OverDrive - OverDrive - March 6, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 6, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' defeat against the Golden Knights, Matthew Knies' tilt with Zach Whitecloud in the game and Mikko Rantanen's next steps approaching the trade deadline in the NHL. TSN Maple Leafs Reporter Mark Masters joins to discuss the Maple Leafs' clunker in Vegas, Matthew Knies' tenacious mentality and the trade deadline outline for the team.

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All right, here we go. Overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker, soon to be up on TSN4, Brian Hays, Zio Dog, Jeff O'Neil, Jamie Noodles, McClennan. And Pete Rose. Pete Rose, you made it last night, I was proud of you. I love you. You had some energy going. Duthie was laughing with Puff on the side of the panel, he just started laughing at

the picture and he didn't even know what it meant He didn't even know it was Pete Rose He's like look at this picture from haze. He goes. What is that and I go you don't know who that is I'm like, that's Pete Rose late at night. He's like falling asleep. He goes. I found it funny even without knowing that There was I found it online before the game started And it was such a perfect Pete Rose picture because He's in the screen like the backstory of it is he was in the shot It was supposed to be a solo shot with that host and Pete Rose is like peeking his head in

So, you know the directors live like get Pete out Like tell him to snap out of it and move Pete Rose And I just all the bow tie with the kind of Lloyd Christmas cut It was a weird vibe and very weird the Lloyd Christmas there and you had a comment. I Burst out laughing. I think it was after the second period That he goes you got to wake up. Oh and you go why this team's asleep to reset something like that I actually you're like they're wasting my time or so. I just said they don't care on the ice

I don't care on doing this job like Duffy you know watching the knives and white cloud fight What a scene that was last night, and yeah, it was it was too bad because it was three nothing before you could even flinch. And you know, they get to the end of the first and there's a lot to get into from the game last night. And I don't know how many people would have stuck around and we're less than 24 hours away from the deadline. There's a lot going on.

So we'll we got a lot to get into today. But you get to the first intermission, three, nothing. Okay. They actually had a bunch of shots and opportunities at different times. to get into today but you get to the first intermission three nothing okay they actually had a bunch of shots and opportunities at different times and I thought Aiden Hill played very well in the first and the first shift of the second period you're because that's the thought right you're like it's 11 o'clock I'm tired they're probably gonna lose I'll stick it out maybe they get hot early in the second and there's Oliver Ekman Larson in Morgan Riley dog park

Defense waving their sticks around in the corner Mitch Marner loses his guy It's for nothing and the lights are out like it just it was the 40 seconds into the second period you decide to stay up And watch and you're like, oh that was worth it. These guys aren't coming back. I saw this. I smelt this one from a mile away, because we praised them in the past, or I did anyway, for finding ways to get wins. And that's what it's all about.

You just got to whatever way it happens, it doesn't matter if it's ugly, bad goal tending, power play wasn't good, but you find a way to get a win. But when you're playing against teams where you get away with bluffing it, and I often mention tough golf courses where it exposes weaknesses, you get to some goat pasture and you can just spray tee balls everywhere, you can bluff it. You can hit it all over the yard and be like, I got a shot at birdie here, man, and I've been all over it.

You can't do that against good teams or on good golf courses you can't bluff it so a lot of times when you're trying to get back into the win column you'll have that one game where you like you play really well but you don't get the job done and then the next game you'll win well these guys were winning games with really not really playing well and then they had that loss and then you get out to Vegas and that team will stop you right in your tracks and they'll just say, you guys want to try to bluff this one, we will absolutely slap you in the face. And that's what they did. They're a real deal hockey team and they play for keeps and they're big and they're fast

and they're strong and their goaltender showed up. And if you go out there and try to wing it against those guys, you get smacked around and that's what happened. I smelt it a mile away. I didn't. I said on the show yesterday, not that I didn't smell it a mile away. I mean, we thought the time change could be a factor, all of that. I think, oh, you were getting your rest and, oh, Hazen and I carried on.

But I said, well well you needed a nap warm milk and then shut the mill down you had you had panel duties to do Hayes and I carry dog so my point being you take a bath what was your plan candle bath you needed a pregame nap but the point being is I actually said regardless they're a team that usually plays up or down to their opponent sometimes like that Just you know, we had witnessed it a couple nights earlier and and it I thought okay Well, they're gonna have a response now Vegas is allowed to play well, too Obviously you need a save or two from wool

So that's that that factors in but they did have some chances that Hill made some good saves But oh I text you in the second that fell apart in the second period if if store doesn't come in and play well nothing oh yeah that was ugly in the second when it was breakaway after chance after chance and I'm a psych this guy's making this like that wasn't a 5-2 game for me that was well that was 9-2 this is the this is the complicated kind of factor here when trying to determine exactly what we saw because oh you said it and in retrospect you can you can sniff that out you Look at it. You're like, you know what they have played in a lot of games on the road. They've been all over the place

