OverDrive - Strudwick on the Oilers falling short of victory, the decline in the series and the future of the roster

Episode Date: June 18, 2025

Got Yer Back Podcast Host and Former NHLer Jason Strudwick joined OverDrive to discuss the Oilers' defeat to the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, the decline of the team in the series, Connor McDavid's role and his outlook in Edmonton, the future of the roster and more.

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leadership skills, connect with mentors, and gain real-world experience, all while giving back to your community. Best of all, it's a no-cost program available across Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and BC. Thoughts are limited, so register now at careerfoundation.com. That's careerfoundation.com. Join today and be part of something amazing. Here is Jason Strudwick joining us. That's press conference season. Don't forget that. Press conference season in Edmonton, Struddy. When is the first one to fire up? Welcome to the party. Later, a little bit later this year.

Yeah, I think the guys will have it on. I think it's tomorrow. They have their exit availability. So yeah, they need to be there front and center. Yeah, you know what? It's tough. You know, like last year it felt like they were shot away from winning the Stanley Cup. This year it didn't feel like that at all. They won two games, but Florida, they got to a level I don't think was possible. They were so good, so dominant,

and they just played their game, played their system, didn't change their lines, and they just forced you to make a mistake. Look at the first goal. Echo was a good passer. He throws a puzzle over to Bouchard. Boom, it's in his net, right? Like that's a play he doesn't make, but you just keep, Florida has kept doing the same thing, same thing. Every shift, they were literally relentless and the orders weren't able to figure it out. Shroudy, what do you think they take from it? I mean, Carolina, Tampa, Toronto, everyone kind of had to walk away. And I don't, I mean, you played

in the big leagues, you know that not everything is like, Oh, let's take the positives from this. Other than looking at the Florida Panthers and saying they were way better than us. What are the Edmonton Olders walking away from this taking from it? So they're a good team. I mean, I think that's clearly makes the final twice. And they had their way with Vegas and Dallas, really, you know, and those are, you know, two teams that many people had projected to get to the final. So I think they've realized that they have to be a better team and get deeper on that group.

Florida in many ways had three first liners, you know, you think about the lead scorer, the playoff was on the second line. And then the guy who scored the most goals in the finals on third line. You know, the owners didn't have that and most teams don't. Their D was deep, a lead goal pending. So the owners are, they're a really good team, but they're not as good as Florida. And that's what it looks like when you just dominate in the Stanley Cup finals, what Florida did. So and this isn't so much on the players, although they can all improve. You give it the same Charlie effort to do it. But I think that the team now, how do you get to another level?

How do you add more pieces to this puzzle? Because some guys, they're not going to be back. It's always changed. But how do you get better? And I, that the same, my priority number one for this group, number one more than, than the goalie, another demon, anything is finding someone who can play off Leon. Putting, putting Connor and Leon together, I don't still think it, it works. I want to find a winger for Leon. They tried to last you a Skinner and an Arbittson,

didn't work. I, I'm searching high and low for someone who's going to be him, be with him, and that way you have two separate lines that are both good, that can roll out there and play against the likes of what we saw this past 10 days with Florida. So Stretty, I wouldn't call it a lazy narrative. I think it's a front and center topic that is throughout the league, and I know it's a topic in Ed topic that is throughout the league and I know it's a topic in Edmonton but what are the chances that they come back with the same goalie tandem?

The goalies didn't lose in the series but they also didn't win in the series and I think that there was times they could have been better like the first goal yesterday I like to see that save on Reinhardt on that on that first goal. I talked about that call making that pass. So they got to figure out what they want to do. Do you go and get a another number one and then Skinner's out or do you find a one B situation and that means Pickard's out, but I don't think they're both back. Uh,

the challenge for the owners is that they have such a good deal on their goalways. It's 3.2 million. And so they have, you know, compared to Florida, they have, you know, seven, eight million dollars they can spend on players to, to, to, you know, make their lineup deeper or stronger. So the problem is, you know, more than who is, who is the guy, like who, who is the goal? Is it, is it the guy in St. Louis? You know, is it Gibson in Anaheim? You know, you're just like, yeah, okay, I could see that. Then what's the cost to get that if you pay that price? Are you able to bolster the rest of your lineup?

You're right. I just think, you know, we talk about it at Nausium in Toronto all the time, running it back and hey, like, you know, something to me, there has to be a different look. Even if it's a lateral move. I made a short list here, guys, and we can all get into it. But guys like Merzlikin's. You mentioned John Gibson. You mentioned Bennington.

