OverDrive - OverDrive - January 6, 2026 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson/Joe Bowen

Episode Date: January 6, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes and Jason Strudwick for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson on Brad Marchand's comments on the Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews' season turnaround and Canada's bronze medal win against Finland. Maple Leafs Broadcaster Joe Bowen on Matthews' goal scoring record, his career in Toronto and playing through injuries on the roster and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

Hour 2 Overdrive continues, powered by Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. World Juniors officially behind us. Mike Johnson, back to his day job. Johnny will join us here in a few moments. And it's always bittersweet. Like, it's a great tournament. Canada lost. Is that how we perceive it strut?

I mean, they won bronze, but they did win the gold. So how would you describe it? Did they win? Did they lose? Where do you stand on this? Because everyone's got a different take on the world juniors and minor hockey and what's going on in the country right now? Well, listen, minor hockey, there's a lot going on in minor hockey.

There's leagues all over the place, different leagues, and I think that's a huge discussion. But as far as the Team Canada World Junior, I think that every time they go into that term, the expectations are you should win. And whether that's fair or not, that's just it. We pride ourselves on being the nation of hockey. And we've done really well, and you look through a lot of the different tournaments, whether it's U-18, U-17, all the way down, we do really well.

And when we don't win gold medals, it's disappointing. I think that, and for those kids, it's disappointing, and not to put pressure on it, but that's just the way it is. So I think that we ran to a Czech team that really, really played well and knew how to counterattack what Canada was trying to do. So, yeah, they win bronze, which is a good memory, but I don't think anyone in there is too satisfied with not getting the gold. no I think that's 100% correct

I watched the gold medal game Sweden was really good I'm not sure Canada was beating them like even if he got through Czechia I'm not sure you were going to beat Sweden last night but you know in terms of where we stand like one game losing to Chekkey and I know it's three years in a row

previous two years in the quarters like leading to this big existential conversation about hockey Canada and the sport and what it means for the country and the symbolism of it all it's just I think we're just looking at it. It's too deep, guys.

Like, it's not that deep is the point I'm making. They lost a game. We're still the number one hockey country in the world. Yes, there are other countries that do well. Like, there always happen. You know, there's always been other countries that have done very well and that have committed to the sport and more and more players are playing in the States

and other countries around the world, which is a great thing. I still would put Canada in the way we do things. and the way we run things and the players we produce and the highest levels, whether it's U-16, you-17, U-18, all the way up to the Olympics and the men's team, we're still the best. We're still number one. Losing to Chequiet didn't change that. We have a lot of young players who are playing in the NHL.

Celebrini could have been there. Schaefer could have been there. Dickinson could have been there. Kindle could have been there. If they were there, they probably win. They probably destroy everybody. So I think, for whatever reason, it's almost like there's a, a portion of the hockey community in the

country that are waiting to launch into this conversation. Like, waiting to take shots at everything and waiting for the downfall of Canadian hockey so they can say, I knew it, I told you it was coming, or I've seen it, I've experienced it, I've witnessed it, it, like, I don't, it's almost

like people are rooting against us in a weird way. And it's an uneasy feeling from my standpoint, because I still, we won the Four Nations, we went all these other tournaments, we still develop the best players. McDavid, MacKinnon, McCar, Salabrini, Crosby, they're all Canadian.

Like, they're all Canadian. And they always have been. I've always said that. Gretzky, Lemieux, Crosby, Or Howe, Richard, go down the list. It's always been Canadians. That didn't change because we lost to Chequey in the semifinals of the World Junior. It's too much, in my opinion. And the minor hockey stuff, I get everyone's got a different viewpoint, everyone's got a different experience.

I don't know, you know, I don't have, I have young daughters that are currently playing. They're at a very low level. I've been incredibly impressed with our hockey association the way it's been run, the attitudes, the approach, the commitment to the community, the building

up with the players and the kids, it's been outstanding my experience. But I think what gets lost in this, and I'm curious where you stand on this strud, is every, you're talking about people's children here. They're always going to put them first over the hockey association, over even the betterment of hockey

in general. You know, there's just a tag, because you mentioned it, these super teams and these different programs, and I'm not saying I love them, I'm not saying I support them, I don't know enough about them, but I also can't sit here and say if I had a kid that could play in it, I'd say no for the betterment of the sports. I'm putting my kid first. That's what every Canadian parent does. So let's not forget that. Like, you're going to put your kid first. and that's the reality of where we're at right now.

Yeah, and I have two boys that play, and I think that what I've seen is that there's so many leagues sanctioned and unsanctioned. It's as hard to get everyone in the same room to play against each other because they're in all these different leagues. And that's from U7, right up to, you know, we see it with junior leagues. So I think that's the challenge, you know,

when I was growing up, the best players and the best teams played against each other all the same because we're all in the same league. There's only one choice, minor hockey. Now there's a lot of other choices, which I guess. Yet, you know, people want to do it a different way. And I think that's the challenge for Hockey Cannon, these groups. How can we get it back together so everyone can compete against each other? And we see, you know, the different levels play against each other all the time.

