Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Lessons From the Blue Jays

Episode Date: October 21, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee draw parallels on how the Maple Leafs can learn from the Blue Jays' historic return to the World Series, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walking into Game 7 with an Auston Matthews sweater, having the supporting cast come through, and the mounting pressure on the Leafs' first game after the Jays' win. Then, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald stops by (26:11) to chat about his head coach, Sheldon Keefe, entering his second season with the hockey club, where his team's timeline is at in hopes of a Stanley Cup run, Jack Hughes's development, and Connor Brown's acclimation with his new team. Finally, Nick, Justin and Sam share why Easton Cowan should go down to the AHL.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Let's just call it what it is right now. It's the Leaf and Blue Jay, our edition of our program on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We're live on Sports at 360, Sports at 590, the fan in Toronto. streaming always on SportsNet Plus and catch us on Spotify, Apple, podcasts, and YouTube when you can't catch us live. Nick Kippreel, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, this hour of real Kipprin Bourne brought to you by Bet365.

Somewhere out there, there's a Toronto Maple Leaf game tonight against the New Jersey Devils. For those of you who care about anything other than baseball right now, and if you don't, we understand. They could get weird tonight. They could finally do Riley at Forward. They could throw Hill to be in. They can get weird tonight and people just be like, ah.

I said to Kibber in the break that I'm really happy there's no baseball tonight and I could just watch a nice low stress leaves game. Totally. Like I just need a low stress event. Just watch Keith's devil's just game off the rink. Somehow, some way the Toronto Maple Leafs got to put their focus in on being on the ice. But of course, today it was all about the Blue Jays, right? at the morning skate.

Honestly, Berube's, I think the first four questions or first five questions he answered were about the Blue Jays. I think it was Lance Hornby from the Sun

was like, sorry to change the subject here, but is cowing it? Started mixing a hockey question here. Let's, Brandeo and Jake, can we show Sammy downtown last night? I love this picture so much. It's perfect McKee

and just a look of what it looked like down there last. Last night, it looked like absolute pandemonium. Kipper, one of your, I forget the guy's name. One of your guy that you've played golfed with before took a video of like the final out of the game and I was like in it and very like predominant. How would you have found that out? Because he came up to me after he's like, hey, you're from sports there, right?

He's like, you do a show with Kipper and I'm like, yeah, yeah. He's like, I'll go with Kipper a few times. He's like, want to see this video? And I was like, sure. It's like McKee, like in tears, hugging alley. It's the best video. It's amazing. Okay, we'll find it.

Oh, I have it on my phone. Oh, he sent it to you. Yes, I have them all. Okay. I should have done that before we started. I don't really think of it. I didn't really think of it. Do you want to do it in the meantime before we, well, Derek finds a picture of you, downtown Toronto?

Let's do, no problem. Let's do. Let's do Barubi? No, I want to start with Riley. Okay. Because I think this was the most, as a Lee fan, what I wanted to hear. So if we could play Morgan Riley's clip, please, that I put in there for Derek. I think there's always things you can take away from.

from it. You know, you're, there's a small part of you that you're envious of them, right? You're almost jealous at what they're doing. I think because they're in Toronto and, you know, you watch it firsthand and you're obviously happy for them. It's a, you know, it's a great moment for the city. But, I mean, we want to be able to do that and have a run like that. We felt that when the Raptors did it too. So I think you look at the passion that they're playing with and I mean that's contagious and you know you want to be able to to also bring that when your time comes I couldn't love that more that's the right takeaway for a there's sammy downtown see of people an old six foot 12 McKee I'm thrilled they didn't in this picture he

wasn't up there yet but there's a guy that got up on the sign like up on the yeah up on the stoplight and he was banging on the sign and they ever get a big Canada flood and there's a big old Canada. It was unbelievable. Oh, wow. People were just in the middle. There's a guy in the middle. They were playing bagpipes.

It was wild, seen. So just to get back to Morgan's comments, I know you loved it. I don't know if I would have gone there with the, the word jealous, you know. The sense I got out of that is, like, we have fallen so short. Like, it's a reminder of how short they've gotten to that. Totally. And, yeah, I mean, that's...

I think it's honest sort of refreshing. Yeah, I know. I know it is honest, but I don't know if... I don't know. I just, I would have just left it alone. How do you leave it alone, though? I know. I just...

But he wants to give that to Leif's fans. You know, that's what Leas fans want to hear. That they're... Cared about it by the player. Of the opposite of that. Well, I don't, I think he's recognizing that they haven't done that. I know. And I know.

