OverDrive - OverDrive - January 14, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: January 15, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Jonas Siegel for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN NFL Analyst Jesse Palmer joins to discuss the NFL Divisional Round matchups, Josh Allen's pursuit of the Super Bowl and the Cowboys' coaching candidates in Dallas. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joins to discuss the storylines around the NHL and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Let's go. New year, new you. New you. New you. Explore it all. Feel brand new. At iHeartRadio.ca and on the free iHeartRadio app. Final Hour Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the

opening line of the final score. Our best bet's later in the hour on Leaf Stars tonight. Pierre LeBrun will join us at 6.30. Jesse Palmer coming up here in a few moments. Steph Curry and the Warriors. They rolled into town and they left and they lost. The Raptors were the win last night and Chris Boucher has been great recently. He was on fire last week. The guy's been on fire. Did that against the Knicks last week and he's been really good and immediately people like, all right, do you

trade him now? Can you get something for Chris? I'm not sure I was every time I watched the Raptors and it's a close game at the end I think that's like the ideal way for it to finish and then the law and then they lose. Yeah, right Like it's like you're in the game, but then you lose and then your draft position is potentially gonna be better But the NBA has changed that so it's not I don't think finishing last is that different from finishing like second last yeah in terms of the odds and everything it seems like it's pretty solidified who the five bottom teams are gonna be yeah there is a chance Brooklyn there keep getting rid of guys and they're still like kind of hanging around they have like 13 wins there I wouldn't say they're hanging around or competitive, but every game you look at you're like, dude

Yeah, so close like the Raptors now, I think are up to nine wins That's a four game buffer that they may not win four more games in the next two months Yeah, you know the way things have been going prior to the win last night But it's always kind of cool when Steph's in town and you know, the Warriors interesting you look at the West Steph's in town and you know, the Warriors, it's interesting, you look at the West, the Lakers, the Suns, the Warriors, like either they're in the playing or not even in the playoff.

Not that good. None of them are that good. And that's LeBron James and Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. Kind of hard to watch a little bit. It is tough to watch. They're just not that good. Watching the end of the game with Curry, like running around with like, just.

He's trying. And he's doing, exactly, he's running off screens. It's like, just relax, stuff. It's not going for you, man. It's not gonna happen for you tonight. But yeah, it's kind of wild. Like the three of them are all gonna retire within the same kind of window, right?

And that's been a big conversation in the NBA. Who takes over the torch? right and that's been a big conversation in the NBA who takes over the torch I think it will be Victor Wemba Nyama at some point right they won big last night against the Lakers they blew the Lakers out last night when he's gonna get there the question is you know the market he plays in his background how comfortable is he with that he's still so young like it's not a complete baton passing like I don't think we witnessed that last night or we're gonna witness that this year I think there's gonna be a bit of a weird kind of buffer where they're waiting for

him to get there but that's likely what's gonna happen. Well for some reason if they're not an American star it doesn't seem to resonate as much like Jokic is the best player in the league and it's like yeah cool well that's why he should be the face of the league yeah you you're right. I guess he is but he's not really. Well but again I don't think he really wants it. Yeah. Like a lot of, especially in the NBA, this is where Jordan changed it, although you could argue Magic and Bird, but a lot of being the face of the NBA is the brand partnership that comes with that. Yeah. Who is Jokic affiliated with?

I don't even know. I've never seen. Like he's not. He was in some commercials, but not like anything. But for what? It was like hotels.com. Yeah, exactly. The guys he's out there,

it's the face of a hotel show. But that's it. Like LeBron I know is with Nike. I know Steph Curry is with Under Armour. I know Kevin Durant is with. What I'm saying is it it's it adds to the amount of You see him how much you see them like, you know, there's no such thing as bad press

Where if your brand partnerships? Who are they like who who is Yanis with who is Luca with who is who is Shay with? Who like I don't even know I don't have the answers for all that because it's still LeBron with Nike it's still KD with Nike it's still but all those guys you mentioned are not American no exactly and I guess that's what I'm saying these are major American companies also like Nike you know it was Jordan and then it was Kobe and now it's LeBron like that's that's been the lineage for the last 30 years with Nike. Yeah. And and if you're let's say you're Phil Knight or you're running Nike right

now, who in the NBA are you saying I've got to have that guy? I've got to have that guy because they've had the number one guy for 30 years. It's still LeBron. And he's right. But moving them aside, right. Like moving LeBron and KatieD and Steph Curry aside. Who is the guy in the NBA that's under 30 where if you were running Nike, let's use them as the example but it could be anyone, but Nike has predominantly been the king of sports apparel in the United States. I got one. Who is it? Anthony Edwards. But he hasn't. He still hasn't.

