Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Knies' Rise

Episode Date: April 11, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Daniele Franceschi look back on the Leafs' 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. They get into the difference between the team's play in Sunrise and Tampa, Matthew Knies evolving into a leadership role and Mitch Marner getting closer to the 100-point mark. Then, they look ahead to the Leafs matchup against Montreal on Saturday where they will be short a defenceman with OEL out. Finally, former Leafs GM Gord Stellick (31:03) shares his takeaways from the back-to-back in Florida before discussing Knies' expanding role, the importance of a division title and potential third-line options in the playoffs.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.

Oh, man, is it off the rails Friday today on the real kipper and born show. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Daniele Francesca, Derek Brandeo and Jake the Snake Schultz with you for the next two hours. You're brutal by the way. Brutal. Yeah. Why? Yeah, because we are five seconds from going on air and

you ask Disco, can we get the masters on the television now? We got a blank TV screen on investors Friday. Where were we for the last five minutes to turn this thing on? Why did you remember in the last 15 seconds? I like Blair and Barker as guys, great guys, some of my favorite guys, but the rush between their show and ours is I miss the days of the open studio. Derek, Jake, homework, get it up, get the masters going, you know which monitor it is. You be quiet for one second. Okay, you got it.

Because yeah, you have a better lineup than Sammy will ever have in his lifetime. I'll give you that one. But Sammy McKee would have had the Masters on. He would have. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. That's your job my friend when you're filling in. Okay.

Okay. I mean no more golf. That drops. We're not on the air again till Monday. So we're hooped. Could have a rain delay. Never know. the air again till Monday so we're hooped. We could have a rain delay, never know.

Is there any way we could just go to bars for 30 seconds and turn it on? Can everybody just wait and television land and radio land? Can we go to bars? I don't think our bosses would like that. No, okay, all right. We should plow ahead. Okay, so how are you? It's been a good couple of days for me and you.

To be honest, to not be on yesterday, that I mean, after Florida and then Tampa Bay, we have a lot to say. We do, we do. In the meantime, we did an event together at Mercedes Benz, Toronto Queensway, where I brought you out to hang out. And they gave me a Mercedes. Not yet.

No, I didn't have. But we're working on it. But that was a lot of fun. It was awesome. Really grateful that 100 came out. We've never really done anything like that before, No, but we're working on it. Yeah, but that was a lot of fun. It was awesome, right? We've never really done anything like that before but they put on an event For us they invited some of their clients and we just kind of hung out We watched a hockey game together and then you and I just did a Q&A in between Periods and there's a lot of fun. It was fun

It's really cool and you know fun to watch the game in a big screen also To feel like the playoff energy to be around like 60 people watching a great game like that at the same time. Yes. That's fun. And the other thing I want to just say is we also do birthday parties. Yep. We do bar mitzvahs. I juggle. If anyone needs. Anyone you want to hire us, we're available and we'll bring disco when Sammy's not around.

Yeah. And then yesterday, me and you went shopping a little bit We've spent more quality time together without Sammy. I almost feel like magical. We're cheating on it Well, I didn't realize that he was the wedge in our relationship. Yes all time. We just needed Got invited by Jeremy who's with Easy Mondays. Easy Mondays. And you know. You can see how lovely our unstructured blazers are. Look at this nice stuff.

Look at that color of that shirt. We usually dress kind of the same without even knowing it. But today we did. Today was on purpose. Today was on purpose. We look sharp. Thanks again, Jeremy. Thanks, Easy Mondays.

Really, really very nice of them. Okay, so we didn't work yesterday. We didn't really have a chance to follow up yet on the trip to the state of Florida, the Sunshine State, where we saw two completely different Toronto Maple Leaf hockey clubs. Yeah, I mean, that's the best way to put it possible is, you know, the Leafs have done this for years where it's like the

moment you feel like you're gonna give up on them right after that Florida game a lot of fans were They can't beat that team. They're not built for playoffs and then they went and played a team in Tampa Bay who has been the best team in the NHL since February 4th according to my math and they they hung with them. They look great on the road and Kind of made you believe again, Kip. Listen, I don't know if you, for whatever reason, they just laid such a big egg against Florida, but you just don't put up consecutive 100-point seasons

without something being there for them to have laid down like they did against Florida I still can't put my finger on why but If it is gonna happen this close to the playoffs You're certainly glad it happened in the last week instead of the first week of the playoffs got out of their system Did it leave you feeling like if you had to pick one of these two teams to play? Even though Tampa Bay is going to finish ahead of them, even though Tampa Bay is higher in the standings and hotter and all that,

you would rather play Tampa Bay than Florida. But the record speaks for itself, right? Disco, they undefeated. Yeah, season sweep this year, last three years, eight, two and one against Tampa. But for whatever reason, they see Tampa, they're comfortable. Florida, not so much. Okay, let's pick up a Kippers Clipper with Craig Brew. We're talking about the overviews of what he saw Wednesday night in Tampa.

Yeah, the first period is good. You know, I thought we had real good pace to our game and we're going good. Got an early lead. You know, I think our team battled in the interior of the ice tonight with shot blocks, hard runner and that. You know, the second period, I thought they were the better team.

