OverDrive - OverDrive - January 9, 2026 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson

Episode Date: January 9, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins the show to break down the latest NHL headlines, including a difficult stretch for Sheldon Keefe and the New Jersey Devils, the downfall of the Winnipeg Jets despite a prolific top line, the Ottawa Senators goaltending struggles, and the return of The GOAT Tracker with the race for the Hart Trophy. The guys then discuss Nathan MacKinnon’s ceiling as one of the top players of all-time, reveal the newest OverDrive tagline, and Hayes makes 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. Hour 2 Overdrive continues, powered by fan.

Duel, bringing you more ways to play your game, your way. We'll get to our best bets later in the hour. We did that marketing campaign, or we were talking about it earlier in the year back in September, like coming up with a catchphrase. TSN's going to put some time and effort into that. We will come to a conclusion on that later this hour, right? The final catchphrase that we'll be representing overdrive. I think it's worthy of it, and I think it's understandable.

And I think, you know, newer fans, older fans probably will think. Yeah, that makes sense. So I'll tell you about that a little bit later on. Leaves back in action tomorrow night coming off another win last night. Johnny was in Philly. Mike Johnson will join us here in a few moments. Winnipeg lost again. Winnipeg.

They had... They up 3-1. They were up 3-1 after the first. They had five shots the rest of the game. Five shots. They're a disaster. A disaster. I feel bad for them.

Everything that, I don't know, you guys, tell me, but last year it seemed like everything worked perfect for them. You know, guys at career years, all of that type of stuff. Seems like now everything is going wrong. This guy is just crushing it too. This 97 is like, I watched 29 play last night, and I, those two are just, they're in a different league. Well, McKinnon at four points, right, last night? Yeah.

Well, let me ask you this, noodles. With those two monsters, what would Hayes' son out in San Jose have to do to win a heart trophy this year. My guy, Macklin, Celebrini. Which we all love. I love Macklin, true, but I just, I don't know. I mean, and again, we're assuming health, right? Right.

But, I mean, the two have separated, I think, like the McKinnon and McDavid. I think it's going to be. I do, too. But, Mac, listen, did we pick San Jose to make the playoffs this year? Nobody did. If they make the playoffs, if they make the playoffs, this Celebrini's got to be in that conversation. Oh, of course.

He's already kind of got a stranglehold on the third spot. Somebody can jump up. And we discussed yesterday. And I want to touch on the Jets again here after I'm done this point. McCar sooner or later is going to win the Hart Trophy, too. Like, he's just that good and that much better than everybody else. But for this year, those two are gone and we'll see what happens. The Jets, guys, it seems like we can sit here and say and be friendly because there are

Canadian friends. and stuff, but if this was like a U.S. market that wasn't really relevant, you know what we'd be saying? They're just flat out terrible. Yeah. You know what? They're 11 in a row?

Yeah, they're in last place in the league. So we can say off year or this or that, it's just, it's been a mess, and there's no other way to describe it. Like, we can kind of skim around the edges and be nice, but sorry, if this was a different team in a non-relevant market, we'd be

saying, that's a disaster. Unfortunately, that's the case right now. It stings, but it's the truth. The standings don't lie. Exactly. 11 in a row. And the other day, noodles, they were in a tough spot, and you knew it's getting bad when they were like, yeah, we deserve that one.

And it was like, well, okay, you deserve that one. What about the one that you were up 3-1 against the Oilers? Did you deserve that one, too? Like, it's just, and I get it. And you can say, well, you do feel for the guys because that is no fun, man. going to the rink every day, almost kind of sensing that you're going to lose somehow, that is the worst place to be in in pro sports. Because it's just you can't see the light, man.

You cannot see the light. I think they've got it, you know, I feel like they've got a Boston Bruin vibe from last year. Where it just, you know, it keeps going south. You're probably going to move. I don't think you're moving their legacy players. I think they've got a chance to, you know, to dub a. few players or whatever, retool and go right back at it next year. Because, like I say, their core isn't, they're not 38 years old.

You've got a top-notch goaltender who had a surgery and is coming back. Maybe it's the best scenario is you play Eric Comrie every second game and give Hellebuck, you know, some rest this year and all of that. And they, through osmosis, it continues to go down. You trade some guys at the deadline. You retool, and you go right back at it. I just think it's one of it's like a Boston Bruins. it's got that vibe from Boston.

Yeah, that's reasonable. I mean, the year before, they were the President's trophy. They won the President's trophy. Like, they're not a... It's a weird year. Like, Hallibuck has hit a wall here. I don't know what's, you know, the injury and all that. And you can't expect them to just win every single night for you.

Right. And if you're going to put up five shots in 40 minutes against the Oilers, you're dead. But they, you know, they don't have depth scoring. They're second lines of mess. But you're right. They have Hallibuck. They got Morrissey. You got, you know, Shifley, Connor, Filarty.

Those guys aren't going anywhere. Right. But it's over now. Like now you might as well commit to it and move off pieces, play comory to your point. And maybe they reset with a new coach in the summer. I don't know. That wouldn't be shocking. Like there hasn't been a coach that's been fired yet this year.

