OverDrive - Strudwick on the Oilers playing without McDavid, Draisaitl's Hart Trophy outlook and the Canucks' team issues

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

Got Yer Back Podcast Host and Former NHLer Jason Strudwick joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, the Oilers' roster construction, Connor McDavid's suspension and the team without him in the lineup, Leon Draisaitl leading the Hart Trophy, the Canucks' team conundrum, J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson's performances, John Klingberg playing in Edmonton and more.

Stock market returns can vary dramatically from year to year, but when analyzed over time, a clearer trend emerges. How are your stocks performing? What does the average return look like? Maybe you're not into stocks yet. You need a money guy. Kelvin the Money Guy can tell you which stocks performed best over the last 10 years, his predictions for 2025, and why the market always performs best during the first year of a presidential election. Call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca. Joining us now on the Maple Toyota Hotline, here's our main man, our good buddy. I'm sure he's very emotional right now. Jason Strudwick joining us. Everyone okay out there, Struddy? How has ever holding up with khan a mcdavid suspended for two more games all you know we we accept the punishment right i think it may be a little heavy-handed but uh... you know you just

gotta take it and move on they cross-check someone that we can debate what happened before that i mean the way the carl and attacked karnick david where never knew the way I remember Noodle's attacking a hot dog guy when there was one hot dog left at 2 a.m. So similar, but I mean, the crime itself, I mean, it was at least two games. Three I thought was a little heavy,

but I don't know, it's one more day off for a guy who's played a lot of hockey. What do you think about the statement strategy? Why did the Oilers feel the need to come out with a statement? Yeah, it reminded me of the statement that Jimmy Butler put out when he came back from the Miami Heat, through his agent,

just said, I'm back. I don't think it really served a purpose. I don't really know what you're doing. And there was a lot of people in this market that wanted the GM, Stan Bowman, to come out and unleash on the lead but you can only pull that so often. Maybe you hold that back for the playoffs or later in the season. So yeah, I don't know, maybe there's frustration from the owner or I just I don't think it really says any, it didn't really do anything to me.

It doesn't change anything of what happened. Well, what it sets up for now is a fourth line guy gets suspended and he's sitting there saying, when is my statement gonna be issued? Why do you not care as much? Yeah, now you gotta issue a statement for the 13 forward who swings his stick in an exhibition game. And it's like, oh man, we started with the statements and i guess if we

did it for mcdavid when i'm down they really hope that bastard gets ten games right now i feel that this week they were at the bottom of the you know just get them out of here for ten more games but what was the read on the nachos being thrown on the ice last night was was that was that you was that that someone you're aware of? Is that a protest? Why are nachos being thrown on the ice in Edmonton?

I'll say I'm too cheap. I take a $20 bag of nachos. I'm not throwing that out there, right? If I brought my own in it would be a little less. But yeah, you know what? I've seen a lot of things thrown on the ice. Jerseys, you know, squid or octopus, whatever octopus, whatever, all different things, beers, quarters, but I've never seen a full plate of nachos hit the ground.

And then guys keep playing. And Perry shot me, that was an absolute bomb, turned it back 15 years on his shot. But I don't really know, who's the guy that says I'm gonna throw it out there? How drunk do you have to be to think you're gonna throw, and I bet you they weren hit those probably by the bank hold this for a second they got mad and just talked it

into you know it onto the i think the middle sense of all now it is such a stupid decision to feel like it's going to be on the ice is clearly a full plate of nachos into your point those are expensive man like those are those are not cheap and what do you think you're accomplishing with that play it is kind of amazing that Perry scored there like you were talking about earlier noodles like the fact that Thompson was like hey there's something clearly on the ice and he rips one top shelf but anyway go ahead noodles study do you think dry

saddle is the heart winner right now? Yeah, you know what? He's been so good. He just, I mean, you look at everything, you know, and people don't love it, but plus minus, I mean, he's right up there. He's scoring a ton. He's playing with different line mates, you know, all the time. He's rotating through and helping those guys do well.

I think he is, and he's, it's just like he decided I'm gonna be an absolute beast this year and I'm gonna do everything I can to help the team win a Stanley Cup. I'm not suggesting he hasn't done that before, but just the way that he's playing and he's very business-like and just, I'm here to help the team win.

