OverDrive - OverDrive - June 24, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: June 24, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the Hockey Hall of Fame inductees, Carey Price off the list from the Mitch Marner's connection with the Golden Knights. They also go around the sports world in the latest edition of Confirm or Deny.

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Plus Simple Plan, Boys Like Girls, Veronica's, Under Oath, and so many more. Camping, parking, and all the emo nostalgia you can handle. Get your tickets now at allyourfriendsfestival.com. I saw a pic, you just posted another pic, where you guys look like Brad Pitt and you're like capture this and it's like you had that one had to go up I deleted it I thought better of it I posted it I did post it on my Instagram account but it's a story it'll come and go alright so the Instagram account it'll be gone by this time tomorrow it's gone we just you know we thought it was a good angle of you.

You weren't in there and I thought it'd be kind of funny. Yeah, it's a good angle because I'm not even in the pic. I'm telling you man. You had to post, yeah. What do you mean that's a good angle of me? I'm not in it. Well, that's the point. You hate every other pic.

You posted the one where I had a water cooler attached to the inside of my suit jacket. I, listen, I thought you looked good. You get in a lot of compliments. Like you walk around this place, everyone's like, man, oh, looks great, looks amazing. Even Kaber gave you a shout out the other day. Kaber gave you a shout out. You know, like all, everyone's buzzing about,

you know, the whole package right now. Who pulled me aside? I think it was Eddie Oh. You know, you see everybody at the finals or whatever. I don't know how many stop and chats I had is like oh I was lost a lot of you know hey looks great that's all these buzzin about it there was a lot of buzz within the media room about you know your we'll call it weight loss your transformation we'll call it yes because keep in mind we don't want to be do before after all of that, they give this,

because remember- I got some brutal ones out there, dude. Like you talk about, and you're right about controlling your image. I must've just had absolutely no, like I was getting paparazzi back in the day, because there were pictures going up on tsn.ca and stuff that were completely egregious and unacceptable.

And they still exist and they're out there. How much would you pay? You mean the monster ones? Yeah, but there were peak moments of monster life that outrageous they would post stuff like that. You described it, Hase, which is so scary. My youngest daughter sent me a pic of herself and her two sisters of me in a golf

cart and I was such a monster. And I remember looking in the mirror at that outfit I had on and I was like, damn, this is strong. And the clothes were egregious and the whole look. But I talked my, I think that's one of my worst problems is I think I look better than I do. Absolutely man. I think every guy's got it.

Every guy's got it. Even when they're a monster, they've got one outfit. Like when I was three bills, I had a blue like sleeveless vest and I was convinced that that covered my barrel and it was snug where I looked thin and it wasn't like it was terrible but I had it in my head where I'm like this is as good as country club casual could get. I know exactly what you're saying man because you're right you find an angle yeah and you see something you're right you find an angle Yeah, and you see something you like you know what I actually look great

like I First tee and I look like a tour player and you look like Tim Heron Stinky lumpy you think you look like Akshay Bhatia? Yes. In actuality, you're Tim Heron. Like Timmy Heron, before he goes to the first tee, probably does one glance and is like, butter. I've still got it.

Yes. Absolutely immaculate vibes. Yeah. And it is just, it is a, it is a warped mentality that I don't think women could ever understand. And I don't think people that are just in shape, like guys that are just in shape, you couldn't understand where, where you have to go with this head space. We were like, this is butter, man. This is a great look. And I'm setting a tone here. Tim Herons, Tim Herons, dude, you know, we're a visor, like a yellow visor. I just Googled him. It's all visors and it is, before this segment is over, I'm gonna post the most egregious thing I've ever seen

a pro golfer do, and it's lumpy. He made a putt, and he went to the hole, and I think he doesn't wanna bend down. He put a suction on the end of his putter to grab the ball. See, that's a guy that knows he's got to protect his image. Find that video before we go to commercial break because this guy puts the suction into the hole and he doesn't want to bend down and he just like nothing puts the suction up and grabs the golf ball like nothing ever happened. Because he's been caught because there's greasy greasy people out there with

exactly greasy photographers they're like oh there he goes to pick up the golf ball and they get him in an angle and he's seen it he's like I'm not allowing that to happen anymore he's taking control of his own image something we maybe should have done a long time ago especially if he's like if it's 30 degrees out and he's wearing the wrong pants that's not good that's that's a big part of it man oh the big big part of it in here... the big big part of it in here

uh... joining us down the maple toyota hotline here's our tsn hockey analyst mike johnson they don't johnny i'd just stepped off the golf course uh... well where it was house like i'm not in massive sweater my life but i tell you what you get one

of those little corner pockets up on a tee box with no wind and when the sweat starts pouring out of my forearms I'm like too much, too much. I'm not good enough and I don't care enough to be doing this what am I doing but it was my first round of the year so I had to try to finish it off. Okay well from that standpoint you're probably a walker too you're like an athlete and in shape like this is mandatory carts. Mandatory. Mandatory. I don't standpoint, you're probably a walker too. You're like an athlete and in shape. Like this is mandatory cart. Mandatory. Mandatory.

