OverDrive - OverDrive - April 14, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: April 14, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! Got Yer Back Podcast Host and Former NHLer Jason Strudwick joins to discuss Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's ability to elevate the Oilers, the team injury bug and the Jets' Presidents' Trophy victory. Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins joins to discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s incredible contract extension, the franchise impact and Bo Bichette's contract stance.

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Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeartRadio app and at iHeartRadio.ca. It's gonna get loud. Power to Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score, Brian Hays, the Odog, Jeff O'Neil, Jamie Noodles, McClennan. Got Jason Strudwood coming up in a few moments. Struddy's

take on... Anderfies fired up about Marner getting a hundred points. Well, he's sitting on 99 right now and he should be. I mean, how many points does McDavid have now? 99. They're both at 99 and McDavid's not playing tonight. He probably won't play the rest of the way. Do you think he'll sit on 99? No, he'll play one more game.

But he'll get to 100 then. McDavid has, what does he have, 11 points in three games since he's come back? It's something crazy. It's ridiculous. Because he had three assists the other night. We had three, four, and two. We had three last night.

Yeah, I thought he had three. Yeah. Anyway, it's crazy to follow his pace. It's ridiculous what he's doing. But um yeah that's what's at stake marna sitting on 99 points and i don't know he's never gotten 100 that's the whole thing and it is important to guys it should be it's a great accomplishment like it's it's a big one time to say i got 100 points exactly school get to 100 we'll get to 100 and if you're if you're Tavarez I

Would think getting to 40 would be significant. I think he's a guy that I'm pulling back based on what I saw post Four nations face off giving him a rest. I think is very significant I would think long and hard of not playing him all week, but I think he'll go tomorrow night Do don't even touch the ice. Yeah, don't, exactly. Go put your feet up somewhere. Think about the Four Nations break. What did you do to prep for coming back? Whatever that is, do it again. Yeah, exactly. And I think the big guy as well.

Like Matthew's, Tuck's went home last night. He's not chasing anything. No. He would be at the forefront. Like if I'm picking one guy where I'm mappin' out his week week it's him. I'm starting with him. And if that includes the idea of him not playing the next two games I would do it. Because I think they can win without him. I think again you got Buffalo tomorrow Detroit

on Thursday. If Tampa gives up a point in either of their final two games against Florida and the Rangers you're in anyway. Right. So treat this week as if it is about the playoffs. Like they're all in the same boat Hayes that's like I don't know if you go to them and ask the guys you haven't had success do we need to change anything do you guys need something different you would have to think they probably already done that two or three different times haven't you keep in mind I don't think the coach cares about anything other than having success I think the I don't think they go to him and say,

hey, do you want this and that? I think he goes to him and goes, this is what you're doing, this is what I have planned for you. I think the difference in some of the things is the way that he is, it's like, this is my team, I'm gonna coach it the way I want to.

I think there is input obviously from leaders and guys who are veterans. I think Craig is a guy who would want Mitch to get 100 because Mitch has played well for him this season. He's a players coach at heart, but he also has a focus in mind. So I look at it, how many times have we seen him just shoot from the hip and go,

I don't care about that or I care about this? Like I think he's not gonna change going. Oh, I need this because of this He's gonna go this is what our focus is and I don't care what the Individual you think he has tried to dig into the past In other words, do you think he's asked around like what went wrong here? How were these guys? What kind of mojo were they giving off leading into the playoffs? I think he would have his answers by being around these guys all the time. What makes them tick? What makes them tick? Like that's a this is when Baru this is actually it's you bring up a I think an important point is this is

why he was hired now. Not, they make the playoffs every single year. They get to a hundred points every year. If Sheldon Keefe was still here, they'd still have a hundred points. They may not be in the exact same position. They'd be playing differently. It might feel different,

but they would be going to the playoffs. It's a formality. Babcock into Keefe into Borube. This is why he's here. This is where he's gonna define who he is and how he's different. And this is where you can build your legacy in Toronto. Because, you know, in the last 30 years, it's Pat Quinn and it's Pat Burns, not because of the regular season. It's all because of what happened come playoff time. And the way that they handled the marketplace and their players

in the moment was something that I think Baruba is capable of doing. He's got an aura to him similar to a Pat Quinn, to a Pat Burns. They're all different, they all have their own unique qualities, but this is when his resume actually starts in Toronto. If you were in player, wouldn't you kind of, I don't know, I always, like I sat beside a guy like Ronnie Francis where the guy played with Mario, he played with Jagger, he won two Stanley Cups.

When that guy, like I was already his friend and his teammate and his linemate, but when you throw all that stuff in there, like you really listen man. When a coach has just won a cup recently, don't you want to be like all ears, like maybe this guy's got something to say to get us cooking right off the hop Yeah, yeah, I would hope so. Yeah like that now at the same time There shouldn't need to be anything said or done for this may believe team to be inspired Wow, no kidding I'll tell you on their toes. There was a bunch of guys in Switzerland many years ago For the Spangler that when one man stood up they were all ears

they just handed the silver medal right over yeah something needed to be said for Canada this guy with the balding head stood up a tight pant delivered okay here he is from the got your back podcast joining us here on the maple Toyota hotline here's Jason Strudwick. Can you confirm or deny that Strudy, that you are a leading voice, a beacon of hope for your Spengler teammates? The voice of reason, I think, is what Pat Quinn called it. You start delivering silver medals for your country. People listen up, you know, so I appreciate the build up boys. I'm feeling good about myself today.

