OverDrive - OverDrive - October 22, 2025 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson

Episode Date: October 22, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss the Maple Leafs' defeat, Auston Matthews' flat performances and the Atlantic Division outlook. The guys go around the sports world in the latest edition of Role Play Level of Concern and Mini Gerry's and Bryan gives his FanDuel Best Bets on the Raptors' season opener against the Hawks.

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.

Way better. Save on insurance by switching to Bel Air Direct and use the money to fix your car. Bell Air Direct, insurance, simplified. Conditions apply. Powered by Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Man, I'm already having regrets on my ceremonial first pitch options because... Oh, yeah?

Johnny O, I told you he's out. I love John Oleroo, but Devon White, like DeVo. might have to throw out of the first pitch. Devo might have to. How about Cito, man? You get Cito Gaston out there. Cito would be phenomenal. Man, there's a lot of so many legends from those early 90s teams.

Scott Omeyer? Yeah, you got Jack Morris, old crusty Jack Morris up there. Well, he was with that stash. A big stash. He could throw like, what, didn't he throw like 60 and it just moved everywhere? Like, he didn't have heat. He threw stuff in the dirt, man. He was just an old grizzled veteran.

I hate that guy so much. I hated him when they traded for him. I'm like, they got that guy. I hate that guy. Yeah. But he was so money. Grizzled. He reminds me of the manager in Lou Brown.

Yeah, he's Lou Brown. Exactly what he looks like Lou Brown. Yes, and sounds like just crusty old Lou Brown. Just choose on cigars. That's right. Yeah, that's precisely what it is. But anyway, see what the j-s-haven store as of friday night game one got a role play coming up later in the

hour johnny will join us here in a moment you see michael jordan make his debut with nbcc yeah last night and it's kind of amazing i was thinking about it today michael jordan wayne gretzky tom brady are all in media like arguably the three greatest players in their respective sport history of their sport um and i you know who would be the equivalent in baseball i don't really know but you get a rod and jeter and poppy doing stuff for fox all on the same panel all on the same panel and um it's pretty incredible like he is NBC the my understanding is he'll be kind of in and out throughout their season i think they paid him 40 million basically to go to his house and tarrico sits down and interviews him and they'll chop it up and play it you know a bunch

of times over the course of the year yeah and he's going to make so that's his television's him he was just sitting down with Tariko and they got asked a bunch of questions and that was his comeback for TV. More or less, and I think he'll be contributing in different ways and I think I'm sure by the, you know, the playoffs, he'll be involved in some capacity. I don't know all the details on the plan. But basically the introduction was 40 million you can come to my house and interview me if you want and play it on NBC.

Remember for years like? That was my perception. No, but somebody's on the other end said, all right, we'll do it. Great idea. Yeah, exactly. Great call. But wasn't he the original meme, the crying face? Yes, one of the original ones.

I swear he was the original meme. Crying Face Jordan was on everything. Was it not? He also got a ton of memes out of that, the last dance. And it was like, and I took that to heart. You know, I took that personally. Yeah. And he's got the iPad and there's all kind of like he got a lot of memes out of that last dance.

The crying Jordan face was. everywhere it was everywhere it's still it's still lands yeah it's still it's something stupid happens you'll see that it's an all-time great it is it's that that is that is the i swear that's the original meme i think you're right jordan face and the i took that personally is up there it's it's it because people use it on everything in life yes right like my kid said he could beat me playing cards and i took that personally you know and i had to I had to find a way to beat him up on that. Like, there's so many different things that that applies to.

And Michael Jordan has supplied it. But he had some great stories last night. Like, we'll play one a little bit later on about shooting a free throw in front of a family. And that guy's life is just so different. Like, the way he was talking about, like, yeah, they're coming over for pictures. Like, that's just natural. You know, like, if he does anything in his life where he interacts with anyone, pictures are involved. Like, it's just automatic.

Well, he was renting the house from the guy And the guy probably said, look, I'll give you a discount But we're coming over for pictures And we're going to have a little meet and greet And you're going to shoot a basket He's so different though How much of a discount, though? How much does that work to him?

Dude, Michael Jordan The guy probably said, I'm not going to the Ryder Cup anyway You can have my house for free But you know what? We're going to show up And you're going to take some picks And act like you like hit. That's what I'm saying. Like MJ is not going to sit there

And say, all right, if you knock a thousand dollars off I'll do a little Yeah, exactly. You know, what does he care? Dude, this guy's house was probably, PGA Tour players pay 30 grand a week to rent someone's house out for four days. Yeah. Oh, his house at the Ryder Cup must have been absurd, dude. Insane.

That was in the Hamptons, basically, like, Beth Page. That's where it was. That guy was probably paying $250,000 cash a day. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. You know, and I guess a little meet and greet. Anyway, good to see the goat back in the rotation with NBC. We got our own MJ.