Like I don't care if you're a triathlete, you don't get any bonus points for being a hero and walking and trying to pass out with this. None whatsoever. Right. It's like in Florida, man. Like they have, when it gets hot down there, walking is not an option. No. You're not allowed to walk.

But like aren't golf courses like abandoned in the afternoon in Florida because people yeah, for the most part you go down there in April or May or something and tee off at two there's literally nobody at on the course. 40 degrees. Not one person the whole day. No one. Yeah, right. Actually beautiful. I pulled in at whatever noon today. There was maybe maybe a dozen cars in the parking lot. Really? Nobody there. Why would you?

Why would you? The only people were like staying at the resort. Otherwise you'd be dumb, or me, one of those two things. It's too hot. I'm getting pictures sent to me now, like back in the day pics. We were talking about how hot it is and like trying to just keep your look together, Johnny.

And you know, it's a struggle, man. It's a struggle right now. So we were talking about the Hall of Fame an hour ago and I'm curious where your head goes. Do you go to the players that actually got in or do you go to the guys that don't get in? Where does your mind race to first? Well, it goes to the bubble guys, right?

Because to me, the three guys who got in, first timers, Chara, Thornton, Keith, no brainers, there's no real need to have a discussion, we don't need to go over their resume, like yeah, they're Hall of Famers, they were always going to be first ballot guys, they deserve to be. So my thought is always, Alex McGillinley,

I've been on his, trying to support his candidacy for about five years now. Not that my word means anything, I don't vote on this, but I just thought one of those supernova guys who didn't maybe play quite as long, but in the Beret-Lindraus-Forsberg mold, when he was great, he was one of the best in the world for a long time.

So I guess I go to those guys, like the bubble guys that get in. And then, you know, Kerry Price doesn't get in, Duke Arash doesn't get in. Tough year. It was a tough year to be a candidate because there's too many good candidates that were coming up for the first time. But I guess I think of the guys,

the bubble teams that got in and the bubble ones that didn't. And like, how do we feel about Patrick Marlowe because like well I've read his 25th in goals in the history of the NHL the 24 guys ahead of him are all in this hall of fame or will shortly be there like Jagger and Samkos so I know he wasn't necessarily the best ever but what he did for 25 years like that's got to be worth something that was the best ever I think healthy and playing like it best ever, but what he did for 25 years, like that's gotta be worth something. That was the best ever, it's staying healthy and playing. Like it feels like, I get it, he's not with,

he's not a bona fide surefire guy, but it feels like he's a guy who probably has to get in eventually just because he's played more games than anyone ever. Gold medals too, right? Yeah, Kerry Price, Johnny. Gold medals, yeah. That's what we're talking about.

Yeah, where are you at, Johnny, with Kerry Price? Because I mean, that's the one that I kind of circled as to, you know, McGill, and again, not throwing stones at Johnny with Carey Price and because I mean that's the one that I kind of circled as to yeah You know McGill again not throwing stones at McGill knee, but it's more about the omission of of carry, you know So what would not a very good call for Carey Price be Henry Lundquist? One of several a family cup, but it was really good for a long time Hank won an Olympics Hank won the world Hank was you know, you know the win-loss record, all that sort of stuff.

Yeah, I mean, I think Kerry belongs in there, but would I put Kerry Price ahead of Keith, Charles, or Thornton? Absolutely not. I would put those other guys in first. So would he be ahead of Alex McGillinney? He's far in apples and oranges noodles, right? Like we might be a bit of a prisoner of the recency bias

of Carey Price and how great he has been. Obviously a sparkling international record as well. It's not just NHL stuff, but I think he gets in there. But noodles, I'm sure it's your take. So Carey Price, Tuca Rask, Ryan Miller, Cujo. Like all have pretty strong pieces. Took a rask in the 13 years he played, best goals against, best save percentage in those 13 years.

Kerry Price was in those 13 years. Took us numbers, albeit maybe on a better team, were better than his. Like how do you rank those four? Cause those four are all kind of, you can make a case for each of them. Well, I guess my retort on that is, were any of those guys known as the best in their craft because Price won a heart and there was in 2010. Yeah but did Brian Miller win a

heart? No. No. You won the vest. I mean the heart is to the best player in the league. Like that's I think I would put if I had a choice out of the goaltenders you just listed I think Carey Price is the best out of all of them. Now he's not as decorated. He has the best resume out of all of them. Maybe his peak might be the highest but you know there's some longevity concerns as well. Right but yeah yeah that's kind of where I went is like my the best goalie in the world for five years at least I felt like I've had this argument with the quiz master. It's not an argument. It's more of a debate when you look at it

