OverDrive - OverDrive - December 17, 2024 - Hour 2

Episode Date: December 17, 2024

Join Bryan Hayes and Jonas Siegel for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the biggest storylines around the NHL. They go around the sports world in the latest edition of Confirm or Deny and Anthony Stolarz's injury timeline with the Maple Leafs.

Alpine News Network is here live with one of our superheroes. I don't want to say I'm a big deal, but I am a superhero. I love helping people consolidate their debts, and that's what I did for the Smiths. I took their bills and ZOOM! Wabam! Zap! Turned them into one low monthly payment. No, this sounds not necessary, but it's part of the fun.

Own your home, need a loan? Alpine Credits can help. Alpine Credits, where homeowners get approved. Just for license 12-616. Hour 2 Overdrive continues, brought to you by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, a bunch of games in the NHL tonight.

Leafs in Dallas playing the Stars tomorrow night. Mike Johnson will join us here in just a moment. World Juniors right around the corner as well. That's when you know it's the holidays, right? Yeah, they're playing their first tune-up game later this week. And I guess Easton Cowan is back healthy and skating and ready to go. He's going to be a full participant

for the tournament. Masters is all over that. Yeah, Masters. Man, does he dive deep into that. His work ethic, I've never seen anything like it. It's crazy. Yeah, he's right in there in terms of finding all these different details and storylines and exploring them. Sometimes I'm just like, Mark, you can just take a break.

He's like, nah, got to work, got to get after it. I think he probably loves the World Juniors because I'll bet you the players are so receptive and appreciative of him asking more questions and trying to develop more stories. Where you know in the NHL, they're like, Masters, get out of here. I'm not talking to you again. I'm not

getting into that story you want to get into or whatever. Where I can't imagine with hockey Canada, I mean there'd be some limits and some borders, but they probably are freely talking to Mark. And generally, these are positive stories, right? They're kids, and it's the biggest moment of their lives. And it's in Ottawa, which would be really cool.

It sucks for the Sens because they've got to hit the road now. Nine-game road trip starting in Seattle tonight. And they've been much better recently. They're in a playoff spot. Ottawa's put themselves back in the playoffs partially based on their own doing and the fact that the other teams around them just aren't that good. That's the thing. The middle of the

East is kind of like, ugh. Yeah. A couple teams are going to get in. Wild card type teams. And whoever ends up with those top seeds, heavy favorites. But that happens pretty much every year. The top seed? Yeah, I think so.

I mean, last year, wasn't it New York played the Capitals in the first round? And it was just a massive, massive spread. Did you look at the standings today? The number one team in the NHL is? Is it the Capitals? It's the Capitals. I thought it was Winnipeg.

There's a points percentage. It's the Capitals. Capitals, yeah. Well, they lost in Dallas last night, but they've been outstanding without Ovi. Yeah. And Edmonton's was rolling until last night. Yeah, that was a wild game where, like, Stuart, the Reinhardt goal that a lot of people were pointing to, and Stuart Skinner, I wish I could ask Noodles about that.

Like, to me, it's an awful goal. You can't give up that goal from that angle. I don't care how it goes in. And I don't think Reinhardt was intending that necessarily. But it was pretty incredible, the fact that it went off his helmet and in. And it hurt Skinner to the point where he took his helmet off. That's just an unbelievable play by Reinhardt that also can't happen. I think you can have...

I think it's like 75% shot and 25%. You think that's more Reinhardt picking that... Yeah, look where he puts that puck. I know, but it's not even an angle in which it was going to go in unless it hit Skinner and went in. So with that in mind, you have to believe Reinhardt meant to do that. What was he trying to do? Get a rebound?

I'm not sure. I guess he was hoping for that outcome, but I'm not sure you're necessarily thinking it's going to happen. I wanted to talk to you about Zach Hyman. Did you see his face last night? Yeah, but I was going to ask you about the goal and just the way he's played the last

little bit. He looks healthy. Did Team Canada maybe overthink this a little bit? He looks healthy. He had a ton of opportunities early in the season they just didn't go in for him and that's the goal we're watching right now again mcdavid puts it on a t for him but he gets it off quick but the breakaway goal yes he's got look at his wheels like he looks like he's skating and he's healthy again but imagine like i showed you zach hyman from that those first couple years in toronto and then i showed you that you'd be like what that's silky that's improvement both schools yes you're right i think the first one right down

broadway he rifles that into someone's chest first couple years in the league right like that he he took his time he set himself up and he went basically bar down. But I would think if he keeps playing like this for the next month, if there's an injury, he's probably going to be next man up. Wasn't this kind of foreseeable? He had a monster playoff. He had 54 goals last year. Don't you just not give him the benefit of the doubt?

It was so bad earlier. I know he had like three goals through like 20-something games. He didn't score a goal for the first, I don't think the first 10 games or something. He didn't score. But like, look what we just saw. I don't know. Well, again, I think it was the McDavid conversation was,

does he have to play with McDavid? No, he's a good player. He doesn't need to play. Look at what we just saw, though, last night. McDavid sets him up. Okay, so start him there, and if it doesn't work, move him. I know, but... It's like he's never played without McDavid. Yes, of course he's played without McDavid,

and this would apply to every player in the league, not just Zach Hyman. Yeah. But he scored at the level he scored last year because he played with Connor McDavid. Fine. Let's be very clear. 100%.

