OverDrive - OverDrive - November 5, 2025 - Hour 2 - Darren Dreger/Chris Johnston

Episode Date: November 5, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston spin around the hockey world in the insider roundtable and in the OverDrive Clone Wars, the guys go through eras of the Maple Leafs and select players for the current roster and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

That's annoying. What? You're a muffler. You don't hear it? Oh, I don't even notice it. I usually drown it out with the radio. How's this? Oh, yeah.

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Got a new bit in about a half an hour inspired by Tom Brady and his dog. Got Best Betts coming up. You've got Leif's Mammitt tonight, the insider's in a moment. And by the way, we talked about Easton Cowan. It wasn't a slight on the kid. I'm just saying when you are that kind of top guy prospect and you dummy the OHL like that

and have the point streak and the MEMCup MVP and the OHL MVP and all that, you're disappointed, man. You thought you were going to be playing in the NHL. And not just that, a contributor. A contributor. And, oh, that's kind of where I was going, though. But it's not like he's lit the world on fire early on. He's got one goal and four points.

They've had to move him around the lineup. I think they've had to protect him in certain situations because he's been overwhelmed. But also, this might be just a paper transaction because you've got too many bodies. You've got too many NHL bodies. He's the only one that doesn't require waivers. So you send him down, game or two, or it might be today, and that's it. Okay, but let me ask you this, Jamie. If it was based on performance, would you say the transaction would be warranted?

do you think it's the right place for him to play? Because I do. I think the American Hockey League is the place for him right now. I'm agreeing with you 100%. But they have the luxury. He's 20. You know, you can put him down, you can give him a run at games, let him play 25 minutes or 22 minutes a night with the Marleys in all situations.

But this is the beauty of him not requiring waivers. I know. It is a paper transaction. It's a paper transaction, but I do. think it's warranted. I do think he should be playing in the American Hockey League. Well, that's fair, though. I don't disagree that he, I thought

that he was going to play HL games at some point this year anyways. But it's a big adjustment. Oh, like, you made that adjustment. Not every person hits the ground running. You know, I think that's the thing where everybody finds their own pathway and finds their ceiling at the

NHL eventually. Cowan is a nice player. I believe he's going to be an everyday NHL player. I think he's going to be an everyday contributor. But yeah, is it a kick in the pills early on? Because you think that, for sure. But you know what? It's not the end of his story.

I still think he might be back by this weekend. You know, he might not play tonight and play this Saturday or whatever their schedule is. Who knows what's the best path? Because I had 125 points for the OHL team I played on in Guel. And then I had 14 for the Hartford Whalers. So who's to say that was the best for me? Because it was years away from me being any type of finished product where I was contributing in the

NHL. Well, but you were a different type of player, too. Oh, like he's, what is he, six feet, 190. He's not overly physical. You know, a guy like that has to play, to contribute, probably has to play in the top six, right? Like, maybe top nine for the most part if you're shielded,

but he's not a fourth-line guy. So I just, I don't see it as a negative. I do see that they've got lots of bodies and they're going to have, Trees can have to figure that out sooner than later. They've got lots of bodies. Yeah, they do. Now, what he did have was so much. of a, you know, he can play with some pace, you know, like he had the ability to do that,

and that's the thing, like Lotton's coming back, they're slower, Lottin in for Cowan. And what has been the story through 13 games, they look slow. Yeah, it's a great point, Brian. It's a great point. And listen, Lotton, when he's activated, he's back on the team. You know, he's a veteran. They're not just going to, you can't leave him on IR, and you're going to play them. You're going to give him that opportunity.

But, you know, Nick Robertson, I think, to him. his credit, he's played a lot better the last few games. A lot better. And I think Nick Robertson has said, I want to take advantage of this. And let's not forget, Robertson, we've been talking about him for years. You know, years. And Cowan, yes, he had a great junior career. He was not a top five pick. Remember, it was a shock they took him where they took him. Like it turned out, I think, to be a very good pick.

We'll see what happens with the rest of his career. But it was the 28, 29th pick in the first round. and he's 20 years old and I think this can be a positive for him like it can be a positive depending on what the plan is for him I don't think it's in the best interest of the player

to use him as a a paper transaction like if it's you're up, you're down you're up, you're down, you're not playing it tonight now you're going down here that I would... That's ridiculous yes if you think he needs time in the minors which I think you could make a strong case

that that should be the plan here say you're down there for a month and we'll call you back like go down there and play 10 games and then we'll call you back and then we'll see if you deserve it maybe we won't but I don't love the idea and I don't know what their plan is of down up for a game or two

down up healthy scratch then you're back down yes exactly like you figure out what you want to do with them and what's in the best interest of his future and his career because they don't have a lot of prospects This one's got to work.

