Real Kyper & Bourne - Deadline Landing Spots with Doug MacLean

Episode Date: February 23, 2024

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne start the second hour with Doug MacLean for his Off-the-Rails Friday appearance! Mac delves into the Leafs' dominant stretch and how it affects their deadline approach, if there's any concern for the Canucks who've lost 3 straight and the Jets' attendance issues. Then, he goes through some of the headline trade targets and where they might land. To close out the week, they regroup with Sam McKee to answer your questions on the text line!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

time to take it up a notch on off the rails friday not intellectually though kip what's that not intellectually taking it up up a notch. That's up to our next guest. Energy, maybe, but... Sam McKee. We're all here together on this Friday. And coming off a week off. So he is, like, raring to go. Is he?

Let's bring him in. After I tell you that this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet365. All right. Let's bring him in. Doug McCl at this hour real kipper and born brought to you by bet 365 all right let's bring him in doug mclean former nhl president author of draft day um so so where you been you guys why you don't know that i took some time i wanted to look more intellectual i watched you guys on the set last night doing the leafs game and the energy is just not there you've got to get the energy up you know that's why we bring you in so anyway i went today the first this week the first time i bought a pair of glasses by

myself without having deb Berman with me. How did I do? I wanted to look more intellectual. You did great. How do they look? 10 out of 10 for me. Like they should be on a chain. Are they transition lenses?

Yeah, oh, they're transitional. Definitely. I always go with transitionals. But listen, I had a terrible night last night. I get a call from a friend. What are the Leafs doing? They traded Nylander to Columbus for Bemstrom. I thought, wow, they're really shaking it up there.

Anyway, I realized it was the wrong Nylander. Anyway, look, things are exciting. I mean, the pom-poms are out. I'm not going to accept them yet, but it has just been a great run by your Leafs, and I'm blown away. Keith has turned Domi into Bure. He looked like Pavel last night.

And Bertuzzi is starting to look like Probert. Domi into Bure. He looked like Pavel last night. And Bertuzzi starting to look like Probert. Like, how is he doing this? What does he keep doing? So, a lot of debate the last couple of weeks. Should they go in? Should they go out? Should they pass?

Did they go too much already with the likes of Ryan O'Reilly or Nick Foligno in the past? Does anything in the last game for you change the way you feel about Brad Tree Living, Brendan Shanahan approaching the trade deadline? Well, it's funny. In the class I'm teaching there, sports management worldwide, we had this debate the other night, and it really is a pretty simple debate,

and I think you and I have talked about it, Nick. When you've got the best player in the league, the best player in the league, and you think it's Marner, I think it's Matthews, but when you have the best player in the league, you've got to go all in. At his to, you've got to go all in at, at his age, you've got to go all in and they've got to,

you know, they've got to move. Do you think Keith minds if they lose Mitten or Cowan, like seriously, Doug, what is this faux positivity? Colin Matthews, the best player in the league,

Colin Bertuzzi, Probert, Colin Domi, Bure, what's going on right now? It's called giving subtle shots. You're not buying it, eh? These are no different to you?

You're not buying this at all? I'll tell you what. They've tried for five years to fix their bottom six, and at least they've got some guys in their bottom six that'll play with a little bit of bite i didn't envision taveras being in their bottom six with as being the way to fix it but he certainly has fit in well with that group so and it looks like he's helped it i i mean you can't you can't complain about the way they're playing i i got to give them full marks morgan riley's out and they battled.

They tightened up. They played hard. You know what? I'm telling you this, guys. They will not beat Florida in the first round. But I'll tell you this right now. They may give Boston a really great run in the first round. And they might be better than Boston.

Depending, does Boston get Hannafin? Wouldn't surprise me. They'll figure it out how to get Hannafin, Boston, before this is over. And that would really solidify them. But they will give Boston everything Boston can handle, as long as the kid comes up in goal and was as good as he was before. Is part of your little shtick on giving the Leafs a shot on our national shows

because, you know, is it Brother John in Vancouver in B.C. that, you know, you got to make happy? I've got to, well, I try to stay in the down low on Brother John because he puts out a lot of controversial tweets. He's actually living in Prince Edward Island now, and he's got a he's actually living in prince edward island now he's got a nice little marijuana company going so i i'm just giving him a little plug let's let's try not to get him arrested between now and the end of the segment please okay brother john's he's a good lad all right john and nephew keaton so uh as far as the rest of the country goes now,

the Leafs are the hottest team in the country. And where is Vancouver with this recent slide for you? Well, you know, they're still there, you know, with the way Demko has been all year, with the way Hughes, Pedersen, the big line has played. I think Vancouver is going to be fine, but i'll tell you what uh edmonton's played well uh vegas is you know really scrambling right now because of the injuries to stone and serious injuries to he and eichel i mean it's a big blow to them they're not as deep as they were

so um the west is going to be really really really challenging. I love the way Edmund third line center. I desperately need a third line center. So we'll see what happens. I want to get your take on, I don't know if you heard Rick Talkett's comments after the game, their last game here, but he basically said, you know, we need more from guys.

