OverDrive - OverDrive - February 25, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: February 25, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Dave Feschuk for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' matchup against the Bruins, John Tavares' contract outlook in Toronto and Luka Doncic's first game against the Mavericks with the Lakers. TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the impressions of John Tavares' impending contract, Brad Marchand's role with the Bruins and the Tkachuk's impact to the league.

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Listen on the free iHeartRadio app. This Hour of Overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go, Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker. And up on TSN for Brian Hayes Jamie Noodle's McClennan Dave Festruck of the Toronto Star in here going on to happen in how we feeling this afternoon Feel like the weather is broken which is good beautiful outside loving it starting to get some snow that melts

So the the frustrating thing is your car gets dirty and you're using up all your windshield wiper fluid but outside of that I'll take it because it was ugly. What was it last week? Oh yeah. Beautiful out there. Beautiful. I'll tell you what I'm glad that it's warmed up because Toronto has decided we actually don't move snowdrifts anymore. We just let them sit there.

Yeah. And melt. That's our plan. That's the plan. Just dump it over there. Let them melt. Dump it over there and you know It'll melt at some point couple months. It'll be gone Yeah were you on the 401 today and experienced that because I the 401 was at a standstill

Because there was a giant gator that was moving snow from one lane over to the other right people were just driving by watching So it was I was very delayed getting to the studio today i came down early so i was lucky but i was like what the hell are they doing and they were moving snow around where we moving it like once it's been moved off the highway i don't know why we have to move it i don't know they were trying to clear maybe that shoulder lane or something but it was it was gridlock by york tail

like gridlock yeah it's bedlam out there man It is bedlam like that. It was a lot of snow a lot of snow But it's not like we're in South Carolina here and we don't know how to handle it You would you would think we'd have a pretty good idea now, you know City's been around for a while and yet You know, we'll let the let the Sun figure that out for us, right? warm up a little bit get the Sun out and everything's gonna to be all good. And it's going to be a fun one tonight because the Leafs have the Bruins in Boston, the Celtics are in town, you got Luca at home against the Mavs tonight.

Man, oh man. I am jacked. I'm jacked for that because I wish it was in Dallas. I would prefer if that's the one you really circle when Luca goes back there. But I've noticed Maverick fans online have noticed that like Nico Harrison, their GM, doesn't really show his face when they're playing home games. But he is on the road a lot. Oh really? So when they're on the road, because you know this Dave, it's very unique to the NBA. GMs will sit in the stands on the road in the NBA. In seats.

Yeah, they're in seats. It's the only sport I can think of that does that. That is weird. Yeah, every other sport, you're up in a luxury suite, or luxury box, or whatever, in the NBA, they will sit in the seats. So there's a booze bag right next to you with a beer and popcorn. Yes.

Oh yeah, all the time. All the time. I feel like I know this, and should know this but it just now you You it makes sense, but I just I don't know why that would happen Why would the opposing team not just go here's a suite for management? Yeah, and go sit there like that's what they do with that in the NHL NHL they do it in the NFL You've got your own usually the owner has a suite another guy You know, there's other people up there if need be and I mean I guess the answer

noodles will be the proximity to the court in the NBA right is seen as a scouting event right the scouts sit courtside the management wants to get closer because it's you know the cocky's a you know yeah bird's-eye game you can watch it from the press box feel like you get a good feeling of who's playing well the NBA is more of let's get down to the court level, see who's actually working out there. I guess, I mean, if you can't sit in a box and figure out on your team who's working and who's not

and taking a peek at the monitor, then maybe, you know, I don't know. I think that's very strange because you're opening yourself up for security incidents. Well, and we're talking legends. Like Larry Bird, when he was an executive would just be sitting in the seats. Oh yeah, Larry Bird.

Hey, there's Larry. Like Larry Bird is sitting there and some guys like I'll take two, you know, two Budweiser's beers. Yeah, Larry might grab one. Yeah, exactly. Larry might be like, that's a great idea. So I think there is, I'm curious to see if he's gonna be in the seats at crypto dot com tonight in l a which is still i can't get over that name it was

staples forever it's crypto dot com for the next twenty years in l a but if he is how are laker fans can react to this guy because they love him and he gave them lucid dot to build a mustache like they love nico harrison carry him around like in in a chair right just You know they should be so pumped up But he better not show his face

when LA is in town in his own building, but that's what i'm saying It's his building in dallas and no one sees him around there apparently over the last two weeks and to your point Hey, he's like if you're a mavericks fan who's incensed that they gave away Luca, and there are many of those, as we know, the only place you can go to heckle Nico Harrison for getting kicked out of the building might be LA. Exactly.

