OverDrive - OverDrive - October 9, 2025 - Hour 1

Episode Date: October 9, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Blue Jays' ALDS series win against the Yankees, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s exceptional performance, the team getting set for the ALCS, Bo Bichette's status for the series. In the latest edition of Jonas' List, Jonas gives his biggest takeaways from the Maple Leafs' opening win against the Canadiens and the Oilers' defeat to the Flames to start their season.

The National Institute on Aging presents great moments in preventing dementia. Like eating well to help reduce cholesterol. And maintaining a healthy weight. For more simple things that can help make a big difference in preventing dementia, visit Small Steps Big Difference. This hour of overdrive is powered by Fanduil. Fan Duel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go.

Overdrive off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker up on TSN2. Brian Hayes, your dog, Jeff O'Neill, Jonas Siegel, Major League theme song to get things started. That's got to be for only one team because one kind of weird-looking game down at Scotia Bank doesn't qualify for that song, Hazie B. No, but, repeat after me. They're in the driver's seat.

Repeat after me. The Yankees lose. How about we had the Habs into that? The Yankees and Habs lose. If you're Toronto sportsman, what a night. What do the Js have to do, Haysie, to turn it into a movie like Major League? They've got to go all the way

to make it that big of a story. with Vladdy and the guys off the scrap heap and how they turned it around and they finally started winning. Like for that to become a movie, they've got to take it deep and go all the way and win it. I think so. I think so or at least get to the World Series. Right?

Like you're still in the shadows of 15 and 16 a little bit, although they've done exactly what those teams did. They got to a championship series. But John Snyder's, he's got some Lou Brown in them. he's got a little blue brown who's charlie sheen on this team i guess hoffman is it hoffman hoffman's pretty wild base is loaded last night had some charlie sheen vibes to it and yeah like these are you're right dayth and lucas where was this guy playing in mexico last year where did ernie clement come from i don't know that's what's incredible

to turn around like how many times do you pick up guys off the scrap heap like that that become major contributor in the playoffs and that's why it would be the incredible movie like it's not just vladdie the superstar son of a former star player and all of it combined john schneider's been in the organization for 20 years or something like that where he's like he started as a catcher that couldn't make it managed all the different positions like there's so many great storylines and i know hazy you talked about schneider in the master class but there's like Schneider benefited from guys getting it done you know what I mean because when they don't get it done that's when you crap on everybody and you say you're out you can't do it but when they get it done

you praise the manager for every move because the guys go out there and execute and get it done and it's good that he's the benefactor where you're like that guy pulled all the right strings man but if you don't execute it doesn't mean nothing you're right and ultimately John Schneider probably gets too much credit when they win too much heat when they lose and what you're pointing out is an important detail the players are playing like the players are playing yes they decide everybody's fate man it's amazing all the storylines that are surrounding them now like the management of built a winner finally and it's like yeah for right now they have and it's because the guys are going out there and doing it like what the hell is this hitting

coach been up to turning this thing around from what we saw last year everyone that talks about the blue jays are like these guys put the ball in play They couldn't put anything in play last year, including their star players, all of them. So what's this hitting coach or their whole new hitting staff up to that's turned this thing around? You're right. For them to be known as the team that hits everything. David Popkins should be a household name. Dude.

He should be. What a move. What a move hiring him, because you're right. There's a story for you, Jonas. And I know you're at the rink last night. I read about the leaves. You write about the leaves. Nobody cares now.

If you could find a way to get to the new hitting coach and pick his brain and just write about that because, yeah, this team, and they hit for singles, doubles, they hit for power, they small ball it, they hit on runs, it's crazy. The player who led their team and hits didn't play. This is why I always like, like, Jeff, you know this in the playoffs,

we always have these, like, storylines of this guy didn't play. What do you want them to do? And it's like, other guys can step up and play. and like Clement and Barger and, you know, Kirk and like all these different contributions where you don't have, is he their best hitter, is he their second best hitter, third best hitter, where you just get all these different contributions and it doesn't matter. And it's like, is he coming back? Maybe. Does it change your perception of their chances?

I know, but Jonas, a lot of times when a top end player goes out, and it's the, you could bring the Maple Leafs back into it too. And Mitch Marner is out. Yeah, when the 102 points of whatever are gone, and then you're asking three or four different guys that come in that have 40 points or 30 points, they're different points because those hundred were game breaker points, same as Boba Schett. Like, he's a stud, man, and you can say to other guys, other guys have to step up and do it, but are they really capable in the big moments? Because the superstars, they're game changers, and that's why they're called that. And the other guys that are kind of lesser tier, they're not really used to that. that's not in their DNA, and it's not what's expected of them.

You can go to them and say, hey, man, you've got to step up and do this, but is it reality? But for the J's, it is reality right now? Because, Bo, they're, like, is this guy talking about playing Sunday? Yeah, he kind of was intimating that last night. Again, he was there running. He doesn't have the brace on the knee. He's got a few days to figure it out because they're through and four games, right? And the other series, we're going to have to find out who they play.

