OverDrive - OverDrive - February 13, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: February 14, 2025

Join Aaron Korolnek and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joins to discuss Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off victory against Sweden, Sidney Crosby's impressive performance in the win and Mitch Marner's massive goal. MLB.com Blue Jays Reporter Keegan Matheson joins to discuss the start of Spring Training for the Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract outlook and the team looking for a turnaround season and Doogie hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Listen on the free iHeartRadio app. Final hour on this Thursday evening. Aaron Kuralnikan for Brian Hayes. That's Jamie McClennan, the O-Dog on his way to Montreal ahead of Canada USA Saturday night. Keep an eye out on him. If 401 gets you to Montreal never driven to Montreal noodles any idea I feel like I've driven there once I can't remember how to get there though, but I think you go the other way Don't you I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. I have no idea

I have no concept of anything, but I don't know Oh driving there, huh Duffy with the private jet I would have tried to find a way onto that but that game will be special on Saturday last night Of course very special for Canada They beat Sweden 4-3 and overtime Mitch Marner scores the winner, but I think one of the craziest things Associated with this year's Canadian team Jamie is the fact that they have three guys from Nova Scotia There's 12 players in the NHL from Nova Scotia Three are on Team Canada. Two are from Coal Harbor, Nova Scotia,

that has a population of what, a couple thousand maybe? I know, it's crazy. It's unbelievable, the Nova Scotian presence. And it was felt last night. I mean, Crosby, the pass to McKinnon to start it on the power play. Then Brad Marchand scores the second goal. Crosby has three assists in total.

It's incredible how the province of Nova Scotia is so impactful here on TSN2 nationally. So hopefully the Nova Scotians are loving the love. They should. I mean, you know what, those are three immensely talented players. You know, I wondered how it would go over in Montreal, Marchand scoring. I think people just put their, their individual individual you know I guess madness towards him aside and go hey he's playing for the country and it was a beautiful goal I mean what a play and was that Braden Point I think right now what an unbelievable play by the way just buckled nothing you can do on that

he just went down like to me I think it was Brodean that was chasing the puck back and and he reached and points through it across But those are just good plays Canada looked like a rocket ship early on and then it you know I think Sweden got going and that's really what it was Sweden was able to be patient get their game going I didn't love I didn't think William Nylander had his a stuff last night You know for Sweden, but you look at the big picture, they got a point out of it. So we'll see.

Now they still kind of have their nose stuck in it. If they can win two more games, they'll be in the finals. I mean, they're a good team. I wouldn't sleep on them. No, absolutely not. And the Americans play the Finns tonight. I think the expectation is the USA takes care of business against a injury ravaged Finnish defense, but we'll have to wait and find out at eight o'clock. With regards to

Crosby, the 26 straight wins internationally for Crosby, the 22 straight wins with him as a captain, that's unprecedented. And John Cooper, the coach of Canada came out post game and said this, it's no coincidence his record while wearing a Canadian jersey that's not a fluke, he will go down as the greatest player to ever represent his country, if not he's on the Mount Rushmore for sure. I think this is an interesting debate because you think about, I don't know, like you know, Guy Lafleur or Gordie Alley, they didn't play best on best back then right? So they didn't have the opportunity to represent their country at the highest level. But Crosby seemingly every single time he has given that ability, he dominates. He was the MVP of the World Cup in 2016.

Of course the golden goal back in 2010. Of course what he did last night. I mean, it's unbelievable how he steps up and this is a guy who missed the last couple games for his NHL team You were wondering how healthy was going to be and I think he was very much in the conversation As the best player on the ice with a litany of superstars on both sides It's an incredible performance for Crosby a testament to his greatness even at age 37 the oldest player in the tournament He deserves all the accolades all the love he's getting, and then some. I agree. I just, I think he, he was amazing, but he also, you know, he digs in and there might

have been maybe a side conversation between him and Kyle Dubas saying, you know, hey, you know, look where we are in the standings. I'm a little bit banged up. I do want to take a little bit of a pause and make sure that I can play in the four nations face off if that's going to be my playoffs, if that's going to be my Stanley Cup this year. And you know, Dubas being in management, it's kind of a rock and a hard place for him because he's in management for Team Canada, but he's also the general manager of the Pittsburgh

Penguins and he's trying to get that team into the playoffs. So I think a lot of these conversations behind the scenes would have been pretty unique to have a guy like Crosby. Can you play? Can you not play? I'm a little bit banged up right now to not play the last couple Pittsburgh games, but I'm not missing the Canada games. That's probably a tough conversation to have with Kyle Dubas.

