OverDrive - OverDrive - June 25, 2026 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson

Episode Date: June 25, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the Maple Leafs' next steps, Morgan Rielly's future in Toronto and Auston Matthews' bounce back. They also dive into Landon Donovan's hair transformation, the salad rebuild candidates and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

Catch everything soccer with Bell's game time bundle. Get 5 TV with TSN plus 5150 Internet, all for $99 a month. Price guaranteed for two years with a two-year Internet and TV term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Hour 2 overdrive continues, powered by Fandul. Mike Johnson here in a few moments. We'll get into this Kauai Leonard report later this hour.

Get a consensus on that. I can't believe you're even going to. down that alley like it's just so pathetic that you what you of all people are going to buy into him i have a take i have a take on it i'll tell you about my leverage and it's a complete joke you know that he's just trying to get in the steve bombers antennas up to say oh that old girlfriend's over there and maybe he's going to head over there and that he's going to pay him some more and it's just so stupid and ridiculous i can't even believe you would buy into it for a second well listen i'm not i'm not buying in that it's going to happen. Couldn't he have the decency to go to some, like say the Lakers.

Like, just leave us out of it. Have some decency. You could have said the Lakers. Yeah, but what about the player? Would you take Kauly the player? Jamie, I know he's not coming here. I know this game. This game already happened once. I'll take the player. Sorry, I like the player. No, I know, but look at Dummedum nodding right now. He's like, yeah, I want him to. He's not coming here, guys. It's not. Jake Fisher, who, you know, has been reporting on the NBA for a long time. I wouldn't say he's exactly, you know, Sham Sharania or Wojj of, you know,

yesteryear. But he's a fairly connected guy, has reported that Kauai, his first plan is to stay with the Clippers. Right? That's, I think, what he wants to do is stay in L.A. But if that doesn't materialize, he would be open to returning to Toronto. And the Rathlers would be open to that return. Oh, of course, there's mutual interest. Somebody, I guarantee you somebody just called somebody an equipment manager and said,

do you think the wraps would be interested? And the guy would be like, oh, yeah. So now there's mutual interest. That is most certainly a leverage play. I'm not disputing your read on the situation. Listen, you can say a lot of things about Kauai. He is a brilliant negotiator. He had fake tree companies paying him money.

Tens of millions, dude. Like this guy, he got, Kauai knows what he's. doing, man. He came up to Toronto. He played it beautifully. He played great. He left them hanging. He had the Lakers thinking that he was coming there. And everyone fell for it, hook-line, and sinker.

Next thing you know, he's in L.A. He got his guy Paul George there. You know, he got re-uped, even though he barely played. He doesn't want anything in L.A. like with the Clippers, they have not, they have not done anything with Kauai being there. And, you know, he's not a young guy. He left seven years ago. Kauai's in his

mid-30s now. And he's never going to play anything close to 80 games. Last year I'm looking at his numbers. He played 65 games and he was really good. So do I think this is a smokescreen to get Steve Balmer and the

tree companies to pony up? Probably the case. Yes. Do I think all of a sudden he is pining to get back to Toronto so he can redeem the Kauai and dine, you know, vouchers that he got seven years ago? No, I don't think so. But

would I love to see him play here? Yeah, I think I'd be okay with that. I know. Yeah, I think you are. Because you know what would happen? Here's what would happen. Because I am anti-retire the number. I'm anti-statue for Hawaii. Oh my God. Now you're going to go down the trophy lane? If he comes back... Sorry, the statue? He comes back and retires a raptor and plays three or four years. They were a playoff team this year. Right? Yeah. Like if you, if you, it's not cool, it's not LeBron going back to Clems.

Cleveland, clearly. It's not the same. Ask Johnny what he thinks of this ploy because he's a smart enough guy. And it's being reported. He wants to stay in L.A. So even if he did come to Toronto, people would be like, here we go. You just, it's because you didn't get your way. That's why you just, you know, agreed to come here or you were forced to come here. So I don't even know how he would sell it. But I also know Kauai doesn't care about selling it. Why doesn't care what anyone thinks?

He doesn't care about selling anything. But if he came back for three or four years and retired a Raptor, pushed him deep into the playoffs, number two's up on the Rathters. Number two. Load management and he's probably. You know who else I'd welcome into town? Uncle Dennis. Get back in,

get back over here, pal for a bro hug. Here's Mike Johnson or PSN hockey analyst. Can you talk to these idiots, Johnny? Tell them what Kauai is trying to do here for the second time. Please, they're too dumb to figure it out. Yeah.

Clearly he's trying to feign interest elsewhere to suggest he might go to a different team to get the team he really wants to go to to say, okay, I guess we better pony up a little bit more. That's okay. But let's just say, let's just say the clippers hold the line. Like, no, okay, go ahead.

