OverDrive - OverDrive - February 4, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: February 4, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Frank Corrado for Hour 2 on OverDrive! NHL Network Analyst Scott Hartnell joins to discuss the Eastern Conference close race, Alex Ovechkin's goal scoring race and J.T. Miller's trade to the Rangers. The guys go around the sports world in the latest of Confirm or Deny and discuss the Maple Leafs and Flames' matchup.

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Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet, awarded by UCCLA. Starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, internet just got better. Hour two overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, the old Doug Jeff O'Neill,

Frankie Corrado in here. Got Scott Hartnell coming up. We got confirmed with Deny later in the hour. Chris Bassett will join us in an hour. Chris Bassett coming up. See how excited he is about the Jays offseason and keeps seeing rumors out there of Vlade and the Jays are kicking tires maybe on a long-term extension. Man, those rumors like, you like the juicy scoops but they get to a point where if they're

going on for a long enough time it's like I don't even want to I can't even look at it well if you believe Vlad E that he will not negotiate beyond the opening of spring training and I'm always reluctant to ever believe that I think any athlete if there was enough money they'd be like okay exactly like if you say I'll sign for this number and then they say okay we'll give it to you a week in a training. He signed in Montreal before opening night. Yeah that was day of the first game of the year in Montreal. Absolutely but pitchers and catchers arrive in like ten days so if you believe what Vlad is selling then I guess the clock is ticking here if they want to extend him before. I think it's a

great tool as a player Like you really value me watch out because I could have a monster year Yeah, not talking to me don't even think about picking up the phone during the season That's the leverage a player has is I'm about to play and if I perform well It's gonna get louder and louder and louder. So you figure out what you want to do here you know and listen the team they got to think that through because You know, we just saw it with the Mavericks and Luca, like it's very similar. You mentioned, you referenced the similarities like Vlad and whether they trust them. Do they believe he's

going to repay that 400 million or whatever they're going to pay them? It's a lot of money that I'm about a guy questioning a guy's work, like work ethic and just commitment and whether it's out of shape or falls asleep at second base in a big game do I want to hand over that guy who hasn't like proven it to us over a long duration small samples do we want to hand them over 450 million dollars it's a massive commitment you know what though if he goes out there and he plays the way he did last year in the MVP year, someone's going to. So I think at the end of day for him he's like, listen I'll just, I'll bet on myself, I'll take care of my own backyard and I know the money is gonna

be there, whether it's here or somewhere else, if they don't like the second base stuff like you're talking about. But wouldn't there be buyer beware if you're another organization saying, because we live in a world of pro sports where if they believe in you and believe in you, you're locked up immediately. Immediately. But we also live in a world where there's always a team more desperate. Like the Cleveland Browns were so desperate they had to have Deshaun Watson. There's always a team desperate out there that says, we don't get a chance to sign a

guy like this or bring in a guy like this. Yeah, but is there a team that's 450 desperate I think baseball is different because you have the haves and the have-nots and it's such a stark comparison between the two there's Max Scherzer desperate there's Santander desperate but 450 is like different the Pirates could be desperate but they're not handing over 450 sticks right there they're not handing over 450 sticks. Right. They're not handing over anything. There's a certain amount of teams that are just not even included in the process. And we all know who they are.

But I think what has become clearer, and I think at times it gets lost in the conversation, is that it is a business and it's not personal, right? To steal a line from the Corleone family like it's is it's strictly business right and you you it's a lot of money and you have to evaluate whether you're not whether you believe that player is going to repay you or sometimes it's not even about whether or not that player individually is going to repay you it's is it going to fit with the timeline does it does it work with other pieces is it going to affect our budget Is it going to fit with the timeline? Does it work with other pieces?

Is it going to affect our budget? And we're paying this guy that much money, that's going to take away from two or three other positions. We're dealing with it in Toronto a lot right now. Like it's the same, Vlady and Marner, two different teams, two different backgrounds, different players, but both of them are marquee, both of them are homegrown, both of them, the fans love them. They're both great great players teams have different histories and are dealing with different things but the Jays haven't won a thing with laddie and the Leafs haven't won a thing with Marner so it's not personal it's business how does it work different different cap structures clearly because there is one in the NHL there is one i'm so glad with my message to some Leaf fans just just casual talk wherever I am out and about.

It's like, I'm like, you can't fall in love with your own players. You have to understand your own players more than any other player throughout the league. And the moves of Rantanen and Doncic have proven that you don't have to be totally married and you don't have to do anything. Yeah. Leaf fans seem to have this idea that they have to do stuff. Oh, they better sign Marner. They better sign, or what?

