Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Must-Lose vs. Florida

Episode Date: April 10, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Toronto Maple Leafs' 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders. They discuss the busy debut for Artur Akhtyamov, Luke Haymes' first impressions in the lineup, and the Leafs' standing in their race for a bottom-five finish. Then, they discuss Mike Gillis reportedly getting a second interview in Toronto and what a potential Gillis/Sunny Mehta front-office pairing would look like. Later, they open the Leafs Line to take your calls and questions ahead of a critical must-lose game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday.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.

All right, let's get her going. Friday. Off the rails Friday. You know what's better than Friday? And we love Friday. 6 p.m. Friday. But that's two hours from now. But in the meantime.

Your mic is not on. Okay, are we having mic issues? Are we good? I will take the fall there. I was saying something to him about. if I can turn my mic on and off during the segment, and he was talking to me, and then your mic wasn't working.

So I'll take the fall on that one. All right. Final weekend of the regular season. We're happy here with us for the next two hours. We promise you we will solve nothing, but hopefully make you smile a little bit, wherever you are watching and listening. SportsNet 360, 590, the fan in Toronto,

streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. Also available, Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube. Nick Kiprios, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, Frank the Tank, Barasca, Derek Brandale. Oh, man. Yeah, we're all set.

We're good. We're good to go. And I promise we'll all be incredibly focused with Masters Friday on our TV in here. Rory McElroy, leading the Masters by two, just burn the edge to go to 8 under, looking pretty solid out there. We'll be dialed in the whole time.

Fun Friday? No more golf. Fun Friday. the leaf line, which Sammy is plugged. And you did it for the first time. You actually gave, like, listeners 24 hours had noticed. No, I think I've done that the last couple times.

Yeah, I've set my... I have a timer on my phone, so I've said it a couple times. And Sam said we have a good number if you see on the back. We have a lot of names. 14 or 15 different people that are. Everyone has a name today, too. Yeah. People are getting the memo.

Top of the hour, Doug McLean for his regularly scheduled Friday, where he'll just absolutely put us all in the ditch at some point. In the meantime, Leafs do what they're supposed to do and lose, I guess, right? Jay-B, this is something that you've been talking about since January. Yeah. But it looks like the light switch kind of went off a little bit. It went off.

It went off. That was, boy, that first period was, I don't even really know what to say. That was the 25th time, or, the fifth time that the Leafs have been outshot by 25 or more shots this year, which is an insane amount of games to get outshot by 25 once in a season is insane. Yeah, I'd do that. Yes. They're the only NHL team this season to be outshot by 20 in two separate periods this year,

also in the third period on November 9th against the hurricanes. And that first period was, was it, was what, 24 to 3 in shots or something? It was an absolute beatdown. Poor Arter Akhtyamov gets his NHL debut and they just hung him out to drop. Double A-39 saves in his first NHL start. And listen, we all can remember our first NHL game and you're looking around and you're like, is this real surreal? What am I absorbing? What am I?

And I'm sure it was no different for him last night in the island. it's just, there's only one chance to get your first game in. Yeah. And although he got shelled a little bit on the shock clock, as you guys just mentioned, that's been a great feeling for him. Yeah, I guess. You know, it's tough, right? Like, the goals he gave up in many cases, he made a save,

and then they couldn't clear the rebound out, they couldn't clear bodies out. Like, I wonder if there's also some frustration like, okay, I get I'm not an NHL goalie yet, but like a little help here I gotta tell you I thought you looked fantastic I was super impressed What does fantastic mean that you could definitely see

signs of great potential a good future or someone that could actually play in the national hockey league come September October I'm not Steve Alicat I'm no goalie expert I just thought a kid that got zero support in front of him was like I think Craig Brubes said it yesterday he looked agile he was squared a pie

He was flying around in there. Good reflexes. Puck hit him a lot. I thought he looked good. I don't know. I'm not going to make any determination off his first NHL start saying he's going to be a full-time NHLer, but he looked good. I think that's the biggest conclusion is you can't learn anything from that sort of performance. Okay.

Let's go to head coach Craig Bruby on his thoughts on AA. Yeah, he was good. I mean, first period, he had a lot of action, you know. We knew that coming into the first period, they're going to come hard and they did. And I thought he really stood his ground and held this in there. I love that. He's making it seem that a 23 to 4 or 24 to 3 shot clock is because the new coach bump. It's like, we knew they were going to really pour it on in the first.

And that's the only reason we got out shot by 21. Yeah. And setting a franchise record. Yeah. Yeah. Franchise record. They know, I mean, look, last night was the first game where I'm, I felt like everyone was, okay, this thing is over.

Like, even for... Full quit. Yeah, like, they are, their coach wants them to work and wants to do the right things. It looked like the first game where they were like, we'll see you in the summer. If I'm here next year, we'll talk. Can I ask you a question, both of you guys?