We're not getting enough effort. He really was hard on his team publicly do you think in the first year you know i understand first calendar year anyway that he's been to the club can it be too much sometimes for a team or is this do you like seeing a guy go after his team even despite all the success they've had this season you know we talked about it earlier in the year on this show i i don't really like it i i don't mind i i think that the place is in the dressing room and and and give it to them there i mean you get the rick bonus went after the jets the other night they came out and had a pretty

good period but that was between periods and he talked to his team i think that's the place for it you get sometimes you get a little carried away when you're when you're in first place i mean look when i was in first place with the pandas i was kind of cocky too you know and i used to say things i shouldn't have said so i i think you got to be a little bit careful i really do and they're a good team they've played well they've had a good year talk it's done a good job but but let me ask you about uh winnipeg. You mentioned Rick Bonas. The ownership group is talking about attendance must improve to avoid future problems, Mac.

Oh, my God. The thought is Gary Bettman's going out there Tuesday, I think, to address this situation. How big of a concern is this here? You know, I get a kick out of this. I really do. I watched the game the other night with the Leafs playing the Coyotes.

Tell them to, to take a trip to Arizona on his way to Winnipeg and talk about what's going on there. When I've got to watch a game on National Hockey Night in Canada from a college arena with the dressing room outside, the visitor dressing room, outside in a trailer. I've got to watch that. And this is the National Hockey Night.

And he's going to Winnipeg? I'd stop in Phoenix on the way. And, you know, like, Phoenix had $120 million in revenue last year. $120 million in revenue last year. And you spend, what, almost $100 on your players between NHL, minor league, all the extra player costs. So they've got $20 million to run their franchise with salaries. And, I mean, come on, guys. He's going to Winnipeg?

Give me a break. Ottawa had $128 million in revenue. I mean, I don't get it. Look, if the owners are upset, that's fine. But Gary shouldn't be upset about the Winnipeg Jets. He's got other fish to fry. The current Arizona Coyotes will be called what in September of 2024? Look, for whatever reason, Gary wants to keep that market

because we know it's a great, it's a big market. But until they get a building, look, we've been listening to this for 20 years. Building, building, look, we've been listening to this for 20 years, building, building, building. I mean, you know, we played there in the in the downtown arena in Phoenix and half the seats. You couldn't see the ice. And now they're in this. You know, they go to Glendale. I'll never forget pulling up to Glendale. They come into Columbus. Gretzky and the owners flew into Columbus and walked our building and said, OK, we're going to we're going to build this unbelievable building. I pull up in the bus a year later, two years later, we play our first game there.

And there was cows that were right up against the parking lot. It was in the middle of nowhere. It was in a farmer's field. I'm on the bus. I'm thinking, what? Are we going in to play with the cows? What is this all about? So anyway, look i i just i just

shake my head but anyway yeah we'll see what happens i mean he'll fix winnipeg i guess but he better he better focus a little bit on what i watched the other night because it was embarrassing to the league i'm sorry i'm sorry so just revisit a little bit you think you think hannifin ends up in in boston here i i think boston will do everything in their power to get hannifin in boston he's a boston kid sign there it it's a it's a definite re-sign they're gonna have to manipulate the cap here's their problem they don't have you know first second third picks they're going to have to try to sell and move some prospects or some good young players in this deal to make it happen they'll be able to figure out the cap space they got a ton of guys as ufos coming off the books um you know so it'll be i think they'll make an awful a big run to get hannifin and if they do uh they're a different

team i mean look is he the star we're all portraying him to be no he's not as good as we all think he is but he's good he's a good player and he would fit in really nice with their group yeah i've talked to enough teams where mac of course there's a marketplace we know right you put them up him up for auction and you get to bid on him. That's what UFA is all about. But there's some teams that don't value him as high as maybe even Calgary did at 7.5 AAV. There's some teams that are telling me that he should be around 6,

6.25. I agree with them. He's not going to be a guy uh mentioned for norris trophy every year no but here's why he's perfect in boston because it goes mcavoy hannifin carlo all of a sudden you've got a really nice group there he's not in my opinion he's not a number one guy he's not a number one stanley cup winner type guy mcavoy not a number one guy. He's not a number one Stanley Cup winner type guy. McAvoy is a number one guy, though. And Carlo's been really good.