They've been sloppy at times We're finding a way to win you play Monday at home and then 1022 p.m Eastern time puck drop in Vegas and Vegas had been waiting there since Sunday you know just chomping at the bit that's a really tough tough game for anybody but they're they're a veteran team and you know they had certain things to say after the game we'll get to that momentarily but it also felt like if that was going to be the case and you're going to give up a you know a five spot it could have been a 10 spot why not

leave Joseph Wall in there you know why not leave him in there why not just tell the third and fourth line you're playing 20 minutes tonight like what are you what are you accomplishing putting Stollers in and making him go from Monday night to last night go in the game again i can't disagree with that one is what what's it yeah what's the point you know unless but at the set to counter my own point if you're berubi and you're a real team like what's going to mail in a game yes you know fifteen minutes and that's it that's a loser's mentality so i you know in retrospect

uh... you look at it and I wish he just threw up the white flag and said, well, you're in there for seven or eight tonight. You know, Matthews Marner, Jake McCabe. I thought Morgan Riley and Ekman Larson were awful last night again. Tell you why. What about the value? You don't notice it sometimes until they're gone. Chris Tannev like MVP of the team for crying out loud, watching that decor without them and you mentioned that pairing of Moe and Ekman Larsen. I'll tell you what. I keep seeing these tweets about people assessing the Leafs and what they need or whatever. Gotta find a partner for Morgan Riley. Moe's gotta start playing better where he is an ideal partner for somebody else. For me it is the top priority.

That has become very clear since the break. Riley supplied some more offense which is necessary and at times he's been skating better. But that Riley Ekman-Larson pairing was horrendous against Pittsburgh. I thought they were awful last night in the first. Awful. And to throw them over the boards to start the second period, if you're Craig Baruba, you're like, you got Stollart's in, the Matthews line, and our two veteran defensemen. Go out there and have a shift. And they're both in the

corner swinging their stick around like a pair of American Hockey League players. And I'm sorry, I don't care who's playing third third center third line center if those two are playing like that You can't win like that. You can't it's completely irrelevant if it's Braden Shen Scott Lawton Max Domi Freddie the goat I don't care who it is playing third line center The best part is the same corner are playing like this. You can't win like that You can't like it's Morgan Reilly has been been here forever he's never been Scott Stevens defensively he never will be he has to be miles better miles better or they have no shot no shot with the way that they're defending right now I agree and I can understand your logic

on both sides with the the goaltending change, but I can't. When you're Craig Barube, you make the goaltending change and you were generating chances. So you think it OK if we could stop the bleeding at three, we have enough talent to get three. We have enough talent to put us back into this game with creating some chances because he'll make some really good saves. And but then it didn't happen. Like you said, that pairing, I didn't think anybody, you know, your circle. But it's not just last night noodles.

No, you're right. That's the thing. McCabe struggled, but he's had a pretty consistently good year. I think he'll pair with Tanev. He's out there playing with younger guys and they're trying to find a way. Riley and Ekman-Larson, they've, they're defensively have fallen off here. And that's where you got 20 games to figure it out and figure out who they're going to play with. And it's a, I honestly think for me, it's, it's the, it's a higher priority

than all this other stuff we keep talking about. And, you know, because if you've got Tanev and McCabe, that's been a good pairing and they're going to play a lot and they're going to play against the best players. and I think you're comfortable with that. You need the rest of your defense to be able to be predictable at times, defensively. They're not going to be perfect and I would anticipate that they'll be better come playoff time. It's a weird time of the year. It's kind of a dog day.

You got the trade deadline. There's some weird stuff going on. you know, I it's very I guess This is the way I would phrase it to you guys. You guys tell me what's more important third line center or your second defense pairing? For playoff success second defense pair, of course, yeah, I call day. It's not even close Yeah, so they got to figure that out like who's who's gonna play it if it's the guys that are here They got to play better Yeah I think it's like a it's like a chain of command.

There's no sense of even worrying about the third line center if you can't put out a second D pair, Corey. Exactly. Well, that you trust. And, you know, Brian, you come back to it. Like this is the thing, and I always try and remove the emotion part, is you assess a team not when they're down because everything's a match. They had it off night.

But like you just said it, Morgan Reilly needs to play better. Oliver Ekman-Larsen needs to play better. Can they? Are they capable of doing it? Yes. So if you believe, let's look at them, they don't have to be at 100% but they can't be at 30. If you can get them to 75, 80%, what does that look like and are you comfortable moving

forward with, we'll call it that four pack. Because when TANF was there and Riley and Ekman Larson were, they looked like a nice four pack. They looked very solid. Everybody looked comfortable in their own skin. It looks different with TANF not there, 100%. But that doesn't mean everybody else has to fall off. You need those guys to play better.

And there's other guys you can circle and go, I haven't seen this guy in a while, haven't seen this guy in a while. And they've got to live up to what they're capable of too. And you look at Joseph Wall, Barube said he'd like the first two goals back. The second one for sure, you can't have a, Barube said he'd like the first two goals back. The second one for sure. You can't have a backhand go through your body like that. The second one cannot go in. But, you know, Eichel, he's deep in his crease, but that's a bullet top shelf.

