OverDrive - OverDrive - May 23, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: May 23, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss Keith Pelley's press conference on the new era of the Maple Leafs, the ripple effects of Brendan Shanahan's departure and not going with a team president, Brad Treliving's role on the franchise and Craig Berube's character to the roster. TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston joins to discuss Keith Pelley's viewpoint of the franchise, Brad Treliving's larger role and Brendan Shanahan's structure concluding in Toronto.

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Powered by North by Northeast. Taking place June 11 to 15 across Toronto. iHeart New Music. Discover new music. Stream now online on your smart speaker and on the free I heart radio app All right here we go over drive off and running TSN 1050 on the TSN app your home smart speaker and up on TSN for Brian Hayes the odog Jeff O'Neil There he is. Jamie noodles

McLennan's Going on what's going on? What's going on? I'd like to make you guys aware of one thing. Being on TV, there's some pressure, but with pressure is privilege. Yes, I like that line. Pressure means privilege. You know, pressure is privilege.

Okay, I butchered it already. People are tossing that out there, and Keith Peli used it. means privilege. You know, pressure is privilege. Okay. I butchered it already. People are tossing that out there, and Keith Pelley used it. I thought we were going to speak with him today, but apparently not. Media relations kind of thing is not kind of coming together. Funny how that works. Yeah. We've got to connect with people more.

Hey Keith, why don't you come on? Nah, I'm good. Nah, I'm good. Oh, they were going to come on. He was going to come on, but then they were going to work on connecting more, and then he was like, nah, I'm not going on with you guys. Yeah, I'm not going to do that. It's a great start to that but people are tossing Pressure is privilege and he used it today and I was like it's almost like it's a I believe it's a Kobe Bryant quote

We're like it's one of the mamba mentality. I don't know where it's popped up in the last five maybe ten years I don't know but people say it and they're like, I think people that are hearing it, they think, well that guy means business, that's a serious comment. And then a minute later they stop and they go, what the hell does that even mean? What does that even mean? Like what did you mean by that? What did that mean for the Leafs? What did it mean for winning? What did it mean about the performance you saw in game five and seven. What did the comment pressure is privileged mean?

I just don't get it. Yeah, I wasn't quite certain where he was going with that. I guess trying to defend the market, the team, I guess embracing the idea that there is pressure, clearly, if you're in the National Hockey League, if you're in the second round, if you're associated with the Maple Leafs and everything that comes with that.

You know, I heard good isn't good enough. There's another one that we like, right? There are a lot of catchphrases that I think are very good, very good stuff. But I will say, I think, you know, it was necessary that Keith Pelley came out and spoke today if you're going to make a massive decision like the one they made yesterday, we're going to say, Brian, but I really don't know what he said. No, I don't think there was much that came out of it. Really. I guess it's my way of saying, I think you had to do it. And he did,

he did do it, but he, he didn't reveal anything, you know, outside of, I guess what we were wondering, will there be a replacement for Shanahan? And the answer was no, right? Like they there be a replacement for Shanahan and the answer was no Right like they're not going to replace Shanahan maybe down the road that happens But this would this would suggest to me Pelly is going to effectively play that role not from a Again hockey standpoint like who to draft who to sign What I thought was most revealing you guys tell me what you think was that he was out for dinner with Craig Barube last night.

And I didn't get the impression Brad Tree Living was a part of that dinner, which I find somewhat. So he mentioned that Brad Tree Living was in Calgary. He's in Calgary, yes. He said his daughter was. Yeah, his daughter's graduation, yeah. Right, but you guys tell me, tell me if my radar should be off there, I could be wrong.

How often does the kind of president CEO of the overarching company go for dinner with the coach? I would think that would be Like once or twice a year thing, but what do you think the GM and the president would like be there, too? That's what I'm asking. That's what I'm wondering. The GM wasn't in town though. So it wasn't an option I get it. You could have dinner in three days Oh what I'm getting to is Craig Craig Barubei does he have a voice now is he not just a coach you know is that what came out of this because I just found that intriguing that you know Peli admitted he was out for dinner with

Barubei last night I what I take out of it and was that he doesn't have a relation he needs to start developing relationships with these guys if he's going to be the guy at the top who's going to be with his pulse on the everyday situation. If they're not replacing Brendan Shanahan, then he has to know what the day-to-day looks like and he has to be able to trust that Craig Barubey is doing his job, Brad Treeliving is doing his job because you're right, he's not not a hockey guy he's a fan which is fine you're allowed to be a fan but if he's a good business guy he's gonna handle the business and he's got a trust that

craig berube knows what he's doing and brad tree living knows what he's doing right in the spoke glowingly of both guys you know both guys are gonna stay in they're gonna be a part of the program uh... and i'm not driving anything the fair use for anything i'm just saying that generally i would think you know there's there's a some

there's a buffer between the kind of the top of the business side in the coach you know and and i don't i don't get the oppression trailer that was there uh... and it might suggest again for a base could have somewhat of a voice and you know the reason i think that might be important is generally that's not the way it goes. I mean they'll speak to their GM, you know they'll talk about players they like, players they don't like, you got to be honest about that.