We're done with you, go ahead. Like, not because it's him, but if he's good and he was good last year, and you could take 80% of the game, if you take 64 games a year and he plays the way he played last year for a couple years, I don't care about retirement. in jerseys, he just makes the rapper

is much better. That's right. So I like that because I want the raptors be better. But Hayes, if you were to ask him, where do you think on career milestone goals having a number retired in Toronto's ranks? I gotta believe he could

care less about statues. I have a second. I think you're right. Let me ask you this part. Let me ask you this part. Do you not think that Kauai Leonard deserves his number in the rafters and a statue out front? for his performance to winning the title. I do. Go ahead.

Not a chance in the world. Thank you. I do not. You're just like him. You're disgusting. That's why we have. One year. We can recognize him. Oh,

if there's, okay, in my hierarchy of recognition, statue out front or Legends Row is the Crem de la Crem. Then, Jersey, then Ring of Honor. I don't know if the Ravis

you can have a ring of honor, but if they did, oh, I'll give you that. I'll give you a recognition on the ring of honor. But he's not getting his jersey retired. He played 80 games. I know they won their only chapter with him, but there's just not enough time. No, I don't know how this idiotic and his role is just not enough. You want to know how this idiot brought me into this show when we first started working together? He goes, this is Jeff O'Neill.

His statue on Legends role is in Barry. That's how far away it should be. I thought it was in Guelph. He said Barry. Going north. He goes up to 400. Yeah, I said you'd be around Barry. That's when they'd get to your statue.

And the team's been around for 100 years. But here's my last thing on Kauai. You know why I actually am not jilted or bitter about this? Or I would not be bitter about him returning? Because he won when he was here. And like when you hear other. Other players, like we've had it with former Leaf players. This guy might think about coming back.

How would you feel? And those scenarios, sometimes I'm like, I don't want that guy to come back. Like it's done, it's been buried, it didn't work, you didn't win when you were here and you left. Get out of here. I don't need a redemption to her. I wouldn't look at it that way with Kauai. I wouldn't look at it like, oh, man, he's throwing us a bone because he left us. It would be like a continuation of the celebration seven years later.

Like, hey, man, when you were here, it was incredible. You won. It was the greatest season in the history of the franchise. Come on back. That's how I would feel about it. Open arms for Kauai. Wow. And open arms for any player, they'll make you better.

How about it? And the thing about Kauai, I think sort of everyone came into the one-year relationship with their eyes wide open. Like he didn't pull the rug out. I mean, he might have been leveraging deals and trying to get. But everyone knew he wanted to leave after a year. But he's going to play his butt off when he's here. And he did.

So he can't sort of hate him. because he was up front about it. I think everyone who needed to know was aware what was likely going to happen. And keep in mind here, folks, though, on this particular show, we did the OJ watch. We did the Kauai watch

when he was driving down the Gardner and went to like the Hazleton Hotel, I think, in Yorkville, wasn't it? That's right. Hesleton won. Yes, we went right down Yorkville. Yeah, it was quite a watch. We were like scorned girlfriends watching.

Like they, and then he, He got on the bird and got the hell out of here and left and never came back. So I don't know. There is that particular. It was a rough way to go out. Like literally the first time ever, I think, a guys won a championship and said, we'll see you later. I'm out of here. It was a tough tough place.

But he had the decency to go to a Jay's game and act like he was a lot of happy. Remember we saw him at Home Depot? A lot of people caught him at Home Depot, I think it was. He was getting boxes. To pack his stuff. Do you remember the other one? his girlfriend or his wife or whatever. They were down at Niagara Falls taking in the falls.

That's right. Yeah, a little family trip. Nothing wrong with that. I know how that combo went. He was like, we better go show the kid the falls before we get out of here because we ain't ever coming back. We never go again. Well, maybe they come back this time.

Maybe seven years later. It's all good. Well, Johnny, we're trying to dissect the John Chica presser today where it sounds like Morgan Riley's going to return. Anthony Stollars is prepared to start. about 55 games next year. And Matthew Nyes couldn't possibly give up him. Obviously smoke screens.

Obviously, he's not going to lay out his plan publicly. But what are you buying? What are you selling in terms of what is being reported in the rumor mill when it comes to the Maple Leafs over the next couple of weeks? I'm buying Stolar's wanting to play 55 games and the team wanting him to play 55. I don't know if I'm buying whether his body will let him,

but I can see them sort of in their mapping out the year. To be clear. Two out of three. John didn't say that. I'm putting words in his mouth. He didn't literally say that. I just want to clarify that. Go ahead.

But I think it's like having to be the number one starter and play a starter, a low starter share, which is 50 games. Like I think that would be what they would like to map out. I buy that. Morgan Riley returning. You know, if he gave a, you know, I regret that he'd given up for Western Conference teams that he might be willing to go to. Maybe John Chica is just preparing the market for no move if it doesn't work out. And Morgan Raleigh coming back, I would imagine that's not what they would like to happen.