That's a great shot. You know, Eichel... Remind me of the first one. The first one was the breakdown where Domi almost got bad. I know, but like how was that on the goalie on that one? Yeah, I'm trying to remember that. Well, McCabe had kind of, he was looking up at the dancers behind the net or something and the puck was...

Well, the puck went really high and then it was kind of a three on two. But look at the position he takes at the top of the dots there. That was bizarro world. It was like, watch what he does here, okay? Now he identifies the puck and then he's like I'm gonna I'm gonna just check off this high guy here and the guy walks right to the net It was bizarre a world, but I don't understand how then if you look I think it was

Homburg and and Domi both stopped skating and then Domi realized man that that guy could get that absolutely I don't know how that was on the goalie though. I'm not sure either. I'm not sure, unless his interpretation was there was a bigger rebound than he thought it should have been. I'm not sure either. I didn't see that first one as a wall issue. The second one he's got to stop.

I mean, that's what I'm going to say. Yeah, and we're not going to go like scorched earth on this. They're not all of a sudden a terrible hockey team after this. this, but it's amazing how things do change from, you know, giggles and wins until loss against San Jose, then getting crushed by Vegas, and then it's like you got Nathan McKinnon skating around on a Saturday night a zillion miles an hour. You might want to pull your socks up a little bit because then you're like, well, what the hell happens in Utah if we lose that one And then we got a bit of a problem on right is you know response they do yeah

They'll need a response and that'll it'll say a lot about them Saturday And I would expect they usually do that's the type of game or they usually respond as soon as you think oh It's these guys again that always pull this kind of nonsense They generally answer the bell and they'll stand up and they'll have a performance Yes, and it doesn't guarantee you'll win. You might just run into an opponent that plays equally as well or the goalie or whatever, but they'll be much better. They won't have the breakdowns. I'd be very surprised if they broke down the way they did last night or at times against Pittsburgh in particular. But here's what we got a montage of a few players, the leaders speaking after the game

last night on you know the read media was kind of poking a prod and on the schedule which again is kinda complicated to get a read on because a lot of these guys just had two weeks in the bahamas yeah you know see just offer two weeks but you know matthews and marner will you can see that they're they're fighting it and they've they've they didn't get a break and uh... here's what uh... if you fewer the leaders had to say after the game about

you know what happened last night and how tough the schedules and i'm not a tough excuse to use uh... last week and i have been great by as i thought i thought it was cut some of our time so that's a wake-up call i don't know if it's it's no excuse the schedules schedule and some of you just got a find a way to compete and bear down. You know, you were dealt the cards that you get so you know it's time to be better. So yeah there's Marner and Matthews,

that's the appropriate answer. I mean that's the way you should answer it. You're vets in the league, you're a veteran team. Yeah. As Duthie mentioned last night, it's time to, there's no more four nations. Like, that's expired as far as being built into anything. Right. Like, it's gone. Yeah. And you're into the stretch run here.

You know? Yeah. Trade deadline's tomorrow. And you know, Florida just feels like they've got their finger on the pulse of everything. Like, they're just going to make moves. I would not be surprised if they make two or three somewhat substantial deals between now and tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Did I not read that they were sniffing around Rantinen? I have seen that. So the Miko Rantinen stuff, it feels kind of like Deja Vu. Every day we come in here, we're like, could he be traded? And a week ago, I was like, this is kind of goofy. There's no way. No, I sent Joe from the Bridge and young Doogie a note. I said, please stop being stupid on this text chain because Doogie wrote,

Kane still might flip them. And I said, sorry, Doogie, that's amateur hour talk. And I don't know who is telling you that and him and joe from the bridge love texting again you guys thought i was joking when i text that do you style then and don't don't you do that he's down in our ideas but held in and now even even nate just came out in colorado and he goes wouldn't you think you knew you'd sign them before acquiring a player like are

these guys dodo's well i guess that's the kind of data reported today is that it sounds like ranting in has to call is not sign here i'm not interested in sticking around so that one stings you know if you're the carolina hurricanes and it what i'm curious about tonight last year the bond about and I will ask Pierre Lebrun about this is well

All is fair in love and war right like this is this is a business and it's a battle But I am very curious. I'd love to be a fly on the wall if Carolina feels like they got duped here a little bit by Colorado saying hey, we got to keep this quiet. I don't want him to know we're not saying anything Don't ask them, you know because if he hears that we want to flip them We're in trouble and the canes were like oh, man. I guess so I'll take your word for it You know he's gonna be so happy here by the way when he gets here. He'll love it exactly I wonder why you guys did this Colorado kind of pulled a fast one being like listen We're not talking to him, but he'll I know he loves Carolina like I'm convinced he'll be fine there. And if they have a legitimate beef,

not one that you could file to the league. It's I mean, that's the way the game is played. Well, what do you expect them to get if they ultimately flip this guy? What do you expect them to get in return? Comparative to what they gave up for nature's like they got nature's okay, so you're right. But it depends on if you trade. So if he controls some of this, because I think he's got a 10 team, if he decides where he's going to go, they go to him and say, you're going to go to team X, let's just get crazy and go name a team. And then it's a sign and trade. Then you're going to get more if he commits to the new team. If the new team is using him as a rental, you're getting feathers.