Some of these players, you know are deemed special a lot of them are that have gone in At some point was this person known as the best at their craft for me I can make an argument for Kerry Price. You're right. With some duration, Jamie. Right, like it wasn't just a one-off. Like it was known as, for me, and maybe I'm biased, but just, there was a stretch there,

and maybe it felt like a lot longer than it should have been, but I thought Kerry Price was the best goaltender on the planet for quite some time. Not just an 18 month stretch where Tim Thomas had that and you know to Ryan Miller like I thought those guys were brilliant in their own right But I felt like Carey Price was kind of the gold standard of that But maybe i'm you know, if you're looking at individual awards and stuff Um, yes, all of those guys are decorated. You know, and some of them decorated

more than Kerry, but that Stanley Cups are a team thing. Jerome McGinley didn't win a Stanley Cup, but he won gold medal, you know, just like Kerry Price did. So that's kind of my thought process. I don't think I'm right or wrong. That's just the way I look at it. No, you know, I mean, I can't argue that Kerry Price was the best goalie for a longer stretch than Ryan Miller and probably for a longer stretch than Ryan Miller and probably for a longer stretch than Tugurashku, maybe never was considered the best goalie in the world. Better than Carey, better than Hank, better than those other guys.

But yeah, and it's hard to compare goal centers to positional players. And you know, what is Alex McGilley being on the greatest World Junior line of all time? How do you factor in what they do at World juniors and what they do at the world championships and those kind of events which do factor in, we're not as aware of them, especially for the Russian players from maybe before the Beret Fedorov-Megilny group. But yeah, I mean I think Kerry gets in. Kerry to me was the obvious fourth guy of the newcomers. Clearly the fourth guy. But were you going to go down Keith Kachuk or Al Mo or Kujo

or a veteran guy or are you going to go back to another first timer? And I guess they chose to go to a veteran guy this time. Yeah. We have Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst. So the Mitch Marner pursuit is going to take place. You know there's some rumblings who knows how truthful anything is this time of year that it's Vegas and you know maybe he's chosen that maybe they've

already got it figured out wink wink nudge nudge and if that happens something's got to leave Vegas. You know you would assume in order for the cap to make sense someone's's gotta go. Is that Hurdle, is that Carlson, of those two names that are seemingly out there, like how much value do you place in those two guys? How much do they have left in the tank? What are they worth? Is that something the Maple Leafs should pursue?

Where do you stand on that? I mean, Hurdle's obviously better than Carlson. He also makes a lot more for a lot longer, so if that's a good or bad thing. You know, he's younger, he's a dynamic centerman, put up 30 goals, a big, huge guy, should be good in the playoffs with that, you know, the physical stature.

But I don't think, I don't have it in front of me. I would assume he has no move protection. Now, maybe that doesn't matter in Vegas because they just make you wave it, but I would assume he would be harder to get out of there if you're gonna do like a sign-in trade or something like that. William Carlson seems like a good stopgap guy for me. He's still a very good defensive player so long as he stays healthy he's like as a third line center brilliant and for five million bucks I think that's what

his salary is that's a good third line center that's what Anton Lundell makes exactly five million dollars and he's a good third line center. That's what Anton Lundell makes exactly five million dollars and he's a great third line center. Now Carlson might not be that but he's pretty close to it and that would if Marner's leaving anyways and you need to replace the guy to play down the middle not the two centerman spot but at least a good quality guy I think if you could get William Carlson for that contract and give him the way that he would produce for this team I think that would be a pretty good transaction for the Maple Leafs.

He's not gonna give you the offense, but he fills a valuable role that you need to fill and then you could focus the rest of your time and your money on finishing the rest of the top six. I would like it. If they could pull that off, I'm a Leafs fan, I wouldn't complain about that transaction. Yeah. Yeah, see, that's where I'm at, like, I wouldn't complain about that transaction. Yeah.

Yeah, see that's where I'm at, like trying to figure out, you know, how they get creative here. Like maybe it's simple, maybe they work this out with Tavares and it sounds like that's still very likely. You know, and maybe it's a pipe dream, but Brad Marchand is a guy that gets to July 1 and they make that work. But, you know, very rarely does it play out the way people

expect it to play out you know especially on June 24th or June 25th you know like there's there's always curveballs and there's always things that management is looking at that the general public is just not even thinking of you know like this time last year I don't remember referencing Oliver Ekman-Larson as a guy that the Leafs were going to target. Tanev? I thought that was possible. Ekman-Larson wasn't sure that was going to happen. You know, so I'm curious where True Living takes this because, you know, we've been talking about, you know, Marner leaving and if Tavares leaves, that's a lot of goals, that's a lot of points, that's a lot of continuity, that's a lot of consistency.

