Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Crashing vs. Canes + Debut of the Leafs Line!

Episode Date: January 10, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes to close out their road trip. They get into the defensive struggles from the top lines, Jake McCabe's notable absence, a rare stinker from Joseph Woll, flaws of the five-forward power play beyond the short-handed goal allowed and much more. Then, the guys answer your questions with the debut of the Leafs Line!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, here we go. The most anticipated Real Kipper and Bourne Leaf Hour edition in our four years. Four years? Yes. Well, we've come on after they won a playoff series. It was more anticipated than that? Buddy, we're taking like callers coming in. Not live.

No. But they're leaving us messages. One thing we know from the messages is it can't be live. No. No, because Sammy's already getting goofy ones. Okay. Right? And I'm not even going to say what like...

Okay, we don't have to say it. You've only given us one. Okay. Right? And I'm not even gonna say what like. We don't have to say it. You've only given us one. Yeah. And it had nothing to do with the Leafs. Well, depends how you view the Leafs. Okay, here's what I'll say. Today, I sat down on my couch in my usual time, poured my cup of coffee,

and started to work away on the show as I always do. And today was extra special because I spent an hour going through the what must have been 200 messages on our answering machine about the Leafs. And I had some of the most fun I've had as a producer in a really long time. I love Leafs Nation. I love Leafs Nation and the one thing I'll say

is they're not gonna make Morgan Riley a forward. They're not gonna make Morgan Riley a forward. They're not gonna make Morgan Riley a forward. Wow. There must have been 10 Morgan Riles got to be a forward calls on our text line. Really? Still working on him as a defenseman. He's not moving up. He's not playing wing. They're keeping him at D. I mean imagine how the problems that creates all of a sudden you got to fill and get a top line D. And for like an okay winger? A guy who probably doesn't for check anyway, so it's not like my answering service where After like 10, it's like shuts everybody down and then you got to go and erase everything Is that what you got to do now with with these goofy? No no messages. It's unlimited, baby

I can't remember the last time I wasn't offended by someone leaving a voicemail. So It's unlimited, baby. I can't remember the last time I wasn't offended by someone leaving a voicemail. So I don't have in to delete I haven't got a Like a call on my answering machine on my phone that is not spam in literally five years. No one calls me Just no stick with me for the the details. I'm a detail guy Okay So when someone leaves a new message does it go to the front of the line or you got to go through all the messages To get to the next one it goes to the front of the line, but I went back from the start and listen through I Produced today. Okay, but I mean it just I mean it's not an action answer machine. It's an automated system

It goes into our okay. I can't wait and I'm sure all of you that's watching on sports that 360 sports net plus or listening on sports at 590 the fan you guys can't wait either Yeah, well at least it's something else to talk about other than last night's game. Oh Yeah, that happened too. So we'll talk about that. All right, so I don't know How did it go last night with your bunkest show there. You never asked me Yeah about the show at least suck and I'm saying this to Borne. You never asked me. I know I'm asking you Did you watch? I think it was our worst show of the year. No, I did not watch. Okay. I did not Subscribe and I see it. No, I'm just wondering like

Someone tell you something Anything but what's going on? If you've got a vibe one way or another I'd be interested in it because I'm I watched that game last night and I just like, just flush it That's funny, you rarely feel that way Just flush it

Okay And the one thing I definitely do not buy is Jordan Stahls like schooled Matthews Marner and Knies. No. I don't buy that. Just who is this guy?

Tip in. What's going on? I don't buy it. But I've agreed with everything he said so far. Anyways, that's why I'm like, I'll throw it out there first. That's my general first impression topic coming from my end on a game last night, but I was just wondering about your vibe last night

I I think it's really hard like them To get up for every single game and when you're doing a postgame show after they've won five in a row I think it's really hard to just be like god these guys suck right seasons meaningless Like it's just it was on on the road to a good team after 5th grade. I did come away from- if there's one thing I did feel stupid about, it's us being a little bit critical of the Carolina Hurricanes, where they just look like the Carolina Hurricanes. No, no.

They look like the exact same team that they've looked like for the last four or five years. That's fine. Which is very- In between every other game for a month and a half, and I don't know, your buddy there- Who? I don't know your buddy there You got you got a few people coming at you. That's my whole life, but They've been bad every other game for a month six weeks. Mm-hmm They have not looked like that

Consistently the last little while so good on him. I mean, it's it lets lets you know that there's still some, some very good talent over there. Yeah, I think- Personally, for reasons- It's a loose game from the Leafs. I thought defensively, mostly from forwards, not having like a solid F3 and then D not having tight gaps and all of a sudden there's too much room and it's a fast team and all of a sudden Carolina

looks like, you know, the run and gun best Oilers teams of the 80s. So I will say also they didn't get the goaltending they typically get everyone on that team outside of Brent Burns, Jordan Stall and Svetchenkoff to me looks like the exact same hockey player. Yeah. I think that's like the most analytic team by far and like they're run by an analytic and it's just a very perceptions related. It's a very analytical thing to me. Like it's just like all these guys that played fast, really quick, pretty good, can

