Real Kyper & Bourne - Are the Oilers in Trouble?

Episode Date: February 5, 2026

Former NHL defenceman and three-time Stanley Cup champion Alec Martinez (1:28) joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to discuss his transition to the media side of the game, the growth of the Blackhawks, Marco Sturm's bid for Coach of the Year, Artemi Panarin's fit with the Kings, the NHL's youth movement, and much more! Later, Nick and Justin regroup with fill-in producer Cristian Ceniti to discuss the importance of a strong leadership group, Leon Draisaitl calling out the Oilers after a three-game losing streak, and whether Kris Knoblauch's seat is starting to warm up.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right. Closing out this week in style here. It's a real Kipper and Bourne show. We go national. We are live on SportsSet 360. Sports set 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary, YouTube streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts. When you can't catch us live.

Nick, Justin, Christian, in for our very own Sammy. doing a terrific job, by the way. Thank you, fellas. I'm sure Sammy's enjoying Mexico. God knows he could use a break and a lot of Leaves Nation from the Leaves. He sent us a pitcher. He's already there. There you go.

Sunshine. This hour of Real Kipperman Bourne brought to by Bet365. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in former NHL defenseman, three-time Stanley Cup champion, Alec Martinez, who's coming to the dark side. Yeah, doing some media now. Doing some media. Knows his stuff.

We'll change his mind. Incredible career. You know, like I think maybe underrated. You look at the length of time he played here. We're going from 2009 to 2024, 8662 games plus 73, multiple Stanley Cups, 130 playoff games. My goodness.

Cherry on top, Stanley Cup winning goal. I'm not to mention. Not too bad. On that note, let's bring him in. Alec Martinez, man. Like, you can't get bettered up better than that, can you? I know, I need to do this stuff more often. That's a one-time intro.

I can't do it again. Yeah, that's fine. I'm comfortable with that. How is it going? I don't really like those intros. How is it going on the other side here? I know you've been doing a few games. You've been working with, correct me if I'm wrong,

but Vegas and Chicago a little bit. Yeah, yeah, it's been fun. I mean, I wouldn't consider myself a broadcaster yet. I've just done some broadcasting, you know. But no, it's been fun. If, you know, I've been able to learn from a lot of really good people and they've set me up, you know, for success. But it's been good in transitioning, you know, out of the game. I think it would have been pretty tough if, you know, I had just retired and then just sort of quit hockey altogether.

So it's kind of kept me involved. I mean, I always would have followed my buddies and, and, and, you know, I just. have tabs on them, but it kind of forces me to watch a little bit more hockey. And it's been good to just kind of scratch that itch as I try to figure out what's next. So during your career, were you much around the league? Was it more focused on you and your team per se? I know you mentioned that it kind of forces you to watch a little bit more, but where would you been on the scale when you played?

Yeah, I mean, I remember I had multiple landlords, I wonder if I wanted the NHL package on TV, and I said, absolutely not. I'm like, there's no chance. I get enough video at the rent. I'm not going to, you know, it's like if someone's a plumber, they don't want to come home and fix their own toilet.

Oh my gosh, that's funny. Yeah, so no, I was never, I was never much of a, you know, I guess I just didn't watch a whole lot of hockey. And then I'd say I started to watch a little bit more later in my career is, you know, a lot of us got traded from L.A., so I ended up having more buddies, you know, spread around the league a little bit. But, yeah, just it was never a real big fan of watching it.

But, you know, now that I'm not playing and, you know, I've got two young kids so I can't catch everything. But I certainly try to watch my buddies and keep tabs on them. It's funny, you know, I just had this conversation with someone the other day, was talking to a guy in the Oilers and about where the Florida Panthers were and the player in the Oilers didn't know. You know, he was like, oh, are they doing badly?

Like not even aware of where they're at in the standings. How many guys per team would you have called like hockey nerds? I know like I played with Kyle Oposo. He was really into following things close. Patrick Kane is a reputation for that. Are there, would you say more guys are these hockey nerds who follow it close or more guys like yourself in a room? I think it's probably a pretty good mix.

I mean, I think there's, you know, there's usually a couple that are really into it and watch everything. But, you know, I always enjoyed my time away from the rank, and that's not to say that I didn't enjoy, obviously, my time at the rank. But I thought a balance was good. It was good for me mentally. And, you know, I had other hobbies, I guess. And I think a distraction is just healthy every once in a while. But, but yeah, I mean, I'd say I'd probably fall. somewhere in the middle, but it's pretty evenly spread.