That's basically your guarantee to make the playoffs could be in question, but it also opens the door to so much opportunity in terms of how you wanna spend your money and how you wanna build your team out. And that flexibility is something that is completely foreign to the Maple Leafs. Right. Like how many years, basically since COVID, have

the Leafs had any sort of, well, maybe we can get creative, maybe we have some money to spend. Never been the case. It's been, they're locked in and then they're just trying to fill around the edges wherever they can. So yeah. And then the other part about it, Hazen, while we get a little bit focused on the Toronto-centric

aspect on this, there's 31 other teams that also want these players who are also smart people, who are also creative in management, who can think about good players. The Mesa Leafs aren't the only ones, and the players the Leafs want are the same players the other teams want for the same reasons the Leafs want them. So yeah, like best laid plans today leading up into the draft at the end of the week and on into free agency next week. They're hard to pull off, which is why if you can be proactive, if you can get something done before July 1st, because once July 1st hits, there's a lot of variables in play and you lose a lot of control of what's going to happen because other

teams get involved in the timing of it all. If you could be proactive and if Marner is leaving anyways and there's a he's going down to Vegas and even if it's for two years if Vegas has to shed salary if he's a player that you want like take that guy take Nick wah off their hands take whatever because then at least it's a no like you know burden the hand you haven't figured out you have one item identified You can apply a value to it and then have that piece of information to work the rest of your ten days Off of that could help you Johnny how big of a factor?

do you think GM's being a dumb dumb is going to be in the next ten days because I've already seen some trades where I'm like There's some stupid people working in the league And I don't know if they know what they're doing like acquiring different play and it's like what if you're trying to get better I have no idea what what you're doing and by the way guys Next week or maybe later this week. I want to do like a helpline where Doogie doogie can call us and say there's a GM thinking about signing this player for that money.

Should we talk him out of it? It's a helpline. We're the free agent frenzy helpline and we'll say do it or don't. But Johnny, like how dumb do you think teams are going to be with this class of free agents? Well, I think history will have shown oh that when there's money to spend they'll spend it right like you know and and they may value a guy at seven million dollars but because everyone's got 15 million dollars in space that guy's going to get seven and a half or eight or eight and a half or nine and you're going to be on the desk going what the heck is

going on here why I'll pass out crazy yeah, and I think we might see some of that. And I always think back to his what year was it when the NBA had the massive salary cap job and you were like guys you'd never even heard of. Where's like I always say, Lewaldang, the old Duke player. He's had like a hundred and twenty million dollar deal from from the Lakers. And you're like, what? He was like an eighth man. Like what is going on here? Because they had to spend the money.

And there are teams in the NHL, like I looked at Anaheim after their deal with Zygrass. They got like $33 million to spend. And that's before they maybe trade John Gibson as well. Like they're sitting on $36 million heading into July 1. Like you gotta spend 20 of it just to get to the salary cap floor. You're sitting on 36 million dollars heading into July 1 like what do you got to spend? 20 of it just to get to the salary cap floor So oh I guess what I'm saying is that not that they're dumb But they will be caught up in the availability of money and using it to try to make their team better

In a way that they would not have done in previous years when that cap increase was not such a guarantee in John Sorry, buddy. It's dumb And then dumb what trade was particularly dumb in the last week? Which one was dumb the most? No, I'm not going to get into that. I'm not ending my year on this program. I'm not going to start crap talking people and players. I'll save that for a fresh start in September. But there's just moves where I'm like, what did you need to do that for? What the hell is that going to do for you? If you're Philadelphia, is there upside on the Zegras? They didn't give up much, right?

You give up Brian Paling a second and a fourth. Amazingly noodles? What's that? If you look at Paling's numbers last year Zygrass, they're almost identical. Who wouldn't have right man, the games played, goals assist. They're almost identical, paling to Zygrass. Not to suggest they will be in the future, but yeah. But when I saw that tree guys, the first thing that came to mind was not good move Philly,

good move Anaheim. All I could think was if your Trevor the gris today that's what the league think to me right now that my value around the league i was on the cover of the video game two years ago i was the biggest star on the rise two years ago yeah i was a year to a trick shot artist that's what he was he hasn't become a

hockey player yet and that's what he has to decide if he wants to do we want to be a guy that does trick shots behind the net flip arounds Or do you want to be a grown-ass man and play the game properly? Well, but I think what the message that was just sent from the lead saying anyone could have picked traded a first-round pick From nobody wanted to you don't think and I would have preferred a first-round pick over Respectfully Ryan pailing in a second and a fourth But nobody did like that's my first reaction that trade was noodles was like yeah and I would have preferred a first round pick over respectfully Ryan Paling in a second and a fourth. But nobody did.

Like that's my first reaction to that trade was noodles. It was like, if you're Trevor Ziegres, you should take that as harsh and take it as motivation. Like I better get my act together. Change the way I play so I can change the perception because the whole league doesn't think that much of me right now. Yeah, that's kind of what,

we talked about it a little bit yesterday. Like it's not a King's ransom to get him. He's 24. He makes 5.7 million. He might be at a little bit of a crossroads in his career as to where are you going to head? What is your ceiling? Now talk is, you know, it'll be interesting to see. I guarantee you talk is saying to Danny Breyer, I want some more talent in here. So he is a talented player But I feel like in Anaheim there's some players that push past him with his development now. He was injured

