OverDrive - Wischusen on the Canada and USA matchup, the structure of USA Hockey and the outline of the tournament

Episode Date: February 15, 2025

ESPN NHL Commentator Bob Wischusen joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Canada and United States' showdown, the USA's dominance on the team, the build of the American roster, the best player matchups in the battle, Aaron Rodgers' departure from New York and more.

Welcome back to Kids Played, where we break down school stuff, kid style, so everyone gets it. Today's topic, class sizes. Let's go to a call. Emily, what's on your mind? Hi, I love learning, but I need more one-on-one time with my teachers. My classes are just so overcrowded. Oh, I know that feeling, Emily. It's like being lost in the crowd. What we need are smaller class sizes. Want to help support students? Visit nomore.ca. That's K-N-O-W-M-O-R-E.ca.

A message from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association. Let's head down to Montreal now and catch up with Bob Wyshuzin, the voice of the Four Nations Face Off on ESPN. He was on the call last night for the Americans and the Finns. Bob, good evening.

How are you? I'm doing great. How are you guys? Excellent, thank you. Why don't we start with this, a question I posed to Frank just moments ago. If Sidney Crosby is regarded as the best international hockey player for Canada, who would be the best international hockey player for the United States, in your opinion?

How about anybody named Kachuk? Yeah, Heath Kachuk. I believe he's the all-time goalie in best on best for the Americans, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, can I Yeah. Keith Kachuck? I believe he's the all-time goalie in best on best for the Americans, if I'm not mistaken. Can I make that just a family honor after last night? After last night, two goals a piece for Matthew and Brady. I don't see how you could possibly have any issue taken with that, right? Yeah. I mean, imagine being Keith and watching that, right?

I mean, that's got to be as good as it gets. So what's it like wrangling around ray ferraro on the streets of montreal uh... yeah right it's like being with the mayor if you can't get out of the building uh... you know so he's we uh... you know but every now and then obviously being able to talk uh... height jokes with ray is also fun to leave it is a pretty good sport we had him standing next to jake ottinger

last night on camera and it was like a mison and it was awesome i did see that on twitter of course were you know watching our canadian feed but got to see ray between the benches and always nice to poke fun at yourself something ray does well and you know what's your what's your big takeaway coming out of that game? I know the Kachaks were the big story Getting put together on the same line late in that second period The Americans just found a way to chip at that Finland team you see sorrows the wheels fell off for him like what's your what's your?

Big takeaway from the US after watching one game I mean I do think there was a little bit of luck involved for them to blow it open the way that they did even you know the first power play goal by matthew was you know glanced off of meek elis stick halfway there uh... but it felt watching that game just the ability level eventually that title wave was coming from the Americans and you

know we saw it in full force the first three minutes of the third period I mean you know Finland has some terrific players and they might have the best you know two-way player in the world in Barkov. But having said that, they really have to play a perfect game to match what the US has in terms of all of their firepower. And at some point, you also have to think that the injuries they have on defense are going to rear. And they did, I mean, you can only cover up

from missing three of your top six for so long as well. So to me it just heightens the anticipation for tomorrow night at 8 o'clock. And on that subject, Canada, United States, tomorrow 8 o'clock, the Bell Center, you'll be in the building. Bob, what type of atmosphere are you expecting and what is your level of anticipation? You've called some incredible sporting events over the years. Where does tomorrow night's anticipation rank for you? Yeah, this is a little different.

You know, I mean, obviously, you know, being here, right? Being in as hockey crazy a place as there could be and then add, you know, teams wearing their national sweaters and and the rivalry you know I haven't been a part of something like this and you know I'm sure Sean Macdonald be calling the game tomorrow night so I get to kind of just sit there and drink it all in with no pressure on on presenting it I just get to be a fan as well and and look at it and hear it and and can't wait. I mean, if nothing else, like it was as loud a building

as I can remember being in two nights ago when Canada was playing Sweden, when Mario walked out. And in the US, we were having this conversation, but we don't really have that. We don't have like a national sports hero or two or three. We were trying to come up with examples. I guess, you know, as he aged maybe like, you know, a Joe DiMaggio or a Willie Mays walking into a baseball stadium regardless of the rivalry, but there's still going to be some people that are Dodger fans that could never find themselves cheering for Willie Mays or you know

