Real Kyper & Bourne - Draft Day Headlines with Doug MacLean

Episode Date: June 26, 2026

Former NHL President, GM and head coach Doug MacLean joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne ahead of Round One of the NHL Draft (4:05). Mac weighs in on the Panthers' improvements, where Sergei Bobrovsky will land, Dallas' plan for Jason Robertson after he declined Seattle's mega-deal, why Columbus needs to hang on to Zach Werenski, and the trend of American stars pushing their way off Canadian teams. Later, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee discuss what the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division might look like next season and answer your questions on the text line! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Welcome back in the national hour on Real Kipper and Bourne. We are live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 650 and Vancouver, 960 and Calgary. Streaming always on SportsNap Plus. Also available Spotify, Apple podcast, and YouTube, where we always appreciate a thumbs up from that wonderful chat line. This hour of Real Kippur and Born brought to by Bet365. Nicky Hill's Justin Borne, Sammy McKee. We also got a text line.

Do we not Sammy today? Yeah. It would be a great day for it. We usually do this on Fridays, off the rails with Doug. 595, 9. But please, just from all over the country, if you're listening, you can put the numbers up for me, Jakey, at some point. But I don't want just all leaves.

We've done enough leaves. I can scream about Gavin McKenna again if you want, but less leaves, more other teams, other Canadian teams with Texas, 59590. And we'll get into all of them when we get finished with Doug in the second half of this hour. So there you go. As you mentioned in a couple of minutes,

we'll welcome in Doug McLean. former NHL president, GM head coach, knows a thing or two about drafting top players, the pros and cons, what could be running through various GM's heads right now. A lot of pressure guys. At the end of the day, I know they get paid big bucks too,

but this is a, and Doug couldn't attest this too. He'd probably be still working if he... Oh, don't go there. Come on. I can go there. Come on. What, if he took Copatar?

I'm not mentioning names. I'm just generalizing. If he would have zigged instead of zagged, there could be a chance he can still be working. He probably told five people to half off all along the way too that he shouldn't have. Listen, I'm not going to do the full Doug McLean impression because they don't really have that.

I got babes, but I don't got Doug, but like lots of other teams passed on him too, Kit. I'm looking forward to seeing Mac tonight. You know, I tweeted today just a couple of leaf thoughts. And one of my thoughts was like, For Matthew Nyes, this whole saga. You know how I feel about that. Yeah, yeah.

Like, oh, tough beans. I tell you... Not tough beans. I'm more sensitive than that. That's not true. That's simply false. But, I mean, it is, you know, unfortunate that this kid is not, it's not like Morgan Riley, who's like, here's my fortune teams.

I acknowledge it's time to go. He was like, signed for seven years. Don't want to be anywhere else. kind of blew up last year at the deadline. And then it sounds like everyone else found out he might be available. And so there was interest. But now, like we're hearing that he was actually in packages to go. They were prepared to move on from him.

Weird to go back to your team, no, when you know that they tried to trade you? Like they actively tried to make it happen. I will not deny that putting my 60-year-old self today back when I was 24, 25, and how it would make me feel. Yeah. And you're right. No, but it sucks.

Yeah, 100%. But can I ask you? How much interaction is he had with Chico over the seas? He's going into the room to hang out with his friends. He's vacationing right now in Italy's putting out pictures on the internet. I mean,

I don't know. Is he listening? That's awesome. Is he sitting on his phone following all of this? Are you supposed to like your GM? Is my question. Do you have a relationship? I don't think check has done anything wrong.

I just think that it's a, is he tight with Shane Don't? I don't know. I didn't think, yeah, I think he's buds with Josh. Right? Zonatize. Oh, God. Right.

Oh, God. I didn't even think of that. I'm rude. I'm rude. I don't even think of that. Okay. I got Mac. All the way from the anchor bar in Buffalo.

No, we're not finding you at the anchor bar in Buffalo. Doug McLean, everybody. You sound like Babcock now talking in the third person, my 60-year-old self. Oh, my gosh. The best your hair's ever looked, Mac. Yeah, you look really, like, really put together here. What is going on? Why?

Well. Yeah, you're looking for a job. No, I got my hair cut because my daughter's getting married in two weeks and I wanted to grow in a little bit and look good. I got to give the father-daughter speech. Oh, good for you. And I'm really nervous. I look forward to seeing it on the internet when you post it. Hopefully the wedding isn't on a Friday.

Yeah. As Rimmer said, am I invited to the wedding? I said, we'd love to have you, but we only have five bedrooms in our house. We don't have room for you. So you bring up the name Babcock. Is that where you want to start here? You have any opinion on? I listened to the press conference was enough for me.

I don't want to listen. Now the players are all, and it's exactly what we need. I don't want to talk about Babcock at all. Oh, stop it. Any surprises at all about any of it to you? I'll tell you what I want to talk. Well, I don't have to talk about anything, really.

