Real Kyper & Bourne - Avs One Step Closer + Oilers' Potential Head Coaching Search

Episode Date: May 12, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee recap Colorado Avalanche's Game 4 win over the Minnesota Wild, Josh Manson butt-ending Michael McCarron, before bringing on Sportsnet reporter Sean Reynolds (8:20) covering the series to get his thoughts on Minnesota on the verge of getting eliminated in Game 5, Colorado's goalie swap, Quinn Hughes' nearly playing 35 minutes, how Jared Bednar and his players adjusted to utilizing their depth, Cale Makar's performance during this series, does either Vegas Golden Knights or Anaheim Ducks have a chance against either Wild or Avs, and Hughes' future in Minnesota. Then, the guys chat about the Golden Knights withholding their permission for the Edmonton Oilers to interview Bruce Cassidy, the Oilers looking into a new head coach, and the Vancouver Canucks offering Ryan Johnson a head of hockey operations role.  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, let's get her going. Real Kipper and Bourne show. It is our national edition. We're live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary and streaming, always on Sportsnet. Plus, if you miss our show, you can always catch it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, where there's a wonderful chat going on right now. If you get a chance, give us a thumbs up or at least give Sammy one as he continues to have to talk about the Montreal Canadians. tough playoffs so far

the labor of love it is of it labor of love this hour of real kippernborn is brought to by bet three six five in a few minutes we'll welcome in Sean Reynolds always a great guest sports net reporter covering the Minnesota Wild and Colorado avalanche where last night

the aves take a commanding three one series lead over Minnesota which was a highly entertaining game and for me just the right amount of dirtiness. Yeah? Yeah.

A little bit of violence in there. It's like sugar and coffee. Thumbs up to our crew last night who just got that nose bleed down to a beautiful kind of Zoom. Zoom and just a little slow-mo. He was leaking. Leaking.

It was borderline gross. I don't know if I want to watch. My wife was like, can you just like change the channel? Yeah. It was pretty, it was graphic. It was awesome. Oh, here we go. Oh, no.

You're going to show it here? That was the tape's clear, wasn't it? To the mustache. Oh, yeah, that's, oh, my. Oh, that's gross. You're a pressure. It's lost. Slow motion.

Oh, my Lord. Yeah, your teammate does that. You got to be pissed. Like, Devin, really? Anywhere, but my face. And he's right back, eh? That's amazing. That's tough.

Ron James would be out for the rest of his career. Oh my God, not this again. They pushed hard, many. They just don't have it. Well, Colorado just has it. Yeah, they have it. But the butt end from, was it on McCarron by Manson? Was the ultimate, like, there are times in the game

the camera doesn't catch it and you can sneak in little things here and there. In my day, yes, not any, there's no sneaking in now. This one, when two guys are tangled, you're not getting away with a one hand. but into the ear. There's too many cameras right now. And if a television camera didn't catch it, there's a very good chance someone did with their phone.

Personal cell phone one hand and just dig it in the ear canal a little bit. Do you have the clip of? I have two clips. We didn't like it. Do you have the Manson clip? Yeah. Describing it? Well, I have two clips.

Okay. I have one from ESPN when P.K. was interviewing McCarran in the intermation. in the intermission and he asked him about it. Let's play that first one there. McCarron, Cliff 1, Christian. If we could. You played against Josh. He's a dirty player.

He's always been. Surprisingly, he got away with only a two, a four minute. I'm happy he's still in the game. I'm happy he's still in the game is a gangster line. Like, yeah, I'd like to run into him again. And would you like to hear Josh Manson's retort to that? Yes.

All right. Josh Manson, clip one, please. I'm McCarrang. That's fine. If he wants to call me a dirty player, you can just look at my history. I mean, it's been 13 years and I haven't been suspended yet. So obviously, I'm not that dirty. You know what I mean?

I think there are other guys in the league that are doing more. But was that the cleanest play? No, I mean, was it purposeful? No, and it wasn't purposefully either. But like I said, served my time. They scored on it. So, I mean, benefited them. But, yeah, that's, I mean, that's his perspective.

There was a point where you guys. were kind of near each other later on. Was there ever any chatter about fighting or anything? No, no. No, no. Okay, first of all, Josh, thanks for clearing that up. I would have had you pegged for sure at least two or three suspensions.

Totally. Zero. Zero, bud. But that's a pretty good case. I think of some of the guys who get suspended. There's some. Oh, yeah, it's a pretty good case with George. You've got to commit an atrocity to get suspended by George.

I think you could go with the line. I love that he's like, yeah, well, That's your opinion, man. That's his retort to the whole thing. Just for the record. It wasn't purpose. His dad scared the hebie-jeebies out of me. Yeah.

Like you've always attest, you like the squirrelieness to have a little bit of that. Oh, yeah. Yeah. But just not when it's staring me at the face. Right. Did you have to fight him at any point in your career? I don't think I ever fought him.

Yeah. But he had the look of like a casino ram a slot machine where just the wheel starts, the eye starts spinning backwards. And you don't know what that guy was ever going to do. Well, last name, Manson in that era. No, no. The nickname was Charles.