He hasn't taken the next step to greatness., the greatness. They went on a pretty deep run last year, but he's still not totally there. This year it hasn't gone so well for him. I know, well their team isn't as good. Mini hasn't been so good. They traded Kat. He's really charismatic. He's really likable. He's fun to watch, but he's not like. He's not anyone close to the level of Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Kevin Durant. Like nowhere close to those guys. So I don't, I think again it's a roundabout way of discussing kind of what's happening in the NBA right now. Why the ratings are down? Yeah, well partially. I mean again it is awareness and you know they're trying to they're trying to promote parity in the way that

the CBA works now too and I don't know there's not gonna be super teams and dynasties and can't make trades can't make as many trades it's more difficult now alright so the wild card weekend is over thankfully it was awful in the NFL was terrible we had one good game Sunday night and even that like I said earlier kind of felt a little bit unfulfilling because like two botch snaps basically ended the game for the Bucs. By credit the commander's good for them, Jaden Daniels that's a win rookie quarterback on the road in the playoffs, amazing. Yeah the other five games were horrible fourth quarters like they just were not compelling. Let's hope that changes this upcoming week to chat about about it, we're joined now by former NFLer,

good Canadian boy or TSN football analyst, here's Jesse Palmer. Jesse, where do you stand on Sam Darnold and maybe what happened to him in terms of his future, whether it's in many or the rest of the NFL, based on his last two starts? Yeah, it's crazy. It's just amazing to me how much can change

in such a short sample size at the end of the year in those last two games. And I know it's, you know, everyone's talking about now, you know, is Minnesota gonna resign him or they let him walk in free agency? And some people are even asking, you know, can this guy even start again somewhere else based on what we've seen these last two games?

I mean, to me, over the course of an entire regular season, it's really hard for me to ignore over 4,300 passing yards and 35 touchdowns over that stretch of games. He was just so good up until the last week of the regular season against Detroit. And then obviously what we saw this past weekend as well. And I, I just thought the scariest part about what we saw,

unfortunately is that's the stuff you saw when he was on the jets and the Panthers. It was missing throws guys wide open, and then taking way too many sacks against the Rams. He held the ball on average. It was something like 4.7 seconds on those sacks. It's just way too much. And I mean, there's, there's check-down throws all over the place. And you know, one of the first things quarterbacks are taught

is just take the profit, take, take the two, three yard game and just, you know, keep second and third down manageable moving forward. And those are things obviously Sam Darnold having played enough in the NFL knows I I'd like to think that he's going to get a chance again to start somewhere else. I don't think it's going to be in Minnesota. I think this team is eager to give JJ McCarthy a shot.

But it's, I mean, that was Jekyll and Hyde. That was incredible to see the regression in the last two games for sam donnell versus what we saw in the regular crazy man like he couldn't throw a screen pass the last two weeks they forget a past on the field this guy was under throwing balls into the flats but it was it was crazy to see and you mentioned mccarthy who they picked in the first round this year

and he had the a c l injury missed the whole year you watched him closely at Michigan like if you're a Viking fan and you're trying to find some sort of solace here because he did have a good season but ultimately it went nowhere for you can he not necessarily he's not technically a rookie I guess next year but he will be in terms of actually playing in the NFL do you think he has what it takes to step in and take a team that's very good, very well coached, and actually elevate what Sam Darnold did this year?

Yeah, I mean, I do. And I think he has a skillset that's pretty unique. I mean, you saw that throughout his career at Michigan. He's got elite arm talent, a much better arm than Sam Darnold does. He's also a much better athlete than Sam Darnold is as well. Now, he's way more inexperienced. That doesn't necessarily mean he's just gonna go out

and throw to Justin Jefferson for 200 yards a game, and throw a 35 touchdowns the way Sam Darnold did this year, but I think his ceiling is definitely a little bit higher, and we've seen quarterbacks, especially this year, rookies, Jayden Daniels, you just mentioned them, who kind of have that, that similar skill set. I mean, JJ McCarthy is, is a special athlete

at the position. And he, and I think this offense can look a little bit different based on his running ability and the RPO game and zone reads and maybe some more design quarterback runs as well. But I mean, there's not a throw in that playbook that JJ McCarthy cannot make I think the and you said it they have all the pieces around him for him to have success the big question will be can he just sort of keep it in the fairway

especially early in the career kind of put the driver away at times and just and just not lose games I think that'll be the biggest question. But, but the upside to JJ McCarthy is just through the roof. Jesse, on the other side of things in that game, how seriously now do you take the Rams? Well, listen, I mean, I've always taken their offense seriously. And as long as Matthew Stafford's out there and they're healthy at receiver With Nakua and cup, I mean they can go up and down the field and they can outscore anybody and We saw that this year late late in the season. We saw that against Detroit

They'll they'll score with anyone. The biggest question was the defense now You know, we just talked about Sam Darnold and taking notacks in that game. I think he lost like 87 yards, which is a postseason NFL record. But yeah, listen, I mean, if Neville Gallimore, another good Canadian boy from Ottawa, and those guys can step up and do what they were doing in that game, then yeah, I mean, I'm a believer in them, but I just haven't seen it enough during the regular season. I don't think it's consistent enough. I think that was sort of a one game thing.

