Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Berube's Slumping System

Episode Date: March 11, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' late-night 4-3 shootout win over the Utah Hockey Club on Monday night. They discuss the Leafs' recent lack of commanding wins, questionable officiating, Simon Benoit's fight, defensive struggles with Chris Tanev out of the lineup, Calle Jarnkrok's fit in the top six and much more. Later, Leafs radio colour analyst Jim Ralph (31:30) weighs in on where the team stands after the deadline, their ceiling this season, and why Craig Berube's system has become less effective lately.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.

Welcome on in. Sportsnet Plus, Nick Kipriels, Justin Barnes, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo, and Jake the Snake Schultz. I just said prior to going on air, boys, did a 10 o'clock game with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Utah Hockey Club. You're going to have to carry me in the next two hours, because this old guy is tired. Hey, you know what you didn't need? A three hour and 10 minute match. It was done at 1 10 10 o'clock puck drop.

But it was like watching a Jays game where you're like, it's only the sixth inning. What was the 40 minute inning? Was that before the bat flip? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That felt like that whole game was the 40 minute inning? Was that before the bat flip? Yeah. Yeah. That felt like that whole game was the bat flip inning. Wow. And what looked like and don't want to quote you, but you thought this was going to be a game and you were looking good.

I got to be honest with you. You were looking good with your pre-pre game announcement to myself, Elliot, David Amber, that it was going to be one of those comfortable games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I don't know what, did you throw the score? I did. I can tell you the phrase. I can tell you the phrase and the number. The phrase was they're going to put the boots to them and

the score was 5-1. 5-1. Yeah, 3-0. Looking really good. Looking great. Feeling three nothing looking really good looking great feeling awesome You know who else is feeling awesome beliefs. They're like this is a five one walk This who gets the next points boys. Yeah, and then everyone stopped playing defense we we just came to the conclusion that it was just one of those games were

just We just came to the conclusion that it was just one of those games where just boys get on the bus, get on the plane as fast as you can and just let's go home. Yeah. I mean, I don't know how often you guys did video when you played. Now typically I think they do it every game. Maybe twice a year they're like, we're not even gonna that would didn't even happen. You know, we got the points and nothing good happened no one did anything but there's a lot of that happening in the last four weeks a lot of don't look at it just take the two

points and move on yeah that's that's what happened last night and how do we feel about that as a long-term strategy and plan for the Maplers here? A little concerning that there seems to be, and let's just say guys, there's a lot of games. They don't really outplay anyone right now. When's the last time they outplayed somebody? When's the last time you go, you look at the possession time or expected goals or the score and go, God, they just rolled them. They don't really roll anyone. Yeah, if they were in a department store

We'd hear a clean up in aisle five. There's some clean up to yes now to be clear It's the same players who have shown us in the past they can roll guys It's a very good decor missing Chris can ev that hasn't looked very good There's a lot of reasons to believe they can be better than they've looked, but they have looked less than the sum of what we believe their parts are. Like usual, our producer Sammy McKee does an amazing job collecting Kipper's Clippers, which by the way, a real Kipper & Bourne record was set earlier this week.

You mean yesterday? Yes. Two seg, baby! Not one Kipper Clipper in the hour. And we had seven or eight to play. Can I just quickly go back to yesterday? We don't need to rehash anything because we're in a good place.

But I will say, the amount of messages I got from people and the interaction and what we were talking about, it feels like it was a very good topic because there's the equal amount of people that think we're both idiots. So that's the perfect sports radio topic and I really enjoyed that yesterday and it seems that other people did too.

So. I think what we try to do is see different angles, different sides, when it's all said and done, the viewer, the listener, they can decide how they feel. But I think our job is just to present different things that they may not think about or they haven't considered yet. And there's no right and wrong in all of this. When it comes to Mitch Marner's, just wherever you feel, you are on looking at something objectively. Yeah, I was saying to Dan Tavares for our show just talking about yesterday and I said,

I think there's three or four shows over four years together where you go to break and you go, everyone good? We're all cool? And yesterday there was a no brainbrainer everyone cool good. Yeah fully entertaining stuff. So I enjoyed it. It's fun. I loved it. Okay, so Last night, let's go to Craig Berube for a Kippers Clipper on his overview Like again usual Sammy you collect these things. We don't listen to them. I have no idea Sam you collect these things we don't listen to them. I have no idea Before we go to Craig Ruby on his overview any guesses on oh, that's fun Any guesses on what you said you can't play this we used to listen to the audio

But then trying to track down kipper for two minutes pregame pre show Okay, I think he said, you know, we found a way. Oh, I don't want to hear it. Yeah. I think I'm gonna cancel this clip, Ed. If it's a found a way. I'd like him to say no good. Lucky we got the two points. We gotta clean this thing up. That's what I'm hoping to hear. Important things, the end of the day we got the points. Okay, let's have a listen. Well, you know, we got off to a great start.