But that's generally where it ends. Then the GM's job is to decide whether he agrees with you or not. You know and whether he's going to abide by what you're looking for or what you're not looking for. And you know I guess we'll see and we don't we don't know exactly keep ellie's role in terms of the hockey operations i think if you're missus jerry and you're listening and seeing that uh... you you you have to

radar going mad if you're beside you yes simply have to be sitting in his office like the warden and shah shank when he heard the sirens. He's like Something's going on here. That's Just the sense of knowing you're like, oh they're coming for me maybe yes Yes, because it was brought up, you know, there was a obviously Bill Manning ran TFC in the Argos He was gone last year at Shanahan this year Yeah, Masai has I believe another year left on his deal and then they'll make that decision Maybe he stays maybe he doesn't Masai's always been different because he started as the GM and then moved up Shanahan

I built Manning didn't but I wouldn't be shocked if that's That's not done in short order to be quite honest. It might be. Yeah, it might be. Next week there's another presser. What phrases are we going to get? The one question I thought it was a great question and it was danced around to the extent of I haven't been here in the last 10 years, but the question was, and I would have asked the same question. I had it in the chamber for right, or this afternoon but it's not happening.

I wanted to know because since I've retired, I think I've heard five to seven different people say, this is the best organization in the league, best fan base, it's just the best team to be a part of, and it's about winning a Stanley Cup. So what makes Keith Pelly's vision or ideas better than the last guys that have Shani said it, Lou said it, Brian Burke said it, Tim Laiwicki said it. There's been a bunch of different guys that have said it. So what is different, what is going to change because the question that was posed to him was how could fans, why should they believe you like why should they believe that you're coming in here all guns blazing what why should we believe you because

everyone has said that best team best fan base they deserve the best and I'm gonna make this happen well really how are you gonna do that I think that is ultimately the question that needs to be asked and he answered it by saying well I'm not responsible for the last 10 years I haven't been here but it wasn't the question it was like what are you like how should we believe you? I'm not sure he's got that answer I mean that and that doesn't mean he won't find it I'm not I'm not saying he won't find it or can't find it but I don't I'm not sure you know Keith knows where to go next I

mean ultimately you got to rely on your hockey people to, to sell you on what is supposed to happen now, right? It has to, it's broad tree living that has to come up with that. Ultimately, he matters more than Keith Peli, you know, they're, they're going to spend to the cap. They're going to have resources. All that's still going to be available. That didn't change because Shanahan's not here. It was here when Burke was here. It was here when known as was here. It was here when You know Fergie was here. It was here when all those guys

They've always had Resources the question is can you make the right moves and again as we've said for the last this is our fifth day now Talking about this It's not as if you're taking over an organization that finished with sixty five points has missed the playoffs the last decade they made the playoffs nine years in a row they were just in game seven of the second round that next step

you know like in and i i don't i wouldn't expect keep ellie to know how to do that uh... but i guess you know he's got a push and prod and basically put his chips in with Brad Tree Living and Craig Barube and hope that they have that answer. Well that's that's what it comes down to Brian, because if Brendan Shanahan had that answer, he would still be here. Right. That's that's the bottom line. And there is no magic formula

or magic beans to sprinkle on anything. Keith Peli has to trust that Brad Tree Living knows what he's doing. And to be honest, I would like to see Brad Tree Living do this on his own and what I mean by that with his resources in that without outside intervention, because I have no idea what Brad Tree Living was allowed to do and not with Brendan Shanahan here. Brad Tree Living came in, Brendan Shanahan might have told him, you have to do and not with Brendan Shanahan here, Brad Treeliving came in, Brendan Shanahan might have told him, you have to do this and you can't do that, you can't trade this guy, you got to do that. We have no idea if his hands were tied behind his back.

That's the truth. We'll see. Keith Peli might give him carte blanche and say, go get us to the third round or the fourth one and win the Stanley Cup. What do you believe? Here's the resources go ahead. I'm hoping that's what you have to hope for. And listen, I do think we know, you know, just prior to tree living being hired, it

was had been reported that Shanahan had called the core for and said, you're all good. You're all staying, you know, so tree tree living walked in basically with Shanahan telling him this is the way it's going to work. Doesn't mean he wouldn't have agreed with that. Doesn't mean tree living wasn't basically wish and telling him this is the way it's going to work doesn't mean he would never agreed with that doesn't mean tree living right on the same page but to be clear on that front obviously shanahan had power and and and listen he had power from a hockey building standpoint and he does he earned out because it was his role

that's what he was here for yes he was here to do other things obviously in the community around the rink in with the history and the fans and all that but Shanahan was brought in you know to to sign off on whatever major was going to happen now I suppose that's Keith Peli but I would like to believe that he will be miles behind where Shanahan was did you notice hazy today that he said you know it was a tough seven game series with the florida panthers and then you just squeezed in who are completely manhandling the carolina hurricanes and uh...

yes i had to look you know it's like there's a couple times he did it twice he was like yeah you know it's not going to the second right second round seventh game into a team that's completely tell me in the next team that they're playing, I was like, you little devil, you had to sneak that one in there. Yes.

