OverDrive - OverDrive - September 26, 2025 - Hour 2 - Mike Johnson

Episode Date: September 26, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Frank Corrado for Hour 2 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Jays big weekend series vs the Rays, Europe's early domination at the Ryder Cup and we also do Dear Hayesy-B. We also welcome Mike Johnson to the show to discuss Barkov's injury, Maccelli's great preseason, Reimer signing a PTO with the Leafs and more!

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Conditions apply. Visit a Virgin Plus store or virginplus.cae for details. Our two overdrive continues, powered by Fanduel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Mike Johnson coming up here in a few moments. And dear hazy, B, a little bit later in the hour. And some big news in the NHL, including the Leafs were the win last night. Preseason, but that fourth line looked good. Scott Lawton looked really good.

Stephen Lorenz looked good. Easton Cowan looked good again. And Craig Barube, again, he's not going to say he's, making the team he's definitely making the team they're trying to be careful he's a young guy but he looked pretty good and that line looked really good last night yeah they're putting him in a good spot hayes right like because they're they're putting them with two guys that are pretty predictable dependable um and there's there's comfort in that if you're a young guy like no one's asking you to do too much no one's asking you to have to play with austin matthews and matthew nize that's

complex that's hard right but you you you kind of fly with two you know call them veteran guys that know what they're doing and aren't going to, you know, aren't going to put you in bad spots, it's a nice way to work the young guy, you know, into feeling comfortable out there and put them in a spot to succeed. Yeah, and it's lesser responsibility, but it also gives that line a little bit of a different look. You know, we know what Lott and Lawrence are capable of. They're fourth line guys, straight line guys, you know, have a little bit of skill here or there.

You put a guy that, you know, is creative who has, you know, something to prove because he's trying to be in everyday NHLer, it's just a different look. Now, it could be short-term or not, but I think they are giving him every opportunity to make this team. What it does say to me is Craig Barubi is trying to get him into a place where he's comfortable, and he could bleed him into the lineup lower, and then maybe a second power play here or there.

But it also, to me, spells that there's somebody else on the team. I can't name the name because I don't know. that might be in trouble. We could figure that out pretty quickly. Like, it's not hard to look at the depth chart and say, you know, Cowan or Robertson or, you know, Lawton or Camp. And I think, like, last night, there's definitely like a battle for a roster spot,

if you want to call it that between Lawton and Camp. And going into that game or going into this camp, you're like, I want to see Scott Lawton look way better than David Camp because they paid a King's ransom to get him, obviously spent the assets, and you're like, it has to look like a significant upgrade over David Camp. I can honestly say it, but that looked like the case last night.

Scott Lotton looked better than Camp. Easton Cowan looked like he belongs. Stephen Lawrence looks like a guy where you want to keep him in the lineup. You don't want to not have him in the lineup. So I think the guys that had to have good nights last night, Matthias Machelli had another good night. The guys that needed to have good nights had good nights. Well, and how about my droke?

I was, it fell flat haze, I don't know if you saw it. I was like, Mitch, Mitch, Michelle. I called him Mitch Machelli as a joke. And I was like, he's got four assists in two games, right? Like he's put up some points. So I go, Mitch Machelli, and I look over at Drager, and it's just like, want, want, wah, wah. Well, you see the past Mitch Marner made to Ico last night?

That's Matthias Marner. Matthias Marner made a pretty crafty little backhand. sauce through the middle of the ice and Eichael ripped at home and Eichl said during the intermission there's very few guys on the planet that can make that pass Mitch is out there doing the same routine he did in Toronto and his little figure skating in the pregame

but that's a brilliant, brilliant vision, brilliant pass. That's Mitch Marner in a nutshell last night. Like there's no that's what he's going to do. He's going to do that all throughout the regular season. Will he do it the playoffs in Vegas? He'll have to prove he can do that. He'll have to prove that he will elevate his game and be different in the playoffs

than he was here in Toronto. But I have no doubt in Vegas during the regular season. He'll stay healthy. He will be a brilliant playmaker. He will put up a ton of points and they'll win a lot of games. Vegas is so interesting out there because has Mitch Marner ever had

a Mark Stone, you know, like in the lineup insulating him? Like he's had a William Nealander but very different players. And with the loss of Alex Petrangelo, that's going to be huge. Like maybe we're not talking about that enough but right that would be that would be just the the most Toronto thing the most Toronto thing to ever happen like more than Bozac winning a

cup or Kessel winning a cup or anyone who went on and had success like Mitch Marner leaving Toronto and then immediately winning a Stanley Cup with Vegas like that would that would put be just like the I don't know the the cherry on top to that whole narrative that's that's happened you know feels like for every year it was happening basically someone who had left had won a Stanley Cup. Listen, they're a good team. Let's not put the cart before the horse, but they are a good team.

Like, we knew Vegas was a good team before Marner arrived, but, you know, does he make them a better team offensively? Absolutely. Offensively, he does. You're right. And defensively. He's a great all-around forward. But, I mean, Petrangelo, the...

