OverDrive - OverDrive - April 7, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: April 7, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Jonas Siegel for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Bruce Boudreau joins to discuss Alex Ovechkin's all-time goals record, the coaching experience in his career and the pathway to success. ESPN MLB Analyst Tim Kurkjian joins to discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension with the Blue Jays, the impact to the franchise and the favourite in the AL East and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

Listen to Tech Talk with Mark Saltzman Sundays at 5 p.m. on News Talk 1010 and the iHeartRadio app. The show that makes sense of the ever-changing world of technology and you don't need a computer degree to listen. Brought to you by LG, celebrating 10 years of OLED innovation. Visit LG.ca. Final Hour Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hayes, Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, Bruce Bujowaux coming up Tim Kirch and later in the hour the Jays and Fenway Vladimir Guerrero jr. a very rich man he was rich prior to this signing but now he's very very rich now he's wealthy now he's wealthy now he's wealthy that's right yeah Vladimir five hundred million dollars and he sets up to be a blue jay for

life so we'll get to that momentarily again, Tim Kirkjohn a little bit later on. Bruce Bujo coming up on Alex Ovechkin and what he accomplished over the weekend, the Leafs are in action tomorrow in Tampa. Now there's some uncertainty in terms of who they're gonna play. Will it be Ottawa? Will it be Florida? It's going to be one of those two teams likely. I think Tampa's humming right now and feels like Toronto and

Tampa will finish one two in the division division they're just gonna jockey for position there and then we'll see if Ottawa can catch Florida because the Sens are playing well right now they got a soft schedule coming down the stretch Florida's load managing all these players like without really any explanation like Sam Reiner is just out of the lineup and he's not playing I get bar has been hurt yeah just we're not gonna play them in Detroit. Meanwhile the Red Wings are in pursuit of a playoff spot. Huge weekend for the Habs over the weekend. Like they went on Saturday night and then go to Nashville last night.

They're down 1-0. They come back and win 2-1. That was huge for them. It does feel like it's Montreal or New York that's going to get in there but yeah there's there's still a lot of uh jockeying for position on both sides in the east and the west including st louis winnipeg tonight big big game but something to chew on brought to you by boston pizza canada's favorite sports bar enjoy 15 lunch at bp where you get an entree a side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less a fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food see you for a 15 fast lunch at your local boston. We asked earlier, the O-Dog did not want to entertain this question. I'll ask you now, Jonas, that he's not going to be in your ear and bothering you and trying to distract you. We've been asking online, do you think Austin

Matthews can and will catch Alex Ovechkin? He has about 500 goals behind him. So I just did some very crude math. So if you take all the goals that Matthews has scored in the NHL, regular season, and then you add all the goals that John Tavares has scored in the NHL, what do you think that gets you? Just maybe 900. 890. So not even enough. Not even enough. Wow. So that tells you Matthews basically has to score all the goals that Tavares has already scored to get within the ballpark of Ovechkin. That's so many goals. It just does not seem feasible. 500 goals is so many goals. Like I look this up. I think 48 players in NHL history have scored 500 goals So he has to do that now starting now now at the age of 27

Turning 28 turning 28 all these done it until he's 39 always in season 20 Matthews is in season 9 But if you look at the Matthews through the same number of games versus Ovechkin through the same number of games, Matthews has more goals. Mm-hmm. So that's like where you look at it and you're like, can he do it? But like Ovechkin is such a physical tank in a way that, I mean Matthews is 6'3", 220, but Ovechkin is like different in the way that he plays and how he plays and how he scores I don't know it doesn't seem likely my answer is no on this and that's not to be a hater it's 500 more goals at least at least because you're right Ovi's not gonna stop at 895 if he plays next year the year after that which he very well could he might hit a thousand goals yeah and that that

to me is just like Ovechkin had the two years were kind of dipped get a couple of years that were or at least one that was a lockout year a shortened year based on lockout plus I believe his rookie year he got drafted could have played during the lockout I believe and obviously didn't because the league wasn't ongoing so this guy could be up over 1,000 by now anyway. I don't anticipate Matthews will run into any work stoppages. I don't think you knock on wood, but it feels like the PA and the league are in a pretty good spot. So that's going to help him, but it's health. He's going to have to be healthy. You got to play at minimum like 75 games a year for the next 11 years after this. And I just don't see that being the case with him.

