Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: An Avalanche of Offence

Episode Date: October 12, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee kick off today's Thanksgiving episode recapping the Maple Leafs' 6-3 victory over the Avalanche on Saturday night. They break down Toronto's stars shining on the road with the group playing an exciting brand of hockey, before hearing Jim Hiller's comments following the win. The guys also discuss William Nylander's ability to change a game, Chris Tanev exiting with an injury, how to address the blue line if he misses a significant amount of time, Auston Matthews' form to start the season, the latest on John Tavares, and the duality of Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. After the break, the boys take a closer look at Oliver Ekman-Larsson's play, the early returns from the team's fourth line, and 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 affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

And just like that, we're back. Might I add a happy Canadian Thanksgiving? It is the start of the week. Although it kind of feels like a Friday. Maybe the weekend. You guys have turkey yet? I would say that it kind of feels like a holiday around here. I would say.

Not many people present at the Rogers campus today. I haven't had Thanksgiving dinner yet. So I can't blame it on... What's a... Triptophan? Tripto fan. Blame it being your general lethargy. I can use a nap right now.

I can't... But I'm old, guys. I'm going to really need you to carry the next two hours. Oh, just jump it in and Sammy and I'll get a... Fastest show on hockey. Wherever you are. Watching, listening, SportsNet 360, 590, the fan in Toronto. Streaming always on Sportsnet Plus.

And our show is always available. A lot of Pod. Spotify, Apple. YouTube, of course, thumbs up. It's the Leaf Hour edition of our program. Nickyprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Andrew Adams, AA. Yeah, like, all the people that usually work on our show are gone.

Frank the Tank. Frank's here. He's usually on. Raska. Yeah, I guess. Huge night by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who in particular, their superstars, their franchise type players,

Austin Matthews, and Willie Neelander, leading the way. nine points between them and the Leafs escape with a big win, two points in regulation, but it did come out of cost, J.B. Chris Tanev left the game to injury. You know, before we get into that, I'll just say, I said to Sammy when we first showed up today, that was the most I've enjoyed watching a hockey game in a long time. Like not just because of the Leafs, like Nathan McKinnon in the first period.

thousand miles an hour. Oh, my God. I actually sent a tweet. I think it's unfair. Like, I think he should have, there's a speed limit for him. He has to slow down. He's going too fast.

Like, it's scary how fast. And the Leaf's having a team that has the firepower to make plays and score, which meant that he could get back in the game. Like, it was just, it was a fun hockey game to watch. I very much enjoyed that. A lot of really good players on the ice. Yes. Nate McKinnon is my golf cart without the governor.

Yeah. And you drive it into a, a river. Oh my God, I'd be dead. If they didn't put one of those things in, I'd be dead. Yeah.

But like, it is remarkable that he can generate that much speed. And yet, it's never to the point where he's, it looks like he's going to get hurt at any time. Anyone else, he's in control. He's,

there's a, he manages it. He's never, you know, in the 10 years he's been around at, that this prime run he's been on. he's never really suffered the big one where it's like and we've seen Connor spill a few times

but we never seen Nate really go down no with that much speed no he's great edges and you know simmer on the broadcast made a great point that they just played a great skater and Jack Eichel two nights prior but it's a totally different type of speed yeah one guy is fluid and smooth and wide and McKinnon has hate in his heart

when he skates I mean I just who was it the clip from back in the day. They played that outdoor game. Oh, Petrangelo. He's like, oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy. Like, he was, like, trying to skate backwards.

I'm sure that's what Morgan Riley felt like when he saw him bearing down on him at the start of that game. We're going to get into a ton for sure on the Leaf. I just want to pick up this kind of this vibe that you've gotten. It really seems like this is a team that will be a lot more fun to watch just in general. Yeah. Right? And we can sit there and we can nitpick not just the Leafs.

but probably 30 other teams and the start that we've seen, and at times the sloppiness or the lack of attention to detail, we can go right through the league. But there is an element that probably Lee fans didn't have for a very large portion last season, and that was that they're fun to watch. Yeah, you know, there's so many teams. Like, you've talked about how there's just not enough talent to go around.

There's 32 teams. You know, some teams have a few. of them, but, you know, many teams have none of them. And last year, Matthew's playing the way he was and Marner just traded and, you know, it just felt like it wasn't going to happen. And, you know, Matthew's looking better. McKenna, you know, is- He's added clearly an element to this team that they were in dire need of.

And although there may be inconsistencies throughout the season, he still has that it factor that teams desperately want. Yeah, like something can have. happen when he touches the puck and I know we're going to get into it, but on the power play, they're like 12 seconds into the power play. They win a loose puck and he's going to go low to high or at least that's all they would usually do and set it up and he just whips one cross seam to Nealander and it's in the net and it's like, oh, oh, you know, like we have a guy who can shock you by seeing stuff that is not

very visible to even trained offensive eyes. From the fans perspective, I mean, I'll speak for myself, but I think I'm speaking for a lot of Leaf's Nation here. last year got to the dread point. Like when you were turning on the TV, I mean, I guess a lot of people didn't have to turn on the TV, but I'm doing a postgame show every time, doing a show here. We had to turn on the TV.

