OverDrive - OverDrive - January 6, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: January 6, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN NFL Analyst Luke Willson joins to discuss the headlines from Week 18 in the NFL and the Wild Card round matchups in the l...eague. The guys dive into Max Pacioretty's physicality for the Maple Leafs and the team's performance against the Bruins and Flyers in the winning run in Toronto.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 2025 is your year. 2025. Started right with New Year, New You on iHeartRadio. New year, new you. Good vibes playlists like party hits, chill tracks on lo-fi, and motivational podcasts to crush your resolutions. From wellness, finances, travel, and more.
Starting point is 00:00:19 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. I didn't think I would have to do this, but congrats on the regular seat. Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:00:37 Thank you. It's a great regular seat. Did you concede? Wow, that's no concession needed, man. The votes are in. We won Hazenbro plus seven. Plus seven? We won by a touchdown dude, and the thing is if you didn't know at one point a
Starting point is 00:00:53 Significant portion of the season in you were down nine. Yes Getting crushed and put Al's brother on waivers. He was technically he was a week away Yeah from never coming back. And here's the thing we we it's a season-long race right it's a lot of fun it is infuriating when you can't pick a winner because the group chat like these two guys when we were down we were in a dark place they were just so guys facetiming us all the time and lou cause on twitter talking about bots and frauds i get people stop me in the street be like you state while your partner is not much better he's way worse
Starting point is 00:01:33 swinging back the other day and he would think a guy but you can go for a day again you can sure when there's one guy that played in the nfl who's like the six seven and who's a start you would think it he would lay off a little bit of a vows brother credit he There's one guy that played in the NFL who's like six, seven, and who's a stud. You would think that he would lay off a little bit. I'll give Al's brother credit. He goes right for the throat, man. He doesn't care.
Starting point is 00:01:51 Does not care. No, he doesn't care. He's one of those guys. He'll be like, hey, Lukey. Lukey calls him. Lukey, nice pick. Nice pick, Lukey. He's got some stones in that respect.
Starting point is 00:02:02 I'll give him that. He steps in, man. He doesn't care. Because he took a lot lot he was beansy for a long time like when like before Luke came around remember I used to just give it to him all the cooler he was the cool well he was my partner and he I would be like dude this is on you like you've got to know this stuff better than me would have that ice cold the tweet you would have yeah the picture of Beansie you know in a neck race in the in a hospital that was the extreme pick Yeah, the first pick was the the the smiling Beansie was early in the season when I was brother had lost ten in a row
Starting point is 00:02:36 He was in the hospital. Okay, so let's just put this onto the table Yeah, you guys cuz this was a debate last year What is more important the season-long race or is it going to be the playoffs? Well, I think last year you, I think you guys won the playoffs last year. And we lost in the regular season. But you, and so what's it gonna be? What has more value? I guess the regular season now that we've won it. Now that we're in the winner's circle, I would suggest that a season-long race means a little bit more. It's like the Premiership, right? Or it's like the FedEx Cup,
Starting point is 00:03:09 like it's a long year. Yet, it isn't. We do live in North America, and my argument was last year, we are a playoff continent, right? That's generally how we operate. What you do in the playoffs really matters. So I think for Alice Brother and I to really step up and make a point that we are, you know, supreme when it comes to making picks on the show, we have to follow up. We've got to win in the playoffs because I think you have to win in the playoffs because if they win, they're just going to go what we want when it matters. And then that's exactly what they did last year. I understand that's what you said last year when they won the regular season. Which yeah I mean I wasn't going to give them their due and you know. So the point being is I think somebody has to push through and double down because if you don't double down then it's
Starting point is 00:03:55 technically a tie because one group is going to say well we won the regular season we're regular season heroes and the other guys are going to go doesn't matter we won the playoffs when it matters. We have to win. I want the playoffs to count for two units. Now that you're in that position. Regular season's one unit, playoffs is two units. It's like having a press in golf. It's like I don't want to just break, I want to go on top of it and win it all.
Starting point is 00:04:18 Okay. Listen, we're seeing the board very clearly and we feel very good about where we're at and let's establish something, okay? Because there's a couple of different variations we're going to put on're seeing the board very clearly. And we feel very good about where we're at. And let's establish something okay, because there's a couple of different variations we're going to put on the playoffs and how we operate here, we're going to play some totals, which allows you to rack up a few more points, the point system is going to be a little bit different. But last year, when you guys won the regular season,
Starting point is 00:04:37 you got to pick the games you wanted to pick, right that will carry over this year. Okay, so we got six games, wildcard weekend, Al's brother and I are going to pick the three we want to play. Are there some absolute locks you think? There's one guy that could step in the way of that though Wilson is cooking his new name is the commish or something Commish the people's commish. He calls himself now. Yeah artsy now. Partzy, can you explain the People's Commish? Yes, I can. Partzy, first off, it's good to hear your voice.
Starting point is 00:05:12 Yeah, man, I miss you, pal, and I'm sorry about what happened. I'm sorry that we did this to ourselves. Don't worry, Partzy, I've got a lot to say today. But the People's Commish, I'm now the Player's Commish. I had to retire as a people's commission Okay, I sat here and I watched the world juniors I will say parts you were electric on you were electric on TSN But outside of that there was not much electric things going on there. What happened to hockey?
