Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs' GM Brad Treliving Takes Accountability After Deadline

Episode Date: March 7, 2026

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving (3:13) to recap his team's trade deadline moves, his motives to sell, the next steps in retooling the roster, if there's a definite plan in place between himself leading the organization, head coach Craig Berube and ownership, how much he will weigh the incoming draft picks to leverage them in potential moves this summer, the decision to healthy scratch for roster management purposes with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Scott Laughton, and Bobby McMann and if he would've re-signed Laughton before ultimately moving him away. Then, former NHL head coach, general manager and president Doug MacLean (28:52) stops by to share his takeaways from the deadline, why Anaheim Ducks look to compete for a deep run into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Washington Capitals moving on from John Carlson, the unknowns surrounding the Vancouver Canucks' future, and who's poised to improve with the remaining games left.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Time to take a deep breath as we conclude the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Nick Kippreos, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. We're the real Kipper and Born show live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 590, the fan, 960 in Calgary, 650 in Vancouver. Streaming always on Sportsnet Plus, Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube. This hour of Real Kippenborn brought to by Bet 365 in. a few minutes. We'll be joined by Brad Tree Living, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs

where he was in sell, sell, sell, sell mode, J.B. Yeah, been, uh, well, he hasn't done that here and we haven't seen it here since we've been a show together. It was a unique trade deadline. They got some picks, man. They set out to restock the cupboard, so to speak,

and five draft picks came in. Things look a little brighter in that regard, but it does raise some questions about next season and how they win more games next season. Sammy, underwhelming for you is the word that you used? I just, I'm sure we're going to get the answer here in a little while,

but I just want to know, you know, I thought there could be a world where they bring in some players to maybe look towards next year, but maybe bringing in just picks. It's more of a thought of, maybe we're going to start bringing in a lot of picks this offseason. Like I'm not quite sure where we're at in terms of looking forward, but I, you know,

I made my point off the top of the last hour, talking about Oliver, Rickman-Larsen, surprised he's still here. There's lots of different things about it. But, yeah, I'm, you know, I wouldn't say perfectly placed. That's for sure. Yeah.

Interesting to hear from Brad in terms of where the market, I don't know, started, and I don't even know what that means. How far do you have to go back to really establish something? But no question it felt at the end. Like the bottom fell out, you know, I'm, maybe, maybe that was the case with Scott Lawton because I had thought at some point, J.B, that it would, it would have been a lot to get a second round pick for a guy like that.

The second the whole trade deadline deal started happening, it felt like they were too high. It was like, McCarron went for a second right away. And I was like, whoa. You know, I don't think I anticipated that. And it feels like it gave some GMs, some cold feet like Dowd going for a second and a third not long after. I think a lot of people are like, God, if a depth, you know, fourth line guys cost in two early picks, I don't know if I want to be a part of this.

And I just think people went into it kind of with their guards up. And it was a very cautious deadline. In 30 minutes, we'll welcome in Doug McLean, former NHL president, GM head coach on this Friday. If it's been a tough week for you, stick around on that one. I saw Mac tweeted a pitcher himself and I think it was Jack Edwards. No, Jack Armstrong.

Chuck Armstrong. Sorry, yes, not Jack Edwards. I can imagine me to fly in the wall for that conversation. They're hanging out. They're Florida buds. They used to do a show together. I know, that's wild. All right, let's welcome in the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brad, Tree Living.

Brad, thanks for joining us today. Obviously, a selling mode. Let me just ask you, in terms of a day like today, was it inevitable that it was going to happen? And if so, when did it hit you that you were going to be in cell mode? Was it just prior to the Olympics that you kind of got yourself ready? Or did you need the first three or four games after the break? Well, thanks for having me on, guys.

I've been not feeling great for a long time with how we've been playing. And surely in the season, we looked at as many options as we could to help bolster our team. but as far as probably getting to today's you know what happened over the course of the last few days or the direction it was you know prior to the break you have to you have to plan and prepare you know I don't think coming out of we weren't coming out of the break and praying

that we were going to win games here and change the direction you you watch your team not only from a point production standpoint and wins and loss standpoint, but where you're playing, what's happening around the league. So, you know, we were active prior to the break, throughout the break, and talking to teams and getting a feeling for what they thought of players

that we may make available or could be available if there was fits for them. So, you know, this process probably started, you know, just prior to the break and throughout the break. So, Brad, thanks for joining us. We really appreciate it. wanted to get a sense for, you know, sort of what now? When you look at this team, is it fair to say that you guys do want to retool and come back at it next season?

