OverDrive - OverDrive - December 24, 2025 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

Join Aaron Korolnek and Dave Feschuk for Hour 2 on OverDrive on Christmas Eve! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson on the Maple Leafs holding accountability, William Nylander's inconsistent season and Canada's outlook at the World Juniors tournament. The guys go around the sports world in the latest edition of Confirm or Deny and Aaron gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Visit yummymarket.com for their holiday menu. Second hour, Christmas Eve edition of Overdrive continues. TSN 1, 2, 4, TSN 1050, and on TSN's YouTube channel, Aaron Kournick, Dave Festchuk, with you until 6 o'clock. We're brought to you by Fanduel, bringing you more ways to play your game, your way. Mike Johnson, coming up momentarily. We'll talk about the World Juniors with MJ. We'll talk about the Leafs-Big 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh. penguins.

And one question I'm going to ask MJ, the Buffalo Sabres are on fire, seven straight wins, better chance to make the postseason. Buffalo or Toronto. Od's exactly the same on Fandu. Where would you lay your money? You serious? Isn't that a testament to where the Maple Leafs are and how they're projected

going forward? Buffaloes look great. I mean, you win seven games in a row. Obviously, you look great. They're healthy, which has been a major complication for the Sabres this year. But the Leafs, they're getting healthy too. I mean, Chris Tanev was in the lineup yesterday and it doesn't sound like

Brandon Carlo is far from coming back either. You get those guys back. Anthony Stolars, who knows? You're pretty close to 100% health for the Leafs. Where would your money go on Fandul, Dave? Look, man, I grew up going to Buffalo Sabres games. I got a big piece of my heart that cares about that franchise and cares about that town and it's a great hockey city.

But I can't bet on the Buffalo Sabres because I'm aware of recent history, not to mention fairly ancient history. They haven't been good on an awfully loftily, awfully long time. 2011, the last time they made the playoffs. Exactly. It's the most despicable streak in all of professional sports at the moment I do believe. And so I'm not betting on them to break out of that this year.

Now, they don't have to make the playoffs. They just have to beat the Leafs. I think you said better chance to make the playoffs. Doesn't one of them have to make it? I guess that would be fair. Maybe the better bet is, maybe the better of the bet is neither makes the playoffs. That might be the better bet.

I think so. Because the point, you know, we were just talking about on the previous. segment. Like, you know, they win seven in a row and they're still on the outside looking in. It's not that you can just catapult all the teams in front of you and the least you're going to face the same problem. You can win a bunch of games in this league right now and still kind of hang around at the basement because it's just so hard to make up ground. And so I think both these teams are facing the exact same problem. Well, it's incredible. You look at what Edmonton's

done here and they are squarely back in the playoff picture in the Western Conference. McDavid and dry-siddle in the month of December have been other world. I mean, it's a legitimately legendary performance from those two guys. McDavid himself has 31 points in his last 11 games, which is a staggering,

staggering number at five assists last night alone. And, I mean, say what you will about the goaltending that's playing the Evanton Oilers this season. Doesn't really matter who's in net if you're getting that type of production for your best players. You're having five point nights on a regular basis. That's very much. It's scary stuff. man, it's incredible.

And it speaks to the relentlessness of McDavid and Dry Sutter. Like, those guys just have another gear that I think there's only one other player in a league that I think kind of shares it. And that's Mr. McKinnon out in Colorado. I saw that McKinnon is plus 45 on the season. Yeah. And I know plus minus, maybe an antiquated style. We don't look at it.

And, of course, he's got all those goals. But his five-on-five production this year has been nothing short of ridiculous. What a hard trophy showdown. between McKinnon and McDavid. And I guess we get to cheer for them both for Team Canada coming up in February. Let's head to the Maple Toyota Hotline. Catch up with TSN hockey analyst Mike Johnson. Hello, Mike.

How are you? What's up, fellas? Happy holidays, Christmas Eve, whatever it is, we are celebrating. Good to be with you. And is it possible? We didn't think we'd be here. But is this a fair question? Is this the greatest Connor McDavid has ever played?

It's like the fact that I'm even suggesting this, given what he has done at other moments in his career, I see that he has the most points now with 67 before Christmas in the last 25 years. 67! That's like an, that's an $8 million player. He's played 35 games. It's just insane what he's doing. And yes, like to contrast their power play in Evanston with some of the struggles we've seen here in Toronto, it's insanity. because those guys, the feel they have to snap it around, to move it around to score goals, dry settle three power play goals last night, McDavid,

the five points, you named it. Incredible stuff. But, yeah, they are, would it surprise anyone if they win the division? I don't think so. I think they're probably even money with Vegas to win the division. Well, MJ, you know, it is astounding what McDavid's done. He's 31 points in the month of December. But it is his third career 30-point month, okay?

which is tied with get this, this is from the NHL media guys this morning, which is tied with Eisenman and Yager for the fifth most NHL history. And the only guys ahead of him, of course, played in much livelier puck times with goaltenders that stood up. So,

I mean, it's astounding what he's done, but he's done it before is the only point I would make. Yeah, yeah, right. But I just like the pace, he's like, I think I saw him hit like 25 miles an hour on a rush last week. the driving and like you know just flying by players in the NHL

it's it's always a stark reminder okay the NHL is supposed to be very difficult and the margins between the best players and the players who are not the best is not as big as you'd think but then you watch him skate past players you're like he looks like he's 10 years old and he's the one kid who can skate on a whole bunch

of T guys who can't skate backwards yet the margin of it's been his fastest and everyone else's fastest feels like it's as big as it's ever been and I'm not talking about fastest just faster skater composition, but fastest with the puck, fastest one around guys.

