OverDrive - OverDrive - January 8, 2026 - Hour 2 - Darren Dreger/Pierre LeBrun

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun go around the biggest headlines in the NHL in the insider roundtable. The guys discuss Bo Bichette's potential next contract and the value on the deal, the Phillies and Yankees' search to sign Bichette, the Wild Card slate in the NFL playoffs, Trae Young's trade to the Wizards and the Raptors in on Anthony Davis and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

Let's face it, everyone can use a little help in better understanding their technology. Each week, technology columnist, author, and TV personality Mark Saltman, breaks down geek speak, into street speak, on Tech Talk. Learn about the latest tech trends in plain English and how it can enhance and enrich your life. Unwind with the LG massage recliner featuring 3D massage, soothing heat, and Bluetooth speakers in Cozy Bays or Cozy Brown. Tune into Tech Talk with Mark Saltman Sunday at 5 p.m. Pretty certain of that.

I'm not sure. Like, this is, I'll say this. Yeah, I don't think it's outlandish based on history. I'm not sure he wins a heart ever again. Because, it's tough. Come on. It's tough to do, man. Wow.

It's tough to do. He's a one in a few years. In that argument. Yeah, that's enough. We've got to put this to bed. Dregs is in here. Okay. I was talking about Austin Matthews.

Yeah. Right. I was not sure he went a heart again. I need to start revising everything. Talking about McDavid. I made the case. I don't know if he's going to win a heart again. That's a great thing about sports when you're watching something.

I went on the quiz and the Evanton Oilers were so bad. I said there was a 0% chance they were making the playoffs. And there was a lot of people that agreed with it. They're like they're so brutal right now. It doesn't look like they're climbing out of this. Now they're in first in their division. Right. Subject to change.

You also said that Nate McKinnon had vastly pulled away as the best player on the planet. Miles ahead of McDavid. He said that. And Duffy. Yes. And the quiz master's been. pushing that narrative since the summer too, right? Like that is something he's been pushing for quite some time.

But I got to own it. I got to own it. I'm standing by it. And they're in Winnipeg tonight. Dregs you're with us. Pierre LeBron will join us here in a moment. And you guys are going to be on the panel tonight, lease flyers. And even like the dialogue around Matthews.

Yeah. Right? Like we've been pumping his tires because he deserves it. And I, you see, again, the comment section is what it is. It's like, I thought two weeks ago you said he was brutal. Yeah, he was. Two weeks ago, he was playing poorly. And now he's playing better.

That's the point. That's the way it works. That's a good thing. Yeah, and we'll talk about it as part of the game. I mean, there's no scientific explanation for how that switch flipped. There just isn't. The best explanation I got today, and you guys are probably going to, whatever, is that, even though the agent, the general manager, the coach, everyone associated, Matthews included, kept saying he's not injured. There's nothing lingering from training camp.

He's over all of it. He's over all of it. The way it was explained to me today was, while he was over all of it, he wasn't hurt, he wasn't playing injured, he wasn't playing at 100%. And whether or not it's a brief break, a couple, three days, whatever it is around Christmas, he just started to feel really, really good again. So now he's at like 90% instead of 70% and a 90% Austin Matthews is pretty damn good. And that makes sense to me. It does. Even if people are going to dismiss it, that does make sense. Something's got to give.

I mean, the guy, he looks great. He's playing really well. He looked like his disposition. Looks and feels differently. It's like, it was like the fog lifted off the team because they were literally skating out. They were all in a fog. They were out of him. And if you don't play the game and there's only, I don't know if there's ever been a player where,

no matter what your talent level is, if you don't bring some kind of, it was the asthma or excitement to the game. Like, it's just not going to happen. Right. Any of them. Like, if you don't bring that, like, you got no chance. Yeah. That's a big part of it. The attitude of the team, like whether you have to leave for not.

And that's contagious, isn't it? Right? Like when your leader is playing that way, now there's no excuses as a player who's playing with him or below him. Right. Okay. That's what he's doing. So I better bring my energy up a couple of notches. Well, and like the injury stuff has got to affect the room too, right?

Like every other day is someone else is going down. Bonkers. And, you know, like with Tanev, who knows, Stolar's, who knows? Like, those are major pieces. Yeah. Right? Like, how do the leaves navigate this? Well, they're looking for a defenseman.

I mean, that's been the case, you know. Like an impact guy or like a depth guy? No, I mean, there are depth pieces available. I mean, look at what the Winnipeg Jets are doing right now, right? I'm pretty sure if the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to reunite Luke Chen, they get them for a lower end draft pick. And I think that Luke is looking for a better opportunity, bigger role. I mean, we can appreciate given where he's at in his career.

And I mean, this very respectful of Luke. Because, okay, granted, he's not, he was never quick, but he's slower now. But man, he's still a simple, smart defenseman, tough. You know, he's got that personality in the presence in that room, no matter how many minutes he's playing. But yeah, I mean, Brad Trillowby has to be aiming higher. And how much higher? Again, that depends on what they ask is coming back.

Yeah, that's it, man. That's where they struggle. Donis, you're kind of wincing. Well, because I wrote about this for tomorrow, and I mentioned Shen, I think it makes sense because of the price. And, like, they're a better defenseman. Rasmus Anderson is a much better defenseman, obviously. But I don't know.

But I don't think they have the assets to get better defensemen. They have zero assets. What do you tell you? Well, they don't have zero assets. Like, you could trade Easton if you wanted. You could trade Ben Danford. They have a second round pick in 2027. Cool.