Our first period was really good. Made a couple mistakes in the second and then pedaling trouble a little bit. I don't like the calls to be honest with you. Put us down five on three from a pushing match in front of an ad, but it is what it is. And right now we're fighting through some adversity and guys came through in the third, did a good job,

end up winning the shootout. Closer to what I said than what you said, right? Yes. Get some good things. I thought it stood a chance for me to like it when he started off with He starts off all his overviews like that where he's about to be like, you know We suck but then he like catches himself and then guards. He's been doing that a lot recently with these over. Yeah, I I Can appreciate the deflection it crummy called the the crummy calls he's not wrong we know that but that's the least of your worries right now or your good

sir as well was true this is the third time in four games they've blown a multi-goal lead but they're getting out to a multi goal Okay, just something but The bigger picture is why are we blowing leads? Why can't we shut teams down? Why can't we complete? 60 minutes of hockey well part of it last night to me was the on the defense I thought the defense could break the puck out, couldn't make a pass, guys getting in behind him. But the pairs got shuffled after Benoit Superman punched a guy and had to relocate his thumb. Do we want to talk about that or should we talk about hockey first? No, that's fine. Let's we can get into that.

I thought the D were on the hook, but yeah, let's focus on that first. Well, just okay. And one of the conversations we had on the desk, I don even remember if it was on air or off because it was 10 o'clock right my bedtime Yeah loopy little but it was was it necessary You're up three nothing and did this have anything to do with taking away the focus and the energy and did that play a part? and I said, no. Yeah, I'm not even sure. That was on air.

How did you feel? I'm with you that like, like if he felt cause to fight Kesselring, like he didn't like a run he took at McMahon, felt some reason to defend a teammate, it's game 60, you're up three. Momentum aside, you're supposed to be good enough to shut down the opposition, you're supposed to be good enough to shut down the opposition.

You're allowed to fight that guy. Like this is not, you know, I didn't have a huge problem with it. So I think you said something similar to that. Yeah, for sure. That shouldn't derail focus. It shouldn't derail energy. It shouldn't derail your ability to maintain

at least what you've accomplished up until this point. Yeah, it wasn't like Kesselring beat the brakes off him and Utah was fired up and the crowd all, you know. I did, I mean, I loved it and I don't really have any, I'm on your side, but to play devil's advocate to it, that building was rocking. Like when they really started,

and it was, the Leafs had taken them out of the game. Ben Wall had just scored the most classic butcher defense goal ever, where it's just like a flutter puck that maybe hits somebody. That they gave to Lorenz. But then flipped it. Anyways, it's the classic horrible goal

that a non-goal scoring defenseman scores. And then you're on the faceoff. Like that clearly woke up the building. That clearly, like Kesterling's got blood coming out of his ear, and he's like, going like this to his bench. That clearly woke them up a bit. And basically from that point on,

they ran the Leafs for a solid 10, 15 minutes of that game. So, I will hear the argument that it was unnecessary, but at the same time, you should be good enough to not let them score three goals in however many minutes. Let's get Benoit's thoughts on the Superman punch clip one. I think it's just on the moment I felt I had an opening there and I just took it. Have you ever landed one of those before? Yeah, I did it last year against I think Gebrentzen.

He's a bit taller though, it was harder. I saw an opening, I couldn't go left. I couldn't go right. And I thought, what about vertical? What about up? Slam dunk. So the pitcher is in all time when you're retired photo to hang in your house. I watched all I watched all the press conference every morning and I watched Benoit and I gotta tell you, he'd be my best friend on the team. I'm guaranteed. Yeah,'s just got that aura about him where he's,

he's just a hilarious guy. French guy just really doesn't care about anything other than winning, hitting guys, like a true heart and soul kinda guy. I love him. Yeah, and he played hard last night. But he's up and down. The good news for him was he was the Leafs' best defenseman.

The bad news for the team was the Leafs best defenseman the bad news for the team Was he was their best defenseman? Absolutely and a good news for the Leafs Pontus Holmberg might have been their best forward bad news for the Leafs Pontus Holmberg might have been their best for okay for brick. We need the thoughts of the Superman punch From one of the most penalized players in NHL history, head coach Craig Berube. What was the most painful thing you've seen in your career? Something I never did. I'm taking notes. I haven't seen that. I don't know if I've ever seen that.

Maybe years ago at some point somebody did it, but we actually got a great picture of it in the room, it was pretty cool. What's funny is Craig Borubey came through the front door. You know? He's not doing a Superman punch. Yeah, he is. Yeah. I'm going there.

