OverDrive - OverDrive - February 14, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: February 14, 2025

Join Aaron Korolnek and Frank Corrado for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the Canada and USA showdown, the goaltending choices for the game and Sidney Crosby's leadership performance for the country. They also play a Valentine's Day edition of Love it or Loathe it and discuss the Eagles' Super Bowl parade in Philadelphia.

We're back on Kidsplained. Today's breaking story, what's missing in schools? Let's go live to a classroom to find out about the lack of school supplies. Thanks Kate. We always seem to be out of paper and pencils and we don't have enough textbooks. Ugh, it's like trying to do math without numbers. What we need is more investment in schools, right Jamal? That's right Kate. It's hard to learn without the basics. Want to help support students? Go to knowmore.ca. That's K-N-O-W-M-O-R-E.ca. A message from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.

Overdrive continues. This is our two, Karel Nick Corrado here on Mail It In Friday. We have Mike Johnson joining us in moments from Montreal where all the heavy hitters frank of canadian sports media have congregated head of canada u.s.a. including the old dog who's posting pics on twitter work working hard there's the old all of his johnson ron rishaw again pierre lebron there's the fellows everyone's put in the work getting down to brisard watching practice i love it

love these guys is that the beauty man. What a beauty the O-Dog is. That is some special stuff and it will be very special tomorrow night and I can't imagine a better atmosphere for a hockey game than what we'll see at the Bell Center tomorrow. You've taken in many Habs games over the last couple years, Frank. Fortunately, none in the playoffs, but it's a rink that brings it night after night, but tomorrow night may just be a different level of dedication from the fans in Montreal. Well, it's different too, because we just haven't seen this in so long.

There's been such an appetite for it, and it hasn't happened. And as we talked about in the previous hour, there has been a changing of the guard. If you look at the 2016 rosters at the World Cup of Hockey to now, the teams have changed so much. In Canada, there's a few guys that are still around, Marshand, Crosby. For the Americans, this is a totally new group.

We've kind of seen this era of hockey players explode with like the highlight real goals, the skill level, it's different. Like the Americans are not, I don't know, they're a different type of team than what they used to be where I'm not going to say that they weren't skilled, but they played like the, you know, just heavy four check style game, very simple meat and potatoes call it that they weren't They weren't as skilled as they can and not even close. They've kind of blended it They've blended it like they got the super skilled players But they've got the big bodies and you know

They're kind of meshing the best of both worlds and for Canada like you know still the the high-end skill speed all that kind of stuff The intelligence it's all there it's it's two different teams that are trying to get the same result which i think is going to be pretty unique to see and as far as montreal the bell center like they've completely knocked it out of the park like that the fans got behind it in the best possible way in uh... the atmosphere there has been unbelievable to see who do you think they

bring out saturday They had Mario Lemieux Are they doing that again? Can they drop the puck maybe? No, I want to see legends. I want to see it. Maybe a Montreal Canadians legend perhaps that might blow the barn apart Legends, but the 823 puck drop when it's supposed, you know, they say it's eight You know, maybe we can keep it a little tighter. I'm not complaining. You should complain. As a hockey viewer, you should complain because it just takes way too long.

The games end too late and the delay is simply unnecessary. There's ways around it. Everybody in your seats at 7.45 for a special presentation. We got to ask Johnny how he feels about this. The old, I think LeBrun was tweeting it, that the TV timeouts are 30 seconds longer, but the intermissions are gonna be shorter. He has a color commentary guy. I wonder how Johnny feels about that.

He is joining us now on the Maple Toyota Hotline, our TSN hockey analyst, Mike Johnson, live from Montreal. Mike, the floor is yours. What is going on? So, the question is, would I even notice, like if I was broadcasting a game I would, but as a viewer, Frankie, do you think you'd notice 30 seconds longer commercials? I know the players would. I guess the players are saying they're getting to the face-off circle way too early because they're expecting the puck to start, puck to drop and play to start whatever it is after the two minutes so they're kind of milling about for 30 seconds. I don't know I mean I guess if they've taken off

the back end of the intermission that almost makes it more sense but I can see why TV wise because people will stay and watch a game through a commercial but maybe change the channel during the intermission so maybe have people's attention more for during period commercials but i don't think i'd really know about the government care whatever whatever they want to do is fine with me johnny what's the main thing you're looking forward to among many for tomorrow's game Canada vs USA? I think just sort of the emotion of the players and the environment, the sort of, we thought

it was already peaked. It couldn't get any better than Mario Lemieux on Wednesday and the goal the first minute and the first 10 minutes to nothing and the crowd just roaring for Crosby and overtime winner for Mitch Marner. Like it couldn't get any better but but across the board, Frankie today, talking to the guys, every one of them was like, nah, it's going to be more, it's going to be bigger. It's going to be louder. It's going to be more intense. It's going to be more physical. Um,