We have our own MJ, our own goat. This guy, he wheels around the ice doing interviews, man. He's changing the game. We love it. Here's Mike Johnson, our TSN hockey analyst. There he is. No bucket. Can you ever think about wearing a helmet?

What was the plan there with Austin? No, it didn't cross my mind for a second. What a helmet on? I was like, you know, I got a track suit on. Although you notice TSN monogram track suit, custom, I might add. but no, never a helmet and baseball cap maybe but no, it was neat

I mean, Austin, we don't see him sort of let his guard down at all, right? Like when he does media there's a lot of people there and he knows everything he says is going to be dissected, every which way. So I was impressed that he was so comfortable. Like he just was kind of having a good

time and chatting and smiling and laughing and telling stories and I think people may see him slightly more human and less robotic. He was charismatic, and he was funny, and he was, I'm like, oh, you're like, that's a guy who want to go have a beer with, not, you know, what maybe we see in the regular media. So, yeah, no bucket never.

We should have done one hard laugh and gone with a little race with each other. That would have been interesting. Yeah, if you had a bucket on, Johnny, they would have pulled that from the dock and said, we can't air this, like a big, awkward, like a bubble cage or anything. Due to a half cage, some kind of old-school CCM helmet with a half-cage. they would have pulled it so we can't air it listen

I played 12 years I never wore a visor once I'm not putting one on to do an interview with Matthews and if they were to said like you know rink rules you know hockey Canada rules you're a hell but I'm like interviews not happening I will not do this with a hell around that is that is a non-starter for the whole thing that would have changed everything dude Andy Reid with a fish bowl out there honestly he could have if you were wearing that he could have said I guarantee a Stanley Cup, I guarantee I score a thousand goal, and no one would care.

No one would even, it wouldn't even be like, it wouldn't go viral. It was afterthought. It's like, look at this idiot trying to do an interview, spogging up his face mask, talking to Austin. So, anyways, I appreciate it

because it was something different for him. It took up half an hour of his day, so that's not something he likes to do. So we're appreciative of it. You think he would have accepted the request after last night, the way things have been going for this team or what? I was disappointed that he didn't score a hat trick last night. I'm like, I did it on Monday, I guess.

I'm like, oh, I hope he has a good game. I hope he just lights one up, but it wasn't to be against Jersey last night. It wasn't a good game for him. It wasn't a great game for the team. And a lot of the questions, almost growing into concerns for the Toronto Maple Leafs, were sort of highlighted yesterday in that game. in that primarily they want to be a big griny team oh and I had a little interaction with it's like

I don't think I think they know what they want to do I don't think they know if they can do it because they have it like I don't know if they can be the sort of dump it in forecheck turn it over possess it where you're down ground and pound kind of team I get the philosophy

I get the playoff philosophy but I haven't really seen any stretch of time in a game other than what the second game against Detroit where they really sort of control play. Other than that game, they haven't really had long stretches of play. That's a dominant team.

That's a really good team. You've seen blips, minutes, you've seen talent and skill, but I think if they're trying to reinvent sort of how they approach playing, they haven't got it, and I don't know if they have the personnel to really execute it as well as they want to

for 82 games. So, Johnny, we seem to have this, conversation, and Hayes always has the classic line, no need to get concerned because they're going to end up with 100 plus points. And we have this conversation every year, and it ultimately comes true. Are you comfortable in saying that right now where it's like there's no need to panic here? These guys are comfortably going to have 100 points, and this is just a blip on the radar. Panic and concern are two different things. I think no. I don't think there's need to panic yet. But I think concern, sure. And the other

part about if you look at what the Leafs did last year in winning the division title what allowed them to win so many games primarily right one stole ours league best say percentage great goaltending he hasn't been as good and Joseph Wall hasn't been available so their goaltending hasn't been quite as good one of the one of the winning points for them not quite as good the other one was their superstar players won a lot of close games right two two in the third their top guys to do something special, well, one top guy is gone. That's reality. He's not here anymore. And their other big top guy in Austin hasn't gotten off to a really rambunctious start offensively playing. So that element is no longer quite what it was last

year. And then you think their power play was also pretty good. Got him some timely goals. Power play's not so good this year either. And we can get down to the defensive coverage and you know, stuff around the net. But I just look at the way they won close games. Because they They basically played games 50-50 last year and said, our top players are going to win it. And more often than not, their top players, including their goal, he did in fact win it. Those things are not happening as frequently as well this year. And that is a concern, not panic-inducing, but a concern. So, Johnny, we started the show we were talking about Stolars' comments on Saturday compared to his comments last night.