And that would give them a real nice fit. Lindholm was a great pickup. I thought the best pickup at the trade deadline was Lindholm. The defenseman they got from Anaheim. So they've got a really good blue line if they get him you know it's just occurring to me is i don't think we ever got you to weigh in on morgan riley's cross check on ridley greg and the subsequent suspension so i don't know what you thought about it but i do want to know how you feel about the leafs playing well

without morgan riley and if there's any connection or just coincidence or what? A rallying cry. Sure. Yeah, I think it was. And I think it was good for the team. And you know what? The guys respected what Morgan did. You know, it was, you know, the revenge factor is Gary's and George Peros.

George Peros, revenge. I mean, I coached against him. Now revenge is the worst thing that's ever happened in the history of the hockey. So I hated the five-game suspension, but I understand it. You cannot cross-check a guy in the head. Went to the shoulder, went to the head. They weren't going to back off. And the fact that it was after the whistle.

So I didn't, I kind of liked what he did. I didn't like that he hit him in the face. That's all. And I like Ridley Gregg. I mean, this kid's – I love his bite. I love his character. The slap shot and that big deal. But, you know what, I thought it was a rallying cry for the team,

and they stepped up for him because they respect him so much. I thought it was good. Last night, Mac, busy night in the NHL, And they stepped up for him because they respect him so much. I thought it was good. Last night, Mac busy night in the NHL, including a Carolina Florida game, which I caught a lot of it. And it really gave me a, a,

a playoff vibe. And, and Florida didn't actually look like they, they lost too much of a step when, when Matthew Kachuk actually left the hockey game and didn't return. Between Boston and Toronto and Tampa Bay, Rangers, does it got to go through Florida first from here on in? You know what?

I hate to say this, but my record as the winningest playoff coach in panther history is in jeopardy oh no it isn't it it's been there almost as long as the gretzky leading the league but it's going down the tubes this year and you know i'm i'm going to be happy for paul maurice but you know what i'll go to number two in the record books, and that's okay. It's going through Florida with the way they're playing, boys, and they are a vicious team to play against. They play a vicious game.

And, you know, I think about Matthew Kachuk often because he's the guy that stirs the drink there. I loved it when he said, Nick, I met you and I talked about when he said our line's objective was to go out and not touch the puck for the first period. Just pound people. Just go after people. And I know you guys probably talked about it, but I just love what they're bringing to the table

and how well they're playing. But Broski, I mean, can he falter? Yeah, he's capable of faltering at playoff time. There's no denying that. Last year, he was so good. But Tampa and these teams, they're not even close to them, in my opinion. Not even close.

So we'll see. Mack, you've got a lot of experience. Carolina. I'll go ahead. Freddie, I mean, Carolina are going to win. I mean, I love what goes on in Carolina with Brindamore, but if they don't get their goaltending figured out between now and the playoffs, it's the same story.

You can't win. Freddie, hopefully he comes back and can play, but that's a disappointment for me there. Sorry to interrupt. No, no, no. I wanted to ask you, you've got a lot of experience in dealing with the relationships behind the scenes of a GM dealing

with other GMs. We were talking earlier on this show about Tanev being available for Calgary, but for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brad Treeliving is here. And you wonder, do they want to deal with a former general manager? Would a GM, would they ever not make the best deal available for them just because they're like, you know what, we don't like the way that guy left here, this relationship's not as good as that one uh typically no typically no but i would love to know what murray edwards who is a fairly big figure a daunting figure in calgary in the ownership group

how his relationship is with brad and, you know, sometimes it was happening. I don't want you doing a deal with that team. I mean, I've heard that, but I've never really experienced it. You've got to do what's best for your franchise. You've got to make the best deal you can. If they're not going to be able to get them signed, they've got to move them and get the best price. I like what Craig is doing, how he's handling this.

He's not getting carried away with the playoff run. He's focused on what he's got to focus on, and that's building the team. And it'll be fun to watch. I mean, Hannafin, Gensel, a few guys. I mean, there's a few Adam Henrik. I mean, there's a lot of teams can use the third line centerman boys at playoff time. A lot of teams. And most teams aren't as lucky to have a john taveras in the number three hole you know mac we're we're a couple of weeks from a trade deadline it's awfully quiet here is it is it because of just uh the salary cap are we going

to see a lot of third teams come into play to alleviate still the cap. How hard would it be for a cell? If you were the general manager of say Columbus today and say, listen, we're going to, we're going to park some money here and we're going to build up some stock and draft picks. I mean, is that an easy sell to an owner that,

Hey, spend a million or two and let's get us a first round or second rounder. Just a minute columbus are paying larson still as a coach who i don't know how long he's been gone as long as i have and they're still paying him larson they're still paying babcock a few million a year they're still playing they got a kekelenon now i mean like they've got more money on the side than I had for payroll. So, you know, are they going to take money? I'm not sure that we'll see.