and I think it's going to be amazing to watch that atmosphere and watch the American team, which truly believes and maybe rightly so that they are the best team in this tournament not take a back step try to bring the game to Canada in a Canadian ring to watch the Kachaks go to work as only maybe they can and see how that dynamic plays out I think it's take up into a lot of different things a lot of Stanley Cup finals and whatever it might be World Juniors World Championships and it takes a lot to sort of get me the day before excited to be at a game. I'm excited to be in Montreal. I'm excited to be able to be in the building for this game. I think it's got that

kind of energy about it. That's what I want to see. Yeah. And I don't think it matters if you love hockey, you hate hockey. I mean, if you love your country and you love an exciting sporting event tomorrow night is as good as it gets. Mike Johnson, TSN Hockey Analyst, our guest. What was your takeaway from the Americans last night who beat up on a Finland team? Well, really mostly in the third period, Mike, who is really, really banged up on the back end. I mean, there's not a lot of thuds over there on defense for Finland. What did you take away from what the USA was able to do?

It's almost unfair for Finland. They were already going to be in tough, but you take four defense and other lineups, it makes it almost impossible. And of course the Americans look better. I thought the Hughes- Matthews combination looked excellent, dynamic and creative and lots of stuff off the rush and creating chances and finding each other. And of course the Kachuk brothers doing what they do and you sort of so unique the way that they play.

But I guess I have to say that it was against Finland and Finland is not Sweden and Finland is not Canada. But I do think that they, the Americans show themselves to be, you know, deep and physical and fast. And if everyone talked about Canada, Sweden being maybe the fastest game, it felt like the American game was maybe more physical. And also the willingness to make changes, right? Kyle Connor asked, how long would Jack Eichel before Brady Kachuk got there?

Half a game? Not even? Before they decided Mike Sullivan made a change to bring Brady Kachuk to play with Matthew Kachuk and Jack Eichel so you know I think the Americans know what they are, fast, deep, skilled, physical and you know and a justifiable co-favor of this tournament. What do you think Canada should do in net moving forward? Well it felt like today at practice that Bittington was in the starters net, he wasn't really sharing reps. John Cooper wouldn't say it after practice but I do think it's going to be Bittington.

So that's what they are going to do. If it was me, maybe because I just want more options, I think I would have played Aiden Hill against the Americans tomorrow. And if he plays great and stands in his head, then I think he probably would be warranting to play the rest of the tournament. And if it didn't go great or they didn't win, then you still have Binnington against Finland and then hopefully against whoever for the final. And no big deal, you mixed it a different start, not a problem. But if you go back to Binning, which they're going to, and if it doesn't go well, which, kinda hopes that that's not the case,

but if it doesn't, now you're going to Aiden to Hill in the third game. Now it's a must win to even have a chance to make it to the final. And that's a dangerous situation for a guy who hasn't played in 10 days. So I think I would've gone Hill. There's no real wrong answer.

There's probably no real right answer, and I guess that's why we're having this conversation. But it looks like I think they will have gone hill. There's no real wrong answer. There's probably no real right answer. And I guess that's why we're having this conversation. But it looks like I think they will go Bittington, even if I wouldn't. Yeah, I think the same applies to the forward groups, Mike. We see Brad Marshand, Sam Bennett, Seth Jarvis together, Anthony Sorrelli, Braden Point, Brandon Hegel, the Tampa Trio together as the fourth line for Canada. Is that a couple of line combos combos you expect stick together for the duration of the game or do you expect a lot of

fluidity when it comes to john cooper and how he approaches things i mean the game is not going well but yeah i had expected to be very fluid it's interesting that the tab a guy you put together you think well there's continuity there there's built-in chemistry there and a quick search in they almost and never played

together with the trio. Like, Sorelli has played with Hagel a ton, Point has played with Hagel a ton, but Point, the three of them together? Almost not at all. Like, not for five minutes the whole season this year. So, yes, there's a system, then a personality and maybe game familiarity, but not as line mates. So, I wouldn't put too much stock into that, but I do think, you know, John Cooper, who's the coach, knows what they can do, understands the assignment. And I think what Coop likes beyond the Tampa guys is the idea of Marchand and Sam Bennett, which is, you know, curious because they've had

their own run-in, right? Like that little rabbit punch hit that Bennett delivered to Marchand in the playoffs that knocked him out. But I think as a physical response to what they anticipate being a physical emotional game and the two guys who they hope can not just play physically but bring a little attitude into the game are those guys. We'll see how it goes. If it doesn't go well, then they'll mix and match and they'll still try to figure it out

in this game and going forward. But I think that's the logic behind it anyways. How much of a factor do you think not having Shea Theodore and Kale McCarr potentially being sick can play into this game tomorrow? It's huge. It's huge. I mean, you think with Theodore's injury, McCarr and Taves would have been, what do you think Frankie?