You just brought up, Hayes, like go down there for 10 games and dominate. Yes. And have, like you said, Brian, there's a plan for Easton Cowan, for the now, for the future, all of that type of stuff. And you also had to give him some runway here to see, you know, I guarantee you chief weighs in on this, you know, and says, I can trust him. I like him here, but this is what I'm seeing from him. and this is so to me there's a lot of different factors that come in but i would have no problem him going down for 10 games and and and learning the pro lifestyle and if he plays well or if there's an injury and they want him called up then bring him up all right let's bring in

the insiders here on the maple toy the hotline darren dregor chris johnston cj i guess we'll start with you your take on this and what it means for easton cal and the fact that he's been sent to the marleys and scott lawton has been activated tonight Well, the biggest thing that I look at is, you know, I know the Leafs were very cognizant of not wanting to get into a situation with Cowan where he was scratched for any length of time. And, you know, obviously he did have a couple of little resets in the early part of the season. But with them getting back, you know, in addition to a lot and also Lorenz back in the mix, they've just got a lot of forwards. I mean, there was 15 forwards of practice yesterday. And, you know, it's not to say Easton Cowan couldn't hang in the NHL.

I think he did pretty well, you know, based on where he's at, but it was going to be hard to say he was going to be in the lineup every night. Now, we'll see what happens. Performance could be further injuries. You know, there's a lot of unknowns and things. Even the Leafs aren't totally sure with. But, you know, I think the most important thing, of course, is that he's playing games and he'll get a chance to do that for the Marley's.

I think he made pretty good account of himself. And I'm sure we'd all agree we're going to see him at some point in time back in the Leach uniform and probably the relatively near future. Yeah, Dregs, you can comment on that too, and I want to ask you about where Cowan stands in terms of, you know, asset management. We always talk about the leaves and what they could get up to in the future, who they might want to acquire, you know, and they don't have a ton of prospects. Like, where does Cowan fall in line with those chats if other GMs are calling the leaves? Yeah, I think he'd be top of mind, right? When you look at the cupboard of Brad Trillov, it's reasonably bare, to be honest.

You've got Easton Cowan. you've got Danford, you've got that first-round draft pick in 28, or you're starting to rip apart your roster, and what are they giving up from that roster? I mean, I guess if you want to talk about somebody in their bottom six, he'd be open that, depth defensemen maybe

opened that, but I think other clubs have paid attention what Easton Cowan has done to this point in his young NHL career, and I agree with everything you guys said, and CJ just nailed it. The issue is it's a number situation here. The Maple Leafs have two

many forwards, right? So, you know, to bring Scotty Lotton back into the mix, somebody's got to go down and they have the luxury, the flexibility of doing that with Easton Cowan. It does become a bigger issue, though. Again, I heard what you guys said coming into the chat, if he's bouncing up and he's bouncing down. But I would remind you of the path that Craig Barubei saw Easton Cowan going down through training camp, and that he would be managed. And there would be nights. where he'd be spending time in the press box. That's not an indictment on his game. That's just where, you know, he's adding in certain situations

and where they are roster-wise. But, look, I mean, if Brad Trullivan is trying to hit a double and acquire another top six, even though they're not available, who are you guys asking for? You know, it starts, I would think, with Easton Cowan, and then you kind of work off of that. That's why it's not happening. Well, Darren, you just mentioned too many bodies.

What does an organization do in the NHL when you have too many bodies? of the similar type that score 15 points in the NHL in a year. What do you do to kind of chip away at that and make people go away to not have too many bodies? No, you can't. And honestly, that's why there's an speculation around KAMF, right, who's in the American Hockey League. He thinks he's happy being there.

Of course he's not. He thinks he's an NHL player. But his contract dictates that he's not playing in the National Hockey League right now. And Brad Trilliving has worked hard to move that because the Maple Leafs would love to get off the money. So you're either stuck there or you make a bold career decision if you're David Kaff and you're all right. Well, I'll play in Europe. I'll do something else. And that situation eventually is going to come to a head.

But every conversation you have with General Manager's Tree included, sure, there are pieces that they could move. But they've got to take a contract coming back because most clubs are in a similar. predicament here and guys aren't peddling off decent young players that just haven't quite made it there no they're trying to move out their bad contracts nobody is throwing brad tree living a life preserver at this point to get rid of some of the extra weight that he has around the team right now so guys uh we use the terms two of them watered down and diluted with the league yesterday as far as you know things being very bunched up as far as last place to first place.

And it's early, but have you noticed maybe increased chatter on the trade front? Are managers trying to be a little bit more proactive to add to their teams sooner than maybe, you know, we'll call it American Thanksgiving? Yeah. CJ, go ahead. You can start. I said, you know, guys, I feel like I'm being pranks because I haven't heard one word Dreggis has said.

So I have no idea what he said there and they said at all. He was chirping Off him on anything He was chirping you But he'll text you what he was saying Go ahead CJ On the possible trades around the league I hate to say it

I talked to a few GMs today I don't get the feeling I don't get the feeling anything It's getting that hot yet on that front And look we'll see where it goes here I mean there is a GM's meeting next week Sometimes getting face to face I think can help things along

You know obviously a big weekend in hockey with the Hall of Fame celebrations coming up, so there'll be lots of folks around, and maybe some of those conversations will get going. But the biggest thing I keep hearing is just how close the games are. It feels as though there's more coin flips than ever. I don't know the exact stat in front of me, but the NHL put it out this morning.