Dodger fans or Mets fans, whatever couldn't cheer for a Yankee But the fact that an entire nation can wrap their arms around guys the way that Canada does with their hockey heroes with Mar and then when you heard Sid get announced to the crowd and you know They're all wearing the maple leaf and it you know it it was just there was a different vibe in that building than something that we would probably have or that I've been experienced before. You know we were talking about the roster that the United States had at the World Cup of hockey in 2016 and just

how different the names are but of course the names are going to change over time, but the types of players that USA is producing now, guys like Austin Matthews, Jack Geichel, Jack Hughes, these highly skilled players, some of the best in the league, and it feels like it's been a changing of the guard for US players and how they operate. Do you get that sense as well when you kind of look back at the american rosters over the years and see you know where the skill level has gotten to but there's no question and obviously there was some skill back then

that the style of play was much more probably in like the kichok bill garran you know uh... mindset of just big, tough power guys that could play like a physical game and maybe, you know, play that style. But yeah, you're right. I mean, you know, the firepower that the US has, the goal scoring capability, the playmaking capability,

and you certainly saw some of that last night as well, you know, Matthews to Gensel. Yeah, I think it just shows the evolution of the sport in the States and this goes all the way back to probably, you know, Wayne Gretzky becoming a king and the expansion of the league and, you know, a young guy named Austin Matthews that goes to watch hockey when he's like, you know, six seven eight years old in Phoenix and Find that as his sport. So it is clearly expanded

not only Nationally where the players might come from But it's probably gotten even that many more kids who are in places in the u.s. Where hockey's always been a big thing But it's even bigger now. You know with all of the franchises touching all of the areas of the country. So you know when I was growing up I mean I'm from suburban New York City. I couldn't play ice hockey when I was a kid. There were no rinks.

Now there are rinks. I've got 10 rinks within like a 45 minute drive of my house and then you find out like I've got buddies who are in beer leagues in Miami and you know places to go play in Phoenix and so it's probably only natural that there would be this evolution of now the skill players being developed

in the U.S. You know the Hughes family alone, right? I mean it's we didn we have that fifteen twenty years ago bob was chosen our guest is part of the esp and broadcasting for the four nations face off canada u.s. a tomorrow night at eight o'clock is there a match up that you are particularly intrigued by

with regards to tomorrow maybe it's from the canadian perspective maybe it's from the american perspective bob the u f like the gt miller's of the world can find a way to do something to slow down mcdavid into me that that the best chance that the u f has in this game like can be because even for all of the skill that we're now talking about,

the US having, if you watch the two games, like to me, Canada is still faster. They're still more skilled. They're still more depth of the skill line to line to line. And that line with McDavid in the middle the other night, I mean, even in, at this level, still look different, right? He just looks different than everybody else out there. He's the guy that could potentially, you know, flanked by two of the other best skill players in the game. If he's got Marner and Reinhardt, I'm imagining that's still going to be the line

tomorrow night. And then that power play as well. I mean, as good as the U.S. power play is capable of being, the power play, I mean, U.S. has to stay out of the penalty box. If they're in the penalty box three or four times in this game, how would you not think they probably wouldn't give up a couple of goals? So how they defend McDavid, if that falls to a JT Miller as best they can to try and match and also can they not take? penalties because You know

We've got some guys that are pretty good at drawing and also pretty known for taking penalties in their NHL careers in this game I guess on both sides with Marsha end up there But you know the Kachucks find themselves drawing penalties But also both in the penalty box a fair amount that can happen tomorrow night it is interesting how the americans decided to build their team because there's a pretty notable successful players that don't make this roster rightly tage thompson's not there kohler caulfield was scoring a lot earlier in the season when they were

selecting the rosters he doesn't make the team but they went with guys that are kind of of the build of Billy Garan, right? Like big, strong, can play that rugged game. And we started to see that for the Americans. And as that started to happen, you can see their game come into life. And I would say with Canada in their first game, you know, clinical first period, highly fast paced period. And then there was a little bit of a lull for them

So they got to find that first period pace and I think the Americans they built some momentum Is that how you see, you know both these teams headed into Saturday night? Yeah, and I think the way that both teams were built they were both built with the idea of we're not just going to basically do like a fantasy draft and get every guy that has the most skill and the best statistics and throw them all Together we're going to put together a team Like you can see on the Canadian side and the American side the you know Kind of the foundation being set in the architecture and there are all there are obviously automatic guys

Right, like, you know Reinhardt McDavid McKinnon Sid You know like those guys are automatic, but there's a reason that Sorelle is on this team the same way There's a reason that Vincent Trotschek is on the American side right like you want gritty guys you want face-off specialists you want guys that are there to play a role and Not necessarily be the stats accumulating superstar, but be the guy that goes to the dirty areas and does the things that a team needs to have done.

And so, yeah, I mean, it is interesting. And some of the names that ought to kind of get left out that are on the bubble because they're not that type of player. They more mirror, you know, like a Tage Thompson is obviously going to be more mirror the goal scorers that the US already has. Well, I mean, Vincent Trotschek is 61% face off guy. You want a guy like that because there are so many situations that can come up where he's out there just to do that job. So yeah, I like the way that both sides have put together their teams. And then even talking to the coaches. You know, we talked to Mike Sullivan before the game yesterday and I've certainly heard John Cooper, I've had him a couple of times this year for ESPN, you know, for Tampa games and, you know, the conversation

even leading up to this turned to, you know, are you thinking about line combinations and who's going to play with who would really fascinating to see the combinations not only that they put together but already some in-game adjustments but putting the checkup the the kichak brothers together last night they they didn't start the game on the same line and bill and larkin moved up he wasn't with baldi and miller he ended up with them