Like, maybe there's a different plan. There's a different idea. You can't be married to one concept and be like, we can't live with, like being married to a player or the idea of keeping a player. You just saw what the Dallas Mavericks did, did man or what the Colorado Avalanche did. Well and there's also this belief that you know you if you're the team you have to sign that guy or else or let's say you know I'm going to sign that guy and the fans are going to come follow along anyway well that goes both ways like if you don't sign the guy the

fans are still going to be there they'll be pissed off. They're not gonna stop coming or stop being fans. There's always another player. But guess what? If you go sign two guys for the same amount of money that it would have taken you to sign one guy and you have success, everyone's gonna be okay. Exactly. KuJo left Toronto, they brought in Ed Belfort and everything was okay afterwards because Ed Belfort was very good here. Yeah, exactly. Like if you're a fan of the team before the player showed up you'll still be a fan

after you may be bent out of shape but they know that and it's that's a two-way street I'll say one thing though when Scottie Hartnell left Nashville they could never ever replace him they're still paying that price yeah here he is former pred former NHL or NHL Network analyst joining on his own maple total hotline your scott hardinal we may ask any one what's happening i don't know what they do and uh... just terrific and that uh... will lead back up by working out of fire game that their own utah hockey club

out there for other than ever matchup out there so i like it a little off file room work uh... look room work looking at their their lineup and the flyers kind of depleted lineup. Scotty how do you think Kuzmenko and torts mesh like just give me a little bit of a give me a Kuzmenko torts like how this is gonna go down. You know I you know I don't obviously know Kuzmenko. I know when he first came in the league, he was absolutely on fire, right? Almost 80 points in a full season in Vancouver.

And then he slid a little bit the last couple of years, but you know, there's Mishkov here, there's Fedorov, there's Kolesov-the-goal, there's Igor Zemula on the back end. So there's really comfortability with those guys. So maybe he comes in, feels really comfortable right off the bat. And he's playing for a contract, right? He's up, so it's going to be a UFA. So it's a little audition for him to be like, okay, let's see what you can do.

And I know he's buddies with Matthew Michkov as well. So maybe that helps spark his game a little bit, you know, gets both those guys in the right track and maybe it could be something great, but, you know, Torz doesn't, as you guys know, he doesn't pull any favorites. Everyone's, what have you done for me lately? Right. And, and whether a young stud like Michikoff or you're a veteran like, you know, Joel Farabee, who just got dealt or Konekmi,

Kevin Hayes a couple years ago. You can go right down to his whole coaching career. He's done it to stars, he's done it to all-stars, he's done it to guys, tough guys, whatever. He doesn't pull any punches, he forces in total control and I think know Rasmus Richelainen he's having one of his best career years of his whole career and he goes I wish I would have had him when I was 18 and I said the same thing when torts came in when I was 33 years old you know set my ways and I'm like man I wish somebody would have held me accountable for my bad penalties and and maybe you know do this a little bit differently maybe practice a little bit harder or whatever right so you think about those things when you're

a little bit older what could have been but you know I think these young kids you know he's putting a good impression on it some people can handle it some people can't and that's that's the way it goes with TORUS right? Yeah absolutely and I'm curious your take on what's going on in Buffalo the last three or four days where we all saw what happened in that Jersey game, Tage Thompson gets laid out and there's no retribution, there's no real reaction from anybody on the ice.

And now they've had, I guess, a closed door meeting and Lindy Ruff has read them the Riot Act and now all these Sabres are coming out saying saying we're never gonna let that to happen again. Like are they talking a little bit too much? Are you buying into this Scott? And if so like how how crazy is this gonna get? How crazy is it that you have to have that meeting? Well A. that you have to have the meeting B. that you have to promote it to the whole league that you're never gonna allow it to happen again. Yeah like like I'm curious how you would, I know how you would handle that if you're on the ice, but what do you like, do the Sabres have to do something now to prove to the rest of the league that

they're not soft? Is that what you're anticipating happening or what do you make of this? Well, you look through their lineup, they don't have any, you know, in hashtags, meat, if you will, right? That someone's going to come in, you know, and absolutely, you know, handed it back in the day, Rob Ray, and, you know, just some guys that you didn't fool around because, you know, they were coming out next shift, right, to get you or call you out or whatever. And you know, it's changed a little bit, right? And now if someone does have a big hit, you see it with the Flyers, a big hit on Owen Tippett. I forget, someone from the Islanders hit him and you can't really do it. Tsipnikov hit Ryan Poehling.

He's been in Concussion Protocol for, I believe it's a concussion anyway, for a couple, three weeks now and they went after him, took a penalty, took another penalty and you guy wasn't gonna fight right so it's like you want to show some pushback you know obviously you know 15 20 years ago the guys get a you know probably be eating his teeth right if you will in that respect but you know you have to have nothing going on it's that's you know maybe shows a little bit of the character in the room and I don't know, many of the guys that are in the league a little time now, but you gotta, even if you're not a tough guy, you gotta go do something to somebody and call

somebody out and someone's gonna drop the myth to kinda show that you have a little hard little pissed off-ness if you will to stick up for one of your best players, one of the best players on your team, right? Well, even if it's a pack mentality, right? Like, not everyone's good at fighting, comfortable with fighting, but if you know that you and three other guys are going to jump in there and someone's going to have your back, you walk a little bigger. And one of the teams that I think always had that makeup is Tampa Bay, right? Like anything went down with Tampa, it was like everyone's in there on the scrum.