Absolutely it is and if you're a Canadian hockey fan you should treasure these moments seeing Sidney Crosby play best on best. There's no guarantees next year. I'm sure Sidney Crosby, if he's healthy, will be part of Team Canada in the Olympic Games in 2026 but who knows what happens. What you have right now is Sidney Crosby at his best playing on a line with his buddy Nathan McKinnon. You should savor it for as long as you can because it was spectacular theater last night against the Swedes and I'm certain the same thing will apply on Saturday night against the Americans. Let's head down to Montreal now and catch up with our TSN hockey insider Pierre Lebrun.

Bonjour Pierre. Ça va? Oui, ça va bien. Game two tonight. Let's go, let's go. So as noodles mentioned the conversations that Crosby was having leading into the tournament with Kyle Dubas who is part of Canada's management group just how healthy do you think Crosby is at this moment Pierre? Well obviously we've had him every single day pretty much since he got here.

But you know, he said he was good to go. He was good to go. I don't think he's on a percent. You know, as dynamic as he was last night, and you know, that was really something, you know, to have three primary assists in that game. And then he shoots a puck a whole lot. So you know, listen, he's grinding it out, playing through whatever he still has. But he was not going to be denied being here and being the captain of this team because

it means so much to him. And you know, I think being in the arena last night and seeing the way the Bell Center crowd just poured affection on him is something I'll probably never forget. But I think what really hits home is how much it seemed to have touched Sidney Crosby. You know, he was really moved after the game., you know, he's usually the enemy in the Penguin's jersey when he comes here. And I think what you saw last night, I think was a couple of things. It's reaction from the crowd knowing that he almost missed this event, that he's gutting

this out, but also recognition of everything he has done wearing the Team Canada jersey dating back to the Golden Goal. You know, so I don't think what we saw last night is something you're gonna see very often in the game in terms of the kind of universal love that a player got for what he's done internationally. It was spectacular. And the other team, Canada players, we talked to both last night and today. We're in awe of what they witnessed.

And you know, Mark Stone was saying, when I retire, that'll be a night that I will look back to and talk to people about. So we were talking before you came on, I just wanted your take on this. Do you think it's a bit of an awkward conversation you have to have with Kyle Dubas? And I mean Kyle Dubas would have to have known everything of Sidney Crosby coming into this tournament because he's his general manager but he's also in management for the Canadian team and he doesn't play in those last couple games and he's also in management for the Canadian team. And he doesn't play in those last couple games and he's a little bit banged up.

Are those conversations where Sydney and him have candid conversations saying, hey, we know where we are in the standings, but we also know how valuable you are to Team Canada? So it's almost, I feel like maybe I'm wrong. Does it put Kyle in a bad spot as to, hey, you know, you can't play for Pittsburgh, but you can play for Canada type of thing. And he's on both sides of the fence type of. Well, Neil, if you want to talk about awkward, you know, Mike Sullivan has joked with us since he got here about removing himself from that, from that conversation pretty soon,

pretty soon last week because he's a Team USA coach. Exactly. He might be the Penguins head coach, but he's also the Team USA head coach. So he immediately, when he realized what was going on last week, he let Kyle Dubas handle all that is what he told us, Mike Sullivan. But listen, Sidney was also very clear on the first day of practice here on Monday to explain that at the end of the day, you know, he had to really go through the medical process and the Penguin's doctors to bring himself through to this point where he's cleared. It's not like he just woke up one day and said,

yeah, I'm banged up, but I'm going because I'm Captain Canada. He did have to follow the protocols. But at the end of the day, I think it still falls in a gray area where, again, every media availability he's done here since Monday, You know, every media availability he's done here since Monday, you know, he's not taking his hands out of his hoodie. He's hitting his hands away.

You know, I want to say a whole lot more, but you know, he's not 100%, but he's at a level where he feels clearly that it can't get any worse and that he can't hurt Team Canada and that he won't hurt the rest of his season. And I'll just mention the yellow in the room, but the Penguins also aren't really going anywhere after the break. I mean, you know, Cosby would hate if I mentioned that because he's the ultimate gamer and he cares about that franchise a lot, but you know, what Quinn Hughes had to weigh with the Canucks hitting the eighth in the west is different than where the Penguins are headed in the east, to be fair. So Pierre, a big story emerging last night was the injury to Shay Theodore, who suffered a wrist injury.

