OverDrive - OverDrive - January 9, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: January 9, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Dave Feschuk for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s next steps with the Blue Jays and his contract extension outlook in Toronto, the Raptors losing skid in the spotlight, Auston Matthews' progression in his return and the Maple Leafs' roster construction. Hayes lists the players and coaches facing the most pressure to win the Super Bowl and the NFL playoffs matchups overview.

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new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, new you, Off and running TSN 1050 on the TSN app your home smart speaker and up on TSN for Brian hazey Oh, Doug Jeff O'Neill and there is Dave festjuck of the Toronto Star What's happening gentlemen another very sunny day in Toronto beautiful day ice cold, but beautiful It is freezing and hazy be I have to say I'm feeling motivated today. Oh Really my trainer the last couple days, he's given me the business. He's been very proud of my progress but he uttered the words today, if you're not gonna do this stuff properly, don't bother. And that was a wake up call.

Okay, so what was he driving at? What are you doing improperly that's kind of on his radar a little bit? This guy is literally the Gary Roberts in the gym and he was like, gotta do this to failure, which means like, you just pump out 10 reps and then go to the next one and you pump that out and you're not like dying. It's not good enough, man. Okay, so... He gave me a wake up call. He basically said what you're doing in here is not good enough so don't be shy to fix it i appreciate that need to there's nothing wrong that david sure you could probably concur with that of it once in a while you did it kind of get snap back in shape a little bit

but i'm curious what the end goal is here like what what do you what do you training towards like are you looking at one percent body fat are you know running marathons? I think I gotta if I want to get back to looking like an athletic version of myself Hayes I Got a drop 25 more LB's okay 25 that's still a long way man. You've lost a lot of weight. That's a lot though. Do you know? Do you have any idea what it's like?

stepping on the scale and seeing the numbers three zero deuce? No. I can't say that I do. I was close. I'm sure I was close. Do you know what kind of fear that three zero deuce puts into a man? Three hundred, man.

That's a big number for golfers number for for men right for everybody you hit 300 off the tee you love life. Dude Hasee yeah like you want three oh deuce off the tee you don't want it on the scale right? No you don't. And you were right about one thing like you put like your favorite golf shirt on at three bills and like a little vest And you look in the mirror and you're like I am golden right you trick yourself into being golden And dude you are not golden It's very true man you you find angles right Dave you you find the appropriate angle you're looking for and you think that'll work for me.

What you don't realize is when you're not like in that perfect lighting, perfect angle, your viewpoint is walking. It's like a guy that has a giant bald spot on top of his head and he tries to curl the hair up. There's other people that are taller than him and they can see it. So you've got to just deal with stuff. That's the concern, right Dave? 100% like you sometimes don't want to know what you actually look like, right?

Like you just you get into the bathroom with the good lighting and you look okay there and then you see yourself in another mirror that is not such good lighting. You realize, yeah, I'm not looking good here. I'll tell you what the most frightening lightning uh lighting or visual is when I was a like just an absolute monster and you go jogging along Bloor Street or Lakeshore and you look into the window of one of the stores terror because you think you're an athlete man you're jogging you're moving you just tilt your head to the left and look inside that store window and it looks like a different person and like a terrifying yeah it's terrified I'll top it though I'll go over the top when your clothes when you

when you're going to buy a new shirt or something and you've got to try it in and you go in there it's the 360 angled windows in in the dressing room. That's brutal. When that is a terrifying, terrifying experience because you're in there and there are angles everywhere. You can't move. No. And it's very bright and you realize that those are the moments. You can punch yourself in the face in those rooms.

Those are the moments I remember like when I was really in bad shape and I'd go in and be like, all right, I got to buy a dress shirt or I got to buy something. You'd be like, can I try that on? You go in there, you start looking around at different angles that are not available to you on a daily basis and you start realizing this has really got to get shored up here. Like I've got to snap out of it. I've got to figure it out. And you can trick yourself into saying some weird stuff.

I've said this before. These mirrors are jacked up like they're not I said These mirrors are jacked up in their disproportion. They're not right and they're they're jamming me up. They can't be real mirrors It's not me. It's you and it's not me It's the mirror and someone's jamming mirrors blaming theame the mirrors. Blame the mirrors, man. You know what was also a terrifying experience? Same kind of thing. You thought, man, I was feeling it that night. I had my A stuff going.

