OverDrive - OverDrive - January 15, 2026 - Hour 1 - Ray Ferraro

Episode Date: January 15, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' matchup set to face Mitch Marner and the Golden Knights, Marner's legacy across Toronto, Auston Matthews' hot stretch, Vegas' team overview, John Harbaugh becoming the head coach of the Giants, the Ravens' team outlook and the Blue Jays looking to sign Kyle Tucker. ESPN Hockey Analyst Ray Ferraro joins to discuss Marner playing against the Maple Leafs, his season with the Golden Knights and the Canucks' team changes for the roster.

This hour of overdrive is powered by Fanduil. Fan Duel, 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 TSN4. Brian Hase, O'Dog, Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McClennon. How are we doing this afternoon? What's going on? What's going on?

It happens every time there's a snowstorm. I don't know why this happens to me, but I always see a neon. Do you know the car, a neon? Yes, I'm familiar, yeah. It's like a wicked snowstorm, and every time I'm on a highway in a snowstorm, I see a neon go by me at 130 clicks.

And I don't know how they're doing it, man. Like there is pickup trucks that are having a hard time out there, and a neon, I guess they got winter treads on this thing, and they blow by at 1.30, and I don't know how they're not racked up against the guardrail. Crazy as scene. Like, you're in Calgary, I think, noodles. The weather here today is crazy. Like, all the school systems are down.

All the buses are down. Driving in, I made, this is the captain play. I went and grabbed those coffees, you know, because I got off the highway, and I'm like, that might be an issue. Because the one road getting into where we are, there were buses, trucks, they couldn't get up the hill. There was a full police service. There was a guy, they had a plow pushing a TTC bus up and over the hill.

But a veteran around these parts knows that that plaza there on the right, if you go beyond it and go in behind there, you can sneak around. That's a little veteran route. I like the way you're thinking. So, yeah, it's crazy. And you're right. I saw a couple cars just bombing by. I don't know if it was a neon.

I'm not sure that, you know, snow tires were necessarily a part of their whole operation, but they are. You were talking in the green room before we fired up, and here's one of the best. The ramp that's not plowed and the guy that thinks he's going up in a little, like a little mini,

a golf cart, a mini-cour. And it's like, you have no winter tires, and you think you're getting up that thing. And they will spin those tires out, man, and they think they're getting out. They have to. They have to. I got to be honest, though, and this isn't, I heard about the weather, and I saw it on the

cameras and that, everything's, everything is, you know, canceled. But you're right. Like, there's always somebody who just doesn't care, just driving 120 in the left lane. And you're always, in your mind, you're hoping, I don't come around the corner and they're wrapped around a pole, because that, you're thinking, okay, maybe there should be some karma that this guy has a little bit of a, you know, accident, but you don't want that. Like you're scared for him as he drives by. Exactly.

I had a scenario. It wasn't a neon, but it was a smaller car that decided last second to pull off the highway. And I'm behind him. Now, I'm taking my time, and I was aware, so I hammered the brakes. But how do you not have preparation for where you're getting off the highway? In weather like this, like at the best of times, you should probably know. But it is crazy in town. Polar opposite of what Vegas looks like right now.

Vegas is there's not a cloud in the sky. The leaser in town. Mitch Marner's obviously prepared to play his former team. And I'm driving in thinking, I wonder if he misses just the catastrophe that is this city when it gets crazy like this. You don't miss that. I would call my mom all the time.

She'd be like, what are you up to? And I'm like, I just got off the golf course. And she'd be like, oh, my God, just four feet of snow here. I'm like, not here. Not down here. Not down here. Yeah. Like, it is a different world, man.

The leaser on the road. The weather in Vegas, by all accounts, pretty good. But this is hockey weather. This is what you'd expect in January, right? This is what it should be as we prepare for a big game tonight. I'm looking forward to it. I think the game will be good, too. the game will be good, guys, because I think you need to look at it as the Leafs coming off a stinker.

to go, all right, like, we'll hit them. If the Leafs can start in the first 10 minutes and really push the pace up, I think that's where they can get them. I think they can win the game in the first period. Yeah, I think that's valid, yeah. There's two sides to it. If you're on Vegas and Mitch Marner, who's probably going to throw an exorbitant amount of money up on the board tonight against his old team, you're like, we want to play well for Mitch,

we want him to win this game against his old team. And if you're the Leafs, man, like you don't want the guy that left your team with somewhere else. You don't want, I can remember playing against Gary Roberts when he left Carolina and joined the Maple Leafs. First game in Toronto, we ripped home a couple goals. Matt Sundeen, they're celebrating, their new best friends. It was like, man, that was tough to watch.

