Real Kyper & Bourne - Development of a Defenseman with Mark Borowiecki

Episode Date: January 23, 2026

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by former NHLer and current pro development coach for the Nashville Predators, Mark Borowiecki (3:14) to chat about his transition from his playing days to becoming a coach, the style of play from the defensemen across the league in today's game compared to when he played, his day-to-day with the Predators, and Roman Josi recently playing in his 1000th NHL game. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee look at the future of Nashville's core, Tristan Jarry allowing 6 goals to the Pittsburgh Penguins, if the Ottawa Senators' playoff hopes are over and your texts!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, let's kick it up a notch here on our national hour. It's a real Kippur and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary. Streaming on Sportsnet Plus. Also available Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube where we love the chats. We love the thumbs up. We love the support.

Many thanks. Am I getting any love on that thing ever? So much. Always, Kipper. No. No, no. You do your whole thing. This hour of real kick for born, brought to you by Bet365.

In a few minutes, we'll welcome in ex-pro Mark Borvieski. Yeah, good job. I've butchered that thing throughout his whole career. And today, when he comes on our show as, of course, a national hockey leaguer over 450 games in Ottawa and Nashville, now pro development coach for the Nashville Predators, I'm giving him all the credit for Stamcoast's comeback. year, which is off the charts.

I got to tell you when the year started, there were people going, I told you it was over, I knew this wouldn't work, and now all he does is shoot it in the net. Also, text, right? Yeah, yeah. 595, 90, send his texts. The Marner thing is a national story today because it's going to be on Sports Net nationally.

It's a big one with him returning. So we'll take some of those texts. We'll take text from other parts of the country. Just a little bit of Leaf's news. They sent Hildo to be to the Marleys. And activate. What a strange day. I don't know if people out there in the national hour saw the Leafs head coach's head.

You want to bring it up? He will, he will, you'll see it tonight on the bench. He had an accident in the gym. You can see it on TV here where it's the shape of an iron. I think maybe an old-timey cartoon happened and he got whacked with an iron. That's my theory. It does look very similar to, was it Marv in Home Alone when he got hit with the iron? That's the same shape.

It's the same shape. I've, if those of you that didn't watch our first hour, I'm just shocked a guy that has fought more times than probably two or three guys in the history of the game. I don't know, 3,000 penalty minutes, close to it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Never, never had a face that looked like that.

And now he's 60 years old. I'm laughing. Got and fight with a barbie. because he's fine. That's what we think. He said it happened to the gym. I'm laughing because he's fine. They zipped him up. But I also need to point this out again in the national hour for people that the same day this happened, Kip showed up with eight stitches in his chin and a fat lip.

Now, maybe that means nothing. But I do know that they know each other and that they don't always like what we say with the team on the show. It's possible they had a conversation they're not talking about in some back alley. What was the old meeting in Lake, in a barn and Lake, Placet or whatever. Nice green at nine. I think these guys had one of those.

Oh, my God. That's great. All right. Let's welcome him in. Oh, nice. Mark, how are you, my friend? Hey, I'm good. Thanks for having me on.

Listen, you realize you're in Doug McLean's, like, slot right now. He bailed on us for a golf day. But, you know, I'm not saying you got to drive our show into the ditch like he does every week. But, you know, You're under a little bit of pressure. I'm not talking, is it Mitch Marner pressure? I'm not sure tonight, but it's pressure. You know, I actually took it pretty seriously.

I put my teeth in for the first time around. That should show you that I'm trying to live up to the issues that I've got to fill here for Mac. Well, we had a conversation with Doug last week, and it sounds like you were listening to it. Well, I'll let you explain, but you introduced me to a fact I didn't know about Doug. McLean so maybe you can pass that on to our listeners yeah you know I'm up in

Ottawa I had just come across a picture of Doug you know we were going down to my son's first hockey tournament in a town about an hour south of Ottawa and I said to you the kids were were chill they were awesome in the car my wife was like hey you know why don't we throw on a podcast and set of music just to kind of keep everything's then and everyone's then and I said you know would you mind if I throw on your guy's show I listen to you guys when I'm on the road traveling for work. And I said to you, Orney, being as awesome as she is, she agreed. And I said, I've got to get one teed up with Doug McLean. You know, I enjoy listening to him. Always good,

good for a laugh and entertaining. Sure enough, he threw it on. She liked it. She was like, man, you know, this was awesome. Go through the three U-7 games, come into the lobby in the little community rink in Brockville, Ontario. And she's like, Mark, come over here. I want you to see something. You know, I kind of saunter over. And she points to the wall. And we've got some friends from Brockville who were in the Sports Hall of Fame. They're ready. sex, and zero leader, and I saw them, and I was like, yeah, you know, cool. And she goes, no, no, look, she goes, it's Doug McLean,

the back from the show. It's fair enough. Just like, pure happenstance, pure coincidence, there's the Mac on the wall there in Brockville, Ontario. So I was like, you know, I should probably flip that to you guys. Are you sure he's in it or he just hung it up himself? Maybe he just paid so much money. They just threw him on there anyway, so who knows?

