Real Kyper & Bourne - 4 Nations Roster Revamp

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee kick off with their reaction to Team USA calling Quinn Hughes into Boston to play in the 4 Nations final against Canada on Thursday if they lose another defenceman. Then, the Daily Faceoff's Carter Hutton (15:32) discusses the pressure on goalies at the tournament, Jordan Binnington's mindset ahead of the final and where he holds the edge over opponent Connor Hellebuyck. Later, Nick, Justin and Sam share their thoughts on Team Canada's media day including some passionate comments from Brandon Hagel, Auston Matthews's status after missing Team USA's last round-robin game against Sweden, the US getting inspiration from the political landscape 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.

All right, right back at you with our abbreviated version of the real Kipper and born show that Kiprios Justin born Sammy McKee Derek Brandeo and Jen Rollnick here with another version of the quickest hour in hockey. We're live on Sportsnet 590, the fans. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of real kipper and born brought to you by Bet365. A couple days off. Yeah. Catch our breath.

People think we're like mad at each other after yesterday. Well, you know how I, you know what I told you before the show. I'm really mad at you. Yeah. I'm like, I'm trying to remember what I said yesterday. I don't either, I have no idea. No, we're all good, we understand that. And we're the three best friends that anybody could have.

We're the three best friends that anyone could have. Three at times human beings from different planets. That's what I've learned in four years. And it's okay. It's all right. If I look at you every once in a while, I see a third eye. Yeah. We do not agree.

I got no problem with that. But as far as either the passion coming out of Four Nations or the one in this very studio, the levels have risen dramatically. Yeah. And what's fun is I can't wait to hear your thoughts. Like we used to discuss this stuff and I love not coming in here and not knowing what you think about Quinn Hughes being in wait right now to find out if he can play

for the American team in the final of this event. Well, a lot. The Undertaker. This is we've gone full WWE. A lot of people going. It's a dumb week. What is going on here?

Like what are the rules and who can play and who's eligible and who's not? And anyone that's asked me in the last 24 hours I say kind of make it up as they go along. Like it reminds me of like a tournament you'd have with your buddies and then like someone come up be like well I don't know we never really talked about that like I guess what we should do is you know or weren't they genuinely it is a little I'm trying not to focus on it but it's crazy there's no plan. For the record, Quinn Hughes is on his way from Vancouver in what is being described

as for emergency purposes only. There would have to be another legitimate reason why he could play Thursday, which would mean an additional defenseman needs to have some serious issues between now and Thursday night to get into the lineup. Outside of Charlie McEvoy, who has now been deemed unavailable to the US team. But, yes but, Vincent Troucheck got hurt last game. You know, can they say we want to play Jake Sanderson the left wing and now we need a D? If that's two legitimate injuries, I said this a month ago, it's your league, it's your rules, it's the NHL and the players.

Just say whatever you want. You're in control here. There's no double IHF to go plead any case to. And who doesn't want Quinn Hughes to play? Me. Oh, there it is. Can we just get Mike Sullivan clip two? Just, this is a very short one, but I wish I was good enough at editing

so I could do the glass shattering and like the Stone Cold music, but this sounds so good clip to use is is coming Okay for him to play of course like come on I Cannot believe we all agree on that. Yeah Let him play. I don't want them to have an excuse I'll take it a step further Right, I'm like if I'm Quinn Hughes, I'm like if I'm coming out there

I'm not coming out there to put pom-poms on Thursday night. You want to fly me right across the country? Then tell me I'm playing and I'll get ahead of all the people are saying then can't Canada bring in Logan Thompson or Tom Wilson or whatever? Quinn Hughes was named to the American team. He was named to the roster already. He was one of the first four guys they picked. So he's been a part of their roster. I did see Biz talking about just bringing in and at this point I'm kind of listen but I'll just bring them all in. It's the biggest game. who cares? There's no rules. He's a Canadian, let us dress our best Canadians.

Bring them in. Two years from now, you need marketing purposes to name six, eight guys. Knock your socks off. Next tournament. Fully interchangeable. You got a Canadian passport, be ready. You might come into the third period.

I don't care. Who was waiting for us to. Get heard. Fly Tom Wilson in. He's Canadian. Why not? We can dress 18 skaters in two goalies that are Canadian. We'll tell you who it's going to be before puck drop. As long as the players are on board, I'm not going away.

I'll sit at home and wait for the call. Could you imagine? You got guys being like, I don't know. If you can find those guys, because there's a lot of them going. No, I'm going on vacation. But again, you call Tom Wilson. It's better. He's in Boston Thursday night. That's basically like we're kind of given that version right now. and for Quinn Hughes to come in and I get your point He was named to it. I understand that but either you have hard rules You lock your roster in you have three or four extras convince them not to go on vacation, right? We're onto this pride

Country thing going on right now then Stay at home and then wait. Yeah, but like he can legitimately be eligible with one more injury for them and they had Several people hurt last game So maybe it'll be legit. Maybe it'll be 11 and 7. Maybe they'll just decide Really? What did we want this tournament to be their country's best players against our best players? He's gonna be a Norris trophy winner. Did he even the Norris last year. Okay, well either way. He's a clearly one of their best He's eligible. He's healthy. Go ahead. Can I ask just? What? Like if it's Quinn Hughes here and he's coming it there's no way