That's all you need to know about his dad. Yeah. That's a tough nickname. Oh, you think? Yeah, sure do. A killer? Yeah. Well, Josh has just the right amount of that to play in 2026.

They had a highlight package. I think Kelly Rudy showed it. That game, he was awesome for them. Yeah. Like killed plays on the defensive end. shots at the offensive end, put a butt end of a stick in a guy's ear canal. Pretty much anything you can ask for. We'll get Sean Reynolds momentarily, but in the meantime, I'm watching last night,

and Minnesota is just trying everything in their power to pound Colorado. And they, including McKinnon's face, they tore a strip off of them, but it's not enough to win. And they're too fast. Colorado is too fast for Minnesota. But if you're Vegas watching what's happening in that series, you're licking your chops. Or Anaheim.

Yeah. You're like, you guys are absolutely going through a meat grinder. And the thing for me, you mean the speed and the depth. 15 different avalanche skaters have scored through the first four games. Wow. That's the most in a series. Tide for the most in the series since 1985. All you need to do also is just look at the score.

four clock and at times I think it was 20 to 4. 40 to 4. They think they said an hour of real time. At home. At home, front of your fans. And you're chasing Colorado. To me, that's all I need to know about this series. Like even if Minnesota wins a game or it's close,

even at that point Kip, the score was zero zero, I think. It's like if one of these, if both these teams turn it up to 10, you can't keep pace with Colorado. Candidate. Canada needs this to be a win. You know, it's just, it's, I look at Minnesota as totally team USA. Garin, Garon, Faber, Hughes, Boldie. And it's like, I look at the abs is team Canada,

although they do have Brooklyn, Allison on their team. But it's Macar. It's McCar, McKinnon. Like, it's just, I paves. Like, it just, I feel a touch of vindication. Just a touch. Oh, yeah. Eric Sinak isn't, like, a superstar, but by any means.

Bigness. you can't lose a centerman like that, a 200-foot centerman like that, and expect, you know, Hartman to carry the role as your number one centerman. But you, you know, our criticism of this team headed towards playoffs was even with him, they were Hartman, Eric Zinnik, Yurov, and McCarron down the middle. And now it's Hartman, Yorov, McCarren, Sturm. It's just not Stanley Cup. By the way, just quickly before we get to Sean, Dave Manson, his three,

Three years in a row here with the Blackhawks. 185, oh, 352 pims and then 301 pin. Oh, no. So, scary. 355? 352. Is that the most ever? He also scored 18 goals and had 30.

How is there enough ice time? Most single season pimps? That's awesome. All right, as promised, let's welcome in Sean Reynolds, who's covering the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche. Come on this show all season long, doing a train. terrific job. Sean, how are you, my friend? Doing great. How are you? We're good.

Hold on, guys. Hold on, hold on. Dave Schultz had 472 Pims. Oh my God. Tiger got up there. Yeah. Honorable mention to our Tiger Williams, please. No, absolutely. But yeah, there's a few guys around 400 points. Sorry, interview the guest.

Sean, how are you? And, you know, a little bit of a recovery, very physical game last night. I think Minnesota is pushing as hard as they can. I just don't know if it's enough. But how would you have overlooked in terms of this series right now and where we are heading towards maybe a five-gamer for Colorado? What's left out of Minnesota? Well, this is one of these things where you just have to tip your cap to how good the Colorado Avalanche are,

because I think, you know, John Heinz has felt pretty good about the way his team's played, right? Like game one, you know, gets into a track meet, but I think they're kind of impressed by the fact that Colorado was able to stay with that track meet as long as they could. And they felt like they just kind of fell short in the third period. And then they think that it was a little bit of a special teams game that that cost them in game two. And, you know, John Hines was really talking to us a lot about how he thinks like five on five. This series has been right there. And then they finally turn the corner in game three and they win the special teams battle.

and that turns into a win, and it starts to sound like everything that the coach is saying is gospel, right? Like just needed to get their special teams going, just needed to get their physicality going, and there you go. And then you see that version of the Colorado Avalanche who just elevated their game, right? Like we saw the Minnesota Wilde elevate their game, take it to a place.

It hasn't been for them so far these playoffs in game three. And then Colorado just comes along and just does the exact same thing in reverse. And you were talking about it, Kipper. I do believe the shots are 20 or 21 to 4 at one time. I think that it was won nothing for the wild during that. But this was one of these games where they were holding on for dear life. This is just when there's just so much depth, so much talent, you guys were touching on it before this.

The Colorado Avalides are just an insanely constructed hockey team that the Minnesota Wilde, I think are great. I honestly think when I headed into the series, I thought to myself, whoever comes out of this series, I think is going to go on to win the Stanley Cup. I think both teams are that good. It's just crazy to see what the Colorado Avalanche are doing to a team that can bully you in a series, that can score in a series,

that can defend in a series, and still the Colorado Avalanche are finding a way to make this look almost pedestrian. Yeah, no, they're fascinating team. So what do you make of their decision to switch goaltenders and what it means for them going forward now? Well, I mean, it's funny. I referred to it off the top of the show yesterday as they pulled the Uno reverse card on the Colorado Avalanche

because Colorado had chased Esper Walsh, and that went to the backup, that didn't work out, and then they kind of returned the favor in game three. These are two teams, each with two-headed monsters in the crease. And so I think that, you know, you know, Jared Bedner is one of the things I love about covering certain coaches. There's a handful in the NHL who are just brutally honest. And you can tell what they're saying to you is what they just came from the room saying to their players, right?

