Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Battling the Cats at the Bottom of the East

Episode Date: December 2, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to the Leafs' matchup against the Florida Panthers, a battle between the two teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. They reflect on the Leafs' playoff exit to the Panthers a season ago before discussing Florida's struggles this year. Then, they get the latest developments on Brandon Carlo, Chris Tanev, and Anthony Stolarz's injuries. Finally, Florida Hockey Now insider George Richards stops by (30:56) to discuss the Panthers' lengthy list of injuries, Sergei Bobrovsky's play, Brad Marchand's comments on the Leafs, 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.

Game Day on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on SportsSept 360, Sportsnet 590, the fan in Toronto, streaming always on Sportsnet. And if you miss our show, give us to download Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube with a thumbs up. Nick Kiprios, Justin Boren, fresh off the SportsNet Christmas party. Sammy McKee, Jake the Snake Shultz, and Andrew Adams. No yagerbombs for the boys last night? I was a very good boy.

When I started seeing Sammy dancing on the table, I got out of there. It was time to go. Yeah, it was time to go. I did get handed one shot. I did do a shot. Did you? It was handed to me by our lovely fashion person, Amy McKenzie. It was a delicious shot of tequila.

Oh, lovely. But a very nice night. It was had by all. And then you get to see people you haven't seen in a while because we kind of do our thing over here. And every once in a while you bump into somebody. I remember you. See, that's actually kind of the fear of those events.

It's like, I know we know each other, but how many names are you expected to know? Oh, I mean, I think my annual reminder, every Christmas party is how I know 1% of people. people that work here. Like, it was a sports at Christmas party. And there's just so many people. I'm like, ah, I don't know any.

But I think you can just be like, hey, what's your name again? It's just, I've kind of gotten to that point in my life. I'm like, hey, remind me your name. Right. It's not the end of the world. No. Is it? Speaking of the name?

No, it's not. You're right. Okay, good, good. Jake the Snake Shilts, Andrew Adams, with us also for the next two hours. Yeah. They were both out of the party getting loaded last night. Low, yeah. Yeah.

If there's a butt list in the next two hours on our show, we'll know why. the Toronto Maple Leafs and Game Day as they are in Florida who had these two teams at the bottom of the Atlantic in December on their bingo card

I don't think anyone it is shocking in the same time they're not you know 2 and 12 or whatever the really terrible record record would be here

no team below 500 in the Atlantic right now George Richards, who's coming on at 435, long time, you know, writer for the Panthers, Insider, Florida Hockey Now. The title of his preview today on his website, Panthers Leaves Meet an unfamiliar spot at the bottom of the standings. Yeah. And it's true. Both these teams have been a mainstay in the top of the Atlantic Division and they're both struggling. And as we've said many times, the three-game winning streak changes everything in the Atlantic Division, but it's still weird.

How about a seven-game winning streak? Three. That ain't happened. three and a half it's just really weird seeing those two teams it is right right at the bottom and I got to think for the Leafs like Sammy's must win

should come into the equation here you don't even even Florida you don't can't lose you don't can't lose that's the one I'm looking for can't lose you you don't want to see Florida starting to pull away from you when they're the second last team in the in the conference no I mean, you certainly don't, but, you know, I just, I do think sometimes we step on the panic pedal here when there's 55 hockey games left or whatever the number is, 57 games left.

You can lose a few boys. You're allowed to lose a few. I know a lot's been made out of the start of the season for the Leafs, but is there a part of them still, for many of them that look at the Florida Panthers tonight and go, God, we should have found a way to beat you guys. I knew this was going to come up. Sam and I, before we came on air, were looking back. So I pulled up their series against the Florida Panthers

in playoffs last year. And fascinating to have a quick revisit of it. You remember that the Leafs came out. One, the first two games, and they're up two to nothing and three to one in game three. Incredible. And even after they fell behind, they scored to tie it up in the third period,

took it to overtime. They had a real chance to be up three nothing in that series. The one, the Isaiah kind of Falafa memorial moment that haunts me the most from that series is after the Leafs tied it on a really weird goal, I forgot it was like a weird bounce in front of the net that ends up going in. I think it's Morgan Riley that got credit for the goal. Maybe two shifts after that, Morgan's next shift maybe. He comes flying down the left wing, has a step, and he rips a rister, and it hits the post and goes out. And that would have made it 5'4 in regulation.

still lots of time left. But I do reflect on that where Florida ran through everybody, right? Like, I mean, everybody that they played, they played Tampa in the first round, right? Beat the breaks off them, beat the breaks off Carolina, had the shortest six-game series ever against the Edmonton Oilers. Leifes really did give them a go. And I don't want to say this because it's grim,

but it's their best chance. All right. It was the best chance. Yeah. To win the cup was last year And this was a huge series for it Even with the blowouts in game 5 and game 7 The blowout in game 7

Didn't happen until like the third period It was three zip going to the third Three one Sammy No it was no it was three zip And then it was three one early So 17 minutes to go Being down three one with 17 minutes to go You are very much in the hockey game

And Joseph Wall just fell off the face of the earth. He let in him off in. He led in that fourth goal to Listerainen on the short side. And it was over then. It's crazy, though. They had any type of goal tending to hold the fort. We would have had a World Series type of finish, I think. So they're really near going up 3-0.

