OverDrive - OverDrive - January 7, 2026 - Hour 2 - Rick Tocchet

Episode Date: January 7, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 2 on OverDrive! Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet on his season with the Flyers, the league's schedule and coaching at the Olympics. The guys go around the sports world in the latest edition of Gerry's Percentages and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

Hour two overdrive continues, powered by Fanduel, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hayes, your dog, Jeff O'Neill, Jonas Siegel in here, Jerry's percentages later in the hour. Rick Tock in a few moments. You were down in Minnesota. I saw, you know, you mentioned your boy, Luke Tardeefe, the president of the double IHF. And I guess he said on the way out of Minnesota that the Winter Olympics hockey venue might not be fully finished for competition. But, you know, I thought you were going to say that he was going to provide. Diet Coke for the next year's.

Well, that needs to happen at the Olympic Games. Maybe the O-Dog is a trailblazer. Let me just say one thing about Minnesota. I was expecting, like, Minnesota, where they fill up that building for high school hockey, and it's high school crazy, it's university crazy. Attendance wasn't that good. Not going to lie. Like, I can't wait to get back to Ottawa in Vancouver, places like that.

I know we're going to Edmonton next year. Attendance is awesome. Ottawa, by far the back. every game packed amazing environment like the I was talking to Craig Button why weren't young hockey teams going a while like getting into these buildings and like it was crazy yeah I've never seen a junior on site like that where it was like empty games it was crazy no one it looked like it on TV like nobody was there especially the non-USA games exactly I don't know and these they go to high school hockey games I guess it's very unique where it's like they support the wild high school hockey you universities, but if it's any other kind of hockey, they ain't going, I guess. That's the States, man. That's the U.S. in a lot of ways. Like, you know, you go down to Boston, they love the Bruins and B.U.

and B.C. and Harvard, I don't know. Are they supporting everything else? I'm not sure. Maybe not. Yeah. I think they got to look into, like, one year and just try it out, like a Tampa, a Tampa and a Florida venue where it's like two groups are in each city and see if the snowbirds will go to the games or something.

Just try it out, man. Interesting thought. Yeah, it's an interesting thought. I mean, they're doing the Winter Classic. They obviously had it in Florida. I think they're doing one in Tampa coming up soon. You know, that has been the kind of epicenter of the NHL now for the last five or six years. I don't know, man.

If it doesn't work in Minnesota, one of the chances people in Tampa are coming to watch. There's a vacuum playing Germany. It's a large population from the north. You know that. I know that. But it's like my old take about going to Vegas. going to watch a hockey game. If I'm in Florida, I'm not sure I need to be in a rink.

And you're looking for younger, you're not looking for the blue hairs to win to a hockey game on their vacation. Exactly. You're looking for the next generation. And that would be expected. You're right in Minnesota. Like, why not get all the hockey associations to come out? Why not get schools to come out? All that kind of stuff. And I guess it just didn't happen. But, you know, it doesn't help, of course,

that the Americans lost in the quarterfinal. Yep. And as for the Olympic Games, you know, We'll see what happens with the rink. It'll be, they'll play. They're going to play. Dude, I get it, but it's just so shocking. Like, the amount of time that you have to prepare for the Olympic Games, and it's like the way technology is in building, like,

I drive around Itobico, and I see a condo building that's put up, and I didn't see it six months ago. It's like, and this arena is struggling to be put together. crazy-ass stuff, man. And not even put together properly? Right. It's like, yeah. We'll figure it out.

The ice will be fine. Lots of some ice for you. Don't worry about it. Less seats than they originally expected. You know, and I'm curious what the numbers look like. Who's going to go see that? Well, that's the question. You know, like, because Italy is not a hockey powerhouse, clearly.

And there will be a lot of the athletes will be there. And I'm sure there will be people interested in it. But are people showing up? to watch the U.S. play Slovakia during the day? A lot of shots fired at Slovakia. I'm really taking a run at them.

I should take a run at Czechia. That's who I should be using. They played great. I know, but we don't like them anymore, Jonas. Okay. They own us. By the way, so your celebrini for Hart took a little bit of a hit last night.

Yeah. Do you see that goal? McDavid scored? The shootout goal? The first goal. Penalty shot. It was gross, too. Penalty shot was outstanding.

But the first goal, he looks like he's just playing against kids. I know. It's very concerned. It was final. It looked like a peewee goaltender on that first goal. Right? Yeah. It was like he head fake this way and he almost jumped across the ice like an 80s goaltender.