But there's always like one or two guys where you're like, come on, dude, like turn it off. Oh, like, go. No, the stats of like the other conferences best demon. So in my Ranger days, we'd hot stove in the lobby. Sometimes we wouldn't even get to our rooms. It'd be like sitting down and just start talking. And it was myself, Eddie Olcuch, Glenn Healy, Phil Bork,

Mike Hartman, who did not get into Brookes. I loved it. You were a hockey nerd? Yeah, we, yeah, we go around the league. This guy stinks. He's no good. This guy's great. Why don't we trade for him?

Yeah, all of that sort of stuff. So who, when you are watching closely, who's caught your eye? And obviously, Vegas with the Mariner signing, you know, the trade for Anderson. Many believe that they're ready for the next level here. But overall, who's impressed you the most? I mean, I guess you kind of mentioned it. Like I keep tabs a little bit more on Vegas in Chicago, just, you know, being my two most recent teams.

But, yeah, I'd agree with you on the Vegas standpoint. I think, you know, it's no secret that they're fairly aggressive in that regard. And if there's someone that they, you know, deem that can make their hockey club a lot better than they go after them. And they've proven that year in and year out. But I guess a little bit of recency bias, but I just worked two of the games in Chicago and really impressed.

You know, I think they struggled a bit last night, but impressed of what Blashell's done there and bringing some, just some structure and some accountability and things like that. And seeing, you know, some of those young guys really flourish under that. I mean, it's, you know, we talked about, you know,

Badaard plenty on the broadcast, especially with him matched up against Celebrini the other night. But, you know, a young guy like him that's flourishing, Nazar, I mean, just a lot of different guys. But I guess in terms of like around the league, I mean, I just, it's all about like my buddies and who I know. Like I played with Marco Sturm for a lot, you know, for a bit. And so it's like I tune into Boston stuff more. And I would have never like tuned in.

But, you know, I tuned into that outdoor game. and that was pretty fun. I mean, probably the best ever. But Boston's got to be one of the biggest surprises, too. And we didn't really know much about Marco Stern, but like he is doing a hell of a job. And if you're talking about a coach of the year, man, he's got to be up around the top of the list too.

Yeah, that's, I mean, that was kind of where I was going. I've been really impressed with them. You know, I'm not surprised, though. He was a really good pro, had good attention to detail. I mean, obviously his career speaks for himself. But he was so good to me as a young guy, too. We actually spent a lot of time together because I was still living in the hotel when he got traded there. But, you know, they've been someone that I've, you know, that I've been impressed by.

But, yeah, it's just like the Colorado's. I mean, I know that they've always been good. But, you know, the season that they've had so far is pretty incredible. But, I mean, truthfully, I probably keep a little bit more eye on the West just because I live out here. And then that's, I mean, I played my entire career there. So I obviously tune in to the Kings here because I live in L.A. now. But I just, you know, I just have two buddies that are there.

Now, two or three, most everyone's gone. So, yeah, I just stick to the West. It's funny. I'm actually working on a book right now called Code of the West with Daryl Sutter. and talking a little bit about his past. And I learned a fascinating tidbit the other day. He's telling me about when they're in San Jose and his son, Brett. He's like, yeah, yeah, he played with Alec Martinez in San Jose's kids.

I was like, wait, Alec Martinez played in San Jose as a kid? You have some overlap. I didn't know that that was sort of where you came from as a hockey player. Yeah, that's like when someone puts you on the spot and it's like two truths and a lie or say something that people don't normally know about you, you know, about you. But yeah, I grew up in Detroit and my dad got a job transfer. He worked for General Motors and had like a two or three year assignment in Northern California. So when I was in middle school, we moved there.

And that's where I played with Darrell's son and played for the junior sharks. And I actually had a pretty good team. We made it to the national championship game and lost, which was a bummer. But, yeah, so I mean, Darrell was obviously pretty busy with coaching the sharks at the time. But spent a lot of time with Brett and Wanda and Chris and all that, especially, you know, traveling the way that we had to travel, especially back then. I mean, hockey's huge here now, but back then it wasn't as big. So, you know, you'd have to travel pretty significant distance in order to just find teams to play. But, yeah, we spent a lot of time together, New Year's Eve, together.

You know how all that stuff goes. Yeah. You know, the holiday parties in the hotel rooms with all the parents and kids. Just in terms of the theme out there, particularly in California, you want a cup there. And we're seeing San Jose go through a bit of a transition. Anaheim's pushing really hard. And then most recently, the L.A. Kings with Panarin, just your overall thoughts about Panarin going there. And what can he do for that team or that market that last time I checked, there were a lot of stars in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, right, in the sporting world and entertainment world as well. Yeah, it's action-packed in that regard. But, yeah, I mean, in terms of the Panarin trade, I'm not really that surprised. I don't think it was any secret that they were, you know, struggling offensively. And he obviously, he solves a need for that right now. But I think they're probably also looking forward with, you know, this being Copacar's last year, that, you know, you're going to lose a lot of offense through him, too. and, you know, I guess through him, I mean, both ends of the rank, you know, big time being as, you know, as much of a two-way center as he is.

