Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Tavares Breaks Through Broadway

Episode Date: March 21, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' 4-3 win over the New York Rangers to complete their back-to-back sweep. They dig into the Leafs' winning formula and whether it could be sustainable in the playoffs, John Tavares' case for the Hockey Hall of Fame, the standard in net, and much more. Finally, they close out the hour by going to the Leafs Line 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 affiliates.

Is there anything better on the real Kipper and Bourne show than a Friday? No, there's not. No, no, not at all. Saturday's pretty good. Really good Friday at 5 54 PM is great. The highlight of the show. If you are one of those lucky ones, maybe in a car driving far away from work, Braydus tell us what it feels like right now as we look

forward to two hours. On the real Kipper and Bourne show all kidding aside, Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne Sammy McKee. Look at the energy coming out of Sammy right now. Who's kidding? We are live on sports at 590 the fans sports that 360 and sports net plus Everywhere we are Okay Rome was burning last week for the Toronto Maple Leafs

No longer the case. Winning games, earning points. Still very much in the thick of things for a division win, something that we haven't seen in a very long time. Yeah, they're in the hunt. I sent a tweet a little bit before the show that last year at this time, after 69 games, they had two more points but they

were eight points out of first and two years ago they had four more points than they have right now and they were 18 points out of first. So 18? That's ruined. That massive year. Everybody just sucks then. No. What's your point? My point is they're lucky that the top of the division isn't as good

That's what I said. No, cuz the bottom of the divisions way better Ottawa's better Montreal's better every Detroit's better. So divisions not worse. The tops just softer So they have a chance Even though they're worth glass Fuller empty Sammy. I don't know I I'm this team tires me out like you use all this energy trying to figure out what's wrong with them and We go through these really down stretches with the season where up and down three game winning streak three game losing streak Five game winning streak three game losing streak where it's just not a ton of consistency in terms of like

You know win a couple in a row know, win a couple in a row, lose one, win a couple in a row. It's just a, I don't know. I don't know what to make of it because last night I don't think the Rangers were very good. Colorado clearly a very good team. Calgary, not a great team. They're not going to play a great team on Saturday night against Nashville. I have a hard time taking sense. I got to show pet peeve with both of you Oh, and the pet peeve is every time they beat someone

It's the other team's bad. They stink they stink. Oh the Rangers stink. Oh the flames stink. Okay they're both playoff teams or close to mmm Rangers I Can't win at home. They're not even a 500 team at home They got the best goalie on earth then no he's not he's not this season the best goalie on earth He's not okay, and and he's still their best player. Mm-hmm But you talked to we had Dave Maloney who's covers the teams on a day-to-day basis. It's not us making it up that The only way the Leafs win is if the other team stinks well that this is not a recency complaint This is a lifelong different born complaint. It doesn't matter who they beat

They'll be up for one group chat god that team stinks. It's like maybe they have it a good night Last night was a good night For John Tavares it was three points looked like every bit the part of a top center man made big plays I'll give an a to the second line and An a to the top pair and an a to the goalie. Everyone else is fine. Yeah, you see pluses Yeah, it's generous couple. Maybe maybe a Dean next in there depending on who you want to talk about But yeah, they had guys that did enough Tavares ripped a couple which is great to see all right enough negativity out of the two of you Let's go real positive head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs Craig Berube on his overview of the game

I mean, I thought we played a real good game. I thought it was 60 minute game. I mean You know that to get a, you got a lot of talent over there. We didn't give any odd man rushes tonight. I thought we defended hard. Our goalie was good, you know. And, you know, guys just played a smart game, I thought, checked well, you know. Scored goals on situations that we talked about in the game. But, you know, overall I thought we were direct with our game. Put pucks deep all night and played the right way. I saw a lot of positives last night.

Okay. We just mentioned Tavares, McMahon, Jake McCabe, last two games, I think has been a mule. Mm-hmm. A lot of minutes. Goaltending hasn't dipped the last two games I think has been a mule. A lot of minutes. Goaltending hasn't dipped the last two games. Good signs. Is there a formula here? So the Borubi says this is their identity. You know they've played more to their identity of late. Yes. Is there a formula here that is viable in the playoffs to win multiple rounds?

Not yet. Okay. Not yet. What is the pieces necessary to get there? I think you need two and a half, three great lines to win two months in the playoffs. Okay. Great lines. I don't know how many games that we could say

that the Leafs had three really great strong lines going at the same time. Okay, but we know the Matthews line is a great line. Yes. We know that Tavara's line can a great line. Yes. We know that Tavares line can be great. It's with McMahon. It's you hope that they're all striding well at the same time. Mm-hmm. Hasn't really happened. You just... Last night was one. Last night was one of those where the Tavares line took over for Matthews the night before.