Like that, that series is going five. Game one is at home on Sunday. So he's got today, he's got tomorrow, he's got Saturday to figure it out. So it's like a lock he DHS if he does. Yes, I would think so, which does complicate things because they do not want to put Springer in the outfield. For whatever reason, Springer has just been exclusively a DH. Is that injury-related, Hayes? Or what the hell is that?

We have not been given an answer that I'm aware of. I think it's just keeping him healthy, like so he doesn't have to have any extra. Possibly. keeping him healthy. It's the playoffs, man. I know, but he's been so great at the plate all year. And if he's been deaching predominantly, keep him in the same rhythm that he's been in all season.

That's a reasonable explanation. But do you guys remember how, like, how, like, just think of the way the year has gone for them. Remember what we were talking about, like, in April and May? It's like, oh, it's the most drastic turnaround you can think of. We were talking about it yesterday. Like, Jimenez was like their go-to guy. offensively hitting some homers and we're like man we're just going to watch the same thing

and then i think ross came out and he's like it's not only close it's really close to being not just better but amazing remember he said that yeah he said it was going to not just turn around but turn around in a big way it was him or schneider that said that and everyone was like yeah okay man yeah what are you talking about no i remember then it actually happened it did it was rossackens on the field i believe i think he came on our show, too, and was advocating for the future of this club and what is just about to be unleashed. And no one believed it.

No one believed it, man. Nobody believed it. Did you think he believed it or just like... I don't know if he did, man. I think it was his last gasp where he was like, this better turn around or I'm in serious trouble. Don't you think? Like, don't you think he might have just tossed that out there?

Or you think he truly believed that that this thing was going to turn into what it is right now. I have a hard time believing it, man. I think there's a chance he believed it 50% more than the general public believed it. Well, guess what he's going to tell you if you asked him. He'd sell. Totally incredible. That's why I told you.

Yeah, of course. And listen, to his credit, of course he's going to say that. And guess what? Everyone's got a nod and say, all right, you're right. You're the architect of the team. You've been here a long time. Like this whole organization is Mark Shapiro, Ross Atkins.

You know, yes, Vladdy was signed by the previous administration. I believe Bichet was drafted by Anthopoulos and Beeston. But everyone else is courtesy of these two guys. Whether it was luck, whether it was a long game that finally played out, whether it was strategic, whether it was totally predictable, whichever way you want to choose to look at it, the fact is these guys, Shapiro and Atkins have been here for a long, time. And when it went wrong, they got a lot of heat, I think deservedly so. And now when

it's going right, they deserve a lot of credit. The same thing with John Snyder. And the same thing with a lot of these players, like Vladdy, who has had ups and downs. And in his playoff performances in the past have not been great. The performance he just put on for four straight games was all-time great stuff. And then afterwards, the generational hatred towards the Yankees boost his profile in this city so much more than it possibly could just from the performance because when you... Yeah, the performance haze matched with the stuff after with Ortiz, like, I don't know if people are just starving for victories or something to latch onto, but that's like they've won

the World Series type stuff already, according to fans that love Vladie. Yes, because it's the Yankees. Like, there is an inferiority complex with this team when it comes to the Yankees and what they represent. Like, and the Jays are not alone, almost every team in the league may be short of Boston, although maybe Boston, it's so steeped in over 100 years that it exists from that standpoint. Probably does, because Boston's so much smaller than New York. Maybe the Dodgers can sit there and say, we're on par with them. We don't care about you anymore.

But the Orioles can't, the Rays can't, the Jays can. I could name 20, 25 teams that look up at the Yankees and their fans look up at the the Yankees and say, they're always on prime time, they always get everyone, they always sign everyone, their hats are everywhere, and the Jays went in there and absolutely demolished them three games out of four, and they handed them a win. They were charitable in game three. Self-inflicted wounds, the only reason the Yankees won a game. And clearly, Vladie hates the Yankees. Like, he hates the Yankees. And I love it. It has to be something with his old man or something. I don't know, like. There's a history there.

There's something that happened, yeah, because obviously he loved the way he plays against him and what he's done in this series. But for him to, I don't know, something happened with his dad that was brought down to him. And he's like, okay, I hate you guys too. Generational hatred. And for him to go on Fox post game and goof on the Yankees. Yeah. In front of A-Rod and Jeter.

It's just an amazing play. And I love it. And I think people love it here so much more because he's showing that personality. he's having fun. He beat up on the Yankees. If he does that and he was batting 200 in the series with like one double, you'd maybe look at it a little bit differently, right? If it was pitching in defense that simply got them through.

But Vladdy threw this team on his back in many ways and said, let's go for this ride. And it's going to boost his profile here so much more than, again, even just the performance. You should do like a power rankings on the show like who owns Toronto. Yeah, Vladdy would have to be. be at the top. And in large part because, duh, Yankees lose. We used to do bar play.