We had to watch. So maybe people just stop watching. But it was a slog, boys. It was a horrible watch, no passion, no skill. They just couldn't do anything. I'm at the point now, and I'm sure there's lots of lead fans that were with me, that I can't wait for tomorrow night. Like, they are a capital F flawed group, boys.

They are flawed. They are flawed. But, God, They're exciting. And like, I don't know if they're going to be able to do anything, but turn it on the TV every night doesn't suck anymore. You're looking forward to him. Cowan hammers a backdoor one-timer.

Like, Willie, that's as good as I've ever seen him play. Yeah, he was unbelievable. He controlled the entire flow of the game with McKinnon on the rink. I don't know. Well, McKin was pretty awesome. I was going to say Willie was the best guy in the rink. And I think the Leafs now in Colorado, they're talking about the broadcasting. They're like 11, 1 and 3 there.

Like, they really win there all day. We said that, though. We said that going into his trips. Like, for some reason, they play, okay there in these trips. Especially when you, when everybody's got every reason to believe that they're going to get smoked on this trip.

Yeah. Brad May will join us in about 30 minutes, former Toronto Maple Leaf. Does a great job. Stanley Cup champion. Jason Buchla at the top of the hour. In the meantime, let's go to a Kippers Clipper, head coach Jim Hiller on his overall

view of Saturday night clip one. Like the first and I like the third. Despite, you know, they had a couple of rush chances in the first, second period, got a little crazy. But what a response to the third period. And even against Vegas, which got crazy in the second, I thought we played pretty well in the third.

Tonight we were able to get it done. Nice of them to do their post-game press conference in the middle of a bustling Christmas party. They can never get in a quiet enough room for you, eh? Wow, can we go to a quieter spot? Like, God. It was happening. You want to just stay on Willie for a second here?

Yeah. I think there's just some. Some nights where he just looks like he's toying with everybody. I mean, how do you get it from him when he's like that, right? He gets that wide stance going. Yeah. Last, you know, that, I guess not last night, but the drive wide and the delay. And like he just, and he's just beaten goalies from distance.

He gets a puck, you know, unscreened if it's one-on-one, will he's shooting it. You feel like it's probably going to go in. Just the, and of that McKenna pass that you're talking about, there's just some guys that once they get into that area and they know the puck's coming, their heart rate starts racing. And the instinct is to shovel it in the net as fast as you can. And yet, Willie's the opposite. It's the ones that can slow things down, know exactly how much time you have,

or what you need the goalie to kind of respond. one, two, or overplay. And just the poise of just forehand, backhand, forehand, step around them and shovel it into an empty net. There's not many guys that can... With Nick Moore, breathing down his neck to do it, too. There's not that many guys that can keep their pulse that low

and then make the right choices to put it in the net. Two years ago, finished second in the league and goals to on Drysidal. Feels like he's got another year like that. I mean, you know, lots of you wrong and healthy, but he's skating in a way that makes you think he's going to be 40 plus. Let's say it. The thing that has driven Lee fans crazy with him is the ability to get lost every once in a while, whether it's a period, whether it's a game, whether it's two or three games.

But there's times when you just, you don't notice him. And if somehow some way he could narrow those, have more nights like Saturday night, Now he's going to another level. He's just so much, he's just so physically dominant compared to, you know, most of the league now that he's a man. And I got to imagine with 84 games, there's going to be a lot of nights where you're getting battered opponents, tired opponents, like having someone like that, he's going to get chances and we know what he can do with it.

So, yeah, man, that was a showing. Can we just on your point there about him kind of disappearing. And I think earlier in his career, those stretches were a lot longer. Like I, you know, you'd go through two weeks where you wouldn't notice him. But like, he has become a lot more consistent than it used to be. Like, of course you're going to have your periods or your games here and there. But like, like, you feel them most nights now, Kim. I don't think, I don't think he goes away.

Sam. It's been 10 years. I know. I know, but not like you're talking like he's going away every night. Like I think he's been pretty. No, no, no. But he's gone away on stretches. Like two or three years ago, even four or five years ago, there was times where he wouldn't

notice him for a week or whatever. But it feels like he's cut those out. I don't know. we got the coach weighing in on Willie. Should we head over to clip five and see what Jim has to say? Let's do it. All right. Clip five. Well, he was skating. I think it must have been the first goal.

So he makes the nice pass to Blankenberg. Back it up 10 seconds. He's in on the forecheck. He wins a puck battle. That sets the whole thing up. And then he's allowed to get the opportunity to make the next play because he made the first one. Skating on the for check and winning a battle. He kind of bodied Yosey in overtime, right, to win the puck back. And he kind of did that thing.

I don't remember who's against, but to get the puck in that. And that play, the pass he makes to Blankenberg is. Blanky. Blankenberg. The Blankenburgers. 38 seconds into the first shift of his leaf career, bar down. Is he the smallest guy in the league? So the game plan was to just let him get real hungry in the first five games, right?

