OverDrive - OverDrive - March 3, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 3, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' victory against the Penguins, the best pathway to winning in Toronto, Seth Jones' trade to the Panthers and the Lightning's sizzling stretch run. In the latest edition of the Maple Leafs' Checklist, Jonas lists the top five things the Maple Leafs must do to have success and the Stanley Cup Playoffs picture outlook.

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Doug Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel's in here For the major league theme song because the Leafs have won five in a row five in a row for the Leafs Wow, and it was just a flawless five in a row too. It was really beautiful to see Well, I said it before the game in the pregame show, Duthie asked me, he was like, what's been good? And I'm like, you know what, they're finding different ways to get it done. I mean, Carolina, they hung on for dear life. Chicago, it was like they just, they had some scoring from the defense. Boston, amazing comeback. New York Rangers just find a way.

And then they go into Pitt, who is an AHL team with Sid. That's what they are. Like, let's be honest here. That is a disaster there. And the Goleys had their 70s gear on and they got it done. There were some amazing things that happened yesterday out on that ice surface. Like can we just touch on that Matthew Niskel? Have you ever seen anything like that in your life? I honestly think it was the goal of the year and I know Jonas I

already heard Jonas scoff at that year but here's what are you talking are you starting already yonas here's why john it's jonas yes i like that actually have fey and yonas yeah i would actually jones you got to explain yourself the goal of the year get out of here hey scope go ahead you got here's where i pass it off let me let me begin by admitting that this comment is going to sound ridiculous because I didn't play in the National Hockey League. So I didn't play and I know that I didn't play at the highest level. Dude, you're one of the few people that are qualified. Go ahead.

And the only reason I say that is because I am going to drop a line that is a very, I played in the NHL line. You had to play to appreciate the greatness of that goal. And what I mean by that is, and I think Oh did a great example of it on the panel, 99.9% of players smack that into the neutral zone and skate off the ice. Nothing to see here. Didn't get scored on. No problems. And think I did my job. We stopped their offense with five seconds to go, he put the burners on and had the presence of mind to realize,

I have about two strides inside the blue line and I gotta blast this thing. And 99.9% of players hit the goalie right in the middle of the shirt and then say, hey coach, you see my effort? You see that? Man, I was flying out there, you see how I got a shot off? Not only did he have the presence of mind to jump off the draw

and then burners on two strides inside and go shelf with point one left it is a remarkable goal that you will probably never see again in your life haze i got out why is that all the year i've got to take it a step further hazy I have it on par right now with OV falling down and swinging around his neck I'm not kidding goal the century dude it is think it was the why are you cropping on it's a ridiculous statement it wasn't was it the prettiest goal you've ever seen it's not about

this month what is the goal not about pretty not a lot of money ninety nine percent of the players and as a former player i agree to the gentleman on the right right everyone would just say i just can't get scored on here i don't want anything stupid to happen i'd like it like some guys might got to the red line and just flicked it into the end zone and skated off for the end of the period i'm not kidding and just said there's just nothing to see here. Don't want to do anything stupid.

And this guy skates all the way down the ice and rips it into the net. By the way, I think Mike Sullivan wanted to go absolutely bonkers walking off that ice. Because when it happens to you, and the only way I could describe it yesterday was when you're doing a You're getting skated by the coach and one guy tries and he's kind of goofing on everybody and everyone's like oh this guy's got To be a hero that was amateur hour from the Penguins and they got burned and when that happens god Do you look stupid? Approach it as if there's no way in hell that they can score with this amount of time and they do

man do you look stupid yeah it was a lot of play by matthew nine is going on is going to raise play in history now okay you're being so good i don't know i don't explain where it like out of ten if i've ever really has a sports center could find me a hundred goals this year maybe not much chance not a chance to're downplaying the whole thing it's a fair point you're downplaying the whole sequence of events but you graded I am curious how you would grade that out of ten if

you're sitting there and you're looking at that goal in a vacuum and someone lands from Mars and goes oh I just saw that is that standard procedure out of ten how would you mark that how would you mark that Matthew Nyes goal? 8.75. That's pretty good. 8.7. That's a good one. Yeah. Is it the greatest goal I've ever seen? No. Okay. I don't know what is.

Well, that's another thing. I can't remember. And they all kind of blend in together. They do. But yeah, it was a wild sequence. It was just an incredible play incredible goal the game yesterday was uh... it was while there's a fun game like it was really crazy to watch a kid they come up there up to nothing road shooting them like thirteen to three looks like it's gonna be seven one you think they're gonna destroy them in turn the lights off

and they and the first period down three two somehow but this is the thing about the leaves and what i wanted to get into today hazy before you get into the best part was, Nye scores the goal and then you think they're going to blow them out 9-4 and then they score with 10 seconds into the third. Immediately into the third is 5-5. And against the top line? That's where I was like, that's insane. I know and then in the end Willie wins it in overtime and again they've won five in

a row coming out of the break and they were, what did they win, three of four going into the break and wins it in overtime and again they've won five in a row coming out of the break and they were what do they win three of four going into the break and lost one in overtime they won eight of nine but their eight one and oh or whatever it is Tampa doesn't lose Florida doesn't lose although one of them has to tonight because they're playing but in terms of the Leafs and yesterday's a weird example because you know they did give up the lead almost immediately into the third they end up winning in overtime but a stat that is circulating that we're all aware of is when they have a lead in the third they literally don't lose and