What do you think Craig Barubei said in the first intermission? Like, how can he go in there when everybody knows where they're at? Everybody knows what's going on in the scene? What did he say? Like, what could he say? Nothing? Yeah. Just don't even go in there?

Maybe not. Honestly, I think he'd be a pro and just have that. I bet you his approach going into that period would have been no different than what he did in November or December, January. He's just, it would have been, guys, this is what we need to do. This is what I'd like to see. Got to break pucks out, better protect double A. I bet you's not protecting the goalie. That's what I would have anticipated, Sammy.

Okay, good answer. even though the writing may be on the wall, you got to be a pro. And Craig Brewy has never not been a pro. At times, I think it's been a little frustrating for him, especially with the, are we on the same page? Where's the disconnect between Brad and what the information I'm receiving and what I'm sharing publicly and what you just shared publicly

doesn't jive? but, you know, that's our issue. But he's always been a pro. Yeah, absolutely. I think it's been a hard year for him. And to your point, a lot of the frustrations, it doesn't feel like they can say he's gone in front of the microphone a number of times this year and it kind of feels like he's not allowed to say,

this is, this guy's not trying hard or the GM won't let me do this or whatever. So it's been a tough year for him. Luke Hames? Oh, yeah. I mean, what'd you think? I thought, good. Good, I thought, you know, good pace, good effort, you know, turned a puck over that resulted in a goal, had an assist.

Yeah. Good. Would I like to see more of these opportunities down the stretch here. Yeah. You know, like I just, I thought that he looked like a guy that could, you know, just. Not the biggest guy. No. Is he not big?

I didn't get a sense of he was big. I mean, he. You're asking me. Yeah. I just, I don't think there's a ton there. He's 6-1-203. I just don't think there's a ton there, but it's just more to the opportunity where this season's been lost for however long, and you've just taken zero opportunities to get a look at anything.

Highly skilled guy, right? Yeah, I mean, listen, you went to Dartmouth. He had 12 goals and 22 games last year. That's a lot of goals, 18 goals and 31 games year before. He's got to come in and score. That's his game. Yeah. Yeah, not like a whole ton of PIMS on there.

Yeah. I mean, you're not getting a physical. kind of look out there. No, but he's never been at the No, no, no, no, I know. I mean, just at the end of the day, he's just another guy that you're just throwing a dart at the wall. Totally.

Like, in talking to people with the Marley's, it sounds like he really kind of a slow start and then the second half of the year, okay, they feel like they found some. I wouldn't be shocked if next year, Hames is with the Marleys, becomes a point per game guy who, you know, you start going, okay, he's an option for us.

Not going to... Can I ask a question about that too, though? he when did the nchel switch that you get an assist on an own goal because it you never didn't it used to be if it bounced off somebody was always unassisted and he won the face off it goes to riley shoots it in off i forget who he shot it in off off the islander and he ends up getting an assist on that not to take away from his first career point for his whole family that but like that's not an assist it's an own goal that should be unassisted for riley It's not just a touch.

It's a sense of changing possession. It's got to be more than just a touch. He's not a shoot in his own name. You can still get an assist. And I think you still deserve assist if it skims off your shin pad. Yeah. To burn an assist or to go to an unassisted goal, you kind of have to look like you actually change a possession.

change your possession well to me if a puck's not going anywhere near the net until it bounces off the other team stick into the net i feel like it should probably not read redirects have always always yeah in my day really yeah in my day anyways if it was a redirect you still got credited for an assist takeaway yeah it's okay all right sam is this the hill you want to die on so sam take away lukeames assist i'm sorry bud excellent question uh for your uh learn the game the game kind of segment of the program. Peter Puck is about to come across the screen with the tutorial. What else you want to talk about?

Well, we got lots of coach. We're going to talk to the coach. As I tell my kids, there's no such thing as a stupid question. Just stupid people asking good questions. Anyway. Let's go to the overview from... This is a hilarious. Brooby. Clip three. Greg Brub.

You know, they came hard and a first and shot everything. the net and we didn't recover pucks and make a play to get out of there so we got hemmed in a little bit too much but I thought we settled in scored a P-P goal got us back in the game and then we got in penalty trouble like that's really the bottom line I didn't like the five-on-three call at all I think it's weak and but that's the way it goes and unfortunate bounce on that goal and you know overall like we had 60 shot attempts or something and 15 and hit the night so that's really a lot of the story for me I love that he started out they

they came out they just shot a lot of pucks and they're like the fools we settled in it's such a bad thing to come out just get shots I don't know they were just kind of firing it we settled right in got a strategy is that

double a looked like Goldberg and Mighty Ducks taped to the post. Coming out and shooting bucks right at us. Like, what were they thinking? I mean, this guy can't win right now, right? It's... You know, I got to say, last night, Seattle wins. Big two points for the Seattle Cracker.