Can you imagine Vladdy getting in at like 2 in the morning from that performance? Like there's, I don't know. Outrageous. It might match. What was our highest level of bar play? Was it Dougie in 93 or something? Usually Doug Gilmore in 93. It was like on parallel levels of bar play in the city of Toronto.

It's up there. It's got to be up there after the performance. In that series, I don't know what could be higher as far as bar play. I really don't. No, you put that guy at any bar in a city. It's just like clears the house. Clears the house the way, you know, the aura of Vladiguro Jr. And again, he had to do that.

He had to redeem himself with the way he played down the stretch, with his past playoff performances, and it doesn't stop here. That's the important, you know, we're having fun today. I think every Blue Jay fan deserves to bask in it. The Blue Jays clearly do. We had a big celebration last night at Yankee Stadium, which is just an incredible thought.

How rare that has ever happened? I saw you tweet. Imagine partying at Yankee Stadium. How crazy that would be. Like walking out onto the field an hour later and no one's there. And it's just you and a bottle of champagne, a home plate at Yankee Stadium. How incredibly rare that would be.

An amazing that feeling would be. I think Steph Curry was asked, I think he was returning to Cleveland after they beat them or one of their championships, and he was like, is it weird being back here? And he said, it still smells like the champagne that I was throwing around. And it was just such a classic line. Yeah. Such a classic line to be able to say that, man.

The Yankee Stadium, what better place to do it. Yeah, you can never take that away from them. But it is only the divisional series. You got to keep going. You got to get eight more wins if you want to ring. That sounds like something I would say to you. No, but it's true. Like, again, I'm basking in this.

it was an unbelievable performance. Like, they deserved it. They absolutely dummied the Yankees. Unbelievable series. But it doesn't stop now. You can't fade against the Tigers or the Mariners. Well, especially because those kind of feel a little... Got to get those.

Well, exactly. Like, now you're at home. You're going to be favored. Maybe you get Bichette back. Maybe you adjust your rotation a little bit. We'll see what happens. But whoever you play next, if you beat the Yankees in that fashion,

You've got to take down the next team. Dude, as good as Bichette is, hasn't he kind of scare you a little bit to kind of upset in the mojo? Like, I don't know. The guy can hardly, he's chogging out on the field. I know that might have nothing to do with hitting, but it just feels like some mojo might be at risk there if you try to force it.

Obviously, if he says he's going, he's going, but I don't know. I guess my look at it is they put Anthony Santander on the roster. It's cool. Yeah, and it's like if Santanderer is going to be put, and he actually had some really good at bats throughout the series, like really good at bats and he kind of looks like he's about to break out. But if you give him the benefit of the doubt after the season he had, you're giving it to Bo Bichette if he is close to 100%.

But I hear what you're saying in terms of defensive play. Like if he is simply a bat, like Santander was playing right field. It didn't go great. No, it didn't. But if Bichette is exclusively a DH, it does change the. dynamics of the team because obviously Springer is going to play. So they've got to figure that out.

But, so they're, it's a luxury. They've got a few days to do that. Which, can I ask you guys? Like, if I told you, which development do you think is the most surprising that got them to this point? Like, you could say you're Savage, you could say, I don't know,

you could say Kirk, you could say Vladdy. Is there one of these things? Vladdy, for me, the way he was performing before the playoffs and everybody was like, is this guy going to be able to turn it around? You know, he loves playing the Yankees. He's going to do it. But they actually flipped the switch because he was in a bad spot before the

playoff started, man. And then he just turned into the best player in the world and outduled Aaron Judge and the Yankees and led the way, hustle plays, dynamic plays. Like, he stole the show. And for him to go from where he was to where he is right now, I think that's easily the biggest flip around. Yeah, I would say, I'd have to agree with that.

He had the first RBI of game one with that home run that set the tone, and he had the opening RBI last night to set the tone in game four. And everything else in between, I believe he had the first. Grand Salami. Yeah, Grand Salami. I think he hit a two-run RBI, a two-run home run in game three as well to set the tone for game three, even though they ended up losing that game. In Yankee Stadium.

So, like this guy in the first inning of game one, three, and four, he stepped in and did what he did. And then obviously in game two, that was even more of like a premium moment where he hit that Grand Slam. They completely broke open the series and effectively ended the Yankee season. Well, imagine I told you Judge would bat

500 in the series and wouldn't be the best player. Right. And exactly. And they would trounce them. And I told you before the series that Judge is going to bat 500. Yeah, you obviously think, now you might say, well, they must have

intentionally walked them like five times. which it wasn't quite five, but they did a couple of times. Yeah, it was difficult for the New York people to just admit the Jays played better. Like some of the tweets are popping out there where they're like, well, I guess I got to give it to the Jays, hand it to the Jays. They just played better. They hit more, less errors, and they were just better. Man, it was difficult for them to spit that out.

It really was because it finally got up, it caught up to them, right? Like the Michael K stuff early in the season, you know, Like, don't hang on the rim, do that in October. Okay, the Jays were hanging on the rim last night at Yankee Stadium. And obviously what Buck Martinez said, which he was proven right. Yankees, you know, they're a flawed team. You know, and it was more, it would cut deeper, you know, basically saying they're just not a good team, period.

