OverDrive - OverDrive - April 2, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: April 2, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joins to discuss Auston Matthews' positive health, Nick Suzuki's impressive season and the buzz around offer sheets in the NHL. TSN Maple Leafs Reporter Mark Masters joins to discuss the Maple Leafs and Panthers' showdown with the massive matchup and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos. 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 Vashi Kapelos. Canada decides 2025. fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app. Final hour overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Blue Jays winning this afternoon and they're back in action on Friday in New York playing Juan Soto in the Mets home opener for the Mets and Jays are Off to a good start man. They're off to a really good start. That's that's four wins in a row

They just swept the Nationals. They're five and two on the season and the Nats are a team You got a beat like that team does not scare anybody But well you look at it hazy that last year. I think they're pitching But, well, you look at it, Hazy, last year, I think their pitching kind of was up and down and there was question marks, but if they can get a guy going out there, giving them five or six solid most days, and the guys they've added could provide some offense like Santander and Jimenez, like he's been unreal. It's been great. So if they can just add, because we talked about their offense for two years straight,

they couldn't hit with runners in scoring position. So if they can just get like minor improvements on that alone and you get guys going out there that are having solid outings on the mound, you got a chance to win. Yep. I'm not saying they're going to be world beaters, but they've got to be better than they were last year. Yeah, I think everything's an improvement as far as that consistency, but like Bo looks better.

I know he cut his hair, but he looks lighter. He looks like he's in really good shape. I know he was spring training or whatever. He didn't look in great shape in spring training when he showed up. I think he's probably been through the ringer on some I don't know what has happened. I think he's had some stuff go on. I think obviously he had injuries I don't know if he had there was like this is the thing that people don't understand because they think pro athletes are just like robots they go like

You break up with people like there's relationship stuff, there's all kinds of stuff going on. Personal stuff where it's like you've got to go to the ballpark and be superhuman and act like nothing's going on, especially in a mental game like baseball. Sometimes you're going through some stuff and you top on injuries, it's difficult to perform. Hopefully he's through that and he's got a clear picture and a clear focus and he can get the job done because he's a hell of a player when he plays well. Yeah also a contract year for him right like it's a big platform year man like you want you want big money like life-changing contract available to you maybe you want to stay

in Toronto maybe you got your eyes on something else he's got to perform and um you're right it snowballed on him last year a lot of injuries injuries, he never got healthy, he never hit. He had like four home runs last year. He just never got off the ground. It never happened. Never looked comfortable. He looks very healthy, looks very comfortable, he looks dialed in. And that goes a long way. Team building for any sport, it starts with your best players. They have to be your

best players. Like they have to. And if Bichette can do that, Vlad can do that, Santander is off to a really good start. your best players they have to be your best players like they have to and if the check can do that Vladimir can do that Santander is off to a really good start him and as like you mentioned Springer looks good like George Springer looks really good man I think he hit a home run today so you can get anything out of George like last year was a disaster for Springer man yeah a disaster for him and I'm I'm not holding my breath it's still early

you're not pulling for my point for you know the kind of redemption story of springer with a couple years left on his deal but uh... they needed to start like this because now you go to the match you know you're going to the yankees you're going to fennway you get a lot of top top series coming up and you needed to get off to a good start. They've done that.

Sprague is a guy, Hayes. Figure out load management on that guy. Just figure out what he needs to be healthy and perform. Because if you want to wheel him out every day, I don't think he can play. Right. Yeah. Well, they got to get Varshall back before all the chips can fall where they're supposed to fall.

You got to get him back playing playing being in centerfield every single day The complication is that I don't know if Santander is gonna play in the outfield every single. You know, he's played right field today I think he opened the season playing left field. He's gonna DH He's not exactly knocking the cover off it right now No, and you know, he's he's not he's not an elite outfielder defensively And I think the turf in particular at the Ryder Center is a bit of a concern. It used to be when he was in Baltimore.

So they got to get Varsho back, because once Varsho plugs in, you know who's playing centerfield every single day, and then you figure out who else is going to go from there. Then you can possibly be in a position with Springer where you can DH him. You can give him days off. Like if you're going to play seven games in a row, you give him a breather. He's not a young guy. And you're going to need him over the course of the season, undoubtedly. But a really good start, man.

A really, really positive start. They needed that because there wasn't a ton of buzz with them coming home. The same way it had been in the past. And they can create buzz by winning. The only way you can really do it, pro sports, you've got to win to get people truly on the bandwagon. The Jays are 5 and 2, really good start. Off tomorrow at the Mets on Friday.

