Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Is it Tougher to Play in Toronto?

Episode Date: March 12, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee start with a conversation around the developing narrative about Toronto media's influence on the Maple Leafs. Then, they discuss the Leafs calling up Michael Pezzetta ahead of their Thursday-night matchup against the Ducks, Easton Cowan's promotion to the top line, and what Morgan Rielly needs to show down the stretch to save his value. Then, Hockey Hall of Famer and Ducks special advisor Scott Niedermayer joins the show (34:15) to discuss Anaheim's development this season, the impacts of veteran voices like Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, the Joel Quenneville effect, and much more. 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.

Giddy up. The Real Kipperman-Born show, Leaf Hour edition. Live on Sportsette 360, 590, the fan in Toronto. Streaming always on Sportsnet Plus, available on Spotify podcast. And YouTube, Nick Kippreel, Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee, Jake the Snake Shilts, Derek Brandeo. Game Day for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 16 to go.

Is that what we have, Sam? Who's county? Who's county? Everybody's county. Everybody. Yeah. I'm counting. Just seeing all the people theorize who you had traded Matthew Nyes for the other day, Kip.

Okay, listen. I'm just online right now. I am going to just sit back and I'm going to listen to you guys for the next hour. There's a few, every once in a while, I like to see the temperature that's out there a little bit. It's hot. All I've got is, like, can I please? find another team to torment.

I just saw Arbor Jack Eye was in the deal. I saw Jacob Fowler. I saw, look at all these Canadians names. Crazy, man. Hold on. I got to ask, like, because the big scary Toronto media is a hot topic. It is. It is. Yes. Let's talk about it. Yeah,

let's all share. So, let me ask you a question. To the person listening right now, that is, maybe you wouldn't be listening right now if you think the big Toronto scary media isn't being. Like, how many positive

Toronto Maple Leafs conversations are you having with your friends are you going out to the bar with your buddies and you're going out to watch whatever game or whatever guys are sitting there slugging some Guinness and you're like boy, still got a chance.

They're right there. You know, I really love all the guys in this team and it really feels like there's a lot of building blocks and their future is bright. So you're telling me there's a chance. I don't, so you were supposed to come in here and why? I don't know.

You're not. You're not. You're supposed to just talk and say how you feel. So every Thursday mornings, I go to my morning skate. Listen, there's a good 15 minutes on what's wrong with the Leafs, what's good, what's not good in the dressing room, even warming up. Like, what do they got to do? How do you fix this? Short term, long term.

Who needs to stay? Who needs to go? And everybody is. is pretty much as passionate as our Sammy. Yeah. And I will say every conversation you have off the year, and I shouldn't speak for you guys, but it's always involving the biggest names on the team.

And it's always involving someone saying, you know, last year, Martiner's got to go. This year it's Matthew's got to go. If we can just get away from that for a second, it's still a wonderful thing for the game, the Leafs in this town. Like the last thing you want, is no one to come to the rink

and no one to care enough to put in 10 or 15 minutes. Whatever your thoughts and ideas are, whatever, however you feel about Matthews or Marner or retool or rebuild, it's still there. Yeah.

Yeah, you're right. You don't go in there and go, what do you think the Leaf should do and people go, I don't know who's on the team. You know, that doesn't happen. Or I don't really care. Let's talk about something else. So, okay, so where is that

in the grand scheme of things to where the narrative now is like guys don't want to play here because of that right because that's where it starts and then of course you know we go on air i get that there's how many different podcasts out there right now that that have an influence now on how people perceive the trauma mate beliefs i i've lost count 50 60 i don't know either they're local whether they're somewhere in the country or somewhere in the world. Like, you're talking about the Leafs, like baseball fans talk about the Yankees, Dallas Cowboys.

It really isn't any different when you talk about those type of franchises. Montreal locally, come on, don't tell me. Like, it's not all the same when you talk about those type of institutions. It's funny, too, because, like, I think players know that if you were to come here and have success, they see the way Wendell and Dougie Gilmore are treated and all these guys. They know that you can build up a lifetime by having some success here. So I think there's always an interest in coming here and trying to be that guy. You know.

It's always the guys you have him play here that are talking about what it's like to play in Toronto. Yeah. That's what I find. I don't really feel as though that it's. You could chuck. It's Pat Maroon. Yeah. It's always people.

It's Jack, the Quinn and Jack Hughes at the prehist. conference talk like Mark Stone. It's just all the guys that have never actually played in this market that come in are like, yeah, boy, it sucks there. Well, you never played here. So just because you're viewing it from your outside little bubble where two guys ask you questions at morning skate doesn't necessarily, I don't know. I just, I find it.

I still think it's, you've played here. Yeah. I still think it's an amazing place to play. And how they get treated and the availability to whatever you need. is there. Do you want what you do to matter? I don't know if that's good grammar. Do you want what anyway?

What we do here? No, I'm saying if you're a player, it matters here. Every day matters. And I think that's inspiring when you come into work. And for the record, I feel like what we do here matters every day because we get feedback. And so I love it. If no one was listening, I wouldn't enjoy doing this.