Like the devil's lost pretty badly to pit last night. I thought that was trouble for our guy Sheldon Keev, considering the night before they lost a night. Something is going on in New Jersey. I don't know. You guys obviously talked. It seems like it's the Quinn Hughes stuff, right? They didn't get them and guys were asked to wave no moves and then it got ugly. That's an outsider looking in, but it wouldn't be shocking.

I don't know why the nature I was thinking this the other day. Why would Marksham get left in for nine? I just, that hurt my heart. I love the guy. That's bizarre. That hurt my heart. That one hurt my heart because, you know, you know, regardless if you're having a good night or not, there should be a number you go, I got it.

You got to get the. guy added there just now unless jake allen was on the bench and deathly ill with the flu or something or has a nursing and injury then i get it then played last night i think exactly we know that as fact the jersey guys being asked to wave is that fact that some no i think it's the problem is we got to be careful what's being reported on lines right surely ever well yes of course yeah but but at the end of the day nine cob is nine cob and then afterwards sheldon saying well we thought we were right there because we had 44 shots or whatever. I mean, Sorkin was unbelievable, but you gave up a nine-nothing.

Exactly. It's like shot effects 101. You have nothing. Like the Islanders cared. Once it was 6-0-0, they're like, go ahead, do whatever you want. It was like Colorado last night, probably. Like, what do they care in the third period? Game's over.

Just try not to get hurt. Get the hell out of here. All right, here's Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. What's happening? Johnny? What's up, fellas? us how are we doing? What I like about the Markstrom game, boys,

is that from all reports, noodles, you'll like this. It's the worst performance since, like, the analytical era has been started, like the goals they have above expected. He was, like, minus seven and a half, some absurd number like that. So, just a crazy, it's crazy.

I'm down in Jersey right now. It's wild times here. And, you know, Keith's getting asked about his job security. Tom Fitzgerald, you can't find him if you tried to. They got to re- activate COVID-Sevich. So it means they've got to make trades or send guys the minors

and maybe carry just 20 people. Like, it's for a team that I thought that was going to be pretty good, they seem to be really in a bit of a mess right now. What do they mean they can't find Fitsy? Like, what are they saying about it? They just don't hear from the guy? Yeah, I mean, he's a pretty affable guy

in the summer in the early in the year when things are going well. He seemed to be more available to the media. And what they're saying is that now that it's not going so well, They'd like to hear from the GM and what's going on and what are his thoughts and what are his plans. And, you know, sort of as typical, whether it's, you know, a quarterly or halfway point sort of press or availability. And they haven't heard anything about him about all the stuff.

Like whether it's the Quinn Hughes fall out and not getting him, whether it's the injuries, whether it's the salary cap situation, whatever. Oh, they just haven't heard from them. They haven't seen them. So they're like, what's like, where are you? We want to hear from you. That's reasonable. I'm not sure the coach wouldn't mind it either. Yes.

Sheldon's probably, can you come out and take a bullet or two? Like, it's an interrogation every single day with Sheldon Keith. You know, it's, it's very fine. And I don't know if you guys ever played on a team when the coach was fired in the middle of the year. I played on two. Yes. And once the coach starts getting asked post-game, are you about your job security? Like, it's a pretty poignant environment because he can't help but think about it.

You can't help but hear it. And oftentimes you're like, okay, well, something's going down here. and you sort of start waiting for something to happen, and that's not good for anyone. So, Shel's handling it well. He's saying all the right things, and he's trying to get the team going,

but it's, yeah, it's gotten dark pretty quickly here. Big time. Well, I mean, we segue to Jersey talking about Winnipeg, which, if it's dark in Jersey,

it's a black hole in the peg right now. I mean, it is a disaster. Our second home. Our second home. We love Winnipeg. Maybe we got to get back out there. They were kind of,

well, they weren't humming. And they lost to Seattle, I think, the night we were out there and we were talking about them. But they were looking a lot better. This was before the Hellebuck injury. This was before, you know, what is it, 11 right now? Is that what they're at? They're 3 and 20 in their last 23 games, I believe.

That's expansion era numbers. Like that's like old school welcome to the league Washington Capitals type numbers. So I don't know. I don't know what they do out there. Scott Arnails is a coach and Chelvin's in Jersey and no coach GMs have been fired, no coaches have been fired. It's a little bit surprising that we're mid-January and nothing has really happened on that front.

Well, in the most part, I think we look at the East anyways. No teams are out of it, right? With Columbus in last place, there's six out of the playoffs right now. So there's no reason to really fire any coached in East. but in the West with what's going on in Vancouver, it is so strange guys. But you look at their team, and what makes this even scarier to me, because for Winnipeg is that it'd be one thing if, you know, Morrissey was having a tough year or Shifley or Connor or Valardi were injured or not productive,

but for the most part, other than Helibuck's injury, and he hasn't been quite as great as last year, but he's still been above average. Their best players, that first line in Josh Morrissey, they're all having good to excellent years. Your best players are playing awesome, and you've lost 20 of 23 games. That is sobering for sure, because those are the guys that if they're going,

you're supposed to be good enough to basically be okay, and you still can't win with those guys having, you know, excellent years, that is tough to take. Their depth just, they have so many guys like one goal in 17, no goal in 12, one goal in 22. Like all their depth guys are struggling right now. So I don't know, there is no easy answer. There is no quick fix.

