OverDrive - OverDrive - June 3, 2026 - Hour 1 - Jesse Marsch

Episode Date: June 3, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! They discuss the Golden Knights' opening win against the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final, Vegas' success in Game 1 of the series, Patrick Roy's interview with the Maple Leafs and his potential fit in Toronto. Canada Soccer head coach Jesse Marsch joins to discuss the FIFA World Cup, Alphonso Davies aiming to return and the look of the squad for Canada.

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. This hour of overdrive is powered by Fandul. Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go, overdrive, off and running.

TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker, you're up on TSN 5, up on YouTube live, later up on Crave. Brian Hainesio, Doug Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McClennon. It's going on today. How are we feeling this afternoon? Debuting a brand new segment today. I know we've got to get into the game last night, but I want to debut this segment because it caught my eye, and I want you guys to play the brand-new guessing game called

Who's We're wearing these sleds? Okay. Joe from the bridge. Let's just get right into it. Put up the pick and Hazy, you can guess first. Who is wearing those sleds? I know who that is. No, no, no.

You get one guess. Guess who's wearing those? Gary Batman is wearing those. Okay, that's your guess. Noodles. Who's your guess for who's wearing those sleds? I didn't think Gary Batman wore white shoes. He usually wears black ones.

So, man, oh man. Mike Lane. Oh my God. Could be Mike Lane. Our boss, Mike Lane. You don't do our boss dirty like that. Apologize right now. Haysey, you're right.

That's Jerry Bettman's Slitz in Carolina. I knew it was, man. Those are Southern. That's a Southern Flair, right? You better check your inbox because you just got pink slip for that comment, noodles. Lainzie would never wear those wheels. He would not wear those. He would not wear those.

But Jerry made the switch, and he went white sketchers, thick souls with a suit. I love it. I love it. I love it too. Because I guess Afghani Kutz-Natsop was there, which is a really strange connection.

Well, he played for the Keynes. Yes, he did. Yes, he did. In Russian, he tweets or he goes on Instagram and it says, Grandpa asked me for a pick. That was his guy. That's the translation? Come on.

Yes. Yes. Doogie, Google the translation of what his post was. But I'm pretty sure someone translated it and said, Grandpa asked me for a pick. Yeah, there it is. Cousy. Yeah, that's, I couldn't say no.

Do you think Betman is, like, would that go viral in Russia? Are people in Russia even familiar with commissioners over here? Are they, like, you know, Batman's a big, like, I don't know if you could describe them as a star. I don't know if I'd necessarily describe any commissioner as a star, but in terms of a, like, a well-known sports commodity. I think just you go with very high profile. Very high profile.

Absolutely. And you knew Batman would be down there, and Gary was speaking to the media yesterday, and he's obviously saying, hey, the league's in a really good spot. He did pull a bit of a Jimmy Nance, though. He said, I'm looking out of succession plan, but no time soon. Yeah, it could be. Okay, there's a question. There's the next one.

Who retires first? Gary Batman or Jim Nance? Batman. I think Jerry goes before. Dude, Nancy said, I'm looking forward to my final. Masters in 2036. Yeah.

That's outrageous. Dude, that's 10 years away for Jimmy to be calling. He won't even be able to see the monitor at that time. Well, they all have retired him by then. That's the question, noodles. Like that, that, do you know how

confident you have to be, which of all the people in media, Jim Nance would be very high on the confidence list in terms of security and feeling very good about his role? When you're calling your shot, to 12 years out knowing like you're out of high outrageous call. Outrageous call.

They'll be like, yeah, I'm just going to pick off 2036, you know, one last masters. Like that, there are very few people in any industry that can pull that off. Dude, you know that somebody taps Jimmy on the shoulder after the final put goes in one year and they just say, you, you guessed too long, Jimmy. Yeah. But he calls the NFL too. Like he's got, Romo has it in his.

deal that if Jim Nance isn't there making the call Romo doesn't work. Like Romo, he's like Tom Barrasso. Sorry, unless it's Jim Nance, man. I don't call games. He might get flipped on that. Jimmy might have it in his contract next year

that if he's there, he wants Romo not to be there. Right. Well, that's true. I guess it could flip the other way. I saw another one recently. Oh, what did I see where, oh, you know what it was? it was Russell Henley's putter that said for professionals only.

And I thought that's a Tom Barrasso move. That's Tommy Barrasso. Yeah. All of those type of putters from that company, they all say that for the tour pro. That's crazy, though. Tour audacity, only for tour pros. I love that, though. It basically puts everybody in their place.

Don't you dare pick this up if you think you're a hero and you're a chump. That's basically it. You stink and you shouldn't be using this type of weaponry on any green anywhere around the world. But, yeah, I bet you Gary Bettman was in the house thinking, man, what a sporting event we've supplied the masses. That was a great hockey game last night. Man, that was thoroughly entertaining to watch. When I started out and Eelers got those two goals, I'm like, game one is going to be a route. There's no way in hell that they're going to give up.

Like, there was a point there where it's like, and that's how you give. Vegas so much credit because that game was teetering. If Carolina rips home that third goal, and I believe Stankhoven had a breakaway at 2-0. That goes in. It's curtains, right? Pretty much. If that goes in, it's curtains. 3-0 mentally is a lot different than 2.