where were you at with his original comments and where were you at with his assessment, which we all, I think the three of us agreed, his assessment was, I think, not disingenuous, but it wasn't bang on last night, put it that way. It was teammates speak last night as what it was. Yeah. So what he said, I don't have a problem with, the fact that he said it publicly, not ideal. But, you know, whether they say it in person in the dress room, which they do, and they did or whether he says it in public it just makes a little bit more volatile being in public

but then the message remains and if you have a good healthy strong team and if willy is you know as as good at shaking things off as we know he is i don't think it lingers for a long time but what it does do it it makes the next little while difficult for all parties involved especially solars because you call out guys like the guy who's what second league in scoring you call him out for not being good enough defensively fair enough it wasn't a great play in overtime guess who's got to be real good for the next two weeks like don't give anyone a chance

not that willy would go down this road but like who are you calling guys out when your say percentage is 880 like you know clean up your own mess before you worry about everybody else's that sort of sentiment so there is that and then the idea that he was kind of brutally honest almost unusually honest once now can he be unusually honest always well obviously not because last night they didn't play great and he's

praising the work and the boxouts and the effort they didn't he's trying to probably make amends for the you know the losing his cool on saturday and i understand it and i get it but it just makes his his existence for the next couple weeks um a little stickier than he wants it to be yeah the comments just those concern me even more than the original ones i love that there was someone raw someone genuine someone human in that room that was willing to say something whether you like the content whether you like the timing it was different and then he obviously got a slap on the wrist clearly because to suggest that it was great last night is just an absurd analysis they were

terrible they were awful last night and it just yeah it makes it sticky and it does put a focus on him because joseph wall's not around wall can't step in and play three great games and just roll with it because that's he's not around he's not it's not it's not it's not going to happen so it's on stolors and i wanted to to you know get back to matthews here for a moment because i can see where this is going where i i'm curious where it splits because you didn't have a great year last year and that was injury new coach new system now we're into year two now it's okay no marner trying to find a winger forum again they're trying to play a style that's more playoff conducive but not necessarily conducive to chasing 69 goals so which

one is it is it that the the team and the coaching style is affecting him or is it him like when does it get to a point where you look at austin and say you're austin matthews man i don't care who's playing with you on the right side you got to be better than this where do you stand on that i hate to straddle a fence face it's all those things it's all those things and it's not a hundred percent that martyrs not gone but that doesn't help it's not 100% they want to be a dump and chase team and they're not moving it very well out of their own end but that doesn't help and it's not 100%

that Austin hasn't been good enough but that is a real that really doesn't help but I think at some point you know not having the right winger when you got Matthew Nyes who everyone sort of acknowledged a pretty good player on his own like not every top player in the league plays with two superstars

it doesn't happen that way we see what Dry Settle McDavid do we see what McKinnon does we see it Caprizoff does they produce consistently regardless of who they're playing with they're good players but they're not superstars and Austin Matthews and the Leafs can't wait to say

well we need to go get Adrian Kempay Alex Tuck whatever to round out that line to make it go at some point that is the responsibility of the best player on the team which is Austin Matthews now part of the issue is boy they're playing a lot

in their own head hazy like they do not exit quickly like it gets dumped in and it gets four checked and he plays so much down. Right. And he's playing so much in his own end. Now, again, that's partly his responsibility. It's one of the guys down there

to stop that. But he spends 30, 40 seconds doing the work in his own end, get the puck back. He finally gets it back. And sometimes he looks tired on offense. He doesn't look explosive. And I think some of that's because he's been checking. And the other part about it,

and this is a true dynamic. Now, Matthew Nyes is a bull in a china shop. He is not what we'd call, what, a transporter? He doesn't skate it up the ice. Sort of get the zone, draw a guy, let Austin come late. That's what Mitch did. And I think that's maybe the role for that third guy that they're missing. Is like, who's going to bring the puck up the ice?

Because if Austin's down in his own end below the goal line, he can also be the guy that's got to get the zone entry, drive it deep, earn possession, start to play, and then also somehow be the guy who finishes the play. He can't be all those things at once. you'd like him to be, but that's not his style and that's not really going to work. So it's a bit of everything, Hayes,

but there's no doubt that for Toronto to be good, not even great, to them to be good this year, Austin has to make that line go. It has to be him. It can't be an addition. It can't be nice. And it also can't be William Neelander.

Like, Willie can't play everywhere. He's basically playing on the second line, asked with making that go, and then bumping to the first line trying to get them going as well because it's so much of William Nealander to go around so yeah I mean I think Austin knows this but there's a lot of elements to it

and it was almost striking watching them play Jersey last night Sheldon Keith's team and say what you want about Kiefer and their success in the playoffs not enough not good but I bet if you were to ask the players which regular season was not just more fun but easier to play

easier to be successful in what system It would be kids. Shelton's. Like the way they attack up the rush, the way they move, the way they skate. That's what the Leafs were three years ago. And that's where the offense came fast and furious for everybody. So I think it's all those things together. But when you're the captain and with the change of murder leaving, spotlights on him. And he knows it.