None of us would be employed. Yeah. Right. But I just, I find that people, expect of the Toronto media what like it's unrealistic to say come in here and talk up all the good things right now it's not a positive time they're in a real pickle a dilly of a pickle if you will but I do I do think it takes a little bit of a different kind of guy to to withstand the bad times here in this town now sure right you you need a guy that a few things can bounce off

I don't know if you've been a good example I don't know if you need to go back to their grade three elementary teacher to say, you know, who said, bounce off of me, sticks on to you. Yeah. You're rubber and I'm glue. Yeah. Rubber and I grew. Yes.

Who's got that? On your roster. Oh, yeah. Right? But in saying that, yeah, I did play for the Leafs. And I did, we were at times picking up a Toronto star. Social media makes it so much worse now. A Toronto Sun.

Globe and Mail and we're like, okay, what are they saying? Yeah. Oh, this guy's got to go, right? That was the extent of it. Or he's not playing well, but like what they're dealing with today between all these shows and some of them just, there's no guardrails. You can just say whatever you want. You can swear as much as you want.

You can curse. You can just, you can be just be as vicious as you want. And it's okay. Yeah, there was a bit more of a journalistic standard once upon a time when there's three papers of record and stuff to get the jobs. A lot of it's gone. Yeah. Right? And that's the part.

And if it's not the player listening, it'll be a brother or sister, a buddy, it'll be a mom and dad. It'll be somebody going back to the kid going, oh my God. Yeah. Can you believe what they're saying about you? This is awful. Once in a while when my buddy sends me a YouTube comment, like, did you see this? I'm like, no, I didn't see this. And there's times when it's really like not, it's not fair.

But like who's going to police it? Who's going to watch it? Who's going to tell them, no, you can't say that? But what's so different now is that social media element where it doesn't even have to be someone with a podcast. It can just be anyone. And, you know, because of algorithms, they're on the Leafs. They get served some Leafs stuff on Instagram, I'm sure. They see pictures of themselves photoshopped into, I don't even want to suggest some of the things I've seen.

Yeah. You know, and it's like, you know, I get how that could wear on you and it could be grading, but I think it meant because people care if you do well, you're going to get the opposite version of that too, the good stuff. And for some years, the Leafs did get that.

God, remember seeing Marner and Matthews Bon Jovi singing along to that video 3,000 times. You know, people couldn't have loved it more. Yeah. Until it was no more. Until you start losing. Yeah.

Right? Yeah. But I, you know, and I know you and I differ on some of the Marner stuff, and that's fine. But like, again, I think because it's cool to be somewhere people care, that's just the risk. You're right.

It's not for everyone. I mean, just. And it does go too far. And it's, you know, it's the stuff that, like, he was reported golfing the next day after they got knocked out. Right. Which never happened. Right.

But. So what if it did? But people pick that up. and whether it's true or not, regardless, we're just going to start judging you on it, right? But you say, what if he did? What if he didn't, though, right? Like, I just photoshopped or saw pictures of you as like in Iran a few minutes ago.

You know, like people, you know, but you're okay. You're okay, I think. Maybe we need to talk. But like, it's, this is just kind of part of the market. It's like, it's like when you play, like just worry. about the things that you can control. Right. And don't worry about the rest.

Don't. That's, Ian, some guy, to your point, some guys can do it, some guys can. Yeah, I mean, it's on a much smaller scale, but I don't know if you guys read my mentions in the last year and a half. Like, people are very mean online. Sammy, that's a thing. You just want to come over and squeeze your cheeks. Like, who could be mad at you?

Who could be mad at you? Well, I'll show you my DMs one day. It's just, you know, it's tough. to be in the public eye, but you're paid $13 million. That's what the money is for. Yeah, but I guess to the point of Pat Maroon or whoever else it may be, you can also make $13 million and not have that somewhere else. So is it a deterrent for people playing here?

I think it's a combination of taxes and it snows here and people can be aggressive. I think, excuse me, I think that when it's bad here, it's very likely to drive people away, but because it can be so good when people, People see it starting to grow. Look, I mean, Patrick Marlowe was dying to come be a part of this. Joe Thornt was dying to come be a part of this. When it's going that direction, people see what it can be like in the other, in a positive.

The other factor, too, and I'll compare it to the parent that is sinking a lot of money in their kid, right? To go and practice three days a week, to get a skills coach, to being forced to buy a leather jacket, just in a hat and then there's a price point that really puts a lot of pressure on you and the kid and let's face it. There's a pressure point too for elite fans today maybe more so than we've ever seen

over the course of this franchise history. You're talking financially. Yes. I'm saying that also there is a feel out there that we don't mind paying top dollar but not for that product. Right. Right.

Not. And it's more stressful today than it's ever been. And I don't care whether you own a corporation or you're the president's CEO or you're just a guy who just buys this season tickets because you're, it's because that's where you want your money to go. But like everybody's feeling that now. It's like I'm okay, but I need a better product. and that also spills into that whole, where's the temperature of the city right now for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Yeah, I mean, it's, I'll say this, it's much more reasonable to get into a Leafs game than it's been in a long time right now. So, I mean, that kind of tells you what people are at. That's winning and losing. And it might be new to the Leafs too because... Kipper, it's not always been like winning and losing, buddy. No, no, no.

