OverDrive - OverDrive - October 29, 2025 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson

Episode Date: October 29, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 2 on OverDrive! TSN Hockey Analyst Mike Johnson joins to discuss Auston Matthews' underwhelming takeoff, Anthony Stolarz's streaky performances and the Canadiens' blistering display. The guys around the sports world in the latest edition of OverDrive Arbitration and Bryan picks his FanDuel Best Bets.

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hour two overdrive continues powered by fan duel bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score a little arbitration later this hour we've got uh the jays game five world series tonight leaps back in action in columbus this evening kate brimo's going to get the start will stole ours back up i don't know i haven't seen anything that would indicate he won't think he'll probably back up tonight i think he'll be fine to back up tonight i think he can do it I think he'll be backing up tonight. Iced up the knees and he's all good to go. Unless you're carrying three on the roster,

there's no reason for the starter not to wear a ball cap and back up. Like there's three, I think the future is having three on the roster and one doesn't count against the cap. Because every team uses three goaltenders at least in a season, for the most part. So I don't know why, you know, the starter can't. sit there and support the backup i'm sure he will i'm sure he will i'm joking a little bit i just yeah we did just see it over the weekend held to be came up through a cap on and supported the team

and uh we'll see what the leaps and and the jays having store tonight it's all all about toronto sports all about toronto sports this evening and mike johnson coming up here in a few moments and got arbitration later in the hour best bet still to come it's going to be a fun one still no word on the jays lineup i guess they're waiting on springer Like, it sounds like Springer, he hit the cage earlier today, he's going to try it again. You know, they're waiting on him to give them the call. What his plan is? It's a big gamble if he plays, but could it be a Kirk Gibson type thing?

Like, if he plays and he's out there, man, but a couple of big hits tonight? Like, what a rallying cry if you see Springer get back in the lineup tonight. Well, Keegan wrote and said George Springer swung the bat earlier, and Schneider says that was good and after running he'll try to hit off the machine before the jays lineup is finalized so who knows man what is what is swinging out of ball and it's good mean like it's just like bow when he was jogging to first it was like oh never know it's like how good could that possibly be it would be massive though if that guy was good to go somehow the adrenaline the thing is is it something we don't know is it something that a couple days that's flared

it up that a couple days could take the edge off and you could be good to go for game six and seven type of thing or do you just go for it and go game five and you've blown it out and you're going to be sore and you shoot it up or you take toward all you do whatever it takes to get through and mask the pain to try and win a world series that's that's really what's going to be going on exactly like all hands on deck right right like yes it may be a struggling off season for you and you're in a lot of pain and Easier said than done, but, you know, what are you waiting for? That's what we're going to seek.

If it's going at least six, if it goes to seven, everyone's available. Short rest, no rest, no sleep. It doesn't matter. Like if you could help the team get one out, one hit, one defensive play, whatever, and get closer to a World Series, and you're going to pay for it, so be it. You know, you put everything on the line. And I'm sure that's what Springer's thinking right now. Didn't bulk him out and say I'll put it all in the line like I'd risk it all for the World Series?

And on top of that, didn't Vladie say he's dealing with something, too? He was laboring a bit last night. Like, I couldn't, they were trying to figure it out on the telecast. I couldn't see what it was. You know, he kind of jogged into home plate, but it was a breeze for him. He didn't have the sprint. But he looked like he was limping a little bit. But I'd be surprised if everyone's not fighting something right now.

You know, these guys are playing a ton of baseball after a long, long season. and lots of travel, not a ton of rest, a lot of media obligations. You know, you've got your family and friends everywhere you go now, right? Like, there's no just going back to the hotel for a quick sleep. Like, it's family lunches, family dinners. Everyone's along for the ride. I think you dust those floaters off, though. Like, I think these guys are going back to the hotel and eating and stuff like that.

You're not, you know, walking down Santa Monica Pier because your grandfather's intent. and he's never been there in 40 years. They're like, got to go sightseeing. Like, they're like, we'll see you after the game. We'll get you tickets. And probably the team services guys going, yeah, I'll take care of the families. And like these guys, you're so close to the end. You're dialed in.

You're not, you know, going for lunches in Hollywood Hills. Lunches is maybe extreme. But post game, you know, if your kids are there, we all have kids. You think it's like, hey, get them out of here. I got to do you. No chance, man. Like, you're doing the get-togethers. Where are we going?

I know, dude, but you'd be shocked at what people do. I played in the Stanley Cup finals, and people were jumping out of trees on my way, me driving into the car saying, are you getting me tickets tonight? Yeah. Crazy stuff. I was talking to Mario Lemieux and warm up one night, and the team services guy called me over and said, Gary Roberts' neighbor said you were getting him tickets tonight. And I just, I was beside myself.