I don't, you know, and I also just ran the numbers today. Like if you look at, they have 35 points, I'm not mistaken. And if you think of the West, maybe 90 on a down year to make the playoffs, probably be more, but maybe it ends up being 90. That's 55 points more. they got 40 games left. They get the 56 points, let's say. They're going to go to 28 and 12.

So, best case scenario on a low playoff benchmark, they can only lose 12 games the rest of the way. I mean, you know, they're two weeks away from just throwing the towel, and I guess this is done, right? Yeah, Johnny, before you came on, I was talking about, like, a team that won the President's Trophy last year, and then all of a sudden this year, it seems like it just, nothing's going right for them, regardless of what it is.

And does it have a Boston vibe for you from last season where maybe it's just not going well? They might trade a few pieces and then go right back at it next season with the spine of the team that you just laid out? Yeah, yeah, a little bit. Yeah, because so many things went well, the one-gold games, the overtimes, HalaBuck, MVP, all that stuff. And, yeah, they probably were not as good as last year's record. And they're not going to bottom out and rebuild because the guys that we just mentioned are all signs. another three, four, five, or more years. So, yeah, I can see something like that.

But I will also say only once in NHL history, it's like in the 30s, and it was the Rangers, when there were 16, did a team go from first to last in back-to-back seasons? It's never happened in the modern NHL. So what we're seeing at a Winnipeg, if they get there, is historic. It's never happened that someone's dropped so fast so far. Crazy.

Johnny, what do you make? I don't even know where to start with Ottawa. They came out with a statement yesterday. They got completely pumped in a back-to-back against the Colorado Avalanche. Where do you even start with those guys? So, I mean, I almost want to start where it's easiest on the ice where their goaltending has been an issue all year long. So the worst goaltending in the league.

And even though they get strong underlying numbers with bad goaltending, it doesn't matter what you do. And that's what they're trying to fix. the fact that they signed James Reimer to a PCO mid-game, tells you how bad that game must have been going. Like, what are we doing in the middle of the game? So, like, that part is sort of, like, I do think they're better than their record,

but it's their goal-tending and it just is letting them down. So that's sort of the easy part. As far as getting rinsed yesterday, can you imagine with what happened yesterday, the statement from Seos and everything else? Of course they played bad last night. Like, it's obviously a thing, like not not the rumors are true but like obviously the rumors are so widespread that it's being in the

room that's why steve sales would have felt compelled to make the statement he did so the team is completely distracted completely bothered and they go out and paloado and get pumped like that is very understandable almost predictable as rough as it looked almost predictable my only question of this guys is i think we all understand what steve stales was doing like we all know Steve and he's a good dude and he's trying to protect his team and his organization and stop these rumors from getting any legs or validity. Okay. Understood. But by saying what he said publicly, he now has introduced it to a much larger audience where we have to talk about it, where the players have to be asked about it because it has given it, you know, he's given it

oxygen publicly. If he would have just sort of ignored it because it's not true, then it would have sort of gone away, whatever, it's not a big deal. You would think, and yes, there'd be a corner of the social media world involved in the Ottawa centers that might pick it up, but the larger hockey world in general would not have heard anything about this. And so he may have short-term made it worse

because now when the guys go to play their next game, you kind of have to ask them about how the team is feeling, how they're dealing with all this stuff that's going on, whereas before the players would not have to play. to talk about any of this publicly. We would never talk about any of this publicly because it's not a public story. And in that sense, you know, he may have made it a little bit worse before it gets better. Yeah, and for those that aren't aware, the statement was directed at an internet rumor about

Lena Solmark and why he's on a personal leave and what, you know, speculating what's going on with the team in the room. And anyway, by all my understanding is it was from some Twitter account that just showed up out of nowhere and it just spiraled out of control. And now that the Twitter account is dead. And now it's dead and it's day of, which is crazy that Stoos jumped on it. What I think probably happened was they learned from the Cory Perry stuff. Remember Perry in Chicago how crazy that got?

And he said, once it's out and it's everywhere, it's not just going to die. That was probably their calculation. We're going to kill it with a statement now. We're not going to wait a week where people say, why aren't you addressing this? It's crazy. Everyone thinks, blah, blah, blah. So they got out in front of it on a Thursday night in Colorado when they were getting, you know, it's almost like just dump it all right now. Get it done.

Get it out. It's over. It's statement. We're not going to address it again. I somewhat understand that. But you're right. Like the reality is 99% of people aren't online. Don't know what the hell is going on.

And now they're going to seek it out. And find it and be like, oh, what's that all about? And, yeah, like, I think we all get it. We get why he did it and when he did it and how he did it. And it was. very strong language. Like that was an over the top.

Trolls and scum. Yeah, like that was written like a, not like a, you know, a polished executive, but more like a passionate, you know, person. Like a Trump tweet.