You don't approach a guy with a no move to waive it without the intention of moving it. You don't bother going through the process unless you intend and are willing and sort of want to make. move him. So he might be coming back, but I don't think that's what they want to have happened. And that's nothing against Morgan Riley. It was just the best guy ever. But it's just, I think both parties were going to move on. The Matthew Nyes one to me is interesting guys. And, you know, we've talked about it at length and we throw his name out in trade proposals, not because we think he's not good, not because he's not amazing, not because the Leafs don't want him. But because he was available in some capacity at the deadline. And given the prices for good young players,

you have to be willing to look at anything. And he would be a guy that every team in the league would want. So if you could address five other needs for one guy, you would want to do it. I think they absolutely do not want to trade Matthew Nyes, but they absolutely would not be doing their job if they're not going to listen to San Jose, say, we'll give you the second overall and this,

like whatever it might be for him. So you don't want to trade him, but you're not, Brett's he wasn't off limits. Matthew Nyes certainly is not off limits. Anyone can be dealt for the right price. Even if you're not shopping him, you're listening to calls, as you should, as you have to. Absolutely.

The name Vinny Trocheck has been out there, dating back to the trade deadline. You know, it sounds as if the Rangers are open and moving off him. He's got a new agent now, maybe trying to gain some control on where he could end up going. What kind of value do you see in him? Because the Leafs have been linked to that pursuit to an extent. He's a good player, Vinny Trocheque. He can do a lot of things quite well. And he has still three more years, right?

At a very reasonable number. He is getting up there in age. What is he, mid-30s, 32, 33 now. So he would be great. If you're looking for a transition plan for a few years and to kind of have like Tavares be a 3C or maybe be a winger or whatever, Trocheck coming in as your second line center

for a couple years with Austin, that's your number one. Very good defensively, very good on face-offs. plays well with other good players so presumably he had great chemistry with Panarin. Could he create that chemistry with Neelander? Whatever it might be. Yeah, but he would cost

a lot. At 5, 6 haze for that kind of player, don't you think first rounder plus to get him out of there and have him agree he has a modified no trade so he'd have to agree to come to Toronto which I don't know if he would but don't you think it'd be first

plus a pretty good prospect or something, a pretty good player to get him out of New York, but he'd make your team better, and he would make sense in Toronto. Yeah, I mean, I agree. He would be, but a small layer, maybe it's 5%, but you have to make sure the intention of an American player wanting to come to Canada, all that type of stuff. I mean, that has to be factored in nowadays, you know, given the temperature, and we see that.

But, you know, Johnny, I wanted to more look at kind of the bottom of the roster a little bit. When you think of a guy like Nick Robertson, I think he needs a conscience. I think he needs a contract. You look at situations like that. What do you make? He's a real, I think a fascinating case study for me. Because he's not 19 anymore, but given opportunities, he has been able to show that he could score some goals.

Do you think it's just as easy to try and bridge him, get a couple-year deal, and see what you have there, or would you move on from him? Depends how you see your team look at noodles, right? Like if your third line's going to be an attacking, sort of we're going to be a good defensive line because we're going to have the puck and try to take advantage of premium matchups.

Well, Nick Robertson has scored, even in his limited role, largely five on five, like a 20 goal, a year pace. I love throwing out the, you know, five on five points per 60. And he's like second or third on the Leafs, goals for 60.

He's second to Austin. That's not to suggest you put him on the first line. He'll have the same rate. He won't. He won't score 40. He's not, but if you want a bit of dash lowering your lineup as opposed to a bit of meat, he's totally worth it. And I don't know what his, you know, take him to arbitration.

What did he get? Four and a quarter? Yeah. Something like that. Three, seven, five. I could live with two arbitrations in a row and just kind of kick the can down the road and and see how it works out, depending with the new coach and Austin and styles and GMs and all that. But I'm not giving them away.

goals aren't hard to come by he's far from a perfect player but he can do things about putting the puck in the net that the Leifes will need to be done and I think the way on a play is putting the puck in the net so I would not

extend him long term what is the circus Nick Robertson being scratched in out all that stuff like it's a circus well I mean you got Micelli there too Right? Like, what are you going to do with him? Like, do you want both those guys, one guy?

I mean, circus for him personally, I guess. Oh. Okay. So if you're going to get rid of Machelli, like, then you definitely are going to keep Robertson. Like, you need offense. And while it's a circus for Nick, you, oh, you played long enough, right? I'm trying to think a player, like a tweener player. Like, he's not really a checker, but he's probably not quite good enough to be a top six score. And so he does a bit of both and sort of miscast in each, but still a good NHL player. And he's always sort of shuffling trying to find, and maybe on a worst team, he gets that top six role, Bobby McMahon.