And to me, for the Rams to win and get to the Superbowl, they're just gonna have to keep scoring at a crazy pace. And Matthew Stafford's just gonna have to play, play lights out. But I know way she had performed and I'm a believer in the Rams defense at this point, even after that performance against the Vikings. And they're gonna be the appetizer on Sunday for the game, you know, Sunday night. That's gonna be Bills, Ravens in Buffalo.

And it sets up beautifully. Again, the wild card weekend was, it wasn't, it wasn't very compelling. It wasn't very entertaining. I'm not sure the Saturday games are gonna be great. We'll get to those momentarily Jesse, but what's interesting is if you look at the spread it opened Bills minus one and a half it immediately got bet and it flipped where now the Ravens are favored. Can you reason with that? Do you see Baltimore as a favorite going into Buffalo on Sunday

night? I do not. And I don't know if that's more people kind of going back and thinking about what happened earlier in the season when the Ravens absolutely hammered the Bills. But there were so many things that happened in that game that I think really sort of determined the course of what was going to happen in that game, especially from a play calling perspective. of what was going to happen in that game, especially from a play calling perspective, you got to remember Baltimore after three possessions or 21 points, that first game around and Buffalo had only scored three.

So all of a sudden their balance on offense and their ability to run the ball was sort of taken away in that game. I think James Cook only had eight carries in that game. And, you know, a big factor, obviously now with the Bills offense is their ability to run the ball and have balance. And you saw that against the Broncos. One of the better run defenses in the NFL, by the way. And Buffalo completely just mauled them and pushed them around. And they've tweaked things as well on offense. They're playing a lot more with that, you know, that

jumbo set where they bring in the sixth offense alignment and a lot of those different sets and they're just being physical and they're just pushing people around. So to me, this time around, uh, it's going to feel and look a little bit different. I think certainly for Joe Brady and as a play caller, uh, to, to make sure they're running the ball a lot more frequently, you're in the post season, which means quarterback runs always go up, always.

Doesn't matter who you are, what offense you are. You're gonna see more QB runs, more Josh Allen. And it makes sense, especially when you're playing a team like Baltimore, because you want to keep Lamar Jackson on the bench, period. You just want to limit the amount of plays he'll have. The fact that they're playing at home, the fact that, you know,

we were talking about Josh Allen a few weeks back, this is the best Josh Allen we've ever seen. The way he's playing, playing at home builds mafia. The only thing that scares, well, and it's the biggest thing that scares me about the Ravens is just how hungry, I don't wanna say desperate, but it's almost desperate, how Lamar Jackson, I think, is feeling right now about a Super Bowl.

Because it really is the only thing missing from his resume, right? I mean, he might win his third MVP. He has the Pro Bowls, he has the records, and the accolades, and the stats, and all those things, but the only looming question we ever have about that guy is what happens to him in the postseason. And I, I, I almost think he just kind of, you know, I think he's just sort of on cruise control during the regular season to get to

this point now where I really feel like he's about to turn it up, which is scary. So I don't know if that's what betters are feeling and thinking. Um, maybe Joe Brady's thinking about,'s thinking about becoming a head coach. It's hard for me to fathom him not taking this game seriously though. Though to me, it's still Buffalo should be the favorite. Well, Jesse, I'm looking at that box score and you're right. James Cook ran nine times.

On the other side, Derek Henry ran 24 for 199. So how do you think having Derek Henry might change things for Lamar? Yeah, well, I mean, obviously the defense keys a lot more on Derrick Henry. And we were talking about how quarterback runs go up in the postseason. A lot of that zone read stuff and the RPO stuff

for Lamar Jackson to call his own number goes way up, especially considering you're gonna be playing in the cold where it's probably gonna be really hard to throw the football anyway. Um, it makes sense for me if I'm Todd Monk and calling plays for Baltimore, um, just let the best player, let the best athlete on the field carry it as much as he can. But the thing about Derek Henry too, is he just wears everybody down. I mean, defenses do not want to tackle that guy for 60 minutes over a game and you see it

Almost each and every week those those two and three yard runs in the first quarter those turn into like 30 yard jaunts by the third and fourth quarter people just just don't want it anymore and so no doubt about it I mean his presence. I mean that's gonna test the physicality of Buffalo's defense No, no question with Jesse Palmer De Sanders, head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. What do you make of it? If it happens? I mean, it's funny, right? There's like this trend now with like former players coaching their former teams. We saw it with Gerard Mayo and now Mike Vrabel's in New England,

D'Amico Ryan in Houston, and obviously Prime now getting consideration back at Dallas where he won a super bowl. Um, I love it and I hate it. Um, I love it because, because coach prime is, is he's a star and I don't think any environment or situation is too big for him. I think he can handle it. I don't know if Deon Sanders is a really good X's and O's guy from a game planning standpoint, but what I do know is that players want to play for him. Now in college, a big part of his success

was that fact right there when he was at Jackson State, I mean, he got his son and he got Travis Hunter as a trophy winner to go play for him at Jackson state. And then when he went to Colorado, those guys followed him and he had all these transfers and everybody came in and they wanted to play for him. Well, the NFL is not necessarily like that. There's not, there's no NIL. There's no portal. You can just jump in every year.