I'm trying to make sense of that like literally don't trying to temper that because soon as you everyone brings that up I know getting absolutely pumped in the third period well It's listen I think it's an important statistic like that every year has a different thing that gets pointed out last year remember the first half was the r o w column that was everyone's and we had a lot of good time you would yell and scream about how they only had eleven wins in regulation or overtime in the best teams at twenty two or twenty three and that means they stink well this well i mean it did prove to be in the playoffs.

They ended up losing. Well, this stat is here. They're great in our own W. I believe this dates back to last season, does it not? In terms of what the third period that like the second, I don't know. I'm going off this year's statistics. I'm pretty sure that dates back to last anyway. Jonas, what is the difference? If it goes back to last anyway. Well, what is the

difference? If it goes back to last year, it would still apply to this year, would it not? Like they don't make the regulation. Can I ask you guys, because you set it up nicely, what the heck are we supposed to make of this team? Like are they good? Are they very good? Are they not good? Because like... Oh, they're definitely... They're good. They're not not good. Like that's a weird... But how good good are they because like you watch these games this whole stretch It's like they haven't really played that well, but they've Jeff said it they find ways to win like how much I? Don't know what to make of this team because statistically It's kind of a mess like their special teams are kind of like me middle of the pack

Defensively, they're not actually that good Jonas Jonas they've been scoring more like I don't know what to make of this team tell me Jonas what they are is a team mm-hmm that has promise and that promise is because the playoffs are a month and a half away and if the situation happens we're all facets of their game come together at once which I guess you're looking for a lot of things. Maybe it's unlikely. Unbelievable goal-tending, special teams, key players producing at a rate like every other team that wins a Stanley Cup. Guys like Max Domi, Robertson, all the other kind of depth players start contributing and it all comes together and it turns into a machine

Like it has not in the past. That's that's what they are. They can't be disre like they want a lot of hockey games in the Last what are these one seven of eight? Seven yeah, yeah eight of nine games I mean there's 13 and three on the road in the last 16 like that's right insane lights out on the road And I don't think they've been out there best so they're not hiding ways to get things done i think you gotta give some credit to the coaches i mean yesterday was a complete gong show i don't know you

i don't know who deserves credit for that one i was the last shot when games are gonna happen like that though the long season you know i didn't have a way to be on top of it as you like it there's been a bunch of games and if you go back to that, Jonas, how many years would we watch this team in Boston and they were down three Cobb and you would say this one, turn the channel. I've got to watch something else. But the counter to that is those teams are better.

You can look back year before year before previous years, those teams were better than this team. Well I don't, you could look back year before, year before like previous years, those teams are better than this team. Well, here's where I would push back on that. They like, okay, go ahead. Let me, well, before I let you finish your thought, one thing I do think that's been established, and this has gone up and down, and I will concede there's still 20 games left or whatever,

22 games left where it may be a change is 10 games from now. Your game one starters, Anthony Stolar's. Clear cut. Right now. But that's what I'm saying. Like maybe that changes in 10 games. I'll add onto it. Clear cut and unlikely to change is the way I phrase it. Wow. And exactly. And if this continues, he should be your game two starter and game three starter and game four starter. That's where I would push back on what you just said. You can't tell me the goaltending last year gave you more. Air counter. Or the year before.

That's the one thing you can look at and say it is definitively better than those two. And that's the most significant position. Although like I guess, yeah. I mean. I mean Anderson for a while. At times. But Freddie was five years ago now.

Like Freddie was a long time ago. Like Freddie, and really it was Freddie's first two years where he really did what he did. then it became uncertain was he gonna play or not and then Campbell came in and there were all these different ups and downs so I would say at the most important position they're clearly better. Can I push back on that a little bit? Sure go ahead. It's a very fair point. How many starts do you think those two guys have made in the playoffs combined? Which? Ten. Five.

Yeah. It's not many. Which might mean zero. Like, playoff experience doesn't necessarily mean you're better. It just means you don't have like a track record. Neither, like Stolars has never started a playoff game in the NHL. Never. Right.