He's done, and it sounds, according to Chris Johnson on Twitter, I'm sure you're well aware of the situation, that the Canadians have called Thomas Harley to Boston as its standby D in case of emergency. What can you tell us about that situation? Yeah, it's been a long day for Team Canada, because I think what Team Canada would like is for, you know, for that player to be able to be part of things once everyone joins up in Boston on

Sunday. But last I checked a few hours ago, the league has maintained that Canada's 7th D can be in Boston but can't practice or even be with the team, really. It's a bit odd. But the bottom line is the league has told teams that unless they go down below 6th D, they can't have an official injury replacement and a player be part of things in terms of practice and to be added to the lineup. So I think it's been a bit frustrating for Team Canada. I think they've tried to work the process today and push back and see if they can have the player join and be part of things, but it doesn't appear so at the moment.

So we'll see what tomorrow brings, I guess guess where are you at with the goaltending? I mean, I was waiting. I don't know if you had the the liner already written You know when bennington gives up a couple and all of a sudden it's three three And if they lose in overtime where you did you have something like crease crisis in canada? What did we have? Then all of a sudden, Bennington makes some amazing saves in overtime and they win. Where are you at and what was the consensus in the building and afterwards of Bennington and how he was able to be resilient?

Yeah, well, we should be asking you that. I feel like most people who were in the building had them anywhere from a B to a B-, so not, I think right in that gray area where some people might go to Aiden Hill for Saturday night, but other people are like a win-the-win. So, and also the fact that he made a couple of nice saves in overtime which were timely I mean listen It's delicate whenever John Cooper's asked about this, but he's been asked about his goal done in numerous times since Monday since

You know he John Cooper's already done like about six media availability since Monday and he's been asked about this a lot and he then surrounded by being very consistent in his answer, which is that the team in front of him is part of the equation. And what Team Canada has, where they've come from on this, whether they go to Binghamton or Hill or how they picked their goalies is that they never intended for this event to be about the goalie saving the day. They built this team and believed internally that the success of their team would not be based on that discussion, but rather the fact that they would minimize the kind of great A's that their goaltending would face and that would sort of reduce the equation for their goalie to have to save the day.

That's where they're coming from. And to be fair, if you go back to Sochi in 2014, I remember Kerry Price yawning in the middle of a gold medal game against Sweden. And the media, and I'm serious, and he admitted to it one day, but it's just part of, that doesn't mean he was bored, it's just probably part of his adrenaline and whatever.

But, you know, Gary Price was terrific and so cheap, but really didn't have, he was not over exerted. And because Canva played at such a high level and control so much of the puck that, you know, the goalie wasn't part of the story either way. That's what they hope they can accomplish here I just don't know If they'll be able to pull that off the same way they did 11 years ago

I think that as you saw when Sweden pushed last night, I think Canada's You know Canada's in one here. They may still win this all although they gave up a point to standings last night They're not winning in regulation, but I just don't think this is as dominant a roster through and through as what they had in Vancouver and Sochi in the 2016 World Cup, which is all the more the reason, by the way, that, and I've asked Cooper about this, and I think so far he's resisted, but I would use the longer TV timeout that exists in this event. There's an extra 30 seconds on every TV timeout. I'd be getting, you know, McDavid Crosby, McKinnon, you know, his four or five best

players, I'd be rolling them over the boards more often than not and making them be the difference in this event because I think they need a top heavy approach to win this. Pierre Lebrun, TSN Hockey Insider, our guest here on Hour 3 of Overdrive. Canada, USA, Saturday night. You talk about Canada's best players. Mitch Marner scores the OT winner

and you won't be surprised to hear Pierre There's been a lot of discourse about Marner in the city of Toronto since People wondering what that goal could mean for him and translate for him into the National Hockey League Perhaps the postseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs John Cooper wasn't taking the bait basically said Mitch Marner is an incredible player This does nothing for his confidence. He oozes confidence. What's your take on that question? Yeah, I mean Phil, he hasn't scored, you know, to me, I mean how many bigger goals he's scored in his career than that one, right? I mean, you know,

that was a huge moment for Mitch Marner and he should relish it because it was spectacular and I thought he was very good all night and good on him but it also juxtaposes the playoff struggles of the Leafs. I mean listen, if you want to live in a Mark Masters Leafs bubble, you know, one of Marner, Matthews or William Nylander will have had one of their biggest moments in their career by the end of this event. One of those three teams teams all the respect to Finland with all their injuries on the fence But one of those three Leafs is winning this all and that will be one of the great moments of their career Between those three guys. So that's just the reality of it

and hopefully for whoever that is, you know, they use that experience and bring that into the playoffs for the least of spring. But I think what John Cooper and other team Canada players have said over the last few days is they feel that some of the criticism Mitch Marner has had come in his way of living and playing in the Toronto bubble is somewhat unfair. So you've heard a lot of team Canada players kind of come to his defense and that was even before last night's overtime goal.

