Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Deadline Head Start

Episode Date: March 6, 2024

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee catch up on a trade-heavy day in the NHL as GMs are eager to make moves ahead of Friday's deadline, though no moves from the Leafs yet. They get into the tough position Brad Treliving is in with the asset cupboards near empty, if the Leafs missed out on any of the players moved today and the improvements in the Eastern Conference competition. Later, Sam cooks up some bold fake trades for the Leafs. Finally, they welcome Brad May (28:20) into the studio to share how this time of year affects players' mentalities, the feeling of being traded, what the Leafs need to prioritize at the deadline and how Ryan Reaves' energy impacts the team.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.

let's welcome everybody into great deadline day ah chaos on the Real Kipper and Bourne Show. Wherever you're watching, listening. Sportsnet 590, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet Plus from 4 to 6. I think trade deadline day's today, not tomorrow at 3 p.m. Unofficially, it's going right now, boys. Yeah, all these GMs heard I was about to come in here and take their jobs by giving fake trades. They're like, we got to get them over with. It is fake trade day, though.

It's real trade day. Since we went off the air to right up until this moment, five trades, five transactions. Sammy, does that sound about right? You know, we usually do that. I know. I knew you were going to say it. I got it here in front of me. Just give me one second, Kipper.

Of course, that trade tracker. Since we went off air, we have had the Vegas Golden Knights acquire Anthony Manta for a second round pick and a fourth round pick. They retained 50% of the contract for Manta. The Florida Panthers acquired

Vladimir Cherisenko for a fourth and a third. Oh, come on. Adam Henrik and Sam Carrick to the Anaheim Ducks for a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick. Two Edmonton Oilers from Anaheim. Yep. And we had Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers.

Do Sean Walker to the Colorado Avalanche. Ryan Johansson goes back to the Flyers in a first-round pick in that one as well. And Casey Middlestat and Boehm-Byram swapped. So Colorado gets Casey Middlestat. Boehm-Byram goes to the Sabres. And the most recent one is Alex Wenberg for a second and a fourth.

So Alex Wenberg from Seattle to New York Rangers for a second and a fourth. So Alex Wenberg from Seattle to New York Rangers for a second and a fourth. In about 32 minutes, to be exact, we're going to welcome in Brad May, former NHLer, Stanley Cup champion. He's also going to participate in Sportsnet's wall-to-wall coverage tomorrow. Oh, Friday.

You're doing it again. It's Sony Wednesday today. Why does it feel like Thursday? It's been a bit of a hectic week. There's just lots going on. Lots going on. I've done that two weeks in a row. I've jumped like a day and a half to Friday.

Yeah, you see a vacation in the distance. So once again, let me reiterate, Brad May will be in Friday, which isn't today or tomorrow. No. No. But he is here today. He's part of the panel, and we're going to be part of the panel.

I don't know if you saw their promo board yesterday, but it had, like, the boardroom and then the players and then the, like then the news breakers and then you guys. And then Real Kipper and Bored. I haven't seen it yet. They didn't give us a name. They just said Real Kipper and Bored. I haven't seen it yet, but last year they had it. It was all, it was like

newsroom, boardroom, the players, and I'm beside the players. Now keep in mind I played. And I'm under a headline that just says analytics. I wasn't as good, but I played. I'm under a headline that just says analytics. It's like, I wasn't as good, but like I played, I'm just the analytics guy. Ah,

well, we'll find, we'll give ourselves a title by Friday. How's that? Also Jason Bukala. Of course, he's done a great job on the real Kipper and Bourne show is our head scout, a guy that's lived it, been in the trenches before this time of year.

He does a great job of breaking it down to who's got assets, who doesn't, who's in a good position still between now and Friday at 3 p.m. So we'll look for Jason at the top of the hour to kick things off on our national edition of our show. But in the meantime, all these trades, Sammy, JB, none involving the Toronto Maple Leafs,

Sammy, your Toronto Maple Leafs. How do you feel about that? The things are, are quiet right now. Ah, yeah, I,

I don't know. I, I'm a little conflicted here because as a fan, you love transactions. There's few things that get the fan base as horned up as transactions do. It really is a remarkable thing. But at the same time, I'm looking over these deals today, and none of them I'm like, ah, yeah, I sure wish the least of that. Like, can you talk me into the Adam Henrik one?

Sure. Like, I guess you could have traded the first but maybe that's just more of longing for a transaction but none of the trades that happened today am i like that changes them that gives them a better chance of beating the uh of beating the florida panthers or being the boston bruins not to uh correct you but like to disagree i guess colorado got way better for sure you know i agree walker i mean middle stat i mean who is the leafs equivalent of middle stat or like of bowen byram like is it going to be they don't have it to your point they couldn't have made that

like that one to me it's not even really a leafs equivalent equivalent they're not going to be like yeah sure we'll take david camp for bowen byram or yeah lilligren for whatever. It's just, I'm conflicted. I want a transaction. I think they need help. But at the same time, they got nothing. Boys, I tried to do a fake trade thing today because you guys told me to do it. Yes, we did.

