OverDrive - OverDrive - May 20, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs' faults in closing out the series against the Panthers, how the defeat could change the dynamic of the team moving forward and what was needed to win. TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson on the Maple Leafs' playoff failure, the possible team revamp and Mitch Marner's future in Toronto and Scottie Scheffler winning the PGA Championship.

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Power 2 Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hazio, Doug Jeff O'Neil, Jamie Noodles, McClennan. We got confirmed deny later in the hour. Mike Johnson will join us here in a moment. Florida, Carolina tonight. That happened quickly. And one day in between. That's the thing. Like I would have been in a suit the least one game seven I'd be going down there tonight. And that's what ultimately sucks more than anything is that the the playoffs like it was a month because they got to game seven in the second round it's so unique it's so awesome it's such a fresh you know incredible experience for any fan and I'm sure this applies in a lot of different markets but in Toronto when the Leafs are playing in the playoffs it's so awesome like it's just awesome

to watch the games talk about them whether they win or lose everyone's buzzing everyone's you know picking away at it and you know that that's that's something you miss more than anything on the outside looking in is like you know taking my kids to school i see markov jerseys and tucker jerseys and gilmore and matthews and marner and everyone's got flags and hats and everyone walking like the crossing guards like you think they're going to win tonight yeah and it's just it's amazing it's amazing what what air come out of it though it's just like that it's like I'll see you in October my question is do the flags come off immediately I didn't see oh yeah immediately immediately like off the

car immediately I think so yeah I mean I so I didn't like you you talked about it earlier no no use in being a dead horse but it's like i didn't like there was people burn injures that's so sad like you know i got a viral i had a deal that today one of my good buddies joey called me and he goes what do i do now i would be talking about i'm like you chew on it like everybody does whether it's media band-aids and you chew on it and say this whether it's media fan base

and you chew on it and say this sucks maybe i want to cheer for another team and then as soon as training camp comes around you'll be right back on the horse you'll be right back in you'll be you'll be stuck back in that's what you do but what everyone does that speaks to i think an important element here of of why do you think it would be smart from a business standpoint and a team building standpoint to freshen up the script. Right? Because that's what this is. What you're speaking of is that this is

entertainment. It's a drama series. But two games in a row, the last two home games were torture and they booed them off the ice and they booed one player off the ice. And if you came back and said, we're throwing that at you again, I don't care what perspective you're looking at it, business, sports, it would be crazy. It would be, yet you just proved what they know. They'll just come back in October. And that's the point, is that they're still going to have the packed houses and there's

still going to be a lot of buildup. And when they make the playoffs next year, everyone's going to get the flags out again and be like, I want to believe because why would you not want to live in that existence they're gonna say what we said or what people said last year and maybe the year before I don't remember but specifically this year feels different well no because here's here's why I think the reason why I do think that that existed right was more because Craig Barube than anyone else Barube was new he was different people played picking up a little bit Yeah, Pat Quinn and Pat Burns vibes like here's this guy tough with his nails

Everyone loves him the way he speaks the way he's composed I think Barube represented that that that's over after your rookie season that doesn't you know? Barube's done what he's done. He'll continue to do what he's doing. You're not gonna play the new coach that doesn't you know brew based on what he's done to continue to do what he's doing you're not gonna play that new coach bump card anymore because it's been played right so i'd i'd don't you know and listen they brought in carl they brought in tan and they brought in eckman larcen stole ours

but there were big tangible pieces that were different this year agreed but ultimately i i do think in in order like if you're a script writer that's what i'm saying here if you work for craven you're writing a show sometimes you got to just you know move off characters. Well the template is... Yeah like I said you got to have a different feel and the only way to really have a different feel is for one or two of the main guys to leave. They have to like they have to and again I'm not predicting they will based on what i said last hour i think they'd probably well but i'm not convinced they will

but i think they have i think they should i think from a case simply selling your product standpoint and trying to reach a new level you just can't consistently do it you're doing here you know i was well i don't know i was in charge of that operation I would literally be open to some very creative options with a lot of different things. How far would you go? Would every player be on the table? I don't know about everybody but like as drastic

as you could do I would be looking into it. I don't know. So what is your interpretation of Tavares telling the media that he just spoke with Treeliving and Barubei and he's very optimistic he'll be back next year. I don't understand look he's been a great soldier he's been a model citizen he's put up points but if you bring the personality but it's still John Tavares he's still gonna be on he's still gonna want to be on the number one power play he did score 38 goals last year you know what that's a good regular it's a great regular season that is rip home 38 at that age that's great but it, did anybody watch his performance,

the last three games of that series? He had a couple around the net goals in the third game. And then after that, he could not make a play. Yeah. He could not get through the neutral zone. He could not get the puck back and he could not make a play. So what about that would you say if I'm looking for this I gotta have John Tavares back and I'm this that's not a hot take that that is a fact of what happened out on the ice. Yes. That is a fact that happened out on the so how could you watch that and say gotta bring him back. That's insanity by insanity. Furthermore it'll be a year older

