OverDrive - Strudwick on Celebrini's impressive start, his Olympic shot and the Oilers' season views

Episode Date: November 6, 2025

Struddy's World Host Jason Strudwick joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Oilers shaping their roster, Alex Ovechkin scoring his 900th goal and Jordan Binnington taking the puck, the Flames' season issues, the Olympic goaltending look, Macklin Celebrini's opportunity to make the team and more.

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here's strutty jason struttowardwick joining us here strutty has uh the mood out west man everyone around the league seems to be up in arms about different things how's everyone feeling about uh hockey these days out in edmonton well it's been it's not ideal i mean it's a lot uh ups and downs still it looks like a team that um you know went to the final last couple years and isn't too uh dialed into play just yet but you know this this is just the way it is i think this early part of 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 to talk me to talk about that, so I apologize for missing it, guys. I also lost my number, I actually changed my number and sent John 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 have been the exact same.

Two years ago, it costs a job, 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 of things are different this year. I think that knows that Khyman 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 Mahjipani that goes down probably two lines, the third line, terrific start to the year

and to see 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 Oilers with swingers being out.

But if Iman goes past, McDavid, and right now, Ross Lovic offensively looks pretty good beside Leon and Podgolzin, who got his second goal the other night. Then the third line, you know, Trent Frederick, 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 a five, six times? They had two-nothing leads, and they've either lost or tied them. So, you know, that's not what a 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

you know 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 like I think he just wants that one back man I think that's a bad look like into the pants It's 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. Struddy, 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 him, right? and then fight him maybe 20 years ago

he would have gone away 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. 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 incredible.

Listen, where his places in the game is at the very highest of 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 the 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.L. 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 and 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 oilers flames or

Ottawa at 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 in that night. So I think they're a real 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, they'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 Cadre.

There seems to be a need for center. And I'm looking at Rasmus Anderson and who, you know, those types of deer are always at a premium, but it seems like everyone always sexes going to Vegas. So, yeah, to answer, I, 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 stop 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, Stred, 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 Binghamton's the guy.

I really do. I think what he did was 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 Celebrini going to make it? Is Tom Wilson going to make it? Baderd 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 Sal Brady. Can we play a mini game of Jerry's? Yes. Celebrini right now is tied for the league lead in scoring with Connor McDavid Hey 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 him play man 100 100% For O'Dow I was going to say the big guy but I don't use that term I do not use that term anymore Dad Yeah for my dad

My dad has 100% Celebrini going to the Olympic game. 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 Shifley or Celebrini,

who are you taking? Oh, man. Great question, man. I think I'd take Celebrini because he's a better skater. 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 grinds.

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 them in different areas. You have to think about Macklin-Sellibrini and his skis. 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 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

on either of 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, you know, morals of a checker, being a little bit physical or whatever the case in the,

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 Celibini. 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 and 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, and 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 this is a roster from the Four Nations. So you can say Celebrini or this person. Celebrity or Bennett? The way Bennett's playing right now, I'm taking Celebrini. Okay. 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 I honestly, Jonathan, you and I, we always see eye and I. But I think that's, I think that's an unfair ask because they're such different players. Okay, but I'm going to go through the roster.

But there's a finite amount of place that can be on the team. I'm saying no. I'll say no. You're taking no. I'm thinking about it. Celerini or Anthony Cerelli, who's off to a pretty good offensive start and is a favorite of the coach. Yeah, he knows him and trusts him. So I think Tampa.

I feel like Corelli would make it over him. Yeah. The next one is Crosby, so we knew the answer to that. Celebrini or Hagle. I'd take Celebrity. Celebrany right now. I think Hagell'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 can be great. Hegel has a ceiling in terms of what he can do. Any shift, any game, I would take Celebrity. But he's predictable for the coach. You like predictability, right? It's that same lunch or 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 not a good player. How many goals do you have last year? I think of 30 goals? Yeah, he's a really good player. But we're getting into the territory.

where it's like you can make a case. Celebrini or Seth Jarvis? I'd go Celebrini. Okay. Celebrini or Travis Connecti? Salabrini. Yeah. Yeah, for those.

Celebrini or Brad Marchand? I 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's the other one he had before? Seth Jarvis.

And then you've got to believe Nick Suzuki's going to be on this. team and he wasn't on it. 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. 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. 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 lot for him on that roster, 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 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, Kyle, 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 years. Thanks, Struddy. See you, boy. 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 toyota.com. Introducing

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