I'm just, that's all I'm trying to do. And he's been everywhere. I mean, he's scoring, he's winning face- He's the only thing he doesn't do is kill penalties And that's because they can't play him 30 minutes a night So they have to pull it back a bit, but he's he's playing Unreally unreal well, and I look at some of the other guys, you know, Kipras off unfortunately or Capri soft story His kids minutes have come down obviously because he's been hurt But I I don't know how he's not the clear favorite right now for the Heart Trophy guys.

I agree. I think he should be. I think as of now it should be his, basically his award to lose. Now, McKinnon's been very, very good this year, clearly. Halibuck has been great. We've talked about some defensemen recently, like if Vancouver gets it on the rails and gets in and Quinn Hughes is playing the way he's playing could he get in that conversation I don't think Zach Warren ski will quite get to that level but Warren skis been outstanding for Columbus but I mean we discussed McDavid in his role in this and I guess I would ask you to clarify that strutty like if you see dry sidles the clear-cut guy how does that apply to McDavid's pursuit of it? What would McDavid

have to do once he returns from the suspension to make you think, oh actually I've changed my mind here, McDavid has been more valuable over the course of the season than Dry Settle? Yeah, well I'll start by saying this. I don't think that those guys are really interested in the personal awards. They've done it all right. So I think that they just want the best version of each of them and then the whole team so they can hopefully get to what they really want, which is Stanley Cup. But for Connor, I mean, he's so dynamic and he's so, his ability to score and his ability to cover so much ice. I mean, I think he'd have to go on a real scoring tear and he's up there for scoring so, but I just don't think that's their focus this year. I truly don't think

that they're worried about that. I think that they're thinking what's the best way I can contribute to this team to help them make the best version of who we are. And when I say we, the entire team that they're on. So yeah, I just, I think if Leon wins it, Connor will be happy. if Connor were able to you know go go nuclear like we've seen do so many times and he wins it I don't think they'd really care unless sitting beside that trophy is the Stanley Cup. Stroud you're a little closer to the Vancouver situation out there what do you make of what's going on like kind of bizarre how good they were last year they came close to taking down

Edmonton, and now they are where they are. What do you make of that scene in Van? Well, when I played on teams, you always wanted to keep your best players. And there were some, you don't want to get rid of them. I wasn't thinking, let's get rid of Jaromir Jagger, because I don't like the idea of passing the team.

OK, so let me ask you this. What would happen back in your time playing when two players were beefing would it just be like suck it up and play on the same team and that's that or what well I think that you try to find a mediator right so and I don't think the coach is necessarily the guy so you know who is the mediator there in Vancouver to talk between these two gentlemen? Is it the captain Quinn Hughes? I don't know that he's maybe that guy.

Who's the veteran? Who's the veteran? Is it Myers? Is it Carson Soucy who's going to mediate between these two guys? I don't know that there's anyone there that's like a Jerome McGinn who's been around for years and he's the one who's going to mediate this disagreement between these two guys because when they're both playing well, they're a very good team. But when they're not, and then if one leaves, you hear some of their turns potentially or

maybe coming back, like, yeah, those are some pretty good players. But JT Miller to me is the heartbeat of that team. When I watched him in the playoffs, specifically last year, the way that he played, he was everywhere. And the team, the fans chant his name. And Pedersen, I don't, the way that he played, he was everywhere. And the team, the fans chant his name, like he and Pedersen, I don't see him in that way. He's a very skilled player and he could do a lot of things, but he's not the heartbeat guy. So I would like to think that Pedersen or whoever can say, okay, we got to figure this

out so we can move forward. But it's a longer drags out and you hear the rumors, you're like, maybe it's not going to work out and then you know did you unload them in midseason you get the most value if you do and what does the team look after so everyone's looking around like okay great well he's not here anymore but we could sure you the guy like that you know it's yeah it's kind of rough you know and you know not to poke fun but like you know Nazem Qadri when he's in Toronto you know yeah there's you know suspensions we know some things that

happened but he's a pretty important part of this the colorado cup teams but what are we done for toronto if if you would have been there with the leafs and again i'm not trying to be on to to rip off old wounds here but that's kind of how it feels with j t miller yet kind of feels like the guy you're describing that veteran presence that could mediate is JT Miller.

But he's the one involved in all this. That's kind of the concern is he can't look in the mirror and do this. You need someone else. And we were talking about a last hour study. They're up 2-1 in the second period against Buffalo at home and they lose last night. Now the way the West is setting up, it's very different than the East where in the East, there's a lot of positioning up for grabs. Both wild card spots are up for grabs.