They came out as pretty good, but goalie was good and like I said, we battled around the interior of the ice. You know for all the criticism of Craig Berube not you know being more being harder on the guys or leaning into accountability at least publicly at least publicly that we're aware of it does seem to pay dividends when they don't panic when things go bad right they lost a few in a row no one really panicked they you know they get beat up by Florida, they're fine. They come back and give a good effort.

So that's encouraging that maybe there is something there. Matthew Nyes, you wanna talk about him? No, not yet. Not yet. I still wanna kind of dissect a little bit of what we saw compared to Florida and Tampa Bay because there still is a lot that could scare me about Tampa Bay, especially with the firepower.

And I'm not sure how Kucherov felt about his game Wednesday night. But he's terrifying. He's off the charts good. I don't think he had particularly had a great night. I don't know in terms of the shot attempts for me. Like it seemed like it was overwhelmingly in favor of Tampa Bay.

That is correct, 90 to 63. Okay, there you go. So is it just an off night for them? Like are we that convinced that the Leafs just own them? Well, here is the thing I will say so shot attempts you said 90 to 63 The expected goals were in the Leafs favor. So they they were 4.65 to 3.47. So They created a higher danger shot. And so what's crazy too is puck possession time In the ozone puck in the ozone time Tampa had it in the Leafs end for 29 minutes, the Leafs had it in their end for 20 minutes.

So like we said, they don't have the puck, they don't carry the play, but they carried the dangerous chances. Three goal posts or three posts early in the game? Crossbar, crossbar posts, something like that, yeah. First like 12 minutes I think it was, really right from the jump. High danger scoring chances total 20 to 18

Like it's all really tight puck battle wins We're in the lead favor the one thing that stood out for me between Both the Panthers and Tampa Bay is just overall Tampa's way looser loose. Just not well said It's just not tight Offensively on the four check defensively There they do not play in your face like Florida. So this room there's room Yeah, yeah, that is the defining characteristic of that Florida game was like there's nowhere to go just felt like there's like It's like they have seven guys out there

Yes, it was trade chance trade chance trade chance and the Leafs are which again would favor Playing Tampa over Florida like come on you said simple you said going into that over time You're like this actually favors the Leafs. Yes I you know, I did tell you that you know, like once you get a little room out there for Matthews and Willie and Mitch And the game breakers right and the Leafs have world-class game-breakers, on it like Willie could have very ordinary night to a subpar night but give that guy just one sliver one one window of opportunity and he could bury you three on three is smelling salts for Willie he'll be on the

bench like in a daze nothing's happening he's wearing three and he's like oh hello you know like jumps out there and ready to go. Okay, Nyes, you want to go Nyes. Yeah, can you believe he didn't get his stick tangled on his jock strap from the size of the cojones you need to pass through your legs in overtime in a 3-3 game with like this, the division on the line. Can I add one thing on Nyes here first? Doesn't it, when you watch him skate, doesn't he skate like he's mad at the ice? That's how Nathan McKinley skates.

Yeah, very similar, right? Like it's just, I'm going to eat, chew it up, right? And I thought, I mean, clearly Wednesday, terrific off the charts, good, but just something that stood out. Yeah. Well, he's to be 230 and skate like he does is pretty incredible. Yeah, to me outside of the the pass in between his legs and the offense. What will stand out to me over the the the last two games in Florida is his acknowledgement of how bad they were in Florida. How honest he was.

And he used the word soft. Yeah, and he's been around long enough to know that that four-letter word is one of the biggest insults to any hockey player or any hockey club. So the response to me off of him puts him now in very much a leadership type of position on this hockey club. And that's crazy considering he's 22 years old. He doesn't turn 23 till October or something. So he's young and you love, I know the stuff with big guys.

You know, the guy he's going at it with there, Ternak, Ternak's 6'4", 230. And Nyes is in there going like, oh yeah buddy, you're cool. That was my favorite part. Less and less hesitation. He's not questioning himself now. He's got the confidence and the belief

that I am bigger and stronger than most guys out here and I'm gonna use it to my advantage. As you know, attested by the goal, is it the second one he scores or he's parked in the blue paint and he's wearing 90 on his back and holds him off, puts him on a rebound. He is wielding that size with authority. You want to start with a Craig Bruby clip on the pass between the legs? Yeah. All right let's let's go to clip two.

I'm not sure I recommend that play. You know but guys try things you know we You know, but guys try things, you know, when he tried the Michigan the other night. I mean, he's got confidence right now. He's playing with a lot of confidence, which is good. And like I said, he is the whole, the reason for his success is his competitiveness, in my opinion. It's really, really high end, in my opinion. That's, it's really, really high end in my opinion. Like he wins battles, he skates through people all night, gets in there on the four check, wins battles down low,

hangs on the pucks. I mean, he's a highly competitive player. I do want to tell people like the through the legs thing is not a showy thing. He thinks that that's the easiest way to get the pass out of the stick lane of the defenseman. There's a purpose, not just fancy. Yeah, I'm beyond the what's hot doggie and what's not.

