Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Second Line Surges Over Philly

Episode Date: March 26, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' 7-2 beat down over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. They get into the inspiring recent play of John Tavares and the second line, what the Leafs' ideal bottom six would look like, Nick Robertson's chances at starting Game 1 in the playoffs, William Nylander hitting the 40-goal mark and much more. Then, they weigh in on the Flyers' future and head coach John Tortorella's frustrated post-game comments. Finally, they go to McKee's Midweek Mailbag to answer your questions!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 affiliate.

I'm going to get it going here on the real Kipper and born show. Nick Kiprio is Justin born Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo and Jake the snake Schultz is the leaf hour edition of our program live on sports. That five 90 the fans sports at three 60 sportsman plus just Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet Plus. Just mere moments ago, the transfer of studios from the Blair and Barker show, which we welcome them back. It's home opener tomorrow. We're all jacked. Yeah, we're all pumped. Yeah. I came in and I mentioned to Jeff and Kevin. Yes. I'm really excited about the season. The tickets are a tad expensive.

And they laid a beating on me! That was unrelenting. It was really nice to not do it, but to get to witness it. An absolute beating. You know, a good teammate, maybe I should have stepped in on your behalf, but I was kind of enjoying it.

Barker was Chara and I was McCabe. Do you remember that? Yes. Ragdolled. That was great. Good dudes. And by the way, the tickets are properly priced to watch our beloved Toronto Blue Jays.

Absolutely. It's okay, the food's better, the popcorn's fresher. Yeah. You're aimed at the actual baseball game now, which is nice. A little more room. I wanna get into those comfy seats behind home plate. Okay, well, I mean, just buy them.

You know anybody? You have the money, just buy them. You know, circle a game against the Royals in May and you can sit right behind the home plate with this thing called money. That you have, never. I've never done that. There's nothing for me.

What's the deal? Do you know what the deal is? No. It's all you can eat, all you can drink. Oh really? I don't know that. I'm asking. Oh, I don't know about that.

Somebody must have dished out the bucks for it. Fancy people text our show and tell us what it's like to sit behind home plate and do- Oh, what's the guy from Rush that sits back there? Geddy Lee. Maybe Geddy Lee listens to our show. Text us in, Geddy Lee, and tell us. That would be incredible.

First of all, they're too comfortable. I'd be asleep probably. 20 minutes. And they'll be, Nick Kiprios from Sportsnet falls asleep. But there was no sleeping last night. Nice, Seg. For the Toronto Maple Leafs as they pounded

the Florida or Philadelphia Flyers. I can't even remember who they are. Hey, quickly, before we get into that, you mentioned yesterday about Jacob Chickren, and we were talking about the eight-year contract, and then we were talking about the contract you would get after his eight-year contract, and we were talking about like the contract you would get after his eight-year contract And we're like that's a long way away like maybe what Jim Nance today

Just enough I saw this what that his last Masters is gonna be 2036 so he has given us an 11-year runway So let's talking about Jacob Chickert's next contract totally within our rights. Yeah, totally Farewell tour is not 11 years Jim I'm sorry. It might get hit by lightning. Keep yesterday said we're all gonna drop dead of a heart attack I said we go Ovi shouldn't be passing up any that's right. That made sense. Anyways, I thought it was funny. All right, I wasn't on yesterday's show overly excited about the game.

No, you weren't. Because I had a real strong feeling that while it may be good for padding your stats, I'm not sure what you can get. I was actually expecting that type of game Saturday night against Nashville. It didn't happen, but it certainly happened last night You know, it doesn't happen that often over the course of a year You know really and you play lots of bad teams lots of times But that was the single and I'll say the word that people might say that was an easy win

It was an easy hockey game Philly didn't make it hard on them in any direction. The goaltender was yeah really really bad I kind of feel bad for the Leafs because... David Erson? There's... Yeah, David. No, David Erson. Gotcha, gotcha. Erson. Gotcha, there we are. Thank you. There's no real way to come out of that game other than you did what you're supposed to do, opposed to, hey, really saw some great things out there. There was no way to win. There's no way to come in here and ever.

But they did everything they could do and should do. Yes, that they were supposed to do. But we learned nothing. Nothing. I feel no different about anything in any direction. Learned anything more about third or fourth lines? Did we learn anything more about shutting down a team and not blowing a lead I mean did we learn nothing but putting a team away that was supposed to be put away

Not nothing nothing for me. Yeah, I mean yes, they okay they executed and I did their job You know great plays Willie Nylander obviously made some some wonderful plays four-point night Tavares continued to stay hot ten goals in the month of March is leading the NHL for him, which is plays Willie Nylander obviously made some some wonderful plays four-point night Tavarez continued to stay hot ten goals in the month of March is leading the NHL for him, which is Fantastic the power play was buzzing. They did they were it was great. It was a fun relaxing game to watch not often watching the Leafs Sammy, I'm sure you'd agree would you just be like this is pleasant. This is in hand. Yeah No, especially this year. They haven't blown out anybody Yeah, so it is that I think if there's one thing that I learned about watching last night that maybe I should invest in an amulet because Any commercials like no no no no, but I