Well, you are off to a great start, my friend. Again, thanks for joining us. and now, you know, just your life now as a member of the Nashville Predators. And, of course, as a development coach, it's got to be great, at least seeing the turnaround here in such a short period of time. What do you look at as being the biggest influence of going from a team that looked like they were just ready to sell off anything that wasn't nailed to now contending for a point?

playoff spot. You know, I'll probably use all the cheesy hockey cliches you guys were hoping I wouldn't use when I came on here. But I think you can look at last name scheme as a little bit of a microcosm of kind of where we are. You know, we hang around. We find a way to stay competitive through 40, you know, in the last 60. You get some highly skilled players a chance to execute, and that's exactly what they do. You know, I think you've kind of had that mentality in Nashville, certainly since I've been here as a player and on this side of the game, you know, You try to find ways to stay competitive and be around and and and be in the mix. And, you know, there's kind of two ways to look at it,

salvage you from a development standpoint. You know, you always want young players to have roles and be playing and getting big minutes. But at the same time, you know, to have them, you know, exposed in whatever capacity to a winning environment or a competitive environment or, you know, a situation where we're aspiring to win. You know, I do think that is very important kind of in a player's growth and in their development path. It's crazy to see that the Preds now, point out of a playoff spot in the West, considering

early on how it felt like things were going. So you've taken on this role in development, and I wonder, has that changed how you look at the game at all? Or were you always someone that when you were playing, you were worried about the finer details? You know, I've got a bit

of unique gig, probably not the traditional development role you think of in terms of going around with amateur prospects. You know, I'm kind of boots on the ground a little bit with the team in Nashville, boots on the ground with the team in Milwaukee and floating around kind of wherever they need me. I've had, you know, some interesting perspective. You guys know, like, when you retire, you know, your relationship to the game changes,

sometimes in a positive way or a negative way. I think for me it's been in a positive way. You know, you kind of fall in love with the game again. I feel that pretty deeply. You know, I've had a chance to be on the ice a bunch. And, you know, I really do look at the game through a bit of a different lens here now. You know, kind of wondering where there's points in my career where you lose the joy of the game a little bit because it's such a grind, you know, you're a role player in the league.

the league can be relentless. The game can be relentless. It comes out of you in waves. And I kind of step back and realize, man, you know, I love hockey so much what I would give now to have a coach shoot me out in a video session and stick a laser pointer on me and ask what I was doing out there. You know, you kind of rekindle that,

honest, for the game for the game for. You're watching and listening to Mark Borvieski. I'm so proud of myself. I was pretty close. Hey, I'm so proud of myself because I butchered your name like throughout your whole career and now you're out of the game. I've got it down pat, but my saving grace is I'm not the only one that's beating that thing up over the years.

You know what? I've got to be honest. I'm actually a little nervous here. I'm Ottawa born and raised. I've been indoctrinated from a young age to have a pretty healthy skepticism of Toronto sports media. So I feel like I'm voluntarily kind of walking into the Lions Den here. So I'm trying to be on my best of here. Last night, okay, as you mentioned, never give up and finding ways to get points.

but this was against an Ottawa senator team. You're living in Ottawa right now, and I know as a member of the Nashville Predators, there's certain things that you can say and can't say, but, you know, just the overall effect that, you know, the senators had in your career and what they're going through right now. I mean, can you kind of just tell us a little bit about, you know, being a member of Nashville, yet feeling the vibe of being in a market like Ottawa?

Yeah, for sure. you know, it's an interesting, kind of an interesting situation to look at. Like I'll say, you know, I said to, I think I'm going to say to Borne, you know, my five-year-old son, I think he represents me a little bit. He's torn on who to cheer for sometimes, you know? Obviously, breads are my go-to, but, you know, just to stop I had in Ottawa at the time I spent there some special people there who I still know, and I still follow a team closely. You know, it's natural in this market.

You know, I think you see in Nashville, we're right there, we're chomping at the bit, we're hungry, you know, and I think in Ottawa, you're kind of hanging on and trying to find some life and trying to find a way to rally and regroup a little bit. Two different vibes for sure. You know, some great young players in that team. You know, I'm such a huge fan of Jake Stannerson as a former defenseman, trying to appreciate a D man's game. He's cream of the crop for me, watching guys like Stozo, grow their game and evolve.

Lots of cheer for there. It's just, you know, I think it matter right now. Can they kind of grab something, reset themselves, refocused in that room and kind of find some traction here. Boro, you played such a physical game and committed to all the details and all the little stuff that, you know, allowed you to have the career you have. I wonder if you look at the NHL today and think it's different from the league that you broke into. We were talking the other day just about the defensemen.

Like 10 teams have a defenseman that is a one-man breakout. You know, it's just some of the talent of these guys. It just seems to be changing. It's such a rapid pace. Yeah, you know, I think when I was in the league, I was that generation where I think, you know, the idea of Puck's National defenseman was just kind of coming onto the scene, right? We were getting rid of kind of the ground and pound guys and maybe, you know, what I was doing and kind of shipping these guys who could break pucks out, you know, be a part of the rush,

layer in, create some offensive looks. And I think now you look at every DECOR across the league, you've got one, probably two guys who can do that. Having said that, you know, I'm kind of a believer that hockey is cyclical, the league is cyclical. We're going to swing again a little bit here where you know you've got a backfill with guys who've got some backbone to them too. I'm not taking away anything from those top-end talent guys. You know, certainly those guys have backbone too. But, you know, you need some guys who can dig in, who can take some pride in zone one defense and kind of find that nice mix.

So for those of watching and listening here, as we say, pro development coach, what does that mean? What is a day-to-day for you? You're focusing more on defense because that's the position you played. Do you focus on more guys that are stay-at-home? I mean, give us an idea. idea of what a day is like for you? Yeah, certainly the title is a little vague.