Yeah, you should, pal. You should. And listen, we're getting close to go time here and we just had a heated discussion about which team gives Canada the best chance at winning a Stanley Cup. Strati, be reasonable about this. Who is it? Phrase the question exactly how it's phrased. Well, the way we've been phr phrasing online is leading the witness a little bit because the winnipeg jets have secured the president's trophy they've been the best team in the league all year so we've been asking or the winnipeg jets canada's best hope to win the

Stanley Cup this year yes or no if it's no who would you say is the best chance to win now to say yes i really believe that they're... I'm guessing a couple of you are going to Toronto Maple Leaf. Noodle's did. I wouldn't do that. I said I believe it's Winnipeg but they gotta show me because they're... you know the pass and the playoffs haven't been great but that being said in this market it's the same type of thing you gotta show me

but I believe Winnipeg, you know I picked them to be a finalist to star the year I think they're a great team, but they still have to go out and show me. That's the biggest thing They do but the difference between Winnipeg and Toronto I like their goaltending better in Winnipeg and I like their number one team and better in Winnipeg and for me Those are two huge things because one's on the ice all the time and the other one is not going to be on the ice probably well in tight games north of 25 minutes. Yeah and that's Morris who you're speaking of and it's a good question like who is the number one defenseman in Toronto? Like I'm not Morgan Riley. Is it Morgan Riley? I don't know I mean I think Chris Tanneff feels like he's kind of taking that baton. Well the Hayes you brought this up Strud, you can weigh in on it as well as O. Like when you look at the Leafs, the way they're constructed, they can certainly defend,

they can score, all of that type of stuff, but they don't get a lot of offense from the back end. And that's what you're talking about Strud, just the, you know, what Morrissey can bring to the table? I think he, yeah, and just, you know, you look at him, you know, Pionk, DeMello, you know, Sandberg took one off the inside of the leg. That hurts. You know, oh dog, you never had that. You got out of the way. You're quick.

But, you know, for the guys that block shots, that really is painful. So I like the depth of their D and listen, I love Tanev. I think he's fantastic, but he can't be your number one defenseman, right? And that just isn't a recipe for winning a Stanley Cup. So I think someone else has to take it. And that makes me a little bit nervous for the Leafs. But Morgan, he's good. But again, is he as good as Josh Morrissey?

Is he on some of these other teams who go around the league? Now the Olders are missing at Combs, so he's their number one, and that's a concern, for sure, for that team But everyone kind of has their own thing. But again, I just I Look at the back end and I always look at the D and the goalie and who are you number one in both those? I feel comfortable picking Winnipeg Over all winners over Toronto because of those those two details

They've been great all year and they're they're gonna have a they're gonna be in a position in the first round where they're expected to win which is something they haven't they haven't been in that position in a while right where generally they're playing the Colorado. They were the underdogs last year against Colorado. Even with home ice I believe they had home ice um but you're right like they they have always been a team where it's like can they keep up with Vegas can they keep up with Colorado and And those are the two teams they faced in the first round last the last two years and they've lost. So shoes will be on the other feet when it comes to this scenario. But okay, putting Winnipeg aside, if they're the top seed, who's number two for you? Is it Edmonton?

Is it Toronto? Is it Ottawa? Like which is the second favorite in the country? Now it gets interesting Strud. Well first off sir, you threw me off of that saying the shoes are on the other feet. Right when I pluralized shoe I'm like I got to continue it now. I can't say shoes. What does that mean? Yeah, I'm not quite certain where I'm going with that. back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back

back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back, I'll try to get back on track, but that one threw me off. I think the question was, who's next? And I'm going to go with the winners because of two guys, Connor McDavid and Leon Drysettle. Those two guys, we've seen them do it in the playoffs time and time and time again, I believe McDavid, although he's not playing tonight, he just rattled off nine points in three games playing with guys that haven't been his traditional line mates. Although he's not playing tonight, he just rattled off nine points in three games, playing with guys that haven't been his traditional line mates.