But, yeah, I'm not surprised. I think it was a good deal. I think it was good that he wanted to go there. But, yeah, and they get them locked up for a couple years and establish, you know, or I guess fill a need now and for the future. But you had a good point, too. One team, I've worked a couple games when they played Vegas, but Anaheim's really impressed me, too. You know, their young core is really taking a big step. And I mean, every time they've played Vegas, they've given them a hell of a game and beating them.

I think both times I worked the game. But yeah, and then San Jose coming up, I just worked that game against the Hawks. And I don't know, there's just so much youth in this league and guys that are so skilled that, I mean, I know it's cliche to say the league's in good hands, but it's really cool to see you know, all these, all these different kids coming up and really how quickly of an impact that they're making. I mean, I feel like, you know, aside from a few guys, like the, you know, the standouts like Ovechkin and Crosby and all that back, you know, at the beginning of my career, it took most of us a couple of years to get established. And it seems like these guys are just

doing it off the get-go. So it's been pretty fun to watch. Alex, one thing I've learned a little bit is just that that Kings, community there is almost like you guys are a small town team right like you're in most guys in manhattan beach area it's a smaller sort of piece of the town and i wonder how your life changed after scoring a double overtime stanley cup winner does it come up is it like joe carter's walk off here in canada is that are you eating off that thing or what no not at not at all i i don't i know it's it's like a boring answer but i don't really think about it that much like the only time that I mean, I'm reminded of it once a year on June 13th that everyone tweets at me, you know,

the video and all that on the anniversary. But I don't know. I guess it, I mean, this is kind of a smaller town, the beach communities. And I mean, people are super friendly and super nice. I guess I was, I guess I'm just basically lying because I was at the bank the other day and someone brought it up to me. They were just like, hey, I was at the game and I was like, oh, cool, man. See you later. Pretty fun night, you know? But that's one, yeah, it's funny. I was talking to someone just a couple days about that,

the tight-knit community here. And I think, you know, that had a big impact and translated to the on-ice performance of, you know, our group those, you know, those few years when we were really, really in the mix. And yeah, it was just, it was a cool place to live. I mean, you could hop on your beach cruiser, like a one-speed bike.

And if you can battle the hills, you know, You can be at anyone's house, you know, in five or ten minutes. So that was pretty cool that we all hung out together, that we were all fairly close-knit. And, you know, at the time, it was like, I just thought every city was like that, right? Because it was the only thing that I knew, but, you know, soon did I discover that, you know, some cities weren't laid out that way. So it's a pretty special place to live. I mean, I could probably throw a football and hit Jake Muzzins' house, Matt Green's house. I mean, Dowdy and Stoll live down the street.

So it's, I don't know, a lot of those guys are gone now, but back in the day, it was pretty fun. A lot of guys are gone, two that aren't Copatar and Drew Dowdy, and there's still very important pieces on that team. I imagine you're not that surprised all these years later. No, no. I mean, you could just take one, watch one game and know that those guys are going to have really long careers

and be around for a long time. But yeah, it's really impressive what they've done. I mean, it's a testament to the work that they put in, their talent, all that. And, you know, I actually just saw a couple of them the other day for Quicky's 40th birthday party that was conveniently landed when he was out here in L.A. So it was fun to catch up with them. But, yeah, it's really cool to be able to see those guys and see him playing at such a high level still. I mean, obviously, Doughty going to the L.A.

Olympics for Team Canada and then then Copey doing what he's doing. So been fun to watch. Yeah. You know, I saw you take to Twitter the other day and say, you know, does anyone have any your request for anything to break down? You're looking to get into this media thing. Is there anything that you see now that you're following media closely that you feel like it's missing, like that hockey media needs an injection of?

Well, yeah, that was, you know, it's kind of the reason I started doing these breakdown sounds on Twitter and and a few to referred to it last week as my manifesto, the tweet that I actually had like three or four people reach out to me asking if my Twitter account had been half. I hadn't tweeted in 10 years and then all of a sudden I just drop his novel on the people. But no, it was just kind of an idea that, you know, I mentioned it in the manifesto. I guess we'll call it. But, you know, I've always been a really big football fan, and there's a lot of guys on the Internet that breakdown plays.

And while I know the game of football, I don't know it in, you know, that well or in that regard. So I always ate that stuff up. I really liked watching it. And I think just being, you know, maybe a defenseman or just a pro athlete, knowing that the little things make the biggest difference, you know, I always enjoyed learning and watching that. And, you know, I had done some of it. some breakdowns and, you know, in some of the broadcasting that I'd done here and there. So I kind of

had this idea and, you know, I'm not, if anyone's seen any of my breakdowns, they can tell that I am not the most well-versed in the social media world. I'm still very much learning. But, I mean, to my knowledge, I didn't really know of anyone doing it. And so I kind of saw a hole in, I guess, in the market, you'd call it. And I figured I'd try it. I talked to a few people. I kept my idea under wraps for a couple months and bounce some ideas off some people. And then, you know, ended up recording one.

