OverDrive - OverDrive - January 20, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: January 21, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joins to discuss the biggest headlines around the NHL. MLB.com Blue Jays Reporter Keegan Matheson joins to discuss the Blue Jays signing Anthony Santander, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s impending contract and the fallout from the Roki Sasaki's signing with the Dodgers. They also dive into Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers' cross-check suspensions 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 Fandual bringing you everything from the opening

line of the final score. Brian Hazio, Doug Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McClennan, Keegan Matheson later in the hour from MLB.com and the Jays making a signing today. What else they could do to salvage the offseason. Chris Johnston coming up here in a moment we await news on Connor McDavid if he will be suspended we believe he will be it's just a matter of how many games he'll get for that cross check to Connor Garland on Saturday and we've got Leafs Lightning tonight where Joseph Wall will make the start the Leafs have now won two in a row is an electric game on

Saturday night and next Saturday they're in. So it's gonna be very similar right gonna be a ton of Leaf fans It's a big game Ottawa and obviously one last time I played to remember that game in Toronto or Ottawa dominant Dummied them. Yes, all mark was good that night. They won three nothing I think who? Linus all mark Needed that win yesterday, didn't he Noodle? Yeah he did. You would think that that Allmark, and look injuries are injuries, but I just looked at the game against Boston. You want a guy that says I gotta get in the net for that game. Like it's the Boston Bruins, the points are like

kinda tightening up in the race. I gotta get back for that game. And I don't know what the hell's wrong with the guy, but it just seems like the same guys, time and time again, out, out, out, out, out, and it's crazy stuff. I'm so sick of it. It's the one thing that bugs me. I had a long chat with him yesterday.

I mean, he's on the trip, and I don't know, he's on the trip and I don't know if he's skating. I don't know if he's taking shots yet or whatever, what the timeline is. I don't even ask because you never want to put people on the spot. But Jamie, it's kind of venturing into like Freddie. Remember Freddie Anderson? It was like, ah, he's just gone away for a while. Freddie's back now again. Well, yeah. He disappeared a lot of factors like gone three months and you ask around and people like i don't know where that guy

when he went on the surgery on his own it's just like what the hell and then they just show up and i come back by the way i'm playing okay well it you before the break i wanted to do what i wanted to bring something up that was brought to my attention yesterday at the media meal and and i can't i don't know if it rings true but it it is of some of the games recently and it can tie to that Leafs Montreal game is there's almost been two games within a game so many times this year lead changes like like three nothing is not a safe lead like you know Boston was up five three on the Sands and the Sands won that in a shootout 6-5. Like, how many times have we seen teams giving up leads where, you know, Edmonton came back

a couple times in a row, two or three times in a row last week. Like, it's not just, you know, recently. I feel like this year it's been a really weird year for, like, you know, comebacks and weird stories, like almost where you think a game is like dead in the water is four one four team and then you you'd get turned off and all the sun is four three they're like what the hell happened there well

i don't know maybe i'm wrong and that i think it's an analytics to it there probably is a i honestly think it's probably been happening for a few years i mean i i think it gets back to our conversation last week it's chaotic league crazy things happen, and teams just, and the rules are what they are now too. There's no clutching and grabbing and just, you know, blocking out and all that kind of stuff. You can't control the front of your net the way you used to. And there's just a number of avenues for teams to get back into it, I guess. And the league is a little bit more watered down. There's more parity.

And as a result, there's also more of an emphasis on sports science. What I mean by that is you roll over four lines, you roll over your three D pairings, and as a result, you're gonna get some mismatches that maybe you wouldn't have gotten in the past. And teams find a way to take advantage of that. And you know, you look, you mentioned Edmonton,

they were in Vancouver on Saturday. And the bigger story by the end of it was the McDavid stuff but JT Miller looked great we learned a couple of points they won the game right Quinn Hughes looked great and now Patrick Alveen their GM came out and spoke to the media today and you know basically said hey it's very unfortunate it sucks for all the players because there's so much noise out there. JT Miller is just. Did he expect anything different?

No exactly he knows what's they know what's what's happening here and Miller's Miller's because there's so much noise out there. J.T. Miller is just- Did he expect anything different? No, exactly. He knows what's, they know what's happening here. And Miller's just saying, you know, when you come out and you're like, I'm a Canuck, so I'll be a Canuck, like that's basically him saying, get me out of here. And it sounds as if, you know, there's maybe been deals with the Rangers that were closed,

maybe deals with the Devils. And it sounds like he wants to go across the country in jump over the border and be somewhere in the northeast rangers devils boston you know something like that it feels like we're j t mose can end up what has to be the right deal we talked about it last weekend you can just trade him for pennies on the dollar like he's a hell of a player

we saw the other night like when he digs in he's tough to play again he was battling with dry saddle that night like there was that was a big boy hockey too like to me he's a hell of a player and could be a difference maker he certainly doesn't look happy though like that's it again he's a a crabby player and i don't mind guys that are crabby players they play with an edge play with an attitude but it'll be interesting to see

if jimmy rutherford who is to be no you know him best he's a grizzled that like he's going to get you know i could get pennies on the dollar for him he's going to get uh... quality return for j t nor if he trades them any shirt because miller's an impact player it seems like you kind of have to at this point if you're in vancouver you've got to do something different uh... joining us in the maple total hotline here's our TSN hockey insider Chris Johnston. How close are we here to seeing JT Miller being dealt from Vancouver?

