Real Kyper & Bourne - Clash for the Wild Card in Calgary

Episode Date: March 12, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Rick Dhaliwal (7:38) – co-host of Donnie and Dhali to tee up the Vancouver Canucks' clash with the Calgary Flames with just a point separating them for the Wild Card in the West. He gets into the biggest on-ice issues for the team, Quinn Hughes' status, and what Canucks fans should be hopeful for in their team's future. Then, Eric Francis (33:30) - senior columnist and Flames analyst for Sportsnet joins the show to chat about the timeline of Calgary's 'rebuild', Ryan Huska's influence on the roster, if Rasmus Andersson will re-sign with the team, and Nazem Kadri's future with the organization.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.

Welcome back into the national hour. On the Real Kipper and Bourne show we are live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of real Kipper and born brought to you by bet three, six, five Nick Kipriels, Justin born Sammy McKee sports at six 50 in Vancouver sports at nine 60 in Calgary sports net tonight with the flames and the Canucks. I'm on the game. Perfect timing tonight. Large match. The Vancouver Canucks are one point behind the Flames in the standing. They've played one more game than the Flames.

It's tight. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Rick Daliwa, co-host of Donnie and Dolly on Czech television in Vancouver. He'll tee up the Vancouver side. Little later on, Eric Francis will give us the Calgary side as the flames go in there as like favorites. Yeah, no, you're not wrong, I know. How can you not sit there and go,

like, who's feeling better? Who's looking good? Canucks are on a back-to-back, it's in Calgary, the Canuck vibes are just off. And the flames, you know, they're, this is exciting. They have a legitimate chance here. You know, I like to bust on Sammy every once in a while, because often, coming out of our leaf edition hour

He leaves the leaf Jersey up Hmm this time you didn't thank you, but It's a huge game tonight. Yeah, we're in both markets Vancouver and Calgary. How do you go with I'll change it after the break Okay, that's I just wanted to follow up the strategy behind with the connect Jersey first. That's all I can't imagine that either fan base Pictured them itself in this position. No of this game. Yeah, good point, right? We're like the flames like we're in a playoff spot and we have a chance to play against the Vancouver Canucks to further our playoff spot Yeah, and the Vancouver like we're fighting with the flame for a play. Oh

our playoff spot and the Vancouver like we're fighting with the flame for a playoff spot. It's funny even with the Canucks a bit behind them the projections like Dom Lucision of the athletic has projections and has the Canucks with 44% chance to make the playoffs and Flames at 24% chance. Flames got to be way higher I mean, I know that's a mathematical model, but this is Whoever wins tonight. It's a mathematical model, but this is, whoever wins tonight, it's a massive swing in those numbers, massive. Seems maybe Calgary with the edge, I think during the regular season as well, is gotta be feeling like

we're a lot more destined than these guys right now. Yeah, I think so too, Kip. I mean, so much has gone wrong with Vancouver season and I don't think, the Flames were even kind of calling like a bit of a rebuild year and instead they start adding. They're obviously feeling good about themselves. The one thing I have said about the Flames, like boy, it doesn't seem like they score. They don't have a top end offense, they can't create.

The team they're playing tonight, the Vancouver Canucks, only team in the NHL without a forward who has 40 points. They don't have one guy with 40 points on their roster, they're the only team. So, forward on their roster. Only forward, yeah, sorry, Quinn Yves has 61 points. But yeah, so this is a matchup of two pretty offensively inept teams, and just a matter of who can shoot it in and

The flames have potentially the rookie the year in net. Yeah. Well and Valley said Desna. Yeah, like likes his game a lot So in the first hour we in our leaf show we talked about a statement game possibly for the Toronto Maple Leafs with Florida Thursday night. Can Vancouver have a bit of a statement here? Maybe grasping at straws here, but can they have a good feeling coming out of this even with a loss? No. No. That's not possible from here on out. I got 17 games left. There's no more, are they not so low coming off of a loss

to Montreal that even if they showed some real life in this thing that it can still build? Yeah, you start, no, you start doing the math, it's like okay, they got 18 games left. He scored the other night. He's got two goals in his last three. He ripped one in last night. Yeah, he did in something like that would be huge Quinn Hughes could come back tonight That would get the momentum going but when you start to do the math, how many points do you think?

Makes the playoffs in the West. Maybe it's 91 Okay, well that the Canucks have 69 you got 18 games left. You got to get what is that? 22 points you need 11 wins in 18 games left, you got to get what is that 22 points, you need 11 wins in 18 games, Kim. So go like 11 and seven. Pretty attainable. But you lose a game tonight to Calgary and it gets a lot harder. Yeah, maybe the total goes up to 92 that you need and now you need another win. It's just they got to win tonight. Working on right here. Kevin Lankin is going back to back. Yeah. Almost never happens in the NHL now. Yeah.

