Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Eyes on McKenna + Early Goalie Controversy?

Episode Date: October 6, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to the Maple Leafs' matchup against the Nashville Predators. They discuss the media coverage around Gavin McKenna early in his career, the second line sticking together for at least another game, Anthony Stolarz getting the start, and whether John Chayka is actively monitoring the defenceman trade market. Then, Craig Simpson stops by (32:05) to share his early impressions of the team, the attention on McKenna, and why turning to Stolarz against the Predators is the right call.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All right, let's get her going. It's game day on the real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 590, The Fan in Toronto. Streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. If you miss our show, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, where we always appreciate a thumbs up. Nick Kiprio is Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo, Jake the Snake Shultz. This is the Leaf Hour edition of our program. Big game tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville in town. We did plenty of prep work today on the golf course, the three of us.

Yes. And fantastic day today. And I got to apologize to you guys because it was the three of us. And we had a fourth. And this fourth is, you know, he's pretty good guy. And he's pretty special. Pretty good guy. Pretty good guy.

Pretty special. And it just dawned on me like in whole number two that you guys had to be. no clue who you were golfing with today. No. Right? Not in, we don't run in the same social circles. I know.

And he told me a story about playing Augusta with Arnold Palmer. That's what it kind of took a turn. Yes. So it ended up being Justin and Gordon Nixon, who of course of RBC fame and chaired Bell Media too. And it was so funny because, like, I don't know what hole we were on when you said, well, so what did you do?

for RBC. Is that what you said? Yeah, he said, I ran it. The whole, oh, I see. I, oh, that's good. And he's like, yeah, after Ernie L's won the British Open, he came and stayed at my place, and he had a couple of drinks. Hold on, go back to the first part. But I tell you what, he referenced me choking early in the round,

and it ticked me off. Big mistake. Big mistake. You turned, you got hot. You did get hot. Gordon, I struggled. So, listen, he is a big fan of our show. That's nice.

Okay, yeah, he is. And if there's any other CEOs out there of a Fortune 500 global company that want to take, you know, we'll fit you in. Yeah, we can work. It's a pretty coveted spot. Listen, Edward and Tony upstairs, you know. Welcome any time. Anytime. We'll squeeze you in.

We'll squeeze you in for a round of golf with us as well. Pretty good day. All right. In the meantime, the Leafs skated this morning. Sammy, we got some sound a little bit. Yeah, I think. I was golfing. Our boy, Gassira, Sammy Squared, put together a wonderful lineup, cut all the clips for me today.

I put my full trust in him, and he seemed to answer. We haven't played the clips yet. They could stink. You know, he's direct. He gets it done north-south. Very impressive. Doesn't screw around. So I was impressed.

Okay, so. McKenna, on the ice for morning skate. I know all the old guys are happy now. Was it an optional skate? It was. And he was out there? He was out there. He opted in.

Let's see if that affects results. Good call by Gavin. In about 30 minutes, we're going to welcome in Craig Simpson. Of course, we've done the show now for a few years. Always love his insight. He'll join us in 30 minutes. And then Steve Valakette. What a say.

You know how many people of his Valley coming back? When is Valley going to be on the show? We're just getting into the year here. Let's, you know. Exactly. Ease on into it. So did we get the impression that Gavin McKenna's feeling a little bit of pressure now with zero points so far? No.

He referenced something towards it. I don't have that impression. I just got to say this right now. It's nuts right now. It's crazy. It's crazy out there. It's crazy out there. I thought going into this season, and I mentioned this to you guys a lot of times,

that there was going to be all these veterans that were surrounding him, that were going to kind of, you know, shield him from the heat and the media, and that there's going to be people asking questions of the other guys and everything else. I was dead wrong. I was dead wrong. Gavin McKenna has been the number one talking point. Everybody's been talking about him. Optional skates this, zero points that, all this stuff.

He's lived a life, an NHL life in a week and a half of the season. Like, I know we're not supposed to say this, and I know we're not supposed to do this kind of thing, but like, we got to give the kid a second here. Like, it's really hot at this very moment. And I just, it's a, I'm surprised how much this is taken in three days. I really, and three games. I really am.

I just have to address the nation. Yet I look at my, I look at my, um, my itinerary or whatever you call it. Yeah, it's a lineup. That's a line up. That good call. And the first thing on the top of the list, McKenna early struggles. I know. Well, I didn't put the lineup together.

That's Sammy's fault. But no, here's what I'll say. McKenna's early struggles. So there's, like, a major story when you sit at the top. There's two clips from McKenna today. And we're going to play the first one, which is him being stuck on zero points, okay? And it kind of ties into the second clip, but we're going to play the first clip. Gavin McKenna on being stuck on zero points, clip one.

Yeah, I mean, it's obviously not where you want to be, but at the end of the day, I've been on many streets where I've put up no points had a tough start to college last year and started to figure things out there so yeah I think just honestly learning from last year and learning from these first few games I think is going to be key

and just yeah I think sticking with it being confident I think I know it's going to come so just just keep working and have confidence okay yeah I saw some good references out there Jason Greger we have in the show once in a while pointed out that McDavid had one point in his first four games, you know, that it's not easy.