And if that's the case, is it basically the age and contract status of Matthews that has it in the situation? We're like, all right, we got these guys. We've got to do it now. Well, I think you've got to look at all sorts of things. You know, that's, you know, to me, today was, I keep calling today, but leading up today was an opportunity. to try to get as many young assets as you can, you know, to me to retool your team or refigure your team or whatever reword you want to, you want to use, you need to have as many bullets as you possibly can. And so that was the objective over the course of the last few weeks.

There was, there really was no activity or very limited activity coming prior to the freeze and then obviously no activity throughout the freeze. And you saw not a whole lot going on until the last couple of days. So there needs to be changed to our team, Justin. We need to reconfigure ourselves. I know when things have gone the way they've gone this year, there'll be lots of noise that everything's got to go out the door. I don't necessarily see it that way,

but there's got to be some change here. And we need to get, you know, there's a lot of things. things that we've discussed and a plan that you formulate. I think we've got 19 games to play that we're going to get through. And then as we get to the end of the year, you know, have a plan that you're going to look to execute. But no doubt there needs to be change.

And what we were trying to execute is get as many, many bullets as you possibly can in terms of picks, prospects, and the like to affect that change. You're listening to Brad Tree Living, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Two years ago, you said everything must be on the table. Are we back there again?

Yeah, I think Nick, I'm not here to make any profound statements. Here's where we're at right now. There's got to be changed to the hockey club. So I get it. We all want to align. We all want a statement here. There's not too much to you.

You're never going to be. be closed-minded. We looked at a lot of different, made a lot of different things available as we went into this deadline, trying to be as creative as we possibly can. Ultimately, it comes back to you've got a team on the other line that needs to find a want, a fit, and be willing to give a price for your players. So I know that we all want to, we all think that everybody's worth two first round picks and this and that. Ultimately, the market will dictate and the people buying will dictate what they're prepared to pay for. So we need to now, we've gotten through the deadline.

We've got 19 games to play. We've got some players that we want to look at over the course of these 19 games. And then as we get into the spring and summer, you evaluate the season that's had and where you go from there. Brett, I think Leaf fans today want to know if there's a game plan. If between ownership, Keith Pelly, yourself, Craig Barubi, that you guys got a game plan that will either get the Leafs back into playoff contention as early as next year or maybe later than that. But there's a plan.

There's a definite plan. And are you confident you are the guy that can lead it? Well that, listen, we definitely will have a plan. There's a plan that we will have, we will have put together. You know, as far as, as far as myself, listen, those decisions will be made by others. I will, I'm, I want to, I want to correct the things that, as I said, we, we, we, we, We have not had success this season. It's been a disappointing season, and it starts with myself.

So I'll take full responsibility of it. I feel that I know areas that we need to get better in. Ultimately, that's for somebody else to judge, and I don't spend a whole lot of time worrying about that. I worry about trying to do the best job I can with our staff and doing the things that need to be done to put this team back to where it should be. But certainly the failures of this season, I take full responsibility with them. And so now we move forward and do the very best job that we can to try to put this team in a position to move forward.

Brad, would there be any intention to use some of the assets acquired today, maybe at the draft or otherwise, to bring back realized players rather than actually using them to pick young kids? Yeah, those are all things you look at, Justin. You know, I wouldn't say there's anything out of the off the table. Today is a day, or I keep saying today, but those deadlines to accrue as much as you possibly can. You know, you're looking at is there players that you can get, you know, before the deadline expired here today. So you're trying to swim in both pools. But certainly, you know, we've acquired some draft assets. Our hope was to try to accrue more, to accrue more young players.

But, you know, certainly whether. that's picks that you use of the draft, whether those picks that you use to acquire other players. You know, those are all things that you evaluate and decide on moving forward. You know, I hear a lot of ownership

for the season out of you, Brad, and, you know, that's great. I think that, at least for the Leaf fans, but the players have to own a lot of it too here. And, you know, when it particularly comes to your leadership group, and I'll say, Austin Matthews, Willie, J.T., Morgan Riley.

I mean, are you still confident that this is a good leadership group that can take this organization back to contention? Or does that need to get revisited as well in the offseason? Well, I know everybody talks about the leadership group. Listen, we all own this, right? It starts with myself, but we all, when you have the season that we've had, the first part of that acceptance or realization is accountability. And so we're all accountable.