score, shoot a ton. It feels like analytics in a team to me. All right, let's get Craig Brewery's thought last night coming off a very disappointing 6-3 loss. Yeah, I mean that you know I thought they made a good push and we had Last night coming off a very disappointing 6-3 loss Yeah, I mean that you know, I thought they made a good push and We had breakdowns in our own zone. I thought that Left the slot open too much tonight didn't cover it And then you know, I thought we just spent too much time in our zone in general Going forward especially in a second. I mean we didn't kill more plays come up with more pucks and we didn't you know kind of got away from and we

got away from us a little bit so minus six is a really hard thing to have Matthew's in honor every this team yeah crazy Mitch Mitch Marner and awesome It's a really hard thing to have. Matthews, Garner. Can I read this to you? Yeah, please. I think this is phenomenal. That's crazy. Mitch Garner and Austin Matthews are the first Naples with minus six rating in the game since Daniel Marois and Mike Bullard on December 26, 1991 versus the Penguins. That game, I have some info on that game for you, which is really fun.

The Leafs lost 12-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins that night. Your boy Grant Furikipper in that for all 12. Wow. 625 save percentage that night for Grant. Meryl Lemieux had two goals and five assists for seven points. What else happened in that game? This is maybe the most incredible fact. Phil Bork, who we've had on the show before, fantastic Penguins analyst was minus one in a 12-1 game. I adore that stat That's pretty remarkable. He wins 12-1. You're taking your skates off dash one for the night Yeah, and on the other side of that My crucial miski plus one in a 12-1 loss. So challenge

So really good one there, but yeah having these guys who had maybe their best game Since Matthews has come back against the Flyers go ahead and have their worst game. Maybe that ever I think that was the worst game of the year. Yeah. Yeah, I guess you know you thought they were really good against other really good against the Flyers and then as Bad as they've maybe ever I just thought a lot, you know Everything that could go wrong does go wrong sometimes and sometimes, you know You're out there for an empty netter and one gets tipped in the high slot and you know, there's a no They weren't good last night. They were good. I'm not gonna say they're good. They're dash six They weren't even good at the start up to nothing and it did it not have a feel like okay

Can they do they they can't do anything wrong? Yeah, right. They go up to nothing Can they do they they can't do anything wrong? Yeah, right. They go up to nothing Carolina gives them breakaways on a platter We by the way, let's pat ourselves on the back for saying we're gonna be sitting here on Monday and Willie's gonna have scored Two goals in the two games since goes out there in the first year. He was very good either No, but well the first ten minutes he looked like well, I'm Marcel To my point they they also gave so much in the first 10 minutes and they spotted them. It's not like the Leafs, it's not like they looked like they looked the rest of the game and then the Leafs still found ways to score two goals. They gifted them two goals.

Yeah I sent a message in our group being like what are the hurricanes on a mentor's trip? Yeah, they were horrendous for the first ten that game and the least took advantage they found a game and it went the other way so but and They weren't good in their own zone. So they did have breakdowns. I'm When I kind of say flush it down the toilet, I don't believe that again I I'm not going to say flush it down the toilet. I don't believe that again, I thought Matthew's Marner and Isaac,

they, it wasn't as tilted as minus six suggests. I think when they were on the ice, Joseph Wall save percentage was something like 450. Yeah. Like five goals, five goals on like 11 shots. I'll tell you who I thought the best line on the ice was last night and it was Tavares Marner and Nyes in the third period they generated a ton they were they were all over it Marner made some passes like back door he set up JT who didn't get it up on a play they had a

couple of looks that were like it was it was the perfect storm to go minus six is my point it happens It is crazy though like Marner was plus five. That was minus one They're sorry. No, that was Matthews Matthews is now minus one Marner still plus three, but jeez That's that one changes your season. Yeah, that's tough. But I tell you what that that Jordan stall. How old is he 36? 36 years old yeah, Jordan stall becomes the third player in Hurricanes Whaler history to score a hat trick at 36 years of older joining Rod Brindle more and Ray Whitney if if you had to Play tomorrow night one game all the marbles and I gave you the choice of Tavares Matthews or stall as a center man Oh God, who would you take?

Austin Matthews, okay As a top line one guy that guy is the ultimate 200-foot like playoff kind of guy. I'm glad you don't cover the canes 82 times like this guy's a dog. He can't anymore. It was really good last night. He's a horse. He's really good. What a career he's had. And last year, I think he finished second in Selkie voting, if I'm not mistaken. He was way up there. He is the ultimate, you're right, two way. But all kidding aside, Sebastian Ajo is not having a great year. Sveshnikov is not having a great year. Martin Nekash, Natchez.

Having a good year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year.

I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's going to be a great year. I think he's is not having a great year

Martin nakesh net net natus natus having a good year while he did he was on fire and now he's He's cooled down the last uh 15 games. We have craig bruby weighing in on the stall line dominance in clip six If we could check in on that, please. Yeah, that's Uh, yeah. Yeah. Sorry my bad. Go ahead. Well Well, they're good line. They've been a good line. And you know, they're just hard to play against. They're heavy. They are above you all the time. They make you work for everything. And they ended up capitalizing us on a couple goals against. So it's difficult. But like I said, we're, we just had break too many breakdowns tonight that

we got to clean up. So you think of Jordan stalls like this short handed goal specialist, he gets one last night and I'm like, wonder where he ranks all time in short handed goals. So he has 21 short handed goals. 21 Wow. Wayne, of course, has 73 short handed goals. No, he does. Yes He does and Brad Marchand is the active leader with 36 short-handed goals

Jordan saw his 21 for to be 74th in the all-time list Marchants off the charts as a Killer him and Bergeron were deadly and you're also deadly this year You sent us a stat the other day That's two in the history of the game short-handed. Those two as a duo. I have no argument for me. This year is it Braden Point and Anthony Cirelli who are a duo? They are when short-handed outscoring their opponents five to four. And they are on their top guys.

