OverDrive - OverDrive - January 23, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Dave Feschuk for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' defeat to the Blue Jackets, Auston Matthews calling out the crowd during Ryan Reaves' fight, Joseph Woll's experience in the crease and his role on the team and Conor Garland's stance against the Oilers. TSN Maple Leafs Reporter Mark Masters joins to discuss the crowd comments in the Blue Jackets' matchup, the goaltending on the team and Matthew Knies' injury status and Pete Alonso's fit with the Blue Jays.

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TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker. And up on TSN4, Brian Hazy, O'Doug Jeff O'Neil, and Dave Bestchuk of the Toronto Star. How we feeling today? Everyone ready to get loud this afternoon? Loud and proud. Loud and proud. I hope I do some things that get the appropriate reaction from you to yes you know what I'm talking about well I have been called the captain of the show the captain of overdrive people do call me that right people call me the assistant captain I'll grant you that I

want you as my assistant captain. I think that's great Chuck I'm curious before we get into the game last night in different items What is the doogie cologne meter saying today because I know you've got a taste of that last week. Yeah, they loud stay proud Well, you know Star Wars had the clone wars and overddrive has the cologne war. Yes. Right. And the war is on, man. Doogie is a very formidable force. He brings it daily and I know you gave him that suggestion, oh dog, last week that maybe

he should tone it down. It wasn't a suggestion. It was kind of a mandatory type of thing where I just said, it can't happen anymore. Like, I'll go to J-Mac if I have to. And if for people that don't know, that's the guy at the top. I'll launch a complaint against this guy's cologne use. Well, let's just say today, I don't think he's taking your order very seriously. Like, he's pretty committed to his cologne, man.

Yeah, man. He says, like, Doogie has convinced us us and I find it almost impossible to believe but he continues to commit to this line Oh, yeah, that he will spray five Different kind of colognes at different times of the day. Oh dude. Yes sticks with one four pack of squirts at Work, I don't know doesn't go with he doesn't have a duffel bag with a buffet. I think he might. Like a guy opening up a jacket in Times Square. He only goes with one cologne and it's a four spot

of squirts. Stay loud, stay proud. I'm telling you man, he's like Brian Fantana from Anchorman. Remember when in his office he opens up the door and like Sex Panther comes out and all these different types of colognes? That's Doogie, man. It's like you open up the O-Dog's trunk and he's got like 15 putters in there. That's right. Doogie's got like 15 colognes. That's exactly it. O's got putters. Doogie's got colognes.

But yeah, he's got his Thursday. He's got his mid winter mist on today. That's what it's called. Mid winter mist. He's setting a tone and it was it was great. He's been here all day. Had a chance to catch up with Jesse Marsh earlier this morning. The head coach of the men's national team, Jesse will join us later this afternoon. We'll play that really compelling guy, really compelling interview. We're just over 500 days out from the World Cup coming to

the shores of Canada. Right? Games at BMO, games out in Vancouver. And so that's going to be fun to hear from him a little bit later on. And Mark Masters will join us and Mark, he was down at Scotiabank last night. And I thought the Leafs played great in the first period. I thought they were phenomenal in the first period. And Merzlikin stood on his head. Hildeby couldn't counter. Hildeby really struggled. I do wonder if that's it for Hildeby and Matt Murray is gonna come out until they wait for Stolarz to return and they need Stolarz to return but much like every other team in the league it's very difficult to be

three or four goalies deep. At some point your one guy's gonna have to get a breather like Wall did last night. Now they got a pretty soft schedule coming up. They got Ottawa on Saturday and then Minnesota on Wednesday and then Edmonton next Saturday. So Wall's gonna play the next three games. Yes. You don't really have to worry about goaltending. But that game started last night with an unbelievable fight. Like that was such a good fight. Reeves and Olivier are both heavyweights. Ryan Reeves first fight of the season and they were throwing haymakers at each other and both were connecting. Like both got hit and it was just a great fight. Yet it was 90 seconds into the game, 90 seconds

premeditated off the draw. So not in reaction to a bad hit, not later in the game where you could feel it building up, not after a great shift or a great forecheck, premeditated 90 seconds in on a Wednesday night with Columbus in town. So I'm not overly surprised that it didn't get a crazier reaction. I'm more surprised that Matthews addressed it. Here's what Austin Matthews had to say about the way the crowd reacted to the fight last night. It was great, obviously. I mean, that's a, you know, still a big part of the game and he's a big part of this team and

you like to, love to see that. Would have liked a little more energy, you know, from the crowd after that. I thought, you know, it was a little quiet tonight, especially after, you know, a guy, you know, two guys like that go at it. So that, I will say that is the first thing that I can recall him saying as the captain this year that makes you, me take a step back and say, that's an interesting comment from the captain of the team because- Why not make the comment though, Hayes? Nobody else does.

It's just us that comment on it. You know, Joe Bowen might make a comment. No, none of the, it's just us that comment. Joe Bowen might make a comment, none of the players are always like, that ain't for me, I ain't touching that. But Austin Matthews is one guy with enough clout where he could say, maybe a little more juice would be okay. I don't have a problem with that. Maybe it'll wake them up a little bit on a Wednesday or a Tuesday.

