Real Kyper & Bourne - Across the League with Doug MacLean

Episode Date: November 1, 2024

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne welcome in Doug MacLean (0:40) for the return of Off-the-Rails Friday! Mac shares his impressions of the Leafs under Craig Berube, the Hurricanes' strong start, whether the Oilers need to make a move in McDavid's absence, the Predators' lost identity, the Bruins spiralling under Jim Montgomery and much more. Later, they regroup with Sam McKee to discuss Matvei Michkov getting benched in Philly, look at the sputtering Bruins' dwindling playoff hopes and answer your questions on the text line!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.

we're back we are national the national hour the real kipper inborn show we are live on sportsnet 650 in vancouver and sportsnet 960 in calgary this hour real kipper inborn brought to you by bet 365 as promised 960 in Calgary. This hour, Real Kipper Inborn brought to you by Bet365. As promised, we are going live to Florida. Where he's fresh off his over 65 aquatics class. Let's welcome in Doug McClain. He can't be controlled. We don't need to control him.

We need to unleash him. What just happened? Listen, we've missed you. Oh, no, we can't hear him. Hold on, Mac. Hold on, Mac. We're good. You're on mute.

Is that better? Hey, there he is. So I discovered something in Europe that I thought would help me with this show. It's called Pocket Coffee. And what it is, it's chocolates. It's chocolates. And when you put it in your mouth, the inside of it squirts out espresso to you. So it livens me up.

So I thought I would try to see if we could get some life into this show because i know i've been a bit of a dead you know deadbeat recently so i'm just trying to spruce it up and i'm i'm working on my studio here because i'm getting so many damn requests to do shows yes and i'm trying to upgrade my studio as well you know so in between a trip to europe and and and the travel from pei to florida you've been able to watch any hockey at all are you caught up are you like are you into it or are we gonna have to carry you for the next 20 minutes i'm so caught up it's scary like i i watched quite a bit of quite a few games this week i I actually watched the Leafs last night. And as much as it bothered me, I didn't go out to dinner.

I said, no, I'm going to stay home and watch the game so I can really be on top of it. And the one thing I discovered about your Leafs is they took the 100-pound C off Tavares' chest, and they put the 100-pound C on Matthews' chest. So now Tavares can skate, and Matthews looks slow because he's got the 100-pound C on him. So I'm concerned about that. Is this just a typical coach that wants production all the time? It looks like they're winning now. who cares who gets the credit now i you know what i kind of like their lineup

last night i i gotta tell you the uh the taveras line was a real good line and i know they had a previously a previous strong game against winnipeg but i really like the way they played last night. I like the way Nyes played last night. I don't, I wish, he's so big and strong and they're talking about him a linebacker. Let's, you know, I just would like him to be a touch meaner. And I know it's really hard to make guys mean when they're not really mean. But, you know, I liked his game last night i was a little

hard on him last night or not last night but last year so i you know what i i like the look of their team last night i thought they played pretty solid seattle is a disaster like i'm sorry i can hardly watch them play i mean i don't get it i mean i with you, Doug. I was with an expansion team, and I know how tough it is, but I watched Vegas play the other night, and I'm telling you, they're tough to play against. They are hard to play against. They're playing playoff hockey right now. And so, you know, I just didn't – it was a poor test for me

with respect to the Leafs, but I did like the way he's got his line structured, the first and second line anyway. Doug, last Leafs one, we'll kind of move it around Canada, but I heard Kip say there that who cares who gets the credit, but he's being sarcastic because he thinks they actually care. Stars care. Stars care. Of course they do care, but my question is, you dealt with stars in the nhl

and my impression as a hockey player my whole life was that it was about the team and how do you manage that i understand you have to keep these guys happy but at what point is it fair to say to them the egos don't matter we're trying to win as a team um yeah that that's true but i i was in the league for 24 years and I must have missed that comment because I didn't I didn't see it anywhere. I mean, I I was in Detroit with a star studded team in Iserman and Federoff and Lidstrom and on and on and on where and for a guy like Stevie Y, when he wasn't the guy, he wasn't a happy camper. He was not a happy camper. He wanted to be the guy. No matter how good Federoff was, no matter if Federoff got a Hart Trophy or whatever he got,

he wanted to be the guy. And, you know, so I don't buy it. I think, you know, the stars want to be stars and expect to be treated as stars. Ruby's got his hands full here with this group because there's a, they remind, you know what, they're the Forrest Gump of hockey. They're like a box of chocolates. You don't know what you're going to get from game to game. So they're the Forrest Gump box of chocolates for me, and we'll see if that changes as the season goes on.

So we heard from Willie, Zibanejad. When you have that star player that comes out and mentions something in the media about ice time, and Willie was clear and very clear, like it's nothing new. It's not like it was a surprise. He's had those conversations in the past with Berube. So everything's on the up and up. But that's a hard thing for a coach to still manage,

is to draw that fine line of when you want to show the player respect, but you don't want to show him too much respect? Is that fair to say? First of all, what's on the up and up? That he goes to the media and whines about his ice time? Well, no, that he went to the coach first. He went to the coach first. So it should end there.

