Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Punishing the Panthers

Episode Date: April 2, 2024

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee start with the Leafs' up-and-down win over the Panthers last night. They get into the near-blown lead, Nick Robertson making a case to be on the playoff roster, whether Samsonov has earned trust as the Game 1 starter and the positive presence of the forward depth. Later, Sportsnet's Luke Fox (31:19) shares how the Leafs' are using 'rest as a weapon' ahead of the playoffs, why the starting goalie spot isn't set in stone yet, who will be knocked out of the special teams units when the team is fully healthy and what the Leafs are getting in their latest signing, Jacob Quillan.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.

giddy up the real kipper and born show justin born sammy mckee nick kiprio derrick brandeo and let's welcome back to the program david sis david sis boomba sis boomba is back welcome david do you want more than that? That's all I got. That's all I got, too. Welcome. He's got a really catchy nickname for him. Did you know that he does work with my hometown on Sun Attack? Is that right?

He does. Yeah. Loves the attack. And, unfortunately, my beloved attacker down three zip in the first round to the Memorial Cup host, Saginaw. Wow. Sisyphus. Not going well, boys. Rock up a hill there.

Were we expecting this? Yeah. We were. Yeah, very good. Sisyphus? Yeah, we were. Unfortunately, we're down here for the boys. We'll be back next year.

All good. Welcome aboard, everybody, in Sportsnet 590, Sportsnet 360, and Sportsnet Plus from 4 to 6. As always, download us when you can't catch us live on any of your favorite pods. And remember to text us 590-590. Is this also a shortened week for us?

It is. It is. We're off Friday. We're off Friday. We are. Yeah. You know, those Blue Jays, they love to play day baseball. And we just, we can't work during that time.

We're just too invested in our beloved Toronto Blue Jays, who had such a wonderful evening last night. They were really good, I thought. Oh, good i thought oh my god can you can you no let the jays know if they're gonna kick us off the air on friday they're gonna get a hit gotta get a hit gotta bonk the ball a couple of times yeah i'm telling you not to do jay's takes but like this offense there's a lot of question marks coming into the season this has a a chance to be, you thought the vitriol about Dubas was bad? The vitriol about Ross Atkins this coming season, if it goes south, has a chance to be all world.

Didn't Teoscar hit two the first game or something? He's really good. He's driving in Shohei Otani. I think Lourdes hit a bomb in three straight games. Gabriel Miranda is one of the best players in the league behind the dish. They've had a bad stretch of two years here, and it could get really bad if they're bad this year. So that's my Jays take off the top, boys.

I believe. I can pitch. Bad night for the Jays. Yeah. Good one for the Toronto Maple Leafs. If end result is all that matters against the Florida Panthers, where Austin Matthews scored 61 and 62. Where do you guys want to start?

Because at the end of the day, it's a team that you're going to face, and it's a team that you beat. JB? I think I want to start with do you put stock or any merit into it? There's a funny tweet from our guy guy the oak leafs who was like you know when they were up 5-1 everyone was doing the whole yeah you can't read in and anything into these games anyway and then they start to give up the lead and everyone's going well this just shows their playoff playoff fragility and it was like do we not care about the game or do we care about it

and so i go to you yeah kipper i I care. Okay. 100% I care. I sent out a tweet during the game, as I'm one to do, with the Bart Simpson, him writing on the board, like, and he's in detention, that I will not read too much into this game. I will not read too much into this game because, boy, did I want to read into it the first couple periods,

where I thought the Leafs looked energetic and physical. More invested in that game. And I thought the leafs looked energetic yeah and physical more invested in that game and i thought the panthers looked tired and not their usual offended selves so i don't know what you thought kipper but i can take a whole lot of good and some concerns are bad i don't know where you want to categorize it but uh listen i if i'm talking about a a leaf team that is trending more to the good than the bad i buy into that even last night okay yeah so i didn't like the third period i i didn't like the the sitting back a trend that has been fairly common this season, whether we go back to the Carolina loss,

seems like there's been a lot of games where... Edmonton, where they were within a post from tying it. Can't close out. But there's a lot of other things that I like. Yeah. And what I like the most, probably, if I'm a Leaf fan, is the fact that the Florida Panthers don't look so mighty anymore. Yeah.

I worry about the length of time they have to figure it out, but you're right. They don't look like what they looked like early in the season when they felt like the President's Trophy faves and, as you said, offended all the time. I don't necessarily think that the panthers are going to look the same way they did on you know april whatever they start the playoffs if the lease are playing them i think they'll have a little chance to rest or whatever and get riled up and they'll be inspired i'm not counting on

them to to look like they have in the last two weeks. They do look tired, do they not? Like it's maybe caught up to them a little bit playing that way? It wasn't too long ago where they lost all but three games in 20, I think, where they had this incredible stretch where we gave them first place in the Eastern Conference. We said they were the team to beat. Many times. They looked unbeatable in so many different ways either putting the puck in the net the power play or the physicality and great goaltending now they've come back a little bit and they're one

