Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: A Mile-High Statement

Episode Date: January 13, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Toronto Maple Leafs' overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche. They discuss the team's turnaround, Joseph Woll's standout effort, Bobby McMann's growing confidence, and how the recent stretch changes expectations for the season. Then, they chat about what's behind Auston Matthews' turnaround. Later, ahead of the Leafs' matchup against the Mammoth, Utah GM Bill Armstrong joins the show (32:06) to discuss his squad's recent play, goals for this season, the keys to a potential playoff berth, how he'll approach the deadline, and much more.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.

Let's get her going on a fun leaf hour edition on the Royal Kipper and Bourne show. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bore, Sammy McKee, Jake the Snake Shills, Derek Brandeo, Ethan Jaja Gabor. We're live on Sportsnet 360, 590, the fan in Toronto, streaming always on Sportsnet. Plus, also available Spotify, Apple Podcasts,

and YouTube, where we appreciate your thumbs up. The Toronto Maple Leafs. on a night where we weren't sure what we were going to get based on facing the top team in the national hockey league, Colorado, yet we talked yesterday, J.B., about keeping it close or at least having a good look based on what we've seen in the past. But safe to say with a overtime win,

did they over-deliver for us last night? Yeah, you know, I think you talk a lot about statement games, and games that are sort of a benchmark and see how you hold up against this team. You're on the road. They've been very good. You know, a million different reasons why you think the avalanche are the league's best team. And boy, yeah, over delivers a good word.

I thought the second period in particular, you know, they came out and took it to them in a period where the long change has typically worked in favor the abs. That was one of those games where you don't have to squint to look at the Leafs and go, Huh, okay. Might have something here. I'm looking at my boy Sammy right now. And all I can think of is Sammy.

No. Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in. I'm not saying anything. Long road trip ahead. Pull you back in. You're in, bud. You're all in. I can see it in your eyes.

Look at that smile. Like emotionally, you're back. Sammy. Yeah. Like, I've clearly back to enjoying. these games and back to watching them hoping they win as opposed to hoping they lose in terms of looking for a map. That's so guarded right there, isn't he?

It is. Well, yeah. You've been. He's been hurt, man. You've been hurt so bad that you just, like, enjoy it a little bit, Sammy. Come on the couch. Let us talk to you. They beat. Lay down.

They beat McCar. They beat McKinnon. They did it on their ice. They shut down this consecutive win streak at home. Fantastic stuff. You need backflips right now, Sammy. It was an awesome game, and I am incredibly happy that they are heading in the right direction.

And if I am not mistaken, if our boy Jake the Snake could maybe get the standings up, if I look here, if I have a quick look. They're above that line. That's new. The Leafs are in the playoffs. That seems a little different than it seemed.

For the first time since November 7th, Two. They were in the playoffs that long from the beginning of the season to November 7th. I don't know. I don't know exactly. Maybe they were open back in for a day. I didn't think from long stretches of this season

that they had the way they looked in, the way they looked last night in them. And for example, if you had told me in the middle of November that they're going to go into Colorado and play in a second period, and not only outscore the Colorado Avalanche in the second period with the long change, but out shoot them in the second period in a second period. I mean, I would have just been, I would not have believed you for a second.

This turnaround has been remarkable. I'm not going to say they're all the way back. They're in the playoffs. It's nice. But what a game. I mean, what a hockey game. Statistically, every single night, I get a report from Sport Logic post game that gives me, you know, expected goals, OZ time, possession time, slot shots, high danger chances,

all these different things. The Leafs get out possessed all year long. They don't have the puck nearly as much as their opposition. Except for last night. Right. When they're pretty good, they're high danger chances. They'll have more. Like they'll lose in every category but high danger chances.

Last night they had more than a minute and a half of ozone possession time than Colorado did there. Yeah, they were the better team. Okay, let's listen to Craig Barrowby. Let's hope he's more excited than our Sammy. Look at the hell. Yeah, no, for sure. I thought that. He's not.

Good team effort. You know, everybody was involved and contributed tonight. And, yeah, so big kill at the end on that third. It was obviously a big part of the game, but Goldie was good. Team effort, really good team effort. So, let me get that, what do you want me to say? No, nothing. What do you want me to say?

Like, they're all the way back. I don't want you to say anything. I want you to be Sammy. I am really happy. I'm happy they won. But you want me to be like, this is the turning point of the season. This is when they go. You want me to get really happy so that when they lose four in a row,

you can be like, you idiot. You are the biggest idiot. That's what you want. You've done it for four years. I figured out it's taken me four and a half years to figure out. Say the line. Say the line. Say the line.

But I saw somebody send a tweet last. I think maybe I want to say maybe Dr. Grizzow tweeted this on Twitter. I'm not mistaken that I'm doing a cross-sport reference here. So we're going to bring in some Jays. You're good. You're good. That game last night was the Jays versus the Yankees Canada Day series. Yeah.

Where the season had been pretty crappy up until that point, but they had been gaining momentum and getting hot and getting hot. And then the Jays swept away. And all of a sudden you go, oh, we got something here. Oh, my God. Maybe they're actually good. Like maybe they're actually going to go in a little bit of a run here. They're pretty close to something pretty good there at the end.