At least that was projected that he'll go back to back. A lot of pressure on him too. And like. Coming in tonight. Yeah, and Demko, unfortunately just hasn't been, so much has gone wrong. World records amounts of things have gone wrong for this Canucks team But Kevin Lankin and has been a bright spot. So I

Mean used to see you guys go back to back. He used to happen Was that nothing I was just Jen was talking to me. Oh, yeah didn't Valley say how many games in did Hendrick Lundquist play the one year for them? Yeah, pile long go play. I think we'lla played 70 games one year for the Canucks. And I also think he said, Lundquist's save percentage in back to backs was like 920 something. But you know, you love that.

As a teammate, where you're going to the back to back, you need the game, he's your goalie, like yeah, I'm gonna play goalie. And you can't lose, so maybe you don't feel as good if he doesn't play very well, but at least he went out there and he gave you the chance he tried Yeah, no, I agree with that. So and it's gonna be crucial

So after this Vancouver has a couple soft games Chicago, Utah, and then they have a six game road trip So, you know, it just gets harder. It gets harder for them And I do think that we should probably give some love to st. Louis and Utah. Well, they're nipping around the edges here. They're not going away. They're not going away. And they have more home games than away. They've got a lot of non-playoff teams. They have such a soft schedule coming up.

The Blues, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Anaheim, Nashville, Vancouver, Chicago, Nashville, Montreal, Nashville coming up for them. So look out, Blues. Any faith on Quinn Hughes coming back and making a difference off of what obviously is a nagging scenario here? Like, do you have much- Are they rushing him because they're worried

about the season? Do you have any faith at all that he can come back and play like he did prior to this? What do we got? Stomach pulled muscles? I think he can play, Kip, but he might be a little tentative and maybe you won't get the best of him,

but let's talk to someone who knows more than me. Rick Dalewa joins us. It's been a while, buddy. How are you? Love you guys, I'm back. Thank you for having me back. Yes, we're back. All right. You back. So if we ask Calgary flame fans, which we will through Eric Francis, this will feel as close as a playoff type of atmosphere. They're pumped. They're jacked. Canucks. Can they find anything to feel the same way? Or

are they too busy right now going? What the? Yeah, they better figure it out. Kipper and real quick. And I'll tell you why. Eight points up for grabs this week, eight. And last night they started this week off with the 4-2 loss to the Habs. This is the biggest game of the year. Guys, I don't know how else to say it to you other than biggest game of the year. It's a four pointer, one back of the flames, Calgary, Vancouver, St. Louis, Utah. I'm going to be amazed to see where these guys are at the end of the week. Now, Canucks are three and six since the Four Nations. I've got them, they got 18 games left.

They got to go 12 and six in my eyes to get to 93 points. And then they got to wish that's good enough. But there's problems out here, guys. They can't score. Lowest scoring team in the National Hockey League since January 1st. So is the other team by the way, Calgary. This could be a snooze fest. There could be like five shots halfway through the game. 14 games in a row. Vancouver has not scored more than four goals. Six weeks ago, last time they scored more than four. Their top six guys, it's like Besser, Debrusque, Pedersen.

Pedersen's on pace for 52, 53 points. That's not good enough. Center-ice position. They don't got a second line center. They missed JT Miller. It was ripping it up in New York I Here's it. Here's the best positive news. I can give you guys if for connect fans is that Quinn Hughes made the trip Quinn Hughes skated for about 25 30 minutes this morning in Calgary You know when you look at their goal scoring problems, that guy's a big problem. That's a big reason why, because he creates so much of that offense. If he gets back tonight, I don't know if he is, but it sure looks good after looking at

some of the video he used skating at Calgary today. But that would be a big bonus, a big time bonus. But Kippur, it'd be really nice to you. It's the game of the year. It's not even close. It's the game of the year. We're looking forward to it as well. So sometimes the fan base here in Toronto,

Rick will pick apart the Leafs, albeit they're challenging for an Atlantic division still, but style of play, dump and chase, is it affecting Austin Matthews at all? What about in Vancouver? Is it just on the players to put the puck in the net? Is is talk it taking any heat at all for style of play or reducing minutes off of some of these key guys?

Last year, Kipper and Bourne, the Canucks had, I think, six, seven guys who had career years. Well, guess what? A lot of those guys are going the other way this year. And the center-right's position, you guys know, when your first line center's on pace for 51 points, that's not good. And that guy creates a ton of offense.

He's supposed to. Pederson's not doing that. And that guy creates a ton of offense. He's supposed to. Patterson is not doing that. They don't have a second line center because they traded him to New York. And Quinn Hughes has been hurt a lot in the last, probably six, seven, eight weeks. So there's reasons why the offense is down. But Bessar's got to get going. No goals, nine games, four in his last 22. Two goals in 14 games says JT Miller. Now, Besser misses JT Miller. He misses him a ton. He misses him a ton. And the other centers, like before last night, Besser played two games with Suter. Suter's not going to get in the puck. He didn't get in the puck. And he needs a guy who can get him the puck because Brock always gets in the right areas of the ice. He's a finisher, he's a

shooter and right now none of these centermen can find him the puck. That's a big issue and it's not Heidel either. So a lot of their goal scoring issues are the center-ice position, Quain Hughes is out, a lot of guys are having not great years and you know Debrusk has been either Debrusk scores nine goals in ten center-ice position, Quain Hughes is out, a lot of guys are having not great years. And, you know, Debrusk has been, either Debrusk scores nine goals in 10 games, or he goes no goals in 19. Like it's hot, and then it's cold. But he's very hot and cold.

