Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Back to Boston

Episode Date: February 25, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Sam McKee and Gord Stellick, filling in for Justin Bourne, look ahead to the Leafs' matchup tonight against the Boston Bruins. They discuss why the Leafs' focus should be on a division title down the stretch, the consistency in their crease, Calle Järnkrok nearing a return and the cap juggling required to get him back in the lineup. Then, they debate whether the Leafs should go big or add around the margins at the deadline. Later, NESN analyst Andy Brickley (31:25) shares a Boston POV of tonight's game, Charlie McAvoy's 4 Nation injury, the feeling of the fanbase with the team outside the playoff picture, what to expect from them at 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.

All right. Let's get her going for the next two hours on the real Kipper and born show. Nick Kiprio, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo, Jeff, Jennifer roll Nick and in for the vacationing Justin Bourne is no other. The wonderful, the talented. Let's put our hands together for the lovely Gord Stehlich. Kipy, thank you. By the way, thank you. I'll start off, don't screw up Jennifer's name because I think she was the first person.

I forget it many years ago. Like, you know, when someone says to you, like I was single for a long time and they'll say like, hey, I know somebody you used to go out with or something like that. Yeah. And then she said she had a friend that I went out with her mom.

That was the first. Yeah, so yeah, that was all of a sudden the age is some kind of thing. So it wasn't that her friend I went out with it was it was her mom I went out with so far off from getting grandmother. So anyway, go ahead. It was good. See her anyway With her friends mom's well anyway, it was all good. All good. Well, we're glad you're here We're glad everybody's watching listening on sports at 590 the fans sports at 360 and sports net plus This is our leaf our edition

It is game day Sammy right back in the thick of things one of your favorite clubs The Boston Bruins tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I was thinking about this matchup today Winslow, I guess both of these teams have been Solidly in playoff spots pretty much throughout this, the whole Matthews era, right? I guess the first couple years it would be more, but like this is the first time these two teams have met where one of them is in real disarray,

where one of them is outside of the playoffs, they're injured, they're really struggling. Like this feels like a massive game for the Bruins, even though we all rolled them off yesterday Kipper Yeah, it's just it feels weird to go in there with them being so I don't guess this array. Is that a okay word going? Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, it's a you're right cuz during the regular season. They've all had pretty pretty good runs You know like, you know regular season runs and every time in the playoffs Of course, it's the Bruins that broke Leaf fans hearts.

But so 2010 Kipper, you're on the panel with Bob McKenzie, Darren Pang, the Olympics. You had the expression about like, when you got him by the throat, put your foot on, whatever it may be, you had a pretty good- You remember that? Yeah, I remember all that stuff. Wow.

I don't get out much, right? So I just all these turns. So yeah, you were, hey man, that was big stuff being on that panel. Well, when you think again again the numbers for this past week 16 million people I think across North America and in Canada We have that number for the gold medal game alone in Canada This was the first time in 15 years that compared to that it really was right

So that's so anyway But the point being is that's what the least have a chance to do that you're not going to eliminate the Boston Bruins But man, they're there. They're there Charlie McEvoy, that's a huge injury. Yeah, that's the those are the biggest stories You know, we'll talk about the Kachucks later on and all that but I mean no hampus Lindholm No Charlie McEvoy from the get-go the Boston Bruins have had an uneven season and they keep thinking, you know Then at one point you're going hey, don't tell me don't both Boston and Tampa Bay won't make the playoffs. Well, it seems like John Cooper's team got their act together before the break,

but Boston man, and you got, you got a chance to say a big win on the road and all of a sudden the Bruins languish and it gets tougher. They have not been able to get to that. It's been insurmountable for them this year, which is puzzling. Cause other years they were home and cooled out. In about 25 minutes, we'll welcome in Andy Brickley, who does the color commentating for the Boston Bruins. He'll join us, help us tee up tonight's contest.

Outside of that, the Leafs continue to get points as we close in ever so closely to the trade deadline. And just wondering, Gord, between what you saw going into the Four Nations break to what we saw as early as this past weekend, how much of a swing are you on wants and needs the rest of the way? Okay, first of all, I gotta be honest.

So this is my first, I think I'm gonna be here five times, right, five shows? He's in Disney World or Disney World or Disneyland. So anyway, I gotta say, What are the Disney's? I kinda had the bends. You know the bends in diving that you gotta come up slowly, right?

Because, so I'm getting back to regular scheduled programming, watching the NHL, because that, to your point, best international hockey in 15 years. And so watching that Four Nations face-off, and I had a comparable that, like, I was saying unfairly on the weekend, I go, is this slow? I was being unfair, but I remembered that years ago,

you remember a team called the Flying Fathers at all? I do. Okay, so you would know. So they're a bunch of priests from Northern Ontario. Where like they played at St. Mike's or something or they did the tour. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So they were like a fun, good hockey players

like Father Les Costello had been in the NHL. Others could have been NHL players and they started in Northern Ontario, group of priests that were pretty good players and they do some Harlem Globetrotter stick and they go around raise money Okay, you know good charity ventures so decades ago in the Harold Ballard era He put together a game between the Toronto Maple Leaf alumni like there was no alumni that and he got he told me to go You got to get a team together and guys do you want to play with each other and they're gonna play the Flying Fathers and all The money went to the Charlie Conacher Cancer Research Fund

So Maple Leaf Gardens was sold out like it was sold out. It all came together really well, so early 1980s So I'm sitting there and I'm seeing hearing older people talk about and now I'm one of those older people But they're watching like Frank Mahalvich and all those guys. Okay, this is for seeing them play and they're going Look at the passing They're watching like Frank Mahalich and all those guys. Okay, this is for seeing them play and they're going, look at the passing, look at the skating. I go, they're playing a bunch of old priests. Like, you know, that's what they're playing. They're playing a bunch of old priests.