It was like, it's just competition, right? He loved burying us and you hated to see it. Well, that is, I think, a big part of this evening. Like, obviously, Marner is, and his teammates are aware of the history here and the significance of the game for him. First time he's, going to play his former team. And like you guys said, it's pretty standard procedure. You put

money on the board. Everyone knows. But for the Leaves, you know, you're trying to bounce back after a bad game and prove that that was one that you could just flush, right? Who cares? We're 80 and two prior to Utah. It is what it is. Now you're reset. You're waiting for him. You get Joseph Walnet, who's been playing really well. But this is

a big game for the Leaves that I hope they're aware of. And I don't know if it exists. I don't know if you think of your own market. Like you guys can speak to it. I'm guessing you only think of your own room. but this is a big one for Lee fans tonight. Like this is a game where, and I'm curious, who has the ability to kind of insert themselves

into the conversation after the game and into tomorrow because he's not easy to hit. And it's not like they hate him. And it's not that Marner's like this hateable figure on the ice or within the team. Nobody's saying I want to get my licks. No, it's not a scenario where there's been other players in the history of the game. You know, we could name some of them where they leave and that team's probably like, I wouldn't mind getting this guy.

That's not the case here. But if you can get him tonight, it would ring out. You lay a hit on him tonight. I think people would be like, all right, I like that. And if you can show up and be the best player on the ice, I guess I'm looking at the captain here. Like this feels like a big captain game tonight. I don't want to overstate it.

But within your room, you got to get points. Everyone's still winning in the Atlantic. You know what happened again last night? Buffalo's winning. Ottawa's winning. You know what has to happen to stay pays. But it's a big captain game for me tonight. especially with the narrative when Mitch left,

and at the start of the season, it was like Matthews, what's going on with him. He needs Mitch. There's no Mitch there, and that took up a lot of oxygen for 20 games. Yes. So he could kind of have one of those nights where it's like, I'm still here,

I'm the guy, you're not by my side, but I'm still going to get it done. So I completely agree with you. It's a massive night for him. I think it's a massive night on a lot of different levels, too, guys. I talked about it on Sports Center earlier, And I actually want you to ask me about that hit later because it's something crazy happened. But I think this is to show everybody the breakup you've moved on in your life.

I attribute it to a breakup. And the first couple months, the Leafs, to me, looked like they were the hurting ones, struggling, you know, with the post-Mitch Marner breakup. They looked like they were down in gloom and doom. And again, this is just I'm paraphrasing. But now that they've come out of it, their power play is good now, their penalty killed. All the things that Mitch Marner was really big and instrumental on, they've been able to move on. So I think that's where it's a statement game going,

we loved having you on the team, but we're fine now. And vice versa. I think Mitch Marner, you know, you look at it. We talked about his role in Vegas, you're trying to find a role. He's still big on the power play, but he's the guy on the top of the umbrella. He's not the half-wall guy.

So there has been some adjustment, Western Conference, more physical. But I think it's a statement game from the Leafs going, you know, we loved you. We had a great relationship, but we've moved on. And I think that's where, you know, you have to show in the way that you play. And they've been doing that certainly in their last 10, 11 games. Yeah. And Craig Baroube said after the Colorado game, he's like, we proved tonight that we, if we play the way we can, we can compete with any team in the league.

And they did it against the skill and the speed of the Colorado Avalanche. Now it's a different test because now you've got the big physical grinding out style. These guys play for keeps who are on top of their games. So you went into Colorado and played against the team that had a certain style. Now you've got a totally different one that's just as effective. But let's see how you stack up against that because it's going to be big boy hockey. And if you're not committed to that or want to show up and play like that, you've got zero chance tonight.

Just like if you wanted to turn Pucks over and do stupid stuff against California, Colorado, you had no chance. If you don't want to commit to a physical game tonight and compete and all that stuff, you have zero chance. They will crush you at home. Yeah, Mark Stone's at the forefront of that. Like, he scored the O.T. winner, I think he had a few points last night. Like, his numbers, he is playing, man.

Like, Mark Stone is playing. Obviously, one of the most unique players in the league. Like, if you just watched him skate up the ice, you'd say that's a fourth-line player that probably works hard and kills some penalties. Like, with all due respect, he's just his skating style is, like, wild, yet he's so crafty, he's so smart. He fought Braden Shen the other night as Jersey's all ripped up. Like, he's just exactly, he's a hockey player.

Dude, and Noodle saw it more than anybody because he was between the benches. That guy intercepts and poked more pucks than anybody in the league. Like, he's just so good with that stick. Yeah, and he's on fire right now, and he's connecting with Ikel and like Hurdell's playing. Hurtle was the player the week last week, and he's on the third line in Vegas because they're playing Marner up the middle. Carlson's out, so I would assume when Carlson returns, Marner will likely return to the right side.

But they're playing Marner with Eichol and Hurtle still in the lineup, which is pretty intriguing for Cassidy. Well, it's intriguing because when you get the spiel about going to a new team, the spiel was probably, you want to play right wing with Jack Eichol. Yeah, exactly. And yet Mark Stone is doing it. And can you blame them? I mean, Stone and Eichol, that's one of the better one, two punches in the league.