But I'm so ticked off. I go to this conference here in Boston. and every time I turn around, somebody has mentioned. And this started at the Charlottetown Airport when I was flying out. It continued in Toronto when I landed. And then at this conference, all I hear is Kiprios and Born show. Can you put your name on the show? I have turned, I single-handedly have turned this show into something special by what people are telling me, you know?

I'm thinking that you should pay us because of the. publicity you're getting off of our backs. I figured I knew you'd have something up. Anyway, I was thinking, I was thinking my team, my top team in the league right now, as of today, are the Florida Panthers. I think I've got them as the highest rated team in the league. Justin thinks they're slow. I'm not going to.

I was thinking, I was, okay. He's been wrong before. But listen, listen, think about this. If I'm playing against Tuch, Tuch, Tuchuk, and Sam Bennett, you know what I'm going to be doing? I'm going to be dumping the puck and changing. I'm going to be dumping my pants, Doug. That sounds like that.

I am. My line would be called the dumping change line. Dump and change. I guess those guys. Yeah. So. they get Hellebuck, is there any way they can get hullabuck? I mean, and is there any way Braboski goes, does he go to Toronto?

Does he go to Winnipeg? Mack, I think they're still trying to sign Brobrovsky. So clearly, when you think about everything they've been through, the Stanley Cups, the bond that they have with each other, the statues that will eventually go up outside the building, do you not try everything to get Bobrovsky to retire as a Florida Panther or no I know I know I think you do but I don't I don't understand the team trying to get him signed somehow I get that but I also don't understand goalie bob being so difficult on the contract negotiations I would have thought it would be you know a better a more team friendly deal because you would think he would want to stay there with this group. That's so both sides have caught me a little lop card on this, you know? There's no, I understand.

So last year they're down, Barkov, and then they get Brady Kachuk. So those are two massive, massive additions. They had 84 points last year. You know, like they didn't just miss playoffs. Do you have any concerns about how far off they were last year? Well, I think Bobrowski was off as well as the team was off, too, you know. But I just, I think there. I think, and you know what, Paul Maurice, this is a big year for Paul Maurice because he's had, you know, the two, you know, they've had the two cups.

This is, this is a big, all of a sudden, you'd like to see how Paul coaches this year, coaches this group, because last year was a frustrating year for him. He's done a heck of a job. But I think, I think they're going to be in a lot different mindset. I think they're going to be more rested. I think they're going to be a really good team. And, and let me tell you, their, chasing, they are going after Carolina. Trust me on that. They're going after Carolina. You're watching listening to Doug McLean, former National Hockey League, President GM head coach

and the star of Off the Rails Friday. So we're watching this scenario out in Dallas with Jason Robertson and what was perceived as maybe a $9 or $10 million player is now a $15 million player. and it sounds to me, Mac, like Jim Nill's kind of scrambling here. We believe that they had a deal in place for three first rounders to Seattle. If he were signed, it didn't happen. I hear the owner's wild that it didn't happen. That it's wild that it didn't happen that he didn't sign and they get three first.

Where do they go, Mac? Where does Jim Nill go? and do you revisit bumping him up past rent and because that's what it will take for him to stay and then there's the cap issues too because say again we believe is coming back as early as October. What does he do?

I think I would know and Jimmy you know like I know him and then he's, you know, when I say I know him, he's like a thorough, solid guy, you know, he's one of the best GMs in the business in my opinion and has been a great hockey guy for years and years. I would circle back. I would circle back and try to get the deal done.

I mean, I hate to see teams walk away from top players. They're so hard to find, I would try to circle back. But I'm hearing today that the owner is wild that Robertson didn't accept that deal in Seattle. But Seattle, Seattle, it's a little, something going on in Seattle that bugs me. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe it's because Bill Gates's ex-wife

just became a minority partner there. Something bothered me about it. Yeah, this all comes down to Melinda. Yeah, he's going to ruin the franchise. But, you know, she did do a good job with Microsoft, though. But anyway, I think that, I don't know, there's something funny going on. And they got the wealth packs.

there too. That's a 9.9%. Yeah, we discussed that earlier. That's not helping. Yeah, it's not helping. So anyway, we'll see where it goes. The team, think about this team not to change subjects and not to direct the show like I usually do. San Jose, they're going to get the Swede to play with Celebrini, and they're going to get one of those big six defensemen. They're going to get Veerun. or they're going to get Corels or they're going to get, you know, the Smith, the Latvian. They're going to get one of these big six defensemen. And that is going to set San Jose up as a really, they're going to have, they're going to be a team to be reckoned with next year. And if a Stenberg kid comes in and plays right away.

So I think it's going to be a great draft for them. And then I think about Staeos and the job he did on this deal. and I wanted to really find out about Eklon. And I've gotten great comments back on this kid. And they really think twofold. They think he's going to be a huge help to Ottawa because of the game he plays. And he's best friends with Zetterling, the other Finn kid there. And they think that his game will be rejuvenated because of the Eklund kid.