That's really what you're getting. You're getting a smaller amount. But if you're getting Miko Rantanen on an eight-year deal and you're trading for him, it's a King's ransom because that's a star player. Would you do it if you're the Leafs, if M ranted and calls broad tree living and says I'll sign eight years 13 million right now. Okay, so who's Who's all the door? That's probably Matthew nice. Matthew nice would be going out the door Like I think that would be the starting point for Carolina

Now it's going on LTI art, you know to get what is he at? What's the sorry? What's going on LTIR? What is he at? What's his salary at? He's at like 2.5 million or something. So you could actually get him. That's right. And they'd probably eat half of it. He'd be making one five or something the rest of this year. I gotta be honest with you, Hayes. I gotta be honest with you. As good a player as Mikko Rantinen is, I would look at Matthew Nyes. I'm just kind of like, I look at the way these guys are earning money and they're all like great players and they all deserve the money. But if anybody's wondering why there's not like a lot of flexibility where you can go out and get quality players at the deadline, it's because one guy makes 13 million, two other guys met three other guys make eleven and a half when you have that kind of structure on your team i don't i'm kinda done with that they've already like going let's say the two guys that are out they don't resign there's two guys that make

big money haven't they kind of proven to themselves is not much flexibility if you have to another guy plus another guy making that kind of money well you see what the depth players are doing for the team like why not just have a different look at a different philosophy moving forward instead of this 13 million dollars nonsense like unless ranted and you look at ranting and compared to Matthew Nyes Matthew Nyes has got 25 goals well what's he gonna ask for he's an RFA at the end of the year I don't know I get I bet you it'll be a bridge deal though

But if he's smart he'd kind of attach himself with a hip to Austin Matthews Give me a three-year. How long is Matthews here? I want to play with him for three more. Yeah, I don't know I don't know three more but like what's the goal differential? I understand 24 goals listen ranting. It's better. We all know that no one needs Okay, express right but like he but he is I mean obviously ranting it's better than Matthew Nyes that's not even a hot take that's exactly it's just but it needs to be clarified because you do see well still what if Nyes turns into that he's not going to do that like man Mareiko Rantinen is a superstar but Nyes has 24 goals I loved that fight last night I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that finally someone on this team, and a couple other guys would do it, but I think the list is short, who said, that's a Struddy.

Remember Strud when we talked about it, Reeves hitting, who was it, Nurse? And Struddy's like, if someone hit me like that, I'm fighting them, like 100%. The guy's going to know I'm coming. I loved it and I told White Cloud, we're going, and he beat the piss out of that kid last night. Like he threw left after left at him. And I love that, he's got 24 goals, and he's a big body, and he's cheaper. There's a lot of value in that.

Like a lot of value in that. I'm not disputing it. My point is, wouldn't you like think you'd be a better team and have a better chance of winning if you had more of that? As opposed to just putting all your stock in it's like, oh, you better be such a superstar that you carry the mail. We saw what these guys do when it's up to them to carry the mail. All of the mail come playoff time. They don't do it.

And if you don't have depth underneath that, you are screwed. It just depends on where he fits in the structure. You write the salary structure. Technically on paper, before anything happens, Tavares' and Marner's deal comes off the books. Technically on paper. That's, you know, we know that. There's no secret, both of them are unrestricted next year. So you have an opportunity to reshape your roster if you want to. Now, those guys go to unrestricted free agency. Mitch Marner, you're

going to be looking to replace that. You're going to have to replace it. Let's clear that up. If you're doing a sign and trade for Rantanen at that price, you're basically I think would be telling Mitch Marner, certainly John Tavarez, that your future is in here. No, it's both of them. Probably both. You're probably like, I I'm going ranting in on the left side Matthews up the middle Willie on the right side that's the money that we're going to a lot to these players ranting in and Marner are the same age same draft and

That would be Then what you're asking yourself is how does Marner into horse react to that move? Tomorrow if it were to happen with a sign of trade knowing this is it for you guys You know that's another thing then go and earn a contract somewhere else like that's down the stretch on a team you got an opportunity like that's the way I would look at it is not everybody gets what they like John Tavares is in a different boat than Mitch Marner just a obviously yeah and not gonna get the same amount of money right but Mitch Marner I'm pretty sure he probably could have a deal in his back pocket

if he wanted. This is what he chose. He chose this. I believe him and his camp chose this. They have the right to negotiate. They have a right to go to free agency. Takes two to tango. I don't know where the Leafs are at, but I would argue that they probably had a conversation

last summer and said, let this play out. So Mitch Marner, if they traded for Rantinen, you can't be pissed. You're going, we don't know if you're going to walk away from us. They could go deep into the playoffs and he decides I want to go play in LA next year. Like, can't get nothing. Guys, one more thing on Rantinen as opposed to Nyes. Hayes, you touched on it last week with your outrageous comments regarding how many more heart trophies Connor McDavid is going to win how old How old is Miko ranting in he's 27. I believe

Okay, so You're gonna be giving him an eight-year deal Are you gonna get the best version of Miko rantingRantinen after, let's say, next year? No. Where he's 28 years old. That's valid. He's 28 right now. So you have to wonder, you have to ask yourself.

