OverDrive - OverDrive - June 16, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: June 16, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 3 on OverDrive! Golf Channel Commentator Steve Sands joins to discuss J.J. Spaun's huge win at the U.S. Open, his next steps with the United States on the course and Rory McIlroy's unusual vibe on the course. TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joins to discuss Brad Marchand's contract value, Florida possibly bringing the team back together and the Oilers' goaltending choice in Game 6 and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

Right now, Bell Blue Dot Days are on. That means the offers are hot, hot, hot at Bell. And these aren't just any Blue Dot Days. They're the first, the premiere, the debut, the start of something grand. So hurry in and get in on the great offers. Introducing Bell Blue Dot Days. Get over $1,000 off amazing phones with eligible trade-in. Switch to Canada's fastest 5G Plus network today.

Visit a Bell store or bell.ca slash blue dot days for details. Bell, getting a new phone just got better. Squinting through bright days? That's a no. Struggling with glare? Also no. What about sunglasses over regular glasses? Big no.

But prescription sunglasses from Pearl Vision? That's a huge yes. They're a must have for enjoying the sun in style. Choose from designer frames like Ralph Lauren, Coach, Michael Kors, and more. Arrange an eye exam at pearlvision.ca and get 40% off lenses. Some restrictions and exclusions may apply. See participating stores for details. Final hour, Overdrive continues powered by Fan by fan duel bringing you everything from the

opening line of the final score Chris Johnston from Florida later this hour our best bets on game five of the NBA finals tonight Jays off today back in action tomorrow game six of the cup final tomorrow and you know we've talked a lot about what happened the other night. Florida was so good, the Oilers just couldn't keep up, man. They couldn't break through. It was like Florida just- Shocking word to use to describe Edmonton Hays was lethargic. I saw that one headline, Oilers lethargic.

I was like, what a tough word. Yeah, and it felt that way. Now I think again because of the way Florida plays They just they smother you they take up so much space they get in your head And again for tomorrow night. We've been discussing it like who's gonna who's gonna start net I'm assuming they're gonna go to Skinner. It has to be skinner. I don't know if it has to be skinner Do they have faith in skinner? It's like your season is on the line and you're not gonna go to him? Your guy the whole year?

Has he earned that though? Has he earned that guy? No, I know the other guy's won, but like come on. Yeah, I get it, but what I'm saying, it's not like Skinner is some like big winner of the past that like He's he has he is more than capable of falling flat and crushing you tomorrow night. That's what's terrifying is he's better goalie than Picker. Definitely has played more the last two years when he's on his game. He's more than capable of being a winning, you know, goaltender, but he's also prone

to just meltdowns. And that would be so concerning about putting him in tomorrow night. I said it in the first hour, like to be in a coach's room having this conversation about who's going to be in net. Like usually you'd be thinking, hey, could we have a subtle change in the third and fourth line, maybe switch that winger with that guy. You're talking about who's going in net in a must-win game on the road That is a dark and scary place if you want to talk about has it ever happened like can you think of anything Jeff like I?

Can't remember this ever not it. I can't really run. Oh, yeah, but not the cup fine Yeah, the end of the cup maybe based on injury or something like that, but not to this extent or it's simply You're playing a hunch either way Like either way you're playing Chicago went with darling and then they went back to Crawford I I bet you if you could ask them they were in their head saying Thank you, Scott darling, but you're never going back into that net. Like, never. Yeah, and that was the first round. That was not the cup final. Like, this is the definition of a tandem, though.

Win or lose. Imagine if they win. But that's it. Like, if you win tomorrow night with whoever's in there, and then you find a way to win game seven, it's the most remarkable, goaltending split. But it also reminds me of that. And then every donkey GM is gonna say,

oh, we got a tandem. Look what Evan did. And it's like,'s like actually know this should tell you the opposite and but if they win though if they win what how does it not so uncomfortable i get it or it works but it didn't if you would have a family cup though it worked but they are only i hear you i'm not saying i would love it i'm not saying it ideal setup, but it is really they need to win two games in a row Let's say it's Skinner or Pickard if it happens

They actually achieved that they won the Stanley Cup with two goalies going back and forth multiple times Including multiple times in the cup final. I will vomit if I hear that as a justification for a two goalie system. I love Joe from the bridge he just wrote if Skinner is going to be an Euler next season it has to be him that starts. What does next year have to do with that? Did you not listen to Brucie? I don't know if they're gonna go to the war with the same goaltending guys they have right now. I just don't think they will. But I also just don't think next year has any bearing on anything. Like you could not be more tunnel vision than game six of a cup final. Like you just, you couldn't possibly. You are familiar with tunnel vision thinking.

I am prone to doing it from time to time. Yes. You cannot be considering, well next year, you know, if we get to get to February Skinner's probably gonna be our starting goalie at that point That'll be tough now. Yeah, like when we go through that Florida stretch However, there's nothing to do with the future didn't Pete DeBoer kind of just get fired for what he said after But I was very different than Skinner. Okay, and those were comments. You're right. It's the conference final again And those were comments, you're right, it was the conference final again. Otenger, they're committed to, they've paid. Skinner is not in the same...

