OverDrive - OverDrive - October 1, 2025 - Hour 2 - Jason Strudwick

Episode Date: October 1, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill, and Jamie McLennan for hour one of OverDrive. The guys are joined by Jason Strudwick to get into the latest contracts signed in the NHL. They then play Level of Concern, getting into Max Domi’s future on the first line, the pressure on the Wild to now win a Cup, and Max Scherzer potentially being left off the Jays’ ALDS roster. The hour ends with Hayes giving his Best Bets.

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Our two overdrive continues, powered by Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Less than a week away from opening night in the NHL, we got, it's October 1st already, man. September flew by. I know. And in October, you're guaranteed baseball, hockey, football, basketball. It's a beautiful thing. It's going to be a great month. What do you like better?

This transition or the one in the spring where it all kind of comes together? some things are finishing up, the master's type area. Like, what is your faith? There is something about the spring that's amazing because you get the Stanley Cup playoffs, and I do love the Masters, and you can golf again. I guess I would lean April slash early May one, and then this is clearly a number two,

because I love football so much. That's the thing. It's a tough. It's a difficult one. Like so many things are firing up football, hockey, baseball playoffs. It's tough to beat, man. It's all kind of cooking right now.

It is. But I like spring, too. I'll throw one more thing in there. Patios. Now, you're sniveling patios. It's supposed to be like 26 this weekend or something like that. Yes. Like, I've, I just.

Don better be open, man. Like, it's always closing the playoffs. Absolutely. If it's 28 degrees out, it better be open. Like, the schedule has been released, and it's kind of weird that if the Yankees win. The Jays play at 408 on Saturday, 4.08 on Sunday. How are you

with that? Didn't you want like prime time or like what is your deal with the times? I guess I'm okay with that. It's the weekend. I'm okay with that. I mean, there's going to be West Coast games, right? The Dodgers are, we presume we're going to get through. They're going to play if the Dodgers are playing at 7 or 8 o'clock. I don't know.

I guess I'm okay with that. I think prime time will find us during the week. I hope. That's where I'm more concern like i don't want a tuesday game at one o'clock you know give me a give me an eight o'clock that's the one i was talking about that pissed you off in years past where it was like everybody kind of knew it was coming but like a tuesday warner yeah the worst man well that was game five in the in 2015 was an afternoon game yeah well it's not the worst it's just you feel the disrespect right everyone's like really you can't give us something other than that right fire up a

primetime game was a great afternoon though i wasn't it like a sunday afternoon or like i i don't remember that's i i feel like it was i don't remember i thought we did we were all there didn't we do the show first though no no because the game was at four o'clock like okay it was a weekend i do remember because you know we all were there but in with different groups all of that and i remember going to harbor 60 afterwards and it was still light out yeah it was uh yeah oh it was still light out which is great and you're right about the weather this weekend that is a benefit. Games done, let's say it, 7 o'clock.

You know, it's getting dark around that time, but if the weather's still nice, patio season extending into October is unheard of. Yes. Which is great. And you were kind of pointing that out in April and May. I think you're getting that this weekend. Exactly.

I think if you're at a Boston pizza or something downtown on a patio, anywhere in the country, Boston pizza this Saturday or this Sunday, you're absolutely on fire, man. Well, there are some dudes in Cleve that, were just, they were having some pints. I don't know how they could extend it haze into a patio afterwards.

Well, that's a different story. If you go so over the top and the Guardians won this afternoon, so game three is tomorrow, it's a valid point. How do you, maybe it's time to get in a cab and go home. Yeah.

That's reasonable. That's why, though, the 4 o'clock start gives you the chance to get downtown early. A lunch? Maybe meet the boys downtown at noon, 1230, something like that. You know, that's a different story. Or maybe a round of golf or something and then get together in a backyard somewhere for the afternoon. Like plans are going to be available for people this weekend. Lots of options.

Yeah, it'll be exciting, though. I mean, the whole city will be buzzing. It'll be great. Whether it's roof open, roof closed, I think it's just the building will be so electric. Downtown will be electric. It's going to be awesome. Yeah, you've got to have roof open if it's that nice. You have to.

Dome open, patios rocking. It's great. All right, let's play this Craig Barube clip. We mentioned the Max Domey. stuff. And we'll get Struddy's take on this. Struddy will join us here in a moment. Here's what Craig Baroubae had to say about how this line, this top line of Toronto's looking in practice and the Max Domi performance in particular. We've got to let him play his game and what he does and what he's good at.

But at the same time, he's got to change a little bit like we talked about. I need him to get inside Marnie and to shoot more. You know, it can't be all about looking for Matthews and eyes. plays and we need him to make plays at the same time he's got to shoot pucks he's got to use his shot and then we know we need him to be a bulldog out there I need him to be responsible

defensively like I need every player to be responsible defensively okay needs him to be a bulldog out there I guess so you know and you kind of expect that out of Matthew Nyes too with his size and his ability to get in the corners and you know crash pucks and crash plays

and get to the front of net like just be assertive like just be assertive and be good Just make a solid play every time you get the puck. And just don't be dancing around looking for something. Don't overthink it. It's a big opportunity for you. You've been in the league a long time, but this is your hometown. The Maple leaves the top line.