Vancouver's got three goaltenders. Demko, Lankinen, and Sheloff is going to need waivers next year. Tristan Jari is probably available. Philip Grubauer in Seattle. And here's the other one. And this is going to be an ugly comment, but Carter Hart might be available to play, right? Depending on what happens with his situation, a lot more serious situation. But I'm looking at it, yes, a lot of those guys outside of Bennington, maybe Demko, everybody else is kind of a lateral move, but they're different.

That's my point is sometimes you do need different to advance because as Connor said, banging your head up against the wall with the same thing, it doesn't work. So to me, you do need change in all facets to see if you can inch forward. Well, and yet they're in the cup final back to back years. That's the amazing thing. It's inching forward one win last year and two this year. With Jason Strudwick, where does McDavid come into play in terms of how people are feeling about what I guess went wrong in the cup final? How much of it is on his plate in Edmonton? Well, you know, he didn't do what we maybe expect.

I think at times, you know, we have high expectations for a Connor or Leon or, you know, like a Superman to come and just save everything. Well, Florida doesn't care. You know, and I think the owners actually played into the hand of Florida by putting Connor Leon together. Cause guess who's up against them? Two of the best defensive players in the world, as well as offensive in Reinhardt and Barkov. So I didn't like that. And so that's why I go back to my idea.

They got to get a player to play with Leon and someone that can really a true, legit left or right winger. You pick it. Um, but I think for McDave, I think he's frustrated because, you know, they're so close, but this was so far. Like Florida to me was the best team in the playoffs, for sure. Wasn't even close. And so they're there. Yeah, they were second. But they're a long ways from first, just like everybody else was. So Conor will have reflection.

He'll go and work on what he needs to and all that, but I really think this is about the team sorting out what they need to do to have a more balanced set of lines that are consistent. You know, the changing of the lines all the time, it means you're not sure what your lines should look like. Florida didn't change their line once. I think maybe it was Greer coming in and out just because of an injury. D stayed the same, Goewe stayed the same. And there's something to be said for having the same line mates more consistently than we saw here from Edmonton. Well, it is going to be a fascinating couple of weeks in Edmonton. And like Dry Suttles, Deal kicks in next year, so that's 14 million. Bouchard is an RFA. He's gonna get paid possibly what 10 million. I don't know 11 million

That's another you know kind of part of this is that let's let's assume McDavid stays and signs That'll kick in the year after next but he's not playing for less than dry saddle So, you know, they're getting close even with the cap going up to having a big three Where they're all gonna make a lot of money, you know, they're getting close, even with the cap going up, to having a big three where they're all going to make a lot of money. You know, they might be spending $40 million on three players a year from now. And that's another thing that that rang true here. Again, a team with no one's made more than $10.5 million on a cup winning team at any

point in the cap era. Barkov makes 10, Bob makes 10, I think Iko made ten on Vegas. No one makes more than that and You know the least we've been talking about it for years study that all these guys make all this money We keep talking all I've heard all day and I agree with it depth depth depth got to find help Well, how are you gonna do that when these guys are to make a fortune for the next seven or eight years? Dude, you're going garbage picking like you did with Skinner and Robinson. I don't see how it can change. How can you find guys?

The other part of that is that two of their good young players are playing for the St. Louis Blues now. Yeah. I don't know the order of who is at fault or whatever, but you know, how would Dylan Holloway have looked as a player I talked about playing beside Leon Dreisel for 82 games? He was under three million, I believe. I believe he was under three.

And yeah, he's going to get bumped up for sure. But Skinner was three million. So he could have had him. So that, you know, that would have made a big difference in this, I think, in a healthy Hyman. Would that be enough? I don't know, but I would have liked to find out if I was another player, right? Because you're looking, you're always thinking, who's leaving, who's coming? So it will be a challenge.