I saw Jack Hughes player card as a rookie being tossed around today. You know, that's smaller, lighter guys. He had a slow start, right? His first season. These things happen. 20 points. Yeah. Like, I don't know if it's going to be.

It was 20 points in, I believe, 60 games, 62 games. And I don't know. I would imagine he was hurt. Yeah. Shoulder or something he suffered in his rookie season. But see, it looks to me more like a Jack Hughes comparison than any, but anyone else, not a McDavid, not a, I agree. Sid, not a, I don't know where you go.

But it's, to me, the biggest look he has is Jack Hughes, 160 pounds. Yeah. And like Jack Hughes has had time since then where you think he'll be in the Hart Trophy conversation, he's had great runs of play. He's been point-per-game guy and dynamic healthy Jack Hughes is a killer. He scored a big goal in his life. Oh, wait. So, you know, it's not like a slow start his career damning.

It is just a slow start. So the second clip, he was asked at the morning skate today, which he was attending, everybody. He was there, present, optional. He was asked what his welcome to the NHL moment has been through three games. And this was his answer. Clip two, please. I mean, I think just how hard it is, like, you know, you come in,

and you believe in yourself and I still believe in myself. But, yeah, when you're, you know, and especially in the Toronto media with putting up zero points in three games, I think you hear about it. So maybe that's my welcome to the NHL. That's a great answer. He doesn't see this. No, yeah. You know, he's being lighthearted, right?

It's not. Yeah, I'm not overly concerned that, I think he's been groomed well and he seems mature and he's saying all the right things. Totally. And it helps. I think it helps. But deep down, I think his welcome into the NHL is this is a hard league. Yeah.

And they're men. And there's big strong men. You know, it would take a little bit of heat off him. If he had like dished a puck to his line mates who'd shoot one in the net at some point, You know, like just, Tavares has not been very good. I do think that the line he's been on is not helping him any, right? You're spending more time in the D zone than you would if you're on a different line and those guys haven't been very good.

Willie, Willie's been very good. I love that answer. And yeah, I'm sure a lot of this is pretty eye-opening for him. And I'm sure he was told coming into this that you're going to Toronto and that it's going to be a big microscope and there's going to be a lot. And the people are going to talk about you. You're going to be in the spotlight. And Nick Kipryos is going to say me, say,

mean things about you every day and it's going to be tough. So, stop it. I know. I'm joking. Come on. But I'm sure even for him, now that he's in the battle of it. Yeah. He's like, holy crap. This is.

You think he's online? Yes. Absolutely. I think it's, I don't know, chicken in the egg a little bit. Is McKenna not helping Tavares or is Tavarice not helping Mekana? Yeah, either way. It shouldn't be either side. You can talk yourself into both.

Totally. Right? Totally agree. You know, it's not helpful for him either, which, you know, there's a real case to be made. You know, what are the best way to get him going without giving him what he hasn't earned for me. Again, Paul is a center and power play time is the best you can do. Are you okay with Hiller against the team that isn't supposed to make the playoffs and consider one of the weaker teams in the NHL keeping this line together for another night?

The best case he has is the thing you just said, that it's not an awesome team. He's a few games under his belt. If there's going to be a breakout for them where it comes, there's no reason it can't be tonight. You know, if you can't get it done against Nashville after having felt the pace and know what you're in for, then yeah, maybe it's time to mix things up a little bit.

Against Philip Forsberg, Matthew Wood, and Neal's Hoglander as the second line listed. Totally. If you can't work your way, through that, then it's going to be real tough against Vegas, Utah, Colorado. Our boy, Kerfoot, on the top line there with Stamcoast

and Ryan O'Reilly. That is damage. He's still flexial, guys. Hey, he can plug a hole. Flexile. At some point, when it's like the seventh coach that's like, we'll try him on the top line. You gotta, you gotta tip the gap. There needs to be something that's not a quad A player,

but like a bottom six top six, sort of like a, he's a, Quintay player, I don't know. So, yeah, like, if they, they should be able to have some good minutes against the second line like that. Like, Philip Fours were really good, but Neal's Hoglander, okay, Matthew Wood, heard of you today.

You know, we'll see. I made it a point to squeeze in yesterday and maybe I should have given us more time on the goaltending start tonight. Oh, we got to yell about it quickly.

We got a few zingers in. on it. But I had mentioned that face value, Stolars has been better than Bobroski to start the season. And there's something to be said that Stolars should play tonight. Must win, baby. And lo and behold, I don't know what hole we were on, Sammy today when you found out the news that Stolars indeed is starting.

I told him and put him on tilt and then he thinned it over the crane. I bladed a wedge straight across the green. That was a full Vince Scully. Because I was, okay, I got, I looked at my Twitter after we were out there for a little while. I had like seven to ten people adding me and getting, telling me that, you know, to Luke Fox's tweet that he was starting tonight because yesterday I was opposed to this. This is an overthink. You know, I said yesterday stole ours, but in defense of your take, it'd be nice to get Bob a W under his belt.