Leafs Panthers tonight, here's our TSN Hockey Insider, Darren Dreger. What's happening, Dreggs? Hey, not much, fellas. Just looking forward to the game. Yeah, this is a big one tonight, man What are you what are you expecting in terms of intensity tonight from both teams? Yeah, I mean I think we should expect them to be at a high level He was Florida showing a little bit more grit Did what they've seen

I did watch the... That is phony. Okay, Dreggs, everything's... You got a phone issue or we... I think we got you. Yeah, no, I'm back. I'm back. Okay. I literally took a sip of drink and I didn't know whether I should spit it out or swallow

and I started choking. So that's what happened but uh... i was able to get the mute button clicked and a few seconds later cleared but okay um... you know i i i know you guys think i think it should be a high level of intensity of Florida's you know coming off some disappointment at the hands of the Montreal Canadians and you know Florida wants to win the division as much as the Toronto Mesa so they've got as much to prove so I think it should be a good

one. Absolutely. Yeah. Any idea of you know we're talking about Matthew Kachuk earlier that I guess he's skating and he's not likely to return until the playoffs but is there any reason to believe like even come playoff time maybe he won't be available or if he is he's not at a hundred percent like what what should we be expecting in terms of Kichuk updates between now and then? Well, I think that's possible that if he starts game one, he's not at 100%. Paul Reese has been as transparent as he can be in terms of making sure that nobody, especially us in the midfield, react to him being on the ice and essentially just pushing bucks

around. You know, he's just getting the feel again, but you know, he hasn't wrapped up his conditioning even a little bit or at least that's our understanding given what we've heard and what we've seen out of Florida. And the players aren't that far away. So he's got a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time, but as we know, Baths is brighter. They're both gamers and no matter what percentage they're able to say after they're gonna make a difference or at least try to you know I I can't say that there's a strong chance he's not going to be ready for game one but just given where we're at in the

calendar and what I'm hearing you know Paul Maurice say I think that that has to be considered and maybe he won't be ready or he is playing, he's not close to being 100%. Yeah, that'll be a massive development, man. That is going to be a huge story to see what Kichuck's got and what it looks like, you know, if at all, because like we had, we had Pronger on last hour and Chris brought up the point that, you know, they're just a completely different team. It's a completely different complexion.

Florida, when you have Matthew Kachuk and when you don't, sure you went out and got Brad Marchand and ideally they're both playing together but that maybe speaks to why you'd go out and get Brad knowing that if Kachuk can't be at 100%, maybe he can pull his weight and bring that kind of ingredient to the team. Yeah, I'm with you. I mean, they're a much different team, better team, with Matthew at times leading the charge. But as Toronto is experiencing this regular season with Sam Bennett scoring a couple of power play goals, they have many different weapons that can beat you. And I think the experience of the success of the florida panthers have when they drop puck on the playoffs regardless of what matthew pachuk status

is you know if if all of a sudden he's not available and that drips into the middle of the round or later in the round table now you've got a you've got a considerable issue but we're talking about a gamer too now we're talking about playoff hockey here without him i think they've got enough experience in enough not yet there to uh... to weather that type of storm darren speaking of health uh... boston matthews had a period los angeles where

i thought it was his best period of the year he just look like a guy that he looked like the boston matthews that we watch for a bunch of years yes intense and on the park and you couldn't get it off him and there was some drive there. What do we know about his health, if anything, going into the playoffs? If it doesn't go well for him in the playoffs, does it fall back on, well, I wasn't 100% healthy? Is he looking at some kind of procedure in the summer to get 100%?

Is this something he's stuck playing with the rest of his career? do we know anything about that well I'm totally fine I know I totally fine and you know are we gonna dissect what that means you know you can play in the national hockey league and be fine but that again doesn't mean that you're playing at that full capacity but my understanding is that he feels as good as he's felt in a long, long time. And you've referenced that Los Angeles game, and I'm with you. I mean, for the most part, that game was a heavy sort of Western conference battle that

the Toronto Maple Leafs had success on. And often they asked Matthews for a good chunk of that game, was the best player on the sheet. I think the club and probably Matthews is growing weary with those that continue to write about how well the data would suggest that Austin Matthews isn't healthy. All right well I mean players are allowed to go through stretches of games where maybe the puck isn't coming off his stick the way we expect it to it the net any have those stretches this season but i would say of late uh... from a physical perspective there's nothing limiting them

nothing that could change between now and start of the last and in the playoffs maybe we learn more but again i check on that a lot and every time i asked those i trust i get the same response not thirty fine everything's good what about Max Patcheretti and Yanni Hockenpa yeah yeah well I mean Patcheretti I'm told is very very close you know I think until the end of the regular season there has to be part of a numbers game that's considered here, both in roster spots and then obviously you got calculations. I don't know that Patioretti is ready to play, I just I've been told that he's getting real close. I'm going to be honest,

I haven't checked on Yanni Hockita in a long time, but you know maybe that's because I don't feel like we've had to because again unless you guys have a different vision different view of this I think since Brandon Carlo has arrived on the scene via trade with the Boston Bruins Toronto's defense has been pretty solid and Morgan Reilly maybe that the the offensive numbers aren't aren't quite there yet but he looks a little bit more stable with Brandon Carlo kind of bolstering that and I like their D overall now. So if Yanni Hakenbaugh

is an option for him in the playoffs then I guess that just supplies the depth that Brad Trelooping has built at this point. With Darren Drager a TSN hockey insider, he will play a little mini Jerry's. We've been doing that a lot recently. What is your mini Jerry's on Nick Suzuki not only making the Olympic team next year, but having the chance to be an impact player on that Olympic team next year? I mean, he has to be strongly in the conversation. So I feel like he's going to make it.