And just the pace, man. You might hit 34, 35, and all of a sudden he starts scoring 30 goals a year. This year he hit 30 the other night. That's a big marker. He got to 30. But... Oh, like it's been a struggle to get to 30. Exactly. But he has hit like... Ovechkin's never scored 69. Ovechkin has one 60-goal season. Matthews has two. Yep. He's... is an obviously an unbelievable score. He's the best goal scorer going right now. I still believe that even with 30 and with what Dreisle is doing and Willie's doing. Well like if you had to guess his next 10 years, how many goals do you think he'll score? Or let's say like what do you think he averages the next 10 years? Does he average 40 goals? Yeah I would say around 40. Like I could see him hitting hitting 750 in his career like scoring 750 goals. Yeah. Which would

just be a remarkable feat. Like it's Ovechkin won, Gretzky 2 at 894, Korty Howe 3 at 802. And I don't know who would be fourth on that list. We can look that up. You said Hall? Yeah, it's probably one of those guys. Like, is Mike Bossy up there? It's probably guys that we can think of. I think Mary LeMue's in the high sixes. Like that is the question.

Do you think, like forget trying to reestablish the record book or passing or catching Ovechkin. Like what is a realistic over-under for Matthews in his career? So he's almost at 400. If I said 699.5 goals in his career, would you go over or under? Over. Because like he could score 120 the next two seasons and I wouldn't be like blown away. Yeah, yeah I'd probably go over. I think he deserves that level of respect. He does for sure. He scored at that level He walked in the door scored four and then had 40 like it doesn't yeah, he scores 40 every year This is the only year he won't I believe this is a down year and he's gonna end up with that around by 35

Or like it's like yeah Yeah, no the guy he's he's going and I think He's gonna have another couple years where he wins the rocket and maybe runs away with the rocket. Yes. And keeps padding the stats and putting up massive, massive numbers. Yeah, like if the over-under next year is 50 and a half, I'd take the over. Like I'm just going to assume he's going to be healthier than he is this year.

Right. Now who he's playing with is significant. Like is Marner going to be here? Is he not? Who's feeding him the puck? That's pretty significant because you saw that with Ovechkin, like Backstrom was there, he's played with Kuznetsov throughout his career. Stroum there now.

Yeah, Stroum's putting it on a tee for him a lot. Joining us now on the Maple Toyota Hotline, here's our TSN hockey analyst, Bruce Bujro. Bruce, we got into the discussion of Austin Matthews and how many goals you think he could score throughout his career. Do you have a number in mind? Like do you think 700 plus is that reasonable to expect out of Austin? You know what I think it is I mean but again we're banking on longevity as far as playing years and if he plays 15 to 15 plus I'd say 700 as well within range. If he, you know, like, I mean, if at 33,

he's got a lot of injuries and he decides to hang them up, obviously that's not gonna happen. But the great ones that score all those goals also play an awful lot of years. So hope Austin stays healthier than he has been this year. And if he can do that and and then all you know then I think anything is the number like when he's on and he's healthy he scores and he outscores everybody so I mean I think

that can happen for sure. We'll get to Ovechkin here in a moment but I'm curious where you stand on the Leafs here they're 8're eight one one last hand uh... they've got games in florida tomorrow tampon wednesday there's uncertainty of who they're going to play in the first round what would you expect the messaging to be from craig berube here down the stretch you know it is first of all if they'd one one but it hasn't felt that way like i mean uh... they I mean they're doing great and

they're going to end up I think in I mean depending on this week in first place in the Atlantic but I think they've still got they've got more to give. I think they're played I think they'll do they'll they'll split this weekend or this week in Florida, Tampa and Florida. But, um, I don't know when I watched the games, uh, they, when they want to turn it on, they're great. And then there's sometimes that they're pretty sort of loose and, and, and, and I just, uh, uh, I want to see them shut teams down even more.

And I think that's what Craig wants them to do. Because he knows come playoff time, you've got to be dialed in defensively. I think that's where they've been most of the year or trying to get that. That's one of the reasons I think Austin's goal toll is down is because he's been dialed into way more defensively this year than before. He kills penalties.

He does all of those things now. So I mean, but I think that's what you're going to see the Leafs really start to, and when they play the good teams, they do dial it in and they're going to be really good defensively, even though they are missing a couple guys. I probably didn't answer that question properly, but it's been a long day. I like it. I know it's been a long day. We appreciate you doing this. And again, we're kind of projecting where Matthews could end up. I'm curious where you think Alex Sovetsky will end up now. He's at 895. He's 39 years old. He's still got term left on his contract. Like map out what you think the next two or three years are going to look like for Ovi and do you think he has his sights on 1000 total goals? You know, knowing him, he's always wanted to be great and when he puts his mind to it, he is, if they won the cup this year, would he, and the way the year has gone, would he want to play more? I don't know.

Um, uh, I think he would for sure play out his contract because I think, uh, he, he loves Ted Leonsis and Ted's been so good to him. I think he would play that out, but I mean, he made two references yesterday, uh, to Russia and, uh, um, and he made the reference that his wife has allowed him to still play over here type thing. And I'm wondering if they said, well, when you're done and when you get the record and when, you know, that we're going to go back home. So I don't know.