I woke up this morning at 8.30 and I was working on it till noon. It's hard. Brad is in a really hard spot here. There is not a lot to work with. When you don't have picks and all your players kind of make what they make and you have no real prospects outside of like two really good ones lots of no moves you woke up and sweated it out for like three hours grinding be brad tree living right now and the moment you got named general manager

way back when, this is all you've done every day is look around the league and going, okay, how many picks have I got to work with? What do I got? Who can I move? I just picture Brad sitting in front of a

fireplace in the dark, no lights on his house, swirling a glass of brandy once in a while, just going, Dubas. Dubas, Dubas. Nothing to work with. No, I just, I really do, as I sat down and tried to go through it and looked at the, I looked at Cervelli's trade board and who he had and thought about what they could do.

They really are limited and they're getting left behind like second round picks for wenberg right they don't have lots of seconds yeah like second round picks are a huge bargaining chip at deadlines they don't have one first round picks it's like if you they trade the 2025 first round pick they're not showing up for the draft it's like they are really really strapped I'm not just coming to this realization now. When I sat down to do it, I kind of fell for Brad a little bit. Yeah.

I did. I get it. So what have your thoughts been on the trades, Kip? Was there any that happened that you went, Leafs missed a chance here? No. No. No, not at all.

I think Walker, for sure. Yeah. Like, that's a significant addition, I think, to Colorado, a guy that could skate, move the puck. Mm-hmm. You think they, yeah, I mean, the price they ended up paying for him. That wasn't cheap. Wasn't cheap.

And the Leafs, I don't think were willing to go there. I also think, you know, they paid a first to Philly, but part of that is for the courtesy of taking Johansson off their hands. So it's more like a second. First, don't get involved until you get the sweetener. So you're right. That was a second until they would eat Ryan Johansson's contract, which if I'm not mistaking still has another year it's not like

you're you're buying it the rest of the year does he still not have another year is that right like that's a significant um yeah kip you're right yeah this year and next yeah so that's why it goes to a first and seattle couldn't get a first for Wenberg. They tried really hard, but they couldn't do it. So they end up with, what, a second and a fourth, you said, Sammy? Yeah. Yeah, if you're a seller right now, you probably haven't loved how today has shaken out.

Like the Tarasenko one is different, right, because he had a no move and kind of only wanted to go to Florida. Why did you cringe when you mentioned Tarasenko to Florida? Because you think they got better? I do. A lot better? No, but that's just one extra guy. I know you've always kind of... He's a wild card

for me. You've never loved him. And the three years we've done this show together, you bristle when he gets brought up. I think he's high maintenance. For sure. I think he's a guy that he needs to be happy first, and then I can be happy for the team. But I can't fake it. I also think when you look at that package they got for him,

he clearly motivated to go there because that was probably what ended up being the price wants to go there is a ufa going to the best team in the league gonna not be the number one scoring option it's a really good situation for him to go into yeah he's probably going to be the better version of his happy self 100 that is where he is and he won't play top competition but kip i'm where's he gonna play right i, who's he bumping out? How much of a power play can he get? And if he's not, is he going to sulk?

Is he going to... I sneaky like it from if you're a Leafs fan hoping for some sabotage. It's like he could be a dissident if he's unhappy. Yes. He's not getting the power play he wants. We saw it in St. Louis. And it doesn't always defend, you know, with the ferocity of some of the typical Panthers players.

Now, saying that, I've been around the game long enough to understand if you've got a strong room, then you can overcome a guy with, on occasion, drags his lip into the dressing room. You know what my thought was? In Florida, what you're hoping for is Marion Gabrick. Remember, Gabrick goes there at the deadline deadline kind of a one-way scorer la needed some scoring and he was really he ended up scoring or signing a big contract for them and the contract didn't work out but he was great for them on their first stanley cup run or their second whichever one it

was you know he could be that he could go there be awesome for them shoot it in the net a bunch and you know all you got to do is win one cup and you're happy. There is some thought, too, that if the Leafs may have wanted to shore up some depth, they could add another forward, a guy that can slip in on a third-line checking roll. Would that have been Wenberg? Would that have been Middlestad? Middlestad I like. You do, right?

I do like Middlestad a lot. I liked him a lot more earlier in his career keep in mind i watch buffalo never these days yeah but he was that hot shot uh world junior kind of star that came out with a lot of sizzle and never found an early fit with buffalo i think he was sent down he was hurt too i think on occasion so yeah it was a a slow start now correct me if i'm wrong but he's the leading scorer at the point that he got traded today he's got 47 points this year which i like so he's that he's had a good he's had a good run when you score in a bad team like that it says something and you know i like that he's 25 years old i like that he's 6-1-200 like i i think that's a guy that can play any and he plays two-way hockey so

you know i understand you know maybe he's not been what people thought he would be but i think he's a useful guy to me that's a really interesting trade from both perspectives because bowling byram was like two teams giving up on a guy. For sure. But it's two guys... I wouldn't say... Yeah, I guess giving up. But Byram was... In that cup run, was a revelation.