So now where does, you know, team Canada go and also my, I guess my thought process to this Finland have a chance on anything because you know, all we've been talking about is Canada, USA, you know we saw what Sweden was able to almost do last night. Is it just team Finland because you're looking at that defensive court and saying I'm sorry you're not even close or are we you know kind of sleeping on a country or an a team that has a lot of talent up front you know with the Barkovs and the Linase and Ajo are we sleeping on

them and ranting that they could maybe surprise the world here and be a lot more competitive than we think? Well, no one has gotten used to surprising people in international hockey, you know, the chance to cover a lot of international hockey in the last 30 years. Finland is the poster boy for gotcha. You slept on us, we gotcha. That's who they are. And they talked about that a lot here this week that they love the fact that everyone's

already counted them out because of their blue line injuries. But I also think you have to be realistic. I mean, losing Miro Iskandinen in particular is just, that's equivalent to kind of losing McCarr. Like, you just don't replace me or Easton. And to the point where, you know, Finland is rolling out five fours on their first power play unit tonight against the U.S. That's where their trust level hits with a lot of their D options.

I mean, they're going to have Barkov play the quarterback position at the top of the power play. He says he's comfortable doing that, but it's still, you know, actions speak louder than words. It tells you how the finish coaches are concerned as well about their injuries on defense. Having said that, I know the sort of unofficial game plan within the finish ranks is to just try and survive a five on five against the deeper more talented US team tonight and strike on special teams that they get a power play opportunity. You know it's really the reason Patrick Leinie made that team. There was internal debate I think in the Finnish management rank about whether or not to take Leinie just

because he's missed so much hockey last couple years but his ability on the power play to make a difference in the game is why he's on there So they're hoping to capitalize on the power play Try to survive five on five Alexander Barkoff is gonna be matched up. I think I'll turn against Matthews and But the other part of the equation SL and Dell who's you know, sort of rock bandstanders of the rebut him and equal up from Florida They're gonna play a ton on the back end, because they have to, and they're, they too, I think, will match up against Matthews.

So that's the matchup. I think that you should never count out the ability that Finland has to come together under their flag and surprise people, but I will also say that I truly believe this in saying this. Uh, you know, I've had the honor of covering best on best in every event dating back to Salt Lake City in 02. This is the best U S team ever assembled in hockey history.

But this is the most talented U S team I've ever seen. Having Dylan Larkin on the fourth line win. It should be all you need to know about how deep USA is it'll be fun tonight USA Finland I know you'll be in attendance pierre enjoy that and we'll talk to you again next week On my way there right now. I don't write on beautiful. All right. Thank you for the time. That's Pierre Lebrun TSN hockey Insider a little bit of a growl in the voice Pierre Wonder what you got up to He is a professional

Dave Naylor noodles taught me early in my media career work hard play hard I think Pierre Lebrun embraces that more than anybody nothing wrong with that the problem that I had is more than anybody. Nothing wrong with that. The problem that I had is early in my broadcasting career, I did not have the luxury of doing a show at 4 p.m. So getting on air at noon is a lot different. So there's a drop of me saying, you never know or whatever. That was, I don't know if JP can play.

He probably has already. It's coming very shortly. We play it all the time. But honestly, that was after a late, late night, early morning and then I showed up at the studio and did a noon show saying, you never know. You never know. That voice was not good. And I thought through. You know, I start work at 6 a.m. usually, right?

In the morning. You're right in the morning. I agree. There's no cheating that. The thing is that you're tired. That's the hardest part about doing your show is you're up till midnight watching these games and then you've got to turn it around and be up and be sharp by 6am. That's a tough thing to do.

It's a special talent. That's why I laugh sometimes when Coco gets so fired up about stuff I'm like it's 6 30 in the morning and I'm screaming about what happens all the time We're just yelling and screaming at each other at 6 15 about the blue jays or whatever That's the beauty of it doesn't matter what time it is the debates always rage on first stop 6 to 10 a.m Monday to Friday right here on TSN 1050 That was a piercing one that was that was a tough one Keegan Matheson not a lot of bangs emanating from Blue Jays camp especially considering they don't have a deal done with Vlad jr. Yet