I don't think he'll stay for a thousand. I mean, that's to me three years down the road I think if I'm going 35 goals a year and the when you and I've had players like Kimu Solani who's fabulous and he was in better shape when he was 44 playing for me than than most 20 year olds but you get old all of a sudden it's harder to do these things. And, and, uh, I mean, I know he's, he's a freak of nature speaking of Oveskin, but at some point he's going to start looking old. I thought this was last year when he looked old and slow in this year.

He looks dynamic like he was 27 again, but I think, I think a thousand, if he put his mind to it and said I'm staying for a thousand I want this record never to be broken, but I don't think that's anywhere near as important as him winning the just getting the record So I think I I don't think he's gonna get it. I think he'll retire before that happens Bruce There was a point in his career I think it was like mid-20s where where it looked like maybe he's starting to slow down. I wonder if there was a point coaching him where you were like, is this going to go the way that it eventually went?

No, you know what? In 2011, one of the things that people don't know is that he did a stick deal for the first time and the sticks kept breaking. And as of the year, he got 32 goals. And I mean, he stopped shooting in the pocket. If you just look at his shot numbers were way down because he was afraid every time he shot the pocket with his sticks would break. And I mean, he got a huge amount of money

for the stick deal, but he got rid of the sticks after that year and he continued to go on again. But I mean, he wouldn't, where in his office where he would score goals from, he wouldn't shoot the puck. So we moved him to the front at the top of the point and he wouldn't shoot the puck because he's afraid

if he breaks a stick, it's gonna be two on one or two on oh, basically against him. So it was a weird year that that year, but that that was the year, uh, of the stick that I called it and, and, uh, and he wouldn't shoot parks. So, I mean, it was really, it was really a different kind of year for him. That was the anomaly right there. It wasn't because he'd gotten slowed, slowed down or he got disinterested or his game was falling off is because his confidence was shaken

because he couldn't shoot the puck like he normally would because his sticks would break. With Bruce Boudreaux and I thought it was so fitting that he scored the goal the way he scored yesterday. Even the 894 goals, kind of a carbon copy, like both off wing in his office, top of the circles, hash marks, give or take. And it's just a CNI shot that he gets off quick

and goaltenders for 20 years have just not been able to stop it. Like, and you don't know where it's going, short side, far side, high, low, five hole. You just, you never know, but he gets there. He gets there with pace. He gets there with purpose. I don't think you could script it any better from that standpoint Bruce the fact that he scored the tie angle and the winner in the fashion that he

did absolutely and I mean and that's his key like you can't pick the puck up off his stick when he shoots it and and and it gets to it no matter how experienced you are as a goaltender, it gets there quicker than you think it's going to get there. And I mean, this is another short side goal that he scores. And like, I mean, goalies, that's the only area that they know when it's coming cross ice that he's going. I mean, I can see him scoring long side a long time or weak side, but he scores on the

short side. And it used to not, it used to say, say how can he do that how good is this guy but like I'm staring at a stick of his that's on my wall in my room here and the the curve is different than anybody else's and the flex is different and he's so strong this is what I'm talking about when he was breaking sticks because he's so strong when he leans on that stick it comes off it like no other and yes it is totally fitting and proper that he scores that goal from there and it wasn't a tip in or it wasn't you know an in off from behind the

net or something. That's the way it should have happened and it did and everything went well for him after that as well. Yeah, it's incredible. Like the way he has scored seemingly all of his 895 goals. Like I was running through it in my mind over the weekend, like just thinking of history and in my lifetime watching hockey players, great hockey players, whether it's Gretzky or Lemieux or, you know, Sid or McDavid. And I can visualize all of those players like leading a rush, starting a rush, taking the puck in their own zone, skating it through the neutral zone.

I don't have that mental image with Ovechkin. Like I don't have a mental image of him stick handling, if that makes sense. I know that sounds strange, but I don't. Yet he's so dominant, so great. He scored all these goals, he's thrown all these hits. He's, he's, I don't even. He's so dominant, so great. He scored all these goals. He's thrown all these hits. He's, he's, I don't even know how to describe it. Like he might be the most unique player I can think of in terms of my mental history. Yet I've been tracking him for 20 years. Do you see it the same way, Bruce? The way he plays? Yeah, it's crazy.

Yeah, like I mean, I know and I've seen firsthand of him stick handling through guys and making great plays and some I do remember. But when you think of Alex Oveskin, you think of the shot off the left side, taking one move to the middle and taking that shot and beating goalies. And that's what you see. Like, I mean, that's the way he did it. And then jumping into the glass when he was excited, the way he did it.

