OverDrive - March 19, 2026 - Hour 2 - Keegan Matheson/Carlo Colaiacovo

Power to overdrive continues powered by Fandall, Brian Hayes, Jonas Siegel, Carol Wagland

in here, buddy, Keegan Matheson coming up later this hour. We've got Carla Culliakvo

around the table. Carla's on the panel tonight, Habs Detroit, massive game in the East,

massive game, Columbus at home tonight, Ottawa, New, uh, playing the Islanders tonight.

Man, Edmonton, Florida, which should be a big game because it's sort of obviously repeated

the last two cup finals, but it's not because Florida is completely melting down and committing

to a tank. Big day, though, for, uh, for golf fans, because I read online that the master's

app is officially available. Oh, did you see what comes with that? Like, you're able to search.

What did I see today? The last, like, however many years of whatever specific golf shot you

want to find, right? Over the last, like, 40 years. They have a search function. You can find the

video of any shot hit from 1968 to 2025. I love that. That's just eating time. Yeah. I'm falling

down rabbit holes. Give me an Ian Wuznam Friday around in 1987. All right. Wuzzi, you don't know,

Wuzzi. Come on, Jonas. Wuzzi's got a green jacket. He's buckle that the champion's dinner every

year. Oh, it's amazing. Wuzzi is about five foot two. And him and Stads, you wouldn't know

style there either. The two of them are always tucked in the corner of the champions dinner. Oh,

I love those two guys, because they just look buckled every single year in that picture. As I would,

I blame them at all. But does the Gus ever make a bad decision? Like, I feel like everything

they do, they just do it right. Well, the app is phenomenal. The tournament's incredible. Although

someone's pointed out, and I'm sure it's just a formality based on past champions being invited,

but Tiger Woods is a player in the player profile of the app. So some people trying to put two

and two together. Tiger is going to be there. Yeah. I can see that. I think Tiger's going to play.

I don't know that he should, but I could see him. He loves the master so much. If he's going to come

back for anything, it's going to be the master. I'd love to see him. I'm all for it. Just let

him play. He's probably not going to make the cut. He's just going to do his thing, but

get him out there. Get him out there. But everything they do with the pricing,

they don't always find pricing. That's phenomenal. People from Augusta should come and take a stab at

writing the ship for the Toronto Maple Leafs. You want Fred Ridley running the right. Let's do it.

They're right. That article, Jonas. My decision for the president of hockey ops is Fred Ridley from

Augusta National. Did I include you on the list? Yeah. Throw me in there. Okay. You know who turned

us down yesterday was strutty. Shuddy came on and said, I'm not accepting that offer.

Is it because of the lease or he wouldn't want that? Yeah. Well, he's got a hockey school at an

ever since. It's very lucrative. It doesn't want to wear suits. Yeah. He doesn't want to wear suit.

That's a totally suckers. You don't have to wear suits. Yeah. Yeah.

President, you can decide what you're doing. Right. Exactly. I'd like to run the operation. Yeah.

You can do it. I think I could. I think I'd get right in there and run the whole operation. Like

I said, I've already mandated 30 draft picks in the next three years. I want, I want a completely

overhauled farm system. And I'm keeping Matthews. I'm keeping Neilander because it's been so bad

this year, like to move off them because of one horrendous season. You might be losing value.

Like and again, I'm not I'm not sure what those two players are going to look into the future.

Matthews in particular, I got a pretty good read on what Willie is the next three or four years.

Like he'll age and at some point slow down a little bit. Matthew scares me a little bit just

with the injuries and the ways to look the last couple of years. I'm concerned about where that's

going. But I feel like you as president would get so jaded. Yeah. I mean, again, I'm not I'm not

I'm not loving where things are going here. You would be the guy in the corner. But is refuses

to listen to anybody. Yeah. Is willing to die on whatever hill that you've made a decision on.

Incredibly stubborn credit. Great. But yeah, I think I mean, there's got to be an overhaul of

the whole philosophy. Like I don't know what the philosophy is right now. I think that's part of

the concern problem. Yeah. I don't really know what the like this year stunned them. Clearly,

you know, they've been in the past nine straight years. They won the division last year. This

was not something anyone saw coming. And you can blame them for that. But this is pretty extreme.

Like the bottom is completely fallen out. So more on that with Carlo Coliacval later in the hour.

So today was announced. Treya Savage will begin the season on the I L for the blue jays. And what

that means for his return, what it means for his usage, the rest of the year, obviously is up for

debate. Bieber will not be available to start the year. Bereost will not be available to start the

year. So the rotation, which has a lot of depth, a lot of talent was going to be a bright spot.

And certainly something they relied on and leaned on throughout the season. I'm not saying

they're still not going to, but it has taken hits. The complexion is a little bit off as we get

closer to opening day, which is what week tomorrow. Yeah, we're getting close week tomorrow. It's

go time. Let's head down to Florida. Here he is from MLB Network, our main man here with TSN as

well. Here's Keegan Mathis and joining us. Keegan, what's your level of surprise on this

Savage situation, the fact that he's starting the year on the injured list?

Well, I won't pretend I knew exactly what the injury was, but there was obviously something.