Sure. All right, here's Mike Johnson, or TSA hockey analyst. Joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. What's happening, Johnny? Just stepped in the door, like two seconds ago, long travel home, lost our bags, like half of our crew without our bags. It's always going to be super happy tomorrow, Haiti. So, yes, and then I'm walking into, what, a referendum on Canadian hockey all of a sudden? Oh, you're not aware of that?

Yeah, Czechia has ruined the country. Chequia has ended us. So maybe should we be copying Chequia? Yes. The country that didn't have a foot top of a medal in 22 years, that's who we're copying. So it is a slight overreaction, which I get, we are passionate. And just because, you know, they're very good. Canada hockey is very good.

Canadian hockey players are very good. It doesn't mean you can't have good, healthy conversations about doing things better. But, you know, a little knee jerkish to me. I don't think, and I don't, I don't have boys. My kids did not play hockey growing up. They played other sports. But the hockey's not alone in this, whether it's AAU basketball, whether it's elite-level club volleyball, whatever it is. I mean, you know, parents and kids get a little, they get a little dainy about these sporting events and chasing down their dreams.

So, yeah, I think it's just maybe a breath and some perspective and a reminder that, you know, Canada still turns out the most best players. And I think that's evidence every year by the NHL and the draft and the juniors and all of it. So, yeah, I mean, can get better, obviously, but it's not like it's falling apart. No, exactly. And listen, it's expensive for sure. Everything in life is more expensive today than it was three years ago. Like everything. Houses cost more, food costs more.

Gas costs more. Everything costs more. It's a tough reality, but it's true. I don't even want to tell you, my daughter, younger one, played the high-level volleyball on a good team. I don't want to tell you what it cost a lot, two years, she played that. She went to tournaments in Vegas and Cleveland and Ohio and Indiana and Florida. You know, you had to be a travel agent to play for that team. I mean, it was, you know, tens of foul like so much money, but that's what the highest level sort of program was.

It's not just hockey. Equipment is more expensive than hockey, of course. And ice time is expensive, but the actual dollar spent on coaches and travel and all the rest, it's the same. Soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, you name it, volleyball. It's all sort of youth sports in general.

Yes, you're right. I mean, I've been in to buy sticks. I bought bats. Like, bats are 300, 400, 400 bucks. You know, bats, you're not using a wooden bat that costs 20 bucks. the gas station. You know, if you're playing baseball, it costs money, you know, helmets, travel teams, exactly. I mean, it's not perfect. We'd love to live in a

perfect world. It's just not realistic. But, you know, in terms of the world juniors, now that it's over, and the dust is settled, you know, can you take solace in a bronze medal for Canada? And if they beat Czechia, I thought Sweden looked great last night. Like, is there a guarantee Canada was even going to beat Sweden in the gold medal game? absolutely not the way Sweden played last night they were spectacular but Canada played them twice in the pre-tournament games

they split those games they would have been very close like I think Czechia had the game of their tournament was the one they beat Canada in full marks they were incredible in that tournament or in that game but yeah Canada would have been old favorite probably the favorite to beat Sweden

in the final so I do think from personal experience I played in the world champs of Havy like in this exact situation We lost in the semifinals to check you a late on a Robert Reichel goal. So we went to the bronze medal game. We played Finland in the bronze medal game. And that team I was on was so disinterested in the bronze medal that we did not play well at all.

We lost to Finland, of course, because everyone loses to Finland for fourth or third. So I give these kids full credit for figuring out how to write themselves and prioritize playing well and going out and getting the bronze medal. because it wouldn't feel good yesterday or today flying home. Trust me, in five years and ten years and twenty years, you'll be very proud that you have a medal of any kind from that tournament. So I give them full credit, and they sort of did it, with the personality they had all tournament long, right? They were going to score, they were going to attack,

they were going to give up chances, but generate more of their own. It was a very offensive-minded team that was going to sink or swim with how they create and not how they defend. That was their personality the whole time. Absolutely. It was pretty entertaining, that's for sure. You know, up front, you got to see her up close. You got to see Verhock.

Big, he looked humongous out there, I thought. What were your impressions of this guy? You know, it was a little bit more under the radar maybe than some of the other guys are maybe up front for, you know, top picks this year. Well, you know, he didn't get to play every game strutty. And when he did play, he was largely sort of, you know, seventh defenseman or whatever, not huge minutes.

We know he's a big-time offensive guy. but his name Perrek was snapping the puck around like it was nobody's business so he didn't get to play the power play Ferrohov is big he is um he moves well for a big guy he attacks well he clearly has the mind to go and be an offensive player the only thing I'd say and again I think I think Verhof is 17 is what I would say strady is that you know what it's like when you go back to your defenseman and you got to go pull a fuck off the wall and figure out everything that's happening make a good decision then make a good pass i think processing everything at this level at this speed which he wasn't alone like a lot of the canadian defensemen 19 year old guys were having a you know a challenge with that sometimes that's

probably the one area you would like to see him improve on which of course he will but he's also playing college against 23 24 year olds all year long like he's got the physical tool to be really good i think as he gets more experience and just sort of gets more comfortable in the timing of high high-level hockey, that'll come along with it. But, yeah, he's very good. I mean, he's a right-shot guy, power-play guy. Like, how many teams are looking for a good, right-shot, top pair of defenseants? Every one of them.