I mean, Craig Borubey had, you know, in the HL had years of 325 penalty minutes. He may not have seen the Superman punch, but he's seen some stuff. Yeah, oh God. Just, I went on record last night saying that I believe that those, that move, that jump, I don't like it, especially with what we now know

about cuts and skate blades and Achilles tendons or you know tendons in general being cut like it's a great fantastic picture but it's not it's not too smart of us to be leaping. Oh, look at that photo. There's a GSP tweeting about it. Oh, GSP! It's not the smartest thing in the world to be jumping with razor blades on your feet. I got to tell you what's a better photo Bobby or flying through the air. Yeah. That's one of the greatest hockey pictures. I'm of two minds of it. And one is the entertained hockey fan in me who's like, Oh, don't ruin this. You know, this is fun. Let them do it

And then there's being dad right now obvious truth is yeah, of course You can't do that like if he comes down on the top of his you know what I mean? Ah, you can't be jumping at a guy It was an accident So coming at me my feet in the air I hate that you're so right about I know cuz I totally want to be like, oh, can you not an accident. You're coming at me by feet in the air. I hate that you're so right about this. I know, because I totally want to be like, oh, can you not?

But it's like, yeah. Not a dad moment of sorry. You can't do that. I couldn't believe that. Parents ruin everything. I couldn't believe my spinning heel kick was ruled illegal. Okay, back to the game. Where do you want to go?

OEL was really bad. You know, they ended up getting pairs a little miss mixed and matched. OEL has a Karkoni get behind them. Yeah. You know and then another play he had someone else get behind him and then Riley had a guy kind of standing beside him who he didn't really take

and I just thought they weren't hard enough on Ottawa's forwards. I'm sorry Utah's forwards. Speed was an issue. When Utah drove the intensity and the speed up, I think it magnified the things that you're talking about. Any concern about their team's speed? Cause Utah looked faster than them.

Yeah. Especially on the back end. That I found them flat footed. I found them not moving their feet to make a first pass. And I don't know what the final count was on turnovers, but I had, I think, as many as eight going into the third period. Way more than that.

I don't like how they count that. Well, no, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I had 15. I had about, yeah. I had about 15. Saturday, they may have had one of the worst games of the season for lack of offensive zone time. And the giveaways were atrocious Saturday night as well. The turnovers were bad.

They spent a lot of time in their own zone. And I think it's an issue here that they... I got a kick now out of, oh, the great shot blocker, right? Like they've all got great shot blockers. All that tells me is that you're... The puck. The puck's in the wrong end.

Yeah, you know who has zero shot blocks? The guy who's in the offensive zone all the time. Yeah, the guy with the in the offensive zone all the time Got the same shin pads for the last 10 years You're spending too much time defending. Yeah, that's been their biggest problem Probably for a month now. Well, I'll tell you this Benoit and Myers can't be a pair They can't break the puck out say what you will about Benoit last night. He's physical he hit He's got lots of good things. They cannot break the puck out. Say what you will about Benoit last night. He was physical, he hit, he did lots of good things. They cannot break the puck out.

They get it against the wall. They bang it off the glass, gets out in the neutral zone, back they come. So you need Tanev to make this all work, which is terrifying when you need one player this much, but that's such as life of the Leafs. And I think in a salary cap area, you need to be healthy. So the pairs really struggle

as soon as you're missing one of those guys. Yeah, and you gotta start seeing signs of this blue line getting better quickly here. We're not even sure what's going on with Tanov. Yeah, it's been murky. It's been murky. And what really should have been in everybody's eyes, start Saturday night against Colorado,

now is questionable for Thursday against Florida. And it's not going, what was the quote from Barube? It's not going as well as he had hoped. Like you're now under 20 games of the season, and your best and most reliable defenseman right now has a questionable injury. It's not a good sign for a team that's thinking it's gonna win the division

and go deep in the playoffs right now. No, but I mean, unless you think there's some threat he's not available in the playoffs or has... We had the clip of the update from... I think it's from yesterday that Rube said on Tani if we can play that. Yes. Awesome. Thanks. Yeah, Tani, you know, he's battling through this again like, you know, he's going through practice. He's not where he wants to be and, you know, we've got to be careful with this situation You know, it's unfortunate because we do miss him

He's a big part of our team But at the same time we want to do what's best for the player and the players got to do what's best for himself Yeah that murky I didn't like that at all exactly and that JB if we're talking about middle of november middle of december, no problem at all. Yeah, we're talking now middle of march and We're Five weeks out of the first round here

What's going on? Yeah, this is a frustration all year with the injury stuff. But if you remember correctly, the day after this happened, we got some good news on this. We're surprisingly bad as we thought, as bad as we thought. I'm eerily similar to what they said about Anthony Stoller's when he had pebbles in his knee. So forgive me if I'm a little skeptical that it's okay. Recently had a leak in my house

and they like opened up the wall. They're like, yeah, it's just a little hole or whatever and then they get in the walls, you know, and it's like, oh. Oh. Yeah. That's not okay. You know.

