OverDrive - OverDrive - March 12th, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 12, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Dave Feschuk for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Raptors' matchup against the 76ers, the development approach to the roster and the cornerstone of the franchise. They also discuss the Maple Leafs' showdown against the Panthers, Chris Tanev's impact to the blue line, the construction of the lines in the matchup and the Blue Jays' offer for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract in Toronto.

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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. This hour of Overdrive is powered by FanDuel. FanDuel, 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. And up on TSN 4, Brian

Hayes, Dave Festrick, the Toronto star, Jamie Noodles, McClennan. What's going on, guys? What's going on? I thought you were on the road. I didn't know you were in town. Look at you in town. What are you doing here? I fly to Ottawa. I was in Philadelphia last night. Got a chance to watch maybe potentially one of the Rookie of the Year candidates, Mieczkoff, and flew back. And then in Ottawa versus Boston tomorrow.

So it is busy. You know, I'm back. Now it's run right to whatever it is, April 18th, whenever they finish. But man, the games are huge everywhere. You know, you scoreboard watching every night. Yeah, it's a lot of that and you know tonight we've got Vancouver Calgary last night Ottawa got themselves a win Montreal got themselves a win that was big in Vancouver yeah and yeah it's I think from a lead perspective you're looking

at it more from a standpoint of how did Tampa and Florida play and they both lost last night. Yeah. Which I guess even though the Leafs didn't play it was a positive night if you're a Toronto sports fan. Well, because it was... Yeah, chewed up one of the games, yeah. Because Noodle's, it was getting scary there. Like Florida won six in a row, they were starting to look like the best defensive team in the

league with maybe Bob getting back into best goaltender league territory and nice to see somebody can take them down after and nice to see him blow a lead if you're a Leaf fan because they were kind of looking like an impenetrable fortress there for a while. Well I was tracking it, I don't know if you guys were, but it was 2-0. I'm like okay, I honestly got it turned away from the game because you're like okay that one's over, it's 2-cob, they're not coming back and then it's 3-2 Boston and then late and then Benedon Zadorov for fighting at the end of the game like that says to me

And I know Boston's kind of waved a white flag, but the guys haven't you know they went down to Florida went down to to Tampa and and to the Florida Panthers or Boston did and and Beat them both so good on the Bruins. They're trying to hang around that playoff situation there's that fight Joe's got it up yeah I don't know what to make of that I mean I yeah I mean Zdorov got him and beat him up pretty badly it looked like Bennett wasn't really ready for it or expecting it and you know and Zdorov's a big dude and I guess he got him last night but that that's a you know perfect world scenario I, for the Bruins is if you can unload pieces and prepare for the future and somehow the guys who carry over and are going to be a part of the program in the future, allow you to get in.

Yeah. Because you're not going to take, it's too late into the season. Like they're not thinking draft pick necessarily. No. There are two points out. Yeah, exactly. Like someone's got to get in. Now Ottawa, they're in a good place. good place they want a couple games in a row and

you will see i mean i'll still believe it when i see it because they've been so many ups and downs in his eighteen games left but they're in a very good spot but they get a five-point buffer that's big for auto war but of columbus montreal new york boston detroit i don't know and how could you possibly differentiate any of these teams right now and pick who you think would be the second wild card? And your gritty gutty islanders still sniffing around there too. Yes, I guess so.

I mean, not really, but they're hanging around a little bit. And I guess Patrick Wall wasn't too happy with it. Was it Pierre Engvall? I saw it trending yesterday. Did you see his comments though? So disgusted by everything that guy represents. And yeah, Lou gave him a long term deal like two years ago. So guess what?

There's a very good chance Engvall's there longer than Patrick Wah. Yeah, potentially. Like a lot longer than Patrick Wah. Unless they, I guess, buy him out. But why don't we play it? Because we might as well. We referenced it. This is Patrick Wah yesterday in a scrum being asked about Maple Leaf alumnus, Pierre Engvall.

I just hope that that's going to bring the spark he needs. I mean, I just hope that Pierre's going to play a little more, you know, drive the net more, bring pucks to the net more Be more involved physically. So hopefully that that's giving him the chance to play with Casey and and Seppi, I mean that I'll give him that that spark that he needs to get going All right. Well, I mean he's got eight points this season to Patrick's defense, you know, he's got five years of security Yeah, what does that yourall care about his points? Like you'd think he'd take pride in his game, but at the same point,

why would that guy ever get seven years of security? That's a great question. Like one of the craziest contracts ever handed out in the history of pro sports, that immediately should have had Lou Lamarello in Gary Bettman's office explaining what he's doing. Forget the owner.