Like Otenger was the man. Skinner has not taken that title. He's also beaten... Yeah, I know. I hear what you're saying. It's a reasonable comparison, but I don't think, for starters, Chris Knoblach could not be more safe. He's not going anywhere, regardless of what happens.

He could bench McDavid tomorrow night and he's back next year. But that might be strong. That could be a strong one. He didn't think he had it going tonight. Could be a strong one. But this just, I guess what I'm saying is like taking the future into consideration for making a call like this. Neither guy really deserves that. Yeah, you'll play McDavid 30 minutes. like this neither guy really deserves that yeah you play mcdavid thirty minutes yeah it was skinner and pickard are not there's flexibility there in terms of their future uh... the overdrive pgpix are brought to you by tailor made when you need more

performance distance and speed for your golf ball it's time to switch learn more about the all new t p five and t p five exit tailor-made golf dot c eight so unfortunately no one took JJ Spawn. No one actually picked JJ Spawn after a bullsh... I could go back to... No, no, no. Wait a minute here. Just all the slow down.

Play the tape because after round one I said, I had a really good feeling about JJ Spawn and you said you could have him. Yes, reluctantly with an asterisk. This is a 64 with an asterisk. So JJ Spahn shoots a bogey free 5 under on Thursday after the tournament started and I was like, I'll take him now. Be honest, would you not agree that even after that first round you would have still considered him a massive long He was a long shot at that point still I mean the odds it shortens

It's so legit that he's on my team. It's a it's a dub now. I made a mistake I took Steve with Kim you actually said take Tyrell Hatton And I said nah, I'm not taking Hatton and Hatton was legitimately in it and right there That guy pissed at the end? He gets angry about everything. But the guys made a good point that I actually missed this. I said, I don't like Hatton because I think this course is going to set him off. And a lot of the broadcasters through the week were saying, everyone's being set off. So Hatton's just normal.

And everyone's coming to his level of just kind of insanity on the course but I guess with an asterisk JJ Spahn was I suppose on the O-Dogs team the overdrive PJ picks brought to you by TaylorMade when you need more performance distance and speed from your golf ball it's time to switch learn more about the all-new TP5 and TP5X at TaylorMadegolf.ca. Here's a man that was down at Oakland all week. We saw him just about a week and a half ago up at TPC Toronto.

Here's our main man Steve Sands from NBC and the Golf Channel. How we doing, Sanze? Fellas, it's so good to talk to you. So good to hear your voices and let's get Edmonton a win tomorrow night. Yes. And this puppet is seven, baby I agree. I want seven. I want to see a game seven who doesn't want to see a game seven

I'll say the same thing about the NBA finals. I want to see game sevens. I don't have a dog in a fight I just want to see entertainment in terms of the entertainment value of this US Open Rank it between a from 1 to 10. how would you rank this in terms of entertainment value that the U.S. Open just supplied? You know, did it have the biggest names in the world on the leaderboard yesterday? No. But I thought the drama of the last hour and a half, the craziness of the USGA and some of their rulings and non-rulings and blowing the horn and not blowing the horn and you know, somehow the USGA tends to just get itself in trouble.

And you know, they did some goofy stuff yesterday. Sam Burns has got to get a drop out of that water. I mean, my God, and they should have called the play a little bit before they did. They probably should have called the play after they did. But having said that, it's fair for everybody or unfair for everybody depending on how you look at it and I don't know man I thought it was pretty darn entertaining. Okay. Zanzi I think their slogan was we don't want to punish the best players we just want to identify them.

Do you think that was accomplished or do you think that they identified the guys that played the best for the last day the whole tournament like How do you break that down? You know it I think it's a little bit of both if two things can be true at once Oh dog I think that if you are watching the best players in the world get punished for missing fairways and missing greens and You know putting up big sideways crooked numbers that they normally don't do week in week out on the PGA tour, then you thoroughly enjoyed what you saw the last four days.

If you also saw some of the goofy stuff that goes on at a US Open every single time, and that includes some of the non-rulings, like I said, Sam Burns should have gotten a drop and that includes some of the non rulings like I said Sam Burns should have gotten a drop and that was ridiculous. That guy looked like a parking a parking guy that handed out parking tickets in the fairway just a creep as he just said you know you're not doing it and walked away like that was crazy Sanze. It was ridiculous and by the way credit to I mean I'm a really easy-going guy but credit to Sam Burns because if that would have happened to me in that position he was gonna win the US Open

for goodness sakes if that would have happened to me I would have gone full fledged George Brett pine tar there I would have gone bananas you know if that was the ruling and by the way a side note to that you guys heard the word bifurcation when it comes to golf. Yeah. Talk about that all the time. Why is it that golf's the only sport where amateurs are giving rulings to the pros? Why do the pros play under the same rules that the four of us play under, the three of us play under, the audience plays under? It's insanity that amateurs are making the rules for the pros and the pros have to follow what the amateurs say and do.