This is a pretty remarkable year for John DeVos I know we talked about it yesterday a bit but I mean for him to we end up with four points last night, right like I Like this is a pretty remarkable year for John DeVarse. I know we talked about it yesterday a bit, but I mean for him we ended up with four points last night. I know that our flyers suck, but so does Nashville. So I thought that line in general, if there's something that I learned out of this game, is that they have a legit second line

to go into the playoffs with. I will say I've been trying not to say anything negative after that, but I also feel like we learned that third line is still no good. Is that, they didn't create anything. I know Domi had one nice individual rush, but that's separate from hey, he works on the line.

Anyway, let's skip over that because I don't want to be negative, Nancy. All right, let's see, or hear, Craig Berube. You're gonna love this one. Kipper's Clipper, the first one, and whether or not he felt like there was anything to be learned last night Clip one good good good response good bounce back game, you know

Right the get-go. I thought that Played, you know a good hockey game overall all three periods Pretty good game overall all three periods pretty good you know I actually should have leaned on you Sam to get the tortorola tortorilica oh great okay I don't want to get into it too soon yeah too soon let's stay with the Leafs and then we'll get over to fires but I just want to follow up because while it's still fresh on again, Lawton and third line, bit of a concern even after last night. I mean, are we at the point where we are just going to look at the first two lines and say, you guys go get a drive the

offense and hope that Tavares and Willie feel as good in the first round as they did last night. Although Matthews and Marner didn't have a great night cookie wise, doesn't really matter at the end of the day, you know they're gonna be there at the end to push the offense as best that they can and then just be in a position where you're like okay so third, if it includes Lawton, your job is just to shut down whoever you're playing against and that's it. Okay.

That's it, that's your job now from here on out. Don't care if you score another goal. The only way this is gonna work right now is if we create a shut down line. Okay, then make it a shut down line. That would be fine for me. But Domi and Robertson are two, they're two weakest defensive forwards on the hockey club. So not a shut down line with Lawton. So that's not it. You know, the third line. Go ahead. Okay. Move, shuffle the deck then. Yeah. Yes. Create that third line. Absolutely. I totally

totally think that's the answer. And I'm fine with the idea of shut down. So that may mean a Max you're you're with game one. You're writing shotgun with Matthews and Marner. Awesome. I'm in. So yesterday, I asked you guys a question about the role of Morgan Reilly and sort of diminishing the role and all that stuff and your answer was that it's too late to do that. It's too late to like to really start doing that Kipper was something that you alluded to. You're going to completely break up the top line that's been one of the better lines,

like heading into, like right before, what are we, 11 games, 10 games here before the playoffs start? You're gonna completely, materially change your entire lineup right before the playoffs start? I would say you'd be making a great point, and you are in theory, if those guys in many different iterations hadn't had the exact success. They're currently having

Yes, whether it's been with bunting or Hyman or Richie or Thornton whatever Buddy whatever did their points per game is yes, it doesn't matter. It has yet to matter who's in that left-wing spot Maybe you think nice has moved the needle a little. Matthews has contributed less. I bet you they're right back to kind of where they've always been. I don't know if Kip plays left-wing for them. I think they get two, three points. You know, like I just... Off my ass.

Yeah, you would know where to go stand and what to do. It's... So I don't think you'd be like... I understand your point, Sammy. It just feels like it's getting a little late for that. It's different. It's just... They've also played with him. It's just shuffling the chairs a little bit. I think Back chairs. It's a no on a ship. Yeah, that's

That's floating okay, it's a floating it's a floating it's a nice day. It's a nice dog. Okay, okay and it's much different than just pulling a guy like Morgan's minutes down, five or seven minutes. Okay. Did you put some thought then into the idea of Nice, McMahon, Lawton? I'm trying to think of big and heavy, just to play.

Pretty big, it eggs pretty big nice man No, I can't take I Can't take nice and McMahon off the top six. No, no, I can take one of them. How about And I think that's Patrick. He comes back from Rhode Island, Holmberg, Lawton and patch already. Oh I'm in I'm in. Play heavy, play big. And Lawton and Pacioretty are probably 10 to 20 gold guys.

If Paci is healthy, he's gonna piss somebody off, he's gonna catch them with their head down. Can you give me two weeks of running around like you did in October and November before you break down, I'll take it. That's the way I think I'd start.

