Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Projecting Auston's Future

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to the Leafs' matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets, where they will have Scott Laughton back but still be without Auston Matthews and Anthony Stolarz. They react to today's update that Stolarz's injury is more serious than originally thought, discuss Matthews' availability issues in recent seasons, and ask if the captain will ever return to his Hart form. Then, they get into Calle Jarnkrok's move to the top line, Jacob Quillan's potential, and whether the quick ramp-up will become too much for Joseph Woll. Finally, Aaron Portzline (34:05), Blue Jackets reporter with The Athletic, shares his impressions of Columbus through 20 games, Kirill Marchenko's superstar potential, Yegor Chinakhov's future with the team after demanding a trade, and much more.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Game day mode here on the Real Kipper and Born show, season five, Leaf edition of our program. Nick Kipperyl's, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, Jake the Snake Schultz, Derek Brandeo. We are live on Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 590, the fan in Toronto, and streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. Always, always, if you can't catch us live, there is Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube. The Toronto Maple Leafs get set to take a crack at a regulation win against Columbus tonight,

something that they haven't had since November. fifth. Is that right? Regulation wins are hard to come by this year. Really hard. But not even just for the Leafs who have their problems. No, the whole league is going into overtime. Yeah. You look at the standings and I was like, God, you know, the Colorado Avalanche are unbelievable. They've won like half their games in regulation or something. Aaron Portsline, who covers the Blue Jackets for the Athletic. We'll join us in about 35 minutes. We'll get a feel for what the Leafs could be facing tonight with that hockey club. In the meantime line-up changes, but not enough that we'll see Austin Matthews back or Stolars back.

Where do you guys want to start? Well, Scott Lottin's back. That's a nice little piece of news. I guess that's about it. But I think the biggest story of the day is the Stolars news. You know, Coach Craig Barubi came out and said something to the effect of upon review, the injury is more serious than we initially thought. And that, to me, is news.

Oh, hold on. Oh, okay. There's no question that there has to be a level of frustration out there for Lee fans when it comes to just the information or the misinformation. What do you mean? Like we looked into this upon review, it's more serious. You didn't look at the injury when it first happened. We didn't do. There was so much swelling.

We couldn't see if it was injured or not. What are we talking about? Today, my first article that I wrote for the Toronto Star this season, I was on a Blue Jay vacation for a little while, which I didn't mind at all. But today I wrote about Austin and just the mysterious kind of scenarios that we've been accustomed to the last few years. around a bit of the mystery of when he goes how long he goes for what exactly there seems to be a

level of acceptance there and now it seems like stolars is kind of falling in that and to your point it's i think it's just in the messaging that is really frustrating and to your point if if we are talking about how did you say it upon further review or we have we have a play Derek Anthony Stollars clips or sorry ruby clip seven are we good obviously you know worse than we thought

and well just you know he's not ready to get on the ice yet and do his do the things that he's needed to do so hopefully it's soon I mean I really don't have a timetable for him like maybe tomorrow

he'll be on the ice I'm not sure Was there a setback at all? No, no, there wasn't. I just didn't, you know, we weren't sure at the time what it was the seriousness of it. So, you know, that's kind of where we're at. So when he says worse than we thought, is that you as a coach, is that your medical staff? Like who?

Presumably the medical staff. like it doesn't matter what the coach thinks so so so they misdiagnosed them or uh he something happened between then and now that has made it worse like there's so many different scenarios but when brad tree living went and did his press conference he talked about a disconnect right it feels like the disconnect is off the ice too When it comes to this sort of stuff. Yeah. Or they just blatantly are not truthful about it.

I don't believe that for a second. I really don't. Can I ask you something, Sammy? So it was just for context. It was November 11th, the game that both Stolars and Matthews left that game, right? And after the game, they said Stolars was nothing serious. And then, you know, Matthews would be about a week. So it's now November 20th.

and Matthews is just getting back on the ice. Stollers has not been back on the ice. So you and probably a lot of other Lee fans I think they're lying. You've said that before. Lying strong. You've used that word before on our show. Fibbing.

False truth. Less than truthful. Whatever the case is, let me ask you something. If that's true, where is the benefit for the Toronto Maple Leafs? to do that because I don't see one. I don't see one to come out and not be truthful, as you put it today.

I think they're probably worried about the reaction to saying Austin Matthews has something that's going to keep them out long term and they just want to kick the can down the road day by day and keep people wondering. That is never going to work. Well, I know. I can't believe that they would believe that to be true. Well, they said it was a week, maybe less. Do you see any benefit to being less than truthful?