But in the end, he was proven right. Yeah. That Chisholm air last night was such bad. Crush. And that was right in his glove. It looked like it was right in his glove, and he just made this weird hand move, and he moved it to the writers. And I was like, that's going right in your glove, man.

What the hell are you doing? Well, and Buck laid it on thick after that error. Like, we don't talk a lot about what they're doing at the other network, and he laid it on thick. Go back and watch that, listen to it. He said multiple times, that's a routine double play. Like, that's a routine, you must make double play. And he's right in the situation.

It's 2-1Js, and then Lucas comes up with one of the biggest hits of the series and extends the lead to three runs and the rest of history. So you're right. That Chisholm era was crushing, and that was the Yankees in a nutshell. That's how they've operated all season. Their fundamentals have been very flawed. And now you question, will Boone be back? Will Cashman their long-term GM be back?

We'll see what ends up happening with the Yankees. But if you're the Blue Jays, that's none of your concern right now. you're off to the ALCS. All right, I've got a five pack of moments. The five defining moments of the ALDS from a Blue J perspective. We'll get to that. And a lot of people are watching the Jays game last night. We'll come back.

Jonas, you've got a list of what they missed from the Leaf game last night. There was a leaf game last night. First game. Yeah, what a night. Five two Leafs, five two Js. Y's and Habs lose last night. What a night for the Toronto sports fan. It was outstanding.

All right, we got Luke coming up. Ken Rosenthal coming up as well. He was obviously following the series. He'll be doing it for the championship series for Fox. Ken coming up just after 530. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN2. All right, overdrive continues.

Brought you by Fanduel, bringing you more ways to play your game, Your Way. Got Luke Wilson coming up on the Thursday night or tonight. Alice Brother and I get completely jammed having to pick this game because it challenges so many of our theories. It's Giants, Eagles, Divisional Games. game, short week. Seven and a half.

Seven and a half. Eagles at the Giants seven and a half. But I've always said my number one rule is, remember who you're betting on first before you consider who you're betting against. And it's the Giants who seem like they might be the play tonight. Again, they play decently recently. They just beat the Chargers, Jonas. Don't overthink this.

I know. The Eagles, though, haven't been that great. I know, but they can turn it around. If it's not ever enter your head, and turn it around and be the Eagles again? What do you want to be rooting for, Jackson Dart or the Eagles? No, just think of this name, dable. I know.

Just say dable to yourself. That's the thing, like breathe in and think dable. Yeah. Dable and the Giants, the last three or four years, ever since he got out of that pickup truck and did the video walking into the practice facility. Yeah, it's been ugly. It's been ugly, and you're right.

So we'll see. Alice Brother will have tremendous information as well, and we'll find out where we end up leaning. Ken Rosenthal in about an hour. So the Leafs win last night, the Blue Jays win last night. What a night. What a night. And obviously, you know, a lot of people were focused on the Blue Jay game last night. But the Leafs got the party started.

Jonas, you were down there. You have a list of things. In case people were watching the Jay's game on, you know, what you think they need to know and what they need to take out of that game last night. Do you want us to supply us with that? go ahead what were your percentages for viewership well i think the jays probably hit where they had four million last night i wouldn't be surprised no i mean you oh mine was like 90% blue jays okay like i was flipping over quickly to the least like in between

innings and stuff was not a great it was it was it didn't too it had a weird vibe to it man the first little bit i was like this is a continuation of the last time I saw all these guys on the ice in this building. And it was like, man, there was, it was just a weird vibe. Yeah, and the loudest tears, Jeff, by like a country mile or for the Jays. Which I found, like, understandable, but also a little weird, like, because it was a season opener. Like, even the player introductions are all, anyway. But it's never really loud in there.

I know, but it got really loud when they showed the scoreboard. Yeah. Those player introductions, man, if that was in Montreal, somebody would grab Molson and just put them in a, like, strangle hole. Yeah. But I don't mind that, where it's just, like, quick, here are the players. They don't, I don't think Leaf fans have this giant expectations of introductions where it has to be like Montreal and there's, you know, different elements to it and all

this stuff and the flame. I don't think that's Toronto is just like, here's the players. Here they are. Yeah, it's more routine. And yet the Leafs won. I mean, you guys are talking about it as if the Leafs got pumped, ate nothing. It was the weird, you got to admit, Jonas, it was the weirdest five-two game where you're Not a lot of zone time, and you're, like, the star players.

Through two periods, they weren't great. Third period, they played well. Yeah. But those are not the notes. Montreal's got to realize, like, you got a team playing like that, take advantage of it. They look fast, eh, Jeff? Like, they look fast and skilled. They did.

