Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Locking in an Identity

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. They get into the team embracing a defensive identity, Joseph Woll gaining momentum with the starting goalie job, Auston Matthews staying on track, official Kelly Sutherland getting an assist on Steven Lorentz's game-winner, Scott Laughton's role and much more. Later, MSG Rangers analyst Dave Maloney (32:52) helps tee up the second half of the Leafs' back-to-back in New York and discusses Igor Shesterkin's play this year, underwhelming seasons from the Rangers' stars, and potential consequences if they miss 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.

Back to back game nights for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Real Kipper and Bourne show Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne's Sammy McKee, Derek Brandale, Jake the Snake Schultz with you for the next two hours, two hours and then we go right into pregame half an hour later tonight on Sportsnet Ontario. Yours truly, Justin Bourne. Elliott Friedman off of a three-day vacation in Florida. No, no, no. He's been gathering information at the GM meeting. There was Zippo, less than Zippo coming out of there of any significance. But you don't know, you have to go.

I was watching our national broadcast yesterday, and they did still whole second period thing about how there was all this news that Was I lied to Kyle did they did a sound important? Well, they talked with the all-star game What happens some CBS all-star what was the CBS stuff Oh my god, we're all on the edge of our seat. On what happens? Some CBA stuff. With the All-Star. What was the CBA stuff? I forget.

They're gonna start like, in June, I think they're gonna start negotiating. Listen, I love Rage, I love Kyle, I love their podcast. Yes, yes. And they started talking, I was like, oh no, what's going on in the other hockey games? Yes. We can't get a jersey, but that's okay.

We'll send them first class down to Florida. No problem at all. No sour grapes. To bring zero sour grapes on my part. You can't get a dinner for a regional broadcast. Any other grievances you want to have? Bag of chips. Anyone out there?

A bag of chips tonight Enough on that. Yeah Rangers and the Leafs right back at it last night 2-1 victory over a very good hockey club in Colorado. I Don't know whether we could call it a statement game for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but we can certainly say it was another building block. Yeah, I think the statement is that Leafs win pretty big game, you know, they kind of been scuffling in the standings and against the good teams Austin Matthews good goaltender very good. I mean not that that's all that happened

We're gonna get into it in depth here, but top line report of the day pretty good all told as statements go I Think how you feeling these didn't outplay them or anything were down and out last week. They put together Yeah, back-to-back wins Calgary and a very good Colorado team. Are you are you sleeping better at night? I sleep great Regardless, I don't believe that I sleep great unless I miss like a six foot or par a week ago, you're still thinking about it, but I think That if you want to talk about statement games, I think it was an individual statement game for two guys or maybe three guys specifically for Joseph wall, absolute statement game,

where coach puts his trust in him, kind of goes away from the rotation that they've been doing. On the second half of back to back, you think maybe Stollers would get the first one, Wall gets the second one, says he likes the way he's been playing, puts him in there, and he's brilliant. He is as good as he's been all year.

State McGain for Austin Matthews, who I thought was better than Nathan McKinnon last night, and State McGain for Austin Matthews, who I thought was better than Nathan McKinnon last night, and State McGain for Jake McCabe, who I thought was brilliant last night as well. 25-40, or 25-30 for McCabe and Iseman last night. It did kind of bring us back to earlier in the season where they were able to get leads and then shut them down, like shut the opponents down.

So I think over the course of what, the last couple of weeks for sure, started to question, you did on many times on our show, what's their identity, what are we looking for? That may be the closest we get to their identity moving forward, that they have to be a team that, I'll say it, needs great goaltending. Are they an average team with great and hate that but agree average team with great goaltending and be in a

position to now put the TANF of the world to test Carlo to test like those guys are are great in their own zone. They block shots, they can move pucks out Like is that their identity right now? And then you hope that Austin can light Get hot light a fire go on a streak and and Bob's your uncle. This is the Toronto Maple Leafs You know the Barry trots Islanders went to the conference final in back-to-back years and they were bottom of the pile in to the conference final in back-to-back years, and they were bottom of the pile in possession. Like, they just, the puck was in their zone all the time,

but nothing happened in front of the net. They just defended the front, and they had great goal-tending. You know, talking about identities, last night, Colorado Avalanche, puck in Ozone time, 27.35. So, you know, that's incredible. And then the Leafs were 19 minutes in the Colorado end. So, eight and a half minutes more in their end.

Three minutes of that was at the end of the second period with the least didn't touch the puck for. Yeah, it felt like three or four minutes. So they're in their own end the whole game. Slot shots for the game are 16 to 14 for the Leafs. You know, that's a bit of a statement to me in itself. We're comfortable. They can have the puck here, but we can defend well enough to keep it to the outside and

not give them anything too dangerous. And I didn't think that the Avs, as much as they dominated, got a lot of second chance opportunities. They got shots, they got looks, they had the puck. I didn't think it was like, well, diving to make secondary and third saves. Yeah, I definitely would agree with that, that sometimes you can look at the shots on goal and many of them can come from areas of the ice where it wasn't that threatening. I think I saw more of that than I have in previous games, so that kind of gives me some confidence to say that maybe it's turned a little bit back.