He's made his point with the coach. Why go to the media after? Why not just make your point to Berube? So if he's asked by the media, he should dodge it? Yeah, he should dodge it. 100%. I don't think – look, he's played well in the playoffs. He's a bit of an enigma to me.

He's good. He's bad. He's playoffs. He's a bit of an enigma to me. He's good. He's bad. He's great. He's average. You know, last night he happened to score two goals and he was good. I don't get to go into the media about ice time. You go in and you talk to Ruby. If Ruby keeps it the same way, you go back in and talk to Ruby again.

You know, you don't go to the media because it just starts something that the team doesn't need around them. And there's enough talk around the team as it is. There's enough noise around this team as it is. So I didn't like that. And I heard it last night. I heard the other day that he was complaining about it. And look, the kid played well last night. Are we good on the Leafs?

Yeah, we're good. Doug, the Pittsburgh Penguins are run by one of your favorite people in hockey, and I know you think Dubas has done a great job there, but they're not winning as much as you said they would this year. What are your thoughts on that? What are they going to do with Sid? What are they going to do

this year? They look like they might stink outright. Huge overtime win last night against the Ducks I thought I thought of Kyle today actually when I saw Kucherov round the net on a great rush

and then drop past the puck to Gensel for the open net and I'm thinking I wonder if Kyle wishes he didn't take Carlson so he would have had the money to sign Gensel. I wonder if he's thought of that. No, no. I guarantee you Sid has thought of it,

and I guarantee you Malkin's thought of it, and I guarantee you anybody else in the team has thought it. They are bad-looking. They are a bad- looking team right now and i don't know you know i don't know if it's going to get better i don't know but but look i i look at i watch florida a couple of times and i and i i'm telling you guys today the only team in the east that has a chance to beat florida in the playoffs is the carolina hurricane the only team that i've watched so far that have any chance to play playoff style hockey the way

the panthers play it every night and i look at i look at an ajo talk about kneelander i look at ajo 57 game winners this kid has had in his career. 57 game winners in his career. You never hear his name. All he does is play. I mean, even Goss Despair has become a star. Brendan Moore has got, there's something going on with him. Now, can they get a goalie and give themselves a chance?

But I think right now the only team that can play with florida is carolina it will that change we'll see carolina was really close to getting gibson in the off season out of anaheim and they should they should try to get a goal i think i think they'll revisit that one yeah i again look nesh cash is it nesh cash is that how you pronounce his name natures natures i mean how good is this kid i mean now i understand why everybody wanted him in the And look, Neskash, is that how you pronounce his name? Natchez. Natchez. I mean, how good is this kid? I mean, now I understand why everybody wanted him in the offseason. But everybody that comes into that mix,

there's something Brendamore's doing right there. I know he hasn't had success getting to the finals. I get that. But look, he's done a hell of a job there. And there's a buy-in culture there there's a good vibe around that team they know they have to have success in the playoffs like the leafs but right now they're the only team to me i watched the rangers the other night they were embarrassing if they think they're going to win a stanley cup with that group with other than

shisterkin they got their they they've got issues with that group as far as i'm concerned i know i'm a little biased because of joar glant but that group i watched them play washington the other night it was like a triple-a midget team playing a peewee team it was embarrassing how that game turned out and how they played all All right. Let's, let's push it out West here and we'll, we'll certainly get into West is too late for me. Not your opinion. I know that maybe to watch a game, but your opinion works around the clock in, in each region,

Mac, before we get into dry sidle and the magic that he had last night against Nashville, just the, Dreisaitl and the magic that he had last night against Nashville. Just the thought of Vancouver Canucks and the continuation of a struggling Pedersen. This guy, I know on a

number of occasions in our show, you would talk to him as if he could be a Datsouk type of player for the Vancouver Canucks like we saw over the years in Detroit. And he is. He's like Datsouk type of player for the Vancouver Canucks, like we saw over the years in Detroit. And he is. He's like Datsouk is in the KHL right now.

He's very comparable. What has happened here? Seriously, I don't know what's gone wrong with this kid. I mean, we can talk confidence. We can talk all these things. I mean, contract. I mean, what is he, $11.3 million And, and right now that's going to hurt this team to try to build a team with that kind of dollars tied up in that kind of production. It's scary right now to watch how he's playing.

Here's the only problem with the Vancouver Canucks, in my opinion, is that Quinn Hughes can't play 60 minutes a game. The fact that he can't play 60 minutes is really hurting him because he's a guy that is the horse on that team. He's their, I know he's their captain, but he is their man. And I can't believe that Pedersen wouldn't take a look at Hughes, how he plays the game and how he competes and how he wants to get better and how he wants to win. And you play lackluster the way Pedersen is right now.