Right now Debrusk, all their top guys, look at the top six guys. That's where the problems start with this hockey club, is not a lot of production from the top six guys. That's where the problems start with this hockey club is not a lot of production from the top six. It's crazy how obviously things happened internally that we're not necessarily privy to. But it's crazy to see JT Miller traded and then be like, boy, they sure miss great JT Miller. It's like, yeah, really good. So, you know, anyway, yeah, shocked to hear that. Quinn Hughes, is he going to, I know you don't know if he's gonna play tonight,

but Kip was asking me, you know, can he come back, look like himself? Is he possibly being rushed back because you have to win tonight? No, I saw, if you saw the video of him yesterday at practice and then you saw the video of him in Calgary today, he's getting close. He's getting you can tell because a week ago at practice he was kind of

laboring, lingering. And you saw go look at the video yesterday and today he's definitely getting better and closer. He is simply the most important player in this franchise because guys in two years, if that guy walks, you're in trouble. You're in trouble because his contract's out. They have to do everything in their power to keep this guy. Look, Horvat gone, Miller gone. I can't tell you if Besser's coming back.

I can't tell you if Demko's coming back and I can't tell you if Pedersen's coming back. Like, you know, he's gotta be looking at everybody leaving and going, how am I going to sign here in two years if everybody's gone? Like this, this guy's a superstar. Like since the day they drafted him on and off the ice, he goes home in the summer, and he doesn't kick up his feet and just enjoy, you know, taco chips and beers and this and that. This guy is an elite thinker.

He's thinking about how to get better in the summer, improve his shot. He'll call coaches up and say, Hey, give me a shot on the PK next year. I never got to PK. This guy's brain is focused to getting better every single day. He is an absolute in my eyes. We've had Pavel Bure here, but I think this has been the most incredible draft pick in the history of the Vancouver Canucks. He's just a charm to deal with, but everything they do, this organization has to be with the thought of where is that kid going to be in two years? Because if that

kid bolts, boy oh boy, you've just lost your franchise defenseman and probably your best draft pick ever. Rick, do we know for sure if he's dealing with a sports hernia or? I haven't heard the sports hernia. I do know the oblique. It was the oblique that kept him out of the Four Nations.

And then he's got his hand taped up. Like guys, first he had the hand, then the oblique. And now he's got a new one here. And the guy's banged up. He's banged up, but he's one of these guys that he just... And if I could tell you quickly, Kipper, and you know this, it would have killed that kid not to go to the four nations and put on his American Jersey, knowing how competitive he is. And it just, it was the top.

That was probably the toughest decision of his life. That Sunday afternoon, when he told the Americans, I can't go, I can't do it. He is such a competitor. He just wants to get it. And it's killing them missing these games. Every single one of these games he's missing. It's killing him because he's so he's he's so competitive and he's got such incredible drive. You know, we'll be talking about that for nations 20 years from now and it'll kill Quinn Hughes. It'll kill Shay Theodore and anyone else that came close to being a part of it or and didn't and

Can't tell their grandkids anything about it. But you know, Charlie McEvoy Listen we look at the Vancouver Canucks just not this season, but the last couple of seasons and it just seems like Adversity after adversity and scenarios where distractions, but where is like Rick talking his future on that list coming up? Well, it's high up there Kipper. He doesn't got an extension. You know, you would think he won the

coach of the year last year's strike when you're hot. The iron strikes when you're hot. Nothing in the summer for an extension. And now we're down to the last 18 games. Here's what I can tell you. The Canucks are trying to extend them. They do like the guy and they want it back. But as Patrick Alveen says, it takes two to tangle. Maybe Talk it's taking his time. So let me throw this at you. Talk it's franchise goalie has got four injuries in his last 11 months. His franchise defenseman could leave in two years. His franchise center is on pace for 50 points and signed for seven more years. Like now the media is I know the media is getting to talk because he made a couple of comments in the last two games that tells you that the media is getting to him. And you know,

he's really good buddies with Travis Green. I'm sure they talk. I'm sure he called Travis before he got hired and said, Hey, what nutbars in the media do I got to be careful about? Yeah, you know, Travis would have given him the lowdown, you know, watch out for I was probably on the list. But no, no, Travis and I get along. Travis and I get along. Travis likes me. But the media is getting to talk it it really is. The other night he said you guys can stir it up all you want. Then he said some guys try and cry try and cause crap all the time Some guys try and cause problems look guys the media got to green at the end, too

The media didn't get to Boudreaux because the media loved Boudreaux Boudreaux problem was with management it wasn't the media and But I think Rick talk it it's been a really trying year He's had the babysit Miller, Pedersen, the feud. He's dealing with media's all over him now. And if this team doesn't make the playoffs, what's going to happen then? But he's got a decision to make, Rick Tockett.