What do you mean? But for these people, this was the team that won four Stanley Cup. They're going, oh my, it's just so different. So that's kind of what I, on the weekend, I found myself saying, oh, come on, you know, I think I'm real estate. Where's the passing? Yeah, where's the, yeah, you're playing saying, Oh, come on. You know, I think I'm realizing the passing. Yeah, you're playing a bunch of old priests again, you know, the flying father.

So I had to get reacclimated. But I always do remember that people seriously think like, Oh my God, these guys that these these Darrell Siddler suck at everything. Look at these guys, the way hockey should be played. That's hilarious. I've never ever heard of the flying fathers. Well, if you Google them, it's a great story. I'm reading about it right now.

Big column, they were called the Harlem Globetrotters of hockey, and it's a neat story. They started organically just for charity things, and there were a bunch of people that chose the clergy for their priesthood rather than playing professional sports. Yeah, the Flying Fathers played over 907 games. They only lost six times, Gordo. Yeah, well, that's right.

It's like the Harlem Globetrotters. So the moral of the story is the Leafs should trade for a priest. Yeah, well, and you should get Father Von Quinn. Yeah, he was the goaltender. Maybe as their depth goaltender going for the playoffs. Well, I don't know. Pull out a star.

I don't know if you need a priest, a minister, a rabbi, whatever religious denomination in the playoffs, that's gonna help you. So, to get back to the Leafs, okay, I like it. Start again, first place in the division. Let's get that, okay? Kachukping out for Florida, that's another, you know, like, let's get that.

Let's not be in the two-three matchup. Let's get home by disadvantage. Let's be a little bit different this year heading in. And certainly the weekend was a great start for that with a win that you weren't sure about and then a win that was expected in Chicago. Okay, let's go to Kipper's Clipper, our first one of the day and follow up Gord Stelick's comment on going for first place

in the division with Craig Berube's thoughts? Yeah, it's always a, you know, it's competitive game, right? I don't know if you look at first place, you look at, you know, focus on the games we play is winning them, right? So you've got to just take care of your own business night in, night out, not look at the standing so much. Just look at where you're at as a team and what we're doing day to day. I think that's more of the focus than looking at the standings. We can't control what other teams do. We only can control what we do night in and night out.

You look at the league and look at the standings. Everywhere it's tight, so we gotta win games. We gotta be focused on what we're doing. I think if it's one thing that at least Leaf fans can look at coming off the tournament and a big break for the players that weren't participating in the Four Nations is that the the consistency of what the Leafs had in net up until the break and after the break remained very consistent. Say what you will about pace of play or what you didn't really like seeing out of

the skating part of the hockey club. The goaltenders, both of them, Wall and Stolar's picked up where they left off. I thought they were absolutely great in games that they could've easily lost one of them, Gord. Yeah, you know, and by the way, I'm saying the speed thing was unfair by me to comment, but yeah, just sort of from one to the other, but yeah, you know, Sammy, that's, again, I don't know the last time the Leafs have had

this kind of depth goal tending and hopefully healthy heading into a playoff, like a one-two tandem tandem and I was really encouraged how Stoller's came back like came back from injury like that's your damn co struggled before I got hurt again you know Linus Allmark has had some struggles coming back and it's it was almost been a seamless return for Stoller so that that one-two punch has been very impressive yes dollars first came back I'm trying to remember when it was but it was against two as I'm quickly looking it up here It was against Seattle where he came in in that game and he was really really good right away. So you're right

I mean he's played two games since the the the long break that he had from December 12th to February 6th I mean, it's crazy the break he had in between the games that he's played he goes tonight I think it's the right choice to kind of just go back and forth here but this is the thing I've said to Kipper a lot of times, and I'll say it to you now too, is that I do think a lot of what the Leafs are is pretty similar to years past. Like you think of the forward,

it's a lot about the core four, and you know, Tanaev's a great add, so maybe you can say the D-Core's a little bit better, but ultimately it's a pretty similar thing. The biggest difference is you're going into the game one of the Stanley Cup playoffs Hopefully with not a Samson off type or a you know Jack Campbell who is great And you'll make fun of me always for saying that he's Kujo all the stuff that they just having these two goalies Really really changes how deep and my perspective on the sea how deep they can actually go like I really do have hope because of

that well they had all hopes today they had one good goalie and Freddie but he never really delivered good he didn't play with too much right I played too much right we kept thinking he's the Kawhi Leonard we had to get him like load management whatever during the season and he couldn't win big games exactly everyone played week stop making excuses he couldn't win big games. Exactly, everyone played, stop making excuses. He could not win big games. And I love Freddie, I love regular season Freddie, but he was synonymous with what the team was