I don't know why that came to mind here with Tana and Stoller's but. We've had day to day the captain, then he flew to Germany. And I haven't been exactly clear on what's going on here boys. Yeah, so again, I don't envision a world right now of Any playoff success without Tana? No, no, absolutely If you were to power rank the most important leafs for playoff success

Goalie, you know, but there's two goalies at least. Matthews, Marner, Pick Your Poison, whatever. TANF. TANF. Easy. Yeah. So, you know, they're missing them. So, I mean, they're off today, obviously traveling back. They'll probably be back on the ice tomorrow, get another update from Borubi, I would imagine. But that was from yesterday, I think, on their off day. So so or so the practice yesterday anyways. Yeah, so at least find themselves Two points behind the Florida Panthers for the division lead same amount of games played

Big game on Thursday needless to say it's a division is getting very tight is is Is this the one where the team measuring stick games, we've had this conversation many times, there's only a few teams that can provide that out of 32, but the Leafs have gone through Vegas now, Colorado, and now Florida is coming up here like they got a nail one with the a-game that brings everybody back Well, let me ask you if Kelly Yarncroc Move the needle for you. Do you feel any better that he can help them a little bit more of a fan than I have been in previous years, but he's not he's not a

You're not a game breaker. He's not a game changer, he's just one of those guys that can curve foot it up a little bit. I forgot about the curve foot comparison. Do you want to call him yarn foot? No, he's just good enough that the coach is like, he could go in the top six, but then once he gets there, nothing kinda happens. He's this, he's an honest player. Sure.

Works hard, skates well. Skates fast. If it comes in his wheelhouse, he can shoot it. Yeah, he did last night. But he's not going to create his own shot. He's not going to intimidate anyone. Might as well tell me he enjoys fishing in the off season. I bet he does.

Like it's just not enough right now. Yeah. Unfortunately, to move the needle. Let's have a let's have a thought on on a young croc from a Craig Barube clip six. Yeah, no, he had a good game. I thought, you know, I know he scored a goal in the power play. But overall, he did a lot of good things. I thought that really worked and skated You know had a couple good chances five on five that line was pretty good for me tonight But he was solid all around in my opinion

Okay Craig's a positive guy. He's a Mr. Positive. He's saying the right things. He I get it. I get it one multiple yarn croc This is about him going to the top Okay, just a little bit of chemistry with him and Willie. I think you know and I like his defensive mindset on that line That's we switch it up. I know I had Bobby there yesterday, but I wanted to go back to it I I knew they were gonna be matched up against one of their top two lines tonight that they're and they're they're talented players over there so I wanted a guy that has some real good defensive awareness and he did a good job is Bobby bad defensively I don't think he's known for being a rock right so listen so young crooks a guy who can be really good

as long as the other two guys are really good. He's a lot better when the other two guys are really good because he can play consistently in a smart, methodical game, responsible, both ends of the ice. But if he doesn't have line mates going he can get beat he can get lost like the rest of us yeah it's tough we did some time last night like kind of putting together lines with the perfect playoff lines or whatever it gets really hard you know unless you have patch already a

healthy patch already changes things because you have another guy who can be physical, can shoot it in, but you don't know if you have him. So then one of on the left wing with Tavares and Nylander is going to be McMahon or Yarncroc like that. And if it's McMahon, then your third line is like Lawton, Yarncroc, Domi. You know, it's not a dangerous one. Like I like the idea of having McMahon on third line so someone else could get you one. He can shoot it in the net.

Max gave him a great pass. Yeah, Max played well last time. Like the thought that that unit came out about a minute after a power play from the big boys and they were able to put it in the net. I mean, you got to start somewhere, but I thought it was a good confidence booster for the guys involved in that goal Sure for sure it all comes together because Joseph wall plays pretty well like his game last night

You don't even I think it was a I think it was another example of somehow the goalies finding a way to earn you points Yeah And also didn't hurt that they ripped two off the underside of the crossbar that stayed out of the net somehow. That helped. Are you at all concerned about the goaltending? No, I thought he played well enough to help them secure a win. And in particular, in overtime, two and a half minute shift for Bill.

Oh my God. I know. Oh my God. You know, Wohl finally caught one and let him off the ice a little bit. I can't be critical enough of the way they changed in overtime. Like you know, there was a time when Matthews had the puck 40 seconds into a shift and it's like do what Utah did, change and let yourself get fresh guys out, trap their tired guys. Now I'm going to kind of try to extend this.

