OverDrive - OverDrive - June 16, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: June 16, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Bruce Boudreau to discuss the Panthers' emerging dynasty, Connor McDavid's legacy in Edmonton and Brad Marchand's prowess in the playoffs in Florida. They also discuss Mitch Marner's next team and where he would fit the most and Host of Off The Mound and MLB Network Analyst joins to dive into Rafael Devers' trade to the Giants, the lead up to the deal and Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound with the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

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opening line of the final score ryan damster later in the hour on o'connie making his return to the mound tonight jays swept down in philly and devours out of boston on his way to the san francisco giants after the socks just swept the Yankees of all teams. So Damster coming up a little bit later in the hour. Bruce Boudreau in about five minutes. Alright, so the Oilers, Panthers are down in Florida preparing for the game tomorrow night. And McDavid was doing media today and he was up on the podium and we're going to play the question and his answer.

And I think it's a reasonable question i think don't see may look at it differently in terms of the way was phrase or word of will get in all this but it speaks to who mcdavid is and and the moments and how big this game is tomorrow uh... this was from earlier today down at the cup final connor you're the greatest player in the world how much extra pressure is there for you to win this game and get drag it back to Edmonton and win a Stanley Cup?

That's a pretty heavy question I Don't think about it that way you know If you think about it that way you'd be probably pretty crippled in terms of how you prepare and how you play. It's a big game. Everybody knows that. I know that. I'm looking forward to it.

I like the question and I like the answer. Me too. I think the forefront here is that this guy is the best player in the world in his second straight cup final and he's on the verge of losing again and yes it's a team sport but when we talk of legacies and you know water cooler chats and goat chats that have just taken over the sports world this is what we're talking about right here like Conor McDavid trying to win a Stanley Cup. They've been there two years in a row but the Stanley Cup finals not like a league guarantee I don't care how great

he is like five years could go by the rest of his career could go by and you don't get another chance think of all the great players that just never even got close to a final yeah so what they're doing right now if they lose back-to-back years as good as he is and as good as dry Cytl is or maybe he's somewhere else. It's no guarantee you go back there man so to for the whole team for the whole organization I Can't imagine I only did it one time and lost to one team But if to go back and think you know to do what Pittsburgh did to go

back and get the team that got you it's spectacular but it would be awful two years in a row to lose to the same crushing crushing crushing man and yes a lot of it is that Florida's so good clearly but you know I referenced this last week what you just referenced I would argue the two players that he is going to be compared to the most and has been throughout his career would be Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky because he's the goat and he played in Edmonton so immediately it was like all right that's the shadow like you got it you're chasing that guy down and I would say Sid is the other guy because Sid got there first was the generational player we all knew when he

was like 10 that passed the baton to him as the face of the league and the best player. Gretzky's first cup final 83 against the Islanders they lost. Second year 84 against the Islanders they won. 08 Sid's first cup final against Detroit they lost. 09 they go back against Detroit they won. They lost. 0-9, they go back against Detroit. They won. McDavid, it's like the same story, but you gotta win. You gotta win this. And you look at what Pittsburgh did in 0-9, they were down 3-2 in that series.

They were down 3-2 just like the Oilers were, or are right now. And Pittsburgh found a way to win kind of two tightly checked, close, kind of low scoring games to come back and redeem themselves and win the Stanley Cup. But that's what's at the forefront here for McDavid. Like you got to get one. And I think the point you're making is really important. Like it's not just about, there's also an element of where he is in his prime in his career. Gretzky was younger, like in 84, what was he, 24 years old? Sidno9 was 23, something like that.

Like McDavid's gonna be 28 years old. So it's not, then it flips to, okay, are you gonna win as the man, or are you just gonna be a part of a win later in your career? Are you gonna rate Bork one? Which is still very valuable and great, and would be amazing for the rest of the day. How he does it, I don't think matters, but I think it would just have that much more street cred if he does it. I think what the guy said in the question, you're the best player in the world. Exactly. I think it does matter for the GOAT conversation.

I think you gotta win one when you're the man. And he's the man. Iserman was 31 I think when he won his first. Not in the same category as these players. Yeah. But you're right, like later in his career, legend. It's not the same thing, but Jordan lost I think two years in a row to Detroit. It wasn't the finals. Eastern.

And then got over the hump. I think he was like 27, maybe 28. And then won a million more. Yeah. No, I don't know. Yeah. Yeah, I mean. I mean, if they lose they lose Jordan never lost in the in the finals. That's true. He's 6-0. Yes as everyone knows But let me ask you this if they lose in this finals, I don't think any differently of him

It's not about and I just think that I guess needs a cup But I think you just answered the question you You don't think any differently of him. But you would think differently if he wins the Stanley Cup in a con smite. You have to. He's a winner then. But that's the point. Like you're either going to be thought of the exact same, like great player, best player in the game, unbelievable, or you're actually going to change how people look at you.