So, yeah, he looks good. I think what's tricky, Struddy, and I'm not a scout, is you look at Verhof and he say, okay, is he better than Gavin McKenna? Is Gavin McKenna better than Ivers Stenberg today? And that's one conversation. And then the next one is, well, who's going to be better in two years or four years or whenever they, you know, fully mature. And that feels like it's a different conversation.

And you heard a lot of both of those versions of chatter from the scouts and from the people around the games because, you know, the Swedish Ivers Denberg, who had a great final game and a great tournament, he looks more prepared to play in the NHL than Gavin McKenna or Keith Verhoff. But four years from now, you might not be able to say the same thing. Like the ceiling for Verhoff and McKenna might be hired. So you mentioned Perrette and, man,

And he put a spotlight on himself on the ice and then off the ice where he said earlier in the tournament, quote, I think it's more watching NHL guys be robots and not having any personality. I think you need some personality and it's the best way to grow the game. I don't want to come in here and be a robot. When I'm in Calgary, I definitely have a lot of guys that are telling me to give really simple answers. But here I kind of do what I want, end quote. needless to say that got back to Calgary because I think his response to all of this

yesterday I think he spoke where he said apologies shouldn't have said it I'm paraphrasing but he backtracked pretty quickly what do you make of the original comment the response to it and where this goes for

correct when he gets back with the flames so I mean I don't think it's particularly inflammatory Haiti to suggest that hockey players traditionally and generally are bland and careful and polite and maybe don't show

the personality that they may have in the media. I think that's been a fair comment, maybe criticism of the sport of hockey in the NHL or the last several, several decades really. I think it's changing a little bit and we see it more younger players and a new different generation of people. But doesn't he prove his own point?

The fact that he had to apologize for saying that, he proves his own point like literally he felt like he said something wrong which he didn't but I guess he was calling his Calgary teammates boring or cautious or whatever I don't know you guys have been in the room he'll probably take some flack for it

they'll probably be like you know dressed up as robots or something when he first shows up whatever it might be but trying to find that balance where you can be who you are and also be respectful to your teammates in the game and everything else and I guess that's what he's trying to do but he is a different kind of got it. He's wired, sort of free-spirited and sort of loose, the way he plays,

the way he carries himself, all of it. But maybe that's what makes him good, right? Like, if you try to change the way a person behaves, it might change the way he feels about himself, change the way he plays, and why he is such a talented player. So, you know, as long as you're being polite, sometimes you're not, like, disrespecting anyone. You can say whatever, you know, say what you like. Like, just show who you are as long as, you know, you're not insulting people. I don't think that should be a big problem. Yeah, I'm with you. I think it was the last part where he said

I have a lot of guys telling me like basically saying revealing the advice he's getting, yeah, exactly. And then what happens is the media, I'm sure, goes to the veterans and say, oh, is this true? Why are you doing that? What else are you telling them? And, you know, if you left that comment out,

I think it's likely the end of it. But it's really not that inflammatory. Where do you stand? You know, where are you on in this strutty? What if you say this? Go ahead. Like, what do you say this? You're on the veteran strutty's the rookie.

I'm like, I say, hey, struds. you know, just be mindful. Media really like to, you know, chew on every word and twist everything. So, you know, just be aware, you know, sometimes less and more can make your life easier. Now, if I say that to strutty, strutty, am I telling you just be bland and super? Or am I trying to be like, you know, helpful as a veteran? You've got to spit it both ways if that's the conversation, no? Yeah, 100%.

I think you do, you know, the older guys always try to help the younger guys. You're not trying to make it worse for them. You want them to feel comfortable and help your team, especially a young guy like Perak, who obviously has the ability to be amazing. major game changer for the flame. So I read the comment, and I agree with you. It's not like it's not terrible, but I just know that I'd never want to have to answer questions about what my other teammates are saying.

I hated that. I don't want to have to do that. That's your business. You sort it out with them, and so that was what would bother me. Like, yeah, a robot, sure, and we choose to be, but I don't want to answer for you. Like you remember when Tim Thomas, I think he chose not to go to the White House, I think. Yes. And then he wouldn't talk about it.

Well, guess who had to talk about it? Everyone else did the dress room. Well, I don't want to talk about it. Go ask him, well, he doesn't want to talk. We'll make him talk. That is where I would get frustrated. So, yeah, maybe welcome it back and give a hard time. But, I mean, this guy's going to, could be a big stud for them.

