OverDrive - O’Neill on the NHL’s schedule release, Marner’s pending return in January, and his 153rd The Open picks with Hayes

Episode Date: July 16, 2025

Jeff O’Neill, co-host of OverDrive, on the NHL’s schedule release, Mitch Marner’s pending return in January, and his 153rd The Open picks with Bryan Hayes.

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The station that champions Canadian music. Loud, proud, and all yours. No passports required. Just press play. Tap into Made in Canada now on iHeartRadio.ca or the free iHeartRadio app. Here he is for the mid-July check-in, the O-Dog Jeff O'Neil. Over FaceTime. Wow. What's happening? How about Keegan in your seat, man? He looks like a million bucks. I'm not going to lie.

Some respect to that chair. Some respect in the chair. Keegan. It's great to see you there, pal. Good to see you, dog. I heard they brought me in just to keep the looks and charm rolling here. So I'll do my best. Yeah, it's good stuff. You guys hazy. You just, you don't change, pal. I had to sit there and listen to you guys talk about Cabot for seven minutes that i was shaking my head and i'm like these guys sitting here listening to your silly stories that good to be with you guys good to be with you and uh... i guess will begin with

the the n a gel scheduling which has been a big topic of discussion for us uh... mitch marner he will be here january twenty thirty He plays in Boston the night before. You know, you've been in a position like this, I don't know when you went back to Carolina, you know, if you were playing the night before, what have you, but what would you expect this to look like for Marner when he finally gets back to Toronto? Well, I think it's like for me going back to Carolina, it's a really nerve-racking experience, Brian. You played there for so long. And I know we joked about my attempt at being prepared for acknowledging the crowd and there was no acknowledgement was a bit of a bummer. But like, I honestly, guys, I honestly think

I might be the only player that's ever played that didn't get some kind of tribute video on their first game Back I was it was so bizarre But you're just wondering like you're gonna get booed and it's just a really weird feeling because you're playing against guys who you're so Close with but for Mitch, I mean, I don't know how it's gonna compare We all can remember the John Tavares experience going back to Long Island where that got pretty ugly. Like it's still ugly every time he goes there. And I don't know, it's just, I just, I can't put a pulse on, Brian, maybe you can or all of you guys, like where the fan base is gonna be at because, you know, I thought it was weird how Mitch kind of admitted to looking into Vegas and was

asking about Vegas and everyone was like, where was this guy's head at during the playoffs, if he was asking everybody about Vegas? Like, I don't know, I found it really weird that he would admit something like that. So where the fan base's heads are going to be at when this guy returns, it's going to be something interesting. I know it's a Friday night game. I'm not sure if that's a TSN game or not. I'm sure we'll find that out later in the summer. But if I'm not working, I'll definitely be in the building just to get a sense of what's going on.

Me too. It will be interesting because I feel like there's different age demographics that would relate to Mitch Marner and not relate to Mitch Marner. Like if you're the young kids, the YouTube generation, like you relate to Mitch Marner and not relate to Mitch Marner like if you're the young kids the YouTube generation Like you kind of like Mitch Mitch Marner and like the goofy dances He was doing and the the facial expressions

But if you're if you're a boomer you hate it you're probably booing him right like so I feel like it's it's not gonna be as Visceral as the John Tavares thing it's likely gonna be somewhere in the middle Which I don't know how I don't know how that's gonna land when it's all said and that'd be a win for M thing, it's likely going to be somewhere in the middle, which I don't know how that's going to land when it's all set in stone. That'd be a win for Marner. If it's in the middle, that'll be a win. I mean, I'm thinking he'll be anticipating it being loud and crazy and nasty. If it's anything short of that, I think he'd be ecstatic with that. It's not just going to be as simple as, I know I heard Joan is talking about it, Brian, where it's like, oh, he was a great player.

So when he steps on the ice, just cheer like this. There's a lot of different deeper levels to this guy coming back into the building. And you know, just the, you know, working out the trade and not wanting to get traded during the season and all the contract stuff. This isn't just a guy that stepped in, although he was a hometown kid and he embraced the city and for the most part I think the city embraced him. There's a lot of different layers to this guy returning and the reaction is going to be fascinating because he's Mitch Marner.