of a handful of teams that can look vulnerable at times yeah you know i think at times we you know we pick the least parts our job so we do pick them apart at times that it's good i think to step back and be like man last three games here they took care of business 5-1 against the caps 3-0 against the sabers last night they get up 5-1 end up winning 6-4 but they look like the better team like they're they're at a good place right now and you can see they're missing key pieces you know mitch marner and morgan riley haven't been playing and then even more supporting cast where it's easy to step back and say i kind of like what's happening here ilia samsonov i know he gives up four in the end but did you not feel in the early part of that game that he made some

saves that boy i don't know different goaltender in there maybe it's a different outcome i thought he was pretty darn good listen i can make an argument that they may have lost saturday night against buffalo if it wasn't for samson off you're right i don't think that's an unreasonable thing to say he was very good so good yeah all right let's go to sheldon key for his overview of the game and then we'll get into greater detail on what we saw last night pretty direct and just putting putting uh pucks at the net and we had people there which was obviously important for us here tonight. I thought we were really good through two periods. They probably weren't at their best, and we capitalized on that.

And then probably a little bit of a reverse in the third. There you go. There it is. You know, there was good support players. I don't know how much you're gonna they're gonna factor in down the road but like you know nick robertson has these moments where you're like he's gonna score 30 for someone at some point like the way he can skate and shoot i know he does other things that we're less sure about but pretty good support play i thought from

the leafs last night well when you factor in factor in Matthew Nye's had a good game. Yeah. A Holmberg looked solid. So these depth players are looking a lot more comfortable for sure. Just to get your, my thoughts on Nick Robertson is that he looks like a guy that's getting sick and tired of being sick and tired. Yeah. And he's just going to go out there and play.

He's going to hunt down pucks. He's going to be more forceful for a guy that doesn't look that big and strong and more assertive. Yeah. So his movements are a lot more confident. He's quick. He's very quick, and we saw that on the breakaway. Yeah.

I don't know if it's going to be in a starting role game one, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. What matters is that if he feels whenever his number is called upon, then he can find a way to contribute. That, to me, is the key for a successful team in the playoffs. What happened when they, the Habs, the year they beat the Leafs, they scratched Cole Caulfield for the first two games of that series.

Remember that? Where everyone was like, why isn't he playing? And there's a big uproar about him not being in the lineup. And then they started him in game four or game three they missed he missed the first couple and then he came back he was inspired he got hot and he was one of the keys to their like longer run yeah like i think there are some parallels where you sit him out for a couple playoff games you're need a jolt and you put him in there and he gets a couple and he never comes back out again like i will say that i've been one of the bigger nick robertson you know

i've been critical of him, but I think he looks a lot better than he has, and I loved him last night, except for the third period where he wasn't. Turn over there. I don't mind the comparison, but it's just unrealistic that Nick could come in to play that type of role that Cole Caulfield did back then. Well, the opportunity won't be there.

It won't be there. They have too many top guys, but I see your point, and point and i think you know there's something to be said for a guy who you can see a world where they're not going to get some offense for a game or two and he does come in and like there aren't many guys that when they get the puck whether from distance or whatever if he gets a look at the net it's almost like austin matthews in terms of shooting he can't create the shots as well he doesn't get the opportunity as much, but his ability to put away and unscreen shots up there with some of the elite guys.

So yeah, you can see him being involved here. Funny talking about Robertson like this because we're starting the show talking about him and Samsonov, a guy who I think I've probably been the hardest on on this show. And I mean, you're a fool if you don't change your mind after a certain amount of performances. Like, he's been too good for me to think

that he's anything but the guy. Game one. I'm back. Okay, I'm not. Oh, come on. No, no, no. I don't want to take anything away from him. He deserves to be the first guy in the net.

Game one. Okay, okay, that's all I'm saying. I just don't trust him still. That's all. Okay. That's all. That's all I'm saying. I'm with you there.

He could be a fish out of water, and we're not going to put on our surprise faces. Not at all. So we're at the same page. Same page. Steve Simmons asked Keith last night, one of the last questions in the scrum, alluded to the fact, like,

if he's making your decision for you sort of thing like he asked him that question and if you want to play the the response to it if you want to go to clip seven there derrick perfect well i think he's he's uh definitely getting close to that in the sense that he's you know he is he's the he's the goalie of record to help us win the first playoff series in a real long time here in this city, and there's that, first of all. And then the other part of it is him to find himself with his game, and he's certainly done that. Another good effort for him here again.

It's a tough third period for our group and for him, but made some big saves for us again here tonight. He's certainly building lots of momentum. Joe Wall got experience last year too, and he'll be hungry. Our job is to have two goalies thriving and being ready to go when the playoffs come. Hey, he called in the starter. Yeah.