Have we heard an update on, said Max Petruetti? This guy has to be back here. He hurt himself with a tweak in a skate. Yeah, I mean, is there any, have we have any indication? Like maybe I'll tell our boy Luke to ask at practice next time, but like, there hasn't been anything on him. So banking on him seems like you're banking on forward hawken paw here. Like I don't know if it's gonna be Coming back anytime soon

Okay, let's let's let's follow it up with bobby mcmahon. Craig bro. We clip five on big bobby quietly goes about his business and um, you know I think you get pretty consistent uh play out of him in terms of what he needs to do to be successful. He does a lot of things right every game. And they go unnoticed a lot of times, but skating, you know, he really does a great job of pushing D back all the time with his speed and you know, he's very consistent at it. And like I said, you know, he skates really extremely well and he's a big strong guy and

he's on top of pucks all the time, you know. Okay. I disagree with Chief that it goes unnoticed yeah because I told him I told him when he signed his two-year deal at one two or one four he's got rocks in his head that guy would be a little harsh that guy would be looking at three or four million bucks right now 20 goals for Bobby McMahon what an accomplishment for a guy 25 by the time he's done and he played the American League Year and a half ago. I had the East Coast League years ago. Hey, we and he's a healthy scratch to start the year

Yes, we have we have leaf management some some shots every once in a while for overpaying but not this contract man It to be honest they get some really good deals outside of yeah the guys. Yeah, definitely. Yeah Second line that was with it's a lot. It's a quote again about what Bobby brings to it, but let's let's let's play that clip On the second clip to You know, I think since putting Bobby on there just adds so much speed and strength to the line. He's a big strong guy that can skate. Seems like he's always on the puck, you know.

Creates some battles for those guys. They get the puck and obviously they can make plays and Johnny can score. So they've been effective for us since we put them together. I'm happy with them. So they're not ones to go away from something like that. He likes it, that's going to be a thing. So I don't think McMahon's playing on third line anytime soon. No, no, no.

And if they're feeling it you just you roll with it Yeah, I guess the third line thing still we have a quote I just I Think this is just the personnel born Like I think it's not Sam. I but I mean, what are you you me and bunk? We're sending some possible lineups. None of them look like that I know but they've been so hesitant to do anything other than what any coach has I think it's actually in the Leafs Coaching book that they hand you when you come in. It's like Matthews and Marner and John DeVos and William Nylander

Flip them back and forth. That's what you can do. But outside of that, there's nothing you can do Those are the only things you do So option a or b outside of that they've done it once all year where they put them on three separate lines For not even for a full game. It's just not gonna happen. It's funny though kip like I every time I make a lineup Alright, this is what it looks like. I just it doesn't have Robertson in it and I like Robertson I think I've been fairly Robertson praising this year by and large. But it's tough for me to see that spot day one.

No playoff hockey. Well, it was at Holmberg that was out last night. Yes. You know, like, he's gonna be in. He's heavy, he competes, he defends, he forward checks, he hits. Yes. End of story.

That's it. He leans on V. Yeah. unfortunately Nick. I made heart of gold Hard worker really great player right never quits on pucks, and there's gonna be interest. I'm gonna play bounces Bounces off people a lot. I would be shocked if you don't see Nick Robertson by game three likely game two But I don't think he'll be there game I think he's kind of made his way out of the scratch rotation here though for me Like if you think about the last little while Amph yarn croc Holmberg that anyone but him. So what has he done in those games? They've given him not a ton. No, so

To me the fact that he will see what happens when they go to San Jose, but that feels like a game They'll probably they'd play him in that kind of game But that penalty and then he didn't get a deep after I bet he doesn't play really Yeah, I just feels like to me that he's kind of out of that scratch rotation at the moment So we'll see but they're desperate for anybody else other than top six to shoot her to the net No one does grab a spot and he I mean What does he have 13 12 goals or whatever this year like it's not a ton, but They kind of need the chance of a goal. I think you're making great points They need a chance that there's no one else who can do it. Give me a chance

I was actually gonna say that's lot and on the bench Who else and the bottom six is like a threat yarn croc maybe And watching him lately. I'm a little worried about yes, Ernie Domi I guess not sure who had seven on the year not sure who had a worse night last night in the NHL the Philadelphia Flyers Or the Pittsburgh Penguins against Tampa Bay, but you're watching that team and it's like But you're watching that team and it's like things great Kutcher, haha And then you go into sorelli and it's like boy would could the Leafs use a sorelli type of guy

Quiet how about Naz Kadri who's shot it in the net and over time two of the last three games for the scores the tie-in goal then goes in a breakaway undresses Was the goalie for Seattle and blanking undress and puts it in her powers. He's all it's but in the meantime. Oh, yeah, that was supposed to be Canadian that were like so desperate for a goal. Yeah, I know he decored.

Thank you in the meantime you you rely on your big boys and Willie Neelander did that last night. I have not heard any of your kippers Clippers. I imagine it's Greg Ruby really likes them. Well play it. We'll see. Clip three, he's got great ability. We all know that. Great shot.