You might get two or three really quality Meekle-Rantinen type years after them, and then there's five tacked onto that where you're going to be looking at them and you're like, man, there's a lot of miles on that guy. Maybe he's just not the same. It's a big risk. Big risk. But it's the same risk you're taking with Marner. They're the same age.

Jamie, I'm well aware of it. I was just more referring to the comparison of a nice guy who's going to be a 30 goal scorer, hasn't even got to his prime. Obviously, Ratanin's the better player right now. But you have to look at that. When you want to start tossing around eight year deals Like you might have a five pack tacked onto that big body might start slowing down and making those type of trends. I said he could eat himself out of the league. Who knows? Like there's always risk involved. It's just got 101 points in 81 playoff games. Yeah. Keep

in mind guys, like that's the one thing. The cap is going up. So you can spend money on players. It's not a decision, oh, it's Knys or Rantanen. You can keep them. It's more a decision if it was Rantanen or Marner, or Rantanen or Tavares. Matthew Knys is not, maybe the cost of doing business is to get a player like that, but

the point being, I don't think it's a choice one or the other. You can keep them both under a cap that's going up. It's just who do you want to commit to long term? Well, and that's ultimately going to be the question. And they also need to know who's willing to commit to them. That's the game of chicken. That's the business when it comes to where the Leafs are out right now Ryan Reeves placed on waivers today. So you would presume that's the end of the Ryan Reeves era I don't think anyone's gonna claim him. He's got a year and a half left on his deal. He'll go to the Marlies

I don't know what they're gonna do with him down there Maybe they call him back up down the stretch playoffs Who knows but Ryan Reeves on waiversvers that was kinda what we're talking about yesterday bodies are gonna have to go out here to create some flexibility it's not a lot of money though i mean it's you put my waivers you can save one point one five million or whatever it is uh... mark masters was in vegas it is taking the mood in the room afterwards and what he expects between

now tomorrow pierre lebrun coming up with all the details on the core and that brad mars. Is he available? If so, what else could happen in Boston? It sounds like Boston might be willing to make some moves here. And where do the Leafs stand between now and 3 p.m. tomorrow among many other teams, including the Canadian teams? And I have my hazy B list, the seven Canadian GMs with pressure to get active between now and 3 p.m. tomorrow.

And it was as difficult of a practice as I can come up with. I want you to do a little underlying story for each one and say finish it with this. You better do this. Okay, I can try to do that or you can help out too on the flight. You guys can a little chime. Oh, you know I'll chime in there. Okay, that more still to come.

Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app All right overdrive continues powered by FanDuel now. We're up on TSN for we got pure LeBron coming up in about a half an hour There is action taking place around the NHL trades are happening Riley Smith on his way back to Vegas I'll explain this one to me hazy. Please just give a quick little note on what went down. Why are Pittsburgh and Nashville making trades with one another? I love that part about it. No, you don't, dude.

I love the move. You don't. Two of the most disappointing teams in the league that are going nowhere are making hockey trades. Do you think they tried to sell it as a blockbuster where they're both going in the right direction? I think they're I mean don't you think they're grabbing players like to flip them maybe this is a potential like. Why don't they like why does a national just trade through Shen? Hang on a sec I'm trying to I'd like to flip Shen and then.

Well that's why I said this to you guys in the group I want to flip them too though, but I'll let you flip them alright I didn't I said that to you guys in the group text I know why is Pittsburgh trying to get older and slower like that's I don't and what is that? Why does national want Michael Bunting like what is Michael Bunting gonna do for them? Well, he's got a couple years left on his deal. I believe, right? No, I do. I think that trade conversation might have been an SNL skit, to be honest with you.

If we got access to that, I might start laughing. Like confusion, like they thought they were duping the other guy and then they realized, oh, there was just mass confusion. Hey, how are you? Barry Trotz, Michael Bunting. Hey, I thought we got Raquel. Yeah, what are you doing here? Michael bunting? Hey, I thought we got Raquel. Yeah You're not a first-round

Here's mark Masters or Maple Leaf reporter you surviving down there in Vegas mark. What's life like down there? Yeah, we're we're on an 8 a.m. Flight to Denver Flew out after the game last night. So we're just trying to stay as close to them as possible Even though it's a day off for the team you just never know what's going to happen. So we were out early obviously would have liked to have spent a little more time in Vegas got in late on Tuesday night then it was all game day on Wednesday and now we're here in the thin air of Denver getting set for the deadline. So nothing went down in Vegas Mark you didn't like enjoy the nightlife any of that type of behavior?