You're just adding him to a list of the best player in the game that led his team to the Stanley Cup. Because as the old saying goes, when you have the best player in the world, you're just adding them to a list of the best player in the game that led his team to the Stanley Cup because as the old saying goes when you have the best player in the world you're always gonna have a great chance to win and he's he's that example and if they don't do it two years in a row it's gonna you there's no guarantees to be back there man Bruce he knows that better than anybody that's the truth here he is joining us on the Maple Toyota hotliner TSN hockey analyst Bruce Boudreaux. What do you expect out of McDavid? Hey good Bruce what do you

expect out of McDavid the next well guaranteed one more game maybe two more games and how much pressure do you think is on him to elevate and be great tomorrow night? Well I think he's going to be putting all the pressure on himself about being great and everything else I think he's going to play 25 minutes if I'm knob-blocked. I'm throwing him out as much as I can because you've got nothing to save it for. I don't care if he's

so tired he can't even get on the plane to go back to Edmonton. You've got to win tomorrow night. So it doesn't matter. You play him as much as you can. You play Dreisaitl as much as he can handle it. Those are your two best players. That's what you're doing. And I don't know if he does anything different. I mean, he's had some good looks. He hit, he scored a goal, hit the post, had a great look, another great opportunity the other night, but they, if they're not going in, they're not going in. But I going in but I would I would play him as much as you can play him

Brucey how crazy do you find it that balls are in the air as far as the starting goaltender for the Ebbinson Oilers in a must-win game six I think I think the whole thing is crazy that they're not only the goaltenders like I mean to me that means you don't know what who's gonna you're guessing on everything but they're guessing on every different line combination too like I mean at some point there's a reason you got to the

finals you put your best the group that would best got together uh... outside of hyman and the best defense pairing your best goalie and you say we gotta win with you i can't keep switching you every two minutes i was here at that today that five on five

uh... that florida has three lines that have played forty minutes together. The most Edmonton has got no lines that have played 40 minutes and one line that has played 33 minutes and that's the most and that's been Dreisaitl, McDavid and Perry. So I mean you can't be guessing at this time of the year. I mean you've got to put the best players you've got together and go for it and hopefully you win. Something that you want brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports player. Enjoy a $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree, a side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less.

A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston Pizza. And that has been our question of the day Bruce, we're asking online I guess we'll just ask you bluntly who should start in net for the Oilers tomorrow night? Well it's gotta be, to me it's gotta be Stuart Skinner. I mean if you even want to make a good excuse say hey listen we started the other guy in game five just in case we lost where we could come back with Skinner. I don't think if we had started Skinner in game five and lost that we could come back with him. Any other part of the series you've got to go with, I forget his

name right now. Pickard, yeah. Pickard, you've got to go with Pickard for game six and seven whether you like it or not So I mean I think to me Stuart Skinner is an obvious choice and and it's a hey listen Yeah, you got there with them for most of the year and listen when he got pulled last game Listen, let's understand that the that Florida had 18 shots on goal. He made about five ten bell saves in that first period I'm sure they weren't pulling him because he was horrible they were pulling him to get the team jump started and it worked Bruce you mentioned all the mixing and

matching that Chris Knoblok has done I find it really interesting the way he kind of runs the bench what are the pros and cons to being so I don't know making so many changes throughout the games with your Lions well I mean the pros are when it works you you know you're doing the right thing but I mean I think he's got a really good eye on knowing who's going and who's not going and but I think in the playoffs right now that he's pulling the trigger a little too quickly. I mean, I used to do it a lot myself, but I mean, I'd wait to at least half the game before I start mixing and matching unless one person on the line was just so god awful

that you have to make a switch right away. But I mean, that's what the coaches do is they manage that. But I mean, once you've had success with it, you start to think I can do it all the time. And right now it's not working. I think the players are having a hard time understanding who am I playing with on this shift? Because every time I see McDavid out there, he's with a different guy. And I mean, if I was Connor and say, just give me my winger, we'll all make it work for him. But right now we're screwing around with them different guy. And I mean if I was Connor and say just give me my winger will I'll make it work for him but right now we're screwing around with them too much. How much of that do you think is that Hyman's not available? Well I think

it's a problem with Hyman not available for sure and they're still trying to find the right combination but I mean to me it's it's you you stick with that one line if you wanted to load it all up and and even though Evander Kane hasn't been good when he has been good he was with McDavid put him with McDavid put dry sidle on the wing and but a lot depends on Nugent Hopkins how bad is he is he just is he playing on one leg is he is he is he really we won't know how hurt he is until the end of the end of the series? I guess but I mean I would just load up the line and play them all night long Brucey if the Florida Panthers