But when you've lost in the past, there was less. worry about about that price point that I'm talking about. And now you could probably get into tonight's game in the building for 70 bucks. No, I think it's more in the 90 range. Okay.

But still, under 100 for least games unheard of. Florida Panthers, two-time Stanley Cup champions. They're not in it right now. 48 bucks. I talked to a guy who got lower bowls for 50 bucks. Yeah, but they've never cared. So it's still. I mean, like, comparing the least to Florida.

Is it completely different? No, no, no. But now in 2006, now you can compare. This is what happens when the product isn't up to snuff. Florida's ticket wasn't $50 two years ago last year. No, no. And now for the first time, the Leafs are now in that scenario where, hey, you miss the playoffs. You're not successful.

You're like the rest of the team. You're, it's less in demand. Okay, that's, okay, I understand that point. But I'm just going to say, like, it is my. much more newsworthy that a ticket to a lease game is 90 bucks than a ticket to a Florida Panthers games 40. Yeah. Like, I mean, they've been 40 bucks for their whole, like, unless for the last two years,

they were a little more, but it's still way less than it would ever be here. My point is just what, what losing does. Yeah. Now in 2026. And I think the way you are losing is different, too, where it's a team that had high expectations. That's big part of it. It's not, it's versus expectations. and a complicated relationship between the team and the fan base,

where I do think that there's a lot of people that were dying for any reason to quit on this core. That, like, they were just chomping at the bit where they've seen all these playoff failures and at the first sign of trouble. I mean, it's, you know, this market begged for my whole life. Yeah, but this isn't the first sign of trouble. No, but, I mean, they've been good.

They've been in the playoffs. They've been a playoff team. They've been accumulating points against. But, like, my intention. entire childhood, you know, into my 20s. It's like, oh, man, only if the lease could get a number one center, only get a least could get a number one center. And the first sign of them, you know, not being any good for the future, they want to

trade their number one center at age 28. Like, people just have a very complicated relationship with this core. And they just are, we're dying for a reason to quit on them. It feels like they have. It's crazy to have so little goodwill. Their last four seasons, they've had 150 points. It's no goodwill. It's no goodwill.

points, 102 points, 108, 108. That's their last year was 108? 108 last year. It's their last four seasons. Those are great numbers. I mean, incredible. Great numbers. And, you know, you think you fall off for one season and you prime to try to run it back next year, you'd have some goodwill from that.

But the post seasons, the way they've gone, the expectations were so high. But they did a lot of bad losses at that built. A lot of loss. This is a lot of bad loss. But it doesn't, it doesn't feel like Florida's goodwill, right? Because they got a lot of their guys coming back. and there's Florida next year. Yes.

Well, yeah, and there's cups behind them. There's cups behind them, but there seems to be a good base there still that you can ride out for another year, two or three. I don't know how long they go. And there's skepticism here. And here it's, okay, we're the real assets now in this organization

compared to Florida's. They called up Michael Posetta. Sammy, you've been calling for this. I don't know whether I should be honored or terrified that Bradshaw living listens to Leaf Stock, Michael Posetta called up from the Toronto Marley's and this will be shockingly I learned today

he hasn't played one game yet for the Leafs I thought they snuck him in somewhere This is it this is his Leafs debut He's thrilled to be a part of it What's strangers because of the veteran limit rule In the American League he's played 37 American League games all season I believe he's 27, 28 years old

I mean, we do the least games every night. You thought he played for the least? I don't know. I thought at some point he didn't sneak in a game. He was a blur. Who knows? But yeah, no, he is not snuck in a game. He's 27 years old.

I can tell you if he shoots left or right. Which raise he? Left. Oh, that's a good guess. Good guess. No, it's not a good guess. I know his shoes left. He, uh, you know, the craziest part of this to me is that he didn't get signed to a two-way contract.

It's a two-year, one-way NHL deal for 812,000. So 1.6, whatever million they gave them. I had them in game one opening night. I did too. I just thought they wanted discount Ryan Reeves, a guy who you could put in the press box, who would give you what he could on the forecheck and energy. You know, just a little pace.

I don't know how bad he's been in the American League for him to get no looks at all. But anyway, he's got 200 NHL games under his belt already. In the American League, He's got four goals, 10 assists and 75 pims and 57, or sorry, whatever I said, 40 games, something like that. So, I don't know. He's, by the way, lifelong Leafs fan.

I know. He's super excited. I know. To be a league. You want to play his clip about playing for the Leafs time? Yes. Let's play. Yeah, I think it's just like pure excitement, like even just being out there in morning

skate, like just so excited. Like I said, I could barely sleep last night. Just excited. You know, anytime you get the opportunity to be back on any. NHL ice is exciting and then just to be able to put this leaf sweater on for the first time. I'm sure it's going to come with a lot of emotions and I'm just excited about it. Five back of excitement. I would have him rub up against every player on the team tonight because I need some of that passed on.

