OverDrive - OverDrive - June 23, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: June 23, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Frank Corrado for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joins to discuss John Tavares' league wide interest and the negotiations in Toronto, the Panthers' free agent choices with Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad and the likelihood of Elias Pettersson being traded in Vancouver. They also discuss the players that could replace Mitch Marner, the best fits on the Maple Leafs and the forward groups on the roster.

This is Fred. Hey, how's it going? This is fraud. Hey, how's it going? Can you tell the difference? Bell can. We'll identify unwanted calls and help block them. For more information, visit bell.ca slash call detection.

Bell. Peace of mind. Just got better. This is Pam. Congratulations. This is Spam. Congratulations. Can you tell the difference?

Bell can. We'll identify unwanted calls and help block them. For more information, visit bell.ca slash call detection. Belle, peace of mind, just got better. From dance anthems to pop icons. Let's celebrate diversity and love. And hits from 2SLGBTQ plus Canadian artists. Be yourself and stand proud. It's your soundtrack for Pride and beyond. Just ask your smart speaker to play iHeartPride Canada. Stream us on your phone or listen now at iHeartRadio.ca. Happy Pride from iHeartPride Canada.

Hour 2 Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, Jamie Noodles-McClennan, Frankie Corrado. Chris Johnston will join us here in just a moment on the latest around the NHL as we are just over, I guess later this week we got the NHL draft. And a week tomorrow we've got July 1st. And Frankie, you've been doing your projections, I've seen that up on TSN.ca and other places on how much money these guys are expected to get. It's a weird year to do it because basically what you do is you lean on a few companies that like project these things and I think they're fairly accurate but with the salary cap going up you know seven seven and a half million dollars this year I think teams are going to spend a little more than normally they would so how does it throw off the projections

it's also like I think there's a number for certain players for one team and there's a number for other teams right like the Sam Bennett number in Florida is going to be way lower than what it would be anywhere else. How do we project that? How do we predict that? So we try, but we'll see. Like I don't know. I hope they're pretty close.

I did have one gentleman somehow find like an old email of mine that I don't really check very often. And he sent me this whole long thing. He's like, how can you have Mitch Marner making more than Sam Bennett? Can you explain that to me? He was a nice guy. He was very nice about it, but I just don't know

how he found my personal email address. Good for him, man. That's a digger. That's a guy. The next one is he just knocks on your door. And his name's Marty. So Marty, I'm gonna answer your email, Marty. The one man party.

At some point I'll get back to you, Marty. Keep your eye on that Marty it's coming. I don't know. I've if Marty's a creepazoid that's getting a hold of your personal information I have no idea as we love Marty. Let's just make sure Marty. Yeah, relax Just relax a little bit here, Marty The reason why Marty since we're talking about it is that Mitch Marner is like He's a hundred point player in the regular season and a lot of the analytics just go by you know what what do the numbers tell you in San Ben it's a 51 point player in the regular season

of course you'll make more money based on your playoff performance but Mitch Marner is gonna make a lot of money like there's there's no there's no denying that there's a lot of money out there but I just don't know how going to take, like why would he take a short-term deal somewhere? Like you see this is popping up, a two-year deal somewhere? I can't imagine that. I wouldn't take two, but would he take four? I think four at a reasonable number. Again, define reasonable, I'm not even going to guess.

But then he goes somewhere for four years and sets himself up think of what the caps gonna be like Four years from now like I I think that's probably more realistic. That's fine. We're talking crazy for Mitch Yeah, two two is nuts because he's been in Toronto all he's known as Toronto you go somewhere There's a little bit of a feeling out process. That's year one Then you're like year two. I'm back in a contract year. I just went through this two years ago. Like sure, if you're a team and you're in a window, maybe you can make sense of that,

but I'm not sure why a team would wanna do that either. The thing about these players like Mitch Marner, they're not supposed to come up every two years. That's what makes it so enticing to go out and throw a bunch of cash at this guy. It's like, this so enticing to go out and throw a bunch of cash at this guy. It's like this is your chance to get him, so you'll throw a lot at him. But if he's coming up again in two years, it's like, ah, we'll catch you in two years. We'll get you. I'm curious what the thought process

would be on that front from Marner. Unless he has his eyes on a different team that's just not that good right now and he's trying to slow he's trying to let them catch up you know like a chicago or something like that or a san jose and he's like i can't go there right now because they're terrible be bold and go and say i'm gonna go and play with celebrini and in five years we're winning a cup that would be an interesting like an interesting pitch to the rest of the hockey world like you're going there understanding they were literally dead last in the league last year.

They are not likely to be very good this year. But is Celebrini that good where you want to attach yourself to him? You know, I don't know if he's that good. Like he's not McDavid in his rookie year or Sid in his rookie year. He was very good. He didn't, you know, but I don't know if you could justify that if you're Marner That like this is a lock to be successful in the future and I'm gonna get there first and be a part of it I mean there would be a big number attached to it Brian as well like that. Yeah

Well, that's a good point. That's the other thing like you're going there and you're saying okay They are selling hope you're selling celebrini Will Smith you know the goalies young all of that type of stuff but they're also saying here's 14 sheets a year for that too so you know that's that's probably again without guessing Frankie their numbers guy that's probably what those teams would be looking at. You're the numbers guy. You're the numbers guy now. For the board, technically you are, right? Yeah, you're right.

