OverDrive - OverDrive - May 6, 2026 - Hour 2 - Craig Button

Episode Date: May 6, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button joins to discuss the Maple Leafs winning the NHL Draft Lottery, Gavin McKenna's draft position and who the Maple Leafs should select. They go around the sports world in Gerry's Percentages, Hayes ranks the best ponytails, TaylorMade selections for the Truist Championship and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

Jump back on the train, folks. Five o'clock hour, Brian Hayes, Jamie McClennon, Jeff O'Neill. We are sprinting to 6 o'clock. We've got a big hour. Who do we got this hour, Haysie B? You got Craig Button coming up? I can see Craig Button. Craig Button is going to break down all the potential draft picked,

all the different scenarios, what's gone on in Toronto the last week. Massive hour. And I need to clarify something right off the bat. We're going to do a top five pony Hazy B listing. but I need to clarify something. I got a couple notes saying it seems like O'Dog can't stand John Chicaa. I view people in management, even if it's in the city that I live in and then I grew up in, just like Ray Ferraro views hockey games.

He always says, I don't care who wins. I don't care who runs the team. Everybody's got a job to do. I don't know John Chica. Would I have hired him? Definitely not. a bunch of other people are in the same boat as me. But you know what?

He got the job, and as far as I concerned, I discussed it a couple days ago, Brian. The phase of bitching and complaining and saying, what are we doing and firing crazy questions at these people are over with, and now he's the GM, and they get a shot. So let's see what you got. Nobody has, like, there's no sense of just saying, or saying you like or dislike. It's like, he's the GM of the team now.

And you can tell by listening to him talk, which a lot of people, they can talk, man. Like, these guys can, he probably had to do some talking to get this job to all the interview process, but I don't care who it is. I don't like or dislike anybody in management. A bunch of people are my friends. Of course, I like that. Matt Sundeen's a friend of mine.

But I don't care who's the GM. They got a job to do, and this guy might be a rock star in management. Let's see what he's got. The bitching and complaining phase is officially over. Well, and furthermore, if and when it, it works out, then we'll be the first ones to acknowledge that and pump his tires and Matt's tires and Mapley Sports and Entertainment. I mean, that's generally the way it works is the team plays and we react.

Right. You know, it applies to the leaves. That's right. And if it doesn't work, Brian, the first thing that's going to come out of our mouth is Kyle Dubus was an analytics guy as well. He won one playoff round. So why was it the need to feel to go down that road again? but you know what they did it so we're going to watch and see and let's see what the hell they can do

and listen they went the other way in a way with with tray living and he won one playoff round right so that's the thing you've had you've had a lot of different gms a lot of different management types whatever it's whatever your style is brian whatever your approach is someone try to get it done yeah that's all anybody gives that's right well and listen he acknowledged that he he said listen they've got they've got to they've got to find you know different ways of attack you've got to be a able to play against all the variety of styles and teams in the league. But you also have to establish an identity. Yep. And they have to do that because as of right now, the Leafs don't really have one.

They have the first overall pick, which is amazing, but doesn't completely change the complexion of your team. He's two days on the job. I've said to you off air, I want to afford him time to get acclimated, get sorted out. Now, he's on the clock just because of everything. As every manager has said to me, when Brad Tree Living, took over the job. You're drinking from a fire hose immediately because you got decisions. He had a decision. He had to get Matthew's contract done. Same situation here. John Chike has taken over. Austin Matthews is in the forefront, whether we like it or not. Like you have to,

you have to get acclimated right away. Seems like a smart guy. And here's the other thing. You're a lot smarter at 26 than you are at 16, 36 than you are at 26. This is a second kick at the can. That's why I asked him the question, like, what's different between Arizona and Toronto other than the obvious that the size of the market's been his resources? It's him. He's different. You hope that he learned through his previous experience. You talk to coaches in the NHL and say, well, my first kick of the can, I was a lot better the second time because I knew what to expect. So that's what I'm hoping out of this experience for him, is that he learned a lot, and you've got to be humble and you come into us and work hard and see what you can put forth.

And ultimately, whoever the GM was, you can't control everything. You're not going to control everything. Right. You can't control what you're doing with the first pick. You can't control who you're trying to sign. You can't control who your coach is going to be. But you can't control how your players are going to feel or what your players want or where your players ultimately decide whether or not they want to stay, leave.

And that means the best player all the way down to the worst player on the roster. Right. You know, there are a lot of things that are out of the hands of every single GM. But anyway, it was, listen, it was good to catch up on them. And hopefully, I'm sure he will. He's going to come on again in the future and at least have a big offseason. But last night went a long way and launching them into possibly a very positive landscape, winning the draft lottery last night.

That was significant. And Craig Button will join us here in a few moments and we'll get Craig's take on. He's a mechanic guy. Not that he's not a fan of other players in the draft, but he has been a pretty staunch supporter of Gavin McKenna being the best player in the draft. So we'll get him to detail all that. We got some picks to make too this hour, right? The truest is going back to Quail Hollow, so we've got that McElroy back in the field.