Are you okay with this look moving forward that this is what they are last night? I think, yeah, I think denying the middle of the ice is something that we talked about a ton at the start of the year. And those numbers there provide the fact that they how many shots did they end up with almost 40? And they had what you said, 39, 14 from the slot. Correct. Yeah. So that that tells you that they're doing a pretty good job of denying the middle of the ice, which is something that they can go

with and I do feel comfortable with it like I mean going forward towards the playoff keeper you're asking me yeah I'm not comfortable against anyone in any situation as a fan as a leaf and there's any we fan who's listening this who tells you they are they're totally lying but they're not but yeah go ahead but no no but what it looks like last night, you could picture that type of game in the first round where it's one one. I mean, maybe not off of the back of a diving Kelly Sutherland. That's maybe not how you score your winning goal or whatever.

But like you can picture a game in the playoffs looking like that. And sure, it makes me feel good. Like having to win a couple in a row. Impressively, I feel better. I'm not convinced, but I feel better. Yeah. Fair. I think it's absolutely fair. Yeah.

I just I am with you. It doesn't feel like they're going to be way better than anyone they play. Florida, Tampa Bay, whoever it may be. They're all going to be way better. So they have to be comfortable playing close games. They're third in the NHL and one goal wins this year. So they played a lot of close hockey. I also do think that that's maybe the best third in the NHL in one goal wins this year. So they've played a lot of close hockey. I also do think that that's maybe the best team in the league.

And they're gonna make a lot of competition. Looks like that on a night to night basis. So, I mean, the first period they were, they got three quarter iced. For much of the second period they got three quarter iced. And then they kind of rallied in the third and were the better team in the third. So give them credit for that. For sure. Tuesday we had Steve Alliquette on. they got three quarter iced and then they kind of rallied in the third and were the better team in the third so

Give them credit for that for sure Tuesday We had Steve Alliquette on for those of you that didn't catch him go download it because he's he's excellent Of course me and you every once in a while do this useful or useless with certain analytics But he takes it to another level and really applies it especially with goaltenders and he didn't waver one bit when he said Joseph Wall's the guy. I don't know if you kind of followed any of social media and the replies of you're crazy, Stolarz is better. I got a lot of Stolarz is the guy, not Wall. I think after last night,

there really should be a strong feel that this thing is heading towards Joseph Wall in game one. You think it's there now that it's his net to lose? It's his net to lose. I think I think it's geared towards yes It's now I believe that he would have to really look suspect and have some bad Starts yeah to to think that this wouldn't shape up for Joseph wall in game one So if both these guys play even from here day one, it's Joseph wool I'm not totally convinced on that. Yeah, I Day one, it's Joseph Wohl. I'm not totally convinced on that. Yeah.

You are. Both of you guys are full on wall guys. No, but keep in mind, this is not like, it's not close. It's like, if it's today, if they're even on the way through right now, he's got the leg up. Stoller's had a bar so high that it kind of looks like he slipped

the last two weeks. It's not fair but there is some slippage say what you will on how high the bar was. You know what I hated? I hated David Perron's goal from Ottawa. It almost handcuffed him. It kind of smacked it into the glove area. Kind of handcuffed him. I didn't like that one.

Anyway. I go back originally to the thought of signing Joseph Wall to that four year deal, 12 million, 13 million. Three, three times. Okay. Three times four. Three times three and change. Okay.

11 million. And then Stolarz comes in with a thought and idea that this guy will be a very good second guy. I think that's where they were all along. Of course, the injury came along to Joseph Wall in training camp. Stolar was also better than expected. But I think it's going to correct itself right now. Yeah, I mean, that's a fine thing. Stoller's on the years of 918. The numbers are still really good, but Wohl has been steady,

and like you said before, the year, very good. I also, I do feel a little better about Wohl. When I think back to the games he went into against Boston, were they down 3-1 when they first put him in, in game five? Yeah, he won five and six. He won games five and 6 and looked tremendous When he went in against Florida two years ago, he got their win in game 4 and looked great in game 5

I think they ended up losing by a goal in game 5 but 3-2 and overtime Nick Cousins down the left wing correct Freak but anyway, you've never had a concussion He can tell. Yeah. He has been really good in playoffs over those four starts for the Leafs. So I know it's a small sample, but still it makes you feel like he's not going to go in there and be like, oh my God, the moment. I'm still not convinced. I'm not ready to give up.

All right. I think that he walls had a good stretch here. He won, like I said, off the top, statement game for him after the coach kinda goes against his rotation and gives him the net and he performs. But I really think that Stolarz has just as high-end potential in terms of stealing a game, which you need in the playoffs. I think I saw yesterday that second in the NHL

and goal saved above expected per 60 this year, he's been an elite, elite goal tender all year long. I'm just not, I don't wanna be, cause I think Wall has a longer track record here where people know him better. But right now, just to be like, on March 20th, be like, I'm ready to, there's a lot of hockey to be played here, boys.

