OverDrive - OverDrive - November 14, 2025 - Hour 2 - Stewart Johnston/James Duthie/Mike Johnson

Episode Date: November 14, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive at Boston Pizza Polo Park! CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston and TSN Host James Duthie joins to discuss the Grey Cup matchup, the CFL changes in the league and the impact to the franchises. TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the Maple Leafs’ losing streak, Craig Berube’s coaching views and the Canadian team landscape, the best advice in Dear Hayesy-B and the FanDuel Best Bets.

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Sorry, sorry. Even North American stuff like water slides and a sports bar and the views were bellissima. Okay, this is a problem. Book and save. Get drinks and Wi-Fi included. Visit MSCruises.ca, or contact your travel agent. Let's holiday.

Restriction supply ships registered in Panama and Malta. Drive continues, powered by Fanduil, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. We're live in Winnipeg, day two in the peg. Man, the crowd loves us out here, and I'm sure they're going to love our next two guests. I told you. It's our second home. It is our second home. We have absolutely had a blast here in Winnipeg. We're at the Boston Pizza. The hospitality's been incredible. Yep.

And we haven't had a five-pack around the table in a long time. Stu Johnston, Commissioner of the CFL, ladies and gentlemen, in the house. Hey, boys. Great to see the commission. And James Duffy. you're not loved everywhere you're not loved everywhere what did I do to Winnipeg I love it here why am I here you have the commissioner here

well because you just bring me on to get me boot and humiliate we thought this was Duffy country but it turns out it ain't basically a small parcel in Ottawa that's the only part no that's not true I'm from Ottawa it is not true exactly Stu can hammer that up we thought you'd have the book the book is you're doing the tour the book

Guys, you know that I'm not one for shameless promotion, and I would never do anything like that. That is disgusting. He's got the book on the inside of his coat. Wow. That's tailored. You have to sell. There you go. Sorry.

Get in there, Rennie. How beautiful is that? Look at Duffy running the whole operation. Reni, that was another poor Zoom by you. Look at that. That's how you sell books. That's how you sell books. Well, it's great to see you guys.

I know it is too far. It's shameless. I'm sorry. No, it's great to see you guys. And, Stu, this is the first time you're doing Great Cup as the commissioner. That's right. where as a TV executive, I'm sure you had a lot of fun over the years. Is it a different pace for you this week?

A little bit of a different pace. I see a lot of TSN folks here. They know I never messed around with the production. I just let them run so I could just hang out, visit Glad Hand. It was wonderful. Now they're putting me to work, but boys is special. It started on Sunday. Canadian Armed Forces helicopter hovers about 50 feet above the ground

and the Grey Cup rappels down, and we welcome that to the city. And the Winnipeg, Manitoba, the bombers, they are put. on a show. Yeah, it really has been incredible. And, you know, this is the first time we've been on the road for the Great Cup, but we've all seen it in Toronto and we've all witnessed it, noodles, you in Edmonton, like the connection, the whole country kind of comes together. That's the one thing I noticed that, and what I love and appreciate, fans from every team come, and that's what I like. And that people we saw last night, everyone was behaved, and it was good, and they just want to have a good time. It's exactly right. All of us

who've been to a number of Grey Cups, that is the exact feeling. For some of us who've been to a bunch of really cool sporting events around the world. Nothing compares to this. You never see where fans of all nine teams just get together to party together and just celebrate the game. It's fantastic. I tell everybody it's better than Super Bowl Week. You think so?

Because Super Bowl Week is just too big and corporate. And plus, nobody's inviting me to like the Maxim Party or something. Whereas the Grey Cup is just total Canadian, where you can go to all these places that's laid back, the commission will walk into the party and have a beer. you're never going to see that happen in the national football. You don't think Goodell is going to do that? Well, that's the thing. Now that you're the commish, is it stop and chat with all nine fan bases

and everybody's got like a critique or not, maybe a suggestion of what? Oh, yeah. All love. All love. That's what it is, right? Nothing better than a guy that's had 20 beers that feels like he can make the game better, us too? Those are when I get my best idea.

Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure. I think there's a story about the Browns owner that talked to somebody who's just drunk on the street, and he said, draft Johnny Manzell, and he did. Yeah, exactly. Well, don't listen to that guys, too. There's our suggestion. But, yeah, it's been a really cool couple of days.

We saw you up there on the podium speaking French as well. That was pretty incredible. I mean, has that always been a part of the background? I wasn't aware of that you had that type of talent. Well, you know, us Ottawa boys. We come up close to that Quebec border. We learn a little French along the way. Usually only in the bars and hull

That is true That is true You scrape the rust off Just also to be else you play Exactly But yeah no it's great And there's such a wonderful French population in Winnipeg

So if ever there was a time To bring the French out I thought it was here Stu we've seen Gary Bettman address The National Hockey League At different times of the year One being the All-Star game And there's one other time

Maybe before the Stanley Cup playoff start What is one thing that you like to get across It's your first time What's one thing you did want to get across in addressing everybody. Yeah, well, I mean, a few things. We wanted just a reinforcement of how amazing this league is, how unbelievable Grey Cup week is.

