OverDrive - OverDrive - February 12, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: February 13, 2025

Join Aaron Korolnek and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joins to discuss the 4 Nations Face-Off kicking off, Canada's roster construction at the tournament and the NHL teams heating up in the trade market. TSN Raptors Commentator Paul Jones joins to give his perspective of Vince Carter's famous dunk contest win, Brandon Ingram's fit with the Raptors and the direction of the team and Doogie hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet, awarded by UCCLA. Starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, internet just got better. Overdrive final hour on this Wednesday afternoon. Aaron Kuralniken for Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles-McClennan with me for the final hour. Darren Dreger will be here in just a moment, although maybe the snow held Dreggs up, head of his

big panel for Canada Sweden hopefully that is not the case and with regards to this game there he is right there Darren Dreger with regards to this game Jamie and we'll be talking a ton about the goaltending good or bad right with Jordan Bennington in goal and I'm curious to know if you think this stat has any relevance tonight for Jordan Binnington and Team Canada. 4.05 GAA, 868 save percentage and four career starts at the Bell Center. The venue, does that mean anything for goaltenders? It does a little bit and here's why.

There's certain buildings where you're just like, you feel like really good in it. And I've talked to a lot of goaltenders, whether I played with them or played against them. And you talk about, hey, Masters Square Garden, like the lighting there, the fans get you into it. You feel like you need to be on because that building gets rocking.

I'll give an example. I don't know if I ever had a good game in Detroit at the Joe Louis. I can go back throughout my career, but obviously I got suspended there and all of that at the end of my career. But I can't remember if I actually went into that building and just had a good game and played well. But there were certain organizations, certain buildings, you're like, you know what, I feel pretty good. And then vice versa. So it might be a thin layer, but it might just be a coincidence that he's played

there four times and it's just been on a back-to-back or whatever. But it might factor in a little bit. Like I say, all eyes are on this guy. And you know, I like that he plays with a little bit of confidence, not a little bit, a lot of confidence and swagger and chip. He'll be able to handle it. Even if things go poorly tonight, I feel like he'd be the type of guy like Conor Hellebuyck. Conor Hellebuyck lost against Colorado and he was giving up seven and it looked ugly.

In his year-end media, he was like, you guys aren't going going to believe this but I felt amazing in the playoffs where you're like okay well that didn't look amazing to me Bennington's got a little bit of that so we'll see how it unfolds here tonight. TSN hockey insider Darren Treger is with us Darren good evening how are you? I'm doing okay how about you guys? I'm doing well I know noodles as well where is your level of confidence in Canada's goaltender tonight? It's fine it It's fine. I mean, you know, if we're gonna make the comparisons to some of the very good goalies in this event, it's a challenge. But, you know, I mean, you're lucky in Stanley Cup Champions and Aiden Hill and

Jordan Bennington. And I thought it was interesting yesterday in listening to John Cooper and, you know, his address to the media talk about the fire in the belly of jordan bennington and you know i hope that translates in him doing absolutely everything to keep the puck out of the map i mean that's what it boils down to me not gonna have to go to square off the four nations face off so he you know you have to get your home in the dice here a little bit but doesn't it feel like the daughter respect to the swedes here

if that line up representing team can account outscore sweden then we shouldn't be talking about goaltending is this guy's gonna let pox in from center ice i mean let's give jordan menon's uh... bennington little bit of credit here is certainly more than capable so i don't have a high level of concern gogo animals now just gonna say like my my biggest thing drags is and i've said it all

long bennington doesn't have to win in the tournament but he does he he he can't lose in the tournament he can't be to a point where it's like we just can't get a save or now your team has to change a little bit because you don't trust what's going on there that's my biggest concern now But and all of this too, Draggs, we were, you know, you can't sleep on Sweden. No. You can't sleep on Finland. Like I know on paper they might be slight underdogs or maybe gross underdogs depending on who you talk to. There's some great players on that other side

and if you sleep on them they're going to make you pay and in the goaltending there might be more than adequate again you run into a hot goaltender aside from the guys that were earmarking going into this event like hell a buck uh... you're gonna have a problem and sweden as to capable guys there right uh... gustafson and and lena so mark now i think that there's some compelling stories you know what is willing the lander going to do in in that uniform again you

know these capable being that game breaker uh... alias peterson the vancouver canucks only no one has more riding on the outcome of his individual game and team sweden then peterson does in terms of the bigger picture longer term uh... and if rektoket who's on the canadian bench is cheering for one guy outside of canada

that's the guy he's hearing for because when you think of it uh... you know he he's is he's had a brutal year to this point it's been draped in all kinds of drama in turmoil right but what if he's an impactful piece to Sweden and they upset Canada and they go deeper in this event than most of us expect?