It starts with myself, our coaches, our players. All of us have underperformed as a group. I know that I know the players would feel the exact same way. So those, I have all the confidence in the world in Austin. I have confidence in our leadership group. I have confidence in the players, but ultimately the results tell the story. So, you know, those are all things that you, like I said, today,

there's always a lot of weight, especially, you know, one thing I know there's, you go through a couple of games that we've gone through here coming out of the break, and it's certainly not good enough. But I don't, we all want to say as players quit, I don't, players aren't having quit. They haven't given up. There's, there's, there's, it's not an excuse, but there's a wait when you, when you, when you have a realization of where you're at, when you have a realization that you're not in the position that you want to be in, when you have a realization of the trade deadlines coming up and there could be some moves. You have a lot of players that haven't gone through that.

This group cares. They care great. They care deeply about having success. and we haven't accomplished that. So there's a weight that goes through that happens. But we're past the deadline. We have 19 games to go. We're professionals.

You're in the best league in the world. There's now responsibility to do the job to the very best of your ability. And that's what I anticipate and expect from our group. So tell us how deadline week went for you. It's interesting. You mentioned that you're trying to swim in both pools, maybe you were talking about some other players

or bringing them in with the guys that you sat out. So three guys sat out. Did you kind of have deals in the table or in the drawer and just waiting to see if other teams can beat that? Let us in on sort of the process of the last few days and how you ended up where you did. No, I had no deals on any of those players. There was conversations with teams that had an interest

in possibly talking about those players. But when you had two players, that were UFAs, the position that we were in. I just didn't think it was worth the risk to put those players in a position where an injury could affect being able to move them. It was clear that we weren't going to be any for some time right now that we weren't going to be in a position to sign those players. And probably more so the position our team was.

in, right? We had to accumulate as many assets as we could. And I don't, I don't do the play-by-play of what, what's going on, you know, on your shows and all the other shows. I get some summaries, but some of the things out there that deals were close in terms of contracts, there really hasn't been any dialogue to that description for some. some time. And some of that is potentially where those contracts could be at, but more so knowing where our team was at and knowing that we needed to collect some assets. So I spoke to all three players. Obviously Scott and Bobby are unrestricted players and then spoke to Oliver. There had been some dialogue over the course of the last few days of teams that may have interest

in Oliver and just felt at that time again, if if there was something that possibly could happen, it made sense to make sure that you know, we took the course we took to be safe

rather than sorry. I know Brad, it's been well documented what you paid last season for Scott Lotton and what you ultimately traded him for. Was there the temptation out there just to keep them and sign him or was there a mandate

to recover the assets on these particular UFAs? Well, there wasn't a mandate, but certainly we paid a price for Scott and, you know, I'm not going to hide behind that. At that time, that's what was required. We made the decision, we made the decision to acquire Scott last year

at the price we made, not making any excuses, the availability of players last year where we were at as a team. You know, we knew the price was steep. We knew we wanted to add a centerman. Yeah, Brad, that's not my intention on the question. It was, were you tempted to resign him? I listened to your comments, talk about him, his character, what he's meant to the team.

I listened to Easton Cowan, say he wouldn't be the person he is today without him. was there a temptation to sign them at all? Oh, for sure. I wouldn't call it a temptation. There certainly was a willingness to sign them, but there wasn't, you know, we didn't get to a, we didn't get to a stage where, you know, when you compare both, you know,

I guess when you look at both sides of it, there wasn't, we felt a contract that was able to get done. and B, we felt that we needed to gain as many assets as we possibly could. So us not resigning Scott prior to today's deadline is no. I don't know if I can speak high enough about Scott Lawton in terms of the character, what he's brought to our room, the quality of person. This is, this is an elite teammate. a great person.

But what I, what I couldn't, and it's me making this decision, what I couldn't feel we could do is get to the buzzer today and not have either Scott signed or have an asset return. So that's where it was. But by no means, is it any indictment on Scott, the person or what we think of them. Last one for me, Brad.

And again, appreciate your time. just wanted to get your thoughts on like how these guys were used. You know, you acquire them at a pretty good cost. And I'm not even talking about him specifically, but talking about Craig Barubi and his coaching. I know you're the GM. He's the coach. Is there ever a time where you acquire guys and you go,

God, I wish we would use them a little bit more. You differently, maybe that's Easton Cowan. Maybe it's Nick Waugh. Do you ever sit there or do you have those conversations? How do you guys sort out how to allocate the ice time once you make moves like that? I talk, you're constantly in conversation with Craig. So, you know, there's no, there's no lack of communication, you know, ultimately at the end of the day, the coach, and I believe firmly on this, the coach gets full autonomy on the lineup card. Do we talk about the lineup?

Do we talk about players? Do we talk constantly every day? Do I share ideas? Absolutely. We do that all the time. But ultimately, the coach, you have to let the coach is coach. You know, we all have our jobs to do, but to think that there's no communication, it would be completely wrong. We speak all the time.