He was their... He skates like a human. He was an amazing player. And then he had the concussion issues and he hasn't really been the same since. But if you get him back to 75% of what he was for them in that playoff series with him and Darlene and Owen Power,

it's like you're starting to really build something on the back end, but it's a big risk. It is, but I wonder if you're Buffalo and you're not like, Colorado's going on these deep playoff runs every year. He's had some concussion problems. We're not going to make the playoffs. He can have five months off before we play an NHL hockey game to get right, get acclimated, and then you try to,

you're taking, it's a high risk, high reward. Maybe he's injury prone. You never get the best of them. Maybe he's a top pair defenseman in the league that you're getting at 22 years old. So I like the risk on their behalf. If they think middle stats is going to be eh, then I like the risk. The Henrik to Edmonton one. I know we're doing the NHL hour right here.

No, but we can do more. I'd do that one if I were the Leafs. I would have done that one. Carrick is Noel Achari. He is literally Noel Achari. You would have liked both of them? Yep. And then what?

You waive Gregor or you just open up the room? Yeah, it certainly would change things. That was expensive for Edmonton. Well, yeah, because I didn't realize they also gave Tampa a fourth and a fourth to Tampa to eat more money. Yeah. So, yeah, first, a fourth, and a fifth. That's not cheap.

No. I don't know. The Leafs can't. To Sam's point earlier. It's the retention that's costing teams these extra. They were down that path on a couple occasions in the last three years they've spent a lot they spent a lot already is there so for you it's henrique that's not enough if you're going to do this because i know you're not opposed to all in you've been

pushing all in for a month i would like henrique too yeah i I just don't know if that's going to put you over the top. Now, you're going to tell me that you've somehow found a way to get Colton Pareko here and Henrik, and now I'm feeling a lot better about the Toronto Maple Leafs and all in. Yeah, but now you don't have a first. You don't have Minton. You don't have a fourth.

You don't have, you know, there's. Did you see their draft in 2025? They don't have a first. You don't have Minton. You don't have a fourth. You don't have, you know, there's... Did you see their draft in 2025? They don't have one. They don't have one. There's no draft. There's no draft. Leafs don't need to show up. The table will be empty.

Yeah, they might as well just... Do they actually have no picks? I think they have fourth. No first, no second, no third, no fourth, two fifths. So technically... They have four picks in the last three rounds. If it's a two-day draft again they they don't have to go no on a friday night and they can sleep in saturday morning just get

pickled and wake up in the sphere the next morning what did i miss who's available so if they find a way to nibble around the edges again and go get another Labushkin in the name of Nick Jensen or Matt Dumba, will that make you feel better, Sammy? Yeah, for sure. They need to add more players. They need to add another defenseman, if you ask me. I would. It would make me feel better, but not otherworldly.

I'm not going to be over the moon. What would Colton Prego do for you? I think would get a lot of people excited. You too? Yeah. I'd like to see a big guy like that on the blue line. Sure. I told you yesterday, I'm real nervous.

Six years left. I said yesterday 6'5". You said 6'2". I don't think i said anything height wise no no salary oh yeah and it's six five isn't it no it's six two no it's six five is it yeah yeah yeah he steered me in the wrong and i'm like so dumb i'm like you're the producer. I'm just a dumb ex-hockey player trying to be a host. So I'll believe you, 6'2". And then it's 6'5". Yeah, it's a lot. But it's a lot of money.

It's a lot of money. 6'2", 6'5", a ton of money at six years to go. That wouldn't make you nervous at all? Of course it would. But I just... I don't think he's playing that great, but then St. Louis wasn't playing that great, and maybe a shot of adrenaline to come here

and play with Matthews and Marner. Do you have any reason to think that that's possible even? Yes. Yeah? I do. I do. I think they were willing to give up the first for Tanov, and Calgary didn't bite,

and I think it's still out there to play. What do you think a cost for a guy like Pareko would be? Because I imagine... I have a fake trade involving Colton. Okay, how would you want it? Throw it out, baby. Should we get into him? Should we get going?

Throw it out. This is a massive face-melting blockbuster trade that's never gonna happen let me hear you're not here to do it's a parakeet trade correct it is okay then that's what we want to hear and a lot of these bodies involved in this because you know you got to send money out right this is something that they are having a problem with and i sent some contracts out the door i hate these 10-player ones or whatever. It's a banger.

I can't make sense of it. Okay. Okay, so it's TJ Brody as part of this. Connor Timmons as part of this. Bobby McMahon. Frazier Minton. Pontus Holmberg. Oh, my God, dude.

And Callie Yarncroft. What? That's after team. Two first-round picks and a third for Colton Pareko, Pavel Buchnevich, and Alexey Topinchenko. Hold on. Pareko, Buchnevich, and Torbchenko? Yeah.

What's Buchnevich? What's his contract situation? 5-7 this year and next. Yeah. Torbchenko and Bucinavich. And you're sending two first-rounders? Yeah, because that's for Bucinavich. That's what they want for Bucinavich.