But on a good team, he can't. And then he ends up in Toronto in and out a lineup, and it's hard on him. But I'm not going to give him away because life's hard on him. Like he's done well in that role. I'm going to challenge him to keep doing well, and I'm going to keep him around. Yeah, like my assessment of him is that he can do some incredible things with the puck. He can fly down the wing and rip home a goal. takes incredibly stupid penalties,

makes some really goofy decisions at, like really stupid penalties. Like minute left in the period of a 2-2 game, he'll slash somebody. I'm not going to get into the details. And he has a difficult time contributing anything to the game if he's not scoring a goal.

You know what I mean? Like he doesn't really like get on his horse and get on the forecheck and cause turnovers, does not run anybody over. And at times, the decision-making and defensive play is, Gonzo. So does he score enough where he's like

he's a value? I mean, is a swing guy like that you can put in and out of lineup in case of injury, in case of slump, in case of message sending worth having around? Part of it also might be if they get Vinny Trocheck, then they got three scoring lines. If his centerman

is, you know, Bo Gru or Jacob Quillen, respectfully, you're probably not going to get a lot out of him in that role, right? They're not going to generate very much, so maybe you're better off getting, you know, another more physical, traditional checker. It sort of depends on how you envision the third line

playing, because that's where he likely would be slotted. And we never ever talk about Machialli, but they do have to sort of I think he's an RFA, right? They'll have to figure up what they want to do with him. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, they've got to figure that out. 25 years old. With Mike Johnson. So I was

talking about McDavid today, you know, and how, I guess he caught up with Rishog, he caught up with Sports then, I believe, and did a couple of interviews about, you know, why Mike Babcock's the right coach and why he's such an advocate for it. And I don't recall the last time a player has been so associated with the pursuit of a coach ever.

I mean, I really, I can't think of anyone. Messier, Mike Keenan. Maybe. So that's 30 years. Rangers? Yeah, that's 32 years ago. I'm just like, I don't know, off top of my head, maybe? I don't know. Like, isn't this, like, what is that stake for him, McDavid?

the Babcock experience because he is not, he's not playing the, hey, they run the team, I play game. Like he's not doing that. He's basically saying, I chose Mike Babcock and they hired him. That's kind of my read on the situation. How much is he risking in all of this? Yeah, I mean, I don't know if that's the correct read, although I do believe if he said not a bloody chance on playing for Mike Babcock, he would not have been hired.

Like, I don't know if he made them hire him, but he could have made him not hire him. And he said, no, no way. I believe that, given how much power he has. The way Connor, and I even think historically, like, let's say it blames out, it goes awful. Whether the team does poorly, Connor ends up with 86 points and they don't do well, or worst case scenario, Mike Babcock doesn't make it through a whole year because something happens. Like, I think people will look at Connor saying he's,

and they will look at him through a positive lens in that he's so desperate to win, he'll try anything, including hiring a guy that he knows is not going to be easy on him, or maybe a lot of people who has a pass that is checkered to say the least, and he's willing to do that. And they look at him that way, Hayes, like, look at how bad he wants it, as opposed to look at the bad decisions he's making because he wants it so bad. Like, I don't think it goes down that road, but they are for sure linked. And whatever success they have or lack of success,

it'll be sort of Mike Babcock the coach and the leadership, group led by Connor McDavid that wanted them. And if it goes great, they're geniuses. If it goes poorly, they got some egg on their face and some, you're not explaining to do, but whatever the fallout of that is, and maybe that's Connor leaving Emmetton, who knows, but

that's probably maybe part of it too. Like, he's like, I got two years. Let's find out if this, we haven't had something quite like this. Let's try it. See if it works. And if it does, great if not, I'm off somewhere else. Johnny McDavid's got, you just mentioned two years. Austin Matthews, two years.

Like, do you think that both teams are just kind of rolling the dice with those guys? Because it seems like everybody else with two years, it's like you think you're going to be signing next year. And if you're not, we're going to move on from you to optimize the value. Do you just think that, like, how do you think things, we haven't really heard from Austin Matthews. There was some noise about two months ago and then it died down. How do you think the scenario was going to play out with 34, just heading into this season

and in the future? I think the Leafs are not going to go the Quinn Hughes route. Because I guess Austin didn't say I'm leaving for sure. So he's like, I got to figure out based on how we're doing, how I'm doing what happens. And the Leafs are basically saying, we're going to convince you to stay because we're going to be good. We're going to do the things that you would like. How careless is that approach, Johnny, to say, oh, we're going to promise you we're going to be good. and you make a bunch of, you know, very expensive transactions to try to do that,

and then it doesn't work out, and then he goes, screw this, I'm out of here. Like, is that not careless kind of behavior to be running a hockey team like that? You don't have to, like, hypothesize this. That's Vancouver. Just look at Vancouver. That's exactly what happened. They signed Demko and Besser, and they brought all these guys and gave him term to try to keep Quinn Hughes around.