27 minutes or so maybe they were like the car was 28 Taves was 25 and change almost 26 already But that was with five guys. I mean even what I'm saying was six I still think they get to 27 28 yeah, I think yeah against Americans in a in that kind of game I think those two were gonna be Unquestionably the number one pair if you you take McCarr out of the lineup, then then it's Thomas Harley, I guess, is going to play. They've been jumping through hoops and rewriting rules to make it so that he can be in Montreal and take a morning skate and maybe play if he's hurt, whatever, or sick. But you take McCarr out and how special he is in all the situations he plays in, the defense in Canada gets much thinner.

I mean, Thomas Harley, Travis Sandheim, Drew Doughty, all guys who would maybe bubble members of this team, but that's three of them playing in the most important game, that's probably not ideal for Canada. So I think hopefully McCart's healthy, because if he's not, that's trouble. The other the other part is I thought Frankie when I watched the game Josh Morrissey who I think is it just a tremendous player so good him and Colt Braco were just they're okay and I think it's on them to be really good and I

think Morrissey's got to sort of smooth out some of the stuff that Braco doesn't do quite as well maybe Braco's got to be a play finisher for Morrissey. They were just okay, but I don't know if Canada beats the U.S. unless that second pair, whether McCarthen lineup or not, but even more so if he's not, gets a little more cohesive together. TSN hockey analyst Mike Johnson, our guest. Can you take us through the vibes in Montreal, Mike? The streets or the talk of the town? what's going on at the Four Nations face-off you're a Montreal Canadians legend in your own right fill us in well I appreciate the legendary Paul in my own mind is right not my own rights but you know it's it's buzzing here yes you get to the airport there signage up you get around the rakers there's signs

everywhere and lots of activation but there's aage up, you get around the ranks, there's signs everywhere, lots of activations, there's a YouTuber game went on this afternoon. People are excited, and people are intrigued by what's going on. I think the idea of best on best excites people. The idea of Canada playing a sport in which Canada thinks we are the best in excites Canadians. And I think sadly, a little bit of the,

or maybe not sadly, a little bit of the maybe not sadly like a little bit of the the Canada-U.S. stuff that may be going on in the general world makes the game almost a little bit more compelling in that way as well so yeah I think people are very much into this tournament and into tomorrow doubleheader which will be fun you forget Sweden Finland who are as fierce rivals as Canada-U.S. and just like each other are you know are as combative as the late game they're playing in the afternoon then the late game it's gonna be a great day I think and it's just you know four or five days of hockey but I think it's something Montreal has risen to the occasion of being a proper opening host for this tournament.

Well speaking of rising to the occasion like you have Mitch Marner vs. Austin Matthews tomorrow, which is, it kind of, it gets lost in the shuffle, but I think there's an intrigue factor to it. It's two of the best players in the league, both play for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Playoff success has eluded these guys to a certain degree, especially from a team perspective. Any thought as far as how that matchup goes within the game? I don't know if Austin Matthews plays against McDavid. I don't know if they'll be on the ice against each other a lot.

I know it's the cone of silence right now, but the Maple Leaf guys have not spoken in this tournament. They've not wished each other well or on the text chain anymore. They're just doing their own thing. I think for Austin, this is not a one-on-one battle at all. I think if I had to guess, you know, Austin Matthews is taking this, I'm the captain of the American team and he wants to be part of a successful game where his team wins, the team that he's leading wins. I think for Mitch, I think Mitch prides himself

on his competitive spirit the same way when Auston Matthews goes out of the Leaf lineup, that Marner really elevates and shows people like, I am also great and I don't need Auston Matthews to be a difference maker, to pile up points. And he didn't like this year when he was just incredible. And I think maybe in Mitch's mind, there'll be a little bit of a one-on-one comparison

where he wants to play as well as his teammate, as well as win the game. Whereas maybe for Austin, it doesn't resonate quite that way. He's just probably thinking about, I wanna lead my team to the win. Mike, it was such an incredible opening game for Crosby with those three primary assists. Yesterday on the show, the O-Dog made a point of reference

to Brendan Shanahan following the 96 World Cup of Hockey when he was with Hartford with O and said, when he got back from the tournament, calls the GM up and says, hey, I don't want to be here anymore. I'm not saying that's what Sidney Crosby is going to say when he returns to Pittsburgh following the conclusion of the Four Nations faceoff, but do you think perhaps this experience could alter how Sidney Crosby thinks about the rest of his NHL career? That is juicy, juicy. I mean could it could it ignite his competitive fire to the point where he thinks I don't want to be in a rebuilding situation,

which is what Pittsburgh is going to be in the next couple of years. They sort of acknowledged that. And if they trade Ricard Raquel away the same way they traded Jake Gensler away, well, that, you know, add another bit of fuel to that fire, perhaps. And then you couple that with does the rest of the league now see what as if we need a reminder, but a reminder of how great Sidney Crosby can be. If he leads this tournament in scoring and Canada wins the tournament,

does that say, make Colorado say, listen, we gotta push harder. We gotta go after him harder because look how great he still is in the biggest moments. That's what we need. The Leafs need a third line, second line center. That's the guy we can go. Let's trade our prospects Let's trade our first rounder for him who cares because he's so great. I wonder if that is that