We communicate about different thought processes, but that's the responsibility in the job of the coach, to utilize players where he sees best fit to win the game. And that's, I believe strongly that you have to grant your coach that flexibility. So, but the coach manager relationship is one where there's constant communication. You know, we talk, we talk all day, every day. So that doesn't change. Ultimately, you know, the coach fills out the lineup card and uses players that he feels and puts him in the situation he feels his best for the team to win.

One more for me too, Brad, just in terms of 19 more games. That's a lot of games, man. What's the message to the players that you or Craig expect out of these 19 games and ultimately the Lee fans? Well, I mean, the expectations you go out, you're professionally, you've got a job to do. And it's a privilege to be in the league every day. we are not where we want to be expected to be but we are where we are so get over it and now our job is to go out you know you get to play in one of the great franchises in pro sports

in front of one of the greatest fan bases in pro sports in the best league in the world so there shouldn't be any lack of motivation I get it. It's not easy. It's not where we want to be. But we've gotten through today, and the expectation is we go out and we play hard and we compete. And we're professionals. And you be a professional every day that you're in this league. Brad, we know it was an easy day today, and we sure appreciate your time coming on the show. Thanks for doing this. All right, guys. Thanks. Thanks so much. Have a good one.

General manager. Toronto Maple Leafs, Brad Tree Living. Yeah, tough day, I think. Oh, that's an understatement. You're having to ship out guys that people like, and you probably liked, and guys you bet on before. It's not easy. Hear it in the voice, boys. Yeah, you can hear it for sure.

But you got to, you're the guy. You got to stand up there and take it, right? And he's, that's what the money's for. But we know Brad. He's a stand-up guy. He's a great job, boys. Ask good questions. I mean, I'm sitting here as a Lee fan,

and these are the things that I wanted to be asked. you sat there and did it. So I appreciate it. The one thing I did get out of it is that, like, you know, they still have to figure out their plan. Yeah. Right. We will have a plan.

In fairness to him. It's not in place yet. Pre-Olympics, they won three in a row. And the plan was to come out of the Olympics healthier and win. Right? So, like, I know that they should have contingency plans. But I think the plan is very recently been torn asunder. So what, I guess we've been asking this question,

but what should the plan be? I would like to see, I would have liked to have seen more guys traded today. I would have liked to have seen, I liked the idea of trying to buy. I said my fantasy thing, you know, from the first hour. Like whether it's Shane Wright or Lafranier, Maddie Baneers, or some of these guys who are,

I know that they're not going to do that now. because they're in a playoff run, but like some, you want to see them make some bets on guys. I just, I think the system, whether we're talking salary cap or, you know, just the CBA,

I don't know if you get to really decide what the plan is, right? What does that mean? It means that you're in for tough times. And whether you think you have a plan or no plan, it's almost like nature needs just to take care of itself. You don't have any assets. The cycle of forests. Eventually, they just burn down and start to grow again.

That's what I'm trying to say. But you're way more intelligent. Are there lots of leaps? You're way more articulate than I am. But like, I don't know if you have any other choice. What is your, what do you really think is your choice? Let's say the words. You're going to take your second and third this year and you're going to flip it into something

that gets you back in the playoffs. I'm sure if they listen to me right now say Maddie Baneers, they're like, they're not trading Maddie Baneers. You don't have anything. to give Seattle. I know. Well, this thing.

I'm hoping they would have more. You can come up with all the plans that you'll want, but the system doesn't allow your fantasy island plan.

Right. And so we are desperately trying to avoid saying the thing, if you're not going to be able to turn it around, then just trade Austin, Matthews, and William Neeland. Create them all.

If the forest is burning down, you don't need two random redwoods that don't. But yeah, if you're, if you're prepared to say it publicly or not, you may have to just just talk to Jeff Gordon and

Kent Hughes the last few years or the last three years and just see how they got themselves back in. It doesn't come overnight. No. So, I don't know. That is the thing. And listen, I've written, we've talked about it. Those are very good players that are tough to get. So you might as well try one more time.

But if that's the case, then you need to sell everything you just got. get players at the draft. Well, I asked him about the leadership group and he's got all the faith in the world in Austin. So it doesn't doesn't sound like he's going anywhere at least with Brad.

No, he's not going anywhere. Game time? Game time. Game time presented by Bet 365. Visit the app for latest odds. Must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. So looking at the Stanley Cup odds now after the trade deadline.