Taking scratch and score to the next level. You got de-scratch and score. And goes full the mew, first shot, first shift, first call for the Leafs. You know what, though? He has some quotes where he said last year he was healthy scratch the first three games, the year prior, the first eight games, both times played his way into a regular on the team. So he's right into his comfort zone. He's right into his comfort zone.

He's at five games. This is my wheelhouse. What do you think? I think judging by the goal and his ability to read a play and come in and be dangerous and have a good finish, that seems to be a bit of his strength. Is that third pairing strength? Can he work himself into the lineup to be more of a threat? I don't want him in Stetcher.

I don't need two small guys on the right side. Yeah. So that's a concern as well. So OEL maintenance day today, Tanev heard he's on IR retroactive to October 10th. So today the pairs were I believe, McCabe Raddish, Riley, Stetcher, Refie Blankenberg. Correct. A lot of Stetcher, Refie, Ruff. 5 Blankenberg being 50% of your decor, game 7, feels a little yucky.

Okay, before we get into that, just... 115, by the way. Let me know what you saw. Kristanov doesn't play much more than 3.5, 4 minutes. What did you see? What did they... Obviously, they showed some initial, looked like innocent contact in front of Bobrovsky.

Yeah. And how did you read the whole thing? I mean, I take harder contact for my 10-year-old while I'm making coffee, you know, and he surprises me running into the room. Like, you know, he just kind of got bumped in a way that jarred something. And so I don't mean that to be, you know, too sarcastic because it's unfortunate, but it's a lack of force on the blow scares me about the severity of it. Because when it's stuff like that, it usually means something internally is not great.

Jim Hiller today said he's not going to get into any of it and doesn't have a great sense of how long TANF's going to be out. So he remains at the team but not skating. You just, I mean, we talked about this from our first show until right now that he's taking licks, he's blocking shots. Over his career. No, just even to start this year, how many times have been hit, how many times he blocked a shot already this year where we were like,

how long is this guy going to survive? He did. You were saying that you're like, he can't sustain that for a year. And he's just, he's taken too much in his career boys, and he's a warrior, to even try to go back out there and try to keep doing this.

Like, you give him all the respect. Not as anyone in the sport. But, man, at some point here, it's tough because it's a nothing play. Everyone's left with the speculation of whatever troubled him last season is rearing its ugly head today. Is that what you believe, to be sure? That's what you're hearing out there.

I'm asking you guys first, Like, do you think that there's a correlation here between, I don't know how you can't go down that path? I have no information. I'm not telling you anything that I've heard. There's nothing there other than what I witnessed Saturday night like you guys and everybody else. But I can't help but go back to last season and go whatever those issues were that stemmed from what we believe was the whiplash. of the incidental contact. That was my impression.

Is what we saw at a lesser degree Saturday night. So to remind people last year, November 1st, he suffered a concussion and head injury, which was a collision with Matt Vey Michkoff. The groin injury came in December and then a core muscle injury in surgery for it in March, which I think is related to that. But the head concussion one was, yeah, like a whiplashy type thing,

which that seemed that kind of jarring could be related. But again, we're just throwing darts at a injury board here. Didn't see a comment, didn't have time to prepare himself, already sort of, you know, been banged up a lot. It sucks. But, you know, probably could have seen this comment, boys. Like, at some point. I think we all, I think most people did, you know, that it was a written concern.

Was depending on this working being a, is that a mistake? I don't know. If it's, only Chris Tannov can say if it's a mistake or not because. And how long he's at? We can only be at a week or something. We don't know. No, no. We don't know.

We don't know. But it could also be. Two months. He could have played the last game Saturday night. Yeah. We don't know. No idea. So there was, it wasn't just the concussion.

It was the effects of everything structurally around the whiplash last year. Maybe necky, upper spine sort of. So I just hope that it isn't tied into his previous issues. So can we just look at that decor now, like you just named him out there. Was they're desperate for a body? Like a real, we knew this. Tcha could put his stamp on the forwards. They look like a good group, different group of guys, clearly.

Hasn't done much of the decor. They need help. It was questionable with TAN of in the lineup. What's it looked like now without him? sketchy. Yeah, well, we just mentioned stetchy. Looks a little stetchy.

It's just too many guys who are not difference-making D. It takes their D to below average in the league. I think average is maybe a generous review of it currently. So did we, do you say something about David Pagnata had... Well, I just saw, I mean, it's one of those tweets that's like he said something somewhere, but I saw something about white cloud being connected to the Leafs

and all this different. Like, I don't know how the validity. Brad Tree Living really. liked White Cloud and knocked on that door too. That tracks. It does. He's a guy I would like to see them at, but they really need someone who can go back and break a puck out. We talked about like Seth Jones and Kandry Miller.

And like, listen, I know those are fantasy names, but someone of that ilk, more than they need another. Yeah, I know. McCabe. They need the equivalent of... They've been looking for that guy for 40 years, by the way. Okay, yeah, yeah. They need the equivalent of what Zach White Cloud is defensively.

On offense. Like, they need that. equivalent of a guy but an offensive-minded guy. Brovrov? Who's that? No one can break it out. Right now. I don't even know if if they want to spend the access to get White Cloud, how are they going to get this Superman on defense that you guys should speak of?