And you're the guy that's getting the first crack at filling the roll of martyr. That's where the pressure comes. That's where the pressure comes. This guy scores like no one in the league when he's on top of his game. And now you're replacing the guy that fed him the puck all the time. That's a lot of pressure, man. Because in your head you're thinking,

if I have a bad first period of the first game, the coach is just going to make a switch. You know how the coaches do that. After three shifts, they'll make a change. Yeah, and you know, like, Nyes is pretty stable on that line. He's not moving. He's not going anywhere. If that line struggles, the first thing, it's Max Domey, you are out of there.

Even if Matthews throws up a pizza around, you know, up the middle in his defensive zone, that'll be the change. It's pairs and it's Nize and Matthews. It's who is going to play on the. the right side with them. That's the question. And as of day one, it'll be Max Stoney. All right, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Here's our main man, Jason Strudwick.

How are you doing? Struddy. Oh, great, boys. How are you doing? Well, we're doing well. We're talking about the top line here in Toronto. Everything's very positive here in Toronto. I'm not sure you believe that or not. But where do you stand on the least less than a week away from go time? Well, I think they should all be uneasy because it's just part of it. And he affected and touched so many parts of the game that now, you know,

there's a lot of people that have to kind of do what he did before, try to fill in because no one guy can do that. So I think they're uneasy, but honestly, I don't think that's a bad thing. I think it just makes things a little bit uncomfortable. You know, Ruby's going to have his way of doing a few new things with the group. So I think that we'd expect maybe a little bit of, you know, inconsistent play, but I think you'll see some uncomfortable guys, which is healthy when a team has been together for as long as some of these guys.

have already. Well, Struddy, there's change, and there's change everywhere throughout the league. You talk about without Marner, obviously, there's some uneasiness. Talk about the uneasiness in Ebenton, either with 97, not signing on the dotted line. Is that still a daily storyline, or are people trying to just accept what's going to come whenever it comes, if it ever comes? Well, I think for the fans, obviously, it's still a big storyline. And, you know, seeing what happened in Minnesota now, you know, that their star signed, you know,

there's hopefully hope that they're hoping that they can get it done as well. But I think for the team and for teammates of his organization, you know there's time, right? And, you know, if it gets to July's first and he hasn't signed, well, then I think there'll be some moments to panic for the players and the team. But for the players and the teammates, there's other people on expiring contracts that are this year, including Ekholm, Kulak, you know, these types of guys. So I think there just have to be business as usual. The challenge for the orders now is to get, you know, new players into this group. And whether Ikehauer gets to start the year, or Matt's the boy, or, you know, on the back end,

there's some younger D. They're looking pretty good. Or Tomashek or No Filp, these type of guys. Like, they need to get these new guys in because a lot of players moved on or moved on Trump. Stredi, do you think Drysidal looks at his contract? although it's incredibly a lot of money and looking at Caprizov saying, man, maybe I should have just kind of went about this a different way and I could have

cashed in even more than I already did. I know I would be. It's like, you know, what is that? It's not that long ago that he signed that contract. And now I believe Leon's better than he is, than Krill is, although they're close. So it wasn't like that contract's five years old. But what about Miko Ranton it?

You know, what did Miko sign for? it, 12 million? 12, yeah. Something in there. So he's 5 million shy times eight. That's 40 million dollars. That's quite a bit. That's not your bar tab at Earls on a Friday night.

Like, that's a lot of cash that, you know, it's sitting there, and that contract is barely old. So, you know, I wonder how that changes how these superstar guys win they sign and how they choose to do it. You know, do you wait and be, like, if Miko had been more selective, we have got more than 12. I'm not sure, but after this deal, I think he probably could have. Well, even Capri Sob might think that way a year from now. Like, he's signed a year out. He may get to next July 1st and think he could have gotten 18 or 19 million. And what's amazing about the Capri Soff stuff is like it's such a crazy number.

Yet I don't sense anyone expects Minnesota to win. You know, like no one thinks they're going to win a cup now because they got him done. He doesn't, he's an immense talent, really good player. Is he a winner? I don't know. Like, they haven't won anything with him. He's a scoring winger. He's already had people showing clips of him last night, like, floating around.

Yes. And they're like, look at this guy, just signed that contract, and he's weaseling around out there, doing nothing, like floater shifts. And somebody caught it on tape. Yeah, crazy. Let's be honest. Like, they're the fourth best team in their division with him, with him on the team. They're like, I think there's other teams, there's four teams that are better than him.

