OverDrive - OverDrive - April 8, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: April 8, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Michael DiStefano for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the Maple Leafs' Florida matchups, Ivan Demidov landing in Montreal and the Red Wings' team build. They also go around the sports world in the latest edition of Confirm or Deny and the standings across the Eastern Conference in the NHL.

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Join today and be part of something amazing. Hour Two Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hays, Zodog, Jeff O'Neal, Michael DiStefano, AKA Al's brother, AKA. Fred Ridley Jr. Fred Ridley Jr. michael de stefano a k l's brother a k red ridley junior red ridley junior

there's a lot of buzz online about your champions dinner a lot of us yeah i mean some people say in seven out of ten i've seen some nine out of ten i mean it's all subjective right everyone's got a different palette i think you did a great job with it i think you brought the heat uh... made it yeah and uh... a lot of work put into that which we really appreciate including that jacket. Yeah.

In all seriousness, where did you find that thing? Amazon. Yeah. Good, good old online shopper. I'm confident this came from the Pacific Mall or something. Oh yeah. That's my guess. That's been sitting in a port somewhere

for about six years. I'm pretty sure if you walk to the gates any day this week, the only thing someone would say to you is, what year did you win, sir? I think that's the only comment that they have. I hope that's true. I'd like that to be. What year did you win? Sorry, when did you win again? 2017. Oh, is that right? Yeah. Okay. I could see you down there mixing in very well, Al's

brother. It is a beautiful site and we've got golf coming up in a couple of days and Jay's back in action tonight and the Leafs in Tampa, Mike Johnson coming up, Johnny with the call game on TSN tonight and it's gonna be a fun night in the NHL because the Habs are in action, Ottawa's in Columbus, Ottawa can, they're in anyway. I mean for the most part they're in. But if Montreal beats Detroit does that kind of lock it up for them? More or less it's over tonight. Like they have to feel very comfortable with where they're at. They've earned it. They've won five in a row. They've been very resilient since the

four nations. Unreal run man. Yeah it's been a great run. They do. They deserve all of the flowers. And Ottawa the same thing. Like Ottawa their goal-tenning's been great. Brady Kachuk's out again tonight. They continue to win games.'ve done it like they're there it's been a long time coming. I just don't know why it's like you're cruising you've got some positive mojo and yesterday their goaltender had that snippy comment with the media I'm just like why did you need to

do that the timing of that seems so silly what the positive mojo is like you know people around here report and then people were like can you expand on what you were talking about and he goes no no no no that's for you just the way he said it I'm like why did you do that I don't really know what his thinking is all mark like oh it does seem the time like an unnecessary you want to pick a fight yeah that's what I would do if I was Brady Kachak I would have called him up and said, what the hell do you think you're doing? We don't need a distraction. Right. It's positive vibes. Yes. Not the Corey. Not Pooley. Not Steve Stoios. Not the only. If I'm Brady Kachuk, I'd say, can you please stop that? Right. We don't need it. We're in a good

place. Let's just concentrate on winning and playing hockey and going about our business here. God, it was silly. Yeah. It was, it was it did it just you could tell it was something he was waiting for for a while and he's sitting on and it was like did you really got to bring that up now? Yeah. Yeah. And again if you're going to say that expand on it. You got it. You're going to say you know some people were not doing their job or were running with stories that were unnecessary or untruthful, I believe is what he said, then explain what you're talking about.

Not the way he went, not, not, not, not, not for you to figure out. That's for you to figure out. Why would we figure that out? You just said it. You're the one that's bringing it up, Linus Almark. So what's up? Please figure it out for us.

Just tell us, what's your deal? Just tell us, we're not, really, we're not gonna go deep, deep dive into this you have something on your mind go ahead what's happening what's going on it seems like a very good position to be in if you're not on that stuff like bring the heat what is it like what's what's going on here man but um yeah tonight again mccabe not on the trip camp on the not on the trip but berube was asked about like Marner chasing a hundred points and Willie chasing. I don't think a chase for 50 is really within reach, but

44, listen, he, he talks home two or three down in Florida. And you come home and you've got a few games and you're only four or five off the pace. It's doable at that point. Like it is doable and it's in the back of your mind. Like 50 is that number. 100 points for Marner is that point. Like it is doable and it's in the back of your mind. Like 50 is that number, 100 points for Marner is that number.

I'm just curious, like, cause Barube's, he's new to this market. He's aware of what happened last year, but Willie was chasing 100 points, he got hurt. Matthews was chasing 70 goals and, you know, I don't know if that affected him early in that playoff series, but eventually he got hurt in the playoffs.