I mean, that's a pretty fair analogy. How it was written out. It was all emotion and no sort of control. But yeah, but I do think it just speaks to sort of how Ottawa, who had such a great year last year, got back to the playoffs.

And it's not like it's unraveled. They're only, again, what are they, five points out of the playoffs, six points out of the playoffs. But it feels like it's slipping, it's slipping quickly in Ottawa more than it should. It is, Johnny, based on a lot of the things that you just laid out. The statement, again, I was there, you know, I really haven't talked to a lot of guys about it. Obviously, what blew up online yesterday, it was a back-to-back, so there was no morning skate. You don't see anybody.

You just show up at the ring to play. So I You know My phone is blowing up With the time changing that Like I'm trying to sleep And my phone's blowing up You're seeing this

You're seeing this I'm like no I'm not I'm trying to sleep And then get to the rink You talk to a few of the scribes there And they're like yeah you're seeing You know And then the statement comes out

And the team was no good It all came to a head But guys there's only one question left How are they going to get out of it Like how is Allmark Going to go from not playing To playing And start winning

and play, like, what's the way out? The way out for me, oh, Johnny, you can weigh in. We don't know the nature of what Linus Hallmark is going through, and I'm certainly not going to listen to some jackass online who starts something. The bottom line is they need goaltending. They need guys to make saves. Maryland is their only NHL goaltender. He hasn't played well.

He's got to play well. The team's got to play better. It's different because we had this argument a couple weeks ago about the Leafs, and it's like, is it the coach? is it the roster construction. I come back to the players. The players have to play. I'm sorry, they've got to go out and play.

Regardless of what's going on, every person has adversity in their life. They all do. Everyone's got sad stories to tell everybody. Bottom line is they've got to play. And whether they're distracted or not, they haven't played well enough. And to me, you've got to find a way to stop the bleeding.

And it's not going to be easier because you think Florida's happy, sitting there waiting for them in Ottawa tomorrow? Florida tomorrow, and Florida's lost twice to Toronto, Montreal. like a pump last last time. Yes. They're not happening. No, you're right. I mean, you don't want to say it's just one thing, noodles, but I thought it's a little numbers. Like, say what you want. Models are models, but it says goals,

goals against that are expected. They are the best in the league. They have the lowest goals against expected. Yes. So like, they, and they also have the highest for goaltenders, like, you know, the worst goals save above expected. So like, they're doing good job defense. they're doing a carolid job at Nets. You don't want to say it's just the goalies, but in many ways, it's just the goalies. Well, you're right, Johnny.

They give up 25 shots a night. You know, the Detroit game, three games ago, they outchanced them 24-11, lose 5-3. Like, it's not, you know, they do have their penalty kill needs to be better. They're 31st in the league. Sure. You're right. You can circle that position and say, I'm sorry, you need a timely save. Go ahead.

Go ahead. The gross part about it is, like, we went from, Matt Murray to Corpusallo and then all of a sudden you get Matt Allmark and you're like issue solved and it's like what the hell do we have to do to get a save you got a guy that's one of Vezna who was dynamite in Boston who it's like a goalie it's the new goalie graveyard there where it's not available to you though that's the and there's the thing but even when he was it was like man oh man agreed well I mean that's That's a separator in the...

Does anyone think it's James Reimer? Does anyone think James Reimer is a viable officer? That's not... Johnny. Johnny. I was having... I was having lunch with my two best buddies today. They're 80 years old.

And they saw James Rhymer. They're 80 years old. And they go, James Rimer, didn't he play for the Leafs? And I said, yeah. Fifteen years ago. Fifteen years ago, Rimer was a leaf. Last time we saw him, Remember the preseason game in Detroit

when he came in and played like half a game and he looked like his head was going to explode. He had a furnace face. He had the, remember he faced a five on three, Johnny, and I felt bad for him. He was awesome. He's a guy who's, you know, darn near 40 and hasn't played a regular game.

He played in the Spangler, but, so is he going to be good enough? Probably not. Is he going to be ready in the next week and up to speed? There's certainly no way that he'd be on top of his game. So either Allmark's got to come back. And again, I have no idea why or when or whatever. He might not be coming back again this year. Who knows?

I hope Steve Staeos knows, but we don't know. But either Omar's got to come back and be good, or they got to go find someone else. I'm sorry, like, Brimer and Maryland ain't going to get them in the playoffs. It's not going to happen this year, not the way it's been going. So it's got to be Elmark or somebody else as well. And the crazy part, guys, we keep talking. I say you need three goalies to play in this league.

And they're at a premium right now for just depth goaltenders. Like Larry Braswag got traded yesterday, right? With that in mind, if you had to rank the MVP's for the least this year, where is Dennis Hilder be on your list? Well, he wouldn't be an MVP, but he would be, like, you know, down at 10 or something. No, he's not. He's not 10. No chance he's 10.

He's in the top 5, 100%. How many? He played. He's played 16, as many as Wall. He's got the same stats as Wall. If Hildaby comes up and plays terribly, they are dead last in the east. Can we phrase it the most pleasant surprise? Hildon to be played number.

Why? I don't get aggressive with the comment. Who's been definitively better on the Leafs? It's not Matthews. It hasn't been recently. Well, no, but you ask for MVP. That's what I'm saying. The Nylander have been there.