That was a big topic of conversation. We'll get to that with Keegan and it's the most beautiful thing it doesn't matter what sports spring training or in the NHL camps NBA there's always best shape of my life I'm in the best shape of my life I put on this much muscle yeah it doesn't matter what sport it happens and it's happening today down at Blue Jays camp we'll head down there on the other side with Keegan Matheson it's the third hour of overdrive here on TSN2 and TSN1050. Hour three continues here on overdrive Thursday evening Aaron Kurolnik, Jamie McClennon, the O-Dog on the way to Montreal ahead of Canada, USA Saturday night at the Bell Center. That should be quite the spectacle as was today

down at Blue Jays camp, the opening of pseudo training camp, I guess you want to call it, pitchers and catchers reporting. Monday is the official start of camp for the Jays. It's also the official drop dead date for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his contract negotiations. Vlad has been on record saying, I don't want to talk about my contract

as soon as we enter spring training. And we'll see if that results in a deal noodles as you're well well aware as a pro athlete deadlines per action but we only got a couple days to go here I just don't know like what if there's been a hold up all along I don't know what will just force it over the line right money I think it's money, man. I think if the J's meet his demands, he's a blue J for life. But it's a big demand. It is, but do we know what, has it been leaked? What type of number we're talking about here?

Like something in the mid-fours, a high four? I don't know. Like is it just, to me do you feel like you get it done but if they haven't locked them up like now they see something we don't see I don't know like oh said it before if it's fitness level if it's commitment I don't know inconsistency and this guy seems to have you know great seasons but it's slow start and it's this and that and and I don't know I just I worry about this guy if he's if he's a cornerstone piece lock him up, but it is money

Connected to money. What is the right number? I don't know. Yeah No, I think you're right And I think the reality is there's never been a first baseman who's Commanded even close to the amount of money that Vladimir Guerrero jr. Is commanding from the Toronto Jays. But it's a new, you know, kind of a new era because I think you consider Juan Soto down the line, just signed that massive deal with the Mets. He is probably a DH, maybe a first baseman in the next couple of years. So maybe that's Vlad's argument, but to this point anyways, the Blue Jays have not been able to find a way to get him signed. And we know Ross Atkins spoke today, the general manager of the Jays and our

Next guest was present. He is the Blue Jays reporter for MLB.com who I'm sure is devastated to be down in Dunedin right now as opposed To Toronto in the midst of the snow storms and snow storms are about to have here this weekend It is Keegan Matheson with us here on overdrive. What's up, Keegan? I'm doing well fellas. I've got a twinge of a sunburn you know i i i need to think that the other uh... the sympathy of toronto here at the very top like i'm happy to be here uh... what was your take away from what i can say to say with regards to vlad with regards to the roster he has put together to this point and perhaps

some additions that could maybe be on the way yeah from here on out guys, he said again that the likeliest way they would add to this roster is via trade. That makes sense because A, they've spent a lot of money and B, they do still have that big group of infield depth that they could trade from. And yeah, their farm system isn't very good good but they're not trying to trade for show hilltop they can make any trade work they would need to when you look at the rest of the roster that i think the surprise for me with that he's singled out alan road who is an outfield prospect but he's going to be the guy you hear a ton of out all camp

i've been in a thousand ross atkins scrums i know how he answers questions and as i was being asked You know what the prospect you're excited to see I Could mouth the words to his answer. I'm excited to see everyone I'm excited to see this guy that guy that guy that guy but instead he singled out one player Which for me I'm thinking thank God that's an interesting answer and uh... it certainly highlights a player you were going to be a ton in spring training every camp

as a prospect darling this one is going to be road but gladi obviously guys is the big one now ross ackins did not say much i didn't think he would say much she did not want to get into anything at all about what he did this reminds me guys of a couple of years ago with Shohei Otani and that big pursuit where the Blue Jays just decided man we're not gonna talk and they didn't. I don't think today matters I don't think tomorrow or the next day matters if anything happens

it's going to be on deadline day it's going to be four days from now and if that passes y, we've got a troubling conversation to have about this team. But I think it'll go right up until that. And I think having a deadline is a good thing at this point, because there's going to be a resolution one way or the other and the mystery will be over. So if you're a betting man, or you just were kind of going to gauge If they do get something done What type of number would you like is there rumors or maybe an?

Inkling of what he's looking for where they're at or where do you think they could land is it something with a four in it? Does it get as high as five like what do you make of this? Probably starts with a four guys i would imagine at this point now the the number of years matters of course when you break down the annual value now will it be thirty seven thirty eight a year will he get forty forty one a year i'd imagine it would be being discussed in that range if laddie in the blue jays do reach a deal I'd

expect it to start with a four and we've seen numbers rise and rise higher in baseball with Otani with Juan Soto with some of the pitching deals. Now Vlad is not Otani and he's not Juan Soto he's not but we're also not talking about 700 million bucks as those numbers rise every number beneath them rise up Jose Barrios today He joked that Juan Soto was one of the best things to happen to his kids because by the time Barrios his kids are 20 years old who knows where numbers will be right? So I think that that number has been a moving target it's been moving in a way that Vladdy probably loves this last little while.