Although now Petrangelo is saying, hey, maybe I can return. Hey, all of a sudden, maybe for game one. I did see that little sniff out there the other day. Just working on my health, all of that type of stuff. But, you know, I still think their goaltending is adequate. You know, Aidan Hills had an up and down. You know, he wins a cup, but as a starter, he's kind of been just okay. He's been the James Rimer that you can bring in Johnny on.

But, you know, there's lots of things going on there still. And lots of the jury's still out on Vegas. I agree with you. For sure. All right, joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Here is our TSN hockey analyst, Mike Johnson. What an assist last night, Noodles, is calling him Matthias Marner, Matias Marner and Mitch Machelli,

because Mitch Machelli was lighting up the Bell Center last night, but that's Marner in a nutshell, like a backhand sauce, unbelievable vision, unbelievable touch to Eichol, and I guess we're going to see that a lot this year. Yeah, but, I mean, you can't be upset about it. No. Or surprised by it. Of course, he's going to keep playing. That's what he's.

does like he's a good player he's better than a good player he's a great player and so there'll be many moments where you watch like boy be nice that that was in Toronto or remember when he did that for Toronto but the reality is he's not going to so um it's like he's gone and he's going to do good things and winning a cup seems a little bit premature but um maybe the most Toronto thing ever would be to have the best team and the best opportunity and then losing a heartbreak in the second round in games five and seven and then have that same team be loaded for the next year Toronto's not quite as good and all of a sudden guys are falling left and right injured the sort of thing that the league would be hoping that you know the just the the wear and tear would

add up on Florida and all of a sudden you know chucks out for half a year barcoffs out for maybe the whole year or whatever it might be that's also a Toronto thing because their Toronto's best team was probably last year yeah no you're you're right and I think Like people are already losing their minds, I think, about the Barkoff injury, talking about how Chicago, wow, Chicago's got their first round pick. It's going to be another great pick. Like, did we not learn how deep the Florida Panthers are? I get it. Sasha Barkov's unbelievable player.

Anton Liddell is not truly a third-line center. Like, he's going to play more and he's going to do well. Like how, I guess how worried are you about the decline of the Florida Panthers now without Barkov? I mean, Frankie, I'm pretty worried. I'm not going to lie to you. Of course they're going to be good still. But what makes Florida great and what makes them so hard in the playoffs is they can go, Barkoff, Bennett, Lundell.

And you're right, Lundell is better than the third line center. But what makes him great on Florida is he's the third line center. He's better than everyone else's third line center. You put him at the number one and he's still very good. And he'll probably get 65, 70 points this year. But he's not Barkoff. And then whoever's playing their third line would have been the fourth line guy, That Luke Cunning, whoever moves up is nowhere near what Lundell was,

is that trickle up or down effect that makes them so different. And even the temperament, you guys have been around that Florida team enough. And they thrive on things being a little chaotic, a little bit out of control at times. But the one guy who is their even keel steadier is Barcoff. And he's such an important player. So, yeah, they'll be good. If without him, I still think they'll make the playoffs. But you put them into a playoff series, no Barcoff.

off and it's different and they wouldn't be the cup favorite and i would imagine they won't win a cup now they might not even win a cup with him but it is a monstrous and you got to feel for barcoff anyone like this like olympics this year that's gone team finland their best player or one of our best players that's gone it's just a brutal brutal timing but um it completely changed the complex from that team in florida at least for the regular season if that's for how long he's gone for Yeah, and we haven't gotten the complete update yet on whether or not he could return for the playoffs or if he's done for the year

because they're going to wait until they get through surgery and reassess, but there is a chance that he's done for the whole season, which means, again, he can't return for the playoffs, but that would open up the opportunity for them to use the full cap space to go out there and get somebody else. Now, they've used a lot of assets in the past couple of years, and sure, some guys love going to Florida.

Not everyone wants to go to Florida. I agree with your hesitation here or if that or apprehension in terms of what Florida is going to do because they've been to three straight cup finals Kachuk's out for a while he's out for a while Bobrovsky's 37 years old yes like if Kachukes out until January

and Barkov's out that's two of your top six and those are your two leaders like those are the guys that represent this team one's the captain in Barkov he's the silent assassin but by all accounts he's He leads by example and everyone follows suit. And Kachuk, everyone knows the second he arrived. It changed the whole complexion of that team.

Both of those guys are done. Who knows what Kachuk looks like when he returns? Again, Bobrovsky is not a young guy. They played a ton of hockey. They got to make the playoffs first. Like, this is a massive, massive change for the Panthers. And it felt to me, like I picked him to win the cup two weeks ago, presuming everyone would be healthy and all that.

Because, again, I didn't see who else. Elson proved enough that I thought could knock them off the block, but this is huge. This is a massive, massive loss for them. And if he's done for the playoffs, too, I don't think they, I don't think they're going to win. I don't think they can win. I don't think you can win three straight years. I think it's very difficult to do it, period. Again, I thought they probably could with everyone healthy.