Starting point is 00:05:37 What happened maybe you can point well? We were just saying parts see how we need somebody to oversee things and the selection committee and for the players to get out there And be electric maybe that the players commission is the guy to oversee the hockey team Listen, I will gladly do that. But this is what I'll say And you tell me where the lie is here. I think of 1972 in the summit series I watched that in school when I was probably ten years old. And what everybody forgets is when Bobby Clark came by and broke Buddy's ankle.
Starting point is 00:06:11 You know? Where is that guy? Where is that in Canadian hockey? Well, Partzy, I hate to interrupt you, but I think that that is ridiculous to think that that would be necessary. But we talk about part of the fabric of Canadian hockey is just some toughness like run somebody over how about we start with that save the ankle breaking for the regular season in the CHL but let's just start with some
Starting point is 00:06:36 team toughness part C I agree and that's why I said the CFL is going to shot here now I don't think they're gonna do it especially based off the backlash I got but I'm like people still like toughness and you can see it through the like the TV when you turn on a sporting event Regardless of sport and this is I'm being serious for a sec And you got guys that are really trying and it's a very physical endeavor and there's bodies flying everywhere and there's pure carnage To me, that's what brings fans with the combination of talent, skill, etc. And that's what as much as you want to dog the NFL for weird quirky things they've done, it is still a very violent game. You turned that game on yesterday, the Anzaloni hit on Jamir Gibbs, my goodness. Parks you won a Super Bowl man, you know, you know you won a Super Bowl. How much like
Starting point is 00:07:23 every snap, how much guys put into it and if you get to the finish Super Bowl how much like every snap how much guys put into it And if you get to the finish line how much like it means so much more when you get a team like you had in Seattle and you talked about Pete and the leaders and what they put into it and the physicality and Day after day, it's worth it at the end of the line 1000% It's funny because I sit here and I got to be very careful what I say now but you go online and it just seems like you know it's all about oh let's promote this let's do this or these videos floating around okay and
Starting point is 00:07:54 I'm like what happened to the camaraderie brotherhood and bond in a locker room and you said it where you're out here taking the body sacrificing yourself to win a ball game or a hockey game. It doesn't exist. You know where it can exist? The CFL. But we're stuck in 1800 with rugby rules. That's why the people's commission is going to have to clean this thing up. And that's where the commission comes from. We got to adapt. I know there's some CFL hard O's that don't want any changes, but the reality is if you want new eyes, which is going to potentially bring new money to that league, you've got to adapt with the times.
Starting point is 00:08:27 The people want to see fast, violent football. We do not love punting. We do not love to announce. And I'll end my rant because I'll probably be crucified by some CFL part online about how it's real rugby rules and I'm making the game gimmicky. Wow. I, that's where I was going to go. All of a sudden I'm reading Twitter and you are just in one fighting with a bunch of CFL
Starting point is 00:08:49 fans. Like what happened there? Because I think, I honestly feel like you were trying to help and then why did you upset so many fans? Like they just don't believe in the two and out, three and out, they believe in punting? Where was the disconnect between you and the fan base? Noodle's I'm glad you asked me that because I sit here and I when I put that out there I was like you know this should create a little bit of buzz for
Starting point is 00:09:16 the CFL my intentions were very pure I know a lot of guys in CFL I like them I think there's a lot of talented football players in that league and I think the league can grow and what I was met with, not by everybody, like you said by a lot of CFL fans, we basically shut the hell up and stay in your lane and go away. So at that point I was like, how did this, you know, tweet that was supposed to help out backfire into the most short amount of idiots I've ever had in my life coming after me? Is that the one tweet that made you the players commission
Starting point is 00:09:46 instead of the People's Commission Well, it's funny. You're gonna laugh. I got a call I'm this is what it's funny is I got a call from two or three players that I know and They're like men the entire league feels the same way that you do and there's a lot of issues We have as players, but the reality is you've got these CFL gurus, if you want, that wants to keep the game in the Stone Ages because it's part of Canadian history or whatever. And again, I understand that.
Starting point is 00:10:15 I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but they need to realize at the end of the day, by us not progressing football, and I'm not saying you gotta make it the NFL, please, that's what I'm saying, but by them not trying to progress in advance, the guys who suffer are the players that are in there in terrible facilities, not getting paid as much as they should for being pro athletes and risking their body every week. So that's kind of in my rant and I'm dying on this hill on Twitter right now, as Noodle
Starting point is 00:10:42 said, I am, I'm defending the trolls for the sake of the players. Now I'm graduating the players' commission. All right. Well, in terms of the National Football League, where do you stand on the coaching turnover? Black Monday, they call it. Gerard Mayo's out in New England,
Starting point is 00:10:59 Doug Peterson's out in Jacksonville, that's not a surprise. Mayo is one and done, I mean, one season and he's out. Chicago's gonna be looking for a coach, the Jets are looking for a coach, like there's some vacancies out there. Any of these spots, do you find any of them compelling? Any of them stick out in terms of where you would go
Starting point is 00:11:18 if you were a coach looking for a job? So, hey, it's tough because I don't know owners like I should, but when I come to rosters and things that I look at, to me, and this might be crazy for a lot of people to hear, but it's the Chicago Bears. You know, I look at this roster, the defense could be good.
Starting point is 00:11:39 They were good two years ago. They had very good games this year at times, especially early. And then I go to the offensive side of the ball and I say okay you stroll out here with Keenan Allen who had a great year for them. I know he's an older guy but had a really good year. Romo Duse is supposed to be a perennial talent you know he had flashes this year and the whole season was a bit of a fire sale on offense.