You're supposed to win tonight. You're at home. National's not supposed to be awesome. I would like to see Bob get her going. So denying him that opportunity to get Stolar is his second win tonight. I would imagine his experience in Florida the last seven years or even Columbus before that, that this was just to have been an automatic start for him. Correct.

Well, he started one game in the last, whatever, five, six days. I would imagine that you would have had a really. real in-depth conversation with Bob in terms of what it could look like the first 10 games. Was this a scheduled Stoller's start? We have a clip on. Or is this just based on what Hiller's seen? Let's have a listen. Clip one, please, Derek.

Well, we have a bit of a plan, to be honest with you. So we have, we've kind of mapped things out. And not that can't change, but it was his turn. How hard did you map out? Sorry? How far do you map out? I'm just curious to like, good question. Yeah, I'm not going to go into that, but yeah, we've just mapped it out.

I'll leave you a guess on that one. Yeah, we mapped it out. Yeah, I got to think that I got to think it was 10 games. The map out was the first 10 games. That's as long as you would go. We're like, after tonight, you're looking at the halfway through it. And... We'll get two or three on the road.

Is it three on the road? What happens if Stolars has another stellar game and he is looking fantastic? How do you not go into Vegas two nights later and go back to Stolars? Because you're not, you don't want to create drama and you've told them we're just going to alternate the first few? This is creating drama.

Well, we have a bit of a plan. We're four games into the season and the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs has now created a goalie controversy. Because this is just an obvious babbrival. It's not obvious. It is an obvious. He's the starting goalie. You left Florida. Made a commitment for three years.

You're leaving to be the number one goalie for the Toronto Maple Leaf. And he may know that he's getting six of the first ten. Okay. And this isn't one of the six. I mean, Mr. MapQuest there didn't sound exactly, you know, sure of the plan. Now, he gave me the... We have a bit of a plan. A bit of a plan. I had a bit of a plan to not make doubles.

today? Come on. I don't know, man. I don't know. It's an interesting it's an interesting look at I don't know how

Bob wouldn't be not a little bit bent out of shape a little bit on I think I'm a 50, 55 game guy maybe it's been decided that he's at 45 They're one and two.

They're going into a meat grinder after this. And he's 0 and 2. And he's own 2. And he's own 2. And he'd like a win. He'd like to get a win. So if you were the coach, Bob would be in again tonight.

I'm just saying it's a... In all honesty, I would really have to know Bob well. I think there's conversations internally. You know, you wouldn't do this if Bob's like, oh, that's my... I have to agree with Justin on this. Bob has to be on board this.

early. You're not. It would be nuts to cut his legs out after he's given up five goals in two games or whatever it is. Yeah. But this is what I like about it. Okay. That you're one and two and you do not want to be one and three. And you don't want to go into Vegas or a three game road trip.

One and three. And a story. And if it's just that they think Stolaris gives them a better chance to win tonight than Bobrovsky, based on what they've seen so far, then I'm all for tough love, even for Bob. Yeah, we've just mapped it out. Is Bobrovsky the starting goal? Yes.

This is a starting goal. He left Florida to be the number one goal to here. They paid him $7 million a year, and we're four games into the year, and a home game on a Tuesday night against the National Predators when you're looking for his first win. This is the most obvious... Starting goal. How many tap-ins did you have?

A few. Yeah, this should be a tap-in for Bogrovskine for Bob to get a win. I think they-knapped it out. I think they really are creating something. It just feels unnecessary. How about this? This is all a great compliment to your goal-tending. Is it not that you're sitting here going,

I think Stolars, the guy who's not our starting goalie, is fantastic. And give this a really good chance to win tonight. And it's a nice spot to be in when you have a couple guys you feel pretty good about. You know, outside of one of them being electric or terrible, they're both pretty good. So I guess the thought, the only reason that it's, you know, you go into tonight and Stollars is fantastic. He makes 30 stays to get a shut out. Oh, no. So then he starts Thursday.

No, you don't have to. Well, then if you're just, but he's mapped it out. But if you're mapping it out and he's better and you're trying to win, why wouldn't you, like. Because it's not on your map. Well, we have a bit of a plan. Just start Robrovsky tonight, try to get the win, and then go in Thursday against Vegas, starts, stolen, like, obvious. Let's find out if the coach thinks tonight is important.

Oh, I think he does. Let's listen to Hiller clip two. Yeah, well, I mean, it's always important, right? We could be sitting here at 3 and O, and it would be have a similar importance because we'd want to win to get out and start the road trip right. So it's always important. It's a long season.

We know, I know you guys probably don't like the answer, but every game is its own game. They're all important. But yeah, there's no question when you get on a plane tomorrow. You like to come off a win. This one's more important than a couple of the other ones. They feel important early in a tough division. Whatever still ours does tonight, you got to go back to Bob against Vegas.

