OverDrive - OverDrive - December 18, 2024 - Hour 1

Episode Date: December 18, 2024

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Michael DiStefano for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Sabres' ongoing losing skid and the impending changes to the roster, Patrik Laine's offensive outburst with the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs and Stars' matchup. They also discuss Kevin Gausman's response to Rob Manfred's rule changes around pitching, the NBA's decreased ratings and Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander playing on the same line in Toronto.

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or visit askkelvin.ca this hour of overdrive is powered by fanduel fanduel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score all right here we go overdrive off and running, TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker. And up on TSN for Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles McLennan, and there he is, Al's brother himself, Michael DiStefano. How we doing? Doing very well. We're going to do this all afternoon. How many of these do you think we have? At least four or five. I think four or five for sure.

I think at least four or five for sure. Maybe a couple times an hour, but you guys can't be acting up like that. And are you going to call him? Like, here's the thing that I've always, like, struggled with. Michael DeStefano. What is it? Michael DeStefano, right? You have to know the guy's name.

It's Michael DeStefano. I've been here for seven years, still doesn't know how to say it. Because they always say Al's brother. That's it. It's always Al's brother. That's my point. It's like I hear his name all the time obviously but it's like i struggle with the last name it's just ab for me so i don't know what do we what do we do is it al's brother what do we do i'll do the ins and outs each hour and establish michael de stefano

is here and then it's al's brother the rest of the way yeah i think it has to be that's the way it's got to be every other show i can can go by, you know, Mike, whatever. Overdrive, it's always going to be AB. Yeah. Always. Has to be exclusively Alice Brothers. So it's good to see you, and it's good to see Noodles. I guess, where are you now?

Are you still in Seattle? Are you in Calgary? Calgary, yeah. We're traveling, and it's got the game in Calgary tomorrow. And, you know, Seattle was a decent game last night for the Sens, but Seattle kind of looked a little bit sleepy. But, you know, the Sens continue to roll. Like this is, we talked about it before, it's going to be a tough road trip.

You know, they go Seattle, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, go home for Christmas, and then start Minnesota, St. Louis, Dallas, Detroit. It's a tough road trip, but they started on the right foot last night. Yeah, they sure did. They won 3-0, and really it's Linus Allmark at this point. Not that the Sens didn't play well. I thought Seattle came out flying kind of in the first period. That's about all I saw.

Then I woke up this morning, I'm like, wow, they won 3-0. And you look at Allmark, his last eight starts. Unbelievable. The guy doesn't get beat right now. He's playing like the Vesna winner. This is what Ottawa needed. This is what every team in transition needs at some point. When you believe in your players, you believe that you got the right coach,

and there's going to be some turnover, and there's going to be some youthful mistakes, at some point in a season, you're going to need a goalie just to win you a bunch of games and keep your head above water. And now, to the credit of the Ottawa Senators, they're in a playoff spot, and now the real work starts. Now you've got 51 games, and you've got to hold on to it, right? You've got to keep pace and keep going.

It's funny how quick it changes, too. Because think about a couple of weeks ago, there was the rumors about Brady Kachuk possibly wanted out. That rumor was never. Wait a minute, Alice Brother. There's APA. The rumor was never that Kachuk wanted out. Correct.

The rumor was that the Rangers wanted Brady Kachuk. Correct, but let's clarify that. Brady Kachuk and the Rangers, whatever was going on there, and then all of a sudden now, I don't think anyone thinks that there's any validity to Brady wanting to leave either. Not that he ever did. But now, I mean, now he's the captain of a rolling team. They've won seven of their last ten.

He got a goalie who's actually making stops. And like you said, they woke up this morning finally in a playoff spot. I think I saw, I was chatting with someone today, this is the longest into the season that they've been in a playoff spot since 2017 when they made the playoffs. Yeah. That sounds right because they've always had those slow starts. Ottawa's always shot themselves in the foot early in the year.

And a few weeks ago, we were talking about it. They were doing it again. They were blowing games, and they lost five in a row, and people were freaking out. And Allmark was getting poked on his form. Remember his answer, are we doing this again? He was all bent out of shape by everyone asking him about how he was playing. And now they're rocking, to their credit.

They're playing really well. That's the key, though, and this is the beauty of it. We've talked about it at length. You have a five-game losing streak in a tight division. Like, you find yourself on the outside looking in. You have a five-game winning streak or some form of a streak. All of a sudden, you know, people are talking or looking at you in a different light. That's the biggest challenge for a lot of these teams.

I mean, we're going to get there. We might as well get like this this buffalo sabers team man like i don't even know my heart hurts for them do you know what i mean like i we we had our game going and i had um you know i'm watching it on the computer and i'm like is that a replay or did lineages score and he's good it's because it's from the same spot yeah it's the same goal every single time and it's such a beautiful goal it is like this guy lines up on the same spot. Yeah, it's the same goal every single time. And it's such a beautiful goal. It is. Like, this guy lines up on the dot

and goes bar down in his sleep. Laine, it's incredible. Like, the video, the viz that they had, I guess, I believe that's Online. RDS, TSN.

Yeah, like, the one where he goes short side roof, the camera guy has basically set up the camera, and I think he leaves and goes to Chez Paris or something. He doesn't even have to be around. He knows what's coming.