But I'm saying, if he's looking at Chicago, if he's looking at San Jose, teams that are just coming out of a rebuild or still in one, it's gotta be a massive number. It's gotta be a million or two more than anybody else is willing to pay. That's where the money is. The big money is with the teams that aren't very good yet if you want to go to a team that's going to win you're not

maximizing your profits just yet agreed here's Chris Johnston our TSN hockey insider joining us here on the Maple Toyota hotline CJ in terms of Marner like do you think it's even an option that he would go to a bad team or do you think he just simply wants to be on a competitive team? I don't think it's very likely. I think he really has prioritized the places where he thinks he's going to have a chance to win. Especially if he doesn't end up doing a seven year deal or the maximum term, which does seem to be the way this will probably play out. You know, I think that that makes it even more important that he's in a winning

environment. He's in a good spot to, to, to, you know, obviously have a big impact himself, but to set himself up for whatever the next deal would be. So, you know, I would be surprised if he went off the board or went somewhere where they're kind of just coming up a rebuild I think he's gonna go to one of the better teams in the league So explain to us why the short-term deal is all of a sudden out there and why why would that make sense for Marner? Well, because you know in the next three years the caps we already know is gonna go up by by a fair amount

And they could write 110 million three years from now and so on a couple levels that makes sense. It makes sense you know players like Marner and I think he won't be the last top player. I think this will become more of a trend. I've already put a lot of money in the bank. I mean why not you know give yourself a little more optionality kind of like what we see top players in the NBA do where you become a free agent more often. I mean doesn't mean you're leaving where you are, but I think it keeps the sort of subtle pressure on the place you're playing to keep a good team around you, gives you a chance to, you know, realize

any growth in the cap, you know, a few years down the road. If it's a 120 million dollar cap the next time, I mean, it just stands to reason everybody's going to be making more than. And then, you know, I think the teams in this case probably like it too, or it's just a little bit of an uncertain time when you're looking at a new CBA and this, this kind of new era for the cap. And so, you know, I think it, it, you combine all those factors and, you know, it does make some sense. And then, you know, first and foremost,

I mean, he's going gonna make a lot of money and he's already made a fair amount. So if that's the way it ends up playing out, I just think it's one of those things that it's gonna satisfy the team's needs and what Mitch needs himself. CJ, is there a team that we're not focusing on that could maybe make some noise here?

Maybe Carolina, and I'm not sure if you guys have focused on them but you know I think that they certainly are a team that would like to get in with a big offer and you know get a chance to speak with Mitch once it's July 1st and you know get in front of him and basically sell the merits of how close they think their team is and you know if they added a superstar into that mix you know why it could be good for him. Um, but you know, I don't think there's really, you know, there's not, there's no, there's no secrets out there, right?

I don't see, you know, a team that's at the bottom of the standings being able to get in front of them. I mean, look, I, I would imagine someone like San Jose is going to make an effort to, to, to speak with Mitch. And I suppose of course that I just, uh, you know, interrupted what I, what I said, because they, they are a team that's been at the bottom of the standings, but obviously they have a lot of young talent and they're where the leaps were when, frankly, when Marner first came into the league and are looking for players to

get to the next level so I could see them trying to get involved, but I just, I don't think that can ultimately be something that makes that the most sense from our own self and and frankly when when you got a team like vegas expected to knock at the door pretty loudly i just think that no with with the fact that they're in the playoffs every year they've won a cup in recent

memory it's going to be hard to to bypass you know some of the the big boys i think that to go with someone else. With Chris Johnston, John Tavares, is he being lowballed by the Maple Leafs? I don't know if it's a lowball, but it certainly has not happened as easy as I think everyone thought it would. I mean, you know, certainly the Leafs are in a position where it's no mystery. John Tavares has said about 202 times into a microphone that he wants to be a maple leaf

I don't think anything with that has changed but you know as a result from that, you know I think the least feel they can you know, try to to push the envelope a little bit to see You know what kind of deal they can get him to sign, you know, ultimately I do think He's gonna remain in Toronto. Even though as we sit here right now I was told today the gap is pretty wide still from you know how the side see this playing out in terms of what the number ends up being but you know, this is this is This is a player that I feel like if there's anyone who leaves could could you know push hard? It would be this type of guy, right?

I mean, I just talked about Marner having made a lot of money. Well, John Savaras is deeper in his career. He's made even more. And, you know, he's, he's given up a lot in terms of, you know, invested a lot into being a Maple Leaf and trying to help this group. He wants to be here. It's a great situation for his family. You know, this, this could be a time where, you know, certainly I think if he

signs with the Maple Leafs, um, he's's gonna take less here than he would be able to get if he went to July 1st and went out to the highest bidder. And so determining how much lower than the market value is really where they're at right now that he should take. And so, you know, the Leafs are, I think, pushing that mark and I don't blame them because in this case every dollar saved is something they can spend somewhere else Um, you know, you have a player wants to be here players, you know over 100 million dollars deep into his career I think they're mindful of not wanting to you know, that there's there's pride involved here as much as money for money's sake but

