Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Marchand Stirs the Pot

Episode Date: January 6, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to the Toronto Maple Leafs' Tuesday-night matchup against the Florida Panthers. They discuss Brad Marchand stirring the pot in his pre-game availability and how close the Leafs were to actually signing him this past offseason. Then, they chat about Brandon Carlo's return to the ice, what his presence can do for Morgan Rielly, and what a win would mean for the Leafs' postseason outlook. Later, Gord Stellick (33:31) joins the show to share his thoughts on the Leafs' standing in the competitive East, why a trade can't bail them out this season, Auston Matthews' franchise record, and much more!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Game Day edition of the Real Kipper and Born show. Toronto Maple Leafs defending Stanley Cup champions, Florida Panthers tonight at Scotia Bank Arena, take on, I think Sammy, what we call the short-handed Leafs going into this game. Glad you're aboard wherever you're watching and listening. Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 590, the fan in Toronto, or streaming always on sports app plus always available at your convenience

just as well Spotify Apple Podcasts and YouTube Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne Sammy McKee Jake the Snake Shultz Derek Brande and Ethan Gabor the Jaja man He says he got like eight messages from people calling him Jaja yesterday

so that's just his name now it sucks how that happens like that's just your name now Ethan I mean my name is Sammy this is this is the problem Ethan when you start making friends who are almost 60 years of age okay that's the problem in all of this but uh we're glad Ethan's aboard we're glad you are all aboard I got to be honest with

you guys I'm glad you're almost we're not aboard I woke up this morning and felt something I've never felt before in my life and this is this thing called vertigo yeah and it was touch and go for a while for me so usually if this the room's spinning as you can attest to in your earlier days of life. There was a reason for it. Yeah. I thought there's no reason at all that, like, I'm moving the way I'm moving right now. You're like I didn't have any tequila last night.

You know, it was about 10 years ago. Doug McLean came in and his face was busted up because he met the sidewalk on Young Street, I think. Is that right? On Bloor, Blur and Young. And it was because of vertigo. Yeah. And I probably made fun of him enough.

Oh, for sure. someone filed it. The karma gods. And the karma gods got me back today. But you actually told me about some exercises. Doug was kind enough to pass on this. Epley maneuver. Epley treatment, which I think I did it.

And it made me feel worse for a split second. But it's like recalibrating. The crystals in your inner ear. The crystals. Who knew we had crystals? Honestly, didn't. And it sounded made up like some hippie-dippy thing. But yeah, in your inner ear canals,

you have little, like, calcium crystals. And yeah, there's like a thing that for me, I had this vertigo. And when I lay down this epley maneuver, you like put your head in one position, 30 seconds this way, sit up quickly, turn it this way, whatever. And I was just like, yeah, I'm better. Like, I was messed up for like a week.

And then I did that. It was just fixed. So by chance, I just fall at any second. I want you guys just to continue. Okay. Don't worry about me. Continue. Just man down.

At least the viewers now who are watching on SportsNet will know that I'm okay. This concussion brought you by. Well, to continue with the theme of vertigo, watching Phil Myers and Simone Ben Wiggins, the Florida Panthers, Fortecke, may give me vertigo tonight. Oh, good. Tonight on Sportsnet, the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, 730 puck drop on Sportsnet, Ontario. Yours truly, Justin Bourne, Carolyn Cameron, Elliot Friedman, our pregame will start 7 o'clock,

albeit everybody's got their balance in order. It should be a fun night to at least see... Weekend at Bernie's gift tonight. At least tonight will truly, I think, get a better feel on how much of improvement that the Leafs have made as a club collectively. Of course, we're going to talk about these injuries still and the effect. But Florida is coming off what they would call their biggest win of the year against Colorado.

Yep. Will we find out tonight definitively? It's just been such a weird year for the Florida Panthers too, right? Like they got no bark of. They've been without Kachuk. They haven't been very good, all told. But they've been kept afloat by Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, and Sam Ben. Yeah.

But you're right Because there are on occasion nights We've watched Florida and go Yes, Stanley Cup champions Yes, that's the way they play That's the way they win And it was the other night against Colorado But they've also laid some big eggs

Including the last time The Lees played Florida in Florida Where we came in here the next day And said that they were somewhat unrecognizable And that the Leafs You know, that they're they were They belonged where they were in the standings Like it looked like they had run at a gas

And of course they flipped a switch down They look great But yeah For as bad as the Leafs have been all year And how much we've talked about them being awful They're two points back of the Panthers There's two points back You know it's funny though

December 2nd of this season So whatever that is Like just over a month ago The Panthers were second last In the conference and the Leafs were last Yeah And now a month later The Panthers are

One spot out of a playoff spot And the Leafs still just two points behind them So both teams been pretty good here Yeah Ticking their way up or trying to anyway there's a good luck at it now panthers in the in the spot just behind the the wild card race and yeah a whole bunch of teams waiting right there behind all right let's get head coach craig bruby's thoughts on playing the panthers tonight clip one yeah huge game obviously it's um you know

we can we can actually tie them in points tonight so move up keep moving up and it's always you know we know florida very well obviously and it's uh you know they're they're playing well i know they're too but it's going to be a tough hard game we know that and you know that seven game series last year and you know they they play a certain way and they really don't deviate from that you know they're going to come at you and in all areas of the ice tonight and there's not going to be a lot of room you got to be comfortable with that and got to be patient in our game and it comes down to compete and work tonight uh Brad Marchand is first in points, game winning goals and overtime goals against the Leaf among active players.