Willie's dog tired. Minute 10 in. He's going to back check check nobody just go to the bench Let the fresh legs come on there was a look of Willie out there Yeah, he stopped like he was the Statue of Liberty He literally like controller disengaged was like I'm just gonna see if I he actually had said somewhere along the way He was done. He was just but but he said he's out there so long He started to think he could stay out there like he started to feel fresh again. Well,

he didn't move for so long. Yeah, of course. You sat there two and a half minutes one and a half going like this. I feel pretty good again. I don't think I've ever seen a guy just stop stop. No doubt in my mind. Like had he a breakaway popped free at the end of that he'd have been okay. And that was it. You knew what was going in his mind. On the chance you got a rebound, Joe, kick it out the middle and I'm gone. Outside of that, you're on your own.

Yeah. I mean, they must've changed three times to the least. You know, it is funny, but you have to change well in overtime. It's crucial. Great shootout winners, off-speed pitch from Matthews. Yeah, okay, speaking of, going into the third period, I said between Marner and Matthews, not very good. Matthews, I'm not even sure, was credited with a shot on goal after 40 minutes. If he did, it was one. So where are we?

Like, they found a way to contribute, we know that. I thought Matthews came alive. Did you catch the hit, Sammy, on Sergeyev? I did, but I love our Sportsnet broadcast, but they didn't show it again. I was dying for a different replay of it because he came in and he hammered him He may have hit him as hard as I've ever seen. Yes him hit a guy. Yeah He hates her good Jeff. That's old hate. Well, please play him every night

I agree. He's circuit chip on the ice again Please play him every night so we can see this where you I thought you came You came alive when you hit Sergei chev Yeah, but this point is out. Is that what it's gonna take here I don't know, you know, I've said this a million times about these guys Isn't it fascinating that they never seem to get angry like kids? I was saying Sam if you and I played checkers a hundred times once or twice we'd get mad at each other about something How do you never get mad? So it was nice to see Matthews get mad Mike Lute punched me on

a flight because I over pegged in a crib even last night Nylander and was it Gunther or someone had like a little thing and it was like oh did Willie justther or someone had like a little thing and it was like, oh, did Willie just get mad? Was he like a little upset there for a sec? It's crazy. It never happens in the sport of hockey. It's missing.

It's missing. It is missing. And so it was nice to see a bit of it. From more of four guys for the big boys. But he's, we know how big and strong Austin is he can do that Yeah, it's he chooses not to most often right But that's if you look up and down the Leafs lineup big hockey team big like, you know They're just not that mean that their decor OEL is very tall Riley 61220. You go through it. They're they're big

They're just not overly mean. Carlo's another one now, not overly mean. Meyers, he did fight the one day, but he's taking it really nasty. Lorenz, by the way, giant, nicest guy in the world. Lady being candidate. You know when a good time for another Austin hit like that would be? I'm gonna guess Florida. Thursday night? You know where he's not gonna throw that hit against Florida Florida Sam Bennett keep your head up hammer him. That would be earth-shaking

Yeah If if there's ever a time to really turn around You know what's been going on lately? It's Thursday night. You're gonna have to Get in those battles. You're going gonna have to get in those battles. You're going to have to engage in them, face them. The old expression, the only way out is through. You're not gonna cute your way around them. You're gonna have to play them.

Very well said, my friend, very well said. Quickly before we go to break, I gotta tell you boys, I'm trying desperately to notice Lawton right now. Yes. Shaky two game start. Yeah, and I said this I think on the show I may have said like I watched him in Florida to good player. He's very sorry Philly. He's a good player. He's Looking forward a little bit here trying to find something the only thing that is kind of surfaced in the last little while is that he and I think it's been noted by other people in the media too, that he

is, he's very critical of himself, right? To the point where I don't know yet, is he, is he one of those guys that's a little too hard on himself that, that would tighten up a little bit more or can he start relaxing? But I will say I like that he is someone who will get involved in scrums after the whistle. It's like a leaf guy who's willing to go into them rather than get away from them. Bad penalty.

Stupid. Stupid penalty. But trying to ingratiate. Trying too hard. Yeah, right? I said in the broadcast, it's a terrible analogy, but like the Clarkson jumping off the bench thing, where it's just like a guy who's from Toronto,

who wants to make an impact, looking to find a way, and it's like, God, it'll come for you. You'll be, it'll come. Carlo? I mean, outside of the one goal against where Devaro's having a miscommunication, fine. Not good or bad for me. Nah, not horrible, not horrible not horrible

Then he's a minute muncher and again the the better the team can play collectively back there the better He's gonna look for me. Yeah, he's at his best when you're not really thinking about him Right, like I just like it the the times where I'm not I mean you're watching a new guy and I found myself even throughout Some of the games I'm like, oh, I'm not noticing him a ton I think that's probably his thing his thing. Yeah, which is like you trade Frazier Mitten in a first-round pick you wouldn't mind a snap breakout pass once in a while, but it's not necessarily His forte anyways, nope. Okay, we'll take a quick break. Let's do it and when we return a good friend of the show Jim Ralph voice of Toronto Maple Leaf, will join us after the break.