But I know it wasn't very pleasant when I was there when you were holding on to a few dollars. Look, teams are going to do it. The only way some of these trades are ever going to happen is they're going to have to bring in third parties. They're going to have to. And it's getting easier to do that because people are buying into that it's a it's a it's you know a relatively new strategy the last number of years and it's it's out there it's it's if you can get good assets and pay dollars for draft picks why not why not do that uh doug you're talking to me so good money well spent money well spent if you can do it. Yeah, we look at Seth Jarvis coming to Carolina.

That was with Patrick Marleau, them unloading that, right? That's panned out beautifully for Carolina. We were talking before we came on here about Marc-Andre Fleury. And we saw a headline today on, I think it was NHL.com, about how Marc-Andre Fleury should have some say into where he goes or where he gets traded at this point. What do you think a Hall of Fame-level guy like him is owed at a deadline like this?

Is that fair that he should have some terms to dictate where he goes? He should dictate based on what's in his contract and his no movement. That's as far as the dictation goes. I'm sorry. That's what it was. You know, his agent negotiated that. That's what he's got to go off of. After dictating other than that, I'm sorry.

I mean, look, and he's a hell of a guy. I know he's one of the great guys in the game. And, yeah, but I don't think that's going to happen. I guess Wayne dictated he was going to happen did wayne i guess wayne dictated he was going to la did he nick he probably told you that and one of the night one of the nights at the ritz i'm sure he broke that to you before i got off work i before i could beat you guys over there he probably slipped that that he did he dictated he was going to la um speaking of maybe the only example you know speaking of goaltendings uh goaltenders there

there is a market out there and it's probably a stronger market than we've seen in a long time were you ever in a situation where you would consider a goalie at the trade deadline we know skaters in defense but getting a goalie at the trade deadline doesn't happen very often, especially when we're talking about someone like Markstrom right now who's at the peak of his career. Well, we traded Mark Denis to Tampa at the deadline, and for Freddie Modine, that was our deal. And, you know, Freddie came in and played really well, and Mark gave him a couple of good years there.

But that was the closest I ever came at a deadline deal and you know other than that you know but is the market that good I mean like Fleury's out there who else is out there that you would really want

it's just LA New Jersey give me the name yeah give me the name. UC Soros, Jacob Markstrom. Yeah, Soros. Soros, people are calling on Soros. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, look.

Philly needs a goalie. Yeah, when you watch Nashville, if you're going to move Soros, I mean, that's one of their major strengths is this guy in goal, and he probably wants to be there. Markstrom has been so good. Where's Calgary going to be without Markstrom? I'm shocked New Jersey didn't get a Markstrom deal. Markstrom and Tannum.

I'm shocked they didn't pull that off in the last couple of weeks to get those two guys in place and give themselves a real chance to make the playoffs, and it didn't happen. So, yeah, there's some goalies, but are they, you know, yeah, those are two great names. And, you know, they could move, and they would certainly help teams. But big decision to let Markstrom go, and a bigger decision to let Saros go, in my opinion.

All right. Just one more for you before I let you go, because this is kind of giving the term off the rails. Just a minute. Rimmer wants to know how good Nylander is. Is he close to his brother? Or is there a little drop-off there? This is John Davidson's big deal.

JD's first big deal. Tell him the drop-offs. Tell him the drop offs, roughly $91 million. Wayne to Brent. The drop off is like when I'm hiking in the Rockies. That's what the drop off is. When you look over the cliff and I get dizzy, the vertigo clicks in.

That's the drop off. Okay. So I just wanted to, I want to get his JD's first deal out there, you know, for sure. And I was going to say that off the rails Friday has kind of a whole new meaning.

I don't know if you, you've heard or read this story about the Arizona coyotes placing Adam Rizisca on waivers with the intent to terminate him. The, the, the release comes in the wake of a video Mac being circulated online and it's been taken down since. And by all means,

go find it if you haven't seen it, but this is really bizarre. Like what took so long? What took so long? I saw it this morning. Why did it take eight hours to terminate him? Like, I mean,

what is it? What are these guys? 24 year year old what's he thinking about he twitters his head I don't know it's just it's 24 year old where's his head I I'm I'm sorry I mean like good grief I I don't I can't believe that a guy that he would do that I mean I've done dumb things in my life. Come on, we know that. But seriously, this is sad. In this segment, you've said a few dumb things. So, like, can you imagine today if you were a general manager

what you'd have to pay for detectives? By the way, I have to say hello. I've got an old friend that used to send me all kinds of stats from Phoenix. And her nickname was Stat Girl. And she used to send me tips. And she sent a note the other day. She wants one of my books autographed. So she's going to mail it to me.

And she told me her and I have just bonded tremendously because she told me she watched the Leafs last win the Stanley Cup in 67. I think her and I are the only two people alive that watched the Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 67. So I wanted to say hello to her. I think Doug's getting catfished, I think. Anything else you want to plug? What was that? Like, where was that conversation again that you had?