Listen, he's... It's a goalie record. He knows there's some people in that room that are really dumb but not that dumb to suggest anything but yeah so as we said like a couple days ago it's his to lose that doesn't mean that out of eight games i don't know what you need wall to get in three maybe does he get minimum does wall get tomorrow night yeah no why not no i'm playing him against you can't maybe saturday then yes saturday in montreal saturday in montreal yep if you're you're setting the stage to make one guy feel good though then wall's gonna get

the worst team he's gonna play well he's gonna you guys are gonna muddy the waters here there's no there's no there's no guarantee but there's no like we can make an argument either side i know um but it is interesting he said that you know he's basically making the decision for me what do you say he's certainly moving in that direction he's the goalie of record i this guy what day was he waved i don't remember but he was waved and every team in the nhl said don't want him and he was waived, and every team in the NHL said, don't want him. And he is your game one starter. Do you know how triumphant a comeback that is?

He was placed on waivers on New Year's Day. They didn't want to play him in the American League for fear of it going worse, for fear of him getting lit there and going, God. I know I'm going to throw something out that will make me sound like hindsight's 2020 here but that's what we do baby this is sports talk radio but if if i'm uh if i'm a general manager right now on the outside looking in like i would have i would have claimed

him yeah i would have claimed him it would have been 25 have claimed him. It would have been. 25-26. He's won a playoff round. Good stats. He's on a one-year deal with half of it gone. So if you would have claimed him, put him in a situation where he looked half decent. Like Detroit doesn't want him? Devils don't want him? You could have gone back and traded him yeah at the at the trade deadline yeah oh you're saying those teams yeah you're right and if if he would have got to

the point where he he looked really good and you if you're la jersey right jersey you're knocked on the door of mark strom you didn't get him because the price was too high. Why wouldn't you have given up a second or a third for a rejuvenated Samsonov who you essentially did what the Leafs did and give him a fresh start? Anthony Petrilli brought this up with me on Leafs Talk. The Leafs waiver

luck this year has been unbelievable. Who else did we have? Benoit? Benoit, McMahon, and Martin Jones. And Samsonov. And they all, if Dubas Benoit, McMahon, and Martin Jones. And Samsonov. And they all, if Dubas is here, they'd all be gone. God, that's a reasonable take. It's hard not to think. Jersey, how could you not have put a claim in for a guy that's on an expiring contract

that beat Tampa Bay last year in the first round? Because you're like just a flyer like he's no better than akira schmid who maybe is going to turn into god samson's young too so anyways he was so bad oh he was it was bad he was bad he was bad according like i'm just you know but you've also seen him really good a short while ago it's not like he's he's been bad for yeah many many years his numbers when he was waived he had an 862 say percentage of 362 and a 394 uh goals against when he was waived so i think it was the worst out of the 60 some goal goalies that had played the league at the time. Yeah. Yeah. Correct. Yeah.

There you go. Anyways. Other positives that I saw last night as well, and just to go on our theme of supporting cast, like Matthew Nyes. Yeah. So here's a guy that has been thrown in coming out of college on a number one line, and hey, turn yourself into Chris Kreider right away, by the way.

It didn't happen. The numbers are really good, considering you're a rookie guy coming out of college. But the expectations, I think, the bar was so high for him, it was just unachievable. And that's why it feels at times that he's he's let maybe leaf nation down but in reality he's having a fantastic rookie year he really is 21 year old he's got i don't know he's got 12 goals and 30 some points and plays a lot of minutes does he hold on to the puck every once

in a while does he turn it over in inopportune times yes yes yes but that's all part of the learning curve of being an nhler and he's one of those guys that can break it open in a moment like he doesn't need to be great but he'll get some chances too like robertson he can he can put it away um did you want to hear keith talk about that line and robertson they he was asked about robertson and the guys he played with it's a good clip uh number six there derrick huge goal hugeved it. He's got that game-breaking ability. It's what you love to see. You know, we talked as coaches before the game here today.

I was going to put that line in some tough spots tonight on purpose and see how they could handle it. And some of it really good. That's a great moment in the game. They had a couple other really good moments. They obviously scored another goal in the second period. They're on the ice for the two goals in the third. And again, I'm kind of purposely putting them in some tough spots

and having them work their way through it. That's part of the growing pains. You've got three first-year players essentially all on the same line. It's a tough opponent over there, but they'll be better having gone through it tonight. That's interesting. So did you, because were you pissed that they were on the ice in those situations?

Because I was thinking to myself, like, why are they out there? And then he answered it post-game. I even noticed they had, like, the Reeves line. By the way, I thought Ryan Reeves was very good last night. He's skating way better than he did the first part of the year but also yeah i thought it was notable that that line was out there protecting leads and then one one tickled the twine one thing that does bother me about sheldon doing this is like there's nine games left so it's a playoff. Exactly. Couldn't have done this in November. December. This is what an 82-game regular season is for. Now, now you want to give them these moments, right?