He got a pass across in a big spot. I'll be the first one to say if it didn't work or if you know, it's behind a guy or, it's just, you're on the hook for it, that's all. So it's like, pull it off, no problem, don't pull it off, I got a problem with you. Absolutely. With the way you play, the way he played in that game,

and he probably earned the license to do that, I think, in that spot, if you think it's the play that is necessary to make. But, you know, Kipper, go back to what you said about the response, the fact that it was him, he was the guy on Wednesday, on Tuesday night after they lose to Florida to publicly at least admonish the performance, call out the team a little bit

and use the word we referenced the soft word. Then the next night, it's not even that he just scored the goals, but I pulled up even today the shot, it's almost like a shot chart in basketball, but in hockey to see where he was getting the most of his opportunities. And it's unbelievable the amount of color you see around that painted area in comparison to anywhere else in the offensive zone. And he's doing it from those greasy spots that they have desperately needed somebody to provide offense in those areas for years. So now that you're getting it from him, it's important. Now I don't know if it says anything that it's a 22 year old providing that presence

and fulfilling that role compared to one of your quote unquote core guys. But nevertheless, it is something that they've lacked and they are getting it finally. And I thought that that was really important to see in the response from him. Yeah, you know, the one thing I feel like when he plays that way is if he can just take the attention away from Marner and Matthews,

have guys on the ice worried about him, jaw on him, thinking about him, and let those guys have three inches more, it'd be great. It has been an element that's been missing for 10 years now. Yeah, like, Bunting is not strong enough to do that in a playoff game. If you look at the core four and the money that's been up there for many, many years now, that's the one element that they've all been missing is that brute force and to your point

bunting Malgen Hyman was the best at it by far was the best day Yeah, and he was Patrick Marlowe a little bit. We didn't even see like peak Hyman, right? And I don't I don't know is this scratching the surface for Knives? Is this pretty much, you know, at 22, 23, is he hitting his ceiling now where he's gonna be this for the next 10 years? We don't know, maybe there's even more to squeeze out of him,

but we are seeing it really for the first time, you know, outside of your point of Hyman leaving. Yeah. And it opens up a ton of room. We did a board the other day for some Hockey Central show where it was goals, points, hits, and three names and it was Brady Kachuk, Tom Wilson, and Matthew Knives. Same goal total, almost exact same point total. Hits, Knives is behind those guys by like 30 or 40 on the season. Tom Wilson and Matthew Nyes, same goal total, almost exact same point total, hits Nyes

behind those guys by like 30 or 40 on the season. And he's the youngest guy on that list. By 10 years. I think it's Brady, I actually looked at it today too. Brady's 25, he's 22. Yeah. Which is nuts. So, you know, he can belong to a pretty elite class

of power forward if he keeps getting better, which he should. Do you wanna hear from Matthew at all, Mr. Knives? Do you wanna hear on the past or the success he's had against Tampa Bay? Where do you wanna go? I'm over the past. Okay, let's go.

And we've discussed that. Oh, he loves Tampa. Yeah, he does. Let's listen to how much he loves Tampa. Well, Matthew, a thrilling win for your team and a hat trick for yourself, including the overtime winner. In nine games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, you have 10 goals.

I'm wondering if there's something about playing the lightning that seems to bring out the best in you. Yeah, obviously I didn't have a good experience at this bar when I was a young kid. So yeah, I mean, we played a great game today. A lot of credit to Mitchie and Austin today. They've been a hell of a game And it was a good effort all around. So it was a good win, an important win. When he was a young kid.

You know what's funny? So you know what he's referencing there? He's referencing the Frozen Four from two years ago. That's what he defines as a young kid. When he lost in the Frozen Four. And I think it was overtime. It was some dramatic ending. They lost.

Minnesota was favored. They lose to Quinnipiac. Well, maybe it was Quinnipiac. That's right. Yeah. And that's what he's referencing. It was some dramatic ending they lost Minnesota was favored Maybe it was Quinnipiac. That's right. Yeah, and that's what he's referencing. I was I couldn't wrap my initially your his age That's 10% of his life That is a while that's Alright, well, it's it's good to see him taking strides good game by Mitch Marner three-point night. Yeah had a great strides. Good game by Mitch Marner, three point night, had a great slap shot goal by Vasilevsky. Ever closer to a hundred points for the season and a milestone that he certainly has fallen short either because of injury or being rested for a few games but he looks like he's on his way to a hundred points. I don't know, has a leaf winger ever hit a hundred points. It's a great question. I know that I don't know I don't

Off the top of my head. I say no, I think we've got Sittler. We've got Dougie Gilmore, I don't check. I don't know about it David and Andrew check and McGill knee Those are the wingers that I'm checking right now is McGill need to see Andrew Chuck had had 50 point or 50 goals we know that but I don't know if he had yeah so McGill knees a no kipper he got yeah in Toronto closest was 79 he had a hundred points with Vancouver one year yeah okay if it's not Andrew Chuck I I cannot see. All right, we're going to try Dave Landy. Not Lanny, not... Let's see here.