Lion-A has set up shop in his office. The puck's going to get to him, and he's going to go bar down. And then on the third one, you see he went the opposite way, and I think it was UPL. It was like, what am I supposed to do now? Cheating. You've got to cheat. Wouldn't you have to, Noodles?

100%. That's the thing. That one angle on line, I watched it 20 times. UPL came across. He's a 6'6 goaltender. And Laine put it underneath the bar in this perfect spot. And then second one, he does it. The third one, UPL says, the hell with this.

I'm throwing everything I can over at that spot. And Leine goes back glove side, and UPL ends up in the corner. You're just going, what is going on here? And I mean, they gave him the mercy pull. It was James Reimer by the third period. But Buffalo's in one, and the thing is, I said this the other day in watching them play against the Leafs. I don't know how they get out of it because you need a goalie steal.

You need something that just drags you out because now Montreal's passed them in the standings, right? Yeah, they jumped over them last night. Yeah, that's the crazy thing is the separation now. Ottawa has played themselves into the top-tier group, and now they've got a six-point buffer on Detroit, seven points on Montreal, eight points on Buffalo, and those three teams are gone.

They're not getting back into it. Buffalo is a mess. Montreal's had a tough year. Detroit, I have no idea what Steve Eisenman's doing down there. I have no idea. I don't think anybody in Detroit knows. I'm sure he's frustrated, but there's a real separation where it has been top four, bottom four for years,

and now recently ottawa has played themselves in to a top five bottom three now they still have to keep proving it like ottawa does not deserve the benefit of the doubt that i think boston got three weeks ago right boston deserves to go yeah boston deserved the respect of let's see where they go with this i think the rangers in a weird way would deserve it it still, because they lost again in Nashville. But President's Trophy last year, veterans, good team, maybe best goalie in the league. There's a lot

that could still turn in their direction. Ottawa's going to have to prove it until I think they punch a ticket, but they've done a really good job of separating themselves from the bottom teams. And I'm with you. I think the worst thing you can do, and the worst thing you can hear is if your team is in a situation like the Sabres are

right now, you don't want other fan bases showing pity on you. But that's where it is. I feel for Sabres fans. I really feel awful for them. They haven't made the playoffs in 13 years and now they're the biggest disaster, maybe in

sports right now. When you were 08 and 03 in your last 11. That's probably your list tomorrow there, buddy. It could be the worst, the biggest disasters going right now. They are officially back on your cannot win a cup. Oh, they're. Well, you took them off a couple of weeks ago. Can I clarify that?

That was the idiot who's on. Yes, exactly. O forced you to do it. O's in Ottawa right now doing some reconnaissance work, preparing for the World Juniors. This guy called me five days in a row. He's like, you've got to take Buffalo off. You've got to do it.

Finally, my own fault, I buckled. I said, you know what? They've won a few games in a row. I'm going to do it. I know that's gutless to throw him under the bus, but he's not here for a couple weeks, so I'll do it. And that's why I did it. And ever since I took them off, this is

what's happened. Terrible. You've given them the kiss of death. I was the kiss of death. That is 100% accurate. The second I took them off, I think they were playing Minnesota that night. They lost to many, then Vancouver, then the Islanders, and it has just spiraled out of control. What do you do

if you're Lindy Ruff at this point, too? That's it. Well, Terry Bagulo went in there and talked to the team and tried to give out of control. What do you do if you're Lindy Ruff at this point, too? Terry Pagula went in there and talked to the team and tried to give them a vote of confidence. They allowed a goal 17 seconds into the very next game. 17 seconds in. It's scary bad. It's scary, scary bad.

Jerry Pagula goes in there and he just sparked the team. That's the owner talking to them at morning skate, and they get rinsed 6-1. I felt bad for them. Can you speak to it, though, Noodles? Have you ever been there? But why would a player care about the owner?

It's not that you don't respect the owner, but what is an owner possibly going to say to inspire you when you're in a dark place and you have guaranteed contracts well what's he going to say right i don't think the the owner's not going to scare guys who have long-term deals because he's paying them he's committed to them they've committed to him so you know that it's guys who are on the fringe that are either looking for a new deal or are lucky to be in the league and and you pay attention. Because if the owner goes in there and says, hey, I believe in you, let's get us out of this, then you try and dig out. I've been in tough situations.

I don't know if I've ever been. I'm trying to remember those Islander days. Islanders, we went from a really good team with me and Ray there in 94, and then Mike Milbury came in and did, what did Butch Goring say? Yeah, set them back light years, I think it was. And I was part of the light year process where, you know, it was Milbury GM, Milbury coaching, and, you know, it was a gong show. And then I ended up leaving.

