Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Matching Up Against Marner and the Knights

Episode Date: January 15, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee get set for the Toronto Maple Leafs' first matchup against Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights. They discuss how Leafs fans perceive Marner, reflect on his exit, and evaluate his season so far in Vegas. Then, they share their expectations for the Leafs against their former long-time teammate. Later, Sportsnet's Luke Fox (33:37) stops by from Vegas to discuss the vibes ahead of tonight's game, how Marner's absence has impacted the Leafs' behind-the-scenes energy, and how the Golden Knights have deployed him.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.

Just like that, game day on the real Kipper and Bourne show, season five, Jake the Snake Shultz, Derek Brandeo, Nick Kippreos, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, and Ethan Jaja Gabor with you for the next two hours on our Mitch Marner hour edition of our program. Now, what are we, January, middle of January? Yeah, the 15th, I don't know if we've mentioned. mentioned Mitch Marner's name half a dozen times this year. Yeah, not a ton. Well, I mean, a lot of the analysis in the early going was, how are they different without them? We can't do that today because do you want to.

Everybody, I did your buddy J.D. Bunkus' show. And it's all. Today? Yeah, I did. Oh, wow. It's all Marner, right? Is it officially the revenge game or people are trying to build it up? or, you know.

And you're trying to tear it down. I'm not doing anything. I got the tone over here. This is the Leaf Hour edition. As far as I'm concerned, people have Leaf shows, but. Yeah. None better than ours. No.

I want to give it justice. I want to give it what it's due and what Leaf fans want. And is today the day where we go revisit everything on Mitch Marner? Or is this a day where we go? Yeah, not really. Sammy? What are your fans want? What's Leaf Nation want today out of us and Mitch Marner?

The top line above you there says real Kipper. So if you, like, I mean, if you don't think it's, you think it's important? Buddy, I go on your trends and what the kids want today and the likes and the TikToks and the thumbs up. You want to talk about it. No, you don't need validation from the kids on TikTok. buddy i like i said to you you got an air pod and are you listening he he's been out of sight out of mind right he's been out of sight out of mind so it's like good luck to you bud yeah enjoy the west coast but yeah there's some people out there but we got to look it right in the face that won't let it go

or continue to kind of and this is a big week for sure with Mitch and the leaf so and he's coming back next week here yeah which twice in nine days we'll have to do it again so So, I mean, what do we make out of tonight? Well, you know, I think it's two very different things. You know, from Mitch Marner's perspective, I'm sure he feels a lot of pressure, right? He made the decision to walk away from the Toronto Maple Leafs and to start new on the West Coast and the sunshine of the new team.

So I'm sure, you know, it's the first time welcoming everyone into his new home with his new family and he wants to show well, everyone's showered and buttoned up and lots of lots of interviews he's given one-on-ones with I think the Toronto Star and the athletic and so he's he's doing his rounds

did we send anybody out there yeah we sent I think we sent Anna do it to L.A. last night to ask him questions after the game I think it's a big deal it I just don't want to like ignore it yeah from you know and then the other side is from the Mapley's perspective you know, your lover left you

and you're starting over and rebuilding and I'm sure that, you know, they want to show that they're doing just fine too. Sammy, are there a few jilted lovers out there in Leafland still or? I really don't. Like, to your point, I think it's been really refreshing

to not talk about it every day. I think I'm surprised at the lack of talk about it, really. Like, we haven't mentioned his name a ton since the start of the year. And, you know, we mixed it in here when we were talking about the power play struggling and the penalty kill struggling.

But we never really dwell, dwelt, dwell on it. We never really dwelled on it. And I think we've kind of moved past it. But now that you're going up against the guy and there's a leaf fans here that, as you know, Kipper, and as you've talked about at length,

aren't a big fan of this guy. And I do think that this is a really mean. Maybe not even for the players. Maybe the players, it doesn't even matter as much as them as it does to the fans. But this is a game for the fans that if they weigh an egg and Marner's great, there doesn't be some pissed off people. I'm telling you.

It's a big game for a lot of fans. Oh, yes, there are some jilted lovers out there. Well, I mean, you can put it that way. Sure, jilted lovers, but this guy who was offered the biggest contract in the history of the team and decided to leave. They just playing, like, pampering with the Golden Knights at the Four Nations. Yeah, there's, yeah, if you want to call us jilted lovers. lovers, but it's always there's no reason by.

But there was also all this emotion far beyond just him leaving, right? There was always this feel of love him or hate him. More so than Tavares, more so than Willie, more so than Austin. Right? I think Willie

and him have taken the brunt of it over the years. I think Lee fans have, it's almost like political parties really. Like it depends on the type of fan that you are. Yeah. But Willie is taking a ton of criticisms. The one thing that Mitch,

Matthews is a bit above. The one thing that Mitch had more so than any other four, I guess, three, was this perception that he was the spoiled and titled player. Right? Yeah. My thing over all these years is I'm not sure where that's. stems from. I'm not sure if it was fair.

Do you want to talk about the Schedule B bonuses again? Anything you want, buddy. That's why it's open here. We're right. Let's go. But, like, right? That's where it really stemmed from. It wasn't just him leaving because people do that.