You know, can that motivate him? Can that kind of flip his season around going into the final leg for the Vancouver Canucks in the playoffs and you know, that's kind of a sidebar story obviously going in, but this Swedish team is capable for sure. Darren Jeregger with us, Canada, Sweden, 8pm tonight. The thing about this tournament that I think a lot of people

might not be grasping is just how short it is. This tournament ends next Thursday. It's eight days, it is quick, quick, quick. And that's why I think coaching is so important in this tournament in that the coaches who make the correct moves at the right time in the middle of a game, I think in game management is gonna be so huge. Because if you have a couple lines that aren't going for two periods and you just keep sticking with them, sticking with them and they don't do anything for you,

all of a sudden you could lose a game in regulation and force your hand to the next game where, okay, this is pretty much must win, especially for Canada, right? Like if they don't get points tonight, you're looking at the game on Saturday against the Americans who are obviously just as good as Canada are. I mean you can't... Very close. You can't oversell the importance of this opening game for Canada. You can't. I mean they lose to the Swedes and all of a sudden Saturday's game against the Americans

gets ugly in a hurry because you go in too... See you later, thanks for coming. And nobody is expecting that. But that's again the essence essence what this short event is Is all about I I'm not so sure Coaching is always going to be a factor and you're right in game bench management is key But how knee-jerk can you be I mean if you're looking at the line tonight And we're all fascinated by Nate McKinnon Sidney Crosby and Mark Stone with Crosby on the wing, right?

You know, okay, so maybe they don't get going as as quickly as you hope well Are you shaking that line up in the third period? I I don't know probably not the one the one takeaway And it's pretty obvious is You know, this isn't your standard international event, right? So there hasn't been a whole lot of opportunity to work on things. They had two practices, and a large part of the focus was on special teams. You know, you're not talking about structures. And I thought Pierre Lebrun made an interesting point in his conversation with Brad Marchand,

who said, you're going to see players huddle a lot before face-offs on the ice. And it's just simple conversation, communication off the draw, where do you need me to be? It's not hockey 101, certain guys taking face-offs want their wingers to be in a set position. That structure and that detail work that you haven't had time to work on, you've got to have those conversations leading up to it. So I think you're talking about 23 different coaches here. Well, the one thing too, Dreggs, you just mentioned his name. So for the last two hours,

we've been talking about guys who maybe haven't had the best seasons individually. And I was pointing to Eric Carlson. I was looking at Mika Zabantajad. You just mentioned Pedersen from Vancouver. How about Brad Marchand? I mean, he hasn't had a great season. Boston's on the outside looking in. Maybe something like this brings him his level up to the point where he goes back to his team and becomes a different player here down the stretch. That's kind of what, same thing McEvoy coming off an injury. You've got some guys who haven't had great seasons are great players now but maybe they

could change the way the rest of their season goes through it got good tournament here i love the vibe of this event right now we're not there yet will eventually get there and our plan is the weather permitting get their own you'll be on the time we were from the u.s.a essay on uh... on on saturday but i'm told that of known would be surprised that montreal's hosting a terrific event speaking more from the perspective what i'm hearing from players when i hear matthew kachak talk about how it feels like

it's the stanley cup final all over again well if that's true then buckle up as a fan because we are in for next-level hockey me you cannot assemble the teams that canada the united states have sweden we've already talked to what you can assemble these four nations and the rosters they have and not be highly entertain i mean unfortunately there's going to be some losers and uh...

you know obviously from a canadian perspective you hope that comes all the way down to the wire to garden in boston uh... but the level of hockey is going to be super competitive and a week ago we were wondering whether or not that was going to be the case and all the players are there it sure sounds like they're they're invested their committed into be a fight in this tournament regs i don't i mean

hi and then look at me the game isn't played that way anymore Certainly not, you know, Ray Ferrera was talking about this and noodles you for sure would remember it AK is a little bit younger you go back to 96 and the battle I think was 96 the battle at Keith Kachuk and Adam foot Had yeah, and it ended it ended with Keith K kichuck the father to any adam foot in the back ok like any other we're not gonna see any of that but i think that the emotion and the investment will come in different ways right we're gonna see plays made we're gonna see a level of skating and execution

hopefully but that maybe we've never seen before i don't think we'll see a fight. Yeah, I mean when it comes down to it you are gonna see and I think that's the biggest concern a lot of us were having maybe a month out or whatever. I'll be honest my level of interest is about was it about 20% for the last year talking about this going alright yeah because we're saying best on best and I'm like, okay well dry side, I'll cooch her off. You're not getting those.