It's shocking to me. It really is. Yeah, that's an anomaly. Go to Vancouver. I want to ask about the Oilers. Slow start again. Now with O'Connor Connor McDavid, are you, do you think this is like last season, Doug,

where they just kind of get off to a rocky start and they're going to get it figured out at some point here? Or are you more concerned about this team? Oh, just let me say before I move on. Did you see Vasily Podkolson punch a guy's head off yesterday? Yeah. Didn't know he could do that. Anyway, go ahead, Doug.

Look, their defense isn't good enough. Okay. Anyway, go ahead, Doug. Look, their defense isn't good enough, okay? So Broberg has gone to St. Louis and is playing very well. I don't know if he's a first-round pick. Was he a first-round pick? Yeah. Yes, he was. Kesselring.

Kesselring is playing with Sergachev as their first pair in Arizona and playing great. Lavoie, former first-round pick. All three of them have gone, and they've replaced them with Skecher and whoever else. Travis Dermott. They're not good enough on the back end. Emerson.

Simply not good enough. Skinner has lost, you know, I mean, he was so good last year in the finals and throughout the playoffs at times. I look back at that St. Louis offer sheet and to lose the kids they lost holloway and and uh and the defenseman it's hurt it's really hurt their team and again it comes back to the same thing how do you fill out a roster and how do you build around it when when right now

uh you've got so much money tied up at the top of your lineup it's it's a it's the magic formula for nhl gms and the guys that master it and i don't know who can master it it's so tough it's so tough but they're not good enough in the back end in my opinion simple as that well that very well could could be the case and could be problematic for them do you think that they need to make a trade here like i saw dry sidle do dry saddle things last, basically put the team on his back like he did the year he won the Hart Trophy without McDavid. But can it come internally or do they need to make moves? Well, it might start if Hyman gets one goal.

Yeah, he got one last night. Oh, he got one, did he? Yeah, he got one last night. Oh, great. He's on. So, you know, they need his 57 more. Look, I, you know, is it a hangover? Yeah, it's a bit of a hangover.

The McDavid injury is tough. Like, I'm telling you, if that's a high ankle, and I don't have to tell you guys about high ankle sprains, they can ruin a guy's season. If, in fact, that is a high ankle, I hear it's two to three weeks. I remember in Nash in training camp, he had the high ankle sprain. It ruined our season, guys. It ruined our season.

That wasn't what ruined my career, but it certainly didn't help it. But you know what? It's a tough injury. So it's going to be interesting to see chemistry on a team and having a good enough back end and the right type of players it uh you got to check those boxes off and they they rave about the summer they had i don't like what they've got what they did on their back end before we get to ottawa just your thoughts about winnipeg being that team that no matter what no one's's really going to take them seriously yet.

But should we be? Well, look, Kyle Connor. What about Kyle Connor? Who would you take, Edsel or Kyle Connor right now? O'Connor. Well, you know, as I've told you guys before, Chevy went into that draft desperately wanting Kraus. He wanted Kraus so bad.

He desperately tried to move up to get Kraus out of Peterborough. Tried, tried, couldn't get it done. And at 17 in that draft, he hadn't settled for Kyle Conner. 17, that's what Timothy Lilligren did. He did okay. Yeah, he's lucky. So, you know what? I don't know.

I don't think they're at the top of their lineup. I love the Lowry line. I love their one. I don't think they're deep enough up front to keep it going the way they're going. Hellebuck is Hellebuck in the regular season. You know, he's going to be an MVP type guy, but he's got to prove it in the playoffs. I thought for sure they were going to beat Colorado last year with the way he had performed in the regular season and to me he was out goaltended by colorado whoever played for colorado i don't even know who his name was but i mean look it's i i can't take

them serious yet i hope i hope they have a good season i really like chevy i like their group there but i i think they're tough and i and i look at i look at vegas guys kelly mccrimmon takes lots of heat gets lots of credit but this guy is a major junior gm who paid his dues for 20 plus years in major junior and the way he's got it going in Vegas with his plug-and-play, his plug-and-play style, he brings somebody in, plugs them in the lineup, all of a sudden they get the job done. Aiko goes in there with a reputation of an ego guy.

I'm talking to people in Vegas this week. He goes in, he plants his ego. All of a sudden he's he's one of the best leaders on the team and is this guy playing great hockey and they're tough they're tough to play against every ship that team he just grew up mac he just grew up plants his ego that's interesting you can do that and you know what and you know what stone there and and the group of guys the theodors and the guys around there, they're a pretty quality group.

And I'll tell you what. You watch this team play, they don't have many off nights. And Kelly deserves credit for it. George. And you know what? I've been a little hard on them at times over, you know, Leonard and a few things. But I'll tell you what.

