Real Kyper & Bourne - 4 Nations Decisions + Kings Culture with Luc Robitaille

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne welcome back Luc Robitaille (4:25) – Hockey Hall of Famer, and President of the L.A. Kings to chat about how Drew Doughty has fit back into the lineup after a lengthy stint on the shelf, the state of the Western Conference and the division his team is playing in, what the young defencemen Brandt Clarke brings to the table, and his expectations for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee share their thoughts on Marcus Pettersson's extension becoming official with his new team in Vancouver, the outlook for the Canucks' defensive core, Quinn Hughes pending return, and much more!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

time to take real kipper and born national we're live on sports at 650 in Vancouver sports that 960 in Calgary this hour of real kipper and born brought to you by bet 365 I'm Nick Kiprios Justin born Sammy McKee next with you for the next hour in a few minutes we'll welcome in hockey Hall of Famer, LA King President Luke Robitaille. Great of him to join us. We obviously been through a lot with the wildfires out there so certainly happy to hear his always positive voice. And I got a chance to have him as a teammate in New York and just a treat to be around. Like the ultimate,

ultimate guy in terms of smile on his face, a laugh, and a real positive guy. You know, it kind of reminds me of SNL's Five Timers Club. Like they give out like some sort of, what is it? Jacket. A robe or a jacket or whatever. Oh yeah, you're right, a robe. I feel like this might be Lucky Luke's jacket program for us. He's become somewhat of a King's regular for us.

He's been fantastic. We should get a Five Timers coat. He told the draft story, maybe his first time ever coming on our show. That he went... I forget what the story was, but I just remember we were crying our eyes out. It was in Montreal and he was a mid-pick. By the time the Kings picked him, they had no merchandise for him. So they gave away jerseys and hats to all the top picks.

And the guy goes, I got nothing for you. And he goes, oh, wait, wait, take this pin. Give him a pin. Off his own, off somebody's jacket. I'm drafted by an NHL team, I have a pin. Oh, it was even funnier was that, so he leaves the stands to go to the table, which the tables were on an ice level and

The security guys no no fans on there I'm a player And after that draft story played 1,431 games 668 goals and 726 assists yeesh president of the LA Kings the Kings are solidly in a playoff spot yet again Big win last night. Yeah, it's the Montreal Canadians who Were looking like one of those teams

along with Detroit and Columbus and What happened they what were they they're 12 and 2 or something they had an amazing run And what happened? They were 12 and two or something. They had an amazing run. Yeah. And then they have a bad week. Well, everyone is kind of the same this year. You get hot for a stretch.

Your goalie plays great for a stretch. You can win a few, but you just because there's so many teams in the chase, you can't have a bad week or two. I wrote about the Atlantic today and I included Montreal in the race for the final playoff spot. Not gonna say it was a courtesy, but another bad week, and they're gonna be on their way out.

They're looking up now. That's nice. Another bad week. Buddy, there are six, or sorry, five points out of the second wild card spot, but they're behind the Rangers, Isles, Blue Jackets, Bruins, Wings, Lightning, Ottawa, all ahead of them ahead of them so yeah you look at the Eastern Conference and it looks like it's gonna be one of the best playoff races we've had in a

really long time and then you go out of the West and it's like yeah it feels like there's it's the Canucks are the kid that's kind of end of the story so good I guess that's good to have those two markets battling against each other. And LA seems to be still one of those teams where, if we said that there were, Jesus, sorry. Hold on. If we said that there's 10 legitimate teams, did you mention 12 the other day?

What's that, in the East? To win the Stanley Cup. Oh, to win the, yeah, 12. 12. To win the Cup. Would LA be one of your 12? I think that in the East? To win the Stanley Cup. Oh, to win the, yeah, 12. 12. To win the Cup. Would LA be one of your 12? I think so, yeah.

I mean, they have, they were doing well and they've added Drew Doughty. He's playing 25 minutes, over 25 minutes per game in his return. His ice time since coming back, 25, 16, 24, 15, 27, 43, 23, 51 in his four games since returning. All right. With that, let's welcome in Luke Robitae Hockey Hall of Famer Luke. Thanks for joining us man. I know a couple times that we tried to get you on and We just couldn't get it done, but I got to ask you first and foremost LA the rebuild

You know cleaning out the debris How is that around you and and and the LA Kings and ultimately the community? Well, it's been quite like, it's been pretty amazing to see in a devastated way. You know, it's like, when you go in those areas, it feels like it's like a war movie you've seen on TV. It's something we didn't expect. The area of Pacific Palisades, there's all those hiking trails

that have been going for years. And you always see those fires in LA, but it always seems like it's far away. And this time to be this close and have so many friends that lost their homes or people that you know, and what's happening. It's, I think now is more the time. I know people stop talking about it, but in LA,

you hear more now, like people are worried it's gonna take four years or five years, and they gotta get an architect. They gotta, they hope they can rebuild. They hope their insurance works the right way and so forth So it's a lot of like behind the scene and a lot of people are gonna need help in the next few years Can I ask you just before we move on just you know, the effect of the players? I know when it happened, I think they were on a Western road trip

But how have they been since returning and and finding theation, and how have they responded for you? You know how big LA is? So in their area, there's nothing going on, but I think all of our young players, they have girlfriends that are living with them or their young wives, they've never seen or been part of this. So for them, they were really worried.