And now I have to be honest, I'm at 80 and I can be coaxed right up to 95 to 100 here. Like it's come, it's somehow built. I wasn't initially on board, now I am because I can't wait to see what happens I hope it doesn't disappoint to the point where if I don't think it's gonna be a no-hitter I don't think it's gonna be a glorified all-star game I just want to see what level it gets to as far as intensity where where guys are playing for keeps

Yeah TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger in studio with us. Mitch Marner playing on a line with Connor McDavid, Sam Ryan are Canada's top line. What do you think this tournament means for Mitch Marner and his reputation? Not that it's lacking around the NHL at all, but these are big games. He's on the top line with the best player in the world. What do you think Mitch Marner can do here in this tournament, Drex? Well, look, I mean, the expectation is no different than the Crosby McKinnon line. When you have that talent on one line, it's got to find a way to contribute.

I mean, Reinhardt is an absolute gamer. You know he can shoot the puck. It's going to be interesting, the dynamic for me between McDavid and Mitch Marner. You know, both guys like to make plays, right? So is there going to be enough of a puck for all these great players and and that includes mitch marner and when things get tight the critics of mitch marner will bring that out in the playoffs right when there's not as much room is not as much time and space out there um... does he create opportunity as much as you'd like him to see what that has been the case in the

stanica playoffs now internationally what does that look like? And look, I always look at the games within the games. Special teams for sure are going to be a deciding factor in the outcome. I don't know how many penalties we're going to see. We don't know really how the games are going to be called. We're going to find that out tonight. But what about the matchup game, right? I suspect you're going to see Hedman and Brodedy matchup against minor mcdavid and reinhardt but how long do you go without and and then you you know allow

the mckinnon line with cross being stoned to maybe run a little bit in the third line for canada looks pretty good in the fourth line for capital with connect me on it looks pretty good so i'm i'm curious about the chemistry and whether or not that's going to develop a rate out of the gate between minor and connor mcdavid that's what i'm i'm most interested in going into tonight well i i wanted to add on to

this and i'm a little bit concerned about this guys where the deferring and what i mean by this is you know sydney cc cc cross be is the godfather right and you know you're playing with said and Nate Nate's going in on a two-on-one with Sydney And he's got a clear lane to the net But he's got to get the puck to his body got to get the puck like to me I want to see and you know what it's gonna be like early on Marner's gonna try and overpass and find Mcgavid You know like these guys they're excited to play together

But you also have to identify you trying to win a game pass and find Mcgavid. You know, like these guys, they're excited to play together, but you also have to identify you're trying to win a game. So there's a fine line. Sometimes you do need to be selfish. You do need to take that shot or make the play. And I feel like when you have these games, especially early on, you've got guys overpassing, overlooking. Guaranteed. I watched the power play breakout Earlier for for Canada and it was mccarr skating it up dropping it back to McKinnon who skates it up dropping it back to Mcdavid's I'm like just get over the line like I mean it's too much

So I I wonder is there gonna be a fine line as to hey, we're here for business But we also want to you know Not be selfish and help my line mates out that that to me is going to be an interesting storyline. Yeah, absolutely. It's, it's going to be great. I mean, we're about to see a couple hours away from having Crosby and McKinnon and McDavid play on the same team for the first time.

And this is unprecedented. It's something that's never happened before. It's something we've been clamoring for forever. And the unfortunate situation around COVID and the last time they were supposed to do the Olympics and that of course didn't happen and we're finally seeing it and I totally understand drags that people are taking shots at the tournament that Russia's not in it and you mentioned Dry Cytl and David Pasternak but I don't care. Like I'm a Canadian hockey fan and for me these are the best sporting events there are.

I think back to my days in university, I was talking about it early, 2010, the Golden Goal, all those, I remember that game against Russia, I was supposed to see a Wilco concert. I'm like, I'm not going to Wilco. I want to see Canada play Russia. Yeah, but that is best on best. Yeah, no, you're right. But it's still seeing Canada, Canada's best play against whoever else's best. And I get the tournament is lacking in that regard but I'm not complaining because we've been deprived of it for so long. Yeah, no and look we should have best on best in the foreseeable future, right? You've got the Olympic Games right around the corner, there's no guarantee that Russia won't be included, you know the

IOC has to make that determination, it wouldn't handicap it in favor of Russia returning but you know the other nations are us to make that determination wouldn't handicap it in favor of russia returning uh... but you know the other nations are going to be represented and then beyond that you've got the world cup of hockey so it's on the radar in the four nations face off i mean let's call what it is it's a fabricated event it's a made for uh... hockey event by the energy on the players association the quality is going to be superb.