There's more one-goal games through this stretch of schedule than there has been in like 20 years in the league. And so I think you've got a lot of teams that don't fully know what they are, even some of the teams that what we'll call the pleasant surprises, maybe aren't feeling great, just a little wondering if they're going to come down yet. So it's been a strange start to the calendar. There's only a couple teams, you know, a team like the flames that are obviously, you know, already well behind the pack.

But there's not too many, not too many teams that have sunk to the bottom yet. So I just think that things need to sort themselves out a little bit more before the trade market really gets heated up. Well, one name that's coming up, and it came up in our group chat earlier today, is Stephen Stamco's. And his play, man, he's got, what, three points on the season? Two goals. Two goals, one assist. Two goals, one assist. Big goal last night.

Big goal, but they played 15 games. He's making, what, $7, $8 million, and he's got a couple of years left after this. Dreg's, like, is it possible they have to move them? Can they move them? What happens with Stephen Stamco's in Nashville? Well, is it possible, sure? just given the pedigree in the history of Stephen Stamcoe. If you're grading him or you're grading the lack of success that he's had

with the National Predators since jumping over there from the Tampa Lightning, then that's a tougher sell. You'd have to believe in the game that Stephen Stamco's has or that you think he still has to take on the weight of that contract. And, I mean, the term is fine, right? I think you can live with a term, but on an annual average salary, what are you getting? Are you getting the Stam Coast that finished the year in Tampa Bay

and didn't shock all of us but certainly surprised us that given the year that he had there, that they didn't find a middle ground in Tampa Bay to keep him in that lightning organization. And as he talked about publicly, I mean, he didn't know for sure he was leaving until July 1st. If you're getting that guy, then, yeah, I mean, for me, be worth any risk if you feel

that there's a risk. But this is also a family thing too, right? And CJ and Pierre and I have talked about this internally in our insider group chat. Just the fact that you know, when players go to Nashville,

they love it, right? I mean, aside from the hockey and they're not getting the results that they're expecting all of that, you know, it hasn't worked out for Stamco's. It hasn't worked out for some other players. It hasn't worked out for the team, but is he going to uprood his family again? So anything is possible? Anything is possible? Is it likely? It doesn't feel likely unless Stamco's

goes, I'm not finishing my career this way. This is not the way I'm going out and he takes control and nobody is any evidence that that's going to happen anytime soon. Right. It's still very early. And Nashville's like a lot of these teams we're talking about. They're, you know, two points out of a playoff spot. And I'm sure Stamcoast would like to be. part of the reason why they can get there but you know you mentioned what's going on throughout the league C.J and I think you look at the east

and I'll pose you a question we can all go around the table and answer it. What is in your opinion more likely to continue? The Montreal Canadians continuing to be the pace car in the east or being hovering around the top of the east or the Florida Panthers

being at the bottom of the east. I mean I think, I don't think Florida staying at the bottom of the east, but I don't say that because I'm, I'm down on the first premise that you threw out there. I mean, I think Montreal is, is going to be, you know, like, to me, they're squarely in the playoff positioning, and I could see them, you know, pushing even to be near the top of Atlantic Division, but I still have a hard time leaving Florida isn't going to turn it on at some point. I know it gets, it gets early late sometimes for NHL teams, but, you know, it's just, we've

seen enough of that group. and even what the injuries they're dealing with and the key people that aren't going to be available still yet for some time, I think that they're going to turn it around. So I'd say the more likely for me is that Florida surges back up into playoff position, but that being said,

I'm certainly not low on the Canadians as sure. They deserve a lot of credit. But Dregs, I mean, you know Paul Maurice pretty well. He's not a guy I don't think to panic, but Barcault's not coming back. Kachuk's likely a couple months away. They're an old team that's played a lot of hockey. what's your read on the Panthers and how they might react to this?

Yeah, I tend to agree with what Christia said. I do feel like Florida is going to quad's way back into the middle of the pack. I do think that they're a playoff team. They've earned that level of respect. Challenges that they face, I mean, they are significant. There's no doubt about that. But I feel like there's enough there. And maybe Billy Zito does do something.

But no different than any other club. Again, you know, we look at Toronto and how hot or cold the maple leaves, mostly cold, to be frank, have been at this point in the season. You look around the National Hockey League. You wonder about what Washington is going to do with the loss of Pierre Lutvall. My point is there are so many general managers around the NHL that are desperate. They're eager to improve, and they just don't have the capability to do that. And I don't think that Bill Zito is in a position of panic by any stretching the imagination. but if he gets the sense that this team needs an injection, or better yet,

he gets a message from Paul Maurice, we need player X. He'd be a perfect fit here. Then Zito is going to find a way to get that done. So when we see that trade, then I think we can look at the Florida Panthers as being, if not poised to make a big jump, at least feeling the pressure of what they're not doing to that point in the season. Sure. man we got to call the race here with this Schaefer and this Demadov man I was talking to someone today about it and like Zedorov went after Schaefer I loved the Islander's response like Anders Lee got in there I didn't see who the other guy was but they pounced and we were you know wondering about that today like with Schaefer being who he is and how important he is you know he's been hit a couple of times we talked about Cowan and there was you know some disappointment in this marketplace when Cowan got hit a couple times earlier in this year and there wasn't much of a response you know the protection of young players, star players.