But you chose in November to play your horses 24 minutes a night. So I think probably somebody got into his ear a little bit or you know maybe finally he feels like they're assured of where they're going to be in the playoffs and he wasn't so sure i just hope that there's enough time here yeah that they can they can work themselves into those scenarios in the in the playoffs and remain calm but kip don't forget this guy was coaching for his job at times in the regular season i mean he was yeah we were we had him on the hot seat several times there were times where it felt like he had must win stretches of hockey where he was playing his stars like it was must win hockey particularly that western road trip where they

went and played was it in calgary in edmonton they blew that lead late in edmonton and they played in calgary beat them and then beat seattle i remember that that was the time which is why i remember which is is a valid point yeah it's not good but you're going into the first round when you lose if you, when you lose game one or you're down 2-1 in the series, your job is on the line again. Yes. So what are you going to do? You're going to resort to what you did when your job was on the line in November or December.

Yes, absolutely. So what is the point now then of... Well, they didn't get the experience then, so I think better they get it now than not at all. I mean, it's cramming for the test a little bit. Right. But the question is, in the playoffs, if there's a scenario where will you trust these guys or will you go back to your old ways?

You'll go back to your old ways because they're better. But didn't you have some great sample sizes with seven games to go in the record yeah and they got lit up they had scored one twice in the third period here's your sample size we know to not do that any coach regardless of if their job's on the line or it's not which it definitely is for keith and i think he would understand that even if he was here and asked him say the same thing but like every coach is going to be playing to win every game hard in the playoffs. It's not like he's going to be experimenting then.

Even if you're whatever, Paul Maurice or any guy that has a job solid, they're not going to be experimenting in the playoffs. I think this is just kind of the time of year. I think the likelihood is that one of these guys may find themselves on a line. You know, like you may find Nize is with the big boys. He needs to be in those moments or whatever. They won't be out there together, but they may be out there individually what'd you think of the nise uh jump when he jumped uh yeah i liked it i liked it and i mean we're playing hit by micola but like that doesn't

matter clean not clean i don't care don't hurt our guy yeah i thought it could have been a two for interference sure but not like really dirty yeah i guess i'm not here yeah yeah i wish it wasn't between his last fight and that attempt that it was like two months you wish the gap wasn't so substantial exactly like can you can you be that guy every night i do wonder is it in you yeah matthew nyes i think when he toggles the switch on the it seems like they had a talk to me, like going into this game that like, you can't go into that game and have Florida dominate you, physically humiliate you.

Like Nyes' response there to me didn't feel like he was mad about what happened so much as being cognizant of the opponent and the situation in the season. Yeah, I think one of the main other than the leafs goal scoring which is clearly the most important part of the game but i think one of the things we talked about a ton during that playoff series last year is that they look like they were intimidated by the florida panthers and they look like they were physically outmatched they didn't enjoy that part of it and watching that game last night like i couldn't help but think that the least look far less intimidated in terms of

the physicality. Like they're just a different team. They are. And they feel different in that way. But it is, you know, even though it didn't look that way, you know,

for a good portion of half the season, like the, the blue, the blueprint was drawn out by Brad Treeliving that he wanted a heavier, snottier team. And although it took a while to arrive, I thought that was another different look last night, regardless of a bad third period, that they weren't intimidated.

They didn't get run out of the building. It wasn't a Kachuk and Bennett show last night where you're just eating a crap sandwich. And for Matthew Knives to go from that of last spring to being buried by him and essentially knocked out of the series to a guy being the aggressor

on Mikala was another good sign for the Toronto Maple Leafs. And I think, you know, some of the depth guys that they have have been very good players. I think Andre Kasha is a good example of someone who I liked a lot as a player. after the whistle tyler bertuzzi hasn't been the greasy tough guy i thought he might be but it's nice that in those games he'll do it and he's always he's a baseball he's always there you know and guys like kasha and mckeah and they weren't right

like bertuzzi does have his uh fist in people's face the other thing i wanted to make sure i got out because i have now praised robertson and samsonov is that from the start of the year till now i can't tell you how much better i think max domey is and not that i think his skill has is any different i think his commitment to the defensive side of the puck to being f3 to coming back hard is really good and i think you can play him on a line that cares about defense. Like, I think he's responsible enough now that I would put him on a line, like, I trust him now.

And so that, like, yeah, these are, I know I'm coming out with a lot of, I've changed. I trust. I'm a new man today. Yeah. But I do, I just really feel like he's matured as a hockey player.

I don't think Marner's playing tomorrow night. We have an update on Riley and Mitch from the coach this morning, if you'd like to hear it. I do. Clip eight, please. Morgan will be available for us. Mitch, I haven't had a chance to discuss with him here yet since he's come off the ice.

But, you know, I think with him, we're just going to feel it out and talk to him and likely make it more of a target for the weekend. Yeah. Like, if we're not sure, he's not playing. They don't want him to play. Pardon? They don't want him to play for the weekend. He's probably dying to play.

Yeah. I do think this is one of those things that wait until it's ready and tack on a week, you know? I'm sure that. Is that almost three weeks now? That's the month of March, wasn't it? It was the second. Almost 10 games?