And then coming off some of the announcements we've made earlier this year, I just wanted to make sure I was crystal clear that we are a three-down, 12-player, 65-yard-wide, unlimited motion game. That is here, and that is here to stay. And so we can't wait to see that game going forward. There's a round of applause. So when you're doing your speech,

is it a teleprompter, this ties into you and the other night. There was a comment by a commissioner that called somebody Dumbo instead of Jumbo. I felt,

I don't think you guys should have given him a hard time because as much as you could give him a hard time. You didn't give him a hard time. You destroyed him, O'Dong. He did not.

I didn't do anything. I don't think we said anything. We came backstage and I thought he was going to cry. It's like one of the first times I felt bad for the commissioner in my life. It's just a mistake. It's not a big.

But that's a tough one. And Jumbo was great about it, too. Jumbo kind of laughed. But that's, it wasn't a teleprompter mistake, was it? No, I think it's just, the teleprompter is at that thing is way at the back of the room. So maybe it's hard to read sometime if you're doing it doing a thing. Well, I think he just, I think we should cut all commissioners a lot of slack. Exactly, exactly.

Everyone's just trying to have a good time. That's right. Everyone's trying to have a good time. Well, Stu Johnson with us, Commissioner of the CFL, James Duffy with us here as well. JD, you're a part of the production. Thank you. Thank you again. running gag

let's leave him alone yeah come on guys let's show him some love here you've you've did the Grey Cups so many times in your career and it's a big you know

you're obviously thinking of the production and you were joking Stu about you know flying into Great Cup cities in the past and allowing the production to do what it does as a commissioner I'm curious what you you know put more emphasis in

on Sunday will it be the actual game itself like how it plays is it a close game are they both teams healthy playing well suspenseful. I know your objective. It's not about one team winning or the other. Or is it the details of the event, because the event is as big as it gets.

It is. I mean, Great Cup week is the event, and then it finishes with the ultimate finale in the game. So the game on the field, I want two teams, battling it out, stay healthy, great officiating, and a close game at the end, and I'm great with the game.

But because this is such a massive event and there's so much interest of national importance, we want to make sure it comes off well. So working with a broadcast partner, make sure that those pictures look fantastic and show off this amazing game in the best possible way. So in saying that, is it, do you go up to death and say, like, in years past, this was terrible, what you did so make it better this year? Yes, because I held off telling him that in my previous life. I've got a laundry list now. Well, the truth is the one thing he would usually say to me on Grey Cup Sunday is make sure

you grill the commissioner. And that's true because one thing I love about TSN, the bosses never interfere in what we say, never tell us what to do, even though the partners with the league. And so that's one of my jobs on Sunday, and now he's got to be on the other end of it. How do you prepare for the Duthy treatment on Sunday? I'm going to drink a lot on Saturday night. Maybe Sunday morning. Maybe Sunday morning.

Get myself ready. James has always been a very fair broadcaster, and asked just very straightforward questions. No, I'm looking forward to it. He is, I think, you would all agree, the best broadcast. sucking up one of one of one oh thank you all right all right thank you we'll clap for them duffy country that's it got a duffy country just remember that on sunday yeah i'm going to open up with these rule changes are a joke well the rule changes i mean you talk about a you know a wave of optimism pessimism everything in between people had a lot of reaction you know did some of the rule

changes the details of you know the field and the benches going on different sides and the end zones, et cetera. Nathan Mork, in particular, we interviewed you shortly after Nathan was not overly happy with the decisions that you made to, you know, take the league in a certain direction. And last night he wins the MOPs, maybe the face of the CFL right now. Have you had a chance to catch up with Nathan? And if so, where do things stand with the players around the league in terms of where you're kind of taking the sport?

Yeah, look, I was at the awards last night. I got to see Nathan chat with him before the awards, and then afterwards, holding his two beautiful trophies and gave him big congratulations. Really nice connection, nice conversation. He's focused on the BC Lions and where they're going to go next year.

And I think we have a, you know, we've had a great understanding and kind of where each other's perspective is. And I think what he's hearing from me and certainly what he would have heard today is these changes are about enhancing our game. They're not about changing our game. And that's our focus.

And when I look at the two-court quarterback's playing in the game on Sunday. Both of them have been very supportive of the things we're trying to do. I talk to player agents. They tell me all their clients are super pumped about where we can go as a league. And today we just announced, you know, a brand new overhaul of our website. We're going to have a new app. We're going to launch a season-long fantasy game.

All things to engage our fans in what our game is. And I think there's just a lot of excitement about that. Yeah, well, I read that today and I noticed a lot of positive reaction to it. And I sense there's been people that have been calling for that for quite some time, linking the fantasy, making sure the technology is where it has to be in 2025. So if you are a fan and you're hearing that, like, how do you emphasize the fantasy in particular? Because it's such a huge part of pro sports today, whether it's the NFL, NHL, every league has got to have it. You guys have it now.

But how do you make sure everyone's exposed to it? Well, you guys are going to do a great job promoting it for us. Absolutely. Yes, we're going to get you on teams as well. we think that through all our channels, whether it's with our great partners here at TSN and RDS, and certainly our own channels and other partner channels, we are going to promote it.