Now, did you, was your interpretation of that? It was softening the blow. Softening the blow. Subtly softening the blow. It was like, yeah, you know, it was tough, but you know, the team that just beat us, they are absolutely crushing the guys next in line. Just to, you know, just to let you know. Well, just beat us they are absolutely crushing the guys next in line just a just a you know Just let you know well, and I'm not sure listen. I think that's reasonable

Yeah, I scared fans though because after that it Twitter was like this was the response on Twitter after that they were like They're gonna be running it back aren't they right that was the Twitter response to that comment. They're running it back They might not though. Oh, they might not be able to because Mitch Marner might say sorry. I'm going somewhere Right. He knows the cards. He doesn't want to he owes the cards. I yeah exactly or it's not that he doesn't want to be here He just he feels that it's time to move on like that's you know, I don't think it has to be Egregious. I also just believe that if Mitch Marner wants a change or believes there's a change or something like that, I think this organization, you know, I missed yesterday obviously and I saw the snippets.

Of course, it's like 10 minutes into the show and Shani gets the gate. Oh yeah, credit to them. Credit to them, exactly. Not 705. But you know, like, I think this organization is going to continue to get stronger and it might be addition by subtraction. And you know what, it's all rumblings, well maybe this guy is going to command this type of money and that.

Again, I come back to tinkering with a team that already has some really good pieces. Again, you're not starting from square one. This is tinkering, but tinkering in a way that makes your team better. Like you guys talked about it. That team last night, again, this Florida Panther team has found, they found it against the Leafs, but they found it at another level with Carolina.

Like that was ass kicker. Exactly. And now you go back to Bill Zitoito and we come back, bold moves. It's Hubert O, 115 points for Matthew Kachuk. It's being aggressive, letting players go. Brandon Montour, you're gone. We're going to find somebody out. There are shrewd moves that were made by Bill Zito.

This is where Brad Tree Living is going to get an opportunity to make shrewd moves. And it might not be the most popular thing. Everybody is just resigned. Hey, John Tavira's got to come back, you know, if he cuts his salary in half and all that. Maybe it's like, hey, I just, I want to see something different. I'm sorry. And I'm going to use that money for something else. Like, I can't wait to see what Tree Living and his management group have in store for this organization. I'd be shocked if it was, hey, let's run it back again and just tinker a little bit.

Yeah. I mean, it is worthy of pointing out, I mean, who they're committed to. They have both goalies locked in. There are six defensemen who played every playoff game. They're all on term. Now that is going to be a question we will talk a lot about over the next five weeks. Like what's the mini-

I think an upgrade needs there. Okay, so what's your mini-Jerry's that they move, and if they're gonna move off someone, it's probably Morgan Riley. Like who else are they moving? Well, I just. You mean, are you talking other than Tavares and Marner? Well, I'm talking, if you look at the defense,

the six defensemen that plate mccabe tana riley carlo uh... benoit act in larsen they're all on term they all have at least two years left i believe on the contractor at least this year anyway then one may be a big carlos got one more destiny i've already had two years two years left but i'll check right now anyway it's

it's at least this full season where they're all on term. So that is a legitimate question if you're going to make a move like McCabe's deal is just kicking in, Tana's not going anywhere, Carlo they just acquired, you could flip him again but you just got him. Benoit I thought played great, like in the playoffs he was outstanding, you're not moving off him. He was one of their leading minute munchers in the playoffs. He played as well as you could ever expect the guy in his

position to play yes and Ekman Larsen's in year one so you know they need to upgrade they need somebody who can move the puck I don't have anybody that moves the puck well sorry like I look at those 44 you're right but I look at those four final teams all of them have a puck moving to fat I know Brent Burns is 40 he can still move the puck Slavens elite defensive but I look at those four final teams, all of them have a puck moving defense. I know Brent Burns is 40, he can still move the puck. Slavin's elite defensively. You look at Bouchard can move the puck. Haysken, I'm looking around.