Nise was once leaving the league. You've got McCabe, you got OEL, you run down a few different guys. So maybe six or seven or eight or Wohl, who's probably been better than him. Like, as far as actual MVP is going to take it literally. Yeah, I mean, he's played 16 games to be surprisingly good. MVP is a bit strong, but he has been, he was awesome last night. I'll give him for him. I got him four, Hayes.

I got him four. Thank you, all. I'm not saying he's number one. He's not number 10. He's not even 500. I don't care of news. I agree with everything Hayes said. Without Hill to be, they're scorn.

There's scorn. Crude. They're dead in the water. They're screwed. Without McCabe, they're screwed. Without Cavarres, they're screwed. Without Neelander, they're screwed. You're saying that because you didn't expect him to be important.

That's valid. It's not even any more important. But he's surprisingly that he's been so important. I'll grant you that. It's not what he said, Johnny, and not what he meant. Yes. It's been very good. The whole of him saying Connor McDable will never win another MVP.

I said, I don't think you. Now, where is that at? Where are we out with that? Because I need to hear where you're at a Hays. Ludicrous and Sandy. and aging curve. It never pops again. It never pops again.

The chance of him getting $150 has long sailed. It's troubling. It's very troubling. And he followed it up with, I don't like the player and I don't like the person. Yeah. That was strong at the end.

I attacked his carry. Really tough. Everything about him I attacked. Well, we had, because we used to do a thing called the Goatracker. Actually, the grappler, to his credit, called me today and said, you guys should bring back the GoTracker, but the acronym for the season and apply it to track in McDavid McKinnon,

maybe Celebrini, because those are the three, right? And basically every time they play, we got to kind of track it. Yeah, I mean, it could be the greatest take of all time, right? If he doesn't win or he just misses, or it could be the worst take of all time. That's another part. It could be the greatest of all time. Hang on, hang on, hang on. You're going to cling to a second place heart trophy finish and 142 points as a victory for your claim.

No, he's not. Dude, I will be, you, I will look like James Brown getting on stage. Oh, my God. I will be moonwalking on a stage if he finishes second in the heart. I will be so. I'll tell you what they're going to. He's going to finish. McKinnon's going to score 64 goals and their teams going to have 100.

135 points. He, of course, is going to win. McDavid will have 55 goals on 140 points, and he'll come second. That's how it's going to go. Yeah, you're probably right. Yeah, I mean, the both of them are on another planet. And then he'll be right. They are. Yeah, that's the thing. I can't say.

Listen, you know, I did say, I didn't think you'd have a career year in points, which he is, I don't think it's quite tracking to get to there. Yeah, but he's real close. You said he'll never get 150, and he's pretty, I think he's on pace for that now. He's real close to. You know what happened, Brian, though? Which is insane. I think I led you down that path because I said he didn't have a contract at the time

and I said, this guy is going to have a ridiculous year. Yes. I said it wouldn't surprise me if he got to a buck 50. And Hayes almost came across the table at me and said, no chance it's going to happen. It was held to be for the 10th most valuable player. The same reaction came over the top. Anyways, but I think I might have led you down that pathway and then you took it way overboard. I did, yes.

At the end of the day, let's see what happens. see the GoTracer, man. It's officially a part of the program. GoTracers back. I like it. I like it. McDavid, McKinnon, Celebrini. I had Marty.

I did his get with Marty today. Marty Barron. He said, Maclin Celebrini, that's his heart. That's his heart guy. Get out of here. Marty said it. That's a guy. That's a gullency braining.

So like, and you could, you could make the argument, of course, if you're going to go to actual value. Yes. That is Celebrini, right? Twice as many points. Anyone around him. plus player. He's going to have 120 points. Next goal's guy's going to 55. They're

in the playoffs. Got it. There's a not zero. There's a 3% chance that he beats Nate McKinnon right now in a hard trophy vote. Like no one's going to not vote for Nate McKinnon based on the goal total, the point total, and the team total.

I just, you know, they don't take it literally as value. They largely just give the best player. It's usually most outstanding. On a good team. Listen, I have a... Taylor Hall, right? Taylor Hall is the year where it was like sort of maybe not the best player but you know a very good player or great player having just a wildly great good year on a team that's not quite as good but that wasn't in the context of somebody else like Nate McKinnon having 65 goals and 140 points

and being plus 100 like it's just well he's just had four points again last night yeah it's and they took the foot off the gas too they had some penalties in the third and and you know Bedner put out Josh Manson to run the power play because he wanted him to get, he had, Josh Manson had a chance for two Gordy Howe Hattricks last night. He had one and he had two goals, two assists, and one fight. And I said, he should have gone and suckered somebody and got a second fight. Drop to me, that would have been, that would have been unbelievable.

Double Gordy Howe is outrageous. Never happened. Sam Cisarillo sent a note to the league, and they sent us back, because we were tracking it. And if he would have asked for a fight and somebody gave it to him, He would have had a double Gordy How Hattrick. Nobody's ever had that. Needed that. That would have been great.