You know that's a tough one to put a handle on I mean certainly obviously you know talks got heated up over the weekend that there was some thought he might have to be pulled out of the out of the lineup before Saturday's game And you know, I think that the hard part with with trade talks is obviously Vancouver has been you know, pretty involved I think for a while and especially in the last 7-10 days It seems like the focus has largely been on you know moving Miller finding a fit there but you know there's only so many places they can trade them as you alluded to with there's no movement clause and they haven't quite gotten it

across the finish line but I mean look all things being equal it's it's not been a nice stretch for the organization for Miller personally and I you know I do think that there's a hope to get something done but that doesn't always guarantee you're going to find a resolution and a trade that makes sense because as you guys are matching their dintro mean pretty darn good player you don't want to give them away in the meeting you're getting it yet and albion came out today the g m and said obviously he believes their

playoff team you know they were in the class last year they won the division yeah and not that i expected them to ponds clearly but i don't like the noodle said last week to talk about a lot or whoever said like a young defensemen or this is like the are you still a playoff team if that's what you get back for j t may be well that's the question those cj like to if if the of what is poison this

season is miller or something of those that that along those lines maybe it's irrelevant what you get back what's more important is you get something out of there yeah but I do think the Canucks are prioritizing getting you know at least another four that can make an impact because you know taking this player out of the lineup even when he's having an off year I mean you know was was pretty effective and then it went over I meant in the other night and it had some good games on a recent road trip when they came through

the East Coast and so, you know I think that they they do are they're mindful of not wanting to weaken their line up too much in the short term To make this this move even if it is to some degree viewed as a bit of addition by subtraction You know, obviously he logs big minutes for them literally plays in all situations for the Canucks and you know Put up on our points plus points last year. So I think that they would be getting a forward back in whatever type of trade they make at minimum and then we'll have to see what the other pieces line up as. But they want players. They don't just want magic bean. This isn't prospects

and draft picks kind of deal. So CJ, can you see, like we just named a few teams in that, do you think there's a bigger market form or is it really kind of resigned to just two or three teams because each controls his own fate and really how do you fit that contract structure heading back the other way as well? It might have to be dollars in, dollars out type of thing as well. Yeah, that is certainly the challenge of doing a deal like this in season you know you can i think widen the field maybe even in terms of what you can arm salt might

consider uh... in in an off season you know when you when the prospect of the mean a year you're getting traded tomorrow moving across the country with you know young family and everything that he has uh... you know i think that that that the team though there might be a couple more that you mentioned than what you mentioned. I know Dallas at least made a call there. I don't, I don't think that they're certainly the favorite.

So Carolina has been involved with Vancouver both on Pedersen when it looked like he might be available. And I think that they've, you know, been sniffing around Miller as well. And so, you know, I don't know that it's a two or three team race, but certainly the Rangers, it appears have been the most motivated., but certainly the Rangers, it appears, have been the most motivated, I would say, of the teams. They were having Miller talks with the Canucks at some point before Christmas, and then they were the team over the weekend that it seemed at least like things were advancing beyond just tire kicking stages. So, given all that's gone on in New York, and I believe it is a place that no one would would be happy to return to

uh... if it became to that and they would be could reach a deal and i do think there's more than two or three teams but this is a hard one handicap to the it kind of goes on again off again on again uh... you know surely at some point or something that again and they've got a find a way i think that they've ripped the band-aid often a lot of women move forward cj do we know what the crux of the issue is here like does he not like Vancouver anymore does he hate Patterson or is our people tired of his act like

what exactly went down here where the beginning of the season we were like can these guys you know bounce back and be a cup contender again and then now all of a sudden we're in January and it's like JT Miller's the way out the door. Yeah I mean my understanding this isn't driven by Miller at all I mean this is the Canucks coming to him you know I don't think it's a case where he's not unhappy in Vancouver where he's tried to initiate a move I mean he's probably not happy with how public this has been and how you know he's getting questions about it obviously it hasn't been a good stretch here the last month, but, you know, that a lot of that stems from the fact that he was, you know,

having active trade discussions with his name attached to them. And, you know, it started to get out in the, in the public realm. But, you know, that I think the original story that we've talked about, there's definitely truth there that, you know, Miller and Pedersen haven't saw eye to eye. I think it went on long enough that the Canucks were listening on both players and were wanting to consider their options. And now it seems that they're focused, at least for the time being, on trying to move Miller out of town just to, you know, maybe as a way to sort of ease that situation to page up the dynamic in the locker room. But, you know, I don't think it should be viewed as this is all Miller's fault. I think that it's there's a little more nuance there. And, you know, really,