Quinn Hughes left. teams the worst team in the league and now they're on a seven-year rebuild. Financially for the team, I think like the ownership of the team likes the idea of Austin being around for as long as possible, maintaining that competitive edge that they would have because he's there and will prolong the time required to rebuild as long as possible. I think that's like an ownership thing.

We talk, oh, in hockey terms. I think they're talking also in business terms. What do you think Austin Matthews has to bring to the table as a player to say, you guys have done your behind-the-scenes transactional stuff, and this is what I'm going to bring to the table as a player to help this process along? What do you see as a successful season from the captain? Well, it starts with being healthy. I don't, we don't, I'm not pretty much.

Let's assume he is healthy. I don't know. Like, his version of healthy or his earlier version of healthy? They might be two different things. I'm talking as healthy as me. Perfectly healthy. Oh, specimen. Okay.

All right. Well, then I think he's got to score 50 goals. He's got to be one of the top two or three goals scores in the league. He's got to get 90 points, and he's got to carry play at five on five. I don't care who he plays with. I don't care what system they play. That's what he's got to do if he's healthy, and that would be a good year for him. And if he does that, guess what?

The Leafs are going to make the playoffs. Like they will. In this, with the changes they're going to make and better health from their goalies, they'll make the playoffs if he can do that. I don't know if he can do that. I'm not sure about his health. But I think there is, yes, oh, the point you're making is a good one. The onus is not just on the team to make changes, revamp the roster,

change the coach, change the system. It's also on the players led by Austin Matthews to take all. all that stuff and maximized by playing incredibly well. So, and he'll have to do that. Just to clarify, you're saying if Matthews is Matthews again, they're going to make the playoffs. Yes. Who's coming out of the playoffs in the Atlantic? I think if you think Florida could take a step back.

We're not looking at the negatives, Jamie. We're looking at the positives now, aren't we? I love that take, Johnny. It's a great take. What's Tampa going to be? What's Tampa going to be? No, Victor Headman, you know, you know. Like, a lot of things that went, like, even, I have said, like,

re-racked Toronto's team last year. As bad as it went. Put them right on the ice again. I bet they're almost an eight spot. Like, everything that went, and the fact that they mailed it in the last 20 games. Like, they mailed it in. Yes. Like, once they were out, the last 10, 12.

No one goes 2 and 10 down the stretch if it matters. They're out and they mailed it in. So, yeah, I think if Austin Matthews is a heart finalist caliber player, Hasey, yeah, I think they make the playoffs. I love it. And if their goal tender doesn't, and if their goalie stays remotely healthy. Yeah, for sure. You know what?

It's a great thing, but I would like to see more D and defense and more players, too. It's not just Austin Matthews having a great season. They need a lot. What about the D-Man? What about the D-Man? What about the D-Man from Philly, Jamie? Amia Landre? You know, they got a sign of still.

He's an RFA. And Radish's too. What about Chris Tenev, guys? What about Chris Tenev? There's a free player. There's a free player. But if Chris Tenev comes back and plays even remotely like he did before, yes, he's a year older, but his hockey body is not a year older.

It's probably freshman that's been in a long time. Like, how much better does he make everyone? We saw how great he was the year they won the division. So get him back in the lineup for 75 games. So, I mean, yes, there's if, if, if much of it's health-related. But if those guys play, you got Tenev, you got McCabe, you got Radish, whatever happens with Riley, you got Ekman, Larson, and Andre. It's different.

I mean, three different players, right? Radish, Andre, Tannib, already three different defenders will play. Maybe four if they trade Morgan Riley or do something else. they got 20 million bucks they are not entering the season with $20 million than cap space. Yes, they've got to sign some forwards but you know there's going to be other players coming

and I factor that in when I say if Austin is a heart finalist they will make the playoffs. Love that. Or Hart finalist caliber. Now we're having a show. Now we've got something going. Now we got so let me get this straight. Austin chasing a heart next year and

Kauai back leading the raptors. That The Jays are going on together. Everything's coming together. The Jays are going on a heater start tonight, and Canada is going to smoke South Africa on Sunday. Smoke their asses, man. Let's go. Everything's coming together.

Positive Thursday. Everything's coming together. McKenna is going to win the rookie year. Go ahead. Oh, dog. A week ago, you said the Leafs had zero chances making the playoffs. You literally said that a week ago. I literally said that a week ago.

You said this team is no good. They have zero chance to make of the playoffs. You said that a week ago. Johnny's an influential guy. Johnny's an influential guy. It was a long time ago, noodles. You're right. Apologies.

Hey, Jim Hiller, we had them on last week. Great guy. Jim was great. Jim was great. I love that. He's going to do a weekly hit with us. He's going to do a weekly hit with us. Darren.

Actually, ask Johnny about my. question about why the hell of assistant coach is not talking now like what is going on there i think it's ridiculous and i would i we used to have spot around we used to have yeah that's not a league thing that's a leaf yeah it's a leaf mandate yeah it's a leaf mandate they don't allow assistant coach's not a bobcock thing no it was a lou it was a lukeg thing he did not allow possibly true too yeah he did not want but he didn't want assistant coaches to kind of relay a message that old Mike Babcock didn't want out there. But it might have been a shanty thing.