And then Leon, I believe, will be healthy as well. And those guys can really perform and get it going. So I think the next one in line, unfortunately for Leeds fans, is the Oilers. Okay. Well, go ahead. I was just going to follow up on that study. Where are you at with all these? Like, I'm sorry, like, on paper, if Where are you at with all these like I I'm sorry like on paper

If everybody was healthy in Edmonton, I think you'd feel comfortable with this team, but there is zero health here Like the boy at homes a big one. Well, they talk about him all the time home is is a massive blow But is there is there some narrative that he came back too early like you know the guy that I'm trying to Wallman Jake Wallman No the guy they got from Boston Oh Frederick Frederick came back too early

Frederick came back and got hurt in the first shift But that's like so is there a narrative out there it's like okay what's going on here that the doctors under Malpractice What's going on because they're coming back and it's like they're too early and all of a sudden they're hurt so is it bubble wrap and everyone because they played yesterday with a but five or six of their regulars not in the lineup how many of them are going to be available for game one well

as people like to say the shoes are on the other feet Well, as people like to say, the shoes are on the other feet. And, you know, for a long time... Some other guy's feet. That's where the shoes are. Continue. So, the elders have been so healthy for many years, right? They've lost very few man games. And now, you know, it's catching up and it's all caught up to them and they have all these

injuries. And, you know, Trent tried to get the sprain ankle, I sprained my ankle twice and it didn't feel good for like a year. It takes forever and you think it's okay then you go into an uncontrolled situation which is a game of hockey and you know you just it grabs you again and now you're kind of a setback. So I believe you know they're talking about maybe first game probably not though maybe second game of the playoff. So what is that? Still a week away or so.

But the injuries are for sure a concern for a couple of reasons. One, you don't know who's going to be available. And then two, feeling good about your team's game. You know, like Ted Fredericks played six minutes with his new team. And you know, if people think it's easy to play with Connor and Leon, well, yeah, it's fun, but doesn't mean it's easy. Those guys, you know, playing for elite players, they want you to move and pass and get it back to them. All these types of things. It's not just chipping by the demon and run them. And then Evander Kane is a complete wild card.

He spoke today and he says he's close to being 100%. So he'd be a lift. But who knows? The guy hasn't played for a year. You know, it's, you you know it's you know it's that's a pretty tall order and then the at-home one is it quite honestly it's devastating now today the coach talked about him being out for at least the first round you know is that coach talk for we're trying to keep people guessing I don't really know but the reality is you're now down to four what I've called kind of top four guys but they had five before and now if someone else gets hurt, now all of a sudden you're down to three.

And now you're looking down at Troy Stetcher, Ty Emberson, you know, Klingberg, I'm not sure where he's at, and Josh Brown, and you know, with all due respect to those guys, I was those guys. And even I was like, I don't want to put this guy in.

Don't put me in. I'm not, we want to win this thing. So, it's pretty, it's pretty scary. Did you ever say it to a coach though, Strud, did you ever say maybe me going in isn't the best idea? My mouth didn't, but my eyes didn't lie. It windows into my soul.

I'm like, you don't want to put me out there. Just seducing your coach into a healthy scratch. One night in Worcester, Struddy was minus three. We were 10 minutes in and Jimmy Roberts was yelling and staring down at the end of the bench and Struddy was just rattled. I mean, you remember you were sweating through your jersey and the last one on the third goal against you went to dump it in from center ice and you fanned on it and they went the other way. Dash three it was ugly. Uh oh.

It's awful. Like you're minus three you're not feeling too very good about yourself and an old man's yelling at you. Tell me how much you suck. It's just, well you're confirming how it feels. Thanks for that. Yeah, very inspiring. Well the other thing too is we had the, there was a guy that worked the training room and he was standing there and he said, Strodwick, that guy can shoot the puck harder than you can. He was pointing to the guy, the guy who was pushing the shopping cart around in our dressing room. It was an ugly ugly. Herb Brooks, your coach, what an inspiration. Man. I didn't feel too good I did I don't think I grew that day too much kidding but you bring up an interesting point about the

pressure on McDavid and dry subtle and it's always been there and they've always lived up to it they have always stepped up to the moment like for the most part throughout their playoff career they're the two most I think productive playoff players the most clutch players I think dry settles number one on that list terms of just knowing what he's gonna bring and how he's gonna dominate Right, but it feels like they're asking for even more this year strut Like based on the other injuries based on Hyman not having a great year Nugent Hopkins not having a great year Bouchard being up and down Skinner and what he's gonna do in that

A lot man at the Kings a lot. That's a lot man. At the Kings. A lot of question marks. A lot of question marks. Furthermore, Dry Suttles not playing down the stretch and McDavid's been in and out. When he's played he's looked great. But is it asking too much? Like just blind faith these two guys

can bring you to the promised land? You know what, it's an interesting question. I guess if the four group is healthy, it's a pretty good four group. You know, I think you interesting question. I guess if the four group is healthy, it's a pretty good four group. You know, I think you have a little bit of everything. The problem is there's just so many question marks about it. So recently it's been Jeff Skinner, McDavid and Connor Brown.