A lot of coaches treat the, you know, the dressing room, like it's a, you know, it's sanctimony. Like, you, we will not let you in there. Jared Bednar is not like that. He'll go tell a guy he wasn't good enough and then he'll walk out in front of the media and tell the media that that guy wasn't good enough. right so he had thought that Scott Wedgwood had started over playing the puck being a little bit too aggressive he thought that cost him and he thought that the timing of the goals made game three look a little worse than it actually was so we wanted you know to get a goaltender to go in and settle things down that's exactly what McKenzie Blackwood did and it's his crease now going forward until you know make no mistake about it he'd have be Jared Benner would be more than comfortable going back in the other direction but this is the way it goes with both these teams, whichever player is going to grab the crease, they're going to hold onto it until they lose it. You're watching and listening to Sean Reynolds doing a terrific job covering the Minnesota Wild and the

Colorado Avalanche. Speaking of overplayed, Quinn Hughes at almost 35 minutes in regulation, Brock Faber at almost 30 minutes, and then it drops significantly with Spurgeon and I think Middleton around 14, 15 minutes. I can't believe that, you know, Minnesota was sitting there going, we got to play this guy 35 minutes tonight or else we don't win. I mean, what's happened? I know Bro Dean's not there, and that's a significant loss, Sean,

but you can't be playing 35 minutes, can you? And leaning on Quinn Hughes as heavily as they are right now? I mean, if he's not setting up that tying goal in the third period, the way that he does, just outskating a guy, getting a little bit of an edge, laying a perfect backhand pass right to the wheelhouse for a one-time goal. I'd agree with you. And, you know, I'm a big believer in, you know, when it comes to goaltenders and defensemen, right?

Like, there's only, I think certain goaltenders get overplayed. And the belief is, well, Marty Broder used to do it. And I always think Marty Broder was a unicorn. Like he was one guy who could handle it. I don't think other players can. So to the point that you're talking about, it makes me think. We've talked a little bit about the St. Louis Blues back in the day with Al McKinness and Chris Pronger and how much those two used to play. And I guess you could get to Chicago and players like Duncan Keith and Seabrook.

Like there should, it shouldn't be possible. It shouldn't be possible for the hardest time of the year defenders to go out and play that often and kind of take the wear and tear. But what I see late in the third period with the Minnesota Wild when I see Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber, there is two guys who usually when they get a hold of the puck, it's hard to get it off them. And they control the play and they give their team the very best chance. I had a conversation with John Hines earlier in the year. And I asked him what Cal Quinn Hughes fundamentally changed who the Minnesota Wild were. And he'd said the pace of this team just went up.

Like everything just got faster when he got there. And he said no one had benefited from that more than Brock Faber because, you know, some players, things get faster. and their game elevates, and that seems to have happened in that situation there. But it stands to reason then that that happens when Quinn Hughes is on the ice. And I do really believe that if you take a look at what the Minnesota Wilde are when Quinn Hughes is on the ice and when he's not, it's just a slower version when he's not on the ice.

So they're trying to play at a pace to kind of generate offense and score. And I think you just get a little bit addicted to that pace if you're the coach, right? Oh, things were fast. Let's get them back out there. keep things going fast. So I mean, you know, you kind of live and die by your stars. They're down three to one in this series. I don't think we're going to see him playing any less coming up in game five.

No, that was the McDavidi thing at the Olympics. It's just like, just keep pressing that button. Those are the guys you want to see on the ice. It's tough to not do it. You know, but the abs, the abs are having a lot of success with that depth. The deadline, they made a couple moves that go get Cadreys, they'd get Nick Waugh, you know, paid high cost for those guys. and initially it was kind of tough to slot everyone in.

They didn't really know how it was going to work. Nick Wall played some wing, I think, at one point. How are things slotting in now? Does it seem like they kind of found their flow? Well, they'd had their flow. Then they lost that game. They lost it so bad in game three that everyone kind of felt like there was some panic,

not around the team, but around the people covering the team that all of a sudden there weren't many answers there. I had known this because, A, I see a lot of the Colorado Avalanche covering, the Winnipeg Jets and B. I had a couple hockey night games down the stretch where the Jets played Colorado. And what I do know is after the trade deadline, Jared Bedner had purposely just kept jumbling his lines. And, you know, they were so far ahead in the league that they could do it.

They could kind of play around. And he just wanted to say, he said, I don't want to leave any stone unturned, but I also want to expose everyone to everyone so that at some point in the year, when I want to go to a place, it's not going to be like the first time. And maybe we're going going to be able to create some chemistry that people will go back to. And I think that's what you saw last night. Like they moved things around for a team that looked all of a sudden stale in game three. And then it looked really fresh. And the one thing that I do have to, that I take away from that is when you've got all

these players and they've been told by their head coach in the last 20 games of the year that you're going to play with this guy, this guy, this guy's probably going to affect your stats a little bit. Your job is to go get with that guy and show me what you can do. When they weren't showing him anything in game three, the head coach, like I said, a blunt guy came out afterwards and basically said, we're not getting enough from our depth.