Is that impressive? Imagine that your top two forwards are plus when short-handed. Pretty impressive. But yeah, I know I like Jordan stalls career a lot But if I had one game to win, I'm taking awesome at yeah, I would probably suggest that Most people would most people not you know, um the Canes we have one more clip on the Canes We want to hear another thought from Ruby on that we can yeah sure Alright finish up a good team. I mean they're difficult. You know, they work and they compete

down low. You know, I thought that started off that way. We were, we were killing plays and we got the puck and went north with it. But too much in our zone tonight and ended up in their net. Yeah, I mean, nothing shocking. This is a team that's a bad matchup for the Leafs. This is five straight losses for the Leafs. Thing that you've always talked about, Kipper,

with the Leafs is a concern is that the pace of play, their passing isn't great. No. And those two things against that team, it's kind of a recipe for disaster. They're all over you. Is that the best passing team though? I mean, last night, where I don't watch them often night I just mean defensively denying beliefs ability to pass and like kind of stifling them in the offensive zone like they're just really

Aggressive fast unbelievable. It's a bad matter Listen their blue line is Comparable to some of the best blue lines in the game right now Vegas We all believe is probably got the best blue line in the game right now. Vegas, we all believe, has probably got the best blue line in the National Hockey League. Slaven, Burns can still bring it. Orlov, Chatfield. I love Chatfield.

Yeah, Sean Walker, they signed, and he's a pretty good player. So is Chatfield, he's like, if I look like Brent Burns, will I play like Brent Burns? Is that what he's doing? Is he trying to look like Brent Burns out there? like Brent Burns is that what he's doing is he trying is he trying is he trying to look like Brent Burns out there with that's Carolina style the one thing that stood out for me like 15 minutes into the game once they got going a little bit is the mobility and the quickness

particularly on this Carolina blue line that can take pucks off the wall put it in the middle drag it to the middle of the ice, and then have outlet passes or shots on net, and they disguise it and you're not sure what seam or lane they may hit. And the whole time I'm kind of comparing it to the Leaf Blue line, and it's like, oh. Well, here's the problem though. And it's a different style though. It it's a different style the leaves guys from here on and I think to continue this it's it's it's rope a dope well well I hope not well like I don't see mobility off the blue line right I don't see it from

Morgan Riley I don't think Morgan Riley's mobile all right buddy I don't see it from Morgan Reilly. I don't think Morgan Reilly's mobile Buddy, I haven't seen much mobility. I don't I don't see him as a threat. I see him late I see him late in his own zone to challenge guys below the goal line I see him late to arrive on a rush. I said I see him. I don't see it. I don't see it I think they're DSC pretty well McCabe's a good skater. Tana gets around fine. I don't see the mobility or the puck movement. Like I see. But again, I think that is a style choice. Total style choice.

Straight lines. Yep. They want to be different than they've been. The Klingberg options haven't worked for them. So yeah, I do think this is something that they don't want to be that. They think that that's going to lead to risks in the postseason, to chances against, and then it's like, hey, can Kachetkov win them a playoff series? Stay in your lane.

That way when you lose the puck, you can still block it. That's what I see. Yeah. Yeah. So it is, they're different. They're definitely different in that way. But yeah, the Canes move it really well. They skate well You mentioned McCabe there when you're talking about their

Skating say it I just think miss him death so bad and I don't think it makes I don't think if you have McCabe out There you're not letting in four or five goals Whatever like that happens with him in the lineup, but just the way everybody's slotted it feels like Ruby's just searching for anything last night Riley and Tana and then it was like what else like I for tip for Riley It's like you put him with tan of antenna of did he have his worst game of the year last night? Minus two. Yeah, he was like, you know, it's been a plus player all here. They put him for highly no chemistry

He's minus fetch Nikov puts him in the blender behind the net to set up the stall goal in front like it's just not I I tend to agree that they're not the best Puck moving decor, but when they do have McCabe I think it is a pretty good decor and I think it's one that you can win with oh They've won and they've been good teams down and they've blocked their shots But you know Tim is not a ton of creativity back there is my biggest point That's fair, and I watched this blue line and I saw for 15 minutes nothing but paint Yeah, yeah, it's different now, you know, but that's uh