So that's two guys that have been mostly in your bottom six are now playing with Connor McDavid and they've worked. Right? They both scored. Connor Brown, I think he has four or five goals in his last five games or something. And then Connor, I think he has four or five goals in his last five games or something. And then Connor, I think he had nine assists, which is a pretty good career for some guys. But then you go down. So if that's the case, then he can maybe put Hyman and Nuge and Dry Saddle together. Or if Frederick gets healthy, he can put him

with Dry Saddle and Hyman and then Nuge is your third line centre with maybe Paul Coulton and Arvidsson. So there's tons of options here for the coaching staff. The problem is just the questions about what it looks like and then who's passing you the puck from the back end. So I have no doubt that these guys, Conor, Leon will be ready. You know, when I look around the team, Leon could miss a month or two and I'm sure he'd be fine to come out and just do it. He does the same with Nick David. But it's everybody else. Are they going to be able to step up and get it done? Because it takes more than

just one or two guys to maybe get by a round, maybe beat LA that way, get to Vegas. I mean, those D are going to be tough. That's a big group of D maybe get by that but to get by either Dallas Colorado or Winnipeg that's a murderer's row here. Yeah it really is. The pathway is just dangerous there. Very tough. And I say this oh you brought it up like LA is no joke they're a hell of a team. No. And that's the thing like I think the the Oilers are they're gonna end up in third place so they're gonna start on the road the biggest challenge for them is to try and win in that building because LA's lost what five games all year in that building now I know regular seasons difference so the thought processes go you got to steal one and get home ice I get that

but there is just on paper if everybody was, Edmonton would be a different conversation. But there's this giant if beside six or seven names. And I think that has to be concerning for people in Edmonton. It's gotta be concerning to people that look at Edmonton and go, okay, can this team do anything? There's just so many questions that need to be answered. They can be answered, but also there's just so many ifs. What if?

And that's where you look at it and go, it might just be too big of a hill to climb. Yeah. And then you look at, you know, Doughty and Joel Emerson, like where are they at health wise? Because that could be a pretty big thing. And then the guy, I love Quinton Byfield. I think that his game has grown this year and he's going to be a handful, man. That guy, I don't know if they have 50, 60 points this year, maybe 22 goals, but he's gonna be a handful man that guy I don't know if they have 50 60 points this year maybe 22 goals but he's gonna be a real handful if not you know this year for them he's that's the wild card for me versus the winners yeah

well yeah I mean I listen we got to get there first to find out exactly what's gonna happen we know those two teams gonna meet but and your buddy is going for a hundred points strut yeah are you at with mitch mitch marner i don't see mcdavid with a hundred points yet backside of his career out there alleged off your take no i don't mean it should be a spiff if caribou gameplay fifty games talking about the point is right now

but that's a chocolate uh... but no i understand i i i want to me, I want the Leafs to do well. Really? Come on. And now they put, they give themselves a chance. No, it's true. I do.

I like a lot of players on that team, and I think they put themselves in a position. But just like the Jets, you got to show that you can get it done. Yes. And they have, they had some nice road games, but that win was against Tampa. They were up, was it last week? They were up 2-2 nothing, two nothing or two nothing almost right away. I love that. Yesterday at Carolina was a big win though. Big win in Carolina yesterday. For sure. Yeah that was a big one and then but then the show against

Florida maybe not quite as good. So you know but everyone has off days right so we can't just pick and choose but I think they're going the right direction. I look forward to see what happens. Yeah and it looks like Battle of of Ontario, you know, the Leafs, if they get another point or Tampa throws away another point. Yeah, and I'm curious where you look, how you look at that from a far stride. Like you don't have, you don't have any, you know, chips on the table here when it comes to Ottawa, Toronto, the Battle of Ontario. Which team do you think would be kind of salivating more at that proposition of those two teams

playing each other. Well I think they're in different situations. I don't think Toronto can care who they're going to play. I think they should think they can beat anybody. Like that's the attitude they're going to come out. We are going to play our game and that should be enough to beat any team we want to play. We've taken a step forward. Whereas Ottawa, I mean what do they have to lose? You know, let's imagine game auto wins it how tight do the pills get around Toronto that happens right so that to me is a real big wild card and they they have nothing to lose they just wanted to make the playoffs so I think that this is both teams have you know a

reason to really be you know happy for their games at but Toronto's got to come on and play their game they cannot worry about what Ottawa does. And Brady Kachuk, who's going to slow this guy down? Which which? Is it Carlo? That's the question. Because you know he's going to come out and he's going to be all over Matthews. He's going to be all over Marner.

He's going to be all over Morgan Reilly. And not that you say you have to fight him, but someone's got to at least go over and, hey, that's enough. You know, slow it down Brady Yeah Well, you're right like someone like if he comes in and is just bulldozing over people and punching people in the head and causing scrums You don't think that will be like that? I would assume so but the question is does he take it too far? Is he too is he a rabid dog out there?

It's like go ahead take two minutes. Yeah, like he's got to be careful He can't be stupid. You gotta be smart. I I would think you know everyone here in Toronto wants Ottawa I think in people in Ottawa want Toronto as well I 100% believe because you know you look at it because the not because the Leafs aren't good It's because of the alternative what you're looking around the corner is going Tampa's won Florida's won as recent as last year, so you're going with the Leafs haven't yet so okay we'll take that team and since three and organs the leaf yeah I still thought I think regular season I hear you know it's better than being on three you're right you're right it's just might as well have something to look but in Ottawa I do believe that they think

okay well we do match up nice against them but that team doesn't have a lot of experience now that's why the Sands brought in Amadio, Perron, guys like that who've won and been there, cousins, like guys who've won Stanley Cups at the bottom, you know, kind of in your bottom six. That's what they're looking to do, but those, it's, you're right, is Brady Kachuk going to be a difference maker in a positive way or a negative way? That's the biggest challenge. He's got to keep his emotions.