Like, Austin Matthews hit 69 goals last year playing with everybody. Yes. By the end, he was with Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi. Yeah. That guy is just a pure goal scorer. Yes. Zach is a goal scorer. He's not a pure goal scorer unless he's playing with Connor McDavid.

Have you seen the other centers on Team Canada? They're very good. I think he would do fine with McKinnon or Crosby. He might. Maybe Braden Point. He might. Okay. Ask Mike.

So you're pushing for Zach Hyman to get on Canada right now because of that. To be fair, it's not like I was pounding the table before. Yeah. He looks healthy and looks good. But it looks like an oversight. All right. He overthought it. Here's Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst.

Do you think Hockey Canada screwed up now, Johnny, now that we've seen Zach Hyman, who looks healthy, although his face is a disaster. Look at that face, man. That's worse than Tom Wilson, in my opinion, from last week. No. Yes, look at his nose. He has a puck on his face. Look at that guy's nose, Jonas.

Johnny, you answer that for us. Hyman or Wilson, worse hockey face or better hockey face, depending on how you look at it. So Wilson's was deformative. you answer that for us hyman or wilson worse hockey face or better better hockey face depending on how you look at it so wilson's was deformative but i bet it was less painful like i think zach hyman's the nose getting all bent out of shape that that is way worse like i've broken my cheek bone i've broken my orbital bone and yet it's painful and i had to play with a cage on but i kept playing it wasn't you know that did it't that difficult, but it wasn't that bad. The nose is a whole other animal.

You get that thing stuffed up your nose. No, that's a mess. And before we get into the Zach Hyman merits, how about just a moment for, and I'm not trying to act like I was a particularly courageous guy or I didn't feel scared ever. But, like, hanging in front of the net, which we all did when we played. I wore no visor.

Now, guys can't shoot back when I played there. They can shoot now. But I would sit there in front of the net looking for screens and tips and not worried about getting hit in the face with no visor on. And I watch the game now between the benches or I watch it on TV, and I'm like, that is insane. I would get terrified, and I'm not even part of it anymore. So just the guys that hang in there, aching pucks up around their face all the time is

impressive and also a little bit frightening. Crazy. What about Hyman Team Canada? Do you think they regret not having him on that team? I don't think so just yet. I don't think so just yet because I think like what you're comparing Zach Hyman to like the delta that Jonas is looking for in the scoring winger position and I don't think they see Zach Hyman as effective as Sam Bennett in the role they're picturing Sam Bennett playing right it's not to suggest he's not a better scorer than he is. Of course that's the case.

But they're not looking at him like that. So he's going to compete with Sam Ryan Hurst, with Mitch Marner, with Braden Point, like he plays in the wing. Like those are the kind of guys he's competing with. And you can, I mean, you can make the argument, and I can understand it, that he would be good there. But I don't think it's some sort of grievous oversight because those guys are as good or at times better and they have done it without playing with McDavid and when they made this pick that kind of wasn't even playing with Connor

McDavid if he's not going to play with McDavid it feels like then you're really probably you're really reaching now what what works in his favor is that you can start up with McDavid in an incredibly short tournament and no chemistry will be there that works in his favor is that you can start up with McDavid in an incredibly short tournament and no chemistry will be there. That works in his favor. But if you get past that, having him play with Nate McKinnon, not that it wouldn't work, but I don't know if it would work better than having Braden Point play with Nathan McKinnon.

Do you know who else he played with? Mitch Marner. Hyman, McDavid, Marner. That'd be a great line. I don't know. It's funny In my preseason Our first goal round Our first time picking the team

Which was in September before the season started That was my first line So I know exactly what you're saying You're preaching to the choir I completely get it But given the way he started And given the way the other guys have played I understand the decision.

I'd like that, though. A former Leaf, a current Leaf, and a future Leaf. And a future Leaf. You know that would be coming out of Toronto, man. You know that's the cover of the Toronto Sun. Listen, we'd be promoting it right here on Overdrive. Yeah, listen, that game, I think I just did. That game last night was wild, and

we were talking about that Reinhardt goal, and naturally, Reinhardt, who is now, he's neck and neck with Dry Subtle, chasing down the Rocket. He's coming off 57 goals last year. I believe he scored the Cup winner, right? I think he had the second goal in the Cup in Game 7, and he

signs for eight years at $8.625 million. So there's Sam Reinhardt. Again, top six on Canada in his prime, scores massive goals in Game 7 of the Cup Final. Are you going where I think you're going? 57 goals, and now he's going to do it again. He's going to double down.

What I'm getting to is how are the other teams, and I'm not just talking about the Leafs, how can you compete with Florida when Reinhardt signs that deal? Like, forget all the other stuff with taxes and palm trees. What's that? You're picking and choosing. You're picking and choosing. Am I?

Remember Brodsky? They paid him $10 million. Before they had won anything, you're right, they did pay him a lot of money. But that was in the past. So what would you have the league do? Create, like, specific... It's not even about anything the league can do. I guess I'm asking from a...