And everyone's praising torts for this TV timeout speech where it was like, good job torts, but that's generally what a coach does. Lots of hockey left fellas. Stay at it. Don't go east-west. We've got to go north. and they came back and won the game. But good on them, man.

Usually 2-0. It's for Carolina. That's lights out. Game over. What I loved about it is I thought it 2-0 and they're giving up a breakway. I thought Vegas said, okay, we're going to leave this one on the table. Let's get stupid and start running around and taking penalties and doing, you know, getting away from their game plan. That's the maturity of guys who have been there before going.

And keep in mind, they were down three Cobb to Colorado and came back. after the, they were down 3-0 after the first period and was 3-3 after the second. So I look at that's a team that's been there and done that before for the most part and didn't panic. It's like, hey, we didn't have a great start. Eichl wasn't very good in the first period. He was unbelievable from period two on. Like that's the thing, that speaks to the maturity level of a group that's won before, that they didn't panic, and they didn't get stupid.

They didn't start taking stupid penalties going, we're going to get a pound of flesh. and try and run you out of the building physically and put Caroline on the power plate. They just stuck with it. I think that was a great attribute to have. They sure did. Yeah, and they've proven that. They've proved it against Colorado where, again, yeah, they were down multiple times. And they battled back to win the game.

And they spread the wealth out. You know, it's Thorofiav and it's William Carlson, it's hurdle, it's Howden. You know, like there, it's not, like you mentioned Ikel, who got better. better. But it wasn't the Jack Eichael show who threw the team on his shoulders and said, we're getting back into this game and I'm going to win it on my own. It was every line contributing, everyone playing a role in all of that. Would you think of your boy Freddie last night? That's a lot of people asking for my opinion.

I want to hear what Noodles has to say about Freddie. Honestly, I didn't think either goaltender had their A game. They made some good saves. But in a game like that, where it's, you know, let's call it shots for 25, 20, It's not a goaltender's dream. There were lots of breakdowns. Like I thought at both times, in different times throughout the game, the coaches were disappointed in their players' play.

Like, you know, gossip fair letting hurdle go. You can't let that go. That was a great play by Sizzins. Like brilliant pass. And the same thing. Chatfield on the back door. Let's how it and go, what a pass by Theodore. Theodore, incredible pass.

But again, if you're in the video room today, both teams are going, that's not going to win us the cup. I would argue that game two, you're going to see a shrinking of the game. Carolina got away from their game plan, way too loose. Yes, you're right. Sizzins great pass, unbelievable. But Carolina doesn't give up any of these chances from grade A opportunities. Generally not in a situation like that.

But I thought the game, you know, like you can break down a goal. Because neither got, like you said, you know, like Freddie gave up five goals on 23 shots or something. and Hart gave up four on 21 at the time or whatever it was. Like the same percentage numbers are not going to be very positive. But I always reference you Grant Fewer statements and comments. And I think the game, in terms of the battle between those two goalies, Seth Jarvis comes right down Broadway, rips one bar down, and Hart made an unbelievable Grant Fewer save.

And 30 seconds later, Hurl scores. And it's like, that's a scenario where if, Jarvis scores, we say, breakdown defensively, what a shot, what do you want Hart to do there? You know, it's a tough spot. How about you defend better? And the goalie doesn't have to make that stop. True. Or he can just make the stop. And he made it. And yes, hurdle, it was a brilliant play, but I thought Freddie was slow getting across. You got to make the save. Like, it's just, I know it's tough. It's a breakdown, but it's four, four with three minutes to go. You've got to get a save there. That was my assessment. Hart got it. And Freddie, didn't.

I mean, Freddie didn't see the game-winning goal. If you actually look, it comes through a screen. Nobody cleans the front of the net. But I know what you mean, Brian. All right, all right. There's always an explanation. The other guy makes an unbelievable save, and you got to give him credit. I do, and I understand 100% what you're saying, but I don't lay that goal on Freddie.

Like, he wasn't slow to come across. He didn't see it because that was his D out to lunch in front, and his D laying on the ice and hurdles got a slot shot. So, I mean, but you're right. if he makes a blocker save, we're talking about going into overtime. He didn't. And the difference was his heart was one save better. Yeah, it was.

I think, Jamie, you can't argue the fact that if Freddie's completely dialed in like he has been all playoffs, he's just, it's just, he's in a frame and in a rhythm where he's just there and he reads it, and I don't know if it's guessing or whatever, but he just makes that look simple. But another part of that story, Hayes, is Seth Jarvis, how his knight could have been different. If that goes under the bar and in, Rod Brindamore is saying, I always knew that guy was clutch and he was going to come through in a big way.

And instead, after the game, he's saying, if we don't get that line going, we're not going to win. Well, they were not very good. Like, they had that one great buzzing line, but that was it. The thing is, you can't really break them up because then you're tearing apart another line. Right. And the other line, like you're not going to do a favor

to those guys to try to get them going and then screw up the chemistry of the other guys. Like, it's just not fair. You're the top guys. You're making the most cake. Like, you've got to go out there and get it done. Can you imagine if that was in Toronto? Like, those guys would be getting torched right now.