Second Bruins game, right, that they played in Boston. Yeah, it was March the 7th. It's now April... Almost a month. Yeah. It's a long time. I mean, ankles are tough. I was presuming. I think it's ankle, right? Don't, I mean, not that they're going to rush him back and get it or whatever, but like, they do need to get him playing

hockey games here. Yeah, he's got a few weeks. Yeah, still, like... Oh, no, you're getting close. What's Montreal? Seven games to go? Seven games to go, but that's march 6th and the season ends the 11th april 6th right season ends the 17th something and they play in the 20th so it's good it gives them two weeks all right we cannot um oh riley by the way just quickly before we move on riley leaves now uh four and oh again without him god just stay on positive please but it is it is just sort of the thing it's like god how big is the sample size gonna get before

four and oh again like he's like could you guys just lose taking hell all right if you're gonna go this negative way sammy then let's uh let's talk a little bit before we break on the third period. Oh, my God. Okay? That's pretty important. You cannot go the first block without. I can't believe we went 26 minutes. I know, 26 minutes without mentioning a third period.

I lied. They're 3-1. They lost the Devils. That's better. Yeah. I feel better. I'm an idiot. All right, let's go to Sheldon Keefe on his third period last night.

Flip two. We just stopped moving the puck with any sort of efficiency, you know, and just kind of lost our energy. We lost what we had going well for us in the second period especially. In terms of what I put into it, I don't like it, you know, we lost what we had going well for us in the second period especially. And in terms of what I put into it, I don't like it, you know, but it's hard for me to put myself in their shoes, you know, up four goals in game 74 and you're getting ready for game 75. So, you know, we did enough good things through two periods

to be able to have enough of a cushion to afford that. But obviously you don't like it. What changes for you when this happened to them? Just a lot of negativity. A lot of negative thoughts. Negative vibes. They become timid or scared. I think they stop making plays.

Like, I don't think it's about they're not banging it off the boards enough. Well, they make bonehead plays, too. They chase behind the net, and they just get dumb. It's the best way I can describe it. But to me, it's like, you know, there's this thing you're up in a game,

and you're supposed to make the simple play. But that doesn't mean that you can't look for a good play. And a lot of times it becomes to just give it back to them and let them come back at you. Or they make a lot of plays earlier in the game and try to, you know, hang on to the puck a little bit more. If I was, you know, if this hasn't happened in the past, what I would say to you is that they're missing

three of their top six defensemen. They're missing two of their most defensively conscious forwards in Marner and Yarncroft. And they're playing Nick Robertson and Matthew Knives and Holbrook. Yeah, but even when those guys have been in the lineup, we've seen meltdowns in the third period. But last night, to me, it was more about just who they were playing and situations and less about, like, history. I just thought, like, Ryan Reeves is on the ice to close the game. Basically they hadn't like Roberts was on the ice twice to give up a goal

at the end. They're trying things out here. I don't think last night was as much about ghosts and, you know, them getting nervous as it usually is in the other game. All right. Is that fair or no? Yeah.

And like the goals, you know, we've praised Samson off like, you know, not the best. You didn't like the Sam Reinhardt goal where he's got all day to find a guy in the slot. Didn't love Bennett's either. It's from distance.

Samsonov's was a bad goal he gave up for Bennett. And that's allowed. Right. You know. So we'll give him a pass. Is it allowed? It is. Okay.

It is when you've been playing well since Jan. But yes, it's, you know, you don't want to see to see it does make me that's one of the things that makes me uncomfortable is you know the knock was that you weren't sure if you could trust him when the moments got big and that kind of reaffirms that a bit quickly before we go uh Simone Benoit last night plus four plus four see how does he not have a milk sponsorship yet? How is he not brought to you by the Farmers of Ontario? Big milk? Big milk.

What? What's the connection? You don't know he's a big milk guy? Have you seen this? He drinks milk every night before bed. The Leafs did like a segment with him. They put five different milks in front of him, and he could sort them by different percentage of milk fat.

He's a milk guy. Really? Grown man, glass of milk before bed every night. When's the last time you drank a glass of milk? I like it in my cereal every once in a while. I'm not sure I can tell you the difference between two and three percent though. This guy's drinking it out of a pint

glass like a child. I love it. I think, you know i heard you guys on friday talk about what uh simone benoit is but you know again he looks pretty good and like he's pretty young still and to give him on that contract and he's gotten back into the lineup and look good more questions about the playoff lineup when it comes to defense and no one's talking about lily pad where's Lilypad? Is he alive? No. Sure haven't missed him a ton.

He's turned the closest thing into Jake Muzzin. Who? Lilligren. Benoit. Oh. Lilypad. Lily's been, he disappears sometimes. That's all I thought you meant.

Okay. We'll take a quick break. When we return, Luke Fox, NHL writer for Sportsnet.ca, will join us further. A deeper dive into the Toronto Maple Leafs as they get ready for Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night. Don't go away. Everything Raptors, before and after the games.

The Raptors Show with Will Liu. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Leaf Edition of the Real Kipper and Bourne Show. Let's welcome in Luke Fox. Luke. There he is. Luke. There he is. Luke.

Darth Vader? How are you doing, guys? I think it was. We're good, man. I think it was. Sorry for your intro today. I am not your father, Luke. What's going on, man?