Didn't matter who point damn coast, Kuturov. Kuturov's in the middle of all kinds of stuff. Those guys are in Boston, same deal. Funny, both those teams out of a playoff spot right now the Rangers out of a playoff spot like Scotty, if you're looking at the Eastern Conference standings, which everyone's doing every day, now the Rangers out of a playoff spot like Scotty if you're looking at the Eastern Conference standings which everyone's doing every day three legacy teams out of the playoffs right now like how many of these teams will remain out of the playoffs in in your opinion I think the Rangers get in somehow you know really what four points in I think you know how

well they played you know since they lost one hour whatever the 13 in a row for a couple points And however many games it was like dire straits. They stuck with it I think they're gonna be there at the end of the day, you know having Miller I think helps them hugely up the middle had a good start his first couple games back You know their goal is too good their defense I think is solid enough to kind of ride the waves. The bat of Jeff can't be as bad as he's been you know the first 50 games of the season right so I think they'll be there. I think the Islanders will fizzle out

you know Canadians they had a good charge there for a while they're done you know and then you look at Tampa and Boston you know that they're you know who knows how hot the Red Wings can, right? They've been playing really great. Ottawa, those are the two teams, Ottawa and Detroit, those are the two teams we've been waiting for, for three, probably three years now being like, which team is going to overpower one of those powerhouses in that division, right? Tampa, Boston, maybe that this is the year where they, they make some strides and get in. So it's, it could throw a little bit of a mix up in the matchups for playoffs which is which is great for the league right yeah you don't

want you know Tampa winning every year get into the conference finals and you know three finals in a row win a couple no big deal you know I like the parodies great obviously it's been a little bit of a cakewalk for those those couple teams that have always been in. Toronto's in there, but they can't seem to knuckle down in the playoffs. I think that might be a little bit different picture this year with Craig Barube behind the bench.

But I kinda like having some different teams in there, even in the mix, right? These last two months of the season, what, you got another 10 days left here before the break, or a week before the break, take a couple weeks off and everyone's going to be ramped up here for the next six, seven weeks. So it's going to be some great, great hockey. Scottie, you just mentioned the Rangers and they just acquired JT Miller.

How crazy did you find that scenario? I mean, I'm sure as long as you played, you probably had the odd teammate here or there that you were just like, that's just not for me But when it comes to hockey where teammates were gonna let it slide like how shocking was that development out in Vancouver for you? Yeah, you know when once again, I'm not sure you guys correct me if I'm not sure all the details or what happened or where things went wrong between you know, two stud players, right but You know for me, it's, yeah, if you have a disgruntled couple guys or one guy, you know, somebody has to make the move,

right? And whoever's at fault, it doesn't really matter, your pros, you have to move on, right? There are some guys that I, you know, you know, I usually got along with everyone. My personality, you guys know it's a happy-go-lucky guy, a couple guys that I, you know, despise, where I'm like, happy-go-lucky guy, a couple guys that I despise around me. I couldn't even look at him in the dresser just because they did something personal or whatever. At the rink, you're going to pass to him on the ice if he's open.

He's going to do the same, but as for off the ice, you just kind of look the other way, right? Like I said, I didn't do that to too many guys, but something had to change, something had to go on, and we'll see how it works out in the long run. But I think it's a big add for Drury and the Rangers. So they're a team that's kind of, they have everything to get there.

Heck, they were in the Eastern Conference finals last year, so they need to kind of get back to their winning ways, and I think they'll get there. Heck, they were in the Eastern Conference finals last year, so they need to kind of get back to their winning ways and I think they'll get there. They got too much high end skill, Panarin's advantage, Miller, Karajter, those guys. I think there's too much heat up there for them to kind of fizzle out, I believe. Without naming any names, was there ever a guy on all the teams that you played on that you were just like, the guy didn't do anything wrong to me, there's just something about him I just don't like, something about his face, something about the way he talks.

There's just, I can't get over it. I just don't like this guy. Ah. Ha ha ha. Maybe a little bit, just you know, guys that you trade for, you know, for at the deadline deal and you're like, God, we got this guy?

Jeez, I just, I just absolutely fought him or he stick me in the teeth. Last game we played him in, or it might have been two years ago. And you're like, oh God, and then you get to meet him and you're like, this guy's the best, this guy. I'll tell you his name, Max Talbot. He came to the Flyers and I'm like,

man, this guy is so funny, this guy is hilarious. Go for dinners and this and that. And it was just, it was funny, right? And then you hate playing against him, but you know, when he's on your team, just kinda, you know, I was a little bit of a rat playing. He was a rat, so we got along pretty good, him and I. So that was fun, that was funny.

Yeah, you see that all the, you usually hear the guys that fought or used to hit or chirp each other all the time, and then they just become buddies like immediately, right when they're kind of acquired or on the same team or in the same room it's amazing. It is true. So Ovechkin's 18 off Gretzky right? 18 off with 13 with 30 games to go and they're cruising towards the playoffs they're gonna be likely the top seed in the East. How do you see him play in this? In other words is he chasing Gretzky this year or load management down the stretch preparing for the playoffs? What do you see him play in this in other words is he chasing Gretzky this year or?