It's a loser mentality, admittedly. It is, yeah. That the Panthers, they get this guy... Could be an advantage. Well, I mean, clearly. But it's like 8.6 this guy signs for, and he's going to do it again? And again and again? There's no reason to believe Reinhardt's just going to be a brutal player

in two or three years. Like, if your other GMs, again, I know people are going to say, you're talking about Marner in the Leafs, and sure, that factors in. But I think there's other teams as well that are like, how are we going to compete with that? How much is Slavkovsky making? Like seven something? Slavkovsky's

making seven something. This is a very recent example. It's not like Florida has been great for so long. We'll see what happens with Bennett. We'll see what happens with Ekblad as a free agent after this year. We'll see what happens there. I think part of the conversation for Reinhardt specifically was it's not like he had a long track record of scoring at that level. Right?

He was a 30-goal scorer who had 57. He wasn't a perennial 57-goal scorer. And I bet if that's the third time he scored 50 something, he wouldn't be sitting at eight something million dollars. Right. Like I think because it was new because he individually had been on a few different teams and sort of fought to find his best home and realize the value of getting in that best home, which is in Florida,

a very good team. Plus all the other stuff is great to go there. Plus the team. Then he's willing to take less than he would have probably gotten on the open market. I think it's a really big difference. And you're right, like, Ekblad's been high paid for a while. Let's see what happens with him. Bennett's sort of

been now with the Team Canada thing. We'll see what happens with him. Like, if Bennett signs for $6 million, Hayes, you and I will have a summit, right? Summit. But I don't know if that's going to be the case. I think Reinhardt was a uniquely qualified sort of one-off

that I'm not sure it would replicate itself around the league. But you're right. You put them in an advantageous attack situation. You put them into a great lifestyle situation, and you put them on a great team. You have the mix for a pretty good recruiting tool. And Toronto and Montreal, and not just Canadian teams, but look at the Rangers right now, the tax situation.

Look at Buffalo. The GM just admitted, we only have palm trees and we have taxes. So it's around the league thing that can be overcome with winning. I think that is a great equalizer. If you are a perennial contender, if you are a team that is always challenging for the Cups, then you will likely

get at least other players coming to your team on a slightly discounted rate. So, with that in mind, let's say hypothetically the Maple Leafs do the impossible and win the Stanley Cup this year. Do you think it would be more likely their pending ufas got more money than you would expect after winning or less money because they

won you know the answer you think they'd ask for more after winning i mean i think mitch marner would ask for more i think john tavarez would probably ask for whatever it takes to stay as much as he can get to stay. And that's not a criticism of Mitch Marner. We have him in the top 10 in the MVP voting. He's been amazing. He's been outstanding. And he's watched his players.

But he will say, I have played better than Austin Matthews. I have played better than William Nylander this year. I deserve something similar to what those guys want. More than Nylander, maybe less than Matthews. Yeah. And I, you know, that that's again, a case out to itself, but yeah. Yeah. It's interesting. Or maybe, I don't know. I think that's how it goes. Or would you say, listen, we've done everything we can. What does it matter to me? Whether it's 11 and a half, the same as Willie, or if it's 12 and a half, like it's still another a hundred million dollars go on the first $100 I earned.

I'm going to be okay. Maybe my life is better. Maybe I'm going to buy myself $6 million of grace by getting slightly less and maybe that's worth it. Maybe it's not. I don't know. $6 million is a lot of money. Toronto might not work out exactly the same. I know. Toronto's different. I get it.

I'm just saying, again, using Reinhardt. The personalities on Toronto are different. I don't even know if Toronto's different. I get it. But I'm just saying, again, using Reinhardt, it's an isolated. But the personalities on Toronto are different. Like, I don't even know if Toronto's different. It's the players. Like, Nate McKinnon didn't take a massive discount on his last deal in Colorado, did he? No. I would say he did. I would say he did.

I think he could have got way more than $12.6 million. He's a high-paid player in the league when he signed that contract. By $100,000. We've done this before, Johnny. It was by $100, grand more than McDavid. You tell me, if he said, I want 13.25, Joe Sackick's going to say no? I mean, he could say 14.

Of course. He could have said, they just won a cup. If he said, I want 14, he'd be making 14 today. No, he wouldn't. Yes, he would. Joe Sackick would have held the line. No, he would not have. If it was, I'm leaving, or you got to give it to me? Yes, he had. He hadn't had 100 points yet.

Well, can I ask you guys a hard question? What would be your walk-away number with Marner where you're just like, no? That's a great question. That's the best way to put it, right? That is a good way to put it. A penny more than Austin, I'm saying no. Well, what if it's for an eight-year deal? I don't care.

You're not making more than Matthews. He just signed. It's not like he signed five years ago. He signed a year ago. It just kicked in. Cap has gone up. We'll go up. I don't care. You're not making more than Matthews. He just signed. It's not like he signed five years ago. He signed a year ago. It just kicked in. Cap has gone up. We'll go up. I understand that. Yeah. That's part of the fact that you're saying you can get around the fame is acknowledging the cap going up

because as great as you are, you're not a centerman. You're not a goalscorer. It's different. He's won an MVP. He's won multiple Rockets. I mean, I think that would be I don't want to be like that would be like the let I think that would be... I don't want to be... That would be like the, let's be rational here conversation. I don't want to walk away from him.

I don't want to come to a number where they have to walk away from him because he's that good. But it's more like, let's be reasonable. Let's be rational. Don't think about going more than often. That's going to make everyone's life more difficult. I could see that being the number in the end, though.

13? Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised. I mean, it's life more difficult. I could see that being the number in the end, though. 13? Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised. I mean, it's difficult to predict. Who knows what's going to happen the rest of the season? You know, if Mitch keeps playing like this and they have a great playoff run or whatever, I wouldn't be shocked if they said,

let's just meet right at Austin. Maybe it's a long-term deal. And then again, we'll react to that when we get to it. But Mitch is different because, again, he's in his prime and he came up with him. Like, Tavares is in a different position. I was asked about it last night with Jay, like the idea that because he's now on a 40-goal

pace and he's playing so well, this has become some sort of mandatory obligation to keep him around long-term. And I just don't see how anything could ever happen during the regular season, Johnny, where I would think that would be smart business for the Leafs. And I'm not predicting they won't see it that way.

They may sign him tomorrow. They might. Like the way they operate and they're committed to these guys and they love these guys and I see why they do. I just couldn't reason with the idea of ever signing Tavares between now and the end of the season. I don't see why it would make any sense. Unless you're getting a great deal.

Unless you're getting three years at four and a half a year. Then I'm like, yeah, okay, we can certainly do that. With the way the cap's going. And I think that's probably where the contract, he'll probably want four or five years, at least he'll probably want three years, and it'll be around four, five, six million dollars. And if they find a good number there,

that's a good deal that everyone's happy with, I guess, but I'm with you. The only danger and not so much with Tavares. And I think the, the, the prospect of staying in Toronto, having his kids grow up here,

having the house and all, you know, he settled here as an adult, as a family. So you don't have to rush him. Mitch is in a different situation. He, yes,

he settled here, but he's young enough. And it's, you know, his family situation is different And the closer you get to July 1 The more likely it is that

Mitch Marner gets swayed by the Prospect of something different and if you're worried About that that's the only risk you're taking right He's like for Mitch If he's like well we got to the Second round here I'm playing great I had a great year. Like, now I'm super bullish on my contract here.

Or, you know, see what else is out there because they didn't show me the love when they could have. So now I'm going to make sure that I get the love I can get anywhere and explore other options. It's a delicate maybe act. Now I can hear the fans sort of roll their eyes as we say it because they've been down this road so many times before And they haven't had a successful playoff

So let's just let it play out Lula Amorello If you have time, use it Don't force it Well Mike let me ask you because one part of this That I don't think gets enough Talk Is we assume like what he is today

Is just what he's going to be so my question to you is like what do you think his next three or four years look like i want to be as good i don't i don't know how much better he's going to get and that's not to be dismissive i just know he's 34 of his game like you know mitch is what is mitch now 28 are you asking mitch or no i'm asking tavaris oh you're saying I'm asking Tavares. Oh, you're saying John. I'm asking Tavares. Oh, John. Because, like.

I mean, I think in the next three years, they go, you know, the stuff he's good at will continue to be the stuff he's very good at, even though he gets maybe not quite as good at it. Like, he's still going to be able to check and take face-offs, and he'll be working hard to maintain his speed as best he can. Like, so if I'm paying him $4 or $5 million, does he go be working hard to maintain his speed as best he can like so like if i'm paying him four or five million does he go to 30 goals to 25 to 20 okay and from 70 points to 60 to 50 completely reasonable if he's playing second line maybe third line power play unit stuff

completely reasonable um but i think with the cap going to be a hundred million dollars in three years having a third line center make four and a half million dollars it's cap going to be $100 million in three years, having a third-line center make $4.5 million is not going to bother me. So I'm anticipating a decrease in his productivity because that happens to everyone virtually at his age. He's done an amazing job fighting it off, but I'm not counting on him being this good every year. If he plays like something closer to last year where five-on-five production was harder for him,

at $4 to $5 million, that's still not a bad deal at all. So Anthony Stolarz having a procedure tomorrow. What's with the pebble? A pebble in his knee. Like with the sand? Exactly. Haven't you guys had something like this? Like I've had this before,

where it's like you have a little piece of something that... The bone fragments or a piece of cartilage or something yeah and you could feel it because like why don't we call it that instead of the pebble yeah because i think that's what it looks like on the x-ray i think that's what brad shilling was trying to say right but would they have found this if they didn't have the mri no or did like that this is what i understand clearly something was bugging him yeah no something was bugging him. Yeah, no, something was bugging him. He couldn't, like, straighten his leg. And then I guess they got tests done, and this is what the tests showed. All right, so four to six weeks.

I feel for the guy. He's played so well. You know, there was always this concern, how many games is he going to play? Now, obviously, the number is going to drop and possibly drop significantly if it's closer to six weeks or six weeks plus, because you never know. Six weeks plus four nations takes him to the end of February. Exactly.