So we had to make sure, we had to communicate with everyone, say, don't worry, they were really worried. So we had to make sure, we had to communicate with everyone, say, don't worry, you'll be okay. It was interesting to see the reaction from all of them. They were scared, because they didn't really know and you watch the news. And for us locally, it was every time you turn on the TV, that's all everyone was talking about.

So there's definitely a lot that going on around that. So as you guys turn the page to, uh, to hockey, I imagine, you know, off the ice things, the focus are different places, but you guys still have a, you're in a fight here. Uh, in the standings, obviously you guys solidly in a playoff spot right now. How, uh, how do you feel about how things are going? You guys must be excited about having doubty back. Yeah. I was listening to you guys talking about truce minutes, 28 minutes for you. That was three with me with Colias, our coach. Hey,

like what are you guys trying to do to them? They said, they said we have a plan. This is our coach. We have a plan. He's not going to play that many minutes. Next thing you know, the game starts. Drew's playing 25 minutes. What can you do? Just in terms of what that feels like having the whole season without him and then finding a guy that can do it all for you for

essentially half of a game like What does that do to you moving forward and I'll include the trade deadline Luke? Yeah I don't think it changed because we knew drew was coming back at some point We do feel even though he's playing a lot of minutes, he's only going to get better. I mean, it takes time to get back after missing a year, especially whether it's your knee or your ankle when you get hurt like that.

But it's definitely like adding a player at the deadline, and we're adding like our best defenseman. I mean, we're so lucky that Mikey Anderson, Gavrikov, they played so well. Moverauer came in. adding like our best defenseman. I mean, we're we're so lucky that Mikey Anderson, Gavrikov, they played so well. Mover Howard came in. Clarkies had a really good start, you know, for his first full season. Jordan Spence taken to another level. So and obviously Edmondson has played real well for us. So we're pretty fortunate. And then adding Drew is making a big difference. And I would say it doesn't change

The way we've been talking about it for the last couple months of what the addition would like to do if any So it's just that we kind of knew he was gonna come back and at the same time we knew no matter what it Would take a few games for him to be a hundred percent Are you surprised at how on? Jacoba Tara is still fantastic. Like I know he's been good. But like do you guys keep waiting forjay Kopitar is still fantastic? Like, I know he's been good, but like, do you guys keep waiting for him to slow down a bunch? I don't know if we're waiting to slow down because he plays like a... Him and Bergeron, they're very special player. Bergeron was kind of like Kopi.

Like, if you were to flip-flop Kopi with Bergeron was kind of like like Kopi like if you were to flip flop Kopi with Bergeron that probably Kopi might have won as many you know Selke as as Patrice like if Patrice was in LA, you know like Because they're both they're so close to to each other Barkov is a little bit like that now And but they're players that you could count on for 200 feet and you kind of know he's not going to get 100 points He's going to get 70 points on a good year 85, but every game you know what to expect. You had a big face-off, he's out there, you're up a goal in the last minute, you want him to be on the ice, you're down a goal, you want him because he'll make the sure play and

there's a lot to say about that. The speed and the way he plays the game in his mind and so forth has never changed. So I'm not surprised. I do think like, you know, he's like Kemp, he's been, they've been a great pair. And then he's been really good. Kopi, when we play young kids with him that just, that just get going, he seems to be guiding in the right way. So Turca's been good for us and him. But I couldn't say I'm surprised though. Did you take out a billboard stating that you still have the best Slovenian athlete in LA now

with Luka getting traded to the Lakers? What I hear, we're talking about athlete, like he probably is. Hey, tons of pressure on you to go make another Gretzky trade, you guys. I know. Yeah. I wish we had those taxes. Right. No, that's a, they're actually, these two are really good friends. I think, I think, uh, the, the Luke looks up to Kopi because he's a few years older and what he represents in their, in his country.

So they, I know whenever he comes in town, if they have time, they go to dinner together. So it's a, it's pretty, it's been, people have been pretty excited about getting this kid over here. That's awesome. Yeah, that's really cool. Those two guys, I'm sure, are very happy about it. How do you assess the division, the conference around you guys? We're talking about the East and it seems like 14 teams can get into the playoffs.

Doesn't seem like the case in the West. You know what? Every game is hard in this league now. It's just that there's no bogey. There's no game that you come in and say, okay, we're going to win this one. Like it, it just doesn't seem to happen. Everyone's always dangerous. I think the biggest thing is you got to keep winning your games and then, you know, you'll play where you end up. But the, the top teams in our conference, they're really good. I mean, they're really good. Watching Edmonton, they've been playing real well. Dallas goes up and down a little bit.