I'm really surprised. We're 18 games left in the regular season. He's not signed. But maybe he needs more time to think about it guys. All right. Well, let's have this conversation. The Canucks have had everything go wrong possible. I mean, literally everything in a season that you could have go wrong with

the franchise seems to have gone wrong. They have a chance to make the playoffs. What has gone right? Who's playing well? Like is it Philip Peronik playing 27 minutes who do you look at this year and go this is part of what's going to be their turnaround their solution their future well the future I want to talk about this alias Pettersson defenseman guys he's been a fine third round pick went

to Abbotsburg he's paired up with a Ronek this kid went down to Abbotsburg. He's paired up with Aaronic. This kid went down to Abbotsburg. He reminds me of Matthias Olin. Big, strong, loves the physicality. That's a guy to keep an eye on. In two or three or four weeks, they might sign Tom Olander, their first pick out of Boston University. That's a guy to keep an eye on. So when you ask about future, that's the two guys that I really like. Garland's been great all year. You know, he's given you 19, 20 minutes every night. He's been super. You can't, no complaints about him.

LaKara Mackie's up too. He's a young kid. He's nine, 10 minutes a night. They think he could be Besser's replacement in about a year, year and a half. So, you know, that's that.'ve had, but you talked about bad luck. Joshua great year last year comes to camp. Then he had to deal with cancer. He fell behind, you know, Demko fell behind because of the summer.

There's so many things that they fell behind with. Look, their future Lankton in five year deal came here, you know, in the summer, nobody wanted them and he turned a $700, $900 deal into $4.5 million on a five year deal. He's been great. Heronic, you mentioned, 28 minutes almost last night. You know, people ask, could he control his own pair? Well he's doing that since Quinn Hughes has been out. But look, there's going to be surgery if they don't make the playoffs this summer, guys, they got to get a second line center, you know, and those guys will grow

trees. I wonder if they'll be in on Sam Bennett. That's just me guessing, you know, but how much they got? They got 13 million in cap space. They didn't use it at the deadline, which surprised a lot of people, right? So are you going to solve your problems? You can solve them three ways through the draft to trades, you know, or July 1. So you know, and one thing kipper knows and you know, this is you never count out a Jim Rutherford

team because Jim's always got something up his sleeve because if he's not happy you know he's thinking 24-7 on how to you know rebuild this thing in Vancouver. I don't see a rebuild there when they were talking about that on the radio in Vancouver today but I certainly they might have to retool here a little bit because and the other thing they better Pederson better show them in the next 18 games that he's a first-line center they're going to have a decision to make on him at the draft too. Rick, I want to follow that up with the thought that that would be reason alone to keep Brock Besser because you're not going to rebuild and as you mentioned earlier you can't score.

That should be reason enough that Brock Besser still a Vancouver Canucks. But why am I left with the impression that he's a Vancouver Canucks today because you couldn't get a bucket of pucks for him at the trade deadline? Yeah, you know what? Well, you said it. But not me. You said it. Well, actually, Alveen said it, Kipper. Thank you. Yeah, the GM came out and said it. And I don't think Brock and his camp are doing cartwheels about that. I mean, they can't be. Yeah, I mean, they just can't be like the one thing that Brock has felt at times in this negotiation

is that he's been disrespected. And, you know, the GM, you know, hammers him quite a bit all year long, it's been happening. But so here's the thing on Brock Besser. The Canucks did make Besser a contract offer last Thursday, a brand new one. Not the one from earlier in the year, but they made him a brand new one. It wasn't good enough. It didn't get close. It didn't get close. I would say to you that if Besser is going to continue playing in Vancouver, and I do believe they'll probably continue to talk after the season. He's looking for six or seven years guys. Can he get that from Vancouver? Vancouver's first offer was five times eight. They don't want to go to six. They don't want to go to seven and they don't know they definitely don't want to go to eight.

Can he get seven years on July 1st is the big question. Can Brock do that? I don't think Brock has any desire to sign for five, but I wonder if six or seven could get it done. And I wonder if seven can get it done on July 1st. Look, Brock Besser, ninth all time in team scoring, right? I mean, he's been here forever. And they just, they can't find the common ground on term. And you've mentioned it, Kipper, in some of your articles on Sportsnet, the money is not the issue, it's the term. You know, they just gave Marcus Pedersen,

what are they giving, five, six years? And he's the same age, 28. So I just, Canucks don't wanna go to seven or eight years. And they were stuck at five. And I think Brock wants six or seven and he might have to go to free agency to see if he can get that term. Rick, enjoy the game tonight.