We all know that. But I thought there's a good comparison. And, yeah, how can you not look at that as not anything other than a statement win? The one thing I will note, too, is if you're a team that is farther down in the chase group right now, climbing these standings is brutal. The Sabres won 10 straight games there in the last wildcard spot. Leifes 80 and 2 in their last 10, they're in a wild card spot. You can't make up ground. You go cold for, I don't know, seven.

days and that's exactly why I'm not trying to get too ahead of my skis. It's like this is, last night was their best performance of the season. No question. But it's going to take four to five more best performances of the season to give them some breathing room on the playoff spot. So it's good though.

And to your point in the Eastern Conference, I don't know if you want to throw the board up right now, but like Tampa Bay keeps winning. Detroit keeps winning. So like they haven't gained on those three in particular, they've done a nice job in that mushy middle, but it's still really tough here. The leaps of what, taking what?

18 of a possible 20. 18 of a possible 20. They've given one point on Montreal and one point on Detroit. It's crazy. It's crazy. Right? That's... So that's where, unfortunately, a two or three game losing streak kind of sets back,

I don't know, 10 days. But that's the punishment for how God awful they were for such a stretch there where bad injuries, Matthew's bad, whatever. And all of a sudden it's like, God, though, you know, a few things have changed. Few guys have become more important, right? Bobby McMahon last night, you know, scores a big goal for them. And recently has taken a step. I'm even going to say it, Matthias Machelli pretty good. Looking really good.

Some of the underlying stuff about like, you know, possession and shot attempts and all that. When he's on the ice, they're pretty good for a stretch here. You had an awesome point a while ago about Machilli, about some of the competition that you're playing against. And I thought that in particular for him, last night's a big test. Like you can look great against the Canucks. You can look great against the Devils, the Jets, the Flyers.

Like you can have these nights. But to go in there against the best team in the league, missing some guys, clearly. Like people would love to remind me that Taze wasn't playing and Landisog wasn't playing and they had their third stringer or whatever. It's still a hard place to win. And to have him look as good as he did again, like maybe he did.

didn't need to sit out a month. Nine games looks like a lot in retrospect. Does it ever? Hindsight, 2020, maybe that month straightened him out. No, you're right. Tough to quibble if he found it, whatever it took. Okay, let's stay on the theme of a measuring stick win. Let's go to Craig Bruby first before we go to Captain Austin Matthews.

You know, you're coming into this building. I don't think they have a regulation loss, right? A couple overtimes, now three. But, you know, I've got the best record in the league. So, you know, you're in a battle. It's always a battle here no matter what. But, you know, I thought our guys rose up to the occasion and did a good job. You know, that's important, and it shows that we can compete with anybody in the league

if we play the right way and do the right things. Like, for me, it's puck management. I thought our puck management was really good tonight. I thought, you know, we made real good decisions with it, moved it well, and kept our shift short. We talked about that. It's important here to keep your shift short. And guys did a real good job of it and came away with two points.

I think covering the game last night, myself, you, J.B., you, Elliot, and Cameron, or Carolyn Cameron, the one thing that we did stress last night was, you don't want to run and gun with this team up the middle of the ice. I think in those first three or five minutes, you see Brock Nelson, two grade A chances on Joseph Wall to start the game. You go down 1-0,0, you go down 2-0. Is it a different feel for you the rest of the way?

Yeah, no, give Bull credit, right? He was really good. That happened in another game with them recently where they had some early opportunities, maybe against New Jersey, and then they sorted themselves out a little bit. But yeah, gave them the saves they needed in the first couple minutes.

And, you know, now I obviously were going Hill to be tonight. It's got to be, yeah. You know, and then a day off. So you get wool, a couple days rest in there. And, yeah, he's, he's finding a groove a little bit. You're not going to beat the Colorado Avalanche on their home ice for the third time all year without your goaltender making some spectacular saves. And to settle them in early like that, where Brock Nelson gets in behind you and you just get a couple big saves early,

that feels like it gave him some momentum. Yeah. Outside of Nelson's first two chances, he made a slot save on Kelly with a right pad that, Again, I think the guys on the bench can go, holy moly. Like we're... It's a free one. He took one off the board. Totally.

Totally here. Man, people are, you know, that's a good trade for both teams. That brought, people were making fun of the abs or how much they gave up. He was. I can't believe how he moves. He's skating so well. And, you know, just worth mentioning, I can't believe how good Marty Natchez is. Or I shouldn't say is, was.

He was lying. Was he maybe like the most dynamic player last night? Oh yeah, he was a threat. Every time he got it, it was like, oh, like more than McKinnon. Yeah. You know. Well, McKinnon ended up, I think, between him and McCart, there were like five points. But between the assists, I think he may have had one shot on goal in the first 40 minutes.

Also, Willie stripped him an OT and then beat him back up to ice. That shot by Willie was also, you know, to rip that five hole like that on a goalie coming across. Is Willie the best three-on-three player in history? Like, he owns it. Those two teams- He owns it. He's in the conversation. I'm not joking. If you put out a three-on-three league, those two teams be pretty good teams.