The owner should have been bypassed. Bettman should have sent him a notification, we have a meeting tomorrow morning. You get called by the league for something you do from a contractual standpoint. What is it, seven times three? Seven times three. Yeah, seven years, three million per year for Pierre Engel. I don't know, guys. What if he offered him five years? This is the thing too. I thought about the other day. Now, Kevin Lankinens played unbelievable for the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver signs him to a five-year extension. What if they offered... He didn't have a contract to start the year. What if they said, he didn't have a contract to start the year. What if they said, we'll give you three? Like I often wonder that, like why, you know, I think it's maybe a good faith gesture. But like if Pierre Engvall, if Lou said to him, we'll give you five years at three, was there somebody else that go, nope, nope,

he's gonna go home, it's seven, it's gotta be seven. You know? No, I can't imagine that was the case. You know what it is with Eggball, guys? Like, I don't know, you've probably seen this, Noodles in managerial circles. Like, I remember when he was at the Leafs, early on in his tenure at the Leafs,

and people in management were raving about this guy as a specimen. It was like, he's six-five, he's chiseled from granite. I mean, he could probably win at the Cathlon. He's the best athlete on thisite. I mean he could probably win at the cath on He's the best athlete on this team I'm like, yeah, but I'm not looking for somebody to throw a javelin here I'm looking for somebody who can get to the score a freaking goal, which he never does now, you know He's but he's you know what? I mean noodles like he's a great god and I think that fools people into believing

He's gonna play like a god. Yeah, but he didn't hit anybody. How many years was he's here? How many years was he here how many years was he played for the trotter at least a few years and was in the organization kind of going up and down they know you never did anything at any point and and that it's a combine scenario you see that the nfl right now it's like the nfl's probably the most guilty of it because there's just not enough game tape to really truly right able to protect what's gonna happen with

anyone and guys to move up and down the board based on how they run a 40 how many bench presses they do and then you get them on the field and they have absolutely no idea how to read a defense or an offense or pick up on any type of blitz or anything in any circumstance they just have no ability to think the game and I think Angvol is you know part of that I have no idea why we're talking about pure Angvol. I don't even know how he came up But here we are talking about pure Angvol. I guess we mentioned the Islanders in the back Another great quote from Patrick Waugh. What can you say?

Yeah, I mean he's really he's he's kind of had enough. He can't help himself like Patrick Waugh cannot help himself Actually to put a bow on this Joe didn't run the side that he had before his answer. He actually had to collect himself before he made that answer. There's a sigh of like five seconds where they ask about Angbal and then he's silent because he's collecting himself. Then he gives the answer. It's funny because the whole context of that you're right the gritty gutty Islanders

They're not making it. I mean they're five points out six points out It's it's not gonna happen, but there's a lot of teams kicking around at the bottom of that standings looking for that playoff spot Yeah Someone's someone's gonna get in and again the same thing in the West where you've got Calgary in Vancouver tonight and Eddie Olchuk will join us later this afternoon Darren Dreger coming up. We get the players starting tomorrow. We get the Raptors and Sixers tonight. Oh my god. To see who can lose and I don't even think there's any like I don't obviously neither team is trying like it's quite obvious and there's a number of teams in the league like Washington and you know Utah and

others where it's just you're openly tanking at this, but it's always amazing when the two teams collide. We just saw it with the Raptors in Washington where they played twice and the Wizards miraculously won the first game and you could tell they were stunned. And then the Raptors just destroyed them the other night, 73 rebounds in one game, which is absurd. Like, I don't think we've seen that since the early nineties.

And tonight, what's amazing is Nick Nurse is gonna be in town. And you know, like Nick was kind of moonwalking his way out of town last year and he got out and you guys are going south and I'm in Philly and we're in championship contention and we've got Embiid and we're gonna go out and get Paul George and we got Maxie and now you look at it,

like Philly's even more pathetic than the Raptors. I think they are more pathetic because of the expectations. The Raptors have been consistently, consistent with their message all year that they were rebuilding, they're not a good enough team, everyone kind of knows it, where Philly was expected to be a team that could possibly hover around the top of the East. And not only is that not the case, now with

MB done for the year and George always banged up, they're committed to a tank. Yeah. Like it's completely reversed where it's like now they're fighting with the Raptors to see who can lose the most. And I'm curious how Nick is gonna handle the media tonight. because every other time he's been in town it's kind of been nostalgic and it's great to be back. You guys are kind of, you're not going so well over here without me, but in Philly we're kind of in a good place. Like this will be the first time he's back where it's not his fault, but he's going to have to kind of own it and represent the shield of the Sixers as to why they're as bad as they are

he's gonna have to kind of own it and represent the shield of the Sixers as to why they're as bad as they are and Why they're taking like it's gonna be fascinating to see him tonight It's it's the NBA like their two biggest problems are on display tonight, right? The biggest problem is the Stars don't play enough and a bead is exhibit a right you give them all that money And then he goes the Olympics and shows up in training camp It says yeah I'm probably never played back-to-backs again and by the way my knee may need surgery and here we are He's he's gonna need surgeries 30 plus years old. He's a big guy Never been healthy at the best of times and Paul George 34 same thing So that's the problem and then this other one is just tankings out of control

I mean the Raptors were blatantly just pulling their starters last week, you know, in close games. And still finding a way to win them. Yes, accidentally. Yeah, like Jacoby Walter hit that shot and Scotty Barnes is in a tracksuit cheering for it. Perfectly healthy, not in trouble, just out of the game. Just out of the game because we can't possibly win.

