OverDrive - OverDrive - February 19, 2026 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson/John Schneider

Episode Date: February 19, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson on Canada and Finland's semifinal, Sidney Crosby playing through an injury and Connor McDavid becoming the next captain. Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider on the Blue Jays' season outlook, managing expectations on the team and the spotlight of the roster and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

With corporate traveler, you get a dedicated travel expert and 24-7 support. So business travel feels effortless. Big meetings land. Business grows. With corporate traveler, the booking is just the start. Search corporate traveler today. The NBA is going to attempt on clamping down on tanking. How Adam Silver is sending out a document to all the GMs.

what could this possibly are they just going to have a lottery like a traditional lottery where anybody can get the first like how do you prevent tank and what measures do you think he's going to go to here it's a great question because all eyes are on it and this is what's tough about the NBA is they've had to put out so many fires and they create their own fires and then you know like the NBA is back tonight we're off the All-Star break the Rappers are playing tonight and we're talking about tanking you know Like there's great stories in the NBA. Yeah, like could he not have waited until the summer to address that? Like, why did it have to be the day before startup?

Right. The day of startup. That's my thing here with Silver. It's like, well, they just hammered Utah and Indiana. So that became a massive story. And now you're out of the break and you're talking about tanking again, or it's being reported on what you've sent to the 30 GMs. You're not going to figure it out between now and the end of this season.

So I get it. I admire that they're going to try to figure out. I'll believe it when I see it. I don't think you can have a tournament. I'm just wondering what they could do, Brian. Like what? Well, these guys love tanking, man. Yes.

And I understand why, because of the nature of the sport, where if you get one great, great, great player, it changes everything for you. More so than any other sport outside of maybe a great quarterback in the NFL. That's it. Like, if there's a great quarterback at the top of the NFL draft, you get a tank for them. and if there's a superstar talent at the top of the NBA draft like Wemby or LeBron or whatever,

they're going to tank for it because it's worth literally hundreds of millions of dollars to have that player on your team. I know, dude, but when San Antonio got Wembe, I think they had the fifth worst odds. They moved up. They backed into Wemby. They didn't tank and were the worst team in the league. You're right, but there was a lot of tanking going on that year. Everyone was dropping off trying to get him.

But they've proposed or it's been thrown out. there the idea that they'd actually have a tournament. Like the teams that missed the playoffs would play for the number one pick. I think that would actually lead to just as much tanking. Teams in the middle are like, man, maybe if we miss the playoffs because we're going to get pumped. Yeah, we can go play for it. You can go play for first pick. Like if I'm an owner, I'm like, let me get this straight.

We're going to back the door into the playoffs and get pumped. That is ridiculous. There's enough games. They already have the other tournament where you end up in Vegas. The players come. stuff. Nobody wants to play more games. The only way to do it is through the draft, you're going to have a traditional draft

where there might be some type of percentages, but everybody can win the lottery. I don't know. But other organizations are going to say every other one of these organizations that have been terrible, they've had a way out of it. That's their way out of being terrible. And if they don't get the chance, they're like, now we're getting screwed. And my stance on it has always been, I think the NFL's got it right. If you're last, you get the first pick.

I get they do the lottery to avoid it. The reality is there are some teams. They're not tanking. They just stink. They're awful. It's unfair to their fans to be a fan of a team that's horrendous. And then you don't have any light at the end of the tunnel because you might lose the lottery and pick fourth. I think the NBA, Brian, if they did that, it would be way worse.

Like the race to get to dead last would be disgusting. It would be, but at the same time, you got to, I think what he's going to do is probably look at, you know, a certain, trying to police who's playing, how often they're playing, when they're playing. I don't know how you do it. I really don't. I don't have an answer for you. But he's the commissioner, so he's got to figure it out. This is your job. You make $50 million a year to figure it out or whatever is.

But there's workarounds, too. You know, if Kauai doesn't want to play in back-to-backs, they're going to figure out how he doesn't want to play in back-to-backs. That's, you know, that's, that's, that's, well, I was a pioneer, man. He was, like, literally, he was a pioneer of load management boy. And, and, and what happened is everybody caught on, and now it's, now in the NBA, it's an epidemic.

So you've got to figure out how to, how to not do that. It's crazy how, you know, that sport is, it just becomes acceptable. What, do you expect them to play two games in a row in two days? Are you crazy? Like, that's, that's insane. That's where they're at the NBA. Yeah. It's where they're at.

Listen, these guys are massive human beings. Massive human beings. And running up and down the court. It's a very taxing sport. Then protect them. Spread out the schedule. Yes. Don't have back to backs.

Don't have back to backs. Just say, you want to do the anti-tanking? Say, we're not going to do back-to-backs. We're going to spread the schedule out so these guys have a day in-between games mandatory. Start earlier and make it 72 games instead of. And you got to play. Something like that. Again, you're looking at revenues, basketball is a very high revenue sport.