The stuff, though, he can do. Amazing, amazing. And he has found his second, third, fourth year after what was a pretty pedestrian start by his standards, but now he is absolutely rolling. And I don't know if it's just his internal drive, his desire

to be another Stanley Cup run with Emmington. Is it Nathan McKinnon and the Quizmaster asking questions, like, who's the greatest player of the world right now? Like, I don't know. what those guys do, but I know Michael Jordan took that stuff personally and it would not surprise me for a second

if they would never admit it. They would never even acknowledge that they even heard it. But the fact of the conversation, who's better McKinner, McDavid? If you're the guy who's usually number one, I could motivate you a little bit. Yeah, that's going to be a pretty good power play in Milan, those two guys together. Anthro Cindy Crosby out there,

Kale McCar, good luck to the rival nations. Well, it wasn't long ago we were talking about the Leafs and the Oilers in a similar light, the early part of the season. The two teams were struggling, and the difference is Edmonton star players have become superstar players once again. The Leafs players have kind of languished the way that they have saved last night where Nealander goes out and has four points. But Dave and I have been talking a lot about last night's win for the Leafs, what it means going forward, the Eastern

Conference playoff picture, Mike. Where do you think things stand for Toronto now that they made the call on Savard and we're seeing different line combinations? We're seeing a lot of positivity. from the room after that win last night but just how much positivity do you believe there should be from this hockey team going forward? Well, I mean, they should feel good because they won a game and they've been three games

since they won. And to their defense they played hard against Dallas and that was a good game. You know, the 5-1 was not probably representative of the game but they're not in a point where they can take moral victories. They look at how good we played even if we don't win. And you have to look at the

entire picture when you're sort of basing your framework about how good you feel about the leaves going forward of the year. And for the year, the numbers don't lie, and the numbers are not kind. You know, whether it's shot shares, expected goals, high danger chances, whatever it might be, power play. There's a lot going on for Toronto that they need to fix beyond beating Pittsburgh, a team that's won one game in their last 10. So, yes, they should feel good. And I'm happy Neelander scored goals. And I have a theory.

We'll get into his non-smilies in a minute. but I think there's other stuff that has to happen and we'll see you know it's probably a good time for them to get away take a breath get around your family celebrate a little bit and return but we'll see like I think the changes that started did not start with Mark Savard it was like three games prior where Craig Barubei all of a sudden was doing a whole bunch of neutral zone work about getting the pucks off the wall and skating with it more and attacking more off the rush like that wasn't what the focus was. was early. I think they've already sort of seen what they were trying to do, was not working, and they are trying to shift a little bit on the fly to become a more competitive five-on-five team and give themselves a better chance in the second half.

Well, you open the door, MJ, to talk about Mr. Nealander, who breaks his 11 game goal this week, and he's been an enigma that we all study intensely, but what's your theory on the latest? Okay, so I read, and there's no doubt, he scored a goal last night

of Beauty, right? The breakaway? bumps a slump and stone-faced like not smiling not celebrating with the group just sort of skates the bench and I was read and I heard and different people pontificating

that maybe he's upset or he's not happy about his lot in the Toronto Maple Leafs or whatever and I'm like I don't think that's it same with when Machelli scored he didn't get it same with the empty net or no he was trying to give back to Johns of ours my take on it from a player

who fashioned himself as like one quarter of the offensive player William Nealander is, was he is embarrassed that he has been so unproductive in the month of December. And so when he scores, he can go one or two ways. He can celebrate

wildly monkey off the back, look at me now, or he can be like, I can't believe it took that long. I'm embarrassed. Let's just get back to work. And I take that as a guy, like, if I would have gone seven games without a goal, me, not Willie, me. And I scored in the eighth game,

I would not be celebrating wildly. I'd be like, let's get back to work. That's sort of, I'm glad that's over with, but I'm a little embarrassed that it went on as long as it did. That's how I interpret it. I don't think he's, you know, upset or dealing with stuff he's never dealt with before. I think he's embarrassed because he's a competitor and he's prideful. And so that's my theory, totally my guess, but based on the way I would have felt if I was him or when I played, when I would score and bump a long slow.