Yeah, I thought Aalho, like, he had that horrible giveaway in the third last night, too, that was, I can't remember who stole it off him. Might have been Eichol, actually. It was like a brain dead play. Like, what are you thinking at your own blue line last man back? I think puck management. I think puck management is, like, they didn't. They didn't do Carolina hurricanes things with the puck. And who knows, maybe it's a one-off.

But I think Carolina realized that they're not in Kansas anymore, and they got a real deal team. Yes. I talked about it before the series. They got big guys, and they don't use stick-on puck to stop cycles. Like they're physical, and they're going to plant your ass on the ice, and they're going to hit. And I don't exactly think Montreal brought any kind of cycle game against Carolina,

because it was just kind of fizzled out and squeezed off immediately. And these big boys get rumbling in there, and they're showing Carolina something up front where it's not familiar with them. So they got their hands full, man. Big time. 100%. The one thing that Vegas has that Montreal didn't have is Vegas can check and they've got size. I think you just talked about it all.

Carolina was able to stop every type of attack that Montreal threw at them. They wanted, Montreal wanted to get the middle ice with speed. Carolina, stick on puck, physical battle, win it. Vegas has the ability, when you go into a corner, they can win that physical battle. So Carolina is actually looking in the mirror and going, the guys on the other team, they're just as heavy as us. They check just as hard as us. That's what gives Vegas a little bit of extra juice there.

Because if they can beat Carolina at their own game, tight D, I think they've got separating skill. And we saw, you know, Marner with that beautiful pass, you look at, you know, Ikel can get into open ice. We all know what that group can do, but it's just little details. And I think Carolina had to win that game. Like that's at the end of it, the breakdown is you're up to nothing, your building's going nuts. You were all over them. You can't lose that game.

I think there's more reasons than that being up to it. Like there's all kinds of slogans that get tossed around come playoff time. You're not in trouble. until you lose one at home. They did it game one. You know what I mean? Like just for momentum, the percentages of the team

that win game one winning a series are skyrocket. I think it's over 70%. So there is a bunch of different reasons why you need to get that one. They're obviously not in big trouble, but if they lose tomorrow night, they're in massive trouble.

Feels like must win already. Like it really does feel like a must win tomorrow. You've got to get it. And, you know, we'll see. I expect them to play well. I think Vegas plays well, though. I mean, that's another thing. game two of the Havs series kind of felt, even though it went to overtime, you knew Carolina

would be great, and you thought there's a chance the Habs take their foot off the gas, because they've been playing a lot, they won game one, they earned game one in that series. But you could feel a discrepancy in performance. I don't expect that from Vegas. I think Vegas shows up smelling blood and water tomorrow night. And that's where, for me, guys, that's where you shine a light on Freddie. if he has an off game tomorrow and now they're going into Vegas down 02, that's when you start to whisper.

That's only one game. It's only one game. It's not like Hart was great. They didn't lose just because of Freddie, but a lot of goals. Exactly. It doesn't matter how many goals. It doesn't matter in the fashion. Like I say, whether there's mistakes in front of you or not.

If he has an off game tomorrow, then you of a sudden you start to go, oh, is he starting to wear down, he's tired, all of that type. of stuff. If he has a great game and they play well in front of them and it goes back one-one, we can be talking a lot different. Big time. On Friday. Big time. So next week, we're going to have a great week. We're going to be at the RBC Canadian Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Cannot wait for that. More on that later in the hour. The field is phenomenal. And then we're going to be down for the game on Friday, down at Toronto Field, right? We're actually going to be at a fan zone downtown, which we're really,

really excited about. We're going to be at the Canada soccer house from 12 to 2 on Friday. Next Friday ahead of Canada's opening match. And Jesse Marsh is coming up this hour. So we've got the head coach coming up to get his take on status of certain players. There's some guys that are obviously not feeling great right now. They've got one more friendly against Ireland in Montreal on Friday before you get to the real stuff a week from then.

Again, down in Toronto or at Toronto Field. So we'll catch up with Jesse this hour. We'll start looking ahead of the RBC Canadian Open. drags with a bombshell report this morning that Patrick Waugh has been interviewing for the Maple Leaf Head coaching job. We will have some commentary on that. And Ray's coming up as well. Ray, of course, was in Carolina calling a game last night. So Ray Ferraro will join us on that on Patrick Waugh.

We've got an announcement on who's won that Jack Adams this year. We'll get into all that kind of stuff. Jerry's coming up. We've got picks for the memorial. It's going to be an unbelievable day, unbelievable week. Unbelievable month, really. Like the amount of sporting events going on is just. outstanding. So that more still to come throughout the afternoon overdrive continues.

TSN 1050 and up on TSN 5. 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. I'm Cynthia Lois and I'm Josie Dye. And we're done pretending we have it all figured out.

Each week we laugh, cry and talk our way through life's messiest moments. Things you think about but would never say out loud. The questions you are always too shy to ask. Relationships, regrets, awkward moments, and the stuff no one warns you about. It's honest, it's funny, and sometimes it gets a little uncomfortable. But that's kind of the point. This is Cynthia and Josie's unmentionables. Listen on the free IHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, overdrive continues. Powered by Fanduel. Bring any more ways to play your game your way. Ray Ferraro coming up. up from Carolina in about 45 minutes.