Mm-hmm. Right? Didn't think they had line took over for Matthews the night before. Right? Didn't think they had a great night. Matthews and Marner. You'd say they had a bad night if you liked. Okay. Tavares certainly carried the mail there. And McMahon needs to be on the top six now. Right?

But are you overcompensating? McMahon on the third line over the last little while was just to balance it out. They're hoping he can drive a line on his own. And I think it's a big ask to say, not just ship in with goals, but be a driver of a line. That's a bigger ask. And then if McMahon's up there, then you're Homeg, Domi, Robertson, and then Camp Lawton, and Lorenz, and great bounce against Colorado for Lorenz, and those guys were feeling good again, but on a every other night playoff mode

to get you from the first round to the third round, you gotta see some push. You need better. Like, Lawton is a guy we're waiting to find it and we know has scored 18 goals and 40 points in the league. Yarncroc has scored 20 goals in the league year or two ago. Maybe Patcher Eddie.

Like I'm trying to think of who can be a third line where you might get some offense. But right now Yarncroc's healthy scratch because he's not going can you do something like can't flaunt and yarn croc or some some sort of? Yeah, you got I agree. They're looking for a third line and Holmberg Domi Robertson is certainly not it That's me there. They will not use that line in playoffs So I don't see the point in rolling it out, but I think we can all agree that when the playoffs start that Nylander and Tavares will probably be together underneath Matthews and Marner and nice, right? Like I think that that left wing side on there is a little bit in flux

But like we made the comparison on Leafs talk that Nylander and Tavares together is kind of just like that local bar in your neighborhood that you don't necessarily love But it's a necessary evil and you just, you know. Sometimes you gotta go there. It's not great some nights. Some nights the guy at the bar is a little bit of a loud mouth and you're not loving it, but other nights it's fine.

Like it's just a necessary evil because you can't really change up the rest of your lineup around it, but I don't know. Okay, let's follow up Craig Berube on Tavares and then we'll pick it up, Sammy. Yeah. Well, I thought he was really good tonight. You know, an older guy like that on back-to-back nights and, you know, pretty quick team over there too, but he was solid.

He was so strong on pucks tonight and won all his battles, face-offs. He does all the little things right and, you know, he's got that knack to score goals I'll tell you that. He knows it. He knows that quickness is a bit of an issue every now and then for John. But and he wasn't shy of telling us how quick the Rangers are as a team and John stood up. I don't know if he's trying to convince us or convince himself that John can do this on on a consistent basis. Or is it just some nights he's there and some nights it's just not there? Yeah. Yeah. You know, Tavares, I think, is going to be a guy who, again, not the driver of a line, but if it finds him in a pocket

He can put it away. He's got a great sense for it You know, it's it's going to be hit and miss at times But yeah, as long as he shoots it in sometimes you're okay with it I thought the ice time was really interesting last night When was the last time Matthews Marner Knies played less than the Tavares line and by as much as they did Tavares led the Team in ice time their forwards 1942 Neal under 1928, and then they were, Matthews and Marner were like 1730. Very unusual to see them play that little,

and I will note that third line, the Domi line, they played 10 minutes, while the Lawton fourth line played 14 minutes, 13 and a half. You can flip a coin to whether you want to call Each one the third or fourth line I know you just don't want to call Domi Robertson a fourth line because they don't seem like Stereotypically fourth line II but yeah, but to your point that you made going into the trade deadline One of your points about Braden Shen or one of the more high-profile center options was that you wanted somebody potentially to I give Johnny T a spell made it clear that if you are gonna go get a centerman

Yeah, need someone that's closer to your first two lines in your but now you're in fourth line Now you're in the situation where he's just your second line center Regardless of any situation and you're going to battle with whoever you go to in the playoffs with him as your second line center. Yes. Right? There's no way around it. No, no, no, and like, John still, to your point, he can score.

No matter what, no matter what you think, these type of players, Tavares, Willie, they can not look engaged, and then poof, it's in the net. And he is one of those guys. He's done it his whole life, his whole career, since he first put on a Toronto Marley jersey. Yeah, he's got 29 goals in 62 games this year. Seventh year of the seven year deal.