None. None. I don't. I don't. I don't. I think they're saying how they feel. Like there's a level of frustration. You can hear it in Craig Barubi's voice.

And I think where they get in trouble is the maybe tomorrow or maybe two weeks from now. But people will remember the maybe tomorrow. Do you think there's a chance that because this is not something of the clear timeline, that this is almost a way for them to publicly pressure the player to say, come on. Like if it's never going to be 100%, let's get going here. Let's get you back out there. You know, I've talked with coaches in the past.

I've been in coaches' offices and heard the conversations around injuries. And there are times where you go, he could play. I know he could play. I've seen him practice. I know whatever. Let's, some guys need to push. I wonder if some of this is them publicly being like, come on, let's go. Again, I, I don't, I don't see the benefit of doing that and, and putting what, putting your star player in a position of kind of having the media, the fans and me looking at you going, let's go.

Okay, so then to boil this down, the only other real options are they sincerely have no idea. That makes the most sense out of anything I've heard so far. So the player himself has no idea. Can't tell, can't feel, doesn't know if he's close. Austin, how are you feeling today? I don't know. You want to hear how the conversation between Matthews and Brubay went? Let's play that clip, Derek.

I'm not sure what number it is. Clip number six, please. It's good to see him out there with us and, you know, just talking to him. He's feeling a lot better, and I thought he was shooting a puck pretty well, so that's a good sign. Time table? No, not yet. Maybe later I'll get one. It's so frustrating.

And that was the gist of my article today. You can find it on my ex-account Real Kipper, Toronto stuff. are, but there's a level of frustration right now that that's, it's, I get that we don't reveal injuries anymore, right? Upper body, lower body, that's it. I get that. But it's, it's now starting to work against a guy like Austin to your point where if, if there is some subtle messages right now from the coach now going, yeah, I think you should play tomorrow

or I really feel like tomorrow is the day and you don't show up, all it's doing is just going to put more weight on this guy's shoulders. And if he's not ready to come back and he's the only one keeping himself out of the lineup, I think that's just too much pressure and too much stress on a guy that you need. Yeah.

So yesterday, I don't know, we do this every day. One of the days this week, the update was, maybe it was even Trilliving that said probably won't play against Columbus probably won't play on Saturday so with two games but I don't think it was Blues in Columbus Yeah it was Tuesday Thursday maybe Saturday And then we went from that to had a conversation with him He looks pretty good shooting it to no timetable

By the way why shouldn't he look good shooting it if it's a lower body injury I don't know anyway see this Yeah but so you know I look at Matthews Maybe later I'll go one I look at Matthews I'm looking at his you know his career page here the last in in 21 22 he played 73 of 74 games he missed nine last the year after that he played 74 games he missed eight a year after that he missed one so over three years they're pretty good last year he missed 15 um on this on we presumed the same injury so

initially when he went to germany he missed nine yeah and then there was a reoccurring that cost him i think another half a dozen games but i think where i'm he he he He missed 50 in total all year. Yeah. So, you know, not a ton of games over a three, four-year span there. He missed like 25 hockey games or something like that. Not terrible. This year he's played 17 of 19 if they played or 20?

20. They played 20 games. So he's missed three games. Yeah. The crux of your article today is partially they made deed to trade this guy because they're not sure about injury. I think if there's another year like last year where we say. sit here and contemplate even when he's in the lineup that he's not 100% or he's protecting an injury it's it's not a good thing it's not a good thing and of course and then the other factor is

you're only two years away from his contract and the big difference between last year and this year tell me what the biggest difference is between last year and this year yeah with playing worse no no no no they still found a way to be successful they still found a way to look okay without him. They won the Atlantic Division. Now we're in a window now where if he misses the same amount of games that he did last year and it's the difference between making the playoffs and missing the playoffs, now we're talking about a whole new ball game.

Yeah, it's one thing to miss Austin Matthews. It's one thing to then miss Matthews and Marner, which it is this year with the same team. And chase a playoff spot all year and then come down to the wire and miss it. I mean, I'll speak for, I guess, what a lot of least fans would say is just, there's just not many guys on the planet who do what this guy does. And so to be like... But not lately. But not lately.

Not for maybe perhaps two consecutive seasons. Guys, on pace for 40 goals this year. I know. I know. And they're on pace now with a less than 15% chance to make the playoffs. That's the new part. That sounds unlikely. I don't think that's...

Is that true? Oh, go to, uh, don't they have that puck? I, I, I've seen under 50%. I haven't seen less than 15. I think it was, I think it was down to 10. No, absolutely not. Okay, please. Yeah.