We will most certainly watch it with great anticipation. Thanks for doing this, pal. My favorite guys in Toronto, you too. Hey, even though the city of Vancouver hates Toronto, yes. And they believe me, They do. Oh, we know. And I got a warm spot for you too. And Friedman. That's it. Wow. We'll take it. We'll take that Vancouver love from Rick. Thanks, man. Appreciate your time. Great stuff. Co-hosts of Donnie and Dolly on team check

television, baby. It's an avalanche of information. It's drinking from an information firehose. Love it game time game time It's game time to set by bet three six five visit the app latest odds and find out why it's ever ordinary at bed Three six five must be 19 plus on terror only please play responsibly So the game we are talking about on our network tonight the lovely Justin born part of the panel tonight Who are you with tonight there sir? I'm with with DA Luke Gazdick at Sam Cosentino. Splendid. It is the Vancouver Canucks are pretty big underdogs,

like you mentioned, going into Calgary, going into the Saddlebone, where the flames are pretty good. Dustin Wolf's been really good in Calgary. The flames are minus 155 favorites in that game, so the Canucks are going in this plus 130 underdogs. Second half of back to back travel, same starting goalie. Like I think Calgary's gonna win, but I don't mind that number for the Canucks.

It's a tough spot for the Canucks to go in, especially if Quinn Hughes plays, you like the number a little bit more. But yeah, that's a pretty big number for the Calgary Flames. If you were to zoom out at the start of the year and look at that then, you'd be pretty surprised. By the way, that Pedersen they talked about,

they just gave all those years to... He used to walk last night by Suzuki. That was concerning. No? Yeah, no, no, no. He was a little too easy. Yeah, he made a hell of a move. That is a great, great deep.

To cut back in and... Patient and yeah. Anyway, fantastic. It's okay. And speaking of those Montreal Canadiens, they are on the second half of back to back in Seattle taking on the Kraken. Crazy number to me. I know the Montreal Canadiens aren't perfect

by any stretch of the imagination, but the Seattle Kraken are minus 150 favorites against the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal Canadiens, like I said, not perfect. They have Jacob Dobish starting tonight who's been pretty good for them. Give me the Montreal Canadi Canadians as underdogs tonight plus 125 against the Seattle Kraken who are no good by the way the Canadians

We actually need to get PJ back on the show. There's two points out of the playoffs. Yeah, they're good We had a show earlier this year or like are they gonna disband the franchise? They're getting relegated PJs be like, oh yeah now Let him do this thing. Anyways, yeah, so those, give me the Habs tonight against the Kraken, and the other two games, Ducks, Utah, and Buffalo, and Detroit, not worth talking about. Okay. And that was Game Divers, and by Bet365, visit the app, Play the Dodges, and find out why

it's ever ordinary at Bet365, Mus be 19 plus, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. I just want to follow up a little bit on Patrick Alveen and his comments that, you know, you would have laughed at the offers for Brock Bester. And yeah, on the surface, it kind of looks like it's a little disrespectful to Brock Bester. And I don't know if it was just he just. I think he was trying to be really honest to be honest with you. I think he was trying his best to kind of reiterate that we just weren't getting enough

offers but it just it came out maybe the wrong way for him. But I do think that he did it purposely or he wanted to embarrass anybody. There's a world where the point he's making is I value this guy so much. You know, if someone comes in and offers me a second, it's like, haha, you know, like, that's not two seconds aren't going to cut it for this guy. I value this guy so much. So maybe he's thinking it's a compliment as he's saying it. I don't know.

Sometimes I just think that there's these guys now, they think they're in an era where you got to give too much information or you've got to be totally honest. I'm on the other side, so I appreciate when someone gives us honesty and a real but but it's just some days you just give them nothing just give them nothing nope keeping them that's it don't there's so many ways the one thing I would stress if I was a manager or on that side is that you never ever no matter how you feel about a player You never Devalue your assets. Yeah, but like I said, maybe he thought he's like the point is I value this asset

But I did come out the way you're talking about, you know, it's really hard for me and I'll confess this I I tend to think that if we all can see what's going on typically those most of these situations Wouldn't it be nice if everyone were just honest and talked and just tell us the truth and wall grow up and move on But sometimes in these jobs you do have to be a politician. You gotta Fib or lie or boast or like it's it's a PR and it sucks. I hate that. I hate that. That's the truth Oh, it is it's part of the role, but it It also the more you open up the more more. They'll pick it apart like us Yeah, we should go, but I got a text in a text line from a 403 number, which is a Calgary numbers it is pronounced Calgary Calgary Calgary

Sammy it's pronounced Calgary not Calgary gold flames go well now have say Calgary. Calgary. Sammy, it's pronounced Calgary, not Calgary. Go flames go. Well now have, Say Calgary. Calgary. Now have Sammy say Detroit. Detroit. No, you don't say Detroit.

Elliott's the worst. You say Detroit. It's the third syllable. With what? Detroit. Detroit, yeah. Not D-Troy-t. I say Detroit.

I say Detroit. Elliott's the worst. Is he a full Detroit? Oh yeah. And a Calgary? But you ever see how he hyphenates all the teams? It's a mess, yeah. It's a mess.

But I will say, living in Toronto long enough. Trana. You do learn that it's not many syllables. It's not Toronto, it's Trana. Trana. Trana. All right, let's take a quick break. We'll get the Calgary side. Oh no, Calgary. Calgary. Calgary. All right. Let's take a quick break. We'll get the Cal Gary side.