Okay, it's clear that we were missing a piece of this story all spring. And when you're missing

a piece of something nine times at a 10, it's health. It's an injury. So this is not good news

by any means. And I think a lot of injuries are being framed as good news just because the

guy's not having an arm amputated, but there's nothing good about this. Okay, when you're talking

about a shoulder, a shoulder is very complicated. Okay. And the blue jays, I'm going to be the dramatic

guy this season, I guess, but games in April matter. Okay, this is the AL East. And this is a division

that was tied at 94 wins last year. The red socks are going to be better. The o's are going to be

better. The rays will at least be pesky, right? If you are only getting 20 tray, you savage starts

instead of 26, 28, 30. That might be a winner too, right? This is this is worrying off the top

for you, Savage. Anytime I hear shoulder, I don't like it. Ideally, this is just a blip, but I've

got to see that proven first. Now, it's interesting how again, I it's amazing where we are with this

front office and the organization and the reputation today compared to a year ago, where throughout

this whole process, like I have noticed and I have taken shots from people online and everyone

when I have questioned, like, what's going on with you, Savage? And it's like, how dare you?

And I don't worry about how they know what they're doing. Shut up. Like, it's all good. I'm like,

I'm just wondering what's going on. And where if this was a year ago, it would be these are idiots.

They don't know what the hell they're doing. They're going to ruin this kid. And again, they deserve

an updated reputation based on what happened last year. But I think what you're pointing to is some

are more reasonable and kind of in the middle, Keegan that, you know, it's not the end of the world.

Doesn't mean he's not going to pitch for them, but it is a hit. And it's something like they've

known about this. Like he has set on the record. I believe down in Dunedin today, like this was

before even got to camp. Something was going on with his shoulder. He's been aware of it. And,

you know, they're kind of slow playing it here. And I'm not convinced they have an answer for when

he's going to be a hundred percent. Is that accurate? Like, did you get the impression they know

when he's going to pitch for them? I don't know. And the the thing that started to get a little

strange for me was more recently. When I think back to back outings, he threw the same number of pitches.

35, 35, two innings, two innings. That signals that something's not progressing. Okay. And at this

point, like the clues were kind of there all through spring training when Trey was handling this,

I think, well, but, you know, giving some of the same answers, John Schneider saying some of

the same things, you start to piece together the clues. And it's, it's no great scandal by any means.

But I think that we could start to sense that something was a little off. Now there are two parts

to this that I'm concerned about. Number one is just the workload. Do they need them to be back to

85 pitches is 60 enough? When do you want to get him back all the way ramped up? I don't know.

The second part of this is that you've got to be good. Okay. I use and very carefully here. Let

me tee it up. I use Alec Manoa as the example. This is not a Manoa situation. I won't go down

that road. But that's an example that I think blue jeans. But we're going to at least look at

that road sign. Okay. When Alec Manoa came back, he got his workload back up. He was up to a guy

who could throw 100 pitches again. But his stuff was not back after shoulder issues. So that's

part of this conversation as well. You savage needs to get back to a workload. But then you need

to see his fastball up at 95 96. You need to see his splitter make a few people look stupid again.

Okay. That's the other part of this equation. And today, John Schneider didn't have a timeline

for that. It's not smart to give him one right now. But I don't think this is something where suddenly

he is back in the rotation two weeks from now. It's similar to Jose Barrios, guys. I mean,

how he is going to pitch through a stress fracture in his right elbow. I don't got a clue. Okay.

But I don't think either of these are going to happen next week.

So he can I'm just for clarification purposes because reports wrote about you savage. And maybe I

just took this a little took this incorrectly. He showed up to camp with the issue. He's feeling

better now, but ran at a time to be ready for the regular season, which kind of led me to believe

that he's on the right track. Everything's okay. He just needs to kind of ramp up. But you're saying

that that's not necessarily the case that there might be more going on here.

Yeah, you still need the the stuff to be back in terms of timeline. You're right. And that's

a good point to make in terms of how this worked. What we understand as of today, you know, five,

10 PM Eastern on March 19th, he showed up to camp feeling not great in the shoulder. That's why

it started out slow on top of a plan that was already in place. So it's kind of layers of

slowing down his spring training. Now you've got to work that workload all the way back. And that's

what they're doing now. They say he's feeling a bit better. But on top of that, you've got to get

your stuff back. So it's like a regular spring training buildup where Maxures or Jose Birios or

Kevin Gossman, maybe they go out on February 25th, and they're throwing 90 miles an hour. And we

all panic. Then they tell us not to panic. And it's not a problem, right? But you've still got to

get the stuff back. I think that's going to be part of this for treasavage and to have the full

motion, the full use of that shoulder feeling completely a hundred percent fresh. And I don't think

the blue jays are going to rush this either. You know, I know nobody rushes a young pitcher,

but treasavage. This is one of the most valuable people in the organization. So you got to make

sure he is all the way right with Keegan Matheson. So we know the savage won't start the year,

but reos won't start the year. Bieber won't start the year. So the rotation sets up Gossman,

cease, ponds, shurser, and likely Eric Lowers. So that's your five man rotation. Let's presume

that happens. You know, they got to go through 20, 25 games with that. If that's the case,

how do you feel about that five man rotation? And how does it set up over a possible four or five

times through the rotation? Not nearly as good as it could be, but a heck of a lot better than most

teams would find themselves after losing three guys. Okay. This depth is really impressive.

