Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Climbing the Standings in California

Episode Date: March 31, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' weekend sweep in California over the L.A. Kings and Anaheim Ducks. They get into the top line's recent play, what's still left to learn ahead of the postseason, what the Leafs' playoff bottom six might look like, Brandon Carlo's fight, Matthew Knies's elite jump and much more. Later, they discuss John Tavares's recent form and how playoff results impact how the Leafs approach his free agency. 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.

Alright, let's get it going here on a Monday. Welcome into the Blair and Barker Show, Monday 31st. Why do I have these notes? Do you have the wrong notes? Oh my God. Oh boy. Okay. Is the back leg line coming up?

Can we get those guys to find another studio for their baseball show? Hold on. Do you have your line up? I do. Okay, okay, okay. But Jeff Blair didn't take his notes, he left them for me. He's bassed, eh? Big weekend split for the Jays? Yeah, I'll take it.

Season's not over yet. I'll take it. Careful with your baseball talk. Our fans and listeners, they can only take a little bit of that. I would say that it's just two wins and two losses and don't look at the box scores. I got to see Scherzer chuck it. That was cool. Oh, you got to see the first and last pictures of his J's career.

Maybe. There you go. J's talk. New segment. Really close to Jets talk. J's talk is a good segment. Wherever you're watching and listening, live on SportsF590, the fans, we're here to help you.

We're here to help you. We're here to help you. We're here to help you. We're here to help you. We're here to help you. We're here to help you. We're here to jet stock. He's talking to the good segue. Wherever you're watching and listening live on sports at five 90 the fans sports that three 60 sports net plus Nick Kiprio is Justin born Sammy McKee Derek Brandeo and Jake the snake Schultz with you for the next two hours where if we look at the standings, the Toronto Maple Leafs in a comfortable position atop the Atlantic division with just eight games to go. Three huge points up on Tampa Bay Lightning

and the Florida Panthers boys. It's there for the taking. It sure is. That's all you got for me is mmm. Sam doesn't ever like feeling openly good. That would be against his principles as a Leafs fan. I think this weekend sort of, not weekend but Thursday into Sunday was a pretty perfect microcosm of Leaf fandom in this era. I'm thrilled. Where you lose a really crappy you know, crappy game to the San Jose Sharps, you have to tie it late to even get a point. And then they have a pretty impressive back to back against the Kings who never lose at home and then they beat the Ducks who aren't, they don't suck as bad as they used to. It's a second half of back to back.

Yeah, they still kind of, they don't, they don't suck a little bit less. They still suck a bit. A bit. A bit. But they're, they're not as sucky as they once were. No, no, no. I would say they're they're not as sucky as they once were Better direction Had top picks they've got good players. They're on the cusp of

Breaking into not only being regular NHL players, but maybe of some of them Top players I could see them threatening playoffs next year hard to take them serious in those those orange Those outfits are hard to take on They're hard to take them serious so I Thought as we had mentioned because we did the show last last night against Anaheim But we did reflect enough on Saturday night versus LA. That was a big test guys Yeah coming off as Sammy mentioned a game where But we did reflect enough on Saturday night versus LA. That was a big test, guys. Coming off, as Sammy mentioned, a game where,

okay, what happened against San Jose? Left a lot of question marks going into the weekend. And four out of four points when it's all said and done. They got the job done. They did. And I don't know where you rank their best games of the season, but I thought that win over LA was in the conversation of their five, 10 best wins, probably five best wins.

Oh, top. I can argue it's the best. Yeah, you like that. I do. Yeah, top three for sure. They didn't give up much. And I can give you a strong argument under the circumstances of a horrific night in goal for Joseph wall and just a inability to to look Anything like a contender up until the last five minutes in San Jose to go into LA

Against a team with a top record at home. Yeah was a big win top record at home. You know, I think The numbers like them is the best defensive team in the league. So you weren't going to get much of a sniff at five on five, but I thought they still played with them. Their special teams was really good. They got saves when they needed it. There was a lot to like and feel encouraged about, I thought, yeah.

All right, we'll go to Craig Borobie on his thoughts Saturday night versus the LA Kings. They're special teams you know PK and power play got us a goal each that's a that's a difference in the game I thought it was pretty tight five on five you know both ways and PK did a good job got a shorty and our power play came through and we needed them to you know we always forecast towards the playoffs and we always talk about what the games look like and that one to me looks so much like a lot of those Bruins games they've played in the first round against them or the Lightning games where it's a 2-1 game it's a 3-2 game and just the lack of patience

they've had in years past that lead to mistakes and them trying to cheat a little bit You know, they didn't generate very much I don't think the first two periods of that game Like you said the Kings do a great job of locking it down But I thought they were really patient great defensively the shot clock was high but I didn't think it was a ton of quality chances for the Kings and For them to come out and led the way by the two stars Matthews and Marner who were quiet for a lot of that game Came out in the third and were both fabulous.

That's a playoff type game, playoff type win that you can kind of build on for me. The juice they get off their specialty teams now is something like, even if they don't necessarily score on the first power play, but if they generate energy, it seems to kind of transfer into five on five and for whatever reason, like they cannot get out of the gate

early enough five on five for me just yet. It may be coming and maybe the last night where you got three goals from three different lines might be a start for them. But Saturday night, like, I don't know, is it two four on threes? And they're like, they have multiple opportunities and they cashed in on it.

