Real Kyper & Bourne - Are the Blue Jackets Irrelevant? + Why the Leafs Won't Make the Playoffs

Episode Date: November 21, 2025

Former president, general manager and head coach Doug MacLean joins for his weekly chat (1:12) with Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to chat about why the Maple Leafs have the highest chance of not making the playoffs for the 2025-26 season, if he would swap Morgan Rielly and Darnell Nurse, who he would add to Team Canada's forwards list, the New York Islanders' dominant road trip, if the Habs core is good enough to win a Stanley Cup, and responds to Bill Simmons proclaiming that the Blue Jackets are the most irrelevant franchise in professional sports. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee touch on Connor Bedard getting fired up with an official after arguing a penalty, before heading to the Text Line to hear from listeners! 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.

Here we go. National edition of our program on Off the Rails Friday, Nick Kiprios, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. We are live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. Streaming always on Sportsnet Plus, available also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts. YouTube this hour of real Kippernborn brought to you by Bet365 In a moment we'll join up with Doug McLean

Also we want your text I want you to Texas at what 590 590 590 Correct 590 590 and like I said last week We don't want just Toronto tax we want them from all over the country So text in from all over blue jackets text you got Beautiful country Maybe even internationally if you're listening

Maybe you know because Doug never has anything to do on a ride eight will he could just sit quietly during the remainder of a show and then we'll bring him back for the text i don't think he'd be on board for that well let's find out he's with us all right you know him best has a world class author but once upon a time was also president general manager of your Columbus blue jackets let's welcome in Doug mclean um god it was great to hear from some air timers. They had a little spice to the show, you know. She really was good.

Oh, my team. Yeah, I mean, I run into guys in the airport with the leaf, all the leaf garb on, and, you know, and I'll say, what do you think our chances are? What do you think our chances are there? And I said, how old are you? And the guy says, 75, I said, you have no chance. I'm sorry.

And then the wife starts laughing. And I mean, so when do you go from no? chance to a slight chance when they're like 40, 45? I don't know, but at 70. I mean, look, I did see them win their last one, you know, and I was so excited about it. But anyway, look, here's the sad situation. Everybody talks about where the teams are at Thanksgiving that is going to determine who's in the past. But really, it's at 20 games. 20 games is what when is determined. who's going to make the playoffs or have the best chance.

Right now, there's only four teams in the league under 500, four teams. And then you've got Calgary and Vancouver, Toronto and Vancouver next at six teams. I've got the league's chances of making the playoffs today at 12%. Oh, come on. That was money. What was it? Money puck. And this is based on the last 10 years.

And the last team that broke this routine, a root of this, you know, this system is the St. Louis Blues when they were in last place and they won the Stanley Cup, when Binnington came out of nowhere, buried in the minors, came out of nowhere, and won the Stanley Cup. So I've got them at 12 percent. And I hope I'm wrong. I hope the fans right that said, you know, they're going to come back, they're going to get healthy, and they're going to be a different team.

But I watched them last night and, you know, against a tired Columbus team that had, just come from Winnipeg and I've had a fairly tough road recently. And I was, I, I just, I'm having real problems watching them. Seven regulars out of the lineup. I know they do, but here's the problem. When, who, who are their number one and two defensemen? Tell me that. Morgan and McCabe, when Tannov's not in.

Right. That's right. And I watched Werenski control the game from the back end like you were sitting. in a rocking chair, moving the puck, controlling the game. The leaves, until they get a number one-two defenseman, I love McCabe and Tannaf at 3-4, but to me, they don't have a one-two guy right now. And if you don't have a number one-two guy, it's really tough to generate, it's tough to defend, it's tough to play the game. And right now, they don't have a one or two defensemen.

I'm sorry. And that's with all due respect to Tanaf, to McCabe, to Ekman-Larsen, to Riley. None of them are a one, two, right now in the NHL. Matt, we talked a little bit about this in the first hour. And, you know, I was saying, like, there's no solution to that. Like, you're not getting one of these, the 10 number one, true number one difference making D in the league. When you were managing teams, did you ever call other teams and be like, what would it take for you to give us your really good guy? Like, no one's doing that, right?

Yeah, it's really tough unless you're finding a team that's going through a rebuild. that's that's the problem i mean and look i i watched some of ottawa and anaheine last night boys that was that was a playoff game that was a playoff game and i'm why talked last week about the carlson kid what he's become a six foot four power forward cousins last night was a horse steos picks him up in a big trade that's a that's a big deal when you can pick up a young player like cousins a big deal for Norris who had major injury problems but that was a playoff game

was watching Columbus and Toronto last night that was an exhibition game the other was a playoff game big difference is the one saving grace in all of this for the Leafs is that no one's running away

in the Atlantic Division and you know maybe 89 points, 807 Seven, I don't know, would end up being a playoff spot? Well, I've got it. I've got a 60 games left, and they've got to get 75 points to get in.