I know they got a couple injuries, but they're a great team. And then you start going up, and you look at Vegas and so forth. There's some really good, obviously Winnipeg, everybody's been watching all the other going, but there's no easy game. I mean, if you're if you're not ready against San Jose, they might just those those kids will get three or four like real quickly. If you're not paying attention, we saw it. We were we're in a two two game. Everything was going good.

And we kind of close our eyes for about three minutes and we're not losing five to two or six to early in a year there. It's amazing. close our eyes for about three minutes and we're not losing five to two or six to early in the year there it's amazing so you just gotta be ready every game I mean I know what you're saying the race it might be a little bit different and there's no easy game so if we do maybe envision an LA Edmonton-Euler matchup you know a year later how do you see how do you see this lineup stacked up against some of those teams that you just mentioned from where you guys were 12 or 18 months ago?

Well, the orders are a great team. They got the two best players in the world, no questions right now. I think we switch our PK a little bit. Like five on five, we've always played them really good. It seems like, I think their power play was, if it wasn't 50%, it was 45% against us last year. And even though we had a great PK during the year,

it didn't seem to work the way we played in the playoffs. So we've adjusted that. So hopefully that'll make a difference if we face them in the playoffs. And then five on five though, we never seem to have a problem to play them head to head. It just seemed like their power play was the best power play in the league in the first round for the last, I think the last three years against us. Yeah, that involves some tweaks for sure. You know, when I was kind of doing

some matchup stuff looking at teams, like some of the expected goal stats and stuff say the Kings are the best defensive team in the NHL. Do you credit Jim Hillers coaching or you yourself for assembling such great personnel? I told everyone to play my way. I came from the Quebec League was all over. One way. No retreat. My way. I think like I was, we were talking with Rob Blake and a few of our guys here about that. We really believe like having an Anzac Opetar and a Drew Dowdy

on your team that play a certain way. If your best player play a certain way, which is 200 feet and you know, never takes a chance or blind passes up the middle, the players coming in, they have to adjust that way. And we really believe that because of those guys, our team, it seems like no, it doesn't matter who's in our lineup, we play the same way. And we give him total credit over the years of the way the other Kings have played that makes it really hard to play against us. Even though Drew wasn't playing, he's around, you know, before having Quickie a leader, a lot of those young guys had Jonathan Quick, Dustin Brown, all those guys that were around here, they played a certain way that made it hard

for every team to come in here and play against us. I gotta ask you about Brent Clark, who's considered one of the better, younger defensemen in the league. His development, what Drew Doughty has now brought back to the team and how that's kind of re-looked at his role moving forward. Very hard for a defenseman, I guess under the age of 22, to hold a permanent spot here. Yeah, he's a very special player. Like, even we watch him

last night, he's every pass is on on the stick. He's, we know how important he is to our, our, the future of this organization. So, you know, he's still learning to play defensively and play a certain way. You got to remember every game when you're playing for us, it's just like you're playing in Toronto or Tampa Bay. Every game matters and you're not trying to get in the plows, you're trying to win the plow so it's a little bit different. But we really like his progression. This is his first full year.

He's still learning and he's going to learn even more with Drew being in the lineup. I think Joel Edmondson has been really good for him. But we know he's one of the guys that's going to help us get to the next level. You know, looking at guys who are having great years at Darcy Kemper and 919 save percentage for you guys. I guess that kind of helps some. You mentioned the defensive structure before things are maybe he's seeing easier shots, but still unbelievable numbers this year.

He's been really good. He's been really good. I give him full credit. He he's come in this year and he is he's making the saves that he has to make and every once in a while he makes sums or that just kind of takes you to the next level. He's never losing games for us. But at the same time he's stealing a few every night and

that's what makes it is save percentage so high. He's had so far has He's been really good all year Want to switch gears a little bit with the four nations tournament coming up and and the thought of drew dowdy Participating and that makes you feel Luke how? Like yeah, is it something that you you would encourage or is this something that you quietly go? God, I hope they don't pick them. You know, I think you're Pia, I love the game of hockey.

Anytime I got invited to an all star game or anything, it was a privilege. I didn't take any of those things for granted. And I think if you have a chance to represent your country, you should run to do it. It's the greatest thing. You get to be around the best players in the world. It's very special. So if they call Drew to do it, I know he wants to play, but if they call him and they want him, I'll be the first one to be cheering him on. It's probably good for him to play those extra

games too, but I know he will help them if he plays for them, but it's amazing for me. Any player that has a chance to play for their country in those tournaments, you have to do it. And he's looking good, feeling good. This is an option for our country here, Luke? Oh yeah. I mean, freaking 25 minutes a game. He better be. Yeah. Fair enough. He better be. Yeah. Fair enough.