Oh, my God. Well, he puts it under McCarrow's stick with McKinnon on the back check. Like, that's a pretty good squad on the ice there in blue. Team Sweden action there, all of Recman-Larsson, Willie Neander, fires it in. Oh, yeah. Saw who he was with, and he's like, I better, that's the play. Willie makes he strips the puck free, and then he's like, oh, boy, I've got to find a way to get this across. All right.

I want to hear this one. Craig Brubi on what's changed with the Leafs. I just think overall team play. You know, I think just playing the system, defensively, we've been a lot better, obviously, and that's a big part of the game. And, you know, we're scoring goals, too. But like I said the other day,

we've scored goals all year. But defensively, we're just a lot tighter and a lot better. I got it down to just three things. No, it's the coach's system. Obviously, that's why they turn it around. It's my sister. Goaltending special teams and Austin has shown up. Goaltending special teams, Austin.

It's hard to quibble with any of that. I'm going to just add ozone play. Like, you highlighted wall battles. I don't know if we ever ran the pack that you put together. I think we did in the post. Did we? Like, you know. A little late.

Yeah. No one saw it. I don't remember. I asked for it in the first period. But they, you know, the amount of times that you saw guys cut back, hang on to it, bump it to someone behind the net. And it's like, you know. Keep it out of the middle of the ice.

Right. Just play along the wall until you find your way in or get a shot through the lanes. And Bobby McMahon to me is like that's in his wheelhouse. Yes, he can beat you up the ice if you want to, you want to get into a sprint with him. But he's doing everything that I think Craig Bruby envisions. I got to tell you, every time I'm like, this guy could be, you know, a playoff monster for them. I remember that he was completely useless in playoffs last year.

Not just playoff. Like from the start of March until the end of the playoffs. 24 games without a goal. It's like, how can you skate like that at that size, shoot like that? You know what the difference is? Last year wasn't a contract here, brother. I just think it's experience or lack of it or expectations. Exposure to that.

I got to think this time. around, Leifes make the playoffs, which everybody hopes that they do here, he's in a position to look upon himself as more of that guy now. Yeah. And I don't know where this is all heading for them. You know, you could look at Machelli, right? And you like Machelli where he's headed, but like never played a playoff game in his life. It's, you don't know.

I'd kill for that problem. You don't know. To find out that he. I'd find, if we were going to find out Machelli sucks in the playoffs, that's great because it means they made the boss. So, yeah. You're ready to settle for that, eh?

At this point? Yeah. Like, what am I supposed to come in? I don't think he's, I don't think he's, I don't know. I don't know what the expectation. They're going full 2019 blues here with the barrier. I'm not far off on him.

Like, with that start over 30 games and then last night, I think there's a lot of people like Sammy right now that would look at making the playoffs or maybe, be possibly even winning one round a huge success. Well, winning one round would be

high their best. It would literally be their best effort. By the way, we shouldn't dismiss that. Like, if you're one of the final eight teams, it's a pretty good season. But they get knocked out in the first round.

Well, that's the thing is like, look at Ottawa's season last year. Is that a successful season? For them, it was. Well, and is that a building block for them? To the basement? Yeah, well. The foundation fell out on the high.

building block. I get it. But I'm asking the questions. You know, expectations at the start of the year for the Leafs were this. Then they went in the gutter and are they back to this? Or now we just like have an Ottawa year and we'll take it. I'm just kind of, it's actually a refreshing way to live as a Leaf fan where the last few years. People haven't cared about the season at all.

The regular season sucked. And we've talked about how much. No, we didn't care about the regular season. Now we care about the regular season. about the regular season. We talked about how we don't care about this every day being like, yeah, they're going to play Tampa in the first round again and away we go. They're going to play whoever in the first round again. Way we go.

Now they're going to get Carolina in the first round. Well, now it's like, I'm turning on every game saying to myself, they need this. This is a big game. And it's been so many years since they've had to do that. It's a different experience as a fan. The other equation in all of this is that we are looking at it for the first time that, okay, the Leafs are flawed, right?

Oh yeah, oh yeah. But so are they, so are they, so are they, and so are they. Right. We've never really, we've never really done that before. No, it's like if you put me on the line for a hundred meter dash, you'd say, I don't like his chances of beating anyone. But if I look around and it's a bunch of people with one leg, you're going up against me.

I'm going to beat that bag of a hole shot here. You know, and that's kind of where it is for the Leafs. The first place team in the Atlantic Division is the Detroit Red Wendings, who have a plus four goal to. differential. Crazy. I looked at some standing stuff. I don't know if you guys saw my tweet today,

but like Florida has the easiest schedule left in the Atlantic. Tampa Bay, the second easiest. It just feels like Tampa's going to win the division. Florida's going to be in the two-three game. We saw Braden Point go down and it was, it was ugly. Is there any update on that today?

We haven't heard any news on that yet. I think, didn't Coup after the game say that he was going to travel with the team? Traveling to Pittsburgh, which is very strange. No, it's not. It's not really because. they're going to go home right after that. Just let the swell. And what are you going to do?