But that's what a winning team does. There's not like feelings hurt and this and that. it's like, okay, we didn't kind of like the way that looked. I'm just kind of thinking out loud here. I don't know the specific reason. But we're going to put you somewhere else now. And whether you like it or not, you can chew on it because that's what we're doing. Yeah.

Like, Marner Noodles played 1635 last night. 1635 and over two minutes on the power play. And he's usually a 24-minute guy. He is a guy for fun. That would play 20 plus every single night in Toronto. But that's how their team is different. Like you said, they do it by committee. It's not, you know, they never had a, you know, core four.

They never had, you know, hey, this is, we're going to rely on these guys to dig us a win or not. And win or bust with two or three players. That's how it's been in Toronto for many years. It's not like that now. It's more balanced. And I think that's what Vegas has been for many years. You look at their third line, their fourth line chips in. Their D were big and mean.

Their goaltending was solid. Like they're just a balanced team. so Mitch Marner doesn't have to play 24 minutes. They're going, hey, give us 18. And give us 18 good minutes. That's it. Yeah, and that's it. Like, you look at the even strength last night in L.A.

Again, it's a back-to-back, and I think it's a smart play by Cassidy. I'm curious what they do with them tonight. I don't think it's in their nature to just unleash a guy and so you're playing 25 tonight. Like, it's not House League, right? It's not fantasy sports. They're in it to win it, not just for Mitch Marner. But you look at the even-strength numbers last night. Mark Stone played five minutes more than him even strength.

Barbashev played six minutes more than him, even strength. Like that's not what Mitch Marner would be used to. Yet the checks are still coming in every two weeks. And he would probably say to the coach, you know, I can be more effective if I play 22 minutes. Right, exactly. And he ripped one home on the power play, you know, as the quarterback last night.

He walked right down Broadway and he scored, you know, and he's up to 11 goals on the season. but his numbers across the board, like for relief fans that are just checking in, he's going to score 18, 19 goals, 80, 85 points. Yeah. You know, it's not off the chart stuff. That has that depth.

And that's their history, too. That is their history. And he's a piece of the puzzle that's just going to contribute and help them win. For sure. He doesn't have to be, Marner and Matthews got to go out there and get it done if the Leafs are going to have anything.

There's a big, that difference, man. Yeah, what about the Leafs tonight, noodles? Like, I expect Matthews to play 23. 24 if they're going to get a win on the road. 25 in Colorado. Yeah, and he was great, and they needed him to do that. But that's what you need out of your top players. Toronto's a little bit different.

They have the balance a little bit more recently. You know, now that Lawton has kind of entered the conversation of being a good player. I think he settled in, and, you know, you're getting contributions from McMahon, and, you know, even Cowan looks a little bit more comfortable. Like, to me, you are getting more. but I come back to it. The Toronto Maple Leafs, it's Austin Matthews. I don't say Austin Matthews and Willie or Bust, but that's your top players, it's a star league.

We heard DeBoer yesterday. He said, your top players aren't going. You're screwed. He goes, you're out of a job. That's what he basically said. And that's the truth. So I expect Austin Matthews to be front and center for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. If they're going to win, he's going to factor in it somehow.

Yeah, I think it's a big captain night. We don't say that too often. and for obvious reasons. Tuesday night in Utah is in a captain night. I guess it could be back to back. How do you represent? I thought he played pretty well. But this one just feels like a high profile game.

It's a big, big game. In Vegas, a really good team. They've won five in a row. And, you know, we said prior to this trip, you want to try to get four or five points. This is your third game in four nights. Joseph Wall is playing tonight. I can't imagine he plays Saturday.

I'd like him to because he's been one of the best is in the league the last few weeks. He's been phenomenal. His numbers have been great. But we're getting back into the, okay, a lot of travel, a lot of play. Joe War goes tonight. You probably commit to Hilder be on Saturday night. And Stolas was back on the ice today. Like he's on the trip and it sounds as if there could be a breakthrough on that front at some point. Ray Ferrar will join us in about 10 minutes. Ray's there for ESPN calling a game tonight. So the game's on ESPN in the States. It's on TSN4 up here. John Harbaugh to the Giants reportedly for $100 million.

Five years, $100 million for a coach. 20 sheets a year. That's McDavid plus Shifley. McDavid plus Shifley for John Harbaugh. It completely reeks of desperation, but it also, I got to give them props because if they were like, this has got to be our guy, and he walks in the building, and you have the mandate of not letting him leave without signing him,

then that's what it takes to get it done. So I have respect for that, man. It's so desperate because the fan base, it's a storied franchise, and it's been a mess, so they got to get it right, and it's so desperate, and yet I think it's so great if that's the guy who wanted. Guess what the Giants are?

Desperate. Yes. Yes. They stink. They've been awful. Daible was a disaster. He's charging into medical tents. You know, you have to figure it out.