You take Barkov out, changes everything. So, you know, I brought this up, and Hayes was going to drive to my house and choke me out for it. But, you know, Bill Zito, like, he's not going to sit idly. If he loses Barkoff for the season and they've got money to spend, he's going to be proactive. And I will say this. I don't think it makes, you know, Florida a team at the bottom. What I do think is it's come back, they've come back to the group with the absence of Barkoff. Still a good team, but not, again, you miss an elite player.

Your team is missing, you know, a huge dynamic of it. but what if there's a guy available for a trade on a team that's not going to make a playoffs? Does he wear number 87? Is that what you're trying to say? Well, that's where Hayes attacked me for it. But I said, like, that would be sick. That would be sickening. Brad Marchant, like keep in mind, we didn't think Brad Marchand was going to end up in Florida.

We didn't think all three of those guys were going to sign there. They signed there. This team always pulls a rabbit out of the hat. That's one thing I will not do is bet against Bill Zito and his group. and how creative they can be. So if Barkoff is a massive loss, which is, and if he's gone for completely the full season, I think everything's on the table for that organization

to keep it rolling. What do you make of that, Johnny? Of course. They will be bold. They will be aggressive. They will mortgage the future. They do whatever they have to to try replace that guy. I mean, the fact is not many people can replace him.

And also, isn't the salary cap in place for the playoffs this year? isn't that no i think it kicks in next year for the new cb a just next year i don't know that for sure i don't know that for sure but the new cba kicks in next year i know that no i know but didn't they roll some of that stuff in early was not one of the things they rolled in early someone to check on that because if they did then you can't bring in bark off late for this 10 million extra and then add them to a guy you already replaced him with so depending but yeah they'll be aggressive but it's hard and it's going to rob their depth elsewhere maybe cost them samiscavich and and, you know, other young players, and it just, it just changes them.

Yep. And how many guys are as good as, as Barkoff? Hardly any, right? So, even, Sid, by the only guy, but most guys will not be as good, even if you try to replace them. So you don't have to go, like, poor man's version. Like, do you take a swing at Evgeny Malcon? Not the same player. Nowhere near the same player, but expiring contract, and you're like,

we need a body who can give us some skill. and the salary cap is coming in this year. The new CBA starts after, but they could roll this in early, and I think there was an appetite between the teams and the GMs to do it early. So they're going to have to be 95 and a half million this year. You're playing roster, right? Cap compliant in the playoffs. Yeah.

No, you can go over by 10 if he's not returning, but you can't add them to the team without making that game playing roster of the playoffs, cap-compli. So if they're going to add 10 million in, you'd have to take 10 million. out which is step jones or whatever you know what i mean so it is like the the nuance is also going to everybody yeah and and the 20 players that are in your lineup have to be 95 and a half million so now your 23 man roster so you get a little wiggle room that way right which to tie it into

Toronto will like that will be the end of the high price backup if you got a backup making four million dollars why would you dress him just dress them for a guy who makes he 800 grand and now you can, you know, add a three and a half a million dollar player to go over that number. I guess it's a bit of a risk if the starter can't finish the game. But I would think, if you're Vancouver, Kevin Lanken, it makes, what, four and a half, four and a quarter? Yeah. You can take him out of the dressing roster, still on your team, still available if you need a starter. Just don't dress him in the game because he's not going to play anyways.

And that would be one sort of loophole that I'm sure teams will expose very quickly. and you get a veteran like James Reimer in there and a league minimum. There you go. We talked this morning. Yes. We talked this morning about the Leas Coley situation. And I was like, you know what?

Don't worry about it. There's always veteran guys on waivers. You can grab somebody, you know, cheaper. And Marty Burroughs, like, you want Cochanan or whatever. Like, we didn't bring up James Reimer. But clearly, Toronto was thinking the same things we were thinking where let's get a guy in. And, you know, obviously Toronto is conservative.

what's going on with Joseph Wall on a human level, of course, but on a practical level of when he will be ready to play, because the only thing that's changed as the start of camp has been Joseph Wall has left for the personal reason that he's left. And that if they were 100% sure he'd back and back tomorrow, they wouldn't have done this with James Reimer. Right. Otherwise, they would have done it before camp started.

So there's obviously a bit of uncertainty there, and we hope Joseph Wall is okay, and whatever he's going through, he gets through. but they're clearly making some plans in case he's not back soon and whether it's Rimer or whether it's whatever other veterans going around the league that tells you a little bit something about how confident Toronto is that this will be resolved with Joseph Wall in the very short term yes and you have to because if there is uncertainty and it's going to be up to Joseph Wall you've got it maybe he'll be the beast the guy maybe is and maybe over the next

week and a half, he proves that he's the guy. He looked pretty good last night. But Rimer is looking, he wants to keep playing. He's a reliable veteran that I think is somewhat predictable. How much game he has left? I don't know. Maybe noodles. You would have a better take on this than the four of us or the three of us. How much do you need them, right? Like if you feel like Wall is going to return in November or December, you're probably looking at two starts, two or three starts, presuming Stollars is healthy. What's the better option, Reimer or Hildeby or someone else? I think it's Hildeby that they're going to give a pathway to.