No, I'm just saying what they need, you know, you got to start there and work backwards. I know. But you think White Cloud is a type of guy? Like, if you think TANF's got a chance to come back in two or three weeks or a month from now, do you still want White Cloud? It's a great. question. I guess it depends. If you don't believe

you can get a top guy and you're just going to be D by committee, which is possible, then like he makes you better. He makes you better. He's a physical force which they, you think they probably could use more of, I know. So you don't mind having that in line up. That would be interesting.

But anyway, we're just... Would you... Would you give up Colorado's first rounder in the Nick Waugh trade for White Cloud? I guess the concern for me is like is something bigger and better going to come along later in the year

that you want to hang on to that for? But are you going to be in it later in the year running out these six guys? Yeah, these are real concerns. And that's a great question. They are going to light it up. I have no like, there is no part of me that watches the Leafs that's going to be like, well, they're going to have a problem

scoring. If these guys are healthy, they just lit up Colorado, they scored four against Vegas or scored, they're going to score. But can they keep the puck out of their net? You want to make the playoffs with a six four seven five that's what i'm getting to like i think they're going to be able to light it up but they need some help like in a hurry so i don't know it's what they think that they have left right in the cupboards to go out and get this guy

whoever it may be and i don't mind white cloud at all like he's he's just he's 30 yeah okay he's 30 years old i'm not sure if i want to give up another first rounder i'll be at Colorado's, which will be really a late, late pick. But if you're the Leafs, can you afford to give up another future potential blue chip draft pick for a 30-year-old? I got the chances of them using this Colorado pick at 4%. Not even. We're already here talking about like how do they get better?

And that's like the $1 in their wallet here. So. Yeah, like I don't mind trading that first. In my mind, that first is traded. I'm just not sure if it's... You want to spend it on this? Yeah. And that's to go back to the Nye's Marchenko conversation.

You know, and Marchenko's been good. I think he's getting better. I think, you know, the analytics people love him. But to our conversation, the Nye's trade chip was the D guy, the better move. And we never want to be the... We told you so on this show. Sometimes it's fun to be a guy. But there was no D equivalent of Marchanko.

Carlo for two draft picks is, I told you so. Yeah, we got that one right. 100%. Oh, like to keep him. Yeah, they should have just. You needed. You needed insurance on Chris Tanov. And you didn't, you gave him away.

For sure. Killing in St. Louis. Yeah, he'd be better than what they got now. That's for sure. 20 minutes of guy. He is that level up guy. He is not a borderline 5, 6, 7. He is 3 and 4 all day long.

Why couldn't you have just held him? And if you wanted to move him, just move him down the road. Why did you need to do it this summer? Oh, I see. You still could do it later. Yes. I don't want to... I spent the whole year, say,

and that they need to get rid of him. I'm not going to be like relitigate it. I thought he was not good. You just sit there and be quiet. I will. Austin Matthews's first start of the week. Yeah, I was going to say that or McKenna, but Matthews. Bob, too.

We've got to get to all. Matthews looks back, boys. Yeah. There's a theory that he's not, they don't want him carrying the puck. Yeah, Elliot said that on the 32 thoughts or whatever that they want. Yeah, that makes sense. He has more of a presence down. low now. He has more of a presence

along the walls. He looks stronger. He looks quicker. He's making plays. Primary assists. It's a much different feel from where he was last year. And that's a saw some people sort of surprised that Marchenko is still on his line today because they keep switching

them up and putting Nealander there in game. But one of the things Marchenko is exceptional at. He led the team in zone exits and zone entries, a bunch of their last few games. He gets you in the right end of the rank, right? carries the mail pretty good. So I think that's part of the reason. And yeah, he looks fantastic.

McKenna found his way back. We got a couple of quotes. Can I ask you guys about this is a popular thought amongst Leaf fans right now is people are piling on Barubei in terms of what the deployment and all this different stuff in terms of what Matthews looks like this year versus what he looked like for two years underneath them. There's only six games into the season here. but where do you guys land on that?

Because I'm not fully on board with that take, but it's a popular one of the lead fans right now. You want to go? I just think the snowball effect of positivity from they actually made changes and they changed the coach and they changed a GM and they got new talent and all that plays into Matthew's better vibe and his sort of engagement level. If he is healthier, I think that all plays into it.

Part of Barubi's playing style didn't get him in the offensive zone much, but they also didn't have as much talent to work with. So I don't personally attribute it to Barubi as much as the other factor. Okay, not as much, but there is a percentage there for sure. For me, it's a piece of the pie. It's a piece of the pie. But I want to go just back to what you said, that there's also an element, and this might be for Willie too is you're going 10 plus years now.