That's playing the scoreboard to me because I think if the Leafs win that game you say that that decores all are taking risks They're up the ice. They're too too active, you know, so yeah, it's it's fair but I am McCabe They need him back. It's just there. Yes, they're gonna have to find ways to probably at the end of the day What do you think they'll add someone who's more active mobile? I don't know if there's time or the ability to or the interest In a perfect world, I think they'd like to Free it up a little bit and maybe they're just probably maybe that at best you can hope that Morgan Riley Gets back to where he was

two springs ago against Tampa Bay someone tweeted us the Points per game of defensemen over the past like decade and Riley's of course right up there. Yeah Quickly before we move on the tip like you mentioned about the creativity and the puck moving stuff I think Timmons early in the year Was giving a lot of that to them in terms of being able to snap it out on your third pair and being a bit But he's I mean, I think he was one of their only even or plus guys last night so maybe it's the wrong time to pick on him, but I The play has gone south a little bit for him where that's a spot where it's kind of back to maybe

Looking for somebody else to play that time. But anyways, I was just gonna mention how about old scratch and score Robertson comes out of the press box and shoots it in the net again. It's like clockwork I know the first game he comes out of the press. Yeah, no issues there. Yeah, no issues there He's got a scratch if he's still in the team at the playoffs, which seems somewhat unlikely But if he is he's got a sick game six and then come back game seven. Yeah, that is the old you have to do that That is the, oh, you have to do that. There's no like, if you don't, the Leafs score one goal every game seven. It's already down to a desperate game six

or game seven for the Leafs. You don't think- Start Roberts in the game seven is where we're at. You don't think, regardless of how, who they play in the first round, it's going seven games? You gotta be crazy. I mean, the only time they won was six. Joseph Wall, his worst game of the year.

Yes, did you think he was bad? Oh yeah. that Jackson Blake which is not great. Come on. It's like This is the way the hockey guys work It's not gonna be great every game no good players have bad days. I also think This is how sample sizes work Did you believe that Joseph Wall was the best goalie in the league or one of the five best in the league? Probably not. You might have thought he was good, top 15, something like that.

This is the sort of game that brings him back. He's a 912 save percentage now. I think he's a 912 guy. I could see it, but he was never a 925 guy or whatever the numbers were for a while. So it's just coming back to earth a little bit. Now, Sorokin and the Islanders, they played him 300 games in a row. He looks bad. It happens to go as you play too much. But he also goes in last night to everyone's point and gets a, was it, was it his shutout

against Vegas? Yeah, no, he, Sorokin himself was good, but his years were bad because he was playing too much. The Islanders go in, play one of the best teams in the, so it happens, right? Stum nothing. I was good, but his islanders go in playing too much play one of the best teams No, so it happens right dumbly it just happens. Yeah Point is should they go with hill to be on? Wow this kind of backs up to Sammy's point I think Sammy was the only one I didn't necessarily agree with Sammy, but You know his hindsight 2020 here should they have had hillbilly?

Yes Yes, it's stuck in his brain and we're gonna get a little bit cleanest Played Thursday night. It's I mean it's easy to say should have yeah cuz he has worse game there I I do think this is something that's gonna kind of follow a wall around know where There's worry with the injury. There's worry with the lack of play and I'm guilty of it we talked about a little bit on least talk last night, but like You automatically think is he tired? Is that why he played like that? And I think you have to kind of fight tired

Well, I mean, I know he's played 11 out of 14. I think played five times in ten days Okay, but he's also on pace to play 40 games this season. So in the big picture, he's not tired. What he is last night. Kipper, he's four off his career high for starts by. I know. And to my point, what he is now is mentally stretched in a stretch that he's got no experience in the past on.

Yeah, and this is where you get it. But I still think if you're set to run a mile, if you run 100 meters in the middle of it sprinting, you're gonna be tired after that sprint, just because the whole thing's not that hard. Everybody's telling you, just run a mile, but you're like, no, no, no, I can run two, I can run four, I'll run 10.

Don't be that guy that says, okay, you tell me you're gonna run a mile, I'll just run a mile. That guy has an amazing opportunity right now and he should be feeling like I don't want to come out. So I just think that it's a new experience for him and it's a stretch that he's never had before and now it's just managing it for him and learning how to manage it. He was borderline abrasive at the idea that like, you know, he didn't play well. He said he I didn't play well and what do you want me to do? I didn't. And I love he's come back tomorrow against

a hungry Vancouver Canucks team that's got that played pretty good against Washington us against the world of mentality coming in their Super Bowl, Vancouver Super Bowl playing against the Leafs. You're going to get a a good Canucks performance so that's a that's they played tonight in a second half a back-to-back pretty close feeling of losing game one in the Stanley Cup playoffs and needing to come back 48 hours later and tying up the series that's what Wall should be feeling Saturday night well hey yeah go ahead I do think you have to go with him. Let's hear the coach.

Yeah. Flip four on Wall. Well, he probably wants him back. But he's played some real good hockey for us. He made some real good saves tonight too. So you know, I'm sure he wants a couple goals back. But you know, he's been battling for us and playing well. Yeah how do you think he's handled the increased workload? Well I think he's been

fine with it you know I don't I don't see him getting tired or anything like that he wants the net so he's had a good job. Good stuff. I think we get to break and get to our calls. Oh no no. You have more? We got a little bit of time here. Yeah yeah. Yeah.