Get this done. Do you think they'll go down is and it's difficult to compare eras and teams and teams with Gretzky on them, but do you think they'll go down as somewhat of a modern cap era destiny? And if so, like why are they regarded as that in Tampa Bay that has done this just not too long ago or not, they I do believe that if Florida wins today, that I could look at them and say, hey, they could win again next year. I mean, they're major players and to me they would do anything they can to sign Bennett and Marchand and go at it again because I think they could do it but the thing that really is amazing to me is a lot of these players in other that Florida has in other Teams were not so good Kulikov had a lot of stops between his two Florida's and now he looks like a You know like a really solid player

I mean you can go through all the guys that have left that haven't done as well whether it's Ekman Larsson, whether it's Montour, but you see Bennett coming and you and all of a sudden becoming a star. Reinhardt coming becoming a star. Kulikov who's the other big defenseman number 77 there. Mikolaj. Yeah he was nobody until he's come to Florida now he's a stud. So I mean I there's something in the Florida water And you can't can't tell me that Marshand hasn't looked 20 times better than what he looked like in Boston this year Because he has and I mean so I mean all of these guys come to come in There's something in Florida whether it's the management whether it's the coaching whether it's the lifestyle

I don't know what it is, but they've become better players when they come to Florida. So I think they've got an opportunity to become the modern day Oilers, the modern day New York Islanders. And if they win this one, could possibly win a third or more.

Like, I mean, they're like Detroit Red Wings or the Pittsburgh Penguins were in the early 2000s. 05.00 Bruce, I was going to ask Jeff and Brian this, but I'll ask you first. If the Panthers win, is Brad Marshand in the Hall of Fame? 05.00 Oh, what a great question, eh? I mean, you'd have to put them in the Hall of Fame for things other than numbers. He's had great numbers, but I think it would be, you know, the two Stanley Cups, it would

be the Olympic teams, it would be the Four Nations, it would be everything else, the longevity, just the fact that he's done all of those things. Because his numbers are good but there's there's good numbers and then there's Hall of Fame numbers and I don't think he has Hall of Fame numbers but boy as a player he's a Hall of Fame player in the big big moments and so I think it would be a real close thing but I mean I would have him on my Hall of Fame team. Brucey if the Edmonton Oilers can't get this done and you know we were talking earlier about McDavid and his legacy and how the great ones you excuse me you

should get a cup if they don't get it done how would they kind of go back and circle the wagons being to the finals two years in a row like what would you do as far as the approach to the roster to supplement those two great players if it doesn't work again? Well it's I think they would if if I'm Edmonton no matter what I got to try to find a different goalie because we don't want the same situation happening again. As much as I love them um Corey, Corey Perry and Adam Henrique, the older guys, I would try to get different, different guys in there. Uh, cause you can't expect them to continue doing, you know,

Corey, you know, he had a great year, 17 goals. He's got 10 playoff goals, but it'll be 41 next year. Can he, can, at some point you've got to turn it over and and go go younger a little bit to mean you bander cane uh... i think he's a free agent next year uh... well what would you do with all of these guys but i mean i think they would have to have a little bit of a makeover in the lineup and get younger cuz they are one of the

older teams in the lake with bruce budrow uh... with each passing day it becomes more and more clear that Mitch Marner is going to be playing somewhere else next year Bruce. And yeah it's interesting like you know throughout sports you always see a scenario where in one wherever the player has been playing forever maybe that market's turned on them maybe the team doesn't see them in the same light and then we always hear coaches and GMs with other teams saying well we want that guy because we know he can help us and I'm curious how you view Marner like if you're the head coach of

a team that is right on the precipice of winning how do you look at the idea of signing Marner considering what he does in the regular season but also you know unfortunately what he's done in the playoffs the cat how do you how do you know that i do you look at him if you're the coach of t max who believes you're one player away from winning the stanley cup it can make you be that guy based on his playoff

resume in his playoff reputation uh... yeah i'm probably a little different than most but i would i wouldn't look at the playoff reputation. I would look at my team and who I have surrounding him. Look, he's a hundred point player. Played against him a lot and I think he's one of the most dynamic players that I've ever played against. If I was one player away, I mean, if got the other things it's like say if you're Florida and you say, okay