So that's 100% why he's in tonight. They're like, this guy is jazzed up. He says Luke Fox wrote about him today. It's not hard to cheer for the least being from Toronto. I can't even explain how stoked I am. And then he adds insanely fired up. for the all the excited. Just watching him tonight

will be worth it. This is what I thought was going to happen. And here, this was my point. I was like, who's he going to fight tonight? It's poor Ross Johnson. Ross Johnson's a murderer.

Yeah, he's going to have to go to Ross Johnson. Just jump him. But like, that's coming. He's got to jump. I mean, to your point about

business and giving the fans something to cheer for or whatever, like, yes. This is what, I mean, they know Michael

Pazeta's game. Like I think this is the reason he's in the lineup tonight because there's potentially being a little energy and some chaos for a fan base that's seen nothing. If he four checks well and plays five minutes and doesn't fight or something like he's just, it'll be disappointing. I expect him to yell at someone tonight. He's 100% fighting.

I would bet. Ross Johnson reading the call-ups today was like, oh God, here we go. Just we're going to get something. We're going to get a different feel for sure than what we've seen in the last eight or nine games. So that's It's good enough for me.

Jansen Harkins fight. If I'm Posetta, I'm looking for it. Trubimite. Oh, I'd go fight. Gutism. No, but you can make them look silly by not. Cowan. How many minutes against us?

You want to hear what their thought precious? Yeah. Let's hear from head coach Barubi on Pizzata. You want that? Yes, I do. Okay. Clip one. Like I said, we're going to look at guys down there,

and he's one of the guys that we wanted to see. I'd say for a little while now. We wanted to try to get him up here. And yeah, so he's a guy that's going to bring in lots of energy and, you know, good skater, strong skaters. So we'll see how it goes. I mean you wanted to get him in for a while. I don't understand that.

So what happened? We're all looking for the guy who did this. So if you wanted, I'm like, doesn't anybody follow up with what, oh, hold on for a second. So what kept it from happening and who was playing so well that you couldn't fit him in? But I don't know. Yarnie was undeniable. You couldn't get the croak.

I don't know. I mean, yeah. I think tonight it looks like Lorenz and Dakota Joshua may be scratched. Yeah. Tough to be scratching Joshua. You just gave him three-year deal. He's been injured. You didn't give it.

You traded for it. Right. Yeah. Yeah. You traded for it. gave him a three, or you're traded for the three new deal. Yeah. And then he's been injured and now he's back.

Like he can't give him some runway to get going. You got to have a line of, oh, standby for this. I know he was out. I know he was out, but there was plenty of opportunity to show runway. Okay. Tonight, the third line is Machelli grew Robertson. He can't get in. Mchelli grew Robertson.

I know, but. Micelli grew. I got to tell you. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay with new look, new energy, you and your feel with guys. I got to tell you, a fourth line of

Pesetta, Quillen, Yarn, Croke is awesome, and I'm not being facetious. That is, they are going to be flying. Yarnie, you say what you have a yarn, he can move. He sure looks like he's just got the waterbug stems anyway. That line is going to be on the forecheck. Not going to have a clue what to do when they get it, but

they won't. When the dog catches a car? Where do you want to go? Cowan. Sure, let's do Cowan. All right, Cowan. How many minutes? Okay, hold on for a second. How many minutes in Montreal?

Was it over 18? Yeah, 18, 20. Which is a big number. Big number. Tonight he finds himself playing on a line with Austin and Willie. Let's have a listen. That's some good stretches at times. You know, I think early on in the season,

they were together for a bit and did some good things. So good opportunity for Cowan. I thought he did a good game, good job in Montreal, and that's why I made that switch. He had, you know, the last couple months, he averaged 1135 in the month of, it looks like February and January, 1410. So to jump up to 1820 is a big one.

But yeah, he could make plays. Like he's definitely the brightest young guy they got. No question that you could see the upside and you could see why he was successful as a top junior. The only thing missing is just size. Like getting stronger, right? And the empty net goal where he kind of got bounced off a little bit, Evans. Yeah.

I mean, that's just bigger, stronger, wins the race. At that age, too, I don't know about you at that age. I pretty typically put on 10, 12 pounds and then you come to camp and you lose five and you're up seven for the year. Yeah, that's kind of your- It's coming and it still won't be there by next October. But he'll be stronger. He'll be stronger.

Yes, but he, to me, he still needs a couple of years now to put some serious weight and strength on. He needs to do squats. I know a lot of fast twitch stuff too, but it's all lower, but you look at like the good, like Crosby and the low base that these, I don't say smaller, he's not small, but smaller maybe is what I should have said. Yeah, to get that good lower base going into next year.

I think, you know, as a Lee fan watching these games, you know, and Kipper, I think you've kind of been, alluding to the fact that maybe a little bit too much too soon, you as well, Borny, like, you want him to earn it. But you talk about a product that's watchable or whatever. Like, I think having him on the top line, that's something that you can at least tune into these games and watch him. I'd rather watch him make plays and turn it over.