We've gone this far. What are we doing? And that's the amazing thing about where the raptors are at right now i expect they win tonight they're four and a half point favorites on fatal like they've been a heavy favorite multiple times recently they probably find a way to win and then philly will leapfrog pass them going the other way brooklyn's gonna go pass them the other way and they're gonna finish with the seventh or eighth pick and then they have to explain why you why were you taking the way you were tanking if you're going to find a way to win anyway like that that's the amazing thing about this this fork in the road i get they want to tank but have they really committed to tanking because yes in the fourth quarter they pull guys but in the first quarter they're out there playing like scotty barnes is

playing and quickly's been playing and you know RJ's been playing and Pertles battling back from injury and now he's in the lineup. It's like what are we doing here guys? So what are we what are we trying to accomplish here? Just shut guys down like literally like Scotty Barnes not allowed on the bus to the rink like or the arena You know to like that type of stuff like what is the formula to absolutely tank and leapfrog? It might be what they're doing tonight because tonight it looks like if you look at their personnel report tonight guys like Barrett RJ Barrett starter out for personal reasons, you know Emanuel quickly 25 years old perfectly healthy to my knowledge out for rest. Yeah resting he's rested age 25

But that's the whole thing like if you're going to do that Then you might as well go to Scotty and say you're resting for the rest of the season. Yeah, like that. That's the I guess that's at the core of this conversation because you brought in like Adam Silver in the league and how they have no control over this. And it's it's so in your face and so blatant that if if you're going to take an inch, why not take a mile as well? Like what is the point of Emmanuel quickly not resting every game the rest of the year? Well, like if you're going to take an inch why not take a mile as well like what is the point of emmanuel quickly not resting every game the rest of the year like if you're just gonna miraculously rest on a wednesday to your point the guys barely played this year he's he's making a lot of money they've committed to him he's 25 he's never been a consistent starter at any point in his career

you think he would have the urgency to do it so So if he is okay with it, because that's another part of a tour, I think the players have to take some ownership here. Nudels, you said this forever, other guys have said it forever, players that are currently playing, they always almost as a badge of honor say, we don't care about the draft pick, we don't care about, well, it would appear to me that Emmanuel quickly either is the greatest like team building, you know,

ambassador in history because he's willing to do it or he's just like yeah you know it doesn't even matter about the pick I'm just cool with the night off like it's amazing how we don't challenge quickly you know what I'm saying like I get that the team the team has gone to him and say you're taking rest but couldn't he have the ability with the players association or his own pride on the line say i'm not resting i'm getting tonight yes yes absolutely he's willing to not do that yet so what is the explanation

from a player's perspective on it i don't think there is an explanation from a player standpoint other than you know different athletes are wired differently, different leagues as well. Maybe it's just accepted in the NBA, this is the plan and you're going to stick with it. But we just talked about the Boston Bruins. We all talked about it on Trade Center Day. That's the white flag.

You traded Coyle, traded Marchand. Guys in that room are still going to try, but it is the thought process. They're going to try and retool on the fly and do whatever. But that team's still playing hard. So you're right. If Scotty wants to play, he should be busting the door down saying, I'm playing. And if not, they've got to find a way to keep him out.

But it's a weird spot to be in because I'm trying to remember if I was on a rebuilding team. I've been on expansion teams, which we're trying to build, but you knew you were going to lose, but you still try hard. Guys, athletes have pride. So I don't know what that happy medium is, is like, hey, we're not going to play you because you might actually win us a game and we can't have that. That's the weirdest part.

And that is effectively the messaging. And I guess if you're the front office, you're happy that it's a message that has been accepted. Right. But it is strange that the athlete, in this case, Emmanuel Quikley, has accepted it. Like yeah, that's cool. Just put me down for rest. Wow. Like wouldn't you think he would go to them and say, come up with something.

Right. Say I have a hurt knee here. Right. Put something else in the injury report right rest is embarrassing it's pretty when you twenty five years old and twenty five and i barely played i mean i don't know that you see him at the cactus club i think a he's on the dance floor like i've i've seen guys at that it is i mean it was in the miners i remember there was a guy who missed the game when he had a sore knee he was the first guy on the dance floor at the bar afterwards

like dude you cannot be on the dance floor when you didn't play tonight so you're right like Scottie it would be it would be tough to go hey you got a bad knee and then this guy's like got a limp around the meteor whatever like I hear what you're saying you start heading into that area like that's you're lying to people but it's just rest is a tough one but you're making this up to yeah i'm right is that really red out of a travel there anything like they didn't have a home that why i'm home gave us a me like that this personal

reports amazing cuz i just started reading it it goes on and on like you know daddy barnes is questionable tonight with the right hands but he got got some sort of right hand sprain, you know, Nightmare last night. Yeah. Didn't sleep well. Slept on his hand. Daylight savings. That would be the best one. Daylight savings adjustment. Not all not certain. He'll play tonight. And then and then Derek, you know, Ingram who you know is they traded form big blockbuster trade he hasn't played he's he's out with an ankle sprain like how can you be out that long with an ankle sprain in the NBA guys sprain their ankles every day

in this league can they still play well that one dates back to New Orleans you got to go back to their into hell of a rain it's a it's a bad sprain anyway yeah the Raptors and Sixers in action tonight. We'll see what comes of it. But we'll get into this Vladi Guerrero, Jr. story that developed late into the show last night. We'll come back and get into that and where the leagues are coming from, if it benefits either side as we move through spring training and get closer to game one of the Major League

