Jason Strudwick

That was a huge conversation.

Harbaugh.

wanted to have direct access to the owner so he could help direct what was going on in and around the different levels of management, whether it was sons or friends or in the case of the manager at this point.

And give them momentum into the weekend, right?

I mean, right now, what are they, eight points behind the Red Wings?

They lose tonight.

Ten points, that's a long way home.

I know there's other teams that can pass, but that's a long way home.

You get it down to six with a game at hand, okay, you have some momentum heading into your weekend.

Oh, yeah.

This is a chance.

If I'm in that Red Wings dressing room or as a coach, I'm like, guys, this is a chance to really push someone down that's looking for a leg up.

They're trying to find a reason to believe they can get in.

And the Leafs have been playing better as well, but they're not in the playoffs.

And we have eight games between now and the start of the Olympics, then a quick break, and then you're back at it, and then you've got the trade deadline.

Their team has to make some decisions.

I think I'd want to come out with the Red Wings and bring my absolute best to step a little harder down this team's throat and push them down.

Because 10 points to catch us, that's a lot of points to catch if you're Red Wings between them and the Leafs.

Yeah, no, you didn't leave me much to chew on there, but I'll try.

So when I look at the Leafs, I see a team, I think, that's trying to flex up in the last couple of years.