Well, we'll play Nylander talking about the dismissal of Mark Savard in just a moment. had to wonder, I mean, that's clearly a shot at the top players, right? I mean, Mark Savard oversaw the power play, so he's working with Nealander and Tavars and Matthews and Nyes every single day at practice. And let's listen to what Nealander did say when asked about

Savard and the dismissal. I think it was an interesting commentary on Neelander's thought process. He was a great guy and sad to see him go, but I mean, we've been struggling, so I mean, I guess that's the first step to make a change.

for the team. So not to make it about the last 10 years of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a lot of people are doing this, and I think it's appropriate, frankly, there wasn't, well, we didn't produce, it's on us to produce, and we've been a top five power play year after year, and we were the worst in the league,

and it's unacceptable. It was, well, you know, we have the worst power play, so basically somebody had to go, and that was the first step, and I don't know what the second step is. I don't know if you see it the same way, Mike, but may not taking responsibility,

but I will say for Nealander goes out in the game subsequent to Savard being dismissed and has four points and is flying out there. So I don't know what that says about Neelander and his relationship with Savard and the coaching staff. Maybe it's just a single game. Maybe it's an anomaly

but I do think it's interesting nonetheless. Yeah, I mean I think everyone, and I played on two teams where the coach was fired in the middle of the year. And even if you don't really like the coach, And oftentimes when coaches get fired, a lot of guys don't really like them because they're not doing well.

The team's not doing well. There is a human element that you feel bad and you feel somewhat responsible for this guy and his family losing their job. And I think a lot of people would probably like Austin or Willie or whoever say Marksumar got fired. I feel awful. We did not play the way we needed to. If we had, he'd still have a job and that's on us. And then you can say the rest of it, like, hey, you know what? When things don't work out, changes are made, it sucks.

And maybe that's the first one, just turning around. Who knows? I hope so. I'm going to do my best to be better. I think there is something to that because on a human basis, you'd like to think if you're, you know, the goalie who's struggling and then the goalie coach gets fired, like you would feel it. If you're the power play players and the power play coach gets fired, you would feel it. And to say that out loud, I don't think that's a great, you know, admission of, you know, failure by the players in the power play.

It's just a fact. We're last. I'm on the power play. It's on me to help make it better and whoever else is the coach. So yeah, I get it. I get it. That is not something we hear out of the top players in Toronto. And I don't know if that's a personal thing, AK, or is it sports psychologists?

Like they're just, they've been taught, you know, just move forward, talk about the group, don't talk about yourself. And whether they think that or not is just sort of what comes. out in those moments, it's probably a combination of all of it, because I bet if you put a polygraph on them, they would feel bad that they've been as bad on the power plays they've been all year. Well, MJ, let's move on to your next assignment of a tournament where failure is never an option for Canada. Canada will start the tournament Friday night on TSN against Chequia.

And obviously, this is a redemption tour. They brought in the heavy hitters, Dale Hunter, the wind. his junior coach in history is coaching this team. Mark Hunter is the GM because Canada has not done very well in the past couple of tournaments, a couple of quarterfinal bowouts. I'm going to ask you to start MJ. When you think back to last year, Dave Cameron talking about how the team was tired when they lost in the quarters, really disgraceful performance from a lot of angles. What is the lesson that this team can take forward from the past couple of failures that they might be able to use to their benefit in trying to win a goal this time,

around. Just real quick, fast. When you say disgraceful, like, disappointing, yes. You remember these are 19-year-old kids, 18-year-old kids? I'm talking about the coach. The coach saying the team was tired. That was disgraceful. If we're talking about the coaching and the general managers and the philosophy,

have added. I'm just like, I always remind everyone, these are kids. Like, literally high school university-age kids. I was talking about the coach. I was talking about the coach is different. Okay, fair enough. I got it. So what they've learned, I think this is the,

the message they've learned from the previous coaches and from the selections was we have to let and empower the players that we have do the things that make them special. We can't try to dump them down by turning them into checkers and simplifiers and dump and chase. We have to have a structure and have a purpose and be organized. But what makes Canada great is the players who are individual. great and I think for the last couple years we saw coaches try to control everything and that made their great players average because they took the stuff that made them great

and said don't do that don't challenge guys one-on-one don't make a creative play worry about the goals against don't worry about the goals for they the leading score in last year's tournament for Canada at three points it's absurd to even say that out loud so um I guarantee like some people are going to get three points against checky a loan up Czech is quite good on boxing day. But I think that's the bigger message. That's why Canada has a, Alan Miller is like the general manager of the program now.

They revamped how they do things there in response to the last couple of years. But I think in a nutshell, that's it. Don't make the players who are exceptional, less exceptional by taking their great skills away. Try to make the most of their great skills in the context of the team game. And that's where Dale Hunter, like I get in Washington, he was a defensive guy, he'd grind those guys down. But in junior hockey, he is well known for letting his best players play, right?