You look at Florida's got two of them, Seth Jones and Ekblad. Those are two number one defensemen. Like I can add on top of moving the puck, Jamie, it's making plays, whether it's at the offense or the blue. Well, that's, I'm sorry, yeah. Make plays. You know what I mean? Like, plays in your own end, plays in the offensive zone, joining the rush, just like

a, not quite a rover, but almost. Like Moe used to be that. Moe was that. He was the guy that was dancing all over the place. And he hasn't done that in the last calendar year. So what they're going to do with that, I'm not sure. Well,, I mean that's the elephant in the room is that the longest standing guy would represent significant change like that's not a tinkering move You know now it doesn't mean you won't move off other guy. You're not you don't owe anything to anybody You know, maybe Carlo you got you tried it didn't work. If you don't think it worked and you move off him

Maybe maybe you move off that man. Larson. Yeah, you don't think it worked and you move off him. Maybe maybe you move off Ackman-Larson. Ryan, I've been saying that we've all been saying it for several years now when it when you've had the results that you've had and we've all said it and Craig Button who used to be a general manager said it you have to be open to basically anything at this particular point within reason. You know what I mean? Like you are you are exploring everything that could possibly be be changed for the positive yeah agreed yeah agreed and I think you you have to look at everything

because what you're trying to do in the offseason is make your team better and I think Brad tree living he deserves a ton of credit because he made his team better last offseason Hayes we talked about 60 were very good now then the challenge is the next step get that D get that forward group to the next level and You know, that's that's a challenge because everybody else around them are gonna Ottawa's gonna try and make moves to get better. Yeah, I'm right much real like Ottawa's going to try and make moves to get better. Yeah. Ottawa made it. Montreal made it.

Montreal, Montreal, Montreal, Montreal. Right? Those teams better. Let's be clear. Florida's not going anywhere. Even if, I think they'll find a way to keep Ekblad. I think they will. And if they do, then you've got Ekblad, Jones, Forsling, and Mikulas your top four.

That's the best top four in the league. No one's touching that. Yeah, sure. Bob's in that for another year and even if Bennett leaves not ideal but you move Lundell up Lundell's a stud and you're still gonna bark off and Reinhardt and Verhage and Kichuk and You know Luz still Ryanan and this kids been unbelievable Rodriguez Rodriguez is on turn and that's the luxury Florida has. They're like Sam Bennett, you want to go for 10 million? I love these. If this isn't agent planting, I don't know what is.

Now it's like it used to be 8 million. Now it's like somebody tossed out there today. I think it was E.J. Raddick. He's like, I've been told one team is willing to go as high as 10. 10 million for Sam Bennett. Caps going up and you know what would that agent sitting in his backyard throwing breadcrumbs to everybody in the media just like the guy Noodle saw at the Peeler joint in Denver. That guy what was his name Jalen Rose. Yeah. It's rolling.

Allegedly. Oh that's right I shouldn't probably say. Allegedly. But we know who is a noz agent is is a it's the same as martin's agent uh... sam bennett so listen i think ten mil for me i love sam bennett i love them

ten mil seems does seem very rich for a second line as much as you need intangibles and overpaying for skill is a dangerous game overpaying for intangibles and a guy that's gonna get you 20-50 points is very is very dangerous. Yes, and it's a beautifully in Florida You got to remember that he pops in for he looks amazing in Florida I bet you he does the same thing Reinhardt does as soon as they do whatever they do However, their season ends. He'll be a Florida Panthers a day after this. I wouldn't be surprised at all Let me ask you this then just in a candid moment regard would you have would you have

replaced John Tavares with Sam Bennett on your second line in the playoffs this year for 11 million or just in general I've done Matt 1110 whatever you take Sam Bennett obviously you take Sam but of course you would that's that I hear and teams are gonna overpay for that. What I'm saying is, we're going, you can't pay that. Well the Leafs just paid 11 million for guys that went away. Again, seven years ago, John Tavares was a different beast than Bennett. Bennett is a great player.

I love Sam Bennett. John was a number one superstar, captain. It was a great player. I love I love Sam Bennett John was a number one superstar captain, you know It was a different story like now in the playoffs clearly you're taking Bennett clearly, but it's also you know You there's con there's more context to that, but I hear what I said. I mean it Bennett will be 29 I don't I mean I'd love to have him on my team every team in the league would love to have them It just there's gonna be a price that makes it uncomfortable Like he's good. Let's say let's say you punch it in and you say he's worth Seven million, you know, let's say that someone will pay him nine then probably will be like I'll pay two million more to make sure

I get them at some point You can't pay three million more three and a half or four because then you fall into the trap And I'm not even talking about the Leafs here you overpay players that's what kills you in the long term like that's the issue and John's a perfect example Tavaris was nowhere close to an 11 million player a dollar player like this has been very clear for 20 years now for 20 years into the cap world you have to have a collection of players, certainly the majority, almost all of them, exceed their cap hit in terms of performance.

That's the formula for winning in the league. You have to. You have to have- When you get away with a guy that's paid five, but he plays like he's worth three or three and a half. Yes, you get away with a couple of those guys. But if you're talking about a four to five million dollar difference, like you're paying a guy 10 and he plays like he's worth six, you're probably in trouble.

You're in big trouble. You've got multiple situations like that, you're in real big trouble. Well that's the problem is you look around the league, there was only one team that paid four guys double digits, correct? There wasn't anybody else. Now they pulled away at the regular season. They played like that money. The playoffs they didn't.