Outside of a... You can't let him sit like this for a week. I'm just saying that it's... He'll get Vegas. in Utah, and then you give Stolars the Colorado avalanche on Saturday night. And you come back, you got Buffalo. It's tough. Tough sledding in the early going.

To Justin's point, big, big picture, Stolars looked really good. And that's a good thing. That's a great thing. He's great to have when you have him. When he's healthy and on, he's really good. So one of the line-up things for tonight that I'd be interested in, have a conference. conversation with, you know, fourth line, six defensemen that we'd love to talk about. Stetscher's still in tonight.

Blankenberg's still in the outside looking in. Surprise that we haven't had a look at Blankenberg yet here. The coach has a clip on it. When we play that, and we can talk about it next. Clip six, Derek, on the message to Blankenberg. Boy, just to be patient, and Nick's been in this position before, and he's always just been a good teammate, and sooner or later, you know, he's got in the lineup and played really well. So I've had that discussion with him.

He's calm, very relaxed about it, and he has a lot of belief on himself and knows that when he does get the opportunity, he'll do well because he's proven that in the league. You know, it is weird to me only because Stetcher to me is not like, oh, we can't take that guy out. He's essential. You just signed Blankenberg to $1.4 million.

I think by game four, not a bad time, to give him some reps against Nashville. I'd like to see him in. A guy like Stetcher, who, has been pretty used to coming in and out of the lineup in his career. Like, I don't think it's necessarily the hardest conversation to have. Surprise we haven't seen him yet, but... I just thought Blankenberg was bleeding out of his ear and precees.

He was, and then they signed him to a contract, but he hasn't played since then. Yeah. He got bonked pretty good. I do believe that, again, this speaks to kind of this mini-game plan that they had, and it didn't include a revolving door for their original thought of roster that they were going to give them five games. That's what it feels like.

It is fascinating, though, for all the changes they've made, that the plan would be Stetcher as their third pair, right D. Like, I still think they probably want to improve in that spot. Top six, they need another defenseman. They need a top four. Do you think that's something that they are actively looking for? Yes. Kibber?

Yes. Yeah, how aggressively. I don't think there's any urgency, but yeah, they're trying. They need something. And I know Carlo struggled and never found himself. I wouldn't have gotten rid of Carlo. I couldn't agree more, but I've said that from the jump. A couple of third rounders don't help you.

No, nothing. Like they needed to keep Carlo. and now they're looking for a Carlo. I just kill penalties, play third pair. I know everyone at home, mad about that take or whatever, but I haven't wavered on that. I thought he had bad ankle,

he had injuries here, he had the pressure of the trade initially. I think he's a much better deed than he was here. Did he throw a knee on hands? Did you see that? Yeah. Holy! Yeah, I think they'd like a mulligan on that one.

Why do you think they did that? They just wanted to clear everything? I think money or... It felt to me like there was just a number of guys they felt didn't have jam that were a part of the problem here and they just wanted to cut bait on a bunch of guys. And they did have a... I think Chica had a feeling that people were starving for change.

Like... There's something to that. Just change. Just... We got to do something different. I'm sorry, but like, don't take this personally. But we need to change. And I think that was with Steve Lawrence, Lawrence, and Carlo.

I'm sorry, I mean, I could pick names out of a hat. Your two came up. Totally. But, buddy, it was, you know, Yarn Kroc and Robertson and, you know, a whole bunch of guys who were just like, you know, it felt like made them weak at times. Speaking of guys that got away, another fun watch last night. Holmberg looks all right. Pontus Gratty. Like, we really need the clip of...

Who do you address on that? Just... He's a check. Dipsy doodle into the inside. I've kind of threw it. He also ripped one far down prior to that. And he threw it into the feet of McAev and McCaev. I'm like, it's Holmberg to McCabe on Tampa.

Like, what is it? Oh, yeah, on the list of like, maybe not huge decisions, but not qualifying Pontus is still a... He was just cheaper Teddy Blugher. Is Bunting now going to score 40 in Philly? I don't care about that. 1.2 for the flyers. Flyers are hurting.

So they needed some help. Okay, we've talked a little bit. We got a clip from Hiller on Nashville tonight. Got a couple actually on his video coaching and all that sort of stuff. Let's do the Nashville one because that's relevant for the game tonight. Flip five. Yeah, I mean, we try not to be too specific. You know, Yosey is somebody because he pushes from the back end.

So sometimes, you know, you have to pay extra attention to that. We try not to spend too much time on, the individual players. You know, we know their tendencies. Obviously, you don't want them shooting on the power play when you're talking about Samco's. So that's a focus for the penalty killers. But outside of that, you know, some tendencies,

and then really just try to make sure that we're playing our game. You know, Nashville brought in a couple of Avalent or younger guys, right? They got Maverick Bork from Dallas. Ross Colton was in Colorado. Jack Drury, I think, you know, pretty good fourth line center for him. but like this team is a lot of, tough to see them make it playoffs. So the first four games,

this is what has, or the first three games, but what will stand out in the fourth game is that for the fourth consecutive game against the Leafs, we see a bona fide number one defenseman on the other team who can control a lot of the play

when he's out on the ice. So he said, Hudson. We had Schaefer. We've had Shabbat. And now we'll see Yossi. And the one thing that has been clear for me against all those teams is

the Leaves don't have that. No. They don't. And Radish is looking better and more comfortable. And yes, he can shoot the puck. He really has. But he is not any of the, he has nothing like those three guys that I just mentioned.