Tomaris left, you know, your home, Long Island all those years. He's perceived because of it, right? It's much differently. Nobody calls him spoiled. No, my God, what? John Tavares a long island? Oh, no, no, no, I'm talking about the fans here, right? I'm just talking about the fans.

I'm sure the Vegas fans aren't saying he's sweat. By the way, Islanders fans are loving this. They're loving this. Okay, so yes, it does. But it follows any UFA that leaves, unfortunately. Right? I mean, you got to. I don't know, you know, like, it depends how things are handled.

and I don't feel like people feel it was handled it a way that they're satisfied with here, right? Like Mitch was a huge part of it. They did make an offer to re-sign him. He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to be traded. And so I think people take some umbrage with that. They feel like he denied the team a chance to get better. It's his right to do that.

I don't think that makes you spoiled or entitled to say, no, I don't want to go. I have a no trade. But I do think that there are people who don't. like that. And then I think it also comes on the heels of the collective people falling out of love with the core for because of the playoff results and wanting someone to go and souring on the group and not believing in the group. And then towards the end, Mitch getting real short and snippy and interviews and everyone

just kind of being like, ah, someone has to go. You know? And so they were kind of down on guys. And then he didn't want to go and he didn't want to sign. And everyone just feels like they got the double birds from them. So there's frustration in that regard. Like, can I ask you a question, Kipper? We don't have to do this.

I'm here every day. I'm going through Friday. We don't have to do this every day anymore because he's gone. But like, do you in your heart of hearts feel like he did no wrong? No wrong. He didn't get the job done. But no, but like not even on the eyes. Where's the wrong, though?

Tell me where he was. You get all Jordan B. Peterson. Tell me. What does wrong really mean? So, like, what? Where is it wrong for you? The last year here was brutal. The entitlement or the spoiled or the...

I think that if at the start of the year last year was like, yeah, this is probably my last year here. You know, I'm looking to leave or whatever. Whatever he would have said in his PR way. Nobody does that, Sammy. No athlete ever does that. They literally just traded Quinn Hughes because he was probably talking about that. And they've done it with Kachuk and they've done it with lots of different play.

That happens. But that was on... management and ownership. That wasn't on Quinn Hughes. I don't want to do. Hewes would have played Marner's game all day long right to the end if he needed to.

I just, I think the reports that come out about him in the middle of a season in the Leaf's probably best chance to win the cup. They took the Stanley Cup final winners the furthest anyone did. But the report's coming out of him asking Max Petruetti about Vegas and asking,

you know, asking Ryan Reeves about Vegas and, you know, playing buddy, buddy with all the Vegas guys at the four nations and all that stuff coming out. I just, and then the tampering thing and then them getting Nick Waugh, like all this smoke and all this fire where it feels like in the biggest chance they had to win the door, him having one foot out, that's the part that kills a lot of Leaf fans. It feels like looking back on it, he had one foot out the door the whole way and the least best chance.

Well, that's fair. That's on management to figure it out. Yeah, it is. Mitch doesn't need to tell you anything because now you got a phone that gives you information. constantly. You're entitled to that information, Sammy? Well, yeah, I mean, I think the millions and millions and millions of leaf fans that care about this every day and pour their money and they're harder that try to fill the seats when they cost 500 bucks.

You can't even get them to tell you an injury in the first 35 games. Well, yeah, but that's anyway. It's funny because, like, he is entitled to not have to tell you anything and all that. I get it. He was within his rights. But it doesn't mean that people don't have to like it. I totally understand that for sure. Yeah.

Right? And there's, in the history of sport, maybe Matthew Kachuk's the first one. I've ever seen go up to a team and say, I'm not coming back next year. So do what you need to do. Yeah, and people have a lot of respect for that. Yeah. And I don't think he is near, like, hated in, in Calgary. I don't think, I think people.

Uyghur has been great. Hubert was a big part of their team. Like, they got a chance to salvage something. I don't know. I don't see the team's doing, but. I think it'll be interesting, obviously, tonight it's in Vegas. but next Friday it will be really interesting. It's going to be very, I mean, I saw your poll.

I did drop a poll. Will he get booed or will he not get booed? And people thought it was very poetic that currently 93% of people think he'll get booed. Oh, he's going to get booed. I mean, he could get booed in his own building tonight. There's a ton of leaf fans that go to these games. It's a huge, vaguest destination.

I mean, I don't know if you've seen the weather outside today, but there's a lot of people heading south. I could hear some booze in his own building. I hope they didn't travel today. How many flights? Yeah, that's true. There may be some people missing. 500 flice.

Do you want to listen to Mitch Marner? Do we have a clip from him? We have two different clips from him. Yeah, we do. We do. Let's do the first one on the matchup with the Leafs tonight. I haven't thought about it until right now. Been trying to just focus on our games,

focus on who we play in the exponent. So, yeah, I mean, I'm sharing the plane ride home. It's going to hit more of that's tomorrow night. And, yeah, I don't think I've got to look at it any different. Just look at it as another hockey game. and, you know, just try to go out there and do my thing. Okay, that's the kind of stuff that people could read between the lines going, you didn't really think about it at all up until now?