Don't tell Deb Berman I picked out glasses without her. Whatever you do, do not tell her that. She'll be happy to know that she's nowhere near going to get blamed for those. You've taken her off the hook. Completely off the hook. Thanks, Mac. Guys, I really appreciate you having me on the show yes a lot thanks man you know yeah it's opened up so many doors for me a cow and hit me on last week it's really and now you're a tenured paid professor at that university it's like seriously the opportunities are just going crazy.

I heard you can get in on a lead shop in PEI, too. You got all sorts of open doors. That's why you have to close the blinds, right? Just enough. Keep the rip-rap out. Doug McClain, everybody. Former NHL president, general manager, and author of Draft Day.

Oh, man. He's entertaining himself. You don't even have to ask him a question to start off. It's just like, hey, Mac, go. I would say one of the longest odds things that has panned out for our show is that I cannot believe we've had him on our show for three straight years and we're continued to allow to have him. We love to have him. It's like I would not have bet on that. Would you get

three straight years of Doug? I would bet against that. So yeah, everything's gravy from here on out. I love listening to you when I'm on. Love having him on. Yeah, that's a really big blockbuster trade for the... Emile Bemstrom for Alex Nylander. Is there a

weirder condition in the history of hockey have you ever heard of that the condition is if bemstrom scores six goals for pittsburgh yeah the sixth round pick that was traded with alex kneelander becomes a third which is a massive jump up in value so pittsburgh needs him to get five goals, then sit in the press box. It's almost right up there. If the team scores like six goals, everybody gets free pizza. Yeah. It's very,

it feels like betting. It feels like, yeah, we'll just gamble a little bit here. We'll see what happens. I don't know. Anyway. It used to be when the Raptors scored a hundred points,

it got a slice of pizza, but then now every game, now it is that if the road team missed a free throw in the fourth quarter, it's a free slice of pizza. A single free throw? Yes. So it's pretty generous. Wow. Anyways, you guys want to do game time? Sure.

Alright, it's game time presented by Bet365. Visit the app for the latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary. Bet365 must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Now I'm looking at the playoff odds to reach the playoffs here so a little future for you and the one to me that's pretty interesting and a team that's kind of on the on the precipice here is the tampa bay lightning yeah they are minus 185 still to make the playoffs but their odds on the other side are at plus 150.

So they really have a pretty strong, like a plus 150 is not a great number for a team like that. They do have some belief that there's a real chance they miss the playoffs. Oh, I'm right there too. And you hate to just write off some of the great players of this generation in Stamkos and Hedman and Vasilevsky. But Kucherov, point. It's just not happening.

I know. And that door for the Devils is open. If they could just, they've lost their last two games. They lost to the Caps the other day. Like if they could just put some. And bad. Yes. If they could just put some wins

together they're right there so in terms of winning percentage like they're they're knocking on their or tampa's up five points but jersey has uh two games in hand there so i'm just quickly scrambling islanders two two games in hand uh the devil's number the devils to make the playoffs they're plus 150 now they're uh minus 185 favorite to miss the playoffs this year what are the islanders the islanders are plus 280 favorites to make it and minus 380 to miss so they really don't have any belief in the islanders wow yeah that seems a bit much yeah uh so hold on the last one penguins penguins no. Penguins. You kidding me? Playoffs? The Penguins are only plus 180 to make,

and they are minus 230 to miss. They believe in them more than the Islanders. They do believe in them more than the Islanders. The audacity. Yeah. A couple games in hand, right? Yeah, I see that. And to win outright, the Stanley Cup,

haven't checked in on this in a while favorite favorite who is the favorite uh yeah i could see edmonton or florida edmonton is the favorite at plus 750 the rangers are second at plus 850 and the panthers coming in at third at plus 900 the toronto maple leaves have moved all the way up to plus 1,200, but they're still behind a bunch of teams. So they haven't totally convinced them yet. That one's going to change soon. There are going to be some people that... The Canucks are still 9-1, Bruins 9-1, Colorado plus 9-1. There's going to be betters that are going to lure a lot of suckers out there.

The Leafs are actually ahead of the Oilers in winning percentage by a hundredth of a decimal point. Like they are, they're right there. They're so similar. 642 and 643. The Oilers

and the Leafs are so similar. Yeah. They really are. Like they haven't been able to like stop mirroring each other for the last few years.

Jack Campbell solves no one's problems. No, he does not. And that was game time presented by bet 365 visit the app for latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary if bet 365 must be 19 plus on camera only please play responsibly okay we're gonna take a quick break here and we return we'll get into our news and notes around the text and it's friday we got lots lots. 590-590. Anything on your mind, you let us know and we'll get

you into the show. Get you the best weed shop and PEI. Nick Kiprios, JB and Sammy. Back after these words. The best Blue Jays show out there, period. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download

the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right. Bringing it home on the Real Kipper and Boren Show, the Kipperios, Sammy McKee, JB. That's Justin Boren for all of you. Just tuning in for the very first time. We have a tweet that says,

would you trade Marner for Crosby right now? Is that our first tweet? Is that our first? I wouldn't dare read that because I don't know the answer. But I think... I can't answer. Yeah, you know the answer.