He's just a, he can go three. He's another guy that can go three or four quiet games and then boom three points And somehow it always balances out to almost a point a game his whole career Yeah, he became the 13th first overall pick to reach 1,100 points Since the NHL draft was introduced in 63 the only active players among that cohort are Sydney Crosby Alex Ovechkin Patrick Kane and Stephen Samco, so You know, it's, you know, Sammy, he, we did last night, a little bored about where he could get to and all time points in NHL history.

Yeah. And like he's 200 away from the top 40. So that would be another say three seasons. Will he play another three seasons? Who knows? Yeah. But like he could get up to top 50 top whatever. Like we're talking about an all time producer. You get that high

you're in the Hall of Fame. Like it just I don't there's not many guys who score that many points who aren't not career not to make this like a big picture conversation on John Tavares, but I guess if you don't get into 1100 points is a good time to have it as any I think him he is a Big victim and we always talk about Marner Matthews and Nylander and how they're talked about But I think he's a huge victim of the lack of playoff success and obviously he's part of that

He was the captain of this team for a long time, but you think about Ever showing one of his highlights here and kaboom. Yeah, it was a great shot. I wouldn't mind that safe yeah, if I'm Peter La Violette, but uh What I'll say is He has come as advertised Every year he's been here. He's produced. He's been really solid games consistent everything He's just had zero success in the playoffs. That's what I mean. That's what that's a big thing It is and that's what i'm saying is like it really

Two series winning overtime goals for sure But if they elevated like if they went to two or three second rounds a conference final Maybe even a final the way he would be talked about here. Yes like it is Crazy how little respect that he's given. I don't want to underestimate the accumulation of 1100 points. That's like it's a huge number a huge number, right and we've seen guys 10 15 years ago get in the Hall of Fame with much less and have almost zero

Success in the playoffs as well. Yeah. I don't know where the standard is if it's changed. Oh, he's he's a lot. He's a hockey hall of fame. The other thing is Sam. Yeah, it. Drew, a Hall of Famer. What drew I'd say he's close.

I mean, you look at the Hall of Fame standard is they're identical. I don't know. I don't know if that's the case or not. I've I don't have Drew's numbers on my head 1100 points Okay, is your point the Drew is bad. What's your point? You're making is Drew a Hall of Famer. I'm asking you we're talking guys on the fringe. I don't that's him Get hit by a bus today. Does he get to play more games? I don't know today Did he get hit by a bus today? Does he get to play more games? I don't know. I'm asking you today.

Very close. Okay, so Tavares is very close. Yeah. Okay. And to be. Yeah. But another guy with lack of playoff success, no major wins, no major influence in the playoffs. It's a lot harder now to have a thousand points and go into the Hall of Fame with no major awards or no playoffs success.

I think it's easier now because nobody wins. There's so many teams, nobody wins. No, I beg to differ. I think the standard is a lot harder now to get in. You need to be a difference maker when it matters. I think it's hard to get in, but I don't think winning is as important as it once was, which maybe it should be, but I don't think it's as prioritized I think major awards is a big deal. I think Stanley cups is a big deal Big moment games. I think I feel really old how many games at Closers played 1,250 games he's played already. Yeah stunning. The other thing what's the worst?

Very close. Yeah, the other thing to ours is a victim of is the flat salary cap and Making us deal with his talk about money all the time Yeah You know if we if we didn't If it wasn't a cap era if guys didn't know what they made like I always referenced my dad's Islanders teams I didn't know what one another made people always enjoyed my dad is kind of this Under the radar not the mainstream big guy, but he works hard, kills penalties, gets points, all that sort of stuff.

I think people would be really enjoying this version of 34-year-old John Tavares scoring 30-some goals in his seventh season after losing the seed. But because it's like, yeah, but he makes 11 million. I think that conversation's flipped this year a lot, and mostly because of what happened at the start of the year with the captain CB taken away from him And I think he was almost made to be a sympathetic figure and the fact that he's having this season that he's having

Since that happened I think has kind of flipped the perception on him a little bit in my opinion Yeah but if they lose in the first round that perceptions out the window and you're right back to They should have never signed him. He. No, I've never said that though. Like I'm just. But it falls into the salary cap kind of world of when you named him your big free agent signing, he went to 11, that pulled Matthews up, that pulled Marner up, they went from being

eight or 10 million. This is your argument though. Yeah. Oh no, that's the narrative that's out there. Marner up they went from being eight or ten million. This is your argument though. Oh no that's the narrative that's out there. I don't know anyone on the Leafs who would have said, or I shouldn't say not anyone, but not many fans would have said I wish they never signed John DeMar. Not many fans know. They don't know.

