OverDrive - OverDrive - March 10th, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: March 10, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Jonas Siegel for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joins to discuss Mitch Marner's contract puzzle, his future in Toronto and the lack of negotiations with the team. The guys also discuss the major signings and trades around the NFL, Aaron Rodgers' potential role with the Steelers and Aaron Ekblad's suspension with the Panthers.

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Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet, awarded by UCCLA. Starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell. Internet just got better. Power to Overdrive continues powered by Fanduo bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, Jonas Siegel of The Athletic. Yeah, Chris Johnston coming up here in a moment. Leafs in Utah tonight.

See, Brad Marchand was introduced to the media down in Florida. He looks weird with that hat on. Can I ask you, you were in Trade Center all day. What was the reaction in the studio when you guys found out about that? Was it just like, oh my God. I would rank the pop in the studio in terms of the buzz I Probably I'd probably say that was number one I'd say ranting and was probably number two the thing is about ranting in is it it kind of was going up and down up And down right like the day before or even the days before it felt like there's a chance They flip them Dallas is calling then it was being well reported on by our guys that

They're negotiating and there's a trade in place Dallas is calling, then it was being well reported on by our guys that they're negotiating and there's a trade in place it's a matter of whether or not ranting into the stars can come to terms and then it was going down again and then it came back up so when it ended up happening I think we were we were prepared for it it was still kind of a shock to the system that the whole ranting and story was as crazy as it was. And even crazier than you knew. Absolutely like with you know the how he handled getting to Carolina and what he was willing to do, exactly Toronto's role in that.

Now it's like Edmonton, according to Ryan Rashog, was kicking tires on that. But then when, when Marshawn was dealt, it was a bit surprising. But when he was dealt to Florida, that's what put it over the top. That's what really led to the pop. And you know, we've been talking obviously a lot about the Leafs and their approach with Mitch Marner and my viewpoint is that they want to sign them. They want to keep them. Anything could happen.

We'll see how the rest of the year plays out. Now they're going to have to reset. We'll see where this goes. No guarantees. That's life. You can never guarantee anything but my viewpoint when it comes to the way they approached Nylander They approached Matthews and now I think the way they're gonna approach Marner is they just want these guys to be leaves for life They're comfortable with them. They love them. They want them to be them to be here forever

But what sticks out to me is What five teams in particular have done over the last five or six years. And I would say these are the five teams that have kind of run the league and been the most successful. Colorado, Vegas, Tampa, Florida, Boston. You look over the last six, seven years in the NHL, there's cup winners, obviously. Colorado, Vegas, Tampa, Florida, Boston went to the cup final in 19. They make the playoffs every year. They win a round basically every year.

Two years ago, they had the greatest regular season of all time. What they all have in common is they've all hunted legends over that timeframe. Vegas, I would say Marc Andre Fleury would represent that to Vegas among others. You could come up with a number of guys that played in Vegas but he was the day one face of that team. Remember the expansion draft? It was all Marc Andre Fleury. Everyone else was a bit player. Flower

was leaving Pittsburgh. He was going to Vegas. They loved him in Vegas. He's their number one guy. Gets them to a cup Cup final they basically said as a team you're leaving because we've got better options and we're gonna go win a Stanley Cup without you they did just that Colorado just did it with Ranton that's a legend of that team legend yeah right Tampa times two at least stamp coast being the most prominent one yeah but there's another maybe even better, no, it's not better. Would you say McDonough?

McDonough where they go to the cup final. I think they lose that cup final like three days after exit meetings. See you later. We need to trade you. You're out. He had a no trade cause. Right.

Like we're gonna trade you. And he said, all right, let me think. And they said, what about Nashville? He goes, all right, final. I'll go to Nashville. Eventually they circle back. I think Stamp Coast though was more ruthless. They're captain in the final season of this contract.

Captain, dying to stay there. No, you're out. We're leaving. Florida, Jonathan Huberto, face of the franchise. I think he might've been the all time point guy. I'd have to look that up, but he was close to it. Third overall pick, Mr. South Beach, 115 points. You're out. President's trophy. you later you're gone and now the latest reporting in Boston is Brad Marshawn personally brokered a meeting to

effectively beg Boston to keep him and they said absolutely not you're leaving those are the five most successful teams they've all told players thank you for everything there's the door get out. So not only are they cutthroat the other thing I would add is they're all bold like they all do these things where you're like they did that they turn this way they're like that guy we want that guy and they do all these things where you're like they're going for him like Marchand is a perfect example it's like of course Florida finds a way to get Marchand yeah of course Florida finds a way to get Seth Jones. Well the only answer we

don't have yet because it's premature is how Boston will recover from this and where they go. I'm betting they figure this out. It's the right move like it's hard to argue. Absolutely but the other teams Jonas they all either stayed the same or got better and that's the point I'm bringing up is that these teams don't look at it as well. These guys give us really good regular season success and we're comfortable and they love it here. We like them. Colorado, Vegas, Tampa, Florida, Boston,

obsessed with winning in the playoffs and winning a Stanley Cup. And all of them made moves. And I'm sure at the time their fans were like, what are we doing here? That's not, they're all better now Colorado you could argue still premature too because we haven't seen come the playoffs But that team on Saturday looked pretty damn good without Miko Rand and they won a cup already

