OverDrive - OverDrive - February 11, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: February 12, 2025

Join Jeff O'Neill, Jamie McLennan and Frank Corrado for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon on the same line for Canada, Jordan Binnington starting in net for the team and how the United States, Sweden and Finland match up in the tournament. They go around the sports world in the latest edition of Confirm or Deny and TSN Betting Analyst Wesley Cheng joins to discuss the Raptors extending Brandon Ingram, the direction of the team and Luka Doncic's debut with the Lakers.

Still thinking about Conestoga College? Come to our Spring Open House, Saturday, March 1st. Search Conestoga Open House for campuses and start times. Spring Open House, Saturday, March 1st. Discover career-focused education. Connect life and learning. All right, boys, we got through one hour. We got through one hour, and things have not

blown up in our faces. Overdrive, myself, Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles-McClennan, and Chesco Corrado coming at you from Woodbridge. It's good to be here and I gotta tell you, I love the name Chesco. It's just, it's got a ring to it and it's just, it gets your attention. I gotta tell ya, we gotta give Hayes some props because doing like the co-host, like the word co-host into host, it's a different ballgame. Like being a co-host, you can eat your dinner, man, during the show. Like when we have a guest on, and I'll just come clean, when the guest's face pops up

on the screen, I eat half my dinner. Like yesterday when Chris Johnson's face was going across the screen, that's called dinner time. It's not my question. He's not going to ask a follow-up. That's my time to strap on a feed bag and say, I've completely checked out. Hayes has got this. But when you're hosting, it is a different animal.

You've got to be on your toes. And maybe it's a bit of a wake-up call be a little bit more on your toes at All times, but it's a different ballgame out here boys I'm not gonna lie and how about when then you have JP in your ear telling you got a rap Gotta go don't we really got to go now and you're like I got to somehow get out of this conversation We're having have some kind of like an intelligent comment on the way out and then remember Having some kind of like an intelligent comment on the way out and then remember We're like where we're at and say oh 1050 TSN for who's on the show send it Yeah, like one thing I don't understand about is like when people say all like I don't know like people said to me early on

They're like, I don't know if you can do that because you got to throw the commercial How hard is it to say coming up next is Mike Johnson will see in a bit? How hard is it to say coming up next is Mike Johnson? We'll see in a bit. Turn the microphone off. It's not that hard. Like I don't think that that's, it's not that hard. No, but it, but I will say this and what Brian is a master at is teasing. Hey, coming back.

Hey, have you heard of this story coming out of here? We'll get back to it next. He's really good at like teasing the story and all of that type of stuff. That's what makes him a master. But you're right. Intro, extra, all of that type of stuff. That's what makes him a master. But you're right. Intro, extra, all of that type of stuff. Everyone can do it. I'm going to give you a tease.

I'm going to give you a tease. We got Mike Johnson coming up, but the president down in the States, he went back to something today and when you guys hear what he went back to, you'll absolutely. Oh, I saw it. Oh, did you see it of course i follow all of that that it is something it's just it's worth a giggle anyway joining us now the maple toyota hotline is mike johnson johnny how you

doing pal i gotta tell ya i am and patrick the fact that if you're who saying hello and coming out of the break nothing makes me happier to let Hayes know That others can do his job as well. That is tremendous Well, did you like the fact that you didn't have to sit there and wait for seven minutes while he talked to us about something Else and made you listen to it. Did you like that? I got in right away

You know, if you've been a guest all of these shows Oh, I you know what it's like you already sitting there and listen on a lot of these shows, you know what it's like. You don't want to be sitting there and listening to a four minute conversation while you're just hanging out. Dude, do you know how many times I would tell the guy, the board up, I'd say, if he doesn't get me in in 30 seconds, I'm out of here. Because I'm not like... Seriously, I would tell the guy, I'm like, why did you call me? I don't need to listen to 10 minutes of the show and then you bring me in.

I like bring the guest in right away and get to the chat. So let's get to it, Johnny. What are your thoughts on Nathan McKinnon down at the Four Nations moving over to back to center ice? Well, I mean, I think when it came out yesterday, he was playing with sit on the wing and what could have happened is the question. Right. Well, I don't know. Maybe they listened to our question. Right. Well, I don't know.

Maybe they listened to our show and saw Frankie say, I don't know, why would you take the leading scorer in the NHL and put him out of position? I'm not sure. But I mean, I, you know, maybe the simple as they want to have a couple different options that they've worked at, like not every combination is going to work. Not everything that they lay out initially Will last and so maybe going through a couple of different options Beforehand so that when you get to a game if it doesn't work out the way you wanted It's not something you've never seen or talked about or tried before so maybe it's as simple as that