And the other stuff is just to fill in the bugs. It's too big a trade for me to make sense of. Kipper said to me a million times that he wants to change the whole bottom half of the team. I just did it. You did it. Brody Timmons, McMahoncmahon holmberg and yarn crock five roster players yeah and you get three back i don't think i need to i think i can get away with this trade without losing mcmahon and holmberg i i don't need to throw both of them in okay so then you're bringing another team to

make you got the money yeah but it's only you're talking about bring in another team to make money. Oh, because that means the money work? Yeah. But it's only, you're talking about 750. No, like, I mean, they both make. Between Holmberg and McMahon. Yeah, they make a million and a bit combined, right? So you just, like, it's hard. It's really hard to make money work. Listen, I like it for the Leafs. I like that Bucinavich has another year.

Turovchenko, do you know his contract situation? It's not much. The first two responses on the text line are, are you drunk? Are you guys all high? Desired effect, maybe. I like the thought of getting a D and a forward like that, for sure.

You just don't want to give up half the Leafs roster for it. It honestly is too big for me to make sense of. There you go. I like the idea of trying to get those guys. You don't care about Timmons. Nope. Bobby McMahon has never played like this ever in his life. Bobby McMahon is a UFA, so it's useless.

St. Louis doesn't want Bobby McMahon. They're missing the playoffs, and he's going to go UFA. It's useless. Pontus Holmberg has some value to them. Fraser Minton's a high pick, two first-round picks. Minton and the two firsts are what they're after. You want to get nuts? Let's get nuts.

I like it. You like it? I like it. It's not... It needs work. Of course. Yeah. No crap.

I'm just an idiot. Of course it needs work. You can't have a book or an article or whatever. You know, you create the clay here and then you start molding. You start cutting and adding. But this is also a trade that if it doesn't quite work out... You're done. You're done.

You have no draft. ...for the next 10 years. It would actually eliminate the Leafs from having a first or a second for three straight drafts. Do you want any other ones that I cooked up? I mean, very much so. I gave you the one I was closing with first.

Yeah. But that was the first big one. We want another one. Okay, let's just... Go ahead. Let's leave Bucinavich out for a second and just focus on Colton Pareko. Well, trim that down to a Pareko trade?

Yeah, so trim it down for me. A first? I think the contract is a negative asset. I think that it's that long and a guy who's going to be 36 with some injury problems and declining play is like, they want to get rid of it to me. So I don't think it's a huge ask i think it's you know in a way you're saying to them we'll

give you a pick but give you the first but we'll take that contract that risk but if you're doug armstrong and i don't necessarily disagree with you that uh you know i'm looking on outs of this contract. I don't have to negotiate against myself with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I'll just go into the draft this summer and open it up to 15, 20 teams who may want to take Colton Pareko by then. You know, I hear that a lot, but I don't see that play out in reality a lot. Like, I don't know. But you've got a lot of time to still move this asset. You do.

And people need defense. For sure. And I think that the younger in the contract you get him for a playoff run, the more value it has. You know, like I would think now is when you could get a first for it. Otherwise, I think it risks becoming the OEL deal, as I mentioned yesterday, where you end up getting it bought out or

something because he doesn't perform. Would a first Minton do it for Pareko, but they'd have to eat? They'd have to eat so much money for so long. Yeah, I know, but you have to take Brody, throw Brody in there to take it.

Are the St. Louis Blues, they're going to pay, how many years left? They're going to pay $10 million for a guy? What are you talking about? For if they're retaining on. Oh, I'm not looking for retention. Well, that's what you meant. No, I did not.

No, I think that they can do this, taking the whole contract and just moving Brody's number out. Yeah, that's what I did in my trade that is getting absolutely blasted by everyone. I love it. No one likes anything. No, it's great. I had the desired effect. You guys want another one?

I do. I also want this Pareko thing now to happen. Mitch Marner for Sidney Crosby. Okay, next one. This is involving the Seattle Kraken and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yeah. Timothy Lilligren, TJ Brody, Callie Yarncroft,

a first and a third for Adam Larson at 50% retained, or 5% retained, and Yanni Gord at 50% retained. Seattle's hanging up on people who call for their defense. Hanging up. Hanging up. They're not even having a conversation. I had heard from someone that Borgen was, you could get him. I like that one, though.

This trade? Yes. Yes. Lily Brody and Yarncroft, a first and a third for Larson. Very specifically, 5% retained to make the math work. Yes, and 50%. That's how I know you did the work. I'm very impressed.

And 50% on Yanni Gord. And Gord has how many years left? This and next. At five something. And Larson has this and next as well. Okay, hold on. And 50% on Yanni Gord. And Gord has how many years left? This and next at five something. And Larson has this and next as well. Okay, hold on for a second. Do it again for me. I'm with you now.

I saw a squirrel. TJ Brody. Hold on. TJ Brody. Timothy Lilligren. And Kelly Yonkrok. A first and a third for Adam Larson at 5% retained. And Yanni Gord at 50% retained.

Do you understand though that this kills Seattle? It makes them so much worse. They'll never do this. If you're Seattle, you're saying we like the first and the third. You're doing it as a super fan right now. You like the first and the third. Kelly Yarncroft

is a decent NHL player. And you get a third line player on a Stanley Cup contending team. Similar to what Yanni Gord is. Yanni Gord is a better version of Cali Yarncrock to me. And Lily. Why?