Jesse Marsh coming up from Montreal in the next seven or eight minutes. I wonder if Patrick was walking the streets of Montreal right now. Maybe Toronto. Or is he in Toronto? Because Dreg's reporting this morning that the Leafs are, I guess running through interviews, Zoom call interviews with upwards of 15 different candidates for the job, including Peter LaViolette, which I don't think is at all surprising.

And Patrick Waugh, though, I got to be honest, that is not a name I was expecting to hear. I don't know why I say that other than the fact that it would, you know, his coaching career in the NHL has not been great. Like, let's call it for what it is. In Colorado, it was a very strange exit. The island, it wasn't great. You know, he came in late in a season a couple of years ago. Then he gets fired with four games to go to go out and get Peter DeBore. but he's also a larger than life personality.

Like strictly from an entertainment standpoint, you couldn't get anything better than Patrick Wals. So you're dying for Patty Watt to get here. This is how I would phrase it. If you asked me, okay, I'm looking for content. We're in the content game. And you said you get the opportunity to hire the next Maple Leaf head coach strictly based on how much fun it would be to talk about it,

I think Patrick Waugh would be at the top of the list. Dude, you just hit clips every morning after practice. He is uber confident. He will say whatever's on his mind. He's an uber passionate guy, right? Speaks from the heart, very motivating. I think he would take on Toronto with a storm that would be very different than almost any other coach

because of his history, because, you know, he's a Montreal Canadian legend, the idea of him walking into the Bell Center, taking questions in French as the head coach of the Maple Leafs, I just, I didn't, I don't picture it kind of connecting with, with what I know of Chica and how I would picture John Chica looking to hire someone for this job. I give everybody credit, though,

because you need to turn over every stone. By all accounts, they've talked to 15 guys. That's what you need to be doing, because you want to have a broad scope of what do we want. So let's hear what this guy has to say. Let's hear what this guy has to say. Is he a right fit? I love the fact that they've interviewed a bunch of people.

It says to me they're doing their work, and that's impressive to me. Regardless, they haven't been very visible. I know they were at the Marley's game the other day, you know, and doing their work. But at the end of the day, they've put their nose to the grindstone. So I respect that, and I like that. I don't know if Patrick's a fit, but you're right. He would be great for content. Don't you think Tarts would be good or do you think it would be too much?

Yeah, no, he would be, but I think he'd come in like scolding people. And it would be, especially if he wins a Stanley Cup here, man. It would be obnoxious levels. I can't imagine that. You want to talk about content. Yeah. That would be on the day. Tarts going after Jonas for something.

If Jonas said, didn't like your deployment in the second period, He would. That used to happen with Ron Wilson. I worked with Jonas 16, 17 years ago when Ron Wilson was here. You guys know Ron Wilson. Like, remember how dry he was, but it was like sharp. Sarcastic. He would look down at someone and just say, like, whatever he would say.

And Jonas would jab at him. And Ron would come back, and the two of them would have some pretty good moments. We got to find some Ron Wilson Jonas. Yeah. There was some really good stuff back in the day. But I think, you know, his reputation was not exactly the most defensively sound coach. No.

Right? Like, details are not, it's more of a raw, raw, kind of emotion-based. Push them hard. Coaching, yeah, motivated type guy. I just don't know if that's what they need. In fact, I know that's not what they need.

They need someone that's going to come in here with a system that's going to give them a chance to win games. Like, they were so horrendous defensively. last year. I would think that's the priority, wouldn't you? Like communicating with the players with the modern player today, and I'm not saying that Patrick Waugh can't achieve that level of the job, but they were arguably the worst defensive team in the league last year,

very close to it. You have to have someone with a completely different approach. Yes, and also somebody who's not shy to hold the players that don't want to play a system accountable. And that's the, you know, I think that's something where, you have a waw, you have a labia let, somebody like that who, you know, isn't shy to speak their mind, that's what I think this group needs, is somebody to push them. But you're right, the detailed have to be there, especially if you want to be right in the mix.

So let me get this straight, guys. So he was let go from the Islanders because they were a mess defensively. And then the Leafs were a mess defensively. And that's who you, like, it's just, it almost doesn't even make sense with starting with the interview. Do you know what I mean? if you just kind of look at a big picture, like, so that's going to be the,

I don't know. But I agree with noodles. Like, why not talk to as many people as you can? It takes an hour of your life. Yeah. Get their viewpoint on your organization, too. Like Patrick Wausen in the Hall of Fame.

He's an all-time great hockey personality. Get his take on what he sees happening here. Maybe you pick his brain on which goal he do you like. Right? That's a big decision. Not the reason you'd hire a coach, but who do you like? Do you like Joseph Wall?

Who do you think of Stolaris? If he's healthy, do you think he can play? I'd rely on that, Intel. I would also talk to him, how do you handle your stars? Like, that's the, you know, nowadays we all know it's a star-driven league. How are your relationships with these players? You know, how is your relationship with Barzell? How was your relationship with Nate McKinnon?