And he knows that he's got to be better. So Johnny, the coach said he's tired of looking around for the right winger because he said probably five of them, five different ones last night. Friday night who are you saying you're going to the captain and saying this has got to work I'm tired to screwing around with this

who are you throwing out with him I don't even know oh like did they go number six and Callie Yarncroke the one guy who hasn't been there like I like I wanted to be Max because what Max can do is literally skate fast

he's a fast skater and they need speed they need like someone to push tempo with those two guys and max can make skilled plays which you also need when i watch max play right now he's he's he's like very passive you know drift to the outside slowing down trying to find passes instead of just skating more confidently where the plays might open up i think max is the best guy in this current iteration of the team to do it he's not doing it now i'm not saying he's playing well, but I'm saying his skill set lends itself probably for what they need in this moment.

If it's not him, then I don't know, is it Eastern Cowan and you've got to live with groin pains and hope that he continues to get better in the NHL? One of those two guys, I think, will be there on Friday. But again, I don't think you say it's that guy, whoever it is, it could be Jeff O'Neill. It's not his responsibility. If it doesn't go great, it's not his fault. It's the other two guys that are going to bear the brunt of the, the responsibility and the credit

if it works or if it doesn't. All right, let me throw out a mini jerry's here on a Wednesday and all three of us can give a number. All right. What's your mini jerry, the Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning,

the Toronto Maple Leafs all make the playoffs. Oh, goodness. A three-man park. Mini juries, I would say, 40%? That's pretty good. Yeah, I would say 35%. All three.

Make the playoffs? All three minutes. We have to make it. Tampa, Florida, Toronto. They're all making it. As of right now, I'm saying 40% which is lunacy. I'm 80%. 80?

Yes. That's bullish. Tampa Bay had six guys on our TSN's top 50 list. They didn't forget how to play hockey. They had a rough start. Same thing. Florida knows how to play hockey. Florida will scrape in in a wildcard spot.

And I think the Leafs are probably going to be in that wild-cart spot as well. I think that they're going to be a 98-point team. That's the way I look at it. And keep in mind, this is the original, like, we're talking about a team today. Tree has been looking for, like, there's going to be trades here. I think that there's going to be trades early in this league instead of Thanksgiving, American Thanksgiving. I think we're going to see trades sooner. There are teams that are starting to get antsy, put it.

I still know what the Leafs have to get anybody. Like if you're, who, they have, they have no farm system. Two prospects. No pigs. Cowan and Danford. Exactly. That's all they got. Cowan and Danford.

Exactly. And I think they're going to need those guys to play at some point. My only concern is, and of course, all those teams in a vacuum are good. And you're like, of course they're going to make it. But for all free to make it, you start running the numbers, even if they each have an 80% likelihood, you know, that's 64, that's 40. Like, it drops quickly. And that's not taking consideration. How good is Montreal?

how good is Detroit you know is Buffalo and Boston are not going to just be terrible like they're going to be okay as well and where I might be really wrong is not that the metro is going to be a hot mess and it is not so far like I don't think Pittsburgh are what they are but

Washington looks like they are not a fluke they are legit doing the same thing Carolina we know Jersey if healthy we know so like there's going to be other team Columbus is going to be tougher like I just don't know if if you're counting on wild card one and maybe

wild car two coming from the Atlantic. I don't know. You make a great point. I don't know. I should probably reassess because it might be four. I don't think it's going to be five from the metro and three from the Atlantic, but I don't think it's going to be five from the Atlantic. It probably should be at the start of the year. I thought

it was going to be. But it might be four and four. It might be four and four realistically. So yeah, I haven't heard from Hasey B though, guys. Go ahead, Haysey. I'm just not. I want to hear you guys go. I'm very fascinated, all three. You're down to 60, No. I'm down to 60.

Where are you at, Hayes? You asked the question. I know it's a mini jerry's. I know what he's got. I know you've got a 10% or don't you? I'm feeling very negative about the three of them right now. I've got to be honest. I do.

I'm in the middle of it. You got to spit it out. You always say it to people. Spit it out. Who's had the lowest number of? far. I got 35. I'll go 34%

34% I'm 34% that all three them make it because I do I think Montreal they look very very good right now. Detroit I feel like it's going to come back to Earth at some point. They're on a heater right now like good for them. I'm not convinced that Detroit's a playoff team. But you start crunching the numbers here like if

yeah if only four teams are getting in and these three are then okay then it's Montreal. That means Ottawa's out. Is that what we're saying? Ottawa is definitely out? Detroit's definitely going to fall off a cliff here? I don't know. I mean, I look at, to your point,

the metro, Carolina and Washington are getting in. I'm pretty sure Jersey, if they stay healthy, although you know, their goaltending, you never, Jake Allen's been unbelievable to his credit, but Markstrom's already heard, you know, we'll see what happens with their goaltending throughout the year. But if those three are in, yeah, you just

start punching the numbers, man. There may only be four. They get it, maybe only one or two aberrations. Yes. One Columbus hot run. One Sidney Crosby turned back the clock and like they get 96 somehow. Just random stuff. The Rangers is just jerkin lights it up. Which isn't

it's not likely but all these things have to not happen for those three teams they get in becomes less than life likely. And the assumption that all those three teams play to 100 points. Doesn't always happen. There's all three of them. They've been good for so long

somebody's going to have a stub their toe or maybe worse. Someone's going to have a New York Ranger's season. Like, that is what probably ends up happening. I couldn't tell you who it is right now. I don't know. And because, like, Florida is not out of the woods. Like, those injuries are pretty substantial.