Like they didn't show up here tonight. So because they're not giving it to me, I'm switching it around. Maybe they'll do it now. And credit, that game is a perfect example of a response by your depth players coming out and saying the coach said we weren't doing it.

We better get going. You have to love that response if you're a coach and you have to admire a coach that instills that in his, players that he can come out tough real talks that you guys aren't giving me enough what do you got and the players respond in kind that that was i thought that that was extremely impressive to your point on on quinn hughes is 34 and a half minutes or whatever it was uh despite the loss sean best best player on the ice best defenseman on the ice which means you know kale mccar

wasn't and not that he's been bad but i don't see kale mccar type of magic yet and where are you on his overall game despite being up 3-1? Well, this is interesting. I was talking, we were traveling today, and I was talking with Louis de Brusk about this. And I find superstars are a fascinating thing, because they come from a mindset where it's like, you know, give me the puck and I'm going to go win this for you.

And that's what they do over and over again. You get guys like, you know, Connor McDavid, he's clearly one of those kind of players, Leon Dricetle. And then you get into the, the kind of the thought process of a player like Steve Eisenman over the years who actually started doing less of that and doing more of what he thought would help the team. Like I always thought that he was the ultimate player that said it's about the team, it's not about me.

So sometimes the best thing for me to do is kind of take a little bit of a step back. And I feel like that's what I've seen from him in this series. Like what I see from Quinn Hughes is a guy who goes out and carries the puck and says, I need to get this done for everybody. What I think I see from Kail Makar is a player who says, I've got a lot of confidence in everything that's happening around me. And so, hey, if you need me to, I'll pop up. That's what he did in game one.

Kail Makar went out and won the game in game one in the third period for the Colorado Avalon. So he's got that ability to pop up and do that. But in the meantime, I think he's. He's showing a lot of faith and confidence in his teammates and distributing the puck, getting around and just kind of playing a role on that team. And hey, this is a team that's been there before Kipper. So he knows as tough as this team is. And again, I think these may be the best two teams left in the playoffs.

He also knows it's the second round. And there's a third round to go and a fourth round to go. We know we got a little bit banged up in that first game. I see a player who's playing really smart using everyone around him, having faith in his team that they can win and knowing that if they, if they get to where they want to go, there is still a really, really long road ahead. So you don't need to expend yourself at this time to get them.

So you talked about these two teams and the winning team being a cup favorite. I guess how much are you concerned for them with it being a grind like this with Vegas and Anaheim? Do you think Vegas and or Anaheim, one of those two teams would have a shot if these two teams get worn down in Colorado and Minnesota? Yeah, I mean, I think if you're the Colorado Avalanche, you really want to close this out tomorrow, right? Like you do not want to expose yourself to the Felino brothers bashing you around the way they've been doing in this series. The hilarious conversation I had guys after that third game, Marcus Felino had gone out in one of those early shifts of that game three. Nick had thrown a really big hit and within 10 seconds, Marcus throws a bigger hit. And he said to me in the dressing room afterwards, he was like, there was just something in me.

He made that hit, and I needed to throw a bigger hit. And then I talked to him in the morning before game four. And what happens in game four? Nick goes and throws a big hit. And then Marcus is flying around the ice trying to catch it. You can see there's this competition going on. And the Colorado Avalanche are the guys who are paying the price for it. So you don't want to expose yourself to that any longer than you have to.

Don't get me wrong. The Colorado Avalanche are a team of. big boys. Brock Nelson's a big guy. Nick Wah, big guy. These guys can handle themselves, but the fact that you see an Anaheim team that's a pretty big team as well and has a punishing defense and

we all know what the Golden Knights can do. Again, they've got their minds set on a Stanley Cup. So knowing how they need to get there, they also realize that there's some big heavy teams that they need to get through and they want to limit their exposure

to that heaviness. Sean, just on a on a side note, now that you're there, you're following the teams, you go to morning skates. Is there any buzz at all on a side note on Quinn Hughes and Minnesota? Is there any talk at all that

losing or winning this series could factor in on a decision as early as this summer, whether or not he wants to sign a long-term deal? Do you get that sense, one way or the other being boots to the ground there? Yeah, so I haven't I haven't heard that. And one of the things I would say about that, though, is Quinn Hughes looks like a guy who's really engaged with his team, really engaged with his teammates.

Like I look here and I see a guy that fits and I see guys battling together, right? And, and, you know, I may be wrong about this and, you know, every player is different. But I think for some, you know, the best championships are the ones where, you know, that wrap up bottom now we're here, right? It's one thing to win a championship and jump onto a shift that's already ascending to that spot. It's another thing to build with a team. And I think what Billy Guerin has done for Quinn Hughes has given him a large degree of ownership on a team that has a lot of really great pieces, but also a lot of really great youth pieces that are growing, right? Their goaltender is unbelievable.

He's a rookie and he's just going to get better and better. Matt Boldie is a great player. We're talking about Brock Faber. They've got all these young guys that are coming up. The future looks bright in Minnesota. And what Minnesota, I think, is showing here, even if they go down again, like he's going to know that if they do lose to the Colorado avalanche, they just lost to a really, really, really good hockey team.