And I don't think you can connect the two but what do they end up doing this year like what happens down the stretch if they go into a scenario next week where their final game of the year is completely meaningless yeah do you play Mitch Marner if he's got 99 points you play him do you play Willie if he's sitting on 48 goals and you say you're playing 25 minutes tonight go chase 50 yeah I would not want to I wouldn't want to play them But like it always goes down to this is doesn't the player have to I would like to the player to say I'm not playing because I care about the playoffs. Yeah, but they've had those situations in the past where they didn't play

It's not like they played any better. So what the hell's the difference? Well, that's the truth I mean a couple years ago that was Marner was touching up on 100 and he did not play. I think they went down to Tampa and he said I'm good load management let's gear up for the playoffs and you're right I'm not sure it makes a difference one way or the other. Here's Mike Johnson our TSN hockey analyst joining us here on the Maple Toyota hotline. What is your read on the importance of 100 points for Mitch Marner and maybe if he gets a couple down in Florida chasing 50 goals for William Nylander? I think you'd be naive to suggest it's not really important to those. I think they understand both

in their career and financially that they're not going to be judged by whether they do those things, but they're great offensive players. Oh, no, it's down 40 goals before it feels really good when you get there It is a thing that is going to be there forever and the way Mitch missed a hundred previously Missing those games late in the season and not getting there really He may he may never get this close again to 50. Like I think it is something that can be a healthy motivation for the last six games and so You know if I'm Mitch Marner, if I'm hurt, then I shouldn't play at the end of the year to try to get healthy for the playoffs.

But if I'm not hurt, I absolutely want to play and get a hundred point, become a hundred point score for the first time and do those kinds of things. Go get 50 goals. It's a magical number if you're William Nylander. So if healthy, I think it's, if the players are healthy, I think it's a good thing to have out there to try to achieve. Johnny, true or false, somebody sent me a tweet when you were in Nashville that you blew out a mini Jerry's during the game. Is that true? I went mini Jerry's with a little Anchorman reference in the middle of a replay review.

Wow! As I said, Marty Saloui has to challenge us. You know, it's a gray area. I think it's 62% that he'll get it right. And then I went with a 60% every time it works, 60% of the times. I love it, man. That's a, that's two worlds colliding. Overdrive and Anchorman.

You can't beat that. That is a mashup that we love to see and hear that would have been Sunday. Right. That was a big, big win for the Habs. That was a massive game. They played terribly and they won the game largely because Nashville makes every goaltender look like Conor Halliburke in the league this year. Yeah. I mean, the Habs are gonna get there, right? Like they're virtually a lock. If they win tonight, then they almost are

mathematically a lock. And they got this Demidoff kid coming over out of nowhere. Yeah. Which is kind of big, like, you you know in the Montreal world. He is Outrageously talented. He's like meets cough, but but quite a bit better. That's what I'm saying Do you think he'll play like obviously they're gonna get a minigame or two next week But they're playing for something like they lose tonight and they lose their next game. All of a sudden There's some panic in the air. Well, what's the mini Jerry's that he plays and he plays well right off the hop? So I'm kind of with Hayes, like they might wait to see how tonight goes.

If they win tonight, then I think it's almost 100% he plays next game or whenever he gets here in time and sort of adjusted to play. If they were to lose one or two, I think then the mini Jerry drops way down to like it's 50-50 because I don't think you want to put a guy who's never played in North America into a game where you're up by two points, the other team has a game in hand, and you're trying to make the playoffs the first time in five years. It's just a lot to ask. To the point when I saw the press release today, and I know you can't time it because

St. Peter's is going to do whatever they want, I would not have released this until tomorrow if I'm Montreal. I would have let the group, that's one, what, five in a row, feeling good about themselves, what their roles in their team, what line they're on. They don't need to hear about the new superstar coming in because he's going to take the place of someone who's been playing and contributing. And that guy today now is going to be thinking, okay, if I don't play or maybe if I do play well I'm getting scratch the next game and like that's sort of a I just would not have introduced that if I could have on the eve of such an important game tonight.

Yeah well he is he is a guy that they've been buzzing about really all year right in in Montreal you know that they have been starved for superstardom and they appear to have it in Lane Hudson Suzuki is going to be a guy that hits 90 points this year and Caulfield I think had 40 goals like the idea of this kid showing up and performing and playing and playing at a high level like that market is going to explode Johnny. Well and you know what Montreal is like when it comes to like high end offensive guys. Like I played with Alex Kovalov there

when he was in Montreal and they loved Kobe despite his warts and his occasional inconsistencies. It did not matter. Like there's something about that market that embraces the flair and and the styling of an uber talented offensive player.

And you mentioned Hudson, who's set the record records left and right Cole Caulfield Zucchi This kid might be the most talented with the puck player of the three of them and that's saying something like that's how he's you know I he led st. Petersburg in assistant points I think he had them he passed Capri's off and somebody else like a prominent player in most points of the teenager like he's done amazing things over there playing sometimes like eight ten minutes a night so I know it's a transition but the the hype is over the top right now Hayes and so there'll be a lot of expectations on

him but apparently he's supposed to be the real deal so did Ottawa basically in it's it's a lock at this point Montreal is real close if they win tonight, it's a lock Which fan base? Desert should be more upset or bitter that they've seen these two teams leapfrog them. Is it Detroit or Buffalo? So I think if Detroit was being honest with themselves, they're not perfectly situated to start getting that much better. They're a competitive team, but they're not a really good team. But they have to ask themselves, Johnny, how did we get surpassed by Montreal? Yeah, they bottomed out years ago.