Like, as I remember when we were talking a few weeks ago, where the heck is Mac sure is going to

pitch? Well, he's going to pitch right here. You know, these things work themselves out every

damn time. If they had signed 20 starters, 15 would have gotten hurt. It just works out this way

every year. So they're in a way better spot than most teams would be right now. But there are

some better rotations than this in the A at least. You know, the offense is going to have to do some

of the heavy lifting early in the season. And they're going to need guys like Gosman like Seas

to be dominant early. You know, you won't have that settle in period. And I know that sounds a

little pushy, but again, American league east, there's not a lot of time to settle into a season,

especially early on when you start out with the A's with the white socks with the Rockies,

you got to win a few ball games in there. So this situation right now, it's good enough to get

them through Eric Lauer. He gets what he has wanted. You know, not the way he wanted it, of course,

but he's wanted to start. He gets to step in. And if they can survive this, they just need to get

to the next guy coming back. The next piece of news needs to be good news, okay? One more piece of

bad news, then you get into who's next up. And that answer is not clear right now. So the next

news needs to be in the right direction after a few that have been in the wrong direction.

He again, as Cody Ponds exceeded your expectation so far, it's just spring training, but

better than you thought. Hell yeah, he has looked really good. And spring training guys,

there's some things that I do care about, okay? I've learned like struggling veteran,

George Springer last year. There's probably some clips of me on this show being a little too

dramatic about George Springer last year. I've learned that with certain guys when they've proven

themselves, spring is just whatever. But with pictures, especially a picture like Ponds coming

back, I almost treat Ponds like a prospect guys because he was in Japan and Korea. He's been

gone from the big leagues. He's coming back a new man. He's new to us and what we're seeing.

So the pitch metrics, the fancy stats about what his pitches are doing, how they're moving,

matters. And it looks really good. Okay, the Ponds signing, I loved it from the beginning because it

represented upside. If you're giving a guy three years, 30 million bucks, you can give it to an

aging veteran who's just throwing slop and is going to eat some innings and get beat around,

but you know, protect a spot. Or you can take a swing on upside. That's what the J's have done.

I thought it was a great deal at the time. I like it more right now than I did at the time. And he

is looked fantastic. I mean, I think it's a 0.66 ERA in spring training. And the reasons look

just as encouraging. So that's a big one. He can be talked about how, I mean, the AL East is always

tough, but the Yankees got better. The Red Sox brought in some guys. Everyone, I think we can

all agree the J's exceeded expectations last year. So there's going to be a little bit of regression

to the mean this season. The sportsbooks are not favoring the J's this season. They're not expecting

maybe what we're expecting from them. So where do you see the J's with small sample size in spring

training? Where do you see them kind of shaking out in the AL East into baseball as a whole?

I think they need to be a favorite in the AL East, but the Yankees are right there. Like even if

I project the blue J's to win the division, what am I projecting it by 0.2 games, right? Like this

division is so good. And I think that's in Toronto and Canada. I think we don't want to admit how

good the Yankees still are. Okay. They're really good. This quarter of a million runs last year.

They're going to do it again. They're going to get back Garrett Cole. They're going to get back

Cam Schlitler. They're going to get back a good rotation. The Red Sox will be better. This will

be tough. And the blue J's now have a target on their back. Okay. I think this is going to be

noticeable the first couple of weeks of the season. I mean, big leagueers should not lack motivation.

But if you are the A's, the White Sox, the Rockies, that's a lot of young players, a lot of fringe

players, frankly, but you are now taking a run at the team that was just in the World Series and

almost knocked down the Dodgers. The blue J's will get fewer lazy days this season. Okay. They're

going to get everyone's best. And you're going to need some players to step in and account for

that. If George Springer regresses a bit, who's going to make up for it? The easy answer is that

Vladie can make up for everyone. Okay. If Vladie is who he can be, he makes up for anyone that

stumbles, but they're going to need some others. Addison Barger, Dalton Varshal being a couple more

with Keegan Matheson. So you wrote an article today about Addison Barger. And he hit a missile

yesterday. Like you talk about a guy who's getting a lot of play around baseball.

Hit a beautiful catch today. Yes. And you know, he's, he, I'm curious how they utilize him

this year. Like last year it was basically only right. He's on the mound. He famously hit. I

believe that Grand Slam and gave one against the lefty on the mound. Like what do you think the

plan is for Barger this year? If you're John Schneider, are they going to unleash him? Is he an

everyday guy? Like what, what do you see his, his season projecting to be? I want to see him

in the lineup every damn day. Like that skill set is rare outside of Vladie. Addison Barger can do

things that most other people cannot do in this league. Okay. He throws harder than just about

everyone. He can hit the ball as hard as just about anyone. And we thought last year against lefty

sometimes there's some shortcomings. There's some struggles. But I think he is earning the opportunity

to try that out and to show this team what he can do every single day or at least giving him

145, 150 games. And I think he's in the right place mentally, you know, Addison Barger,

everything about this dude is just cranked up maximum 10 out of 10 intensity. And I think he's

learning to like take the odd breath, you know, not, not every day. But once a week, just like a

quick little exhale, you know, so that's going to help him pace himself over the year because no

matter how strong you are, no matter how heavy of a weight you can lift, the season is long and

it wears you down. I think that hit him last year. And I think that he's in a much better headspace

right now. There is no player outside of Vladie who has more power over this team's trajectory

than Addison Barger. Like he is the guy who can pop hit 35 homers and sneak into the number 10

MVP voting type of guy. Like he has that talent. Maybe it goes the other way, but that level of talents

got to be in your lineup, man. He can change a game in a second in any phase of the game.

Yeah, it's, I mean, we're going to find out obviously by next week. But how do you see the lineup

playing out like, let's say one through five. I mean, there's obviously going to be movement.