None at all. It was all business. It was a business trip to Vegas. Obviously a big broadcast for us last night. Listen, this is a grind guys. Like I am exhausted. I don't know how the players are dealing with it. I know they downplayed the schedule last night and right, you know, you don't want to make excuses but and we're not traveling the same way that they do but still, you know, this has been a crazy, crazy schedule for the team and You're just trying to save all the energy. We got a big show tomorrow Yes, we absolutely do. Holy smokes get out and enjoy yourself Yeah

like do you ever see like the traveling sales guy like the big tall lanky traveling salesman that just bellies up at the hotel bar and murders beers. That guy knows how to just allot his time and commitment to different things. Mark, I give you credit though, man. You're ready for a big day tomorrow and I appreciate the professionalism. Yeah, we're going to be on the air, what, 6.30 a.m. is my first hit here in the Mountain Time Zone. You've got to just save the energy on a week like this. There's a time and place, right?

So I'll save it for another time, another trip. I like it. In terms of them downplaying the players, downplaying the schedule, you're right. What's a little bit conflicting is that the majority of the team just had two weeks on a beach in the Bahamas, so they just had the biggest break probably they've ever had in their career mid-season. Yet, it came out of the Four Nations with three games in three different cities over four nights and then on the road and back home and back on the road. Like last night was a really tough game.

Really tough considering they played Monday at home and then 10 22 p.m. Eastern time puck drop in Vegas, the gold nights waiting for them But is the next three days enough to make you believe that as of Saturday? They're coming alive again. Like how do you Where do you draw the line on? Yes, that one was tough But does that mean the next one's gonna be tough and they got to go through California still like they don't have an easy Traveling schedule the rest of the year Yeah, they got Nashville still they got a lot of Western travel this month

Austin Matthews kind of quips that they're fitting all of their Western Conference trips into basically the last two months of the season certainly feels that way they called it a wake-up call both both Mitch Marner and Austin Matthews use that word I wonder if Rube maybe behind the scenes had brought it up because sometimes they echo it that they don't you know and Marner said we didn't play great we didn't like our game on Monday night at home against the San Jose Sharks even though they had a lead in the third period but that's the last place team in the league coming into your building on an eight game losing streak and you'll let it slip away there so there's

been cracks here they've been piling up the wins but I don't think they've been all that impressive their goaltender you know Anthony Ster, in particular, has been really glossing over some of the issues and helping them stay in that game in Boston, win that game in New York. And obviously in Pittsburgh on the Sunday, their goalie Joseph Wohl did not play particularly well, but the other guy wasn't very good either. In fact, it was a little worse, in Guamquist at the other end. And I actually thought last night the Leafs came out okay. They end up out shooting Vega 16 and 8. And I was, I'm always curious to hear what the other team's coach said. And Bruce Cassidy basically said, we got the saves in the first. They didn't. And that was basically the game. And in that schedule situation, when you fall behind three nothing and the goalie lets in

that, you know, how did backhand or you're just kind of, it's a big mountain to climb. So I do wonder what we're going to see. I think they tend to play well in Denver. They tend to you know recognize the challenge of Nathan McKinnon in the avalanche. So I'm expecting a response especially with the two-day break to kind of get used to this. So yeah, I'm expecting a response on Saturday night. With Mark Masters, what was it like to see the Matthew Nyes White Cloud fight last night right off the draw to start the game? Yeah, that kind of, you know, we had identified that on the broadcast.

We're like, okay, let's have that video ready. You know, we know what happened earlier in the season. And Nyes, you know, he wasn't upset with White Cloud when he spoke to us the first time after that. You know, he said, listen, I got to learn, I got to keep my head up. That's on me. But he was upset about it, right? He got injured.

He missed time because of that hit. He did not sit well with him. I got to keep my head up. That's on me. But he was upset about it, right? He got injured. He missed time because of that hit. He did not sit well with him. And I guess he had told, well Mitch Marner said he got a head up from Knives before the game that he was going to look for that. And good on him. You know, Morgan Reilly said that's a young player making a statement. If you nail me, you're going to answer for it, clean or not.

I'm going to come calling and I'm a big guy. I'm 6'3", you know, 220. And it's, you know, by the looks of it, he knows how to fight. You know, I remember back in October, he pulled Ryan Reeves aside after practice and said, give me some tips because I know I might be in that situation.

He said he was struck by Reeves being so calm and always having a plan. And it sure looked like Nives had a plan going into that fight, caught White Cloud off guard with a couple of left jabs. So good on him. The rest of the league is going to see that and he, as in Riley's words, sent a message. Where do you think Walls heads at, Masters? I mean, I don't know.

That's kind of a couple tough outings. I mean, I think everyone's established that Stolarz is the guy in net but like I Don't know. Do you think there was it was Barube asked? I don't know if I heard this if there was the temptation to just leave him in and let him kind of chew on it and Fix it himself He wasn't asked about that So he was asked like why did you pull the goal? It's the first time he's pulled a goalie this season for performance and he said it was a wake-up call to the team

I followed up and just said, you know, what were you seeing from Wohl before? And then he said he felt like if you asked Wohl, he'd probably want the first two goals back. He gave him a pass on the Jack Geichel shot, which was a nice shot. But still, you know, if that if that Houdon shot's going in, you're going to want to save. You know, at some point you're going to need a save, especially with Aiden Hill looking so good at the other end early in that game.