I feel like he's going to make it. And I'm not sure whether this is just the development late bloomer of Nick Suzuki. If he was motivated by having to watch some of the coordination space off in Montreal and knowing that he wasn't selected. Not that he was hurt, he wasn't picked. And there are other players on that team that he probably felt that he was better than that were on the team that ended up winning. And so I actually talked about this on Montreal Radio earlier this morning. A bit of a stigma around Suzuki, and this is full

disclosure here, is that on more than one occasion he's turned down Canada when they've come calling for a spot in the men's world championship team. And look, players are in their right to the offseason, and players have all sorts of responsibilities in that offseason. Yeah, but Darren, they were made known to players. The last one before the E4 Nations, it was like, if you are kind of a bubble guy, it might be imperative that you show up.

Yeah, you're not wrong. And he didn't make the team. And I think that was a part of it. You know, probably was a part of it to some degree. But the end of the day, when you're talking about an Olympic roster, you know, Doug Armstrong's responsibilities to pick the best team available. And right now, you know, it's a hard conversation to have. But what more can Nick Suzuki do?

He was in the conversation to make that four nations team, despite what we've already talked about and some of the controversy around it. He was on the cusp. He was, according to the decision makers so if he had uh... and probably strong finish here who knows what the mcreal canadians can do if they lock down a playoff spot maybe just one of places way onto that

so bigger surprise for you drags the montreal canadians that we just talked about or the saint. Louis Blues? Probably St. Louis and only because I go back to when I was in Winnipeg for a Jets game in January and I remember doing an insider trading there and just talking about Doug Armstrong he was pissed with how the team was playing and he was basically threatening everybody. In fact at one point I think he went in the room or met these guys in a room somewhere, the players, and said,

I don't care what your trade status is, protection, any of it, we don't get going. I'm not gonna have a choice but to start moving bodies out because the organization's gonna have to shift in a different direction. And then they started to play better. And then, you know, the Braden-Schen rumors, they dragged along and that was a big part of that.

Because look, I mean, if you wanna play the game of semantics, sure, Armstrong wasn't shopping his captain, but he was damn well listening to all the trade interests that Toronto and other teams had in Braden-Schen. And not one time did you let them off the mat. And I think that was just giving that group a good tug on the leash. And you know, then you've got Bennington and Pareko involved in the foreign nations. Pareko

is hurt-grounded, but you know, everything that's gone on with St. Louis has been rocks all the way since the foreign nations. up maybe that's an experience general manager recognizing what he's got uh... get lucky on the offer sheet front of holloway broberg being impactful guys and again late developing guys like comments and in kairo coming into form as well so everything has gone away the blues and for me that's a little bit surprising based on where they were at the turn of the year

darren you mentioned the offer sheets do you see any type of trend or do you see teams is not allowing that to happen moving forward or could well you never know you it could be a mix of both i i i don't think that he's going to leave themselves vulnerable although i keep reading hearing all the speculation around Matthew Nise. I mean, these big podcasts. Oh, of course. Yeah, 12 million a year he's going to get from someone.

He's going to get the biggest RFA offer sheet in the history of hockey, no question. I mean, come on. We can all identify this collection of restricted free agents that have earned that level of attention, and it's good fodder because we're trying to fill the air between now and the start of the playoffs. There's only so much you can talk about in terms of the playoff race. I get it, but the Oilers put themselves in such a vulnerable and a precarious position by allowing that to happen that Doug Armstrong, the St. Louis Blues, wisely just swooped in and said, all right, yeah, we like Glover get that money. Sure, we're overpaying them right now, but we know Edmonton can't afford that. Likewise for Holloway, and they snatched two players that fit in beautifully in St. Louis. I think, oh, there are teams

that are definitely, definitely going to look for something similar. But sure, you can have teams on the hunt looking for that, but do we not think that the rest of the cap teams around the NHL learned a valuable lesson at the expense of the Edmonton writers? I just find it difficult to believe that somebody is going to get caught that off guard again. Yeah, they should be prepared, absolutely. You might see some offer sheets, but you're going to see more matching, I would think. Yeah, agree.