Sometimes, you know, I think the role is kind of morphed and evolved over the course of three years. You know, year one, I was two weeks in with the team every month. You're just kind of filling in the cracks where coaches feel like they need some help. So it's in Nashville for two weeks. They might punt a couple guys to me as an extra resource, get eyes and ears on them, you know, just kind of form relationship, talk to them, see what they need, you know, convey some expectations from our side.

to the second year, I was balancing out of Milwaukee, our American League team a little more, doing the same sort of thing. And this year, it's actually evolved, I think, even more now, where I've actually been pretty heavily involved in kind of our sort of our return-to-play protocol for injured players. And I think selfishly for me, you know, it's kind of this naturally

a little more intimate setting where you've got this opportunity to have a few extra touch points on guys. You know, you're on the ice and kind of this one-on-one setting. Maybe there's a strength coach, maybe there's an A-TU who hangs behind or I'm athletic therapists who hangs behind for medical. But you know, you've got a chance to kind of dig in with guys and really kind of get down to the nitty-gritty of their game

and what they need and what they're looking for and get them back on track. And I think we've done a good job kind of standardizing our return to play. And I've been able to double-dip a little bit from a development side. You know, we've had two shows in a row where we've talked a little bit about guys with, like, mental health. We talked to Olmark the other day. Yesterday we had Dr. Sinclair on to talk about it.

When you do return to play stuff, is that ever an element that you guys see where guys are, working on that part trying to get their heads back right into things before they come back and play? Yeah, 100%. And I've been through that person. I think that was part of the reason I think, you know, there was some appeal, I think, for Nashville to bring me on board. You know, I remember just absolutely grinding, you know, through concussions and trying to figure out what was actually a symptom and what was just the wraps nest up top, kind of sorting through it, right? I'm sure you guys have been there too. It's pretty common. But again, I think that opportunity and that kind of

intimate return to play setting one-on-one, like you can get into these hard conversations. I'm a big believer, and it's all about how you frame it in your mind. Like, you know, getting injured sucks. You know, I'm not going to try to sugarcoat it, but it is an opportunity. It's still an opportunity to have elite high-end conditioning. That's a big thing that I pound on. You know, I really harp on it for guys. It's conditioning is confidence.

And here's a chance for you over this next one, two, three weeks stretch to be in the best shape of your life. To get back in the lineup, maybe you're a nine-minute and a night guy. But if the coach needs you to play 19 that night, you know that you're so supremely prepared for that, that hey you're back in. So I think there's an opportunity to kind of maybe change, change, you know, the mindset and mentality for guys in this setting. So, yeah, you know, I think it's worked out well. I look at the pendulum on a lot of things and return to play

from my era to yours to where we are today. As a management team, how much of a change have you seen over, yes, we understand to come on, kid, it's a long way from the heart. Yeah, I think you got to, with this generation, of players kind of land right in the middle. I think you're doing them a disservice if you're not pushing them.

Just call a spade to spade. You know, we don't need to, you know, we don't need to cauddle guys and keep them bubble-wrapped. You know, let's take some pride in being athletes and pushing ourselves and having a league conditioning. I mean, I miss that, Kipper. I'm sure you do. Like that opportunity to kind of look in the mirror

and be like, hey, I'm a bit of an apex predator here. Let's take some pride in that. Let's put in the work so that we can puff our chest out and know that, hey, like, I'm at the top of my game. I'm prepared. I think you need to push guys. But at the same time, you know, this next generation of lawyers, you've got to be mindful of kind of, you know, building relationships, knowing, you know, that they need to feel that trust and that, and that idea that you have their best interests in mind. And I think when you've established that, but a foundation or

framework of having that relationship and mutual trust, that's when you can't push guys, because they know that's coming from a good place. So, you know, in talking about guys getting back into the game, you guys got a guy there. who's played, oh, just so many of them. Roman Yossi hit a thousand. You know, this guy is a special athlete that maybe is one of the leagues underappreciated players.

Like, he's in Toronto. I don't know. He's held up there among the all-time great players. It just feels like a thousand games in Nashville is maybe an underrated story for a career there. 100%. What do you play? I think it was over 29 minutes, right?

As a 35-year-old defense, I'm playing in a Southland game. All situations, you know, he's, out there for the vast majority of a two-minute power play. He's penalty killing at times. He's playing some hard matchups. I think it struck me about Roman

when I came to Nashville as a player. It was during COVID. We're in these small group settings, you know, eight guys down the ice. And I was like, man, this guy does every rep during the whatever it was, four months of practice. We had to feel like it was at random.

He does every rep in full speed. And I think you sit on the ice, the way he moves out there. And on top of that, he just needs a guy to root for it because he's a great dude. He's a good family, man, a good husband, a good father,

just an easy guy to be around. Mark, one more just touching on return to play or the reps that you speak of. As a management team, do you guys look at the inability to have back-to-back practices or if the guys are getting enough time to do therapy before they're thrust into a must-win game in November and December? Does it feel differently as you watch it on the management side than when you played how it's starting to feel like baseball where they just play every day? Yeah, it's different for sure. You know, usually Kipper, I know for me too, as you go through your two weeks, you're grinding,

you're on the ice, one-on-home with the coach, he's out there with a coffee and a stopwatch, putting you on the line, and then, hey, I'm up to speed. I've graduated, I can survive that skate, now I'm going to get out there with the guys in practice and get my timing back. It feels like we don't have that opportunity. You're kind of catching the move and train a little bit.