And it is something the Jays have been forced to chase, I believe, because it's certainly been increasing and increasing. Keegan Matheson, mlb.com, covers the Toronto Blue Jays, is our guest. I was looking at FanDuel, big shocker there Keegan, earlier today and they had the blue jays at seventy eight and a half wins on their overrunner this is a team that won seventy four last year with perhaps the worst bullpen we've seen in baseball over the last ten years or so what does that say about what we can expect this team to be this season do you think they are much improved a little bit improved or maybe worse? Well I tell you there's a couple of things I miss doing in Florida that I can do in Canada. One of them is looking at FanDuel baby. Yeah, nice. But when we look at

the win totals, the outside perception of the Blue Jays right now, not very good. And in some ways, rightfully so. This is a team that won 74 games last year that has a lot of questions from national media in the US about what's gonna happen with Fladdy, how are they going to bounce back. Right now guys I still see this as a team that's kind of hovering around that 500. That means you can jump a few games above or below shore but they're a a team that's kind of stuck in the middle. And when you're stuck in the middle, the narrative, the conversation around a team can really take some power over those over underlines on a wind total, for example,

because nobody's talking about the blue Jays in an excited way right now. Think back to 2021 and 22 coming off that big offensive year. That's back when the Blue Jays were the sexy pick by US media to be that World Series contender. It was always look out for the Blue Jays, look out for this offense. Nobody really talks about the team like that right now. They can change quickly but that's just not the conversation around them. They would have to I think surprise some people. They of course think they can but that's just not the conversation around them. They would have to, I think, surprise some people. They, of course, think they can but it's changed, certainly, from

the last couple of years. Keegan, I think the Blue Jays could surprise a lot of people but I don't think anyone would be surprised. Even if they did surprise people, if they were still the fourth best team in the American League East. We just saw Boston pick up Alex Bregman 40m a year for three years. We know what Baltimore is. We know what the Yankees are. Even after losing Soto, they made some great moves to fill that void and perhaps add to it on other aspects of their team. Is there a way you could look at Toronto as anything better than the fourth best team in the AL East right now? Yeah, playing in the East just sucks. It does. No matter how many times coaches and players tell me we love the challenge, get out of here. You'd rather be in a worse division, I promise. And I

think what really makes this division scary, guys, and I didn't think I'd be saying this, I guess, a year ago, but it seems like Boston's really motivated. It seems like Boston has gotten their pride hurt a bit and they're trying to spend, they're trying to make some big moves. And when you get Boston back into this with some sort of momentum, we know the Orioles are going to be good, you know the Yankees are going to be good and spend, and you know the Rays at the bare minimum are going to be annoying, maybe good, but at least pesky and annoying. It's an exhausting brand of baseball to play. There are not many games in the AL East right now

where you can just put in a long reliever in the seventh and enjoy a nice comfortable win. It just doesn't happen. So for the Jays, I think back to the season I mentioned earlier, that 2021 year, maybe the best offense we're gonna see for a long time in Toronto, 191 games and still miss the playoffs on that last day. I don't think you'll need that many wins this year with three wild cards.

You shouldn't, but it's still the last division you want to be in if you're a team that's kind of on that edge. And that's what the Blue Jays are right now. If they make the postseason, I think it would be in that second or third wild card spot. Playing in the East does not exactly help that. Do you know the timeline of Alec Manoa? And is there any chance that, you know, there's a,

I don't know, I want to say politely, a reclamation project there, or, you know, a guy who could make a comeback, or, you know, it was such a massive drop off for him you know the expectations so low for him that we've kind of just move past him or forgotten about him yeah i got he should be uh... mid-season latter half of the season but he should be back at some point this

year and this elbow surgery it's not what anyone wanted, there's nothing good, no silver lining, but while he's going through this, I think this could be a good opportunity to just exhale and say, okay, we're starting over. He'll be healthy, he's coming back, he looks good physically, just walking by him at a glance today, and Alec Manoa is always going to be in a good headspace for this trying to come back. And what I would compare it to guys, and Manoa is always going to be in a good headspace for this trying to come back and

What I would compare it to guys and Manoa's linked to this I guess is a couple of years back remember when Hunjin Ryu came back late in the season He made 10 or 11 starts down the stretch. He actually replaced Manoa in the rotation when that happened if by July or August the Blue Jays need a starter and they're probably going to guys get hurt guys get tired Manoa could be coming back at a pretty Convenient time for them now. Ideally, they've got multiple options with prospects and somebody else But at that time of year to have a guy coming back who at least has a chance to contribute

I think would be pretty encouraging and I just know that Alec Manoa is going to want to write that come back story as well. I can really see that fitting with him mentally and it would be a heck of a story for him at this point because there was an extreme high and there have been some extreme lows, but he's got a shot to slowly and steadily get back and I think slow and steady is a good thing for him right now. Keegan, we saw Max Scherzer in a Blue Jays uniform for the first time today. What did you see and what are your expectations for the three-time Cy Young Award winner in his age 41 season? It's amazing, guys.