That's the thing. You don't want to be embarrassed the way Edmonton has been embarrassed this year by the way these two guys have played. With Darren Dreger, so OV's now four away from the record. What are we expecting now in terms of dignitaries in the stands, the whole circus, wherever he goes. What what should we be bracing for here? I think Commissioner Batman jumped on Air Gary and got to tonight's game in time for after making a national rights

announcement today. So Batman expected to be as part of the the tour moving forward. There'll be other NHL executives I think Steve Mayer who's the chief content officer as part of that entourage Wayne Gretzky's official schedule still somewhat up in the air unless someone has reported differently But I think he was planning on coming board Onboard when it got to four goals, and that's where we're at coming on board when it got to four goals. That's where we're at. So it's gonna be interesting to watch it all unfold,

but there's all sorts of things around it too that have been planned, right? Like conditional cameras, like multiple cameras added to make sure they catch every angle. I believe that when the time goal is scored, that the Washington Capitals players are going to be able to pour onto the ice for a quick celebration and Get back to finishing the game. So the NHL I think is gonna give this proper treatment until it's over

Yeah, and it's worthy of it for sure. I mean, yeah, it's just an incredible crazy though It's crazy though not crazy But like four goals they're giving the buffer because this guy could score four one night. Would it surprise you if it was like he turned the clock back and got a hat-trick and an empty netter or something to finish it off type of thing? That's why I think the league is going four goals could be the buffer, but now what if it starts bleeding out? now, what if it starts bleeding out and it's, who was that? Was it Judge, like who was Maris's family that was following? Right, Maris's family was like, alright.

Can we stop? Someone just threw a gun to the building. You're going everywhere, man. How about this one, not to rain on Obie's parade, but there's some traditionalists out there and again, it's just how you wanna twist the words that are a little bit rankled and they must be absolute Wayne Gretzky fanatics because they keep saying

he will not be the goal scoring champion. Like, you know, the record center in the history of NHL goal scoring because the playoff goals need to be included for that to be the case. Oh, stop it. I know exactly who you're talking about too. Why would you talk poor of the Quizmaster like that? No, no, no. I cannot disclose my source. I cannot. Maybe you gotta add where was he before? Was he in Indianapolis or whatever? Gretzky's? Find some goals over there. WHA. uh... that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that's that Alright drugs enjoy the games tonight. We'll do it again soon gay boys. I survived. I didn't think I was right up We were concerned about you. We were very concerned, but you have to race over and yeah

Yeah, dr. Aaron to check the consoles make sure everything go to yeah, she'll take care of you whenever you need help I just let us know Alright guys have a good there and Drager at DS hockey insider, joining us here on the Maple Toyota hotline. Yeah, like four goals. I could see him tying it and beating it in the same game. Four goals is a lot, especially down the stretch, a long season. But it does make you wonder, if Betman's going to be there every single night, if Gretzky is going to take time out of his

You know personal life and fly wherever he's gonna be flying to yeah It gets back to our private bird chat like is Gretzky expensing that like is Gretzky telling the league I'll come but Like I'm not coming up percent. Yeah, exactly We're not out of pocket for this. No, okay Where do you draw the line on that then? Like who was... What do you mean? Well, I mean who else is going to be there? Like Gretzky's Gretzky, Betman's Betman. Do you think Ovi has the right to say, hey I want these people on a bird, I want these people in the stands? Like what do you think? Probably Wipen kids

and his mom, right? Like his dad's passed away. It's probably just his family. Is he paying for that? I'm just curious. So just the leagues paid for that. I think the league is paid. Is that not cap circumvention? I think yeah for his own family like I think the team I don't know he might probably at Yeah, you allowed to I'm being serious like we're cap circumvention and stuff It's weird man like what you're allowed to do and not yeah but that's not I mean I know it does yeah I mean oh we can afford it anyway if he wants to if he wants to exactly broker a bird and fly people around he could do that on his own. You don't want it to go where he goes dry for five games and then all of a sudden you're chasing it you're like oh

my god like I would like them to get it over with sooner than later if he's going to do it this year. Who do they play tonight? Do they play tonight? I don't think they play tonight. I thought Drake's just said that they were playing tonight. Washington and Carolina tonight. Yeah, you're right. Yeah.

And he's torched Carolina over the years. Okay. Well, you know, you look at their schedule, Let me look at it quickly here. Carolina tonight, Blackhawks at home on Friday. That's... Oh man, if he could rip a couple tonight, Blackhawks unlimited potential. Yes. And even the team, like they got the Islanders twice, the Islanders are giving up a ton of goals and the Blue Jackets try to win eight, seven every night. They got them twice.