I agree with that. Yeah they just don't know. They didn't follow it that closely. But anyways, it's not the conversation for today. Oh, we just had it. Yeah. I think, again, winning can take a lot of things to the next level, whether it's resigning Mitch Marner,

whether it's not Tavares, Ades, a serious feather in his cap to go towards the Hall of Fame. There's plenty of room still here to go in the next 13 games and the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Yeah, so they started rolling after the slump here. Three straight wins. Why don't we listen to Borubi tell us about what exactly has changed over the past few games in Clip 4? I think it's simple things, I really do. I think it's puck battles, competitiveness, just on our toes playing, you know, attacking, you know, getting back to our game, back to our identity.

That's what I see. We're back to our identity. You chuck that up to just every single player in the long season? At times, when there's times I don't. You know, I think there's times where, you know, you just, we don't want to play direct enough. We want to play a different way and it gets you in trouble sometimes. Yeah, I see what he's talking about. They're just pushing harder now. They're just, they've kind of redialed a little bit here. Maybe it was just coming home, getting some home cooked meals and walking their favorite dog. But there's energy back now and there's a sense of urgency and they've closed gaps and

they're harder on the back check and they're just more attentive. On the way off the broadcast last night, you said something to me just like, do you think they can win playing that style? And I was curious about that. So I wrote today I looked at the past ten cup champions and compared how much teams dump it in Versus leaves how much like block shots, you know hits goaltending all these different things and it's funny because they play a very Similar style to last year's Florida team without the personnel to play like Florida's team. So it's like, you can definitely win playing

the way they're playing. Can you win with their personnel playing that way is gonna be a big grit check for a lot of these guys where you're asking them to dump it in a lot and get it back a lot. I think if you're management and you are looking at the way things have ended for however many years it has been You're willing to try something else here. That's exactly what I wrote. So it's like hey the old way didn't work

So we're trying this way and you looks like you're gonna be able like you're gonna make the playoffs and you're gonna be playing against You know a familiar foe or whatever whoever you're gonna play against all of it has looked Results wise not always on the ice It hasn't looked the same but all the results look very very similar But you know you haven't seen what's gonna look like the playoffs yet, so maybe this works. Maybe it doesn't I don't know I referenced I think yesterday those Islanders teams Barry trots teams that went to the conference final They were 29th in shot share like they were near the bottom in the league But they were top 10 in high danger chance

share, because they protected the house and the Leafs are the same as that. They're near the bottom, tons of shots, whatever, but they do well when it comes to high danger stuff. Yeah, they're saying on broadcast last night that they got 26 wins, I guess now 27 wins when getting outshot. Yeah. Like they get outshot every night. Go ahead and shoot. It's almost as if it's now part of their identity

that we love our goalies. If we're not blocking the shot, he'll make the first save. The one thing that I've really noticed once again, especially with Joseph Wall this week is one and done. He can absorb a puck, no crazy second, third opportunities around for Colorado or Calgary this week. Rangers, which one didn't you like?

He was screened off of the point shot late in the period, I think, and late in the game as well with the Cryder. The one rebound was a little greasy. He kicks it right under the stick of somebody in this line Aaron it yeah, yeah, but Aaron Yeah It was I'm not gonna kill him kind of yeah greasy giveaway by Morgan Riley up the wall to a little bit of a soft play But yeah, you know for the most part that stuff's been covered up. You know what I think is Because of the way we're talking about their strategy like they're okay with shots from out there as long as there's not a ton from in here, is you're at risk for the goal they gave up to make it 4-3.

A lot of pucks from distance, some are going to go through, get tipped, find holes, like some days you're going to have bad luck, some days you're going to have good luck. And that's just a style of play. Like every once in a while when they get hemmed in, it kind of blows me away that they just literally kind of stand. Yeah, get real flat footed. It's like in my day it was like, Oh, you get out to your point man as fast as you can. Now it's like staying the way. Now it's like I'm staying here if it hits me it hits me if it doesn't, chances are it's going to hit him, him, him, him him him him him him and we're okay with that yeah I don't love it I don't love it either I wouldn't mind seeing him hunt down a you

know 4060 puck here and there I know the exact shift kippers thinking about and it was Vols his favorite will really lander I know right after the Statue of Liberty he was defense Willie is his breath I wish you could see I was just gonna say was you could see his health bar like in a video game is raising the D Zone it builds. He's just like if I stay motionless long enough, I'll be ready to go No, no, no, I'm getting ready for a breakaway. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I played that way But he's almost for it just seems though when they're when they're going it it kind of works for them Yeah in their favor. Do you want to hear the Stolar's clip? Sure. All right clip five Please yeah, he was excellent. It's good to see him. Good to see a game out of him like that

I thought he was solid, you know, that's like I said, that's good team over there Got a lot of talent and they're gonna get chances and he came up big for us Yep, it's good to see him good to see like Where's he been? No, he hasn't been that bad. No, he's given up like three goals and one loss. The standard that he built for himself, it feels like Borube is holding him to like Connor Hellebuck's standard here. He didn't slip that bad, boys. Like he had a couple okay games where they ended up losing.