You've got to channel it, right? Right. But he is a handful. Like, both sides are going to have, I think it'll be a great series, but both sides are going to have their challenges. Absolutely. Yeah. Well, that's the question.

Like, from a physicality standpoint, it's going to be very difficult for you to stop Brady, but then you look at a guy like Stootslow who's never played a playoff game, can he elevate the playoffs? Because they they're gonna be all over him right they can't answer Kachuk but you know someone's going up the Stoots one say I'm punching you in the head every night yeah what are you gonna do about it you know so it's a tit for tat it's gonna go both ways but anyway we're getting closer and closer Strutt enjoy your your final week out there shoes on other people's feet and we'll do this again before the playoff start hopefully

i can't wait keep the pain coming really really good uh... next ready who put the two of us jason strudwick joining us here on the maple toyota hotline drive the built-in canada fuel-efficient funded right away to ref for gas or hybrid models available is in the full toyota dot com and jacked for the battle of Ontario. I will be sickened if this doesn't happen now. It has to happen now. I have to see it.

I don't see why it has to. It's a change of pace. It's a layup. It's just something different like God. Just one anthem and you're back and forth and down the road and it's it's old And you know, it'll be Like talks will be down there and stumpy I'll beat all these great figures of the Battle of Ontario the past and then in Ottawa would be the same thing Alfredson will be out Wade Redden's gonna come out Chris Neil and there's just so many figures that are just remind me of the what happened with the, the Sens win in the regular season and then get

in the lose in the playoffs? I've never lost to them in the playoffs. Like they beat them every single... Ottawa would sometimes be the one seed or the two seed and always, and at least swept them once. There were a couple of game, a seven game series. Yeah. Cause I, you know, I was playing in the league and I couldn't care less about the...

Well obviously, if you're playing then... Yeah, but it was just... But up here it was as big as it got. Yeah, well this would be amazing. I think it's like a, you know, wasn't it a 90%, 95% chance it's going to happen? What are the numbers? Well, it's, I mean Ottawa's there. Ottawa's done their part.

Yeah, it's exactly i mean i was there on was done their part of the actually auto has got a lot of you have the least lose the next two in regulation in tampa win their next two games then it'll be tampa ottawa lease plan florida they just need at least a guaranteed home i think it a big game in ottawa in buffalo to exactly go into more get it into overtime and then put your feet up and we'll see a battle of ontario uh... right bladdy guerrero officially signing today he was up there at the

presser and i i have a great appreciation for the fact that he didn't have his interpreter up there he was speaking with the media was representing himself uh... really impressed with that's that's tough to do and he's doing it and it's a big moment for the club and they're on a heater right now they've got a split in baltimore but they're leading the al east a couple games over over five hundred they got a split in Baltimore, but they're leading the AL East. They're a couple of games over 500. They got Atlanta in town starting tonight and Ross Atkins will join us on pushing

this over the finish line. And also what's up with Max Scherzer. We got a bit of an update earlier today. We'll try to get more from Ross. He will join us next. That just happened with me, Basheke Pelos, Canada Decides 2025. Stay informed with my exclusive iHeartRadio podcast, available Friday afternoon straight through till election day and beyond. I'll have your weekly highlights and my unvarnished analysis of the campaign of a lifetime, the candidates, the quotes, the polls, and the momentum. That just happened with Vashjikopelos, Canada Decides 2025. Fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app.

All right, it was a big one down at the Rogers Center today. Vladdy Guerrero Jr. 500 million dollars, man. A 14 year contract. Locked in, it's signed. And the Jays are in a good spot, man. They got a split in Baltimore. They're at home now.

You got Atlanta in town. The Bra braves been struggling a little bit out of the gates and everything is is coming together for vladian in the blue jays and uh... i thought it was really cool that that he was up there you know speaking and you know speaking english and i i know that could be a challenge for a lot of players a lot of people when english is a second language in buddy handled it really, really well and it was a big moment in the history of the club.

That's basically what came together this morning and earlier this afternoon. It's nice that the language is right there for you. Absolutely. And he made the effort. He's going to be here for a long time. A half a billion dollars in your genes. That's not too bad. Not too bad to chat about that among other things including the series starting tonight Here's the GM of the Blue Jays. Here's Ross Atkins. How you doing Ross?

I'm doing great. Thanks for having me on guys. Yeah. Thank you for doing this I'm curious your kind of take on Vlad and how comfortable he is now kind of being the face of the team and again I thought it was pretty significant. He's up there without his interpreter. He was speaking to the media by himself. And I thought that was really cool to see. What did you make of how comfortable Vlad he looked throughout this whole process?