There are creative ways to sort that out to make sure that the product doesn't suffer. You heard me yesterday complaining about the product of the NHL because of the jammed-in schedule. Like that's stuff that has to be sorted out because when the Olympics are over and it's the stretch drive down into the playoffs, there is going to be some dog games as usual because guys are going to be dog-tired, right? Well, the NHL is going to add games and add teams. So the NHL is different. They're regional and they're going a different direction. You know, the NBA, they make so much money with national TV and stuff.

You think it's possible to contract games. But they're probably going to do with the NHLs to it. They're going to add teams and stay around 82 games. All right, joining us now on the Maple Toyota Hotline, live from Milan. Here's our main man, our TSN hockey analyst. Mike Johnson. What's happening? Johnny, chow.

Chow. Bonjourno, fellas. How are we doing? It's been a minute. I've been watching you, but I haven't seen you. It's 11 o'clock here. Canada recovering from that tough overtime lost by the women. Played a great game.

I actually was able to go to Canada Hockey House to watch it with some of the parents and staff and a whole bunch of people were there. Wayne Gretzky was great, ready to celebrate. And then it's the worst when you lose because it just wah, wah, wah. Everyone just, like, walks out of there like nothing. It's going to party and then just get home. It's the worst. It's terrible.

Yeah, stuff. Yeah, it is. And with, like, where this game lines up in the scheduling, you can party, right? It's Thursday. You could party for two or three more days. You know, it's different on the men's side. I saw Brendan Morrow was on Chaser's podcast, Chaser and Brett Hall. And he was talking about winning the gold in 2010 and how guys just took off because they're like,

we've got to get back to the NFL. We're out of here. There's no party. We're leaving. We're gone. Like, we're showering, saying goodbye, and we're leaving. The women, the Americans are going to party for like three days in that village. And I don't know.

That would make me on the opposition to want to go home immediately. I just, I can't watch them. Like, if I saw them running around, hammering beers and carrying their, it would make me sick. I couldn't do it. Yeah. And they're all friends, right? Like, they all played UWHL together, college together. It's not like they're just randoms.

you're like, you kind of have to talk to them and see them. I'm with, oh, I'd be like, nope, next flight out of here, I'm out. I don't need to the war. I don't want the closing ceremonies. I always want to get out of here and process this on my own. Yeah, no, that one stung, man. It was a great guy. They had it.

They had it. They had it. They played so well. Yes. Best game they played all tournament by a mile. Definitely. Well, you know, we were wondering coming off that, we don't believe it changes anything for the men's side in terms of pressure.

They had the pressure anyway. Canada, USA, whoever won the game today, the women's side. It might be inspiring for the Americans. Maybe it's inspiring for the Canadians, but the pressure wasn't going to change. If Crosby doesn't go, how does that affect your viewpoint of playing Finland tomorrow? If you get through them, presumably playing the Americans on Sunday, how much does it change your prediction of Canada winning the next two games if Sid can't play?

It changes it quite a bit when you couple it with Nathan McKinion. playing like he's not 100% healthy either. Like if Nate was full bore and going like McDavid is, then I would be totally okay with Nick Suzuki sliding in that hole, playing with Stone and Marner and being pretty good because they would have two lines charging. But what Sid has done by that line has made it

the second best offensive line while Nate has had a hard time finding chemistry or finding the connection or finding the game or finding the health to be as good as they need him to be. So if you take Sid out and you put Nate in even compromised, then it starts getting a little bit thinner down the middle because that was supposed to be the great advantage of Canada. Nick Suzuki is going to have to be really good. But to beat America without Crosby,

without Morrissey maybe, and without a healthy McKinnon, that's going to be a task the way they play defense. The Americans would and should go into that final if they play each other as a pretty considerable favorite. So Johnny, I'm sure we're going to bring up Mitch Marner at some point. I'll leave it to the guys, but I want to talk about Jordan Bennington. You know, again, what do you make of his performance? We were talking about it yesterday of him being, you know, a clutch goaltender in big situations, makes the big save at the right time.

I mean, you laid eyes on it. You're right up and close and personal. You know, what do you make of his performance and maybe a little bit of his legacy and what you can make of how he's able to raise his game in big situations? sort of belies reason, doesn't it? Like there's not a lot of, like you watch his play this year and you look at his numbers. You're like, why would this guy be able to do this? Because if he can just do it, why doesn't he do it for St. Louis, right?

But for whatever you want, like he has a way to win games. Like, I don't love his rebound control noodles. He's kicked some pucks out in some bad spots. But, you know, he made a save on nature, so on a breakaway two times. He had Cimic staring him down in overtime. He gives his team a chance to win when he's, plays for Canada. Now, he clearly has asked to do a lot less

for Canada than he's asked to do for St. Louis and maybe that helps him. But he does enough. And I think in Canada, we care, especially internationally, only about one thing. We do not care about gold save above expected. We do not care about save percentage.

We care about Ws, golds, titles. And if he wins that, Stanley Cup, Four Nations hero somehow gets into a gold medal on and what is now a sort of injury-depleted team, he's checking off a lot of the boxes of stuff that the greats haven't done as the starter.