Load management down the stretch preparing for the playoffs. What do you think's gonna happen with Alex? Oh, that's I don't I don't think I think load management is a Phrase they use an NBA a little bit of Major League Baseball You things like that and maybe a little bit NFL like when you're cruising to the playoffs You don't want your big dogs to get hurt, you know, things like that. And maybe a little bit of NFL, like when you're cruising into the playoffs, you don't want your big dogs to get hurt. Uh, you know, a vet skin, he's a different breed as we all know. He is an animal. He hits, he fights or not fights, but he hits hard.

Uh, you know, he scores, he battles, he's, he's out there, you know, in almost every situation. I don't think he has that in his DNA to be like, Hey, I'm going to take a couple, a couple off ones here. Maybe you'll see it on a back-to-back but you know just looking ahead he plays the Flyers here in Philadelphia on Thursday I bet she'll be just chomping at the bit to play to play Philly not not to laugh at the Flyers but you know they haven't scored many goals lately but given up quite a few so

you know one of those games he's going to have circle on his calendar. So, you know, I'm not sure if you'll get it here in the last, you know, what do we got? 30 games left, something like that. Yep, 30. Yeah, so it's, it'll be exciting, right? It's a goal every two games almost.

And, you know, he's been on a pace probably almost like that his whole career. So, doesn't see in the way he started this year before his broken leg that he was on that pace. So, I wouldn't put a past the absolute beast. When you look at the best teams in the Eastern Conference, does the ranting and trade change anything for you, how you view those teams? Does Carolina become the leader of the pack because they have him or or do you feel like it is anyone's race at this point

when it comes to the top teams? I definitely do like Carolina. It was a trade, I don't know if anyone saw it coming, but you're adding this guy for the short term. This is all it. I'm sure they're gonna try and sign him, and he's gonna want 14, 15 sheets, right? But I think the team for me is Florida.

They just seem to keep getting better and better. Bob Rofsky is unbelievable. It seems like they're getting depth scoring from their top three line. So you got to beat the best team, right? They've been one of the best teams the last couple of years in the Eastern Conference and winning last year so uh... you know capitals i i love what they're doing they're playing great uh... you know i i think if they get that seven game series against the

caroline in the second second round that it's gonna be tough after them i i think anyway all right scottie we appreciate you doing this is always man with the word again down the road thank you perfect at times i was one of the there's Scott Hartnell of the NHL Network joining us on the Maple Toyota hotline count on Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota trade in your old tires buy a new set and get $40 back visit mapletoyota.com Carolina's in Winnipeg tonight Hellebuck not playing

so Carolina's actually favored in the game but uh... yeah ranton and like i don't like carolina you talk about goals like do they think they're done they need to get at least one more d dude they need john gibson go get you needed all is what they need and they're gonna trust freddie anderson in the russian kid again this year in the playoffs they're completely lunatics down there at the end that

like how many years can you keep trusting that it yeah stop it I hear you you went and got ranted in now finish the job or give yourself the best chance and the other thing like this this John Gibson thing it's like the remember the guns and roses album that was supposed to come out for like ten years and it never was it called Chinese democracy or something it feels like the John Gibson trade we've been talking about it for years and it's never happened. Years that guy's been rumored. Now they have the young guy do style there.

You don't necessarily need him. You're going to get a haul because all these teams think they're in the mix and they need it. You know, teams might need a goaltender. There's not that much left on his deal. Is there? Well, that's the thing. Now it's been chipped away at that. It's not as it's not, you know, such an insurmountable Contract that you can't absorb it like this has got to be the year someone goes and gets that guy and why wouldn't it be?

Carolina yeah, they need a goalie and they you're right like double down on it triple down on it Do you have faith that John Gibson like will perform in the playoffs? Absolutely not Exactly. I don't know how much faith I would have what was last time you played a playoff? That's I don't know when the last time would have what was last time you played a playoff that's I don't know when's the last time you played a stretch of games where you were like wow that maybe it's not John Gibson yeah and I don't know who else is out there like of the you know San Jose's already traded Blackwood yeah who else is really tanking Buffalo doesn't have anyone they're gonna trade or you're looking for but maybe wrong on John Gibsonson because blackwood i said last year i'm like kenzie blackwood

like what exactly do you see in him it's colorado looks well and to be fair you know animes been awful for a long time is so it's or just playing for anaheim year after year after year he finally got a little reprieve now because this kid plays do style. But if he goes to Carolina, he's playing in a very like goaltender friendly

environment, right? Like they don't give up a ton. Anderson's look good there. Kochetkoff has looked good there. Spencer Martin won games for them this year. Tukarski had to go in like they always do during the regular season in Carolina. Right. It's system for a goalie and have success yeah for sure you put someone in in Carolina they're gonna perform it's just a matter of whether or not you know who you're gonna run into in the playoffs right now it looks like they'll probably play Jersey in the first round so I guess you're looking at Markstrom who's injured right now now you're looking looking at a, you played Jersey in the first

round, you better have somebody that can answer Markstrom. Well, let me ask you guys, for a guy that's been playing on a team that's been out of the mix for so long, don't you think he gets there and he's like all juiced up, little like, just revitalized, got a little more purpose, something to play for, that's gotta do something to a guy. Yeah, you would think so, for sure. And that's amazing.