Baseball season. And again, Florida's in town and they're in action tomorrow night with the Leafs and it's a big one tomorrow. Yeah. A big one tomorrow. So we'll start looking ahead to that and other stories in the NHL. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on TSN 4.

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everything from the opening line to the final score. Brian Hayes, Dave Festrack, Jamie Noodles, McClennan, we got Eddie Oh coming up just after five. The Lees were in their St. Pat's gear today, which I think is incredibly sharp. It's a great looking uniform. And I think they're gonna use it, is it Monday night I think Caldwell's in town, which is St. Patrick's Day. So that's definitely when it should be used.

But I wonder how much money they make on that, because like there, I'm gonna be down there on Saturday. I'm sure you can get all of it down there on Saturday night. You probably get it by Thursday night right? Like all the different St. Pat's gear and all that kind of stuff but it's a great looking uniform. They print money. I mean that's anything any type of what was it the the Beaver jersey or whatever that what was that called that was like the kids

alternative jersey that they wore with their face on it? Yeah, I don't remember what it was called, but it had like, wasn't it like you could turn it inside out and there were different colors and... Yeah, but they, I mean everything that the Leafs, when it comes to memorabilia, like they print money on it. So the St. Pat's, I i've always i don't know if i remember like those games are always wild those are never like a nice three

one win or something don't they seem to get out of hand like crazy wasn't one was on an autowa one that was like a crazy comeback by the leafs or something like that like i guess they're wearing those uniform yes it's a cat so i don't know like that i don't have that could be the case if you can find i don't'd find that. Jerry Sparks was the goalie. Oh, I do remember him one time. You're right. And didn't he criticize his team afterwards? Is that when Babcock turned on him? Oh, yeah. He might have been wearing the St. Pat's gear when he came out and was saying, you know, we don't defend well enough around here or whatever. And Babcock was ready to make him walk back to Toronto.

I remember that being on the road in Philly. I remember, I was at that game. I was at that game. I was in that scrum. I remember him making those comments. I just remember it was like he had this weird, you know, the flat brim and his hat didn't fit. And I swear it was the St. Pat's like, he was making comments and like Babs like what was not happy I feel like that leave he was saying that as a rookie who was really struggling was calling out the defensive system Like you knew Babcock was gonna snap anyway Cuz Babcock would have taken everything so personally from anybody let alone the backup goalie had barely been in the league I don't think he really wanted on the team anyway remember because fabcock would have been pushing

for maccalaney to stay that was a big fight and dubas won the fight and said no we're going with sparse so golly of the year fabcock couldn't stand him to begin with or because of dubas that was exactly it yeah and it turned out maccalaney would have been a better choice absolutely by a mile horrible decision by Durbas terrible horrible horrible decision Yeah, that was I just for some reason I just see Jerry Sparks his face in a st Pat's hat that's like maybe I'm wrong. I think I have a mental image of that See if you can find it. You know what it was. Yeah, it was it was the day before Patrick St Patrick's day in Ottawa. They got beat six to the area right and and uh... newt

and and uh... newt and there is a large is in that for all six i have these weird like images of like certain things you know like the fourteen years have been in toronto like there's lots of great memories but lots of which you know unique ones to like we were there austin matthews first night for goals and martyred that stole the show and i really like it and i don't know what people forget

believes lost that game yeah kyle turrisson overtime in overtime but it like all we were i don't remember that i don't remember like i remember is the reason i remember is because it was matthews guy but it was that was amazing thing was three on three interest came up the ice and uh... be freddy i think the freddy and then austin had to be like as a great game but i wish i had my guy and over time and i can't believe we had to do that but yet here it is up on tsn to this is our parks just getting out of the

age-old there that was was played each other stop that was played and then all those he's wearing the gear He's wearing the green gear and calling out the team. Yeah, the same the team needed to play with more emotion We need to play more emotion. Hey, and that's the best thing. That's why I wish it was like a reality show Just the scrum right like the media in the scrum because you've done it many times in your career because I know for a fact Either you or Jonas or someone would have heard him and been like I gotta go find Mike Babcock in your career because I know for a fact,

either you or Jonas or someone would have heard him and been like, I gotta go find Mike Babcock. Yeah. Like the second he said that, it would be like, ding. You're like, I'm going right over to Mike and I'm gonna say, Babs, Garrett Sparks has a suggestion for you. That you need to get some more emotion out of your team

and play better defensively. Your thoughts on that. And you need to get some more emotion out of your team and play better defensively your thoughts on that and you just know it's coming because uh... they went in reverse with the famous randy carlisle carlisle ok just ok that's right it was ready said that and then the everyone went into ask reimer how he responded actually that analysis i still have another one that sticks out because he was just though I remember having to do a Sports Center hit about it say was he just okay? I'm like yes, he was it's all right to say he was just okay Yeah