And then jumping into the glass when he was excited, especially when he was younger. His goal celebrations were as good as any. That's why it was so unique and spontaneous yesterday when he dove on the ice. That's like, I've seen him jump into the glass, dive into the glass and do all kinds of things after he scored, but it was always based on a shot coming down the wing.

I mean, he scored so many other goals in other types, but this is what you remember when you think of Alex Oveskin. Yeah, it's incredible. Just an unbelievable career, and he's still going, and they're the top seed in the East, and now this is behind them, and they gotta let the dust settle and party a little bit,

then they gotta snap out of it, because they're losing a lot of games, giving up a lot of goals, and I'm sure he'll be in charge on that. And I agree with you, everything has gone so well. Even the timing of this goal has gone well because now they've got a time to reset because they haven't been playing well.

And I think that is over, and I think it's been on everybody's mind. I mean, especially when I do the cap games and you can tell that the players are thinking, oh, B, oh, B, oh, B. Like when you saw how quick everybody jumped off the bench in anticipation of when he scored. Now they got three days. They don't play till Carolina will be a great test carolina beat him five one or something the other day and uh... but they got five games to reset for the playoffs and i think it was a perfect time for him to

score and you know you're certainly glad it didn't leave it to the last game of the year holy smokes that i don't know if they would be prepared for the playoffs but they will be prepared and uh... they And I'm thinking that they will get back to the way they were playing 20 games ago. Yeah, that's gotta be the thought process down there for sure. Great stuff, Bruce.

Thank you for doing this. We'll do it again soon. I hope so. Take care, guys. Have a great night. You got it. Bruce Bujo joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Drive the built-in Canada fuel-efficient,

fun to drive Toyota RAV4. Gas or hybrid models available. Visit mapletoyota.com. You know on record, I just didn't know that he had that he has the most shots in NHL history, which I guess makes sense. He has 6,852. Number two is Ray Bork, 6,209. Isn't that amazing?

Ray Bork is,209. Isn't that amazing? Ray Bork is second. Yeah. Like he's Bork's got the record for I believe most shots in a game. Is that right? I believe so. How many? I want to say it's into the 20s. He looked that up, Dougie. I saw. Wow. Yeah. Like that was his rep. I remember Owen Noodle's telling me back in the day, like his rep was he'd get over the blue line and shoot. Just chuck it. Everything was on net. Everything. net everything how much 19 19 registered shots in a game Wow Matthew's kind of come close to I think he's had like he's got teen double digits for sure I think that game against Detroit last year we were chasing 70 the last home game didn't he have like 20 attempts or something like that well

that's the thing like I'm looking at some of Ovechkin's season, he had one season where he had over a thousand attempts and over 500 shots, like that's insane. Yeah, it's incredible man. That's what he, like when, that's why it's so difficult to describe him. And that's what makes the like giants of sport so amazing is that they are so unique, they just don't blend in. But he, of all the legends of the sport, to me is so different than anyone in modern history anyway. Because again, I don't picture him chipping a puck out.

And I know he's done it thousands of times, clearly. But it is really like clear cut that he is a force to be reckoned with. He hit everything in sight. You couldn't touch him. You couldn't move him. He was going to get 15 shots in a game. He was going to rip home more goals than anybody.

He was going to play every single night. And he was going to terrorize every single defense and every single goaltender he played. Yet it was not in a way like Gretzky and Lemieux and McDavid, they did it with like grace and with like highlight real power. He was just just pure power man. Yeah. Well, and you knew where he was shooting from. You knew what he was trying to do and you have no idea how to stop it. And 20 years later, he's still doing it. It's nuts. Yeah, it's incredible. Like that like that's the amazing thing when you break down his career

like he had that that beauty that brilliant goal his rookie season against Arizona where he comes in and dangles a guy and he's on his back like that's just an unbelievable goal like pure talent pure skill incredible but I'm trying to like I was trying to think of it on the fly last night like I can't picture any other goals where he's on a breakaway you know what I mean that's what differentiates Matthews is he scores in all these different ways yeah doesn't have really one distinct thing like that's right he scores on one timers he's got the wrist shot he scores on wraparound you know what I mean or is in front of the net. He scores every kind of way.

Yeah, and obviously on all of this, like clearly he has scored on breakaways and two-on-ones, but like for the most part, it just feels like it's a carbon copy way of scoring and he's been He's been unstoppable for 20 years. I was gonna ask you, I wrote down like five records, actually six That I wondered if you thought they would be broken. Okay, what do you ask you? Yeah, go ahead. 100 points in an NBA game. I think that could be broken.