If you go through the league now, though, it's amazing how many teams do have a guy. You know, I'm just going to go from top to bottom, Sanderson for Ottawa, headman for Tampa Bay, Fox for the Rangers, you know, Carlson or Latang and Pittsburgh. Carolina kind of did it last year by committee, but Kandre Miller was a big ad for them,

Slavin does it defensively. You know, it's just Boston has one, or sorry, Montreal has one, Islanders have one. It's, you know, Buffalo has one. It's noticeable. Detroit has one. I was really impressed with Shabbat Saturday night.

Yeah, that guy. Sanderson was probably their number one guy, not even Shabbat. Took control. We saw him make the play in the neutral zone that led to his original goal. I'm like, man, it'd be nice if the Leafs had someone like that. McCars, Hughes, Werenckhsky, Bouchard. That's why this offseason, when that Werenckhski thing came flying out of nowhere, everybody in this market was so horned up about it because it's like,

that's what they've needed my intention. entire life. They've never had that. Like my, like, I mean, Thomas Cabberle was fantastic years here. McKay was good here. Like, they've had guys. But they're not, like.

Those 20 games of Brian Leach. They're not all-stars per se. They're not Norris candidates. Like, the four guys we just mentioned. It would change the Maple Leafs in a way that I don't think people could grasp. If you had a guy who played 25 minutes and just controlled the pace from the back end. Yeah. You're just getting the puck up.

ice into the hands of some of your deadly forward. For Florida, it's Eckblatt, I guess. Who else? Yeah, Forsy does have the defensive side, but... I'm just, yeah. Yeah, you don't have to have one to win. It's not, but it sure helps. You know how you get one?

You draft them and you wait seven years and three. Yeah, if we went through the list of the guys we're talking about, almost none of them were acquired by anything other than draft. You know, Seth Jones has been really good for the Panthers and they traded for him. Like, I think it's maybe you buy low on a guy and he takes a step, like, you look back last year. you're talking about the Dougie Hamilton thing to buy low on him and it's like yeah

he's not what he used to be but he's not what he used to be but like you could picture him refinding something and maybe playing top pair minutes anyways yeah it just you want it but I don't know how they're gonna get it we got Craig Simpson after the break but in the meantime you got a clip on Jim Hiller handling social media

I mean is that important is that interesting I didn't cut it Sam Gassera did so he must like it Well, it's about McKenna, obviously. I want to hear it. Okay, let's play it. I do want to hear it.

Let's play it. Well, I mean, I think, you know, everybody's talked about it. We talk about it from Matt's on down, and then players talk about it with other players. I'm sure he's, well, I've been with them with players, have had conversations. And it's difficult because they spend a lot of time with their phones. So if you're trying to avoid it, you still probably bump into some of the stuff.

What you need to do is just really stay focused in the moment, stay on the president. I'm sure that's an evolution for all players. Probably some are better at that than others. But I think over time, you probably improve in that area, just like any other area of being a professional. Yeah, we've had guys here, and Marner was one of them who said eventually he just got rid of social media.

Like, I do think that it's either way it's not good, right? To get too high or too low. You guys stay up. Well, it's so abundantly clear. And I talked to Gary Batman a little bit about this when we were in P.I. But how... Would it pick up that name you just talked to her. But like the league and particularly the Toronto Maple Leafs are so strong on pushing content out there.

And it's like whatever it is. Okay, give me 30 seconds of what your favorite color is. I don't care. We're putting this stuff out there. And it's like, well, if you want to get them off of it, maybe. Don't put them on it so much. I don't know. I'm telling you.

And the Leifes, they ask a lot of the players on social media. Well, you're trying to grow the game. I know the fans to connect with the players. Just today before we came on. You know what grows the game? Wins. Winning.

Everyone has, just trying to do that. We know that. Okay. I watched three minute videos of Nick Paul. Who else today? Duhame, the Leifes put out like Get to Know and Marchenko. Just asking, answering basic questions,

literally what's your favorite color type stuff. Yeah. And, you know, okay, I want to get a sense of what these guys are kind of about. It helps. I think it helps fans understand the player. Okay. Do you know Marchenko's Russian? I've heard.

It's true. Oh. I knew that today. I just think, like, at some point, like, maybe it would just, what would help them not pay attention is not being on it so much. Yeah. Look at Sid. Sid. Oh, you can't look at Sid.

I love Sid's from 1980, though. Sid never had it once, never had one thing. Yeah. Love, hey, Mario. Not, you couldn't find Mario with a 10-foot pole on anything. Yeah. He's barely, he's Movie Dick. He barely.

