Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Stolarz Challenges His Teammates

Episode Date: October 20, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee react to Anthony Stolarz's sounding off on his team following their 4-3 OT loss to the Seattle Kraken, debating whether it was the right time and right place to call out his teammates, and how will it impact the locker room moving forward. Then, former goaltender and Maple Leafs radio analyst Jim Ralph stops by (33:10) to chat about Stolarz's post-game comments challenging his teammates, the team's overall performance through six games, Morgan Rielly's impact on both ends of the ice and working with the legendary voice Joe Bowen. 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.

hard to believe with all the blue jay talk here that we've got an hour of a leaf hour edition of the real kipper and born show nick kipperyl's justin born sammy mckee we are live on sports at 360 sports net five 90 the fan in Toronto and streaming always on SportsNet Plus and catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube when you don't get a chance. This hour, a real Kipprin Bourne brought to you by

Bet365. Sammy? Yep. Yes, sir. I don't know if you noticed in all your Blue Jay Hoopla that, you know, Leafs aren't off to a great start and... Oh, I noticed. You know, Anthony Stollers is

fired up. So before we get into the least, I would like to read one stat, okay? One J stat? Okay. Seasons where one of the LCS, the league championship series, was a sweep, and the other went seven games, and the LCS has been a best of seven series since 1985. 2025, 2012, 2007, 2006, 1988. Each of the four prior times, the team winning the seven game LCS won the World Series.

Can I tell you that that trend carries over in hockey as well, that teams that go seven tend to beat the team coming off a sweep. So what I'm telling it is the team that wins the game tonight at the Rogers Center is going to win the World Series. Shane Bieber, six-inning pitch, eight strikeouts, two earned runs last start. Yeah, he was good. And I think he's going to have to be really good again tonight. I think Kevin Gosman will factor in tonight at some point.

So who's in your section last night from the lease? Bobby McMahon. Was he four checking? Now, if some of the leave players get tickets, should they just pass and get ready for New Jersey instead? totally if they're at the game man like i left what time do you leave the dome 1130 it's a late night you know he's not wrong like if you're there you can't get home you can't be in bed before 1130 and even last night i couldn't sleep after i got home oh no no it was a get home line

the couch watched sports in central twice and if they're leaving and the jays win it's going to be a hard ballpark to get out of yeah you don't you don't think it'll be crazy on the streets it's going to be a zoo yeah it'll be a zoo if they win today i think a lot of fans will stick around, though, and watch the celebration, the interviews. Yeah. So Bobby McMahon taking a lot of pictures, a lot of videos. If he ever does one of those, like, cool guy, Instagram dumps, I will 100% be in multiple pictures.

Because he was, like, taking pictures of his family, and I'm, like, standing there waving my towel. Yeah, so there you go. More pictures, you gnawn a towel like a dog? Yes, correct. I've heard of that. We got to get into it. Do we have to?

We do. Yeah. Anthony Stollars, who took a pretty good shot. from Mason Marchment. Really, you know, besides the Leafs Slow play this season or what we are, is perceived as, you know, less than stellar start to the season, it's kind of, it's kind of been buried right now

over the last 24 hours or so in terms of Anthony Stolars, his post-game comments. Where do you guys want to start with it? I'll start by saying, I think it's a good thing I think for years the Leafs have had a culture of I don't want to say

lack of accountability but I think it's been really rare to see people have any sort of public facing scorn at all you know and it's it goes back to Keith a little bit of criticism

just how we play soft and then having to you know apologize for the criticism do you have them in the clips I have every clip you can imagine. Which one? All of them are good. All them are good.

Let's start with the most, the biggest nerve, which one struck for you? Let's start with the first clip, his overview of what happened in the game on Saturday night. It was a good third period, but the first two periods, you know, we kind of let them walk all over us. And, you know, we just didn't play our game. They all worked just in front of the net. They block shots. They beat us up and down the ice. And, you know, the score was in.

indicative of that you know they just outwork just plain simple how about let's just go through him clip two please on him on getting run are you getting a little frustrated with guys taking runs i mean it's just playing hard i mean maybe we can take a page out of their book and start again to the net i mean for us it's uh you know we like to go a lot of high and shoot but um you know it's for their goal it's like playing catching the yard you're seeing everything and um we're not making it difficult we made it difficult in the third and look what happened you know we came out uh you know tied the game got a point out of it almost scored with five seconds left But it's a little, too little, too late.

And I think, you know, even though we're six games into the season, it's, you know, enough's enough. And we kind of got to start picking it up here. Do you want to respond to any of that? Do you want to just keep ripping? All right. Clip two, clip three, please, Derek. I'm not happy.

You know, guys are going to run me. And, you know, I'm going to try to stand up for myself. And, you know, I heard the ref say we got a power play. And it's really not much I can do to him on the ground. But, you know, kudos to the guys who were there and got down with them. But, you know, like I said, I think we've got to start going to the cage a little harder, make it harder for their goalies. You know, it's not fun.