you know, I I do think it's been they've driven maybe a harder bargain than you might have imagined under the circumstances, but look, there's still a week for the sides to come together and get a deal done. And as of today anyways, I don't sense that that's not gonna happen, but this one's been a little rockier, I think, than everyone was expecting. Isn't this the one though that the Leafs,

it feels like they have to win this one? Like everything is kind of going in their direction here. You got a guy who's, like you said, invested in the team, has been here a long time, has made a lot of money here, has roots here already. Like I guess if you're Tavares, you look at it and you say, well, if you guys don't want to come up a little bit, I'm sure there's a team that's dying to be aggressive

and pay me a ton of money. Just, you know, how much more money would be out there for John Tavares if he can't get a deal done with Toronto? How aggressive is a team going to get considering there's really not that much available in the center market? Well, I think there'd be a lot more money for him if he was truly willing to be a free agent and consider all 31 other markets, whoever wants to call them.

We just saw Brock Nelson get $7 a half million on the extension in Colorado. I have no doubt that Tavares could get that on the open market for many one of a number of teams that have, you know, an opening down the middle. I don't think that makes as much sense here. And you know, it's funny, Frankie, when you put it that way, I think a win for the Leafs could still be a win for Tavares. I mean, being seen and look, I can't make a decision for him and his family, but I just, I think being seen as someone who's taken a little less to help the team

out, you know, being as invested as he is in the community and everything. I mean, that stuff can go a long way too. I mean, there's probably that fine line between good sentiment and good feeling and then the actual dollars that you're leaving on the table, but there should be a solution in there for everybody. And I think that it can be a positive thing for John too if he takes what's deemed to be less and he gives management a little bit more freedom to operate and put a good team around him and give him a chance to win the Stanley Cup he coveted here in Toronto. CJ, with the UFA list being a little thinner. Is there more trade chatter going on than usual or not?

I think there's probably a normal amount of trade chatter. I mean, look, this is one of the busiest trade weeks of the year. We got the draft on Friday and outside of the deadline period, this is where a lot of transactions happen. So, you know, we had the Zegrist deal today, but I would not be surprised at all to see, you know, more go on and, you know, some of that's also just needs based, which you're getting at that noodles where, you know, if you're a team that needs a centerman or a right shot D,

I mean, there's a couple options on the, on the UFA list, but there's only, you know, there's only one team each for each of those players. And there's definitely more demand out there than there is supply when it comes to pure free agents. And I think that's where the trades come in. And also, you know, one benefit of having the cap bump up finally, is I do think it slackens things a little where there's just a little bit more money

moving in the system and, you know, some players in the past that maybe would be on contracts we might call them, you know, not movable or very challenging to move. It's a little different environment that way. The only problem we have right now is we don't have enough teams that are trying to rebuild or retool and basically on purpose. If we had that, I think the market would be really hot, but right now we just don't have too many teams that I would label as pure sellers. But certainly there's a lot of trade chatter going on.

And I would think really right through the weekend, we're going to see a number of moves made between teams. What about a carry price contract trade? Have you heard any rumblings about that? Or Montreal trying to free up some money? I actually haven't, but I mean, it would make sense, right? I mean, the Canadians moved, Shea Weber's deal under similar circumstances a couple of years ago.

From the accounting standpoint, it makes things easier for the Habs to not have that kind of contract that's basically just sitting dead on their books on LTIR. And to move those types of deals out to a team maybe that isn't spending to the cap, you know, usually you're attaching something to it so uh... maybe she text me offline if you know something to hear i don't know what's on and i just think it about it if if montreal is going to be in a a proactive team did to try and get

you know get better here in the offseason they took a step they were playoff team and they're not going to want to take a step back so you know you get civ's money coming off the books but if you were able to find a landing spot for 10.5 million of carry prices to a team that it could be on LTIR they get a big chunk of it back in insurance doesn't cost them much but you know you can get a lot of financial freedom if you're the Montreal Canadiens you can go after some really darn good players here in free agency or via trade.

So I don't know, I'm just thinking out loud. I didn't see any chatter. It was just kind of a thought process as to maybe Montreal does something with that contract to try and free up and take another step here this summer. Right. Well, and the other thing that Canadians have is they have two picks in the first round on Friday night, back to back in the middle of the first round. And, you know, I know that they've talked to teams about that.

They have a lot of prospects because of where they've drafted. I mean, they're definitely looking for players. You know, they're looking to add guys that can help their team next season. Now, they're certainly trying to move out of that window where we might call them in a rebuilding mode. So, you know, when you look at the track records since Ken Hughes took over, they've, they've made a number of deals around this time, whether it was new hook or Kirby doc, uh, in past years. And, and, you know, I would think that they've got a, they've got a glaring hole that they feel,

you know, especially after new Suzuki, Nick Suzuki down the middle. You know, when I talk about teams looking for a second line center, like if Tavares doesn't hit the market and maybe think about my true all mean what what are they doing behind Suzuki i would think it's it's likely to come to the trade route and so you know i i i think it'd be pretty busy there with with the canadians and in the coming days what is the latest on the three of phase in florida

act loud bennett marchand well they need a whole lot of Advil I think today after what I've been seeing on social media hangover yeah might need one of those IV drips to get through the day today but look I still love the mind that that they're not going to be able to keep all three I mean Bennett it seems like it's it's as good as done you know obviously they don't have a contract that nothing's done until it's done but you know really I'm expecting him to stay.