They don't. Brad Marchand's overtime winner in that game is a shot that hits something. It bounces over the goal. He totally random goals. I think the only double-off. OT game that this era has ever gone to in the playoffs That was a double OT was it? I actually don't think it was I thought it was too but I don't see it

Anyway so then the next game Florida Clamps down they lose 2-0 Leaves get nothing not all that close They get pasted 6-1 like Florida turned it on And then you go into Florida Leafs shut out the Panthers Martyr turns a puck over dishes to Matthews Matthew skates in and rips it

They win they score 1-0 Yeah with the big boys And then McMahon to patcher ready on a two-on-one after that to go up two-nothing. So they win, go to game seven. Like, yeah, you're feeling, like, you can say what you want about how Florida's this that much better and whatever. Leafs beat them three times pretty good.

And then, boy, oh, boy, game seven, they just got pantsed. One of the things we've always talked about with this team is their ability to, like, bounce back after a bad performance when everybody's doubting them. And that was like the cherry on the Sunday one, where after, they lose in game five and everybody killed them myself and they were so bad they were horrendous and then they put out that was the best game best performance probably in the history of the the the matthews martin era yeah yeah they were amazing they were like shut them yeah down gave them that was marner's best moment oh for sure that set it setting up matthews and then then that was it

and they come home and we all know what happens but i do reflect on that series and just think man what if they had to beat them and it's so crazy crazy to be here 25 games later into the next season. Marner's not here, some injuries to Florida, and see where these two teams are at. I find it impossible to believe that they're just like, oh, they're done. Either of these teams. All right, let's go to Craig Brew. We get his thoughts on the matchup tonight with the Stanley Cup champion, Florida Panthers.

Well, it's going to be like we always play Florida. We know how they play and we know what type of game. It's going to be that their game's not going to change. And we just got to build off. last game. We did a lot of good things with the puck, and we're going to have to do that again tonight. And, you know, even looking back to the playoffs last year, we had some real good success against them in that series, and then not some good success. So there's certain things that we can do tonight that will give us success, and that's what we're going to focus on. I would go as far as to

say, a lack of success. That was a twisting of language. Yeah. At the same time, one team's it's way more forgivable than the other team right they're they're similar now because they've got injuries both of them have injuries but one's also been to the finals three times and won the stanley cup twice and the other one hasn't never been out of the second round and i think i'd kill for florida's problem it's way more forgiving right now where they are and they're they're not good florida is not good their best player by country mile is Marshand, right?

Yeah. Like, and for the Leafs, their best player is a 35-year-old John Tavares, really. I mean, but, like, Bovrovsky is not good right now. Like, the Leafs need to jump all over him. I imagine he's got the start tonight.

He does. So he has, he's been horrible. But he's also 37 years old. and got a lot of mileage. In 2010-11, he came into the league, and he was at 9-15 save percentage that year. So that's 15 seasons ago. He's been below 900.

One other season than this one, and that was his sophomore year. He was in 899. This year he's 8-82. So he's like, this is by far the lowest his save percentage has ever been. And then you have the conversation, is this father time,

or is this the team has been not as good? Leif's hoping father time is the answer. I think he's much like a Bennington where he could scare you for one game or a series if he's, you know, feeling good. But, yeah, there has to be a level of wear and tear on this guy right now. Has to be. I'm sensing from you that you think that Lee's might win tonight. I think this is an excellent opportunity on a struggling team. Eckblad, of course, has been all world for them when they've needed.

him two and a half three seasons now he doesn't look good at all up front uh everybody's struggling with the with the exception of marshand it is crazy to see you know the plus minus of guys like reinhart and bennett and guys who've been elite players very very recently you know i think it does shine a light a little bit on who was doing a lot of the heavy lifting you know, Barkov kind of paving the way against the tough matchups and making life easier for everyone else. We're going to have George Richards

in about 25 minutes insider for the Florida Panthers. We'll get an update on Barkov. I said it right from the get-go. I expect him back at some point before even the playoffs, whether or not they choose to play him in the regular

season or not, but there is a feeling he should be ready to go. The question is, where are they going to be in the standings by then. Well, it does handcuff your ability to do anything because there's a playoff salary cap. You can't go spend his money because then you can't use that guy come playoffs.

You'd almost rather him be out-out or come back. Because if you can't spend his money and he's not coming back till April, you could conceivably miss playoffs. Yeah. I mean, that's a risky run. So you could spend the money until you get him and then figure that out.

But Florida's in a bit of a pickle. They need to start going the other direction, too. Yeah. And they know that. And they know where the Leafs are behind them. Yeah, I think you're getting a present Florida team tonight. They see blue and white, and they know what that means. So you're not going to get Florida against the San Jose Sharks on an off Tuesday night here.