It might have been a Lou thing. But it just to me. Maybe Bab's wife called him and said, don't let the assistant coaches talk. You never know. I know for a fact, when I was an assistant coach, like they would be like, you've got to go out and do media today.

You got to go and you've got to go talk to the morning, you know, scrum or whatever. Like it's, it doesn't happen. It's ridiculous. That's something that has a change at the leaf. I don't, I don't anticipate. it will. I'm with you.

You guys, even down at the rink, like when I'm at the rink every day calling games, I only get access to the least assistant coaches when they're walking on and off the ice. Like if I happen to be in the hallway, we cross past, we have a stop and chat. Like, nothing. Maybe in the back

hallway, they're on the phone call and they hang up and say what's up. Like that's, you get nothing. Yep. Yeah. And you think in Toronto, with the media requests, just to like spread it around, but the other guys take it on. Who cares?

It's all the same message. Let's not act like it's... Yeah. They say no to every request, though. That's the problem. Like, their answer is just no one will do anything. It's ridiculous. You know, but anyway,

we'll see. Things are changing, right? The Leafs are going to the playoffs next year. So now I'm in a good move. Kawai Leonard, Gavin McKenna, Matthew's chasing the heart, Leaves are back. I love it.

I love the way this is going to turn it around tonight. Yep. Yep. Plattie's going to be on a heater starting this evening. All right. All right, Johnny. Good stuff, buddy. I love the positivity. We'll do it again soon. All right, fellas. Have a good weekend. Mike Johnson, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. It's time to Toyota. Check out the Toyota, Tacoma and Toyota Tundra.

Pickup trucks, both available as hybrids, Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland on the Maple Auto Mall. All right. There's a connection between the United States and Turkey. They are playing this evening. But there is another connection that I have made. I'm going to show you a picture. And you guys will know exactly what I mean the second you see it. All right. Find us on YouTube live. We're up on TSN5. You can stream us later after every show on Crave. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Catch everything soccer with Bell's game time bundle. Get 5 TV with TSN plus 5150 internet, all for $99 a month. Price guaranteed for two years with a two-year internet and TV term and auto pay credit.

Visit bell.com.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Close your eyes. And you can hear the entire world. come alive. 2026 FIFA World Cup is on and you can stream it all live on TSN Radio. From the opening kickoff to the final celebration,

every match, every moment. Listen to FIFA World Cup on TSN Radio. Here's Canada to the lift-off. Available on I-Heart Radio. All right, so we know Canada is into the knockout stage of the World Cup, which is historic. A lot of history over the last couple of weeks.

But now they're heading down to LA. Quick turnaround. They play on Sunday and they're going to play South Africa. And they're a pretty heavy favorite, which I think obviously it worked out. It would have been great if they stayed in Vancouver. But nonetheless, I think they've got a weaker opponent here.

That said, they don't have a history of going deep in tournaments too. So I'm guessing South Africa's thinking, all right, this is okay too. Let's see how the draw plays out. But injuries are going to be a big, big part of what happens on Sunday. Can Davies play Bombito. They've already lost Kone.

You stock you. Is he going to start and play the full 90 minutes? We'll find out as we get closer to that. But the World Cup is continuing. And now we're into the good stuff. Like there's lots of games every single day. And we're almost into the knockout stage. And tonight, the states,

they're off to a great start in the tournament. They are playing Turkey this evening. I know what the hell you're talking about. The dude from the last time around with the salad that went sideways. Landon Donovan is an all-time great American soccer player. Post the picks, the before and after Joe. Look at this guy. Oh, my God, dude.

It's so fitting that they're playing turkey tonight because I think he was pre-planning a turkey trip on the pick on the left because that is absurd hair on the left. That's insane. When he got on his iPad and saw the pick on the left, he immediately googled Turkey. Istanbul, private bird. And he said by the right, oh my, he said by the next World Cup, I am going to look like a movie star. And that is just, that is a full treatment, man.

That is a whole new dude. Yes, completely new guy. Like the guy on the left, that doesn't even look like him. The guy on the right is like full salad, all tanned up. You know what it's like on the left. When you have the comb over bacon strips and it gets windy, you are in massive trouble. Yeah. Landon Donovan, he honestly looks like a million dollars to pick on the right.

Like the hair is perfect. I want the left isolated, please, if we can. Because it is that absurd. I can't believe that he, like, I would if I was the, like. Where's the director or the producer? Yeah, is that a bacon strip that's flown over? Or what, what, I don't understand. I think that's pre-op, dude.

I would like to think Billy Dodson, Jeff Mott, Sam Cicerello, I have known them long enough. They would pull me aside and say, we're going to go with a hat tonight. We've got you. No, no. We've got you. We've got you a USA cap and it's sponsored.