Yeah, like they've got to be thinking, we thought we were further ahead. We should have been the one capturing this not them No, but I suppose oh, but I guess I'm saying they would have been Misguided in thinking that that they were ahead of those teams like they were not ahead of Ottawa They were not ahead of Montreal. They were always going to be sort of stuck in Grinding maybe freight. They're just not there's not that deep not that good Whereas I think Buffalo felt with all their talent and the contracts and the goalie and Lindy Ross. Like I think there was genuine realistic optimism that this would be a

better year and that our poor, and you can look at some of the players they had, was every bit as good as Ottawa's and certainly every bit as good as Montreal's before the season. So I think if anyone's gonna be more disappointed it would be Buffalo because they would have been more Appropriately optimistic about this year. I guess maybe I don't think Troy'd ever quite had it But Buffalo they they had a chance to have it. They just they didn't get it Well, that's been a little Detroit's a weird team too Cuz it feels like they're a squad that instead of rebuilding like Montreal did Ottawa did Buffalo certainly has tried that a couple times. They tried to like reload retool on the fly. They didn't necessarily bottom out draft develop. They tried to sign guys was like Andrew Cotter bringing in Patrick came Ben Chirot. It's just been a weird mismatch. I'm not really sure what the identity of that team really is either.

I feel like that's a big reason for why they're struggling and frowning. They got impatient, right? I think Steve Eisenman, he was on the eiser plan. It was taking their time and they're drafting and Mosider and Edmondson and Marco Casper. But then I think he thought, I don't want to wait four more years. So we went and got Petrie and Sheraton and Kopp and Cop and Comfort all you know decent NHL players, but probably not the guys are gonna lead you to the promised land so yeah there and now they're stuck with all those guys on decent contracts who are probably not good enough to lead well clearly not good enough to lead them deep into the playoffs and

And now they're gonna finish ninth or tenth Which is not gonna get those the draft pick to get the talent that they need to begin with yeah they're stuck in the middle and that's not a good place to be so that's why I think it's the Red Wing fan that deserves to be the most upset with what they've seen out of Montreal in Ottawa because they did the bottoming out without any fruit like without anything actually like developing positively for them yes they have a couple of good players there

But what has eisman been doing? Like the haves were in the cup final in 21 and then they said that's it We're going to bottom out three years later. Look where they are Detroit bottomed out like eight years ago And they're really not much of a better position if anything they've locked in on contracts with guys where it's like, where is this possibly going? Well, I'll tell you one thing they've been doing. They've been dicking around in that.

I'm sorry. Five, six different guys. I've seen those five or six guys rotating through there and you don't find a way to get somebody like a Montembleau or draft somebody like you can't win with those guys in the Billy the recluse. They brought in and they thought he was the next guy and then tell but and then lying it's like no way to do no way are those guys gonna get you in uh... they're just not

well idea and again i'm glad noodles is not here cuz he said they don't play properly in front of them well in fact the first like thirty games this year their goal-tending was actually pretty good, but it's fallen off. But I think he's, in the phrase of the question, where the Red Wings fans should have been disappointed was not now, it would have been like last summer

and the summer before. We were like, well, hang on, what are we doing here? Like it was the process to get to this point that put them in a spot where now they've been passed by these teams who are only going to get better and they're sort of stuck in neutral for the next little while. What do you mean by the summer? Like what they didn't do in the summer? No what they did do.

By signing those players, like when they went out, was it two years ago, they went and they got, they signed Teresenko and they signed Chirot and they signed Pop and then the next time they signed Comfort, these $5 million contracts, you're like, those guys are good players. Those are good complimentary players that are coming off teams where they were the fourth defenseman and the eighth forward. And now you're gonna ask them to be the fourth forward

and the second defenseman and it's not gonna be as good. And it's just human nature, right? And I think that's where if you're gonna say, you're right, they probably should be disappointed, but it should have been like years in the making, not just this year's results, but sort of how they tried to expedite their rebuild, and in fact sort of stunted it

because they didn't give it enough time to fully marinate and bottom out and get enough high-end talent to go the other way. At least in Florida tonight, Johnny, and I was a little surprised to see Joseph Wall get the start, but does this maybe suggest to you that the goalie competition could still be alive or would they rather keep Stollers for tomorrow? The other way.