Starting point is 00:12:02 DJ Moore is probably the most underrated receiver in the league. So now all of a sudden, you put Caleb Williams in there, you get him a real coach, you get him a real football culture and maybe you turn this thing around. Now, the thing I do worry about is the quote unquote culture of that team. There's some bad body language by a lot of different guys. I think the Bears as an organization
Starting point is 00:12:22 has obviously struggled. But I think from a roster standpoint I don't believe that that roster is that far away We're on the flip side like I look at New England and I do have very high hopes for Drake May And I think he can be a great player in this league but after that Offensively, I don't like Stevenson's a good back Gibson's's a good back. These guys are not, you know Perennial stars by any mean you look at the wide receivers. Nobody really jumps out of the film. I
Starting point is 00:12:51 like I would be very nervous if I was a coach going to New England unless my name was Mike Brayble because Brayble will probably get the You know Patriot way back on in win with a less talented roster and a more disciplined team. In terms of what we saw last night, Detroit, I thought that was a significant statement by them. I was thoroughly impressed with the way they played, specifically on the defensive side
Starting point is 00:13:18 of the ball. Even the last game like that, I know that first place was up for grabs, but you put that much stake into it, huh? I do because of what was on the line like there's a huge difference between the one seed and the five seed the Vikings have to go to the Rams now they're gonna play LA on a Monday night like Matt Stafford's waiting for him Sean McVeigh's waiting for him and now Detroit can sit pretty and they got home field throughout it's I thought it was a huge that was a playoff game last
Starting point is 00:13:43 night and the Lions showed up for it and I didn't think the Vikings did Sam Darnold didn't look great I mean what are your takeaways from what we saw last night so you know hey the most concerning thing for me is definitely Sam Darnold the Lions are an incredible team obviously and they have a great great offense and when they get ahead they can really pour it on, which they did yesterday where they're potentially weaker. They're so obviously very strong. Isn't those tight games or even if they're trailing, you know, cause then you
Starting point is 00:14:14 don't feel as comfortable calling those run plays. I sit here and say like, man, early in this game, Minnesota's defense did well, you know, caused two turnovers made some stops and Sam Darnold just missed throws and I know that you know throwing the ball in the NFL is not easy But if you want the one seed you have to make those throws all the red zone failures again Tip your cap to Detroit for that and then the next thing I'll say that I thought was a huge momentum swing, because you know I got to take my shots at kickers, but you go down there at the end of the first half, you kick a field goal to go 7-6, there's 20 seconds left, and my guy
Starting point is 00:14:55 kicks the ball out of bounds? There is, I will guess right now, that there is probably 3 million people on planet Earth or more that could go into that situation and not kick a kickoff out of bounds Including everybody on the show Take the ball on the 40 and Couple plays at one time out and they raised the field goal That was a huge momentum swing and then later on the kid misses a 57 yarder when they desperately needed him to make it. And I get it far. I understand that.
Starting point is 00:15:31 But now all of a sudden, Jared Goff and the Lions have a short field. I was sitting over there. The producer of Jay Onright's show is a big Vikings guy. I said, we're cooked. This thing's done. And a couple of plays later, the game's out of control. So you know, the Lions are that good. you can't make mistakes, which is a testament to them.
Starting point is 00:15:47 But I do think if you're a Vikings player right now or in that front office, you're probably a little sick because you really helped the Vikings out in a lot of ways that you shouldn't have. Part C, last year your confidence level in Dan Campbell was basically below zero. You're like, this guy guy's gonna do something stupid. Where are you at this year, the following year? Like do you still think that there's a chance in a big moment in a big game? We saw it with that, what was it a fake, um, kick return and like with two minutes left a couple weeks ago is ridiculous.
Starting point is 00:16:20 Like what is your confidence level that this guy's not going to be a donkey come playoff time so it's still falters you know and I think he's by far coach of the year you know you tip your cap he's the best coach in Lions history in my opinion and I know he hasn't been there that long but there was a moment last night they kind of gets passed over because they won the game by so much but you're kind of sitting there and you're thinking hey man you still are playing Justin Jefferson Jordan Addison TJ Hawkinson you know your defense still has had issues at times and the Lions were up 15 and it was a fourth down again and I sat there and was like I get that you go for it on
Starting point is 00:16:58 fourth down here that's your MO but you kick a field goal the game's over I believe it was in the fourth quarter you You know, you go up 18, your three scores clear now. You've made the Vikings completely one dimensional and you're winning that game unless something outrageous happens. And we go four on four down and they get it and they end up scoring a touchdown. And I sit here and I say to myself,
Starting point is 00:17:22 hey, it looks great and they score. And now it's even more. But in the same breath, say to myself, hey, it looks great and they score and now it's even more. But in the same breath, it's like, man, if you don't get that first down and Sam Darnall hits Jefferson for a goal ball, which is not an unrealistic situation with that type of talent. And now all of a sudden your 15 point lead is eight
Starting point is 00:17:42 and if you want for two, it's seven and the game's completely flipped. So where I get nervous about him in the playoffs is if they get up on whomever, you know, and they've got a chance, like a simple short chip shop field goal put them away, sort of like they had last year against San Fran and they decide like, no, we're fourth down team. We're going to go for it. And it burns them. I think it's going to be tough tough so I do worry about that but then the same breath part see they
Starting point is 00:18:08 are so good right now you know does one coaching decision matter I guess we'll see but yesterday was it was definitely a very impressive outing what I found interesting is they actually triggered an offside last night at the end of the game to effectively put it away when it was was it fourth and two or whatever and that was because Minnesota clearly is like they're actually going for it like they're not trying to draw us offline offside you know I'm saying like so many teams you know it's just fraudulent they're wasting people's time you're gonna go
Starting point is 00:18:42 out and you're gonna try your hard counts and you're gonna try to get people to go offside, but you're actually not fully committed and the defense never sit out. Dan Campbell has thrown off the opposing coach to the point where they actually think they're going for it on fourth and short. Yeah, he has. And it benefited them last night.