Sentiment grows across the league I mean maybe I think that might be wishful thinking because we like the idea of Crosby playing big games like the idea of Crosby being in the cup hunt don't know if it's gonna go down that road, but Boy, if he can do anything like it in the first game throughout the rest of this tournament, teams will still be calling Al Duba saying, can you talk to him? Does he want to go because we'd love to have him. Well, I mean, if you want to make that happen, like to quote the Godfather, like make him an offer he can't refuse. I don't know. You're going to have to get there if you want to get Sidney Crosby. You're not getting it done with your B prospect and a couple picks. It's going to have to be a monumental move.

I thought another thing was interesting when it comes to Sid. They bring out all those legends of the game beforehand, and of course Mario Lemieux comes out. Then you start to think, okay, how about the ovation for Mario, the respect he gets, and that's in Montreal. This guy was a Pittsburgh Penguin and a Pittsburgh Penguin only. You watch the way they kind of look at each other and I'm like, I think Sid wants that. I think Sid might just want to be what Mario Lemieux is and he was a Penguin for life and just kind of follow in his footsteps. I don't know, maybe he is okay with that and we're going to have four nations this year,

we're going to have Olympics next year and you know two years after that we're going to have the World Cup of Hockey. There's a very realistic chance that Sidney Crosby is still playing high level hockey into his early 40s like I wouldn't put it past him. You're right. You're right. I think that's not really a question though. I think Sid does want that.

Like Sid does want to be a lifer in one organization like his old landlord, Maryle Mew, and be revered for the fact that he was able to do it all in one place. The competing motivation is his desire to win. Right, because he's not to be able to have both. So what's stronger? His desire for the legacy of the single organization

or desire to go try to win some more? I guess my point is he'll get the desire to win in the Olympics and then possibly two years after that with the World Cup of hockey. So he gets a scratch of your itch and kind of get both just not at the NHL level if Pittsburgh is still where they're at. You're right but Frankie as you get a, like, if you are a 70 point team and Pittsburgh is not that but they might be close to it, those are some long years.

And does Sid want, like yes you'll be looking forward to the Olympics for sure, but does he want to go through two and a half years of seventy point existence and i've done it and it can be crappy even if you're Cindy Crosby even if you make a ton of money even if your legacy is intact is one of the greatest of all time you know it's still just a long sort of arduous slog to get to the good stuff

and you wonder does he want that that's the question and only he will know the answer to it. Johnny, before we let you go, we couldn't help but notice that the O-Dog put out a picture on Twitter this morning saying that he was there early grinding away. He was with Rashad, CJ, Pierre Le Brun. Any comment on that? Where were you? Yeah, I mean, we've all been to a concert, right?

Like the opening act goes in early and gets, you know, the, gets the base, the base level covered, and then the headliner comes in and does the job and sends people home happy. And I kind of equate this situation to that. Yeah. Like, oh, wasn't there early, you know, doing the grassroots work. And then when it came time to really dig in, then Drager showed up and Duffy and I was along with them. So that's,

that's how I would sort of paint the picture at this morning skates. We were there and it was lovely. How happy is the TSN crew that there's no game on a Friday night in Montreal tonight? I mean, this is a beautiful city. It's a wonderful, wonderful city, even the winter. We're all hanging out. We have dinner tonight, Valentine's Day.

We're all out there together. But yeah, it's fun to be at big events. And so I think we'll enjoy being at a big event. I already know how this went down today. You guys had practice then you all said let's bank these heads as quickly as possible and get the hell out of here and no one even think about bringing up any work until tomorrow

did you did you have a mall in our group right now frecky because that is maybe verbatim that's exactly what happened but i think that we have what happened uh... get a workout get a, and get ready for dinner. That was the assignment for the mid-afternoon. What a night. We need an ESPN 30 for 30, engraved on a nation, if you will, on the night in Montreal tonight for the TSN crew.

Enjoy it, Mike. We thank you for doing this, and look forward to the coverage tomorrow. Canada, USA should be a lot of fun. All right, boys. Enjoy the weekend. All right, that's lot of fun. Yeah, I'm going to enjoy the weekend. All right, that's Mike Johnson, TSN hockey analyst who joined us on the Maple Toyota hotline. Count on Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota.

Trade in your tires, buy a new set and get $40 back. Visit mapletoyota.com. You and Brian Mujerich spent many a night on the road to Montreal the last couple years, Frank. Hopefully you gave the squad a good restaurant recommendation. I did no such thing. No one reached out to me.