Yeah, didn't think about it at all. It's like, yeah, it's, yeah, obviously, and that's frustrating. Just say that, like, you're looking. Yeah, I've known this is coming at some point. Right. He's just trying to go with the cliche kind of standard line. You know, it's like, it's unfortunate, like, if you were, better at interviews.

If he were half as good at interviews as he was playing hockey, he'd be a lot better hockey. I probably agree with you that, you know, there's at times he's said stuff that obviously has been taken out of, you know, context. Yeah. But I think sometimes he just, he worries about saying things a little bit too much

and not trusting or letting the natural feel kind of come out. but that's okay now that he's in Vegas because it won't matter when he speaks to one or two reporters. I want to throw something in here too, which is just that because you and I have kind of established positions on Marner over the years, I have always felt like I can't praise Marner because then it's going to be like,

oh, he's the best player in the league and he's better than Matthews or whatever. And I've always been like I felt like I have had to balance the scale on the other side. Which is good. Well, it's been fun, is. But honestly, our show has been so much less toxic, no, Marna, this year. I'm glad to get back to some toxicity here.

But this guy, I mean, was such a good hockey player for the Leafs. And I think a well-liked guy, you know, by and large, I know the interviews don't always go great, but a well-like guy in the community and such an important part of a lot of very good years here, I'm not advocating for him to not get booed. I understand how he left and all that. but it is, I think it's strange.

The Leafs are worse without him, and we knew they would be. I think it's strange. I almost wish he would just, I just wish he would acknowledge that, like, that was hard. That was a tough decision. I've been thinking about this game and I knew it would come one day. Yeah. You know. I think it's going to come at the end of this career, right?

I don't want to hear it. If I'm a Vegas fan now and I just promised you $12 million here, I don't want to hear it. So he can't go down. down that path. You use the word strange. I'll use the word just sad. It's just one of the saddest things I think in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs that you have this guy who was on his way to being him in Austin, top of the mountain.

Yeah. Right? Statues and career point leaders and all of it. and coming to a complete halt and having a Toronto-born player becoming the all-time point leader or better pace than anyone in the history of the organization. Except Matthews.

Right? Yeah. Points. Yeah, no, Matthews is better point-paced in it. Don't want to do this. Whatever. Matthews and Martner. Yeah.

And for one of them to race out of, here is yeah it's it's you give me something give me another example of a guy leaving or being traded that that compares to a guy of historical proportions like that i will say what i think led us to where it is and that sadness is that it was almost taken for granted that this statues all-time point leaders cups it was going to happen for this group because in in this market when all these guys were on the team at the same time and young, they were all told it's coming for them. You guys,

this is the greatest core, you guys are going to be the best. It's all you know, and it was just, I don't want to say, handed to them, but you talk about that entitlement. It's not just Mitch. I think that whole group felt like it was going to happen. Yes. It's going to happen. One of these years.

It's going to happen. And it doesn't, you have to take it. And they never managed to take it. Correct me if I'm wrong here, though. He could have stayed. He could have stayed, Sam, but he was smart enough to go. It's been 10 years. It's been 10 years. Yeah.

And we'll never win here. We'll never win here. Okay. And that's why he left. And I can't win here. So that's what you think you'll never win? They'll never win? He made the decision, in my opinion, that this group that has had 10 years will never get it over the finish.

line as is. And if I have to be the sacrificial lamb, I'll do it, right? You guys all been screaming for somebody to leave. Oh, yeah. What a harder. Oh, my God. You want, you want somebody to leave? I'm leaving.

I'll say this is a guy that looked at the grass being greener. Where would you rather of him, signed $12 or $13 million, be in last place at Christmas, and Sammy, you would have plugged your nose every day. not just the one time when I told you that he'd signed for 12 million a year. You'd be plugging your nose every day. I guess I want Mitch Marner to, like you said, be from the area and not be like, we'll never win here. I would like him to be a Toronto-born guy that's like,

I'd love to try to win here and take the biggest contract that's ever been offered to a Toronto Maple Leaf and be in my hometown and try to win and keep kicking the kid. Why don't care what I say? Because he shouldn't care about me. Like, he shouldn't care about us. Yeah, I know. but it goes much further than that too, right? Because it got personal for him.

It got personal for his wife and his kid. And it got real personal, Sam. Yeah. It got, you know, people at his front door. Security and police. It's like, that's not that normal. That's not the way it should be. Listen, I'm not going to comment on it.

Right. I don't want to get into that part of it. But, you know. So, you know, and he could have got $13 million, $14, $14,000. million here. He's like, no, it's just, I've had enough. That hurts people too. And so can we turn the page to him in Vegas now and how, you know, what I think he saw as a chance to get away from that, the noise, the people, the interviews, the whatever, and to go somewhere where a team

is already built and having success in a warm climate. And it's going to be, you know, glitz and glamour and no pressure and success and all these other things. And I think it's, It's been hard so far. And I don't know how it's going to go long term. They still have lots of great players and they're competitive and they could add at the deadline and this could be the year. But, you know, I don't think it's gone how he thought it would go in Vegas so far this year. He's played with seven players for over 60 minutes each. He's playing, you know, ice time is down, points are down, goals are down.