They have them up here on Bet 365. The Colorado Avalanche, as you would imagine, plus 300 to win the Stanley Cup this year. They added Nazim Cadrio, obviously. They added Nicholas Waugh. They looked like an absolute wagon. By the way, that team's lost 10 games this year, and they just added two very good centers.

Yeah, they are stacked. Lightning coming in second at plus 375, Carolina plus 550, Golden Knights plus 850, and the Edmonton Oilers round out that top five at 10. 10 to 1. Gotta love the number on the Dallas stars at plus 1,600. But where was the Dallas stars to fill in for Tyler Sagan's money?

So they just got cap space. Well, they've went 10 games in a row. They're away. I'm just asking, though. I'm just asking. I guess you don't have to spend the money if you think you're good enough. They don't have to spend money. Like, what would you've wanted them to do?

Cadry? Yeah. Instead of Colorado. Keeping them away from Colorado wouldn't hurt. Yeah. You kind of got to go in if you're in. There's no point hanging on to a lot. couple of chips.

Yeah, and I don't even... I saw Colorado get a lot deeper. And just to round it out, don't mind the wild at plus 1,800. If they get through that first round, you know, they... They're going to have to be Colorado, which is going to be tough, obviously. How about that division? Got to change the rules. We should...

Yeah, Gary Bettman should be like, we're doing one versus eight. I'm not saying... I'm not saying... And it's not even what I'm saying because it's the Leafs anymore. No. It's a joke. It's totally unfair that those... One of those teams is going to be eliminated in the first round.

You mean, there should be a chance that the conference finals is Colorado and Dallas. Yeah. That should be allowed. Anyways, that was game time. Instead of about 3-65. Visit the app, Flay de Stodz. Must be 19 plus. Ontario only.

Please play responsibly. God, I love Matt Boldy. Just every time I look at their lineup. Oh, he's so good. That goal he scored against Canada. Just dancing through. He's seconded the NHL and goals currently. Dance through to the best defensemen in the world.

Tucked at home. To the wilder loaded. Loaded. Okay. Take a quick break here. Doug McLean. I hope he's tired today and he's, I'm a little nervous.

I'm a little nervous about him because it's later, right? It's an hour and a half later. It's an hour and a half later. So he's had his wine now. The vino could have been cracked by now. That's what you're saying. Totally. If we get it with purple teeth,

we know we're in for an electric interview. You thought you were high yesterday. He's coming in hot. He could be, his meds could be kicking in too. All right. Doug McLean, when we returned to real Kippering Bourne. Hey, it's Ben Ennis.

And I'm Brent Cunning. We got you covered on all things, Leafs, Rafters, and Blue Jays every weekday morning, 6 to 9. It's the fan morning show. SportsNep 590 The Fan and wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kippreos, Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee, a reminder.

Real Kipprin-Born, brought to by Bet 365. Speaking of gambling, let's welcome in our next guest to our show. Always 15. 50-50 on what we'll get out of Doug McLean. Oh. Listen, I'm exhausted. Okay, I'm exhausted.

You, I've had a busy day. This is like my fifth show of the day, like seriously. See what we've created for you. And all same pay. Of course, you and Jill were glued to the television all day on trade deadline day, correct? Yeah. Actually, we left here at 5 o'clock. We had to go across and play bocce ball on the beach with our neighbors.

And have just some appetizers and hors d'oeuvres on the beach. And I was thinking about the show the whole time. I couldn't focus on bocce ball because I was so focused on this show, you know, wanted to do a good job. Well, you always do, Mac. You seem like you're reloading. I never have anything loaded with this guy. Okay.

Well, yeah, I'm just going to toss up a soft. ball to you. We just threw a couple fast balls to the GM. What are your thoughts? Deadline day. Your key takeaway today, Mack, what are your thoughts?

Well, you know what? I'll tell you who I was, I was really impressed with Anaheim and Verbeek going after Carlson. And all of a sudden, you look at their right side on the blue line and you've got

Truba, Goudis, and Carlson. And in my opinion, with those moves, that puts them in the same category as an Edmonton and that group to compete at playoff time. I thought it was a major move. And obviously, the Colorado move late in the day with Cadre was a big move for them. It means it gives them a tremendous depth. Imagine Cadre is your

third center, a little surprised that they went that way. But look, Cadry is still a real good player and it gives Colorado a real good look. Interesting first round. Is it going to be Minnesota and Dallas play in the first round? Yeah. Or is it going to be somebody different, you know, like last year? So that's, that was my main takeaways. You know, the Leafs tried to do some things.