He's a polarizing guy and you saw the presser and the parents out in Vegas. I don't know, it's really going to be a fascinating night when he steps foot in that ice, that's for sure. I'm curious guys too, like the long-term deal of this too, like Mitch Marner, if you hate him right now, you'll hate him that night. If you're on the fence, you'll be on the fence that night. But how this sets up, how we talk about Mitch Marner at the end of his career, 10 years from now, he's played it out with the Golden Knights. He's finished wherever he finishes. I think of guys who are remembered as Leafs alumni. You have the big names. You have the Gilmour's, Sundeans. You have the Wendell Clarks. Who's Mitch Marner ten years from now? 15 years from now? Is he in that box

wearing a Leafs jersey? Is he an alumni that people hold up? And I think how he handles these next couple of years goes a long way to start that yet right now the reaction will be what it is people are emotional you talk about a guy fifth all-time in points in this organization and it's been around for a while how does he get remember what type of alumni is he does this victim you know he can great question yet's a great question is a great point to guys because i bet you there's some

people this summer that when they heard that he was looking into Vegas and he kind of knew this was coming or somebody that heard that he blocked the rent and trade and didn't want to get trade in the middle of the season. I bet you there's some people that are going to flip where come January they're going to be like, I don't hold any grudges against this guy and I just don't care enough to still be mad at them. And there'll be still people that are been frothing out the mouth that will still be mad. But I guarantee you, just to your point Keegan, there'll be a bunch of people that are like,

I just can't care enough to still be mad at this guy and I thought I was going to boo him and maybe I'll cheer him and that's just where it's at right now. Yeah, and you're right about the amount of time that will eventually pass. There's examples of guys who are at least for a long time and now you don't really think of time that will eventually pass you know like there's examples of guys release for a long time and now you don't really think of them that way like when of giving examples a kaman was kind of a homegrown yes not drafted but acquire play for the marley's was a

leaf really good leave will be an oiler when he retires and you know like our buddy matt stage in stage was a leaf for a long time he's a flame like that's what, but he's a flame. Like that's what I think of him as a flame. Do you think Mitch Marner will be known as a golden knight when he retires or a Maple Leaf when he retires? I'll tell you what can change that whole, that whole philosophy or idea, Brian, is if they win two Stanley cups in his tenure there and he's a con smite guy. And he's the he's one of the major contributing factors. Because, you know, it's whatever as a player, you can fall back on if you go to a different place and you kind of stink the joint out.

It's like, I'll be a I'll be known as a whatever where I was a better player. That's what kind of players do. They're like, I was a better player there. So I was kind of more of a Canuck. Right, you know, for me, people say, oh, you played for the Carolina Hurricanes, but when you're in the Toronto market, they're like, oh, you're a former Leaf, and you cling on to that because it's a lot more of a big deal in the city of Toronto. But if he goes there and he's a big part of winning and he plays his tenure out there, he'll be a Vegas Golden Knight, which seems really weird to say right now

It does man What would you make of seeing the schedule come out and it's the second half of a back-to-back in Toronto? And then the game in Vegas Vegas is playing the second half of a back-to-back So there's really there's not a lot of time for reporters to the kind of get time or access with Mitch Marner with those two games this year? I mean, what do you think you're gonna get? I mean, I know that the media loves to ask the questions, but you're gonna get, I loved my time here,

it was a dream of mine, I embraced every minute of it, and it just didn't work out, and now I'm in Vegas and I couldn't be happier being in Vegas, so that's what you're probably gonna be missing out on. It's not like he's, it's not like he's going to say, I just can't wait to stick it to these guys. And, you know, absolutely sewer the Leafs and the fans and they can all suck on it after this game. It's not like it's going to be one of those things. No, it's probably not. But there's always that, like with Marner, there's always that like weird slippage. It's like, yeah, we're like gods here. You know, those kind of quotes that you're not expecting that people grab and really run with. Well, even a few of those. Even the, yeah,