Yeah, you know, you're just going to be crushed when they finish fifth and they move to six. You're going to be crushed. No, I'm not because I expect it to happen. It's more likely to happen than not happen. 60% chance if you finish fifth, you're going to get bummed. out. But you can't stay there if you don't get there in the first place.

So no incentive to not root for it. Can we go to our leader board or the standings and just take a look at Seattle's going to have to help the Leafs, right? Yeah, Seattle is one point back. Fortunately, Seattle does have the tiebreaker if they do tie the Leafs and they have one more game to play. Calgary, Seattle has Calgary, L.A., Vegas and Colorado left. Calgary, all L.A.

Okay, they can be Calgary. They can beat L.A. Yeah. No, not L.A. What if they beat L.A.? Then the Leafs L.A. Then the Leafs lose their second. Oh, my God.

O.T. We need that one to go to O.T. I just, you know, I sent a tweet about this. Oh, my God, that's what's going to happen. They're going to get points, knock L.A. out. The most frustrating thing is how close the Leafs are to the absolute bottom without trying at all. They get below the Rangers, and then they wouldn't have to worry about any of this. They'd be solidly in the bottom of the bottom.

They are just ethically tanking here. Like they are, they've been going out there trying to win. Are you sure? Yes. Because I'm not sure right now. And I get the part where like they're mailing it in now. But I don't know where the cutoff line is that they're mailing it in. And this is just how bad they are.

See, I think you're making a pretty good point. Because like everyone sees these guys get called up. But last game, they lost Carlo and Joshua. to injury and Stolars. So all those guys could call up as injury replacements. The reason A.A.

A.A. plays is because they want Hill to be in a big game for the Marleys and Stolars isn't available and Wall's not going to play it back to back. So AA just played. No one was like, hey, the best thing for the tank is this. It just kind of played out that way. So like, I don't know how much

this is on purpose. And to Kipp's point, how much is them just being like, we're not very good. Not very good. Not very good. which is even more concerning if they're accidentally doing the losing but well i mean there's something to be said for just like i don't know i haven't followed a team for nine years here that has been this bad okay like does it look like this with every other team that's at the bottom

of the standings is every other team that's a really good question because this is remarkably bad and their last game last night was i i know of uh a team that I mean it's been instructed to the bench bosses that we need not to win. And you're saying that's happening here? No, I'm not. I'm just saying that it's out there.

Yeah. Okay, you've heard of teams in the past where they've been trying to lose. Yeah, even this year. Really? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, where it's been instructed like... The Florida Panders. Just don't... Yeah. That is awesome. Do whatever you need to do, but just find a way to not win.

Yeah. Which is kind of sad in so many ways, but it's the reality of how we've built this system to reward this behavior. For sure. You see, the NBA is really trying to find ways to curb it. And I think the NHL should, especially with the betting world out there.

There's a reason. Now that the leaps are at the bottom, we've got to find a way to fix this. Like, no. Like, it's just what happens. It's just the way it is. The NBA is trying to fix it too. I think there's a, well, they are.

Yeah. The tanking in the NBA versus what's happening in the NHL. This should make you feel good that it's your Leafs that drive change. Now that they're in the conversation for being the worst in the league, we've got to change everything. No, it's the way things work. The NBA and the NHL tanking aren't even on the same planet. Yeah.

They're starting guys off the street, the Washington Wizards. It's not even comparable. But they're, you know, some of the ways, and we didn't really talk about it the one day where they came out with some of the proposed plans. Some of the ways they're doing their lottery or proposing their lottery is all the teams who miss playoffs plus the teams who are eliminated in the first round, I think, all have an equal chance of getting the first overall pick.

That's like 20 teams. Everyone has a 5% chance to win in the lottery. So like being at the bottom, there's just no incentive. Everyone should try to win and get up as high as you can because what's the difference? You want your fans to cheer for wins. But then the bad teams can get stuck being the bad teams. for a long, long time. And you can lose franchises.

So I don't think leagues want that either. I don't know. I'm torn on the right way to handle it all. Yeah, it's not. No easy solution. Chris Johnson, I think today or yesterday, was reporting that Mike Gillis is going in for second talks or second interview.

Second interview. Is that what? Yeah, that's what's out there. Okay, that's what's out there. A message to the group chat in the first time in a week. So you must have been interested in that. Yeah. Is this their answer of feeling like Mike is analytical enough,

but yet still has a ton of NHL experience, and you kind of get killed two birds with one stone? But like Mike, Mike has been out of the game for 12 years, right? 14. 14 years. So. Why? Right?

Why? That's, I think, a fair question to ask. Why, what? Why has another team not hired him in 14 years? I don't know. That's a good question. It's not like he hasn't let everybody know, including the NHL Players Association.