It's a funny question. No comments or questions at this time. You know the answer. You would? No. You wouldn't? No. No.

Sid's got how many cons, my trophies? What, you got three cons, my trophies? No, I don't think... I get all that But I'm not trading Gino has one of them in their cups I'm not trading a 36 year old for a 26 year old It's crazy guys

It's not that crazy And I love Sid But you're really Rolling the dice here on Another year Or so And Mitch is You're really rolling the dice here on another year or so. And Mitch is just entering his prime. Just entering it.

Reminds me of the questions my son asked me before he goes to bed. My seven-year-old son, you know, like, would you rather have spaghetti hair or fingernails made of cheese? You know, like, whatever. It's just like, it's not a thing. We're talking about nothing. No, you answer now. Yes or no? Yes. Mm-hmm. know, like whatever. It's just like, it's not a thing. We're talking about nothing. No, you answer now.

Yes or no? Yes. Yeah, I would. Okay. It's 100%. All right. And a lot of it's based

in just me adoring Sidney Crosby and having him be on the lease with one of my life's greatest pleasures to have Sidney Crosby as a charmant. If you're going to get 90 points this year. He's not a bum. It'd be one of my life's greatest pleasures to have Sidney Crosby as a Charmant. If you're going to completely roll the dice.

It only has a year and a half, two playoff runs in him on his contract. That's all you need. Mitch is going to leave anyway. Be lifting it up after this one with him on the team. It's really off the rails. What current roster players won't beat Toronto Maple Leafs on March 9th?

Nick Robertson. End of list? Yeah, I can't. I can't. You got anyone else? McMahon? McMahon. No, I think.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but McMahon's UFA too, right? Yeah. Actually, we had a tweet. Somebody tweeted me something about that because I didn't want to bring it up because I didn't want to be the guy that brought it up. But they said, could you give us an estimation

on what his contract would look like if the Leafs were to sign him? Now? Yeah, a million bucks. Two times one? He's nuts to sign. sign he could he can go on a heater here right now he's signing uh 10 mil for eight years no would if you went to him with two times one one right now would anyone not do that he'd do that right i think he would for sure two one-way contracts at a million bucks? Let's go.

No, no, no, no, no. He's going to get that. Is he going to get that? Oh, yeah, from any other team or more. Like, there's just, there's upside here. There's only... He cleared waivers. He's 27. It doesn't matter.

You've got 25-plus regular season games, and if you have a good playoff, you're UFA. He could conceivably really do some, like has a chance to ratchet that number up. If he scores another six goals this year and he gets to 15 and then he has a playoff run, like that's an ambitious output. Some of the names that may not be around for the Leafs,

I'd like to try to move Camp's contract out. He has a modified no trade. Really? Oh, everyone. Why? I know. I'd like to probably, he might need to move Brody's number out to bring a number in.

Buddy, he's on a tear. Yeah. Anyways, and then a whole lot of first round picks and minton there's not a geez louise we're trading everything here three fifths how about a fifth rounder will be out uh in the first team like vancouver i don't know how much they've got left to to change what has still been a terrific season with a lineup that looks like it's coming together. What did you think of Tauket's comments? I asked Doug about them, but did you hear what he said?

He basically said that... Well, Rick's a little old school, too. When you think about a guy like Keenan coaching him every once in a while, it's okay for your team to be upset at you or pissed off at you or it's the old kind of galvanize the group and if i need to be a bad guy for a day or a week i'm fine with it i admire coaches that do that i'm just like i'm gonna go ahead and throw myself out there and they can hate me together. Yeah. I don't.

I hate Rick. I'm just saying in general when coaches do that. And I know Mac's sitting there going, well, you should challenge your players behind the scenes. But there is also that public outcry too that can add a little stress in your life too. It's one thing to be told you're no good in a closed. The press is asking you about it. Your coach is calling you.

In a closed dressing room, but after that's done and then you move it outside, you'd like to keep it more of a secret that you're not as good as your coach says you are. 403, is that Calgary? It is, yeah. 403, we got a text from Calgary here. What should Fl flames fans be

return uh hoping for on the return for hannifin hanev and markstrom hannifin tanev and who and markstrom and markstrom oh my god i mean a lot hannifin is a first rounder is at a minimum probably a prospect and a player like this guy is yeah no 26 year old hennepin uh for for a chance to uh get hennepin you'd have to give up for sure two or three pieces i think like picks or first and and a top prospect third and uh prospect something like that and like tanev is a first and mark strums yeah another we got a text earlier talking about adam henrique and and someone mentioned And Prospect, something like that. And like Tanev is a first and Markstrom's another call. We got a text earlier talking about Adam Henrique and someone mentioned Anaheim wanting a first and two-thirds.