even when you're talking about Pedersen, I mean, his production, there's no way around it has not been what he's paid to do. I mean, basically, since he signed that deal last March, I think it was early March, you know, he's he's all of a sudden went from a guy who was 100 point player to a 70 point player, you know, after getting paid. And so, you know, I think there's a lot going on around that team and, you know, Miller obviously is part of it, but he was a big part of the success they had last year, too, in some of the seasons prior. So, you know, I think that they've gone down this road because he is a marketable commodity. He's the older of the two players with between him and Patterson.

And, you know they've sort of appear to have settled on this as is where they want to go but I think it would be wrong for any of us to look at and say this is all JT Miller's fault. I think there's a lot of blame to go around to sort of why the Canucks are where they are this season. With Chris Johnston our TSN hockey insider, at least lightning tonight, Fraser Minton will get back into the lineup. I guess Max Patsch-Ready's day-to-day with some sort of an injury. What I find interesting is Minton steps in, plays the middle of the ice, Pontus Holmberg will be second line center. They're moving Domi to the wing. What is your read on that situation? Tavara South. Yeah, Fraser Minton's going to play center

and Holmberg's going to play center and it sounds as if Domi is going to play second line left wing. What do you make of that, Chris? Well, it's been a tough year for Max, right? I mean, there's no way around it. You know, he's done 14 games now without a goal. He started the year on a 22 game goalless route. You know, even if he's primarily a playmaker, his point totals haven't been where they wanted to be. And I think they're trying to make life on him as easy as possible. It's obviously a little less defensive responsibility playing on the wing. So, you know, I don't

know that it's just about Domi. I mean, it's also a reflection of how well they feel about Fraser Minton. I mean, he's really, I think he's taken a step forward and the organization dies this year. It wasn't an ideal start to his year, you know, having the injury right at the start of camp and missing all of the NHL camp but with how he played in his first go-round with the Leafs and what he's done in the American Hockey League, I mean I think this guy's likely to be a full-time member of the team next season and he's someone they trust now and so

That's that's kind of how we get to where we are. I think but you know for Domi This is a great opportunity not necessarily about his line tonight But in general with tomorrow's out I have to feel that there's going to be more, you know offensive type of rules for him Because you know, let's face it the lines move around pretty pretty routinely a week ago we were talking about Steven Lorenz being on the top line so I think that there's going to be more than it's there for De'Omen. He's got to get his game going because he's been underperforming through this first half of the season. You know Joseph Wall gets another start. He's really stabilized his game.

He's been in a groove. And Anthony Stolar, so what can you talk about? I thought I read that there was a definitive timeline or some form of a rough timeline for him to return. Can you talk about that and just maybe see where we're at? I haven't heard anything more definitive since we've last spoke. But I'll tell you today I was down at the skate and it looked like he was on the ice for a long time before his teammates

were out there, but certainly was doing a lot. I mean a lot of up and down, a lot of movement in the crease, which I see is progress from where he had been. Everything appears to be good for Stolarz. Wol was tremendous, especially when the Leafs got a lead in Montreal and made some pretty acrobatic saves there on Saturday night. There's been a little bit of debate internally about not wanting to use him too much, being mindful of where he's at, but he's told everyone around the Leafs that he feels good,

and so he gets a fifth straight start tonight, but you know, I think that there is, it's always just with a little bit of caution because he's coming up on, you know, what will soon be, you know, as most number of appearances as an NHL player, and we've obviously still got a lot of runway left on the season, and you know, it's important to go into the playoffs if they can with two healthy goalies they trust and the best case scenario for that would be Wolan Stolarz. Again based on what we saw at morning skate today they're shifting up the defense pairing as well Morgan Riley will play with Jake McCabe tonight which

I think is appropriate because I thought Morgan really really struggled on Saturday night I think he's he's the Morgan really really struggled on Saturday night. I think he's the Max Domey equivalent on defense. He's got to give way more. It just has not been good enough and they're moving Morgan around here. He's played with Ekman Larsen. He's played with Myers who they sat the other night. That's why Myers is coming out tonight. He's given a chance with Tanev. I think this is them throwing one more thing at the wall because McCabe's been so good.

Jake McCabe has been so good this year, but they're asking McCabe to play on his right side, which if I'm Jake McCabe, you're a team guy, you're willing to do it, but aren't you looking around saying, I gotta move over? I'm having a great year with Tanev playing the left side. Why do I have to move?

Because Riley's not pulling his weight right now. That one doesn't make sense to me. I don't, listen, I get it because they got to get Morgan Riley going. Like he's, he is really struggling. And he's capable of more. But if you're Jake McCabe, CJ, you're probably thinking, really? Like I got a shift to my offside now and be a little bit out of sorts trying to prop this guy up at this point.