Starting point is 00:18:59 It is. I don't know if that'll carry over in the playoffs, but it actually worked last night. The game was probably over anyway. that's in that I find interesting is that as much as he could self implode and do something stupid to screw over the Lions I do think his unpredictability in his riverboat gambling can actually mess with the opposing coach a little bit too Luke. Yes and that's a great point and what I'd say too about that moment was in that second half I obviously Lions had run the ball so well
Starting point is 00:19:30 and they were getting so much push now part of that I think they just wore that defense down but now all of a sudden you're sitting there on fourth and two and you're like hey we've ran the ball down the team's throat the D line is just like hey it's all hands on deck as soon as I hear the snap count, you know, I got to get off the ball and try and not get driven back. You pull the double counter, the hard count, and now you give them a free five yards is most demoralizing thing in football,
Starting point is 00:19:54 especially on four down. Right. So there's definitely another avenue to look at the gambling where you're feeling it and you make the right call. It can help you out a lot as well. With Luke Wilson, we'll get you out of here on Tyreek Hill And oh man who pulled out he's out quit pull the shoot in the fourth quarter last night like that that story
Starting point is 00:20:11 By all accounts like McDaniel said after the game. He was just told he's not aware He's not available anymore in the fourth quarter, but not due to injury Yeah, so it sounds as if Tyreek Hill basically made a business decision game was over. They were done Denver had already won I think they were aware of that so they weren't going to the playoffs in Miami But sounds like Tyree kill pulled the shoot in the fourth quarter and then after the game said I'm out Like I can't I don't I don't basically I gotta go somewhere where I can compete He's a wild card at the best of times worst of times. He's not a young guy anymore I don't know if he's worth the hassle.
Starting point is 00:20:45 That's and he can he like this year now two of being injured affected him Luke big time, but he was not anywhere close to his explosive. He was not an effective player this year, like to the level that he's been in the past. Where do you see this going with Tyree kill? You know, a couple things. One, you can't do that as a guy as a, you know a couple things one You can't do that as a guy as a you know, I understand they're knocked out of the playoffs, but you can't do that and Have any sort of winning culture in that locker room if you have him back next year unless he gives some sort of grave apology Etc We had a moment like that and with a player in Seattle one years kind of middle of the year He was traded the next week for pretty much a kick-cap bar it was like you can't take
Starting point is 00:21:31 yourself out of the game that's just it's like the cardinal rule of playing football in the NFL if you're suited you're going until you can't no matter what the situation is so to hear hear that, it was very disappointing. I understand that he's angry and frustrated. And a couple of things I would say is like one, not the time, you know, don't quit in fourth quarter and two, like in all fairness, this is a guy who could have taken less money and played with Patrick Mahomes, you know, and I, I'm not the guy to sit here and say you should take less money
Starting point is 00:22:05 Because it's for him and probably was 10 15 million bucks. That's a lot of cash Yeah, but in the same breath like if you leave Andy Reid in Kansas City in Patrick Mahomes To go to greener pastures or to make more money You can't be upset when it's not as fluid as things were. And then the last thing I'll say that scares me about Tyreek is, you know, you look at it in the sense of, when I look at Justin Jefferson, I say, okay, obviously he's very young still, but he's tall, very, he's got great range, great hands, can run, that sort of thing.
Starting point is 00:22:41 And sorry, I'm into Fino right funeral right now boys I got people they're big fans of the show they're screaming at shout out okay but uh you sit here and it's like I think that he's caught not one trick pony that'd be obviously ridiculous me say but he's a little more limited like when he loses his speed he's not six five you know he's not necessarily the most crispy route runner I've ever seen. So now all of a sudden it's like that one step is a big, big difference where there's other guys that will be able to learn and kind of use other tools. So I do worry about him if he's not up to snuff in his own physical speed or if he loses
Starting point is 00:23:23 a step, how much that'll affect him. Parts, I really want to thank you for doing this today and I'd also like to mention, no matter what happens in the playoffs, I will never ever want to be a teammate of Hayes or Bro. Like, it's me and you for the end of time, brother. I'll never go to the dark side. I just want to say something to address that. First off, you know I love you, Part C. You're my guy. Secondly, I gotta learn. I gotta wear this year. It was a tough year. Now don't be fooled. This is my first thing.