Great. In the biggest moments, where that's that's the other question I had for Keith today. It was like I understand You told you a little story you were sitting there with your kid and you know, the pressure is privileged I want to know what his thoughts were from the players that he watched in those two games What he saw from that like what did what did he make of that? Nobody asked that question there was some talk of TFC today and I'm like, why are they asking about TFC? There was a question, he dodged one about watching the game or whatever. It was kind of in that line and he's not going to step on tree livings.

Yes, it was the question of what did you think when you saw jerseys coming out and the whole nonsense? Yeah, and he's like, I'll let Brad get in. You know, like he's gonna dance around it the thing we don't have an answer to is How much say in power he's gonna have? We're Keith Pelly, you know because we've said this forever GM's have said for a million years. I need full autonomy I remember talking about this when Burke got here full autonomy doesn't exist. You don't have it

They can say you have it when they sign you You have a boss and they'll fire you if they don't like if you have an issue with your autonomy Right and that that's the question. We don't we don't have the answer to it And pelli's certainly not going to reveal it publicly But I don't know like what what this is purely hypothetical But maybe he's got a relationship with one of those guys, really close one, really likes them. You know, I don't know, they're local guys. They've been around the market for a long time.

Would that cloud his decision making? Would that lead to him telling tree living, hey, you know what I think is a good idea? You know, keep this guy around. He's a good guy and we like him. I don't know. But ultimately, he's going to have the final say, you know, like president and CEO of the company, if he wants to, can have a lot of power. And then it gets complicated, then it gets sticky, and then tree living could be in a position where, again, I'm creating all this out of

thin air, but it could be a reality. He's got to stick to his word where he said, I'm letting the hockey people do the hockey thing. If he wants to go And get all boiled up at dinner with some other hockey person and then call tree and say yeah do this and do that So you got a you got a recipe for disaster? Yeah, and that's on everyone the board and himself included to make sure that that doesn't happen You know supply the resources be a sounding board. He said that today So that's the plan sounding board resources got to know what's going on and he's entitled to that

He's allowed to sit down and try to figure out what's going on. That's his job, but You know, we'll see man. We're we're into a new era I get it really actually does finally feel different like with Shanahan not here feels like Marner's effectively gone This is gone. Keith's gone. Yeah, exactly. Dubas and Keith, like it is officially a new era. Yes, there'll be familiar faces and familiar voices. And it's a fork in the road.

You know, there's a chance it gets better. That's what everyone's hoping for. That's what they have, that's what he promised today. Pelley effectively promised that. We will find a way to make sure it gets better. It could get worse. get worse it could there's gonna be anxiety in this fan base. I'm telling you Yeah, there's gonna be concern like if Marner leaves and Tavares leaves and Shanahan is not here anymore What if you know what if they have a slow start next year people are going to freak out? Yeah, that's what's coming. I'll be coming. I'll be covered

It'll be a new me too because I'll be coming off the'll be coming, it'll be a new me too. Because I'll be coming off the top turnbuckle now, I'll tell you that. You just wait. I am coming. Jimmy Superfly Snooka off the top turnbuckle. Top turnbuckle. Okay, I love it. The Superfly is back. He's back. Alright, we've got Chris Johnston coming up and Chris Pronger on the show today will catch over prongs mike johnson will join us as well uh... a little bit later this afternoon dear hazy b some big news on the rbc canadian open our boy my boy is on his way to osprey valley

ludwig all burgers that's my guy that's why i had you know it doesn't it's not your guys some j M is coming to so that is coming Yeah, I love that Sunday's gonna be up there. Maybe you're out this year I don't know who's in charge of this, but maybe once we love having weird Zion in the Canadian guys Can we get Ludwig or sung J or somebody to come over? Yes Well, whoever whoever Max Holman Rory maybe Rory Shane Lowry that would be knows Well, someone in that the person who's the guy with the bad shoes? Who's?

The guy who always bugged with the bad shoes. He doesn't wear bad shoes anymore anymore he doesn't Alex Norris come up with his goofy stance and is like he was driving Jim Nance insane last week when he was doing like the When he was doing like the warm-up swing, the first tee of the final round of the PGA championship, Nance is like, well, there's Alex Noren. You're going to see that a lot today with the over-emphasis of the swing before the swing. He was so angry on the first tee. Dude, I'm pretty sure, I don't know why he didn't hit the mute button and go right to the camera guy, whoever's in control of the shots and say, don't show them again. Yes. No more.

No more. All I want to see is impact of his golf club and the ball because I'm not watching that stupid routine. Right. But we will up at Osprey. We're going to be up there at the RBC Canadian Open. We can't wait. Opening round, two weeks today.