He's flying. I mean is he in Vancouver? I guess he's probably in Vancouver. Is he home like Vancouver? He was in Vancouver. So he's flying from Vancouver to Boston, which is not a short flight. There is simply zero percent chance He does not play on Thursday. He's waiting to see if he can play as whatever he will he won't fly until he knows he can play Really? Yeah. Okay. I thought he's I thought I mean, can we play the can we play the clip from? from Mike Sullivan again Clip to Quinn Hughes is is coming. So he's coming. Maybe okay I think he's on his way. He's actually in okay, and so he's playing there's no way he's flying all the way I disagree to play

Eligible I can see him still wanted to be a part of it. He's gonna be on the Olympic team He'll be a captain. He's gonna want to be a part of this He was named to it. So what's the deal with Jake Sanderson here like food poisoning or is he questionable? No He can get food poisoning if they need him to though. I heard he was questionable you did. Yeah, but again I'm in Toronto. They're in Boston Yeah, what do you mean? What's going on exactly? What they need to happen is going on. There's seventh guy suddenly getting sick Yeah, I go to the sketchiest pub in Boston I'm not reporting anything. No, But someone said that maybe Jake Sanderson

may have some health issues. You're not telling them what your, what is it? Yeah. I heard two things. Not telling you the truth, I'm telling you what I heard. What I heard, yeah. This guy is just licking walls and eating bad soup, trying to get himself, trying to get Hughes eligible.

So we have another clip of Mike Sullivan on? We got lots of Hughes' clips. Clint Hughes? Yeah, play the second one on how murky this is clip two, please Yes clip three Quinn yeah my bad Mike sorry just to elaborate on Quinn coming Is he an actual possibility to play what goes into that decision like how? How prepared could he be? I mean, could you just expand on that, please? Sure. Well right now We're just taking each day as it comes you know we're gonna we're

gonna take we're gonna take it one day at a time we'll see what potential options might be available for us for the championship game and then we'll make decisions accordingly from there well make sure that he licks the floor yeah he has no idea you know no't know no one knows how to expand. Team USA is like the best they're a defensive juggernaut in this tournament Charlie McEvoy was an absolute force against Canada in the first game. Expand? Are we sure yeah that having Hughes there open my might made it open some space up for the Canadian forwards in the US zone instead of McAvoy

Punishing chopping doing his whole thing Maybe it definitely helps him offensively Just make sure he's facing the glass in his own zone all night Right just put him in a position to Not have time and space to carry the puck out because that's where he is very good at I mean that that US team you look at the defensive numbers this tournament, they've given up 1.8 high danger chances per game. Every other team's over 3.

Slavin is a force. Wurenski's been great. Brock Faber plays 30 minutes a night. Okay, Mike Sullivan on Charlie McEvoy, clip 1. Yeah, it's tough. Charlie, he's a terrific hockey player and he's a big part of this team. He's played extremely well through this tournament.

When you lose players of that caliber, they're not easy to replace. I know from a personal standpoint what this tournament meant to him and how much he was looking forward to to to playing in this. So having said that, we have capable people. You know, we have a lot of depth at all the positions. It's going to provide opportunities for others to step up.

There's a real curveball hearing McEvoy is the son-in-law of Sullivan didn't know that really yeah Mike Sullivan's Charlie McAvoy's father-in-law which I guess means he married Mike Sullivan's daughter math so thoughts on McAvoy what happened right he got cut I assume it's a cut they said it's not his shoulder and other injuries they were worried about bacterial infection the easiest way is to get him to a hospital and IV and yeah Very dangerous. Yes for sure for sure. I am surprised that like usually

Something like that you think three days in advance with antibiotics you'd be eligible. Yeah, but there's, it depends on the severity of it, but you got to drain, you got to, it's got to heal. Often that you stitch, you stitch, and you just can't go back into that environment in 48 hours and put equipment on. It is very dangerous, if that's what he's dealing with. So let's check in on John Cooper and his thoughts on Quinn Hughes. Probably good for the game, no doubt about that.

Quinn Hughes is a special player. So, but I don't know all the rules of, is he allowed to play? Yeah. Same situation. What did you say? That was a funny. He made it funny.

It was unfortunate he was hurt to begin with because I think those, I don't know if you get any better than those two guys. As for Kale, I thought it was great last night and don't see any reason why he wouldn't play Thursday. So he doesn't even know, no one knows. I like Coop, I really do, but I'm kinda getting sick of this is great for the game. I don't wanna hear it anymore.

I just wanna hear like, what's good for Canada? What's good for you guys? What's good for you guys? What's good for you guys to win this thing? Too soon to zoom out for the head coach. Stop it with that. Leave it to me. What's good for the game?

You're coaching to win. You're not coaching to sell a package to corporate America or Canada. So would you have preferred him being pissed off that he's allowed to play? Really I'd like to get somebody pissed off a little bit. Were you expecting me to be pissed off that he can play? I would believe that if they get a sniff that Quinn Hughes is playing, they're all over the league. They're all over them.

You think Canada would be a pick? Yes. Yes. Well, I think a lot of it has to do probably with the way the Harley and Macar thing was Handled as well. I'm sure that he couldn't practice. Yeah. Yeah, so I don't know I just when you make up like morning set off the top you make up a rule attorney with weird rules that nobody knows People are gonna find loophole pretty well, though. You got a show. Yeah, you got to just Do it can't just sit back and and say everything's great for the game.