Because I think he had allowed they lost like three two or something to Detroit and he allowed a bad like rebound or something Like it just it's all right like Randy didn't throw him under the bus and said he he's awful he's got to be better he said it's just okay and then but you remember rhymers like good one randy good one yeah rhymer rhymer I would say was bent out of shape but he was taken aback by the fact that that analysis had been brought to his stall and he wasn't really sure how to react to it and to his credit he didn't fire back at Carlisle now some of those guys probably would have like Phil Phil might have been like well Randy can stop it. I care about Randy, you know, like who knows how Phil would have reacted They'll may have taken it anyway, so it was pretty careful publicly, you know

We only saw that side of Phil everyone 24 sevens, right? Yeah, that's true behind the scenes You kind of saw the real Phil but they fired off in the scrum too often no but yeah but I mean that was a tough that was a tough year for Toronto goaltending because everybody was talking about we got to get another goaltender and Rymer was like I'm standing right here right here guys right here like they had gone to get Bernier and Bernier got hurt on the west coast trip I'll never that was the year where they were I believe nine points into the playoffs with 15 games to go whatever and they missed by nine points that's why when we talk about you know chasing the wild card

down right now with 18 games to go this this will scatter still too much right way to have games left and and given what we've seen this year from not I mean outside of the teams right at the top like it's Washington and Winnipeg and Winnipeg had a three game skit here or there but like for the most part there have been five game stretches by team X name a team where they've won five in a row or lost five in a row and you're like god I thought that team was you know solidified or not and and you're right so 18 games is too much to go that's a lock for that

team to be in or that that team's done although we you know we did throw Engvall and the Islanders overboard but yeah maybe not maybe not I mean I guess it can't go the other way too I just think it's more likely and Detroit is the team that's kind of in the in the midst of doing this right now where Detroit two or three weeks ago could not lose We're in a wild card spot and now they cannot win and like old mark the other night just he had 48 saves They just they can't break through and with this many games left There is a chance and it could be in the West like it, you know, Vancouver's a point out They may miss by by ten points. Oh, yeah, you know like it could happen because in Vancouver there there everyone is turning on everyone now like

they lose to Montreal last night they cannot generate any offense now they got to go into Calgary you know everyone's pointing at their star players and the amount of minutes they're getting and what they're doing and are they earning their keep and where's it going it's a wild wild scene out there but yeah the Leafs were you know at practice today and wearing their St. Pats gear but what is you know stood out a couple things have stood out Chris Tannin was still not prepared to play so I again the Leafs how many of these have we had this year? That was hiding in plain sight that's what they've been doing hiding these

injuries like saying I it's gonna play Saturday and then it's not available. We got a actually we got really positive news on that dating yeah i'm really positive we really does the board there three weeks later the guest on my plan you know and i i don't know what he's going to play it quite frankly you don't you don't need him to be playing until the playoffs but this is a big race for them the game tomorrow night is a very significant one of christianna has proven his keep your

like everything seems to filter you know below him. If he's in the proper spot playing the proper minutes and killing penalties and going up against the best teams or the best lines on the on the opponents then that allows everyone else to kind of fit in to place right now and slide in properly and he's not available it doesn't sound as if again he'll be available tomorrow night. Ottawa is in town on Saturday. Ottawa always plays the Leafs well. They're desperate. That's not going to be easy. Yeah and you want Tanev, you need Tanev, but it's also a scenario where when he returns is he

gonna be at a hundred percent? Like that's another element to this because we've dealt with this with Matthews all year where positive news positive news I just went to Germany don't even worry about it positive news and then he's back and yet he doesn't look like he's himself so that's another element to the tan of injury and his status he may return he likely will I mean I think they would be more clear and more transparent if he was done for like the rest of the regular season is he gonna be at a hundred percent is he gonna jump back on a moving train and play the way he has all year

i i i know hey is haze you always want full disclosure like i would love for all of you give us a little bit of disclosure but i know he's not playing for a week you can say is not playing for a week a hundred percent it's just like i'm sure you talked about it but i see the aaronckblad statement. I'm like, oh, well, that makes the Seth Jones thing more sense. You know, you're kind of like, okay, like that type of stuff.