Full marks to them. And then I watch Nashville, and I I'm thinking they've lost their identity. The Nashville Predators, they got March or so in there now. They got Stephen Stamkos in there. They, they, they, after, and Saros, the goalie is overpaid. I mean, he's, he's got the heavy contract on his shoulders and Yi, after Yossi in the back end, there's not much there. O'Reilly's on his last legs at times there. They don't look very good at all to me.

So it's funny how things change. The trots mess with whatever chemistry he had to end last season with? Well, I, you know, I, I look at, I look at the group and I just, I can't get excited about them. And I, and they're, and the way they're playing, they're up, down and around, but I just, I just can't, I just can't get excited about the whole group. I, you know, and I, that, that team has had an identity since they came in the league as one of the

hardest working teams in the league, even when they were an expansion team. And right now, they don't have that same identity. They're missing something there. It's almost like he realized that this team has not had stars. They were the Tommy Novak and Colton Sissons-led national predators. They don't blame him for trying to add to it. You're just talking about teams we're believers in.

I know we don't have you for much longer. I want to get your thoughts on Ottawa, who's looking pretty good, above.500, five wins in their first 10 games for the first time since 2016, I believe. Stutzla's running into people. What do you think about this year's Senators? Are we almost playoff ready there? You know it's really good when Gary Och's on, that big head of his it's just a chuckle it's just chuckling non-stop you know

he cannot he can't see his face because his cheeks and his teeth covered his whole i need to know if you're friends with him or if we're just being oh yeah we're great friends you know i watched their game the other night i I really liked the way they played. I mean, they trounced. Who was it they trounced? St. Louis. I mean, they dominated that game. Stutzel.

Is that how you pronounce it? Stutzel? Definitely not. No. That works. They play him with Kachuk. When he plays with Kachuk, he's got a chance to be a real player. Giroux drops down to the second line with Bathur and norris all of a sudden it's a real

good looking line and drew looks like he's been reinvigorated jensen comes in in a deal with washington and changes shabbat shabbat actually looks like he cares a little bit about defense and about playing in his own end and jensen has got to be part of that. And Allmark, you know, Forsberg gave them a great stretch there, a few good games. Allmark, even against St. Louis where they dominated St. Louis, Allmark made four or five big saves before that game got out of hand. So, you know, they've improved their team. And I'll tell you what, Columbus looked good.

Ottawa looked good. Lindy's got Buffalo playing a little better. Detroit, not so good. It's going to be a dogfight to make the playoffs. It's going to be a dogfight. Okay, if we're going to do the cross-country thing, you got to get a thought in on Montreal. And I give the Montreal Canadian fans so much credit

because it's been one bitter pill that you are the most successful hockey franchise in history to watch over the last few years, take a back seat, wait for young players, prospects come through. I've heard that before. And now you might have to wait a little longer. It doesn't matter if you win the Hockey News Prospect Edition.

It doesn't matter if you win that. Did you win it, Doug? Oh, yeah. We were in the top three five years in a row. I mean, look it up. But one tip, and I happen to like Marty St. Louis, and I know he was a superstar in the game and came from Vermont and, you know, the whole – what is he doing running up and down the stairs?

No, no, no, no. Doing an interview with McKenzie. Don't. Don't. Go there. What does he do during his team's morning – during the skate? What is he – who? Who does that come from? I've never spoken to him about this. I don't know. You're on your own with this one. I did

this yesterday or the day before. Oh, you did? I did. If I'm going to be a regular, I guess I have to get more scoops on what you talk about. Pay attention. Did you have the same take on it that I did? I didn't like it. See, we used to go into detroit and jock demers was coaching detroit i was with saint

louis we go into detroit and jock could hardly skate he really struggled on the skates when he was on the ice he didn't move around very much and we'd go in and he'd be doing boardies going side to side trying to get in shape skating side to side, doing, you know, you go boards to boards. Jock was doing that with his coach. And I'm thinking, do the players see that he can't even really skate and he has to use a snowplow stop to stop? Don't show those things to the players, you know? Anyway, what was he thinking about?

Was it, okay, forget about the stairs. just in terms of i can't i can't think about it what what i can't forget about what marty st louis is going through right now and the fact that it looking back in hindsight is it too big of an ask to ask a guy who is coaching his kids to step in and you know like even, like even though you're, Marty St. Louis, one of the best players in modern history, it was too big of an ask by the Montreal Canadiens for this guy to come in. You know what, I was surprised.

And look, I happen to like Marty and I admire his career as a player. I really do. But this is the Montreal Canadiens, and this is a major rebuild that he walked into. This is a tough job. This is not an easy job in one of the toughest markets in the NHL. And he's asked to do that with a rookie GM, a rookie GM, and a rookie head coach. And a team full of youngsters that have got a great depth. Again, they're going to be at the top of the hockey news list for the next two or three years too. But they've got to win some games.