I find that fascinating. But there are two things that can be true at once. There was some goofy stuff that went on because it was a US Open. That's what always happens at a US Open. But there was also some, you know, some punishing great things that happened because that's also what happens each and every year to u.s. open well and and that's what uh... brings us to jj spawn who ends up under par the only player in the tournament under par birdie seventeen birdies eighteen a miraculous fashion with that part was just incredible uh... launches him into

you know that the golf world the sporting world likely launches him on to the american world, the sporting world, likely launches him onto the American team at the Ryder Cup. Where do you see this going for him? Because the players, he was right there, he had it. He had a chance to win it on the 72nd hole. He just came up short in that putt at Sawgrass. Was unbelievably nervous against McElroy the next day

in that playoff, like unbelievably nervous. and then just kind of faded back into the tour and now he's won the US Open so where do you see Spahn taking this in the next two or three years? I always find it fascinating no matter what the sport including the individual sports like tennis and golf that you have to kind of get punished and hurt and heartbroken before you actually do something amazing. So we started by talking about hockey and the Edmonton Oilers hopefully winning tomorrow night and getting us a game seven. Maybe they learned from that game at seven experience and they come back home next year,

this time a year later and win the Stanley Cup. Well, JJ Spahn, he learned something from how he played at TPC Sawgrass. He was better than anybody in the field at TPC Sawgrass after 72 holes, except Rory McIlroy, who tied him. Didn't beat him, but tied him. And then he slept on the playoff the next morning and he looked really really nervous. He didn't look nervous yesterday. He bogeyed five of the first six holes and everybody including us thought that's it for JJ let's wipe him off the list and everybody else now has a chance. Well he shot three under on the back nine, he birdied the last two holes and never lost his poise

never lost his poise and to me that's an athlete learning and becoming more confident based upon a previous big spot that he was in and he failed it and he was heartbroken after the players but he's not heartbroken now because he came up money and I I think JJ spawn like you like you said, is going to be on the rider cup team or as he should be. And I also think that, you know, who knows this could propel him to great things. He seems like a us open type of guy. Retief Goosen one, two lead chance in one, two Andy North one, two, you know, I don't

think JJ spawns going to win 10, 12, 14 events in his PGA Tour career but I can see him contending at the at the at a US Open again. I certainly could because of the way he strikes the golf ball and he's always in play. It's amazing to watch him strike a golf ball and when the putter cooperates like it did at the players until the playoff and like it did this past week And his mindset now has that confidence knowing he can get to the finish line I think I think good things could happen to jj spun, but I don't think by any means he's about to go become You know some amazing hall of fame player. He's a great great player on the pga tour though Sanzi, where do you think scotty goes with his putting?

I mean, I think you would agree that if he putted a lick, he probably wins that trophy. It's like everything happened for him to make a Sunday comeback. But he just like, is he going to go with the the left handed Bernhard Langer broomstick next week? Or what are we gonna not have the hips just yet, although the putting does waiver from time to time. Did you guys think when he birdied 17, got to three over, which basically eliminated John Rahm,

who was in at four over, that he was going to birdie 18 and post two over and then see what happens? I was thinking, wow, this guy, I go, wow, this cat's got a chance. I can't believe it. I think that his putting you know is it a deficiency no but it's just not as good as his short game it's not as good as his iron play it's not as good as his driving but I

don't think it's a deficiency by any means like JJ spawn although I'm not comparing the two by any means but when Scotty is putting just a little bit I'm not talking about getting hot I'm just talking about throwing in the microwave and warming it up he's gonna be on leaderboards and he was on the leaderboard you know yesterday late if he would have done anything with his putting the first three and a half days I agree with you I think he probably would have won but Scott he'll be fine he'll go back recalibrate play this week and travel when the two of them are and probably it'll probably win but I think

I think Scott is gonna be just fine I don't think he and his confidence are wavering at all right now just because he didn't win yesterday with Steve Sands and then there's Rory McIlroy who Had the most triumphant moment of his career in life, you know at Augusta National and just an unbelievable scene Build up the win in a playoff the whole the whole scene was just incredible And then he shows up here last week at And then he shows up here last week at Osprey Valley and effectively looked like he wanted to be anywhere else on earth and Went out and you know throws a 78 on the board on Friday and gets out of here shows up at the US Open

Miraculously makes the cut but then his presser on Saturday was asked, you know, like what are you thinking tomorrow? And he goes hopefully around an under four and a half hours so I can get out of here. Like giving off this kind of vibe and attitude, like he just had no interest in playing and it was a formality and he had to, but if he could have opted out he would have. Everyone has a different theory on what's up with this guy and why it's turned to this kind of disinterested slash... Well Hayes, the other kicker comment was was i've earned the right to do whatever i want whatever i want yes it's been a business

that was in large part to you know speak with the media and and all the different obligations to come with the in rory mccroy what is your you know thesis on why we're seeing in hearing what we're seeing in hearing from rory mccroy do you guys and i mean it sincerely do you guys cover a lot of college football? Zero. Not a ton up here. Zero. No. So down here you know, I mean the NFL is number one and college football is number two as far as ratings and popularity. There's this very famous phrase