The third spot, the Atlantic up for grabs. It feels as if, you know, the West, there's a lot more separation and there's kind of a race for one spot. You know, it feels like only the second wild card spot. And if you're Calgary, you're having ups and downs and your expectations weren't that high, yet no one else has really taken off. Vancouver hasn't done it. St. Louis hasn't done it.

I don't think Utah is really in the hunt. Maybe it's a scenario where Calgary, and I think they probably should be feeling this way, if they can just plug along and keep their head above water, they might back door into the playoffs. Well, think about the perspective from both teams. So for the Cavalry Flames, everyone expects them to be near the bottom, and here they are fighting for a playoff spot. So they're excited about the situation they're in. Whereas the Canucks, I'm guessing they felt they could contend for the top spot in the Pacific Division.

And now, you know, they beat the Odors the other day, they lost last night to the Sabres, they played the Odors against Saturday, so, you know they beat the others other day they lost last night to the Sabres they played the orders against Saturday so you know a pretty important game but let's say they lose that game there's a little more space well and then you got this whole you know personality issue going on in that dressing room apparently you know where do you go from there because it feels like you're losing so you know both teams are kind of close to each other in points but a way different feeling in that dressing room. And I would rather be in the Flames dressing room, excited that we're in this spot and

you can't wait to get to the rink with Canucks and you're like, God, we're not playing very well, we're not happy with each other, we want to trade somebody. And it feels like you're just constantly, you know, under the gun and not performing the way you or anyone else expects you to perform. Yeah. And this is an example of the Canadian markets being different than southern markets. We talked about it earlier this week.

Braiden Point last week out of nowhere was basically suspended for a game. And I'm sure in Tampa it wasn't like breaking news, everyone buzzing about it. Yet if you're in Vancouver and you're having a slide like this and it's such a tumultuousuous like dramatic season, you can't escape it. That market is going crazy. Dude, can you imagine if a top player in Canada like was a healthy scratch because of them?

That would be like CTV like headline news. Breaking breaking news and then it would follow that player around like what's up with this guy? Is he committed? Is it you know, there's all these different layers to it. And that's the thing about what Vancouver's dealing with right now is they just, they can't escape their own market because everyone is just on them constantly. And I don't blame the market.

This isn't me suggesting I would feel any differently if I lived there or worked there or if this was the Leafs and it was happening in Toronto. Of course, it's going to be a constant story. Yet there's no escaping a strut. You've played there. It's a rabid fan base and a crazy media. Yeah. I mean, with all the good, sometimes comes some challenges, right?

That's the great thing about playing the Canadian market is that when you're rolling, everyone loves you. When it's not, there's a lot of criticism because everyone is interested in what you're doing. For that group, they have to find a way to move forward and whatever that looks like because they're a better team than they're showing. They've got a lot of talent in there, but they're not getting it done. You look at their media avails, they try to downplay what's going on, but those media

avails are so awkward. A couple of weeks ago, JT Mellon and JT said, ìI can bring Peterson out here and tell you everything is okay, but his body language and his face tells me different.î It's really, really awkward. I don't know how it's going to end, but I cannot see you getting full value for JT Miller or Peterson, whatever, the trade down, whatever you wanna call it, I just, I can't see it happening. But are they that desperate to move someone out

to change the dynamic that they're willing to do that, and you know, quote unquote, lose a trade? I think that Peterson's getting a bit of a hall pass with all this JT Miller talk, like he scored the other night, but he just, he's not a dominant player. Not as of right now, anyway. Not even close.

No, he used to be like must watch TV. Pedersen in the end. I thought he was going to have battles with McDavid year after year and he was at that level. He's not close to that and I don't know what the hell is up with him. Well, you go back to even when was you really himself prior to last Christmas? Was that kind of the last time? Yeah. I'd say that was the last time. That's a long time ago strut that that is so you know well you

know after the playoffs series it was the knee you know we the knee was the issue now I'm ready to go this year now he's not really saying but he's not he plays well when Miller's on the lineup or gets more points like at some point you've just got to go and play and you've got you know you don. And you got, you don't always love your coach, you don't always love your teammates, but as a professional and as a member of that team, you have to bring your best every night. So his play has been wobbly for over a year now.