You know, maybe not so much right away, but in the next year or two, for sure. Absolutely. Yeah, he's a player. Well, you're back home, so you're aware that the Panthers are in town. And Brad Marchand shows his personality. And Brad was speaking today, and, you know, he was talking about, how the fans around Marner out of town

and how, you know, he was it was, if it wasn't Florida, it was Toronto. You know, it was two T. He never got to July 1st, but somehow there were only two teams that were pursuing him and two teams he was considering. And, you know, he made the point again of why he might have come here was because they play

the right way and they've learned to play the right way and Struddy, I thought made a great point. I hadn't looked at it through the lens of Leaf players, how he's insulting them. You know, this, Like I always looked at it as, okay, he's trolling Toronto, the market, the fans, the media. But he's sitting here on his perch saying, oh, no, now those guys actually compete properly. And they play properly.

And they actually know what they're doing now. And what were they before? Exactly. And even he's saying that, even though they, you know, he was on the ice in game seven when they didn't do that. They did not compete properly. Any of the game sevens he's played against them with Florida or Boston. Like at what point Should the players on the Leafs realize

He's trolling you Like forget Leaf fans And the market He's trolling the dressing room 15, 20 feet down the hall They probably should But Hazie, you know Like you wouldn't want to look at it that way, right?

You're like, oh, Brad's being Brad Marshy's being Marcy You don't want to kind of revisit your own shortcomings Like that's probably not right where you would want to go mentally you know, just because it's, you know, you're going through bad memories that maybe you didn't do exactly what you were hoping to do or play the way you wanted to. But, yeah, it's, he knows he's such a maister with this. He must love coming to Toronto because he does it every time. He goes out of his way, even like sort of out of context of like whatever he might be talking about,

to, you know, just to plant some of these seeds and stir it up a little bit and have a great time with it. Yeah, I mean, the current players, I don't know if they're going to. to take great offense to any of it they probably would just move along but yeah I remember a long time ago I was playing for Tampa and I think it was Patrice Breeswa we beat Montreal and Tampa

was no good and he said something the effect of like you know we got to be better that team's not good enough to beat us and like he was talking about himself but in the Tampa room we're like what the hell are you talking about man like mind your own business like you can't help but take it personal like you shut up like worry about yourself kind of thing

so maybe the least could take it that way. Either way, it's a big game tonight. Huge. It's a significant game, the standards, at least could get themselves right to the playoff border if they're able to have a good game. So you've got to park that sort of commentary or maybe use it to motivate you, but you're not

going to be running around trying to get Brad Marchand. That's a game that you're not going to win that he wants to play and one that he's better at than you. So don't worry about that. Just worry about going out to play, but no doubt it's a big game. Huge game. Yeah, huge. I mean, the Leafs have been better. Matthews has been great. Amazing.

Yeah, I mean, he's like where, I get asked this all the time. And when I'm talking with friends, family members, you know, the he's back conversation, you know, I'm reluctant to 100% commit to it. He looks, he's been outstanding in the last 10 days. The last 6-8 games, he's been great. The last two in particular, Johnny, I know you're down at the juniors. I was watching. He's chugging, man. Like, he looks, he is.

That looks old school. Like, can I even say that about him? Big time. But, like, that's like, the. sort of undeniable presence he had all over and over and over and then the finish and I you know we went through some of

the numbers in his game right you and I and the show and how he'd slow down and I'm curious to dig back in the numbers like in the last 10 days as he pops more like you know that we talked about those little speed bursts right and how he was way down in the league and relative to himself in the past in how

often he got to what is for him top speed and it feels like anecdotally I haven't checked all the numbers Like he's gotten those more examples of that little dash of speed in his game now than he's had, you know, the first half of this season. So I don't know what he did at Christmas break. I don't know where he went to rejuvenate himself. He went down to cocoon and sat in the pool or whatever.

But he's moving so well. And when he moves, the rest of the stuff all just makes sense. So, yeah, I don't know if he's back. I don't know, Hayesie. He's got to go three weeks. He's got to go a month. He's got to go 10 games, 12 games. Whatever it is, he's probably not quite there, but it's such a massively positive sign that he has it, that he can bring it, and now if he can bring it sort of consistently, well, then you're on to something because he's, when he's at that level, he's good enough to be, you know, an obvious difference maker.

You know, you know, Johnny, I played to Steve Sullivan and very confident guy. Yeah, you would have been very, well, you know, very confident, very, um, a type personality. And he came in and joined the team. team as an assistant coach. And I wonder what impact he may have had just a fresh set of eyes on him, him being the captain. And I wonder if there's any conversations there because it, I mean, the two of pretty closely when one arrived and the other one kind of found,

you know, a better version of himself. Yeah. And you know what? And Sully is great. But you're right, he wouldn't be shy about like going up to Austin and talking to him about what he needs to do better or what he's seeing.