And I'll tell you what, I'm less concerned about the lack of starts than the last five years of whoever's gone in that net. That's the whole thing. Yeah. That's the whole thing. Yeah, that's the whole thing Like and again just about the point of comparing and contrasting I don't think anyone was going and thinking Jack Campbell like he didn't have any history did not and it didn't And I guess and Samson off the same thing, right? Like yeah Yes, no, I understand

But they also weren't playing at the same level like they were close to the same level had some pretty like high peaks But then the lows were just and they were low going into the playoffs again There's 20 games left stores will get 12, you know, 10 or 12 more starts We'll see what happens with him. But as of right now the goaltending position I also think you know Chris Tanev's absence the last couple games pretty clear like pretty clear cut You can see what they're missing and you presume he'll be healthy and ready to play come playoff time. That I think is, is a significant change over what they've

had in the past. Yes. And I think you can look to those two guys and it factors into what could happen come Friday where the Leafs are going to make moves. I can't predict. No one can predict right now what exactly they're going to do. Um, I get the impression there's a lot of posturing publicly, you know, everyone's saying, well, we're not going to pay this and we're

not going to pay that. We don't know who's really available. That's literally what Trey Levin was saying over the weekend. I'll believe it when I see it that he's just going to tinker. He may, he may not, but the heavy lifting was done in the summer with Tanev, Ekman-Larsen and Anthony Stollers. If Stollers starts game one and is playing the way he's been playing, you can't make a bigger addition than that. Like there's nothing, no one will have a bigger impact on your future than who is going to play goalie for you. And if they found him, if he's the guy, we don't know,

because he doesn't have the playoff success, and he's tied to a team that doesn't have playoff success either. So it's not like he can step out there game one and say, well, I'm just riding their coattails because these guys are so comfortable in these moments. The Leafs are not, not their core players. But Stolar's Tanev, Ekman Larsen, that's your heavy lifting.

And I think that in and of itself should put you in a better position come playoff time. But they got a race for that first seed too. That's a high priority. No, I'm not going to say. Go ahead priority. I'm not gonna say, push back on your- No, push back. I wanna hear the push back, cause it's very reasonable.

Why are they not better defensively? As a team? Statistically, they're just not that great. What is your definition of not great? Give me the specific statistics that you're referencing. Just in terms of your look at some of the statistics that- Which ones are we referencing?

Give them to me. Which ones are we your work in some of the statistics that will pitch one of their lives and this one which ones are irrefere some of these expected goal numbers high danger chances all that stuff is kind of regressed to like twenty-eight based on where they were earlier in the year yellow-grey did didn't they're not only defensive team in terms of like the numbers and that is supposed to be the idea of this whole thing and it's it hasn't actually i don't want to rate on your parade i'm just like i'm about reading on the Okay, and that is supposed to be the idea of this whole thing and it's it hasn't actually poured out

I don't want to rate on your parade. I'm just like fine about rating on the it's just it's really hard Yeah, the comment they're supposed to be is some defensive juggernaut. That's what that's the whole what do you mean? That's like what everyone has been talking about all year long. Well, Craig Brubay has changed this into a really good defensive team It's like actually that's not really true. Well, I think we're better defensively in years past. And like a lot better. Yes, statistically and again, statistics. Like, I question exactly what and how, how deceptive that can be because were they 11th a week ago

and now they've given up a bunch of goals. And if they didn't, and the same thing though, with the special teams and the power pick and fluctuate. This caliber of goaltending, it would be highlighted a lot more. Yes, that was clearly the case early in there because they also weren't scoring yes and now they're scoring it's like well the offense is back it's like okay that's a bit deceptive because earlier in the

year they weren't I think what's what's to their credit through this little patch is I don't think their best players have been that good through this whole little stretch and they've won well and that's another element of it like the this is where you separate, the core guys from other guys. Like, how many of them are kind of slow rolling until the playoffs? I don't have an answer on if they'll come alive or not. You hope that they will. But there's, you know, there's a human element, too.

These guys, it's just routine the regular season for them every single year. Like, they just routinely march to 100 points and make the playoffs, and then they realize they gotta up their game. And I don't think it's any different this year. If anything, it's even more exposed. What I would say is about Barube, you're right that that's kind of the impression, but it's interesting, the coach of the San Jose Sharks,

what he spoke to in terms of what he would define a Barube team. It's not the defensive structure, it's the forecheck, and the fact that this team is moving downhill more than they have in the past and that will have the positive impact on playoff time there that's you have a couch that's a fair that's a point I'm just saying like the how you would interpret a Craig Barube team quote-unquote is it about the defensive structure and obviously you need that if you're gonna be an

elite team you have to be able to bit of a i don't think that but like was this team even bringing in mccabe intent of where they ever going to be known as some defensive stalwart i mean that that's the idea right that's why part of what i brought up come playoff time when you're looking for a a variety of different things to come together for this team to have success their power play what are they going to do come together for this team to have success. Their power play, what are they going to do with it?