Yeah, it was, first and foremost, it's just so powerful for the organization that we are talking about this being done here today. And having gone through it with him them having been with him for 10 years now and watching his growth his maturity and professionalism has always been powerful and it's just continued to get better and better and today was an example of that. How do we get here today Ross it seemed like there was some kind of sad looking faces,

disappointment, spring training opened up, there's no deal to get done, comments from both sides and then anything like this there's got to be movement from different areas, either a player says to his agent, an owner says to the president or yourself, let's get this thing done. How did we get here today? Yeah, you know, it takes, you know, there's so many variables in these types of deals. So it's not just about the $500 million, although that is by far the most important one. But there are so many other aspects to it to make it work for the team and to make it work for the player, for it to make sense to the agent and that just took time.

It really did define the sweet spot and more time than usual for sure because of the magnitude and the pending free agency coming up. But in the end, I think Gladdy was one of the things that was so impressive to me is how poised he was with me throughout the entire interaction you know over The years and then throughout spring training and then into the season as I was interacting with him. He was Extremely extremely poised and You know always I expected the professionalism, but that's just, that's a lot to handle.

And he handled it exceptionally well. Ross, did you ever think, and you've been around the game a long time, did you ever think that the numbers that guys are signing on these contracts would ever get to this? I mean, Otani, you know, busts through the ceiling. It doesn't even bust through, it just drives right through it, and then it trickled down effect. Did you ever think that some of these numbers were going to be put on the contracts? You know, it's not something I spent a lot of time

Thinking about 15 years ago. Okay, where where in the hundreds of millions are these contracts going to get to? but I but I will say that as We speculated on Shohei and speculated on Juan Soto and obviously did our work on Vladi, we could see it pointing to these types of figures. So it's just the game has, you know, it's such a great thing. I've always said this, I love it when players get paid because that's what the game is about. It's about the fans and the players. And I love seeing it happen at such significant,

this magnitude, it's just incredible. It's a monumental deal and we'll be historic for the Jays and he's gonna be a Blue J for life. Yeah, and it really is an incredible movement for the team considering past contracts. And I think George Springer had signed the largest contract in franchise history and obviously this is at a completely different level and there would have been stress you know crossing T's and dotting I's but now that it's done I'm curious

you know the stress doesn't go away because now it's got to pay off for you right now Vladie like he's got to perform now for the next 14 and a half years what makes you and your staff believe that you'll get the return on investment that is expected here where you're paying he's the third highest paid player in the history of the game. What is the expectation? What does he have to do in the next you know 10-15 years? You know what it's it's be himself and get better. He has to have those standards.

He can't, I don't expect Lydie to change. He's been so incredibly consistent over the last 10 years of his professional career, and obviously was prior to that when he was 12 and 14 and coming into being a professional. So it's incredible to think about just how young he is. But he does, he does have to focus on being a better player every day. And that's what will elevate our environment

and create the type of energy and atmosphere and environment that we need to win baseball games. And he knows that it comes with a lot of expectation, but from the starting point of him being such a talented baseball player that enjoys it so much, you guys know very well that's a very good foundation to have. How does this number in the contract kind of affect things moving forward with Bowe possibly?

I think it was you that said the idea of moving forward would be to have these two together and with a number this big could there be advantages and disadvantages to even starting negotiations with Bo? Well I mean every piece of information matters I would never deny that and but every situation and circumstance is different. So that is the case prior to this deal. There were other deals that would have implications on whoever else that we're going to talk to about extensions or about acquiring. But we'll do the best of our ability to... We always talk about sharing risk and what that means is,

I mean, it's pretty, it's not a very complex thing to think about what shared risk is, but it really comes down to a team being willing to stretch a little bit and take some risk on the performance and injury side and a player being willing to potentially have less money on the table as a free agent and or less earning potential at that as a player would as a free agent and so we'll just work to see if there's a way to line up there. With Ross Atkins and Vlad was asked about you know the future of Bo with the team at the presser today and he said you know that's his brother he'd love him to be here but he doesn't have any control over it i'm curious if you have different expectations for vladhi considering the the significance of the contract

and the commitment away from the field when it comes to selling your program compared to other players that would you know sign two three-year deals at lesser money. In other words, is there an expectation now within the organization for Vladi to be someone that will help you sign free agents, help you speak with, you know, younger players who are coming in? You have a draft pick. Is Vladi, does he have to speak with that player? Would you expect him to meet with that player? What comes with this contract that could apply a different set of standards to Vlade compared to other players? I think it's more about what we were talking about before.

Just focus on being a better player every day and a better teammate every day. And he has such a good foundation and starting point. And as it relates to recruiting players, absolutely. But that existed before this deal. And that exists for Bo and that exists for George and Jose and so many others. And we, it just depends on who we're recruiting and how, and how can we connect and what's the most powerful approach to take. And sometimes laddie will be a very integral piece to that. Max Scherzer, thumbs feeling a little bit soreness, that's what's been reported.

I mean, where are you at with that? Is he taking the cautious approach? You know, it's a... Getting dicey here. It is. Well, we've got to be honest, we're a little bit nervous. I mean, where are you at? Are you on the six-pack near the side or more on the Rick Bushwood side?