in the playoffs. So yeah, I'll also, you know, to Sammy's point, Kipper, like, I mean, to add Jake McCabe, not just Hannah, but OEL in the last, what, couple years, to add a couple of core, three core, four guys like that, I think that's another upgrade. They may not forward depth. You know, you don't have like guys like Hyman and all that were when they were on entry level contracts. You know, you had a little bit more,

a little bit more depth upfront. You know, it's probably a little bit, you could argue maybe a little bit weaker right now, but yeah, there's a lot more positives this year. Craig, but we has not been here every year. Craig, we got to look at the standings this year. Okay. I'm just saying, we got to try something different here. That may have Okay, I'm just saying we gotta try something different here That may have worked, you know, you want to ring in 2019, but you know, I think it's a very Tangible goal to have something different this year and go in in first place. Okay, let's go to

Ruby just more on that like it's imperative to avoid that like you said off the top Either the Tampa matchup or the Florida matchup in that first round, if you can get that first in the division, then you're like with Detroit, who they've played really well against over the last six or seven years, you get a Senators team, but you know, get that conversation, but it's just so massive to avoid that two, three matchup, like you said. Derrick, clip three on Chief's goalies.

Well, it's definitely nice that we can get a nice rotation going here like we've had most of the year. I know Stolle was out for some time, but that's a nice thing to have, and not wearing somebody out either, and using both guys. And they both played extremely well for us this year. So wearing them out, I went back and looked at what

Frederick Anderson played in the three seasons, the first three seasons with the Leafs. Played 66, 66, 60. That's a lot of hockey. That's, looking back on that, there's no goalie. Is any goalie on pace for that outside of Hellebuck this year? No, no, and it's changed.

And we went through a period of, of first of all all everybody's wishing hope to have that guy that could play 60 games and Then we went through a period where we started watching teams go to the 1a and 1b mm-hmm, and then we had the window of Conversations where you can't win that way To now it almost being the norm. Yeah, and it happened in a short period of time. You know, like this,

he wasn't the only guy playing 60 games. By the way, it would've been nice if he played 28 playoff games, but he never got the grind. I mean, that ends up being a grind if you go all the way. But you know, it's funny, Kipper, Ruby did a weekly hit with us on NHL morning skate after he got fired last year.

So he could kick around. That's when a coach is great, when they're at loose ends and they're pretty candid. And so we brought about the Philadelphia Flyers because they've been a real surprise team last year. Battling again this year, but last year had been a real surprise team. year. And doing battling again this year, but last year had been a real surprise team. So you talked about whether it's the Karma,

Tortorella had all these things right off the bat. First thing he said, great one, two, goaltending. That's before Carter Hart had to leave, which we know why, but he just mentioned about Erson and Carter Hart, like, okay, all these other things about a team, you don't have the goaltending, you don't have it, right?

And if you have depth goaltending, that's a real luxury. And that, you know, so he pointed that out right away about the Flyers, and when they didn't have the depth anymore, that's part of why they sunk after. And obviously, it's a nice, if you wanna call it luxury, predicament, whatever you wanna call it, predicament meaning in who you start every game to have in Toronto for a change Do you think it's because Kipper you've mentioned this before in the past and I'll ask you Lord

Oh does it is it a predicament once you get to playoff time if they're both of them are in form or is it just? a luxury a Luxury that's a happy predicament. Okay, you know like you've got two lottery tickets and they're both worth a million We know which one do you give to your brother-in-law? The answer is neither but anyway, you know just that's that's called a hat or one's worth half a million. Whatever I Don't envision again one guy coming out fairly hot and then being pulled just because it's not his turn But I don't envision one of these guys if the Leafs are lucky enough to get to a conference final, I think at the most we'll see a 60-40 split.

I don't think we'll see a 90-10, 80-20 split the way things are going right now. And that's the same for a few teams that, you know, and of course Washington started Gru Bauer the first couple of games and then Braden Holtby came in and it you know, and of course, Washington started Grubauer the first couple of games and then Braden Holtby came in and it's, where, but to Sammy, maybe where I'll give you is, so, and Kipy, I wonder like, did the Bruins,

did Jim Montgomery kind of get handcuffed because they'd had that tandem and he stuck with it, right? Back and forth, back and forth in the playoffs. And then the other time he just went with Swainman, right? Well, against the Leafs last year, they went Swainman game one, game two, they went to Allmark and lost. And then the rest of the series, it was all Swainman.

So he went away from it. And then you're kind of saying, okay, well, Allmark got moved, so it's not like they started the season with a goaltending controversy. They knew they were contract wise, they're gonna have to move one of them. But it's kind of interesting that he did that and then this year goaltending which hadn't been an issue in Boston You know had well everything's been a bit of an issue in Boston

Yeah, and we'll get into that with Andy Brickley in about 15 minutes moving forward on Kelly young crook. You got a couple of clips here you wanna throw to Barubis first. Yeah, so this is- Can you pronounce that again, sorry? Yarncrook. He's doing it like his good buddy, Matt's. Yarncrook.

There. Um, this is the first clip about the update on Kelly Yarncrook. You'll love this, Giver. Clip five. He's close. He's, yeah, he's very close. You know, there's some things that have to be done with, you know, stuff.