Scotty not playing. But we'll get to that. We'll get the PJ Championship next week. I love it. So all that coming up later in the hour. And Jerry's percentages as well at 25 minutes. It seems to be like a – I know it's every weekend, but it just seems like a lot of elevated events bunched up together,

which I bet you as spoiled as these guys are hazed they hate it. Well, because... They're like worn out. It's like what? It's crazy. Back to back going into the PGA.

Yeah. Right? So it's like you got to play them and these guys they've all got different schedules in terms of how they want to prepare for a major. You know, and you look at it this year, the RBC Canadian Open,

it's being shifted again because Nicholas and the memorial wanted to move in a different direction. But it's right. before the U.S. Open, the U.S. Open is on the East Coast. They're playing at Shinnock, which is in New York. And as a result, they've got an awesome field.

Yeah. Because there's a ton of guys that want to play the week before the U.S. Open. Yes, leading up to it. And it's at TPC Toronto. It's going to be an awesome, awesome tournament this year. So we start moving in that direction. We've got the World Cup right around the corner. Yes.

Right. FIFA World Cup right around the corner. We've got the RBC Canadian Open right around the corner. Now we've got the draft right around the corner. The NHL draft and the Maple Leafs are going to pick first to get into it all. Here he is. The director of scouting here at T.S. Center, good friend Craig Button. How you doing, Craig? 51 days.

We got content for 51 days. That's all I know. Okay, I love it. Let's get right after it. You're walking up there to the podium representing the Maple Leafs. Who are you taking with that first pick? Well, if it's today I'm taking McKenna. but I think

there was a couple of big wins for the Toronto Maple Leafs with that lottery ball coming up with the Leafs logo on it number one they didn't lose the pick which was a fear of fans in the Toronto Maple Leafs number two it changed the narrative

from what happened on Monday to a delirious fan base on Tuesday which is really positive and number three picking first overall having way more options and you had going into the draft lottery, those are three big wins for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I mean, you think about a franchise that doesn't have a prospect covered that's deep, doesn't

have draft picks, this is, this was something that was a real positive for the Maple Leafs. Craig, some people's philosophy, I'd like to hear your take on it is you have a piece now, a young piece, and there's been talk about Austin Matthews and what he, plans to do in the future. Would any part of you want to say, let's just try to move on and possibly go after San Jose's number two pick and then move off of other pieces and then start building where in a couple years you have a bunch of different younger pieces and you're moving in a different direction? Or is it just, let's see where Gavin McKenna fits in with Austin Matthews and William

Neelander and hope this thing flies? I think, Jeff, you just outlined the options now that's. Toronto Maple Leafs can consider. You know, John Chacon, when he's asked about, will you trade the first place? He says, yeah, we're open. Like, that's what every manager says, right? But that's what every manager should say.

And I think given where the least find themselves, and they're not one player away, you know, but you now have options you didn't have. And certainly, you know, Austin's a superstar in the league. William Nealander's a superstar in the league. And you look at a team that is trying to find a way to get back to a, to a staff. age of contending and every team should be like that but the options that are available to them

now not just with the first pick not just with considering what what could happen with austin matthews and william nielander but those are things that now for if i'm the toronto maple lease management group you got to you got to put everything on the table for what's going to move us closer to being a contending team now i'm not talking next year if you think it's all about next year well you know i think that that's a really difficult task to ask but if you want to really move into contending status i think jeff you have all these opportunities well when i asked you a moment ago you know who you would take you said if the draft were today it would be mckenna is that suggesting in the next 51 days that could change for you if it's not mckenna who else would you take with the first pick of the leaves keep us I would consider a defenseman. I would. And I would consider Carl's or, for me, it's Carl's or Chase Reed.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, to me, the last time they had an impact defenseman. They had Brian McKay for a short period of time who was really impacted. Thomas Caberle was their last real driver from the back end. They don't have anything. They don't have that guy. They're not easy to find. So that would be a conversation. I'd be having internally.

You know, how do we find these guys? I'd like teams. Yeah, I know Vancouver traded Quinn Hughes, but how do you find these guys? So I'm not saying that that's, I would consider a defenseman and I would have that conversation. I would delve deep into it.

Make me say no. So Craig, how deep is this draft? And what I mean by that is, we do this all the time. We'll go back on a draft class and look and say, hey, Morgan Riley, you know, came, was fifth.

And if you had to redraft it, he might end up first in that particular draft. I think it was the Gelseniac and all of that. But when you look at this particular draft class, is there six, seven, eight impactful players? You feel like in that top ten? Or am I being a little rich with that comment? I think you're being rich. I mean, if you go back and look at drafts, I mean, and I'm using impactful in a significant way. Correct.

Like, you know, there's players that can, you know, contribute and be important players, but the impact players are not deep in any draft. And I think when you look back at any draft, Jamie, like, the way I look at the draft, and we hear this all with this, is this a good draft, is it a bad draft? Here's what the data tells you. And Jeff, I know that you're a data-centric program now, so I'm trying to see you have data here. Much appreciated. Much appreciated.

There's approximately 45 players in every draft, approximately. Sometimes it's a little higher, sometimes a little lower. They play 350 games or more in the NHL with varying degrees of success. And that's the numbers. So you know those numbers going in. There's players that don't make it from the first round, the second round. There's players that have impact coming from later parts of the draft. When a team drafts players that make it, it's a good draft.