Johnny, the only reason why I thought it was a smart move by Tree, not grabbing somebody off waivers who has a contract already, because if you can't get rid of that contract, say Joseph Wohl comes back next week, all of a sudden, now you've got to log jam, you've got to get him. Say you put that player back on waivers and he doesn't get claimed, you've got to put him with the Marley's, and that messes with Hildebe's progression to be your number three to you know, play a lot this year. They had a three-headed monster down in the miners last year with the Marleys.

And I think that hurt Hildeby because you had Murray into Hildeby into the Russian, I call him, AA, because I can't pronounce his name. But they had too much, you know, two nets and three goaltenders. So I think you need to be cognizant of Hildeby's pathway here. And that's why a PTO makes way more sense that if you get Rimer and you give Hilder maybe one or two starts, say Wohl's not back till November, then you can have Rimer play with the Marley's and, you know, sign a deal with him and then make that go away at some point.

Like, to me, there's some more flexibility. When can you, I mean, they don't have that. Again, that's coming up to practice goal. I'm like, you could just have Rimer be the practice goal. And then if you need them, you just sign them to a contract. But I think that's, that actually is kicking in next year. That's not getting in this year. But these are the things they're worrying about, you know.

And the other part about this conversation is while we all acknowledge that the Leafs are fine with Stolar's playing because he's great, he hasn't. You don't, do you want him playing 16 of the first 21 games? No, absolutely not. You want him playing 12 of 21 games. You don't want to ride him into the ground early because I think he's a guy given his track record.

You have to pace him and how much you're going to play regardless of whose backups is. So they are in a position. that I think they need a guy that they can trust more 40% of the games until Joseph Wall's back and then they can sort it up from there. You like what you see from Easton Cowan. You feel like he's got an inside track. He's building a little cohesion with Lawrence and Lawton. Like how do you see that playing out?

Best fourth line in the league last night. Best fourth line in the league. It's the new grind line from Detroit. Yeah. It's the identity line from the Islanders. They're the best fourth line in the league. Here we go. You know what?

So, Frankie, if we're going strictly on merit, which is not how the NHL works, if it's just who has played best and deserves to go there, then I do like Easton's chances. He's been really good. And they haven't played top flight opponents where the concern for Cowan is in that role against top teams. If he's only playing eight or nine minutes a game, will he be effective? Will he be able to be physical? Will he be able to be energetic in that role?

he's showing that he can play with those guys and they can make plays and I think Scott Lotton was traded for a first round pick he's not supposed to be just the fourth line guy you hide for seven minutes he's supposed to play and be a good player so maybe Cowan brings some of that out

Lawton plus Lorenz brings what he brings it is been a good fit and when you get around the guys on the Leafs organization management coaching staff they're all singing Eastern Cowan's praises without even being prompted to the point

where they see it they believe it They're not just trying to sell him. They believe it. But the bigger issue, whether or not he stays there, Frankie, David Camp, Nick Robertson, Callie Yarnproke, and the lesser extent, Michael Pavetta. That's a fifth line and a sixth line of guys who are on one-way deals that do require waivers. And until they sort out what they want to do with those guys, whether it's some of the minors, risk losing, whatever, then the path of least resistance is the problem.

put Cowan in the minors and it happens we see it around the league all the time guys get sent down even though they don't deserve to but because they're the easiest target to do so and I would be concerned if I'm Easton Cowan it's not about how he's playing but just the administrative part of the game that won't have him start because there's just too many bodies here for Toronto you remember like it just made me laugh and I don't know why do you remember that whole stupid free Jake Gardner nonsense that went on like when they sent Cardner down to like get some games with the Marley's to play and there was like a hashtag and people were going crazy over and I only remember free Frankie Corrado that's all I'm going to say I don't

know anything about those types of movements I was spearheading that I was spearheading that I think it was Gardner's agent that was doing that it was yes it was but it like it caught fire I do remember free Frankie but that was a different reason but like you know it was just I don't know why I'm laughing about it. Maybe it's nostalgia because James Reimer's all of a sudden back. Like that's what it is. It stirred your memory of to like when this guy was around, this is the type of nonsense that was going on.

And that's because the team wasn't any good. The difference now is the team's good. Like the fan base is well aware of what the team expectation is, how veteran they are. And the fans aren't as desperate for a young player, where back then that's what it was. You were desperate for some sort of sense of a future. player that was going to help with this team

so yeah we'll see what happens with Reimer he's here he's here on a tryout we'll see what it means in terms of Joseph Wall and his future Johnny you and I were on the top 50 show Paisie yeah go ahead if Wall doesn't come back before the end of camp Reimer signs

he signs and starts that probably makes sure for a real sign for the league minimums so like yeah they can get rid of him and if he doesn't want to report like it can be one of those deals where I don't want to go to La Marleys or we need and you just go home and get paid. Yeah, it'll be under the threshold.