Because that says a lot. Keep in mind, Patrick Waugh benched Barzell a few times last year. And called him out, said not playing well enough. and wasn't shy to say that. Again, I'm not looking for him somebody to do that to Matthews and or Neelander, but you do want consistency. And I think the message sometimes in these past couple years have been, these guys can do one thing and these guys can do the other.

And to me, it's got to be everybody plays like this, non-negotiable. And if Waa can get them to do that, that's what they're probably trying to figure out. I don't think he's the perfect fit, but I think he's, I think he'd be the perfect I think the market, I think trying to get a read on the average leaf fan is very difficult to do. You know, there's so many leaf fans. All of them individually look at the team differently, the history differently, have a different viewpoint of the team and where they're going and what's capable and what's possible. You know, the role, the team plays, the media plays, the fans, is it toxic or not? Everyone's got a different viewpoint on everything.

So trying to get a consensus on who should be the next coach is impossible. then that's certainly not the role of John Chica. His job is to hire the right person, not consider what the average Lee fan is thinking. But I think Waugh actually would gain favor in the market once he got here because of the way he speaks. He's got a very passionate flared to the way that he operates, right? Like he would fight for the team.

He'd come in and he'd demand, and I think he'd be a good press conference guy, which doesn't mean anything in terms of wins. and losses. Doesn't mean anything. But I think the reaction naturally from a lot of people would be not a great NHL resume. He's a Montreal Canadian legend.

He just got fired with four games left at his last gig. How does this make sense? So I think people would go in kind of with their backs up against the wall. But I think if he actually got the job, again, I don't think he will. But if he did, I think the introductory press conference would get a lot of people on his side.

A lot of people would listen to him and say, well, I like what this guy's saying right now. Let me just clarify one thing with you, Hayes. If you think that somebody's going to come in and, like, get these guys' attention, and they're going to be like, oh, my God, it's this guy's way or the highway. Wrong. Because they just decided that they weren't going to do what Craig Baroube wanted to do. And he's a pretty raw, raw guy.

Like, if you don't want to play for him, it's just like, oh, well, all of a sudden you just want to play for Patrick Waugh. Like, the idea of getting these guys attention and making them accountable. But you have to. That's got to be the attempt, isn't it all? Like, what's the point of having a coach if you're just going to concede? Year 10, you're going to try to get guys' attention and make them accountable? Ten years? Is that going to be the idea now?

We're going to make everybody accountable after year 10. Whatever's happened in the past, forget that. There's a new sheriff in town. What did Barubei do that kept people accountable? He really, he's not that raw, raw of a guy. He just kind of, like, that's not, I know his history. Straight shooter. Yeah.

Great shooter, but. Okay. But you're right, Brian. We're talking about telling William Neelander to sit at the end of the bench for the whole game if he's going to have some of his little lapses. That's what's accountable. Is Patrick Waw going to do that? Who's going to do that?

I don't know. I mean, he did do it to Barzell. But what I'm saying, oh, is if you're not going to have that, have a tactician. And, again, it comes back to, regardless of what we feel or not, your success stems on your top players. So how was he with his top players, his relationship? I'll give an example. I think Jay Woodcroft would be a nice fit. And I know he didn't have a ton of success in Edmonton,

but they did go in multiple rounds, all that type of stuff. But he had a good relationship with McDavid and Drysiddle, and he was an offensively-minded coach that had details. That's kind of what I think you're looking for here. Maybe somebody younger and progressive. But, you know, again, there's no harm in my opinion. looking at Patrick Waugh, looking at Peter Lavillette, guys who've been around, the one thing that I would say, oh, and I don't know if this factors in or not, and I don't know if today's player cares, but he's arguably one of the greatest goaltenders that ever played the game. Absolutely.

He is a Hall of Famer. There's no question about that. He should have that cachet. It comes down to this, and I was speaking to a GM at the World Juniors during one of the intermissions. and he said to me the Kitchen Arrangers are so good because their best players do all the hard stuff and it's not just for the grunt. Like they just lead the way.

They finish their checks. They kill penalties. They block shots. They're physical. They care. It's like they got a knock down, drag them out attitude. And if your best players don't have that, you probably got a team that's not going to win very much.

So who's the coach that are going to get these guys to start playing like very, very passionate, like hungry athletes that really want to win. Because that's the only way they got a chance. And is it even possible to get them to do that? One other thing I would add in there, even from a tactically standpoint, a tactician, however, you know, I'm phrasing it. Maybe it's, you know, Austin, I want you to be in all situations to score here. We've got to get your scoring game back. We've got to get, you know, again, people have pointed out with Barubi.

It was zone starts. We wanted him to be more 200 feet. It's the relationship and saying, this is how I see your game right now at 29 years old. I believe he's coming 29 in September 15th or 16th. This is why I see your game. We need to get that shot back. We need to get Austin the puck. We need draws in the offensive zone.

We need speed through the neutral zone. And again, that's going to come back. I know, but we need D to get these guys to puck. So you say to Cheka, we can't have guys. I get it. I get it. But, Jamie, let me ask you guys both this. What do you think,

the direction in the mandate for Jack Eichel is. What do you think that Kelly McCriman and John Tortorella right now, what do you think the expectation is for Jack Eichael, who's a 40 goal score, he's a 100-point guy? What do you think his expectation is to help the Vegas Golden Knights? I know what it is. Brian Yugo. Well, like, what are you talking about?