Oh no Calgary. Calgary. Calgary. Calgary. Flames. I'm not saying Calgary the rest of the year. You just said it right. Good job.

I don't know what I said. Eric Prentz is back when we return to Real Kipper and Board. Hey, it's Blake Murphy. And I'm Matt Bonner. Join us weekday mornings at 11 as we break down all things Toronto Raptors. It's the Raptor show on sports net five 90, the fan and wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kiprio is Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, all eyes on the Calgary flames and the Vancouver Canucks tonight. We'll track down Eric Francis. Rick Dolly

Watt just did a great job covering the Vancouver Canucks. I think we're doing pronunciations. You say the L at the end of Dolly wall? Do you not? Okay, I say oh they want Dolly wall Dollywood All right, all right scared to talk Huberto Kaudry Coronado Farabee backlin Coleman Sharon gov Frost, Pospisil, Lombard, Rooney, Gusseri. That's a good hockey team. That's a solid playoff team that is going to work like hell.

Where was that comment in October? No one saw this coming. No, that's true. No one saw this coming, but here's where it came from. Farabee and Frost fill it out really nicely. Those are nice additions. I don't know that Coronado, I thought he was gonna be a player,

a contributor for them this year. Pospisil, Zari, those guys have come along. Some of their sort of, I don't know, this guy could help, guys. They've helped, they've developed. That's very nice for the Flames. Where are you? outside of

maybe even making the playoffs here, but in a year to where is the likes of Rasmus Anderson and Naz Kadri for you. Well, you know, Anderson, why does everyone trade their good players? Why is it like- Well, they-

I know they did- That may not be the case here. But Anderson is 28 years old. He's a force who's getting better. He's a great player. To me, that's like, let's keep this guy till, you've gotta give him whatever, seven years, eight years. Take him till he's 37,

38. No. Yeah. Is he, is he now? I won't save this for you. I'll save it for Eric Francis here. Senior columnist with sports net back, buddy. Are you nervous about the big game? Are you good? This is playoff hockey, isn't it? I love it. I don't get nervous. I get excited. This will be fun to, uh, fun to watch fun to cover.'t it? I love it. I don't get nervous. I get excited. This will be fun to, fun to watch fun to cover. Does it? You were a good athlete. Does it feel like, like it's been a while since a game like this is kind of carried a buzz? Yeah, that's probably a good thing. You know, like the battle of Alberta still carries a buzz every time. And you know, when original six teams come to town,

there's also a kind of a separate buzz. But I get what you're saying. Like these are, these are rare occasions in Southern Alberta where playoff hockey type hockey is being played with playoff implications. So yeah, like people in this city are really excited. And I think they're nervous. I mean, there's a real hatred in this city

for the Vancouver Canucks. There always has been. In the 30 years I've covered this team they're the chief rival of the Calgary Flames, not Edmonton, Vancouver. So this is it adds the layer to this. That's fantastic and I will say Toronto also hates Vancouver so shout out to our friends in Vancouver. They hate us. I say us as being in Toronto. I love Hey, listen, I'm a BC boy. But so tonight's such a massive game. Calgary has the leg up right now. It feels like it's kind of their playoff spot to lose. How did we end up here, Eric?

Oh, man, I hate to put boiled out on one word, but goaltending. You know, Dustin Wolf has been that good. And with the help of Dan Boudard, like he deserves some credit for shielding Dustin Wolfe from some pretty tough starts. But you know, without the goaltending, none of this is possible. Guys, they're the lowest scoring team in the National Hockey League. Like, that is unheard of for them to be in the playoff mix. Yeah, there's only 19 games left, still some hockey to be played.

But at this point in time, they've been doing it with a defensive style, a unity, a work ethic and a goaltender that's been out of this world. And that's how we got to this point right here. What's interesting to me is how Vancouver got here. Like, you know, in Calgary, it's Kumbaya, everybody, you know, fans think think it's great the unity in the room is strong the organization's moving in the right direction there's a blueprint there's no controversy we're on the other side of the mountains it's just been chaos all year long they've been dragged through the mud they've dragged themselves through the mud I think they

traded the wrong star like it's just chaos and yet are, you know, 63 games into the season and they're, they're in the same spot really points wise almost. So Eric, what has this done for Craig Conroy and the management team to speed the process up is the easiest way I can ask you. Yeah. Like I think that's a fair question. I think everybody saw this as like a three or four, maybe five year project. But you know, I think that, hey, I speak to Craig Conroy all the time. Even he's a got to admit that he's a little surprised at where they're at right now and

how quickly things have come together. But that said, you know, I think that there would have maybe been a temptation for them at the trade deadline to go and add a piece, rent a piece, pay an exorbitant price to grab somebody to fill one of the holes on this roster, but they didn't. And so in some ways, it hasn't sped up the process at all in terms of changing your tack. They did go out and get Frost and Farabee a month before the deadline, but those guys fit into the blueprint that they were looking for anyway. So they haven't acted any differently in terms of front office moves just because this team