And they're getting throttled. I mean, what was it, 8-1 the other night at home? Close enough. It's a tough spot, right? Because who would coach this team to a higher level of success? Maybe a few more goals? I don't know who would do better with it. But if you're Marty St. Louis and you're offered the job,

you have to say yes because it's the Montreal Canadiens. And how often does that come up? It's a tough spot. Hey, listen, I'm not blaming Marty for taking the job. It's the NHL, and there's not many offers floating out there. But a rookie GM brings in a rookie head coach. And Gorton Zare, who's an experienced senior vice president, whatever that means, I mean, all of a sudden,

that's a lot to ask for Marty. And they've got some good young players. I get that. But time may run out. for Marty and they've got some good young players. I, I, I get that, but it may be, it, it may run. Time may run out. Marty may not get the time to get this job done.

If it doesn't turn around a little bit. Okay. Last one for me. And then we got to let you go. This afternoon, Florida beats Dallas six, four on the backs of Markov and Sam Reinhardt. But is,

is there a chance that over in Finland, we're looking at a potential Stanley Cup final? I think you're pretty close. I mean, Dallas are a real good team. You love their back end. You love their goaltending. You love their character up front, skill up front. But I'm caught off guard how hard Florida's played, guys.

They look good again. And when you have a kachook, if you have kachook, the way this guy competes, no wonder the guys play hard around him. I'm telling you, I watched him the other night run over a goaltender, come around, they score the goal. I mean, this guy will do anything to win. And one of the problems with the other Kachuk in Ottawa is he celebrated the Stanley Cup win maybe too much this summer. He should have maybe backed off the celebrating and spent a little more time because he's going to get his chance. But he probably burned himself out a little bit celebrating with his brother.

I know I would have. Oh, gosh. One more. One more. Are you as happy as our Sammy McKee that the Boston Bruins stink? Well, I was happy today when I saw Gerard Gallant's name maybe in the running for the coaching job. I mentioned, I did an article yesterday for the Toronto Star. I mentioned Joel Quenville's name.

It will surface. There's no question in my mind. It's just a matter of what team would potentially look at him fastest. And right now, I don't know if there's another team besides the Boston Bruins. I'd love to go into the owner's meeting with the owner, Jeremy Jacobs, and tell him we'd like to stroke a check for Joel for $6 million. I'd like to be in that meeting. I don't think Joel's in a position to ask for six million

yeah i hope i hope not you know what i i don't want to see you know montgomery it's it's a tough start but i'll tell you what boys they are not a very good team i know the swayman thing affected them but you look if they don't have pasternak in their lineup, they don't even come close on any given night. Pasternak is the one thing that's holding that group together. And they're simply not that good right now. Mack, great start. Good stuff, Mack. To our season.

Welcome back. The pocket coffee really I didn't use it today, but I'm going to save it. Is this because we don't pay him enough? He's got to do in commercials? What do you mean enough? Not enough out there. Listen, you and Jill

have fun at bingo tonight, okay? Thanks for having me, guys. I'm rocking copies to get you through. Hey, draft day. I know people are going to see this. It's coming out in paperback. I just want you to know that. Listen, I'm so happy you told me.

It's out in paperback. You wrote a book? Me and Mike Keenan and Brian Burke. Nice. Nice. Nice. All right. And none of us have a job. Oh, I forgot.

Burke, he works for the PWHL. I forgot. No, no. He's with the Players Association. That's right. All right. All right. Good job today.

Thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me, guys. Really appreciate it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thanks, man. Go away. Doug McClain, everybody. Oh, my God.

That was awesome. We're back. I don't know. I don't know.Clain, everybody. Oh, my God. That was awesome. We're back. I don't know. I don't know. What are we doing? Break, maybe? Bruins. They got worked.

Can I read you the top three scores for the Bruins? Pasternak, 10 points in 11 games. Second, Mark Kastelik, 7 points in 11 games. Third, Cole Koepke with 7 points in 11 games. One, two, three. Where's Charlie Coyle on that list? Well, it's not good. Coyle is, oh, 11 games.

He has one goal, no assists. Minus nine. Minus nine. Minus nine. Worst on the team tied with Trent Frederick. I will say that Cole Koepke is plus 10. Good for him. I've just, I've never seen them look slower.

And the Zdorov that we saw in Vancouver is nowhere to be found in Boston. He's falling. I don't recognize him. I thought he was going to be, you know. I know. In Toronto. We all thought about him being on the lease. to be, you know. I know. In Toronto. We all thought about him being on the lease. Game time?

Game time. All right. It's game time. Presented by Bet365. Visit the app for the latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary. Bet365. It's been 19 plus. Ontario only.

Please play responsibly. Now, I was just looking at the futures because we haven't done this in a while. That's the worst anyone's ever spelled favorites. What did I do wrong? Don't worry about it. Oh, my God. I butchered while. That's the worst anyone's ever spelled favorites. What did I do wrong? Don't worry about it. Oh, my God. I butchered it. That's a mess. I butchered it, boys.