He wants a job. Yeah, the Athletic had an article for his 2020 pitch to some teams about how he was trying to get in, what he wanted to do. Yeah. So why and what's changed? I think it's just his belief on. I'm not saying he can't do it really bad.

I know. I know. It's a fair question. I think it's just, again, the sales job on this is what I believe in. And I guess his greatest strength after all these years is the analytical part. That's the only sizzle that a guy needs to go with now moving forward. That is his tie. To get a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs is that you got to convince us that you believe in our way now.

And what's so crazy is because everyone knows that, Everyone knows the right answer to the test question, right? Like if you go into that interview and they ask you anything remotely tied to process, you're like, well, let me tell you about my data-driven approach. Yes. AI infused, in fact. Yeah. You know?

Which I think a lot of people, a lot of Leeks fans hear those words and like, oh, my God, stop it. I worry that he's just probably telling people what they want to hear, right? Like, that's what you guys are alluding to there. And like, I don't know the man well enough. I do know that he, you know, his days in Vancouver were, you know, challenging for sure, just in terms of some of the ways that he came across. And, you know, he's a very confident guy to the point where people thought he was extremely arrogant. Wonder if, you know, people grow up.

The only thing I know is that he was, you know, ahead of the curve in terms of some of the stuff, Psychologists and therapists. So would that be president or GM? Sounds like president from what I'd been reading. Yeah, does it, is the answer, Mike Gillis and then Sunny. Right? And that could be a solution, I think, but it goes back to, I think, what they were trying to avoid last year is to eliminate that spot, that job.

They went throughout the organization, as we had mentioned, with the basketball and the soccer and hockey, of course, with Brendan Chanahan, hang on. We don't need that position anymore. Was that position not eliminated partially for financial reasons? Like, that seems... I think it's safe to say that they must have... Saved a lot of money there. $20, $30 million? Right.

So if Mike Gillis hasn't worked since 2012 in the NHL, isn't it a lot easier to say, hey, we'll give you $2 million to be the president of this team or whatever. What leverage does a guy have who's not beaten down, there's not people beating down doors for hire them? Have you heard anything like, are the national predators that they've been talking to Mike Gillis, have the Seattle Crackin who don't have a president now looking at him?

The other thing I'm concerned about, though, is that, again, this president role to me is so much more about the brand and the business of the Leafs. then an analytical approach. Get Sunny for the analytics. So who's, yeah, but if, if he's focused on the business side and selling programs and shirts and. Yeah, you say that, you make a light of it, but that's important too. No, no, I'm not.

I'm just saying, whatever, whatever it is on the business side, if your focus is there, are you comfortable enough just leaving all the hockey decisions to Sunny or whoever else is coming in with that analytical title? Yeah. If you're not, you're hiring a GM and an agent. And does Mike Gillis want to come in and just sell and do sponsorship stuff? Right. And if he doesn't, does that change the calculus in some way? Can you hire a great businessman who understands the Toronto Maple Leafs in their brand? I mean, you've existed in this world. But can you leave a guy like Sunny by himself in the hockey? The buck stops with me. Yeah, I think that's a fair question.

I don't know. Yeah, I say no. Right. I say no. I just. So then you want a guy. I just, I think Sonny needs help. Sunny has never spoken to an agent.

Right. Right. Never. He doesn't know them. Like there has to be a, like what happens when he signs. Hi, Donnie, me and please, Pat Bersan. Yeah, this is Sunny. I just want to let you know.

I look forward to meeting you. and I'm now the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Right. Like, is that the way it's going to work moving forward? And, you know, as he gets his feet wet and he gets experienced and how long of a grace period does he have to kind of get his feet wet here when the team's trying to get into the playoffs as early as April next April. Well, I guess then, you know, first of all, I think the devil, are going to get him. He's from New Jersey and

he's been there before. He didn't have a great experience there. Okay. I'm just telling you what I hear. Great. But the other thing then is what you're looking for and the president is you're asking for a guy who can oversee the hockey decisions of the GMs. And then you also want someone who can stop selling salmon in the dressing room and stop

you know, it's a big role then. Yeah. It's certainly a role that needs to exist. It is, it's a beast. Yeah. Like, again, to compare it to anywhere else, you cannot. So, Carolina with Tulski, okay? Do we do this show yesterday? He is the general manager, but he is far from being the buck stops with me, okay?

You know who that is, right? Is it Dundon? It's Dundon. Yeah. So he is, he is in many ways the real president of hockey operations. Like Tulski can't move nothing without his stamp of approval here. Right. Okay.

And we can look at them and see a lot of success and the consistencies there. You know, we'll see how if they're close to really pushing for a Stanley Cup or will it just fall short somewhere? That remains to be seen. But everything, all those final decisions were Tom Dundins. They weren't the general managers. You want players?