is in a competitive mode right away. Eric, tell us a bit about Ryan Huskas' influence, his season, and where his fingerprints are on the team this year. You know, he's kind of the mastermind behind the system, of course, and, you know, he kind of recognized two years ago that when he came in, this wasn't a team that was going to win track meets, this is a team that's going to win, you know This is a team that's going to win only based on defense first hockey, discipline hockey,

stay on the right side of the puck all the time. And that comes with a sacrifice of offense, obviously. And he's not the only guy in the league that's ever done that. Lots of guys do that. And we saw it here with Darrell Souther to a degree as well. But he's done so well to kind of put it in the hands of the players. He says, I could come up with all the X's and O's and plans and designs I want, but if the players don't buy in, then I'm powerless as a coach.

And he's empowered a group of six leaders. He refers to it as his leadership group almost every day. And it's the veterans, the guys who've been here, the Codries, the Coleman's, the Michael Backlands, the Hubertos, Weger and Rasmus Anderson. And they've even added Ryan Lombard to an extent this year, but those are the guys. And they have rallied the troops. And it's those guys who've kind of driven and set a standard for the youngsters and said, we can be a competitive team. This is how you have to act as a pro on and off the ice and if we do that it can work and and that's kind of the way it's worked

so I give full credit for him being a players coach and empowering his players to want to play for Ryan Huska. If there was any thought for Craig Conroy to trade Rasmus Anderson, it would have been this year with another year left on his contract at 4.5, the value that he would have brought would have been better than anything I think we could see from a defenseman maybe in the last few years. So in saying that, with the success

that the Calgary Flames have had this year, it's a no-brainer that he resigns. Well, I'm going to first of all refer back to your earlier question. You know, I had this team been a bottom feeder like everyone expected this season, then maybe you're right. Maybe the plans have changed because they have decided to keep Rasmus Sanderson. Maybe they would have traded him if they weren't in a competitive mode right now. But that said, Rasmus Sanderson played a very large role in this team's ability to be competitive and be in this situation. So yes, they value him tremendously. Points-wise,

I don't think he ranks with many of the number one defensemen on any team in the league. He's also minus 22. I know that's not a very important stat, but it's somewhat telling. Listen, this guy is, I think, fourth in the league in shot blocks. He's just been so selfless and become a real leader on this team, if not the leader of this team. And so that is something I'm not sure they were sure he was capable of. He's done it in spades. So yeah,

they definitely would like to resign him. But the question Kipper, what price you know, like, if he's going to be asking for anything more than $9 million a year, my guess is this organization says, well, thanks, but we wish you well, and we'll trade you in the summer. So I wouldn't be surprised if they do trade him in the summer. It'll all depend on how badly Razor, which then just wants to stay here,

and is willing to kind of eat a few dollars to stay here. Eric, the flames currently have, according to cap wages, $17.1 million in cap space, and next year the cap is going up $7.5 million. Do you think they plan to be active in trying to add free agents? Oh yeah. Like, yeah, again, I don't know if this is the year

you kind of go all in. You know, they're trying to, I think, coincide being a real contender with the year they opened the new arena in 2027. So, you know, is next year the year to go all in? Well, I'll just say this. When we read about Mitch Marner and whether or not he's gonna stay or go in Toronto, when we read about Rantanen, you know, before he

signed with Dallas, and you know, some of these big, big fish that have, you know, potentially been about to hit the the UFA market this summer. Those are the sort of splashes I think the Calgary Flames are hoping to make at some point in time. Those guys where almost every team in the league is trying to get them and they come in with just a little bit more money than anybody else. They're also working behind the scenes. When Ferribee and Frost were acquired, they sent out one of the owner's private jets to go pick them up that day and bring them back to Calgary right away. They're doing everything they can to show that they're as first-class organization as the league has. They've got a new building that's going to have all the

bells and whistles. You know, we've lost a lot of people in Calgary over the years. That's very well documented and they want to make sure that this is, you know, somehow the reputation gets out there. This is a place where they can attract those big boys, if not just for the big money. those big boys if not just for the big money. And Kadri in terms of still his future there, do you think with a contract I think that goes to 28, 29, would he still be in a situation a year or two from now from riding a competitive run with Calgary or is he also a nugget that you could see can be easily traded within

a year or two? I could see anything, but you know, and this is something that I know I've monitored all season long to see how happy Kadri is and whether or not the fit is still there. He basically has kind of told me that as long as his team is a competitive club and has a chance to make the playoffs and you know, they're not tanking, he's all in. So, you know, he's got a no trade this year anyway. So that was a moot point,

but he was the one who kind of stood by it. He didn't want to be moved. He had every opportunity if he wanted to, to do like so many of the other guys in the past here, but no, he's all in. He's the best forward they have. He's been arguably their best player this year as a skater. And you know, I laughed when people were talking about trading with the deadline.