Like he would not tiptoe in there. That's not who Sully was as a player and not who he is. of the coach. I'm going to see Steve tomorrow down in Philly when we go down for the game there. I don't know, Struddy. Like, he showed up the first day and he scored two power play goals like 10 seconds. Like, I don't know if that's totally. They'll take it though. The greatest timing for a debut of all time for a power play coach. You know, it was like, wait, like, and somewhere four marks of hard is watching this like, what is going on out there? Are you kidding me right now? But, you know, maybe. But again,

I put this largely on Austin. I don't know if it's a physical thing, it's a mental thing. I do think, if you're being honest about how Toronto is playing, we talked a lot about the system, and I think Toronto is trying to tweak their system in real time and add more neutral zone play

and more rush play and less dump and chase. And we talk about how do you find moments to be fast within the context of the system? I think Hazy, the system's changing a little bit where all the players, Austin included, have more opportunities now to maybe show more speed

because they're allowed to make more play. They're not always just kind of chipping it away. Yeah, I think that seems to be the case. For sure, it's been very noticeable and we'll see what they can do tonight with a team that obviously you know what Florida's going to bring to the table. All right, Johnny, well,

safe travels tomorrow. I mean, you hit the road again. Honestly. Enjoy your house for 24 hours. It's laundry, reload, and on we go. Yep, good man. All right, buddy. We'll do it later in the week. Thank you for this. All right, boys. Have a good night. There he is, Mike Johnson.

Guy never stops. Never stops. Joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline, it's time to Toyota in 2025 with the 2025 Prius. Go up to 72 kilometers on battery alone,

then seamlessly switch to hybrid mode. Check it out of Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall. You tell that's the first time. That's a new reach, Rudd. It got me there. I stopped. I was like, oh, man, this isn't what I've been reading.

I could always tell when there's a new read snuck in there and I'm like, oh, I better slow this one down. But yeah, it's interesting with the Leafs, like systematically Steve Sullivan, a couple of wins, best player starts playing better, vibes change,

but they've got to dig themselves out of a hole and we didn't mention it there, Strud, but when Johnny left, Winnipeg was probably pushing for a playoff spot, they lost nine in a row. The Jets are dead last in the league. Three points

behind Vancouver, who have been a mess. Like it's Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, the three worst teams in the league right now, based on points. What's crazy is that like I honestly thought that the Canadian teams were in pretty good shape. You know, you had Emerton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal

at all five. And now it's not quite there yet, right? I mean, Toronto's fighting for their lives. Emerton should, you know, be a playoff team. Vancouver. They've got some work We know where Calgary's at, but, you know, even Ottawa. You know, I thought Ottawa would be a lot better off. They lost again last night, man.

Winnipeg is, that is really crazy. The GM's talking and they're disappointed and hard to make changes. I get all those things. But they were an unreal team last year, and you lost Eelers, and, you know, that's kind of where you're at. President's trophy to dead last. It's incredible. It's incredible. President's trophy to dead last.

Yeah. Yeah, they feel like they're, they feel like they're, they feel like. like a one-team line. When I, when I watched them play. That's what they are. Shifley and Connor and maybe Valerty, maybe Morrissey, and they've got nothing else. And Halebuck is since the injury, and the injury

hurt, he's not, he can't be the MVP every single night. Yeah. Right? Yeah, it's not, it's just not going well. That's for sure. And they, I don't know where you go from there. They're probably just, they're probably really. What do we have to do here, right? Well, that's it.

I mean, Vancouver, you get it. They trade of Quinn Hughes this year. You know, like, last year it was Miller and Tocket left and, like, you kind of saw this coming to an extent. Maybe not to this extreme. Calgary is rebuilding. They're retooling. They had a horrible start. They've dug themselves

out of it. The West is really watered down. Ten of the bottom 11 teams in the league are in the West. Like, it's crazy. Anaheim's coming back to Earth. L.A. hasn't been great. You know, all, like every team in the West, I believe, has a negative goal differential, which is crazy.

crazy strutty. That's incredible. Yeah. Winnipeg, they're another team that's looking for a second-line center. Right.

You know, they have Taze and Laueri. I think Lauri is a really good third-line center, probably a little bunch to be the second-line center. You know, Taze is trying to find this game. It's got a few holes there to plug. The struggle.

And wait until we get to 34 teams, 36 teams, you know, expansions on route. It's just going to get more and more difficult to find really deep teams. And that's why you see why Florida was so good and they just kept everyone. I'm like, we're going to try to ride this out, you know, see what we can do.

And at some point, it'll hit them. It'll hit everybody. All right, Joe Bowen coming up, Bonesy ahead of the game tonight, big one tonight. Leaves Panthers right here on TSM Radio. We'll get to our best bet still to come later in the hour. Oilers in action tonight, couple of big, healthy scratches. Trent Frederick, not playing tonight. Mangiopani, not playing tonight.

So we'll get to that a little bit later on as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube live. All right, best bets later in the hour. yesterday, Black Monday and the NFL. I don't know what you call Tuesday when a coach gets fire, but it's a big one. John Harbaugh fired

down at Baltimore. He's out. He's been there 18 years strutty. Wow. Won a Super Bowl, been to multiple Super Bowls. Man, beat his brother in the Super Bowl, right? Joe Flacco. He's a really good coach. Like, he's run a really good program down there for a long time.