Might be on the road because they'd be kicking people out. They've been kicking people out of Dallas for heckling the GM, saying the GM should be fired, which I think is wrong. Did I read read this wrong that they were trying to encourage fans not to wear? Yes, that was a false. I think that was okay. That was a fake I thought about bringing it up yesterday on the show and I'm like I check myself because because I was like that's you can't do that No, you know, you cannot tell fans not to wear his jersey he was your favorite player for years so i did do was they were thrown people

of the arena for san fairo nico and that's not all like that's wrong and we have that that there is a speech you're really asking for trouble man you start doing that kind of stuff it's the state has got a lot of blow over to make the deal we we see it all the time. Was it Ottawa that didn't want to sell to the Leafs fans? You gotta stop that. Just let it all unfold. Let people have this free speech unless they cross a line. Then I get it. There is a line and everybody knows it for the most part. But I think it's ridiculous. I still think in Dallas

they're gonna have a you-know-what storm on their hands when Luca goes in and what if he puts up 40 against the Mavs? Oh and you know he likely will. He's gonna be motivated. I think he goes off tonight. I fully expect he goes off tonight. I think it's gonna be a great great show. The over-under is like 32 and a half. It's a big big number for him tonight and he looked great the other night in Denver like playing the Nuggets they look he looked really good. He put up big numbers and you know, it's a man it's it's been a godsend for the NBA because they just went through a rough patch with What's going on with the All-Star game and you know, the trade deadline was pretty crazy. We just saw Phoenix roll through town

It's wild like Kevin Durant the Suns are just they just look dead in the water and then Wemby's out for the year with an injury. And yet this is probably, you couldn't script it any better if you're Adam Silver, like prop up the Lakers, prop up LeBron. No one's talking about Brawny anymore. And let Luca and LeBron and JJ Reddick to his credit,

he's done a pretty good job there. Like he's done a pretty good job there like he's done a pretty good job and you know the question is can he defend can can that team defend enough because luca is so awful defensively yeah he just gets attacked and when he struggled early in his lakers career that's generally been the problem but they're probably going to be a three or four seed in the west lebron looks looks good if Luca looks comfortable and they go on a run. You couldn't ask for anything better if you're the NBA. That's what it is. The timing of it, if they go on a run because it all comes together at the right point, that's massive. That's a trade of the century.

Exactly. Who cares about the All-Star weekend being a joke? That's far gone if LA, you know, one of a marquee teams in the league. Like the marquee for the NBA. What do you think Dave? Do you think that there was not collusion but like the fact that it just goes Dallas to LA and there's other GMs or you know whispers out there going we would have given more for Luke. Yeah. Like do you think there was something to that? Well you know what there's something that there was a relationship between the executives right Polinka and Nico Harrison go back

a long way, and there was obviously massive discontent with Luca within the Dallas organization. Yeah. And like they hated the guy. Which is wild. It is pretty wild. It does make you wonder like what's going on there. Yeah. Like it really does. You know, yes, he's uber talented Yes, he puts up crazy numbers, but how could it get to a point where the organization? Convinced the owner as well who's not in the trenches right to relinquish that talent Yeah, and make it make sense in the prime of his career not even necessarily yet Yeah, like he's 25 years old and he's been a five-time all NBA player

and they said get him out of here for street clothes and the guy he's already in street clothes for the next month. In street clothes. It's crazy. So I mean it's scary. Yeah it is. It is. The guy gets a decent nutritionist and you know changes the light beer and it could get really scary. It is pretty wild though when you look at Luca, like he really does look, he looks out of shape. He's just out there running up and down the court yet he's such a good player and if he does figure it out then that obviously is very concerning for the rest of the NBA. So we got that going on and again Toronto, Boston, the Leeser in in Boston playing the Bruins tonight. I'm seeing John Tavares I guess

was speaking with the media but his contract situation uh... and just you know reiterating that he'd like to get something done wants to remain with the leaves great which is great and you know it's admirable and i will i will say this though if i'm john he's a smart guy

dot versus mark i listen everyone's got a different opinion on the contract, on the tenure, the fact that they haven't won, all that kind of stuff. John Tavaris has been a consummate professional as a Maple Leaf. And he plays every night and he puts forth an effort and he produces. You know, has it been worth 11 million every single game? No, but that applies to everyone. Everyone's got off nights nights everyone's got down years

when this guy gets through seven years you look back and say on average it would be like thirty four goals a year and seventy seven points that's a really good player full value full value he's brought everything he could bring to the table within reason and obviously you'd like to look back and realize okay. There's another win here there or more playoff success He's not alone in that though. They all have to own that

But I think what John? Understands and I think he'd be smart to understand those It really behooves him to sign before they get to the playoffs Because if they lose again in the first round I think he realizes I'm in big trouble just based on breaking the band based on the reaction this markets gonna have right them I can I can tell you what the markets gonna be if they look let's say they lose in the first round yeah game six game seven we go through it again you know hello darkness my old friend

immediately it's gonna be let him go get get out, we can't do this anymore, let Tavares go, let Marner go, and that doesn't mean the Leafs will act on that. Again, I should clarify, the Leafs may view it differently because they always have. They've always been much more patient and their approach has been very consistent. They believe in them and nothing has changed that in the past. I have no reason to believe it will change it this year it might but I have no reason to what I'm saying is the market in the viewpoint of it the fan base of people outside the curtain John signed an extension today be a polarizing