Yeah, I mean, I think that's fair, but you've hit the nail on the head. shift to my offside now and be a little bit out of sorts trying to prop this guy up at this point. Yeah, I mean, I think that's fair, but you've hit the nail on the head. I mean, it's about trying to find the best mix of these guys and with Morgan, he has at times been, I think some of his best stretches as a leaf have been when he's had a pretty reliable defensive partner beside him, someone who kind of can maybe do, do some of the things he does and vice versa. And, and, you know, McCabe is kind of an unsung hero, I think a little bit with this team, you know, doesn't get it kind of publicity necessarily, but we even saw it when he was out of the lineup here for a brief couple games,

you know, after, you know, that, that fight, you know, he, he's, he's really missed when he's not there. And so his defensive presence, I think is just being used here to try to help Morgan. He has played a fair bit over the years on his offside. You know, I don't know how wild about it he is or not. But, you know, at this point, the Leafs are trying a little bit everything with that blue line, and some of it has been injury related. But, you know, performance factors into it, too.

And, you know, I agree with you. I mean, Morgan's the horse on this blue line and he's definitely got more to give than what we've seen this year in terms of his results. Yeah, for sure. What's your guess on McDavid and his suspension? I'm left on Bay Street. I'm leading two games.

I think there's some, we can draw a little bit of similarities to the Matthews cross-check on Dullea in the outdoor game a few years ago. You know, obviously in, in that two players with no real history of crossing the line engaged in a battle, frustrated, whatever you call it. Um, you know, so I think two games would be consistent with what, what we've seen a little bit in the past. Um, but I'm always open to a surprise when it comes to, to

department of Player Safety. Yeah, yeah, that's true. You gotta be on edge. All right, CJ, we'll leave it there. Thank you for doing this. All right, guys, enjoy the game. You got it. Chris Johnston joining us in the Maple Toyota Hotline.

Count on Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota. Trade in your old tires, buy a new set, and get $40 back. Visit mapletoyota.com. Yeah, we'll see what comes of it tonight the games on tsn radio and uh... this is a good game on some monday night but

tapas good team they've won two in a row these are going to around so we got here usually great games at tampa yeah generally speaking a really good games in monday they said monday night anything is there's always some juice did i don't know if i mean did you guys discuss braden point missing a game

was late for the meeting right yeah that's still that's not the pull the trigger on that one words like i i gotta scratch you man what but i you know what like i i respected a ton like i don't know i got a lot of play like Like I don't know if it got a lot of play. Like I don't know if it got a lot of play north of the border, but like it, you know, that kind of was almost like a news dump for me. I was like, oh, that's a weird one. Brayden Point not playing for that.

Like that would have been a massive story in Canada. Like he's a superstar. That's a good point. Top line centerman. Like that's a big story. Like I, and it just kind of like flu under the radar yeah braden point not playing tonight and it's one of those things jamie where it's a role and

for some reason it's it's it's so important nhl meetings always start in my experience they always started fifteen minutes early so a twelve o'clock pop penalty kill minutes early so a 12 o'clock penalty kill me or just a 12 o'clock general team meeting it's at 12 o'clock

everyone is sitting in the room at 11 45 so the meeting just starts so if you're five minutes early for a meeting it seems like you're late and if you're five minutes past when the actual time is then then you're missing a game and it's's one of those things where it seems like you get off, you know, you kind of get off the hook because it's like a third or fourth line guy that would do it, but then you get the situation where your superstar does it and it's like, he's gone too. It's a big one, man. Yeah, it's a big one. It broke right before the game.

I think that was the thing. You didn't have a full day to talk about it, Noodle, so if I can recall correctly, it's a big one and it broke right before the game. I think that was the thing. You didn't have a full day to talk about it. Noodles, if I can recall correctly, it was like 645 or whatever. We got news. Hey, by the way, points not playing because Dave Randolph tweeted it out. Yeah, it was like, oh, wow, that's that's kind of crazy. That was kind of like nothing to see here. News dumpers like maybe there's more to story, but I was more just like, I thought that one just kind of flew under the radar because if that's

one of the seven Canadian, Brady Kachuk, Austin Matthews, like the captains are top tier stars of any team across Canada, Pedersen, Miller, you name it, you know, Shifeley, like that's the equivalent. Yeah, of course. I'm not lying, that's a big story and it just kind of was like, yeah, okay, you know, shy fleet, like that's the equivalent. Yeah, of course. Like that's a big story and it just kind of was like, yeah, okay, you know, like. I think it's the nature of the market, man. Like that speaks to it.

Down in Tampa, just in January, it's not going to blow up, you know. And they got through without them and again, Tampa's in a pretty good spot going into tonight and throughout the rest of the year uh... like he can matheson coming up we'll get back into our best bets power by fando as well and uh... we have to leave him we continue to tf which course is right here on tsn radio overdrive continues to yes and ten fifty and on the tsn right moment from them on the dot com We just had Doogie in here.