My Leafs history is not where yours would be. All right. That's okay. Oh, he missed it by one point, guys. Who? Dave Andrew Chuck. 99 points in 93-94. It would be the fourth player in history I just had in my ear.

Matt? I don't know. Who's the third? Gilmore? Sittler. Sittler, Gilmore. Anyway, we should do this off the air. I think they're the only two. Did Matt's ever hit 100?

Let's take a peek. I don't, I would doubt it. We're not doing trivia now. Now we're doing trivia. I doubt it. I doubt it though, that's my guess. Let's say. Sammy would know.

Sammy would know. No, never had 100. Oh Matthewss Matthews. Well, how can we forget Matthew? Oh, yeah Yes, all right, where do you want to go now we want to Dissect still more you want to look towards Montreal the thought of now five defensemen playing because Oliver Ekman-Larsen, it was reported that he's not in the lineup tomorrow night. Really a tremendous breakaway and overtime from Ekman-Larsen in which he didn't score, fell and injured himself. Oh, you know what?

Yeah, that's true. Yeah. The hat trick, every smash into the boards in OT. That was a real moment where there was a stretch past the length of the ice and OT and the guys sprung and it's like here goes knee lander and it's like wait it's only oh 95 isn't it a little bit concerning though like these guys have what is it now three games left tomorrow three games left in total and now you have to go 5d at this point if I'm not mistaken Enbridge and had this similar situation

for those of you that don't know it's it's salary cap Related they cannot call anybody up you cannot claim long-term Yeah, right so they have 195 grand in cap space so you can't fit a player can't put anyone on LTI arcs There's not enough games left and you can't be emergency recall until someone misses a game injury So you got to miss a game while they're negotiating for a new CBA. Please fix this. How dumb is this? Like the team doesn't want this. The league doesn't want this. Nobody wants this. The guys are coming in at the end of the regular season,

like on fumes and everyone jams it to the salary cap after the deadline. Anyway, who's doing now We're doing two things We're risking more injuries because it's a lot more taxing on five guys and we're ripping off the fans Who don't get a full roster? Yeah Yeah, you're gonna get Ben Wah and Myers playing 22 minutes each to try to find a void You know, it's gonna be tight. So itoll was pretty good last game, by the way. I'm liking him lately. So that's gonna be interesting to see how they handle that.

Stolarz, Woll, any thoughts, anything change for you in Florida? No, nothing really. So once again, I think, if I'm not mistaken, we're looking at the last back-to-back of the regular season. That's right. And if I could just vent one more time.

Please do. Okay. Saturday night, Leafs at home. Sunday in Carolina, 5 p.m. What are we doing here? Who is doing the scheduling here? So they'll leave after the Habs game, get into Carolina. They'll get to the hotel at two or three in the morning probably. Customs, right? Got to go through customs. Probably later. The Masters! Yeah, you got to watch the Masters.

Can you explain to me who would schedule an NHL game up against going down the stretch of hole 15 to 18? Now this almost sounds personal personal like it affects you personally in some way that there's a game. Yeah not like you two guys are doing the game. Yes yes and I will guarantee you that we will have a screen on unlike right now. I'm gonna do an intermission pack of like Rory on the back nine. Have we ever had a situation where we've seen this many back-to-backs in a season I don't know what you're like in an order in a mouse to lead the league yeah they were all okay they just like nine of them no no I think it's more 16 yeah oh was it really their record cuz boring their

record oh yeah back to back is pretty good or nine four and two yeah so yeah which is that Oh boy incredible you know who's I don't know what the number is, maybe 11 or 12. There's a team that is 0 for. Oh really? In back to backs. I think it's Seattle. Yeah. Oh, oh interesting. They're like 0 and 11 and 1 or something crazy like that on the second half of a back to back. Do you want to hear the maybe the most stunning back-to-back stat of the year for me? The guy who leads the NHL in points on the second half of a back-to-back is John Tavares. All fleet of foot Johnny takes care of himself.

He shoots it in the net on a back-to-back. He's got 17 points. 17. Yeah, might be 18. It's quite the accomplishment. I don be 18. It's quite the accomplishment. It's a random kid. Listen, he's had a hell of a season, right? This is with again, I think he's the Leafs nomination for the Masterson Award.

Bill Masterton. Masterton, sorry. My apologies to the Masterton family. My dad won that in 1998, I think. So, strip to the captaincy, right? All of it. Last season, off of his contract, wants to remain, he's on hold, they're not really committing to him just yet.

And yet, he's found his way to have one of the best seasons so far, regular season. I think you can make the case that the lack of pressure has helped. It turned him into a good guy. Instead of being the guy who took all this money and makes their cap whatever, it's like, oh, they stripped him of the captaincy and he chose to come here and it flipped the narrative pressure on the guy. He became a face, not a heel.

He had a little heel turn action. Face turn. I see it coming. We have Anthony Stolarz talking about his take on going to Florida and having a tough Nice. Not a heel. Yeah. A little heel turn action. I know. Face turn. See it coming. We have Anthony Stolarz talking about his take on going to Florida and having a tough night and then coming back here and bouncing back.