It's like, come on. You're in it to win it. Yeah, that's okay for idiots like me to say, but maybe not the head coach of the team. Everything's great. So, do you wanna do the next Cooper one? On the commitment the guys are making generally? I do wanna talk Hagel. Is this just gonna be another great positive. No, John Cooper I mean, do you want it or not? All right, let's hear it. Okay, let's go to clip two. It's a sporting event

okay, so I don't want to put this make it grander than it is but you know everybody else in the league is you know, they're getting text messages from their boys that are in the Bahamas and Hawaii and doing all this and having ten days of fun and and these guys are at work still. And not only working physically, but it's a mental grind too. And I think the guys have done a phenomenal job of trying to take out the white noise and understanding that there's the whole country cheering for you.

It's just not your city. And so these guys are working. And for them to take a break and have a free day and do whatever they were gonna do, like these guys deserve it because ultimately the two teams playing on Thursday, I mean we're not playing Saturday, but a lot of, like there's like 15 games, right, on Saturday.

And so they have to jump right back in it. And I just think, you know, these guys deserve a little break themselves. Yeah, because he was talking about the off days. He's bang on. Like, I think once the dust settles when this thing's finally over, guys are going to be looking at each other going, oh my God. I'm tired. Oh, it was a God. I'm tired. That was a lot. I'm exhausted. Media circus and the whole deal.

After Carter, we'll talk about Auston Matthews missing last night too. Okay. Yeah. All right, let's welcome him in. Carter Hutton, former NHL Goaltender, daily face-off contributor. Does a terrific job.

We've had him on the show before. Carter, how are you, pal? Thanks for joining us. Hey, no problem, guys. Always excited to get back on. a while, but this is my this is my duty, right? I get called from a life as a backup right anytime I get called I gotta be ready boy so big picture stuff, you know, we'll get into the the big game Thursday night, but overall your overall assessment of

night but overall your overall assessment of all the goaltenders you know including Sweden and Finland I know up until this point it's been predominantly for sure Bennington and and and Hellebuck has been the focus of the North American teams but the difficulty of or the pressure on goaltenders in this environment is a couple of games I think we saw seven goals, but outside of that, what's your what's your feeling on what you've seen so far out of all of them? You know, I think it's been pretty good, right? I especially for a team where you know I think every team has defended so hard, right? I think we look at Sweden how their back end is played Finland obviously being you know

Missing Miro Haysken has been huge. And I think he's played well. Kevin Lankinen came in, obviously you saw getting pulled was like kind of the only really blemish on the resume throughout this tournament. And Gustafsson having a tough go. But I think overall it's been very good. And I think a look at Connor Hellebuck, the situation he's been in.

And I think there's been a bit of a black cloud over him. Right? You look at his lack of playoff success and where he's at. So I think for him, this is a big monkey off his back. I think winning that game up in Montreal was very important for him and for his resume. And now there's that pressure of Thursday, right? He's in a game. It's an elimination game where this is for it. It's for the four nation cups. And yes, I know it's going to go away and it's going to just collect dust after this. This isn't a Stanley Cup. This is an Olympic gold medal, but it's important.

I think there is a measuring, you know, where he can go with this and move this and use this into the Stanley Cup finals So and then again, there's Jordan Bennington, right? And this is the conversation we've heard so much about and I am a big backer I I believe in this situation I think it's important to see where he is at and what he has done throughout his career And I think there's going to be a lot of pressure on him But we look at the game and we can go back to those games where you look at a few goals and situations where he,

you know, there's ones he wanted and he wants back, right? But it doesn't matter anymore because all that matters is Thursday night. And if there's a guy that can understand that and compartmentalize that, it's Jordan Bennington. Did you think they should have gone to Hill before the last game or you're team ride it out with Benner? I'm team ride it out for Benner.

I think if you're gonna go to Hill it had to be that Saturday night against the United States because that game was so close and he played so well at times. You know yes the Getzo goal is one that you know you need to save on and maybe you can make the argument it's a huge game the Larkin save it's from distance you need to save it's a perfect shot but in the same sense once you had him for the first two games you got to ride him and I think there's value to what Bennington brings, right? I think I look at his puck handling ability was really on show. He showed it off yesterday against the Finns, right?

We're leaving so much pressure and the patience and poise he has with the puck is unbelievable. It's a world class, especially from a goalie who was a puck handler. And I don't think I was on that phase of what Jordan Bennington can do with the puck, but he's out early, he handles handles it and what he really does well honestly is he draws the forecheck in right he makes guys change the direction because he's so patient with it and he has he has big he can just say maintain it the patience he has is so impressive and I think for them what he does moving forward is and then they relieve the pressure there's less hits on the D-men

there's so much things that go into play that I think is so important in his game And yes at the end of the day stop in the puck is so important But when you look at this decor and what Canada how they defend so well him being able to relieve that pressure and they can get pucks out of the zone quicker and Efficiently is so important. I think to this Canadians game plan, especially going into Thursday night against the United States Carter the term that goalies often hear is a bad goal a game. And can it play with your mind? Because it just seems like we've seen different variations

throughout all the goaltenders. But let's focus on Binnington right now, where there's some games where you can give up a bad goal a game and get away with it. And then there's Saturday games where you can you can give up a bad goal a game and get away with it and then there's Saturday night Against the US where his bad goal a game cost them and what does he carry now into Thursday night and Can he still give up a suspect goal and have Canada win this thing? I honestly Kipper I think when you're talking about team Canada, like there's just enough run

support there that they potentially could do it. He could give up a bad goal, he could give up two, they could score four, like who knows how this game plays out. But I think for Jordan Binnington, like falling back on experience, right? And I talk about that all the time, right? We make that argument, you know, you've heard it all the time. We talk about why isn't Darcy Kemper there, why isn't Logan Thompson there, why isn't Mackenzie Blackwood, yada, yada, yada.