Everything. Everything moves through Tom Dundon in Carolina. He's making player personnel decisions. Tom Dundon. 100%. No, the general manager can come in and say, I've got this idea, but it doesn't get past without Tom.

But what organization is that? any different from. It's different from Toronto, right? There's nobody to call Brad Tree Living and say no. You think they could, do you think Tree could have traded Matthews without needing permission? I think he would, if he,

if he went upstairs and he had this amazing game plan, I think. He'd need a stamp. He would need a stamp. But he didn't need a stamp to give away a top five draft pick. Right. Okay. Unfortunately, I don't think Tulski's pitching that. And Tom Dundan would.

Yeah. Right? And Tom Dundden would stop it. So whether it's a hockey guy or there's somebody else, there needs to be somebody out there that needs to clear just like Carolina, right? I mean, Gensel's, Gensel is not a Carolina hurricane today because Tom Dundon was the reason why, not the general manager, right? $6 million, $6.2.

He initially offered. and then Gensel said, you know, scram beat it and left. Yeah. Right? But that was Tom's call. That wasn't a general manager going through his analytics going, yeah, let's get rid of him. No, no doubt. I mean, they all, like, people don't have, they have Columbus and Winnipeg on no trade list.

Carolina has some, you know, financial, everyone has different constraints. So just to bring it full circle back to our Leaf Edition hour is that does, if it's sunny, He was getting hired. Yeah. Does he need either a president, an owner, somebody to step in and say, you don't get to do anything until I greenlight it. Yes. Yeah.

100% yes. For sure. But then that comes to me as like, so Gillis. Yeah. So if you feel like Gillis is that from a hockey perspective, then, yeah. I don't know if Gillis is my guy. Who is your guy? I don't know.

Okay. I don't know. It's alarming. How few other names there seem to be. Like, are any of these... Tom Fitzgerald, your guy? Well, Tom Fitzgerald is gone from New Jersey because he wasn't that guy in analytics.

Right. Okay? That's why he's gone. That probably takes me. So you think he's coming here? Nope. So, Kip, is there someone, like, you're around this market? And the consensus from everyone is you need someone who gets the Leafs.

What the Leafs are, what the Leafs mean? Yeah, and that's not easy. And that's why Shanny was the perfect guy. Shanny was the perfect guy. Yeah, and I know it didn't work. They didn't win a cup. It didn't happen. But it went well.

He's still available, I think. I mean, from Mimico Ontario, like he... He got it. He got it. So I do wonder, like, who... Kevin BXA from Grimsby, you want to be the guy? It's just not even looking at one guy and go, yeah, thumbs up. It's like, it's the one guy, but like, how is he going to work with a guy?

sunny and how do you empower him but still kind of watch over him and it's it's it's it's it's a manage it's managing people it's managing egos it's managing insecurities well and it's a beast we're talking about pro and amateur scouting right we're talking about uh skill development like that guy has to come in here and convince everybody like i got the plan well not only have i got the plan but we've got the plan. And we believe in each other, we trust each other. And every four or five years, everybody's just knifing each other in the back in this organization

when it's ready to blow up. And it's just got to stop. It's also, you would have to assume, that Gillis would want to hire Sunny Mehta. And I know that people... Or he's told to. Well, there's the thing. I don't want that.

That's the exact opposite of what the president is supposed to be doing. And everyone is saying, The worry is that everyone is saying whatever they need to say. To get the job. Yeah. You know? Which, I don't blame them. So tomorrow, boys, what are we going to see on the ice?

Tomorrow. Who plays? Florida and the, well, that's the tank bowl. It's a huge tank battle. Who plays? You have to lose tomorrow. They're tied with Florida in points. Got to finish below them.

You know, I've seen some people being like, oh, at the end of this season, they don't are playing with any pride. brutal. I'm here to tell you, I don't care. No. There is just... This is detached from reality. You only have one little window here to be terrible.

Just be terrible for a sec. Are they going to start Joe Baltimore? Yeah, probably they are. Probably they are, right? They can't. They can't. They are a serious organization. Somebody has to put in a call.

I'm curious to see Florida's lineup. That's what I mean. They're, you know for sure. they're going to try to lose. So you have to out lose them. God, this is just such a... I need a shower after this conversation.

Well, I mean, like, what do you want me to say? They should definitely try to win to drive home their culture. Like, lose. Play with no goalie. Start with sticks on the ice. Forfeit. What would the league do?

What would the league do if they just pulled their goalie? I don't know. Just forfeit. Yeah, just said, hey, we're going to punt on this one. Betts? Just come up with 14. teen flus. I mean, I don't think there should be a world where...

I don't know. This is all new to me. This is not my wheelhouse of... Pesetta Quill and Yon. Lusinianneux. Robertson. I mean, Machele, like, it's... Yeah.