Look, overall, any concerns at all about doing this mid-season? Just generally, if you've participated, would you prefer to see it in September or

anywhere outside of the 82 game season for you? No, the greatest thing for our game is if we're gonna do a big event where you're gonna take all the best players and all their salary and everything that goes behind, we all remember when I think it was John Thurviers that got hurt by the Ellenders in the Olympics and then they missed the playoffs and that hurts.

But if we're doing things for the good of our game to grow the game, to do them in September is only us Canadians that care about it. No one else around the world cares about these tournaments, you know, like whether it was Canada Cup or the World Cup in September. Now you suddenly do it in February this year, is it going to be the highest rated show in the US or around the world? No, but next thing you know, you got the Olympics next year and then you got a World Cup in a few years and it's always the best player. And then if we do this right, you're going to have the Olympics

two years later and then two years later the World Cup again. I really believe in two, three tournaments. Hopefully we're getting where the world is paying attention to hockey and that should be the goal. That's the only reason you should have Sydney Crosby, Conor McDavid leaving their team. It should be to do the best tournament in the world and make it that the whole world wants to see it. You know whether yeah, every hockey fan should want to see it, but even maybe non-hockey fans, just like they watch a game seven of any sports or another World Cup of soccer, because everyone wants to see a game seven. You might not like the sport, but you'll pay attention to a game seven, whatever the sport

is. So that's kind of the way I look at these tournaments. If they have a game seven and the finals is one game and it's the two best teams or the best players in the world Hopefully this is the these tournaments make it that ratings and the relevancy of a hockey world gets bigger It can't get any bigger than Canada guys. Yes You're outside Canada, you know very well said Luke Love having you on this on our program and don't be such a stranger. We'll keep hunting you down We share your time

And I make it's a mandate that every once a month I tell the draft story of you getting a pin No He's got it. He's got the pin that he was drafted. That's really cool. It just goes to show when my dad passed away, I found it in a cup and then I brought in my office and I had a guy. Oh, that's beautiful. How cool. Really well done, my friend. At least it's a nice pin. Very well. Awesome. Awesome. Alright, Luke, thanks for joining us. Luke Robitaille, one of the best.

Hockey Hall of Famer, president of the LA Kings. For those of you that are only listening on one of our many platforms, go to YouTube later on or download it on our Sportsnet app and look at that pin that he was, it was left for him at the draft table because they ran out of stuff because he was such a low pick. A high pick, no low pick. I thought that kind of little soliloquy we got out of him at the end about the best on best and the tournaments that ever. I thought that was really meaningful. Yeah.

I think he absolutely nailed it. And I think that the work that he speaks of, of course, is and he said it we're okay here in Canada but the US is kind of still clueless I think with international hockey and I think it'll help that they have amazing players like as these events become regular they'll be a contender every time there was the jolt from the 1980 we we know that, but it just, it didn't grow. It kind of died there. And then there was this next phase that picked up off of the 1980 that led to the Brian Leaches,

the Billy Garrens, the Mike Medanos, the Keith Kachucks. And then we've got now a 2010-ish kind of group that looked at 1996 of those guys at the World Cup. How'd it go for them in 2010, I forget. I don't know, yeah. But as far as now- I know you actually got it. Right, yeah.

But as far as like continuous growth that he's talking about to get to that place where everybody notices the best hockey players in the world. It's like we got some work to do. Buddy, when they, yeah, we do. We do, we do. And when that happens and we've created that stage and hopefully this is a jumping off

point for what we're talking about and American play, you know, American fans is on ESPN and TNT and we say Here's the Hughes family and how good they are and here's Austin Matthews and here's the Kachuk brothers and whatever I think there's a lot to grab on to and say God. I like this sport. I like our country here I like I like this and I saw it today I'm always on the NHL public relations site grabbing stats and stuff for the show and the NHL today debuted the international tournament records site so They the new section complemented by iconic imagery includes statistics and recaps in the NHL international tournaments Canada Cups in 76 81 84 87 and 91 in the World Cup of Hockey in 96

2004 and 2016 so they put like all these stats together, and I just had a blast this morning. Yeah going through it Yeah, it's awesome. It just like has Everything that you want like all the stats all the the records I mean like it's funny you like who has the most points of all time in all the tournaments like yes It's just like oh I go to this too, you can't get away from it. But if you are a stats guy like I am, you're in the range. Except for Ovi is 46, empty net or somehow an international play.

But yeah, it's just, you know, you go through the championships and it's coffee, Gretzky, Messi, they all have three. It's just very cool. I'm into this kind of stuff. So I don't know if you guys care, but who do you think has outside of Wayne has the most goals in these? Is it Mario? No, it's two it's two guys. It's Soviet Union aka right. It's Makarov and Krutov are the second and then it goes Mike Bossy, Lemieux, Keith Kachuk, Brett Hall. So it's all in one place. I think it's really sick that the NHL

did that. I love it. So go peruse it. I was perusing all morning. Big peruse guy. Big perusal. Oh yeah. Anyways, and Kipper could not care less. No, no I'm oh, you're think a look at that. No, yeah. Yeah, you're lying to me. Yeah What do you think has the most game-winning goals ever Kipper in these tournaments ever at the most game-winning goals Most game-winning goals. Yeah, is it not wait no no neither Crouton is no it's bossy Bossy is for Lemieux has for Bobby Hall with three so there you go. It's got it all anyways It's game time present by bet three six five visit the app for latest odds and find out why is there ordinary at bet three six?