So it would be impressive. There's still, though, like a sense of a little unease. Like, you know, you're confident because he's done it, but you're not positive that he's going to make every single see. There's a little bit of that, oh, boy, but he does enough, and that's all that really matters. Johnny, I have a proposition for you and your nerd bean counter friends, but I don't think you'll like it.

What about with the absence of Sidney Crosby, Sammy Bennett elevation, say Sammy Bennett, it's your time. You're the second line centerman for the Panthers on cup runs. Why don't you do some damage out there, Sammy Bennett, or do you and the bean counters say no to that? Me and all my bean counters would say no to that. That's disgusting. He's been sick.

Well, I mean, I look at a guy who's got 40 points. We're going to put Nick Suzuki there, a guy who's got 70. You tell me. Well, who won the conspics and won two Stanley Cupson is the best player that steps on the ice? What are your bean counters think of that? I think that Nick Suzuki won the MVP of the OHL, and when he's been in the playoffs, he's produced very well, albeit not all the way to the Stanley Cup. And Sam Bennett hasn't been impactful yet in this tournament.

Now maybe he's waiting for this time, but I can see him being a bit of a rovero. I'll give you that much. I'm not going to ask him to drive a line because right now I think you need sort of as much cohesiveness as you can find because the line's going to be all over the place. You got McDavid's line, McKinnon's line. I think Suzuki goes right into Crosby's spot if Sidney Crosby can't play. But I think Sam Bennett maybe find some time with McKinnon. or maybe if McKinning goes to the first line,

they put a Bennett, Wilson, Horvatt, energy, physical line together. But he just hasn't played a lot of minutes. He hasn't played a big role. He hasn't had a huge impact, despite his great resume-o. I think he'd be asking a lot to throw him into a game that's be pretty tough

and expect him to drive a line on his own. As a professional puck-knower, and you are as well, I'm surprised you dropped O HL playoffs on me right there like it was some kind of mic drop. It wasn't. I'm just saying you can only be good in the big moments

in the big moments that you've played in. He's not been in a world championship. He's not been in the Stanley Cup final. So his next biggest moments, NHL playoffs, he's been very productive and the next biggest one before that was where he was one of the best players in the OHL playoffs. I mean, you can only go by

what you have. It doesn't mean, everything, but it means something. Yeah, I mean, Bennett, we'll see. Like, the illness is interesting. I didn't realize that's why he didn't play the other day. That came out, I believe, today. And did you see him, Hayes, in the stands?

I was wondering when they showed him, he was by himself. I'm like, where's Kemper? That's not good. Where's Morrissey? I think it's because he was sick, and he was sort of isolated, even in the stands to watch the game by himself. Yeah, that's trouble. But I just, I think, you know, Finland's a different beast, and they've got to get through that. It does feel like the Americans.

You know, we've talked about this for the last year. The IOC, WHO, how they're going to call the game. You know, it's not four nations. It's not fights off the draw. It's not. It's going to be played differently and called differently. But I look at Sam Bennett, if he's healthy, as a guy against

the Americans, I want him over the boards playing 12, 13 minutes. Like, go create space. 100%. Go hit people. 100%. You know. You know what's going to happen? They're going to try to sick the Kachucks on McDavid the same way they did on dry

title. Right? It's the same idea. Bump, bum, bum, bother him, face wash him, always a bridesmaid them, whatever. And in that moment, guess who I want on McDavid's wing? Sammy. Sammy Bennett to go to Matthew and Chuck say, Matt, love you? You touch him again. We're going to fight. We're both getting kicked out of this game. Or I'm going to run Quinn Hughes into the 14th row and get suspended, but I don't care because I'm not playing another Olympics. That's what I want that guy there for in that game. I'm so jacked off for Sunday. You're not finding that on a grid somewhere. But they have to get there. Yes. And I think, you know, coming off the emotion and the fatigue and the injuries and the illness and Finland's actually played quite well other than their first game where they were sort of goalied by Slovakia. Like I think Suzuki's probably a better fit in that game. But you get to America.

Oh, we'll have this conversation again. I would startle. Like I'm like, send a message. That's it. Charlie McAvoy you're running around. guess who's back. It's going to be McDavid between Wilson and Bennett. Have that it, boys.

Try them and see what they do. Like, yes. Like it won't be the same. There won't be the fights. But that kind of energy, especially early for Canada, say, we're not dealing with any of that nonsense. You guys, you guys want to play that chippy in your face, really push the limits.

We got guys who can push them further than you. And we're going to use them. That's what they're here for. So, Johnny, we were talking about earlier, again, this is if Crosby goes, I still have a feeling Crosby is going to find a way to get into a game if they get to the gold medal? No, not tomorrow. If they play

on Sunday. If they get there. And I'm saying if, because I don't want to put the cart before the horse. But do you envision, as far as the deployment of minutes, could you find double shifts from McDavid in a center position? Like, that's, you know,

to me, this guy can handle, we were talking, like, he can handle 24, 25 minutes. And if only two games, you do it against Finland, and if you make it to against the U.S., would you not be, you know, not too shy to be moving him around the lineup? Yeah, 100%. But I don't think it's a double shift noodles. I think they just play his line a boatload.