it'll be five the wheels come off like that when you're that age. Yeah. Now, you're right. I'm not trying to be contrarian. Try to sell me on it, go for it. I'm not trying to sell you. I'm saying we don't know what he's willing to pay for next year financially. But you're saying it doesn't matter if you wouldn't take him for a dollar. Like you're saying the change is more important than the salary cut. The change of players and personalities need to change. I totally agree. And if the two guys at the top, Marner or Matthews and Nylander are still gonna be here and those two personalities are very similar, their approach and what they do, then the other guys underneath it who have you had the opportunity to step away

from and say we've got to bring in different personalities. The coach said it, this is about a mindset. say we've got to bring in different personality. Yeah. No, I coach said it This is about a mindset you change the mindset and bring in different players and hope that it works And it doesn't have to be this summer Ideally it does but if you commit to John for three or four years, are you then you're kidding? Way, there's don't get out of that. Yes like John because what is John's gonna probably demand which again They don't have to give him but he probably demand a no movement and no trade and if you're gonna commit to them They're probably gonna give it to him, right?

So that's the thing and that that is another thing that's important to point out here because Lee fans like how do you replace this guy? Doesn't mean it happens on July 1st Might happen at the trade deadline next year or the year after that it doesn't it's once you commit to these guys you're in Right, you're you're you're stuck in terms of the contract commitment. I think there's other We're talking about the core four which rightfully so But we're also like what is Max Domi's deal What is you know Max Domi's got three more years, right? Like I didn't really love his play and you know, Max Domi's got three more years, right? Like, I didn't really love his play.

And, you know, he's farther down. No. You know, you've got Jarnkrook, I believe, for another year. You've got... David Camp. Camp. You've got, like, there's other players that need to be dealt with as well. And the only reason I'm saying that is because every dollar counts.

That's what I'm saying. If Marner leaves, that's, we'll call it $11 million. If Kovars comes off the books, there's another 11. There's 22. The cap's going up. Yes, Matthew Nye's needs an extension. I look at it. If you're gonna reshape things,

every dollar's going to be important. And there are some guys you like and go, I want to move forward with this. Other guys you go, I might need a change. And again, we're sitting there picking at the top four and rightfully so, but there's other guys that didn't. There were passengers as well. Now, you got to fill out a team.

So like the idea that Domi's going to go and Yarncrug's going to go and Camp's going to go. I'm not saying they have to. I'm saying if everything's on the table Everything's on the yes, it should be and that's where again the elephant in the room I think Morgan Raleigh has to come into the forefront. Yeah, we love we all love Mo. It's that's not about that It's the guy he's been here for 12 years He says connected to the history as I know he had the season of his career this year he really struggled in game seven they all did but he really really struggled like him and Carlo really struggled yeah and you know you're

committed to everyone else can't have him at cave I thought McCabe really like his his play with the puck was wild the water to witness on in game seven but you know the sorry to interrupt the one thing that I noticed and nobody talked it's interesting you listen to Florida players talk and then you listen to the Leaf players talk. Leaf players just talked about like oh you know we didn't have it and passengers and that Panther players were like we had a system we executed this we had our changes it was like they could tell you exactly what they did from a technical standpoint Where I'm hoping the Leafs players would go yeah, they were on top of us

They like because it was it there was nobody that gave us an explanation other than yeah We just had some passengers we seem pair unlike yeah Well even Berube today just kept saying like well you got to trust your structure on What is the structure? Austin Matthews even said we weren't all on the same page. I thought that was insane to say. If there's only one thing that could mean was is some guys just get one out there and said I don't care what happens tonight. That's all that could mean. Not being on the same page in a game seven.

Who's responsible for that? Well the players ultimately because they execute what's going on Greg Berube didn't just draw a question mark on the board and go we're not sure what we're gonna do tonight they know how to play, they know how to exit the zone they know how to you know how they want to play in the neutral zone

how they have set plays off draws like if anything the Toronto Maple Leafs are over-coached in certain areas because they've got 150 people that work at that organization. That's what the fans that went into the building, they cannot deal with. If you're going to go down, I think people could have gone to work the next day or spent the holiday and said, you know what? They scratched and they clawed and they fought and it was a bounce and that's all we can do and that's life and that's hockey but to

have those guys perform like that time after time in these critical games where it's no not close and they don't show up that's what people it makes them sick they're like this is just our city and that's what we get like that performance it's gut-wrenching I know and this is singling out and I understand he was at the end of the shift and all of that but that that knee lander drive-by where he's been out there for a buck 45 goes for a little drive by watching that live was change there was one nothing at that point take a piece of somebody step out of your comfort zone and get a chunk of

some where did he go when he went out of the way when I went for a change because he they had been trapped out there and I understand the context of it but I'll tell you what those Florida Panther players that would get caught out there and if they were on the way to the bench and and somebody a leaf player was there yeah they'll take a PC yes that was the difference and and it's just a small detail so I come back to it and you know there's just things that they they almost in game five and game seven they look paralyzed. They look like they were having outer body experiences going I'm watching myself play but I'm