You wanna give me Jerry's percentage on these? Sure, I'll say 20%, it's low, but with the three point line now. Like take like 23s? Yeah, some guy gets hot and hits exactly that break. Even that you're still not close. Listen I'm not saying it's it's overly likely I'm 20% which means 80% chance it won't happen but I do think the three point line and scoring and the way people defend now okay I think it's possible possible. I mean Kobe got to 81 and threes weren't as big a part of the game then mm-hmm okay 56 game hit streak no see I think that one is doable I

would I'd be curious to see who was who was second on that list I don't know I would guess it's like 40 games 42 games a 56 game is like like 50 so months basically with yeah more than a third of the season. Okay. Every day, it seems reasonable. Well, it's just one hit, right? Just one hit. It's baseball though, like it just, like I'm honestly, I don't think anyone else has done 50 in a row.

Okay. 92 goals. That's Gretzky, I think. Yeah, I think that's kind of like the 100 point game with Wilt, like I would say 10%. I think that's like 1%. I'd say 10%, but I hear you. I just, you don't know hundred point game with Will. Like I would say 10%. I think that's like 1%. I'd say 10%, but I hear you. I just, you don't know where the game's going.

Like what if we get to 84 games? What if we get to a scenario where? Make the nets bigger? Yeah, I mean it's possible, right? Like what if there's some kid that's coming that is just the guy, he can play 30 minutes in a game, he's nonstop and he can skate and he just does everything.

I mean, this record and this experience has taught me that anything is possible. Outside of like fights and goalie starts in a row, like all that kind of stuff where the world is just completely different, any statistic in terms of pure talent and production has to be on the table. I think that one's very, like I'd say 10% at most like

92 goals is just crazy. Yeah like Matthew seemed seemingly scored every single game last year and he had 69. He was 24 short of the record, 23 short of tying it. Yes. Maybe I'm lower on that 5%. okay last one I could have come up with like ten of these a hundred mm-hmm ten points in a game I actually think that one could yeah I'd say thirty percent that can happen yeah I'm surprised it hasn't gotten there's been a couple that have gotten to eight right like Gretzky did eight I think a few times Sam Gagne did eight about 15 years ago you would just think in one of these games when a team gets like nine or ten? You just don't see, I guess you don't see ten. You

don't see goals like that anymore. That's the difference is not necessarily the individual players. The way teams defend in the goalies that make it so difficult. Like goalies are just too good now. Like the idea that that because obviously one guy's gonna get pulled if you're pushing up on ten you're going to the backup. Two guys going into the game and getting shelled like that just doesn't I know but Columbus gave up eight like a few days ago yeah like you need a couple empty netters you need you need a hot start you need like four or five points in the first period then you're alive and you see what happens but that one

man Sittler's had that for like fifty years that's low to man they're all they're all again it prior to this race i would have said impossible but now i'm like i just saw something i never thought could happen but on it was amazing it was a may like these records man they'd that that the chase is gotta continue i don't know which one's next

but i love to see it happen again in some capacity in pro sports. All right best bets later in the hour the Jays are at Fenway tonight Tim Kirkton will join us of ESPN his take on Vladi Guerrero jr. getting paid 14 years 500 million how significant is it for Vladi for the franchise how does it change the viewpoint of the Blue Jays throughout baseball those and more questions will be answered by Tim. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 2.

Something to Chew On is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree, a side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. Alright, best buds later in the hour. Jay's down at Fenway coming off a sweep at the hands of the Mets. 5-5 but Vlad has been paid. He's waiting for that physical to come in, Jonas, before he can officially sign the 14-year $500 million

extension. But it's as significant as it gets when it comes to this club. I mean, they've been chasing Soto, they've been chasing Otani, they've been chasing Corbin Burns, they've been chasing a number of different guys. And we have had this conversation so many times.

How can you expect to bring anyone else in if you can't keep your own guy? If you're not willing to spend to keep your own guy. And it's a massive amount of money, but to Vlad's credit, he said he wanted to stay in Toronto. He did. They had to pay him a lot to make it happen, but he'll be a Blue Jay for life to get into the significance of this signing, what it means for Vlad, the front office, the club moving forward. Here is long time ESPN MLB insider and analyst. Here's Tim Kirkjian. How you doing, Tim?

I'm well, fellas, how's it going? We're doing very well, not as well as Vladik Geroj Jr. right now. You know, he's got a lot of money coming his way. How do you wrap your head around the idea that Vlad is now going to get, I believe, the third largest contract in Major League Baseball history? Yeah, I think this is something that the Blue Jays just had to do you're right in order to show everybody that we mean business

you gotta keep your own guys and even though this will probably end up as an overpay someday cuz most of these do at some point you just have to say we need to keep our guys, we need to build around somebody and this is the guy we're going to build around because he said all along I want to stay here, I want to stay in Toronto. So this will be real interesting to see where this goes from here but I don't think there's a

way around it. I think this is something that the club had to do and it's It's good for the team because they've got their arguably their best player locked up for a long time What kind of reaction are you hearing Tim from people, you know around the league to this deal? Well, I think a lot of people feel the same way that Toronto having missed out on Otani and Soto and others needed to make a splash and they did what they had to do here now again Most people say Lattie is a great hitter, especially at his age. I mean just turned 26 got 160 home runs. He's got a tremendous future ahead 60 home runs, he's got a tremendous future ahead, but I think the question is, like any other question for anyone signed this long, is he going to stay hungry?