If it's a 95 point playoff, which I don't know if it'll be 95. It may not be. But that's what I'm saying. If it's a 95 point, they need 75 points in 60 games. And that's not going to be easy to do, especially with how banged up they are. and their superstar is injured. You know, I mean, what's he going to be when he comes back? I mean, who is comparing him to bark off?

Like, seriously, I near fell off the chair when I was looking to bark off. What? Like, I mean, seriously, cut those callers off. We need a blood alcohol content on all our calls. No drinking before a late to call. Like, I thought it was Sammy going on about, you know, the comparable. Like, seriously, anyway. Oh, sorry.

Look, it's going to be a dog fight. Can they do it? Yeah, they can do it. Yeah, they can score. But, I mean, last night, I mean, that was, that was, I mean, Wall gave them everything he could. Stollers and Wall come back. I said a couple weeks ago, they got to get Wall back that that can help. but I and I'm look I'm not I feel bad for them because they're banged up and and are you now they wanted to change and become a certain type of team now they got too many of those guys they've got too many of them they've lost their skill how about the how about the Edmonton oilers pretty gutsy back to back game in Tampa Bay but they fell short here Mac how do you compare them to what Toronto's going through?

through or not compare them? You can't compare them because of dry sidle and McDavid. Did you see dry saddle the last couple? I talked last week about the way this guy

shoots and scores from everywhere. I mean, I'm watching as one time or the other night. It was against Washington. Last night, it was unbelievable how he drilled that puck and just missed another one tying it up late. Right now they're having a major, I mean, Hyman coming back gives him a hand.

they're having a major problem defending. And it shocks me because their blue line isn't that bad. Boucher, I know is really struggled. At home has even struggled. But to me, they're a much better team than they're playing. But defensive nurse has been awful. You know, Skinner, we know what's going on with him. Even up front, the Frederick and some of their pickups have not been able to not done anything for them.

So I think they will get it going. I really, I mean, I don't have them. I have them making the playoffs. Listen, we talked earlier about Morgan Riley and maybe Nurse and Morgan have a lot in common where they are good defensemen, but it's just not working out lately. And if you were going to try to move those players, and yes, now in the world of no move clauses, it may be difficult, but how hard would it be to, package something as long as they sign off on it.

But Nurse, Morgan, two guys that maybe a change might do them actually good? Yeah, and that's what you've got to hope for with respect to a trade. I mean, Morgan Riley, you know, we've talked about him for 10 years, Nick. And to me, he was right on the cusp of being a great number two defenseman. Never perceived him as a number one guy, but a really good number two. I don't know if he's a top four guy right now. And nurse, I mean, at 9.5 million, I mean, that's a tough contract to swallow for a guy that is really, really inconsistent in his game. And I don't know what it would be like in Toronto for him because we know the market, how tough it is.

But, I mean, I'd do that. If I could do nurse for Morgan Riley, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd take a chance. For both sides? I'm just saying if I was getting nurse, I would do it in a heart. Okay. All right. That makes some sense.

I don't know if Stan Bowman's going to do that, but, you know, I mean, hey, Morgan Riley is perceived as a pretty good player in the NHL. Yeah. And maybe it might do in the world a good to go somewhere else. Mack, one of the things, you know, I spent some time making a case for Evan Bouchard for Team Canada, and I recognize how that looks right now. I don't want to ask you about that specifically. You're guilty on that one.

I mean, I can't, I keep seeing that article you're guilty and not guilty. I think it should have been, when I looked at it, everybody was guilty. But you had some positives in there. But anyway. I did, I got one coming out today. I know you're going to be eagerly refreshing sportsnet.com. Once we're done here to see who I have amongst my forwards. I do not have Connor Bedard in.

I have him as my 15th forward. I have Tom Wilson. Is that going to look bad in 10 years if they did that? You know what? I keep hearing about guys that have to play certain roles in these tournaments, you know? And I've watched it over the years, and I've seen a lot of superstars play whatever role they had to play to help the team win. And I think Godard gets written off because a lot of people see them as a really one-dimensional. player. I think you've got to be careful

when you're making those selections based on that because a kid like Bidar, you get an opportunity to play in the Olympics or a celebrini, they're talented enough. They'll do whatever they have to do to help the team. And we've seen it over the years happen

with various guys. So I love Wilson. I mean, I think, you know, you carry 24, 25 guys on this team. Is there not room for Celebrini, Bedard, and Wilson? Is there that many guys that are ahead of them?