And Stoller's been really, really good. There's been really good. So I'm not giving up my boys' stollers. All right, let's go to Craig Berube for our first Kippers Clipper of the day on Joseph Wall. Yeah, he is excellent. Made some real good saves, held us in there in the first period.

I didn't think we were on our toes in the first period. You know, we're a little bit, look like we're a little bit tentative, not aggressive enough, you know, a little bit look like we're a little bit, um, tentative, not aggressive enough, you know, kind of watching them move the puck around on skate. It's great. Sorry, I was also perusing. You have a headline about how it is too early to give up on this. I thought what?

Yeah, I did. I did. I kind of make fun of me so much for being mr. Up-and-down reactionary You're just as bad. You're just Johnny Lee fan. This is my reaction to the winds. I don't believe this is a reaction to the backlash of The slump. Yeah. Yeah, we'll be a lot of people wrote them off You you didn't I I wrote in my article today that like They may not get to a conference final, whatever that means, first round or second round loss. But now with 14 games to go, it's just far too early for me for people to sit there and

definitively say that this team has no heart or they can't score or they suck in their own zone. I mean and it's not necessarily me looking at the Leafs and either loving them or hating them. I just look around the league right now and you just don't know what you're going to get from night to night. And I look at the Florida Panthers and they got some issues on the blue line going into the playoffs. How about Seth Jones? Stunk since he's been there. Like five on five. He's been. Horrible.

Thirty nine percent goal share, I think, when he's on the ice. Tampa's still got some issues. I just think it's it's wide open. And I did write, you know, what kind of led me to writing this article was the fact that the Florida Panthers at the exact same time as last season Lost eight of ten. Did you hear that folks? Eight of ten. In March of 2024. What were the Leafs? One and six? Yeah, they were one four and one over six games. And people were freaking out. So what you're saying is, carry the one you win the cup. Carry the one that,

the Leafs are gonna win the cup? What I'm saying, Sammy, It's okay. Is there's lots of time to crap all over them. That's, you know, and people go and like, you wanna get hot now? It's like now's not it. Hold, it's like eating an avocado.

Hold. Right. Hold. Not ready yet. Now I'm saying that. Okay. Last night, it's still a challenge to get to the net, boys. Right hold not ready yet. No, I'm saying that Okay last night It's still a challenge to get to the net boys I don't know if they had they they must have had one good shot in the first 12 minutes Yeah, I think I looked up and they had like three shots on goal

But one was tan of on a dump in outside the blue line There's stuff that they counted that really shouldn't count. But seven, averaging seven shots a goal in the first two periods. Seven shots per game in the first? Is that what he's saying, sorry? Yeah, they had 14 shots after 40 minutes. Like seven a period is not great.

Didn't see a lot out of Tavares' line last night. Except the last two shifts of the game. Yeah. Hard. Where they were really good, but outside of that, not a ton of greatness. Lotton's having a lot of trouble staying in the offensive zone or getting to the net. So this is stuff that in 14 games, somebody's got to gain some confidence here. Yeah, I agree with that. What's gonna Be different good question. Well, let me take that on is that things are becoming different already here Brandon Carlo has given them a true top four Yeah, they have 4d that you can rely on pretty steadily the other thing and I'm now gonna throw a meatball down the gut to Kip, is that Awesome Matthews hadn't been very good for a long stretch.

We'd been excusing him for injuries and we don't know what's going on with this guy, yada, yada. Back to back really good games. That changes the links for the Leafs. For sure. And changes perhaps how we should talk about Matthews going forward. Yeah, and stop with the like, put the he's hurt or put anything like in that ballpark

away here. It's like don't want to hear it anymore. That something's going on with him. Let's just say that if he if he's not good, it's because he's not good. And you know, not to put words in your mouth here, but it's like, if he can look like he looked last night, 11 shot attempts, eight shots, a goal, you know, all that puck play and the night before against Calgary, two goals, one assist, has the puck, is the lead or whatever.

If he can do it in back to back games, when he doesn't do it the next day, we don't get to go, oh, well, that's that one was because he's hurt. He's either he either can do it, which he can or he can. You just hope that in the event that there's a game seven and they lose to one, they don't point to the four guys and say that you. That's the reason why we lost, you know, and I know it will end up that way.