He does a lot of good things like he's very talented. So goal scoring, you know, I mean, obviously, he's been pretty consistent throughout his career. He's got an opportunity to surpass the 40 goals, obviously. I thought Willie tonight, the goals are one thing, but for me, tonight I thought that he checked really well. He was on top of things. Broke plays up, back check, broke plays up, and then trans, you know, from defense to offense, he's so quick with his agility and speed that he creates

going the other way right away. He was solid tonight all around. I love that player. I love the guy. I thought did you watch early in the game when he's skating backwards looking for the breakaway and then went offside? Did you see on that one? I thought, I'm not sure what kind of night is going to be the Ryan paling goal where gone. He

gone. He hits it and he's not even back in the shot It's camera shot even on my screen, right? there's like With all due respect that start and that goal that they gave up was kind of typical of the things that we we've seen in the last Six weeks month. Yeah, it's funny months You know chief talks about Willie like you like a parent with their kid where you're like don't praise their success But the effort you want to drive home the point that like we're not proud of the outcome It's the effort we like just bring the effort every night, you know, he's trying to yeah

But that goal bothered me a little bit which one the first one Philly got right? That's the stuff bothered me until the least yeah of course it did but it may bother you in the first round of the playoffs but I like I trust that the effort levels there was willing the first round of playoffs like it you know it's not ever Tim's big big kid that's falling asleep against the players they need to say effort has nothing to do with it Tavares tries to go up the wall and that's a bad play and then that's a shot from the top of the circles that the whole goal is not Tavares tries to go up the wall and that's a bad play and then it's a shot from the top of the circles that the goal is not Tavares. It's the whole thing. It's like how do you how do you think you're gonna break out?

Don't be too salty when Tavares is facing the glass and he cannot see Willie. Willie can't see him because they both have their backs towards each other. Yeah, he should just reverse it to whatever the case is. That's not how you break out of your own zone when you've got the puck little stretched out right a little stretched out I got a kick out of his comment we have it now let's play it yeah Willie Neylander clip one 40 goals is hard to do it's like in the season before it was hard to do what do you think? Yeah, I mean just trying to Do what I'm paid to do. That's it That's that's it. I love that. He landed. I hate it. Why I don't want to hear it. Oh here money

I don't want to hear I'm I don't want to hear I I just want to hear we Like hey, they asked him a question about him. He said yes Oh, hey, they asked him a question about him. He said yes Just glorify. I'm paid what I'm supposed to do. You're paid to win buddy You're paid to help this team win a Stanley Cup That's what you're paid to do in the last three seasons two players have 40 goals needs one of them I know but just Leon. I know I try to quiz guys Stick to the we part. Oh Guy asked he gave a great answer. It's fine. It's Willie's answer. Yeah

We always make fun of guys for being boring. He's like, you know, I think that was boring, too I think that would you rather be good. Oh, obviously the tremendous honor for me and my teammates to score 40 goals It's all my tremendous honor teammates Amulet happy to contribute to the ball and if there was ever anybody who got no help on their way to 40 It's with Tavares who also wants to shoot it and whoever they rotate through the other wing. He's like, uh, yeah, that was me I did the 40 Right here I mean it is pretty crazy that there's only two guys that have done it in three straight years

He's one of them. I think his under I think he's assumed Matthews can get there with Yes, yes, he gets a lightning hot 13 goals in the last but 12 games I do think the the goal scoring part of his you know I don't know if I necessarily think of him as a sniper or I don't know what the what I think of him as Is a goal as a hockey player, but that's pretty impressive to be one of two guys Lot of goals the hardest thing to do in the game Someone's gonna do is not an issue putting the puck in the net for those guys No, and the size of the net now for John Tavares right now must feel like a soccer net. Yes

shooting on airs and you know Surprised or not surprised that there's more noisier No noise about him signing a contract About Tavares not surprised. I just can't It just feels like he wants to be a Toronto Maple Leaf and so they're never gonna sort it out They're using that to their advantage, right? Yeah, I think so I'm sure he would sign a contract if they put one on the table for him.

Well, it depends on what and how much, I guess. Maybe, yeah, I don't know, but it's smart. We'll see at the end what we got. I think it's, you know, it's to your point, we've been talking a lot about him just resigning here and just he's gonna be happy to come back here and you know people throwing a hometown discount whatever you don't need to say that but at some point he looks at his numbers that he's having this year he's gonna be the probably have the most

points for any ufa center that's out there like i mean you could probably get a pretty big contract from somebody right yeah but it's one of those things. What did Stamcoast get? Eight I think. And how much older is Tavares and Stamcoast? Around the same age. Same team. 33, 34. So what would be like he couldn't get that from somebody? I think he could if you want if that's his priority. Yeah. You know we've had this discussion the show a million times. You make a hundred million dollars. You haven't won anything What what's important to you? Sure And that's something he'll have to decide and if the team loses in the first round they'll say here's what's important to us

Having you not on our team Yeah, you think if they lose in the first round they completely walk from him You know, I think you definitely won't have Mitch and him back Definitely won't be both. You know, there may be a world where let's say Mitch leaves and they go, God, we got to keep someone who shoots it in. Yeah. You know, they say, we will give you two years or half or yeah, whatever. Two years. Sure. Something like that. Listen, unfortunately for all four of them, we'll include Tavares with the big three that they have not found a way to get it done in the playoffs and if it goes