Now, when they get these players locked in, that money's there and the cap will hopefully continue to go up. The problem is the cap's going up as soon as they're age. These guys aren't over the hill, but eight years from now the cap, let continue to go up. The problem is the caps going up as soon as they're H. You know, like these guys aren't over the hill but you know it's eight years from now the cap let's say it's 140 million well those guys are going to be 35, 36, whatever 37. So you know there is some urgency to try to build this team around them. But that's Stan Bowman. This is his first two off season. I like the acquisition of Wallman. Sounds like Trent Frederick's gonna sign. I don't think he was at his best here, obviously. But let's

see what that looks like after the summer and where these numbers land. Well, quickly, because you mentioned Frederick. Andy Strickland's reporting it's going to be an eight-year deal, possibly, for Frederick. For Trent Frederick? Yeah. That's what he's saying. An eight-year deal worth about $4 million a year. Does that sound right to you, Strud? That seems excessive for Fredrick. Yeah, it's getting into pure inkball territory. I know that Noodles is a huge fan. I remember when that deal came across, the pure inkball would agree i had a double check the leaders to

carrying balkan cat area dot we thought there was four because we all but that's not here here and also remove ski cobec not the guy from switzerland even today or someone change their name it did that make a change of name right but uh... so but i i i thought you guys about to guys in Boston, they really like him. They think he's an effective player and he can do a lot of things, but it feels like

they're trying to do like the Nick Paul, right? Sign him to a long time and develop. But what I'm really interested, guys, is I want to see him play center. I really do. I want to have him have a chance to play center. The challenge is there's quite a few centers, including Adam Hen who's 35 one more year left on his deal. Does Henrique move shift to the wing? And then maybe you have Frederick at center and then on the third line and then you have the young guy Matt Savoy on the other side. Like they've got to get some youth into this

lineup and get and let them play. Let Savoy, this young player they got from Buffalo. But those are big numbers, but I don't know. I'd love to see a big center, kind of like an Adam Lowry light, if you will. Yeah, I think you're right. What they did with him is, and you'll see a lot of managers do it, is you stretch the term out to keep the AAV down if a guy is going to play in your top nine type of thing it just I Think nowadays and and rightfully so when you see term on guys that aren't your inner core You you know that that contract at some point isn't going to match what the players worth

You know and you're gonna move away I mean we've seen it here in Toronto like Tanev we love. I mean, Chris Tanev's a rock star. But I think Tree, rightfully so, to get him, gave him extra term to keep the number down, because he had to fit him into the structure. Frederick, eight years. And why would he want to, though? Why would Trent Frederick want to sign,

other than the security? If somebody's handing you $30 million, you're not going to say no. It's a big commitment and you know you know dry settles here for at least eight like maybe McDavid's here for eight like hey I'm gonna pair up with these guys not a bad play yeah I just I can't reason it may not be the case but that's what's being reported I cannot reason an eight-year contract for Trent Frederick I mean he's on your third your third line. That's what he is, the third line player. It's Brandon Tanev, you're right.

It's the Nick Paul, it's the guys, who just signed Yanni Gorin? But he got it down to under three, I think. That's another thing. If it's four million a year, is that a big discount that you're getting for that kind of term? If it plays out that way, I don't know but money's gonna get splashed around like Bouchard's gonna get paid

You know, what do you think that number is gonna be is he gonna say don't even think of me showing up for less than 10 Well, I was on you know, you guys we talked a little bit about you know Is he one of the best defense in the league and I think in the hot? He has but yeah, He's in the mix. So, you know, in the mix means, what does that mean? Minimum 10? Yeah, it's minimum 10. If Darnell Nurse is making 925, it's minimum 10.

That's another problem they have. His nurse is a barometer and he's making 925. And Bouchard's gonna look at that, I would presume, and say, well, we'll start there, plus a million five, and now we can start negotiating. Yeah, and we can go up after a year-wise. Yes, that's the problem. Yeah, you're probably, I mean, the challenge, too,

for the winners is, I think it's at Kone Kulak, and I wanna say Wal-Min, or maybe it's one more year, they're all up after next year. Yeah, one year, yeah, one year away. They're not getting, those guys aren't getting younger. And I'm not saying they're old, but who's the next group coming in? Is it Emberson and Stetcher?

I think we know what Stetcher is. I think Emberson is probably a bottom pairing guy. There's nothing wrong with that. But they, and I know he's trying to win now, but if you have Conor for eight or nine more years, there's gotta be someone for him to play with, right? You gotta try to keep filling that back filling. They Don't have draft picks. So they've gone to Europe they've gone to you know, the colleges trying to find players that they can

Hopefully grow and develop or middle-aged jumped in so it like I think Stan Bowman's got a lot on his plate here They're hearing now three years from now five years from now I know no one wants to hear that we have Connor Leon, but you got to keep adding pieces to this group on the low on the cheap Strudy what was wrong with echo in the last three games? I know he was injured, but it looked like he had a knee replacement the day before the finals You know I Mean when you hear about how bad the injury was it sound sounds like it was a groin that was really, really torn badly.