Dude, I would love a 30 for 30 just with the doctor that was in the tent. Yeah, I need to know more about that. The whole Dable situation. Dude, Dugie, try to find out who that doctor is and if we can get him on about dable wheeling in there saying, get me my guy back. Put a request in, Dugie, for the doctor in the tent. That's pedigree, guys, though. You're paying, there's no salary cap on coaches.

You're paying $20 million a year for pedigree. You know, that's what it is. And good on them. Harbaugh is a great coach. And I think if anybody can bring some respectability to an organization, that's your guy right there. And that's what they need. It's crazy how just the snarkiness or kind of, I don't know how to describe the Ravens owner when he was describing his exit. He was like, he was getting, I was gassing his ass no matter what.

I found Steve Biscotti is his name. I believe. I found his press conference to be as transparent, as interesting, as why, like he's up there on his own. No one's there with him. The guy flew on his private bird from South Beach. He's got the $10,000 suit on. The shirt looks unreal. And he is talking, he's just letting it fly.

Like he could not, he's, he's a hundred, I believe he owns 100% of the team, which is also a power move, man. You own a full. football team and it's just you. And he basically was saying it's my call. I got the power. I called him because I wasn't going to waste his time. He's out of there. To your point, he's like, what if they won the game? He would have been around here for one more week.

That was the answer that really got me. One more week. Like if you guys won would this be happening? He said, well, he would have been here for one more week. Yeah. And he said if Lamar wants to be involved, you can be involved. You can jump on my bird or get yourself up there. But it's going to be a long day. And you're

happy to have you. You know, he can make that call. The GMs probably doesn't want Lamar maybe in there. The owners, like, he can be in there. But he also said, Lamar, not making the call. Like, I'm making the call. Like, it's such a, there's such a separation between owner management player, like, especially in that league with guys like him and Jerry Jones. And, like, they just, it's, there's 32 of them. And they, they hold so much power, the most lucrative league in the world. And you just call your shots. Yeah. And he, like, it's so crazy. how he was probably like, Harbaugh was there a long time. Yeah, long time.

And he was like, I just needed to get rid of that guy. And there's another guy in another building, however many miles away that was willing to give him 100 million. 100 million for New York. And, you know, that kind of money hits big money. But as you said, there's no salary cap. And, you know, speaking of which, in terms of big money, we're waiting to hear on Kyle Tucker,

and there's all these rumors out there that a decision's going to happen soon. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. He leans Toronto, according to some people. I don't know what it's worth. Like, I don't know what it means that someone's saying, you know, former teammates would suggest he'd rather that market. I'll believe it when I see it. And the wild card is you don't know what Cohen's going to do with the Mets.

He can come over the top like nobody else. He did it with Soto, didn't he? And the Dodgers are lurking. Yes. Like the Dodgers just won another World Series. They would, I'm sure they'd pay this guy ridiculous money. I totally agree. Like, you know,

scares me about the Dodgers, you really haven't heard their name a ton. They're just lurking in the background. So they're probably sitting back saying, okay, let's see what's kind of out there, and they can come over the top as well. That would be so gross. If you lost them, okay, but if you lose them to the Dodgers, particularly scathing, particularly tough. Are we going to get trapped again on tomorrow's show

or maybe Monday show or something, tracking a private plane? Are we going to do it again here? It's possible noodles, but I don't think, He's not the same profile. Like, Shohei was a... He's the best player that's ever lived. Shohei was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, right? It's the guy's available.

He's doing the tours. Who's going to get him? Soto was different. Kauai was different. You know, we obviously did that. But Kauai was just won a championship, and everyone was so emotional about that. I don't think Kyle Tucker's going to get it.

Like, Babcock got it. Shoh-Haw-Han got it. And Kauai got it. Those are the three, I believe. You know, there might be... There might be someone else I'm missing in terms of like Plain Gate in Toronto and people tracking private birds. But those three are kind of the prime ones that I can think of.

And I don't think Tucker is going to get that treatment. But if he lands, it'll wrap up just the greatest 12 months ever since 93. I mean, obviously they won in 92 and 93. But you go to the World Series and then you have this type of activity in the offseason and you land a guy in Tucker who the Mets are trying to get. I think the Phillies, the Sox, I think the Yankees have called on, the Dodgers have called on. If he picks you, it's the ultimate testament. Sometimes.

Oh, this place will go insane. Yeah, sometimes the market, they'll make it to the World Series. It's like the White Sox a bunch of years ago. I think they won the World Series. And then it's just like, okay, World Series, we're just kind of, we're done with this nonsense. Yep. So the fan base will stay energized if they get this guy and wheeling into next season. They should be dialed in.

Big time. So we'll be tracking that. Leif's Golden Nights tonight on TSN. Ray's down in Vegas calling it for ESPN. We'll catch up with Ray and get his take on what he expects tonight, where he stands on the Leafs moving forward. A lot of news and notes out there. We'll ask him about Vancouver.