South again early One or two changes are coming. Yeah. Yeah, and there's worse positions to be and then having Matthews and Nylander locked up and 22 million off the books and the cap going up and yeah, there's no one to go out and get right away But I do think that Flexibility that that offers it's a bit of a weapon even if the Leafs do win a couple rounds like are we sure it's not the Like at some point it's just kind of Did what they did two years ago where they go into the second round and just get beaten to a pulp

Yeah, it's pretty similar to a first-round loss But no I didn't like with Tavar even if they have some success in the playoffs like there's no world where the Fraud is like it's kind of run its course here. Like he's been here a long time. It hasn't worked We haven't won even with a bit of success. Like I love John Tavaris and he's given them Everything you could ask for in that contract outside of winning multiple playoff rounds But like the value on the scoring and everything that they've given you at some point You just kind of got to cut the cord. Let me ask you something last year Right or two years ago. Sorry, they beat Tampa and it's a really good feeling. Oh my god the first one in

18 years. Yeah captain Tavara scores the OT winner and then seeing that puck trickle over that goal line is one of the It was like a monkey off your back in many ways and then Florida comes in and mops them up and it's like we've lost that loving feeling. If they were to win two rounds but exit really quickly in the conference final would it take a similar feel as two years ago? No way Conference finals conference finals in this city man Like even if you go to five or six games in a conference final in this a both for game sweep. I don't know That's I'm choose. It's two different way. We're fan. You should do it

Haven't been there in a while, but It's haven't been there in a while, but Afro the last time this happened and it does depend who they're playing to right like it probably feels worse if you get beat up By the Canadians in the conference file Okay, he makes a good point Depends what it looks yeah, but it's it is a huge fork in the road not only from Marner to Varis, but Brendan Shanahan. Yep. Hey, I forgot to ask you about this.

What did you make a Shani being in Nashville on the weekend? Is he not often or? No, I think this year has had a different feel for him. And it's not like the one that he's typically had as president of hockey ops. I think he's he's dug in a lot deeper right now with the team. I think more day to day. He's. He's trying to salvage his team, he's trying to salvage his. Role as president of hockey ops, so naturally, you're going to be seen or heard from, if not publicly,

behind the scenes. You know, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Watching that team last night, you're reminded of all the good. And it's fun to watch a team who can do that to another team that easily. It was kind of poking around with a friend over some like leaf numbers and stuff. When they've had Matthews, Tanev, and McCabe in the lineup this year, all three of them, I think they're like 25, 13, and two.

26, 13, and two. Like they're a very good team when all three of those guys are in the lineup. Watching that last night, it's like, that does give me hope that some of the numbers I've seen throughout this year, that they're a better team than the numbers say. Because when all those guys are in they're pretty darn

Good, so okay before we go to break and then come back for your mailbag McKees mail midweek mailbag. I'll say it for you. McKees midweek maple leaf mailbag For M. How come you say that like you've been saying it for 10 years, but you still cannot do a reading to save yourself You need to practice the yeah My name anything with my name. Anything with my name. It's game time. It becomes so natural.

Got it, yeah. Okay, John Tortorella. Oh boy. If we wanna go back to talking about the Flyers, which you wanted to earlier on. Yes I did. That team last night would not win. We suck.

A Calder Cup in the American Hockey League last night. This is a line from the Grinch, stink, stank, stunk. That's them, man. It is gruesome. Yeah. They got nothing good going on. The vibes are down. Like, Torts called the timeout when it was, what, five, one, six, one?

And he didn't even look at them. He was like, everyone just needs a breather. Like a boxer that you, you know, call him to the corner between rounds and say, just catch your breath. There's no plan that's gonna help when you get out there. Just catch your breath. All right, we got a clip of John Tortorella and his frustrations.

It's my job to prepare this team in this type of situation. Haven't done a good enough job past couple of games. These last two games, are you sensing frustration setting in? Maybe it's a cumulative effect from last week playing well and not getting results? Well, when you're in this type of situation and you're losing all the time

and there's nothing at the end of the tunnel for you, there's certainly gonna be some frustration. But this falls on me. I'm not really interested in learning how to coach this type, in this type of season where we're at right now, but I have to do a better job. So this falls on me getting the team prepared to play

the proper way until we get to the end. Talking about the end. Hey, I'm not interested. Not interested in learning to coach this season. What the hell does that mean? I'm not interested. Okay, how did you interpret that? I took that as

He's having trouble bearing down and caring and focusing given everyone's just walking the plank right now. I Thought hold on you're gonna ask me the same question. Well, I thought you just kind of said no No, I both us and said what does it mean? It means that like you guys have no chance of making me look like I know what I'm doing. There's nothing at the end of the tunnel for you. That's a that's a quitter's comment on the last 10 games to go in the season for me.