No, you could do it, but then you would have to have someone off like a Hegel or a Bennett or an injury. Mark Stone could be hurt. There can be room for both. Jarvis Sorrelli and Kinekney, who were all involved, right? Yeah, and I mean, look,

with all due respect to the players you just mentioned, they're really good players, but watching, and I haven't seen. seen Celebrini much and I haven't seen Badrard that much, but the talent, the talent and to play for Canada, you've got to be really

careful in your evaluations and talking about one-dimensional players and guys that won't do what it takes. We've seen it time and time again where superstars have played for Team Canada and they do whatever take. We saw it in the Four Nations this year, guys that did whatever they had to do, whether

a fourth line or first line. So it's going to be, it's a tough job for me and his staff really a tough job to make those selection but is it not a great job like i don't feel sorry for him i talked to him a few weeks i talked to him a few weeks ago and you know like it's hard to feel sorry for him you know i feel a little sorry for him watching his team play right now but i sure don't feel sorry for him yeah watching uh you know picking the olympic team it's it's still good it's still a good job when you're picking the olympic team and you were what picking fruit this morning right at the market i had but you know it's today's a good day you know i'm putting up

with you guys you look fresh i've got a suit i got a superstar showing up at my house at six o'clock tonight and his wife and we're going out to dinner jack armstrong oh jack armstrong that's right once upon a time you had a basketball show with him so we're going to go out tonight and drink red wine and and just rave about how great our show was Do you guys really have a show together? Oh, they did. No. Pucks in.

It was a game plan. Yeah, game plan. I'll listen to that. And what did you talk about? Well, we would, you know, when we'd talk to a hockey guy, I would give Jack the questions. And then when we'd have a basketball guy on Jack would give me the questions. And we finished with Brian. Remember Coangelo was the GM?

Yes. And I had him on and I was going at him. going at them and you know I got all the questions I didn't I hadn't watched the basketball game in 10 years and I'm going through all this stuff well Jack had given me all the questions and I and Coangelo gets off the air and he

phone said who's that idiot I was talking to with all the tough questions so that's how Jack and I survived but anyway we're having dinner tonight so I'm very excited by that but it was a tough day it was it I had a 45 minutes swim I've you know I did some stretching the little yoga, do weights.

You know, it's been a busy day. If you're filming Cacoon 3, you know, let us know about your day, but other than that, let's stay on topic here, all right? Yep. Question to you about the Montreal Canadiens. Now, as I sometimes scroll through the Internet, I saw. Before we go there, before we go there,

I have to touch on this because I do not want to forget this. What about the New York Islanders? Yeah. What about the fact that the New York Islanders go on a seven-game road trip and they win six and on their seventh game, they beat Detroit at five-nothing. And all of a sudden, Patrick Gua, I'm liking what he's doing. I'm loving what he's doing. Darcy, who was the first, I think he was the first player I ever signed for the Blue Jack as Matthew

Darcy at a McGill University. Didn't help my career, but it's helped his GM career. But anyway, Darcy's done a good job there. And also, Schaefer is all of a sudden a bona fide star. And watching

the Islanders, they even have beards a few of them. They've even got a few growths going on. A music to J.B.'s ears right now. So I'm thrilled to see it going on. And that's, that makes it me a little nervous about the Leafs because

this is a team that's got a chance to make the playoffs with the way they're playing. And everybody's playing well in that group guys. Everybody's playing well. It's crazy how quick since Darsh got their things turned around and get lucky with the first overall pick who hits. They traded Dobson. They got

Emil Heindman who's got nine goals in 20 games already. They got the 15th and 16th pick. Shabanov's all right. That Callum Richie from the Nelson trades all right. Sabinov. Where the hell did he come from? I mean, how good as good as he been. Yeah.

So I'm really impressed with Darshi. I'm impressed with, you know, obviously Schaefer. I mean, for them to go on a road trip and win six at a seven, I believe, and to win five, and I'm blown away by how well they've played.

So that's a really, really good story in the league. And then that makes it even tougher in the East to make the playoffs. You're watching. If they get in. You're watching and listening to the star of Off the Rails Friday, McLean, and as soon as we ditched, Doug, we're going to go to Texas, 590-5-90, so keep that in mind as well. So let me get back to my...

Did I happen to mention that Ottawa won that playoff game last night and I'm without Kachuk? Yeah, you did. You did. They're kind of quietly creeping on up, aren't they? Okay, stay with me here. I've been on their bandwagon. You got to give me, you know, you guys got to save the tapes, but that's okay. Can you see me?

Focus. Focus. I'm going through the internet and someone put together like the type. I can't Mike Keenan just Mike Keenan just called me. So I got nervous there.