Everyone's going to know we've got season-long fantasy, and that really is the gateway to fandom. And I think for football, in particular, out of all those sports, it's just so important. You pick your teams, you have your draft, and you move forward, and week to week. You know all about fantasy. It just keeps you engaged, and I can't wait to see it come together.

So in terms of plans, you know, these are pretty significant, you know, and that this is, this, I don't see any drawback from the website, from the fantasy. I think that'll be very, very well received. How quickly do you dive into more changes? Like, what is your appetite for, you know, that next move, considering, you know, how substantial these have been? And the reaction they've all kind of had over the last couple of months. Well, look, I'm going to let us all breathe for a little bit. But I know the folks at the league officer are pretty tired of me asking one question,

over and over. Why do we do that? Why? Let's just answer. Don't do anything because you've always done it before. Let's ask why we're doing it. We're in a modern world. Let's figure out where we're going to go. And the answer could be because this is the best plan. This is the best option. That's great. I don't think anybody should be afraid of change. And we're not looking at any rule changes, but just how we run our business and the website, our relationship with the provincial football organizations, with football Canada, with how we're going to drive flag football in schools. Super exciting stuff. And that's where I want to see us go.

J.D., you just perked up with the flag football. Yeah, he was a star. That's your wheelhouse. Here we go. Well, I just, the Olympics thing just happened like 10 years too late. I think I would have been there if it was 2016. I agree. But, well, it's not going to happen for me this time. And CFL players

eligible for the Olympic Games? Absolutely. So what's going to, I wanted to save this for Sunday, but this is the one I'll ask. So if Nathan Rourke, say, is the quarterback for Canada at the Olympics you're not like it's not shutting down the league like the NHL is right he'll just miss a couple of games or look it's it's 2028 so the announcement we want to make is they're going to be there they're going to participate we're going to work yeah absolutely absolutely that's how big an opportunity is this for our players and our game to be available for that team so

let's just say that is happening how we handle it we're going to work with the CFLPA we're going to talk about kind of how things can roll out. I think the two obvious ways to handle it is, one, as you play right through like they do in soccer, when teams move out, or you shut down. I think most likely we power right through, looking forward to those discussions. There's only 10 players on a team. There might only be three CFL players or something that play in it, right? Right, right.

No, exactly. Because you have Canadians playing in the NFL that could play. Sure, right. Yeah, you mentioned a guy like Nathan Rourke. I mean, that's pretty difficult to fulfill that guy's role. if he's going to miss a game or two, unless you're going to step in. I'm just saying.

It's not out of reach. Right. And it is a few years away, so you have time to figure that out. But in terms of, you know, what that could mean for your league, I'm sure you're having dreams of that already. We are.

And, you know, when we presented that to the board and we said, we know it's 2025, we're talking about 2028, but I think it's really important for us to get the message out now, that we are committed, that however it's going to work out, if a team's going to miss a player

for a couple of weeks, we're okay with that. all nine lead governors said absolutely we're in on that this is too important an opportunity we will manage whatever the fallout is the fact it happens in the middle of our season that's okay we'll figure it out well we've been in winnipeg the last couple of days we had the nail gun on yesterday speaking about this market and the importance in the CFL and how you know the sellouts and the stadium and how just rabid the fan bases out here I mean you've known that for a long time obviously but now that you're the commissioner and you can get behind you know under the hood so to

speak, how great of a Canadian football league market is Winnipeg? Well, look, this is a model for all other markets to follow. What the bombers have done in the last 10 years is so impressive. Huge credit to Wade Miller, President of the Bombers, but also to this fan base. They have stepped up. They know football. They love football, and they support this team. It is so impressive, and I want to share best practices with the other eight markets,

all of whom do great things, but Winnipeg is pretty special. Well, we were joking that we flew in here to take Mike O'Shea back to Toronto with us. That's our plan. It went over really well yesterday. Wow. People here really didn't want to hear that. That was awful talk out of your mind. There seems to be a lot of shuffling going on.

I saw Ryan Dinwiddie today, and he's pretty ecstatic with his new role in Ottawa, and we'll see what happens with O'Shea. But, you know, how closely do you have to follow that stuff in terms of the coaching carousal in the league? Well, very closely. I mean, we've got clear policies in place on who can talk to whom, when. They have to clear it with the league office. They have to clear it amongst teams. Everything has happened above board. And so these conversations happen. What I love is the discussion about the league that continues, right? This is more talk of the CFL.

And the more we are all talking about the CFL, the happier I am. And hopefully the result of Mike O'Shea lands in a place where everyone's happy in this bar. Yes, I'm sure they will be. But however it lands, we've got great coaches, and they're in high demand, and I love to see the way this is playing out. There you go. Nice. Well, J.D., you're in great cup mode, so that means you're not necessarily focused on the Leafs,

but do you know who's on the panel with you on Tuesday night? Oh, is it overdrive night? I think it's coming up pretty soon. I think it's a cut out of the back. I think maybe we were supposed to announce that next week. Yeah, I just completely threw that out. I'll be on the schedule. I'm just letting everyone know.

like Duffy in particular. I'll be hung over from this so I can just just like this segment. I'll just shut up and let you guys do your things. I was going to say, why did you even come out? We wanted to talk to the commission. All of a sudden, you sit down. That's so uncalled for.