I don't like having 225-pound guys landing on me. So, you know, hopefully learned a lesson here. And the finale, clip four on the overtime. I mean, a lot of the guys have been here for a while, you know. Overtime, you can't let someone beat up the ice there and, you know, gets a clear-cut breakaway. I mean, minute left, you know, you want to be on the ice in that situation. You got to work hard. Got to work back.

and cost us a point there. So, I mean, at the end of the day, it's, like I said, it's early. We do have, you know, some time to gel. But, I mean, at the end of the day, too, it's more or less just about working hard. And, you know, just when we work hard, the results come. You saw it in the third period. And, you know, we can't play for 20 minutes, 30 minutes.

We've got to do it for a complete 60. Okay. Did I miss the one where we said we've had a lot, we've had guys here for a long time? Yeah, he said that. Yeah, okay. All right. Okay, I caught it. Okay, I think I got everything.

Okay. Okay. Yeah. I mean, a lot of the guys have been here for a while. Yeah. There you go. Okay. So, I mean, there's parts that I like,

and then there's a lot of parts I don't like from Stolars. Let's start with what you like. What I like. I like the passion and the emotion. And this team's been guilty of not having it. So that part I liked that it was. Something that was said that you don't necessarily hear. I just think in so many ways he just,

he crossed a line for me that he didn't need to go. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but Barubi had something to say about it today. Is that correct? We do have that clip. It was the Barubi Clip 6, please, Derek. That's frustration. We all prefer to stay in a room, but it happens.

But, you know, we moved on from it. There you go. Yeah, and I'm with Craig on this, that I appreciate the frustration. I feel for Stolars too, because here's a guy that's got a knee that's, my guess, is bone on bone. And at any time, he feels like he could get hurt again. So he's ultra-sensitive, and I'd feel the same way if I was getting run, right? So I understand that level of frustration that Broobie just talked about. I just don't think Stollars needed to go public with it.

So do you want to keep going? No. You guys let me know. Well, I, yeah. And you're okay with him going public? You know, I'm only okay with him going public because it's game six. And you're trying to change the, and I quote, DNA of the team. You're trying to set a new course and be different,

and they are going about it exactly the same. Okay. I say don't do it because it's only game six. Don't do it. Todd McClellan already came out and said, when's it going to be time? And all of a sudden they went five in a row. Todd, it wasn't game one for Todd.

It was game 83 because he had, he felt it from the year before. So what's it for the Leafs? It's game 483. at least Todd's the coach, okay? It's not a player. And for someone to come out and call out your core guys to call out in many ways, you know, we do know he was talking about Willie Neelander. Yep, yep, okay?

100%. But he went, guys here for a long time. So he's also talking a bit about Matthews and he's talking about Morgan Riley. that's the way guys in the room would look at it guys here that have been here a long time I'm included in that he's not Marty Broder

he's not Vasilefsky he's Anthony Stolars who has never played more than 35 games in a season he's the best bulltender in the NHL best 8% last year he's not he's also not Dennis Hildebe He's not a guy, in my opinion right now that can stand up in the room and saying,

I'm doing my job. You know why he is one? Because he just signed a four-year contract extension to be a guy there. No, no, no. He's not in a position. I don't, nobody cares whether he's, it's who you are and who, who's saying, who's calling out Nylander right now. Who matters on that team more than him that is,

Austin Matthews. No one. I don't think there's enough credibility out there now for him and his history to start calling guys out. I don't think he's got the backbone to do it right now

from his resume. I'm sorry. But he played last year, 34 games. That's like a backup goalie. Okay. He didn't, he wasn't in the trenches against Florida. He got bumped by Bennett.

He wasn't going to saw him. He needed a stretcher to leave the building. And now you're going to come back after six games and you're going to start calling out Willie Nylander in public? No, like, I'm sorry. But I'm sorry, you don't have, you are not in that position. I get the idea. You're not that guy yet.

You're not that guy yet. I get the idea that, you know, people want this stuff behind the scenes. They want them to have this talk. And by all accounts, I don't think we have a quote on this because it was early just like hour ago. But he said he talked to Willie today. Oh, amazing. Yeah, we do. I just put it in there.

The latest stole our clip. Well, yeah, you know, we've discussed it. And, you know, we're all competitive guys. And, you know, we all want to win. It's pro sports. And at the end of the day, you know, our goal is to win the Stanley Cup. And, you know, in order to get there, it's a process. And, you know, like I said, we've had some discussions.

you know, we love each other. It's a, you know, family in here, and, you know, we're looking to move on. What was that like with William? He didn't seem to have any issues or what was that conversation like with you? Uh, yeah. You know, obviously I pull Willie aside. And, you know, we had a conversation and he's, you know, someone I admire and someone I respect deeply. I mean, you know, there's a reason he's been in this league for so long. He's, you know, a hell of a player. And, you know, he pushes me. I push him. You know, he looks at his offensive skill. You know, he's made me a better goal. He just by, you know, face him every day in practice. And, you know, like I said, we're a family.

in here and we're looking to push each other and, you know, get to our ultimate goal at the end of the day. You know, I like that he now has some pressure from Nylander. You better be on your A game. You have no window now to get hurt, to disappear. No.