I just looked at it here on my computer. It's not good. It's not good. What is that? Anyway. Where is it? Where is it? Oh, you guys.

I listen. That's F-A-V-O-R-I-T-R-E-S. Listen, I know it's all favorites. I just obviously made a little bit of a boo-boo there. Okay? Thank you, guys. Appreciate that. Anyways, the favorites.

Who do you think the favorite is to win the cup? Favorite trees. The favorite trees. Who do you think the favorite tree is to win the cup right now? You know what? According to Bet365. I'd say Dallas. Correct.

Wow. Nine to one. Not Florida? Nope. You know who is second? Edmont Dallas. Correct. Wow. 9-1. Not Florida? Nope. You know who is second? Edmonton. Yes. Actually, I lied.

No, I'm looking at this wrong. Edmonton is 8-1. The Stars are 9-1. So Edmonton is still the favorite. They're not letting you get any value. I don't often say this on this show. Do not place that bet. They're not letting you get any value.

Even if you like them, there's no value there. They're not letting you get that value. Even if you like them, there's no value there. They're not letting you get that value. The Panthers are 9-1. The Devils are 12-1. And, yeah, that's where you go down. The Devils are getting faster. And they just got back Pesci on the back end. And someone else pretty decent, too.

A couple of D-men came back. And I wanted to get the playoff the list of the playoff odds, but my phone is malfunctioning, so that was game time. Presented by Bet365. Visit the app for the latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary at Bet365.

Must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play. The only time we've done a game time to tell people not to bet on the Oilers and then just moved on. Sorry, I just. It's not happening. Bet 365 is on the phone right now saying we want our money back off that segment. Give us a make-up.

That was a really sucky segment by Sammy. He can't even get the right chart up. I've been doing this every day for two years. Nailing it. Nailing it. And it's like, like listen you guys are like i'm like willie with berube i go through i shoot three in the net and you guys are you can't spell you suck at this you guys are idiots buddy you just said you like coaching

all right let's take a break we need one really bad right now we do when we return we'll get into some news and notes and your text messages now now now get them in and we'll talk about torts in philadelphia he's got a new whipping boy we'll tell you who it is after the break real kipper and born don't go away teeing up the biggest games of the night it's the fan pregame with alish forfar and just Cuthbert. Weekdays at 6pm on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 590 The Fan and wherever you get your podcasts. Final block.

On the Real Kipper and Bourne shows we conclude this week. This hour of Real Kipper and Born is brought to you by Bet365 as we get into a few news and notes around the National Hockey League, including

the Philadelphia Flyers, who found their superstar phenom and the hottest thing since Eric Lindros, or so I read somewhere. And now he's benched Mishkov. Yeah.

Yeah. It's an interesting clip from Tortorella and something that I have been thinking about quite a bit. So why don't we go ahead? It's a Sheldon Keefe-esque clip. It's a minute long. It's not Berube, so it's a little longer. So we'll listen to the clip then on the decision to bench mitch mitchkoff he he is he's a 19 year old kid playing in the best league in the world and i i think he's beginning to see what

the national hockey league is as far as the speed as far as time and space all the things that come with it there are going to be some major struggles with him five on five. We expect that. Where I'm going to have to teach, and in that teaching moment, I'm not going to tell you what it's all about, but if we keep on seeing the same mistake and he just totally is not concentrating on a certain part of the game, that's when, and I've been very honest with him about that,

he's going to miss some ice, he's going to of the game. And I've been very honest with him about that. He's going to miss some ice. He's going to watch the game. It's not me screaming at him. It's telling him this is how it works. And if I think other guys are going and you're struggling in certain situations and it's repetitive, you're going to have to sit and watch for a little bit.

That's all that was. He's had some struggles. Again, he doesn't play four games and six nights over there. He doesn't play against competition like he plays here. So there, there are going to be some major struggles within his five on five game. This comes on the same day. I think he was named rookie of the month for the NHL.

So interesting, right? Getting his points, but his coach has other thoughts. Yeah. It's so predictable to be honest with you. It's a dumb league. You know, it's just, like I mentioned just prior to that clip, is that, I don't know where I read it, to be honest with you, but it was like, this guy's come in and, like,

rejuvenated the whole organization, and some writers never seen it since eric landros and i'm like not even close first of all no but if this guy in the first month kind of got a little full of himself reading you know how great he is and how he may save this organization. And he's leading the team in scoring after, or at the top with their big boys. And he's playing first power play, and he's playing 18 and a half, 19 minutes. It's the Conor Bedard thing that I went back to.