Yeah. So. A first and two-thirds for Henrique if that's the going. The problem is with it being that expensive, you got to get to the 11th hour on May 8th. Yeah. That pushes a market that can be a lot more realistic. Everybody's asking for the moon now.

Yeah, I know. But I feel like everyone's still in right now. You're going to find teams are going to drop out over the next two weeks. If they're bad enough over the next little bit, you may not have as many suitors. I don't know. Like a team like Calgary, you've already made

up the decision when you traded lynn home yeah no they've made the decision yeah i just mean in terms of potential trade partners for some of these guys like nashville detroit or the islanders be done by then detroit's on a tear by the way detroit will not example no by the way did you see the goal in overtime last night dylan larkin setting up Patty Kane in the slot. Holy. Larkin's underrated. Detroit's interesting. They won three in a row there.

No, he is underrated, though. Like, I feel like he... Yeah. Okay. Phil on the 401. Could a Nazem Kadri return to the Leafs ever happen? I mean, I like Naz as a guy a lot and as a player, but I have no interest in that contract if i'm the leaf i hear i hear uh they still want him and they think that they can

even have him in the lineup in a new building gadget yeah i mean his contract's certainly long enough it's still 2029 so yeah there's the only way he can end up anywhere else like a toronto or a colorado is if they eat a big portion of that yeah seven he makes no seven he makes seven a year for five six seasons if you include this one color Colorado would take him back in a heartbeat, but they'd have to. Need retention. They'd have to have a number 30%, 35%. He's having a better year than last year. He's got 20 already this year, only a 24. 50 points in 57 games.

So he's. I don't think Kadri's going anywhere. Yeah. Okay. You might need to do some homework for this one, Borny. Yep. Off topic, but this is because it's for me.

Yeah. Off topic, but what do you guys think is the best logo in the OHL? And if we could get a zoom over on my beautiful jersey over there. I have always liked the Brampton Battalion. Are they still around? They are. I think they're now the North Bay Battalion. Okay. Yeah so so you can see right behind borny's head there is my favorite

this is a self-serving one i just can't believe the sudbury wolves is allowed to continue with just random blood off the fangs of a child's drawing of a wolf that's fascinating to me you know owen sounds is the best but they're missing blood. Owen Sounds missing blood? Off the bear? Yeah. Random blood splatter flying off the fangs. I think, if I'm going to be honest, I love Owen Sounds, clearly, but the Sioux Greyhounds.

I have a lot of Sioux. I love their program there, a respective program. All right, Sammy. Bring our show back up. Oh, come on. Bring our show back up to the big leagues. Will you please? Come on. Jeez, it's the best development league in the world, and they're going on. Bring our show back up to the big leagues. Will you please? Come on. Jeez, it's the best development league in the world.

And they're going to ruin it because they have to pay the players now. I wasn't going to read that one. Just going through here. All right. Kadri would have been such a better fit for this team than Tavares would have been in retrospect, says somebody. So just a quick one to get to my next.

And cheaper. I agree. You guys talk way too much Leafs. There are other teams in Canada. Yeah, Sammy, that's all your fault. You also avoid anything about the Jets with a passion.

I find that quite offensive because we have Sean and Ken on at least once a month to talk about the Jets. We do lots of Jets. That's rude. Well, no. Hey, listen. We make an effort. We check it off each week.

This is a damn good team. And, like, there's a lot of empty seats in the top of the building there. Yeah, that's offensive, too. Get your friends out to the game. Don't worry about what we're talking about. Buy a ticket. By the way. Support your team.

You know, and part of it, too too is the top end of their lineup. Like they're a good team. It's tougher to be like, you know, superstars are doing this or they're drama. They just kind of play well as a team. That's great. They're a very good team. They need Tanov. Yeah.

They need to kind of, they need to reshuffle that blue line just a tad. I think Nick Ehlers should get more playing time and more love. I like Kyle Conner. Should the Oilers be targeting a goalie at the deadline, or do you think they can ride it out with Skinner? That is a big-time decision here. Skinner's been great. He's tailed off a little bit.

It's just, what are you going to do? Are you going to go add Markstrom at that cost? Are you going to go add Soros? Soros? Not George Soros? I don't know. I don't know what they do. That's a hard one.

They're not going to do anything. There's no chance they trade for a goalie. They need a 1B. Calvin Pickard's not doing it for you? What about Campbell? No. That didn't go well. That pitch did not land.