But I'm not holding my breath that they're gonna get those type of looks in the playoffs for me. So five on five, it's got improved still. Yeah, for sure. You know, back to the specialty teams first, I think Borubi deserves some credit here for sticking with the five forward power play long enough for it to find itself. You know, in the past, there's coaches who are like, we'll put it out there until it does a bad thing and then we'll go, okay, well we

don't embarrass ourselves, we'll pull it off the rink You know, he's stuck with it and I think mitch marner has grown increasingly comfortable in that spot And I think as he's gotten more comfortable He's gotten more comfortable moving off the blue line and trusting neilander to swing up and austin to swing up They just now it's like he's more involved. Yeah for me it engages everyone At times they don't get him the puck enough sometimes and then he can get lost but yeah, it seems like everybody seems to be getting looks and touches right now and Everybody's involved but that guy has to quarterback it back there Yeah, but even like he does it with his movement sometimes by you know

You call an exchange as a forward By moving towards someone saying, you know, I'm coming to your spot. You got to come to mine So I think he does a good job of that and yeah four on three five on three They're attacking they're threatening in and all of a sudden it feels like if Like you have to honor the shot and stop them and it's opening up seems So yes full marks for that but back to the five on five thing it is That is they're still not creating a ton They're still that out playing five on five, but they played a pretty good Kings team

So not a lot of teams are playing the Kings at five on five Still slow starts sometimes for for Austin and that line. Yeah, just that line in general. I don't think has been particularly good. And I think that's why they said the Matthews line. Yeah, I don't like I didn't love them against the Sharks. They got caved in pretty good against celebrating. I thought they were pretty quiet for most of the Kings game until the third period. They were good against the Ducks. They had a lot of great shifts. Maybe half with the back half that Kings game. It felt like yeah, but it was their game I think you'd if you we talked about this on Friday

We didn't talk about this on Friday, but something came out during our show where neither of them practiced After the kid after the the long game against the Sharks where they played a bunch of minutes and all this stuff I think it was talked about a lot and You know that that didn't I didn't love that. So you're on 25. Yeah, which one? They're both played over 25. I guess the shark. Yeah against the shark. Yes, so they both didn't go to practice the next day I understand now whatever but the optics of your captain and your second best player your first best player However, we want to look at it not going to practice a day after a loss of the one of the worst teams the league To me doesn't rub the so you of, if you're gonna have that treatment,

you gotta have to come out and kind of put your foot down, and to give them credit, they absolutely did it against the Kings, and they won on the game at the end, so. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I got no problem with that. For me, it's like, you're just trying to get everyone, we're done coaching through message sending and morals,

and we're just trying to be fresh. So what you're saying is we're really down to like The big four scoring or it's kind of over well, right? Well, what do you mean? What do you mean? I'm just saying that like the only got him a goal I said, oh and it's great but like will there be some some consistency with it? Well there I But will there be some consistency with it? Will there, I saw a power play the other night where they sucked all the two minutes up and Max is feeling it too. And I think to your point,

there's not gonna be many more lessons here. There's not gonna be more message sending. No one's getting benched if they make a bad play. It's roll the dice and hope the big boys show up and carry the offense and you get great goal tending and some of the guys can bounce one off their ass and occasionally come up with the same recipe, I think. I don't know that it's different on many other hockey teams,

if any other hockey teams. the only thing that I think Used to be the case for Toronto was that you didn't trust that you could put the third or fourth line on the ice and have win a shift or get a goal and Lorenz gets one for them the other night I feel like Berube trust his bottom six a bit more maybe not to score but trust putting them on the ice. So Maybe that's

the start of something where you feel like okay these guys aren't gonna win me shifts but if they just don't lose them we can rest up the big guys for a bit and we've got we've got some marquee games coming up for the Leafs including two more against Florida one against Tampa, Columbus will not be an easy task here on Saturday night against Columbus. Yeah, after Wednesday's big test. So there's plenty of meat on the bone here on how you're going to feel about this club. Still one left against Montreal, who's be fighting for their playoff lives.

Carolina on the second half of back to back on Masters Sunday at five o'clock. We're working. Did anybody look at a calendar? Like the schedule makers like pick up a calendar. Mass. Oh, my God. I was going to be on 16. I'm not sure I've ever wanted to watch anything other than that. Least game. Give me a break. We could do that panel naked and no

No one would know Do a master's panel. Yes, we could just we could just be like an alternate channel of the golf channel crazy and crazy, but this is what you're saying is true. They still have some good tests left, but But you know today is March 31st left but but you know today is March 31st the Leafs play between now and April 8th two hockey games so they have a stretch here where they come home they can sleep in their own bed both those games are at home this is like a little rest period for the Leafs hopefully gear up it does get busier to back-to-backs in the following week but you know they're gonna watch these other teams rack up points. It does seem like at Buffalo versus Detroit to end the season, we're gonna need points

there. The huge four points right there. No time to rest anybody? Well, that's kind of what I'm getting at is like, it's it feels like this thing is gonna be pinned down. In the past, we have been critical of, you know, they've been going for personal records or whatever at the end and not just resting guys.