Yeah, and or maybe just the first day they wanted the two of them together because that was, you know, something that both really wanted. Um, but I think it does make sense though to have the best score in the NHL playing in his natural position. And if you want the two of them together, I would just put McKinnon in the middle, cross me on the wing and mark stolen the wing. Like you could have the three guys, but I would want Nate McKinnon in his natural spot going in the natural spot going in

the usual pattern on the ice where he goes to generate speed, to take the puck, to create the way he does. I guess I was a little bit surprised yesterday when he was on the wing and I guess I wouldn't be surprised if he finds himself in the center a little bit as well. Well, isn't it just natural you feel like a lot of these coaches overthink things? John Cooper is a master at you know deception that type of stuff Frankie was pointing out He's called a few games of Tampa. I just called a few games of Tampa last week You know he always finds extra shift for guys

He always try and move stuff around so when you're moving guys around for different types of shifts I think he's the type of guy that wants to play a little bit possum with the media. To me, it's, you know, Sidney Crosby is a great centerman, but Nathan McKinnon is so much speed. He generates speed in his own zone and then gets speeding through the neutral zone. So I agree. I think, you know, you are going to see McKinnon up the ice.

The only thing that was pointed out, Johnny, you might be have taken a peek at this. His underlying numbers are his actual numbers on the draw. He's in the 40s I think he's 46 or something and and since like 52 So, I mean maybe they're overthinking it that way But it's you know, who cares at the end at the end of the day I would be an overthink if we're dad's what I'm saying 6% on the face off. Yeah I'm saying oh, it's amazing

Like there are moments when faith that off matter a lot Obviously on the power play when you're penalty killing late in the game six on four goalie out But you know, he just talked about it and you're right coach you look at that and say we want the better Center but in there let's say they take 20 center 20 draws in In the game if you're 55 you win 11 if you're 45 you win 9 in the game. If you're 55, you win 11. If you're 45, you win nine. Like it's two neutral zone losses that are different than what you're trying to do out there. So, and again, they would have plenty of options for settlement on that team if they wanted someone else to try to step in there and take them. So the only thing I've thought though is that, you

know that hockey Canada, Coupe, have thought this through to every last second. You know that hockey Canada, KUK, have thought this through to every last second. You know what I mean? They've been waiting on these two days of practice and then a game for months and months and months. So I can't imagine, other than an injury, and maybe Crosby's injury has something to do with it, why they would deviate or not have already sort of outlined what they were gonna do in these couple days

and just sort of freelance it. I think whatever is going on is all about be part of a master plan. Johnny, how do you think Coop is going to run the bench? What kind of rhythm do you think it's going to be? Just pretty simple stuff, a lot of McDavid, a lot of McKinnon, and then the other guys are going to have to find a way to contribute, whether it be penalty kill or not a lot of ice time. You want to get those top guys cooking, whether it be penalty kill or not a lot of ice time. You want to get those top guys cooking, don't you?

Yeah. I think the home games, they'll try to open the first two lines up offensively. But if you're going to have Pointe or Sorelli hanging around, I also think that when you go up against Team USA and one of those two guys might get a little bit of of Austin Matthews, you know, like they also might sort of have defensive focus on those two bottom lines Um, but yeah, like someone up front Oh is gonna play eight minutes like that is the reality a player was using to play 22 He's gonna get eight and won't complain about it because it's team canada

But again, a group will have this all laid out. Depending on the rhythm of the game, they will roll four lines over the bench if it's going well, as soon as the games get tight, or if they're not playing well, or if they're losing, then it gets shorter and you see more McDavid, more McKinnon, the guys you're going to count on to be the best players in the tournament.

I was thinking about this the other day, Johnny, because if you were going to go McDavid, first line, McKinnDavid, first line, McKinnon, second line, and we knew the US had a number one matchup line, that they were going to hard match against those guys, wouldn't that be kind of telling as far as who the US views as more dangerous? But I guess if you were to look at it, you're either going to get Eichel, you're going to get Matthews, you could get Trocheck I mean if any of those guys are going over the boards is there that much disparity between

Those three guys as far as who's gonna be checking the best players No, I mean all can do pretty good defensively you're right But I think you'll see you know would you rather have I don't even know who's gonna be the number one pair would it be? You know, would you rather have I don't even know who's gonna be the number one pair would it be? Warenki and McEvoy's either number one pair on defense. I wonder if that's the preferred matchup over and have been favor I don't know. It's it's pick your poison on both end. I do think that Eichel and Matthews will be relied on to be scorers and I think you know Miller and His line will be sort of energy physical and trochev will be face-off and penalty kills and defensive stuff. So, even if it doesn't play out that way, at least symbolically, if you get a Miller or a

Trocheck, I think that's sort of an acknowledgement that they're more concerned about defense against that line as opposed to if they go up, you know, Ike or Matthews and just let them play straight up when they're they're willing to go for some offense against offense. But it's interesting, Frankie, but it's in such a short term. It's so short that it's going to be hard to really read too much into game over game because they'll be figuring it out in the fly, but what works and what doesn't with little time to react and sort through things.

So Johnny, are we, I don't know how to phrase this. Are we just expecting that it's going to be Canada or the U.S. and that's it? Because are we almost looking at it like the Super Bowl where it's like, yeah, the Homes are going to 3-P. I think it's complete disrespect to the other two teams. But that's what I'm saying, though. That's what I'm bringing up. Is there any chance in your mind that...