In all honesty, they need a Jonathan Quick. They need someone that has a little bit of... Pedigree? Yeah. Confidence in the playoffs? We hated Martin Jones's goals last night but that guy somewhere in the league to come to edmonton don't you think he'd be available like the leafs are probably going to wave him when joe wool comes back wouldn't edmonton say well we'll take him for sure yeah

but he needs to play he needs to like let in tougher goals than last night at least could trade him you know say like if there's a couple of teams looking for a 1b and say hey we'll take a seventh for him the other factor is is i'm telling you matt murray is gonna be available in the playoffs what in 2026 this season he's available playoffs matt murray matt murray will be healthy and good to go. The guy who plays in Dallas? That guy? Different Matt Murray. The one that won the Stanley Cup. Oh, wow. Yeah, in

Pittsburgh. I just, Kip, you could not do that. You couldn't take that risk. He hasn't played hockey. No, no. He'd be Joseph Walls, Samsonov, and then Matt Murray would be your third goalie. You know, one of the Leafs this season. Yes.

Hello, McFly. Well, buddy, I'm trying to make sense of Matt Murray playing for a playoff team this year. He hasn't done hockey. No, no, I'm saying that he'd be the third goalie. Get rid of Jones, and then Matt Murray's your third. I'm not suggesting that Edmondson's going to get Matt Murray, although it would be a huge gamble but if it's free i would try it the guy feels great okay he's got new hips new hips he's young he's young he wants to play he's young with new hips who could say no yes that's fascinating i'm in that. I'd like to see how he does in the American League for a bit.

What if the Edmonton Oilers took a look at Marc-Andre Fleury? I could see that. I like that. Yeah. That's the guy I'm talking about. That's the backup. Now you need Fleury to okay that, apparently. I don't know.

He's starting to show up on every team now. He is, yeah. Just go through the rotation. Yeah, so I'm not sure if he actually wrote about this, so I'm just taking it from a texter's word of mouth. Elliott Friedman wrote that the Bruins would be willing to move Linus Allmark. Is he your 1B you keep talking about? 1B?

Yeah. Who's A? Yeah a yeah well i guess just in general about the one the vesna trophy last year it doesn't matter they can't they can't just keep him and swimming just can't keep going and i'm just saying like if you trade him to any team he's the starter yeah you want the literal vesna last yeah i know i get it yeah i get it but that's that's a big bold move for edmonton i would look at it for sure but i don't know what the cost would be yeah i don't know like is a second round pick a first round pick i think he makes five mil right yeah i'm not even sure they can fit it in yeah five mil this year and next that's reasonable trey reasonabla that's jack campbell money wow that's just that's a bad jack campbell mistake

right now if he doesn't come back yeah that will always be a really tough but he's been good in the american league i haven't checked in on the old bakersfield condors recently but they just can't justify the increase in salary of calling them up. No. All right, boys. That's it for Text Line Friday. Thank you to everyone who texted in. Thank you for the Marner and Crosby question.

Really, really got us thinking. That's the most we've probably done. For text? Yes. Oh, yeah. Because you always, you see a squirrel and then you, then we're off topic again. This sort of stuff is always, you see a squirrel and then you. Yeah. Then we're off topic again.

This sort of stuff is always, you know, less interesting. But Cody Hodgson scored his first pro goal in eight years in Milwaukee's win. Cool. That's really cool. You know, I was skating with Cody. When? Like October, November. You didn't call tree living?

Every Thursday morning at North Toronto. I was his left winger. Why don't you ever tell us anything? I was his left winger. Well, then why aren't you playing for the Milwaukee Admirals, bud? I got him ready. How'd he look? He spent the last, I think, six weeks getting in tremendous shape.

Yeah. He wasn't there yet. So he was, listen, you could see he's like a really good hockey player. Yeah. I mean, I hope he gets another shot in the NHL and scores himself another National Hockey League goal. We'll get him on the show. That'd be great.

We'll get him. Yeah, just text your left winger and away you go. I'm going to remind him every day now. Yeah. I got you back in a pro hockey. Yeah.

That's a great story, though. That doesn't happen. How long was he out? When was the last time he played? Eight years. That's crazy. And he came out

as like a top guy. He was the killer at the World Juniors and came up and crazy. You should try that. Stop broadcasting for eight years and then come back on the show. Our favorite team, the Winnipeg Jets plays tonight against Chicago Blackhawks Oilers and the

wild play. And then two other teams, Buffalo Columbus. If I stop broadcasting for eight years, you'll all be an assistant golf. I'll be delivering your pizza or serving you your beer at the beer store, bud. Our thanks to Joshua Cloak from The Athletic in our first hour. And as always, driving it right into a ditch, Doug McClain.

Thank you. Thank you. All right. Enjoy your weekend, everybody. And if you get a chance, give us a rating and review. Love to hear from you. Our thanks to all our YouTube followers as well.

Have a great weekend, everybody. And we're back Monday on the Real Kipper and Bourne Show.