And Sam Bennett, who we mentioned, had five points in his first 18 games, has 26 points in his last 23 games. He actually leads the league in mutilations against the Leafs, too. Yeah. He's the top of that list. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bad time. Pissed off Bennett.

I think bad, yeah, really bad time. Worth possible time. Showcase game for him. him to play Toronto here and make his mark as someone who is unfortunately just just left on the outside. You know, I saw some quotes from Bennett where he basically said, well, he directly said that wearing the Canadian jersey at the Four Nations face off was the proudest moment of his career.

He said that recently. That's after having won two Stanley Cups and won a Con Smyth. He said wearing that Canadian jersey was the proudest moment of his career. So you don't want that. matter this matters to him yeah uh he was also holding court again as brad marshand would do because this is his favorite market to stir crap up i my boy gunner from the morning show text me today and said boy maris is so jealous now that brad marchion just stole his thunder he's the number one like marie's just come in and be like oh look at me i'm the guy that gets everybody talking and now

it's marshan just swooped that away from him he totally did So a couple of things stood out with Brad Marchand today was the comment that he made about how close he was to signing with Toronto. You want to start with there? Well, there's two big things that are in the same answer. They are. Yeah, he fired him off at the exact same time. Okay.

And the other one was directed straight to the Toronto Maple Leaf fans and Mitch Martyr. Let's have a listen. It was between Florida and Toronto. of where I was going to go. You know, and, I mean, ultimately, if I never thought that it was going to be possible to resign in Florida. I really didn't just with the guys that we had up and stuff like that. But, you know, Toronto, I was serious about what I said with where they're at. As a group, the way that they're competing now, they compete the right way,

which is what they kind of had to get over that hurdle. you know it's unfortunate the fans ran minor out of town that that kind of i mean that's a huge impact for their group you know he's a point of game player like that that that hurts so um but yeah i mean they're a great great team great organization and uh but you know once the opportunity came up this time here it was it was it was kind of no question it's where i wanted to be but um just with where we were i didn't think it was going to be able to happen He's basically talking to you and a few others, hey, about running him out of town. Ah, just, listen, like, enough, man, what more do you want from us?

Stop, stop, we're already dead. You've won the cup. You've beat us in every playoff series who've ever played. It's like, you come back here. It's just like, just not. You know, no, no, no, no. Like, just shut up. Like, God.

It's what makes him who he is. I get it. Is this stuff. Every media member down there just running over there. to get the quote that's going to piss everybody out they're just in his he's just got them all every guy's down there that wouldn't usually be down there just tweeting out these

quotes can't wait and meanwhile leaf fans are like no more like we can't like no leaf fan wants this it all it does is just put us right back in the crosshairs it takes it takes it to another level it's just enough man we know we're pathetic we know we suck

we know but now you're already the owner of the It really truly puts a label on Leaf Nation as being these cutthroat fans who run players out of town. Ah, I don't know. No, that's what he's doing. Yeah, of course. That's what he wants. Yeah.

Of course. That's another chance to take another shot for sure. It's another way to get under everyone's skin. It's even a shot at Mitch Martin. He's like, yeah, he's like a point per game player. He's been like a hundred point player for like three years in a row. Yeah. He's like, yeah, he's like a point per game guy and they ran him out of town.

It's like he chose to leave, but he's like, he chose to leave. He knows that he can just do the thing. He's so good at it, man. I don't know. You got to have the mic in his fit. What are you going to do, not ask him these questions, Sam? I also think I don't get the, like, the flirty tease that he does with Toronto where he's like, you know, almost. We almost could have had it until I married this fabulous billionaire, but he just keeps flirting.

So if you're Brad Tree living in this organization, like, that's the one where it's like you don't have to remind people that. I came in second place. Yeah. There is definitely a part where they were... That I couldn't get it over the finish line. I didn't get the job done. But it also, I'm sure if you're Brad Tree Living, you know, by all accounts,

Toronto offered them the most money by leaps and bounds. I don't know about that. No? No, because they went up to, what, six years. They took them to age 43. And there's the tax that everybody uses on. that could easily have been another million and a half. We were talking eight or nine million, though, for Brad at the time.

The number of we were talking about were crazy. We're done in the heartbeat. Well, now seeing that he's a 20 goal guy in January. But no, I was saying at the time. I don't know. I don't know if they offered him $65 million over like six years at nine. I don't know. Maybe others insiders know.

Maybe Elliott knows, but I don't know where. I think the money was comparable. I think Florida found a way to match it with the six years. Yeah. I'm just so sick of this. It's just, I'm tired, boss. Like, I can't. You sound beaten.