Now you're talking like a long break, and maybe he's only going to start 15 more games the rest of the way or something along those lines. Where does Joseph Wall come into play? How big of an opportunity is this for him to rewrite his own reputation and possibly take the reins here and and maybe never look back if he doesn't have to doesn't this set up joseph wall to be in the exact same spot that he was in coming into training camp where he's gonna have a backup but he was sort of the perceived guy that needed to earn or play his way well enough to be the number one guy

to get the two-thirds of the starts. And it didn't go that way because of injury, because of Stolar's excellence. But he's right back there, except he's going into this run with great form and confidence of a goal, where he's played really well this year. So, I mean, obviously it's

a huge opportunity and responsibility for that matter. It's not like he doesn't have the luxury of Stolarz behind him anymore. He has to be good and he has to be ready to play two out of every three games and stay healthy while doing so. And if he can do that, then so many of the

questions that people would have had about Joseph Wall, including the organization, will have been answered. If he can't, the flip side is, though, if he can't, then it's really bad news because this is it. This is the moment where you need him to be the guy that you think he is, the guy that he's shown himself capable of being. And if he can't because of performance or, more likely,

maybe because of health, then that's really tough. And that puts the Leafs in a really difficult bind as well. Yeah, this cannot be a scenario where, in a couple of health, that's really tough. That puts the Leafs in a really difficult bind as well. This cannot be a scenario where in a couple of games he mysteriously disappears and can't play exactly. He's got to play. He has to play. You've got to play hurt sometimes, even as a goaltender.

Hopefully you're not going to run into that scenario, but he cannot be like something's not feeling right, I'm not going. You can build credibility with your team. Yes, which I think he has to. What happened in Game 7 last year, how he started the year, I think he's got to do that.

Speaking of building credibility within the room, this Capo Caco comment that came out today. I don't mind it, though. You don't mind it. I mean, no. Okay, let me read it here quickly, okay?

Let me find, where did I have it? Okay, this is what he said. He's just speaking the truth, but he's just saying it out loud, which we don't usually do. We don't. And he was a healthy scratch the previous game, and Kako came out down in New York and said,

quote, haven't been on the ice too much when opponents score a goal. I haven't been the worst guy, but that was me out of the lineup, end quote. And then went on to say it's easier to take the young guy out than the veteran. Now, a lot of people pointed out he's in his sixth season in the league. He's not a rookie. He's been in the league for quite some time, but what do you make of that? He came in as like a teenager.

Still, he's six years into the league. He's not a rookie. On that team, he's treated as the young guy still. So what do you make of it? And he's six years into the league. He's not a rookie. On that team, he's treated as the young guy. Right. Right? So what do you make of it? And he's not wrong. So it's unusual.

He probably should have said this to Labulette. Like, hey, that's garbage. I know I can be better, but I'm not the one that you need to take out. I'm not the one who deserves to get pulled. We're worried about defense. I am by far your biggest priority to fix what ails us

from the forwards. I think he's also a guy who doesn't necessarily care if he gets traded. I think Kako has explored the idea of going elsewhere because he doesn't like that he's still getting ice time and opportunities like he's a young guy.

He hasn't scored a ton at the NHL level, so how much juice does he have to demand trades or think that I should go elsewhere and get a power play opportunity or top six minutes, whatever? But that's how he feels, and I think he's expressed that to the Rangers, and isn't this the worst case scenario

is? Like, they float, well, they do a good draw in the summer, make them 15 minutes, pick your spot or you're going on waivers. They talk about Truba. We want to get ready in the summer. It comes out to everyone on the team pretty clearly even around the league. And he said,

no, I want to stay for my family. And then they put Crider and Truba out there publicly. Then they trade Truba with a threat of waivers and scratches. And he, you know, he tried to fight for his family and it didn't work. And at some point you wonder will there eventually be pushback from the entire team

against the general manager or the organization which almost never happens can we think about a time when the team's like this gm is treating us bad we don't like it here because generally like that affects you it doesn't affect me as your teammate like i'm i'm sad for you but like i'm also worried about my own situation but i wonder if he's if the general manager in his moves have lost the room a little bit which is almost unheard of to say in the nhl but i wonder if costco is like i don't you know i'm okay with being out of here i'm gonna i'm gonna pipe off a little bit and you know different guys start talking less about what do we got to do to fix this?

Boy, Chris Drury is being a jerk with stronger language. I think it's all of that. It's Cockle being frustrated. It's Cockle maybe wanting to get traded. It's Cockle being correct in that they could have picked other better candidates to scratch instead of him. It just speaks

to the tough spot the Rangers are in where it's all going wrong right now for New York. Oh, it's a mess, man. It does feel like there's a real issue within that room. Right. You know, like the whole thing. What is happening?

I know. They won the President's Trophy last year. Yeah, and they started the year very well. They were winning a lot of games early in the season. Shusterka was a big part of that, and Quegg. But, yeah, they're a mess, man. They're a mess, and now you've got the Sabres and Habs. I saw that.

They got Nashville with one win in ten. You've got the Rangers floundering. Good news is somebody wins. Bad news is somebody's losing to a team that is struggling mightily as well. Same thing with Sabres and Habs tonight. One of them's got to win. Someone's got to win a hockey game tonight.

All right, Johnny. We'll catch up later in the week. All right, guys. Have a great week. There he is, Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Check out Maple Toyota's huge truck and SUV lineup, including Tundra, Forerunner, Highlander, and Grand Highlander in stock and ready to deliver. Visit mapletoyota.com.

Yeah, a lot of games in the NHL tonight, John. So I have one question that I want to ask Mike, but I'll ask him later. So I'll ask you instead. Not as good. Okay. All right. Yeah.