Why don't we hear what Anthony Stolarz had to say. I think it's huge for us. I think, you know, especially after last night, really weren't our best, but, you know, I think tonight you can see the intensity. You can see the dedication in the defensive zone, as well as in the offensive zone. The guys were blocking a ton of pucks. I think we had, what, 25, 35 blocks in between there. So kudos to those guys in front of me.

They made my job a lot easier. And I think Mo had 8 or 9, Tani, OEL. So it's just a collective effort, and that's something that we're gonna have to continue to build on going forward here. It is a heck of a game plan so if your plan is to you know be in your own zone but not give up high danger chances that means you're committing to blocking a lot of shots. How that plays out over two months of playoffs remains to be seen you know

are we gonna be sitting here and they'll have no injuries from shot blocks by the second round, third round? Are you going to block 30 shots every night? Right. Well, again, you're down to 5D and that's just more taxing, more block shots. I don't get the heck out of the way tonight or tomorrow. Let the goalie see it. You know what we'll probably see it tomorrow night? Mitch Marner play defense.

Actually, that crossed my mind. Yeah. You watch. They'll throw him back there a little bit. Well, I think it's an option, right? He can skate backwards and play a 2 on 1, and you need someone. And I'm sure they'll be juggling the cap, maybe be in a position where Sunday they could find a way

to get somebody back. They can. So once a player misses a game They can use an emergency recall that isn't on the cap, but the player has to make less than 875 So Marshall refi would check that box for you to put a murmurs as well. This is why I have you around You know happy to fill in the blank We'll see who We'll see who tomorrow night in that in your opinion. Let's look at this remaining schedule. So probably stole ours, right?

That's what I would say. I would get back to back. You get the Canadians. Yeah, I think he stole our Saturday night. Joseph Wall in Carolina on the short. I think you have to. Yeah, I think that's the way to go it. I wonder if Tampa Bay's game tonight affects anything like if they lose tonight and the division looks a little bit safer

So there's no you know, it's probably still there's then wall The the key one is Florida versus Tampa if I'm not mistaken Tuesday, correct? Is that what it says? Oh, they play, huh? Yeah, they play they do play the 15th of April if Florida finds a way to steal points off of Tampa That night. Yeah, then the Leafs really need to go what two for four Right if the Leafs go two for four that that means in the final four games Tampa Bay would need seven points to tie them. And the Leafs have the tiebreaker.

So they would basically need all eight remaining points if the Leafs can win two. Yeah. So it's looking pretty good. Just win tomorrow night. But Montreal comes in off their back to back as they play Ottawa tonight. And it'll be interesting to see what version they get of this Montreal team because they're playing the Sens tonight, they win, they clinch a postseason berth. If they do win, then I venture to guess tomorrow, not personnel wise, but you're gonna get a different feel

from the Habs than you would if they lose tonight and are still in that same position tomorrow trying to secure their playoff fate. Let me change that feel for you. If they win in Ottawa tonight and face the Leafs, can they catch Ottawa? Sure, yes. Does that make them feel a little different

on whether or not they wanna go the Atlantic route or the Metro route. Because once you switch over to the Metro, now you're thinking to get to a conference final, you gotta go through Washington or Carolina, right? And New Jersey. Is that a little bit better than maybe Tampa, Florida? If you're Montreal, and I gotta than I just feel like you want to have a round if you're Montreal

And I gotta believe Toronto is the team you want there, right like the ghosts of Toronto. I do think so. Yeah, I mean Washington You know Washington's got a hundred and fifteen points by time this year over or whatever But what you're telling me is then they they win in Ottawa tonight. They're pushing hard Saturday night I think they would want Toronto. I do. I feel like that's a, they could strike the fear of God into the hearts of everyone here by winning a game or two early in that series. And so Toronto, Montreal is not out of the question. Oh, it's not. No, it's not. Cool. Oh, either way, it's going to be fun. All right. Let's cord it up. Shall we? Yeah. That's a big, that's a big game tonight. It really is. All right. We take a quick break and Shall we? Yeah, that's a big that's a big game tonight. It really is

All right. We take a quick break and when we return we go to Stellic tricity gourd. Stellic will join us I don't know where he is. He's somewhere though. We'll find him and then also Let's not forget off the rails Friday top of the hour Doug McLean will join us on his usual spot on Friday and then Stephen Stale Steve Stale's will join us on his usual spot on Friday. And then Stephen Steyos will join us at 530 Eastern. Correct. And we'll talk about the Ottawa senators clinching and going to the playoffs. Awesome. All right. More of real Kipper and born when we return. turn. Back to real Kipper and Bourne. Right now we are just Bourne. We are not with real Kipper who is feverishly working to get the Masters up on one of our TVs here. We're awaiting Gord Stehlik. Couldn't do it, eh Kip?