Is it going to have success? Collectively as a team, can they play a consistent, stifling team defense? That is a question. That is a question. I thought you summed it up nicely about all the things that need to come together. They want to be Florida. They hope that they can become what for a was where for a makes this transition under palmer ease

they don't score quite as much but the really good offensively this team doesn't score as much as they used to but they just haven't made the jump defensively that think they were hoping for and that's where that's what i'm like curious about like let me ask you not to do is what is the biggest what do you think the biggest transition? Oh, I know the answer. What do you think the biggest transition for the Florida Panthers was the Coach or the no, yeah, Hubert Oh out could Chuck in that is a massive kind of

change in everything Well, like that is the biggest flip that they're not the coach not their defense not there anything Hubert Oh in could are out could Chuck in is a major flip in mindset all of it like that that was huge I don't know maybe I'm overstating it maybe I'm nuts well the Leafs aren't gonna have that happen between now and game one where exactly a Kachuk type goes in and a Hubert oh type goes out that's not gonna happen but that's what we get back into their best players Brian and talking about the things that need to

happen in a Florida Toronto series a guy like Mitch Barner has got to outperform a guy like Matthew Kachuk if you want to check guys off of a list, you're not like an ornery grumpy, you know, SOB like Matthew Kachuk, but that if you're going to check off winger to winger, that's you got to outplay him. You might not have to out punch him in the face, out tough him, out hit him, but you got to outplay him and make more of a contribution than he does. That's what the desired effect is. Well, and what's your mini Jerry's on Matthew Kachuk playing game one? A hundred percent. A hundred and twenty percent. I think it's the old thing to do second time around. We gotta do the old LTIR.

They're placed on long-term IR. They go out and get Seth Jones. And now I'll bet you they go out and get somebody else between now and Friday in Florida. And you're right. You have the great benefit of having already won where you can do this? Where now I'm not disputing Kuchuk is hurt. He was hurt at the war four nations he didn't he barely played the last two games and It came out the reporting was pretty diligent almost immediately like this could be trouble But I found it interesting that Paul Maurice went on radio in florida recently said he's playing again this year and now bills you know is like well we hope you will

like that screams to me the gm's like paul shut up but we got a lot of my arm and i think that's a lot of latter when somebody gets an injury with the timeline is basically around the end of the season kucherov same thing dark star and i don Stone, Patrick Kane. Instead of coming back in the last week, why not start game one of the playoffs? It is an absolute layup. Yeah. And that's exactly what Kucherov did. I believe for their second cup, I believe. I'd have to look at the timeline. Yes. I don't know if he played the whole, I don't think he played the whole season. I don't think he did. That was a weird bubble. Remember they won their two cups in

the kind of COVID world and it was like the first one was literally the weird bubble. Remember, they won their two cups in the kind of COVID world. And it was like, the first one was literally the COVID bubble. The second one was the COVID year. So it was complicated. Mark Stone, Vegas had not won a cup when they were doing the whole long-term IR thing, but they had been to a cup final. They had been competitive and obviously it worked for them. And again, that's what it screams of here with Kachuk is,

you know, they brought in Seth Jones. Jones has turn left. left so he's gonna have to fit with Kachuk when he returns next season like everything's gonna have to work out here. They'll deal with that then. But exactly and I again I would be shocked shocked if Florida didn't do more between now and Friday and this is the reality of the world that the Leafs live in that the Leafs can be you know red-hot and winning a bunch of games and then you look at the teams around them Florida doesn't lose and Tampa doesn't lose you look at the last ten games Tampa's 9-0 and one Florida's 8-2 and all Toronto's 8-2 and oh so it was just a matter of time before this division which has been the most top-heavy and dominant in terms of

that top heaviness for years showed their might and that's exactly what's happening and Again we talked we've talked about it countlessly the last couple of weeks and it's only gonna get louder and louder down the stretch Florida has the ability to put Kichook on long-term iron just say we don't care where we play in the class We'll get there and we'll deal with it the Leafs. I don't believe have that luxury because we play in the playoffs, we'll get there and we'll deal with it. The Leafs, I don't believe have that luxury because Tampa's won, Florida's won, they're gonna try to win again, they love to win again, but they can always fall back on that. The Leafs, this is the best opportunity they've had to win their division. And if you win the division and you avoid Florida, I get it, it's a loser mentality and all that kind of stuff, but it just seems like load management is not gonna be be possible down the stretch now because you got to get your

points and you got to try to find a play to find a way to play Detroit in the first round you guys can both apologize for your comments made directed towards the Tampa Bay Lightning they you have taken us so out of context who took a shot at Tampa you and I is Jonas you guys were You hated Vasilevsky To haze you were I didn't tours on Tampa Doogie get the clip I have it ready later on Guys were like Vasilevsky. I know and they went through a stretch

I'm just talking about things you identified haze you said they're inconsistent and that and then you said they're giving up a lot of weird goals that they haven't given up in the past. Factual at the time. Then Jonas came off the top turnbuckle and said, Vassileski's just not the same goaltender he was. And then you guys both teed off for about three minutes each. Look at them now. Look at them now. Eight in a row. Eight in a row. to have gold differential i think i know the answer to this but if you are the leaves which of those two teams scares you more is the obvious answer just for them

no i don't think it's an obvious answer is it not idea you think florida just definitively scares you more yes because i don't think that tampa is as deep as the past and i think they've found something in the last and I think they found something in the last couple of years that they do have some success against Tampa Bay. Whereas Florida, they played some games where you're like, this is men against boys and they can't get on the inside and they cannot score against Bobrowski. Like there were times in that Florida series, recalling what I watched where they're like