Like, I think it's a single shift, but it's Celebrina and him get, you know, 22, 23, 24. They did not play a lot early. The first couple games, like 16 minutes, 17 minutes, 15 minutes. So for Connor, that is way less than usual. But what you can't do is what we saw Germany do. Like they ran Leon Dreisel into the ground. So by the end, he could barely play. Like you need Connor to get there and be great.

But it was wild watching against Chequia where, you know, the super deep, Uber talented offensive team by Canada, you were basically saying, God, I hope Connor McDavid can get them a goal because nobody else is going to. Like that's sort of. what it's not quite that and it didn't because zooki got one and marner got one but that's how it's sort of developed a little bit with mckinan's injury and crosbie's injury with mike johnson and you know you mentioned marner

and uh we had a lengthy discussion about it was a remarkable and how he's played and the reaction mark stone saying the clutch thing maybe it's a toronto thing and that was a dick comment i couldn't stand that comment well you know what that says oh it just tells you that the Toronto Maple Leafs love them or hate them like they matter and resonate more than anything else around the NHL as far as a club.

That's what a hazy said. But like everybody sort of loves to take pot shots. Everyone loves to poke up the, you know, needle them a little bit, the fans, the 67. Like, you know, if Mitch Martin had the exact same track record in Nashville, Mark Stone is not saying that. He only says it's because it's Toronto. if he had that same track record in Winnipeg.

He wouldn't say that about Carter Hellebuck. No. And Winnipeg. Same thing sort of holds true, doesn't it? But he would never say it because he's not going to bother. But they do it to Toronto because they know it gets a rise. Marchand, Dowdy, all the great guys who come in and kind of stir it up that way. Yeah, it just sort of tells you that how much Toronto resonates around the league.

Yeah. Well, and listen, it was a great play. It was a phenomenal play. Yeah. And, you know, again, if Sid's out, I know we're going to look up the middle of the ice. but Marna's not playing with him anymore, you know, and he's got to elevate and he's got to keep playing well. And, you know, I'm curious what else he has in store.

And guys, did you think he had a great game against Jackie? No, I didn't think he did. And I don't care. I could care less. I could care less. He had his moment. It was spectacular. I didn't think they all, no, anyone played great, Johnny.

I thought they were, you know, I thought McGiamid was moving, but it wasn't like a great performance all around. Right. Yeah. I mean, that was the team. They played against, forced them to look that way. And that's right.

Oh, like, take nothing away from Mitch Marta. That is, I'm saying he probably in his entire athletic career will never have a moment where he feels the same electricity in his body that he would have felt when he scored that goal. Like, I don't know if it can ever happen. I mean, gold medal, obviously, if he scores an overtime goal. But I just don't know if it can happen. That's how unique. the environment was yesterday.

And he took it and he had to make a big play and he did and he won on three. And if Connor McDavid did that, we would be putting him on the $5 bill. Like we would be celebrating that forever. But I was talking to somebody like, why can't he score goals in Game 7s in Toronto? And I'm like, well, he had assists, but he didn't score goals. But I'll just say this. And again, I'm not diminishing anything, but just pointing out facts. NHL Game 7s are played at 5 on 5.

His two overtime goals for Team Canada are three on three. you have to be great, but it's a different skill set to do what he did against Sweden last year, against Czech another day, than it is to maybe do it in NHL overtime. So incredible for him, happy family, all of it, it's great. But the discourse around the Leafs is just all a little much. And it's, yeah, very predictable. I mean, it plays, and everyone's on board with it, and everyone's got a take on it. We'll get you out of here with a prediction here of if Sid's out,

The rules are someone has to be named captain, and I would presume they'll add another A to someone's jersey. Who's the captain if Sid's not playing, who gets the extra A? The captain is Connor, obviously. The way he's playing and the respect that he has, it's got to be him. What is? Kail McCar, the other assistant? Is that right?

I think it is. McCarr. So, McKinnon will get the other. So, Drew Dowdy on there, man. Drew Dowdy's a lifer there, dude. I know he's not a captain in L.A. They throw an A on his jersey. Come on.

I think that would almost bother Nate. I think Nate's okay with it as it is. Yeah. He'd be probably tweaked by giving it to somebody else. And Drew, tomorrow, if Morrissey plays, Drew might play six minutes. So, yeah, I'm going to think Morrissey will play, Johnny? Because he's an important guy, too. I just spent two hours with his brother.

I couldn't get it out of him. He would not give me anything at this hockey house in Canada. He would not tell me anything about him. He is very important. Like, when they elected to take Pareko, Sanheim, Dowdy, those are all defensive defenders that don't move the puck great. But they had McCar and they had Morrissey and a little bit of Theodore. When you take Morrissey on the lineup, they miss what he does because there's not many other guys in that core that do it quite like him. My sense is, oh, no, I don't think he plays tomorrow.