So, you know, Bill Garan, I think this is a big part of what they're trying to do is get him. walked in now they got boldie um you know so now they have to add they have to add and i know the salary cap's going up and they have that salary cap penalty they had with prees and suitor that's passed them but eight of that went to dollar dollar bill krill so they now have to add because that team isn't good enough it's good but it's not good enough i don't think like i said right now i have them at the fourth best team in their division so guys i wanted everybody to weigh in on this i was thinking about it i was asked this question specifically today when you're like Okay, 17, that's an outrageous number, you know, for Carrille, is he a top 10 player, all of that type of stuff.

Do we, in the media, as fans, have to readjust, you know, how we look at contracts? And I'll give you an example. In the year 2000, Chris Pronger made $10 million a year. And I look at the NBA players like, I think it was Stodemeyer made $10 million. Alan Iverson was making $10 million. Nowadays, 25 years later, Kauai and these guys are making $50 million a year. Top paid player in the NHL is $14.5.

And I know different sports, different TV contracts, all of that type of stuff. But is this hockey's time to grow? So three years from now, are we going to be looking at this and going, you know, geez, William Nylander at 11.5 or whatever, unbelievable deal? But are we going to see the stepladder, you know, three, four, five, six years from now? where guys are making 20, and you're going, yeah, that seems about market value right now. Jamie, I think it's great for the players. How many times have you looked at other sports and said the hockey players aren't even close?

And now the guys are coming up and starting to make massive cash. It's appropriate for these guys, finally, finally. But the thing is, some guys locked in that have to wait around like a William Nealander. For years, he's going to be saying, man, look at that guy. We talked about him in the Caprizaff comparison yesterday. he's going to be like, that guy making that much more than me, but that's just the way it happens, man, and it happens fast.

Like as soon as Caprisoff signed, all of a sudden people are going to be like, I got to give this, I got to give my player the cash, because he got it. It adjusts everything. And I guess Sportico, you know, they're a website that delves into money, an evaluation of different franchises

and leagues, and they posted something today. I saw Kevin Weeks tweet this out. Three-year change per league in terms of value, I believe, like, franchise values and overall revenue generated by the league. The NHL over the last three years is up 108%. The NBA 78%, the NFL 72%, the MLB 22%. So in other words, the NHL is like, yeah, to your point, thriving.

And the Leafs, today it was announced, this is according to Sportico, but they're the most valued franchise in the league, and it's like $4.6 billion. Remember when it was crazy that they were worth a big? billion, or the habs were worth a billion? Exactly. And again, to finish this point, then, Struddy, you can jump in. Luke Hughes just signed an extension

down in New Jersey. He's the youngest of the Hughes brothers. He's making the most money. He's the youngest, and, to be fair to him, he's the third best player of the three. He's making nine, Jack's making 8, Quinn's making 7.85. And he was an RFA, and they

just gave him $9 million a year over seven years. So that's your answer. Yes, Struddy. Everything has to adjust. I wish someone would have said that about me and my cousins, that I would have been higher paid than those two guys. I worked harder than both of them. Well, for sure, Rob, maybe not Scott. You've got to say who your cousins are, Struts.

Scott and Rob Neidemeyer, it's, you know, okay, for average players, but I was definitely underpaid compared to them. Yes, you were. You know what I think? I think what will really hit fans. I don't know if it's the top market, guys. I think we have a second or third-line center that might make $10 million.

or a third-line center that's making six or seven, because the cop's going to keep going up, and everyone's going to float up a bit. I think that's when fans are going to be like, no way, that guy should be making whatever. But we have to reevaluate what cap numbers are because it's just a percentage. We have to remember it's the percentage of the cap,

and then whatever that cap number is, that's the number to get on the other end of it. Yeah. Well, again, I think the Luke Hughes one's interesting, because seven years, I was kind of waiting for a short-term deal, and then maybe he lines up with Quinn Hughes, and maybe they go somewhere else.

But now, you know, if he's going to be in Jersey for seven years, and Jack Hughes has got a lot of term left on his deal. It only looks like it can go one way. Yeah, it looks like Quinn Hughes is, if he's going to play with him, he's going to Jersey. You know what? I want to throw in here, too. Doesn't it make you, if you're a top-end player, why would you sign for eight years?

100%. Why don't you sign for two? And as the cap continues to escalate, That way you're not going to have a problem where, you know, year five, you're grossly underpaid. I think the agents will be leaning on these guys to go sign two-year deals, and yes, it'll create anxiety within fan basis as we see. What about injuries, though, Jamie? Like, are you telling me if somebody puts 136 on a table or something like that? And you're going to say, well, I might just sniff around and do a short-term deal to see if I can cash in a different way.

You get hurt. like that's you talk about anxiety like that's a great point but how often does that happen though really like how often you see an elite player quit not being able to play hockey again right because it doesn't happen very often no but it just you i think the only thing i would say to guard against that is you probably take out some wild insurance policy that there if there is a career ending injury you know you're paying a huge premium on it but it's it's a hundred million cash tax free type of thing in your pocket because that's you know, after taxes, what you would have made, you know, that type of stuff.