Our take on Patterson and the Canucks yesterday blew up online. There's so many people in Vancouver, obviously wondering what's going to happen with his team. Well, you were mentioning it. We'll get into it, but like a lot of people want to keep them. A lot of people, you know, based online, are like, to keep Pedersen, like terrified to losing Pedersen, which

I understand the fear, but if you've been watching them for a year and a half, it's crazy. How bad it's. You're in last place. Based on the numbers. You're in last place with him. Yes. What could be worse? Right. Exactly. All right. Ray on that, Morris, still to come. We've got the insiders

coming up. And again, we're tracking Kyle Tucker and what's going on with him. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. I'm Dylan Playfair. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is Bromance.

Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeart Radio Network or wherever you get your podcast. Dr. Drive continues powered by Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. The O-Dog has been very, very, very... heavy on the Seahawks to win and cover this weekend. And this news just broke moments ago. Sam Darnold has been added to the Seahawks injury report as questionable with an oblique

injury. So if your boy Darnold doesn't play, do you change your mind? Are you running with the Niners or what? I got to ask you this first. Knowing his history, what's the first thing that came to your mind, when you just heard he's questionable. Are you suggesting he won't play? I'm just suggesting he's possibly seeing ghosts.

I worry about that. Wasn't he the... He was seeing ghosts in New York. He was the guy on the sidelines that said, I'm seeing ghosts. Yes. His playoff performance last year was ugly. He saw a lot of ghosts in the playoffs. You're saying this is a built-in excuse,

like he'll play, but afterwards he throws a couple picks and they lose. I just think if you threw the underpants cam on him, I think you'd see some stuff. Okay. And yet, you're still a believer in Seattle. So how does that jive? I don't understand. I was a believer before I saw the underpants cam.

But once I saw the underpants cam, it scared even me. All right. So the underpants cam has possibly changed your approach to that can. The underpants cam can change a lot. lot of mine. It definitely can't. I believe the underpants cam was created when you took a trip to Vegas back in the day.

And I believe you had your own little concerns with possibly an underpan cam. Pop golf, dude. I had a full session. Me and my beautiful wife, we had a great day at pop golf, and I went home, and it was like I was like on a farm

hanging onto a rope behind a tractor, dragging in the dirt. With that in mind, we head to Vegas. here's Ray Ferraro joining us possibly from Top Golf Ray where are you right now? No I'm uh they've

they've closed down that section Oh okay And Top Golf They've just the one section The one stall We're always at Dude I would be shocked To be young police tape around that stall

You know I did this Uh I did this interview thing about you guys You know You know your show And you know awesome how awesome it is.

And the one comment that was all the way through is you just never really know like what the topic's going to be. And at no point today, I'm thinking we're going to talk to Rangers a bit, the Canucks, the Leafs game here in Vegas. At no point did the underpants cam ever enter my mind

as a possibility. And I do feel I should tell you guys, I was flying down here, there's a whole bunch of Leaf fans that were on my flight from Vancouver to, Vegas yesterday. They're all, they're flying from Toronto to

Vancouver to Vegas. And they're all saying, oh, I love you when you're on overdrive. Love those guys. Those guys are great every day. Four times the last thing I heard, Hayes is a fraud.

And the guy walked past me. It is unbelievable. I can't escape. Hayes is a fraud. I'm like, and so, you know, of course,

I said, yes, he is. Absolutely. As you should. I thought that would have died like just a quick. Never. No,

people still. They're like, yeah, and I'm like... No, it's like a criminal record. You can't get away with it. You can't get away from it. Yeah, I'm curious about the amount of Leef fans because, you know, Vegas, you hear stories, Vegas is quiet.

You know, it's maybe tourism's down. We all know what's going on politically. Maybe Canadians won't want to get down there. I think a bunch of Leaf fans, man. It is. It's crazy how quiet it was in the airport. We went off for dinner last night. Like, there's comparatively nobody here.

Really? So what do you anticipate with Leaf fans? Do you think there'll be a bunch of them? How would you compare it to maybe previous games? I do. I do think there'll be lots. I think it's just as easy to come to a game somewhere else as it is to get tickets in Toronto, right? So like this one guy I was sitting beside, you know, his son's like 30 years old.

And they were coming down for three days, going to play some golf, going to see the Leafs play. Like people are doing maybe that type of trip. But I think there'll be a lot of blue and white jerseys in there tonight. Yeah. Well, what do you make of the game, Ray? I mean, I don't know how it's going to be for Mitch Marner. Is it going to be weird for him? I feel like it's going to be more weird for him in Toronto next week as opposed to tonight's game.

But what do you expect, you know, Marner's first game against his former organization, all of that? Awkward, I think. You guys all went back and played. against somebody that you, you know, played previously for. He has had such a, you know, a major part, well, all of his life has been really kind of around the Maple Leafs and in Toronto. And now he's got a completely different life out here. And he's had a good start, but an odd start.