Is there something wrong with that? Yeah, listen, here's how I would, again, I think you got to be fair to an extent. It was 90 seconds into the game. Yes, people were still taking their seats. Exactly. Like, you know this building on a Wednesday with the weather being what it is. People are, like, it's hard to get into the building. And it's just a reality. I think a lot of people either weren't in their seats or if they were, they're like, what just happened? How did this just take place? And Austin's been here for nine years He knows the way this crowd operates

But I I agree with what you're saying Oh that I kind of like that he's willing to say it Because why not take a little bit of a jab and I know what the reaction from a lot of fans are gonna be You want to take a jab take a job at your ownership because the prices are so exorbitant a lot of people can't get in That building that's accurate and Austin's never gonna do that he's never gonna say I'm gonna start you know we need a we need a symposium here to go over ticket prices to get Joe fan in the building Austin's not doing that anytime I'm gonna give back a million bucks on my salary to make tickets cheaper no that's not gonna

happening that's not gonna happen but I kind of like that he's I think sticking up for his guy because I think he realizes that was a big one for Ryan Reeves he hadn't fought all year a lot of people have been circling him do you not want to go anymore where you at Olivier's a beast that can fight and it was a great fight and I think if you're a player and you could speak to this oh you have an appreciation for a guy that early into the game taking bombs off the face like and you would hope there would be a reaction and the

only explanation I can think for why there wasn't was because of where it wasn't a game because generally speaking in my lifetime going down to that building or the gardens Wednesday night against Columbus is bound to be sleepy it'll get pretty loud from a great goal and it always got loud for fights oh yeah I get always generally speaking was a building that got crazy when there were fights and especially fights after like a shift where there was multiple big hits and there was a build up to yes big time big time. But I thought there was a response guys I thought they played well like they dummied the Columbus Blue Jackets and as soon as Fantilly scored that first goal I said I know exactly

what I'm going to be watching here in another hour and a half. This is gonna be 3-1 or 4-1 because every time they go down the ice on an odd man rush they're gonna put in the back of the net and it's completely deflating but through a period and a half like the whole game I thought they completely owned the Columbus blue jackets with the exception of a series of shifts where they needed to save from their goal ten and they couldn't get it. That Fantilly wrist shot and a couple of these plays around them, they were going in and Merzlikans but it brings me back to another point and I swear to God this is the last

time I'm going to bring it up. I don't know if they would have won that game anyway last night because they only got one, okay? But a guy needing a break with days in between games, it just bothers the hell out of me, man. It's not the job. Like, I don't know. As a forward, it's like, you got to play 82 games or the best of your ability. And it just makes me, and I don't want to sound like that old grizzled, but I used to see guys so mad when they were healthy scratched. It was like their life was on the line.

There's so many guys, forwards, defensemen, and goal tenors throughout the league, they don't care about missing games. It honestly makes me sick. They do not care about missing games. Guys fighting for their life in fourth line positions are like, yeah, I just don't feel 100%. What on earth are you talking about, man? This is all through the league.

They don't care about missing games. I find that crazy. That's not the job. Well, it's a very valid point. I don't know if I would look at it as like they don't care. It's that they've been programmed to believe, and maybe it's one and the same. What do you mean they don't? They don't care. They don't care if I would look at it as like they don't care. It's that they've been programmed to believe, and maybe it's one in the same. What do you mean they don't, they don't care.

They don't care to miss games. Maybe it's not that they don't, it doesn't bother them. That's it, exactly. I think what they're programmed to believe, and we're talking about Joseph Wall here to be clear, why he didn't play last night, is, and goalies in particular are programmed now to believe, just like pitchers in baseball,

you couldn't possibly be asked to do something like that but that's the programming of sport now so i don't even blame the goalies because i think they hear from the goalie coach in the goalie consultant and the head coach in the g m in the president i know but that's the only coach not say to the goalie or whoever the player is in different situations that's not how car is in different situations, that's not how Connor Halliburke, that's not his code of conduct. So what are we doing here? You know what I mean?

Yeah, there are some guys who are throwbacks. Some guys are throwbacks. And I would like to believe, and maybe this doesn't exist anymore, and I think this is what you're driving at as well, the idea that using Walls as the example, it's a Stormin', right? It's a Ricky Vaughn, did you just cut me Stormin', there's no way I'm not playin' type of routine. And beyond that, yesterday, speaking of Reeves and Wall, like Wall didn't practice with the team yesterday. He's missed a bunch of practices. And he was smiling and laughing by the boards,

and Reeves pointed that out, he's like, oh, it must be nice to not have to practice, let alone play. Yeah, and Reeves was calling Joe Wall, Joe Embiid. Yes, he's like, maybe I should start calling this guy Joe Embiid, because what, he can't even practice, and then he's not playing the next day, and he looks so happy to not be out there.