We got the grit and everything else, but we're not not winning. He would be a guy I would I wouldn't care about the grid or anything else because I think he'd be great. I think he'd be great in Vegas I mean, that's the rumor. I think him and Eichel Would Eichel pass him the puck to him because who knows what's going on with Mark Stone? I mean, he's getting a little older. He's always beat up But I think I would take a chance on Mitch Marner every single time Because I would always think that no matter what that he can help me win the cup if I'm only a player away And he would be a good guy to have

if I'm only a player away and he would be a good guy to have. Well, that's going to happen wherever he signs, you know, he's going to get a lot of money, a lot of term and that team is going to expect him to elevate them to that promised land. I mean, that ultimately is what happens. Brian, I think like if you're one of the 16 teams that didn't make it, you're expecting him to, if you sign him, that you're going to make the playoffs. If you're one of the 16 teams that made it in the playoffs, I think you're expecting him to put you over the top to win a couple rounds at least or get to the finals. That's what I think you're thinking. But there's teams that haven't made

the playoffs that would just want him to all of a sudden say, he elevate me. We haven't made the playoffs that would just want him to all of a sudden say he elevate me we haven't won the made the playoffs in seven eight years he's gonna be the guy that does it for us well we will be crossing that bridge soon maybe only one game left in this NHL season hopefully two because I wouldn't mind seeing a game seven on Friday night he is Bruce Boudreaux great catch up with you Bruce we'll do it again soon Alrighty, thanks guys great kitchen up Bruce Boudreaux joining us here on the maple Toyota hotline drive the built-in Canada fuel-efficient Fun to drive Toyota RAV4 gas or hybrid models available visit maple Toyota comm for people that think he's going to like Chicago DG ain't signing on a bad team. You't think so i really do here's one thing that

possible outcome that i'd i haven't focused on off and i don't think it's been kind of circulating in the conversations about mitch marner that i i think has a chance to be a truth that there's a part of marna that's obsessed with being the best player on a team that there's a part of Marner that's obsessed with being the best player on a team.

And... I totally don't agree with that. He wasn't the best player on the team. He played here. And why does he desperately want to leave? Why, why, like I, we've all heard... Okay, so what, is he going to go to Vegas? You think he's better than Jack Eichel? That's my point, oh.

That's why I'm saying I'm not sure that's going to happen. I'm not saying this is 100% the case case what I'm saying is I think it's possible The outcome is out there that Marner and his camp as we've all heard it well Austin got this Austin got that What about Austin that? Marner is possibly When obsessed is a strong term But the idea of him being the face and the best player

could be very compelling to him. That's very fair. I don't know that it's like, is it likely though? I'm not, I wouldn't say that that's a hundred percent his prerogative. I wouldn't, I'm not even sure it's 50 percent. Maybe only maybe not 20 percent. But would I be shocked if the outcome was a team where Mitch Marner is the clear-cut best player? And then he's a captain and all that stuff and would you be shocked if 14?

Marner's camp was kind of pushing for that or was thinking that maybe that was something that would be appealing to them Like it wouldn't be shocking like Jeff Jeff. Where would you be the most surprised for him to sign? On a bad team. Like Chicago or something like that? Because there will be a chance of like no playoffs and just being a bad team. Like I don't know who the hell, I don't care how much money somebody has. I'm not signing up for that at that particular age and I'm not. I don't want to try to win a cup.

That takes Chicago out, that takes San Jose out, that probably takes Anaheim out, Utah out. Yep. Detroit. Detroit out. See I think your question. If that's the case. Your question of Bruce is really interesting and worth exploring, it's like, if you put him on a different team,

let's say a really good team, and he doesn't have to be the second best player every night or the third best player. And he can just be like, Phil Kessel is a wrong example because he's a much better player. But suddenly you took Kessel from number one here. What was he in Pittsburgh? Like four or five? He was on the third line for the Cubs.

That's not going to happen with Marner? The Marner comparison dies because he can't play the guy that's on the third line. It dies, but suddenly you have like Eichel and you're potential and you have stone and like you have all these other guys and he can just kind of blend in a little bit and the pressure is not on as much the markets not the same but but in I think there's a lot of truth in that the market is like to me like a big part of well and if you go to any of these markets we just issued that nothing compares to Toronto like this guy goes to Montreal for him he's here yes like there anywhere he goes is going to be a

lease a new lease on life and a completely different experience playing living everything and he's he's aware of that I'm sure he's aware of that so everything is going to feel different but where I find there's an I would have a I would have a difficult time in this where we got into this conversation last week if you're Vegas you're gonna pay this guy 12 million to blend into your team no but like that I don't just blend in but we don't our expectations for you are not the same as they're in Toronto because we have so many good players you can be great and like kind of really good players in Toronto It's about a comparison but like team Canada at the four nations

Like we just need you to make a couple plays when we need you to make you know what I mean It's not I know you're paying them a lot and yeah But you know what I mean like you're just one of many good players But that I guess that like those are two conflicting mentality kind of yeah I'm I don't and I don't have an answer for which one he's thinking obviously. I don't know that Is it possible? That's what he wants. I could make a case for that. Get me out of here Get me to a good team. Let me blend in i'm still going to make a lot of money totally different lifestyle I can win a lot of compelling arguments there. The other one is