I think that's where we kind of put our heads together collectively with strength and conditioning, you know, with myself on the dev side with their athletic therapist and management. It's like how do we get these guys up to speed, knowing that the opportunity for team practices is so slim. You know, usually it's just going to be a game day skate where you're out there kind of tickey,

tacky getting your touches in. So, you know, we kind of tried to standardize it a little bit in that respect. What are some drills that we know we've had a positive outcome, maybe creating a bit more of a game-like situation, you know, as much as we can in that setting? And then, bang, can we get a, you know, positive repeal outcome for that.

And it's not an exact science, you know? I think that's, you know, part of you've got to have some humility and know that you don't have all the answers, but like you said, the environment's changed. You know, you can't just expect to have a week of practice to get up to speed and get your touches and timing and you've got to kind of get the ground running a little bit. Mark, awesome stuff.

Let me ask you, what are you doing every Friday at 5 p.m. Eastern for the rest of the year? I mean, Max's pretty well connected. I'm not sure I want to cross-rathbridge and I'll have someone coming after me or whatever, but, you know, I enjoy listen to him and I'm really appreciative of you guys having me on. I said I always like talking shop here, so hopefully a little smarter than I look. You know what? You speak very well. Very good on it.

It's unfortunate because Mark still has reason to keep his bridges intact, and Doug just burns them all as he goes. That's what makes it entertaining. It does. All the best moving forward, pal. Thanks for doing this. Thanks, Paul. I appreciate it, guys.

Thanks. That is, Mark. Borvieski. Yeah, all right, all right. What a guy. Yeah. He's all right. He's awesome.

It was great. It was awesome. Warrior. By the way, when he says stuff like, you know, you're an apex predator, it kind of makes you feel like you want to get out there and run through a wall. About that.

Can we just, you know, speak of Nashville for a little bit. Of course, Borby's team. Moro. Yep. Okay. When did like Stam or Stamcoast now put himself into like the 40 goal man? Time machine.

Just absolute time. And what is that done for Nashville in terms of if it's still a trade chip? It's gone from, can you pick up 50% of the contract to, no, no, you want them? You may think about taking the whole thing because you're getting a 40-goal score. And if you don't take them, go out around the league and go find a 40-goal score. And then come back to me. But to be honest now, Kip, I wonder his point about getting these guys in games that matter, they're a point out of playoffs, and some of the teams ahead of them kind of stink.

Yeah. Like, is there value in just hanging on? He's got more years in his deal, getting playoffs. I love that Stamco's having this. I mean, he's got 24 times. He had 27 all year last year. And there was a point. He's got four more years after this.

So you can hang on to him and see if you can have another good year next year. Yeah. Yep. I think there's, I don't know, how many times. team six, eight, ten, that, like, even if you, if you made it, what, am I getting out of the first round, the second round? Do I have an opportunity to ditch the eight million bucks for something younger down the road with prospects?

Let me correct myself. I was looking at Philip Forsberg. He only has two more years. Stephen Sandco is my apologies. This year to eight plus two. He signed a four year ago. Yes, that's right. This year plus two.

Those are tough decisions for Barry Trots right now. Do I get out while the going's good? Or do I hang on if we make the playoffs? Is it a conference final kind of team we have right now? Could you add? Oh gosh, I'd be so nervous for them to add. Well, this is the thing. It's like you know, you hear in some of these markets that aren't, you know,

your big markets that playoffs have value. you know, more gates and more whatever, that stuff has value. But long term, there's no doubt it probably makes more sense to get rid of that contract while it's at its peak value. So Nashville, we put Nashville in the same feel as Pittsburgh right now where you're just holding on to the last, you're squeezing the last out of Ryan O'Reilly and you're squeezing the last out of Stamp Coast and your...

March or so. Marches-soe. I mean, I don't know if you're squeezing the last of Ryan O'Reilly. I think he's close to point a game right now. He's having a great year. Philip Foresbord's still a stud. Yose is still kind of doing it. When I say you're squeezing the last out.

He's got 50 points of 50 games this year. Ryan O'Reilly. So if they retool, can I retool and still have Ryan O'Reilly where he is today? I think you're Nashville. When I'm competing. I'll retool you. I think you're Nashville and you got to keep butts in the seats and you're within shouting distance and you have good players who are playing well

and you just kind of keep winning. This is a vicious cycle. I know. This is how you end up finishing 18th, a whole bunch of years in a row, or 14th to 18th. Yeah. You should probably...

Would you guys... You go to Nashville? Would you make of Kristen last night? Tristan Jari? Tough one. Well, you know, they gave up 32 breakaways and a high tip from Sid that was pure art. According to the two of you before the game,

it was like the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. It truly is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. A cross-body chop. Get your foot out of the way. He's had a few of those. I've never seen him get that much mustard on a redirect. Like, you know how strong you have to be to forehand redirect that puck from that far out?

Scott Schaeffler footwork. It is. Clear the hips. It's a thing of beauty. I've never seen it redirect from that far out and get that much on it. Yeah. I mean, Jari, you don't expect a pass going at that angle

to end up up here. The Manta one, I couldn't believe, I tweeted about it. I couldn't believe he put it five whole. It was just insult to injury on that one. I don't know what Bouchard, Evan Bouchard's doing on that. Like, he's kind of there with him. Well, he goes up in the rush, but look, heckler. It's got an impossible situation.