Is he going to stay in the best shape possible? Is he going to stay an above average defensive player? Is all of that going to continue to go in the right direction? I think they asked that about anybody who signs a long-term contract. So those were a couple questions that i heard today how does this affect the reputation of the front office ross atkins mark ship i wrote it in taking a

lot of heat here in toronto you're aware that uh... it's a big season for them i think they got a win ball games but now that they've locked this in regardless of the dollars of you know that we're actually talking about here the fact that they've locked this in, regardless of the dollars that we're actually talking about here, the fact that they committed to Vladdy, they got him signed, how significant do you think this is for the front office and their reputation and what they're hoping to change in the future? Yeah, I think it's really important because I'm aware that not everyone in the country is wild about the way the Blue Jays have been run but here ownership stepped in and said all right we're gonna do what we have to do

here and I think again you always need to end up paying somebody in the end even if you have to overpay in order to move forward so I think the front office is in better shape today than it was yesterday because they got a great player sign. Well, and in terms of, you know, what what Vlad is got to do now, like the pressure I think now shifts to the player. You got paid. That's a big price tag.

There's a big commitment there. I said earlier today, I think you when we get to 20 five and you look back on the previous decade he has got to be a top ten offensive producer over that decade and if he does that then you can justify this contract and I think it'll be a great contract and he'll go down as the greatest blue jay ever and on every single record etc etc how likely do you think that is to actually happen that over the next decade Vlad is a guy guided is a top-notch offensive player i think he'll be a top-notch offensive player for the next ten years and i think you're right i think he will surpass uh...

everyone on that list for home runs are the eyes of the member of blue jays and i think you're right i think the pressure is on him. I know that he does not like to be embarrassed or lose or anything else and now the pressure shifts to him that is he worth this kind of money. My guess is he's going to say I am worth it and I'm going to show everyone. And we can't forget how young he is. We can't forget his track record already just turned 26. It's pretty impressive but he's got to have 10 more really good years in order to make this contract really work. Tim, do you think it's possible that more teams look at deals like this and say we got to lock up our young players as quick as possible? We saw it with Jackson Merrill

the other day Christian Campbell Do you think this changes the equation or is this just such an outlier that it's not even comparable? No, I think most teams are doing what she said. They're taking their young guys and they're saying It's gonna cost way more if we let them get to the point where Flattie got to. So let's tie them up as quickly as possible as Jackson Merrill did and several other young guys in the last few months. It's the only way to go. But you have to make that determination very early on. You can't wait till almost the free agent times, and by that point the numbers have gone up sky high. With Tim Kirchens, so the timing of this is not necessarily ideal.

I mean it's a celebration, it's a big contract, Vlady sticks around. But they're five and five, Vlady is still not really arrived yet offensively. He hasn't hit a home run yet, Pichette hasn't hit a home run yet, Santander hasn't hit a home run yet, they just got swept by the Mets. I'm curious what you think the Blue Jays could take from this and what Vladdy, what you would expect to see out of Vladdy starting at Fenway tonight now that this deals out of the way and the idea that he could come alive and how significant this news could be for the clubhouse in terms of just you know infusing some positivity for them

yeah i don't think there's any doubt this will change the look and the feel in the clubhouse i've been in those clubhouses for forty five years when everyone looks around and goes great the first baseman got paid let's go that doesn't mean that he's going to hit a home run every night for the next three nights at fennway and everyone's going to start to hit right now but it is a tremendous burden eased that we've got our guy and now let's just everyone go out there relax and play. We all recognize how hard it is to get a hit in the big leagues today. It's the hardest

hitting environment I know that I've ever seen so no one should get worried or on any team if somebody hasn't hit a homer in his first ten games. Things are going to change. They're going to change for the Blue Jays. They're going to change for Vlad E. and I've seen the American League East fellas. It's a really strong division but there is no great team in this division. No one is going to be good enough to win a hundred games run away. So as long as the Blue Jays can hang around and they'll play better baseball than they played at Chase at City Field they'll be okay. Yeah I would agree with that as long as the Yankees don't hit