Yeah, it's a bit much, and it's hard for people to take it. Oh, I completely hear where you're coming from. But it's changed so much now. I know, but Dave, think about what Hayes just said. He called Kellabuck a throwback goalie. He plays 55 to 60 games. but it's it's changed so much now I don't know if they think about what Hayes just said he called kella buck a throwback goalie he has 55 to 60 games so I he's grant fear in place 74 well it's it's understood they're not playing back-to-back but no one's

playing back-to-back that's just understood okay I get that I know there's days in between why the hell are you playing that's why they goes back to a bigger picture where it's like I don't know if they're getting to on mercer leakins last night anyway possibly neither damn this it just bugs me that you look at the crappy goals and it's like i get it it's columbus on a wednesday but you know what they're not a bad team so why the hell is a number one goalie in there yet to do bed all you know that i think i was talking to somebody the other day

uh... executive in another sport he said to me i was asking asking about injuries and why it's kind of out of control in certain sports. And his thing was, well, yeah, in some ways, guys get hurt more. There's no doubt about it in certain sports. But there's also this whole industry of people making a lot of money claiming that they can keep your players healthy. Right? Guys, they sell themselves as people that can keep people healthy.

And so they got a lot on the line. That sports science wing of the teams, and the Leafs have one. I think it's the most overrated thing in sports. All you hear is the Blue Jays sports science facility. It's state of the art. Guys get injured left, right, and center. It's like, what are they doing that's so state of the art? I think it's like what are they doing that's so state of the art i think it's nonsense but now you've got so what the now you've got a pressure

on that sports science department to keep joe wall healthy right because we all know he's got a history it couldn't couldn't show up to game seven last year because he got hurt in game six you know was you know was aiming to be the number one guy and got hurt mid-season and had to take it a bunch of time off so So I do think that that's a big factor here that you've got people employed to keep this guy healthy and they're being extra cautious and to your point oh it kind of goes against the the grinder mentality and the the tradition of the game which is the number one guy should play if he can play. I don't even go with grinder mentality gentlemen I just go with the I said it earlier it's

the job like yeah you want to be a number one goalie in the NHL you got to play 50 games. don't even go with grinder mentality gentleman i just go with the diet said earlier to job you want to be a number one goal in the n.h.l. you gotta play fifty games if you're a thirty game starter you're not a starting goaltender in a study n.h.l. and how on earth would you ever play in the playoffs not possible listener in a lot of the strategy is is just simply prevention right it's not it's not even that they're seeing anything it's that it might happen at some point so we better not play them you know and that that applies

i think it's out of control when it comes to pitching more than anything well we better not let him throw more than 80 because maybe in august his arm will fall off based on what yeah like based on what science do you have that says if this guy throws too many pitches on April 4th He can't complete a game in august, you know or september, but they've all just bought into it and using hellabuck as an example And again, this is the this is the cream of the crop hellabuck is a throwback Whether we like it or not. It's just a reality. He started 38 games already this year 60 last year 64 the year before 66 the year before that I think 60 something is a number one

goalie yeah parables but oh yeah three guys only three guys got 60 plus in last year I mean three guys in the league it's just there's a lot like there's a lot of guys that are getting 50 and thinking that's a big workload yeah well and listen the game has changed in terms of the chaotic the chaotic nature of it. Post to post, we had Jake Allen on last week and it's you can see it guys, goalies are getting more knee injuries, hip injuries like that that is reality. And some of it is wear and tear, of course. But you would think also with the ability to look at the schedule

where you have the Leafs now have two days off, then they play then they have three days off, and they play then two days off. Like there's not where you have the Leafs now have two days off then they play then they have three days off and they play then two days off like there's not that many games the Leafs have coming up here but even even with that said listen Hildeby he was sent down today I don't know if that's a paper transaction or what I would think Matt Murray likely comes up for the road trip when they hit Edmonton next week and he may be backing up in Ottawa or against Minnesota next week. But Hildeby's not ready.

You know, it's very clear cut. He's not ready. So they're going to make an adjustment on that. Yet Merzlikin's was great. Like he was great. And the Columbus story was a really cool one. Fantilly's a local guy. Del Belbaluz is a local guy.

Their parents are in the stands. The cameras were on them all night. It was an incredibly cool story at the expense of the Maple Leafs and expensive Maple Leaf fans, but in the end I thought the Leafs had a great first period and for the most part they all played Columbus all night. It's gonna happen and that's another thing about Matthew's coming out saying what he said. I like that he's willing to say it. I like and I think a lot of Leaf fans will love hearing that too because this has been a constant conversation

in the city forever, the fans down at this rink. But it's always been the case with Toronto. It's never not going to be the case. It goes back to the 50s and 60s and 70s. There's a famous clip of Pat Quinn when he got to Vancouver talking about how he hopes the fans in Vancouver are gonna be loud because the ones in Toronto aren't that loud and they sit on their hands. That was in like

1967 or something. It's been a long time. It's been a long time. So I think a lot of Leaf fans are gonna love that he said this. Some of the cynics out there, and I understand why they're steeped in cynicism based on the history of this team, will look at it and say, well Austin, your team just got pumped 5-1. Right. Like maybe pick your spots a little bit better. You know after you win 5-1 and it's not that loud speak up. Why are you talking about the fans when he just lost to Columbus? Which is I understand that side of it as well. Yeah. Reasonable. Like oh you like you remember oh like 92 speaking of picking spots like 92 probably the most famous call

for noise in this city's history It was Dave Winfield right in September of 92 Winfield wants noise That's right. I need somebody brought to the park in the run-up to two straight World Series there it is look at the shades on that guy and Winfield in an interview with Jim proud foot the late Jim proud foot of the Toronto star You know made a lot of points about how look this, this was a 40-year-old veteran. He'd been around Major League Baseball. He was producing. He had 100 RBIs and 26 home runs that year. I mean, and he was basically saying, look, we go to the Metrodome in Minneapolis. It sounds

like there's 747s running through the place. We could create that here in this dome. You know, like this is the eighth wonder of the world. It was the Sky D dome was new and fresh and and he just made the point like I've been around baseball like we could be louder and guess what people got louder it also remember my first game playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs at home at the start of the second period I remember looking at the lower bowl thinking this is insane nobody yeah it's insane that this is like a this the Leafs and it's like a big game and no one's in their seat in a lower ball I found that to be crazy when I first saw it with my own eyes