It was free agency and a salary cap and there's parity. Best teams draft last. That's how it works. But I do believe there are a lot of free agents that are going to want to go play for Coach Prime if he ends up in Dallas. What I hate about it though is that you're still not the star if you're in Dallas.

It's Jerry Jones, right? And I mean, he still runs that team and he's not just an owner. are if you're in Dallas, is Jerry Jones, right? Yep. And I mean, he still runs that team and he's not just an owner. And he's, I mean, he's behind a lot of key decisions. I saw Troy Aikman talking about this this week and I agree with him completely. He potentially, Jerry Jones potentially handcuffs

how you coach and what you're allowed to do and what you're not allowed to do because it really is at the end of the day still about him. He's going to be in front of the microphone each and every week. And it's like, could Dan Campbell be Dan Campbell in Dallas? Could he go for all those fourth downs

and do all the stuff he does? I don't think he could. I don't think he'd be allowed to. I think there's a leash. I think there's a leash. I think there's a leash. So, you know, and I don't, and maybe Coach Pratt, listen, I don't know what kind of relationship he has with Jerry Jones from his playing days.

It sounds like a really, really good one. And Coach Pratt might be able to handle that, but, you know, I don't know if the Dallas Cowboys head coaching job is as attractive as everybody makes it out to be, to be honest. And so, you know, I could see it for sure. I could absolutely see Coach Prine doing that.

But you got to remember too, you know, he's, he's losing some, some draft picks this year at Colorado, but if he stays, Julian love the number one high school quarterback. He's got him coming in this year. He's already there on campus. He's got some really, really good young players and a roster that's getting more and more loaded by the year to make a playoff run. So he's also, he's risking leaving a pretty,

what's becoming a pretty good situation in the Big 12 at Colorado as well. So I mean, it's unique. And it's because it's Coach Prime, of course, we're all going to talk about it. He's polarizing Dallas Cowboys are polarizing and it's an amazing, you know, it's an amazing story. So I mean, that's a long winded answer. I love it and I hate it.

I want to see it so badly. I think it'll fail miserably. I just, I don't think Jerry Jones to your point can get out of his own way. He'll screw it up. I think the fact that Jones is even contemplating this, I'm cynical, it's all about front page, it's all about clicks. It would be a click bait hire and that's with all the respect to Dion Sanders.

It's just everything is about Jerry Jones and everything's about getting people buzzing about the Cowboys, it's not actually about winning. That's what i always feels like and to your point like just hired helen more right there for you know i can't but like just do you think you do it do it ninety-nine percent of nfl franchises

would do get the guy that played for you also by the way and uh... and is also dactrescot's quarterback coach and he was the coordinator in the play caller and was successful on offense this year calling plays in philadelphia bring that guy in but it's but your point that's not the sexy hire and the story line is is the on center so man it's not it's a soap opera every year it always is man it always is

uh... enjoy the division around Jesse. We'll do it again soon. Thank you for this. You got it, brother. Appreciate you guys. You got it. There he is. Jesse Palmer actually should have got a take on the national title game from him.

Ohio State, Notre Dame. That's going to be big. Can I just ask you though, what so it's been reported that they talked, right? Dion and the Cowboys. Yeah. What would that conversation be? Hey Dion. It would be amazing to hear the two of them. I don't know because like Dion Sanders he's got the biggest personality in the world and Jerry's a big person and Jerry's a big personality they both have a lot of confidence bordering on arrogance. Yeah. Right. Both of them believe that they know what they're doing.

I just don't see those worlds colliding. Well, I don't, I don't, because Jerry Jones will not stop. He won't get out of his own way. And I think Dion Sanders would probably, if he took the job, we'd step in there and run it as if he thinks he'd have autonomy, right? Like you hear that all the time from different executives and coaches, no, I have autonomy. It's like, well, we'll see about that. Yeah, like if there's if there's someone above you on the food chain, that autonomy gets limited at some point. And like I could see, I could, I could see any possible outcome outside of

actually being successful and winning, applying. And it really isn't even about Deion Sanders. It's all because Jerry Jones will always step in the way. I can see Deion taking that job and like quitting. No. Ten games in saying, I'm not doing this because I only took it because you said you'd stop and you just called me and told me we got to do something. I'm out of here.

I could see that. But is he going to be a good NFL head coach I don't ever coach me that's the thing we don't have the answer it's not recruiting college is not the NFL completely different college is about recruitment what do you think the odds are that Jerry Jones calls up Bill Belichick and says what do you think about coming now I think zero because Belichick Belichick would not even entertain it. You don't think so? I don't think he would to Dallas because he... You remember what he did to the New York Jets? Didn't he write it on like a napkin on the day

he was supposed to be introduced that he resigns as coach of the Jets? Did he? Before he was like about to be announced I believe it was that day. Just like scribbled on a napkin I resign and then went and coached the Patriots. And worked that well for him. Yeah. But what I'm saying is like Belichick would and I would think the same thing with Dion. Like I think Dion, I think a number of teams in the NFL are very compelled by the idea of Dion Sanders as a coach and could it work. I just think Jerry Jones and the Cowboys is is waiting to implode. So how would it need to work? Like let's say you were advising Jerry Jones, he said I'll do whatever you say. You would tell him like stop being in the spotlight,

stop running the team, hire a GM, like a real GM, not your family. Or as the coach, like I have final say on everything. That's generally the way the NFL works. Like Mike Vrabel, everything goes through him. Who they're drafting, who they're signing, who they're cutting, he will work with other people. Yeah, he's never going to do that.