He's not even on the first line. Yeah, like he's playing the softer competition, all heavy ozone starts, like things he didn't do here. And he's just less important there. And not because he's any worse a player. There's just other very good players. And I think I understand Mitch after years of following him. And I think he likes to be important and to feel important and to feel like it's part of his thing. And so you're there and you don't know people and you're the new guy on the team and you're not as important in the lineup.

And I, you know, maybe it'll get back to how it was for him. but I think so far it's not been... I didn't watch the game last night, but I checked and it was like 16... 16 and a half last night. And a half minutes, right? Dash 1 and... He had to have been hurt to play 16 and a half minutes

for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yeah, I mean, he was playing 20... He was usually near in the top 5 and forward ice time in the league when he was here. And he's still playing 20 minutes at night. He's not not being used. But... But, I mean, we all read the Jonas piece,

and I wouldn't say it pain. painted the rosiest picture. I'm not sure. Like, I don't think it was unfair. A lot of the stuff that Jonas are not saying that. But just, you know, like, you know, he's FaceTiming his friends every Sunday morning like trying to figure out trips when they're going to come down and visit him. Like, he had it all.

He was the star player of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He didn't have. He wasn't happy. He didn't have. But is he happy now? Like, I don't know. Maybe he will be, right? That's part of the building towards something.

Well, hold on, hold on. To sit there and say after 40 games, he's not happy. I'm not saying he's it. I ask him if he is. I don't know. I think there's a process that he's going to have to just go through and it may never get to the point where, you know, you're the top guy there.

Now with Eichl and Stone there. And these guys have won Stanley Cups. Yeah. They're trying to. Mitch is looking at them going, okay, what's the secret sauce here? Because I didn't see it in Toronto. So he may have to play second banana here for a little while.

But at this point of his career With now no worry about contracts or anything The only thing left for him to do Is just be part of a championship team It's not to pad stats here Or Look like a first team all-star At least that would

That's what I would think He would be thinking after 10 years Well it's what I would be thinking If I were him I would be all right Done tons of great stuff on my own And you know Made the Olympic team and all sorts of personal

accolades, but yeah, you would be thinking it's go time as a team. Sportsnet.com.ca had an article on him today. Did you read it? Adam Viggan. Yeah, Vingen. So all his numbers, J.B., are very consistent with those of in Toronto. Like, he was raving on his, his play with how dangerous he still is. And how to

I don't know I don't know how much down They are though I mean some Right yeah So he's still very consistent on When he's on the ice He still looks a lot like

The player that he was in Toronto His 5 on 5 numbers in particular are similar to last year Now last year was not great in Toronto in general The team struggled They had their best years were like 21 And he's not playing with awesome Martin Matthews, right? Totally.

And everybody's saying, okay, Austin's missing Mitch, but like, come on, Riley Smith back again. I don't know. Healthy scratch, six times, eight times, ten times this year. And then what's the other kid there? Dorofaev. Dorofaev? Yeah.

Right? Pretty good guy on a power play. He's got some talent, but I don't think five on five. He's been very good at all. So it's a downgrade. His second line is a tremendous. this downgrade from again what he's been used to in Toronto.

Right, but for them, that's, you know, you're getting an engine. You drive that line. You pay the money to say, hey, pick up a couple of guys and keep us moving. And again, still on a pace for 85, 90 points. It's not 100, but it's not 70. He's on pace for 20 goals and he had a 35 goal season here, you know, and it's, I think 85 points is to pay her 86 or something like that. You're right. He's still doing well.

And his defensive numbers are excellent. Like he is a very valuable player. He is earning his paycheck there. No doubt about it. It's just, you know, it's hard all over. And let's face it, you look at the Leafs. Dakota Josh was not playing. That's not helping.

But Matthias Machelli was scratched nine times. And who else they spend the money on? Are they got Nick Waugh? Who, yeah, he's been good. He's been what you thought you were getting. We kind of buried the lead. Wah revenge game. Nick Waugh, he led the team out today.

Got a hot lamp, apparently. Why back home? Did they go to bed early last night? Yeah, they were out in Vegas, weren't they? I mean, I got to tell you, I can't have an egg tonight. Aren't you more worried about the Toronto one in Toronto? No. No, I'm extremely worried about both.

Oh, okay. And especially tonight where they flew from Utah, right, where they flew in right after the game straight to Vegas. So they had a full day off and night off in Cincinnati. City, which, I mean, played guilty tonight. I just hope that they look good, because that piece of information is,

if they look bad, I'm telling you, it'll run a little wild at that. But I, I just want them. Utah to Vegas, they're probably there before midnight. They could have been at that night, too. I didn't even take it that. To Sammy's point, I think we will learn a lot more about

this team tonight. And I wish they came in with better momentum than the stinker against Utah. Yeah, they just came off with 10-point game point streak. Which is fine, which is fine. But they cannot spend a week and a half to straighten things out again. They need 48 hours to straighten things out. Yeah.