Yeah, it's a different experience man And like you said Dave Winfield said that 30 years ago and and it still rings out here And maybe this will spark something may I'm not gonna hold my breath, but generally speaking fans do have a very very Notable reaction to fights I have found, you know, like historically fights get people up off their seeds So I'm a bit surprised by by that last night again I think it's that it was so early in the game But fights and goals everything in between can be crickets in there fights and goals generally get the place going and if it's a Saturday night Against a rival or a playoff game generally

It's pretty loud and pretty good But you know, we'll see if Matthews gets what he's what he's hoping for here I would say and again, I'm not holding my breath if he wants that place to really get crazy He should drop his gloves. Yeah, he gets into a fight at Scotiabank Arena. That place will go nuts No, I guarantee you that. Like if it's a reaction Marner gets hit and he comes flying in and his gloves go off that place the roof would explode. Yeah.

Then he's going to hurt his hand and everyone's going to say that Brian Hayes is such an idiot. You're going to blame me now? You're going to blame me for something that you know is going to happen anyway? That's just the way it would work. I know. If it's been nine years and he hasn't dropped the gloves yet i i i was not saying now he's not fighting i always thought that every player including myself would get to a point where it's like

i guess it's gonna happen but it didn't happen nine years he ain't doing it how would you rank the likelihood matthews marner neilander likelihood to fight but they have neil andrew one marter to in matthews three you know matthews three Marner, Nylander, likelihood to fight? I would have Nylander one, Marner two, and Matthews three. You'd have Matthews three? Yeah. Okay. I'd have Marner three. I don't think I don't think I'd go Mitch three. I don't think it's in Marner. I really

don't. I could see Mitch Marner getting in a fight against like Brad Marchand or somebody. Okay. That would be a reaction. that's a better question again presuming health everyone survives so it's not my fault who would these guys fight at scotia bank to get that place go i i do that margaret marshall would be number one against anybody we number one matthews mcdavid where without rango where was that right is saturday nights McDavid? Saturday night, Matthews McDavid?

Although it would probably be the worst fight you've ever seen. McDonald's fries at each other. I think they share the same age and he'd be probably running on the ice. Like, hey, boys, what are we doing here? Everyone just relax, we've got a McDonald's campaign we're going through.

We want everyone to get along here. But, but yeah I don't know. I think Matthews McDavid would be high. I think Marner Marchand would be high. I think Nylander Pasternak would be an interesting one. Although I don't know how many people are connected to that. Like I think Lee fans understand their history. That's never gonna happen because they're close friends. They're best buddies. Yeah okay so take that one out. That would be a tough one. Like I don't think anyone, you don't want to see any of these guys fight like Brady Kachuk or anything.

I think it's like, I think, no, but you'd like to see somebody take down a nemesis, like take down a, take down a Matthew Kachuk, right? Like that's one right there. Willie and Matthew Kachuk. There you go. That, now we're talking. Everybody talks about how strong Willie is. He's got a, you know, man's body a man's body man's hand past an act bottom in the playoffs hair on his chest every day and how built he is yeah he should be able to take on anybody yeah past an act bottom in the playoffs but and I thought he held up pretty well like it wasn't great Kuchuk's clearly gonna be a more comfortable fighter more experienced fighter but anyway we've we've got I don't know what to expect in Edmonton tonight where i've been to the vancouver plan connor garland's obviously in the lineup the david is in tyler meyers isn't

garland's an interesting one because he's diminutive little guy and it's just like who's gonna go after and like chomp him beat the living piss out of him it's like wow great job you know i mean there's not a big guy. At the end of the day, all he was doing was holding Connor McDavid. Like, is somebody out for retribution on holding Connor McDavid? Is that what we're talking about here? That's kind of silly, isn't it?

Well, I mean, someone should be. For holding McDavid! Well, he was in his jockstrap, oh, I mean, you gotta give the best player in the league some some respect Don't you I mean back off? All right, then I feel bad for him cuz someone's going after him I don't I don't know. I mean, it's probably Corey Perry would be the guy like more than likely. It's Corey Perry. I Like I don't know who else like Darnell nurse isn't a fair fight, you know And neither is really Corey Perry Perry said how many fights in his career 30 fights like you can fight You can fight so and I Garland's the kind of guy that I think would actually be okay with it you know, and neither is really Corey Perry. Perry's had how many fights in his career? 30 fights, like he could fight. You can fight.

So, and I, Garland's the kind of guy that I think would actually be okay with it. And probably he'd probably be willing to fight if he feels he has to. And he might do okay because he is a scrappy guy. He's just not very big. He's like five foot seven. Like he's one of the smallest guys in the league.