Like Washington's seven points clear of Carolina. Like it's basically a formality that they're just gonna end up with that top seed. So probably Carolina Jersey and you know, as for the two, three, the Atlantic is still wide open. That Washington team was 75 points right now. That has got to be

standings wise one of the more shocking developments since I've been an analyst. Yeah. I thought they were gonna be garbage this year and last year. They backdoored in last year and they got pumped in the first round by New York. Yeah and and listen to their credit they hit the ground running they defend well they're they're big Thompson's been really good. Or a lot. Incredible team game. Like everything across the board is just, everything has been elite.

It has to be for you to run off numbers like that. And dude, talk about like breaking narratives. Like that's a guy gets an opportunity to be a first time NHL head coach. Last year they make the playoffs. This year like they're hit off and running. Like I don't know. Coaches of the year. Something to be said. it's like every once in a while you can go to that kind of coach and have success I think he's the coach of the year slam dunk Spencer Carberry I'll tell you what the Ottawa Sens get in with no

goaltender if they're starting goaltender out for that long you got to throw Travis Green's name in the into the ring yeah you do yeah yeah yeah he checks off every box Yeah, you know like for a team that could never defend and could never get there. Mm-hmm. That's that's a great job He's done there well and remember they had issue we had we had Travis on a couple weeks ago when they had lost a bunch of games and The issue was they could not score like they could not score and now it's all starting It's coming back now.

Like everything's evening out. They had seven on many, they had five last night. Like their Kachuk is back in the game sheet. Everyone's starting to contribute again. Norris avoided injury. They were worried about that. Well, yeah, it's not the shoulder, which is good. Yeah, exactly.

That's the thing. If it was the shoulder, that would have been bad news bears. I think it's just an abdominal. That Nashville came last night though. Wow, they're, yeah, they're, it's over man house and what and like you look at at league wide there it's very clear who the worst teams in the league are like San Jose is tanking Chicago is they weren't like they fired their coach in Chicago as if that was gonna make a difference embarrassing it really it really is but

Chicago and San Jose are clearly the two worst teams and then Nashville is clearly the third worst team like in terms of standings that is what is going to happen here when you fire as a Chicago national out in the press and you say I just didn't think we are record like I didn't think we're as bad as a last place team and they continue to be worse than a last place team yeah you're putting yourself under direct fire. Absolutely. Like, you bring up your American Hockey League coach in Chicago thinking, what?

And he's probably thinking, okay, I guess I get in the NHL, this is great, but what the hell am I supposed to do with this team? You think I'm turning this team around? They're brutal. You know what sucks for that guy? He'll get that situation, he'll get torpedoed by the team that he has, and he'll never get another sniff because it's like, yeah, you got your job. You know how many times I've had this job, people have called me and said, what do you

think about this job? I said, don't even think about going there. That's your first crack at it. You're just going to get gassed and you'll never coach in the league again because you'll have to wear that team. Yeah, it stings. Yeah, but a lot of games in the NHL tonight. Least flames tonight on TSN4.

Have a great panel night tonight. Quiz night has to be quiz. There's going to be an outstanding quiz. I was just before I, before we go to break, I was just in like the quiz master's office. He's got a whiteboard with it's, it's crazy with the operation in there with the whiteboard. Do you think you do? You think I don't know about that whiteboard, that whiteboard? I've had nightmares about that white board.

Well, and we're getting close to trade deadlines. That's why that's when the white board starts shifting, man. You start seeing things in the background in terms of the plans and how it's going to map out. We were going through like language on scouting reports, how to differentiate certain things. And there was a lot of whiteboard talk whiteboards big around that It's it's a big whiteboard kind of territory right now big time. Yes, sir

All right confirmed tonight coming up Chris Bassett of the Blue Jays in just over half an hour overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN to I can neither confirm or deny that this is in fact the same trades I can neither confirm or deny that this is in fact a signal. Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuca Ras. It's been my honor and a privilege to serve as the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. It's time for Confirm or Deny. Do you regret giving all those gentlemen the no trades or no movement clauses? I can neither confirm or deny that. I can't confirm or deny. All right confirm or deny we know the way this works right very simple stuff statements

are made we either confirm them or we deny them. Frankie you've done this many times in the past right this is not your first role. No very familiar with this. You know the way it works. Yeah. All right so let's begin with the news of the week times in the past right this is not your first role very familiar with this you know the way it works yeah all right so let's begin with the news of the week Luca Donchich confirmed deny Luca will now be the face of the NBA for the next decade oh I'll deny it still even though he plays for the Lakers and there's gonna be a certain amount of exposure that comes with that but Nikola Jokic is still around like there's still there's Janis is still like there's just there's enough of a