about 2,000 home runs this season which is pretty remarkable considering the pace that they're on right now the break in records early into the season the Sox put up 18 runs last night on the cardinals what what is your explanation or what is your read on the yankees offense so early into the year uh... and i guess boston not necessarily the same level in terms of run production but not far behind yeah the red sox are demonstrably better than they were last year there's no doubt

about that i did one of their games from the Booth and Spring training and I was thoroughly impressed with how much better they are with the additions they made and the young guys Christian Campbell that made the club. They are a dangerous team. I also did the Yankee game against the Brewers when they hit nine home runs, seven in the first three innings, and they of course can be a really, really good offensive team. But they lost a couple in a row and haven't hit a homer in two games, those things can happen. So I did a radio show, fellas, about a month ago, and we picked five analysts on the show,

five different picks for the AL East winner this year. Five out of five. I've never seen that before in all the radio shows I've done. So I think that just speaks to how evenly matched the American League East is and that's why you can't count out the Blue Jays but they just have to get going a little bit better than they have the first 10. Yeah well we'll see what comes of it tonight. They're at Fenway Park for four, then they roll through Camden Yards for a few games.

They got the Yankees coming up at Yankee Stadium. They got a big month ahead, but they've obviously decided to make some moves here on Vladikarov Jr. And a lot of excitement comes from that, certainly up here in Toronto. Appreciate the insight and thank you for the time, Tim. Always appreciate it.

Okay, fellas, take care. Tim Kirchgen of ESPN. Well we'll see what they have in store tonight Jonas. Yeah like who do you think the favorite in the division is the Yankees? I think so yeah. I mean I think it's the Yankees until they they prove otherwise. Well so you said the Jays have hit five homers right? As a team five. And how many you know how many judges hit? Six. I think they have 20 as a team do they not? Volpe's got a few yeah. Yeah like they broke records I believe through a certain amount of games is it through ten games I think it was maybe it was through six it was some some arbitrary number but

they were hitting more home runs than anything we've ever seen before. Do you think Vlad Guerrero will feel more pressure now or less pressure than he was feeling before? I think he will feel relieved on the short term and then at some point I think it's gonna dawn on him there I've got to really earn this now. I would hope he, I hope he's relaxed. I hope he appreciates what he's accomplished. I hope he appreciates the commitment from the team,

the support he's received from the fans. And I hope he puts pressure on himself to succeed. You have to believe in that if you're going to pay the guy that kind of money. Like that's what comes with every single analysis of a player and the idea that you're going to you're going to put a lot of risk on the line. Like that's what Atkins and Shapiro kept saying risk, risk, there's risk on our end. If we're going to make, if we're going to take this risk, there's got to be risk for

the player and he's risking his reputation. He's risking his legacy if he doesn't follow suit. He's got to perform and I don't think Vlad is unaware of that and he's been comfortable I think in that position before. He's been the man with this team for a long time but he's gotta elevate it. He's gotta be even better than anything we've ever seen before. So, what was the reason that they didn't do one of those deals five years ago,

three years ago? I'm not sure what the answer is. I'm sure there's probably you think there was just like there was kind of uncertainty about what he is yeah I think that was a part of it there still is I mean he's been inconsistent at times in his career he has a great year down year great year down year I'm not convinced that Vladys Kemp was interested in a contract two years ago right it takes two to tangle like maybe he sat there and said unless you're gonna pay me something crazy.

Well, but I think their offer was pretty low from what I remember reading one of his comments. Well, it was like 150 or something. The goalposts have moved so much since Soto signed, since Otani signed. Also like a first baseman, this up like a year ago, less than a year ago. Insiders in baseball were saying it is lunacy to suggest a first baseman would make more than 300 million dollars. I mean Pete Alonso got like a two or three year deal. Three year deal and he had to wait and basically beg Steve Cohen for it. Like that's what what clearly has happened here is there's an element of the maple leaves

in this discussion where the leaves pay a leaf tax and it's an internal cap as opposed to comparisons through the league and I think what Vlad in his camp said was you guys are desperate like I'd be curious what would what would have been happening with Vlad if they never were in on Otani never in on Soto never in on Burns or any of these other guys. I don't think it would have mattered. You think he still would have said, you gotta pay this?

It just drags the market up, right? I know, but- Because now like Kyle Tucker's gonna be a free agent after this year, and he's gonna look at that deal that Vladdy just got. Well, Tucker's gotta be getting 500 million. I'm better than him. Yeah, and he plays a more prominent position.

He's a little older, but like, yeah, just drags everything up. Yeah, Tucker is looking at this thing. Thank you very much. But the point being is, Right, you've basically said we're willing to spend. We're in on everybody else. We're so desperate, but we have to keep you.