What a stat line for him last night. Unbelievable. Joe from the bridge saying McDavid on pace for 143.5 points this season. Not a bad year. Pretty good year. After a slow start. After a very slow goal-storing start. And now he's going to get 55 goals.

Yeah, Nate Chasin' 65 plus is crazy. It's going to be great when he goes to Italy, Johnny. He can fly down the black hole in the ice and just go swimming. He's going to fly through the Della cell-sized neutral zone. That's exactly what it is. It's about 18 feet long, and it's going to be real quick. That's exactly the barn they're playing in. Della cell, it's almost precisely.

What's the name of the Timo? The Jepetto flying stars were out there, and they couldn't even finish the game. Just getting things started. We're just getting the ball rolling. All right, Johnny. Great stuff, buddy. We'll do it again next week. All right, fellas.

Have a good weekend. There it is. Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst. Man, I love good MVP talk. I get fired up for an MVP chat. I'm sorry, but Hildebee is not in. Top five. Top five.

The lowest he goes is four. I agree. And I'm not being stupid. A month and a half ago, you guys were saying, you can't put him in the net again. I remember a text in our group text saying, can't put that guy in the net again. I was like, oh, okay.

This is what he said. He said he just turned into a pumpkin last night, and that's what he said. He's been very valuable. He started the same amount of games as well. He's got a 9-18-state percentage. Yeah. I'm just saying, you look at... He had that stretch haze where I was like,

maybe it's done for him. Maybe the party's over. But he came back after that. He's been great. I'm going to go even further. He's top three. The lowest I'm going is top three for Hilda Beasts. But also, like, who...

I don't know who their MVP is. I think that's what you're saying. It's by default. Yeah. Because that's where you're going to... Is it... Is it... Like, Willie, to me?

I mean, he's leading them in points, but... Is Echman Larson the only guy who's played every game? I think Tvaris played every game. I think there's three of them that... I think Nyes... No, Nyes was hurt. No, Nyes left. Yeah, you're right.

I thought J.T.'s missed the game, too. I might be wrong, but I thought Ekman Larson. It might be J.T. and Echman Larson's that's played every game. I think... And Egman Larson, we thought he broke his leg. That's right. He came back and played two days later. That's right.

Crazy. Meldon Friday, brought to you by Boston Pizza. Canada's favorite sports bar of this January. at BP get delicious mouth-watering pastas starting at 1199 every single day enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss hustle into your local BP tonight best bets later in the hour and we got some news on street clothes we'll tell you about 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 26 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 EmploymentLoyer.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, Raptors in action tonight, and they have been connected to Anthony Davis, you know, in the rumor mill for a while, and it never really seemed likely they would go out and get him,

but it made some sense based on how he played. and his style and his talent and how well they've played this year. But he got hurt last night. Anthony Davis got hurt last night. Of course, he did ligament damage in his hand. Yeah, ligament. And it looked like such an innocent play. Like it was a drive at the baseline.

I don't know how he got hurt in the fashion that he did. But Shams Sharania reporting that, depending on a second opinion, if it's surgery required, which it sounds like it likely will be, he could miss a number of months. months. So he's done. He's out. And it now it begs the question. Like as bad as that lucid deal was, does it have, could it be, could it keep getting worse? Like they've been a disaster in Dallas ever since they traded them. But street clothes has hurt all the time. He's never healthy. Dude, ever. I think that trade has like, maybe come up with a list next week,

Hayes, the 10 worst trades in pro sports. Isn't this? It's on, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's moving up the list. You think it's right up there? What's worse? What in the hell is worse than that? And don't tell me Russ Cortnell for John Corny. No. I don't. I don't know if there's a leaf one in there.

Dude, there's not a trade in pros sports. Deshawn Watson is worse. The Deshawn Watson trade is worse because it came with a fully guaranteed contract. Yeah. And that guy. 245, wasn't it? 250 million or something? Yes.

Never happened in NFL history of fully guaranteed contract. I know. Watson's worse. But I hear you, because they didn't give up the equivalent of Luca. Sean Watson is not worse than this. Dude, Deshawn Watson was so highly regarded as a QB in the league. But the red flags around the guy. I get it.

He had some stuff going on, but you thought he was going to return to form. You didn't think physical injuries were going to pile up and ultimately be his undoing. Valid. And Luca, the equivalent of Luca didn't go the other way. You know, they traded all those picks for him. I don't know. You got to give me some time on this. Like I'll, I'll...

You can't name... Well, Babe Ruth. I can give you the Babe Ruth. You know what I mean? It's 2006. Okay, Mookie Betts, maybe. I don't know. You can give me some time.

Like, next week, I'm going to come out. I'll come out. You got it until Thursday. The 10 worst trades in pro sports. Don't the Leafs have one of them? Isn't Tuka Rask involved in one of them? Oh, yeah. I mean, Tukas, I know he's your boy, Razor, but it's...

Well, I don't. Razor. Yeah. Wasn't there, which pick ended up the Scott Needamire pick? Tom Kervers. Tommy Kervers. That's the most depressing deal in leaf history because that was the Lindrosse draft. Right, right.