Because he's tough. Tough. Tougher. Yeah. He's competitive. Hard nose. He's a playoff performer. Yarncrock has yet to prove he can play in the playoffs. This is not doing it for oh yeah you're shutting it down you gotta add it's nothing it's okay it's making seattle significantly worse so if you give them a first and a they're not they want to win now they're pissed that they've missed the playoffs they think they're going to come back next year and make the playoffs.

Yanni Gard on pace for 11 goals and 21 assists, 75 pims. This is pace. Yeah, he's not having a huge hit. No. You got to give something up here. So if you throw in a Minton or Robertson or something like that, it's going to do it? Not enough value. Okay.

You're getting, see, the real value in this trade is Larson. And what makes him more attractive, besides being a real steady guy out there, is his contract is really attractive moving forward here. I think he's got two more years at what four little over four like it's that's what you dream of for teams to have they're not giving it away okay might be worth the first and the third in that trade if you if you were for sale right now if you were for sale right now you would be looking at potentially yeah a, a first and a second. Yeah.

Okay. Well, the one I had was involving Adam Henrique, so I can't do that one anymore. Okay, Henrique. I had him to Toronto at 50% retained for Nick Robertson and a third-round pick, and Montreal has to give Chicago's fifth-round pick to Montreal to retain some of the money to make it work.

No, I get it. Yeah, obviously not. First rounder. I told you guys a long time ago that that guy was first round potential. And the last one I have is involving Dumba at 50% retained. So you're giving them Lilligren, a fourth in 2026, and Gregor to make the money work for Dumba at 50% retained. Lilligren fourth, yeah. You really want to get rid of Lilligren, a fourth in 2026, and Gregor to make the money work for Dumba at 50% retained. Lilligren, fourth.

Yeah. You really want to get rid of Lilligren. Oh, I'm dying to. Yeah. Fair enough. Listen, if I'm the general manager here. If I'm Arizona and I go Lillie for Dumba, I'm very happy if I'm Arizona.

Give me the younger player who might have some upside, who plays 20 minutes a night sometimes, and yeah, take my Dumba. But if I'm the Leafs I like it too. He's better today I think. Can do more things at least. So there you go boys. How about that? I gotta play out that Blues one again. That was a

bomb. That took me some time. I appreciate the work you put into this. We're going to welcome in Brad May after the break. I have a bonus Canucks one. Should I save the Canucks one for the national show? Okay sure uh thoughts uh before we go to break on the buffalo sabers coming in you want to hear uh sheldon keep talk about the 9-3 loss i think i think we should just get brad may he's outside the door so we'll get him coming in here all right

you're the boss brad may after the break may Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Breaking down the top stories in hockey and Elliott Friedman every day. The Jeff Merrick Show. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Kip Reels, Justin Bourne, and in studio with us, the delightful Brad May. An essential part of our show for years now. So he walks in. I give him like a little of the man hug right there. And like still a big, thick man with big mitts.

And I'm like, it's just nice to give you a nice friendly hug rather than you beating on my head that one night behind the Hartford net where we ended up squaring off. And I'm like, you guys fought. Yeah, we fought. And I'm like,

this is like your circumstantial. This is stupid because we teach every summer at Vern Buffy's hockey school. We Seneca college, we skate. And I'm like, this is how desperate I am to like, hang on to a career that I got to fight my good friend, Brad May and the

answer was yes yes in conclusion hey the one thing I'd say about that is there's nothing wrong with fighting your friends it's nothing wrong with fighting and hockey back then anyways um it was your job you're playing for the crest on the on the front of your jersey and we all knew it we actually made each other more valuable yeah you. You know, the more partners you had throughout the league, and of course, as that dwindled, maybe the relevance of fighting kind of, you know, diminished. But Nick, it was always fun playing against you. It was fun.

And I looked up to Nick, and he's a few years older than me, but, you know, Vern Buffy's hockey school, summer skates, you know, like we all do graves adam graves spot um jeff benek who was a player who never got anywhere yes um we had a ton of fun super rich right now i hear yeah oh really so he's doing way better than us good for genuine question do you dial back the violence on the punches at all because it's a buddy or is it still you got to win a fight not a chance no. No, not a chance. First of all, at that time, Hartford Whalers, Buffalo Sabres, Adams Division. Now, maybe that wasn't the greatest rivalry,

but when Nick was playing for the Rangers, I think we had another one in front of the bench where I think Nick suckered me. But I think I got it. He's bigger and stronger than me. I needed the head start. Let me ask you about this week as we go into the, as we are right in the thick of things of the trade deadline. Were you one of those players that just went with the flow?

Because I can recall playing with a lot of guys who really got nervous this time of year. And you could just tell whether you're in practice with them, having a beer with them, or playing an actual game. They're not snapping out of it until this thing's over. Yeah, you know, for me, I got traded twice in the trade deadline. So it was more about contract expiring, wanting to continue to play, not knowing where that's going to be. So trades were always exciting.