I've been i've been run out of town, Toronto screw them, I've been in the shadow of Matthews and I'm breaking out of that. Send me to a team where I'm the man, I'm the guy, everything runs through me. I'm not convinced that's not his thought. But the only thing problem with that is like he was most of those things here like he was 98% of there's always the Austin Matthews. Matthews was always bigger. Okay yeah fair and he always took more criticism than Matthews and Taveras and Neander. It's an interesting point I just never even I've never even crossed that path

where I thought I would think someone thinks like that. Well I don't know if Mitch does. I don't know it's a. I don't know. It's a theory. I'm just saying, I think both of you can, I think you'd both agree, that's not out of the realm of possibility. I don't think it's completely crazy, but I don't know if he would be thinking like that. I don't. Like I would say, let's say again, Utah is a team that continues to, that would, that's the definition of that. Yeah, you're our star. You're immediately that would, that's the definition of that. Yeah, you're our star. You're immediately the man.

You're the face of hockey in Utah. It's a fresh start, it's a new start. We're launching, we've got this new young owner that's gonna have you everywhere. And this is gonna be, Utah is the Mitch Marner state. And just immediately we're gonna pay you 14 million because they might do that. Your highest paid player in the league, you're the man. What would that say about you though? If like people kind of got the the inkling that like that was a part of your

Want like what a kind of selfish approach where it would be like you just you wanted to be the best player and be the man Amongst your teammates like that's that maybe it's like an idea It's happened in sports though, man. It's like a lot of examples of that. I don't know. Did you just say like an underappreciated thing. It's happened in sports though man. There's like a lot of examples of that. Jonas did you just say he was underappreciated? No like I mean that's complete nonsense. That would kind of be part of the conversation. It's like you didn't totally appreciate me because you had this person and you appreciated him more.

Well it's the Scottie Pippinson. I don't think anyone was more appreciated than Mitch Marner. He was making 11 million million for a long time. He got whatever he wanted. All of them do. All of them did. I think there's truth to that, and there's also truth to the other side, too.

Like, he did, if you did blame Pi, the blame Pi for him was way over the top compared to the other guys. There's no question. Yeah, I think, and a lot of that was because of where he's from and the car lot of that is a local about huge part of the big time and there were others you know stories and some of that self-inflicted of him in under percent that is is accurate inaccurate we don't you know i don't know

got to a point where there's a lot of vitriol hanging around this guy but now it's different now because he's leaving and again I think it's in the best interest of both parties. That's what's being lost here Yes, and I do think there are a lot of Lee fans here. I am. I'm gonna start scolding people Who want their cake and eat it too? They want him to leave but they also want him to what beg to stay Like you can't have it. But why why even care about having it? Well, you know, you're gonna last same thing for him You can't have it both ways ways you don't want to sign then we're gonna ask you to get traded yeah exactly totally oh that believe me that

equitable that should go both ways yeah and I also don't know how could you shake your head at that you can also want to resign or resign then just say oh how dare you ask me to get traded then no movement clause yes no he can you can decline out like you can ask, you can ask him a hundred times. Right, but the... Okay, but if you're not going to resign, the question's going to be asked, you have to understand that, and you have the right to say no, but how could you be shocked not wanting to resign that that question was coming your way? That's where... Yeah, I don't... I never agreed with that decision. No, he's... there's two separate conversations. He's totally entitled to say, I'm not going anywhere. But to Oh's point, it's different when like the reports

that he was bent out of shape. How dare you? It's like, who are you to say how dare, how dare you ask me? We've been trying to engage with them all year and he's been icing them out. I think the mistake was last summer. I mean, two summers ago was the biggest mistake because he had no course. We could go back in time and they should have done a Lot of things do you sure like it kind of it's not the same thing because they won but like Kevin Durant It was like well you won with Steph you were the second you know what I mean? He's like well. I'm gonna go win somewhere else. It never has it never has right, but this is gonna be different He's gonna sign a long-term why we think you would I would think long and hard about that too I would

One year two-year deal, and I'd pull a Kevin Durant whether it's Florida or somewhere else. I'd be like I Want to try this out for you That would be a fascinating move because it would change the whole kind of axis of the league Oh my god a player of that status saying I'm just taking a one or two year deal and I'm going somewhere And I'm gonna literally just be obsessed with winning or whatever Again, I don't know what the react I can imagine what the reaction would be like here. Ultimately that and again, the ship is sailed that value would have been there like if you don't play well for those and then all of a sudden you're looking to hit a home run again. It's like that is risky. But still would hit a home run though. Don't

you think like he'd be 20 Jonas play well. He's not hitting a home run. Yeah, but like what I think a lot of what is play well he'd be twenty he's going to serve the play well he's not hit no yet like what i think a lot of play well like he's gonna get on ninety a hundred points every year like we and that's going to be a one thirteen a couple years ago right he's still getting i know you're saying that you get hurt i do think that would have gone over here if he said i want to come back but i'm coming back for one year this is i want to close the loop here and i would say if you're the leaves no chance of that i would say no thanks for

yeah but but then that's my point is i think it's in the best interest of both parties to just move off yes but is so many people like you know you're so angry that he's leaving it you want to leave if it's just not what there's also the fear of what comes next after and because they're never gonna have a player like that there we have players like him.