You are running out of runway here. And there is a sense of urgency now from them, and especially Austin, where it's like you wanted the captaincy, we gave it to you. You wanted changes. You wanted better players in your opinion. We've done everything for you. You wanted to take the team down to Arizona and do cannon balls in your swimming pool. We let you have that too. Like it is, the onus is on him now to push harder and to be a lot more engaged than he was last year. And I think it's, it's just the accumulation of a lot of things right now for Austin and I just hope it continues yeah I mean he's playing at a

you know a heart level right now the way he looks just he looks as good as anybody's look to start the year he was a little slow start with production first three games but now it's kind of match in his play he looks excellent I think we said after a few games that he will go nuclear was yeah I think you said those exact words that did happen so it's good to see and that I mean that goal on the power play after McKenna makes a back check. You know, Willie carries the fuck up and it lands on a stick and the big shot, big sally.

It was like, oh my God. Yeah. We're kind of back here. Holy, holy. Like that got a fist pump on the couch. The 50, 60 goal score that you had like on a lot of nights. Looks like he's enjoying himself out there again. And it didn't look like that a lot the last couple years.

Part of that being McKenna. Yeah. You know, they got good vibes. I think so much. Yeah. Right. all of it. Yeah. We do want to listen to Jim on... Sure. Go ahead, Kep.

Okay. Let's listen to Jim on McKenna. Clip. You need him to back check. We know he can back check. No, I mean, he's just... You guys have seen it too. Just seem to be every game.

He's taking steps. I just play Vegas in Colorado. And you're a young guy at 18 years old to play those two games back-to-back. It's pretty impressive. And he's dynamic. You know that. So he's just a good player.

is going to be for a long time. So are you shocked how quickly he seems to be finding the pace? Because part of me is shocked how quickly he's finding the pace. If you had asked me after three games, if after six I would say, wow, I'm shocked

now, yeah. Because the first I think it's just going to be a little more on than off all season long for him. He's going to go through stretches when he's not going to look great. Sure. And I think his talent and his hockey IQ will still be in a position where he still might be one of the more dangerous players on the ice.

And I mean, I had him amongst the top rookies this year. He's certainly off to that start. But they're also in a position where they need him to be and look and act like a top six player now. Yeah, he's a part of their offense at this point. and I am curious to know. So John DeVaraz is back with the team. He's on the ice today. He's going to play against Utah tomorrow night.

Were they faster without him? Well, I also said this to Sam earlier. They also doubled Willie, right? Like a lot of times because they had 11 forward, someone else had to go, so you got more Neelander, more Matthews, more Marchenko. So they looked better. It's not sustainable to give,

I don't know what the time on ice was for those guys, but it felt like they played a ton. So, yeah, they look faster. It's a holiday Monday, so I don't want to be really rude here. But I'll be a little bit rude, I guess, to Tavares, who's been a great leaf. But, like, there's all a conversation with that line and they couldn't do anything. It's like, well, the other two guys in the line look pretty great in the other parts of the lineup. Like, what's the common denominator here?

I just, the power play looked terrible with him on the top unit. They put McKenna up there. It looks great. Those two guys individually look great without Tavares. It's like, what's the, you know? So I am curious to know if they're going to put DeVars back there. I got to believe you're Tavares and you watched McKenna make that pass. You immediately called your travel agent.

I was like, I'm going to go back for next game. I don't really need to see that again. I need to be Wally Pipp here. I got the rest of my life to spend time with my news. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's, I'm going to get back. I can go back in the power play, please. I can put Tucker through dry lamb training next month.

Yeah, I'm going to get back in the mix. I got to think Tavaris will be. centering the top two lines. I think he's on PowerPlay 1. I think he's on Power Play 1. I don't think McKenna is. I think if he'd let it go two or three games, and McKenna does that once or twice more, it gets real hard,

but he's back in the mix. So do we have him on elevating McKenna on it? I also want to get to Bob before I guess. Now you've seen it, though. And I think Lee fans got a taste, sets up beautiful pass, Kutrave S pass, no look, cross crease, all that stuff. Now as it looks bad for another couple games, it's going to be at a fever pitch.

Like it's going to be, how stubborn are they going to be? Because that's what it comes down to. It comes down to rewarding a veteran, giving him the thing, because there's no way it's better without McKenna, flat out, flat out. I agree. I agree. There's no way it's better without us. It's not better.

No way. But if they want to just keep doing it because they're supposed to. I think they need an excuse to do it. They had an excuse. We'll see if they find another one. Real quick before you go, Bob. Yeah, goalie Bob. He's got the grand fear thing going.

He kind of does. Locks in, boys. Right? Just make the big save when you... They both stunk those goals. Right? Yeah. They're awful goals.

Yeah, he was a bad goal a game. Yeah. Against Florida. With Florida. Sorry. That was all season long. He says he will give you one bad goal a game. But if he can then shut her down like that,

I mean, he was, what is a 9-something, say, percentage in the game and made some huge saves in the third page. He's not phased by the moment. So, yeah, you don't want to consistently give up a bad one, but 9-09 in that game. All right, let's just get head coach Hiller on Bob, clip four. Yeah, those last two games, a lot of work for him. And I guess that's just classic Bob, right? That's why he's here. It just has a way to settle everybody down.

