OverDrive - OverDrive - January 14, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: January 14, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs and Stars' matchup, the team's offensive production, the issues on the power play in Toronto, ...Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner's role on the roster and the Vikings' defeat to the Rams in the Wild Card round. They go around the biggest headlines in the sports world in the latest of Confirm or Deny and the NFL Divisional Round games.

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Starting point is 00:00:27 Details at iheartradio.ca. 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 up on TSN for Brian Hazy odog Jeff O'Neill Jonas Siegel of the athletic Let me ask you something to start the show I Come in here every Leaf game and then once in a while on Mondays
Starting point is 00:01:01 Every time I come in I Go across the street and I buy you and that scuzz ball back there a coffee. We get the same coffees, we have fun with it. Yeah. Has it ever crossed one of the two of your mind that maybe one time you guys go get the coffee couple things on that one I'd love to hear this one doogie has done that doogie has gone out and said I'm going over there to pick up a fax And I'm bringing them back for the boys once I have not done that and I believe me. I thought of it today Here's the thing I had to come in early
Starting point is 00:01:41 I've been in here since like one o'clock. I'm not going to, I had to do Sports Center at 330. I was taping with Nick Taylor. I don't have a chance to go out and get it. Next time I will go get it. Listen, taping with Nick Taylor took 20 minutes and you had an hour from that time. I had time, but they'd be cold by the time you arrive. It's all about planning, right? Jonas, you got to make, there's no point buying coffees having them sit there for 45 but Jonas is somebody like if you saw somebody let's say in a four-month span and 20 times they got you a coffee wouldn't you say hey that guy's coming in like I'm gonna see that guy I'm gonna get him a coffee today but that's not Hayes right what is that not
Starting point is 00:02:22 me I'm a shot right there that's a. You don't think I reciprocate? I love the reciprocate. We just heard you don't ever reciprocate. Well but here's a couple things on that. The guy is buying you coffee. Are you buying him lots? I didn't know you were doing that today. Dude it's a ten dollar coffee I'm not gonna lie. There was no text there was no hey I'm gonna go out there and get it I wasn't aware that you were doing that today. You know it's caught you. I thought of it today. I, when am I gonna see you next? Thursday. I will be here and I will have bells on and I will have coffees for everybody. I guarantee it. There should be like a snack too. Yeah, okay. You want snacks. I can't get snacks for this guy, though. He doesn't eat anything. No. A substance. No. This guy only eats, you know, what do you mean? I don't know what, whatever. Coffee's on Thursday, it's happening, you can bank on it, but I don't want to hear complaints that it's a little bit cold. When I come in,
Starting point is 00:03:13 that's when I'm going to get it. Well, dude, that's the way it's going to be. Here's what I do. I come here for like two 30. I get geared up around three 20 is when I drive over and I have them here and they're gorgeous. Good point. It is across the street. It is possible. Honestly, you could leave here at 345 and be back in plenty of time with the factors. It's a drive-through. It's a drive-through.
Starting point is 00:03:35 It's a big drive-through. Here is the second sports question to start the show that I have for you. Can you think of one or two performances, I guess you would have to remove golf from the equation because their paychecks are based on Saturday, Sunday finishes. Sam Darnold, can you think of a couple performances that have cost a guy cash like what he has done his last two outings? No, I really cannot give you an example. I can't give you an example because-
Starting point is 00:04:04 The only example, I don't know why I think of this so random. Do you remember Dennis Schroeder who played for the Raptors? That was a negotiating tag. It's different. He got offered something crazy contract by the Lakers. He's like, nah, not going to take it. That is true. That's a really good reference, but that was dumb negotiating and his agent jammed them.
Starting point is 00:04:21 But I'm talking about performance base. No, I think it's the uniqueness of football also where you just don't have enough games to play. You have such a short period of time to prove who you are. In college, you get like 10 games. You know, you may not start as a freshman. You likely won't. Sophomore, probably not.
Starting point is 00:04:41 Junior, maybe a couple. You basically have your senior year in college football ten to twelve starts you have to prove who you are and then you get to the nfl if you're sam darnold he spent the first five six years in his career proving that he's maybe a backup a bus or a bust quite frankly a bust third overall bust and he was supposed to be the backup this year well that's and that's what's
Starting point is 00:05:03 important point out jj mcc. McCarthy, when they drafted him, the belief was McCarthy would start. And then he got injured early in camp, and I think that allowed Darnold maybe to somehow push everything out of his mind, like he wasn't preparing to be a starter. And to his credit, he was exceptionally awesome and productive for 16 games and The Sunday nighter in Detroit and the game last night made everyone revert back to New York Jets And I've never seen a guy get sacked like that man well and the offensive line did not help him I got the one thing you have to point out You got to be fair here to Sam Darnold
Starting point is 00:05:42 That's the one thing you have to point out. You gotta be fair here to Sam Darnold. He should go back and rescind whatever gift he gave his offensive line. Because you know, that's the big play now in the NFL, quarterbacks get, they get trucks or they get, you know. Yeah, it's like, here's a specialized guitar signed by Bruce Springsteen.
Starting point is 00:06:00 Of the nine sacks, how many are on him? Four? Three? Five? Yeah, I mean, you'd have to review the tape. There are a few of them that were certainly on him. Regardless of how you want to break down offensive lines. No, it was crushing last night. It's spendy spendy.