we were talking to people about Vegas. Like, you know, I wonder if you got off the stage and said, I should not have, why did I say that? Why did I have to say that publicly? Because now people in Toronto are going to attach themselves to it. Hold on, just to jump in on that, that is normal conversations that happen every single day in the NHL. You know how much time guys spend together? You're on the bus, you're on the plane, you're at the arena. I know Frankie, but to drop that in the press or it was a little bit kind of wow, it's like you could have left that part out. And then that's the the thing there's a bunch of stuff that always can be left

out what she chose not to with the ODUG Jeff O'Neill you surprised I'm sure you heard Scheffler yesterday oh my god dude like what do you like where's this do you think there's a chance Scheffler within the next five years just packs it in and says screw it I'm not playing anymore like it kind of sounded that way yesterday. Yeah it was real like people were were praising him which was like it seemed like the total opposite of a Tiger Woods presser where he basically would let it be known to the world where it would be like I want to rip people's faces off and and rip their hearts out on the 18th green when I put out to win and I want

to see them bleed to death when I'm done doing that. And this guy was like, I don't even know why I like doing this. And I don't know why I like winning because it's for two minutes and then I want to know what's for dinner. And I love my, I'm a bit of a psycho.

I love practicing, but I still don't know why I do it. Fascinating words and fascinating thoughts on everything, but it kind of makes you wonder that if in three years and he literally can't make a putt, he just waves to everyone and says, you'll never see me again. Yeah. Like that's kind of what I took out of it. Like every athlete has a different viewpoint. I think he was trying to say, I think it was a multi-layered answer. Like he was getting into a number of things and he really wanted to express the importance of his family and all that which is under understood

but it did seem to open the door to like one thing happening off the course or on the course and he's like I'm cool with basically saying I'm out of here you know which is kind of which is wild considering he's the number one player in the world. You know why you can say that when you've made that much money you're not thinking about... I was just gonna say Frankie yeah this guy's got 180 million in the bank yeah like some guy that's scratching and clawing that's got four cents in his bank accounts like I got a bust my ass to try to put food on the plates of my family and this guy this guy's basically

what he's just said Hayes and maybe you guys disagree but I just kicked everyone's ass in a three-year period and made so much money where If it ended tomorrow, maybe that was the gist of the whole thing if it ended tomorrow I just wouldn't give a you know what yeah exactly like that Like he says he's made so much money over the last three years It's got to be over a hundred million on the course of course where he's just like If anything happens, and I just I'm not good at this or i don't want to play and i probably won't be doing it

another exhausted yet i was down and exhausted and it's when i think of like athletes at the very very top of their sports you think of and jay you think of brady these great great great athletes they kind of have the ability to turn the heart off, you know, and it's that gene that makes them great but is also kind of problematic at the same time. And maybe if you can't turn that off, it's challenging, man. He sounded exhausted.

Yeah. And what is he? 29? Yeah, he was in his late 20s. I know, but I think the word he left out, guys, was just the reason he practices and the reason that he loves doing it, it's just competitiveness. Like I just mentioned, he's made so much money that he probably doesn't even think about the paychecks. Like he said, I think about it for two minutes and then the conversation goes to what's dinner. And he just basically forgot the words to describe

why he does it and loves doing it. It's competitiveness. He loves going out there and winning. And I think he just forgot to mention that or kind of got lost for the right words and forgot to say it ultimately. Well, it's such a luxury when you have that much money that you can blow that putt five feet past and don't have to worry about lagging to make a cut or lagging to hold onto the money you have.

You know what I'm saying? Like if you're a grinder, you're like, man, if I make this putt, I'll make more money. But if I three putt this, I lose money. So I don't even wanna make it, I wanna lag putt it. For some guys. Why do you think Tiger Woods, for so many years, a seven foot downhill putt,

he would just cream it right in the middle? Exactly. Because the guy didn't care. He was like, if this doesn't go in, either I'm gonna make the next one, and if I don't, I don't care about that one either. That's why he has so much confidence. Exactly.

And you know what's crazy? Tiger will always be one of one, but think about what Scottie has done in like a three year span. He has blown Tiger's earnings out of the water in that period. Tiger had to keep going and going and going just to make whatever.

It was a lot of money, but Scottie made such a massive amount of money in such a short period of time that he could look at it and say The four million dollars that's going in my bank account next week doesn't do it for me anymore Yeah, which is wild to think that crazy crazy. It's going in your bank account doesn't do it for big time All right coverage of the 153rd open from Port Rush on overdrive brought to you by Subaru. You want to knock out some picks here? Because we got you. I'll give it to you.