They may go all out to get a team like Ottawa who do you want to go all out and be over exerted, you know to play a pretty good excited sense team. There's no good. There's no good option. I honestly I don't even want to Pay any energy towards where they think that they might match up best Yeah, the only thing that you could hope for is Florida and Tampa Bay may be beating the crap out of each other

Yeah, in the first round several high ankle sprains. Yeah, right. Really? Yep, and that's that's it in a nutshell so can we go just quickly go back to the power play? And I can't remember a flip in confidence in a power play that I've seen with these, the way they snap it around right now is so impressive and so direct. I'm just hoping and praying that they can keep, is it too early for them to be this hot?

It is, the only reason I'm saying no, it's not too early, is they have tanked around this time in years where they've sucked in the playoffs. Because it was February of one month, I think it was last year, where they had the 50% power play was the best in the history of the league, and then they never scored another one for two months. Next year, ideally, I'd like them to get hot at the start of April with this power play was the best in the history of the league and then they never scored another one for two months.

Next year ideally I'd like them to get hot at the start of April with this power play but I'm just really hoping that they can keep this momentum going in the first round because it's unbelievable. It's an actual threat for once. I think it's third in the league since January 1st and fifth overall now. I'm just weary of putting too much emphasis on power plays. I get it. They're... For sure. just weary of putting too much emphasis on power plays. I get it.

They're... For sure. You gotta play well five on five. They're just really hard to come by in a Stanley Cup playoff game. And the calls that we've seen, there's been some atrocious calls lately out of the Leaf game that we've watched.

Like I shake my head at some of the calls now Matthew nice for roughing. Oh my god last night that Anaheim game. I don't think we've like What are you watching? Who's coming in who who's the aggressor in that situation? And I comes get nice after clean hit nice nice get two minutes for being too strong Like it drove me the worst me the most mad about that, was the ref came from like out of screen and like points over the top, like he was on top of it, and he's like just one.

Looking at that and saying just one, it's just unacceptable. Like it's just, I would be irate. Totally, yes. Just one might be a message sending call in the first five, seven minutes of a hockey game, and that's it. Take balls.

Everything is gonna be as equal as it comes unless it's potentially a scoring play in our dealings of recent history. So it's great that they've got, and it could win them a game, got and it could win them a game. No question it could win them a game. But if you're only looking at two or three and you can go one for two or one for three, that's great. But hang your hat on that as being the difference maker. No, it has to be on pace of play over 60 minutes. Yeah.

Five on five. The one thing I will say is in the past, like recent years, there have been almost as many power play opportunities per game in the playoffs as regular season. This year in the regular season, power play opportunities are down significantly. Each team averaged 3.02 last year, 3.07 power plays last two years this year. It's 2.7 Oh, yeah, that's a big draw. It is so every team is you know every basically every couple games you have one less power play You know so in the playoffs as it tightens up, you know, you may be looking at you might get to yeah two and a half You know as an average, so yeah, certainly five on five will be crucial

You know as an average so yeah, certainly five on five will be crucial You know the Matthews line and the Tavares line have to win their minutes because you don't feel like your third line is gonna win your minutes I will ask you guys about the third line. They put together like Nick Robertson You called it. You said there's just no way that he plays Saturday night. Yeah, they put yarn croc with you You think it's too early in? They put yarn croc with you. You think it's too early in Terms of gearing up for the playoffs You still like to see well just in general. I don't play I think but just in general because there's Myers out there, too And I'm kind of siding on your your side a little bit

Towards you know don't don't let this guy sit too long. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and that's you know, thinking of playoffs a If you lose a couple games in playoffs, you're gonna lose a couple games of playoffs that happens You're not gonna score a bunch and there's gonna be a game where they go Okay, we got to get Robertson in you know, no one's scoring We're gonna get him in so he's gonna play in playoffs and then Myers I think inevitably Someone gets hurt or you lose a couple or whatever, he's going to play games. So you don't want to go, I don't know when Meyers last game played was, it's been a long time.

So you just want to keep them up to speed. The treadmill is going pretty fast right now to try to throw them back in. But what I was going to ask, do you like the look of Lott and Domi and Jarnacroc as a line? Because I thought it did have a couple moments where it looked like a March 10th Yeah, it looked like three capable NHLers playing together that it did give me a bit of hope that it could be a third line for them Jarncroc is He's a guy he is what he is, but he's he can skate his pace of plays

strong is he can penalty kill, and he's got, maybe if I'm not mistaken, close to 100 playoff games under his belt. 93. That is a big number, guys. I don't know. I don't think he's paid to score, occasional one would help this time around but that's stuff that you have to consider as well. The other thing too guys and we've agreed on this is they're going to fit Patch Ready

somewhere in and prior to the Lorenz school last night, I said, save me that clip on the show because of Holmberg's work down low. And I said, this one would be a good one if it ended up in the net and it did. But like, that's just something that few guys who aren't 200 plus can do. He's also we talked about him drawing penalties, you know, so he Hangs onto the pocket. He draws penalties, you know and on a fourth line. That's all you're asking him to do for check be that guy Yeah, he's very likely in it's really hard to make a case that Nick Robertson plays game one. Yeah And I think someone else has to come out if Patrick Eddie comes in. Yeah. Who that is.