And guys, let's say there's a righty on amount. How do you see Schneider filling out his lineup?

Well, behind Springer and the lead off spot, they've been playing with Dalton Varsho number two,

which is way different than like a Nathan Lucas who they would do more last year. Varsho will

strike out a few times. But we've seen five home runs in spring training. His swing looks great.

Always trust a man in a contract year. That is motivation. The likes of which I cannot even

understand. Okay. So I would bet on Addison or sorry, bet on Dalton Varsho in every single way.

This year, he looks fantastic. Then you're going to have Vladie Alejandro Kirk works in there in

that four or five spot. Addison Barger does as well. Then you have Wokamoto probably down number six.

So the platoons will be played a little bit. I think Vladie stays three. He likes to be number three.

John Schneider would love to live in a world where Vladie wants to be two. But Vladie likes three. So

Vladie stays three. But that number two spots the interesting ones to me. You know that that's the

boba shit spot. And I think it's one that could change quite a bit. But I don't mind the idea of

getting that first crack. If he can reach base a bit more, he's fast. He is pound for pound.

As powerful as you get in Major League Baseballs. Maybe he pops for 30 plus this year.

That protection in the three, four, five is nice. Yes. Yeah. If you go Kirk into Barger into

Okamoto, you know, give or take. Yeah. I mean, obviously Vladie hitting third. I don't know.

It's going to be interesting. Like Schneider worked his lineup a lot last year and did so incredibly

well. But I'm, you know, we'll see every year is a little bit different. Is Ernie Clementing

every day ball player this year? I would think he is. You know, Barger. Yeah. Barger's every day is

Okamoto and every day guy would think. Yeah. So like how much flexibility do you see in the lineup

where guys like Lucas and Davis Schneider and others, you know, find a bats over the course of the

year. And then you look at kind of thirds of the lineup. You know, like the one, two, three will work.

And like you said, Cara, the four, five, six, that's a nice pocket. But the seven, eight, nine,

that's last year where they had some fun with Milestraw. They'd be bonding. They'd be running. They'd

be doing, they're kind of a different ball club down on that bottom third. And that's a good thing.

You know, you're not asking speed guys to be power guys. You're just asking them to be themselves.

But I think Okamoto is sneaky good. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people and he's

going to be a lot of people's favorite player by the middle of the season. But Kirk in the middle of

there, a perfect fit. And man, if barger pops, everything changes, man, he can really take this

lineup to a totally different world. He can have been reading the Okamoto actually is a really funny

guy and that him and Vladie have kind of hit it off and that as people get to know him, that he's

going to be, I mean, I don't want to go into Norikawa Saki, but that kind of level of personality.

Is that what you're seeing? Yeah, everyone loves him. You know, his teammates love the guy. And

so hopefully my job, so for a standing back, he's just kind of watching. And the way he gets along

with Vladie, especially there, they're like the new buddy cop movie, I think, and the Jason feel.

Like they've got their own handshake now where it's like they slap hands and there's a bow,

which is great. I think I've mastered my bowing at this point. I think I've got through the routines

pretty good. We'll see. But he's been a great personality around camp and he brings such a great

energy. Like we have so many more Japanese media members around now. It's just kind of perks

everybody up. It's, it's really cool. Like I think covering Okamoto is going to be the most fun

I have these next couple of years. And I think it's going to bring such a different energy.

And I think people will realize very quickly how big a deal this guy is. Like he is a big deal

in Japan coming over to the big leagues and his personality. We're starting to slowly see it.

There's a lot to adapt to here, but you're going to see a lot more. Love it, Keegan. Great catching

up, buddy. We'll do it again next week. You got it. We'll talk soon. There he is, Keegan Mathiston.

MLB.com and down there doing his thing. Been in Florida for like a month coming home soon.

That's not so bad. Yeah, not so bad. Not so bad for work in Florida.

Not so bad. Have a favorite buddy caught movie?

I need a lot of options. So like lethal weapon, very high rush hour.

Not bad. I mean rush hour one. I don't think some other ones.

Wow Beverly Hills cop. That's yeah, hi on that Eddie Murphy. Midnight run.

Midnight run. Yeah. Good one. Yeah. Is it the other guys with Will Farrell and Mark Walker?

That's more of a comedy. Like it's there's not as much action. Yeah, like lethal weapons like an

action movie. Beverly Hills cop I think is kind of the medical. It's bad boys. Yeah, bad boys.

That's a good one. That was great. That boy has and that holds up. It does. I would say like all I

haven't seen the most recent one, but there was a four movies now. Or there were sports total.

Three. I don't remember. It might be five. I don't know. The first three were dynamite.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing how this season plays out. Like Okamoto, like with these

new guys, like Ponds has been so good. Obviously Keegan's by and stock and Okamoto's impact on this

team. I'm fascinated with Springer because he had like the three. It's almost a career year.

It's best year of his career last year. No question. What is what is Rand slam today? What's

reasonable? What should you? I think you're expecting regression off that. But it can't completely

drop off. Yeah, like if you can find, I don't know, 20 home runs off him. He stays healthy and gives

you a good OPS gets on base. You know, just is he going to DH? Like he did all of last season.