Take a look. What, uh, what site were you? But anyway, money, money, puck. Which one is? The, um, anyway, we'll, I'll, let's look at that. All right. Sorry. Um, I, you know, my point here is just like, it's just in,

An insane thing to suggest that you would get better by then moving on unless, you know, you think there is a massive package to be fetched. But if you think this guy's too hurt to fetch him to be good, he's not going to do that for you. Moneypuck.com has the Leafs making the playoffs percentage at 11.2. Oh, gosh. I was so far off. No, listen, that. I was so far off.

No, I can't believe that. That is stunning. I'll see what I can come up with on different sites. Listen. That one's the one that everybody goes to. Is it? I don't know. I don't go to any of them.

I'll take the athletic over money puck.com. Okay. Yeah. I mean, that's stunning to me that they're 11.2%. Stunning. Like, I know they've stunk, but I don't think they've got that. I'm just telling you what's out there. Yeah.

All right? That's all. I don't know what the case is, but the flyers currently have a better chance to make the playoffs according to Money puck than the least. I do believe that there'd be a lot more to think about moving forward and for him as well. If this team misses the playoffs and they're in a rebuild and he's got two years left on his deal

and he's eligible to sign as early as one more season, it gives him something to think about too. Look at the scenario that Connor McDavid's in, right? Won't give him a long-term deal. Money's not important. it definitely changes the dynamics of the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs as we looked at it as early as last season compared to a team now that many people believe

that a window could be closing here. Yeah. You know, I guess Kip is one of those things where you project a full season of this and his injury problems continue and they miss playoffs. Yeah, there's a lot of. And all the worst things happen. And yeah, you certainly have some arrangements to make.

Now, if you don't live in an utter dystopia and something goes okay one day in your life, you know, maybe he's healthier, he looks a little better, the team wins a few games without him, you trade for another good piece. This is a very doomsday thought. He can't, but he cannot, it can't duplicate last season is my point.

We cannot, we cannot watch this guy even come back and utter the words, is he playing hurt? like they got to find a way to get rid of that that that vibe or that narrative can't do it two years in a row can i ask you a question yeah do you really believe that we're going to see what we used to saw see out of him no i don't i don't think you're going to see a heart trophy winner i used was he 29 years old 28 28 no yeah you're not going to see heart trophy winner but the elite players are good for so long like You guys see Alex Ovechkin in his undergear in the dress room for the Washington Capitals?

He looks, if he were my best friend, I'd be like, dude, get on the treadmill. There's a cup. I play Thursday morning. You need to tighten it up. He's got beer league look right there. And I know there's multiple better bodies at my beer league skate. And I know you're going to go, he's not Alex Ovechkin. He's also 40.

Fine, he's not. Yeah, well, he's probably 43 or four. We're being honest. But like Matthew scores at a rate. like Ovechkin, the elite players, they do this for a long time. And the idea that Matthews, outside of injury, now I'm saying that the guys do it for a long time who are healthy. So do you think he's going to play 10 more years in the league

and become a 20 goal score, a 30 goal score? No, I don't think that. I think he's so talented that he could get away with scoring 30 to 40 goals a year. For a decade. Yeah. But I think it's a different conversation. from like what he's going to be and what he's going to be here

and like how having the history of what's happened and the years and years of it not working and the relationship changing his game changing the lack of assets that you have for the least like I understand all that yeah but I don't know I'm just I'm not completely opposed to the first time

in my life yeah I'm not completely opposed to what he's talking this is that's what I'll say see like you're giving me a scenario where he could still score 35 or 40 goals and and maybe even looked the way he's looked lately, which is fine if he's your

third or fourth most important. But you can't tell me that you'd be happy with a 35 or 40 goal score and watching him play the way he plays and still make me believe that you can build a championship team around that. I think, you know,

there's a reality here where we look around this league every day and there's not enough good players to go around. We watch some teams, some nights and go, God, give me one. And I just don't see a scenario where you go, you know, the old family guy lying about, you know, winning a boat or the mystery box.

It could be anything, even a boat. It's like you're going to trade Austin Matthews for picks and go, maybe we'll get Austin Matthews. Maybe we'll get a 40 goal guy who can win face off. He's a great player. You're not better without him. So here, you know, we just had Mitch Marner here who left, and they took the money and got Machelli Waugh

and Joshua and you're going oh you know it's not you're not better so I don't know the answer to building around him outside of the cap goes up and you find a way yeah to bring in some support guys for him right yeah no I don't think if you Connor McDavid hasn't won the Stanley Cup yet he's the best player on the planet and has been for a long time and they're struggling just like the Toronto Maple Leafs but he looks more like Connor McDavid than Austin looks like Austin Yeah, but I'm just saying everyone needs help Like he's not last night I watched I did that Oilers game And him and Leon were unbelievable And the team was stinky