I get caught up in the conversation of, oh, he's 40-41, his fastball did this, it broke this many. At a certain point I've just got to stand there today and think, man this is pretty cool. I was standing there watching from my left to right, Max Scherzer, Kevin Gosman, Chris Bassett throw their bullpen sessions at the exact same time. This is Hall of Famer. Now can he give the Blue Jays 20 or 25 starts?

That would be great. That would be a great start if he gets up to 120, 30, 40 innings. I think that's a success. And most importantly, he's healthy. Last year he was coming off of a back surgery and guys, if you're trying to catch up out of spring training, even if you're Max Scherzer, it's hard. You're almost always going to lose if you're playing catch-up. Right now he seems healthy. It looks like he's in a good place to start and having him around on a one-year deal, I like that a lot for

the Blue Jays. Not just based on the reputation but you are not investing a ton and I think the upside still is there and I like what it does for the rest of the rotation guys. It bumps Bowden Francis down to a five, Yariyel Rodriguez, who walked in with an impressive beard. I need to do more reporting on that tomorrow. But he bumps into the rotation, or sorry, into the bullpen. I like the idea of Yariyel in the bullpen. I think he can be that guy who comes in

with a ridiculous amount of intensity and really cranks it up. And and man if you are a young pitcher you better be following Max Scherzer around every inch of that complex. Keegan I was on Amazon today I bought some multivitamins and I also pre-ordered the franchise Toronto Blue Jays a curated history of the Jays by one Keegan Matheson forward by John Gibbons comes out June the third really looking forward to that when my order arrives many way you could expedite that for me I'll see if I can grease the wheels there I think I know a guy but thankfully Gibby batted lead off for me so there's at

least something worth reading in that book but I love it I'm happy to hear likewise thank you for doing this buddy enjoy your time down in dunning uh... you got a fellow to talk again soon as keegan matheson mlb dot com blue jays reporters got as good a gig as there is in sports media all i gotta spend forty days in south florida in february on so sorry on the slowest moving sport to like nobody's in a hurry to do anything there

You know it just is like that sport being around a lot of those baseball players when I was playing for example at st Louis like Everything is just chill like nobody gets to work up. Hey, we lost 7-0 today Oh that picture was good. I've got a game tomorrow. It's just a very, very cool sport. The players are cool, everybody's buddy-buddy, it's a gentleman's sport, and the money's ridiculous. Oh, rake it in. Also, they're done, the spring training, I think they're done at noon.

Maybe when they start playing the games, yes, but that's still a ways away. I think they're all teeing it up by one o'clock in the afternoon. Exactly, like we would go, Mark McGuire was, Chris Pronger's neighbor and my neighbor, we'd hang out with him and we'd go see him and he'd be like, yeah, I gotta run four laps. And it would literally, the laps were, you gotta run from the one baseline

to the other line back, that was one. Like it was just, and the trainer would just say, yeah, Mack, you'll go work on your back. I remember we went out with Jimmy Edmonds one night, too. We went down to the field and they were playing. And he was stretching out and he was joking. He said, I believe they're playing the Marlins. And he said, I make more than that team is paying in payroll.

Like there was something ridiculous like that. Because I think he was making, I don't know, maybe 20 million or 15 million and they had like the lowest payroll in Major League Baseball. But it was just, those guys are so relaxed. They just enjoy themselves. So imagine being on the beat. Like you're just, you're not playing or anything.

You go and you cover the team and you're around the team. That's a job. That's a grind though. 162 game season, not a lot of off days. Those guys do a great job. They do an amazing job. My point is it's more of a relaxed pace. No kidding. For sure. Jim Edmonds. what a legend. He made some amazing catches in centerfield back in the day. Unbelievable player. So funny. Great guy. Great, great guy. You should call Jim Edmonds. You get him on overdrive at some point before.