nowadays with the way things go on in college sports that a kid opts out of his bowl game because he wants to get ready for the draft. He doesn't want to get hurt, that kind of thing. Of course. But the phrase is always opt out. So you just use the phrase opt out. Doesn't it seem like he wants to opt out of 2025 and we'll see in January? That's what it seems like. When we were in Toronto with you guys, I was like, man, is he even interested in being here? And then last week he said after he made the cut on Friday when he finally spoke to the media, I thought it was interesting that he said among the things that you guys both talked about, that you know

it's pretty good to make the cut for somebody who wasn't really that interested in actually being here on the weekend. And I was like whoa and you know that kind of, I'm paraphrasing, but that kind of thing. And look, he spent his whole life with one goal to be a Grand Slam champion, to win all four major championships, to be the best player in the world. He's achieved everything that you could possibly achieve in this sport.

And it just happened in April. And unlike the other five guys who won the career Grand Slam, it took Rory 11 times. So it took him forever to get there and now he can finally exhale in that regard as far as winning the career Grand Slam. What's interesting to me about what Rory's going through right now is I remember in 2001 when David Duvall was the best player in the world and he won the Open Championship at Royal Lytham in San the world and he won the Open Championship at Royal

Lytham in San Andreas. And after he won, he was number one in the world and he was a major champion. A few weeks later, I remember seeing him and David's a very bright guy, like Rory, well read, like Rory, has other interests in life, like Rory. And I'm not comparing the two, but I'm just saying they're very similar in those regards. And David David said after being number one in the world and after winning a major he said Is this it like like what else is there and? Wow, I thought I was gonna feel different when I accomplished these things So maybe Rory's just kind of going through a little bit of a funk right now He's too great of a player to play this poorly.

He did shoot 67 yesterday, by the way, and he's too nice of a guy and too bright and insightful to seem so disinterested and not wanting to share his thoughts and talk when he knows so many people are interested in what he has to say and what he's thinking. So I'm going to give him a little bit of a pass right now, but he's got to talk to the media. He's got to be professional in that regard and he's got to get out of this little funky is in or else it's going to be a long haul for him.

He's a young man. He's just mid thirties. You know, he's got a long way to go. I think he just needs to recalibrate. I'm really fascinated, I'm sure we'll speak when we're over at the Open Championship in a few weeks at Royal Port Rush. That's his home country, his hometown, you know, right near Hollywood, Northern Ireland, where he grew up. If he doesn't speak to the media there and have a great attitude there, then there's nowhere in Major Championship Golf where he's going to have a great attitude and want to be there.

So I'm curious to see what it's going to be like next month for him, but he needs to snap out of it pretty quickly. That's great. Sanzi, quickly, before we get you out of here, I'd like to throw something at you that Brian brought up earlier in the show. The Caps next season miss the playoffs. What are your thoughts on that? Oh, here we go.

What are you talking about? Give me a break. I mean, the ghost of Ty Domey and Wendell Clark has gotten into your guys brains for goodness sakes. It was just some consensus. We got to talk about possibilities. There's a lot of possibilities. We won the thing in 2018, fellas. I get it. We don't live in the past here. We don't live in the past here.

We don't live in the past. Well, I mean, I don't spill Pepsi's on computers either. I mean, what are we doing here? Allegedly it was you, Fancy. I'm talking about. Yeah, all right. They had the best record in hockey other than Winnipeg. Yeah?

They got to the second round. They got their butts kicked by a better team in Carolina. What the Caps need to do is get faster and they need to get up and down the ice like I'm watching these two teams right now get up and down the ice. I mean, nobody gets up and down the ice like Edmonton, but the Caps will be fine. I mean, give me a break. You guys with the Caps. You guys.

All right. I'm worried about that Jay Daniels in the sophomore slump too, man. I got to be honest with you. Oh, here we go. Jay, here we go. I'm worried about the Daniels sophomore slump. I'm serious. We'll check in with you in week three and talk about J. Daniels, Sanze.

You guys need to worry about the Argonauts, alright? We do. They're all in two, man. They're not off to a good start. You're right, Sanze. They still have the Rouge? Yes, they do. The Rouge is ours, man. We love the Rouge. The field's 900 yards long. What are they doing up there? That's a different game, man. It's a different ballgame up here. No, I actually enjoy watching the CM. I'm gonna say it's the best sports fan. As you

guys know, I'm the wacko sports fan. I love watching late night CFL man. It's great. It's off and running man. We're already two weeks in. It's a beautiful thing up here. I am more worried about the commanders in year two because defensive coordinators now have tape on Jayden and that offense and now they can hunker down and know exactly what they're gonna get from this kid sophomore slumps are a real thing in the NFL because coaches are so good but the caps will be okay. The caps will be alright. The caps will be okay. Not great. The commanders actually could be very good. I think so man. They got Debo now. Daniels

is a stud. I think you're going to be alright down there, Sanzy. We appreciate you doing this as always, buddy. We'll do it again soon. I love you guys. I hope I talk to you late night from a pub at the harbor in and Port Rush next month and we'll have a good time. You got it. Dial it in. Thanks, Sanze All right fellas. You guys be good. There. He is Steve Sands of NBC in the Gulf Channel Great point about McElroy like if he if he's still got the same type of approach at Port Rush that's gonna be crazy and That'll get his juices pumping and then he literally might play Port Rush and whatever happens hazy might just say