Like, they have, they don't have nothing, but other teams have better stuff. Right. You know what I mean? Yeah, exactly. That's the question. And, yeah, I mean, what is your team right now, too? Like, Tray Living's got to consider that. Right.

You know, it's like, if you're Colorado, you're like, yeah, we're in it to win it. Yes. This team's, the least aren't even in the playoffs right now. What are you going to do, spend on this? Yeah, exactly. Let's say you go get Ross Ms. Anderson. Let's say, that's the guy. Yeah, and let's say it takes all your best stuff.

Cowan, Danford, and it picks. Only if you get them on an extension, obviously. And then that's, like, its own thing. Like, should you be extending this guy? on. Well, your defense is old already. He's going to be 30. You can rejig that in the offseason too, right? Like, I mean, you're going to have to move some of those pieces.

And you? Yeah. I mean. But yeah, it's a fair question. Like, do you extend him? But is that the right move for them? Like, that's all your stuff. To me, it doesn't feel like the right timing for that.

I'd give it another 10 or 15 games. Fair. Fair. You know, like, I just, I know they've been playing better recently. Good for them. They're in a better position right now. Yeah. I'm not making a.

play where I'm unloading everything I've got. No. And you know where I stand on this, Jonas. Like, I think at some point they've got to reload and rebuild the farm system. Like, you've got to have young players. It's not much in the Marley's. And if it's not much. If it's Quinn Hughes, okay.

Yes, exactly. But like, Anderson's not Quinn. How can you go from saying you're going to unload Easton Cowan Ben Danford, a first round pick from somewhere in 2035? And you've got to have to rebuild your farm system. It can't be both ways. Exactly. It doesn't.

work that way. And look, I mean, they high value Easton Cowan. Fair or unfair. I think it's fair. I think it is. He's a good young player. He's a good young player and you don't have enough of that moving forward and he's more or less homegrown. And I mean there's been speculation in the market that Toronto

was pushing him for Braden Shinn and all. That's not what happened. Now, if Toronto was going to trade Easton Cowan you know, wind it back several months or move it forward doesn't matter. It's for a can't miss. And to the discussion we're having right now,

maybe the miss is the timing of doing it in the first place because maybe this team isn't good enough to waste those assets. To your point, Brian, we don't know. We don't know yet. It's too early. Let's bring in Pierre LeBron or TSN Hockey Insider as well. As we round table this bad boy,

we're going to five boxes up on TV? I hope so, because I always love being right in the middle of this. There it is. Yes, Pierre, I love it. Where do you stand on this, Pierre, in terms of the Leafs? Is it a fork in the road? you try to improve. If you're going to sell, is it too early to think that way?

Like, how do you think Tree Living could be approaching this scenario? Well, before I get that, let me thank Brian Gooding, from the Fergus Whalers, Junior C hockey team here in Fergus, Ontario, for setting me this Fergus Whalers City this week. Love it. Thank you, Brian. Yes. I really appreciate it.

Shout out. I thought I'd wear it on overdrive. Yeah. Everything Whalers is greatly appreciated. You know, the Leafs are in such a tough spot. I've listened to everything you guys were saying, and I think you pretty much covered the scenarios. I think you've got to get to the Olympic break

and see if this resurgence is real and you bung in there. I wouldn't do anything before then because of all the assets you've already spent. And, you know, as another GM from another team was telling me today, because this is what they feel is true for a lot of teams in the East. you know, the Eastern Conference standings are like a crushed beer can right now.

Everyone's on top of each other. And you've got to get to the Olympic break and actually say to yourself, are we still in this? Now, the flip side to that argument is, if you miss an opportunity the next couple of weeks before the February 4th trade freeze to help yourself, have you missed your window? And will that help your season slip away if you didn't act?

I'm not, I don't care about that option. I do think you've got to get the Olympics and make sure you're still in this race before you spend more assets if you're Toronto. I don't think you, I don't think you can be too aggressive before that, in my opinion. There's still 12 days to go after the Olympics. It's not like Vancouver in 2010. The trade deadline was literally 48 hours after the gold medal game. There's 12 days after the trade freeze from Milan. There's time to assess where you are, what your needs are and decide whether or not you want to be aggressive in theory one last time with this group.

here before the season started all we were doing was talking about and it's come come to life where all the teams are there's so much parity everyone's so close together when are teams going to start like just realizing that we're in the middle of the pack here but we're

still not that good so what the hell is a set trying to tell everyone that we are that good like we were mentioning Doug Armstrong where he would be one guy that would say you guys aren't bluffing me like I just don't really believe in this right now right And I think that Doug Armstrong has told other teams that about the blues right now, that even when the blues recently had their push, and I think there were only a point or two out of the last wild card spot in the West, which by the way, the last wildcard spot in the West seems like whoever wants this is going to back in.

But I've been told by other teams that he has said, you know, I don't care if we make the playoffs or not. We're not beating Colorado in the first round, so I'm still listening on all these guys. That's, to your point, O'Dog, that's how more teams should be. I mean, you know, I think Nashville's like that, like the Predators have been way better over the last month. But at the end of the day, Barry Trots is still going to take your phone call on Stamcoast, and Marceau and maybe O'Reilly right up to March 6th. It's complicated with some no trades in some of those cases. But the predators are looking to the future here, regardless of the fact they're playing better.

The team that I think is in jeopardy of making, a mistake here if they're not real with themselves as the Calgary Flames. They've got to be real. They're not making the playoffs, and I know there's always pressure from ownership there to stay competitive and not give up on years. No man's land is the killer in this

league, to your point O'Dog, and they've got to be real, and they've got to start listening on some of their veterans. They have an opportunity. There's not a lot of sellers. They have an opportunity to cash in with some of their veteran players. Well, who the hell thinks they're good? Well, it's more about the circumstance of the West, like I think he said, right?