So I've been thinking about it like over the years, why Matthews, Marner, Nylander haven't basically played together at all. I looked it up and I found like two games like five years ago. And I think of like other teams and it's not so unusual. Like Landerskog, McKinnon,

Rantanen played together forever in Colorado. Marchand, Bergeron, Pasternak played together forever in Colorado. Marchand, Bergeron, Pasternak played together in real. Yep. How come it's been such a, like, never do it here? Now, like, they don't never do it, but it's like offensive zone draw coming out of a team-y timeout and then not happening.

It's like they're down a goal. Eh, let's try to get a spark. But it's never, like, sustained. And I sort of understand why you want balance and everything. But it's also a little weird. Your three most talented players are never on the ice together at 5-on-5. It doesn't really make sense.

I think it's a combination of wanting balance, but also that they all have pretty much the exact same disposition on the ice. Where they need the puck and they're... That, but also, none of them ever get pissed off. None of them are necessarily known as, like, four-check merchants. None of them go to the front of the net.

Are there two better puck thieves, maybe three, than those three guys? They're incredibly well... They're great at back pressure, and they turn pucks over, and they'll end a breakout with that. But using the Marchand-Bergeron-Pasanac line as one that was incredible. Brad Marchand is just a different beast. He's got a different approach, different attitude. Bergeron as well, like the Selke winner every single year.

Very different types. And I think that would be my concern is that the three of them they're just there's no contrast in any way in terms of their general attitude to how they approach the game. I think that's fair.

And I guess the question is how dominant would they have to be to make it worthwhile for what you lose on the other lines? But like those Boston teams, not like they had that much going elsewhere. It was basically that line or nothing. You had Krejci, who was a good second-line center. Right, which you would have Tavares. Yeah, you're right.

It's just something I've thought about, and it's kind of like a hockey thing a little bit. You wouldn't do this. I'm intrigued by it. I'm intrigued to see it. And again, I think a lot of it is balance. I think Myrtle tweeted out, this line tomorrow night is a $35 million line or something.

I was talking to Neal about it today, and he's like, we've never had a practice together like this. I was like, yeah, I guess that's true. We've never practiced together. He's like, every time they put us together, it's like, shift. Shift. Right. But it's never like, last game was like the first sustained stretch. Listen, simply because it's interesting and, shift. Right. But it's never like last game was like the first sustained stretch. Listen, simply because it's interesting and different,

I hope they stick with it tomorrow night. Yeah, give it like a few games. Give it a chance and let's see what you got. Now, I think it's on the other lines to pull their weight in order for Berube not to snap and say, I got to move these guys off. I got to get Willie getting that line going or Mitch has got to get that line going.

I think it would be Nylander that would move. I think it's a combination of balance and the way they see the game and the way that they play the game. They play with energy, clearly, but it's a different form of energy. They're not overly physical. I just wonder if I was an opponent,

that would scare me more. It would, depending on the opponent. Theoretically. Yeah, it would depend on the opponent. If you felt comfortable, if you had a shutdown line or shutdown pairing where you felt like you could maybe neutralize them, you might take on that challenge thinking, okay, the rest of the lineup we can get.

And again, if it gets nasty, how comfortable are they going to be in a scenario like that? But that doesn't happen very often. Right, and if Nye's up there, is it really that different? It doesn't change a ton. But he is a guy that can be like a bull in a china shop at times. Nye. And he goes to the front of the net, and he fights for pucks, and he'll forecheck and throw his weight around.

Those guys are kind of the beneficiaries of that type of style. Go in there, get it, and get to that guy. That's the puck. Yeah, exactly. Alright, Confirm and Deny coming up. And we got the NBA Cup tonight. Bobby Marks will join us. Good matchup. I'm excited for it. It should be. I mean, I think on FanDuel, I want to say

is Oklahoma City like a four and a half point favorite? I believe in a game tonight. But we'll look ahead to that. The Raptors lost last night. Back in action tomorrow night. Catch up with Bobby. Get his take on all that. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app.

Breaking story from Alpine News Network. Jan owns a home and a restaurant fusing French and Mexican cuisine. But she is fusing no more because her ovens have gone kaput. She called Alpine Credits, who sent their speedy superhero. With her business loan approved, her ovens have gone kaput. She called Alpine Credits who sent their speedy superhero. With her business loan approved, her ovens were quickly fixed. The hero even had some of her poutine nachos. Yum. Own your home, need a loan?

Alpine Credits can help. Alpine Credits, where homeowners get approved. Just for license 12616. I can neither confirm or deny that this is in fact a segment. Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuca Rast. 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, Confirm or Deny. We should point out Jesse Palmer coming up in half an hour. Bobby Marks as well. So a lot on the NBA, a lot on the NFL. NBA Cup tonight. A lot on this ratings dip, too, down in the States on the NBA.

And figured we'd start with this one, considering Steph, LeBron, they've been the two faces of the league alongside Kevin Durant really for a long time. I'd say LeBron won, probably Steph, too, KD, three. But confirm or deny, Steph

Curry has changed the NBA more than LeBron James. Confirm. I mean, three point shooting is now the NBA and he was kind of like the pioneer of, I'm going to shoot it 12 times from three. And now like all kids coming into the league, like they try to shoot it like Steph LeBron has had the better career,

better player. But I guess the only argument I would argue against myself, can I play devil's advocate to myself? Sure, go ahead and start arguing with yourself. I don't like the term player empowerment, but LeBron kind of changed how players take control of their careers. But I'm sticking with Steph. That is what is at stake here,

is on the court it's Steph, for sure, but off the court it's still LeBron. So in terms of long-term, how's it going to play out and who's going to have the bigger impact, I think I would confirm it in the way that the game is, again, it's like every other sport, it's a math equation.