It's as simple as that. Sometimes you just run into a really good team. But what is being offered to Quinn Hughes here is ownership in a team where he gets to be the guy, but he's not just the guy and he doesn't have support. He's got a great support system and they're all growing together. And there's a reasonable expectation that this team is on the rise. So it feels to me like the focus is there, especially with the team. I don't think that there is this sense, this sense of impending doom that if they lose,

game five that Quinn Hughes is saying, well, we give it a try on to the next place. But, you know, guys, I'm no insider. I could be entirely wrong on this. What I feel I see is a team that's really stitched together. He really fits in and he really likes it there. Sean, great job as always. Really appreciate your time. Keep up the great work covering the series, man.

Thanks for doing this. Thanks for having me, guys. Sean Reynolds. Good to get the, you know, inside scoop. First of all. I get the, hey, Quinn Hughes is awesome. It's playing as much as we can. The pass he made to Miko Stern last night is.

Like, as backhand, as good as a backhanded pass. And you know what the beauty of it was? He didn't even see him until the last second. No. And then boom, it was gone on a backhand. That was a thing of beauty. But it's not the 35 minutes. It's what's left underneath him when he's not on the ice,

albeit for the remainder of the game. And same thing with Faber. They can't just go to these two guys to carry the mail and then not have much confidence in the Middletons and the Spurgeon who's really looking like he's 37 years old. And I'll tell you another thing that is sneaky of Colorado. And you're like, hey, the Nick Waz and the cadres. Yes, you're right.

But you're missing. one guy. Cover your ears, Edmonton Oiler fans. Brett Kulak. Brett Kulak. Proven playoff winner, Brett Kulak.

Proven. Now, the top four defenseman, Brett Kulak. 22 minutes last night. No way. Did he play 22? And you gave him away,

Edmonton. These are his last five totals for him. It is April, against the Kings, 2028, 2501 against Mini in May 3rd, 2104, 1725, and then back up to 2142. He's playing.

Listen, you had to get worse at goaltender, right? You had to make that move. Anytime you got the chance to get worse than that. Brett Kulak doesn't do. At least he's not from Edmonton. Oh, man, oh man. Brett Kulak doesn't do anything great. You know what he's great at?

Not doing anything bad? Thank you. And that's not the case with a lot of guys. but Brett Kulak will eat minutes and not hurt you and just do everything where it doesn't come back to haunt you. And that's what Middleton can't do right now and Spurgeon and those guys underneath.

Bagosian. There's a struggle behind those two studs for Minnesota. Brodine is a terrible loss for them on the back end. Massive mass. And right now, as much as it was a great move to get Quinn Hughes, he couldn't go with another move. He needed a Vincent Trocheck. He needed some.

Billy Garin needed something. He knew that. He needed something. McCarren's helped. But he couldn't do it. Karen's great, but he's great to do what he's doing right now. But he's not a game changing kind of top six, top four. Kulak was a top four move for Colorado.

Are you skeptical? Yeah. What are they a trade to get him? Who? Did they send a first to penguins or a high pick? Do the trade again. This was all for Jari. Yeah, I mean the Jari thing is.

Yeah, that's how. But he gave up to Pittsburgh and then Pittsburgh traded him to Colorado. Yeah. Maybe for a second. So the original trade was with Stewart Skinner and a second round pick. They gave up a second and Kulak. And for Jari and. I'm just talking from Edmonton's point of view.

And then from Pittsburgh to Colorado for Samuel Gerard and a second round pick. That's right. That was like Kyle Dubas just owned. Sam Gerard's been great for that. The Oilers on that. It's a great trade. Your phone is stressing me out, man. There's ghosts in there.

What does happen? I dropped it. I dropped it. All right. Anyways. If someone's listed from a phone company, said this guy a phone. Yeah. It's a need.

It's hard to watch. They're really lack in depth right now with, uh, Erickson Eck out and Brodeen that's just they can't get through Colorado like that And they would have had a fair shot with those two guys I truly think that this would have helped Very even series with those two guys Name them?

Oh hold on Did I get some hint that you're concerned That Hughes wouldn't sign in Minnesota? Oh I think there's a distinct possibility He still has other plans You don't you don't tend to ask those things I'm not sold that he's going to sign there He could

Is it a sunny outlook for Devil's fans? I don't know where it's headed, but like, I'm not sure where he stood on being traded to Minnesota because he had absolutely no say on it. So I don't know, maybe they want him over. Get ready to speak Simone Nemich, wild fans. Like the double trade. Good?

Game time? Game time. It's game time. Presented by Bet365. An official partner of the NHO must be 19 plus. Ontario only please play responsibly. we have two games on the ice tonight. And it is the first game, of course,

is the Buffalo Sabres in Montreal. Hockey Night in Canada. Sportset and CBC, 7 p.m. Montreal Canadians, huge favorites. Minus 150 tonight. The Buffalo Sabers plus 125 in the money line. You still think Montreal's winning, eh? I do.