Starting point is 00:23:56 I would say don't be fooled. If you ask Doogie, and I don't know if they can run the banner right now of individual records, we got jammed up by a couple pushes I believe we lost them when it comes to total wins I think they that one maybe two more total wins I'll tell you what our record is right now let me tell you the record all right you guys you guys were 29 and 26 29 and 26 31 and we were 31 21 and 2 yeah dude was at our brother's house, like hunkered down, having chocolate chip muffins talking about what games they want to do. Doogie is a fraud and a punk. In a scumbag. But what I'd say is, okay, what happened? Al's brother went and hunked some
Starting point is 00:24:39 ayahuasca and ended up going on an absolute tear. I just said i'm on route to tofino for five days and i did the sole purpose of climbing the mind your boys i'm coming back on absolute heater on saturday i'm not sure will miss a pack well the new rules that they might be over wild card weekend might be over wild card weekend you know what my partner's doing right now is on a cruise he's been literally on a cruise cruise again literally right now
Starting point is 00:25:06 actually robbing me right he is on a cruise right now how many cruises can one guy go on he he's all i saw a documentary on the media couple months ago somebody said me and my husband is live on the cruise ship are you they don't come off you can live on that it's like 20 bucks a day You can just literally Take if you lived on a year, it's just
Starting point is 00:25:37 Outrageous the behavior happening on a cruise. I don't think he gets off the cruise like he talks about these ports I don't think he's ever stepped foot off the crew. No, he just stays on the boat. Yeah, he's on the boat He's he's got he's looking his clocks and can we leave like get people back? He's not about culture. He's on the boat. Yeah, he's on the boat. He's he's got he's looking his clocks and can we leave like get people back He's not about culture. He's about Cruising how many little sausage rolls do you think he stacks on? I don't know man, but it helps him because he comes back with a clear mind He does a clear mind and I think my partner and I are going to absolutely go on a heater So you better bring your a stuff we will we'll be there red hot the way you guys stumbled down the stretch was pathetic pathetic the way you guys are seeing the board right now that's just a fact to Fino or otherwise Luke you got to own it listen we'll put our money where our mouth is
Starting point is 00:26:17 I'll see you boys on Friday we'll make our pitch and just know that we're gonna be hanging the real banner at the end of the year congrats on your first season win like I said means nothing. We're ready to rumble. All right the hats are waiting for you guys. We got hats for you. You gotta win something first to get out. I'll light that thing on fire right on this show. You gotta win something to get it. All right Luke enjoy yourself out there. Be good. We'll catch up with you later in the week. Here's Luke Wilson joining us from Tofino British Columbia. Wow the hot spot out there man. Is that a casino? What the hell is he doing out there? I don't know is that a big must be a big ski spot is it? It is. Monday afternoon.
Starting point is 00:26:58 It is skiing but I also think in the summers it's like surfing and stuff like Oh really? Really. Nice. Yeah. Good spot to be? Well the guy who stepped down to... Oh he loves it out there. He's probably on a bird right now.
Starting point is 00:27:11 Took about five questions and said see you later. Because he loves Tofino. Like that's a... That's a spot. I know my buddy's going... I saw him on Whistler when I was there. Oh Trudeau's out there all the time. Yeah he loves to ski.
Starting point is 00:27:22 He'll be out there a lot in the future. Yeah. You're going to see him a lot. Good. Either way but it's, Tofino is like a pretty cool area up there. I've only been there once but I know a lot of outdoorsy people which I'm not. They hang out. That's the place to be? It is the place to be. He sees a beautiful spot. Miss Larry, you go north like, you're right like we talked about the Canucks and all that being being in one but you go out to Vancouver there's some beautiful things up and down. Oh, yeah, we were talking about that a couple weeks ago like annoying different pockets of Canada that are annoying yeah, and
Starting point is 00:27:56 Like in Toronto what I find is Torontonians go elsewhere in the country if they if they don't if there's not Toronto stuff elsewhere. It's like where is this? Yeah, where's the where's the Eaton Center?'s like it's in Toronto you're not there yeah you know like it's an arrogant vibe a lot of it is but it is kind of it's your home what you're used to exactly like where is it you know blah blah and the bc is like how beautiful you have to accept how beautiful we get it it's a beautiful place it's a stunning place like if you if you go skiing where i live in Collingwood yeah go to bc and it's a dude it's a different guys like if you if you go skiing where I live in Collingwood Yeah, go to BC and it's a dude a different world different Yeah, you talk to someone from Vancouver. It's like have you been to Stanley Park now? I'm sure it's a beautiful park
Starting point is 00:28:34 Well, you got to go to Stanley Park. Yeah, you go John. Okay, I'll try to get there if I can It's not I don't know. We'll see what happens spots Everyone's got this mountain you go up to Whistler like Whistler is in i i i a beautiful spot beautiful country of whistler is beautiful i've yet a full country several times in vancouver my family live there for a year and and i go out and get the it but iran's a lot and even not it does really like that but it golfing out there
Starting point is 00:29:00 in like the lower man mainland like it i think it's this rain i think you have and i don't know if you can golf. Can you tee it in January? I don't know. I would think maybe in Victoria or something. I think if you get over to like Vancouver Island, I feel like maybe you can golf. I should ask my brother.
Starting point is 00:29:13 My brother's lived there for a hundred years. All right. I should ask him. I don't know if they golf like year round. I don't know. I would think shut it down for a couple of months. Yeah, for sure. But there's no way they're waiting until April.