So they feel, and the two guys, that got thrown in in the San Jose deal, a scout told me today he thinks both those kids are playing the NHL. So it looks to me like Ottawa did a good job on this deal, and San Jose did a good job on this deal. As you were talking, as you were talking, Ottawa just got Andre Burakowski from Chicago for a late pick, sixth round of 22. So, Mac, with...

And they think the goalie they picked up today is one of, has potential to be a great backup. I don't know. But they think, they think he's got a chance to be a good, a real good backup.

So, Matt, with Toronto pushing hard here, Montreal, Detroit, needing to do something with Larkin.

What's Toronto pushing hard for? To get back into the playoffs. Oh, I thought you were talking about a particular player. Just, who's missing Mac now? Who's,

who's going to be on the outside looking in? And are the next, is this weekend or this summer going to decide it for you? Look, I look at teams, just an example, look what Washington have done this week. I mean, so I'm looking at two right shots join Washington in Cairo and Tuck. And you're saying, okay, where does it, is this 4-OV? Or is this in case OV retires? I think it's for OV to make the team more competitive that Patrick made these moves, which I really like.

They lose McMichaels, good young player in the deal. Kairu's been a guy that's, there's been something about him that's bugged me. I don't know, coaches haven't been in love with them. Can he turn it around with a team like Washington? They still have their first round pick available because they used Anahein's pick to make the deal. They still have their first round pick. I think Washington is a team that over.

But I like Carberry. He's got a new deal in place. I think he's going to come back. And I think they're going to bounce back as a good team. Columbus right now, Donnie Woodell is going to figure something out. Hellebuck out there, is Buffalo get Hellebuck? Is there any way Buffalo gets Hellebuck? Yeah, certainly.

I think that's a real possibility. Florida, talking. But what if Buffalo? get Hellebach. What happens to that team? Mack, I was going to ask you while we're doing big names that Werenski won in Columbus. Like Columbus is like Marchenko's out there, Werenski's out there. What are your thoughts on sort of a cycle here that feels like are they going to have to say,

that this ain't it? Tough spot. And they trade for the Russian from Colorado who's one step away from being out of the league. Bart, you know. Yeah. I mean, I remember I used to have to, I used to hire the police to follow Jared up around to keep him out of trouble. What are they going to do with this guy? Was that even legal? Do we know? I don't know what I did.

The cops, the cops come in and said, the cops come in that I, you know, they're off duty cops. They said, there's no way we can follow this guy. We're sitting outside his house and we think he's in there and he'd been gone for hours. David Blaine of hockey players. Oh my gosh. They couldn't follow them. So I said like, if the cops can't follow them, what the hell am I supposed to do with them?

Mac. Is the Columbus Blue Jacket fans the most patient in the history of the NHL? Because it's got to be tough watching these names come in and then leave and then come in and leave again. And the whole time they've never taken. them on a great playoff run. And the cap keeps going up.

Now we got Jason Robertsons of the world, turning down $15 million a year. Where is this going for an organization like Columbus? Then I'm talking to somebody. They don't even have a TV deal right now. They don't have a T. They may have to go to an app or, you know, there's not even a Scripps outlet in Columbus.

So there's a few teams that don't have TV deals, which is pretty bizarre. And they may have to go to an app situation or over the air or whatever. But they are the most patient fans and they're unbelievable fans. But I just, I don't, I don't, you know, the, how can they lose the defenseman? How do they lose them? I mean, they've got to get him signed someone, somehow, some way they can't have him go out and say I'm leaving. I'm not resigning. If that happens, we're rents to an MVP or best defenseman in the league and you lose them.

I would hope that doesn't happen. I would hope it doesn't happen. But there's a perception there. It was bad. It was good. And now it's shaky again. And it really bothers me. But I check into my room the other night in Buffalo.

I'm just trying to relax, you know, had a nice glass of wine. And your credit card bounce. Turn on the TV. Turn on NHL. network. And guess what it was? It was Ovecans' first game as an NHLer. And guess who they were playing in game one? Your Columbus Blue Jackets. My Columbus Blue Jackets. And I watched the game. I watched the game and I remember being there after the first period, Nash doesn't come back because of a high ankle sprain. He suffered in training camp. I watched Danny Fritchie scored two goals.

I watched Brulay almost decapitate Ovechkin at the blue line. You're like, here we go, baby. With a huge hit. I listened to the broadcasters locker and say, oh, Brulet's got a chance to be the next Theo Flurry. Then I watched Danny Fritchie score two goals. I watched Jare Dev dominate with unbelievable puck skills. Adam Foots on the back end.

And I'm watching this. And I'm almost in tears watching. And then your alarm went off and you woke up straight out of bed and went, oh, that was a weird dream. Brulet breaks his leg and fractures his sternum. Danny Fritch's shoulders went out. Pascal LeClerler who played great in goal that night. He blew out his knee.