I'll maybe see you in January. Maybe I don't Ryder cup though, dude Like he'll be there and if he's if he's got this attitude he's playing like this at Beth page in New York They're going another thing Roy. Yes, they will destroy him Yeah, but it also is like even hearing sansi say those words It gave me a great appreciation for Tiger Woods. Because Tiger Woods would win the Masters for the Grand Slam, and then he would go to the Milwaukee Open and just beat the pants off of every... because that's just what he did. There was no like, oh, I accomplished... he wanted to just slaughter everyone every time he teed it up.

It didn't matter. And that's why he didn't play so often. Like if you remember back in Tiger's schedule, that guy, like his first appearance would be in San Diego and then he would go to Arnie's place. But he would win every time. He would just need the juice to win. But when he teed it up, he wanted to win every time. He never stopped. I mean mean that's the amazing thing and like we meant to get into that

with Sanze about them during the rain delay they launched right into Tiger at the US Open in 2008. I thought it was perfect because it just went right it cut the crap and went right to the great shots. Immediately to just his highlights on Saturday at the open. Yeah like I was engaged. I already knew what was gonna happen. I can't wait to see him hit this putt again. And I knew it, the chip, I knew it goes in. The long putt on third, I knew it goes in,

but I was so jacked. You go 13 and 18. 18 was like the famous little fist pump. Any rain delay, go to Tiger winning that tournament. Shouldn't be hard to find footage. I agree. And someone was pointing that out. Like obviously he won the open there in 08 and that that's when he broke his leg. Um, and then that was it until 19,

but he was on a run that year, man. He was winning everything. Don't you think Golf Channel could spin off like it just had Tiger Channel? Well, it basically was Tiger Channel for 20 years. I know but just you you could have a separate Golf Channel News with Tiger Woods victories every round of every tournament and just have it on Like really I'm at I'd watch it. I agree. There'd be a big audience for that They can't escape it. Like, it's just Tiger will always, he's always brought up. It's amazing when you see Golf Channel live from, like, they are five minutes into the first

episode on the road. Tiger Woods. And Tiger comes up somehow. And the guy's sitting on a lawn chair with his new girlfriend and that he hasn't even, he's not a part of golf. He's not playing. He probably will probably will never play gathers a very good chance he will play again like professionally uh... by chris johnston from the cup final who starts in that tomorrow night to see do you have an answer on that uh... we're going to do a number of things with him our best but still to come as well overdrive continues

he has sent and fifty and up on you to blot later in the hour it's gonna be a big couple nights in sports you get game five the nb finals tonight in six the cup final tomorrow show here tiny back in the mound tonight in l.a. against the pod raise two just big you know big rival the divisions tight to they're not running away and so uh... yeah but that's the thing remember we came into the season one twenty

they can they're gonna win a hundred and twenty games well came into the season 120 thinking they're gonna win 120 games Well, they started the season off like that, too Yeah, yeah, they were they were 8-0 9-0 to start and remember went to Japan and just waxed the Cubs who are a good team and We got a little bit carried away there I think with the idea that they'd win a hundred got twenty games. They've got all these injuries or pitching stats. The money they spend and the roster they have it was like no contest. Well, yeah, ultimately I guess it is contest but they're still gonna win the

division or make the playoffs like they're like the Panthers like third wild card you think they'd care? Just be healthy and ready come playoff time they'll be fine. Can I ask you as a question that I asked Bruce before? Yes So let's say Florida wins and let's say Brad Marsh and is the cons my Jonas first of all when you do that You just ask us the question. It's not like we're gonna say no don't know but I need to provide context No, not everyone heard Bruce Boudreaux. Okay, you did. Okay Go ahead. He make your Hall of Fame ballot. I did. Okay. Go ahead. Would he make your Hall of Fame ballot? I don't think he's a first ballot Hall of Famer. I think he would be a second, third,

fourth kind of, I think he'd get in and would be worthy of it. Now, I don't like the idea that like for me, my stance has always been you're either a Hall of Famer or you're not. So I guess I'm not even answering my own question. It should be like obvious. Yeah. And I think, I think I'd put them in. Which is difficult Hayze because i don't want to get picket guys in the past but it's hard not there's there's players that have gone in the last ten years because i'm down there every year shaken their hands they're not the best of the best like there there's guys that are going in that were good players accumulators which is just year after year putting up

numbers around for a long time and it's like that's why when it comes to a guy like Brad Marchand it's like those other guys that have gone in that i've seen down at the rink the last 10 years he sure as hell is going in the hall of fame well that's it like i'll give you a name like a guy like Mark recce who got in eventually now he he played 1300 games had a bunch of points, one cups, played all over the place. Great player. I think Marchand is as good or better than him. Like, like, Recce was a really good player. Yes. But that's a guy that just stayed healthy, played, was in big moments, big games. And that's what Marchand is. Like, Marchand's never been up for the heart, never will be.