I'll tell you what, that McDavid, ever since Hayes and Duthy started chirping him, he's been on fire. He had three last night. He's up to 75 points. I think Hayes, by the way, I think he is going to start separation. I know it's very difficult to separate from McKinnon. I think he's going to go absolutely nuts before the Olympics. I think McKinnon just stays with him, dude. Like a

week ago, MacDiv was eight points up on him or whatever, and two days ago, McKinnon was three points up on him. They're just going back and forth. Yeah. Like it's and I mentioned Kucharov the other day. Kuturav is now on an unbelievable heater. They've won eight in a row. Yeah. I think do you have three points last night or something? Like Kucharov is going to finish with 130 points

and he didn't have a great start but it dry settles right there and Celebrini there's still in a playoff spot though Jonas that's big I just think they're still in a playoff spot hard it probably will be that was a 2025 take right I might change my 2026 take it yes but yeah listen it's been a wild year in the NHL

trying to get a read on what's going to happen stuff like in the west again San Jose's in a playoff spot right now you look in the east a lot of teams Florida's not in Toronto's not in Rangers not in. Ottawa was a playoff team last year. They're not in. There seems to be a lot of opportunity here to turn some things over. And a guy who's coaching a team right now who's currently in a playoff spot, that would be Rick Tockett and the Philadelphia Flyers.

And the Leicester in Philly tomorrow, let's bring him in. Here he is on the Maple Toyota Hotline, the head coach of the Flyers, Rick Tockett. How are you doing, Rick? Good. How are you guys? We're doing very well. You must be happy with your team through 41 games. Yeah, it's been a fun team to coach. You know, what is it, halfway through the point? A lot of hockey left, but, yeah, we like what's going on. We've got some injuries here coming up, but the depth has really helped us out this year

when we've had some injuries and kind of try to keep the losses to a minimum. Talk, we were talking about your fights and showing a bunch of your fights before you came on because we loved talking about that. A couple weeks ago, it seemed like you were going to fight a reporter when they kept asking you about Mitchcoff. like did you just get sick of talking about it and you're like it's about the team and we're I'm just not addressing the questions about this guy anymore yeah I was uh no it's actually a nice guy Jordan hall he just happened to be the fifth guy the six guy to answer a different question on it so yeah he's a good guy I know I just you know after a while it's just you know with the team

was doing well and I was like you know I don't mind three or four questions but the fifth and six when I was getting a little bit tired you know it happened they're a good guy I mean, what are you going to do that? They're trying to get information. I get it. Yeah. Well, I mean, being back in Philly, it's obviously where you started, and a lot of those clips we were playing.

Some guy wrote who it was on Calgary. Who the hell was that guy? Baxter. Baxter. Paul Baxter. Where he gave him the body shot at one time, and we played the fight with you and Wendell at the Gardens. I think that was in 85 or 86.

Like, being back in Philly, how's, it must be, is it nostalgic for you? And how many people want to ask you about your plane? days as opposed to your coaching days. Yeah, let me clarify the Paul Baxter one was he actually, you don't see it, like he went by me, he almost hit me in the eye with a stick, so that's why I kind of went a little crazy.

But, yeah, not so much. I mean, like, you know, not so much of my playing days. I mean, obviously we had a lot of success in the 80s and the early 90s, and it was a fun place to play. But I'll tell you what, last night against the day. ducks is what probably allowed as I've heard the building it reminded me the old days

with the flyers it was a really loud building they were into it they got the team into it so it was a fun it was fun to play in that atmosphere to see the fans really do their thing well I'm glad you brought that up because you look at a guy like Zegras who you know I don't think

this is offside and saying he doesn't scream like Philly hockey the way you know he's built and he plays when you consider the Rick Tockets and the Bobby Clarks and the Eric Lindross is like the face of those of Philly hockey for the last 50 years. But he seems to be fitting in and the crowd seems to love him. Like why is he, why has it worked for Zegris in Philly?

You know, he's got a bubbly personality. You know, we knew that coming in. He's a fun guy to be around. You know, obviously he's produced, which helps. You know, and then the Flyers fans over the years, they're looking for that, you know, they've been looking for that star guy to follow, right? And he's done a nice job. You know, he scores some big goals for his, you know,

he's a great interview and that you can tell the fans really are warming up to him and love him so I think that's what it has to do with and you know he's a really good guy in the locker room I didn't know Trevor much the one thing you know

and OV you know this too and address you know you have a collective group right you have the funny guys the quiet guys the serious guys and he just adds that to a room you know and I think he's really helped to, you know, that

closeness of the team. It's a very close group. It's a young group, but it's very close, and I think he's part of that. Talk, how far away do you think you guys are? Like, there's always discussions when they're, you know, rebuilding and doing different things,

retooling. And then you get to a point where it's like, okay, guys, you know, it's time to go. Like, is there any timeline on that for you as a coach, or is it just, you know, let's try to do this as soon as possible? Well, I mean, when I was, when I was talking to Danny

and Jones you know about the job you know they really stress that hey this is you know we're getting close to the end of a rebuild you know we want to start stacking some things together right we don't want to always be sellers at the trade deadline