I think he plays Sunday. I think everyone's just going to load up Sunday and give it a whirl. If they get there for the goal, if they get to the bronze, none of them are playing. Marchand's not playing. McKinnon might not be playing. Morrissey not playing, Crotley, but if they get to the gold,

then everyone would probably be available. Well, you've got to get through Finland first. 1040 tomorrow. Have a great call, Johnny. Good stuff, buddy. We'll do it again soon. All right, fellas. I'm good weekend.

There he is. Mike Johnson, our T.S. On the Maple Toyota Hotline, it's time to Toyota with the all-electric Toyota BZ. goes from 0 to 100 in just 5.1 seconds in charges from 10 to 80% just 30 minutes dropped by Maple Toyota today. You know what I'm worried about, and this is something to deal with starting next week,

he just said like Canada's kind of the walking wounded. What is going to be the fallout for those club teams when they get back? That's for them to figure out. I understand that. But you're right, it's a problem. My point being is, like I say, we talk, about William Nealander limping into the break or not limping into the break.

Maybe the eight days is going to help him get in order. Yep. Is it eight days, seven days? He's got more time now. More time. But, you know, Marchand, that team is in one. McKinnon's not. They could take their foot off the gas there.

Morrissey, obviously, I think Winnipeg's in one or worse. But these are significant players that their club team is going, we need you when you come back. And it might have to. It may not matter. But, you know, it's true. McDavid's 100%. Like, McDavid is flying and ready to play. Wow.

You know, we'll see what happens on, you know, tomorrow and on Sunday. How many beers do you think Johnny gave Morris's brother? Five, like a five pack to say, what's giving the scoop? Yeah, you got to try to lean into him a little bit. But no scoop. I think you got to give him a beer and a shot follower. That's the only way. Like, you give him four shots.

brown liquor and he'll just be like he's playing it yeah it's Rick Bushwood and then you start there and then you move up to Stevie Caldwell on top of Rick Bushwood well Johnny evidently did not do that and we still don't know what's up with Morrissey but you're right there's a there's a lot of players man they might be limping out of these Olympic games yeah I don't think there's any debating that no all right John Snyder coming up best bet still to come overdrive continues up on YouTube live all right overdrive continues powered by Fanduel everything from the opening line of the final score. Best bets later in the hour.

It's weird because the Olympics continue, but the NHL teams are back, right? Like the Leafs are on the ice and you're getting kind of practice updates. Who's there? Who's not? Like Chris Tanna being on the ice is pretty big news, I think. You know, I'll believe it when I see it that he plays. You know, hopefully he can return. But that would be a significant impact on this team.

at least means he might want to give it one more crack before he packs it in the season. Right. Yeah, depending on what the nature of his injury has been. That's the scary part. You know, you don't know, right? So the fact that he's around and just hasn't packed it in, it is a good sign. But, you know, it always, you know, for somebody who knows him, like I met him a few times, wonderful human, great player,

you're just always wondering like, okay, is that the last time if you get, because there's been a few weird injuries and all of a sudden he's not there. That's what he's got. Like, let's just be out of it. You could tell just by the time he's missed and the severity of some of the, and the one thing that's concerning, I don't know if you guys remember when Chris Pronger got hit in Philadelphia in the corner, it was like you saw the hit and you're like, that was nothing.

And he ended up getting concussed from that. And in the same building, Chris Tannab kind of bumped into a guy and went down, and it was like, of all the punishment this guy's taken in his career and that one sent him down. So this guy's clearly got something serious. Like it's not just a Nick, but he's going to give it one more shot, it looks like, to see if he can get through this. Because it's clearly not some, you know, Nick or groin or what, it's not something like that. This guy's trying to give it one more shot. Big time.

And listen, they've got 25 games left. There's six points out. Is it worth it? I don't know. Can you reset and come back now? year, I mean, these are all questions that I'm sure they're contemplated clearly, himself, the team, everybody. So we'll see what comes of it.

Again, the U.S. beating Canada in overtime on the women's side today. The Olympic Games continuing. But it's pretty wild. We've got the Olympic games going on, and we've got spring training up and running. Back down and Don Eden. We've got games cooking this weekend down in Florida. We head there now and catch up with the manager of the Blue Jays. Here's John Snyder.

How you doing, John? fellas what's going on how you doing we're doing very well thank you for doing this um did that won't feel quick for you getting back to uh done eden or what well i live down here but yeah you're kind of blinking here it is you know everyone's back it's been great though it really has it was you know productive off season but definitely went fast definitely some different routines for guys after playing in in november but it was awesome to get everyone back here and so far so good in camp Schneides tell me this coaches worry a lot

you guys I think the players we do that to you but for everybody that thinks oh they went to the world series and everything is going to be a party and smooth sailing come spring training like what would keep you up at night these days please tell me I'd love to know nothing right yeah I'd be lying I think really I don't worry much about this group because they're that level-headed, but I think

the things that, I mean, health is always the thing, right? Health is always the thing, no matter how late you play into the season and making sure that we're kind of hitting benchmarks for everyone to get ready for the season. That's really the thing. Everyone's going to be a little bit different. Like you guys will see, pitchers will be kind of ramped up at different, you know, different speeds. That's from the physical part.