Well, hold on. I'm just saying that I just hope that there could be more balance for them this time around, even though there's not. But there needs to be. There needs to be or else we're right back to where we were the last three years where it's like if they don't get it done then it's their fault and yeah I will say if you look at great players who win championships you know we often forget the corner three Ray Allen has to hit for LeBron to win the championship

with Miami or Steve Kerr hitting a bucket for Michael Jordan Max Talbot scoring two in game seven for Sidney Crosby these guys who didn't Sidney who didn't come off the bench for most of that game because he was hurt. Yeah, like a lot of these guys who are great- Have their moments. They need someone else in some moments to say, all right, we're gonna get a piece of the pie for you. You mean like, Steven Lawrence picking up a puck

off a ref that got shot by a sniper and when it goes down and scores a short-handed goal, that ended up being a win again? Ever since the ref fell or shot by, he thought he was gonna get hit and he dove out of the way he misread the shot I think yeah, I don't pick no we don't know no I think he I think he blew a wheel No, no, he thinks he's gonna hit it. So he's trying to dive under it go. We need to play that again Yeah, he sees it come off the stick. He thinks it's gonna hit him. He tries to dive under it

We got to re-rack that here No, we didn't. If we did a, if they did a contest out of 18,000 people at the game last night to give them one moment to be an official, that's the way I expect that they would look or fall. It's hard. It's amazing.

That guy's ripping one at him from distance. It's amazing. There's four guys out there, four extra guys, and they're never in the way. Ghosts. Like, you don't notice them until they go like this. Like, you don't look at them. You don't think of them. And so when you see that happen, you're like, oh my God. Yeah. And Kelly Sutherland watching Lorenz spray, he's like, just bang it off the end glass. Like, of course, Lorenz shoots in a shorty for the game winner. Big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big a hundred years. And just like, because yeah, no, that's just,

Dem's the brakes, he's on the ice. That's the part of it. That's the human element of sport right there. It is. For all the times it goes against you, like it's not like I'm sitting here today being like, well, they didn't deserve to win except for that bounce. Like, yeah, you get a break here, there, you lose.

Yeah, they got two really good breaks that, if we look at Austin Matthews the last two or three months How many times that you got that used to go in for you that used to go in for you, right? Please also hit what three posts in that game feels like you hit one off the crossbar there and McCabe Rung one off the inside of the post feels like they've been banging up the post a little bit and Lorenz made a Really good shot and I don't want to take that away from us But like it's not inside the post is it Blackwood? Against wall like no contest pal. Yeah

well, that's a can of corn for wolf if Thanks, if Colorado's goalie loses there his net like that If Colorado's goalie loses his net like that, regularly that team will go nowhere. Like he was, he had no clue where his net was. And maybe, and I thought he had enough time to recover off of the bounce off of Kelly Southerland. Goalie? Yeah.

Tons of time. That's as he picks it up outside the blue line. You can't give up that much glove. Blackwood. Great shot, Steve. There you go. Oh, it's a great shot. No, it's a great shot. No, it's a great shot. By the way.

Great shot. Gotta be the most likable guy in interviews. Joseph Wall also gets a nod for being amiable and personable. He was likable, he's likable, but I mean, did you see the scoring chance stuff again? So that fourth line was together with him and Lawton, the fourth line. Not pretty.

No. Can we have a Lawton conversation or is it just is it still too early? No, no have it all day long. You want to hear from Craig Bruby on Lawton first? Let's play it. Loop three. Just a little bit like I think he's trying to probably play the game without making mistakes and he's overthinking things instead of just playing go lots just play. Be aggressive, do your thing, probably play the game without making mistakes and he's over thinking things instead of just playing go lots just play be aggressive do your thing you know and that'll come around I do believe that you know he just he wants to do well and you know you just gotta he's got to loosen up and go play like

use your ability you're a good player you played in the league a long time you know just go play I think he's holding back a little bit too safe almost, you know, mm-hmm totally Totally that's a member. I said to you before about him skating like several times I've seen him like get the puck and stop moving his feet be like, all right, like, you know, think about it or whatever It's like I'm just not sure what if leaflet if leaf fans know what to really expect out of him I Nobody really knew him coming in it with Any type of reputation other than he can play tough he can be a thorn

It's not the scoring that ever stood out in his career with Philadelphia So no career high points of 43 ever stood out in his career with Philadelphia. No, career high points of 43. He does have an 18, 19 goal season, but that's like- How long ago? He had an 18 goal season in 23. Okay. But like Cali Arekrov, he scores 20 goals. That's what you're talking about scoring.

Are we expecting him to put the puck in the net? I think if you're a 43 points and 39 points, so a point every other game, I don't think scoring is is a big part of what okay because I see I have not seen any Creativity out of him. I haven't seen about the puck really yeah I think he's desperate for one to enter the net office deck here. Yeah, he needs to think he's a thinker and rubies onto something there He's really you know that that fight is like. I know I want to do something here for sure Really, you know that that fight is like I know I want to do something here for sure but I think people got to just be realistic on on what this guy is capable of doing and I think

They gave up a first in a good prospect here. So there's there's a ton of pressure to be more than just Three and a half fourth line guy. But I'm not sure what he's capable of really giving right now that would satisfy that. Well, go ahead. I just said, it's so scary when you say first, but they probably gave up a 28th in Grebenkin. It is a lot, I'm not saying it's nothing. They're valuable pieces.