And so is that a drop off, is that, you know, so you talked about the pressure of the contract, getting a deal done, like you know you're gonna be a millionaire 20 times over,. I guess you just want to get it done. But if I'm a team and I'm like, bud, we need more out of you. I don't care if you and JT can't sit together and share some jello on the plane. Stradi, are you making a comeback to play with John Klingberg? Yeah, you know what? I don't want to break the news here, but they asked me first. I said, sorry guys.

They asked me first. I'm pretty busy and I think this guy deserves opportunities a little bit younger. You know, I sometimes I put on Instagram some of my moves that I still have against the 10 year olds and it's impressive guys. It is. It is really impressive. But they chose, not chose, but I pushed it over to Klingberg. Give this guy a chance.

He's had a big fight to get back. Okay. I like that. D to D pass. Look at you. Always the supporter. Always out there to support the offensive guys and pushing Klingberg into the right direction.

Do we know what his status is going to be with Edmonton? Obviously this is more of a long-term play I would assume, depth for the playoffs, but how much would you expect he's going to play and how much opportunity is there for Klingberg to maybe move into a top four position with the Oilers? This is a huge reward with little risk for the Edmonton Oilers. If this guy can come in and find his game, because he's healthy. He says he's healthy, he hasn't felt when he's at the least, he felt he couldn't move as well, and now he feels like he's moving really well.

And if he can come in and play beside Darnall Nurse, it would be massive. And the happiest guy in the orders if that happens, is Leon Dreisteadel. Because Connor McDavid gets passes from Evan Bouchard, and Ekholm, and no disrespect to the other D-men on that team but Klingberg can deliver the pass at the time and at the right place it's super skilled players like and you understand that oh dog like yeah

there's no doubt I can make a tape to tape pass at the best of them, but giving it to them when the Yeah, it's at a 12% clip though It's why I'm still I was a career 10% passer, but you know what I mean? So you can get it to the guy at the right time. That is what Clean Bird does really, really well. So to answer your question, I think he's going to play and he's going to play a ton. I think they're going to put him in there.

Maybe the first couple of games kind of start him slowly, but then get him in there and say, what can he do? What can he do? He's been skating for over a month. He's got a skating legs back, not game legs. But if they can solve that or fix that problem with this guy, that it would be massive, absolutely massive. Now, I don't know what the percentage is, but you got to take a shot at it.

Yeah. And again, you didn't have to give up any assets. We were talking about Jonathan Taves last hour. It's not that different. I mean, Taves played at the end of 2023. Klingberg barely played last year. Like he, he patched, you know, some stuff together and what did he play 15 games and it wasn't very good and he was underwater really early, had

a significant surgery. Now he's trying to jump on a moving train. It's asking a lot of a veteran but you're getting them for free. You just got to pay him. There's no assets going out the door. So and he's got a good team. veteran but you get them for free you just gotta pay up there's no assets going out the door so and he's got a good team you know Edmonton's in a good place Vegas is kinda hit a wall here strut like uh... i'm sure i could tell you Toronto the eyes are on the top seed the Atlantic i don't see

why that would be the case in Edmonton like why can't they win that division their point back as it currently stands it's not going to keep her good don't sleep on the Kings like that. They're big, and oh by the way they're getting a Hall of Fame defense in back, right? So that would make, because they've got some younger D men on that group that you bolster with a 25-minute or like Drew Doughty. That's a pretty nice thing to bolster with.

So I think that maybe out east they get lost a little bit but that is a I've watched them quite a few times they are good and that Quinton Byfield keeps figuring out I think he's gonna be a really good player but Vegas you know Vegas is Vegas that that what scares me about a playoff series against Vegas is the skill scathing a billion size of their demon they are humongous absolutely humongous you know even Washington look at that. Their whole team in They are humongous. Absolutely humongous. You know, even Washington, look at that. Their whole team in Vegas is humongous strut.

They're big. They're big, but trying to get to the net, you know, and trying to get through that, those big guys that can move and pass the puck to get to the net, that's tough. That's really tough. So, you know, the Pacific is pretty, you know, those top three are all pretty good teams. Absolutely. Alright Strati, we'll leave it there. Good stuff pal, good catching up with you as always. We'll do it again soon. Yeah, we'll talk to you guys soon. Happy New Year, boys. I love the late New Year's greetings, so happy New Year.

Right back at you. There's Jason Strudwick, former Euler and NHLer and part of the Got Your Back podcast. Legacy out there. Legacy. Joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline, count on Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota. Trade in your old tires, buy a new set and get $40 back. Visit mapletoyota.com.