not there. And you talked about it McCabe handling the puck, Carlo handling the puck like they needed somebody to Seth Jones he he looked like bobby or he was actually was on the label i'd so well he was great but act like place like that they've got a three-pack like chicago where you've got act like jones and forzling might be the best player out of all of them when it comes to defensive like that was jomerson c brook and keith yeah

they're right and in this defensive core, very good defensively. That poor Chris Tanev, you see that stat where he got hit 120 times or something in the playoffs. He was battling for his life, running for his life back there every night, blocking shots doing ever. And that's maybe a different angle to all this. We're all talking about what they should do and who should come back. Like when you take the money off of Tavares and Mitch Marner like it can bring a different look you what which we just talked about of depth right like two players instead of one yes and maybe have that the different approach yeah

and fill out your lineup there's been there was big talk forever about not a team winning the Stanley Cup with a guy with with one guy in double digit numbers and finally Jack Eichel broke that code because he was the first guy making ten million dollars to win a Stanley Cup let alone four. Well he's and he's ten on the nose, Barkov's ten on the nose, Bob I think is ten on the nose. If you you know it's it's be very selective but if you push to like 10.5 and up never happen right at the least of have four there you go so like yeah discussion forever was one guy at 10 let alone four it just it gives perspective as to like like I say it was interesting and I know everyone's

emotional about it but Florida was very concise with their how they felt they beat the Leafs on the Leafs side like they looked overwhelmed like listen to Austin Matthews like he was just like yeah we just had too many passengers like it's now I'm not expecting him to do a technical breakdown and say hey they're after here's a whiteboard and you know they have to know in their heart like how they like Florida was all over them If that was if that was directed at one player They got a they got another problem on their hands, too

Like if there was somebody where everybody was like this guy's sitting they have beers and they talk worse Like can you believe what he was doing at that that that's just another problem? Yeah, well that and that could be concerning because it could be someone that's on term It may not and maybe someone that's about to leave Marner or Matthews addressed his injury issue today and said he injured it in training camp And it was a really tough year Wouldn't reveal what it was which I still don't understand his reasoning behind I get that he has the right to not and he's very very I behind I get that he has the right to not and he's very very I don't even know how to express this like he's almost he's aggravated by the idea that someone would would ask him or or suggest that maybe he should reveal something or

furthermore ask him which they did today following up like just out of curiosity why won't you reveal what your injury is well it's concerning because he's like that's because I can like it was almost like how dare you and it's like if this thing Happened six months ago and you don't play again for four more months. What is the purpose of not revealing what happened? Well, you know what my interpretation of it scares me that that's chronic That's that's something that's not going away and he might have to play with that or it might just I I don't know how you Feel about that because if somebody hurts their back

or they're groin or whatever and so. Now he did the same thing against last year after the Boston Seals. I know. Wouldn't reveal something and. But who knows. That's just the way he is about that, why he cares about it, I have no idea.

But that might be the same injury, we don't know. Yeah, no, I get it. But there has to be some reasoning, because he's the only guy that I can think of of that profile especially like this was a constant story all the guy went to Germany during the season like Everyone's been talking about and clearly he was banged up and he admitted to that like he was fighting through it He said it was a tough year. Yeah, I was very evident and you look at his production It was very evident and I credit him for battling and fighting. He played all the time for the most part Yeah, but he said as an excuse. He didn didn't say yeah he didn't use it as an excuse he played and and yet

at the end of he said he believes he'll be a hundred percent with with time and rest well then why didn't he take time and rest after the training camp right like if you get if in four months you'll be a hundred percent and you and you got hurt in September Why didn't you take the four months during the season? Well, and if it's not surgery go a step further Why do you play in the four nations? Well exactly like if you knew all year? I'm struggling I'm fighting it like that's the other thing like that. That's an elephant in the room We're just speculating now though because we have no idea but this is what he could end the speculation if he told everybody what it is Like stores came out said yeah concussion, you know other people are always like yeah, I got this I got that like I don't understand

What the big secret is with him. I don't get the benefit. Okay, but if it is chronic, what is that? What so you think he's guarding from people? Because they're gonna have an issue the rest of your career He has a chronic if he has an injury that they're hoping this offseason will fix or whatever who knows if you need surgery again i he said he doesn't need surgery i don't want to speculate my point being is that if if this is something that he might have to battle the rest of his career

why come out and say it because now all all the sudden we're looking at night other teams are looking at it if it's a a vulnerable spot if it's a. If it's a vulnerable spot, if it's a shoulder, if it's a... I would just lie about and say, you know what, my ankle's all jacked up. That's what it is. Seriously, it gets the flies off. It's like, I got my ankles all jacked up and I got to