And I'm like, so I'm just, it just brought up so many wounds, you know. So anyway, what a great way to start draft weekend. By the way, I met Gary Betman and Bill Daley in the lobby today. Oh, boy. How was that? You guys boys? I always shook hands. And I said, it's the first time I've seen you, too, without bodyguards.

I don't think they found it that funny. Well, you're in shape. What do you do the job? Anyway, so it's been a very fruitful weekend. I met Burke. I met Berkey. Burkey spoke after I did today at the conference. Nice.

This is the Hall of Famer. The five. of GM's society, Hall of Famer. I said, Berkey, I've sent you two messages congratulating you. I have four phone numbers for you. Can you tell me which is your real phone number?

And I read him the message I sent him just so he knew. I got it up and looked it up and showed it to him so he didn't think I was lying, you know? Anyway, it's a fun. What time you're having down there. Does this weekend remind you of the pressure that's on some of these

guys to get it right? and not end up on the real Kippenborn-Born show like 20 years later? I think, yeah, I think lots of guys are feeling like the job of a general manager is pressure packed to begin with. It doesn't stop. It doesn't end. But this time of year, coming at a training camp, trade deadline, there's certain days that it really is. And the biggest high of a GM is when you're making a deal and you're saying, yes, we're doing. doing the deal. It is, it's the biggest high you have as a GM when you're making the call.

And it's the most pressure time when you're when you're doing as well. So yeah, they're feeling it. And there's teams that are desperate to get better. There's teams that are desperate to get better. So it's it's going to be fun. One final thing. My sleeper of the draft, my sleeper of the draft is a kid by the name of Wyatt Cullen. John's son. Wyatt Cullen is Matt Cullen's son. Matt's son. And people tell me he's got a chance to be a hell of a player. Good player. That was a good player. And I don't know where he's rated, but somebody told me he is the sleeper of the draft.

So when somebody told me that, I jumped on the bandwagon, took it as mine, you know. We're going to have to follow up on that of our next show. So, Mack, I think you're the perfect guide away on this. What are your thoughts on what appeared to be the U.S. team group chat and the effect on player movement. We're in this new player empowerment era. A lot of these American guys seem to say, hey, let's all get somewhere else.

What are your thoughts on how this is shaken out and affecting the landscape? Do you remember that I mentioned this on the show like three or four months ago? Do you guys ever go back and listen to the shows? I barely listen to the ones I'm on, Mac. We're going to forget about this segment in about 15 minutes. something has to happen.

This this U.S. Canadian animosity is not good. It's not good. If you're an American kid and you're playing for a Canadian team and they're booing your national anthem or if you're a Canadian kid in the, you know, they've got to fix this. It really has to be fixed. And then you're looking at, well, is it the tax-free states?

Is it the warm weather states? Is it going to the best teams? It's, I think it's really, look, Hockey is in a major state of disruption right now. It really is. From minor hockey, from minor hockey, it starts because of the U.S. college program. They used to give 14, 15-year-olds four-year rides, you know. Now with the portal, with the U.S. major junior, you got major junior disrupted, you got

college hockey disrupted, you got the U.S. HL disrupted, you got minor. It's really big-time disruption. in hockey today. And I don't, and that's before we even talk about the NHL with the no movement clauses. You know, I mean, it's,

there's real turmoil in my opinion going on. Yeah, well, it's also 32 teams. It's a lot of choosing for these type of guys now. Right? Before it was like, I broke in the league, you're just happy to be any team,

any NHL team, looking at you, making you feel like they like you, was enough for us. But that's not the case now with 32 teams. I don't like that market. It's cold. I don't like this. I don't like that.

I know. But think of this. Think of this. Jimmy DeBelano told me this. I loved it. He said, Doug, when I was offered the job in Detroit, Detroit was a bad team. You know, they're struggling.

And he said, I would have to be a real dummy if I couldn't be one of 16 of 21 teams getting in the playoffs. 16 of 21 got in the playoffs. Do you remember those days when you were playing? 16 of 21 teams. I know. And now it's 16 of 30 what, too. It's so hard to make the playoffs.

It's unbelievable. And that's how it's dramatically changed. And that's where the owners make their money too, Mac. Right? That's the difference between make or break financially for some of these teams. Is the gravy is in the playoffs. You keep missing the playoffs. You keep missing the gravy.

The salary cap goes up and you're running your business at a loss. And you're struggling to sell season tickets. I mean, it's, it's, and you're struggling to sell corporate deals. It's all interface and winning solves a lot of problems. But unfortunately, you know, very few, you know, I mean, yeah, you get in the playoffs and it helps and then you got to do better. So it's, it's really. tough. It's really tough out there. Would you advocate for more playoff spots?