I am. It's just like you've won every single playoff series you've ever played against the Leafs. You troll the Leafs at every possible. And he just knows that everybody hates the Leafs and everybody gets to come in here and circle around and be like, Brad, you're the funniest. You're the funniest with your little teddy bear in the commercial. It's like enough, man. You get it. To your point a little bit with the marrying,

you got to hold someone else out there as a bit of a guinea pig to get what you want too, right? Sorry, I don't understand. Just a negotiation point. Like, was he ever really close to coming to Toronto? Oh, yeah. He just needed them like Otani needed the Blue Jays last year. Yeah, for sure.

That was two years ago. We were way past that now. Now we're signed in the cleanup hitter for the Tokyo Giants. But that to me is like, and if there's one knock, I think, against the Leafs and maybe Brad Tree Living is he needed to get off of Marchand a lot sooner than he did. I don't know how long per se he stuck with the notion that he could get him, but he needed to find out a lot earlier whether it was doable or not. And then he needed to move on. I think what Brad did too by stringing the Leaf Salonks

So long. He handcuffed him from doing other stuff? Exactly. Oh, he beat them again. He beat them in the offseason too. So not only did you not get Brad Mershan, you settled on Machelli. Don't say that.

No, you did. He went to 63 and his name starts with him. No, no, no. And as we know, he might be a serviceable NHL player, but he's not even close to doing what you hope. that another person could come in and do in a replacement for Mitch Mariner. Honestly, the fact that Machelli is wearing 63, I never even put that together.

Oh, no. And I don't think I could come out on the ice tonight if I were Machelli. Be like, I know I'm not good enough. I know that this is not what you wanted. And listen, guess what's going to happen? He's going to go out there tonight, probably scored anywhere between one and three goals. And then after the game, he's going to do it again. And he's just going to do it every time that he comes anywhere near Toronto.

He's going to, because he listens. He knows what the narratives are. He's Instagram. Like, he knows what everyone talks about. And he's going to come in here with the hottest new topic. Like, he's on the show. It's real Kipper and Marshan. This guy follows those stories.

He follows the storylines more than we do. So he's going to come in here with his little prepared statement and say his little thing again. And everyone's going to get pissed off again. And he's going to be happy because everyone thinks he's hilarious. Good for you, man. Good for you. Like, wow, you trolled the Leafs.

How original. Wow, you kicked sand. And Sammy's face. No, it's like, wow, you beat up the smallest kid at school. What an accomplishment. Good for you, Brad. Geez, give the Leafs credit. Oh, I mean, it's just so easy.

It's just such low-hanging fruit. Oh, they ran marty around town. Oh, yeah, okay. Okay. Enough. Who's the smallest kid in school? You? The Leafs.

They're the easiest person to pick on. Would you fight Marchehan if you guys were playing hockey against each other? Would I fight him? No, he beat the brakes on me. But like, if I was my equivalent in the NHL, yes. First chance of. I got. Yes.

I like it. I like it. Anyways. All right. Are we Marshand out? Yes. Steal my will to live. Yeah.

Did you, I mean, did you want to... Yeah. I was going to say. Okay. Let me one more question. Hold on. One more question. Okay.

Okay. If by chance, Marchand's a leaf, like, what's the difference? Right now? Yeah, first place? No.

Is he worth... First place is crazy. I don't think first place. I don't know. I mean, I don't know. Is you worth six extra points up until this point? I bet you is.

Because if he is. Because if he is, then you're in the ballpark, Sam, of first place. I think that's strong. Okay, I'm just asking. Yeah, I think he's a three-win player, like three wins above replacement? I know he's been good. Over the course of the season, I think he is probably a three-win player, but not half a season. No, like, they maybe have four more points.

Okay. Yeah. That's not nothing. That's not, uh, what would four more points mean? Dom Leicision just had an article in the athletic that talked with the Leaf's injury luck this year and did a lot of the players and points you'd have and whatever. and they have been unfortunate with injuries and they're probably

because of injuries short about four points but that four points you look at the standings it's like but it's just not the four points is the deep we're going to look the same as it was if what would Matthews have done or felt differently up until now if you had Bradmore sham beside him all year

well and just you also don't have some guys who aren't liabilities like you feel like the money is being used more efficiency efficiently so I don't know but I also think a six years deal to Marchand is crazy. I think there's going to be years where he looks really bad. I do.

You know, a 43 year is anyone good in the league at 41, 2, 3? You and many others, including me, thought when he was in Boston just prior to the trade, it was like, he still have it? What do you trading here for? I mean,

I think a three-year contract would have been great for Marchand. I'd have done eight, but boy, six. So I just think he's he going to not play those years he he he's the one guy that could really have truly changed the i don't know culture dna whatever you want to call it he could have changed it that's that's a that's that's real dna i agree with you guys if he's here real matthew nyes plays differently you know there's guys around like you know matthew nize has that

our shows are definitely but like you think about that mean streak that nize can show you're probably seeing that a lot more on it just loosens guys out And on any given night, there's some nights that you don't know if anyone's going to drag anybody into a fight. And he's the one guy that does almost every night, whether or not it turns into two points for Florida, is hit and miss sometimes. But he doesn't let the opposition take a night off.

Yeah. I've had conversations with myself on doing these Olympic rosters. Like, am I sure, Radmarshand, you know, at 37, He didn't look awesome at Four Nations. Yeah. You know, he played the least of any forward at Four Nations, actually. Could happen again. Am I sure that he's...