Everyone was in a good mood. I was in a good mood. When Facebook started up, and this doesn't really exist anymore because I don't know who even uses Facebook anymore or who posts anything. I don't know anyone that does. But you'd get tagged in pictures and you'd be in the background and you'd get tagged and you'd get that notification

and you'd look at that picture and you would absolutely pass out you've got a pizza in one hand, a dart in the other, and your barrel is basically flopping over the shoulder of the guy in front of you and you want to throw up. And you can't believe someone, especially if it was a friend of yours, you'd want to strangle that guy. What are you thinking? Tagging me in that picture. Oh, the worst pick to be tagged in is one at a guy's weekend or something and you're not looking and not expecting it

and you've got a handful of cards in one hand something egregious and and there's just loads of those in your life how did you get you got informed somebody man yeah you can have a cat and i have that's those those situations where it's like you can respect like the extended comedians that have the no phones rule but you're coming to my show yet but your phone a bag because i don't want people seeing my material at that's exactly the same thing like there should be a no phones rule among

friends right like we're not we're not doing this party we're not chronicling this party let's just keep it for the memories absolutely that's common man like i know it was so i'm i'm one to talk i mean i know i'm addicted to my phone and it's a serious issue that i have to figure out the future of all my phone far too often i know it i know that you do you're in a different scenario i know you probably like you're on social but you're a sports guy and you gotta be on top of all leagues all scores what's going on and And that is legitimately what I'm doing.

Like today, I've been scrolling constantly waiting for Vlade Guerrero Jr. news. Like I'm waiting. Right? It's now past four o'clock. The deadline was one o'clock and whether or not they were going to work this out before arbitration. So all afternoon I'm waiting. I saw Kay Varshaw.

Looks like they figured that out. Ernie Clement. It looks like they figured that out. Man Clement It looks like they figured that out. Manoa looks like they've come to terms But we haven't heard anything on Alejandro Kirk or Vlad E So that's a part of it also, you know, what are the lines gonna be like in Carolina the Leafs are on the road Yes, a lot of it is work related But I do think there's an industry, you know in the future coming where people can escape like I could say this going to Augusta This year going to the Masters. It was so freeing

people can escape like i could say this go to august of this year go to the masters it was so free knowing it's like i don't have my phone i can have my phone no one can call me i'm not calling anybody else or you know where i am i'm in august of georgia i'm at the masters and i'm in there for eight hours so call you want but i'm not answering and i'm not gonna have a let me ask you this on how long does it take the first day you're out of gusts of national

before you got the itch where you're like, I gotta just sniff around something, I need a score, I need an insta post. The catch 22 is, and the irony is, I wanted to know what was going on at Augusta. Right. Like you guys have been down there, right Dave? You're there and you're like, I heard a roar, but unless the guy's in the top 10, that's the only thing you can see is the leaderboard whoever's in the top ten So that was the irony is I actually wanted my phone to know what was going on

Around the grounds of Augusta and the Masters. Yeah, that's crazy. It is kind of crazy That's not great. It's it's come out with some comments about the Jays front Not like what is your take on if they had a mandate of getting better this year? And this is their off season like have you ever seen a management group have to face consequences before a season even gets started? I mean it's bizarre what's been going on. It's been abysmal at ODOT. I mean there's no defense for it other than they've still got some time here but as Hayes pointed out like time is ticking and until they get the V situation figured out until they actually add

something of substance to this team that's been his last by the way this dead last in the american league east it's just hard to fathom what they're up to other than getting participation ribbons for trying really hard in free agency it's a good question like is there a scenario like i'm gonna answer my question before even ask it but you know i'm trying to say

that's not it's not the end of the season exit meetings where it's like you did it's like for before the season it's like what are you even putting on the phone the fireball offense before season starts but i see answer is no i don't think that would ever happen but if if it gets to a point where they swing and miss on You know, and I don't even know if they really want these guys Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman and doesn't that seem like a plan? a plan Somewhere between B and C. Yes, and quite frankly

It would look very panicky if you threw Brett like Bregman's coming off a career-worst season So was Alonso Alonso wasn't the reason the Mets did what they did The Mets are willing to walk that says something the Mets haven't given him the money. That's terrifying if you're every other team You're like why isn't this happening down there in New York? So you got a scenario here where if you do sign those guys This is where they're probably damned if they do damned if they don't if you sign one of those guys. It looks panicky It looks like you're simply doing it for PR, it looks like you're trying to save your job.

I'm sure behind the scenes, Shapiro and Atkins, and based on what we're reading from a number of reports around the league, is they're trying to be diligent with spending money appropriately and they're trying to have their own valuation. Right Dave? They don't want to go over it. Well, if that's the case, you're just going to get burned, you're going to have their own valuation right david they don't want to go over it well that's the case you just gonna get burn you get a miss everybody if that ends up happening and they do replicate what they did last year because i i keep saying it because it is factual they're going to sign

somebody right is still a bunch like dozens of free agents out there it may not be a big name it may not have any impact on wins and losses but they will in fact bring in a couple of pieces I believe that but if it if it replicates the offseason from last year It would almost be like a proactive just move off these guys and get it over with you know Like what's the point what what can ship iron Atkins? Possibly sell to a fan base that is so sick and tired of all of it if they don't bring something home whether it's via trade whether it's one of these big names that are still out

there and we talked about it last year Brian it's crazy with all the renovations and it was like this unveiling of what they did for the fans experience and everything looks awesome the Corona loft bar and all the stuff in there looks great except they can't hit one out of the infield. That's the issue. It's like how did you you got one thing right it's an impressive Renault Mark did a great job on that but you do that and then put put out put the product on the field it doesn't add up man it just doesn't add up. And now you worry guys that guess what you know Vlad E is not gonna come at a hometown discount it's been pretty it's been made pretty clear and you worry now that look you

finished last with Vlad E having a hell of a year Vlad E doesn't even care fast Chuck if he gets less money elsewhere at this point I don't believe like you know you think that he's at that point where he's like I'm gonna try to jam these guys up because they've been screwing around with this and if I take less somewhere else next year as a free agent, I will. I don't even care. Yeah. But the point is, yeah, I agree with you, Doug.