When a team drafts players that don't make it, it's a bad draft. And it has nothing to do with the players. It has to do with the selections made. With Craig Button. So I heard you last night. I saw you on Jay. You and Frankie were on there talking about McKenna and the impact he could have next season. Let's presume they take McKenna.

Let's presume Matthews is back. Link those two for me. Do you see McKenna being able to play with Matthews? Can he have an impact on his season? it next year. Can he play period? Can he play next year? Exactly. Where do you stand on all those projections as of today? That's a fair

question. That's a fair question. You know, can you play? I think the situation for Gavin improved immensely when you start to think about the opportunity to play in Toronto with Austin Matthews. Let's

say they don't take them. To play in San Jose with Maclin Celebrini. Because you're talking about premier players. And Jeff, you lived it. You were drafted as a center and they put you on the wing. Why did they put you on the wing? Not because you weren't talented or you didn't have potential.

They wanted to protect you a little bit. They wanted to ease you in somewhat. And so Gavin's already a winger and now he can start on the wing and now Austin Matthews can carry the burden. The other thing about Gavin McKenna is, is he the playmaker. And what did Austin Matthews lose? He lost the playmaker.

Why did Austin Matthews dip in goals scoring? He didn't have the playmaker. To me, Gavin can think the game. He's got great creativity. He's got playmaking ability. And now to line up next to Matthews, that's something that I think could work. So, Craig, do you don't see a scenario

where there's an Owen power type of situation where Gavin McKenna could possibly want to go back to Penn State and go back to college, or do you think that he would be interested in going right to the NHL if that's possible? Yeah, just like if we, you know, Owen, Owen, it was a little different scenario with the pandemic with Owen. So if I think under normal circumstances, Owen would have turned pro. I really do.

So, and I think that Gavin, like, given the scenarios that he could be, he could be presented with, like, and I'm not here to knock a team, but let's say he fell to three. If I'm advising Gavin McKenna, go back to Penn State. Because I don't think Vancouver has the ability to support him and give him what he needs. And you've seen him, Jeff and Jamie and Brian. Like, you know, the maturity, the physical things. And, you know, you need a little bit of help when you come into the NHL.

He's not a celebrini. He's not a Schaefer. He's not a badarde. He isn't that guy. So to me, it depends where you're going. But I think if you're lining up on the left side of Austin Matthews, or Maclin Celebrini, you're coming to the NHL. Craig, what would your viewpoint be on being a general manager, which you were,

and one of the players, or there's different players around the league that I think are having kind of a wait-and-see approach with what their team is doing as far as roster construction, how competitive they think they're going to be. And I guess the approach is going to be if I don't like it, maybe I don't want to be back. if you were on the management side, how would you handle that type of situation? Because I know if it was me, I'd be like, we have to move on from you because there's a chance we're going to make some changes. And you still don't like them, and then you're still going to want out. So let's just get this straight here.

What are your thoughts? I'm with you, Jeff, and I think Jim Rutherford showed that with Quinn Hughes. He said, hey, listen, we love you. You're our captain. We want to keep you. Oh, you don't want to stay. We understand. We're moving on.

I don't think it serves player or team to go through that dance. It feels like you're not dancing in coordination to the music. The music that each party might want to be dancing to and stepping to is different at that point in time. And now you end up at the end of it going, oh, wait a sec here. We don't have anything. And, you know, we've gone through all this exercise of trying to appease. And I'm not saying that in a negative way, but you got to run your team with the idea that what's best for the team.

And when I was a manager, Jeff, players, I mean, there's all kinds of trade talk, and maybe it's a little bit more enhanced now. I told the players, simple. If I can improve the team, I'll trade anybody. But I'm not looking to trade anybody. But you always got to be having your mind open. But to me, you have to move on. Jim Rutherford showed that.

And really, quite frankly, you better not dither. because if you dither, you're going to be sitting with the music stopped and no chair to sit in. With Craig Button. So we've got have Sabres tonight starting. It should be a great series. You know, a lot of Montreal fans watching and listening to the show. A lot of Sabre fans watching and listening. Which way do you lean when it comes to the outcome of this series, Craig?

Well, I got to work with the data. How many Sabers fans are listening? Because, you know, if the more Sabers fans are listening, I might lean sabers with more Canadians fans. You can be swayed. That's the smart man. Well, you're just trying to appease the numbers. What I would say to you is this.

I thought that Tampa Bay's big problem against Montreal was their defense couldn't contribute to the offense. They just couldn't. The Tampa Bay Lightning had a lot of offensive zone play. They had a lot, but the offensive play from the blue line wasn't there. The Buffalo Sabres have that. I think that becomes the biggest challenge for Montreal. They've got some big players that can hem you in. And now the blue liners, Byram and Dahlene specifically,

Owen Power to a little lesser extent, can contribute to that offense. I don't think Tampa Bay had that. Conversely, they're also a team that takes risk. And I think that Montreal can exploit that. They're quick, they're fast. And if you can counteract some of their activity to get into the offensive rush should be a little bit risk worthy. And you want to take that away from them.