Oh, I agree with that. And I bet he regrets the way that was. I'm not interested. Can you play? Can you play that last part again, Derek? I'm not really interested in learning how to coach this type in this type of season where we're at right now. But I have to do a better job.

So this falls on me getting the team to play the proper way until we get to the end. I have to because I'm still getting paid. But I'm not interested in your type He sees himself as a playoff coach a winner. This is not his thing. Like what do you like? I I kind of and I'm not trying to defend towards can't stand them but Like I'd be maybe just the end of the year thing Like it's just like the end. I don't know how to coach at the end of the year like this where they're playing out the string I'm not used to coaching like that not interested. Yeah, maybe I don't know. I can't defend it. It just he can't mean

What he's like said there? Does he mean what he said been around long enough? It just surprises me that in Toronto he would say that like without I mean, it's almost like an advertisement that he's like I see see myself coaching a winner. I'm not interested in being around for this tear down, rebuild, you know, development, I'm not a developmental coach. I'm not really interested in learning how to coach this type. This type, right? Of losers. This type of season was what maybe he was trying to get at. I think it's a rebuild. Yeah. I'm not in, you know, the, you know, develop young guys and try to, you know, you're not

trying to win. You're trying to... What do you think? Jonesy and Daniel Breyer thought of him. I think it's safe to say that he's done behind the bench with that comment. By his own choosing. Oh, he has, he's just said it. I have no interest.

Yeah. And it looks like it'll be that next year too. How do you go from I have no interest with 10 games to go in the season to looking forward to training camp with these guys? Tell me how you can do that. I don't know. And, you know, can you go to the front office of the team and be like, yeah, we're in a rebuild. I just can't coach this group.

Or is that mentality? Have you shown your colors a little bit there? I think, uh, everything points to the direction that he has a real good, uh, relationship with ownership there. They like them and he's been around long enough and he is very well respected in so many ways that if they see value in him he'll he'll stick around and I don't know what does he want to do does he want to not this he wants to coach does he want a scout does

he want a player personnel does he want to be an advisor does he want to save pets maybe wants to coach a winner well wait around what do you want to do I think he wants that opportunity I think he wants to be an advisor? Does he want to save pets? Maybe he wants to coach a winner. What do you want to do? I think he wants to be the special assistant to the manager of the assistant manager. Buddy, those jobs are unbelievable. That's what he wants. That's what he wants. Just cut me like a hundred thousand dollar check and I'll show up sometimes. Yeah.

Sometimes. Once a month. Once in a while. Yeah. All right. It does open a door though. Buddy, you tell me old Rick Talkett's watching that game, sitting at home, eating his dinner going, yeah, that's a team I want to coach.

Give me a meal, Andre. You know, no, it's a meal. He's a guy that Domi ate up like, I don't know. I'm watching him with no stick, like looking like he's going through a turnstile at K-mark when I was seven years old. Yeah. Yeah, there wasn't pretty. But I think when you have a team that... I can't want that.

No? No, they're not making playoffs next year. Fires Hall of Famer. You know, the going home buddies with those guys. Yep. Yep. And if you see it as a long term give me a five-year deal after last night

Special and seven picks in the first two rounds this year aggressive ownership I don't know I think if they're telling me we're gonna use the picks and trade and yeah some players I mean, but if these guys are gonna be ready in five years, does he get to bring Demko with them? Cuz they they need a hand or somebody they need somebody in that. Yeah. Anyways, okay Let's go break when we return we dip into Sammy's I don't know. What do you call it again? Mickey maple Mickey Mickey's nothing that was just a horrible horrible horrible hook going into the break.

Stick around anyways when we return to Real Kipper and Born. It's the fan hockey show on sportsnet 590 the fan and wherever you get your podcasts Welcome back to the show Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne Sammy McKee. Alright, so if I wanted to go to a blue jay game and eat Crab legs. Yes, where would I go? I got eggs of a crab. Yeah, yeah somebody a rich person I guess who said Bluejays blueprint club above the dugout all you drink all you can eat Crab claws primes prime ribs sushi candy bar ice cream freezies popcorn everything that got all game every game

Gout is all you get This guy who DM me on Instagram Kyle Kyle eating like a rich boy country daddy war bucks Please yeah daddy war bucks Time to watch the game while I'm stuffing my face seems like an awkward thing to eat crab legs while you're at the game There's no way to eat crab legs lawyer at the game. There's crab legs. There is but I believe so I'm sitting there and the camera pants just a hot melted butter bowl in your lap with a bit on. Yes.

And you for crap 2025 man, yeah, I guess you're right. For us. All right, Danny got mail. Oh my God that brings back bad memories Really bad memories. Is that when you put the phone down into the cradle for no, no, we go well well, no like dial-up sound and if you Like picked up the phone while somebody was on the internet called like it just disconnected Yeah, what a world he used to live in Anyways, this one's from Johnny Utah on Twitter. Which leaf is most likely to pull a kipper style collision with the opposing goalie in round one? Like in the 96 playoffs, goalie's go.