They are valuable pieces. But you're talking retention, you're talking about this is not a rental. There are valuable pieces. They are valuable pieces. But you know, you're talking retention, you're talking about this is not a rental. There are other things that go into the value. And for a guy like this, I think soon at some point here, you have to put them in a position to succeed. Okay, I don't know what that means because I mean, they're trying everybody on the second line left wing, give them 18 minutes, give them 20 minutes who they haven't played them above the third line they haven't played him with anyone yet so if you know that's the old chicken and egg thing okay ice time is

earned or is it given and then earned and that's why I like to now that they didn't say I've never liked in the past when they get Joe Thornton and they put him on the top line they get Nick Richie and they put him on the top line they get like these guys you should have to sort of earn your way there a little bit They were cheaper though To buy well, that's fine, and they still gave them the opportunity So why not first first and prospects are top six guys and they're Carlo who can play 18 20 minutes, right? They're not 11 minute guys. I know. So Kip, don't play him 11 minutes then on the fourth line.

Unless he is, unless you really think he's an 11 minute guy and that's it. Well then don't trade a first and a prospect if you think he's an 11 minute guy. Too late. Yeah. So my point here is. It's definitely too late. It is too late. They're grasping at straws for someone to play beside Neal Enner and Tavares.

Grasping at straws. This guy Lawton played wing a lot for the Philadelphia Flyers. Torch preferred him there. If you're gonna have camp in the press box and Holmberg playing center, you might as well have Holmberg play center in the third line, camp on the fourth line, and put Lawton on wing. Let him have a crack at second line left wing with JT and Willie. 14 games is enough for me to just see whatever you can do to help him relax Yeah a couple of guys who can make a play maybe play an extra three minutes per game for a few nights in a row and You go. Oh, I made a couple of plays and start to feel better

About things he want he's he wants it and that's a great start. I think it's funny to have him be like Talking like oh, you know, he's just got to find his game. Good oh, you know, he's just got to find his game Good find it, you know, it's just got to play his game or whatever. He's like fourth line ten minutes It's like yeah, you're in control of this. Yes, you can play him with guys who make a pass, you know, like you're not I'm just it. We have a lineup for tonight yet. Has anyone seen that come out? No, they're camp has to be back in. Has to be. I'm looking at the Maple Leafs PR, sorry, their media information and their pregame media availability will take place outside the visitor dressing room at around 445. So

we'll probably get some news trickling in around then. But I would imagine Camp in. Robertson out? No. I think they't like that third line Holmberg, you know, you shook my hand during the charity function. No, but he's a man. He's a threat of a goal He's played he's played well against sort of semi-compet bad competition. She has Reloaded last night a good f3 couple of bad penalties though. Let's talk about that. Well that happened two games ago No last last night too many many on the ice. It was him. Was it him? He jumped too early. I Mean you get to make doofy brain farts when you're Willie and you shoot it in 40 times

Yeah, you don't get to when you play 12 in your score in 12 per year So I'm curious to see if Ruby says okay, we need to have a reset or you feel like Beggars can't be choosers and he could still shoot it in the net and I need I need that out there Yeah, can you imagine if they were in a position where they're like we can't do this without Nick Robertson It's a scary position to be in. Yeah, I don't think they're there Yeah, no disrespect to Robertson who I by the way I would also like to say I've changed my stance on this guy as a Player who when he's not scoring I think he he's an energy guy is he's hounds the pocket

He lifts sticks and he's he's trying even shoots after the whistle shoots it after the whistles He wants it to go in at all costs. He's that eager. Yeah, he is very eager. So I I like Yeah, they could you know, they could use a little bit more from McMahon too They could put him up into the top six at times which they did I think a little bit last night But like and he's got one goal In a dozen or one goal since February 8th so, you know, he gets really hot at times and he can look really really good but Could get why he'd be a little bit frustrating for a coach with his size and you know anyways.

Yep. See again last night really was Bill Matthews and Nate McKinnon right? Yeah. And I think for the most part if you go into a first round it might be Barkhov or Point or whatever there's always that chance that the first two big lines can kind of cancel each other out. And maybe that, to me, it looked like that a little bit. That they just canceled each other out.

That's where second, third and fourth and Lorenz, that's the difference between winning and losing. The bottom six for the Leafs is a pretty reliable, steady group. There's no one on my deck I can't play. You know, like Yarncroc and Holmberg and Lorenz and Lawton, and these guys are solid hockey players. So yeah, they should all have a game here and there where they chip in. Nice when Matthews is back and can handle the top line. He led the team in controlled entries,

scoring chances off the rush, slot shots, OZ possession time, expected goals. He was the dude. Yeah. After the break, we'll welcome in Dave Maloney, former captain of the New York Rangers, does a terrific job on MSG. He'll help us tee up tonight's contest

on Sportsnet Ontario. Justin Bourne, Nick Kiprios will be there alongside Elliot and David Amber. What Ranger team do we think will show up tonight? Weirdest team in the league for me. Don't know on any given night who you're gonna get. Lots of talent coming off a president's trophy, but they just their

Defense has been better lately, but like their D numbers are stinky. They're not very good at preventing The Rangers were the first team to reach a hundred points in 23 24 doing so through 72 games on March 26 Through fixed 69 games this season the Rangers just have 72 points So like the monster drop-off from last year. They traded Truba they've done a lot of different things. It's a totally different team. Yeah. All right Snow Bologna we've got Dave Maloney. Brought to you by Boar's Head. Just takes nothing to make me laugh eh? I, that's just such a weird thing to say. We're going to return to Real Kipper and board.