You're watching and listening to Real Kipper and Boran. The best Blue Jayce show out there, period. Blair and Barker, be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. All right, it's been a while. Since we've had Toronto Maple Leaf Radio Color Analyst, Jim Ralph, on the show.

Are you avoiding us, Ralphie? He's on. I was on last week. Oh. Oh. Do you know I had a late game last night? Yeah, but he's younger than me. I hope.

I think all that's happening here is I'm also stupid today, that's it. How are ya? Good, boys, good. All right, so So many places we can go with you Ralphie Before we before we start on what we saw last night or even Against Colorado what we can expect against, Florida Just give us your overall thoughts on on what the Leafs did at the trade deadline and where you see this team after the moves.

Well, I still think we're going to have to wait a couple. I think it's the same with all teams, Skipper and Borny, that you're going to have to give it a couple of weeks before you start to see how guys settle in and what the direction is going. I think obviously the Leafs have to get back to the way they played during that stretch, you know, early on under Craig Brubay where they were winning 3-1 and 4-2 games. They were handling Leeds well and, you know, they've gotten away from it and you've really got to be careful.

I know in saying this, you can't tell this to people in LA or Vancouver or, you know, the Calgary I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, you know, the last few games, whether it's fatigue or whatever you want to call it, they've had to survive it more than anything. So it wasn't perfect. It certainly wasn't pretty. But hopefully there's going to be a reset now that things settle back in and you get Brandon Carlo and Scott Wadden used to the new surroundings. They get back to what Craig Brubay was preaching earlier. I mean look at Florida's given up what one goal in their last four games

Their their playoff ready and the Leafs have got to find a year to get there Yeah, there's no doubt about that It feels like Florida like if you're doing tiers of teams that have the likely chance to win the Stanley Cup It feels like Florida's deadline kind of pulled them out of it. Do you have the Leafs, like we've been saying on the show here today, they haven't really taken over any games. They don't really dominate anyone. So where do you have them on the tiers of teams who have a legitimate chance?

How good are the Leafs? Do they have a good chance to win the Cup here? I mean, obviously, I think there's a chance she gets hot at the right moment. Yeah. And you know, Chris Tanev's a big part of that as well. And you know, he's not a guy that plays 30 minutes a game like Kale McCarr, but he's a guy that's important whether it's on the penalty kill or just having them team with Jake McCabe, I think is a huge part.

So he's probably an underrated loss I think you know during this stretch. But I mean he's a guy that you saw for the start of the season that you think is built for the postseason. You know a guy that is a battler, a lawyer that is going to do everything he can and I think his play is contagious as well. When he's physical, everybody seems to be a little more physical. So, you know, as far as rating their chances, you know, even compared to previous years, I think you look at the roster and they're better. I think you look at certain stretches that they've had this year. They're better, but I can certainly see where, you know, confidence has been

shaken a little bit when you can't hold on to two goal leads against Pittsburgh or San Jose or even Colorado that you've had trouble with that. So I think that's a concern right now is getting back to earlier in the year when people probably had them a lot higher as potential Yeah, and we did, Ralphie, for sure. The style of play, the contributions, it really had people excited that this has a different feel of style of play

that is more conducive to playoff hockey and success. So what did you see back then that you're not seeing now? Giving up way more off the rush, you know, and I think what a couple of the goals last night against Utah off the rush, you know, Colorado did the same thing to them. That gap between forward and defense

is a little too massive. I mean, you see it on a regular basis now, defensemen looking up ice, and the three forwards have blown the zone. And they're either icing the puck or turning the puck over, and, you know, they're getting burned by it. And, you know, I know that's sort of a catchphrase that's become pretty common in hockey,

but this gap control, I think, has been huge for them. And that's, you know, instead of everybody coming out together and nobody leaving the zone early, they're getting stretched out on both sides of offense and defense. And I think that was, you know, something that Craig Brubay brought in right away where he said, we've got to control that, we've got to be tough to play against and not give up the middle of the ice.

So I think they can get back to that. But I just think that they've slowly slipped. And if this part of the season is their downside, we've still got to admit the record's pretty good while they're going through that. Yeah, no, no, it absolutely is. You know, six, three and one in their last 10. You know, the one thing that kind of, I think, should give fans some comfort is that Craig Berubi does not seem remotely panicked by this team.