I would think so, right? Yeah, I would think so too. But I don't know. It's interesting. Like how

there, you know, Schneider's got options, but Springer, Vladie Kirk, if Bargers and every day guy

Clement, he man as is going to play short every day. Yeah. Bar Show is going to play center field

pretty much every day. Okamoto is going to play third. We're pretty much locked in. You know, well,

yeah, exactly. Like you fight in Milastras, obviously, still here. And David Schneider and Nathan

Lucas, like those are going to be kind of your utility guys. Yeah. But we'll see. Yeah,

we'll see what happens coming up soon week tomorrow. All right, big game for the Habs tonight.

We'll get into that big game for Ottawa tonight. And the Leafs back in action tomorrow. Carlo

Kualiakawa will join us around the table, a little round table with him. We'll get to our best

spots later in the hour. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSN app.

Global Rock and Roll. Brian Adams Radio. Now available on the free iHAR radio app.

Or ask your smart speaker to play Brian Adams Radio on iHAR radio.

Who's ready to rock?

All right, that's best a little bit later in the hour. Brian A's Jonas Siegel,

Kara Wagland, Carlo Kualiakawa around the table. This is a four pack. This is a core four right

here, Jones. Would you break this core four up? I don't want to be part of that core four.

You don't like this core four? Or if we're working for you to leave core four.

Well, I mean, they got paid a lot that core four. Okay, I'm backing. Yeah, you'd take

their money. That's for sure. Oh, yeah. The way they get treated here. Yeah. They're like gods.

Gods, right? They're like gods. Okay. You don't see it, Jonas. Jonas doesn't seem happy about that.

Jonas is a pro player. Yeah. Yeah. Is that accurate? Yeah, for sure. Nothing wrong with that.

That wasn't a pro player, too. I mean, I'm just pro common sense. Yeah, pro common sense.

Yeah, that's like a politician. It does. What does that mean? I'm for common sense.

What does that mean? Who is it? Who is it? Who is it? Yeah. Actually, now you think about it.

I'm against common sense. Yeah. I don't like common sense. So what is your opinion of common sense

moving forward for the least? Yeah. What is what is common sense for them?

I think the approach they have to take, like, you're not going to get players to buy into tanking.

You're just not. And probably not going to get beruby to buy into tanking either. That's just

the mentality of the team. Now, the organizational philosophy is yeah, try to lose as many games to get

the fifth or the is going to top five and get a high draft pick. But the thing that worries me about

doing that is then you slide the first round picks two more years. Yeah. Right. At least if you give,

look, everybody could admit that it was a bad trade deadline for them last year.

Got to bite the bullet. You got a hand over your pick, the boss. And I would rather do it this year.

Get back to contending for a playoff spot next year. Then your pick doesn't matter.

Give that one to Philly. Nice. Give that one to Philly. And then you can start

over again, because if you get a top five pick and next year's worse, good luck trying to sell a

rebuild if you don't own your first round picks. It is true. That is what makes this such a conundrum.

Those those trades are just hanging over everything. Like what I would like to see is like down the

stretcher. I want to see growth from Eastern Cowan. I want to see growth from Quillen from Bullgrew.

Maybe some other guys that get called up from the market. That's what you have to figure out.

You have to figure out what you have right now with some other guys.

Well, I think the fact that none of them are called up early in the year would suggest they don't

feel like they have much. I think that's I mean, Cowan notwithstanding clearly. He's been here all

season. Quillen, I like I think, you know, I don't know enough about where his future is going to go.

I think he's aggressive. He gets on the forward check a little bit. He's not a great skater. I think

there's limitations to what his future would be. But yeah, it's like they need a they need a

spokesman. They need a vision. They need a they need a message to get across. They need to come

up with a plan and commit to it. Yeah. And they're not going to announce it right now in order they

have to. You don't have to announce it on March 19th or whatever. But the season's going to be over

in less than a month and you better have a plan immediately on what you're doing. So GM staying

as you coach staying if not, you better get out in front of it quickly and get the right people in

here and then find out what you're doing with your best players. Like it goes without saying they

have to turn over the defense core. Oh, like I don't think they can win. I get long overdue. Yes,

it is. And that was another big mistake that they made in retrospect. I wasn't hammering on them

when they did it, but they came back with literally the exact same six that played the playoffs.

The exact same defense core and it's burned them. But the larger questions are Matthews and

Neilander and you guys are having them every morning. We've had them all week. We're going to

continue to have them for months. But just just before we move on to the defense, I think the return

of all six defense and both goal tenders made you feel good about them contending without Mitch

Mariner. Yes, right? There was comfort level. They were better. They're going to be a culture shift

here. Yep. And you're like, okay, well, how can they still be a playoff team when you lose a

hundred point guy? Well, you got two really good goal tenders and you got all your defense back.

And it blew up on them because the goalies have been inconsistent or injured and this defense

hasn't been good enough. So we get you're in town here or you're in in studio here because we got

a big game Detroit Montreal tonight. Yeah, it's getting dicey, man. Like I think the

Habs going to make it because I think they I think they just outscore any other defensive

issue they have or goal-tending issue they have. They just seem to have the it factor for me.

Did you see that stat? And I get Frankie Crotto credit because he came up with it during the

broadcast yesterday about the importance of goal tending for Montreal. That's wild. But that

applies to every winning team. Wouldn't it? It does. You got to have good. But it's more evident.

Like Montreal's riding two rookie goal tenders right now in Dolby's and Valor. I don't know what

happened. I'm not involved. He's just around. He's just around. But like young team, a lot of

their success is going to depend on the goal tending they get. If they get better than 900

say percentage, chances are they're going to win. Well, the record shows the 2703. Wow.