work on it in the summer. It's nowhere close to your ankle. You could do that. I mean, no one's under oath here. Well, I know, but it's just... That keeps the flies off. My ankle's kind of jacked up and I got to work on it. and I just found it I don't know. I don't that's him that I understand it. And yes, he has the right to keep it I get it. I'm not disputing it. I'm just saying in a sport where almost Famously people gloat about hey, I fought through this dry subtle play and broke my arm It's a Bergeron had a long that collapsed in you know he he's got an opportunity after a a season long story about this in speculation running

not uh... not saying anything and and i'm sorry to tell you why i'm not going to tell you that's two years in a row though that this guy has been you know at the year-end press conference having to talk about an injury that doesn't want to share with you. So that is concerning as well because he's a guy that you know big body that that gets nicked up like well the least know what's going on and ultimately that's what's important. Yes and if he can be 100% that's all you can hope that's all you ask for and

that's what people expect you take him out's word that he will be a hundred percent like I agree but you know if he's not willing to reveal anything then you get it speculations gonna run wild then there's worse you can't he can't be upset about that so Austin Matthews I know but it's a huge story all year all right I got some confirmed with the knives we'll get to we'll catch up with Johnny get Mike Johnson's take on all this CJ coming up mark your Dano still to come overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN to all right Mike Johnson coming up here in a moment CJ later this afternoon Geo will join us. We'll get to something to chew on as well and

We haven't even mentioned, you know, what else has been going on in the sports world. My boy, Scottie Scheffler. How about Scottie Scheffler running away with the PGA like I said he would? Dude, that was the worst tournament atmosphere-wise I've ever watched in my life. Of all time. The buildup, everything. It was terrible. Even the crowd, I don't know what it was.

It was like, did they not want to be there? It was like there was a tee off in the first hole. They'd be like... Yeah. It was weird. Did they not want to be there was like there like a tee off in the first hole they'd be like Yeah, it was weird if that was in like Boston or the Northeast people would be going nuts after every tee ball It was just it had no juice. Yeah, it was It was weird man. It was weird to to witness the whole thing and then even like I thought okay We got a back nine here when Rom and Scheffler were tied and then all of a sudden Rom just fell apart and Scheffler takes off and he wins by six strokes but anyway he's that's three majors for him

he's halfway to the career slam I told you after it was like after round one or two where he had like his B game and he was atop the leaderboard I was like it's over man he's gonna slaughter those guys and he did. Yeah. Yeah, he did he did Alright more on that will confirm it than I a little bit later on Canada's rolling over at the world's and here we've got one Canadian team left How many times do we ask that question? How many Canadian teams in the conference final? We had a zillion Jerry's win the cup. Look how many shots we have you were so confident I was jacked for multiple teams we were three for eight

yes last week yes we were pumping up an all canadian final we had all kinds of everything now it's just Edmonton the last team standing in Canada is the Edmonton Oilers well johnny called it at the start of the year didn't he? the Oilers to win the cup i believe yes he did here's Mike Johnson our TSN hockey analyst. Look at you calling the Eilers. Well I appreciate that Noodle, bring that back to be fair. I didn't call them to win at the start of the playoffs but at the start of regular season

I did so I flip-flopped around but yeah I mean I guess we're not surprised that we end ourselves here. I mean anyone I don't think the betting line, I don't I guess we're not surprised that we end ourselves here. I mean, anyone, I don't think the betting line, I don't think Toronto was the favorite, I don't think Winnipeg was the favorite. I do think everything was the favorite. So we probably shouldn't be surprised that we find ourselves here.

I guess not. How surprised were you to witness that the other night, that type of ass-kicking? I was surprised, Nudel. I was. I mean, after game five, you thought, okay, well, that was clearly the moment, but then they responded with game six, and you're thinking it's gonna be okay, because they've worked through whatever, and at some point, you know, home ice is supposed to be an advantage, supposed to help you, not hinder you and To lose and I said this to you guys the day of the game to lose is gonna be you know It's you can do a lot of things right and still lose. That's the nature of the sport

But to lose the way they did that I did not see coming. That is what is particularly alarming When Craig Barube says it's in their head. I think he's saying what we all sort of think like at this point it's in their head that they can't get themselves a spot in a clutch rusher game to play their best hockey and then it looks like that and they're playing a really good team and they get pounded it's like it's tough now it could team and they get pounded. It's like it's tough. Now it could it turned nasty the booing the jerseys at all of it but that's not a one-year frustration. I think people kind of forget that it's seven eight nine years building especially when it's going to be directed to the guys who've been here

for all that time and that does make it a little bit different. It's not just one bad game or two bad games it's sort of this has happened five, six, seven times now in these kind of games. So if Mike Johnson is the GM and you're sitting in a room and someone says what are you gonna do to fix this roster wise, what is your game plan? Well, the challenge is that I don't know how good I can make my team with just money. This is my challenge. I can take Tavares at 11 and Marner at 11, take that 22 and certainly Matthew Nye is going to eat up seven or eight of it, but take it and spend it on other players that

are available as a free agent. I don't know if I'm gonna be any better off a picture maybe Sam Bennett maybe Aaron Echelon they're fresh they've read Marchant they're all Florida Panthers all they'd want to come to Toronto I don't think we do that but I would I would think that Mitch Marner is going to go and maybe tomorrow comes back and be rep definitely would be on my terms you know that's appropriate amount what is what does that mean by the way I am a Mitch Marner coming back in rep definitely would be on my terms. Yeah, the appropriate amount. What is that? What does that mean by the way?