And it's kind of sad. I just think it's kind of sad. Yeah. I agree. Yeah. But it's nice. It's just nice to hear a guy that's been here for a long time that really gets it, clearly. And he's a guy that's always been great speaking to the idea, always speaks from the heart.

Oh, no. It's very honest. It's nice to hear him say that. Again, it's a little too honest for me. Yeah. I mean, but you didn't, I mean, like, you just want these guys be like, yep, hockey, done. Grunt, grunt, grunt.

Like, what do you, like, we've had, in the last two days, we've had the most unbelievable clips from Stolars. This guy's pouring his heart out. You're like, say last place. It's like, we want them to say this stuff. So we dream of. I know, but I go through the dressing room. You go through media.

Yeah, well, and fandom. How about Chief? Was he as excited as everybody else? I would say, let's do Roulete really clip one can the enthusiasm rub off on the lips the enthusiasm can rub off i can like i mean i just think you know guys are watching and just the emotion of the game um just the team camaraderie that you know when you watch the blue jays they're very tight group it's uh very visible yeah see very excited yeah very thrilling but i do you know

And I know we're going to get more into this kind of as we go on. You know, I think it's really good for the Leafs players watching that. To be reminded of the high end of the stakes, it's always being reminded of the low end. You fall short and we're going to trade guys and we're going to fire coaches. We're going to fire the president. We're going to fire. If you don't win, wait, do you see the bad things that are going to happen?

I think it's really great for everyone to be reminded what the high end of the stakes are here. Like there is a lifetime of greatness ahead. with success in this city. And I think it's refreshing. I'm, it's, I think it's always been there. They know, they know what's... They can't know.

They know. Kipper, we haven't seen it here in my life. They know they just can't get there. That's all. It's nice to see it in real life. They've seen it in the first round where it's like... And second round last year. No, I'm just saying in the first round, you could see, you can feel it.

you sports neck goes to five six million people watching a leaf game and that those are numbers that are now what the blue jays have experienced like throughout the playoffs it's like they know they know what the prize is at the end of it they know Bloor Street will break off in the lake Ontario if they ever win they they just they know it but to your point i mean now but now the proof is right there right the proof is there for sure uh are we doing lessons Yeah, you want to do a little comparison. Now, okay, just for those of you that are just joining us on our Leaf Hour, I brought up the Vladie wearing a Matthews jersey.

Not that we're going to, you know, do it all over again. Please download it and catch the last 10 minutes of our national hour. But I mentioned to Sammy that I'm so happy for Austin Matthews that he doesn't have to hear Sammy and his buddies now ripping on Vladie for wearing an Austin Matthews that caused the Js to have lost. Caused is a keyword.

That would have caused the Jays to lose. I wouldn't say cause is the right word, but related. Sammy, we were in a full-fledged hockey conversation yesterday and you broke the conversation up for the breaking news that Vladdy walked into the dome with a Matthews jersey and how it was like death was on its way.

Okay, here's what I'll say, Kipper. I'm sorry, it's not like it was the most talked about thing for three hours. Like, I'm sorry for breaking in what people are talking about. Was it the sixth inning you brought it up again in our chat? Around there. Okay, here's one for you. I want to ask you. Okay.

Did Vladdy know what he was doing when he picked that Matthews jersey? That's the great part. He's trying to represent the city. I totally disagree with you. Really? You don't think Vladdy would have any idea. about the Leafs and the history of game sevens. Nobody would have mentioned anything to him.

He would have been... Is he a pucknower? I don't know. He's lived... He's played in this town for how many years now? Six? Yeah. And he would have had no idea what a Maple Leaf jersey would have...

I think he knew exactly what he was doing. See, I feel the exact opposite that he's just like a super jovial, happy guy that wanted to support the city and just wore a Leafs jersey. That's how I thought. I don't think he's that oblivious. Okay. I think... He's like, okay, they've failed before in game seven, not our game seven.

And maybe he wanted to take the Leafs and Austin for a little ride. Oh, let's listen. Fantasy land right there. Love that. Fantasy land. Let's listen to, what I was like clips. Brewerve 2 on Vladdy. They're very tight-knit group.

I think they're, you know, I watch their guy, Vladdy, closely. I watch how he interacts with all the guys and how much energy he brings all the time and happiness for his teammates and when they do something well. And he's always, he's got a lot of energy and a lot of positive vibe around him,

which a lot of them do. But he's their main guy, you know, and he just, he brings that. And I think the whole team feeds off it. I love that player. I love the guy. Are we all thinking the same thing? That that's related to Matthews?