Because I think on paper, who would be the weakest? Would it be Finland because of their defense core like banged up and all that a finned decor by NHL standards well yeah Matt and Paulo who has 16 NHL games has been invited you know they're banged up but at the end of the day is there any chance a team named other than team Canada or team USA could win this? Oh, for sure, because it's the hurdles, the nature of your position, right? You don't think UC Saros can run off to wins? Of course he can, right? And how many times have we all covered international hockey, we've all played international hockey, do the Finnish team, who don't look at good on paper, come together in a tournament,

and are really hard to play against right all the time all the time So basically to get to the final you can probably afford one One loss you can't lose two right so Sweden obviously is excellent. They have lots of talents You know, they have plenty of goalscores game breakers. It was their tender, goal marker of Gustafsson gets hot, they can do it. Finland, no doubt, they're the weakest roster. I mean, they couldn't even practice yesterday because they had got sick and coming in and injured and everything else. But again, if it's one game, you could just shoot them 50 to 20.

Canada tied Switzerland in the Olympics, right? In Vancouver, did they not? Well, there was that Christoph, Christoph Goodlewski, scur, whatever made it. Goodlewski, in Latvia. Yeah, I was, I was a 2-1 nothing winner or something, but I think they tied Switzerland when it was Chris Maluet or David Aversure, whoever it was.

Yeah. So like, it can happen. Absolutely. Now, with the seven game series, I'd say it's almost impossible for Finland to win a seven game series against Canada, the U.S. But a one-off with the nature of go, I'd say it's almost impossible for Finland to win a seven game series against Canada and the US. But a one-off with the nature of goaltending for sure. And not that every company country's gonna have pride, but sort of the pride and the sort of cohesion that Finnish national teams play with all the time at every level.

I think that's an advantage. I think there's something built in about finish hockey players that know how to play together for finland that canada u f will be trying to figure out on the fly and it's really have a head start out there who's on the roster in trying to do that johnny if you were going to put your mystic mike had on

jordan binnington's name starting goaltender today what do you think i don't know if the quite the wording is the importance of his position, but what do you think he's like? What's his role gonna have to be? Like how important is Bennington gonna be to the success of Canada? Well, yeah, I mean, I guess if Canada plays well, then you'd think that they don't need their goal center to be their best player to win. They just need him to be good.

Don't let any shots go in that you're not supposed to. If you do that, Canada will probably have a good chance of winning most of their games, you'd think. Except against the Americans. Because I look at the American roster, and as much as I love Canada, and I love McKinnon, McDavid, McCarr, they might be the three best offensive players in the entire tournament this year right now in the NHL. I think the US has a better roster top to bottom I think they might be deeper I think their

defenses is probably deeper than Canada's for sure certainly in net they're better than Canada so would the goalt, whether it's Bennington or whether it's Hill, I think it's going to be one of those two guys, when they play the US, could the shots be 37-24 US? Does the goalie need to be able to play well enough to keep his team close in a game that they're not maybe dominating? I think that's his role. You can't let anything squeak youaky in and probably against the Americans, you have to be maybe a little bit better than that and give your team a chance

to win in a game where you won't control the play all the time. Like you think about 2010 and 2014 and how good those Canadian defense were, where Kerry Price was stopping 13 or 14 shots. I don't think that's happening this year. I think, you know, and those are only four games, but they'll be game with a goaltender have to be good and that's going to be his responsibility if you're a third of all the players johnny that could have dropped out of this tournament

like when he was not playing for the united states are big one is that is that the biggest impact of any guy that could have dropped out like haste can infer finland of course is massive you know Petrangel drops out for Canada but Drew Doughty steps right in you don't feel like you lost much like the US losing Quinn Hughes like that's got to be the biggest impact of a player not playing or potentially not playing is it not? Hey... I... maybe... I guess I don't want to disagree that it's the biggest impact, but I'm not sure

how much of an impact it's going to have. Like, Quinton, he's incredible. He's a left shot offensive catalyst defenseman that was going to play a huge role for the Americans. But think of Zach Larenski, who is a different kind of player, but plays a similar role, similar position. There are other guys available. I think to me, if Prosby or Matthews or McDavid would have not played in this tournament,

it would have had a bigger impact on how the tournament felt. Maybe not how it played out, but I think those three guys are the three poster boys of the tournament in lending its seriousness, credibility, gravity, and importance and I think if Sid had come to my show all you've been said you know what can't do it I'm out. I think people would have maybe started to feel different about the tournament not necessarily on the ice which is sort of how the perception of it so maybe those three guys for the perception as far as on the ice I don't I of out of the perception of it. So maybe those three guys for the perception as far as on the ice, I don't know. I mean, Quincey Hughes is huge for sure, but it's not like they can't replace him. Like, in a case case, probably a bigger