I'd rather watch him do both. And I do, I think at least when you go into the look ahead to the future of this team, he's shown enough in his rookie year that he'll be part of it when they're good again. Like when the least are good again, he can be a contribute. He can be a contributing factor to this. Yeah, I don't know if he'll ever be a superstar per se, but he will be a top six guy. Good support player.

Right? What's his ceiling for points in here? Can he? Can he be haggle? That's the exact name that was on the tip of my time. Really? Oh, can he be a 90-point Olympian who fights? I don't.

So is the answer no? I don't think that's a huge ceiling. Buddy, I know. I know. also considered the number one junior prospect in the world, right? Okay. Okay. So, yeah.

I don't know. You know what I will say? I think when he gets stronger, he'll have scrap to him. I think he's got scrappiness in him. Right now, it's how do you mouth off when everyone can donk you into the ice? They can, like donkey Kong. Yeah. I think there's just overall, he just needs time to mature, physically, mentally, emotionally.

Sometimes you can see him too a little bit where he's just not ready to calm himself down yet. The hardest thing I think is a lot of these guys who come up awesome the way Cowan has, just everything goes great. You're told you're awesome and it's easy and you're awesome and it's awesome. And then all of a sudden it's hard and it's not awesome and you're not doing great. And you have to go through adversity. I don't know why for three weeks they didn't send. to the Marleys and just play.

Play, play, play, play. Play on the power, play. Do whatever you need to do. But do not let that guy just go somewhere for three weeks and hang. And then they come out of the Olympics. I think he skated with London a little bit. But you know, you don't need to go there and feel like a big wheel. No.

You know what I mean? No. You're right. You need to still have to work and earn it. Then they come out of the Olympics and he scratched twice in a row. which now I, you know, I recognize that they thought they were trying to win then and make playoffs. Which is so absurd to think about. Yeah, it's crazy to think.

All right, Sammy, what else you like here? You got Matthews not scoring or Riley off the power play. Riley off the power play. All right. Craig Brewy. Just last game. I didn't like how it was going. I made that switch.

So that's why I was there. I've done it a few times this year, right? sometimes, you know, a little switch like that will spark it again and get it going in the right direction. Right now it's a little dry for us. So that's why I made the switch. I'm assuming it's OEL. Yeah, it's OEL. Okay.

Morgan Riley, I think it's really important that he shows some stability here for the next 16 games. I don't think he's done as a pro, as a guy that could interest. other teams. I think he's far from done. But he needs these next 16 games, I think, to remind people around this city in other markets,

management teams that he could still skate, he could still shoot it in the net, he can skate a puck out of his own zone. You think he's at the point he's trying to revalitate himself to the league? I think it's important that he does because it'll make it a lot easier to make decisions in the offseason for himself.

Yeah, he'll have options at that point as opposed to right now. You got to invite people to, you got to remind people still. Like, I know I've struggled and I know it's been tough here. But all I need is a fresh change or a new coat of paint. If I had to guess for Morgan, he's not like, let's go chase a cup next season. It's like, let's find somewhere we can raise a family, is a long contract, have stability. like he'll be looking for something and he has a 16 team or is it a full no move entirely i think it's full yeah it's full so they're not going to get anything we'll probably yeah they're going to work

with them they respect him he is a well respected player around the league like just just focus on having a good finish here yep agreed we should we should go uh Scott needemeyer you have the doc oh hall ofamer yeah boy Talks talk. I got to tell you, I took a cross-sized pass in the boot today. Right, we forgot to discuss it. And I'm wearing,

I was wearing my old grasp because I broke. Which is thick as those Nikes you got on. And it was fine for a while. But if you, if you're watching on YouTube or on sports and you see me wince, like I am in deathly pain. Really? It has gotten 10 times worse the last hour.

You're ready for the meds here? I got meds. I've taken a beating. It's a leave time. I've taken a beating this winter. You have. I've broken ribs, vertigo,

stitches. back the other day. And my back went out last week. You had four legitimate physical injuries. And showed up every day. I broke my back. I'm like crying. Can I ask you something? The guy that gave you the pass. I put my foot up to block a cross-ice pass. Oh, you did. Okay, I wasn't a teammate that.

No, it was just like an instinctive thing that I immediately regret it. It's killing me. So we'll see. Never defense. Spinal. Bone, Bruce. It's hard to break something down there. Have you seen me? my feet, no, I got alien feet, brother. Do you? Oh, yeah, I got the arches of like wooden rakes. You got the arches of a dancer, bro.

Could you peel an orange with your toes? That would be me if we're talking about it. I'm absolutely gross toes. No question. All right. Get off feet, would you? Scott Niedemeyer, hockey Hall of Famer, special advisor to the ducks they go tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

We'll have them next after these words. Hey, it's Aylish Forerfar. Justin Cuthbert. Join us as we discuss the most important sports stories of the day and tee up the biggest games of the night. It's the fan free game. 6 p.m. weekdays on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 590, the fan, and wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back to our Leaf Hour edition of the Real Kipper and Boran show.

And Kippreel's Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Anaheim Ducks tonight at Scotia Bank Arena, where boys, like, who saw the ducks atop the Pacific division? Not me. Maybe a bit of a sexy pick this year. You know, young team, Quenville taken over. Like, I think they had a bit of buzz. Maybe not this good, though.