Oh, look at this. It's like someone took his ball. Hey, it's okay, pal. We'll watch replays after. You'll get to see some still. It's okay pal. We'll watch replays after you'll get to see some still It's okay That's you can imagine how I was gonna feel on Sunday when they took away his master Sunday We work at Rogers

Where there's a million TVs? How do we? Not have cable right now. What's funny? The funniest thing is when you come in here most days It's after Barker's been in here and there's some duck hunting show on legitimately some Camo wearing dudes in the backwoods. That's the only thing that TVs ever used for. Oh, well, we did our best All right. What do we got? Well, we're awaiting Gord Stelick. Oh, he's ready. Geez guys. All right, let's welcome in former general manager Toronto Maple Leafs sports at 590 the fan analyst co-host of something on serious Gord Yeah

if I wanted Cable to work would I go HM? Hd mi 1123 or four? So my dad's passed away, Ernie's TV repair could have got this for you. The TV repair manager on Olekside in Rosedale. But yeah, people make this assumption and they'll say you work at Rogers,

can you do this, that, whatever. And then we get the same deals that go on from time to time, have those kind of issues So I feel your pain kipper, but I'm here at the mad at me centered the old maple leaf garden. Yeah Watching the back. Yeah. Yeah watching curling Wow event Kipper and born got the Masters when I get home because I can't be I'll text you what's going on with the Masters I got it all covered. I really appreciate that. So you're playing right into the Where's Gord Stelick segment we've enjoyed over the many many years.

And you are a huge fan of curling, the cricket club, the beer in your hand while you throw the rock, right? That's you're in your wheelhouse. They used to have, have, sit, was sponsored by a cigarette company and they would smoke while they swept and the ashes would go on the way back. That's why they were sweeping back then actually. Yeah. Well, a lot of hockey players used to smoke too with that, but anyway, it's a, it changed their very condition. Brad Jacobs is out there right now. I don't know. Something's going on. It's a it changed their very condition Brad Jacobs is out there right now Now something's going on. It's got loud all of a sudden. They must know they must know that your show is on We're good with you and we really appreciate the effort No, no question about that. So let's start with

the two games in Florida Gord and what we saw against Florida Panthers and then what we saw in Tampa Bay and the level of concern coming out of sunrise against the Panthers and then where you felt after the the lightning game. Pretty pretty simple cut and dried right I mean play like you did in Florida you're not going anywhere have a have a response game like you did in Tampa Bay and a great chance you're gonna win. I mean, it almost, as if they don't know that. I'm not, you know, us as fans and media people, we know that, but the players, I mean, but if they got just a graphic illustration,

the whole thing, Florida was tanking it, was never the case, okay? And they still got no Kachuk and that, and no Echblad, so they're gonna get stronger. So I think that's simple. And so first of all, so know we'll talk about fir you don't play them until or maybe not at all. You

in the first round, have round opponent, but it's how they played against ago. They beat Tampa Bay that way against Tampa B the first three or those florida, they played like night and that wasn't good enough and that's why they went home after five and they'll go home after four or five again if they play that way. Yeah I'm going to ask you

something that's going to get me accused of having a loser's mentality but should the Leafs have any pride in winning this division? Is that in itself an accolade that you know they should be proud of? Is that in itself an accolade that they should be proud of? So I don't know what the word pride is, but you gotta do something different, okay? Every other team has gone deep in the playoffs, and you can see they understand the 82-game season and playing up to possibly 28-playoff games. So for the Leafs, they came first in the Canadian division,

which wasn't really replicate what's going on now. So Justin, I think to your point point there's something to play for I think it means something okay now if they don't get it you can't say it's the end of the world but okay be able to have a supposedly weaker opponent have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs like some like you're looking for point of differences it's not the only one but you're looking for point of differences to best prepare for the playoffs. I even think a little thing, like look at Ovechkin's record now. The Washington Capitals have five games to get back to your regularly scheduled program.

And last year, the last couple of games, you know, feeding Austin Matthews trying to get 70, which you can't fault them for. I'm just saying isn't the ideal way to start a playoff. So they seem to be in that kind of perfect zone right now. You're watching and listening to former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Gord Stehlich. So Gord, Matthew Nyes, obviously a big storyline coming out of Tampa Bay.

Where is he in your opinion? What did Tampa Bay do for the way we look at him or opponents look at him or the way he looks at himself now? Boy, you know kippy when he came right from NCAA to the playoffs I was really cautioning everybody about like let's not expect too much We see a whack of guys now doing that like snugger root and Leonard in Washington and that and I mean Toronto doesn't have anyone comparable But like Chris Crichter did years ago like Kale McCarr did, he made the jump. And man, this guy has just made the seamless jump on a team whose fault has

been not developing enough players. Trading so many draft picks trying to win now, and this was a great one in the second round. And I like how he's got better. I like it seems like he's dedicated himself to improving in all aspects of the game, not afraid to be physical. Feisty can fit in with the big guns. Not everybody.