We've been talking about Save by the Bell, the show Save by the Bell and Screech. And took Doogie a couple hours, but I'm not surprised by this. He said he has no idea what show, what Save by the Bell is. Like, I'd never heard of it before. No idea. I'm not surprised. Doogie's young. That's not a shot at Doogie.

It just, it is kind of an example of like different generations and what you might know What you might not know cause always talks about it with whoever he's working with there brings up a song or a band or whatever And no idea like just crazy. Yeah ever hear of it, but this is what like I can remember I have Vivid memories of my dad Yelling like be like you don't know that, I'm like, I'm 10, how would I know about a show from your childhood? You know what I mean? Like, it would be, The Honeymooners, you don't know that?

I'm like, no, I don't know that. Like, I'm sorry, I don't know that. And it's the same thing now. Like, every generation, you get older and you're just flabbergasted that people wouldn't know everything you know and everything you've experienced and I think it actually we might get to a point one day where we just have to test like the line of Pop-culture knowledge for doogie like where do you draw the line on like do you know?

This person do you know this show this movie this reference flash pop culture sports would be a good one, too It is because you're right like he probably like good fellows all these classes no chance that we talk about like he forest gump you name it goodwill hunting probably shashank redemption like those for movies like i i'm just i'm not lying just before we came back on i was spitting through like instagram and there was like a meme of Gilligan's

Island yeah this is to like I that's the child but that's the key that was in like the 60s and 70s early no chance man there was only three seasons of that but I watched that as a kid and there was a meme of like the skipper was Doug Ford Gilligan was true to her and I just burst out laughing but I got the joke but I'm like there's nobody in their 20s that would get nobody nobody watched Gilligan's Island zero you're right there is a line and we'll have to find out where to find out where it is the line of doogie like pop culture demarcation where is that even Seinfeld which I would have to believe,

Doogie knows who Jerry Seinfeld is. You're aware of Jerry Seinfeld in the show Seinfeld? Of course. Okay, that's good to know, Doogie knows that. Keegan will join us here in a moment. The reason I bring that up is I just saw the Toronto Sun tweeting out, this is when you know you have way too much money.

Jerry Seinfeld turned down an offer of $25 million for his Porsche 917k race car. He's got some very exclusive Porsche race car. Someone offered him $25 million and he said, no, I'm fine. Like, you know how sickening that is? Like, that's when, like you have so much money that you'd rather hold on he probably doesn't drive that thing ever it probably sit down in a garage somewhere he likes looking at it as sunday morning coffee and i was back in that house like twice a year he goes out checks out the cards still there looks good see you later someone offered him twenty five million cash

no thanks well thank you that's crazy like that's why wild man. I'm not a car guy so like I just I can't fathom that idea but that's just disgusting wealth. That's Anthony Santerre type wealth and Tony Santerre is Santander is a Blue J. He signed a five-year deal. There's a bunch of bonuses in there but it's worth just over 90 million and the Jays have landed somebody. This is a big moment they needed this. They've landed somebody. Here's our friend Keegan Matheson from MLB.com.

Keegan, good to see you as always. Can you put this in a perspective how significant this signing is not only from a team building standpoint but from a stop the bleeding standpoint for the Blue Jays this offseason. Yeah we're talking about something else now right which is what they needed. I think five six hours ago when we planned to talk this evening it was probably going to be about how big of a mess they made on Friday with Roki Sasaki. Now we're talking about something good and some time there has made sense all offseason guys this is an easy fit they need power he hits for

power they need lefty he can hit lefty as a switch hitter there's nothing complicated about it just makes sense and this has changed what we are talking about we're not talking about them coming in second somehow nobody's reported who came second in this it's funny how that changes when the blue jays are not there to crap on by certain folks. Where's that report? Who else was in on this guy? It's funny that nobody's tripping over themselves to tweet that out for a hundred points on Twitter. Maybe in a few minutes here.

No kidding. But this one just makes sense, guys. We're no longer talking about Roki Sasaki and how ugly that was. This is what the Blue Jays want. They want to get away from that narrative and want to get away from being that second place, blah, blah, blah. Guys, I was excited when I was coming on. I saw the tweet about the Blue Jays are screech. This might say a little bit more about me, but I thought we were talking about the black rum. Before I watched the Twitter clip, I know a little more about black rum than saved by the bell. I was getting excited. Okay

We're not talking about that anymore. No, we're not It's a win for the Blue Jays and Santander is solid rock solid Everybody loves the guy and he does what the Blue Jays need. It's a win Keegan. Do you think there's anything? Leading into spring training and bringing it back to the Dome for the start of the season that this management group could do to get the fan base kind of off their back? Like, is there anything that could possibly make that happen? Flattie.