It's sort of an understanding there. Yes, under the threshold that you can bury it and it doesn't count against your cap. Keep in mind, though, it's not like he has to drive to Binghamton to play in the minors. He just goes to a different arena in the same city that he lived in for six years before. And he might be fine with that. Johnny, the top 50 show this morning. It went off without a hitch. Brilliant stuff.

Sports Emmy stuff for you, myself, Marty Barron. what McDavid at number one we revealed the top 10 McDavid at number one not surprisingly what is interesting is Connor Hallibuck won the heart in the Vesna he was at nine Nikita Kuturov won the Ted Lindsay that's the players voting on who was the best player last year he's at five like how did we get here how did we get here where the league MVP is nine and the Ted Lindsay winners at five I'm not surprised and I got to admit the top four is exactly how I had it too in my voting. So I guess I'm yelling

at myself or poking at myself here. But is that just a lock to top four? Or, you know, is there a chance that any of the guys from 5 through 10 could break through into the top four? So, I mean, I think the easier answer is Hellebuck. We know he was

incredible. Historically great season. But it's on the full body of work. And unfortunately for him, the playoffs not only this year, but probably for the past couple of years, impacted what guys think of him as far as the greatest in the game. When you got McDavid, you know, getting to the final two years in a row

and winning Kahn Smyce on a losing team, it's different than how you feel about Hellebock in the biggest moment. So that's why He's where he is. He's the best goalie. Has not been great in the playoffs. The Kutrov one is interesting. I think offensively, he is

right there with all those guys. I just think the fact that he's a winger, the fact that Tampa has had much as far as deep runs lately either. It probably impacts him. And as far as chances of guys going to that top five

it's Barkoff would have been a guy that, you know, he puts up 90 points and takes a deep you know, could he bump, Kail McCarr, could he bump Kare, could he bump Kucharoff, he could. And the other guy he could go there is a guy who would just there. It's Austin Matthews. He's been in the top five before. He's been ahead of those guys before

if he is healthy, if he scores 55 goals and gets 100 points in Toronto's good again. Then Austin would be the other guy I think in that list that would slide up there. I think Kutrov and Posternock are maybe capped as scoring wingers, great scoring wingers at that five spot behind those

other three defensemen and Kail McCar. And maybe Quinn Hughes. You know what? I think so too. Quinn Hughes is a sick player, such a good player. And if he's healthy and puts up 95, 100 points, then he might be a slide in there as well. One more for you. I think that, like, if Carill Caprisoff was able to put together 82 game seasons,

we're talking big numbers. Like, he's always on pace for huge numbers, but he plays 41. He plays 67, right? Like, that's, you forget that it, you don't get them for half the year sometimes. Scoring winger, though. Scoring winger, that's the question. But if his best season, he might get, you know, I don't know. I don't know, even with it, like, if he gets 50 goals and 120 points,

if he gets ahead of any of those three forwards or, or McCar. Like, he's, he's, scoring winger, it's just sort of capped as the fifth guy, I think, right now until something else happens by the nature of the position. I think that makes sense. Centers and defensemen, like, you know, number one center, number one defenseman probably should be at the top of the list. And if you're an oiler fan or an avalanche fan, you're pretty lucky. You have two guys in the top four. Pretty incredible. How about Tampa having six guys on the list?

Yeah. They're a good team, pretty deep team. And 16 Americans. Vasilesky also watching Fred Training Camp right now. Vaselowski not planning. I've been tracking that, yeah. As those guys get older, it's hard.

It's hard to keep being at that level. 16 Americans, 14 Canadians on the list. That's interesting. That's probably worthy of diving into again at some point. So the top 50 list is officially been revealed by TSN. You can find it at TSN.com. I think the top 50 show is going to replay tonight. Might be worthy of

checking out. I think it probably is. Probably should play all weekend. Did you sleep in any hot takes taste? You're right. Did you, like, instead of tea and the boys up, did you throw in a little tank here and there? Nothing. I had no time to do anything. I was basically Ron Burbby. I wanted to. I was desperately trying.

Like, I was, like, so eager to get in and I couldn't do it. I couldn't, couldn't do it. All right, Johnny. Good stuff, put a leash on me. That's what finally did it. Have a good weekend. Have a great weekend.

There's 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 and the Maple Auto Mall. Visit Maple Toyota.com. All right. Dear Hazy, B coming up, Jay's Rays, tracking the Ryder Cup. We'll get to that next. New Virgin Plus spot, take one. Get an affordable phone plan starting from, Tyler, I sound like a robot.

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We got the NFL going this weekend. We get the Ryder Cup with the Europeans. They are in a very good position. Yes, they are. Scotty Schaeffler and his partner have been pumped twice. Scotty's 0 for two. Now it's day one. But that's the number one player in the world.