Like 90 points might get you a wildcard spot right now, the way it's trending. It likely will change. But I agree with your assessment on Calgary. I think they need to rip the Band-Aid off. I would say, I don't know what more Vancouver can do is willing to do. And let's be clear here, Winnipeg's worse. Well, just one thing on Calgary, and I was talking with Craig Button about this at the

World Juniors, it's, you can't just go scorched earth and leave young kids with young kids. And it's just there's no leadership. and there's no veteran presence, and there's just nothing running the operation as far as veteran leadership. You can't really have that. So to have some quality guys around like a McKenzie Wieger, and I don't know if Cadreier or Anderson,

but the idea of just saying get rid of everybody and leaving every, like, it's a difficult thing to do to those young kids out there. Yeah, and that applies to Winnipeg to a point as well. Look, I mean, these owners are open to whatever presentations management is going to make. I mean, most teams, including Toronto Maple Leafs right now, are in the pro and amateur scouting meetings, right? And they're looking at whiteboards filled with names from all of these other teams around the NHL.

But when you're talking about a full-on rebuild in Canada, that's a tough one. That's a tough one. You have to be able to rejig on the fly. You have to maintain a level of competitiveness. And oh, to your point, if you've got good young quality players that are developing through this process, I think the fan base is okay with that,

as long as they can see the development. In Winnipeg, that's going to be a challenge because, yeah, Winnipeg has done a good job of controlling certain pieces like Halibuck and Shifley and... Conner just right. Morrissey and Kyle Connor and all of that. But the draft hasn't necessarily been kind in Winnipeg

over the last few years, number of years, right? Yeah, they've got Cole Profetti in there, but, you know, he's a complimentary piece, right? So when you look at that 2006 draft, The hockey side of things in Winnipeg might they might try and convince themselves we got to get one of these big picks

we need an impact player from this draft right? Is ownership going to be on side with that if it means that for the next three to five years you're going to stink? Well it's a valid question now my argument would be it's not five or six years it's three more months

because they're dead last in the league right now so like you know the way they're playing they're playing themselves in a scenario where you're going to get a lottery pick. I could see them, I think what's more interesting in Winnipeg personally, is do they look at this and say, hey, it was just an awful year,

everything went to hell for whatever reason. We couldn't score. We could, you know, how luck got hurt. Because they won the President's Trophy a year ago. Like, Vancouver's different. Vancouver's in a weird spot. Calgary has not been a good team for a couple of years. They're not a competitive team. Winnipeg has, they were the number one scene in the league

last year. Vesden trophy winner. Exactly. Like that one, that's a turnaround, right there. It's a crazy turnaround. First to 32nd in eight months. It's wild, but you can sell it like, okay, this isn't as bad as we are. This is a crazy sort of moving out some of the depth

guys, right? Exactly. But commit to it now the rest of the way. And I don't know how you do that. Like you're going to play hellabuck, and if he gets hot, he gets hot. But, you know, it's, you've gone this far, Pierre, I guess is what I'm saying, with those three teams in particular. And you're right, Treggs, about the long-term

vision. But you know these markets, When they start doing the draft lottery, they start looking at the picks, man. You get excited. Yeah, very, very excited. And you can sell that pier as well if you get a high-end pick. Yeah, there's no question, Ryan. And you can tell it in Vancouver market that, at least anecdotally, I mean, they got a real solid return for Quinn Hughes. Now, you never want to be in a position where you're trading Quinn Hughes at his age.

But once you were down that path, they got a really good return from Minnesota. And the market of Vancouver seemed up for a rebuild. but then that rebuild got coined a little differently. Management talked about a hybrid rebuild. That's what the Canucks are looking at. And I will just say this, that a lot of teams have looked at what Washington has done over the last few years,

that quick little transition rebuild on the fly. And a lot of teams are seeing that as the modern-day version of the rebuild, and that's fine. It's worked out great in Washington. I think it's difficult to thread that needle, though. They really have to, you know, they were aggressive with a number of times. trades and it doesn't just because Washington did it doesn't necessarily mean that it's easily

doable for every single franchise in a league. I also think there's this like I think we have to readjust our view of the NHL in terms of the teams that are in and the teams that are rebuilding and we create these different tiers. I work at the athletic. We're all about tears and you know I was talking to Julian Breezebo about this today for a piece tomorrow on the lightning and there here's Tampa eight in a row first in the Atlantic. You know, we were ready to close the book on them last year, three straight years exit in the first round. Beginning of this year, too, they stunk to join out. And now they're, here they are doing their thing. And one of the things I asked them about

is the Atlantic Division. All these teams that have rebuilt, Detroit has finally arrived, Montreal, young and exciting, Buffalo seems to have come out of a 14-year slumber. The Leaf's sudden resurgence, they're not ready to quit. So you've got all these old teams that aren't ready to quit and all these young teams. There's eight teams in the race in an 18 division. And Julian Breezebo has said, yeah, that's what we see. It's harder than ever now in our division to make the playoffs. And that's just the reality right now.

All these things are overlapping on top of each other. And we're used to always saying on this show, these are the teams that are in. These are the teams that are out. Well, what happens when you have eight teams that think they're in? Trouble, because someone's lying to themselves. Three teams at least. Because only five can make it, you know, presuming, the two wildcards come out of that division.