It's always Flattie. I think at this point. And if they can find a way to stand- I think at this point and it wasn't saying that they might have to overpay To ease the fan base. It doesn't that that doesn't even make sense to say that It's tough. It's tough because in this position, you're not getting a discount on Vlad E whatsoever You need to be pushing pushing pushing beyond what even his top market value could be But to hardcore fans and I think to casual fans as well, which is something guys I try to remember. The average baseball fan is my buddy who watches a

game a week. It's my mom. It's your uncle. They love Vlad. That's what's going to get 90% of fans, not the loudest fans online, but most fans. That's what's going to get them back in, is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being a Blue J long-term Boba Shett would be another one of those, but I think Vlad is far likelier and has expressed that more so. With Vlad, guys, it keeps coming back to him. Everything comes back to Vlad because they're trying to get someone to take their money, they're trying to have a long term star, and they have proven as they chase after Juan Soto, Corbin Burns, Shohei Otani, they've proven they've gotten money. If you're Vladi and his agents, you're pointing at all of those saying beautiful, beautiful, because you know the Blue Jays have that money if they want

to spend it. Not only is Vladi good, he is beloved, he is a face of a franchise. I don't think there's 30 faces of a franchise in baseball, guys. It's about being more than just the best player on your team. Vladi's embraced it. He's in baseball guys it's about being more than just the best player in your team gladys embraced it he's embraced the city that's not always been embraced in baseball and i think that he is still the big one he's going to be that big one it's going to be the the story the question on the first day of camp in got scared myself three weeks and you get myself together but this is going to

be everything revolving around Vladdy still. So Keegan, if you have a crystal ball and it comes across your desk and it says Vladdy signs a long-term deal, is there a number you have in your mind, a term? What would this look like that you would be like, okay, they got it done and it might be an overpay or whatever, but what is this look like at this point would probably start with a four if you're doing a rate now and

annual value i mean i need to do a better job of this speaking annual value we do a better job of that in hockey and other sports but that the term matters as well you're probably talking ten or twelve years so what's the annual on that is it hovering around that 40? Is it 38 where the Blue Jays can get them if there's more term involved?

Term matters a lot. This fifth year mattered for Anthony Santander. Year six mattered for George Springer. Year four mattered for Hun Jin Ryu when you're a veteran. I think it probably starts with a four at this point and you've got to be getting pretty close to that $40 million mark at that point. Now, you're paying a premium.

You are paying the top, top value. Probably a number that Vlad is going to grow much from through the year, but that's the cost of doing business right now with a guy who, frankly guys, Vlad holds all the power right here. This is in Vlad's, the palm of his hand right now. He's playing it well so far. I think he's going to play it well. He's going to be smart with this. And anything right now needs to start with a four. With Keegan Matheson. Yeah, exactly. And he also understands everything that we've laid out here. That the fan base is up in arms, that the front office is reeling. Like, you

know, you're right. Santander signing is a win for the Jays. It's a good sign. It's a move in the right direction. But what happened on Friday with the Guardians and the Sasaki chase was a complete and utter embarrassment and disaster. And they, like, Miles Straw, now they're just stuck with this guy.

Does he play a game for them? What do you see the plan being? Because they've got him under control for a while, decent money, and they're not getting anything out of it because Sasaki decided to sign with the Dodgers. I could see a way, guys, if Dalton Varsha was not ready from his shoulder surgery in September. Maybe Miles Straw is that glove-first defender that you play a few games out of the start of the season. But Cleveland paid him to play in AAA last year. And the Guardians getting the Blue Jays to take that contract is probably one of the best moves of the offseason for them.

I'm shocked at that move. And guys, when that move came down, I think it was around 1130 AM, you take that as a sign that the Blue Jays know what they're doing and have this lined up with Roki Sasaki. When that happened, I'm staring at a story on my screen right in front of me right here that I started writing to be ready that the Blue Jays had signed Sasaki.

Because when you make that move out ahead of everyone else, you better get it right. The Dodgers stood there confidently, probably chuckling a little bit. They waited for Sasaki to come to them, then they made their move and they made a better move. The Blue Jays were extremely aggressive, which you've got to be, but you need to know where your next step is coming. And the amount of text I've gotten from around baseball with other media, people in other

front offices has been not exactly positive for Toronto's Blue Jays lately. They got their ankles broken and they tore the arse out of their pants on the way down. Man, that was not pretty. That was as tough a deal as you're going to see in a long time. They got screeched. Not the type of scree see in a long time. They got screeched. Not the type of screeched in I like. No, it wasn't. It was a Newfoundland screeching.