Oh, I'm on Rick Bushwood. Rick Bushwood, it's a... We're in Rick Bushwood's territory here. We're a little bit of Rick,wood. We're in Rick Bushwood territory here. It sounds like a second doctor in like two weeks. We might be pushing Nick Cage soon. Take us off that cliff, please. Please. It's something that he has to...

We, not he, we have to find a way to help him get past that and we're gonna do everything in our power. He is checking a lot of other boxes and his performance in spring training was encouraging, his stuff has been encouraging. And so if we can find a way to get over this hurdle, we're gonna be in a very, very strong spot and our focus is to do so and to do it the right way.

Well, I mean, you guys are more than just surviving without them. Your team ERA going into this past weekend was, I believe, the highest it's been in franchise history through 14 games, 15 games. The bullpen's been great. Hoffman was phenomenal again yesterday. He's blowing kisses to the Orioles. Can you take us through that Hoffman situation in particular? Like, do you send a bottle of wine to the Orioles doctors and say thank you for that

physical being failed? And like, how did you land him? And now that you have, and you've seen it up close and personal, how lucky and fortunate do you feel that you got him signed? Yeah, it's interesting. It's not often that that happens. It is rare, but we've been through it before where something is less than amicable about that physical for a team or for something happens in the negotiation. And we were just fortunate to be in a position to have them go through our process. And we didn't have the same level of concern. So you have to do that over and over,

put yourself in good positions and hopefully have better outcomes than most. Well, and seeing him go multiple innings, like obviously you know he's healthy, you believe he's healthy, but he's being pushed to the limit, like multiple times this year and he's showing up. He's got a sub one ERA like how because the bullpen we talked about it a lot

last year you were on with us we it was a real issue for your team I mean you guys you lost you threw away a lot of games late in innings and so far so good and Hoffman in particular like how significant is it to have kind of that alpha dog so to speak as the guy who's kind of the man in the bullpen, so to speak? Yeah, you know, you've seen teams do it different ways. There's been very successful teams that don't have the absolute back end stop

that can still win a ton of baseball games. But man, when you do, it is really, really powerful for the rest of your bullpen and just for the winning environment that it creates. There's a level of confidence as you get closer and closer to the game that everyone can feel and that is a real, you know, tangible difference maker. And so he's off to a good start. We obviously hope that it continues and are confident that it will.

He has just the ability to get swing and miss of left-handed and right-handed hitters and do it with multiple weapons It's not just a split or a fastball or a slider that he's gonna get swing and miss where he gets it with all three against both sides of the plate and He's enjoying it. He's doing with Moxie and confidence and it's it's really rubbed off in a positive way. With Ross Atkins, so you guys, nine and seven, you're leading the division. I'm going to ask you a glass half full, glass half empty question because we know the stats, we know the standings and you're back home against the Braves starting tonight. Yet, you know, the power just hasn't been there. I saw a statistic yesterday afternoon.

Your team, the Jays, the only team in baseball that haven't hit a home run with a runner in scoring position, which is somewhat shocking. Glad he still hasn't hit a home run. You know, Santander hit one over the weekend. He's got one. Bowe hasn't hit one yet. So nine and seven without the power, without the slugging. Is glass half full or glass half empty? Yeah, I was talking to our hitting coaches today. I didn't bring up the topic. They did. And, you know, comments were, wait until that comes. It is going to be electric and they feel it coming. Tony Taters has been a guy that notoriously has slow started a bit and that power has

come a little bit later into the season. Vlad Similer last year, once he gets into his rhythm, the ball starts to elevate a little bit more. Bo probably deserves a couple home runs at least with a couple of balls he's driven, just had bad luck on. So they're coming. The home runs are coming at a much higher clip. That's an easy one to go glass half full on, but part of that is the fact that we just

haven't hit many. Right. And do you have an anticipation for what the vibe's going to be like tonight? You're back home Vladdy signed like if Vladdy hits a home run tonight how electric do you think it could be down at the Rogers Center? Yeah that will be he's got a he's and he's got a knack for that he's got a knack for the big stage in the moment so that would be that would be very exciting. Yeah I think the money sign might have to come up when he's rounding the pace of something he

might have to it's just it's an incredible contract but I know a lot of Blue J fans really really excited that it got done and you know a lot of support for Vlad. Could you feel that Ross like opening day even like when you're down, sure you were there in New York opening day with the Mets, did you have a reaction to their crowd cheering Vlad when that point he was still unsigned? Yeah yeah of course of course I'm aware and feel it as a competitive, you know, teammate. I want everything in the world for us to be the best possible team and it is a very cutthroat and competitive environment so I do very much feel it and just embrace it and focus on what we can

control. Well, you control this one and you got it over the the finish line and flat He's gonna be here for a long time again You guys are off to a really good start and you're back home Braves tonight. So good luck tonight throughout this series throughout the week in the season and and we'll do it again down the road Thank you Ross. I Brian I love hearing about o dogs provincial experience in the Washington Ross we're out of time pal. My daughter, I know there's nothing worse than those washrooms in that experience. Yeah I was feeling for you man. So you're a volleyball dad too as well. You've been in a position like Oh dog you gotta give us the truth.