And that was the problem before Christmas is that everybody's like, okay, when are we going to, when do they turn it around? And they need a week, week and a half, two weeks. They play a good game. They need another week and a half to straighten things out. and then now we go from an unbelievable game against Colorado, a really bad game that kind of looked a lot like games before Christmas, and then what do we see tonight?

Yeah. I do think that they were looking ahead to this game, you know, patting themselves on the back for Colorado, looking ahead to Vegas, took a couple punches from Utah and the car washing the way through. What do you expect from the Leafs players tonight? Like in terms of... I think they're going to pretend they don't care.

I think it's going to look a lot like just any other game. That sucks. I totally agree with him. What do you do, Sam, run them, fight him. Like, he's, he doesn't take contact. No, there's no mad at him. There's no, you know, nothing. Did you see him get mad in 10 years here, nine years here?

Well, this is a different situation. This is the guy that chose up and packed up and left to leave. Like, I want them to not like him. The potential person, like, who could not like Mitch? McCabe could put on a mean face. Uh-huh. Somebody going to run them? I'd love it.

Who? I don't love it too. But I just... What if Nick Waugh chases of around? If it happened, it wouldn't be because we expected it. We'd be like surprised by it. Yeah. Right?

There's nothing to J.B.'s point that has shown us in the past that this is the type of behavior that we can be looking at. Now, give me the Florida Panthers and we'll have a different conversation. Here's the one thing I don't want. I don't want. Butsy little winks and smiles. That's going to happen. After the whistle, the inscrums.

100%. I don't. And God, I was so guilty that as a player. But I don't want that. I don't want, it's one thing to not make a big deal about it. It's another thing to like, we're not just having fun. It's shiny out here.

We got an Austin Matthews clip on martyr. Do we get any sense of that? Or? We get a sense. I haven't heard it. Mitch, he's, he's, We know he's a great player. We know what he can do out there.

Mitchie? Did he go Mitchie? On facing murder? Which one? Let's play the first one. On facing Marner. Cliff one. Yeah, I mean, it'll obviously, you know, be a little bit different.

But in the end of the day, it's the hockey game. It's a good team on the other side. And, you know, we're looking to get back on track ourselves. So it's an important one. No mention. No, no, not even no mention. Like, went out of his way to a. Avoid Mitchie.

And then... That's a good sign. But then the second question. How about Matthews Clip? A great sign. Matthew's clip too. Yeah, we definitely keep in touch a pretty decent amount. I mean, like I said,

during the year, you know, he's always going to be a really close friend. He's a great person. So, you know, we definitely keep in touch. And, you know, it's kind of tough with the schedule and stuff like that. But obviously, it's going to be fun playing against him. I'm okay with that. I'm all right. Again, I just didn't want to hear Mitchie at Austin Matthew's mouth.

No. No. Our captains growing up. Could you guys imagine the show we would do if those two just shed them and just had a center ice bite? There is nothing like... It would shut down our show, I think.

There is not... They escalated quickly. Anything that would really... Like, if Austin Matthews ran Mitch Martyr tonight, the amount he would go up... American ESPN Sports Center, we're talking, might lead with that. I don't know.

This big coaching cycle in the NFL. It would be. a pillow fight. Oh yeah, no. Well, we saw the last time that Matt's... Unbangerous. Remember when he fought Stamcoast? The first ever fight between two six goals players?

Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, I guess we kind of... I don't know if you guys have anything else to add. No. Kippa wrote about Wall today. I did. You write about Mitch.

That was truly cowardly on your part. Come on. The biggest game, he's like, oh, Joseph Wall's got to be the starter. The guy's gone. Come on. What was the last? Last time you watched a 10 o'clock game.

He's out. He might as well be on another planet. I watched the first period of two. I watched the first period of a lot of 10 o'clock games. I'm exhausted right now. 9.30 tonight. 9.30 tonight. Puck drop at 9.30?

Yeah. Oh, thank God. Yeah. I could use the extra half hour. I can make it. It's Friday. It's Friday tomorrow. So it's fine.

I did write in the Toronto Starboat Joseph Hall. Yeah. Yeah. Is he ready? Is he ready? Is he ready? Is this the year that? that he, that's his net and no one's taken away from me.

You know, is anything changed with him or who we think he is? Or like we know he's a great goaltender? I don't know. I don't, I'll just say this. He's one of those guys now who you love him and think he's great. You're just not sure he's going to be there the next day. Does he need to play Vegas tonight like he did Colorado for the Leafs to win? Probably.

I was looking at the stats. the like sport logic each team up against each other Vegas is like elite they're the best defensive team in the NHL their offense is probably top five Leafs they can't get the same yeah they can't get to say so that's where Leafs totally dominate out goal 10 them tonight what a plan that's a big deal that's a big deal yeah I mean they have at least have some good players who can play them pretty one position that can earn your two points it's going it's moving in the right direction for sure Sam the year total numbers are not pretty no They're not.