His neighbor. Why couldn't Gary get his neighbor? I don't know. I guess we had a dinner party or something, and there was some kind of conversation, and I was talking to 66, the magnificent one, and he calls me over and says, so-and-so wants his tickets. You said, Gary Robert's neighbor, where are the tickets? And I just had to skate away. I said, I can't do this. That's tough.

That's tough. Well, you know, that's savvy played by Rob's too, right? He's like, I'm not dealing with it. Like, don't call him. No, he had nothing to do with it. It was a conversation I had with this guy. It's his neighbor, though. Oh, no, dog, he'll pay for them.

Yeah, get, get O'Neill to figure it out. That's what you do. To get rid of them, you go, yeah, what do you need? COD. Give me your credit card. Yeah, credit card. Oh, I thought you got free ones on the road. No, no, we get to pay $400.

Not for the World Series. Well, the World Series, those tickets, the World Series. The World Series tickets will be a fortune, even for the players buying them for the family. It'll be a fortune. It'll be a fortune. Dodgers Stadium. Wait until game sex, man. It's going to be crazy in Toronto, the prices.

Yeah. All right. joining us here, the Maple Toyota Hotline. Here's our TSN hockey analyst, Mike Johnson. What's happening, Johnny? What's going on, fellas? I think noodles is right. You lose all the flies when you're like,

okay, give me your credit card number. I'll put them on COD for you. No one's calling you. No, it's like, oh, it's okay, I don't need to see it that bad. As long as it's not free. That ends it quickly, huh? That's it.

That's it. And also, I never played the Stanley Cup Final and 4C. I think I would plant my kids. Like, I think my kids would be in a different hotel room than me. If they were, I don't think I'd be like hanging out with my kids after the game. I'd say, I'd say hi to them. But then I'd be like, okay, you guys got to go because I got to go do some things. I'll see you in a week.

That's reasonable. Listen, I hear you. That's reasonable. And I'm sure there's a lot of guys that are. And then there's other guys that are like, they're in my room, you know, bad night last night. No way. Oh, yeah. There's been, there was an example of that recently.

Who was it? It was, oh, it was J.J. Spawn at the U.S. Open. J.J. Spawn ended up winning the U. So remember the night before, on the Saturday night, his wife sent them out to, like, Walgreens at three in the morning because their kid was sick. And they had two kids, and the mom, they had a newborn, and the mom's like, well, I can't leave.

So you got to get up, go to Walgreens, figure this out at three in a morning. On the eve of the Sunday U.S. Open at Oakmont. Well, guess what happens after he won the U.S. Open? There's a nanny. He made enough money to pay for somebody to go do that. It also works on the positive, too. My run to the Cup final, first couple series, my buddy and his wife from Georgia came up to the first two series, and they just kept – I asked them to keep coming back,

and they kept driving back and forth, and in the finals, game one, my best buddy Liler and his wife came to game one, we won it, and they drove back to Guelph, and I said, you guys want to come back for game two, and they did. So it works both ways. Yeah. That's fair. I guess distractions, and who knows. I mean, we'll see.

We'll see. And baseball is a different game. It's a different sport. It's a different vibe. But as for the Leafs, you know, what did you make of it up close and personal last night? That was, I mean, Calgary is obviously not going off to a good start. They're not a great team, but they're still competitive. They had 96 points last year.

That was about as well as I've seen Toronto play this year. You know, the power play needs work for sure, but just as far as, you know, they were faster. They want to be this sort of dump and chase team and cycle team. they were way better at getting to the Pucks and stopping it and turning it over in the forecheck and putting almost 40 shots up on the goalie. That was a pretty good game for them. Not without, you know, it wasn't perfect.

There's lots of stuff to clean up, but as far as just sort of the energy and pace required to be effective in the NHL and today's NHL, that was way closer to something. That game would win frequently. And I haven't seen a lot of that this year, so I thought, generally speaking, a pretty positive game. Johnny, are we close the point of, like, waiting for things to clean up,

or do you know what it would look like if it was cleaned up, or can it be, or is this just what they're going to bring to the table? Because I can't remember. I know in years past there's been difficult starts, and they got it back on track, and you had a sense of what it was going to look like. I'm not sure what that is this year. Yeah, you're right. You're not exactly sure what that good game exactly looks like,

but I think it looks something more like last night. But cleaning up, to me, would be just being better sort of decision-making, don't give up as many rush chances, don't get caught in so much. You know, I think a big part of that is Tanev being hurt doesn't help, of course. But even before he was injured, Tanev and McCabe, who were, by all accounts, numerically and otherwise, one of the best defensive duos last year were not good this year together. I don't know what that would be. So those guys get their game together and become the standard really great defensive pair that they can be,

then I think that goes a long way into cleaning up, as you phrased it, a lot of the other stuff that has not been where they wanted this year. But I think it's something like last night's game, though. I really do. Austin had, what, five, eight, nine shots, whatever it was. They drew some power plays. They got some scoring from different guys. They played the opposite at end a lot. I think that's what they want.