Excellent question. Enjoy Johnny a lot. He's great. Thanks for all your comments and keep it as interested. Play the right way. You know, could it be Domi or Lawton? It's Lawton. Yeah, I'd go Lawton already. That guy, you can see it in his eyes. We're still gonna see him do whatever he thinks it takes sometimes. He's looking for a way to help. Yeah, you know, like he's looking for a way in

the cross check the fight. He's just he wants to for a way to help. You know, like he's looking for a way in the cross check, the fight. He's just, he wants to find a way to help. He's a little off right now, but he's the type of guy that would take one for the team, I think. And also, you know, he has this like hockey IQ, you can tell where it's like taking the temperature of the game. Camp, Holmberg, those guys are nice players, but they don't do that sort of thing. By the way, Holmberg didn't even mention camp just dangle on a breakaway last night about Did he?

Wait then is come on. It's a great. Oh, it's a great move. I hope it builds this confidence, but I Don't think anyone expects that to ever happen in a real game Well to be Tavares and willing have four points and they're like, I don't know if you'll remember but in the first round the Plastic a couple I think you get a breakaway shorty against I think you remember that I told you when he can't when he came Back this guy's capable of holding on to the puck and and doing a few yes here and there. So Homburg is the type of guy for me that should just drive the net a lot harder and Homburgs a good candidate to fall in a tent. Oh occasionally bumping a goaltender I actually think we've under discussed him being a great diver

Like one of the league's better penalty drawing forwards is drawn over pen 20 penalties this year Does he lead the team? Which is a huge number. Oh, yeah I'll figure that out quick. But yeah, he he does deserve some credit for whoopsie. I got taken down Shout out to him good question Yeah, really good question. This one's from old man Bailey on X With the power play success and the struggles of the power play in the past playoffs Will Barube stick with the five forwards ball Z going into the playoffs in my opinion? Oh hundred percent There's no doubt about it there's a number of stats on this and I don't have them all

with me but they have the best power play in the NHL since January 15th and Sam I think you had one on the front page Mike Kelly from Mike Kelly no it's on it's on the back since the NHL trade deadline the Leafs five forward power play has been the most productive in the entire NHL with eight goals in just under 19 minutes of ice time and a goals per 20 of 8.5. There you go. So yes, they're going to stick with it. I think the reason why they've stuck with it and they will continue to stick with it too is because Marner's the last guy back.

And this guy can defend. How many times have we seen him back there break something up or time it or get a stick on it? Or block something he is really I don't know if he gets the credit he deserves for a guy who's very conscientious Every time he's on the ice he can still come close to a hundred points and maybe he gets a hundred points finally this year But this guy is always the high guy. He's always the guy back. He's always the guy defending in some way, shape or form. I actually did a dive into Marner's defensive stats and he's a very particular type of defender.

He is for two years running first in the NHL in broken up passes as a forward among forwards. So he's two hundred and fifteenths in puck battles one. So he doesn't win puck battles. He doesn't block shots. He doesn't do these like the heavy things, but his reading the play and anticipating and seeing plays develop, he does better than anyone. If I coached a whole season for the Leafs, I would have had him play defense five times

a year. Do you remember there was a minute there where there was a thing? They should have again. Yeah. Because their top right shot came in. Can you imagine though if he was a defenseman that could jump up on plays? No one would have ever believed it to be even a halfway good idea till Quinn Hughes, till Lane Hudson, till these guys where you're like, well you can defend like that

He could have been a guy like that for sure for sure. I think he's better sport Uh, this one's from Parker on Twitter How bad would the reaction be if the Leafs actually lost the sends in the first round? Really? That's a sad really bad Really bad. This is my nightmare! Now this is, you can answer this better than anybody. I've got an article on this out right now by the way. If they lose to Ottawa?

No, on the three different opponents they could face, Florida, Tampa, Ottawa, their odds, their likelihood, and why Sam is afraid of Ottawa is included in the article. So you have odds on winning or losing each series? Not odds, I have the likelihood that they play play them and then I give just my opinion. Okay on how a lot But so look you don't think it makes any difference who they lose to in your opinion Correct. Okay, because Like if they lose to their Lord They're all major disappointments. You mean that in terms of what they would do to the roster?

I just mean about the heartache. OK. The heartache. There's no there's no losing in the first round that will make you feel better. Than Ottawa. I can sleep at night if they lose to Florida in the first round. Everyone would lose to Florida in the first round. You can go, they just won the cup. They're the best team. I can sleep at night if they lose to the Florida in the first everyone would lose to Florida the first I can lose you can go they just won the cup. They're the best team. I can sleep at night They lose to their they're supposed to lose now. It's over. They're tired. They're not as they were last year

But people go there's not there for the first two games. I'm sorry Whether you think that or not people don't Kachuk's that is not consensus not a torn groin Some suggest that he has surgery now. You know who else is hurt? Kachuk on Ottawa, the other one. That guy's not been 100% losing to them. Be like, oh, at least you go, oh, Sam Bennett got us. You don't want to be like, ah, Ridley Greig again.