Yeah. The caliber is going to be off the charts and it does jump start the international calendar. Nobody at the NHL head office or Players Association is trying to make this into the next best thing to the Olympics. It's not that but it's going to be terrific. And if there wasn't Olympic Games a couple of years ago this tournament wouldn't be nearly as important to us because again 2016 the World Cup of Hockey that happened in Toronto that had Team Europe and whatever the Young Guns, Team North America, this is a different beast and we're looking back really at 2014 since the last time we saw best on best back

in Sochi and 2014 was a long time ago and we're fortunate to see it again there triggers in studio nhl wise for any conversation about trades are maneuvering or yes the focus still on the four nations for everybody in all i mean look all i think you'll general managers who aren't involved in four nations are focused on on their clubs right and probably picking up conversations that

they've had to this point you know on available players uh... things that they might want to do before march seventh and and all of that so it's a bit of a reset but i think it's gonna be interesting coming out of the four nations and as we've established in there are no restrictions you could see a trade uh... during the four nations face off

uh... i wouldn't be surprised if we saw a trade i would be surprised if we saw a player off of four nations roster treated in your talking about high rent district stuff there uh... but no there's there's a lot of work that's being done behind the scenes and i do think that that's going to lead to a good amount of activity as soon as the four nations is over i do because i think that uh... you know manager sit on their hands waiting eager

recognizing you're going in the final leg of the regular season then the playoffs we got to get after it here so probably a lot of conversations taking place now so drags is there a team that you you, as an insider would keep your eye on? I mean, you know, obviously there are teams that are hovering around that playoff picture and they've got to make decisions whether they're going to go all in or kind of maybe retool with some young guys and still see if they can make the playoffs. But you know, it comes to mind maybe a team like Buffalo, you know, is there lots of smoke around them just based on some of the players that they do have

and and maybe a direction kevin avid adams wants to take them yeah i'd that's fair and it it feels like we've been talking about buffalo sabers and who might be available who's likely going to trade all year long reading that stems back to the early season speculation around the vancouver canucks and you know whether or not they were trying to pry Dylan Cousins and Bo Byrum out of the Buffalo Sabres it just doesn't feel like that scenario has faded away entirely and look every time I check in with Kevin Adams I get the same message you

know they can't close a door in Buffalo you can you can come up with a couple of untouchables but you know Adam still has to listen because that's the state of his organization. As for teams that I'm watching, Noodle's, I mean, I'm looking at the Toronto Maple Leafs. I am. And it's because you can see the needs in Toronto. They're a really good team. There's no doubt about that.

But I don't remember the East being as open as it is right now for a long long time and you look at the Carolina Hurricanes absolutely rocked everyone's world when they acquired Mico Ratan and Carolina's probably not done yet so you know what are the chairs that are going to get moved in the East look like Toronto has to bring in a centerman you know know, who's the best affordable piece? And by affordable I'm talking about both from, you know, giving up the assets required and then you're always gonna wrestle with the salary cap until the playoffs start. And you know, Vancouver's looking for a center and on and on it goes but I'd

put Toronto pretty high on the list of teams that I'm intrigued by and what they're going to do. Darren, you use the term affordable piece. The Leafs don't have a first round pick this year but they do have their first next year, have some prospects, guys like Easton Cowan, Fraser Minton, who I'm sure are well regarded around the NHL. Dan Forth is a defender. Yeah, yeah, that's right. I mean, do you think anything is on the table when it comes to the Leafs and parting with potentially any and all those guys? I think that it would have to be a supreme package i do and

you know i love the possibility of a braden shen being uh... available i mean automatically i mentioned ron would have interest well there's no shortage of teams i would be interested in the captain of the saint louis blues and that was the process that doug armstrong you know why it was initiated let's just let's let's see what's available out there uh... yeah i think ronald wood would would give up a couple of young pieces to get it because now you're you're getting a little bit of cost certainty

in shantoo yep you know he's not an expiring contract is a six point five annual average salary you know age dynamic he he takes a lot of boxes but you've got to take that information and what they ask is and the Brad Trill of the ass is probably going to be really high maybe too high and then you measure that versus okay what's Scott Lawton gonna cost you know from the Philadelphia Flyers and every time I check in with Flyers management they're they're gonna hold out as long as they can for a first-round draft back that's what they want for Scott Lawton