It's like, and now all of a sudden, he thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread and he's starting to do things five on five that torch doesn't like and it's like sit your ass down it's like well no kidding right no kidding yeah i wrote an article that'll i think i'll put it on monday uh just called the nhl is a developmental league at this point where a third of the league probably is not really trying to win the cup there's so many players now 32 teams that I think where teams used to keep guys in the American League or somewhere else before you know the Red Wings used to say they'd let

guys get over right before they'd bring them up not anymore you can't afford it can't afford it there's the salary cap issues where you have to have some cheap guys there is there's too many players in the league and you got to sell tickets for sure there's 707 players started this this year on nhl rosters and over a thousand will play in the league so some guys are not ready for the league yet but you just you have to have guys on your team and maybe mitch cough's not the perfect example of this but guys now learn in the NHL rather than come to the NHL when they're ready. There are guys who have to develop while playing in the league. Coaches like Tortorella do that coaching and do it with their whole chest.

Not everyone is as willing to be hard on guys like that, but I think it's good for a guy like Mitchkoff. Ultimately, you hope it will be. Sometimes, guys, it takes long to get it. Sometimes they don't get it at all. But I think it's going to be a totally maturity thing. What do they say about that cranial thing in the front there that doesn't get developed until like 24, 25?

Have you ever heard of that? I know what you're talking about. I couldn't tell you what it's called. This is not the show that's going to do the science on that, but no, it's not, but something, look how he spelled.

Things are not fully formed. There's something upstairs that doesn't kind of hit its peak till your mid twenties. And you just hope that he'll, he'll figure it out. But sometimes we're just you know we we do this to ourselves and philly's desperate guys that used to be a powerhouse franchise for the national hockey league and you know we've had guests on before, right, Bundy?

Oh, yeah. Terrian? Yep. Like, we need the Flyers back. Yeah. And this guy's a big step to getting there, but you can't ask him to do it overnight, playing 19 minutes. No, it's hard to get Churri, six points in 11 games.

You know, Konechny's leading the team, but beyond that, real thin, man. It's uh they need some bodies all right text text pretty pretty simple one here will the boston bruins make the playoffs they're currently four and six four six and one and last in the atlantic division four four six and one is not insurmountable, but the Atlantic's very good. Like it's hard to see them getting first, second,

or third from Florida, Tampa Bay, and Toronto at this point. Is it not? I would have said yes. Before the Carolina loss last night, that one spooked me a little bit on halloween that they could lose that badly and are they in eight are they say percent are they really as slow as they looked last night

yeah i don't know i i do think that it's becoming clear that they don't have that sort of next layer of offense that you know marchand if him slowing down really leaves it all on pasternak's shoulders they're dead last in goals for in the atlantic at this point which is you know not the team they've been so i don't know where the goals are going to come from they defend well and swayman can be better but still got to score i tell you what the ottawa senators will have a big say on the boston bruins making the playoffs bruins are minus 13 goal differential sensor plus seven so 20 goals better than boston yeah if if ottawa can kind of keep it close and those young legs find another gear that could be that could be trouble for boston

coming out of the atlantic running into people i'm going to do a little of that on the television later tonight stutz has had a better year more well-rounded coach is happy with his two-way play a little bit more that's a big step for them if he becomes like an all-around guy making better decisions uh most unexpected start from aman in victoria uh league or sorry team or washington capitals that's what his answer was he said caps question mark we're just talking team yeah wilder also six one and two yeah uh boston might be up there nashville preds for me can we give columbus some love at five three and one good pick like dean evanson yeah evanson doing good things they're really good i mean the jets are nine and one that's your nine and one but like we thought they'd be what like i don't know

but they got one of the best goalies in the league and uh high expectations still so minnesota start i still don't believe six how about washington Instead of team, how about player unexpected, which means anything? I mean, Mark Stone tied for the league. Yeah. Unexpected. What I would say is unexpected. He's an awesome player. I love Mark Stone, and I think he'll be featured prominently at the Four Nations face-off for

Team Canada. I love his game. And yeah, that's the best ever. Stone leading the league and Hyman having one goal through 11 games probably you know two shockers even matthews goal total is surprising at this level five and 11 games he scores two the next game is on pace but he's more of a either goal a game kind of close or or within a reach of it yeah so that one kind of surprises me a little bit i'll tell you two years ago he scored 40 in 80 years you know but uh the other one that

surprised me too connor bedard with three goals yeah oh here we go that's a good one here we go what do you what do you mean here we have you played a little more maybe you had longer shifts you might score some more 20 minutes a a night, buddy, is plenty. Cole Caulfield's got 10 goals in 11 games. That one's unexpected. Kyle Connor, I don't know where his totals are at here. I can't find that, but he's lighting it up. Okay, lots of answers there.

Yeah. AJ here from Waterdown. Hi, AJ. Who's the best player on each of the Four Nations teams competing in the Four Nations Cup? Finland is. Is it any different than McDavid, Matthews? Who's the best player for Finland? I mean, for Finland and Sweden.