Captain America, that's the guy everyone's leaning on. Beth Page, it's go time. The guy was crying over in Rome two years ago. And he's out there and he's getting dummied. It was Sepp Strach and John Rom that beat Sheffler and Spawn 3 and 2 today. Dude, how about that for John Rom? He kind of fell off the face of the earth. he showed up at the majors, like his, I don't know, he didn't do anything spectacular at any of the majors this year.

Did he, did I miss something? Like, I don't think he did. And then all of a sudden now he's at the Ryder Cup and he's rolling, rolled this morning, rolled again this afternoon. He's crazy. Like, this is a different thing, though, right? Because the whole season goes, everyone's in a groove, like you got your routine. And then this is at the end. There's been so much time off.

Like, I don't know, this is truly such a one-off experience, it feels like. It's very different. And Scott, he's not the only, he's not the only top guy, you know, to be dominant throughout the whole season and then struggle at the Ryder Cup. Like, that's... Well, Tiger, Tiger had that reputation. Historically, he was terrible at the Ryder Cup. And especially as a teammate, like in foursums and four ball, he just couldn't do it. Or his partner couldn't step up when need be.

So Sheffler's going to play in all five matches. He's going twice tomorrow. And then he's going to go as a single on Sunday. but him being 0 and 2 is significant and DeCambeau's still out in the course and you know Donald Trump's there I'm sure he's gone by now but the Americans have got to find a way

to pick up some points as they come down the stretch but the crowds look great Roy McElroy was you know flipping the bird to someone down there it's getting a little bit hectic was that is there is that interaction like on film or anything we saw it but it was like what is it like what was the I don't know what, obviously he got chirped, like obviously a fan said something to him and continues to say something.

And the nature of this is fans can walk with you. And if you're walking through the ropes and you've got a happy Gilmore situation where the guys... I'll see you in the parking line. Or, yeah, nice shot, Jackass, and the guys just following them around the whole time. You probably started in the morning. Do you know how aggravating that would be if you were in the morning and the afternoon and some guy from Brooklyn or the Bronx is just yelling at you for hours.

Eventually, everyone's going to snap. But the Europeans are in a pretty good spot. Really good spot right now. So you got that this weekend, and then you got the Jays and Rays. And the magic number is three. Shane Bieber on the mound tonight. This is why you go to get them.

I know the story has been the bats, and it continues tonight. They're going to need offense. I saw Keegan Matheson post a video, earlier today that the first guy that showed up and was in the cage was Floddy Jr. And he's working through things. And he just looks like he's overthinking everything, not making excuses for him because you can't, he's got to play way better.

He's got to be way more productive. Yes. But it's not an effort issue. It's that he just can't do it right now. Execution. He cannot do it. And even last night, he runs out a single. Always talks about it.

When you're praying to the skies after a single, you're in a dark. place and that's what Vladdy was doing last night and that was an error right like he got the guy got charged for an error on on Vladdy getting a base I guess like it can change so quick but sometimes it feels like that that little transition can take forever right like you're either playing well or you're not but the time in between to actually get yourself to where you're seeing it and you're confident like it's usually not three games it's but it's got to happen quick for him. Listen, what they did is last night, they shrunk the games to three, right? Because it's, you know, the Yankees won, so now magic numbers three. You got to, if you can win tonight

and the Yankees win, you shrink it to two. Like, that's what you really need to do is, but you won, maybe that gives them a little bit of like, hey, the monkey off our back here. Let's, let's go and have a great series here. Well, I thought that after they went on Sunday against Kansas City. I was thinking the same thing. Bats alive. They clinched. They have a party day off. They're going to come back and be rocking, and that just simply didn't happen. I mean, one of the games you ran into Crochet, so there's, I mean, that's a tough bounce, but that's, it's a tough bounce, but that's also the reality of where they're headed haze in noodles, right?

Like, you're going to get, you know, stud a stuff that you're going to have to work through. So, you know, it's unforgiving if the bats are cold, but a guy like crochet, you got to get hits on a guy like that, or it's because it can be able to way too quick. Guess what's coming in the playoffs? You're not playing against a fifth starter in the playoffs. You're going to be up against crochet or freed or heel. You know, whoever it is, you're going to play a team

where they are going to set up Terrick Scoobel waiting for you and you're probably going to play them twice. So there's no easy path. And you're right, crochet is a beast and he's likely going to finish second in the Cy Young in the American League behind Scoobel. But that's who you're going to play against. So the bats have got to come alive at some point

And I think he went eight innings the other night Which is in the modern era Basically a complete game It's monstrous stuff It is You know what The Jay's rotation on name value And what everyone could be

It's scary Like if you're the opposition And you look at the Toronto Blue Jays rotation You're like these guys can set up Gosman, Scherzer, Bieber You know like You look at it and you're like That's difficult

like that's ace like stuff three nights in a row but you know scherzer's got to get there beber's got to have it gosman i don't have worries about generally like but you know the jays when everything's going well it's not just one guy they can throw at you no and that's why you have beaver tonight interestingly enough you have you save you savage tomorrow you've got gosman you're right based on name value and when everything was clicking for this team when the bats were alive and the rotation was alive they were all doing it was a five-man rotation every single night And Eric Lauer gave them a lot last night out of the bullpen. That's big.

