OverDrive - Ferraro on Marner playing the Maple Leafs, his Golden Knights' tenure and the Canucks' big changes

Episode Date: January 15, 2026

ESPN Hockey Analyst Ray Ferraro joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the NHL, Mitch Marner playing his former team for the first time against the Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews leading Toronto's hot run, Vegas' winning team, Connor McDavid's incredible season, the Rangers in a skid and more.

Here's Ray Ferraro joining us, possibly from Top Golf. Ray, where are you right now? No, they've closed down that section. Oh, okay. They've just the one section, the one stall, where it was at. Dude, I would be shocked at the police tape around that stall. You know, I did this interview thing about you guys, you know, your show and, you know, awesome, how awesome. awesome it is. And the one comment that was all the way through is you just never really know

like what the topic's going to be. And at no point today, I'm thinking we're going to talk to Rangers a bit, the Canox, the Leafs game here in Vegas. At no point did the underpants cam ever enter my mind as a possibility. And I do feel I should tell you guys, I was flying down here. there's a whole bunch of Leaf fans that were on my flight from Vancouver to Vegas yesterday. They're flying from Toronto to Vancouver to Vegas. And they're all saying, oh, I love you when you're on overdrive. Love those guys. Those guys are great every day.

Four times the last thing I heard, Hayes is a fraud. And the guy walked past me. It is unbelievable. I can't escape. Hayes is a fraud. I'm like, you know, of course, I said, yes, he is. Absolutely. As you should.

I thought that would have died like just a quick. Never. No, people still, they're like, yeah, and I'm like, no,

it's like a criminal record. You just can't get away with it. You can't get away from it. Yeah, I'm curious about the amount of leave fans because, you know, Vegas, he hears stories,

Vegas is quiet. You know, it's maybe tourism's down. We all know what's going on politically. Maybe Canadians won't want to get down there. I think a bunch of leave fans. It is. It is crazy how quiet it was.

In the airport, we went off for dinner last night, Like there's comparatively nobody here. Really? So what do you anticipate with Leaf fans? Like do you think there'll be a bunch of them? Like how would you compare it to maybe previous games? I do.

I do think there'll be lots. I think it's just as easy to come to a game somewhere else as it is to get tickets in Toronto, right? So like this one guy sitting beside his son's like 30 years old. And they were coming down for three days, going to play some golf, going to see the Leafs, play. Like, people are doing maybe that type of trip, but I think there'll be a lot of blue and white jerseys in there tonight. Yeah.

Well, what do you make of the game, Ray? I mean, I don't know how it's going to be for Mitch Marner. Is it going to be weird for him? I feel like it's going to be more weird for him in Toronto next week as opposed to tonight's game. But what do you expect, you know, Marner's first game against his former organization, all of that? awkward i think you know he had you guys all went back and played against somebody that you you know played previously for he has had such a you know a major part well all of his life has

been really kind of around the maples and in toronto and now he's got a completely different life out here and he's had a good start but an odd start you know now he's playing center a lot uh this month they you know they lost william carlson pretty much for the year Jack Eichael was out for a long time. And, you know, so he's in the middle. He's in a new conference. He's living in a new place. I think, you know, like Drager was telling me it's snowing where you guys are.

It's beautiful today here. Yeah. Right. Like, everything is different for him. I think it's going to be really awkward. He said yesterday, he was asked about the game today. And he said, you know, I didn't really think about it, you know, which doesn't mean I have to believe that he hasn't thought about it.

because of course he has. Like, of course you're thinking about it, right? Like, I just, I remember, like, going out for warm up and you're, you don't really want to look at your old teammates, but you kind of do. And then you see one of your buddies and somebody fires a puck off your feet. And, you know, like, there's a, it's just odd. It's just odd. The two teams, they'll kind of mirror each other.

They both kind of stumbled around for months, you know, for different reasons and for whatever the reason might be. And now they both. seemingly kind of, you know, Vegas won five in a row and the Leafs, you know, been on this great run outside the Utah game. So it kind of feels like they're where they thought they would be like playing wise right now. Yeah, for sure. And I mean, the Leafs, they got to get something going here. Like their travel has not been extensive, right? Like you mentioned, they were 8-0-2 after that Colorado game, which was a great game, like thoroughly entertaining

game. They played really well. Then in Utah, you know, they got smoked and it was, it was ugly. There's no disputing it. There's no sugar-coating it. But they still got to go through Western Canada. They still got to go through California. They got a lot of three-and-four nights in three different cities coming up. I mean, it's going to be a challenge, but they are playing much better. Do you have one thing in particular that has changed, in your opinion,

when you watch them play today compared to a month and a half ago? Matthews, I don't really care whatever else has been going on or what's better now and the goal tendings been really good. And, you know, they're getting a little more play out of the edges of their lineup like that, you know, before Robertson got banged up, like that line had given them a little bit of something. All those things matter. The power play's been better, of course, since they changed maybe their approach when Savard was let go. But we've talked about this before.

I don't know sometimes if those guys realize how outsides. their importance is to their team when they're that good. But when Matthews was average, the team has no chance. The other guys can do what they want, but he's a star for a reason. And he does things other people can't do. You know, the goal he scored, I guess it was in Colorado when he drags it into his feet and just rifles it over the goalie, over minor shoulder. Like, there's not 10 guys in a league that can do that.

They're not five guys that can do that. And so to me it all circulates around him. I mean, there's lots of reasons. There's never one thing, but, man, he changes the complexion of everything. Ray, how much have you caught Marner in Vegas this year? Like just your overall impression of, I think he's playing, what is it, playing second line center kind of. Second line center just is overall how it's gone for him.

It's funny. It's not, it's different because he doesn't play 24 minutes a night. He doesn't kill penalties like he was killing penalties in Toronto. Cassidy coach is a different game. It's more like a top six bottom six thing. And so like their bottom six guys kill penalties. And the top end guys get out at the tail end of the penalty kill. So he loses a little bit of the flow there.

I do think he doesn't look as bold with the puck for certainly, early in the year, but all of that is, I think, probably tied to change. Like, oh, I'm trying to think, because noodles, you would be different as a goalie, but, like, you were always in the east, right? Oh, like you, yeah, like, you never got out west. Right? So when I went conference to conference, I'm like, my God, the games are totally different. Like, it was just, you know, there are different teams that the style was different. the, I don't know, it just, it was all different. And then I'm sure when he got out here and he went on his first road trip, he went,

holy, this is not like the East. So I think he's been, he's been okay, but they want or need, I would think, another level from him, like a lot of their guys. Like the two guys that have stood out for them are Stone and Eichel. Like I saw this stat, which I couldn't believe. Stone has, he's played 29 games this year. He's got a point in 27 of them. Wow.

But that's astounding. The guy always looks like he just got out of bed. His jersey's ripped. His gloves are falling off. He's, you know, he's all over the place. He's freaking good. He's really good. And so if they can make this connection with Hurdle and Marner,

and Dorofiev has been quiet as well. like they all of a sudden they they're pretty dangerous. They could be a really dangerous team. Well, and in the West, that's where I was going to go. Yeah, well, I was going to say, you got, you know, Colorado, you got Minnesota, you've got obviously Dallas and then Edmonton, and you know, you mentioned Stone and what he's done.

McDavid is going for 21 straight games with a point tonight. He's got 46 points in his last 20 games. Your guy. My guy, I've always done what I can to inspire him. you get caught up in recency bias, but is this the best he's ever played? Is this the best he's ever looked? Where does he stand for you compared to McKinnon? I can't believe you're even asking.

I think it's a hard hit. Ray, just let me mention this. Before the season, Hasey said he's never getting 100 points. I know. Did say 100 points. You did. He's never going to get a hard trophy again. I didn't say that.

I said he'd never get, he'd never reestablish his own personal records. I didn't think he'd get 153 points again, 64 goals again. And I said, I'm not sure he wins a heart because only one guy can do it. And it's later in his career, you know, the Olympics, this was before he signed his contract. He back-to-backed cops. I'm like, I don't know. Like, it's going to be tough. And he's playing pretty well right now.

And it's, and I'm hearing about it. I do enjoy the, it went from 100 points to 153 points. Somewhere in there, exactly. Is the truth, right? Right. Details. Do you know what this looks like to me? The clearest recollection I have is when Mario was doing this.

Like every game, it was not just one point, it was three points. And he'd miss a big chunk of time with his health or his back, and then he'd come back and get 31 points in 12 games. And this is what it feels like. I actually, I do this thing now. When I see Edmonton, you know, I check the score. It's four or two. and I scroll down slowly through the app

and I'm trying to see slowly how many points he's got. I don't know why I do this. It's kind of entertaining to me. I'm like, oh, he's got one. Oh, look at that. He's got three. Like, it's, who's more valuable? Well, on the sheer basis of what most valuable is,

I would say McDavid is because McKinnon's got a way better team around him. Like, I would think that, That's fair to say. I mean, Colorado's lost four games. Man, I don't know. If you stick me with either one of those guys, I'd be pretty happy on my team. But what he's doing now is just, like, nobody even comes close to this. It bothers me that, well, no, actually, that's not your take, Hayes.

So I like it. Well, when he only gets one point, I'm like, man, that's a win for me. You know, only one. He only had one tonight. He's slowing down. This is good. This is good. Go ahead, noodles.

So how many points does he have now in this stretch? Oh, he's got 46 in his last 20 games. 46 points in 20. And they got the Islanders tonight. That feels like 6-4. He'll have three tonight. What does a 50-point score make this in the NHL this year? Probably six.

Like a guy that gets 50 points. Six. Yeah, maybe 6 million. Six million. He's done it in a quarter of a season. Crazy. Crazy. Crazy.

Yeah. No, Ray, I'll give Conn, context to what Hayes was talking about. Because I, at the starting of the season, said he was going to have a career season because he didn't have a contract, and I thought he was just going to go nuts. And Hayes said he's never going to do 153 again. I think he'll have a tough time with the heart. So I believe I kind of put a quarter into Hayes and now always jumped on to it.

So, I mean, that's the context for it. But, you know, at the end of the day, I do believe McDavid has found another, like, ridiculous level. On the other side of the spectrum, though, Ray, where are we at with Rangers? Where are we at with Vancouver? Some of these teams that you maybe thought were going to be better and are not. Well, Saturday I was in Boston for that 10-2 game. That when they, somebody, somebody tweeted out, only the Rangers can go back to the locker room after the first period down to one and have to come back and they're down three.

because the period had ended. They reviewed a goal with a play with 30 seconds left that went in. They had to come back on the bench and they were down another goal. That defense, like Adam Fox wasn't playing, right?

Right. That defense in that game was the worst defense I'd seen this year. It was staggering how bad it was. It was probably the same last night, Ray, with Ottawa in town because it was a truck. what they were doing in their own zone.

So I don't, I just don't, I don't understand how the wheels have totally come off there. I, I thought they would be a little bit better than, than average. I, I had them right on the cusp, I think, just outside the playoffs. I just, I didn't like the construction of their D. I thought, like, they're going to have a tough time getting out of their end. They have one puck mover, and that's Fox, and he's hurt.

they're a mess man they really they look dejected on well it was 10 too of course they looked dejected but like they looked like there was no fight no pushback no no energy they just came on the ice went off the ice it was just like a merry-go-round right and then they sit down and boston would score again like the one kid there who's nadinov got four goals you'd think at some point like somebody's going to be angry enough to run into the guy. And it didn't happen. He had four goals. Zaka had three goals. Minton had two goals. Like it was a point night. Posternak had six assists.

They're in a spot too because Panarin is a free agent at the end of the year. And it's apparently not very easy to get a team that he would move to. So if he leaves for nothing at the end of the year, if that's kind of where it gets to, that's an enormous loss. He's led them in scoring six years in a row. As for, you know, so I don't know how they fix that, to be honest with you. Vancouver, I mean, it's your 32nd for a reason. You know, noodles, were you doing the game in Ottawa the other night? Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, I mean, they give up all kinds of shots. their defense is a bunch of kids. They're, you know, Bester's got one goal in 28 games. I think, and I remember this from when I was in Atlanta, the older you get, when things don't go well, it's like your soul gets pulled out of you.

You lose your fight. And so, like, Brock Bessor's got one goal in 28 games. The hardest thing to do, I think, in the league, is to score. The easiest thing to control is to work, and he's lost that connection. He's just standing there. And so their veterans, everybody focuses on Pedersen.

He's been more than fine. It's not him. They're just not very good. They need draft picks. They need young picks to come in and to, and they'll accumulate them. It's, you know, whenever they get, whenever the deal shows up for sure would,

whenever, you know, they'll get something, I assume, for when Bluger gets back in the lineup, they can, you know, Would they look at trading DeBrascott's been out there a bit? You know, you hate to throw names out, but basically everybody. Yeah. Anybody is tradable there.

And unfortunately for them, there is no quick, there's no quick way to do it. They got to get younger. They got to get faster. They've got to get more skilled. And then they've got to get some experience once they get younger. You know, so that's the road in front of them, I think. Yeah, that's, yeah. That's trouble, but, you know, they haven't been great for a while.

They had that one great year a couple of years ago. And I think I get the impression Canucks fans are kind of ready for it because they feel like they've maybe been through it to an extent for a while. It's funny, though, Hayes, they're ready for it, but then all they do is bitch about how bad the team is. Yeah. Like the only way you can go through it is to be that bad. Remember, you know, I don't know, how many years is this for Matthews, but remember the year before? Yeah, worst team in the league.

How bad that was? Yeah, awful. And it was terrible to watch. But you have to hope, like, Toronto was fortunate that number one pick was him. Like San Jose sucked and the number one pick was Celebrini. Like, they got lucky because that was, those are generational standout players. Yeah, if you get someone like the Langer's had the number one pick and they got. Exactly.

That was just going to sail. Like, what are you going to, you're the worst team and, you know, that's what the number one pick is. there's a lot of luck to the whole thing too. You can do it perfect. Big time. Oh, my God. That was a tough one. It was a tough one.

Yeah. And I'm glad that Edmonton never got a chance to get a redo on that, right? Like after they wasted that pick, never again would they win a lottery? I can't believe. Hall, Nugent Hopkins, Yakopov, and then they get McDavid. Four lottery wins in like six years. And in the midst of that, and in the midst of that, they get. dry sidle at number three.

Exactly. Waiting for them. Not bad. Pretty good. Pretty good stuff. All right, Ray, well, enjoy yourself tonight. It should be electric in Vegas. You know, I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out, and we'll do it again soon. Thank you for this. Now, are you on the panel tonight?

Is that why you're dressed out? Oh, yeah. I'm in here on the panel with Owen drags, the whole nine. It's going to be rock star stuff this evening. Yep. His underpants can is alert. You got lucky. Just be, you're, you got lucky, though, Hayes, the game. a little earlier tonight.

Otherwise, it'll be late for you. Enjoy yourself. Okay, boys. Enjoy it. So good to talk to you. We'll talk to you soon, hey, guys? You got it. Great seeing you. There he is, our buddy, Ray Ferraro, VSPN. Calling the game tonight.

I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies. We're going in depth on football and a lot more. We'll pull back the curtain on Life and the Pros and dive deeper into the stories making the headlines. No hot takes, no lazy narratives, just real honest conversations. You can watch or listen to Film Never Lies on all the TSNN platforms. and I Heart Radio app.