But that's it. Exactly. That's why Belichick would just say, stop wasting my time. You're not going to get out of the way. And if I'm Deion Sanders, I'd be thinking the same thing. I wouldn't trust that he's not giving up the keys. Jerry Jones, he's going to make the decisions on who gets paid and who plays and who signs and who they draft like he's not gonna stop doing that and honestly he doesn't have to he owns the team yeah can't force them to do anything I just would never trust it but I want to see it because I think it would be incredible theater like I'm like Sanders the head coach of the Cowboys you know crazy that would be? Yeah.

The amazing theater. Especially once they got into some spats. That's it. Deion says something after a game and then Jerry's like, actually, didn't see it that way. That would happen quickly. Right? That would happen quickly.

All right, Pierre Lebrun, our TSN Hockey Insider coming up. His take on John Klingberg and his future in the National Hockey League. And Leaf Stars tonight, we'll get to our best bets as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN2. 2025 is your year. 2025.

Started right with New Year, New You on IR Radio. New gear, new you. Good vibes playlists like party hits, chill tracks on lo-fi, and motivational podcasts to crush your resolutions. From wellness, finances, travel, and more. Let's go. New year, new you.

New you. Explore it all. Feel brand new. At iHeartRadio.ca and on the free iHeartRadio app. Best Bats brought to you by Fandu later in the hour on Least Stars tonight, Jake Gaudinger versus Joseph Wall in that.

Both Americans, both in the US program at the same time. I guess they were both out for dinner last night. Yeah, buddies. Both played really well the last time these two teams played. Joseph Wall was outstanding. It's a tough game though, man. Dallas, they had won seven in a row before losing to Ottawa on Sunday.

They don't give up really anything. They don't score a lot, but the Leafs are coming off two losses and outside of Mitch Marner, everyone seemed to kind of be disappointed with the way they played the other night. Mitch was okay with it. Mitch was fine with it. Mitch was fine with it. I was standing there outside the scrum just saying like, oh no.

Come on man. No, don't say that. Such a layup for you man. Such a layup on a Saturday night against the Canadian team. Yeah. You know, just say it wasn't our best, we'll get back at it. All right. Because here's the thing, like the Leafs, there are no juggernauts in the East right now. So I was going to ask you that. None of them. We at the Athletic had to make some, we do predictions throughout the year. We

update it. And I was going through the East, I'm like, I don't know who to pick. And I ended up just going with Florida, just because like, I've seen them do it back-to-back finals one last year but like you're right I don't know who the favorite is. And I think that's deserved I do think that makes sense because they've been there and they've done that but like if Washington lost in the first round would anyone be surprised? If any of these teams. Jersey? No I mean Carolina they usually find a way to win a round or two but eventually they run out of steam and they don't Ever get to a cup final or win one. Yeah Florida, you know, they lost again last night to fairly looked as good. They look great Tampa's been okay Boston's a mess There's just no judge. It doesn't appear to be a juggernaut So if you're the least you're like, all right lost two games and I still have a three-point buffer on the division

well into the playoffs Figure it out Here's peer LeBrun our TSN hockey insider peer. I'm sure you're a part of that athletic vote the division well into the playoffs figured out your spirit one or two s and hockey insider pierre i'm sure you're part of that athletic vote who is your top seed in the east right now i'm not going on i i was probably not you get you get resorted to stop going out i see

blaze uh... bad it's not a good let's just let's have an answer i just it out. Let's do it now and I'll send it to Myrtle or whatever. What was your question again? Who's the best team in the East, in your opinion? Oh I tell you the team everyone's cheering for is Columbus Blue Jackets, what a story. Yes. Oh my goodness. Amazing. I they had a idea it is unbelievable where they are uh... give it how they're your start in the tragedy it's just such a superb

story but uh... that's even the east uh... that's the wrong way to ask it no no no that's not the okay you have to do you think is going to come out of the east which he will be in the final uh... i picked a New Jersey Dallas Stars that was the final in September so I got to stick with it. That's pretty good man. Jersey's gonna be in the hunt? That'd be a tough rating series. Yeah Jersey Dallas. I've had some of my Stanley Cup predictions from September go down in flames by the holidays so that one's still alive at least. Yeah that's a good

that's not a bad choice. I had Dallas in the cup finals I think I picked them to win the cup this year I don't remember I might have picked the Rangers in the East that that's tough that one's not gonna happen. You weren't alone a lot of people did you know it's interesting too about the Devils who that's the next game where the Leafs not the one tonight but Sheldon Kies return. I know from talking to people around the league, the Devils are look, looking at similar players as the Leafs are ahead of the trade deadline. Um, both organizations looking for, you know, essentially a third line center

type among other different fits, but, uh, a lot of the same names. So a little in conference rivalry there between the devils and the least perhaps. I like that because Brad Trillivan was speaking the other day right? He said they're looking for like a middle six forward right with some versatility. Center more or less like that's kind of how it was phrased to him. Yeah. Someone who can score, like they're looking for a good them. Yeah. Someone who can score, someone who can, like they need a, like they're looking for a good player. Great.