Yeah. No, I think it's the other way. Yeah, but you're a numbers guy, Johnny, that Wall's numbers versus Tampa are incredible. Right. Right. Now, I hear what you're saying, but I think they're also incredibly small sample size, right? numbers versus hamper incredible right and right now here is saying but i'd i think they're also incredibly small sample size right maybe if they both would play dp in three four five times so

uh... i think it's i think it's the goal are going to have a like that the game if they be tab for the more regulation that's that's almost a wrap uh... for them and if they lose that it's game on right to the bitter end so I think they're gonna go to their their number one goalie and I think Stolars has seen Florida three times Florida has seen Stolars three times there's still you know a decent chance that the two teams play each other

in the first round and I think without going too far down that the the psychology of it all I wonder if they just don't want to go large to see them and then to be for one more time if they're gonna play against each other in the first round i just gotta call you out because you numbers guys sometimes you pick and choose where you have a number that senior favor you're like that's only five games but that's the stats and when you don't believe it you're like that's just too

small of a sample size there but you guys know how of not have a lot of local i'd like to try to make it through the numbers yeah i know i know i know saying i don't know if you take a file find you a number that supports it whatever i think i'll find you a number of okay and always manipulate those numbers man i have that i did as a sincere all that's very true that you get good grab their you have any response fred ridley junior over there why i'd i'd be a mister

numbers as well well through your kids i'd sometimes and and i mentioned this that earlier johnny i was looking into the numbers for this matchup in funny enough like florida last five games o one five yet somehow lead the league and expect to goals at the smalls and i i i i i i i i i i i i i was i'll sample size though. That's a five game sample size. Nothing to see here. Well, what you get is a team that's still good, still plays hard, the system produces great underlying numbers. So they're basically, them and Carolina,

the two best underlying teams of the year. But what they don't have in the last five games is the talent. They don't have Barkov playing, they don't have Kachak playing, Bennington banged up, and what, X-Lad's out of the lineup. So you can generate the same chances, the same expected goals, but then the quality of finishing is not, it's not as good. Because you don't have as, like, Jeff O'Neill could take a shot and I could take the shot. Same expected goals for the same spot. He will score more than me because he can shoot it better than me. And I think that's what they're bumping into. And they've been goalie, like out of their mind a couple of times along the way. So, um, yeah, they're, they're, they're not as bad as the old five records

would indicate, but I think they are officially like they are. They are completely in that we don't care at all where we finish per second, third, fourth. Like I think they're they've publicly and almost privately adopted. It does not matter. One iota. We don't care what we're going to get guys healthy

and try out for more fully helping the class you take our chances with mike johnson artisan hockey analyst so we've got about ten days left in the regular season which means voters have got to start getting their balance where's the key to culture of on your heart ballot as of today? He's so good. He's so good. So to me there are four people to consider for three spots on the on the heart dry saddle, it's McKinnon. It's Kucherov. It's Hellebuck and I Don't know

Well Kucherov now tied in points and he's played five less games than McKinnon right more Kuturov I think winger versus center is in it is the conversation I know I know it's more interchangeable now than ever but it still matters I think goals versus assists like I would put dry saddle ahead of both of them because he has so many more goals So I think dry saddles on and then it becomes do you want to put a goalie on there? And then goals versus assists, like I would put dry saddle ahead of both of them because he has so many more goals. So I think dry saddle is on and then it becomes, do you want to put a goalie on there? I think I do.

Like we saw like the last three, four years we've seen 150 points, 140 points, 100 assists. And if McKinnon and Kucherov end up with 122, I don't know if that's monumental enough to eliminate Hellebuck given the year he's having. Leading the league and wins, goals against, save percentage, shutouts, and he's probably going to win the President's Trophy. Right? You put all that together, I think that probably warrants an inclusion when the forwards haven't put up otherworldly numbers.

There's no 70-goal season from Austin Matthews. So I think the goal is give me Dry Settle,lla buck in the competition, give me hella buck. Then oh, I'm gonna come down to Kucherov or McKinnon. And they're very, very close. I don't know how you separate them. Position wise, the stats are almost identical. I would be inclined to say McKinnon because I think McKinnon probably impacts the game a bit more

mckinnon with all the injuries around him maybe you know kushirov had the luxury of with a point in gentel for a lot of the season doesn't mean he's not incredible it's just he has mckinnon hasn't had that all the time but it's splitting hairs that could go either way and be convinced either way yeah it's incredible what these guys have done and mckinnon averages about a minute twenty five more per game either way yet's incredible these guys have done in and mckinnon averages about a minute

twenty five more per game uh... but you can see on different websites he's had almost two hundred more shifts than kucherov i don't know if that necessarily matters but they like kucherov is going to be an interesting case study when we look back on his career where he ranks all-time because this guy be up there man he has to he's one of our he's the one he's this guy, he has to.

He's won a heart, he's won Art Ross, he's won cups. Believe you got a con, Smite. Check the points per game real quick, like all time. And he is like seventh. Like it's crazy how high he is. It's wild. Like a guy who has 500 or more points is. It is, yeah, we are probably discounting his brilliance It's wild like a guy's who have 500 or more points is it is