I'm not sure this year they expected you know I to be where we're at so I don't think things are going to change I think they're still you know want to progress in the same manner you know sometimes coaches we can answer we're like hey man can we go get this can we get that but we you know i also understand why i took the job and the in the in the in the plan so

you know i i bought into it and i'm all in and um so you know i think i got to be judged on you know obviously you get judged on wins the loss and don't get me wrong but is you know can you get guys to play better can you develop guys at the nchal level things like that and i think that's something that you know i've been trying to do this year you know try to put the culture in i mean i know it's the most overused word of sports i hate keep using it but it is true like we're trying to build something uh with the crest i'm a crest guy and you know i believe in culture and you know it's not just an individual a game it's a team game so that's what we're trying to stress here and that's part of the plan you just mentioned something

i found interesting because for as long as i was around the national hockey league the quote in the term this is not a developmental league and you just said developing guys at the hl how is that kind of new in the league and how do you do that Yeah, well, it's a young league now. Well, I mean, listen, I don't, like, you know, you get the people that say to you, hey, play the young guys and let them make their mistakes and play. Well, I mean, I get it to a point, and you're trying to develop a guy, you know, put some guys out in this pressure situation to see if they get handled. I understand that, but, you know, the type of mistakes you can't accept are, you know, the carelessness, the not work ethic and stuff like that. So you're developing the player to be, you know, not everyday NHL player.

We have some guys that every day are trying to be an angel player. So I got to try to put them in the right positions. But there's also got to be internal competition and all that sort of stuff. So, yeah, I think the development, it really isn't a development league, but it is developing a player at this level. You know, let's take a guy as Gibranca. Like he's trying to be an everyday NHL player. And we've been trying to, you know, all year, you know, try to develop into.

that. And he's way ahead of he was two months ago. So he is developed into an NHL player. So I'm just using them as an example. With Rick Talkin. So you're going to be a part of the staff for Canada at the Olympic Games. And prior to us getting to that, I want to ask you about

how you're navigating the schedule. We talk about it constantly on this show. And that Olympic break in particular, like everyone's got, I think, around 14, 15 more games before you hit that break. And it's a two and a half, three week reset. And then it'll be like 22-23-game race

to the finish line. Are you breaking your season up as pre-break, post-break? How are you handling the break in terms of, you know, goal-orienting, you know, putting stuff on the board in terms of what you're chasing, what you want your team to be thinking?

How are you kind of navigating the schedule and the Olympic break in particular? Yeah, first of all, more of the science part of it. So we got, you know, it's a little bit of a sprint here before the Olympics. So, you know, I got to get these guys you know how many practices you know can i have how many days off like you probably have to give more days off to the guys uh because of the schedule you know and the travel in four and six

nights uh so i'm more tuned to that um making sure you know the i get the energy level of players don't really look too far ahead like we don't like you know some coaches you know i think down the road you start like hey can we you know you almost play the hey the last you know seven game series can you know can we win four five games in the next seven games. I mean, you could do those tricks in March and April, but I think now, for me, is the energy level and trying to get the guys for these next, you know, 13, 14 games where, you know, we're up and more best energy-wise, and then we got that break, right? And that's, that's another thing, you know, you know, you can win or lose those two weeks

as a coach, you know, how do you, it's like a mini training camp, but how do you get the guys prepared for that stretch drive? That's another thing that we're going to have to dive into. We haven't done it yet, yet, but the next week or two, We're going to have to divide, you know, because I'll be gone, so, you know, put a schedule together. It's going to be huge, you know. You know, I'm a big believer in coaching can really help that in those breaks. Look at, look, you take a guy like Andy Reed, he's the best coach in the NFL after a buy, right? So what does he do for those two weeks with his team to be the most successful coach?

I think that's something we look into. Like, you know, what's the best way for those two weeks to optimize the players, you know, for the stretch drive? Have your guys call the O-Dog on his old can't-com. Coon routine back in 98-02, right off. Talk, talk. I used to tell these guys, I'd go to Cancun, and I didn't do anything. And I came back, and I felt the best I've ever felt. I felt refreshed, and obviously you've got to get a couple workouts in when you get back.

But with the whole time, 10 days, Cancun, nothing, I'd never felt better when I came back. You have to have a lot of talent to be able to do that. I could, listen, I used to have my fun, but I could never do that. The way I skated, man, if I took 10 days off, oh, my God, I'd be out. I'd be out of the league. But, yeah, the guy, the guys nowadays, you know, it's a guy like Sidney's Brozzi. I don't know if he still does it. Well, obviously, he's going to Olympics.

When he has a break of the All-Star Games, he's always in it. But when he gets breaks, he always wants to stay in cold weather. He finds it's better for him when he comes back. He never like going to the beach and stuff like that. So, amazing how guys are different. the way they approach those days off or those breaks. That's cool. Yeah, with Rick Talkett. Go ahead, Jonas. Rick, I was wondering for Canadians who haven't seen much of Travis Sandheim,

what you would tell them to expect at the Olympics. Yeah, I think the same thing in the Four Nations. You know, he didn't play the first game. Then he was putting the lineup, and he really defended well. He did a really nice job of playing a 200-foot game. He played the right side and the left side when we needed him. very versatile, can really skate, long reach. You know, and, you know, you can skate all day.