Five must be 19 plus on terror only please play responsibly let me get my phone because it's tangled up in my stuff here Lots of games on the ice tonight Including the Toronto Maple Leafs playing at an unguardly hour They are big faves on the road here. They are minus 155 against the Seattle Kraken in Seattle Anthony Stoller is making his return The Seattle Kraken plus 1.30 there. The Tampa Bay Lightning. Oh, go ahead.

You know, we make the Canucks play at four o'clock. We make the Oilers play at five. The Kraken get to start at normal time? Yeah, it's weekday. All right. It's a weekday. And those other two markets. Sorry, Canucks.

I went to that game one time in Vancouver. The 4 p.m. It's awesome. Oh, buddy, you're out at seven o'clock? I went out. We had a full night out. Me and Riccio, we went out for dinner. We went out for drinks after the whole thing. And're out at 7 o'clock. We had a full night out. Me and Riccio we went out for dinner We went out for drinks after the whole thing and it was like 10 o'clock

all those Lee fans from Calgary Edmonton Calgary Go to Seattle. Ah It's kind of far feel like Seattle does pretty good building like that's good question I'm not sure if they will or not. I think it's one thing if they play in like April and you can go to Seattle. Well, that might be a bit rainy but seasonally I'm not sure it's a real thrill to be there right now. The Vancouver Canucks are back in the ice and at the new look Canucks visiting the San Jose Sharks They are minus 205 favorites against the Canucks are against the Sharks

They're they're a whole new team now. So you're watching the Canucks. It feels like they're a totally different thing. They signed Marcus Pederson to a long-term contract. We'll talk about that in news and notes. And the other game that I was bringing up before I was so rudely interrupted, the Tampa Bay Lightning, hosting the Ottawa Senators again tonight. Second straight game they've played there in Florida. Weird scheduling, but a big one for both teams. I'd say bigger for the Sens.

They need to get this one. Plus 140 underdogs in say bigger for the Sens. They need to get this one. Plus 140 underdogs in Tampa taking on the Lightning. You know, when you're the Sens and like a lot of the teams that are on that sort of cut line, you just can't afford to be as hurt as they've been. Pinto now hurt, Norris out. Like they don't have enough elite guys that you can just constantly be without two of them. You can't have a bad week.

Yeah. From here on out, can't have a bad week. Yeah. From here on out you cannot have a bad week. It includes the Leafs. Like it's a, you know, you gotta keep winning here. Everybody's winning. Anyways, that was Game Time presented by Bet365. Visit the app for latest thoughts and find out why it's never ordinary if Bet365 must be 19+, Ontario only.

Please play responsibly. I think 104 points wins the Atlantic. Okay. And is it going to be the Toronto May Polic get 104 points win the Atlantic do you think yeah, okay? All right We'll take a quick break because we got a ton to get into Sammy mentioned a new six-year contract extension for Marcus Pedersen also a Lot of nervous Vancouver Canuck fans on Quinn Hughes and his scenario and will he participate into for Four Nations tournament. We'll get an update from Patrick Alveen plus Sid Crosby as well. That he didn't get a letter is concerning.

Missing his second straight practice with this upper body injury. Oh. Lots to get into still when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Everything you need to know about the Raptors and the biggest stories around the NBA. Smith and Jones. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Nick Kipper, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, a reminder that this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by bet 365. All right, Marcus Patterson, no real surprise here. Six year deal $33 dollar contract. Jimmy Rutherford loves this guy. Right? Targeted him for a very long time and he got his guy and he didn't hesitate at all to get him down on a six-year deal. Yeah, I mean they sent a first-round pick to Pittsburgh. This is a guy they were going to have to keep. He's only 20 years old.

He's long, he's rangey, he defends. There's lots of like there for Pettersons. So yeah, so hold on. Is this DPT or is the other Elias Petterson DPT? Either. Too many petersons. I will say though, I don't know a ton about petersons game. Like I remember a bit in Pittsburgh and you know, I watched him a bit in those Canucks

games, but I think a lot of people when they made that heronic trade kind of balked at them giving up a first round pick where they were at in their trajectory. And remember like, cause they, and he turned out to be a perfect partner for Hughes and he's been really good this is my take on the Brandon Ingram trade you gotta get good players and you can but yeah but the Vancouver Canucks are a little closer competing than the Toronto they weren't I was there's are right now but when they when they bought her own if there's people thinking they should be rebuilding anyways I think they've just totally remade their decor here in a short period of time and just, I don't know,

give them credit, I don't think that's a bad contract at all. I don't know what people are thinking in Vancouver, but. No, it's a good number. Listen, he's a Jake McCabe type of guy where it's like four, five, six, right? Like you can play. How does Jake McCabe slander right no it's not it's four or five six second pair and maybe on a championship team they slide into a six

a five that's all like five and a half million now gets you 20 minutes stay at home and shouldn't really be your first or second best defenseman. No. Is that slandering those guys? No, it's slandering Jake McCabe. What do you think Jake is? I don't know, does he lead the Leafs in ice time? He plays constantly.