Mitch Marner coming back in your terms. You would actually. No, Tavares. Tavares. Marner's gone. Tavares back on my terms. Tavares is three years and four and a half million dollars a year. Okay.

Would you be, let's say Mitch asked GM Mike Johnson, said I want to stay. Let's work a deal out. What's your response? Oh, I... and said I want to stay. Let's work a deal out. What's your response? Oh, I... Ha ha ha! Hee hee! What do you got for us, GMMJ?

Okay, um, okay, I have to work that through because I have to change my roster other ways. And if Mitch Marder's come back, and I can do that, I could have Mitch Marder come back, um, you know, but I need another center man and I'd have to change the dynamic. I'd have to explore other trades. Can Morgan Riley be persuaded to go? I'd have to explore other things to accommodate that because I can't have the same feeling of a team come back. And not just removing Tavares perhaps.

And I say this, make no mistake, all these players are incredible. They're super talented. They can go other places and win it. But I think what we've learned is that the collection of players together in Toronto is not going to win. So I need to change that. So if Marna wants to come back and it's not a crazy number, then I'll have to look at it, but I have to look at other ways to change my roster sort of drastically.

Yeah, I don't know if you can accomplish that though if he comes back. I don't know if I can. I don't think you can. I don't know if I can. That's very clear now. It's not about the third line anymore. I get it. All those things are important, but you've got to start at the top.

If you're going to have Austin and Willie and Mitch just keep riding this out, man. I'm sorry. I just don't I Don't know how you can expect different and insults Johnny But like so but if Mitch Marner says okay, I want to come back and I mean he will never do this But he said I want to make 11 million dollars Hey You're not that amount of money. You're not going to find a good enough player to replace them.

This is the, this is the dilemma. Do you have to get worse talent wise, skill wise to have a better chance of winning in the playoffs? You might have to. And they got, that's hard for me to stomach because they say, you know what? I, I'm'm gonna get worse. I'm gonna get less talented players, fewer chances. Players aren't as good as Mitch Marner, but because I believe that in the playoffs,

somehow that mix will be more capable. But I think- Johnny, the LA Kings are a great example of that. The LA Kings are a great example of that. They had to grind to get in every year, but when they got in in they were unbeatable Yeah, yeah Well, yeah, I mean the other you need to you need to see that's gonna be good enough to make the playoffs

Yes, and then hopefully better once you get there Well, and and you know what you're saying, I agree if you're looking at one for one But maybe it's a scenario where? If you're looking at one for one but maybe it's a scenario where if you're looking at Mitch Marner not being on your roster and you're looking to replace him you don't replace him with one player maybe it's multiple players you because you use that cap space to add to your depth so that you're not having to worry about jeez is it Pontus Holmberg or or David Camp we got a slide onto that left side because we don't have

Like that's the biggest challenge is maybe you look at your roster as a more balanced. Yes in a vacuum that one spot Is the player that you put in there is less talented But maybe the talent gets spread out over a nine spot or the 12 forwards that you do have You know, that's if there's no more balance to it correct no question like I'm not you're not gonna let Marner go and go get a $12 million player there is no $12 million player out there to get that's a free agent you'd have to trade for some more which is they don't have the assets to do that so totally new let's just take that $20 million from Tavares and Marner and put it to at least three, maybe four players that are different, that maybe collectively

can help replace most of what Mitch Marner does in the regular season and then maybe more than what he has done in the playoffs. The challenge is though, let's say we go down that road, okay? You guys are all my assistant GMs, good job. We're gonna go down the no-marner road. We're gonna go down, tomorrow we're gonna leave the secondary decisions. We're gonna spend that money on other people. Like Sam Bennett obviously is gonna be an attractive player. I don't think he's ever had 50 points in a year.

Maybe it doesn't matter. You and my assistant GMs, are we okay giving Sam Bennett eight or nine million dollars a year? Yes. For eight years, for 50 points? 14 goals, 18 goals, 24 goals? Are we okay with that? For what he does in the playoffs?