But noodles, I know Storler has put a microscope on himself, but he, I don't know what you thought of the goal, the Farabee goals that I didn't love, and even the Hansig goal was a surprise, but I didn't love either one of them. The Fairbby one, especially, like, you just got to save that, don't you? You do, and you're right, he put a spotlight on himself. The difference is he has been pressed into, like last year, wool, for the most part, was there, right? So, like, if you had a rough start, maybe you've got a week to reset or to, you know, get your game in order or to prepare for the next start. Like here, it's, you're playing a lot. You're playing.

You're playing. Tonight, obviously not because it's back to back. But, you know, you don't get that time, and there's not a lot of practice time early in the season, to reset your game or to get it. It's just you've got to get into a groove. And his groove has just been okay. You know, he is the Randy Carlisle right now, okay, just okay. Like, he's made some good saves. You know, I don't lay some of the losses at his feet.

But there is one or two goals that go in, whether it's every game or recently every game, that he probably made those saves last year. And, you know, again, 34 games last year spread out for a full season. He's on pace to play what? 68, 70. He's not going to. Joseph Ball is going to come. back. But even if he gets something with a five in it, you're going to see his game. It's not

going to be a 927 say percentage. It might be more league average, which in turn makes him look more human nightly. That's the thing. That's the difference is there has been a drop off in his play, but it's because he's playing a lot more. And the team's got to pick up that slack. And they did last night. They got the game winner for him. So you move on. But you're right. There's been a couple of goals that he would for sure want back or should have made those saves. Yeah. Yeah. He said as much himself, but it's just, it's surprising. And the fact that he took Saturday's game off, and I guess they had to love to do that in the cap space, but they brought up another goal to do so he didn't have to back up. And he's going for a physical

rest and mental rest, and we are three weeks in the season, and speaks volumes about what you're talking about noodles, about him, you know, dealing with what the grind's like when you're playing as much as he is. Now, you're right, he's playing too much, and he won't play it as much the whole rest of the way, but I guess I'm almost like alarm bells go off a little bit, like, hang on, we're three weeks in and you need a mental rest day. I'm not making the line of the grind he's on, but that's, you know, you'd like to think it would be fresher than that when we're not even out of October.

Yes. Johnny, two-part question. 10 games in, what do you notice the biggest difference with Marner gone? Like, where's the biggest area where he's missed? And what's your assessment of the new bodies that have come in? The biggest area they've missed, Mitch, I think, is in, like, zone entries, like puck transportation and puck possession. He was really good at taking the puck, scanning some neutral zone,

getting inside the offensive zone, being creative, making plays, buying time and space and allowing the team to play more on the offensive zone. So whether that's 5 on 5 or on the power play, I think both things hold true. That's been the biggest thing for me. It's not on the penalty kill. It's not necessarily the passing. It's his ability to get the team in a

spot where they can go to work offensively. And it's harder to do that now. So that's his miss. As far as the new guys, I think Nick was slowly growing into his role, trying to figure it out. Third line guy, try to be reliable. I still think he's

gotten a little bit more offense. But again, he's got to be in the offensive zone to play that way. Dakota Joshua, I thought he really struggled early, maybe finding the pace in his game. He felt like he was, he's huge, but he was, he was always a bit of maybe a half step behind. He's been better as of late too. Maybe it's comfort, maybe it's confidence. You know, he's been, he's been okay, better lately. And Machelli, he shows a little flashes, though, right?

Like, he makes three really good play the game. Like, the plays that result in good chances. You don't see him a whole lot otherwise, but he makes a few of those really quick read passing plays. I sort of give the whole group of them. I don't know if A would be above expectations, B would be really good. See you sort of just, you know, what you probably thought you might get. They're sort of like in the C plus a category.

They're giving you what you think they are, but they haven't really been huge difference makers just yet. So, Johnny, what are you seeing if you apply that logic? what do you see in Austin Matthews, you know, like his overall game and where you think it can get to? We were talking about last hour. I think there's another layer there, another level there, but whether it's the Marner effect, the linemates, all of that, or what do you think his game can get to or what does it look like when he's at the top of his game, in your opinion, up close? In this system, with this personnel, it won't look like what it looked like.

when he scored 70, 69. You know, I just don't think he's going to have the puck that much, but I still think, certainly on the power play, I'd like to see him be able to be more impactful, the ability to sort of take it and just make it work, as opposed to, you know, he's one of five pieces, and he hasn't sort of kind of quarterbacked it and had it run through him and just made it like Capri's off might.