And there's so many riches of players, right? And they haven't lost the tournament, right? We talk about Tom Wilson, Mark Shifely, all these guys, and I think they're still in the tournament. One thing for me that is super important for Jordan Binnington is the fact that he knows how to move on. In game six, he gave up four goals to the Boston Bruins,

and he had a mountain to climb, going into TD Garden, facing Tuukka Rask, and playing that. Also playing that also another game that series he gave up five goals so I think that's where his like he has those experiences to draw upon right I think that's something that's super important and something for me like as I'm on this other side now and I'm dissecting media and in this game and I look back on my career I didn't just learn how to play in games like just overnight right it's it's you draw upon so many different experiences that my career, I didn't just learn how to play in games like just overnight, right? You draw upon so many different experiences that you've dealt with and then all of a sudden

you have the ability to manage the moment and manage the day off today and manage tomorrow and manage the morning skate and not let those negative thoughts creep in. And I think for Bennington, he talks about that a lot. And something I really noticed in that US game is visually they showed him at one point in the net and you can see him actually just taking a deep breath in. They like showed him the crease, you could see him breathing and these are things, techniques that they just don't happen overnight. These are experiences gained. So I feel like he has that going for him and he has the fact that he's a Stanley Cup champion. He's won a Stanley Cup in this arena so he can walk out into that

rink on Thursday night with a little bit of arrogance and a little bit of cockiness internally to know that he can get it done. And again on the other side, Connor Hellebuck's been in a ton of big games, but he hasn't got over that hunt. So there is that side of it as well. So I feel like this just sets up so well with like the David versus Goliath matchup here for USA and Canada. Yeah, I was going to ask you about Hellebuck who has been the best goaltender in the league this year, heart trophy candidate. So which one's David and which one's Kaliya? Well yeah, I mean in

theory yeah, but it's almost like this is something Hellebuck doesn't have those moments to draw on where he can say I have got to the mountain top, I know what it's like to win the big game in the same way Bennington does. Yeah, but you can't get there until you've been in these situations, right? And Hellebuck hasn't been in those situations, right? He hasn't been in the Stanley Cup, finally. He hasn't been fortunate enough to do that, right? And it's not like Binnington has played behind these unbelievable teams in a sense. Like St. Louis was very good there.

I was a year removed from St. Louis. I led the whole league in goals against and save percentage. And trust me, it wasn't just me. Like we had Jay Beaumister, Alex Petriangelo, Colton Perenco, who's been showing what he can do. We had a plethora of riches on the defensive end, but I also think for Hellebuck, he has experience now too, right? We can look back on his playoff series.

He can draw upon what happened last year against Colorado and how he was run out of the building in that series. So I also think there's that side of it, but right now when you talk about goalie matchup, you know, Hellebuck is Goliath and Bennington is David, right? In this comparison, in my opinion, and especially I think the way it's spun throughout the media, but I would be quick to defend Jordan Bennington and so much value he brings to this team, whether it's his mindset, his character,

his demeanor, the way he carries himself. And again, like I touched on earlier, his puck handling is so important. I look back to a playoff series against Minnesota where Villi Huso started that series, and then they switched to Jordan Bennington the Minnesota Wilds four check was killing the st. Louis Blues Jordan Bennington came in He relieved so much pressure with his puck handling that Minnesota tried to re-evolve their game during that series and they were quickly eliminated

By the st. Louis Blues So I feel like he has a great element to his game and his demeanor and in one game showdown like if we were doing an 82 game season I would take Connor Hellebuck all day, but this is a one game showdown, right? We always hear that conversation right in one game Who would you take and I think right now you could make a coin flip on who you take in this game Carter great stuff man. So Give the edge a little bit to the Stanley Cup champion. Well, I'm a little biased too, right? That's all right. The jersey like cup champion? Well, I'm a little biased too, right? He's got the jersey hanging behind him.

I'm a Canadian boy, so I'm biased. I guess I'm just quick to his defense, right? I feel like it's been so, you know, you'd have to take, I think argument's sake, you'd take the best goalie in the world right now, but it's the same thing. I think it's a coin flip. These teams are so even. I love that I heard him talking. I did a quick Google search Thunder Bay, Ontario here.

There's a good Canadian boy right there. All right. We got the flag. We kids, we hung a flag outside. So we're be supporting Thursday night when the game's on. Carter, enjoy it, man. And we'll get you on again real soon. Thanks for coming on. Hey, thanks guys, as always. Thanks for having me.

