Real Kyper & Bourne - Canadiens' Comeback Chances + Offseason Look-Ahead with Doug MacLean

Episode Date: May 29, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKeen check in on the Toronto Maple Leafs' head coaching search after conflicting reports on the team's interest in interviewing Jay Woodcroft and speculation around David Carle's asking price. Former NHL President, GM and head coach Doug MacLean joins the show (10:04) for Off-the-Rails Friday! Mac shares his thoughts on the Hurricanes' well-rounded performance in the Eastern Conference Final, the Canadiens slowing down, the Leafs' options for Morgan Rielly, the Blackhawks and Sharks shopping their top picks, and how Carolina would match up against Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final. Later, Nick, Justin and Sam discuss the coverage around Mitch Marner and answer your questions on the text line! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Live and in color. The Real Kipper Endborn Show. This is our Friday off the rails edition of the fastest show in hockey. Nick Kippreos, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, Jake the Snake Shultz, Derek Brandeo. We're live on SportsSept 590 The Fan, 960 in Calgary, 650 in Vancouver, SportsCat 360, SportsT plus, YouTube, where we always appreciate a thumbs up. and wherever you get your pods. This hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought you by Bet365. Fridays can only mean one thing.

Doug McLean. It must be muzzled all week because when he comes here, he just spews. This is Hannibal Lecter tied up. Yes. He'll join us in about 10 minutes. And then Sammy, after Mac, we'll get into some text 59590.

595, yeah. Text, please. Text, text, text. Look at you. You were in your World Cup Canada. Yeah. Are you getting pumped up? Big club.

They're announcing the team tonight. So I thought in honor of that. I don't know anybody, but I heard they're announcing the team. All right. The problem is that last time we had that incredible lead up to it where we kind of got to know the whole team because there's all those qualifications and it was so electric. Now it's just we're in it. No, we're just automatically in it because we're hosting it.

So I don't know who's on the team. But we're going to find out. All right. Are you guys feeling the buzz, World Cup buzz, is? does it have to start and then everybody's just going to jump on the bandwagon? You know, we're not footy guys. Let's not pretend we are. I like soccer.

I'm not a hardcore guy. I don't really, I can't have a hold of conversation about it. I think what it comes down to is there's a lot of dread in this city in terms of what it's going to do for traffic and what it's going to do and blah, blah, blah, all this stuff. I think once it starts, you feel the flavor of everybody coming into the city, it's going to be pretty exciting. It's the World Cup in Toronto. It's pretty cool.

Did you just show $1,500 for a ticket? No. No. No. I know I got an associate who got a ticket for the World Cup final. 10 grand. One ticket. He's going by himself.

Where is it in New Jersey? Yeah. 10 grand. 10 grand. That's the going rate for an NBA final, a Stanley Cup final. Those are going rates. Are they? Yes.

Well, I know the Knicks final tickets, the prices down on the court side are like 280 grand for a seat or something. That's a different world. But it's going to be exciting to have it here. It is exciting. I had a bunch of my relatives flying in from England for a couple, for months. It's going to be great. I know we're going to get into the Eastern Conference. It's game five with Mac.

You guys want to touch it a little bit on your Toronto Maple Leafs, Sammy, and what's going on with their coaching situation? Well, I would like to say that we've been pretty good boys. We haven't done a lot of Leafs in the last week. And you're just busting, eh? It's just like. So much content. Ready to pour out of your seams here.

I mean, we are, after all, a Toronto Maple Leaf Show. And I'd say that we've been very good boys for this week, not talking much leaves. But there's stuff in the news about potentially, about there was a report that the least were going to interview Jay Woodcroft. And today, Elliot Freeman on his 32 thoughts, said that they are not going to interview Jay Woodcroft and that there's no interview scheduled or whatever.

I just didn't know if we kind of knew where we were out with this coaching thing because it feels a little weird. Mm-hmm. I haven't spent a lot of time on it, to be honest. with you. Okay. But I do believe that there is interest in David Carl. Like, it seemed like everybody else. He is, he is an intriguing guy who's the youngest guy ever to win national championships,

I guess. He's only 36 years of age. And I think I read. Oh, it's Chike again? 36. 36? Oh. Is he?

Yes. Okay. Is that a good thing? You have to be the same age to be interested. Hide down over there. I don't know. Okay. No relevance whatsoever in that comment.

Zero. It's Friday. Okay. All right. Including some thought of what it would take to sign him. Did you see some of those numbers being floated around? No. No.

Like 40, 50 million bucks for like six years. I gotta tell you, if you're David Carl, you should strike while iron's hot, you know? Take the money. I know he's making money. The iron's hot and it's going to stay hot for a little while. He doesn't have to strike. It's not going to disappear on him if he stays in college for another year or two. He's,

I think he's, whatever's going on behind the scenes. I think he's smart. He's going out there. I think he's done a few podcasts. He's keeping his name out there. He's stoking the fire. but but you don't you don't have to you don't have to jump it's not he's not

Cinderella it's not going to strike midnight and he's going to disappear at age 36 you don't have to take the money and run right now kip you know how it is like all right so next year they're worse than expected and then there's a rumor that he or he's better or they're better they're better well or better than the winning they win every year but i'm saying like you know the shine comes off guys quick oh there's a rumor floating around that he hit a kid I don't know like there's just anything can happen you never know

but here's what bothers me about it what bothers me is you're hearing that for him to get to for a team to get him to land him he's going to want control over this or he's going to want control over that what does he know about how to thank you

operate an NFL franchise which which makes the offer of 30 or 40 million dollars in my opinion that much crazier. Totally. It's like we'll pay you quite a bit, but you're going to coach the team. You know, it's like Sammy showing us a picture of his buddy's dog who has a hockey mullet right now. I got a, I got a text to Jake to get it on the show. It's unbelievable. It's a doodle with a mullet, and it's the best haircut I've ever seen. I got to get it up. So to use this as a comparison

to David Carle. I can't wait for that. Okay. Okay. We can't all be either like intrigued by it, you know, or entertained by it or, you know, think about it for a split second. Yeah. But then somebody has to ask, why? Why? Why does this guy have a mullet? Go and spend 50 bucks, a hundred bucks on a dog to give him a hockey helmet mullet. Why?

He looks like not early 90s yonks. I don't know. He's got what he wanted out of it. He is currently on national. television. To kind of move that parallel to David Carl. Okay. Why do you want to spend $30 or $40 million on a guy who's never coached professional

hockey players in his lifetime? He's the dog mullet of hockey coaches. Yes. Yes. He is. Why? I can never look at him with a straight face from now to the end of time. All right.

Listen, the point you're making is good. It's a good one. I've said that I worry about a learning curve. Even like even the thought of now firing Bednar in Colorado and having him go into Colorado again. Oh, Carl, yeah. Carl.

Oh, yeah, Denver. Right? Because Denver is like, don't have to move and your family's situated. It's perfect slide in there. But like, does he have what it takes now to go handle a guy like Nate McKinnon now? You're going to get Nate over the hump.

I think it's a higher, way harder job Colorado than Toronto in terms of where the team. Not really, Sam. Well, you know, you've got a Matthew situation. You got a Nylander situation. No, that's not true. You're going to go spend $6, $7 million on a head coach. People are going to expect that guy to come in and look like a $6 or $7 million

coach. Not a guy that can just take this team and run its course for two years and then turn around and say everybody, Okay, we're in a total rebuild. But I just think where, if you're picking who the favorites for the cup are next year, if you're set in Bet365, Colorado, when this season is over, is one, two, or three in the favorites for the cup. The Leafs aren't even in the top 15. And Carl wants to go in there now and take all that on, right?

Yeah, you better out coach. Whether it's torts or Rod Brindamore or whomever. It's not to suggest that Carl can't be a great coach one day. I think he's a great coach, by the way. He's got to pick his spot. And I don't know. Like for Carl to go from where he is at the universe Toronto into this environment with Toronto and where the media is

and you're not sure how savvy he is or how he's going to handle all of this, it is putting a ton of weight on a 36-year-old shoulders who's never experienced pro hockey before. So do we want to show the dog? mullet. Yeah. Yeah.

This is a picture of Dave, Carl. Here we go. Yes. Oh my God. What's your buddy's name? My boy, Oso, that's Dave. Dave. Dave.

Dave, Dave the dog? No, that's Oso. His name is. O'So. Bet it way better of the dogs. Why, Dave? Why? Because he looks phenomenal.

It's the summer. It's got a little mullet going. It's pretty sick. Anyways. I don't even pro-Muller. I don't even know how we can transition into that one, but there's the dog. Oh. Well, perfect timing because we got the man.

We got the man. Doug McLean, let's welcome him in. And he's going to tell us when the last time he had a mullet. Brockville Braves. Brockville Braves. When you're in the Hall of Fame. And, yeah, of course. And carried it and carried it right through to my wedding day.

Hey, you're back home at P.E. I can you pull out a few wedding pictures for us while we're at it? Oh my God Hey All I needed was one strip of the razor That's all the sideburns come right down And one strip of the razors All I needed was perfect

So So she fell badly in love Right Jill? Yes Yeah yeah Jill Put her on So speaking of weddings Is like

The honeymoon over Between the Montreal Canadians And you know Their magic During the Stanley Cup playoffs Well I don't I admit I'm wrong very often in this show, but I have to say I was wrong.

I picked the Hebs to go to the finals and I'm a little, I'm a little nervous right now, you know. I'm a little nervous that they may have worn. I think they're worn out. I really do. You know, look, they've played a lot of hockey, a lot of tough hockey, a lot of comebacks, a lot of road wins. I think they're, I think they're, they look a little worn out to me. I mean, limited experience as well, but, but they look worn out. So this Carolina team, by the way, I was wrong on them too.

We've got a lot of apologies this week. I got to talk to Travis Green. I mean, how did he blow that series? Like, I mean, seriously. No, I'm kidding. You know, you appreciate how good there. And you don't, you know, you don't see Carolina playing, or at least I don't see them playing up.

But I'll tell you what, they have played great hockey. Freddie Anderson has stood tall. We'll see if he can carry it all the way through, but he's done a real good job. And to me, Rod Brandenmore is the best coach in the league. I'll tell you what, what he's done with this group, I mean, he's hard on them, but they absolutely love the guy. And they play hard for him. And he, you know, he's been a good coach for a long time.

Dundon and Tulski are really lucky to have him. very lucky that they have this guy, in my opinion. So I think he's done a job. I look at his four lines, great balance on all four lines. Even the fourth line. The fourth line with Robinson, Jenkowski, and Carrier have been a really effective line for them. And the stall line is good. We haven't even got to the Aho line.

I mean, they're that, they're that well-rounded. And they play every shift like it's the last shift. Tulski, I mean, good job. They pick up Eilers. It was a good pickup for them. Andre Miller's been a good pickup, a good signing. I mean, how good was he the other night? And I heard Gretzky say it on TNT.

Wayne, you know, it was men against the boys last game. So I wouldn't count Montreal out tonight. I think they'll play their tails off. I still think they're really talented, exciting. I'd love to see them pull it out, but I have my doubts. You know, one of the questions I have watching this playoff run is do we not maybe talk about the getting fortunate draws in playoffs enough? Like it's often like you got to beat the best to be the best. Doesn't matter who you play.

But you're looking at Vegas who's going to go through Utah and Anaheim, both kind of first time playoff happy to be there. Teams in Colorado who's pretty badly hurt. And then Carolina draws Ottawa, Philly, Montreal. Not to say that these aren't good teams that aren't competitive, Mac, but it's, I mean, You're right, 100% right. We talked about it before with Edmonton. I mean, Edmonton, if they would have gotten there, would have had a great, you know, a great look all the way through.

I mean, whoever comes out of the West was going to, you know, way it was set up. I mean, Anaheim give them full marks, but they're a young, inexperienced team. Vegas have gotten better every, I mean, look, I talked to George McPhee two weeks before the season is over, and he was scared to death they weren't going to make the playoffs. I mean, they were legitimately concerned that they were floundering that bad that they could miss.

And you guys know how tight the race was. So, you know, they've gotten better, continually gotten better. I mean, obviously torts has come in and giving them a lift. I mean, it blows my mind how Cassidy wins a Stanley Cup. And they had to get them out of the room. It's hard to believe. They had to get them out of there. The players were ready to shut it down.

And Torrance comes in, Mr. Lovable. And I mean, this team has played really good hockey. Carter Hart's been a star, but they've played real sound as Torch says, checking style hockey. They've been good. Yeah. You're watching and listening to Doug McLean, former NHL President, GM, head coach, and the star of Off the Rails Friday, Mac.

Like, seriously, I'm telling you. I'm serious. You guys are big in PEI, and I don't think it's because of you guys. I hate to say it, but I go to the Centennial Cup. I can't go around the corner without talking about real Kipper and Bourne,

but I hate to say it's not you guys. It really isn't. They don't know if I'm on with the TSN guys or you guys. Oh, right. I just know I'm on, you know. That's the most important thing and the fact that you're selling out condos. Yeah, the building sold out.

We're getting ready to start another one in August. And our guy, it's really... I didn't bring that up for you to care. Anyway, no big deal. And by the way, Clark and I have just started a little hockey camp here. We're going to do it in August. It's the McLean Invitational. And it's going to be an NHL-style development camp.

for kids, three-day, a three-day course. And we've got Dwyer-Dillant coming in, and we've got some major junior A coaches coming in. So it's really going to give the kids a great experience. Oh, my God. Just trying to fill you in, throw us some ads in there, you know. Way to suck in the parents, eh? No, no.

And you know what? It's going to be very fair to the parents. They're excited. It's an invitation-only camp, so we're very excited. Can we get back to the Montreal Canadians here for a split second? Besides running out of gas, Mac, Okay. Where do we now look, where do we see?

Gallagher, get them in the game tonight. Yeah. Get them in the game. The Jack-I brothers and Gallagher, get them in the game tonight. Seriously, come on. What is going on with this? Okay, if we can just get through big picture here for the Montreal Canadiens, what is the last few games against this Carolina team has shown you?

Where are they still a little short, Mac, for you? that center ice? Is it behind Suzuki? Because there's evidence. Philip Dono has been real good in these playoffs, but it's had a tough time the last few games here. Where does the Montreal Canadiens go from here to get to next level stuff? Dano was a good pickup,

but he's playing the last couple of games like he played in L.A. And I really, during the season, I watched him a couple of times, and I thought he was close to being done. but he's rejuvenated and comes in and has given them some really good playoffs. He really has until the last couple of games. You know what?

I think they're on track to be a really good team. I really do. I like their makeup. I mean, Suzuki has become a, just to me, a MVP-style player. Caulfield's going to be a great score. Demetov. I just think they've got a lot of good things going for them,

man. I think they've done a good job building the team. I really do. I love watching Hudson. on the back end. I love, I mean, all their back enders are solid guys. So I think they're, I think they're positioned really well to become a really good team in the future. I really do. And if this goaltender keeps growing the way he is, you know, this is a kid that was at Ohio State a few years ago and looks like a real gamer. So I think they're really positioned well.

I really do. And, you know, I look at Ottawa. Ottawa, you know, missed the playoffs six years in a make it the last two years. Now they're two and eight in the playoffs or something, whatever it is. They're ready to take a step as well. So I think you're going to have a great Ottawa, Montreal rivalry over the next few years. I really do.

And Buffalo, talk to Lindy this morning. I mean, Buffalo feel really good about their group. So it's going to be a great division. And they better get, Carl, they better get the $48 million savior because it's going to be a tough grind next year to make the playoffs. Where are you on that? I'd be focused more on finding players.

Yeah. That's what I'd be focused on right now. It's finding a number of defensemen and scouring the bushes looking for some players. You look at the UFA list, unless you're at the top, it's pretty, it's pretty scary. So it's great to get. And look, I'm not criticized in Carol. He's had a good run as a college coach and Team USA. I'm sure he's a good young coach.

but this is Toronto and this is going to be a tough grind to rebuild this team. You know, I am curious what you think about the personnel side in Toronto. I heard Nick Kiprios this morning say something that apparently Morgan Riley might be open to some options. There's a chance that, you know, that he may not be around. I guess my question with Riley is I know that he was not up to expectations in terms of his contract. But I don't know that he was bad enough that you can just replace him with anyone and improve. prove where do you think the Leafs are with making a swap out of Riley? You know what?

Good players are really hard to find and you just have to look at the UFA list to see that. So Morgan Riley had a really tough year. He and I hate to bring this up again, but he was also part of the problem with Marner leaving because Marner helped Morgan Riley be a lot better defensemen, especially on the power play. So to me, before you give up on a reasonably talented guy, and I know people are really down on him,

but this kid has been a good soldier. I've said since day one, I thought he was the number three, four guy. I still really believe he's a three, four guy. And if you can find the right pair for him, you better not just throw him to the wolves unless you've got somebody better. You know what, we've said it on this show for a couple of years.

Good players are really hard to find. I did the summer board on Sportsnet.com the other day. You can catch that. I already studied it. Morgan Riley, Darnell Nurse, you know, Dougie Hamilton, still have significant years on their contracts. But those are the three names that most feel like a fresh coat of paint somewhere would do them a lot of good.

And Seth Jones is the perfect example of that, right? I don't disagree with you. And when you look at the free agent marketplace, you know, they're at the top of the group almost. You know, that's where they are. And, you know, look what Jones did when he went in with, you know, with a team that was ready to make a move. He didn't look like the same player that he did in Chicago late, you know,

before he was traded. So I think you've got to really scour those types of guys. I'm sure they are. I'm sure they're looking. You know, you got the radish kid there that's kid that looks good. You got Truba. I mean, there's some bodies out there, but it's not going to be easy to get them to go. You know, everybody's going to be after them.

I mean, every, and we've got the cap going through the roof, so people are going to have lots of money to move around. So it's going to be a, it'll be a challenge. I really think it is, especially on the back end. And, you know, you mentioned three names, three or four names. And that's, that's 15 teams looking for three or four, you know, looking at three or four names. Doug, the next sort of large event outside of the Stanley Cup, obviously, is the draft. It used to be a pretty cool place that deals got done, right? Everyone was in the same place and chit-chat and kind of work on things.

And how do you think that this decentralization is going to affect things? Well, I was in L.A. for the mess last year. You were. Yeah. And I'll tell you how bad it was. I had just got a new set of AirPods, you know. And I went to a cocktail party, and I was walking back through that big plaza around the arena and all that area. And I dropped an iPad and, you know how you have the way you can find it?

An airport. I was so bored. I spent two days wandering around that park, and I was looking for my AirPods. I was how bored I was. Why did you use your Florida metal detector you take on the beach? And I'm wandering around and I keep seeing it in a food truck. It's in a damn food truck. And I knocked on the door and I said,

Can I have a sausage, please? So anyway, and guess what? I've got to go to Buffalo this year too. So I'm really excited about a back-to-back with nobody there, you know? I'm going to be there, Mac. Oh, great. You know what? It's an opportunity for you to meet me for the first time, you know?

What an honor. I am excited. phones that attach to your phone. I've got the ones now with the wires. I'm going to see Mac and he's going to keep him in his ears and walk right by me. Jill bought me a brand new set of AirPods and I look at them and I said they're kind of weird

and they're big ones and she's and I looked at and she said you don't deserve the ones. Those are $19. So Mac, just want to ask you about Vancouver Canucks and their situation here. They need a head coach. and they're going to draft a very good player in the third round or third overall, sorry, third overall.

And depending, I don't know if it's a dilemma or a situation is that you can hire Mahaltra, the dad, the coach, or you could draft the kid at third overall, but you shouldn't do both. and Vancouver may be in a situation where they got a pick in a world that you know today in the NHL could Mulhulture be the head coach and draft his kid third overall and think everything would be just hunky dory in that dressing room?

Well, if he's like most coaches, by the time the kid's ready to play, he may be fired. So I would always You know, and I know Manny. I had Manny. I picked Manny up on waivers from Dallas and Columbus, and he was really good for us. He's not a, he's not a, I'm not a big fan,

and he's not a big fan of me, as I've said before. So I wish him well. I hope he, I'm just surprised how many of my former players in Columbus are coaches. I think I miss value, you know, the value, I should have figured them better as players versus saying they're all going to become coaches, you know. Adam, Bud, Mahaltra. There's a bunch of them running around the league. So anyway, look, it's a tough situation.

But Vancouver's got to pick the best player. That's going to be their number one focus. If young Mahaltra is the best player at three, they've got to take them. There's no way around that, in my opinion. I know it's not, it won't be an easy situation for Manny. but it's also a pretty cool situation too, you know? And I think Mani could probably handle it. So I think you've got to go with whoever the best player is.

And I'm listening to people in Vancouver today saying they want the Canucks to spend a fortune and free agency this year. You know, offer more than what they should offer to players to get this going because there's going to be so much cap space over the next few years. They should go crazy offering guys a lot, you know, the radishes and these guys a lot more money than any. anybody else will offer to try to speed this process up. You've got to be careful of that when it's a bad free agent year to really overpay. So it'll be interesting to see there's some desperate teams right now that have to get better in a hurry. And one of them is the leaps. And look, then Canadian markets, Calgary have been lucky.

They've put up with it for if you know, Calgary better take a big step too, you know. It's not easy in the Canadian markets. So the one other thing that we hear might move at the draft of San Jose. and Chicago, both kind of shopping their picks, saying, hey, we're both at a point where we need to win hockey games. We can't be waiting around for another kid to develop. How risky is that trading those picks? Or do you like the idea of just let's try to get better today?

Look, I think that when you're picking it, you know, I keep hearing that this is a 10-player draft, that every one of the top 10 should actually play in the NHL. I would be really nervous trading one of those top picks. And I, you know, I just, I don't think Chicago has to do it. I don't think of Vancouver should do it. I think when you're picking in the top five or six, you've got to stay with, stay the course and take the best players,

especially in a draft like this where there's five or six big body defensemen that look like they're going to be real good NHLers. I wouldn't be taking the chance. one more before we leave because regardless of what happens in this Carolina or Montreal series the Stanley Cup final is going to start before we get you next Friday and is anybody in the East got a chance against Vegas right now for you yeah I think Carolina will give them everything they can handle I just you know they're I think Carolina will be tougher on Vegas than

than Colorado were. I really do. If Freddie Anderson can hold up, you know, we talked about Colorado going in. I mean, I never felt comfortable with their goal tending. They weren't bad, but they certainly weren't anywhere close to Hart. Carter Hart's going to be real good. Can Freddie match Carter Hart?

You know, Vegas are on a high right now. They're playing great hockey. I couldn't believe it when somebody said to me, last week. Don't ever underestimate. McCar is a monumental loss, but Stone is every bit of loss to Las Vegas. To that dressing room, what they think of Mark Stone

is unbelievable. And you know, you saw them come back and play pretty well. So they're a close-knit team. McCriman, you know what? Kelly drove thousands of miles and a half-ton truck for years, building Brandon. into a junior team

and he was there a long time and Kelly knows how to build a hockey team. He really does and he's done a hell of a job. So, full marks to them. So it'll be, but I think it'll be a lot better series than a lot of people think.

I think that the Brenda Moore factor is going to be really evident in that series. If you start growing out a mullet now like our dog Orlo, oh so, would it be ready for our show by next October?

It would be a long gray mullet. Like watching a Grateful Dead concert right now. Yeah, I see too many guys around and I every time I think of me with the same haircut and the

mullet, I would fit in too well at a Trump. All right, all right, all right. That's a good time to end this thing. Don't want to fit in at a Trump, right? That's not your spot. Great job as ever, Mac.

Thanks for doing this, pal. Thanks for having me on, guys. Thanks, Mac. Appreciate it. Now, hang up. Doug McLean. So if Carolina closes this out, Stanley Cup final will start

June 2nd. That's fairly quick. Yeah. Good. I want it like the Super Bowl having two weeks off to talk about it. Get it going here. Get this show on the road. It's 30 degrees outside.

It's not hockey time anymore. Carolina, Vegas, and June is a... I'm just hoping for... Regional event. Fast as we possibly can, so we can start talking about the Leafs again. That's what I'm open for. Oh my God.

Let's go to sweep either way, get her over with and start talking about the Leafs again. Hey, Bednar for the Leafs, what do you think? He gets scanned. Yeah. I like him. Yeah, I like him. I think he'd be a good hire for anybody.

Yorkton, Saskatchewan Boy, which makes me like you more. I love that. I would question, and I've said this too. I know. I'm going to get in. I know a four-game sweep is embarrassing to the organization. I'm not sure I'm hanging it on Bednar.

No. Did you see the picture him at the cards table the night before game four? I did. Yeah. Yeah. Do you care? No, I don't care. I don't care.

Maybe he has insomnia and. Listen, I don't care. It fundamentally changed how I looked at him, but not in a bad way. So I saw everyone being like, what? There's no game. He's not playing the next day. Yeah, exactly. I care.

I care. I think it sucks. If it's true, if that's actually a pitcher from that night, I mean, there's not enough time between games in a playoff series to wade through all the video systems. You know, we're down three nothing. We just spend all our assets at the deadline. Let's talk of some strategy. Get some extra sleep.

Maybe he's like, if I hit red, we're coming back. It didn't. I hate it. Listen, I'm kind of surprised I'm not more like you. Yeah. I can see it saying like if we're all in this together, I don't want my players there. I don't want a trainer there. I don't want.

I just focus on the game. And if you need to do it going for a walk or something, that's a better look than being out there in public like that. Playing cards. Like it's not, you're down through nothing. It's embarrassing. Find a solution for us or go to sleep or I don't know. I wish I had a better argument for you. But I do see your point.

It didn't bother me as much. It wouldn't prevent me from hiring him. I think he's an awesome coach. I just didn't like that moment. Was it poker or was it blackjack? I think he hits on 15? Depends what he's up again. He's down three zip.

Game time. Game time. Presented by Bet365, an official partner of the NHL, most of 19 plus. Ontario only please play responsibly. Obviously one game on the ice tonight and it is a rather large one.

It is game five of the Eastern Conference finals. Montreal up against it on the brink. Trying to what off a lave off a list. Dave. It's time to stave. They are plus 2.10 on the money line tonight. Carolina is minus 260. Like that's mid-season.

Yeah, that's like sharks versus Colorado in December. Like that's a. I would say it's always in playoffs where we're like anything can happen. I have no idea what's going to happen. It would be shocking for Montreal to go into Carolina and just beat the brakes off. tonight. There's two, there's two outcomes for me tonight, and it's either a two one victory for the Montreal Canaaners or a seven nothing loss or they're just late. Or they're just, or they're just done. So, uh, there's some value. If you think Montreal has one left in them,

some definite value on them at plus two, 10. And on the baseball field at Camden Yards, what's up? I would bet Montreal like plus a goal. Okay. Because I think they'll keep it close. I think they've got a lot of pride. I think they really like. Plus a goal and a half is minus 125. Doebush has been great. I think I'd lean something like that. Okay. And at Camden Yards, the Toronto Blue Jays sending Adam McO to the mound, another opener because they have no help.

Yes, pitch for them at the World Baseball Classic. Have no starting pitching right now because everybody's hurt. They are minus 105 favorites in Baltimore. The road to 500. They're still on it. If they win tonight, they are back at 500 for the first time since early April. They were four and four the last time they're at 500. So the road to 500.

And here we go. Look out. Let's go, Jays. That was game time. Instead of by Bet365, an official partner of the NHL, must be at D. Plus, Ontario only,

please play responsibly. And as a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne is brought to you by Bet365. Okay, we'll take a quick break when we return. Little NHL news and notes, which includes changes to the hockey operation staff with the Edmonton Oilers.

We'll go through a few names that I've never heard of. Sounds like a great idea for a statement. segment. I'm in. Also, your text. Right, Sammy? 595.90. Text, text, text. That more when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne.

The best Blue Jays show out there, period. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back in studio. Nick Kippreel's Justin Bourne and our very

own Sammy McKee. Time now for the Accura Performance matchup, the 2026, Accura MDX, precisely, premium. Montreal Canadians at Carolina Hurricanes, game five of the Eastern Conference finals tonight at 8 p.m. on SportsNet and CBC. Pre-game starts at 7.30.

Big hill decline clearly for the Montreal Canadians. A couple interesting things about this one. None of the last 29 teams to face a 3-1 deficit have come back to win the best of seven series. The 2021 Canadians are one of the most recent ones to do it. The last team to do it was the Florida Panthers over the Boston Bruins in the first round in 2023. So it doesn't feel like that long ago. Only one of 73 teams down 3-1 in a Best of Seven conference final slash NHL semifinals have come back to win the series.

And that was the 2,000 devils against the Flyers. I mean, it doesn't feel like it's impossible that Cole Cawfield could shoot it past Freddie Anderson in a hockey game. You know, like there's... They just got to get to puck and shoot it. Right. The scoring chances in all situations last game were 41 to 8. One of your stats you have in here is wild. It's, this is the first time on record where a team completed a series with more blocked shots.

It could be. Could be. It could be. With more block shots than shots against. Going into the end of game 5, 68 blocks for Carolina, 65 shots again. They're plus three. Carolina had almost a hundred shot attempts. Last game.

Last game. I don't know, 95. I don't know what they finished with 95, 95, 97. That's got to be about one. trail on the series. It's crazy. It's like, there's the last three anyway. And the last thing I'll bring up, this is interesting.

Martin St. Louis has plenty of experience overcoming a 3-1 deficit to win a best of seven series as a player. He did it three separate times. The only two guys that have done it more are Dominic Moore and Cliff Ronning. Both did it four times down 3-1, which is pretty interesting. And it's happened like 35 times. Yeah, I would have the history. It's not a big number.

No, it's not. So he did it with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011, 2014 with the Rangers over Pittsburgh, and 2015 second round in Rangers over Washington. So he's got some experience in what it takes to come back from three to one down. And that was the Accura performance matchup, the 2026 Accura MDX, precisely premium. Nice job, Sammy.

Thanks. So who's texting us, Sammy? Can I... 590, 590? I don't know if we should get into this on a Friday, but I'm going to bring something up. Oh, no. Let us go home quiet.

It's a Friday. I don't love talking about the competition or, you know, the other radio shows in this city. Oh, whoa, whoa. Oh, are you okay? Oh, what's going on? Cram. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

Here, I drink some water. Oh, my God. Oh, you're right? We lose them? Oh. What is happening right now? Whoa. serious.

Yes. Whoa, you're back. Are you back? Drink some water. I walked the golf course today. Are you back? I'm back. Okay.

So it's a little warm out there. It is. Might be a little dehydrated. So I saw the general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights go on a competitor of ours yesterday and was doing some talking about Mitch Marner and how he would like us to get over it in Toronto. Okay? Yeah. I didn't particularly. like that. Why not? I thought that agreeing to come on a radio show in Toronto right before you go on.

It's like the way I felt about it was that you go to like, I don't know, your new lover's ex-husband's house with lipstick on your, on your thing and be like, you just really got to get over. You like walk into his front, you walk into his front door and be like, you got to get over. You're really strong. The analogy go. Who's cheating? So, okay. Who cheated on who? Who? No one cheated. No one cheated. They left on their own... They left on their own accord.

Yeah, they left on their own accord. Okay. Right? But you come back to that person's house and be like, you've got to get over it, buddy. I just... Come on. I mean, he is the GM of the team that's in the cup final.

I get it. He's a great get to have them to chat with. Totally. And they're talking about Marner, relevant, you know, consmite guy. Yeah, but he's just kind of talking about what's going on. It is. It is incredible how much talk there is, though, around it still.

But you can't make it out there. They all hear it. It's unusual. And for whatever reason, he thinks he's defending Mitch a little bit, which I'm sure Mitch doesn't mind. So it kind of plays into them against the world. And it's working so far, Sammy. Do you think that, I mean, you're definitely the wrong guy to ask us, but I'm going to do it

anyway? Yeah. Do you think what, like, there's any guys in the team that are, like, oh my God, we made the final two. Yeah. You know, like the amount of, like every article, think peace, Marner, how Marner changed, Marner, Marner, Marner, like, as any guys like, hey.

Michael's probably happy. He's like, no one's noticed I got one goal in place. It's true. It's true. I just, I never heard teammates not like Mitch Marner in Toronto 10 years. And I think they love him in Vegas. Okay. They love him in Vegas.

Okay. And they love them in Toronto. It's a ton of talk. There's just been more talk about a team that was eliminated from the playoffs in mid-January than there has a bit of the Vegas. A lot of that talk does stem out of Toronto. No. I mean, yeah, for sure.

But lots of it stems from not in Toronto, too. I know. But it's the ones that think they're defending all the Toronto talk. It's a bit of a vicious cycle. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely a vicious cycle. But I just wanted to bring that up. Run me the wrong way. I think it's a valid point.

I don't think it's ever going to go away, to be honest with you. No, it's... God, I hope it does. I'm just kind of... Listen, I'm at the point now where, I mean, I've just been beaten down so bad. Like, the cup's going to hurt, but... I mean, whatever. Like, I'm just, it's over.

I got nothing left. Yeah, I'm just, I'm done. But it's going to be a good series. I think if Carolina does what we probably think that they will tonight, it should be a... Perfect. An interesting series that should go six or seven days. I'm dying right now.

I love that you're currently in a chance. with wheels so I can get you to your car. I can just directly take you down the ramp. I cannot bend my leg or else I will you will hear me make sounds. I have never made in 25 years. Are brutal. Watch your little baby ones.

So this is a perfect text to what we were just talking about. This is from Andy in Beamsville. Regardless of ratings discussion, will Vegas, Carolina be a great series in terms of pure good hockey? I think laundry and marketing markets aside, it's going to be a fabulous hockey series. But I just think that markets and laundry matter.

I think Carolina is going to see a Vegas team that will bring them a look that they haven't seen in three rounds. One thing. So these two teams are very different, right? Like you've got Vegas, which is all, you have to have the best players. You can get, trade everything, get the best guys. And then, you know, on the other side you have, we're just depth all the way through. team, whatever, you know, no one who's a top top guy in the league. But the one thing they have in common now is playoff experience.

I understand Vegas actually got it done at one point, but Carolina's played a lot of playoff hockey over the past five years. So that stands out to me, you know, Carolina up against Montreal. Montreal doesn't look like they were prepared for this. I think Vegas will be prepared. I think totally. I think physically, too, what Montreal was able to do in the first two rounds, they just can't physically.

And that's to Doug McLean's point of maybe being worn down. little bit. Physically, they can't push like that. Vegas is big. They're way bigger than I even thought. And they play a heavy, heavy game. Lean on you. Yes.

And I can't tell you what William Carlson has done to change the whole look of that team. Like when you go Eichel, Carlson, and then hurdle somewhere on the third line, that's a, that's three of them coming at you. And I tell you what, that William Carlson is, he is a money player. Yeah, he'd be on a list of like 10 guys where you're like, this is a guy

that fans don't know that is an awesome player. Sneaky playoff performer. This is from Luke in Canmore, Alberta, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Truly. Sammy, now that Vegas has made the finals, you think Gary will finally admit there's a state tax problem. Now six straight years in eight of the last 10 cup finals that a team with no state tax has made it. No. Okay. Eight of ten is crazy. Any of you, J.B. is right. Eight of ten. That's a, that's a hill he's going to die on. Yeah, but it's also like been a dynasty of Florida and Tampa, right? Like those two teams, which if you believe they were assembled based on state tax, great, but I think they did a lot more than that to put those

teams together. Yeah. Interesting. You do think it's state tax related. I think it's a combo. What percentage of the league has no state tax? Got to be like eight teams or something. There's obviously a great team builders in both of those markets. Kelly McCriman, awesome. Bill Zito has done a fantastic job.

Don't get me wrong. But like when you get the pay guys $2 million less against the cap every time, it helps. It has helped during the flat cap era in particular and it maybe will be less valuable as the cap shoots way out. I don't even know what the true numbers. are because, you know, when players leave Vegas to go on the road, they still pay tax in that state. They pay taxes in other places.

I don't, I don't know. Maybe we've made a bigger deal than it is. I don't know. I don't know. I just, I don't think that, you know, Sam Bennett coming off like, Con Smyth as a free agent signing for $8 million. Yeah. There's certainly times they've saved money.

This is from our boy Barry and Cape Breton. He wants to let us know that it's friggin' snow in there today. No. And to tell Kipper to take more magnesium. Cleeters of the cramps right up. Great show, love, Doug. That's the best advice I've gotten in five years here on this show. I've got nothing out of you.

I get magnesium today. Thank you very much. Apparently it's a wonder junk. I think my son takes it to sleep. My wife takes it for mood. This magnesium is apparently a new thing. Great show, Kipper. Hint, hint.

Can you give Sammy some holidays during the cup so we don't have to hear him wine so much, please? Mimico, Mitch. Enjoy your wonderful weekend, boys. We've got Sammy on a few off days for golf in June. Don't worry. Mental health break. Got a few dialed in. Down at Lakeview.

That's it, boys. That's it. All right. So tonight is game five chance to wrap it up for Carolina. Maybe a first goal would help Montreal. That could change things. They didn't feel like they had to press. Yeah, it's going to be going to come by.

I just, I don't want to see four shots in the first 18 minutes. though. I think they've got it. They don't have to win tonight, but they have to change that look. It is funny how their Montreal is being talked about differently now, you know, because they got outplayed in game seven against Tampa, outplayed against Buffalo in game six and seven. I think people are saying it's like. Yeah, they lost eight three in game six to Buffalo.

You know, and now this is a bunch of stinkers in a row. So does it change your perspective on things? No. I think they have a brilliant young core with tons of great prospects coming. It's their first kick at the can. Listen, or second again. No question yesterday at the World Championships, the 4-0 win over USA evens the Olympic score.

Yeah, you're good now, right? Totally good. We're back in charge. Totally good. No problems. Although I will say the Sid Celebrini. Picture? Well, just bromance in general has been a thing of you.

It warms my heart. There's a picture of celebrating. Looks like he's going to cry so happy going to hug Sid. That stuff matters. I know it doesn't matter to you, Kipper, but it doesn't matter to... No, it matters. You should be hugging Sid with the sea on Sid's chest. Definitely.

Can it matter when we're not in the Stanley Cup playoffs? And, you know, that's, you know, at the big stage. Not the little stage. But this is also the same guy that's like, we can't stop playing hockey for these tournaments. You can't have both ways. You know? Get that cramp figured out over there, magnesium kipper. More water.

More water. Cram. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. I'm like, it's like I gave birth to. on the show. Dog mullets. So embarrassing.

Dog mullets cramping and Doug mcclain. What a Friday. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening. Enjoy it. Game five, Montreal and Carolina.

Everything gets started at 8 p.m. Sportsnet.