Are there enough heavyweights in the league to go find one? Do you think, you know, the Islanders might end up doing that, Dregs? Do you think they could look at that and say, we've got to find someone here that's just going to send out a vibe? Like, you can't have a guy like Zedorov trying to go out of them like that. What do you see the Islanders doing with Schaefer and the protection of him, you know, maybe into the future? Yeah.

Well, I mean, are those players available? Sure. are you going to have to overpay at this point of the season if you feel it's a strong need? Yes, no doubt about that. I like the response. The response we've seen from the New York Connollors, I'm fine with it.

So I wouldn't waste too big of an asset in trying to acquire more of that. Because look, I mean, I got lots of time for Ryan Reeves and the type of hockey player that he's been. I understood, I appreciated why Brad Trillivin brought him in when he did to keep the flies off Matthews and company. you've got to be able to play. You've got to be able to play every single night.

And if that's not the case, then how is that helping Matthew Schaefer or helping the guys that are going to have to police? I think they've done an okay job. I do. I think guys are just taking their licks on this kid because he's that good. And maybe eventually that too kind of fades away. Yeah, that definitely could be the case. And again, I like the response too, but he is something special.

Yeah. Talking about Demadov and Jack Guy got into a fight. Who was that with last night? Was it DeLoree he fought last night? That was a big tilt, man. That was a big tilt. But, all right, we'll see where it goes here, boys. We always appreciate you doing this.

CJ, my understanding is you heard Dregs there the last couple of answers. That's always a positive. We'll make sure that that happens next time. Let's just say that his first thing better have been better than those, what I did here. Okay. I can't hear you guys. I think you're breaking up. There you go.

I can't hear you. We're breaking up. Good seeing you guys. Thanks for doing this. There they are, the insiders. Darren Treger, Chris Johnston, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. I think you're right, though, like, this Schaefer's got a little bite to him, too. He's got a little attitude, which I love.

But it attracts some of the flies. Like, I don't, you know, they used to have that Ross Johnston there. He's not there anymore. He's in Anaheim, right? Like, they don't have a, you know, quote-unquote mutant to, you know, to keep people away. I think you need somebody, man. It's funny.

Travis Green was joking. They went and got that McDermott or whatever the other day. He's four and one when he's in, they're four and one when he's in the lineup. And, like, he is a deterrent. He is huge. He is a giant human being. Like, and he's had a couple tilts already, but I just, I, I don't think the league is wired that way anymore, Brian, but I just, I, I would like to have a guy on my team

that does that. Yeah, and, like, Reeves is in. San Jose kind of doing it for Celebrini and you know those guys out there and I don't know I think it depends on the team you have you know Reeves didn't really fit here as much because they were a good team and they're trying to

win like the Islanders are off to a decent start they're there with everyone else they're right in the middle like everybody else but I don't know how much you know optimism they really have there and if you want to make sure that Schaefer you know feels like he's in a good place I could see them

acquiring somebody yeah just Just the protection. Like I've always said about tough guys, the guys, the teams that I play, when you're driving down the road and you see a police officer, what do you do? Your first instinct is just to act a little bit different, a cop sitting at the side of the road. Having that guy on the bench sometimes changes, it changes attitudes, it changes thought process. Because when I played in St. Louis, and it was chase and twist and post-check, like those three mutants could have jumped over the boards. And you know Chaser.

Chaser was up for one every night. he is the best man hearing him tell stories oh my god they've got a podcast out there they've been watching some of their clips they're great man he told one about twister like i i can't call him twister i don't know him but you know tony twist fought is it rob ray he fought i think when he broke his orbital orbital cave his face in yeah cave to yeah and then i guess they were playing buffalo you know the next time they played him twist wasn't in the lineup. Yeah.

And Chaser's telling the story. Everyone's going at him, like May Day's going out of him and Barnaby and Ray. Yeah. And he just said, you know, all right, whoever wants to go, like, let's go. But just so you know, the big guys back home waiting and you're playing us in a week and a half back in San Luis. Yeah, he's watching on TV tonight. He said, and he goes, we'll play you guys next week.

So you have at it. He goes, you can have me tonight. We get him next week. Such a great story. I saw Twister did do that to a guy at my team, Mark Jansons. He fought him. I was in the bathroom, and Jansons came in and blew his nose, and the whole side of his face like caved in.

I was horrified watching it. Twister was arguably, and he sat beside me for three years in St. Louis, and he would lean over and go, Jamie, I'm going to punish somebody tonight. I was like, crazy, that mentality. He was scary, man. Because, like, Rob Ray is as tough as it gets, man. And Ray would have done it to other guys the other way throughout his career. He popped guys over the course of his career where he got them.

But, man, those guys were so tough. Scary. Scary, scary, just tough dudes that all ran in the same circle. And liked it, too. That's the thing. They enjoyed it. Like, that was the weird part. As they enjoyed, like, and they were great teammates.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Like, really enjoyed themselves. You got to be just wired so differently. Just differently. You're so, so, it's just a completely different mentality. Yeah. Who did I see Reeves fight the other day? It was a good scrap, too.