Yeah, we are probably discounting his brilliance because of his casualness because of his sort of a loop dis towards the media sometimes But it's not like he hasn't been on a good team. He's been on the best team the last decade He's won. They've won. He's won the heart. He's won the Art Ross He's won He's won everything individually and yet I think because he just let his play do the talking and his play at times looks so casual you know of course it's not he's probably under appreciated but if you look at it even historically already his numbers relative to some of the the other all-time greats I'm talking about all-time great yeah he is he is right up there higher than you would imagine well you look at on the power play guys and this is an era of like mcdavid

coming in ten years ago mckinnon austin matthews goalscoring there is nobody that can run a show on a power play like this guy and the and it's not even close back he's only around like no one in the league the best in the league by far like he's going to want to that right yeah he can shoot it one-timer wristers one-time pass anything you want anything you want is no lookers you want it he'll give it to you on a tee

absolutely yeah like he won the Art Ross last year he's already won it twice he very well could win it this year that'll be three I don't believe he got an Art Ross or a Con Smythe pretty sure that was Vasilevski and point I think that that'll be three uh... in i don't believe you got an hour ross aria cons might pretty sure that was basileski in point i think that god at the two years they want i believe uh... but still may look at his numbers is twelve points away from a thousand in his career played seven hundred ninety eight games

i guess it's that's the stuff that could create his image guys get a thousand points probably this year they get what six games left he probably gets 12 points probably and hits a thousand to wrap up the season he's 31 years old and there's no reason to believe he's gonna slow down. No. Like he just it's crazy the numbers this guy has put up year after year after year. So I'm done first ballot I mean if you talk about the the automatic first ballot guys that are playing in this generation right now right, it's obviously Sid, Obi and Connor are sort of ahead of the pack like those guys are maybe underclass on their own Kuturov's probably the next guy like ahead of Dreisaitl ahead of Hellebuck ahead of

Whatever John the Quick ahead of Austin Matthews He's the next guy after those three probably when it comes to you absolute slammed on the other dollar the great question i mean i think you doubt he would make a case of the cadman would make a case of the gas a less he would make a case quite frankly and there's a few guys on tampa that would uh... but you're right like at his phone calls as well but i was just gonna say but i think which are others ahead of stamp goes like if only one can you know the hall as crazy as

that sounds i think it's could drop over stamp goes but that's how good is our lives ever when tamer dot even at six hundred and fifty gold apps and he's a lot obviously to go in the act but you know i don't want to go to them today it's got it it's going to go to i think it is man like the guys are you going to be pages disgusting

like and again in the playoffs in The first time they won the cup he had 34 points and the next year at 32 So like his his points for he's got more than a point per game in the playoffs in his history as well I mean, it's just incredible what this guy does every single year All right, Johnny. Yeah, my fellas Enjoy yourself late tonight They can officially eliminate Florida and we'll see I think Barkov's playing so it's not like they're completely gonna like empty out the roster So Barkov's gonna be back tonight. It'll still be a challenging game. Yeah. Yeah, it will be it's I mean

This is the Leafs You just got to keep winning it for the Leafs right like let let the chips fall where they're gonna fall You're gonna play who you're gonna play go out there try to peek at the right time keep playing well And that's got to be the message for Barubert right now. I guess, but if they win tonight, tomorrow, then they've won the division. That's what I'm saying. Yes, that's true. Then you can start managing in the whole night. Yeah, that's a good point. Have a business trip in Florida and then set your plans for the next week. That's the plan. That's exactly right. All right, Johnny. That's what I'm doing. I'm gonna have a business

trip tonight and then I'll set my plans for the rest of the week. Enjoy yourself down there. Thank you for this. Alright, fellas. Mike Johnson 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 win tonight you win tomorrow there's one guy who i am not gonna play game eighty one eighty two john to bars yes

that's the guy who i think would benefit so greatly from a win tonight win tomorrow and they don't gotta play in eighty one eighty two against buffalo detroit he'll get a full week off got a rest recharge and get going for game one of the playoffs because we've seen this guy when he gets time off he comes back and he's slinked like just like a slingshot shot out of a cannon he's usually pretty pretty he's what third I think in goals

yeah four nations coming out yeah ever since that now they need bodies to be able to play and that's one thing like they're up against the cap and there's issues when it comes to like Flexibility within the lineup. That's a problem that they have That means you need David camp the return and play or you need patch already to return and play But or one of them's banged up and That's the play the wink wink nudge nudge I would shut them down the rest of the year like the habs game on saturday night and the two next week to shut it down see game bars

guest of ours yeah i think you're on to something there else brother and i and i would think of doing that with christian have i would think of doing that with a few different was frankly i don't know if you like those guys yeah yeah absolutely that's why this is a big trip in florida tonight tampa tomorrow alright game on tsn for tonight What's the plan on the panel? JD, is it Lindsey on the panel tonight? Lindsey Hamilton, myself, Carlo Colliacobo, and Darren Drager.

Wow, okay, here we go. Coco's on the panel tonight. Yep. I love it. Say hi to everyone over there for us. Yep. And we'll catch you tomorrow at four o'clock. We'll chat then.

Picks tomorrow, bring your A game. Dude. Masters picks. Always. It's gonna be a full slate. I want a 10 pack, a Canadian, and an old goat. That's a total long shot. I like it. I'll take Bernie Langer on a heartbeat. I think Bernie. I'll take him with my first selection. You see him with his new wheels? Mercedes gave him a brand new. Green green Ben's What a baller play. All right, you can have Bernie Langer with the first pick Give you Bernie tomorrow picks tomorrow. There's the o-dog Al's brother and I continue for the next hour We'll continue to look ahead to the games tonight confirmed with an eye coming up Chris Johnston will join us just after 6 o'clock overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for I can neither confirm or deny that this is in fact a significant... Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuca Ras.