18 years is a long time. This year's particularly disappointing. injuries were a problem, but the FC North was not a great division. You thought they would be a lock for 10 plus wins and they'd win it, but they didn't. I got to think every vacancy, immediately you throw him at the top of your list. Buddy, I saw that, and immediately, if I was the Giants, I'd be sending my plane to there to get him on, to bring him over and say, will you please do us the honor of cleaning this up? 100%.

He's got a good track, and consistency matters. I do think that that same stability and consistency matters with the franchise. Big time. He's got credibility. He's a winner. He's been around forever. Yeah, Giants, high on that list, Vegas. I wonder if they may come calling.

That would put him in the same division with his brother, which would be incredible. So John Harbaugh out down in Baltimore. Matt Lefleur, not out in Green Bay. I don't think he's going anywhere this year anyway. But I feel good about the Packers on Saturday night. Soldier Field, taking on the Bears. I'm sure our next guest feels very positive as well. Here he is, the voice of the Leafs, part of ownership with the Packers, Joe Bowen.

How are you doing, Bonesy? Majority owner, I control five shares, including my four sons. So I consider myself the majority owner, and in fact, when we made the Parsons deal, I had to talk to Jerry. As you should. Oh, of course. As you should. You feel good about your pack on Saturday night, or what? I'd feel a lot better if we were a little bit healthier, and we had Mr. Parsons, but I,

I think we might have a B.J. Raji interception available. I like that reference. Yeah, I remember that. I like that. That was pretty special when the big man lumbered into the end zone against the Bears the last time we played them in the playoffs. That's right. It will be interesting.

I am glad we're playing the Bears, though. Me too. I didn't want Philly. I want nothing to do with Philly. No, no, absolutely. I just think this will be just, it'll be a great game. Thank you, NFL, for putting it on Saturday night. Yeah, I know, that one stings a little bit for you.

You think as an owner, I could make things happen, but, uh, no. Send in the suggestion. Goodell will listen. He'll get back to you, so. No one listens to me anyway. What else is the difference? Yeah, Saturday night, we've obviously got the lease in Vancouver in town, and you'll be down at the rink hauling that.

You're down there now for the Panthers in town tonight, and this is a big one, Bonesy, as you know. I mean, and I'm curious if you have any intel on the pregame ceremonies, because Austin, I'm sure they'll be celebrating him setting the new team record. And as you've been stating, and everyone's well aware of, you've called every single one of his goals. Is that true or not? Am I saying something? Go ahead.

A Bowen. A Bowen has called. That's right. Because he is, okay, that's important detail. I was about eight deep into the Crown Royal when Austin scored in the third. period, and David called that one, but I've got the other ones. Okay, good. Struddy, it's old-time hockey here.

You know what I mean? Oh, I hear you. I'm glad you mentioned that detail. I did not pick up on that. I thought you would call them, but a bowen is called every single one. Yes. And I was there with you in Ottawa when he started his career scoring four. And I remember what the best part about that night was, Brian.

We went back to the hotel. Lou had kicked us off the charter, so we were flying. commercial right and uh we got into the end of the bar at uh the brook street and mr and mrs matthews were there i had not met his parents we got to having a couple of cocktails at the bar i called the radio station they sent down the uh the goals uh and i played them for them at the bar and uh i think all of us were weeping i know they were um and we've been very good friends ever since and that was a very special moment and The older you get, you kind of associate and maybe understand the parents more than you do the kids

because we're closer in age, I guess, and it's always been fun. I love the parents' trips, the father's trips, when you would get to go out with the dads and you found out what kind of a hockey parent they were and realized they weren't the ones on the glass banging and everything. They were the ones that made sure that everybody got to where they had to go and made sure that if they wanted to play, they got every opportunity to play. It was really a revealing thing. Yeah, that's a cool story.

And it was awesome. They were there, and I remember the cameras were on them, and his mom's reaction in particular. Because everyone was in shock. Four goals as a rookie, his first game ever. It was insane. Absolutely. For him, absolutely.

You know, and obviously he hasn't slowed down, and it seemed inevitable almost from that night onward that he was probably going to catch Sundin, but, you know, I'm guessing you called every one of Matt's goals as a Maple Leaf as well, or real close, so I don't think your oldest son would have been calling games. No, no, I think I missed. I may have missed three or four, I believe, because of illness and various other things during that time. But, yeah, I mean, these two guys have been the cornerstones of this franchise. back to back. And, you know, you think of all of the guys whose banners are hung in the rafters here, and how many of them were the leading scores in the history of this franchise over the course of their careers and Connickers and Baileys and Kellys and Aps and Kennedys.