I thought Buffalo improved their team, you know, with I really after the Pareko disaster, however that happened, and to bounce back and pick up a big body like Stanley and Shan, I thought that was a real good pickup for Buffalo. So, you know, I think there was some good moves. Edmonton, I mean, you're going into the playoffs with Ingram as maybe your number one defenseman or I should say, goaltender, and that would make me a little nervous. Just one thing on Cadre going to Colorado,

I just mentioned moments ago to the guys. Like, didn't Dallas need to kind of maybe race to get somebody or keep Cadre away from Colorado or, fill in Sagan's 10 million bucks. They didn't see a thing. I was a little surprised there, but you know what?

They're looking at a little bit. Let's not forget they didn't have Heisken in in the playoffs last year, you know, and he's back 100% healthy. They're much healthier team going into the playoffs. You know, tough owner there too.

You know, solid GM and Jimmy Nell, tough owner. I'm just wondering if they would go there, dollar-wise, with catch. I mean, you've got to look at Cadry's term and be a little bit nervous about that. If you win the Stanley Cup, it doesn't matter, obviously.

But if you don't win the Stanley Cup and you're sitting with that term, you may not be as excited. You know, lots of big moves. Minnesota was pretty aggressive in that division too, right? They grabbed four guys, Falino, McCarron, Petrie. There's another one on the bottom. But they didn't end up with a big name like you thought they were. You know, Felino,

look, you got to love Falino and you love the brother connection. I'm not sure his game is where, you know, obviously it's not where it was.

You guys experienced that in Toronto, what, three years ago? But, you know, so, you know, it's a nice story. I just don't know if he's going to help.

But Minnesota's going to be a tough team, too. They're going to be a tough team. But as I said, I think Anahein moves into a much more competitive group.

in the West and they will not be an easy out boys. They've got some good young talent there. And I think they really improve it. You're right. You know, many did a lot. You know, lots of people did a lot. Were you surprised Carlson? Mack, were you surprised Carlson went to Anaheim after all these years?

And I don't know. I mean, I floated this out with no knowledge, no inside information that maybe Carlson did a favor for Washington. and could re-sign back there in the summer? I don't know that. If that's the fact, if that's the fact, they've really kept it well under the wraps.

When I listened to Ovi's conversation and I listened to Wilson's conversation and you listen to Carlson, I didn't sense he's going back. But, and I think after 17 years and what he's done for the franchise, I was really caught off guard by that move.

I really was. And, you know, if he comes back and signs, that's great. not sure I sense that today. Did you? I don't think for one second he has plans on ending his career out in the West Coast. Yeah, maybe, maybe. You usually have a good intuition to that.

I'm, you know, I'm a little out and left field on some of those things, but, you know, I just, I thought it was a really good deal for Anaheim, so we'll see what happens. I mean, lots of teams, you know, some, like I look at what's going on. in Vancouver and I just shake my head. I mean, what is going on? Well, you know what? It's funny. I was doing, you know, Nick and I were doing a show when they were in the bubble, you know, and I'm looking at their team and thinking, Pederson, and I compared him on Nick's show in those days.

I compared Pedersen to Dadzook. That's what he looked like as a 19-year-old. Yeah. I mean, this guy and Quinn were chemistry and Besser. And, I mean, it was just on. And Horvatt was there. And I mean, and I look, Demko is at a start moving into a stardom. And all of a sudden, I look today and I'm thinking, what is going on there?

Like, where are they headed? I mean, I talked in this show a year and a half ago that they had one Canadian on the team. And that bothered me. But I look at them today and I'm thinking, where are they headed now? And Garland. So they signed, tell me about your talking about Brad Tree Living, about his plan. And what is the plan when you sign a guy on a six-year deal that starts in September and you, and he's owed almost $40 million, $36 million on the new contract,

and the rest of this year, which I guess would only be a million or so, and you trade him and Columbus pick up a $36 million contract. And the guy has got two goals in the last 25 games. Has he scored two in the last 25? I don't know. You don't like it. You don't like that it looks like you have no plan in Vancouver and you don't like Columbus picking up all that money for.

Well, look, if Columbus get in, which it looks like they have a very good chance to get in and they win around. But that's going to be a contract, $36 million for Connor Garland. I mean, I like the guy, but like his, I'd be pretty nervous on that one. I mean, I'm sitting there today watching that thinking,

I had to trade Jeff Sanderson to save $800,000 to Vancouver. And I had to trade Sador to Tampa to save money. And I'm looking at them picking up $36 million today. Anyway, do you ever think like... Good on them. Do you ever think about how much like your reputation is tied to things that people don't know about that? And I wonder that about GMs currently who we don't know what their internal mandates are. But here's, you know, it's funny.