And he has seen a team in St. Louis that was not the best team of the NHL that year. He's seen them go on, get hot, win a Stanley Cup. Do you think that his presence, his style of play should make people a little more comfortable about the fact that they're not this high-flying, possession, chance-generating team that they've been in the past. Yeah, and I know we've talked about this before when you look at when Paul Maurice went into Florida. Remember the year before they won the President's trophy, they were the highest scoring team in the NHL and I think were out in the second round. And the next year, they struggled to adapt to the way Paul Maurice wanted them to play.

They were lucky to get into the playoffs because Pittsburgh lost to Chicago in the last day and then go to the Stanley Cup Finals. And then the next year, they win the whole thing. So absolutely, I think that's attainable. And it's part of the learning curve. But yeah, you've got to be able to click into that at the right moment. And I'm not saying, you know, you're probably going to get Florida or Tampa in the first round anyway, you know, so that's, that's not something you can build up to when you're

in the playoffs. You've got to be ready once you get there. And it's, it would even, I don't know about you guys, it would scare me if you played Columbus in the first round. You know, the way they've played. So you know, that's unfortunately you you don't get a chance to get better in the playoffs. You've got to, you know, arrive battle ready. You're listening to Jim Ralph, Toronto Maple Leaf Radio Color Analyst far as the goal-tending is concerned Ralphie, we know it's been at an extraordinary level and What have you seen in the last few games out of

Joseph wall and stole ours any concern at all there Yeah, I would say there's a dip but I also think we you know we're talking about giving up chances off the rush and everything. Earlier in the year, you really asked two or three big saves at key moments. And now that's probably gone to six or seven in the course of a game. Even the game that came back and won in Boston, you win five for an overtime and Anthony Stoller has probably made five or six great saves

in that to keep them in at first and then save them in overtime. So the onus on the goaltending has become more apparent in the last few weeks. And their numbers have suffered because of it. And Wal had maybe one of his worst performances as a leaf in the game against Vegas and they weren't able to bail him out. They've been human, but you know, they have always said that, you know, you look at Sergey Bobrovsky in Florida, they talk about how he's reinvented his career and how he struggled for a stretch and he's, well, it's because every night they're giving them a chance

to be great by only asking three or four great saves from them. I remember Ken Dryden's book, he talked about, and I don't think it's as prevalent now, but he talked about good, good team goalies and good, bad team goalies. And he said, good, good team goalies have to make three or four saves a game that are key, where good, bad team goalies might make seven or eight,

but still give up four goals. And you can put a bad team goalie on a good team, and he's still giving up three or four goals because of his ability. So I just think from a Leaf standpoint, give them a chance to be better as far as taking away the odd man rushes and the slot changes. I got the tying goal against Colorado. Two defensemen get caught behind the goal line and the guys wide open in front to

tie the game. Those weren't happening on a regular basis before the last couple weeks. So if this plan works, you know, if this Maple Leafs team has success, that means we're gonna get success from Matthew Smarner, Tavarez, Nylander, you know, which has obviously not always happened. The one concern right now is Austin Matthews doesn't quite look like himself, like he's on pace for, you know, under 40 goals this season, you know, even if you take it to an 82 game pro rated pace, do you see anything that concerns you that gives you hope? What are your thoughts on where

his games at? Yeah, I mean, I think it's safe to say that the dominant Austin Matthews we haven't seen a lot of this year where where he would take over the offensive zone. You know, he would shield the puck and he'd make plays. The quick release has been there, but maybe not as accurate or overpowered as before. And it's, you know, whether it's health related or whatever the case may be. And I don't know if it's a concern yet,

because I think we saw a time in the four nations, especially the final game. They're going, boy, that's the guy, you know, those were some of the moments that he had. So I don't, I almost think it's a blessing that we're not talking about them scoring 70 goals this year, that it's more team oriented. And I know we brought up Steve Iserman in the nineties, Scottie Bowman comes in the years and you know, they won back to back cups. Iserman was gold totals were in the twenties, you know, not the fifties and sixties. So, um,