There does seem to be some friction there that is not good for team building. And we all know the history of what's gone on here with them being very reluctant to pay him on the many opportunities they've had to pay him. But the question is, guys, even if if they pay him even if they overpay him where are they there's still a last place team they were they were last place with him having a great year and if they overpay him that he's gonna be more expensive the same guy getting

older and where are they almost think your point oh dot they almost have to overpay him now because they painted themselves into the renovation corner where you know the farm system to fall back on they've put four hundred million bucks into the barn and as you point out the selling tall boys on the patio is probably the best-selling features a ball club

so where they go if they don't just go back to vladhi and give him what he wants days we said that last year if they signed orani, they would just be the angels north. They would be the angels of the east with Otani. They weren't that good of a team even with Otani on it. No, you put Otani on that team last year, maybe they get to 80 wins. Maybe something like that, 80, 81. They would have been just the angels with a different color jersey on that. Yeah, more or less.

The thing is about Vlad is he's 25. I do think you can make sense of the idea that you sign him, this year is still going to be a retooling even with him, but you hopefully put pieces in place so that in 26 and 27 and beyond, you can be competitive. I think you can reason with that plan. I mean, if you're going to sign the guy to a 12-year deal, chances are you're not going to win 12 years straight anyway. You're going to have some ups and downs.

There's another element to this that again speaks to Blue Jay fans trying to define what this market actually is and what this team is because they've been consistently a top 10 payroll for a long time but a lot of that payroll is spread out over the course of a 25 or 26 man roster the largest contract they've ever signed is George Springer six years 150 that's nothing in baseball terms nothing that's pirates territory that's barely above raised territory they're not even in the stratosphere of 10, 12, 14 other teams that actually are willing to go to 250, 280, let alone 330, 350, 6, 7 now. They're

not even close. And if you're not going to give it to Vladi, I said it yesterday, if you're not going to give it to him or be able to convince him to take it, you're never going to give it to anybody, ever. And that is, I really think, an existential moment here for the Jays. If you walk off, Vlad, if you say, sorry, our valuation doesn't match, we're not willing to pay, then what you're telling your fans is, we're never signing anyone of significance. Well, you can, but it'll be an overpay just to say you paid the guy. Right, but then why not just do it now? Are there better players than Vlad?

Obviously there are. And Soto would have been one of them. Otani would have been one of them. But he's a damn good ball player. If he's closer to what he was this past year and what he was in 21, and I know that's what's complicating things, is in between it wasn't that great. I get it. But if you believe last year is closer to who the real guy is for the next seven or

eight years, and you got to pay him $450 instead of $350. Do it if you're a real player. I understand your point about- Or stop pretending like you're a real player because you're not. I get your point, but what if they behind the scenes have a feeling that he's not going to be the guy that you can build around and win around? You still want to hand that guy $500 million? Then they should have traded him this winter.

I totally agree with that, but didn't exactly so then what the hell are we talking about here with managing assets well I don't know that's the but oh you're right like everything they've done and said leads you to believe they don't think they can move with exactly right believe that leads you to believe they don't think particularly why didn't they trick somebody in the offseason to thinking that he was the guy and let him let them pay them and then just start from the ground zero i don't know crazy part of the problem part of the problem is ground zero isn't pretty

they don't have like i was down to see buffalo but this past summer they have a lot of talent down there i've seen the new hampshire fisher cats they don't have a lot of talent down there in double a so it's not as though they've got a bunch of kids that they can just you'll point the fan base to it say yeah gladys god but look at this guy in this guy in this guy they don't have that list

of prospects that you can point to it say we're selling hope if we're not selling wins that's a hope that so wins they're selling tall boys on the patio that's the truth that and that is what is scary and i I think they realized that is that if they, if they tear down the major league club, it is torn. They have, they are starting from scratch. You know, like it's, it's not a scenario where it's okay.

You got some pieces coming. Aralves Martinez was their highest rated, you know, bat. He's coming off a PED suspension a year ago, see what he becomes this year. Ricky Tiedemann's already blown out his arm, we don't know when he's going to return. Manoa was going to be a part of the future, who the hell knows what Alec Manoa's going to be by the end of 25 and 26. So what do you have?

You really are starting from scratch. Now the reality is, and this has always been hanging over this team I think this has always been a conversation Blue J fans have been having is if you feel like that's inevitable like you're going to have to do that anyway then get what you can for Bichette and Vladi so those are pieces that can contribute to that future right that's the worst nightmare here is that Vladi walks Bo walks and then at the end of the year they get rid of Shapiro and Atkins or at least Atkins and then they realize, oh sorry we tried our hardest, we're going to have to actually completely restart and all they've done is delayed the inevitable.