And you look at some of these teams who are awful basketball teams that are just jacking threes. The Mavs Warriors the other night, I think they set an NBA record with 48 threes made. Right. Like 48? Some teams are shooting like 40 a night. Yeah, 48? Some teams are shooting, like, 40 a night. It's like...

Yeah, there was a recent one, I believe, with, like, setting records for the most misses. Like, that's happening all the time. Every other week, there's a new bar set. Yeah. Whether it's a team, whether it's collectively, whether it's a certain player. And that really is Steph Curry.

And what gets lost in all of that is that Steph did it because he was great at it. Yes. Like, he wasn't jacking shots that were bricks all the time. and what gets lost on all of that is that Steph did it because he was great at it. Yes. Like, he wasn't jacking shots that were bricks all the time. He was hitting shots, and he was with Klay Thompson. Yeah. So it was the two of them, and the Warriors had that kind of success. And I agree, it became a thing where kids, you couldn't replicate LeBron

because LeBron is a physical beast. Yeah. You can't replicate 6'8", 260 that can run the way he can run. But you can pretend to be Steph. That was the amazing thing about what he represented in the NBA. As a kid, you couldn't dunk like Jordan. You couldn't do what MJ had. You couldn't have the swag if you were a kid.

But every kid can pretend to be Steph by hitting threes. And it's changed everything in the NBA. Another argument against it, though, is it became more about math, where Daryl Morey and the Rockets, they were like, it actually makes more sense to take more threes mathematically. I can't explain that, but that's, it's just simple math, I guess. And so it's not as much Steph as it is like analytics, just being like,

it's smarter to take more threes because threes are worth more. Right. But I think, yes, I guess Golden State, though, kind of drove the point home where you could see how it actually was practiced. Because now you have like Trey Young who just shoots. He does what Steph does, but he doesn't make as many. Well, that's the important context of that. Sure, it makes sense.

You still have to make them. Yeah. Right? Just shooting threes doesn't do anything for you. If you're the worst three, like the Raptors are not a good three-point shooting team, and they haven't been for years. Jack up as many threes as you want. It's not going to improve your standing.

Yeah. Well, like Giannis this year stopped shooting threes. Right. He wasn't good at them. Exactly. You have the ability to still be effective in other ways, and you have to try to thrive in those areas where

LeBron's impact on the game is not an international icon because he was never going to match what Jordan represented. But he is an international. He is. But he wasn't going to move the bar further than what MJ represented, even what Kobe represented in some ways.

But him leaving Cleveland did really expedite the movement of superstars around the NBA. Yeah, saying just because I'm signed here doesn't mean, and he was done with his contract, but just because I'm signed here, I'm not staying here. Right, and I'm going to sign one of your deals and put pressure on you, and I want power, and I want you to fire this guy and trade that guy and hire this guy

and sign that guy. It's not all been good, but I do think it was improperly balanced before, where teams could just do whatever the heck they wanted. Right. It swung way too far the other way, though. This is the conundrum that the NBA has now, that players... But now they've changed it where it's harder to make trades like they've added all this second apron

stuff and right you have to like it's a little more complicated than before but yeah well they're trying to attack super teams they're trying to attack what happened there where lebron said i'll go join duane wade and chris bosh it's like you can't have all of them that's that's what they're they're trying to do the idea of paying a third guy that kind of money just isn't really possible in the NBA anymore but yeah Steph's form is just

the whole it does seem like a three point shooting contest in the NBA and it's a real issue because it's not really that entertaining this is the thing though it was thoroughly entertaining when Golden State was doing it like when they arrived it was so fresh and so new and because Steph was so good It's not really that entertaining. This is the thing, though. It was thoroughly entertaining when Golden State was doing it. When they arrived, it was so fresh and so new. And because Steph was so good and Klay Thompson was so good,

then when you added Kevin Durant, it was like, this is unbeatable. You can't stop this. And look at how graceful these guys are. When you're watching Memphis-Detroit, you're like, I can't watch this. I cannot see these teams just jack threes like this. You mentioned the ratings. How often do you watch a full basketball game? I'm not sure you watch a full sporting event, period, anymore. It's actually true, yeah.

Like anything, really. Without some sort of a distraction or something else going on where you want to check in. Well, you'll watch a full Leaf game. I will too, obviously. Sure. But even that, if the Leafs are playing and the Bills are playing the Lions at the same time, like the other night, I'm going to flip over and watch the Bills game. I will too, obviously. Sure. But even that, if the Leafs are playing and the Bills are playing the Lions at the

same time, like the other night, I'm going to flip over and watch the Bills game. Absolutely. I'll predominantly watch the Leaf game, but I'm still tracking what else is going on. What game do you think you watch the longest? Probably is Leaf games, I would

think. So let's take Leafs out of the equation. If the Leafs are out, it would be the NFL without question. Like a standalone NFL game. You give me a big Sunday nighter, I would watch the whole thing. Every snap and every second of it. Me too. Good announcers, good game. The production level is phenomenal.