This is Toronto Maple Leafs going in there. Last time they were in there, it was a playoff game. So I would imagine you're probably going to get their best kick at the can. Yeah, they've just lost to Calgary and Edmonton and someone else bad. Not bad. So part of our. Part of our charm of our show is we don't prepare.

We don't prepare. What does that mean? My whole life I've prepared for this. No, it means that when we come in and we see each other, we don't really prepare for the show. But the one thing I do constantly ask you, Sammy, is, you know, how are the clips?

Oh, bad. And then, you know, he gives me this one. Yeah. So did we get... Well, we got a bunch of... Today? Well, I mean, the Carlos stuff, Do you see that?

Are we starting with the injury front? Yeah, I feel like that's the biggest news of the day. You might as well. Carlo, the clip three, please, on Kyle, Andrew. Any word on Carlo? Yeah, it's going to be extended time. Got to get something done, so it didn't go the way we thought. So he's going to be out for a bit.

Okay, so Carlo needs surgery. Yeah. Didn't go the way we thought. Yeah. So can't be brain. No. No, the question is, is it like a four to six, dare they say week to week?

They said nothing. They said nothing. But they will. It's common courtesy to say today so-and-so had successful surgery, and we expect them out four to six weeks or six to eight weeks. We've seen that in the past. I'm not sure we're going to get that out of the Leafs. No, not sure.

My question I tweeted this earlier today is I'm curious if this is something that happened in a moment In a play a thing happened Or if this is something that was Contributing to his poor play Prior to leaving the last game he left Because he didn't look I saw him play for Boston

Not a bad defense player He played pretty good for the leaves You know the first year they had him Half year I think I remember in Boston earlier this year He took a pretty heavy shot in the corner and I don't know to your point was it something that he was nursing in the past and then it got worse right uh did they try to heal it without it my guess is he's got to put

a screw in somewhere shoulder somewhere there's got to be a repair there needs to be there's a drill involved there might be but that's just a guess and I don't think at this point it should be season ending this is like the barkoff thing except it's not bark off but you can't spend the money you can't do anything you just don't have the guy will it be healthy before the trade deadline well if if he is it has to come with the fact that he's come back into justin's point he looks like the guy in boston that jb liked and other teams could like if in fact they feel like they need to move him for assets. Well, I mean, ideally, he's just play, he's exactly what they need.

Ideally, he plays stay at home solid, right shot, D, PK, anchor a pair type of guy. Because right now you're with OTAF and Carlo for months, maybe, and boy, OEL Stetcher is your top two right side guys, not great. What, yeah, like, that's the thing where. You talk about them getting back into this. And, you know, I mean, I don't necessarily believe that's going to happen. Morning, you've been more positive about it than me and Kipper, obviously. But, like, doing it without a backup goalie and having a...

It's pretty good. He's, okay. Maybe he's good. Yeah. And doing it without your top to right-handed defenseman in coming up for your toughest of your schedule here with, like, you said, Stetcher and. OEL and Myers involved as a right side. It's a steep, it's a steep climb.

It's a big ask. It's a lot to ask. So do you think that, I guess it's too early, no one ever does this, but they would ever like, just like look at for some, like a replacement level guy to bring in here? Like, are they just going to keep running, just Myers and Mervis? Yeah, that's what, that's what the waiver wires there for. And so far, like, I'm reading articles now that Stetcher's skyrocketed.

I'm like, okay, like easy on the skyrocketing. Well, his value to the Leafs is one man's treasures or garbage is another man's treasure. And I don't want to take anything away from him. Ricky is him. One man's good on garbage. He's a little bit more mobile and adds a little bit more quickness than what we've seen for the first 25 games. So, yeah, there's a chance that he can stand out a little bit here. But, again, this is going to the waiver wire.

Yeah. You know, very seldom, you pick somebody up on a waiver and they skyrocket to, you know, next level stuff. I just think people should kind of just rule it a little bit. I think we all know at this point of his career what Troy Stetcher is, but it's better than what they had in there. When you're starving, a ritz cracker is a steak, you know? Yeah, when you're in the Sahara, you know, a sip of water works.

Oh, this is incredible. What a sip that was. Let's stay on the theme of injury reports, and let's go to Craig Barubi on Chris Tanov. Yeah, he is. Again, he's going to have to get looked at here soon, I think, again, and see where he's at. He's skating, though.