I mean, for a while there at the beginning of here, we were planning like 26, 27 minutes a night. He was handled those minutes. We backed off lately because we've got, you know, our team's been pretty healthy other than Drysville going down the other night. But he's been one of those guys that just plays a 200-foot game that can skate all day. Yeah, it's interesting, like all these, you know, decisions that had to be made and

you know some some guys made it from four nations some guys didn't and you're in a unique situation because Sanheim's back on the team but Connectney is not you know did you have to navigate that at all Rick like what kind of conversation did you have with Travis Connectney on that

you know it's one of the greatest process I've been involved with you know you're you're you're you're on a meetings live meetings or Zoom call meetings with you know you're the six gentlemen as you know great minds, you know, obviously Coop and then beat the boar

and that staff and Bruce Cassie. So what happens is, you know, you go through a list and then, you know, you bring up a name and, you know, and it's hard because how do you rip a star player? Like, well, you want this guy over this guy.

You're trying to like fight, not so much fight for a guy and have your opinion. Hey, I like this guy, but the other guy. And they're both great players, so it's hard to really kind of rip a player. But you also have the opinion that, you know, hey, I would have this guy because of this reason. And Doug Armstrong was great.

I mean, he listened to everybody and everybody had a voice. And then at the end of the day, you know, Coupin and Doug picked the team. So it was a great process for me to be involved in that. It was about three or four of those meetings. It was kind of fun, actually, to hear how people talked about other players, you know, even about my players. So, yeah, it was a great learning lesson for me. talk i just came back from the world juniors and talking with people there like in years past it was you know mac david and how eye-popping that was or mckinan or mccar and i gotta be

honest this year everybody talked about the ability to see schaefer live and they said it's just incredible the way that this guy skates i know he is not going to the olympics as of right now but can you you put eyes on this guy like what are we talking about here with matthew shaffer the Islanders. Unbelievable. One of my favorite, we played them twice. This was about a month ago.

I think a week or 10-day, 10-day span and really impressed the swagger for an 18-year-old. The way he controls play, I was really impressed. This guy's the real deal. You know, he was just, you know, there's serious consideration to put him on the team. You know, he was in the mix,

which is amazing for. an 18-year-old. You know, it's a hell of a pick for the audience. It really has changed the hours a little bit. We're a good team going before they had them, and they're even a better team with them. So, yeah, I mean, yeah, what a pick

that it was. Yeah, no kidding, man. He's fun to watch 18 years old. And O' also said, what do you say about the Flyers? Best team in the gym in Minnesota? Was that what you said last time? Yeah, Matt, Breyer was in the gym. Keith Jones was in the

Jim and Patrick Sharp, they were all busting their ass. Jonesy was leading the way. I know you know that that is something that he really prides himself on talk. So, well, you guys know the story of Jonesy, don't you know, the sixth game overtime when we played Pittsburgh back in the day, 2001, I think it was. Well, we were, I think it was the sixth overtime intermission, and guys were, you know, I think John O'Clair was getting an IV. We're all getting IDs.

Well, Joneses had a shirt off, and he came in it. big pizza in his mouth, and he had pizza sauce all over his belly and his mouth, and he goes to the guys, well, boys, I've been hibernating like a bear all game. This is where I shine and start patting his belly. And Keith Tremel went out the next game, next period, scored a goal. So he takes a lot of credit for that. As he should. As he should. Yeah, well, I guess he was it. He wasn't just a cheerleader in the gym, right? Oh, he was, he was grinding, like you said, man. Exactly. There you go. Well, it's great catching up with you, Rick, as always. We appreciate it. We look forward to see in the game tomorrow night. Good luck against the

Leafs and we'll do it again down the road. Okay, guys. Yeah, anytime. Thanks, man. You got it. There he is Rick Tocke, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. So good to have him on, man. He's such a fun interview. That's a great story. Great interview. Yeah, great story. Like, overtimes, five, six, overtimes deep.

Keith Jones comes in. Because you got to get pizza, right? That famous clip of Louis Doming, remember where they had to get Chinese in New York because I guess they couldn't find pizza or whatever when it was Penguins Rangers and AAA or whatever spiky, what was it, spicy pork and broccoli? Not the best. Not the best. Not the best. I think Ronnie

Francis told me some of their long overtime games against the Capitals. They had a Capitals, Penguins' overtime game that went a long time and there was pizzas. They had to get pizzas. Got it. Like you're starving. Oh, you would be, right? Four of, like you've played three, two games.

You probably ate at two, o'clock in the afternoon it's like midnight yeah you're starving yeah you'd be hungry it's great little comment too about sid like how nuts sidney crosbie staying in cold weather during a break because it's better for his body like that's a canadian man that's a legend get him on like the ten dollar bill or something 20 hundred dollar bill don't not agree on that one no i totally dis i would think that's one of one i can't believe i can't imagine Anyone else in the league looks at it the same way. I said, where are you going?

Nowhere. I'm going to North Dakota. Yeah, I'm going to be in Minnesota. I'm going up to Winnipeg. I'm going to stay cold. Yeah. Because it helps me and it makes me feel better about my body and my game. That reminds me of Tavares.