You know what? I think they're eventually going to have to do something because to me it's really hurting a lot of fantastic. Once they had Texas and someone, you can't have less than half the league make the postseason. Yeah. That's scary to me.

And not a change since the 80s or whenever it was. When did we add the 17th and 18th these team? You know, it would have been Ottawa, Tampa. would have been the first two, you know. Early in 90s. So I think there's got to be, you know, it's got to be looked at for sure.

Imagine if you're a GM and you're only had to get in, 16 of 21 getting in. It was a joke then, you know. People used to laugh at the NHL because of that. Right. And now it's gone the other way. So it's going to be interesting to see what shakes out here. Just lastly, if you were the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, you'd have no choice but to take McKenna. right yeah i i i think although your guy uh your super scout there uh jason yes he's got stenberg

ahead of him i was surprised i i was really intrigued by that you know and i and i and i like jason he i i think he's got some yeah you know he's like you he's out of an hl job he's just like you he's just like you he's out of an nchl job yeah yeah well i'm not out of an n hl job i'm retired Very clear difference. I got too much to do. I got way too much to do. Way too much. All right.

Enjoy the draft. If I was in the NHL, I'd have to have a bodyguard. Just think about it, you know? That's what I was. I was your bodyguard when you used to work here. Exactly. Exactly.

All right, Mac, enjoy it, my friend. Thanks for doing this. How many more shows have we got, boys? One more. One more next week. Next Friday. By the way, thanks for phone to me last week and tell me there was no show.

I'm sitting around waiting for the call. Oh, that's Sammy. I just didn't get invited on. Yeah, Sammy. No, I was golfing. I'll wear it. Didn't text them. I was actually playing Toronto Golf Club

with my boy, Matt. Actually, I was thrilled you didn't call. Anyway. I'll see you tonight, Mac. All right. Thanks. That is Doug McLean. You just can, like,

whatever's on the top of his head. I really hope he's not there still because I don't want to blow too much smoke up his butt. But that's one of the best conversations every week. It's awesome. Oh, yeah. We're getting close to the end here of our show. You can tell when he's missed a few weeks. And then he comes back and he's just got like.

Backlog of info? Backlog. Not even info. Just is his energy of. Where are you going to get a following Jared ever have the God story? Can you imagine that? Detail. Actives.

Didn't something happen like that with Sagan when he was a rookie? Wasn't that a thing that they had to kind of keep an eye on him a little bit? I think he had some dots for sure. Yeah, yeah. I don't know about putting security into following players around. It's crazy. Game time? Game time.

All right. It's game time. Presented by Bet365. An official partner of the NHL must have been a team plus Ontario. Only please play responsibly. What do you want to look at tonight, boys? Let's see if we got any draft stuff on here. Let's just do the Jays.

The Jays again, boys. It's really tough to watch. You know, they hit 500, and they immediately turf three in a row in heartbreaking fashion. I would actually like to blame somebody that works here for this. Okay. I was watching the Blue Jays game on Monday. I think it was Monday.

The first game against Houston was mine. Monday. And I watched them win. They close it out. And Jesse Fuchs, who does wonderful work here, comes on after. He's like, oh, they're back to 500. Hopefully it's not a curse like last time when they lost four in a row coming out. I was like, Jesse, man. Say it too. It's just it's all Jesse's fault. That's why they're on a losing streak. So blame him. Anyways, they are minus 110 on the money line tonight. Patrick Corby goes to the J's. Nathan Avaldi, who doesn't have a great ERA this year, but has been nasty. So of all the, uh, tough matchup for the Jays.

I got to think at some point, boys, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is going to hit a home run, right? He's currently hitting as many as Davis Schneider, if I'm not mistaken. Like, I think, I think, Jimenez has doubled him at a home runs.

If you were to put a bet 365 bet on three home runs halfway through the season, you would have bet your house. Yeah. That's not going to happen if he stays healthy. Was it, Cake McJave or Dr. Grisor, one of these guys had his,

This stat line is almost dead even to Kevin Beggio this year. Anyways, he's plus 625 to hit a home run. Eventually, he's going to hit a home run at home. I like it. It's almost Canada Day. It's almost Canada Day. No home runs at home. It's time.

Tonight's the night. All right. Plus 625. Within a whisker of winning the World Series to now hanging your hat, potentially on a minor league call up. Sean Keys. To save the season. The boys need a spark.

The boys need a spark. Anyways, that was game time. Presented by Bet365, an official partner of the NHL, must have a team. Plus, Ontario only, please play responsibly. And as a reminder,

this hour of Real Kipper and Born is brought to you by Bet365. All right, plenty more. So many texts, boys. We have a ton of texts. So text more if you want to get in. Information continues to come in. We'll update whatever we can for you all

while you get ready for the NHL draft on Sportsnet. Coverage beginning at 630 Eastern. More when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Everything you need to know about the Blue Jays, Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Closing in on the NHL draft tonight on Sportsnet. Nick Kippreos, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. Let's go.

