OverDrive - Gavin McKenna's spotlight | OverDrive: Oct. 6, 2026 - Hour 2

Episode Date: October 6, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss Gavin McKenna's approach, Sergei Bobrovsky's outlook and Connor Hellebuyck's future with Winnipeg. The guys go around the sports world in the latest edition of Confirm or Deny, Auston Matthews' point trajectory and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

Hour 2 Overdrive continues, powered by Fanduel. Bringing you more ways to play your games, your way. Get to our best bets later in the hour. Leaves Freds tonight. A bunch of games in the NHL. Baseball playoffs. We're through four weeks in the NFL, which is crazy. Marching towards the CFL playoffs.

It's a beautiful thing. Frost delays in the morning. Not great. Weather's turning. Weather's turning. I'll tell you what. If you're like me and your morning golf guys. you're done yeah you're pretty much because you look at the I mean I only look at the weather app and you just see like rains like rain is starting to come a lot now not the best not the best you're gonna get here with that like we had our first frost late I wasn't playing anyway but when you get the email and it's like he has been pushed back to like 10 50 like that's not going to work for anybody no like in the summer man you're playing at 7 a.m. 7 30 it happens quick so you got to take it's

take advantage. You've got to take advantage. And there's still enough time to get out there. Do your thing. Look good, feel good. See Tommy Fleetwood rocking Peter Malar over the weekend. I wanted to mention that. They looked glorious.

I'd heard that for a while. I'm like, what's Tommy going to do? And they were at that, what is it, the tournament, the Dunhill. But you know why he's wearing that? Because it looks great. No, because he was wearing stuff from pro shops. And I called Donnie Nichols. And I said, get that guy into Peter Malar.

And he said, I'm not kidding you. He said, we're working on it. So you think Don was. the one that got up. I really do. I hope you're right. Donnie is a power player. Yes. It is very possible that he personally brokered something there. Yeah. It is possible. But yeah.

Also, Donnie, get me some of the Walker Cup stuff from Team USA, please. Oh, really? Did you see how nice that stuff was? I did not see that online. Peter Millard did the Walker Cup. All the outfits? Brilliant. Gorgeous. Brilliant. Okay, I love it. All right. Mike Johnson coming up here in just a moment

and confirm it and I a little bit later in the hour. and I think the spotlight on tonight like I guess it's that whole second line I guess where does Matthews and Marchenko still rag for you? It's been three games like for me I still want to watch them play every single night see what it looks like. Of course, everyone does. See how much better

it can get. Everyone does and I think that the statistics on that line from what I was sent makes that line to be made out to be the Legion of Doom and it's not that either. Yeah. Like, it's not like they've been completely dominant. They're trending in the right direction, and it can get to a point. And whether Roslavik is the guy on that line to take it to a different level, I'm not

sure, because the early return on him is he's turning into the same guy that ends up falling out of favor in different organizations, and he moves on. So I don't know. But Marchenko and Matthews, like, you get those two skill guys rumbling around in the the offensive zone. But once again, there's the go-get-em factor. Who go-get it? Who go get it?

Like, you got to, you got, it's not Roslavik, right? That's why I mentioned last week, what's the last week? Calen? Like, potentially on that line because he go get it. But I think there's going to be a night, like it might be tonight where they just score three goals.

Like they, for all those numbers, they haven't actually scored. Well, that's what I'm saying. Everyone's talking about this line. Oh, look at this. the, you know the nerdy numbers. And it's like, okay, it's good, but it isn't that good. Well, that is ultimately what matters. It is. Like, good for you.

You push some play and all, like, those are always the terms that everyone uses. It is completely irrelevant on a nightly basis if you don't actually score. Correct. Like, you know, now they did score the two goals the other night. One of them was on the power play. And Matthew scored the other one when Marchecoe was on the bench. Yes, exactly. So, you know, I have a lot of.

of hope and I think there's a lot of promise with those two in particular. Rosselvick is not like a long-term answer. He's clearly the third guy in the line and he's not going to be there forever, but they've scored two goals a game. Like I'm talking to the team, they have six goals and three games.

That's not going to work. Yeah, you've got to score. Yeah. Like they have to score. I'm going to find the game and I'm going to do a breakdown either on the panel or here. It was my opinion. Austin Matthews' best game that he's ever played. It was in Buffalo one night, and I don't remember what year it is because it's just the years lap over each other. But I'm telling you, this guy, this game had the puck on his stick, the whole game.

He's had some big ones down in Buffalo. He's had some O.T. winners. He was just on the puck. He got it out of the corner. He took it to the net. He'd get the puck back, ripping one-timers, ripping shots from the slot. And I told you yesterday, a big part of this is Austin Matt. We're talking about this guy fitting in that.

that guy fitting in. Austin Matthews, returning to be one of the most dominant players in the league, is a major factor of this all coming together. Because in Evanton, like I said yesterday, they have that in their back pocket, that those guys every night, they're going to do that, and they're going to try to fix the rest of it. Let's bring in Mike Johnson. Here's Mike Johnson, our TSN Hockey analyst, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline, little diss or dad out of the gate, basically with Johnny. Right, Johnny? How do you balance that? Like, everyone likes the stats, Marchenko and Matthews, but if they're not actually scoring goals,

what type of value do we place in it? Well, I think you have to say over the course of 84 games, if they have a 70% expected goal rate, they're not going to be even Stephen in goals, right? Like it's going to get better. Over 84 games, any group of players, let alone ones that has the child, this one, is not shooting 6.5% at 5-on-5.