Starting point is 00:29:22 You should ask Ray. Ray lives there. Ray lives there. Yeah, Ray would know Alright leaves back in action against Philly tomorrow Danny Breyer coming up in an hour the GM of the Flyers Danny will join us in About an hour get Chris Johnston coming up to and somebody sent in to you upon your request Which was a pleasant surprise this year a tape of Max Patch already crushing guys. Yes I'm glad you brought that up We will play that and we'll get into what he's bringing to this team because he is throwing massive hits
Starting point is 00:29:48 Yeah, every he got sealer last night like that was old school like Darcy Tucker The tie a lot of hitting is timing. Yeah the guy not being able to see the hitter he is Perfectly time around rushing guys coming around the corner on yeah, he's catching guys, so we'll get into max We'll play that overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for 2025 is your year Started right with New Year New You on IR radio Good vibes playlists like party hits chill tracks on lo-fi and motivational podcasts to crush your resolutions
Starting point is 00:30:28 from wellness finances travel and more new year New you Overdrive continues powered by Fandool so max patch already I was just looking this up quickly shout out to a rink rat report on Twitter who did actually answer my request because he threw that hit on sealer last night it was a massive hit and a lot of his hits are along the boards and it's the guy who has the puck.
Starting point is 00:31:08 It's not, obviously you have to have the puck, but the point being is it's not like gets rid of the puck and then the guy's looking the wrong way and he buries him or he's taking a pass and the guy buries him. A lot of it is the guy's got the puck, he's trying to come around the net or break through traffic and Patioreeretti lines him up and absolutely buries him like that hit on Seeler.
Starting point is 00:31:28 I was a big. Seeler's a big dude. He's a big boy and you know, I was requesting that. I'm like, I need a rock them sock them type montage, which would be great if you could add the grapes like, bang, I want, you know, keep your head up kid. Remember those montages back in the day. Well, what I like about it from patcher at ease point of view is
Starting point is 00:31:48 i don't know if he was told and it might have been craig berubey but he doesn't score enough nowadays for someone to tolerate a lack of you gotta bring some of the other day i think some though he has realized for him to stay in this league or stay on this team he has a score as much as he's not max patch ready that was that was 25 years old scoring 38 goals for the Montreal Canadiens. And it was one of the things that always bugged me about him in the playoffs. He never played that physical.
Starting point is 00:32:15 That was just what he brought to the table. And he's realized, I got to do this to stay on this team on this line in this league. And he's done it. He has done it. He like it is almost every night he's thrown up big big hit because how many guys have you seen that that's try to stick around there like i'm a goal scorer on the goals for a cat just like a guy trying to find a job in the same thing that they've done for years but that's not
Starting point is 00:32:37 available you got a he got a go to different direction in a dot he's adapted and he's found himself a role there and he's played well in it. The only thing that derailed him was the injury. He was playing well before that injury too, but he has found a different role for himself from what we remembered of him. Because I didn't, I don't remember, I've been watching him for years, I don't remember him destroying guys. Not to this extent. He'd always get in the mix and agitate. You've seen the guy's legs.
Starting point is 00:33:06 They're the size of a tree trunk. Yeah. They're huge. He's a big guy, like physically. His legs, he's a very strong individual. But it seems like he's got some speed back in his game, too. That's kind of, now that he's healthy. For a couple of years, we watched him.
Starting point is 00:33:22 When he was in Washington, he didn't look good in Washington. No, he didn't play. he didn't last long guys over in Washington no it's it's a credit to him and listen he's he's in a scenario here where in the NHL in the modern NHL if you throw big hits at times you have to fight yeah what I think he has going for him or a couple of different things one as I was saying a lot of it is like puck carrier coming up the boards and he's just getting you in a battle as opposed to if a guy gets a pass
Starting point is 00:33:51 or the guy who made the pass set him up, that guy always feels like I gotta go fight now because I almost got my teammate killed. He's not doing that. It's not like middle of the ice crushing a guy with his head down. It's not late, it's not elbow up and he's got a veteran status to him he could say piss off I don't have to fight
Starting point is 00:34:10 that the league has to kind of respect right like it was never more apparent than the Jack Hughes hit because anybody else would have got their head caved in for that one right and even last night sealer wasn't so happy that sealers a tough customer. And Pacioretty stood up and said whatever he said and said, I'm out of here. But I think, you know, that's Matt Rempey, there's going to be an answer clearly. But if it's Pacioretty, it's been in the league for almost 20 years, former captain, clean hits.
Starting point is 00:34:41 So you got to live with it, man. And I got a great appreciation for that because to your point He's not scoring at a crazy level yet. He's playing with Tavares and Nylander right like he's got a great opportunity here And that's what is going to be needed come playoff time like if he's healthy and he's aggressive And he's smart and he's been in the fire many times in his career be very beneficial over Maybe coming into the season you thought that could be Nick Robertson in that situation.
Starting point is 00:35:07 Well, do you know how many times in the playoffs and I talk about it all the time because I've seen it so many times, a guy goes in and hits the guy like that and it leads to a goal. Like blow up a defenseman, loose puck, somebody gets it out front. That's what leads to disruptions. It's big time. Yeah, you do. You need that type of physicality you need that type of play
Starting point is 00:35:28 and you know knives is throwing around his body but the illicit ease is on a stretch i was on here was it five goal four goals in into games we had a hat trick saturday and one last night playing great we got a confront that the by the way on physicality tried to show me up on the panel at the world juniors was a doing i brought on physicality. He tried to show me up on the panel at the World Juniors. What was he doing?
Starting point is 00:35:45 I brought up physicality and he goes, oh dog, that doesn't even work anymore these days. I was like, okay. Maybe that was Team Canada's mentality and that's why. Next time we have him on, we gotta call him out on it. He's trying to show me up. Physicality, intimidation in a physical sport is always gonna come.