So what if there's pressure, though? You know, I'm going to go ahead and accuse you the last couple years. You have wanted these guys to be coddled because there's egos and they're going to get their feelings hurt. And, you know, he says in there, it's pro sports. It's not feeling hurt.

You can't take a guy of PP1 because these guys have egos, they need their cookies. Egos, egos, sometimes on a team you get called out. I don't see why that's a problem. It depends who's doing the call out. I honestly could not disagree with you, Morikip Runners. From a fan's perspective, it's so refreshing to hear anyone ever say anything. I've been listening to these post-game press conferences from this team for 10 years. I know it's refreshing.

And no one's ever said one thing. and they've all just gone in there and given their stock quotes and got the hell out of their as fast as they can. I just don't know how a guy like Willie Nealander is going to like being called out on by stoleers. He makes 11.5 million dollars and he blew it. I know it's too bad.

You're not in that room every day, Sammy. I know I'm not. You don't care. You're sitting from your, you're never wrong. You're like we're never wrong here. I'm just talking inside that room. What are you talking about? In that room, it's a different dynamic.

Sure. There are egos. I'm telling you. telling you there are egos. I know it exists, but so what if they get hurt? It's so, it's so what to you and I and Sam and every fan on Instagram? Do you think Nealander's going to crawl into a hole and play bad now? He could. He could. Yeah, I do. I've seen it before. That would be hilarious. I've seen guys going, all right.

Well, then you're not going to win a cup. If you get a mini comment and you're not. You're not. You're not. Okay. It's six games in. Okay. It's six games in. Like Stolars, you're done now. You, You had a bullet in your chamber. You pull it out in game six. So what happens now if they have a bad night, you know, against Jersey tomorrow night or now they're one and nine and Stolar's now going to be the guy

that the media now goes to, hey, tell us how you feel, right? Probably, yeah. You think he'll ever call anybody out again even if they lose the next four games? But it's done. Who cares either way? Don't go to that bullet game six.

If you've got that one card to play, play it when you need it. Not six games in. You don't call out Willie Neelander. Listen, I'm not the biggest fan of Willie Neelander. But if I'm Willie right now, six games in, and I've scored my nine or ten points, I'm sitting there going, hey, Anthony, really?

You tie your handkerchief bindle to a stick and leave town? I'm not working hard enough for you. Really? If there's anybody on the Leafs that's able to take this, it's him. Like, hasn't, like, he had talked about it. It's a big deal, really. The other thing that he has going, Stolars has going for him, is the truth.

Yeah. He's right. Willie was brutal on the back check. The team was, guys are crashing into him all night. The other goal he is playing catch. He just said what everyone saw. So what if he tells the truth? This is a joke.

Brandon Carlo, he's not standing there beside him. He's not wrong. He's not. He's dead right. The truth is the truth. But you don't have to go public with it this early. You don't. The truth is reality.

You don't have to air your laundry. You don't have to air your laundry publicly. I've seen it in rooms where guys have gotten fista cuffs over. You're not backchecking. You're hung me out to dry, you're this, you that. You don't air it out publicly. I'm sure he had choice words for Willie or everybody in the room. But to go in front of that media.

in Toronto, six games in. This is Toronto media garbage out of you. This is the overhyping, overdraming, nothing even happened. Keep it in the room. Can I ask you something? This early. Are the least the team that you've watched through six games that you think don't need a wake-up call?

Because I, they are for me. They have been playing a malaise game for six games. And it's just, it's no energy, no anything. Out of tree living, out of Keith Pelly, out of Barubi. I don't want to see it out of Stolars right now. It is disheartening that every time, and for now this is year two, the Leafs looking like this and Barubi goes, we'll keep it in the room. Like, there's a lot of fans going, why is no one mad about this?

Is no one watching? You think Barubi backed Stolars comments today, or did he just say? He said, we know it's frustrating we want to keep it in the room. That's what he said. That's right. But they've been keeping in the room for 10 years. Chief's been around long enough to go, that's dangerous stuff right now.

When you start calling out your teammates publicly, it's dangerous. This could implode the whole room, bud. This can't, this, it can go two ways. Could you be more of a gentle flower, an orchid? This could implode the whole room? It could, it could, yeah, it can. It could cause divisions.