Not totally. But you? Some things he maybe wishes. Oh, listen, it's, yes. Yes, all of it. All of the above. Yes. Now, let me be the first to point out that

when the Js weren't winning games, they literally traded players away because of the happy, jovial barrio that they had going on. everybody they were like hey oscar got to go lordis got to go like that attitude he's talking about when you're losing it was a double-edged sword was not serious enough not professional 100% right morning nailed it yeah great baseball games right here and everyone's like oh this attitude is why you win it's like they hit it out of the baseball field but that's

but that is that is pro sports at its it is finest you win it's like bull durham Fungus on the shoe. When you win, it's colorful. You're a character. You're a great guy. Fungus on the shoe in last place. You're a loser. It's disgusting.

Clean your flip-flops. I've never seen Boulderham. Yeah. Well, I will tell you. Oh, you're missing a heck of a baseball movie. I know. But it is a great point. You know, everything gets colored through the lens of success and failure.

I've got my theories. You text us this morning, I guess, about just like what lessons could be learned here. I got my theories on comparing. Go ahead. No, no, no, no. J's and Leafs. I'm so interesting to hear. It's not so much comparison, but like, you know, that baseball team, this Jay's team feels like a team, right?

A capital T team. Everybody contributes. And what really changed to me is guys who weren't important were elevated in status. This year you had Clement and Barger. and kind of falafa and straw and varsho, all these guys who were kind of on the fringe of the team became important and were kind of welcomed into the fold for whatever reason.

The Leafs, obviously without Mitch Marner this year, the idea was to have a deeper bench and to have other people matter. And I think that you see what it looks like here when other people have success and matter. And so for the Leafs, it's can you give them a chance to? Can you put the, Nathan Lucas hit second on this team? He played in the minors for 10 years.

Can you give Lawrence a little bit more of an opportunity Or can you give Nick Waugh more than 12 minutes a night Have the matter more The difference is those guys Earned whatever they got It wasn't given to them It wasn't like you're in the lineup You hit second, you hit seventh

It doesn't matter You stayed there Game in, game out Because you got the job done to get to the next game And they earned it No one gave them anything. But that's what has to happen for the Leafs. These guys have to earn.

With anybody, with any team. Right. So they found a way to get the job done. You can't take Ernie out of the lineup. I mean, since. I mean, he's got an 1100. He's probably separate from that conversation. When they brought him.

But he was a nobody. He was Nick Robertson in April. Yeah, he got released by the age. Okay. Like two years ago. He was a nothing, a nobody. Luke's Org guy

10 years And now he's like clutch So let me ask you Why are you so resistant to the idea That the Leafs players could or should earn their way They've had ample opportunities He was 28 when they got him Lucas is 30

I don't know baseball But I know in hockey it's you're done But you're done You're done God you hate the Leafs It's bad way I don't hate the Leafs I'm just saying that You don't have time

You don't have that type of time In hockey like you do baseball So their support players will never be good enough And the lesson is I don't know whether they're going to be good enough But if they are going to be good enough It's got to happen really soon It'd be nice for them to find out

If Nick Walker can play 16 minutes for them Sure, that's a good place to start This is where I get my Jays and Leafs Now I've gone on record here That I am seeing like Freaky Friday stuff between the game of baseball and the game of hockey. Okay.

My hockey guys have turned into baseball players, and my baseball players have turned into hockey guys, especially when it comes to Jay's Leafs. Fire it up, baby. I'm ready for this one. I'm ready. Here it is, okay? Shovel and coal on the old stove here. Let's go.

And I know Barks is coming on with Blair coming up next, and he's got a theory of characters got nothing to do with baseball. Can you hit a heater? Can you hit the 95 hour baseball? Doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Can you hit it? But when I see Max Scherzer like burning

through his manager and basically telling him scram beat it, F off, I'm getting, that is a moment. And how about spring texting his manager, quit texting me. I'm playing. When I see what we all believed was a cracked kneecap

and a guy trying his best to stay in the game going up and down the lineup and then having like an army of horses having to pull them off the field and then coming up and playing the next game and then hitting a Kirk Gibson, L.A. Dodgers, home run. That is what legends are made of. I want horses back there. And we in the last few years have experienced as early as the playoffs last year, Stolars needing a stretcher to leave the ice.

He's taking a beanie for this year, right? We saw Willie Nealander with migraine headaches. Austin Matthews skates one day in Boston and then leaves the series. What has happened? So this is the idea of the segment. What can the Leafs learn here? Gritty, which is great. When did we, when, when was the switch?

The baseball players are supposed to be out weeks with a hangnail. Now, in fairness, Santander missed a huge game with back types. And then they said them packing spots because they win again. And then they kind of set them packing. No, listen, I mean, that's one. one of the things I love so much with this Blue Jays team is they are gritty. They've been gritty all year and they've just been a gritty team and the least are the opposite of that.