And I've gotten a lot of positive feedback. People seem to enjoy it. I just think that there's so much talent in the NHL that doesn't necessarily show up on the score sheet or through, you know, skating, passing, shooting. I mean, you guys know, you guys know, how. hockey you can see that stuff happen and there's just so many things that go into a goal or a particular play and there's so many guys that that you know probably don't get the credit that they deserve and if I can shine the light on some of those guys and show you know show how talented

they are and show some of the skill and at the same time you know teaching some of you know the fans so they have a little bit more of appreciation when they watch the game I mean it's a win-win for me so I kind of felt that there was a little bit of a niche there and I'm trying it out. Maybe it turns into something. Maybe I never do it again. I don't know. So it's just very much an experiment right now. Okay.

Here's one from my manifesto real quick here. And you're the perfect guy to ask because you played the position. You played it well in all three zones. But I do watch hockey a lot. And the one thing that I see through various. maybe young players, of course, the learning curve of the position, but I see less and less guy,

I see more and more guys not identifying their own zone, who the most dangerous player on the other team is. And I mean, what have you watched in the last little while in the transition from when you started the position in your career to the end to what you're seeing now? What are some of the issues? because, like, in my day, like, a two-goal lead was almost a lock.

And when you, when you lost it, you felt shame beyond belief. You didn't even want to go look at your coach in the eye. Now we're seeing teams come back from like 5-1 and 4-and-5 goal gaps closed. We saw in the outdoor game. Like, what do you attested to that a team can go and blow a football? four goal lead late in the game. Yeah, I mean, I think that the league has gotten younger. I think that has a big difference.

So just the lack of experience. I mean, I think of the way that I would defend when I was at the beginning of my career versus towards the end. And the game had changed. It had gotten a lot quicker, it had gotten a lot faster. I think, you know, throughout my career, I learned to be a little bit more patient in the way that I defended. And I think just, you know, obviously the more reps you get, the more experience. And it's easier to identify that, you know, like you mentioned, the most dangerous guy. But I think

it's just a younger group. So there's a little bit more inexperience that perhaps, you know, opens up a team to, you know, giving up leads like that. But I also think that the game's just a little bit more open. I think that the teams the teams that have won as of late I don't think that I think that's a fundamental in hockey that'll never change that you have to go back to structure and the teams that are the most structured and adhere to that

within reason I mean I you can't I mean I don't think like the devils of old is going to win you know in this in today's game but I just think the game is a little bit more wide open now and and and the teams that are the most successful are are creative but within a certain boundary if that makes sense um but i i don't know it is it's it's a younger league the inexperience it's just a little bit more wide open it's a little bit more run and gun i mean i remember the west being you know like it was like a different game when we would play someone out east and then

and then we'd play, you know, the Anaheims, the San Jose is like, what would they referred to, or referred to it as Death Valley, right? Back in the day when they would have to play us, the Kings, you know, the sharks and and the ducks. But I don't know, it's just, it's, it's a lot faster. It's a little bit more running gun. And I think that just leads to more offensive opportunities. And guys are skilled.

Maybe a little more forgiving too, right, from the coaches. They just, you know, they got accepted to your point. Like I'm dealing with a defenseman on my team that's played less than 100 games. It's like, you know, crap happens. Well, and that I was actually going to ask that. You know, watching Matthew Schaefer right now, which, yeah, I don't know what that is, what species that is or whatever it is he's doing. But like, do you think this is going to be a thing where there's more defensemen that look like

Lane Hudson or Matthew Schaefer, these guys that are jitterbugs? And the way they walk the line and the way they cover is almost with their feet, almost more like a Duncan Keith used to defend than a more physical imposing type defenseman. Yeah, I think I had this conversation the other day. I think that's where the league is going. I mean,

how I was coached towards the end of my career versus the beginning. I mean, I remember growing up, it's like you put your stick between the guy's legs in front of the net and then you can control them. And then all of a sudden it's like, well, that's an automatic penalty. And that's what I was taught, you know, in peewees

and all that growing up. But you can't get away with that stuff now. But I think it's just transition more to defending with your feet and with your stick and body positioning. That physicality is obviously down. But, you know, it's an element that has to be there in order for you to win the physicality side of things. But, but yeah, I don't, the kids coming up are just so skilled. I think I talked to, like I was recently. recently on a podcast and we were talking about that.