But, you know, he's feeling excellent and, you know, he has to see the doctor yet, and he will do that shortly here. But he's he's feeling great on the ice like he's really ready to play. That would be salary cap. The juggling will commence. Well first of all I love Craig, thank God Craig Berby's not your doctor because imagine you're going to get an update, well, we did some stuff. And we're gonna try whatever. It's on the chart. Then you get a little bit more precise,

whatever, whatever other stuff. Yeah, that's the world of the balancing salary cap on top of the injury thing. Don't say too much. So he makes 2.1, so that's what's gonna be coming off LTR when he's ready to play. Yeah, both. So, what do you, like what are they gonna do here?

I don't know whether or not, they gotta move something out, is my understanding, before he can come. Yeah. So, is it enough to send Reeves down? Boy, is it Yeah. But oh, I was under the impression that as much as

as much as, uh, Barubey's using the word close and shortly that It would have been still difficult for him to come in For cap reasons for cap reasons till after the trade deadline at the very least well look what the red wings did And moving villi huso, right? Just like you go. Why is he going there? Well part of it is they get cap relief, right? For something they're going to do because there's only about a quarter of a salary that doesn't count when you're in the American Occi League. So teams now like what you know making these kind of moves and you're right. People have talked about Max Domi being traded, but I don't get that.

That's been a good role player for the team. That's depending on what you think you can bring in, right? No, 100%. That's why when we talk about trades, and you know, what are you gonna get back? It's always that thing rather than throwing names out there. And it's understood that you have to be creative, it's understood so that also that could hurt a bit that someone someone moves on that you really don't want to move on but to

Better the team to make it incrementally better you maneuver things to make that trade and Did they move did they move who so before? Andrew cop. Yeah got hurt Andrew cop was put on LTI are today So that's almost 11 million dollars that they have now. Yeah, so it's gone out there cap something's Something may be a well Detroit Yeah well I mean like that's gonna be fun up to the trade deadline cuz all the all these teams that are battling and you think about

You know and it was like Philadelphia Pittsburgh Montreal have kind of declared themselves that they can do selling. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh already have done it. So all of a sudden, like you're Detroit or whatever, like it's been too long. You're Ottawa, it's been too long. And you're there in both instances. You're Columbus and you're there surprisingly so. So yeah, and one piece. Don't leave one stone unturned

for your best attempt to try to make the playoffs. There will be a number of teams that could tinker with the Tampa Bay Kuturov rule. Yeah. Vegas with Theodore. Dallas is already there. Florida with Matthew Kachuk. Dallas, you said. They're already there. there are there so there's there's a handful here that

Are gonna exceed the salary cap based on on their injury situation So according to cap wages the Leafs have right now one point three and change in cap space So I guess then they get to his two point one I'm not gonna do bad math but that's one contract of an entry level one or sorry like a league minimum one or the Reeves one which would probably get them to that 2.1 or whatever but they do have a little bit of cap space to work with. 2.2 you said? 2.1. 2.1 so I got 2.2. Okay, you gave him a raise. I gave him a raise which fits Cali young croc There you go. There you go. Okay, so I think he yeah, so he's good. He's good as is he's good

Okay, I don't know if that's what they want to do or they want to give themselves some more flexibility but right now it looks like He's good to go. And who are these you know Lisa? Is that like acquiring a depth player? Not for you? Like I've told these guys on a number of occasions you know a few years ago I just looked at him and go that's not my type of guy in the playoffs. There's parts of his game that I've liked over the years. If he can pick up where he left off, I don't know.

I don't know what kind of player you're getting after all this time. What Leaf has been the depth kind of player in the playoffs. Like they added Blackwell one year. They had like a lot of guys that had done well somewhere else, you know, and just same thing. I know it's been kind of a revolving door, although, you know, you get Bobby McMahon making it last year and sticking and, you know, but

just yeah, there's just that's been the problem. There's, it's not only have the big guns, not been a difference maker in the playoffs, but those kind of those kind of depth players that when they're when there's been great runs going, you look back and you see their value because the good depth players become I mean, we saw what Bobby Hulik did to Toronto a few years like those guys become more valuable in the playoffs and whether it's just hasn't been the right time for them in Toronto and they did it elsewhere whatever that's been a void there's been no Nick Paul getting a big goal you know like at a critical time like he did against Toronto for Toronto in a playoff game

all right let's go to Craig Bruby on what he thinks Yonkrock can bring the Leaf lineup. Veteran player, very intelligent player, as you guys know. Checks a lot of boxes, you know, penalty killing, and end of games, face-offs, like he can play any position. He's a real complimentary player with good players, which is nice to have to I Do worry that he'll come back and they'll immediately put him up into the top six probably right because they've been doing They've been doing Holmberg up there a lot. They've been doing it's been mix and match So you have to imagine that if he comes back, he said he's a complementary guy can play any role

You have to imagine he's immediately going back up there. He's a complimentary guy can play any role. You have to imagine he's immediately going back up there. He's looked upon like Max Domey would be. Max is more physical, Max can do different things. Max will stick you in between the eyes if he has to. Not that Kelly can, but as far as moving up and down the lineup, he's a guy that can do it and hold his own.

Pretty solid. Completely embarrassing you. Yeah, well, and last year, there's a guy, a role player, playing at center, Max, that I was impressed how he played in that Boston series, right? So, but again, you can only have so many of the same kind of players.