Jimmy D. and I had to talk. the other day for an hour and a half. And, and, you know, Jimmy D. and I were, he said, Doug, I, you know, because Jimmy D. was and I talked a lot when I was in my time in Columbus and he was in Detroit, and he knew what we went through there to start the franchise and build the start the franchise. And we were talking about guys that got opportunities. And he said, you know, Doug, you, I didn't get another GM job because I was framed as a loser in because I didn't win in Columbus, you know. So, you know, it's, you know, it's funny how reputation, I look at it, I was talking to Berkey today, Berkey's been hired by six different owners, you know, now he won, you know, he won a Stanley Cup,

but six different owners hired Berkey. David Poyle, 42 years as a GM in the league, you know, and worked for two teams. So, you know, it's just funny how you're perceived, you know, in the hockey world. And bottom line is you've got to win. And I wonder which GMs today that we don't know about. about have internal mandates. And I think it's a lot of the teams and cities that players won't go to. A lot of GMs with no trade clauses against their teams look like they're inactive. Yeah.

And look, you'd be, you'd be shocked at how heavily involved the ownership or the ownership's people are in dealing with the GM. And like I know how it was with me, hey, Mr. McConnell was a fabulous person. I thought the world of them. We got along great. He gave you his jet. Yeah, I liked the jet a lot. I really enjoyed the jet.

I told you how I ended up with the jet is I was driving one day to Kentucky, and he phones me in the car, and he said, what are you doing? I said, I'm on my way to Lexington to watch an American hockey league game. And he said, don't you ever do that again? You take the jet. You take one of my, you take one of my three jets to go, you don't waste time driving the Lexington. Well, I use the jet a lot.

Look at you, Taylor Swift. Two things I miss. I miss my salary and I miss the jet. I just want to go back a little bit on, you know, we've been a part of Sportsnet Trade Shows Mac many years. and we know how it works a little bit with the sources and getting information and all of that, but it hit a level I've never seen in all my years

covering this game for Sportsnet with the Pareco to Buffalo and how the information got out, how the details of the trade got out, how we analyzed it, how it was like a foregone conclusion, and then it gets shut down. I'm also watching guys the last three days, four days, healthy scratches. They're sitting in the press box eating popcorn because they're like ready to get traded.

I'm watching Trocheck talk about his his kid going, hey, dad, you're getting traded. I'm not getting traded. I'm staying. And then like nobody goes anywhere. And everybody like, can you imagine how being a season ticket holder? who doesn't watch this carefully and going, hey, what do you still doing here? What are you doing?

I thought you got traded. Listen, I had a rule in Columbus, and I used to tell my staff this all the time. I think I told you what Pierre Laquois said to me on the first deal I made with Pierre. He said, we talked and we were setting up and trading. I was trading them a second round pick for Mark Deney was the deal. And it was before the draft,

and it was before we were allowed. to, it was before the expansion draft. So, you know, it was a deal that was going to happen after July 1st. So he said, here's the deal, Doug. I can tell you right now that if this, if this gets out, if this trade that I'm making with you gets out before it's allowed to, I can tell you it's coming from your organization because I guarantee it won't be coming from the Colorado Avalanche.

So I'm just giving you that warning. That's what he said to me. And it was one of the great lessons. of my early career as a GM. You make sure in your organization that things do not get out. You and you emphasize that with your key people that are at the top of the organization,

the four or five people that are intricately involved in a trade, in trade talks, that this cannot get out. And, you know, it's one of the most important things with a franchise is leaks. Now, we know leaks, as I say, I was interviewing people for my new book. And I said to an agent, well, we know a lot of things come from agents.

And he said, yeah, Doug. And nothing, of course, ever comes out from the GMs or the NHL, he said to me. In other words, giving me a shot. So how it got out is embarrassing. So somebody dropped the ball, somewhere along the line, and it's not fair to a lot of people. including Pareko, including the blues, including the agent, including Buffalo, whoever leaked it, it's a bad scene, bad scene. Thanks for reminding me when I used to call you and you were the general manager at Columbus.

It kind of sucked as a source. Well, I had you on hold because I was talking to Bob McKenzie. Yeah, I doubt that for a second. Can you pull back on no trades and no moves? Can we... Seriously. Is it to the point now where it's just left a lot of markets feeling like they're wearing handcuffs? Like, well, it makes the draft show also have...

you know, have handcuffs on when I watched the shows today and I was slipping back and forth between, well, no, I was watching Sportsnet. And but, but, you know what, it's, it's, it's, that show today with four trades, that was, that was, that was like torture watching that, you know, okay, we're going to go to the strategy room. Well, okay, there's no strategy. Okay, we're going to go to this room. Okay, we're going to the players lounge. Okay, that's good.