All right. CJ coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 4. Overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. We're up on YouTube live. We've been up all week. A lot of positive reactions on YouTube. Lots of positivity, always positive comments. The comment section blowing up. Oh, there's comment section. Oh, yeah, it's great man

It's great like you go check it out and like hey, it's a moron like thank you. It's great. Awesome Great one Before we get we have a guest we got CJ. Yeah, it was down there for Keith Peli's presser before we get CJ FedEx guy He said I'll deliver a package to you. No problem. I'll deliver a package to you no problem. I'll deliver a package to the noodles no problem. I will not deliver a package to Hayes because we have fraud protection. And this FedEx guy, that's a good one. That's actually a great line. It is.

And he was being like he was trying to be funny but I was like ha ha. That's a good line man. Yeah. You got to give credit. That's a good line. I like that. Alright, here's Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. CJ, you were there for the Keith Pelley presser. What did you take out of it? How honest do you think Keith was today? Well I thought he was pretty honest. I mean, you know, there's still a lot of gaps I guess and some things we're all wondering about how this is going to work and what it means, I suppose, for the least front office at the top levels moving

forward. But I didn't feel like he was hiding from those answers. I felt really like it just reinforces how raw and fresh everything is. I mean, it was only yesterday afternoon that Keith and Brendan Shanahan had a face-to-face conversation where Shani was officially let how ron fresh everything is it was only yesterday afternoon that thank you for the direction and i had a face to face conversation where shanny with the person like oh and any in that press conference lesson twenty four hours later and explaining the way forward in ratchett livings not even in the city yet so

uh... you know i i think it was pretty direct pretty honest pretty on brand for what i expect from from tally but you know i'm still not entirely clear what the executive team is going to look like, what the mandate is going to be beyond the obvious. He made it pretty clear that they're trying to win a Stanley Cup, which I think is what we'd all expect. We all kind of thought that comment was coming, CJ, but did you have any kind of evidence of who I think people wanted to know who the hell is going to make the call on players like Marner and Tavares moving

forward like is that going to be Craig Barube and Brad or is that just Brad or what who's making the call on these guys? I'd say I came away from that feeling as though Brad True Living's making the final call on those guys. What I guess has to be worked out a little bit here is, you know, this was new, the idea that Craig Borube is kind of in the inner circle now. I mean, he's having dinner last night with Pelli and, you know, there's not that many coaches league-wide that I can think of that have sort of a direct, aligned ownership. I mean, obviously coaches around the league know their owners, probably say hi

to them in the hallway, see them at certain events, but you know, Barube and Pelli having dinner, you know, I think it's more than just sort of a footnote. I think it's telling and when we asked Pelli about it, he said that he thinks Craig's a tremendous asset to the organization and someone he wants to lean on. So, you know, it does seem as though Barube, whether it's formal or not, I'm not certain, like whether he's going to have a contractual sort of, I've got a say in things. It does appear certainly that his opinion is now a little bit more in the sphere of decision making, but you know, it wasn't exactly worked through today how that all is going to work.

Look, we'll hear from Brad true living at some point next week, early next week I think and maybe some of more of this will be clarified because he'll meet with Pelly for his own dinner here over the weekend. Again, I just think everything is still kind of being figured out at the top levels but at the end of the day, Keith Pelley's made it clear he's not in charge of hockey decisions. He doesn't want to get involved in trades or free agent decisions. So, I mean, that's all on True Living's plate now and obviously the people that work with him.

C.J., at what point do you start sniffing around on free agent marketplace? Have you been trying to touch base with agents and stuff because obviously, yes, there's four teams still playing but a lot of other GMs and organizations I know have had their pro scout meetings and their amateur scout meetings heading up to the draft. So I think the second season, we'll call it after the regular season in playoffs, might be in full swing behind the closed doors. Yeah, we haven't quite got their noodles in the last few days though. I've been nibbling at that market and really where that goes into overdrive,

pun intended, is early June there's that draft combine, the draft combine in Buffalo where you have all the agents present, obviously all the teams are there. You know, the official business being done is talking to the prospects and getting ready for the draft. But you know, I think that that's where the seeds tend to get laid for figuring out the free agency board and what's gonna be available. And you know, that's probably where the T word

happens the most, tampering. Although of course the league does not look kindly upon that. So I don't have a full sense yet exactly kind of who's going where and how the chips are going to fall, but certainly within the next two weeks here I think it starts to take on a little bit more clarity and you get a feeling of who the players in the marketplace are, who might still sign I mean for example won't surprise you guys I know you've been talking about it we expect tomorrow's full sign extension in Toronto Well, I would think that'll be done two weeks from now if it's gonna happen

So there's still a few parts I guess to That are moving in various places, but when you get down to this few teams few teams still playing You know that the business of the off season is going to start to kick into full force here come early June. So to follow on Tavares, do you feel like that deal has been done for weeks and months and basically what just happened in the playoffs is effectively irrelevant? I don't know. I don't think certainly the deal is done.