Those guys in London play freely and creatively and a lot. And I imagine he'll do some of that as well with this group. So that's the difference. I think every forward on this team is a first round pick, except for Gavin McKenna, who might go first overall. I think they have 20 first round picks and then three guys that are going the first round next year and two goalies who are returning who are second rounders

like there is not a lot of reason to think they shouldn't be good and I like the idea that they're embracing the idea of going to Minnesota taking it away from the states the same way the states took it away from them last year Mike Johnson TSN hockey analyst our guest here an hour two of overdrive Canada Chekia Friday night boxingate a kickoff World Junior coverage here on TSN and TSN 1050 as well. When it comes to the forward group, I mean, you mention it.

There's just so much skill. And McKenna, everyone's going to be looking out for him. Who are some of the other guys beyond Gavin McKenna, Mike, that you're looking forward to seeing in Minnesota? Okay, Michael Misa, who lit up the Ameritentiary League last year with Saginaw playing with Zame Perak. He was the outstanding player. He's an NHL player at an 18-year-old playing for San Jose.

He's been injured, but he's going to be their number one center. I want to see him go because I think he's, He has a just huge amount of skill. I think Tij Ginnla is fascinated. I've never seen Teach play before. But of course, Jerome's son, prolific score who's battled injuries. So we'll see what he can do. Michael Hage, Montreal picked first rounder.

Great story for him getting picked by Montreal. He plays at University of Michigan. He's the second line center in behind Mesa. He's going to be really good. Watch out for him. He can skate like the win. And one guy that I think Canada will fall in love with, Brady Martin

This guy is full of personality Full of Physical assertive play With like the attitude that people will like Yes, that's how we want our Canadian guys to play Plus a ton of skill He's been probably the most consistent player In the first three pre-competition games

Despite the bigger names I just mentioned So I want to see those guys play And then maybe Zane Perak Like Zane Perrek is a real wild card Offensive Defenseman a little bit like John Klingberg back there on defense, but in this kind of tournament, he could be really good. What about the Americans this time around?

How does that team stack up to Canada? Because that seems how it's gone year after year these days. It's Canada, USA, Canada, USA, and certainly Sweden and Finland and the checks will factor in as well. But Team USA, how do you believe they stack up against Canada? And I think in the last six years, AK, the Americans are 3-0 against Canada. Canada hasn't beat them.

even though Canada's won three of the last six goals. America's won three of the last six goals. I think the U.S. is not quite as deep and powerful as last year. The last couple of years, they had a group of players that sort of grew up the same kind of two-year cohort that were dominant. The Ryan Leonard's and Gabe Perrault and those kind of players, Will Smith. They don't have that. They have good players, maybe not quite as many. They may not be set in net like they have been in years past when Trey Augustine played for three straight world junior tournaments.

but they have a Hudson and Hudson's are dangerous playing for U.S. And so when we go to Lane's younger brother, he led the tournament scoring last year as a defenseman along with Z. Bouillon, they were dynamic. He doesn't have Booium, but he's still got another year experience. He will likely be their best player.

If they win, he probably is a good bet to be tournament MVP. Like he's that good. Washington Capital draft pick, he'll be there probably at the end of this college season, a lot like Ryan Leonard did last year. But they'll be good. They have five, six, seven returnees, but just not quite as dominant.

They were heads and tails the best team the last two years. They were the favorites going in, and they won. I don't know if their heads and tails the best, and they're probably not the favorite. Even though they're at home, Canada probably is the favorite heading in. MJ, we are about a week removed from another team Canada's roster being revealed to everyone. This one, of course, regarding the Olympics. which we're all looking forward to. I know you and Mr. Button have been doing some really fun work

trying to figure out, you know, give your opinion of who should be on the roster and who might be on the roster. I was looking at your latest consensus, Craig and MJ roster. And you guys have both got Bedard and Celebrini as picks for this team. AK here is listening with baited breath

because he's got future bets on this stuff and all the best of them. Offer public consumption, Dave. sorry man but do you like what's what's your sense of it when you when you're all the all the intel you've been trying to gather and the and just using your good spidey senses as an observer of this league what are the chances that both those young guys are among the Canadian forward contingent so I think Celebrity's not quite a lot but really close

I mean he's top five in scoring he's got 20 goals he does it on a bad team he doesn't he's not a great defensive player yet but he does want to lot of puck battles and stuff that will help other good players. I think he's on the team fest. I think that's a foregone conclusion. If Bedard had stayed healthy and he was also top five in scoring and had 22 goals on a Chicago team, that's not very good, I'm not sure how you take him off the team. But I think the fact that he's gotten hurt, unfortunately for him, I really believe that

gives the team Canada brain trust sort of a convenient out to not pick him. Because if they weren't sure anyways and like, hey, we're going to go with Anthony Sorrelli or Sam Bennett or Travis Kineckney or Mark Stone or one of the returnee guys who you know what they do. They are more known commodity on that stage with that group. It would have been hard to say, well, hang on, we're taking Sam Bennett with