Like, I think that's a lot the way the Islanders are, right? That you can only have so many complimentary players or whatever it may be, or how what how Craig Barube is described and how he values yarn crook. So, you know, that's kind, you know, kind of the thing, like, it's the same same. So the point of difference is, yeah, Max will be more physical points of difference to start cutting coming in who makes more money when you're looking to move

around that can be, you know, involved in making a potential move. So, so there's a lot, you know, and then you bring another complimentary player in again, just because it looks good in the trade deadline. Like you bring a real depth player in that can be a difference maker, provide something different to the team versus a depth player. That's the same of the mix you have yesterday prior to you coming out of the bullpen for Justin Bourne, he wrote an article on sportsnet.ca. I think it's still there on maybe Watson needs of the bullpen for Justin Bourne. He wrote an article on sports net.ca I think it's still there on maybe wants and needs of the Toronto Maple Leafs and I think he had

Colton peraco on his biggest wish list. Mm-hmm. I Didn't have the heart to tell him that ain't happening. But well, he's got budget if he's going to Disney World He's got he's got cap issues right now, okay? So okay, he's got personal cap issues, so he probably's got no idea about the cap of the nhl world. 58 cents a dollar? It's okay, it's all right spend it buddy. I can't take it with you but

Still it seems like the focus is at center ice for you or revisiting some offense, some jump from the back end. We mentioned how terrific Tanev's been with McCabe, but it's not exactly like they're going to score a ton of goals here moving forward. Well, it's again, looking back at what cost you first round picks Nick Foligno and Ryan O'Reilly. It's unfair because they both were injured. Okay, but it but they didn't make differences, you know, and there was wow factor in both those.

Luke Shen, surprisingly, ended up being the best trade deadline acquisition of whatever the last five years just because he found a spot with Morgan Riley. I thought I liked Edmondson. I mean, I've liked those kind of deals. But they were never deals good enough to get you deep. No, well, everything didn't get you deep. I just meant it.

But I liked the way they contributed. Do they need a major, major? Well, they did that twice. And again, the guys got hurt and it cost you a first round pick and you can only give up so many of the first, like the Dallas Stars keep picking late in the first round and they keep getting the Thomas Harleys,

the Wyatt Johnstons, the on and on and on. Stankovans. So you're not expecting much out of the Toronto Maple Leafs? No, I'm not. No, I'm not. And we've had the wow factor. I know, no, come on. These guys are good enough and now they have the golds ending. Okay, so I'm expecting

complementary depth pieces that's what I'm expecting I I'm of two minds in this because while I do agree ultimately what it's gonna come down to is The guys that haven't been able to get over the hump getting over the hump and some big games here Like it's always gonna come down to the core four, it's always gonna come down to Morgan Riley, it's gonna come down to the goaltending. But I do feel like this team does need a bit of a jolt in the bottom half of the lineup.

Like, you know, it can't be, complimentary pieces are fine, but you know, I don't wanna be talking about Alex Steeves' playoff games and Pontus Holmberg, you know, contributing in the top six in playoff games. I do think that they do need some help here. I do. And we're talking after a weekend where complimentary pieces were the story.

Yeah, I know. Which I do feel bad about. They were the only ones who scored. Scott Lotton's name's been out there from the Philadelphia Flyers. Can he be the Nick Paul? That would be one, yeah. That would be one that to me brings you another variable.

Yes, yes. The wrist align in Lawton one is one that's made sense to me as a package release, but it was maybe drive the cost. Now he's doing packages. Is he bringing the brothers, the Shen brothers too? Is that another one? Yeah, I saw that one yesterday. I caught Elliot leaning towards the teams asking for the Shen brothers together and

I'm like, can Brad Tree Living just get one... Let's just start with one for now instead of two. Like do they even want to be together? Maybe they hate each other. But I mean it's not like I'm sure there's this... Like Luke's gotta be... You know it's funny, I ran into Luke, into Luke whatever it was seven eight years ago by the visiting dressing room and he any he kidded that He just said yeah, I'm moving around state by state. You know much he moved

Oh my god, I mean it was so he's thrilled that he got some stability at a multi-year contract in in Nashville I mean, there's still the allure of Toronto would have some kind of appeal, but it's, this is, well, but the other part, Kipi and Sammy, is with the Randon deal, like, wow, Natchez and Randon moving, Calgary and Philadelphia, that's a real hockey trade. That's not a, the Canucks having to move JT Miller, that's not a trade deadline. These are real hockey trades, a lot of stuff's been going.

Yeah, and the cap going up, you got room to correct mistakes or whatever it may be. It just seems there's a bit more of the Wild West. I hope it continues. Luke Shen, amazing path to over a thousand games. Because you consider where his career was. He went down to the AHL halfway through his career. It's crazy.

Came back up one or two cups. Four years ago, his career was dead in the water. Yeah. Yeah, he was playing He played in the HL for parts of three seasons then he comes back up and he wins two cups with the lightning. It's crazy Anyways, we should probably go get to Brickley. All right, we'll take a quick break when we return Andy Brickley Boston Bruins analyst color commentator for Nessan. He'll join us We'll get into the Boston Bruins and what's in store for Brad Marchand. And also we'll get into a little Austin and Mitch. Are they tired?