Or, you know, I'm going to make it work, because I'm going to make it work. At 5-on-5, Nudel's, I think he's going to be really good defensively, which he is, he's going to play in his own end because he has to. And I think, you know, 40, he's going to be around 50 goals

and around 90 points. But the key to me, Noodle, is he's got to win his 5-on-5 minutes. He has to win them. He always has. He's never not won his 5-on-5 minutes at any point in his career, and he's, you know, barely treading water,

now, even see him when he's out there, not in the goal count, but in sort of the possession, the expected, and all the rest of it. And that's where I think he's got to get better. Even if he doesn't score as much, when he's on the ice, they can't be in their own end so much. He can't play. He's too good to be playing down there all the time, and that's where I think when he gets playing at his very best

and sort of everything works together, then he'll be in the offense of end more, and then the numbers will come. Yeah, it is kind of difficult to figure out. Like, is it that he's just, you know, last year he was injured, this year different linemates. Is it him? Is it his surroundings? Is it Barube? You know, because he's still only 28.

Like, he's had injuries. But he's only 28, you know, like, you got to believe he's going to play another 10, 12 years in the league. And I don't think he's looked that close to breaking out to me. I mean, I get it. We do this all the time, like shot attempts, and hey, he had a bunch of shots, and hey, he hit the post last night. like for him it's he's got to break out he's got to do it because that can change the whole complexion of things too you know like matthews just turns into a top five player in the world it changes everything like i said that 15 20 times last year even when they were winning

and you're like it just feels different i'm like because of that guy because when he like when he's the best goal score the most dominant player you can't take your eyes off the guy on the ice you know it was the same for all of them mckenon exactly macdavid mcith everything if the best player who is a superstar is dominating you're like look how good this team is look at that guy and like that is what can flip quickly for me five four and one pick up some wins if this guy gets cooking and starts scoring at the rate you know he can all of a sudden you're not looking at who's on the wing on the fourth line you know like oh is philippe mire's playing tonight who cares the big dog is chugging so it's all good and i still think that's a possibility but you know

with the linemates, with Baroubae, with the system, and I think that's a really good point. You know, he's bought into it. He has to as the captain, right? He's got to. He's not going to cheat. He can't. And there's credit, he's not.

But I don't know, because it's the easiest thing for me. Goaltending and your superstar, you know, one-A guy, just going on a heater in terms of the focal point. The only difference would be, though, for Hayes, is like, think about him, even when he was on his best,

was he a guy that you sort of, envisioned skating with the puck a lot. You know, like, he was more a guy that, like, you know, he'd give and go, and then once he got on the offensive end, he was, like, impossible to get it off of, and he needed the puck on a stick for a millisecond, and then he had a shot that had a really good chance of going past the goaltender. I just, he's not a transporter. You know what I mean?

Just not a guy who skates it up. And easily, and that's why I think when he plays with Nylander, it is so much better for him. Because, you know, Matthew Knight's a bull, for sure, but he's not quite as skilled as Neelander. When Neelander goes there, it gives him all that freedom to let Neelander get in the offensive zone and drag another, you know, possessive, and let Watson do his thing and get it up the ice. So, yeah, you're exactly right. Hayes, I just don't know without someone on his line to help get the puck, you know, in the offensive zone.

I don't know if you're going to see sort of dominant performances. so Montreal won again last night and oh was you know proposing this question earlier like if the Atlantic division is it's go ahead it's your question I just may I want to make sure I want to make sure you say it properly go ahead hey no no you go ahead it's your thing I was it wasn't my thing it was just it was just we're a sports radio show like it was all right Johnny here it is we were talking about the Atlantic and how it's bungled up and you know everyone seems to have their ups and down Montreal kind of looks good

and Tampa doesn't look good although they played better lately if you could fast forward to January 1st in the Atlantic and you could predict a couple of separators like Tampa and Florida and maybe Toronto have done in the past in the Atlantic who would they be separator

like get out of the muck get out of the muck and kind of separate Montreal I know I'm you know I think it's Montreal and the reason I say that told is I think they score which I would have said Tampa because they can score

but without Nick Paul there and Hangle's gone off those slow start their first line scores but not not much behind them and Florida is going to grind and I think the injuries are an issue for them and they're going to grind for that few months and be competitive and I don't think Toronto is going to

take off on a great you know 12 and 2 run or something I don't see Detroit doing it Buffalo Boston even Ottawa they're pretty good too, but I think it's Montreal because they have offense throughout their lineup

and they're really good in close games. They're really good in overtime where they can pick up extra points. I don't know if they're going to do it, but if I had to say one team that could, I think it'd be Montreal. Yeah, that'd be pretty fascinating if they ended up like comfortably

winning the division. Like how quickly that happened. This time last year they were bottom two or three team in the league. They had a horrible start. They're awful. Terrible. They're awful. in October awful last year and now a year later it's a reasonable

projection you know with the way Caulfield's playing Suzuki's been great Damado's been really good Hudson has doubled down you know Dobsons fit in well yeah they keep winning man they're an explosive team