But I'm not sure what to expect. Is Rick Tockett saying, you know, we don't care what anyone has to say or how Edmonton fans you know Rick Tauke it would fight Rick Tauke it would happily step on the ice and fight anybody but Connor Garland do we have that clip let's hear what he had to say earlier today was asked about you know fan reaction in Edmonton and kind of what you can expect tonight. You seem to be public enemy number one in Edmonton now. Do you actually like that? I do not care I just try to just play each and every day you know and just give

a good force a good effort you know every day in practicing games. If the crowd's on you a night though does not care i don't know if he doesn't care i'm not sure about that yeah what is he gonna say why why would he care he's just gotta know what's gonna be an intense game you gotta just know what's going on be aware of the situation and his teammates obviously better know what the hell's going on out there but i think a lot of budget dumb-dums that don't know what's going on. You leave him

in the corner with four guys, you're an idiot. That's a very good point. You know speaking of you know picking your spots and riling up a crowd, I mean it's about the easiest thing you could do if you were an Edmonton Euler tonight. Yeah. Well exactly and conversely if you're Garland go out there and yeah keep it going. Keep it going. You know, throw a big hit, fix somebody, spray the goalie, you know, do something stupid and all of a sudden, that bench and it'll be lively in Edmonton tonight. You can bank on that. All right.

Mark Masters coming up in the building last night, his take on how everything played out when Matthew said post game also waiting on Matthew Nyes. Like he left the game last night they reported it as an upper body injury as to why he wasn't returning it didn't look like much to me I couldn't yeah exactly that's why I couldn't quite figure out what was going on there but we'll see if we've got any news on on Nyes and what ends up happening with the goaltending position as we move forward because again I don't think Hildeby is gonna be a part of this program moving forward he will be with the Marlies and he may play again with the goaltending position as we move forward. Because again, I don't think Hildeby's going to be a part of this program moving forward.

He will be with the Marlies and he may play again with the Leafs, but I doubt he's backing up come the weekend. So Masters coming up, we've got Bruce Boudreau on the show. Bruce is coming up just after five o'clock. We've got a bunch of games tonight. Ottawa's in Boston, you got the Habs in Detroit, Edmonton, Vancouver tonight.

And we'll get to a number of things with Bruce a little bit later this afternoon as well. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. All right, Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Haziodog, Jeff O'Neal, Dave Festjock of the Toronto Star, Mark Masters coming up,

Bruce Boudreau. We've got a list we're gonna get to today. Jesse Marsh will join us a little bit later this afternoon, head coach of the men's national team. And shout out Rory McIlroy as well, it was announced officially today, RBC Canadian Open. Rory's coming back. DPC Toronto.

DPC Toronto, tickets are up on sale, go time. I mean, it's such a cool vibe when Rory McIlroy's here. And to his credit, he says every every year he loves the tournament loves coming back and he always will come back and he falls through on that i'm sure somebody makes it worth his time i wouldn't be surprised if he's happy to come up here for multiple reasons but i think you know how to play a little eighteen whole warm-up somewhere off site no show them shovel envelope in your bag uh...

now that wouldn't have i don't know i don't think so i refuse to believe that i think it was canada and he loves the idea planet t p c right off the road to be awesome and just get your head of the clouds do you know just as just as ready to play gambling money oh he makes a lot of places very carefully by everyone shows out of the clouds dude. He's just ready to play. He's got plenty of money, oh. He makes his choices very carefully based on where he wants to go. Everyone shows up for the right place. Everyone's happy and everyone's just men of integrity. That's what it is. That's what Mark Masters does, right? Mark, he wouldn't take a bribe for anything. There's

no possible way you could find anything that would allow Mark to say you know i'll accept that i'll do something i don't usually what if mark ralph and him an envelope with five grand and said gas jonas and never speak with jonas again and be my trivia partner next time mark how would you answer that kaiya well i'd like to know i i i don't have to bribe on the man of integrity but really opening the partnering up with mark rome uh... considering the

the track record jonathan i have so it wouldn't be about the money for me it's about the trivia it's always been that way and yet by a credential would take the money would you take my last eight i want to take the money i i i think that i'd want to work now not about the money uh... you know it would cheapen it actually so now i't take the money. I'd want to... No, no, it's not about the money. No, it would cheapen it actually. So no, I wouldn't take the money. Before we get to the least, the Djokovic and Zverev tonight, right? Semi-final Australian Open.