And I remember some of the players on the Leafs telling me that he would keep his window open on the plane, like even on overnight flights, because he wanted to keep his circadian rhythm in line. And I was like, oh, my God. Yeah. That's too much. you're on the plane and, like, there's one window open, you're just like... Yeah, John, come on. Come on. Like, the rest of us aren't playing those games.

But if you're Tavaris, if you're, if you're Crosby, you take everything again. Absolutely. Especially later in your career. You've got to get every edge you can. Like, Sid's on pace for 90 plus points again. The guy's unbelievable. Like, we were looking at the... 90 plus points.

Yes. Yes. Like, he is an absolute machine. Again, I saw him live. I was down there on the 23. didn't have a great game, but he still looks like an engine. How long do you think he'll play? We've had this chat a bunch.

There's been rumblings that this guy might still, like... I think it's Tom Brady, like, personally. Go ahead. What are the rumblings that you're hearing that he's going to pull the chutes? I think it might have been you. It's like it wouldn't shock me if this guy's playing at 42 years old. I just don't see it. Yeah.

Well, again, he's 38 right now, and he's still one of the 10 or 15 best players in a game. How old was Chelios when he was he 46? I played against Chelly when he was 45 years old, playing D for the Detroit Red Wings. Now, he was very different player. Of course. Obviously. Dude, and he was still very good. Right.

Yeah. Yeah, Chellios, man. What a career he had. Unbelievable. Like, what a player. What a player. You want to talk about a guy that was like, obviously he had the competitiveness in the battle, but he would just sniff out certain things where it was like you try, like he would sniff out sight.

He was just such a smart defense. and that's why he hung around so long. Like he was very smart player. Montreal, Chicago, Detroit. That's a great career. Didn't he also play in Atlanta? Yeah, he did. At the end of his career, I think that's when he played when he was 48 or whatever.

Like it was, he hadn't been playing for a while and they brought him back. But, yeah, Sid's still doing it. Sid's going to be a big part of the Olympic Games. Rick Tockett will be as well. All right, best bet's coming up later in the hour. And Jerry's percentage is coming up next. you're going to want to hear this jerry's percentages i don't love being commissioner as much as i used to i actually love it even more that's the voice of a f*** hall of famer are you kidding have you

have you been out drinking jerry jerry you're all pigeons filthy filthy pigeons it's jerry g e double r why all right jerry's percentages we're into the new year we haven't heard from jerry yet in 2026. I'm sure he's very excited, right? The NHL. It's been a pretty good place. Would you say, Jonas? Going to the Olympics, we don't know if the ice will be ready. Don't know what that's going to look like. I just saw Colorado's goal differential this year. Guess what it is?

Plus 60. Plus 70. Wow. I was like, what the? Yeah. And they've lost a couple of games. They've lost four times in regulation. Right. And it's like two in like the last little bit.

Oh, Tampa and Florida. I think they've lost the last two games. stupid yeah crazy crazy how good they are and how red hot they've been um to beat them four times man yeah that's all i think about it's like you watch them play and it's like man you get those guys you got to beat them four times if i will say this though i thought the same thing last year and dallas did it yeah if i gave you them or the field to win the cup field field yeah well you wonder about their goaltending too like do they have stanley cup winning goaltending Scotty Wedgwood going to win 16 games

like him in Blackwood I don't know they played really well like to their credit they've been outstanding if you watched that series last year it was an issue against Dallas like there was some weird ones going in

you can't have it man you can't win big time and like whoever gets the wild card in the West in San Jose Anaheim Utah you know whatever they're going to likely

just get destroyed but then they're playing Dallas or Minnesota there is no guarantee they're beaten that team right yeah like that's that's going to be the the second round and it's crazy but dallas and minnesota are going to play each other in the first round one of them is gone in 10 days and they're likely going to be the second and third place overall teams yeah it's just it's disoriented who likes

this system who likes it but what i know i don't know jerry does yeah to answer your question but do you do one through 16 do you abolish the conferences do one v8 one v8 whatever would be too brutal on travel man. Yeah, I know. That's the problem. It's like perfect world stuff. I do think that would be really cool. But if you went conference, it would be obviously this would eradicate the issue,

but they'd still play each other in the second round. Okay. You know, like it's still, you'd still have a scenario where Dallas and Minnesota, if they get through the first round, would meet each other in the second and third teams overall. But it would be Vegas, Edmonton right now in the first round, which would be pretty cool as a four or five seed.

It's neither team playing great. Edmonton, one last night, Vegas won last night. He's a struggle. Dallas has lost, I think, five or six in a row. Yeah, it's a weird year. All right, Jerry's waiting. I'm sure he's getting very disappointed. Let's hear from Jerry. Jerry never wanted 2025 to end because he was loving all of the Canadian heartbreak. But lucky for Jerry, it'll continue in 20206, because only three Canadian teams will make the playoffs.