They've already won a cup But also without ranted in now they can go out and get Brock Brock Nelson Charlie coil net chess has been really good They look great Vegas won after they moved off flurry Florida won after they moved off Hubert oh We'll see what Tampa does, but I would say they're pretty happy with their decision to move off StampCoast. All these other teams, bold, risky. Julian Brieswell had this great quote, CJ probably knows about it, where after the trade downline I think he was asked about moving all these picks. He basically

said like we think it's riskier almost to not do something he says I think he said rather have good players and pegs then and we'd rather try to go for it than regret not trying at all and that's what they've done and the Leafs have gone for using the Leafs as an example they've made trades like they're trying to to go for it here but in terms of like big-name players guys that are committed to them that they've been committed to they've they haven't seen it the same way those other teams have in the past, albeit different scenarios. Some guys over the hill. I get that. Here's Chris Johnson, our TSN hockey insider joining us here in the Maple Toyota hotline. What's happening? CJ. Not much guys. How you doing?

We're doing well. Any further reporting on this Marner-Maple Leaf story you can tell us from last week. We were talking on Friday, you know, obviously Carolina came calling or the Leafs went to him and asked him to wave. What should we be making of this in terms of the future Marner-Maple Leafs, their relationship? Well, the truth is the future is unclear, right? And so when the future is unclear and one party has all the decision making, which is Marner's side, then the Leafs have had to at least think about what other things would look like.

It's not because they want that. I mean, I think that Brad True Living, what he said yesterday, is totally factually aligned with everything I heard that happened privately. Like the Leafs want to find this guy. It's not about them not wanting to pay him or anything like that. They didn't get to a spot negotiation they couldn't get past and then the Leafs got to this point. They didn't negotiate.

And so at this stage I would say it's tough to say where it goes, but the Leafs without knowing what Marner truly wants, without knowing if that could fit into their picture, without knowing that's gonna happen. They've had to imagine what the world might look like beyond the season without them, and that's where you get to what happened before the trade line, trade deadline, where I believe they had multiple conversations

with Marner about maybe moving on. Obviously Mitch didn't do that, and here we are today. I do think that the first goal would be to have the player on the team and he's still on the team so that's a positive but if we're looking beyond the season there's a lot of question marks. Do you sense or do you have any reason to sense that the Leafs are frustrated and you know feeling like they're being backed into a corner here by Marner and his camp. I don't have any sense of frustration. I think the Leafs understand this is the circumstance

where they don't have the power, right? Lots of times they have the power. I mean, it's not an equivalent situation, but Nick Robertson asked for a trade last summer and he's still on the team because the Leafs had all the contractual and CBA, uh, leverage behind them to not have to trade them just cause he wanted to be traded. Uh, in this case, every once in a while goes to the player side of

things. And so I think the Leafs understand that, you know, if you look at Bradshaw living's personal history, he was with something similar three years ago with Johnny Goudreau in Calgary, where Johnny was their best player was having a career year. They wanted to get him signed. They worked with them all year and tried really hard. It didn't happen, but I think that they understand where the leverage lies. And so, frustration would be almost a pointless emotion or thought. I think if you're on the least end of it, they have to try to make the best of it. And as I say, they still haven't given up hope on signing Mitch Marner. And I don't think they should. I still think it's probably a little bit more likely than not he signed

in Toronto but it's certainly not a, you know, it's not a guarantee at this point in time. CJ, this is an impossible question because it's theoretical but I'm going to ask you anyway because I know you can handle it. If at the beginning of the season Marner, his agent, whoever comes out and say we're're doing exactly what Vladimir Carrero is doing right now, not negotiating in season. Does any of this happen? Might not, right? Because like, if the Leafs know, like, you know what, they don't want to do this in season, well, we have to leave it until the off season if we want to sign him. Does this even happen? Well, I think it still happens, O'Jonas, because it basically, without anyone saying it out loud, March 7th was a deadline.

Because teams don't usually negotiate with players that are in the position of martyr after the deadline. And so March 7th was the deadline here. It's different than Vladi Guerrero where it was the start of spring training, heading into his last year as under contract, but it's the same idea. And the same conditions would have been a place if, you know, if Darren Ferris and Mitch Marner had to set out September 17th or whatever the first day of camp was. I mean, the truth was he still had a no movement clause.

And so while they would have maybe made their pitch to sign him, you know, what's different in this situation, and I can't say this clearly or more loudly, Mitch Marner has not been willing to discuss a contract yet. Like this isn't a failed contract negotiation. There has been no negotiation. Um, and that's Mitch Marner's right. I mean, when you're in his situation, honestly, he's taken on a lot of risks by doing it that way. What most players do in his circumstances, whether they're third liners or first line stars as he is, is most players want to, you know, opt

for security. They want to sign as soon as they can. They want to make sure just in case it's a bad year, it's an injury, whatever it could be, you know, he's taken it upon himself to have this season while not negotiating. And so, you know, I think there's been tons of dialogue. It's not as though the phone line isn't being picked up on one side, but they haven't actually got down to brass tacks. It's not like there's offers going back and forth and they can't agree.