You know, there were definitely conversations throughout this season where I think both sides got a sense of where they would want to go with a contract and how that would look. And, you know, now I think it's time to figure out the details of what that might look like. But it doesn't mean they'll reach a deal. I mean, just because the Leafs want to keep Tavares and Tavares wants to stay, it's not an insignificant matter of what his next deal looks like that would have to be agreed upon before it happens and by no means do I have an impression that's done done. So I suppose there's still a universe where it doesn't wind up the way that Tavares is hoping it does and maybe there's an opportunity there for the Leafs to

try to, I don't wanna say take advantage of, because that's probably the wrong phrasing, but use the fact that he's so eager to stay to help out what they need here, because let's face it, you have Austin Matthews signed next year, we're talking about the Certainties, the Leafs probably need to acquire two centers

to play behind them for next year. Now maybe Mac Domey is the solution. I can't imagine the organization's feeling that way after seeing the way the year played out. Scott Lawton's under contract next year, but he didn't really use them in the role that we thought they might when they traded from the deadline.

So you've got to fill two center positions. There's not a lot in free agency. I think keeping Kavars makes a lot of sense, especially if the number's right. It doesn't sound as though the talks have got going there yet, but once they do, we'll find out pretty quickly if the numbers can line up to make that happen. The role Brendan Shanahan played in selling this team and market to free agents? How significant was that in your opinion and how significant might his departure be in terms of the way the rest of the league and the agents most importantly view the Maple

Leafs? I actually think, because you hear a lot of people say, what did he do? Because it wasn't always clear to anyone on the outside what the impression was. But I think it's a big loss for the organization in terms of a lot of that sort of thing. I listened to your highlights and lowlights yesterday, Hayes, I thought you nailed it. But getting Mike Babcock to Toronto, Shannon had a massive role in that at the time. And of course course that was a big coup at the time. Mike Babcock was basically a marquee for agent in his own right at that point in time.

I think making sure there's the right luster to the brand, that certain situations are handled properly. I think of this is an exact spirit of your question, but Boria Solman got his ALS diagnosis. The Leafs were heavily involved in making sure they could get Boria over here for a game and they sent an alumni team over to Sweden to play in his honor and things like that. So I don't know where those responsibilities fall now. I think it's too much to expect the general manager who day to day you want out there beating the

bushes looking for upgrades for the fourth line right wing spot and for considering trade options and negotiating contracts. I mean you know having someone with the organization's big picture in mind and that could probably go down to even wooing free agents you know there is there is a loss there and I wonder in time I mean Keith Pelley certainly didn't sound like he's looking to get a president today but I wonder in time, I mean, Keith Peli certainly didn't find he's looking to get a president today, but I wonder in time if that void is filled in some way, shape or form by a future hire. But you know, in the here and now, Bradshaw Living's got a lot on his plate. That would have been the case at Shanahan State, but I think it's even more, you know, as they

navigate these next few weeks, you they manage the Marner situation, how they look to potentially replace him and use his dollars in the lineup, trade opportunities, the draft. I mean, this is a critical off season because the biggest thing I left that news conference today thinking was, a step back next year is not an option for Leafs ownership.

I mean, in any world where they lose in the first round or, you know, anything that we might point to where they, the team didn't grow next season, it makes it seem like we're going to have another round of these press conferences and be talking about big changes to the organization if that is what happens on the ice. Yeah, I'm curious, you know, if Pelley and ownership for that matter have someone in mind that they don't feel they could get right now, you know, to play that role of president, maybe they have someone in mind down the road. But I'm curious what you think the Leafs' appetite would be to sign another player to

a big contract. In other words, you know, Marner leaves, let's say that let's say they bring Tavares back. It sounds like it's trying to get that direction, but he signs for five or six million or whatever. You know, there's been all this conversation with the core four and all this money and all the tied up in a certain amount of players. What if they got a guy in mind that they like, but they got to pay him $10 million? Do you think they'd be willing to do that, or do you think they're finally going to get away from that and say, well, we're paying Austin, we're paying Willie, and we're not

paying anyone else close? We've got to spread the rest of the money out. I think as an organization, they would consider it, but I don't see a $10 million player available in free agency if you're not signing Mitch Marner I mean who else on the board will be getting that kind of contract I don't I don't think it's out there for any of those guys I mean that that's part of the challenge though is there's not you know after Marner look at there's lots of good players and there'll be good signings made this summer but there's there's not a lot of

sure things among the other free agents that are available. And so I don't know if you're sort of pointing me in the direction of Sam Bennett here. I have a hard time believing he's going to get that kind of money anywhere, let alone in Toronto. So I think he'd like to stay in Florida is kind of my understanding of things now. And so he might not even get the open market. So I think the market will probably drive the decision more than anything and to me it's pointing the least in the direction of some smaller bets and you got to keep the

powder dry a little bit. I think they have to be careful of how long and how big the commitments are to other players because to me if you're any team in the league that that's trying to win a cup in the near term until Connor McDavid's future is 100% secure, you got to, you got to keep yourself in a spot where you could make that happen if, if it could happen. So by no means am I trying to start a McDavid to the Leafs room or it's not really what I'm saying, but I think until his situation in Edmonton and, you know,