And that's going to be substantial. You're going to need everybody, Rios on the IL, Bassett on the IL. But it's not the arms I'm concerned about. I'm not worried about Beaver tonight. I'm not worried about Hoffman who got hit a little bit in the ninth last night. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about the bats. What is the offense going to look like?

Yeah, but you will be worried if it's a Scherzer and you give up three in the first. And that leads into your point, though, about how do we overcome that deficit? because August Blue Jays, they were doing that. Like, we gave up three, so be it. Off we go. August feels. And it's just that's not really happening. August feels a long, long ways away.

It was a long, long ways away. Yet they have 91 wins and they're going to the playoffs. Regardless of what happens this weekend, they are playing playoff games. Think about that, though. Like, there's exciting games coming. No matter, like, they win the ALE Easter, they don't. Like, there's going to be some really exciting baseball happening. At the Rogers Center, too.

With that win last night, it pretty much sets up. If they end up in the wild card, they're going to play those two or three games at home. And to put perspective on it, like last year, they were so bad, and no one saw this coming. So, you know, like, looking at it from the outside perspective, like, all very good stuff. It's just that when they have such a stranglehold on the AL East and you start talking about is World Series on the table, And then this stuff starts to happen. You're like, man, it just, it kind of sours something that is really, really great. Minus 1250 on Fandul to win the Aal East 11 days ago.

Minus 1250. What is it today? What is it? I have not looked at the odds. They're favored to win tonight. I believe they're still favored because they have that tie break, but it's real close to a pickum. Yeah. It's very close to a pick him.

Tampa plays them hard. They play them tough. Houser. Is it Houser that's pitching tonight for Tampa? Damn tough, but you've got, outside of Bichette, you've got your lineup available. Santander's back, and you've got Varsho and center field, and this is what we need to see starting tonight. So you got Springer-D-Hing leading off tonight. Lucas playing right field in the Vladi, barger, hit and cleanup, Kirk, Varsho, Santander, Clement, Jimenez.

You've got to assume the Yankees are winning. Assume the Yankees are winning, and you take care of your own backyard and everything's okay. You might have to be easy. You might have to sweep Tampa. You might, but you're at home. You might have to sweep them starting tonight. All right, best bet's coming up on this game. We'll get to some Deer HazyB as well.

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Conditions apply. See your local Nissan dealer today. All right, best bets powered by Fanduel, make your picks and assemble the same game, partly in seconds on the Fandual Sportsbook app. I'm on the under tonight. Jay's offense, I just can't rely on it based on what I've seen the last two weeks. And the Ray's offense, they're a chippy team, but I don't expect an explosive offensive night. So I think both starters are going to pitch well. I'm on the under and Shane Bieber

over six and a half strikeouts. I think this is why you get Bieber. Cy Young winner, Friday night, dome open, massive game. Bieber shows up. I think the Js are going to win tonight. I think it'll be like a four to win. So Bieber over six and a half and under. That's your place for the day.

Best Bet's powered by Fando. Download the Fandole Sportsbook app today and find thousands of ways to play. Please play responsibly 19 plus and physically located in Ontario. Shout out to the Canadian women's rugby team, too, right? Going for gold over there. Unbelievable run. Big stuff over there. Unbelievable.

TSN's been doing a phenomenal job with that as well. You can catch that, of course, tomorrow, cannot wait. And that just adds to what we have this weekend. We got hockey, we got football, we got baseball, we got golf, we got rugby. What else do we have? It's a couching weekend. The definition of a couching weekend. And I'm actually, I was supposed to be on the ice early tomorrow morning.

early and my youngest broke her wrist recently so she's been in a cast yeah it's two casts for her she's six years old she had two casts already she's she's like she's gritty right yeah we're shaking hands into the fracture clinic hey hey how you doing great to see you again what's going on how you doing yeah good to see it um so i'm on the ice and i got the the coach sent me an email or sent me a text she said sleep in tomorrow don't worry about it i'll see you sunday i said Oh, you're a legend. Wow.

You're such a legend. What is that like a just, is that like this guy's just going to get in the way or something? Yeah, because I was out there last weekend. We had the evaluation skates and I was right in the mix and my daughter didn't come out, you know. And I think Amanda, our head coach, she just, I think she saw it in my eyes. Like I could use a sleep in and there's so much going on. So I got a little sleeping plan tomorrow. Let's put it this way.

It's one less thing that she has to worry about. Like, I don't have to cater to what Hayes is doing. Exactly. This guy getting in the way, like. Precisely. Does he have his helmet done up? I got to enforce that on him. Exactly right.