Not the play the same way, but they have Austin Matthews. I know, but they're not gonna replace him. I understand that. There's just no replacing him. But that's the point of change, is you're not trying to replace him. No, you're trying to change. You're trying to do it differently.

Yes, and it's been nine years. Yes. Nine years is an eternity in sports. Like it's a long run this guy's been here for. Yes. All right, Ryan Dempster coming up. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. All right, Steve Sands in about a half an hour

on the US Open, JJ Spahn winning the US Open. And now we only have one major left. We're only halfway through June. And we've only got the Open Championship. It does seem to happen quick I know it's like major season but it's like kind of like after the US Open or the British Open it's like that that's it yeah now you got the Ryder Cup this year which is gonna be amazing but I get the guy that could have won Hayes was if Scottie Scheffler could have putted at all yes he

wins that golf tournament that he he missed a bunch of putts inside five feet forget the three putts like he had a million three putts. What is he gonna do after the claw missing those with the claw? I don't know. Like is he gonna putt one handed? Possibly the Tony Fino. That's the Tony Fino. He now he is doing some he's in a weirdo's dark place out there.

All right, Sanzi in half an hour. So we got some big baseball, a massive blockbuster trade yesterday, seemingly out of nowhere. Maybe there's some reasoning behind the scenes that our next guest can help us with.

We got Shoya Tani back in the mound tonight. Jay's got pumped this weekend down in Philly. Here's a good old Canadian boy some reasoning behind the scenes but i'm next guest can help us with the issue of time back in the mountain right jays got pump this weekend out of philly here's a girl canadian boy the host of off the mountain marquee sports analyst back on overdrive ryan dampster a do ryan under a great area we're doing well

uh... so you're a red sox alumni and your well aware of their history what do you make of this raf Devers trade last night? Yeah a little shocking you know but also not blown away by it just the fact that there was clearly some disconnects or discord between him and the front office and he goes get involved and do anything for the team and all those kind of things start to take place So yeah, not completely caught off guard good for the Giants, you know, they needed a left-handed bat They needed some production have one guy on their team with over 40 RBI's And that's the veteran former florist. So they needed that bat in the middle of Atlanta

Ryan is there any chance that just the Red Sox saw something and they said, we got to try to piss this guy off and it'll just help ease the separation and move along? Is there any chance somebody with a great baseball mindset, I just don't like this, his attitude, whatever, and we got to find a way to piss him off to get him out? Well, no, because I think it's one of those things where it started all the way back to signing Alex Regman, which by the way, people are like, well, they should have called Rafi Devers. Yeah, well, that would have started pissing them off.

But I think that was one of those things where kind of understanding a little bit of what went on there, that happened all very fast. When you're making those deals quick like that you know alex had big offers from i believe the tigers or some other teams involved and it's like okay we got to do this right now you don't have time necessarily to check with everybody's feelings your feelings should be fine we already did the 300 million dollars you should have your feelings are fine um and and then there was the not playing period you you get a DHM, we need a first baseman.

And there was just a lot of things that started to happen where it started to become a distraction, I think, you know, and the needles get in the way and money gets in the way. We feel like we're entitled more because we get a huge contract. And that means I have a say in things when ultimately the number one goal is to win. And maybe they felt like they could make some moves that helped them both from a That means I have a say in things when ultimately, their number one goal is to win. And maybe they felt like they could make some moves

that helped them both from a pitching standpoint. I know Kyle Harrison, you know, last year was the number one pitching prospect for the Giants. And then you also get, you know, a huge first base prospect for them from them as well. A guy out of Florida State who hit bombs. So there's a lot of factors.

And also too that made that deal was made by I'm Bloom not Craig Breslow. So you know that's one of those ones where you know Breslow doesn't have that necessary attachment to Raffy where it's like I got a man miss and then he made comments and so it just had a trickle-back effect and I really feel like this is one of those moves that might end up being good good for both good for the Giants getting the bat that they want, Raffy get their fresh start and for the Red Sox they got a bunch of pitching and a couple prospects.