reaction depending on what the number is and the term and all that but right now everyone's kind of there's a malaise dog days okay that's interesting yeah John Tavaro sticking around that's cool that's he's having a great year yeah you try to work out a contract after the playoffs if it goes sour again the reaction is just gonna be it's gonna be so much louder and more negative I think Tavaro is well aware of that. Which is fair but you know he's taking he's taking care of his part and like you say seven years in he's still productive he's still a great pro you know the captaincy

goes to Austin he's still just dug in and he didn't you know he's not skating over his lip every night you don't see him pouting you don't see him being a bad teammate or anything if anything he's just done his job and been fantastic it doesn't matter. It's an $11 million cap hit and the Leafs, you know, Marner's a different situation because he is in his prime and he controls his future with the no trade clause and everything. With John Tavares and Mitch Marner, because I'll lump them both together, it's probably at this point better served to let this all play out.

Mitch Marner's going to get a boatload of money, regardless if it's in Toronto or with somebody else. It's just a matter of if it's an eight-year deal or a seven-year deal and what does that number look like. So you can kick the can down the road. Same thing with John Tavarra. Somebody's going to sign him next year. Yeah, of course.

He's playing in the league. But here's the thing. $22 million could come off the books, right? next year. Yeah of course he's playing in the league. But here's the thing 22 million could come off the books right and and if things don't go well you can reshape very quickly. We were talking about it in the green room an hour ago I'm like Sam Bennett's available if he gets the free. As of now he is yeah. As of right now. Niko Rantinen. Niko Rantinen. Like you know again these players have to choose Mitch Marner has to choose.

This is just a what-if scenario. But if Mitch Marner chooses to move on, regardless, even if they go deep in the playoffs and he's like, I just want to cash out and take my services somewhere else. You've got that cap space and you might have John Tavares' cap space, or you do until you sign him. That's 22 million. Who would you rather have moving forward if it doesn't work out? Rantonin and Bennett potentially, or other players, or those two players. Like that you can change on the fly very quickly.

Or you can acquire guys that have term on them and use that cap space. The flexibility is what Brad Tree Living and his management group have. Yes, it's very valuable. It is valuable and the cap going up. Cap going up extensively. Right, and it's valuable because you haven't had it, right? You've been locked into this group. Right. And you can talk about the Leafs have been patient and wanting to bring it back. Look, in a lot of ways, they hem themselves into having

to bring it back, right? Because various no trade clauses kicked in and, you know, Dubas in his last press conference as GM a couple years ago talked about the need for perhaps a Matthew Kuchuk type trade that could shake this group up. Sam Bennett would qualify, you know, in terms of a player who plays with that kind of reckless abandon who's a threat on the ice, a threat that the likes of which they do not have right now. No, they don't have that player in their stable. They don't have, but if Sam Bennett gets a free agency,

I was just looking at his cap, he makes like 4.4 million right now. What a bargain. He's gonna double that in free agency, and you might not love him in the regular season every game, because he just plays a hard game, he gets banged up a little bit. But game one of the playoffs, you want him in your lineup. We saw that, Four Nations, you saw that in the playoffs last year.

Ask Brad Marchand, he skated right up and punched him square in the jaw, knocked him out of the game. Like that was a serious, it was greasy, but you want that on your team. You don't want that on, you know, was a serious it was crazy but you want that on your team you don't want that on the you know facing that he would be a guy that is coveted by not only you know the leaves but thirty other oh yeah i don't know that's a guy that a lot of things or don't want to let him go well i don't think they do i mean i

i believe he has the same age in his martyr believe darren there is a represents them and and again generally speaking the way that he has gone through the procedure is let's get to free agency or get close to it and then we'll figure out what we're gonna do. And at the same time Florida has jumped on signing Reinhardt and getting out in front of the Verheggie deal. Obviously they have Kachuk and they have Barkov and Bobrovsky's making a lot of money. You know, they're committed to a number of guys. I would think they'd still have money and they would find money with the cap going up. They would do what they can to keep Bennett. But as of now, he's the lone wolf down there because

the other guys decided to sign. You know, they decided they wanted to sign and get out in front of this. I think Evan Rodriguez may have signed an extension as well. Like they've kind of kept the core together. Ackblad. Ackblad's obviously a part of that. Yeah, so they've jumped out in front of their core and locking them up. The only guy that hasn't is Bennett. But Florida's going to do everything they can to keep him.

Like there's no question about that. He will be a hot commodity. He, as he should be. But if he hits free agency, there is going to be a ton of teams throwing a lot of money at him. Just looking at Puckpedia right now, I did not realize this, but it's amazing to see sometimes things that fly under the radar.

Echblad is a UFA at the end of the season. Have you heard one word about Aaron Echblad being available? Like not, I'm just saying, without a contract. But I'm not gonna trade him, but you mean like in terms of his future in Florida. That's an own rental, technically, because if he decides I want to leave, I'm looking at he's in year eight of eight. So he's a UFA making 7.5. Sam Bennett, same thing, 4.425, year four of four, 28 years old.