But I just look at it as if you feel like a lot of these contracts that have just been signed are going to be undervalued by that player two or three years in, I would be shocked to see the next wave of players to sign for seven or eight years or, you know, or even five or six. It might be four or less just based on, you know, how the escalating cap is going up. Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. And that, I mean, that brings you back to where we started with Connor McDavid.

I mean, maybe that's a situation where he's seen all this, and, you know, he can get whatever he gets now. But in a couple of years, that might be 20 for two or three years, right? So, yeah, I think there's a lot of moving parts on all these guys, but Carrillo definitely set the table for them. Yeah, he sure did. So Connor Ingram gets picked up by the Oilers, and he's their, I guess, their third goalie, right?

He's going right to their minor league team, I believe. Bakersfield, yeah. Bakersfield. But still, everyone's waiting to see. what Stan Bowman's doing with that goaltending position and this is the guy you know if Connor is sitting there saying I'm only signing if you prove

to me you're helping me win a cup did this move the meter at all or what? And you think he specifically Hayes said talked about the goaltending or what? Would you be shocked if that's what he brought up at some point in a candid moment with management? It wouldn't shock me.

Yeah I mean if he signs tomorrow I guess that will be the final piece right thank Connor Ingram Yeah. Thank you. A guy who could have gone waivers you traded for. So I guess when I look at it, they're looking for someone who's had a little more experience being their third goaltender. You see a lot of teams now with three goaltenders and one being maybe a weak or borderline backup, but a guy that can come in and help if there's an injury to Skinner and or Pickard. They have it. Now they're not going to be held over a barrel, try to trade for someone.

They're like, yeah, give us a third round or a second rounder for this guy. But also I think it's a bit of a, I think it's a very low risk and possibly decent reward outcome. If he can go down and kind of get himself like just his mindset for whatever he was away working on and then get his game squared away, maybe there's something there that can help because he's had some decent, a couple decent years when I look at it today. So, you know, I think it's a very low risk and decent reward opportunity for the orders in Connor specifically. Yeah, the reason, my understanding, they didn't grab them off waivers, because if you grab off waivers, you need to take the whole contract.

So they let him get through waivers. Then they get Utah to chew on 800 of the contract, so it's close to the league minimum or, if not league minimum. And he's already through waivers. You can assign him right to the minors. So it's kind of a shrewd move. It takes up a contract on your cap table, but he's your third.

And their third was a guy named Matt Tompkins, who's not an NHL goaltender. So, you know, if anything, it bridges against. to an injury kind of you got a solid three there but I do a couple years ago he was pretty darn good for Utah or for Arizona he played 50 games yeah as a 26 year old he's 28 but again that's not your answer though Brian if you were talking about it like that was the crux of the question he's not coming in to take stewart skinner spot if anything he's taking pickard spot because pickard might age out here soon so it's if anything they're giving skinner a

runway here to see if he can either have a good start to the season or have a consistent season. But I, you know, I still think that there's more moves to be made in Evanton. It might not just be a net. I think there's, you're going to still be fishing around up front as well. Well, it's a roll of the dice. We'll see. It got a little wild in Quebec City last night. Nudels was there calling the game between Ottawa and Montreal. Did you have any crazy preseason games back in your NHL career? Oh, yeah. Well, so the year before Chris Simon had stomped. on Ryan Hallwig and been suspended for a lot of games when I was with the Rangers and

they were with Islanders. So you don't serve those during exhibition. It's only regular season. So we're playing against each other. And Tom Reddy comes in and says, hey, Holly, you know, let's just don't go after Chris Simon. We don't even anything crazy. I'm like, yeah, sounds good. And because Chris Seimer was playing against us. And like halfway through the game, Holly runs them and there's a brawl and we're all fighting and then got kicked out. And like, Tom was so mad, but he was kind of laughing. Like, thanks for like, four good shifts guys, right? Like, and it's just crazy.

Like, those three seasons, I remember sometimes if you didn't want to play it, you just fight and just get out of the game or get a second fight, you don't have to play anymore. I love that. That Chris Simon with the hair wheeling around, a scary individual. Like, I hit him in the head with a high stick by accident once, and I was like, I'm dead. I'm completely dead.

This guy's going to kill me. And he looked at me and said, please keep your stick down. And I was like, it was a shocking moment. moment. I was like, I can't believe he just spoke to me like that. Well, listen to how Struddy just described that scene. He stomped Ryan Holwegg the year before. Stomped his leg.

And let's just consider he had a skate on. Yeah. I remember it. That play was in Long Island, wasn't it, Strud? Yeah, it was. Yeah. And it was like, yeah, and you can just see it coming, like, oh, God, is this going to happen? And then you go into, like, why did he play Chris Simon in an exhibition

game against? Exactly. You know, like, what do you think's going to happen, right? Like, nothing matters. You just do whatever you want. And Si, I played him. He was the best guy, like the greatest guy. But, man, when he decided it was time to get serious, he wasn't very fun anymore. I didn't enjoy playing against him. He was scary. Well, he, I got traded for him. Like, he, and he lived at my house. I got traded. He got traded. He was a big part of them

going on the run in the playoffs. Oh, yeah. He was awesome. But it was funny. He lived in my house. and I wasn't sure what to expect. So when I came home after the season, he called me, and he goes, there's a blank check on the counter. He goes, just fill it out for the damage. I was like, oh, God. What a lot.