And, like, you bring up the Washington example. What's fascinating about them is they're pro scouting, which doesn't come up enough. Like, we focused on the draft and picks and prospects. They went out and got Chickren, Strom, Thompson, Pierluc de Bois, which I credit them on, because I didn't think that was a good move. 100%. Those are pro players. Those were, that's not an 18-year-old kid.

For sure, pro-DOS has been big. Michael's good player. 100%, drag. Somebody with a good eye has been. sniffing out those guys. Number one center. Chickens are number one defensemen and they're starting goal. And the coach. And the coach. Like that's that's pro scouting. That's not amateur scouting.

What a statement. What a point I just made. What a point I just made. But anyway, I think that's important to point out. Like it's not if you're retooling on the fly. Whatever you're doing, if you're rebuilding, retooling, expansion, you have to be successful at all levels. Free agency, drafting, digging around and finding reclamation projects, all of it, and it's all got a hit. And if one of them doesn't, you might be in a bad spot. Just one of

them. Well, and even with Washington, they're scraping to get in right now. Like, yes, last year they had a great year. They won around. You know, like, they didn't win a Stanley Cup because of it. But, and it's factual to use and identify Washington as Exhibit A in terms of rebuilding on the fly.

They didn't have Alex Ovechkin. It wouldn't be that way. Wouldn't be that way. Like, you know, like Chris Patrick, the general manager has to continue to furnish Ovechkin and company with good players, right? And some of those are gambols. There's no doubt about that. Pierre-Lubert, before he was injured, was playing well, but it was a gamble.

If Ovechkin isn't there isn't still playing, I'm not so sure the capitals are on that same path. They take a different route possible and regroup and then we need our next superstar or what have you. That likely comes through the draft with Pierre Levin and Darren Dregor, a TSA Hockey Insider. Go ahead, Pierre. Well, I was just going to say, and more important than ever is managing up. Like, I've never heard this more real than it is in the last few years, and I think Dregs will attest. Like, you need to know what ownership is okay with before you go ahead with it. It's easy for us to sit back and say, this is what Calgary should be doing, which literally I did on this segment.

But, you know, there's an ownership that does, has not wanted a rebuild. They do not want a full rebuild in Calgary. So you have to deal with reality, you know, Toronto, ownership. What do they want? How long is the plan here to keep this window open? I think it's a good question. Yeah, well, what about Ottawa? Steve Steyas just said, we'll compete when we're ready to compete.

How does ownership feel about that statement? Well, probably just okay. Wouldn't be surprised. I mean, Adelauer is heavily involved, right? Like, he's not pushing buttons, but he has a strong voice in that process, and he's known Steyhouse for a long, long time. But the one thing that Steyhouse has been very cautious of is not upsetting. I don't know if culture is the right word.

Whatever, you know, like the development of certain guys, it feels like we should be beyond that when we're talking about Brady Kachuk, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Tim Stutz. They're past that, right? these are bona fide, really strong NHL players. So I don't know how to read into that comment of, well, compete when we're ready to compete. When they get better goal-tending?

I don't know. That's a major factor, but I don't want to slam the Ottawa senators right now. But sometimes you have a scenario where that group of players that you just mentioned, Dregs, they're just good enough to get into the playoffs and losing the first round. They're just good enough to miss the playoffs. Yeah. And you have so many positive thoughts about a group of players, and yet they can't get it done.

So how much could you actually love them? And continue to say, this is our group, and they've got to keep growing and growing and growing. Couldn't you say it the same in the Toronto Maple Leafs? Absolutely. Absolutely, Darren. You can. It's like, how do you keep saying there is even a window with that group of players?

And you look back at some of the other organizations, the Blackhawks, the Kings, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They won Stanley Cups when those guys were 22. and 21 and 24. And now we're almost, we're getting into the 30s now. It's like, man, that's a giant window, man. Like the idea, we talked

about it before, investing more, like, draft picks into this group of players in Toronto. Invest anything more with these guys at their age. I don't know, Pierre, go ahead. Well, I'm not saying I disagree with you on Ottawa, but I think they're a better team than what they've shown, but they can't get a save. I hate to

simplify it that much, but you look at so many of the underlying numbers, this is a better hockey team than what they are. Maybe so. They've got some of the worst goal-dating in the league. Yeah. So, and I think when I hear Steyo say that at his mid-season availability, I think that's about getting ahead of maybe something they can't get out of here this year in terms of getting, you know, finishing in the playoffs and trying to get ahead of the messaging, which is how did this happen? Yeah. I, that's what I saw in terms of his messaging to his local media, that I better get ahead of this because maybe we're not getting out of this hole. But I think they're a better team than what they're showing here for a very simple reason.

Well, it's been can't get a save here for a while. They can't get a save. Yeah, but it's been can't get a save with Matt Murray, can't get a save with Corpus Sallow, and now it can't get a save. Allmark, who's not even around. He's not even putting his gear on right now. So it's been can't get a save for a long time. Yeah, it's fair.

Like the Allmark scenario was a tricky one because he's just, gone on a personal leave, but... It was in the building the other night at the game. Yeah. Like, what is... That's a weird one. That is strange. Would you get cap relief from that? No. I don't believe so. What are they going to do? Go spend $8 million.

They're not going to do that anymore. Don't us check on that if they get cap relief. Chat, GP Jonas. Hey, Jonas. You have to be injured or whatever. In a program, and I don't think he's either. Jonas is owes assistant when he needs anything

looked up. Hey, Jonas. Look that up for us. All right, boys. Well, we'll leave it there. Good stuff. It's a good-looking sweater you're wearing. It feels good. You want to?