Yeah, I saw that. I'm sure we all saw the same fight. He did fight. It was Rempey. Yeah, it was pretty good til. See the Rangers? I don't think Rempe's been back. I think Rempe's been out.

I think Rempe got popped in that one. Yeah, I think you're right. It was Rempey. He's fought a few times this year. Yeah. But the Rangers skunked again last night. Dude, shut out again. You want to talk about it.

team that we talk about guys getting older like Zabinajad Panarin like they're not kids anymore I don't think Panarin's at a point in like six seven games I believe that's exactly what it is the longest streak of his career pointless in six or seven games yeah like Lafranier have you heard his name no like no Adam Fox is just nowhere near what he used to be that guy's disappeared off the face of the earth man he was like Norris trophy perennial Norris guy and it's like he's just a defenseman out there here's a crazy stat for you guys and I I know, listen, they're one point out of a wild card spot. But 05 and 1, guess what that is?

That's their home record. Right. Can't win at home. Last night was their first regulation loss on the road. They're 6-1-1 on the road. They're 05 and 1 on home ice. That is, it blows my mind. They haven't won a game on home ice yet.

Well, and I'd love to see how many goals they've scored at the garden. I would say seven, maybe, less than that, four? Seven? Yeah, you're right. They got shut out at least three times. Four. Four times. All right, so two, three goals?

I don't know how many times they've scored. They've given their fans who pay that money two or three goals at the garden. Six games, they probably have like three goals at home. Yeah, crazy. Crazy. All right, we're about to get into some craziness here. The Clone Wars lottery is coming up. you have to dedicate it's going to be very simple all five minutes five minutes explanation to

very simple stuff is going to be very it's i think it's going to play really well online it's going to be really good so i got a pv your other show you got to find us on youtube live every show is on youtube live on ts n's youtube channel you know stream us podcasts us do whatever you can and we will explain it everyone can play along but i think the visuals have a chance to pop here and you guys are going to get some right and some wrong okay so i'll explain it we'll get to it Next. All right, best bets later in the hour. Leaves to Utah tonight. We're talking about this Tom Brady cloning story. And yesterday we promised, we said we've got to do something on this tomorrow on Wednesday. And usually we'd hear from Jerry, we'd get to role play, do some arbitration.

We figured we'd mix it up a little bit. So this is the way it's going to work, right? It's based on this Maple Leaf roster, right, which we have been picking apart and saying they could use this guy or that guy. They could use help, right? They could use some help. So you're going to get one option first. There will be a player, form a leaf. It's always former Leafs and how they played at their best when they were Maple Leafs. And you can either take that first player or you can pass and open up door number two and see who's behind door number two.

Okay. All right. Yep. And so it's going to, it could, and it could be a great choice, could be an awful choice. You may pass on a player and the door open. and it's the greatest leaf ever, or it could be the worst leaf ever, right? There's a gambling element to this when you're talking about cloning. Okay, we're in the cloning lab.

You guys get what we're talking about here? I got it. So example, for example, Leo Komaroff comes up and you go, I'm going to pass because Darcy Tucker could be behind the next door. Could be Darcy Tucker. It could be Colton Ores behind the door. It could be, you know, anybody. You're right.

Exactly that. Daniel Winick. Yeah. Could be Daniel Winick. Could be anybody, right? be anybody the greats the worst everything in between i love it all right so who wants to start here oh you're awfully quiet i'm concerned you have no idea what's going i'd like noodles to go first i'm going first because i'm fired up about noodles is going to go first all right joe throw up door number one

let's open up door number one jake gardner yeah jake gardner is available noodles jake i love jake but i'm going to take door number two please door number two because i like i hear you Freed Jake Gardner, great skater, all of that, but back problems, and certainly had some defensive issue problems, too. So let's go with door number two, please. Door number two. Who do we have? We have Acky Berg.

So what? Noodles is stuck with Acky, now, my guy. Acky's your guy. You can't go back. You just added Acky Berg to this roster noodles. Jake Gardner was to play. He has to play. He's a puck mover.

He is, man. That's why you have to look at the situation and say a puck mover. He can skate. They need that right now. Yeah. Okay. That is awesome. Okay.

There's the trial balloon. I'm stuck with Ackyberg. Although Acky did play pretty well. He was a big body. Third overall pick. Guy who went, love him. Is this a weird thing? Did he end up in Calgary at some point?

I swear to God that guy was at my house in Calgary. Possibly. Finnish guy, right? So probably really close with all the Finnish guys. He ended up in Calgary. but he was the trainer of the World Junior team. He wasn't a player. That's right.

Ackyberg was sitting at the island in my house. Okay. Like, I swear in my life. Well, he's on your team now. You've cloned him and Ackyberg has been joining the 24, or the 25, 26 leaves. All right. All right. Let's get to the next options here, all right?