Great. Other than the first trade from Buffalo to Vancouver in my career, that was heartbreaking until you got to the next city and you had 24, 25 new friends and guys that wanted you on their team and it was exciting. And then, of course, going to Vancouver, Mark Messia and Pavelvel buray um fortunately became my line mates for the rest of the season so that was pretty incredibly exciting for me um but i never you know throughout my career later in my career um obviously trade deadline days you just don't didn't know what teams wanted out of you

or were they gonna you know invest in you further, longer term. So at that point, a trade actually is an opportunity for players. So for me, it was the greatest thing. I traveled North America. I got to play for seven different teams, but Vancouver twice. I got traded back to Vancouver at a deadline and had an opportunity to play in the playoffs, chase your dream. And the second trade at the deadline was had an opportunity to play in the playoffs, chase your dream.

And the second trade at the deadline was a dream come true. I got traded to the Anaheim Ducks, and we won three months later. Did you know the first one to Vancouver, it was coming, it was rumored? Were you a little prepared, or were you completely blindsided? I wasn't completely blindsided. There was a change in ownership, change in management, change in coaching. And when that happens, there's casualties. It took a half a season to get there.

I was kind of at that point, I had a shoulder problem in Buffalo. They thought I was done. What I'd like to say and look at those guys and talk to them today was, I played 12 more years. And they thought I was finished. But at that point that point I mean they're trying to build their team for the future they ended up going to the conference final that season the Buffalo Sabres and the next year they went to the Stanley Cup final and lost to Dallas so Buffalo made some great moves for my trade Jeff Sanderson came back the other way from Vancouver and he was a great

goal scorer for Buffalo and and really you know solidified whether he was on the second or third line. I'm not sure. But for Jeff, it was great. And for me, it gave me a new lease on life out in Vancouver. So trades are great for players if you're ready for it. At the end of the day, it's a professional sport. Until you're traded, you're definitely apprehensive. But the more it happened or the more moves that I had in my career,

the more exciting it was. Yeah. Yeah. had in my career, um, the more exciting it was. Yeah. Yeah. So it's interesting because by the time you got traded to Anaheim, you were far enough long in your career that you're a veteran guy with a ton of experience. How is it going into a new room? You know, you don't want to be the voice of a new room or be too overbearing or kind of

working your way in as someone who wants to be a veteran leader, but you can't kind of force yourself on people. A hundred percent. working your way in as someone who wants to be a veteran leader but you can't kind of force yourself on people 100 so i learned that and and every team that you go to you learn that where the power dynamics are how that room every room works a little bit differently um obviously it comes down to the performance on the ice but chemistry is such a big deal one thing i can say about the anaheim trade um and not making myself any more important than what I was, and I definitely did some great things in the stretch drive and then, of course, the playoffs to win,

but I didn't screw it up, right? We ended up being the winner at the end of the day. So understanding, you know, when you go into that room, there's two young dynamic players in Getzlaff and Perry. Tamu Salani is the most gregarious, amazing person and player. I sat between Ilya Brizgalov and Scott Niedermeyer, and at that time they called it the dead corner because they both were very quiet.

Either nobody wanted to talk to Briz, and Scotty is our professor, and he sat in the corner and he would read the paper in his book before practices. But Scotty was always prepared. And they wanted to liven up that corner of the room, and I don't shut up. So we had a ton of fun going into that locker room. But you have to understand that it's not going to be the same

as what it once was, and your role is going to be different, and you have to wear a different hat, or many hats maybe. Right. We're talking a former NHLer, Brad May, 1,041 games, 2,248 penalty minutes, and most important, Stanley Cup champion. So this is our Leaf edition of our show, Mayday. So let me ask you, we've been in rooms this time of year. Not only do you have a real general manager,

you've got 20 of them in a dressing room who constantly go. Yeah, all the time. What do we have? What do we need? Are the Leafs right now in that situation where they're having these quiet conversations going, boys, we need this? There's no question.

Every team does it, no matter if you're in the playoffs or not. Teams that aren't in the mix, they're looking for their future, how they're going to build their team, what picks are coming back. But picks don't matter to a player that's in the NHL. Outside of maybe that young player becomes a player that's going to take your job. But everybody wants to win. And in Toronto, it's close for them. They believe it probably more than we do, that they're much closer.

They just played the boston bruins there's no answer to david pasternak across the nhl so i'm not saying it's a toronto thing but um i'm sure players are talking about what they need and i'm pretty sure it's probably on the back end um i i they're very confident up front and maybe some grit some some way to make other teams uncomfortable on their third and fourth line. There's a lot of times, there's little pressure points in games where I think a third line or a fourth line or that individual player could do something out of character to actually really make an impact.

Who is that? Who wants to be that guy? And it's a great place. If I was a player, I'd be looking at this saying, listen, I'm on the Toronto Maple Leafs. How can I best make an impact? And I think it's pretty evident for all of us that watch it all the time. They can score goals.