But there was times where it was a lean situation where you'd lost a bunch of games, you're looking for answers you have it's enough with the closed door meetings and guy you know guys yelling and screaming and pointing fingers they look deflated like i don't think they look like they've already had those conversations six games ago right i think now it's to a point like they are doing enough to to lose like i i don't know how they dig it out it's going to probably start with a goalie that stands on his head and just stops 45 one night and and it gives them hey hey that's what a win feels like and then they start to try and at least salvage some but right now guys the

the vultures are circling you're hearing buffalo link to every team and they're not circling for the fourth line winger it's bowen byram it's you know it's guys like that who are top tier young players that need either a change of scenery to get out of that or they're going to try and pick at the carcass and go you know what we'll throw you a lifeline we'll take bowen byram or somebody off your hands yeah and their history in buffalo of moving off eichel and moving off reinhardtt and moving off Allmark and moving off O'Reilly, it may paralyze them in a way in terms of fear. Like it may put the – that's where I wonder if the owner plays a role in this

because Kevin Adams wasn't here when all that was happening. Like he wasn't here for the Eichel. I guess he had just arrived, I think, but it was over by then. It had already been determined. Eichel's not sticking around. And Reinhardt, the same thing, and O'Reilly and Allmark and others. And I wouldn't be surprised if Pegula, again, I'm kind of reading the tea leaves, but part of the trip up to Montreal was to calm the masses

and basically send a message like, we can't do that again. Yet at some point, you have to throw a piece of flesh to the mob in Buffalo. Like, that market is going – I would be going crazy if I was in Buffalo right now. I got a text from a buddy who works at WGR, and he literally texted me saying, that game, when Toronto goes into Buffalo on Friday, is going to be the highest road team attended game in NHL history. He believes that's going to be the game.

Well, and that could be the one that finally ends it. If there's 15,000 Leaf fans in there and the Leafs beat them 7-0, what are you supposed to do as an owner, as a GM, as a marketing department? At some point, you may be forced to do something. And generally, in the cap world, it's the coach. But Lindy Ruff is a legend in Buffalo. He's on his second tour. It felt like he came in to calm the masses and move them in a better direction.

And that would be the bottom of the barrel for me. I'm not saying it won't happen. I'm not saying that Lindy doesn't have to own some of this. Of course he does. But if you play yourself into a scenario as a team where Lindy Ruff is going to get pushed off the plank, that is so tough. It doesn't seem like a Buffalo thing to do, though. That Sabres organization have been penny pinchers.

I don't know if they're willing to pay three coaches at the same time that's the other issue is that you have to pay someone else yeah including lindy they're still playing donnie granato are they not yeah they might be still paying you know all the way back to the guy with the guy ron ron still getting a bobby bonilla deal here's what I would say to this, though, and you're right. I just believe that something's going to have to give there, and whether that's a trade, whether it's somebody significant they put on waivers to do something. But you're right.

Lindy Ruff isn't – if he's not the answer, let's put it this way. Is there a coach out there that you go, that guy can come in there and install structure and install the type of command that would get this team turned around? I don't know. Not this year. No, I'm just saying, if they cleared Joel Quinville, which I believe he has been.

I believe so, yeah. I believe so. Do you think Joel's putting his hand up and going, I've got to go into Buffalo? Like, you know, I've got to go. Like, there are top-tier coaches. If they get let go, I don't know if Buffalo is the first destination to go, hey, they've got some pieces there. I'm going to turn this around.

Like, that's the other thing is I don't know if it's a destination for a top-tier coach. If there is one, I guess let go. Gallant's still out. Gallant? Yeah, he'd be able to go. Well, Gerard Gallant is a jar. But Gallant's still out. Gallant? Yeah, he'd be available. But you know what? Gerard Gallant reminds me of Lindy Ruff. Former player, really well-liked,

been kind of a legend around the game. I don't know if they're the most tactical coaches. I think they're more motivator player coaches. Like the guy, and I know this is a weird thing to say, but like the guy that they need, if it's not Lindy Ruff, would be a John Tortorella, who has an airtight system, and whoever's on that team is like, this is how you play.

If you want to stay in games, this is how you play. This is what you do. And I'm not linking anything. They like torts in Philly. I'm just saying they need that type of coach where it's system first and then freedom to free will outside of that. I just don't think there's a coach out there like that.

No, and again, it's not a destination right now because you're taking over a team that has no chance of making the playoffs. If Laviolette was let go today, people would put their hands up. It's New York. It's the Rangers, original six. You look at that roster and think, I can work that out. I can get you in. And Dolan would pay.

You're not going to get that out of Buffalo. So it's a totally different scenario. But ugly last night. Again, the Rangers somewhat under the radar because Buffalo got blown out the way they did in Montreal. Lining scores a hat trick, but the Rangers lost again last night too. And if you're Ottawa, you're like, keep going that way.

Keep moving the other way, please. I think Pittsburgh won last night. Pittsburgh's back in the hunt. I've got to give them credit. I've written them off 45 times already this year. They're coming off the list? They're not off the list. They can't win a Stanley Cup.

None of these teams can win a Stanley Cup. Let's clarify right now. I mean, come on. But you have to at least say if Pittsburgh is in a playoff spot, which they're right there. They're not. They're one point out. Ottawa has a couple games in hand.

But don't you think that they've at least gone north enough to go, all right, they get on a heater. Not for a playoff run, Noodles. I'm not buying that. That's the thing. I still don't think they make the playoffs. I think it's good for them. They're on a heater. Not for a playoff run, Noodles. I'm not buying that. I still don't think they make the playoffs. I think it's good for them. They're on a heater right now, but I think they'll cool off. I'm

still betting against Pittsburgh making it. Well, I mean, with that, you put Buffalo on the list. What if you took Buffalo off and you put Pittsburgh there? Now you give them the kiss of death. I should do that. I'm doing it right now.