And quite frankly, why would they? I'm not there that much. We're there to work, man. Business trip. You know what I mean? We got a lot of work to do. Yes you do. You and Marty, hard at work at all times.

Never any fun times had on the Montreal Canadians broadcast here at TSN. But that should be something special. And the city, I know, is just abuzz with the excitement. And it should be, because I think tomorrow night will be something really, really special, something I think we will remember for a long time. That's the type of quality hockey that I'm expecting and frankly this tournament

deserves a Canada USA final I don't care how they have to make it happen if Bevin has to step in and say sorry Sweden just not happening I don't care how many points you have it's funny you mentioned Sweden doesn't feel like US doesn't feel like the Finns are gonna be able to do it doesn't like you know I think the Swedes and even the Swedes you know like Down the middle of the ice They don't instill a lot of confidence in me the Swedes like I really think they're built from the back end out where their

Goaltenders got to play great I think they have some of the best shut down defensemen in the NHL playing on that group Eric Carlson looked great in the first game I thought you know in that situation playing with some good players great in the first game. I thought in that situation, playing with some good players and a steady partner, he looks awesome. But ultimately, if you're relying on Zabaniad and Pettersson to go head to head against the big boys for Canada and the US,

you're asking a lot out of guys that are on the wing, Kempi, Nylander, Jesper Bratt. It's not easy to have wingers kind of drive those lines along. You need the center man, and this tournament should probably show that. Dude, just think about the center, and we're gonna see going toe to toe tomorrow.

You have Matthews and Eichel and McDavid and McKinnon. I mean, it's going to be just incredible, incredible theater in Montreal tomorrow night. Canada, the United States. Well, Abob Weshuzin joined the show just after 6 o'clock. He was on the call last night for ESPN for the American 6-1 win over the Finns. Mark Kestasher live from NBA All-Star Weekend later in hour number 3. Coming up next, a Valentine's Day spectacular segment that Doie and yourself Frank came up with and your lovely wife Jeff

Jeff Jess, I have Jeff O'Neil on my mind. I gotta tell her about that. Listen, it's a compliment Love it or loathe it the much anticipated Valentine's Day debut. It's next. Welcome into Love it or loathe it here in our two of overdrive on this mail it in Friday. That's my sexy game show voice here on Valentine's Day, Frank. How did I do? Pretty good, man. So it's love it because on Valentine's Day, you know, everyone's full of love. You got your special someone. You're going on a date. You're bringing the flowers and it's loathe because if you're not with someone but you see your ex with someone you just loathe that. You definitely would. You hate it so much. And I think there's also people who loathe.

Was that Newman from Seinfeld? I loathe you. I'm quite sure that was Newman. There's people who hate the commercialism aspect of Valentine's Day. How it's this holiday that basically forces you to spend a bunch of money when Really, why do you have to do that? It's just every day Valentine's Day shouldn't it should be for you. It should be for you All right. Why don't we start with some questions that do Has come up with and he's been hard at work on love it or loathe it since the morning. A first date being on Valentine's Day,

do you love that or do you loathe it? I loathe that. I think you're setting yourself up for failure with the first date on Valentine's Day. I don't know, like the first date should be a standalone event not associated with something that is gonna come around every year like Valentine's Day where, you know, like you mentioned, the commercialization of it

leads to having to do more. I don't know, I just, I like the fact that you can have your special day as your first date and it's not affiliated with Valentine's Day. Totally with you. It puts way too much pressure on a first date as well. Valentine's Day is the day of love and you're meeting this person potentially for the first time, going out with them for the first time.

It's a preposterous idea, not recommended. Something that I have never heard of nor should anyone look to do it. It's a really poor choice. It's also like one of those things like a first date doesn't have to be fancy sit down dinner. It could be a couple of cocktails. It a first date doesn't have to be fancy sit down dinner. It could be a couple cocktails, it could be coffee, I don't know. It kind of pigeon holes you, I think, making the first date Valentine's Day. You're absolutely right.

I'm with you. The bar scene on Valentine's Day night, Frank, do you love it or do you loathe that I may be venturing into the bar scene later tonight? Well, I see this is not something I'm familiar with as it's been a long time. I don't know if I've ever been out to a bar on Valentine's Day just because even during the season, like back when I was single, you're just... I don't know if it ever landed on a day where you were going out. I'm going to say I love it because hey, if you're not with anyone, why not go out to

the bar, see what's going on there's other people that might be looking for that special someone and maybe you find someone that you've been looking for I love it man go out there see who's out there. I think it's a great night for love and the pursuit of love because you know if you're out there and you're by yourself or maybe with another friend it's likely that you're on the market and it really makes a lot easier a lot easier to determine who is indeed available John Tavares Frank could very well be available as a pending unrestricted free agent do you love or loathe this idea for the Toronto Maple Leafs a

four-year deal six point five million dollar AAV. Actually don't loathe it, I just don't love it. But I guess if you forced me to pick I would say loathe it. You can either confirm or deny it. Thank you. Oh it's weird how all these things are just exactly the same. Every, it's not weird, that's a radio construct. Every segment is the same with different names and different drops.