Every time we get you on the show, you get a day off. You notice that? I don't have a day off. You notice that? The Leafs canceled practice. You got the day off. Oh, yeah. Oh, I caught you in a lie. I'm still writing. I don't think so. You definitely didn't.

It's funny because the first time I heard the phrase rest is is a weapon was when gui boucher was head coach of the senators and he would drag that out all the time and it seems to be catching on in leaf's quarters um shelvin keith was saying today that you know he loved how they responded from the new jersey game when he called them out. They actually didn't practice. To your point, Nick, about them cancelling practice, they didn't practice after that Jersey game. All they did was go over video of all their mistakes,

and they came out and had a fine response. So that's kind of given the staff some confidence that maybe, hey, maybe video is okay at this point just because their schedule is just so packed and everything they're doing right now is with an eye toward the playoffs. So they're prioritizing rest over practice. But yeah, the original plan was to have a full practice and they just chopped it, sent the guys on exercise bikes and went over some tape. That's good.

You know what else is a weapon? Good cardio. So I hope they're staying on top of that and not just not practicing anymore. You know, looking at the standings today, waking up and, you know,

you're looking at all the playoff races, wildcard spots, who can creep in. You look at the Leafs and where they're at. They're now four points behind Florida with a game in hand and they play Florida again. Is there some thought? And frankly,

they're only six back of Boston with two games in hand on them is is there any thought that this would be worth pursuing for them does it make a difference if they get up there it doesn't feel like a priority and what's interesting to me is that in past seasons Sheldon Keefe has made it public that winning the Atlantic division was a priority. I think he was kind of using that as a carrot, realizing on paper they have the talent. They should be able to win the division. They should be able to, you know, vie for a president's trophy. So I think, you know, after a few playoff disappointments, he was kind of using that as something to shoot for to try and make the regular season more meaningful.

This year, it's not a topic of conversation at all. And it was interesting. You know, Paul Maurice brought it up yesterday when we were at the rink, basically saying, is home ice even an advantage? You look at the Panthers and the Leafs. Their road records are fantastic. Their home record's not so good. So do you want to kill yourself to get home ice advantage when you're playing a team that's good on the road and you're good on the road?

I don't know if it matters that much. I mean, you want to be feeling well. You don't want to go into the season on a five-game losing streak. You want to feel confident. But standings-wise, it might actually help the Leafs to start on the road with a fresh set of mind and feel like an underdog we're talking to Luke Fox who does a terrific job covering the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca Luke not to take anything away from the Leafs in those first two periods but were you and some of your colleagues in the press box watching the Florida Panthers last night and going, this definitely isn't the team that they were six weeks ago.

Yes. And the record will reflect that. I was working on a little something on Tarasenko, and it's kind of funny. You know, they make that ad, and on paper it looks great. You know, they get him out of bargain because he holds a full no move and kind of can kind of force his hand to florida but he's been a bit of a funny fit you know he explodes for for three points in the third period there uh and they looked a little bit more themselves in the third and that's probably partly the leafs kind of stopped moving their feet

as well uh but the panthers have looked a little off, and it's going to be interesting to see how that affects their postseason because so much of their run to the Cup Final was built on the momentum of them feeling like they were playing playoff games for a month. They felt like they had to scratch and claw into the postseason. So then when they finally got there and they drew this you know supposedly frightening one seed at boston bruin in the boston bruins that had just set records and everything and everyone counted them out they were already in playoff mode and so if they go in like this kind of you know kind of middling their way through the stretch

i wonder if that could have a negative effect on them. Because you're right, Nick. They didn't look like the fearsome Panthers that they had shown through not only the playoffs last year, but the beginning of this season. So we got some updates on some of the guys. The Leafs will be presumably throwing in Florida when they get to playoffs.

Morgan Riley going to come back on Wednesday, it sounds like. Mitch Marner. We're not clear on what about Timothy Lilligran? I still don't even know what injury he has or a timeline or what they're looking at there. Yeah, they say upper body, but they've gotten really secretive with the injury. So Morgan Riley, the plan is for him to return. And he was asked point blank during their avail today. And he said, yeah, it's nothing major.

It's nothing I want to talk about. You know, he shut down. He didn't want to say how he got injured in Raleigh. You know, they're not going there. It's all of a sudden, you know, we're in playoff month. So everything's under lock and key. Mitch Marner sounds like probablyurday now is where they're leaning towards but yeah lilligran it's gonna be weeks not it's not a day-to-day situation

but what they're hoping for is that he gets back in at least one of those two games the back-to-back final week of the season squeeze him in so he's not coming in cold but yeah they're not specifics on the injury i don't, and they're not saying. Not sure, Luke, if there's even enough games in the regular season left for Samsonov to lose his status as being game one goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs. But is there any inkling that you have at all on how many starts they're going to give Wall between now and the end of the season?