You got some else? Yeah Willie. Oh yeah. Yeah more. We had a little bit of time here. Yeah. Yeah, I think we got some else. Yeah, Willie Oh, yeah. Yeah, Willie Anything change for you since yesterday? No, I think he still picks his spots a little bit and I you can sit there and blame five forwards on the shorthanded goal But that had nothing to do with the fact that I think he should have played it a lot harder. And he's still got a long way to go

to get to the place where he needs to get and the team needs him to get. For sure, there's no doubt. I will say I really like their power play like that. I think that's the best version of their power play. I like, you want Marner to have more touches, right? You think the punch be in his hand and he is when the quarterbacks the five forwards Yeah, I like Matthews more on his offside because he doesn't hit the one-timer for goals Anyway, he can catch and release better than anyone in the NHL

I think probably the best in the league and I think he sees the ice better kind of facing it Yeah, and Willie's fine on the other flank. You know, whatever. I just like it more Oh, I hate that I agree because it like I've said a million times it offends my hockey sensibilities But it is the best with what they got. Yeah Yeah, I don't know what else you would and I also want to throw up the you know Other power plays get scored on to even when you have a D man out there you give up a shorty it happens Especially towards all the 74th highest short-handed score of all time 74th high it just it needs a lot of work it just needs a lot of work the power play it does it really yeah

there's just no there's just nothing desperate about the push to score a goal on it I wish analytics gave us time on stick for players. Like how long one player holds the puck for. I feel like the average time on stick for the Leafs is two seconds more than a good power play. Everyone holds it, does it, moves it. Hold it, does it, moves it. That's interesting.

Not a lot of touch, touch, touch. I want to get the analytics on how many face-offs they've lost on the power play. That I can do for you. Yeah. I can get that. Compared to even strength for me. I'm just curious because it always looks like when they need a faceoff win, it's shot down

the ice and there's only a buck 40 on it left. Just punt in 20 seconds of every power play. Yeah. I don't know. I just feels I've said this before. And my argument for the two, the two unit split up thing. There's just such a crippling lack of urgency every time those guys are out there because it's five forward to five best players on the ice. They know that the coach is putting them together to have them out there for a

minute 50. So they're like, we can dust it off. We can do whatever we want. Creating the internal competition of splitting up the talent amongst the two units to me. And they've tried that. So I don't know if they go back to that again, but there just is zero urgency and they are allergic to a hard rim one time when they get held up at the line.

That I would like to see. Just once. Different entry. Let's listen to Bruce. We do have a clip on the short handed goal and the five forward power play. I mean, that was the, I think it was was we could have defended it to be honest with you. I think that you know we actually tracked back we've got to be harder there and the neutrals long on that play and You know the guys on his back and we just got to take away the pass. That's it. I mean, yeah, there's always gonna be

concerns with five forwards on power play at times. And we'll see what happens. But I like the power play in general. And then they got us cool, had some good looks on the next one. So they did some real good things. But we just got to clean up the mistakes. Just too loose. I mean, that's basically everything we just said. So we'll give credit to check of, check of, check of. Yeah. Have a hard time with names recently going full grapes over here. But I thought he was really good in the third.

Yeah. I thought he made a couple excellent saves. He stoned Robertson really close in on the blocker on Marner through a screen that he didn't see like there's a couple really good Ones that could have changed the game. I thought he was really good. Yeah, he's a wild man Yeah, yeah, and he's saying that I wouldn't trust him as far as I could bowl him couldn't agree more Like I really would I would hate to have him as your goalie for a playoff series But last night I thought he made a bunch of really good saves especially specifically sorry in the third year buddy Freddy Anderson's Getting ready to come back again here. Well. Yeah, they would say week seven of an eight to twelve week injury

So you talk about not being sure if you're gonna have a guy when you need a most He might be the leader of that so far. Yeah, okay. We'll take a quick break. You nervous I that's what so I can never really figure out your energy some days when you come in here and you know, there's just, you're a different guy day to day, which is totally fine. On purpose. I know. But I can tell sometimes when you're a little bit nervous.

Yeah. And I think you're a little bit nervous about this. You've been pushing for this for a while. This is one of Kipper's ideas. You gave us one message that you got and it was disgusting. You think I'm gonna play something about taking a dump in the shower? You think I'm gonna play that on the air? I'm not. So we got good ones. I pushed for it. They wouldn't let us play it.

All right. What are we calling it? The Leafs Line, baby. 416-431-4141. We'll do it again next week. The Leafs... Assuming this is not a disaster. Line. Coming up next 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 things Toronto Raptors. It's The Raptor Show on Sportsnet 590, The Fan, and wherever you get your podcasts. Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo and Jake Schultz. Upstairs pushing all the right buttons for us. What did Derek just say to us? The party line. Time to pick up the party line. The party line. So. 1- 800. I just put all these in here. Caller one, caller two, caller three, caller four. I don't exactly remember the order I put them in, but I do remember our first one. And yeah, let's start. My favorite thing is that this requires no research and

we just get to react. So let's start. Okay, let's let her one. Hi, Sammy McGee. I watch Kipper and Borden every day. Yes, I'm a female. I'm a total Edmonton Oilers hockey freak. Question, why is it that you guys always talk about the Leafs? I know you're a Leaf fan. Don't get me wrong there. But I was just wondering yeah, you guys talked about other teams, too But is this kind of pretty much just a lease? Fine, can you let me know please and hey? You guys are awesome. Love you guys Kipper gotta love them form gotta love them you You're pretty funny guy. Love you guys all the best in 25. My name is Yvonne and I'm an Edmonton Oilers fan. Yay

Yeah, great great observation And the Lee and the Leafs line that was perfect. Was that you? That was seriously perfect. What an incredible call. I thought we'd start off hot. I do with my girl Yvonne I do feel bad that we're doing this as not a NHL line now. Okay, so can I take a crack at this? Yeah. Real simple. First hour, leaf hour. Yeah.