And so that's what's different with Vladdy and the Blue Jays. I mean, the Jays tried to sign Vladdy. They didn't want to pay his price. That's fine. In this case, it's not a circumstance that the Leafs didn't want to pay Mitch Marner's price. They don't know his price. They can guess it. We can all guess it, but they, it's not,

it's not a case where he asked for something they didn't give them. They have not negotiated yet. And so I think that we have to underline that point. Mitch Marner's side to this, to this date has said, we need more time. We want to take this through. He wants to see things for the rest of the season the way we've all thought maybe the Leafs might want to. And so, again, it doesn't mean it can't happen, but there's not really been,

there's not been a back and forth here. There's been conversation, but there hasn't been negotiation. But I guess if I was the Leafs and I knew, like it almost would be like, like you're talking to a wall a little bit, like, if you're not getting responses back, it would just be frustrating. Whereas if there's just, we're not talking about this in season, it's not

frustrating. Like, I like, I don't know if they're frustrated, I would be frustrated if it's like, Hey, what do you want? And you're like, Oh, I don't know, we'll see. And it just kind of, you know, I mean, CJ, it's just kind of like a one wayway conversation and I don't know Like it just feels like there's a grayness to this whole thing Well is unnecessary But I also would say if I'm in the Marner camp fun playing that role if this is a poker game and every negotiation

Can be that doesn't always have to be it. I mean, that's what frustrates a lot of leaf fans I think it's like if you want to be here and the Leafs want to engage in conversation That you want to be knock it out and let's put this behind everyone and move on is if I'm in the Marner camp I'm like these guys keep calling me and wanting to negotiate they're the ones that look desperate not us yes your leverage kind of grows well I think it appears to me CJ tell me if I'm wrong I think the Marner camp looks at this and goes there's nothing that's gonna happen between now and June 30th

that is going to make the Leafs hang up their end of the phone. They're not going to come back. Again, and I said this earlier today, I think the Leafs could get swept in the first round. Marner could go pointless. And the Leafs would still say, eight years, 13 million? What are we doing here, guys? I think the Leafs have made that clear that clear cj like if they're trying to

negotiate the playoffs in the performance there's seems to me to be irrelevant yeah because mitch has something that'll that there's not a lot of bitches in the week right however many players you might interest and twelve even close to the same kind of caliber and how often those players come free it's almost never and so You know, he has something that they can't readily replace

We might sit here we could spend the next three years of you know, the three-hour time slot talking about hey What could they get instead of him and I'll like look that all that those those conversations will happen if they're relevant But they can't get him if he leaves not not, not next year, not right away. Like it's, it's almost impossible. And so, you know, that's, that's where we're at. You're right. I agree with you Brian in that if even if this playoffs doesn't go well for the team, for Mitch, personally, whatever it may be, I don't think his position to negotiate is that much weakened. You know, I don't know what the organization, I don't know how they view all this.

I mean, obviously right now they're trying to manage it. You know, you don't have Bradshaw Living going from the cameras unscripted yesterday, take one question and leave. It's like they're figuring this out in real time, right? That the hard part for me to gauge is, is there a point where they get frustrated with this, where they do, like, is there a point where their view on this changes?

I mean, that's a little bit of an unknown. But I mean, they understand what Mitch Marner is. They love the guy as much as the deepest Leaf fan out there. They want to sign him. In fact, I think they want to reset a market for him. I think they're willing to pay him an amount that hasn't been done in the past because we're in a rising cap environment and he's in a great position to negotiate that. But they first have to get down to the sit at the table with him and that hasn't happened yet. And that's the

other part of this that makes the whole thing a little unusual. And so I don't know where it goes next. I think that's why the story is so compelling and it's not, you know, it doesn't end today. Well, exactly. And I don't think we've wasted a lot of oxygen on it all year either. Like it's just kind of popped up now. And that's the fascination. Frankly, we didn't talk about it enough

because all of a sudden now all this stuff bursts out in public. Well, and I also think Shanahan, trade living to a lesser extent, he hasn't been here as long, not from the market, MLSC, they're aware of how this city is going to react if it goes awry in the playoffs. And I think that speaks to their urgency also to try to get it done to make it easier on everyone, which also makes me somewhat perplexed as to why Marner doesn't

see it that way too. If his end goal is to stay here, why would you not negotiate before the playoffs? If it goes wrong, I appreciate if you're so brave and you're so confident, you're like, I'm showing up. And I love that attitude if that's his attitude. I'm showing up, watch me, I'm dragging this team Austin. Let's go Willie Let's go. We're going to a cup fine or whatever it is if he does that It'll be just an unbelievably legendary mic drop play and then after it all signs and goes

I don't know why everyone was sweating it. This was always my plan Let's go like that would be just an incredible story and it you couldn't script it any better And if he's that bold and Again that courageous I credit him But what is the courage based in like what if if your plan is to stay all along don't you just sign well But especially before the playoffs though go ahead around it. It's clear. He's not decided You stay yes, right and you talked about that last week, right? You think that he is contemplating leaving?