Like that's two key pieces that helped them win a Stanley Cup last year, that they're deciding, oh, we'll let this play out and we can sort it out. But when you build a winner, you've been talking about this for years. Instead of the players going after you and squeezing every inch and money out of you, you wanna play in Florida?

Okay, we're gonna have some money for you at the end of the season will work this a little even they're going to have to get a little bit that's the thing you have to build that program where it's so attractive the guys will leave money on the table but you want to have a golf cart to practice every day then you know there's a price to be literally right now i have no state tax and yeah live in seventy five in sunny every day

there's a price to be paid for that yet and it's and guess what you go you would take that free agent deal in the great white north if you want but as a price we paid for taking that money to yeah and you know you're paying more taxes you might have more heat on you from media and all the rest of it and trust me that that's a factor with a lot of guys of course is absolutely it the attention you know that's

guys can live with it or guys that that don't like it. At some point it eats at them a little bit, even if it's 10%. They struggle with that. You know what made me think of it the other night watching TJ Brody, you know, like just down in Chicago quietly going about his business five interviews to five years or four years he was here. That's the thing though. I thought he handled it very well. He handled it very well. Because no one asked him to do anything.

Because he just basically made it clear, my personality is I'm not really talking or comfortable and it's like, all right, well I won't ask you anymore because you're not going to do it. Yeah. He handled this market pretty well considering it kind of went south for him the last. The last year it went south for him. Didn't go well. Yeah, went very south.

Last season. Yes. But he's out there skating around. The last year went south for him. Last year didn't go well. Yeah, went very south. Last season. Yes. But he's out there skating around. Yeah. You know, I... But I think he was more of an example of a guy that just, it didn't, he didn't care. Yeah.

You know, like there... If you want to find what people are saying about you, it's obviously much easier in Toronto than it would be in Florida or Carolina where there's a chance no one's talking about you honestly like maybe no one's talking about you up here you can find it but it feels like these teams and I'm talking the Leafs the Raptors the Blue Jays they have found a way to kind of insulate their players and create a very safe environment and they talked about it endlessly we need to make it safe for these guys.

That was the big thing when Shanahan arrived in Babcock. We gotta make it safe for these guys. What does that mean? I don't know, but when you think of the role that these guys have in the city, they donate their time in certain areas. They're definitely charitable. I've always heard that.

But for the most part, I don't hear anything. Like, no, I'm not living on King West or in Yorkville or anything that so I don't know the lifestyles of all these players and I'm not talking specifically the Leafs. Right. But even you look at a guy like Vladdy, where like Vladdy, I'm sure has has created a lifestyle up here in a life up here where he's got people that speak Spanish. Yeah. He speaks Spanish with them. And he's goes to the park and then does the same thing. Exactly. So is it gonna be loud for Vlad? Maybe. Is he even gonna hear it? I don't know. I don't know if Vlad is gonna, you know, he's aware of the situation, but is Vlad gonna be like, man, people are yelling at me everywhere I go in the city? I don't know if

that's happening or not. Well, I don't think it's happening with him because he's not being cast as the villain here. Everybody knows where the fingers are pointed. That's up in the management. Yes, that's true. Guys who sit in sweets and noodles. There's a good reason those guys sit in sweets. They don't sit among the unwashed. You know what?

Listen, they take a lot of heat. They've always come on our show and they, you know, Shapiro, Atkins, hey Brian, like they come on, like they've come on. They may not say a lot. They talk in, you know, lawyer speak technically, but they come on, like they've come on, they may not say a lot, they talk in lawyer speak, technically, but they come on, and in this particular scenario, it's gonna be tough for them, because it is noisy everywhere you go.

They talk about Vladdy, what are they gonna do with Vladdy? And that's not gonna get quieter as season approaches here. One way or the other how he plays, because I think you go into it, kind of hoping he plays well for the betterment of himself, the team and all that. And he had a great season last year, but it could go the opposite way

if he really is uncomfortable with free agency. Not every athlete loves it. Not every athlete thrives under the brightest lights when it's like, you got to put up or shut up. Like Juan Soto bet on himself and it paid off off yeah there there are countless examples that don't get referenced because they just weren't high enough profile or because it went south where guys said I'll bet on myself and they play poorly and it's like you just lost yourself 150 million dollars a hundred million dollars or whatever you

know and the other thing was like Juan Soto talk about feeling safe Juan Soto was betting on himself He had Aaron judge hit behind him. Yes, that helps that makes you feel a little safer that you might see some pitches and daddy Protection has been an issue protection has been an issue and you know, I'm sure you'll have Santander Yeah, assuming hitting behind that's not Aaron judge not quite no, but he's still a guy capable of hitting 40 plus home runs See Not quite. No, but he's still a guy capable of hitting 40 plus home runs. We'll see. Um, days were in action today. Max Scherzer on the mound and looked pretty good. Max is going to be an interesting story, man. That's the health man.

Yeah, exactly. It is like, is he, is he healthy? But like that's, we're watching some video that's 94 on the paint. Like he's still got zip in his arm and like the guy he's got,'s an off-speed pit like we're doing play-by-play here but he's a he's in a compelling storyline or there's a city at 40 years old Max Scherzer a big name and that's big as it gets really added a big name offseason right there you know others not so much but that's a that's a big name that they landed yeah yes, at the end or near the end of his career. Well, he's 40.