Their offense is electric when it's on. But you've got to be able to defend in those 1-2-1 games, really tight checking. Yeah. Can guys change going into know, going into playoffs, the guys who don't typically commit to defense or kind of is like you are who you are and it'll come out eventually? Well, I think, you know, always said that you can't turn on that switch,

you know, when you want it. I think that's where practice, and as much as a player practiced thousands of times in the NHL, not saying that I didn't like practice, but at the end of the day, you have to work your tail off. And it's more about focusing, paying attention to the details. And every coach is different. Every system is different. And the ability to change on the fly and adjust when you need to. But as a player, you don't have to wait for a coach to tell you what to do. Take that responsibility,

take that ownership, and understand that when somebody is abusing one of your players in a game that you might be up a couple goals or down, Ottawa, Morgan Riley going back a few weeks ago, maybe that was a little aggressive, a little crazy, but at the end of the day, they went on a 9-1 run, right? You think that's connected? You know what? Not only that, I think it's actually given Morgan Riley a two-week break

that he desperately needs. If you're the trauma-made police and you're going to rely on him for the next two and a half months, I think that rest is incredible. But it also gives ownership to other players that maybe aren't comfortable just reaching out and taking it, right, as a defenseman. Play stronger, play better, but guess what? If you don't, they're going to make changes. And I think that's coupled with the trade deadline.

Guys play desperate because they want to stay where they are. Or guys play desperate because they want other people to value them. It's been well documented over the last few years what Kyle Dubas spent. And it's left limited resources for Brad Tree living here. You ask almost Leaf Nation, and there seems to be maybe a split. Keep going. Go, go, go. Don't stop now.

Or it's like, hey, pull the reins in a little bit here. There may not be much left here, so protect it. Where are you on this particular club and maybe the thought of being aggressive for a guy like Colton Pareko? I was going to say that, Nick. I think Colton Pareko, first of all, every team in the National Hockey League

would love this player. Big body, plays hard, awfully difficult to get to the net, massive wingspan, and you can't teach reach, right? When you can actually break up plays, Colton Pareko can do that, and you can't teach reach, right? When you actually can actually break up plays, Colton Preko can do that, and he also can skate. He'd be a great get. Here's the thing. If you're thinking the Toronto Maple Leafs,

with their salary cap and everything else, can become a better team in a year from now, you're actually missing the value that you've already invested in that's already here, that's competing and is successful. Austin Matthews, an incredible year. I mean, their top players are great. John Tavares, I know people, and I've been one of them, that contract's a tough one for the Toronto Maple Leafs

just because it makes everything else harder to fit into. But John Tavares has earned every dollar that he's made as the captain of the team. The question is, is he going to be, for the next two months, two and a half months, happy to be on the third line and actually champion that line? Because right now that's where they're at. That time will tell for that.

But I think their top-end players are great. If they don't go in and get a guy like Pareko or another defender, what does that say to them these guys want to win and it is now they believe they can win now that doesn't mean that that they will but um i don't think there's time to wait in toronto at this moment i don't think so they are in a window and i don't know how long it lasts that they are in their peak and they've got experience and they've been through some really tough times that should make their skin thicker for the next go-around in April.

Like, you can't discount that. No, and you know what? These guys, I mean, they're playing. They've got a great record or a decent record. Maybe we thought it was going to be even better, but they're positioned to do well. The bottom line, though, is they have to get out of their division. And there's some

good hockey teams there. And the Florida Panthers just got better with their trade for Tarasenko. Now, you don't have to get... I don't think the Toronto Maple Leafs need more scoring or more offense. Maybe the offense from the bottom six, but I think they need more of an identity on the bottom six to be able to actually get out there and not only kill time on the clock

but change momentum when it's needed for me up front every player on their own i think are decent players good players but together what's their identity i i still don't think that teams are afraid to play against that group of players. Certainly not physically. They're not, yeah. And when you get to these tight playoff games when it ramps up and it goes from a marathon to the sprint because we're not there yet, the game changes, and it definitely speeds up,

and every mistake or every great play has, you know, an amazing effect. Yeah, I'm excited to watch this year. It'll be fun. I think there's a lot of moves that have been made. Edmonton just made a move. I think Colorado just bolstered their team. Are they the best team in the West now? You know, by acquiring those two players, we'll soon find out.

But forget the West for a moment. I think Toronto's got a lot of hockey to play, and they've got to play their best hockey. John Muckler once said to me when he was my coach in Buffalo, it's not the best team that wins the Stanley Cup. It's the team playing best at that time. And that's all you need to do is you have to bring your best. Now, the question is, when it gets tough, do you have any passengers your best now the question is when it gets tough do you have any

do you have any passengers you cannot win with passengers you went into a couple of playoffs with arguably one of the best goalies in the history of the game in dom dominic hoshek and i think you could have looked at your lineup and go yeah yeah kind of weak here kind of not great here but oh my god with that guy back there we can win on any night, any game. And we were good enough. We had guys that scored 20 goals. One year in particular, 97, 96, 97, when we moved into the new arena and we changed our color scheme.