Well, if he had decided he was staying, I think the deal would be done. It doesn't mean he's leaving, but I think it's an open-ended idea from his side. I mean, that's the only way to view this. If he was 100% sure he was staying, I think the contract would be done. They would have at least negotiated. They would have went back and forth. This is the point. He's not spurned because he thinks the Leafs didn't offer him enough. At least didn't offer. They've yet to get down to business because he wants more time. I can only guess what he wants that time for, but look, it could be lots of things.

Like we've all long been thinking, maybe the Leafs should wait this out to see what happens in the playoffs if they want to sign Marner. Well, maybe Marner's thinking the same thing. Yeah. And it's totally his right to do so. And so like, that's what makes this thing is, I don't think any of us, if we went back,

we were having this conversation in September for fun, we would have assumed Marner wanted to stay, right? We would have thought if it broke down, it would be over money. This is not about money yet. I mean, it might still become about money at some point. But right now, this is still about Mitch not signaling to the leash, like,

hey, bring your best offer, like, what can we do business-wise? Like, he's not indicating at least to them or publicly that he 100% wants to stay. Do you think fear then is a fear of him leaving maybe factored into this where they're at the deadline, they're like, is this guy going to sign and if we can get ranted and instead he's going to sign like, do you think that is part of the equation where it's like, I don't know what's going to happen here? That's the entire equation. Okay. You know, that's the reason, to me the reason they even got anywhere with Carolina even bring it to Mitch is

because they thought this would be more security, right? Like this is a player that's going to want to sign here as part of this, you know, presumably trade that obviously didn't even get it, you know, get off the ground. But you know, I think all the thinking is, that's the weird thing, right? The GM is thinking about this team right now that has a chance to win a cup, and that's the Carlo deal, that's the Lawton deal, that's we're focused on tonight's game on Utah, all that stuff. But the GM and the senior leadership are also thinking beyond the season. And the year might end, you know, as Edmundson said, there's a The Chancellor Lee's played our last game on like June 23rd this year, and Mitch is still on sign, and they only have seven days to really figure it out.

And so they have to be thinking about it ahead of time, about how they, the sort of what ifs, and you know, the biggest what ifs happen. The fact they even approached him about, you know, waving his own movement clause tells us they're a little worried that he won't stay and that they had to think about something else and he controls the whole situation man I mean that's that's a fat thing someone asked me today that will

this be a distraction for bitch I don't think so because he knows everything he's knowing all about this I think there've been multiple conversations about waving his own move clause not just the one and he's still performing at the level he's performed this year he was great for Canada the four the Four Nations. Like he's, this has not affected or impacted his play that we can tell. I mean he's doing his thing. He's had a great year. He's had an unbelievable year. Even on Saturday night he was great. But it probably doesn't. He was dancing on Saturday night. Let me ask you Hayes, like how would it make you feel knowing the team was ready to trade you? Like does that change anything at all? But I

don't, I think that's, it's's if you take that personally when your approach has been business that's on you what I mean by that is but he's a human but Marner's Marner's business acumen or his plan has been I'm not negotiating I'm not talking I'm not doing anything the Leafs are like well we want to negotiate can we get a deal done and if you're not going to give them an answer or even get to the table, I don't think you can blame the leaves for, you have to manage for the next eight years.

Like they, you know, and Miko, it's not like they were like, well, we can get Stan Kovan in two firsts. It's Rantanen. Like Rantanen is on par with Mitch Marner. So if you can get them, it's, but it's like on the one and you don't see any of that like I think the least the least knew that Ratnan would sign here. Yeah I think

that's my belief I mean I didn't hear that from anyone in Toronto but they believed he would sorry repeat that they they believed he would believe he would sign here so they would be trading for Ratnan and signing him not just you know taking the next whatever two months of them so that's the difference. There would have been a little bit of certainty in there. They would have to pay him lots of money and all those things. They want to pay Mitch lots of money. That's the funny part.

They want to pay him a huge amount of money. They want him to stay. They want his whole career to be a leap. They want to put 16 in the Raptors. They hope he finishes number one or number two overall in franchise scoring. All those things are there. They hope Mitch and Austin and Willie are all part of a Stanley Cup pass line at some point. Maybe this June

or one of the ones in the future. But right now that's still in question. Because at this point Mitch has not signaled his intention to stay beyond June 30th. Yeah. Well, here's another position of strength that they're in that obviously you want they want to keep Marner I view it differently it bothers me to an extent that they're so committed to this core three or core four for the rest of time without any playoff success ever factoring in but that's obviously the way they're gonna operate and that's not individually about Marner that's about all of them but the fact of the matter is they've signed Austin they signed

Willie so those two aren't going anywhere Mitch is the guy that is still a free agent and they they can make a determination on yet. They're clearly not team building based on what's going to happen in the playoffs, but Even if he leaves Austin still here and Nylander still here and you have like 15 defensemen signed for the future and you got two goalies and you got Matthew Nyes who you have control over but one thing you haven't circled yet that I wonder CJ if this factors into it Shanahan last year the contract like what's gonna happen there like is that

a I don't know is that part of this you're saying he has a year left on his deal Brendan Shanahan believe this is the last I believe it don't know for sure, but like we believe it is. Yeah it is. Come on, that's it, this is it. Yeah. So do you think he's, how is he tied to Marner's future though? Like what is, what would, is Shanahan?