Feels okay, and I don't have no real update other than that on him. Okay, so that's... Confusing to me. He's skating. Yeah. Yeah, it's skating because there's no... contact right low they're worried about the contact which means structurally they're they're worried about them so that's that's easy that's an easier one to play detective on yeah that's so whatever whiplash or whatever he went through from the neck on down is a major concern

it doesn't sound to me like you'll probably see him before Christmas just from well I mean Christmas that's me trying to read the tea leaves now right yeah so

probably I I'd think that if he gets the green light at some point in December the focus could be I don't know after Christmas between Christmas and New Year's

would be hopefully ideal I think that's a reasonable length of time to hold on for if you're the leave. Say, okay, you know, Stetcher, we need you to do 17 minutes tonight and Myers, we need a better version of year game. Hang on out there. Morgan, play some defense. Yeah, I just, I mean, you've alluded to it,

but I do worry about PANF at the point of his career that he's at and the competitor that he is and him wanting to get back into the lineup and just... Four more seasons on his contract after this one. Well, I mean, yeah. That was always the risk, though. Yeah, I mean, everybody, like, nobody was willing to go. Is it four more or more than that? No, he signed six, I think.

Yeah, so four more. Okay, it was six. I thought it was maybe seven, but it's six. Yeah. But that way it was, it was with retirement in those last few years. Well, certainly makes it easier to get all your money when you LTI retire here. Well, I just, I'm not worried about the money situation. He'll be on LTIR or whatever.

Like, I'm not worried about that. I'm just worried about the guy. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, because he's going to want to come back. he's like a fierce competitor always has been sticks his face in front of shots like he's just he's that guy so yeah hard to keep him off the ice and sure and we'll see that's why they have to get it right yes there's no messing around i see him around my daughter's soccer like they have kids

similar ages and they live around there and like autograph uh no we did have a scintillating conversation or two but um he it's you know i think i see him as that family man and like you know he has a whole life here. Yeah. And yeah, you do worry sincerely that it's like there's no reason to go back and subject yourself. There's a world after hockey that's pretty good if you feel like it is a risk. So I certainly hope they make the conservative choices.

Dare I ask for a clip on Stolars. It's speaking of scintillating. Let's play it there, Andrew. No, he hasn't been on the ice. So no real improvement there either. Oh, my gosh. Well, what are you going to say? Sounds like he's lost his dog or ran away.

They're coming off a big win. They're run away. They're hot. Yeah. All right. Well, let's move on from that unless you have anything to say about the goalie. I do. When your little crystal ball over there, what do you think?

Doctor? I saw a doctor this weekend. Yeah, I'm not playing doctor, but longer. than TANF. It doesn't sound like there's something definitive there. I don't know. I'm guessing, but I think he just,

he doesn't feel well, less than 100%. So concussion, I'm guessing. Yeah, I mean, that seems to be consensus and there's no way to predict when that clears up.

Can I ask you about Chicago talking about brisois? They make around the same amount of money, him and Stolars. Oh, yeah. LTIR for Stolars if he's going to be out and getting another real NHL goalie. Let's Braswa make three-mail? I don't think you're not any better there. I'll tell you what. Okay.

The Hilda Beast there bought them time Saturday night. Braswaw makes 3-3, and this is the last year of that contract. I think that it's almost identical money. It kind of works perfectly. Right now, there's no pressing need. No. until he'll be That could change Thursday night boys

Yeah listen A lot of teams on a game to game Basis Yeah I think the hard part is when you're on a game to game basis Is not overreacting to one game Because things happen in hockey There's weird days where you play good and you lose

You play bad and you win And just You're making all these reactions Based on these small samples But you have to be wary of what's real What's the nerds would say What's noise and what's signal What's noise and what signal?

Well, a signal is real, right? That's like, okay, this is a trend, that's a pattern. Noise is the randomness. You know, well, we're part of it, for sure. Anything interesting on Myers over Mermis? No, it's not. I don't even know why I put it in there. But here's what I will say.

Oh, you're desperate. That's why. Well, I mean, we're desperate. We talked for four minutes. At the end of your pitiful rope. I had the thought coming in today about Cowan, and we've been talking a ton about Cowan and how well he's played.

Oh, boy. I do worry about him in this game because there's guys on the other side that are much meaner than a lot of the guys But can I tell you what? He's one of the few guys I don't worry about. Yes, physically. He's gotten pasted a few times this year.

Bennett's going to be looked out there but I feel like he's more engaged in that aspect of the game. Like he's, well, maybe to your point, he doesn't shy away from it as much. But I have been really moved watching Adam Van Tilly go at people and be aggressive as a skill guy.

I am. You watch him last night? Yes. Like I like watching some of these young kids. Celebrini will include in that where they're punching back when they get punched. They're not just go back to the bench and, you know, whatever. It's, we need that. And Cowan does that.

He'll engage. I just worry about Bennett, you know, assaulting him into fine dust. Like he did with knives. Yeah, I know. He just, he picks on young guys. He tries to hammer dudes. Like he's going to try to hurt him. He's the least of my worst.

worries right now. No, he's not. No, he is. He's not. He's not. He'll be fine. Bam, Ben, Bennett? He'll be fine. He'll be fine. He'll be fine. Famous last words. I go to, okay, outside of that, who are my guys that have to play heavy tonight? Have to. There's not many choices. Dakota and Wa. Waugh. Okay, let's take him out of that. Let's take him out of that. Let's take him out of. McMahon. Take Waugh right out of this equation. Why? Not heavy. No, no. It has to play heavy. I'm sorry. He's not who he is. He's not who he is. He's

not who he is. Treat him like he's Tavares or something. Oh my gosh. Treat him like he's Tavares. There's no history in his career of him being the guy you're pretending he is.