I get that but he is a guy like like go said he's a little bit more like Pavel Barber Is that his name Pavel Barber? Yeah, I Instagram Watching his videos, okay, but but in the end, you know, like you've got to be a player that is relied on, you know, five on five shift and in scenarios on the power play, he's certainly going to get looks in Philadelphia, but you're right. It's a great point, Johnny. Like, this is what, how the league views you right today as where you were 18 to 24 months ago

when you were on the front cover. Comes at you quick man. Like yeah. That's it. Yeah. You can disagree. It doesn't matter what you think because the only thing that matters is what the league thinks. The league's pretty clear. The league is really clear. I do know you're right. Ryan Strorian strong other contract so he's not going where but leo carlson and mason mcdavish at that center they're better than him and i was just a little better than him didn't watch is nuts in vancouver the g m

make a comment about brock best sir in the offers that he got for him last year where he was left you would be a lot of money yeah i would be shocked at what the offers were for brock best sir this year was the gm out there yet patrick alvey about the answer we're ending on a high note here will will be our him in september what's his not what's uh...

president your kitchen table uh... that in a common expression that the other way were treated a lot of guys yes exactly about it but i don't know if i got a little bit of a better added i think that we are all well besters besters an interesting case man because it's a money i well but i don't know how does that job with what we just said how do you how johnny is he going to get seven million a year no he can't get anything they could get any How did he? How Johnny? Is he going to get $7 million a year?

No, he can't get anything. Vancouver can't get anything for him with the trade deadline, but now he's going to make a fortune. Didn't we just establish the league is telling you that he's not worth that much? Well, Johnny, you go- According to the GM. I mean, I don't know what he was asking for. Maybe he was asking for help that was going to be there right now.

I think Brock Bester gets $30 million on his next contract. Yeah. Whatever the term is, could be six years, could be five, whatever, he's gonna get $30 million. Could be four, could get seven and a half for four. Yeah. Roll score, like look at the UFA class and the money out there, which is why,

Hayes, back to your original point, I think league-wide, everyone is thinking creatively now. They offer sheets and sign and trade and different ways to move and get assets because with all the money, there's not enough good players as UFAs to warrant the amount of money that is out there. So Brock Bester being what? Is he like the seventh best UFA? I mean you have Mara obviously one, Tavares is up there as well.

Nick Ehlers would be right there. Yeah Am I missing anyone? Are you talking the florida guys? Yeah, Bennett, obviously Bennett and Marchand. Yeah and Eklad so like whatever he's in the top 10 There's 30 teams. There's all this money Goals are hard to come by he scores goals. Someone's going to give him seven million dollars someone Or more I I don't disagree and you know, like I could name a few teams, but I think the Ottawa Senators would look at him. That's a guy, like the Ottawa Senators need guys who can finish. Okay, Jamie, let's start the hotline right now. Hey, this is Craig calling in with a scoop for you three guys.

The Ottawa Senators are gonna give Brock Besser three years times eight. Discuss amongst yourselves. This is a helpline. Talk to the Sens. Should they do it or should they not, Hazy B.? You want, I'll start. You know what, I actually like that because the shorter term you can get out from underneath it a few years.

Yeah, I have no problem. Like Ottawa is not a team that generally is spending to the cap. You know, like if it's going to go up $7 million a year, $8 million a year, there's going to be a lot of teams, including Canadian teams, they're going to have a difficult time, not necessarily getting to the floor, but they're not going to be up against the cap. It's the same thing with the... Okay, so another part of the helpline is there's different parts of the deal. Besser says to you, it it's gotta be five years or well then it then it starts then I start to have a

different possible look at that because Ottawa I don't see anything happening this summer where Ottawa launches in the cup contender next year like I still think some patients like I would say that about the Habs as well like the Habs have a real I think they could have a fork in the road which people in Montreal may not want to hear but if you play your cards right and you're patient one more time like one more year you could really accumulate some assets from desperate teams from teams that really want to win or feel like they can win right now kick the can down the road one more year

doesn't mean you're gonna be awful doesn't mean you can't still make the playoffs right but like there's this viewpoint Montreal like okay You made the playoffs the last 20 games were great get better get better get better I'd make the argument maybe be patient And in a year, that's when you law here's a word for you Have to do but Ottawa could be the same thing internal improvements. Yes, Demidoff, you know another year for those that top line Elaine Hudson Ryan backer. Yeah, but Mayu, like you've got some players. Don't expedite the process quite yet.

Just because you played five more games in the spring. Getting back to the hotline. Same thing with Ottawa and Besser. Johnny where are you at? Three years at eight for Brock. I'm gonna say you know what? I like Brock Besser. He serves a need.

Ottawa a good team. One of the lowest scoring five on five teams in the league. But I think we should send that money on defense. We can find something closer to Brock Bester in trade or for less money. Mason, Marchman, players like that that could be floating around out there. More than give him eight. I'm rather looking at defense and that could help us because I think they're harder to find.

So I'm going to save my money and prioritize a different need and stay away from Vester, not because I don't like them, but because I need to spend that money elsewhere. The hotline's blowing up, man. Like different viewpoints, this is great stuff. I love the hotline. We're doing it all week. Yeah.