Get a commercial flight for him? You're going to get a private plane to get them home? Yeah, I'd probably go with the boys to Pittsburgh. You're going to go to Pittsburgh. If they're swelling, you get to treat it. A day or two isn't going to make a difference. So just hearing that he's staying with the team for one more road game before they go home, to me, isn't a sign.

that it's not. They're going home post game tonight. So, yeah, yeah, yeah. Brought and play. Just dove right. I don't think he's trying to hurt him by any stretch, but just dove right in. God, it's been a tough year for him,

eh, when it's come to injuries? You know, he's not having a great year, but he's a, if he can't play for Canada, that's a big loss. Let's just quickly do it. Is the fill in for him, Badar, or Stan Bennett? I don't know.

Because he's the guy who's like, he's a skill guy, he's a center, but at the same time, he's kind of a third line center. He's a big loss. He can play every situation. He's a right-handed shot, too, which Connor is, Bedard, and Bennett isn't. But Bennett's been there.

No, is that perfectly. Yeah. But it's the most impressive. You were like, does he shoot? Oh, I don't even bother thinking about it. I don't know. I could never picture it. Never.

I have like. If I asked you, if I could offer you $100,000 to definitively tell me players left or right, you can't do it? Honestly, I have sat here and been like, okay, Matthews shoots. And I have to, like, picture goals in his career. Be like, okay, I can get there on Matthews. past that, but I, it's like face blindness or something. I could have

say it definitively. It just might not be right. I'm like, right. He's right, $100K. I could have vertigo right now and get up and tell you who shoes left or right. It would be funny to try to get all the Leafs. Like, obviously, Willie's already from... The all-time story about this is that, I don't know, who's at Coppinwood when we went there for like a tournament

and we were sitting there at a table and guy came out to Kimber. He was like, we played beerly together. He was like, oh yeah, you were a right-hand shot defenseman. And he's like, yeah, I want. Kip had a 50-50 chance to that swing. You guessed fastball and hit one. He was, oh, you think he's like a psychic that doesn't actually know, but just guessing generalities?

I thought he was, I thought he nailed it. I thought he nailed him. Anyways. They make a lot of money, though, psychics. I got to tell you, this is just because I'm tired and I'm rambling. Like on Long Island, the whole medium thing is a big deal. Oh, yeah. And they get you with the generalities.

Oh, yeah. Like, if you ever see any roses, it's the message from them. It's like, it's rose. season. The long of the medium was a very popular show, wasn't it? Among a certain audience, it sure was. Austin Matthews. Let's go to Craig Brube's thoughts on his captain,

and then we'll go to ours. Yeah, no, there's a lot of that Austin Matthews, like with speed coming down, pulling it in and ripping it, hit the crossbar there in a one. You know, he's getting his looks every game now. Like I said, before, it's the skiing and demanding the book. Demanding the puck.

Okay, but you can't play him that much. 25 minutes last night. Over 25? Yeah. And almost, I think you had 30 shifts, which is like eight more than the next highest guy. At the end of the game, he was dying for an oxygen tank. And he just kept smashing button 34, 34, 34. It's like, let him catch his breath.

They'll be better. And Blotin, not much more than 11? Yeah. Dude. Got it. Toss him. a couple more minutes. Truly.

He can skate. He's responsible. Like, just let him eat two more. I think Lawrence played nine. Cowan was down in the 11 range. Toronto still showed more depth than Colorado. Like, yeah, Colorado didn't use.

Their fourth line is non-existent. They played Ivan, Ivan. Is that two first names or two last names? Yes. Last night, last night, I covered the game, professionally for my career and looking at the name Z. Bartakov for the avalanche.

It was a player on their team last night. I had no idea. How are they going to win a Stanley Cup in four rounds playing like nine guys? Z. Bartakov? How many minutes for him? You played 434. So anyway,

that Soloviav was on the ace quite a bit at the end of the game. Solov. I look at that as two teams that I think that's as much of a compliment for the Leafs as that is for the Colorado Avalanche that the coach felt like they needed to play their tough guys just as much to match up with awesome Aggies. They're chasing the game.

Yeah, like, boys, we need one here. We can't play Ivan, Ivan, Ivan, Ivan, or Gavin Brinley. Ivan Square's only going to get two tonight. I do, so. Do we have any background on the Ivan Ivan's story? Like, his name's Ivan. His last name? Also Ivan.

But, like, does anyone ask him at all about, like, Who are you named after? We got to say until two of the morning. He was Ivan. Bull, was also... Who named him? Like stuttering John

from the Howard Stern show? Probably his parents. I don't know Ivan's background. I'll do some digging. Ja, get on it. It's somebody's assignment here. Is someone explained to me?

I'm tired. All right. Let's talk about some stuff. Born, born? Born. Born, born. I don't know where to go off of Ivan Ivan. So we're talking about Matthews.

Yes. And did you have something to say about it? It's great to watch. It's fun. I don't know. Are we allowed or, you know, do we not? You're about to. Are we allowed to ask like, like, where you been?

Like, what happened? So I have the, no, just move on. No, I have this exact thought today. exact thoughts. Do not look in the rear view mirror. Like if he's just back, if he's the 60 goal scoring pace guy now

from now to the end of the year, it's a massive question to me. What happened? What happened last year? What happened until December 23rd? Did you just decide emotionally to try again?

Were you not trying? And probably that's not the answer. So what happened? Did everything get healed all at the exact same time, were you in bad shape and needed some games to get into shape? What happened?