And I used the Kendris Morales example last week. I think a guy like Anthony Santander, very similar, you know, probably a better player, but Kendris was a switch hitter, brought a little power, they signed him going into 17 when they should have realized we're done, it's over. Bautista's finished, Donaldson's finished, Tullo's not playing, Martin's got to go, Gibby's out, we got to reload and we got to start thinking of the future. But they were caught between a rock and a hard place. So they threw the money around, they signed him and then a year into that, they're like, what the hell are we going to do with this

guy now? We're stuck with him for two years. You know, and then a year into that, they're like, what the hell are we gonna do with this guy now? We're stuck with him for two years. And that's what I'm sure they're thinking about constantly is if they can't keep Fladi, can't keep Bashet, it feels like Gossman and Bassett, these guys, they're of diminishing value. Bassett didn't have a great year last year, Gossman didn't have a great year based on his standards if if lies in a walk in the shets can walk

but you do sign an alonzo or a pregnant what's the point but what i was actually two guys it'll be fascinating to see their attitudes come spring training because they speak their mind and what if they're like yeah i want out of here i want to be a part of this i'm that's a guy and i want to win and it's not happening here So why would I want to stick around this bass? It was doing the podcast tour last year, man He was he was just talking about how bad they were and how they got there and how they can be better He didn't go scorched earth, but he was pretty blunt about the assessment of the J's remember what he said about them

So we're gonna miss in an autonomy He called it like he saw which everyone saw at the same way He's like we put all our eggs into the basket of Otani. They didn't get them and then they didn't have a plan. And it kind of feels like we're doing that again. You know, they tried Soto. I don't know how hard they tried or how much they really thought they were in on it. I don't blame them for trying to go out there Soto and Otani go for it. Sure. Give it a shot. Nothing wrong with that. But you better have a, you better have a plan if it doesn't work. And as of now, it hasn't worked. Again, they have the luxury of another month

before pitchers and catchers report. There are a number of free agents out there. But as of now, no news on Vladdy and the Jays in terms of arbitration. He's going to be with the team next year. But man, it's something this blue jay team in this offseason is wild you put a quarter in blue jay fans they will talk your ear off right now and anyway we got the Leafs in action tonight down in Carolina we'll come back and get into that Joseph Wall getting the start sounds like patch righty patch ready to get a night off Ryan Reeves coming out of the lineup Morgan Riley will pair up with Chris Tanev tonight. We talked about that earlier in the week as well. So we'll

start teeing that game up. I have a list, five people in the NFL with the most pressure to get a Super Bowl win this year. All right. I got a list for it. Super Bowl win, not just playoff win. Super Bowl, chasing Super Bowls this season. All right. We'll get to that list a little bit later on as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. 2025 is your year. Start it right with New Year, New You on IR Radio.

Good vibes playlists like party hits, chill tracks on Lo-Fi and motivational podcasts to crush your resolutions. wellness finances travel and more New Year new you I hear radio dot CA and on the free I hear radio app All right here the run coming up just after five o'clock leaves Carolina tonight Raptors in Cleveland last time I checked they were a fifteen and a half point dog And that doesn't seem like enough Dave on it

Oh, how are they possibly gonna like they got crushed by the Knicks last night? And if it weren't for Chris Boucher in the last like two minutes all of a sudden looking like Michael Jordan They would have lost by 30 last night, and I haven're right. And I haven't exactly been paying close attention to the Cleveland Cavaliers. I know they had an unbelievable start, but they're on, like are they serious? Like are they a serious team, man? Yeah, they're very serious, man.

What are they, 30 and four now, or 31 and four? 32 and four, Hayes, after beating the Thunder last night. I guess that's the one justification for why the line might be a little lower than you'd expect tonight, is because the Cavs are coming off a signature win and the adrenaline was pumping through them last night. They were on national TV. I guess Mitchell's not going to play tonight against the Raptors. So that takes a few points off the total. But man,

they're a machine. And the way they just dummied the Raptors on opening night was a freaking dunkfest with those guys just absolutely hammering the Raptors. Yeah,, which is a freaking dunkfest, with those guys just absolutely hammering the Raptors. Yeah, I'd have a hard time getting the spread if I was on the underdog tonight. Do you think it's good that they're this good, Fast Chuck? Is it like the end of like the high profile, we got to put a super team together to be successful? Or what are your thoughts on it? Well, yeah, for sure it's the end of the super team era because the owners made it that, right? Oh, dog, with the way they've struck to the new salary cap

with this so-called second apron we can certainly have to max guys you know what what unless you really get lucky and figure out a way to to work another one in there but it's you know it's punitive to have the kinds of salaries that say the court gold state warriors had in the in the splash brothers kevin Durant there where they had a lock on three the best players in the league and and yeah I think it's I don't know if it's good for the league