The Buffalo Sabres' Dom Hasek was a Vezina in the Heart Trophy winner. And of course, he was our team. But we had guys, Jason Don, Randy Burts, 25 goals each. Michael Pekka emerging as not only the Selke winner that year, Selke trophy winner. Dixon Ward accompanying him, killing penalties, being that guy. We had a really good team then. But we also had an identity on the bottom six where, you know, if the game got out of hand,

and I know it's not going to happen like this the way hockey's played now, but teams got uncomfortable when they came in to play a bunch of idiots. And we were. And by the way, we were willing to do whatever it takes to win on that night. And you know what? I'm looking at you guys watching right now. You have to be willing to do what the other guy's not willing to do to win. And you know what i'm looking at you guys watching right now you have to be willing to do what the other guy's not willing to do to win and you know what there's nothing wrong with it i only

see one team in the east that act like that and that's the florida panthers and they're idiots and and you know what happened toronto played them last year in the playoffs and yes they had a they won that series you know the monkeys off their back in round one. But criticizing the Toronto Maple Leafs, that might have been the easiest series of the playoffs last year, the second round for the Florida Panthers. Yeah, I think they might tell you the same. And that would be, you know, the intangibles that you can't really put a finger on. But why is that player more of a competitor than the guy he's playing against?

Body of work, a willingness to do whatever it takes, and you've got to trust your teammates. Every team going into the playoffs, there are teams that won't have full-on trust. Teams that do, they have a better chance. So what do you think then of Ryan Reeves' situation here in Toronto? If you had asked us after 15, 20 games, we might have said, I can't see him playing out this three-year contract. He's not going to get back into the lineup.

He's had a really good run here for a month, maybe. Scored a goal or two, a couple of fights. He looks energized, skating well. Is that the type of guy, like, do you see him in their lineup that makes a difference for them? That he's making a difference today? In playoffs, does he need to be in their lineup?

Well, I worked in Vegas as a broadcaster with the Vegas Golden Knights, and Ryan Reeves was a big part of that team, along with William Carrier and Thomas Nosek. But again, an identity on their fourth line. Gerard Gallant would play these guys, play them religiously 10, 12 minutes a night, and these guys actually made a difference. They were both in the top hits, number of hits in the NHL,

although I think the guy who was actually the statistician in Vegas probably was a little more generous. But Ryan Reeves has that ability. He's got to remember who he is. The problem, or not problem, problem for other teams or the advantage other teams may have is they don't have somebody or a whole team that wants to even, you know, encounter that or bring Ryan Reeves into the battle.

He has to find a way to not take penalties and still intimidate players. And by the way, intimidation is a massive factor, and you can't gauge it other than I know and Nick knows that we're on the ice and when you knew that you were a little little timid to play against a guy because you saw how ramped up and you know you can match his energy or couldn't that's an uncomfortable place to be in front of 18 000 people when you can't get off my specialty here because i'm the guy who's intimidated by people like you two who are willing to fight your mothers to get to the Stanley Cup.

You know, like I played in the American League. Hey, my mom doesn't like that, but I love it. I love that saying. You're our staple. My mom is a beautiful woman. It is a theme, though, the willingness to do that. And I think you're aware when you're on the ice

against people like that. And when you have them on your line, it's a lot of fun. So I do believe that it's a lot of fun. So I do believe that it's an underrated quality is intimidation. And watching Luke Shen come to Toronto last year, stand between the benches with Pat Maroon. Loved it. The Leafs loved it. I loved it.

They're running their mouth, and the Leafs didn't have anyone who would stand up, and he just stood there and just took it. Even to watch Wayne Simmons a few years ago having a conversation with Maroon across the bench gave you a feeling of attitude right yeah I want to say I might be wrong on this one but two years ago Kyle Clifford right was it two years ago unfortunately for Clifford or for Kyle, he made that hit. Took a bad penalty.

Took him out of the series, but they didn't put him back in. I'm telling you, the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup and beat the Vancouver Canucks. By the way, Vancouver should have won that Stanley Cup. We were all in on the Canucks. Now, wait a minute. I shouldn't say should have. The Boston Bruins were so capable, and they won.

But Sean Thornton was inserted into the lineup in game three, and he made a big-time difference. Slapped a couple guys around, and there was no answer in Vancouver after two months of a long battle. And you know what? The Boston Bruins found some energy. And then, of course. If I go to identity, that line was with Greg Campbell and Daniel Pae,

I think, with him. And they had, of course, Zidane O'Chara, some big defensemen, Adam McQuig. These guys, they were intimidating to play against, and it actually made a difference, and they won the Stanley Cup. We're running out of time. We can go on for hours, by the way. No, no, no, it's not you. It's the time.

I've got to ask you about Rempe in New York. And all of a sudden, New Jersey trades for McDermott's kid Paul McDermott's son is Curtis big guy where are we where are we going with this I made it you know what here's the crazy part the world is telling us that it it shouldn't be here certainly hockey fans and the way everything's gone do you know that how much excitement Ram Brent Bay was skating in New York the last game they played. I was watching for a brief period, and he was on the ice. He made a play, and he had a standing O chant for him in Madison Square Garden. Are you telling me that people don't like this?

People love it. And I can't believe anybody. Nobody's ever said, hey, I want a refund on my ticket money because this team played too physical. It's an exciting thing. Toronto would love it. Every city would love it. And you know what?

With New Jersey and New York, listen, it's nuclear weapons. It's an arms race. It's an arms race. And for that, I think for Travis Green, who's a buddy of ours, I hope he does a great job. We've got to get out of here. Hey, if you love Mayday on Real Kipper and Bourne, go see him on Friday, trade deadline day.

Trade deadline.