I don't want to get that. Like auto right? The reason they're in this and they're in this good

point. The thing about the scheduling in the NHL is you get a big clump of games on Tuesdays,

Thursdays, Saturdays. On those days, there's a lot of shuffling that happens in the standings

with teams that win and lose. And tonight's one of those me look at these standings right now.

I mean, I'm doing them the bunch of the striking. There's two points separating them. And Columbus is

on fire. What a story there. Can I shout out Frankie actually for something? I wish you had.

Actually, I wish I had this take. He's like, we were texting about it. He's like, why isn't

Rensky in the heart trophy conversation? I was like, yeah, that's a favor to win the Norris.

Yeah, it's a favorite to win the Norris. Why wouldn't you be in the heart? It's about

his favorite, like the number one guy or is he? He's the Norris favorite on Fando right now. Wow.

Yes, over Boushard. Like, yes, your boy Boushard over McCarr. You were talking fairly like

celebrating like, who's the second best guy on the sharks? Who's the second best guy on Columbus?

Like Archenko probably good player, but like, you know what I mean? Yeah, it's like Frankie's. He's

clear. Right? Yeah. That clearly their best player plays. I believe more minutes than anybody in

the league. Yeah. You know what was a nice pick up for them at the deadline? Yeah. Connor Garland.

Any sign? Well, in March, March, March, Marchens back healthy.

But Connor Garland's been one of the best at tree deadline acquisitions in the league.

It's been on fires and spots. Yeah, Columbus, you know, it feels like they're going to find a way

to get in and then just Rick bonus. You get any Jack Adam? Jack Adam? Maybe we have like a barrier,

like they do in the NBA, like 50 games you can't come in. Yes, it's interesting. Like, you know,

well, Rensky, it's a valid point by Frankie. Like, you got to get in to be up for the heart,

historically speaking, right? I don't know if you would vote. But hasn't the Norris trophy

turned into I know, and it's an offensive trophy. It's crap. It used to be the best

defenseman. That's why it lives here and would win it every year. Now it's like the guy who gets

the most points. Yeah. Well, that's. He's got a nine point lead on the second place guy.

That's his case. He's going to finish with 90 points. Yeah. More probably. Yeah, very well

could. Yeah, something's going to give here though, because I think Columbus is getting in.

So who's coming out? The Montreal is a Boston Detroit, the Islanders, Pittsburgh.

Like there's no guarantee that even Pittsburgh who's been a great story. They still got a close

here. Well, speak of Jack Adams. What if Pittsburgh gets in? Damn news. I would think Danny Muses

got to be pretty high on the list. Yeah. Well, right now, I think it's Lindy's roughs

award to lose, but that you see it that way, Jonas? I don't vote on that. I don't know. Why not?

Maybe you should. I don't know. They don't let us. Marco Stern would want Marco Stern. Yeah.

Yeah, Boston's been a great story. He checks. I worry about the trade, though, because

the injuries they've been without Larkin and cop to their top center iceman. He cops

supposed to return the night. I haven't heard official word yet, but

and I worry about Boston. Like I was doing the broadcast Montreal and Boston to the day. The

over the last 10 games, they've won, won, won, won, lost one. Like they can't win, too, and

are all right. So you can see it's coming down to the wire. Oh, absolutely. That's the

and here's the thing. They're coming down to the wire once the playoffs starts. Who's your favorite?

That too. Well, like I you talked about the honors. I think the honors are really sneaky pick,

come playoff time because they have the basketball tender to win the East, to win East.

Interesting. Yigs are rocking can take them around the Vezna. Yeah. I mean, Vasiluski is right there.

I mean, his numbers are absurd. You can never discount Tampa or discredit Tampa, but you think

Sorokin's a lot wider. Yeah. Yeah. I don't disagree. I mean, I, um, it just feels like one of those

years in the East where it, it absolutely could be anyone. I hope it's Buffalo because they're fun

to watch. I'm sorry. Yeah. Great story. Yeah. And the year to do it is now. I mean, 15 years

and not being in it. There's no Florida. Tampa looks beatable. There's no powerhouse in the metro.

Anybody can do it. Yeah. Florida is an interesting case. You know, like I think most people assume

they just get healthy and they get right back into the dance next year. Do you see it that way?

Absolutely. Because I think they're doing what people are screaming for them,

they're resting their players. No, exactly. There's only case in our season. Yeah. And look at the

way it started. It started all with barcoff missing the whole season. Kachak not there till what

Christmas time. Then at times they've lost Bennett, Ryan Hart. They lose that Jones from most of the

season of a brosky Bob struggled to this year. And it's almost like it was, it was like a layup

for them to miss the playoffs and to take this position that they're in where it's like, okay,

the seasons are right off because there is stuff that happened that was out of our control.

And as Bob, they're only main to your UFA. Yeah, that's the thing. I think AJ Greer.

Well, they didn't trade him at the deadline. You kind of got to figure that out.

But that's where I'm reluctant to suggest they just automatically get back.

They're an aging team. They're a slower team. And Bob is like 38 years old.

Bassalewski had his three straight cubs. And then it just, it imploded on him for a couple of

years, which was totally expected. He got hurt. He had played more hockey than anybody else. But now

he's back. Bob's not having a resurgence at 41 or 40 years old. Like I think there could be some

trouble in the crease down in Florida. And so, you know, would I expect there a playoff team next

year? I think I would definitely project that guaranteed to get back to being the like big dog

in the league. I'm not convinced that's going to be the case. I like it. That's fair.