And it's a tough dichotomy between the two. It really isn't. No, it's a good one. It's going to be hard now for Matthews and Nylander and the group to ever gain what they've saw last night. I'm not saying it's impossible. They could, they're going to get their chance as early as tonight.

I would put this game tonight against New Jersey We're going to have Tom Fitzgerald join us in a few minutes here General Manager of this is a tough game You're coming off that last night You're coming off Stolars calling you out And now you're going to play a very fast team This might be one of the toughest regular season games of the year for them Yeah

Jersey looks really good To come in and you got to show something man Look what you're up against It's true. No, like, I actually think you're bang on. I would love to sit here and say that's a hot take, but it's not. People are fired up. They're excited about sports in this city.

It's a big night. And this is a chance for them to, you know, Morgan. I know you feel bad today. You're a head coach, too. Right? And you guys all feel bad because you've underachieved and they're doing their thing. But you're going to match something tonight. The other thing, Kip, that just furthers your point is the perspective of they

they put a Leafs jersey on Vladdy. Vladdy wore a Leafs jersey. And ever and immediately went, ugh, because that's how they feel about I feel horrible. Like that bugs me. But also that that does relate to this tonight where if they go out and they lose 6-1 to Jersey tonight, the night after watching the Blue Jays do what they do,

everyone's just going to have that like, ah, the Leafs, you know? Apathy is the worst thing from a fan base, and I think you're at risk of generating real apathy. I got a lesson that stop making fun of Toronto sports fans, that everybody bags on the leaf fans or how quiet it is in the building and how like oh it's the quiet spot

everyone's it's church that wasn't church at Rogers Center last night that's the best crowd have ever been a part of people were fired up all the way through the game they're down 3-1 people are still standing for every they're chatting let's go Blue Jays as he hits that home run by the way down to and you know why because there's real

sports fans that go there they can justify spending the money for whether they're like what am I going to spend $250 on a regular season game against the National Predators or am I going to go throw it on a Blue Jays playoff game and people in the city are passionate and they're allowed to be passionate at the Blue Jays game.

People are fired up. If you're in the lower bowl at Scorsia Bank Arena acting like I was or anybody with people be like, please sit down, please sit down. Like you're not allowed to act like that. There's real sports fans in this city. You are allowed when you believe that they can win.

Sammy, they're not cutting deals when the Leafs are in the height of the playoffs and you believe it's a different feel. It's a different feel. Yeah, for sure. But I'm just saying, people love to make fun of Toronto sports in terms of like being quiet and all this.

We ain't quiet. We're not a quiet group of people. And we're fired up. We love our teams. And I would just love to see more energy like that. Like even for regular season games. Like the crowds at the Scotch Bank this year have been brutal. But I get it because it just seems like nobody cares.

They're like, oh, well, the Jays are the biggest pop they get every time at the game. It's, remember they put up the 2-1 goal or 2-1 home run. Jimenez hit against the Yankee. Oh, no, against the Seattle Mariners. Biggest cheer of the night. People are too locked into Jays. But I just, I hate when people make fun in Toronto Sports fan. Now, I will say, too, part of this related, you know, having success thing is pretty simple about your best players being your best players.

Laddy wins MVP of the series. Springer hits a big one. You know, they didn't have Boba Shet so you can overcome some. things but it does have to be Matthews and Nealander and Nyes and Tavares and Riley like those guys you know it doesn't have to be in game seven necessarily right Vladdy it wasn't his best game but it does have to be in the series that's another lesson is you just can't win without those guys going and he also you know you saw Cal Rally hit what three homers in the series judge god he was crushed day uh yeah and I mean that's one of the best things ever is leaving

the potential MVP on deck on deck and borney said it best before the show leaving chris bass at getting one two three in the eighth inning to set it up so that it's eight nine one so you don't have to face cal rally huge moment even one guy gets and i would personally like to say that i never said one bad thing about jeffman all year i've been his biggest fan the entire season and he came through for me in the clash he there's a lot he had a lot of confidence that's that's big time that's big time yeah that is Six outs a night before. Yep, big time. Restrikeouts.

Let's do game time so we can break the, to get the bids. It's game time, presented by Bet365. Visit the app for latest odds and see why it's never ordinary. A bet 365 must be 19 plus. Ontario only, please play responsibly. World Series. Would you like to hazard a guess at what the Blue Jays odds are to win this baseball series? $250?

Yeah, $300? $200? I don't know. Plus 180. The Dodgers are minus 220. I'm getting a Raptor final. Golden State. You need a couple of ACLs to tear the other side.