He taught Sid. He taught him to come on our show once, called him. Doesn't really pick up. That's where Sid got it from. Yeah. You know, yeah. No, it's, that's the way to do it. And it's obviously the smartest thing to do.

But you also want to exist and have. have a life and be connected. If you're young, that's where the world is. And then, you know, maybe get them to do a romance novel. Listen, whatever it takes. I mean, I'm on social. I am cripplingly addicted to social media, and I get it on a one-tenth scale of what NHLers would get it.

It can be tough on the mental health. Like, there's no question. So we'll see. Okay, let's take a quick break. When we return, Craig Simpson, former national hockey leaguer, does a great job for SportsNet, covering the Toronto Maple Leafs.

We'll get his early thoughts to this young, season when we return after these words. Hey, it's Matt Marquesie. And I'm Mike Futa. We're discussing the top stories of the day across the NHL and the hockey world. Weekdays at noon. It's the fan hockey show on Sportsnet 590, The Fan, and wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back in studio.

Nick Kippreis, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. All right, let's welcome him in. You know the voice. Craig Simpson, former national hockey leaguer, two-time Stanley Cup champion. He joins us now. Simmer. How are you, my friend? I'm doing great. How are you guys doing?

Good, good. You're right in the thick of things. You only needed, what, four days of training camp, three days of training camp. Like, 10's too long, right? For the players? No, okay. Three exhibition games for me, even, Kippur. That was too much, yeah. But no, you can tell around the league the effect that it had, though, hasn't you? In terms of a little bit of sloppiness, a little bit of discombobulation and some games and lineups. But like anything, guys adjust and this. is sort of the stretch going into week two that everybody can settle in and try to find their game

and get your group together and start playing some real solid regular season hockey. Would the power play be the most difficult thing for coaching staff? Zimmer, you've been behind benches? Yeah, you know what? It's time, right? It's time management of everything. And I think I was really surprised the way the Leafs did their two split squad games because A, it divides your coaching staff, right?

You can't be in two places at once. It doesn't allow you to maybe build off of one game, get to the next. And, like, I think four is a reasonable number if there's four in a row. And you can manage your lineup and stay together as a group and have some consistent messaging. So I think if they look back, that to me didn't make any sense at all in terms of not having some progress. and growth. And especially in a year where, what do we got guys, like 11 new guys, you know, in the lineup that you're trying to get them to learn. You throw in Marchank, the very first day. And so, yeah, it's a little unsettling. But there's no, no excuses now. You're a weekend. You've

had a couple of practices. You've had three games. And I think you start to get a feel for what's expected. And the tweaking of power play and penalty kill, you know, are so important. But I think in those early days, it's more on the board as it is to sort of functionally doing it on the ice. Well, Simmer, first off, it's great to hear you back on our show and on the airwaves. So welcome back. Thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me. Yeah, it's great. So I guess just do broad strokes to start.

Your overview of the Leafs start so far, you know, last season went really not how they wanted it to go. Everyone's asking, are they better after a few games? And I don't know, tough for us to sort of pick through. It really is. It's tough from a sense of, you know, I think you come in with all those changes we just talked about, add to that a new coach and a new coaching staff. And you say, okay, so what's going to be different? I remember the first year with Craig Barubi. You listen to Craig's, you know, his words were the same pretty much every day. This is how we're going to play north-south.

But you go, am I really going to see a marketed change in the way that the team adjusts and plays on the ice? I think that Jim has done a good job of keeping things, you know, positive and light and not getting dragged down early. It's still so early in the season. I think there's signs of a team that wants to have the puck a little bit, wants to, you know, be creative when they can. But the last game I did on the Saturday night was one against Ottawa that it kind of hit me a few times. I said to Chris in one of the commercial breaks, I just saw three straight plays where there was no forecheck and the Leaf literally went into a static trap in the middle of the ice.

And you go back to Jim Hiller's criticism in Los Angeles that his team just played such defensive hockey that they didn't push. In the playoffs, it kind of bit them in the backside because they couldn't get any offense going. They were very defensive mind. So I'll be really interested to watch that. I'm not surprised you.

The thing you have to do with this team, they're what, 31st in the lead last year and goals again? So if I'm a coach coming in, that's one of the biggest things I have to tackle. But it just stood out. You know, when you see things, Justin, on the ice, you go, oh, I haven't seen that that often. And three times in about a 10-minute span

is even maybe more head-scratching. So that'll be interesting to watch to see what kind of team are they going to be. Can they be good enough in the defensive zone? and be able to have a deep pair or two that can transport the puck and make the quickouts that you can be solid defensively but still be aggressive offensively. To me, that will be the biggest challenge in what the change in their game has to be.

You're listening to Craig Simpson, former National Hockey leaguer Stanley Cup champion and Sportsnet Hockey Analyst. So, Simmer, where are you on this whole Gavin McKenna's storyline after just three games? We all knew the attention that this kid was going to draw. Yeah.