He's an integral part of how this team has managed to stay in this race. Look, they don't score a lot of goals, but when they do, it usually comes from him or Hubert O on the top line line and they come in timely fashion. So they deserve a ton of credit, Kaudri, for not only sticking with this to be a leader, but also spearheading this charge for this team. So they love them, they want to keep them. But at some point, I'm sure that both sides will look at each other and go, maybe now is the time to part ways.

I don't know when that would be. Looking forward to him getting in the face of Vancouver tonight. That's for sure. Hey Eric, really appreciate your time man. Have fun at the hockey game tonight Yeah, cheers boys. Talk to you soon. Thanks Francis. Eric Francis senior columnist so Yeah You'll be a fun one. Yeah, it's gonna be interesting with Rasmus Anderson, I think, moving forward here. He's got himself in a really good spot. He does. Yeah. I can guarantee you something.

If they do trade him this summer, the team they trade him to will know for sure that they can sign him. Yeah. That's the truth. You know what is interesting is we often talk about teams, like cities in Canada being on like no trade lists and stuff like, everyone's like, yeah, Winnipeg, it's cold, you know, whatever, you know, Columbus, they're outside of Canada. There's like certain teams that are just on it. People like Calgary as a city. You know, it's big.

It's gorgeous out there. You know, yeah, a couple million people. It's I mean, it's beautiful, very legal skiing, Banff is close. Like it's, it's, you know, there's lots of good scenery around there. I hear the same thing in Carolina too. Yeah, and I'm not, that is true. And it is a hundred percent true.

It is a perfect place to raise a family. You got four seasons out there. I've yet to hear from a player that does not love living there. Buddy, you could buy a place on Pinehurst for the amount I spent here in Toronto. Yeah. What about Mikko Ritten?

Yeah. It had nothing to do with, I think, Carolina as a place. Rod took it personally. Rod did not like that Mikko didn't want to be there. The other day on Mike Fuda's show, the hockey show with Markese. Yes, the agent for Miko Ratanen was on, Andy Scott. Yeah. And do we have a clip? We have the clip. You want to play it there, Derek? Oh, it's not Derek. It's Daji. Sorry, Daji.

Yeah. Yeah. So we've got, we've got a ton of respect for Brendan Moore, both as a player and a coach, but in this situation, he's completely misinformed. And, you know, Miko, when he was traded, you know, we were solely focused on Colorado. So there was no list of any kind. And in fact, when he arrived there, you know, I met with him in the days following and he was keeping a completely open mind about Carolina and about that team and about that situation.

And so, you know, he, he felt it out and, you know, just, it didn't make sense from more of a hockey standpoint, you know, a style of play standpoint for him. And it was nothing personal. He thinks, you know, you know, very highly of Rod Brynnamore. He thinks highly of, you know, all those, all those teammates of his in Carolina for that period of time. And, uh, but you know, this is a player that had a right to determine where he was going to play for the next eight years of his career. And, you know, he gave it a lot of thought, even at Four Nations. We were communicating during Four Nations, after Four Nations, and he

had not made up his mind. And ultimately, he did make up his mind. And we helped Carolina out by providing a list of teams at that stage in terms of where he would go. But that is the truth. That's how this unfolded. And so anything otherwise is just is the truth. That's how this unfolded and so anything. Otherwise is is is not just not the case. I Don't know if we have the full time for what Tulski responded with but if you'll be a gentleman yes hurricanes And he said sort of that Robb Rendemort is an exaggerator Yeah, I mean, it's sure it's I don't, we're running out of time here, but we have it. Dutch, we have time for it?

Okay, let's play. It's not like the player walked in on day one and said, I'm not signing here, here's my four teams. He did give it time, and that was something we heard from him a week before the deadline, not on day one. Rod's a little prone to exaggeration. It's sort of a running joke in our market that when you ask Rod about an injury,

if he's like, yeah, look, it's horrible. He's gonna be out long-term. I don't know what we're gonna do. That means the players have until at least Thursday, maybe Friday. Look, Rod, you're passionate about this team. All right, I'm not sure I'd go that far to tell the hockey world about

Rod's exaggerations. He's passionate, man. Like, Brenda Moore, you could tell was bothered. We're going to probably hear more and more. Here's the mess. It's a mess. It's a mess. Here's what just everybody needs to know. Earlier in the year, Colorado gave Carolina permission to talk to Rantinen and Andy Scott. Earlier in the year. Earlier in the year. Well before the trade. And Rantinen made it clear, okay, I'm not interested, right? My focus is on signing in Colorado.

And they still traded for him. Which whoopsie. No nobody does that. No teams would ever do that. And that that one that one stung. It stung a bit. They got pretty good assets for him but didn't help him this year. And this is a team trying to win the Stanley Cup this year. I don't know if they think they're good. Oh no they think

that and to their credit they're playing well again. Yeah they are. They were in Tampa last night. Be in the 2-3 game for sure and that's in the metro. Alright Vancouver Canucks Calgary Flames on the network. Don't go away Justin Bourne in your living rooms all night long. Have a good one everybody. Cleared.