The beginning of my career, it was, you know, say there's five skill get categories, skating, shooting, passing, you know, you name it. And guys would have probably, you know, be really good at three of the five. Well, towards the end of my career, you know, in training camp, it's like you see some of these kids come up and they're five for five. They can skate. They can rip the puck. Like I remember, it's like, yeah, some guys would have a really hard shot.

You know, some guys would kind of, you know, be in the middle. And then, you know, some guys would just have a complete muffin. Well, like, I don't think anyone, I think everyone just cranks it now. So the skill level is just higher. And I think that's kind of where the position is going. And Schaefer in particular, I mean, that kid is good. He's fun to watch. But I think that's just where the league is transitioning and guys are being taught to defend differently.

And it's just more skilled now. Alec great stuff man it's great catching up to you congratulations on an amazing career and love to check in on you every once in a while best of luck with everything all right thanks for having me guys I'm around yeah you bet appreciate it thanks so much man

can you play defense for the leaves no I'm very much retired all right we'll call you for media purposes thanks man yes sounds good see it three times Stanley Cup champion Alec Martinez that that's guy that you can tell he's just a student in itself, right?

Yeah. I mean, sometimes it's just, you don't really know what that means, but he talked about attention to detail. He talked about structure. Structure and the teams that are most successful are the ones that can stay discipline, stay within their structure.

I'm talking to Daryl about this stuff every day. Sheldon Keefe, right? His comments earlier. Yes. No structure, no nothing. And I'm talking to Daryl about those Kings team. And you're talking about leaders. A lot of the book is about leaders.

And he's saying, you know, who's the captain on that team? Why was he the captain? I'm trying to ask these questions. And he's going, you could have given that C to eight to ten guys in that dressing room. Any of those guys, all the teams they won with, the Chicago team that he was on the bench with that went to the final against the Pittsburgh teams. They had Dirk Graham and Steve Smith and Brent Sutter and Chris Chelyos and Eddie Belford. he's going, all these guys are leaders.

And I'm thinking about the Leafs when I'm saying this. All these teams that he had success with, he's talking about their leadership and how they got eight guys that could have worn the sea. And you remember he went to Calgary and they didn't give out the sea? Because they didn't have it. He didn't see it there.

And you look at us talking about the Leafs. Who should have the sea? And for a while it's like, I don't know, Morgan, maybe John. If you don't know, you don't have one. You know? Just go back on Stanley Cup championship teams, right? And of course, Daryl's talking about his,

but like even Florida, we know Barkov is it. Yeah, but if there was no Barkov, there could have been a Reinhart, a Bennett. Marchand last year, Eckblad. Like, just go down the list, right? You can, you can pluck one and get away with it all day long. And this is the theme of these teams that win is they got eight guys

who are grabbing guys in saying, okay, that's not how we practice. We don't do it that way. So the coach doesn't have to come in every day and tighten screws. Guys are tightening screws for you without having to do it. So I don't know how you select for that with your team necessarily. And I don't think you can build your team on that before talent. But you need some of that with your talent.

That's the key right there, right? I feel like we've had the conversation, especially in Toronto, of trying to tape the leadership on has to come with the talent. And that's the key of Florida. We brought in Ryan O'Reilly. Okay, well. Yeah, and he might be the best example of them as far as talent's concerned, right? For sure.

And it would have been great if he had stayed. That's for sure. God. Game time? Yeah, we can do game time now. Let's game time. Let's do some game time. It's game time presented by Bet365.

Visit the app for the latest odds and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Must be 19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Let's see topical here coming off of the Alec Martinez. interview we just in. How about the Alec Martinez Bowl? We got the LA Kings and Vegas Golden Knights tonight. Also good rivalry games in general on the calendar to end, going into the Olympic break. Give me the Ali King, LA Kings here plus 110. No Artem E. Panarin for them. He's going to make his debut after the Olympic break. And yeah, yeah, another rivalry matchup here.

Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning. Give me the chaos result. It's definitely not good as far as Toronto's concerns in the playoffs. But how about a float? Florida win plus 160 would put them even with the leaves. Plus 160 for the Panthers tonight. No Braden Point, no Sorrelli. Yeah, that's a good one right there. Yeah, not bad. Perfect.

And that is game time presented by Bat 365. Visit the app for the latest thoughts and see why it's never ordinary. At Bat 365 must be 19 plus Ontario. Only please play responsibly. So you mentioned Florida and Tampa Bay. Florida played really hard last night against Boston. They know these are big games going to the break. And I don't know what's left out of Florida,

but whatever they have, they're leaving it on the, they left it on the table last night. I think they're going to do it again tonight, which is incredible because, again, they have so many Olympians going there, but these guys have, they're not checking out. They just have something special that they're trying to not let slip through the cracks. I think they, you know, I've done the perfect version,

of leaf seasons in our first hour for Florida, the perfect version is Kachuk gets up to speed. Barkov comes back. Everything falls back into place right at the right time. I know Brad Marchand scored like, did you see his shootout winner? Yeah. Oh my

God. The guy's going like a thousand miles an hour and goes backhand top shelf, which was incredible to watch. But I don't know like what these guys have left to give at the Olympics. Oh.