I established it right now. I had a spite to everyone down in Pitt. Pittsburgh's off. I think they can win the cup. Who cares what people in Pittsburgh think? Who cares what people in stop and wait Pittsburgh think? All right, so we've got a Leaf game tonight down at Dallas. These are always fun games because Dallas is arguably the best defensive team

in the league, one of them anyway. They're always in the running. You've got Ottinger versus Wall. Both Americans. Both were in the development program together. They both kind of came up together. So I think it's an interesting battle within the game. We've got that BU-BC.

They played against each other in college too. So there's a lot of rivalry. A lot of history between those two players. The Robertson brothers, too. And you've got the Robertson brothers. And I guess I read this morning that the Robertson parents, I guess they live in the Dallas area now. That's tough.

Yeah, they picked one city? I mean, come on. They're from California. Listen, Texas has got state tax, better weather, all of that type of stuff. Sure, but come on. But it is still tough. It happens to be ironic that Jason is the better player. Jason's playing every night.

Nick spent a couple of days in the press box. Although I will say when I played with Brett Lindros on the island, I don't think it was a Carl and Bonnie. I don't think they were living on the island. They might have been down in Philly or they might have just stayed neutral. They probably just stayed in Toronto. They're very supportive of their children. But, you know, we're making light of it, but it is tough.

It's tough. They live down in Texas. Aren't they in California? Like, where did they originally live? Yeah, they were in California. Yeah, grew up there. Lived there their whole lives, to my knowledge, but now they live down in the Dallas area.

So they'll be at the game tonight. And we've got the most expensive line in NHL history starting the game tonight for the Leafs. Marner, Nylander, and Matthews. And I saw a picture of it on the whiteboard in the Dallas room this morning. Because, you know, for those of you not familiar, like every team, right, Noodles, will have a whiteboard

as the players walk in. They'll have their own lines up, and then they'll have the opponent's lines up, and it really pops. Like it was giving me flashback kind of thoughts to like those Red Wings teams back in the 90s and early 2000s and the Colorado teams where it would be, you know, and early 2000s, and the Colorado teams where it would be, you know,

Korea, Sackick, Solani, or Eisenman, Shanahan, and Robitaille, or whatever the line was back in the day. And you're like, man, look at these three. And they all make $11 million or more. Yeah. I guess Marner's technically just under it. But I think what you've got is a scenario here where Craig Berube, he doesn't want to mess with the other lines who played well the other night.

I think that's more to do with anything here. I think he's looking at this saying, I like the Tavares-Knives-Patredi line the other night and Domi Robertson-McMahon look really good, so I don't want to mess with them. So the three of you, you're sticking together, which is kind of wild when you consider who these three players are. You're also dealing with some house money.

31 games in, you've got 40 points, you've played well. I'm intrigued how these guys respond to the challenge tonight because they're going to play a lot. I think they'll get through at least the first period together. I'm not convinced it'll go beyond that if they all have a slow start. But how comfortable they're going to be playing together because they all want the puck. They all have the ability to drive their own line,

yet someone's got to play number two, and I guess someone's technically got to play number three, and who is that going to be tonight? I guess we'll find out. What it is for me is I think Marner's playing with two shooters. That's the way I look at it because Marner, he is a distribute-the-puck type of first player, very unselfish when it comes to that. My only question is, who's going to get the puck?

Yes, exactly. Who's going to be the first F1, who's going to go absorb contact or be the contact guy? Matthews has done that, obviously playing center ice. or be the contact guy. Matthews has done that, obviously playing center ice. But, you know, if he's the guy that's got to do it, then he frees up the puck for Marner to get it to Nylander, that type of stuff. I don't – just the way Nylander plays, he's not an F1 guy to go and have contact off the forecheck.

He stick checks a lot, but he's not a guy who's overly physical. So it'll be interesting to see how that dynamic works once they have the puck no problem because that's it exactly go to work but getting the puck is the interesting part in a 50 50 battle i think you know matthew's really good at stick checking and and getting under and using his body same thing with nila all three of them are great at puck retrieval oh yeah all great at puck retrieval. They're all great at puck retrieval. But the physicality and who is going to play F1 and go and get that puck is the multimillion dollar question. Especially with Berube and what he's trying to advocate for

and play a certain system in a certain way. I'd imagine that pretty well. Any offensive draw, those guys are coming over the board tonight. That's essentially how they get. Yes, there's obviously going to be transition play. You're going to have to go in on the fly and transition and whatnot. But this is where you can get situational. You're big boys.

Get out there on offense. Win the face-off draw. And then from there, do your magic. That's kind of what I'm expecting out of them tonight. And I don't mind them playing together, too. You always hear teams will call it loading up. Edmonton, coming out of a penalty kill always go with dry saddle mcdavid and hyman right like coming out of any type of

thing they'll load up in an offensive zone draw this is loading up right from square one now what you're doing is getting peter deborah thinking okay who's going to match up against that line who you know are you going to go right with rupe hints and robertson are you going to go right with Rupe Hintz and Robertson, or are you going to go that third line, I believe, that has Jamie Benn on it? It might be Duchesne. But, like, you know, you look at it, if you're Dallas, you get the last change, so that's one thing as far as the matchups you want. But is there going to be a line that is assigned to those three, or are you just going to take a chance that your team defends well enough that,

hey, you know what we're going to roll the dice and go ahead? I could see it both ways with DeBoer because they're playing with a bit of house money as well and they defend well and they play well at home. You've got Ottinger and Ned, but I do think this has the chance to be an absolute nightmare for any

opponent and absolutely could be terrifying for any coaching staff. The idea of these three, if it's a wide open game if they have if they have the puck in in space it's almost a scenario where you can't really defend it like they're they're so good they're so capable they have such high iq they just don't have any history together playing as a threesome here marner extended history kneelander but, there's been times. Again, it's always situational. Right.