Like, if they have to even ask him, is that what you're getting asked? No, I'm just saying like Jack Eichol, it's not like, oh, we got to get you. Just be a complete player. Yeah, of course. Be the best player in all situations. It's not getting picky about face-off starts or this and that. Go out every time you're on the ice and try to be the best player on the ice and play winning hockey.

Yeah. I think the same standard with Matthews is likely there, and I think he would embrace that for the most part. Is he going to score at the same level if that's the case? No. Nealander is an enigma. He's different. Like, if you think he's going to turn into Mark,

Stone, he's not. That's not happening. It's not who he is. It doesn't matter who the coach is. It's never going to change. But can you benefit from a guy who scores 45 goals and has 90 points and can break games open? That's going to be on the next coach. That's what you've got to figure out. William Nealander is not going to lead the league

and hits. He's not going to be up for the Selkie next year. It's not going to happen. Doesn't matter who it is. John Cooper, Patrick Waugh, Scotty Bowman and his prime. It's not who he is. Not the player he is. but, you know, so I don't know, I don't know else how to, you can't, you can't apply the same, you know, hey, what do you think Sid is expected to do to another player?

They're not Sidney Crosby. Well, that's the big question about, yeah, that's, the biggest question is, Hayes, can you win with them? That's the bottom line. Through 10 years, obviously the answer so far is no. Right. Obviously that's. My point to that is why would think. Mitch Marner, we said the same thing.

And now Mitch is up, you know, on a team that's up one-nothing. the cup final. Blocking shots in the last minute. Yeah, flying through the air. A little Charlie Conway type style of maneuvering. I like that. Okay, what are we? Nine days away from Canada, taking on Bosnia down at Toronto Stadium. We're going to be down there next Friday at the Canada Soccer House. We cannot wait for it. Show is going to be at 12 to 2. This is a first for us. No one bumps us off the air unless it's the World Cup. The only thing that pushes us earlier in the day.

I'm a little disappointed. We didn't get out on the pitch and do some drills. I'm sure they're very disappointed as well. Let's bring in the head coach of the men's national team. There he is Jesse Marsh. How are you doing, Jesse? What's up, guys? I can't believe this.

I'm like an active now guest here. You guys are football fans. Oh, we're all in. We're all in. How are we feeling now that you're through the selection process and I understand you've got to make more selections because we've had an injury even since Friday, but does it feel like there's more religious?

Is there more, I don't want to say you're relaxed around the camp, but now that everyone's made it and everyone knows kind of who's going to be a part of this program, how would you compare the vibes today to even a few weeks ago? Yeah, well, I think there's been a real, like, lasered in attention span and focus to make sure that we capture, capture the games, capture the moment for the country. So, you know, I'm really fortunate to have an incredible group of guys that are very selfless, very committed to this person. program are so excited for the World Cup, the Home World Cup. So, you know, it's actually been more about just trying to keep everybody, like, calm and confident about what we're doing. And that part, I think, will help us focus on what it will take to be successful in these matches.

So there's clear excitement, but I think the concentration to do what we need to do to make sure we can win has really been at the forefront. Coaches are always thinking, like, is there one thing that, like, kind of keeps you up at night or is it just a bunch of different things planning injuries who's going to go like what kind of get your attention before your head hits the pillow well look i think we've if you've followed things publicly almost everything i get in the media now is about our injury situation because we've had a lot of guys that are coming back um so you know i'm focusing so much on trying to really think about the loading, the return to play

protocols, everything from Alfonso Davies to Mose Bombito to Promise David. We've got a lot of guys that are coming back from injury and I just don't want to have any setbacks and I want to give this team the chance to have their best weapons, best players, the full

complement of talent available so that we can really give ourselves the best chance to be successful. Well, Alfonso said he's not going to be available for that first match against Bosnia. You mentioned Bombito. He limped off the pitch the other day. What is the update?

What can you tell us about his status? Yeah, Moyes is feeling a little bit of sensitivity and where he broke his tibia. But we're still really hopeful that he had a day off today to really help recover and regenerate a little bit so that he can be ready to go for the next match against Ireland. Alfonso, like, look, I know that he's had some injuries and I know that the plan is that he won't be back

for the first match. But he's a freak athlete, man. And this guy is a competitor. So, you know, without trying to put pressure on him, like, you know, I really believe in Alfonso. And so we're taking it day by day. We're really trying to monitor where we are with everyone, but specifically Alfonso.

He's shown to be a quick healer over the years. We obviously know what an incredible athlete is. So I'm not counting him out of anything. I like it. You know, we obviously want to get him back, and we want to get him back at his top form, and we don't want to risk, you know, setbacks. But, you know, I know the kind of competitor Alfonso is,

and I know the kind of athlete. So, you know, he's going to play in this tournament. So how can he help you when he's not playing by being around or being a mentor, being a good teammate? How does he help? You know, I mean, you guys know this. When you're around the best players, they have a different kind of aura. When they step into the room, there's an energy shift.