That's how bad that was, that they traded that knowing Lindros was coming, and they made that deal. I can't get into all that stuff. I can't do a full. Dude, that's a rabbit hole of the pre-knit. You want to talk about doom scrolling? Yeah. Like, if there was like TikTok vids of like leaf trays, that just kept on going forever.

You would want to... Didn't they trade it up to take Tyler Biggs? Isn't that? That was his name? Tyler Biggs? Yep. The hockey news can't find that guy. He's to play hockey?

horrendous. And you go look at the guys that went after. I want to say Kuturov was in the second round of that trap. I believe. Doesn't mean they take it. Kuturoff was in the second round? I mean, it was the Burke era. Burke was the GM, so it would have been in 20,

10 or so, you know, 15 years ago, yeah. Wow. Something like that. I don't know. Maybe it wasn't Kuturob, but there were some players. I'm looking at it. So, yeah, he was first round 22nd overall in the 2011 draft. So that's the Ryan Newton Hopkins, Landis Gogg, Hubert.

Look in the second round. I think Kuturov was in that draft. I'm in the second round here. Nikita Kutrov, 58th overall. I can't do this, man. I'm telling you, I'm not doing... Okay, but how about this then? Calgary Flames chose Tyler Watherspoon

the pick before Nikita Kuturov. That's sickening. But Kuturov's sitting there anyway. Didn't they take Stuart Percy, too? I think they took Biggs and Percy with the 30. Yeah, there was. Stewart, yeah, so 22nd and 20-fam. Two picks instead of Kuturov.

Anywho. All right, I'll come up with Down. I'm going to maybe come up with the Leaf MVP list. I think there's something there because it's tough to kind of get a read on. And it's Hald to be. It could be Hildoby. Dude, it might be Hild to be. It's not far.

It's not a stretch. Top 5 Hild to be. Right? We had top 50, Dougie, and top five Dennis. Top five. Sorry. You know what I was asked, and I didn't have a legitimate answer on this? And it's something worth flushing out.

Because, like, you think of the all-time grades. Like, for me, Sid's already, I put them in the top four. For me, certainly in the top five. I think McDavid has played his way to the top 10 all time. Like I think he is, if not he's real close. Where could McKininin's ceiling be all time? Interesting. Yeah. Can he get into a top 10?

Like, that's asking a lot. Like that's Messier, you know, Hasch, Bork. Like that's... Yeah, but okay, let's play the what-if game. What if they win gold? What if he wins another cup? What if he wins another heart? Like, you know, there's a lot of what-ifs in there

that if he puts himself, he could continue to climb. Absolutely. All those things that do you have to come into place. I get. I look at just, I look at it kind of from a different angle and just what he is and what he brings to the table right now. And it's pretty unique skill set, man. Like, just to be a monster like that and grab the puck and dangle through everybody and the way he rips at home. And he's crazy, too.

I'm sure you guys know that, where he's like... Breaking his stick the other night. It's like no pop in the dressing room and like the only eat, like, you know, this food or that food. Like he is just maniacal about winning and performing. And if you're not on board with that, then just tough crap, then just tough. That's the way he rolls, man, and I kind of have an appreciation for it. That's a good, it's a good question. It is actually.

It's a great question because we kind of feel where all the other... players are going to slot potentially he might be the outliers like he's got an opportunity to continue to climb yeah yeah exactly and let's just say it right now mac david's going to be a fun he already is a top five player ever mac david ever yes i mean brian has the caveat you've got to win right he's got to win that's the thing like for me i how do you how do you knock out anyway i mean we've had this chat a ton and he's got opportunities and the way he plays his talent level i'll chat I don't know with the quiz master about that one, but he is already top five. He'd be the only guy close to the top 15 or 20 that hasn't won anything.

He's got a four nations face-off belt. He does have a four-nations. Face-off belts. Well, I don't know. What did they get for that? Did they get a trophy? I don't know. I don't remember.

I'm not sure what they got. Well, I'll tell you what we got because we, you know, back in September, we said we wanted to include people. we wanted to get interactive in terms of coming up with some sort of catchphrase, like that represents the show, something that's used on the show that can kind of be a part of our program moving forward. And we've come up with, with the help of a lot of our fans, you're going to want to hear this is what we're going with. Pay an homage to Jerry, which I think just makes sense, right? Because it fits with us.

You're going to want to hear this, whatever we're saying, whatever we're talking about, whether it's serious or stupid. and everything in between. You're just going to want to hear this. You're going to want to hear this. And the Jerry drop is just synonymous with our show. So we want to thank everyone for partaking in that. And we're looking forward to this campaign. We're going to be launching a bunch of stuff as we move forward.

So we're really excited about that. But thank you to everyone that chimed in and voted and contributed. And we didn't forget. And it's go time now that we're in 2026. You're going to want to hear this. It is. Love it, Jerry. Shut up.