And that's, he might be one guy. Are you, and then, who else is out there? Mikhail Brandon, Matt Duchesne. The UFAs are not a deep group, let alone ones that would want to come to Toronto. So this is the problem. We can just go down that road, but where are we going to go? Where are we going to end up? Donnie, you know the only avenue to make changes is not just UFA class. Everybody knows how to get creative and make things happen. There's always players out there. Also, the league doesn't end next year, right? Like if you commit to Mitch for eight, that's eight years you're committed

So maybe you don't get everyone this summer Maybe it's a combination of this summer and next summer go take a look at who could be available next summer It might pique your interest. Oh, yeah might be Yeah, interesting. I would listen I can save my counter and I would go anywhere for that guy. Oh, that's, come on. He's one of them, but there's a lot of guys. Kaprizov next year, there's a lot of guys that I believe are available next year. Anyway, my-

That's the truth. I'm just saying, it's a great class potentially next year. I wanted to float this to you guys. So if you're, if you're, there's three potential unrestricted free agents on Florida sitting there that probably the Leafs would covet all three act blad Brad Marchand and Sam Benning and Jamie maybe that was part of Brad's Craziness where he's like I want to play this cool and praise the city because maybe those Niff well he's pitching the idea coming here I believe they're growing up apparently I never

maybe those niff well he's pitching the idea coming here I believe they're growing up apparently I never knew that I never said that once in his life I think he's going back to Boston but here's my question to the whole panel you think they're sitting there and and and seeing how unbelievable like it was a circus there the other night haze you were in the building and they've see how this series went in that and go is there any chance that a free agent would be, say no bueno to that market because of this? Yes, for sure. Yeah, 100%, there are a lot and lots of,

all things being equal. So like, you know, if I could sign in Tampa for seven million or Toronto for nine, okay, that's not the same. But if it's going to be put me in Tampa for seven or Toronto for seven, and I think the chance to win are about the same, I think even though I disagree with so much of the narrative that's been out there the last two days about how pressure packed Toronto is and how hard the media is and how hard the attention is, I don't buy that for a second. But you know how the NH attention is. I don't buy that for a second, but you know how the NHL is,

once the reputation sort of gets out there and people start talking about these things, they tend to feed themselves. So I think there would be a whole bunch of guys that would prefer to not be in that sort of environment. Absolutely not because they don't like Toronto, I just thought they don't like maybe the degree of the attention they may receive here if it doesn't go well. Yeah well and that's part of Toronto's reality. Yeah and what they're really saying is it's not they're not even focusing as much as on how hard it is here what they're highlighting is how easy it is somewhere else. That's what they're really saying. It's so easy everywhere else because nobody knows me and nobody cares. It's hard here because they

choke in big games all the time and they never win. That's why it's hard. Exactly. No one has brought that up. Right. If they had gone to runs and lost in Stanley Cup finals, it wouldn't be this difficult. But they get opportunities and they choke and lose every single time. That's why it gets ugly. That's why it gets uncomfortable.

When you compare the start of the game, I was there what everyone was in their seat a half an hour before part drop loaded crazy when they came on to the ice that place was as loud as i can remember and i was there when when the rafters you know game five on that's probably the loudest of ever that building when they've been stormed past golden state in game five in of losing that game about three minutes left why hit a shot that place went insane This was not far off. I'm not kidding the start of the game

It was as crazy and as loud as I can ever remember The reaction was because the team played the way they played if they were booing and throwing jerseys in warm-up I'd be like this is a circus. Yeah, that's a circus. Yeah, it's not it's after by the end of it It's an accumulation of everything in everything that's played out let me ask you this johnny we can all go around the table on this let's say the panthers win the stanley cup soften the blow of the least lost as a change anything in retrospect let's say a month from now

no because it's not that they lost how they lost yes and they played great and laid on the line, and we were right there and it was two-one and she was so close, then you're like, yeah, maybe we lost to the best team. That might soften the sting, but the loss is more about them

and less about the opponent, so no, I don't think it matters what Florida does this year. And I know the Leafs have lost to a team that has gone on to the Stanley Cup finals several years in a row, I get it, but the way they lost this year. And I know the Leafs have lost to a team that has gone on to the Stanley Cup finals several years in a row, I get it. But the way they lost this year, I think sort of doesn't make that argument hold water.

Yeah, I agree with that. I totally agree with that. I think there were other times maybe you could look and say, oh, it was tight and that they weren't ready or whatever. Again, you're nine years into this and they're a veteran team. Like all their defensemen are 30 and up. They got a cup-winning coach behind the bench.

I think they were the fourth oldest team in the league. Were they not this year? No excuse for that type of performance. That's the other thing that gets lost in all this. This isn't a team... Now a lot of their guys are in their prime, but Johnny T will be 35 next year you know Matthew's and Marner and they're they're like 27 28 29 is a veteran not you know this is going into your 10 early 20s right so this isn't you know that's a scenario where you know I believe now at some point Johnny do you think that it's addition by subtraction whether it just you know you use that money somewhere else to have it look different

and it's not even as you despite these players it's just it's time for certain players to move on. They're all guilty like that's right it's not Marner's fault or Tavarra they're all Nylander was no good either. Austin was awful Nylander was awful again a lot of veteran Morgan wasn't any good right McCabe was terrible, Wall was terrible, but it doesn't matter, but like that fourth goal was horrendous, that couldn't go, that was a backbreaker, Domi had just scored, the place is going nuts, absolutely horrendous goal