So he's got three. That means he's got Edmonton and Montreal and a third that we'll make it. That's interesting. Is that Toronto? Is that Ottawa? Dude, I'm 30% on this. I told you in Brucey Boudreau and noodles

and whoever else would listen, it might only be a two-pack this year. Yeah, you were right. Brucei addressed that while you were in Minnesota too. Bruce he said five-packed. Yeah, I know. He has come off that clip. Come on. He's had to have come off at.

Yeah, there's no way five are making it. Winnipeg's not making it. Calgary, I don't think it's going to make it. Vancouver's not making it. Like, Winnipeg and Vancouver are not making it. And Toronto and Ottawa are not making it. One of them is missing. Maybe both. I think Edmonton's getting in.

I do think Montreal is going to get in, although, you know, Montreal's only four points into the playoffs. It's not like Montreal's a lock. Jonas, three Canadian teams make it. 20% for me. Wow, you're dropping. You were 30%. Now he's 20%. 24%.

Because I just need... That's not bad, though. Price is right. You're one-up in them. Noodles does it all the time. Why isn't it just 20%? How did you come up with 24? Because I'm a little bit higher.

Yeah, you're more optimistic. You're a better Canadian. You're more of a Canadian. You said Ottawa. I just need two of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto. I think that's doable. Toronto seems to be turning it around. What's your many jerrys on the fly here that the Leafs make the playoffs?

That's a great question. 40%? 40%? 40 something percent? 40? 40? I'll go 44. Nice. That's a great call. Honestly, I'll go. I'll split it right down the middle. I think they've got a 50% chance of making it. And it's going to be, they've got to have guys play real well. And they also have, like, their schedule is going to be really difficult, man.

And it's kind of misleading when you see, like, oh, there are only so many points out. But the other teams still get points. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, it's like, oh, they're only, but there's all these teams and they're all still going to get points. They kind of have to go on a heater the whole year. Yeah, the rest of the way now. Like, you've got 40 games.

You've got to win 25 of those for sure. It's a great record. Like, for sure, you've got to win 25. Yeah. Right, which would be, you know, 50 more points. Do you think 90s, probably 97, the way the East is working, you probably need 97, 98 to get in. So they probably need 50 more points. I mean, the goalposts have moved so much with this team through 42 games

where 20 games in it felt like 5% they were going to make, 10%. Now you're on a heater, so you're more in the moment. I will say this about the schedule. Teams are playing so much that this year is different because you're never going to catch a team where it's like, man, they've been off for four days and they're waiting for you. and there's so much parity in the league outside of those three teams in the central

on any given night the Leaves can beat anybody and if you're a good team the schedule shouldn't scare you right you should scare the schedule in a way whoever you're playing should be like oh the Leafs are here and they're on a heater and they're playing really well so 45%

I'm going to price is right this one I'm almost a 50% to say 45% well they are listen they're still on the outside look in. Do you think Florida gets in? Yes. Okay, so if Florida's in, then that's at least one of the wild card spots. Like the thing is, I look at it, Philly,

we just talked to Rick Tocke, they've been really good. Can they hold on for 41 more games? I'm not sure they can. Can Pittsburgh continue to do this? I'm not sure they can. Well, the Islanders get that kind of goaltending and Detroit. Detroit's been their defense is good in Detroit.

They've been clutch, but they've got a really tough sked, too. Everything's working for them. The goaltending still scares me. Dude, that Islanders team, like, what a turnaround. Like, what a great situation for Matthew Darsh going in there. Like, just kind of a bit of a different spin on things. You get Schaefer.

You get the kid you got from Colorado and the Nelson deal. Richie. Yeah. Cal Richie. Yeah, things are looking up, man. And Syroken's good. You know, and Patrick was a good coach. Like, he's a fiery guy.

like he's a he's got them believing right now and he's on he's got their back and and they lost no adoption too like it's just it's an incredible today if they could ever i don't know maybe add something or another i don't know but they could be dangerous if that goaltender can keep it up yeah he's really good he's really really good uh all right jerry what else do we have the buffalo bills will make the super ball short and sweet a six seed they're in Jacksonville

tough tough road to the Super Bowl probably Jacksonville Denver dude I'm going to say 85% because if they don't do it this year when the hell are they going to do it man

when the hell are they going to do it no Baltimore no Joe Burrow no Kansas City which is no my homes like if you're not doing it this year you'll never you'll never do it.

Is it make the Super Bowl, win the Super Bowl? Just get there. Just get there. They're going to win three games. Can they win three in a row to get there? What percent did you give? 80, 75? 80.

No, just 80. I'm definitely not that high. 41%. Wow. I was going to ask you guys, has a team ever won slash made the Super Bowl with a wide receiver room like they have? Dude, you got to give your explanation for your 41. It's like the quiz.

You have to explain yourself. That's related. That's my question. Yeah, because you don't trust the weapons. It just puts so much pressure on Josh Allen. Yeah. Like possibly the Brady. The Brady Pads did not have a superstar. Well, I mean, besides Moss.

But, yeah, but Moss didn't win, though. Don't win. No, I know. Those guys were really good. They had Gronk, which was significant. That's significant. Gronk was a game changer. He's one of the great player performers of all time.