Time now for the precision headlines brought to you by the 2026 Accura MDX drive like you mean it. And in those headlines today, just the text from you. I appreciate the people sending them in. There's lots of great stuff. Let's start with this one. Do you guys, this is from a nameless text, unfortunately, do you guys think Marchenko

is the move for the Canadians, or should a 2C be more of a priority? I think Marchenko is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. He is big and fast and creates often. To answer your question, And they need both. Okay.

It's not one or the other. You don't think Montreal is. Both of them. They're going to get a top six winger and they're going to go get a centerman. When you say they're going to, you're confidently predicting that they are going to do these things? They're aggressive. I don't know the time frame. I don't know if they can do it this weekend and I don't even know if they can have it by summer.

But this has been in the works for quite a while. They'll wait for the right opportunity, the right point. players and I would hope that they could have both of them by trade deadline, March, if they have to wait. That sort of thing. But they're going to get, they're shopping for both. It's really tough to handicap this Atlantic division. Like, I think Ottawa is still going to be good. Like, I look at their roster.

I know Brady's a big loss, but I still like their team. Everyone here thinks Florida's the best team ever created. I think they're very good. I asked Mac. He didn't give me a definitive answer on who's out. Yeah. There's a lot of teams that are really good. Boston is really starting to lay.

There won't be anybody picking Boston to make the playoffs. We have a text to the, about the Bruins, about what was going. I've got to find it here. What do you guys think of the Bruins? What are they doing? Will they bring anyone in this summer? They're another team that kind of seems stuck between

the older guys they kind of like and they don't have enough younger guys on the way. You know I love from them. And I know it's not perfect, but I love Zadorov. Yeah. Do you know that they had a hundred points last year? He brings them so much attitude, Sammy.

At the right year? Yeah. That's crazy. They had 100 points last year. Sammy. I love Zadorov. I think it was a big miss on a couple of teams not to get them out of Calgary.

Didn't? Yeah, Trilling, Water. Yeah. I remember when they signed OEE, OEL was kind of the consolation prize when they were trying to get Sadorov. But like that clip of him going after Brady and then making fun of him and saying that he's not as tough as his brother and like all this different. I just, he's just got that face. I don't know.

I love Zadourov. Yeah. One of my favorite guys in the league. I hate. Like he injured Matthews last year. Like he's just that dude. They got to make a decision on Pavel Zaka. Okay.

They should trade him. What's Zach? 32 now. Always kind of soft but creates offense. Yeah. guy, but he's not, he's a, go get something for him. He, yeah. See, a lot of these teams now, they got to, as they say, poop or get off the pot on some of, some of the players.

Is that what they say? Oh, yeah. Different name for poop. Boston has to be the weirdest team of last year, 100 points with, you know, Kuznadeenov on the top line, middle stat and geeky on the second line. And like, it was a whole bunch of weight, what? But I think a lot of their fans, like from what I've seen, I have decent Bruins following. And a lot of, like, maybe even their front office,

they're kind of banking on getting that sixth pick. Yeah, that kind of derailed things pretty quick. It changed, like it changed the outlook for them. Because they don't get it until 2020. Two years, yeah. Right? It's everyone, they were kind of right. Six this year.

You might get 13. You're going to get a great player at 6th. It was Toronto sitting on the sidelines this draft. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. This could have been. Are you not yet? I remember, but.

Doom and gloom. I remember, good sir. If that 12 doesn't come up, Matthew's staying? Oh, my God. I'm just saying, like, everything kind of changed. It by time, for sure. This one's from Bob Wood and Ajax. It's going to give me full government.

Okay. Oh, Coach Bob Woods. Wow. Kipper and Sammy, hand-to-hand combat in the first hour. Okay, I'm glad you liked that. Real question is, how long. is the leash on Babs in Edmonton. You must have signed a two-year deal.

Am I safe to assume that? You know how I feel about that? I would have just given him next to nothing. Yeah. I don't need him. The God complex that he had in Toronto was simply around 50 million bucks. Well, and he had 10 years in Detroit as like the dude.

But it was good. And he was winning gold medals as the coach of Canada. Just. Then he got the big contract. It's the money that can screw one's head. And I think he was, he was a mess in Detroit, too, with various stories that we've,

that have all surfaced. But it hasn't been a bad story untold. We've heard him. It just, I would have taken money out of this equation. You want to come back. You haven't coached in seven years. You're not holding me over a barrel here.

And to your point, I'll give you a year an option, whatever, but you're not coming here to hold this hostage on a contract. So to me, it should have been irrelevant. You want to come back and coach? Then, well, yeah, you'll get something. One of the most fascinating things is how people handle,

and this seems to be a real problem, success. Like money and success, you look at some of the most famous celebrities, whether it's Britney Spears or Michael Jackson or Kanye West. Like, it messes people up. Yeah. And, like, I know this is a fraction, a tiny portion of that. But, like, Babs definitely went to another level of, like, oh, this guy's...