They've played so many games. Yeah. You know, they're a Bob injury or a Bob bad month or two away from fighting. That's the thing. You're right. Like, if, because you're right, like, an injury can change the whole dynamic. You mentioned Bob gets injured. That's, it looks different.

obviously because that's a stable position for them but i'm just talking if all if they happen to be relatively healthy and and be fine but you you the more you talk i should change my can't go down again i'm staying 60 to what staying 60 percent i still believe but there is going to be some wacky storylines just do it noodles take it down to 45 because i have to be consistent and here's why i said day one of our show that the Atlantic was going to be an absolute monster this year. Because all eight teams, you can make a case, including Buffalo, who had a terrible start, but on paper they still are a better team than we believe.

Well, you have to back off that comment, Jamie. There's nothing close to a monster. I think it's... What I mean is, I'm talking, they're all eating points off of each other. Yeah. That's what I mean to being a monster. Nobody separates. Everybody's in that 90-plus range points.

As of right now, everyone used to say, man, toughest division in hockey. I don't think the Atlantic is that right now. But all of those teams are capable. And this is what I was talking about is it used to be four at the top, four at the bottom. Now there's eight mushed together. And let's see who separates. That's really what I'm saying. Well, and if that's the way it plays out all year, then that is advantage Detroit in Montreal and Ottawa.

Because they were not the teams that were in that top end, right? It's been the lease for nine years. It's been Tampa and it's been Tampa for about nine years. Florida, the last four or five, and then Boston for the first seven of the nine years. Fifteen years. Yeah, 15, exactly, even more than that. And then it was everyone else. And, yeah, we'll see.

But the fact that this is a conversation speaks to the start of all these teams, you know, for the most part. So, all right. Yeah, it's been, it's been ugly. Like, it's been choppy for a lot. a lot of teams. A lot of teams. And in the sense, that's good for Toronto, because nothing's gotten away from them at all. Like, Montreal's leaving Detroit's there, but

500, and they're right in the thick of it all, two wins, and they're in second place. So in that sense, it's good. I don't know, Buffalo, Buffalo. They cannot do what they did against Detroit, Detroit, can they? They cannot. I would not. They cannot. I'd rather see... It would be so unpleasant. Yes.

I'd rather be at Winnipeg at Colorado than Buffalo Buffalo right now. I really would. I would. Too much downside in Buffalo, Buffalo. Because you're supposed to win both. Exactly.

With the three days off. With what's happened, with the pressure, you're supposed to win both. So, I don't know. They better. They better. We'll see. All right, Johnny.

Good stuff. We'll do it again later in the week. All right, boys. I'm good night. There is Mike Johnson. Joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. We'll have to revisit that mini Jerry every month. That was a good one, man.

Every month. That's a good mini jerry. I could fire off mini jerry's at you. Like, we got role play coming up. I got some mini juries in the tank. I could fire out you, too. If you want a... If you want a piece of mini jerry, I got some.

No, it's called the puzzle. It's called the puzzle. All right. Because we do a little bit of everything. Mini jerry, role play. You got it. The puzzle. The puzzle's coming up.

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All right, best bets coming up later in the hour, powered by Fandu. We get the Raptors in action tonight. I'm thinking of taking the points on that one. Raptors are relatively healthy down in Atlanta. I think they can get after that. It was a pretty cool night in the NBA last night. Double overtime, Oklahoma City, Houston. double OT the first game of the year

and LeBron nowhere to be found not playing won't be playing anytime soon and Golden State gets past the Lakers last night Cooper Flagg making his debut tonight as well for Dallas Weird saying KD in the Houston jersey I know really he's just been everywhere now I know it's like it's kicking around the line for him

doesn't it like I think so they signed them they gave him an extension which brings them to 40 I think you're close to it that's got to be it you would think but i would have said that maybe when he went to brooklyn like this would be it would just stay in brooklyn and that's where he'll stay and then phoenix and now it's houston and there's a mini jerry's i don't fire that one at you on the fly many jerrys kevin durant plays for at least one more team in his career i'm saying zero percent no i no i'm i'm 50 percent you know why he gets traded at the deadline yeah like houston's a

really good team but it doesn't work for kd wherever he goes it doesn't work that's true it's either it doesn't work for one of the two elements him or the team right it seems to always happen so but i'm saying it's the end of the line like there's got to be a taker worth the other takers are like no thanks man brooklyn was a disaster disaster phoenix was a disaster Houston feels like a perfect fit for him, but I don't know, man. I'll say 60%. That's what this guy does. Oklahoma City, Golden State.

How old is he right now? 36, I think, or 30? I think it's the end of the line, man. Sorry. He's got one more stop in. One more. One more stop. 37.