Okay, but is that- He crushes guys. Pedersen hasn't thrown a hit in five years. Is he going to do that all the way to the conference final for the Leafs? I don't know That's just my point. Yeah, you don't know you don't necessarily look at Jake McCabe now as a top two Defenseman well certainly don't think that's five million Yeah, I mean they

Doesn't him and Tana have like the best defensive metrics in the league when they play together? Correct. Yeah, they're very good together. I see your point. I'm talking about winning a Stanley Cup. I'm not talking about making the playoffs. That's all. When you slot in a guy at five million, he's not supposed to be your best dude. You're even your second best dude. Yeah. And it's going to change, right?

Like I think Marcus is that guy. He's not coming in there and saving the Vancouver Canucks but he can be a guy that can munch minutes if you can have a good middle pair it is a Vast difference, you know if you can have a guy like that playing you think about the best teams of one cups Vegas His decor has been sort of the shining example of having a great decor They've been sold all the way through Colorado and they won were great it's part of what it takes Pettersson could be a part of that and on a team like that he's probably farther down to where you're talking about I'm just really hoping I don't know if it's

happened yet but Pettersson from Patterson and Patterson yeah it definitely hasn't happened but give me a Patterson from Patterson and Patterson and I don't care what combination it is. I just want to see it at some point. It would be interesting. Marcus Petterson, interestingly enough, not an overly physical guy, but still, still defends very well. Okay, it really sounds like Patrick Alveen,

I think, made a comment today about Quinn Hughes making the call. Up to you. Up to you. We'll just support him and he, I don't know the exact quote, but it's like, nobody knows his body better than him and he'll, he'll let us know and As your wife ever said, up to you, without you knowing Exactly what she wants you to do, you know This is from Ian McIntyre on X Canucks hope to see Quinn Hughes play Saturday versus Toronto

But it's largely the captain's call for team USA at the Four Nations GM Patrick Alvin Quinn is extremely professional. He knows his body and what he can or cannot do So I trust him a lot. We're supporting him in his position So I wouldn't make that public Really? Yeah, I would not because he puts the oh he's bales then it's like what's he on his own him for bailing No, it's like he goes he gets hurt He misses the rest of the season and now Alvin didn't have the guts to tell him what he needed to be told.

And that is, don't play, you're hurt. Get ready to learn ailment, buddy. You're not playing. That's just, to me, that's what you gotta be careful of. You know, I also- And it's like, your job's to be the boss. Your job is to make those... You're paid to make those tough decisions.

And the best thing, the most important part of Patrick Alveen's job is to keep Quinn Hughes... Happy. Yes, to keep him, period. To keep him in Western Canada. Happy keeps him on the canucks. So you start with happy first Yeah, and then it turns into stay here staying and that's part of great

Just like trade shuffling whatever and it's like and I'm not saying if that's what he wants to do I'm not saying you want I'm not saying that that's not the case. I'm just saying don't let everybody else know about yeah That's not the case. I'm just saying don't let everybody else know about yeah There's no reason yeah again like too much information What is with this vancouver canucks organization where they gotta go on tv and they gotta just spill their guts Could you not discourage it, please just we're living off Our whole show is a float because we could be on in the training room jimmy's in there. He might you gotta tell jimmy Keep it in. No, no, there's no a totally. Love it. I don't know who got to you, buddy But the media is bad

So I couldn't find it while we're chatting but I believe You have to declare players out for the four nations fe They are any replacements by Monday, if I'm not mistaken. So today's Thursday. So you have four days. I got news for you. What you got? It's their tournament. They can change it to Tuesday.

They can do lunch. They can do whatever they want. I think the intervention of game one. Yeah. I think if like they're deciding if Quinn Hughes and Sidney Cross you're going to play, they can take as much time as they want. They're like, actually, guys, they said right before we said they couldn't do it anymore. They just made it up last year they can do it.

So anyway, that's the deadline to make those sort of calls if Quinn Hughes doesn't play this weekend really really hard to say I don't know how the tournament I don't know how you could Put him in there not playing Saturday night. I think he's gonna play on Saturday night regardless so he can play in the Four Nations. He warmed up last game. He thought he was close. I bet you, I think he plays in the Four Nations. I think it just goes back to the pressure that the players have put upon themselves

to go and put on a good show They pushed for this event their joint Owners of the related revenue created by it respect the hell out of anybody that's pushing through something to go and plan it Yeah, I really do cuz like you said they've wanted it forever. It's a big chill. Who else is gonna push through an injury said 87 With a good reason. Yeah this is You know who else is going to push through an injury? Cyd. 87. With a good reason. Because he's got nothing to play for for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Absolutely.