That Blue Jacket team is like, they're right there yeah they could score they're like Buffalo they're a really good bad team. They're a fun team too man. Marchenko he's got the broken jaw and he's ripping home hat-tricks. Dude they're saying whichever one between them and Buffalo get a really good goaltender they're gonna make the playoffs next year yeah I mean because they're not getting saves in Columbus either like the Elvis Merslykin. I think it's kind of up. Yeah. Listen, I, I know I hate to dump my goal. I seem to watch it all the time. It's just like I feel like it's easy to go because you look at their their goals against and it's

like God, they're 31st in the national hockey league. You watch these teams play defense. It's dog like it's embarrassing. The players are like, yeah, just let the goalie handle that. And to me, it goes hand in hand. You show me a good goalie in the league, and I'll show you a pretty good system in front of me, or a pretty good team that helps out as well, too. So it kind of goes hand in hand.

But if you look at UPL, for example, and Buffalo, he's got a 500 record. It's the guys who haven't played around him that... I think that those teams are right. If they get better goaltending and better systematic play, they might take a step. Buffalo is a good, bad team. Same thing with Columbus. Buffalo last night, world beaters, man. They they've got good players you know that tucks a great player Thompson's a good player that this Paterka is a good player like you're

they're just it's something's doesn't John I got good players and the way Washington plays the way Minnesota plays there's no right for the players to go to management and say we don't have good enough players because those players there's OV obviously there's Capri'sv in Minnesota but for the most part it's just a bunch of really good players playing to a system and playing to win. So there's just no other excuse for it. Agreed. Yeah agreed.

Yeah exactly. Least Panthers tonight best bet still to come later in the hour Mark Masters will set the scene from the rink tonight. Scotiabank Arena. We'll head down there next. North all the way. Loud and proud. An all-new digital radio station from coast to coast. Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeartRadio app and at iHeartRadio.ca. It's gonna get loud. All right, Best Friends coming up later in the hour. Leafs Panthers tonight. Anthony Stolar-Sennett and Mark Masters will join us here in just a moment Still waiting on the torpedo bats and what?

Rob Manfred could do about it in the future. I think he's gonna gas them. You think so? That's the reporting that Dallas Brayden yesterday was like what are you talking about? There's nothing wrong with them They're they're they're legal and I'm like some there's gonna talking about? There's nothing wrong with them. They're legal. And I'm like, there's going to be a bite back from somebody. Pitchers? Yeah, that's what it is. And I think what Manfred is, the report is indicating, it's like the integrity of the game clause, where Manfred may step in and say,

we've had bats built a certain way for a long time. Let's just keep them the way they've always been. You know? But I don't like fix Brian like they send out the memo tonight tomorrow morning no more torpedo bats and it's over with the Yankee they let it go mashing yeah exactly but you let it drag on then you got a problem on your hands but you can just quick and swift memo done gone that's it exactly that's how it and again I i'm not saying it would be it better for the fans or even better for baseball even the right move

but this is generally how commissioners handle these things something flares up it's a distraction forget it buried scott can't do it anymore go back to the way we've always done it moving on and i i kind of anticipate that's the way to play out uh... the lease are owned to this year against florida feels like they you gotta get one here tonight man i guess it's not literally a must win but figuratively it symbolically i think

it is but said down to scotia back years mark masters are may believe reporter how would you describe it from that standpoint mark is is it a must win for the leaves tonight and if so you know what would it mean to them i think i i agree with you like this we've got a win this game uh... it's not a must win of course because you know done much when told to really must win but she'd like you just even there are coming out of the game if they somehow lose it

you know it's sort of got their number there in their head if they can't be done with that would air net flat and that's a good job when they beat them? You know Florida's really banged up right now they're scuffing along you know they played last night this is the end of three and four for them the Panthers Nico Sturms the latest guy to go down for them he's out tonight Kulakov's out Barkov missed some shifts last night he came back in that game but he's clearly not a hundred percent so they're going through it right now this has been a tough stretch and if the Leafss, they got to take advantage here. They've been off since Sunday, had a quick practice yesterday, 12 guys on the ice for the optional skate today. Yeah, they got

to show some killer instinct here tonight. More than anything, it's just jump on these guys, get a nice solid win, get your first win against the Panthers. This could be a playoff matchup in a few weeks. So yeah, it does feel like a very important game, I'll put it that way for the Leafs tonight So with that being said Masters with the third period that Austin Matthews had in Los Angeles Would you expect him to be the guy to lead the charge as far as an emotional? Start to the game and kind of get things going and if it's not him, who would you expect that from? No, you expect it from him and you expect it from Mitch Marner in that line right

like that they got to drive the bus here assuming Barkov is you know Barkov even if he's not a hundred percent he's such a tough matchup rating selfie trophy winner like he kept him pretty Barkov kept Matthews in that line pretty quiet here last month when the Panthers is one three two in this building so it up for for matthews to kind of win that matchup not not enough just a sawed-off you gotta win that matchup that he can do it and it on the power play to but yeah for me it's it's matthews matthews mar that pop line that you're looking to to set the tone