Second hour, NHL. We rarely talk leafs in our national hour. Try to avoid it. You know what's funny is that when we've did this show on TV We were petrified at the fact of not talking leaves in the second hour and now I'm like, thank God another do we So I'll tell you how like I get mad at Sammy when he doesn't change the jersey We have the leaf Jersey for a leaf hour and I'm like, no, I'm in our national second hour, 20 minutes in, I look over, I still see the Leaf Jersey and I want to just kill

you. I do, I do. I'm like, I just want to just go, okay, there's people in Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver watching. They don't want to see a leaf jersey for my girl Yvonne I'll make sure to get an oilers. Oh, yeah, we don't have one. All right This one come on oilers like you got the best team in the league It's not a reflame says one and you're like aren't you buds with Lozey or like Maca like get them to send us a jurors Why are you so pissed?

Or take that unlimited Sportsnet budget. Oh yeah. Do you know how embarrassing it is to be a Stanley Cup champion, 20-year veteran of the media and call one of your friends who's a Hall of Famer be like, could you send us a jersey? You got 200 bucks to buy it. He's only won six cups. He's got bigger fish to fry than sending us a jersey? You got 200 bucks to buy it. He's only won six cops He's got bigger fish to fry than I can enough so I can bring an oiler jersey in but I just know I

Won't get it back it. I'll disappear. No gone. Well, this one's signed by Connor McDavid. Okay. I don't bring that in All right, call her to please guys. All right. Here's my main take kipper He's got a drop the act on how he thinks Marner is more important than Austin. Matt, we know everything about you, Kipper. We know how tough you are. We know how you like the big six foot two guy. You dropped the charade. You don't like Marner better. It's not even close. It's comparing a superstar, the best player we've ever had. I'm going to say the best player in the league. I know me David exists. I said what I said. Marner is not even close. Marner is a good player. Matthews say the best player in the league I know McDavid exists I said what I said Marner's not even close Marner is a good player Matthews is the

best player because of the best is the best show radio show I've ever heard talk about beliefs it's not even close keep doing what you're doing and I hope to make it onto the show I'm evolving So that was you. Drop the charade, Kemper. No, that was me. Drop the charade. Drop the charade. Important players, both of them.

I love the Leafs line so much. How have we never done this before? Just feel that as far as Marner's concerned, I will always feel like he's undervalued or underestimated on the importance of him on this hockey club. That's just, that's it. That's it. When it comes to... Is part of it that you feel like it's, you know, you're advocating for someone underappreciated

and maybe it's closer than people think? It is closer than people think. I do think it's closer than people think. I would closer than people think. I do think it's closer than people think. I would agree with that. You know. Especially this season. The guys that I've played or watched over my lifetime around the game,

there's good players, there's great players, and then there's players that find a way to make you better, right? Not the other way around. And Marner's that type of guy. He will make you better. Right, not the other way around. And Marner's that type of guy. He will make you better. Austin shoots it in the net, he's the finisher. He's not really making anybody better.

That's just such a crazy thing to say. Not to that extent. Not to that extent. Marner's one of the premier playmakers in the league. I've gone back to you on this many times. Prototypical centerments, number one centerments. You gotta facilitate, move the puck and pass the puck. Leafs are not a good passing team.

I think you are not just inaccurate with your criticism of Matthews. I think you're wrong about it you know like I think this is we are witnessing the prime of one of the NHL's greatest goal scorers yes yes we come in here like a veteran like go that hillum for something new or not killing him we're not killing you not agree but I don't think there's any day you've come in here and been like that guy special. I believe he's a special goal scorer but he's not a special like complete player. Yeah here's what I think is tough for Leafs Nation. I want him to be like Connor McDavid. Yeah he's not

Connor McDavid. Well I said he was like multiple times. Well then he should be very close. I think what's hard for people with Mitch Marner is that in Toronto we want to do hyperbole. Everyone's the greatest or they suck. You know, everyone's, you can't, whatever. And Marner's like the 15th best player in the league. And that's fine if you have a different opinion of that. In that range to me, 15th, whatever it is.

And it's really hard for people to be like just, he's excellent. Because some people want to be like- But he's not power. He's going to find different ways to beat you, but it's just not the power one right and Which is something they've all been the playoffs is what happened and they've all been shut down in the playoffs Yeah, I think Willie's Clark Gillies for some reason because he scored two more goals than all of them. But anyway, yeah Let it call call three, please. Hey guys. I love show. Steve from Watford, Ontario here. What I want to know as three Leaf fans,

would you guys be content with the Leafs making the conference final and losing respectively in six or seven games? I know it's not a cup. I know it's not a cup final, but let's be realistic here. Would winning two rounds keep Leafland from starting riots in the GTA? Again, love the show. Thanks guys, have a good one.