They won't. They just absolutely will not. They won't ring seven posts and miss. So you're right, Hayes. And like as a former player, you don't want to hear about, well, good process night tonight, boys. If you lost 4-1 and you got nothing done. Like you want to, you need to score to be rewarded for the good work. But if you're the coach, if you're the management, you're taking a larger scale view of things.

That's why you like the first line. That's why you like the third line. That's not. And that's why you dislike the second line. Because over the course of time, unless something very strange happens, the numbers should regulate. they'll get the results commensurate with the good play. Johnny, what stats do you think are a little bit overblown? The positive numbers for the top line or the negative numbers for the second line?

That's a good one. I would say the positive numbers, yeah, I probably would say the positive numbers for the first line because they haven't felt dominant. They felt good. Marchenko's been really good and Austin's been good, but they haven't been great, but their numbers would suggest like sort of dominant play, and it hasn't really felt like that. So, you know, you look at the numbers and all the expected goals and slot shots and shot differential,

all these things are at the top of the league, but doesn't feel like they've been the best line in the league, even if it's just three games. So I would say the top line, oh, with your good question, was probably overblown. The second line, I think they're buoyed by because Willie did a couple things in game one, sort of on his own, jumping off the bench and dancing in for a snipe. I think that one sort of is reflective of how they're playing and the concerns with them. This or data? Thank you, JP.

Where this is what this segment is about a lot. Johnny, William Neelander said there shouldn't be any offensive expectations on Gavin McKenna. Do you want to just calm the masses here and settle, set this straight? What are reasonable expectations and what do you do with this scenario regarding the second line where he's the number one overall pick? Everyone's kind of staring at him waiting for a goal, waiting for production, waiting for points. the line is struck like just give it to all of us the second line what do you do with mckenna like the patience level the best spot for him all of it so multiple things to be true at the same time right like i don't think the struggles of the second line fall to mckenna they fall to willie and then to jt and then to gavin mckenna like he's the least experience and the least

responsible that they would count on to drive the line so i would say that part is true now To suggest there's no expectations of the first overall pick. Like I know he's, you're young and he's not a big guy. He's the first overall pick. Oh, and if you don't think that he has great expectations from himself, oh, think back to your first year in the league. Did you expect to produce a lot of offense? I told these guys, Johnny, I played with Brennan Chanahan and Nelson Emerson.

They had 44 goals, 30 goals, and I had 14 points. Those were my line mates. Well, I played with Matt Sundin. He had 90. I had 48. So, like, yeah, that's what happened. But you expect to chip in. And Gavin McKenna expects, and he will chip in.

You know, I think the hyperbole about him having no points, it's a little overblown. There's going to be lots of stretches of three games. I think it's more he hasn't looked dangerous in those three games. Not necessarily points, but I think we just went through the first line and the third line, right? They're doing well. If those lines were struggling, I bet they changed the second line to. today. But because they're not, they sort of have two of the most important three lines going. They're going to give it more time. They're going to give him another run at it and then see if

they can't work itself out. I think he's in the best spot. The Leafs are a bit flawed in that second line hole. Unless you want to, you know, put him up with Matthews, take Rostovic down and give him Marchecoe. But you can't cater the entire offense to make Gavin McKenna feel good. Like you have to do whatever is best for the team, not just him because he's first overall and and you want him to do well and he's a cornerstone on the franchise, they're trying to win right now. They're not really in a spot to develop

and dump him with all the good linemates and all the good ice time. So he's probably in the right spot now. If it goes like it has gone tonight, it will not be the same in Vegas on Thursday. They will make changes by Thursday if it doesn't work tonight. And if they don't win, for sure,

because guys, we never want to sound the alarm early. But they're going into a road trip that is Vegas, Thursday, Colorado Saturday, Utah Tuesday. Like that is, that's the gauntlet. Like that's really tough. And they go out there, one and three. Come back, one, five, and one, one and six. Trouble.

It's getting away from here, right? It's getting late early. And that's, you can't have that. No, exactly. I think it's the toughest road trip in the league now. You know, I think that's what it's become. Going Vegas, Colorado, Utah is the toughest roadie. They're lucky.

None of them are back-to-backs, right? they have days off in between. Dude, if Dallas was squeezed in there? That's very tough. And they come home. I think they play Buffalo when they get home. And these are all teams. On Thursday, yes.

Yeah, there were playoff teams a year ago. And the Leafs have to prove that they're for real. Like, that's what they have, they have to prove that. And they're going to prove that with their play. And ultimately points in the standings clearly. But it was one bad year, but it was extremely bad. And it led to massive turnover. So this is not like Kansas City Chiefs.