I do. After watching the last two games, I just really feel. just going to be the real deal. Is this him announcing himself on the national stage here? Maybe. I find it hard to believe, but I think there's going to be a little

adversity for this guy, you know, still coming. Hopefully it's minimal. But. Beck Malenstein going to do his thing again. I don't think it's going to be just gravy for here on end, but. And the second game

tonight has Anaheim in Vegas. Game 5. Vegas, as you would imagine, big face. in this game. Minus 160 on the money line, Anaheim plus 135 on the other side of it. And our beloved Toronto Blue Jays,

game two of a three game set against the East leading Tampa Bay, not the devil ray. Pick up the energy when you're talking about your Blue Jays. Well, they could pick up the energy too. The Tampa Bay Rays just have one of the best left-hatters on the hill tonight in Shane McClanahan. Jays are countering with not one of the best left-hander's

and Patrick Corbyn. He's been very good since they've signed him. Tough task for them tonight. Plus 100 on the money line for the Jays, minus 120 for the Tampa Bay race. Not the worst number for the race there. If I do say so myself. That was game time presented by Bet365.

An official partner of the NHL must be 19 plus. Ontario only, please play responsibly. And a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Born is brought to you by Bet365. Sweet. Okay, catch our breath here. When we return, we do a few NHBron. New News and Notes. You got anything?

Yeah, we're going to talk a little bit about Charlie McAvoy, Vancouver's GM job. We got stuff. And Sidney Crosby. My dearest. My dearest. Bruce Cassidy may be in the Edmonton Oilers plans. Plenty! As my good buddy, J.B. just said, when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Dive deep into Toronto Sports and the NFL.

The J.D. Bunk is podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. It's a real Kipprenborn show, Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, and our very own semi-a-key. Time now for the Accura performance matchup, the 2026 Accura MDX, precisely premium.

Looking at a big game five in Vegas tonight. That building will be rocking, I think. Not like the bell center. Oh, is it? loud at the bell center? Oh my goodness. I haven't heard. Is it loud there? It sounds like hockey in a show? Big fans. Okay. Interesting. That's a developing story. We'll see if we can get more on that. Beckett Seneca can become the fourth rookie in the previous 25 years to record a four-game goal streak in the playoffs. The others, Austin Matthews in 2017.

So that would have been the first series against Washington. God, the hope. Oh, the hope. Then you would have just believed. Oh, the hope. Logan Couture in 2011. And Nicholas Baxter in 2008. All very good careers. The Golden Knights are 5 in two in game 5s when tied 2-2.

I mean, they don't have a ton of, I mean, it's crazy that they've had that many of these situations being around for like less than a decade. Makes me a little bit sick, to be honest with you. While the ducks are seven and six in that same scenario. And this one's for my boy, Kipper. Mitch Marner can become the first. player in Golden Knight's

playoff history to record three points in three straight games. Not going to have three points. Too much pressure, Sammy. Only the point. You and J.D. Bunkas, there's too much pressure. What do you think for today?

This game. You're lean. I got no idea. Which are you leaning? I don't know. I think dogs might surprise me today. Yeah? I'm nervous for like the Carter Hart. goal teny i'll say they should be up three one if carter heart shows up the other night it's it's three one all four

the goals were awful stinky they were stanky that's one of those things he does play for them that's in a important position terrible yeah on the ice hit the back pad yeah like come on can't score on thursday morning like that clean not clean from back there anyways that was the acura performance matchup the twenty 26 acura mdx precisely premium all right okay just before break, we wanted to follow up the latest on the Edminton Oilers and the report. I think Frank Sarvelli

said that the Golden Knights withheld withholds permission for Oilers to interview Bruce Cassidy. So was there something like between denied and withheld?

Was there a follow up? In trying to be 100% fair to Frank, the difference there would be that Edmonton said, can we talk to Bruce Cassidy? And they said, denied. But this version of it is what? So they said, can we talk to Bruce Cassidy? And they said, we're not going to tell you.

I'm genuinely trying to figure out the difference between withholding permission and denying it. I have no idea. This is the semantic style of all time. Here's what it is. We're not saying no, but just we're not ready to say yes yet. Okay. We're just, we're working through something.

If you think he's that good of coach, why'd you let him go in the first place? A fair question. Thank you. Also, this is totally unfair to my boy, Chris, don't call me Chuck Knoblock. I don't know how you bring Knoblock back. Can't. Can't. But fire him if you're going to fire him.

Can't have your girlfriend go on a date with a different guy and be like, what about me though? But here's, here's why you just can't fire him. Because, and this may speak to. to maybe what's going on in Toronto as well with Craig Ruby. It's like firing is easy. Replacing is hard. So give me a name. Give me something that we can all agree is definitively better.

And then we can have a conversation. Now, Cassidy makes more sense for me with the Oilers than it would the Leafs because you still think that legitimately maybe they could get to another Stanley Cup final, more of the so than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Right. So I'll buy Cassidy more in Edmonton than I would in Toronto. Okay.

Another guy. John Cooper. Babs. No. They have cell phones in everything. You sure? I don't know. Like I don't know off the top of my head.

I can't think of a list of available guys. But if there isn't, then. Jay Woodcroft. Oh, wait. Well, and there's also assistance all over the league. Like, do you like Jim Hiller better? He just got like over. right this year.