that's that's the room that remains to be seen I think we've been talking a lot about what's wrong with the NBA this year and I think part of it is maybe the lack of dynasties lack of dynasties what about guys don't want to play like I found it hilarious they were searching for reasons of the fan like disengagement lack of viewership they got guys that don't want to play to start with that that's definitely at the forefront and they've also got aging superstars that you know are are just not overly competitive anymore you know you look at

the jimmy butler story that's a mess down in miami Miami He wants out where does he want to go to team up with this with Kevin Durant Phoenix and Anthony Edwards and in yokich and Who's the well, shea shake it you'll do so exam I know but are those guys gonna move the needle like the stars before them? I don't think they're gonna they don't know they just don't it's unreasonable to expect anyone to match lebron i think staff katie that's it uh... you know you know when the new yama when these when we start to make it and when we start to put up a loss last night even have a great he's the one guy that could maybe flip the switch and be like this is

must watch and they had a time in every game big time because the the way the nb a exists now in a lot of ways in terms of the talking points and narrative it's goat talk all the time. It's you know there's got to be someone on the forefront that you can compare to Jordan or whatever and I think that's probably what they need is Wemba Nyama to get into his third fourth fifth season and you start looking at stats and then someone's gonna jump first the national media in the states and say he's the best

Greatest ever better than Jordan. He's in the states. They have a little they do Jordan LeBron every day almost all the time It's insane. They all get away from it. I find it to be outrageous Yeah, you're right though He's like the hardcore basketball guys that I've kind of grown up in the business with over the years. There's already guys down in the business with over the years is already guys down in the states proclaiming the timeline on when wendy will be to go later i know he's twenty now wait till he's twenty five and he will be the go like it's gonna be that quick

because and you know what you watch him last night and and almost every night this year like the way he does stuff it just doesn't seem fair like he he threw in that little the one footed little flip shot from three point range have you seen him do that? Yeah. He goes off

one foot from three point range like he's putting in a layup and it looks like a layup but it's a three pointer i mean i've never seen that before. It looks like you're in your room and you have one of those like plastic backboard you know what i'm saying like the little nerf balls. A nerf ball. That's what it looks like, man. It does. He's shooting 13, 15 threes a night, which is crazy considering his size, yet he's effective.

But he does have an element of size, well, obviously, but the way he plays, he blocks everything. Like he's a menace defensively in the paints. He terrifies the opposition. There are great things happening in the NBA. They're not he terrifies the opposition and there are great things happening in the NBA. You just, they're not happening in the, in LA, you know, it's not happening in Miami. The Knicks are a good team, very good team, but it's Oklahoma City, it's Cleveland, San Antonio is making noise, Denver and Yocage and what he's doing, you know, and again, we'll see what the Raptors have in store tonight. Mitchell not playing them coming off a big win probably speaks to the line, but I'm not sure it matters with the Raptors have in store tonight Mitchell not playing them coming off a big win probably speaks to the line

But I'm not sure it matters with the Raptors right now the way that they're playing Wow, they can't match up against this team. They're just so huge well that's another thing like Mowgli and Alan are he like you saw what they did last night Dave like the two of them are an absolute handful and I don't see how the Raptors are gonna find a way to Break that down tonight. But we'll catch up with Jack Armstrong from Cleveland.

Jack's coming up in a couple of hours. Leaveson Carolina tonight. William Nylander, eight games without a goal, four without a point. And this, like the numbers, it kind of snuck up on me. We addressed it the other day. He's kind of in a slump and you know he's going to break out. It's just a matter of time but those are pretty extreme numbers

eight games without a goal for without a point and he he is really it's not like he's on the verge of breaking out his findings are due which is the most important thing for a high-skill player like that and the weird thing about it is in my experiences you have to just start doing like regular player stuff. Like, you gotta get on the bike, you gotta do extra. And I don't know if that's mental to tell your brain that's like you're trying your

best to get out of it, but it's like a cycle. You always gotta work hard and you gotta do all the professional things, but it's like, to get out of it, you gotta shoot extra pox and you gotta do all the professional things but it's like to get out of it you got to shoot extra pox and you got to do all this stuff and it just usually his game is free flowing and it just looks like he's the best player on the ice every night and when that goes away you got to just you got to dig out of it because his timing's off he's passing it when he shouldn't pass he's not getting those free breakaway looks which I don't know people are on to them or what's going on but it wouldn't shock me this is the usually the end of the line for a guy with that

type of high-end skill like it doesn't go much longer than this wouldn't shock me tonight if he gets on the board exactly exactly I wouldn't shock you but I think I think to you you know kind of underlines how as much as you know they're on a five game win streak and everything seems you know hunky-dory like you know this these-dory like you know this these five games they've won a row here at like they've all been one goal games or to go games with empty netters

they've all been a four of the big against the islanders in the flyers not exactly a murderers row and by the way joseph wall has been the best goalie in the league over those five games like he's been credible but outstanding and he's going again tonight and that I mean I got a great appreciation for that that's it it should be a formality clearly with Stolarz out you're you're in the prime of your career and you're coming off a day

off you should play. You know what can help a skill player out when they're slumping? The power play. Well, yes. In this case, I would say it's probably the opposite. That might be what's killing Willie, is he's subjected to this power play right now. I don't know, that power play, it's an awful way to describe it, but it just looks disorganized. And I don't know if it's because they've got too many guys that want to be the guy, but if you look at the power play couple years ago in tampa bay there was cooter off there was stankos both one timers

and they would thread the needle through the scene to each other both could shoot the park and i was too dangerous options that nobody wants to deal with braden point was in the middle of that and sometimes it's cooter off would just make a short pass the braden point and he'd slap it in the net and it would be Sorelli Or someone else in front of the night, but who's the tall kid from Ottawa?