Is William Nylander the best forward for Sweden? I can give you a list of guys. Sure, let's do that. Give us some options here. Adrian Kempe. Elias Lindholm. Pedersen. Forsberg. Nykvist jesper bratt forsberg is closest to willie right but probably willie carlson raymond 98 points i'm watching can't be the other night guy fires it oh my god he's underrated so underrated he's

a good player he's a really good player uh mika Savinijad, back. What did Kempe have for points last year? I'm not sure. I don't think he had as many as William Nylander did. Yeah, it's 75 points. So, Finland, it's Barkov, right? Oh, yeah, it's Barkov. Yeah. Can we give Kucherov some love still, though,

like for the amount of points that he puts up? You love Kucherov. Oh, my gosh. I think Kucherov might be your favorite player. It's actually really shocking. You know what? His favorite guy is compared to what he likes in players. It's like, Kucherov is so good.

Yeah, but that makes sense. The numbers he puts up are ridiculous still. Yeah. The play he made the other night, the one that he would cancel, where he goes all the way down the night, no look behind the back pass. I can forgive him for, you know, crapping all over the NHL All-Star Week.

Him, Kucherov, more than any other player in the NHL, looks like the kid who's come back from college and playing his drop-in with his buddies. And he's just messing with them. Just like, I don't know, if I feel like going to get it, I'll go get it. There's just some guys you just look at and go, that guy's a winner.

Like when it push comes to shove. That's funny because his attitude would be one most associated with like go that guy's a winner like when when it when it comes to shove because his attitude would be one most associated with like that guy i mean he's one he's one two no no no no no great asterisk cups that he won this is just you watch him on the ice and that guy's got fire in his belly when he which is funny right because which it's how you interpret body language some people call it pouting or not, whatever, right? When he's kind of dragging. But it's because he wants to win and because he's competitive. It's when...

When he hits the highs, they're off the charts highs. When the chips are down, too, he plays big. Big games, he is so good. And he's a sore loser, too. I do like that. I love a sore loser. All right, that's enough. Come on.

That's enough. Are you loser. That's enough. That's enough. He's my least sore player in the league. Him and Brendan Hagel are my two least sore players in the league. That's a nonsensical thing to say. By far. No comparison. That's a bitter leaf. What he'll do to your team. That's a bitter leaf fan right there.

And he is the guy that I hate the most. No question. Not only does he light up the Leafs. Yeah. Excellent player. He's also like the Canada-Russia thing. This sounds like a lot of respect to me. Sounds like you respect a hell of a lot of him as a player. I think he's a very excellent hockey player,

but I would never say I respect him. I don't like him. I think you disrespect him. He is one of my least favorite players maybe ever. Him and Hagel on that team, I can't stand. Last one. Jason and New Brunswick here. All the Red Wings do is dump and chase.

They can never get possession in the offensive end, and it just doesn't work for them, so why do they keep doing it? Boy, the Red Wings, boys. They're in trouble. It's not a good team. You could hear Joel Quenville rumblings in that city, too. It sounds like at some point Quenville's going to have it. I don't.

Listen, I'm just telling you sometimes what you hear. Red Wings are 4-5-1 minus seven goal differential, struggling a little bit to say the least. I don't know who's supposed to do it there. Like Raymond's good, but lots of teams have a good player. I don't know not a not a yeah they got some pressure on them to sign those big contracts and then perform now and you know the the one thing though i can tell you is that billy husso was a big miss for stevie y huge huge miss and goaltending right who do we have uh bonus uh

earlier talking about come on the goalie the goalie keeps you in it the goal rangers are they are they a contender without shisterkin right i don't know and speaking of goalies we have this like seven different texts about this who's studying for team. Right. I don't know. And speaking of goalies, we have this, like, seven different texts about this. Who's studying for Team Canada? Guys, we don't know.

Okay? We don't know. So, it's the Nick Saban thing. Not only do we not know. So, quit asking. There's not even anyone

with, like, a slight lead. I got no idea. The gun has been fired at the start of the horse race and no one has taken a step. Zero gun.

Could one of you emerge? None of them have a save percentage above nine. None of them. Sick. Except Cam Palvin. Who's not going to be the starter? God. Montable has just dropped off of that.

You know, Valley talks about the situation you're playing, and I'm like, what chance does he have? He's behind, like, five 20-year-old D-men. No one on the state is going to shoot it very well anyway, though. They're fine. Matthew's going to put it through summer. Matthew's Caulfield. Kachucks.

Half a dozen games tonight, including one already in the books between the Florida Panthers and the Dallas Stars. That one ended up 6-4. When did they go to Finland? Can someone let me know these things? I don't know. A lot of Finns scored today.

I'm sure Barkov enjoyed it, the captain of the cup-winning team. Maybe that's why they went. He probably told them to. What do they call it? NHL Global Series? Yeah. There's another one on the weekend, Sunday, right?

See, I'm ahead now. I know. Because I'm a host. A professional host. Great host to that. You're my favorite host. Our thanks to Luke Fox and Doug McClain for Off the Rails Friday. Enjoy your weekend, everybody.

We're back Monday.