Someone who can score, someone who's reliable defensively. But they're not alone. Like this conversation indicates that there's like every team in the East and I would guess the West as well, but focusing on the East, no, no team can feel great about the way they're built top to bottom. Not that you ever necessarily can, but come on. No question. I mean, I think, uh, I think both Florida teams will try to add a defenseman, the bottom not that you ever know i can but come on no question i mean i think uh... i think both for the teams will try to add a defenseman for example in the pamphlet as we know a lot montour lost a few other guys for the panthers are just

waiting to get close to march seventh but the panthers would like to have to the blue line the lightning would like to add to the blue line uh... the deltas talk about would like to add uh... bottom six center the hurricanes are looking at both goaltending and adding a little offense in the metro so yeah i mean everyone's got their shopping list out in the east uh chris johnston i'm seeing tweeting out that the tampa bay lightning say that braden point will be scratched tonight after missing a team meeting which i got a great appreciation for that that's's the guy who's won two Cubs, been there forever,

missed the meeting and John Cooper's like, you're not playing. Like that's a Belichickian move, man. The Leafs do that with Neander a couple years ago? Well, he was late. Remember there was an issue with the phones. It was one of the two companies. I can't remember which one.

Let's say Rogers. Why not? Go the Rogers there was some sort of an issue and Willie got the he was late for the the team meeting It was a power play meeting, but I don't know if they scratched them for the game I thought it was one of those like you're gonna miss a shift or two that really goes nowhere But anyway, I mean, it's interesting the brain point. I'm playing today the lightning just announced it on their own Twitter feed to and I mean, that's interesting that Braden Point not playing tonight. The Lightning just announced it on their own Twitter feed too. There you go. And CJ tweeting about it as well.

Yeah, it's not been every day, especially for a guy whose reputation is absolutely spectacular in terms of his seriousness to the craft and his leadership and everything else. I mean, the guy is one of the first six players taken by Team Canada last June for four seasons, right? I mean, listen, this is a blip, obviously, let's be real. But there's your meritocracy in Tampa, they've always talked about that there. Absolutely. So John Klingberg is going to make a return to the NHL, is that how we're phrasing it? Is he trying to get back into the NHL or he will get back into the NHL?

Well, I mean he's trying and we wish him the best. Obviously, coming from hip resurfacing surgery is not easy, you know. But there is strong interest with Darren Drager first reported today and mainstream to see where he ends up because if he can get his health and all signs point towards him feeling better and better, but he can help a fire play and You know there's a few teams I could use especially because you know He's not gonna break the bank just trying to get his career back going playing for the rest of the year So the interesting to see and interesting that Canadian teams out for Greg's are involved, you know, Toronto Ottawa And then the Oilers for sure will try to add a piece or two in the blue line before March 7th.

I talked about that on IT last week. With the Leafs, aside from power play woes by the way, they know the guy. He didn't play obviously for them a whole lot, but when a player, whether he's injured or not, spends time with an organization, you get to know everyone and there's a comfort there. So it's not surprising to me that the leagues are involved as well, potentially. How do you think, like, a player would come back after that injury? It's January 14.

It feels like it's, like, almost too hard to imagine him being able to play, no? No. to imagine him being able to play, no? No, I don't think that if teams are having these discussions, I don't think that they wanna waste people's time. I mean, there has to be some level of belief that he can play before the end of the year, in my sense. Otherwise, they wouldn't want this out there like that. But still, Jonas, to your point, hip resurfacing surgery

is a serious thing. I mean, on the one hand, Patrick Kane has recovered pretty nicely from it, right? Yeah, but like, here, you know this, like you talk to players all the time. If you miss like training camp, they're like, you're so far behind. He's missed like more than half the season and he's not back right now. You know what I mean? Like, it just seems like a long show. It's not a one dunk if that's what you're trying to get me to say. Of course not. I'll say what I was gonna say is while Patrick Kane has recovered from it and Nicholas Backstrom really did not, right? So it's hard to tell from this type of surgery. And every surgery is different.