You get some odd man chances and you back them off. That's what I'm watching for in this series. Dobish was great against Tampa Bay Lightning. Alex Lyon got in the net and played really well. You know, that's where I look at it. We know that the top line from Montreal has to find a way to get on the scoreboard. That goes without saying. But I think how they handle the aggressiveness of the buffers,

Blue Line in the offense. It can work to Buffalo's advantage or it can work to Montreal's advantage. That to me is the chess match. Yeah, it's going to be a great series starting tonight. 51 days from the NHL draft. We cannot wait for it. There'll be more mock drafts and analysis.

Craig, you're going to be all over it. Great stuff, as always. Thank you for doing this. We'll do it again soon. Yeah, quick question for Jeff. Yes. What's with the gray, they believe's alumni blazer? Is that a new one?

Is that a new suit? He's got a pilot to you. Brian. to Mr. Button, the outfit. All right, so you were watching the lottery last night. The lottery ball security guard had a really tight ponytail, and we were very inspired by that. So all we said, I'm going to grow out the ponytail.

I don't really know why the alumni jacket, other than the fact that the Leafs won the lottery last night, and he decided, I guess the blue one, maybe it's being tailored because everything else this guy owns gets tailored, because he's bringing out the road white, the road white alumni jacket with a tight pony. That's the inspiration. Craig.

I like the gray alumni jacket. I only saw the blue ones. I like the gray. It's sharp with the one he made. It's custom made. He made it himself. As far as I know, he's the only Leaf alumni with that jacket. And I don't care. Nobody else.

And I don't care. Nobody else makes their own. It wasn't given to him by the Leafs alumni. No. He went out and made it. Yeah. And I've asked other Leaf alumni and they said, you're insane if you think I'd ever do that. Only Jeff O'Donio would do that. I've gone Jeff a long time, and there's one thing you can take to the bank.

He's his own person, and we love him for that. Very authentic. Very authentic. Thank you, Craig. Thank you, Craig. There's Craig Button. Joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Red Tag days are here.

Check out the Toyota Crown Signia, effortlessly tranquil, beautifully designed, and remarkably distinctive. Visit Maple Toyota near Canada's wonderland on the Maple Auto Mall. All right, I'm, man, I'm going to have a tough time getting this list down to five. pony list. I mean, Stephen Seagull has to be on it. So go to are you ripping them off right now? No, no, no. We'll come back. We've got Jerry coming up. I've got the list. We've got our picks.

I've got to right for Quail Hollow. I'm still sitting there thinking like John Chaker's first appearance on the show. Yeah. This guy in an alumni jacket and a tight guys. And you want to like, most most people would say, you know what? The GM of the Lisa, I got to, I got to change out of this. You've got to stay

true to yourself. I understand that. It's just, he doesn't know us that well. So he's looking into the screen. Jamie, he knows who we are. We know who he is. Yes, we're friends with the sister. I understand that. But the point being is that he comes on the show and he's staring through the screen

and you've got your alumni coat on and a ponytail. And there's no backstory. It's like, hey, John, how you doing? We just started talking. Right in the interview. You got a battle through adversity, man. Something kind of, you know, give up one in the first ten minutes. You've got a battle through. I loved it.

That's right. That's correct. All right. Jerry's coming up. Best bet still to come. We've got golf picks, and we've got our top five ponies. I'm having a very difficult time. I've got to narrow this down to five. Why, you have too many? Yeah, I got a lot.

Come on, dude. I couldn't think of three people with great ponies. I've got athletes. I've got a chef on here. A chef? Yeah, there's a chef on here. Hurry up, go to commercial. I want the list of the ponies.

There's a lot of them. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSNM up. Hello, Canada. This is Brian Adams Radio. Hosted by Brian Adams himself. We'll play a few of mine, a ton of my favorites, and some must-hear behind-the-scenes stories from the world of rock and roll.

I'm coming to get you. When thinking about doing rock and roll so long as you end up meeting a lot of the people that you admire, sometimes you even get to work with him. Brian Adams Radio. Now available on the free I-Hare Radio app. You're going to want to hear this. Jerry's percentages. I don't love being commissioner as much as I used to.

I actually love it even more. That's the voice of a f***. Hall of Famer. Are you kidding? Have you been out drinking? You're all pigeons. Filthy, filthy pigeons. It's Jerry, G E, D-E-R-Y.

All right, Jerry's percentages. We haven't played Jerry's in a while. No. Looking forward to it. And obviously, after the draft lottery last night, everything, all the positive momentum of the Stanley Cup playoffs, right? The playoffs have been great and the

salary caps going up 8.8.5 million next year. Everything's going well for the league right now. Jerry's in a very, very good place. So we thought perfect time to catch up with him. He was ready to hear from Jerry. Let's do it. Fire it up. First and foremost, I want to acknowledge my esteem lottery

colleague, tight pony J.P. Tight Pony and Jerry jumped in a link a navigator after the lottery and hit the town. And let's just say the sparks were flying. Jerry and Shite. JP.

Imagine that. Imagine because you know that they both got in the navigator and they both looked down at each other's wheels and they had black on black sketcher wheels. Instead, let's dominate. Let's dominate NYC.