That's not true. I thought like he was top five twice, I think. So that's not true I thought like he was top five twice I think but that's not like a top three nomination. Oh so that's a category Hayes you got to be nominated for the hard dongle. I'm saying he's never really been in contention as the best player in the game. But he's been like in the top ten-ish. Yes at times in his career his best seasons for sure. Yeah. But Mark Wckie was never a hard trophy winner. Exactly. And that's my point. I'm not I'm not I'm using that as an example of why he'd probably get in. I was thinking like Jeremy Ronick. Did he have a better career than Jeremy Ronick? Probably. He didn't have as much like was he as skilled? But he's as big of a

personality as Ronick too, right? And a lot of the case for Ronick is like huge personality and Ronick got in. He just got in. Clearly it took him a long time. And this would be like Right and a lot of the case for Ronick is like huge personality and Ronick got in he just got in clearly It took him a long time and this would be like two cup wins But if they get if they yeah cons my place for the national team and was impactful on the national team. Yeah Yeah, I think he I think he'll I think he'll get in I think with another cup in a cons might And he still got likely a few more years of playing to see what else he absolutely what else he does. He'll cash in on this man. Somebody will give him four years like just after this performance to say we need this guy we'll give him four years

yeah you're probably, I mean thirty-seven. I was thinking about writing about that this week and I think it's really interesting ideas stealer he just stole all his deal. You want to write it with me? Well would you give him let's say you're the Leafs would you try to work out a Kristana like deal for him? No. Like a six year deal. Only if you put it to the beginning of the article like some of the athletic people do, I with this person did this article, you have to do that. A double byline with Jeff O'Neil. There you go. Done. Okay, well what would you suggest is uncomfortable? If it was like

four times eight million per year, I'd be like, I can't do that. It's uncomfortable. What about this? Four times seven. Would that ease the pain? I don't like four years. Let's say you're doing four years. If I needed him to kind of, and I had the room, I'd give it him four times seven for

fun. for fun. For fun. Just for all the losers that get that money and they don't even piss a drop, I'd give it to him for fun. See, I'm more inclined to do like, so four times seven, or three times seven would be 21. What if you stretch that?

Well, that's what I'm saying. If it's a 10 of deal, if it's six years at 21, and then it drops the cap, but it's like you're gonna get that money. It's like three and a half. I don't know. Like it's six years at 21 and then it drops the cap, but it's like, you're gonna get that money. Three and a half. I don't know. Like it's gonna get, it's likely gonna be ugly at the end. You're buying, you're gonna be buying after this.

And this is just an incredible run with a great, great team and you're not a great team. It's not big and like, he had the injury stuff this year. It's like, is that gonna be a thing? It would really scare me. It's scary. But it's like you see this and it's like man. And he is in great shape Yeah, he's a professional. He's a winner. He's a big personality. Yeah, like yeah, it's listen It's gonna be an uncomfortable deal where whoever signs him because of the age But he's going to give you bang for your buck at times that are going to make it totally worth it.

He's a gamer. He's going to show up, but he's a big personality. Well, and see, I think CJ wrote about it during the final, like old guys in the cup final have kind of been all over the place. Yeah. Here's Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. Do you have a read on when it would get uncomfortable for teams with Brad Marchand? In other words, the term and the dollar amount that would kind of a consensus through the league people would say I don't know I don't think I can do that and I can't give him that on July 1st. Well honestly I think my feeling with him is that he's gonna make teams uncomfortable on both parts because you know he's 37 years old and

it seems like a four-year deal is going to be out there for him. The contract is going to go north of 8 million, which I think is probably about the comfort level for teams. We have to remember, we are going into a different world. It's hard for us to sit here and forecast it, but the length of any free agent contract that's signed July 1st is going to cover the cap going from the high 80s million into 115 millionish within three years. And so that's going to be a dramatic change.

Basically simple math that tells you a six million player today in three years will be a nine million dollar player if you just do the average for where the cap's going. So I think we have to prepare ourselves for that, not just when it comes to Marchand, but anyone who signs in this next wave that's coming in two weeks time. And, you know, with Marchand in particular, I just think he's kind of a unicorn in a sense, you know, and if anything, I think this run in Florida is done in wonders because you can see, like, he can fit in with a different team. It wasn't just a Boston thing for him and obviously for him getting in playoff games

You know he's energized by this this stage And I think a lot of teams that are going to be shopping on July 1st the least included Are looking for players that can thrive in this environment CJ when you say that his deal will be worth over eight million dollars or eight or over is that because you've talked to sources That say that they they they would give him that Or for sure, you know and and you know There's a lot of teams obviously that I think I've interested in them There's maybe a little fewer that I've interested them in that price