No one gave the Raptors a chance. No, that's true. Is that right, Sammy? Totally. Totally. There's a bunch of people around this city that have NBA finals hats because they didn't believe that they were going to win the whole thing. So I think there was a lot of people that, and guess what?

here's this i cheer about that championship it's great but they probably don't win if kevin durand doesn't dare is i honestly i see seven game series really i do love to hear that so starting in tronno's cool i'm going to give out my world series MVP and this guy has been our boy all playoff long give me ernie clement world series MVP 40 to 1 40 to 1 40 to 1 ernie clement wins world series MVP that would be a all-time historic buddy Steve Steve Pierce once won World Series MVP. You just, you have a few big homers and you win the series. You never know.

Ernie Clement, you heard it here first. And that was game time presented by Bet365. Visit the athlete's odds and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365, once in 19 plus, Ontario only, please play responsibly. Sam, we talked about it before the show, but the Vladdy hit after the Springer home run that he lined out to left field. Hard to sit ball in history. It was still on the way up.

I mean, the fielder was like this. And by the end, he had to jump. If he got air under that, that was in, like, the 500. So who caught George's ball? I bet he's been on a media tour. What do you think that ball's been, is worth? I don't know. You know, it's funny how often they're going to guys like that now,

and they're like, it will give you two bats and free tickets, and then you've got to go home with that ball. Go home. You got to get home. Season tickets. Get out of there. Get out of there and go home. Yeah.

Did you guys want to see you? the video of the final out? Yeah. Yes, you got it? I do, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sammy and Allie right in front of us here. Sammy. What in the hell?

Just like you. Oh, my God. But I hope you're that excited if you have a kid. Well, good thing. Good thing, I never to worry about that, buddy. Listen, I told Ali last time, I'm like, I loved their wedding day. I was like, I loved her wedding day, but there's no way that was better than that home run. Sorry.

Okay. Oh, man. Take a quick break here when we return, the general manager of the New Jersey Devils as they get set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. Tom Fitzgerald, when we return. The best Blue Jays show out there, period. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back to the program.

All right. Let's welcome in, the general manager of the New Jersey Devil's been on the show before. Tom Fitzgerald. Fitsy, thanks for joining us, man. How are you? I know game one didn't feel that great, but four regulation wins since then. And so feeling a little better, I bet. Not Blue Jay happy, but pretty happy, I guess.

Well, good for the Blue Jays. Yeah, no, we, well, first of all, thanks for having me on. Appreciate it. Yeah, I mean, we knew right when the schedule came out, what it looked like and, you know, the gauntlet that we are going through still. But it's a great measuring stick for our guys. And, you know, Sheldon has them. you know, I don't think Sheldon's ever happy, but he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he likes, he liked the

direction that we're going, which is, which is great. How has the process been for you guys of, uh, hiring Sheldon working with him through, uh, some, you know, frustrating injuries and stuff last year to, to where things are at this season? It's been great. Um, you know, I didn't know Sheldon at all, uh, like, I don't think I've ever was introduced to him. But, you know, I admired him from afar and then looking at what I felt our group needed and the type of player Sheldman was able to coach and, you know, develop as well. I just thought it was a great fit.

So last year, I would say, you know, his standards and his expectations on a daily basis, practices, you know, how to execute drills to the fullest. I don't want to say it was an eye-opener or a shock, but it was different. That's all. It was a little bit different. And I think coming into this year, yeah, sure, we dealt with some injuries and a lot of teams deal with those injuries. And I know I love this attitude. It's always next man up mentality.

And here we are this year. There's, you know, again, the standards and expectations coming into the camp from a player to coach. but our guys were now conditioned to it. So I thought we had a really good camp. Again, starting off the season with the teams and the schedules that were playing. Again, I just thought, well, we'll see what we're made of here. Like we're at, I'm going to have the tough test tonight. But, you know, so far so good.

Like any player, I'm sure, coach wants to maybe beat. beat his old team had a couple of cracks I think last season didn't happen but I'm sure he'd like to get a big win tonight against the Leafs nonetheless they're coming off you know some inconsistencies here and there's some speculation that they need to get a lot tougher here I imagine you still expect a very tough game tonight oh wait of course they're they're a great team they're very well coached, the discipline, you know. So with Sheldon, yeah, that'd be great. But the end of the day, he's just, it's not about Sheldon beating the Toronto Maple Leafs,

by organization, you know, getting another two points or try anyways. And, you know, but it would be great, you know, for him anyways, but again, how we start. Our special teams are, you know, some scoring from our bottom six. We just need to have that continued. So, but all good. Tom, where are you guys at, I guess, compared to where you want to get to here? Is this team, you know, ready to contend for a Stanley Cup? Again, I think we've taken steps to where we want to be.