37. Get Katie out of there. Get him. He's played one game. Get him out of Houston. They'll take a flyer out. Somebody will take a flyer on him. Did you guys talk about, was it Russ that had the comments about LeBron?

Who had the comments about? Yeah, Russell Westbrook. And they were scathing, like saying this guy's a phony. Phony, man. Phony. Phony is a tough word. We were talking about MJ. At least you know, like, people are like, that guy was mean.

He was competitive. Like, there was no pulling punches with MJ. Ross is just like, this guy is all show, man. He's a phony. well if you read it like some of the things that lebron has claimed that you know he knew was going to happen or he saw you know and it's like there's no way you you called that it's like his guy read this book he goes he didn't read that book you can't even tell you exactly he claims he you know there's some i think artist he loves and they're like

name one song he can't name his song he just like this actually happened well this is these are the allegations yes it's allegations but it's in Russ's book, isn't it? Isn't that what it is? It's in a book. I read it out of an article, but yeah, I think you might appear. And listen, I think at the core of that is that Russ, LeBron wanted nothing to do with Russ. Kind of brought him in, took a flyer on him, and then wanted

him out of L.A. But would tell Russ, hey, I got your back. I want you here. So he was allegedly. Yeah, he was just grin, screwing. Yeah. He was Paulum Monti. He was Colin Montgomery whenever Russ was around. Yeah, I was reading that dying laughing because he

was just like, if any of that is true, Because it's one side and it's allegations. But if any of that's true, like, he is a phony. I got to go funny. Because there was some, you're right, the Malcolm X book. And they're like, what's your favorite chapter? Yeah, I didn't know. There were just, like, so many things.

He's like, ah, that's my favorite band. He's like, name a song. Didn't know the songs. Like, just, he goes, this guy is just all for the show. That's all he said, all for the show. Okay, here it is. Westbrook. Westbrook saw multiple examples of LeBron

misrepresenting himself, like claiming the, godfather was his favorite movie but not knowing a single line carrying the odd father the godfather like there's so many famous lines on the godfather you know and if it's your favorite movie just give me one give me one michael corleone line give me one just give me anything from veto corleone yeah um yeah oh and he also i guess he claimed that he predicted cobi's 81 point game what did you just wake up and say i wouldn't be shocked if colby gets 81 against 81 under those yeah i did that we should start doing that like i knew joe carter i called he hit a home run yeah i called springer i knew that i called spring yeah you did too i remember

you saying that you called springer the seventh inning three run shot you called that for them to win four three like why not who's going to stop you right who's going to stop you from just i i kind of saw that coming. I knew this was coming. I was laughing so hard when I was reading that because he was so good. If any of it's true, it's just, it, it's, it's, it's, it annoys me that he's why, yeah, it's like, why does a guy like LeBron with his whole deal need to do that stuff? But he just, he's the complete opposite of Michael Jordan. That's the thing. And then there's that, you know, the age old argument, who's better, right? Michael or LeBron, right? I have a, I have a a buddy who's a die-hard basketball fan.

He's like, it's LeBron every day of the week. And I'm like, eh, he's unlikable. I don't, you know, that's the thing. I don't love LeBron's what he does, you know, but he's an unbelievable player. He can't take anything away from his greatness. He's a great, great player, but you're right. It's just, like, MJ was just a, he was a lunatic. He was crazy, and you kind of understood that and appreciated that.

Yeah. All right, I got a couple more mini jerrys that can throw out you. And I have a couple role plays. All right, we're doing the puzzle here. Oh, you wanted the puzzle. I'll throw a couple here at you, a couple of mini jerrys, all right? Many juries that Connor McDavid wins the Art Ross this year. Currently eight points behind Jack Eichol, who was leading the league in points.

I'll go 70% on that. Wow, you're still that high on McDavid. How many times have you seen where he has a start like this, and then all of a sudden he just clicks it in and it's game over? He goes on an absolute tear. And he's the only one of the few guys that can, maybe the only guy that can do it. Other guys are great, but this guy just turns on the power boosters,

and it's gonzo time. So watching their games on the weekend, he didn't look interested at all in playing, like at all, which was weird. And his decision-making with the puck and that, watching him last night, I was like, that guy, like, he was engaged. He was flying last night.

I'm going to go 75. 5% I'm high on this because I think they haven't even scratch a serve. They look uninterested. Like they look tired. They look like they've played a lot of hockey and they're kind of like,

how is it tough to rev up the engine again? But they've had a tough schedule on the road, big long road trip, all of that. They haven't even had, you know, some home cooking, all of that type of stuff and an opportunity. I'm still high on this. I'm not.

I'm not. You never are, man. You always bash this guy. I don't bash. I'm just a realist. How Connor's done something. No, I'm a realist, man. He didn't win the R. Ross last year.