Carter Hutton, former Indochelle goaltender now doing some work with Daily Faceoff. I think he makes an excellent point that like Jordan Bennington, like there's some goalies we've seen many in the Leafs uniform the last five or 10 years where a bad goal can rattle them and there's no recovery. I still think he could maybe let in a suspect goal, but he manages it way better and he can still lock it down. You know what I often get away from them. No and I often think about the best golfers in the world.

You watch like Scottie Scheffler hit one into the trees in a tight tournament and there's not he's not suddenly sweating or panicked or whatever they just punching it out. Get it up and down for par. Exactly. Regroup. Do the next thing you have to do well. And that's something that you have to have had some success to be able to manage. So Sam, what's the latest on Quinn Hughes? So, Freage just sent a tweet saying that Quinn Hughes is indeed at Canucks

practice today. So Quinn Hughes is at Canucks practice. We'll see how this turns out. But Hughes will not join USA unless there's a realistic chance he can play. Canucks first game is Saturday in Vegas. Doesn't make sense for him to go to We'll see how this turns out, but Hughes will not join USA unless there's a realistic chance he can play. Canucks first game is Saturday in Vegas. It doesn't make sense for him to go to Vancouver, Boston, Vegas if he can't play Thursday. Hughes is also wearing a non-contact jersey. You know, it's, he's got lots of time. It's Tuesday.

It's Tuesday. You're right. Go tomorrow morning if he needs. And they're not practicing, right? They're not no today's today's an off day tomorrow Everybody's back on the ice apparently according to but what I'm what I'm saying Is that like for a guy that hasn't played and how long now three weeks a month? Yeah, I don't for Quinn Hughes Whatever it is. You're better off staying and practicing With the Canucks today than anything better than you can race over to

here. Plus there's really bad travel out there today. It's brutal. I can attest to that trying to get my wife home from visiting my in-laws. And ask JD Bunkett how it's going. It's not an easy day to go across the country. I think that I think to Quinn or head coach Sully so Mike Sullivan that That he's he's going he's going there's just no way that you make that statement without the belief that he's gonna come And I can't imagine it would take the NHL front office very long to reach that decision. You'd get everyone on a call and say, what are we doing?

And then you talk it out for half an hour and then you have a decision. It's a pretty big one you need to make and make quick. So I would imagine this will be decided very soon. I do think the optics of this are very weird. Well, it's not great. I really do. It's unfortunate. Listen, I don't... Why do I care about optics. I'm not like Mr. Criticize the League. I don't really care. But like, if you're Patrick Alveen and you're like, you got Mike, I'm sure they've

talked about Mike Sullivan at a press conference saying, Quinn Hughes is coming. And then you look at the bench and he's on the bench in Vancouver wearing a non-contact jersey. It doesn't feel like a very sane thing that's going on here. It's just a lot of- Someone's gonna be fresh. I think this does sow some unfortunate seeds

for griping on whichever side, if he plays or he doesn't play. The best case scenario is he plays, plays well, Canada beats the pants off them, goes back to Vancouver healthy with a game under his belt. Worst case scenario is he plays plays well and it beats pants off them. Yes goes back to Vancouver healthy with a game under his belt worst case scenario Contact you're looking at the pros and cons You want to do game time or you want to go to break?

Let's go to break and then we'll do Matthews and game time on the other side of break. All right You heard the man when we return we'll do Matthews and game time on the other side of the break. All right. You heard the man. When we return, we'll get into the who might be available, who might not conversation, including Austin Matthews. Is he playing Thursday night? We'll get into that when we return from Real Cooper and born. Hey, it's Ailish for afar. And I'm Justin Cutford. Join us as we discuss the most important sports stories the return from real Cooper and

born. Hey, it's a list for a fire and I'm Justin comfort. Join us as we discuss the most important sports stories of the day and tee up the biggest games of the night. It's the fan pregame six PM weekdays on sports that sports at 590 the

fan and wherever you get your We're back. Hey, Kiprios, Justin Bourns, Sammy McKee. Where do you guys want to start? You want to start with? Game time. I'll start with game time. Yeah. It's game time presented by Bet365. Visit the app for the latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary. At Bet365, it must be 19 plus, on Terra only.

Please play responsibly. So pretty quiet night in the old sports schedule tonight. Good night to spend some time with your significant other especially if they were stuck in a snowstorm traveling all over the place Yeah, so the no sports on TV. You look I do cook you do Saw tails. I love it. Okay cook. I mean cook is great The the line for the Canada USA game has shifted Yesterday I had mentioned that they were an underdog and it was mentioned to John Cooper that they were an underdog According to bet 365. They're no longer an underdog It is dead even on the money line minus 110 on both sides

so the money a lot of the I don't know the sharps people saw that a team with McDavid McKinnon and McCarr were Underdogs and they probably jumped on it. So that line has shifted a little bit. This is though, this is where at least in the NFL you get your, he's in, he's out. Yeah. Right. And this one's, it's tough when you don't know who's playing. Quinn Hughes coming in, it's like that shifts the line. Like that puts Canada back to being an underdog probably.