I would dearly love to prove that it wouldn't affect me at all. Well, you've had a lot of success, and you're still the same guy, right? Various levels. I think it's... I think they answer the question is one year. I bet it's not a one-year deal. No, I meant, like, they have... Like, in terms of the leash.

Oh, yeah. Like, if they're good this year... It just blows up and Conner's gone. He's gone. He's gone. Back to being good at retirement. And then you, if you're the Oilers, you talk about a major rebuild. Yeah, this is the, like when we look back on the McDavid-Nempton timeline, this is.

Yeah. Desperate fool at the end of his pitiful rope. I really hope, you know. Sounds right. Love that. It would be, there's a lot of people cheering against Babcock. That's a given. But it would really help the.

league if the Oilers did really well. You know, both Edmonton and Vegas. This is what I really hope doesn't happen. That it ends ugly and Connor will be just as remembered for hiring the wrong coach as he is being as great as he was. That's a great point because he wasn't, he didn't fully back knob block as his guy. Like, even when it was. Everyone thought it was his guy. For sure, but he didn't come out and say.

It was my guy. He came out to spec and was like, we did this. Yes. This was us. Yes. That's a great point. He's tied to this.

And I, I know the way it works in the media. We are the media. I know. So you know what you say. But I wouldn't, I wouldn't sit there in lamb bastum because it's, the needles,

the needles moved. And it's, did he sound at times? desperate on a few different levels, including in the dressing room when he was recorded. Yeah, but he wants to win really badly and he's willing to put his neck on the line for Babcock. This is the ultimate I'd fight my mom to win a Stanley Cup. Pretty close. You know, it's a guy saying, what do we got to do?

People don't like him, but I think he can make a 1% difference. I'm in. But there's a lot of people banking on it not working and then I'm going to throw it in your face. Yes, there are. I'm not one of them. We don't do that on this show. I'm really...

Bro a prairie boy. Even as surprised and anti-the-mov as I've been, like, I really don't want it to blow up because I love Connor. Connor is a Canada guy and I want him to win something. I also love Leon. Leon is one of my favorite players in NHL history.

I love watching him play. I love his attitude. Mutant. He's a mutant. Love him. Matthew Nyes for Jason Robertson. Cut out the middleman in parentheses Seattle. Jason Robertson's

one of the best goals scores in the last five years. And Matthew Nyes has got great potential to be a power forward. But you're not giving up Robertson's goals for Matthew Nise's promise. Matthew Nise is, yeah, you're right, it is promise.

One's realized, one's not. And that's what people in Buffalo are missing with the souls. Del Wigger is Byram, which I mentioned. Like Byram's realized. Yeah. If Nyes is an 80-point guy and Robertson's 100-point guy, there's a lot of people who'd rather take those 80 points, but you're right, he hasn't done that yet.

Do you think he would sign here, Robertson? No. No, I don't. I don't. And again, like, Toronto's in that boat. They've got to go $15 million to get to Dallas's 12.5. Buddy, tried to rent a place here. It's brutal.

Expensive. It costs a lot to live in Toronto. We have 16 sheets. You probably be fine. If you're a contender, which D-Man would you rather have for the next two years? Darnel Nurse or Morgan Riley? Nurse. Adam from Edmonton.

Nurse. Nurse in playoffs has had some... Nurse, he's just bigger. Who else has been good in playoffs? Physical. Riley's been good. Riley's been really good in the playoffs. I want the bigger physical guy.

I'm going to disagree with both you guys. Riley's offensive upside is not upside-y enough for me to change that combo. I mean, nurse was a huge reason they lost the ducks. He was a dreadful series. Pretty stank. What else we got here? Do we ever see a world where in a player request of trade that there no movement is torn up?

No movement still in play if the team wants to move on. I've seen this a lot where people have theorized that if a player requests a trade, they're like, I want out of here. Their no movement clause is voided. But if the team wants to move on, then it's a different story. You can negotiate a lot of things. But, like, again, the whole point of him, no move clauses. Look at how desperate.

Look how desperate teams are right now for good players. And they're not giving that up. No. You can, the owners can negotiate it out on their next collective bargaining agreement. I think that's not what the theory is, like, what if that happened? To me, then you would just have guys leaking through their agent that maybe they're unhappy. rather than expressly requesting a trade. Like it would, to me, it just changes how people would approach.

But it's pissed off a lot of fans. The no trade stuff. Oh, yeah. Well, the larkin is the kind of stinkiest where it's like you signed eight years. But Brady's still, Brady's got the window of two years. And that seems to be an acceptable. Oh, I'm not going to. That's fair.

I'm not going to hang out to. dry, right? I'm warning you now. I'm not resigning. And that's ultimately the decision to move a guy. Larkin committed eight years and is bailing on it. And his hometown. So here's the question I have. You know, we talked about, so Robertson has no contract. He's a restricted free agent for one year. Right. With salary arb rights, meaning that. But how does he have trade? control then? Because yesterday we were saying until you're 27.