It's been my honor and a privilege to serve as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. It's time for Confirm or Deny. Do you regret giving all those gentlemen the no trades or no movement clauses? I can neither confirm or deny that. I can't confirm or deny. All right, Ellis brother, you and I with some confirm or deny here and I'm gonna go off the board here. Confirm or deny, the NBA has lost its mind with what's happening because if you're not familiar with this, the Denver Nuggets have fired Mike Malone, who's been their head coach for a decade, who led them to a championship a couple of years ago. They are fourth in the West with what, four

games to play and the head coach got fired and the GM got fired today. And the Grizzlies fired their head coach a couple weeks ago. Luca went from Dallas to the Lakers earlier this year. What the hell is going on in the Western Conference? It's it's unbelievable really like I when I saw that come across my timeline today I was like did was there like a joke that like someone got caught here like Shams was it a fake tweet? No. They fired their coach with four games to go and it's not like you know they're not in a good place they're not in a good spot they're in fourth place exactly and i get it you look at the western standings i think there's one game separating

fourth through eighth so i guess based on that one extra win they have it looks a little better but like this is a coach that won you a championship two years ago. There's no faith that that guy could maybe steer you through something and get you through and win a playoff round or two. I just don't quite like what. This is Lou Lamarello ask, clearly the owner stepped in something happened.

Like people are pointing to a clip from Malone a couple of weeks ago. Why don't we play it? Now this was two weeks ago though. This wasn't like last night. And again, the GM, I saw Kevin O'Connell, I think, tweeting out, I believe he's with the ringer, that by all accounts, the coach and the GM

were not on good standing ground. Like they were not really friendly. They weren't really seeing eye to eye. So it's not as if it was a power struggle between the two of them because they both got fired. So something happened where the owner just looked at both of them and said, I can't stand you, you gotta go. But this is what Malone had to say about his team

and their reaction to some recent losses in the past. It was a brutally honest message. And the guys that are full of **** won't hear it. You know, they'll say, coach is trippin'. And the guys that maybe do really care will because they don't want they're not gonna go back and watch their minutes because nobody watches their minutes nobody watches film so we'll have to show them the film like that that is a harsh assessment of certain players on this team but you

would think you're the owner okay or the GM maybe you got to scale this guy back Malone you got to take it easy on the guys to an extent. But isn't that more of an issue you'd have with your players who you are paying a fortune to, that according to the head coach, a lot of them just don't care. Yeah. Don't review the process.

Don't watch tape, nothing. You got the same issue with the next guy. Crazy. Like I'm looking, like they've lost their last four games since that little outers there so it there's a possibility i suppose of being in the room that that those comments ruffled feathers even more and he lost the room yes i guess if the only way that i can

interpret this is that is what happened and they're thinking we still have a chance to win maybe we bring in a new coach that hasn't lost the room and we can have since it's the only explanation. That would be the explanation. And it's kind of John Tortorella like what we saw from Tortorella a couple of weeks ago, post game comments where he's like, basically was out of it. Like, yes, no, I understand that.

But he made comments that I think had the owner probably say, I can't, I'm not sure I want this coach associated with the team anymore or he has given up on the team or he's not a believer in the team. It's almost like the coach is like a lawyer who's defending the team all the time. Right? Like if you have a lawyer that doesn't believe you're, you're not guilty, then you're in trouble, man. Right. You need someone to like kind of force it upon themselves to be like, I got to support this group. And maybe Malone was basically saying, I don't, I don't trust this. I don't like it. I don't

like what's going on and someone stepped into your point to say maybe we can salvage something here and we still have Yokage doing amazing things and let's try to keep this good story going in the right direction. But just a crazy, crazy story. I'm with you man. When I saw the tweet this afternoon I'm like this can't be real. Especially because it's Malone. Like the guy won a championship, a championship in Denver with the nuggets. And he's out. You know, it's a crazy, crazy story. And I am quite curious to see where he lands.

Cause if he wants to coach again. He'll be a coveted coach. He'll jump in pretty quickly. For sure. All right, confirmed with that. Big news in Montreal. Big news for the NHL today Ivan demedov is leaving the KHL. He is signed with the Habs an entry-level deal. He's available to play like he could play tonight

He's not in town. He won't be playing tonight But I think they're in Ottawa on Friday in Montreal or in Toronto on Saturday hockey night least Habs that could be his debut on Saturday night Confirmed tonight Ivan demedv will be in the playoff lineup for the Habs. This is presuming the Habs punch that ticket. We feel good about that right now. If and when they get there, Demidov is an every night guy

for the Habs in the playoffs. Ooh, every night guy in the playoffs. That's where I kind of get hung up on because I got to see the guy play in the NHL. I'm going to deny it from now. There's a lot of hype for this kid. Tons of hype, tons of hype. But there was a lot of hype on you know Matthew Nyes too coming in and he ended up playing night and it was like well I don't know we'll see. Same thing with Caulfield remember when he showed up in