Like at least they, they didn't, they didn't give us a Charlie McEvoy game time decision. He's out. He's out. Yeah. And the last thing I'll bring up since spring training is starting to trickle in here, it's all opening up all over the place. I don't know if anybody saw any of the news today in Toronto, but we can skip that part of it.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, if you would like to bet on the Los Angeles Dodgers to repeat as World Series champions, you will have to do so at a plus 250 number plus 250 is that right? They are you know, it's plus 250 that is so if you bet $10, you don't win Yeah, so it's they are heavy heavy favorites The next one is the Yankees at plus 800 Braves plus 900 And if you would like to wager on your Toronto Blue Jays as I scroll down the list plus 4500 to win the World Series this year

Wouldn't recommend it. That was game time because I might bet 365 is it the atlas odds and find out why it's ever ordinary I must be 19 plus a Terry only please play responsibly. So where are the odds on boba? Shet now signing? That's just not As a reminder As a reminder this hour of real kippenborn brought to you by bet three six five. Okay physicality Hot button topic. Let's go to Sam Bennett on what he expects Thursday night. I mean, never say never, but I don't really anticipate that. I mean, I think I think the messages were sent in that last game and this game, it's all about winning. It's not about who's tougher, who can intimidate more. It's about winning.

And that's our main goal. Spoken like a Stanley Cup champion right there. Somebody's gonna come out proactive and someone's gonna come out reactive. And we know how that played out Saturday night Well, someone's someone needs to get the jump up physically. I If you believe that that can help you win the game. Absolutely It's pretty easy for old squirrely Joe Sam Bennett to say like oh, there's probably not gonna be anything

Yeah, I'm not I'm not sure he believes that and if he does Maybe someone should talk to him. Yeah, but I think he's playing coy. Yeah, I think that's very possible. I Sent some texts. I got a my cousin out in Saskatoon Adams Telling me that the boys are loving Hagel just saying, you know when he comes back to town He's not not gonna be buying a drink in Saskatchewan this summer. I think he's made a large impression. I think we have a quote from him too, but he said a lot of right things today.

Yeah. You know, the people wanted to hear about caring. Yeah. Clip one Hagel, please. No, I think it's gonna be the same way. I think it's two countries. I mean, listen, what happened the other night? I think I did it for the flag and not for the cameras.

I did it for the flag. God, why do I love this guy? I hate this guy. And now I love him. Yeah, he's my least favorite player in the league. And now I love him. Yeah, he's my least favorite player in the league and now I love him going you know going through the whole process of what this means like this becoming such a I Guess aggressive event or somewhat meaningful event, you know looking at the teams

You mentioned the guys would be mentally tired that this would be a workload I was looking at the Atlantic Division and who has the most players. So auto in Detroit have two players each. Toronto has three. Boston has four. Tampa Bay has five. Florida has eight. Eight guys in this event.

Yeah. And I got to believe by the end of the year, that's not an advantage. That's not great. To have a lot of your guys there. I mean, they're going to be some of your top guys too, right? Finland had You know Lundell and Lister rain and guys like that, too They could have the option of sitting him out this weekend

And they've got the the points in the standings that would support that but the rest of them don't know right get back to work Leaves got a back to back. Ottawa. That's between Brady Kachuk and, and Jake Sanderson now. Yeah, like that's your emotional, actually I have three guys because they had all Mark too. But that's your emotional leader in Brady Kachuk. Walmart was supposed to start the other night, I think. Was he? He was. Not feeling great.

Not feeling great. Yeah. Not feeling great. Not feeling great. Yeah. Not feeling great. Dr. Fournation's off. All of ours taking some beatings on this show. I mean, how could you not? Anyways, I got to think between Brady and Matthew, they will play Thursday night, but

like you're not sure what you're going to get out of them. Like whatever's bothering them isn't going to suddenly go away in two days. Yeah, I mean, you're right that it likely does nag and bother and hinder them somewhat. But those two guys, what's the water testing on this? You know, can you just take whatever you want right now and go play? I'm sure that it's a joke, but I'm sure they'll take whatever they need to play. Shoot it up and get out there for a game matthews. Awesome matthews did not play. Uh They they mentioned upper body injury Or uh ailment. I don't know. How do they phrase it sammy? Uh, I saw it was russo that tweeted about it. Uh

I'm just trying to pull it up here, but basically he just said that he was with an upper body injury. Little concerning, considering he's missed almost 20% of the season with something that was bothering him. Baggly upper body related. And where are you on, will he play or will he not? Oh yeah, he's going to play. I saw the absence in the third game as the game didn't matter.

He is a guy who has been nursing something all year and you want him at your best and it just didn't make sense for him to play. See I would have thought the opposite. I would have thought if it's just precautionary, he should have played the last game. If it's just about being precautious or if he's actually feeling an injury or something that is reoccurring, then I get the fact that he didn't play.

But I thought the last game would have been a perfect game for him to kind of play himself out of this how many games now without a goal eight? Yeah going back to me before yeah I can head that's a lot of games without a goal. I thought under normal Circumstances that would be a game that you'd want to play Because no hitter against Sweden. It's a bit of a freebie to Kind of find your groove a little bit and he's not scoring. He's a scorer. You think he's hurt?

It lends me to believe that it might be something, I hope it's not, but it could be something that's still bothering him. I see it as something that's going to bother him all year long and the more rest he can get the better. And I'll be honest, I was texting tech the rest is not to play Thursday night. That's That's well. Yeah, well, so This is a worthwhile discussion because I had a text from someone who's a Leafs fan last night who said to me You know last year it's chase for 70 goals this year

It's the four nations when are the Leafs gonna be the priority? It's like, oh, you know, that that hurts. Not to get off, but Matthews, but it will come. It will come to a bigger picture conversation, I think, for the league and the players. And once again, setting yourself up to going, how did we go from a three on three party weekend to killing each other with 30 games to go? All I can see is Nathan McKinney shooting at a surfboard in Miami. Mitch Marner looking.