The biggest thing about this team is the size and talent of their young forwards. Yeah. Goce, Seneca, Seneca, Carlson. They're all 6263, 2, 10, and just, talented. Mason McAvish isn't small. God, Crichter's a monster up front. Like, they're a big forward group. Is this the perfect team to come in here and like force the Leafs? Okay. To force the Leafs to come up with a big game here.

Like, they got, boys, they got to win one here. We don't expect them to lose every game here from from here on in. No, come on. No. We got a lot of losses. They'll win a few games, but like the ducks are good. In competing, these are big games for the ducks.

They're not going to be sleeping. And Seneca, local kid played for the generals coming in here. They're going to be all horned up for him. He's going to put money on the board. He's going to be good. He'll score a goal. They are going to beat the brakes off the Leafs day. No, this will be high scoring.

The Ducks defensive. numbers are woeful. I'm okay. I'm okay. The Leafs if they lose 8-7. 6-5 game coming. Right? I just put some pucks in the net. Get Austin going here. You know, find a way to put the puck in the net

a couple of times. I was going to say play the goal song a bunch, but I don't know what it is. I don't know anymore. I used to know. But then it was six things because they were indecisiveness. Defining word of the era. We're just momentarily away from a

Scott Needamire, four-time Stanley Cup champion. We're having some internet issues with them, so we may be calling him here, boys. Give me a second. All right. He is a special advisor to the hockey operations for the Ducks. Which is the most perfect job you can have in hockey. Well, he is Scott Niedermeyer.

And so they're like, we want your opinion on things. Will you be around and just pick a title? So clearly, if Scott wanted to, maybe we'll bring this up with him, I mean, if the guy wanted to run a team, much like we've seen Hall of Famers out there I mean he could do it

yeah he's just that's a lot of work all right Derek do we have Scott we do let's welcome him in four time Stanley Cup champion Hall of Famer Special Advisor

to hockey ops for the Anaheim ducks so I'm looking at the standings Scott and the ducks are I don't know know, comfortable is the right word, but they have a gap between the Oilers and the nights that no one saw coming. Is this all because of the great advising you've given them all season long?

How about the operations of hockey? No, that's about as good as my internet right now. No, you know what? It's been a lot of things and it hasn't been overnight. You know, there's been some difficult years down in Anaheim and our young guys have definitely taken a step. I think Joel Quenville coming in was very helpful. You know, the addition of a guy like Crider to go out and sort of play a certain role. Truba's having a good year.

We've had a lot of things go right this year, which has been good. And on top of that, I guess you just talked about Vegas and Edmonton, maybe not having their best of years. So we're kind of in the mix with those teams, which is great. There's an interesting, almost like, I don't know, two tiers of ages on your team. You kind of got a bunch of young guys and a bunch of old guys. Have you been on teams like that? How does that dynamic work?

Is there someone have to bridge the gap to connect the two? Yeah, I'm not in the room enough to really make a comment. I don't think I have. You're right. It's a pretty unique situation where we've got some guys with some good experience. They've been in the league a long time. And that was by design. I mean, it's a tough league.

There's a lot to learn for young guys. And we're hoping that we've got guys in there. We know we have guys in there that know what the NHL is about that have had success. And our young guys can learn things from. So that's why it sort of structured that way, probably traded away a few of our middle guys a few years ago to sort of really start the rebuild. And this is what you end up with.

You mentioned some of the young guns here. And you also mentioned Chris Kreider, Jacob Trubas, another one that I certainly can look at and say, great leadership. You know, it was good enough for the Rangers to name them captain once upon a time. but, you know, how influential have they been for your young players? Well, I think the big thing is just the consistency, you know, stabilizing our team, our approach to, it's a long season, the ups and downs,

and they just keep coming to work, doing their job, they know what it is. And I just think that's a great example for our young guys to see. It is tough to be consistent over 82 games, you know, and then shooting for the playoffs. So those guys kind of demonstrate that to our young guys. and I think obviously Joel Quindle as well, obviously the amount of experience he has just won his 1,000th game, regular season game, which was a heck of an accomplishment. And, you know, having him behind the bench is sort of doing the same thing for our young guys. And hopefully they are are learning, you know, quicker than the average young guy. And we can get more competitive as time goes on.