until he signs an extension there and if he doesn't, I think you want to leave the opportunity for that to happen for your team. So obviously the Leafs are going to be active I would think in frequency. They've got money to spend and some holes to fill but it's probably only to a point because you've got to stay in the big game hunting that that might happen in twenty twenty six and beyond all right cj uh... will leave it there and it's going to be interesting times over the next

month and a half that is for sure thank you for doing this appreciate it thanks for saying over driving your comments to yeah i was well as very good perfectly dropped well when i'm not on the show i listen to it so i mean i'm i'm a done the biggest fan out there we appreciate it but you know that's not true but thanks very much for that uh...

i reference the highlights of low light that's right what they get to do that those that list popped off and i thought i'd nailed it personally and i don't say that often i don't pop my own tires very often he only really only pumps his own tires every time he does that segment, CJ. Thanks for taking time today, pal. We'll do it next week. All right. Have a good weekend, fellas. See you, buddy. Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. Yeah, listen. I watched those lists. Sorry. Go ahead. I thought they were pretty lean. You thought they were lean in terms of like what the highlights were. Is that what you mean?

Yes. Yes. Well, what do you think they're going to be? There hasn't been any noodles. Where was he supposed to go? They won two rounds. What could it be? I'm not saying that from your standpoint, but I thought you did an excellent job.

You're saying it kind of shines in light of what the reality has been. The reality was don't they were lean accomplishments in eleven years like that's my point i thought your list for fantastic like grade a top-notch but i was like to say that personally but i'm glad you said thank i a while i'm proud of them and i was talking to somebody last night about them and i was like god that list is like he must have had to mull over some stuff to get to that.

I was grinding in the lab. The issue is when your highlights and this is in large part the history of the team, when multiple highlights are from June and July and not on the ice, it's a sign. When it's a hiring or winning a lottery or whatever then obviously that's a sign But yeah, I mean that's that's the truth and that's how difficult it's going to continue to become and you mentioned pressure pressure is a privilege No, no, that's banned from the show. Well, whatever it's still it's out there. No, it isn't People just throw it out there. I'm telling you people people that are listening to someone when they say, pressure is a privilege, they just hear that and they're like, man, that guy means business. Yeah, it does sound dignified.

Yeah, and then they say to themselves, what the hell does that even mean anyway? Well I'm telling you, it's for Kobe and that's it. I'm with you, I hear you. I think Billie Jean King once said it as well at the US Open But I think what I was getting to was you think pressures there in the second round We take it to the third round or the cup final. Yeah, like that's pressure you played in it That's a different level of pressure. I that's what I was that wasn't gonna be my follow-up It was like you talked about pressure like

That's what I was that was gonna be my follow-up. It was like you talked about pressure like Do you think the guys that you're paying all that money to handle pressure? Well, like that's a reasonable question That's a very reasonable question. Yeah, you sat there and watched them for two games two big ones. Do you think they should make a well? To the biggest games they were paralyzed. Yeah, they were awful Alright, MJ coming up in 15 dear hazy be later this overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube Live. Alright, Mike Johnson coming up, and apparently there's an extended version of the Ring camera that Phil Belichick leaving the house with no shirt on and stuff. I watched it today, it was awesome.

An extended version? Yeah. He's got a bag over his shoulder. I watched it today was awesome like extended version. Yeah He's got a bag over his shoulder He's got no tarp on but he's got a laptop Yeah, I mean this this Pablo Torre he is on a mission to get this guy. It's like Woodrow and Bernstein man This is Watergate like he's he is going to crack Bill Belichick if it's the last thing he does um so so funny there's more on that how about tori asked the question look at this guy there's the bag that's the second trip he goes out to his car and goes back i know but where's his tarp where's his shirt who cares it's in the trunk doesn't matter it's in the house he doesn't care

Who cares it's in the trunk doesn't matter. It's in the house. He doesn't care Like look at what is he doing checking the tire pressure? What is built? Why does he have no gear on for crying out loud? He went into the house with gear That guy is running the football operation at North Carolina and TMZ reported earlier this week that he's engaged now That there's an engagement with him and his girlfriend so guys I'm not gonna be I'm not gonna lie I'd fire him I would just say we're not getting in bed with this sorry it was a good idea but I want to just stop this before it gets going there is a date that kicks I want to say it's June 1st as of June 1st the buyout for firing him drops off a cliff So as of now you'd have to pay him seven eight million as of June 1st

It's like a million or so So there is some people that are wondering if in a couple of weeks they decide to go down that road That would be quite the story of Belichick pulled a Babcock here just never got to the start of the season would be crazy. All right, MJ coming up overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN for the newest tracks and the next big thing. And your first place to hear it all. I heart new music, your digital station for brand new drops, fresh finds, and tomorrow's bangers.

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