Hey, it's Matt Marchese. And I'm Mike Fuda. We're discussing the top stories of the day across the NHL and the hockey world. Weekdays at noon. It's the Fan Hockey Show on Sportsnet 590 The Fan and wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program And we were talking about the Leafs earlier having a challenge to Get pucks to the net the last little while about the New York Rangers against Calgary the other night

Dave Maloney with us? Not yet. Nope. All right. When he is, are you gonna ask him about that? Yes, I am. I am because that was a very tough loss for the New York Rangers and they've had a few

over the last little while, man. Everybody still tells me Shasterken gives them the edge for a wild card spot. And just watching him, like he was unbelievable too against Calgary. So that was a back to back for the Flames. Leafs, Rangers. Rangers had been off the night before and got 13 shots.

They mustered 13 shots on Calgary that night. Five, three, five by period. At home. To a team on a back to back. With the last change. Like, think about that. What is that when your team has, you know, I don't even know how, what Panarin's numbers look like this year,

but Troucek and that Cooley and Lafferiniere and JT Miller and Zabandajad and Kreider, like, you know, Fox and Miller. I don't know. It's inexplicable.able they they're like the Canucks this year. Something just seems rotten. You thought JT Miller was gonna come in there I think he gave them some juice early. He's had a good start. He's had 18 points in 19 games. Yeah. Since being acquired. I don't know what else he can do Well, well don't ask us. Let's ask the expert Dave. Thanks for joining us getting ready for

Toronto Maple Leafs in the New York Rangers and I was just thinking to myself, you know if I had to pick Analysts that had the toughest job in hockey this year. I think of you our boy Valley Hank trying to Describe the New York Rangers from one game to the next Well, I certainly appreciate that a bit of a battle Trying to keep it on the up-and-up right, you know it's just been really, to me, it goes back to July 1st. And this thing, the whole worm turned then when the management, you know, attempted to do what they thought they had to do.

And the fallouts from that, and it started from there. And despite the fact that the team got out of the gates well, they weren't playing well. The goaltenders were spectacular. And here we are now again, you know, you've got like 13 games left and it's gonna be a stretch, I think, for this club to make the postseason. David, excuse my ignorance.

Remind me what happened on July 1st. What was it that they were trying to do with the team? Well, what happened was they tried. They had a deal. It sounded like they had a deal in place to move Jacob Truba. He opted out of that. He had the right to say no. And then they moved Barkley Goudreau.

Goudreau was waived. And those are the two of the really heart and soul guys. However you want to. We've all been in teams and stuff that are special guys in the room. And now only in hindsight do I think there's a recognition of just how important those two guys were to keep this group on the up and up. And once they were gone, and now is that the sole reason? No, it's not.

But I think it started then and it just cast a bit of a pall over the season right from the get go. You know, the saving grace for I think the New York Rangers for many years, even going back to Hank Lundquist is that they had better goaltending than most here. And Shasterkin started Dave with a contract dispute that took a while. Not that anybody really truly believed that it wouldn't get done, but you know, when you consider maybe the back and forth as a distraction

or even if you watch Swamen in Boston Boston not really get his footing all season long can that be attributed to maybe Shusterkins inability to to look as consistent as he has in the past I'm not sure about that. I don't think the contract issue was I don't think it was ever contentious. I think, and I don't really think specific to that affecting his play. The thing is he just, he hasn't been who he has been. Right. And, but I don't, I really don't think I had anything to do with the contract.

I think there, uh, it just has been, he has set such a standard for himself. And you know, for the franchise that he's just been off guilty. He hasn't been quite as consistent. Now he hasn't had much help in front of him either. Um, and, uh, so, you know, he's still the most valuable player by the club as is any goaltender, any top goaltender in any team is going to be the most important guy, uh, but he just hasn't been quite as consistent with the standard he set. So he's probably guilty.

He's guilty of setting the standard. And there's nothing there to assume or to think there's anything wrong. It's just been one of those years. Well, and I kind of want to use that same sort of idea to ask you about Zabaniad, a guy who, you know, he's played all the hockey games for the Rangers this year and his points per game are just down considerably. Goals in particular is plus minus way off.

What's different with him and is it just getting older? Well, I do think that's part of it. I think he's, you know, he's heading north of 30 and listen, um, you know, I, I think I can't help have a reference conversation I had with, um, Jonathan quick, we're in Washington and he'd come off after morning skate and you could tell he was, it was a grind and, you know, I asked him how hard it was to stay competitive. You know, like you got to, like, it's very hard. It's, you know, you have to, you have to work that much harder just to stay even.