Well, maybe he wants to join your superstar dinner tonight with Jack. I'm watching the internet and I see the Titanic to beautiful music and it's the caption is the Montreal Canadiens in the month of October. And then there's the Titanic breaking here.

HABs in the month of November. Like what happened between October and November, Mac, with the Montreal Canadians? You know, I, you know, I haven't watched them enough, but when I've seen them, their goaltending to me has been very average. And I don't know if they can, if they, they've got to get that part of their game back for sure. I mean, we see it with every team.

If you, you know, if your goaltending slips at touch, so that, that's a bit of an issue. They're still really young. You know, they're still relatively inexperienced. Dobson, I mean, I love Dobson. As a kid, he's a Somerside kid. He's a good player. But you know what? You've got to, when you're going to be a premier defenseman in the NHL, you've got to defend.

You've got to, you've got to defend. It's got to be your number one priority is defending. And they've got some guys that don't defend very well. and they got a number of forwards that don't defend. They have the best coach in the history of the game, but, you know, you need a little more than that. All right. Well, why are you giving Marty a shot?

Because I think he's done a hell of a job. I think he's terrific. I think he's done a great job with the young group. And, you know, he's very thoughtful and thorough when he speaks. And I, you know, I mean, he's, you know, I think he's done a good job. All right. All right.

You buy him there young guys as a core to build around for a Stanley Cup, Hudson, Demadov, Coffield, Suzuki, obviously, Slefkoffsky. They got lots of promise. Yeah, yeah, they really do. And if they can figure out their goaltending and get a, listen, guys, you can do whatever you want as a general manager in the NHL. You can make the greatest deals. You can make the greatest deals. picks. You can make the greatest trades, all those things. But if you don't have a Stanley

Cup goaltender, you're not winning the Stanley Cup. You're not winning the Stanley Cup. And you look around the league and you say, okay, who have got Stanley Cup goaltenders? I've watched Brobroski do it, Vasselisky do it, Aidan Hill do it, Binnington do it, guys that have won, you know, the Stanley Cups recently. And in every one of those situations, goaltending was the number one reason those teams won the Stanley Cup. Number one reason.

What Dobish came out of the gate really well. And then, I don't know, two weeks ago, he had a bit of a breakdown after an overtime loss. Lost a single game and had a moment. Yeah, and just, you know, basically cried after, you know, very emotionally. but he hasn't been the same since. Can I ask you something?

Are the goalies today feeling more pressure than even in our era or like what is going on here? I think they do. I mean, I mean, think about Hella Buck. What this kid, you know, I mean, he's won every award you can win and yet he hasn't been able to get it done in the playoffs. And I feel for him because I notice he's out now with an injury.

But look, this guy is the guy that, you would count on taking a team into the playoffs and he's had a challenging time doing it and he's the best goaltender in the league he's the best goaltender in the league so we all think and i would think he's the next guy that i would i would think after i mentioned bobrowski and vaseleski and these guys that have won cups i've got to believe he's got to be one of the next guys because he's that good but it's hard to get over that hump it really is hard to get over the home so you know the goaltending has got to be and that talk with the leaves i mean i'm watching wall you know i hope he can i hope

mentally he can handle you know the rigors of being a number one goalie he certainly looks like he can right now the focus this kid has the way battles in the net so that's a bright spot for the leagues in my opinion but the way this kid's playing if stolars comes back and wall keeps it going i mean that's going to be a big plus but gold tending guys is so it's it's the top and and for montreal I think it's an area they've got to focus on. And Edmonton. And it, oh, I'm sick of saying that.

It's been three years I've said that. What would you do? Would you sit? Would you, like, I know if there's not a trade that you like and support, is that hard for a GM president? You know, there's Jackson and Bowman and Edmonton right now. How hard is it when the whole world's screaming at you, like, change the goalie, get a goalie, and there's nothing out there for.

you that you like enough obviously you know it's such a it's such a tough position i mean look you know i was thinking of this the other day we drafted pascal leclair eighth overall in our second year in the league because we thought he was going to be a franchise goalie and in his fourth year in the n hl or so he had nine shutouts gets a new four million dollar year five year deal and then he gets injured and he was never the same then we draft mason in the third round uh he wins the world junior he comes in to the n hl and his first year in the n hl he's the calder trophy winner and he got columbus in the playoffs for the first time and he was the number one reason they made the playoff and then what happens to mace he had a good career but never come back you know so

to find that bona fide number one gold tender is the toughest challenge without a doubt for the general manager. All right, Mac, I got to ask you. I know this bluejackets love, it goes back sometime with you, right? You're tied to the very beginning. We got this beautiful sweater behind us here. There's a fairly famous sports guy in the U.S.