I don't believe he won it the year before. What was the last time he won it? You know, and if you're saying he's disinterested now, he will get more interested, but he's waiting for the playoffs. If he asked me of many jerrys on who's going to lead the playoffs and points, I'd probably say McDavid right now. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that was the case. But, you know, there's just McKinnon's got off to a great start,

Eichols off to a great start if he can stay healthy. Well, the parody in the league, Brian, If you want to piss around and say, I'm going to wait. Some guys are probably going to say, well, let's wait for the playoffs, and guess what's going to happen? Not going to make it. That's right. I'm not saying that's going to happen to Edmonton, but if anybody wants to kind of hold the fort down and say, I'm just going to rev it up in the playoffs, there's going to be somebody that's going to be like,

we ain't even getting there. Someone's not going to warm up fast enough. The oven's not going to get the 400. He's played how many games? I'm just trying to look. They've played seven games. He's got eight points. and what is, you know, I guess.

Michael's got 16. Yeah, McKinnon's got 10 points in seven games. Like, I can see both of those guys having. Those would still be the league. Like, I'll still say 25%. Do you know how I'm, like, you guys are saying I'm hating. I'm giving him a 25% chance. That's one in time.

Of having the most points in the league. And he's 10 years into his career. And they also, you mentioned how tired they are, you know, back to back year, they've been getting married. There's a lot going on in their personal lives and stuff. Life changes. It changes. There's different priorities.

There's different things going on. I don't think he cares about winning it. I just think he's that good still. That's the difference. It's like you're going to get Hyman back. Their power play, like all of that type of stuff. He's going to get a lot of free points just by him being him. Okay, the Jerry's, what would you be at to get 100 points?

I'd still say 100%. Right. and that's if he's healthy like presuming health yeah if he's healthy but who's going to lead well mckininin i would say 100% too if he's healthy right the thing is kuturov is the guy who's kind of been the pace car for the last couple of years and he's not off to a great start either no you know and that's that's the thing it's generally been that even caprisov is was a rocket out of the gate and i think he's at 10 points he's got 10 points he's tied for six yeah but i yeah i think he's having a good start pastas gonna score and put up points he always

does. All right, let me get to a couple of role plays here. Oh, you're playing the role of superstitious Blue Jay fans. What is your level of concern? Bo Bichette joining the lineup could mess with the mojo. This is awfully difficult

to spit out, but I'm a Stevie Caldwell. A couple of whiskeys and five or six beers. Wow. As much as I love the guy as a player, I love his bat. Like, I don't know. He's either going to the, can the guy field the baseball right now? Like, is he going to take Jimenez out of there who's been damn good?

Or is he going to make George go in the field? Like, I don't know, man. Yeah, I know. It's just, it's such a weird situation where you want the bat and, but you just don't know of him inserted into the lineup. What's going to happen after that? Who moves around and how it's going to affect everything. You still have to have him in.

Don't you think? You have to have a minute. Oh, he's one of those guys where I think if he says I'm good to go, then he's going somewhere. He's going to be at least a bat off the bench. Like at a minimum, he's an option to pinch it or if things go awry, you know, they're down O2 flying back to L.A. We've got to switch something up, Bose back in the lineup, whatever it is. You know, he will, if he can bat, he is in, he's on the roster.

He will be on the World Series roster. But what they do defensively, you know, like they do it with like Barger, they take out. a lead, barger comes out, straw goes in. I'm curious if that's what happens. You know, if Bichette is, you know, if they have a lead and they're worried about him playing defensively or Springer defensively, do they make adjustments there and possibly take a big worry about the, is it the knee Springer defensively? Like, is that what it is?

Yes, I think it's also just a comfort level, man. Guys, it's a totally different beast when you just de age. Just it clears your mind. You know, like some guys don't like it because a lot of younger players don't like it because they want to be involved. They hate just sitting in the dugout and watching their teammates play. But if you talk to, you know, the guys who DH forever, David Ortiz and others, it's just that's your rhythm.

And now he's in a rhythm. He's found it this year. He's had an unbelievable season. And he just, that's what he does. He shows up at the park and worries about what he's going to do is four or five at bats. Yeah. And I think that's that guy for the Mariners for the longest time, that stinky old Edgar Martinez. Edgar Martinez.

Edgar Martinez. That guy was a lifetime deal. Didn't even own a glove. Dude, I don't think so, man. You imagine you're a big leaguer and you don't have a glove. That's actually, that's a great gig, though. Want to play catchdad? I don't have a glove.

I don't have a glove. You're in the major leagues. Yeah. Yeah, honestly, man. And that's like the old rules. I was talking to actually my wife about it last night. Because obviously the last time the Js were in the World Series when they were playing on the road, the pitchers were hitting.

You know, you'd go play in Atlanta, you'd go playing Philly, and it changed up your whole lineup, you know, and you'd have to shift pieces around and find different roles. And, you know, that's obviously not the case anymore, but that would have really complicated things. Bichette coming back and you were still National League pitcher hit rules. Now you're really jammed up. All right, Nunes, you're playing the role of Anthony Stollars.