Scott, for Leif's fans, we have you in Leafs Hour here. So for Leafs fans trying to understand the young players that you guys have there, I wonder if you can help us tell us, tell us, the differences between, particularly Carlson, Goce, and Seneca, because I look for years here in Toronto, it was like people talked about the core, like they were one person, but Willie Nealander played

nothing like John DeVarres, played nothing like Matthews. So those three players, how are they different in the way they're having success? Yeah, I think I guess start with Cutter Gochay is a shooter, a really good skater as well, has played a lot with Leo Carlson, who kind of, you know,

loves to transport the puck. moves the puck as well as love has a good shot as well but those two guys together both can skate extremely well have a high end level of skill and back at Seneca coming in this year as a 19 year old he maybe had a little bit of a slow start in rookie camp and the early part of training camp but he's just continued to improve and get better

and obviously has a high level of skill as well he loves to control the puck he doesn't mind protecting it in difficult areas and he's a very real competitive kid. And that's the part I love about him is he loves to go to the net. He doesn't mind mixing it up a little bit. Someone gives him a bit of a shot. You know, he'll keep an eye out for them the next couple shifts. That's important. If you want to compete and try and win, you have to have some of that in your lineup and in your team. And I'm kind of excited to see that element of his game for sure. You're watching and listening to Scott Needamire, four-time

champion, special advisor to the Anaheim Ducks. You mentioned Joel Quenville here. If you look over the course of this season, what has stood out the most for you about Joel, who is often still regarded as one of the best coaches in the league? Yeah, I didn't really know Joel before. I'd maybe met him briefly, but didn't know a lot about him. Obviously, you see his reputation, talk to a lot of people that had nothing but great things to say about how he coached and approached the game. And the thing that does stand out, I think he just has such a great feel for not only

the team, but the individual players on where. they're at, you know, what they need. You know, sometimes we do as players need to kick in the butt or we need to be challenged. He's not afraid to do that. But at the same time as players, sometimes we need a pat on the back and some encouragement. And I think he just has a real good sense of how to sort of manage that individual players and the whole team and our guys have responded, you know, so far this year. And it's it's been fun.

When you're in the depths of trying to rebuild the team, sometimes you wonder if, you know, the days are going to come when when you can start competing and, you know, you can heating and winning games or expect to win games. And I'm glad that at least now we're winning more than we're losing. And that's a step forward for us. So did you have a hand in that process in being patient when it wasn't going well and saying we need to, you know, either rebuild or hold on here or what was your input as you guys tried to get back to this?

Well, it kind of, you know, happened when Pat Rubik was hired. You know, Bob Murray, you know, was let go where he's. stepped down. They were looking for a new general manager. I think at that point, we might have missed the playoffs already for three years, maybe, something like that. And there really was no rebuild happening because continued to try to compete. We had some older really good players and just hadn't had the success. But when the change was made, I think it was in some sense easier for Pat to come in, look at our team from a distance and kind of recognize what needed to happen. And he kind of got to work within a couple months. The deadline was next. And he made some trades.

of some older players to get some prospects and picks. And he went to work over the next few years, watching a lot of junior hockey and trying to rebuild the talent and the organization. And we still have a ways to go. It'd still be great to get more talent, more young talent. But at least feels we're headed in the right direction for the moment, which is good.

Scott, Justin Boren, just mentioned. We are in our Leaf Hour edition of our show. So I'm going to bring it back to the blue and white a little bit. there is a connection between you, Tom Kervers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1991. Lots of talk about the Leafs giving up a pick this draft, you know, to the Boston Bruins. My question to you is,

do you ever look back and wonder what could have been or do people bring it up or am I the only idiot here that does it now? No, I think whenever I'm in Toronto or talking to somebody in Toronto, it gets brought up. You know, it's interesting. Like, I don't even know if I knew that that's how the pick got to New Jersey when they drafted me. You know, I just knew they had the third pick. I went to the draft in Buffalo, ended up being picked by them. And, you know, away you go.

So I didn't really think too much about it, I think probably until, you know, maybe I showed up in Toronto for my first game there. And they started talking about it or asking a question about it. A few, I don't know, maybe about seven years ago, I was at a game in Chicago, and I'd never met Tom Kervers, and he came up to me and introduced himself with a big smile, and he kind of talked about the connection we had and introduced himself, which is really cool for him to sort of do that. I'm sure a lot of the talk maybe wasn't always in the best light for him in that situation, but he was such a great guy came up and introduced himself, like I said, so it's kind of neat.

Kim, I didn't grow up in Toronto. What happened here? What I meant, what I miss? The Leafs traded for a defenseman and gave up their first pick that ended up being Scott, Needham Meyer. Oh, geez, guys. Well, in that year, Eric Lindross was the first overall pick. And, you know, there was probably even more concerned at the time about, you know, maybe losing that player with the pick as well.

So, yeah, probably interesting times there in Toronto. Very interesting. Yeah, Sam, not happy with that. Other guy on the team I wanted to ask you about Lucas Dostal, he's just been absolutely. lights out. Was it clear early on in this guy's career that he was going to be the number one there? Because right now he's one of the league's best already. Yeah, I think what really stands out with him, obviously he's talented, but he's a real pro. I mean, he's been around now for a bit, but still relatively young.

And just the way he approaches the game, he's a real competitor. You know, his preparation, everything is as good as you'd see in pro hockey. And I think that's, you need guys like that too in your organization. And I think if it's your goalie, you know, that just gives everybody confidence. knowing that, you know, they got a guy back there doing everything he can to help our team and stop pucks. And, yeah, he's been good for us. Been good for the Czech Republic, had success with them as well last year and won a world championships, I think one or two years ago.

So he's proven he can sort of handle some pressure. And, you know, he loves being a net. He loves the challenge of trying to stop pucks. It's going to be a great finish here, Scott. We really appreciate your time. Best of luck the rest of the way. Thanks for doing this. No problem, guys.