And we're the three best friends that anybody can have. Great question. Great question. Here's my answer. The Leafland. Yes. Yes. Unequivocally, yes.

Like not even a hesitation. Yes. You know, we're looking at a month and a half compared to two weeks. The energy in this city, if they're in the conference final, if they're going to game six, they won two games in the conference final.

Like there's, Maple Leaf Square is Maple Leaf downtown at that point. Like we would get to experience the energy and the belief. And I think that's the saddest part about their failures to this point is not just not winning It's just not getting to have the memories that you get on the way of the run Can I tell you like how sad it is how much I enjoy those first round moments? Like I think back of those like there are these all-time moments. It's like yeah every the Oilers have that every year I think the other two talking about the kerfut

Oh my god, what a little happened before every single thing and it's like every other good team does that every year How about Sheldon keeps reaction? Oh my god the one the car With Tavares, yeah Well, I mean the all nice one was fine Like they would get like I mean all whenever they do it, whatever they do is. Whatever it is, it's natural. Yeah. It's not like, you know, it's like,

but it's essential. It shows you. It's pressed up against all those disappointing years. That's what it was, right? But what's so hard is they had home ice and then they went down to nothing in home ice and you knew it was over. Were they not, Florida was an eight seed.

Oh yeah, yeah, right, yeah. So you knew going back to Florida, it was over were they not Florida was an eight seed. Oh, yeah, yeah, right Yeah, so you knew going back to Florida it was over And so you didn't even get to enjoy that round for nine seconds They went down three zip and they won games three game four and then came back here and lost But there it just cousins on the left wing It sucked the air out of the balloon before the city got to really be a part of it What do we do now? So we are all in agreement. The bar is low here apparently. We'll just take, the goalposts have moved.

We'll take anything past 30 days. Call 04. Hi, my name is Gail. I have a question. I just wondered if anybody's got any thoughts on why Connor Dewar is never brought up on a higher line. He's always on a higher line. He's always on the fourth line. I think he's a digger.

He's a good solid player. I just think they should try him on one of the, at least third line, sometimes maybe the second line. Just wondered what your thoughts were on that. Thank you. As a standing member of The Dudes, one of the very, the big members of that community. Allow me to make this case.

I had to play my girl Gail's call. Allow me to make the case. Yes. He's 24 years old, and last season, when they got him for halfway through the year, at the deadline or whatever, he scored 11 times, the 24 year old. In that year, he had off season shoulder surgery

to repair a torn labrum. Like you believe a guy like that is on the up in this surgery holds you back a little bit It's possible there's more from this guy and he's maybe starting to find it a bit He's look good lately if there's any like if there's any scenario out there is a gale gale gale If there's any scenario out there where someone's hurt and you could and if he was to fill in He wouldn't necessarily look like he's out of place. Like him or Robertson on the third line.

He may not score, but he would not look bad in any way, shape, or form. The problem is right now, who are you gonna take out of their top nine to move him up anywhere past? No, no, you're not, you're not. Look at Robertson the way he can shoot a puck in the net. Okay, Connor cannot do what Nick Robertson can do offensively.

So outside of that, it's not Bobby McMahon, it's not Willie, it's like who, there's no room for him to move up. And I'm not saying they should move him, but I'm saying it's on a different team. If he's on Anaheim or he's on like there he could play in those spots but this is a team with aspiration Max gets hurt could he go play middle between Robertson and Lawrence couple games couple maybe he could fill in yeah I was watching the state controlled media

on YouTube the other day the leaf or whatever they have there I gotta watch that it's just like a little juice for this little clip up or whatever and they do like the belt thing every game and Morgan Riley lost the belt apparently like they couldn't find the belt and he was gonna give it to Connor Dewar That's bad. Anyways, bet Omen. He said it to give you didn't give it to Connor Dewar, but he's eating He mentioned it. I don't know. You couldn't find it. They couldn't find a leather belt and anyways a hockey bag somebody somebody yelled from across the room at They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They didn't remember it. They didn't remember it. They didn't remember it. They couldn't find it. They didn't remember it. They couldn't find it.

They didn't remember it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They didn't remember it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it.

They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it.

They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. They couldn't find it. Yeah, nail gun is an incredible nickname. So I think about doing murder. Hey, all right The fight in Philly buddy that can change my eyes. He threw some those little tiny moments. I had a few of them over my career There's like People look at you differently. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, okay. Yeah, you can have a moment where it's like, you know, I'm here We just got a bad fight and hex doll. Oh How I feel about you moment somebody just Ryan tweeted me said that was Dewar's mom for sure Kids these days call six, I think maybe whatever five call five

Hey, Sammy, we calling from Thornhill. So why is there no not enough talk about Sidney Crosby? We all know we need a center He should want to leave there. Don't you think yeah, and if so, he should be here And if he is here, what do we got to give up? Is it an Easton Cowan? No problem. I watched them in the juniors. No problem. We have to give up Fraser Minton, too Hmm. We have to give up both of them to get Crosby. What do we do it? I think I would because I think that's your best chance to win a cup feel free to discuss. Thank you You guys do a great job. That's a great one. Yeah, I would trade Sammy

You can go work for Pittsburgh Go go follow Kyle do is his penguins without said What do you got? Yep? What I got is any type of talk like this would have happened Go follow Kyle DeWis's penguins without Sid. Sick. What do you got, Kip? What I got is any type of talk like this would have happened before he signed his extension this past summer. What if they were in 14th or 15th? Again, every scenario would have been covered.