loss to Finland than Hughes would be to the Americans. All right. So put your mystic Mike hat on. Outside of the big names that you mentioned, is there somebody that you've circled or maybe an X factor that we're overlooking, any team, any country that you're like, I could see this guy being a difference maker or this guy having a tournament and all eyes will be on him. Before you answer, Johnny, don't you guys think that it could be like the Kale-McCarr tournament? We always talk about McKinnon and McDavid, but there don't you guys think that it could be like the Kale-McCarr tournament? We always talk about McKay and McDavid, but there could be a good chance that it's Kale-McCarr

where everybody goes, oh my God, that guy's way better than we even talk about. Yeah. Do we see Doughty wearing 89 today and Kale-McCarr wearing 8? How about that respect? How about that respect? That's respect, man. They're giving McCarr, he's giving Mc a car his normal number and he's taking the the other one I'm like wow that is that is something so good on him now if I'm gonna say you know Macar is obviously like

Supremely talented player. I'll run down. I could break in point Who we all everyone I say is gonna be great, but brain point on that team is probably not a marquee player he's such a money player he's so fast he might not get a power play but would it surprise me if he kind of grows in his role and has a big tournament not at all for the Americans because Kyle Connor with his ability to score goals in a tournament that short like could he score five goals in four games 100% he's playing on the first line. He's gonna be on the first power play. He's gonna get a ton of service and he is a quick strike. Doesn't need many chances. Doesn't need much room kind of player. I

think he could be really good for Sweden. I'll say too, they're playing together right now. Jesper Braat, who I think is a tremendous player, sort of underrated, and Lucas Raymond, who if you think about his last year and a half with Detroit, how many dramatic moments he has been involved in. Late game heroics last year down the stretch, and overtime, and three on threes, and just a solid player who doesn't seem

to mind the bright lights. Any of those players to me would have a great chance of being impactful guy and if we're going to Finland, I don't know, Artur Lekkinen back in Montreal, he's turned in such a good player for Colorado. Could he be pretty good with Barkov on his wing? He might be a guy who steps up and has a tournament. So there will be guys. It won't always be you know McKinnon or McDavid or Matthews or whoever does the knee

lander that lead these teams. There'll be other guys that have moments and that's what'll be part of what makes it so fun. Johnny, you just mentioned the power play. How would you, and it looks easy from the outside if you're just a fan of hockey for the coach to say, throw them out in the ice and go make some things happen. But that's, there's one puck out there and there's a lot of big boys out there who command the puck and do amazing things.

You talk about McKinnon's give and go and agility out there, McDavid going 100 miles an hour and finding the open guy, Reinhardt in the bumper, Sid at the side of the net, tipping in shots, deflections, and then McCarr does what he does at the back end.

Where would you want things to kind of rotate around on that power play well I mean I guess you're probably gonna leave it to McKinnon and McDavid to get his own entries which seems like a good option like you guys thousand miles an hour 50 foot a gap just get the fuck. And I think that sometimes can be a problem when you get new players together, so that hopefully should solve itself for Canada. My concern would be a desire to be unselfish. And everyone wanted to be a good guy and everyone wanted to show that they're a good teammate, especially early on, right? Like, overpassing, I got a shot here but I don't want to waste it because I got cross the other goal line I got McKinnon through the theme so I think not being too

Unselfish would be my message to the guys. I think Reinhardt is a perfect no-frills player He never wants it until he's gonna shoot it, right? He doesn't ever have to touch it until he shoots it to the net perfect said I think the work you'll do on the boards and the goal line, it really is the three guys up top and McCarr and McKinnon have such great chemistry but McDavid is is a freelancer and he often likes to play on his strong side to left-wing side. McKinnon also likes to play on his offside the left wing side so sorting out those two guys in the top who are gonna have the fuck more than anyone and I'm sure they can do it but just I would be sort of in tune with what they're thinking,

what they're doing up there, making sure that they have good spacing and good options, having a system while also letting them freelance. Those two guys would be the two I would be sort of most attentive to because they do generally occupy the same spot on the power play on the ice. Of all the things that we're gonna see in this tournament I think watching all these elite players put together on a power play is one of the things I'm most excited about but Johnny I guess would there be any concern on your end that we get into the tournament and the whistles go away because they don't want this decided at five on four they want to let the guys play at five on five and they're gonna be tentative to make calls like

any concern on that regard on your end? No, no I mean I don't think so it's all NHL referees will be whatever standard I think it'll be game seven standard the guys who play these tournaments are generally not the most you know crazy over-the-top physical, chippy players. So if McDavid buzzes through the neutral zone and he gets hooked by somebody, they should call the hook. I don't hope not. I think the NHL is, in a good way, largely moving away from, let's just let them figure

it out. Who cares what instructions are made? We won't call anything because we don't want to be part of the story because then immediately become part of the story so And that goes every which way like I don't think the u.s. Want to play a game where they never get in the power play? I don't think Sweden wants to play a game where they never get on the power play so that means occasionally They'll have to kill as well. I don't think that's going to be as big of a concern. I don't think Johnny there's all kinds of stories from the World Championship of guys coming home