Good talking to you. Thanks. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it. Scott Niedemeyer. Just hold on. There's a bit of a follow-up to that story in 1991. That once the Leafs found out that they were flirting with the basement,

they went and made another trade with the Quebec Nordiques. and they pulled veterans, two veterans, I can't remember who, and sent them draft picks. So they wouldn't bottom out. So they wouldn't bottom out and have the first overall pick go to New Jersey, which was Eric Lindros.

They couldn't be seen as having given away, Eric Lindross. Yes. So probably... Eric, if they don't make the curve or trade for the first rounder. They bought him out and get Eric. They get Eric Lindros. Did you know that, Sammy? I did. I, like, barely knew it, but I did kind of know that. Like, if you had to give Boston the pick this year, if you're the Leafs, maybe you should have

added at the deadline just to give them a worse pick, but obviously there's different stipulations. Hey, fun fact with the clauses on the Leafs pick thing this year, did you know? Clause. So this year, their pick is top five. protected. Yes. They finish the top five. Yeah.

Keep it. Well, not guaranteed because there's... Well, the lottery could bump them out. It could bump them out. So, but let's say they get their pick in the top five this year. Next year, Boston's pick gets bumped to the next year. Yes. If Toronto were to then finish in the bottom 10 again.

Yes. So like a really bad whatever. They would actually get to pick whether they want to give the pick to Boston or Philly. So then Boston could, if you gave it to Philly, Boston would get bumped to 2028 on on protection. I didn't know that. Yeah, I just learned it this morning from Rory Boylan, our editor. Yeah, Roy Boylan broke that news to me today.

Yeah. So there's a way. There's some flexibility then. Yes. So I'm not saying that as a plus. I'm just saying that they are, it's the way it's all going to shake out if they're bad for some years. By the way, there's a world where 2028 is the year. They're the worst.

For sure. As they hang on here and try to make it work for another year to finally decide. There's a year where this is a nightmare, the whole thing. Yeah. This is my nightmare. And you get Eric Lindra's first overall. I promised this yesterday, and this is the new segment that I promised you, Kipper,

that you were going to be... It's called Kipper's Tank Watch, okay? Because I knew you were going to be really fired up with the segments, so I want to name it after you, brother. That's okay. I appreciate it. So these are the games we need tonight. Yeah. Need the devils over the flames, okay?

Flames are uncatchable in terms of... In terms of awfulness. And the devils are right around the leaves. One point difference of the leaves. So need the devils over the flames. Okay, which is doable. Yep. Need St. Louis over Carolina.

Feels a little bit more, a little tougher. I didn't have it. It's in Carolina, too, I think. So it's a tougher one. That's a hard L. Need jets over Rangers tonight. That's doable. Because jets are, I think,

two points ahead of the Leafs are right there in terms of flirting around with the Leafs. Need Chicago over Utah tonight in Utah. Okay. And you need Nashville over Vancouver tonight in Vancouver. A lot of Vetschola. team's playing tonight. Just give me a chance.

So there we go. That's what we need tonight. Kippers tank watch will get the sounder for tomorrow. I guess like a gun test. The drivers won't love to happen. I'm adding to this. Okay. Kippers tank standings.

Oh. Okay. Devils over flames. Who is taking? Devils. All right. Devils. Okay.

That's three of us. Okay. St. Louis over Carolina? No chance. Carolina's winning. Let's get a point for St. Louis in overtime. Okay.

Sammy, take St. Louis? No, I take Carolina in overtime. We'll get a point. All right. Jets, Rangers. Jets. You just hope that's not a three-point game. I'll take Rangers. Okay. But you do hope it's a three-point game.

Oh, you're right, you do. You're hoping for a three-point game. Yeah, it's the opposite. Utah over Chicago for me. I'm going to Utah for Chicago, too. Chicago's pretty un-catching. Yeah, they're pretty often. Well, they're right there.

So we're, then Nashville overvan. Yeah. Yeah. That's what we need tonight, boys. Oh, here we go. Gipper's taken. They already labeled the board. Thanks, Jakey boy. Wow.

Sammy, you really thought of this. I wish I could take credit for this, but this is all Jake. Look how doable this is. It's so doable, boys. It's so doable. Winnipeg's only three points back. This is going against every fiber in my body. Listen, you're telling me there's a chance.

Why is your name on the stand? Yeah. Because I... Can they keep it close? I'm happy if they keep it close tonight. I think there's lots of fun to see tonight. It's, you know, high-scoring game. Riley finds it a bit.

Pazetta creates some excitement. Seven-two ducks. Gohrew gets a... No, not seven-two. Seven-two ducks. You're going to run him off. Six-five. Yeah, I'm okay with that.

Let's get 10, 11 goals in. Right? All right. Okay. Coming up, National. Eddie O'Chuck. Oh, we're due. Give it chance.

And Ken Bullke to talk a little Vegas, Sammy. Yeah, they stink. So we should probably find out what's going on. All right, we will. Plenty more. Don't go away. It's a real Kippermen show.