And I would be like, is it that bad? And they would say, yes, we can't put you on TV with that salad. At a minimum, no side profile tonight. At a minimum, you are straight in a camera. Like, you're not allowed to move, you know, because. I would say to every cameraman, I know some bad people, and if you get me in a side profile shot where my salad is shown like that, I need a front profile only where it looks like I have a full head of hair.

Because if you do anything sideways, I'm done. It's crazy. What a recovery? Like, what a salad regal. Do we have any other picks of his new salad? We should have got him on. I don't know if he would have been comfortable. talking about that.

Well, like he's not hiding it from anybody, right? Can you reach out to his people and we can get him on tomorrow to talk about the transformation? I would love it. Like literally no soccer talk. Make that clear. We don't have to ask one question about the World Cup. We need to know how that guy did that. Maybe can Canada beat South Africa?

Maybe. You know, but beyond that, that is a transformation. You explain to Brandon Donovan's people. we're doing two things. We're putting up the before and after, and we're asking about, just going to say, tell us about this. Yeah, yeah, full breakdown.

I need a full Cairo on that. Like, I need a full breakdown, like, PowerPoint, because the first haircut is absolutely insulting to people. And the one on the right is so beautiful. Dude, like it's a gorgeous head of hair on the right. It's not even a haircut, Hayes. That's like balding, fold over. comb over foldover

Like it's insane Yeah it's a wild It's a wild hair cut But yeah he's feeling it man I guess he knew right Like Qatar four years ago He's like whatever You know America's probably not gonna do very well here

But we are hosting in 2026 And I am not Showing up looking like this Because that look great That's hope for the guys right Like if the boys out there They need some inspiration every once a while He's got to be an influencer

He went from the old Cleveland Brown Stadium up top to SoFi. Yes, he did. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Yeah, you're right. And the swiping, I'm sure, would be out of control. I don't know if you're saying. How would you play that one, Hayes, if you're lying on the couch and your girl is secretly Googling you,

and she pulls up that pick of the salad and says, was this your hair before? I guess you just got to be honest. Yeah, be honest. There's pictures of Elon Musk when he was sold PayPal and he had like, you know, the toilet bowl and stuff. Now he's got a glorious set of hair. You're right. Like, I think you just be on. I have a buddy who, not strutty, who has to go to Turkey, but I have a buddy from Edmonton.

And he went and got a full salad. And he talks about it all the time. He's like, I wish I would have done it sooner. Like his hair is glorious. changes everything. And honestly, like your girlfriend, wife,

whatever, they are the beneficiary of a completely new lifestyle. Like if, like there's nothing, I don't think there's any downside to it. There's nothing in terms of like feeling self-conscious. You know,

yeah, yeah, that used to be the hair. Guess what it is now. There's only two options. Like Tiger Woods is getting real close to happen to make a decision. I'm shocked he didn't make a pit stop on the way back from Europe. Like that was the time.

Dude, it would have been perfect. He could have flown in the people from Turkey to Switzerland because no one saw him for three months. Right. And you said, I want to walk out of here. And when I talk at the travelers, I want an Afro. You imagine. Tiger shows back up and his hair is flowing in Hartford.

Outrage. Like flowing. He's got a, he's Joel N.B. at Joel N.beed hair. Just a poofy afro. I think he would be looking. Everyone would be like, oh, my God. How was Tiger doing over there? Are there some famous salad rebuilds that hit it?

Like people always said LeBron kind of might have done something. He quit. He quit. But then he stopped. I think he was dabbling with some paints and stuff. I'm not kidding. I think he was painting. Yeah, the Giuliani?

Then he just said piss on it. He went Messier. The Rudy Giuliani picture is offensive. Like, it is one of the more. You got to find it. You got to find it. He had so much hair dye in his salad. It was leaking black streaks down his face when he was at that presser.

That is tough. Yeah. Like that's on him, man. If you just put on a paint job and you're going into the heat, you've got to know better. But you know that he applied that himself. That's not professionally done. He has a comb-in product at home. And he doubled down on it and double-dosed it, and then went in just scorching heat inside of a building and melted in front of the camera.

Yeah. I think that was called, like, there's a spray called the GLH. You can, like, spray it on, and it's supposed to, like, thicken your head. Volume. You get a little volume out of that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Someone led him astray. Like, seriously, astray, and the AC and whatever building he was in. Well, he was. Look at that streak along the side of his face. Yeah. That's just crazy. Poor bastard. Anyway, shout out to Landon Donovan.

It looks great, and you should, you know, have, don't be bashful, man. Just live your life and go do your thing. It's brilliant. Hey, tomorrow's a mail it in Friday. We've got some draft stuff to do. There might be some carryings on with transactions. But in the spirit of our last conference, conversation. It is long overdue that we fire out a salad rebuild tomorrow.