You try to catch a team coming off a power play or something like that, but they've never really played together. No. Like, not extensively over the course of a full game or multiple games in a row. You always spread the wealth. That's why you pay these guys all that money. Like, that's another element to it.

I think it's just as likely it gets broken up. And I'm not trying to be a hater here because I'm intrigued by it. I think Leaf fans love the idea of a fantasy coach, fantasy GM. This is a Barry Trotz line. Throw the three of them out there, right? And just let's see what happens. I want to see it. But I think it's more than likely what could break it up

isn't even their own play. It's the imbalance of offense on the other lines. Tavares has been great this year. I don't believe he can drive his own line for a whole season. He needs some help at some point. Right now, he's got Pacioretty and Nyes. We'll see what comes of it. Again, I liked him the other night.

Tavares has been great. He's going to need some help. Max Domi, Robertson, and McMahon are going to need some help at some point. Especially in a game like this, at Dallas, a really good team, a really good defensive team, unless they just blow the doors off Dallas, and they could because of who they are. But here's the thing. It could break up pretty quick because of the other guys.

But they haven't scored the other way either. Like, this team ranks 19th in goal scoring right now. Like, it's not working the other way either with them split up and spread out. They're trying something different. I think that's what this is about. I don't necessarily think it's going to be about the team and the lack of goal scoring. I think that if this line gets broken up after the first

period, it's because Berube didn't like him. He was speaking today with the media and I don't know if we have it or if we're going to play it, but he's basically saying, don't be cute. Drive to the net. Take charge. That's what he's going to want to be seeing. If he sees that, I think they'll stick together. The second that these guys –

They're not doing that. And if they're not – They're not doing that. And if they're not, that's when it'll be over. But that's when it'll be over. I know that. But Craig Berube knows that that's not going to happen. And, like, that's not –

You're not getting Mitch Marner to turn into Eric Lindros because Craig wants him to. No, but Matthews can be. Like, Matthews is a big boy. He can go to the net. None of them live around the net. None of them. Yeah.

Like, that's just not, that's not where they live. That's not where they operate. These aren't Corey Perry's. These aren't Matthew Kachuk's. These aren't Matthew Nye's types. Even Tavares. Like, largely, that's where he makes his hay is he gets to the front of the net. He sets up shop.

None of these guys live around the net. None of them are four-check merchants. Like, that's just not who they are. And they've been in the league for nine or ten years. So, I mean, come on, let's be realistic here. But what challenge could they rise to the occasion? I'd like to see it. That's what we'll see tonight.

Because I'd like to see it come playoff time. Like, that could be the challenge as well. In a nutshell, Dallas, go out there and show that you are capable of being uncomfortable, being in a position you're not used to you got to lean on defense scores like you got to be willing to go in there and forecheck you got to check you got to cycle these are all things that have to happen it's just these guys get paid so much money because of what they do when other guys go and lay the framework for this and then they are generally the beneficiaries of that are they going to cheat trying to break the zone?

I mean, there's so many different things that could happen. We'll find out starting tonight. But I find it a very intriguing storyline going into the game here. And you're trying it out. There's nothing wrong with that. He can switch it, or if he likes what he sees, you build on it. Or, like you said, you're giving the other lines that played well the other night. That actually got going the other night halfway through the game or whatever we'll call it,

that give them a little longer leash to see if they can develop some chemistry. I think that's a part of it. I really do. I think Max Domi finally showed up offensively. Yeah. Robertson scored. McMahon looked pretty good. I can understand.

You keep them together. And Tavares had Okay, I can understand. You keep them together. And Tavares had a hat trick, so you're keeping that together. This could be simply a default mechanism. I don't want to mess with those two lines. So, as a result, we get the benefit of watching Matthews, Marner, and Nylander play, which I think will be thoroughly entertaining. I just wouldn't hold my breath. I think it's more likely when this team is hitting on all cylinders,

even come playoff time, the three of them are on three separate lines than they're on the same line. Yes. Well, I don't disagree with that, Brian, because I think there's a trade coming at some point for number two centermen or two slash threes in that top nine centermen, which would maybe spread out the wealth. I think that's what Tree would probably be looking at

or something like that in the form of that. So that would add, okay, you're going to try the new player X with Nylander. You're going to have Domi slide over and play with him. To me, it depends on who that player is, but I still believe that if this team is going to compete against other teams in the East and stuff like that to try and go deep, they need more depth down the middle of the ice. Yeah, and I think you'll spread more than likely spread the wall.

Maybe Marner stays with Matthews. Maybe Nylander stays with Matthews. But I can't imagine this line will last forever, but we'll see. We'll see what happens tonight. And, of course, they have to please the coach. But even if they do, the other lines have to pull their weight as well. Yeah. And it'll be a good game tonight.

Dallas is a good team. It's a good game. And you've got Buffalo on Friday, the Islanders on Saturday, Winnipeg on Monday. We've got a lot of action coming up with the Leafs. All right. What do we have? Bruce Boudreaux coming up today. We've got some big news in the NFL as well down in Atlanta.