The minor needed a pick to puck that one, to dig that one out of the net. Oh, man, that just about hit someone in the front row that went through the net so hard. Geez. I love this Sally, too, with the guy double bird. I don't know.

I don't know. This is great. Love that we're having this conversation. Maybe. Maybe there's more energy. G now in them. Maybe it's... Look, why? Maybe Germany's beautiful around Christmas.

Maybe. I don't know. If he's playing hard for 40 games, is he going to be better rested for the playoffs? Not if you play him 25, 38 per night at elevation and a back-to-back. I think

you know, the theory that I've brought up to you guys is just they were in last place, cruise control, we suck, nothing's happening, and then like I said before, Guy loses his job and they've been great ever since. It was, you have a hard time convincing me

that that didn't. You think it was sent a message? I think it was way more mental than it was physical. And it just woke them all up, but it shook the snow globe. And they played the right stretch of hockey against the right stretch of teams that weren't that great.

They've got their mojo back. They got healthy. I just, I think Matthews, I think a lot of it was mental before. Now watching this, I would have said it was physical before, but watching him play like this now, I have a hard time.

You'd have a really hard time convincing me. Stay with you guys? Buddy, I'm genuine when I say, I don't know, but I can't believe a player would pout his way through a full season and a half. And I'd say pout, but I can't believe it's just emotional.

That's too big a leap for me to think that a guy was just like, I'm happy, whatever. And then all of a sudden be like, oh, yay. You know, Sam's a mess. That's a long, but does that happen? A year and a half. Halfworth?

I mean, how many times have we seen a team suck and then a coach get fired and then the team be really good for a long time? It happens all the time in hockey. And he is at the head of it. He is the top of the snake. At the head of the snake. We're all over Mark Savard. I just think. Okay, I think he's saying off firing.

I just think somebody being gone because you sucked. It's my only theory. or LT Visiting Healing Hans on Christmas. Whatever it is, it's better than mine because I'm with J.B. I haven't got a clue. I can't even begin. And it would just be a guess.

And I am so sure we will never find out because he won't do that. Right? He's not a open book therapy through the media type of guy. But he will tell us if last night was a measuring stick game against the abs. Let's have a listen. All right.

Clip one. I just think internally going into this game. I just think internally going into this game, we've been playing great hockey, and I think, you know, we deserve the right to have the confidence coming into this game. And, you know, it doesn't matter who you're playing.

It's matter if, you know, the number one team in the league or a team that's, you know, 117 straight on the road. I mean, I think it's just the belief and confidence that you can go into any rink, no matter of the situation, and play a complete game

and come out with two points. And I think that's really the bottom line. I mean, it wasn't about anything else tonight except, you know, all 20 guys going out there and competing. doing what we could to come out with two points. He's talking more. Yeah, that was more.

Yeah. It's like everything. It just sounds like he looks like himself, sounds like himself. It's all very strange. By the way, twice in Luke Fox articles now, he's mentioned their music and their dressing room, and this is me leading the campaign to get Come on Eileen as their goal song, because they play it after wins now and they love it, and it's a wonderful pick-me-up. But also, they play Wonderwall for Joseph Wall when he gets a win,

which I really like. It's a nice touch. So, Boys have a little bit of camaraderie going right now. Yeah. They win every face-off. Yeah. How, like, their centers, all their centers. 60. Win every draw it feels like.

You know, Matthews, Tavares is amazing. Watton obviously has been the hottest face-off guy in the league. Wa's really good at it. Yeah. You look at their centers, and having all four of their centers healthy and playing well is a huge reason. Where do you think they are league-wide and face-off percentage? I think not.

Top five? Numero Yeah, number one. One. I mean, does that pass the eye test? Feels like they went over a draw. Yeah. 56.6% of faceoffs go in their favor.

Pretty darn good. Matthew's been good at it. Lawton's got the leg in there. I tried to do a little feature on that last night. Gets to his face. What's that? I liked when he got a Natchez's his face. It was great.

He was pissed that he snapped his head back for sure. That was fun. Yeah. One other thing to talk about Nick Robertson, hurt gets a shot in the knee. Yeah. And it was a tranquilizer puck. It actually hit him and made him completely numb.

I don't know. He just kind of went limped on the ice. And it was like, what is he? He didn't try to get up. He just like, I have no idea. Must be very serious. Yeah, but Luke Fox tweeted that he was walking around okay after. Hmm.

I don't know then. Don't be rolling your eyes on me on my Nick Robertson, okay? My Nicky. Hey, it took me over a year to build. build him up. Oh my God. I have been the Nick Robertson guy. You don't get to steal him the second he's good.

I love that player. I love the guy. I love the guy. By the way, last night on the broadcast, Kemp's like, I think this guy could be a 25-old guy. And I was like, are you kidding me? For four years, that's been my tape. And finally the guy gets on.

What? No way. Yeah, that's true. That's true. I didn't see it coming, but I'm all in on Nick. I am. It's because he's, I think, for you,

not to speak for you, but he's better without the puck now. And that makes me a difference. Here's the puck. By the way, I don't mean to make light of. I know that. Did you? I just probably hit a nerve or something.