The only logical one might be your own croc or homework. Yeah. Yeah. That's a tough call. It is not Lorenz. Lorenz isn't coming out. You need camp. You need camp in there as a centerman, as a natural center man. You can't take him out of the lineup. Other thing though that Yarncroc has is he kills and Holmberg doesn't right now. So you know, if that's the guy that you have a little bit more utility for than Holmberg's in tough too. But I do think they'll use all these guys.

And also what's your level of confidence that Patrick can play a seven game series? You know, he plays a couple of games. He usually needs to take a knee for a minute. Yeah. I just think it's get him in there and see if he can physically do what he did earlier on in the season. That's, that was huge.

Yeah. And I never saw it coming, but I tipped my hat to him on many occasions this season when he pissed people off, man. He was sneaky, sneaky dirty. on many occasions this season when he pissed people off, man. He was sneaky, sneaky dirty. Yeah, if you can get a week of the, you know, the Rafi Torres version of Max Patch Ready

that you got at the start of the year, even if you get one series out of it, it's a bonus. Two or three games would be enough in a series. One or two, if they're timed right right and you'd love it to be game one You'd love for him to be in there and that would be a pretty stout looking You know, you'd have a third line of you know, patch ready Lawton and you know, say someone else heavy whoever you like there if it's yarn crock or Holmberg or whoever But it can be pretty heavy line. Okay, Can we can I ask about the Carlo fight?

On Saturday night. Yeah thoughts I Loved it. Okay. I thought it was uh, I mean he took a couple but he You know what? He smiled in the penalty box blood on his face He pushed forward here this was not Nashville where he took three punches to the chest He had purpose there That kid hit him with a couple of uppercuts But he hung in there man. Yeah to me that's tons of respect for Carlo

It's good sign didn't know he could or would do it which is you know half the battle. He didn't stop Yeah, I have to say that, you know, as a fan, that really, I can only imagine what that did for his teammates, because as a fan, I'm like, I, that really, I loved him already, I thought he was really playing well, but that warmed me up even more. I'm just like, well, I didn't know that he was gonna do that.

Well, we've sat here before. You don't, I don't think he knew he was gonna do that too, but I just, it's, there was no hesitation. And I think when you're in that position, you gotta think quickly. And he didn't hesitate. It wasn't like he spent a quick second going, am I gonna do this or I'm not gonna do that?

You actually go through a bit of a thought process prior to the game that I'm on a short fuse. If anybody challenges me, I'm not taking any crap and I'm going right after them. I wonder if that's what from the McCarran thing. He was like, I can't do that next time or whatever. I wonder if he will talk with maybe listen to our show. Maybe maybe he heard me say, don't don't take those three punches in the chest there. Like stop at one and you don't even have to fight like that But you can certainly cuff a guy back one time Two things on that. I mean he saw was it Malat? He saw that he was a little shorter

Maybe he didn't know that he was a UFC guys brother. No, he's actually not That Malat 652. No, he's a little shorter than he's a little shorter than he he admitted after that He did not know so we have I actually loved Berubei's. He's 652 10. Really? Yeah, I thought he looked a little shorter than he he admitted after that he did not know so we have I actually loved Berubei's six five two ten really yeah, I thought he looked a little shorter. Yeah anyways You're six six everybody looks shorter to you. Hey, well, I'm not standing there staring down the barrel of those punches It just looked like there was punch numbers. Anyways, I love berubei. He got asked about it after the game This is a good exchange with actually Luke Fox asked him, but clip five, we could play that. 11 different Leafs have fought for you guys.

Drop the gloves. I'm teaching them a few things. What do you think it does for the group though that you have guys that are willing to do that? It gets very important to stand up for yourself, and not everybody. I don't expect, look, first and foremost, I don't expect people to fight, you stand up for yourself, you know, and not everybody. I don't expect Look first and foremost, I don't expect people to fight but stand up for yourself and the guys do that we push back, you know

You're not gonna get pushed around Yeah, I I wish 25 years ago. I didn't have the pressure to have Thought that I needed to fight every time I got into a confrontation. Is that right? Yeah. I mean, today you could look like a hero with like... One every 10 games. Or just getting into a... being the first aggressive guy into a pile, leading the charge on whatever you need to say to your opponent. Like there's many ways, to Ruby's point, that you could look like you're standing up for yourself

and your teammates and you're not taking any crap. I'm not eating a crap sandwich tonight from you, you, you, or you. So let's go. And I thought Carlo did that to the tea Saturday night. That's great. That Jeff Malat I was looking about while we were talking about him,

he played nine minutes, five minutes, and then that game he played almost 17 minutes. Yeah, the coach must've liked the Carlo fight for him. He's an older guy too. It's not like he's 21 or 22, isn't he? Oh, he's 28. That was his fourth NHL game. Fourth NHL game.