or something like that so the prices probably aren't coming down until you get closer to March 7th. Yeah, it's not that far away. What's today? The 12th of February? So we're getting close once the Four Nations ends. We're at a month. Just a couple of weeks away. And don't you think also though, Drexel, you know, they know that they covet Easton Cowan. They know that Fraser Minton. that those are the young players that

marina pipeline for the toronto maple leaves and it'd be hard to be hot press to to you know who let them go but it depends on what the return is i mean that's the biggest challenge right it is but noodles you guys talk enough about this on overdrive but again covering the leaves as closely as we do

it feels like the window it's not closing but every year closes a little bit you know you've got minors a pending unrestricted free agent you're looking around the east as i've established earlier the light looks pretty green what do you say that all the pieces for that's easy for me to say sitting in this chair not i'm not a general manager but look I mean the organization including ownership everyone involved with the Toronto

Maple Leafs is is looking at this roster and going hey this might be the year now this might be the year so let's make sure that we're flipping every stone over to make sure that we're we're'd second guessing yourselves after the trade deadline and wondering or maybe we should have thrown in that piece to get a little better center than the one that we acquired i mean that's right that's the dialogue in the talks that are happening now couple leaps in action tonight mar for canada neil and ever sweden and thank you for doing this can you give us a little

weather report outside what's going on you know what about as i drove in about an hour or so ago But yeah, I mean according to the forecast it's not gonna be great driving home tonight No, I will not I got my snowblower gas up. I know what you're doing your alarm or a Western Canadian boy You're not concerned by a little bit of snow just hit four by four This is nothing for you. This is a job right through this Yeah, exactly you can see Darren on the 401 later tonight and on TSN as well. Thank you for this. That's TSN hockey insider Darren Drager.

Paul Jones coming up on the show. Today is the 25 year anniversary of Vince Carter and the dunk contest, which is crazy. It makes me feel very old, but it's a reality. The Raptors host the Cavaliers as well on TSN 1050. Jonesy will have the call and he'll join us next here on overdrive The third hour of overdrive continues here on this wednesday evening Aaron Kuralnik in for haze Noodles is here. We'll welcome paul jones the voice of the raptors to the show in just a moment down in skosha bank arena tonight the raptors celebrating the 25th

anniversary of Vince Carter's iconic slam dunk contest win 25 years ago, which again, is just incredible. We were talking about iconic sports moments, noodles, and we talked about the Jose Batista bat flip, and here it is up on TSN2. Of course, you had the Kenny Smith, it's all about associated with it that people still reference today it's a very common mean on twitter but just an incredible performance five in scar that night in credible performance by the raptors last night they beat the sixer at a six one of three scottie barnes

was a beast for toronto let's welcome in the voice of the raptors are friend paul jones here on overdrive jonesy what's up i'm good at it and and like this is like haze isn't there so it's like the substitute teacher takes over in the class noodles the class is like swinging from the lights now I get the last minute invite like it's like rolling them the the TV in and put like rolling the TV in. Oh, rolling the TV in, the good old days right there. When that TV was rolled in, nothing better.

When that TV rolled in, you knew your teacher had a tough night the night before, like there's a movie in. That's exactly it. So 25 years ago, I know you were there that night, Jonesy. What do you remember most about two thousand and what vince carter did that night well a couple things come to mind first of all you can bust your boy dot the airport does dot the with this before they made him

king of the n h l in the quiz show he actually slumped it with us working on basketball now dot dot the and routins and legendary head coach brian heaney were on the panel up top. And I was the courtside guy and I was interviewing Vince in the bowels on a door just outside the arena like we're in the basement where it opened and went out onto the floor. And we did the interview and it was all done and and i was getting the wrap-up sign from dave

haggard the p r dot like hurry up because vince the car that he came to the arena and was in an accident and or there was an accident holding it up and he couldn't get out on the floor to warm up and he hadn't had a warm-up yet and like there were some good doctors in that state stack house but grady uh... uh... warm up yet and like there were some good duckers in that stack house mcgrady

uh... uh... who else is in the city for an answer like it was it was like i was the interview ends noodles the interview ends i look at this i go this is you man the this is you it's got you written all over and he's like i don't know john c and i i now i over it. And he's like, oh, I don't know, Jonesy. And now I know it was because he probably didn't get to warm up and, you know, Stackhouse

and Francis and McGrady and all those guys were out there waiting for him. And I said, you got this, man. This is you. Just go to town. And he was kind of, I don't know. And you know, in the Ten Commandments, when Charlton Heston as Moses seized God and his face transforms? Vince opened the door and left the interview and walked out into the lights of the arena and He became a new dude like He went he went off. I mean Isaiah Thomas was jumping over the table as A judge with his arms up in the air like just the stuff that he had never seen before from Vince I was sitting beside The late Paul Silas who was the coach I think in either Charlotte or Cleveland at the time and Dave Winfield