And how nervous were you filling that out? You got to tell us the amount you filled out on that check. It was under 10 grand, but over 5 grand. I think it was like seven grand and I was like I don't even know how that damage happened like I would like you know back then you wish there was a camera phone or something going on but I was loud there was had to be some carpet and some hardwood flooring had to be changed in one area it's like what is going on here a blank check on the way out yeah literally I'm not lying in the kitchen on the counter was a blank check and then he just he called me and it said you failed that out when you get the damage is fixed and I was like all right buddy, great guy

he's a great guy he's a great guy that's awesome yeah well him and Holwig I love that it's stomping him and then in the preseason the next year taking care of business and Tom Rennie would have seen it all he'd been around forever right like he must have known like there's no chance you guys are going to be on your best

behavior there's no chance yeah we don't have a full roster for the whole game no whatever it's your own fault shouldn't have rest of us all right strud great stuff we'll do it again soon boys i'm off to judge a chili contest at the rodeo here in emmpton so pretty big pretty big gun they're bringing in for this contest to judge wow why did they recruit you from facebook marketplace or what what do you have how does this work like he's got to wear a diaper i think like what are you going to chili well what happens if you taste the spicy one and your mouth's all screwed up like

how do you cleanse the palate do you like are you an expert at this or something? First time. I've never been asked before, and I don't know why. I mean, talk about celebrity power, but I'll have to figure out maybe sour cream cleanse the palate. I don't know. Do you have any suggestions?

China whites. There you go. Oh, China White. I won't remember the end of it. You'll be leaving a blank check at the dry cleaners. Fill this out for any damage, mental or otherwise after dealing

with this. You'll get an eat transfer from noodles. Noodles will take care of it. All right, well, enjoy it. Circle back. Give us an update later. We want to hear more. I will.

Lighten candles right now. Talk to you later. That's right. That's fun. Jason Strudwood. Joining's for the Maple Toyota Hotline. Drive the built-in-Canada fuel-efficient fun-to-drive-Toyter F4,

gas or hybrid models available, visit mapleto-toyter.com. I wouldn't be good at that, man. I wouldn't want to do it. Like, Chili's not in my wheelhouse. Why? Everyone loves chili. I'm not a chili guy. Neither am I.

Not a chili guy. Dude, what about like a turkey chili? There's all kinds of different chilies. It's not just. No, can't do it. Not chili? I don't know. There's something, I don't know why.

Maybe it's the texture, the look. Yeah, beans are not. I'm not a fan of beans. The beans get to you. But what about it on a dog? So you guys are telling me you've never done a chili dog? No, no chance, man. I've done a chili dog, but I don't know if I've done a sober chili dog in my life,

but I've had chili dogs before. But I don't know. I look at it, and I feel like it doesn't look that good. No, it looks awful. It's like an English breakfast, man, like with the beans pouring everywhere. It's awful. I don't know who eats beans in the morning. Like, this is a, you know, not a problem that I have, but I go to Air Canada Club.

I travel quite a bit. You go and there's oatmeal in the morning, and right next to it is hot beans. Yeah. Like brown beans? Brown beans. I love a brown bean with a. like a scrambled egg. In the morning, that's a British, that's like an Irish or Scottish, they're all the same.

Gross. Scrampled eggs and a brown bean and you just mash them all together. You can't control it though, dude. It just, control what afterwards? No, well, yeah, that, but also. You're getting on a flight for four hours and you've just had brown bean soup from a lounge. Yeah, that's a disaster. I think it's a perfect English breakfast and I think it goes together.

But it just like the bean sauce is everywhere. You can't separate. Like, there's no point, you know, you might as well throw it in a blender. You know what I mean? Like everything tastes the same. You can't, the eggs are just going to taste like the bean sauce. I never took you for like a separator where it's like. I'm a separator.

Big separator. Big food segregation over here. Yeah. No, I am too. I don't like to mix it too much. My dad would have roast beef, gravy mashed potatoes, and then my mom would pop a piece of cake on the same plate. and he would just go, it all goes to the same place, Jamie. That's the craziest mentality ever.

Like, that's like what a hyena would say if he could speak. You know what I mean? Like, that's just crazy behavior. It is. It was. Like, honestly, he'd have, like, you know, sponge cake that was put on, and there'd be gravy on it. He'd be eating it.

Oh, that's absurd behavior, man. That's too much. That's way too much. It was. Way too much. All right, role play coming up. Best Betts coming up. Overdrive continues.

TSN 1050. and up on YouTube Live. You can never, never ask me to stop drinking. Do you understand? I do. I really do. All right, roll play, level of concern. This is one that we've kind of been talking about all day.