We're like, well, you know, Mahomes, he got injured, and he still got Mahomes, and you got Andy Reid, and Spags are still running the defense. This is a completely new operation. So they have- Florida. Exactly. Exactly.

Florida's like it was a washout, crazy. We're back, and they deserved that because of how great they were before. And it's a lot of consistency. Well, you don't think it got Florida's attention that their captains now out for eight weeks? They were like, guys, it basically ruined us last year. Let's not get carried away here. No, for sure.

And they've lost two in overtime. What are they 1-0 and 2 or whatever it is? But the lease have to prove that they're a legit team in the league. They have to do that. And they've got to find a way to win, Paisy? Right? They've got to find a way to win close games. When they were rolling, when they were one of the best teams in the regular season,

3-3 in the third period, you're like, yeah, they're going to find a way. Like, they're just someone's going to do something. They'll go overtime and, yeah, they'll lose something. but they're going to win more than they lose. Goalio will make a say, but you just have that sense. And right now, because of last year,

and maybe because of the very short start we've had, you just don't have that same confidence that it's going to happen for sure. Right. It might. You're hopeful, but it doesn't seem like a foregone conclusion right now. Johnny, what do you think of Tony Stollars in the net tonight?

So I walked in the building this morning, morning skate, professional that I am, and I saw Bob out there stretching, and I'm like, and they're like, well, Bob must be playing. And I immediately said I would have played Stolars. I understand, Sergey Vibrovsky, All of Famer, incredible, at a down year. I get his age and all those things. They have two good goals.

Before they signed Vibrovsky, Stolars got the extension because he was the guy. He was really, really good. It's not like they have a backup who's not excellent or hasn't been excellent when healthy. I think these first eight games, you just ran through tonight and then the road trip in Buffalo, I think they just rotate every game. Coach said today they have outlined their goaltending rotation

and Bob doesn't, there's no ego involved saying give me that, I don't want to just tell me what I'm playing. I think they just go one on, one off. I don't think you win and you stay in. I think it just take advantage of your depth and make sure to rest the guys who both probably need rest at this point in their careers.

Sounds like a tandem, eh? I explained that these two dummies are sitting here nodding and they're like, yeah, great idea. I brought up the same principle at 4 o'clock and they were like, this is crazy. No, I don't agree. This guy, look at him. What was wrong with the way I laid that out for you? I don't remember you. Johnny said it so it's cool?

No, for starters, I don't know what alternate universe you're talking about here. I said I would start Stollars tonight. I have no problem with that. I'm saying, though, I think over the. course of the season, their plan is for Bob to be the number one goal tender. It doesn't mean 60 starts, but

I think there's... 49, 35? Whatever. Again, Stolars has proven throughout his career. You can't rely on him to play 40 games. It's not going to happen. It's not going to get better with age for Stolars. It's not going to happen. You can't have a tandem when one guy can't keep up.

Like a tandem is both guys could play any given night. He can't play 40. out of 55. I think he can play 40 out of 84. It's a very different challenge. Why can't? He's never done it before. 33 starts.

Why can't? Because the rest and the recovery and the preparation in between starts. If every day he's getting four days between starts, that's different than your groin or your knees or your body getting tired. Some of it's weird broken bones and the knees or whatever. But I think if you, listen, if you're asking me to play

42 games instead of 84, I'm going to be more energized and likely to stay healthy in those 42 games. Like that is a fact. Imagine Johnny somebody's saying you, give me 40 good ones? You'd be like, yeah. I mean, just history says otherwise. Exactly.

It's just, history says otherwise. And that contract you mentioned is guaranteed whether he starts one game or 84 games. So, you know, I'll- So would you rather have it, Bob, 38, 62 games, 60 games, 55? Like, I think it depends on the standings. how they're playing, obviously. But you don't want him on fumes at the end of the year. No, I'm with you on it.

If you were going to get to the playoffs. Yep. So, like, you have two good goalies. You have to use them. I guess I'm more bullish on Stolars than you guys. I think he's quite good when he's rested and healthy. We're saying if you play him more. He's like Freddie Anderson.

Huh? But, like, he's never had a chance to play longer. Like, Freddy's been asked to play a lot. That's not true. He had a chance to play a lot. Last year. Last year, he had a chance to play a lot. He got hurt.

Yeah, and he left the game in Boston. I'm saying. It was out forever. But I'm saying, Stolars has not had a chance to totally platoon a whole year. Even last year, wool was hurt, so we had to play a lot. The first year he did. He was the backup. The first year in Toronto did.

He didn't play that many games? And he blew his knee out in Jersey, didn't he? Yeah, but he made 30-free starts, which is his career high. And he was good that year. Out of how many games, though. Out of 82. When did he get hurt? No, he got hurt in what game?

I don't know. Was it that early? I don't remember. I was in Jersey. Anyways, but I guess I'm thinking, if he gets the breaks between games, he's got a much better chance to stay healthy. Okay, yeah. Not guaranteed, but better chance.

How about Winnipeg leading his central through three games? What do you think, Connor? Let's go. What do you think Hallibucks? You think he's watching the games? You don't think the wintering cats are saying, the more we win, we'll just let him rot. They'll dig in and let him rot until he's like,

I don't know when the breaking point, but until the Winnipeg, the way they're playing right now, they've got to just be saying, we're waiting until something that can help our team. We're not just moving this guy to say we've got to get rid of them. They'll dig in, man. They're probably so pissed.