we haven't we haven't gotten there that's for sure you know we've a couple years back had a great regular season you know a great first round against the rangers and then it all stops right you know when you hit a team like carolina and last year we played carolina again so um you know getting out of our division would be great um but listen i don't want to get too far ahead here you know I think, honestly, I don't like looking down the road. I'm a big believer in the now, stay in today. You know, if you start thinking ahead, the future usually crumbles a little bit

because you're not taking care of business today. So listen, we're playing well, we're playing good hockey, but there's 77 more games here. So let's just, we'll just pull it back a little bit and let's just be, again, I believe I'm a process-driven person and my hockey team is no different. You know, take a step every day, get better every single day. And then however the scoreboard looks at the other night, look yourself in the mirror, and you can say you gave it everything you have. And today, we'll take care of tomorrow. So that's kind of my attitude.

You're listening to Tom Fitzgerald, the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they get set to face. Whoa. What did I say? Devils. Sorry, I got Blue Jays on my mind. Sorry about that. General manager, the New Jersey Devils, as they get set to play the Toronto Maple Leafs. So you mentioned process, Fitsy.

Where's the process with the development of your star players? And Jack Hughes, I know, has had injury issues, you know, from maybe, you know, his rookie year coming in now. He's 24. Just where is he in his development? in as one of our stars in the National Hockey League and ready to kind of lead along with Nico Hischer? Well, we're fortunate to have, you know, not only Jack, but, you know, just with Brat and

Luke Hughes and Simone Nemich and Nico Hichia. So Jack is a, he's a talent man. Like, there's not many more talented hockey players, you know, what he can do with the puck and how elusive he is. And, yeah, he's had some injuries. But we're dealing today. His game is in a really good spot. He's taking steps as a leader on and off the ice.

Like as you said it, like he's only 24. It hasn't even hit his prime yet. So we're excited about that. But, you know, he's leading by example on the ice. You watch the way he played the last game against McDavid. And, you know, he was doing all the right thing, you know, back, check and stripping parts from behind, you know, creating his off.

like he usually does. So we lean on Jack. He's a great player. But like any young player, he's continued to mature and watch his game grow, you know, from a winning standpoint. We want to win. You know, we want to win hockey games. And, you know, Jack's definitely a contributor to us winning these last, early in the season.

You know, looking at the schedule as you guys headed into it in October, I mean, pretty loaded group of opponents. group of opponents and as we've mentioned off to a very good start part of that Jake Allen's been really good for you guys if you're focusing on the now you have to be happy with how that's played out to begin the year yeah I mean we're we're we're grateful to Jake and his family that they wanted to stay in New Jersey you know they valued you know living there they valued the team you know where they thought this team can go and wanted to be part of it so you I try believe me I took my hat to him Like, you don't usually get those type of calls for free agency when he's the hottest goalie on the market that he wants to stay.

And let's try to work this out. And he had to, you know, do what he wanted to do to stay. So, yeah, he's played great. And he's a true pro. Like, he just, he prepares himself, you know, every single day, nothing changes. He doesn't take granted where he's at. And fails he can play a bunch of more years. So we're excited.

He has played well. knock on wood and we're going to see him again tonight. Like most general managers, I'm sure you're going to tell me you're always looking to improve the roster. But how difficult Fitsy is it out there to make a trade these days?

And we do know that there's a new change in terms of the CBA and how much you're allowed to kind of hold back now and whether or not we're going to see trade deadline days like we did before or are we anticipating that the only trade we'll ever kind of see from here on end is just money in, money out? That's a great question, Nick.

I'm not really sure for us. You know, there is an old cliche. You really get to know your team probably around the 25 game mark and you can start assessing possible needs. then that's how I've always looked at it. I don't know. Again, I don't know with the new rules and the cap and the playoffs, you know, how that's going to work.

You know, right off the back, you're seeing guys resign with their team. So, you know, are more and more our player is going to get the free agency, meaning if they're getting to the free agency, then on the deadline, if their teams can't sign them, then they're going to move them. I'm not really sure, but it is, it is hard to make a deal. You know, one, you've got to have the assets to give up that a team is actually looking for, and two, you're going to have the space or try to make that work. So it isn't easy, but usually when you focus in on something, a position player,

you know, if you start talking the same language, then there's always a good chance you can get a deal done. Tom just a few weeks into the season here is there anyone on your roster that you've been surprised with that it maybe has given you more than you've hoped or has taken the step you thought they may eventually well I think there's a couple you know the first would be Connor Brown you know we knew he was a good hockey player

you know we knew what his his stats and underlying numbers read last year what I didn't realize and I've known Connor I played here you know going way back

he's a leader like I didn't realize the leadership qualities that he has off the ice the guys really look up to him so he's driving

he's driving a lot of areas of our team but we knew he was a good player he's really contributing in areas that we thought he would, but we're now seeing it. And the other kid is, actually the young player, is the Gritson kid who came in. And, you know, he's had a really good camp. Now, he's been a pro for the last few years over in the KHL. You know, fifth round draft pick, I believe, or fourth, he's been, he's a good hockey player.