Starting point is 00:36:02 Is he like NFL or does he like flag football though, right? Because he's a flag football study is pretty loves the answer how you you should know that look at detroit they are tough as nails well i'm lying and i know it's and friend and they were when they were winning they had big offensive and i would say it's right detroit's philosophy was toughness and physicality and then skill came out absolutely
Starting point is 00:36:23 but clearly you have it you have to have the combination of the two, but you've got to have a mentality that in the trenches, we're going to do whatever we have to do to beat you. That was Belichick's thing forever. So many people would say the Belichick way, yes, you looked at Brady, obviously you needed Brady clearly. I'm not downplaying Brady's importance, but you looked at those Pats teams, they were so tough. They had offensive and defensive lines that were monsters they're Rodney Harrison going around looking to kill people and it's beneficial in a physical sport to have an a reputation of that guy might hurt me right i know a lot of people don't want
Starting point is 00:36:58 to hear that or accept it but it's a fact go ask the guys on the other team this is what we talked about forever not that we need to revisit certain things of the past with certain trades, but you look at the PK Subban like Shea Weber deal. It was like, well, look at PK. And PK could play tough and hit. But Weber's value wasn't going to be he's going to score all these goals or do this or that.
Starting point is 00:37:17 But talk to the opponents who they would prefer to meet in the corner. Who would you prefer to go wide on? PK or Shea? And that's only an element of the game. But the fact is that matters for something. I can bring you one closer to home. Mason Marchman for Gino Malgin. Exactly. Exactly. You could look at certain numbers and skills and in practice Malgin might be running up and down and like wow toe drag this, saucer past that. Go look at the guy who's
Starting point is 00:37:42 6'4 who's gonna bury someone and go to front of the net and score and score and that's that's where again with this Maple Leaf team and come the playoffs and what you hope to see a little bit differently is the the way you score in bunches in the playoffs is from in front of the net and creating turnovers with physicality and getting in on four checks that's just the way it is you might have some some blowouts, you might have some nights in the playoffs that turn into a bit of a track meet and you win it 7-2. Yeah, that's going to happen too. Those are one-offs and you do have to find ways to do that.
Starting point is 00:38:15 The Maple Leafs I found, they didn't have great goaltending the last couple nights and they realized we better put some pucks in the net. That's just like the playoffs, sometimes you're gonna have to put up a six spot. But for the most part, it's a race to a three-two game. Generally speaking, that's what it is in the playoffs. Yeah, the majority's a three-two game, two-one. It's like, what do you got in those games? For the big chunk of it.
Starting point is 00:38:37 When you get the best teams playing, like even, again, using the football game as an example last night, it was 10-6 at the half. I thought it'd be a shootout last night but both teams showed up many in detroit so we got a plate off like you got to pay attention to detail you gotta defend you gotta sell out you know and that's where with with the leaves through forty one games you know i've
Starting point is 00:38:57 been thoroughly impressed with their professionalism it's been quite a double a lot of injuries they've just kind of gone about their business as a veteran team that plays physically, they block shots, they score goals. They haven't scored at an explosive level, but it's been enough to win. Yeah. Well, the five on five, if they can pick up the five on five, there's never going to be a perfect. It's never going to be perfect.
Starting point is 00:39:20 But the biggest surprise for me is the goaltending is held up. That's the biggest thing Yes, and Joseph Walls got a real opportunity here again stole ours out because he's playing a lot like if you think about it Let's just you know through 41 games You could expect certain things you could expect you know Marner is gonna get points and Nylander and if Matthews is healthy all of that We had no idea what the goal tenet was going to look like. Or I'm sorry, how they were going to perform. Joseph Wall wasn't available, game one. Not available. Stolaris goes on a run. And not on a just a run, like goes on a ridiculous like goal saved above expectation, like a
Starting point is 00:40:03 top of the league type of you know run and then he all of a sudden pebble in the knee or so I don't know what the injury was it was like a little procedure procedure says the procedure okay now Joseph Wall comes in and then Hildeby comes up and Matt Murray's back on the scene like this could have if you haven't turned into a circus they weather the storm very well and have as an organization as an organization and you know the Pan of McCabe like the addition of the team and playing well in front of them certainly helps because they've won in different ways about scored issues or they played
Starting point is 00:40:37 a tight two on game if one in different ways but the goaltending regardless who's in there has held up and played very well. That's been the biggest I wouldn't say surprise but You know the third in the league. I think it's a separator. Yeah, I think it that Puts you in the position you're in right like you look at the teams at the top Winnipeg being one of them Hellebuck is doing it again where you just you know, what you're gonna get out of him Logan Thompson's being very good for Washington. They've had pretty good goal. Washington's been great, you know, but the Leafs, they have weathered the storm very well during the regular season, you know,
Starting point is 00:41:12 for almost a decade now. And you can roll your eyes on what that's worth, and it doesn't mean anything come playoff time, but there are franchises, and we can point to a number of them, the Rangers being a prominent one, where something goes awry, and it just completely unravels where this year it's happened with injuries last year there were times where Martin Jones was
Starting point is 00:41:33 playing like ten games in a row and it didn't affect them and they just continued to put it together and where is that guy by the way is he playing anywhere Martin Jones I think he's in though I think he is playing I think he's in the in the American League somewhere isn't he a third stringer I thought he went back out west yeah he is with a team out west I don't remember where he went he's not on the radar. I thought he was fantastic. He played great for them last year when they needed him he was really really good. He was unreal. He came in in one game I remember and stood on his head it made like 11 saves where he was outstanding for them yeah I'm gonna find it right now it's bothering but yeah
Starting point is 00:42:09 they they again through 41 games you're halfway home here if you're the Leafs and if you're playing Craig Barube you got to be ecstatic he's not playing not signed I don't see the stats on him Wow that's disappointing there's also people all the teams with garbage goaltending nobody would have took a sniff on Marty Jones he might have wanted like you know sometimes your ass is like had a good season last year maybe I want 1.2 and they're like or one point anything else when you're in that position it's whatever someone's gonna give you I get it but I don't see him his last games you know was last year
Starting point is 00:42:39 with the Leafs disappointing disappointing people pointing out I said surfing in Tofino did I not people are saying yeah ski in tofino okay why would we why would I why would anyone know tofino because people from BC are sending us no good for you would be here's the ball really you know what Kingston's known for tell me about Kingston beer I don't know tofino I thought he was in Italy. I have no idea what Tofino is. Is there a Tofino in Italy? People are, yes there is.