He was looking for one. You know, like that's a point you're trying to make when you're six-five and trying to crack the lead. At that age, you don't know if that could have been your first and only fight in the NHL. You don't know. I hope he can turn this into a couple of years, three years, but at that age you're on borrowed time as it is right now. So I hope he can make the most of it, but who knows. Good on him. Let's listen to Brandon and get his thoughts on the fight there. Who knows? you know doing things for my team so whatever is needed of me I will. Were you aware that his brother is a UFC fighter? Did anyone tell you that?

Not at all but knowing that information I'm thankful I'm not knocked out right now so that's good to know and I'll definitely do a little bit more research next time. Carlos sounds like a CEO. One of the great hockey stories ever told by Colby Armstrong the Alexander Dagg check the game notes. That's a check the game notes right there. Check the game notes, check the last name,. That's a check the game notes right there check the game notes check the last name Guys fourth NHL game looking to fight. Yeah, no, no, nobody checks

Nobody just it's nobody. Let's check their own points. That's about it If he did that a few more times Carlo he he get next level room. So Did just this clip we played from? next level of room. So just the clip we played from Borube before that about like that we're not gonna back down and 11 different guys have fought this year and just, do you think that's like that's been a noticeable part of this?

Cause I think that was a huge, with number one, the Keith, like we always used to have these conversations like they wouldn't stand up for each other. And like that was a huge narrative that we talked about. Like I feel like that was our first three years is all we ever talked about. No question to your point, it's better.

The thing is though they don't, they didn't do it enough still to carry any type of real reputation this season. Not a reputation, no. But before they had a reputation for definitely not doing it. You know they had tough nights. Okay. They Not a reputation, no. But before they had a reputation for definitely not doing it. You know, they're tough guys. Okay. I buy that. Yeah, they're, they're not as big of a pushover as they have been in the past. Fair enough. It does bother me. And just as

a story separate that their fourth line of Holmberg camp, Florence, where they have no fights like zero. Yeah, that's the nicest group of big guys you could ever find. Lorenz is another guy that like just generally a very happy person. I love him. I think he's too happy to be a Leaf. He's too happy to be a Leaf. He's like I'm not fighting. I don't wanna screw this I would love to see a mad or pissed off or something and Nice is coming around guys. He's just he's He's the nerd and spider-man who just decided like he's just starting to figure out. He's got superpowers Yeah, Peter Peter Parker. I was gonna say Clark Kent but Clark Kent Superman, right? He's He's now starting to go

Okay, I can do this. Yeah, you can you can you grow into it and I don't know if he'll ever have that They get 11 guys and fought for the lease. I'm looking at a little bit of a screw loose to do it guys I gotta be honest with you. Oh, yeah. I mean I I didn't like doing it but felt some obligation 20 years ago I felt it feel like you had to do it guys I gotta be honest with you. Oh yeah I mean I I didn't like doing it but felt some obligation 20 years ago I felt it feel like you had to do it once in a while now you certainly don't have to do it which is a lot more fun. I'm trying to find I saw a list of the guys who did it but trust me it's 11 okay um what was it? Ducks game? Well yeah the Ducks just wanted to touch on Knives because you mentioned him there.

Yeah, I thought he was brilliant last night. Physical down to the front of the net gets the goal taken away. Maybe we'll talk about Strum. Oh my God. Maybe we'll talk about the high sticks after the break. But we are kind of bordering on him. He's really blossoming. If he if he improves as much as he improved from last year to this year,

from this year to next year, like we're on the precipice of one of the elite power forwards in the game here. Like he is getting better, better and stronger every game to me. Well said. Can he turn himself into a point of game guy? I think so. Maybe. I don't know. Was he going to have 50 some points this year? 55. Yeah. So if he ends up 75, I mean

Yeah, that's that but that's a big jump. It is that's a big jump and Can he do it without Marner potentially next year if it's him and Matthew seemed to have some yeah Matthew's has been a lot better passing the puck too, by the way Yeah, and I am noticing his work around the net too. He's a little bit more patient. Sometimes he gets all horny to do a wrap around and, maybe look for a stick in there instead of trying to stuff it through a pad.

Sometimes the constant wrap arounds to me are kind of junior-ish a little bit, but because they don't necessarily, like he's so skilled that one out of 10, he could stuff went in. I like that they create rebounds and chaos. I like what a rap creates. But I like the fact that he's holding on his heads up now.

He's looking for knives at the right time off a post or he can send it back to the point to me. Like that will drive his assists up. And postpone possession time. Help them keep the puck down there and tire out the other team's D. Then if they could just change in the Ozone up. Yeah and and postpone possession time. Help them keep the puck down there and you know tire out the other team's D. Then if they could just change in the Ozone once this year that would really help them. I don't think that's happened. No Willie change going the wrong way every single

shift against Anaheim. I mean I think maybe every single shift. Wasn't his best game. No and we did a pack on Willie with the bad penalty and the turnover that led to Anaheim's first goal and then The change I didn't even mention the change last night I was just like I didn't want to pile on the guy Yeah, but his his change to the bench after he turned the puck over. Yeah was Turn it over going as bad as I saunter to the bench And yeah We took some heat from people being like a hard on Willie or whatever and it's like we didn't CGI the video

Like we showed the video clips He's gonna have nights and you're allowed to talk about yeah, and he is that's right. Did you watch the? The video on him like to the Willie song who was that on the weekend? Are you talking about? Oh, they did a they did a highlight pack of him to the song, Willie. Sing it. No, don't make me sing it. Sing it, buddy.