Do we have the Sullivan audio? No, I didn't grab it. That's fine. It's just him saying that. I could read what he said. This is head coach? Say it grumpily. He was not in it.

Didn't want to have that conversation he's continuing to be evaluated will probably have more static probably have more information with status tomorrow yeah there's also a longer version of it where he says someone asked him like are you in touch with with Kyle Dubas the management team of team Canada to let them know a CID status and he was just like everything in his power not to take his head off and he's like I got enough going on. He's like I got a lot on my plate with Team USA. Yeah, Team USA.

I'm sure they're doing just fine over there. Yeah, another country. Scram beat it. Scram beat it. That's what he said. Yeah, but to my Quinn Hughes theory, I think Sid, I think he plays. I do. I think he wants it.

He's the face of it. As you said, Penguins are playing for a draft pick at this point Bring me Sydney Crosby. Did you see those line combinations of the Pittsburgh Penguins? I sent you without Sydney Crosby today. Yeah, let's see if I can find them a Bavilia Bavilia Raquel rust bunting glass Heinen Nieto Hayes Tomasino and mama Mama Lizotte Achari. Malkin's out for a long time. Guess what?

I'd be selling the damn team too. Look at that lineup. And who else is a great drop? Yeah, they're lean times for the Penguins right now. Yeah, but like just stop with the Crosby talk about Colorado. Yeah, this is... I don't think anyone's talking about that anymore. No, okay. Have you heard anything else on that? No, no, no, no, no, I have not. Okay, but it kind of disappeared,

right? No comment. But there's but there's other guys here that are, you know, I saw today that were Renske. It's a game time decision. He was you see what the quote was? No. Yeah, like he's been banged up and his he was a game time decision. He said I'll see how I feel after my nap. Yeah, it's like me going out on a Friday night like I'll see how I feel after my nap But you know, so Rally's apparently gonna miss tonight for an undisclosed reason like This is the perils of having it in the middle of the season. But like Luke said The only people that are gonna care before the season are Canadians. Mm-hmm. So It's just a lot of it's a lot of indecision. Yes, absolutely

So I want to talk about the Atlantic Division Yes, okay. What do you got for me and you have your sportsnet.ca article out now? Yes, and this is what it's on. This is what it's on. Okay, it's on handicapping the odds So I kind of work I'm gonna work through it backwards a little bit. Columbus to me, so looking at it, right now the wings and lightning are in, Ottawa's in as well, and the teams just outside are Boston,

Columbus, Islanders, Rangers. Got Columbus out, any complaints there? No. Marchenko's injury hurts. And Moranski's missed and could miss again And there's scuffling a little bit lost two in a row. I just it's been a great year for them I can't see them getting in Islanders. I heard that Barzal his he had surgery like his knee cap. I think is not in one piece

He's not doing great. So that sounds good Yeah, so Rokin has been the best goaltender in the NHL since the start of January, but I just cannot see them continuing to win. They're eight and two in their last 10 somehow. After I see this, saw them lose seven one to the Sabres in December. Yeah. Anyway, so there so I got them out. Yeah. So then you got the Rangers big win over Boston huge Rangers huge Bruins Red Wings and Ottawa those four teams competing for two spots because I have the lightning in so that's Rangers Bruins Red Wings Ottawa who you like

Rangers or Boston, I'm not ruling out Boston because Lindholm, they haven't played with him forever. Charlie McEvoy is getting a little better. And Swamins coming around. He's been a 950 in three of his last four games. And I'm watching. Better in January. Watching last night. The Bruins take up. Excellent opportunity to go up 3-2 on a power play 10 minutes ago. The big boys go out there for all of two minutes and then Kreider jumps off the bench and skates by everybody.

Shoots it in the net. He does that a little bit. So things I'll add is the Red Wings have the hardest schedule remaining in the NHL. The number one hardest schedule. They're red hot, but it could slow down a little bit for them. I got Ottawa in and Tampa and Rangers probably. Next thing I want to ask you about, Kip. I just wanted to mention you were talking about that Rangers game last night.

Another play that I absolutely loved on the first goal that they scored. Former Canuck can plug your ears if you're listening to Vancouver. JT Miller, just unbelievable zone entry, gets the puck down low, hammers the defenseman into the glass, puck comes out front, Panera shoots like, are you sure they traded the right guy? I saw Staples already. He has X points since he's been there, but even he's created goals that he hasn't got points on where he's just been a bull. He's flying around.

He also traded Zabaniajack back to the Rangers. Yeah, he recreated Zabantajack. A good version of him. So it's like they got two players in the trade. Yeah. Like everyone says, Miller Lake makes guys better in the room, right? I've made a huge mistake. Meanwhile, Petey's just gliding through these games.