Brad Marshan's an interesting one. There's obviously a lot of chatter about, would he hit the market? Does Toronto make sense? Which I do think it does from a high level, but it's sounding a little bit more like we might potentially see him stay with the Panthers. I mean, don't have any confirmation on that, but even, even you can see it in

some of the public comments he's made. It's hard to know what's, what's just, you know, a couple of drunk guys talking into a mic, what's, what's maybe some trolling going on, but you know, there's definitely a feeling I'd say in some of the conversations I had today around the league that, that he's more likely to stay. And so, you know, we'll just have to see where that shakes out. I know obviously, as I've mentioned in our hits the past few weeks, I mean, he's someone who's going to is deserving of a big contract

and I think is going to be out there looking for one. And so, you know, maybe Florida surprises us and finds a way to keep him as well. You know, Eklat seems to be the one that is more likely to hit the open market of the three right now. But, you know, the one good thing for Bill Zito, I think last year they won the Cup June 25th so they had to do a lot of business in five days he's still got another week to sort this out but you know I bet he ends up keeping one for sure two most likely and not all three of them at this point. The thing with Ekblad that I find fascinating is listen

first overall pick with Florida he's been a lifer there I'm sure he doesn't want to leave if he does end up leaving, would it be because he's going to command too much money on the open market? Or is it Florida looks at it and says, he might not be an 82 game player every season for us, so why are we going to invest another 7.5 million? If he's willing to stay at the number he's at right now, like why, why does that make sense for us if we're going to get, you know, 59 to 63 games a year out of him? Well, that's part of it. And I think even just the long-term durability, Frankie, like are we talking a seven year, eight year deal here? Um, you know, he's, he's only 29 I believe,

but you know, there's, there's a lot of miles, uh, on the chassis there. And, And so, you know, they definitely would, would like to keep him in a perfect world. I just think he's the opportunity for him elsewhere is going to be greater in terms of the kind of deal he can get. I mean, if, if he was willing to, to stay at a similar cap number and not do the maximum term, I'm, I'm pretty sure that deal would already be done. But you know, the reality is he's just come through. He's won another Stanley Cup. He played 24 minutes a night during the playoffs for the Panthers obviously in all situations guy right

shot I mean there's a lot of attractive things that he can take to the open market on July 1st where you know I think he's just going to be able to get a contract that's miles better than where the Panthers are comfortable paying him on this deal with Chris Johnston one player that is not a free agent but he's got some protection that kicks in a week tomorrow would be Elias Pedersen of Vancouver Canucks, where as of July 1, I believe a full no move, full no trade kicks in, but over the next eight days

or seven days they can trade them wherever they want to. It's got a very core four vibe to it from a couple years ago should you move off mariner before kicks in did you move off willy before kicks in what is your understanding of vancouver's approach in the likelihood that peterson remains cannot for a long time well the cannot certainly are getting off all indications that they are comfortable keeping and that's right that's where they're sort of focused on, that they like the way the summer started for him because some of

the issues there, I think they feel were just in his preparation and his training last summer, wasn't where it needed to be leading to the season he had. But I will say that there are at least whispers around that perhaps some teams are trying to get in and see here in this last week whether they can use that window to perhaps get the player I mean this is really the last chance you have at a trade you know obviously players do get moved with no moves but it's a totally different process if you're a team to make that kind of trade whereas you know for until July 1st at noon Eastern time you know know, they got a chance to trade them

basically anywhere where they can make a deal. And so I would think that they'll at least be keeping the phone on in Vancouver to see what kind of offers might come in. I think it's plausible because everybody around the league knows about this deadline. You know, it's plausible maybe some of the offers get better than what they have been and you know something comes across the Canucks, you know, desk here where they feel like they have to think about it but you know at this point in time I don't have any reason to believe that trades can happen but I that's not to say it can't because this this is this is the end you know we

saw way back when when that Subban Shea Weber deal happened that was just before you know Subban got a no move clause you know had the Leafs done it with with you know they had it moved on from Marner it would have been two years ago in this same window. Unfortunately for them, it was a week or two after Brad Tree Living was hired. It wasn't really a good spot to throw a new GM to make that kind of call. This is often a deadline that does force movement on these types of players. Do you think Jim Nill will be the busiest general manager leading up to the draft based on their cap situation.