Jerry. Thanks. All right. So we got our best bets coming up. And we'll look ahead to a wildcard weekend. Leavesback in action tomorrow night. The Rappers again in action tonight. Overdrive continues up on YouTube live. Let's 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. Tech Talk. Hosted by Mark Saltzman, Sundays at 3rd. 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 EmploymentLoyer.ca. Answer a few simple questions, and in seconds, you'll receive free answers for your workplace issues. Go to Employmentlawyer.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. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. This January at BP get delicious mouth-watering pasta starting at 1199 every single day. Enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss. Hustling to your local BP tonight. All right, Mail on Friday, Bronzer. Talk to you by Boston Pizza. Canada's favorite sports fathers, January of BP, get delicious. Mouthwatering pasta starting at 1199.

Every single day. Enjoy the passes you love at the prices you can't miss. Hustle on your local BP tonight. PJ Tour should be on right now at Kappaloa. It's just sickening that they're not playing the century. I love that tournament. I love that course. Dude, why not another tournament?

Like, get another venue. I loved primetime golf 8.30 at night, start time. I agree. It's the greatest. Like, they're making the turn it. like 9 p.m. It's beautiful. It's so beautiful in Hawaii.

Weather's always great. Yeah. Course in great shape. Great players. You know the best part about that Hawaii golf? As soon as the last putt goes in, you just turn the clicker off and your eyes closed and you go to bed. Yeah. It's beautiful.

Shut it right down. Beautiful. Rolf. Rolf is always in his element, right? Rolf is brokenhearted right now, dude. Yeah, he is. Like that little pond right there, I saw a turtle take a dump in that in 1989. Like, it's his thing.

He knows every tidbit of that place, every angle. But I guess Brooks Capgood trying to get reinstated onto the PGA tour. Is that good? Is that good? Do you want him back there? I'd bring him back. I mean, for me, it's not my, I just want to see them play. Sure.

I bet you this new guy who seems like a mover and a shaker dealing with the NFL, he's probably like, this guy's good for eyeballs on the game, and I got to find a way to penalize him and make it not too hard. and get it over with and get them on tour. Yep. Yeah, exactly. Like, we're not going to just say we hate your guts because you went to live. You went to live.

Let's find out some kind of penalty where it's kind of, we're acting like it's harsh, but it's not really. And let's see what we can do. I like that idea. All right, so we announced this earlier this week. The PJ Tour and TSN-1050 want you to be our unofficial correspondent at the Players' Championship down in Jacksonville. And we're not just sending you to the players. You're getting inside the ropes access.

You'll be walking side by side with the players at the players. Starting next Monday, you've got to go to TSN1050.ca. Next Monday, TSN1050.com and submit your audition tape, recreate iconic calls from the players or make up your own masterpiece from your favorite moment. And someone's going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. You're going to get flight, hotels, money, go to the tournament. You're going to get to play golf at a great course down there. behind the scenes tour the whole nine tsn 1050.ca can't beat that man

lavec they cannot beat it because next week they're in hawaii and they get the american express you got farmers coming up pebble you got waste management and then they're swinging back to florida and then the players will be here before you know it rib is back this year which is great riviera can't wait can't wait yeah that's going to be awesome and i've been just watching golf videos and get starting to get the jones you get in to January. I haven't touched a club in like two months. Starting a kind of thing. All right, let's see where we go here.

All right, so we got a big weekend. The wild card picks we're in. Casey missed it. HBO, we are on the Bills and the Packers. Best Bet's powered by Fanduel. Make your picks and assemble the same game parlay in seconds on the Fandual Sportsbook app. We're going to parlay those two. That's our play.

That's what we're going with. We're on the Packers and the Bills. Now, we will make the pick Houston, Pittsburgh, on Monday. You and I owe, we will make that pick on Monday. Nudelson, noodles, you and Luke, you went with the Panthers, you're taking the points. Yeah.

Laying the points, New England, against the Chargers, and you guys are taking the points, San Francisco against Philly. All points, it's all gut instinct, I believe. Yeah, a lot of dogs. Two dogs in a favorite there. You know, O and I and Al's brother, who's somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle right now, we're

on the, we're laying road favorites. Yeah. But I just, I like Jordan Love. I like Josh. Shallen, I like the bills and Packers this weekend. Yeah. I just got a feeling. I like it. I'm hoping for it and I'm pulling for it.

Can't wait for those games tomorrow. Leas Panthers or Leas Sack Canucks tomorrow night. All right, there you go. Good stuff. Good stuff. Should be a good couching weekend. Hopefully the weather holds up. Man, it was...

Hey, 10 degrees and sunny today. It was unreal. Just melting everything. Yeah, it was great. Let's keep back on. For all those people that walk in dogs when the snow melts, you find out what you're really up to, I'll tell you that. Big time.

Big time. I'm going to start going on 4 a.m. Patrol, and you know what's up out there. Yes. I know exactly what you mean by that. All right. 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 show up on TSN's YouTube channel.

We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy your weekends. We're back Monday at... Geppetto Flying Stars. Coach G.M. Gino Redda. Oh.

4 p.m. We'll chat then. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. This January at BP get delicious mouth-watering pasta starting at 1199 every single day. Enjoy the pastas you love at prices you can't miss. Hustle into your local BP tonight. I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for Film Never Lies.

Since retiring from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind, and now got my own show. So if you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies, available on all TSN Plans. platforms and the iHeartRadio app.