I love it. Yeah. Right into Manhattan last night. Let's fire up the first one. Go ahead, Joe from the bridge. Gavin McKenna will be nominated for rookie of the year next season. Jerry's coming in hot. This is a Jerry slash

possibly Joe from the Bridge special. I got to tell you. I'm telling you, Joe is going to get the number 12 lottery ball tattooed somewhere on his body. Yeah, his butt, his ass. Okay, maybe. All right, but I'm not getting carried away with this. I'm not

So top three, you don't see, okay, go ahead. Top three, McKenna, rookie of the year. Top three, rook, what do you mean? Nominated. Nominated. It's not winning. Nominated. I'm going to say 15%.

So many things have to happen. There's like good, like more mature kids that step into the league, older guys, rookies. I'm just, I don't think that this is, this is a leaf. This is crazy leaf stuff. He's good, but he's probably going first overall. I mean, that's generally the favorite to win the thing. I get it. I get it.

I'm just going to try to keep the expectations down. I'm going to say 15%. I know you're going to say 89. I'm about 22%. I was going to say 25, but yeah, I'm low on this, but if he plays in the league, you get a look at it. It's just, I guess my question would be, ask me this when the team is formed,

if he's playing with Austin Matthews or if Matthews has moved on and he's playing with a younger team. Right. Or if the leaves don't draft them, he goes somewhere else. That's fair. But if he goes to San Jose and pairs up with Celebrini, now Will Smith, though, probably would sit there and say that's actually my role.

There's no guarantee he plays in the league next year. That's got to be low. That's why it's 22%. Yep, I think that's reasonable. I mean, I think first overall probably walks right in, but if you drop to three or four, then the door is open to maybe go back to school. And Craig kind of left that like, you know, he's like today, which was weird. usually he would be like

slam donkeys well maybe the world championships will change the mind of some scouts right? I think he Craig's got something in the back of his mind that he didn't share with us yeah well he likes a couple of defensemen yeah and it's an interesting thought like that and I don't think it would be

the Swedish guy the guy played in Sweden well Stenberg yeah and maybe Sundin is possibly leaning towards that it's possible I'm going to say 12% 12% because again he's very, very young. Like this year was a phenomenal Calder race. I mean, I know Schaefer

took off, but Demadov and Seneca were really good. Yes. Like really, really good. I bet you the Habs are looking for a Demadoff or Caulfield goal tonight. Yes, I think you're definitely right. Caulfield in particular five-on-five. That guy, you know he's going to play a ton. All right, what else you got, Jerry?

The likelihood of Austin Matthews staying in Toronto long term went through the roof with the lottery win last night. Okay. How much did it change his long-term playing in Toronto, the lottery win last night? 10%. 10%. Yeah, I'm thinking in that lower range, because you actually talked me out of it in the 4 o'clock hour, because I thought maybe a little bit more, but you're like, this guy's going to do what he wants to do regardless of...

Well, and he's thinking one year at a time, and McKenna's, if they take him, is 18 years old. I mean, Austin's 10 years into his career. Guys, I think if you're even, if any of this stuff is starting to come out from credible people like our Chris Johnston, in my mind, it kind of, I just think that the players already visually, kind of mentally left, like he wants to leave. Because this stuff's not coming out by accident, right? So his buddy Mitch has gone, the team stunk last year, and he's been here a long time, he's had some great memories. he's no kid anymore. Maybe he just wants to do something different, and that's fine. That's totally fine.

You know what I mean? Yeah, I hear you. Like, it might be time for both sides, for all of them. Neelander, Matthews, Morgan Riley, like, just to say, you guys have been great soldiers, you've been good people, you've had some nice individual stat seasons, but it's probably time for us to go in a different direction. That's a scenario that I could see happening. I don't know what that organization down the street thinks of that idea.

but it's definitely something that should and could be in play. Chica didn't indicate that an hour ago, right? Like he has indicated. I tried to dig it out of him to say, like, the Keith's view of this team is they better contend next year, which is completely unrealistic. I wanted to hear his thoughts on. And he did say, listen, we all saw what happened last year. And they got a lot of work to do.

But, you know, they're all about process. And next year can you get incrementally better? and then the year after that get better. Yeah. I would guess that that's still their plan. It's just keep trying to plug away and try to get better and hope to get back on the horse next year.

Which I can reason with considering how awful last year was in the previous nine was pretty good. The other thing too is, guys, they can get better next year. I was thinking about this today. Who's coming out? Like... We say that every year.

No, I'm saying, though, you're going to be chasing. Like, Florida's going to be right down. back in the mix. Oh, yeah. That's my point. The Atlantic is not going to soften. No, I agree with you.

But last year we said the same thing, and the leaves and Florida completely fell off a cliff. 100%. So maybe next year, Buffalo falls off a cliff again. Like, I'm not, I don't know. There's five teams from the Atlantic made it this year, right? Correct? Am I right on that?

Detroit didn't. Yeah, so, but my point is if there's five teams available, yes, you can. can put yourself into the mix with the Boston's, the Ottawa, all of that. But no guarantee that you can actually make the playoffs. That's my only point is that if they played in a different division, you could go, hey, let's read, you know, but this is the Atlantic is, is murderers row and not changing it for at least probably a year or so. Yep.