I guess like what I'm saying is like if, if something, if they had a bad playoff or whatever and Keith Pelley decides, you know what? We need a new group here. And maybe that new group comes in and says, you know what? We're changing things like i don't know isn't that conceivable cj no i mean it's sports the leafs what are they on year nine of this thing yeah i mean there has to be success like i think i was expecting some

of these changes a year or two or three ago right uh Now they now they might be driven by the players, not the team. That's the difference. But this does feel like the last playoffs of the core four one way or another. You know, that's not meant as a prediction because I have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow. It's like the state and I'm talking to him. The least would like to keep Marner. He's not talking to them. Like I don't I don't really know what's gonna happen But but the truth is is that this feels like it's coming apart one way or another and even if they win If it works if they go all the way to the cup Maybe certain people want to leave like I don't know how the chips fall But it does finally feel like this is not all buttoned together and to make your point. So Hayes Yeah, they have these guys so I they're not folding the tent if if miss Marlowe leaves this summer

I mean, there's all kinds of things they can do with that cap space. They still have Matthews You know, they still have Nylander. They still have the formation of a really good team I mean the whole the whole experiment doesn't end there if that's what happens. So, you know There's still a team that I think they might take a step back next year But we'll still be talking to them trying to win I don't see them going into a rebuild just because one player leaves even as great as that player is so Man, man, this is compelling stuff. This is why we're talking about it for 20 straight minutes And I think the whole the whole market's been talking about everybody's buzzing about it

It pairs with the team right? Well, and the amazing thing is it coincides with three losses in a row Florida taking off, you know, like there's all these emotions like Leafs Nation. I think came alive last week I think this probably is an annual tradition over the last handful of years It wasn't you know in my childhood. It was the whole season I think early on in the Matthews Marner Nylander area. You couldn't wait for game one It's not that there's not excitement, but we know the way this works they get to a hundred points they make the playoffs they play Tampa or Boston or whatever and it's always gonna come down to the playoffs and I think a lot of Leaf fans not all of them

but a lot of them are like wake me up when we get there I think a lot of Leaf fans woke up last week I think the trade deadline sparks a lot of that and now I think this Mner stuff i think the negotiation i'm hearing it from so many different people sure both of you guys are what do you make of it what's going on what do you think it is what's going to happen i think a lot of the fans also looking at it saying okay so

i thought they were in first place and i think first place is a high priority now florida's going to work until three and they were three games ago exactly it's not that they can't still chase that down they got a game in hand they got three games against Florida but it's the Marner noise coinciding with the trade deadline coinciding with the three-game losing streak and I think leaf leaf fans are alive they're alive and they're like what do we got here the rest of the way and that's good they want a and they're like, what do we got here the rest of the way? And that's good. They want a different, they're getting different. He's like, this is, this is different.

This is a guy who might walk out after having a great year. Yeah. And that guy from, from Aurora, right? Like a guy who, who loves the Leafs, but feels like maybe he's had a little too much from the market, from guys like us on the media side, like everything, like he, it might just be time for him to have a fresh start if that happens it's time for the team to have a fresh start too well and that's the thing the Leafs were around before he showed up the Leafs will be here after he leaves if he leaves

you know and that's his call and it's his choice and it's you know nine years he's still an all-time great Leaf like through nine years you've already he's fifth all-time in points like you know years you've already spent all time in points you know he's been here a long long time they all have been here a long long time and i said after last time i could feel stale you know it doesn't feel still now because the band-aids being ripped off and people are talking about different angles in a lot of emotions that have popped up i think for years for the fans of again

like i said kinda come alive white you know he's he's got a young family he's from here he's I don't know I really I am fascinated with with the story of Mitch Marner and I've always been pulling for him and the rest of them to be rock stars and to win but that's at the the the core of it which is I think the most fascinating part of this CJ is that like the three of them in particular, Matthews, Marner and Nylander, they all came into the league basically in the same night.

Willie had played a few games a year before, but they basically showed up on the same night nine years ago and they've won one playoff round. And there's still a massive debate over whether or not they should stay for the rest of their careers. Like, it's amazing. It's crazy. You can't even invent it actually. No. If you remove yourself from whether it's a Toronto thing,

if you just put this on paper, you'd be like, this is nuts. Yes. They entered the league, Matthew scored four goals his first night. Like it, you would think that by now, I mean, these guys are older guys, like they're at the point where, you know, Mitch's, you know, his partner's gonna have a baby. Like it's like, and and they just haven't Got over the hump and I mean the whole thing it's it's gonna be in a movie one way or another We just don't know how the movie ends yet. Well, that's the beauty of it is there's There's a new scene every night tonight. They're in Utah playing the hockey club. So enjoy that CJ. We'll do it again soon Thank you for this

Alright boys. be well. There's Chris Johnston joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Drive the built in Canada fuel efficient, fun to drive Toyota RAV4. Gas or hybrid models available. Visit mapletoyota.com. Yeah.