But I think it's a good thing to continue with this because the Leafs are going to play tomorrow and I likely have their full lineup intact, including Max Domi, on a line with Austin Matthews and Matthew Nye. So you're going to play the role of Max Domey. It's a big opportunity for him. Not a young guy, been in the league for a long time, but grew up in Toronto, grew up loving the leaves, clearly. Top line, right winger with Austin Matthews.

Almost not like an opportunity. It's like, go make it happen. It's like when you're that age, it's like, It's not some young dude. It's like, go out there and you've got to do it, man. Yes, exactly. Like, you, exactly that. It's not Easton Cowan that they're giving this opportunity to.

He's a veteran. He's not a contract year or anything. Exactly. You're a leaf, and you're expected to do this. What is your level of concern, though, that your leash is short for holding down that right-wing spot on the Matthews line? JP, I think you've got to give me a little Stevie Caldwell. A couple of whiskeys and five or six beers.

Just because of the circumstances and how good a player Austin Matthews is and the way he scores goals, and with Mitch being gone, there's going to be a lot of pressure on who's going to be dishing him the puck. And if you're the dishwasher on the line or the guy that dishes it the most, there's going to be that expectation where this guy has to have success. But the other thing about that, Hayes, is you talked about it earlier where Austin Matthews, his expectation is to drive the line himself. If we're waiting for Austin Matthews production to just be based on Max Domi passing him the puck, that's a crazy idea.

He's got to be a contributor, but Austin Matthews has to be more of a go-to guy where he just takes initiative and takes control himself. And I'm not saying he's got to turn into Eric Lindrosse and just steamroll everybody and go to the net, but he's just got to do more things on his own. And he is fully capable and is fully expected to do that, wouldn't you say? Yes, and that's an important point. Like, we talk about Domi, we can talk about who else might play in that line. If Matthews isn't cooking, start with him first as to why he's not cooking. If we're basing Matthew's success on Max Domi passing him the puck or in Matthew Nyes, then that's just crazy talk. Yes.

He's got a creator's own. Exactly. Here's where I am, though. Rick Bushwood plus, give me a Rick Bushwood. Six Bushlight, six Bud Light, and I love him, tall boys. And a Stevie, and a Stevie Call. A couple of Sees and five or six beers. So that's less than Nick's cage, but it's just below it.

And here's why I'm going to say that. What is the one consistent comment that Brad Tree Living has had for three, four months now, three months, we'll call it? Still in the market, still looking for top six forward, right? No, he's not going to find that by Wednesday night. No, but what I'm saying is this is Max Domi's opportunity. but it's a short leash because somebody at some point is coming. That's, you know, I don't, the argument could be, Max Domey's going to start there, where is he going to finish?

Because that's where I'm looking at it. So that's why I would be more concerned because how long that leash dictates how well he plays early on in the first 20 games. If he settles in and plays well, that extends it so that tree doesn't go, maybe I don't need that. Maybe I want to add, but a little bit closer to the first 20 games. the deadline. That's what I'm saying. So to me, there should be

concern because the lease should be shorter based on what tree living covets, not what Max Domey's capable of. I think he's old enough where there shouldn't, like, he shouldn't be looking at it as concern, you know? We just said it ten times. Just go out there and do your thing, and the line's going to do

great. There's too many good players on the line. Where are you guys at with the winger for Tavaris and Nielander? Who is that going to be? Is it Bobby McMahon? I think Bobby McMahon It's a great opportunity for him

And I think he could The way he shoots the puck and he skates But that's the same thing Hayes You talk about opportunity If he doesn't look like an everyday NHLer that can elevate like that Then he's going to obviously have concern too See that's

I think it's McMahon to start off with But it might be domy If they end up bringing somebody else in And then McMahon goes down And Joshua's You know like there's going to be moving parts but I think

it would be McMahon to start off with and see if he can settle in with those two. Now McMahon is a pretty programmable straight line player. Great speed, good shot, but Willie and John are shooters too, so he's going to have to go get the puck

for them, right? And there's demands with those guys playing with those guys like you got to be on it and you've got to be physical and you got to be a dishwasher and you got to do all those things all wrapped up into one. and sometimes when a guy's never done that before in his career haze it's it's a tough thing to kind of bring to the table totally like i guess that's what i'm emphasizing that is as much of a question mark for me because you know like matthews

matthews will cover for you matthews will defend will he's taken off will he's gone will he's out at the red line you know he wants it on his tape yes he's going and you got to find him and and that's the thing like you know maybe mitchellie gets an opportunity at some point. Maybe Cowan, maybe someone else. Maybe they have assets to go get one guy. I don't know if they can for two. And, you know, Dolmy, McMahon, like, they may not just be trying to show, you know, their current linemates who they can play with, but also other linemates.

And obviously, it's the head coach that has to determine that. And another thing for McMahon, like if JT's kind of caught up, I don't think Willie is going to be enthusiastic to be the first man down low. So you can also get your ass down low and play defense in your own zone. Right. There's another responsibility. Well, the other thing, so you just reminded me, like, Michelli on that third line with Waugh and Joshua, right?