They put a lot of pressure, and the D at times was like, man, and they're moving it quick enough, and they put a lot of pressure on them, turn it over, but they just couldn't capitalize. And then they kind of disappeared in the third, and that was a game. Now is that because they are. that faster, the Leafs were slow making their opponent look very fast. That's a good question. We will

find that out. Because it can go both ways. And I was speaking with someone today, a scout because you guys have no idea who I talked to in my personal life. Sources. And he did indicate that, that when the Leafs had the lead in the third, the size, the veteran present, like they

really shut it down. Well, is that not a positive? Can I get to my list? Go ahead, Jonas. Tell us what we missed last night if we were watching the Blue J game. So I don't know whether I should rank these but I'm going to start with Morgan Riley he looked great like everything you want to see from him they want to see

from him he was doing last night he was aggressive like he was involved offensively before he even like got a point he had a couple great scoring chances like he might have had I don't know five six scoring chances where he was like centrally involved finishes with a goal

an assist nine shot attempts the power play stuff we'll get to in a second but great start for Morgan Riley. Which is important. That's been a big part of the conversation through camp. Best shape of his career. Yeah, I don't know that.

And that's why you got to do it. That's why you got to change things up because maybe that goal he scored, he followed up to play. And maybe if he wasn't tip-top, he wouldn't have done that. Yes. You know what I mean? Like, he crept right up there, and he joined in and got in front of the net where it's like, if you're not tip-top and you're kind of dogging it a bit,

you're like either you maybe you change or you're just. You're just not. unwilling to take a risk. Like, that was last year. Maybe you don't go up there and take that risk because you're like, I don't know if I'll have enough in the tank to get back, but he got up there, and that's a benefactor, and that's why you do something like that,

and that's why you change it up. I thought he was fantastic, Jonas. Yeah, that's big. That is significant. So I'm going to have to go back to something we talked about, Hayes and I, and Jeff, I don't know if you're here for this, but it was a crazy take where Jeff said, I don't know if Bobby McMahon is going to be on the team.

I said that. I said that. I said that. I know. You didn't say that. Sorry, you said that. Yeah, I said that. I own that.

And he looked incredibly fast. You thought he was incredibly fast. He was, I mean, he's one of the fastest players in the league. No, like literally, statistically he is. Oh, based on what? Based on, they clock it. Okay. It's true.

All right. Does he have the puck when he's doing that? Does he have his head up? That's the thing, Jonas. Like, he's got to go out there and use the speed and make plays and get it to Nielander and get in on the forecheck and make it happen. anybody can go out there and just blaze around and say, I'm one of the fastest guys in the league,

and it doesn't mean squat. Like, use it to your advantage, and especially his strength, too. Yeah, he's a big boy. He's a monster out there. And if you put it all together, you've got a dynamic kind of power forward that can score you 25 goals, but you've got to make plays, too. Yes. All right, Jonas, you had your stopwatch out, and he was flying.

That's good. That's good to hear. I'm not anti- Bobby McMahon. I know you're not. He was awful down the stretch. He hit 20 goals and literally didn't score. in the playoffs he was terrible and I thought there was a chance

they were going to possibly move off him or change their direction with him they did not good for him awesome Bobby McMahon was flying last night so we wondered what the power play is going to look like without Mitch Marner it did not look very good although let's be clear here

Marner had his issues over the years on the power play like big issues he went like a calendar year without scoring a goal on the power play yeah and the playoffs he didn't score for a long time he was Mr. everything last year in the power party. He carried it up the ice. He played defense. Yes, he was a quarterback of the

five forward. You could feel that they were missing. Like to me, I don't know, Jeff, I'd be curious to your thoughts. Like, it felt like they were kind of like missing their hub. Like, it was kind of, they gave up a shorthanded goal. They gave up some chances. They didn't look dangerous really at all.

No, I thought it was a mess all the way around. There's no other way to describe that. Entries, giving up the shorty. Yeah. It was like a weird kind of Austin Matthews fan one-timer, and it was like, that's what you guys got tonight? It was just, it was not there. And I think the coach, everybody talks about, like, their puck game or puck management game or whatever. Like, it just wasn't sharp.

There was nothing crisp about it. There's no other way to describe it. Their power play struggled to start the year last year. And it changed it. Yes, they did. Riley started on that unit. Right. I don't really think they have, like, I guess they could go to Ackman-Larsin if they really want to,

but, like, I don't know that it will. He doesn't move the puck any better than Riley. He shoots the puck harder and differently. Like he's willing to take a slap shot or one time. But if you see Riley play the way he did, like you're just going to keep this going, I would think. Okay. So we wondered how Machelli would fit on the top line,

and it was not a great light for the top line. Not a fan of the top line? It did not look good. Do you think Max Domi's looking at Scott Lawton saying, dude, you jammy so badly. you had to get hurt so I'm going to play in the third line center I know but wouldn't you think if he was like if it was really dynamic up there

that it wouldn't even have been an option to switch like there was probably something about the coach where he was like I don't really love it right now and that's why I'm going to make the switch and say I lost the center I got to put a center there because I don't know what Machelli did last night it was it was awkward looking where there was no kind of possession time

there was no chemistry, and there was no opportunities for Austin Matthews, and that's what it all comes down to. Yeah, like, no kidding. And that's a different ball game. To ask a guy to kind of refine, to find his game after a couple of years and say, be that guy again that got 57 points or whatever it was in Arizona. I don't know, but it looked like a long way off, and it looked like, who's the guy that has the IQ and the ability to play with Austin Matthews on the right side

that's a right-handed shot? and right now it looks like 88's that guy. I don't know. I don't know who you're going to put there, but if you're going to keep switching it around with guys who are not really labeled as that guy or have done it for a long time, it's a dangerous game. Because those guys are demanding, man, those top-end players. They want the puck on their stick.