I mean, all of them at one point held that crown. And now we have this, and I hate to use it, the term. He's not a kid anymore, but he sure seems like it. He's done it in such a record fashion that he's going to put a milestone number up at the end of his career that is going to be almost insurmountable and may in fact be insurmountable in the future. So we're living in a very special time to watch this young man play. He hasn't had the best first half, but he's heating up. And like every good gold score that I've ever seen, they get they get hot and they get rolling

and then you can't stop it. Yeah. You know, it's amazing. Being the franchise leader for any franchise, but especially the Leafs, is a really special moment. And you see the way he's kind of finding his game. What have you seen recently that you've seen,

okay, now he's maybe find another gear or find more opportunities? Linemates, why is he all of a sudden kind of seemingly becoming the guy that we know we've seen him be good so many times before? I think we're seeing two linemates in Domi and McMahon that, are complimenting him. McBan's foot speed, straightaway foot speed on the forecheck has been impressive. Max has found another gear, and the other thing is, if you're a goal scorer, you have to be selfish. You've got to shoot the puck when it comes to you.

And enough of this trying to be the good teammate and the centerman to pass off and stuff, I think we're seeing that that lesson is getting through again, and he should. shooting the puck more and and we all know what kind of a shot he has and it's been very special to watch so i think that that's all part and parcel of it and i think that at this point uh the coach is leaving those three uh to be together and the power play obviously is heating up and for good reason they're being selfish again they're shooting the puck at the net which is the whole idea of the exercise and you know he's going to to get his goals off the power play throughout the course. And right now they've got the

hottest power play in the league over a short period of time, but at least it's moving in the right direction. With Joe Bowen ahead of the game tonight, Leaves Panthers right here on TSN Radio. Navigating the injury list has been quite something this year, Bonesy, and I'm curious how you've handled it personally showing up at the rank. I feel fine. You feel okay. I'm okay. I did fall down the stairs a little bit this morning when I was coming down to my cat got in the way, but I'm okay. I'm going to be fine. I'm still here. I'm in the chair. Okay, good. Because it's a challenge, man. Now, Carlo's coming back tonight, and it's amazing how an injury can change the whole perception of a player, because he struggled early in the

year, and a lot of people are getting on him, and now he's coming back, and it's like, bring out the red carpet, thank God he's here. Yeah, and they'll miss Jake McCabe. I mean, his plus minus is among the best in the league, and he's played exceptionally well. And I, And Chris Tanov, I've said this many times, I thought was this team's most valuable player a year ago. And that's saying something. And to have both of them out now, they are going to have to patch things together. They made a lot of moves last year to add depth defensemen, and we're seeing that it's at least paying off now that they have people to plug in.

And adding Brandon Carlo at the trade deadline looked like it was going to be a solid move in that department. to start the season. He's struggled, but you're right. He's coming back, and he's going to be asked to play some decent minutes tonight because McCabe's not available. So every team is going through it. I mean, you can't cry big crocodile tears for the Leafs because every team is going through this because of the compacted schedule

and everything else. But it would be nice if for a small stretch of this season, they had the team that they actually had on the Bolton board at the beginning of the season to think that this was the team that they were going to put out in the ice. Yeah, pretty amazing. I mean, so many teams are dealing with injuries. But, you know, now that Matthews and his lines seem to have something going on, is it more of attention now on the bottom six and maybe finding, you know,

some stability there, even with the injuries that you've just talked about? I would think so, strutty. But, I mean, until they get Neelander back, you don't know who's really with the bottom. six. I think the Scotty Lawton line has played really, really well. You wish they had a better feel around the net because they have four checked extraordinarily well. They play in important minutes. I don't know if you want to tag them as the fourth line or the third line, but the way Craig Barubi plays them, he has a great deal of confidence in them. They kill penalties. The penalty kill has been the league's best since the first of December and among the league's

leaders throughout the course of the year, it's been really the only thing they're going to hang their hat on and say, hey, this is working really well, don't screw this up, and they haven't. And so I think that that group has played very, very well. I think he and Lorenz and whoever they've had on the wing with them has added that kind of stability. They've played in the opponent's zone most of the time. You wish they had a little bitter feel for putting the puck in the net because they seem to generate some chances every night.

but that is one of the areas I'm sure that they would like to have some production from but my gosh you take a look at some of the other teams and how top heavy they are the Winnipeg Jets the other night were so top heavy going forward on what they have to have and nothing coming from the bottom end that it was really glaring but I guess every team goes through that you're hoping they're having some stability in the lineup and some spreading out of the wealth but you're paying the big guys to score and the big guys better score. Yeah, well, we've got stability in the booth.

You and Ralphie, no one can take you out. No one can take you too hard. No one could afford to take us. That's right, exactly. In the old days, that was a hefty bill. Absolutely. I had a nice long chat with Cliff Fletcher about that the other day. I phoned him on the anniversary of the Doug Gilmore trade.

He's doing really well down in Arizona and celebrated his 90th birthday. So we wish him all. of the best down there. Absolutely. Have a great one tonight, and we'll do it again soon. Thank you, Bonesy. You bet, guys. There he is, Joe Bowen.

Yeah, Cliff Fletcher, man. That was just the anniversary of the Gilmore trade. Ten player trade. That's how good Doug Gilmore was, that ten players were involved, and it's the Doug Gilmore trade, right? It's not the Gary Lehman trade. It's not Craig Barouba was in that. Jamie McCowan was in that.