There's a lot of parallels Between the Leafs and Oilers right now Well yeah, there are And I don't It's like Leafs West By the way I want to acknowledge That the Matthews McDavid scenarios Are parallel

that Matthews is just as likely, if not more likely, to leave here than McDavid as Edmonton. Yeah. I mean, it's, do I? I got them parallel. Yeah. Like, I think there is a above 50% chance that Austin Matthews plays hockey

for someone in the Southwest US in the next five years. Yeah, I think that's fair. That's fair. There has to be a reason other than, taking another crack at being a top player for short-term deals for him. I mean, it's always, I think in the back of his mind, it's always a nice option that I could get out earlier than committing eight years if I need to.

Yeah. So, you know, it's, you know, we're going to be doing this show in three years, bar, you know, assuming they still like us, right? There's a lot of ifs. They're going to retire me faster than that, buddy. Okay. let's say we're doing it in three years. It's tough to see a world where they're like,

where we're like, you know, they moved off from Matthews and Marner and look at them now. Yeah. It's the Cowan show. A rebuild show. Somebody texts. Flexio.

Rebuild season. The text line. It said, is the next captain for the Leafs to raise the Stanley Cup not born yet, question mark? I was like, oh my God. You know. In the meantime, All right, in the meantime.

That was uplifting. Listen, this is really, listen, I don't want to get too far off on the original topic also is this inability just to come out and just reassure the fans that our players aren't healthy, we're going to get them better. And there's a, there's just a kind of an easy explanation to tidy up the question marks. Maybe the PR team has nothing to work with because the doctors are giving them nothing. Maybe they need new doctors. I don't know. But like, you got no answers. You find it stuff a week later.

And it's not helping Austin. It is probably not going to help stole ours here too. But like, it's not just those two guys have to. team is day to day. Wah, day to day, missing his second straight games and I look around the league, everyone. And that's fair. And that's fair. He's missing, like, it's, but at some point.

So if it's not a leaf. If it's not a leaf issue, then it's a league issue. And so it's an Olympic issue. We know, we know that guys are out. The most normal kind of window frame is always four to six weeks, right? Yeah. You break a bone four to six weeks. Yet when they know it's four to six weeks, they like saying week to week on four to six weeks.

That's the new thing now. Yeah. Week to week. Why? I don't know why because you know what happens with week to week? I'm coming right back in your face in one week and I'm going to say, where is he? That's actually.

And then you turn around and say week to week. And then I do it in two weeks when you know he's out minimum a month. all right i got 37.7% chance for leifes making playoffs from the athletic all right much lower than i thought before we were talking today i thought it was around 30 40 percent 11 on money i read 10 or 11 well you're right you did money puck hit with 11 hit me like a punch in a face box that was a right hook not correct that's one of those ones you look at your model and go we got to do some ways um that's that's an issue yeah that's an issue and we see commercials where they want us to go bet

and put money on this and it's like okay well I thought he was going to come back in a week I thought he would be available it's like we know what the NFL feels about revealing injuries and being as transparent as they can and a lot of that has been revolved around their betting world but we don't feel like we have any obligation to give you from zero to

Two months. I don't know. I just, I think there's a... We have turned the page on this soon here. Sure. Yeah. Oh,

like this conversation? We're beating this up bad. Oh, sure. Yeah, we can leave. That's fine. I just, I just would like, I think people would prefer

just to know as opposed to being like, maybe he's playing it tonight. It's like, yes. Another couple days. Same with you're buying a ticket for a game. Yes. But anyways,

so we'll just keep guessing, I guess. Yeah. All right. So the guys that we know are in. Scott Lawton's back. Scott Lotton's back. Save the day, Scotty Lotton.

I would say the lineup looks better with him in it. Sure does. How and Lotton, Lorenz. Lots to like there. That's the line they did in preseason. Lots to like? Yeah. So Yarn Krook goes from a healthy scratch.

Jan Krook to playing with your two top point producing players. He's gone from fourth line, third line, healthy scratch, top line no one has been given more

confusing messaging this year than young crook could I tell you what they like about him he's the adult in the room they're like we can trust that he'll go try to do the things we're asking them to do we trust him seal and stop league fair

really very seldom do you see a healthy scratch guy jumps in jump into the top line there's usually like two or three guys in the lineup that you push up there before you go to your healthy scratch list.

What would we have put the chance? When we signed up on, I guess our last show in the summer was July 4th, what would we have put the chances of him even being here? Well, it was a lot of, well, they're going to trade the, off season was all, they're going to trade the contracts of Camp, Yarn Kroc, you know, all these guys. Yarn Kroc was in there every. And now when you have half your four record, he's playing on the top line and top power play.