There's certain stuff that they do to be who they are. And if it's not happening, you've got a serious problem. Well, and I guess the question is, like, what do you do now? let's say you don't like Machelli there and you're Craig Brubit. It's like, well, your next option is Domi but he's playing center and it's like well, if he's not going to play there, what do you

do with the rest? Like, you know what I mean? Yeah. Like there's like this whole trickle-down effect. It's a goofy scenario, Jonas, to have one of the best scores to ever play and be mixing and matching and trying to find a guy with the players you just mentioned. Like that's why he said. Like I don't think he'd played in the NHL

and now you're putting him on right wing of top line of top team. And a left-handed shot where I talked about it yesterday. Like Mitch Mariner came behind the net a lot with the puck on his forehand, and the first thing he sees is Austin Matthews out of his left eye, as opposed to a left-handed shot. It's blind to you. Like, you know what I mean?

You can't see everything coming around that net. It's going to be a different look. But I don't know how many more chances he's going to get, but from one opportunity that I saw last night, he's got a long way to go to make up ground to make that line work. Yeah, and it's interesting because it is a conundrum. It's something they have to figure out, yet it's game one and they want it. Yes.

I would presume. This isn't doomed. No, you've got to give them more of a chance and an opportunity. But this was also always the possibility and maybe the safe money. Like Matthias Michelli, Utah effectively gave him away for free. They were scratching him. Yes, they gave him away for free. So you have to be reasonable.

Like there's a, you know, we've done this in the past with the guy that shows up and, oh, he's going to be great because the lease is so smart and they pluck people. Exactly. Nick Ritchie, Gene O'Malgam. We can go down the list of this guy's a perfect fit. He'll be great. Not always the case. So you got to give him some Bernie Clement, man.

Exactly. Not everyone can step in and it just pops. Maybe it does, and that would be amazing. Yeah. And there are, you know, history lessons of that, players that get in a different position. different team playing with different players and they pop and there's no doubt the guy's got a lot of skill and talent but it may not be him it may not be domy

it may not be a guy that's on the team right now that's complicated that's the likeliest thing now rosslovick just signed in emminton last night so that ship is sale do you think that would have been the guy is i'm not convinced it would have been but he is a right-handed shot that has played with matthews before they grew up together what do you think of what jeff said of playing nielander there

i know it like it's the balance of your line that's the thing. Like, right now they have a really defined top six, bottom six. Yep. And that would be top three, bottom nine. But if your top lines, like, I mean, it's one game, but like your top line needs to be dominant.

That's what it was. And it was just going to be okay. And then like, are you really ahead? Then who plays with Tavares? Let's say they do that. Let's say they go. I guess you could go Micelli, Tavaris, McMahon, or something like that. Would you move Nyes down?

Or is Nyes just a lot to play with them? Matthews. I think that's worth thinking. Like, Nise is here for the next six years. He's not going to play with Austin every single shift. Things are going to change at times. Yeah, I would consider that. Is that worth it? You could have some kind of Bobby McMahon, Matthew

Nyes, flip. I don't know, but isn't the main focus, Hayes, is to get like, I just go back to thinking about the coaches, like, whiteboard. It's like, you've got to, I've sat in a room with Ron Francis where it's like we're not producing, okay, who's going to play left? It's always about who we're going to

get to get us going. So Austin Matthews is always priority number one, wouldn't you think? As he should be, but Willie is a very clear cut option number two. It is. But in saying that they did win 5-2, so it's not going to be kind of... No, this is like... And this is a long-term conversation, you've got to figure it out. But again, Willie, like, Willie scored more goals than Austin last year.

Yeah. Now, Austin is a better goal score. Austin is a guy that's going to play more minutes and more scenarios, more rounded player. he's your captain, he's your leader. But you have to consider are you cutting off your nose to spite your face a little bit, if you're going to move Nealander there in order to prop

up Austin. It's not to prop up, it's to, like, he fits on the line, like he's a top line right winger. You know what I mean? Like you're based on, you know, on paper on, you know, yeah, like you're going to jam Matthias Machelie in there when you have William Nealander, like. No, I know, but again, like Willie's going to

score 40 plus this year. Yeah, for sure. And he's going to do it without playing with Austin because he didn't play with them a lot last year. Maybe 45 or 50 those empty netters are massive. They are. And Austin was chugging last night to beat Linae down the ice. That was a bag skating.