and lead the way tonight and it's the case it is probably most night uh... the goaltender gets another opportunity and Anthony Stolars, we ran Craig Barubey's sound on his goaltending, what he envisioned heading into the playoffs. I don't know if you were in that scrum or watched it, but it didn't sound like he was leaning towards having a tandem situation. He kind of leaned towards, hey, I'm going to go with one guy here and see how this unfolds that did you get the same impression from the head coach i'd just i thought what he said he was interesting because it's not what he

said previously when he was asked about whether he would be you know the question is could you do a call a rotation or would you do a goalie rotation a playoff and he said he would you know they're going to contemplate it they're gonna look at it and he hasn't said that before. He was asked about whether he wanted someone to become the number one guy

or clearly emerge in the lead up to the playoffs. And he said, yeah, that's what he's like. That was back in February at the end of February before a game in New York. And he said he's never, you know, done a rotation of playoffs. Obviously, it's pretty unorthodox. We saw Boston start last year's series with a rotation, but then quickly go to Jeremy Swainain and so i just thought it was interesting that he's being you know he's like yeah we're gonna look at it

you can understand why i think both guys have never played this this much in their careers both have seen their numbers dip uh... as the as the year has gone along here on either guy the playoff track record of course dollars doesn't even have a playoff start although he was part of the family cup winning team last year and just a book got four playoff starts on his resume, but no game one. So, you can understand why they're at least looking at it.

I thought it was very interesting that he would be very open that, yeah, they're going to think about this, because I think Stollers is ahead right now. He'd be the game one starter, but I don't think he's completely distanced himself from Wollast. I don't think there's a sizable gap in the two goalies. I don't think you can clearly say okay i feel really good that this guy's the number one it's going to play the whole period with mark masters at the bottom six forwards you know have been in a

blender really throughout the season and it sounds as if they're going to go back to the same ones that i had here with doming lot in your croak and he got home burglar camp and lorenz how would you handicap the chances We're doming lot in Yarncrook and then you got Holmberg with camp and Lorenz How would you handicap the chances of those being the two lines the third and fourth line respectively come game one of the playoffs? Yeah, I mean it sure feels like this is the lineup right right now that that you're looking at I don't know what happens with Max patch ready once we get to the playoffs But it feels like this or some compilation of these six guys in the bottom six is where we're trending towards. It doesn't fill me with confidence,

I would say, when you look at some of the possible matchups on the other side of the division, but right now, that's what we're looking at. Yarn Croak, I know he hasn't been thrilled with how he's played since he came back, although he felt a little bit better at the end of that California trip. Max Domi, of course, it always seems like he gets pulled back to the middle. I wonder maybe will Scott Lawton end up in that C spot or it's just going to be more of a mix and match down the stretch with those two guys. But sure feels like something like this is what we're going to see in game one when the playoffs get going.

Well, we'll see what we can expect tonight in terms of energy in the building, Mark. Are you sensing the buildup? I mean, puck drop is still about an hour away, but it's a Wednesday night, Florida Panthers, playoff type intensity on the ice. That's what we're hoping for. What do you think is going to be the crowd's reaction to all of that tonight? Well, I hope there will be some juice in the building. Multiple players have brought that up that they're expecting it to be pretty energized here obviously the Leafs were in California then they were also in New York and Nashville like they haven't

played a ton at home here this is a big one the visual rival the defending champs come to town you would hope you know obviously we this building's taken a taking a beating in the past and rightfully so but you'd hope that the fans are going to be engaged right from the start this is a playoff potential preview preview. It's a big game, and the Leafs are coming off a pretty good trip in terms of picking up five or six points in California. So those players are certainly expecting it to be a little extra amped tonight. It's always for me kind of a wait and see with this building, but I haven't felt it yet. Obviously I'm scared of the cold and the snow, so I've been indoors all day here in the arena but

i'm sure it'll get a nice buzz coming up here once once the fans at 7 30 starts a little extra time for people to maybe have a have a drink and get into it yeah i like that i like that idea and uh yeah we'll see brad marshann as as a florida panther for the first time against the maple leafs i don't know if you got a chance to catch up with him earlier today, but you certainly will I'm sure after the game. What is this experience going to be like for you? Someone that's covered him in Boston for so many years, beating the Leafs, scoring big goals in this building as a Bruin. What do you expect that experience to feel like tonight?