I got a couple of things to ask you. What do you got for me? So number one one thing i've been asking myself the last whatever heard about this let's say you're the lease and let's assume carolina you're talking to them and they say well what about mariner

do you have to ask partner nor or because i that's where i am course i don't think you do you don't want to do the trade in the middle of you know, but let's say Okay, like I could just say well, we're not trading Mitch Marner for Miko Rantanen. Okay, that's where I'm at because I think you don't have to Tell players anything. Well, no, we have to ask because it's Rantanen No, team can sign him But I just think like the risk of all this happening exactly what's happening would scare me off of even asking Because like the chance that he was gonna say yes to me is like very small well that's my thing and the downside is so much higher where this

happens and maybe like who knows what it does to their season I find it hard to believe they didn't know what his answer was gonna be so then why right I agree with like I've done by believe well again to your point of a bluff my I think there's a chance I can't say that definitively in my opinion. I wouldn't shock me if it was a bluff You know, we're trying to negotiate here mitt fine. We'll trade. What about me Carolina? We want ranting in now and now Mitch is like no not waving not negotiating. Thanks for everything I'm in Colorado playing the afstam or night. See you later

And now they're trying to recalibrate and figure out where it goes. But it's also, you can make sense of why they would want Miko Rantinen too. Like I can make the argument, I would want Rantinen more than Marner for the next eight years. You can make a very compelling case for both.

Rantinen scores more, he's had way more playoff success, it's a bigger body, shoots left, you know, you got Willie on the right, him on the left. You could make that team building decision and argument very clearly. And also if Ranton, and like CJ said, was definitely, or you know, he believes, willing to sign here, then you do have the certainty. And I think he killed two birds with one stone. Maybe they didn't want it, but they can look at it and say, A, we got the guy locked in, but B, it's all it's also different you know this is a little bit different the core four

is no more we can go into the playoffs with a little bit of a different viewpoint I can make a lot of sense of that maybe they did see it that way but I think if they knew his answer was gonna be no yeah then it's more likely it was a bluff and basically they're like I know he's gonna say no but we're gonna let him know and we got other options and we're thinking of other things yeah and now it's out there and Lee fans are gonna hold this against I know he's going to say no, but we're going to let him know that we got other options and we're thinking of other things. And now it's out there and Leaf fans are going to hold this against Mitch that, well, Ranton could have been here.

And who knows if that was ever actually going to be the case. Who knows where Carolina was going to go on the end. They may have been asking four or five different teams for different things. If that's what they can get, that's the best return they can get. If they can get Marner for Ranton, you do that every day well over every other trade. Unless Rant, unless Marner goes I'm not signing with you long term, I'm leaving at the end of the year. I guess there's that. Right, then you're just Ranton in 2.0. Yeah. You know a different player maybe fits in the rest of the year and he's got a better attitude than

Ranton and seemed to have in Carolina might have been worth it for them. They may have done it anyway but I don't believe for a second Mitch would have said all right I'll go and I'll sign a long-term deal in Carolina. I don't believe for a second Mitch would have said, all right, I'll go and I'll sign a long term deal in Carolina. I don't think he was going to do that. And I'm sure the Hurricanes probably were aware of that. The other thing that CJ mentioned is like, and this goes back to our argument a couple weeks ago, you, me and O, there's a chance like he will get more than Matthews. Well, I think it's becoming clearer and more and more clear that it could be in Toronto that he's going

to get more than Matthews. And what do you think the reaction to that is? I guess it just depends on what happens. I'd reference my pie chart. 50% chance Marner, if he stays, he's staying and he's winning the negotiation. And listen, two things could be at play here. if he stays he's staying in his winning the negotiation and they listen to things two things could be a player one fork in the road is that he's just had enough for the market he wants to leave

which i would be the first player won't be the last and i can i can understand that great player greatly plans have been tough negotiations have been tough he lives here is families from here maybe just wants to change i can see that and i don't know what market he wants to go to but maybe he has a market in mind. Maybe he and his family are like, hey, you know, LA, I'd always want to live in LA or Vegas or Florida. I don't know, who knows what it is. Yes, the taxes and

all that kind of stuff. Yeah, maybe that's the case. The other case could be, I want to stay but I have a game plan on how I'm gonna make sure the Leafs give me more than Matthews. And I'm the highest paid guy, and I'm going to force their hand. You know what that will do again is that again kind of create the same conditions as before, right? Where it's like, the contract is like, yeah, you get what you want, but you kind of get all this other stuff too. Where it's like, if you took, I don't know, you should, it's hard, right? Because because like you can understand wanting the most money if that's what he

wants like who knows like maybe this isn't about money maybe this is exactly what you're talking about maybe lifestyle yeah which you know I'm sure it's both you got to think about both guys like he's got a family he's got a young family and like he's got a child I believe on the way that's big like you got to start thinking about you kids should not just the Mitch Marner show anymore he's got to think about everyone and what's what he's comfortable with what he wants you know all that kind of stuff it just feels like now they've dropped kind of a I don't know a big much of a ball into the season but that's that's another point I

was gonna bring up and I'd ask you because you're around the team way more than I am I can't imagine they're comfortable with this they are not like the Shanahan world has been it's been Lou Lamarello on steroids nothing gets out nothing's out of our control we control the messaging and now this the cats out of the bag and well that's that tree living thing was not planned that just kind of came out of nowhere what was the point he said something asked it took a question and like it feels like it's an attempt at damage control, but I understand I understand what it didn't work. No, it was not well, they looked at it like oh Mitch is out on an island here