Anyways, sorry, sorry Vancouver. Yes. So you had an article. PD's got it. I wanted to ask you about some of your news and notes. I don't know if it's sensitive to ask you about TV deals. Do you not want to do that news and note maybe? I'm okay.

So I'm okay. It's all good for the players and it's good for the league. Funny. That there's going to be a new television deal. Yeah. So are companies working on one? Yeah, they got an exclusive window to get the national deal, but there's also Bell and Amazon who I think Amazon's going to be ready to take whatever they got this year

off of Rogers and perhaps enhance it on the next deal. Try to get a bigger piece of the pie. And we know what the crown jewel is, right? Our show. Saturday nights. Real Kipper and Bourne. Real Kipper and Bourne.

And Leeds Talk and those are the best. Saturday nights. Hockey night in Canada. Hockey night in Canada. They couldn't. They couldn't they wouldn't they shan't buddy Cha-ching cha-ching Money talks the rest walks you don't think Gary has some nostalgic piece of you know After show me the money. Show me the money.

Okay. All right. Is that all you needed to hear? Good talk. Would it really bother you? Yeah, it would bother. Well, you mentioned that you thought it might be a division of Rogers Bell Amazon the total package and it seems like they do want some division They like to spread it out looking at how NFL rights are. It's

Everyone has the NFL rights. This seems sensitive. It does seem sensitive Closer to retirement than you guys. You can tell in this conversation. I don't know anything about anything. And I think we should have all the rights to all the games for none of the money. That's my take. And it is my take. Anyway, okay.

Oh, that's funny. Also, in that Kippers corner. Yeah, you had Marner or McDavid wants to play with Marner. I think so. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, and I think We'll see That East Coast look of Marchand Crosby McKinnon and McKinnon who okay with that Sammy team Canada I just can't wait to see that I I really like I've been talking about this on our show for four years how much I love this and It's just it's gonna be like oh my god

I'm actually watching it like I'm seeing what you think what you've thought about what you've dreamt about But I will say and I don't want to get too Negative because I get accused that a lot someone put out the clip another clip like a board of who would win between the 2016 team and the 2025 team like the the look back at that 2020. There are a lot of stars and their primes on that team and the 2025 looks a lot different like with the Connect knees and the haggles and the Bennett's and it's like Sam a lot of that happens when you look back at a career you know when you go you see the full scope

and you think of someone as always having been that great. Brandon was 26. No, you're right. I just, I'm like. Give me some names. I don't have it in front of me. You don't have it? But it's like Thornton and Patrice Bergeron

and like, you know, just like guys that, Corey Perry and. You go. Getslaff. You go Crosby and Bergeron one, two. Like we're talking about. But they played together and they were unbelievable. In 2014, those two guys played together. Get Slav. You go Crosby and Bergeron 1-2. We're talking about- But they played together and they were unbelievable.

In 2014, those two guys played together. With Brad Marchand. Yeah, the other team didn't touch the puck and those guys were out there. Yeah, you're right. Marchand was on the right side. The goals were all- So who was the second centerman? I can't even remember, boys.

If you don't remember, how the heck are we gonna- We have no shot. Oh, was it McDavid? No, McDavid was on a different team. Hey hey let me just go to my favorite new NHL record site that I was talking about it's cool it's a little lack of star power is your point that that that that team was actually better yeah it was it was it was no better I mean it's you, Drew Doughty in his prime. It's, you know, you think about the guys in defense.

It's just... McKinnon, McDavid, Crosby. Listen, fantastic. We have fantastic players at the top, but the depth just doesn't seem the same to me as it was when I looked at it then. I'm just being honest. That's it. Yeah, hey, listen, I know you're worried. You're worried. I'm just worried between the pipes It was Corey Crawford and Carrie Price and Braden Holt you were the three at that point so it's like a dad

That's where you should be concerned. It's like one of those goalies that's in right now should be like Logan. I That's my last thought on my article today. Take a knee pal was that in here that and thought on my article today was that, that, uh, and I found the, I found the graphic here. Okay. So 2016 forwards Jamie, Ben, Patrice Bergeron, Jeff Carter, Sydney, Crosby, Matt Deshaen, Ryan Gets left Claude Giroud, Brad Marshawn, Tyler Taylor, Tyler Sagan, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Taves. Yeah. Burns, Dowdy, Keith, Muzzin, Petrangelo, Vlasic, Weber. Buddy, it's not better than Braden Pointe, McDavid, Marner, McKinnon, Hegel, Crosby,

Sorelli, McCarr. Okay. Load it. Okay. I think it's a little better. That's it. It's a stupid argument and Kipper hates it, but I think it's... No, no.

I'm looking forward to finding out in about a week and a half. What do you think is better? Now or then? Say it. 2016. Yeah. Marner's on 2024. I'll take 16.

I'll take 16. I like big big guys like Carter. Come on. Of all the names that the guy Bennett Carter. Yeah, are they similar? We'll find out week and a half, two weeks. Have a great night, everybody. We're back tomorrow. Off the rail Friday.