they're not they're not getting they can't get in the inside they're not doing it so well I both goaltenders hot scare the hell out of me that's that this is where the Vasilevsky chat comes in because it was an accurate assessment of the way he had been playing including the Leaf playoff victory which not to rain on the parade, Leaf fans saw it, it was amazing, you win, you play who you play against, but Vasilevsky was horrendous that series. Like he gave up so many goals, Samsonov's numbers were not great,

and the Leafs still won, and they won all three in overtime on the road. Like just a lot of things broke their way. Now it was long overdue, and the Leafs earned that, but I do think if you're banking on that form of Vasileski or Tampa for that matter after they had been to three straight cup finals and were clearly out of gas this is different. This Tampa team has been able to breed the last couple of off seasons. Do you think the Leafs would have the edge in goaltending in

any of those matchups? Well if Stolar's placed the way he has been playing this year, yes, he has been better than both those guys. But he has. But you wouldn't say they have the edge, I guess. Maybe historically based on who they are, of course not. Both of those guys are probably going to the Hall of Fame. Vasilevsky's a lock. Bob's might be close to a lock. He's won two Vesnas, a cup. He sneaks in another one. You talk about legacy building. I think with reputation alone, I think you give the edge to both of those guys you just mentioned. Reasonable.

Not stole ours. Yeah. Like that's just the way. Reputation and past history and the way that they could steal games and series. The edge going into a series would have to go to both of those net miners. I not disagree with that. Can I go a little further and one

i can ask you guys pick both let's say this is stupid but pick hypothetically leaves by the panthers least play the aligning you to pick that series today what would you bet i don't think in the winter of the way that how many games like that they probably won't play each other the first round but they might have to play each other at some point

so you're saying pick toronto tamp the first round, but they might have to play each other at some point So you're saying pick Toronto Tampa first round or Toronto, Florida first round who wins the series? Yeah I'm gonna say Toronto wins both and just because Just because you would have to think after all this time. It would have to turn up blue That's that's that's the only reason for my thinking Like it can't happen.. Like it can't happen again. Can't happen again. Yeah, I mean, off that logic, sure. They should win the Stanley Cup in 16 games.

Speak for yourself, Hazy B. Speak for yourself. I think they'd probably both... Like Florida is intriguing to me because I do think if Kachuk's playing or not is massively significant. Massively significant. Let's assume he has. He's also got to factor in three, like they've been to two in a row. That's the thing. What kind of wear and tear do they have on with one of their best players kind of injured? That's the whole thing. Like it's a lot of hockey, man. A lot of hockey. And the Leafs,

you know, they got Tampa after they'd gone to three in a row. See, let me just bring up another element to it. you would think that the lease mindset which isn't their mindset would be if they get the florida panthers guys these guys have been to to stanley cup finals in a row every time you get an opportunity you beat the piss out of them in the corner

but that's not the way i think that's not going to happen yeah it's not their mentality that's what florida would to them about them. They'd be like every time they like Palmarese in one of those clips like the march to the cup He was like punish them not for this game But for for game seven in the third period like that that's the mentality well off hockey And I just don't know if they have that I wouldn't be surprised if you saw a war tonight between Florida and Tampa like setting the tone for what could be coming in a month. Would not shock me if they set a tone down there. Yeah I wouldn't be surprised at all if Bennett got up to something, Hagel got up to something. Now Kuchuk not playing again is pretty significant

but that's why ideally you get to a point where you don't have to ask that question and if if the playoffs were to start today if the Leafs would play Columbus who do you got in that series? Can I just ask you like as a Leaf fan is any party you're scared of this narrative where it's like oh you're gonna avoid those teams? Of course everything is terrifying and then it's like Montreal, yeah of course Columbus every possible scenario. We've already seen them get Columbus that's right. They're like, yeah, they've got Columbus Yeah, let's just move on and get this over with and go to the next series Yeah, and they lose every single there is not one scenario where one leaf and will feel comfortable. Not one They could change the rules and you get to pick your team and they play a team from the East Coast hockey league and

and you get to pick your team and they play a team from the East Coast Hockey League and the fans are like I've heard good things about that team like they're gritty in the playoffs the special teams have been hot lately they could win the division and play Ottawa, Ottawa squeaking in on the last game of the season and there would be concerns there would be some concern that like Linus Almark becomes just an absolute monster and This happens and that happens like I don't know. Yeah, there's always

Real because of their past man. Well Ottawa's in Washington tonight and you look at it that game on Saturday Columbus like they keep beating Detroit and You've got a really wild race right now where Columbus Detroit Ottawa New York Boston are all two points out Montreal is only a few points out so you know as we get closer to the deadline I really find it very difficult to predict what's gonna happen like who's gonna trade what who's gonna be a buyer who's gonna be a seller who's gonna try to convince their fans they're still really in it Chris Johnston coming up just after 5 a.m.

We'll get into the trade from the other night with Seth Jones on his way to Florida. What that could mean for the rest of the East and certainly the Atlantic. If you're Tampa and Toronto, Florida's made a big move. You countered, you feel you have to. Leafs are in action with San Jose in town tonight. We'll get to that a little bit later this afternoon as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4.

Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Nice to see the Raptors pick up a win last night. It's so infuriating to watch them play. But JLU said they detailed like end of games. They're playing guys to lose right like exactly like they had a lineup going last night with quickly and You know basically four guys who are rookies and second-round picks and two-way guys Isn't they held on to win? But it's like if you're gonna do that you got to do that kind of at the start of the game, too Unfortunately, and I don't know how they're gonna balance this because chance it man

Yeah to do that kind of at the start of the game too unfortunately and I don't know how they're going to balance this because chance it man yeah and it's I get that they're in a bit of a difficult spot because they've committed to all these guys and what are you going to say Emmanuel quickly you can't play or Scotty you can't play you know Barrett's playing Pertles back he's healthy like you're going to play the guys but if you play them there's a chance you're going to beat teams like Orlando and maybe beat a team like Chicago and when you play the Utah's and the San Antonio's and the Washington's and the Brooklyn's you're probably gonna win and it screams like ninth or tenth pick overall now and hopefully they could turn it around Hayes because

We cleared around and stand in bad Well clearly the standard of what it takes to get it, like to win a championship at the NBA is going to be changing in the next couple years. Like Steph Curry's disappeared, LeBron's disappeared, Kawhi's not really a factor. I mean you're talking about what are we talking about? OKC, are we talking about how are we going to get by Minnesota and OKC? Austin. Yeah, that's it though.

Austin obviously. Cleveland's having a great year but like Cleveland's a good example of that. Yeah. Like they don't you know Donovan Mitchell. Yeah Cleveland's an unbelievable team but they've, do they scare the hell out of you? No not for years and years and years and that's, you're onto something based on the new CBA where like the big three of like three future Hall of Fame superstars that's not gonna exist anymore. Yeah. Like it's going to be... For eight years dude in the east it was like you're not getting by LeBron. Right. Toronto lived it. They lived it they were on the wrong side of it a lot so it really is going to be a collection of you know

it's it's teams with parity you need depth like you always have in the NBA they still don't shoot well enough they got to get shooters you know that's the game you got to shoot you got gotta defend at the right time, and you've gotta find some depth because you're just not gonna be able to rely on finding three or four guys they're gonna carry you there anymore. And you look at the Lakers, they've,

what have they won, six in a row now, and they're up to the two seed in the West. And I think I can speak for everyone when I say, you just wanna see Lakers, Mavs in the the playoffs like you have to see that playoff round and the Mavs are gonna get in but they're probably gonna be in the play and more than likely so they'd have to get in then maybe they end up playing the Lakers in that first round if the Lakers hold on to the two seed who knows but that's what I'm calling for I think everyone wants to see it.

Jonas, you've put together a list. Now we gave you a couple of options. It's not Hayes' list. It's not Hayes' list, not a Hayes' B list, but you have a list. You had a couple of different things that you could go to. You have kept it behind closed doors. You have not revealed what your list is gonna be about. But it is leaf specific.

Correct. You want to reveal the topic du jour. Yeah, so what I was thinking I would do for you guys is we'd talk about things that need to happen for the Leafs during the regular season and then moving into the playoffs. How's that sounding? Okay, so what are we talking here?

Do we have three? Do we have five? I got five. You have five things that need to happen. I was debating, should I rank them? But then I don't want to rank them. Yeah, happen. I was debating should I rank them but then I don't want to rank them. Should I rank them just on fire? That's part of the exercise. I think that's right. If you have the ability to rank on the fly I kind of like the idea of you ranking on the fly. So these are five things the Leafs have to do before the playoffs start in order for them to have success come playoff time. Am I describing that properly? And including into the playoffs start in order for them to have success come playoff time? Am I describing that properly?

And including into the playoffs. Okay, that has to be carried over. I tried to straddle both. You've got to do it properly and then it's got to continue and carry over. Jeff, you're right. I'm doing it in order. Okay, you want to start at number five. Number five.

I think this is obvious. It's trade deadline week. They need to get a center. I mean, I've heard like, yeah, it's hard and there's not a lot of teams. And it is like, you look at, you mentioned the standings before. It's like, you look at like, which of these teams is like actually selling? Are they going to be on the fence? They have to figure this out. Like they have been trying to figure this out since the off season. They didn't figure it out. The Neanderthal thing didn't work. That feels like a lifetime ago. You can't go into another playoff series where it's like Pontus

Holmberg is your third center and Max Doam. He's like that that's not gonna win you a Stanley Cup. So that is first. Can I just chime in on that? Like I know there's been a lot of talk about center Iceman and how you got to get a third line center but like isn't the the first two like so much more important than getting this third line set? That's part of it though Jeff like if you get the right center He can take some responsibility off of those two guys because if you look at like some of the underlying numbers Tavares is playing really hard minutes and his efficiency or effectiveness has gone down

And so we've seen that happen in the playoffs. We saw it last year, Boston series. He has to play against Boston's top line. He's getting buried in the defensive zone. He does a great job defensively with Mitch Marner, but he doesn't score. He had one five on five point in the series. They can't afford another series where that happens, where he's having to play really tough minutes and he doesn't produce produce offense because look at this team, like they're even more top heavy than they were before before so I think it's like it's yes that's true but if you get the right player that player can take some responsibility off of those top guys yeah I think there's I think that's valid I also think when you consider the two teams we were just talking about Florida is gonna go Barkov into Bennett

into Lindell really good as good as it gets one two three and then Tampa's gonna go point into Sorelli into Nick Paul very good like that I'll say it like I've said this so many damn years so many years Austin Matthews at the top of his game and in years past it would be Austin Matthews into John Tavares Should be something special. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm Yeah, it should be. Yeah, you're talking about one guy Who was rated as one of the best players in the world number two probably three?