He played 19 and a half minutes last game. Do you want to hear what the coach likes about Yarn Krook? Very much so. Well, he's a valuable guy. He does a lot of things out there night and night out. go on notice that we noticed but maybe you guys don't or the fans um you know he's a good penalty killer he's a hard worker he just that he does he does a lot of little things right all over the ice and he complements he can compliment any line in certain ways you know that's he's

valuable compliments any line there's little things that we can't see he's he's a he's a bandaid you know you're like okay well we're bleeding pretty bad here i love this on there and i love the guy See if it helps. That's good. This is a guy that they try to trade. Yeah. That's what I mean. Like,

I would never have thought that we'd be having these conversations about him still, but he's been a useful guy for them and he was hurt for most of the last year, right? Like hernia kind of thing that he was out for most of the year.

Sports hernia, whichever, whatever that means. I'd like to see Quillan tonight kind of drag Joshua and Machelli into a few areas of the ice. Yeah, Machelli. You want to see him dragged into areas?

Yeah, I do. Okay. I do. well I'd be happy I like Quillan I like his energy I like he can skate he's actually 6 1-204 he can move yeah at least if he just knows what he is

he'll run into people he had a great college career that you know this is a very similar profile to what Bobby McMahon was came out of university as a guy who had success scoring goals and maybe has to find himself in the minors Bobby was a 26 year old rookie could skate would run into people

next McMahon Quillan I love that feels like there's such a negative hour here but maybe I'm just in a negative mood I know we're good but no I just can I like you're looking at this lineup with

half your regular forwards out and your fourth line has two of your biggest offseason acquisitions playing on the opposite sides of a you know a call up from the Marley's you're hoping pull them into it it's you needed hoping for so much more from those guys I would say

that has to be fundamentally the most disappointing part of the season goal-tending hasn't been great but it was weird right Wall had his thing and that kind of put Lorenz in a tough spot so give that a pass the most disappointing thing has to been like

three new guys surely one of them will have success and none of them really had success I think I'm not writing those guys off there's flashes here and there where I'm like alright okay but we're not there yet I am a little concerned turned on

Joseph Wall coming back and going from zero training camp a couple games with the Marley's and now it's your ball

go with it now so there's two schools of thought hey he's rested he feels great he's looked good just play him just play him right now but

I think they should have probably given more thought on maybe not playing him tonight hasn't he played two games played two games yeah i know but two's going to turn into four by saturday night okay and i i just think from a guy going from zero to four of four and everything he's been through i'm just not i don't want them to make the same mistake that they made with stolars which they said this yesterday yes yeah totally agree

i i think it's also like you're right we've been careful with you know kind of stepping around the wool thing and what his absence wasn't whatever and I understand that we're trying to be respectful but I think it's a lot to heap back on a guy if a lot of it is not physical to say thank God you're here we're winning again we need you we can't do

this without you he's been awesome I know he has and I know they need wins but I'm not like listen the coach is like yeah we better you know everybody's calling for my job and we're out of a playhouse spot put him in because they're like we better play hill to be because he's not feeling right

Like, what are we talking about here? No, we're talking about. You have to do it, but it's a risk. There has to be somebody in the room has to look at a bigger picture than just get the two points tonight. Well, somebody has to. Who? I don't know. The general manager?

Somebody. Somebody. It's worth a conversation. It's worth a thought. And I'm not saying it's right or wrong. But I'm saying that even us earlier in the year have always said, like, You just can't take Stolars and give them all these games and expect a guy that's been injury prone in the past

not to maybe have it catch up to him. So you're worried about, like, physical injuries? All of it, all of it. And he has a reputation of being injury prone. This is what you were getting to. Yes, it is. I understand. You can't go from zero to mock three, even on this guy.

You've got to be careful. If they lose, if they lose this guy, we know it's over. Hold on. You would play him tonight and Saturday if you were the coach. I would think about Hilda B tonight and then Wall in Montreal. Just let's just say he. Oh my God. Listen, just tell me something.

He had two months off. He was like playing him. If by chance, if by chance it doesn't go well tonight against Columbus, I'd rather have Wall than Hill to be in Saturday night. You may, if he has a rough night tonight, if Wall has a rough, you got to go to Hill to be in Montreal. Oh, you're going back with Wall regardless. Then it's just, it just, it's just,

you're taking a bit of a risk right now of piling up so much, so soon on Joseph Wall. Is it all I'm saying. Yeah, I mean, it's a risk. And I think it's one the coach is willing to take. Well, you know, apparently. I mean, I'd be playing him every game. Buddy. He's looked awesome.