Come on, we wanna hear it. With the voice of Angel. Willie, it's a 70s song, or it's an 80s song on Willie. I'm finding it during this commercial break. Okay, good, good, good, good. All right, and I'm gonna find the lyrics. Sammy. I don't know what the hell you're talking, but do you guys not watch our network?

I we did our network our network did it. I Yeah, I don't it was like a two-minute Willie. I'm great Willie song But it was a like Overserved yeah, maybe potentially can someone tweet these guys this information for me and do my homework on the commercial break Yeah, um, I will tell you the 11 leaves that are fun. Okay, Domi. Yep, McCabe. Okay Benoit Benoit Reeves Riley, I don't remember who do you fight? Yeah, I remember Scott Lawton Nice Philip Myers nice fight yeah I remember Scott Lawton nice Philip Meyers nice Holmberg Carlo and

there's one more and you guys will never get it Matthews no who Ekman Larson nope Connor Dewar oh the dude number who was it that he scrapped oh yeah Farabee yeah and it was like oh my god they gave the thumbs up to each other and oh yeah you hated that one too yeah fine no you didn't like it's fine it's Oh yeah, Farabee. Yeah, and it was like, oh my god. Oh yeah, and they gave the thumbs up to each other in Philly. Oh yeah, you hated that one too, yeah, remember? It was fine. No, you didn't like it. It's fine, it's 2025 now.

We all get ribbons now. Sammy. I'll just sing the Willie song for you. And to take us out, the Willie song. The Willie song when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Hey, it's Blake Murphy. And I'm Matt Bonner. Join us weekday mornings at 11 as we break down all Kipper and born. Hey, it's Blake Murphy and I'm Matt Bonner. Join us weekday mornings at 11 as we break down all things Toronto Raptors.

It's the Raptor show on sports net five 90, the fan and wherever you get your podcasts. So the group was sweet. 70s. Remember Ballroom Blitz? Yes. What was the movie? Wayne's World. Thank you.

Ballroom Blitz. Okay, now you're not. All right. But you all do Little Willie? That's an extremely famous song Little Willie I've never heard of. Oh, I don't know if we're allowed to do that. We have the rights to this. I don't think that's allowed, Kipper. We can't play it? I don't think so oh I don't know if we're allowed to do that. We have the rights to this. I don't think that's allowed Kipper

We can't play it. I don't think so. I don't know Derek. What do you think? He said he's gonna call somebody We can only pay 10 seconds so you go okay, I'll get the best 10 seconds in Okay, ready'll get the best 10 seconds in. Oh my God. Okay, ready? Count me down. Okay. ["Little Willie Willie"] Big time song. All right, we're good.

What? That's perfect. We got the song. It's great. So they did like a montage to that? You know, I expected you to like play the song and maybe be like, oh, the Willie song. And my reaction was still still I got a little Willie

Wouldn't know anything about that. All right, where do you want to go? Tavares high sticks Although it'll be very short conversation I think cuz Kip and I have had this conversation. Oh really? The Marner one was high stick. I just Really wiship and I have had this conversation. Oh really? The Marlon was high-stick. I just Really wish that we would have kept Video review to maybe a putt going in or not Hmm, but it's just spread out to all this stuff like the officials there Mm-hmm

There's no excuse Not to get the call right No excuse not to get the call right when you're that close. In both cases, the linesman was like this, staring at it. Am I being unfair? Am I being unfair? No. To go back to the official and say, you know, if you would have got it right to begin with, we wouldn't have to stop and wait.

Everybody's watching. But he also erred on the side of let the play go, and if if they challenge it they can still get this call right instead of Just stopping it and killing the wrong I get the basic principle of The most important thing is getting it right But there has to be a way of getting it right and like not bringing the game to a screeching halt Yeah Turns out there's not. No, there's not. I think it's absolutely amazing

that on back-to-back nights, those two- Crazy. Well, first of all, that's crazy, but that those two identical plays were different calls. Like, it was the exact same play. The Matthews one- The Marner stick was higher than- No way.

Yeah, it was. Matthews is six foot four and he was they do use shoulder though that shoulder pointing up when it made caught I'm sorry for hitting my mic Marner's Marner's stick was higher so you guys don't think Matthews was a high stick Matthews I mean you were so I think he disguised it better yeah I think it probably was I think it's I cannot That's as stunned as I've been sitting on my couch because you usually have a pretty good feel if it's a goalie interference or an offside This one's a little bit more murky But to me that's as standard I've been that they didn't overturn one

I couldn't believe they overturned it when you're six foot four and your stick is sticking up like that and you're looking up at the Puck that to me spirit of the rules a high stick all day So I think they got one right one wrong. That's my summation of it. Yeah, that may be the case but Good fans are sitting there going They owe this one To me though it was so it was called no high stick on the ice and I do think That the camera angles play a lot of tricks on us and it's tough to get the perception and you would think that the camera angles play a lot of tricks on us. And it's tough to get the perception.