Okay, no, no, no. This is, okay. The first goal, was it the first goal? I'm telling you, this is the Manta one. I don't know which one this was in the order of. Yeah, this is the second goal. The second goal. The third one is the first.

Sid Slap Chop. Yeah. So it was... Vince. Slapshop. It was the first one where I'm like... It's still an issue, right? Bouchard.

All of it. It's never going to change. No one... Can you name a defenseman who is prone to, you know, errors that in their 30 stopped being that? Like, Eric Carlson still has the moments, right? Like, it's kind of part of the deal. If you're awesome and you got that in your game, you got that in your game.

Otherwise, he doesn't make 10. He makes 14. Connor pointless in two games now. It's like that's a big deal. They lose. Oh, yeah. If he doesn't get points, they lose. That's just kind of how it goes.

Yeah. Like, they have to have points from him. He just generally gets points. Does he, is he? Every game. Yeah. I just, I just watch every night, 25 minutes a night. It's too much.

I think he's, I think they're just, they're not going to leave much left of him. How about this? Are you ready for NHL load management? would you be okay totally healthy Connor doesn't have to play for a night because they just need them to have a day of playing

too many games so you're proload management you like Kauai Leonard no I like the NHL to less games that's what I want how many do you want

an Olympic year at least do 70 games 70 that's a massive chop 12 games no you're not I think it's I think it's realistic to chop half a dozen

75 78 12 is too many. Next year they're going to start earlier. Which, I don't know. I don't know if a week is going to matter much, but they're scared about going up against college basketball. Not to be a cynic, Kim. But they're also adding two games.

Okay, what season? The fall? October. Yeah, yeah, the fall. That's when college football is really. And the NFL starts. And the NFL. They're going to 84 games.

I know. It's too many games. It's too much. It's too much. I actually think the most insane decision that we've barely covered is to look at the NHL schedule and say, we got to get a couple more out of these guys. You know what? They're dying.

We need more teams and more games. It's like, no, less and less. Like, talk about hacking at the product. Yeah. But here's the thing. There's more mistakes when guys are tired, which leads to goals and excitement. And I don't know if the product is worse than that. I'm a little nervous for...

McDavid coming down this stretch and then having to be ready for the Olympics. You've seen those biometric things. You can get like rings and stuff that like tell you when you're like near injury or near sickness. Like my, there's aura rings. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I see. Yeah. Yeah.

I don't get that. Well, we're not here to debate that so much as like, I got to believe if these guys were wearing those things. They would be very close to over. The things would be saying just stop. You need a break. Everything's about to fall apart. Take a knee. you're going to die

you can't keep doing this a dumbbells a dumbbell is going to fall in your head you're going to have a horrific gym insin yes very we've got proof Jake just asked me for our our audience on sports center or whatever do you want to watch the Sydney

Crosby tip yes yes yes it's coming up in the zone oh my god he lifts his right skate so it doesn't hit his own ankle he knows the direction of the tip just to lift his leg out of the way that is so cheeky God, what a great jersey matchup that is.

Holy smokes those penguins jerseys. How'd they ever go away from there? What a tip. Are we going to be talking about Jari not being the best choice coming in for Skinner like all season? Are we going to get... Who else could they have that?

Well, we're going to do the whole... We're going to do it because you and I hated it from the start, so we're definitely going to do it. I think their valley is going to tell us about the different goaltending environments. And I think the Oilers are a tough environment. It's like last night, it was just highway to the net. That sounds very valley-like, and you're probably right.

Just quickly, on Cid, now up to 57 points and 50 games. So far there's 27 goals, 30 assists. I'm just really... 27 goals. I'm really thankful that, you know, because it's the Olympic year and he's playing for Canada and he's the captain, that it's not Captain Emeritus. Like, he's just... Totally.

I had a big fear of that. He's unbelievable again. Yes. It's just another season of him being unbelievable. It's amazing how good he still is. It really is. People, you know, some of the names that people think are just like the best player in the league. It's like, Sid.

We got a referendum on Mitch Marner tonight. He needs five points tonight to catch Sid. Sid, again. Sid. It's crazy. Speaking of which, I know we beat it up, up and down and sideways, the Mitch Marner returned to Toronto. Oh, we're going to do it again.

And it's a national game on Sportsnet. Mm-hmm. How much do you think the rest of the country cares? Hate watch. They're going to hate watch? They're going to hate watch? They want to see Leif's fans in misery. That's the thing.

Okay, I can see that. There's a lot of bars in Vancouver, if you're listening right now on 650, that are going to be salivating over a couple martyr points having the Leafs go down. Tell you, a couple boys in Long Island going to be tuning in two. Oh, yeah, they can't wait to life.

They hate us because they ain't. I don't know if that's why it is. But we can, you know, there's a lot of Toronto fans that can turn around to Vancouver and say, hey, wouldn't you like to play a game where we actually could feel something? Whoa, whoa. Kippers turn it on Vancouver here. I'm just saying.

They're pretty rude out there. I'm just saying. Sure. Right? I, for one, fans probably wouldn't hate it. I adore our Vancouver listeners. I would never say a bad thing like. No, I'm just putting things in perspective.