Bill Simmons. How did it take you guys this long? Why do you think they're slandered you? Because, listen. It's by design. signed, by the way. Hold on, hold on.

Let Justin finish because there's some listeners out there that need to frame this before we really make fun of you. The background is just. Oh, yeah. Hey, we're going to start rushing each other along, pal. You're going to get a couple of nudges. Let me tell you.

Bill Simmons ranked all the franchises. Essentially, he was trying to come up with the most irrelevant sports franchise, pro sports franchise in North America. It was a mailbag question. And the guy that was a jackets fan was a jackets fan and suggested

them as potentially the most irrelevant franchise in all sports that's how it came and he did in fact list Columbus and do we have audio we do have a little audio here that may be familiar to do you I've heard it all boys well maybe our audio

we need your take after this go ahead yeah if we could play that Derek Bill Simmons their worst draft pick in 2006 they took Gilbert Brule over Anjay Kopitar

who became probably the greatest part in the history of the kings other than Gretzky and apparently the blue jacket I did a lot of research on this one apparently the Blue Jacket fans

still upset about that pick Seriously Brule you know what the problem was you got his name wrong all those years here's the problem I took Broulet at 6

okay and Coppeter went 11 or 12 What about the geniuses after me who didn't take them? Hey. Does anybody mention that? He went 12th. Those geniuses can easily join you and Jack for dinner tonight. Dale Talon was after me.

Dale Talon. Brian Murray was after me. Doug Wilson was after me. Vancouver were after me. What happened to them? Why didn't they take it? They're all out of work. In defense to Doug, these are the players that went after.

It's Jack's Gilly. Devon Seta Gucci, Brian Lee, Luke Bordaun who passed, and then Andre Culpathar. Yeah. So there you go. Wasn't just done. No one thought Copey was any good. There you go.

Here's what happened. We're sitting there and we were convinced Montreal were taken Bruley. Okay? We were convinced to that. Gilbert. And at the table, they lean over and they say, we're taking the goalie. And they took Cary Price, who was rated.

We had them rated in the second round. And most people had Cary Price rated in the second round. and they slide in and take him and then we had to make the decision and we had Kopitar right at the top of our list Boydi had him right at the top of the list and I had just dealt with Jaredev and the headaches,

non-stop headaches and I'm thinking man I'm watching Bruley he looked like Steve Eisenman in the Western Hockey League that's what they come, St. Crosby of the West they compared him. So anyway it's funny. Nobody wanted Bruley. I was the only one

that wanted him. I guess that's all I've heard for the last 20 years. I was the only one that wanted it. But anyway, let me tell you about the franchise. And after I saw this article by Simmons, I sent Jeff Rimmer a note and I said, I've got to tell you, Rims,

you and J.D. did a hell of a job after I left. Because since I left in 2007, what the hell of the rest of the guy's done up to that? I had the franchise as an expansion team. I at least had an excuse.

What about these guys since, since me? But anyway, I'm walking, I told you this story. I'm walking through the Toronto airport, and it was in year four of the franchise. I'm walking through the Toronto airport and the walking escalator,

and I've told Nick this story a hundred times. And a fan yells out, hey, McLean, where are you now? And I said, I'm in Columbus. And he said, oh, don't worry, you'll fight your way back to the NHL. he thought we're in the East Coast Lake. We used to check into hotels

and we'd say it's the Columbus Blue Jackets and they'd say, what? And I said, no, we're an NHL team. We're checking into the hotel. So, and now, so with Rimmer and John Davidson and Keck-Telan and all these guys that have run the franchise,

don't blame me for them being the most irrelevant team in post sports. I've been gone for 15 years. Leave me out of it. Buddy, your greatest contribution is you put a cannon on the front of our jersey here. Listen, it gives me great pride when I watch the Blue Jackets playing knowing that I walked in there and there was a notepad on my desk. And we hired 250 people. We built the building.

We built the practice facility. And we hired 250 people, as I said. and we sold out the building for six consecutive years. And that's with seat licenses in a town that wasn't a hockey town, except they had some minor team there. The chill were there for a number of years. So I have looked back with great pride. Yeah, I made some mistakes on picks.

Show me a GM in the league that hasn't made a few picks. They're always some success now. Those fans have been really good fans for a really long time. Thanks for, they are some of the best fans in the NHM. and they hung in there and the team is still a fun team to watch and look I hope they

I hope they have some success I really do Hey thanks so much for name dropping to Jeff Rimmer back into our show we thought maybe you guys broke up but look Jeff Rimmer all he ever says to me

I'm the face of the franchise I'm the one that promotes them I'm the one of us brought when they were going around giving him a bottle of wine and a pitcher around the league for a year before he retired like they're doing with Joe Bowen. He couldn't wait

to tell me how important he was to the friendship. Now when I tell him this, what Bill Simmons said, he calls it BS. I don't know. We'll have to get Rimmer on. He says it seems really thrilled to come on our show. Oh, he's thrilled to go on any show. You're still better there if Adam Fantelli

was available to you back then. You'd still have work. I probably would have taken Leo Carlson ahead of him. Hey, great job driving this one right into the ditch this week. You know what, guys, it's a special treat to get on this show. It's given me some great notoriety. It's almost gotten me to the point that people have forgotten about Kopitar.