Nick Paul Nick Paul would be in front of the net one of the two would be in front of the net and it would Be headman. So if you take each individual player You can insert them into those positions like Matthews goes in for Kucherov positions like Matthews goes in for Kuturov, Nylander goes in for Stamkos, Mitch Marner goes to where Braden Point is, and John Tavares or Matthew Nise goes in front of the net where Sorelli is, and Morgan Riley or somebody's got to play that role from the back end. And I don't know if it's because no one's got a bomb from back there and they don't have that threat while they're struggling, but they've got to fix it, man. It's such an important element to the game these days.

Yeah, it's a huge part of the second half. You know, their penalty kill has been really good this year. Their power play has just never been good. No. There's been some pockets, but for the most part, it hasn't been very good. And it's been for a bit. Like, it's... Yeah.

Well, I mean, what plagued them the last couple of years was it was great for about 70 games. Dude, they had that one season. I don't know if it was the COVID season, but it was like the best power play that's ever played the game. And as soon as that ended, it's gone in the tank. The end of the last couple of years, it's really gone sideways for them. And come playoff time, you've got to have it. Special teams is one of those pillars that make or break a series. They always do.

And it goes without saying, you've got to have a kill, but you've also got to rely on that. teams is one of those pillars that make or break a series. They always do and you know it goes without saying you gotta have a kill but you've also got to rely on that. You gotta rely on a power play goal in the third period at some point over the course of every series. It has to happen. Like it's got to get you back in a game or win you a game. And they've got 40 games left to figure it out. You still have time but they've got to figure it out and it's been disoriented all year. Again, it feels like when Matthews is here, it actually gets worse. It just seems like when he's there, to your point, oh, there's too many chefs in the kitchen.

There's too much of, I got to find a perfect play here or we got to get the big guy going. Let's get it to Austin. Everything's going to run through him and it becomes easy to defend you know and earlier in the year remember they tried to break it up and they broke it up for like a game or two and then that but and then they just load it back up you talk about Matthews I just don't understand if you watch Alex Ovechkin and people you can't throw at me you can't compare Matthews to Ovi they do shoot the puck differently and they shoot like Ovi is just a bomb from the top of the dots and that's what it is And you know if you want to talk about Ovi's motion on the power play, it's non-existent

He just stands there and he's like if you want to let this be open, I'm going to burn you So why not just put Matthews at the top of the right dot on his off wing and be like, you want this pass to be open? Then go ahead because I'll burn you. And if you don't, if you take it away, there is so much else open. If you look at the Washington power play and the guys, the teams that kill against it, when they take away Ovi, there is so much open ice in the middle and down low because everyone is afraid to death of his shot so use Matthews as a decoy for everyone else if you if you really want to and if he gets the

pockets in the back of the net like there's a starting point right there get Austin Matthews the most dangerous player on the ice where he's a threat and he makes people afraid but I the one thing about Matthew is though, I agree that that would be a great idea to sort of build around and they've never really quite done it that way. So I'd like to see that, but the one thing about him is he doesn't really define himself with that bomb the way Ovechkin does, right? His kind of way of goal scoring is like find the hole and hit the hole. It's not necessarily about just sheer force.

Okay, Dave, well then that's Mark's of Arge job to figure out where to put him, where it's... maybe he goes into the middle, I don't know. But someone's got to figure out a position to put him on the ice where he's the most dangerous, and if that's not open, everything else is wide open because they're afraid to death of Austin Matthews Yeah, something's got to give I mean it goes without saying and I'm you know, it's a priority for them I think they're 18th in the league or something ranked 18 power plays. Yeah like that that there's just too much talent there and There's too much invested in that to not be in the top five like that should be the goal and it's a reasonable one You should have a top five power play every single year.

And there's a number of different things I think we could all point to that they're gonna try to figure out. And taking the front office out of it between now and the end of the year. Obviously the front office is gonna acquire some pieces and look to upgrade the roster or whatever. But who's in the room going into the game tonight?