I mean, and he's had a lot of injury problems. Yeah, he's not gonna be pitching here long term, but take advantage while you can, because who knows if he gets past the trade deadline. If they're losing, they will trade him, and he will want out. He will wanna go to a winning program if he's healthy and feeling good.

All right, Mike Johnson will join us from Boston tonight. Lee Spruin's on TSN. We've also got Raptors Celtics tonight. We'll get to that a little bit later this afternoon. Overdrive playlists, celebrating iconic black artists, to powerful podcasts. My grandmother marched with Martin Luther King. And Black History Month radio. We're shining a light on the music, stories and culture that inspire us all. Black history is our history. Celebrate with us. History to make it.

Listen on the free IR radio app. All right, Overdrive continues powered by Fandual bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Big night in the NHL. Big night between Toronto and Boston. The Leafs are in Boston playing the Bruins tonight. Celtics in town playing the Raptors. Got Mark Giordano in studio in half an hour. Look forward to that. Catching up with Gio. He'll be in here in about a half an hour. But again to that. Catching up with Gio. He'll be in here in about a half an hour,

but again, the game's on TSN4 tonight. Is it weird? Like, I don't know, is it planned? Is it just a coincidence? Like the Bruins and the Leafs are playing? Oh, it's a coincidence. But that is just weird. It happened earlier in the year, actually, I believe,

where they both were playing the same time. It's a Boston-Tor Boston Toronto night technically, right? Yeah, exactly. Like there you go. Leafs at Bruins, Celtics at Raptors. So yeah, we got a lot of action tonight featuring both cities. And again, the game, the hockey game can be seen

on TSN4 and MJ's down there. He's got the call here is Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst. What's happening, Johnny? Hold on fellas. Maybe the only coincidence is that when Toronto's here, Goche is available for the Raptors. I don't think that's about that just on a scheduling wise but yeah we'll see what happens. It's funny I'm here for the Bruins Leaf game and the sense

is and I think it's the wrong sense is that the Bruins are a mess. The Bruins are out of it, they're in trouble, they're sellers, it's just, you know, it's all coming apart. And while yes, they are not doing as well as they have, like they're still right there in the playoffs. In fact, you probably could get, check Fandil, they're probably even money to make the playoffs or miss. It's not like they're 10 points out.

But the feeling you have about them is that because it's so far removed from what they have been the last several years, that they're, you know, that they're not a good team when in fact, you know, they're one point out of the playoff spot, uh, chase it down eight spots. So, uh, it'll be a test. I mean, it'll be intense. It's a rivalry thing. I think it, you know, an absolutely is a game that gets both teams' attention. So we'll see how the Leafs do.

So with that in mind, what is your read on, you know, Brad Marshann and his future in Boston, and if he were to become available between now and the trade deadline, what kind of market do you think would be out there for him? So, yeah, I mean, I think Brad has made it clear. He wants to stay a Bruin. He wants to extend and be a Bruin for life. He said it out loud. The question

sort of becomes, does he want too much term? Maybe two years, maybe three would probably be fine with the Bruins. If he wants more than that, then maybe they explore that. Now if he became available Hayes, he's not the player he once was, but that doesn't mean he's not good. He still has whatever, he got 48 points of the season. He's had an excellent offensive year. He would be a great addition with his experience. I think you saw what he could do to a locker room at the Four Nations. I think a lot of teams, a lot of top teams around the league would be extremely interested in him as a rental.

Not necessarily him extending him for four or five years, but just this year, a one-off, if he gets his mind right about not being in Boston. And that's one of the big conversations because they have 10 days to figure it out if they're gonna go down this road or not. And we'll see what Don Sweeney wants to do. But if he became available, I think everyone will want to.

But one thing Hayes, I am watching tonight for Marchand is you know how he has sort of dug into Mitch Marner over the years, right? You remember the clip, even the playoffs, I'm gonna get you, you're gonna get it. Try to get into Mitch's kitchen a little bit. They were sort of fast friends, as all of them become on the four nations.

They're hugging, they're cheering, they're celebrating each other. They're realizing they're nice people. They kinda like each other, because that's what happens when you're around good dudes. I bet Marchad tonight is more likely to go right back after Mitch. Like, it's not gonna be a shin tap at the face-off.

It might be a slash and a stick. To say like, you know what? That's gone, we're back to me hating you and I'm gonna make your life miserable. I'm curious to see how that interaction plays out because I can see Marchand wanted to show to his team as much as anyone, no, no, no. I'm not friends with this guy.