It was like the bad screech. Keegan, we were talking about the welcoming committee. No, we were talking about the welcoming committee. The Dodgers could throw out there. That's like Dave Roberts, Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts. Like, is there truth to the Jays kind of pitch committee with Dalton Varsho and Chad Green? Who was the other guy? And Bichette. Oh Bichette. Like where's Waddy in this situation? Where's Barrios? Where's

Gosman? Why aren't they... do they just say that's not my business or what the hell's up with that? Yeah when you compare that to the Dodgers, that's uh, If a player could pick between one of those dinner parties, I think it's going to be pretty clear which one they're going to take And I'm not saying the Dodgers did do that. I'm just talking about the comparison of the two. It's quite a difference It's a different planet. It doesn't compare whatsoever and Frankly shines a light on what the Blue Jays are up against right now. Look at those three players And frankly, it shines a light on what the Blue Jays are up against right now. Look at those three players. Chad Green is what on this roster? The number three, number four reliever in a free agent year.

Dalton Varsho has a couple of years left. Boba Shet is in his last year and is, I think we all know, not the most vocal, not the most outspoken publicly player. And that's okay. That's just fine. But in this situation, I was pretty surprised to read that report. That does not compare whatsoever to what the Dodgers would have brought to the table, not just with guys like Betts and Freeman, but you have Otani, you have Yamamoto.

And that's an example. The Dodgers are a beast of their own. But that's an example of once you start to acquire these Japanese players, you can start to build on that with that relationship. That's what the Blue Jays are desperate to do. But when you compare those two pitches and then you compare the shot at a World Series, I mean, the Blue Jays would have had to really wow him with their pitching plan or something like that. But in terms of one versus one, it's a complete no contest. With Keegan Matheson, MOB.com. So where is

the next step going to take the Blue Jays? In your opinion, what is the next position that they need to attack here? Because we all, I think we all concede and we all know they still need to do more if they want to have any chance of competing this year. Yeah, they need one more big bat and some time there was great step in the right direction they still need more power the loans of fits that beautifully i think still at this point he can play some first base while gladi plays some third if i'm gladi

i would like to go to free agency having just shown the league i can confidently play third base not to win a gold glove so that a while people but it's not only do you open up the number of teams who are interested in you can competently play third base. Not gonna win a gold glove, not gonna wow people, but not only do you open up the number of teams who are interested in you, you get away from the conversation of, hey, baseball doesn't pay for his baseman anymore.

Look at Pete Alonso, we're having that conversation over and over. Vladdy needs to get himself away from that convo a bit. If I'm him, I'm happy to go play third base, I think he would be. Pete Alonso makes a ton of sense. But adding another bat profile will be another one that's talked about. On the pitching side, I think that's important as well.

Mack Scherzer is one name, Jose Quintana is another. I think out there the Blue Jays will be interested in. If you do that, you slide Yariol Rodriguez to the bullpen as a long guy, an upside guy, and suddenly everything's starting to look okay. Suddenly you can look around and say, you know what? The AL is not terrifying. Now that should not be the goal. This team should be chasing the AL East, not the sixth wild card spot again. But pretty quickly, the Blue Jays can get back to a spot where this is realistic. They can make another postseason run. They just got to spend

a bit more. You don't sign a closer in Jeff Hoffman, even more than Santander, guys. You don't sign a closer, a top end closer, if you're not going to try to give them some games to close. They need to spend a little bit more, need to push in a little harder on this. Santander is a good step, but you can't stop there. Yeah, and I would expect they'll keep going, but you know, we'll see if they're screeching the end or maybe they close maybe they go Zack Morris on this and start landing Alonzo And another arm maybe a bullpen arm and all of a sudden everything's starting to move in the right direction Keegan always great seeing you man. Thank you for doing this Hey, you got it fellows and talk soon. You got a Keegan Matheson of MLB.com Got some breaking news here Connor McDavid's been suspended for three games

Got some breaking news here Connor McDavid's been suspended for three games Three games for Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers also got three games. I'm surprised I thought it was a very simple comparable the Matthews comparable All right, but that was here's here's what I thought about originally guys. Maybe I'm wrong How long ago was that Matthews cross check four years ago to yeah three years ago Maybe something like I was the outdoor game in Hamilton How long ago was that Matthews cross check four years ago to yeah three years ago, maybe Something like I was the outdoor game in Hamilton. I think what are you saying? There's like attacks on it like it's now three. I'm just saying I think the league is well I'm just saying maybe there is

They're trying to head in a direction where that that stuff is off-limits at threes a little stiffer like it's stiffer than Obviously like and to like it's stiffer than, obviously, like, and to me, it's saying, okay, yeah, it was easy comparable to Auston Matthews, but that was four or five years ago, like your, I don't know. The X factor and all of the, like if you put it all in a blender, I thought the X factor was he's Conor McDavid, so that's two and then it's minus one because he's McDavid, that's what I thought he was going to get. But you know what?