That would be pathetic. It could be pathetic. but you I mean we're talking about I don't think it's a big deal I think it's a big deal I think it's a big deal I think it's a big deal

I think stole ours as well you know we just saw the clip of Marchman smacking into him there whatever I don't want to come on here today and be like the Leafs need to be punchier or whatever but that Carlo one to me Brandon Carlo

shouldn't play tomorrow not only was he not good last game like I'm maybe this is too dramatic but like again you're you're you're you're just you're from your chair it's easy for you to say it is I acknowledge you know how tough it is I know on Brad tree living who gave up a first minton and a fourth for Carlo and then he's going to turn around and tell everybody this guy is no good and a healthy scratch again arguing for doing the wrong thing to protect egos it's not right or wrong it's it's how it works i listen i'm not judging i know you're telling you tree living doesn't want

to embarrass himself i know and that's you are correct sports and absolutely at the highest level i know that i know that talking practical i am i'm talking about meritocracy i'm talking about running but that's not it's not the n hl world where egos run start players egos run the show yeah and when you can get those in line, when you can get guys to buy in and they go play for the Florida Panthers or the Boston Bruins are in their run or the Pittsburgh Penguins are in their run and great players with egos fall in line and say I'm willing to take less. I'm willing to do my part. You win. You're talking now about culture. Winning culture. That you don't flip a switch and decide now today I'm going to have culture.

But he starts somewhere, doesn't it? For 10 years, it's been run a certain way. They're they've been brought up a certain way you ain't flipping that switch now but so what's the argument then to not flip it ever not try to flip it but the flip has to come up top it doesn't come from stolars all right that'll get

okay yep yeah no listen I I get that I can I there's another question what do players think about being a goalie that's speaking up like from a positional thing like does that like if it's a different type of goal

Like if it's a guy that you think has more, you know, reason to speak up that's not Stolars, he doesn't have the credibility to do it, whatever. Yeah. If it's a goalie that's calling everybody out just from a positional thing, is that weird for guys? No, it has everything to do with you, your credibility and who you are. And I like Stolars and I think he's been fantastic. Been their best player. Okay, he's been their best player for six games.

Yeah, and a lot of last year. He bailed them out. I mean, how many points is different? I don't think being your best player in six games when you play 34 the year before and you couldn't play against Florida because you got bumped in the head. Yeah.

Is not that, you're not that guy yet. Yeah. You're not. Yeah, I guess that's where we disagree. That's a perspective thing, I guess, like you're looking for him to be Vasilevsky or Lundfist. You got, listen, you got to go down that path, you got to be methodical about it, you know?

You've got to really think long and hard and he got caught up in his emotions and I understand that and the frustration and I get that too. It's just it's, uh, there's a lot of things that can go wrong after the fact. Let's, uh, let's put a bow. We have two barubi clips on defending your goalie as well.

Sam, would those be, uh, um, worthwhile or have we already beat those points to death? Well, yeah, I think we've got it. I mean, did you, I didn't get your take on Carlo. kipper i mean is that is that not one of the most offensive things you've ever seen okay uh rinse repeat uh you heard my take on cow and getting thrown in that one is the worst one i maybe i've ever seen like he was till till the last one till the next one i mean i hated everything about it but are you surprised yes yes i kind of thought

last year he'd be someone who would at least go through the motions he wasn't that guy in boston i got news for you for anybody that paid attention not looking for him to be heavy do you think the boston brunes are getting rid of a big heavy tough defenseman kipper it's not about him being that guy if you step onto a sheet of ice and that happens everyone should be that guy regardless of who that's a no doubt of the zigzags goal he got oh my god that is we have a team full of mutants so yes that would happened but like what level of hockey ever played is that not gloves everywhere i'm curious like would carlo have just stood there and helped marchman out of the net if stolars wasn't mad like what i don't know i don't know i just i can't believe that happened yeah and like they're not close to

being like last year they were they were hard to play against last year were they come on they scored over 100 points they won the division they were they were tougher than this they were stronger. They were a closer-knit group than this. But like, you're looking at the personnel Kip and it's like, okay, well, Mitch Marner wasn't those things. So what are they missing from last year? I don't know. I guess it's

tough that Joshua and Wa are both big guys who also don't have edge. You know. So I saw her to get off but I just saw a tweet from Alex Xero. That's great work for City News 680 saying, Vladdy

arrives at the Rogers Center. wearing an Austin Matthews Maple Leafs jersey. Oh my God. For game seven. It's either going to fix Austin or ruin Vladdy. Oh, God. Are you kidding me, dude?

Yes. Are you kidding? This is, Derek, this is my nightmare. Why? Why? This is my nightmare. You know, I have been waiting to be like, seeing Vladdy's postseason

should give Leafs fans that, you know, into a career somewhat, you can find it. Oh, God. Okay. Anyways. Max Domi, expected to play with Austin Matthews. Correct. And Nyes tomorrow night against New Jersey.

Like, why did he, well, I don't know how I felt about the changes because Scott Lotton left. They changed everything because of that. This is where he should have been to start for a week, 10 days. Give it a chance. This is the guy, Matthew. wants. I mean, if that's the case, that's great. Is that what you think?