But, I mean, what do they look like post Christmas? Better. Yeah. Better. Particularly when the game is tied or within one, which is really all you should care about. All right. Let's go.

Yeah. So, like, let me get this straight. Yeah. I don't write about Mitch Marner. You give me heat. If I came in with my Toronto Star article today on Mitch Marner, you give me heat. You tell me how I win.

You're screwed. Totally screwed. For the record, I don't actually. think you were cowardly at all. You've done your part on the Marner front. I would have liked to go on the Piss me off. I'm a bad mood today. Snowstorm, golf seasons far away.

Marner coming in here. Oh, I don't even think of a... I never even thought about this hockey game. We hockey? What's hockey? God. No Tucker signing yet for the Jays. We'll save our thoughts.

I'll do sports that today and we can talk about Tucker tomorrow. Okay, we'll take a quick break. Do we have Luke Fox? Vegas. He's there. Oh, a scene setter. You got it. With our very own Sportsnet.com. Luke Fox coming up next on the Real Kipper and Boran show. Hey, it's Ben Annes. And I'm Brent Cunning. We got you covered on all things, Leifes, 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. Nickyprio's, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. Top of the hour. We're going to welcome in Steve Aliquette, usually on Tuesdays, but there was a little scheduling going on. Wednesday this week. Sorry? Thursday this week.

Always day. What's today? Wednesday? Thursday, bye. What did I say? Who's on first? It's the late starts. Listen, we're all hot and bought.

We haven't argued about Martin in a while. We're all hot and bothered. I've been dreading that since September, so it feels good to put that first block behind us. I loved it. Just wanted to mention Steve Valacette. Valley will be here. That's it. And we'll talk about it.

about Joseph Wall with him, amongst other things. In the meantime, let's go to Vegas, where Joseph Wall will be staring down Mitch Marner tonight, and our very own Luke Fox will be there watching every bit of it. Look at that backdrop. Look at you, eh? Cool. You look like you just won $100 on roulette.

I heard it's a little bit snowy back home. Oh, beat it. Gas grab beat it. But you know what? Tomorrow I wake up and fly to Winnipeg. Oh, that's karma right there. We're really happy. So are Luke Fox,

but how does it feel for you? You've covered a million of these hockey games, but tonight is Mitch Marner's, the first one since leaving. Is there a different feel, a vibe? More media, less media, like what's going on that we can't see? Yeah, a couple more media than would normally turn up.

But, you know, it's really fallen, I think in Martin's favor, the fact that both of his games against his former team come on the second half of a back-to-back. So the Vegas Golden Knights are doing zero media today, not even pregame. So, you know, all the questions will have to wait until after the game. But the Maple Leaf's players were kind of really going out of their way to make this not a story. I don't know how good they're going to be able, successful they are going to be to do that. But, you know, Morgan Riley said, ah, it's just another game, really. And Tavares was saying, oh, we played against former players all the time. But Marner's different, right?

You know, he was supposed to be part of the group that won, what, one, two, three championships. Like, there was so much promise packed into him as part of the core. and his departure is kind of a signal that it didn't work. And, you know, that leaves a taste with fans. It leaves, you know, I'm sure something Marner thinks about, even though he's downplaying it too. And, you know, you'd like to see the Leafs, A, to get their points because they need them, but also just to prove a point that, hey, we can, we're a good team without you,

and we can beat a good team. And they also have the advantage of catching the Golden Knights tired because they played in L.A. last night. Yeah, that is certainly one of the advantages they have going for them. I want to get your thoughts. Just you're around the team all year long. And when you ask people questions about this Marner stuff, everyone's doing a PR spin thing.

No one is like, let me mask off, tell you how I really feel. How do you feel Marner's absence within the group? I know he was a pretty upbeat, talkative guy around there. Is that one of the ways? Are there other ways that you feel his absence? Yeah, he was a big voice in the room. You know, Matthews was talking about it today, about how he kept things light.

He had, you know, he ran the music. He was, he threw a lot of team parties. Like, he was a guy behind the scenes. And I think it's been an adjustment. And I think what really hurt that adjustment in the early going, like the intangibles, the stuff most of us don't see, was Scott Lawton's injury. And the vibes around this team,

now that Scott Lawton is back and involved, there's this new tradition they started just this morning. You know, lots of teams will have a guy go in the middle if it's a big revenge game and lead the morning stretch. So they had Nick Waude do that. But now what started is a hot lap. And the guys are slamming their sticks and they're hollering and chirping. There's just more energy around the group.

It was taking a long time. It was Nick Waugh, you said? Yeah, well, they made Lotton do that in Philly, and then Nick Waugh did that this morning. And there's just like a joy about the team. And I think they stumbled to try and figure out who was going to be that guy after Marner left. And Scott's really stepped up in that regard.

I'm just joking, by the way, Nick Wock is. Anyone else in your mind has that potential to be a bit of a glue guy and outside of a Lotton? Like is it is it basically a job or a title that's open for for the grabbing? Yeah, I mean, I think Domi a little bit like that. But there's other guys that are blue guys in different ways like that Jake McCabe's highly respected, but he's a serious cat, man. Like he is, you know, he's not the biggest joker.