They were sitting in my section Wow, and when Vince did that dunk, I mean, I've seen a lot of basketball I've been around this game since 1970 when I was like a pre-team. And it takes a lot to move my backside from my chair. And I got up and I looked around and there were other basketball people looking around going, did I just see that? And yeah, the Kenny Smith, it's over and Isaiah jumping over the table.

I'm like, man, give him the trophy now. Like, don't even bother. Just everybody else sit down and let him do all his dunks. I mean, guys are still doing those dunks today. Between the legs and, like, they're still doing them today. And the one that got me, Aaron and Noodles, was the last one where he went up and he put his arm in the basket.

Like, I thought about that. You know how high you have to be to, like, He went up and he put his arm in the basket. I thought about that. You know how high you have to be to push something down on a chair? To be up that high? Not dunk it down to actually ram it in the basket? We got back and Butch Carter goes, and I'm watching my star player swinging from the rim with his elbow. It was an unbelievable dunk contest.

And it was huge because they're trying to revive the image of the NBA after that nasty lockout the year before. So it was a huge night. Paul Jones, the voice of the Raptors is our guest. The Raptors play Cleveland tonight down at Scotia Bank Arena. Toronto is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Vince Carter's iconic 2000 NBA dunk contest performance. And Jones, I'm curious, you were there with Vince before, and a lot of people will point

to that dunk contest really elevating Vince Carter's profile internationally. What was it like after in the weeks and months that came after the incredible performance well i tell you about two weeks after that erin uh... nbc changed its national tv game to a sunday afternoon toronto and phoenix and not letting them down your boy vince went off for fifty one against phoenix and i'm telling you it

was like it was like Watching a high schooler beat up on everybody. He I mean his headband was crooked His shirt tail was hanging out. He was hitting shots from like out on Yonge Street It was it was crazy and and it did Aaron push his star forward because you think about it after that vince carter lead the all-star game in balloting i say this all the time he was in new york he was in los angeles he was in chicago he was not in a major u.s market

and there was none of this internet voting you had to bring your butt to uh... arena and punch the little hole in the ballot and put it in the box. And there was none of this, oh today the ballots were three or whatever. So think about that. Put that into a little bit of perspective. He led the NBA in all-star voting from Toronto. So yeah, if that didn't catapult his star, I'm not sure what did. So Brandon Ingram gets introduced to the media today. How do you think he's going to fit in?

I like the fit noodles. I think you got, I think you have a situation where, and I've been saying this all along, the Raptors in Tampa, they hit the skids and they got Scotty Barnes as the number four picked in the in the draft when they should have had Seven so all those people that want to tank for the number one pick. It's not a sure thing and They went from fourth pick in the draft to number five seed the next year This team has the same kind of potential. They don't have as experienced players this team has the same kind of potential they don't have as experienced players noodles like there's no championship left over with an og or a pascal or a fred or anybody like that but they've got some i mean ingram was an all-star you know he's been an all-star scotty's been an all-star so you've got you've got the pieces and I think he's gonna be a good fit. I

He's a killer in the mid-range Moves the ball. Well Look the guy was an all-star and he's only 27 so I write I he signed for less than max Which means you might have a little money to spend. Maybe you're not pushing up against the tax It's all it's all roses right now. Well, how about a little boost from RJ Barrett who's gonna be back tonight as well? RJ's a he's a He's a certified competitor, you know those guys that when you're you're playing hockey noodles And it's like nine one and there's only a minute to go and the guy's still out there going all out like he's gonna get like this next goal is worth nine and I'm gonna win right?

Like that's that's RJ. He's got some dog in him. He's a competitor and he loves to hoop. He loves to play. He loves being in Toronto. You think about that young core with Ingram, Barnes, Quickly, Barrett and then you look and coming off the bench you have like an Abadji, Grady Dick, Grady, Mobo, I mean you start Pertle as a big guy, Jacoby Walter, I just like what this team has going forward.