Ten players. But Gilmore changed everything the second he got here. But, yeah, a big one tonight. Nicola returning is significant, and he's going to pair with Morgan Riley. And I know you're aware of this strutty. Like, Riley is, he is in the crosshairs of this fan base right now the way he's playing. Like, it's, it's not been good. He has really struggled defensively to the point where if they were fully healthy,

I think you could have the conversation. Do you hide them in some capacity? You start, you know, is it offensive zone starts? Do you try to get them out there against third, fourth lines? because I think he's played himself into that conversation based on his performance, but based on the injuries with Tannav out, McCabe out, even Carlo just getting back, he's going to play.

Barouba is going to play him. He's going to play him a lot. So it's on him. He's got to be exponentially better than he has been recently. Oh, and that's the expectation. You know, they have him slotted as a guy who makes a difference night in night out, right? And, you know, it's when a key player for you

isn't doing what he needs to do, it makes it hard because you're looking around like, well, who's supposed to do it? No one's looking down at, although Stetcher's been, you know, a good pickup, but no one's looking at Benoit or Myers saying, hey, you've got to get this done. Like, it's just like when Matthews wasn't playing the level he wants. You know, no one's thinking, well, we'll get it done

with Lodden or whoever. Like, it's you. You need your top guys playing well, and everyone slots down properly after that. So I hear, you know, Bones talk about, you know, Matthew's shooting. No one in that room will say, well, why is Matthew shooting? We want you shooting. We want that guy shooting pucks.

Same thing is right of the way. We want you moving the puck, transition to the puck. You have to do what you can to support the group. Yes, and he is at the forefront of that now because you're right. You can replace third, fourth line guys, third pairing guys. Not that you want to. No. But you can't.

It's easier. You can't replace the high-end guy who's playing 22, 23 minutes tonight. You can't. It's not possible. Benoit can't do. He might do it for a game. A couple games, maybe. You know, Matt Benning could step in and give you a game or two.

Maybe five, maybe seven, maybe ten. Not giving you 40, 41. It's not going to happen. They need Morgan Riley, and they're going to play them. Sink or swim at the top end, and that's exactly where he presides. All right, Best Betts coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4.

All right, Best Betts, powered by Fanduel, make your picks and assemble the same game parlay and seconds on the Fandual Sportsbook app. I think this game's going to overtime. tonight strutty getting plus money you always do it just feels like a three point game you know these teams within the division they're both fighting for it almost a truce in the third period i think matthews keeps you know stays hot he broke the record the other night should be a little ceremony for him before the game i think he gets on the board but i'm sniffing out overtime tonight and uh you get good plus money on that best bets powered by fanduel same game parlays around the

nchel are available on the fanduel sports book yeah please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario golf is not at the forefront of really what anyone's doing right now but this week would have been the century in Capilua which is one of my favorite tournaments of the year they had to cancel it because there's

some big water issue with Capulua anyway they canceled the tournament but the professional golf season kicks off next week and before you know we're going to be at the players strut and we have an unbelievable giveaway I'm sure a lot of people have seen it online, Instagram, Twitter, wherever you want to get to social media and follow TSN-1050.

But the PGA Tour and TSN 1050 wants you to be our unofficial correspondent at the Players' Championship down in Jacksonville, Florida. And we're not just sending you to the players. You're getting inside the ropes access. You'll be walking side-by-side with the players at the players. So starting next Monday, January 12th, head to TSN1050.ca. That's the website, TSN1050.ca, and submit, your audition tape, recreate iconic calls from the players or make up your own masterpiece

from your own favorite moments, and someone's going to win a once-in-a-lifetime golf prize pack that includes flights, hotel, spending cash, tickets to the hospitality suite, 18 holes of golf at TPC Sawgrass's Dyes Valley, inside the ropes access, behind-the-scenes tour, and more. What an opportunity. You can't beat that strut. That's as good as it gets. But you can't buy that package. You can't win it. That's what makes it. So amazing. I saw that, actually. And I think I'm going to put my name in there, maybe like James Strudwick. I like that. James Strudwick, the correspondent for TSN Radio, down at the players.

I love that, because we'll probably going to have whoever wins on the show. Like, we'll check in. Yeah. You got it. Let's head down to the players. Here's James Strudwig joining us now inside the rooms. I like that idea. So here's your chance to be 1050's correspondent at the players with the players, TSN1050. dot CA. All right, Struddy, that's the end of it, man. Tiffany, we should be

playing the song right now. You know, it's never long enough, by that just he's he's wanting more. It's like Rose and Jack at the end, right? Someone's got to sink here. I don't know if I'm Jack, I don't know if you're Rose. I don't know. Someone's sinking, but it's the end. It was great while it lasted,

buddy. It's been an absolute blast. Thank you for doing this as always. There he is, Jason Strudwick. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes. There it is. I love it. Love this. Can't beat it, man. Can't beat it. We're out of here.

Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at 4 p.m. We'll chat down. Seasoned gamer or just video game curious. This weekend gaming is the podcast for you. We break down the latest in the world of video games from basics to beyond. The hottest gaming news, insight, and industry leaders and more weekly.

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