You can't beat it. But it's a tough sell. I think in the modern era, this applies to everyone. We're easily distracted. I'll look myself in the mirror. It's not even that I will flip off. I might just be looking at my phone for 10 minutes. So I'll miss something in a

Raptors game, in a Blue Jay game, or whatever. But all right, confirm or deny. The Chiefs should sit Patrick Mahomes until the playoffs. High ankle sprain. Full participant of practice today. Confirm 100%. You would shut him down. Load management into the NFL.

What's the upside? You want load management in the NFL. You want to kill the NFL. He was hurt in the AFC championship game last year, wasn't he? Is that when he got hurt? Yeah, he had the high ankle sprain and he still won the Super Bowl. I think it was last year or the year before. Yeah, right? And he was kind of hobbling around?

I just don't know what the upside is. What do they care about? Well, the upside is holding on to the top seed. I guess they get the buy. They may get it anyway, even with Carson Wentz. Right. But they got Houston, Pittsburgh, Denver. Three tough games. Buffalo has New England New York

New England three easy games probably so I think if you're Kansas City you've maybe got to win at least one but maybe two that buy is important that's I hear you and that's why I would deny it

I think the fact that he's a participant today says he's going to play, which is, I appreciate that so greatly for a guy that has won all these rings, has all these accolades, all these MVPs, best player going, 13-1, and he's like, I'm playing. And I will believe it when I see it that he plays in the short week because he's got Saturday, Wednesday, he's playing on Christmas Day. But I wouldn't... It's a quick

turnaround. If anything, I would shut him down this weekend and say, come back on Christmas. Like that I could understand. Give him the extra time off. Usually with high ankle sprains, you miss like six to eight weeks. You can miss a long time. It's worse than a break, I think. In terms of time missed. It is, but you can't

injure it more. NFL players are a different beast, man. They're freaks of nature, and I have a great appreciation for it. He's the biggest freak of them all. Yeah, but in terms of injuries, Brett Favre played 303 games in a row or something. He had shoulders that were popping out. He had knees that were banged up.

And I think when you compare and contrast again to what the NBA is going through, Joel Embiid is out because he hurt his face recently. The idea that Mahomes, the most important, most valuable player in the league on a 13-1 team that have won

two Super Bowls in a row is saying, screw it, I'm playing because I can play. They play 17 games. These guys play 82. It's not totally the same. So you're condoning the behavior of Joel Embiid? I mean, he has a sinus fracture. What do you want him to do? Play.

But even prior to that, there was so much injury reserve and injury, you know, all these different injury reports. But again, I think what fans appreciate or what I appreciate about physical sports, it's not a rah-rah, my sport's better than your sport or anything like that. It's that football players and hockey players, the reason they play is so their teammates respect them.

That's why they play. They don't play to be heroic. They don't play for the fans. They don't play for the media. It's not even about the money at that point. And I think a lot of society appreciates that greatly, that it's like they still have a belief that I have to play so I can look my teammate in the eyes and say, I played.

And I battled for you because I know you battled for me. I know it's hokey, but I think it means something. I do too. And I think people really react to that and respond to it. Because people have to go to their jobs every day when they don't feel great. Exactly. Well, it connects with people. You can't just call and be like, eh, load management.

Not feeling it. I need some load management here. All right. Confirm it. I got more we'll get to later this afternoon. Jesse Palmer coming up. Bobby Marks, our best bet still to come as well. Overdrive continues.

TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Breaking story from Alpine News Network. Jan owns a home and a restaurant fusing French and Mexican cuisine. But she is fusing no more because her ovens have gone kaput. She called Alpine Credits who sent their speedy superhero. With her business loan approved, her ovens were quickly fixed. The hero even had some of her poutine nachos. Yum.

Own your home, need a loan? Alpine Credits can help. Alpine Credits, where homeowners get approved. Just for license 12-616. All right, Jesse Palmer coming up, Bobby Marks. A couple more confirmers and eyes. But we have sent Al's brother out somewhere in the city with a pair of Leaf tickets. You have to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them.

Are you prepared for the second clue of the week, Jonas? Do it. Hey, Overdrive fans. How's your Tuesday going? Hopefully we can get you one step closer to finding out where is Al's brother and get yourself a pair of Leafs and Jets tickets on December 23rd. It surely will be the hottest ticket in town that night, but the place that I'm hiding out this week has been the

second hottest ticket in town. Very interesting. Tune in tomorrow for another clue. The first caller through on Friday with the correct location wins a pair of tickets. Leafs Jets, December 23rd. Finehouse Brother is brought to you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora.

Our family, the Ford family, and you. Full details at tsn1050.ca. Leaves in Dallas tomorrow night. NBA Cup tonight. We'll tee that up. LeBron returned right over the weekend. LeBron is back. Good to see LeBron.

And they're changing up the All-Star game again in the NBA. And unsurprisingly, Kevin Durant hates it. He's willing to say publicly he hates it. He hates a lot of things, KD. But he's outspoken. I'll give him that. If he's got something to say, he's going to just tell you what it is. So he spoke on that earlier today. So Bobby Marks on that more

still to come. We're the Raptors at as we move forward here and lease back in action tomorrow night. Bunch of games in the NHL as well. So we'll get to that and more still to come. Final hour coming up. Jonas Siegel of the Athletic is here. I'm Brian Hayes. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app.