Paul Jones, our guest, the voice of the Raptors, Raptors Cleveland here on TSN 1050 tonight. I think everybody likes what the Raptors have going forward, but I think there's a lot of Raptors fans, Jones, and I'm sure you've heard about this, that are concerned about this team this season perhaps bringing Ingram back. Oh, look, Brandon Ingram's playing 35 minutes for you and helping you win ball games when in reality probably the best course of action for this year's Toronto Raptors is to have as many lottery balls as possible and that win last night against Philadelphia probably didn't do the Raptors any favors where do you stand

on that? I'm never for the tank, Aaron. I'm not. And the competitor in me, maybe it's to my detriment, but I just think you look better when you're winning. Your assets look better. A guy that people might be thinking about, he looks better when the team is playing better and the team is winning. Listen, there's no guarantee. Asset Detroit Pistons has had the worst record three years in a row and twice dropped as far as you could fall down to five.

And I've talked to Dwayne Casey about that. They thought they were going to get Victor Wemba Nyama and they didn't. And I think, guys, you have to have these guys playing together to develop a little bit of chemistry. It can't all be in July and August in summer league and offseason workouts. There's nothing like a game. There's nothing like being able to do it when there's butts in the seats and the popcorn smells up the arena. You've got to develop some chemistry. Let's face it, guys, they're going to develop some chemistry and let's face it guys they're gonna lose some games

like they have two guys on this roster over 30 their rookies have more minutes than any other rookies in in the NBA save for two teams so that you know for the people that want the tank to keep rolling it's not like they may intentionally do it but they have the toughest schedule in February. They have the youngest one of the youngest teams in the NBA. So you're taking some losses. So don't worry about lottery balls. They're gonna come your way. I think you need to do enough and win enough so that guys don't get disgruntled. Like you know a guy like Scottie who's been for here

four or five years. He saw the playoffs in his first year he wants to win because if that doesn't happen he says quietly all right i got my money get me out of here jonesy i think perhaps the most interesting story line around the nb a right now is what's going on with the lakers with luca dot jr can conversely the mavericks who are kicking people out of their stadium for melding fire nico there's g yeah i mean it's an it's an unbelievable scene there in Dallas where seemingly every Mavericks fan is on the verge of becoming a fan

Of a new team are you more intrigued by what happens with Luca and LeBron going forward or what happens with the Mavericks going forward? Both of them Aaron. I'm looking at both of them Luca and LeBron are gonna have to coexist I'm not sure they look good now, but you know when you're playing the Utah Jazz, as my dad used to say as a boxer, you look good hitting the bag. The problem is the bag doesn't hit back, right? Like, let's see what happens when they get the good teams and they're into, you know, they're into the playoffs. And then Dallas, I I liked I liked the acquisition of Anthony Davis

I did like that but in typical Anthony Davis fashion, I always tease he leads the league in MRIs like wow he's great in his first game and then gets hurt like I Is there anything more fitting than that? So I listen I like the move for both teams and you guys know noodles, you know this. People say, how can you trade Luca? They see stuff that we don't. They see stuff that we don't. The locker room, work habits, things that they've asked for that are not being done. There's a business side to this. They probably save $120 million bucks

not having to pay him a super max. There's so many variables involved. So it'll be interesting to see how it all shakes down. Dallas is in win right now mode though and the Lakers are set for another 10 years with Luka. Jones, just a quick follow up on Davis. Is it a tough nickname? I know that's not his nickname, but is it a tough nickname to be kind of named by Barclay Street Close? I mean, that's kind of a damn... It's a damn thing.

And you said it leads the league in MRIs. I mean, the truth doesn't lie there. The stats don't lie. I mean, this guy's banged up a lot, But that's a that's a tough nickname to have, isn't it? It is it is noodles. And you're trying to, you're trying to do everything to defy it, right? You're trying to do everything. Yeah, you know, to beat to beat it, you know, like, red light

rassico, like just if he could, if he could, if he could put a whole block in front of the net to prevent the red light from going on, he'd do it. Right uh... it's it is it is tough and look all you can do is an athlete is go out there and do your best i'd like him as a player eighty are really do the problem is availability though they say the best ability is availability yes and very much so and we're thrilled you're available to join us today

jones and always always substitute teacher edition of overdrive is a turned out i've been i've been substitute teachers there i get to uh... it's uh... what do they call it my used to call it when i was playing ball i was a thirty thirty man they said what thirty points thirty rebounds i said hell no we had to be up thirty or down thirty before i went in the game now come on don't sell yourself sure you're a

starter you're always a starter here on tsn ten fifty and we'll be listening tonight raptors and cavaliers jonesy on the call thank you for doing this all right guys pleasure paul jones i think jose used to be a cat principal or something to back in the day i think you i i have i have talked to him about that i do believe he has a in education background yes pretty sure i've had some good conversations with a bit studio he's a great man is not