It's just he's holding them to this insane standard. You would have thought. It's good to. Yeah, you would have thought. It's good to see him. You would have thought. Oh my God. There would be more looks of Stolar's like Allmark this year where it's like House of Fire and then 18 Wheeler off the cliff this week.

Hasn't happened. Allmark, I mean he's had a tough week in the last couple of starts, including last night getting shellacked by the Avs, but that hasn't happened. Umar, I mean, he's had a tough week in the last couple of starts, including last night getting shellacked by the Avs, but that hasn't happened to Stolarz. He hasn't been chased out of nets and he hasn't been questioned like we questioned Umar this year. I was looking at save percentage, team save percentage, and the Leafs are ninth in the NHL in team save percentage, but if you eliminate the six Hildeby starts and the two Murray starts, they're second.

Wow. So if just Woll or Stolarz, you're looking at the second best goalie tandem this year. That's fantastic. So I think it's coming around a little bit. There's a couple of stretches. November, the Leafs had a good stretch. And I think early December where you're like,

okay, identity, identity identity and it's Kind of come back a little bit now Were they bad last year in March? I could felt like they were a little bit of a law I should have looked at us up before I don't but I felt in my mind. I don't remember them being great They were ever bad. Okay, honestly the years blend together so much, you know nice Honestly, the years blend together so much, you know. Nice. Shot one in. Just the stat.

The 25 goals, 150 hits. Oh yeah. Three guys in the league have done it. Him, Tom Wilson, Brady Kachak. This year, three guys have done it. That is a hell of a group to be a part of. Yeah. You're gonna love that. Yeah, for sure.

And I still think that there's something in him Like I'll go back to that White Cloud fight where it's like you're just not fighting for fighting. You're fighting to Send a message prove a point. There's anger in that fight. There was left hands looking like jackhammers like Yeah, bring that around a little bit more often and then you'll really be in the Kachuk Wilson conversation, not like distant third, because you are that big and that strong. Wasn't, Sam, didn't you tell me that Bukes had them lined up for a... I saw a 9 million number floating out on the fan hockey show today.

Every Leafs RFA ever just gets offer sheeted. They're all going to be the richest guy ever. 9 million offer she showed today every every leafs RFA ever just gets offer sheeted They're all gonna be the imaginary offer. She's gonna be the richest guy ever every time there's an RFA It's always no one's always the leaves guys always the leaves nobody because First of all the Leafs would match it would just be a big piss-off, but the Leafs would match You're not letting him walk out the door the Leafs would match. You're not letting him walk out the door. But as long as you're not overly concerned about that, then just find a way to bridge them. That's all. I was just looking at the Leafs' schedule from last year. Pretty up and down March.

But what I'm remembering is they lost four in a row down the year. Oh, did they? Yeah they won. Devils Detroit Florida in Tampa. And they still sat out Mitch but I don't think they sat out Austin for the 70 chase. They sat out they sat out Mitch for sure because he gets that out it seems like he gets sat out every time he's chasing a 100 points and he misses out by a point or two. What? No?

Sure. I don't know. Did he not miss? No, I remember specifically them all chasing it like very hard. But did it did no one sit out at the end of last season? Maybe he did, but he was way off 100 last year, wasn't he? I don't know. He missed a bunch of time.

He wasn't even close to 100 points and he had been banged up. So they sat him out What is not close to a hundred points mean like 97? No, he was he missed like a month and a half last year There's no way he was close to a hundred. Can you look it up? Computer I'd rather just argue He Mitch murder Up here he finished last season 85 points 85 like 69 games. It was a year before where he had 99. So did he finish the season? Okay, the year before he was yeah, he was knocking on it. Yeah, maybe anyways, okay

There you go break time and today's pointless conversation I mean just the glass thing on nice I think it's pretty that's a pretty incredible two guys to be paired with and that's like your dream center He's never gonna have the FU of those two guys But if he can have a be the poor man's version of those two guys he could outscore Wilson yeah, probably That's a nice shot last night Yeah, but really well I get Really good shot. Okay. I thought you're all over me for saying to get out score Wilson.