What do you have on that? No, you missed it. We talked about it before you came on. Well, Pierre, you'd be a voice of reason here. Because unfortunately, here we go. Unfortunately, your colleague at the athletic here at Jonas said it doesn't matter what happens the rest of the season, McDavid wins the heart. And no one can beat him.

No one can catch them. Maybe McKinnon. You said McKinnon's got the possibility. But Celebrini, no chance. Kuturav no chance. If this keeps up... Rice, I don't Vasselowski. 100%.

No chance. It's just McDavid wins the heart. That's it. Well, again, just to we're clear, we're not debating the best player in the world. Exactly. Exactly. I think Macklin Celebrini has a heart trophy case right now.

How are the San Jose sharks in a playout spot? Here, you're too late with this. Dude, that's a shark's bias. This guy used to go out to San Jose every winter for the playoffs, every spring. This is a shark's biased opinion. That's a fact. That is a fact. Wasted.

Whalers and sharks. Wait, what was our question about Jerry Jones? He's a good one to ask about that. Yeah, Jerry's going to retire when he wins four more Super Bowls. So now you have a date. You just need four more seasons. A four-year Dynasty Super Bowl run, and Jerry Jones will finally leave.

There you go. You know, I've got 16 other family members there, so he should be fine. Someone else will step in. I thought you guys were. were going to be classy and not mentioned the clown show that is the Jones and my Cowboys. But in response to that, Brian,

my apologies for knocking you out in the first round of the fantasy football playoffs. Disgusting. Disgusting. Because the loser, Dak Prescott and the bigger loser C.D. Lamb. I had both of them and they stunk. And I lost by half a point.

I just want to ask you that. I just want to ask you something about like it's just about the fandom with like a massive organization. Like the Cowboys. Have you ever once thought of pulling the pendant just that I'm not doing it, I'm going somewhere else? No.

No, I'm dug in more than ever because I think that if they ever figure it out, it'll be that much sweeter. I refuse to give up. I'm serious. I love, I have a Cowboys thing on my driver on my license plate down the car. I'm in forever.

It's just like Lee fans. Same thing. And they, I mean, they won three Super Bowl in the 90s. Could you imagine a Leaf fan? You know what it's like. You're not jumping off. It's the best part of the ride. Absolutely. Because it will pay off at some point. All right, boys. We'll leave it down a positive spot. Leaves for the cup. Leaves win it. There he is. Darren, Pierre Lebrunner, T.S. and Hockey Insiders.

All right. Jonas has got a very positive list, I'm assuming. Very positive on the Leafs. Leaves Flyers tonight. We'll get to our best bets. Rappers with another walk-off win last night. Go ahead. You're maxed on. I'm going to try on Jonas's cardigan before the end of the show. All right, stick around for that. Oh, my.

I'm going to give it a rip. I love it. You literally are going to rip it? I love it, Farley and Spade. Do you think I can fit in that thing, Darren? No. Will you allow him to try it on? Will you compensate him if you rip it in half?

I'll buy him a brand new one. You got to love him out. Unless it's made a spandex. I don't like your chances. All right. Dude, that thing has got to be a man's extra small, isn't it? Probably, yeah. The O-Dog, you're ripping my sweater.

The O-Dog's about to put his car. cardigan on. This is going to get your Canadian Screen Award. We'll get to that next. Let's face it, everyone can use a little help in better understanding their technology. Each week, technology columnist, author, and TV personality Mark Saltzman, breaks down geek speak, into street speak on Tech Talk. Learn about the latest tech trends in plain English and how it can enhance and enrich your life. Tech Talk, hosted by Mark Saltzman, Sundays at 5 p.m. on News Talk 1010. Gear up for your next adventure with Tech Talk and the 26th Chevrolet Silverado EV. offering up to 793 kilometers of available estimated range on a full charge.

You're no longer a good fit for the company. Laid off from your job? You need Employmentlawyer.ca. Answer a few simple questions, and in seconds you'll receive free answers for your workplace issues. Go to employment lawyer.ca. Find out if you should receive a termination package from your employer and calculate how much severance you are legally owed.

Always check with the... Employment Lawyer Leor Samfiru first at Employment lawyer.ca. All right, best betts coming up later in the hour. We got our picks tomorrow. Al's brother is legitimately on a cruise. I thought he was joking. Like, he is not in the country right now.

I don't know where he is, but he's cruising. He's on a pre- honeymoon, man. Whatever that, the pre-moon. Yeah, but he just got engaged. How do you do that? What is it called, Doogie, when you go on a trip, and you get engaged. Well, it's not the honeymoon, but he's on a family cruise right now.

Oh, he's with his family. He's with his family. Oh, good for El's brother. It's a family cruise. They needed to go on a cruise. They haven't been on one in a month. Is he eight years old? He just went in November.

Like, I love my family, but I'd probably be like, I can't cruise with you. How old is this guy, Al's brother? 30-something. When I was 30 and my mom and dad said, you want to go on a cruise, I would say, are you? What? I would say, are you crazy? Yes. I love you.

Sounds awesome. You guys go out fun. How about Sunday dinner? Not a cruise. Al's brother is sleeping on the couch with his parents right on a cruise. All right. Well, anyway, so it could be just you and I. What do you think about my hot take?

Which was... The Eagles are dangerous. To go back to back. Are you willing to that far? I don't know, man. I got a good feeling that the Eagles could just put it all together. I might be alone with that take. It's not crazy because I can't tell you who I think is going to win the Super Bowl.