I don't expect him to play tonight. I don't expect a guy that didn't finish the game in 22 hours to be okay the next night. No, I told. I don't know. We'll see. You know, I might as well just lay it out there. You wanted him to try to get up.

I wanted him to try to get off. I wanted to put some weight on it. Yeah. I wanted to, unless you have something cracked or broken, I want to see you go do a lap at the commercial break and see how it feels. I don't want you just to lay there, then go home. And I think he's going to play tonight. I think he's fine.

That's what I think. You're hard on my Nikki. Let's go to break. We got Billy Armstrong. Billy Armstrong. Do we get to ask him about all the whistling that's going on in Utah? Yeah.

We all, we got questions. We got questions. The general manager of the Utah mammoth, Bill Armstrong. Next, after these words. Hey, it's Blake Murphy. And on Map Honor. Join us weekday mornings at 11

as we break down all things Toronto Raptors. It's the Raptor show on SportsNet 590, The Fan, and wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kippreel's Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, it's the Real Kipper and Bourne show, Leaf Hour edition. Let's welcome in Bill Armstrong, General Manager of the Utah Mammoth,

as the Leafs face off against Utah tonight, 24 hours after beating Colorado. Army, how are you, my friend? I'm doing awesome. How are you doing? We're well, thanks. I don't know, maybe a tough time to play the Leafs after last night. What do you think? Well, you know what?

As a GM, you always look down and always like, oh, they're going through a slump and they're coming through town. We're so excited to play them and the Leafs have been hot lately so, but it'll be a good challenge for us tonight. You know, they're a heck of a team with a heck of a coach, so we're looking forward to playing them. You know, every game for us is game seven, so it's going to be

a good battle. Yeah, the mammoth are not exactly doing too badly themselves of late. They're on a nice little run. You guys have put together some wins. I wanted to get your thoughts on where preseason expectations were, where your team is, and how you feel

about how you've got to where you're at? Well, it's interesting. Like we obviously got some high ratings coming out with some of our trades in the summer and some of the guys from Nate Schmidt that we signed, the JJ Petrkas that we traded for. And the team came together pretty nicely. I think, you know, for us, we got off to a hot start

and then we kind of cooled down. But I think a lot of it had to do with our road schedule. I don't think people understood that, you know, at one point we had played eight more road games than most of the team. in the National Hockey League. So you've got to grind to play eight more games, and we'd played the most amount of games at one point

in the National Hockey League, and I think it wore us down with some of the back-to-backs on the road, and we're able to get home where we get a little seven-game homestand here, and then we can make some hay. But I like our team. You know, obviously we sustained a pretty bad injury to Logan Cooley and lost him for a little bit, and he's our number one player.

But minus that, our guys have stepped up, and I really like our team, and I like our fight and we're right in the hunt for a playoff spot. So we're kind of right where we're supposed to be. Bill, covering the Leafs here in our Leaf Hour edition, we've seldom seen a playoff fight from top to bottom, either in the division or the conference, especially the east. But it's starting to shape up a little bit that way for you guys,

just I guess technically out in the outside looking in tied with L.A. right now. But can you ever recall seeing anything, you know, like this before? And what is the difference going to be, particularly for your group to be on the right side come April? Is it a little bit more skill? Are you heavy enough? Are you tough enough? I know you got McBain there and Krause are big boys, but could you always add a little bit more? Well, we have Lamar, who's like 6-7 and Simishev that are 6-5 that are close to playing on the backside and the minors.

And so we're, you know, and we just added Bood, who's like 6-8. up front. So we've got size coming. It's only a matter of time before. We're probably the biggest team in the National Hockey League. But at this point, I like what we have that we have on the lineup right now. We're a pretty competitive bunch.

I think if we had to say what's going to get us in, it's really consistency. It is a lose one, win one, and stay with the game plan in the process. It is mentally grinding. we play. You don't practice because you rest and then it's a day off

and then you play and it's just repeat and you're on the road, you're up, you're back, you're caught in a snowstorm. It's just like who can be consistent through that process and keep a really good environment for the players and even though you get your butts kicked one night, you're coming back to the rink with a fresh start ready to go.

And it's the team that kind of has the toughest mindset that's going to get in because it's about. And it's not like you're, you know, the teams are so evenly placed in the league. It's just every night you could win or lose. It's the third period. There's a minute left and you're tired every night. So it is a grueling schedule.

It is so evenly matched in the NHL right now. The team with the toughest mindset to fight through and consistency is the one that gets in. Bill, certainly you guys, I've turned the page from being an organization that is not get to be a part of those games to your fan base is in it. You guys are in the grind every night, right? This is the time where you guys are making your push and I look at your guys as draft picks. You got 10 picks this year. You got

10 picks next year. You're already in a playoff hunt. You got guys on the way. How aggressive do you anticipate being as you head towards the deadline this year? Well, that's a good question. I think our players will lead us there, you know? I've always had a feeling your team kind of tells you how

aggressive you need to be. But, you know, my roots come from St. Louis building and when we won a cup that year, we added Michael Delzado down the stretch. That was it. Our core was already there. You know, my thought process with the amount of picks and the players that we have coming, we have five first-round draft picks outside our organization from McGinla to Denoyer to Simashev and Bodwen and Lammarou and they're good players.