Because Duffy's been booked for weeks. You're going to have to go back. You're going to have to go back on the show to see who got everybody to boo people in that coming out. Who do you think we'll give you one guess? Either him or him. It might have been ready. It's ready.

He's been riding a tight ship out here. The only thing you can do to make me feel better and make things right is to tell everybody in the bar to show up at McNally Robinson bookstore tonight at seven at seven o'clock yeah all right there we can't believe you did that i told you that's the only reason he wanted to come on there open the code i'm telling you there it is there's the book we're plugging books we're plugging books as we should how many books is that for you now jd uh five my wife always says i'm the only person who's uh written more books than i've read so there you go okay five books that's pretty impressive thank you yes

I noticed he didn't bring any for us, but that's okay. He has one. Did you like the long pause when you asked how many? Let me just think. Oh, I know. Shakespeare over here. Oh, how many is it? Am I in this one?

Am I in this book? You're in this book? You're both chapters. Certified beauties. Certified beauty. Terrific stories. A chapter about Odog getting in trouble staying out late in L.A. Chapter about noodles kind of getting in trouble staying out in L.A.

So there's a common thread between the two of them. L.A. is the trouble. Yeah, I can imagine. all right guys well great seeing the both of you thank you for doing this and enjoy each other's company on sunday don't know why i was here but thank you thank you for having no idea why i was here great cup coming up tsn c tv on sunday jd will be running the whole operation and the commissioner stew johnson of course will be there great seeing you guys thanks for coming by stew johnston james duffy duffy country there we got everyone behind and we got a plug for your

book signing later that's all worthwhile now it's all worthwhile all right overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSNF4. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. Melodin Friday continues. Brought you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar.

Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree aside and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. see you for a $15 fast lunch of your local Boston pizza. We'll probably mix in a Deer Hazy Bee a little bit later on. Yeah, I love it. We're in Winnipeg. We're here to help people. So we'll mix in a Deer Hasey B a little bit later on.

I can give you a quick one right now. Okay. Dear Hazy B, we went to a city that we fell in love to, and we want to find a way to go back every year to do some shows. Oh, yeah. Can you help me? I will do everything in my power to make that happen. If we have to drive back to the peg, we're coming back to Winnipeg.

I'll go Eddie Olchuk right here on this show. We're coming back to Winnipeg. We've got to find a way to get back to the peg. We can rent a Winnebago and just drive right across Canada. A Winnipego. A Winnipego. A Winnipego all the way to the peg. We parked that thing right on Portage and we set up shop.

We could probably figure something out next year. Leifes, Jets, who knows when they play, we could show up for a couple days. That would be fun. Thursday and a Friday. I like the way you're thinking. I like the way you're thinking. All right. Well, we got Mike Johnson coming up here in a moment.

Johnny will help us in. A lot of goal leaves, go chance in here. A lot of go-leaves-go-chance in here. They do travel well. They travel well, and there is a lot of leaf fans in here. I don't think there's any happy leaf fans right now. Like, unfortunately, there's just no happy leaf fans. But are they over the top?

Have you talked to anybody in the last couple days that are like blow it up? This is the dream's over. Jamie, there's usually some sane ones. And I'm just basing this on Twitter and the reaction that I get walking around. There's usually some sane people that are like, you know what, nothing to worry about here. There's always that percentage of the fan base that's like there's nothing to see here. Everything's fine and don't worry about it. I haven't really kind of noticed that lately, to be honest with you.

I've been trying to go at it with that. Like I've been trying to go at it saying, look at how upside down the league is. Just breathe a little bit. Let it sort out. Let the dust settle. But some organizations you're looking at and you're very concerned, some you're like, okay, let's see how they come out of it. I'm in the middle on the Leafs.

I don't see them going scorched earth, but I don't think they're as bad as they look bad right now, but they're not as bad as that team that we're watching right now. I don't think so, Noodles. I thought they'd be a good team. I mean, I've said this countless times. I thought they would kind of cruise to the playoffs. There would certainly be a playoff team.

And I'm not sitting here announcing that I believe they officially won't be, but there's no way to sugarcoat it. like watching them play 18 times they've had two or three good games like one really good game and two or three okay games right and there have been 80% of the games where they have been thoroughly outplayed well how about this if you're like a GM like you always see GMs writing stuff down coaches take mental notes which they're so good at because they're on the bench watching the game right and they probably write down on a piece of paper maybe two or three guys that they need to get to the next day to kind of talk about their play you're talking about 10 11 12 how many guys need to up their level of play on one team. Well, that is crazy. On the flip side of that, what would this team look like if they didn't have John Tivor is still playing here? No kidding.

Like, if they didn't have J.T. resigning on an incredibly team-friendly deal, that guy is busting ass every single night. Like, he's scoring every night. He's dragging this team. They got a point last night, in large part, because of John Tavar's. And he's been very good, very consistent. And, you know, to his credit, like, I think he's comfortable. Like the captaincy thing, that's in the rear view.

The old contract's in the rear view. Now he's just locked in. It seems like all of that is behind him where he's like, I'm just playing hockey right now. And he's doing, he's playing every night and playing hard. That's the different. You know, we all, he's very serious. You know, as a captain, he seemed like there wasn't a lot of smiles involved or whatever. But he's a pro.

Shows up. Every night works his ass off. And he doesn't cheat you for effort. Everybody else right now you're looking at, you know, Willie's been up and down. There's points involved. Lots of points. He's a top 10, you know, he's feeling good. Nize is getting points, but there's more there.

The guys I worry about is the guys you don't hear their names in the broadcast once. Well, like a Dakota Joshua or Nick Waus and Micelli's and, yes, that is an issue. And on the defensive side of things, they don't have one guy who's playing up to his capability. Not one. Like not one of their defense corps is playing up to their capability. And I think, again, the fear would be that that Florida Panthers series, He's like just broke something. You know, like that game 7, the way it played out,

Marner leaves, like it was just a constant storm. And now Tanev's hurt, we don't know when he's coming back. Matthews has already banged up. Both goalies are out. Like there's just a lot of mojo that's going in the wrong direction. Well, we'll really have an idea. We talk about the U.S. Thanksgiving. They've got a bunch of road games coming up,

and we're going to find out what they got. So it could be make or break. But what did you say? They're at 18 games. Give it to game 30. That's what I would say. 30, 35, whatever. Again, look at the schedule, set a date.

But again, that's us as a fan base into the media. You know, when we talk about all these teams. Brad Tree Living has to have markers for him. He's got to take a look at it. He's got to take a look at the marketplace. Who's available? Who's a seller? Who's not?

Like, moving the deck chairs around. Do you think the coach is 100% safe in Toronto? I do. I do. I don't think it's a scenario where you're like, okay, that's bad deployment. that's bad, you know, you're having the wrong defense pairing out there in a critical time. I think it's player-driven, and if the players play better, and then you're seeing

mismatches or bad decisions, then you look at the coach. I more lay this on the players, and then if the players can't get it done, then you look at roster construction and say... Well, that's kind of where we're at, Jamie, isn't it? But imagine the idea of these players mowing through another coach. or having the appetite that they can just say, don't talk to me like that, we're going to mow through another coach.

That would be complete insanity for those guys. That'll be the third one, won't it? Yeah, well, yeah, it would be Babcock and to Keefe into Baruba. But there has to be some correction where the coach isn't standing there saying, I want you to do this, this is how we have to play to winning the playoffs, this is how we have to play to be whatever. Whether it's Craig Barube hockey or whatever you want to call it,

there has to be some adaptation where it's like, this is the personnel you're dealt with. They're not doing whatever you want them to do, or it's not working, so something has to change. And I don't know what the hell that is. I personally think they need some different players and some better players, but in reality you can't make that happen. So what the hell are you going to do with it?

Let me ask you this. For years, we heard Mike Babcock say the same thing. And Sheldon Keith started to sound like Mike Babcock with the same thing. Is Craig Baruby sounding at all in his messaging with the same type of thing? if he's quite there. I haven't picked up on that. I mean, effort last night again, he ripped into Willie.

That was effort. How many times he's got to rip into this guy? Like, wouldn't you think of how good of a player Willie is that you would want, with a guy making that much money and as respected around the league as he is for his offensive performances, wouldn't you want him leading the way? Wouldn't you want him to be the hardest working guy on the ice where it's like, I don't even have to worry about Willie.

Willie is going to lead the charge and show everybody how this is supposed to be done. It's not happening, and it's really weird, because he's producing offensively, but the coach seems to hate his guts on a nightly basis just for lack of effort and stupid plays. I don't know. It's weird that your best player is doing that. Well, in year 10, though, why would it change?

You know, I mean, that's the thing that with these, and it's not necessarily the core players that are the issue right now. Like, Willie, there are times, but Willie's also won them games. Yeah. And saved them at all right. That's what I talk about the appetite. They had the best coach in the world, or known as the best coach in the world,

and they said, you're going to tell us to play a certain way, and we're telling you, screw you, we're not going to do it that way, and we don't like it, and you're going to go, because we're all going to be here. And that definitely happened with Matthews and Marner and Nielander. The issue here is that shouldn't apply to Dakota Joshua or Nick Waugh or Jake McCabe. Like, Jake McCabe is not a guy that needs a Sheldon Keefe progressive coach. Like, that's a meat and potatoes player that can't get the job done right now. And you would think being potatoes players would be scared to death not doing that.

That's it. And that's where, you know, I think you're right, noodles. it's predominantly on the players. They are capable of being way better. They have to be way better. But when you're being outshot significantly every game, the coach has got to do something to change that. And I thought they did a better job in terms of not giving up

really awful breakdowns last night. Great A, yeah. They did, but then, you know, again, the shot attempts were plus 53 in favor of L.A. Like, five-on-five, they had 40 more shot attempts. Yes, that's on the players, but the coaches got to scheme up something where they can get away from that. Because their goaltenders are just getting shelled every single night. Yeah.

Well, they gave up 22 high danger chances last night were 22 to 12. So I believe, might be higher than any other teams given up all year. We'd have to look. Well, the game before was 28 against Carolina. So there's probably the only other one is Carolina against the leaves. But they've got to find a way to be more consistent. You've got an opportunity. But we look at it.

We were talking about the Winnipeg Jets. They go into Seattle. We expect them to beat them. They don't. That's, you know, it's how you respond after a loss. And now they're winless in four. So you, you know, don't let it get to five. We've talked about it.

A five game win or lost streak is going to change where you are in the standings dramatically in today's parody. Yes, but that I think you always look at it as well. They could win five in a row. The other way. What if they lose five in a row? Right. Like that, what do you think is more likely to happen?

The Leafs win the next five in a row, or they lose? lose their next five. It's not possible to say win. It's not. Exactly. Especially with the question marks. I could see them losing one more which would make it five in a row. No, I know. But I'm saying like we start tomorrow night in Chicago. Game one of a five game stretch I don't think either will happen.

I think it's more likely they go two and three or three and two. But if we're putting money on the line, what is more likely it's 0 and 5 in the next five games. Yeah. But with Matthews out, and Tannav out and all that. It doesn't seem possible they can run up five wins or all. Has it been discussed that all of Matthews has been out long term?

Well, he's on IR now, so he's out for at least... It was retroactive, though, right? They pushed it back, so it could be a week, so that pushes into this weekend. Possibly. I don't know what's wrong with him. You don't hear anything about this guy. You don't know what's wrong with him. You don't have a clue what's going on. He could be in Germany right now.

Who knows? He could be over there. He could be in Winnipeg right now. It could be. Anything's possible. How about Brad Marchan picking up his 1,000 point last night? He's an interesting guy. Like, is he a Hall of Fame player?

I think he is. Yes for me. I think 1,000 points, a cop, playing for Canada. I think the Canadian conversation will be interesting because he's been great. Like, you look at it, I think he's talking about a guy on your team, leading the charge. I think he's on it. Is he not on the team? I don't know if he's a lot.

Did MJ pick him or not? I don't remember if they had him on. Yeah. And again, at age, like he was on last year because he was one of the original six picks. I'm not sure he would have been on the Four Nations because remember he didn't have a great tournament. And he was basically their 12 forward and he wasn't playing a ton. but he has shown up this year and he's playing great. I wasn't healthy last year.

Yeah, he was banged up. Exactly. In Boston, he was. Yeah. But I think he's played himself onto it, like the way that he's playing and the competitive nature, the fact that he can win. There's players that you feel like you can need in those scenarios.

That's the argument for Marchand, he's a winner. He can do it. He proves on the biggest stage that he doesn't shrink. That's where a guy like Shifley might be able to push somebody else out on the roster. Possibly. That's the way I look at. I think Mark Scheifley deserves that.

Score again last night. All he does is, to me, I know I'm pandering to the crowd a little bit. I mean, I love Sheifley, but he hasn't won like Marshawn or anything like that. No, but he's not 19 or 20. That's the argument I have against the Salabrini or Bedard is Sheifley has played in a lot of critical. He's played playoff hockey. He's played deep in the playoffs. He's gone against big matchups.

All right. Let's bring in our TSN hockey analyst. Mike Johnson. Johnny, where do you stand on Brad Marshawn on the Olympic team? He was on our Olympic team that Craig and I picked. He was a locked-in fourth-line left-winger. So he was on our squad. I think he deserves to be there for all the reasons you guys just mentioned.

The production alone would have them there, but then you factor that in with the experience and the fact of the gamer in the big moments that he's going to be on that team for sure. And Shively, for us, he was on my. my team that I got cooked out of him by Craig. I had him playing with McDavid and Craig was out of it and he wanted to try Hyman there. Looks like Hyman's coming back this weekend. So we'll see how Hyman does because it's a big chance for Edmonton and for Zach

to show that, you know, he deserves to be in that conversation to be McDavid's winger at the Olympics. So we'll see what happens there. But I think Marchand for sure is going to be the Olympics. Hall of Fame guys, if he never played another game, he's not a Hall of Famer for me. not yet and that's not and that's not to say Mike Johnson here guys

that's exactly right hammered in the peg yeah the shifley and the go ahead why he's not he had shifley on the list though I know yeah

he's on my why he booed me I had him on my team I had him on the first line what he's talking about that sounds like I'm Craigder linked at the hip sounds like me with the top 50 list where I just say I had everyone

yeah I voted that guy I voted that guy like how would we ever I got the email to prove it I had it. Okay, continue. Continue. For Marchand, I would just say,

obviously, incredible career. Thousand points is not an automatic bid, right? He doesn't have 500 goals. He has the two cups, I understand. He has, I think, the World Cup or whatever's called when they had the Young Guns team.

But he doesn't play in the Olympics. He doesn't have sort of like the World Junior resume that's some other player like John DeVarres would have had. And he hasn't won sort of any major individual awards. He's been a great player.

I think by the time he's done four more years, he'll be there. But as of today, like Keith Kichuk is not in there. He's got 600 goals, right? Like Patrick Marlow, the all-time winning. There's other guys that you'd put ahead of him because of the careers that they've had, the numbers they put up, I think were a bit recency biased because of his great performance last year in the playoffs. He almost won the Konsomite, and his great start this year.

But, you know, Fujo or Kach or some of the other. those guys, like, they would probably be ahead of them as of today if you were never playing again. Johnny, what does Hyman have to do when he comes back? Like, how good would this guy have to play to make Team Canada? I mean, I think you probably have to go in and be what he has been, oh, but probably score at, like, you know, a 40-plus bowl pace and show great chemistry. And show great chemistry with McDavid, and the two of them flip it, where now they are

just crushing everybody. five on five, like they have done for a few years, right? Like it's just one-way traffic when the two of them get on the ice there together and they get whatever 65% of the shots and the expected goals and the actual goals and the ice flips every time they're

together. If they do that together and he produces, then I think you say, okay, it's actually a 50 goal score. He deserves consideration as is, but when you can get the cumulative effect of McDavid having a winger, you know he worked

great with, that it really strengthens its case. So, Johnny, in terms of the Leafs in their play recently, we've been talking about it, obviously, the last couple of days, it was pretty ugly last night. They got a point, but they blew a 2-0 lead. They blew a 3-2 lead in the third. You just knew they were not holding on to that lead. It's just it's a weird feeling watching them play. You know what's coming.

They're going to break down. They're going to give up goals. They're 8-8-2. What is your level of concern with the Leafs right now? the same as it has been, which is significant. And again, it doesn't necessarily even go to their record because their record's not as bad as it feels like they

are playing. And the record is where it is because they have star players lighting it up. But I think I read somewhere today that the most lobsided game in attempts for, you know, share of attempts was last night. L.A. had 75% of the attempts. 88

shot attempts to 35. Like, it's obscene the difference between one of the other. was the most lobsided game in the NHL this year. The second most lobsided game was Carolina Toronto on Sunday. They are going the wrong direction

and while it's great they're getting points and yes, they're hanging at 500 and they are sort of involved in that Carolina game and they got a point out of the L.A. game. This is not a way that you can play and it's sustainably successful. It's just not. Whether they get good goal-tending or not, that is just part of the equation.

They just, again, they don't have the puck enough. They don't end too much. They defend too often. They give up too many good chances. All the stuff we've talked about the whole time. And that game last night didn't do anything to dispel that notion or suggest there was progress. It looked like there was actually continued step back in the territorial domination that they were under.

And that is not sustainable. As talented as they may be, that is not sustainable. And that's the concern. So, Johnny, what is the adjustment? Like, if you're on a game show and you just had to. pick one. Is it personnel? Is it X as a nose? Is it just foot speed on the D-court? Like, what is the one thing that you're pointing to where you're like, this drastically has to change? So, can I tie two things together? Oh, one is sort of like support of the defense off the rush. So somehow you

allow the defensemen to not back up so much. They can confidently play a little bit tighter. and then if they're able to do that then if you're giving me one thing oh can I please please get a first pass please like that to me when I watch the games and calling the games over there to get like

so many stuff around the boards into the shin pads off the skates and they never give themselves a chance to get out of their own end quickly it's always just a slog and so I would say give them a chance to defend a bit better so maybe they're not under so much pressure

and then when they do get pressure on a 4-check or something, they were able to move the puck a little crisper or a little cleaner out of their own end. So we've been in Winnipeg, we're talking about the Jets. We jumped on their bandwagon yesterday, and just as we do that, they lose in Seattle, naturally. I know the Oilers lost last night. The Habs got pumped. And, you know, we established it for that it doesn't feel like there's a Canadian team that's really that close right now.

like I don't you know like we collectively the country hasn't won of Stanley Cup in 32 years it feels more distant than it has in a long time I don't know if you feel it the same way but I don't I don't know who would be the best chance to win like if you if you had to

put let's say a three pack of Canadian teams Winnipeg is on top right now is it okay go ahead Johnny where do you stand on that so Winnipeg in a tournament of Canadian teams would be first

They're the best Canadian team, but the problem, they're in the Central. And the Central, like it has been, is loaded. And I don't want any part of Colorado, I don't want any part of a good, healthy Dallas team. That, to me, is part of the challenge for Winnipeg, unless they get somehow bumped to the other side into the Pacific. So in that sense, I probably would say Edmonton, even though they've been terrible, history and the star power of their performances in the playoffs would say, I guess they have a chance. And the Pacific's not nearly what the central is. So that has to factor in to the consideration. But it's Edmonton, it's Winnipeg.

And if I go in the east, because it's not Vancouver or Calgary, I think it's Ottawa, has the best chance to be successful right now in the playoffs. Because they are stingy defensively. And they're doing it with Brady Kachuk, who's arguably their best player. And they're still finding ways they're in first place. They've got points in 11 of 12 games very quietly. and they're underlying, like they're in every game because they defend well. So that, to me, will be one, two, three, and Winnipeg's probably the best team in Canada,

but they have the hardest road in the playoffs in Canada, and that's why it's going to be tough even for a good team like Winnipeg to go deep. Yeah, I think that's probably accurate, probably appropriate. In Ottawa, they have been good, man. They got talent, they got depth, and Brady could chuckle return at some point in the next month or so. I think he was back on the ice today. The skate and handling the puck? Yeah, I mean, that's only going to be a boost for him and for them.

All right, Johnny, we'll leave it there. Great stuff, as always. We'll catch up again next week, I'm sure. All right, boys. Enjoyed Winnipeg, one of my favorite towns, for sure. Have fun of the Great Cup. Enjoy your chili and whatever else we have for that. Let's give Mike Johnson a little bit more love than that, people.

Come on. Come on. There you, Johnny. That's a boy. They love you out here. Thank you, pal. Thanks, buddy. Thank you, boy.

There's Mike Johnson joining us here. The Maple Toyota hotline, get in and go, where adventures take you in a new 2025 Tacoma from Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall. Visit Maple Toyota.com. All right, dear Hazy-B, we'll mix in one or two of those. We'll get to our best bets powered by Fanduel as well.

We're looking at, you know, a slate of football games on Sunday, including the Grey Cup. And some news in Winnipeg. And some news in Winnipeg that I think will make people pretty happy here in Winnipeg. So we'll tell you about that as well to wrap up two shows from Boston Pizza, Polo Park and the Peg. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar.

Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. I've got a Deer Hazy Bee for you. Okay, let me get a read in here for you quickly, all right? Dear Hazy-B, brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree, a side and a drink, and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less.

A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. I'm a Blue Bombers fan, and I love our coach. I really want them to come back. Tell me that can happen, Dear Hazy-B. I'm channeling my optimism. And I'm going to tell you right here right now, it's confirmed. Mike O'Shea is returning to win.

Let's go! Mike O'Shea is returning to Winnipeg, which means our whole plan of coming out here and dragging him back to Toronto blew up and smoke, which means I can't pick a winner. I can't get a coach for the Argos. I can't get anything going. It's all right, though.

It's like I'm on a cooler out here. You've got some food sitting right in front of you. You've got some food. I have one more, Dear Hazy Bee, to throw out you guys. Yes. We all have a mutual friend who famously at an airport in Montreal about 14 months ago, dropped his cell phone in a urinal.

Oh, doogie. I was in the Boston pizza urinal this time yesterday, and I saw that same mutual friend holding his cell phone over the urinal. How do we get to this guy and teach him that he has to stop that type of behavior?

I think this person that we're talking about, his name is Doogie. That is accurate. It's Doogie. And I, I've gotten to the point where he's useless and there's no hope for him. And that's just as simple as it is. That's your advice. That is my advice and there's no helping it.

You're cutting them off. I'm cutting him off because that behavior will always show up and he can't be helped. I was honestly flabbergasted when I saw it. I couldn't believe it after the trauma of that urinal drop in Montreal. You remember he came out and sat at the table? He started eating with us. He starts eating and cleaning his phone. Get the hell out of here.

Go sit at another table. Still doing it 14 months later. Like this guy can't figure it out. It's gross. It's disgusting. Anyway, Best Betts powered by Fandoah. Make your picks and assemble the same game, parley in seconds on the Fandole Sportsbook app.

Earlier this week, I was on the riders. I was laying up points with the riders. I just thought there's something about Harris and their schedule and being in the West. I don't know if this Davis-Alexander's, you know, selling me something, but I'm buying into the hype of the health and Alexander, and when he plays he doesn't lose.

I'm going to take the points. Phil Pot to get into the end zone. and that's paying good plus money. Al's with the points. Phil Pot to score a touchdown. That's your parlay for the Great Cup. Montreal now. Montreal taking the points.

I'm taking the points. It doesn't hurt that your boy, your partsy, likes the riders. I'm fading Luke Wilson every chance I get. It's true. That's the reality. Best Bet's powered by Fanduel. Same game parlay is available for the Great Cup on the Fandual Sportsbook. Yeah, please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario.

All right, the slots are calling our names? Are they going to go hit some slots? Are they called VLT? I have no idea what they're calling. A buddy in mine texts me. They say, they're not called slots. They're called VLT. Well, everywhere else in the world, they're slots.

In Vegas, it's slots. I've only known it as a slot machine. Slot machine. You lose money with it. You lose money with it. I don't know what it is. I'm not overly technical when it comes to gambling. They're called VLTs.

And apparently, there's some over there. We've got to go there. They're everywhere. They're everywhere. Anyway, we love the peg, man. Let's finish it off with a load. Let's go Jets. Let's go Jets.

Let's go Jets Let's go Jets Let's go Jets What a scene it's been We want to thank everyone at Boston Pizza For the hospitality It's just been incredible to be out here Everyone in Winnipeg who have treated us

Like families Like locals, exactly We couldn't thank everyone enough For all the hospitality All to help everyone behind the scenes That have helped us get to this point Everyone back home helping us get on the air It's been an awesome two days

And what did Eddie all? Bill, Chuck say? We're coming back to Winnipeg. Coming back. We're coming back. We're bringing the cup back to Winnipe. It feels like home. It feels like home.

Yes, it does. So thanks to everyone here. We appreciate it greatly. Let's have ourselves a great, great cup. It's going to be awesome on TSN, CTV, TSN Radio, of course, online. Anywhere you find it, it's go time this weekend. It's going to be a great weekend. All right.

Overdrive, Chan. All right. We can live with that, too. I like that, too. We can live with it. We can live with it. All right, we're out of here. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out.

We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today. TV, radio, podcast, web up on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy your weekends. We're back Monday at House Hunting in Winnipeg 4 p.m. We'll chat then. Dear Hasey B is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar.

Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree. a site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas with IHeart the holidays.

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