to give up. Stolars was hurt, there's a lot of different things, right, you can look at it, it's not about the individual, like like one individual guy it never has been but the differences these two guys they're now you a face but you have to ask them to do something uncomfortable you don't have to force them out to run them out of town and get out one of them well exactly mariner and that'll be interesting is things move on if he walks in then

ranting wins a guy i was going to these guys when i think i'm still ask you to do that that that basically fractures the relationship between team and player don't you think yeah i i mean and my only over what yeah they're back in the lead because they well now they would pitch it as because we don't think you want to come back if you wanted to come back we

wouldn't be asking you but they they value that other guy more than you in that moment. And that would not feel very good. No. And I have no problem, hey, as you're going down this road, like Will Marner be disliked. I had no problem with him enforcing that. His wife was pregnant about to have a baby. He doesn't want to wave his no-trick clause. Please, he earned that full no-move, whatever he had, in good faith. You cannot hold, I would never hold that against him

for not agreeing to wave, but oh, yeah. I don't wanna really be in a place where they don't want me. So that would be another factor in Marner's decision to want to go somewhere else. The thing that might keep him, the problem is best chance to keep him is eight years. It's the eighth year. That's Toronto's best leverage point at this point and the

fact that they're he's from here and they're good but financially the eight years is what Toronto has to offer up but I'm with you I think if someone to ask me that I would I would be sour about it and I would be more inclined to look at different options oh yeah it would be game over I was game over as soon as I got word that I wanted like they wanted to move me out of Carolina. I was like, that's it. Like, do it now. I met with Jim Rutherford in Scotiabank Arena with my dad, and I said, please just do that quickly. Yeah. Well, then what do you expect to hear from Tree Living then when he speaks? Like he will at some point.

Yeah. What is he, because again,'ve referenced it a couple times Johnny, I don't know if you saw or heard John Tavares' media, but John said, I just spoke with Tree in Barube and very optimistic I'll be back. Like, I saw that. Yeah, two days, like it took two days for them to evaluate, yes, John's just staying. Like, will they be happy that he would even say that publicly? Like if I'm them, I'm like, can you just not speak? Like even if we're gonna bring you back. Even if we've decided, let's pretend like we're like, We're evaluating something. Pretend it's a tough decision,

we're checking other options, we're turning over every stone and leaf, whatever. Yeah, I know. And I don't have a problem with him sort of saying, I want to come back. Right, of course, go for it. I mean, people go through here might be refreshing but today that I'm very optimistic we spoke today. I'm like today Today's Tuesday. Oh, yeah, we got a day to go. We're working it out here. We got it all figured out It's a wild wild scene yet. I I'm sure he's saying telling the truth. I would assume he's telling the truth

Yeah, sure something said in those conversations though if they happen right away where it's like you maybe don't want to get to the truth I would assume he's telling the truth. Yeah, there's something said in those conversations though if they happen right away where it's like you maybe don't want to get to the truth where it's like this is just not happening you know. Out of respect to the player. Maybe this gets done hopefully it gets done and then the guy walks out of the room and it's like delete the number. Yeah, walk. That's true. I mean, I don't I don't expect Trey to say much. Like what can I... Expresses disappointment. He'd express his belief in most of the players. He would acknowledge that change is coming and he's gonna work through to make do everything he can to make the team

better. Like I don't know like like you know all police Shadeville. Like I don't think he's gonna come say we're gonna let Mitch walk because we can't we're not doing this again. People might want to hear it. I don't think he's gonna come say we're not Mitch walk because we can't we we're not doing this Yeah, mm-hmm people might want to hear it. I don't believe he's gonna say it I don't think you say you know tomorrow's we got a deal done coming back We're happy to have them like I just it'll be way more cryptic in general and and cliche And I would be surprised if it was anything but yeah And now if he was being honest if he was being if he was being honest, if he was being honest,

that would be, if he was being honest and just said, if he was willing to be and just acknowledge, you know what, we're gonna make changes to our most important players because we love them all, they're all excellent, but together it's not working. And so we're not gonna keep them together. That would be maybe as both as honest as he can be.

That's what he should say if he's gonna do it. But he won't commit Yeah, and and again, this is if they're going to do that. There's no guarantees. They will they may not change They may buy back into the core four thing They might but if you're going to do it Tony don't even just stop I understand You don't hear I get I don't want to hear it say that after year nine there They might keep the faith literally by the way I are all season I am so sick of the term core for it's a disc it's the worst the quiz master came up with it and I honestly I'm mad at

him for it you can't stand the quiz master invented that he did he did he did I swear he did I don't know who did but I'll give you did I remember because it started with the Leafs and then it it was like, who has the best core four in the league? And then it was like this big core four, the Quizmaster and Craig Button did around the league. Yeah, you're right. They did do that.

Yes. And then it just became this core four. Core four, under 24. What's more? Let's go to the store. The Quizmaster is responsible for the core four. Close the door. I can go on all day.