No, no. I guarantee if Matthews had his choice between, I don't know. Nylander? Yarncraw and, I don't know, Michelli and... I don't understand. Flexi. He wants Max Domey. Yeah.

You know, I put out some lines I'd like to see earlier today. where I just don't know that Matthews and Nyes have to play together, right? Like, it's, this is, oh, there's other looks that are possible. Like, could you do something like McMahon with Matthews and Nielander, Nyes with Tavares and Domi? Nyes, Tavares, Domi's, not bad to me. I just, I think that we're still stuck in the pairings world. Where it's, it's Matthews and Nyes and Tavaris and Nielander

seem like they're adjoined at the hip and then they're just going to figure out everything else around the lineup. JT's getting his points, Nealander's getting his points. Yep. So you don't want to mess with that. And I don't know what's going on with the fourth line. I mean, I'm looking at it right now.

Robertson-Lorence Yarncrock. That's a great hockey line right there. Okay, like, for the life of me, one more time, explain to me why, like, can't come back up and just play a fourth line? You know, that's a great question. That is a really great question. I imagine it's because-

A natural centerman. They've just told him you're not a part of our plan. and they don't want to. But why? Because he makes too much money. No, Kip, I don't know. I don't know their thing with David Kemp. Did he come into Kemp in bad shape this year?

I don't know. Pretty good stuff. And Kallie Yarncrook, not playing? He is playing. No, not playing Saturday. Okay, crazy. Explain that to me. No, I can't.

He's got three goals in three games. Works, kills penalties. Has been great to start the year. Great shape. Like, I don't get that one either. Well, I'm watching. Nick Robertson out there on the penalty kill. I'm like, yeah, it really had to scratch

Kelly Yarncrock, eh? Right. It's like, holy smokes. I guess Pousetta must have been, he must be off to a terrible start. Well, he's playing the fourth line of the Marley's. All right. Sammy Blaze is on the roster,

but they don't want to give him a crack. Cowan is out. You okay with him taking a breather? This is exactly the way I thought it would play out all along. I said he doesn't have to play every game to start the season. there's times when I think he brings great energy and I like him out then

and there's other times as it's been shown that he can be overwhelmed, cough up the puck a few times and you need to back off. Yeah. But he's not ready to help you contend for the Stanley Cup right now. He is in a development process still. And if you want to do it at the NHL level, you do it, but you better.

protect this kid yeah i like it for that reason i think it's actually healthy to watch the game from up above um take a breather and just get to step back from the pressure for a night and then i think you come back in kind of refreshed i am curious you know about his overall usage are they going to drag out an nchl stint and then eventually send him down or what they do all right let's let's go to uh craigree on on max going to the top line do we we haven't played that have we no okay clip eight because I just, you know, that was like, you know, a plan we had trying Max there. And I know he's played in the past with those guys. So I just wanted to get to that, just see how it looks and see where we go from there.

And that's real reason. Definitive. Game time? Game time. It's game time. It's game time. It's game time. Visit it by Bet365.

Visit the app for the latest odds and see why it's never ordinary at Bet, bet, 5 must be 19 plus and tarry only please play responsibly i have to say fellas tonight is an all-time happiness hedge upperc yeah oh man uh the trona blue jays are favored in this game the trono blue jays this line should plummet after vladdie put on a matthews jersey going to the game but they are minus 1 35 you just stop that that's my nightmare i can't believe he did that anyways he also the like i was born for this thing is so cool so cool so cool but then he put on a Matthews jersey well no but all of it is like boy yeah great night to have a great night it would be really good to have a good night um one is the jays are minus 135 the seattle minors are plus

115 tonight it is just there have been few greater spots for my favorite thing is a happiness edge so not sure how much i'm going to put on that tonight but uh there will be some money enough for a world series ticket well it's kind of kind of anyways uh and i just wanted to bring up the uh i just lost it here give me again tonight have been so close to the last couple nights, but he's just been red hot. Give me an

early Clement home run tonight. He thought he hit one out last game. He was centimeters away in two straight games. Give me a home. Like 500. He's unbelievable. A million. What inning was it that they pitched him like he was Barry Bond? I know. They threw nothing near the plane. They wouldn't even go near him.

So give me a home run from him at plus 1250. Plus 1250 for an Ernie Clement home run tonight. Oh, I just got nervous for the game. Oh, I am petrified. That was game time. Presented by Bet365, visit the athlete of Dodds, and see why it's never ordinary.

Bet365 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. It's hard when your team, oh, God, that's a great-looking sweater, though. Oh, me, why did he? I really wish I could go back in time 10 minutes and just wish this didn't happen. Wow, he looks good. Fort the city. that's an insane move.