You know, now he's playing center a lot this month. You know, they lost William Carlson pretty much for the year. Jack Eichael was out for a long time. And, you know, so he's in the middle. He's in a new conference. He's living in a new place. I think, you know, like Drager was telling me it's snowing where you guys are. It's beautiful today here.

Right? Like, everything is different for him. I think it's going to be really awkward. He said yesterday, he was asked about the game today, and he said, you know, I didn't really think about it, you know, which doesn't mean I have to believe that he hasn't thought about it because, of course he has. Like, of course you're thinking about it, right? Like I just, I remember like going out for warm up and you're, you don't really want to look at your old teammates, but you kind of do. And then you see one of your buddies and somebody fires a puck off your feet. And, you know, like there's a, it's just odd.

It's just odd. The two teams, they'll kind of mirror each other. They both kind of stumbled around for months, you know, for different reasons and for whatever the reason might be. And now they both seemingly kind of, you know, Vegas won five in a row in the least. you know, been on this great run outside the Utah game. So it kind of feels like they're where they thought they would be, like playing wise right now. Yeah, for sure. And I mean, the Leaves, they got to get something going here. Like their travel has not been extensive, right? Like you mentioned, they were 8-0-2 after that Colorado game, which was a great game, like thoroughly

entertaining game. They played really well. Then in Utah, you know, they got, they got smoked and it was, it was ugly. There was no disputing it. There's no sugar-coating it. But they still got to go through Western Canada. They still got to go through California. They got a lot of three and four nights in three different cities coming up. I mean, it's going to be a challenge, but they are playing much better.

You have one thing in particular that has changed in your opinion when you watch them play today compared to a month and a half ago. Matthews, I don't really care whatever else has been going on or what's better now and the goaltending's been really good.

And, you know, getting a little more play out of the edges of their lineup like that, you know, before Robertson got banged up, like that line had given them a little bit of something. All those things matter. The power play's been better, of course, since they changed maybe their approach when Savard was let go. But we've talked about this before.

I don't know sometimes if those guys realize how outsized their importance is to their team when they're that good. But when Matthews was average, the team has no chance. The other guys can do what they want, but he's a star for a reason. And he does things other people can't do. You know, the goal he scored, I guess it was in Colorado when he drags it into his feet and just rifles it over the goalie, over minor shoulder. Like, there's not 10 guys in a league that can do that.

They're not five guys that can do that. And so to me, it all circulates around him. I mean, there's lots of reasons. There's never one thing, but, man, he changes the complexion of everything. Ray, how much of you caught Marner in Vegas this year? Like, just your overall impression of, I think he's playing, what is it, third one? Playing second line center kind of.

Second line center just as overall how it's gone for him. It's funny. It's not, it's different because he doesn't play 24 minutes a night. He doesn't kill penalties like he was killing penalties. in Toronto. He's, you know, Cassidy coaches a different game. They use, it's more like a top six bottom six thing. And so like their bottom six guys kill penalties and the, the top end guys get out at the tail end of the penalty kill. So he loses a little bit of the flow there. I do think he doesn't look as, as bold with the puck for certainly early in the year. But all of that is, I think,

probably tied to change. Like, oh, I'm trying to think, because noodles, you would be different as a goalie, but like, you were always in the east, right? Oh, like you never got out west. Right? So when I went conference to conference, I'm like, my God,

the games are totally different. Like it was just, you know, there are different teams that the style was different. I don't know, it just, it was all different. And then I'm sure when he got out here and he went on his first road trip he went holy this is not like the east so i i think he's been he's been okay but they they want or need i would think another level from him like a lot of their guys

like the two guys that have stood out for them are stone and icel like i saw this stat which i couldn't believe stone has he's played 29 games this year he's got a point in 27 of them Wow. But that's astounding. The guy always looks like he just got out of bed. His jersey's ripped. His gloves are falling off. He's,

you know, he's all over the place. He's freaking good. He's really good. And so if they can make this connection with hurdle and Marner, and Dorofiev has been quiet as well, like they all of a sudden, they're pretty dangerous.

They could be a really dangerous team. Well, and in the West, I was going to go. Yeah, well, I was going to say, you got, you know, Colorado, you got Minnesota, you've got, obviously, Dallas, and then Edmonton, and you know, you mentioned Stone and what he's done. McDavid is going for 21 straight games with a point tonight. He's got 46 points in his last 20 games. Your guy. My guy, I've always done what I can to inspire him.

You know, you get caught up in recency bias, but is this the best he's ever played? Is this the best he's ever looked? You know, where does he stand for you compared to McKin? I can't believe you're even asking. I think it's a hard hit. Ray, just let me mention this. Before the season, Hazy said he's never getting 100 points. I know.