So like he has it in different ways. But in terms of lightning the mood, Lawton's leading the charge. I think Troy Stetcher, crazy as it is, because he was a waiver pickup, has kind of really become one of the guys really quickly. He's very vocal. He's right in the mix already. So just having a bit of a different mix. I think it took them a while to find their identity on the ice, but off the ice as well.

And we're really seeing the fruits of it, you know, up up until that egg they laid in Utah. What is the sense you get from? Martin's time in Vegas so far how he's playing, how he's liking it, how his team is liking his addition. Yeah, he's not used as much, right? Like before he was, you wouldn't even question that he wouldn't be on P.P.1, PK1, first guy over the boards, anytime there's three on three over time. So his usage is different, but he's still getting his points.

I think he's around a point per game. Really fascinating that he's playing seven. now. He's not good at face-offs. He never practiced them hardly ever as a leaf. And I think he's like 38 percent. But he's so defensively aware. He's so smart. You know, they had him playing defense for a while in Toronto, right? So he definitely can adapt to that. But it's just fascinating that he had this years and years in Toronto and they never really tried him up the middle. I asked Craig Barube this morning actually, like how seriously you consider it. He said, we had some long conversations about it last year when Matthews was hurt, like should we try this?

And he wanted him to like, okay, but you got to get good at your face-offs. And, you know, I don't think he, and Martyr said he was up for trying center, but I didn't see him working on his face-offs a lot. So I don't know. It's just interesting how a different coach will use a guy in different ways. Luke, you mentioned the egg late in Utah, and we had a pretty healthy conversation on scheduled losses. but how important is it tonight that they come back

and look like the team after Christmas and not the team before Christmas in Utah? Yeah, massive, Nick. Like, you get one. I think the coach was giving them a bit of a pass. I think the guys kind of understood right from the jump that they didn't have half the legs that the mammoth had. They took it to them.

And it's like, okay, a lot of travel, big win against the avalanche. You made your statement. We've been rolling. I think it was nine games in a row with at least a point. We'll give you the one. It's kind of the sense that I got from Craig Brubet and even the guys weren't too hard on each other.

Hildeby was the only one really kind of taking it hard. But you can't come back and give an effort like that. You're the rested team. This is a big game. And you can't let it slip. You had such a good thing going in Denver and up until that point. that you got to slam the gas.

And there was good energy this morning. I think they'll be up for this one. Sinbind.Vegas is a Twitter follow. One of the accounts to you, I follow for my Vegas news. And they're saying that Aden Hill has been removed from IR, indicating he'll play tonight. Carter Hart and Brandon Saad have been placed on IR.

So getting Aden Hill, the goaltending there been a bit of a mess. And Carter Hart hasn't been exactly what they hoped, has he, Luke? No, well, it's a lot of time off, right? Yeah. So, and I mean, we see it with every team. Think of all the teams that have used three or four goalies.

It becomes, it's become a real precarious position, I think, in the league. There's just not enough dependable workhorse goalies to go around. But, you know, they took a chance, and they took their beating in the PR game by signing them. And in doing that, you hope that he's a difference maker. And, you know, we'll see, right? He's going to be judged like the knights are going to be judged. And that's in the playoff time. It's not right now.

Luke, red number four on the roulette table. That's what you got to play. Okay. That's your lucky one? Yep. Yeah? All right. All right.

And we split it when you win. Are you putting up the money for the bet? Well, yeah. We'll talk offline. How much are I putting on for you? Might get you to place a bet. That might be fun. Send to the high state's back rat table for me.

Let's group e-transfer, Luke, a bet. Enjoy the game tonight, Luke. Okay, have a good one, guys. Thanks, I appreciate it. That's our very own Luke Fox, Sportsnet.com. You know, I played in East Coast League when Vegas had a team. Their home record, I think, was 47 and 0. Like, you know.

Didn't you tell me you played, like, midnight games? Yeah, they have a midnight game a couple times a year, I think, in Vegas. It's like, there's no hours, right? It's just whatever. We can get in there late some nights, and it's like, it doesn't close. You just, where do you want to go? So it would start, where was this rank? in the Orleans Hotel

where we would stay. We stayed in the hotel with a rink in it. It's off strip. Boy, was it at... How many seats? Not bad. Honestly, I have probably 5, 6,000.

Like, you know, like a ECHL size arena. Was it like on the old part of Vegas? Yeah. They want more in your old... You must have got... Locals, buddy. It was fine. It wasn't pretty.

All the pit bosses are going around the tables going, I can't copy a dinner. But here's two tickets. Yeah, oh, totally. Yeah, there's, tickets are a massive giveaway there, I think. I will say. Went to your hotel room. I don't know how many years ago it was that I went to Vegas,

maybe two years ago now, three years ago. And Allie and I were lucky enough to get tickets. We went, we sat in the lower bowl, we went to the, they played Pittsburgh. It is the greatest in-game experience I've ever. Yeah, they put on a show. It's truly electric. Like the pre-game show and the arena experience, like it's 10.