25 points versus Connor Bader with 50. But now that he's hurt, I think that offers up potential that Badaard. So I'm saying it's probably not my team, but the team, less likely than not

that Bader doesn't, or the doesn't make it. I don't think Baderd makes it. I think Sellebrini does. Schaefer's a wild part to me. Schaefer, I think he's going to be on a team. Yeah. He becomes the kid version you know, Baderd not there. They can maybe have one more kid

on the back end with Matthew Schaefer. Again, he was on my team. I think he's close to making this one. So, yeah, but I don't think that's where you're saying. Sallabrini, yes. Baderd, no. Schaefer, almost a toss-up, but leaning slightly yes, on the actual team.

did you see that story in the athletic is from Michael Russo and he wrote that he believes that Team USA will pick Vincent Trochev will pick Vincent Trochec over Jason Robertson and Cole Coffield as a Canadian please go ahead do that but Jason Robertson's been a monster

this year's scoring goals and Coffield I mean not quite the same level but not far from it that would be quite the decision to leave Jason Robertson and Cole Coffield off the off that roster. But, you know, go ahead,

Team USA, do whatever you want. I haven't broken down all the Team USA quite as detail as Canada, but, you know, Vinic Troche is a good player.

There's no doubt, right? Like, he's a, like, he's good on, really good on faceoffs and good defensively.

And if you're, I guess you're trying to build a team, maybe you would prefer him as your fourth-line center. But I'm sorry. Jason Robertson? He's been one of the best players

in the league. He's been one of the best players in the league. He's been one of the last 30 games. And he does it five on five, not just on the power play. And in the end, it's going to be five on five scoring that wins this tournament, right? The goals that USA couldn't quite get

that the Canada team struggled to create, that's the tournament. And Cole Coughfield, I get you know, Cole Cawfield saying, well, hang on Kyle Connor as an offensively first winger. You can put him on the 14th forward if you're Cole Cawfield. Like, you know,

you can break in case of emergency. Even if you're struggling and the power play's not going if there's an injury. You can go in there and play, even if he's not in your top four lines to start with. I want skill, AK. Give me talents. Give me goals and creativity. And Jason Robertson can be a good defensive player.

Cole Cofield, he's probably not there yet. But Robertson is stunning to me. I don't know. Is Brock Nelson on there? Tatech Thompson? Like, how they round out that roster? I'm not so sure. But it feels like they really want to run it back with largely the four nation team

the same way they played last February. So we'll see what happens because I think there's three, four, five guys that probably deserve to be bumped up ahead of maybe a trocheque, J.T. Miller, whatever. I agree. They were one shot away. That's all they were last year. And we'll see how it goes in February. You'll be there. You'll be in Minnesota as well. Safe travels. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Mike. And we'll see you in Minnesota on Friday night. Oh, all right. Here's MJ. Oh, baby. Here we go. Here we go. I'm done.

I can have a drink. Yes, you can. You enjoy it, buddy. Thank you very much. That is Mike Johnson. All right, boys. Happy all it is. See you later.

Join us on the Maple Toyota hotline. Get in and go where adventures take you in a new 2025 Tacoma from Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall. Visit MapleToyota.com. I do recall many years ago, the early days of this radio station, there was a morning show that during the holiday season decided to be a good idea to do a lot of drinking on the air. And not that Mike was drinking. He clearly held off until the conclusion of this radio hit, but that can be problematic with live microphones, Dave. So that's why Mike's responsible, individual, and a true professional.

Look like you had a nice little cocktail cooked out there. How many more minutes do we have that in this show? Was that a little bit of a good? I mean, it was an apparel spritz. I don't know. I look good, though. It's really good. Doogie text MJ and find out what he was drinking there.

I'm curious. May I make one of those for myself later today. We still have confirmed or denied to come plus my fan dual best bets. The second hour of overdrive continues with more after this. 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 Tuka Rask. 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 either confirm or deny that. I can't confirm or deny that. We're back here, Our 2, Overdrive, Korolnik Fast Truck. Who voiced that? I can neither confirm or deny. Because that's not actual, actually, Fergie, is it?

That is a genius voicing that. I do wonder who that was. Maybe we'll find that out. I can neither confirm or deny it. Who is that? That is some great character. That our old colleague Tim Haffey, perhaps? I don't know, man.

I don't know. We're going to, it might have been before these guys' time. But it sounds like Fergie. Yeah, it does sound like Fergie. All right, so confirm or deny a statement. is red and we either confirm it or deny it. Let's start with this spicy one. We're talking a lot about Connor McDavid today, rightfully so, five assists last night. It is more likely that Connor McDavid wins the Hart Trophy than it is that Nathan McKinnon wins the heart

trophy. Confirm or deny. Oh man. This is a battle royale at the top of the scoring standings, isn't it? Until McDavid walks out with that five point night, it was 62 to 61. in points and of course now he's got a six point lead McDavid does and he's had this

incredible December I mean judging from the way McDavid has kicked to a new gear I'd have to bet McDavid right now I really would

because he just looks like a man possessed and unlike McKinnon and he doesn't have his cup there's there's something driving this guy as MJ was pointing out that is just you know hard to describe

but, you know, wonderful to watch. And it's going to be a great battle. Like, it's kind of picking one in one A here. It's picking these two guys who've really separated themselves. No one's even, no one else is even close. They've really separated themselves from the rest of their colleagues. And Dreisettles, the only guy who's even close. Yeah, maybe Celebrini, but against San Jose, maybe a playoff team.