Then... Didn't he cross-checked? Yes. He said, and over time? Did he get suspended? That's good. Like that.

Okay. That was heavy. Like, so a guy like AJ Greer tonight. Yeah. Pretty tough customer. Yeah. Right?

Yeah. So who's gonna go shoulder to shoulder with him tonight? Not Niqua. Um, I don't know, Scott Lawton. How about Lorenz? Why is Lorenz off the hook in this game?

His name never comes up. Another guy. Another guy, I want to play heavy tonight. Yes. Right? So that's, to me, is the challenge here. Those three or four guys that I name that aren't Cowan. Yeah.

My rookie. I'm not worried. I don't want Cowan to do it. No, I know you don't. Don't get me wrong here. But he's, I'm worried for his well-being. No, he's got, he's got good hockey sense. He's not.

I don't think he's going to get caught tonight, Sammy. All right? God, I hope we don't have to clip that. I don't see, I don't see him being a guy that I need to worry about protecting. No, not that guy. He'll be just fine. He's playing awfully well. I know he is.

The four guys that I mentioned, and you mentioned Lawrence as well, it's like, boys, you got to set a tone here. And you can't do it at the end of the game. when the score is locked first 10 minutes if this team and Bennett and the rest of them you got to be willing to go shoulder to shoulder with these guys and they get a stick up you get your stick up they throw a punch you throw two back it's like that's it's still the florida panthers i don't care what place in the standings they are yeah you got to you got to show up tonight this ain't pittsburgh who's who's going to push back on pittsburgh yeah no saturday night

this Florida team has different guys gotta show up differently I really do hope that to your point they do do that like I really don't want it just to be I would love to see them set the tone like that they haven't shown one fantasy land never happened I know

that's why I'm saying never happened I know with the leaves and there was it would be nice to see Brad Marchand's comments that we played yesterday just like luring the man But, oh, yeah.

Just fishing them in, fishing them in. He drives on us. He loves the Leafs. I saw him my boy, Vunk is calling him an artist today, and he is an artist. Yeah. He's so good at this. He gave the Leafs tons of respect. Yeah.

Oh, they're the best. And then he's going to go out there and show none of it. How close do you think it was to be in a Leaf? Listen, I didn't anticipate the Florida Panthers throwing six years at them. Is that what a one? Six year contract? Yes. Like, come on.

If they don't win the cup, I think he's a leaf. Because they're out partying and celebrating and you're with the boys. And what am I doing? Of course I'm coming back. Yeah, that's probably right. Imagine how many, like, ditches he would have dragged a few guys in up until this point already if Marshand was a leaf. I guess the question is, would there be anyone on this Leafs roster who would like to be in that ditch?

Or they all be like, where's the ladder? Sometimes you have no choice, eh? Yeah. a player like that's what i found if would mind count if uh like guys want to hide until they can't like the they can't hide anymore you got to go in you got to jump in it's just or your career might be over i heard that's what marchand could do yeah i heard a theory today like a war theory today which is the guys who want to fight at the front and the back and everyone who doesn't really in the middle just gets forced into the battle whether you want to be there

or not yeah i guess we're doing this how How bad would Florida be without Brad Marchand right now? Yeah, considerably worse. He has been extremely good for them. Maybe he's just really good player on a bad team, just like DeVaris. Oh, geez. All right, we got to go. Just quickly before we go, today is giving Tuesday, and there's no better time to give back.

Join us to fight for every birthday for sick kid patients. Your donation will be three times match to fight for more birthdays, For more kids, donate now at sickkidsgivingsgivingstuesday.ca. All right. Okay. Nice job, Sammy. Let's go to break. George Richards will join us, insider for the Florida Panthers.

We'll get a closer look to what is going on with the Stanley Cup champions and how quickly they are to dig in themselves out. That more when we return to real Kipper and Bourne. Get smarter when you listen to Hockey Talk, the Hockey P.D.O. cast with Dimitri Philipovich. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kippreos, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, it's the Real Kipper and Born show, Leaf Hour edition, as they get set to face. the Stanley Cup champion, Florida Panthers.

With that, let's welcome in George Richards, insider for the Florida hockey now.com. George, how are you, my friend? I'm good. What's going on? We're good. We're just discussing where these two teams are in the bottom of the conference here, a site that I don't think anyone predicted, I think, at training camp. How about you?