They have just over $2 million available to them and they have to sign potentially five players if they want to get to 23. It just seems like there's not a lot of wiggle room there for a team that would likely want to stay active and stay where they're at as far as pushing for a Stanley Cup. Yeah, I mean, they've already been pretty busy too. I know not always the biggest splashes, but trading Marshman last Thursday, resigning Duchenne, getting Maverick Bork signed,

who might've been an offer sheet candidate, you know, had he not got that deal done. I mean, the Stars are, it feels like it's gonna be a pretty aggressive off season there. I mean, they're in the process of trying to hire their new head coach after, you know, the firing Pete DeBoer earlier this month So, you know, there's a lot of moving pieces there and and you know, it's a place a lot of players want to play

You know Matt Dumbas name has been out there as someone they might like to trade Obviously, they've been gauging the rock the the the market on Nick Robertson or sorry Jason Robertson. Pardon me It doesn't mean that all that's going to come together but it just it just does feel like they because of their cap situation but also having reached the final four three straight years and looking to get it you know over the hump that they're gonna have to do something so yeah Jim Nel will be busy but I think a lot of his counterparts will be too I mean let's face it we focus a lot on a least here but Brad your living has you know a lot of a lot of roster spots that still haven't been spoken for, right? There's a lot of contracts

to work out and then decisions to be made depending on exactly what holds are there come July 1st. Well, and that's what's going to be interesting, you know, how much gets done from July 2nd onward. You know, you don't have to do everything on July 1st. A lot of it does happen this week leading up to the draft. A lot of it happens on July 1st. But with the Leafs, you don't have to do everything on July 1st. A lot of it does happen this week leading up to the draft. A lot of it happens on July 1st. But with the Leafs, you know, is it possible that they're going to have to slow play this even if it's not what they want to do?

It's that the rest of the league isn't willing to play on their timeline. And we may see moves kind of sporadically dropped on us throughout the summer. It seems that way. I know it's going to be bad for Piers, you know, to put the gone fishing sign up on July 2nd. Yeah. I think, I do think this is going to be a summer, probably league wide with more moves, but certainly even the Leafs.

They seem to have that approach already that they know the team that they have on paper, you know, the night of July 1st, whenever Tree Living speaks, that day to the media won't be the team that he's bringing to training camp. I just think there's a lot going on with this roster. We can count on him losing Marner, which is obviously $11 million in space. What happens if it goes down to the wire with Savaris and he doesn't sign? All of a sudden, you've got two pretty big spots. You've got a lot of money to spend, but you probably don't want to spend it all you know in a frenzy on July 1st so I do think it's

going to be that kind of summer which which will be good for content and bad for the insiders yeah yes exactly let's let's let's drag this out man you get to go to the cottage see you just hear all the stories from Pierre I've been to his cottage I don't have my own cottage So I'll be in the city and I'm ready to work So if they want us they want to make a big trade on July 11th, I'm ready to report for duty Attaboy good man. That's what we're looking for. That's commitment to the craft. We love hearing that Alright CJ, it'll be a busy week. Maybe weeks maybe months. You'll be all over it. We'll do it again soon

Thank you for this. Alright boys have a good night there's Chris Johnston our TSN hockey insider 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.com yeah we've got you know every Canadian market like we didn't get to clode Giroud but Giroud is a pending UFA you know every Canadian market like we didn't get to clode Jerew but Jerew is a pending UFA you know a week tomorrow he'll hit the market we'll see what happens there there's been reports that both sides would like to work it out but that's kind of like a Tavara scenario right that's kind of a local guy likes it there but that one's got to be pretty straightforward doesn't it noodles like

he obviously wanted to play there he signed there they've paid him pretty well it's not like he's getting younger like so what is your out with the number? What do you think that number looks like then I think it's I mean there was a lot of I think they're they're okay with The number I think it was more about the bonus structure. I think that's what again I'm just reading sends Twitter and stuff like that, but they're looking at Jonathan Taze deal going Okay, you know, maybe it's a games played thing type of stuff Maybe low salary with some games played again. I don't know I'm only getting information from online But I think it's just a foregone conclusion

They got to sort it out, and he can't make I believe he made six something last year It's gonna have to be a lower number yeah, I'm's gonna be this young or five, right? He's yeah, he's older than John Tavares. Keep that in mind. He's 37, right? So he's eligible for the bonuses which yeah, you can do it. Why not do it? But it was he five and a half last year or six. I think he signed for six or six and a half Yeah, it was a three-year deal. I think to come up and yeah, I just think I look at it I look at teams give an example you talked about Dallas like what Tyler Sagan being he'd obviously control his own destiny But he's would he be in play makes nine point eight five makes a lot of money He's heard a lot next year right like that. He's a good player 33 years old lots of mileage on him

But don't you think Dallas would be looking to try and move past him as opposed to Robertson? How are they going to sign Jamie Ben to? Not like he's going to get the same money he was getting, but there's a legacy guy, right? All he knows is Dallas. You want to stay in Dallas? Yeah.

How much less are you willing to take? And I'm sure it is quite a bit less just based on their state tax situation and the fact that he's firmly cemented there. Right, make it nine and a half last year. The point is he's 35, he made nine and a half. He's a left winger, not a center man. Sagan, I believe, is a right winger traditionally, but he plays some center. Does he not?

Does Sagan play center? He has throughout his career for sure. I look at that, Those are legacy players for them they've been lifers there and Sagan's got two years left next year and the following year at nine point eight whatever it is and and Same thing Ben's unrestricted and 35 so they've got decisions to be made there And that's why I keep saying like I look around the league There's some players that teams have to make decisions on

you know maybe this summer or at least maybe by the deadline uh... the trade deadline you know will call it calendar year twenty six so uh... be interesting i try to get this to be a lot of movement i really do you know we'll see in where the lease come into play on that like they don't have any pecs like that's a that's a part of the problem to. You look over the next few years, they have no picks.