Yeah, Panthers didn't have a skate this morning because it's a back-to-back, but I just walked by them on the way up to the press box. It's just so weird to see them in the app and there's been a big this morning because they have to back to back but i just walked by on the way up to the press box it is so weird to see it in the red in the florida colors in uh... so we're robbed of a of a march and scrub this morning because he got the only part kind of be there and you know it has to be quite a bit though yeah and it's not just that you know he's playing in police in a different jersey but he played with them bennett

like embedded a big night in here the last time out two power play goals in that game in the 3-2 win the Leafs didn't really really have an answer for him and now you got those two together you know Oliver Ackman-Larsen had that retaliation penalty that ended up being costly in the last game and the Leafs are really stressing discipline and I just wonder how they're gonna walk that line tonight like they they want to be aggressive they did they want to initiate but Florida's DNA is seen to initiate not necessarily Toronto so it's such a strange balance and now Marchand even you know obviously Kachak is out and it's a different thing and

Ava neck life and have some some grit to him but you just wonder we now with Marchand on the other side how much that's going to factor into some of these scrum they're gonna be good trying trying to get at stole ours after the whistle we saw that it you know kind of poking away at a major career got in there you know i just now march and it's at a little extra space that's all the really really interested to be out of the handle that tonight march and in just in general florida's going to try and grind this down turn it into their kind of game it

you know prove a that they can be comfortable in that one, but I don't know. It'd be fascinating to see how the Leafs handle Marchand and just that general tonight. Masters, after the trade deadline, the phrase the adjustment period, the settling in period comes into play for players that have moved locations and moved teams. How has it been for Carlo and Lawton? Do they look like they're kind of more settled? Is it a different thing to go to a different team? How does it just look from the outside to you? Yeah, I mean two different stories. It feels like Carlo kind of settled in even quicker, you know

Obviously quicker than Lawton did but Carlo I don't know what more you could you could ask for from him I just kind of look at the stats 12 12 games into his Leafs career And he's right at the top of the list in terms of plus-minus for them even though he doesn't produce any often people want to get but you know i i i think he's delivered as advertised and guys were were raven raving about him today bobby mcmahon but you can't get around that guy

you know he's big it ticket amazing you know mitch marner said he uses the fix so nicely to cut direct traffic so it feels like harlow's in nicely, been exactly what they wanted. He was talking about how good the fit is with Morgan Reilly, how they're starting to recognize each other's voices a little bit better when it comes to defending the rush and defensive zone kind of situation. So we'll see if that continues. And then Lawton has settled in. He's settled down a little bit. I think it was tougher for him, obviously. He's from around around here so there's a little extra added pressure.

Kind of weird for him at first because you know he was living in an hotel. He has a place in Toronto but there's a tenant in there so he's kicking the tenant out so he'll be back in his home if he's not already which will probably help him feel a little more comfortable with his. He's got a young newborn way to come come up here so i know that was tricky for him so i feel like harlow's settled in what may be still a bit of the process but get there is he gonna be sued legacy of landlord box i think you can keep people out houses everyone else says you're not kicking me out of anywhere as squatters nowadays

people just don't leave the right i could be the case man lot versus squatter get him you'll be covered a court case masters it sounds like the guy kind of had saw the writing on the wall in the trade with that but he had to hear that guy like you think it the only way i'm out early that somehow get treated here and i wonder kinda like when he kinda had it factored in you know the players probably worth thinking plant like when what the

out the but maybe it wasn't about early of the kick out but uh... i understand it was somewhat friendly in court ruled is that that that that that talk between fit one minute tenet so hopefully it was really i'm ready to go to court if if i have to i like that i could see that in a big part of your future cover court cases cpd for ctv news lot of potential there

uh... they are mark enjoyed a game tonight yeah thanks guys anytime mark masters what's that show was never was the people's court was that what is called people's court of the locker great jack shaw tch what that's right i still watch i don't know why i well i know i knew somebody that went on there once those things are so funny like the older you get you realize that The guy in the police outfits an actor and it's like well judge Judy was making more money than anyone else 40 million a year. She was making 40 Yeah, the year just knocking out court cases for listening to someone say that guy owes me 200 and rent

Yeah, and then her saying oh do you owe them or what's the but she would 40 million out court cases for listening to someone say that guy owes me 200 in rent. Yeah. And then her saying, Oh, do you owe them or what's the, but she would 40 million snap on people. That's why she got the big bucks because she was, she was just losing it on people. Scold them. Yeah. Yeah. There was some, some real, I can't remember the name of the other judges, but that was

the people's court was a beauty. Yeah. There was some great ones. People's court, court judge Judy there were two or three judges that were doing a TV thing yeah a while and breaking and cake yeah making a ton of money because daytime TV right like that's all there was they were they were just you're looking for things to that's that's the world of Jerry Springer and that's what I was just gonna say that those thank you think of springer povich montel williams all i like those uh... phil donahue to help dot in chicago phil phil was in chicago again

and then long like the long microphone with the last thing on the last of the gray hair yeah it was a great those shows were unreal. They were amazing. Yeah, and I don't know if they I don't know if anything like that exists anymore like Jerry Sparrow so big can just go look at clips of them in the past. No, I'm lying I understand I get it But still like if you're on TV or whatever, but Springer was so big his security guard got a seat in off Yeah, Steve. Yeah. Yeah security guard Steve had a spin all that steve yes security guard steve had a spin-off for him was to use on the screen the steve like i don't know is