That's what we're looking at into another guy That's one of the best point producing sentiment like that combination sort of should have been looked at is so much more dangerous in the past like also people say that i know they got bark off it's like they got austin matthews man but austin matthews on a tear on top of his game should be more concerning than any other sentiment in the east by along shot yep

yeah i had just a little care's number five number four you touch on this earlier jeff and i think it's really important they have to figure out this power play because we have seen it's it's like you're just like reliving all these memories we've seen a power play falter in the second half we've seen a falter in the playoffs is cost them series and right now it's looking a little like

uneven in the the five forward thing is kind of like... They're pretty committed to that. And it hasn't... I've seen enough of it. I'm with you. Like, the playoffs are a month and a half away. I've seen enough of the five forward thing. I don't even know what their stats...

I can just go by eye test. Don't care what the stats look like. It's got to change before playoff time. Because if you want to go out there on a penalty, like on a power play, come playoff time with five forwards out there, good it's not gonna work great and like that that's just something that because it's always been their penalty kills not been great in the past about was not been great in the past maybe the penalty will be better in this year's playoff since it's better than it

was in years past the goaltending is a big part of that but their power play is the one thing that should be an advantage with the talent that they have well you have to take advantage of power play opportunities in the playoffs. Right? Like you have to, it's a game breaker, especially you get into a third period where it's tied or you're up one or down two or down one,

that has to be an equalizer for you. Like you're waiting for the whistle to blow in the third period. I can sense it already, like you can feel it. We're like, all right, power play, gotta take advantage of it. It's gotta be there when you need it. Okay, you got power play, to take advantage of it it's got to be there when you need it okay you got power play number four what do you have number three is we touched on this better defensive play like the teams

that win the Stanley Cup generally are pretty good defensively they're top 10 I think like it I've looked at in the past generally you're elite defensively this team needs to get back to that we haven't really seen it since the start of the year the personnel is better each If you add the right players at the deadline, if they add that center we're talking about, if they add the defensemen we're talking about, maybe they can get there. The personnel is theoretically better, especially on defense. They should be a better defensive team. I think they need to get there. Is that the defensemen that we're talking about? Are we just zoned in in on Luke Shen? Like that's who the Leafs want to add at the

deadline? That's the question is like who else is there? There's not a lot of like, unless you're swinging bigger. So like one thing we can talk to like CJ or Murdoch about is they could pivot. They could say, you know what, these centers are just just fine like Yanni Gord isn't changing our life or maybe Yanni Gord comes for a third-round pick maybe you take your best assets and you try to get a better defenseman I don't know who that is well that gets back to what tree living was saying like who's available who isn't you know Luke Shen is always gonna play here because he's Luke Shen well it's always gonna land excellent the last time he played really well

connected really really well with Morgan Riley, like really, really well. But that was two years ago. And there's more and more miles on him. And he's, you know, I'll believe that when I see it, that they circle back on that. Okay, but okay, number two, number three, number two here on you could argue this should be number one, it's health. Because like you, we talk about the goaltending. Those goaltenders have had injury history. TANF's hurt right now. They need to like luck their way into being healthy for the playoffs because like this whole year it's like one guy after another like that's every team. It feels like

it's been a lot here. Health is so big for this team like and we'll get to number one. We can get to number one. Go ahead if they're tied together. Yeah, go ahead. I just wonder if they're gonna have like the awesome Matthews that Jeff was talking about. I just wonder if that guy is just not gonna be here this year. I don't know what it is. Like maybe he's just never gonna get to like perfect health. I don't think we've seen that guy really the entire year. There was like a little pocket there. Yeah. That he was there, but it just doesn't totally feel like it's gonna be that year. There was like a little pocket there. Yeah. That he was there. But it just doesn't totally feel like it's

going to be that year. It feels like it's going to be like that 22, 23 season where it's just like it's kind of a struggle the whole year. That's the year they actually made the second round. And he's just going to have to kind of be 80% of what he is. And so number one is like they need Matthews or Marner and Nylander to be even better than I think we can imagine. Like we talk about elevating the playoffs. I think those guys need to like be super charged.