It's a mate like Djokovic, what is he, seventh or eighth ranked I believe in terms of the ranking system. I know that has to do with you know world rankings and how much you're playing and all that. Yet he's a huge favorite tonight to win and this guy's won 10 Australian Opens. Like I knew he had won a lot and I know he's won more slams than anybody but there's nothing that you can compare this to. This guy might win his 11th Australian Open. Like how do you put that into perspective Masters? Yeah well it's hard to obviously Raffanadale is dominant at Roy Garros is unmatched but that this is this is Djokovic's role this is his home plan that's why he'd have another one if he hadn't gotten deported if you remember a couple years ago. It's incredible his numbers would be even

better like he had the freak default at the US Open where he accidentally hit deported if you remember a couple years ago. It's incredible, his numbers would be even better, like he had the freak default at the US Open where he accidentally hit a ball that struck an umpire in the throat. He probably would have won that US Open and he would have won probably the Australian Open that he got deported before, which is a strange sentence to say. But yeah, I'm kind of a little surprised that he's a heavy favorite. I'm not sure what the odds are there, but he had a bit of a leg issue in an incredible when it gets out there as well i want to match that was and i felt like it all presently able to

to force a bit that joke of it would be a big trouble but this is a happy place australia the that's kind of his home court so yeah it's very good kind of owned in recent years especially at the majors and uh... yeah i can understand why he's a favorite. I don't know if he'd be the biggest favorite just because of the health concern, but it's pretty, yeah, this is his fortress of solitude,

so to speak, down under. Okay, I like it. Yeah, heavy favorites, maybe a bit of a stretch, but he is definitely a favorite. He is 100% a favorite tonight. We asked the question because we've been talking about fighting and Austin Matthews and his reaction to it You're around these guys all the time. How would you rank the likelihood of these guys getting into a fight?

Austin Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander. How would you rank? One two three most likely to get in a fight in their NHL career Wow That's a tough one. I just well well, Matthews has already technically had... I know. The Stamkos one doesn't count though in the playoffs. That wasn't a fight. Stamkos initiated it and kind of forced it. So I'm kind of wondering, like, you know, I can't see it happening with Marner. Just Matthews with his size and just he, you know, has had those

moments recently where he has hit back at times. I feel like it he would be the most likely to engage in that. Neenlander did have that sequence. He had a remember Sheldon Keith made a big deal that he got a roughing penalty. Actually was against Columbus I think during a penalty. I remember he said I loved his kid. Yeah. A roughing penalty. I would say would be a few just a side i think that and because he targeted but margaret really get hit thinking with me lander

the kind of ship your guys i would kind of rake it as matthews you under margaret and i would go and that in that way cannot yet you know i don't have that roughing penalty yes he does have that you cannot forget about that roughing down on the against columbus when shelton keith was the coach here in love again yeah they lost he said he's

you'd like that penalty so anyway i would be happy that he's for me just a side i think he could do it he really seems to love it though right i think part of the reason he made that comment last night if you're sticking up for a bit he he think that part of the reason he made that comment last night is he was sticking up for Reeves a bit He thinks that's part of the game and he embraces it. So I would go Matthews number one Is that what you guys kind of thought? Yeah, we were all conflicted. I think oh had Did you have all had Willie? I think it won and maybe Marner or two I mean in reality we're not holding our breath that any of these guys are gonna fight anytime soon

but the reason it came up was I any of these guys are going to fight anytime soon. But the reason it came up was I said, you want to see the roof pop off. If Austin Matthews got into a fight down at Scotiabank Arena, that place would go crazy. Like if he dropped the gloves, he was the one kind of instigating the whole thing or reacting to something.

But you just said it, like your impression of why he said what he said about not getting enough fan reaction or energy out of it, was him more sticking up for Reeves as opposed to anything else or was there some sort of deeper messaging that he was hoping to get across? Well I guess you could look at it and try and speculate like there there was those couple games where they were booed recently on home ice that I'm sure did not do not sit well they didn't enjoy and surely Marner and Nylander had

comments to the point where Marner I think said you just got to ignore the booze and Nylander said they can boo but we know we're a good team. So I'm sure they didn't love getting booed on home ice. You know they got 19 home wins most in the NHL. They've also played more home games than a lot of teams but so maybe that's an undercurrent to this and they've won three in a row but you know I think probably the bigger thing is just yeah Reeves has been looking for a fight to get dismissively kind of waved off by Arbor Jack high over the weekend and it's a midweek game jackets

in town building maybe not as you know fuzzy as it would be on most nights and Reeves goes out there and fights a pretty tough customer and you know there were you know the crowd got a little into it but it could have been maybe in Matthews's mind it probably could have been a uh... a bit louder a bit more than electric atmosphere and so i think that that's probably why you know reasons that is that is a beloved teammate and he's kind of doubt the question right was what do you think of what we've did it

that was where he took the and they're importantly so i do think that probably that a little bit of the motivation there masters can you explain to me, just like put it into perspective, the Joseph Wall workload from where you're sitting. Like what is it, like if he was a number one, like a true number one, like is he playing 40 games a year? Like is he playing three or four, then he's just got to back off a little bit?

Just explain the rationale behind what his schedule will be moving forward or what it is right it is going to be interesting to see how they manage the goaltending what they got six games now before the four nations break no back-to-back next one that whole next one's on the road and off then they have a break until Wednesday of next week at home against Minnesota then they head out to Western Canada and Seattle's in there. So you could just ride him. I asked him today, we spoke to Joseph Olt today. Is that possible, Masters, the idea of riding the goaltender?

Sure. Don't you need to find out if he becomes the number one in the playoff, he's going to be playing every other night? I mean, I guess it's a bit of a tenuous time just because Stolarz is out still and his return is not imminent so you don't want to be stuck in a situation where it's a hill to be very tandem. But it is possible. I thought he'd been rolling pretty well. I know the puck had been going in, but I thought his performance on Saturday in Montreal was really good. He's been putting together, he was the better goalie in the game against Tampa. He had the three-game winning streak going, so I was wondering.