I think the power play and sorting that out, figuring it out and getting it clicking is a high, high priority. I think keeping Joseph Wall healthy is at the top of that list. I don't know how you do that outside of him grinding through some injuries, right? Him basically knocking on wood and avoiding injury as much as possible. And I think you look at Morgan Riley, I'm intrigued by the idea of him getting a shot to play with Tanov tonight. Because when Tanov was acquired and signed,

that was collectively everyone's belief that there's Morgan's pair for the next five years, right? He and Tanov will play. And they started camp that way, believe they started the season that way, but it just, it never clicked. And McCabe and Tano of were such a good pair but with mccabe's health up in the air

i don't know it's it's interesting how the defense court it's it's really become chris tana's defense corps like he's played at forty two games and everything runs around him this is so effective and he's so good and everyone else just kind of fits in and it it doesn't feel like a scenario where I think in years past you'd look at it like okay Tanev big opportunity for you you're playing with Morgan I look at it the opposite way big

opportunity for Morgan you get to play with Tanev yeah let's see what you got it seems like there's no reason on paper it shouldn't click like you got a guy that can move up the ice and a guy that can take control of the own zone and and cover up and do all the right things. It looks like it should be a magical fit. Yeah. Well, exactly. Because you know what you get the tan of. You know exactly what he's going to do. It's on Riley to feel comfortable getting up in the play. That's when he's at his best. When he's up in the play, he's holding the line, he's driving some offense, he's

aggressive. He got walked the other night He got lucky wall stopped him. Can't remember who danced him Might have been Mitch gov for lot and anyway, he's defensively. It's not gonna be perfect for Riley It just that well in the league 11 years, right Davey is what he is He's gonna have some flaws there But he's got to pick up every other element of his game to make you overlook some of those defensive flaws. And he's got to provide more offense. Like this guy is only on pace for 40 points this year, a little less than 40. I mean, this is a guy who threatened Ian Turnbull's franchise

record 70 plus, you know, at his best, you know, in terms of a point producer. And he's just not doing that this year. And I think part of it is the idea that he's been at his best with a steady right-handed stay-at-home guy there for him to kind of give him comfort that he can you know kind of weave and Kind of wend his way through traffic and join the rush as often as you can but for whatever reason this year Just hasn't worked out that way and he hasn't been the threat that you expect to pop in a goal here And there to to contribute a big play when you need one and I think that's I think the Leafs It's on their list of problems. It's not particularly high, but it's on there. Yeah, and I think he you know Without your best defenseman

Being your best defenseman and Morgan Riley right now has not been best their best defenseman uh... i think that's a problem certainly in terms of a pecking order with price tag to write highest paid defensemen you gotta get a lot of value i think he's been fine but fine isn't gonna cut it by the end of the year and when you're really chasing something significant here uh... pierre lebron in twenty we've got steve phillips coming up on on what's up with ladi arbitration the jays again we're about a month out from pitchers and catchers reporting a lot still going on in baseball

So we'll catch up with Steve and I got a list of five players and coaches They're in there too who need a Super Bowl the pressure list for chasing a Super Bowl. We'll get to that overdrive continues TSN 1050N on TSN4. All right, we sent Al's brother out into the world with a pair of leave tickets. You have to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them. This is the final clue of the week, Thursday's final clue. I think yesterday we knew where he was, but I'm sure there's still people trying to figure this out. Let's get to Thursday's Al's brother's clue.

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how you guys want to hear my uh... five pack players and coaches fired up i think facing the most pressure on a super well here we go hazy bees list hazy be listing on a thursday number five is going to surprise you guys Patrick Mahomes Patrick Mahomes now let me explain why he has pressure and I'm just gonna warn you right now if Dan Campbell's on this list I'm walking out I'll walk out there's no business of him being on this list go ahead with the explanation of Mahomes here's why Mahomes is on the list He is he has tunnel vision Tom Brady's in front of him That's it. There's one guy in front of him and that's Tom Brady terms of that goat conversation. We're talking legacy here

What is Tom Brady never done? He's never won three in a row and if Mahomes can do it I think it would be a massive massive Ace in the hole for him where I don't know if he'll get to seven career Super Bulls or eight career Super Bowls and pass Brady. I don't think he'll play until he's 44 or 45 I don't think that's gonna happen. So the longevity the amount of winning the winning spread out You're asking a lot you have to strike. Well, the iron's hot. The iron is hot. He's got a chance at three straight He's got the number one seed. He's probably get the best team a real close to it patrick mahomes still has pressure because of the legacy he's chasing i

got my homes at five fast checking you weigh in on number five place i mean of all the people have a lot of pressure on a lot of would make my list okay he wouldn't make my kizzee he's got three super bowl he's twenty nine years old I just went east to west and he didn't put any thought into it. I like your theory but he can look he's 29 he can get to Brady if it's just about how long he's gonna get a three-peat opportunity ever again I don't think that's gonna happen. I think this is your chance to do something Brady never did. Alright? So I got him at five.

I knew I'd get pushed back on that. That's fine. And it sounds like I'm gonna get pushed back at number four. Dan Campbell is at number four. Dan Campbell, the head coach. Do you want me to go down and do the panel right now? I, yeah, I want you to- Go ahead and let me explain- Let's hear why Dan Campbell's on this list. Here's why, okay? Aaron Glenn is defensive coordinator. He may leave after this year.