I'm not, I'm not arguing against that. I'm just saying every year is unpredictable in some way. I mean, the Leafs in Florida. Nobody saw Florida and Toronto missing the playoffs this year. this much too, where it was like, wow, they're out. Yes. All right, Jerry, what else do you have? The Blue Rouge are going to the Stanley Cup final.

Wow, right to a cup final take before game one tonight for the Habs. I'm going to go 25% on that. As good as Montreal's story's been, they got a real good squad in Buffalo, and then they're going to probably be facing the Carolina Hurricanes. So. Not going to be easy, but If you're looking at it right now, Carolina is going to be playing Colorado in the cup final. I think this Carolina team's got a team that can get through that conference final.

They haven't done it. They haven't done it, but I think this could be a real. And I actually believe I think they're the only team left that could possibly kind of stymie Colorado with the way they check and the way they play. That's just what I think right now. I think Carolina is the only team that could possibly cause problems for Colorado. It's early. It's kind of a crazy kind of statement,

but that's the way I feel right now. The Natchez Bowl, that would be interesting. Marty Natchez, making his way back to Raleigh, North Carolina. Some of that puck movement by Colorado last night, when they get buzzing, is just outrageous. I was like, this is the modern version of, like,

Jamie, back when those, like, good Colorado teams, good Detroit teams, good pit teams, were there out there playing... They do for his chess and the rest of the league. Yeah. Just playing checkers. Yeah.

It did look like they did look like on another planet last night. Yeah. I remember we got spanked by the penguinos. And my man Jimmy Carson got on the bus. And everyone was quiet. Whatever he goes, man. Lemieux and Yager were tossing it around tonight. Yeah, that's tough.

It is tough. That's tough. I don't even remember. The Hades are going to the Cup final. I am 17%. I'm low on this. Everyone's low on all these numbers. I'm going to a little bit higher.

I think they're going to get past Buffalo. I do, eh? I just feel like Dolbush has got something cooking right now. I'll do a side hunch on that. Sure. Side hunch. Now, both these teams feel like they're destined. Only one can get through.

Exactly. That's the thing. Exactly. but I kind of, I feel like there's still, like them getting past Tampa, man. I don't know if they're getting enough credit for that. There's a lot of people, myself included, that were like, Tampa's the cream of the crop, Tampa, this, Tampa, that, and they just beat them. Like Buffalo beat Boston.

Boston, not that good. I'm sorry, they were okay this year. And to their credit, they battled and they got in. That's not some great team. Buffalo deserved to win, and they did. Montreal toppled a pretty big giant. Yeah. Like, that's pretty impressive to get past Tampa, and they got.

did it. Now, do they rest on their laurels or do they push harder? I think, I think they get going here. And does it, you know, my worry is, 35% they're in a cup final. My worry is that the clock strikes on any goalie too, right? If the clock strikes midnight on Dobish, then you go to Fowler. But it can happen with Freddie Anderson too, right? Or Alex Lyon.

With Lion and Buffalo, absolutely. And UPL would go back in. Yep. But, like, that's a weird thing in Minnesota. Like, who are they going to go back to? You go back to Walshead. You have to. Because I didn't think, I didn't think Gustafson.

played very well yesterday. And he didn't play well down the stretch. Walshstead's their guy. Yes, they gave up a nine spot. But how come everybody else got to go back on that ice and then they pulled the goal? I know. It always works out that way. Everybody else was just a gem in front

of Walshded the other night? No. Ridiculous? No. I don't think so. All right. Okay. That's it for Jerry because we get too much on our plate here. This list we got to get to... We've got to get to the list. I am having a very difficult time, and it's not helping that I have a lot of people sending in their own ideas. Gold, probably gold pony picks.

There's so many, well, you know who had a pony for a while was gold dust. Gold dust had a gold pony. Because, like, wrestlers, a lot of people point out, Jake the Snake, Mr. Perfect had a great one. Is there anybody at... Jake the Snake. What a pony. What a pony. Well, he had a skullet with a pony.

That's what it was. But his ponytail. Jesse Ventura had a skullet with a pony. I'm trying to think of those. There's another list for a month away so people forget about it. Stop B listing, top five, skullet ponies. You have to do that in a month. A skullet pony.

I love the skullet pony. It's so great. It is like you have got nothing cooking up top, but you have got a glorious pony. You've just grown it so long in the back. You're distracting people, but it's glorious. Yeah, it's so great. I've been trying to rack my brain because I think there's been, like we must have worked with somebody here at TSN or at Bell.

Oh, yeah, with a pony? Absolutely. There was some, there was, Wilson had the bun or whatever. Luke might be coming up on the list. Yeah, look at Jesse, look at that skull pony on Jesse Benzrow. No way could you be balled up top and have a pony like that. You know what are crazy?

Remember the Van Dam movie where I think it's Lionheart where he's a street fighter and he fights that one giant at the end and the guy's completely bald with just a pony out of the back? That's a great look that guy. I can't remember his name. Sullet pony. It's like Pye Mae or something.

I think that's killed Bill. Anyway, I've got my skull. That's not skullets. I've got the top five ponies coming up. We've got golf picks coming up as well and don't forget tomorrow. I'm taking you on. Me and Ernie Clement versus you and Ryan Reuse at the Lincoln Cup. We can't Cannot wait for it. It's going to be really exciting.