they're fast team too they've got they've got skill they've got a little bit of everything my whole thing Johnny is I think at some point there might be a market correction with like everything is just it's almost too perfect you know what i mean like it's it's they've had the you know when when when good teams have good luck they they they go on these massive runs and and that's why i'm calling them a good team like they don't get me wrong but are they this good or is there going to be you know some correction shooting percentage all of that

type of stuff puck luck you know they they they almost gave it away last night they were up three nothing comfortably and then it's you know they find a way to win in overtime like that that type of stuff if when that switches to the other side some bad luck like that's where i want to see how they can dig themselves out very quickly and are they having some injury piled ups that's the other thing too you know line a coming out it seems fine they're they're fine because they've got enough depth there but you know that's you never know how things unfold i still want to give them another 10 games before i weigh in on that both of these guys Johnny both of these guys want to give them

another to everyone to everyone another 10 games into the season though I'd say the same thing about Detroit no I know well let me ask you this Johnny I think Pierre had a piece where he was talking about there's like new blood in the NHL who do you think of the old blood is like cooked where they're like you're not good anymore

like you're fooling yourself if you think you're still good Johnny oh that's a good question I'll run through them in my mind real quick like who would you tap on the shoulder and say just for your information you guys, your fun is over. Like, you might start wanting to do something different.

Oh, boy. I mean, I can't say Boston because they were terrible last year, but, you know, Boston would be the one thing. Rangers were the same thing. Wrengers weren't good last year, but they might be fall in that category. The one that, it's not that they're not good, but last year they were elite, I don't think L.A. is going to do it again this year. L.A. last year was really good.

they were the best defensive teams in the league. They were quitting byfield chip out of winning the first round against Edmonton, and then who knows where they go. Kopitar's perch. They are older. I don't love the moves they made this summer, bringing in some older guys. That might be a team where, like, slower, older. I don't know if they're a window to be really competitive in the playoffs

and go, you know, two, three rounds. That might be one that I would prematurely say I don't see it this year. Okay. Good question. Last one for John. Hazie, you've got to have one. You've got to have a team, Hazy.

Or you can say Toronto. I mean, let's be honest. Yeah. I mean, like, what's not very the lead here? Yeah, the Leaves. The Leaves have got to prove that they're not over the hill. Like, even though they haven't won anything. They've gotten slower.

They don't look at a dynamic. Now, I think we believe, you know, we've seen enough with a team that I believe that they have the ability to pull out of what they've shown. But what they've shown through 10 games, is not sort of elite level stuff. We know that. Yeah, I would say the same applies to Florida and Tampa, though. And are you going to say that about them?

Well, Florida is injury-related, right? So, like, if you give me Bark off a good chuckback in the lineup, maybe I'll need to see. Right, I don't see huge injuries. I mean, Joseph Wall, I suppose, but injuries haven't been the story. And Tampa, yeah, Tampa would be part of the conversation, too. Tampa would be kind of similar to Toronto. to what they've shown early

just hasn't been good enough. Although I kind of believe that the star offensive players in Tampa, I could guarantee their production more than the star offense. Like I know Kutrov and points and Gensel are going to get a bunch. And, you know,

is Matthew's going to get 90, 100 points? I don't think of a season for sure. Where does Edmonton fall on this list? Yeah, Edmonton is The thing about Evanton, though, is that they're largely driven by those two guys that still buy those two guys. That hasn't changed.

I understand they have holes, but they had holes last year. And when it comes down to it, those two guys are so great that they can make it happen. But, yeah, they... Getting Hyman back in a week, too. Yeah, I get Hyman back in massive health.

That'll be part of it. Huge, huge. I know we've got to go, Johnny, but where are you at with Pittsburgh? That's the biggest question for me. I know it's kind of an outlier, but... Let me add this before you answer. Yeah, go ahead.

I'm all in on Pitt, Johnny. All in on them being really good? Yeah, I love them. Playoff team type of thing? Playoffs. Playoffs? Jim Moore. Johnny, are you playoffs for Pitt?

Hashtag? I want to be. I think everyone would want to be. I can't see of getting Malcon being. this good. I can't see Justin Bradzo's 4 and 50. Like they got some stuff happening there that I cannot see continuing. Sid?

Yes. Malkin going from 130? I don't think so. So I think there are some evening out of the way things have gone so far but I will give them credit. They are way more organized and way more attentive

to defense, that they have been in years past and that's helped them go off the good start. But I'd love it. Oh, I can't buy it just yet. Yeah, I think that's very reasonable. That's where Hayes was at. He bet him $500. Yeah.

I think the wheels. Yeah, I always got them making the playoffs. Playoffs? And making noise. You're making noise. I didn't say making noise, you moron. Hayes is adding that. I just think it's a great story.