But no, no, you guys have a way of bringing it up. Anyway, I appreciate it. You can learn more about it in his book, Draft Day. Next week. Listen, Kekalainen took the Lidstrom kid ahead of Demetop. you know not saying just saying yeah just hey last seconds of your segment just pull anybody else he can with you with you down right i happen to really like cackelaine and he's a good man and he's done he actually did a very good job in columbus he did a very good job and hopefully he's helping buffalo

all right listen next week i think uh american thanksgiving uh i hope you know at some point you can just you know thank your lucky stars for the real kipper and bourn show that So are we off, are we, we, we're not on next Thursday? Because I'm in Cincinnati next week and we'll talk about this off air, Doug. You know what? You want to get rid of you. Lose my number. All right.

Thanks. Thanks, back. But he was swinging for the fences. He's like, who else can I pull down? That was an East Coast goodbye. Holy. That was awesome. That was fabulous.

And I hope somehow Bill Simmons hears that, because that was excellent. Okay, where are we going? I will do game time. Lose my number is at all time. Oh, I love it. It's game time. That guy kills me. Lose my number.

It's game time presented by Bet365. I think he was partly serious on that one. Visit the app for the latest odds and see why it's ever ordinary a bet 365 must be 19 plus Ontario only. Please play a response. I'm just watching our boy Gilbert Brule He was the he played in the Olympics and there was no NHLers And he threw one of like the greasiest hits ever

I think I've said this on the show before I played against him He played for the Quinnell millionaires when I was playing junior A And he's a and he got in a fight against if buddy mine punched a visor off his helmet Wow he was a player So tonight on the ice four games Minnesota in Pittsburgh Chicago and Buffalo Carolina in Winnipeg, and that's what I'm looking at because it's the return of Nick Eilers

to Winnipeg. We'll probably talk about it a little bit after the break, but Hellebuck out 4 to 6 with a knee surgery of some kind. But give me tonight Nick Eilers in his return to shoot one in the net, pass probably Eric Comrie, at plus 2.30. Plus 2.30 for a Nikolai Eilers revenge goal. And later on, the Boston Bruins are in L.A. to take on the Kings.

Bruins heavy dogs in that game plus 165 in the money line LA Kings minus 200 on the money line All righty And that was game time presented by Bet365 Visit the app for latest odds And see why it's ever ordinary Bet 365

Plus Ontario only Please play responsibly Okay let's take a quick break And when we return We'll get to your text on this Friday Plus I want to get into a late penalty call On Connor Bedard

Last night and what I didn't like about it at all. That and more when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Diving deep into Leaps, Raptors, Jays, and NFL. The Jadie Bunk is podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program

As a reminder of this hour of Real Kipberin-Born brought to by Bet365. Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, as we bring it right down to the wire here on a Friday. Because we go to text. Before we go to them,

can I just, can we just talk a little bit about Chicago last night? Yeah. And Seattle, where Seattle, what came back at 3-2 with a late power play goal

that stemmed off of a breakaway for Connor Bedard whether or not you thought it was a penalty or not regardless he ended up confronting the official on a non-call that he didn't like ends up getting an unsportsman-like conduct and they lose the game essentially because of it. Now, I get the official may have had some issues with how aggressive Connor was on him

to state his case, but as an official, you got to look away. That's a look away for me. That's a play on, give him his two seconds, but hitting the kid with an unsportsman-like conduct at that point in the game was just a bad call by the official. And I know it's not a season veteran. It's a kid that's probably been at it maybe four or five years, J.B.

Yeah, he played in the American Hockey League as of 20. Well, his last pro season is 2019. He needed to back off. I don't think this is an ongoing issue. I don't think if you want to go back after the game as an official or get the league to talk to Chicago or Connor and say, hey, listen, I want you to know maybe you touched me.