Wembe's coming to Wembe feels like the guy who could really pursue face of the league and San Antonio's like it's not a not a super small market like when San Antonio was cooking and Tim Duncan was in the league It was very much a face just like Kobe or anyone else. So I'll deny it I think there's still a stable of young guys or guys in that same kind of age demographic that will Be what Luca is? Yeah, I mean I was watching his presser today and I've seen him interviewed and I've seen him interacting with media. He's really not Very personable like he's he's a pretty shy guy, you know, and he was not I'm sure he's shell-shocked

Of course, he's shell-shocked like he even was saying today. He's like, I can't believe it loyalty. I love Dallas Oh, you know all these different things as if you know he hasn't completely overcome the shock and I guess the disappointment of what happened. But I will confirm it because of the Lakers. Like the Laker brand is just bigger than anything else in the NBA, it's bigger than the Celtics, bigger than the Knicks, bigger than the Heat, Bulls, anything. And it is contingent on him performing and him signing a long-term deal. I think what about being healthy well that's a big part of it I think that's a part of it but it's not as valued anymore in the NBA because nobody's healthy all the time yeah right like nobody's

healthy and I look at who he's competing with if there were an American player that was like an alpha like a top three player in the league then I would say it's more likely an American player playing in the states probably get some more pub but that's not the case right now this this league is run by Lucas run by yokich shake Gilder's Alexander's likely gonna win MVP there's a Canadian when these French you know like it's just it's a it's a Canadian, Wemby's French, you know, like it's just, it's a, it's a real different era in the NBA, but I think the fact that he's with the Lakers and if he performs, I think that's just unbeatable, man.

Like it just feels like number one in Jersey sales, number one in prime time, everything about him will be nonstop. And you know what's crazy? Even if he doesn't perform, let's say he's got like a bad luck with health or doesn't perform which I think if he's healthy he will perform he's talked about every single day off the top of the show you name the show yeah Sports Center get up first take like we got to talk about the Lakers and who are we talking about Luca who is the quarterback of the Cowboys and who's the superstar on the Lakers like in the US that is always number

that's 1a and 1b generally you know the Lakers. Like in the US, that is always number, that's one A and one B generally. You know, like in terms of positions, in terms of profiles, it's always gonna get it. And I think Luca, presuming he stays there longterm, then that's what's gonna happen here. All right, confirm or deny, both the Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings make the playoffs. Ooh, I've been wrong on so many of these

and it's starting to really grind me. I'm confirming Ottawa and I want to confirm Detroit, but that means... That means Ottawa, that means Boston, Tampa, like one of them is out. I think Tampa gets in, Boston misses, so I'll confirm it lightly, a light confirmation. That light confirmation. Yeah, I don't know if that's ever been done on this show. Yeah. Probably should never be done again, but I think Ottawa's making it.

They're legit, they're good defensively. Like their numbers under the hood defensively are better than Toronto's. Like the numbers which suggest they are a better defensive team than the Toronto Maple Leafs. And they haven't scored, like they haven't outscored

what they're producing necessarily. So Ottawa is sustainable, they get good goaltending. The thing with Detroit is I don't want to fall victim to what the Canadians just did. Exactly. That's the thing that holds me back. It's like, okay, is this just like a month stretch where you caught a heater or are you actually for real? But like like I don't believe in Boston I think the Marchenko injury is gonna be detrimental for Columbus. Could be at a month maybe they're saying. Don't believe the Rangers and the Islanders don't score enough for me. So there's a viable avenue for Detroit to make it. I'm gonna

deny it. I'm with you in terms of Ottawa. I think they've earned it. They've earned that respect. Now they're red hot right now they've won five or that montreal example i think is key here two weeks ago the habs were the it team that it played themselves in and they were for real and look what they've got in dole bushes legit and montembeau's plan for canada and everything's gonna work out line is a stud two weeks later they've lost five and ron it's like they're out

they're done it's over a life support it's like they're out. They're done, it's over. They're on life support. They're on life support and I still feel like Detroit is going to hit a some sort of a wall. They won six in a row and they're winning game, like they were down two nothing in Edmonton. They stormed back and win in overtime. Like they're doing it in ways that scream heater, everything breaking our way and I think that will come to an end and they'll continue to battle but they're playing above their weight class in my opinion but if both of them got in then that means like Tampa's probably out, Boston's out, the Rangers are out, you know or Columbus is out, maybe one of them can get in and I just I can't get to that point yet. There's been

too much jockeying for position. I think it's gonna come down to the last five games, which is gonna be incredible theater. But I'm not buying that both Ottawa and Detroit come out from basically out of nowhere. Exactly, like a month and two months ago, Ottawa was second last in the East and they've hit a heater, they're red hot, they played themselves back into it, same with Detroit.