21. Right I think he did play every single night for him. Burned the Leafs a couple times. I am going to... no I'm gonna confirm it. I'm gonna confirm it too. But it's for this reason, like they signed him to an entry level contract this year, which burns a year. If you didn't envision him in your playoff roster, you probably don't burn that whole year of his contract to get him in now and get him into the lineup. Yeah, but this is kind of like the college player like Matthew Nyes that holds some power

over the team. Where Demidov, I'm sure would say, I want to get to free agency or restricted free agency a lot quicker. If you want me to come over, this is when I'm coming over. So I'm not convinced the Habs had the ability to say, let's do it next year so we start the clock when we want to. Player of this status playing in Russia, it's very delicate, you never know when he's gonna be released.

You get the opportunity to get him and he wants to come now, you sign it immediately. And I think, I'm gonna confirm this because A, I've seen clips of him, I don't know enough of him as a player. Looks great, fifth overall pick. Also, the Habs are playing with house money here. The Habs, if they get into the playoffs

and I feel good that they will right now they're not gonna fold they're not just showing up as participants looking to get swept they're gonna try to win they're gonna try to put forth their best lineup but I think there's more afforded there's more there's more of a luxury here afforded to Marty St. Louis to kind of get younger guys some experience than other teams in the league, like Toronto. Toronto's not looking at Nick Robertson saying, we got to get this guy some experience here.

He's a big part of our future. I think the Habs would do that with Demidov. And I think the idea of him giving them a spark if he hits the ground running, that's huge for them. For sure. But like if he's not struggles, but it could take him a couple of games to figure out the end. Like he's been playing in Russia, right. And professionally. Yes he's been playing

professionally correct but we'll see what ends up happening once he gets here but when you get to the playoffs I don't know I think you're still gonna have to ice what you believe is the best roster that gives you the best chance to win. Sure but I'm saying tie goes to the young talent. Probably. That's why I would stand on this and the idea that the Habs are scoring more goals recently bigger goals, but they've had offensive issues at times this year. If this guy can show up again, it's asking a lot. And there is a chance we're getting way out in front of us.

Or Pizzetta or Demidov and Armia. Yeah. Like how are you going to build your lineup? And it is an interesting question. And again, we haven't seen him play, so we're putting the car before the horse, but I'm buying into the hype here that this guy, that the Habs know what they have. They want him here for a purpose.

They're going to give him a chance to play. And young guys, when they arrive in a scenario like this, a lot of times they're running off adrenaline. They don't know any better. They just show up and start playing. And if he does that, I think he could really benefit the team basically immediately.

Let's skip the Kutrav one we've been talking about that all afternoon Joe let's get to this one. Confirm or deny Alex Ovechkin's legacy is already set and nothing else will matter the rest of his career. Nothing else can build upon his legacy. Well I'm gonna deny that I think a second Stanley Cup would put him even further entrenched Into the list of like greatness. I think he's already you think he'd move up the list with a Stanley Cup like he passes So I had a Fleur or whoever else he would have there Marc Messier all of a sudden He's ahead of that guy because of one more cup possibly. Yeah, I think so. Yeah Yeah, I do

I think that second Cup if he has a especially if he can do it at like 39 like this year at age 39 for him to go out if he can somehow Have a cons might winning Stanley Cup winning season breaks the record They win the president's trophy like he has his greatest and his team's greatest year at age 39 Like that to me would be amazing the same season he broke Gretzky's record. We'll be talking about OV's 2025 season forever in the hockey history. I think another Stanley Cup could do it but outside of you know if he ends up scoring if he gets to 50 I don't think that'll do anything for him or if he comes back next year and extends it gets that on 940 finishes off like I don't think so but a Stanley Cup I think has an opportunity to yeah no yeah I that's why I would deny this as well I think what we've learned in pro sports with what Brady

did at the end of his career what LeBron James continues to do even what Sidney Crosby continues to do these all-time great players they're they're still competing and they're still performing late into their career it's not just about fading away and being a bit player, he's still a superstar on that team. Yeah. It would be different if they won the cup and he's on the fourth line as a ceremonial captain and a guy that just is hanging around because he's on contract. That's not what's happening here. If they win a cup, it's because he was a massive part of that and that is worthy of another notch on your belt and you know again I don't know I'm curious to see where he lands in terms of that subjective list of the all-time grades because Sid for me is pushing up into the top four for me he's in the top five

right now Ovi's got to be in the top 10 I think I agree he's got to be in the top 10 I think. I agree. He's got to be in the top 10. But could another cup, does that get him ahead into the top five? That's the question. Like can you, like possibly, this guy ends up with 950 goals, two cups. Would another cup get him ahead of Sid? I think what that could do is 50 years from now people will put him ahead of Sid. What I mean by that is the look at their resumes and say both great great players but this guy had all those goals, he had more heart trophies which he does, in my opinion, and has had a better career. Also, you have to include international hockey, where OV has not had those moments. And Russia was there in 2010, they were there in 2014, they were hosting.