We got to go out and support them, which I appreciate why they would think that way Yeah, but I don't really know what there's no upside. It really accomplished either All right, Mark Schlereth coming up, a lot of NFL news out there. We should get his take on Marner. We'll get his take on that. Aaron Rodgers maybe to the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers. I actually think that could be what everyone thought would work in New York. We'll tell you about that into the next hour. And we got the players this week. We had Corey

Connors on his own solo third at the Arnie Palmer. Russell Henry steals it yesterday, played great down the stretch. Lot to get into on that front as well. And the Raptors continue to, I don't know what the Raptors are doing. What are they pursuing, Jonas?

I guess we'll try to get to the bottom of that. If the overall. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. Wow, you've got the latest model. Nice! Ah, you should see it run! Bell PureFiber? Yep.

Sheesh, that's got power! It's Canada's fastest and most trusted internet service. Cool if I give it a test drive? Promise you won't share the password? Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet awarded by UCCLA, starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, internet just got better. All right, we'll get to something to chew on here. Al's brother with another location in the city.

He's hiding out somewhere, Jonas. We'll get to that. NFL Free Agency is pretty wild today. And this Aaron Rogers story, you know, because I think we've talked about it. Others, we've been talking about it a lot on our show, like, will he want to play again? I always believed he'd want to continue to play. I think he's a football junkie. He rehabbed as much as he did off that Achilles a couple years ago. And if he was going to retire, he would have announced it by now now the question was always going to be what teams want to get in bed with Aaron Rodgers if any if any and there were reports maybe Seattle

they went out and got Sam Darnall maybe Minnesota but I would think they're gonna stick with JJ McCarthy now I would think maybe the Giants but why would Rodgers ever want to play for the New York Giants? Now it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers because Justin Fields has signed with the Jets. So Fields is gone, Russell Wilson I guess could possibly come back. And I have been sour on you know the whole Aaron Rogers, the business of Aaron Rogers, the way that he operates where he's always got to bring in his own people, he's always seemingly winging it, you know, is he going to show up at camp, what kind of attitudes is he going to have?

And I always felt like it just wasn't going to work in New York because the Jets were such a circus, they're such a horribly run organization that those two were going to collide. Rodgers and everything he represents and the New York Jets and their history and everything they represent. I actually think the Steelers have a shot at making this work. Is the reason they're head coach? Tomlin always wins. Like the Jets never win. So the hope was with the Jets bring in Rogers he'll clean everything up. He wasn't capable of doing that. He's not capable of doing that where he is in his career. Pittsburgh, you're not cleaning anything up. It's a well-run organization.

Everything runs through Tomlin. They've always had a great defense. They generally have a good line. They have a couple of weapons around. Like they, you know, it just, they just picked up, who's the wide receiver from Seattle and blanking now. Oh, DK Metcalf. DK Metcalf, they just acquired DK Metcalf. They got George Pickens, like they got some weapons there. And if you get Rodgers in there, and he keeps his nose clean and just doesn't turn the ball over, they're gonna go back to the playoffs.

And he's got a lot more upside than what Russell Wilson or Justin Fields would have had last year, or certainly would have this year. Do you think he's, do you still think he has some game life because he looked like he did he couldn't move last year? He I think he's got, doesn't want to get hit. I think he's very afraid of getting hit. I think that's clear. I think that injury really freaked him out as it should. You blow your Achilles out at that age that

would have been really tough to come back from and the the Jets, you know, were a disaster. It was also, by the end of the year, they lost so much. He's like, why am I taking hits for this? Right? And I think he knew, I think he knew like, the Jets are gonna probably turn on me anyway. This team stinks. What am I doing?

So, I'm not saying he won't necessarily be going into it thinking I can't wait to get hit. I don't think that's going to be his mentality. But I think Pittsburgh can protect him more and I think you'll have more to play for. And I think you're looking at a scenario here where last year you look at his stats. Can you throw for 3500 yards? Can you give me 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions? Can he do that?

If he does, they probably win 10, 11, 12 games in Pittsburgh and go back to the playoffs. Hasn't Tomlin never had a losing season? Isn't that still the case? Always above 500. Do you think he will allow Aaron Rodgers to do the Aaron Rodgers media extravaganza? That is the question.