You know? You'd rather be stabbed or shot. Like, come on, you're dying. You're still dead. 100%, but there are definitely different ways to go. Stabbed your shot like come on you're dying. You're still dead 100% But there are definitely different ways to go and if you ask me which one I want I Can tell you I have a preference I just I can't you're taking the quick bullet buddy put her to my temple night night Sam

Bang I just can't There's just it would be the worst thing. Anyways, we can move on from that. I was dark, sorry. A lot of death talk lately. Heart attacks, stabs, stabbing, shooting. We're getting old. What else we got? Trying to see here. When, I'm sorry, where do you think, this is from Dan on next, where do you think Patch

Ready slots in? When he's healthy in the playoffs we talked a little bit about this in the first in the first block I poopooed it because I don't think he's gonna be back But if he is and he finished off his tweet by saying go Knights so lucky for him I actually even read this but where do you think he slots in third line? You know given how well McMahon has looked on the second line, really hard to see him there, so it has to be third line. There's no chance he's playing with Matt. Yeah, I'll stick with that too.

Okay. So yeah, you get him alongside a couple of grunts and Lawton and whatever else you said. I didn't see his physical presence early in the season. And... Pat Ready. Yes. early in the season and Patrick yes, and I was the first one to say man. There's no way you're gonna keep that up for 60 or 80 games and lo and behold that's true, but it doesn't matter now You just need you know with the right time two weeks of it good well hopefully more well the yeah

Good to get us somewhere. Yeah, you know what's interesting is if he does come back and let's say a third line like that gets constructed all of a sudden he gets What do you do with Domi? Like is he can he play on the fourth line? Does he want to play on the fourth line? He wants to know he's the Swiss Army. Yeah, if he should go anywhere he needs to follow up earlier conversation Pontus Holmberg is 12th in the NHL and penalties drawn with 24. That's pretty good This is a late arriving one and I'm gonna butcher this name, but I got a DM and it's a great question Last name will lick II will go with that. I'm overseas listen online love the show Mail big question. Who is the currently that is most likely to become a successful NHL coach? That's funny because that's actually a television. Oh, I can answer that in two seconds. Yeah, Chris Tann of doesn't answer to you

You know why I disagree because he's going to management. It's made too much money They all have I got news for you. I'll never have an everyone For sure. We'll never have ex players behind benches or general managers again Yeah, you look at a lot of these guys and it's like he's got a mind. He's got a mind for the room He's got a mind for Well, whatever is kind of needed to me in many ways he's very much the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I'm I'm yeah, it's interesting. I'm going to be bringing to air tonight Luke Shen.

You know, someone who hasn't made a zillion dollars, who's a leader that people respect and love, who seems to love hockey and wants to be a part of it. You know, I think he's got the cachet to do it. We had multiple tweets about Sam Bennett, but I'll just read this one for you. This is from D-Mel on X. Sam Bennett, but I'll just read this one for you. This is from D Mel on X Sam Bennett. That is all gives you flexibility when you resign to virus and shift him to the wing or more shelter role is three C. Suddenly you have 3491 Bennett Domi and Lawton who could all play center.

Mitch Marner is gone. This has to be the plan. Let me get out ahead of this year in advance. I am nervous about a long-term deal for Sam Bennett. Agree. I don't think of him as a fast guy. He is not a high offensive output guy. I don't know that into his 30s,

it's going to age particularly well. Yeah, I think he's safe for six or seven years. Yeah? Yep, I do. I love the guy. The only thing I worry about is him getting hurt. He's just, he plays too hard. That's the only thing. Which is another age thing that's.

Speed's not his forte anyways, but he just goes through you. Yeah, well he can, he definitely does. You know, and he could break down. That's always the possibility, but him losing his piss and vinegar in the next few years, I do not see it. No, I don't. This guy's as competitive as anybody in the league.

When they win the cup in late June, he'll turn 29. Eight million dollars is more money in his pocket in Florida than $10 million here. There is no question that this gets played out and July, whatever he's eligible, eight times a year. Oh, I think we can hear it before the playoffs. You think? Yep. I think Sam Bennett could sign before the playoffs start. By the way, if you haven't seen his profile picture, his NHL.com headshot, it's the meanest anyone's ever looked.

He is terrifying. Check headshot. It's the meanest anyone's ever looked. He is terrifying. Check it out. Great. All right. That was McKee's midweek mailbag. Sam could look mean if he just didn't smile so much. How much time do we have Derek? He'd need some sons of anarchy here. He'd be a biker. With fighting seemed more appreciated in hockey right now. How many sammies would it take to beat a prime kipper in a fight? Five. Eight. Two eight and a half is all I'm saying. All right. We're going to take a quick break. Catch our breath.

When we return, we go national. Lenny to dive into Ken Weave will join us as well. Jets talk on the real Kipper and boring show. Don't go away.