at 6 in the morning and winning 5-0 the next day and it's not good to see you here. I know you know what I'm talking about. Do you think that these guys would like let their hair down a little bit and maybe enjoy Montreal or is it the the the era of cell phones and videos that they wouldn't even bother causing problems? Yeah I think it's probably a little bit more the latter. Like Canada plays tomorrow right Wednesday and they don't play until Saturday and they're in Montreal. In the regular season that would be like such an advanced green night like you'd be like

okay like we do whatever we want we can shake it off Thursday Have a good practice Friday and off we go on Saturday, but I Do think you know the fact that if this group of players there'd be so much attention They wouldn't be able to go anywhere and have a good time, you know, because they'd be under they'd be Getting bothered by so many fans No, I don't think so Maybe if if they win on the, what is it, next Thursday in Boston they can get after it together kind of one last time before they go back to work. But I think the nature of the players and the nature of reality, you said it like maybe more

inclined to go back to their hotel room and play some video games and chop it up together than go out and stay out late at night at a bar or something. I wouldn't think that that would be a concern, although if there's ever a night to be concerned, it's if Canada wins 7-1 tomorrow night, and they're like, okay, we're in good shape here, and we have two more, three days between games. Yeah, that's my biggest situation is, it's almost like the NFL, we're going to have overreaction Thursday one way or the other. All I can think of, remember the World Cup, it was that Team Europe or whatever that was like a makeshift team or what was that called?

They were terrible. They were terrible early on. They ended up making the finals once they got their act together. Do you feel like regardless of what happens in these first couple games, there is going to be an overreaction one way or the other? Say Canada loses and the goaltenders don't play that well or the goalie doesn't play that well. Can you feel that narrative coming?

Well, yeah. Yeah I can. I can because I mean I think this tournament basically right there's four teams Everyone plays three games if it if there's all regulation games and it stays true to form someone three and oh someone two and one Someone's one and two someone's own three so you can lose one game, but if Canada loses tomorrow Then all Sweden has to do is be Finland and Canada can't catch them. And then it comes down to the American game on Saturday. They have to win to try to have three teams of two and one. Listen, the minor hockey parents in me is coming out with a standing board.

But like that's, that's the reality. If Canada plays poorly and lose the first game, then they have to basically beat the States to stay alive. And that is going to be a tall task. No matter how well they're playing, just because the Americans are that good. And if they're a whole lot in the game, and I'm sure we'll go back to, the World Junior team has gone two years

without making the semi-finals. What's going on with the Canadian hockey? What's going on with the way we play in these tournaments? Whatever that conversation, which might be overblown, but as far as questions about the dominance of this team, yeah, if they don't win tomorrow, they'll start kind of questioning like, you know, why not? Because now all of a sudden it's probably, it makes it a pretty

tough tournament just to get to the final. Johnny, Mini Jerry, you had more fun doing this without Hayes here. No, Mini Jerry, 92%. Wow, 92%. 92% you had more fun. Maybe we'll pre-tape something in the future, just pro athletes only. We'll pre-tape it and we'll put it to air when Hazy comes back to host. Hey, did you guys like my hat? You guys didn't comment on my hat. This is my Rob Lowe NHL hat. Oh, I love that. You know how Rob Lowe has an NFL hat? NHL.

This is my NHL Rob Lowe hat. I love that. You guys didn't notice this earlier. Dude, I got to be honest with you. My return is just a phone and my eyes can't see that far. If I had my return up on a laptop, I would see it clearly. I got this from Leo Komarov. When he went to the all-star game that year

Remember uncle Leo went to the all-star game because we didn't have anyone else. He brought home All-star hats for all the boys and I still have mine and this is my Rob Lowe NHL hat. I love it That's great. The greatest remember Leo Komarov. That's that's where the Leafs have come from like you Leo Komarov Scored on what? Remember Leo Komaroff? That's where the Leafs have come from. Like Leo Komaroff scored at what, 27, 30 goals? He was the All-Star. Johnny, they went from losing him to saying we got to get him back. That's where we were at. Honest to God, Leo Komaroff, I remember saying it on this show or the other shows, wherever we were, Leafs lunch. I'm like, he's a third line winger. And people went nuts, nuts.

I was getting texts from people going, he's an all star. And I'm saying, I'm sorry, in a perfect world, he's a third line left winger. But that's how far that, yeah. He's number one pick in most random all star game participants. Right. He's an all star of a guy.

Yes. All right, Johnny, thanks for doing this, pal guy yes also i johnnie thanks for doing this pal hey all thank you for doing this you are an inspiration any you open to that i don't be happy to get in for a dollar time which means you have to you know do this all the time which is not exactly what you want now we've been pretty good so we might have to take a dump in the last hour and they won't ask us to do it again. Perfect. Alright, Jai, see you later.