That would be cool. That would be cool. You get Mark McGuire on. You reach out to him. I think he is a coach somewhere. Now maybe in like San Diego or somewhere in the National League. He'd be a great guest. You know who still buddies with him, I think, Pronger. I should all ask Chris and see if Max around because he was a good guy to hang out with. Nice guy and you know I you know that the whole steroid thing like now you look back on it like kind of makes sense like him and prongs were the same size but they were about 60 pounds apart. Oh yeah McGuire was. Oh my

god his forearms were the size of my head. They were so big, but now you look back on it and go, oh yeah, I can see kind of maybe something going on. That makes sense. That makes sense. Yeah, that home run chase back in 98, McGuire and Sosa, I still remember it well as a young baseball fan, as fun as it got. And hopefully the Jays can find some home run production like Big Mac from back in the day. Doogie's got the FanDuel best bets to wrap up this Thursday edition of Overdrive next. Winding down here in the third hour of Overdrive on this Thursday evening, Karelnik, McClennan, it is time

for Doogie's best bets which are powered by FanDuel. Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. Did you make the people money last night Dukes? We're one William Nylander shot away from glory. It's all good. We'll bounce back this evening. We'll take USA on the money line. We'll pair that with Jack Eichel three plus shots on goal and an Austin Matthews anytime goal scorer against Finland

That totals plus 387 on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. I really like that I think I think USA has a big night against the Finns again that defense You think they're just gonna get smoke point night point night. I think it's gonna be grotesque for Finland grotesque I I don't sleep on this finish group man. I just keep looking at them. They know how to play. I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong. We'll find out. Eight o'clock. Eight o'clock. Today's Best Bets are powered by FanDuel.

Live same-game parlies are now available for every Four Nations face-off game on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly 19-plus and physically located in ontario so you are off the show tomorrow jimmy i assume you've a lot of romantic plans plan for valentine's day is that what's going on no okay that was my assumption travel now i mean we got i got a lot to travel that fun stuff but uh... yeah i mean i'm excited about this US game tonight.

We'll see how it unfolds. But yeah, I've got a lot of moving parts and, you know, can't wait to get back on. Buddy, we had a good time the last couple days. Great time. Fantastic. Great time. It's nice to get caught up. We never get caught up other than being on the show.

That's right. I mean, we used to text each other about stocks all the time tips I mean that's let's get back into it lots of lots of moving pieces talking all right yeah we got to get the stock market cooking you know there's some geopolitical issues that our country is facing at the moment and the world is a hole is facing but there's always money to be made there's always money to be made and man oh maybe you've been on the US tonight you, you get some cash. But I think we're all looking forward to Canada and USA Saturday night.

I am just so excited. I have a big group of people I'm getting together with. We're going out to a bar on King West. It is a real go time night now, which again, I didn't really expect to be the case even a couple weeks ago. But after last night, again considering it's Canada and the USA, it's Saturday night, it kind of brings me back to my university days, watching with my buddies the gold medal game, all those games. I remember the Russia game where Canada just destroyed the Russians in the quarterfinals.

I'm hoping for a big US win tonight and then Canada just to wipe the floor with the Americans on Saturday in the Bell Center. I don't know how realistic it is, but wouldn't that be something, Noodle? Yeah. Well, I mean, you never know. I think it would be... I don't know. I can't predict anything what's going on. Although I did... Did I not predict on the show yesterday they might be overtime? You did. There might be overtime. That wouldn't be a prediction. That would be hedging your bets a little bit. But there was overtime. There definitely was overtime. And man, what's it

ever good? And there was a lot of conversation today about the idea of the NHL moving to a 10 minute overtime, which will not happen. I'm just going to tell you right now, it's not going to happen. The players are not interested in that. You saw how tired these guys were. Playing three on three is a lot more Taxing on your body than a five on five shift because there's so much more ice there's so much more Skating you've heard McKinnon talk about just how tired he was by the end of it So enjoy it while it lasts, but I think the foreign agents face so maybe seven minutes Maybe yeah seven and if you get to seven may as well go to ten. No, I don't know. That's the problem It's all the top players. It's not the scrubs that get more tired as the top players

So I don't know I do believe that it should be at seven or eight minutes I'd like to get to ten, but I'm not the guy who'd be out there So I think they're Mcdavids and the McKinnons and then they would be pissed. So noodles has been a blast Thanks to everyone behind the scenes doogie JP Joe from the bridge I'll be back tomorrow with Frankie Corrado. Noodles, enjoy your Valentine's Day. You have an unbelievable wife. Treasure every moment, buddy. We'll see you soon.

All right. Sounds good. All right. That's Jamie McClennon. That was Overdrive for this Thursday. We'll be back tomorrow, 4 o'clock. TSM Plus is taking game day to a whole new level with NFL Red Zone. Absolutely incredible!

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