They're not. They're not going to get in the heart. They're not going to get in the attention. So I'd go McDavid. How about you? Yeah, I would go McKinnon. And I think the team performance would be. the differentiator for me. Colorado's

lost twice in regulation. Yeah. They're like 35 games into the season. And I think McDavid probably beats him in points. I think McDavid probably takes the art Ross. I don't think it'll be a sizable gap between the two. But if Colorado has, I don't know, 60 plus wins on the season,

you can't overlook that. And of course, their team is stacked. They're an unbelievable team. They're great, but it's not like Edmonton's full of scrubs either. The goaltenders, you know, Wedgwood and Blackwood. They may be playing for Canada. I mean, they may be playing for Canada, but who regarded them as the crem to la crem of

goal tenders before they got to Colorado? Better than what Edmonton. They certainly are. And by the way, who is, I understand what you're saying, but who is the equivalent of Kail McCar on the Edmonton Oil. What, Evan Bouchard makes $10.5 million. Okay. I mean, it's not as though McKinnon is doing it alone.

No. So, certainly not. And neither guy. They've got natious and Lackin in and sort of that second line with Brock Nelson and Landiscaug. They are stacked. Nobody does it alone. I would say

the fact that the avalanche are the better team and everybody acknowledges that would tell you that what McDavid is doing is even more impressive confirm or deny Dave Craig Barube and Brad Tree Living will finish this season

in the same roles they are currently in I'll confirm it I'll confirm it it's going to be by the skin of their teeth I think but I do think there's not a lot of appetite to fire a coach who's in the second year of a four-year deal. You think it's a financial decision perhaps?

That's not strictly financial. It's not strictly, but you cannot ignore the financials. You pointed out the other day. This is an organization that since the new ownership took over, they've been lopping off the presidents of the teams who made a lot of money and not replacing them. They've been cutting costs in many other ways. The idea that you're Brad Tree Living and you're going to go to the board, and say, yeah, I want to fire a guy who is a year and a half into a four-year deal.

You're going to have to pay him this. Plus, we're going to have to bring in a new expensive guy to replace him. Oh, and by the way, I can't guarantee that when you do that, this team's going to be one-wink better than it is right now because they may be a lost cause. That's not exactly a great sales pitch, which is why the status, quote, to me, will probably hold. I would love to be able to answer this question after this five-game stretch. They have coming out of the Christmas break. They play three games and four nights, all against Eastern Conference Team 2 against Atlantic.

division teams. I am with you. I think they both will survive this season, but into the off season, if things continue to trend in the direction, they're trending. And personally, I don't really see the Toronto Maple Leafs becoming a playoff team this year. I'd be really surprised if that happened based on what we've seen. I suppose stranger things have happened, but if you miss the playoffs, if you're tree living in Burube, you are going to have some difficult questions to answer from Keith Pelly. But I'm saying they'll finish the season. I'm with you. I didn't say they're going to do well in the last season. How about game one of next season?

Right. Might be the better question. That's a different question. It is. All right. The Buffalo Bills confirm or deny, Dave, should be considered the favorite to come out of the AFC this season. That's a deadlock confirmed.

Because who else is there? I mean, you look at, okay, Denver's got the great record, but Denver's not proven. I mean, you talk about a league where you can't win without a great quarterback. Is Bonex even a good quarterback? It didn't look like it last week. our man, Herm Edwards said, like, his favorite player is Josh Allen for a reason. He is the only great quarterback still standing in the AFC now that Mr. Mahomes and Burrow

and Lamar Jackson is not what he was. So, yeah, to me, they're the team. This is their moment, and if not now, then when? It's wild because Buffalo is likely to play one of Jacksonville or Pittsburgh in the first round on the road. Which is the dream matchup. Well, it's the dream matchup if you were the Buffalo bills heading in of the season where he had all these expectations and you thought your defense was

going to be much better. You thought your receiving core was going to be much better. Neither of those have worked out at all. Buffalo's got Josh Allen and James Cook. Beyond that, what else do you really feel good about? Now, that could be enough to get you through, but New England could have the buy through to the second round with home field throughout the playoffs. So could Denver.

I would confirm it as well, but very, very, very. narrowly. And I think it has more to do with the lack of quality and frankly quantity in the AFC as opposed to anything that Buffalo was done. That's a big fact. Yeah. And the unproven nature of the Patriots, of the Broncos, of

the long list of teams that haven't been there. Nobody's been there because the Chiefs have been there every year dominating this conference. And now that they're not here, it's the Bill's moment. So let's talk about the Toronto Raptors. We haven't talked much about the raps today. They beat Miami yesterday. And this

coming off, an 81-point performance in their previous game against Brooklyn, and the rap is now 18 and 13, so pretty damn good record, considering what we expected from this team, probably about a 500 team coming in to the season. Let's talk about this one. I hate to, you know, be so negative in this festive season and kind of grinch-like, but if the Toronto Raptors, confirm or deny, don't make the playoffs, Darko Reyakovich's job as the team's head coach will be in serious doubt, confirm or deny. Oh, I'll confirm that.