You're right. I think what we'd be discussing is right, but here's the other thing. They don't want to be known as like, okay, we're going to give special preferential treatment if that was Tom Wilson, well, no, Tom Wilson, repeat offender. I'm saying somebody else. Like name a player that hasn't been suspended before but is a fourth liner. Steven Lorenz, if that was Stevenven lorenz and done that like to me i think it sends a stronger message going

kid this is no flies on here and doesn't matter who does that at that maybe that's just well yeah i mean you have to listen to that but uh... well yeah i mean listen you had to be pretty new he was getting suspended when he when you get a hearing you're getting suspended that i honestly would have no problem even if they said behind closed doors the best player in the games get one game I would walk away I was bracing for that I thought he was gonna get one I thought it would be a McDavid tax the other way that you know or maybe too because they give it to Matthews and Matthews was on a big stage

again that was the outdoor game it was I don't see the difference I'd be curious to hear the explanation as to why this one is different why McDavid will get three and Matthew's got two but I also think that you're the other thing too is this is regular season if we're talking playoffs I think that's one I really do I personally think that that's a one game suspension playoffs wasn't it who got who cross-checkeddavid from uh... from vancouver in the playoffs there he got i think he got one game cross check them in the face near the end of the game there

suzy uh... was it here and i can remember was it's a dollar that's a door up didn't get suspended i don't think i thought it was fine it anyway i don't know is that you are about but i think going back to it i i think there is like a regular season component i think it's different than four years later or whatever i understand that i don't see the difference i mean i i don't i don't get how this is if i'm in every ten

no i i understand that is but i think that how is there inflation like it that's not like this is some epidemic like stick stick swinging. Maybe because it's a package deal. Maybe because he did it and then Myers did it and they said, you know what, forget it. But like Matthews, that was two or three years ago and to me it was a carbon copy and it's the best player in the game. And maybe that's why McDavid didn't get off the hook

is because Myers was sitting right there after them and the league couldn't go eye to them and say, hey, you're getting one. And then they're like, well, what the hell's up, you're getting one. And then they might, they, yeah. Well, what the hell's up with Myers? Possible. And Joe from the bridge brings up like Riley got five, right? For the, yeah. The Ridley, Greg, like different, you know, cross checks the head.

I do think that they have to, I didn't think Riley's was even half as bad as that McDavid or Matthew's cross check. Like to me, I think it was more the context of the thing. Yeah. It was, you chased them down. It to me, his roll up the shoulder. I think it was more the context of the thing. Yeah, it was you chased him down. It was after the whistle had blown. It was, you know, Greg had done nothing to you, like personally to.

Right. Listen, three is rich for the best player in the world, but I, you know what? I think there's a lot of people that are saying, like, I think CJ hung up from us going, the league could surprise me. Because I think everyone was thinking one or two games like if anything the league surprise people on the other way and three is rich but it's well it's three no miss washington vancouver again on thursday and then buffalo next saturday

so and uh... there the orders are on uh... six game home stand here they go around a lot yet they've been on the road a lot. Yeah they've been on the road a lot and yeah so he's gonna miss Ovi tomorrow night McDavid versus Ovi and then again the rematch against Vancouver on Thursday and then Buffalo and the Leafs are in there in a couple of weeks so obviously he'll be back for that but yeah they're in the midst of a or just about to start a six game home stand and Edmonton's been red-hot you know prior to Saturday night they had been winning a lot of games and they almost came back they're down three

nothing they almost came back on Saturday all right best bets brought to you by FanDuel coming up overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 2 all right it's been a fun one today great NFL action over the weekend the NFL Lloyd Christmas totally redeemed themselves awful the wild card weekend great weekend this past weekend to be an awesome one next weekend every incredible playoff moment onto your sentence powered by bud light a refreshing taste that's easy to enjoy tuning game day for pulse-pounding action

yet uh... wednesday through saturday golf this week to at the farmers right they do the one like random wednesday through thursday so jimmy nance can go call it and then fly to KC for the football game then I think they're going back there for the Genesis yes they are it's not because Riviera won't host it because of the LA wildfire so it sounds like Torrey Pines gonna be hosting two tournaments over the course of like four weeks which it's a great place great Tigers won there a lot if Tiger Tiger plays in that, he does like Torrey Pines. Right?

You think they went to Tiger and said which is the easiest walk for you? I wouldn't be surprised if he had a heavy input on where they were going. Probably. Right? Probably. They probably had three or four options and they're like what do you think? And he said Torrey Pines all day. Today's best bet is powered by Fando. Make your picks and assemble assemble a same-game parlay in seconds on the Fandl Sportsbook app. Over the number tonight, six and a half. I think goals are going in tonight. Matthew Nye's one point. William Nylander four plus shots on goal. That parlay pan plus 543. Today's best bet is powered by Fandl. Live same-game parlays are now available for every NHL game on the Fandl Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly. Must be 19 plus and physically located in Ontario. All right

it's been a good one today. Big one coming up tomorrow. Can't wait for it. Right we'll see what the Jays have in store coming off the Leaf game tonight. 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 screech RIP brother 4 p.m. we'll chat then TSM plus is taking game day to a whole new level with NFL red zone subscribe now for every touchdown from every game every Sunday afternoon NFL red zone available on TSM plus