We're doing it all week. What about, we have to come up with a name-caller. You would take Vester and Alma. But I still believe like you do need goals they need finishers what about that car don't they need finishers but i was born goals and i think a lot of stuff but i think we're not a couple crossroads yes i could work like

they could work with on the cost of ascending last year haderson shew's all the great players uh... jay-z miller demko healthy and go and all of them now Houston, Hughes, all these great players. Jason Miller. Demko, healthy. Demko. And all of a sudden now, in the next, well what do you mean, we're in June here, by next March, could Quinn Hughes be out of there? Like think if he leaves, then it's all, like it's completely a different looking, rebuilt,

fielding team from a team that was right there on the cusp A year ago like they are a team that almost feels like they gotta make something happen or they gotta be good this off season Because if it goes wrong and quinn-hughes to his credit has sort of acknowledged I think I might want to go play with my brothers in jersey unless you give me a reason not to They gotta give him a reason not to or else he's out of there That's a dangerous game. I would just move off the player if that's the game because if you're just gonna try to pretend and like He's the second best defenseman in the world. Yeah, dude. I get that our guy to move off of I know If you're if you're gonna bluff him in a market that doesn't come to the games unless you're good with an owner

That likes to be good we can make money it's a way to really height needle to thread out there right now i get that johnny but if you're going to just go ahead and put skinny jeans on a monster it's not going to work sorry he's using some of them hereon is that where you're suggesting hair All it is is just like I'm gonna try to make this thing look good

But all you've got is a monster walking around in skinny jeans That does not have a lot to do with the NHL you guys know what that looks like but that guy thinks he looks great We're sad. I know that's the problem. I know he does but when you pull his t-shirt off that's halfway up his barrel it's a mess that is one of the best analogies he's ever made oh yeah that's the vancouver canucks yeah skinny jeans on a monster look at this guy look at this guy getting the golf ball no not bending down i'm using the suction. It's got a suction cup It's a professional has a suction cup on the end of the putter That's tremendous. Let's you just had knee surgery or back surgery on the horizon that he's inexcusable now two-shot penalty

visible now are two shot penalty that's not the only installed thing that you know you have stalled as a contraption dude that's that's that's been caught in town that's right and that's literally batman stuff but i would not be against pg rules like you're not allowed any additional side here he doesn't he's not making the cut anyway yeah i guess i'm suctioning this on the back. Uber, Uber, Uber, Heron. I love it. All right, Johnny, we'll do it again soon. Thank you for this. All right, boys. They call Mike Johnson joining us from the

Maple Toyota hotline drive the built in Canada fuel efficient fun to drive Toyota RAV4 gas or hybrid models available, visit mapletoyota.com. Confirm with an I coming up. There's some pictures floating around. Starting to circulate now. Monsters in skinny jeans? Wow, just, I mean, Hayes, you had a laugh going there. There was some stuff going on.

Yeah, there's some pics out there, man, that'll keep you up at night. I can't wait. We've got to get people in our building to voice over the call in hotline there, man, that are, they'll keep you up at night. Well, I can't wait. We gotta like, we gotta get people in our building to like voice over the call in hotline saying, hey, I heard so and so is offering this guy this amount of money. And we gotta react on the hotline. Okay. Fair enough. I like it.

I like it. Confirmer than I, coming up, Stephen Caldwell in about an hour. Yes. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. This is Fred. Hey, how's it going? 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. I can neither confirm or deny that this is in fact a signal. Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuca Arras. It's been my honor and a privilege to serve as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leaves Hockey Club.

It's time for Confirm or Deny. Do you regret giving all those gentlemen the no trades or no movement clauses? Well, I can either confirm or deny that. I can't confirm or deny. Alright, Confirm or Deny, here we go. Statements are made. We confirm them or we deny them. Very simple. I think it's very fitting we're playing this today considering 19 years ago. John Ferguson Jr. traded Tuca Rask for Andrew Raycroft. We love Andrew Raycroft. Love him. Love him, but Tuca Rask may be in the Hall of Fame at some point.

It can either confirm or deny that. All right, here we go. First statement, confirm or deny, Austin Matthews will return to a 50 goal scorer next season. I'm gonna confirm this. Yeah. I think him at, like if he's serious and the team's serious about him being at 100% health, you almost can't see it going any other way

like yeah i don't know he's not in an age where you're like now you're a twenty nine goals for thirty five goals for i would say i would confirm it like you know you're you're really can't i don't know how you make mariner doesn't uh... factor in the soul sin but i think you're also keep in mind like if he plays with william neil and replace let's let's see who comes in

who could potentially be a playmaker. But he also creates goals by himself too. Like I think so, I'm confirming it because it's not like we're saying 69. We're saying 50, he's capable of that. Yes, Mitch Marner will factor into it, but it's not like he's not gonna all of a sudden can't play hockey because of Mitch Marner. you're gonna have lots of creative people around you

you know we were talking about how Max Domi played with him and Max is a passer I think Brad Tree Living I'm confirming it not even knowing who Brad Tree Living is going to have put it that way bringing you want to talk about some Marner like Marner fan or Marner camp backlash if he's not getting the looks and not getting the wolf Well, this is all having a we'll have a spicy meatball on our hands early big time man and listen This is what what could happen, you know, I'm gonna confirm it as well. I Have I don't know why I have a sneaking suspicion. He comes out like a rocket next year He seems to have that like one year. He's unreal then the next year. He seems to have that.