Because if that was me, I'd be like, you're not doing any of that stuff. You want to sign here? That's off. You want to go have no more Matt McAfee? Nothing. You're not doing that every Monday. We're not doing this Because that was such a distraction. It was like It was like you had this running commentary on the season from someone who's not For someone's on the team It would be like if Dougie had like like a little show on the side and he just talked about you guys all the time

Yeah, I know. It's just like Jeff was just such a jerk today yeah he's like he just was so moody I'm not sure Rogers would accept those terms well then I'd say good night like what is the difference how much difference do you think there is between Rogers and Wilson difference there's. But is the all the other stuff worth it? I mean, the thing is you look at Russ down the stretch last year and into the playoffs, you could tell Mike Tomlin could not stay on the side of him. Because like they started with fields

because he was banged out. Remember, Wilson was hurt. Then he got in, he actually played pretty well the first few weeks. And then down the stretch, they lost a ton. Their offense was brutal. He could not throw the ball down the field I think Russell Wilson is completely cooked so I do think there's a pretty significant gap and it's not even about

Rogers I could name 30 quarterbacks that I think would be well you know head and shoulders above what Russell Wilson is gonna bring so I actually I'm kind of compelled to say that I think it's maybe worth a shot for both parties and it might actually work because Pittsburgh actually is everything that the Jets wanted to Seattle. He's getting paid a lot of money. That's a gamble. Like he had a really good year, but they had a great team. That's a quarterback whisperer, that head coach of Minnesota. An absolute quarterback whisperer. And they had a line, they had weapons, they had defense, everything broke his way. Seattle does not have the same pieces.

He will be more out on an island. They got a new coach. Just traded Matt Caff. Just traded DK Matt Caff. There's a lot of turnover there. Like I'll believe it when I see it that Sam Thornhill is Officially, you know, he's officially made it as a true number one in the NFL More with Mark Schlereth on that in about 45 minutes Rick bone is coming up on a number of NHL stories putting all those debuts over the weekend and Alex Ovechkin empty netter again. He's right there, man.

He's gonna pass Gretzky within like two weeks. Are they gonna stop the game when he does it? Absolutely. Oh, of course, it'd be a massive celebration. Pretty cool. What'll be interesting is the dive for the puck. Cause he's gonna get it clearly, but would someone be stupid enough and greasy enough

to grab that puck and fling it Into the state like that that would start a full-blown line Brawl bench clearing Brawl Like his remember Pronger did that once I think didn't prongs I feel like Chris did it in the cup final Like maybe against I thought in Philly. I think the Kane goal the OT winner I think he went and like grab the puck or something and see that's what I thought you meant that if you're on the opposition you grab the puck and like that's what I'm saying keep it and I'm not giving it to you by Rick bonus on that more still to come overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on the TSN app, you've got the latest model. Nice!

You should see it run. Bell PureFiber? Yep. Sheesh, that's got power. It's Canada's fastest and most trusted internet service. Cool if I give it a test drive? Promise you won't share the password? Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet awarded by UCCLA, starting from $60

a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell. Internet just got better. All right, we sent Al's brother out somewhere in the city with a pair of leave tickets. You have a chance to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them. Are you ready for the first clue of the week, Jonas? Do it. Hey, Overdrive fans. Happy Thursday to you.

It's time for your final clue to find out where is al's brother your scoring yourself a pair of leaves tickets for saturday march fifteenth this ends are in town here is your final clue hockey players like austin matthews nats booner and even young fra Minton. Hey, we played the wrong clue. Alice Brother left that place last week. Do we have the appropriate clue?

Do we know if we even have it? Maybe Alice Brother in a coma somewhere? Where is Alice Brother? Alice Brother loved his spot last week so much he never loved. He is stuck in time. Where was he? He was at the Ford. Where was he? He was at the Ford Performance Center, right?

Yeah. So it was, he was in Atlantis. Is it Atlantis, the city that is under the sea that just got, that's where Al's brother is forever. He is stuck in time. He's never leaving. He's just going to give away pairs of tickets to the game on Saturday for the rest of time I'm going to that game. I think Saturday night looking forward to it I'm hoping to go Thursday to a Florida in town. You'll be down there. Of course. What a massive game

Those are gonna be yeah. All right. Well, let's see how with this news Yeah, well, I'm glad you brought that up. Aaron Echblad has been suspended for 20 games due to a Howard how is it phrased here? Let's see there. Performance enhancing substance program. So he has violated the terms of the NHL and NHLPA performance enhancing substance program. So he tested positive for something

he wasn't supposed to be taking. 20 games, they have 18 games left, which means he'll miss the first two games of the playoffs. Pretty huge like Ackblad's not done for the rest of the regular season. Kachuk's not coming back. We don't know when Marchand's gonna play. Yet Bob's playing great. The rest of the team's playing well. They are a juggernaut right now but this is definitely a bonus for the Leafs and for Tampa for that matter. You're chasing them down. All right, Al's brother's clue. I'm positive it's coming up in the next hour.

If not, I'm gonna have to read it. Mark Schlereth, Rick bonus though to come as well. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Something to Chew On is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree, a side and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less.

A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. I Heart Radio is taking you backstage with Kane Brown in Quebec City. Y'all get ready. Girl, let's go put some miles on the line. Meet him, interview him, an iHeartRadio experience you'll never forget. Turn up the night like that radio.

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