No, no, no, no, no. No, I think he's Wilson has I think he's a legit 30 goal scorer. Yes, Tom Wilson's high in goals prior to this year was 24, which he's already passed, but he is 30 this year. Can he can he become a 70 point guy, 80 point guy, pointy game guy? I think so. 70. Washington is the opposite of the Rangers where every single guy is having their career. Guys, we have calls. I don't want to miss the calls. I love the calls.

The Leaf Line on a Friday where we sit back and then we let you guys kind of sound like us. Is that what it is? Tell me that. It's nice to have someone else throw stuff at the wall. We're good, Sammy. Leafline when we return to Real Kipper and Born. the biggest games of the night. It's the fan pregame, 6pm weekdays on SportsNet, SportsNet 590 The Fan, and wherever you get your podcasts. ["The Fan Pre-game"] Welcome back to the show,

where we, for the next 20 minutes or so, sit back and relax and let you all out there do the work for us. I kind of feel for whoever's calling today because we're all kind of tired at the end of the week and like, you know, might just open the door. Not me. Friday, baby. You guys are supposed to be younger and more energetic than me.

What is going on? Young kids sap your life force. I'm dying. Yeah, I got no excuse I mean I rolled out a bed at the crack at 8 30 a.m. Today had a wonderful leisurely breakfast Literally no reason to be tired. I don't crack a rock I don't lift a finger other than to type but But you have a very difficult task of finding some of the best callers out there who've got thoughts and ideas on your Toronto Maple Leafs. Alright, how about we start with J.Dot from Mississauga. J.Lo.

J.Dot. Oh, J.Dot. Alright. Look, I just got a general statement. I'm a die-hard Leaf fan through and through long time still waiting passion does everyone else. I'm also a realist I Don't want to make a comment though You know we we can't want to dark places with the losing streak and then we go on a bit of a winning streak We played well

You know last couple games great we can take that and in a you know, last couple games great. We can take that and in a lot of outlets, and a lot of them, I'm not saying you boys specifically, just in general, it's always going back to that fear-mongering and playing on the stress and the emotional defense. What a great win streak, but who's Mitch Maher gonna sign with?

Is he gonna, who's gonna offer she Matthew Nides? Oh, the Leafs are in trouble, all these teams have draft capital. I mean, all these teams have the money, all these teams have interest. Of course they do, they're great players. I just tend to think that even though all these things might be true, this is the one market, and I lose listen to other markets radio and media. I'm a big hockey fan, not just a

Leafs fan, just an NHL hockey fan. And really, yeah, I just find it very kind of concerning that this is always the narrative. Give Leafs fans a break, man. It's hard enough being a Leaf fan as it is in this fishbowl that we call Toronto as a hockey market. Anyways, boys, take care. All right, so J.Dot's issue is that we're not staying in the moment. You're always looking, Sammy, at negative stuff around it.

Look at me, look at me. I mean, we should- I think that's a great call. We should just get up and leave. To go back to my 680 news or city news 680 days where I started before I was here. If it bleeds, it leads baby. You know, it's that's that's sports talk. I would like to say that it's not something that we ever consciously do.

Like it's not something like where they're playing well and we're like, we need some juicy. Like, where can we where can we twist this? Like that's never the case. I think it is organic, like you know, whatever it is that comes up amongst us, that's kind of on our mind. But I will say, I also, and I think you do too, we make a conscious effort at times to stay away from that stuff, even though sometimes it's hanging right there. I think for the most part it was a very quiet Mitch Marner season for a guy that's going unrestricted July 1st and then until a couple months ago. Elliot Friedman reported that. But listen you and I had three shouting matches prior to that. Yeah but only three is pretty good for the whole year.

Over what? Marner. No, we have not. Yeah, we have. Oh, yeah, we've had some yells, bud. Well, because we've had a different philosophy on how important we thought he was to the team. That's the basis of anything that we've had in discussion, and that included what we really

thought he was worth or what the value is or what the perception was out there and that's the basis of that. This guy's point is, hey, they're winning games. We talk about the hockey. But it's every conversation that anyone that follows the Leafs could naturally progress to. So what do you do? You avoid it?

Do you shrug it off or do you just go, no everybody is thinking this or talking about it anyways? I think you got to hit it a few times a year and we did. I don't think we beat it up. No, I think it's a fundamental sort of debate when it comes to Sports Talk Radio that I think a lot of times, this is getting how the sausage is made here,

but, you know, if you just talk about how it's, oh, the game was great, end of show. They played awesome, end of show. Like, if you don't find things to be critical about as well as be positive, there's just no conversation. And I will say, as a former player, former player, you know, I did all that video work, whatever, you wake up the next all that video work, whatever,

you wake up the next day and go, what do we got to fix from the night before? You know, it's like, okay, what didn't go right that we could do better? And you're always, you're, you're, all right, let's keep this stuff the same and get better. So you're always talking about the get better piece and never going, that was neat the way he shot it in or whatever, you know, that's not analysis. And I took no great pleasure proving that he's way more valuable than you ever thought. Listen, you did your best to get your piece and drive that

number up as high as you could. Don't drown me out with your laugh. You all year long made it a priority to get that number as high as possible. You made the family very proud. I did your best. I did or he did. He did as well.

Oh, okay Oh good on with the people they had drive it up in the media. They nailed it. Good idea Hopefully Carolina or any other Carolina camper I'll bet you right now a thousand dollars He doesn't go to care a lot my ass off if he went to Carolina you would laugh It would make so much better Leaf Nation there would be no more despised human being in the history of this of the sport We know where you stand on that

I mean if he declines a trade for Miko Rand and then goes there in the offseason It is a PR disaster unlike you've ever seen for him, so he wouldn't do that All right Ricky Z from Thorn Hills going like what about me? What about me? Oh, you want, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm in charge here. All right, okay. I do the, I do the, you're in charge usually. I, oh, we'll go to Ricky Z with the poem. Ricky Z from Thornhill.

Oh no, we got a poem. We got a poem, yeah. Oh no. Ricky Z from Thornhill. Oh, he's thinking of the poem. Real Kipper, Borny, and Producer Sam. Ricky Z from Thornhill is who I am During the avalanche game. I did the eye test and this is why I think hybrid is the best

Every time the least dumped in the puck out came the biscuit and they had no luck They this did not happen once twice or thrice 15 of 16 times they went down on the ice. But fear not boys, every time they entered the zone with the pucks on their stick, they gave the avalanche a real good lick. The team has the skill to dance with the best, so Chief, give the dump and chase a bit of a rest. Yeah, dumping the puck in has its place but not every time or your momentum you will erase. The D is

shored up the goal tending is ace but a hybrid offensive game will put a smile on her face. Dump and chase or puck possession will win the day. Let the players on the ice own it and have their say. Now finally, as an ardently fan, I'm not proud, but how about some tickets for game seven Leafs and Oilers and I will be dressed and loud. Thanks for hearing me out boys. You've got a great show and go Leafs go. There you go. Very nice.

Easy from Thornhill. So what's our conclusion? He he came up with like systems through a doesn't doesn't like the dump and chase or liked it enough that he's what's a hybrid thinks he can get tickets to a game seven Stanley final. I can't get games to Columbus, Toronto, let alone game seven Leafs ticket. So yeah, that's a big

question I get too like can you get me leave I'm like yeah no absolutely can't I know I can't get tickets to pay for it did you notice they're going up 20% 20% yeah that's a including yours or what oh yeah of. We do have a call about it. Oh no. All right. What do they got to say? Let's go to Lance and Whitby. Once again, MLSE sticking it to Joe fan. I got to sit at the back of the arena right up against the wall for $10,000 a year, a 20% increase. That's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I miss the days of going down to the gardens when Joe Blue-Caller fan could go to the gardens

and afford a ticket. There was scalpers all the way up and down the street. You could buy a ticket at a reasonable price or you could get inside and have standing room, right? Even Harold Ballard didn't stick it to us like these guys are doing. Even if you're lucky to get a ticket to go down there. It's $50 to park, $15 for a slice of their rotten pizza,

$10 for a Coke, forget it. You'll never get my money, MLSE, forget it. Well, Sam, it was nice working with you. Put that on the air. Here's not a charity for God's sake. It's supply and demand and the demand is high. And if they win, are they worth it? I may imagine that would change some people's tunes, wouldn't it?

We're a reflection of fans. It's not our thoughts. That's that's a Lance Whitby's thoughts. Let's go to she dog in mrs minnesota just win baby Sammy you are a absolute Psychopath buddy And you're going crazy i've been on the team Since like 2013. All right? They're winning the cup. You're a psychopath.