And I just, at the start of the season through the 2024 Mika was, he was absolutely not a factor, no factor at all. He's been better since the count flipped it into 25 and he's been even better on the wing with JT Miller. Drop the call. Oh, we got him back. We got you back Dave. All right.

I just would, in talking a little bit about Savannah, and I'm sorry, I'm just pulling in at Grand Central here. Anyway, but no, Savannah Jett hasn't been who they needed him to be, nor has Chris Crider, nor has Adam Fox. So when you have your top guys that aren't your top guys, well, you're gonna struggle, and that's exactly where the Rangers are. As far as the guys in front of Shusterkin,

a drop off is the best way I can describe all of them. It's almost as if they're all not having career years together and Adam Fox, of course, we've known him as one of the better puck movers and distributors and kind of times has put himself in the same conversation as as a Quinn Hughes for for pace of play or driving offense. And we certainly haven't seen that at a consistent level either, Dave. No, there's no question.

And I would kind of beg to differ on the Quinn Hughes. Adam doesn't move as quickly, right? Adam's game is the six inches between the right and left ear. And I think we saw in saw in the, in the four nations that he can become a little bit vulnerable if the pace is what it is. And there is no question that guys are going to take 23 minutes, five on five penalty kill power play. He's a very, very good player. But when you start talking about McCarr, Quinn Hughes, Sanderson and

Ottawa, there's a different pace to the game that they're playing and that's worth having. And you know the skill development continues to be what it is through the game. And listen, this is not, I don't know how it sounds, it shouldn't be sounding as a criticism. reality is he is a very very good defender But when it comes to the guys make a real, you know a real force off the back end And I think I'm a car and I think of Quinn Hughes. It's a different game. Mm-hmm So then I you know Do you feel some hope about this Rangers team in that all these guys you mentioned are maybe not playing to their potential but they won the president's trophy last year they're

still there there's tons of talent and lots to like do you still feel like this can kind of come together for them over the closing month of the season well you know if you're running as good as your last game no were, they were awful against Calgary. Awful. And that's, that's, that's the comment coming out of the room. It was the biggest game of the year and nobody showed up. So you know, far be it from me as an outsider. But if they're, you know, again, you're playing Toronto, like I watched Toronto and Colorado

last night, they're in a different league. They're in a different league than the teams that are playing, battling it out for the spots like the Rangers. And I think Colorado and Toronto got better at the trade deadline. So can they, sure. I mean, can they, I expect a better game here tonight from the Rangers because it can't be much poorer than it was against Calgary. And that takes nothing away from Calgary. Calgary simply outworked them. And in a lot of ways that's inexcusable, right? But you know, I mean, it's a little bit like, you know, in hindsight, if we could all be

hindsight managers and figure out what went wrong, well, we didn't show up. So the next night you hope to show up. So it next night you're hoping to show up. So it is going to be a battle. But I think they have the second toughest schedule of the teams that are in that group. They're trying to battle it out, but the end could come quickly. If the last game was any indication,

the end could come quickly for this group. Just one more for me, Dave, before we let you go, as you tee up the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Rangers on MSG Network, if this doesn't bode well at the end of the year, could we expect some major changes with maybe the exception of JT Miller, who just arrived? Well, yeah, I would think there's going to be, if they do not make the playoffs, I think there, you know, there has to be perhaps address just the leadership, the leadership group

that that the guys that have been here at that have had legitimate kicks at the camp, but haven't gotten gotten it done. Now you throw Miller into the mix. That's a whole different look. It's a whole different attitude about how to play and how to compete and things like that. So I would think now how Chris Duree and his staff goes about doing that, who knows? Can you find those intangibles in free agency? Can you find it or do you have to reshuffle the deck a little bit when it comes to your top players? Because at the end of the day

This season the top players just haven't been good enough We'll be fast fascinating to watch tonight out of Madison Square Garden. Hey Dave really appreciate your time. Enjoy calling the game tonight All right, guys. Thanks. Thanks Dave. Appreciate it is Dave Maloney MSG Network hockey analyst former New York Ranger captain youngest to ever wear the C. What's up, Sammy? He sounds thrilled about the Ranger. You know, well listen, he's- He's not wrong.

No, nice to hear him tell like it is. He knows, he knows and he's too old to blow smoke. It's so true, no, it's so true. It's like, that's not a guy who's like I'm just being a fan list and trying to keep my job. It's like they're not very good right now Their best players have not been very good. I don't see signs of turning around found it really refreshing You know one thing that I was thinking while he was talking was like They're 14 or 15 games from the end of their season. They're in a fight for the playoffs to the death

and they got outworked at home? They got outworked at home? So is Peter Laviellette on the hook? Because as a coach, isn't that the, you got outworked at home? He's always been one of those sort of short spurt guys, right, where it's like a three or four year span where he goes in there, rips up the room gets everybody going and then it kind of goes down slowly

feels like it could be happening now I am a fan me too I think yes true maybe one of the best interviews we ever did on the show too agreed very thoughtful our guy and like if this guy cannot push the right buttons, you're not finding another one to push the right buttons. That's actually something we don't talk a lot about is when a team has these talented guys on it and they underperform, we always go to coach, perhaps the guys here should be on the hook for

who's motivating that would that team again Dave nailed it it's time to break up the band and that's what's gonna happen before I would even look at a coaching change a couple things housekeeping first thing Leafs line tomorrow because it's Friday already feels like a quick week when they play every night it's It's a fast week. So four one six four one three four one four one call the Leafs line and I mean if you're a Non-leaf fan listening to this hour and you want to call in for the national? We don't care