Pretty bad. I mean, I don't know. Tavares shouldn't play. Nealander shouldn't play. I shouldn't play. They should not play. I'm sorry. Undisclosed.

You see what Carolina Hurricanes did yesterday? All right. Their whole rot. Why are you guys dismissing this? No, I... This is an incredibly important game to lose. Like, I'm not joking.

If they, this changes. They also are one of the teams who have a legit chance to get number one overall. You're going to be in a handful of teams with the good lottery odds. I understand, which is why the organization should take this

very seriously. And I'm really hoping they do. It's important. Yes. And it's horrible to your point that they put themselves in this situation that you want to lose. I know, oh, it goes against everything

what everyone believes in. But too bad. Can I go to break so I can wash the filth? the filth off this conversation. Whatever. Sure. Sure. Oh, I don't know how you're going to live through game 80 of the least losing. Garden hose in your ear.

No, no, no. Fire hose. Okay, garden hose won't wash it off. All right. All right, we'll go to break. We got mailbag. Mailbag? No, we got a leaf line.

Oh, leafs line. Yeah, man. I got to get so confused sometimes. All right, Sammy's leaf line when we return to real Kipperman Bourne. Diving deep into Leaps, Rafters, Jays and NFL, the Jady Bunk is podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Closing out the week with our Leaf Edition hour of our program.

Kipriot, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. He's got a leaf line like no other. Somebody tweeted me during the break. Lunchbox life. They said, Sam, tomorrow should be the dirtiest game ever played in Toronto. taking the most ridiculous penalties, pounds of flesh for the last few years. Nye should fight Bennett. Domi should take double miners all night.

Play short-handed the entire game. That's the path. Double minors all the game. Not the worst idea I've ever heard, lunchbox life. It's a perfectly valid idea in a situation where this team felt they were going to be back and they were a unit and they were. I'd rather them just be who they really are. Because if I see a sign of them tomorrow night, that is that type of behavior,

and they didn't bring it at all all year, that would just infuriate me if I was a leaf fan. That was a club in the bag you had? Well, I mean, the leaves accumulated points unnecessarily right after Matthews got his knee bonged, right? The weekend. Matthew's knee bonged turned the tank. Got them six points. It's a tank disaster. Got them six points.

Anyways, Leafline. Let's start. I should start at the top. Let's go with Keith in Wellington, Ontario. I was just wondering if the Leaf's cap space will be big enough to allow them to make a big splash in the free agent market on July 1st. Great show. Enjoy watching it every day.

All the best. Thanks. Yes, they have a ton of cap space and will probably clear more up this office. And however, there's no one to splash it on. Radish. Yep. Darren Radish. Tuck.

Well, that's an interesting one. Do you think Tuck would come to Toronto being a buffalo boy? If you offered him. Ten sheets a year? Twelve. I am just telling you. Twelve? I'm just telling you.

You got to outbid. Twelve? You got to outbid. That's what July 1st does. Forces you to outbid. Tuck, radish. Listen, Radish is not an analytic darling either.

No. Okay? So. You think Tampa would be willing to? Whoever you bring in will look at his production and go, whoa. You know. So like that's, like his shooting percentage is insane. He's not going to score 20 goals.

He's not very few D in the NHL are 20 goal guys. the year before when people didn't know who this guy was, his points per 60 were in line with like Quinn Hughes at five on five. Quinn Hughes, some of the other bestie. Like he showed signs that he could be good the year before. So regardless of what his analytical numbers are, does Justin Bourne sign him in the summer? Oh, absolutely.

No doubt about it. I mean, not regardless if he was a joke. What's their number that they have? So do you know? I can't figure it out on puckpedia. Yes. So what do you mean by if he's a joke? Off ice?

If you hear stuff. No, no. I mean, like if I looked at his numbers and his expected goals against or something were the worst in the NHL and he, you know, like I haven't looked at his analytical profile. But there's a level where you'd go, okay, what's going on here? But they need someone who could shoot who's a right shot, who can put up a little offense, move the puck. He does those things. Give me a number for him. Like, as a, as you've watched them now.

Well, at least we're going to sign up. So 15 million a year probably. You got to give them $7 million. Six years times $7 million. Here's your $42 million. I'm going to need way more. Six times $7 million? Sure.

Not a chance. Because you're moving out. Because you're moving Morgan's money. Yeah. I'm not, I'm not giving him that. No. How old is he? 30?

Yeah, 30. Not. Okay. 30. and he's done it once in his career and I'm going to give him $42 million. He's not a chance.

He's D. Bobby McMahon is exactly who he is. Not a Snowbell's chance. A 30-year-old who's done it for one year. There's my analytics. You want my analytics? One year at 30 years of age. What did he do the year before? Did he have 20 goals?