Maybe you're a little too close. Next time I'm going to hit you hard. But... Need a little warning. A warning would have been nice behind the scenes. It's a big spot to pull that off. But to throw the kid into the box and kind of embarrass himself

as now a stepping stone leader for Chicago, I thought was a mistake by the official. Do you want to hear Blashell talk about it? we do have the clip sure I believe Derek do you want to play that what do you think of the dart break away well it's a penalty you know

so like that's where like we got a control we can control but it's when I walk in the room and and see like when you don't have position the guy and you put your stick in there and you hit his glove which he did yes he got the stick after but the first contact was on his glove

that's penalty it's penalty and then you know like I don't I don't know what it was said. It better have been really, really, really, really personal to be that sensitive about it because you're deciding games. What did you say to him, Reg? If it was super personal, I wasn't there.

I don't know, but it better have been really, really, really personal. If you're not going to have enough thick skin to just keep playing through it. That's great, call. What do you just say, if I'm going to sit in traffic for three hours, it better be a really big accident. Yeah, like, I want to see cars turned over. It's, I don't know. I, you know, he was pretty aggressive,

Bredard, like he makes contact with him. He looks at him. He screams in his face. He's doing like he's showing him up. But it's just not a spot. That's the first period. Talk to me. Sure.

But in the third period, five minutes left time game, it's a tough spot. Okay. Do you want to think it was a call or non-call? You thought it was a penalty? Well, I do think it's a penalty. The actual physical play is a penalty. I thought it was borderline.

Yeah, borderline. But I think, great point by the coach. I think, you know, guys. ahead. He's in alone. I think it's a penalty. I do think Badaard's reaction is embarrassing. Like, I think it's embarrassing to the ref. It's embarrassing to, like, you're... Show them up. Yeah. Like, it seems like an immature thing to do like... I'm not far off on you. Yeah. It was, it was very aggressive.

Yeah. Way to challenge an officialist call. But he turns it off quick enough for me that it's not a penalty. Like, he turns, he gets in there. It's, the whole thing's probably not three seconds long. Yeah. Still, yelling at the rest. Still in his third year, still a young guy. We've done nothing but promote these young kids, the first 20 games, and he's right there with Celebrini and Leo and, like, we're pushing these kids hard.

He had a small window where he just lost a little bit maybe of control. Come on, just cut him a break and give him a good warning after that. the game that we can't have that behavior or slight contact at all and he learned from it but good for Blasheel for having his guys back yeah okay that's it

this one's from Harry and Meepard my neck of the woods did Kipper ever make it into any rockum-sockum videos? Great question I don't I think I did but I like how many grapes made like 20 of them

was grapes just printing money at that time My favorite thing was, I forget which one it was, but there was one where he did, like, a song. Like, he was literally, like, singing. It was like, Dominator, D, D-D-D-Dominator. Like, I actually have these stuck in my, wah. What, what, what? More than the Rock and Sockham tapes was getting invited

to his grape line show that was taped in front of a live studio audience. You want to be, like, 23, 24, and never experienced that before in your life. You want to talk about being nervous. Oh, my God. Like, just you and grapes and like 150 people in a restaurant and cameras everywhere. It's funny because now you would thrive in that spot, right? Like all the experience in years and whatever. DB just told me that he's made.

I'm really thriving in anything right now. I've got to be honest with you, but I appreciate it. 30 Rock'em Sockhams. 30? No way. That's what Derek just told me. So I'm going off my boy, Derek. If he's wrong, throw him under the bus.

God, I hope we got one clip in there. Yeah. God, they were awesome. They were every Christmas, like, look forward to that way. Couldn't wait. Some of the- Mickey boys. Some of the clips, though.

They were definitely, they called you? They're definitely suspicions. Like the early Rockham-Sockems aren't playing now. No. They're not playing now. Suspensions. Jail type. The Canucks management should be fired for trading Horvatt and signing Miller from Johnny

Mack. You know, it doesn't get enough play. Does Horvett look good? No, that is unbelievable. No, no. It's... It's... It's...

It's... It's... It's... It's... It's losing both of them. Yeah. Right? It's just not picking one or the other.

It's both of them gone. Bo has 14 goals in 21 games, 25 points this year, plus 14. He leads... Plus 14! He leads the... He's top 10 in short-handed ice time, too. He's killing penalties.

He is a 20-24 per game for the Islanders, Mr. Everything. And we're in Bobby Bourne's number. I know. You know, he's doing it. What did Horvatt sign for? Uh, is it eight? And he, uh, that was, remember Lou?

He's like, I hate the contract. It's too much money. You know what he said? Eight five. Eight five. Okay. It's, he's not a superstar. But it's only, it's, he got five more years after this.