Who's that? I have no idea. But everything that's been going on and now this latest news that you're inquiring on Bruce Cassidy, whether or not you get to talk to him or not, is almost irrelevant. The fact is you're looking. Yeah, you can't go into next year and be like, we were open up great on you, pal, but couldn't do it. I don't think that's awesome. If you don't have the confidence of the people below you and the players,

and then in turn above you who value what the players think more than anything, the players being McDavid Drysidal, tough spot. Tough spot. What's going on in Vancouver? I think it's Ryan Johnson. I think it's been there, been all along for me anyways. And I know sometimes teams need to look like they've really exhausted everything. So guys like us can't turn around and go, come on.

try a little harder. Kevin Gold, what's going on here? He's in and around all the conversations and he's not quite got it. There's a report, who was it? I think it was. Was he close in Nashville too? Erf on Gaffar, I think maybe was reporting a potential,

maybe like an overplaying of a hand of some kind. I don't know. I got the tweet somewhere. You read it to me. Surely I do. Farhand Lollogy said, Earf is reporting that Ryan Johnson will be the Canucks next head of hockey ops.

I've heard Gold may have overplayed his hand over the past 48 hours, certainly the fit between Siddins and RJ would be muslim. The point is, it sounds like gold. I don't know if you had said, I want more control than I'd be offered or more money, or if none of that's true, but it sounds like not gold, but it is Ryan Johnson. Elliot Friedman also talked about the Sadeens maybe taking on a greater role. Well, they saw their buddy Matt's do it.

They're like, we could do it. We'd like to be promoted to senior operational advisor of perhaps maybe, hockey friends. But I don't want to... We want the vibes job too. I don't want... Advisor of vibes. I don't want anybody thinking on their boss.

That's all. So let's talk about that. These guys probably don't want a real heavy title where people can point the finger at them if it doesn't go well and say... Well, it's not a title. Forget about titles. He can call anybody anything.

What are you actually responsible for? What are your responsibilities? And who has to answer to? you. And I don't know, for Matt's right now, it doesn't appear like, hey, Matt's, you're on Marley's. Matt, you're on pro scouting. Matt's, you handle all that.

That's not what, Matt's was not interested. And it could evolve to that. Yeah. You could get to that. This year he wants to kind of dabble. I don't blame him. I don't either. I don't blame them.

Well, it's the best way to learn the whole operations rather than come in and say, here's what we should do. Take your doses. But Cidine's been there. their last few years. Yeah. They want to step up and take over for pro scouting or, I don't know. The first co-GMs coming up in NHL history in a few years or what?

Are they working their way up there? They got to stop dressing alike if they do that. I tell you, the whole thing's a little off. No. Listen, I've had a long-standing thought on twins that I don't know if I need to do it on air. Okay? Just always kind of good. I think without.

saying anything else. I think we're good. You're okay. We're good. But yeah, no, I think they're obviously an important part of the Canucks organization. They're obviously very smart individuals and they can help Ryan Johnson to have good relationships. Off you go. You're in pseudo charge.

Okay, you're really entertaining yourself over there. Do you want to say it? Do you want to get on your chest? What's that? Nothing. Let's move on. Charlie McIvoy, guys. I just can't tell them apart. That's my problem. If you make a bad trade. I'd like to know

who was the guy who made a bad trade. Or a good trade. You can remember. Okay. Charlie McAvoy. Charlie McAvoy suspended. Paul Bunyan axe chop on Zach Benson. He had the Yassie L. Pueig battings.

He got slew-footed. He did get slew-footed. Did he not? He did. Yeah, but they don't. How does that like nothing? You can do it every one half a year. Is that nothing, though? No, I'm not saying he deserves nothing nothing or not six games. But Benson I'm just saying like, you know, he didn't just decide to

to hand him. Something really set him off and that was the fact that he could have ended his career off of Slewfoot. I thought they were about to lose a series too. Yeah. You and I have like certain things that we think are worse than other people, worse plays. This hitting from behind stuff to me is greasy. You've never liked the Slewfoot stuff. I don't like it either. I think it's most dangerous. Is it the most dangerous?

Well, definitely the chance to smoke your head on the back of the ice, which is Taking knees out. I'm really squirrely on anybody that came near my knees. I think for Charlie McAvoy, obviously, there's better ways to handle it. But I do think there's something to be said and actually letting the league know that if you do something to me,

I can get weird about it is not terrible. Victor Wembenyama throwing that elbow the other day. Love that. I loved it. I was like, you got to let people know you can't be bullied. Everyone's got him as a target. He should have got a game for that.

Oh, my God. Yes. He didn't. No, I know. He's playing a night. And I love that the league. It's like, we want that in our game. But they don't, no, they don't want that in their game.

If Draymond Green did that, he would be literally... I'd have to go to, like... You see it? I did not see it. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. I know what's happening.

Show up the audience. Your phone. Can you just aim that at the television stuff? Oh, no. It's strained out at the last second. I got the major disco light going. Like the Matrix screen going on. I just, I can't believe you didn't get suspended.

It was a tar. It was a tar. I think as an investment in his career, people can look at it and be like, okay, he'll come back at you. Yes. You know, you can't just bully him and make him go away. And as I've been watching that series a bit. I do believe though the league really wants to kind of have that. Can't swing your stick.