He doesn't have trade control. He just wouldn't sign a contract with. Okay, so listen. Hold on for a second. So if he decided that he wanted to go to Seattle, and Seattle, July 1st gives him an eight-year deal or, I guess, yeah, no, it would be seven. Seven, well, he'd do a sign and trade with Dallas.

Yeah, you're right. It would be a sign and trade. So for one year, Seattle could trade him. and he doesn't want that either, right? Because I don't have any control. If you don't like me in two months, you can trade me somewhere else. I have no say.

I don't really like that. Do you think he would want to do this qualifying offer one year sort of thing? It's a pretty big risk. No, it's not. It's going to get 10. It's going to get, well, yeah, of course. But he'll get 10 million.

Yeah, I get 10 mil, but yeah, it's not ideal. How much of Seattle offer? You're right. Yeah, it's a little less. You're right. But I actually think the stankold contract was something, you know, like, what do you sign? Seven times seven and a half or something? Before I read our last text, that was the precision headlines brought to you by the 2026.

Accura, MDX, drive like you mean it. Last one. Does the Hella Buck exit risk a domino effect from a guy like Kyle Connor and things really fall apart in Winnett? Oh, no, he's American too. Crab! Crap! The answer is yes. Yes.

It does. Yeah. Yeah. And no different than what does Leon Dryside will think if Connor leaves in a year or two. Yeah. Who just signed a eight-year deal recently. It's fascinating. Like the NHL has kind of, well, we've got Canada, you know, southern expansion.

We've got Canada. Canada's fine. They're always going to be there. But if all of a sudden there's a real drain of talent out of Canada, which drives a huge portion of revenue for the league, I'm curious how they handle this. This is not good. It's not good to have...

Well, it's not good. Seven, you know, star players be like, I'm not playing on a quarter of the league's franchises where, you know, half the lead... The interest is. Yeah. Not good. I mean, the T, like the Leafs...

How much of the league's revenue does the Leafs, Oilers, and Habs bring in? Like, what percentage are top 10? I think they're top five, aren't they? Okay, yeah. All three of those teams are being the top five? I don't know where... Well, recently. Edmonton is one of the richest teams in professional sports

because of Conner's delivery of almost 30 playoff gates in two years. I would just think that those three teams do a lot of good work for the league and if the teams aren't willing to play there, it's a tough look. If players aren't willing to play there, it's a tough look. Montreal's a funny one. It's funny that you don't hear more teams or players be like, that is a team on the come-up.

Montreal's an awesome place. Yeah, like, have you been to Montreal? And Montreal rocks. You know, awesome place to play. It's surprising there's not more people be like, get me there. That looks awesome. I think that's where Connor's going to go.

Okay. It terrifies me to the depth of my soul. But if I had to pick next team, Habs. Superop a Leafs guy. Go to the Habs? Yeah, they got a better chance to win. We thought that about Sydney for a while. Tonight, NHL Entryraft.

With the first overall selection in the 2026 NHL Entrath, the Toronto Might Police Select. McKenna. From Penn State University, Gavin McKenna. Can't wait. I haven't cared about the draft in 10 years. I'm so excited for today. You buy a jersey?

No. Number 72. I mean, 7th overall. Brabapleafs select. LeBrobsky, you get in the number? I've always, George Russock,

you said this theory and it's a great one that you can't wear a jersey of a guy younger than you. Love that take. It's like 38. I want a 38-year-old guy buying an 18-year-old's jersey. It's one of my favorite sports takes. It's a great thing. You can buy, you can wear the jersey of guys you grew up watching. Yeah, like I got a Tucker jersey that I wear once in a while.

You know, a pall mallet or jersey or something. Yeah. But I can't. go where Ernie Clementers? I have a Kirby Pucket. Minnesota Twins. Wow, that's cool. Now we're talking. That's really cool. I got

that one when I played in Hershey. So I went to FIFA's Fan Fest the other day. What was that? You're the least likely person to ever be there. Oh, it was great. They've done a fantastic job if you can get in there. You're going to go Sunday? So I'm on the back of the stage.

And I'm looking in the corner. Yeah. They have a stage there. I'm in the back of the NIC and it's like the Calder Cup. Oh yeah. And I'm telling all the crew. I've won that. I've won that. My name's on that. And I'm going to lift it up over my head and then I'm going to kiss the trophy.

Did you? Oh, yeah. Oh, my God. Yeah. Never's like, okay, Gramps. Let's get you back to the home. Okay, unc. Hey, once a champion. Always a champion. Have fun tonight, Borny. Yep. Thank you. Go, Leaves goal. Our thanks. We're packed.

to Jason Buchla in the first hour and Doug McLean. Enjoy the draft, everybody.