Like, and then if it's Lorenz, Lawton, then Cowan, what you do have is, you know, a smaller skilled guy on the third line, smaller skilled guy on the fourth line. Like that's with two guys that are bigger and more physical, that type of stuff. That's what they're looking at right now. That's Yarn Croke, no Nick Roy. Robertson, who else am I missing there, camp, or whoever else, right? Decisions to be made.

Yeah, there are. All right, noodles. You're playing the Maple Leafs six defensemen, the veteran six defensemen, Tanev, McCabe, Riley, Carlo, Ekman, Larson, Benoit. They were intact all through the playoffs, all down the stretch, and they're all on term. What is your level of concern you won't all be intact come game one of the playoffs? give me Stevie Caldwell a couple of whiskeys and five or six beers why Stevie Caldwell on that

I would have almost been like kind of a pint in the patio noodles I thought I thought about that but I also thought that if you're looking to add to this group you know just at the deadline it might be hey we can if we can bring in a puck mover let's you know add to that that's I keep coming back to puck-moving D.

The teams that have gone deep in the playoffs have always have some guy. Now, that could be Morgan Riley that has a great season this year. And I think we're all counting on that and all hoping for that. But if you add one more puck mover into that group, then it gets a little interesting for me. Put it that way. But if you're going to bring in a puck mover,

it's got to be an elite guy just to bring in a guy that can... I don't even know, like, puck mover. Like, everyone should be a puck mover in the national hockey league. Yeah, but somebody that, you know, like we're looking, like last night I watched Lane Hudson and Jake Sanderson. Leifes don't have. They're not getting that guy between now. That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying.

If you're talking about an elite guy, that's not happening. So any other guy in the NHL defense score is just a puck mover, a guy. Yeah, I don't want to get crazy, but like Rasmus Anderson might be available at the deadline. You know, guys like that, like you look at it and go, hey, maybe there's a chance, maybe there's a fit. I don't know. Again, I'm not, I don't have a crystal ball, but I'm saying, I don't, like, if they were that six, and I would be fine with it because they were, they went in the second round with them and they were good.

But it just, I think you're always trying to add and look around. And I think there's going to be teams that are sellers, and you might be able to grab something. Maybe Buffalo is a seller, and you can get, you know, somebody that you didn't think was available, Bowen Byram or somebody like that. Now, I know we signed term, but... Dude, their fan base would cringe if they heard you say that they can sell it. Listen, please don't radio me or whatever saying,

Bowen Byron to the Leafs. I'm not saying that. I'm saying if there are teams that are sellers and guys are available and you can upgrade in any position, you're looking at that if you're Brad Tree Living. That's my point. Yeah. Listen, they're an older defense court, too.

They're all a year older, no. The only guy who is under 30, is Benoit, who's 26, I believe, 27. Everyone else is 31 and up. Yeah. So you do need to have that progression is who's the next guy pushing through. They got to find that. Yeah, they've got to find that.

They don't have it right now, and that's fine. But, you know, it's not, it wouldn't be shocking if one of them flowed down. You know, and I'm not going to name a name. I don't know who that could be. But they're all, when you get all guys over 30, it wouldn't be shocking if one of them, of them it was like, man, the wheels kind of fell off this year. Right. And that's, if that happens, then maybe you've got to

move that guy further down the lineup. And then you've got to find a way to replace that guy. It's not going to be easy, though. Yeah. Like with, again, the Leafs just don't have a ton of assets. Right. That we're aware of anyway. You know, you know Cowan, Danford, you've got future picks, but even that, a lot of their picks, they don't have a first rounder

for a couple of years. Right. So they're in one. All right, let's move back into, oh, we'll get back to you here. All right. Oh, you're playing the role of Keegan Bradley. You know you can't do that to me with my boy, Scottie Vaugh, who was on the Ryder Cup team for the U.S. They jammed up Keegan so badly.

Like Luke Donald is flying all over the world, taking notes, going up for dinner with guys. Bradley's playing on tour. Like he's playing. I know. So, all right, I don't know how to not jam you here. No, go ahead and throw it out. What's your level of concern?

You'll never be involved with the U.S. Cup team again. It's a strong one, but... It is a strong one, and for my boy, Scotty Vale, I'm going to say, you know what, it's just a pint on the patio. It was ugly, and you're right. That was the best part, the best point you just made, Hayes. Like, Luke Donald was looking into all these different things.