Hey? We got to get a break. Okay, let's go to break when we return more. So we get into the Leafs with Jimmy Ralph. Have we had them on yet? First time this year, bud. Love it. Ralphie.

Ralphie next on Real Kipper and Bourne. The best Blue J show out there, period. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. A reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne, brought to you by Bet365. What do we got, Sammy? My bad. I got to get it.

You're right? Sammy? I forgot to send Ralph. Oh, okay. What do we got, Sammy? What do we got, Sammy? Three, four and a half hours to first pitch. You okay?

there you're all right i was a lot better before i saw vladdie in the matthews jersey oh my gosh would you stop with the vladdie wearing an austin shirt in your dark basement hasn't you have no bearing on the game so it's going to affect vladdie that's what you think you have no bearing on the game kipper you're not in the mud with me do you know what i'm going to have to hear about if the jays lose tonight and you're not a pig you're not in the mud with me buddy i'm in the mud makes a good point this affects sam more than vladdie because laddie's been fantastic but a Sam's going to have to hear about how Austin Matthews cost the J's game seven. Correct.

Is there anyone, is there a professional shrink out there that would volunteer for our services for our Sammy? I would be curious to get you on a couch and just have you assessed. Yeah, I would be curious. Professionally. In his childhood and perhaps his parents can tell us, his lovely parents, by the way, could tell us what went wrong here. I just care. I care deeply. And I hate bad moments.

and I'm a sports psycho when it comes It's just I know someone I talked to someone today who said that the Jays win when they're not able to watch So they're so invested in the Jays

They are going to not watch tonight I know there's a lot of people like that Have you ever heard of that? I love the team so much I'm not going to watch Yes So you're watching on replay or he's just Well watching their phone

Like checking the app to see the score Honestly the best move tonight It's just to go for a four hour long walk With no phone What fun is you're missing the whole point of sports? We just find out. You just find out. All right.

Oh, God, I had something very important to ask before that nonsense. All right. Did you find our very own Jim Ralph? I just text. Oh, it is the Joe Bowen retirement tour this year. I'm looking forward to asking Ralphie about that. 44 years. Bowen has been the voice of the Leafs on Fan 590.

All right. You don't have to wait much longer. Here he is. Jim Ralph, Toronto Maple Leaf Radio, color analyst. Ralphie. are you doing are you are you at the dome now did you get tickets are you going to game seven um no tickets no ticket uh will you be in a dark basement with sammy i got i got all these free leave tickets i don't know what to do all right buddy um i want to get into it uh because we

had a very lengthy lengthy uh conversation on stolars and his comments and ralvi i'm not saying that he didn't have a right to say what he said. Of course he does. Everybody has that right. I don't know where I want to start with you other than I personally thought it was too early to kind of play a card like that

six games into the season, but where were you on it? Yeah, I mean, watching the one thing, Kipper, is it didn't, he wasn't over the top. I thought he just sort of said it factually. You know, this is what we've got to be better. This is

This is what a, you know, we've got to turn it around now type thing. So I didn't really look at it as an over-the-top comment, but the way things work now and it gets retweeted and replayed. It gets blown up. But I think it was sort of the heat of the moment and speaking from the heart. And, of course, everybody's going to run with it. Yeah, it's a hot media environment, which you are a part of. Let's just go ahead and zoom out

and get your thoughts on the Leaf so far this year. Where are they at compared to last year? What have you seen to make you feel like they're different? Yeah, different. And still, you know, even trying to find somebody to play with Matthews and 9th. It's so reminiscent of finding Nick Ritchie with Mariner and Matthews and trying Joe Thornton with Marneur and Matthews so trying to find that chemistry or that fit to fill out the top line.

So there's more similarities to me, maybe four or five years ago. And right now, I think you look at every game they played, the six games. They could be 0 and 6, or they could be 6 and 0. And they played a lot of games like that last year where it was they could go either way. It's a power play goal. It's an overtime goal. It's one moment that defines the outcome of games. So, you know, they haven't played, but they haven't been dominant to this kind of.

Your thoughts on what transpired with part of Stolars' frustration, I think is just the contact, the constant contact. We see guys driving towards him. Of course, he's had health issues, you know, particularly with his knees. I totally get the feeling of, you know, I don't want to be out six weeks again. the Carlo reaction or not reaction Is it just It's just way the

The guys are playing the game today Where they You don't necessarily have to be like us Ralphie In our heyday where we would have just Probably turned it into a four-hour game Yeah Yeah I think that Let's not forget too

You know When he left the series against Florida last year There was the send in there could pick a shot To the basket of Florida And he also took a shot to the mask in the Ranger game. So you remember the mask came off that didn't blow the whistle

and, you know, he was forced to make another save without a mask. But I think this, I don't think this was necessarily one game. I think this is just sort of a build-up, you know, to what we saw on Saturday night. And he just sort of had it. I don't think this was a one-off.