Such a calm demeanor. And he made some great saves. I like having them back there. Does feel good. Like I just, I do, I trust them. It's early, I know. Stollars against Utah. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, he needs a rest now. I can see the math, you know, so that's four of seven for Bob. If you do that all year long, I think he gets to his 50 or whatever it is, that math to me. So I haven't actually done the math, but mentally it sounds right. I mean, Bob's pretty great, two straight games. I went, one. The only reason they got three points is because of him on this trip. Like he was huge in Vegas, big down the stretch there.

No conversation of starting him tomorrow night? No. Zero? Stollers have been great. Well, two wins. Okay. You could hear it in Hiller's voice that he's not starting him. Oh, that he's had a lot of work.

Yes. Come on. You don't say, you don't start a guy. when you just told us, it's a lot of work. Yeah, he's old and he's been had a lot of work. He's getting an easy chair. They should fly him back to trauma. That first goal, though, was pudra.

He needs a kid. Stinky. Tucker Bobrovsky. I don't think you mean him, Tucker. All right. Probably Sergey, too. A couple of Demetri's on the go. We'll take a quick break here on this Canadian Thanksgiving.

We'll welcome in Brad May, former National Hockey Leagueer, Stanley Cup champion. and a very good friend of the show and his dad, too. Kenny. That more when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Welcome back in studio, Nick Caprio, is Justin Boren, Sam, and Key. It's the Leaf Hour edition of the Real Kippur and Born show.

And a few minutes will welcome in Brad Day. He does a good job. He does a lot of work with Ryan Leslie down at Scotiabank Arena. Yeah. Doing a lot of the in-video stuff. knows of stuff in and out and on a much better talker than most people. He's a perfect fit for it.

Also, we played golf with his dad. His dad's cool. Yes. We do a shout out for Copponwood. It's good. Really a fun place to play golf. That is a capital P, pure place. Yeah.

Pure. Pure. And the maze run it. It's flat out run it. Well, Ken does. I don't know about Brad. But yeah, what you want to get his thoughts on, you know, on McKenna as like a young guy.

And like you talked about how sustainable it is and he's seen it obviously. But to be as tough as Brad was in the league and then have someone like McKenna, 160 pounds, has to be tough to imagine playing at that sense. Yeah, looking forward to talking to Brad. In the meantime, I know we just finished off a conversation a little bit on the leaf blue line here. But I just want to pick it up before we get to Brad just in terms of now OEL. who has probably given the Leafs more than probably a lot of us thought. Oh, he's been an excellent leaf.

But he is not off to a strong start. He is not practicing with the team, but is expected to be in the lineup against Utah. Yep. But with TAN, I'm gone for at least the next three games and maybe longer here. Like how important is it that OEL just starts looking like the guy was last year and not the one that's out of the gate this year. Yeah, it's going to be really important.

I mean, that decor is a major weakness for the Leafs. Like, and he was a rock for them last year. He just played more minutes and better minutes than anyone could have anticipated. But if he's down, if he struggles this year on top of all the other things, Tanev, maybe injury prone, you're kind of down to McCabe Raddish Riley. And that doesn't feel great. You know, it feels like a lot of second pairs. second pair guys.

So I don't know. You need them to be good, that's for sure. It does really hurt that they're playing like three of the fastest teams in their buildings on the road. When you're having defensive injuries, all of Reckman-Marsen banged up. Paynev obviously out now.

Isn't everybody fast now really? Not like those three teams. You just, you can't stop the like the second periods against Vegas and Colorado. They just didn't have a D to like stop the play, fake someone and all of a sudden the Leafs have the puck. Like they just kept getting their, lunch fed to them so yeah it's just it's a tough it's a tough ask

playoffs can they make playoffs with this decor if ohel's healthy you thought at the beginning of the year they could i thought could healthy tannivan are you are you surprised at the d like no no no they're exactly what i thought they would be you did yeah but i do worry if you don't have what i thought it would be at the start right like if oel's worse I think they're slower than I thought they were going to be. Yeah. Yeah. Really?

Yeah. I think they're exactly as advertised. Like, we all knew this was a concern coming in. I think we saw this, you know, radish. Two years ago against Chief, they were really sound structurally. And it's not that they relied on quickness, but they were in the right places blocking the right shots. That was led by Tanav, who had an amazing season.

Yeah, they were in their own end the whole time. So they blocked a lot of shots. I know, but they were tough. They were tough to play against. They were hard. They were hard. That was the message from teams when they left. I would say one of the most underrated guys here over the years,

and you guys know who I'll say, but like McCabe is the guy. They basically have strapped to the front of the ship and they just drive into the opposition with him at the front. And he eats the D zone starts and the hard matchups and the penalty kill and he blocks shots. And he's their only physical element on the back end. Like he

He is arguably one of their few most important guys. With Tannavout, he's definitely their most important. Yeah, he's going on to the top pair. He's Radish, you know. Like him and him and Radish are now going to play together, which I thought they maybe should have. I think they maybe should have played together from the start. Yeah, it's a very good pair.

Yeah, so. Marshall Rfei gets the call up. And we're some of expecting the first round pick a few years ago, Ben. Danford. Danford. Hurt, apparently. I don't think it's serious. Like, do you think that they would go to that this early?