so the coaches are even tweaking their lines that the games go with regards to the go-tending, of course here in Toronto in Canada, we're talking a lot about Binnington, the potential of going to Aiden Hill tomorrow night. I don't think there's any contemplation from going away from Connor Hellebuck. That first goal last night, certainly he would have loved to have back the Yoki Haru goal, but what is the level of confidence in Hellebuck, especially considering some of his playoff performances have left a little bit to be desired yeah i i he really wasn't

truly tested last night really how many true high danger chances were there last night now look i i can imagine if anyone tomorrow was given a game that they had to win

and they had a choice between Connor Hellebuck, Aiden Hill, Jordan Bennington that you wouldn't take Hellebuck. I mean he's kind of the runaway favorite right now to win his third, Desnon second in a row. How do you not take him? But you're right when a guy's 2-12 in the playoffs and these are as similar as you're going to get to an NHL playoff scenario, but not be the NHL playoffs, until he goes out there against, say, Canada tomorrow night and has one of those performances where he faces 45 shots

and only gives up three, because it could be that kind of game, you know, or two, and they win not around him but maybe because of him yeah there's gonna be a little bit of all right let's see him do it on this stage with the pressure on his shoulders because we haven't seen that from him when Winnipeg has needed him in the playoffs so I'm as fascinated as anyone to see how he performs tomorrow night because you know I mean yes the game was close going into the third period yesterday and yeah he had one fluttering shot from Yoki Haru that beat him but and I would put the stats up after the second I remember and it was you know like quality scoring

chances or something in a 2-1 game it was like the u s thirteen fourteen fifteen and them and had like five or six and i have you know he was not tested in anyway share perform last night the way he's going to be tested tomorrow night bobby urbic you're very busy man we appreciate your time we know how much you love the national hockey calling games for us bn of course you do a great job calling games for the new york jets as well of course the jets have been in the news of late this week announcing that aaron rogers will

not be back in new york what do you expect the jets to do a quarterback in what do you expect aaron rogers next career move to be aaron rogers is a coming back yeah breaking news breaking news yes i was so immersed in the four nations that I, yeah, I was able to avoid that one. Yeah, look, that was the number one question that everyone asked me, as you would with anyone surrounding the Jets over the past, you know, whatever, probably since Halloween, when it was kind of obvious they weren't going to go to the playoffs. What do you think?

You think Aaron Rodgers is going to come back next year? They're going to move on? And I kept saying the same thing over and over again. Well until they have a coach and a GM, like decision makers in place, and then they sit down and actually look at the other options that are out there, how can you answer that question? Well to their credit, the coach and the GM were put in place and they very quickly answered that question. And I definitely understand why they feel the need to move on.

It didn't work out and no one's more disappointed than I am not having the chance to call what I thought were going to be a couple of really fun seasons. But you know, they are now a brand new regime looking three, four, five, six years down the road and having a 41 going on 42 year old quarterback. He does not factor into anything beyond that best one year. So I'm still very curious because you still have to answer that question. But right now I bet like if the three of us and we got three or four more people sat around the table and everyone wrote down on a piece of paper, hey, name the Jets starting

quarterback on opening day, write it down on a piece of paper and let's slide it to the middle of the table. I bet we could turn six pieces of paper over and all six pieces of paper might have a different name. So I have no idea what they're going to do. Part of it is the draft. They've got the seventh pick. Now you're hearing rumors that the Giants with the third pick, they are a team that definitely needs a quarterback. They might make a run at Matthew Stafford. Well if they make a

run at Matthew Stafford, are they also going to draft a quarterback to sit behind Matthew Stafford? Or are they thinking he's going to be their guy for the next three, four, five years? Could one of these guys drop to seven? If four five years could one of these guys dropped a seven if all of a sudden one of these guys dropped a five or six with the jet of the firepower to move up a spot or two and go and do they even have a belief in chidder sanders or cam ward there's still a lot of balls in the air

for them but i do understand philosophically why they felt the need to move on from aaron yeah i think erin glenn looking for a clean slate and moving rogers from the equation gives him just that bob thanks so much for the time great to have you on enjoy tomorrow night man and both frank and i are jealous that uh... we will you're going to be there in the enjoy the festivities and sadly we will not but uh... be a lot of great hockey to watch and i'll be a big part of the free sbm

thank you for this yeah i'm looking forward to it and thanks for bringing up the jet by the way that was my time you know well one of the other chance and i don't want any of the info well i know rogers signed he's like all the sudden he's a jet span i know what knows no one can confirm bob if he was actually a jet span previous to that i wasn't i wasn't i'd got on the air and rogers bandwagon because my co-host bob carlo coli a couple loves the buffalo bill so i

thought it'd be great for our shows content i was just then he was a bill's fan i thought it would go great for me because rogers and they tears the killer of the four snaps in and i want to know about that will be the stick with us i'm i'm with you know i am not a change in the world or not i am aligned with you bob was chosen for the rest of my life tonight's i appreciate we thought you and the art all right thank you bob and try it

bank that's bob issues in