But that's I mean that's the beauty of being a free agent at a time when the caps going up and and also coming off This kind of run in the playoffs where I mean it's been undeniable. You know for me what stands out, the goals are one thing, it's like the way he's scoring them these aren't just tap-ins at the side of the net where you know someone else is doing all the work and you know even just some of the off-eye stuff. We know that the Panthers are good enough to win a cup, they won it last year with Brad Marchand not on their team but I don't I honestly don't think they're here without him in this run because you know they haven't had the same type of impact from a lot of their their other top players

offensively specifically and you know he's transformed their third line where really no other team can go head-to-head with with the way that they produce so yeah there's there's definitely teams that are gonna give him that someone's gonna give him that and he's in a he's in a really Fantastic position one because he can win a cup tomorrow night Which has been a long time coming for him personally and then two he's gonna cash in here in two weeks time CJ can you refresh me like how did he end up in Florida? Like I remember it was like maybe they'll trade him. Maybe they won't then it's just like Florida gets him

How did that happen? Well the reason there was some uncertainty right up until the deadline is because contract talks were going on with the Bruins You know in that final week before leading up to March 7th And you know there was even a meeting that that Brad initiated himself with with management to try to get it done I mean this wasn't a player that was looking to get traded He wasn't one that asked to get it done. I mean this wasn't a player that was looking to get traded. He wasn't one that asked to get traded. He did have a limited no trade clause and did block a move to Western Conference team prior to going to Florida but you know Florida wasn't on the list of teams and they obviously stepped up and made this deal. And so basically that's it is that the Bruins and Marchand couldn't

find a number that worked. I think they were looking at something like a sweater number 6.3 million you know he wasn't having a great season to that point to be fair you know coming off the surgeries last summer you know this was not as this is I think his least productive year in about 10 years in the regular season but you know he's obviously feeling better now he's been healthy for a stretch of time and you know I think he's I think he's reinvigorated his career to be honest I mean it's not that he was sputtering out but you know I think he's in a position where he can credibly ask for the kind of money we're talking about you know after this kind

of performance I think it's been that good and it might have erased some of the concerns you might have had and that the Bruins might have had at that time you know in early March when you know his production was going in the wrong direction so you know it's one of those cases obviously Boston traded away a number of established players at that point in time and you know they're doing a little bit of a reboot and you know he was a valuable enough asset for them they got a first round pick and you know now that he's been

sent away from there I think he's he's free to hit the open market and you know maxim now that he's been sent away from there, I think he's free to hit the open market and, you know, maximize his earning potential. With Chris Johnston, who's playing in goal for the Oilers tomorrow night? Well, I'm expecting it to be Stuart Skinner, you know, but the fact it's a question and kind of tells you something that you're at the stage of the game you know i know chris noblock like to keep his you know he's not a better coach even earlier in the playoffs is coming out and naming the starter in in moments like this where there's some

you know doubt about it but you know you're going into the game this big and he's they'll keep in the cards close but you know it it does that does sound like it's going to be skinner and i i think that probably makes the most sense you know he played game seven for them last year certainly wasn't the reason they lost the 2-1 game he's been their starter for a long time and you know credit to Pickard but he didn't he didn't do anything in game five that made you think he had to be back in there and so

there's no hiding this this is a pretty desperate spot for Edmonton you know they're leaking a little bit of oil on the blue line There's a question in net they don't have enough offense below their top guys But they got to find a way to win a game and then they get a game seven on home ice Which is what any team anywhere would be killing for and so I think they're going to trust in Skinner to win that game tomorrow Yeah, it is pretty incredible that that's a storyline hitting into game six of the Stanley Cup final but it is and so is you know the the Connor McDavid Leon dry subtle story and McDavid was asked today about being the best player in the

game and You know the pressure of him winning and I'm curious what you've picked up from being around the Oilers You know, how would you compare the way, you know, they appear to be, you know, emotionally, mentally, all that kind of stuff, what they're portraying today compared to what they were portraying prior to game one? Well, and I'll say even being around them last year in that cup final when they got back into it, I mean, they are, they're definitely comfortable in this environment. Now that doesn't at all guarantee they're going to find a way somehow to win these last two and raise the cup.

They can credibly say they've been through this and seen through it the other side. You can go back to round two of last year's playoffs in Vancouver. They had to win game six and seven to get through that series. They did go down 3-0 in last year's cup final and force it to the game seven. This is the first time in this year's playoffs that they've actually faced elimination. But you know I do think they are a little bit of a team that likes to flirt with danger. I mean even the two games they won in this series they went down by two in the first game and went down by three in the second one that they managed to win game four here in Florida.

So you know they like to kind of ride the lightning a little bit and you know sort of daredevil kind of stuff and this is you're down to zero margin for error. So you know what my sense is today is you know McDavid seemed very focused. I thought he was you know said some interesting stuff at the podium you know on his scale probably not a lot of headline grabbers but he was he's pretty open about what's going on here about his mindset You know he did mention that he thinks he can be better And you know I by no means do I think this is on him solely I mean he's got seven points in five games in the series

It's most players would love to struggle to that degree, but you know he he's still waiting Maybe for a big breakthrough moment. I think specifically early in a game You know the Oilers have trailed so often in this series and that's been tough and you know, he had some chances in the first period and gave five on Saturday and didn't convert. Connor Brown had a good look earlier in that game too and you know, so this is, I think every team obviously wants to play out, play good all 60 minutes and score first and blah, blah, blah. But I do think it makes a difference if Edmonton can get ahead in that game and you know, if McDavid