Away we go. Yeah, I mean, you know the history there with bets and Babe Ruth. I mean, that's people spiraling out of control because they've won five in a row. They just swept the Yankees, they're above 500, they're in the wild card chase and they traded their best bet. But to your point, now the pressure starts I guess in Boston and I'm curious what you think the clubhouse reaction would be like. If you're on that team and you consider how well they're playing right now and again you're

reasonably in the playoff hunt,'s the American League you know 85 wins probably gets you a wild card spot what are you thinking in that clubhouse when you hear that Devers has been dealt players don't win you championships you know teams do so you know I you know you can you can say you can say look at the Red Sox when they won in 0-4, they had Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz and all that stuff. What did they do? They traded Nomar Garcia-Para and they got Orlando Cabrera and it ended up being one

of the best moves that they had. It worked better for their clubhouse, it worked better for their team. Sometimes we get so caught up in that and also to really self-evaluate it. Did we just have a good five days? You know, a couple days ago they were four days below 500 and talking about selling everybody off. So that's when you're playing a big market. That's the ebbs and flows of that.

And especially in vaccination, they, you know, a month ago were saying, trade them. You won't play other positions, we should trade them. And then now it's like, well, how can we trade them? That's just like, that's what you deal with when you're playing in that kind of market. But like I said, you know, maybe they really see something in both him and Jordan Hicks that they can help both of those guys, Harrison and him, get to a place where they're effective in their pitching staff. And it also adds to depth. And maybe they feel like they can either a win without Raffy or b they never felt like they had you know self-evaluating your team is a very hard thing to do and sometimes what we see on the

standings we're like oh you know that might have been a good week like we're still a ways away and how do we stockpile and they got four prospects but it is amazing they're prospects right well not you know vix is is a guy who's not, but the other guys are all prospects and we never know if they're gonna pan out or not. I mean, we could, deals made in the past, Mookie Betts, they traded him away and none of those guys were anything that had been packed

for them. They did the same thing when they traded Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez to the dot. None of them panned out. It's just sometimes prospects don't pan out. So we'll see how it all shapes up with Ryan Damster so for the first time since 2023 Shohei Otani hits the mound tonight this is so great for the sport I know there's some there's some nerves out there like he's already blown his arm out twice what happens if he blows it

out a third time you know there there there these are all reasonable questions and debates about what could happen in the future but in terms of being in the moment how big is this for Otani the Dodgers baseball that he's pitching again tonight yeah and God they're good at being secretive aren't they yeah they're like they have all these good players but they're also like run their, you know, system like James Bondish. Like they just don't know what's going to happen. Like we'd heard not until after the All-Star break and now we're starting tonight.

So it's great. It's great for the game and you hope he stays healthy and that's the number one thing. And you know, the rest for the Dodgers is if he doesn't stay healthy is not, that he won't be able to pitch for you. I think that is obviously a luxury they want, but if it be hurts his arm, now that he become a less effective hitter, and you know, because you're talking about one of the top three hitters in all of baseball.

So this is, you know, a big moment for them, but they also need it. Look at their rotation, eight guys on the IELT right now, they've used 14 different starting pitchers already this year, they just found out they're probably not gonna have Sasaki for the rest of the year, you cross your fingers, you get class now back. There's a lot of questions, Blake's now and all these things. So they also have the luxury of playing the long hit. They are running the Kentucky Derby and don't need a sprint out of

the gate. They can make them both a little bit because they have that kind of depth. So, but ultimately the show Hayo Tani doing both things is what this game is all about seeing something special a unique player like that to be able to go out there and start well see just nice of one inning two innings probably just gonna be an inning and that would be my guess it's not great take by the guys from John Boyd they're like if he's just gonna throw one inning let's just bump three times not let him run his pinch count up um... he sacrificed the first inning from not letting Shelby get his pitch count up uh... no this is

it's really awesome that he's going to make his way back and I'm looking forward to watching it yeah and it does you know open up uh... an interesting question about you know where it goes the rest of this season like you mentioned they're gonna ease him into this uh... like do you picture by September October this guy like it's green light, special,

and probably six man rotation, but when he's out there, it's like, dude, you can hit 100 pitches. Like go ahead. Like if you're in a playoff game, you just unleash this guy or do you do not think that's a reality anymore or at least this season when it comes to Otani on the mound? I think this season would be really hard to get to, but this is a guy that is, you know, different in this game. So I don't doubt it for a second.