We've just been burying them because they've been so bad all three years. It's like we've been praying for Sid to either get traded. and now they're good, so I'm embracing it. You're right. It's a great story. Utah is a great story. Logan Cooley's got paid, right? Cooley made $10 million a year, I believe it is.

That's a good player, man. Really good start, really good player. Seattle's been, you know, a good story early on. Badaard and Chicago are not a disaster. Like, Chicago's not a disaster. You know, they're young. That's a story, though. That's nice from Bard.

Totally. People wrote him off hard last year. Like, he was like a terrible player. He had some more. He had some improved. movements to make, but he had 67 points on an awful team with nobody around him. Like, I'm happy to see him doing well, like reminding people, again, he's not perfect, but he's still really, really good.

I'm glad he's showing it. Yeah, his shot is so lethal, man. He is so gross. You know what it was cool to see? Like, you forget, like, Nathan McKinnon, it took him a year or two to settle into the league, right? I'm not comparing Bedard to McKinnon. What I'm saying is not every superstar hits the ground, like, just,

running that's it like there's still an adjustment period what i've seen in that player and i saw him live yesterday like he's special oh you've loved him for many years it just he just hasn't arrived i think he's arrived he's a he's a really good good player a special player and now they've got better players around him they're a young team young defensive core they got a goalie there who's pretty good but you know i don't think they're a playoff team but i think they're they're fast and They're really coached well. That Blaschel's a good coach. Like, he's known as a good coach.

Credit. Yeah, credit words do, man. Chicago's off to a good start. Like, full credit to them. All right, Johnny, we'll leave it there. Enjoy the games tonight. Hey, I love the bow tie the other day. Now, I want to know, was it a clip on?

And did you have to go buy a bow tie? Because did you actually own one? I do own one that's like an official one. That was not the one I was using. This one, it was like a dollar, store wrap around the head. It wasn't even a clip-on. Clip-on would have been.

Velcro. No balls open for not having it on today. I'm not wearing it every day. I wore it the one time. Did they lose? Did the Jays lose any more? Yeah, and I was getting blamed. They lost in 18 innings, and it's like, well, you wore the bow tie as if there was any

connection to what the Jays were doing in L.A. In my bow tie. But I wore it. I'm a man of my word. I said I would, and I did. All right, Johnny. Thanks, buddy. All right, fellas.

Enjoy the games, and chat soon. Yep. Mike Johnson, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Get in and go where adventure takes you in a new 2025 Tacoma from Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall. Visit mapletoiddle.com. Arbitration next.

Now, is that going to be a problem? Yeah, it's going to be a problem. There's going to be a problem for them. It's outrageous, egregious, prepustics. Overdrive, Arbitration. I've been a piece of him for years. You think I got a case? Your face is my case.

All right, arbitration. I haven't played this in a while. I know. I like it. We got a bunch here, so we've got to get rocking here. Best but still to come. Maple Leafs step into the arbitrator. Arbitration room, and they are offered this second wild card spot.

Do they take it? God. You're damn right, they take it. Yeah. I'm saying, yes, they take it. You just never know what the hell is going to go on. on, we talked about the division, how there's some new blood, some new meat, kind of doing things. I agree 100%.

Got to take it, man. I agree 100%. Here's why. They're not a team that really relies on home or away in the playoffs from what we've seen. And I think they're a veteran team. It really doesn't care. They've got to make the playoffs. And then that's when you can get onto a role and establish your game.

about for this simple reason, guys, because none of us, including Johnny, declared them as going to be one of the separators moving forward. So take it. Yeah, I think you're on to something. I think you bring up a good point. It's like maybe just start on the road, you know, just get away from Toronto.

Look at Florida last year. Florida last year, and again, they've been to the cup final couple of times, one, all of that type of stuff, tired, and just, hey, wake us up in the playoffs type of thing. They didn't care if it was home ice, road, whatever, where they're placed in the standings. Those guys are built to understand to have that in the back of their mind, but also do the job

at hand to get into the playoffs. I agree. I agree. But what I'm saying is what we just laid out from the previous conversation about how tight the Atlantic is. Now, we might have a different conversation 15 games from now if they win 10 of them and they're high up in the standings. But I don't think it really matters.

I think it's about making it to the dance. And from what I've experienced in the last couple of years, home and a wait really doesn't matter to them. It's more about can you get past a round into a second round? Try and get into a third round. That's something that – but you've got to give yourself a chance. So I would sign off on it just to the fact that you're in the playoffs and then go have at it.

Now you're playing a top seed. What comes with that is your plan of top seed. That is a great point, man. So, you know, I don't know who that's going to be. Maybe it's Carolina. But if it's Jersey or Montreal, you're probably okay with that. You know, you're probably okay with playing them in the playoffs. It doesn't guarantee you'd win it, but you're not playing, you know, prime Florida,

prime Tampa or anything like that. All right, the New England Patriots step into arbitration. They're offered the last wild card spot in the AFC. Do they take it or do they leave it and play it out? Currently leading the AFC East and look great. Dude, they've got to leave that, don't they? I don't know. I'm taking it personally.