You got to be careful about the, you know, I don't have a PhD as you guys know. surgery is different. You got to be careful about the, you know, I don't have a PhD as you guys know. You know, just because it's called a resurfacing doesn't mean that every player had the exact same surgery and is recovering the same. But still, those are just examples that we know of. So yeah, you know, and the other thing is the teams tend to be like, you know, sharks in the water when there's a free asset available because it's hard in the cap system to get your hands on players and that's the other part of the interest probably was just finding out where he's at and what it would cost. With Pierre Labonartis and Hockey Insider so what else is coming out of insider trading I know you guys were we're doing we're

taping it I believe this afternoon. What else do we got? Yeah, I had an item on, it's funny, because we get to this time of year and you start seeing names and reports. And, you know, I'll listen, a lot of it has, obviously has meaning because, you know, teams are talking, but one thing that I tried to clear up, we'll see if I did or not, but, you know,

Rasmus Anderson's name has been out there for the flames. and the reality is Calgary is telling teams we're not trading him. And I don't know why it started. It might be because they, you know, they sold off so many players last year that teams just figured they would keep doing that. But you know, Calgary wants to keep him. He's got another year and a half on his deal and they actually want to try and extend him this summer. We'll see whether or not they're able to. But for now, they're in a playoff chase number one, which they weren't a year ago when they were selling

out farts and he's not a pending UFA. So I think, you know, flame GM Craig Conroy is trying to alert teams to not call him. Stop bothering me. Yeah. And he is, in my understanding, is he's even gone to Anderson himself and said, listen, don't listen to this stuff. We wanna keep you around. So it's always an interesting time of year that way

because there's a ton of stuff for sure that's coming down the pipe, but sometimes you have to sort of iron out the situations that for some reason become a story when maybe you shouldn't Yeah, he's pretty good player though. I have a question for the two of you. What do you think the highest that Connor Hellebuck has finished in the Hart Trophy voting? You don't get to vote Hayes, Pierre and I do, so we're not gonna make you feel bad. Okay, you guys have think power over me how high do you think he's finished seventh good guess I was gonna I was gonna say sixth sixth is the highest he's finished so I asked you here do you think he

actually has got that you're right he's finished six twice actually I guess my point is I could he's having a great year but do you actually think he can win or be a finalist like it just seems to never happen you know Mike Johnson I think share a brain on this I think for me when goalies win the heart it has to be such a spectacular legendary year that you you know Kerry Price won the heart I don't think anyone batted an eye right I mean the Habs are a mediocre team that he basically willed. The Jets are not a mediocre team. They certainly have issues at times that he covers up for, but they've got a lot of talent on that team, right? So it's, you know, when price one, it was sort of like, well, you

know, he's Superman, right? And I think that's, that's the, you know, Dominic, you know, Dominic Astrick, it's, I don't know if I get that vibe. I mean, to me, dry saddle right now deservedly getting the most hype, I think, for the heart, McKinnon, you know, those are all, I mean Capri Stop I don't think is getting enough attention for what he's done in Minnesota, but to me right now I'd be giving it to Dry Subtle. Yeah, I think for me I would agree with that. I think Dry Subtle is a one. I will say this, Hellebuck is leading in wins, goals against, save percentage, shutouts, starts. Well, and you

had Hayes. What else is he supposed to do? I think the NHL average. I get your thing about the aura. Let me ask you this. I guess, let me finish the point. Carey Price was probably different because yes, the Habs had like no other superstars or even stars, but Shasturkin was nominated a couple years ago. Hellebuck is just as good as he was two years ago. Yeah. Like But Shasturkin was nominated a couple years ago. Halibuck is just as good as he was two years ago. Like in Shasturkin it was like, oh, he's got to be in the top three. Of course he's going to be in the top three. Like Halibuck would deserve to be in the top three for me right now. For sure. Because again, I don't see a magical season

from McDavid. Matthews isn't going to score 69. None of these guys are going to have 100 assists this year. Like it just kind of feels like it actually sets up better from a narrative perspective for a goalie to finally do it. If Dry Cytle finishes with 127 points and 56 goals, great year, phenomenal season, but not all world. Not, wow, I can't believe it, I'll never forget it. Well, that's what I mean. And Price is the last goalie to win it in 1450. By the way, the two other nominees that year were Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares.

Ooh, wow. Were the two heart-choke nominees. And the last goalie to win for Price was another half, which was a Theodore in 2002, just ending up Jerome McGinley in a very controversial vote. It's rare. I mean, you just don't see bullies winning this award. I don't disagree with anything you said, uh, Hayes.

I just think it's, you know, when Hasik won the heart, he wanted a 97 and 98. It was like, what are the Buffalo savers without Dominic Hasik? Yes. I'll do, I'll do respect. Right. So it always feels like, I mean, those, that have team of Oh two with Theodore. That have team should, you mean, that half team of O2 with Theodore, that half team should not have even been in play contention at all. And so it takes sort of a Herculean effort sometimes by a goalie to say, well, that's

the MVP. The thing that's silly about it all is I think the MVP on almost every single team alive is a goal, just by definition. Like, like, you don't win a cup with, you know, I dunno. It's, and so I think you kind of, it's like the pitcher in baseball have the side young, they don't, you know, how often does the pitcher win the MVP? It's sort of like the goalies have the Vezina. There you go. Is the Vezina.