I would prefer to have the AAV, and I know the cap is going up, but the AAV just a little bit lower, and I probably don't want to commit to four years at this point. Why can't it be a two-year deal? I'd be willing to go to three, and I guess you would say, well, if you're willing to go to three, why go to four well four just makes it like a Midterm deal, and I would probably want to keep it a little bit shorter I'd also want to see what happens in the playoffs like are the Leafs gonna have success is it something that you want to double Down on and like four years just it's it's a little too much and like I guess you know six and a half million You would probably be looking for more of a hometown discount

Than that going forward. I think it's so interesting that with Tavares and some of his Contemporaries using the names like Braden Shen and Nazem Kadri who are around the same age as John Tavares Jen makes six point five now for the next three years Kadri Is he just on over seven for the next four something in that ballpark. So there are Leaf fans out there who are clamoring for Toronto to trade for these guys and I think both are inferior players to John Tavares at this point in their respective careers. If you're a Leaf fan and saying oh the Leafs should go out and trade for Braden Chen, give up assets

to bring in Braden Chen and then the six point five million dollars for the next three years then you should be delighted by the prospect of signing john devars for six point five million dollars a week because he's a better player than brain shinnies yeah i i get it and i think like it's crazy to say that to because the cap is going to be going up we're going to have a little more roster flexibility all that kind of stuff i don't know there's just something about the fact that it hasn't necessarily worked here with this group and maybe that'll change this year

but if you're gonna bring but let's say everything kinda remain the same we you went around and then you go out in round two which is the furthest they've been in this whole group's tenure. I don't know, you're basically saying we're happy with bringing everyone back, and with I guess with that result, and it puts you in a situation where you're like, wouldn't you like to get a little bit of a discount on that? I know there's going to be teams that want to pay and maybe Stamcoast money, but Toronto's got to find a way to bring in some other players to get a different

look at things if it doesn't necessarily work don't they? I completely agree and I think a lot of it is going to be about how much Tavares is willing to accept deferred money down the road is he willing to go full Shohei Otani? How much money can you accept as a deferred payment in the NHL know I love the deferred money thing. I think it's a pretty smart move Oh, yes, it helps the team out but think about this like, you know And these guys have all made a lot of money

But not everyone has made enough money to the point where they never have to do anything again for the rest of their lives But if you can find a way to pay yourself for 10 years, call it. That's what Frank Vetrano did in Anaheim. He's essentially paying himself for 10 years, $900,000 a year, in retirement. That eats up 10 years of time where you're going to go from zero income to when you get your pension at 62. That's pretty significant, man. You can plan your life out pretty nicely that way, and it didn't cost you anything. So I don't know, I think it's a nice way to go about doing business especially when it helps the team. Yeah it helps, it would help the team immensely, there's no denying that.

If you can get that cap hit down and that would be very advantageous for the Toronto Maple Leafs and we'll see what happens with that in the second half of the season. All right, do you love it or loathe it? Brad Marshand and Sam Bennett playing on the same line tomorrow night for Team Canada. Dude, I love this. And how can you not?

Both those guys, the amount of sandpaper, they're gamers, they're in-your-face type players, and you know they're going to be going head to head against the Kachucks, and and who's gonna get the upper hand I just think with with both those guys playing together There's a good chance they feed off each other as well. And like wasn't it Bennett and Marshan? Mart like Bennett had the punch to the face of Marshan in the playoffs last year And that was a controversial moment and both these guys are gonna be playing together and I guarantee you they're

gonna be side-by-side they're gonna be warriors and it's just it could be an absolutely great combination to see I love it and Seth Jarvis on the right side as well I think that will be a chaos line I believe doogie coined that term earlier today the chaos line and they will not be fun to play against really there are no players who are fun to play against on Canada or the United States the teams are literally stacked with superstars up and down the line up. It's fun it's fun playing against good competition you know what I mean like the guys that can really move and the guys that are super skilled it is fun to play

against those guys it's not fun to play against those guys. It's not fun to play against Sam Bennett when he's going to run you behind the net or Brad Marchand when he's going to stick you when the plays go in the other way or he's going to try and lick your face. That's not exactly fun. No, that is something I would want to avoid at all costs if I was an opposing player. Let's talk about Marcus Stroman. We had Jose Batista on in the first hour. His former teammate, he is not offering flexibility to New York Yankees saying, I'm a starter, I won't pitch out of the bullpen. Do you love that or do you load that? If you're the Yankees or perhaps if you're Marcus Stroman, Frank?