You're going to be able to see it. We're filming it tomorrow, but you're going to see it on June 7th, 12 p.m. Eastern time on TSN. So the result will be just over a month away. We can't wait for it. But that's going to be big tomorrow. Cannot wait to get there back at Coteown. We'll do that. More details tomorrow and throughout the week and leading up to when we finally see it in early June. All right. Best Betts stow to come, top five ponies and golf picks. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on YouTube live. Unmistakably Canadian. It's the music that raised you.

The artists raising the bar. Hi, this is Brian Adams. Hey, my name's Brett Emmons. I'm from the glorious sons. Hi, I'm Nellie Fittato. Made in Canada, the station that champions Canadian music. Loud, crowd, and all yours. No passports required.

Just press play. Tap into Made in Canada now on iHeartRadio.ca. Or the free iHeartRadio app. All right, Best Betts coming up. And we're also going to get to our golf picks for the truest championship at Quail Hollow. But we were inspired last night. We were inspired. And we would urge people to check it out.

We went up live on YouTube, live on TSN's YouTube channel last night. You could find a podcast to wherever you download your podcast, the IHeartRadio app, TSN app, TSN.com. And you did the rounds after. You were on Jay with the longest. tie I've ever seen. It was right around your nukes. I'm glad you got to trim that tie up.

Let me tell you what happened. It was on the floor. It was Ronald McDonald's tie. It was a Trump tie, basically. That's one of the goofy ties this guy gave me. So I have a warning. Look, the Grim Reaper told me, dude, when I was 19, the tie should be just kind of tip. That's it.

Tip your belt. I know that. That thing was on your nutes. I kept adjusting. it and then I'm like it's just too long but I'm going with it. I'm doing his Jay 6 foot 10 I know he's what does that have to do with

your tie? Because I want to look to talk too I want it was I totally agree with you it was I knew it the second I sat down like this tie is huge this morning I turn on my TV and I'm watching it without sound I had to stop and I was like why is his tie on the floor? I know it was

outrageous it was it was an outrageous tie it was oh's tie One of the dumpy ties he gave me. Just on the way out of Jay Studio, you just dump it in the garbage. Disposable. I loved it. All right.

You want me to get to the top five ponies? Yeah. Go ahead. The bad guy in the Van Damme movie was named Tong Po. Tong Po. That's the guy. Try to get a picture of Tong Po if you can, Joe from the bridge. All right, number five.

I'm going to put two guys at number five because they're both chefs. Salt Bay is in there. And Mario Batali, the red-headed guy. Remember Mario Batali with his beard, a bad pony? He had a ginger pony. Yes, I remember that guy. Okay, so number five. Salt Bay, there's Salt Bay.

That is a phenomenal looking pony. It is. Like, Salt Bay is a big shooter, man. Apparently, like people from all around the world, can't wait to get to one of his restaurants and hang out with this guy. Yeah, my stakes are like $1,200 now. They don't even care about the steak. They just want him to do the steak.

They want Salt Bay. Exactly. Number four, Michael Bolton. Mike Bolton. Oh, there's Batali. Yeah, Patali. So there's Mario Batali. That's a phenomenal pony.

He really rocked it well. But, okay, moving on. Number four, Michael Bolton with his sags. Yes. Dude, he would... Michael Bolton was... And by the way, you said it wrong. It's a perm pony.

Yes. Because Michael Bolton had the curly locks. Yeah. And he had a tight, curly pony with a golf hat on. He'd love to tea at Michael Boltony. Bolton. Yes, he did. He'd always be at the Pro-M. Yeah. I love the pro-am. Oh, wow.

Apparently, this guy had a circle, like, this guy did damage. Yes. Yes. Women loved that guy. Yes. That guy pulled out the sacks and put his hair in a pony. It was go-time. Yeah. And then shoot like a 68 at Cyprus Point. Yeah. He is...

You imagine seeing Bolton on the range. I'd be like, name the amount. I'll crush you. And he would smoke your ass. Absolutely. Absolutely. You'd be getting strokes probably from Mike Bolton. All right. Number three, I got Travolta in there. John Travolta, Pulp Fiction. It's just, it was a life-changing play. He was too cool in that movie. I loved that movie. Yeah, it was phenomenal. Okay, number two, I got Steven Segal, right? Do we have any Gino

Folino? Did we find any Gino Folino from Out for Justice? We got to have a scene of it. asking a lot out of Joe. Tomorrow, though. Looking for all these pictures. You guys are on Friday, we'll have a Segal scene. Okay. There it is.

There you are. That's when he's. That's a, that guy right there, that's a shocking. That doesn't, there's five of those guys inside the new Steven Seagal. Yeah. I know. The new Stevens Seagal. Well, he's got a goatee and glasses now.

I know, but he's also, yeah. Yeah, he's a bigger dude. He's, there's something weird going on with Steven Seagal. I don't know what it is. Something's going on. But he was unreal, dude. Like in under siege, he had a thicker, crazier ponytail than that. It was awesome.