Starting point is 00:06:14 Yeah, it cost him. Because if that guy took the Vikings on a run, God knows what kind of contract some garbage team would have offered him to be their starting quarterback. Well, I think the Vikings would have been the one that likely said, we're moving off JJ McCarthy and you're going to be our guy in the future. So he would have continued to be coached by Kevin O'Connell, continued to throw to Justin Jefferson. Like it was just a dream come true for any quarterback in that situation and
Starting point is 00:06:41 it still might happen. They could franchise him for one year. They're not gonna franchise him. I don't think so. Wouldn't that make sense though? Like see what McCarthy can do like. Actually not the worst idea. It's not the worst idea Jonas but then what happens next year if he plays well do you keep them? Do you just never give JJ McCarthy a shot? Isn't it similar to what the Niners did with Jimmy? Kind of, but they made the Super Bowl. I guess that's where it's different. You're talking Jimmy Garoppolo?
Starting point is 00:07:08 Yeah, like they they're like, yeah, this we made the Super Bowl, but Jimmy's not it. And they moved off him. And that's when they drafted Trey Lance. That's right. That did not work out. But Brock Purdy, I guess, did to an extent. But did you see by the way, with Jefferson's head? After the guy to reduce quote They asked him I guess about like bringing Darnall back
Starting point is 00:07:29 He said I didn't know who my quarterback was going to be after last season and I really didn't care At the end of the day I'll always say that I'm confident in myself to perform the same way that I've been performing But it's not my job to say who's going to be the quarterback or who I want to be the quarterback Is that basically this yeah, or is that him just saying I'm not gonna I'm not gonna to say who's going to be the quarterback or who I want to be the quarterback. Is that basically business or is that him just saying I'm not going to, I'm not going to come on. That wasn't as explosive as I thought.
Starting point is 00:07:51 I thought he was a very guy. Like if Sam Donald's here, I'm not. I read that and I was like, seriously? I'm used to like athletes just being like, yeah, he's a great quarterback. I'd love to have him back. But the business is the business. But like that's like, I don't really care. That'd love to have him back. Yeah. But the business is the business. But like, that's like, that sounds like a guy. That sounds like a guy that's been paid.
Starting point is 00:08:09 And that's what Justin Jefferson, he's been paid. So that sounds to me like a very typical wide receiver answer where it's like, I'm getting paid. I'm going to run my routes. I'm going to do my job. I don't know who's going to play quarterback. But you can bank on me continuing to do what I'm gonna do It puts the vikes in a in a position where? Like they got a pretty good squad man
Starting point is 00:08:32 How many years could they piss away not having that elite quarterbacking and it's gonna cost you and how much money do you want to? invest in one of our kind of Daniel Jones type guys where it's like we're gonna get just gonna ask the question right like it would be McCarthy no well in McCarthy you'll be on a rookie deal but you don't know what he is at the NFL like JJ McCarthy was the other day rookies don't win in the playoffs yet they don't I know so why be the guy Daniels won one game he's not winning a Super Bowl yeah right like I'm pretty certain of that by the way great job do you you on making this pick suspenseful the way the stats are lining up. I have to
Starting point is 00:09:09 say something on behalf of this program. I was so embarrassed last night. Collectively, we were horrendous. And let's also point out as I deflect that weekend was horrible. The football was awful. Yeah, the games were terrible. Packer game was horrible. The football was awful. The games were terrible. The Packer game was really disappointing. It was a lifeless game. There was nothing to it on either side. That's our excuse.
Starting point is 00:09:33 They sucked us into that vacuum and we became a part of it. And even the one game that was compelling and close, and the one road team that actually won, because all home teams won and they won big, was the box game which felt somewhat unfulfilling because it was like a botch snap two botch snaps in the fourth court it was strange and then once washington got the ball it was a formality that they were going to move the chains or felt that way and they were going to kick a winning field goal
Starting point is 00:09:58 credit to them if you're in washington you deserve it they've had a lot of hardships over the years but um i think if you're being honest if you're a football fan it was just a bad week just a bad week of football ugly now what you get out of it is Ravensbills on Sunday night that's the payoff that's all I really wanted as a football fan and a 1-1 scoreboard but and a 1-1 scoreboard between Hazen bro and Owen Wilson so I might he just sent a random tweet I don't know if you breezed by it, it was like, are you guys serious with those selections? It was really bad.