Hey, Nick Richie. Not everybody can fit in with the big guns. So he has, I think, a bit ahead of schedule in some ways. He came out as a mature player when you play in NCAA a few years, but that's been a real bone going to have their existence. And of course, much like Montreal has with Lane Hudson for another year and Demetov for a couple years you got to have those good players on entry-level contracts I know he won't next year but what a bonus to have had Joe Wall and him on entry-level contracts the great teams

have that going all the time. Gord so as they move towards the playoffs here it's becoming clearer that they're likely to play Ottawa or Montreal assuming things go well down the stretch here. Should the Leafs have a preference one way or the other or should just be looking at their own game and not worry so much about who they draw? Well no I don't think should have a preference I don't think. I don't know do you think you lost to Montreal and maybe that brings up bad memories? Bananas where in Ottawa you're gonna think the streak making the playoffs nine consecutive years since Boston was tied and they're out. So the first year when they got a standing oaf losing against the Washington Capitals that's what should happen to Ottawa and Montreal this year. If you're playing them that should be the recipe much like it was

all those years ago whichever team it is. So I don't think there's any preference I think those teams should just be happy getting in that's a big achievement for both of them. You're the better team into the Toronto Maple Leafs. You've got way more playoff experience. You got to show it. Go Gord, you know, you assume that maybe potentially two out of four games should be enough to clinch for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Obviously, they'll take more if they can get it. And

they I'm sure they'll push for it. But what needs to be cleaned up in your opinion or what do you want out of the next four games for the Toronto Maple Leafs before they drop the puck for real? Well and the other part Kipy that more and more you're getting players being rested which is I'm always you know I in some ways if a player is being rested he's sitting in the press box, is he really being rested? Like, if a guy really needed to rest, give him three days off. Now, maybe it's too late in the year to do that,

but I just mean you're kind of getting a little bit out of the structure late on. So I worry about that. I understand it's part of the game. But Kipi, just good habits. Like, these teams coming in, like, you look at Boston last night losing to Chicago. Look at the New York Islanders. second last home game and they do that.

But that's what these teams, a lot of them now, they're still mathematically have a playoff chance. But the teams that are out of the playoffs, man, they're trying not to get hurt. They're playing out the string. If they get a few lucky bounces, then all of a sudden they're playing kind of unorthodox hockey that can work in their favor. But they really got, and Leafs have a few of those opponents you know coming up at the end of the season that won't be in the playoffs so yeah just the kind of like I look last night Florida that's what you want a nice tidy win against Detroit Lake Florida did and that'll be you know the Leafs have one

more game against them and you look equal minutes man like 60 and four lines played pretty well equal minutes for the Florida Panthers. So that's the one thing I'd like to see consistent. That's another way of getting a little bit of rest that nobody's playing. No forward's playing 24 minutes and no defenseman's playing 28 minutes. Board, against Tampa Bay, they went,

the Leafs went back to a third line with some scoring touch, right? It's the McMahon-Domey-Robertson line, which had some success for a run. And I saying on the show that line won't play together in playoffs and now I don't believe that I'm right about that I feel like it maybe it's opponent dependent do you think that we'll see a group like that put together rather than a more defensively oriented group well they paid last year one of the best scoring teams, they only scored more than two goals

in one of the seven games, okay? And so you've got to get, you know, the big guns are the ones that still have to come up, but they have not got the depth scoring. And scoring goals are really hard. And then Bobby McMahon and Nick Robertson seem to have that ability. So Justin, I would like to see that line, get an opportunity in the playoffs. The one thing, now we keep going back to 2019 for Craig Barube, which is fair, but it was six years ago. Okay, it was six years ago, but still they won the cup. And I thought one thing he did really well that year, there was

something like 15 forwards the Blues had, and he played them all. You know, they played 12 in a game and the 15 all got chances throughout. And he seemed to have the ability, just the right kind, put Sammy Blay in for a certain game, whatever. Like there seemed to be that kind of feel and tempo over a longer playoff. Now the Leafs have never had a longer playoff so you really never get a chance to figure out those secret herbs and spices and what works best in a certain way, shape or form. So I would like to see a line that can give you some depth scoring be a priority. I would like to see a line that can give you some depth scoring be a priority much like Justin I was pretty sure a couple of weeks ago that Max Petruetti would find himself into a game one scenario and

He's healthy the cap is probably is kept him out of the lineup still but you know Where where do you now that you've seen Nick Robertson not play two critical games in Tampa Bay in Florida and hold his own Where is there room for Max patch ready in your opinion? Well, see I I want to load up all the scores Okay, don't you know keep in mind back in 89 whether we had that we had that fun leaf team that you know One game seven five and lost game seven five. Okay, it was a fun year You can only do it one year then reality comes up so I what's killed them every the last couple years is not getting enough goals Max Petruetti's

been a winner okay not a lot of Leafs have gone deep in the playoffs or won a cup what I liked you know Kipi and Justin was really his physicality early on like he understood when he was healthy he had to play a bit of a different role with the Leafs so to play a bit of a different role with the Leafs. So I think a lot of people were surprised how he stuck his nose into things and that. So I, you know, I go, let everybody play, everybody,

bring it on, bring it on, whatever. Just, you know, the, I just think that's another of that spices I'm talking about. And if healthy, I think he has some substantial, possible substantial value, but I would definitely include him. Like the one thing you're not gonna do do there's not the Wayne Simmons situation anymore just it doesn't seem you need that anymore like you know it was something that it just never it was a dance that never quite