I'm taking it. Just based on where expectations, right, Brian? They haven't been in the playoffs for a few years. It's been kind of a disaster. Drake Bay is a kid. You want playoff experience. I'm not gambling that the wheels don't fall off or Buffalo doesn't beat you anyway, even if you leave it.

Then you're a wild card game. Buffalo could still win the division. Then you're a wildcard team. This guarantees it week eight or nine in the season. We're still in October. If I'm Mike Vrable with a young quarterback, young team, still fighting it out with Buffalo for the division. I'm taking anything I can't.

Dude, that's what all the new winning and all the up. It's all about the new guys, the young guys. Like, that's what you've got to do. You've got to go for it, man, and try to strike. Yeah. Like, maybe that's the best time to do it. You've got the young QB where nobody knows anything and you're just good. And he's cheap.

Yeah, and he's cheap. Well, yeah. Instead of everyone saying, oh, just everyone hold your horses. Like, you've got to try to do it while you're good, man. You wait around and then everybody gets paid and the team's not the same. I say you go for it. let it fly leave it all on the table yeah okay um austin matthews steps into arbitration he's offered 40 goals this season 40 on the nose he's sitting at five right now through 10 games

i'm gonna take it i'm gonna take a 40 goal season 40 goals in the national hockey league although it's austin matthews who scored 69 i'm gonna take a 40 goal season because i don't know who the hell's going to pass on the puck the rest of the way maybe it's I don't know, but I'm leaving it because there's an opportunity for him to get on a heater. I've always said this, and I believe it wholeheartedly.

The team that we're watching right now is not going to be the team down the stretch. I believe Tree is an active manager. I think there are going to be changes on every team. Jamie, how are you going to make guys go out the door? Like all the... Listen, that's not my pay right now. I get it.

But what I'm saying, is I believe there will be changed. And what does it matter if he gets 36 or if he gets 51? The goal, you said this to me, and I do believe in this, Brian. At these guys age, McDavid, Drysidal, Matthews, all these guys who are hunting the big one, I don't know if they really care. I think they care personally that, hey, I want 50 goals or I want this and that, but it's more about trying to win and take another step.

I don't think Austin would be like, okay, just give me 40 for the sake of 40. I think he's got an opportunity to still try and get 50 or more. I would take that just based on knowing that player. 40 is an improvement on last year, right? He had 33. 40 would make you presume he's healthy. Yeah, and he didn't play all the games last year. You're right.

So I would want health and over 40. I leave it, though. I'm leaving it. Yeah, there's a part of me. I would leave it too. just because I want to see him get back to be in the best goal score in the world. And 40 goals means he's not. You know, he still has the capability, but that would be two years in a row where, you know,

the goals have stepped back. So why are you not confident McDavid's not going to return to that form, but you're confident Matthews is? I'm not confident that Matthews is. I'm saying I'm willing to test it out. Like, let me offer you, okay, Connor McDavid's offered 95 points, right? right now. He steps into arbitration. Do you take it? 95's an unreal season. I think he would take it right now.

No. He's going to get 100. You don't think he's going to get 100 points this year? What's the difference between 95 and 102? You just said it doesn't matter to these guys. But you're right. But I do. But I believe there are certain markers they set for themselves as opposed to like, like Connor has had 100 points every year he's been healthy.

I think that's something he would take pride in getting to. regardless of one of those games last night where it's like this guy is going to go on a heater now he knows he's coming back he's just going to stop racking him man that's scary like that wrist dude he had screws put in and you know he's i i don't know like he's not a young guy missed camp missed the start of the year i don't but i i i think with hyman is his game isn't about skill it's about work right and and to me i don't think it takes like yes it's he's going to take a few games to get up to speed and to but his physicality, his work ethic, his turning pucks over, that's what that team needs consistently. When you look at it, they, like, I kind of had my eye on. I was calling my game, but I had my eye on their game. This Stuart Skinner was trying to give it back to last night. Did you see the third goal against? He was behind the net, just handed it away.

Like, I'm like, I was like, they're just, he's trying to give it back to them. And McDavid and then were like, no, we're going to take this game. Like, it was. He's a fascinating guy to watch. It's dangerous, man. Like, it just, they're, this is probably the goal. This is the goal. There is.

There it is. I'll just go, oops, a day, easy. Hey, listen, I've been in that world. It's the worst feeling in the world where you are dead in the water behind the net. But they had just tied the game to make it two, two. And then they give that goal up to make it three to. And you're, I guarantee you, oh, you could speak to it. Brian, you're sitting on the bench watching that go in.