It's everything that comes with Brad Marchand about competitiveness, want, loosening guys up to go with 23 goals and 40 games. Shout out my boy, J.D. Bonkus, who on our... We should have got the audio. He legitimately said exactly what Brad Marchand was going to say when he came back here the first time and almost word for word nailed it. So, shout him out.

Very impressive show it by JD. Yeah. What do you want to go to? I don't know. You want to talk about Marcia in for 15 minutes? Well, Carlo's back, boys. Yeah. Brandon Carlo makes his return tonight from his infected ankle plateitis.

I love that they told us what happened. That's helpful. So we'll keep an eye on his ability to move and get around and all that. But hey, it helps. Can it help Morgan Riley? Yeah. I would like to know when you're trading for a guy with a steel plate and his ankle. Curious, is it like, is there a Kelly Blue Book?

on players, car fax? We've gone from no information to finding out when he first had chicken pox in grade, like, seven. Could. But like, do you have to let teams know? Did you have to throw in mitten for the plate? Like,

wait, you're in a pretty horrific fender bender at this thing. We're sure the frames align. Is there any more steel in your body while we're at it? Get the metal detector out. Yeah. So, I don't know, he's back. That helps. It helps. If he's healthy and he feels good, And he can, he's not, he's not Tannab.

But you still have Myers in, you know, even with this guy back. Otherwise, it's more and more guy. He's one of the guys you expect it to help. Solidify your decor. I looked at a lot of his career numbers. You know, he's been a solid defensive player in Boston for years. Yeah. It didn't go great with you.

No, you need 18 to 20 minutes a night on him. That would be lovely. Defending and making a good first pass and taking care of the front of the. net like that's that's what you traded for yeah let's check in on coach barubey there with clip three on brandon carlo yeah i think well he's a stability guy right and he you know and it's it's his first game back in a long time so we've got to manage his game and his minutes but he's a guy that eats minutes gets in a way you know block shots um you know all that type of

stuff he's got a good stick he's a good defensive defenseman good around his net and um penalty killer and things like that. He's a good defensive defenseman who hasn't been good defensively this year. So curious to see. And who has to come in and like... Save Morgan. Help Morgan.

Settle Morgan. Regained Morgan. Help regain confidence in Morgan. Maybe Marcheans just pissed me off so I'm in a bad mood today. But I don't love this matchup tonight, boys. No. With no McCabe and the way that...

No McCabe and no Tana have, like the type of guys who battle and ice cold morgan riley with ice cold carlo coming off the shell versus the best four check in the league and they're coming in i just i have some concerns about this game as like a standalone well not standalone but like a big atlantic division matchup that a lot of people have eyes on yeah i'm worried for the leaves tonight i think i you know kip i'm going to wind this back 20 minutes to the start of the show when you said you know like is this can this be a statement game can we learn anything from this game i think we learn a lot yeah i think you beat this Florida Panthers team tonight,

it would say a lot about how serious teams should take you. Okay. See, this is why me and you work so well, because I don't go there, I go, if they get blown out, if they, we're going to learn a lot. If they lose 5-1,

5-2, we're going to lose, we're going to learn everything we need to know from moving forward. But I'm also saying that. Like, I think, I think, you're both saying things in different ways. Yeah. A nice way in the middle. win or lose we're going to learn something and there's not some nights you go into it and it's like yeah they're missing key people there they're no good their backup goalies in we don't

so it doesn't you're not going to learn anything tonight even with injuries i think there's a chance to learn about can the leaves hang or not against the team that knows how to play and how to win tough games yeah but i do think that no McCabe is a huge loss to leaves well it's not as big as bark off or chuck but i mean you would if you looked at his on-off stats for this season you would argue that is as important. I think the last two weeks, he's been as much of a presence for me than anybody. He's, you could argue he's been their best player for a month. You could.

I just love that he doesn't, you know, he doesn't take any crap. Like, you know, after the whistles and stuff, he'll give a guy. He's an identity guy. And you got so few of them. Tonight you're going to be like, Robertson, Cowan, and Waugh is hot. And it's like, ugh. You know, doesn't quite have the same pop, but they are playing together that line. Coach did talk about him.

Do you want to hear coach on Riley or on this Robertson, Cowan, and Waugh line, which do you like? Riley? Yeah, Riley. All right, let's stick with Riley. Clip on. Yeah, obviously, you don't want to chase that number. I think you just got to, you know, he had it down pretty low there for a bit, and he's had a tough run. But we have all the confidence in them.

I think just, you know, keep it simple, play your game. Don't look at it as much as you can. Just go do your job. job like but for me my conversation is don't force things don't try to chase it like just make the plays that are there in front of you defend well and do your thing what you do offensively when you get the opportunities like you know just keep it simple so I feel like if you're going to get you say I hate that yeah I hate it too they keep it simple if you're going to try to get the most out of Morgan Riley playing with OEL try to get 60 points out of them make sure you get

the most out of his five-on-five offense where he can be the most effective. That's the strength of his game. If you're just going to say, keep it simple and don't try to do too much and whatever, you're taking away the thing he does well. I think I hate, I was a skill guy, you were in junior two, where I hate what coaches are like, hey, keep being a skill guy, but do the dump in things and the simple thing. I think, I don't think Craig's trying to fool anybody. in terms of how he views the game

and how he wants, you know, straight lines or keep it simple. I got no problem with that. I think he just goes back to it way too often. And to Sam's point, like as soon as I heard him say, keep it simple, I looked at Sam right away and is like rolling his eyes. That's what the players are doing internally.