No, even at the Olympics. Like Bennett has been battling. Mershan's battling. I'm like, what is? Like, they're special guys. There's no question they're special guys. But like, how much can you squeeze? Do you have worries about those guys for Team Canada,

given, you know, the wear and tear on them? Yeah, I do. Yeah. And I mean, it's the stuff that we know. What about the stuff we don't know? Right. Right? If I had to single out one guy,

who is going to benefit most, maybe not from an injury aspect, but Nikita Kucharov for me, especially just in the Art Ross race. He's going for a third straight Art Ross. He will be a month off for the Tampa Bay Lightning while his competitors, as far as R. Ross is concerned, Connor McDavid, Nathan McKinnon. They're grinding. He's been on Fuego. We should game time that one next week.

Look at Art Ross for Kutrov. Just for the numbers. Did you do the sports set predictions at the beginning of the year for? individuals and stuff like that. Because I took Kutrov as an MVP. Oh, did you? I did. Looking pretty good.

He's in Tophagate's Connor still and Nate. But he's right there now. Everyone always looking for reasons to pick someone other than the guy who has 96 points, McDavid, and, you know, drags everyone into it. Kuturov is doing it for Tampa Bay, though, in a year they've been badly hurt. He's in my mix, too. McKinnon. celebrating it forth maybe

okay we'll take a quick break here catch our breath and then we're going to come back and have a little bit of a conversation with connor's edmonton oilers particularly Leon dry saddle who had love this guy some choice words post game words off of a loss to calgary last night

which brought in questions on the coaches the players the system I don't know what, I think he just took a big swing at everybody. He really did. Which is funny too with no games left to be played for them. Just a punch on the way out the door.

I love Leon like everybody else. I'm looking at you. You loved it. I'll tell you after the break why I didn't. Love it. That when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Hey, it's Aylish Forafar. And I'm Justin Cuthbert.

Join us as we discuss the most important sports stories at the and tee up the biggest games of the night. It's the fan pregame. 6 p.m. weekdays on Sports stats, sports that 590 the fan, and wherever you get your podcast. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to by Bet, 365, Nick Kippreos, Justin, Born, Christian, Shaniti, in for our very own.

Sammy McKee, just a reminder, we are off tomorrow and returning to action next Wednesday. Did I get that right? When the hockey starts. Yes. You did get it right. The Olympics start on the Wednesday. Well, the Olympics start tomorrow.

But I think the actual men's hockey tournament starts. The only thing that really matters for us. That's the Olympics do you? No, no. I'm like Gord. I'll watch. Anthelon? Yeah, that one.

That's the one where you cross-country skiing and shoot targets. I'm not sure why that's an event. But I guess we used to do that. I don't know. This world's crazy now. Hunting and trapping. I think that happens daily now somewhere in this world. Fair enough.

The Edmonton Oilers go into this Olympic break, like limping. Yeah. Three straight regulation losses giving up 16 goals. Yeah, and they were averaging five goals against per game prior to that, I think. Like, their defense has been real better. How concerned should oiler fans feel? Very, quite very. I think you were looking for them to take a step from being a team that the last couple of years got hot at the right time.

You know, everything came together and they went on playoff runs. You're kind of hoping they would just surround that core with a couple of key pieces, solidify the goal tending. They run away with the division. The Oilers haven't won that division in this whole Leon Connor time. They've always been in the two, three game. I just go win the division, do the thing, but it's happening again. So I would say you haven't won the cup doing it this way in the past. You wouldn't feel good about it right now.

We had Kevin Lowe on and he made, he was strong on the point. And it's not that it's not a strong point. It's factual that a guy like Evan Bouchard in the playoffs has shown that he can tighten it up when he needs to. Well, they kind of need it now. Good point. So it's like if you can do it then, pretend it's then. Just pretend we'll call this the playoffs

and do it now. You could probably trick them. They could probably Truman show them. It's just the whole team in general with that attitude is that you've shown that you can one there's certainly a strong element there because you don't win rounds to get to a Stanley Cup final

without it. But like, it's real tough for me to point the finger at Evan Bouchard. I think the simple answer is you just look at the moves that they made coming out of last year. And Dr. Montrapane hasn't worked out. Two trades they made that I think this one, I was actually two years ago, the Matthew Savoy trade for Ryan McLeod.