So we haven't spoken to Wohl in a while. He was requested after the game in Pittsburgh, not available. Now they won that game. So the team, you know, they wanted to keep the spotlight on some of the good news stories that night. He was requested last night, but not available. They decided to make like the guys who were letters available to the media. They do that after after bad losses. So we haven't heard from Wol, it's hard to get a read on exactly how he's feeling about this because he you know he had the one win in Chicago coming out of the break then the illness and you wonder if that took a bit out of them. Didn't the afternoon start on Pittsburgh can be a bit of a weird thing. Yeah he was on the ice. I remember the

last guy on the ice Saturday at practice was Joseph Wohl, which I found odd just because usually the guy who's going to start the next day is off early. So I just wonder where his mind's at. Friday morning before the game in New York, Craig Rube said he wants someone to be the guy come playoff time and Anthony Stolars is looking really good right now. And you just wonder if that's preying on the mind of Wohl at all because it just feels like this is the time when someone's gonna separate in stores is doing it and walls wondering if it's a repeat of what happened on the stretch last year

earlier samson off played well took the creek and started game on self i'm curious what will probably hear from all tomorrow uh... and i i'm really interested to hear what he has to say i think we have to be mindful this uh... just wanted to point out like stole our sis only played twenty the most he's ever played in a season is 28 games He's in 23 this year so far So I mean he is gonna creep down if you give him an opportunity down the stretch He will be career high in games. I know like noodles

You know what if he's gonna be the guy in the playoffs, he might as well get some practice at it I agree, but are you a hundred percent? He is gonna be the guy in the playoffs, he might as well get some practice at it. I agree, but are you 100% he is going to be the guy? That's the thing. I think there's been pockets where Wolves played very well too. And it's just Stolarz has been more consistent, but keep in mind he had six weeks off. Well, you played the position if the playoffs were starting tomorrow, who would you... Stolarz. Stolarz, right now.

I mean, there's no doubt about it for me, but I'm saying Stolarz hasn't had his market correction either. Like, you know, he's had an unbelievable season. There might be a dip of five games where he doesn't have his goods. Like that's the we haven't seen anything from Anthony Stolarz where there's been a dip yet, right? He's been he's played 23 games. He hasn't played 43 or 53 where there's been ups and downs throughout the season that's the only thing that worries for me down the stretch for him

is we just don't know there's a great unknown the guy hasn't played more than 28 games in a season the schedule so tight that you got to think they're gonna rotate a lot of the way down the stretch maybe the last few games they give the guy that they've identified a bit of a run to get in a rhythm. But just with the way the schedule is with all the travel, you got to like, obviously Stolars is going to start Saturday. Would you go with him against Utah? You know for sure he's playing that game Thursday at home against Florida.

Like that's circled. It's his former team. He's your hotter goalie. But Monday will be interesting. Do they let Stolars have a run now or do you get Woll right back in against the Utah Hockey Club who are in a playoff race as well? That won't be an easy game either. With Mark Masters, so you said the team flew into Colorado so they're there.

The management team was there last night. I'm presuming they're all there. Tree Living, Shanahan, everyone. What did you make of Austin Matthews' commentary yesterday about the trade deadline and upgrades and what other teams are doing? What are you anticipating? What is your kind of spidey sense telling you could happen with the lease between now and 3 p.m. tomorrow?

Yeah. I mean, that felt notable, the comment by Austin Matthews, because a lot of guys were asked about the trade deadline yesterday, and most of them stuck to the usual kind of talking points of we're focused on playing hockey and doing our jobs and the details and we're not worried we'll let management handle that but Austin Matthews listen he's he's not gonna hesitate you know he doesn't often you know speak out but when he does he's he's comfortable in that spot and as the captain of the team he came out and said yeah out and said, yeah, you know, look at the spot we're in, look at the division we're in, we'd like to see, you know, of course we'd want to see a boost. You see other

teams adding, you want to add as well. So it did feel notable and just, you know, they, you know, the guys probably, you know, obviously we're seeing the news of the Tampa Bay trade. The Penguins were in the building getting like their equipment was in the building because they're going to practice there today and then play bigot on friday to like we're seeing like penguin bags leaving like that's a big party bag getting carried it like right past the lease where they hurt doing their uh... you know soccer warm-ups and i'm sure we've got like when when are we going to see a new bag move in or what other babies are the

guys are thinking you know will i'd be heading out so it was a bit of an uneasy kind of strange day yesterday uh... in vegas uh... despite he senses that they're gonna do something Right, they got to do something you would have to think you know Trey living downplayed it a bit when he met with us the other day Saturday in Pittsburgh, but you got to believe something's happening Ryan Reeves on waivers Just you wonder if it's not going to be a big as i think a lot of these fans would like it to be

well we will find out less than twenty four hours appreciate you doing this mark will see a bright early tomorrow yeah any idea of where we should do this hit like six thirty three should be outside hotel room right by ballerina we're trying to figure this out like what's a pfc almost a carl slashe peeler joint in the main drag at Denver, man It's the yeah, I'd a Larimer score. No, there's it's called shotgun Willie's. It's down by the Creek Mall Cherry Creek Mall you go. I used to live I lived in a hotel right across the street from shotgun Willie's Yeah, I'm gonna be a

shotgun Willie's that's there the entertainment establishment all that's the one that you'll get a beautifully they're breaking down trailing great starting by the ticket hoops in heart for it but i always like getting your guys to get suggested for the future that cut the stout stairs The manager's office is downstairs. Pop in and say hello next time you're in Hartford. They're waiting for you.