And you would think that the chip in the puck, we could get like a height from the ice, some sort of measurements on this sort of stuff. Mitch's stick was stretching up higher than Austin's was. It was clearer for sure. Can we just talk about how unbelievable of a play that was by Mitch? With like a high switch one

No, like to backhand whack Like out of the air to cycle down below like that's an amazing play He's so close every game to this incredible human highlight reel. Yeah once in a while It's out of this world. It's getting really close Who was the one that he kicked it like the back heel past? Devaris that he had earlier this year like he's I mean that that's an insane amount of skill to be able to do that back Hand it like that. Anyways, I thought it was a high stick. He's having a pretty decent year. Yep I put a stat in here Mitch Martin recorded his fourth 90 point season became the second player in Maple Leaf history

To reach the mark in four more campaigns joining Darrell Sittler who did it five times David Amber last night wanted to do a who's the MVP of the Leafs season, but we didn't get around to it. I like this one Yeah, I do. You know why we didn't do it. Would you pick outside of goalie comp? Okay. Well, then we'll do non goalie comp No goaler not even close bud still murder Who's your second pick I think you can make it the conversation for Tavares I really do not you can I think he can be in the conversation Willie's right there too but like obviously it's Marner outside of goalies Tanaev's in the conversation

Willie's 11 points maybe a dozen points behind Mitch. Yeah, he has 42. Nice. A lot of goals. A lot of goals. But it's not even close. It's not even close. It's not even close.

I think it's close. But I do value goals, you know. Value goals. Mitch kills penalties. I know. I know. 100%. I get it.

Mitch takes all the key defensive zone draws. He doesn't take them. He's on the ice for them. Tavares takes all the key defensive zone draws. And wins them. And wins them. Buddy, I bet you Mitch has got 50 more face-offs in his own zone than Tavares.

For sure. Okay, the first guy over the boards for defensive zone face face off is Mitch. It's not Tavares, it's not Willie. It's Austin when he's on, when he's Austin and Mitch. Yep. There's no other top 10 scorer that does that more than Marner.

Not. I'm not sure if that's true or not. Not anybody. It could be. I mean, it feels like Jack Eichel plays a lot. Is he a top 10 scorer? I have no idea. He might be the closest guy. Feels like Re like Jack Eichel plays a lot. Is he a top-10 score? I have no idea. He might be the closest guy feels like Reinhardt would do that a lot It's not top-10 score like there's guys that not McKinnon not those guys. I don't know if it's true or not

So I'm not gonna say hey listen, I'm saying he's the MVP telling you it. It's true. Are you sure? I don't know Look it up. I don't I don't know what what do you want me to look up? defensive zone Face-offs, that's a bony job for no idea how to do that for the top players When you pull up that website, that's like what is it money? But I'm like, this is the most intimidating thing on earth I was but trading just going back. These are the things that aren't as sexy. I think but You know you watch it enough. That's like it's not even close who Craig Bruby's most valuable player is this season sure is that a better way to put it I would argue you have my vote for sure

I think that Mitch Marner is the MVP But I would argue that John DeVos has been incredibly important this year and he's I think he's in the conversation I do yes for third No, I think second if you want want to go. I have an argument for second. I mean, really third. Austin Matthews has been a shell of himself all year, missed monster amount of the season. John DeVars played first line center. He's got what 35 goals in his 35 season, the last year of his contract. I mean, the amulet man has been unbelievable. I can't really is like, I know we like to not,

we kinda- He's been as consistent as he's been throughout his whole career. He's still gonna end up a point of game guy like he did the moment he started cooking with the Islanders, which is incredible now because he's 34 years old and he's at the end of his career. That's what's-

I just think it's a little bit, I'm not gonna say disrespectful, but I don't think we give him the due that he maybe earns on this show. And I'm part of that. And I feel a little bit, but the season that he's having this year is truly remarkable and he deserves a ton of credit

for having the sea stripped off him in training camp, coming out here and being better than he has been even in the years past. Like he's having a better year this season than he has in years past. Willie's been better playing with him, I understand that. But it's gonna be a fantastic season for DeVaris. He deserves a ton of credit.

So anyways. All right, let's go to Craig Berubia and the former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Just keeps battling and wins puck battles, you know, like, you know, that's the biggest thing for me is he, he wins so many battles with his stick, heavy stick, strong. He's so great and tight around the net scoring goals. That's where he gets most of his goals.

Face off circle, he's one of the best in the league. You know, every night he's 50% or better it seems like it's all the little things he does that really make him a great player. To Sam's point Tavares is second in the NHL and puck battle wins this year and he's top 10 in face-off percentage. That's MVP stuff man. He just hoped that it can this is the year for him in the playoffs The one knock against him is never been able to do it in the playoffs throughout his whole career lack of playoffs success like I think he's I don't know if

Yeah, he hasn't gone deep in the playoffs for sure and but he's still scored the plus you can still have your If he ends up with his 80 points If he ends up with his 80 points, they don't have playoff success, then where are you on signing him next year and saying, I'm prepared now to go again with Tavares and Matthews as a 1-two at center ice. I'm not as bullish on that idea on doing that. But if he's your third line center and he's making, you know, five or less, you know, than I'm into it. But you can't. Who's your second line center man?