What a course of action by a rookie head coach down there. Not rookie in terms of the league, but down in Atlanta making a big big decision based on what he saw the other night in a win. That's what's crazy. Kirk Cousins won the ball game the other night.

You like that? I don't think you do. You like collecting checks. Raheem did not like it. Raheem Morris did not like it. He did not. So we'll tell you more about that. And the NBA Cup is come and gone.

We'll never forget it. The Milwaukee Bucks, second ever to win the NBA Cup. Win and a cover because they were a dog last night. You get a banner for an NBA in-season tournament? I think silver makes it mandatory. I think that is a big thing from the commissioner. You have to put it up because it can't be a serious event

if you don't put a banner up. Where's it going to go? I don't know. I'm pretty sure the Lakers have one up. Milwaukee will have it up. For sure they will. Where's the banner going to go if Canada wins the four nations? That's a different thing. Because there's no Team Canada home rink.

I mean, this is a club team in the NBA. I know. It's ridiculous. Was it the Tampa Bay Rays who have like a wild card banner? I think they have a really stupid one. There's a lot of teams, man. Listen, we had a... Who did we have?

Bon Jovi had a banner here at one point. What? Bon Jovi had one. Really? Yes. I don't know if it's still up there, JP. Look that up. But Tim Laiweke, he was looking for a Bon Jovi VIP pass or something.

And he put Bon Jovi's banner up at Scotiabank Arena. Because I guess he had played that arena more than anyone ever or something like that. Maybe Springsteen's got that record now. But, yeah, I'm telling you. Taylor Swift, I'll bet you, has a banner somewhere at some stadium in North America. Yeah, but they were ass-kissing her in Toronto and in Vancouver.

That's what it was. Exactly. That's the thing. If you're going to do that for an artist that doesn't call your stadium home, you better do it for the NBA Cup. They're putting a banner up 100%. All right, Bruce, coming up, Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 4.

It's a brand new year. Time to review last year's financial decisions and set new priorities for 2025. Kelvin the Money Guy suggests the three-step approach. Time to review last year's financial decisions and set new priorities for 2025. Kelvin the Money Guy suggests the three-step approach. One, clearly define your goals for the new year. Two, create a plan tailored to your needs and ambitions. And three, make sure your portfolio is designed to serve that plan.

Goal, plan, portfolio. Contact Kelvin the Money Guy and set your plans in motion. Call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca. Overdrive continues, brought to you by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles-McClennan, and Al's brother. Bruce Boudreaux coming up in about a half an hour. I guess Alex Ovechkin is on this road trip for the Washington Capitals, but he's

not going to play. I don't really understand why he would go on the trip then if he's not going to play. Leadership, I guess. I don't know. Try to hit the bars on the road. I don't know what his deal is, but it's kind of like Doogie was saying, Kawhi Leonard's going to hit the road.

But Kawhi's made it clear he's not playing. But it's kind of like Doogie was saying Kawhi Leonard's going to hit the road but Kawhi's made it clear he's not playing but it's usually the opposite it's gone so far the opposite way with Kawhi where he has to announce like he might actually play I just assume you're not playing where when you are going to play

that would be something worthy of actually announcing yeah what was his name the the owner, Ballmer, you think it's still pretty cool? You think it's still pretty cool that he landed Kawhi Leonard? It can't be. They haven't won a thing.

They haven't done anything. It's been awful. You know what it is? It's embarrassing. I'm sorry. These guys don't want to play. They collect $50 million a year, These guys don't want to play. They collect $50 million a year, and they don't want to play back-to-back.

Listen, basketball is a tough sport. You're running up and down the court. I get it. I respect it. But it's still your job, and they should feel guilty when they're not playing. And I get it. If you're banged up legitimately, there's nothing you can do. But everybody's banged up. There's a difference between playing through, hey, I'm a little nicked up,

and, hey, I'm injured, I've got a severe knee, back, you name it. But it just seems like there's a line there that just gets crossed. No, I'm not feeling, not playing. Oh, you expect me to play back-to-back? I'm not doing that. To me, where's the pride? That is a big issue that they have. I think you know it's creeping into baseball a little bit i'm sure you guys saw the the kevin gosman tweet yeah which the players are they're not they're not fans of rob manfred and and gosman's a pretty outspoken guy and i i

i guess you know if you're a if you're a baseball purist or historian, I can understand why you wouldn't like the way Manfred has been attacking the sport. And pitchers in particular take it personally with the pitch clock and the inabilities to make pitching changes the way that teams used to. But he quote-tweeted, Kevin did, Kevin Gosman quote-tweeted a clip of Manfred talking about the minimum innings rule because that is being thrown out there that maybe Major League Baseball would want to put a minimum innings clause into the CBA.