He's just a little snake bit right now when it comes to, you know, putting the puck in the back in that but you know his main asset is his vision he really feeds the ice well and and quite honestly playing with connor um on a line with cody glass they've actually really uh helped drive some offense for us um we know they're good defensively but yeah he's he's he's a kid we're we're very happy uh to add that um not knowing what we were actually getting when he when he decided to come on over hey tom over the last few years if you just generally ask anybody who's the fastest team in the league often people would say the New Jersey

Devils. Is that by design? Is that something that was at the top of your wish list in terms of makeup of a team? I think the majority of the league is faster. I don't think you really tend to talk about teams who

are slow. I don't think that's part of any team's DNA, but honestly but the thing that I felt has been the difference with us is just how we play with the puck and we've got a defenseman who actually can move pucks quick out of our own end and through the neutral zone and transition fast or quick you know, puck comes out, puck goes back in

and that tends to make you look faster than you are because I could probably go up and down the Ross and say, okay, you can get on the goal line and we'll sprint up and down probably not as fast as people may think, but we think fast and we move puck's fast and hence makes us look fast. Yeah, that's certainly a big part of it. You know, have you seen an evolution game?

You mentioned the whole league being fast now. You know, do you feel like it's a detriment to a team to be a heavier team? You know, just thinking about Florida. Florida getting in playoffs is maybe not the fastest team. Or is it just sort of styles make fights and there's more than one way to build the successful team? Well, I would say. you know, Florida is a big, heavy. They can play any type of game you want to play.

You want to play a fast game. They actually can play fast. They've got people who move pucks fast. And you want to pay, you know, a heavy game and a hard game. And they get that too. You know what I try to find, I have assets. And my assets are, you know, some skill and some quickness and some speed. And you're not going to, you're not going to, I don't believe you can have 12 of those guys

up front. So finding that good mix, but, you know, your bottom six guys, understanding what they are and be able to grind teams down and have, give your coach the luxury of putting them out against top lines of the opposition because they're trustworthy and they understand it. And, you know, you can see that like the Cody Glass line with Connor and good. So go get shifts against other teams' top lines at home, not just on the road, but at home. And, you know, as our other, our skilled guys, Nikos and Jacks, you know, kind of frees them up a little bit.

So, you know, the Panthers are the Times Stanley Cup chance. I don't want to say it's a copycat league, but having a mix of all that is is really what we're trying to do. Tom, we really appreciate your time on our show.

All the best to you tonight and the rest of the season. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. Thank you. Appreciate your time. Tom Fitzgerald, General Manager, the New Jersey Devils. Interesting. You know, at the end of the day,

nobody could outskate the puck. No. Yeah, you move it fast. You know what's interesting to me is hearing him talk about Sheldon Keith and like people having to get used to the standard and coming into this year, being more prepared for the standard.

When I worked with Sheldon, I used to do up like the pregame reports or whatever and publish them. I'd have to show them to him first and get the green line. light to post them and the first couple weeks he was circling commas there's literally once there's one comma that he didn't like and he wanted me to print it again with the comma out and I was like what's it what's it matters we can't show that to the players like if we're not professional they're

not to be professional I was like calm all right you know this is what we're doing and you know he wore me down a little bit in the early days but you know you come to know that okay we're down to the very last comma here so he has yet to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs and I got to think that's eating his jockey shorts i'm going to tell you something right now it's happening tonight he he wants he happening tonight i don't know where this stands with any other regular season he's been behind a new jersey devil bench but this one is the one he wants yeah there is some that's 100% accurate would you say there is some mullah on the board tonight i would imagine i would think i would think that he'd be he's my

motivating the guys. Big time. Big time. Yeah. And well aware of what the Leafs are up to at all times. No, I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of energy that the Leafs come out with. No Cowan tonight. No Cowan.

Not overly surprised. Did you want to hear the coach talk about that? We have a clip on it. It was the only non-Blue Jays question today at Morning Skate. Derek, if we could play Barubei clip four, please. Cowan being out, is that just the numbers game or do you think he can benefit? I think he needs just a reset, get a, you know, get a game to watch. And it's always good for young guys to watch a game at some point.