Yeah, I know. Yeah. Maybe a hazy B list. You know, maybe I can put together a five-pack of, you know, the salad rebuild because Eldrick would be high. Eldrick would be on the list. Unfortunately, I love the guy, but Stevie Strickers up there too. Yeah, Strick is, but he's on the Champions tour now. Like, it's more, you know, I'm looking at guys, like, Lannon Donovan still, like what is he late 30s something like that man that give me a quick five pack tomorrow the fans deserve it i'll try my hardest Brendan gallager was heading down that

yeah gallagher was heading down that yeah galli gallagher don't talk we're not putting him on he's my boy he is i love brennan gallagher i love him like i love him but i just there was yeah right interaction where his helmet popped off and he was grabbing it from the trainer and there was like a he had an ally afraid he like where did it go moment Like, where's my helmet? Yeah, and I saw our boy last night, big strud.

He's hanging in there. As he should be. He's stubborn, though. That's what it is. He's stubborn. He won't go down to the wood. It's fun. Summertime, man.

It's the palm tree on front. One last summer. One last summer for strut. I understand that. All right, Best Betts coming up. And not as active today in the NHL, but the draft tomorrow. A lot of focus on that, clearly. but I would anticipate some moves coming up,

including possibly a Quinn Hughes extension in July, right? The owner in Minnesota today said it's going to happen. All right, let's see. How long is it? What is the dollar amount? Cal McCarrow is going to get an extension. A lot's going on in the NHL. Overdrive continues.

TSN 1050 and on TSN5. Catch everything soccer with Bell's game time bundle. Get 5 TV with TSN plus 5150 Internet, all for $99 a month. Price guaranteed for two years with a two-year internet. at a TV term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything.

Close your eyes, and you can hear the entire world come alive. 2026 FIFA World Cup is on, and you can stream it all live on TSN Radio. From the opening kickoff to the final celebration, every match, every moment. Listen to FIFA World Cup on TN. SN Radio.

Gets Canada to the lift off. Available on Iheart Radio. All right. Best Fets powered by Fanduel. Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the Fanduals Sportsbook app. I'm on the U.S. tonight against Turkey for one reason and one reason only. Yeah? Landon Donovan.

I believe Landon Donovan gets the boys pumped up tonight. The states are at home. It's basically a pick-em tonight. You've got to pay a little juice on the state. but I'm on the U.S. to beat Turkey tonight at the World Cup. Best bets powered by Fanduil. Same game parlay is available. For every World Cup match on the Fanduals Sportsbook app,

please play responsibly. 19 plus physically located in Ontario. Some wild stuff going on right now. The Ivory Coast, they're up 2-0. They're through. Ecuador's beaten Germany 2-1. They're an extra time right now. So Ecuador looks like they're going to get through as well.

And Germany was already through prior to the match. I have an update on Landon Donovan. I do not think he went to Turkey for the full process. Joe from the bridge, if you could put, I think what this is, guys, on the left is original, and I think he went with the gorilla glue pelt on top. You guys know what that's? Okay. Yes.

Okay. That's a rub. Do you know what the gorilla glue pelt is? It's a strip where they flap it up and they gorilla glue the top of your scalp and they fold it back down and that's your new salad. And I believe that that is a guerrilla glue pelt. Call it what you want. It is glorious. That's a glorious haircut on the right, man. But that's what I don't think that's a full procedure. I think that's the pelt. Yeah, that's something you get like La Jolla, Southern California. That's not the turkey experience.

So that's a manufactured head of hair that they glue to his head. Yeah. You literally go to a wig shop and you cut the top. part off and you glue it to the top of your head. That's what he got and he did a good job. Good for him. Good for him. He's an inspiration to us all. I love it. Well, the request is in. We'll see if we can get to the bottom of that. I can't wait. Yeah. Landon Donovan. All right. Jay's in action tonight. They've lost two straight. They lost the series. I mean, they blew the game a couple nights ago. Last night it was fundamentals. It got him. The offense. Lottie's an issue. Springer or not. It's not going so well.

for those two in particular. But new series, Rangers in town starting this evening. And the World Cup continuing, Canada, taken on South Africa on Sunday. Tomorrow's a draft. We believe Gavin McKenna's going to go first overall. It's going to be a big, big night

in terms of the history of the Leafs tomorrow, and I'm sure more trades are coming, both in the NHL, the NBA signings, et cetera. It's a great time of year. All right, thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today.

TV radio podcast, Web, up on YouTube, live on TSN's YouTube channel and soon to be streaming up on Crave. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at All you execs behave down there in Buffalo. 4 p.m. We'll check. Close your eyes and you can hear the entire world come alive. 2026 FIFA World Cup is on.

And you can stream it all live on TSN Radio. From the opening kickoff to the final celebration, every match, every moment. Listen to FIFA World Cup on TSN Radio. Here's Canada to the liftoff. Available on IHeart Radio.