We'll get Craig Berube's thoughts and then we'll get Gord Stehlich's thoughts. That and more when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Everything you need to know about the Raptors and the biggest stories around the NBA. Smith and Jones. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. ["Squidward's Theme Song"] Nick Kiprio, Scord Stellix, Sammy McKee. Let's bring in Andy Brickley, Boston Bruin colour

analyst. Andy, thanks for joining us as we tee up tonight. It's a contest between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins. First and foremost, coming off of Thursday's Canada-US contest in Boston, just your overall thoughts Not only nationally but locally there. How did how did the fans take it? Fans took it About as well as you could expect and hope for it was really a win-win across the board no matter how you look at it So when the full league a win for the play association, a win for the growth of hockey, a win for television, a win for the city of Montreal, a win for the city of Boston. Just the overall enthusiasm and what this sport could mean to a lot of people,

maybe even new views based on the way it went. I think the hockey community got the And what this sport could mean to a lot of people, maybe even new views based on the way it went. I think the hockey community got the desired. Final matchup, particularly after that Saturday night game in Montreal, you know, and as

an individual, I got to tell you in the interest of full disclosure. You know, I had like a guarded optimism that it was going to be a great tournament, but I wasn't all in until it started. And then after that Saturday night game, then I was all in. So, you know, for a four team tournament during the middle of February, during the middle of the regular season when you shut it down for two weeks. But boy, did that win me

over. It was fantastic. And the city of Boston was a beneficiary of it. And the crowd turned out, which was spectacular. No, I agree that, you know know you're looking at what was the I don't know what I expected But it's certainly more than realized my expectations, but you know one day Andy now Unfortunately the residue is no Charlie McEvoy I mean he played a monster game monster game against Canada and I understand he was injured there and So kind of the saga how it how it unraveled and so right now they're saying what no timeline for his

return? That is the word we've gotten. Donnie Sweeney had a press conference a couple of days ago as I'm sure you're well aware and he addressed the issues that everybody had that being one of them. First of all he led with Hampus Lindholm being done for the year. And my last visual was Hampus on the ice in a contact jersey preparing for post four seasons and being back in the lineup. And then you get the word that I don't know if they use the word setback, but he is not going to play probably the rest of this year. And then you follow that up with McEvoy is going to be out for the foreseeable future

Now you're just six games away from the deadline when you were trying to figure out exactly which direction the Bruins going to take And all arrows seem to be pointing in that retool when you don't have your top two defensemen available And that's really put the Boston Bruins in a place where we aren't used to Andy. And that's on the outside looking in to the Stanley Cup playoffs here. And I had to ask the guys before we went to break, when was the last time the Boston Bruins missed the playoffs? And I'm like, I haven't got a clue, but you know, how are, how are fans taking this season that no one could have ever predicted? Yeah. Well, you can imagine what the Boston fan base is like when you underperform and they've underperformed all year. You know, does it mean they don't have good players? No. What does it

mean? They haven't had some really quality wins this year? No. Um, you know, they, they expect it to be in the post season. The organization did the players did the fans did. And when it hasn't gone that way, even though you're continuing, continuing to hang around, there's a lot of vitriol. There's a lot of anger. There's a lot of disappointment and there's a lot of finger pointing at, you know, the players. And eventually because they made a coaching change, the focus is now shifted to management.

You know, the focus isn't on Joe Sacco. The focus has gone from Cassidy to Montgomery, bypassed Sacco, and now more on Sweeney and Nealy. And that's a natural progression would happen in any hockey environment. But yeah, there's a lot of disappointment, you know, laced with some anger because I don't know if you caught the game the other night, it's a little bit of a disappointment, but yeah, there's a lot of disappointment. You know, with

laced with some some anger because I don't know if you caught the game the other night you come out of the break. You never know what you're going to get after two weeks, but it's an Anaheim team that you feel like that you should be able to

secure two points. You know, and they do well. They do a nice job to force its overtime, but then they lose and then they immediately think about the two games before the break when they had leads after 40 minutes in the two games leading into the break, you know, against Vegas and the Rangers and they don't even get to overtime and then leave points on the table. So yeah, disappointment and anger, I think is probably the best way to put it to describe the theme of the fan base right now.

Okay, so it's been an uncharacteristically bumpy ride. We know Don Sweeney when he had the presser earlier like nothing was going well the goaltending wasn't the free agent acquisition Weren't and all that so now we're at the two-thirds point the final one third obviously injuries key You can't nothing you do about those, but what is going? Okay now and what remains bumpy in this home stretch Andy I'm not sure I understand the question good so I like the free agent players they seem to be playing better than Sweeney said like I mean is that kind of kind of got better what

things have got better and what things are still bumpy that they got out they got a really look at addressing in the last one 3rd of the season. I will just look at the obvious numbers and all the underlying numbers that generally determine whether you're a playoff team You know their road record is terrible. Their special teams are bottom of the league Uh, their goal differential is terrible They don't they don't protect