Five fights immediately. Right? Mitch Marnerer. Turn his dial up. Oh no! Dressed like Miami Vice. Yeah. To absolutely try to rip each other's heads off. So can I just talk on the Matthews thing in terms of him playing or not playing?

Yeah. And before the tournament, I'm not speaking for Lee fans, probably there's a ton of them that don't agree with me on this. Before the tournament, if he was banged up, I said multiple times, I talked about it for a long time, that I don't think he should play. I don't think he should play. But having seen how much this tournament actually matters, and how much these guys actually care,

I'm totally fine with him pushing it to play for USA. I am. Like, I just, I would feel the exact same way if he was Canadian, so I can't talk it on both sides of my mouth so he's got a he's got a play he's as as the captain I'm with you. You're either in or you're out. There's just no dipping a toe in this tournament totally

Maybe a week or two. We would have said you can get away with dipping a toe in it Yes, and come out on the other side shark will bite your hands off if you please a toe in it. Yes. And come out on the other side. The shark will bite your hands off if you put your toe in the water. And now it's like you're all in. And as a Leaf fan, I'm horrified about Thursday, where that is a... You should be horrified about Saturday and Sunday. Well, I mean, again, that's future me's problem. It's a scary game for a physicality wise for two of the least biggest stars. So I know how you feel and you're caught up in the emotion of going into a Thursday night. But if there's a chance that Austin Matthews looks no different the rest of the season like he's looked earlier for as a leaf player or the one that we've seen that isn't dominant

as a shooter or goal scorer. People are going to go back and go, you should have rested. You shouldn't have played. You shouldn't have played. Hey listen, that's why as a... And if it costs your Leafs a first round advance, you so be it, right? I actually will say yes, so be it. You know the...

I'll say it right now. The biggest thing you hope for these guys... For Canadian pride. Buddy, I wouldn't have said this two weeks ago, but seeing Saturday nights seeing how much these guys are trying So you're asking I cannot like it matters and I dreamt of this mattering I wanted this to matter like I'm better. I'll fly like I wanted this to matter and yes, it'll suck I understand but if he was Canadian and he was had I would want him to play for Canada I would be wanting him to push it

I know you think I'm crazy, Kipper, and people listening to this are probably pulling their ears out, but, or pulling their hair out. I don't know if you can pull your ears out. I'm not disagreeing with the emotion of it, because I get the emotion. I'm just kinda, it kinda blows my mind a little bit

that this thing has gone from, I'm not sure what to expect, to like, win at all costs. That this thing has gone from I'm not sure what to expect to Like when it all costs this isn't the Olympics. It's not a Stanley Cup It's a made-up tournament with a made-up trophy. Yeah, but it's it's not about the trophy. It's not about a cop It's not about a gold medal. It's oh, it's about right. It's their country better than our country at hockey I think they didn't even need that sweet. have Sweden. That's where this has come to. Yes.

Right? 100%. So it's ego. It's the same things it's always been, right? For international sports. It's that, yeah. It's the World Cup. It's Argentina and Italy and...

That part blows me away that that's how this thing has escalated. Yeah. And I don't mind it. Good. Like, let's bring it on. Right? I think I've used the advantage of my college team for every year. We do one of these games and it always ended the pace of a playoff game.

And it was like, God, it's for nothing. For nothing. But it was Canada-USA. And Sam's ready to give up an NHL season for it. But I mean, look, you know, and these guys are, like Quinn Hughes is another guy wearing a non-contact jersey today who hasn't played in weeks. Who's supposed to fly across the country.

Which we just heard from Hagel. He also had a quote where he's, like, I couldn't find the actual video of the quote, but he was like, I was lying in bed thinking about if this was gonna be like an All-Star game. And he's like, I sure hope it's not, because I'm gonna run my head through the end glass. He said, I'm gonna be really out of place.

I'm gonna run my head through a wall. Yeah, I did it for the flag. Oh, my God. And we're gonna ask, head through the end. He said, I'm going to be really out of place. Yeah. I did it for the flag. And we're going to ask pretty much the same guys for the next 10 years to do this every other year. Yes. Can't wait. Right. Every other year.

So happy about it. That's what we want to see. Over three weeks. That's what we want to see. We want to see the best hockey players play the best hockey that is why it's a really really big I think yes, the fundamental difference in this show is Kipper doesn't really care and we do I think that's the difference Like I don't think you really you don't you like the Olympics and that'd be fine with you And you don't even if they didn't have the Olympics. I don't think you'd care that much would you they'd be honest?

No, I like the Olympics. No didn't have the Olympics, I don't think you'd care that much, would you? Like be honest. No, I like the Olympics. No, I like the Olympics. But like, you just would just like, just Olympics every four years, that's good enough for you. I just think every other year doesn't make it as special as once every four years.