They're like, you want to lose $39 a day? Go ahead. Johnny? Yeah. I'm sure he's watching, you know, he doesn't want to root poorly for his ex-teamates,

but he's like, we want them to lose or the goal they to play badly because they want that motivation that always talk about. And I bet the group is pretty gout. and I was like, you know, forget that guy. Forget that guy in him. We just lose Johnny. We just lose him.

We forgot him. I think we may have been playing another clip and we lost him there because he's over FaceTime. We'll get Johnny back on between the benches. Can I ask you guys? Is there like no sympathy for him like among his teammates? Do you think? Like there's none of that?

Oh, there's Johnny. Can you hear us, Johnny? I don't know what happened. We lost your mic there. Sorry, buddy. Go ahead. Continue with your thought. Thanks for coming out.

Yeah, it's all good. And it was I'm just saying Winnipeg would feel great. And I think it's more likely. Someone around the league pushes the panic button. We're struggling. We need a new goalie. We make a better offer as opposed to Winnipeg wanting to be rid of this. And I don't think, Jonas, through your question, I'm not sure there's a ton of sympathy for Alibuck.

Like, they care about him personally. But like, you know what? He chose to leave. He left him in a bit of buying. He has a contract, though. This is different. If some, Edmondson, yeah, like, listen, you got to do what you got to do. And I get it.

And go get it. go get what you deserve. But you got a contract. You're electing not to show up because you want something else? I mean, I don't wish poorly, but I'm not like, oh, poor Connor. Well, he's in a tough spot.

He's in the spot that he made. And if he didn't like it there, probably should have signed that big extension. Johnny, what do you think about this idea? If you have a no trade clause and you demand to be traded, it allows the team to trade you to anywhere. Like you, the no trade is gone.

No guy. What do you mean? By the way, don't ever say that. Oh, what do you mean by that? Got to be a different language. Yes. There's a, there's, you can only ever suggest that. If you also put on the flip side, anyone has no trade protection, is encouraged to trade it,

or they're going to go on waivers, it's going to be claims funny business. They get a $5 million kicker. You can't have it both ways. You can't punish me for waiving something or for exercise. something that I negotiated and then let teams are the same thing. So if you want it and I get the sort of sentiment behind it, if I have a no

trade and I actually trade it, no trade is null and void, okay. But if Morgan Riley has a no trade and they approach him, say Morgan, maybe we want to move you this summer. What do you think? Five million dollars in the bank account. Sure. Boom. You got to have it both ways. Yeah. That will be the counter from the

players because teams go to players all the time with no moves and no trades and say, hey, we're looking to move you here. like that that it does happen and then they leak it and then the player looks bad and then it's like Dougie Hamilton if it gets out

if you get moved $5 million if it becomes public one and you can stand the team yeah yeah it's a tough listen it's tricky because it's tough it is it's not good for business

that all this kind of stuff is happening I think the problem is like part of the problem is too many players have them yeah but it just seems crazy who's fault is that I'm only who's fault is that team's fault it's not the players

I want to get traded but here's the only three teams. It's like, it should be, I want out of here? Well, we're going to get you out of here, but it's not going to be to where you want. Something's got to get. And I understand what you mean about both ways. Like that is very fair, more than fair. Because there's been a lot of organizations that have screwed over teams or guys.

Sure. But most guys who ask to get traded do not leave their team. Listen, you want to trade me? Morgan Riley. You want to trade me? I'm going to go to these five teams. But if you don't, I'm going to go to these five teams. going to show up and work hard and be a good teammate.

Right? It's something very different if you're sitting out and violating your contract. It's why he's suspended. He's not getting paid. But I, yeah, I mean, a no trade comes at a cost. Like you take less money. You take less something to get a no trade. And if the problem is there's too many of them? That's not the player's problem.

Yeah, don't give him out. That's the owner's problem. Don't give it to Brian Hayes. Give it him a Jeff O'Neill. Don't give it to Joe. Don't give it to me. Give it to the good players. I think I'm the one area, actually. Don't give it to everybody. I know you would. The problem is it has gotten to a point where it is just a formality in contract negotiations.

Like it goes without saying it's not like they're leaving money on the table. It's not a perk. Yeah, it's not exactly. What about a limit per team? That's a good idea. But that's dangerous because then it stops you from acquiring players because you can't get that guy because then you would be over that number. You know what I mean? And I don't think that's good for business either.

But you could put a, you could wave your. no trade and have it not exist. So then you're not a player with a no trade to come to a team that has the six max you could have. There's ways around it, oh, that's not a terrible idea, a limit per team, because then it would be just for the best players. And if you're player seven on a six player team, I know who I am. It's like it stinks.

But you know who you are. And if you want to get that no trade, play better. Be a better player or go to a worse team and be a better player there. I don't love this idea of waiving it if you want to get traded. Yeah, there just, there isn't enough good players in the the league. And where do you draw the artificial line? Is it a 10 a team? But 10 a team? I mean, that's what we have right now. Right. So is it five a team? You're telling me there's five guys on Calgary that deserve a no trade

clause right now. But they wouldn't get, you don't have to send them out. They have zero. Yeah. But they get zero. The best player is going to say when I'm up, guess what? You don't have them. I'm taking it. Like that's what any good. You can say no. But they don't say no. Right. Because especially in certain markets, you've got to give it to them. Like if you want to keep the guy, and that's what happened. That's the reality of sports and life, for that matter, but there are certain markets that simply can't offer what other markets can. So in order to try to keep a guy or get a guy, they're going to give the perks. And that's how we got in the position we got it.

And then the best team's like, well, I guess we got to do it too, because if they're going to do it there, and it's just spiraled completely out of control, I just don't see how you get the cap back in the bag. I just don't see. And, yeah, I don't have an answer for you because I would argue it would be greater for the game if you got rid of the hard cap. That's never going to get rid of. That's never going anywhere. They're never going to, but that would alleviate a lot of pressure for a lot of teams. You get out from underneath certain contracts and move.

Waste in your breath. Total waste. I understand that. But the players association isn't going to give up these perks. They fought for them. They got them. I don't know how you get around it. I really don't. I think it's just completely out of control. And I guess you've got to blame the owners and you've got to blame Batman for that. His league, he allowed it to get

to this point. He didn't put his stop. I think Nashville was one of the last teams to not give any. Nashville playing tonight. I think David Poyle was first. Like, I'm not giving anyone to anyone. That's right. That's it. I don't do it.

That's right. Pecar Rene, sorry. But I think it was Peca Rennie, who might have been the first guy, who finally got one, and then Romaniosi got one. And then Ryan O'Reilly got a verbal one. And then Steve Stanley, it's that slippery slope. They tried to fight the good fight. You're asking for, Hayes.

But once you sort of got out of the bag, how do you say no? It's over. and that's the point once he gives to one guy. I would love to see six per team and I would just like, I would be curious to go down the league's roster, like, okay, how many guys? Like, I think Dakota Joshua, respectfully, has a 12-no-trade.

Outrageous. Yeah, outrageous, clearly. Right. But, you know, but if you looked at six, how many guys would be really bad out of shape? Well, here's the problem. Not many. Here's the problem that you have,

is if you have, eventually, too many guys in the league, like it's going to be a grandfathering issue. Yeah. Because when Celebrini's up... You have the grandfathered in. No, but my point is, let's say San Jose has six. You think Celebrini, they're going to trade Celebrini because they have six? No.

He's going to get it. You say to the next guy, we don't have any more to give out? So Celabini doesn't get one if you have six. Well, so you've got to get rid of a player. They don't have six. No, but this is all hypothetical anyway. Maybe it's not a legitimate rule. Hazy.

Yeah. Hasey. Six starting on contracts signed in 2031 new CBA. Yeah. So you can get the 14, I guess, if you have eight. But eventually when the eight run out, then you have the six that you sign from that day forward. You can't sign more than six from that day forward.

I'm just saying it's going to penalize my good team. Yes, it's yes. A hundred, well, yeah, sure. It is. But if you like the team, and then you might get the wink with nudge-nudge deals. I'm not putting it in writing, but hey, I promise I will trade you. That gets thick.

Trust me. Yeah, that gets sticky. Which gets a little greasy. Very greasy. And listen, Gary Batman didn't bring this up because he just was, you know, potificating. He's laying the groundwork to have the conversation. Sure. Yeah, because it's against the players. You know, it's a player's issue that he doesn't like.

So, of course, he's going to take issue with it and go public with it. I understand that. But I don't know. I just don't think there's a perfect way around it. You either get rid of all of them, which is the actual best case scenario. But the players aren't going to accept that. And I understand why they wouldn't. That would be the best for fans.

But that's the best. Yeah, you just get rid of it. And everyone's tradable. What if we go? Hey, Z, hang on. Doesn't baseball have some sort of like five and ten rule? Yeah, ten years on a team and ten in the league, then you're eligible? Yes.

Like if it was a milestone based on tenure. It's a great way of putting it's a great formula. Until 10 and five. And you have to be five years with the same team, which doesn't happen that often. Maybe there's something in that conversation as opposed to, oh, You're right. Is it mandatory once you put that time? So it's 10 and 5.

You've got to be in the league for 10 years and five years with your own team. And then it's a full no trade, no move. You control your destiny. Everyone gets it. Everybody who has that status. It's like 600 games in your own room back of the day. Oh, we get your own room on the road. Yeah.

So for the leaves, there would be Matthews, Tavaris, Nielander, Riley. Like those would be, there'd be four guys with a no trade clause in the leagues. You can make it 8 and 4. You can make it 10 and 5. Like that might not be the worst thing in the world. Yeah, I like that idea, actually. I think baseball's got it. Would it be a full-in-un-in-on-in-in-movement clause?

Yeah, it would be, effectively. Yeah. And then if you're a guy who signs, like, you know, in your seventh year, you sign a long extension, on the third year of your extension, now you hit the 10-year mark, and then there's your no move. I like that. It's pretty good. It's not the worst we've come up with on this show.

No, it's pretty good. We're just stealing it from baseball, but we'll take credit. Dude, we've had some doozies on this show. You're not staying much there, man. That's very true. It's a low bar. Yeah, it is. All right, Johnny.

We'll catch you at the game tonight. Have fun. All right, fellas. Mike Johnson joining us here on the Maple Tudor Hotline. Yeah, those pesky no trade clauses. I do. I'm glad that the players brought up the double standard because I've always, it always gets spun one way.

It's like, oh, these poor teams. And it's like, they can trade you at any time. And like, I remember, I think it was Luke Shen. Was Luke Shen? he signed a contract and then like three months later they traded him to Philly for Van Rames. It's like, come on. That happens all the time. It happens all the time.

It's like you want the loyalty until it's turned around. Yeah. Yeah, totally. The thing is this is not a, this is actually not about loyalty. They are being disloyal to their team, the players, because they're saying, we want out of here. You know, so they're, and then trying to control where they go. That's the complication. But the only thing is, like, if you are a regular worker in any workplace and, like, suddenly you were like,

I don't really like it here anymore. You could just leave. They can't leave. This is like their only way out. Well, I mean, then you're talking about the draft, and it gets pretty deep in terms of that kind of stuff. But the reality is the perks that come with it. You make millions and millions of dollars and, you know, get summers off.

There's a lot of perks for being a professional athlete. I don't think anyone's shedding tears for the workforce that is the Players Association. I can sympathize. Okay. Hey. All right, confirm it tonight coming up. Overdrive continues up on TSN. IHeart Radio is throwing it back.

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This is Kesha. Find 2010's The Decade on the free Eye Heart Radio. preset the station so it's always one tab away. I can neither confirm or deny that this is in fact a segment. Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuka Rass. It's been my honor and a privilege to serve as the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. It's time for confirm or deny. Do you regret giving all those gentlemen the no trades or no movement clauses?

I can either confirm or deny that. I can't confirm or deny that. All right, confirm or deny. Brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree of a side and a drink and you get it all in 20 minutes or less. Fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch of your local Boston pizza.

We're going to start with a doozy. And I already know one answer. I already know an answer. Do I not have to do this one? Because you know my answer? Just say confirm. and I'll get to Jonas. Just they confirm.

AI, Jeff. Evan Bouchard will hit 100 points this season. I'm glad you didn't ask me because I had to been offended. Best defenseman in the league. Well, do you see there's an NHL.com? I didn't really understand

the accumulation of points. There's like a point system. And I guess there's a litany of writers 16 or something that are, it's so early in the season. Projecting the... acting the Norris, and Bouchard was not in the top five.

I found interesting. That is flat out ignorant. After the start, the guy gets five points in game one with a hat trick. Yeah. And naturally, McCar, Hughes, Werensky, Dahlene getting a lot of love. You know, those four are phenomenal players. But, man, that Dahlene, like, it took a bit for him to round it. He can play, man. He's so good.

He's got a bit of an attitude. Yes. And it was worth the weight his finished product. Yeah. And he has, he's got some stones. Like he'll make a play last man back and you're like, who he does. And he'll also cross-check a guy in the face. Yes. But so wait.

Just a second. For all the people that are like antsy about Gavin McKenna, it took a long time for Rasmus Dahlene to become what he is today. Absolutely. But they stuck with them and they were patient and the finished product is worth the weight. The guy in town tonight, Stamp Coast. Like his rookie year, it wasn't 75 points. Jack Hughes.

Jack Hughes. had a really tough here. Joe Thornton. There's a lot of examples of that. All right, Jonas, go ahead. Confirchen I haven't Bouchard. 100 points. I was just going to knock your

dissing of that poll. Okay, because you vote for it? No, I don't care. But tell me who you'd put it. Would you take this guy ahead of Bouchard in the Norris? This is for the Norris. So this isn't who you see is a better player. McCar.

Okay, obviously. No, I wouldn't. I still think over the course of the year I'd take McCarr. Quinn Hughes. That one is close. Those are the two guys that are just the way. That one's close. Oransky. He's not winning it again, so I'd take Bouchard.

Okay, Dahlene? Bouchard because of the points. He's just going to have so many more points. It may be a Carlson thing. When Carlson had 100 points, it was like, all right, that guy's just the Norris. I mean, he had 95 points last year and he finished 4th. Which is crazy. Now, the other guys are better than him, or were better.

And Worenski is a better player. That's not my point. But to get 95 points. I honestly think the defensive zone gaffes were like, people were like we can't give the Norris trophy with those defensive zone gaffs. I think he had a few things going against him. One

was that he has this reputation of being like... Blackluster and it's like giveaways, beats in front of the net. He did make Team Canada, which I think hurt him. I think people are like, well, man, if John Cooper doesn't even want him to play, like they took eight guys, you're asking the best defensive in the league. They took Travis

Sanheim, I believe. Yes. And Parake, like they had Drew Dowdy on like one leg almost. They're like, you're going over him, that hurt, and people naturally say, well, he just rides the wave of McDavid and dry-suttle. He picks up so many power play points because those two are so dominant. Anyway, confirm and deny 100 points. Deny. Hundreds a lot. I would deny it as well. Although he had 95

last year, like O'STE, and he's off from the hottest start. And there's two extra games. That's a good point. But 100 points just is so tough. The year before that, 67, and 82, like a hundreds. I think 90 points is around where he ends up. That's awesome. There's a phenomenal offensive season. Confirm or deny, even without Barkov, the Panthers are the best team in the East.

After what I've seen, and it's early, but I'm going to deny it. As of right now, I'm going to say they are not the best team in the East. Without him. Who's better, in your opinion? In the East? Carolina? they haven't been that great either. Washington might be for real.

I don't know. There's a bunch of teams, I think, if you ask me in two weeks, but to say that they're definitively the best team in the East, I can't give them that crown right now. I cannot either, deny. I mean, there's a lot of questions with their team. Like, it's an older team. Their goaltending, like, I don't know what that's going to look like.

You know who actually looks not bad? The Rangé. They have had a very good team. The Rangé are not garbage, and I thought they were going to be flat. out garbage. Siskin's been very good. I know, but they got some juice.

They got some young players that can play. It's like watching them last year, you were like, what on earth is this? The Rangé, not bad. Rangers have been very good. Very good. Tampa? Tampa just spanked Philly, but Philly is,

whoa. Yeah, they're, like, their shot discrepancy is outrageous. Give it to me, JP. This or data. This or data. But those are just standard stats. I'm not talking expected this or that. This or data.

It's 4418, 38, you know, 19. Like, they're getting hammered. This is the average, 39 and a half against to 194. Yeah. Like that, that's a 20-shot gap on average through four games. It's double. That's crazy. All three of those gentlemen at that organization,

talk, Danny Breyer, and Keith Jones will not be happy with that performance. No, Rick Talk, it already is. getting owley down there. All right, confirm and deny. Matthews and Marchenko will combine for 160 plus points this season. Wow, that seems like a massive number. It shouldn't, but it seems massive. 80 each on average.

I'm going to deny it. I just think that that would be like everything going perfect for those guys. It shouldn't seem crazy, but it does seem a little bit crazy. And they might be really close to it, but just to give them both 80 points on October, whatever it is, I don't know, it just seems a little bit generous. What are you going to do?

You're going to start computing something. You're trying to compute something. Yeah, and I was going to ask you. So let's talk this through. Like how many points do you think Murchenko ends up with? His career high is 74, playing with lesser players, lesser teams. I think he should have to be honest. I don't care how many points the guy gets.

I just wanted to rip home 35. I know, but for the purposes of this. Yeah. 80? Yeah, I think that's reasonable. Because let's give him 80. So then like, that's what I'm going to get?

Can Austin not get to 80? Like, like, let's all confirm it. Let's all confirm it. Group thinking. Let's group thinking. I'm, I'm going to,

I'm going to confirm it. It's a great number, though. Like, it's the perfect number. It's a Vegas-style number. It's a perfect number because it has to make you think. If it was 140, you'd say, well, like, 70 each, I think, is presuming how.

If it was one, 70 or 180, you're like, I don't know, that's clearly pushing it. It feels like an appropriate number. Over 84 games, the way they've played, what they're capable of doing. Matthews in particular still should be considered a guy who's capable of 100 points. A 90-point player, probably? Yeah, but his, what did he? 106 is his best.

I think is his best. Yeah, I mean, if he's healthy. But that means he's scoring, he had 60, was that the 69 goal year? I think it was. Yeah, probably. So how many goals he's scoring? 40? To get the 80 plus, he's got out 40 goals.

At least. Yes. I'm going to confirm it, but I think it's right around that. Like a push. Yeah. Right around there. Like I think clearly what's weird about it is if Marchenko gave you 80, you'd be ecstatic. It's a career season.

He immediately steps in, tops anything you would expect from Nyes. You know, even if Nyes had a great year, I don't think 80 points was, ever in his purview. But if it's 80 for Matthews, I don't know if that's perceived as a very good year. It's better than the last two. It's a stepping stone from the last two. I don't think if Austin Matthews gets 80 points,

it's anything but a success. You think that you take that right now? Of course. If Matthew got 40 and 40, you don't think that that would be a great year? That's a really different expectation than his peak, isn't it? By a lot. Okay, so are you just in the club of like this guy doesn't get 60? It's a failure?

No. I think 40-40 would be an outstanding season for Austin Matthews. 40-40? If you asked him that, what would he say? I think he'd be insulted by that. But, dude, that's a crazy comment to think a guy would be insulted by 40-40 after what he's done the last year, the injury. But that's the point. The last two years, 40 and 40 seems great.

Three years ago, 40 and 40 is an insult to Austin Matthews. Yes. And that's the point we're asking. How many times he got 100 points in his career? One time. Twice. Twice. Two times.

So to think that he's just guaranteed 100 points is crazy talk. It's not. But there's a difference between 80 and 100. There's 20 points in between that. 90, 95. But that's the difference in 20 goals. That's 40 goals or 60 goals. Yeah, more or less.

Yeah. But are you in the camp where it's like 80 points is like, nah, but 90 points is like, that's what Austin Matthews does. Yeah. I mean, at his best, again, oh, we're not where we were three years ago. I understand that. But three years ago, if I told you he's 40-40,

you'd say, well, clearly the Leafs are in trouble or he had a bad year. Yeah. Because of what he had established. If you're saying he's 40-80, you're saying he's not one of the five to 10 best players in the league anymore, which he hasn't been, but what he was. Yes, he officially establishes that.

And if you're okay with 40-40, okay, but that means the goalpost is completely shifted. Yes. Where he is no longer chasing hearts, chasing rockets. He's not even in the rocket company. Yeah, like he was heart second, first, 16th when he had that injury of the year, and then fourth. Yeah.

Top five player in the league. Let me just tell you something. One of my favorite people in the world, my uncle Jim O'Neill from Aurelia, would always say to me, you got to live in the now. Okay. Forget about three years ago. Okay, sure. So 40-40 is in now. 40-40 is like we're boogey and we should be boogieing.

I think that's fine. That's not a boogie. That's like, eh. It's not an office. Pretty good. It's fine. You saw dumb you guys are. Like 40-40s, eh.

But 40-50 is like, now we're in business. No, I mean, I understand the difference. Like 10 secondary assists is not moving the needle significantly. I think it's more about the goal scoring. That's what it is. Which, to rip home 40, you're still one of the 10 or 15 best goal scores in the game. Like, there's no question. How many guys score 40 of your 10, maybe?

You know? So it would be a. substantial statement considering where he was the last two years. But this is the discourse around him. What is the barometer for success for Matthews? Because McDavid, who's his state, like if I said, hey, McDavid's going to have a 50 and 50 season, would you say that's a good year? Yeah.

Really? Of course. He'd 100 points for that guy? 50 and 50. Last year. A hundred points for him would be a massive downgrade, considering what he's done throughout his career. It would be. 50 goals is still 50 goals. Nothing to sneeze out. For a guy to get 50 goals and 50 assists. And I guess it's not any guy. It would be a downgrade. Okay. So what if

McDavid got 35 goals and 100 assists? Is that the way better than you? Obviously, that's a phenomenal season. Yes, it is. But 50 and 50 is, eh. I'm not saying compared to the average player. Yeah, like we're not talking about Matthias Michelli. We're talking about McDavid. Yeah. I think you guys, I have to leave here, but you guys got to get your heads. Nathan McKinnon, if he had a 45 and 45 season. Would that be, would you say that's a great season for him? No. Like that's 90 points and 45 goals.

At this point, Nate McKinnon's on a clip where if it's not 100 points. But so is McDadegh. Yeah, but the point is Matthew is not on that clip right now. You're right, he's not. But I think that's the point. I think that's the point. He's adjusted the goalposts and I think we're not there yet. Right.

And maybe I just don't want to believe it. Like I'm still kind of whole. and I don't think the Leafs want to believe it. And I guarantee you, Austin doesn't. Right. Like, you know he's thinking, all right, doubt me, but he's got to go prove the haters wrong. What did Uncle Jim say?

Live in the now. Shout out. Uncle Jim. All right, there you go. Confirmed deny. Got a couple more will squeeze in and best bets as well. Leaf spreads tonight on TSN and on TSN Radio. Overdrive continues up on YouTube Live.

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Firm of Denai is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP, where you get an entree, a side, and a drink, and you'll get it all than 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. All right, Best Betts are powered by Fanduel, make your picks and assemble a same game parley in seconds on the Fandall's Sportsbook app. I'm on the Leafs and the Leafs over tonight.

I think they're going to score goals tonight. It is long overdue. I know it's been three games. But three home games, they've scored 20. twice in each game. They have had opportunities. The power play's got to get cooking. Big emphasis on offense at practice yesterday. Yes. And again, I think, like, Jim Hiller made it very clear when he was hired. Like, special teams are a huge thing. They have to get this power play cooking. And Marchenko scored on the power play the other night. But you have to create power play opportunities.

So you got to have the puck enough in order to do that, send the team to the box. But they got to get that power play going. I think they score tonight. First NHL point for McKenna? Yes. I think that's another good bet tonight. I think he gets on the board tonight. It's a massive ovation. Big game for them, though.

Big game, because this road trip coming up, it's not an easy one. Not going to be easy. Vegas, Colorado, Utah, coming up. Best bets powered by Fandole and make your picks and assemble the same game parlay in seconds on the Fandall Sportsbook app. Every NHL game available,

courtesy of the Fandr Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly. Nineteenolmously, 19 plus, physically located in Ontario. All right, Jonas, good seeing you. Good stuff. Enjoy it tonight. I think you're the 1A of this show.

Thank you. Thank you. I don't know who's the one. I feel good about that. Yeah, congrats. Thank you. Noodles is 1B and O, I don't know what O is. 1C.

O's already. Yeah, exactly. O's in the minors. All right, thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV radio, podcast, Web, and of course, up on YouTube live, streaming soon up on Crave.

We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4 p. We'll chat down. You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it. Hello.

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