, Dubois, and McMichael. And then, you know, I think Eller and Dowd are really good on the bottom six and obviously the top part. And if Ovechkin can score early in a series, then that just lights their fire. That just really sparks them up. But it will be interesting

though, O'Donk, because they've been sneaky and they just come at you in four lines and, you know, it's quite a great story from the coaching staff all the way down to the spirit of their players. I've really enjoyed covering them and watching them and doing the games oh dog it's fun because they just don't stop and they don't quit no matter what the score is. Well they got a number one goalie right Logan Thompson like you know he's going to play and you know with other teams including Toronto you saw last night Joseph Wally got pulled first time all year.

He gave up six or five against Pittsburgh a couple of nights ago and Stolars is not a guy who's played a lot. He's barely played at all in the playoffs. You know when you look at the goaltending situation in particular in Toronto, Panger, like where does your head go first when trying to predict how it's gonna look in the playoffs? Well, I was I think it was a couple of weeks ago Just before Stollers was coming back from the injury that we talked and I said I had I would have no problem coming back And I believe guys that I got a check mark on that. I believe he won that game. Yes

Yes, he did and but you know, I I don't think that they're playing with the kind of spirit in front as well And so when that happens, I think this time of year, we're seeing a lot of teams come out of that break and they just have not had the momentum that they had before the break or for whatever reason, the energy wise, maybe it's the top players that played in the four nations. It seems like there's, it's not a coincidence that a lot of them are struggling. But I think, you know, you think of two things when you're not playing with a whole lot of gumption in front.

Your goaltender's going to have to be the first star for three or four games and get their heads out of their errands in front of them. Or the team in front of them is going to have to really buckle down and start, you know, just playing harder defensive hockey in their own zone. So I have no problem with the goaltender in the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I think it's a good tandem. And I think things will settle down. Washington Capitals have a good tandem. Charlie Lindgren, he's the backup. You got Thompson there. You got a lot of teams in the NHL that have a two-headed monster and you're probably going to need that here down the stretch while they're playing every other night. You guys looked at the schedule.

It's every other night. It is crazy. It is crazy. You're asking these thoroughbreds to get around that track and you're whipping old Seabiscuit here and get them to go faster And it's not easy for these boys It isn't a panger Is there anybody in the league that you kind of got your eye on to go?

We're we're sleeping on them like you know, we obviously we focus on Leafs a lot here in Toronto We know they're a very good team Talked about the Florida teams is there is there a team that you think flying under the radar is that the Dallas Stars or somebody that we're not giving enough Love that could really do some damage Yeah, I would say that's one team for sure in my opinion I think they're just they're finally getting played from Robertson and you're seeing I think you even see the Logan Stankovic that many predicted would be a you know call their trophy winner and maybe some of That pressure early was was a lot

But no, I I really like the Dallas Stars. I I like the Washington Capitals I'm I'm kind of one of those guys that I guess maybe because I've done quite a few of their games and you know You just get to see them a little more often. I'm not you know, what are the teams would I be sold at on? Boy Tampa just made a trade so that's a hard one to predict Well now I now I don't know, you know I mean now I don't know with with the rent and situation and what's gonna happen and and if he stays is he gonna find His game again Is he gonna you're gonna be a way to be effective and blend into that system or is gonna be a

a real powerful forward like he was in Colorado so to me that's just a until we know that I don't I don't really have an answer I think they're a really good team and I think they can certainly get to a conference final but but right now at this point I think he's the obviously the main ingredient to see where they're gonna go and what they're gonna do yeah that one's fascinating man if he gets flimsy and uh... we've never seen anything like it

indiana chile financial happening anybody on the bottom of the anybody on the bottom hazy that uh... you know it has momentum that just gets in you know like last year i always i thought that if detroit just got in today scare a couple teams and get on a run uh... you know washington got in, could they scare a couple teams and get on a run?

You know, Washington got in there with that poor Goals 4, Goals against, but it didn't matter. They got in, no matter how you call it. But they didn't come in with a ton of momentum. That's one thing to look for too, especially in the West, where they've got that hard West schedule and like the LA Kings of what, 2012, they were the eighth place team and bang, they come roaring down the tracks and pounded everybody.

Yeah, I don't see any of those teams in the West. I don't think any of Calgary, Vancouver, St. Louis, Utah, any of them are going to scare anybody, but I think it's the East and it could be Washington as well. Like you said, they keep coming, they keep coming, they're going at you. But you look at Ottawa in particular, Ottawa's played them very well this year. I think they beat them twice and lost once in overtime or a shootout a couple of nights ago. Like, Allmark is the question mark.

Is he ready to play? If he's playing on his game, that's what I would think, Panger. You mentioned LA and they were phenomenal defensively well coached, but Jonathan Quick was Jonathan Quick too, right? He was in his prime. Is it Allmark? Is it Shusterkin for the Rangers? I was just going to say, what yet where is it all markets it's just working for the rain just gonna say what if it's the rangers yes make in at eight like that he scares me

i did they do i was there they would play washington right now wouldn't right yeah exactly like that you know so that i was here was to see them i tell you what that was a hot that was a real good hostile game last night like i really enjoyed it there is a there's a lot of good banter back and forth and you can tell that there's the familiarity you've got you know you got some big boys Tom Wilson started you know he was getting a little ornery in that game I thought his fuse was getting a little bit short and you know the minute that uh I can't remember who was it that bumped

uh was it Rempy that bumped uh Rempy did got yeah he was and bumped Oveska and uh... tom wilson were read over to a rep to help up with what i want to pop i mean that's the only way that's a full of emotion that i think that i think time and i guess they just picked up uh... susie from that person since there's a susie on his way to new york to for the rangers so they've traded a third-round problem so you know rangers are trying to get that the Rangers are trying to get in that right? They're trying to get in that adds a little bit of size to them. Yeah, they've Yeah, that's that's an interesting one I mean Fox will be back but listen Fox it Fox has got to pick up his game too

They can you know, like they they got to figure some things out on that team against the bandage yet on that right side They had JT Miller center ice position Although they can switch on the faceoff doctor the ones are ready and ones are lefty But you know, I think they they have some things still to sort out. I really sensed some frustration j t miller center ice position although they can switch in the face off dot to the ones are ready and ones are lefty but you know i think they are they have some things still to sort out i i really sensed some frustration you know in the third period when they couldn't get any going in and and and washington was playing a playoff game around the boards hunkering in hold on

the parks they frustrated new york and i saw i saw a little frustration from line after line of line of the rangers coming back in that third period into the bench it's gonna be a great stretch run. Trade deadline tomorrow. We'll see what comes of it. He is Darren Panger, the NHL on TNT. Always great catching up with you, Panger. Thank you for doing this. You guys as well. I wouldn't trade any one of you guys for any one of those guys. Appreciate that greatly. Thanks, Panger. Appreciate that greatly. Thank you, Panger, for the pep talk on the way out. We love it. And take a trip with hits through herstory. Plus empowering podcasts by women for women.

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