I know, no, no, no. I know that. I know that. But there is an appeal to like the craziness too. Like that they want this in the game. No, no, no. You don't want that in the game. They want.

They want the element of, you don't know what's going to happen next in our game. They want the breathtaking skill with the threat of impending violence. Yeah, that's what they want. That should be the least. Can you put it out on a brochure and a commercial? No problem. I actually think that that should be, and I don't know if it is, like the mission statement for the NHL, to provide the contrasting elements of beauty and violence.

That's it. It's like you can see one of the most amazing things you've ever seen. And then you can get merged. Then you could see an act that would make you shield your children's eyes. Part of the appeal on the $300 or $300 ticket is that you can never envision yourself on the other side of the glass. Correct. You're like, thank God those animals are contained in that box. Yes.

Yeah. Except in Boston back in the same. Because if it's not. Yeah. Because if it's super safe out there. Yeah. I ain't paying $300 to watch super safe. Yeah.

I can go play in that game. I wouldn't score, but I wouldn't get hurt. It's called Men's League. Yeah. Yeah. Well. I've seen some things up at the old A-stage. Yeah, that's true.

That's true. I've seen some things. I've seen Cheswood Arena on a few occasions. I've got a couple butchers on the zig-s-s-sags. I've seen some things, boys. All right, so what are predictions for tonight? Sabres, Canadians, game 4, 7 p.m. on Sportsnet? Before we do that, we got a minute.

We got quotes. We got Cid's going to the worlds. Yeah, we got Sid going to the worlds. He's bored. He's bored. He's a bleeding-heart Canadian. He's just bored. He wants to wait.

He sees the end of his career coming, and every chance he gets to put on the Canadian sweater, he's wearing it. Also, Sid needs to have children. He needs to just stop doing this. Why? Yeah, there's no wife and kids screaming at him right now. He might as well go play. He sees his biological hockey son and Macklin Celebrini going to be captain.

He sees all these young guys, Porter Martone, who's going now. Was he going to... Because it's another change. Is he going to teach him that he didn't teach him three months ago? Guess what? It's a chance to go over to some sick locale, play against some... some, you know what, lesser competition, shoot some pucks in the net, teach guys how to be pros. He's a good guy.

So he's bored. No, he's not. If I was Celebrini, I would say, I will not play for this team unless you put the C on C on Cresby's sweater. I am not playing on a team where I'm the captain. And Cid... He can't be the captain. He cannot be.

Flat out can't be the captain. You got to strip him with a C and give it to C. And Cid's a kind of guy going, I'm not coming in here. You guys made a decision. And I'm going to be the guy to change your mind? That's not sin. I would legitimately not play. This is going to be a polite off.

Sid's going to be like, I can't take it. And so everybody's be like, you got to take it. You got to take it. And Tavares is like, obviously it's a tremendous honor. I'll be the captain of this team. Okay, I'll take it. Obviously. Obviously.

I think the HABs are going to win tonight by a couple. And I think the ducks are going to win. The ducks, man. I do. I'll take Vegas. They need, they need Leo and Chris. Crider and Leo is a stud.

Stud. Stud. I don't think it's too. He's just 21 too. Yeah. We're talking about him as the top 10, top five type guy in the next three years. Yeah, like as soon as next season starts, probably.

I think he was near the top of the league scoring there with Celebrini early on. Do we know if Troy Terry's got a hit? Yeah, he did get a hit. In the playoffs? Oh, playoffs, I don't know about that. But he got a hit at the end of the year, didn't he? He got credited with it.

at the end of the year. That's insane scoring. What's at the hit? They did not have a hit. No, it is. Run into someone. Everybody's got a hit. Yeah.

But like people just get it. It used to be a penalty. I got to get a penalty. Like, you didn't want the goose egg on the penalty. Oh, yeah. I don't know how you could live through a whole season. I get a hit. Troy Terry's contributed to 10 goals hitting the net in the playoffs and they're in the

second round of the playoffs. So good for him. He hoops on my new glasses. Whoa. My reading glasses. It's a reason you don't wear them more on the air? I think you look fantastic. Just for reading.

And then when I look up, everything's blurry. Oh, line. Yeah. I actually think they look fantastic. So I bought these last week. They make your eyes look a little big, though. I know. A little bit of both.

And I'm pulling them off. They're reading glasses, right? And I'm pulling them off and he's ringing me up. And I'm like, okay, you know, 20 bucks, 30 bucks. Like 110. Oh, tough bounce. I'm too far deep now. You can't say.

I'm putting them back. I'm just too deep. I'm like, I can't go back now. I'm going to look like an idiot. Daryl Sutter did this in a press conference. I got to cancel the visa. I'm like, oh, my God, I got to eat this. Not as bad as taking the applause

for serving in the military. The YouTube chat thinks you look like bubbles. I was special forces. Special forces. Yeah, you're special. All right. Classes on bobs are special. Our thanks for Pete from PJ Stock. Yes.

How about giving PJ Stock a thumbs up if you think he could still play in the NHL because he certainly looks like it. Sean Reynolds as well. Terrific job. Enjoy your two games tonight. We're back tomorrow. If you get a chance,

give us a rating or review. Thumbs up. Love to hear for you.