And we know they have three more games against Florida teams. Yeah, I think it'll be probably an even split. I would for sure start Wall tomorrow against Tampa Bay. Some of Samsonoff's worst outings were against Kucherov, lit him up, chased him a couple times back in the fall. Plus, Samsonoff's just played two games, two wins. Wall's been sitting for a while, so I would absolutely go back to the fall. Plus, Samsonov's just played two games, two wins. Wall's been sitting for a while. So I would absolutely go back to Joseph Wall

tomorrow against the Lightning. And I expect a pretty even split. I think you're right. I think Samsonov definitely has the lead. Shelby Keefe was asked about it and said that it's close to being a foregone conclusion that he's the number one. But if we've learned anything from watching the Toronto Maple Leafs crease this year, we should know that nothing is guaranteed.

So let's see how the final eight games here play out. But if they were to start tomorrow, I would start Sampson off 100%. But they want both guys feeling good because i don't think you'd have to stretch your mind too far to imagine both guys appearing in a series i i also there's got to be a 30 chance martin jones plays early like 20 i he'll get in again in the regular season for sure won't he i would think so i mean if fans recall how they finished the the end of last year they were calling up guys from the Marlies. It was like full load management because their playoff position was locked and loaded.

Especially because their last two games are against Florida and Tampa, two teams they could meet down the road. I think you just prioritize health over everything, and so that includes the goalie. Martin Jones is sitting there healthy and ready, capable. Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised for him to get in one of those games.

And, you know, presumably like if one of these guys who's injury prone gets injured and the other guy has a bad game or two, like he legit may play. So that makes some sense to me. Special teams are an interesting topic for the Toronto Maple Leafs. PK kind of warming back up.

It's been pretty bad this year. PP been pretty good this year. Kind of ice cold. Where are we at on the state of their special teams? A real sore spot. Yeah. Yeah. And what's fascinating is that it's flipped

over the last week to 10 days. So I'll start with the positive, and that's the penalty kill that's finally getting some traction. They had a bunch of meetings about it and sheldon kind of said to be honest we probably should address this sooner and some of us reporters were like yeah you're in the bottom third of the league all year long uh but it's good i mean it's it's finding some traction at the right time and that's without marner without yarn crock um part of it is is, you know, that Bobby McMahon was saying is they're just more aggressive.

They're thinking less. They're reading off each other a little bit better. Underlying all this, I think Samsonov has been phenomenal. He's been their best penalty killer on a lot of nights. So there's that too. But they're no longer the playoff team with the worst penalty kill percentage. It's on the rise. I think they're 15 for 15 or 16 for the last 16, something like that.

So that's a good story. On the flip side, the power play has gone ice cold. And a lot of that is probably you don't have the engine there on the flank in Mitch Marner. That's part of it. And I asked Sheldon Keefe about it after the game last night, and he said it's more than just that, though. He's like, we're just a little bit off.

Our execution isn't there. We're not acting as quickly. There's been some games, quite honestly, guys, where there's been more shorthanded chances the other way than the Leafs have had quality looks on their power play. And it's undone them in past playoffs, so they need to get that sharpened up. Maybe it starts tomorrow night, now that

Morgan Riley's coming back, because, you know, God loved Connor Timmons, but you don't want him running your PP1. So, eventually, when everybody does come back healthy, Luke, who's on the outside looking in? Because we've seen two versions of the power play this season

for the Toronto Maple Leafs one that includes John Tavares and one that doesn't and where is Todd Purdue or Tyler Bertuzzi in all of this on a power play scenario once the games really start mattering in the playoffs it's got to be Tavares I just think you know you know, Sheldon Keefe, his future with the team could be on the line come playoff time. And who are you going to bet on? You're going to bet on the five guys that are the core of this team, that are the highest paid, that have spent the most time on the ice with one another. You know, I really look at the Bertuzzi thing as a midseason thing to help Bertuzzi get going. And excellent coaching by Keith.

If we're going to criticize him when he does something wrong, we've got to praise him for doing something right. I think giving Bertuzzi some time on PP1, it wasn't the whole thing, but it played a factor in him starting to put some pucks in the net and starting to get his confidence up. And it came at the right time. But when push comes to shove, we've seen this in the net and starting to get his confidence up. And it came at the right time. But when push comes to shove, you know, the same, we've seen this in the past too. It's like,

okay, we'll try Klingberg on the point. We'll try Rasmus Sandin on, on the point. But I think when it really matters, we're going to go back to the five guys we've always seen running that thing. So I know you spend every waking minute dissecting the NHL club. So not expecting an in-depth scouting report,

but they signed Jacob Quillen, a guy out of Quinnipiac who, yeah, spend every waking minute dissecting the nhl club so not expecting an in-depth scouting report but they signed jacob quillen a guy uh out of quinnipiac who yeah scored the goal in the frozen four game to break matthew nize's heart right to win the national championship they got the kid and now teammates maybe next year could be what uh what do you know about this guy what are your thoughts on this signing yeah i don't know a ton about him i don't watch a lot of college hockey we asked matt and i's last night actually and he said he played one game against him it was the championship game the worst game of his life basically uh but you know good on him he said you know we'll welcome welcome him to the organization with open arms what i do

know is that he was highly sought after that last off season, the Bruins actually invited this kid to their development camp and they were all over him. And they were one of many teams considering signing him. So, you know, I, I leave the scouting reports to the guys who follow that much closer that

that level much closer than me, but Hey, you get another exciting guy on drafted. He's free, right? Free agent doesn't, you get another exciting guy undrafted. He's free, right? Free agent. Doesn't cost you anything except less than a million bucks a year. Why not take a flyer on him?