He had lapped Linae. It was actually a great goal to motor like that and that angle. Yeah. Like did Linae, did he really go all out where it was like... That felt like a check please skate back a little bit from Linae. A little bit. You know,

here's Pat. He's got him beat. And he's like, two hands on my stick. He's skating with two hands on a stick. Like Marty St. Louis probably expected a tomahawk chop right there where it was like, you better break something. That guy cannot score. Six, five, could have probably dove along the ice and just pushed the puck into the corner.

Yes. Like, you know, live to see another day and see what happens. Maybe you lose the battle from there, and it ends up in the back of your net anyway. But the other thing about Nealander, he got an apple on that play. Goal and an apple. Last couple, pull the goalie and throw him out there. Yeah, it's a bonus. time, man. Really? It's a big night. You look at the

game sheet. Hey, Willie, out of night. And it's amazing how many people come up to you after assistant coach shakes your hand. Go on an assist awesome night out there. It's like, what the hell are you talking about? Yeah. All about production. On pace for 82 goals. Him in Austin, 82.

But yeah, listen, this is going to be a consistent theme. And it was, I guess, on display night one. I don't think they have like an option. If you want to separate Matthews from Neelander, which a reasonable expectation that Baroubae wants that to be the case, to spread the wealth out a little bit.

Then you're going to look at Matthew Nyes is the guy that maybe has to pick it up a little bit to help out Austin and put him in positions to do, you know, look what he did for Riley last night. That could have easily been Matthews, right? Like he wins a race, wins a battle, puts it on a T for him, Riley ends up scoring. That's going to have to be Austin 15, 20 times this year.

But, yeah, of Machelli, Domi, you know, Easton Cowan's not even playing. He's not in that position. I was going to bring him up. Bobby McMahon is not the option to play on his offside with those two players. I just don't believe he is. So go ahead. That was the only other thing. Well, actually, I got a long list.

I could go on for two hours of you guys. Yeah, okay. But Cowan didn't play. And now I think it's a really interesting decision for the coaching staff. Like, what do you do? Because who do you take out? The team, like, won. and yon crook looked okay score like i you could take him out you i guess you could take out

robertson do you just keep the same and then it's like well why are you keeping cowen i don't know like what i would do i'd probably just play him yeah i think at some point you want to play him if he's up here well yeah that's mandatory at some point he's going to play for sure and play maybe that's an opportunity to play you want to play play with austin matthews for a game in detroit or against detroit and see what you got yeah and that's what's why That's what's coming, right? Because to say, hey, you're actually going to play now and play on the fourth line and play four minutes

or whatever the heck it is or just not play a lot, I don't know. Are you really going to see what he's capable of doing? It seems highly unlikely. And maybe he is an option by the end of the year for that line or for one of the top two lines. You know, it's possible, but this is why you've got to play out the year. They've got 81 more games left to try to figure out how it's all going to look. And a trade deadline,

which is still months away. But it does seem very like Like, if we're doing a mini jerry's, what's the mini jerrys that as of October or March 8th or whatever the trade deadline is, how much we're talking about them finding a right winger for that top line. It seems like 90% certainty, maybe 95 or 99, that that's where the assets are going to go. But still, the least one last night. We had some positives. You had positives coming out.

How about Stollars, Anthony Stollars? George, I was going to mention Nick Waugh, like you could see what he can bring to them. he's a bigger dude than like I don't know sometimes a different uniform the guy just looks bigger he looks like a giant out there yeah he's big Joshua's big like they're big big boys

and Stolaris is massive I think he like you could make a claim like he's the biggest person in the league like he's 248 pounds and he's 6 6 yeah he's huge just gigantic huge so there you go the Yankees

and halves lose I think you should steal that and just do it for everything. I should do that. The Habs. Well, and people are writing me like, you're going to, that's going to come back to haunt you.

Yeah, Montreal's probably going to win tonight, maybe in Detroit. Just having fun, man. Yeah. Just having a good time. Let Hazy Bee have some fun once in a while. Exactly.

How many times has he had to sit there and talk about misery and miserable things and boozing? Thank you, exactly, exactly. Let him have his flowers. Let Hasey B have his flowers, not the players or management. Let Hazie B. for once.

Thank you. Let me be a positive source of entertainment and enjoyment. And just, I'm here to try to make everyone happy. That is so great. Some twirp tweeted out. He was like, Judge would never do that, to be honest. Like, Vlad, he's having fun, but Judge would never do that. It's like, okay.

Well, guess what? Go back and look at the tape. When Judge hit that three-run, home run in game three, he walks into the dugout. eyeballs the camera turns around and then looks back and makes love to the camera again smirking and smiling like in other words like laying it on thick look at me and look what I just did which is totally fine no problem but Aaron Judge probably would do something like that

and but to your point exactly who cares if he does or doesn't like what does it matter what Aaron Judge would do and Judge is the one that is the barometer for all players they just it was just such a weasel where it was like they hated the fact that the Blue Jays won and they had to just poke something where it was like, man, our guy would never do that. Right.