Like one year he's unreal, then the next year he's got some injury problems. He still puts up great numbers and plays very well. But I think there's gonna be more pressure on him this year than at any point in his career. I'm curious how he handles it. But if Marner's gone, maybe Tavares is gone. Like maybe it is really, it's like, all right,

the number two guy behind you he's not here anymore and the guy you've been playing with for nine years he's not here anymore which could lead to people believing okay he's going to take a step back. I just wonder if he he just he's chomping at the bit he's like all right let's go now like now it's really my show and I really got to show up and play because they're going to need him more than ever you know during the regular season. Like he can get help with depth and they can get help in the playoffs

by being more of a complete team. But in terms of him putting up numbers and at times dragging them to points in the regular season, he's going to have to be great. Well, health factors in. I think the biggest thing is if he's healthy. What worries me for both of you guys in talking about this,

there was no disclosure of what was going on only guy that I can think of like everyone else Literally going yeah, that's you know my doctor was torn from the bone blah blah blah like now Matthews has been Consistent with this basically his whole career like he's never revealed anything. You're not finding it out. Yeah, like he never in that I want to I Would you not I would like to know what's going on with this guy's the number one player on the team But what worry I'm not saying I I'm owed this information, but I'm like injured is injured to me I could care less if it's your thumb your foot, but my thing is chronic man Leon that's what I'm talking about. With Leon, do I settle the high ankle sprain?

Last year, the broken, whatever it was, thumb, ribs. You knew he'd recover and be fine. You're like, okay, that guy was battling through something, clearly. Edmonton released some of the lists, the Connor Brown with a broken toe and all that. Okay, you find out. Austin Matthews, we don't know.

Which you hope, hey, he's in Arizona or he's here or whatever and he's training and he feels good. I'm on the other side. Maybe I'm cynical about this. I feel like the reason why he's not saying anything is this might be something that is nagging or chronic or whatever, like from year to year. It's like, hey, I just got to play with this because my body's built like this I don't know again I know that we don't know that's what worries me and that is reason for worry and if you're worried Brad Shrevelyv can better be extremely worried you know everyone has to be worried until he goes out there and proves that he's at a hundred percent

health but you know you bring up an interesting point oh you know like the the voices within the organization, the loudest ones, the ones that hold the most weight, Matthews is at the forefront of that. If halfway through next season, he's on pace for 32 goals, there's a chance Brad True Living's, you know, got a lunch waiting for him. And it's like, hey, man, you let this guy walk, or this guy's not here anymore, whatever it is, and i'm here pulling my way and i don't have marner anymore how could we let this happen uh... now

maybe goes the opposite way maybe it that's pro sports like you don't get to just play with someone you want to play with your whole life but he is clearly benefited from playing with their there are stats out there and i'm you know on the fly but a Leaf fan can send them to us, or Joe I'm sure has them on his screensaver. Yeah, on his eyelids. Exactly.

But, Mitch Marner has factored into X amount of goals of Austin Matthews throughout his career. There's probably a percentage or a number. Yeah, it's a high percentage. Right, higher than anybody else. Right, so there is a difference, and you made a point, and it was a great counterpoint, because I had this argument, or debate with Steve Koulis on TH2N, I said the minute that St. Louis left Tampa,

Thamkos will never score 60 again, or whatever. And then in came Kucherov. And then you said, oh, well this Kucherov guy shows up. Okay, we don't know who's coming into Toronto. Might be an elite playmaker, or somebody who's got good vision and clicks with Matthews. Or again, it might be, hey, let's put the $11.5 million player

on your right side, William Nylander. Well, that is a great point. Like at this point, right now it's the great unknown. Clearly, we don't know. But every player, every great player that's in the league for a long time, you have different stages of your career. In the first nine years, Matthews was connected with Marner. Maybe the next nine, he's connected with Easton Cowan, and it's not a fall-off,

but it's different, but it's still incredibly productive, or whoever it's going to be. It doesn't have to be Cowan, but you know what I mean. That example, St. Louis into Kucherov, now that's an unbelievable, that's a hall of famer into a hall of famer. Like it's probably unreasonable to expect that immediately for the Leafs, but it doesn't also have to be game one of this year. Maybe it's by the end of this year, or the following year, or whatever. He's on term for a long time. He's the captain of the team. All right, confirm or deny. The Maple Leafs will start opening night with their current two bullies and their current top six defense

no change in net or the top six defense we saw throughout the playoffs and denying that i think you i think when you're looking to do what you want to do i'm not going to say the catchphrase word i think you're open to all options i'm not saying you're actively looking to move word. I think you're open to all options. I'm not saying you're actively looking to move a guy like Joseph Wall or Morgan Reilly, but who knows?