Like we're not privy to the information behind the curtain, but it is. You know, Brandon Carlo, you go and get him and you add to the depth. But you know, maybe the tan have forced you to to get aggressive on carlo carlo a little bit more because you're maybe there's something else behind there you don't know and i'm saying maybe because i'm not privy to that information but it's just that this is why i always say we know 10 of really what the hell's going on you know behind the curtain and see some of these things but you know the nfl is the closest to you know behind the curtain and see some of these things but you know the NFL is the closest to you know full disclosure and they're still not full disclosure but you know a lot more about players and their status there's an injury

yeah there's an injury report like with Tanev again it's not even as much about knowing exactly what it is there are times where I think that should be somewhat expected I think especially after the season. Like I look back on last year, the fact that Matthews just never said anything about how he missed playoff games is still somewhat strange. And again, you're about to be off for four months.

Like why couldn't you just reveal what was going on? But he chose not to, okay. But it's more so like, are you going to play? Like when do you think you're going to play? And when you go two, three weeks in and the guy's still not playing, that means the team knew three weeks ago he wasn't gonna play.

You have to believe. Yes, like this isn't a scenario where literally every day they're like, okay, give him another test. Ah, I can't believe it, he can't play. Like they're well aware of whether or not the guy's gonna play. And you bring up the Carlo thing that's a great point

Noodles like he made sense anyway with a healthy Chris Tanev it made sense to have him. Yeah. But if there's any concern that Tanev is not gonna return to a hundred percent between now in the playoffs or into the playoffs or it's something that could linger or if he takes another bad hit that might speak to why they're even more you know urgent to get the deal done and pay the price that they paid. Wow. No doubt about it. Because noodles, I mean, you look at this team, it's only six games, the 10 has been out. But you look at the numbers during those six games, now there's three,

two and one, which isn't terrible. But they're dead last in like high danger chances against the five on five. Yeah, over those six games are dead last in expected goal share. Jonas isn't here so I thought I throw out an expected goal. Very cool. Jonas has been heavy and hot on that. Yeah so but I mean they're like and they and by the way you know they're they're they're really they're like the worst defensive team over that essentially by those metrics they're the worst defensive team in the league over these two weeks without Tanev which tells you hey they've schedules they've been to vegas they've been to colorado has been some

and it's been some tough travel but be and is pretty important thing what it is like there are key pieces and and you listen captain obvious it's you know your core for its its goaltending you know i think we all i'd been saying it to player like Stollers has had such an amazing season at some point there was going to be a market correction you know like you just off night here off night

there same thing with wool like but the goaltending as a tandem has been fantastic for the most part this year and you can just you know blanket statement that but it you know it does go hand-in in hand with a key piece, a guy who is such a defensive stalwart. Tanev makes people better around him. He's able to stop plays where it is the cycle. So all of a sudden, you get trapped in your zone for 20 seconds instead of 6 seconds because Tanev shuts that down and that type of of stuff so it does have a trickle down effect you we we do go through injuries it's just not knowing is the worst thing like i honestly i was like i'd play this

weekend it was supposed to be i thought he was supposed to play in colorado i thought i would like i was a cupcake now much of that game like that i guess he's not playing but you know you put carlo in there it's fine and but then dot utah now not available level save until next week maybe skates like, I guess he's not playing. But you know, you put Carlo in there, it's fine. And then, Utah, no, not available. I will save him till next week. Maybe he skates out tomorrow. I don't know. Maybe, but like today he was the like seventh defenseman designated that way. And you know, I wouldn't hold my breath on that. And again, they have, they still have six weeks till you get to the dance and you've got 18 games left. And you know want them back at a hundred percent but you're never gonna get clarity on that from the Leafs like they're never gonna clarify whether or not you know

when he's gonna play how confident they are that he's gonna be at a hundred percent and you know that that's hanging over this team and it's it's pretty significant because of all the stats he said and you can see it now it's not an excuse for these other veteran defensemen to be playing the way they've been playing correct like Tana being out doesn't mean that jake mccabe and morgan riley and ekman larson just forget how to play now and we've seen too much of that the last couple of weeks like a courageous breakdowns in the stakes from those three guys in particular and carlo i

think it's going to take a few games or a few weeks to really kind of fit in and find his role in find his footing uh... so you know, there's I think there's pressure on those three guys with Tana Vout. I think it's Riley McCabe and Ekman Larsen. They're all veterans all been in the league for a long time. They all have to play better and it's a big challenge for them tomorrow. But what's interesting is you look up front and we've discussed it from time to time over the course of the year. But like the forward

group they've been scoring more recently, yet I would say the top six feels a little bit more stale and we continue to discuss what's up with Matthews and you know where does Marner fit in and Willie and nice Matthews and Marner just does not change. No. Like Barube has no interest in changing that line. Like are we at all surprised? I guess he tried it a few weeks ago where he put Domi up, and I think there was an injury, was it?

Was it Nyes that was out? Someone was out, and he moved a couple of pieces around for the sake of it. But 99% of the season dating back to day one of camp has been Nyes, Matthews, Marner, and Borube is just completely against changing it. Wow. And I'm not, I get it's a great line, but yeah, but like something up from time to time. Marner's having a career year, Nice is having a career year, and it's Matthews obviously who's got what three goals in his last 15 games.