In other words, starting pitchers would have to go either a certain amount of pitches or a certain amount of innings. And Gosman quote tweeted that by saying, don't believe a word this man says. Get ready for of innings. And Gosman quote tweeted that by saying, don't believe a word this man says. Get ready for six innings. You get to keep the DH if not a fan hits in their spot. So basically mocking the idea that they're going to do something or they're going to penalize you if you're not willing to follow through

on what Manfred wants. But what I don't think Gosman realizes here is it makes it look and sound as if he doesn't want to pitch or these starting pitchers don't want to pitch. And that, again, I think is the worst thing you can do to let your fans know

that you'd rather come out. It's a real conundrum in pro sports. And I think the NBA is being hit significantly because of it. I don't know if this is a core issue for baseball but it does seem as if the players the pitchers are fine and i and i could reference a number of examples earlier and early in the year some pitchers got a perfect game going or a no hitter he gets pulled and he's thankful he gets pulled it's a horrible

message yeah to send and i i know they say that, but I don't think they realize how bad it looks or how bad it reads to your fans, to ticket holders that are like, I could see a perfect game. No, you're not because sports science said I can only throw 75 balls tonight. It's not a good look. It doesn't connect with the average

fan. One of the best games that I ever saw live, I was in LA and I watched Clayton kershaw throw a complete game shutout won the game one nothing and he also pinch hit or didn't pit but it at the time they had to still hit yeah before the dh came and he brought in the game-winning run no way not only really pitched a complete game shutout he also got the game-winning run in a one nothing win was it a hit or did he walk in the bases loaded? No, it was a hit. It was like a single.

It was against the Padres back in 2017, I want to say it was. Wow, that's a trivia question right there. It was a great game. It was funny because my dad's a big baseball guy, and he walked away saying, what a boring game, no offense, nothing. You know he just witnessed? You just saw the pitcher throw a complete game shot out

and put up the only run of the ball game. You never see this. No, that would have been incredible. Now you never will see that because now a pitcher can never hit again. But I do think it's a message that I think they have to be careful with. And we talked about it yesterday with the idea that Mahomes is going to play. This is a perfect example. Mahomes, he's won everything.

He's done it all. They're 13-1. They may win even with Carson Wentz, and this guy's going to play with a high ankle sprain. And that, to me, but the why, I think, is because his teammates are looking at him saying, do you think you can play? And he's saying, I think I can play.

Then you play. Like, that's the reality in pro sports, and it's the reality in the NFL, is you've got to play. I can play. Then you play. Like, that's the reality in pro sports, and it's the reality in the NFL, is you've got to play. If you can play, you play. And you send that message to your teammates that you're willing to put your body on the line for them, not for yourself, not for the fans, not for the media, not for Twitter.

Don't you think some stuff is situational, though? Like, you're looking at this Patrick Mahomes, and that looked bad. Now, apparently he's been practicing, and he feels fine. So maybe it's not as bad an injury as it looked last week but they've got three games in like a 10-day span like this is a team that's going to the playoffs as of now they do have the number one seed locked up and with the Buffalo losing a couple weeks ago they could they could suffer a loss and still lock up that seed. They could suffer two losses, technically, and still have a shot. Yeah. Like, they don't need him to go and rattle off three straight wins.

But if he plays and he gets hurt because he hasn't given that ankle enough of time to heal, now you're throwing your season away. Like, that's where I just think the risk-reward just doesn't make a lot of sense for me. Sure. I got you on that. But is there, I mean mean what you're saying is there a scenario where he could further injure that ankle if it's taped up to me i i don't think it can get worse it'll probably be pain management and he's if he's been practicing on it's like okay

i feel good about it to me that goes it goes in spades as far as the respect you get in that dress room. You're like, that guy is a warrior. He plays no matter what. And the guys will go through a wall for him. You wonder why this guy is arguably heading into goat status or one of them. For sure, yep. And it's because this guy plays every night. This guy plays through injuries, inconsistencies, you name it.

He wants the ball. He wants to be a difference maker because there's times in his career, even a situation like this where he's like, yeah, you know what? I'm not playing. I'll see you guys in three games. And that's not the case. The guys know that he's in the trenches with you. To me, this is a baller move because you know he's not 100%,

but he's not going to hurt himself anymore. I agree with you. I think the symbolism of him playing is so valuable because it's different. There are situations where you're right, where if he can extend the injury to the point where he does something significant, he's done for the year. I just don't know what else he has to prove. He's proven that he's a warrior.

Every playoff, it seems like he bangs up that ankle and fights through it. My guess would be it's the fear that if you send a message, this doesn't mean as much, that could be a slippery slope. And you can roll your eyes at that. The situation I would give you is if they win this week

and then win on Christmas Day and they clinch that first seed, he's not playing week 18. Of course he's not playing. He doesn't have to prove anything at that point because they're done and they're in. Until you have that mark beside your name, you're the one seed. You've won. You've locked that up.

The other guys are going out there. They're hurting but they want to play. I think the fact that Mahomes is like, I'm coming with you, man. I'm a general and I'm on the front lines. I think it's incredibly valuable. It's an intangible, but I think there's a lot of value in that. That this guy, he could be going and doing TikToks with his brother and say, I'm not playing tonight, I'm putting my feet up.

Instead, he's like, I'm going. And we'll see if he goes. Again, it hasn't been determined. This may all be said and then it turns out he can't play or he won't play. But I do believe if he gets the green light from the medical staff and he feels okay, he's going to play. He's going to play, and I think it's going to go a long way for the Chiefs. I agree.

Because they're playing for something, right, Noodles? You've still got to keep your eye on the ball, man. You let that slip. That can slip off a table real quick. I just think it goes a long way, not only for him in that room, for the fans, the support, everything. It just sends a message like, it doesn't matter what you do to me, I'm playing.