And you also keep him away from a rival in Boston that also had eyes for him. I'll give the Toronto media like six weeks, and this guy will be the biggest untouchable there is in the history of Maple Leaf prospects. Kipper, you're the media. No, I'm controlling you guys. This is like a daily... You guys are the hype machine of all hype machines. Alright, Luke. You're un-untouchable on our show, man.

That's for sure. Thanks for doing this. Thanks, Luke. Alright. Thanks, guys. Take care. Sportsnet.ca's Luke Fox. Books. Our boy Bookle, Jason Bookle care. Sportsnet.ca's Luke Fox. Books. Our boy Bookle, Jason Bookle, has an article on this Jacob Quillen. Okay. Sammy and I both text Books because we just wanted to scoop on this kid.

Yeah. Books loves him. Like, engine, work, center. He won defensive player of the year in the ECAC in his conference. He won champion or national player of the tournament in the NCAA. We want a quick scouting report from the pro hockey group. Let's hear it. From Bukla.

Quillen finished 18th overall in NCAA scoring in 23-24. 17 goals, plus 17. 55.9 faceoff. Averaged over 20 minutes ice all situations in playoffs NCAA tournament for Quinnipiac. He's the kind of player who can be deployed in a variety of roles. Quillen plays quick and fast,

tracks up and down the entire 200 feet. He scores several of his goals from between the hash marks in the middle of the offensive zone and around the crease via tips and rebounds. A relentless competitor who extends every play along the board and battles for positioning in the trenches, boys. He doesn't cut corners defensively, rotates very well in the PK,

and jumps to lose pucks quickly. No discernible holes in his game at the college level. Projects as a solid third-line NHL forward who plays with detail and could provide better than secondary offense. Kip talked to us. Six weeks of Toronto media will have him there. We just did it in six minutes.

He also enjoys fishing in the offseason. He likes fast cars and fast women. Love this guy. More, if you want more on him, just read Book's article because the best in the business. Go get your Kool and Jersey. Yeah. We're in. Okay, what do you think is wrong with the power play?

Mitch Marner's not on it. That's it? Yeah. You got. Nobody passed. Just one guy passed the puck. You got over $30 million without Mitch Marner. All shooters.

No one can... Nobody wants to pass the puck. They got a million bucks at the top, Connor Timmons. It's not that... Honestly, if I'm not being glib, they can't get it set up in the same way. Nylander is good on the entries. Mitch is excellent on the entries.

They are having trouble, to me, getting it across the blue with possession. So they're not having the prolonged Ozone time they need prolonged ozone time they need this has been a very big problem over the years for sheldon keefe what the power play when he's needed it most over his tenure as a head coach of the toronto maple leafs it has failed him miserably absolutely last year they're 26 in the regular season they were 25 in the playoffs. It's the first year they haven't been down 7% or worse. And what happened last year?

They didn't win. They won a round. Yeah. So it worked. And then they went ice cold in the second round. Ice. We should mention Growlers. Yeah, I wanted to just mention that.

Yeah, just quickly. The ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is not good. This is really sad. Ceases operations today. Newfoundland is done. Where are the leafs just uh stroke a check and buy them i don't know i don't know how this works do they not use them do they not use them as a feeder yeah they have newton but the thing is it is 10 times more difficult you know it's not an easy place to get in and out of in the winter when you need to and yeah calling someone up it's like sorry

there's a snowstorm they lose millions on the toronto marlies yeah i'm sure they do but that's you know you develop one guy and you make that money back it's that makes sense to me the echl it's hard to like newfoundland had an ahl team i don't know seven eight years ago great fans i know hockey town i played a i did a i played a game there did you i did yeah yeah mean, it's an awesome place. And I feel for their fans. They deserve a team there. It's just really not a practical solution for teams, not an efficient thing.

It's sad. It's sad. Yeah, I don't know what to say because it's sad. I get that it's not an efficiency, but, boy, that's a good hockey market. Yeah. Great place to have a team, and I'm really sad. I loved going there yeah too bad all right uh just one last note on the specialty teams uh tampa bay comes in with

a very hot power play let me just check where they are first in the edge winning almost a 30 percent you will get the ultimate test on the PK. Well. Florida was good at their top five, but I don't know what's going on with them. But Tampa comes in feeling a lot better than Florida did last night. You know what's going on with them? These penalty kills. Just too good now.

Get touched upon. All right. We're just getting warmed up here. All about the specialty teams on the Real Kipper Inborn Show. Who do we got coming up? Jamal? Jamal May is waiting outside the studio. He's waiting outside in studio guest as we continue and we go national on the Real Kipper Inborn Show.

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