That's all. Like, you know, I think everybody can feel a certain way, but you got to check in your own backyard every once in a while and see how things are going. I'll tell you, though, Leafs five points out of playoffs going into tonight. Three, three. Yeah. Looking at a playoff spot. If Marner hangs a couple on them and they lose tonight, there's going to be some happy

viewers across the country. Yeah. I'm worried. I'm worried. We should do game time. Okay. It's game time. Because it's about bat three six five.

Visit the app for the latest odds and see why it's never ordinary a bat three six five must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. So yeah, the Leafs tonight hosting Vegas, like we said, on Sportsnet. I'm just quickly looking for points here. If you want, if you're a Leaf fan listening to this and you have a little bit of dread about tonight, there's an excellent way to do a bit of a happiness edge, okay? So if you want to bet Marner to potentially have three points tonight, that's plus 600.

If you want to bet Marner to have two points, it goes way down, it's plus 180. If you want to bet him to have one point, it's minus 270. Minus 270. They're like, he's getting the point. They're anticipating a point tonight. But I do like the number at plus 600. And if you really are worried about a big night, four points plus 1,400.

So there's lots of ways to happiness hedge the fact that Martin could light up the lease tonight. As for the game line, the Toronto Maple Leafs are underdogs on home ice, plus 105 on the money line. Vegas coming in the second half of back-to-back, minus 1-25. They played in Boston last.

I don't know if you watched that game. I dozed through it, but then watch the highlight. the third period was not pretty for Boston. They almost blew that lead multiple times. A couple of other good ones tonight on the ice. Out in Calgary, for our Calgary listeners, they're taking on the Washington Capitals, who just lost to the Vancouver Canucks.

Yikes. They're playing the flames. Caps, big favorites, minus 1.30 on Home Ice, Calgary plus one pen on the money land. Do you see White Clouds minutes in Calgary yet? No. They're like, he's Nick Lydstrom to us. Really?

Like 23 minutes or something. I played so many minutes. That's got to probably be awesome. Be like, you know what? I know what I'm going on is good by playing. You can flip them for first. You can play in those minutes. Also pretty well loved it sounds like in.

Maybe. Anyways, Rastis Anderson making his debut tonight for the Vegas gold nights as well. That was game time. Presented by Bet 365. Visit the app for latest odds and see why it's ever ordinary. A bet 365 must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly.

If I wanted to slander the Toronto Maple Leafs, I would for some other market, I would point out that their second line is, Machelli, Tavaras, and a limping Matthew Nyes. Like, it's not awesome right now. When you don't have Willie, it's thin quick. That's your second line. Yeah.

So anyway, that's all. As bleak as you may think it is for the Leafs on that second line, how would you like to be the Ottawa Senators losing to Nashville last night after being up 3-0? I'm going to ask you guys after the break. Oh, boy. if they if they blew their season last night. Don't answer.

And text. 590, 590, 590. Text, text, text. Not Leif's questions. Not Leif's questions. You heard the man. Back after these words. Get smarter when you listen to Hockey Talk.

The Hockey P.D.O. cast with Dmitri Filippovich. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipperman, born, brought to you by Bet, 365. Nick Kippery, host, Justin Bourne. our very own, Sammy McKee. Okay. So what's going on with, what's the latest on the Mitch Mariner return? Okay, before we get to what was just said to me,

we were talking to Borough, Mark Borvietzki, right? Yeah. About the Brockville Hall of Fame. Yes. Our intrepid Jake Schultz dug up the picture he would have seen at the Brockville Hall of, Doug! Doug! You know, looks better now.

Doug's got a better cut, better glasses. He's maybe, maybe. little trimmer now he's I love listening to you Doug's like an age is like a fine wine oh my God look oh

we can't totally lose them on a Friday even though he doesn't come on the show two years as a junior in Brockville and he's in the Hall of Fame pretty cool okay is that is that real is that AI okay first of all you never know you never know I'm worried about potential

AI so Dave McCarthy who covers the Leafs 4 NHL.com. I just tweeted a picture of a billboard of Shulis Joe's downtown and Dundas Square there, whatever it's called now. So it says, hey Mitch, don't choke. And I think he's just advising

they're advising him about eating carefully at their restaurant. Is what? No? I don't know. I don't know. Well, first of all, just to your earlier point here, I hope Dave took that picture while driving on the highway.

I hope it's his picture. And he just didn't randomly find it because that's when you get in dangerous territory on the internet. I'm looking at this. I'm zooming. I don't know. I think maybe AI. Oh, yeah, okay.

Like I'm just, listen, we're all going through it together. Everybody knows what's real and what's not. Nothing's real. Like, just our young guy up there, Jake, who's young and smart, says just look at some of the stuff around it. Okay. It looks very like. We got to go to the youngs.

The young seems to think it's AI. Okay. But, I mean, Dave McCarthy. I'm not telling you what I know. I'm just telling you what a scene. Or what you're hearing. In this case, it's seen. But it does lead towards the vibe that we're getting for tonight's game.

Yeah. I don't know. Jake asks if we still want it up. But if it's potentially AI, we don't want it up. We don't want to be like my parents. No, no, no. We're not putting it up. We're not putting it up.

No, we're good. Thank you. Just looking again last night was very unconstitutional. was very unkind to Canadian teams, right? Montreal lost. Jets lost, Sends lost. Yeah. Boyler's lost.