But after three games, is it, is it, is it too much for you? Is it right where you thought it would be? No, it's what, it's what you expect in, in where he got drafted, you know, the, the, the stage that you have there. My, my biggest thing is take a breath. Like, it really is a time. You know, everything early in a season just gets magnified to an end's degree because there's only a three game section.

I'm going to go back to Austin Matthews, sets a record in his first game, first overall first rookie to have four goals in his first game. You know, he had a pretty good start. He had six goals in his first six games, 10 points. But guys, then he went 0 for 13. He didn't have a goal for 13 straight, only had three assists in that. I just want you mentally to flip those two and say, had the 0 for 13 started instead of the four goals early on and then six in his first six,

you know, what would the narrative be? And how different do you view this player when it still happened? You know, you're just 19 games in, and you've gone 13 in a row without a goal. He was able to handle that more because of the early success. But that's a great lesson in, you know, as a first or second, even a top five pick coming into the league. You've got to try to stay even keel and calm. And you know that there's going to be stretches. You go back to the very first one in Clarkie.

You know, Wendell, what a great rookie season he had, scored 34 goals. He was a perfect kind of player that they needed at that time. Didn't get a point in his first two games, scored in his third. In his first 15 games, he had three games that he scored a goal. Now, he got two goals and he, so he's got six goals. He didn't have an assist in his first 14 games in the National Hockey League. And Sammy, their record in the first 15 games was 1, 12. and two. Now, can you imagine the environment right now?

Leaves are still on pace for that, Sammer. Don't go there, Sammy. So what I'm saying, though, is Wendell, it was a different time. But what Wendell was able to bring was, you know, the type of person he was, and the type of player he was, and you go through a stretch where you didn't get an assist for 14. Nobody really cared. The team wasn't having success. So it's just, I heard you talking about the social media, and the magnitude of that, You imagine being the first overall pick and your team has won one out of the first 15 games.

I mean, there is the balance that you have to have. I listen to your quotes from Gavin, and I think he's had a really good even keeled head. I like the fact that he was able to reference his struggles going from junior, where he scored all the time, to going to college hockey. And all of a sudden, he did have a little bit of a struggle. And I think everyone was going, oh, man, is he going to be able to score here or not? and I love the connection for him to try to stay patient and calm saying I learned how to get myself back there and I think that will help me deal with it now

and you know three games does not a season make but I do think you just have to keep perspective the biggest challenge with young guys like that is to keep your confidence you know to where are I going to play in the lineup this is a good enough team that has enough good players around that even if he shuffles like he has in a couple of games between line number two or line number three, you're going to give him enough players that he can maybe connect with and get something positive to happen. And then you hope that the growth is there. You know, even look at other guys. Look at Yuri Slifkowski, the first overall pick.

He had one assist in his first three games. He didn't have a goal in his first 10. One point in 10 games to start your career. And, you know, didn't have a great first year. but would you take Slavkovsky right now for Gavin McKenna? You know, you look at Leon Dreisdell, two goals and nine assists, his first 37 games as a rookie. You know, it happens.

And I think you just have to battle as a player. Like my first year, as the second pick, watching Wendell get 34, it's the first time in my hockey career that I failed. I have 11 goals and 17 assists in 70 games. and it was the hardest thing mentally to try to find, okay, what do I need to do to get in the line? What do I need to do to play at a higher level

and try to figure out to get your confidence and keep it? And that is in an era where when you didn't play, the coach never even talked to you, hardly even looked to you. So nobody's giving you the guidance. The great thing about today's players is all the star players want Gavin and McKenna to have a great season. You have the value of every coach sitting with you and explaining.

you get to look on video, what do they do wrong here? What am I missing? And I think that's such a valuable lesson for this young guy. And I just think that his personality is going to be one that he'll go through this little blip. You know, maybe he gets a lucky goal off the shin pad tonight or an easy helper. And I can't tell you, Nick knows, like every player, whether you're a rookie in this league or if in your 15th year, when you start that season and you look at the stats seat and you see zeros across the board, I can't tell you how quickly, in my mind anyways, as a player,

you've got to eliminate those. Like I said it in the game when Austin Matthews got a little tip in. Okay, not a dynamic goal, but I can't tell you what it means to get that zero off the board as quickly as you can. Oh, absolutely. You know, I'm even wondering now if this is relevant to the guy who's going to ask you about Darren Radish,

who obviously not a new player in the league, but new environment. And Simmer, I mean, what a difference from his first game to the next couple. He still hasn't scored yet, but he seems to be more comfortable after what I thought was a tough first night. And the hardest thing that you have to do is in that environment is you're not playing about a contract now. Like I remember Dave Manson, this goes way back to like 1991. Mance came in on a trade and had a really good year.

And he was going to be a free agent. He got a big contract for back then. and the beginning of the season it just ruined them I even said I go man you don't have to score tonight like that's not your role now radish is a little different animals

but when you're making a quarter of what you are now in this big deal sometimes it's human nature to go oh I got to do everything I got to be the best player I got to do this I think he is

or he A is a good person and B I thought you're right Justin and then after the first I think he got just relax and play my game right Like I don't have to recreate myself. I have to ensure that I be myself and, you know, just play the game that got me the confidence last year. But he is a guy, you know, 22 goals for a defenseman is unreal.