No, absolutely not. I mean, when you look at the Eastern Conference, some of the teams that are involved, you certainly didn't think that, you know, at the beginning of December, that Florida and Toronto would be at the bottom of it. So, again, you know, what are they, three points out a third in the Atlantic, four out of the wild card, whatever it is, something like that. So it sounds a lot worse than it is, but it sounds pretty bad. It does sound pretty bad.

we're trying to take stock of what the Florida Panthers have going on this year and how they've ended up here. I know they're without Barkov, you know, some serious injuries in general, Kachuk's obviously not around. But looking at the numbers of a guy like Bennett or Reinhart, we can't make sense of why they seem to be so far behind their typical output. Well, Reinhardt's been absolutely terrific for the Panthers pretty much since game two. Bennett, it took a little bit of time for him to catch up.

It looks like that he's catching fire a little bit. Remember, when Sam Bennett signed that contract with the Florida Panthers, a lot of people said, you know, you're paying for Sam Bennett of the playoffs, not necessarily Sam Bennett of the regular season. You look at his numbers, you know, he's on pace for his usual regular season numbers. I mean, he didn't have the greatest of regular seasons last year. And as Paul Maurice pointed out when we asked him about it, hey, it ended pretty well for Sam Bennett, you know, winning the Khan Smyth and whatever. So, listen, the Panthers are just, you know, their depth is stretched extremely thin. Paul Maurice talked about it today at the morning skate, and it's not just losing Barkov and Kachuk. It's also losing Thomas Nosek of the, you know, those, you know, Col Schwent, guys that you were counting to kind of move in as depth pieces and maybe chip away at the responsibilities of a Barkov or a Kach, that they're hurt as well.

Dimitri Kulikov, the Panthers' reliable veteran defenseman on that third pairing. He's been out since game number two. So the Florida Panthers have certainly lost a lot of their energy, a lot of the guys that they were counting on. And this is a team that came into it knowing they were right up against the salary cap. And, you know, they just haven't been helped along with these injuries and actually hampered by them. It seems like the last 18 to 24 months, we've all been looking at the Florida Panthers saying,

when is this, one of these long runs going to catch up to them? Are we there today? Is it a legitimate thing? Do they get a grace period for three Stanley Cup finals? And does anyone more deserving of that window of they might be a little bit tired right now than Bobrovsky? Well, yeah, Sergey Bobrovsky. hasn't looked like himself, especially the past couple games. But let's go back.

If we were having this conversation a week ago, we would have talked about how good Sergei Bavrovsky had been. You know, he had a shutout over the New Jersey Devils. Sergei Bavrovsky was playing extremely well, and he's had a couple rough ones in here the last couple games. And listen, Florida gave him Friday off against Calgary. He hasn't played since my last two weeks, now last month. Monday night. So he's had a full week off to work and get back into the things. So we'll see

if the rest has helped Sergey Bobrovsky. But he's such an odd character when it comes to his preparation and what he does. I think a lot of that was planned as this was a good spot for him to kind of regroup and reset. And yeah, I mean, listen, Sergey Bobrovsky has carried the Florida Panthers, played more minutes, obviously, than anyone else the past three postseason. You know, with Florida going to the Cup final of the past three, Sergei was in the net for almost all of that, save for a couple, you know, times he got, you know, pulled or whatever. But I don't know.

We'll see. He's 37 years old. He's in fantastic shape. We'll see how he bounces back tonight. It's funny listening to you. I can feel the dread welling up in Leafs Nation. It's like, all right, Bennett's heating up. Bobrovsky's had a week off.

It's a recipe for scary stuff. And then Brad Marchand is also saying the worst things you could possibly. say about the Leafs, which is, oh, they're so good, and we have so much respect for them. It's like, oh, he's just the worst in the best way, right? Right. No, I mean, look at it, look at what he said after game seven. I mean, everybody wanted to, you know, throw pitchforks at the Toronto Maple Leafs. And Brad Marchand was the voice of reason, right?

And nobody wanted to hear it. Yeah. You know, nobody wanted to hear that from Brad Marchand. And similarly so here yesterday when he made those comments. because the Florida Panthers are in the same exact position the Toronto Maple Leafs are in. So if March he's going to say the Toronto May believes, you're right, guys, fellas, you're right.

They're done. Well, that means the Panthers are done as well. Yeah, it's pretty savvy. What are you seeing out of him with a struggling team? Like, where's all his success, truly? I know it's on the score sheet, but what is it you see that he's bringing this team where you go, I wouldn't even begin.

in to think about where they would be without them. Yeah, I mean, it's been needed. I mean, the Florida Panthers were certainly not expecting, I don't think anybody was expecting this Brad Marchand to start the season. He's been absolutely terrific since opening night, and it's been needed. I mean, the Panthers have absolutely needed every little thing that he's brought. He's bringing scoring. He's playing top line minutes.