He even arch-ended me like he was before and I'm gonna prove it. It's a great point, Johnny, because when you think of it and you look at some teams have weighted back into the NHL season after the Four Nations faceoff. I mean, you know, some teams, McDavid's been minus three. I mean, both games, kind of out to lunch, hasn't played great and his team as well. But you know, Mitch and Austin, they played, but they weren't, you know Mitch and Austin they played but they weren't you know that they weren't great they weren't great let's be honest the

team you know the depth carried them and the goaltending all of that type of stuff at what point do you think that these players that one specific specifically or played that Thursday night is the grace period over because you know you do have a playoff chase you there's seeding all of that type of stuff and as you mentioned the Boston Bruins are in one so they're there these points are critical to them more critical than they are to the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. You know Noodle you want to you want to be demanding because these guys are

professionals and and you need them to be excellent but you want to be understanding like even just being around the guys and having been around that four nations tournament it's different it feels so different and it's not even physical it's mental and it's emotional and it was such a high such a level intensity that you're plummeting back down to earth to play these these games and so I would say, you know, physically they should be up and running by tonight or their next game, but mentally, emotionally, I probably give them all the way to next week. What at least have Pittsburgh on Sunday?

I'm doing that game. I'll give them a Pittsburgh on Sunday. And you're right. Like Greg Barube is acknowledged. He's trying to lighten the load. They haven't done media, trying to lighten the load. They've been each, Marner and Matthew has been down about two, two and a half minutes per game, trying to lighten the load they haven't done media trying to lighten the load they've been each martyr Matthews been down about two two and a half minutes per game trying to lighten the load because he realizes

these his guys and I bet most guys like David like them will probably have a little trouble sort of plugging back in and getting themselves back up to caring as much as you need to care about these games when they're coming out of a game that they care about more and jay's little bit talk today about john taveras and contract which is not a topic in you've really obsessed with this season to say the least is a pending free agent is

thirty four years old uh... what do you make of this he's made the point of top of the show that john taveras would very much like to get a contract extension before the Maple Leafs make another run at the playoffs because if the Maple Leafs have their traditional ending to the season there will be a great appetite to move on from whoever has been involved in it and John Tavares including included like what do you make of this do you think you sense any

urgency on the team side or the various society get this thing done or do you think you sense any urgency on the team side or taveras society get this thing done or do you see free agency in the offing for mr taveras uh... connect with the middle i don't have an urgency uh... i'm sure tomorrow would like it but i'll be the least urgent but they have plenty of time to get them done before free agency starts right like unless they made the cup final where they have a week which would be brilliant that they'd be happy to resign and probably but if they don't make the cup final where they have a week which would be brilliant then they'd be happy to resign him probably

but if they don't make a cup final they'll have a month to resign him to work it out it's all gonna come down to term it's it's a rare spot where the Leafs need John Tavares and they need his you know what he does well but the leverage for Toronto is that they know John wants to playill play in Toronto, wants to live in Toronto, wants to retire in Toronto. So you use that leverage. Now his stats, if he gets 30 goals and 70 points this year, that's an $8 million player, even a short-term deal.

That's an $8 million player. Whoa, whoa, whoa. It's more fast. If you're saying a guy gets 70 points this year, any guy, and he's 28 years old, and he wants a two-year deal for $8 million, he's not going to get it? Yeah, he might, but I'm saying a 34-year-old guy on a team that never wins anything is another matter for me, but that's just me.

Yeah, but I didn't say Tavares would get that. I'm saying that's what a player would get on the open market. So Tavares can't walk into this thing, look, my stats dictate an $8 million contract, so my discount will be seven. That's not how this is gonna go. Unfortunately for Tavares, they're gonna say, we know you want it here, we'll give you three years, that's four and a half.

And that will be way less than he could get in the open market, but he doesn't want to go to the open market. I think if it plays, if he returns to Toronto, it's that, it's four and a half or five or five and a half. Like in that range, which, you know, for three years with a cap going up as much as it is, that's your third line center. Could DeVar in situationally specific role be a good third line center for two or three

more years? Probably can. And probably better than what they have available, but that's one more thought. Who else is coming? Yeah. but that's one more thought. Who else is coming? If they get Raiden Shen, then you know that changes the dynamic of the need for Tavares and what he can do if they you know versus if they get Scott Lawton well then they still sort of need John Tavares like depending on what they do in the next 10 days that also will

impact sort of how badly the Leafs need to get him back. Yeah, and who else is available via free agency as well, right? Like, and who you think he can sign. You know, Brock Nelson, same guy. Well, Sam Bennett, different guy. Very different guy. Thing is, he's not coming for six million, I tell you. No, he's not. That's for darn sure.

The thing is, you know what you have in John Tavares but also like they Sometimes you do need change just for the sake of change now You have to be smart about it and you're right if John Tavares takes a big discount and is willing to do that great But sometimes you might be better suited to use that money for something Else and and that's the biggest thing and that's why I don't think there would be any rush for Brad tree living or the organization To get this done now. There's none. It's a hundred percent on Tavares Yeah to want this done before you drop the puck on the playoffs, right? Like it would be you want it. Yeah the cheaper it gets. Yeah, you want it now three by four. You can have it, right? Yeah

Yeah, you should be negotiating that Johnny. i like i like the way you negotiate i like i i'd be a like it exactly but i i'm it's not going to happen now and you also like that take up to the conference final what the conversation exactly let's cross that bridge once we get to it if we're all a part of that journey uh... with mike johnson so matthew kichuck was on the tonight show last night uh... and you know,

Brady Kachuk's been doing the media rounds as well. And you know, you look back on the Four Nations, it really became the like the coming out party in the U S in particular for the Kachuks. And I think they're savvy enough to see that and maybe have this kind of premeditated attack. Like you gotta play, you gotta talk, you gotta be loud, you gotta be like very pro-American, all that kind of stuff. And I think it's clearly paid off.