And by the way, just to let you guys know, I had it out of the fence when once. but it was in the dressing room and he finally told me that worry about my own job and I said every time you're on the ice I worry about my job

but at least it was it wasn't on Twitter the next day that's what you know that stuff does happen that's part of the way it works I guess we did miss the playoffs

out of your very back oh boy your thoughts on Houston Cowan sitting out for a night and watching from the press box. Yeah, I think, you know, it sort of reminds me when the minor did come into the league

and the Mike God, God, his third, fourth line, he'd move him up to the top six, and he might sit him the odd night. You know, I think one thing I've been impressed with, he's got afraid to be physical. He doesn't play like he's afraid

of the other size of the opponents in his weight. But they haven't been, I think, Matthias Micelli is sort of in the same boat. They haven't really clicked in at the start the way you'd like them to. And so that's going to be a work in progress. And I think you look a little further down the road. If everybody stays healthy and you get Scott Lotton back,

now you've got even more decisions to make as to who's on the outside looking at. Ralph, we've seen Morgan a lot more active getting on the score sheet as well. What have you seen that's been different from Oregon? Yeah, just a little more swagger, hey, Kipper? Where, you know, I remember the

season he stored the 21 goals who played with Ron Haney most of the year. So now you've got Brandon Carl, although Craig Rubei did mix up the defensive combination Saturday for a debt. But I think it really benefits him to

play with that big stay-at-home defenseman type of guy. And I think he's taking advantage of that and feels a little more comfortable that if I get caught, somebody's got my back and it's not going to be a breakaway or two on one another rate. But I like the fact that he seems to be more proactive rather than Canada as far as when to jump in

and not being sure. He just, he sees a space and he jumps into the play, which I think is good news for the least because I think they were last in the league in defense scoring last year and we only had 21 goals and to put that in perspective in turn to have 22 one year

so so that was that was something that I think the least lacked last year was you know the defense and then up in the score sheet uh roughly the new guys have not I don't want to say made an impact but like Joshua almost scored his first goal the other night uh was playing 11 12 minutes a night

machelli no goals won us assist. Have you seen anything in their progress so far that's positive or are you concerned that these guys have been so minimally impactful? Yeah, I think Borny is fair to say you want a little more offensive to the bottom

sets and Joshua did have a great chance at the third period but I mean to me that might be his only scoring chance that he's had in the season a couple of years ago. We had 18 or 19 goals with Vancouver so you're kind of hoping

to get him back to the 15 goal range. Nick was always in like a 14 to 16 goal score and both his points came in Detroit and Southern game of the season. So, yeah, I think you're hoping for more that they gel and start to, you know, control longer shifts in the offensive zone

getting on the floor check a little bit better. And, you know, hopefully, hopefully that's going to come with time. But I think that's kind of part of the reason you're only a game above 500 right now is we haven't seen even if it's got the scoring but just dominate some shifts and get them back on their heels and hire up to the fence until the matthews or the virus line gets on you're listening to jim ralph toronto maple leaf radio color analyst i know it's early here just a half a dozen games for for a lot of teams here

ralphi but is there a sense or a small sample size enough for you to think that that there might be a shift in the Atlantic Division somewhat with the likes of Detroit and Montreal? Yeah, I think it's too early, Kappa. I know Detroit's been on a pretty good run. And you remember, you know, you can talk about Stolar as being too early in the season the call players out.

Todd DeFellon did that after the first game. Yeah. And Detroit ends up turning it around. So, you know, maybe there is something, positive that Colosolos coming in and after a game saying, you know what, we've got to start doing things better. He and Craig

Brughey, both in the post-game press conference, use the phrase, enough is enough. And that's very similar to what Todd McEllons set up in the first game for the Red Wins when they lost. I've home to Montreal Canadian. So maybe that's a little

bit of an igniter that hopefully we'll see that bleed into tomorrow's game against Georgia. So, Ralphie, this is the Joe Bowen retirement tour season here. I just want to have you tell us a little bit about your years with Joe. It's his 44th season. And just also, please give us comfort and tell us that you're still going to be around. I love my boy Todd Crocker, the Marley's.

I hope you get to work with him. But tell us what's up. It's not your final song there, is it, Ralphie, too? Well, the way I look at it, I got six months to talk them out of it. It's hard to believe that it's been, you know, 29 years to this point. And I know Joe always shows that between us during that time, we've been to five marriages. And this is the longest relationship. Either one of us is what we had outside of my kids.

That's great. I told him if he leaves. I said, I want the house and I want monthly payment. You deserve it, Ralphie. You were wronged. What is he going to do, Ralphie, without you? It is strange. You know, you do opening night, and you're going, wow,

it's his last opening night. And even, you know, a little side story to this is the first thing he did, I believe it was October 6, 1982 in Chicago. And I was in the building that night. and the next day both of us got sent to a different city. So here we are, here we are years later, you know, beside each other. So it's, it's a, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, as much as you want to celebrate the season and then everything that he has done for the organization and how he's brought up, uh, you know, there's, there's a little bit of sadness to it. Because I'll, I'll be honest, I never watched a single episode of the office after Steve Corral left.