And Sid and the Canadians walked right in there and said, we'll take another gold medal from you. And you look at the four nations face off, OV wasn't afforded that opportunity, but Sid got to add to his legacy. For me, Sid is ahead of Ovi, but I think long-term you may look back on the stats and the career and the hockey DP pages and say,

eh, that guy down in Washington, maybe he was greater. Yeah. Fairly or unfairly. Confirmed or denied, Bo Bichette will resign with the Blue Jays. Deny. Deny. You're just a flat out deny. He's gone.

Did we not learn anything from what we just went through with Vladik Guerrero Jr.? What makes you think there's a possibility Bo returns? Well, a couple of different reasons. One, he is homegrown. I think he wants to be here. He did reiterate that yesterday. Again, I'll believe it when I see it see it but he has said i want to be in toronto i want to play with la t i've always wanted to win with la t he and la t are very close what i mean by that is these reports have been out that like that's it bo's gone he's leaving everyone said that about la t three weeks ago

it's over they didn't they reach a deal of la t's gone he's going to boston it's going to new york and then three weeks later he signed a deal I don't think it's been determined one way or the other that Bo Bichette and his future here is is just over and off the table and that's both parties that I think have to consider what he could still become as a Blue J what he could do the rest of this season they win he stays healthy puts up good numbers why would you not keep Beau Bichette? Why would you not do that? I think they would want to. Don't get me wrong. There's two reasons as to why I think that

there's going to be a rift here at the end of the season of Beau Bichette. He does go on to have a great season. A, his asking price is going to be astronomical. And I believe that what we saw happen yesterday, Vlad,adi get 500 sheets, that asking price for Bo went up too. I believe that would be the case because Bo Bichette is a very confident kid. He's a two-time batting champion. Of course he should be. He doesn't see himself as that much worse of a player than Vladi or that invaluable

to Vladi. You look at war, wins above replacement, replacement boba shet average in his career is a more valuable player them latimer grow junior so if he gets five hundred both asking for three i just don't know if the blue jays will be willing to set up much money that company has paid for things over the course of last calendar year million-dollar money that's a lot it's three hundred million dollars it's a lot but here's the other thing too

not convinced that the blue jay see this guy's their shortstop of the future and lot it's 300 million dollars it's a lot but here's the other thing too I'm not convinced that the Blue Jays see this guy as their shortstop of the future and will pay him like a shortstop he wants it and believes he will be a shortstop long-term another team will pay him like that well he's got to prove it for another team to pay him like that like he is he is he's got to have a big platform sees he's got to because last year was a mess for him. He's not a gold glove worthy shortstop. No.

That's not who he is. Two years ago, he did show some really solid improvements in the infield. Yeah. And last year, not a great year. Yes. But I think it's more likely a scenario where he gets to the market.

And then if it were to be a scenario where he stays in Toronto, he circles back. And what you just said is factual that he looks at it and goes, I know I can get this out there and the Jays go, go find it. If you can get it, go ahead. And then he comes back and it's like, I can't get the 300 million. Like an Edwin and Cronace on situation.

All of a sudden it's kind of a Pete Alonso situation. Or Pete Alonso. I'll stick around. i want to be here all take the three or four year deal at a certain price that that is definitely a possibility in the future uh... jays back in fenway tonight uh... coming off a big win last night uh... chris johnston coming up in about fifteen minutes leaves

panthers tonight on t s and four and right here on t s a radio the pregame begins at six thirty were out here at 630 tonight. Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Alright it is your final week to find El's Brother for your chance to win Leaf tickets and El's Brother is at a new location each day this week and you'll need to name all four of the locations on Friday in order to win. El's brother is in studio right now which means we're gonna throw it to you live. This is big El's brother. You prepared for this clue? I am prepared for the clue and look the Masters dinner

segment seems to be getting some good feedback or reviews online. Big time. But earlier today the location that I was in is the place where arguably our best segment ever took place. Wow I think I know exactly what you're talking about. I love that and we need to get a round two of that action at some point in the spring I would think maybe into the summer. That could happen. Okay. Tune in tomorrow for another clue or another location. The first caller through on Friday. Who can name all four locations wins a pair of tickets again to see the Leafs play the Red Wings on April 17th. Fine Ells brother brought to

you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora. Our family, the Ford family and you. Chris Johnston coming up. It's an abbreviated hour right here at 6 30 for Leafs Panthers tonight. We'll tee that up and get his take on a bunch of things throughout the NHLJs back in action tonight as well. Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Hey who invited climate action to the party? We did! Hey I'm Shannon Burns and I'm Sarah Christie. Together we host the Earth Day Party Podcast where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion, to getting a prescription to spend time in nature.

Plus, we hear from David Suzuki. This is a party where everyone is invited. The Earth Day Party Podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.