And so he's looking at a zero going, I've got to get that thing off the board as quickly as I can. So one more before I let you go. And I don't know if you've noticed, but sometimes the three of us don't always agree on something. Right on. Thank God. Yeah, right.

Stolars or Bobroski tonight for you? It's Stolars for me. I was listening to you early. I do think four games at home, the early, the back-to-back to start, you knew one was going to get in. You got a 38-year-old goalie in Berkski, and I can guarantee you,

they gave him the three years, and they gave him good money. Nobody else was going to give him that. But you had to have a discussion with him, saying, Bob, you're not going to be a 55 to, you know, 60 game guy. We've got to manage you. We've got to get you healthy through the season. We've got to have you.

We want your intangibles as a leader, as a, you know, committed goaltender, give guys maybe a different feel of what it's like to have a Vezna and a two-time Stanley Cup champion in your net and the confidence that brings. But I would be saying, we are keeping you to 45, you know, or less. And I do think I heard Sammy talking about Hillers, you know, the so-called plan. I just think that if you're going through the first four games that you haven't even had a road trip yet and you're playing three out of four for your 38-year-old bulltender, I don't think that's the right move. And I do think it obviously, the way Stolars has played, you've got one guy giving up three a game, the other guy won.

That has an impact. But I think it was the plan. and I don't disagree with it at all. Great stuff, Simmer. Looking forward to having you on the show all season long. Thanks for doing this. Thanks, guys. Take care.

Thanks, Simmer. Appreciate it. That is Craig Simpson, SportsNet's finest. Yes, Sam. Fantastic stuff on Gavin, I thought. I thought that was a heartfelt, excellent answer. Just perspective. I love that.

You think about Craig Simpson at playing, coaching, broadcasting. Like, nobody has a... Number two behind Wendell? Nobody has a... a better pulse, I think, on that sort of stuff. Undreciated. I mean, he's right up there with everyone else.

By the way, Wendell, first 40 games, 11 fights. There is a YouTube. Just something for Gavin to think about if he's not scoring. Get it in 11 fights, I think. Right? 11 fights would be good. There's a YouTube video, one of the original YouTube videos called All Heart, which is a Wendell Clare.

Mark montage set to Metallica 1. Yes. And it starts with like a prairie. It's probably got a million views. I bet you I'm 10,000. Is that the one where he's walking downtown and he's got the toothpick in his... I probably includes that. And he looks like he could kill you.

But the early, like, some of the fights in it, the camera, the switcher guy can't get to it fast enough. And Wendell's on top of a guy just like, yeah. I love. Yeah, Big Wendell guy. But yeah, I mean, I guess just Timmer's thing about Broboski before we go, just to clarify my point, I guess I was misunderstanding of what they were doing with Bobroski. Because I thought they're bringing him in here as the starting goalie who's going to play 50 games

and Stollars is going to be the backup. He has to be on board. That's one thing. Yes, he's not many. I thought he was going to play like the majority of the game. I thought he's the starting goal. He still can. Well, well, the Stolars gets hurt, right?

they're going to lean on them a lot more. Well, the actumov is going to come up and make some starts. How many starts are actumop this year? I'll set the over under at seven and a half. Jeez, that's a high number. It is? I'll take on. I'll take on it.

Now I'll take over. Over is seven and a half starts? Yep, me too. Stolar's at some point will get hurt. Yeah. If you're banking on a being soon then. You just, I'm just going with the percentages. I'm just going with the trends.

I would say the quants would like that choice because statistically, yes. He doesn't go too long without a total. Like him to prove me wrong. Yeah. I think we all would. That would be lovely. You know, thought the same on Radish, thought good stuff on him,

that he's kind of coming around a little bit. I'd love to see him hammer one into the net from the point on the power play. He's starting to like every chance he gets. He needs to get off the Schneide and hammer one home. Yeah. Even just create some rebounds at the net and find some rebounds.

You know it'll be helpful with the top power play unit. They had somebody could pass out there. It would be a great start. The problem is McKenna is Matthew's flank. So they got to shuffle up a whole bunch of stuff. There's just no way Matthews could figure it out going to the other side. Can this one have a feel of not? As a rookie.

Can this one have a feel for the Leafs of not going down to the wire tonight? Nice five, two, six to win? Yeah, I love that. Certainly could. I got enough guys who can shoot it in the net, get a couple of good breaks here and there. It is not out of the question. The lineup tonight is the same as it's been for the third straight game.

We'll see how long Coach Hiller decides to stick with that. Deep in the Valley, boys. Can't wait. Steve Valacette, analysts with the New York Rangers. For those of you have been under Iraq the last few years. Tuesdays Steve Valaket comes on, and a wealth of information that comes out of this man is incredible. And I think you'll get a sample of that real quick after the break.

You're watching and listening to Real Kipper and Bourne. do not go away