I mean Matthew, they lost the thing. And the guy's on with Jimmy Fallon and he's hurt. And he's going on the Tonight Show. I still don't understand how his teammate like, I get it. I just don't know the nature of the injury. If he's out for two months, I get it, which it sounds like. He's not really doing anything anyway. He's not going to play.

It is a bit weird. You know, Florida is going to be battling and then they look up and there's there's Chuckie, you know, doing the media rounds. Up in New York. In New York. And again, they didn't win the thing, right? So it's like, you know, you're not going to Disney because you won. What are you celebrating? Yeah, exactly Right exactly like it's pretty clear that this is something I can't turn down from a publicity standpoint

If I'm Matthew talking Kelsey Brothers podcast type of thing. I would think well that is definitely what they have podcast type of thing. I would think that is definitely what they have figured out in the future. Doing the Kelsey Brothers podcast, doing one for their own. Exactly, that's what I'm saying. Because no profile got a bigger hit than the Kachuk brothers. No, you're right. It was all about them the whole tournament. In the moment? Seemingly. I'll tell you this, and I know them quite well and i know walter dad like they're a great family they were unbelievable like don't get me like in that they were unbelievable that's great with their healthy were great they were credible

in unstoppable that night they were they were maniacs we were talking about it off air johnny you and i do those ottawa games i don't need spray but he has today i'm not sure he's playing tomorrow. Ottawa needs their captain back hungry and frothing at the mouth to drag his team into the playoffs. So that's the fine line we're balancing here because if he's not a hundred percent it doesn't sound like he is they need him ASAP because they're in one they've lost four in a row. Yeah and and you also don't want to, whether practically or symbolically, him taking a victory lap

for a tournament they lost. And I get it, like, Hayes, you're right. I was down, as you know, I was trapped in Boston last week for the whole week. No, like, this tournament was about the Kachaks. They're Q-rating, whatever it's called. Like, that was what got the biggest bump from this entire tournament. They might be a bigger benefic what got the biggest bump from this entire tournament. They might be a bigger beneficiary of the tournament than even the NHL. It really was all about them. You're right, if Matthew Kachuck's not playing for two months and he's got a groin, hernia, whatever is going on with his leg, he can't do anything anyway.

So whatever, we'll see you in three weeks when your rehab is going better. You kind of get it but you know this is also like it's also what do what does hockey get criticized about all the time? Don't sell the stars, don't promote the game and there is this sort of old school and we all share it we all play there like we're like I don't know should it be even in doing that stuff but that's what they're doing they're selling the game They're trying to ride the wave and extend the window of the positive publicity for hockey for themselves Personally for the USA version of hockey for as long as they can and I can't sort of hate on that

Like that was that seems like a reasonable play given the momentum of this tournament But yeah when guys get hurt and when guys didn't win it does become a little bit a little bit different when you hit the talk so talk show circuit yeah and I guess they're going on with the Kelsey brothers tomorrow it sounds like or they've recorded today it'll be released tomorrow so the two of them Brady and Matthew Kachuk are gonna be on with the Kelsey's on their podcast so again they're all there for big platform, big platform, you know, they're doing the rounds, they're available on a lot of it immediate like American media. Yeah, it makes sense. But what I also think needs to be noted here is the reason that they became as big as

they did in the States is not because they ran a cycle game or their back pressure was outstanding uh... because they fought on this glass or goals in one day but the fighting is what got them on the radar the fighting a view on the saturday night they fought

for america yes exactly they're representing the country and They fought for America. Yes, exactly. They're representing the country. Rings different here. Not just that they fought because everyone knows fighting. I am not a fighting guy. You know that. I got taught talking a lot. When I played, very rarely did a fight get me all jacked up.

I know we got some guys all fired up, but it didn't impact me that way. But we know what can happen in hockey. We know it's popular, and in that moment, in that building was electric. So I don't know if it's like more it's a referendum, like well how come hockey is only popular when there's a fighting incident? I think this was uniquely specific. This was not Flyers Rangers off the opening face,

this was Canada, USA. And the opening face of Canada USA and the backdrop of everything that's going on with Canada in the USA and so I don't think it's you know an indictment of the sport that it took something like this wearing your national team jersey to spark that kind of interest and you couple that with the fact that Matthew was not only fighting but like he was the John he was the John Cooper was the maestro for Canada in the pressers, right? He said all the right things. He woven tailed, he made it eloquent. That was Matt for the U S. Yes. I was Matthew