love is the man is a great call down the bottom of the well that is called for the three pointers i love it i love listen to jonesy called him and i will be listening to my drive home that could very well take a fair long time uh... tonight so canada sweden eight o'clock Raptors Cavaliers at 730 and Doogie's best bets to wrap up a very very busy edition of overdrive coming up to close out today's show. Our final segment here on the Wednesday evening edition of overdrive Karel Nick MacLennan taking it home and Noodle's Doogie was very

excited during the commercial break. He let me know that yesterday he won his best bets powered by FanDuel. So he's going to take another run at a set of winners. I was very impressed. Today's best bets powered by FanDuel. Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. Doogie, take it away. Alright boys, International best on best is back and we want to land another best bet for this evening.

So we're going to roll with Canada on the money line. Let's pair that with Connor McDavid, 3 plus shots. William Nylander, 3 plus shots. A lot of Swedish players talking about how integral he is and important he is to that team and Sydney Crosby back Putting Canada on that Jersey. I like Crosby one plus point that parlay totals plus 552 on the fan dual sportsbook app Like what is he saying like putting that on the back and I like I think you lost Your train of thought did you do now? He's good he's he's just so focused in on making money for the audience that you know some of the words may have

You know gone in a different direction. I love it. I love doogie. He's perhaps the sweetest guy I've ever met What a total mensch I love doogie today's best bets powered by FanDuel live same game parlay's are now available For every four nations faceoff game on the FanDuel sportsbook app Please play responsibly 19 plus and physically located in Ontario So weather's not great, but who cares because we've got hockey tonight. We've got hoops tonight, Canada, Sweden What type of game are you expecting between these two tonight Jamie? Well I for some reason I keep thinking it's gonna be like a 3-2 game like a tight game I think Sweden knows how to play especially international hockey these guys all know each other you're

you know Dougie talking about William Nylander you know Nylander is he gonna be a difference maker for the Swedes that being said I feel like McDavid's gonna be shot out of rocket like out of a cannon like he will be flying tonight, so Maybe I'm gonna be wrong, but I I is there an under and over I feel like it's it might be three two four five and a half five and a half right on your numbers So you right you nailed it. You nailed it. Yeah, I and a half, five and a half. Right on your number. So you nailed it. You nailed it. Yeah, I'm totally with you. I think it's going to be a very close game.

And maybe we see overtime. Who knows? Wouldn't that be something? Okay, so we got to get up to speed on that though. Is overtime three on three? Is there a shootout? It is. I believe, and Dougie, maybe you want to look into this.

Overtime is 10 minutes, three on three, and then they go to a shootout. Okay. Is that correct, Dougie? Look at me. I somehow knew that. I don't know where that came from. But we do have to be up to speed on that because I feel like at least one game in this tournament is going to go to OT. So we got to know what to expect. race uh so so betman gary batman was speaking moments ago and he officially announced the 2028 world cup of hockey and says that he wants the olympics and world cups to follow each other every two years consistently which i think would be fantastic for every hockey fan olympics next year 2026 in milan and then you go look at my italian pronunciation i'm sure you're very proud

jamie yes love it and then that world cup 28 o Olympics 2030. I don't even know where that is in 2030 But I just keep going two years stagger though. We need consistent international hockey We cannot ever be deprived of it again. It's totally unacceptable that it took almost ten years for it to happen It's back tonight, and I couldn't be happier. I agree. I think regardless of how we've come to it, this is the beginning, I hope, of it never stops again. Every two years you're going to see some form of, we'll call it, best on best, as other countries add in, and Russia and all of that. But I think it's a good start tonight. So let's see if it's a good game. I'm looking forward to that. Batman was asked how much longer he envisions going on as NHL commissioner and his response

was, am I looking elderly or something? Yeah, no, I mean, it's a reasonable question. It's not like he's 28 years old. Like, I believe he's mid to late 60s. I think even maybe into his 70s. Yeah Okay, so you got to look at that, but I thought that was a pretty funny comeback. He's a pretty quick-witted guy I will say that I don't know his successor exactly. It would have he billed daily or is they they kind of package deal? I'm not sure exactly how they would proceed but clearly the future of the NHL

I mean There's a lot of positive things happening in the NHL and Batman say what you will about them and of course the lockouts will of course be something that we'll always remember with regards to Gary Batman but getting international hockey back in this capacity I think is something we're all looking forward to we're done here noodles we'll be back tomorrow evening see I'm I'm used to tomorrow morning. Tomorrow evening. At 4pm? We'll chat then.

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