You've got an 11% chance of making playoffs there. I have found up to 45% as their best odds on a different venue. Oh, nice. That's our range. 11 to 45% chance, on average, they're estimated to make, or to get 87 points this year. So I think you're willing to take some risks at this point. Yeah, but you've got to take a few. You may be hooped with him starting.

Yeah. Like, oh, he gets hurt. Oh, they're screwed. They may already be screwed. Okay, let's go to Craig Gruby on Wall's energy level that he loves so much along with Sammy's. Clip. He's come back.

He seems fine, you know, and that's a good rest day for him yesterday, but he feels good and feels like he's got great energy out there, so it's good to hear from him. Yeah, great energy, ready to rock. Six straight starts. Go get him. Tonight, Saturday, next Wednesday, in Columbus. next Friday in Washington, six straight starts, playing goalie.

Full practices. The NHL goalie playing goalie. Get him in front of the media. Yeah, yeah. That have no back-to-backs involved. He's playing. All right. He's the NHLer.

You hear you here first. Maybe they should give Actaumava a start. Maybe Hildobie's feeling a little bit under the weather, too. They should give Actaima of a go, too. It's a long season, pal. It might be. Not for Craig Barube. You're going to see AA at some point.

Not for Craig Beru. It's a long season. Oh, yeah. Yes, you are. Act. We'll start a game this year. Yeah, probably. Could be this month.

When Wall gets hurt tonight? I want to hear of Baroubi talking about the energy off of We got to go, we got 40 on the other side of that. Oh, do we? All right. Producer said it. Aaron Portsline from the athletic

talking Columbus Blue Jackets is when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Dive deep into Toronto Sports and the NFL. The J.D. Bunk is podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the Real Kipper and Born show. Nickyprios, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. Aaron Porcelain, set to join us from The Athletic.

Aaron, how are you? Doing well, guys. Thanks. How are you? We're good. We're good. I think it was fairly successful. the last time Fantilli and company came into Toronto, just in terms of the first 20 games or so, pretty much where we thought that this team would continue to push. We know how close they came to the playoffs last season,

but how would the overall assessment be in the first 20 games? Yeah, kind of choppy. I saw actually Fantilli's father tonight. I asked if his mom was going to be warming up before the game with the old hat. toss she was the first one over the glass last time a pretty impressive throw too um yeah you know they've been they've been really up and down and i think they are right to feel this way there's some games that have gotten away from them uh that they really had control of they had a game in edmonton

where they're up by two goals and the with a they had a power play i want to say with two minutes with two 18 left a power play and still gave up a shorthand a goal late in that game to tie it they've done that against the islanders they really gave a point of way to Montreal the other night in Columbus. So they've been, they're in that stretch right now. They've gone through this before where they get nervous late in games where they've got a lead, not a good look. And it gets a little bit worse every time until you start to get through it with

regularity. So I would say they're a C plus team, a B minus team right now based upon what their expectations were coming out of last season. Just they play hard. They're in most games, but they really haven't fired yet fully in gear, have not fired on all cylinders yet for sure. We went into the season with Steve Aliquette predicting

Jack Greaves as the NHL's breakout goalie of the year. We had people up here in Canada talking about him for Team Canada now. He's just me? I don't know. This guy's getting close. He's been handed the reins there by and large. Has he not as the starting goaltender? Yeah.

For the first month it was back and forth, literally. For I think it was 15 games it went and neither one of them had consecutive starts. And then Greaves has grabbed it. He's back in tonight against the leaves. Mersleekins played in Winnipeg.

This will be, I want to say, six and seven for Greaves. So you are right, you are right to look at him as the number one. Dean Eveson coaches get weird, right? Like he won't say it. He's not talking about who his goalie is. They just decide every day who's going to start

yada, yada. But six out of seven is proof enough for me. It looks like he's the number one guy here. Should be too. So much attention as it should be on a guy like Fantilly tonight, but Murchenko continues to be this all world kind of power guy. How high is his

ceiling, Aaron? Yeah, well, I think he's a 40-goal guy this year. I think it can go from there. He continues to elevate. Like, it's really impressive. I think some of those guys, Fantilli, would probably tell you it's been a bit of a slow start until recently for him.