I'll confirm that for sure because, look, this team's shown you that it has a chance to be something in a wide open Eastern Conference. You're talking about a wide open AFC. The NBA Eastern Conference is a whole different level of wide open. Boston is having an unbelievable season. Nobody gave them a chance to do anything.

You lose Tatum, trade porzenges. They're like, ah, this team's rebuilding, and all of a sudden they might be a top three team in the conference. Right. And they really handed it to the Raptors the other day. They did. Without Jalen Brown. Without Jalen Brown.

There are other best players. So, yeah, I think, and let's face it, like Darko's three years in now, this is his third season. He was brought in essentially as a developmental coach, right? He's really good at working with players. He's really good at, you know, understanding how to maximize the talents of the players under his purview. But, like, the idea, like, he, you know, he won, what, a grand total of 52 games in his first two seasons when they were essentially tanking. now that they're a contending team they got 81 points the other night

and everybody's blaming well they don't have RJ Barrett in a league where the Celtics can lose Jason Tatum and not have Jalen Brown and do just fine you can't just point to one guy out of the lineup and have that be the reason that you've morphed into the lowest scoring team in the NBA which is what they've been since Barrett went out and I don't point to exclusively coaching for that

some of that's on Scotty Barnes not being as relentless as he was in Miami last night on a lot of other nights but I do wonder about the offensive philosophy. I do wonder about Darko's ability to be an NBA in-game coach in games that matter. And if he doesn't prove that he can do that, I think you're going to have to look to a more proven possibility as his team moves forward. The biggest concern for me for Toronto is the lack of depth behind Jakub Pertil, and this guy can't stay healthy, his back's all messed up.

He's been in and out of the lineup all year long. When he's been in the lineup, hasn't been nearly as productive as has been in past year. and they really haven't gone out and done anything, which is really surprising because that was even a question heading into the season. This guy was banged up in training camp with his back and it's been a lingering issue all year long. They need to go out and make a trade.

And I'm certain they will. And there's been rumors about guys like Robert Williams and Nick Richards with Charlotte. And then Anthony Davis. Well, Anthony Davis, that would be a bunch bigger and different type of trade. But they need some help at center because Pertil, again, when he's healthy, great,

but he hasn't been healthy. he's kind of a Band-Aid right now. And if he's not in your lineup and you're running my boy, Sandrew Mamocelishvili out there, great pronunciation, I made out, he's six foot nine, can't offend anybody.

This is what's going to happen to you when you face teams with size. And they need help in that respect. And again, I'm certain Bobby Webster's work in the phones trying to find somebody. That'd be the best Christmas gift for any Raptors fan,

a big man who they could run out there night after night. I still don't think it excuses the coach for allowing this offense to languish the way. it's languished. All right. Last confirm or denied. The Blue Jays will sign one of Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette this offseason.

That's got to be a confirm. I mean, not Bregman? Could be Bregman instead? Well, Bregman, I guess, is option number three. Yes. If all else fails, sign Bregman. Okay, which is probably doesn't, you know,

suit Bregman very, very well to be the third option of these three. But, I mean, I think expectations have been raised there in Toronto, right? There's a feeling that you got to get one of these guys. I do think no matter what happens, they'll be a real disappointment if Bo Bichette isn't brought back because there's a real connection there. Maybe more sentimental than, you know, hard statistical. But I think people in this town really have an affection for him.

I think Vladdy's got an affection for him given they broke in together. And I think they'd be missing some. They'd be losing some if they do not bring them back. But they've got to get one of the two. You would think so. Or I think Bragman would be fine too. Again, he's a great defender. He's not Tucker.

He's not Tucker, no. But again, I don't know how this is all going to play out. I feel like it's almost like a musical chairs type thing where the Yankees are going to get somebody. The Dodgers are probably getting one of these top free agent bats somehow, some way. Just how they always pull it out. Would you be stunned if they signed Tucker to a three-year, $100 million contract, something like the Red Sox did with Bregman with opt-outs, and Tucker makes a bunch of money for a couple years and then goes back to free agency a couple years?

I wouldn't be surprised by something like that, but the Blue Jays need a big bat. And I think they've done a good job with the rotation. they bring in Rogers to augment the bullpen. I think that's fine. But they would be relying a lot on guys like Clement and Barger and Jimenez and Anthony Santander and Springer to do what he did just did. I mean, maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't. But I'm all for recency bias.

But do I expect Addison Barger and Ernie Clement to play 162 games this coming season like they did in the postseason? I'd hope so, but I'm skeptical that's the case. George Springer to repeat what he just did. That was third in Major League Baseball in OPS last year. That's not happening again. There's no way. So you need, you take Boba shed off that team.