But we're in trouble. As a nation, we're in. I'm just, and the Ottawa breath from 60s. The Ottawa senators, as I mentioned before the break, blew a 3-0 lead. Their penalty kill is just

horrific. They don't get saves. I've really had feeling last night that they lost their season last night. I had the exact same feeling. You know, or it's just like you can't play around with points when you're in last chasing teams. We got a text regarding this.

Aiden texting here. You guys cut to break when you were talking about the Sends. Is it time to have the Brady talk yet? You know, I hate this. I don't. But it also crossed my mind as soon right after that might be their season. Oh, that could be Brady. Did he talk about it on his podcast?

I haven't noticed. Is that the thing still? I think there's some wondering if that podcast is doing him any good. Probably isn't. I mean, see, I hate this, though. Like, we think they're losing games because he's talking to his brother on... No, I don't think they're losing games because of it. Clearly, that would be the stupidest take to have.

But I think that the perception of the captain of your team being willing to go and joke around with your brother on a podcast during a tumultuous... Is he serious? Is it okay? Yeah, sure, if he's like going on there and giving canned answers about how the season's over, sure. But I saw a clip of him talking about how focused on playing for the USA team they are and how much they can't wait to play for USA. And it's like, if I'm a sense fan, I am pissed. I am burying him every day about this if I'm a sense fan. Yeah. I don't even know if I agree with that or not, but it's legit.

It is. And he wouldn't be the only one feeling that way. And because he knows that. side of the fans, it brings up an interesting point, again, if I'm management. It's all just perception. It's stupid. It doesn't matter, but it's perception. It is perception.

PR. Also, I think... Boy, Mendez is having it. What a year. Yeah, it's... The PR on the senators alone could be a major reason why this season derailed. God. Yeah, whatever's going on that's causing all that.

They've had some weird stuff. But, you know, Brady had, in the last five games, he's got four goals, four assists. You know, like, he's putting it in the net right now. Yeah. I think the one thing that I'll just back that up is, like, his whole reputation is a guy who gives everything he's got. And, you know, playing with some injury with his hand. If you feel like you're not getting that part of him, then you do you be like... What does he have left on his contract?

This plus two more. Oh, that is it? Okay. Two more at 8.2. I wrote earlier this week for the Toronto Star. my article, which put Connor, which married Connor

and Austin with two seasons left, but you could put Brady in that as well. Brady, Connor, Austin, all coming up at the same time. Yes. And where are they? Where's the teams at that

point? And if the personal agendas match, is the implication like match with individually with their teams or with one another? Are you tying the players together in any way? No, no, no, no. I'm talking about the player and the respective club. Okay.

And whether or not they're still aligned on where we're going and how do we get there and who am I surrounded with and am I comfortable with the goalie that I think is going to try to help me win a Stanley Cup or is now the time to cut bait? You know, I think it's different with Edmonton and Toronto who, have spent so much in terms of assets to keep bringing guys in, keep bringing guys in. You know, Ottawa still has two of their next three first, a few more picks. Do they feel like they have more room to play with? Like, I think there's room for them to improve and they got some good young players.

They can't get a save. Yeah, they still feel like a team to me that if you're Brady, you're like, we can win here. That's a valid point that they're still now entering their upside. They're upside. The two of the three hurts, me not saying three of them. because remember, they lost that one in the Donov first that they don't have this year. Do you think they need to do something right now to take a one last poke at saving this season? That game last night's massive.

Like that two points is massive. Yeah, like I guess, but you've got to climb Florida, Toronto, Boston, maybe Buffalo. Look at their next four or five games. It ain't pretty either. They have a tough skis. Right? Yeah. I think Vegas, Colorado.

Yeah. Hurricanes tomorrow. then Vegas, then Colorado, then New Jersey. And Pittsburgh, then Carolina. Boop. Bumbo. Ro, row. Yeah.

Got a text here from Jeffrey in Medicine Hat, Alberta. After watching Zach White Cloud play two games and bring a steadying force to the blue line, I'm torn on whether they should keep them or trade them leading up to the deadline. What do you guys think? Now, his contract situation. He's got a good, I think he's got two more years, like 275. Yeah, yeah. You're going to get a really good player for a good couple of years.

You know, guys won a Stanley Cup who plays a rugged type of game that people like. Like, he's a... I say you flip him. You do, eh? I do. Don't he feel like that, having that guy around your team helps everyone? How old is he? 29.

Too old for my, the group that I want to focus. And I want to focus on 25 and younger if I'm Calgary. Because he could get a first for sure. Like, if he's decent for them over the next. First and maybe a prospect. That much, yeah. He's right. He's right.

Right-handed D. Multiple firsts. He's right-handed, what, six-two? Right-handed D. Yeah. Who hits. Two-10 hits. Can fight?

Ask the eyes about how hard he hits. Right? No, I... It's about those windows now. That's what the cap does. It's windows. I know. I know.

But you need hockey players. Do we think he's going to be no good at 34? No, no. He'd be great. And if he's great in the room, it makes it that much harder because you want to surround these young kids with good veterans. Yeah. I get it.

But I get your point to be real nice to just turn that Anderson, juice that Anderson return to something that looks really good. Two firsts, their top prospect. It's like that looks. Two firsts. Didn't they get a second as well? Yeah, yeah. Which could, if they go to the final, which, God, could also be a first.

Martyr playing on the final. Uh, that just eats you right up, eh? Oh, you're damn right it does. You're darn too. Kipper, this is one for your junior hockey question. I love junior hockey questions. I can't think that far back. Thoughts on the old barn in Sudbury.