Which is just asinine. Exactly. All right. I've got my top five moments from the ALDS. Jonas, you still have way more. See, look at this. See, look at that. I like that.

That's fine. Go for it. But, like, Judge is doing, like, he's laying it on thick, too. He's being a showman. I thought you were going to throw in some of the clothing options for the players walking into the rink last night. because they took these new rules to an extreme, man. Like jean shorts,

jeans shorts and runners and stuff. Yeah. I never thought I'd see the day. I'm getting old, man. Because I saw Chris Tanna in a suit. I'm like, that's a good look, dude. That's a good look. Like Matthew's gear, Domi had the J's jersey on.

Willie had gear on that, to me, it's an outrageous wardrobe decision, what William Nealander was rocking last. night. The brown with the tank top? Yeah. Like the baggy, crazy brown with a tank top. I thought that was cool stuff, man.

Yeah, you would. It is just weird to see. I thought it was always like, yeah, there's Willie there at the brown stuff and the tank top. He loves a tank top more than any human being on Earth. He really does. And Max's got a tight tuck on the T-shirt there too. Okay. Wrapping the Js, which I like, I appreciate.

So Chris Tann have had this straight suit, just normal, dialed in. I think he had a t-shirt, but it was like a tucked-in black t-shirt, like black-on-black. That would be a fun game to go through the roster and say, like, suit, no. What was Tavares wearing last night? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't care.

He's 100%. He's 100% suit. Suit for sure, dude? Yeah, suit. Yeah, we should play that game. Suit or no suit? Food or no suit. Yeah.

I'll bet you, was Riley? I would say Riley was wearing a suit last night. Sure. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, like John Tavaros will wear 82 suits. No, with a tie. I bet you he had a tie on last night, Taboris.

How much he did too. Fully tied up, like buttoned up perfectly. Suit or no suit. We'll play it. We'll establish that. I bet Morgan Riley would have worn a tie last night too. Yeah, wouldn't shock me at all. And not even think twice about it.

No, it's your routine, man. You just put on nice suit, nice shoes. You think you're doing something serious, feel good about yourself. You've done it for a long time. And then all of a sudden, what? You're going to switch to jean shorts and, like, Nike sneakers with socks pulled up to your knees? That would be a weird transition, man. It would be.

Because, like, I think the way it works in the NHL, oh, you can speak to it is, like, the players go in and get changed in a room, right? Like, hang up all their stuff and get into their undergear or whatever. Like, to look at the hooks, like, suit, suit, suit, suit, jean shorts, suit, suit, baggy brown, sweats, Sweatpants, like Blue Jay jersey. You could take it that far. You can go sweatpants? Yeah, well, that's basically what Austin was wearing last night. Is that a velour suit?

Yeah, that's a good one. Probably cost 10 grand. Oh, that's worth more than all of our cars. Whatever the hell that guy's wearing is worth more than our cars. Yes, 100%. All right, Luke's coming up. Ken Rosenthal coming up as well. Overdrive continues.

TSN 1050 and on TSN2. There was one crazy ass oilers game last night, gentlemen. it was something else. I thought the Oilers were going to win 12-0. 12-0. And then these weird colds started going in, and this shootout lasted forever, and Nas ended it.

It was bizarre a world. It was. It was. Shout out Dustin Wolfe. That kid is a stud in that he's so good. And I thought the shootout, was going to go 18 rounds. Like it just kept going and going and going.

That's why you don't watch it. You just turn it off. There you go. See if I live by your standards, I would have done that last night. But it starts off. McDavid gets this massive pop, the introduction. McDavid is flying last night.

A hundred miles an hour. 100 miles an hour. You and your stat cast and your speed. I should look up where he ranks. Well, Rishog tweeted out like an hour ago. He was hitting speeds that he's, I don't think he's ever hit before, or it's been years since he hit it, and he hit certain bursts out like 10 times or 12 times,

whatever the hell that means. Yeah, I like that. But basically he was flying like we haven't seen him before last night. He's on the board, dry settles on the board. Kids are getting their first point. And then Stuart Skinner, that third goal. Oh, man. I can't stop, and it's one game.

It's one game, and it's been like three days since McDavid signed that deal. Somebody tweeted out. McDavid didn't get a discount, take a discount. to watch that. Exactly. I can't help but look at it through the lens of McDavid's sacrifice for this. This reminds me I really have a bone to pick with you about this. About my view on the McDavid contract? I was like screaming at the television. Oh really? Yeah, it was so mad. Okay. And by the way, so last year, McDavid's top speed

99th percentile. So there you go. He is the fastest. Is that really groundbreaking news? Wouldn't we know that? It's fact. Okay. But last lane and particularly. It was Flann. All right, you can address whatever you wanted to address the other day. A new segment called Hayes' bad take. Hays is bad take. Exposed. Hase is a fraudulent take. I like it. All right. We'll get to that. I've got my five moments from the ALDS. Ken Rosenthal coming up. Hays and bro on the clock with the Thursday night or hour two up next.

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