Do you get away with cheesiness there? That's the key. Yeah, totally. You're right. It is corny, but it's Vegas, so everybody is expected to be corny. But it just, you know, I bought a Vegas Golden Knights hat. I was, I liked the Golden Knights because now it's all the arena seats. It's $9,500.

$9,500. You want to go once or twice a year to Vegas. That's cool. You give me season tickets there and I got to watch that for 40 games. What do you mean? Oh, like the in-game experience. Yes. You'd be getting there at 7-12 instead of $4.45.

Enough already. It's funny that we're like totally okay with like the cornyness with Vegas and everyone's like the gold jerseys glitz. It's it's okay. It is okay, but the jersey stink. The jersey sucks. You could have done some crazy cool jerseys with Vegas and gold and silver and whatever you wanted to do. I actually had... What about red?

I had such a nice gold knight's hat, but I had to put it on the street as soon as Martin signed there. I had to put it on the street. It was so nice. It was like a rope hat with glitzy Vegas gold. It was awesome. I had to get rid of it. on jerseys on this show. Hey, it's an important part of the game.

The Nordiques ones, the other nights were fantastic. I know Sam feels... I don't think they're that great. I don't think they're that great. I think it's really refreshing to see a nice, bright color. For sure. The color is nice, but I don't know. The flirt with Lee, the whole, like...

What is the logo? It's an elephant? I don't know what it is. I honestly for years, we should just Google it. I'm sure it's an answer, but... So Luke brought it up there. I guess Brubik, get your thoughts, so that him never playing center here.

And him playing center. Like, are they going to face off at the opening dot tonight, Marner and Matthews? Maybe. That'd be kind of cool. I think you've been somewhat validated by a coach finally doing it. Because you're like, hey, could we try this? Like a distributor out of the middle?

You said it for years. At the very beginning. Yeah. Willie or, Tammy, how would you have felt with Matthews and Marner? One two punch down the middle. A lot better than Willie and Matthews, one two punch down the middle. You know that and why Marner was always the better candidate is the defense of conscience.

You know, like Anderson doesn't have to be great a face-offs. Not that big a deal. Yeah. You know what hurts 38%? 30% is below. Cool. Yeah, below. You know, what's really going to hurt Vegas now is that William Carlson.

He's a good player. He drives the play well. And may not be back this year. Is that right? Really? Yeah. You know, you know what bothers me most about not trying Mitch at center or Willie at center is that Mitch.

is that Mitch and Willie never got a chance to see if they could have anything consistent in terms of chemistry. Like maybe they could have worked a little give and go here and there. We just never got the chance to find out. They're kind of the two of the four guys who both dish and shoot are capable of doing both anyway.

So too bad. And both of your heart of hearts, do you think Warner lights it up tonight? Yes. I think he does. No. No. What's light up?

Like three points. Like, I think, 22 minutes. Like, he's going to have his best game of this season. It's not trending that way for the team right now. He could end up with one and one. But it's not,

it's not flowing that way for, for him in Vegas right now. And I don't know, does he play 20 minutes tonight? Or is he more closer to last night? I bet you they do. They go 22 minutes tonight? I think they get it.

Like Bruce Cassidy gets. I do too. And I really love the way that Matthews has been playing recently, clearly he's been excellent. Actually funny if he goes up against Mitch, center on center. And even in that crappy mammoth game that not a lot of Lee fans finished, he was excellent all the way through that game. Having him playing like this, going up against that,

I'm expecting a big night from the Leafs County, too. I got to see Eichel and Stone against Matthews. There's no way Cassidy doesn't go with that matchup, in my opinion. No, you're right. He will, he will. And it's nice that Stone. I mean, I think there's a lot of people that kind of... Marner versus Tavares?

Maybe. But a lot of people are questioning... Oh, like that for the Leafs. Questioning Stone on the Olympic team, and he's one of the hottest. Oh, he's been fantastic. He's got nine-point game... Nine game point street going right now. He's been on fire school the overtime winner last night, so...

We had the big debate on our broadcast last night of the Sends. Like, who should replace Point. And four different cases were made for Wyatt Johnston. I did Sam Bennett, Connor Bedard. was made. I think I threw it with Seth Jarvis, but do you have any sense for I'm leaning towards Bennett? That's who I made the case for?

Yeah. I don't know, man. I don't know if he's going to get the nod. Got to be right. Left and rights matter. Connor Bedard? Has to be Bennett. Has to be Bennett. If it's not Bennett, we riot. How close of a game tonight, guys. Are we going to see something like Colorado? It's going to be a great. Leaves in Colorado.

Close game. Close game. Good game. Maybe overtime. Every game goes, So O.T. winner, Mitch Mark. We are certainly looking forward to it as much as you are. And we're right back here tomorrow and off the rails Friday. Let's talk all about it on a Leaf Hour edition. Our thanks to Luke Fox. Coming up next, Steve Aliquette, analyst with the New York Rangers.

What is going on there? We'll ask him about that. Joseph Wall. What else is going on out there? I asked him to look at some of martyrs. So ask him about martyrs too. So ask him about martyrs too. Don't go away.

It's more. as we go national on the real Kipper and Bourne show.