Your great memories question mark? It's coming to an end because the one that has the... It is, the wolf on the string. On the string with the big picture of the queen. Yeah, they're a new barn. Loved it. Loved it. Love northern Ontario.

There's nothing better than junior hockey up there. Sue St. Marie, let's throw them in there. You said there's nothing but junior hockey? Nothing better. Oh, better. Nothing. No, I was looking at clarity. Oh, no, there's drinking.

Yeah. And there's other sports. Alaska, I believe, labeled some of the things you can do there. You're a bowl. Oh, no, Curl. I've lived in Alaska. I know the drill. Ice fish.

Yeah. All good things. So, yeah, I had some great memories. Tough place to go in. Usually sold out on a Friday night. Yeah. Fantastic. We had that little loop between North Bay, Sudbury, and the Sioux. And, I mean, I know you hate when I do this, but their jerseys, I think, are the best in the

CHL. With the gray and the blue. It's just a... Sudbury? Aren't they the ones of the... world's worst logo? Did they have a little blood? It's like the cartoon wolf

with a little bit of blood on it. Oh, the blood was a nice touch. They're amazing. I love it. Today you could never get through that through your HR department. I could have donated a little bit of that blood off my eight stitches yesterday. Yeah, fair enough.

Yeah, this is the logo. Yeah. It's entertaining. It's great for the kids. It's great for the kids. I've heard a ton of rumors about a potential Panarin trade. If so, where do you think Panarin goes and what would the cost be?

Detroit. So he is a true expiring UFA. He is a point per game player, if I'm not mistaken this year. Let's quickly confirm that. 56 points in fit. Yeah, Kane and Detroit's a nice one. Minnesota. Second round to Florida.

Ugh. Yeah. Because that's where he wants to go, right? He's got a no move. He's got to no move clause. And he's like, oh, I want to go. That's exactly what's happening. He just went to Florida for a second.

Buddy, this is Brad Marchand squared. And also that should happen pre-Olympics because Florida needs to win or they're not going to make playoffs. If Florida gets it, oh, bit my tongue, that suck. Oh, really? If they get into playoffs, they got a chance, right? Just get in. I'm not doing great either.

Buddy, it's Friday. Yeah, we're doing it on. This is a weird question. So I'm going to read it anyway. Okay. Do you think the league should put the blue line in a little bit, in a little bit? So it's not as easy to control play in the offensive zone for so long, maybe six inches? That's a terrible idea.

Who has ever watched hockey and thought that? I wish they had the puck less in the O zone. Is that ever come across either of your desk? Does anyone ever ask you that guy? I'd be more likely to approve that crazy rule where you cross the blue line and now you get to the red line as your offensive zone or something. Like I, no, no? What's to be gained? It's Friday and my head hurts.

Yeah. You never come across the desk. And I don't know. Let's talk about something else. Let's talk about... Hold on. Appreciate the tax. Hold on.

I got more for you. Appreciate it. I want to ask him about stitches in his career and how many he's had. Better rip. Better rip. What do you got for stitches in general, career totals? What are you looking at? 300?

Yeah? Well, I had a stick go right through my lip. And it was like... You actually do have a... Straight across, go, yeah. So I needed micro stitches. Yeah. And they just build it up.

The stitch in the inside? So I don't know. I may have ended up with 100 over 100 in just my lip alone. How did you get that one? First rounder, Mike Weir of Quebec. I'm in Fredericton. He goes to shoot a slap shot behind the net to bring the puck out. And his follow through clipped my bottom lip.

And now I have to go to the hospital. They can find a plastic service. or whatever they you know their specialty guy is and he puts a he puts one of those tools right through my lip and then he and then he starts calling people over go take a look at this i'm like what am i an experiment here what am i like is is kramer going to drop a mint in my mouth like come on i told you did uh i played some summer hockey with your probably your old teammate mike rydley when i was behind the net oh ritz asked him a puck in front of the net and he one time to write back in my face so I got a good dozen right under the eyeball too.

He drove me to the hospital after a nice guy. Yeah, that was fun. My eyeball won that cost me about 15, 20 stitches was because I was watching the scoreboard clock. You're watching the play in the scoreboard and the real? Yes. And it's one of the few in Washington where like, you know, on the bench? On the bench.

And I'm watching Peter Bondred do a big circle in the neutral zone and then he shoots the puck and I'm like, hey, that looks like it's heading right towards. boards are bent boom and i go down and our benches are right beside each other and it's we're playing the montreal canadians and there's key carbineau just laughing his ass off having a good time hey do the pens bring gino back from cape retina i think he's like crying to come back all the time it's just it's just over one year it's just over why is it over isn't he having a good year sure yeah but it's it's also one year that you take

take away a 22, 24-year-old kid who wants to take more responsibility and try to be more of a leader. Oh, yeah, you definitely want a responsibility kid. 39 points and 35 games this year plus 15. Definitely brings someone new one. Keep them. Gino. I like that he's nasty. Nine games on tonight.

The big one, Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leaf, 7 p.m. Right across the board on Sportsnet. I'm going. Sammy, you going? Come on. I got to work again. Our thanks. Tomarviyoski, who joined us in Doug McLean's spot and held it beautifully.

What a closing image. Enjoy your weekend. Stay warm, everybody. Thanks for joining us.