And so the minute that Alfonso ever walks into this team, and especially the fact that we haven't seen him a while, the impact on the rest of the team, the confidence they feel, the desire they feel to make sure they can give him a chance to play in this tournament, right? Like all of a sudden, everything sort of shifts, and you start to feel like greatness. And so how lucky are we at Canada to have a player like that, first of all? And then I think that his overall positivity, the smile on his face, the energy that he exudes every time he's around, how much he loves playing for the national team has a big impact on the overall group. With Jesse Marsh, again, World Cup kicking off next week on TSN, Canada, Bosnia, down at Toronto Stadium on Friday kickoff just after 3 p.m. And, you know, Alfonso was obviously a big part of the last World Cup experience. and you do have a number of carryover players. You've got a lot of new players as well,

but you have some veterans that were there a few years ago in Qatar. What do you hope the kind of veterans of the World Cup in the past, the experience that they gain from that, that they can apply to this World Cup? Yeah, no, look, I think last World Cup, it was almost an anomaly. The team did so well to qualify for the World Cup, but it was new for everyone. And, I mean, you're talking about the Federation,

the coaching staff, the players, everyone. This was all a new experience. I think that there's, now that they've got that in their back pocket and they kind of understand how to handle the hype and all the attention around it and that really the biggest, most important thing is the focus on the actual match. Along with Copa America's success that we had two years ago,

along with the fact that we have a lot of players playing at big clubs and playing in Champions League every week, I think means that their overall, understanding and expectation for what big games are and how to handle them is different. And so, of course, a home world cup is still a massive experience. It's something that they're all really excited about. But I think that it's lessened the overall pressure and nervousness of what the experience will be. And that's allowed us all to really laser in on again. Like, okay, here's the opponent. Here's what it's going to require to beat them. Here's what we

have to be good at, focus on how we want to play, who we want to be. And by the way, we're a pretty good team. You know, so I think we've climbed the FIFA rankings. We haven't lost many matches in the last two years. You know, we don't give away many shots. We don't give away many goals. Like, this team has grown into something that I think was difficult for any opponent. And that's, really, if you want to talk about it, our main goal is to make sure that we are very hard to play against that we give hell to every single opponent and we know that we have some firepower. We know we can score goals.

So I think we're at a point now where of course, we know that the World Cup is a different level of attention and play and everything, but this team really doesn't fear anyone. And that's something we should be proud of as Canadians. Well, you guys got past Uzbekistan

the other night. You've got Ireland and Montreal as your final tune-up on Friday. What are you hoping you know, you can gain out of that final match before you actually get to the real stuff? Yeah, I think, you know, to Uzbekistan was a good performance, but I think we know we have to be better.

And the attention to detail and the intensity will be higher in this match. And then, you know, this puts us one week out from, you know, a big match. The other part about Uzbekistan is we did a big physical fitness element when we were down in Carolina. So the players weren't all fully at like fresh, 100% freshness. And now we'll give them a little bit more time to recover and recharge and now let them fly. So I expect a really strong performance against Ireland, which will give us confidence going into the first match against Bosnia. Then we'll use that last week to prepare and get ready in every way to make sure that we make this country proud.

So Jesse, you're going to manage minutes still and just kind of make sure everybody's feeling, you know, right heading into that. last week? Is that the thought process in this last friendly? They'll, you know, it's still the last preparation. So we'll probably ramp up minutes for certain players. You know, we'll measure things carefully to make sure that each player is kind of getting what they need, but then also make sure that we get the kind of performance as a team that we need. We've also scheduled a practice match the next day against a U.S. semi-pro team. So like to make sure that all the players get what they need from a fitness and tactical perspective in this last week before we head into the move to Toronto and the match against Bosnia.

So, you know, that's the, we've really tried to kind of build things in this overall process so we can get guys fit. We'll get guys healthy first from injuries, then get guys fit, and then ramp them up as we go along so that in that first match, they're ready to fly. So since the last time we've had you on, Jesse, you've signed yourself an extension with the program, You're going to be up here for, you know, quite a number of years beyond this World Cup. Take us through. Give me some more appearances.

Yes, exactly. You're always welcome. I put that in my contract. As you should. I've got to have at least once a month. As you should, absolutely. You didn't do that. I can't imagine that actually happened.

So why is this connection works so well for you? And, you know, your commitment to the program, why is that important for you? Well, you know, I mean, my, my. day job is to get this first team right, you know, to make sure in the big tournaments that we are ready to represent the country and play at our best. But the passion project that I've had since I've been here is building the sport in the country, you know, and soccer is widely talked about in Canada as the highest played sport by youth, but it doesn't always translate to the higher levels because the overall infrastructure and then development paths haven't

been ironed out and it starts a lot with what we've been lacking as a federation. So with Kevin Blue, the Secretary General, with Peter Agruzzo, the president of Canada soccer, you know, our vision is to build an infrastructure, everything from a training facility to more robust youth teams and programs, and to also build a style of play, like an identity of the way we want the game to be. And I'll be honest, guys, we've used Canada hockey in so many ways as as the beacon of what we can achieve in this country. So we're not trying to take this country away from being a hockey country. We all know how passionate everyone is about the sport here.