That's 100%. And to me, nothing, nothing showed Keep it simple more than the start of the third period Against the Islanders Right, go take any chances Just flip it out

Just off the glass And he probably in the dressing room Was like hey boys We got the lead Let's keep it simple out there Let's not do anything stupid And then it's like Oh simple

But when you see it Two or three times In the first two minutes At some point Someone's got to go Boys it's not working here All we're doing is To your point

The other day It's a fancy tournament Red Rover, Red Rover, we call Matthew Schaefer over. Right. And he's coming a thousand miles an hour, right? A thousand miles an hour. And you've got to put an end to that as a coach. Like we've been on teams.

We know how coach, don't do that. Don't do that. And you go out there and you don't do it. Right. But that's not the case. Yeah. He lets them keep flipping the puck out and he lets the islanders keep coming back, a thousand miles an hour.

And it catches up to you. And there are times when, you know, throw in that, keep it in simple, throwing a fastball works. But if you don't ever throw a curveball or change up or something, the fastball is not as effective. You have to have another way of doing things so teams don't know what you're going to do sometimes. Teams certainly know what the Leafs are going to do by and large. And it's been simple. Yeah. Very simple.

Would there ever be a spot for you where, like, I mean, he's had guys that have pretty high profile guys that have. sat out of the lineup for the Leafs. I mean, I guess you can't do it now because of all the injuries on the back end. But, you know, Dolmi's been a big contributor for this team. A pretty popular guy in this market at times. He's sat out. Joshua's sat out. Like, Riley's been.

Who's next? Riley is, should Riley does not be in that conversation ever? Like Trent Frederick and Mangiopani are both sitting out for the weather tonight. Guys who make money have long-term contracts. It's like he just, he's never in that convo? I think. I just think in January, with where they are right now, it's just too late. Okay.

I agree. I think if you would have tried it, you would have. I'm pro accountability, but it's like. But telling everybody in the market, be like, we like it, we think we're comfortable with his game, we're fine with his game, while the whole fan base watches him dig four pucks out of his net. It's a bit of a disconnect again here where people are just like, are we watching the same games? I know he's trying to protect them, but.

Yeah, they are trying to protect them publicly. we need you better can you go that for we need them to be a little better i i don't know i'm sure they're having those conversations sam like to behind the scenes they are i i tend to disagree with you that at this point in his career where he's at and i say he was a he was an emotional mess at the end of last year yeah and that was part of the revisiting of i can be better i'm going to get myself from the best shape possible. Like, they've exhausted ways to try to get him back on his game, including trading for various players.

I think, I don't think going public and almost trying to guilt him publicly into playing better is going to work. Okay. I don't. So that's what they, they believe that obviously. And they're just, I don't know. I don't know. No, I agree with everything you just said.

I just feel my thinking as you're saying that. And I hate to say it out loud. It's just like our conversation yesterday about Wade Redden is like, you know, I just, I, my brain. To your point, they've exhausted all these ways and he's trying hard. And, you know, we've made light of the best shape of his life stuff. But by all accounts, he did come in in terrific shape this year. And it's like, that's not getting it there. I don't know that.

I'm worried that it is just a permanent step back. I think the next move is trying to convince him that let's find another team for you. Let's see if we can work together and get your career back to where you think it should be. And then your decor is Carlo OEL Stetcher, Benoit Myers. Well, you're going to go out there and you're going to try to find something back. And yeah, I, I. I don't know. I mean, go to your waiver wire.

Go two for two. But if it doesn't vastly improve, then the Leafs don't vastly improve. No, you're right. So what's the point? Yeah, I guess the only way I see Riley getting fixed is if you get a 1D. You get Quinn Hughes. I know, you're not getting Quinn Hughes. You know what I mean?

Like if they had a guy where Riley suddenly were second pair and he were only ozone starts and whatever, maybe you get the most out of them. I don't. How do you get those guys? you suck for five years you get one of the draft and you develop it uh joseph wall back in yeah how do we feel about that we didn't think they would do it you and me if i recall yesterday which maybe i don't well no you guys no no we we didn't think anything about what they do we just talked about what we would do what we would do i actually in retrospect like the idea of saying a wall

you're a guy you had a bad night you're still our guy this is me on the opposite of justin born right now. I want them to go back to Justin say you're not the guy and if you think you are this guy's coming on. Yeah. And I didn't like your last start and didn't like

the goals he gave up against the Islanders and this guy's coming off a great feel, half a game against Winnipeg and he's the guy that I feel like gives us the best chance to win tonight. And I'll tell you the second reason why I play

Hildeby over Joseph Wall is because the guys in the next room you're playing against I've never seen him before, okay? The guy you're playing tonight, they buried for six last time they were in Toronto. They're very comfortable going out there and finding a couple of holes in them. Hildeby, never seen them before.