Right. Who clearly is not himself for reasons we do not know, but we can assume has something to do with his trip to Munich and injury he picked up the four nations that he acknowledged but I mean I did you know if Matthews is shooting with his regular pop I mean it would be perfect right but the other two guys are going pretty well even though Matthews really isn't carrying the weight he usually carries. So a lot of times so we have seen to your point Brian if a guy isn't going, hey, put Willie with him.

You know, put like, you know, like there has been that little adjustment is like, oh, put Matthews and Willie together and Mitch and John. And that's kind of been the most adjustment we've seen. Now, I don't mind a line that just is your steady number one line, which is Nice, Matthews and Marner. Your second line clearly is Nylander, Tavares and whoever the revolving door is on that left side. It was Pontus Holmberg which I think is miscast. You know, McMahon has had looks there. It was Pacioretti. I don't even know Pacioretti's status. Nobody really does right now. As Y right as you are not today yarn crook was with Tavares and Nylander I did see

that no yarn crook since he's come back like I will say I thought he he had some speed some jump you know like I I haven't noticed he's been noticeable for me now he is a Swiss Army knife right shot play the left side doesn't matter can go up and down your lineup but is it a perfect fit like I you know it might come down to and we do this all the time what is the perfect fit for that second line like if if nice Matthews and Marner they're not going to move off that it's really a revolving door on on the the sixth spot on that left side you know second line and you know McMahon should have been a guy that pushed through and got it You know Robertson in and out of lineup like Domi was given a chance there like you just you know

It's it's clear. Maybe they would push Scott lot in there to try and get him going. Yeah, that's possible, too I mean that that is It is a revolving door. That's the best way to Describe it and you know outside of that top line They have 18 games to figure out how the rest of this team is gonna play out. But it's interesting that in years past, Keith seemingly went above and beyond

when it came to changing things up in different lines and blenders would come out early in games where Barube is really the opposite of that. Like he doesn't do a lot of line changing during the game. And really he kind of comes up with a plan and he just sticks to it and that's it. Like it's not much is really changing. And even with Tavares and Nylander, they've been together pretty much all year and he's not going to, he's not going to deviate from that. And look, Nylander is second in the league in goal scoring. Well, that's the amazing thing. It's going

okay. Yeah. No, exactly. Like in, but's the amazing thing. It's going okay Yeah, no exactly like in yeah But at the same time does the team feel like they're really a juggernaut right now that like you're referencing individual stats Yeah, all that kind of stuff. Oh, no, it feels kind of stale right now But is that because of the forwards that to me that's because of the defensive ineptitude at times, right? And I think I think they're both connected though Like you reference all those stats and all that the forwards are not doing enough to apply sustained pressure on their opponents they're like far too often like you saw it the other night they kept flashing the offensive zone possession

numbers they got blown out by Utah yeah like they were in the offensive zone for like nine minutes and Utah was for like 16 or so like you can't get you can't get doubled up by a Utah team. And that's what I'm saying is like, you can look at individual stats and numbers and you can make sense of it all. I get it. And when they're flying and everything's working,

you can make sense of it, but it does feel like the whole team could use a little bit of a jolt. And you know, Barube's just not looking to do that or not willing to do that. And I'm sure his argument would be, hey, we don't want to panic We're still in a good place and this is who I think will work come playoff time

So we're gonna allow them to continue to connect and the other thing to play it play together Yeah The other thing too guys though is there somebody in the bottom six that's screaming for more ice time that you just have to not really Yeah, that's the other thing too. It's like who has been like, you know, you see players in a bottom six role and you're like, God, the coach has got to find more ice time for that player player X. It has there been somebody I haven't really noticed there was a little stretch there with Nick Roberts and looked like he had some jump and was feeling pretty good in a couple games and that but then there really hasn't been somebody that you go,

and I think that's where Berubi comes back. He's an old school coach that way. It's trust. Who do I trust to put, I know who I trust. That first line and three quarters or two thirds of the second line and then everything else is, hey, let's see how it unfolds. Who has a good game?

And if there was more guys consistently with their production or with their play It's like yeah, I'll plug and play that guy plug and it's that you know who that's been That's been Pontus Holmberg that guy, you know Oh, there's a guy he does like he does I agree trust Pontus Holmberg and I shouldn't say that with some snarl to it I'm not trying to be disrespectful. It's just that's that's the guy I've noticed that it's like yeah we're gonna move Pontus here we're gonna move Pontus there like that's the guy he seems to trust the most out of your bottom six and I don't know if that's a good thing. No I'm not sure it does I mean that's what you get though when you have the

five forwards who are defined and then everyone else to your point is trying to figure out exactly who they are and where they should play. Eddie Olchuk in 20 minutes, roleplay level of concern at 530, overdrive continues. TSN 1050N on TSN 2. Wow, you've got the latest model. Nice. You should see it run. Bell Pure Fiber?

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? Alright, Eddie Oldchuck coming up. Ro role play level of concern at 530. Where one of us will play the role of Vlad E. Guerrero Jr. 530, who we knew these leaks were coming out.