Mike Johnson joined us on the Maple Toyota hotline. Count on Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota. Trade in your tires, buy a new set and get $40 back. Visit mapletoyota.com. Who doesn't want new tires and who doesn't want 40 bucks and who doesn't want confirm or deny? It's coming up next on Overdrive. I can neither confirm or deny that this is in fact a signature.

Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuca Ras. It's been my honor and a privilege to serve as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. It's time for Confirm or Deny. Do you regret giving all those gentlemen the no trades or no movement clauses? I can neither confirm or deny that. I can't confirm or deny. God, that voice just makes me cringe. The Fergler.

I don't know if you guys have a voice that would just make you... Yeah I got one. Yeah, I probably know who that one is. We don't need to get into name calling but... Let's not do that. Every player's probably got one voice. I think it's probably common for every player and probably every executive has multiple voices or names, plates that just drive them nuts. It's just the way it goes. Confirm or deny, here we go.

Elias Pettersson will return to top form while playing for Sweden. Confirm or deny? Going to deny that. I'm going to deny that because if he was going to do it, he would have done it already. And if there was some kind of ailment that was holding him back, then chances are it's still going to be holding him back now in this tournament. He hasn't had the adequate rest, recovery, all that kind of stuff. So I'm a little concerned about Sweden through the middle of the ice like Zabani Jad Pedersen doesn't exactly scream like they can keep up with Ikel Matthews McDavid McKinnon, but I just think if he was gonna do it

He would have done it already and if he does do it great news for the Vancouver Canucks Also, if I'm Rick talking I'm like, where's that been all year, dude? Like, you know, we know you have it. So I'm going to deny it though. I'm denying it, but I'm also throwing a little asterisk beside it because I think Can't do it. That's a Fergler move. It's got to be confirmed or deny. There's no Fergie asterisks. I'm denying it for my message bigger picture. I think Patterson will get it on the rails. And I think that, but I don't think it's going to happen in this tournament. I do believe he's going to get, what this might help is get him trending in the right

direction. Get him up to speed. Get him around his countrymen. Get his confidence back. I don't think he's going to dominate in this tournament. He might, but I think what it might do is fast track him to get his act together playing for the Vancouver Canucks. That's what they need, but I'm going to deny it from this tournament dominating in the tournament, but I think it is going to help him down the stretch for

the Canucks. I'm going to confirm it guys, and I'm going to base it on a few small things. I saw some things in that game against Toronto. I saw a reverse hit in the corner against Benoit. It was either Benoit or McCabe and I'm like, oh, maybe this guy means business now. Why it took this long and JT Miller out the door for him to start competing the way he is is beyond me. But I think he's just too talented of a player to play this poorly for this long so I think the jokes got to be over and it's got to be the Elias Pettersson of old where he comes up and he just dominates because

Frankie you watch a lot of the Canucks that guy was a dynamic talent and he's disappeared like he has simply disappeared you know what it is with him I feel like he's lost that half step that he had. He wasn't the fastest guy to begin with, but that little bit split second that he did have, he could create some separation that he hasn't been able to get recently. That's what maybe leads me to believe something has been bugging him. Everyone's got to play through stuff. The best players in the world, their game doesn't fall off a

cliff when something is bugging him but you're right like if you watch this guy at his best he's a top I don't know he's a top 10 15 talent in the NHL but he hasn't been anywhere near that recently this one you give me spiced it up a little bit and there was one I had a question mark. One of Mikko Rantanen, and I asked Dougie why Mikko Rantanen, he's already been traded, and Dougie says it might happen again. I think that's crazy talk. One of Mikko Rantanen, Bradmar Shann, or Sam Bennett will be traded by the deadline.

Only has to be one. Say it again, Mikko Rantanen, Sam Bennett. Doogie has been hearing, Doogie is an insider, I'm not sure you guys know this, but he's been hearing whispers and reports that a trade with Miko Rantanen can happen once again. Brad Marshann or Sam Bennett, only one of them could be moved by the deadline. Deny. I'm denying all three. I think that Boston, they're close to getting their act together.

You got McEvoy back now. I think Lindholm is back skating, so that's your top pairing defenseman. I don't think you're trading Sam Bennett if you're Florida. You're trying to get his contract done and ranting and to flip him in another big deal. I think it's more, you know, I don't think that's going to happen. They're trying to get better. They're not trying to get worse. Who you're trading ranting and again. Now there is a one little question I would have. Is he having no trade again? Once you've been traded? Is it a 10 team no trade? Because I do believe that was another scenario.

That would follow the player. Yeah. That's got to follow him wherever he goes, right? Yeah. I don't think he's getting traded. So I'm denying it, I'm saying. Oh, this is Doogie. I'm sorry, buddy. You've been hanging out on like weird Reddit pages if this is what you're hearing. This is the alternate Ron Burgundy sewer job. I don't know. Yeah. This is a deny. This is the host job. It's the alternate Ron Burgundy sewer job? Like, I don't know. This is a deny. This is the host job. It's the host job.