But Cowan's in a good spot. Yeah, they want to develop him up here right now. I don't know how they're going to feel in another week or two. but I'm starting to now grow on just sending him down. Yeah. I just think there's no chance. It's not the best thing for him to just have the chance to have the puck more, score some more goals, be important.

And if there are going through an identity crisis that could last another week or two weeks, and I don't know what that means, 500 hockey, a game or two, two above. Maybe they take off, get some breathing room, put them back in. But if it's kind of going to look the way it's looked for another week or two, I'm not sure I want them in this environment. No. It's a great point where it's just like it's a, it's the temperature is going to be turned up here. Yes. Maybe not the best. Yes. That's great, great observation. I just did fully on. Right. Great observation. I'm just to have no brains. I'm thinking of our drops. You're Just hit and repeat on.

But let me ask you a philosophical question. It's better for his development to play for the Marley's than to be practicing with the Leafs and being with the Leafs and working with the Leafs. No. No? No. No.

Teammates don't want to see that, a part-time teammate. Like, play a game. No, you're practicing with us to get ready to play a game in the American Hockey League. Then you stay with that team. You're not parachuted in. What's next? Just power play, you know? No, if he's with the Marleys, you practice with the Marley's,

you dress with the Marley's, you eat with the Marley's. I think we had a miscommunication. Miscommunication. You're saying what I meant is like... Practice with the Leafs. No, no. Is it better for his development to go be with the Marley's or be with the Leafs and play a little bit here and there

and just kind of be up in the big club? Oh, okay. I thought you meant to stay practice with the Leafs and play with the Marley's. No, no, no, no, that's insane. I'm glad that people don't think I said that because that's incredibly stupid. I just have bad ears. No, you're bang on, though. So I just think he's so young.

He's just really young right now. You just got to be careful with him. If it's going to kind of get a little dicey here with the wins and losses and so much pressure even on Austin and Morgan and Willie now and even Stolars, you know, stuck his neck out the other day. And I hope it works out well. Big knife for him. Could it be what they needed in terms of just shaking it up right now?

Or, you know, I told you what the potential pitfalls are too also of what he did. Like he covered a lot, guys. He just didn't cover being run by the opposition. He went over a lot of stuff. He questioned coaching. He questioned their leadership. He questioned their strategy on shooting the puck. Yeah.

What coachingity question? How they score goals. Low, high, like watching catch in a backyard. What do you think? What's he calling out there? I think the players are not going to the net. That the goal can see it. So what?

You're calling out your coach. That's your coach's job to tell the guys how to score goals or to strategize how to score goals. It's not your job. The further we get away from it, And I am getting a little closer to Kipper's side. It was scorched earth. He went scorched earth.

He went. He covered everything. He's like, a lot of guys have been here a long time. If he just stuck with, I don't want to get run anymore, I'm okay with you. Now you're telling Austin Matthews, who's one of the greatest goal scores to start a career in history, that he's playing catch in the backyard. Okay. All right, so many leaps to be like, he's telling Austin Matthews this. It was wild.

It was wild I loved it So you know Pressure's on them to come big time now But my point with all this is that That's okay Pressure is okay We don't have to

Oh no Oh now I have to play good You do have to play good Morning would you say that pressure is a privilege I would say it's a privilege If I'd put it on a t-shirt Pressure is a privilege And my whole point is

Yeah go play good You're just The messenger matters To me I want to hear from you but I don't want to hear from you. By the way, I don't know what changed from last year to this year, but this mockery of Stolars leaving the postseason last year,

this faux concussion you seem to think he made up or whatever. No, I don't think he made it up. I just think that's where guys want you to hang in there. That's where you become George Springer. You want guys who've been hit in the head, seeing stars to get back out there. No, I want guys that can take that type of hit and still stay in it. I'm not saying that you weren't concussed, and I'm not saying it wasn't worthy of you being stretched off.

Right. But I just need guys that I believe that won't get stretcheded off. Isn't that the Trump line? I want military guys who haven't been shot or something? I want horses back there. I want horses back there. That's all. I am baiting.

Holy now. Sammy's dragon. Oh, boy. Go Jays. And Sammy will be on Leafstock tonight. Oh, I will? I don't know with that. How many more sleep still game one?

No, no. A few? A few. Yeah, I don't know how many steeped at his Derek. All right. And no darts until we win the World Series. Dingo. Our thanks to Steve Aliquette, CEO, ClearSight, Analytics,

and Tom Fitzgerald, the general manager of the New Jersey Devils. See, I got it right. Yeah. If you get a chance, give us a rating and review. We'd love to hear from you. Till tomorrow. Nick Caprio's. and born, Sammy McKee.

Have a great night, everybody.