Ben Johnson, his offensive coordinator, he may leave after this year. You lose both coordinators who are studs and if that got both sides of the ball playing outstanding, you are under the gun to get it done this year. And I don't think there's other teams in the NFC that really terrify you right now Philly's good They are really good down the stretch hurts with the concussion hasn't played in a couple of weeks We'll see what he's got Minnesota I think has taken a step back the Packers certainly have the door is wide open for Detroit They've been the best team in the NFC all year. They got the one seed. They're at home. This is it, man. Do not mess with fate in Detroit. You've never won a Super

Bowl. Who knows what's going to happen to that Lions team in the future. Again, strike where the iron saw it. This is the year to do it. Dan Campbell at four. No, it's insane. They are playing with so much house money, more house money. Do you know what they've been for the last 30 years, dude? Yeah. Losers. Complete losers. I get it. So you think it's like Super Bowl or Bust? And by the way, I've never understood this. Why don't you pay your coordinators, just pay them what you have to pay them to stay. Pay them head coach money. Who cares?

Wow. It's a lot of money, man. The question is, do they want that? Do they want to work for someone else? I don't know if both guys are are gonna get my guess would be at least one of them Well, why do they want to be in a cycle of guys just getting hired and fired? You got a great situation sign a four or five year deal as a coordinator Tell them to up the money and Bob sure might happen if maybe you got a win a Super Bowl for that to happen though Win a Super Bowl then the owner says all right now I got the money for you I just made a fortune. I can't pay if you keep losing in the playoffs Dan can't pay your guys

All right, I got Dan can go ahead I like this one more I like this one more than my homes as much as oh dogs offended I understand why like I do think there's a real real fear there It's almost an inevitability that the Lions note this coaching staff will never be the same that this is a magical year yes with these guys run out all cylinders and there you know pulling fake fumbles and you know picket fence stuff and everything's ladder and all this all the trick plays are working there they're winning every game

it's it's a good time and it may never be repeated ok number three i've nix serianni the head coach the eagles right this guy i think he's on thin ice even though they're a good year they did last year they did the owner and gm city to fire your your quarters get to new guys he got them it's worked out for them was in a super bowl few years ago we saw what happened last year he's been in fights on the sideline with the fans i feel like if it gets ugly here i think he's got to get to a super bowl anyway i think anything prior to that could put him in the firing line

especially if they lose early. It's crazy though like garbage teams that that just don't win and like the Carolina Panthers fire that coach but a guy that continually puts out successful seasons like isn't there anything worth good years? There should be. You know what I mean? Everyone just looks at the coat, oh, they were talking about firing him last year. Yeah. How many wins did they have? Exactly. And they did turn it around. I just think he's still on thin ice. I feel like the way he operates, the way he runs things there, I think the ownership, the GM's really highly, like he's really beloved around football and there's a lot of belief in him and the way he's operating the team

He's put forth for the Eagles. I think the thought would be if Syrianic we're so good We just need a closer and you're not it and that that's basically what I'm saying You're right. Okay quickly here number two. I got Josh Allen. I got Allen at number two All right, Josh, you know, you could probably flip a coin at number one I think you know who number one's going to be now. But Josh Allen, he's chasing Mahomes. He's got to get one. He's in a market that's starved for it.

They've never won. He's so good. I think he's worthy of the MVP this year. I think he's going to win it. And they've got a very good team. They've got a great offensive line, good coach. There's pressure on McDermott, too. There's no question.

But Allen's different because he's the face of that franchise he's the guy he's the one that's gonna get him over the top if they win it's gonna be because of him and I'll just finish it then you guys can comment I got Lamar at one Lamar Jackson at one he's already got two MVPs he might get a third one it could be a co-MVP year I wouldn't be shocked by that that has happened before I think Brett Farve and Barry Sanders had a co-MVP back in the 90s I wouldn't be shocked you know Harbaugh said at the call of the feedback in the nineties i would be shocked uh... you know the harbaugh said at the start of the year he thinks he could be

the greatest quarterback ever in order to do that you have to win any in his performance is the class of not been good they have not been strong lamar's got to perform he's got a win so i have a marge accident one josh allen it too nixie rianni three dan campbell Campbell at four, Patrick Mahomes at five. Can't argue with the two guys at the top. Yep.

Because there's basically one thing left for them to do and that's what the list is all about. Done everything else. Got to win a Super Bowl. All-time great talents, great quarterbacks, future Hall of Famers. You got to win. Don't be Marino. You got to win.

A little shot at Dan. I'm Bill's bias. I might have thrown Sean McDermott in there as well man. He's got just as much as Josh Allen. I thought about McDermott. McDermott better have his head on straight. Take Dan Campbell out and put McDermott in there. You think so?

I could reason with that but I want Campbell in there. It just gets more clicks. Here's the worst. If Allen has a great game and they lose, that's going to be tough for McDermott. Very valid. Very valid our two coming up here Lebron Steve Phillips coming up as well overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app You've been listening to overdrive powered by FanDuel FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score