I don't have a great feel on it. And like the Niners, though, have been a pesky team, a resilient team, well-coached. There's no guarantee they get out of this weekend. And yet they could win the Super Bowl and it wouldn't be shocking. And that applies to like seven or eight teams. What about a potential rematch of a Super Bowl I watched in Jacksonville, Florida years ago? Eagles, Pat. Possible.

Very possible. Pat's have the chargers on a weekend. Young quarterback. I still like the vibes in Turkey. Vives are awful. Vives are bad. Not been good. They can snap back into it, man, and say, listen,

we might as well try to strike, man. Get two. It's on the quarterback to do it. He's got to be way better than he has been down the stretch. Like he's got to step up in a significant way. Well, he didn't become an awful football player overnight. So he can just kind of, he can get back into the groove. Yeah.

I think I hear you. He's a Super Bowl MVP, Jailen Hertz. Yes. Like he'll be very comfortable and they have home field advantage here. No, I don't. Yeah, well, they're playing the Niners at home. But I don't think after that, right? No, I know. I shouldn't say advantage through.

I mean, they're playing the Niners at home. They're in Philly. Like, that's big. That's significant. Speaking of Philly, I guess Boba Schett has a meeting set up with the Phillies, which I found interesting because now all of a sudden we're getting reports on meetings. Well, why do you think that comes out, right?

some pressure. Yes. Like all of a sudden there's a meeting and the Yankees are in on them, the Phillies are in on them. John Heyman reporting that Bichette's asking for 300 million, 300 million plus. Question for you guys. If the Js don't bring back, Bo, don't

sign Tucker. Can it be a good offseason? Yes. Because of all the other stuff they've done? Yes. You've still added pretty significant pieces. You're still a good team. I think that's right. I just don't want, maybe it's the money. with Boba Chet, but if you just circle back with Tucker and it's not happening,

can't you just circle back on Boba Chet and say, let's make this happen? Yeah, and tell him, he signs. But I don't think the Jays want to do anything like a $300 million deal. I'm not giving Boba Chet $300. Like he can ask for that. I don't see him getting $300 million. I know, but I just don't see it. He's like, I've been tied to the hip, but Blatty the whole way through,

and you gave him five, so I want three. That would be the ask as the player, the mindset of the player, where it's like, you gave him five. and I can probably put together a sheet of paper with better numbers on offensive numbers than Blattie but you're at least giving me three. I understand that logic from him with the Blue Jays. With the Phillies and the Yankees,

they're like, we don't care what Vladdy got paid. Totally agree. You're not, that doesn't, that's irrelevant to us. What matters is what other teams are willing to pay you and we got to sniff that out. So again, players can ask for whatever they want. Kyle Tucker can ask, Boba Sheck can ask, are they going to get it?

like Tucker's a different story. He's more, seems to be more valued, and I think understandably so. But you made the point. It's not a tawny, man. No, exactly. Like, and again, last year would indicate Pete Alonzo, Bregman, like these are big names. Yep.

And they did not get $300 million. Until, like, right before. Right. And it was during her short-term deals, options. Breening Camp started before Bregman signed, I believe. It was real close to her, yeah. Because Devers, again, I think, was in camp and then the complaint about third base and all that.

But can I ask you guys, like, sometimes I get into that habit. It's like, they can't spend that. Why? Like, who cares? You know what I mean? Like, the Jace could spend the money. They have the money. There's no cap.

You just get to a why. It's like, why would you want to blow the money if you know there's injury? You know that there's this or that. It's like, you just get to a why. Yeah. Like, why do you want to get to a 300 number? Yeah. Yeah, you still have to explain it.

Yeah. You're right. They could, but. Yeah. You got, you know, like I'm sure the owner would say, okay, cool. That means those teams were offering that. And when there's deals like that, I always ask myself, what would the player have walked away from 200?

Yeah. You know what I mean? So it's like, why do you got to get to three? What was he going to scoff at two? So true. Yeah, legit question. And anyway, I mean, we're into meeting season in the off season for baseball. What's going to happen?

I don't know. Like, I think we're going to have to wait. I think we're going to have to wait here for a while. I am, like I've said this week, I'm surprised Tucker is taking this long. Pitchers and catchers report in 30 days. Yeah, it's not long. It's like six weeks, not even. Yeah.

Like we're going to be, like the Super Bowl is what, February 8th? The Olympics, usually pitchers and catchers are mid-February. People are in town? So it's not long off. Are you guys going to make Super Bowl picks? Do you do that every night? Yes, absolutely. When do you, shouldn't you have to do that soon?

Well, you mean projecting what's going to happen. Yeah, I guess we should do that tomorrow. I think you should do that. Okay. Do you have a read on this, Jonas? No. I think this is the most difficult year I can think of. You could tell me Jacksonville made the Super Bowl.

I'd be like, yeah, I could see that. I won eight in a row. Travel Horns been pretty good. Yeah. Seems like Carolina's the only one that no one thinks can make a Super Bowl. A deservedly so. 100%. But if they won this week, would I be like stunned?

I wouldn't be shocked. I'd be very surprised. They're 10 and a half point dogs at home in the playoffs. I wouldn't be 10 and a half double-digit dogs at home in the playoffs. Do you know how awful you have to be? Awful. Yeah.

Like they backed orders. They know what? Their fan base is jacked up. Sure. Wouldn't you be? If you're in Carolina, why not? Bryce Young, maybe he was the right guy. They took him over C.J. Stratton.

No, Straud's in the playoffs, too. But he looked pretty good. Yeah. Like last couple years it looked pretty good. Maybe you got the right coach. I don't know. You're in the right division. No one scares you.

New Orleans, Atlanta, Tampa, who's scaring you down there? Anyway, we keep referencing this list you have, Jonas. Yeah, you build it up too much. You got to play it down. I always build it up. I know. It's like, I'm not McDavid. Like, you got to play it down.

Let's hear this list. What is your list of? Yeah, that's truthfully, I don't even know what you're about to do. So I was going to identify some factors in this little surge that they've had. 5-0-2 since December 23rd. So I was just going to identify some reasons why. Why you think it's going so well? Why I know it's going so well.

Pretty good. Do you want to rifle off two or three quickly? Quickly. Sure. I mean, I don't know what the number one thing is. I think one of them is obviously Austin Matthews looks like a superstar. That goes without saying. Check.

They are scoring a ton. 32 goals and seven games. And they're getting it from all these different places. Like even like Ernie Machelli's got a few goals, he's been playing pretty well. Nick Robertson. Ernie Machelli? That was a good Hayes nickname. Ernie McChely.

He's got it going. Hey, he's like Ernie Clemente. Yeah. I was like, I think you just called Machelli. Ernie. He's in a way better name. Yeah. Ernie Micelli.

It is. It's a great name. It rolls off the time. Ernie Micelli. That's one of the fact. I think we've talked so much about the power play. Their penalty kills has just been like lights out. Best in the December.

And it's like, what's going on there? Their safe percentage on the penalty kill since December 1st is 950 which is like impossible to sustain their penalty kill is probably going to cool off at some point but that's a big factor

big time. There's other things. I like it. Yeah, that's a mini list. I like it. I think you're right. Now like yeah, special teams will slow down a little bit goal tending a little bit. But maybe the power play will tick up and that'll make up for some of it. There you go. They don't have left themselves with any room or much room for much of a draw.

pop off. They got to start winning on the road. This game would worry me a little bit tonight. You have the high of that game against Florida play really, really well. Obviously, Philly's ahead of them in the standings. Philly's a good team. They don't scare you, though. It doesn't have the same.

Yeah, they don't scare you. This will say a lot about their veteran leadership tonight. You show up and play hard and say, we're winning 3-1 tonight. If you do that, well, you need it. Bigger sign than beating Florida. There's no trap game. There's no, not-up-fraid game.

Vancouver, another potential trap game. and then you have like a murder. Colorado, Utah, go time. Go time. Minnesota rolling through town. All right. Panel tonight, we'll get the quiz back in the rotation. It's great stuff.

All right, we'll catch on a panel. Am I trying on the cardigan? I'd like you to do it. I mean, it's up to you. I don't want to try it. Because I think my forearms will split your arm things right in half. Jonas, it's your call. I mean, I don't want to be.

It's not an expensive cardigan. It looks like a very stylish, very, nice. It's nice. I don't know. Like my sweater is nice too. I want to point that out. It's a beautiful sweater. Thank you. You can do it if you want. I don't, I'm, I'm, I'm going suit jacket off or like, what are you doing? I would go suit jacket off, but I swear I'll break that. Well, of course, dude. Like, there's no chance. You couldn't get your arm through one of those. No, I don't want to, it's a nice sweater. It's a nice sweater. It's disappointing. You lost the Canadian Screen Award. That was your opportunity right there. Canadian

Screen Award. I'll leave it in. within your hands. How about next time you're in, you bring it in? The next time you're in, if you look at it and you're like, I can go without that thing. Or put a price tag on it and we'll find a way to expense that. I'll pay cash to rip that thing myself.

Okay, next time, Jonas is... And I'll throw in a Diet Coke. And a Diet Coke. A Cardigan and a Diet Coke. I love it. All right. 2026, man. This is going to be a big year. We are rocking. It'll be a big year. All right, overdrive continues. We'll get to our best bets next. face it, everyone can use a little help in better understanding their technology.

Each week, technology columnist, author, and TV personality Mark Sultzman, breaks down geek speak, into street speak on Tech Talk. Learn about the latest tech trends in plain English and how it can enhance and enrich your life. Unwind with the LG massage recliner featuring 3D massage, soothing heat, and Bluetooth speakers in Cozy Bays or Cozy Brown. Tune into Tech Talk with Mark Saltzman Sunday at 5 p.m. You're no longer a good fit for the company. laid off from your job, you need employment lawyer.ca.

Answer a few simple questions, and in seconds you'll receive free answers for your workplace issues. Go to employment lawyer.ca. Find out if you should receive a termination package from your employer and calculate how much severance you are legally owed. Always check with the employment lawyer, Leor Samfiru, first at employment lawyer.com.

All right, best bets powered by Fanduel. We'll make your picks and assemble the same game, parlay on seconds on the Fandual Sports. Full cap. Matthew Nyes, one plus point tonight. It's coming alive too. Didn't mention him in your list? I did not.

Five goals. Starting to come alive. Like, he's got to drive that line. It's not going to be John, like we talked about yesterday, I think. Nealander is back. I think that's likely to be the line. We'll see what happens with Ernie Machelli and what they do with him, but he's been good.

He's been a lot better since he got in. Yeah. Like, I'd be curious what. Barubei has to say about that. He scratched them for 15 games. Which didn't make any. No. They didn't make sense. Like they need some skill, they needed some spice, they needed something to change a little bit.

Yeah. And anyway, I'm Nyes any point or one plus points tonight and yes both teams to score two plus goals tonight. That pan plus money. Best bets powered by Fandul. Same game, parles around the NHL are available on the Fandle Sportsbook Gap. Please play responsibly 19 plus

physically located in Ontario. Well, Jonas, we'll get to our Super Bowl picks tomorrow, I guess. And HBO versus, what is it, Nudelson or something? Luke and Nudels. They'll be. So dismissive. Yeah. And they're just, they're so irrelevant.

No respect. They've been so irrelevant. They've been the Washington Wizards of sports betting this year. How about your boy, Trey Young on his way to Washington? Why would anyone in the right mind want to play for the Wizards? Ever. When you have nowhere to go? Yeah.

But it's kind of like he got traded for like nothing. Basically nothing. Atlanta is just like we got to move on. Crazy. Him and Luke had traded for each other on draft night. They're both gone from the respective teams. Well, one is like a big, big, big, biggest mistake in the history of the league and the other is. But it's funny.

Like, why doesn't Atlanta take more heat for? Why make that flip? You know what? I think he gave them cover for so long because he was like fun and like they made the Eastern Conference final one year. But they should take so much. But I'm saying they're still right. They had Luca, why not just keep Luca? Like they had them and they made that deal with Dallas.

I mean, Sacramento passed on Luca. Phoenix passed on Luca. Yep. It's just like, it's kind of sad. Yeah, it is. But listen, the Raptors, man, quickly with a walkoff three last night, they are, how many times have they battled back in the fourth quarter? And again, Charlotte.

Absolutely. And like Charlotte had just beaten up Oklahoma City. Yes. Like they've been better to their credit. But getting R.J. Barrett back, you know, he was great in the fourth quarter again last night. Like, Barrett's been really good, man. Like, I'm happy for him because there was so much discourse, not discourse, but a conversation about how he fits. Because you knew Ingram was Stan, clearly, and you knew Scotty was going to play the way he was going to play.

And R.J. Barrett has been fundamental to their success. Where are you on the AD stuff? I'm not interested, but by all accounts, they're in on them. you know like there's so many just too he's just too unreligable he's not going to play he's not going to play yeah now I don't know what you give up and like Pertil they got issues

because you know he's just I don't think his back is going to hold up I don't know what's going to happen with him and they just signed him too right and you need a big to compete in the playoffs they need someone with some size not you know Davis is not a conventional like giant he's not even going to

play he probably play the five on this team but Murray Boyle's been better recently. Like really, really good. I think the argument for it would be maybe you could make the finals if he's on your team. In the east this year. Like, there's no, like, giant.

Like, Detroit isn't going to scare you. The Knicks, you know, they're a good team. Boston's going to get them back. But it's like maybe you get AD, you pray he stays healthy and you try to make the best. That's probably what the thought process would be. I think he needs an extension.

He's always hurt. Yeah. That's basically what Dallas did last year. Yeah. They were like, we're going to bring an AD because defense wins championships and then Kyrie's done and AD's done and the rest is history. I don't know. It's just, I couldn't, I can't trust him.

No. Can't trust him. But it would be a pretty massive trade. Like in terms of a groundbreaking move, regardless of how you feel about the guy. He's a first overall pick, a champion. You know, he's when he plays, a great play. Yes, when he plays. So scary to trade

for something like that. Yeah. But it, you know, with Scotty doing what he's doing, Ingram, again, RJ quickly, you could talk yourself into it. They got depth. You put him in, it's not his team, so to speak.

No. You know, this is not like you're saying, hey, we're just going to ride you to the promised land. You just, you would need him to step in and stay healthy and give you 30 minutes a night. You're not, you're not going to, you're not going to play him into the ground.

you understand why they're looking at it, but I don't know. I'm curious what that price would be. Like, what are you trading to get them? Well, the problem is in the NBA, you have to, like, match all these salaries. So, like, I don't know when you'd have to give up. You're right. I don't know. And then it's like, do you deplete your roster so much that now you can't actually even compete?

I wouldn't do it. That's it. That's it. It's officially off the table. Officially off the table. Officially off the table. Just like McDavid is winning the heart, no matter what. Nothing can change that.

I wonder what could change that for me. Well, his own play, right? Like, he could be an injury away. Injury is probably the only thing. Or like McKinnon, like, they have 10 wins, 10 losses at the end of the year. The Oilers are only a few points into the playoffs. They miss. Yeah, that's not a hard and fast rule for me.

You're the only one that doesn't consider team success? I'm Mike Trout. I believe in great players. That's fine. I mean, I appreciate your stance on that. It's not going to happen because of historical. your team has to be in the playoffs to win the hard. Yeah, no chance.

If they miss, he's not winning the heart. No chance. But I don't think they're going to miss the playoffs. Me too. I expect they make it. But I don't know. I mean, listen, the guys, when the eye of the storm right now,

he is destroying the league. He is every single game. Like every night he has a play where you're like, I can't believe that. Ridiculous. Yeah. He's arguably playing the best hockey's ever played, which is insane to say about a guy like that.

Is he 30? now he's 28 or 29 he's he's Matthew's age he was just Matthews born after September 15 okay he's born at 97 right so it'll be 29 this year crazy crazy good all right leaves Florida to our Leafs uh Philly tonight liars Leas Flyers tonight have a full breakdown of that tomorrow good seeing you Jonas Thanks hey there's Jonas seagull of the athletic thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out we appreciate it everyone for tuning in today

TV radio podcast web, and of course up on YouTube live. Every hour of 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 4 p.m. We'll chat then. The newest tracks. Let's go. New music. And the next big thing.

Always on the new music first. Your first place to hear it all. Because you're going to like it, love, I want to play it twice. I'm playing now. I heart new music. Your digital station for brand new drops, fresh vines, and tomorrow.

Tomorrow's bangers. I think we need something new. Discover IHeart new music. Always fresh, always first. Stream now on the free IHart Radio app.