I load it just because we've kind of seen the Marcus Stroman show and we know what it's all about, like we're familiar with it here in Toronto. And I still kind of fall into the category of you got to do what's best for the team if they're the ones that are cutting the checks for you. And the reality is, you know, not every pitcher that's ever been a starter in the major leagues will always remain a starter. There's some pitchers that are just going to have to transition at some point. That's par for the course for some guys. Maybe he's one of those guys. I find things can be loud around him and it sounds like they are still loud.

Yeah. Time goes on and you're not necessarily the player you once were. And I think Marcus Strohman is a prime example of that. I think for the Yankees, they would love to have the flexibility of perhaps using Strohman as a starter down the road. But as currently constituted, they have a rotation that doesn't require Marcus Strohman services.

They're paying them a ton of cash. Suck it up, Marcus, this is my advice to you. Go to the bullpen, there will be an injury and you'll be a starter again in no time. Don't put up a stink and cause a fracas when it's completely unnecessary before spring training even begins. You're not that great anymore. You need to accept reality.

Well, I guess that's the thing. It's like, okay, so if he causes a scene about this and then he goes somewhere else, where is he going to be a starter? He's obviously going to a much less competitive team, unless there's a good team out there that has room for him in the rotation, which you would think, you know, go through the list, like even the Blue Jays, they have their rotation pretty much penciled in right now. It's kind of hard if you're not in someone's plan. So, you know, if you're going to a much inferior opponent,

you're basically just going to say, I'm just going to pitch my innings and my games and not necessarily worried about winning at this point. Last one for love it or loathe it. It involves Travis Kelsey, a man who is very much in love with perhaps the most famous woman on the planet, Taylor Swift. The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly given Travis Kelsey a deadline to decide his future with the team. I believe that deadline is March 14th. Do you love that or do you loathe it?

I love it because A, I feel like it's enough time after the Super Bowl has passed to know exactly what you want to do. B, this is a team that still wants to remain highly competitive, so they're going to need some time to make their plans and plan a contingency path without him if he's not going to play. I think the team has to take care of their business, and they're doing it in a way that seems fair to him because you would have a good idea whether you want to Come back or not, you know with what is it six weeks seven weeks after a Super Bowl has finished Yeah

I feel like he probably knows at this point what he's doing and you saw the clip on new heights his podcast with his brother Jason talking about how difficult this decision is going to be a difficult the season that he just endured was especially the way it ended against the Eagles so it wasn't a great game for him either I was terrible some of the highlights look showing us what he was couldn't walk they were just getting bullied around and no man everything comes to an end right I mean it's sad he's such a great player but he's just not what he once was and you wonder if the Chiefs probably acknowledge that as well. And considering that cap hit, then all the oxygen he chews up.

And I think they want Travis Kelce back, needless to say. Still a guy who had close to 100 receptions during the season, but 36 years old, I mean, he's getting up there. I know. And the thing is, so you just got to a Super Bowl. It's your third in a row that he's been to, and you lost. But if you come back next year, are you going to get to a Super Bowl again?

There's no guarantee you get there. You could fizzle out at some point. I think a lot of guys, yeah, you're not going out on a high, but you got there again. I don't know. What would be the motivating factor to come back? I guess you want to win, you think you can, but I don't know, it's not easy. There's no guarantee you can get back there. He's done it all. He's one of the best tight ends in NFL history, one of the best playoff performers in NFL history. What more needs to be said about

the career of Travis Kaliske? If he wants to come back, he should come back, but I don't think anyone would cast aspersions on him if he decided to step away. Bob was choosing in about 20 minutes. Mail It In Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy a $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree, a side, and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food.

See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston Pizza. Maybe it's a place I could spend my Valentine's Day. Certainly worse establishments to go than Boston Pizza. Again, Bob Washusen coming up, Mark Kestasher from ESPN. This is our two of Overdrive on this Melodyne Friday. Melodyne Friday is brought to you by Boston pizza Canada's favorite sports bar Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less

A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza our two continues here on mail it in Friday pizza. Our two continues here on mail it in Friday. Corona Corrado overdrive is brought to you by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. So the Philadelphia Eagles were celebrating their Super Bowl victory. I mean you hear these stories from every parade seemingly a couple people were shot and it's just such a disgrace and now you're celebrating such an incredible victory for your team your, and then you have a couple of idiots who do a terrible thing and kind of ruin it for everybody else.

But that's kind of how it went there. But there were some redeeming moments aside from that awful thing that happened, including the GM of the Eagles who had a beer can tossed at his head and left a big welt. Dude, with a massive Stokey too. Hey, yeah. So it just makes it so much better. The fact that he's got the Stokey, how long does it take to smoke a Stokey like that?