If you're going to get creative and try to change up the mix, I think anything is possible. It might be the cost. Yeah, you're right. Oh, it might be the cost of doing business. Yeah. Like you just might say, oh, I didn't know that was available, so I'm going to pull the trigger on this. I'm going to completely deny that. I'm confirming it only because of the great unknown.

We don't know what type of trades are gonna be out there. Hayes, I said this to you the other day. I say it every year. I feel like all hell's gonna break loose at this draft slash into free agency. And it might not even be signings, it might be trades. But if we're looking at positions that are probably the most safe, to free agency and it might not even be signings it might be trades but if if we're looking at positions that are probably the most safe those are the two

right like you you got your goalies you got them under contract you were very happy with them last year it's more about health and you've got 6d that are under contract like and and all of them have more than one year so if it So if it is somebody that you're trading for, maybe it's a package like, okay, that team wants a top four defenseman, so Carlo has to go. And then you're bringing in a center man and a defenseman in a bigger package.

But right now I'm confirming that you probably are starting with those guys just based on what we see in front of us. Yeah, I'm gonna confirm it too. I mean, I think you got to remember with Brandon Carlo, and he's a guy that we continue to use an example of. It may not be him, but he's got term in Boston ate some of his money. He's not making that much money. Yeah. Like there's a real benefit to having a guy, you know, that has been in the league a long time, good player. I thought he stabilized well with Morgan Riley and he's what. And what are the least paying him?

Like his cap, it's like three million or four million. Like it's not a big hit, there's value in that. You know, like the idea of, okay, you bring in Eckblad for eight and a half or nine and Carlos gotta go, okay, you also, you're chewing up like five, six million in cap if you're gonna do something like that. But you are, you know, the trade-off is you're better. You're better, are you five or six million in cap if you're gonna do something like that but you are you know the trade-off is you're better you're better are you five or six million dollars better I mean that's a part of the equation as well I mean I

think that's clearly a better player than Carlo but right Carlos not a seventh defenseman disguised as a top four yeah Carlo right now according to Puck PD is three point eight cap it is four point one and that's boston's eaten three hundred grand or something i believe right so three point eight for a great big right shot defenseman with experience that's a pretty good contract clip the really good contract yeah i will come back and sprinkle in some more confirmed denies steven caldwell still to come trevor may on the jays back in action mac shurs

are making his return tomorrow overdrive continues to use and ten50N on the TSNF. 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, Trevor May in about 15 minutes. We've been talking a lot about celebrations recently and the Thunder Parade was a little bit thin like there were some and I think you got to be fair you get to the finish line

It looked good and everything kind of fills in but there were some In some blocks there were there were like people walking like a work. It looked like a You know, what is that called Sunday? walking to work. It looked like a, what is that called, Sunday 26th, boxing day sale at Best Buy. It looked like the Trump inauguration ceremony where he was like, this is the biggest ceremony of all time. And then they panned the picture and there was like the least biggest crowd of all time. Yeah.

It's kind of scattered, man. And you would think in a town like that, like a really small market would just be, they got nothing else in terms of pro sports. There's no NFL team, there's no NHL team, there's no baseball team. And they win their first championship and it's like, oh yeah, I guess. That looks like, what do they call it, Black Friday or whatever? Like that's, yeah, it looks like the best bus. It looks like a tour bus is rolling through town.

I do it every time. And it's such a loser mentality thing to do, guys. Like when I see the Florida parade or different markets, I'm like Toronto Maple Leaf Parade, like it's just God be insane. I know I have to get it out of my mind sometimes because I'm like you. It would be I don't know how many people would be in the downtown core, like.

Well, the Raptors were a perfect primer, and that's another thing. I hold everyone else's parade by the standard of the Raptors' parade, where the three of us. The cars couldn't move. They couldn't get out of the X, like Exhibition Place. They were stuck down there for like an hour and a half,

because people were just blocking everything. There were so many people, they're people like we can't even drive because we're gonna hit somebody millions and millions of people downtown and now that's the standard so now i look at oklahoma city and i'm like and rafters just crushed your parade and nothing that is a rather great are You guys are losers. We want like

this. Exactly the place. It's such a loser thing to do to say our parade would or could be better. It means absolutely nothing. That's true. There's nothing to it. Nothing. But the Raptor one actually happened. The Maple Leaf one is just simply a dream. Like you're not, it's not even real. You know and they haven't had one in almost 60 years but speaking of Oklahoma City Ramona Shelburne of ESPN wrote an interesting piece like looking back on Sam Presti and his run as the guy who's been the architect of Oklahoma City for a long time interesting viewpoint from you know a decade ago to today and I think it applies to the Maple Leafs I'll read that we'll get into it into the next hour. Jay's back in action tonight. Stephen Caldwell coming up as well.

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