Door number one, you have, oh, your boy, Nossum Cadry. Now, this is Cadry at his height as a leaf. These are all, like, their best possible leaf years. You could go with Cadry and say door number two, stay shut. You're not going to be a part of this process, or you can gamble and open the door, and it could go any which way. I'm keeping Nazim Cadry in his prime. Well, you think I'm nuts.

That's a slam dung. I know you wanted me to have a sniff and see what was in there. Can I at least, can I see what was in there? Yes, we can. It was Freddie Gochee. Let's see. I guarantee it. Oh, my, no.

Oh, no. Doug Gilmore was behind door number two, oh. Doug Gilmore in 93. That's not fair, man. That's a, man, oh, man. Listen, anyone with half a brain would have taken NAS in his prime, though. Exactly. This guy just had Acky Berg.

I thought John Bellagote was behind door number two. It's your idol, Doug Gilmore. The greatest leaf of all time in his prime. Yeah. Doug Gilmore could be joining. He could be, Austin Matthews would probably be on the second. if you brought back 93 Dougie. Like Doug Gilmore in 93,

I think Austin Matthews might go to his wing. He might say, you're playing on his wing, man. Dougie had, how many assists him? Just like Matt Sundeen did. That's right. That's right. Doug Gilmore playing up the middle of the ice and Austin Matthews on the right side off wing. Him feeding missiles. Man, that's a

mistake. Now, Nause is a great choice. He is a very good choice and I understand why you would take it. All right. Nudels, you're up next here. Let's see. What do we have? Back in the, Freddie Anderson. Oh. Freddie Anderson joining the tandem here with Wallout. You probably could use another guy to tandem here with Stolars.

Yeah, I like Freddie a lot. But he's banged up sometimes too, right? Right. That's my only concern. Freddie in his prime still did he get hurt, right? Like he still had some injury issues. I'll take my chance, although I do love Freddie. I do love Freddie, but I'm worried that it's just like it's Peter Ring.

or somebody right okay i know that and i love peter ring i know everyone loves peter ring it's jerry sparks what am i doing gerard sparks i've been handed ackeberg and jerry sparks i should have just stuck with frederick anderson freddie's a good goalie's like i love him capabilities your gm capabilities are suffering right now you know what it is i'm i'm looking at the grass is greener on the other side and i'm getting stuck in the eye with a poker very valid because it could

have been curtis jose what if that was belfry Exactly. Eddie Bell 4-104, like that was top-end gold tending. Yeah, and you know what? I should have stuck with Freddie because in a tandem, I think he'd be fantastic with him and Stolos. I think it would be too. Like Freddie, when he was playing, he played a lot of games first couple of years, and he was good, man. He was good, and him and Stolars would be a good tandem. All right. Oh, let's see what else we have here. We're in the... Oh, there's Phil. Phil Kessel is a door number one. Phil Kessel could join the

he believes tonight in his prime good one good one randy good one oh my god good one craig good one you're sticking with phil and his prime or you can open the door and see what else is behind there you know what i could use a phil right now like that they could use phil kent flies a right shot right he's got a lot of skill you could yeah but what if dave andritchuck is behind there well that's why we play the game it's i'm keeping phil Oh, sorry, I'm keeping Phil. I know this is a setup, and I know there's someone else not quality back there. So you can go ahead and show me what's there, but I am keeping Phil for the record.

Oh, my God. You passed on Dougie Gilmore and Gary Roberts. Those are two of your favorite people in the world. Yes. I know, but I just feel like I've been set up with Phil's 35 goals and winning a couple cops in Pitt. Yeah. That guy set me up. I've been, I had two real good players on the front end.

Yep, you're right. As you wouldn't have passed on Phil, Prime Phil. I wouldn't. Winning Cups and Pitt with Gino Malcon as a centerman? I don't think I would have passed on either. Like, I would take Prime Nazim Cadry in a heart. How do you know Doug Gilmore's back there? Obviously you're taking Dougie if you know it.

Right. You know, it just worked out this way. Like, why don't we skip the next one? Let's go to the one past the next one here. And noodles, you can play this one, all right? Let's go back into the cloning lab here, Joe from the bridge. And if you know where I'm going with this, why don't you fire up Jeff O'Neill in his prime as a leaf. Jeff?

In his prime, though? Like in his prime. Well, I would say that. It's prime. It's in my prime. So 41 goals in Carolina. Well, I don't know. Is that the nature of this?

Or are we talking? Yes, it's prime. The best player, the best Jeff O'Neill. Okay. I'm keeping Jeff O'Neill. I know there's funny the goat back there. I'm keeping Jeff O'Neill because that would look great. You could have nice.

The door number two. Guys into Matthews into O'Neill on the right side. That is brilliant. That is brilliant. I would take Theo Dog as well. I would not pass them. I don't care who's in door number two. I'm not doing it.

Let me see. It's Gino Malgan. I swear to God, it's Gino Malgan. It's Jeremy Williams. That's the guy. That's the guy. guy that replaced me that John Ferguson Jr. put in.