I'm not saying it's the style of play or anything else. I still think that, uh, for them to have any success, he's got to be a key part of that. But, uh, it's,. But I guess I have more of a wait and see attitude that if his moments come in the postseason, because I was a little sick and tired of talking about the chase for 70 goals when the final chapter of the story was the same. Right. Ralphie, gotta ask you before we let you go, just in terms of the season with Mitch Marner, it was almost as if everybody checked the whole scenario

at the beginning of the season to, let's just see what happens in the playoffs. And then this past weekend, everything like completely blew up here and escalated, you know, with the report that he turned down a trade to Carolina. Are you surprised at where it got so quickly this past weekend? Not really, but I'm going to go out and say the opposite of a lot of people have said, I think this is an incredible opportunity for both. You know, if Mitch Miner, you know, regardless of what his number is, you go to the Stanley Cup finals and win the Conn's Knights trophy, I think everybody wins, whether you write

your ticket in Toronto or somewhere else. I mean, I think this is fantastic. And if he wants to go into the playoffs and say, and I'm going to show you, you know, the Leafs are going to benefit from it. And you know, when you've looked at whether it's Rancho, then moving from Colorado, Stemco is moving from Tampa, Margeso moving, you know, a year removed from the Clownsmaith Trophy from Vegas. You know, those things happen where organizations have to

say if we're not on the track to win, we're going to have to do something. And I'm not saying that it would be easy to lose somebody for nothing as Vegas did with Marcos though, but Vegas is still a pretty important team in the league and a pretty good contender. So I think this is, to me, this scenario is actually perfect. That you've got a guy that wants to prove himself and prove his worth and you get to hopefully it's not the last opportunity but you got a great one coming up to do it and the Leafs and all the Leafs fans could benefit from it. Really interesting point. and all of these fans could benefit from it. Really interesting point. One last thought I have that I have to ask you

after your brilliant analysis, are you a bad analyst on a good show or are you a good analyst on a bad show right now? Well, considering the fact you couldn't remember that it was on last week, I'm gonna say I'm... Now hold on, I want to clarify something. Was Kip maybe not on? No, you weren't on. It was with Gordo. That's even worse.

That's even worse. Because I was like, damn, I don't remember. Ralphie, always a pleasure, my friend. Now you didn't give me the bad, bad analyst on a bad show-off. Thanks, Ralphie. Jerry Ralph, everybody. Radio Color Analyst. So we talked last night on the telecast. I think everybody's in agreement that I could just win, right?

And that's really Ralphie's point is that, even if he leaves with a conference final or a Stanley Cup final, I think people can feel good. And I said last night, there's always the chance that- If he leaves with a conference final or Stanley Cup? If Mitch still chooses to leave, even with a conference final or a Stanley Cup final, it will still leave people feeling a lot better. See, that's the opposite of what he just said.

No, what did he say? Well, that if- Everybody wins. If he has success, the Leafs have success. Yes, that's right. And then you've been saying if they have success, he'll probably stay. That's still my opinion, but if he doesn't,

people will still feel better. Oh, I don't know, boy. If he had- Sam, he told me just get the team to a conference final, he doesn't people will still feel better. Oh, I don't know boy If he told me just get get get the team to a conference final. He doesn't care Oh, is that what he said if they if they win the Stanley Cup and Mitch Marner wins the Conn Smythe and then he leaves I don't know if people are loving it. I think it's the if he has the most success He's ever had as a Maple Leaf and that leaves is the nightmare scenario With the one that helps makes you, the one that you can sleep at night is where the first round, everything happens,

the exact same as it's happened. Everyone just goes. Everyone just. Doesn't work for both parties. But like, he goes deep. This is against everything you've told me. You said, just get to a Stanley Cup final and I don't care. I wouldn't care, it would be.

Well, I mean. That's what you've told me all these years. I wouldn't care about anything if they went to the Stanley Cup final and they won I wouldn't care about anything including if he left if they won and he left would not care for one sec I think everybody would feel the same way, but if they didn't win and they went deep I would care Because then it would be the first time that he's had success in the playoffs and he's carried them as deep as they've ever been That's what i'm saying saying if they won the cup

So when's the company can go my they can all go they can fold the team I don't care. We're kind of close on the same page. But basically Ralphie said he goes deep everybody wins and That's and they're true and I do believe that if there's a month month and a half where this guy's a hero and that if there's a month, month and a half where this guy's a hero and fans are waving their their leaf flags on their lawns. Get the car flags out, baby. It's car flags season.

And the horns and all of that, then people will have short memories of what's gone on. Let me tell you my new thoughts on this. I got Men in Black Sticked an assist in overtime for Canada. Like it doesn't take much. It doesn't take much. I'm telling you.

So can't wait for game on Thursday. Can't wait for the game on Thursday. Big game. Storers for sure. Yeah, for sure. Former team. He had a shaky start the first game against them. We're getting into or in the playoff net season.

For sure. Three games against Florida, one against Tampa Bay in the next 18. Wow. Gonna be big. Some good hockey coming up here. Love it. All right, our thanks to Jim Rau for joining us

as we slide into the national edition of our program. Steve Valakett will join us. I'm sure we'll get into a little Stollers and Wall conversation. You're going to want to stick around for that. More of Real Kipper & Bourne when we return.