Starting point is 00:10:30 It was bad. Like we didn't get one spread right. We each got one total correct. Do you think it's because your expert has been lounging Al's brother? Yeah. Yeah, I worry about where he's at. He doesn't drive this ship, this guy does. So don't blame him. Yeah, I gotta own it. I gotta own it. I
Starting point is 00:10:49 Stupid picks. Yet at the same time, it's all tied and that's very suspenseful, right? That's all you need. Glass half full is we're still tied going into championship weekend. It would just look better if the number was higher than one to one. If it was like nine nine or something. I see no problem if you get the pick wrong and Dougie maybe you can chime in here and what your thought process were or lack of. Why not have the number continue to grow like do you find one one to be sexy? Not at all but it's up to you guys to make the right pick. That's a very appropriate answer. We wouldn't be talking about it if you guys picked the right pick that's a very appropriate answer talking about it if you guys picked the right game can't blame do you for us back to the show do you know I mean we picked horrible pegs why is it one one well it's a there are more than two if
Starting point is 00:11:35 you got it wrong the other team got the point this guy decided to stop doing that we've we've put an end we've tried to change it for the playoffs the scoring system so if you get the spread right it's two points none of us got we went over six as a show on the spread well it's all first horrendous and you get one point if you get the total right we went two for six they got one right we got one right it's a one-one we had a guy with a Super Bowl ring bitching for the extra point on Sunday like it was a pot of gold Pathetic pathetic pathetic behavior and honestly Al's brother and I were fighting back which was equally as pathetic So just a lot of loser energy all around quite frankly, but it's gonna change next weekend
Starting point is 00:12:18 We've got four games next weekend. The picks will be on Friday We've got Jesse Palmer coming up in the 6 p.m. Hour today as I mentioned Nick Taylor is gonna be on the show today he's at the Amex this week he's not slowing down man he did two weeks in Hawaii and right into Palm Springs why not go on a heater you know the theory win 90% of your money and 10% of the events like you just go on a two or three week heater and you're shoving six million bucks in your bank account you're going to the Tour Championship you were set for the year you're set for six million bucks in your bank account. You're going to the Tour Championship. You were set for the year. You're set for the year. Set for the year. I mean he made 1.5 at the Sony. Everyone got paid in
Starting point is 00:12:50 Kapalua. He didn't finish well. I don't know what he made. But the key is to win a signature event and shove five sheets in the bank account. Do you know how many times Scottie Scheffler did that last year? Every single one. Yeah. Every single one he won. Yeah it was absurd he won the players he won the Arnie Palmer he won at Memorial he won everything he had at Harbor Town after the Masters the guy went Masters Harbor Town back-to-back weekend like that he and him not being around is very beneficial for people like that's big because he would have played definitely the century he was supposed to play this week at the AMEX and I doubt he's at the Farmers I don't even know if he'll be at Pebble Beach like if
Starting point is 00:13:32 you're on the PGA Tour right now you're praying that guy's hand gets every signature event and make your get your licks in because when that guy comes back they know what's gonna happen. Well that that's what came out of the interview with Nick and again we'll play it later on but he was he was I believe in the first two elevated events which was the century and I believe Pebble Beach but no guarantees beyond that with that win he's in everything now he's in the Masters he's in the PGA Championship and now he's in all the big events. So he just talked about how huge it was. Oh it's massive way to start his year now he's just got to qualify for the US Open and the and the British Open but everything else he's playing in
Starting point is 00:14:09 Like it's just a massive massive ordeal to win this early in the season. Yeah Leaves Dallas tonight the beginning of the Stephen Lawrence era. What's this like for you? Jonas you get to cover Stephen Lawrence playing on a a line with Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner. First let's dive into what you believe to be the reasoning. Well I asked Craig Brubbe that this morning and he basically said energy to breathe I guess some energy. What does that say about your two best players? I knew you were gonna say that because I think we've talked about this in the past where you've kind of said like why do we always make it about the other guy? Yeah and I think it's fair like they haven't been good the last two games because i think we've talked about this in the past where you've kind of said like why do we always make it about the other guy yeah
Starting point is 00:14:45 and i think it's there like they have a mean good the last two games haven't really if they had that one game but they've kind of been like really up and down what does it say about the kid that's been on fire and score a bunch of goals and about the blossom i think that's not the news you have but that's partly about like patch already wasn't working with the various in the owner and like
Starting point is 00:15:03 i guess you could break up the McMahon Domi Robertson line, which actually hasn't been that good. I would have what I would have done I would have put Domi up with Matthews. I think he there's another thing. There's a guy that hasn't produced off Yeah, you could get him going at him going there's another option done, but we've seen this like I heard you guys talking about it yesterday Remember like Wayne Simmons played on the top line for a couple games. Like they do this every once in a while. I think it's like the middle of the season. You pointed out it's like guys are kind of tired. This is like something different.
Starting point is 00:15:32 You can tell like Lorenz is like very excited, nervous. Massive opportunity for him. Yeah, like it's not gonna. It's not likely going to change his career to the point where he becomes a first line left winger. It's not gonna last. There's only one the point where he becomes a first-line left winger. It's not going to last very long. There's only one circumstance where he spends more than a week. Yeah, it might be a game.
Starting point is 00:15:48 And that's if he scores two goals for the next three games. Or the other guys get red hot. I think you can rely on that too. Oh yeah. Thieve and Lorenz goes up and down the wing. You're like Mitch and Austin. You get hot right now and I'm sticking around. Because that, you know, coaches and Barube is kind of a throwback where I don't think he's looking at a chart afterwards necessarily. He's more of a field guy.
Starting point is 00:16:08 If Austin and Mitch are dancing tonight. Yeah, they're both plus four after the game. Steven Lorenz is playing there. He's not coming off that line. I mean, think of what they did. Like I was thinking about it, what they did after that loss. They basically did two things. Put Steven Lorenz on the first line and played Ryan Reeves.
Starting point is 00:16:24 Those are the two moves. It's like- From Saturday night. From Saturday night. Like those are the two things. Put Stephen Lawrence on the first line and played Ryan Reeves. Those are the two moves. And it's like from Saturday night, from Saturday night. Like those are the two moves. And it's like energy type moves, I guess. Like what's the deal with Patioretti? Is it that his they think his play has fallen off or that he's too tired? I think they like Brubais implied that this was kind of the plan coming in, that they would sit him sometimes.
Starting point is 00:16:43 You can kind of tell right now, maybe his legs aren't there. So maybe you give him the odd night off like he's I think is he thirty six? Yeah, it's not going as well. Yeah, like it's like it's the middle of the season. We'll see. Like left wing is still like a position where they're not like super strong, like Knives is. Knives and McMahon are going to play. Yeah, but like they're not like it's not like theyives is fine. Knives and McMahon are going to play.
Starting point is 00:17:05 Yeah, but like they're not like, it's not like they're so proven. You know what I mean? Like they don't really have, like if Knives isn't playing on your top line, who is? Well, I've always been a believer and I still am, that Max Domi come playoff time will be on the wing. I would be very surprised if he plays up in the wings.
Starting point is 00:17:20 I think that is clearly their plan. Yeah, and it was around this time last year, maybe a little bit later in the season, they put Bertuzzi, Domi and Matthews together, and it was a very, very successful line. It was on fire, that line. It was a great line. And what's interesting is that Barube has been-
Starting point is 00:17:36 Where was Mitch playing during that time, by the way? He was with Tavares, yeah, and I think Willie was on a third line. Yeah. Like Willie was playing, I mean, you'd have to ref, who was he playing with down the stretch? All these lines. And that was quite a few games
Starting point is 00:17:54 that they stuck together too, didn't they? Domi and Matthews. Oh yeah, and into the playoffs. Oh, Marner was hurt. Oh, Marner had the high ankle sprain. That's right. Marner had the high ankle sprain. So Willie i was not on the iron coast and so willy would have been playing with the bars
Starting point is 00:18:07 but group has been very committed to matthews in marter playing they very committed we have seen them in-game change in game changes in there have been some times in austin's been hurt forced his hand but i don't know if he's gonna get off that would appear to me as if group is pretty stubborn I don't know if he's gonna get off that. Like it would appear to me as if
Starting point is 00:18:25 Perube is pretty stubborn and he's like, this is what's happening. These two are gonna play together. And they have to figure it out. Which do you guys think is better? I mean, their history would suggest, I think they play better when they're not together. Like they seem to be more of a driving force
Starting point is 00:18:40 when they're not together. And I would link the power play struggles like a similar mentality. They just, there's this sense of deferral. Like you drive the line. No, you drive the line and you drive the power play. No, like you need an alpha. Can you remember the last time was,
Starting point is 00:18:59 when is the last time where we said that power play is lethal? Not this year. Not at any point this year. And really not any point down the stretch is lethal? Not this year. Not at any point this year, and really not any point down the stretch or in the playoffs last year. Like it was a pretty abysmal power play the last 20 games of the year last year.
Starting point is 00:19:13 I honestly think it's been a calendar year probably. Because like a few years ago, they were the number one power play in the league, and then the next year I think they were the second power play in the league or close to it. And that power play, that was the lockout power play, power play wasn't it which is a little bit deceptive They had some crazy stupid power play that that had a percentage that the quiz master He was yeah quite excited about and they were playing pretty sure that power play was William Nylander John Tavares
Starting point is 00:19:38 Mitch Barner Austin Matthews and Morgan Riley. Yeah, so what the hell's gone on where that just can't work? Where did that magic go? What did they get away from? I'd love to know the answer. They don't have it. Like Brad Tree Living doesn't have, not that it's his responsibility, he's the GM. It's on the coaches and the players, but Brad spoke to it yesterday that it's a complete non-starter for them right now. If anything, it is sucking the life out of that building. Yeah. Like you, it is wild to watch them go on the power play. What's crazy is you talk about how sophisticated things are now in pro sports, especially with, you know, you go down there to a practice, there's skill coaches, there's hockey players that are making 13 million dollars, there's high price this and high price that and you put them all on the
Starting point is 00:20:25 ice and the simple thing they have to get back to is just getting pucks to the net and going there and chasing them down and then making skill plays after that like it's crazy that all of the stuff that goes into pro sports and pro hockey like that's what they have to get back to you I've told me times have I told you that there's got to be some chaos in front of the net before skilled plays can happen? Like, I don't know. Yeah, they just don't get anyone moving either. Like, the penalty killer is, it just seems like the easiest power play to defend against. Everything's on the perimeter. No one's moving. Dude, if you pass it to William Nylander, and I talked about him yesterday, that guy's got an unbelievable one-timer. He shoots the puck as well as anybody in the National
Starting point is 00:21:07 Hockey League how many times have you just seen Morgan Riley pass it to him at the top and him rip one so it's so easy to guard against him if he know you're just gonna pass it back analytics corner over here he's not getting any shots if you look at statistically it's way way way down on the power play on the power play five shots on the power play what about all of them together like what are all their shots down? I haven't looked at all of them I think I mean, I think I would say yeah, I would say yes, though probably across the board Yeah, again, it just seems like a very there is one situation that I'll jump on board with your analytics train and put my nerd Hat on I'll drive the caboose and I'll say that there's
Starting point is 00:21:45 where you start shoot the puck but let me ask you this but not from the point though because your analytics would say point shot a closer to our stupid you can't have point shots we got to clarify that I just want to know like you think that had all played in the league obviously one thing I've noticed they don't practice it as much as they used to. Does that matter? So yesterday, they practiced- Dude, I went to a couple of practices a couple years ago and they practiced that power play and I watched it.
Starting point is 00:22:10 I'm like, that's the best power play I've ever seen in my life. And so they used to do it a lot. When Spencer Carberry was running the power play, they used to do it like before practice. Just those six people would be on the ice for like 15, 20 minutes. It used to be like a regular thing. They don't really do that anymore. Does that matter? Like am I thinking that matters so much?
Starting point is 00:22:26 I would say yes, the answer has to be yes because look at the results. But yesterday they were on the ice practicing their power play more than they have all year. Like 20 minutes before, 20 minutes after. Like it was, I've never seen that all season. So I wonder if they're like, you know what, maybe we should practice it.
Starting point is 00:22:43 Maybe we should practice it. Yeah, maybe we should mix in a massive issue for us right now and try to you know iron out some problems. One thing I will say I'm not a believer and it might be a short-term fix and it might be just for the right now. He's so gifted he's one of the few players in the league you can put him at any position on the ice. I don't think a long-term solution is five forwards and Mitch Marner being back there.
Starting point is 00:23:04 I agree. Like you're not taking that into the playoffs and beating a quality team like the Boston Bruins or the Florida Panthers. You're not rolling with that. So something needs to be done and got to be done before the playoffs. Yeah. Yeah. You got less than 40 games, man. It's going to happen quickly. But what do you do? Because like the pieces are all the same, right? Like I don't know do you mix the two stars up on a different units even that though? Like it's difficult to say to guys that are these like yeah that they're this skilled It's like but you almost have you almost have to say to them I played with some European guys who would piss around in the power play and the coach would only put him out the last
Starting point is 00:23:42 20 20 seconds of the power play because he would be like now he's gonna show some urgency. Yeah I got 20 seconds. I got 20 seconds and that's it but it's almost like these guys have gotten so comfortable where they're not getting pulled off and they know they got two minutes so they just dilly-dally around so the idea of practicing like okay you guys you've got 30 seconds here almost like an empty net type of drill show some urgency get puck to the net and go get it make a play but would that really sink in come game time when they know they're gonna stay out there for the two minutes I don't know it's a good point though there there never seems to
Starting point is 00:24:15 be any urgency with with their their puck retrieval in their own zone and and it's like we're gonna go back and get it and then we're gonna go back drop it back and this and I can we'll get in and then we'll set up and then Austin goes in buttonhawks and it's like guys like how about you like the opposition it just seems like it's so easy to defend I know what these guys are gonna try to do remember that stretch in November when Matthews was out the power play actually looked pretty good for a little bit and they were just moving it like we were shooting on that nice had a bunch of tips and stuff it was very like
Starting point is 00:24:47 let's not think let's just play but that that's the I'm sure and I understand the conundrum here you're like you have all this talent yeah the idea of a meat and potatoes power play I watch it counterintuitive yeah but I watch that let me correct you it's a meat and potatoes approach to start and then after that then you could use your elite skill And that's when you're gonna have your bang bang slam dunk plays through the scene backdoor plays It starts out meeting potatoes and if you do that properly in retrieve pucks with some urgency Then you can have the 12 million dollar skill takeover in very teams
Starting point is 00:25:21 Yeah That should be I mean that seems like the game plan that would make the most sense create some chaos in find a window for matthews or newland but are we just gonna come back to the same thing i understand we've been we've been doing it forever but the clock is ticking and another valuable asset talk about how willy can shoot the puck and how dangerous matthews is with that snapshot or wrist shot whatever the hell you want to call it
Starting point is 00:25:43 but the other threat they have is not many guys in the league better in front of the net than John Tavares and Matthew Nyes like they're big, they're solid, they've got great hands and they can tip pucks and dig them out. Yeah, exactly. Well there's a bunch of quality options there they're just not finding the right one that's open. There's some of the parts man like they have every detail you would possibly want. But that's what happened remember in Pittsburgh last year
Starting point is 00:26:05 You're like Crosby Malkin Carlson Latte and it never worked and I watched them the other day You know who's running the point on the power play Matt Griswik Neither guy is on their top unit. You know, they're say yeah, and I was pretty wild You're saying you know who could run it here at some point John Klingberg. John Klingberg is back in the news We'll tell you more about that. Confirm it denies still to come as well this hour. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. Good vibes playlists like party hits, chill tracks on lo-fi, and motivational podcasts to crush your resolutions. From wellness, finances, travel, and more.
Starting point is 00:26:51 New year, new you. Explore it all at iHeartRadio.ca and on the free iHeart Radio app. 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 Tuukka Arras. 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
Starting point is 00:27:26 movement clauses? I can either confirm or deny that. I can't confirm or deny. All right, Confirm or Deny brought to you by DMX One Step 2.0, the high performance flooring underlayment that makes your vinyl or laminate floors warm, comfortable, and mold free. DMX one step 2.0 no mold no cold let's get after it here begin with the real heat all right confirm or deny Stephen Lorenz will stay with Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner throughout the rest of the week tonight Thursday Saturday in Montreal dude I'm gonna lay this out for you, okay?
Starting point is 00:28:06 It's 100% deny and he won't get through this first period. Yes he will. Dude. What's the point of giving him a, it's not a make a wish scenario where he's out there. It is and I know that and I love the guy. He's one of my favorite players on the team. He works hard, he loves being a Leaf, he's excited for you. You know how the coach has taken Mitch Marner after the first period but you
Starting point is 00:28:28 don't think if things don't look good after one period he's the first guy to come off the line it's a hundred percent deny TV I hope it works out Jonas I agree with Jeff like there's no chance yes tonight Dallas good team Thursday Jersey good team if they don't have mojo tonight, good night. He's right, it could be over after the fifth period. Okay, it could go a few shifts, like it won't be because of him. Why would you give him, what's the point of three shifts?
Starting point is 00:28:55 That's the big question. What's the point of doing this period? I don't know. There's no point, unless you're actually gonna give him an opportunity to bring something that you want him to bring to the table. This is a simple, like they're getting plus minuses, they're getting hammered, it's safety, it's a good smarts, a cup champ, he's reliable. I'm confirming it. I'm confirming it. A. out of spite, but B. because these other two guys, the message is more about the other two guys.
Starting point is 00:29:23 Yeah, which is why it's not good. You better snap out of it and get good white well What if they play well though Jonas like that's that's the whole purpose of it You're gonna put like part of playing on that line is you play a lot you said at all This is out of spite only you're well spite answer. Okay, listen if it's if it's not him It's probably nice would go back there else and put up there McMahon Maybe don't me do it like but donomey's playing up the middle of the ice. I know change like you can change that's what I would have done. Domey's got to get
Starting point is 00:29:49 going too. I mean they they need a lot more out of Max, clearly. But I don't he's not he doesn't really deserve the opportunity either based on the way he's been playing. It's not it's Sparks. He's got he's got more offensive ability he's definitely gonna be more comfortable playing with high-end players and talk about max and playing away if you're if you put more and stop there i mean i i'm guessing that they see something in this opportunity for him back in the long term they do
Starting point is 00:30:17 all given your resume way too much what's the point of three shifts it's not what is the point but that's what you guys are saying is's not getting out of the first period tonight. It's like a spark to change participation. You've never thought about this scenario. What if they get down a couple? There is a scenario. But you know what the scenario would be? Yeah not his fault. Yeah they might take... Look at the other two guys. But it's still a reality they get down a couple he's getting he's bumped off the line. He might but at what point do they look at Matthews and Marner and say
Starting point is 00:30:46 maybe you guys need to do something here like maybe you need to snap out of it that's kind of the message isn't it yeah exactly that's what I'm saying I think they will snap out of it starting tonight and they play Dallas really well I don't know why generally speaking Dallas red-hot lately red-hot confirmed Yeah, red hot. Confirm or deny? Roki Sasaki. Deny. Choosing the Jays would make up for all of the misses the past two off seasons. Dude. All of the misses if you get Roki. It's not a secret that the hit you did with Steve Phillips was taped and it's going to go to air soon. But I walked in the building and I saw you and I saw Steve in the return and I heard Sasaki, Jays, where have you heard this before? And I don't know what Steve said walked in the building and i saw you and i saw steven the return and i heard sasaki
Starting point is 00:31:25 jay's where have you heard this before and i i don't know what steve said but he i guarantee you he said there's not a chance in hell that this guy's signing with the blue jays as soon as the word dodgers pop up is interested to it's all very terrifying any apparently sasaki's meeting with the dodgers today yeah and the reports indicate like the Stars are out that means probably Shohei is there.
Starting point is 00:31:47 Like that's the ultimate mic drop. If this guy, a Japanese player walks in and Shohei Otani goes, hey how are you? And then it's Mookie Betts and then it's Clayton Fries. Well and then they have Freddie Freeman sitting on the team. Yamamoto is on the team. Like he rolled through Toronto when it was minus 12 outside. And you put the hand out and say, don't even worry about the interpreter.
Starting point is 00:32:09 Right. I'll take care of you. You can stay at my house. Otani's just like dialed in. Yeah, listen, I will say this. I'm going to confirm that him choosing the J's would make up for a lot of the issues in the past. Yes, because those are gone.
Starting point is 00:32:24 At some point, you gotta get a winner here. You have to sell someone on taking your team up on the option. You gotta land somebody here. Like they've gone in on Otani, they've gone in on Soto, they went in on Corbin Burns, they've been on a bunch of guys and they all say thank you but no thank you. You have to land somebody at some point
Starting point is 00:32:43 because you're pissing off everybody Did they landed a guy whose elbow is gonna fall off? Shoulder is the issue. I think over Yanni Hoffman after other teams are like, yeah, but listen, that's still it's still worth Giving it a shot Hoffman's a good arm. I give he's healthy. It's a good play And the thing is about Sasaki here if you can bring him in that's that's huge he's young he's cheap and he's under control and they need help with the rotation aren't the jay's are coming around on i know that the jay's at the point where they're like i have often pick us
Starting point is 00:33:15 the the the the terrifying it has to be terrifying the braves and the orioles dot both of everybody with a like how did they they must be like i know of all the guys that we tried to sign and this guy picked us, what the hell's going on here? It's terrifying. There's a rat here and it's probably his shoulder.
Starting point is 00:33:32 And that's why, again, the Sasaki thing, do I think he's signing here? No, I don't think he is. I think he'll go to the Dodgers. I think the Padres are really legitimately in on it. But it is getting to a point now where we all speak with Blue J fans all the time. They are so infuriated. And I can't blame Shapiro and Atkins
Starting point is 00:33:50 because it's the right move. Try to get these guys. Go in and try. But at some point you have to answer for yourself. And I'm talking about the front office. Why can you not land anybody? Well, and why is your team not better than it? Why can you not?
Starting point is 00:34:02 Why is your farm system not good? Like why? Well, and that's probably answering why you can't land people. Well, they're looking at it saying, who am I playing with? Yes. And am I ever going to win up here? And in this case, they can't offer him more money. It has nothing to do all the same money. It's it's on. This is a grand slam for whoever gets them. Now, I don't know if he'll be a great pitcher. We'll see. But he's on basically a minor league deal and he's under team control for I think six years so it's not about money it's not a posting scenario because he's too young and he hasn't played pros and
Starting point is 00:34:32 professionally in Japan long enough to qualify for that so it has nothing to do with money what are you selling him on you're selling your program you're selling Pete Walker I guess and you're selling maybe opportunity you just think about that I honestly I hang on a sec you just said you're selling Pete Walker, I guess, and you're selling maybe Opportunity. Just think about that. Honestly, I... Hang on a sec. You just said you're selling an Opportunity, Pete Walker, and the program, and you just mentioned the other one.
Starting point is 00:34:53 You're getting off a bird in a boardroom is Otani, Freddie Freeman, Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, Dave Roberts... And their World Series ring. And their rings. And Palm Trees and... L.A. I hear you, man. Dave Roberts and their World Series ring and their rings and palm trees and LA I hear you man like think about like the two options are there that's that's crazy and the other option is San Diego San Diego would be very compelling very compelling all right moving on confirmed with deny, the Ravens should be favored over
Starting point is 00:35:26 the bills this weekend. And to clarify, they are favored right now, but that is an accurate assessment of what should be happening. Confirm or deny? Not the right approach for me, but I'm going to fly with it. I just think there's something special about the bills, and I don't know what that is. I don't know if it's capable of taking down the Ravens. But I just got a good feeling about Josh Allen I have all year. I don't know if it was the one Jim Nance call where he ran one in from 20 yards and he was like, that's the statement play of the year. I just, I don't know, I got a good feeling about them. I think they're gonna take them down. I think they might go all the way.
Starting point is 00:36:01 I've had a good, I think they're gonna win the Super Bowl for a long time. I kind of feel good about them too. I think whoever wins on all the way. I've had a good I think they're gonna win the Super Bowl for a long time I kind of feel good about them, too I think whoever wins on Sunday is gonna go into Arrowhead and win that game interest I think I think the Chiefs that is a crazy game. I feel the opposite You think whoever wins this game? It's irrelevant They're gonna go in and let irrelevant if I was picking the game and I guess you guys will pick the game Yeah, how do you not pick Kansas City? I've seen big game big game big game. They always come through. Totally understandable. My answer to that would be a history. Like at some
Starting point is 00:36:31 point you're going, you're going to lose. They're not going to win every single year. Like it just doesn't work that way. Secondly, yes, they have won a lot of games, close games, close games. I'm not even talking about those games. I'm talking about the playoffs. Yes. But even those have been very close games. Like they've beaten the Bills in the last couple of years by field goal, like end of game field goals or an overtime. It's not like they're blowing teams out.
Starting point is 00:36:53 The margins are very thin. And I think at some point the Bills and or the Ravens are going to be the ones with the ball in their hands at the end of the game. And it's gonna flip. And I think they're capable of doing that. I will deny this as well I think the Bills at home too is substantial I think this is big Lamar Jackson in the playoffs he looked very good last week he still to me has to prove who he is in the playoffs
Starting point is 00:37:16 especially on the road. Let's see what you got in Buffalo under the lights on Sunday I know Josh Allen's gonna show up I I know he's gonna show up. I don't know. I think Lamar will. I think he will. I can't say as definitively he will and from that standpoint I think the spreads out of whack. I think the Bills should be favored here. Well weren't the Bills favored initially? Yes and it flipped quickly. Money came in big on Baltimore. I think statistically Baltimore is better. I think they're the best team in the league statistically. Better than Kansas Kansas City whatever statistic I am referring to I don't know interesting I deny as well, but I disagree with you. I like I you can't pick against Kansas City
Starting point is 00:37:54 Tell me where where the edge is on for either team over Kansas City What do you like better about either team the thing with if you're gonna go into any facet of the game? There's always the Mahomes X FFactor that he always wins. Yeah totally. Like that should almost trump everything. Every time we tried to bet against them this year it's like the guy just gets it done. I'm not saying anything definitively. Dude you just said whoever wins the game is gonna go into Arrowhead. I think they will. I know I'm saying I think they will. I'm not putting my house on the line. Who has the best defense of the three teams? Kansas City. Yes Baltimore's been really good there. If Zay Flowers returns, they have really good tight ends.
Starting point is 00:38:46 But I know Kelsey's still really good, but I would say Andrews can be as effective as Kelsey right now. I think the Bills, Josh Allen's played better than anyone in football this year. Can Mahomes elevate to better than that? Absolutely, he can. Will he?
Starting point is 00:39:02 I don't know, we'll see. I mean, generally speaking, again, Tom Brady didn't win every year. And I know that's not the most compelling case to make, but you're just, you're not going to win every single time. It's going to be a tight game. It's going to be a close game. I believe Josh Allen and Lamar have the ability to close
Starting point is 00:39:16 in a two minute drill on the road in a tough situation like that. Also look at the Bills. Their offensive line is definitely superior to both teams. They have the best offensive line of the three teams. And I- Pardon? You like their backs better?
Starting point is 00:39:31 Well, I mean, Cook is a touchdown machine, right? I would say I like him as much as I like Isaiah Pacheco. I don't like him as much as I like Derek Henry, but I do think James Cook is proven that he can get the ball in the end zone, which is pretty substantial. I think they're all pretty evenly matched teams, I guess is what I'm saying. Well, and like to go back to like Brady, eventually Manning did win.