It's just, I've seen it too much this year to believe that this is the one that's actually legit. Let me throw a Jerry's at you. Of Tampa, Boston and the Rangers, what's the percentage that two out of those three missed the playoffs? Oh, it's high, man. It's nine, I'd say 85%. So only one of those teams is getting in. Yeah, I mean, maybe not that high. Maybe it's not that high, but it has to be. There's 30 games left. Like, it's not November anymore. Yes, for sure. There's a very legitimate chance

that this is gonna happen. For sure. Like, New York's been out all year. I know they're the Rangers, and now they got JT Miller. At no point have they been in a playoff position. Like, they've been out for months. Basically, since the first month of the season. Yeah. October October they were or November they were terrible, December they were terrible. Yeah like they get the pub because of who they are and their history and what they've done the

last couple years and their goalie in the market and all that. They have not been a legitimate team in months. So I'm not, I'll believe it when I see it with New York that they come out of this. Boston's dealing with injuries and they've just, they've just never, they never hit the ground running, man. They just- Boston's minus 26 goal differential. Yeah, and that's the crazy thing. Tampa's like plus 30 something.

That's the thing, like that's, if you're gonna look at one stat that could give you an indicator of whether a team is gonna make it or not, like that would be the one. Yes. Tampa's making it. Yeah, I think you're right but that means again if you

presume if they get in if it's if it's gonna be Washington Carolina Jersey let's say it's Toronto Florida Tampa and we think Ottawa's getting and you're talking about one spot right and this the year five from the Atlantic three from the metro could be yeah it could I mean at this point it feels like again Columbus to their credit they it's been an incredible story overcomes so much but I feel like they're probably gonna leak some oil at some point confirm it tonight Alex Ovechkin should go all out to chase Gretzky's record this season instead of resting up for

the playoffs confirm of course Alex Ovechkin is not sitting out games. Like, he's not, he's never really been in the business of sitting out. He's hardly been injured. And, you know, with, with him chasing history, it feels like that sort of rejuvenated the group in a way where it's like, you know, they've, they've got this thing that they're chasing, but they're also playing great hockey. It hasn't distracted them at all. In fact, it's probably motivated those guys in ways

So I just I don't for a second think that Alex Ovechkin is gonna take a second off of this chase Yeah, I it does go against the kind of hockey mentality though the team first mentality like they're first in the East This isn't them back dooring into the playoffs and they know they're not that good Don't you think they have to have legitimate cup aspirations by now? Oh, they probably they should so like they got his only He's the captain of the team. I'm not saying You know keep playing of course, he's gonna play but maybe down the stretch He plays 15 minutes a night instead of 20, dude Would you want to see that you of all people that like bangs the drum of load management.

I know I hate it. Alex Ovechkin. I hate it. He plays, by the way, two minutes on every power play. Not a minute 58. Probably two and change because he stays out a little extra on the other side. Absolutely he does. And if there's a goal he pulled, his leg is already over the boards.

Oh yeah. I'm going out there and I'm trying to score an empty net goal. No one does it better right now. I will confirm that he will chase. I do actually think it can have somewhat of a... It can have a positive effect on the team as well, that it will be a distraction from them being concerned about the playoffs in a weird way. Like it's, it, let's allow

Ovi to do his thing within the realm of the team. I mean it can't be stupid and it has not been stupid at any point this year. No it hasn't. But there's a real chance this guy's a goal or two away with like three games to go. You know if it continues on this pace he very well could be in a position to do that. Then what do you do? Do you play him 25 minutes? The the guys 39 and you're gonna be the top seed in the east You know like there it will be a conversation that will be had at some point down the stretch I think you just play him the normal amount. Yeah You know, which means it's not load management, but it's also not stupid. Yes. Yeah, exactly But if he doesn't like if he doesn't do it this year boy, they're gonna market

They're gonna work at that all summer. Well well that's the thing if it does make me wonder if I'm the Capitals is it better to wait for next year because then you can market all throughout the summer the ticket sales the ticket drives that you got to be there for all the you know it sets up beautifully in terms like if he's like two or three goals off you know he's gonna do it in the first five games ten games of season. You know what I think if the national Rights holders in the states want like they're obviously gonna want to have that game They got to let Joe be do have the call like the caps played by play guy legendary man He's had he's been there for all of them. They got to let Joey be have have the call on it

Let him just continue. He's got to be a part of it They got to let Joey be have have the call on it Let him just continue He's got to be a part of it in some capacity is what you're saying guys called every Oh Vechkin goal And you like this is the biggest one in the history of the game. You gotta I don't know if he's gonna knock off Legendary called yeah, I hear it and I hear what you're saying call to you. I hear it man, I hear what you're saying. All right, confirm or deny, the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Chiefs will be considered a shock by the general public. The perception of the loss for the Chiefs or win by the Eagles will be deemed a shock. Confirm that. It has to be. The thing about the Chiefs is it almost feels like they have the recipe to win on in any condition And you have to be like I heard the guys on in the morning talking about it

like you just you have to be perfect to beat mahomes to beat andy reed to beat them in the big moment and If mahomes has the ball last and the game is within reach Like you're screwed And I don't know if the Eagles are gonna be able to in this big moment put the game out of reach so that doesn't Play in as a factor. Yeah, so it has to be considered a shock. I think everyone's looking at it thinking well, it's Chiefs Yeah, I'm gonna confirm it as well. Even though I I don't think it'll be perceived that way within You know the within the NFL I guess right think it'll be perceived that way within you know the within the NFL I guess right because it's and within gambling world the