That's definitely a part of this here. That's fair, that's a fair thing. Is that we haven't had an answer for where the teams are at. You know, we've lost track. Because to me, my whole thing with like the World Cup of 2016, the Spangler Cup, any of the world championships or whatever they're called in the summer, if you don't have your

best guys there, what are we solving? We're solving nothing. I mean, I'd like that. I know you like to watch it, but it doesn't mean anything. Well, this does. When you tell that to Andrew Mongevinny. He lights it up over there. Did Billy Garan pour gasoline on this fire right now by going on Fox News and telling

everybody? I don't know. What did he say? I'll say this. He invited President Trump to the game. He did, and fine. The Daily Beast who wrote the story that everyone's tweeting, I think misquoted some of what Garen or at least took it out of context where the quote makes it sound like he said, we use

Trump's threat to annex Canada as motivation or whatever the word was. And I don't think Garen is saying it's that that he likes that inspired the guys inspiration. I don't think thataren is saying it's that that that he likes that inspired the guys inspiration. I don't think that's what he's saying. He's saying that the political factor was motivation us against you. They're booing our anthem, whatever. I don't think he's saying that they're like it is pro annexation. It is. You're you're you're you're on a fine line here.

Hey, he was on the tightrope tightrope. Yes, yes. People are killing them online. Yeah. Well, again, it's still a game in a league that's predominantly Canadian, although they're catching up. Let's face facts. We're sensitive here about these threats. We have a ton of Canadians that have a guy that wants to take away your country.

Take away your sovereignty. Sovereignty? that wants to take away your country. Yeah, take away your sovereignty and sovereignty. Sovereignty. You went full Ricky from California. We love Billy Aaron, but Billy's also caught up in that. He's in the fishbowl right now. We're on a little bit on the outside. He's American.

But they're also not covering this story. We're covering it here where it really can affect us. They're laughing it off. They're not, you know, from the testing. It barely booed the anthem there. Like it's yeah, it can affect us. Yeah there. They're laughing it off They're not barely booed barely booed the anthem there like, you know It met but it matters. It matters. It's like I don't think matter more. I don't think Aaron knows How touchy it is here? Yes, that's a perfect way to put it. Yeah walk that in a perfect world If you wanted to invite your president, wouldn't you just kind of do it behind the scenes first? Yeah, I will safer. I guess you know we we had Trudeau and I know people at home have their

Whatever there because lots of people would boo him too and And I agree there's no doubt that that is a. One of the flavors that is in this stew that is driving people crazy. Oh, it's completely played into a Thursday night full day. Why is it not Wednesday? You'll be fine. Why is it not Wednesday? We were one travel day to go ask the players to go play Saturday. Yeah, it's crazy. So looking at these looking at the first game, what does Canada need to do differently? Shoot the puck to have to give themselves a better shot. I think they got to just they got to establish a four-check Yeah, I thought guys were alone a lot like going in one man. Yeah, that's changing two guys high

Didn't have a ton of puck support. I think kale mccarl help. Yeah, I thought drew dowdy got a lot better Yes, right. He's been better as a turn. He's better He was when he snapped the past McDavid right when McDavid scored the only goal the game I think it was him that passed it Bennington got an assist on it. It appears that The lines are fairly comfortable now. Mm-hmm. So No sense Jarvis will come in. No, Tom Wilson's not gonna hang light in no, I'm not just bring them all in Well now that it's so vague. It's like whatever bring them in they wanted to Get one of those quick power play goals could help to yeah connect me and Seth Jarvis had some bad

sushi here comes Shife Lee and Tom Wilson baby let's go let's go they're bringing in Hughes would that would that be the who's the first guy in who's not in for Canada could get parachuted Tom Wilson 100% Tom Wilson all day long. Yeah, no First pick might be Zach Hyman for me with the way that game went on Saturday and the physicality and all that stuff I want to see Tom Wilson run someone through the end glass. That's what the first time in four checks Yeah, he's not the man. No of Tom Wilson. No anyways, and Brady's not the man. No of Tom Wilson. No, no, anyways and Brady's the one that's

Scary out there on a four check to he hits to hurt if he's heard it helps Canada Because he is a guy that you're like, who does he smoke? He crushed them He smoked you doubt. Yeah, and there was a play in that game where Braden point was coming out from around the net God and could Chuck There was a play in that game where Brayden Point was coming out from around the net. Oh God. And Kachuk missed him by a half a step and it would have been a bone-rattler really, really big hit and it would have been an explosive moment. It didn't happen. He's looking to hurt somebody. Like those two guys.

I don't think there's going to be fights off the start like last time. Maybe I'm wrong. Not off the start, but there will be a fight. But it's going to be mine. I wouldn't mind one to be honest with you. Listen, I love it. Are you sure about that? You seem to hate the last game of fights.

No, I hated America sticking it to Canada. That's what I hated. Me too, buddy. But it turned the tables. Men proactive. Remember, proactive, not reactive. Kevin Lowe tomorrow. Kevin Lowe. Yeah. Fre proactive, not reactive. Kevin Lowe tomorrow. Kevin Lowe. Yeah. Freage as well tomorrow. Wow.

Maybe Scott Niedermeyer on Thursday. Ooh buddy. A ton. Still a go before the big game. Our thanks to Carter Hutton, former NHL goaltender. Does some great work also for daily face off. Take a deep breath Sammy. You still got a lot of meat on the bone before putt drop Thursday night, my friend. Can't wait. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening.