Real Kyper & Bourne - Cats' Chance to Claim Stanley in Sunrise

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers in Sunrise. They get into the Oilers' decision to start Stuart Skinner before Hockey Night in Canada's David Amber joins the show (4:17) to discuss the Panthers' unsung offensive efficiency, what another Final loss would mean for Connor McDavid's legacy, the Oilers needing more from their depth and what lies ahead for looming UFAs Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand. Later, Nick, Justin and Sam react to Tage Thompson calling out his Sabres teammates and they make their picks for Game 6.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.

Game day on the Real Kipper and Boren show. We're live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 590, the fans, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary and Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, across all sports that platforms sports net plus that Kipper is Justin born. Sammy McKee, Jake, the snake Schultz, Derek Brandeis as we get ready for puck drop 8 PM seven 30 pregame on sports net and CBC and boys, it is tough to read based on I think the resilience of the Edmonton Oilers what we've seen all playoff there's a lot of reasons why you would say this will be the last game but then there's always the 97 and 29 factor I'm telling you like every piece of analysis I can do is like, all right, Florida is a

better team. Florida is going to win. Florida, whatever. But the, but the second strongest thing I believe is that the Oilers are never done. Like you can never bet against the Oilers. We've done this back to back regular seasons. We've done it. They're down three nothing in the final last year.

You just can't count the Oilers out so I think Florida has a massive upper hand but it's the Oilers. A failed clear away from being down 3-1 in the first round of the Los Angeles Kings. Bad challenge from being down three nothing. Game four in this series yeah you know like it's they're just they do not go down easy so it's it's it's really tough to say a Florida in a walk. Who knows? I think to a man we all believe that Florida is the deepest team by far and away in the National Hockey League Right. So how much will depend on? 97 scoring maybe one or two goals Leon

one or both of them having a big night here because it's hard to imagine them not being far and away the best players on the ice. Is there anything left from that supporting cast here? Well, I think if you're Florida, the one thing you have to do is say, just make everyone else beat us. It's like the basketball theory where just,

okay, Steph Curry is not gonna shoot. We don't care who else or what else. We're just not gonna let them have that shot. They need to be all over those two guys and just say, go beat us with Matthias Janmark. Let it be someone else. Most points per game when facing elimination with minimum five games played,

the most all time is Connor McDavid with 1.64 four and on that list as well is Leon dry subtle at one point three six so these two guys are Extremely good in this situation with Gretzky and Lemieux with her ahead. Yeah, yeah and Ron Wilson Good on Wilson for me. I got a great tweet here from someone I follow, Archaeologuy. He's an Oilers, a former blogger. He says, I wanted to see how many goalies had playoff seasons with more than 10 games played and how everyone stacked up by save percentage. That's 147 goalies have had 10 plus games in a playoff season.

Going back to the 05 lockout, 129th is Stu Skinner in 2024, 142nd is Stu Skinner in 2025, 145th is Pickard in 2025, and 146th is Skinner in 2023. So nearly the worst seasons possible. They haven't got that extra save. So to me, it's like those two guys we talked about may be awesome. Skinner's going to have to be better than really bad. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in David Amber, Studio Host, Hockey Night in Canada, NHL on Sportsnet.

I mean, they're in this game six of the Stanley Cup Finals, so it's really hard to be critical of the management team, but how do you not think about addressing this after what you saw last year with the up and down nature? I know you go to game seven or whatever, but it's just, if I'm an Oilers fan, that's what the biggest sort of, I don't know, the where I have my crosshairs is not having a more viable option for the primes, the primey primes of Dry Cytl and McDavid, I don't know.

For sure, bud. All right. For sure. From Sunrise in Florida, let's welcome in David Amber. DA, how are you, buddy? Hello. So I thought we'd catch you in a tank top, but a t-shirt works too. Like how hot is it down there? And like, what is what's happening here in in sunrise with the heat? Well, it's Africa hot. Jean Principe is out there. You ever see, so every, every see the movie, something about Mary and the neighbor, we can recall, we can recall.

He's just bathed himself in Chris. Go oil has big, this aluminum foil sort of thing. He's got holding over his head. So he'll be nice and crispy tonight for our broadcast. Looking good. As far as the start, how imperative is it that the Oilers don't melt in the first five or 10 minutes of this game? I mean, I think it's everything. They've been outscored seven nothing in the first period of the last three games. And we saw firsthand in game five guys,

like if Florida has the lead, they're incredibly difficult to play against and they dictate the tempo and they play low event hockey when they need to and they dictate the style of the game and it's it's hard. It's hard to play against the team when you're chasing Edmonton against Dallas guys and their four wins they did not trail once they forced Dallas on their heels they made Dallas uncomfortable and what we've

witnessed in these Florida victories here in the Stanley Cup final is Edmonton's been chasing the game and yes they've had eight comeback victories and yes they did come back of course in game four in dramatic fashion after trailing three-nothing but certainly that's not a recipe to to go out and win a Stanley Cup against a very good Florida team. So I think that first period is imperative. I think the Olders would love to play with the lead. They have not scored in the first period of the last three games, and I'm sure that's something that they're going to talk about coming out of the gates strong and forcing maybe Florida to be a little uncomfortable and not play the style of game that they maybe would prefer to tonight

The the Florida Panthers have scored five plus goals 12 times in this Stanley Cup playoffs the most it's ever been done In the playoffs is 13. I want to say one of my dad's Islanders teams did it But it's it only happened twice before you know, they kind of kind of goes under the radar that they're a pretty good offensive team as well. Um, you know, Stu Skinner is going to be back in net for the Oilers tonight. Is should there be some focus on the Oilers part of, okay, we need to defend better or is it just let McDavid dry settle go and win the way they like to win? Well, I mean, I think that's one thing that's maybe been understated in this

final guys. This has been one of the most dominant performances we've ever witnessed in a Stanley Cup final. As far as they're one of the most prolific scoring teams ever, they're the highest scoring road team in NHL Stanley Cup history in one single playoff year. And not just the 12 goals where they've 12 games where they put up five goals, but 13 times they've won by multiple goals, nine times

their victories have been by at least three goals. I mean, they're lapping the field and throwing on top. They've started every single series on the road against Tampa, against Toronto, against Carolina, and now against Edmonton. It's been, you know, if Florida wins tonight, I think as much as there there's gonna be sort of this shadow of disappointment surrounding the Oilers and you know the the pursuit of that elusive Stanley Cup for Conor McDavid there's gonna be a lot of narratives that come out of this one narrative that shouldn't you know we need to tell and we shouldn't fail to give it its flowers is just how good and dominant this performance has been start to finish by the Florida Panthers. Absolutely.

Okay, I'll follow it up with this narrative. If Florida finds a way to put this thing away, David, I'll start with you and I'll get you guys to maybe chime in as well, but what is a bigger story? Florida winning back to back orback or connor going oh for two Well, I mean I I think because of the nature of the sport of hockey It's got to be florida winning back-to-back. I think they could be the fourth repeat champion in 40 years or something on 35 years Or whatever it is You know, it's it seems unfair when you characterize it as Connor going over to

it'd be like he's a no-show. He hasn't been a no-show. He has seven points in the five games. He's been at times one of the you know one of the best players on the ice. He's done a lot to make this a winning situation. You know, I think it's incumbent on some of his teammates to step up and produce. You know, I think it's incumbent on some of his teammates to step up and produce, you know. Evander Kane was sensational the first two games. Where has he been the last three games? Ryan Newton-Hopkins was such a force against Dallas. Where has he been in this series? You know, Leon Dreisdahl obviously has had two incredible moments with those overtime goals, but they certainly need a lot from him as well.

They're missing Zach Hyman, and the goaltending continues to be an issue. I just I just don't think it's fair to characterize it as you know Connor 0 for 2. I just don't think that would tell the whole story. So in my eyes at least and I'm interested what Justin and Sammy and you think but in my eyes it's got to be this Florida team. They deserve a lot of praise, a lot of credit and Connor McDavid continues to be the best player in the world and he'll still chase that elusive first cup if that's how this plays out, just like Ovechkin, just like Iserman, just like Ray Bork, just like a lot of the game's greats

had to wait many, many years to do it. I think we're talking about almost two different things in that in hockey history, the Florida Panthers will be remembered as one of the all-time great playoff teams, right? They win two cups, three finals, the way they play, extremely memorable. We'll lump them in when we talk about the best playoff teams, right? They win two cups, three finals, the way they play, extremely memorable. We'll all just, we'll lump them in when we talk about the best playoff teams. But from a reality

TV perspective, Connor McDavid going 0-2, and again, I'm with you, GA, he's not 0-2, but he's been a part of teams that now will have lost twice in the final. He's the most bloodthirsty, hungry, passionate cup guy. And that's going to be fascinating. What does that make him do with the rest of his decisions? His next contract with the Oilers? How are things affecting him there will shape the NHL? So yeah, I'm with you on that. I mean, especially here in Canada at the end of the day, okay, we're going to tip our hat

to Florida, but up here in Canada, nobody's going to care whether or not, you know, where they're remembered in history. That conversation could be real short. The ongoing one would be Connor McDavid. How does two losses affect him? How does it affect him going into a contract year, as you had said? Like it is, it is perhaps, David,

if it's unfair to say, you know, to categorize it as as oh for two then a major fork in the road tonight for Connor McDavid in terms of of Terms of what where he goes moving forward his legacy Right, but don't you think it's more likely that he'd be like LeBron James He'd only ever leave after getting Edmonton to championship Isn't that feel more likely than I got to go somewhere else to get it anyway Go ahead. Yeah

We're also not talking about a guy who's 35 here. I think how old's I'm a David 28. I believe Might be 27 Yeah, he's 27 or 20. I mean he's got another 10 12 kicks. He's 28. Yeah Yeah, he's 27 or 20. I mean, he's got another 10, 12 kicks in the can. He's 28, yeah. He's 28. I mean, Corey Perry is lighting it up as a 40-year-old. Connor McDavid still has a good decade to go.

So I don't think we can be, which almost sounds like a eulogy, what's his legacy? I mean, he's still working on that. As far as his future here in Edmonton, I mean, all signs point to him coming back to Edmonton. I don't even think there's a question at this point his wife just opened up a store boutique a cocktail You know lounge, you know his buddy Leon dry saddle just signed for eight years

I don't get any impression as former agent is now the president I don't have any reason to believe going to be anywhere except Edmonton moving forward And I certainly think his legacy is far from being written and as the final chapter is far from being written, it would be considered a considerable bump along the road because we all know how hard it is to get to the Stanley Cup final and to go back to back and to not be able to get that Elusive Cup.

Certainly there'll be some, some like, oh man, when is it gonna happen? How is it gonna happen? Is it going to happen? You're watching and listening to David Amber, studio host, Hockey Night in Canada, NHL on Sportsnet. So outside of 97 and 29, who has to have a big night here? I mean, Ryan Nugent-Opkins, you know,

Connor Brown, Corey Perry, they need some complimentary scoring. You know, one thing that, you know, to get back to the Florida team, it's, I know how great Marshaan and Bennett have been, but again, they got Verhege and Reinhardt and Barkov and Lundell, and I can keep going and all the way to their fourth line, they have, I think nine players with at least 15 points, which I do think is the most since one of your dad's teams, Justin, Like it's just they're deep, they're good, they're thorough. No team I've seen in all my years covering hockey plays with their identity or is more comfortable in their specific identity than the Florida Panthers.

So that means that everyone's got to be going for the Oilers. You can't just sit back and say, well, let's hope 97 and 29 pull us out of this. And remember the storyline going into the final was the depth of the Oilers, 20 different goal scores, different hero every night, you know, 10 different guys with game winning goals. That's all great. We need some of that now. You know, we need Trent Frederick.

We need Vander King. You need all of these. I say we, I don't mean we like I'm a judge. I just mean, if I'm the Oilers, you need all of those players going because you know Florida, you know, they're all right now feeling it. What worries me upon the oilers is Sam Reinhardt, who was really quiet through the Carolina series, got injured, was quiet at the beginning

of the series, he's now scored in three straight games. We all know what Marcian and Bennett are doing. Kachuk's getting better and better every game. Like they're all feeling it. They're healthy. They feel good. The Oilers really need to push back as a team. Collectively, it can't be, you know, just two guys trying to pull the rope in one direction. So let's talk a little bit about the Florida Panthers. Brad Marchand has been an absolute bright spot. He's been a joy. Like he seems to be able to be in these pressure moments and still maintain personality where, you know, you think a lot of guys get all kind of clenched

up and worried about it. He seems to be himself on the verge now of his second Stanley Cup and I believe his fourth Stanley Cup final. He's amazing guys and I don't think when when Bill Zito went out and got Brad Marchand even in his wildest dreams this guy was going to perform at this level. I mean he has the most goals in the Stanley Cup final since Esa Tikin in 1988. I mean, let that sink in. That's not nothing. He has the most goals in the Stanley Cup final.

This is crazy. He's been amazing. And I think more than what he's doing on the ice, and Nick can talk to this, when you were there in 94, Nick, you had guys who weren't necessarily always doing it on the ice, but they were keeping everyone calm cool collected when you guys were staring down game seven against Vancouver everything on the line I'm sure there was a lot of veterans there keeping guys lighter and and feeling good and that's what Brad Marchand has done in every series and Not just that because obviously what he's done on the ice has been incredible He scored arguably the most important goal for Florida in this entire run. That was game three in overtime versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Like that's not just a footnote here. Had the Leafs won that game in game three, we're probably talking about a different match up here in the Stanley Cup final. Instead, you know, he got that goal in game three and Florida's just ridden that momentum right to the Stanley Cup final. So it's been a really incredible story. But it's what I'm seeing about his personality, the Dairy Queen stuff and in the dressing room, he's just so light with the media. He's so light with his teammates. They're whipping rats at him.

He has everyone just feeling good about themselves. He's kept it really light. It's business like, but it's also fun. And he's taken the pressure off. I think the pressure that a lot of these players might have been feeling so it's been it's been really cool to watch He's an incredible leader DA if we haven't had a Stanley Cup here since the Montreal Canadiens right in the early 90s And there's no question that any

Market here in Canada would would focus and welcome it and Edmonton's leading the way but if If the Oilers or anyone else in Canada were in a situation like being in a Stanley Cup final and they had as many as three marquee Important cogs in the in the roster about to become ufas It would be somewhat of a talking point still where is it in Florida? You've been down there for a few days now. Where is it on Bennett? Echblad and

Marchand in terms of these guys Maybe walking out the door. Does it even get discussed? Like where is where's Bennett now Marchand in those type of discussions, so Where's Bennett now Marchand in those type of discussions, so Listen it gets brought up Nick, but they shoot it down really quickly and they do it in a way that it's respectful Um, and they do it in a way that diffuses things and to the credit of the media here We recognize they're chasing a Stanley Cup and that's first and foremost. We're not gonna get some great sound But we're not gonna get Sam Bennett going. Oh, I can't wait to sign in blank. I mean, he's clearly focused on winning a Stanley Cup. He's clearly focused on being a Florida Panther right now. So they're all, they're all keeping it very much in the

moment, which they have to do. The questions come out there, you know, it'd be really interesting. Obviously, if it were in Toronto, what you know, what the narrative around Mitch Marner would be like if they were in the Cup final, or if it was in another market with a guy who's going to become a UFA. It's not a huge UFA group this year. But to be honest with you, Nick, it just hasn't been a big, big, big talking point. Everyone's aware of it and there's lots of speculation and you go online and you see all, you know, Bennett's going to go here and Marchand's going here and people were

coveting Mechblad here and all the rest. But they're keeping that to a minimum. And quite frankly, you know, you listen to a lot of people who seem to have the ear of these guys, the argument to stay is a pretty compelling argument, right? A winning group, a winning situation, a brand new practice facility. What's that?

So what else could you want? Yeah, what else could you want? So I don't know if they can afford to keep all this. Hotter weather. Than Florida? Yeah. I mean. Move to the sun. Honestly, guys, Yeah, what else could you want? So I don't know if they can afford to keep all the weather in Florida Winning cares all it's funny though because a big talk and I'm sure it's been a big talk in your program about oh You know the tax benefits and all that and I've talked to you know There's a number of guys down here. That's been a big discussion and there

You know, I talked to Kevin Weeks and Kevin Weeks like look I played in Florida people weren't clamoring to come play for Florida when we weren't a winning team. That's that one is can I fight back on this DA? No one had a flat cap like this It's the flat salary cap when the pie was tougher to divide and it got harder to get your piece where it became a way For guys to get more money. It's only been since the start of kovat where it's like, oh my god How do I find an extra hundred grand? Right?

Is that it's isn't that why it's different now? I think that plays a huge role in the fact that the caps exposed to go up exponentially in the next four or five years could change that narrative. But if Florida and Nashville and Dallas, etc. were all losing situations, I'm not sure players would be running to go play in those markets. You know, it wasn't that long ago. Everyone wanted to play in Chicago or want to play in L.A. for the Kings. You know, and those L.A.

has as high taxes as you're going to find in the U.S., you know, California. So why was that? Why did guys want to go to San Jose? You know, they were a winning organization. You had to chance to win the cup. You still can get your money, but you also have a chance to to leave an indelible mark and have your name on the Stanley Cup, which is what kids dream about when a kid is eight years old and goes,

I want to play in the NHL. They don't go, I want to play in the NHL. I want to make a lot of money. They say I want to win the Stanley Cup. And I think somewhere in everyone, there's still that that lust and that dream. Yeah, the money's fantastic. And I know, Nick, you you know you focus a lot on that But I don't think for every guy

That that's always going to be the top consideration. I think that's there But it's certainly there alongside a winning culture in a winning environment outside of that You're you are the general consensus down there with the media is that benet stays? I I mean I have no input or insight into this. You know, it would seem foolhardy. Here's what I guess I would say. I think there's a little bit of loyalty there. He was having a rough ride in Calgary.

It just wasn't working out well for him. It wasn't going well with Sutter. They traded him and he's found a home here and he's found an environment here where he's been able to thrive and he probably likes the fact he can, you know, he doesn't have to put up 80 points in the regular season. He can put up 50 points in the regular season and go out and just do his thing when it matters most. And we saw that in Four Nations as well.

I mean, I don't know what he'd be chasing. He'd be chasing something if he wants to leave here. And what is he chasing? If he's not happy here in this environment with this situation, is he chasing just a few extra million dollars? And that's not I'm not belittling that because hey, money is money. But that's what it would I would view that in my eyes, if I'm him and loving life, then if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And as long as they can, you know, pay him in the ballpark of what he deserves on the open market, I imagine that might be very appealing to him. But again, that's complete speculation. I have no insights at all.

Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, we talk a lot about legacy and stuff. How about these coaches? You know, the legacy of Paul Maurice is going to take a sharp turn from the guy who was good coach, couldn't get it done to a guy knocking on the door of being a two time Stanley Cup champion. Chris Knobloch, I believe, just two years in the league,

right, two Stanley Cup finals here, but could fall short both times, we don't know yet. But how much of these teams taken on those personalities? There almost seems to be like a, I don't know, a weight off Florida this year. They don't seem to carry that stress anymore. Yeah, I mean, I think you're 100% right. And talk about changing the narrative,

because you're right, when Paul Maurice quit, left Winnipeg, people were just saying, wow, good coach, great coach, legendary coach in many respects, got a lot of regular season wins, but wasn't able to elevate his team to where they needed to be. Had some success, got Carolina to the final, and obviously got to a conference final in Winnipeg. But now he's going to go down as one of the greatest

coaches ever. I mean, really it's just what Scotty Bowman and I think Joel Prent bill who have more wins than him. And to go back to back, if that's what happens here, three straight Stanley cup finals, it's amazing. And to do it in a way where he seems to have such a high EQ. And I always talk about this when I talk about the great coaches, X's and O's are incredibly important, but get me a guy who can motivate me. Get me a guy who understands the 20th guy on the bench and understands her superstar and can motivate both those guys.

And it might be different ways of motivating them, but can understand, relate and motivate both the fourth line guy and the first line guy. And again, it's not about being loved by everyone because if you talk to any coaches, they'll tell you you're not going to be loved by everyone. You just got to be loved and respected by some of the guys. And you certainly need to be respected even by the guys you might be sitting and who aren't getting the ice time and are a little pissed at you. And Paul Maurice just has a great way of making everyone feel invested in what they're doing. Jonah Gadjiewicz didn't play a minute in the Stanley Cup playoffs last year, but he was with the team.

He was a black ace throughout the playoffs. Here he is now providing minutes and getting a lot of accolades from Paul Maurice. He understands that. I know Nick, you were in a tough role at times, not getting all the ice time, but you were made to feel valuable in that 94 run for the Rangers. And he has a great way of making these guys feel like they're invested and equally a part of what's going on. Vtech Vantechek came over. He has to sit there and take all the shots in practice. And Paul Maurice goes out of his way to talk about Vantechek and how important that is. I forgot about him. Right. He's on the team.

And that's my point. Like that, that's where that's a great coach, right? Who's getting the backup goalie to feel like there is much a part of it as Bobrovsky who's playing every single minute. So, Paul Maurice deserves all the flowers he's getting. Chris Noblog, I mean, he's had an unbelievable success, and I don't think anyone would put this on him. There'll be a lot of questions if Edmonton doesn't win the cup, you know,

what do they need to do? And, you know, how do they build around their nucleus of superstars? And what are they gonna pay Evan Bouchard? And you know, how do they? How do they build around their nucleus of superstars? And what are they going to pay up in Bouchard? And what about the goaltending? I don't think a lot of questions are going to be necessarily pointed at Chris Knoblogg as he the right voice to lead us there. I haven't heard that.

I'm not in the inner circle of the Oilers, but I haven't heard much like, oh, we don't have the right guy behind the bench. D.A. Great job as always, man. We really appreciate your time on a game day. Find a way to get a game seven, please. Everybody wants to see it. Yeah. Listen, it's a win-win either get to go home to my family. It's been a long time or, you know, more favorably would be really top of game seven and, and have the oilers pull it off, which would be pretty cool because it has been a long time coming. You also asked a lot I close these blinds because I look like the witness protection

program but there it is. Yeah. All right. All right. That sunshine hit the oilers tonight. I'm telling your wife you favorably. Thanks buddy. Have a great night.

David. Well enjoy the game tonight. Thanks to you. D.A. getting ready for puck drop 8 p.m. Sportsnet CBC. So I just want to just follow up a little bit on Fork in the road tonight and and I'm not it's not fork in the road that Connor will decide to leave or not sign No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is They lose tonight What I'm saying is they lose tonight, then there has to be a serious reflection

from all of them, including Connor, on where this team moves forward here. Because I'm looking at this lineup right now, and their best winger, Connor's best winger, you know, outside of, you know, when Dry Cytle's with him, is Corey Perry. So- Can they fit Murner in?

I get that Hyman's out, but where is this team next year? Where is Kaepernick and Kane and Skinner and- Old time. Connor Brown, like how close is, if Connor doesn't get his cup Saturday night, where are the Oilers in the next few years? Like, it's nice that David throws out that, oh, he's gonna get his cup, he's just gonna have to wait.

Where is the signs that this is outside of 97 and 29 that you've got a great nucleus still moving forward? I will say there are concerns in that, you know, on the older end are Corey Perry, Vander Kane, Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Adam Henrique. You know, those guys are at home, older players, like into their 30s.

My point is not that they're old. They're not going to get better next year and they're among their most important guys. So who is stepping in to fill that void among young players? I'm looking at the roster. I got nothing. Can Trent Frederick could be a little better? You know, Bouchard's, honoris threat, I suppose. So how can they get better from here if they don't get it this year? Connor's gonna Connor's gonna have a night tonight boys. He is he's gonna have a night tonight So you're calling Connor? I am winning tonight and and you guaranteeing it though in Hey, let's go man Do it when you believe it and

Gonna have three or four points. We only say on this show what we believe. That's right. Connor's gonna be in the mix. He's gonna have a great night. I just can't guarantee an oiler win. And we can have it with George Costanza. It's not a lie if you believe it.

What it comes down to is, it's not Connor can have four points. They need to get a couple saves in the first period. Because- I love that. That's what I love. It's a dumb sport have four points. They need to get a couple saves in the first period because I love that It's a dumb sport. They're gonna come they are going to be flying the panthers are gonna come out hot They're gonna have to they're gonna have to survive like the first ten minute classic playoff game And you're gonna need two or three really good saves from Stu Skinner and if you don't you're done. They lose a Connor You're eligible to sign July 1't, you're done, and they lose, hey Connor, you're eligible to sign

July 1st. We're going to give you 18 million dollars for the next eight years. And Connor turns around and goes, great, who's my goalie? Who am I going to win a Stanley Cup with? And it's like, yeah, we're working on that. We're working on great great observation. Yeah, you know, here's one thing I'm fairly confident Connor's not just gonna like go to ufa and leave, you know, like I feel like that this will have to be He's not gonna go to ufa and leave. He's gonna pull a Matthew Kachuk and say I'm not signing If he's not, oh my god. No, I'm saying it's no that's the only way he This is good. He changes teams if he wants to change teams. If they lose, I think he definitely goes into the next season

to his last season of his contract saying, let's see what we are. Let's see what we're doing around me. Oh, the old John Tavares Mitch Marner. Well, I think it's fair to see, are we good? Are we long-term? Do I like the direction? Please.

Buddy, there's no one sleeping in Edmonton right now or moving forward if that ever happens. I mean they made his long-time agent the president of the team. Like I feel like they have to. He just wants to win. He doesn't care. I mean it's... He wants to win. I would be... You've seen him when he doesn't win.

I'd be flabbergasted. It went viral. Flabbergasted. I mean seen a bribe viral Not at all saying what are you saying Justin? I'm saying that he here's the question Uh-huh is it like you can't do that? He cannot do that is it like LeBron James where he owes Eddinson a cup and if he then gets it He maybe feels like he can go wait. I was way more likely. I think it's way more likely He stays forever if they win this year.

Yeah. I think if they lose this year, like Kipper Stone starts looking around. And it's just- He needs his Stanley Cup. Bad. And he needs it on the Oilers. He needs it Friday night.

Or anyone else. You know what the other thing is, where can you find, how many teams can you go to and have a top five player in the world on your team? In like, Leon. Like, you know, they have the fundamental building. It's not enough.

Two cracks at having two of the best. Two games in the win. They're two of the best players in the world. And up until tonight, it hasn't made the difference. It hasn't. This team is not done. Now I feel like they're doing it. I'm not saying that they're done, but I'm also saying that going into tonight, we see

a significant difference between teams on the depth chart. Outside of your two players that have world-class talent, there are question marks in that. There's question marks on the blue line and there's question marks in the depth right now of the Edmonton Oilers Yeah so Moving forward if you're Connor McDavid and you want to be regarded as the best player In the history of the game you cannot hold that title without winning a Stanley Cup and he knows it Yeah, I you know, I get it that there's there's real stakes in that regard

That's the fork that goes moves forward with a loss tonight It's just risky to try to go somewhere else when you're just betting on another team being good when they've been good They're right here knocking on the door again. Is he suddenly gonna think they got no shot. I doubt it suddenly gonna think they got no shot? I doubt it. One thing you two were talking about with DA with how the Panthers have three really high profile, unrestricted free agents and you kind of compared it to the Leafs if that was like the Leafs.

Kipper, I would be so mad at you that if the Leafs were in heading to, coming back to Scotiabank Arena with a chance to win the Stanley Cup, you're like, but those UFAs are like, shut up. I don't care about the UFAs. Like, let me win this now. Yeah, that's a very Toronto media angle for us. But Florida's already had a cup.

Yeah, I guess. I guess that's fair. Maybe then you would start doing it. But I thought that was funny. But you're right. Like, it just doesn't. I feel like if they win tonight, what, Thursday afternoon, we get the eight times eight Bennett in Florida?

Like, it just feels like it's, you know, he's gonna sign it. At the elbow room, he's like, ah, after six months. They did have to go eight by eight. Oh God, yeah. Right? You're not gonna lose them

because you didn't want to go eight by eight. No, they would do eight by, God, I hope so. Eight by eight, like that is, the way he's. I hope so eight by eight like that is the way I get the sense that they have not tipped their hand on him. I think Really from what I hear they haven't gone even up to eight On talking 12 5 on our show for that's what the Leafs would have to not Florida. Okay the Leafs So what do you think the number is you think eight times eight gets it done for them in Florida I think so yeah, they pay Reinhardt. They paid him nothing right

Wasn't eight five eight six two five six six eight six yeah, yeah, so if you're I don't know I don't think they want to pay him as much as Reinhardt I mean he's not as good as Reinhardt Reinhardt's probably a better player, but right now. That's a hard art But if I'm the agent I'm'm like, are you sure about that? Like, my guy's just scoring the most playoff road goals in the history of the league, and Conn's my favorite. The only thing that Bennett is like, he hasn't made a huge sum of money

and isn't poised to make a huge sum after this. There would be some incentive to get that bag. I think teams would be reluctant to I think other teams would be very hesitant to give him ten million dollars a year I don't think he can get there I wouldn't sign me up I'm watching him belong in these games I just yeah leave sign Frederick after the season Juno and Bennett just get weird Yeah, so anyways game time game time it's game time is there by bet three six five visit the app latest odds and find Out why it's never ordinary at bet three six five is my team plus Ontario only please play responsibly

So morning, what did you say that you thought Connor was gonna have tonight? Three points. Three points. Okay, let's check what that pays. That is plus 280 for Connor McDavid to have three points. I think he's good too. Imagine being so good at hockey that a book is like in game six in the Stanley Cup final, you're going to have plus 280 to have three points. That's insane. So that's the number there. Leon Drysidle plus 400 for three points tonight.

The actual line on the game tonight, That's the number there. Leon Drysidle plus 400 for three points tonight. The actual line on the game tonight, it has, money has come in on the Panthers because yesterday when we say they were minus 150, they are now up to minus 160 on the money line. The Edmonton Oilers plus 135 underdogs in game six in Florida. I just got to tell you, feels a little bit tempting to me. I and I wanted to check in on this too quickly before we go to break the Stanley Cup handoff

We talked about this before the start of the series and the favorite was Nate Schmidt. Okay, who is the favorite now? Bob Brad Marchand is a favorite. Oh gosh Just a bride Brad Marchand plus 190 still tied with Nate Schmidt at plus 190 if they give the Stanley Cup to Nate Schmidt Brad Marchand, I had one one so So what that was like 20 years ago. This guys are no Schick Rodriguez Sturm and then they have and then if you go play that was a deadline edition yeah so they go and then it goes Ryan Nugent to Hopkins is the next favorite plus 600 ahead of Leon Dreisaitl which is very confusing

to me Sergey Gaborovsky plus 1100 Seth Jones plus 1200 down to down to Airneck Blood at 30 to 1 anyways eight Schmidt Nate Schmidt if they like I said I'm not gonna be a hockey fan anymore if they give to Nate Schmidt over Brad Marsh and I like me I do too 25 goals and four games and anyway, that was game time instead of my bet 365 visit the app latest odds and find out why It's never ordinary at bet 365 must 19 plus Ontario only please play responsibly. Okay, let's take a Quick break here and when we return we'll go around the NHL a little bit including Tage Thompson. Good player.

Let's talk about it. Real good player. He had an interview, a response. Yeah, with our boy Andy Strickland on Kamastrick. Boy, he's making a lot of news recently on our boy Strick. I guess. Holy smoke. Alright, that and more when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Diving deep into leaps, rafters, Jays, and NFL. The JD Bunkett's podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

["Semi-McKee"] Welcome back into the studio, Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. Lots of scuttle boat scuttlebutt around the league. I think a few teams are calling in on the Buffalo Sabres from what I hear. Yeah. I'm the the name JJ Paturka has been out there. Yeah. The name JJ Paturka has been out there. Which, by the way, really good player. Pretty young. That one would scare me. You Reinhardt just dropped. Like how many good players can this Sabres organization lose?

Yeah. What is it? What's going on? Just losing. And then no one wants to be there. I think teams are starting to kind of, they want to try to pounce right now on a vulnerable franchise that needs to do something quick to get the fan base back. Yeah, but what's that?

By the way, Pachirco was born in the year 2002, 23 years old. So Tage Thompson, Sammy, went on the air the other day. He went on with Cam Jantz and any Strickland on cam is trick. And I just saw Andy tweet this out today and I thought the clip was worth playing for a, if you're a Sabres fan, maybe avert your ears, but we'll play the clip of him. He got hammered by no sick, right? And there was a lack of response. We talked about it softest team in the league.

So let's, let's, let's play the clip there, Derek, if we could. It was a, it was a weird situation to be honest with you because when the hit happened I didn't even know what happened. I didn't see him, I didn't know what was going on. I just blacked out, came to and then was kind of helped off the ice. But watching it on replay, yeah, I thought it was a little dirty. I would have liked someone to step in for sure. I was a little shocked by that. Our team is great guys and they all they all said sorry and like should have done something like even if we didn't see it or knew what happened like we should have stepped in and at least done something which I get

it like the game happens fast. Maybe you didn't know what to do in the situation or how to react. I don't know because I wasn't in that situation or I was the one laying on the ice. But Lindy came in and I just said like, that can't happen again. And if you see someone laying on the ice or someone gets hit like that, like you better step in and do something. I think after that, there was a great response. And I don't think we had another problem like that

the rest of the season, which is good. Yeah, I got no problem with any of that. I have no problem with it, but I do think it's instructive that the player who was hurt who is their best player. Yeah Thought his teammates should have stood up for him. I think that's not good. They said sorry Well, the important thing is is that he's not saying anything To the public that hadn't already been said in the dressing room, right? So when you when you when when he states that the team said sorry,

it means that it was discussed and the teammates know they were in the wrong. So making it public is fine for me because that discussion already happened and there's no real secrets that you're giving away other than the fact that we need to be better and tighter as a team together. Yeah, but it's like if my dog sees a paper towel on the ground, he'll eat it and then I'll smack him

and be like, don't, you know, whatever. And I've told him and it's been public, he'll still do it next time, I promise. I know, but smack yourself because you're the one that put the tissue down there in the first Place well, this is me with the the Sabres where it's like they might know they should do stuff But they don't have those guys kept there. No, that's a different. That's a different animal. Yeah, right. That's a different Conversation that's a managerial

Decision to be made in the future. Yes Is that if you don't have the guys and we can look at the Toronto Maple Leafs Sammy this is the same thing It's like Dave it reminded me taking pains to find and worse is whether you're Buffalo or Toronto or any other team sitting on The sidelines right now. You are watching a team like the Florida Panthers Do it right do it right and you're looking at Paterka and Benson and Jack Quinn and Peyton Krebs and all these guys. Painfully painful reminders of who did Marshaan grease into the

boards and was it Lillagran? Lillagran slew foot and like, yeah, grazed his ankle. And then the Leafs did nothing. I particularly remember Kipper coming in the next day and being irate about it. And I remember Sheldon Keefe coming out in the media and being like, oh, we had a meeting to talk about how, like, you know, this is how you respond to that. It's like, if you gotta have a meeting, you probably don't have the right group of guys.

And that's one of the big changes that Brubeck came in here and we gave him craze for this year was that that side of it was much more just natural and it just like it wasn't like they were running around but it felt like they were sticking up for each other a little bit better than they had for sure it was better so then it's still not good enough at the end no I agree enough Scott Lennon was a nice addition he was one one of the few guys who was eager to be in there wouldn't mind wouldn't mind one goal in the playoffs well I'm talking

about the other yeah okay yeah but, I just it's hard to Teach a group of players like you just said like that to act That way and you like you said that's what makes the Florida Panthers so great is they are hi, Enos They're dogs in a bowl. Whatever whenever something bad happens all of them arrive. They're always all together Edmonton had it, like they had it going for a little while there. They had the balanced scoring, but they also had that toughness and Evander Kane.

When he's on, he's really good. Yeah, he's a special. And he's a fantastic athlete. And he is, he's a specimen. There's those guys, you know, like him and Tom Wilson and guys who can score 30 and Beach up and their rarity he needs to find that tonight he needs I don't know if he's gun shy now because all of a sudden there there's a parade to the penalty box with him he can't keep his stick down I said everything

everyone was like you gotta try guys to be disciplined be careful don't take penalties and they've came that neutered him. Yeah, like go do your thing go be you know we you need some of that But I don't I think you need that through the first four games. I totally get your right now It's not now at the time. You're not sending a message. You're trying to send a message into the net no you're you You gotta just initiate though that the push and you hope that they can physicality Yeah, they have to drive it. It's a natural reaction to retaliate or you know do something that you're Subconscious drags you into that you didn't necessarily want to do That's where Vander Cain has to be that force first.

Can't think about scoring goals right away without going through a process. And part of that process is the moment the puck drops, that you're on your toes and they're on their heels. And that has not happened for the Oilers. I can't even believe I'm about to do this, but we do have a Paul Maurice clip from today. Really disappointed in you all playoff. Listen, not enough Paul Maurice. Do you want to play it? Buddy, all the

Paul Maurice you got. Are you gonna try to make up for it? For what? Like the lack of Paul Maurice? Why this one? We have tons of people... I despise that David. We have tons of people that work here, like you guys can maybe ask some of them to cut the clips for me. I just, I can't do it. I can't physically bring myself to do it. Anyways, this is a clip that I got Derek to cut for me today because it was making the rounds on social media.

Paul, what does it feel like waking up in the morning knowing that you could win the Stanley Cup? I think you asked me that four times last year That Richard Pryor and his prime That's a good it's a good line oh sure it's a marginal joke at best Just fine. Thank you. I love you made the room laugh Hate anyone that's successful outside of your maple leafs No, I just a certain way about it is a funny line like they they almost you know That's one of my favorite Maurice like reflections was it on this show where he was like, yes

You know talking about how aware he was what his legacy would have been had you asked him Like I think it was one of you guys asked him about how What would have happened if and he's like, I don't even let myself go there Yeah, like I can't even think about that almost blew three nothing But 60 60 minutes tonight for uh, stanley cup win might as as well feel like 60 miles right now. You got to distance yourself from that emotionally. Yeah. It is funny though how the old golf joke, like there's no pitchers on the scorecard,

just got to get it done. I don't think a lot of people think back to the fact that they were up three nothing and it went to seven. Like they just won the Stanley Cup last year. It wasn't like they almost let it slip You know there he cares on the verse nobody cares how it happens You just have to get it done if they get it across the line Oilers have yet to win a regulation game in the series Alright, yeah, yeah, just two overtime wins. Yeah

Is tonight the night can they do it? They could they pull a leaf? Toronto Maple Leafs they went in there in game six No one thought beat them to nothing. It's funny. You mentioned the leaf drag them back for game seven Oilers got to drag them back if the peas win tonight I would say that the Toronto Maple Leafs are the second best team in the league because they gave the Stanley Cup champion The biggest test so that's facts. Oh, God. It's hard to... You guys gonna dispute facts?

Can't refute it. You want a participation ribbon as well? I'd take any ribbon, bud, when it comes to the Leafs. I'd take any ribbon. Just something. You're uniquely qualified to answer this question, Kipper. Cup in the building, those guys in the Panthers, I know they've already won, but it's still another chance to win.

Like, how the hell do you play a hockey game? How do you like focus in? in the building, those guys in the Panthers, they know they've already won, but it's still another chance to win. How the hell do you play a hockey game? How do you focus in? It's easier after you've won it, for sure. And it's equivalent to getting to a Stanley Cup final where both of these teams are back 12 months later. It's business, man. Just get the job done.

That's what makes you a pro, is that you understand what the task is and Just get the job done. You're that's what makes you a pro is that you understand What the task is and how to get it done and they understand process. Mm-hmm. So Yeah cup in the building or not Same game. Yeah, but we're now if you're Looking at a third period where the clocks ticking and you're up 3-1 or It's tied

It can get emotional for sure but Started the puck drop man. It's just another game trying to get the job done. Yeah I Think a lower scoring game tonight You know I think everyone a little bit more Conscious of not wanting to be the one to make the mistake. The Oilers trying to lock it down. They're

giving up too many goals and not sure about their goalie. I just think you'll see a tighter hockey game tonight. That's up to Skinner. Skinner, when he's when he's good like it puck finds him. The thing when he's good though like he's so good like he could easily black out tonight and just be like oh there he is. And sometimes he's spinning. Sometimes he's actually black out tonight and just be like, oh, there he is. And sometimes he's spinning. Sometimes he's actually blacked out. Goal differential by period from Sportscent stats here. The first period Florida is a plus seven.

They've outscored an 11 to four. Second, third OT, 12, 12. Get through the first Edmonton. Get through the first. Game six tonight. Score. St trick hearing Troy Terry is available for manhunt oh oh oh score tonight I want Oilers 3-1 all right I like I'm gonna say two nothing oiler oh Panthers or three yeah Stanley Cup

winning goal in overtime by Brad Marchand. And the cons might then. Hyper specific. Everything gets started at 7.30 on Sportsnet and the CBC. Enjoy game six everybody. Hope there's a seven. Our thanks to David Amber for joining us. If you get a chance give us a rating and review. We'd love to hear from you. Thanks for watching.

Thanks for listening.