Well, you'd have to go spend some money. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know if anyone's out there that can fill that role or make a trade or what. That would be a full power play guy, right? Who was that? Someone that you would get like a... Yeah, a second guy would come in and be a power play guy. So would Matthew, would Tavares still hold his spot

as a top power play guy? Like there's so many. I mean, I know, we're so far down a road. But I'm just saying though, that's the question that you have to ask, is that if you bring him back next year and you don't see him as your second line centerman, where are you on how much you pay him

and what kind of role is he gonna have? Am I right in saying you don't see him? I'm with you. You don't see him? I'm with you. You don't want him. I need to see, like if I'm gonna bring him back at six million bucks as many people want to, like to me that's a heck of a price for a third line center man. But if he's scoring 60 points, can he still get 60 points as a third line center man on the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Yeah, those are those are you're on You're on new grounds here. He's got the most goals of any pending free agent Yeah, and he would play on the power still like is it he's it is it's not kind of feeling like a stamp coast Situation where we still like you, but we just can't Show that we can win right now stamp coast so that with Stamcoast, so it's a different, I would say it's Stamcoast. But today Sam, not yesterday. Yeah, yeah, for sure.

Not years ago, we're talking about today. They made the hard decision on Stamcoast that we cannot, we need to freshen this thing up. We need new blood, we went and got Gensel. You know what would be interesting is, if the Leafs, I don't know if they don't sign Marner, they don't sign DeVaris, but for some reason they've got this glut of salary cap money to spend and we know they're a cap team, is if they didn't go out and just blow it on

the most expensive UFA and went into the season and said, you know, let's see what shakes free over the course of the year. People get grumpy, all of a sudden Miller wants to go where Rantanen is available or later in the season, you don't have to spend to the cap for game one. But here's where I'll give full kudos to Tavares, is that you could end up being the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks

on the ranks of missing the playoffs. Like Tavares helps you get to the playoffs. Yeah, that matters too. Whatever the case is, you can't argue over the last seven years, Tavares didn't do his part to help you get in the playoffs. Can he help you win in the playoffs? Can he help you win a Stanley Cup?

That part's unknown still, and he'll get another crack this spring. But you can't underestimate that John Tavares gets you in a very difficult 16 team league for playoffs. Yeah, I Long maintained the biggest what-if in the Leafs Core4 era is Tavares gets brained in game one by Corey Perry against Montreal. They end up losing by a goal in game seven They win that Montreal series. It was the Canadian year right the Canadian vision like they go on the power play goal. They get a say They get this they get like losing one guy away or losing him in that month one of the series

They got that was a first game the first ten minutes They still won three games in the series and they probably win one more if he's no I don't be like to imagine I think so, but anyway, I'd like to imagine But now I'm just sad Tavares can help you and that's why if Tavares had the attitude that I'm gonna go out there this summer and I'm gonna make the most money and I'm gonna put my services up for sale over 32 teams he Someone's willing to pay him seven maybe even eight. Yeah Someone's willing to pay him seven maybe even eight. Yeah, so they paid a stamp cost It only depends right what he wants to do. He can help me get in. Yeah. Yeah

But yeah, he ain't going anywhere. I don't know what his career earnings are I can look that up pretty quick here, but you know, he's made a lot of money is my point 90 Hun, I'm pretty quick here. Definitely more. He's made 103 million 64 thousand two hundred ninety nine dollars. How much do the Leafs want to discount him? A hun. I can tell you pretty quick here. Definitely more. He's made $103,064,299. How much do the Leafs want to discount him? How much do they want to ask him to take off? Yeah, if they're going to keep him around in a bottom six forward scenario. Yeah.

But why is he going to be in the bottom six? Like if he comes back, I mean, he's better than like what other options are they going to have? The idea is you have to be better too. You can't Can't drive play and you just can't keep going to the well I guess Sammy but who are you like? I mean, you know, that's your job and then it's not walking through that door here Like he's gonna or you make Sam Bennett walk through the door. You do me make somebody we all know We sign in at Florida for a time. I'd rather you overpay. So you just can't keep going to the well

I know that's all I get it. I get it and that's why You're not as bullish as probably a lot of people because it's it's okay You can still be a 35 goal score. You can still have a great season, but it's just Not the right fit anymore I'm not totally against what you guys are saying either. I understand that perspective, but it just gets a little scary if it's no Marner or O'Tavara. It's like, where's that? I know.

150 points of production coming from? Absolutely. Someone's got to shoot it in. And all of a sudden making the playoffs is a huge accomplishment. 100%. Right? Yeah, then you're the Habs all of a sudden trying to make it. All right.

Good hour, boys. Good hour, Sammy. You're calling me out on my stats. I need my analytics guy to back me up here. Derek was giving me some stuff in my ear, but I was unfocused. Usually it's the other way around. All right, Eddie Strickland next. We go national on The Real kipper and born show.