Anthony Stollars. What is your level of concern? You do not have. have the freedom to criticize your team publicly anymore. I'm Rick Bushwood. Six Bushlight, six Bud Light, and I love him, tall boys. But not for the reason that you think. Because I think what he needs to do is worry about stopping pucks and not being the go-to

quote now. That's two games in a row now. It's like they can't wait for Stolars to talk. And, you know, I would love to see him play 55 games this year, be a leader, be a good goaltender for them. and, you know, have seven interviews because it just, you know, it's, now all of a sudden it's like, okay, we've got to hear what Stolars is, his assessment of it. And, you know, once you start shining a light on yourself, what if he does have a patch where he's not?

This is uncharted territory for this guy. He never been a one. He needs a good two weeks off of the media. That's what I'm saying. Take a break, man. The Stolars quote, if he plays well tomorrow, they're going to go to him. If he doesn't play well, it's okay, like that's the thing. Like he's going to get one game off, I would assume, this weekend, but maybe not.

Maybe with the close proximity, maybe they're playing both games. But 5 o'clock Saturday now, right? Oh, yeah. Seven to five, it's two hours, but I think you've got to put someone else in. I credit, he's got to speak after last night, because after you spoke the first time, you've got to go out the next time. Yeah, I agree, I agree. And I credit him for going on. He obviously was either schooled or he was like, this is what I'm saying.

Awesome game. Love these guys, the best ever. you know see a later but you're right i you know he is he's the go-to quote now like he's the guy anything that goes awry anything goes crazy the request of me can you send stole or so because no one else says anything right and that's that's where i just i kind of wanted him to just do his thing have a great season got his contract and and be a good goaltender which he is it just uh i i think that's where so i'm rick bush what was the one above didn't we have a new one did we yeah I feel like we did establish something new one yeah it was the guy in junior the fighting one

oh yeah jeff cougal yes you're jeff cougal jeff cougal that's where i would have the guns at center ice that's i would have that's a level of concern you're lined up no it's not jeff cougal it's the opponents of jeff cougal right yes the guy skating away from jeff i'll be i'm the guy skating away from jeff cougal. Yes, that's the guy. That's my level of concern. All right, there you go.

Puzzle, I like that. We've got to bring that back into the rotation. We had an intro for it and everything, yes. A little buffet. I like a little buffet on Wednesday. Mix it up a little bit. I do, too. Did the puzzle have Freddie the goat involved?

It used to be, but that's an old reference that, I don't know how many people even remember, the goat tracker. Where is that guy? He's not playing hockey still, is he? Got to be. But the goat tracker, we were. It wasn't just Freddy the Goat. We checked in on all the Leif's prospects through the minor or like the minors, junior, all of it.

Well, that was when, yeah, we were tracking Marner in London and really was with the Marleys and Connor Brown and, you know, all that good stuff. All right. We'll come back with our best bets and you give us an update on if Frederick Goatjeet. Okay, don't say anything. I want to come back and get the hockey DB breakdown. I want the stats. I want stats on Freddie the Goat. Freddie the Goat, the Goat tracker next.

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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or visit ask kelvin. da C.A. All right, best feds powered by Fando make your picks and assemble the same game parlay and seconds on the Fandoo Sportsbook app. I'm taking the points. Rappers Hawks tonight. I think the Rappers can win this game. I think they keep it close. Brandon Ingram making his debut 15

plus points for Ingram tonight. Rappers plus five and a half Ingram 15 plus pan plus 130 best bets powered by fandole from tip off to the final buzzer every NBA game is available in the fan dual sports book yeah please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario is he going to be the complimentary guy or what well I think he's going to be the go-to score I mean Scotty Scotty did not have a good preseason like it was not and it's early and all that kind it doesn't matter ultimately but you know Barnes got to take a huge step he Huge, and Ingram's got to stay healthy, and he can score, man. He can score. It's a complicated lineup, though, like how he mixes with Scotty and R.J. Barrett and, you know, some of the young kids and what they do here. And Maasai's not around anymore. You know, the Maasai Uri show is come and gone.

He's not here anymore. All right, noodles. Give us the skinny quickly on Freddie the Goat. He's playing in the Swiss A-League, H-C-H-H-H-O-I-E, it's called. A-J-O-I-E, but I looked up to pronunciation. Fifteen games played three goals, two assists five points, minus seven. Last part, you didn't need to drop that. He's a defensive guy.

I would have been fine. I can do with five points in 15. Should have stopped there. A dash seven for, you know, bellicote. That one hurts. That stinks because he's defensively sound. The Swiss A league. Well, that coach should be fired.

Because you're not putting him in a position to succeed, and I won't have it. Exactly. All right, guys. Well, there you go. Inching closer and closer towards Game 1 of the World Series. We'll continue to tee it up throughout the week. Great stuff. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out today.

We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in, TV, radio, 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... Son, get to bed early tonight. 4 p.m.

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