It's a deny all day long. Carolina just went out and they got ranting in because they need to win a Stanley Cup and they see that there's no real team in the East that's running away with it that you're absolutely afraid of. Boston has too much pride to pack it in and say, we're going to move on from Brad Marshand in the middle of the season. They're not going to do that. And Florida's in win-now mode Sam Bennett keeps them there regardless of how the contract may or may not play out they would win

another Stanley Cup and they wouldn't think twice about it if Sam Bennett walked on them because they won another Stanley Cup so it's it's a deny all day long Dougie. I'm gonna I'm gonna confirm it actually I just think this is such a haze move. I'm gonna confirm it actually I just think this is such a haze move I'm gonna confirm it because I think there's been some crazy stuff that's happened I think there's more crazy things to go on maybe ranting and leaving Colorado has made GM's realize I don't need to be totally completely in love with my player. There's other players out there So hopefully we see some sound logic actually yeah It is why you can't be in love with your own players.

You get screwed all the time. And the cap, right? And the cap now, like going up next year, like that gives teams a little more flexibility to make these big trades. Well, I'll tell you one thing. If I'm a GM or an executive, I'm not letting some players say the cap's going up. I want XML because of that. I would say, see you later.

Last one. Canada should be the clear-cut favorite at the four nations face off denial uh... yeah but that i go first yeah i'm denying it and that i have how can they be the clear-cut favorite when the u s because they have connor mcdavid and nathan mckinnon up the middle all start all confirm it

i think you look at that matchup regardless of the talent of the u s a they're big they're strong they're fast they've got real quality players confirm it. I think you look at that matchup regardless of the talent of the USA. They're big, they're strong, they're fast, they've got real quality players. But I think going into the tournament, there's nothing wrong with saying with Nathan McKinnon and Connor McDavid as the one to punch up the middle, that makes you a favorite. I think that's okay to say, but that's just me. Well, it is. And it is. I mean, you make make a great point the best player in the world is playing for Canada Which is Connor McDavid? I think the US team is deeper

That's the the the scary part because there is no weakness zero weakness on that roster We've already discussed who you know Bennington's getting the starter you're concerned. Yes. He's I make a case for him He's a winner, you know the defensive core for from Team Canada You know, did you have Pareko on the team lead at the start of the season? You know you look at there are some players that were question marks the you know, Seth Jarvis I know he's the 13th connect me guys like that I just I think team USA on paper matches up as good or potentially

deeper if you go one to twelve you know one to seven on the back end and certainly a net so I'm just they're not my clear-cut favorite but do I expect them to win hope they win all of that fun stuff yes yeah I think I'm gonna deny it based on the word clear cut it's not like Canada is gonna run away with this on paper anyways And the goaltending situation obviously favors the United States over Canada And if you want to go player for player line for line all that kind of stuff the Americans are gonna be able to match Up the thing that hurts the Americans the most is Quinn Hughes like I really think not having Quinn Hughes completely changes the complexion of things

But I think having the goaltending will mask some of that I don't like there, but it's not it's not like we're talking about NHL games where things can fall off a cliff if you don't have one guy You know what I mean like there's there's a lot of insulation with these teams I just I can't get behind Canada being the clear-cut slight favorite sure but not clear-cut. All right that's Confirmer Deny brought to you by the Fergler the worst executive in the history of the National Hockey League. Thank you for that let's take a break and we're gonna get to my green room

buddy Wes Chang. TSN's betting analyst Raptors guy is gonna get into the Ingram signing. Donch's debut with the Raptors guy, he's going to get into the Ingram signing. Donch's debut with the Lakers, we're going to do that next. I'm really fired up to bring in our next guest fellas because he knows the inside scoop on all things NBA. He's a betting insider, betting analyst, TSN Raptors analyst, and he's a conspiracy theorist. He loves those as well. Oh, I love that He's got him. He loves them and he's got him Wesley Chang come on in man. How are you doing? Oh

Let's go. I happy to be here man. Thanks. I'm me. Yeah, so give us the breakdown on this Ingram signing I always found it weird in pro sports how you just hand a bag to a guy Ingram signing, I always found it weird in pro sports how you just hand a bag to a guy that's never been around, but they must really like him, and it must kind of signals a different direction. Yeah, I think ultimately, even before the trade went down, it's kind of like understood there must have been some handshake agreement that if they were gonna do this,

Ingram was gonna be signing off for some term. So now we know the numbers, he's here for three more years and I think ultimately this was the plan from the get-go. You know one of those things I think is worth mentioning about how all this works, because you have a bunch of people who are concerned about tank or no tank. The core of this team, the way they've set it up is now Scotty Bucks. They picked him, that's the leader. Whether you like it or not, he's the leader of this team. So they need to bring in guys who are gonna support him and set him up for success.

As opposed to tanking for two, three more years, and then by that point, you don't know what type of situation you have with Scotty Barnes by that point in his career. You have an opportunity to turn Bruce Brown, some other pieces here, to turn him into somebody who can immediately impact winning. This just means the Raptors next year, that's when the playoff window begins. They're going right for it.