We saw him in the lineup, but he hasn't become an impact guy. Maybe it is early there. Ike Howard as well. You trade one of your better prospects, Samuel Riley. Maybe, once again, maybe you don't expect an immediate impact, but we haven't got it. And then Tristan Jari, the most recent one. Four editions that haven't added enough. Right.

No, I think those are, that's a great rundown of it. And so last night they lose in Leon. is what did he get called once? Pissy? Leon, why he is so pissy? And Leon... Was that Mark Specter? I feel like, Jim. Who is it? Yeah, I think it was Matheson.

I think it was Matheson. Yeah. Okay. Either way, you know, he's not wrong that Leon gets like that. And I think Leon is right to get like it. Sometimes I'm looking forward to hearing your take on it. Do you want to listen to the clips and then talk about it? Absolutely. Okay. So I'm not sure if there's an order we should do this specifically. why don't we do number two first on what's wrong with the Oilers and we'll get into the other ones?

I don't know. I was just giving up too many goals. I don't know. Can't defend. Penalty kill is not great. But there's many things that are part of it. Yeah, it's just not good enough right now. Okay, so really dispirited about the whole thing,

Generally, all good. You're okay with that? No problem. Flip three then on team's inconsistency. Not consistent enough. And, yeah, it just leaks too hard, you know, to just like lolly gag through games and try to get winning streaks going.

And you need everybody. It starts with coaches. Like, everybody. Like, you're never going to win if you have four. five guys going. And it starts at the top. We can be better. Our leaders can be better. Yeah, we'll take the break and regroup.

Do you think that stems from the fact that you guys have had so much success over the last couple of years that maybe... Oh, we're a different team. We're not the same team. Like, we're not as good right now. We're not even close. Like, we need to understand that. Like, it's time. Obviously, there's a break now. But when we come back, we got to we got to get going.

Tell me what you liked. Do you want to hear the third and final one? Oh, there's more? There's more. Oh, my goodness. Clip number one, dry-sidal. It goes hand in hand. Like, we got to defend better.

We got to make it easier on him, and then I'm sure he can be a little bit better, too. You know, it's a two-way street, but it starts with us in front of him, and then the game becomes a little bit easier for him. But I think there are saves that our goalies need to make at some point. There you go. Everyone caught a bullet from Leon. Anything on the owner? Yeah. So that was a lot.

You want to know what I liked about it? Sure. I like that he's invested and that he's passionate. Right? This is his team and he cares and he wants to win and it's been bad. But he, yeah, he doesn't need to prove that to me. I know that already. Yeah, okay.

He's so pissy. Yeah, there you go. I'd rather have it than not have it. So I like the fire. Yeah. You know, I think it's fine going into the break that guys aren't going to the beach and being like, all right,

now we get to turn off and that he's kind of got already the focus to tune back to. When we come back, this thing matters. Lolligate. Yes. Your turn. Yeah. Okay.

So what you're telling me is everybody's on like red alert. Red alert. Red alert. drink as much as you want but like when you come back you're coming back to win and to work I get all that for sure but

here's the butt part okay and I will stay consistent for what I've been all season long about when you put stuff out in the public like that there are sometimes consequences and there's no question

that when he starts out talking about the team lullagging and when he expresses not once but twice everybody, everybody, and the next thing out of his mouth is coaches, right? Okay, that's crystal clear here, that you start naming what's wrong and you start with the coaches. And then he goes right into not four or five guys.

You know what that means? Not me, not Connor, not Zach, not the nudge, and not Bouchard. The rest of you bums. No, no, it's not the rest of you bums. It's, hey, hey, coach, what have you done with about 16 of our other guys here?

Where is the coaching on them? Where is the demand on developing them to support us? nowhere to be found. That's what he's saying to Knoblock. Yeah, great. When I talk about like the fallout and the consequences here is that if this thing doesn't turn around and they're not either in a Stanley Cup final or winning the Stanley Cup, like Noblock's done.

Yeah. Done. And not that that shouldn't happen. but it shouldn't happen with Leon publicly coming out and declaring that. I love Leon. I don't want him to have the reputation of like being a coach killer. Well, he hasn't. I don't think he has yet.

No, but the danger of calling out your coach like this is that if it doesn't work out for Knoblock, people will assume that Leon got him. And he might say, yeah, I did. He might say, yeah, he wasn't doing it. But you don't want that, J.B. You don't want that. Yeah, well. I'm telling you for players.

He wants to win. I know he does. But there's others that can do that behind closed doors where it never gets out. It was very much the first sort of, hey, there's 24 games left. And if you don't figure out what you're doing back there, that's enough because I'm going to be here.

I got a nice contract, you know. He does have a nice contract, but he's also watching, like I committed my career to the Edmonton Oilers and I'm watching wheelspin in the mud right now and it's scaring the hell out of me. Yeah, it was really fascinating because he felt,

it felt like he came up against the edge. Like he could have gone farther on the coaching thing. I'm curious what specifically he's not happy about. But he did. No, it's the four or five. guys. Yeah. It's us.