Like the second they had those press conferences in Dunedin, where Vlad E. went out and then Atkins went out and Shapiro went out and they all had different messaging and in different tones. I remember tweeting out immediately saying, all right, the leaks are coming. It's just a matter of time. And turns out Vladi actually leaked his own information, right? He did an interview with ESPN Deportes where that got the ball rolling in terms of the term he was looking for 14 or 15 years less money than Soto but still a lot of money and then

miraculously the Jays which I would assume that's where this is coming from Shapiro and company saying okay Vlady if you're gonna play that game we're gonna play the game too we're gonna leak it out through American media I always find that fascinating yeah right you got to use those American insiders to get the info out. That it turns out the Blue Jays offered him, you know, well over 500 million dollars. And in terms of like current value, was it 460 million or whatever it is, because it's confusing because the deferrals now factor in. and they were heavy on deferrals I'm sure it was going to be a deal that was going to push money well down the road and

Effectively it boils down to they were about 50 million dollars apart over 14 years over a 14 year contract Which is can't get that done. Well, so here's my viewpoint on this and I said this yesterday when the news broke, Vlad, two things I think here are true when it comes to Vlad. One, he is determined he and his agent, we are just winning the negotiation. Like that's it. Like we will give you a number and you can either agree to it or not. It's your call, but we're not going back and forth. And I'm not leaving this room thinking I conceded something to Mark Shapiro. Right. That's what it feels like to me. Yeah. And because you could sit there and say 50 million over 14 years I thought you wanted to be in Toronto all

of those reasonable questions but I think Vlad doesn't look at it that way personally I think he looks at it like no Mark Shapiro you're gonna be uncomfortable with the fact that I won this thing. Yeah. Like it's personal and I'm going to win it either that or, he really just wants to test free agency. Right. The Jays are going to do something like pay him more current value money than Shohei Otani got. Exactly.

Go ahead and do it. You go ahead. I'll take that. I'll take more than Otani got. But other than that, I kind of want to be wooed and I want to check out what's out there in free agency and hence the

stalemate because now the the the news is out in chip iro and akins and rogers in company they have to figure out what they're gonna do now because he's got a year left in he's looking for a lot of money so i a you guys said fifty million over fourteen years that's kinda how it boils down something like based on these reports Yes, right. So that's three and a half million a year that they're really in essence like a paradigm Can't find common ground. Well, I don't know. Let me ask you this then noodles because I agree with you

Like it it's a lot of money, but in the world of sports It's really not and if you're really if you're that close, but who do you think is being more unreasonable? To not accept it's only 50 million the Jay's you think it's Vlad E. Say I think it's Vlad you think it's funny I just I for me. I Don't know I was talking with somebody about it today Obviously the J's see something in Vlad E or else this would be done. To me, they've dug in on him. They've already taken him to arbitration. This is the face of their franchise.

This is the guy they've sold jerseys around and they still can't get it done. I get it that he's pushed the envelope, but if it's somebody that you covet, this should be priority number one and that's it. Something is holding them back. I don't know what it is if it's just strictly numbers but I think there's more to it I just like I don't know three and a half million it's a it's a lot of money and 50 million is a lot but I just at some point Vlad he's got to go hey it's a lot of money they're making a 14 year commitment to right yeah I'll take it too yeah you really want to be in Toronto because he

keeps telling people that that that's why that I think is really at the core of this leak as well is it now it's gonna get dirty, it's gonna get ugly, it was gonna be a story anyway but now this is one more chapter and it's just gonna keep going and going and going unless they resolve it between now and opening day or at some point during the year. But I think what the the purpose of this from the Jays is A to safe face, because it's always going to be about that.

But also, okay media, go back to him and say, you really want to be in Toronto? You're going to leave over $50 million. Right. Right. Like that's, you're going to get a lot of money, but we're also going to pay you $500 million for 14 years. So you're not going to be poor and you're not going to be struggling.

How badly do you want to be a blue jay? That's the question right but he holds all the cards and clearly like there's you're right though noodles like there's there's tension there right like they could assign this guy many many times in the past for just you know for many many years and they declined to right and part of that is like he they've had him in the system since he was 16 he's been around for six seasons he's had two incredible seasons one kind of pretty good season and then and three other seasons that weren't very good and there's that inconsistency factor. But yeah there's

you know clearly he wants to go out of free agency because this is a he's trolling on Instagram liking pictures of him in Red Sox uniform. He's loving it and loves this whole scenario. And there is a marketing element to that as well. If you're the big fish in free agency that that's worth a lot of money in terms of all the baseball paying attention to you yeah and when you're a blue jay you get swallowed up in the a l e s you don't get as much attention i'm sure he's been sold on that too

get to the winter meetings and see how many people are buzzing about you and what that's going to be for you on front page of the sbn dot com m o b network buzzing about you and what that's going to be for you on front page of ESPN.com, MOB Network talking about you every day. I think there's an element of that as well. We'll continue with this with role play at 530 80-old Chuck coming up as well. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on the TSN app. You've been listening to Overdrive powered by FanDuel. FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All new, all Canadian.

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