Late in periods they give up goals in the final two minutes of periods far too often They give up goals in rapid succession, which questions their mental. You know, the list is the list is lengthy, where it says this is a non playoff team. How are they going to win? Well, it's going to be team defense and you don't see the layers that you used to see. You don't see the goal tending that you used to see when you had the great tandem. It'sending that you used to see when you have the great tandem is down on Swainman shoulders now he'll play the majority of

the games. He's gonna have to steal you a few games. You can't simply rely on David Passenot to carry your offense night in the night out. You're not getting any secondary scoring. Look at the numbers on lines three and four. In terms

of offensive production. They don't get a lot in terms of driving the offense from the black from the blue line. Now you take out your top two defensemen. So those are the bumpy rocky aspects. What's in front of the Boston Bruins right now. A lot is going to have to rely on their top six, maybe their top four and Swainman is going to have to be the guy that he was in the postseason last year. If this is going to be a Bruins team that qualifies for the postseason last year if this is going to be a Bruins team that qualifies for the postseason. Andy what kind of trade deadline can Boston Bruins fans be forward to look at now with such a short period of time in Boston still may be teetering on thinking about making the playoffs here a couple of tough decisions Trent Federick UFA, and also the captain in Brad Marchand. Yeah, this could go a whole bunch of different ways really if you want to sit down and spend

time and think about it. You know, Tony Sweeney used the word cautious and I think that was juxtaposed to the fact that it was aggressive these last several years, right? Six, seven, eight years, whatever it's been aggressive at the trade deadline. This was phrased as cautious. I'll come back to the Brad Marchand situation, but I think they've made their decision. I think they've chosen the path that they're going to use, you know, based on what we've talked about here in this conversation to this point.

To me, it screams retool and not try to add to this current team thinking that you can do something down the stretch, get into the playoffs and make some noise. I think through almost 60 games, you are what you are. They know what this team is. There's too many flaws on this team. So will there be transactions? I think so, but I think there'll be of the minor variety, earmarked or designed to help the team in a couple of areas.

Can they get a little bit more talented? Can they get a little bit more speed in their lineup? They went away from regular season speed and skill in this past off season to hopefully add some more physicality. They felt like they lost the last two years in the playoffs after having a good regular season because they weren't built for the postseason. They wanted to go out and address that. And I think they lost some speed and skill from some of the players

that departed that helped them win a lot of games during the regular season. So that's been an issue, too. So maybe some moves that they can make as they determine whether some of these UFAs are worth hanging on to. Do you want to hang on to a Trent Frederick, Justin Brazzo, what's his future? Go up and down the list. But the Brad Marshan is an intriguing subject. The fact that he doesn't have a contract, hasn't had a contract negotiated throughout

the year kind of makes you wonder which way is this going to go? What does Brad want to do? You know, he does have a limited no movement clause. But what does he want to do? What is his desire? I know publicly he said he wants to be a Boston Bruin for his entire career. He wants to end his career as a Bruin, but he doesn't want to go anywhere. But there comes a time where in those conversations, you know, maybe he changes his mind and says, I want to go chase the Stanley Cup this year.

You know, 36, 37 years old. He's not in his prime anymore, but he is an example setter. And he's, there's no shortage of will to win and will compete. And there never will be a shortage of that in his game. And anybody that feels that they have a chance to win this post season to be a welcome addition. So I'm not sure which way it's going to go. I think he stays as a Bruin, but I don't think the Bruins will be inactive until March 7th.

So Andy, give us a little bit of a refresher here. Kipper said to Sammy, hey, when's the last time the Bruins didn't make the playoffs? And I got to tell you, I was a little bit surprised because Bruins win a cup in 2011. They go to a Stanley Cup final, they seem to beat the Leafs every year in seven games, Leaf fans, but they have two years they don't make the playoffs in between. So this kind of retool maybe they're trying to do now, how did that all play out years ago that they actually out of the playoffs? Well we hardly remember it because they were back in with the

force. Yeah and I gotta be honest with you, I'd have to go back and take a look at it myself. I know they missed one year just by a couple of points and it was very disappointing because they were right there and they still had quality teams or quality plays and it should have gotten into the postseason. But yeah they missed a couple years early there and you know after winning the cup, you know and after going to the final in 13, it wasn't shortly it was only shortly thereafter where they missed for a couple years. I think what are you gonna go back to 2015 was the last year they didn't

qualify, right? Yeah, so yeah, I can't give you an exact reason to tell you the truth why they missed. I just know that I just know that they were awfully close. It's almost ancient history to me now. Did the three of us drink heavily back then? I just don't remember. I just why do I do now? You remember 2011? You remember 13? You remember? You don't you don't remember between 13 and 19. It's memorable. 12 games on tap, including Toronto and Boston. Have a great call tonight, Andy.

We sure appreciate you stopping by. My pleasure, fellas. All right, Andy Brickley, Boston Bruin color analyst. No, but you know, cause you, like, first of all, yeah, they win the cup in Vancouver. Very memorable that getting to the final, very memorable. And I guess Andy's point was, much like Tampa Bay didn't make the playoffs one year,

remember that, Tampa Bay didn't one year? Just whatever, that they actually were okay, just fell short and they stayed the course. But man, they would have had Sheridan and Bergeron and you know, like maybe Marchand wasn't what he is, became later on, but that's that's like mind-boggling They did not make in the playoffs getting back to the Toronto Maple Leafs. We got a few minutes before we read we Reboot for our national hour

But your overall thoughts on Austin and Mitch at the Four Seasons and now Since returning for nation for nations for seasons. They were staying at the Four Seasons and like let them finish I want to go on vacation so bad Four nations. Four seasons. They were staying at the Four Seasons, and like, let them finish, Sammy. Kipper's done that. I wanna go on vacation so badly. Justin's in Florida, and I'm stuck here with you. You wanna go on vacation to Disney? I wanna go to the Four Seasons. Okay, that's fair. That's where I wanna go.