Ken Johnson's been kind of searching for his game all long. Varankov's been there, but nothing dramatically different from last year. Marchenko has really elevated, and he had a really good year last year, and to build on that is something. He looks like a guy who wants to be the offensive leader every night. He's got a great release. The one thing that's changed starting last year and to an even more dramatic extent this year is how ferocious he is battling for pucks. When he first got to the league, scored 20 goals in each of his first two seasons,

but he was the guy that waited in the left circle for somebody else to win the puck back and feed him. Let me shoot. Now he's going to get it himself. The way he's built, he's a tall guy, he's not really a power forward in the way that he doesn't really, you know, physical contact.

He doesn't shy away from him, but he doesn't initiate it either in terms of a physical sense. But to watch him battle for pucks is impressive. he wins most battles and it's really gone up in that level specifically over the last couple of years so every time the

the Leafs bring a new team to town fans scour their roster for players they can have because they need help here in Toronto right now how's Chinikov, how's things? Yeah, if you would like Chinikov, let me give you what else number when we let's part here. When's that trade happening?

Yeah, and I know like let's do some like it's kind of both ways. There's a little frustration like, what are you doing with this kid? But also, what is the kid doing? Right? Like, they put him in the top six role

the other night in Montreal. And I've heard from players through the years that when you're in that sort of spot he's in, when you're in and out, you're not sure what your role is and you finally get that opportunity. Obviously, you can't bank on scoring your goal or having a big offensive.

Now, you need things to happen for that. I get it. But you want to play a loud game. You want to be noticeable. You want to be seen in some way. And he just wasn't against Montreal in that game in Columbus. I don't think he played poorly, but there was no aha moment. He's had him in the past, as Zach Werenski said today, last season, the first six weeks of the season,

he was probably their best forward. Werensky, their best player, but Chinikov was right there as a forward. He was fantastic. And he's done that a few times in his early career. But there is something to miss there. I don't know if, I know he's asked to be traded. I know the blue jackets have listened to calls, but I'm not sure if he's given up on the situation,

but there are times when you start to think he has. Aaron, what's it like watching Olivier play hockey on most nights here and just watching a few opponents on the other side actually pooping their pants? Yeah. Yeah, and you know, there are so other elements to this too. Like the other night, I think it was Montreal. No, his Rangers. They were playing like pretty sleepy,

playing like crap the first period or so. And he screams down the bench to his defenseman, who he knows are going out with him on the next shift. He tells him to put the puck in my corner because he wants to hit somebody. God did he, Robertson, the poor kid with the Rangers. He is, the king of the hill knows he's the king of the hill, right? King of the Jungle, I might say.

And he's starting to play like it. Guys, they lean on him. He's not a fourth-line guy. Typically, you see fighters in that capacity. He's very much a third-line guy. Part of the checking line for them, that's probably been, if not their best line, it's hard for me to say that with the way Voronkov and Marchenko have gone. But that third line with coil in the middle, Cylinger on the left and Olivia on the right,

they use it in checking role against the best opponents. Dean Eveson plays them way more than you might expect a typical third line to play. God, I even see Olivier out for three-on-three overtime. I'm not sure I understand that, but I saw him out for three-on-three overtime recently. Like, Dean Everson loves this guy almost irrationally, but I kind of get it because he's a better player than you expect from most fighters, but he's a better fighter than just about anybody else in the league, too. You're watching and listening to Aaron Portsline

who covers the blue jackets for the athletic. So just quickly here, you think it's realistic that Olivier could be looking at this season 40 to 45 point season. Is that out of the realm? It might be, given the way

that he started, 18 goals last season, that is probably, I don't want to say it's going to be a career high, but that's up there for him. I think he's a 10-12 guy, goals-wise, so probably a 30-point guy. And I predicted before the season that his fight total might be down because I think once a guy reaches that level, there are teams that just decide not to even go there.

Why even bring that into the game? But I think he's had four already this season, so maybe he does get there. He led the league last year. Columbus gets some offense from their back end, something the Toronto Maple Leafs don't get. Is that built into their offense at all using the points? I think it was more to the last year. They seemed more engaged. I mean, Werensky is Werenski.

He always is. Like, it almost doesn't matter the system. He's up in the play, like way up in the play. And there will be times with he and Fabro, they're not together now, where you would see both of those guys, not just below the dots, below the goal line. Right? And like, okay, easy. Now he's with Proverob, and Proverrov, I think, understands maybe more than some of the others how to play with Borensky, where your tendency is to stay back.

Like, he's going to be the guy up on his toes, up in the play, carrying the puck, leading the breakout. You don't see that from a lot of defensemen. But, yeah, they get it. And I think Metechuk, I think the points are going to come from Metteichuk too. Like right now, he's in don't get beat mode, conservative mode. He's a really good, tight space skater, not an incredible straight line skater necessarily, but his agility is incredible, moves the puck really well. I think the points are coming for him.