You still need someone in the middle of that lineup. Santander, maybe you can give you 30 bombs, maybe. But that's still a big question. Mark, barely played last year. And he can't play the field. And I think they're probably going to have to play him in the field, which is going to be a horrifying. Did you watch you play the field?

Sadly, I did. It was scary. Scarred from that. It was scary stuff. You're right. I agree with you. And look, Even if you want to believe George Springer could do it,

you have to plan for him not doing it. It was only a year before the last year that a lot of people, very informed observers of the sport, looked at him and said, this guy's finished. Now, great on George Springer for having the incredible Renaissance and the incredible heart and soul year that really was the main propeller, I think, of... It was an incredible season.

The home riding hit against Seattle, unbelievable. To your point, like to expect him to just repeat that at this age, given the health history and all the rest of it is just crazy. So to me, Tucker has to be priority number one. And I think they've really got to get it done if they're serious about being a World Series contender. And they are going to spend their payroll.

I don't feel any sadness for Rogers' communication. How much money they made in the postseason last year? They were raking it in night after night. Ticket sales, the merch, everyone's got a Blue J's at. But that's going to be a very expensive baseball team. They're over $300 million. They've never done it. Oh, they definitely

can afford it. And they should afford it. should invest that money that they brought in into that baseball team because the American League East is going to be very, very challenging. Baltimore is not going to suck like they did last year. Tampa's always in and around 500 at worst. And you know, the Yankees and the Red Sox will be spending too. They're not spending like they wore. No, they're not.

And this is the blue jays are the big spenders. That's what I mean. Like when the Yankees are sitting there crying poor and they're kind of carrying the commissioner's water because you know there's all this, the war drums of labor unrest are beating. and there's talk of a salary cap in the offing and the commissioner wants to point out to everybody that, hey, we don't make as much money as you think we do

in this sport. Players, we got to bat down the hatches here and be cost, you know, certain. That's why we need a salary cap here. That's why we got to make this viable for the future. Look, that's Rogers and Toronto's chance here to say, we can be the outliers and say, we'll do that later.

We're not interested in a cap right now. We want to win the World Series that we left on the, table this past fall. They're very well positioned to do that this year, for sure, the way that this team looks. And again, they've got some expiring deals like Gosman and Springer coming off the books after this season. If there is a 2027 season, who knows, with the labor unrest that you brought up, but great opportunity for the Jays.

And I'm with you. I think one of Bichette or Tucker will be in Toronto to start the 2026 MLB season. I'm Aaron Kournick. That is Dave Festchuk from the Toronto Star. We'll be back with our Fandul Best Betts to wrap up today's show after this. All right, it's time now for today's best bets. They're powered by Fanduel. Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the Fandul Sportsbook app.

All right, we've got three underwhelming NFL games tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you can't make money betting on them with our friends at Fanduel. So here's how we're playing it. Dallas Money Line, Detroit Money Line, and Denver, we're playing an alt spread of six and a half. So we're getting under the key number of seven. That takes you to plus 102. Okay. What could go wrong?

Three heavy road favorites. on a short week. Seems like a recipe for disaster. Who's most likely, Dave, to stage the upset here? Is it Washington led by Josh Johnson, Minnesota led by Max Brosmer, or I'm not even going to try to say the third string quarterback for Kansas City's name?

They're not beating Denver. It doesn't feel like this. But Washington or Minnesota, a better chance to win tomorrow. I mean, it feels like the lions are vulnerable right now. Like they blew the big one to, to Rogers in Pittsburgh last week like maybe all hope is lost in Detroit and and this could be

kind of... So many injuries. Yeah. So many have a ton of injuries. They're not running the ball like they did early in the year. I think the effects of losing the two coordinators are finally coming home to Roost. I'd go Vikings on that one. Kind of like Brazmer. Do you? No, actually I think he's horrible. But he started a few games now. He still has Jefferson and

Addison. Those guys are there. So maybe Washington. Josh Johnson's 39 years old. Our friend Mark Dominic drafted him in Tampa like two decades ago. You're trying to get me excited about this slate, but there's six teams playing, and only two of them have winning records, AK. Today's best bets, powered

by Fandual. Every NFL Christmas Day game is available on the Fanduals Sportsbook app. Please play response to me 19 plus physically located in Ontario. Great Sports Day. Christmas. NFL all day, NBA all day. You need multi-screen action. Think about that.

The NFL's got two teams of winning records playing out of six. The NBA's got nine of their 10 teams have winning records on the Christmas slate. How about that? Maybe the NBA is coming back. Who knows? Maybe I doubt it.

I doubt it. But a man, that spurs thunder. SGA versus Wemby, 2.30 p.m. That's going to be a fun one. Dave, thank you for being with me for the last couple of hours. Thanks to Doogie, J.P., Sean, everyone behind the scenes. And on behalf of everybody here at TSN, TSN 1050, very safe and happy Christmas and holiday season.

The Overdrive crew will be back on. Monday. Until then, take care. Keep listening for all your Christmas favorites.