Did say 100 points. He's never going to get a hard trophy again. I didn't say that. I said he'd never get, he'd never reestablish his own personal records. I didn't think he'd get 153 points again, 64 goals again. And I said, I'm not sure he wins a heart because only one guy can do it. And it's later in his career, you know, the Olympics. This was before he signed his comments.

contract, you back-to-back cops. I'm like, I don't know. Like, it's, it's going to be tough. And he's playing pretty well right now. And it's, and I'm hearing about it. I just, I do enjoy the, it went from 100 points to 153 points. Somewhere in there. Exactly. Is the truth, right? Right. Details. Do you know what this looks like to me? The clearest recollection I have is when Mario was doing this. Like, every game, it was not just one point. It was three points.

And he'd miss a big chunk of time with his health or his back, and then he'd come back and get 31 points and 12 games. And this is what it feels like. I actually, I do this thing now. I see Edmonton, you know, I check the score. It's four or two. And I scroll down slowly through the app, and I'm trying to see slowly how many points he's got.

I don't know why I do this. It's kind of entertaining. neat to me, I'm like, oh, he's got one. Oh, look at that. He's got three. Like, it's, who's more valuable? Well, on the sheer basis of what most valuable is, I would say McDavid is, because McKinnon's got a way better team around him. Like, I would think that's, that's fair to say. Yeah. I mean, Colorado's lost four games. I, man, I don't know. If you stick me with either one of those guys, I'd be pretty happy on my team. But what he's doing. now is just like nobody

even comes close to this it's it bothers me that well no actually that's not your take hey so I like it well when he only gets one point I'm like man that's a win for me you know only one he only had one tonight he's slowing down this is good this is good go ahead noodles

so how many points does he have in this stretch oh he's got 46 in his last 20 games 46 points in 20 and they got the Islanders tonight that feels like 6-4 He'll have three tonight. What does a 50-point score make this in the NHL this year?

Probably six. Like a guy that gets 50 points. Six. Yeah, maybe 6 million. Six million. He's done it in a quarter of a season. Crazy. Crazy.

Crazy. Yeah. No, Ray, I'll give context to what Hayes was talking about because I, at the starting of the season, said he was going to have a career season because he didn't have a contract, and I thought he was just going to go nuts. and Hayes said he's never going to do 153 again. I think he'll have a tough time with the heart. So I believe I kind of put a quarter into Hayes

and now always jumped on to it. So, I mean, that's the context for it. But, you know, at the end of the day, I do believe McDavid has found another, like, ridiculous level. On the other side of the spectrum, though, Ray, where are we at with Rangers? Where are we at with Vancouver? Some of these teams that you maybe thought we're going to be better

and are not. Well, Saturday I was in Boston or in Boston for that 10-2 game. That when they, somebody, somebody tweeted out, only the Rangers can go back to the locker room after the first period down 2-1 and have to come back and they're down 3-1. Because the period had ended, they reviewed a goal with 30, a play with 30 seconds left that went in. They had to come back on the bench and they were down another.

goal. That defense, like Adam Fox wasn't playing, right? Right. That defense in that game was the worst defense I'd seen this year. It was staggering how bad it was.

It was probably the same last night, Ray, with Ottawa in town because it was atrocious what they were doing in their own zone. So I don't, I just don't, I don't understand how the wheels have totally come off there. I thought they would be a little bit better than average.

I had them right on the cusp, I think, just outside the playoffs. I just, I didn't like the construction of their D. I thought, like, they're going to have a tough time getting out of their end. They have one puck mover, and that's Fox, and he's hurt. They're a mess, man. They really, they look dejected on, well, it was 10, too. Of course, they looked dejected. but like they looked like there was no fight no pushback no no energy they just came on the ice

went off the ice it was just like a merry-go-round right and then they sit down and boston would score again like the one kid there who's nadeenov got four goals you'd think at some point like somebody's going to be angry enough to run into the guy and yeah it didn't happen he had four goals Zaka had three goals, Minton had two goals. Like it was a point night. Posternak had six assists. Yeah.

They're in a spot too because Panarin is a free agent at the end of the year. And it's apparently not very easy to get a team that he would move to. So if he leaves for nothing at the end of the year, if that's kind of where it gets to, that's an enormous loss. He's led them in scoring six years in a row. as for you know so i don't know how they fix that to be honest with you Vancouver i mean it's you're 32nd for a reason um you know noodles were were you doing the game in ottawa the other night yeah yeah yeah yeah and um you know i mean they they give up all kinds of shots

they got their defense as a bunch of kids um their you know besters got one goal in 28 games i I think, and I remember this from when I was in Atlanta, the older you get, when things don't go well, it's like your soul gets pulled out of you. You lose your fight. And so, like, Brock Bessor's got one goal in 28 games. The hardest thing to do, I think, in the league, is to score. The easiest thing to control is to work, and he's lost that connection. He's just standing there. And so their veterans, everybody focuses on Pedersen.

he's been more than fine. It's not him. They're just not very good. They need draft picks. They need young picks to come in and to, and they'll accumulate them. It's, you know, whenever they get, whenever the deal shows up for sure,

would, whenever, you know, they'll get something, I assume, for when Bluger gets back in the lineup, they can, you know, would they look at trading de Brasca. That's been out there a bit. I, you know, you hate to throw names out, but basically,

everybody. Anybody is tradable there. And unfortunately for them, there is no quick, there's no quick way to do it. They got to get younger, they got to get faster, they've got to get more skilled.