But it's asking a lot. I'm going to say, 60%. I still think a lot of people I think are overthinking this with Jacksonville. They've been really good. We've won eight in a row. Trevor Lawrence has been good. They might be my new team, man.

But here's the thing. This is where, again, I think sometimes you overthink it. Experience matters. Josh Allen in this situation. I know the bills have been great, but I can make an argument for them looking at the regular season like a formality

too. You just got to get in. reset. They've got to find a way to defend, which is not great, but they have a top 10 offense. They have a run game. They have Josh Allen. They have a coach. Not everyone loves McDermott,

but he has been through the ringer. Liam Cohen is not. I think the bill is going to win this weekend. And I think if they do, then you're talking Denver, maybe New England, young quarterbacks. Teams, again, not with a ton of playoff experience.

I still think they can win a Super Bowl this year. Well, there's no team who's like the favorite. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. 65% they make the Super Bowl. They're still my pick. Make the Super Bowl. Still my pick.

Who do you think their toughest competition is, New England? I don't know. I mean, going to Denver, that's a tough game. If it is Denver, you know, presuming that they're the six seed, they get through, they go to Denver. Denver's coming off a buy. Do you considering Denver like a Super Bowl kind of contender? They're the number one scene in the AFC. I know.

They got home field and they got a buy in the first week. that's hugely advantageous. Dude, think about where they are. Their defense is stacked, man. After getting rid of Russ, that turnaround. I know. Coach and a young QB that can sling it. That's it. It's a game changer, man.

You get the right coach. It's huge in the NFL. Who was that coach they had in there? Hackett? Yeah, they had Hackett. They had Hackett. It lasted one year, and they fired him. And it was a disaster.

And Sean Payton became available and they went out and paid them and got them. That's what you got to do, man. There's teams around. that are trying to put the pieces together with Harbaugh out there now. And they're like, which coach is the best fit? It's the best one. Harbaugh. And that's probably Harbaugh.

Exactly. Like if you're any of the teams and you're not calling Harbaugh. Anybody. Harbaugh, Jets. Harbaugh, Harbaugh, Harba. Absolutely. Vegas, Miami, who they still haven't fired their coach. I don't care who it is. Harbaugh is your guy.

Yeah. That's the guy. Don't overthink it. And now we're going to get the next Wiz kid, Offensive, Port. No. Harbaugh. Harba. Harba, Harbaugh.

I think I'd read something from ESPN today where they said that Harbaugh's agent had heard from seven teams, and there are, I think there's six openings. Yes, six vacancies. Which means one team who has a coach. I think it's Miami. I think it's got to be Miami. Mikey D.

Yeah, I think Mikey's got to be thinking I could be in trouble here. I'd fire my coach for Parbaugh. Well, that's legit. Like, I think there's a chance one of the teams that loses this weekend could possibly call up Harbaugh. Pit? I don't think he's going from Baltimore to Pittsburgh There's too much history between the two

They've been in the division for 18 years Tomlin I don't think they're going to fire Tom Billy? No Serrani just won a Super Bowl No but he's not a McDermott Yeah that's where it's interesting If the bills lose to Jacksonville Do they call up John Harbaugh and say come on up

Yeah I think it's I don't know if they'll do it because Brandon Bean and McDermin are tied If they lose to Jacksonville they're doing that they're not he's not coming back if they lose to jacks buffalo's a different market different town dude no i don't know you're making that that's a stupid comment there if they mcmurman's had a lot of success there i get it but it's time where they got to like just talk to carlo and i know carlo who is the voice of reason for youth hockey and the buffalo bills and the leaps yes he is he's sick of mcdermott well i i get it it's like stealer fans they're sick at tomlin

Okay, what if the next guy may, yes, if it's Harbaugh, you probably feel pretty good about that. If it's not, watch what you wish for. You know, the guy who's been, like Harbaugh has been there for 18 years in Baltimore. I know the Ravens feel good and Ravens fans probably feel good. He's still got Lamar, you got some talent. You better get the next guy that works. Harbaugh has been to two Super Bowls. He's won one.

They go to the past basically every year, winning records all the time. I think that's a very, very good position to be. if you're a prospective coach, you're like, go give me Lamar Jackson. Like, you're dying to get to Baltimore. But that's a tough act to follow. Not easy to follow a guy like John Harbaugh. All right, Jerry. One more.

What do you have? Austin Matthews will score 50 goals this season. He's on a heater all of a sudden. It's funny how things change, man. Now 50? It's not pace for what? Low 40s? 44. But he's 21, I believe, right now.

40 games left That's a lot of goals 40 games left I'm going to say 35% As good as the guy is Like that would be Like to That's old school

Matthew's numbers though I get it But that's like playing 15 games And then an Olympic break And then coming back And continue to torch I'm going to say 35%

As good as he's playing right now He's in tough I think he's right Yeah I will go lower 20% Like maybe he's like maybe it's like 45.

Well, that seems reasonable. He's going to keep playing like this. But that's the thing. Can he do it for like a month and two months? I hear you. And that's a big topic of discussion. He's going to the Olympics. Yeah, of course.