This is professional stuff here and but watch those bulls man if you're a kitchen or one of those boulders man they're dangerous out there thank you ross but i got there's a ross ackens who i think he the camp at the time for you all i think he as you can't be pulling that stuff up in a professional we like we just asked

for a lot of time to ask if he said can't be pulling that stuff up in a professional. We try to put a professional at it. We just asked Ross Atkins if he's had constipation issues at a volleyball tournament. The guy just signed Fladi Guerrero. And then run into a giant boulder on the way out of the parking lot. Dude, you are a wanted man in Kitchener. You're not allowed back. See you in court. There are people that write to me and say, this guy.

See you in court. See you in court. They're saying the boulder is put there so people don't drive across the grass. I didn't do anything nefarious, okay? I did nothing. I did nothing. Richard Kimball. No, I'm Sykes. I'm Sykes. You're Sykes. The one man cruising around Kitchener with an absolute boiler issue that needed to be rectified. It's the biggest dump in the world. That's true.

It was. It was. Hey, look at this. Someone sent me this from Kitchener. Oh yeah. Yeah, they said, I at this. Someone sent me this from Kitchener. Oh yeah. They said, I found this. Dude, that was, that might be like the dagger, like there's cuts and there's like different wounds.

When someone said, when the mug flew and rolled on the floor and someone said, ah, look a TV coffee mug, probably ODogs. I literally wanted to stuff my head in the toilet. Yeah, that one, you got to escape at that point. You got to find a way to disappear. But we made it and it's all good. Steve Sands coming up on the Rory McIlroy career grand slam. Where does it stack up all time in terms of Masters history?

That more still to come with Sansy. CJ will join us as well. Big night at the Bell Center tonight. Leaves back in action tomorrow tomorrow jays in action tonight overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for who invited climate action to the party we did hey I'm Shannon Burns and I'm Sarah Christy together we host the Earth Day Party podcast where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet everything from avoiding

microplastics to sustainable fashion to getting a prescription to spend time in nature. Plus, we hear from David Suzuki. This is a party where everyone is invited. The Earth Day Party Podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. All right, Steve Sands coming up in about 15 minutes. We will revisit our tailor-made PGA picks as well.

It was a barn burner going into yesterday. Let me ask you this, Hazy. Tom Kim on Saturday had to play with a marker. And a marker is a member at Augusta National, typically the best player. And if there's uneven numbers, they don't want to send the guy out by himself. If at the Canadian Open, Lawrence Applebaum called you and said,

there's an odd number of players, do you want to play as a marker on Sunday at the Canadian Open, would you do it? I would do it, and, you wouldn't, dude. I would be so terrified with the crowds out there and cameras, because there'd be cameras. Like I do the Pro-Am, there's no cameras. Yeah, dude, everything. Full meal deal.

Yeah. It would be in the morning, because... Exactly. And let's clarify. Like I wouldn't be on the golf channel, wouldn't be like, eh, we're checking in with Brian Hayes here. But do you think you could pull it off? He'd pull like Tom Kite.

I think I wouldn't be able to pull it off because here's the thing and you'd have to play from that from the tips you can't be like i'm going up in plane the blue you would tell l a i'm in adult do it i would do it out of courtesy to lauren's call canada t p c toronto but i would be so terrified i would tom kites somebody yet i would see i would fizzle hook a drive and bury somebody

There's this guy at Augusta that used to beat the pro He beat Sergio and Sergio wouldn't shake his hand apparently he beat McElroy Yeah, I'm Augusta like he shot 65 and Rory shot 66 like in a practice round this guy. He's got the course record Yeah, I believe yeah, yeah practice round and i he's got the course record yeah i believe that let you know that you're not a six-year-old and i have to be on the floor but why is this is that a plus threes estate is a grab players got big money the guy it would

be a he'd be losing money to be on tour right i think it is a member of the gussey's probably worth a billion dollars and like i'm not going to play in the pg eight to a u s does it come a member of the gus gusto yeah i'd get crapper out there my crapper because that guy's a stick okay uh... that would be interesting me versus crapper at the rbc canadian open i want you versus crapper at weston as soon as the weather is nice done to record the whole thing dialing in

my crapper versus brian haze uh... our three come on mike My crapper versus Brian Hayes. Hour three coming up. Mike crapper. Mike crapper. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050. And on the TSN Up. Hey, who invited climate action to the party? We did.

Hey, I'm Shannon Burns. And I'm Sarah Christie. Together we host the Earth Day Party Podcast. Where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion to getting you a prescription to spend time in nature. And we're going to be doing a lot of research on climate change.

So stay tuned. We're going to be doing a lot of research on climate change. And we're going to be doing a lot of research on climate change. And we're going to be doing a lot of research on climate change. And we're going to be doing a lot of research on climate change. And we're going to be doing a lot of research on climate change. And we're going to be doing a lot of research on climate change. And we're going to be doing our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion to getting a prescription to spend time in nature. Plus, we hear from David Suzuki. This is a party where everyone is invited.

The Earth Day Party Podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.