And he's going to go down and percentage of the cap. He's a workhorse. He's been awesome for them. Awesome. Awesome. Yeah. So while we're speaking, while speaking to reporters after signing center Boeh, Horvatt to an eight-year extension,

Lamarillo said, all I can tell you, it's too long and too much money. Yeah, but it's like we had to get the guy, so we, you know. Imagine how if Bo Horvatt was available for trade, like what teams would be willing to pay for him. That's how much they want a centerman. We talk about Cadry, talk about Ryan O'Reilly out there. Imagine if Bo was on the market here, how teams would be clamoring for him. Bo is like the 16th Canadian forward. There's a few injuries.

this guy is awfully close to getting himself on that team he's on top line team b totally uh before just before the show ends i have to remember to wish my mom a happy birthday my mom my mom is a daily listener of the program it's her birthday today so wow turn 38 today general she's 38 at wow yes that's impressive uh happy birthday this is phil from alber love the show guys thank you do you think the oilers are missing coffee and glen gallitzin right now knob block seems a little too calm for me and for the love of god kipper take it easy on sammy Yes, I mentioned that the other day, I think there's a level of emotion out of probably Paul and even Glenn that we've seen in the past to recall the stick getting thrown. I do.

Yeah. And I'm not a component of like every once in a while you got to like fake that or just do it just for the sake of keeping people guessing if it's real and sincere. and falls into your personality, then go for it, man. Yeah. And I think it's kind of missing right now in Edmonton. You know, to me, it's just guesswork. I think what you're talking about makes sense.

That sounds likely, but I don't know. Like, it sounds like coffee and knoblock. We're kind of on different pages as coaches, and I don't know that having mixed messages is great. I also don't know that that's true. I mentioned, I don't think we did this on there. we did it off air but it's always awkward when team legends get hired as like part of a coaching staff that's i thought when alfredson went to ottawa hope it ends well we talked about this

when we first heard that paul coffee's going right yeah about like okay how many records how many stanley cubs the best defense one of all time like how many norrises how many rec records like anyone's going to feel buried when this guy steps in a room yeah they've managed to go to a Stanley Cup final with it though yeah and then I was really surprised to hear Paul's not there with knowing that you've got to have another crack at it again this year yeah and everybody expects you to be back there

those relationships I'm saying that not as someone who knows but I feel like well what happens is it runs its course and it's like you know coaches there's ego of course there is and it's you know someone mentioned a while ago a few years ago we talked about this rick tocket now whether or not i had heard that maybe that the leaps were right you know he was out of work would you come home this is home this is family for rick tocket would you consider coming on the bench and it's like you can't have rick tocket with sheldon keef it won't work it will totally one's going to feel buried yeah you know in the shadow love this question

Ari from Edmonton do you guys think Matthews and McDavid are talking to their agents same agent not agents they said same agent about both signing with the same team when they both become free agents so the Salani career let's both sign for a million bucks in Colorado how'd that work out not great Bob no it didn't they're boys I don't they're boys I think there's something to it They're the same age. They hang out all the time. They skate together. They go for dinner all the time.

They seem like such different dudes. I know. It always surprised me, but they're boys. In two years, Judd, who represents both of them, could be a very famous guy in Canada. I would say that, Judd, can I borrow some money? Very unpopular guy. Who knows?

If both his guys are escorted to the... Two names like that, leaving Canadian markets to go somewhere else. What's the King's Cap sheet look like in two years? Where is Edmonton in two years? Like earlier in our show, you were talking about the Leaf 20, 28. First round pick. First round pick being valuable.

Yeah, or maybe a first pick overall. It could be. That's what you said. I said that. Imagine now if you're Austin Matthews listening to that. What are you thinking? Oh, I mean, I think he's already thinking. Why would I stick around for that?

Totally agree. Like, I think he's probably got two years left here. Better win. And him and McDavid join. up for the new expansion team for the 48th team in the league. Maybe they'll join the Devils with Quinn Hughes. They both have two years remaining on their deals and where are their teams and where are they chasing a Stanley Cup?

Maybe both Edmonton, Toronto have won a cup over the next two years and they both go long term. Content with their cups. Wayne from St. Thomas. Seeing the last cup with the Leafs, Doug, you're right. I'm 77 and I won't see another. Oh, man. Come on, where's the hope?

The hope kills the man. He knows better than to die. Oh, my God. He doesn't have the hope. All right, we're out. We're going on this weekend. We got the Toronto, Maple East, Montreal, Canadians. Yeah.

Saturday night. That's a big game. Good time. Okay, who looks and says it's a good time to play that team? More Montreal or more Toronto? Both. Equal? I think equal.

They're both desperate. Hurt and teams. Abbs can't get a save, Leaves can. That's the biggest difference. Signature game on Hockey Night in Canada, always the case when the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens get together. All right. Just like that, we're done.

Another week. Once again, solved nothing. Don't even try to. Thanks for joining us. Have a great weekend. Our thanks to Doug McLean, always on Off the Rails Friday. Stay safe, everyone. Thank you.