And then he comes back and the schedule just like. Yeah. Well, and again, it's because we worry about the body and what we've seen the last year and a half. Like no one's applying that logic to McDavid or McKinnon. They're like, they're just going to keep going. Kutravo will keep going. He's not going to the Olympics.

But again, if Matthews is back, And I don't, we can't know this. You can't look into the future and say I definitively know it. But two years ago, if I told you he's going to score 28 goals and 40 games, you'd say absolutely. Of course. Right? Three years ago, you'd say, yeah, I expect him to do that.

So if he's back, it's 100%. If he's back. Your galaxy branding it. If he's back. And I can't sit here and definitively say that he is. I love that. I love the stones. But that's the truth.

If this is who he is, and this is what he's going to do the rest of the way, he's hit in 50. Because he's the best goal score on the world again. And he took his foot off the gas for about 100 games, which is a lot. I don't think 100 games is taking the – that's more than taking your foot off the gas. That's a lot. There were chips to Germany, and there were some weird stuff. The last five or six games, he looks like the 22, 23 Matthews, the 23-24 Matthews. that guy can rip home a lot a lot of goals had in that year 57 and 61 which i totally forgot yeah like that's nuts i mean 69 and 80 i don't even think he played i think he played 80 or

yeah dude and do you know this is not like i'm not trying to stir things up do you know how many empty net situations selden keef didn't put him out for when he was right around 70 right i don't know if there's any way of digging that up but i couldn't believe he wasn't out there more bunch of empty net scenarios he did not go on the ice and i'm like i cannot believe i'm watching this i know you could have had it could have had it a bunch is there any way of finding that out jonas actually yeah go ahead chat gp jonas jonas like i love when oh needs what's the weather like tomorrow jones what's the flight how long is it a flight from Toronto to Rome.

Where are my underwear? I do I get some Diet Coke. Jonas, where are my underwear? Where's my underwear? Hey, Jonas. Where are my underpants? Are they over Lake Superior? Right.

Which side of the border are his underwear on? Can the ODU get some Diet Coke? Oh, sorry. Hey, Jonas. Can the ODug get some Diet Coke? for the people in Minnesota. I love this. That's a new bit, man.

Hey, Jonas. Just rifle stuff at you. I'm going to find this out right now. You're his personal assistant for information. Look something up for me, Jonas. How many empty net goals did Austin have a couple years ago? No, I want to know the goals. I want to know the opportunities that he was not out there.

That's tough to find, man. No, it's not. I found it. Chat, G.P. Jonas. Right. How many? So that season, he played 81 games

he was fourth on the team and ice time against an empty net must have been defenseman ahead of him Brody McCabe and Neander by like 17 seconds he still had a lot of opportunity so

okay T.J. Brody reference we haven't had one of those in a long time isn't it crazy like how like quick it can go like he was so important the mainstay for five years and just like out of the league just gone not even

a reference. All right, best bets powered by Fandole. We'll get to that next. All right, best bets, powered by Fandole, make your picks and assemble the same game parlay in seconds on the Fandul's Sportsbook app. Dallas, Washington tonight, I'm going to be on the stars. Haven't been playing great, like you pointed out, but they're

a really good team, and your pan, it's basically a pick-em. I know it's on the road, but you get short odds with a team like Dallas, I'm taking it. And Montreal, Calgary tonight. Big game, too. I'm looking forward to that. I think I'm on the Habs. But Calgary's been sneaky, man.

They're back in the hunt. Nashville's in the hunt in the West. They could win some games, Calgary. Yeah. Oh, and Jeff, you're right. Two empty-neck goals for Matthews when he scored 69. Wow, man. That's nuts.

That's the difference right there. I'm telling you, I remember watching. I'm like, I can't believe this guy. Or he would be out there for 20 seconds. They get taken off. I'm like, that guy should be told to stay out there. Who cares? Yeah.

Do the Ovechkin thing, man. Ovi is out there and he's not coming on. off. And he's shooting every puck at that net. Yeah. Every single time. Best bets powered by Fandual. Same game parlays around the NHL available on the Fandual Sportsbook. Yeah, please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario. All right. We've got NFL picks coming up later in the week.

Right? We've got this really cool giveaway that starts on Monday, going to the players. We're sending a correspondent to the players. Sucks that they're not in Kappa Lou is starting tomorrow, man. I can't believe the PGA Tour is not playing tomorrow. dying to get back to Capulua. But next week, they'll be in Hawaii. It's all good. All right, Jonas, great stuff. Thanks for doing us. The O-Dog.

Great stuff, as always. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV, radio podcast, web, and up on YouTube live, every show up on TSN's YouTube channel, we're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at... Air Canada. Let's get those underwear, home safe.

4 p.m. We'll check. then I'm Dylan Playfair and I'm Tyler Smith we're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship this is bromance bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers proudly Canadian owned and operator charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years and you can find bromance on the iHeart radio network or wherever you get your podcast You know.