I'm not saying Keegan wasn't doing that, but he only focused on that. I don't remember seeing too many tournaments, the odd one on the European tour where Luke Donald was playing. Kegan was almost like a full-time player. Yes, he was. Every major, the players. all the FedEx coming down the stretch guy was playing he's trying to win yeah and man that european team they are just like posting videos they are giving it like daily they are just giving

it to the u.s like your boy bobby max posting he bobby mac i don't know how he's going to return to playing golf in the u.s because he is just roasting all the fans he's playing videos with songs of all the chirps that they gave him because they were just giving it to him they think he's overweight and they think he's too big and all this man what a drubbing yeah that was crazy and yeah it was crazy you're right and they party like they partied and have a good time like i appreciate that how much they wanted to win the rider cup yeah well but i felt for keegan and he should have been playing and they jammed them up and i i think he i think he'll be involved again i think they'll circle back and give him another

chance when he's done when he's retired it'll be a raw raw thing you know he's been through it once he learned from it let's give him that other opportunity and i just don't know if he'll be in a position to play for them in two years. You know, like you're two years older. How old is he, 38, 39? I don't know. Like, you should have been there this year, though. He should have been.

He should have been playing. Yeah. All right, noodles. Quickly here. You're playing the role of Kiro Caprisoff. What is your level of concern with this contract? You have to win a cup now in Minnesota. I mean.

Like, it should be Nick Cage. It should be, but it's not. It's not. Well, I don't, you know, I'm going to go Rick Bushwood. Six Bush light, six Bud Light, and I love him, tall boys. He wanted to deliver, but, you know, the team is a very good team, but like even Struddy said, he felt they're a fourth in their division. Like, they're a good team.

He's the face of that franchise, but they need to build it out still. And, you know, Boldie's a good player. What's the right shot defenseman that was up for rookie? Faber. Faber is a nice player. They got a really good goaltender there, Gustavis. like they have some pieces but they're still building it out so over the life of that contract they better do something good put it that way well don't you think the difference would be

noodles like Vegas everybody wants to seem to knock on Vegas's door and say you know what I'm coming up or I'm gonna you know I don't know if no players doing that in Minnesota and that's a big time disadvantage if you want to compete for a cup so it's not on Caprizov no you're right it's Billy Garen's got his work cut out for him there but they you know they got some pieces. They just got to build around. And I keep thinking, like, what's Ico going to be? What's Iko going to get? Like, you know, what do you think? Like, I think he maybe takes a hometown discount there to stay in Vegas. Yeah, and it's still probably going to, what Caprisov has done for everyone is raised the bar up where you can still look charitable just because you're

making less than him. Right. Where, like, if you, let's say you take 15 million. Right. Where prior to this, if Carresov signed for 13 million, oh, he's making more than dry, subtle. How could you possibly justify that? Now all you've got to say is, well, I'm not making Caprice up money. You know, like, wow, that guy took 17. I only want 15. I'm here to win. I want to win. Exactly. You know, I'm a charitable guy.

Yeah, exactly. And I'll bet you McDavid's going to do that if he re-signs. Two or three years, 16.9 million. Hey, I'm not even the highest paid player in the league. I know, Hayes, but what a guy. We talked about the other guys on that, Edmonton or others roster. Like, that's a big chunk of change, man. The new core fours

is in Edmonton. It's crazy. But the core for us hit, hit the oil. That's where they're at. All right, best bets powered by Fandole. We'll get to that next. All right, today's best bets powered by Fandul. Make your picks and assemble the same game, partly in seconds on the Fandall's Sportsbook app.

Get the app open because we've got to get to this quick. Yankees win tonight. I get the Yankees on the money line. I think they beat Boston. I think this is going at least three. Well, can only go three, so it's going three. Yes, exactly. And you're the Jays.

Keep playing, right? Keep playing, and the Jays are sitting at home and waiting to go. And I got the over in the Dodgers Reds game tonight. The total is only seven and a half. They had 15 runs last night. I think the bats continue to show up, at least for L.A. I think the Dodgers alone go over that number. That parley pay in plus one, 70.

Today's best bets powered by Fanduel. The Fandole Sportsbook app is the exclusive home of the overdrive. Same game parlay. Please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario. All right, we'll see. Yankee socks tonight, and we'll see what happens in that Dodgers game, and the Guardians survived today, so they're still around. Who won the intra-squad game?

I don't know, but I got updates that sounded like Vladdy played well. Vladdy had a couple of big games. Roddy had a good game playing against his teammates? Yes. Lottie loves the Rogers Center against the Jays. He loves it. That's maybe what he needed to get cooking before the playoffs. Yeah, I think you're right.

And the Dodgers are currently up 3-0 in the top. of the 9th against the Cubs. So it looks like the Dodgers are going to survive there, game three at Wrigley tomorrow. So game three in Cleveland, game three at Wrigley, I think game three at Yankee Stadium. Yeah,

they're playing the Padres. What did I say? Dodgers. I said, I didn't want to say anything. I didn't want to say anything. Padres, Padres beating the Cubs.

My bad. My bad. My bad. All right, there you go. Good stuff. We got hockey games tonight. We got the NBA back in camps. We got a lot going on.

A lot of fun months. October 1st. We're into October. Awesome. Oh, man. That's crazy. October baseball on the weekend in Toronto. Go time.

That's pretty impressive. Go time. I love it. All right. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV, radio, podcast, web, and of course, up on YouTube Live, every show up on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel.

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