Starting point is 00:39:55 Yes. One year. Yeah. Like Mahomes is not going to win 12 Super Bowls. Is he? No, he's not. I mean, Jordan went 6-0 in the finals just FYI. yeah. although Mahomes is already lost. he's already lost. now he's only lost to Tom Brady. he lost to Brady in the Super
Starting point is 00:40:14 Bowl and he lost to Brady when he was with the Pats at Arrowhead. like that's the only, that's and Joe Burrow got him. Burrow got him too. he's lost three times. Anyway. Crazy. He could have three more rings. It's insane when you think about it. Like this guy legitimately could have three more rings. At least two more anyway. One in a Super Bowl and the one where if he beats Brady in the pads, I think they win that year. Confirmed and denied. Mike McCarthy will coach in the NFL next season. I can't believe I'm gonna say that because there's gonna be some dumpster fire like the Jacksonville
Starting point is 00:40:49 Jaguars that are gonna be like let's bring in that pro barrel and let's see them operate and it's the only thing we got. I don't want to stick our neck out and take some college guy or Clifty Kingsbury type or whatever and they're gonna be like he's a veteran he's won before he's won a Super Bowl and somebody will hire him. Yep. Confirm man New Orleans, Chicago, the Jets, someone's gonna someone's hiring this guy. Is he a little underrated now? I'll take it a step further they might fight over Mike McCarthy. There there could be a bidding war for Mike McCarthy. They did win a lot in previous seasons. Well they went to the playoffs two years ago. Even this year
Starting point is 00:41:24 without Dak They actually came home very respectfully. Yeah with Kurt like down the stretch. They're pretty well. Yeah, they played pretty well He's a good coach. Is he perfect? No, is he the greatest? No, but he's not a disaster Mike McCarthy if you'd choose you'd to choose let's say you're Chicago and it's him or Ben Johnson. I Probably I'd give ben johnson a shot i i would go with him first because i wouldn't want to miss out like i know what mccarthy is i don't know what johnson is you don't want to miss out on you don't want to miss out on the next exactly sean mcveigh or kevin o'connell or whatever like you you want that new the new toy new toy yeah i would go with that
Starting point is 00:42:03 but i don't think it's a bad consolation prize now okay confirmed the night after dark still to come confirmed that I brought to you by DMX one step 2.0 the high-performance flooring underlayment that makes your vinyl or laminate floors warm comfortable and mold free DMX one step 2.0 no mold no cold alright Mike Johnson Johnson calling the game tonight he will join us in 20 minutes we've got Nick Taylor coming up later
Starting point is 00:42:30 this afternoon Jesse Palmer as well overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for Metallica's in 72 world tour is blazing through Toronto tonight's two unique sets Download the free iHeartRadio app and rock out with iHeartHeavyRock Ten minutes of daily streaming enters you to win an epic Metallica iHeartRadio experience Four nights of hotel 500 bucks and tickets to see Metallica at the Roger Center The more iHeartHeavyRock you stream the more to win. Details at iHeartRadio.ca. All right Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of
Starting point is 00:43:13 the final score Leaf Stars tonight. We'll get to our best bets later this afternoon. Leaf Stars tonight Leafs Jersey on Thursday. Shelvin Keefe's homecoming and then at the Bell Center on Saturday night against Montreal so a big week for the Leafs and then they're in action on Monday against Tampa. That's a heater set of games. Big time man, go time. Like this is a big big week four games in the next seven nights all against good teams like Montreal has been really good obviously recently and Tampa in here on Monday Tampa won again last night and we got a pair of tickets were given away. Al's brother has given out clues all week as to his whereabouts. You got to know where he is in order to try
Starting point is 00:43:52 to win those tickets. He's ready for the second clue of the week. Go ahead. Hey Overdrive fans. Happy Tuesday to you. I'm back to get you one step closer to finding out where is Al's brother and get yourself a pair of tickets To lease and lightning on January 20th. Here is my Tuesday clue the legend himself James Duffy is a notable resident of the city that I'm hiding out in this week Alright tune in tomorrow for another clue in the first caller through on Friday with the correct location wins a pair of tickets to see the Leaves take on the Lightning next Monday.
Starting point is 00:44:30 Fine Al's brother is brought to you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora. That's too easy. Our family, the Ford family and you. Full details at TSN 1050. He might be the most famous resident of this place. James Duffy? Don't you think?
Starting point is 00:44:46 Yeah. I don't know anyone more. I don't think he's that famous. I think he's the best broadcaster in North America, but I don't think he's that famous. Pretty famous, man. Name someone else from that place. Pretty famous. You think Duffy's that famous?
Starting point is 00:44:58 I think Duffy, like you go to Ottawa, Duffy is the most popular person maybe in the history of that city he gets everything and where do you think he ranks in Canada in terms you think he's twice definitely this no not top ten I mean amongst sports community but you can't athletes and stuff we're always gonna trump that like David and Matthew media is top media but like, if you're including all media, like not just sports media, but also like news media and everything else,
Starting point is 00:45:33 would Duffy be in the top five? Yeah. You think so? He's one. He's one, he's right. Him and Ron McClain are probably one. Yeah, maybe. It could be, I mean, in the sporting community, I can't argue that you're up there.
Starting point is 00:45:47 I'm not talking about myself. I'm trying to think of non sports media types that like everyone knows in the country. Like Jonas, you're, you know, you're, you're a man of the news, right? You're always tracking what's going on. Our culture doesn't do that anymore. We don't watch the same news. Like, you know what I mean? Like there was like, what you're saying, like when Lloyd Robertson was the man, Peter Mansbridge.
Starting point is 00:46:11 Yeah, we don't do that anymore. Peter Mansbridge is the man. Peter Mansbridge loves a golf tournament too, man. You see Peter, he likes to play golf. Good guy. Great guy, Peter Mansbridge. Great guy. Gotta get him on soon.
Starting point is 00:46:24 We should get him on at some point, absolutely. Alright, yeah. No, Duthie's in the top five. 100%. He sold me. Not that you needed to, but I'm in. I'm in. That should be one of your lists for later in the week. The five most famous Canadian media members. Nah, that's not sad. Not media? We're not doing that. It can't be media. It's a garbage.
Starting point is 00:46:48 Got to be something more than that. Yeah, it's got to be more polarizing. And anyway, all right, our two coming up, Mike Johnson will join us. Johnny might put his hand up and say, I'm more famous like Mike Johnson played for the Leafs NHL are. Johnny's pretty famous guy. I know after Sam Darnold's performance, top five sports figures in limbo this year. Okay I like that idea for Thursday, that's a good one. All right Johnny coming up in the next hour, Nick Taylor coming up as well, Overdrive continues, TSN 1050N 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.

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