Silly stuff. Exactly right. Exactly, exactly right. And it's a great call, and I love it. This is a dear Azee B. Dear Azee B, what happens when your kid's injured and you think you got to go on the ice? Exactly. You know, you pray that the coach is cool enough to say, just take the day off.

And tomorrow's the 7 a.m. Skate. Sunday's 8. 8 a.m. It's a breeze. It's amazing. Everybody's up. You're up anyway. It's amazing how different that hour is.

People without kids and young kids in particular cannot understand that. Like by 7, 7.20, you're up. Six, no one's up. No. So it's just a massive hookup. All right. Speaking of which, dear Hazy B, let's fire some up. People send in a tweet, they write us for our professional advice on life things.

Dear Hazy B, every morning my boiler has a gas leak. wife thinks it's the baby. Dear Hazie B. If you want to come to Hazie B, I need honesty from you. Hazie, you got dumped a lot. Tell me. Tell them. Tell them. Growing adults with birthdays, it's assanae. All right, Dear Hazy B

brought you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a side and a drink, and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch of your local Boston pizza. I love this one. This

one, Oh, would appreciate. Oh, would have great takes on this. We'll circle back with Owen, we'll get his take on this. Josh in St. Catharines, saying, I had the foresight recently to bring a jacket to an outing. No one else did, and they thought it was ridiculous. I'm getting goofed on. How could you bring a jacket? Later

that evening, it's cooling down, but I wasn't wearing it yet. I had it on the back of my chair. Friend of ours started complaining that she was cold. Everyone pressured me to give her my jacket. I did reluctantly but 30 minutes later, I'm freezing, and I tell that to my friend wearing my jacket,

and she says, quote, yeah, it's cool, and it cools down early now, end quote. I was freezing the whole night. What do I do when I end up in this crazy situation again? Like, you know what you should do is you get mouthy to the people who were chirping you about the coat? You put it on and say, I'm good. Now, listen, if it's your date or somebody else, you got to, you got to, you know, be a gentleman. You got a man up here a little bit. You do have to give it a man up.

But you do, I think you give it away reluctantly and you say, this is why I brought the coat. And you idiots chirped me earlier. And I'm the only one with the foresight to bring this. And now I'm giving it out because I'm a good human. You've got to be incredibly annoying about this entire thing. So much so that people are like, I don't even want the jacket anymore. Like if I got to hear you talk about this thing, like just I'd rather be cold. because if it's your girlfriend, yeah, no problem.

But if it's like a big group and there's guys and girls, it's like it's fair game. You had every opportunity to bring a jacket just like her, her, her, and her and him, him, and him. So I don't know. You just got to be really annoying and force people to be like, dude, I just can't hear you anymore. I don't want the jacket.

Yeah, the way around this is you got to wear the jacket the whole night. So you got to bite the bullet and be a little bit warmer than you want to early. That's for sate because if it's a part of your look, no one's going to ask you for the jacket. But when you're not wearing the jacket, everyone thinks, oh, you're fine. You're not even wearing a jacket. What does it matter? And I do like the idea of there's still being some standards where men realize, okay, I have to give up the jacket to a woman.

You know, like if she's cold, all right, you know, that's totally understandable. I think chivalry, it shouldn't be dead to that extent, even though this doesn't sound like it's his girlfriend, not his girlfriend, which makes it way worse. And it sounds like they were chirping him about bringing the jacket. Well, that's a great point. You get chirped. You can fly that right back and say, give your shirt, take your shirt off, tarps off if you're such a tough guy. Being a hero, you get chirped, you put that coat on proudly and you just sit there and you, you know, but I do think there is an opportunity to kind of, you have a win-win because you let everybody know,

I was smarter than you bringing a coat and I'm just being a nice guy. We've all been there where you are, you got to give up the jacket and you're so cold or you're cooling down. You're like, man, why didn't she bring a jacket? You know, like, why, why was this not thought of that once you get to a point where you're in the fall, we're officially in the fall, past the 21st of September, you've got to have a jacket when you're going out at night. Exactly. You've got to have that prepared. It's layers. This is a layer season.

I'm finding hoodies everywhere in my house right now. I'm like, I went for a walk with the dog. There's a hoodie there. There's something in the garage. There's layers everywhere. Yeah. It's a big, it's a layering time of year because it's beautiful during the day. Yeah.

It feels like July. You go outside of two or. clock it's 24 25 degrees it's beautiful but the sun's going down early if you're out late at night it's still patio season which throws people off because patio at midnight it's cold man it gets cold so i feel you i feel for you josh and you should you should go back at anyone that was chirping you have all the right in the world that josh dougie josh it might have been doogie it wouldn't shock me dugies out in denver i don't know what the hell he's doing out there but freeze in his ass off yeah he's in the rockies yeah it's got no cold

He's got an oak jacket. That's exactly what's going on. All right, boys. You got an extra pair of mitts, though. Exactly. Aspen. All right. Good stuff.

Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today and all week. We appreciate that TV, radio, podcast, web. And, of course, up on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the weekends.

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