He's shutting guys down. he looks like he did in the playoffs when it looked like you know he had found the you know the fountain of youth here in south Florida and it has continued on I don't think anybody saw that coming I mean there might have been a few things that we looked at at the beginning of the year and said yeah that might that might play that Brad Marchand looking like he did in the playoffs I don't think anybody saw that it's been even not the Florida Panthers so Marchand has been absolutely great and like to use the words of Paul

Maurice it has been sorely needed well uh tell us about paul maurice how is he handling uh you know maybe less success than expected this year he's handling it about the way you would figure it i mean he's talking his way through it you know um he's he's been fine but he's been listen he's been preaching patience ever since sasha barkoff got hurt and you know we were in in training camp and he goes You know, it's not going to be easy for this team to make the playoffs. Everybody just assumes that Florida's going to be in the top eight some ways somehow, and it's just not going to be that way. They're going to have to grind their way to get wins.

They're going to need contributions from everybody on the team. And they have in some ways and haven't in others. So he's been okay. And he's basically changing a little bit of the way that the Panthers play. he knows that they can't play that hard forechecking style every single game, healthy or not. An 82 game season with the legs that these guys have after the past three seasons, they just can't play that way every game or you're going to have, you know, massive injuries. So he's kind of changed some things and then he just wants to try and get some wins,

pile up some wins and maybe use this new style a little bit when they need it, you know, come playoff time, if that time. time comes. Optimistic down there about if they get in, Barkov will be ready? Yeah, I would say that if they get in, Barkov will be ready. Now, we'll know a little bit more in February when the Florida Panthers have to make that determination. Do we need this $10 million cap hit or not?

So I don't think any decision has been made on the Sasha Barkoff front, but by all reports, he looks, you know, much better. but, you know, and again, you know, Bill Zito today and the athletic said timeline's the same, seven to nine months. So it's not like he's Superman or something. This was a surgically repaired knee. This is not a pain tolerance thing. This isn't, oh, bark, he's going to game it out. This is a structural situation in his right knee. You can't rush that back, not for a guy like this. So they're going to wait and see what the doctors have to say in February, maybe March to determine how they go. go about the trade deadline and using that money.

If they think that he's going to be ready, we all think that he will be, then they keep things as they are. But if they don't think that he's going to be able, or it's not worth it for him to come back for round two or three, then maybe you can use that $10 million LTIR exemption and go get you something. George, the one thing the Panthers do have going for him is it looks like a pretty healthy decor compared to what they had last year, right? Forzling, Eklad, Mikola Jones, Bolinsky's Petrie.

what are your thoughts on where that group is at in the general performance it's starting to come together i think you know we saw the florida panthers at the trade deadline last year go after seth jones um and what a what a fantastic move he he and and and nico mikila have been terrific together and we didn't really get to see them at the end of last season erin ekblad was suspended um he came back for the toronto series and then they put seth jones for the first time really with Nico, and they play off each other very well. I think you look at Seth Jones, the way his game has escalated since he's got here, we were talking today about, you know, he's got to be a very strong candidate for Team USA

for the Olympics because his game, this is the Seth Jones, we all thought, you know, this is the Chicago, this is the Jones that Chicago traded for, right, in 2022 or whatever. He's been that good. You see him up and down the ice. Eklad and Foresling, you know how good they are. In Florida's third pairing has been very good. It's been Pet Petri, the veteran defenseman, either with Balinskis or Sabrango, the guy they, you know, the kid they picked up from the Ottawa Senators. They've mixed very well.

The Panthers, you know, they're led by their defense. It's been a little shaky at times, and I think maybe that's why Sergey Bobrovsky has shown some signs. struggle lately but all in all it's been pretty good one more for me George before we let you go and that's just a follow up off the Barkov information on a potential situation

about alleviating his $10 million cap hit Bill Zito we've seen him be a magician here the last few years pulling out some big names here is there is there wiggle room for him outside of what to do

with Barkov if he if he frees up $10 million, is there another ace up his sleeve to still go for a third Stanley Cup? Well, we don't know. I mean, that's why I would never play poker. Bill Zito, because, you know, he never shows his hand on anything. I think the closest that we saw Florida show their hand a little bit last year was with Seth Jones. It seemed pretty obvious Seth Jones was going to come here. last year, just a determinant of time.

But I don't know. Listen, the Florida Panthers don't have much draft capital work with. They're going to need to pull off a big trade. Florida is going to need a Brad Marchand kind of situation. A veteran guy who's we got a no trade and says, I'm only going there. And because Florida can't get into a bidding war, really. They don't have the assets. They don't have the prospects.

They don't have the draft picks. They don't have the money under the cap, really. So anybody they bring in here, they're going to need help from outside sources, including the teams that's trading to them. So, you know, kind of a small market there. George, terrific stuff. Enjoy the hockey game tonight. Appreciate your time.

All right. Good seeing you guys. Be good. Thank you very much. George Richards covers the Florida Panthers. I got the guy. Oh, yeah? Yeah, it's Malcolm.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's a good fit, isn't it? They love Florida, too. up with a big one for you in a clutch moment. It's Malcolm. That's the guy. His point, you know, they don't have their first this year or next. You don't think he'll go?

No, I don't think he'll. Is this his last year there? It is. You know what I saw? What's he makes six? But someone, was it Elliot maybe he was saying, like, yeah, the question is whether he's going to play in the NHL next year or not. Like, if he's not going to play in the NHL next year, why would he go start over some new team here?