And then they've got to get some experience once they get younger. So that's the road in front of them, I think. Yeah, that's trouble. But, you know, they haven't been great for a while. They had that one great year a couple years ago. And I think I get the impression, fans are kind of ready for it because they feel like they've maybe been through it to an extent for a while.

It's funny though, Hayes, they're ready for it, but then all they do is bitch about how bad the team is. Like the only way you can go through it is to be that bad. Remember, you know, I don't know, how many years is this for Matthews, but remember the year before? Yeah, worst team in the league. How bad that was? Yeah, awful. And it was terrible to watch. But you have to hope, like, Toronto was fortunate that,

number one pick was him. Like San Jose sucked and the number one pick was Celebrini. Like they got lucky because that was, those are generational standout players. Yeah, if you get someone like the Rangers had the number one pick and they got. Exactly. That was just going to say, oh, like, what are you going to,

you're the worst team and, you know, that's what the number one pick is. It's, uh, there's a lot of luck to the whole thing too. You can do it perfect. Big time. Big time. Oh, my God.

That, that was the top. also. It's a tough one. Yeah. And I'm glad that Edmonton never got a chance to get a redo on that. Right? Like after they wasted that pick, never again would they win a lottery. I can't believe. Hall, Nugent Hopkins, Yakupov,

and then they get McDavid. Four lottery wins in like six years. And in the midst of that, and in the midst of that, they get dry sidel at number three. Exactly. Waiting for them. Not bad. Pretty good. Pretty good stuff. All right, Ray, well, enjoy yourself tonight. It should be electric in Vegas.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out, and we'll do it again soon. Thank you for this. Are you on the panel tonight? Is that why you're dressed out? Oh, yeah. I'm in here on the panel with Owen Dregs, the whole nine. It's going to be rock star stuff this evening. Yep.

His underpants cam is alert. You got lucky. Just be, you got lucky, though, Hayes. The game's a little earlier tonight. Right. Otherwise, it'll be late for you. And I want to pass along my condolences. to your Packers. That was a really,

really difficult loss for you. And I want to say I did not giggle, knowing your anguish. Yes, it was tough. It was very difficult. Very difficult. It was fantastic. I figured you liked that. I figured you'd like that. All right. We'll leave it there. Enjoy yourself. Okay, boys. Thank you for this. So good to talk to you.

We'll talk to you soon, eh, guys? You got it. Great seeing. There he is. Our buddy, Ray Ferraro, VSPN. Calling the game tonight. Just jabs. It's unfortunate. The Packers went down. What are you going to do. What are you going to do? All right. We've got the insiders coming up. We're tracking towards the game tonight. Leaveson Vegas Overdrive continues up on YouTube live. Unmistakably Canadian. It's the music

that raised you. The artists raising the bar. Hi, this is Brian Adams. Hey, my name's Brad Emmons. I'm from the glorious sons. Hi, I'm Nellie Fittata. Made in Canada. The station that champions Canadian music. Loud, crowd, and all yours. No passports. required, just press play. Tap into mating Canada now on iHeartRadio.ca. Or the free iHeartRadio app. All right, the insiders coming up

into the next hour. John Harbaugh looks like he's going to the giant Sam Darnold banged up. Likely plays, but you never know. Kyle Tucker rumors, Boba Chet rumors. Doesn't feel like baseball weather outside. Gotta be honest. Biggest snowfall we've had in a long time here. I think Bobby Manns came out last week and he said he wanted to

set a deadline on the free agency and he doesn't want this anymore. He wants it to be kind of like a free agent day, which is kind of... I could see that. I mean, that's where baseball is going. They're looking for events. They've changed the way they've done the trade

deadline because they want to drop dead date, make it a big moment. That's what sports is about. You want to make it a day for the like the interest. Build it up and be like where are they going? What's going to happen here? Now the players will fight back just for the sake of in baseball. Everything with the CBA

and where people are fearing it could be going with a lockout or whatever. Players, I'm sure, will say you can't rush us into it. We don't want to do that. Boris will say that's stupid. But, you know, it's January 15th and there's monsters still out. I get it

happens every year. Like every year, this is not anything new. But the baseball season ended two and a half months ago. So, we'll see. Pitchers and catchers in like a month. Go time almost. All right, hour two coming up.

Least Golden Nights tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube live. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fandul. Fanduel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Seasoned gamer or just video game curious, this week in gaming is the podcast for you. We break down the latest in the world of video games from basics to beyond. The hottest gaming news, insight.

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