I never watched one episode of Yellowstone after. Kevin Koston was written out. But I don't, I don't handle change that well. No kidding. Well, we got you still for 76 more when it comes to you and Joe. So we're not going to rush those anytime soon, okay? Oh, yeah. Yeah, we're going to try to enjoy it.

And it looks like they're an honor in the proper way of those last few. Awesome stuff, Ralphie. Always a pleasure catching up with you, man. Thanks for doing this. Thanks, buddy. All right. Thanks, good. Thanks, boy.

That is Jimmy Ralph. uh yeah you know what i mean ralphi spoke about stolars you know and listen i'm not suggesting at all i don't want people to think that i think this is gonna this is the worst thing to ever happen i hope it i hope they can galvanize the the situation here and you know he can turn it around in his play he's he's held them in every game i get i don't know ralphi said they could be six and oh really you didn't agree with that no but i think they could be fine and won. The one red wing game, they should not have won.

We've got two things going for them right now. Where could they have possibly won? Well, they, I mean, they, against the red wings, they kicked their crap out of them and Talbot stood in his head. They could have won an overtime against. They got scored on 40 seconds left. Yeah. They could have beat Seattle.

But every game, the metrics suggests that they've been outplayed. But this is, you know. The metrics. Yeah. This is one are you a metrics guy? I am. I am. I, listen, possession, ozone possession.

But they did that all last year, too. But here's the one thing. Not this bad. They don't have the puck as much as the other team, but they do get as many high danger chances as the other team. They're quick. So they get those opportunities and limit them okay. Anyway, the two things that I think they have going for them right now,

Js are helping because no one's paying as much attention while they try to figure out something. Boy, they're hoping for a Jays win tonight. And the other thing is that their schedule has been soft, right? So it's like, well, they've been pretty stinky. They haven't exactly been playing the Cram Della Cram. I think all but one playoff game. Only Montreal made playoffs of who they played so far.

And Montreal was a wild card. Is it 14 of 15 non-playoff teams? You're not saying to start the season? Yeah, to start the season. It's something to that effect. I know their October is like. They got it. This is where they can't really come out of 15 games, 500.

But I think, yeah, but they played these first. 10 games against good teams, they'd be... Better. No, no, I think they'd be in a pit. I think their record would be life. Oh, really? You don't think they would have been forced to play any harder? Well, I think they've... Yeah, that's an interesting point. Maybe.

Their next games coming up here, Devils Tuesday, Sabers, Sabers, Flames. No playoff. No playoff. Jackets. No playoff. No playoff. Fliers. No playoff. No playoff. Mammoth. No playoff. Bruins.

No playoff. Hurricanes. All right. Playoff. Playoffs. So, New Jersey is a good game. Tomorrow night. They've had a good start.

New Jersey looks really good, yeah. Are they as fast as they were last year? God, they're fast. Could be a problem. If Bratt and Hughes are doing their thing, it's, you're chasing them around. Oh, God, I'm so nervous.

The, uh, so, uh, is it Kirby? Yeah, Kirby versus Bieber. He needs another stinker. Yeah,

he was no good. He was no good. No good. Well, it came two. I assume three. They've got everyone waiting to throw two, though. Yeah, for sure. Like, I'm sure Castile will be available, but he was no good either.

Oh, oh, boy. Everyone, every, all hands on deck. It's game. Does that mean low-scoring game? Because anyone throws two bad pitches. It's like, bring in the next guy. Don't love the Jays in a low-scoring game. Yeah.

Jays need to get on the sticks. 13-11 final. Yeah, right. I think seven-four final, Jays. Oh, we'll take anything with one above. And I think Ernie Clement's going to hit a home run. Ooh, there you go. MVP.

I'll do five, two. Give me an MVP of the series. I think Vladimir Gretaud, Jr. But he just hits home run every night. Regardless of what happens at this. Although, what do you think of them thrown at him yesterday? I think that was on purpose? No.

I was thinking, like, why walk this guy when you just hit him every time? Just throw it at him. You know, it's, I think that made sense. All right, wherever you are, enjoy the game tonight. 7 p.m. when things get started on Sportsnet. Mariners, Jays, and some NHL games, I don't know. That's going to lose, Jay's. Come on.

Sammy, breathe, buddy. Our thanks to Jason Demers and Jimmy Ralph. That's it. That's all I got to say. Go Ted Reeve tornadoes tonight. Here we go. Is that your son's game? I'm going to coach right now. Ted Reeve tornadoes.

Are you one of those paid coaches? Paid. Was the opposite of paid? It costs a lot of money. Paying rink fries. Have a great night, everybody. We're back tomorrow. Real Kipper and Bourne. Thanks for joining us.