I thought maybe they give him practice off, they were going to stick with him for the game last night. I asked him today, I said, what did you think of getting a break? He said, my reading his answer was he didn't want a break. He said, it's weird when you're in a rhythm and you don't want to come out. You're feeling good. But then he said I understand. They want me to feel good, body, mind, all that. So I guess it's a balance. I guess five games in nine nights. Maybe you don't want to push it. But obviously, goaltending was a big story last night. And you can wonder if that fan-tilly shot doesn't go in. And the Leafs are able to get the first goal somehow maybe it changes things but yeah I don't know what they're

gonna do I I would imagine if Wolves looking good and feeling good you just ride him the rest of the way Matt Murray's coming up he's I think I was just looking at his NHL stats one goal allowed in his last three games two shutouts so we'll see if they mix him in there but I see just based on hearing from him and how he's looked at you know reason why they can write up well i was gonna ask you masters that we we think the viability of of matt murray really is like it seems to me that

if they sort of laid out their plan preseason uh... murray was their number three guy in their mind and then of course injuries and and and such conspired against that at times. But what do you think Matt Murray still has left from what you've seen with your own eyes? Well, I mean it didn't go, you know, he had two games with the Leafs, didn't go swimmingly I guess and that's why it was Hill to be back here. But you can only go by what you're seeing recently and based on the reports he's been good with the Marlies.

Listen, when you get down to your number three and four goaltender on the depth what you're seeing recently and based on the reports he's been good with some Marlies. Listen when you get down to your number three and four goaltender on the depth chart you're probably not having huge expectations for those guys going into a season unless you got like a younger guy in Murphy coming up who needs probably more development. I grew knowledge that last night that this is a guy who probably should be playing regularly and not sitting around, what his last game was January 11th before last night, so not an easy position to throw him into there, whereas a guy like Murray is more of a veteran and maybe can handle that. So I don't know, it's a wild card, right?

That's why you're a little queasy about it, and that's why we're talking about why can't we all just kind of go with it. So I'm not sure really what to expect from that Murray or if he's kind of playing something here and get back to somewhat what what he was in his previous times in the NHL. With Mark Masters, what does your read on the Matthew Nyes situation? Well we didn't see him on the ice at the Easter Seals Gate but we spoke to Steven Lorenz and he just asked you know how's Nyes holding up and he said I just I've seen him today it doesn't look like it's going to be

serious he's got you know if the big guy extra layer of muscle there and he indicated just a little banged up and doesn't plan to be outlawed so i obviously lorenzo not a doctor uh... but that's at least something positive something new uh... brew bait and speak to the media today will get a better indication on uh... tomorrow after practice i would imagine he's going to miss at least you know a game for sure just because he wasn't able to continue in that game last night and then they do have the break the schedule lightens up a bit which probably helps but he's a hard guy to replace especially the way he had been playing here of late the

top line I don't know what do you do there do you is this the time where Max Domi gets up back beside Matthews and Marner and maybe that somehow sparks him? Certainly he hasn't earned a promotion, but he's played, he's found a way with Matthews in the past. Maybe that unlocks something for him if that's the way they need to go. But the injuries are piling up up front right now.

Max Pachauretti, John Tavares, Connor Dewar. So the depth is being tested once again up front. And Knives in particular, he's a tough guy to fill that void, plays on both special teams, you know, does so many things. I thought he was having another good game last night, he drew that penalty and even the player gets hurt on he's trying to you know initiate a check there so that's a tough injury for the Leafs. Yeah and I believe the first shift they tested out Nick Robertson with Matthews and Marner when Knives was out.

Like that's got a, I must have had Max Domi looking around being like, what's going on here? Get me up there. But yeah, because they've never done that really, Robertson with those guys. We've never seen that and there's another guy who probably hasn't earned that. Like that's the issue. Like I guess McMahon could go up there, but then all of a sudden what's the second line look like was william neil and are playing with and they could always put me later out there but then you really don't have much below that i'll be intrigued to see how they handle this this after absolutely uh... by mark

good stuff thank you for doing this of course anytime mark masters one half of team coursey famously from uh Trivias of the past. Open to changes on Team Corsi. Yeah, he had no issue with kicking Jonas to the curb. That was shocking. Did not think twice about punting Jonas Seagulls.

He talks a tough game though when Jonas isn't around because whenever Jonas is present or situations like that, oh Jonas would be great if we got and then as soon as he's not around he's like I would love to do that without him. He is a backstabber. Yeah he will quickly throw you onto the bus. Yeah and can't trust him. Can't win with him. No you can't. Can't do it. Can't do it. I don't know he's cutthroat I like that about him. Yeah you got to give him credit from that standpoint. He's a winner. All about winning. You believe him when he says he wouldn't take the money? I don't. No. I think he's a snake

deep down. I mean if you're gonna go with the other guy anyway you might as well take the money. Exactly. Why not? Yeah you know it was interesting about last night based on what we were talking about yesterday we're you know Matthews chasing Willie or chasing dry saddle. They snuck one in last night again like Matthews is up to 20 on the season he's eight behind Nylander 33 games left or team yeah dry saddle 14 behind dry saddle telling ya many Jerry will pop up and bite you yeah that many Jerry man and that's just position right he just got inside and he's like no one's moving me. Yeah no one's moving me. That's the beauty of him when he's playing well and when he's on fire in terms of goal scoring he's gonna do it

in so many different ways. Now when you got a big man in front like that like Dougie Gilmore did it to perfection when Dave Anderchuck would post up in front of the net it was like just like chip that into a little area. Most of the times it was tape to tape where it's just a slam dunk, but you get a big man like that with some reach, just get it, he's gonna bang it in. Right, he'll find it. He'll find it for sure.