We'll play it call in and talk about the Oilers talk about the flames talk about the Canucks talk about the Jets We love Jets talk whatever you want to talk about call in and we'll play it tomorrow Secondly, did you guys see in the pre-game, I think it was Sean McKenzie did the feature on Benoit walking in with the briefcase? Yes. Did you end to see what happened? I just saw Luke Fox say that it's a non-electric coffee maker.

Yeah, coffee machine. Coffee machine so he can have his flat white before the game just the way he likes it. So he's carrying a coffee maker. Yeah, coffee machine coffee machine so he can have his flat white before the game Just the way he likes it. He's carrying a coffee maker. What looks like a poker chip case Yeah, I should have told Jake to pull it up for always had every once in a while a guy coming in with a briefcase I don't like full of skills comics Like I would totally Get like I love good coffee. I'm not I would never go as far as to say

I'm a coffee snob. I'm the opposite. I love a cup of coffee. I even like a crappy rink coffee any kind of coffee. I love coffee. But he's not like you're going to Carolina or to New York City. You can't find a good cup of coffee in New York City. Well, it's not that you can be walking around time. No, but like any nook and cranny of New York, you're gonna be like, oh, there's an elite coffee shop. Here's the better point. It's Madison Square Garden. Presumably, they provide a quality coffee for the guy.

It's just about routine. Yes, it is. And he wanted everybody to ask him why he's carrying a big silver briefcase wearing a pink beanie, right? These guys make a lot of money. Hey, just Haulin around a non electric flat Whatever floats your boat just get the problem with it. Just win, baby Hey, we're allowed to make fun of it. You're allowed to do it. Everyone's happy. How about it?

I love like any cup of coffee, but you know, can I tell you I recently went back from the pods to making a pot of coffee? Oh, yeah, it's way better. The pot is delightful. Yeah, it's just a very sad I didn't start drinking coffee till like after I was married. My wife got me on coffee. Okay, you're Greek You do the Greek coffee. Yeah Yeah, I always thought it was like drinking my driveway that Greek coffee. It was like I just thought it was like drinking my driveway. It's that Greek coffee. It was like tar. So hold on, so you just like, all through your playing career,

you never had a cup of coffee before a game? There are guys. Does he seem like a guy who needs energy? No, but like, the cup of coffee, I'm going to a beer league. It's a 10 o'clock game. I will have a coffee. We would get off the bus. And if there wasn't coffee already waiting,

some of the vets would lose their junk. Where is the coffee? They cannot even breathe without a coffee. Slide into an AA meeting and see what happens. You need coffee. There's some boys looking for a pick-me-up in there. Yeah. Yes, no it is it's an essential part of the lifestyle. You think the Rangers show up tonight and give the Leafs a bit of a Fight or is this? areas guys walking in He looks like a ventriloquist carrying He looks like an East Coast fisherman is what he looks like and also Jake McCabe looks like a hitman

Yeah, and he is a hitman. Yeah, they win that game yesterday and they did an interview with him Yeah, damned if he smiled Jake should be like starring in a Netflix series. Who was it that? Called The Murderer and he's the murderer and everyone knows he's the murderer and he doesn't care. Who is, I forget who I saw and said that he looks like he would man a Tommy gun in a mafia movie. That's what he looks like.

He's got that, he's got a gritty face. 100%. Oh, I love him. What are you, Sammy, in a Netflix? Like the twerp guy that like says a couple lines in a sports documentary. That's what I am. I was on Amazon.

I was literally there. Oh yeah. In there 24 seven or whatever the hell they did, my voice was in there. Yeah, I see a lot of Kramer in you. Tripping and falling and spilling. I was Kramer three to four years in a row for Halloween in high school.

Is that right? Yeah, I don't even like Seinfeld. I told you, I can see it. How do you just change your clothes a bit? I just put on like a stupid suit jacket and like a- Who are you? I'm Kramer. Yeah, it was Kramer.

Yeah, put my hair in a little thing and away we went. I see you starring in Suits Toronto. Wow. Yeah, I'll see that. Right? That's a bit nauseous. Smug, overrated. Snake of a lawyer.

You got snake lawyer written all over you. That sounds bang on. That's a lot richer than at least. All right. Just like that. We've solved nothing for the Toronto Maple Leafs this past hour. Let's see if we can spread it around in the national hour when we welcome in Doug Armstrong, president of hockey operations, general manager. He also just melts three days I'm sure in Florida with Elliott. We'll

get into that more. Don't go away!