Sports don't, doesn't work that well. You know, like they, they brought everyone back. They're all,

they've all made their money. They've all won. They're all going to be a year or two older.

They were sandals to the rank. Yeah. Like there's, you know, how hungry are you? Like all

that kind of stuff. And there's other teams that are, that are, that are coming up, you know,

that are, that are knocking on the door. They're young and hungry. Yeah.

But can these teams that have come up this year? Can they sustain that? I mean, auto as a great

example, right? They get in last year. One thinks, okay, they got in last year. They're going to

go on a run. Okay. Well, let me ask you all of us this. What is more, who's more likely to make

the playoffs next year? Buffalo or Florida? Florida. Who? Just history, right? Like they have

enough of a base that we can rely on. Even if they lost for brosky, right? They still think,

are you thinking this year's a one off for Buffalo? Well, that's what I'm asking. Like if you're using

auto as an example, it's an extreme one because Buffalo is likely going to win the yeast or

being the top seed. But auto what was really good up and coming team caught lightning in a bottle,

hadn't been in the playoffs in six or seven years, and now they're out. So, well, remember,

like possible to see that out of Buffalo, but why not? But remember how it started in Buffalo too,

right? Like it didn't start great. No, they went on that crazy ride. It's like all heaters right now.

Right. Yeah, I'll go Florida too. Right. There you go. Carlo, when you put the Buffalo or Florida,

you think I think they made it. And I think the presence of Yarmul kick a line in there.

Like I know him personally, Adam and St. Louis when I was there and you saw what he did in Columbus.

Like this guy is a culture changer because he doesn't accept mediocrity. And I think

part of the challenge for Buffalo the last 15 years is they've had a hard time recruiting for agents,

trades. Are you convinced that's going to change? Winning changes everything. I'll believe

it when I see winning changes. I think if they go on a run this year and people see how electric

that place is, come playoff time because that building is going to be electric, come playoff time.

It might paint change people. It might. I do think though it's imperative they go on that run.

You go out in the first round. I don't sell in Buffalo. That wasn't willing to go there before.

It doesn't mean that you can't find players to go. You can. And this is clearly a big statement

by them because I would I would choose Buffalo too. Like that defense court particular is now Alex Lyon,

he's on an all time heater right now. He's kind of come out and know where it scares me a little

bit projecting the future in terms of the crease. But yeah, I'm pulling for Buffalo to do that.

But I'll believe it when I see it. I mean, look, I'm here isn't going to make a dynasty. Yeah,

I just think that

enough is going to change this year and hopefully more positive things come in the off season where

they can add another significant piece of that group or keep maybe keep a significant piece.

Like Alex talk is an example. Yeah. Are they going to sign them or not? Yeah.

As you can price himself out in Buffalo. We'll see. But like there's if you can't keep your own

guy, that's trouble. Like that's the number one sign that you're in trouble. If you can't keep

your own people. I think they're going to be left with no choice because the market's going to

determine what he's going to get paid. Yeah. It's probably 10 plus. I think there's like the way

we look at player contracts moving forward is going to change too. Yeah, if the cap's 120, 125

million in a couple of years, you might have four guys on the roster that make 10 or more. Yeah,

the Leafs were mavericks. Yeah, they were ahead of their time. They deserve credit for that.

Dallas be Colorado last night. They're two points back. That's a team.

Is this a choke job of color? Yeah, like if they don't win the division,

is it a choke job? I think they had such a big lead. Yeah. I think you're right.

But you also got to give credit to Dallas. Dallas has been playing post-Olympics without

ranting in and hints. Yes. And they're on fire. Yeah. I know they're two best forwards arguably.

Yeah. Most impactful, I think. But I mean, Robert's been great and Justin's been great. Sorry,

just pulling up. If you look at Colorado's the rest of their schedule, they're going to be just

okay. They'll be fine. Oh, wow. I do. Yeah. They'll be just fine. They got a whole lot of Vancouver

Cal State. A lot of Canadian teams. Oh, that's a good thing. They ain't couple St. Louis for a

two pack. Oh, yeah. They'll be fine. They're definitely, but that's a big race, man. You dropped

it too. And you got to play Minnesota. That's terrifying. Did you see the Batman stuff, by the way?

Oh, I'm about one versus a starter Batman. I don't understand. Like, shouldn't you want to do

like what your fans and your players want? Like, I don't understand this tape. Here's where I'm

I'm going to shock. Are you going to defend them? Well, here's my stance on one V eight versus

what we have right now. Because I've heard people say, well, it's not fair in Dallas and Minnesota

shouldn't be out in the first round. And I say it wasn't fair here. No, no, no, I'm going to say

the whole promotion of the Stanley Cup playoffs for 100 years is it's completely unpredictable.

Anything can happen. So how are you how do you know they're going to get through the first round?

How do you know Minnesota's going to get through in Dallas? No, you're right about that. You don't

you don't know that, but that's besides the point. No, it's not the whole argument is they shouldn't

have to face face. They shouldn't be put in a position where they're going to lose in the first

round. If it's one V eight, they still could lose if they're playing a different opponent.

The thing about that's their whole promotion of the Stanley Cup playoffs is it's parody and

completely up for grabs. So the thing about one V eight is that you're giving teams incentives

to still play hard down the stretch. Minnesota right now is not moving their position. They have

15 games left reasonable in terms of their third seat. But if it was one V eight, they would be

doing the same thing because they'd be the third seat. It would be Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota.