He's gonna find it, man. Yep, but yeah, there's Matthews now. He's a goal behind Darrell Sittler for second all time. Dude, that's crazy. Yeah, look at how many, he's played 248 less games than Sittler. Yeah. Like that's more than three full seasons less than Darrell Sittler and he's going to pass him likely this weekend, if not certainly by next week.

I don't think he catches Sundin this year. Sundin's at 420. He's got to score 32 more the rest of the way. That seems unlikely in 33 games. But he's got what, nine more the rest of the way that seems unlikely in 33 games but could be done he is he's got what nine goals in ten games since returning like he's back to looking like the guy who's gonna score every single night and if he does that's a great sign for him it's a great sign for the Leafs it's a great sign if you're American because all the sudden it's quieted down

will he go to the Four Nations i don't think that's a coincidence it looks good plays good looks healthy he's gonna go gonna go play i'll be my assumption as of today and let if there's a setback between now and then the tournament that all bets are off its it could be a completely different conversation but if he's playing like this

and he's healthy he's gonna plan that term and i want to know and find brad treeiving, Brendan Shanahan, I want him to play like barring as you said barring a setback but I want him to be in that fight I want him to be in those big moments in Canada USA and see what he's got. I think it's a nice dress rehearsal for a team that's got so much riding on what's gonna happen in April I think it's for Marner, for Matthews it's it's a great dress rehearsal to amp up the competitive juices and understand when you know when the stakes are higher you

got to perform well and Newlanders on Sweden so watch Finland win this thing yeah right Finland will win Yanni Hakenpah will be coming back with his gold medal. Dude, is he like on the team? Yeah, as of now, he's on the team. They haven't taken him off of it. It's possible they do that. He's not playing for the Leafs. So I don't know how you could expect him to play

if you're Finnish, but as of right now, he's on the team. And I would guess they're waiting to see if he's gonna return. That seems like their plan as of now. So, all right, Bruce Boudreau on that more coming up in about 20 minutes. We've got a list still to get to today. Jesse Marsh on the show,

head coach of the men's national team as well coming up in the 6 p.m. hour. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on TSN 4. All right, Bruce Boudreau in about 15 minutes. This market's wild, man, because there was so much angst directed towards the Blue Jays in the front office, right? And we've talked a lot about it all throughout the winter.

Then they signed Anthony Santander. And I have people being like, I'm telling you, they're getting Pete Alonso, it's over, they've got Alonso, he's coming, and then Scherzer's gonna come. And like that's all, one signing and people are like, no, this is happening. Like the Jays are getting everybody. Yeah, but what does that mean

if they got Scherzer and Alonso? I don't know, it makes them a better team for sure. Scherzer, I don't know what he's got left in his arm, but he's a legend. It would be interesting to see whatever. But the point I'm making is like we've been burned so many times. Don't you still have your guard up? If you're a blue Jay fan, you just naturally believe because listen,

but that's how bad, so piss poor it's been that they're just jacked up about Max Scherzer and Pete Alonso polar bear, dude. I get it. That hits for some power, right? It can't, I'm not saying it can hurt. I think it'd be a decent signing, you know, we'll see what the numbers look like. And I do believe they're in on them based on, you know, Toronto reporters, including Scott Mitchell and others saying like, this is legit, they're kicking tires. But I'm sniffing out, this is my read on this.

It's so loud all of a sudden with Pete Alonzo, he's begging Steve Cohen and the Mets to call him and say fine, we'll match it, come stay in New York. Like he's dying for the Mets to match it. And that's why it's so loud. I'm talking about staying for less. Like just saying, if you just come close, I'm staying. Like just give me whatever, if it's the year less

or whatever, I'm still gonna be a Met. Exactly and listen again I think the Jays are in on them but didn't we just go through this for like two months where they were being used as the team that was building leverage. Exactly it's like are we witnessing this so like why would you trust that it's gonna happen until it happens. If it happens okay great we'll react to it that's awesome but wow hook line and sinker Jays fans like I Alonso's coming for sure then if you get them don't you have to ask yourself oh dog like why weren't there a bunch of other teams in on this I've said that the last week sad Tandarro how come the other come the

Dodgers didn't give that cat the extra year no idea the Jays did that that's my most concerning thing about that signing. The Mets got nothing but money Steve Cohen's got nothing but money and somebody doesn't want to pay this guy who's a fan favorite he's only 30 years old there right might be a reason for that yeah that had a bit of a down year last year the one-arm closer couldn't pass a physical anywhere guess where he passed one he got he it done here. The Hoffman. The Hoff-Hawkenpaw. Jeff Hoffmanpaw. All right, hour two coming up.

Bruce Boudreau will join us. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.