And I'm not saying that the way to be but it just seems for a goalie to outtakes covered to get past the best now which is a very very important word for a bully it seems like it happened to be completely out of this world for sure a hundred percent valid and still a lot of runway left this season see how it all plays out

right here we'll leave it there, buddy. Great stuff as always. Thank you for doing this. Alright, I am not in contention, by the way, to be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. People are asking. People are asking. What would you think of Deion? Deion Sanders' head coach. I think he'd be fine. I mean, listen, he turned around the program in Colorado. Players seem to love playing for him, but college is college. NFL is NFL. I mean, the Cowboys once hired Barry Switzer from college and wanted to

rebel despite him. But yeah, I don't know. I was hoping the Rams would lose last, you know, let's say the Rams would lose. They might get tired of coaching the Rams. That's not going to happen. It's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen. Not gonna happen. That's my dream. Yeah. All right, buddy.

Keep dreaming. Thank you, Pierre. Pierre Lebrun, our TSN Hockey Insider. Don't forget, every incredible playoff moment on TSN is powered by Bud Light, a refreshing taste that's easy to enjoy. Tune in game day for pulse-pounding action. Come back with our best bets powered by fan duel and of course we've got the Leafs and and stars tonight on TSN a good game tonight mm-hmm all right we'll come back with

that tee up the game one more time overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN The M72 World Tour is blazing through Toronto. I Heart Heavy Rock is your exclusive in Two nights, two unique sets. One win. Download the free I Heart Radio app and rock out with I Heart Heavy Rock. Ten minutes of daily streaming enters you to win an epic Metallica I Heart Radio experience. Four nights of hotel, 500 bucks and tickets to see Metallica at the Rogers Center. The more I Heart Heavy Rock you stream, the more chances to win.

Details at iheartradio.ca. All right, today's best bets are powered by Fandl. Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the Fandl Sportsbook app. Austin Matthews is the theme tonight. Anytime goal scorer, I think he gets on the board tonight. Four plus shots on goal. He's gotta to get going here. He's got to, he's got to wake up. I haven't loved his last two games. Mitch Marner, they got Stephen Lawrence playing

with him tonight. He historically plays pretty well against Dallas. Austin does. They've been shut out now all of a sudden three times. They never got shut out. For years they never got shut out. It was They never got shut out It was through its three times in the previous five seasons Yeah, and they've been shut out three times and 40 whatever this year already. Yeah, it's crazy it's like three times in the last like 25 games or something 30 games and Again, they weren't it never felt like they were close on Saturday night, but I think Matthew scores tonight. I think he's buzzing tonight He's got gotta get going. Marner has to have a better game.

I think it'll be a good game tonight. That parlay paying plus money. Today's best bet's powered by FanDuel Live. Same game parlays are now available for every NHL game on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly 19 plus, physically located in Ontario. All right.

I would throw in a Lawrence goal. Steven Lawrence, I like that idea. I like that idea. Good moment, that's the idea. Okay. Spark some energy. What's that paying, I wonder? Gotta be big score goals.

Like I know he's playing with the big boys. They may not even offer odds on that on FanDuel. Yeah. That may just be like, are you nuts? Like, do you think we're wasting our, no, they don't even have an odds for that. That's disappointing. Nick Robertson might be worth a sprinkle tonight too against his brother. Against his brother, yeah. He scored against them too in the past I believe. Yeah he did in Dallas. He scored, remember their parents were there and... Yeah. Are his parents up here for this game

tonight? You think they'd want to make that trip. You'd hope so. I would think so. Okay. All right, Jonas. Well, let's see what comes of it tonight. Should be interesting. And then you got a bigger-ish game on Thursday. Big game with Sheldon Kiefenthal. Yeah. He'll get a full montage and everything.

I don't know. I was thinking about that. It hasn't, like there haven't been enough coaches to come back. Yeah, exactly. I don't really have a reference point. Like Babcock would never come back. He never came back. He wasn't gonna, he would have got one, I guess, if he a reference point. Like Babcock was never gonna come back.

He wasn't gonna, he would have got one, I guess, if he came back, even with Columbus, if he survived. I think you do it. Like he was a coach here five years, most successful regular season coach in team history. Yeah. Sheldon deserves it. He did win a round.

He was a really good, good like guy, the hand and everything. Well, absolutely. Get Sheldon Keefe a montage. Or at least, maybe not a montage, but at least a moment of, hey, welcome back. Thank you. Yeah, thanks for coming out. Okay.

I swear it should be labeled, thanks for coming out. They did one when Chicago was in town and it was Brody and Bertuzzi, like the two most players, the two players who at least want to be recognized. Yeah. They're just like, yeah, thanks. No time for media, spotlight, personality, nothing. Yeah. Just double it up.

All right. We'll see what comes of it tonight. Good seeing you, Jonas. Thanks for doing this. There's Jonas Siegel of The Athletic. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today.

TV, radio, podcast, web, we appreciate that. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4 p.m. We'll chat then. TSM plus is taking game day to a whole new level with NFL Red Zone. Absolutely incredible.

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