And then just the mentality part, you know, I told the guy's first full squad workout. It's, you know, hey, we're, yeah, last year was good, and we have to recognize it, and we have to understand what made us good, but we can't rest on it, you know, you have to, I said we're not defending the American League East or not defending the American League. You know, we still came up a little bit short, so we're attacking 26 like we did 25 with the goal of winning the World Series. So I think them hearing that, you know, is good, but that's how they're thinking, too, you know, and I want anyone who's new in the room to kind of hear that and not just assume that, you know,

hey, everything is smooth sailing and, you know, let's have a World Series rematch in October of this year. You know, just how we got there was what's important. Well, and you mentioned the, you know, the new guys here, but what about the guys who have left, you know, that have been pillars in that clubhouse, you know, Bow in particular, Basset the last few years. Max was only here for a year, Scherzer, but he's a massive personality and presence. Those three in particular, among others, but those three in particular, them not in the

clubhouse. How does that kind of affect the dynamic? what have you seen early in camp yeah we were looking forward to see how it kind of played out it's definitely different you know different right and i think you bring in dylan you bring in cody in the rotation and you have two more pretty unique personalities and you guys will probably get to know them and see them they're um they fit right in and in terms of bow you know yeah he was here for a long time and and did a lot of great things and um baseball everyone's going to have relationships with them. You know, I still talked, I was texting with Chris Bassett yesterday, you know,

kind of giving them some crap about when we're going to face them. And you're going to have relationships with guys that you were around for a long time. But I think when new people come in, there's always a little bit of turnover. There's always a little bit of adjusting from people that are here, you know. It's, I think Vladimir will have a louder voice. I think Kevin Gosman will. I think Dalton Varsha will. You know, that's kind of how it works. You know, it's just you move on to the next year and when you're around the same group every single day these new characters kind of come out you know and we've been really kind of paying attention we paid attention to that last year and then it became you know part of our DNA like this amazing

clubhouse culture and you have to kind of let it unfold you know um you can only say so much but you have to kind of let guys step up that need to step up or that you would think would step up and if there's things that myself or the staff have to do to kind of nudge a little bit we do that but for the most part, it's been cool to see new faces. And as good as that team was last year, I'll remember it forever. You know, I think some change can be a good thing and kind of keep people on their toes a little bit. So different, yeah, but I think we're, you know, we've been here for a couple weeks, and I think it kind of just becomes the new norm.

So, John, a new season, but you saw another level from some of your players in the playoffs last year. do you have to adjust your expectation with them? We were talking about it last hour, how well Vladdy played in the playoffs compared to in the regular season. Do you adjust your expectations for them to start the season, or do you just kind of business as usual? That's a good question. I've been asked that quite a bit in the off season,

and even when camp starts. I think that at the very least you want to kind of meet the middle a little bit. You know, the experiences that everyone gained, myself included, staff included, they have to make you better. And you have to realize that that is the highest stress environment in our sport that we went through. And it should make normal things a little bit easier. So really just asking the guys and having, you know, asking ourselves, like, hey, what were you doing in that moment? What were you doing in that three, four week stretch to where you're just kind of in the zone. Was it focused? Was there attention to detail? Was it just worrying about winning? Whatever it was,

let's dive into that. Let's talk about that. So expectations, they're going to be raised, but I think when you just expect things to happen, that's where you get in trouble. I think that guys that had these remarkable post seasons between Vladimir, Ernie, Trey, Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, it's kind of, okay, you know, Nathan Lucas, it's kind of like, okay, what did you do in the entire year and even before the year to get to that point? And how can we continue to build upon that? And how can we continue to make strides we're trying to make? But remembering that when you're in those situations,

you've already been in the biggest environment this sport has to offer. So let's try to stay in that zone as early and often as we can. That's what I was going to ask you, John. It's like guys like Ernie Komet and Lucas, like they played out of their ass. and it's like they got to be convinced or they should be able to convince themselves that and I don't think they have to be superheroes every day, but they're not just the guy anymore, but they just got to find some kind of balance there, if you know what I mean? Yeah, for sure.

And again, like I said it this year and I said it last year where I just want the guys to be who they are and not try to do things that they're not great at. You know, you work at things you need to get better on, but it's the definition of a team. You know, I still want to out team every other team. I don't want to have one player carry us. I want these guys to understand how we are built, how we function as a team, as 26, both position players and pitchers. You know, you've got to play in sync. So for all the recognition, notoriety, you know, and the numbers they put up, I still don't want those guys to try to be anyone or not.