And Vlad is like, fine, it'll cost you 500 million and I'll do it. Like if he doesn't know that, does he, does he wait it out? Does he believe they would ever have the stomach to offer this? If he really wanted to stay, would he have accepted less? You know, we'll never have that answer, but the last two years would indicate that Jays have the money, they're desperate to spend the money, they want to be big game players. And I think Vlad is Camp played this to perfection and used all of that against them to get just a massive massive contract that I think a

year ago they would have just said they would have laughed him out of the room the idea of paying him 400 million dollars yes and now it's 500 million and that's the reality of what's changed in like 12 to 18 months which is crazy I know and that's the thing about the front office that's exactly it's not in like 12 to 18 months. Which is crazy. I know. And that's the thing about the front office. That's exactly. It's not like you can't come out looking great in this. Like they spent way more than they probably needed to spend.

Especially if you're the owner. You're telling me a year ago, I could have got him for 300 million or 350. I got to pay him an extra 150 million dollars. But again, without knowing whether or not Vlad was 100% willing to engage in that he may have always had his sights set on going after Juan Soto that wouldn't surprise me him and Soto are boys maybe I wouldn't be surprised if his rep said let him go first he's gonna move everything up then we're gonna go and in retrospect that was a brilliant play because Vlad wanted

to remain a Blue J he gets to have his cake and eat it too because not only does he stay here he gets 500 million dollars. Yeah but like you think like two and a half three years ago if you had offered I don't know 350 you would think so. Hard to turn down 350 million. It is. Unless you're Juan Soto and you turn down 440. A lot of it deferred money. Then you get 765. Yeah, now it's true man. Alright, best bets powered by FanDuel coming up. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 2.

Alright, best bets powered by FanDuel. Make your picks and assemblies. Same game parlay in seconds on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. I am going to take the blues on the puck line tonight. Plus one and a half and Robert Thomas three plus shots on goal Thomas has been great the Blues have been red hot I think people are expecting them to eventually start losing at some point Winnipeg's in one here man. They are in one Dallas is right on their heels. They're in Dallas

I believe later this week, but that parlay pan plus 335 today's best bets powered by Fando Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the Bandu all sportsbook app, please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in, Ontario yeah, they're still jockeying for position out West and We'll see who you you know even what the wild cards are gonna look like it's it's gonna be st. Louis in Minnesota but who plays who what are you expecting tomorrow with the Leafs Panthers I think the Leafs are gonna win the game they got them last time obviously mm-hmm now barely and Panthers had some injury

issues and they probably still will tomorrow night but I just feel like something has shifted a little bit the last couple weeks not even the last couple weeks the last week where it feels like they've kind of entered a different mode a little bit because like Bruce is right you keep saying eight one-on-one but it hasn't really felt eight one-on-one eight. How was it not felt eight one-on-one? Did you watch the Anaheim game? Did you watch the San Jose game? Like they were barely eking outwins actually didn't beat as a okay but that's the one loss what about the winds they had

come on okay but that but i think you want to what i think they're turning a corner where it's like they're they're kind of that for a game was a good when the columbus came as a good when and they're playing to match the record yes this is where you and I are never gonna disagree well I'm never

gonna agree what about the LA game the LA game was great they played really well okay good game but then the next game was not as good like they've been kind of hit and miss okay and winning I'm not, but I hear what you're saying. Like losing to San Jose was not good. Losing to Nashville was not good. Yeah, you remember that game too? Not great. Thought they played well against Calgary, dismantled Philly.

Very good against LA, good against Florida, dismantled Columbus. Yeah, I think they're turning a little bit of a corner. And just being around the team, I can tell you, it feels a little different. And I think that's important. I think they need turning a little bit of a corner and just being around the team I can tell you it feels a little different and I think I even think they did to peak at the right time They didn't have a full practice. They had an optional practice at 10 a.m. And that never happens Like they're doing things like the rest they got their eye on the ball. They know what's coming I mean, we're two weeks away from ultimately the dance that matters and that will define the whole season They know what's coming. They don't know who they're gonna play yet.

Whoever they play, it's gonna be a difficult challenge. And yet the pressure's on them. They gotta win. There's no excuses anymore. They got a really good team. They're likely to be healthy. McCabe and Camp were skating today. If you have all hands on deck.

Oh, there's no, it doesn't. You gotta go do what you gotta do. There's no excuses. Yeah, exactly. It doesn't matter who you play. You gotta go win. Absolutely. All right, Jonas. Good seeing you, man. Thanks for doing this. Thanks, Hayes. There's Jonas Siegel of The Athletic. Al's brother will be in here tomorrow. The O-Dog Masters week. We'll start really looking ahead to that. Leafs in action tomorrow night. It's going to be a great one. We're out of here. Thanks to

everyone behind the scenes for helping out. Everyone for tuning in today. TV, radio, podcast, web. We appreciate it. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4 PM. We'll chat then. 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,

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