I think, you know, I think there's always going to be a little gubbler on him for now. I truly have a philosophy for what it's worth as a guy who both started and closed, that I would argue that closing is way less stressful on your arm and Shohei Otani is a guy that you could have DH and then have them convert to the pitcher you know position later in the game and he could warm up inside in the tunnel all of Japan that's what they do in Japan anyways the the

bullpen sometimes are in the other side of the clubhouse and it's you can can manage that a lot more. You can keep the innings down and those strengths there. I closed for three years, my arm never hurt not one time in three years. So, but as a starting pitcher, you throw a hundred pitches in a game. I didn't, I loved to take batting practice. I wasn't a hitter like him, but I loved it. And I didn't want to hit the day after a lot of times because you're stiff, you're're sore you're not just your elbow But you're you know your back you're it's a lot to throw over a hundred pitches in this game So yeah, who knows what their ideas are and I don't think they're gonna tell anybody because we just found out You know yesterday that he's switching today

They're really good at keeping secrets and it wouldn't shock me to see them use them in a relief role where you can do that I mean heck you could program put him in center field. He'd be the best center fielder you have Yeah, it's truly a unicorn in the sport somebody that nobody our life time is in play Nobody in our generation is team play. So this is something special and we'll see how it all plays out big time Can't wait for it. Oh Tony back on the mound tonight Always great catching up with you Ryan. Appreciate you doing this amount tonight. Always great catching up with you Ryan, appreciate you doing this. Yeah, absolutely guys, you bet. Enjoy. There he is, Ryan Dempster. Save the Blue J talk for tomorrow. They've got Arizona in town tomorrow, day off today. Not the

best down in Philly, but still five games over 500, Jonas. That would be interesting to put him in the bullpen. Remember John Smoltz? I think he went back and forth and he was awesome at both. Yeah, he was like Hall of Fame caliber at both. Yeah. Like he I think he's the only guy ever with 250 wins and 150 saves or something like that something crazy. But it's like they paid 700 million? Yeah and Smoltz didn't hit. I mean that the complication of him in the bullpen is how does that work if you're hitting in your you know like I guess you got to go out to the bullpen and warm up but then how does that work if you're up in the

order. I mean that's what Dempster is talking about like you know where how do you how do you make it work for him to be a closer or a setup guy but it doesn't mess with the batting order and you know that's where he's at his best clearly in the box right now. But those boys in Atlanta Smoltz, Glavin, Maddox insane I can't imagine the country club that because those dudes all loved golfing oh Peachtree man they must have been all at Peachtree and there's another Bobby Jones spot in Atlanta I think isn't there Eastlake? Yeah Eastlake for sure You know they played I'll bet you those guys collect Atlanta Country Club or Atlanta Athletic Club or whatever

It's and you know they've all played Augusta, but I would have 25 times I would have loved to seen their act on the road. Yeah, the best they were keying it up everywhere man Well, you're starting everything. And I'm not talking a goat ranch. They would get somebody calling the best place and say, like if they were not pitching at a stop they probably wouldn't even go to the games, man. Oh yeah.

Like if you set it up one, two, three in the order and it was like a two game series in Pittsburgh, they're playing Oakmont, the three of them are showing up. And there's not a fourth, maybe a member, maybe the pro, or they ice it out. Sorry, we're not allowed to bring three guests out. Yeah, you are, you are now. These three are rolling through and they're playing Oakmont and then they're gonna be at Pine Valley tomorrow. That would be amazing.

Maybe that's a good question for your tier of celebrity. Could you guys, like what is the level of golf course you can use? That's a great question. I've never understood though, like there's rumors about the national in Toronto. Like I've never understood. I would never have, I would always call a public golf course and I wasn't Rocket Clemens or Tom Glavin or Greg Maddux, but the guys would just call up and say, yeah, can we get out there? It's like no, it's a private course Yeah, no exactly like not a lot of places would probably be like, you know now around Atlanta is different

But on the road, you know, they're not dying to necessarily have you out if you're down somewhere else, you know Alright, we'll catch up with Chris Johnston live from Florida in the cup final CJ coming up in about 50 minutes Overdrive continues PSN 1050 and on TSN for all right Steve Sands Chris Johnson our best bet still to come Game five of the NBA finals tonight big spread in favor of Oklahoma City. I Guess that's not surprising. They play so well at home. They played great down the stretch the other night, man Like that was championship defense. They completely iced out, Indiana Covered the number late too. That was disappointing very disappointing but

Yeah, tonight's a big night brooklyn city and the rumors in the NBA about Kevin Durant and Jamarant and other players obviously Yonannis although that's cooled down a little bit Seems like he's gonna stay in Milwaukee. What's the John Morant? They've had enough of his act Well, they just made a big deal in Memphis is it sounds like Memphis is basically saying give us a shout like anyone Everyone's available down there. That's what it kind of sounds like and Morant he's being linked to the Raptors like based on the books. I've seen a lot of different books indicate that maybe the odds on favor right now to acquire a job would be the Raptors should be interesting.

Doesn't he's not healthy a lot, gets suspended, gets himself in a couple of bad places. I'm not sure that's about the healthy. Yeah, I'm not convinced that's the best move for the wraps, but there's going to be some fireworks in the next two or three weeks in the NBA for sure and in the NHL I think. CJ coming up, Steve Sands as well, overdrive continues. TSN 1050 soon to be up on TSN 2. Something to Chew On is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar.

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