No, who did? Two guys in the league? What are his numbers the last five years? He's had 40 points the year before. He had 33 the year before in the NHL. So. And before then? Well, he's in the minors, Kip.

Okay. All right. So two average years and one blow up year. So I don't care about the 30 or 30 points. That's probably where he's going to fall in after a career year. That's probably what he is. Yeah, you don't pay $7 million for that. What a career year.

I mean, this, I mean. In a new salary cap era, I think you do. He also is one of the few guys in the. NHL who heats it up over 90 more than any other D. one or two other D. How about someone who just heats it up? Listen, I love that someone got your and was like, his analytics are bad. And that's our rat.

But he's going for the job now. Listen, all you got to do. On the free agent market? All you got to do is talk to Tampa. You talk to a few other teams. And they know this already. Yeah. They know it already.

No one thinks he's a 20 goal 70 point D for the next six years. But nobody thinks he's a $7 million dollar player either. What do you think he's going to be? He's going to get five, five, five, if he wants to stay in Tampa. If he wants to stay in Tampa, which means you're going to have to give him seven to come to Toronto. Yeah, I know, I know. It's that much of a difference for sure, for Toronto to bump up the non-state tax. I'd love to get him for six, sure.

Not a competitive advantage, though. All right, let's go to Curtis from Guelph. My lead's journey. Oh, this is like Paul. I was born into the world watching the 93 collapse, missed the golden ears of Sittler, Kian, and Silas. I grew up just like Sam, J.B. and Nick. The stick in my hand was an optimistic.

On the frozen ponds, I'd pretend I was Kujo, as my friends were Barrison and Thomas, not Brandon Carlo. I ripped up my Alfredton card, as Joe Bowen exclaimed, when Tucker's shoulder was hurt, as Ottawa had clearly aimed. I'd watch Slendine sniper backhand, Cabberle sift the pass, the cave claps and bombs, Tomi pulled fans over the class. Then I got to college.

I'd listened on a clock radio and the only anticipation was a Fraser McLaren K.O. And then came the tank and a team of young guns to bring us back a cup and many playoff runs. We won't choke in the bubble.

We'll finally beat the Bruins. A three-run series lead is safe. No chance to ruin. But now I'm in my 30s, my Culliman's rookie goals, watching it fade away like game seven, Joseph Wool. What do we do next?

Thank again or retool to fine line from having hope or being made a fool. Don't let Andrew Pov be the best years or the Shana plan because you know I'll be dedicated because I'm the Leafs fan. Wow. Very, very well thought of. Well, I think that's the third or fourth time we've had like poetry written for the show. And it's shocking. Yeah, man. People are creative.

Let's go to Let's go down the list A little, Derek Let's go to Ron in Elgin County Just wondering what you, Kipperman, think of a guy under six foot scoring 50 goals.

You guys must just hate that. You guys just hate small guys. What your thoughts? Cole Cofield, 50 goals, under six foot. Let's hear it. Under six foot, he's well under six foot.

You know, you know what's really funny? Do we hate small guys? Can't hate small guys. No, I don't hate small guys. I mean, his favorite player ever is much harder. I hate a small team. I hate a team that plays small, okay? Calfield's special.

He's a special goal score. Yeah. All day long. He could play anywhere, any time. I mean, not to be Johnny Leaf fan again here, but I feel like I'm really over the top today. But, you know, I do find it funny, the consternation and the celebration of 50 goals

when two years ago every has been, oh, it's just a regular season thing. Who cares? Who cares? And they're all like, oh, the greatest call of all time. A Montreal Canadian scoring 50 goals. Like, I thought you were the most cup teams ever. Like, that's what you're getting excited about now. They killed us. They're like, wow, you got 60.

We're really excited about that. Stupid. Stupid. It's true. Now they're celebrated like they won the cup because he got 50 goals. That's still a special number. Sure. Yeah.

If we sat here, This year, though, and Caulfield was on the Leafs, you'd be like, you know he has no empty-knit goals? Because he can't defend. They don't put him out there at the end of the games because he's not well-rounded. Is this a guy you can win with? Can you win with a guy who's one-way guy who only shoots it?

How many assists is Coffield have? Correct. Let's figure it out. He is definitely a Cy Young guy. He's definitely a guy. He's not running anybody over in the playoffs, nor does he need to. That's my only Montreal thing. It's their best guy, not huge.

Coffield, you know, Demadov. Oh, 50 goals. They're only going to get better, boys. I know. That's the scary part. Is whatever you think you see, it's only going to get better.

My last thing, I just thought they had a little higher standards in Montreal than to have that big of a celebration over 50 years. Look where they've come from the last few years. I thought they're the most historic franchise in the history of the week. Like, it's 50 goals. Whoops, whoopty-do. Sorry.