That's like an hour. I think that's like that's an hour long smoke that one. For sure. And we've seen some great parade moments over the years, including here in Toronto back in 2019, Kawhi Leonard and Marcus Saul and Kyle Lowry how incredible that day was while Quinion Mitchell of the Philadelphia Eagles, let's just say he was having a time, let's take a listen. He's got his boys around him protecting him because if Quinian was given the microphone

and just was allowed to continue, he's yelling and screaming, probably would have said some regrettable things. So kudos to his teammates. He's going to blow a vocal cord yelling like that, man. He was excited. That's not an easy thing to do. So Doogie had a great idea of putting together some of the great parade moments over the years. And maybe Quinian Mitchell's screaming Go Eagles

is not at the top of the list. But I think everybody can agree, Bret Hall, and any time the opportunity is given to me to play Bret Hall at the St. Louis Blues Parade back in 2019, you got to take it. And here it is. Glory, Gloria! Gloria!

Gloria! I think I got your number! Gloria! You make sure you tell all these guys that deserve this, they are the champions. They are from Petro to Teresenko to O'Reilly to Pertuzzo to every single guy. They are the champions. I love Bret Hall so much. I love Bret Hall more than life itself.

God bless Panger going over and just putting a hand on his back. Let's get you going. All right, Bret. Holly. Come on, buddy. Listen, you win a championship, you kind of get a free pass within reason, of course, but that's good stuff, man. Bret Hall. I love Bret Hall. reason of course but that's uh... it's good stuff man bret hall i love joining it i love the fact that he's

singing the glorious on but like a completely different stuff about the speaker sherry and i has the beer is left hand and it's just a beautiful beautiful sight korey crofford of the black hawks back in the day i'm sure if this was the twenty ten paraded twenty thirteen parade for the black was between fifteen uh... this guy had a lot of uh... he wasn't there in 2010 was an anti-Niemie the goalie for right for the black ops In 2010 so it's 13 or 15 for Corey Crawford and let's just say he got in one. I

Got a little present here. It's a trophy we give out after every game The belt I think it should go to the best player in the playoffs number 50 Corey Crawford Right Chicago Biggest bunch of beauties in the league work their n***s off for this trophy No one will ever take this away from us! We're the champs! Just came in guns ablazing too. So beautiful. I love Corey Crawford. That's so good. That's so good, man.

You know what? We've been talking a lot about the goaltending at the the four nations for Canada but if you took away you know Kerry Price for a certain amount of time Corey Crawford is probably the best Canadian goaltender along with Braden Holtby and I'm not sure right in my head who else would have would have fallen in there if Kerry Price wasn't playing but like it's it good, right? But Corey Crawford was not what Hellebuck is or Vasilevski is. He's a good goalie. Same with Braden Holtby. So you bring it up. I mean, the three goalies for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey

were Price, Holtby, and Crawford, which makes all the sense in the world. I mean, Holtby had a ton of success with the Caps, and Crawford won cups in in 13-15 Chicago. That's what Noodle always says, right? He always says Canadian goalies, yeah, we haven't had the superstars, but they've been good enough to win Stanley Cups and quite often. Yeah, and look at this team we have for the Four Nations phase-off, right?

Jordan Bennington in 19 with the Blues, Aidan Hill a couple years later with the Vegas Golden Knights. What that means for 2025, I guess we have to wait until tomorrow night and even next Thursday to find out. But this tournament is so short and a couple of mistakes. And you saw it last night with Hellebuck, right? That first goal that Finland scored, even the first period and a half where you're thinking, what's going on with this American team?

Are they any good? Is Finland a team we just overlooked? And then the third period rolled around the US just took it to finland once they made those line changes in it is or just actually also sorrows like and sorrows was playing dodgeball unfortunately when you want that first goal went in the yokey harry you call on hellebuck was a little party like all my god that's playoff helle buck, and it's not even April, and he hasn't played 62 games yet.

Like, a little bit of concern, but then he was fine. He settled in fine after that. I'm looking at the 16 team. Jake Muzzin was part of Canada in that season. Jay Beaumeister, who represented Canada so many times. He was a lock. For all those teams, Beaumeister was a lock. Oh, just such a good, steady defenseman, right? He was a lock. For all those teams, Bo Meeister was a lock. Well, just such a good, steady defenseman, right?

Right, yeah. He was there forever. Alex Patrangelo, of course, would have been on this year's Four Nations team if he hadn't suffered that injury, and you'll probably see him in 26, assuming that all gets rectified with regards to his health. So it's amazing to think about where Canada has come and where we are at this point in time with all the skill up front and I mean clearly awesome roster constructed over the years for Canada maybe it's more so the Americans that have really progressed here and we're gonna see it tomorrow night Canada USA at the Bell Center we have a couple great guests coming your way Bob with shoes in and Mark Kessisher ahead in

our three of overdrive on this Melodin Friday.