So there's a little bit of a patient game on our side. It doesn't mean we won't add. Doesn't mean we can add. But our team will tell us, you know, where we're going down the stretch. and what exactly we should do. But we've got a ton of good players coming in with a ton of picks still to make. So we're a team that, you know,

is a pretty good NHL team with a lot of good young prospects coming. Bill, how fun is it being on this side of it after the work of having to do the rebuild? Well, listen, I work for SEG. I mean, the only problem that I can think working for Ryan Smith and Ashley Smith is one thing is like, we don't have any excuses.

Like, we used to have all these excuses about bad owners, bad planes, bad hotels, no rink, no practice. Like, behind me is, it's, it's incredible. Like, it's, it's, it's absolutely incredible. We go down to our rink, it's all been redone, you know, stay in the best hotels. You get the best private chefs. It's like, we're just out of excuses here. So it's, it's been a great, it's been a great change.

We went from the worst to the best. And it's, it's been nice. We always have a saying. inside the organization. We deserve it. They do. No argument here. We can't use that line here on our panel here.

That's for sure. You're watching and listening to Bill Armstrong, general manager of the Utah Mammoth. So a hot button topic all season long covering the Leafs has been power play specialty teams. And you guys are not in a place where you want to be,

much like the Leafs were in the first, what, six, eight weeks. weeks. You guys sit 29th right now with the talent that you have. How do you guys turn this thing around like the Leafs? Well, one of our things like, you know, when you first start to rebuild, all your analytics are completely red. And now you go into a room and we're all green except the power play. So it's it's a little bit frustrating with our group. Our penalty kills is good. You know, if you look, you know, we've got amazing goals against. But that's one area if we can fix and we can tidy up, that will help us get in.

And last year, we're... No, go ahead. Oh, no, finish your answer. Go ahead. Well, last year we were at 24% and the same unit, same players. So we've got to find a better rhythm, a better way to play on the power play. And I have great faith in our group

that we're going to get it done. Our second unit is actually taking huge strides, too. So there's some growth. Obviously, if we're going to max out to become the best we can be, we've got to get back to being an elite power play unit. which we were last year. And I feel like we can make that step.

And it's a huge, like, it's hard to score goals in the National Hockey League. So when you score on the power play, it's almost like you're winning the game right there. And that's something I was just going to add to the, you know, Logan Cooley not being around. I'm sure he's missed in that department. Is he still anticipated similar timeline maybe in the next few weeks, possibly a month? Well, I think the timeline is a little bit maybe before the Olympics or after the break, see how he heals. But the good news is we're going to get a chance to get him back, and he's going to have some impact for us. And he's such a great kid.

You know, we miss him because of the speed. When you put him in our lineup, we go to be the fastest team in the National Hockey League. And he's a fun player to watch. He's aggressive. He's competitive. And he's pushing every day to get better. So for us, he's kind of the guy that makes it happen. and there's always goodness too when you're injured

and you guys know this is, you know, Nick Schmaltz has stepped up and he's played unbelievable at center for us. So that's been a great sign for us. And, you know, he went from the wing to playing center and he's just been amazing at it. So that's always a bright spot for us. Bill, we're ever getting closer to the Olympics

where as general managers, you guys will be shut down again with roster changes here. And all without giving us trade secrets, although you're more than welcome to. How busy is it out there? It's interesting last year. I thought it was going to be really busy at the Four Nations. I never got the memo,

but a lot of people went on vacation in Mexico. I could wait for my phone to ring and it never rang. It depends, you know, on the injuries. It depends on, you know, is it going to happen? Do teams wait, you know, to see, you know, if the guy's injured coming out of the Olympics, you know, there's a lot of things, you know, everybody's, oh, the deals are going to be done before the Olympics. I don't think that's going to happen because of the fact you're not, you're not going to pay

all those assets to see your guy go over there now and get injured. So I think it'll, like anything, when there's a big decision or a negotiation, it always comes down to the final date. So I do think a lot of the deals will happen at the deadline. And I think it'll be kind of quiet during that term. I know we'll talk a lot. I'm not sure a lot of deals get done. Last one from me here, Bill.

We appreciate your time. Just want to ask about the fans whistling. I don't. Do you know why? Do you know what that is? It's kind of cool. It's unique. Do you like it?

It's European, isn't it? Yeah, kind of. It was just, I don't know. I'd rather they sing a song. You know, some things just happen organically, and somebody whistled. And now it's like, it's this, thing, you know, and they're whistling.

I'm just hoping that our players don't get distracted by it or someone stops in the middle of the game, you know, because they think they hear the whistle. Our players, I don't think they liked it. So hopefully that has an impact on the fans. And yeah, it just, it was a weird thing. You hear this, like it's almost like fireflies or whatever it is. It's just, yeah, it was certainly different. That's for sure.

Would you take it to another level and maybe just get a little warning out to them that the players feel like it kind of, up it's up against the referee whistle or you just leave it alone uh we we had a couple players on the social media just you know they kind of express their feelings about hey i wish you do something else you know like let's uh well hopefully that's enough hey hey good night you know singing some songs would be great you know all right well listen we wish you all the best uh certainly appreciate your time here uh good luck tonight all right thank you guys really appreciate having me on and uh we'll see you

Yeah, Bill Armstrong, General Manager of the Utah Mammoth. You don't like it? It's horribly annoying. It's a cool, unique band treat. It's to his point. Like, it's not that far off from a referee whistle. I don't know if you hear it quickly. Could you just let up for a split second?