You have McElroy, I got Scheffler. Do you want to get that out of the way right off the bat? Absolutely. I'll take Rory McElroy and I love him this week in Ireland. Okay, and I'll take Scheffler. I'll give you, you go ahead. You can knock out your picks, you can do whatever you want. It's your rodeo and I'll follow suit.

I gotta go with Ludwig Oberg. I love a Ludwig Oberg right now. Yeah, Ludwig. I'm gonna throw another guy on that. Not you. We hate his clothes, but I love him on this course. Bobby McIntyre. I love Bobby McIntyre. I was gonna pick him. You know who's got the worst, actually the worst gear on tour and I was watching with the Scottish? Fitzy's got the worst gear on tour. Oh yeah? Not Jason Day? No. Jason Day at least he's like trying to perform, he's got a style that he's trying to put forward. Like Fitzy's got a gray pant with a off-gray shirt that's way too baggy. Size 23 Skechers, it's insane.

Yeah, but okay. He does have the weirdest look, man. It's the most strange gear going, it's Fitzy. Alright, you got Ludwig, Bobby Mack, and you got Rory. I'll take Scotty, I'm gonna take two Liv guys out of the gate. John Rahm and Tyrell Hatton. I'm taking John Rahm. Wow, those are good picks. John Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. I'm taking John Rahm. Wow, those are good picks.

John Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. Go ahead, give me two more. I gotta go with Xander. I think he could be trending in the right direction. And I just, I don't know why I'm addicted to this guy. You know what? I'm not going to do it. I was going to take JT, but he's just so inconsistent. No, not at all. No, I know. And I guess who else I actually thought about. I won't do it though. I might do it after this guy. Don't do Spieth. Don't take Spieth. You're not taking Spieth. You know he's not winning. I know. So I just took Xander. I'm going to take Morikawa. I don't know. I'm going to

take a couple more guys. I'm going to take Spieth and I'm going to take Tommy Fleetwood as well. You're taking Tommy? Tommy Fleetwood, yeah, Tommy Fleetwood, he might choke it away on the last day, but you know what, maybe this, because he finished second the last time the tournament was here. And throw in Shane Lowry for me too. All right, give me Shane Lowry. And then give me a Canadian, and then I'll wrap it up from there. Give me a Canadian. Maybe Cory Connors, a lot of wind. I think he can strike the ball. Good wind player, Cory Connors. Okay, I'll take Fitzy with his great gear. I'll take Fitzy if he's standing there. I'll

take Nick Taylor. I'm going to take Patrick Cantlay, who I don't love, but he's gonna be a contention and Keegan Bradley I'll take Keegan Bradley to wrap up my picks. You gotta give me Keegan cuz Scotty Vail will be texting me. You gotta give me Keegan and you can take one of my guys. Give me Keegan and take one other guy. You take Keegan. Let's clip this. Yeah let's just this is good for me. This is good stuff. I keep arguing over it. Okay, you take Keegan, Keegan Matheson, Keegan Bradley. Who am I missing here? Although I'll take Bryson. I'll take Bryson. And if I have another pick, I'll take my boy Taylor Pendreth. There you go. Lock it in. All right. I think we've covered everything. Everyone's made your picks. Go ahead. I want to give you a date hazy on the way out here August 10th about

Because I might have the poncho back on my right shoulder is getting done now on August 8th so on the 10th, I might have to throw the poncho on and Come back man, La Bamba. Yeah, come we'll come in with La Bamba. We'll come in hot All right, put it in your calendar August 10th, La Bamba. Yeah, we'll come in with La Bamba. We'll come in hot. All right. Put it in your calendar. August 10th, La Bamba. The O-Dog will be back with the poncho. Good luck with the wing. Good luck with the picks. We'll do it again soon. All right, buddy. See you guys. There he is. The O-Dog, Jeff O'Neil. Coverage of the 153rd open from Royal Port Rush on Overdrive brought to you by Seasoned Gamer or just Video Game Curious. This Week in Gaming is the podcast for you.

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