And now Sammy's got a clip for me from Barube on the possibility of these guys being tired. You wanna go to the clip first, and then have you react? Sure, let just go to the clip. Yeah, right Greg Borubi on Austin and Mitch Well, they're definitely, you know, yeah for sure I mean, but they're grinding through it and you know, we're trying to help them as much as we can and For rest purposes and and we're gonna have to do that going forward here too for a little bit. Take it away Gord How am I supposed to react? Anyway, just, yeah.

Did you see tired guys on the weekend? I don't know, well, Connor McDavid, minus three in both games. I think you get mentally tired, and you would know that better than Kipper because you played, like I think there's a mental part, more so than physical, because Craig Borube said something

that wasn't as much in vogue when you played and certainly when I was around oh we practice every day we're on the ice every day yeah and you're exhausted all the time and you're not you know and so common sense has come in about particularly late in the season some of these players will hardly well they won't have long practices won't practice a lot I mean they manage things quite well so. So I don't know if I saw tired, I think maybe some mentally tired players on the weekend, which only be natural. I just think particularly for Mitch Marner of the three of them that they have not got deep in the playoffs,

okay? We all know that. So this was like going deep in the playoffs and he came up with a big goal at a huge time. He came up with a couple of big assists in the clutch that, you know, that's what was eluded them in the past, that kind of, you know, play whatever in overtime, a Gary Roberts goal, a Gary Volk goal or whatever, you know, and I'm thinking maybe, you know, that's the best about resonating moving forward in the playoffs. Austin gets a bit of a bum rap about what the overtime goal, he played really well. He could have had over, he could have scored overtime goals so I think it's a positive always wonder about him being 100% you know I mean do you think he's

100% no no no no I don't yeah I'll go back to the game that he skipped in the four nations they yeah and it's like? Well you're already in USA, so you could pick players like Woody. I got to believe he would play if it would have mattered to get in, or if in fact Woody have not been able to play and just three days later was, I don't know. But again, that ends up being, well last year it looked like everyone was healthy and then Nylander and Auston Matthews weren't able to play at times in the first round. So I don't, I don't know what to think. Again, you know, all these things it's when 80 game number 83 starts,

we'll find out the real thing. But I just think positives. I like that a guy like Eric Carlson had a strong play. Yeah, I like that. I really liked that guy. And obviously it's not been a great goal for him in Pittsburgh, but anyway, I thought good experience for the three. One more Clipper, Kipper's Clipper that you got here, Sammy, that intrigues me. I've not heard it, but John Tavares being affected by the contract year. Why'd you pick this? Because he was asked about it.

I thought it was a relevant conversation for our Toronto May Police Hour. Okay. Nine, please. Not a little bit. He's a pro. He just does this thing. You know, like he, it's every day he just comes to work. He does his routine. He's got it down. And, you know, he's played extremely well for us.

And I don't think even I don't think he thinks about it, to be honest with you. Not that I've noticed noticed or I haven't noticed any of that with him. Yeah, and I find it kind of strange because he looks exactly like he has in the past where he's He can score points. He can He's just doing what he's done his whole career here. I just find that interesting that someone would bring that up Yeah, well it was brought it was brought up when the islander thing all those years ago, right?

You know, it became a bit of a distraction I like what he said he seems like a consummate probe. Kip, you know everyone's always thinking about their contract. It's not, you know, for sure. You know, you, it's just, it's just human nature. I mean, you saw two goaltenders last night where you saw Billy Hussle get traded and VTEC Vanacheck play phenomenal last night. Both of them are saying, thank God we signed three year deals a couple of years ago because we, we don't deserve it right now. And we're trying to, you know, get a new contract. There are some floating reports out there that perhaps the Leafs could be close with him at seven million times three, I believe.

I mean, that to me just seems really premature. Yeah, yeah. Would you be okay with that contract? Well, obviously you want him to do three years at 1 million, that's what people are saying, because he should do that so you can bring players in and keep them under the cap. So, like I'm big on John Tavares,

I didn't see the urgency to sign him, but he may be saying, you know, you're kind of taking advantage of the fact that I wanna be here, And that can backfire sometimes it backfired with Alex Patrangelo in St. Louis when he went to Vegas, right, you know, numbers came into play. So I still look, man, the playoffs are going to be such a deciding factor. Like the play, you know, like, like, he came here and has not got

them to the promised land nor has the others guys they drafted from within but hey, the more the merrier, I don't know, figure out the cap. If you're waiting on Mitch, you better be waiting on John, if you ask me. Great first hour, George. George, like, George. You were strong, Norm.

We shot you out of a cannon, buddy. We go national next. Steve Valakett, Gordon Stelix, Sammy McKee. Don't go away. Plenty more on the Real Kipper and Bourne Show. George.