I think when guys kind of continue to get better, then it's just, you know, it's just a better version of what they already were, which was already damn good. So it's been a constant conversation we've had with the entire group to where this is how we're built, this is what we're good at, and let's continue to lean into that. With John Schneider, manager of the Blue Jays, down and Dunedin, again, they get started this weekend back in the spring training action. You know, your rotation is, it was a strength, obviously, at times last year, certainly down the stretch into the playoffs and in the front office dumped a lot of money and resources into it.

You bring CISN, you. You bring Ponson. Obviously, Beaver wasn't here this time last year, and I know he's not ready to ramp up, but the hope is that'll be soon. How do you see this? How do you map out your rotation? You know, you said you've been down there for a week or so, a week and a half. You're dealing with some injuries.

You still have Burrios who's still here, you know, and we know what happened with him at the end of the year and into the playoffs. But it seems like you've got a lot of options, a lot of right-handed arms. You know, Eric's down there as well. You know, how do you see this plan out? because clearly the front office, and I'm sure you're aligned with them, feel like it should be a real strength for you guys. Yeah, I think when you kind of look at overall our season,

you know, there were times our starting pitching was great, and there were times our offense was great. You know, our defense was always stable. And I think that adding a guy like Dylan and Cody, it kind of just addresses a need for some swing and miss and a need for some durability and consistency. I mean, we talk about, you know, stuff and durability, you know, that's kind of Dylan C's to a T.

And when we acquired him, you know, there's a pretty clear alignment between, there was between us and him even when we were kind of recruiting him going back and forth that we feel like there's some real potential for him to get even better and to take some big jumps this year even. So that's exciting. You know, you have, you know, the old staple, just Mr. Reliable and Kevin Gosman, who I can't say enough good things about. He looks great for, you know, a guy who's, you know, getting up there a little bit,

but just comparing him to his previous spring trainings. I don't know if it was a shorter layoff, but Kev looks great, hasn't missed a beat. And then, you know, hosy too. I mean, fully healthy. He's looked sharp. His stuff is back to where it was probably two years ago in terms of velocity and breaking ball.

Changes breaking ball a little bit to make it a little bit bigger. So I love the guys are trying to evolve still too. And then that's before we've been talking about. Trey O'Savich, you know? I mean, what he did down the stretch and into the postseason and World Series was remarkable. After him, you have Eric Lauer. So we're going to try to build these guys all up as starters, obviously. And then Bebbs isn't that far behind.

You know, Beaves is throwing, feeling good. He's out to like 120 feet. Hopefully in the next, I would say, I don't know, call it week to two weeks. He's getting off the mound and kind of starting his progression. So there's options coming too. that's kind of how we look at it, you know, but feel really good about the stuff and the profile of everyone's pitches that they're pretty unique. They're definitely different from night to night and guy to guy. So you can never have enough pitching. We get that. We know that. And there's some young

dudes knocking on the door too, man. Ricky Teetamon looks great. There's some guys that are opening our eyes down here as well. Beautiful with John Schneider. Are you at all nervous with, you know, Okamoto over here that Keegan Matheson has taken the Japanese media under his wing down in Dunedden. He'll be hammered every night. I think Kings have to take it easy on the sake maybe, and as long as he doesn't have to, you know, take all the Japanese media to his favorite place,

Wawa, down here. You guys don't know about Wawa. It's a convenience store slash grocery store. Kings raise them out. But it's a whole new world, man. I mean, there is so many more people there every day. Acomoto is such a perfect fit for us. Just like his skill said, yeah, you know,

he makes contact, he can hit home runs. He's solid at third base, and he's really funny. I think that when you get to really know him, not that we do yet, but being around him every day, man, he fits right in with George, but Vlad, Vars. He's a character, and I think that there's going to be, you know, some fun to be had with the media that follows him as well. When you get to spring training, is it like natural instinct for you being the skip?

Like, do you do a once? I know my hockey coaches, like they just eyeball you up and down and take a real good peek at what you were up to in the offseason. Like, is that just like part of the gig where you just get, like, you get eyes on somebody and just say, I'm going to do it once over here. Is that just natural instinct for you to do that, or do you do that? Oh, hell yeah. You know, I haven't joined the best shape of your life club yet, but, you know, I think that the amount of time,

you hear hey what's up great to see you how's your family good oh man you look great like those lines right there like you hear that all the time um but yeah man i mean we're in touch with these guys and we're keeping tabs on them and you know especially after you know last season getting you know going through the world series playing as long as you possibly could right game seven in the world series we wanted to make sure everyone was getting enough rest but not you know getting the late start of the season so yeah you definitely do that there's some there's some guys that got after it You know what I mean? I think it's always that way every single season.

Pitchers, hitters, it's just kind of what you do when you see people. You're kind of saying, all right, were you getting after it, or where you kind of smelling your flowers or whatever they call it because we had a pretty good year, you know. But everyone is here in shape and accounted for, so that's been a good thing. This is my last one, and it's kind of a nerdy sports junkie question. But that compound down there is massive. who in the hell lays out the schedule on what everybody's doing?