It starts the coaches, starts at the top. Starts at the top. Yeah. And I can only use my experience of Mark Messier the year before I got there. And it was Roger Nielsen. Okay. And, listen, Rogers is this wonderful hockey legend in our world. But there's a lot of things that were conflicted with what Mark believed on how to win a Stanley Cup.

and Roger had no Stanley Cups and Mark had five of them at that point. So Mark could easily come out a few times publicly and says, you know, I don't really, you know, something, you know, in the regards of it's not working and the coaches need to, whatever. No, nothing, nothing public. Just if you've got something to say,

there's a president, there's a GM, there's an owner, there's just figure it out. but do not players should not go down that path you know i think it's funny because there's sort of like this soft way of doing it but like what you're talking about i almost feel like it's a bigger deal to go to the team gm and say this coach isn't doing it this coach whatever like that to me is like a declaration of internal it happens all the time it does i'm every team yeah with their leaders okay when push comes to shove i'm not changing four five of my star players so I'm going to change the coach it's that easy yeah oh it's definitely

but to to start going public with it puts you in a this to me is he's trying to do bread breadcrumbs they can find their way there on their own but the bread crumbs was whole loaves of bread it was maybe a little too obvious what do you guys read in the timing of it does it matter to you at all that it came going into the Olympic break like we opened this conversation up I think with Leon I think it just falls out of his mouth like I don't think it just falls out of his mouth like I don't think there's any strategy, which is maybe your point of the problem. I totally agree with that. Yeah.

Totally agree with that. And he gets frustrated. You know, and I will stay consistent on this with your PR department. Man, you got to, these guys are your spokespeople. They will set the tone. They will send the message. They are. You never want them to talk when they're frustrated?

No, I do. I do. But you need to have such a rapport with your PR guy where the PR guy goes, hey, listen, And if you mention anything about Knoblock, you have any thoughts and idea you want to run by me? Yeah, I'm going to say that, you know, we can't win with four or five guys. And, you know, it starts with the coaches.

Yeah. And the PR guy is supposed to say, okay, if you want to do this, just know that when that happens, it puts, you know, it puts the spotlight on Knoblock and people are going to be wondering, you know, the relationship, is it healthy, is it good?

Are we prepared for that? Do we want to go down that path? Are you willing to go down that path because you think that it's a last resort to turn this thing around? And I don't think with 25 games to go in a three-week break, it's a really good thing to leave on.

What do you think about calling out the goalie? Because he, you know, as gently as you can say, you've got to stop the puck at some point. Well, I don't even know if he said it any different than that. said that. Any problem there? Why don't we hear from Jari? Tristan Jari said...

A couple days ago we played a clip from Jari where he said, I can't even judge my own game because the chances against me are so bad. Let's hear if anyone got to Tristan Jari. I think it starts with me. I think I could be more accountable and I think I could play better. I think if I play better

and stand in there and strong for these guys, I think we'll have some better outcomes. think it starts with me and I think I just have to be better moving forward. I know you haven't been with this group long, but do you get a sense of where this team is heading into the Olympic break and what's left to accomplish when you come back? Yeah, they're a really good team.

They have some great players, some generational players, and they put the puck in the net a lot. So it's fun to watch and it's fun to be a part of. And I think moving forward, I just have to stand in there better. Hey, you ever heard a guy be on a team for that? that long call his team they that's crazy to me that is a crazy they can score goals yeah oh yeah they have some good players you're all you're we now yeah yeah oh outside of that uh really the only thing he could say is i've got to be better and he he nailed that part that was that was uh

the only place he could go totally but it does feel like someone was like hey this is what you got how you got to handle it he that was great i'm not trying to pile on because he obviously saying the right things now, but hopefully he feels more included in the group as they get through the trade deadline. Yeah. Assuming he's the dude. All right, Kip. We solved nothing.

Hey, just to reiterate what we talked about earlier in our Leaf Edition, the news about Seth Jarvis now joining Team Canada at the Olympics as Braden Point is now ruled out, which is the right decision, man. for this guy to go in at 60 or 70% makes no sense. No games prior. For a team, that should be challenging for the Stanley Cup too, right?

Jarvis is a buzzin too, so. All right. Too bad for both Zach Hyman. We'd love to have Hyman on there. Jarvis is deserving pick to me. Our thanks to Alec Martinez, who joined us, three-time Stanley Cup champion.

In the Leaf Hour edition, it was Gord Stelich. If you get a chance and you're just joining us now, go back and download us. download us until next Wednesday when we're back on the air see you then

all right thanks for watching thanks for listening stay safe everybody