Now if you think that they might have had a conversation of let's sign you here, we'll start here, if it gets ugly, we'll ship you out. Yeah, so if it's already established. If it's already established. But the CID, I know, wouldn't have had a conversation with the Pittsburgh Penguins saying, listen, why don't we start, if we suck,

I'll bail on you and I'll bail on my teammates and I'll go to Colorado or I'll go to the Toronto Maple Leaf. That's not Sid Crosby. He didn't take 8.7 instead of 13 to help out some other team salary cap. That was not his plan. So unfortunately, that ship sailed on Sid going anywhere. Sid with 50% retention, would you trade all of the Leafs players for him? Maybe.

Let's do another call. Let's bang through these. I don't call for six or five. Hey, Sammy. This is Mike. I listen to the show every day from England. You guys really keep me up to date with everything going on at the Leafs. So thanks for that.

My question is, do you ever think the Leafs will play a game in England? I know they've been out to Sweden but it'd be great to have the Leafs a bit closer to home for me so let me know what you guys think. Well good question. Yes, I do. Yeah. Well they went out there for like exhibition or training camp. I mean they've been in Prague and Helsinki and they're all over Europe. I mean going to London in September would be great if you're a professional hockey player.

London is the best city in the world. There's a lot of talk about outdoor games, Wembley. I hear Wembley. There's that sort of conversations that happen. There's a thousand euro ticket right there. Another call? Yeah, yeah. Let's get it in. Okay.

Yes, I think it'll happen. Okay. Call whatever we're on. Oh, maybe not. Eight? Seven? Play one. Hey, Sammy.

Oh, no. Hey, Sammy. It's Joe from Cornwall. Just wondering what your reaction will be when the Bruins go in the tank because I'm a Bruins fan and the Leafs go after Brad Mershian. Will you wear a Leafs Brad Mershian jersey on the show? That is my question. I can answer this in advance.

Yes. The most unequivocal yes of all time. I'm thrilled. You'll wear it with the name bar on the front somehow. There is no yes. And this actually kind of works out perfectly because we're going to talk about this in national hour. But yes. Yes. Yes

Yeah, yes, because if you're Canadian scrap if you want to talk about trading cow and trading whatever yes Yeah, yes, but I'm in the stack and I sign it up. I'll drive them to the airport. Yes, do it odds zero This and then we now consult our objects just go back to my earlier conversation about Crosby and substitute Just go back to my earlier conversation about Crosby and substitute Marchand's name in there. It's like, I don't think it's going to happen, but you can dream. Maybe once Pasta gives him the boot from all their drama, we're going to get to that in the next hour. I think caller, could you play caller 12, Derek? I think that's one that I wanted to get in.

Yeah, Sammy Wayne here. Neil Ander. I watched hockey for 65 years. I'm an old man. Neil Lander is as good as I've ever seen in 65 years of watching NHL hockey. By the way, I see Barney's wearing a hat from Pinehurst, suggesting that he's played the course. I'm surprised that his old lady let him out of the house long enough to get 18 holes in.

That's it, it's all I got for you today, buddy, but I think this is a great idea. Catch you later, bye bye. Oh my. What a random chirp. The leaf line rocks. I just took an absolute stray for no reason. Your wife's not listening today.

Listen, you don't think she's in charge? She knows the rules. Quickly, maybe 11, 11. I had one that I really want to play. Hey Brian, this is Rob Roy. Nah, this isn't it. If you listen to NHL... A few things Kipper.

Yes? That's a crap, right? Nah, that's not it. If you list the NHL... A few things, Kipper. Yes? If Sammy brings up golf or baseball, especially baseball one more time, let's fine him 50 bucks each time he brings up baseball. He talks about that silly sport. And why don't we trade Morgan Riley? God love him. But trade Riley for Pederson.

We could use another center. Thanks, Kipper. Thanks, Bourne. Sammy, Kipper, thanks, Bourne. Sammy, no more golf, no more baseball. That's enough. You know what? This actually brings up an idea. Like you guys did a kangaroo court

with your NHL teams, I'm sure. Guys get little fines, whatever. We could have like a monthly court on here for you calling Hill to be Hillbilly or Sammy talking about God knows what. Team Canada crying. Yeah. We could just a couple of bucks.

We could have, we could judge it. All right, we'll work on the rules. We're working on it. We're working on it. But it got your feet wet, so you could make it to the big leagues up here with me and JB. Big time.

Right, golf and baseball. I will say Leaf Line Rocks. That was really good. 10 out of 10. Yeah. Oh, did you hire actors for all of that? Those were real. Yes. We got a thousand more that are just as good. I couldn't get them all. Thanks everyone. Appreciate it. Yes. We love you calling in. That was awesome. Okay. We're back national. Plenty to get into. Don't go away. Real Kipper and Borne.