Maybe. It'll keep me awake tonight at least when I'm watching the second straight 10 p.m. puck drop. Zaja looked into it a little bit, and he was telling me that the, that arena was built with particularly good acoustics in terms of bringing the sound back. Like, it's almost an echo. And so that sound in that building, and I guess jazz games are very loud there,

sounds even more amplified. And so you can kind of create this unique thing. You know, just we have so few identifiable fan-based things in hockey compared to the coolest part of European soccer culture, which is the fan base, the hooligans, the supporters. We got so little of that that I hate to have a fan base, a new fan base, do something unique and cool and have people be like, but I don't know.

It's not common in our sport. I thought it was hilarious. What about, you can't really say go, mammoth, go. What do you say, go, man, Utah? How about Utah? Go, Utah, go? Sure. Nah, doesn't go roll out the tongue.

I don't know. Stick to the whistling. How about let's go mammoth? Let's go, man. That actually works perfectly. Yeah, sure does. I thought it was hilarious when he said, like, we don't have any excuses anymore. Yeah, that's great.

he named everything up against that old owner in Arizona. Yeah. And I'm, you're, just wherever that owner is right now, he's just, he just like, his ears are burning.

He twitched. You know, bad ring, twitch. You know, bad hotels, twitch. Everything. To go back to our earlier conversation about Ivan, Ivan. Oh, you got information. This is from Jake the Snake Shult.

So if it's wrong, blame him. He's got two first names. Okay, he told Coloradoeagles.com, that's their farm team, right? Yeah. The origin of his name, my dad's name is Merrick, and his last name is Ivan. Since Merrick and Ivan are both first names, people were always wondering whether his name was Merrick or Ivan. So he made it easier for me. I like it, especially because there are not many people with my name.

Nope, nope. He's right. You nailed it. Ivan, Ivan. I wish Robert Thomas's dad had gone with Thomas. Thomas. Excellent. Yeah, good job.

Research is awesome. Thank you, Jake. Good job, Jake. But that's very funny that his dad was like, I'll simplify it by making it very weird. Yeah. That is something. Is there any chance after what we think it was the most emotional win

for the Toronto Maple Leafs? 24 hours later, you mentioned Austin playing 25 minutes, coming right back again, that there could be a little bit of a let-up. But they're due to get cooked tonight. aren't they? I don't know. They've...

Everything against them, minus the goal of fresh goalie. But if we had to gone into these two games and said that they got two points at a Utah in Colorado, we probably would have been somewhat acceptable. We would have been like, okay.

We all expected them to get started... You're saying house money tonight. I think there's a bit of... I was trying to sell last night's game is house money too. You just... People don't think you're going to win. Go lay it on the table.

And I think if there's one thing that you can lean on is that Dennis Hildeby has been fabulous for him. So you could get a good start out of him, get them going early. I'm sure he was awfully inspired last night from Joseph to follow it up. Yeah, I got to say this Utah team, I have been disappointed with where they're at in the standings. Like you look at the West.

The West is, guys, it's not good. You're going to get into the postseason with like 89 points or something. Seattle is in a playoff spot, and I don't think they're particularly strong. What's their goal differential? Minus 5. They aren't getting in. San Jose.

is minus 19. They're in a wild card spot. LA isn't like Utah is plus nine. It is right there for the taking. Not if your power play doesn't get going. We know what it did to the leaves. They need loss of gross back. Sorry, Logan Cooley back.

Right. But they're better than Seattle. They're better than San Jose. Who won that trade of defensemen between Tampa and Utah where J.J. Moser for Sergachev. Yeah. Who won that?

They got traded for each other? Sergachev. Yeah, plus, though. Yeah, it'd be Miser plus, I'm sure, for Sergachev. I don't know. Moseer's been very good. Was there a geeky involved in that? But Sergachev's been good for them, too.

Cirgachov's been good. They also, you know, big deal with a, they traded Kesselring and Done to get Paterka there. Petrka's got about 30 points this year. So he's been good. He was traded from the Utah Hockey Club with Connor Geeky and a seventh round pick that turned into Noah Steen for a second round pick that turned. into Matthew Guard and Mikhail Surgichoff.

So... Should almost just assume when picks get traded it's not for NHL players. You should almost just assume that don't make trades at Tampa. Yeah. They're good there. They know players. Meanwhile, Darren Radish is like

All-Star. Lighten it up. Yeah. God, I'm glad there's no All-Star game this year. Over a point per game. All-Stra out loud? What do you do about All-Star games? We got to do that again next year.

It's like... God, not having one All-Star coming. We have to come in here and you All-Star shows. Rancid of them. I like insurance seminars now. Maybe they should play another sport. Have like an NBA all-star game for the NHL.

Just do something else. Ball hockey. Yeah, sure. Our thanks to General Manager Bill Armstrong from Utah. All right, we're just getting started as we go national next. Darren McCarty, four-time Stanley Cup champion. We'll tell us all about last night. Better off.

Better off. That's.