Yeah. And that's... It's thin. Yeah, like you... No prospects unless you're willing to trade Cowan. Yeah, and eventually you need some prospects to play for you. You kind of need that guy to play for you.

That's the whole thing. You draft some of these guys, you're like, I would love for you to be successful on an entry-level deal. You're making less than a million dollars and it's so much bang for your buck. They haven't really had that. No.

Well, these guys, since these guys were on their entry levels, and I guess Matthew Nyes, yes. Yeah, they've had Joseph Oll, Matthew Nyes, those are the two guys they've drafted, developed, that are younger, that are playing, and that's it. And then you're right, you've got the core guys that would include Riley, who's been here the longest and then you know and and again that that's somewhat par for the course like throughout the league

but what would and again it's it's not gonna happen but what would have been ideal is if you had a system we had young guys coming to be excited for then it's easier to move off barter the easier to get a read the band-aid off to bars you and they don't have those guys. Well, look at this Florida team. They're fine. They're minor league teams in the

finals game. Yeah, Charlotte, Checkers or whatever. They're still playing. And Pooley Harvey's on that team. They got the vets on that team. It's August next week and they're still playing. And they just had to fly commercial from Abbotsford to Charlotte to go play game six because they go two, three, two. Yeah, Marmaduke there with his tongue out of his mouth, scored from behind the net. IT winner, yes. Pully Harvey. Like, it just, listen, you know what, it's, but that comes down to, remember I was talking

about goaltending, you know, Vancouver, that Shilof is in net for Abbotsford. Like he needs waivers next year like Vancouver's got to do something with their goaltenders. They got three guys that are that are NHL caliber and you got Demko whose health is a question mark always right now and Lankan and they signed to an extension at 5 million That's almost like a not that Lankan in they would see him as the starter But it's like we kind of could if we really wanted to move off Demko. At that money, and that term, that's a contingency plan if I've ever seen one. Well, that's what I mean. So we've got to get into this. Lankinen's at 4.5 for five years. It was an extension.

Yeah, they just signed him this year. Five years at 4.5, and Demko's on his last year of a deal at 5 million dollars and he's 29. So be interesting to see like what they're going to do there and then like I said the kid Shelov he needs waivers next year and this guy might have a Calder Cup in his back pocket here depending on what happens in game seven and if that's Florida's team that they're going to have some players that push through from that yeah it's very possible for sure and if you were really willing to take some risk the Edmonton Oilers would you try and pry thatcher Demko no even knowing what you know

about the injury and just say we're home okay let's come back we got Carlo coming up we got Scotty Vail who he's a happy man He's a richer man today than he was yesterday as well his boy Keegan Bradley I think he kind of stole the Travelers to be to doubt his credit birdies 18 But Tommy Fleetwood just he got all these men boy, man. That's your guy and Tommy. I love Tommy Fleetwood He's a beauty. He's a great guy and he just completely melted. There's no other way to describe it Fleetwood, he's a beauty, he's a great guy and he just completely melted. There's no other way to describe it. We'll get to that in about an hour. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on the TSNF. Right now Bell Blue Dot Days are on. That means the offers are amazing 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 a thousand dollars 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. All right, Scotty Vail in about an hour.

Carla will join us. The overdrive PJ picks were 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. Oh, like every week he gets Keegan. Keegan Bradley. I get Keegan Bradley because you know he and Scotty are boys and Scotty's a friend of the

show but I got to give credit where it's due, and I will be back on the show tomorrow. His daughter's graduating tonight, but I guess I'll pick Keegan, I think he did. We did like 45 picks, so I'm sure Keegan was in there somewhere. Credit to the O-Dog for pulling that one off, but now it launches into a conversation

about the Ryder Cup, and should Keegan Bradley be playing? Is he gonna be a captain and co-player, co-captain? How's this all gonna work? We'll see what Scottie can say about that in an hour. But there's something about the fact that he was triumphant. Like he went out and got that on 18. Like he threw a bullet in there, he hit the putt, he won the tournament with a birdie on 18.

That's how you do it. You do that in style. For sure. But Tommy Fleetwood, man, there's something about sports and watching a guy that you just can, you can feel the nerves watching him come down the stretch. You saw it. Yes. Like on 15, 16, 17. I have no idea why that picture's up. I'm in studio. I was like, I'm like, what has happened to Hayes? Completely threw me off mid thought that Joe from the bridge is back there working out Tavares contracts. He's more worried about shining his head now. He's budgeting 13 and a half million dollars back there.

He's on, you know, catfreak.com being like, what can we do with Marshan at five and a half million dollars back there he's got his head up he's on you know capfreak.com being like what can we do with marchand at five and a half this guy's on mcd's like zad throw the year away let's wait for mcdavid i'm like oh my god i didn't even respond to that that is something bubbling over in the marketplace that's the stupidest thing i've ever heard because maybe the big guy is going to be there this time next year so a throwaway year just like I will see what happens and then one year of Matthews prime don't worry about that like my god well what would you rather do but not to be honest though

what would you rather do be sensible and keep your money or be stupid and sign guys you shouldn't so that you prove that you're in a window and you're trying to do things. Sensible and keep your money. Yes exactly. Always be sensible but you're trying to win. This is Matthews and Nylanders prime as well. You know like that's lost in all of this is yes Marner's gonna move on you're gonna use that money but you're you know this is be Matthew's what ninth year 10th year in the league Yeah, 10th year in the league, so you know do you think he's sitting there going okay? Let's save the money. You know in case this happens, okay?