Starting point is 00:43:10 And here's the other thing. People are golfing out there. Yes they are. 365, that's where we're getting notes. That has been established. You can golf in BC. If you go out anywhere in that area. Tofino.
Starting point is 00:43:22 Sorry, we didn't know everything about the city of tofino anything i knew is that jay moe jay bo meester member jay like he went out there he loved it all the time i'm sure it's brilliant brilliant i've never been there and i'm from toronto yeah i want to get people from bc i want to i want to get people from bc call in and be a little girl you yeah what is subbury known for what's their nickname isn't that the nickel yes thank you there you go see you know i'm a western guy and i got the big exhibits with the coins yeah Yeah, what is Sudbury known for? What's their nickname? Isn't that the nickel? Yes, thank you. There you go.
Starting point is 00:43:46 See, you know. I'm a Western guy and I got the big exhibits with the coins. Yeah, they love the coins up there. Isn't it? Is it the nickel? Big nickel spot. Yeah, it's a nickel. It's a nickel capital.
Starting point is 00:43:55 Tessa from there? Tessa's a Sudbury girl. So, uh, Foligno. Yeah, the Folignos. Randy Carlisle. Yeah. Randy's a, you know who else is from there? Joe Bowen.
Starting point is 00:44:04 Joe Bowen. Ron Duguay. How do you do Ron Duguay? Oh, Ron Duguay was a Wolves legend. knows randy carlisle and he's a you know who else is from joe bowen joe bowen ron du gay honey to ron do you know ron do you was a wolves legend from sudbury running you gave the rangers right now and them all the other i mean there's a lot of former rangers well messier is going on on now said that they got a culture problem or whatever like i don't know what we whatever it is it doesn't smell right no it doesn't watching that team I watched them now they won yesterday Chicago 6-2 and our buddy Louie DeMing with this spicy pork yeah it's and who doesn't beat Chicago right now well like Chicago's they're in a bad place they're
Starting point is 00:44:37 in a bad place but I think you know the night before I was watching them play or the afternoon before and I was like what is going on with this team interested and they are so disoriented this but you got some good games tonight a colorado florida tonight and montreal vancouver this is world's colliding because montrose on a heater in vancouver is in one hughes it's out when he was could be a game time decision to write a solid person apply
Starting point is 00:45:00 but uh... will get into that in the six p m our danny brayer coming up chris johnston as well Overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN out 2025 is your year Started right with New Year New You on IR radio Good vibes playlists like party hits chill tracks on lo-fi and motivational podcasts to crush your resolutions from wellness, finances, travel and more. New year, new you. Explore it all at iHeartRadio.ca and on the free iHeartRadio app. All right, even though we have established that Al's brother is somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle
Starting point is 00:45:45 right now cruising around. Would you call him your MVP? Yeah, he was phenomenal. His tremendous information was great. He made some great picks down the stretch. He was really seeing the board well. I thought you challenged him a few times. Couple times.
Starting point is 00:46:00 Couple times. Jonas suored us at one point. We tried to include Jonas in one pick and he picked it wrong. I think you told Al's brother, like if you don't get this one right, you're gone. And he got it right. Yeah, there was a point where you literally put his feet to the fire. It was very close to that. Yeah, there was a game, I think the Falcons covered late on a Thursday night that was
Starting point is 00:46:18 huge in overtime. Like kicked a late field goal to push to overtime. They won with a touchdown in overtime. The cover, week four, week five, and that really turned our season I will take the cake on dumbest pick of the year we picked the 49ers in Buffalo because there was snow I know that they're from California no but dude I don't care what kind of weather like Buffalo was going to kill them they were going to crush them you know you guys also picked the Jets against Buffalo late in the year and
Starting point is 00:46:46 Buffalo beat them 41 nothing I think we took the Dolphins in Green Bay that's yes you did you're right some of the worst picks of all time lists right I'll put a list of top five lists of worst pick we had some awful ones too yeah well you guys you can mix it in yes we will he can pull all your picks and go that was a bad pick that was a bad okay all right we got to do all's brothers clue in the next hour we got off track talking about cruising and bad picks do it top of the hour right off the bat Al's brothers back with leave tickets you got to find out where he is somewhere in the city okay maybe he's in Tofino British
Starting point is 00:47:20 Columbia that's possible not skiing not sitting you can't ski out there how dare you surfing how do you not know about Tofino British Columbia hours great weather beautiful weather great surfing shout out overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN out 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+.

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