This is your Quizmaster's fault. All of that. Yeah, let's rhyme as much as we can. If I hear court, like how come other teams, it's not core four? is responsible for the close the door All of that yeah, let's rhyme if I hear like how come other teams it's not core four how come in Edmonton It's not the core two. It's just so stupid the core four the core four era I agree with you yet to finish my my thought on if tree living is committed to like we're moving off them He should say it. He should actually allow the fans to breathe yes just say we got to go in a different direction we're not doing this anymore we gotta attack i'm telling you today we're gonna have a different yes because and i'm not saying he will but he should he should because i do think the pr game and the messaging down there has it's it's gotten out of control with how tight-lipped they are how careful they are and i've said this for years

but and this again gets back to the pressure in the market, the market can be played like a fiddle. It's, I've lived here my whole life, it's so easy to play this market. Austin Matthews, do you know how much people would have loved him to come out today and say, before we start, I want to address Matthew Kachuk's comments, Brad Marshand's comments, and Paul Maurice's comments. Shut up, you'reand's comments, and Paul Marisi's comments. Shut up. You're not from here. You don't know what you're talking about. It's the best hockey market in the world. I love it and we're going to win. He dropped the mic and left. People would be like, God, I love this guy. This guy's the greatest. It would have been so easy. Can't do it. Won't do

it. And I think it's not in his nature, but I also think the PR team's like, don't say anything. Again, that's just the way they want their operation. think the p r teams like don't say anything don't again that's just the way they were already our person say don't say that that is on a side i think this hand a piece of paper and say you say that and walk it would have been easy on it easiest that literally you the night before send in the script and say memorize this thing go and say it and this whole market will will will throw rose petals at your feet as you go to the airport and fly to Scottsdale. People will love you for it

would have been so easy and i would say the same thing for brad tree living if you come out on whenever you're going to come out and just say i'm telling you right now i'm making this promise to the team and to the fans we're changing it and all we care about is winning because it's a very thin line johnny like this isn't scorched earth and going from fifty eight points to a cop they're in the second round in game 7 it's just the

next level like they just they can't you know they've been stuck here for five or six years and it's just it's hyper focused and you got to do something tough to get to that next level but you got to have the stomach for it and I think if you announce it people would be would find a very refreshing i don't think you have any pushback don't anybody know you if you can out any along those lines and also and also i would like the branch living now he got a player but

this were matthews dispelling the notion that hard to play here i would that i think and take a little bit better that their passion somehow makes it hard to play here Right if you came out and said not only what you just said, but I don't want to hear about pressure pressure We love it here. We love the fans. We love playing here. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else I don't want to play where some place works, but and I say this first hand

Okay, I played in Toronto for whatever three or four years. I got traded at Tampa I got traded to arizona played there for like seven years. I got traded to Tampa, I got traded to Arizona, played there for like seven years. When I got traded back to Montreal, and I loved Arizona, my best years were there, my kids were there, I loved playing there. I was so happy to go to a market that was more invested in hockey. I loved it, I loved the idea of people

caring about what you do, and putting out that kind of message as well, from the organization and from your best players would be I think a pretty positive thing to do. I agree. Don't let your fans take the heat because they're too crazy and too passionate. They're not stopping anything. Yes. Fight for your market. Fight for your fans. Absolutely. Alright Johnny, good stuff buddy. We'll do it again later in the week. Alright guys, have a good day. You got it. There's Mike Johnson, TSN hockey analyst joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Drive the built-in Canada fuel-efficient, fun to drive Toyota RAV4. Gas or hybrid models

available. Visit mapletoyota.com. We'll come back and recap the PGA, the PICS and all the good stuff. Good stuff. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050N on TSN 2. Alright, as we know, the Overdrive PGA picks brought to you by TaylorMade. When you need more performance, distance and speed from your golf ball, it's time to switch, learn more about the all-new TP5 and TP5X at TaylorMadeGolf.ca. I've been playing that TP5, I've been loving life. You know, the weather is going to be horrendous the next week. It's going to be freezing the next golf dot c a i've been playing at t p five i've been loving life you know and the weather is to be horrendous but now we can see on raising the next three or four days and all is very

disappointing yeah well word to my buddies if you don't show up tomorrow you're done for the year it's game on gotta play even if it's raining and all there's no rain in the morning so i think in the morning is to be fine i hear what you say after that you're in in trouble, but to recap the picks Scotty Scheffler my boy I told you your EFler was a lock to win this tournament and Rory McElroy and we'll get into him about not speaking with the media

I think there's there's more to that than what meets the eye But McElroy didn't have himself the greatest Taylor pender T 10 our boy. We love we love Taylor He's five bud. T5. Yes and we'll see him in a couple of weeks at the Canadian Open. PJ Picks brought to you by TaylorMade. When you need more performance, distance and speed from your golf ball, it's time to switch. Learn more about the all new TP5 and TP5X at TaylorMadeGolf.ca. Final hour coming up. CJ will join us. Gio will join us. And our best bets. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube Live.

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