He's saying like he just lost a hundred point winger like that's what he's going He's probably calling Brad tree-living and saying who you replacing that with it might be Nylander Which is fair like it might It might be Nylander, which is fair. Like it might be Nylander slides. I imagine it would be. But in the end, he's saying, you just lost, or didn't you just, but 100 points has just walked out the door and a guy who put it on a T for me left and right. It is interesting though when it comes to the Matthews conversation as far as who's going to be his wingman next year?

Who's going to be the Batman and Robin the way that Mitch Marner was for him because say what you want about those guys in the playoffs or games five, six, and seven of any playoffs in the regular season those guys they got something right and they get you there but not not even that they get you there it's that you throw them on the ice together and there's times where teams just didn't really have an answer for those guys in the regular season on a Tuesday Thursday that flow of the year you're gonna have to find someone who can play with that guy and I wonder how much thought how much thought they're putting into as far as who we're trying to pinpoint here in free agency who's gonna be a good fit with the capital And how reasonable is it to expect that between now and opening night?

Where, again, there's so much focus on the center, but you bring up a good point. Like first line right wing is now vacant. Yeah, up for grabs. Yeah, like who is that? Because I keep, you know, people are doing their mock lineups and stuff. It's not Max Domi. You know, it's not Max Domi for 82 games Well because Max Domi might have to play center, right?

And listen, he had a good run two years ago at the end of the year for 20 games playing with Austin Yeah, and they tried him at times this year. They moved things around and Barubei looked at it and said no, thanks I'm not doing that. So it doesn't mean that Max won't get an opportunity, might play a few games here or there, but he's not a first-line right winger. Like immediately everything's out of whack, he's just not. A lot of guys on the on the free agent board are not first-line right wingers unless it's like you know, Ehlers or Besser, but the thing is, whoever gets plugged into that spot, automatically you're going to look at it and say that's a downgrade. It doesn't matter who thing is, whoever gets plugged into that spot, automatically you're going to look at it and say, that's a downgrade.

It doesn't matter who it is, it's a downgrade. But, if come playoff time in games five, six or seven, they push through, then you stop talking about it being a downgrade on paper. Agreed, but are we just, is 88 just off the table playing there? No, just hypothetically saying that 88 is going to be your second line guy. Yeah, I get it, but he's a first line right-winger, like on a lot of teams. Yeah, you're right. And gets paid like one for sure. Exactly. So I'm just saying, maybe it's a scenario, it's like, okay, we're going to

have Knies, Matthews, Nylander, and the second line is going to get rebuilt here through free agency and trades because that's, you know, if you're looking at depth charts right now, William Nylander, because he's under contract, is the number one right winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I don't think he just slides to the two because you're looking to Phil Marner. I think what you're looking to do is have the best players play in the top line and then you slide down and you hopefully have more depth than not and I do believe those guys work well together. I mean the the analytics people could you know give us some sample size on what they've gotten off it kind of quickly at times

like Matthew like like Borubey was committed to Martin yeah that's why and you're right though like Nylander is a first-line right winger like there's no questioning now you score 45 goals and he gets paid like it but I think it's I would guess I would personally it's it's not a McDavid dry subtle comparison completely but I would pair them off like I would have them on two different lines like you got a 60 goal score and a 45 goal score on two different lines. What did we learn from Florida? What did we learn?

Depth scatters throughout the line. Spread the web. A true top nine. Tell me if this is Joe from the Bridge or realistic. First line Matthews, Knies, Patrick Kane. Is that Joe from the Bridge or is that a realistic thing that you would like to see? What does he still have left in the tank? What worries me is the age and the miles and I just don't know if he can keep up with it.

I think on a fantasy team, Frankie is good. It's Joe from the bridge. Just say it's Joe from the bridge. It's Joe from the bridge because I think there's better right wingers. I don't know if Patrick Kane's a number one right winger right now at 36 How old is he 36 is something like yeah And is he an 88? He's an 88. Yeah, like I mean I I I understand on paper, but I also think I Don't know. I think if he comes into your mix

I don't love him on the top line like top line plays comes into your mix i don't love them on the top line but top line plays mass of me at fifty nine points last year twenty one goals like seventy two games like still can keep up all of that but i just think i don't know how old is he he's thirty six thirty seven thirty seven thirty seven he's

has sixty point season i get it's just one option i think i think i'd reach that i don't know this what what i would say is he's not gonna cost you nine million It's gonna cost you four and a half you might yeah, it's gonna cost you a reasonable number But to me if Patrick Kane gets added into the mix, which we were just getting crazy here, then He's added in on you're bringing him in kind of farther down like okay Where he's gonna play a top six seven roll type of thing and he can add to the depth of your group. I just I don't see him on the on the first line right wing and replacing