Don't know anything about him. I'd throw that curveball at them tonight. You know, it occurs to me that if it's true that interrogation, Good cop, bad cop is effective. You and I would be unbelievable. We would be a hell of an interrogation to me. Don't listen to that guy.

He's mean, isn't he? That you'd suck right up to that criminal. Before we go to break? I was a criminal too one day. That's what you would tell him. You know what you're going through. I've been there. Before you go to break, it's Leif's Game Day

and score a Popeye's chicken sandwich for only $6. In classic or spicy, make it your new game day tradition. Get your $6 chicken sandwich at a Popeye's near you, fellas. All righty. Let's go. Let's get to break. All right. Go to break.

We also, we got Gord Stelich when we come back. And we also got, you've got a Kippers, you got a Blue Jay Kippers Clipper. Yeah. We're sitting on here. I got a new favorite Blue Jay. Oh, my goodness. Okay, save it. Big Oak.

Yeah, the big oak. Big baby. It's Stelotricity. When we return to Real Kippers. and Bourne. Hey, it's Ben Ennis. And I'm Brent Cunning. We got you covered on all things, Leif's, Rafters, and Blue Jays.

Every weekday morning, 6 to 9. It's the fan morning show. Sportsnet 590 The Fan and wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back to the program. Leaf Hour edition. Matt Caprio,'s Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. All right, with no further ado, Let's go to Gord Stelich.

Stelich. Analyst for Sports 7-590, the fan, former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leaps. Gordo. How are you, buddy? Gipy and Justin,

happy near. You know, that sound effect reminds me. I got a hot tub about two months ago. I had no idea I had to do about a five-grand hydro upgrade. So thanks for the sound effect.

It's got me depressed. I just saw that the money got taken out of our bank today. but anyway, we'll maybe have a hot tub party for the Stanley Cup parade. How about that sometimes? Sounds great. Who's Stanley Cup?

Anybody, anybody. So there's a movie, you know, the hot tub, right? That takes you back in time, Gord. It's called a hot tub time machine. So have you got the time machine? If you do, where are you going? Vanier, your first year as general manager, where would you go in your hot tub time machine, Gord?

Great question. well, right now it's to stay active and feels good after it. But you know what? Yeah, back when I want to go with it, I wasn't in a hot tub. So yes, I would say George Vandes Secondary School. I would say Leaf General Manager. I would say Samuels Resort. I would say

the summer camps I worked at, but no, everything, this is not a PG segment. This was all good. You know, I was kind of like a junior Ward Cleaver way back when for Leave It to People. There you go. I was hoping you'd say right to the menu of the Dante's Fiesta. Oh, my God.

You, no, you can't have glass in the hot tub, and you cannot have Dante Fiesta. Like, that would kill a hot tub. Yeah, that would be it. Yeah, anyway, you know, so Justin, honest to God, him and Darren Drager, who left for another network a while ago, they set me up when we were taking the Dante's Fiesta orders at Sports set one night that it was, like,

I thought it was a meal for one. It was like, it was like for a wedding. Okay, and I did my best, okay? And it showed on the panel that time. I had a very bloated experience, you know, kind of barely staying awake. So he has dined on that, plus the fact, I'm a slow driver forever. I've noticed, Gord, this has been a recurring feature over here. Yeah, we keep inviting you back on our show.

Go figure. Extra peppers. Gord, like, is there a chance that the Leafs could, like, be celebrating a few? Biesta tonight if they beat the Florida Panthers. Is this a signature kind of fork in the road feel for leaf fans, you know? Well, okay, so Buffalo and Nashville have taught us, you know, and Winnipeg's going through it worse than anybody right now. Like there's no miracles there, but if you get back on track, you can get back in the race.

So the way I'm looking at it, Kipper and Justin is, okay, one game does not a season make. So obviously it would be a big win. It would be a tough loss. obviously. And that's for any team. The challenge now is, the good part is, so let's see here at Woodbine Racetrack. I love going to Woodbine Racetrack. And the Toronto Maple Leafs start the season as a favorite. Like, let's call them real Kipper and Bourne. That would be a great horse. That would be a third horse. Yeah. And I would be betting on it. And you go, hey, automatic. You know, last nine races won them or placed, whatever the equivalent is. So now they're finally racing. And you go,

wow, there's Kippron Bourne out there. They got the speed. It's like the last. nine years. Wait, they're getting boxed in. They're in the rail. Move out. Move out. No, look what's in front of them. You got the Islanders. You got Florida. You got Tampa Bay. You got Montreal. You got Detroit. You got with Pittsburgh. I got nowhere to go.

I got nowhere to go. Shoot the horse. So the upside is at least they're still in the race. Because it doesn't take a loss. I don't think a lot of losses you're out of it. But that will be the challenge about this crowded cluster in front of you. least they're showing an interest that they should have been the front right now.

They should be where Detroit it is, or Washington is or Carolina is. Okay, a little bit different. So whatever, a different kind of challenge, but they're still in it. So there's a different kind of race going on in net there between Woll and Hildeby and maybe soon Stolar's at some point. Kippey's made the case that once they have all three back and healthy, they have minimal assets to flip, perhaps one of those is someone you use. where do you see this three-horse race heading as we head towards the trade deadline?