Just because- To compensate possibly for Matthews not at 100%. That's what I- Possibly, yeah. I mean, I think that would be asking a lot. I think again, they're all tied together because you're talking up the middle of the ice. Well, if you have an issue with your number one guy,

whoever's the third guy could be irrelevant at that point because everything has to filter into position. I will say this, that I think he's I thought he looked pretty good last night. Again, it's a weird game. It's Pittsburgh. You guys had the stats on the panel last night in terms of you know shots on net, slot shots, shots off the rush. He's he the last weeks, he's actually been leading the team. It looks like he's getting closer to breaking out. And sometimes that can be a little bit deceptive, where I agree with you that it doesn't look right.

But if you pot in, like he's got five more goals in the last two weeks, you're like, man, he's really starting to score again. And then it can feel a little bit different and look a little bit different. You can go to slot shots and in in inner slot and all this stuff I'm just talking about an overall look. Yes to the way he moves on the ice. Yes, that's it I'm not fighting against that but explosive well last year was just it was explosive

It's a question of whether or not it can come alive come playoff time You'd like to believe it because you know what they think Matthew Cachucko do in Florida when he just arrives after missing for two months is elevate to the moment. And other guys, the same thing we referenced Kucherov coming off a major surgery, that guy was unbelievable for two months. And Matthews won't get the luxury of not being on the ice because he's going to play.

But in year nine, you need to bank on this guy snapping out of it. Well, look at that final against Canada. He didn't have a great tournament. But at the end, like he was he was generating chances. And maybe that's what it is. Like maybe it's just going to be one of those years he ends up with, I don't know, 33 goals. But the playoffs come around. He doesn't look like what Jeff and I are talking about. Like he just doesn't look the same, but he still grinds it through and somehow he produces and like that's what great but all that really matters too right he's done everything else like pass sitler over the weekend he's second all time

and in goals for the Leafs Mitch Marner's fifth all-time and points like it's not surprising they're into year nine and they're great players but they're starting to rewrite the record books like Matthews is gonna get into the top five Willie if he's here for the rest of his career Willie's gonna be in the top three of everything you know it's it's pretty incredible yet it's got to eventually be tied to the the playoff stuff too but I think it also speaks to the fact that Matthews kind of like what we're talking about with McDavid a a lot of hockey, a lot of stuff going on, captaincy, new coach, you know, four nations. It's not gonna be his year offensively, he's not gonna win a heart, he's not

gonna win a rocket, like all of it just becomes irrelevant, wraps into this kind of irrelevant regular season on an individual level for him. Yet his team is lifting him up because they keep winning and they might end up in first place and he's gonna have the opportunity to basically just say, watch me come playoff time, you know, and if he had a better history and a better reputation come playoff time, I don't think there would be as much concern either. I think that they tied together because you're like, doesn't look like he's jumping and I can't reference these dominant performances where I say I know he's going to step up.

But that's basically all you can hope for if you're a Leaf fan right now. All right, Jonas, there you go. The five things that have to happen between now and the end of the season that carry over into the playoffs. I thought it was a good list and it was well executed. Very well done. Very well done. All right, CJ on that and more. We got James Murrow coming up today. Ryan Dempster on C insurers are again this weekend where the Jays are gonna go. We're getting closer and closer to opening day. John Schneider saying you're gonna see basically the real lineup coming up here soon. Like it's go time. They gotta figure

out who's playing every day in certain spots. Catch up with Ryan get his take on all that. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. All right CJ coming up in about 10... ten minutes and it's a trade deadline on monday the lease or an action tonight tampa versus florida tonight autowas inaction the habs are in action what going on in the entire right now

get out your crystal ball hazy and tell me that too wild card teams right now who who's gonna make it needs i'm gonna say what this is so godless but one of the rangers of the bruins one of them

i don't see how the bruins pull it off man i think they're in trouble but they're all back a little and home no marsh and marsh answered not to you and there but there are two points out yet the other teams having games in hand the Rangers are trading guys though like it's tough to figure out what I can't figure what the hell they're doing either man yeah like are you in or not you just acquired JT Miller and now you're making trades and picking up you know picks and prospects and stuff but I'll say the Rangers and I feel like Columbus

has got that mojo going, man. I'm going to put Columbus in there. Columbus is scoring at a ridiculous rate. They are, dude. Like they, and they've got some lines cooking now with, they got Boone Jenner back and they've got this kind of mixture with like Monahan and Jenner and a couple of veterans with these young players. That Marchenko too is fun. this kind of mixture with like monahan and jenner and a couple of veterans with our players to march a cousin's but man he's a stud infant hillies plan well in johnson's arrived like they've got all the sudden they got some guys where

you like they can they can score they're gonna keep overall they're not gonna move off him and we're we're and skis maybe you know when the norris this year has been so good i'll say columbus in the rangers but I like it I like it I need the Sens I need my Sens to get broken listen the Sens they got to win on Saturday that's big they needed that but they got it they got to get going like they're there they're in it they could easily make it of course it could Detroit I mean it's everyone's bunched together it's impossible to tell it's gonna be a great race you said last

week stick it's gonna come down to the last 10 days exactly who can put together the stretch of the last 10 days as the best who goes four and one down the stretch to get it out you know that's what it's gonna be our two on this and more coming up overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for you've been listening to overdrive powered by fan duel fan duel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Lights, camera, action.

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