Mitch Marner's minutes and what he brings to the table. I'd much rather them put Nylander there and then rebuild a second line. That's the way I'd look. Well and maybe he can play on that second line i don't know if you like your yeah you're asking you're asking a lot but there was a time when he defined i'd you know first line right now i was going to playmaker shooter right that that's my thought process there i'm not going to tell you brock

besser shooter shoot yet best i would think elers but even elers dealersers is not like a crafty he's a speedy guy like he's a good individual one-on-one guy like i'm trying to think who's that who's a true distributor who can play with austin matthews that would be available well and that's why i think i said patrick and yeah i mean what in theory to frankie

you know matthews i think Kane is a not a mentor but an idol of Matthews. Yeah, I love Patrick Kane. Showtime. Listen, if you can put Patrick Kane in your lineup, I say you do it, but I just don't have him penciled in for 82 on the top right wing, but could he be in 40 of those games play with Matthews and be a power play guy.

Absolutely. I'm not saying do not go for him if he's available or you want him. You were hypothetically putting him on that first line on the right side. I'm saying if Patrick Kane wants to come to Toronto and you can find financial, you know, a setting for him and not a crazy term and all that, have at it because he, you want skill. And a guy like Austin Matthews, you know, Matthew Nyes, these guys look up to, he's a US God for a hockey player. He'd be a lot of fun.

And he would be a lot of fun to have in town. I'm not sure he wants to play in Canada. He's an American guy. All he's done is play in the Midwest. And yeah, I don't, I, I'm not, you know, convinced he would be open to the idea of coming here. There's guys that want quieter locations this time around, right? Like Ehlers is coming off Winnipeg. I've heard you see it on Twitter. It wants to go somewhere quiet. Well, here, here's again, getting crazy. I don't think it's possible, but I

What about a guy like Troy Terry? You know Troy Charles. I love the anaheim. I don't know why he would be available. He's their best forward I think he is too. He's 27 and makes 7 million a year I believe but he's like I think he's a hell of a player and you hear whispers are like, okay What is anaheim doing reshaping, I don't know what they're doing. But if for some reason they got crazy and tried to sign Mitch at a huge number, there would have to be some guys that go overboard, right? The guys who make money.

Like I'd be looking at trade scenarios, I'd be looking at Pittsburgh and players like that. There's Raquel and Rust rust right shots that are good players and still have game left at 32 and 33 years old That's that's where I'd be snooping. Yeah, I agree yet. That's gonna cost a lot into the Leafs habit You know like if you don't have much of a farm system and no picks, like that's the thing man I don't know how tree-living well pulls this rabbit out of a hat. Maybe it's Nick Robertson. Maybe it's guys like that. That's not getting Brian Rust or something. No, I agree. I mean, ultimately it's Easton Cowan is what it would have to be. In Pittsburgh in particular. That's who people want. Yeah,

exactly. And are you comfortable doing that? I don't know. I'm not sure they are. No. All right. Carlo will join us in about 20 minutes minutes overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. This is Fred. Hey, how's it going? This is fraud. Hey, how's it going? Can you tell the difference?

Bell can. We'll identify unwanted calls and help block them. For more information, visit bell.ca slash call detection. Bell, peace of mind, just got better. This is Pam. Congratulations. This is Spam. Congratulations. Can you tell the difference? Bell can. We'll identify unwanted calls and help block them. For more information, visit bell.ca slash call detection.

Bell. Peace of mind. Just got better. All right. Don't forget TSN 1050 wants to give you the ultimate iHeart radio experience this summer at Oceaga Music and Arts Festival in Montreal. Just listen to TSN 1050. It's a great show.

It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show.

It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show. It's a great show. Don't forget, TSN 1050 wants to give you the ultimate iHeart radio experience this summer at Oceaga Music and Arts Festival in Montreal. Just listen to TSN 1050 on the free iHeart radio app for 10 minutes every day. Click enter when prompted and you're in the draw. You'll see Olivia Rodrigo, The Killers, Gracie Abrams and more. The Gold Weekend Passes Plus will hook you up with travel thanks to tripcentral.ca a four-night stay at the Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain and $500 spending money listen every day for more chances to win yeah it's a great it's a great giveaway man great giveaway and you know I was talking about doing a big road trip last

week we've already changed plans on that or no really have we went for a ride this weekend we still were not doing this anymore uh... i have a job that drove downtown the area where you live in your life absolutely not exactly as i go to the top of our twenty minute drive like we're not doing that we're not going to have a tax and back that's not going to happen and that's all you need you know what it's like two kids in the back one driver like that we're not doing that what we're gonna do a roadie but it's not gonna be as extensive yeah

fair enough. I'm gonna keep it more on the rails like maybe Quebec City and then button hook and make our way home. Yeah that's still pretty significant. That's enough. That's enough. It's a good roadie. It'll be a good road trip but the idea like a 13-day Griswold vacation all through the east coast now now that that yeah we call them audible on that the automobiles have been called off uh... final hour coming up we've got scott eval carlo something to chew on brought to you by boston pizza will do that next biggest songs in the world

countless times now learn the details of how they came to be. Join Ruby Carr for Encore, the stories behind the songs you love. New interviews and newly unearthed archive footage make for a fascinating weekly deep dive. Stream Encore, the stories behind the songs you love on IHAR radio or wherever you get your podcasts.