Boy, you have to flip it to Ottawa. I don't know if that's something you want to do, right? It's, you know what? The sexiness of trades has gone in Toronto, okay? It's like you gave your partner, and I'm not making it as a sexist statement or your kid, like a charge card, said, here's what you can go spend, and they spent it, and then three years later they go, I don't like any of the things I got. Well, too bad.

you did it we've lost we i used the word we lost the draft picks lost whatever like you got you got no room sexy trade is not there so so you know like like okay like sort of last time in last night washington three goals to assist they gave up a second what a second in a fifth form or second in a six form maybe that's that's the kind of role player another choice stetcher on waivers maybe that's the kind of role player so okay if they trade one of those goaltenders again you're probably talking, getting an asset back as far as a draft pick goes. And that's fine, like a layer. But that, whatever, it ain't going to make or break the season.

And Kipi, are you hearing good things on Stolars? I mean, like, you know, there's just been so many mystery around injuries, whether, you know, TANF, which you gave a lot of clarity to, Carlo, that appears optimistic right now. And then Stolars, which I've heard differing views about. But so I hope all three are healthy, but at least we got too healthy. Yeah, I think the plan is for him to still come back. And whatever, whatever treatment he's gone through has finally made him feel a little better. So I think at some point we're going to see his return.

And it will be interesting to watch the three of them and figure out who stays and who goes ultimately. Gord, got to ask you about Brad Marchand. You know, every once in a while, you go to the park and you see this old guy just feeding the birds, right, with the breadcrumbs. Right. Yeah. And it just feels like every time he comes to Toronto, he's doing the same thing. And he's the old guy on the bench. And guys like Sammy are the pigeons looking for the food.

Yeah. Yeah, because he's not feeding the birds. He's given Sammy the bird. That's what he's doing. Right? Like, I mean, like, I am hard-pressed in all seriousness with the number of teams there are nowadays. Like back in a 16-NHL, 12-team NHL, like you saw players a lot,

that Toronto Maple Leaf fans detest this guy professionally. Personally, everyone understands. He's just a phenomenal human being. So the Boston Bruins have crushed the Maple Leafs in game sevens many, many times. And Brad Marchand has been the villain, the perfect villain in all those losses.

Not the Debenaire Patrice Bergeron, the modern-day Jean-Belvo type. He's been the little Dennis the Manus bleep disturber, Eddie Haskell, whatever. I know these are old references, sorry. But anyway, whatever. I like them. So now, last year, the Leafs aren't first place in the Atlantic Division.

Hallelujah. This is going to go, whatever, going great. Boston's out of it. Bye, bye, bye, bye, Brad Marchand. You good riddance, we never have to see you again. And he comes back on maybe as good a third line. Your dad would have been with some good ones, though, with the Islanders. as good a third line, whatever,

and does it again in seven games one more time. Sammy's twitching now. And then he comes to town and he says, you know, fished Sammy in and everybody, like all the time. Like about, oh, man, all the pressure here for the players. Oh, they ran Mitchie out of town.

Oh, my goodness. All I can tell you is you guys are well connected. If I'm an NH active NHL player right now, I am saying I want that Tim Horton's gig next summer because he joined Nathan McKinnon and Sidney Crosby in it, that commercial campaign, and they are arguably as great a three, or the great three oldest players in the league right now. So that is the key. And I will buy your product.

I'll just remind you that. You know, I will support that product. Yeah. No, it's, I just can't believe McKeat takes the bait. Like, I can't believe all these people are. What are supposed to do? Youth is wasted on the young. Youth is wasted on the young.

Yes, we've all done that. We've all done that. He's beautiful. And remember with Kyle Bukoskis that he had that one, he got pissed at Kyle about something. So he did about three interviews after that, that, you know, gave him one word answers or whatever may be. I love, we need more personalities like that.

I just love it. I love, you know. Imagine me mad at Kyle Bukascus. How is that even possible? I know. I know. But that's great. So we were all in on the joke that after Kyle would ask him two questions.

Kyle even said, well, I know where this is going. Yeah, I remember that. And then they moved on. They moved on. I want to ask you, you know, you have some historical, I guess, perspective on the Maple Leafs, given you being the GM of the team and following them for as many years as you have. Austin Matthews now the all-time goal leader for the franchise. Any greater takeaways from you on what that means, if it's important, anything like that?

Justin, you know what? I'm glad you mentioned it because I think I don't, I don't think people realize how impressive. impressive it is, that you look, now Matt Sundin was the guy before, so he wasn't an original six player, but when you look at the original six teams that have that long history, right,

and the Leafs were the second best of those six after Montreal with Stanley Cup wins, whatever, that every other organization, it's Bobby Hall in Chicago, Gordy Howe in Detroit, Johnny Bucig in Boston, Rock and Richard, Montreal, whatever you want to say, that is still the leading goal score for

those organizations. So, also, Austin Matthews, you know, is a guy that he really has walked the walk since they drafted him first overall. And if he stays in Maple Leaf for the rest of his career or even just for a good chunk of time after, I don't know about team success. I hope for team success. But you could be talking about 10 years from now. Austin Matthews, career goal scorer leader for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Second is Matt Sundeen, who's 300 goals behind him.