And you're like, what is this guy doing back in? This guy is killing us right now. He's killing us. But then he made sense. No, because we would have given him the Artie Urbe rule. is like don't go out of the net and touch the puck man because when you do you got no tape on your stick and it's straight and you're just it's a joke yeah yeah it was just a tough bounce but still it just you're trying to establish yourself and get that consistency and that just wasn't a

good goal to give up anyways but yeah we got sidetrack anyways um all right let me let me throw one at you here blue jay related going off the board here all right the jays rolling to arbitration they are offered 15 outs from tray of savage tonight. That would be five innings, complete five innings, 15 outs tonight from Traya Savage. Take it or leave it? Dude, a hundred million percent take it. You have to.

Yeah? So what's the number? What's the bottoming out where you say, I can't, I got to ride it out and hope he does better than that? Is it four innings? Is it 12 outs? Like that, again, it's night, like three nights in a row. Varland pitched last night, Flew Hardy pitched last night.

Bassett, I can't imagine would be available tonight. He just pitched back-to-back games. Don't you think if they have a sniff against Snelli's got to give him five innings? Yeah, I would think so. I would think so. Like, yeah, I mean, I kind of expect Snell to be, I expect him to be better than he was his first start. And he wasn't awful. It's not like Snell was terrible.

It's just, he didn't have great command. Roberts broke it down after the game. He wasn't ecstatic with his performance. I think Snell will probably bounce back tonight. So, yeah, I mean, it's just like we talked about yesterday with Bieber and Otani. Like, you got a match. You know, the starter for starter, you kind of got a match. It's been a chess game, this whole series.

And, you know, I'm very curious what he's got. You know, as a young guy, his second start in the World Series. It's incredible. Drafted like 18 months ago. He's about to start his second World Series game at Dodgers Stadium, and Otani's coming up first again tonight. Dude, started at single A. Yes.

Like low A and just made his way up and up and up. but it does feel like you savage has got to have a night tonight's got to have a night tonight's game five of the world series you know you got it got to have a night and you have to think that the Dodgers bats at some point outside of Otani might come alive too right yes that's that I think

maybe Mookie Betts just sleeps the whole time but that would be great I'm concerned about that guy you should be he's a beast Freddy Freeman's a beast Will Smith, Max Muncie, you know, all these guys. Tay Oscar. Well, the one guy, the one guy who is a guaranteed out is not playing, I think, tonight for the Dodgers. That pages or whatever.

Yeah, pie hives, yeah. That guy should have just taken his jersey and hung it up there, like, before the series started. It is great when you have an auto. There were a couple guys on Seattle, auto outs. Yeah. Like, they're 7-8 guys. Autos. Even the announcers are trying to find something positive.

Like, oh, he's, you know, one for 85. But, boy, he's good. Good in the outfield. You're like, oh, my God. Well, that's always what it is, right? The guy that can't hit, you know, he's gold glove, can fly on the bases, great in the clubhouse. Yeah.

Because if you're hitting, you know, 1.13 in the playoffs, you better be bringing something else to the table. Yeah. All right, best bets powered by Fandole coming up. Leif's, J's, Raptors, all in action tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. All right, today's best bets powered by Fando will make you a

picks and assemble the same game parlay on seconds on the Fandrols sports book, yeah. Lots of positive storylines for the Toronto sports teams tonight. Jay's on the run line. So keep it within one tonight. I think it's a close game. I think they can win tonight. I think they win tonight. I've hit a point where I think they're going to win the World Series.

I've been so impressed with the way they've been playing. And, yeah, I feel like they're in the driver's seat, as some might say. Jay's run line tonight. Taking the points, Rapplers at home. They've been terrible the last couple of games. Terrible. And Houston's so good. But you get plus five and a half.

I think Darko gets on them. And I think they defend better tonight. Keep it close. Leaves Moneyline in Columbus. Parlay Pan plus 613 best bets powered by Fandwell. Same game, Parlay's now available in the sports. Fandual Sports Book app. Please Play Responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario.

Stinky old Darko was fired up after that first win, wasn't he? Running around the locker room. Yeah, I don't think he was doing that in Dallas or in San Antonio. I'm pretty sure it was. Or against Milwaukee, you know, I don't think so. But big one for all Toronto sports teams tonight. Clearly the biggest one is in L.A., needless to say, game five of the World Series. And we'll have a full breakdown tomorrow, but either way, they're coming back to town.

Game 6 Friday night, Halloween, down at the dome. Wow. What a night. How's that working out for you? We'll get into that tomorrow. I'll ask you guys for some advice on how we're going to handle it this weekend. Dear Hazy B. That is.

Dear Hazy B. From Hazy B. That's precisely what's going to happen. We'll get to that tomorrow. All right, boys. Good stuff. 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 hour of every show. 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 you can sleep on my couch on Friday night 4 p.m.

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