That's so greasy, and that's uncalled for it. The 19th game? Yeah, well, you're on 19th Snipes, right? Jeremy Williams. My shoulder was blown out. I was supposed to have surgery, but Fergie just said, keep playing. And I'm like, okay, this guy must be a moron. Everyone in the organization knew that I had a torn labrum, and we were out of the playoffs. So then I got to a

point where I'm like, screw it, I'm going to keep playing. I'll score 20 goals. Then the very last game of the season I get scratched for Jeremy Williams. Jeremy Williams scored a goal. That was your goal. That was your goal to get to 20. Would that, would it have been worse if it was Freddie the goat? Gino Malkin would have been a good one. Sherry Malkin would have been

I forgot about Gino Maldon. The O-Dug you pass on the O-Dog thinking who's behind, is it Wendell back there? Darryl Sittler hanging around? All right. That's a good one. You kept all, though. You got to keep O. This is yours. Carlo Coliaco can be inserted into the lineup tonight for the Leafs Prime Coliacovo, a healthy Carlo Coliacovo.

Oh, my God. He can be playing. You know what we need the video of just for reference when Carlo was in St. Louis? Was it in Detroit or St. Louis when he got hit in the corner? Yes. Detroit. His face was in the glass, right? It's the best meme of all time.

We need to pull up that meme just for the sake of this. You know what? His skating ability and physicality. I am taking Prime Carlo Coliocavo. You take Coco, man. I agree, man. He was a big boy. He'd play physically.

He could skate. He could crush you, too. There's a clip of him demoing Bill Garan and, like, just inside the massive hit for Coco. Scott Stevens, like, coming across the middle. Saturday night in Toronto, it's an unbelievable hit. I'm taking Cocoa Prime. Who was behind Coco?

Let's see who was behind door number two. Frankie. Oh. You could have had a run. right-shot defenseman. I think they could use a right-shot defensement tonight. If I'm being Frank, if I'm being Frankie, I don't

love it. I think, listen, Carlo was a really good player. We love both these guys. I think that was a setup where you could have gone either way, right? You could have gone either way. But I think you made the right call. All right, Nudels. You want to do one more? I got a couple more. This game is awesome. I'm really enjoying this. I think it's working out. Clone Wars is so

fun. The Clone Wars is phenomenal stuff. Mike Johnson. MJ. Now, MJ was a stud when he got here. Getting out of college, right? Like, this guy got on there. Didn't he get, didn't they bring him in on a private bird or something like that? Like he was out of college, they flew him in. I feel like he was a stud.

And he was, that was that 99 year. That was the first year, Pat Quinn. That was Cabelaide's rookie year. Johnny was a legit 25 goal, man. Yeah. They went to a conference final with Johnny playing big minutes, man. He was a top line guy. So that's, you know, there's a top six.

Forward. Mike Johnson. Mike Johnson. I feel like Johnny, I'll keep Johnny. Was it my pick or is it? It's your pick. I mean, you guys can work together on this. Give me Johnny, because I think Johnny in his prime would be exactly what the Leafs are looking for. He's long, he's smart, like long reach, good shot, good stick. Plays with good players.

Yeah, exactly. You could put him on that. You could put him, you can move Willie up to the top line. you can play him with J.T. Because he's buddies with J.T. I feel like they'd be able to have chemistry. Yep. I'm keeping Mike Johnson. What if Alexander Mogilny is behind the other one, though?

What if Mogilny is behind the other one? Let's see. What if it's Eric Lindrosse behind the other one? Let's have a peek. You pick Johnny, but let's see what your other option was. Oh, no. That's a kick in the junk, man. Wendell.

that means you guys have passed on Doug Gilmore and Wendell Clark and Gary Roberts Now we love Johnny and we love Nazim Kadri and we love We love a lot of these guys That's where you got to take the emotion out of it and say Maybe there's something better than Johnny Yeah love the guy we love Johnny But Wendell Clark man you put Wendell in his prime

I wonder if like like rookie season Wendell Would be crazy because he'd have 20 fights I think he scored almost 40 that year. He had 30 plus. Like his best year would have been in 94, actually, when he scored 46, I think. Everybody, so when you say Wendell Clark, we should say what comes to mind.

Like mine, I've got two. When he hits the guy behind the net, is it Bruce Bell? Bruce Bell and St. Louis. And the other one when he punches John Casey in the back of the head. Also with St. Louis. The Coco Bunk. That's what Harry Neal called it.

He goes, Wendell gives him a cocoa bunk, and the best part about that clip, because we've talked about it before, is Tide Domies on the ice with him. So Wendell, like, knocks out John Casey, and he basically looks around and says, who's going to come talk to me? And Ty comes flying in, and the blues players are like, oh, God, like, we have to pretend like we're mad. What a circus around here. Could you imagine having to get into that scrum and react and protect your goalie? and Wendell Clark and Tide Dome you're waiting for you? Good luck.

That was another great story, Chaser told, about him and Wendell working out fight plans the next night down at the Madison. Did you see that clip? Yeah, Kelly Chase, like on their podcast, I guess Chase said he wanted to fight like Bill Berg or something like that. Oh, that's right, and he goes, and he told him Dave Lowry. And Clark goes, I want Dave Lowry. And I guess they were at the Maddie the night before.

having drinks working out who they're going to fight the next night at the gardens. I got good news and bad news for you. It's like, I'm getting that Bill Berg, but what's it? Cosher, I think, or shanty. You have to fight one of those guys. Well, it was like... Well, it was like, I'm not fighting

twist. You know, like, you know, I could, but I'm not going to, so I'm fighting this other guy. Anyway, those are great stories. All right, there you go. The clone... I have more. You know, I have more, but I think we can save them. We can bank them, and we can get to them later on. Maybe tomorrow.

Take a break and do one clone after dark. Okay. We can get to a clone after dark with our best bets. The lab is still open. We'll get to that next. We haven't heard this song in a while. Oh, no. I love it.

Time now for one more. Horny. Clone war. Clone war. All right. So this is a big hit. A lot of buzz here. And there we go.

JV.R. is indoor one. So what this is, you get a former leaf in their prime that could be cloned and in the lineup tonight, joining the Maple Leafs tonight against Utah. If you take JVR, he goes right in. If you pass on JVR, he's gone, and you've got to take whoever is behind door number two. You guys can both work among yourselves here. I love JVR, and he's still actually scoring and doing some good work for Detroit, but I want the... You want to see what's behind door number two?

Oh, where do you stand on that? I know I'm going to get jammed up on this, because this one is like you better take it because there's John Belagote is behind door number two. J.V.R. is a good player, man. No, no, because Javier's a very good player, but I guarantee you there might be a legend sitting. John Belagote, let's see what's behind door number two. It is David Clarkson. David Clarkson is behind door number two.

So David Clarkson in his prime in Jersey is 30 goals and tough. Yes. 30 goals and tough. So I don't think, I would take JVR personally. I would take JVR. Yes, of course. I mean, JVR is a guy that's 30 and 60 and can skate better and play in your power play. Remember him in the front of the net on the power play? This power play stinks right now.

He was unbelievable. JVR on the power play, I would put him in the, you know, in front of the net immediately. But Clarkson, I think Lee fans would say which one are we getting? But the New Jersey devil's David Clarkson, pretty good pick. Yeah. Not a bad pick. Do you remember like the front page of the Toronto Coney, son said Wendell Clarkson when they signed him.

Wendell Clarkson, which was so aggressive and obviously asking way too much. I remember his number 71 in honor of Wendell. He just made the mistake. He got the 10 games right off the pop, you know, jumping off the bench. Jumped over the bench. And they never got going after that. They can't believe he did that. I can't believe that whole scene.

John Scott chasing Phil around. I was in the building. You were there for that? Phil slash John Scott with the tatman. Phil slash John Scott with two of the most egregious swings you've ever seen. And got, I don't think he got anything. Did he get fined for that? No, I don't know.

He didn't get suspended. No. Well, because the league was like, dude, what are you doing, John Scott? Like, I don't remember what that was in response to. Obviously, like, Orr must have done something. Someone must have done something. Yeah, somebody did something to Buffalo guy, and then John Scott went out there and was looking for blood. yeah he went and just like it was a face off and then he just popped

popped phil i don't know that was we got to revisit that that whole scenario was a crazy transaction which went down all right so who did we miss frederick goche you guys were waiting for him freddie the goat you were waiting for and freddie didn't make the first installment he could be there because we had other options we just didn't get to yeah but ackeyberg was a tough ackey was a tough one but i think it set the tone ackey so's boy but Acky wasn't exactly a fan favorite in Toronto. No. And I don't think he would help this current defense group personally.

Yeah, I think we got to expand it to just league wide. Like, you can just go to terrible busts. You can get extreme, man. You can go extreme with this. Yeah, you could get like Ray Bork or Nail Yakopov. Yes. You know what I mean? Like that type of stuff.

That's a good idea. You can do like former first overall picks. Oh, yeah. You know, door number one, you got this guy pretty good. player, you know, pretty good career or door number two, and it could be like McDavid or it could be Alexander Degger or something.

Best bets powered by Fandole, make your picks and assemble the same game parlay in seconds on the Fandwell's Sportsbook app. I'm going to parlay Matthews 2 plus points, Willie two plus points tonight. The big boys are playing on the same line. I think they play a ton tonight, and I think they have to produce. And I think the third period the other night might have sparked

that. You're getting good plus money on that. Best bets powered by Fandwell. Same game parlay is now available for every NHL game on the Fanduil Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario. All right. Leaves Utah tonight. And

yeah, we'll see what happens tomorrow. We've got picks tomorrow. Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson will be in here. Guys are in a dark place. Very dark place. Very dark place. You've got to dig it out. You've got to dig it out. Have to dig it out. Have to dig it out. All right. Good stuff. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it.

Everyone for tuning in today. TV, podcast web and of course up on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel we're out of here enjoy your evenings enjoy the games tonight we're back tomorrow at 4 p.m. We'll chat then I'm Luke Wilson join me each week for Film Never Lies since retiring from the NFL I've had a lot of my mind and now got my own show to retire to lazy takes if you want honest conversations join us each week film never lies available on all TSN platforms and the iHeart radio app