When it comes to them picking this guy up and making the trade and signing him obviously right away, I'm not gonna use the term desperate, like I don't think the Raptors are desperate, they do have a plan in mind, but is there a little kinda, hey, we better make sure we make this business quick and lock him up before anyone has any kind of thoughts of like not wanting to be here?

I get the sense that even before everything was kind of pen to paper, it was ready to decide that he was going to be part of the long term plans. From what I know, again, these are just like sources, people that I know within our company. I think it's been understood that Masai had his eye on Ingram for more than just this season. It's been for a while. So this is a player that I think Masai has coveted.

I think he believes in this player. And whether or not it's a perfect hit for Scotty Barnes and the Raptors infrastructure currently, that still remains to be seen. But it's not like he signed on for some, you know, super max, you know, five, four year term deal. It's a three year deal. And if it doesn't work out,

they kind of have a bit of a get out jail free card. But, um, you know, if you think about what his contract was coming into this year and what they signed him for now, it's not too far above what the previous contract was. So, um, to be honest, it's pretty reasonable. And, uh, I think the main thing that I always have been flagging this week, this all started with trading away Seacom. And as a by-product of that,

if Bruce Brown didn't end up getting shipped out anywhere and was stuck on the team, you essentially traded Seacom away from nothing. So at least you're picking a guy now who can partner beside Scotty Barnes here as a result of that Paso Siachen trade and it's a gamble that Messiah is making here but this is probably better off than them having absolutely nothing to show for if Bruce Brown didn't end up getting anything at the deadline. So Wes, how do they navigate the tank from here on in because you still want to show

the fans, oh yeah, we're serious. Like we're not going to be that bad for that long. And we're also, we want to be garbage to have a shot at the pick. I mean, they're playing the Sixers tonight and they're nine and a half point dogs. Like where does the tank go from here? Oh, I mean, Bobby Webster was pretty clear in his press conference after the trade deadline. He said, our number one focus from this point is the NBA draft. He explicitly said it.

So I think you're going to see them try to slot in players here and there to get them some reps together, build some chemistry. But he literally was as explicit as you can be. They want a top five level guy from this draft and then they instantly start trying to compete come next October. So Wesley you and I are conspiracy theorists. Walk me through, I believe in all of that stuff. Although I'll research it then somebody has to talk me off the ledge. Talk me off the ledge here this this Don Chik, just to LA.

To me, I mean, there were better, or not better, but there have been more out there. Something was fishy about this, was it not? Or what do you make of it? Oh, listen, I'm just asking questions like any good journalist would. And all I'm saying, it's a little bit strange that every single stakeholder that has seemingly been involved in the NBA had the exact same shock reaction. Even the guy who broke the news thought it was some sort of like hack fake message that he got.

So it just says everything you need to know. Every single person involved had the same reaction. It's a bit telling, but again, that's why they're paid the big bucks to make these big decisions and we're here just talking about it. It's crazy, Wes. You get to a point where you look at it and you're like, okay, the guy was out of shape and they just didn't want to dump that money into him. But then he goes to LA and you see the hype and LeBron wearing the 77 Jersey

and you just think like Maybe Dallas are a bunch of morons for doing this like maybe that was just a massive screw-up, man That's probably how it's gonna play out right now I mean, it's a pretty scary follow right now for Dallas and how things have fallen apart really quickly so fallout right now for Dallas and how things have fallen apart really quickly. So it could be literally an all-time blunder in like the history of the NBA and that'll be a terrible legacy for Nikko Harrison and the front office there. Well Wes, thanks a lot for doing this buddy. We appreciate you coming on on short notice so thank you very much for that. Hey man, happy to be here man.

Appreciate it guys. There's Wesley Chang, the TSN betting analyst. You think he's got some inside scoops on how to make some cabbage or what? That'd be nice. What have you just said? What have you just dropped off, 500 and envelope for him in the green room and just said, do it.

Turn this into five grand. Wesley, here's five hundo, turn it into five grand for me. You have a month. me. That's such a D big move to do that because It's just like I'm sure you guys had buddies I would call you and be like, what do you think about that team playing in the NHL? I'd be like I don't ever ask me that question again Yeah, yeah, don't ever ask me that question again and never had it as a player But I get it all the time now where people are like, hey, what do you what do you make it?

I'm like, I don't know if I could it all the time now where people are like, hey, what do you make of that? I'm like, I don't know. If I could predict the future, I would be the first guy betting. I can't do that stuff. I don't know. Can't do it. Yeah, it's a dangerous game. All right, coming up next in the next hour, Noodles, we got your buddy Tyson Nash coming

up. Yes. He's always a great chat. He's fired up at all times. And we got Michael Russo that covers team USA or is covering team USA at the four nations So we got that coming up next. This is overdrive on TSN 1050 and on TSN for TSM plus is taking game day to a whole new level with NFL red zone

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