All right, Mark. Good luck with that. Have fun. There's Mark Blasters. Didn't I text you guys in the group text? Isn't there a place in London or something where it's like a stairway to go up to the second floor and there's a VIP but it's outside? It's like a stairway to go up to the second floor. There's a VIP, but it's outside. It's just a shady, shady joint.

I can't remember what it was. Oh yeah. It connects with a barn in the back or something. Yeah, it's just ridiculous, some of these establishments. Yeah. There's some wild scenes out there in the world, man. I can't wait to see where Master's sets up shop tomorrow. I know where he will, the hotel lobby.

Yeah, more than likely, or at the rink. I don't know if they'd allow them in the rink at that time. I'm not sure they would. But yeah, Mark will be there. Everyone's gonna be a part of it. Trade Center's starting tomorrow at 8 a.m. Eastern. We're looking forward to it. We're all gonna be there and ready to rock.

Ryan Reeves, he's the only one on waivers. I guess more could go on waivers tomorrow right like that'll be the final push if need be I believe. So is that one of those waivers where he's not like on a would he be on a bird like if he doesn't get claimed to the Marlies? I think you have to go to the miners. Well I've just seen guys who have been on waivers they cleared them all of a sudden they just they're still around. to go to the miners. Well, I've just seen guys who have been on waivers, they clear, and then all of a sudden

they're still around. I believe it's not a paper transaction. He actually has to, I believe, go. If you're not claimed, you are a signed... Tough on the guy. That's tougher. That's going to sting, man. He's been in the league a long time.

He's a respected guy. He's a big person. He's a big personality. He's a warrior. He's been around a long time as a respected guys big personalities a warrior he's been around a long time and when you get to that point that's that's a difficult transaction man yeah it hurts but it also it's probably necessary he's not gonna play in the playoffs like there he's not gonna play so you know there that just makes you wonder what else they're gonna do and and Tampa's gonna stay active Florida's gonna stay active look at Jersey they picked up Brian

Dumalin today they're not they're not mailing it in like Jersey's like all right Jack Hughes you're out we're gonna keep going here top 50 Dougie that's who they're replacing right there right do not 50 will return I think by the playoffs I believe Dougie Hamilton will return but and Pareko is gone so yeah he had a nice scope he's out for up to six weeks basically takes him out of the year yeah exactly, exactly. So it's per echo. A is off the board, but B, what does that mean for St. Louis and what they're going to do? You're going to try to backdoor to the playoffs or you're going to

make trades. I love being competitive and I always refer like when Peter Forsberg went down, Joe Sackett put the team on his back. They won the Stanley Cup, but I don't know man like if one of my guys went down like Jack Hughes goes down I might just throw my cell phone in the Hudson River and be like well well sure Pierre Lebrun can tell us on that more he's coming up Darren Pang coming up and dear hazy be a special Thursday version of dear hay B at 6.30.

Get your submissions in online. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. All right, we've sent Al's brother out into the city with a pair of Leaf tickets. You have to guess where he's hiding for your chance to win them. Here is your final clue of the week. Hey, Overdrive fans. Happy Thursday to you. It's time for your final clue to find out where is

al's brother your scoring yourself a pair of leaves tickets for saturday march fifteenth the sense are in town here is your final clue hockey players like austin matthews nats booner and even young frazier minton frequent this building quite regularly. It's a Ford Performance Center. I think it must be.

I don't know what else to say. I mean, I don't know where else he could be. First call through tomorrow with the correct location, wins a pair of tickets again, Leafs, Ottawa, March 15th, Saturday night, big game, Finals, brother, brought to you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora, our family family the Ford family and you yeah we'll see that was a weak clue i gotta be honest that's a weak like yeah i don't really get the previous clues that much he's like Frankie Corrado works on his hands and that wasn't did he say that wasn't it yesterday like you're like he works on his hands yeah he said something like

that i was like what the hell is he talking about? I know. Frankie was in one of the ones. I think he's on a cruise ship again. Yeah, I think it might be a Malin. It might be a Malin. Anyway, all right, we got Pierre Le Brun coming up. Pierre will join us. And what's the latest on Miko Rantin?

And what are the Bruins gonna do? Could Marchand be acquired, if not him, Coyle, Carlo? Carlo's the guy. Brandon and Carlo that is a guy would have he's my guy your guy okay well and where do the Maple Leafs and the other Canadian teams fall in line on this rapid fire with Pierre less than 24 hours away from the trade deadline overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for you've been listening to overdrive powered by FanDuel

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