And then at number one, I've got our boy, Luke Wilson, when he was rocking the pony back in the day. Luke was, like, when he first joined CSN, that was his, that was his luck, man. I wanted to grow the full salad back too. Yeah. I don't think, I think he looks more clean cut, maybe possibly a little bit younger. Dude, that's a man bun pony. Yeah, he had a man bun pony. I think he should bring it back.

I agree. Jet black, like, long hair. He looked like just a stud. He was an Adonis. Yes. That's what he was. Well, that was all throughout his career, right? Like, he'd catch touchdowns and dude touchdowns and dude, touchdown dances with his ponytail.

That is, yeah. It was a phenomenal look. There it is. Yeah, and again, a lot of people reaching out. Roger Federer had a great pony at one point. Remember Rod? No, I don't remember that at all. I do not remember Fed.

Oh, dude, it was a phenomenal pony. It was the guy who had the wig and had the greatest thing. Legacy had made it. I can't believe he admitted all those years after. he had a, like he glued his hair on. He put it on the lampshade at night. There's, see, oh, I forgot about it.

Federers was phenomenal. Early in his career. That's when he was racking up majors to his lamp. What a stud. He was single at those times, too. Remember the lead singer counting crows, too? Remember, he had fake hair? Oh, Adam Duritz or whatever.

Yeah. I didn't know he had a fake style. Oh, I'm pretty sure that. Because remember we had the big braids and everything? Yeah, yeah. I'm pretty sure that was a, you think that was a agacy. I think it was an agacy. That's, we should have a top time, top five fake

salads. That's a good one, too. Scullets and fake salads? We've got lots of options. Not before Skelot Pony's. There's Sigal. Look at Sigal. He just punched the guy right in the jewels. Look at this guy's pony. Just destroying people in the butcher shop. I love it. How often

fights break out like that? We're just, hey, five guys are coming at you with knives. In a butcher shop where they're looking for stakes. Totally reasonable. All right. Here we go. Overdrive. P.J. Picks. brought to you by Taylormade. It's time to find your new fast with QI-4D drivers. Taylor-Mate's fastest, most

fitable drivers. Learn more at TaylorMadeGolf. DotCA slash QI-4D. I put this in play for the first time this week. It is the greatest driver I've ever hit. It is, man. It's disgusting. It's so phenomenal. It's so good. And it's like right down the middle, dude. You'll find out tomorrow.

Bring your A game. All right. By the way, you've been doing me dirty with taking the, I'm taking the first two picks, and it's Maca Roy and Cam Young. You're taking the two favorites? You think Cam Young's going back to back? Okay.

He's gone to another level, man. The way he's driving the golf ball, the way he's rolling the rock. He's, I think he's possibly three months away from them talking about a big three. I think you might be on to something. But here's a guy who might be the big four. I'll take Fitsy, my boy. Not Fitzpatrick is just as hot as Cam Young. Fitsy with a big shoes and his crossed-handed wedge.

I'm going to take Ben Griffin, too. He was red hot down the stretch last week. I think he keeps that going at Quail Hollow. Ben Griffin. I'm going to take, here's my last three. Ludwig Oberg. I'm going to go Siwu Kim and Sammy Burns. Sammy and it's Peter Malar.

That's a really good. And Cam Young, dialed in Peter Malar. Yeah. Okay. I'll take Xander. I think he likes this track. Tommy, you have it. You've laid away from your boy.

But Tommy's only won once. He won at the Tour Championship. I love Tommy Fleetwood, but he doesn't actually win like full tournaments. I'll take Tommy. That's your guy. I'll take him. And then, you know who's been right there short of one round every single week on tour? Who?

Jordan Spief. Really? I'll take Spieth to get back into the winter circle. You took Jordano, my guy. Yeah, I'll take him. Jordan Speeth. All right, there you go. golf picks

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Learn more at Taylormade Golf dot CA slash QI4D There you go All right Got golf picks We got our ponies And best bets powered by

Fanduel I'm on the halves tonight There's look at Tau Po That was Look at that dude Tong Poe Sorry Tong Poe Love it

That's in Lion King. That's a great movie. I got to watch some of these old school movies. Oh, that's in Kickboxer? Kickbox. Okay, that's in Kickboxer. There's actually another one with a guy. I think it might be Andre the Giant's brother. Literally his brother. He's got a pony and he's about 6'8 and he fights Van Dam and a pool. Really? Yeah, and there's like just a little bit of water left in it. It's an awesome scene.

The ponies did well. Boney's are alive and well. I love it. Okay, anyway, I'm on the Habst tonight. Best Bet's powered by Fanduel. Looking forward to that game tonight. Great game. Wept today off tomorrow, back in action on Friday with the Angels in town. Good stuff today. Nice to everyone behind the scenes for helping out.

We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV, radio, podcast, web, and of course up on YouTube live. We're out of here, enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at Ponoa Special 4 p.m. We'll chat, Ben. Epic rock adventure. It's in Toronto with flights and hotel.

Entry to the IHeart Radio sound check party and $1,000. Cash. Who will you follow? Download the free IHart Radio app. Listen to IHeart Heavy Rock for 10 minutes for your chance to win. June 5th, the Don't Miss the IHart Radio Evanescence Sanctuary Album Release Party, featuring their new single, Who Will You Follow?