Maybe is the one that does it for him I'd like to see him be a little more selfish at times especially you know maybe on the power play you know putting poor pucks to the net Because I do think he tends to to look for the perfect pass and we've already seen in this series He's capable of it because he made a pretty glorious move on the goal from dry side Earlier in the series. I think he's got more goals in his stick if he's got a shooting mentality. CJ, we've talked a lot about Bennett and where will he go, how much will he make, and

Marshan and Ekblad. How much of an appetite do you think the Florida Panthers will have to say, let's find somehow some way to keep as much of the band back together and go at this for three in a row because I Don't see any reason why if the majority of those pieces aren't together. They can't take another stab at it. I See what you did there. Oh, you subtly just gave them this cup win for two in a row You know, I think but what happens in the next three or four days aside for sure They'd like to keep

the players. One thing Florida does that I think they've had success with is they hold the line in negotiations. They have some ability to do so because they've got other players on certain numbers. I think they can say, hey, you're not making more than Barkov. They've been able to create that game that we've seen other teams do in the past where there's almost internal type of cap, which has been successful. And so I think what makes this year so interesting is I don't know how they'll react if someone

like Sam Bennett doesn't buy into that. If he looks at his playoffs, 15 goals and counting, perhaps a Consmite trophy, and the ability to take that to market and be a free agent and maybe pass on those kind of deals, then it might break the structure and it might force Florida to do something else. But they're a really well-run front office. They've made a ton of good decisions. If you look at how half these guys ended up on the roster, it's through trades, they got waiver pickups playing key roles on this team.

They've signed guys that were bought out and revived their career, including even last year Oliver Ekman-Larson before he landed in Toronto. You got Nate Schmidt in that spot now. This is a front office that's had a lot of hits down the lineup. I think that they'll have the confidence if the numbers get what they deem to be goofy with any of those players. They'll just let them walk and you know bank on the fact that that they've got a great track record of identifying talent and finding guys so

you know the opportunity will be there for the players to stay but I think the Panthers are the sort of team that's only going to go so far in those negotiations and then the players will have a decision to make because the flipside oh is if you see them as a team that can do that I mean I have to believe the guys inside feel that way too and so you know I'm looking around on a sunny day here and I'm thinking why would anyone leave when you're you know on a first-class organization that's winning a ton of games to treat you right great weather no state income tax not that we need to

beat that around anymore but I mean there's there's so many pluses down here it would be hard for me to imagine too many guys willingly walking away. Well we'll got to get through tomorrow night before we know if we have another game or if we launch into the draft and free agency but it's all rapidly approaching enjoy it down there tomorrow CJ we'll do it again soon. Right on boys good to talk to you. Chris Johnston. Appreciate the time CJ. Yes appreciate the time. Yeah we'll see what comes with tomorrow night full tee up tomorrow we'll come back with our best bets on game five of the NBA finals we'll do that next alright today's best bets powered by

FanDuel make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the FanDuel sportsbook app going back to the well I'm taking the points with the Pacers tonight what is it today isn't it nine and a half? The big spread man. Why is it so big? Because OKC is a big prohibitive favorite to win the series. I know. They've been great at home. They're a better team and I think people just continue to doubt the Pacers. But Indiana hasn't lost back-to-back since March. And like Oklahoma City at home against Eastern Conference team, like they're a great team and they look great the other night, but it's just the numbers too big. Yeah they would take it up probably thinking sooner or later.

OKC is just going to stop these guys. That's what I think the books are thinking here is that like could I see a scenario where you know, she goes off for 40 tonight and everything in Oklahoma City is up by 20 like 10 minutes into the game. Series ends blowout. and everything in oklahoma city's up by twenty like ten minutes in the series and blow up yeah i mean it it's possible but i'm going to give the benefit of the doubt indiana continues to show resiliency in the

fight and i don't think they're gonna go down without a fight uh... today's best bets power by fendall from the first basket to the final buzzer live same game parlays are available for every nba finals game of the fendall sportsbook app please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario All right, so we got game six of the cup final tomorrow night noodles is down there in Florida

He's on his way down there right now so he'll be down there for the game and Do in the hot zone after the game and all that on YouTube and Sports Center and everything But full tee up tomorrow Jay's back action, a breakdown of what happened tonight. Give me a fun week. Fun week. I think it's going seven. You think it's going seven? Yeah. Okay. All right.

I take. There's your take. I hope so. 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 hour of every show And the show in its entirety up on TSN's YouTube channel. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at Doogie JP and Jonas great job today. See everyone tomorrow at 4 p.m Take yourself out of it take yourself out of it.

Take yourself out of it. Everyone else was great, but you and I. We'll chat then. June 28th and 29th. Presented by Play Ojo Casino and powered by iHeart Radio. Headliners Avril Lavigne and Rise Against. Plus Simple Plan, Boys Like Girls, Veronica's, Under Oaths and so many more. Camping, parking and all the emo nostalgia you can handle. Get your tickets now at allyourfriendsfestival.com