Eventually, he'll probably be the number two power play guy here. But for now, it's a lot of those points on the D that don't. come from Werensky are the passes to Werenski before the points. Like that, that's kind of where it generates is the second assists. Looking forward to the game tonight, Aaron. Always pleasure having you on the show. Really appreciate your time. Yeah, thanks, guys.

Thanks for a good. Appreciate it. Aaron Portsline. The athletic. I wanted to make sure we get this in because last week I forgot to do it. You get in trouble? No, no. I always, I mean.

You always get in trouble. I'm a bad boy, you know. Leafs line. We didn't do the lease line last week because we didn't have any calls because I didn't talk about it. Yeah. So call the lease line.

You're seeing it on your screen there. 416, 413, 4141. Yeah. Leave us a message. Yeah, positive ones too, right? Well, listen, we have some creative call. You guys are so negative. Pick up the phone and start dialing.

So call us, 416, 413, 4141. We want to have a nice long lease line tomorrow after the game. So I just want to follow up on Olivier because I love them. have a bit of a man crash. Yeah. Yeah. I did. He's awesome.

If that guy, he just signed a long-term deal with Columbus at $3 million. But if that guy made the open market, what would a team like even the Leafs would have been willing to pay him? It's crazy, right? Because what did Frederick get from Edmonton, $3.8,000, $3,000, $3,000.8? Yeah, you're right, 3.8. And you'd say, okay, so you take, he just scored Frederick's career high in goal. he's the league heavyweight.

He just tossed Frederick around with a child, unfortunately. Yeah. I mean, Frederick landed one. You did. Yeah, well, he said. Points for just showing up. Right. But yeah, I mean, probably five.

Yeah, five. Five. Yeah. I love that player. I love the guy. What does he play per night for minutes? 14. Okay, well, that's enough.

13, 14 minutes. That's enough. Pretty good. Right? Yeah. As a third kind of checking guy. Absolutely. but let's see here like yeah look at 14 that

joshua makes more money than he does that hurts to hear yeah i don't like that sentence i sent you guys today someone was talking about trading ryan lomburg from calgary and i was like interesting ryan lomburg i like the lomburgini yeah if you're going to pick one guy to go up against olivia

today that a leaf lineup give me a name craig baroubaugh Craig Murphy Chief Yeah Toughest guy That's all I need for an answer Toughest guy at the team

Yeah Yeah that's a tough one Maybe Benoit No one's going to him Well Who did Benoit He fought Adlerier No

Deloree He didn't fight him He got in there And But that's what it would be Anyone who fought Olivier In the Leafs Would have to be like that

Actually Actually I think he did Maybe fight Olivier Last year Was that the Superman punch? No no no That was against, I think that was against Utah, maybe Kesserling that he fought. I think he did fight him.

I think he did fight Olivier. And like, Olivier took mercy on his soul. I remember, if I remember correctly. Okay. Listen, there's, there's points for showing up. I'm sorry, but. It's a big thing in hockey. Right?

It's big thing in life. Yeah, that's what I get on. That's what I get by on. Sammy, yes. I don't think a win tonight would utter the words out of you. We're back. No, I will not be saying that. But maybe by me.

Monday um no three consecutive wins would be only way he says it three wins would help math uses back with a hat trick on Saturday night that's I mean there's no timetable there's no timetable for his return he's not trying to come up with a scenario where you were back where you were back I had a incredibly premature we're back after the after after the premature we're baculation yeah oh that's the we're happy I will not be saying it for a very long for that, aren't you? Oh my God. I will not be saying it for at least three weeks.

Three weeks. They did fight, by the way. April 5th, 2025. Okay. There's my guy. There's the one guy I can pick out of the lineup. It's pretty slim pickings in that regard. Yep.

So, you know, the Chinikov thing. You know, I'm looking around the league looking for guys that the Leafs could get their hands on. not sure he moves the needle if he's a guy that is this finicky I think Nick Robertson not in his mind

but many in a short period of time has become a pretty important player to Craig Bruby like more than Chinikov yes yeah yeah and I bet that it's just it's the hard work and it's the work

the work ethic the speed the enthusiasm And I'll say that guy has taken his lumps and he keeps coming back and working hard. Yeah. Credit for that. Yeah. And he... It was nice to Nick. It was nice to me.

Yeah. At a alumni function. Overstate the importance of it. That was maybe the most important part of his career. Our thanks to Aaron Portsline from the athletic. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Leafs, trying to put two wins in a row. We go national next. we got the we got kevin chival day off from the winnipeg jets going to join us jets talk baby yes

as we go national next on the real kipper and bourn show