That no one the fourth seat is nowhere close to them. Okay, but in this particular case,

you're right. But this one, it's no. Yes. And his whole, his whole explanation as well.

The first round of the playoffs is the best playoffs in sports. Well, yeah, it is because

there's parody in the league. It's not just because one wouldn't it be the same. It would have

shown you the same. It's fairness. That's right. But don't you, but I think again,

the argument is don't if I give you this opportunity, I guarantee you're going to see this incredible

series. Don't you want to see it? Like should I'd rather it may be in a conference final,

but why pick your poison? Not if I was on those teams or, but that's not okay. It's a business.

It's not. It's 100% of business. Yes. Okay. Your drawing viewers in the first round with

better matchups. And they're going to stay to watch the next round. Better matchups like Florida,

Caroline. He was eating so many of the same matchups. You gave a lot of reputation for sure.

Yeah. And that's and that's what I fear is that you got to you got a division like the metro

that has Carolina running away with it. But one of those teams is going to be guaranteed a spot

in the Eastern conference final. Right. I just I get it. The first the first one's always going

to be exciting. No matter who's it. It's saying before this general is pumping. But you just want

the better teams with a better chance to events. Is that why you brought in that man?

And here's a thing is Jerry. You look at the NFL and you look at the NBA. They're always listening

to different suggestions. Yeah. It's changing and adapting by players. So you think the NBA is in

a good place because of that right now. They're evolving. They're doing they're doing stuff.

They're trying different things like they put the NBA cup in. They did the play in tournament.

The play in tournament. Like there's you have players in your league that are saying top players.

Yeah. I think one eight is better. And you got owners and GMs that are saying it to and

get that thing. That's not what people say. Yes. But and that is very clear. Like when there's a new

commissioner and there will be this league will likely open up to change. But you know, he's

they've expanded to cities. We're now look what the NBA is doing. They're following them to Vegas

in Seattle. And I like I can entertain a plan. That's more revving. I would be more teams stay

you know in it longer. Now granted the trade that line would probably you know. But we look

at the end of the last two years. It's been a good thing. You got to watch what you wish for

because again, the NBA, I think it's been too much change and it has not helped. Like the NBA

cup is who the hell cares about the NBA cup. It's fun. But it's I don't I'm okay with the plan.

But they've reworked the CBA where there's contract restrictions. Exactly. It's taken away from

historically what the NBA is represented. I think the big not a better place today. The players.

I mean, I granted granted to you honest for pushing back saying, no, I'm not you're not resting

me on playing. Yeah, he wants to play like in the NBA. That's the bigger problem is that players

find more ways not to play than play. Oh, and now they're going to expand. And there's some like

there's some really awful teams in the NBA. Look at last night. There were like six or seven games

that were like 20 plus points. And now you can have two more brutal teams in the league. Yeah,

not like I don't know. All right, buddy. We'll catch you on a panel tonight and we'll catch you

tomorrow on first off. Good scene everybody. Great. Carlos Coli. Ready for golf season. I was ready like

a month and a half ago. There's a golf course near my house that's opening up tomorrow.

Don't worry. Come on. What's the weather looking like tomorrow? I mean, it's not even

like snow and like you can't golf in this. I was going to tell you actually I saw four people

in shorts today when I went. That's outrageous failure. I can't support that short guy.

Short sky is just a different breed. Should be studied. Short sky. Full mentality on life.

All right. Good to see you, Carlos. Best bets. You too. I'm going to have overdrive continues on

YouTube live. I'm Luke Wilson. Join me each week for film. Never lies since retiring from the NFL.

I've had a lot of my mind now. Got my own show to retire to lazy takes. If you want honest

conversations, join us each week. Film. Never lies available on all TSN platforms in the I heart radio

app. All right. Best bets powered by Fandall. Make your picks and assemble the same game.

Parlay and seconds on the Fandall Sportsbook app. I'm on the over tonight. Habs Redwings over.

You nailed out yesterday. I think I did. You're wraps blew out the bulls. You won by 30 plus

last night like that. They're starting to pick it up. Like we'll see what happens. They have huge

wins over the weekend against good teams. I mean, the next couple of teams they need to be. They're

not good. But last night was the first time where they kept their foot on the pedal the whole time.

Yes. Like they had a good fourth quarter. Everything went as should be their class right around

a corner. You just got to be in that top six, man. Got to be in that top six. You want to

avoid the plan. Best bets powered by Fandall. Same game. Parlay is around the sports world

available on the Fandall Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario.

Bellspar on going. Got spring training. You got hockey. You got basketball. The tournaments

often running. It's a beautiful thing. Great. Time of year working on the golf course and yeah,

the master's up three weeks. You think I'm saying three weeks I'm on the course. I don't know about

it. It may not be pretty. Yeah, that could be dog track. I might be chucking. It's just chunking

some shots, but really, really ugly. But I'm with you. I hope so. I'm pulling for it.

All right, guys. Great seeing you too. Appreciate you doing this. This is always

care. Oh, Aguil and Jonas Sigo of the Athletic. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out.

We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today. TV radio podcast web and of course,

up on YouTube live every show up on TSN YouTube channel. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings.

Enjoy the games tonight. We're back to more 4 p.m. We'll chat them. I'm Luke Wilson.

Join me each week for Film Never Lies. Since retirement from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind

now. Got my own show. So if you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations,

join us each week. Film Never Lies available on all TSN platforms in the iHeartRadio app.