gambling world on Fandol it's a one and a half point spread like that's what it has been since the second we knew who was playing last Sunday night Fandol put it up Chiefs minus one and a half it is not moved have guys falling off though as have there been injuries I haven't no like that and maybe that has some I think everyone's pretty much ready to go and The and the Eagles were the two seed in the NFC. They were really good team. They've been dismantling teams throughout the playoffs they're loaded with talent, but I think the perception and Justifiably so is that the Chiefs just you cannot penetrate that There's a reason why they win all the time and you expect just you cannot penetrate that there's a reason

why they win all the time and you expect them to win and now there's this ref it's rigged narrative like everything's gonna break their way and there's a lot of people that believe that and it's not only about beating the Chiefs you got to beat the whole ecosystem in the NFL and gotta beat Taylor Swift you got to be Taylor Swift and beat Taylor Swift exactly You gotta beat Taylor Swift. No one can beat Taylor Swift. Exactly. And that's, that's I think what the reaction is going to be. Is there a line? How could we, how, how could anyone see this coming? Is there a line on Taylor Swift making an appearance at the halftime show? Cause she's got that song with Kendrick Lamar. Oh, she does. Yeah. They got, they got a, like a big song together. Yeah. I was not aware of that. Well,

she, I can't imagine, man. And if you're Kendrick Lamar I don't think you want Taylor Swift coming out because then that's that overshadows everything. No one cares about Ken. Nobody cares about you I don't think anyone cares about Kendrick Lamar. Anyway, I don't know how this guy's doing the halftime show I don't know like I'll be I'm team Drake on this one get Drake out there That'd be a great story get Drake to go and knock Kendrick Lamar off and do the halftime show. Can we just fire up like an old school rock band like three guitars, bass, drums and just put on a kick-ass show? They don't that never happens. It's always either pop or hip-hop like the one in LA a couple years ago was pretty awesome with Dre and I think Eminem was there, Snoop Dogg was there 50 Cent.

That one was cool. And The Weeknd did one year, that was really cool. Justin Timberlake years ago was unreal. But it's always pop. They never, it's never rock or hard. They got away from that. Cause it used to be that. Like it would be McCarthy or the Eagles or something.

And Prince did it. Like Prince was one of the best of all time was great but Kendrick Lamar I don't know I don't know what to expect like I don't big rock band but there's no great rock bands anymore that's the thing who are you gonna your pool is someone from the old days really yeah and then it just be that's not what they're looking for like Kendrick Lamar is very modern and very popular right now yeah you know in terms of pop culture the guy's incredibly relevant. Alright Chris Bassett coming up in about 20 minutes we'll ask him confirm or

deny you like the offseason so far here in Toronto with the Blue Jays. You can ask him that? Yeah confirm or deny. We'll play confirm or deny with Bassett. What are we 10 days away from pitchers and catchers reporting so I'm sure he's ready to go. We'll catch up with him in about 20 minutes. Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Alright Chris Bassett coming up next Thursday pitchers and catchers reporting down in Dunedin. See what is going on with him as you build up towards that you know what it's like first day at camp right physicals weigh-ins, first impressions. Like is it.

You just dieting right now. Is it the sauna or you're trying to shave weight? You know, like where, where's your head at as a professional athlete? Most guys are pretty dialed in now, man. Yeah. Like I saw a clip that Nikita Kucherov takes like two weeks off and then he's just back on skates. Like, I don't know the those days of guys sweating it out

before training camp, just, there's too much money on the line. Why risk it? Yeah, and other guys are doing it too, right? You got teammates that are looking at you saying, what are you doing? Like, why were you not a professional all off season? And honestly, like if you're sweating out

like an extra pound, you're screwed. You just are. Like, if you're trying to go in the sauna every day because you got like an extra pound, you're screwed. You just are. Like, if you're trying to go in the sauna every day because you got to shed one pound, what are we talking about? Yeah, that does seem a little bit excessive. All right, we sent Al's brother out into the city with a pair of leave tickets. You have to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them.

Are you ready for the second clue of the week? Hey, Overdrive fans, it's Tuesday, which means I got another clue for you to get you one step closer to finding out where is Al's brother and scoring those Leafs and Sharks tickets for March 3rd. Here is your Tuesday clue. Valentine's Day is coming up next week and I'm thinking I want to impress my lady with a home cooked meal. And I've heard that there's some nice cooking classes

at this establishment. Al's brother, man, fighting it out. Dude, he sounds awful right now. He might have to get in the sauna. He might have to get into the sauna. Yeah, he'll be ready for Friday though, when we do our picks. Al's brother will be locked in as always.

Tune in tomorrow for another clue in the first call or through on Friday with the correct location wins a pair tickets to see leaf sharks. March 3. finals brother brought to you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora our family the Ford family and you. All right, Chris Bassett coming up Mike Johnson from Calgary ahead of Leafs flames tonight on TSN for final hour up next overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN to

TSM plus is taking on TSM 2.