That's my job. I play every week. And I read something. I don't know if you guys talked about this. Viewership down in the NBA, people are just fed up with it. Massively. You don't know what's going on, and you don't know who's playing, and people are just tired of it.

It's like, okay, you like a team? Great. Who's playing tonight? Because these guys don't want to show up on back-to-back. They don't want this. It doesn't seem like the regular season means anything to these guys, and it's unfortunate because it's a great sport, and there's unbelievably talented people in it,

but it sounds like the NBA is kind of in one from a viewership standpoint. They are at this point. I mean, the ratings, it's been well publicized, down 48% in the States. At this point, it still may be a blip in the radar. It could spin back up by the end of the year, and ultimately there wasn't some existential moment that was at stake here i think it's a combination of a lot of different things including the style of play the fact that lebron and staff and kd i think i wouldn't say they've worn out their welcome they haven't but they've been the

face of the league for so long it's time to transition and i think they're in this weird middle ground in the nba exactly like who's it going to be? Giannis wins last night. Is it Luka? Is it Shea? I don't know if they have that answer. But Joe Mazzulla, the head coach of the Celtics, didn't necessarily help the NBA's case. You guys want to hear his comments when he was asked about this issue in the NBA?

Here's what Joe had to say. No, I mean, I add to that. I don't watch NBA games, so I'm just as much a follower as anyone else is. Is there a reason for that? I don't like watching the games. How can you say that? How can you say that as a head coach? Don't you scout?

Defending champion Boston Celtics. He said, I don't watch the games. I don't know. He might have been being sarcastic. Like, because he's kind of a different cat the way he addresses the media and speaks, and he's got kind of a different dry approach. But if I'm Adam Silver, my head is popping off. That guy is the head coach of the champions, and he's like,

I don't watch. I just have no interest in that. To ask Bruce this, and I guess Noodles, when you were playing in a league on a night-to-night basis, how often were you able to sit back and watch the games? And for coaching, it's a little different because coaches, they're always, it seems like, grinding film. Do they really have a lot of spare time to do that?

Players have a little bit more spare time, so I'd wonder too how much of it is just the fact that there's just no time to actually sit down and watch games. Game film, game tape, different story, but pop on TSN and watch Raptors, Bucs. I don't know if he's doing that on a Thursday night. Valid. Yeah, I mean, nowadays

there's so much video accessible. Coaching is different. That's why I was joking. He's pre-scouting every day like he's he's watching games i think that guy's got a little bit of joey vato in him like yeah i think so unique that's exactly what he is he's got a very different approach to like the whole world um yeah but i'd love to get a response from adam silver on that yeah and and players they watch the league like they do.

On off nights, they'll go to a movie, go for dinner, but you always got your eye, especially on a team that you're either playing or you like, or you're like, geez, that team's good. I like to see what they're doing. You're always watching other games. Bruce Moudreau coming up. There was a crazy scene in Charlotte a couple of nights ago. We will address it.

We'll get into it later this afternoon. And Herm Edwards on the Atlanta Falcons making a quarterback change in December. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. It's a brand new year. Time to review last year's financial decisions and set new priorities for 2025.

Kelvin the Money Guy suggests the three-step approach. One, clearly define your goals for the new year. Two, create a plan tailored to your needs and ambitions. And three, make sure your portfolio is designed to serve that plan. Goal, plan, portfolio. Contact Kelvin the Money Guy and set your plans in motion. Call 416-457-PLAN or visit askkelvin.ca. All right, Alice Brother. As we know, you're no longer at this specific location

because you're in the studio here with us, but you have a pair of Leaf tickets. Or we have a pair of Leaf tickets, and you have another clue for us on a Wednesday. What do you have for us? I do, and with Christmas one week away, I thought I'd get myself in the festive holiday spirit, and I went and saw Santa Claus this week, and I let him know what's on my Christmas wish list. We're talking charcuterie. We're talking cards.

We're talking another cruise at some point. It's all on the list, brother. I love it. How about a Hazenbro championship season? Oh, yeah. Championships as well. We don't need Santa for that, though. We just continue to do it ourselves.

We don't need help from anybody. One. We just continue to do it ourselves. We don't need help from anybody. One more to end the hour. Tune in tomorrow for another clue. The first caller through on Friday with the correct location wins a pair of tickets to see the Leafs take on the Winnipeg Jets on December 23rd. That's an afternoon game, 2 p.m. game. Yeah, 2 p.m. game.

It's a rare, I think next Jan. I got my kids down there. We're going to a Scepters game on Saturday. Can't wait for that. Oh, nice. The Victoire are in town. Yes, absolutely. Toronto, Montreal, down at Coca-Cola. Cannot wait to get down there and see the Scepters play on Saturday. Fine Owls Brother brought to you

by McAlpine Ford in Aurora. Our family, the Ford family, and you. Full details at tsn1050.ca. I got a jam-packed weekend. Sounds like it. Christmas party. I think I'm getting duped, too.

I got to ask you guys. I got to ask for some professional advice. I think I'm getting duped here by our friends. I'll tell you about the situation. You guys tell me how I should be reacting to it. A little Ask A.B. on the other side. A little Ask Al's brother. I like it.

Okay. Hour two coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. You Ask Alice Brother. I like it. Okay. Hour two coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.