Let's move on to the next group. And then we're, you know, anyway. But we've done it. We've lived it. We know it's. It's not easy. To have four trades. And okay, the NHL have got to stop using fax machines.

If we have to wait an hour after the trade deadline to get the final, the biggest deal of the day, because they're sending faxes. Are they using faxes still? No, they're not. But you got to do it one trade at a time, I guess. I guess. How complicated are they to research those trades? But listen, you, I'm not, I was never an executive.

You should know all this stuff. No, I know. It's like it's fax machines. I'm sure. I can't believe it. I thought they'd be using computers by now, but maybe not, you know. Anyway, it's embarrassing. So we wait an hour for some action.

Anyway. All right. So biggest winners, Colorado? What do you think of Corey Perry going back to Tampa? I don't think much of it. No. I think it's fine. You know, I mean, look, he's a, they like, Cooper wanted him.

I mean, he was an important guy when he was there. He always comes through in challenging times. So, you know, looking at Tampa Bay this year, what did they use? 35 players this year. They just keep filling in and filling in and filling in. And guys come in and do a great job. So either Cooper is a great coach. Brisw is obviously a good GM.

Cooper's obviously a good coach. They just have done an amazing job of backfilling and having people step up and do a good job. And they're led by a group of three or four or five superstars who look to be healthy right now. You know, so I think they're going to be tough. But I don't know, did it did how many teams really help themselves today? Colorado did. Anaheim did. Well, the Islanders, the Islanders pick up shin, which, you know, which was a solid pickup at the end of the day.

But I don't know how many teams really improved themselves. I mean, I like Detroit picking up the defenseman. I thought that was a stoop move by Stevie Y at the end of the day, you know. How many other things that really, really happened that were that beneficial, you know? Hey, thanks for. Buffalo had a decent day. Thanks for sticking around so late. I know it's really late.

I mean, you got dinner plans with Jack Armstrong or anything tonight? Jack and I met last night at the sandbar. What was your show called Pucks and Balls or something? The game playing. First of all, I played, I had a bad back spasm because Jill hired me a strength coach for Christmas. Remember I told me she got me a strength coach for Christmas? And I think the bastard's trying to kill me. So I've got the worst back spasms I've ever had in my life.

So anyway, I had to play golf yesterday. And as I told you, I had an 82 last week, and you've seen my swing. You've illustrated it on your show. Yes. I had an 85 yesterday with a 7 on 17, and then I part 18. All right, all right. It's Friday night. Please.

$1.10. Okay, we got to go. We got to go. Hey, thanks for doing this, man. Really appreciate it. Hey, thanks for having me on, guys. I really appreciate it. Okay.

Doug McLean, everybody. Sammy, how are we doing, pal? Good, we got two minutes left. We got two minutes left. Our buddy, J.B., is going to go catch his kids hockey game, I think, tonight. Well, I think he would have been able to stay until the end, but he discovered right before he went on air that the hockey equipment for his said child is in the trunk of his car that's at the Rogers campus.

So he's... That's only going to happen a dozen more times before his kids' minor league hockey career is over. So he's currently on the road. I guarantee he's not listening to us, but yeah. What a week. Yeah, it's, it is a fun week. And what makes it the most fun is just how many people out there are truly intrigued by all of this. And I don't know whether they felt disappointed at the end or not.

There's not, there weren't as many trades as we've seen in years past. Remember last year, Marchand at the wire, the big names that went? No, but it's just, again, it's, it's just speaks to our fans. Yep. and how much passion they have for a game and wanting so desperately to see their favorite team improve. And this is an amazing week to do that. I was a part of Sportsnet.com.

You're in the mix up there today. You were calling making calls, grind in old school inside the candy. Well, listen, I like to support the Elliott. Oh, yeah. Those guys are maybe, I saw somebody put out a tweet that Friedman dominated. He led the league and trades broken. Awesome. Awesome.

And we're lucky to have them. Okay. Once again, our thanks to Doug McLean. Elliot Friedman also joined us. And of course, the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leaf's Brad Tree Living. Okay, Friday night, catch your breath. Have a great weekend, mother. Great weekend.

And guess what, Sammy? Hopefully 14 degrees here tomorrow. We're back on Monday. Are we going to talk? Do it all over again. our thanks to our fans on the YouTube channel. Give us a thumbs up if you can. Also a rating and review.

We'd love to hear from you. Have a great weekend, everybody.