You know what I mean? Right. Like that's almost what he can do. So it's not about personal achievements anymore. And I think Austin Matthews is on site about that. He tried to get 70, didn't happen, whatever. Obviously, team is the focus. But that really is a very impressive, remarkable accomplishment

that he should be applauded for. Gordo, great stuff, man. Kippie, Justin, I'm sitting down here. Do you guys want to buy a Peloton? I notice this Peloton. We haven't used it since COVID, whatever. You can sell it to pay your hot tub bill. Yeah, I know.

The hot tub bill, you've got to move it out. It's like 8 billion pounds. You're looking good these days. I would assume that you're on it every day. No, Lisa, Lisa, and Jesse now. She's moved to Vancouver. Honestly, go look at it. It looks dynamite, honestly.

Anyway, I'm looking good. I'm going to go hot tub now, and I'm going to continue to look good because I want to keep appearing on your show and keeping up with you guys. Can you cannonball in your hot tub? Off the deck? It would have been my last cannibal in my life, but yes.

You can do it once. Yeah, that would be it. But I'm somewhere down the road. All right, pal. See you, boys. Thanks, Gord. I appreciate it. That is Gord Stellick, former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and one of our favorites.

What am I, what are we supposed to say to Brad Marchand? You just be like, ah, he's just trying to get us fired. Can I tell you what? You're supposed to ignore it. Yeah, great. You come in here and you look at me, be like, hey, what's your take? I'm like, nothing. Nothing.

Nothing. You'd be like, well, well, that. You know, yeah. Don't care. Yeah, great. That would make for great radio. That would make for great fandom. But this isn't radio for you.

Yeah, it's not radio. It's the way you really feel. Yeah, what the problem is, is that, I'm just doing it. You just got to get the hook out of your mouth. That's all. They all go down there and they're like, what do you think about the least, Brad? What do you think about Marner, Brad? Like, they can't wait to draw it out of them.

They can't wait. They can't wait. He eats it up, too. He eats it up. Yeah. He does make it more. entertaining though yeah it's once you've won and you have the list of accomplishments he has it's so easy first ballot hall of famer doesn't have to win

another game for the rest of his career for to be one of the best Canadian players like it just gravy baby and and then it gets easier to win after that yep uh did you want to play the clip from uh our boy big oak the big oak big baby Cusa those are the nicknames of Kazuma okumato Kazuma yeah big baby he's gonna he's got two two nicknames he says they're either big oak because he's okamoto or uh or big baby which i also love he's got yeah he's got a bit of a baby is that what it is i don't know yeah but you know i'm starting to learn more about him uh guys from gate 14 put it an excellent breakdown video of like what what he's about and all his swing and everything

but this guy is a huge i don't really realize how big a deal this guy was but he's the captain of the Tokyo giants that's like being the yankees yeah yeah he's the he's the cleanup hitter for them so does he speak english he does he tried and Would you like to hear his opening statement today from the Toronto Blue Jays? Thanks him beloved. Yeah. Could you play that clip? Hello, everyone.

My name is Kazma Okamoto. Thank you very much for this opportunity. I am very happy to join Blue Jays. I will work hard every day. Yes. And do my best for the team. What do you say? A hot tub every day?

Oh. Thank you for your support. Nice meet you. Go Blue Jays Sam and I said If you were a player for the Maple Leafs And only said those things You would be beloved

Yeah honestly Mitch Martin could use Thank you for the opportunity I will work hard every day Go Blue Jays Go Leaves Thank you for the opportunity In real English is thank you for the 60 million Whatever you want to call it

He said thank you I will work hard every day Go team All I need Absolutely Oh, I love the guy. Couldn't do better than that. He's got a sweet swing, baby.

Yeah. The only thing is, all the clips I see of him playing first. Play third and first, right? Yeah, but a lot of first. You see a lot of first clips of him. So it's going to be interesting. And maybe he's not the most defensive wizard over at third, but I'm excited about it.

He's going to work hard, buddy. All right. Go, go, Jay's. Someone's going to win in overtime tonight. Think so? Yeah. That'll kind of be disappointing. It's an Eastern, same division.

I'm sick of these three-point games. I'm going to say something I'm going to regret later. I hope one team just wins outright. Give me some clarity. I'm going to regret saying that because I know. I think we're going into March with no clarity. No clarity. And everybody thinking they're still in it.

There's a drop. Like, give me the cats, meow. I actually think cats win like 6'1 tonight. I'm concerned. There's no way they lose their last playoff game 6-1 and they come back and lose 6-1 again. Game 7 with 6-1. I got a bad feeling. All right.

We'll figure it all out at around 10 p.m. Eastern, 7.30 start tonight. 7 o'clock, J.B. Umi, Carolyn Cameron and Elliott, get things rolling on Sportsnet, Ontario. Our thanks to Gord Stelich, and when we return and we go national, we've got Steve Aliquette. He's got plenty to talk about. Allmark, Chesterkin. Thank you.