steve and so or something and it was like what's that jp what's his name his name is steve wilco said well yeah well they will close yeah the steve will get this is that this guy was willing around the state but it's yet their show. this guy was wheeling around the stage. their show became such, it was, they would literally bring out two people and the two people would just charge at each other and start fighting. yeah, like it was insane. and they would go in the crowd and the crowd before the person sat down they'd have a dig

at the person and then the person would threaten to run out. it was insane. i actually, i think i've told you this, i been to 50 Montell Williams episodes live like my really my ex-girlfriend was a producer So I would go to the show where was it shot in LA, New York City. I was in New York Wow Montell Williams This is a hundred years ago I was like early 20s playing for the Islanders and that was Montell Williams So I got sit in the green room and it was just insanity That's great. Yeah, he was good man. Montell was great. Like he was a loser. I didn't

He was great on air he was great on exactly like they were all they all knew how to provoke and they knew exactly What they were supposed to say and was I don't think any of them had any credentials whatsoever to play the role of like a you know no amateur psychologist or something like that but that was kind of what they were doing like Jerry Springer was out there trying to help people and meanwhile just half of those shows were DNA tests yeah yeah like you are the first Mary povich. You are the father Yeah, that was more exciting povich home that DNA or a lot more he loves saying you're not the father then he put his head down like that and people would go Absolute bonkers. Yeah

It was crazy man, it was crazy because and you get sometimes you'd get a Scenario where the guy's out there with the mom but also with his current girlfriend who he was with at the time of the pregnancy and then Maury would be like, you are the father. She'd get up and start beating the hell out of the guy. Yeah, it was insane. They would have to have security everywhere and it was not sent it's like that Montell Williams felt like he was a cut above that they didn't write much on it was better than everyone else yeah cuz I think he was a

army guy like he went to he was well he had a history with Kamala Harris what did they do at some point I think they did yes they did yes they yeah yeah and and then you got dr. Phil who thinks he's so smart so he was yeah hero but it was all of those shows where they were actually i mean they were must watch that's great america television yeah you gotta call it what it is that was great tv to tony tweening and judge joe brown was another guy oh that's right judge joe brown he'd give you some attitude if he didn't like

the cut of your jib. All right. Best bet still to come. Least Panthers tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on TSN2. That just happened with me, Vashi Kapelos. 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 Vashie Capellos. Canada decides. 2025. Fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app. All right, best bet powered by FanDuel. Before we get to a couple of quick picks for the Valero,

I'm going big game hunting Leafs money line tonight. William Nylander, four plus shots on goal. Carter Verhege, three plus shots on goal. Pay it plus seven thirty five. Verhege loves playing the Leafs. I think Willie shows up big tonight for the Leafs. Those are your best bets powered by FanDuel looking at the fan of sportsbook gap Max Homer is in the field this weird. He is

150 to 1 Wow to win take max homer and I wouldn't bet it. I just don't even know if he makes a cut I don't think he probably does the way he's I'll take him on my team I'm gonna pick him this week. Go ahead. You got all my you got I'm gonna take Ludwig Oberg I'm gonna take Corey Connors Yeah, and I'm gonna take Keith or no Keegan Bradley. Okay. I will take Tommy Fleetwood my boy He's gonna get one on tour Akshay, but he I love love Bhatia at this track. Defending champ. Ben Griffin, Griff, Peter Ben Griffin, that guy's been on fire. I think he needs to maybe win this to get into the Masters. He's been playing really well. Yeah. And do you have four? I guess

I got to pick another one. I'll take, I'll take Spieth. I'll take Jordan'll take spieth. I think Jordan's Before the Masters right in Texas his home state Lock it in for the Valera next week one more guy my guy Gary woodland I want to see that was great story to see him last week. All right, I'll take Daniel burger. I love Danny burger They have a Danny burger the hamburger can play man. He's coming aroundger. The hamburger can play, man. He's coming around. Yeah, he's healthy. I wouldn't be shocked if he wins this year.

Yeah, he's a good player. Before his back, I think it was back injury, man. He was a legit stud player coming up. Yeah, he was like Ryder Copper, Presidents Copper. He was on all those teams. Yeah, him and Will Zaltoris just ran into that bad injury, bad surgery, and just never could recover. All right, Les Panthers tonight

should be a fun one. Full breakdown tomorrow. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today. TV, radio, podcast web. We appreciate that. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at Psychic Says Leafs win tonight. 4 PM. We'll chat then. That just happened with me, Vashi Capellos. 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 Vashic Apellos.

Canada decides 2025. Fresh every Friday. Stream on your schedule with the free iHeartRadio app.