He's already won cops. He's decorated Kahn's Mike. He's going to go play in Russia. He was dead set against it. a while ago, so I don't know. Does he have a Mershan moment where you picture yourself a Boston Bruin your whole life and you're like, oh, wait a second, they take golf carts to practice. You know what?

Usually happens these guys end up getting butt hurt about something. He signed it in 2022 for a year, yep, 2025, 2026 at the end of the season it expires. And like these guys who are big names, big histories, big careers, they're actually kind of emotional orchids. They're fragile. If you hurt their feelings in some way, they'll want revenge. Aaron Rogers, did it. Brett Farve did it.

You see these guys go burn your old team. Tom Brady. Yeah. Like every, it always happens. And it happens. The ego takes over. Right. The ego takes over.

And it's like, well, you know, you didn't think we could win or you slighted me or whatever. All it would take would be like, hey, uh, you know, we want to trade you. And he'd be like, oh, yeah? Okay. Go win in your division or whatever the hell. I don't think it'd be impossible. Just have to offend him forever, that's all.

I don't know. I mean, like... Would it just almost be a... Well, if he wants... It'd be like a Drew situation. It'd be like the Marchand situation. It would be like he wants to go there. Okay, so a fifth rounder.

Yeah, basically. Second rounder that could maybe turn into a first... No, it would still take something. Don't get me wrong. And you'd have to move out some contracts. You got to give the Pittsburgh Penguin fans something. Yeah, it's not going to happen. It's not going to happen.

No, that would be... That's an interesting one. So... Still. Philip Forsport. Nice. Sammy, that's your favorite part,

eh? Hearing that Florida gets all these guys begging to come. Yeah. Doesn't hurt. I mean, listen, there's lots of great advantages there.

They have really nice weather. They've built a great culture, and they make way more money there. So it's a ton of advantages. You know what's crazy is the Florida Panthers last I checked this morning were a bottom five team and save percentage this year.

They haven't got any saves. They're still in the top half of the league and goals against. So, like, defensively, They're still defending decent. There's not getting any saves right now. I wouldn't sleep on them, that's for sure.

The one thing they can't do is score. They're last in the Atlantic. They got a few second rounders available this year, next year after. They got some capital here that they get more in the Leafs. I was watching a game there the other night. Who are they playing? It was crossing the Leaf Flames. It was dressed like a seat night there.

In Florida? Yeah. Oh, they'll start caring when the playoffs happen. They'll start coming up. It's always, there's a sell out tonight. There's certain markets. 10% blue. A challenge.

She's still out tonight. Right? Until it gets right. Yeah, but then they're the one of the cop. It would be nice to see them filled up there. To Sam's point, if they're not getting butts in the seats after two straight cops, it's not great. It's Florida, guys. Well, then, that's Sam's problem.

That's my point. They do not care. They're not moving, Sam. The 10 people on Reddit will be like, we care. And it's like, oh, I'm sorry, like the 10 people who actually care. As a Lee fan, you have over them. It drives me crazy. That you could still get run over by a bus time and time again.

but you you pay you still pay i can't well i don't pay i don't go to games so you pay i can't afford to pay yeah i watch every game every night pay not financially i'm talking about other ways you pay yeah i pay a lot all right give me a score uh four two leaves yeah i think we's win tonight unfortunately three one yeah sure you know i'll take a four two win i can see that the test now for me is the depth of the the leif's last game they they got secondary scoring they get team b They're all, okay. Well, it doesn't get to just go away, right? Like, you don't get to just like.

They've also had a few days in Florida. Listen, they also got... We'll see what the sunburn situations look like. They also got five goals on 15 shots. It just doesn't happen. Right, but you get the good vibes from that. You know, guys get some confidence. For sure.

I can't help but think of Philcastle every time they're in Florida. And they just, like, put them on the screen in the bench. It's just red. Like, Sunburton is. Clearly, no lotion, golfing, just like, I do worry about a couple days off of Florida. I do. After a big win. It brings them together.

Rest on their laurels a little bit, you know? That's bonding, Sammy. That's all that's called. Bonding. It can be a healthy thing for sure. No, but the Panthers are a fascinating team in that I do wonder about age-related decline. Like, two years ago, Verheaggie has 72 points. Last year, 53 points in the same amount of games.

and this year he's quite a bit down again. Like, I wondered if some of these guys are going to fall off. Is Reinhardt going to start to tick down? I don't know. How long can Brad Marchand be the world's best player here? Like, I just, I think some of their decline, my point is, is legitimate. But Brovsky, two years, getting older. They're an old team.

Yeah. But they're not as old as the Leif's. Are they, is the Leif's the third oldest team in the league? You probably know, I don't know. They're up there. Yeah, they look like it. You got your little app. there a little app i think a little app you can type in for me n hl averages age at the least

we got to go okay let's go all right steve alacette up when we go national it's tuesday ryan valley florida's older