Sammy, we're cheering for Montreal in Ottawa. Okay. in a week. Yeah, I'll see you there. Johnny and Aurora. Let's go to Johnny and Aurora. I'm really stumped when I hear a couple of you guys and a lot of others say the Leafs should retool.

Personally, I think the Leafs need two first-line winners, a second-line center, enough defensive pieces that Chris Pan of can play 15 minutes or less. Let's face it, he's had two horrific injuries. We need him to make it to the playoffs. and above all else we need a starting goalie, a real starter. It's been like five years of trying tandems or goalies who are not starters. The Leafs need this makeup of players to not just make the playoffs, but to be competitive

and not some first round six-game layup team. So my question to you guys is, what do you think their retool looks like? what do the Leafs need to make the playoffs and be first round favorites in the playoffs Thanks again, big fan of the show I can't wait to hear what you guys say They need to take a risk on Dougie Hamilton Oh yeah

Oh God They need to take a risk on a bounce back That's an analytics move Yeah it's fine An analytic move Sunday Meda would love that move Stick a Band-aid please I mean that's the only guy out there That's like a true

D stole ours Oh like a guy that's like oh maybe he could re-re gain his form as a number one defenseman then you put him in there like i don't know a couple scoring wingers i will stand by this i told you this earlier you don't pick rebuild rebuilds pick you so whatever we're staring at and you want to try to bring your dougie hamilton to make a big difference for next year you're just prolonging the inevitable which ultimately will be a rebuild you're only you're you're only like two guys away from everybody calling it a massive rebuild and that's Nealander and Tavaris that's it Matthews Matthews and I'm sorry no no let me do that

Nealander and Matthews that's the those are the only two guys that separate you from whatever you want to call between a rebuild and a retool well what separates you? though is you're not saying you want a bad draft pick next year you're just going to play the Marley's you know and see what separates you is you're going to go get veteran guys and try to succeed

whether they should or shouldn't that's going to be the difference right the one thing that intrigued me go ahead just if you decide to move one of them Matthews or Willie then you have the option of thinking that you can go and get

between 20 and 23 years old or do you want to match it and go $8, $10 million player for $8 or $10 million player and just swing the pendulum to the next few years instead of like maybe a three or four year

you try to turn this thing around in two or maybe even one depending on what return you can get. And I don't know when I threw this out to you but, you know, Matthews to L.A. Okay? And you're never going to replace that talent and you're never going to replace a potential 50 or 60 goal score.

But can I turn that into a 25 or 30 goal score with byfield? Can I turn it into a 40-point guy or 50-point guy in Brent Clark? Can I get some toughness with? with Mothot? The thought. Is that, is that, Mollot? Mollot.

Mollot. Mlott. Mlott. Mlott with the M.M.A brother. Okay. Can I get a first and a second out of it too? Can I turn it into four or five pieces like that? And now,

now you are, I don't know. Destined for 13. I don't know what you're destined for. But like in two or three years, though, I got, I got significant pieces that I can work with now. Yeah. So, or do you want to just keep trying to analytic your way around the edges with third and fourth line guys?

Are you looking for? You just suggested trading for something. You know, like, to me, this is like how you end up being the wild or of the past 20 years or something where you go, yeah, we got a bunch of 40 or 50 point guys for, you just spend the rest of your time looking for superstars and going, oh, we have one. We'll give them 17 million to stay because you're. so desperate for superstars. They're so hard to get. Let's sneak one more in here. Let's go to

Ryan and New Market. Ryan and New Market. Maybe not. What do you got for us, Sammy? I just want to thank you all for making this season as bearable as possible. Greatest show coast to coast and all of Leafland and we appreciate it.

Wow. Sammy, double duty all year with Leaf Talk. I don't know how you did it. You had to watch every of every game. I noticed even Bunkett is pretending to have the flu for the last few games here and getting out of it. Borny, I love you to death, but clearly you checked out a while ago.

You're just worried about making sure the house is all jiffied up for Airbnb season. And, of course, Kipper, oh, my God, Kiffer, being the voice of reason. I appreciate it. Maybe he never called him that. You just had to sit there and listen to, I think we're one coach and one winger away. from winning a Stanley Cup next year. I don't know how you put up with it, buddy, so I just appreciate it, boys. Thank you all so much.

All right. You know, so long, farewell, it was a crappy season. All right, you'll be back in September. For a very good reason. Goodbye. Wow. Oh, he's still going. That's a good drop.

We got some dozes today. Yeah, we do. All right, that's it. I think we got to go. And it doesn't have to be Matthews. It could be Willie to get three or four pieces. Now I'm listening. Okay.

Let's go. Good job. Sammy, you okay? Yeah, I still want to trade them all the way. All right. Still plenty to go here. Doug McLean. Yes, it's Friday.

Off the rails Friday. Plenty more to get into. Don't go away. It's a real Kippurn Board Show. I love listening to you when I'm on.