That's what I heard. I don't know if it's true, but whatever. It was a bad injury. He probably came back sooner than he should have, and then you're limited. When you can't trust your strides, scary feeling. I was like I didn't have a lot of groin problems, but I didn't take very many hard strides, so it didn't really matter. But I know shoulders and backs, I had those issues.

It's scary when you're not sure, like when you have shoulders sore and you're not sure if it's going to hold up and you go and hit someone, that's a scary feeling. So translate that now to a push where you're not sure if you have 100% push or maybe a stride shorter. I don't, he was off. He was off for sure. And then they're trying to get people going, not to mention the pressure that Florida put on.

I think coaches around NHL need to study what Florida did. Paul Maurice gave them credit. He had that team so dialed in. The D-men, they skated so hard to get up the ice that if the owners tried to go up to the wing, the D-men were up there and pinching on those wingers right away. I mean, it was insane how fast they were getting up there. And they're not exactly as free as the foot, the D-men, but they worked hard to get up there. So, Coaching Clinic 101 by Paul Maurice, two claps and a move for him.

No kidding. Yeah, it was clinical, man. It's been clinical for the last couple of years in Florida. We'll see where it goes from here. yet it was clinical man it's been clinical for the last couple years in florida we'll see where it goes from here strata you gotta tell us quickly before you leave about subbing in for the autograph session how much power needed your guts well you know if people trying to be nice you know but i think at the call a k and i thought the people that get the call like a prompted her to try a player can't make up the autograph session

Can you do it? I'm like out do it like who is it for they're like Chris pronger. I'm like The fans are gonna hate me like they're literally gonna hate me So then I don't think I saw the tweet they put up about it and like the chirps like people said we can meet strutter It gets safe way strudwick at Safeway. You know, like, just literally. So, I walked in there. Strudwick at Safeway. Yeah, we can see Strudwick at Safeway.

Like, my favorite was, this is the worst thing Pronger's ever done to this franchise. So, like, it was so bad. And I wheel in there, I can see right away, people, like, they can see you walking up in their faces, they're like, Oh my God, oh my God. But was there any dad and a son or something that like didn't know Pronger wasn't there and then they just like appeared right at the beginning of the line and the dad was like, here son, here's Chris Pronger. And they were like, come on man. No, no, there's three young guys like 20 years old wheel up. They're like, Chris, it's so

great to meet you. I'm like, actually, I'm Jason, like, what? I feel like, did he pretend to hide it? And like, do you want a card autographed? It's like, Oh, that's so good. It was so humbling, guys. And I have a fairly sick skin, but that was so brutal. Chris Pronger, why do I have to fill in for like,

laddie's need or someone like that? But one of the greatest defensemen of the generation, I got to fill his shoes, no thanks. Yeah, maybe as an opener or someone like that. But one of the greatest defensemen of a generation, I got to fill his shoes, no thanks. Yeah, maybe as an opener or something. You know, like Struddy's coming out first and Prongs will be out later. But I have-

You got the fluffer. Yeah, exactly. Get the crowd worked up. I had to laugh. I was telling the guys yesterday, you text me and said there was some disappointed people and I could even read the disappointment in the text.

There was context in the text. I was laughing so hard. The worst part is my sister came with her. We got tickets for going to the game. We were both excited. I got the call. I didn't really know until I got there. She was like, ìWho are you subbing for?î I'm like, ìChris Pronger.î She's like,

ìOoh. Do you want to come with me?î She's like, ìNo. I'm going to get a drink.î She left me. She didn't want to watch this, the people's reaction, right? Like, well, that's not good. Honestly, like outside of Gretzky or Messier or something, it really couldn't be worse than that. No, it's the worst.

It couldn't be. It's like all coffee. You know, anybody, like, and I know where I rank. Like, I don't think I'm better than pronger or coffee But just give me a fighting chance even give me someone out like together Maybe me and like laddie smeed go together right and whoever like anyone just to soften the blow No, they just send me out there with a blindfold and a dart You're a good man strutting and you love the Oilers and you love Edmonton, and that's

what's important. Right? You performed your civic duty, and I think you should be commended for that. He didn't love me at that moment. He didn't love me then. Yeah, he does owe me one. He owes you one. Big time.

Big time. All right, Strud, thanks for doing this, buddy. Appreciate it. We'll talk to you guys after the pressers. Yes, presser season, officially on at Edmondson. Thanks, Strudy. There's Jason Strudwick joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Hey, this is Ruby Carr, the host of the podcast, Encore.

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