No. I think in a perfect world, they'd like to leave him down there getting seasoned. Yeah, his, his, like, play mentor, play idol is Chris Tanna. He wants to be a defensive guy that eats pucks and kills penalties and is reliable and breaks it out and all those things. Yeah, like,

You want, I mean, they have a bunch of sort of. But don't take the punishment. How do you avoid it playing that role? But they have Myers down there. They have all these guys. They have Philip Myers who played 50 games for them last year. A lot of games for them last year. But they're right-handed shots.

And if I'm not mistaken, is a left-handed shot. He's left, yeah. But Tann has a right shot, right? And they still called up a left shot. So it tells you what they think of Myers right now with a new regime. Well, they're probably right. Yeah. We watched a lot at the end of last year.

So I don't know. We talked about a little bit in the first segment about potentially trading that first round pick that the Leafs have for a defenseman. And I don't know. You look around the league at the teams that are going to be bad. Like I see, you know, Leaf fans talk about Rasmus risked aligning again out of the crappy flyers. Because they're 0-7. Boy, talks in a bit of hot water.

Like, do you, at what point of the season do you think they're going to improve this? I think they intend to do it sooner than later. I know Elliot said something today that he didn't feel like anything was dire, that anything was pressing, that they were going to go forward with this group for now. But I think by November, something has happened. I'm really curious to know, like,

what they feel they have to offer and how the rest of the league responds to, you know, take this, take this, take this. I mean, we've watched, tree living we watched in 10 years we've watched dubus tree living and to a certain extent Chica already clear more assets out for for current bodies here at some point it feels to me like you just run out and I don't know if they're there yet no outside of Sammy I mean in the farm team like who's who's shiny well Danford's I guess shiny

Tinas Luke Cobler. Tinas, some guy named Holinka. I see Lee fans talk about. I don't know. I don't think it takes a crazy package to just improve this defense a little bit. Yeah. Like, we were talking a little bit in the break. Like, they obviously have always needed a top pair guy.

Like, we know that. That's clear. But they could also use an average guy. And that's not going to take your first round pick or Cowan or Danford or Tennis or whatever the hell it is. So a five or six. You want a third pair guy. They have third pair guys. Just, but they need to.

Yeah, I know they do. But how about Stetcher, though, is like made the panic less necessary? He's been pretty good. He's been fine. He's been a part of the top P.K. group that's killing penalties. And he's been fine. You're giving me Stetcher's an answer then. No, I'm giving you that Stetcher has kept them from being desperate.

They haven't, like, immediately. Oh, I think they're desperate. I think so? Yeah. Definitely. I think they're desperate. So you think the non-playoff team with this D-Corp? Maybe.

I don't see a hope in this blue line getting them across the finish line. Yeah. I don't disagree with that. Or the stress it puts on Barowski or Stolars as early as tomorrow night. They face a lot of pop. It's two games in a row. We've seen them find a way to win, but could have. No, they lost a one.

But they got a point. I mean, points. Points. Yeah. They found a way to get points. but long stretch is where we know, especially last year, it just caved you in. Yeah.

No, it's on the to do list. I wanted to ask you about Brandon Duhame, you know, didn't play a whole ton, but Sam, you enjoyed the reaction. I hated the penalty. Yeah. Was it Manson that he went low on for behind at the third period of one goal game,

takes him out? How he needs from a fourth line. But then that kid went over there to, like, talk to him. And before he'd even got it, while he was watching him in the faith. Yeah. It's a different look.

It is. It's a different look for the Leafs. And I've seen more scrums. I've seen more pile on quickly. It to me is a real good start, at least to battling the perception or the image that you've had prior to being too slow. One thing I do want to push back on is a lot of people have looked at

so their underlying numbers, the fourth line are bad. Like, you know, their expected goals or this, that or the other thing. The reality, though, is they don't create any offense. But they also keep the attempts against really low. The expected goals against are low. So nothing happens. So, like, if you give up one shot or one look,

it looks like your numbers are all skewed. But, like, they just kind of saw off whoever they play. Bluger's pretty responsible. That Blugger might be playing with a shovel, though. I like him. Like, I think he skates well. He's good penalty killer. Their penalty kill's been excellent to start the year.

I think they, are they the best or they're a top five? Yeah, they're really, really good. So like. I think at some point they're going to be able to shovel a puck in the net. Yeah, eventually. If they're not giving up. They've had 12 bowls. They're not spending a ton of time in their own zone.

They're not getting caved. They're not. Not much is happening. Sometimes you just kind of hold your own just as long as the momentum isn't in your disadvantage to your team that you're not killing momentum. You're not hurting the ball. ball club, as they say. Yeah, and I think they'll be okay.

The numbers aren't fair to, they've just been fine. They invested some money into this. They did. Third and fourth line. And I would say that they haven't really played anybody mean yet. Like they've played against rivals or whatever in Ottawa. They get a little scrums with and habs. They played McEwen.

I don't know how many mean team fans more. Owner McEwan plays Utah's got McBain and that's, what's Big Tuna, Liam O'Brien? Yeah, but there's a couple mean ones in the division, Kemp. Bicy Tune? Like, let's not, let's not. You're Florida Panthers.

Oh, I watched them today, and they're just doing rude stuff the entire game. Like, they're just being really rude. They lost today, by the way, in Buffalo. They did lose, yeah. Is that their first actual loss? They're 2-1-2-9. Like, you know, that Hathaway's running around, and, you know, Brady's being, congratulations, got his first point.

But they're going to need some of that when they play against their straight rivals. Like, the Bruins have Zadarov, and they always act rude. Like, it's- How would you feel if yours, Zach McEwen, and they were keeping you in a closet, like break glass in case of emergency. And they're just going to pull you out when there's someone to go punch your size. Sox. Spent your whole career like that on teams.

Yeah. It's just part of being a pro in the NHL is just, yeah, break glass when you need me. I'm over here. Yeah. Sometimes you've got a wave to them too, right? I'm here. Yeah. Still alive.

Like we could do with those. You don't need to dress 7D with Marshall Refai. Zach McHuan's other option is just go play with the Marley's every day. Right. He, like, when he gets in, guaranteed fight. And who else will fight when they get in? For FI gets in one here, he'll try to fight to make himself notice. And I like the way he fights, too.

He fights to, like, he's not a holder on. No, he stands in there and throws. But he's also an excellent, excellent skater. Like he's, so at the NHL level, that's one thing that's not going to face him. He'll play him. Yeah. Did he? Yeah.

He's 28. I don't know. I don't know why anybody would just take. a flyer you love him i i i'm gonna kipper loves him because he stood in there with that mutant flory and then through bombs correct yeah i like him because when you watch him and he gets the puck he can move it he can skate so yeah i mean sure throw him in there why not um i guess we're not uh no harvest season yeah they got a farm is he harvard cutting canola darrell sutter you know uses He doesn't come on our show because it's harvest season.

I'm just wondering what Brad may. I'm not sure what I have with Brad. Listen, we love Brad. I don't know what happened. Apparently he just joined. He called me. It's too late now. We've got four minutes.

We can't have one now. Yeah, you're right. It's too late. All right. So one last thing then you'll go around the Leafs lineup. Jack Rossific hasn't been as what I thought he would be. He's been good. I thought I was going to really not like watching him play.

I like watching him play. He's good. Okay, but like good to stay on the number one line and be a number one winger for Austin. I think it depends on the sustainability of what he's doing now. It depends on nothing. He is not a front line, first line, NHL player.

No? No. He's a talented guy. There's a lot of those guys in the league. And I'm not saying, like, he can find a position on a hockey club, but not to try to make the Stanley Cup. playoffs or win the Stanley Cup that he's a first line winger. That is one of those defining things.

It's like you can be a great team with him on it, but you're probably not winning a Stanley Cup with Jack Roscovic, first line, right wing. Yeah. And like, I think every fan base that's had Jack Roscovick has probably said the same thing. And even Mac came on her show and he said, you'll get 10 in the first 20 and then 10 in the next 40 kind of thing. Like he, as the season goes on, that kind of knows thing. But, I don't know, they need offense at the start.

He looks fine. Connor didn't want to keep him. McDavid. Yeah. In Edmonton. Do you know this is a rumor that I had heard that he was initially offered a four-year contract with Edmonton? This is like two years ago. And something like four million a year, four times four, something like that.

And apparently was not super comfortable with the pressure that would have been on him with dry-sidal, Connor, the pressure of expecting to produce of those guys. looked for other options and then things just dried up. And then they ended up taking like a one times one or something in the end to try to rebuild the value. It was one, one and a half, think. Yeah. With them last year.

You know, what did you get? Four year or sorry, two times four here? I have not heard that he turned down $16 million or $20 million. Either way, it's... It would be scary. Turn down money. Well, no. Oh, to play with those guys.

To have the expectations. Like, playing with a guy like, I mean, uh, McKinnon. is a psychopath. Like the pressure you would feel to produce for him and have him be your captain. The same with McDavid. All these guys care about is winning

and you go in there and you step a foot out. Yeah. You don't be scared. He wasn't cheap for the Leafs either, guys. He's $4 million for two years. Like, that's a lot of money here. What's your value there, though? 50 points?

Is he worth that? I think he, yeah, if you can get 50 or 60 points out of him, bouncing around top seven, top eight in your roster, I think that's a fairly successful year for a guy making $4 million.

Yeah, four points. You know, the other one is Sisons is making $375.75. Is he close to $4 million? No, he makes $4.25. $4.25. Like... I like him.

I know, but... Makes a lot. He does a thing they need. Yeah. Right? What is the thing? Well, he kills penalties. He runs into people. He kind of does the...

I can't. Can't find that for 1-5-175? That's a lot of money is my point. Not with Stanley Cup, pedigree. That's right. Rossovick's just there to hold the place. Bring a cup in the room. Okay.

Brad May, if you're listening, we still love you. And we'll get you on real soon. Yeah. Jason Bukula, pro hockey group, will join us as we go national. Plenty to go around the horn, including what's going on in Calgary. How bad. will there's season B?

That and more when we return after the break.