worked in the playoffs and you got a tough enough team now you got Max Dolby you got a few other things that you don't need that particular spice anymore. So we talked a bit about potential opponents. After watching Florida this week, do you still think Florida's Florida? Like I thought there's a point there where I didn't want to say it out loud to people, but I kind of thought Florida fell off. I was like, you know,

they just don't look like the same team to me, but that was a hint of it. And as they get healthy, they could still be Florida possibly? Well, what hit me was, and it was like those great Detroit teams for all those years you know no space no space there's no space when they're playing your game their game there is no space out there and that struck me last night and that struck me and they don't have Matthew Pichuc playing right so that's the thing it's a challenge you know I I maintain the Leafs probably

were a stronger team a few years ago when they had the you know probably way back when when they had the lower contracts and could have got more veteran players and had Zach Hyman and a few other things that has never had great goaltending the playoffs they won good. It's ready but it never happened and they didn't have the but so I don't do them as good a team as they were talent wise but they're more experienced team

Start they got the star power players still that have to be the star players and in the playoffs So Florida's gonna be a challenge. They're wearing the belt right now Okay, and whether you know you play them. What about the West? Holy mackerel You're that your Dallas bring it on. I got Vegas. I got Colorado then I had Edmonton, right? Like, you know, the the East is is a walk in the park compared to the West, but whatever it may be, whoever you're playing, you know, and, and they're one of the, whatever number of teams are there nine teams you think that can win the cup? They're one of them. And that's why we keep going back to the St. Louis model in 2019, because that was the year that a team kind

of like the Leafs went all the way. What the hell, you know, all these disappoint disappointments never mind two rounds never mind three rounds Why not go all the way get it all done? Awesome stuff gourd we're gonna let you go back to your seats, and I want you to go back to your seats You are not to hang out the steam whistle beer tent Which I don't think is a coincidence is right behind you. Well, I borrowed the steam whistle bucket from the guy. And if you know your TV issues, what about your phone? You want your roaming charges?

You want a better plan? Can I look into it or something? I really just pull this up right now. Who doesn't want a better plan? Lots of great plans available today at Rogers.com. man right there Gordo. Thanks for doing this pal Okay, guys. Take care. Thanks Gordo. That is Gord Stelick Former general manager and a very good friend of the show. You don't think patcher Eddie is No

First of all, how long has he been off? One million years. Yes, one million years. Game one, very difficult. And Nick Robertson is... Say it. Say you want Robertson over patriarchy. It's framed that way. There's no kind of going back. Yeah. Yeah. And there's something to be said that like. Yes, sometimes you have issues with Nick managing the puck and Craig Brewery's talked about that publicly. But. The man seems to be kind

of a threat every time he's out there. And I think he puts teams on their heels a little bit with his speed and his tenacity. And yes, sometimes he can get bounced around like a pinball, but the guy can shoot it. He can hit the net. There's guys that couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. He's not one of them. There's guys that couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. He's not one of them. So you can correct me if I'm wrong on this,

but when I think about your career and the way you played, my understanding about what was important to you is you were aware of the game situation, what your team needed at that time, what was needed from you at that time. You were of the moment. Is that fair? Yes.

Nick Robertson to me, that's the one thing he can't do. No, he cannot do it. He is a goal scorer. But he is, yes, he's higher skilled and in his mind, he's framed for finding a way to shoot the puck in the net. That is his top priority. Get open, get your speed going, shoot it in the net. And it was 3-3 with three minutes left

and his line went over the boards last night. You have to play your third line, that's fine. But you have to adjust the way you play as a player. Like, you know, that's something I think I did well too. Okay, I'm not gonna pinch. You know, 50-50 puck, I'm not going for it. And maybe that's one of the biggest reasons why he hasn't solidified a spot all these years

is because he still sees himself a certain way of making the NHL. And I've seen it for well over 20 years where guys get locked in on what they are or what they're supposed to be. And it's not me, it's you guys, it's the coach, it's the general manager that doesn't understand. You don't see what I am.

You are not putting me in a position to succeed instead of working with what you have. And I'm proud the fact that I was a guy that scored big goals in junior, one of the most successful goal scorer in major junior hockey history, man. I'm like, I got this locked in thing that I'm going to be a goal scorer in the NHL. And it's like, no, it didn't happen. So what do I do? Do I just keep trying to score goals, go bounce around from team to team, try to convince them I'm a goal scorer.

No, I'll give you what you need. Hey, you know, say what you will. I know people don't love how Scott Lawton has looked as a leaf. He was drafted as a point getting goal scorer to adapt his game to play in the league. Was it a straper or one of those guys was a big junior score to him. It came in effect. And I'm not saying Robertson can become that, but a little bit more awareness. Hey, it's time to get the puck in deep and defend.

Flaunt is a role player, okay? And that's, figure it out, right? If you're not putting the pucks in the net, you're not producing, you find other ways. You check, penalty kill, you hit, you rub a glove in someone's face, you just do something that brings value. Barube likes that line.

Robertson McMahon doing me. He likes it. So all right. Another guy that can bring value to our show. Don't tell him I said that. Doug McLean, when we go national, it is off the rails Friday. You're not gonna wanna miss this segment.