Because there's a million people down there, and everybody's doing different things. Like, who maps that out? Yeah, all right. So I'm going to give some credit where credit is due. So a new staff member this year, Eric Duncan, he's a stud. He was our minor league field coordinator for, I believe, the last two or three years. Former first round pick.

He's been a hitting coach in the big leagues before. He does the whole schedule. So him and Pete lay out the pitching, where everyone's going, who's throwing, who's throwing where, how many pitches. And then DeMarlo and Dunk are kind of spearheading where everyone else is going. With Dunk doing the dirty work of kind of getting it on a computer, making sure it's all printed,

and then he sends it out the night before to everyone. And then once the day starts, it's the worst job in baseball. I've done it. Running a spring training, man, it's just everybody needs you. I feel like somebody can kind of feel my pain that I go through the regular season or where everyone needs you as soon as you walk in. hey, where's this? What machines on this field?

Who can I talk to you about this? It's going to rain. It may not rain. So it's Eric Duncan nails it, man. He's the brains behind the whole operation. And he's been nails so far. He's going to be an awesome addition to the staff. Love it. Love it. Well, we're excited to have you guys back in Duned, and that means you're coming home real soon, which is pretty wild.

I know, man. Yeah, we can't wait. It's been, there's, I can sit here and talk for hours to you guys about it. Just like the feeling we had in Toronto, the stretch and at the end of the year, man, and how the fan base was embracing us and how we felt that even in the offseason, man. We've had March 23rd circled on our calendars for a while. The day we're flying up there.

We can't wait. It's going to be awesome. Well, you've got to get through the spring first, and you guys are obviously off and running this weekend, but we can't thank you enough for taking time for us. And enjoy the spring. We'll catch up before the season starts. All right, fellas.

I appreciate it. Thanks. There he is, John Snyder, manager for the Blue Jays. That is a great question, though, O, because you see the tape all that, every day, Sports Center. It's like, guys are everywhere doing different stuff. There's a 70, like, yeah, I, and the thing is, guys are pains in the asses, too. Like, imagine dealing with all those different personalities where it's like,

you're going to be here at 10 a.m. throw 30, like, whoever puts that together, puts some serious, like, you've got to have some organizational skills, man, because there is bodies everywhere. Big time. State of the art, I mean, though, that facility is ridiculous. It's incredible. It's so cool. I did you guys a favor.

I didn't ask them for a couple of hours. But here's what I'm going to do. If anybody's going down to Dunedin in the next week or so, shoot me a note on Twitter. I'll send you an e-transfer. I need me and my brother want a couple of the new hats, maybe some other things. Let me know if you can help me out. Okay. There you go.

Let's get that credit card going on Twitter. DMs with people. Dude, I'm not going to say, what do you think I'm stupid? I don't know. I'm a little concerned. Egg avatar, some guy that just got on Twitter this minute. Can you guys imagine? I lost it all

through an egg avatar trying to get a Jay's hat. Blue Jay's hat. Everything got 30 grand. Next thing you know, have you seen, there's some people like poor Steve Coelius is one of them. I'm getting some DMs where it's like, hey, I'm going to sign up. Yeah. I'm going to sign up. I'm going to sign up for this podcast.

Eric Stevens, who covers the LA teams, he sent me it, and then I wrote back, this was like when it first came out, and I was like, dude, are you serious? I don't talk to you that often. You need me to vote on a podcast, and the response was, yes, this is real. Sure enough, I hammered it. I'm like, vote for, and then I just realized. Yeah, it's a virus. It's a mess.

It's a mess. Can't do it. Don't do it. Yeah, don't do it. All right, Best Betts coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on TSN 5. All right, best bets.

Powered by Fandu. Make your picks and assemble the same game. Parlay in seconds on the Fanduals sports book. Yeah, Raptors back in action off the break in Chicago. They beat up on Chicago. Bull's not great. Laying six and a half. I'm hammering it.

Raptor's big tonight. Healthy. The All-Stars are ready to go. Darko was there on the bench. Everyone got the All-Star experience. I love the wraps down the stretch here. Get into the playoffs. Avoid the playing.

Get into the playoffs. Figure out what you're doing here. Get healthy. Raptors laying six and a half tonight. Best bets powered by Fandul from tip-off to the final buzzer. Same game parlors around the NBA. Available on the Fanduals Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario.

All right. Next time we're on the air, Canada, Finland will be over. And they're either in the gold medal game or the bronze, one way or the other, full breakdown tomorrow. And the U.S. will be playing Slovakia. So a full breakdown on that as well. It's going to be a wild hockey day tomorrow at the Olympic Games. All right. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out.

We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV, radio, podcast, web up on YouTube live. Every show streaming live on TSN's YouTube channel. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at... Barf.

Let's change the tide. You know what you did. 4 p.m. We'll chat then. I'm Dylan Playfair. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeart Radio Network or wherever you get your podcast.