Kuchak. That's what he was. He was the pied piper. Everyone was following in and then the bam bam Brady just coming in and wrecking things. And that was the one two punch. So I'm not offended by like and I'm not I'm not a pro fighting guy, but I'm not offended that that moment in fighting was just so unique. Drew a reaction. Oh, me neither. I thought I think it was amazing. Don't get me wrong. I'm saying I think that what what I think needs to remind us is that there is a place for fighting in the game it if it's promoted properly and that was a perfect storm

because it was patriotism in Canada US Bell Center Mario Lemieux was just on the ice like there were so many different things that that pulled it into it and yes the two of them you know performed very well Brady in particular Matthew got hurt didn't play the third game barely played the championship game but Brady scored but you look at the guys like again that night it seems like okay it was the stories were US beat Canada US fought Canada the Chuck brothers led the way I think if you ask the average American who scored it would have a clue Gensel scored too

no I said Jake Ed do on the rounds? No one's asking for Jake Gensel or Dylan Larkin. No one cares. The story is though, and you're right, it is the Bam Bam Brothers. It is the guys who fought. Like they are, polarizing is the wrong word. They are a big family.

Like they are a big- Bigger than life, big personality. Larger than life personalities. They are what you market the game around. Yeah, absolutely like that This was Gary Bettman must have been sitting there smiling going. Oh my god This is so good for my league The the amount of people in America that did not pay attention to hockey that all of a sudden paid attention to hockey Kevin Durant tweeting about it JJ watt Watt, like, you know, throughout every different sport, everyone's like, man, this

is must watch. And you're right, the fights were front and center. The hockey was great. It was country versus country. There were so many things. It was a perfect storm. I think that's why these guys have had a tough time coming back to the NHL going, oh, we got a guy passing it in my skates now. We don't, you know?

Yeah. That is very evident. Like, even Bennington said that to us yesterday. He's like, it was, it's just different, man. And what he's basically saying is, I can't rely on my guys the same way I could rely on, you know, Kale McCarr to, you know, handle a breakout or whatever it is. It's just a different pace and it's a difficult transition. Yet here we are.

You know what, Hayes too, one other part about this, and this is hockey is due to celebrate some guys who are willing to be, not the villain, the heel, the foil, to be a little abrasive, not just on the ice, which we always admire. But I don't have a problem with that. You know, if Brandon Hagel wants to take a little shot at the Kachaks in their group chat, I like that. Not because I like Hagel, not because I'm Canadian. I like the fact that guys are willing to show a little personality, a little jam, a little friction. Being nice all the time is quite lovely but it doesn't get

people's attention and I think this whole thing this the seemingly real animosity between Canada the US on the ice and personality wise it's all healthy and I think the league's got to lean into that. Guys say what you feel. You don't like the guy? Say you don't like him. It's all good and just as an aside Dylan Larkin did in fact do like multiple Sports Center hits, which is a big deal for NHL, like live Sports Center hits on ESPN throughout that tournament. So you know the hard course, the first people wanted to talk to Dylan Larkin because I guess

they couldn't get a Kachuk. Exactly. Well spoken guy. I think he went to michigan you know the right red wings everyone knows detroit captain that's uh... you know will see what comes of market in his future but did play well in a good turning uh... by johnny will leave it there enjoy your call tonight we sprung on t s m

all right i will not leave you with the bidding to the straight face thank you i was unnecessary average uncalled for and i don't like to make not even a mark not even a crinkle of a left-wing you know i'm kidding not that i don't think killer you don't know face killer man i need a deal with the olympic games i'd never have a half

i mean him and that i i i slept on it and i'm moving off the internet i'm moving off Bennington. I'm moving off and after that way Produlent behavior never that is that would be fraudulent behavior. You're right. It's a Canadian hero and yeah, I support him greatly Alright, Johnny. I've waited that soon. There's Mike Johnson joining us from the maple Toyota hotline Yeah, I had my neighbors kids asked me this morning walking my kids out we're going to school and one of them yells out why did jordan binnington call you a fraud but that's not like well you gotta

get to school don't worry about it get out of the house i was like scram people gotta watch the show because there are a lot of people confused on social media well that's the amazing thing because the tsn main account tweeted it out so you're dragging in a lot of people that just aren't familiar with the inner workings of our show And it's like anything from why would he do that? That's rude. That's uncalled for too You know, he hates Hayes and Hayes was chirping them and that's why he dropped the mic and the hammer on him And obviously it's an inside joke Thanks guys. Hayes of Fraud.

Yeah Jordan Bittington, all business all the time. Yeah. Look how dead bad it was. It was brilliant, it was a brilliant brilliant drop man, I gotta give him credit. It really was. Alright Mark Giordano in studio in about 10 minutes, Lee Spruins in action, Tonight Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Lights, cameradrive continues. TSN 1050N on the TSN app. Lights, camera, action.

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There was a lot of that trending today. You can find some really good slap shot stuff Yeah, so we'll touch on that and report that maybe Rob Gronkowski could be looking at getting back into the NFL Are we buying it will confirm or deny it coming up at 530? Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. You've been listening to Overdrive powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. This February, iHeartRadio celebrates Black History Month by amplifying the voices that define black excellence. Select upon and celebrate history and culture.

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