But we do think that along with basketball, soccer can continue to grow, and we can really use the athletic qualities that we have of the kids and of the youth and really start to build something that can be sustainable and very successful for the future. So that part is really exciting. There's a lot of people in the communities that I think really want to work together and help the sport grow. And we just want to channel everybody's energies in the right way so that we can give our kids the best chance to be great. Yeah, we love hearing that. And the biggest platform you could ask for begins in about nine days from now, a home world cup.

We are absolutely ecstatic. We cannot wait to get things going next week. I know people in Toronto, people in Vancouver have been waiting a long, long time. And obviously you and your crew have been waiting a long time as well. So best of luck as of next Friday and beyond. And I guess we'll catch up monthly for the next four years at least. Thank you, Jesse. Yeah, well, look, when we get to the knockouts, right?

Absolutely. You got it. Lock us in. Thanks, Jesse. Good luck. All right, guys. Thanks, man. You got it.

Jesse Marsh, head coach of the Canadian men's national team. World Cup at home. On home soil starting next Friday. And I love that. Get through the group stage. That would be historic. Did not happen, obviously, in 86. did not happen four years ago in Qatar,

get through the group stage, and then we're cooking here. You get to test out those new bleachers. Yes. Although the stadium, I will say, once they put the scaffolding up, it does look a lot better. Looks better.

Like it actually looks real and professional. When they had, like, the stands, when it was the see-through, metal, just jungle. Yeah, it looked sterile. If people started jumping up and down on those scaffolds, I would have a jetpack and just, fly away because

I'm not to get ready for it. You need a parachute. It's going to get crazy down there and it begins in nine days. So we're going to be down there on the Friday. We can't wait for it. And obviously you can watch every second of every match on TSN throughout the World Cup. So we look forward to that. All right. Ray Ferraro

coming up. Best bet still to come. Overdrive continues up on YouTube live. 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 for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Hello, Canada. This is Brian Adams Radio. Hosted by Brian Adams himself.

We'll play a few of mine, a ton of my favorites, and some must-hear behind-the-scenes stories from the world of rock and roll. One thing about doing rock and roll so long is you end up meeting a lot of the people that you admire. Sometimes you even get to work with them.

Brian Adams Radio Now available on the free IHare Radio app I'm thinking about our conversation About Matthews and Neelander and Marner And I guess the only way to summarize it is They can go elsewhere And a lot is being made of Vegas And how much better their team is death-wise than Toronto

Maybe they just go somewhere else And it works around different people people, but all of them together didn't. Because you've talked a lot, Brian, about their disposition and how they approach things, and all of them together, it just didn't fly. And the team wasn't deep enough, and it was just, I don't know, but separate. You put them somewhere else, and it's good, because there's different players in Vegas, different approaches, different role, I don't know.

But it was like them together leading the charge. It didn't work. And I guess that's the way you just summarize. I don't know. Maybe you guys see it different. I just wanted to add on one thing too. What I was talking about with a new coach and handling the stars is building their confidence up. And that's, you know, hey, we want you to play this way.

You're right. Like Brian said, you're not going to get Willie Neelander to be, you know, running the guys through the boards or blocking shots. I know. If you have that rapport with the guy, then, you know, and that relationship. And as far as William Neelander, he's one of the best in the business of getting loose and scoring goals. But can he be competitive and effective when he is? is not doing that. You can't be just a one-trick pony where it's breakaway or nothing,

because we know what happens. Those dry up, and you've got to bring something else to the table. I'm never denying his elite talent. But what are you doing when the breakaways dry up? Can you be effective? You have to be. Yeah.

And what I would like to believe, and this may be naive or wishful thinking, is the way these guys that are still here are thinking, is I don't want to go somewhere else to make it work. Like, I want to make it work where I started. Like, that still means something in pro sports, right? Why does Michael Jordan, a lot of times a Trump card between Jordan and LeBron is LeBron went to Miami because it was too hard in Cleveland.

I got to go somewhere else and find other guys who are going to make my life easier. Kevin Durant, exactly. All-time great player, but there's an asterisk. Couldn't be Golden State? What do you do? I got to go over there. You know, like let's, I think there's a lot of value in that. That's something I'd be selling if I was Chica. Listen, you got to give me some time.

Take some time. I'm going to improve this team. I'm going to, I'm telling you, do you have what it takes to say I'm winning here? Or do you want to run off go somewhere else? That's how I would present it. Respectfully, make your call. Do you want this or not? And then figure it out from there.

All right. Ray Ferraro coming up. Lawrence Applebaum coming up. RBC Canadian Open next week. the World Cup next week. The Jays are in action tonight. Game one of the NBA finals tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN5. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fandool.

Fan Duel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. I'm Cynthia Lois and I'm Josie Dye. And we're done pretending we have it all figured out. Each week we laugh, cry, and talk our way through life's messiest moments. The things you think about but would never say out loud. The questions you are always too shy. to ask. Relationships, regrets, awkward moments, and the stuff no one warns you about. It's honest, it's funny, and sometimes it gets a little uncomfortable. But that's kind of the point.

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