Kipper keeps you leveled. They're winning the cup, baby! I forgot about that guy. Sheelong makes a good point. How many times over four years have I kind of talked you off the ledge? No, not really. Couple. Listen, by the way, so I'm guys for sure last week some guys saying I've been on the team since 2013 2013 what a time to join to like right after they blew it to the Bruins. That's that was yesterday

Yeah, no Yeah, I don't know that Gipper keeps you leveled. I Don't know if that's true. I can't where are we here? Let's play Kira in Seattle And my first hockey game ever was the Leafs playing the Panthers in the old Miami Arena I was immediately hooked when an eight-year-old turned around and gave me the finger told me to go back to Canada So more fun than watching the Leafs play the Panthers, I have to say. Um, and then I moved to Seattle over 20 years ago and was introduced to hockey

night in Canada for the first time. And it's been part of my Saturdays ever since. And I knew that someday I wanted to go back to Toronto to see the Leafs play on a Saturday night. So I'm turning 50 next month and I've saved that money. And for my birthday, I've treated myself to go to Toronto during spring break to watch the Leafs play the Habs for hockey night in Canada.

And I wanted to share all of this to try and paint a picture of just how excited, how emotional, how meaningful this trip is going to be for me. So here's my question. Is it completely impossible to have a wonderful fan experience at Social Banks Arena? I've always noticed how quiet it was on the broadcast. Lately it seems it's being discussed more and more,

and many of my Canadian friends are doing everything possible to dampen my excitement and my expectations. And so I guess I was just hoping that you could recommend maybe any places or experiences that I should not miss in order to maximize that Saturday, leading up to the game or at the arena itself, but at least not feel like I'm only surrounded by bankers because this feature is not a banker.

I would be so grateful. I'm so excited. Thank you again. That's awesome way to go Goes that that's priceless. Yeah, I mean that type of experience and that type of the way that you can get moved like that There it's hard to put a price on that and she's worked hard to earn it. That's right. That's really cool And and my fan experiences have been Overwhelmingly positive. I took my I think my son was six when I took him to his first game and you know

We showed up in Islanders jerseys at the Leafs game and if fans were playful and you know, whatever But they weren't rude. It was fun And the crowd is I think better in person than people think depending on where you sit. Okay, she's going to Toronto Montreal That's fantastic. That's as good as it gets. No, ever since I was like six, it has always been the hottest ticket. Never been to one. It is.

It's different, Sammy. No, it's just different because it's more of a split. It's obviously in Toronto. It's still like majority of Lee fans, but there is a ton of Montreal Canadian fans in the city and it's a different vibe. It's a different feel. Kira will feel at the moment she gets near the building, you'll see more Montreal Canadian jerseys coming towards the building than you've seen any other team, any other opponent.

And she's going gonna have a blast. And anywhere you eat, any time, any place around that building, it's gonna be fantastic. I don't know where to recommend to go. Real Sports is a great place to go. I love Real Sports, I love their wings, I love their cold beverages, anything about it. It's a great spot to go. And if you're close to the alumni box, knock on the door

and we'll send out Lou Francis Getty He's cool no, I do love fun there Keira man you tell me that you you were the star of the leaf line and I'll get you a cold drink. Let's go to Alex from Ontario Yo kipper, what's the deal man? You're just like oh You know Yo, Kipper, what's the deal, man? You're just like, oh, you know, the NHL, it's not very good anymore. Everything I watch is bad, and the games are just bad, and there's too many games. But then whenever we have the greatest thing ever, which is the four nations face off, and they're just trying to kill each other, and it's amazing, you're like, oh, well, how

are they going to play these all the the time the guys can't do it It's like make up your mind Alex Alex love you guys Alex that was pretty good That was pretty good. And yes, I can get in different moods have different thoughts All I can tell you Alex is you come here Monday through Friday, spend two hours and give it your best shot. Oh, well, how are they going to play these all the time? At times I do feel like...

That's a great draw. Oh my God. The season's a little long. Definitely. That's for sure. Yeah. And it's a little taxing on the guys. I try to protect them every once in a while.

I don't know if you saw my style the last 25, 30 years, but it tends to be towards the players. You're a player first. Less about the league and the owners. Let's go to Steve Insarnia. I just had a comment about our lovely Leafs. I've been a fan forever and ever. I played the game for over 50 years.

My concern is Morgan Reilly, how everybody seems to love him to death. But as a defenseman, he seems to give the puck away. He's not hard to play in front of the net. He's not tough in the corners, but he's somebody that everybody seems that we need to rely on. And now he's not even good offensively. He has trouble hitting the net, so on and so forth. So how do we move forward in the playoffs when we need toughness to get past the first round? Because we're all tired of the disappointment. Thanks. Love the show. Listen we're all tired of the disappointment.

Thanks. Love the show. Listen every day. Have a good one. Yeah, Steve. Steve hits a pretty good point here that we've waited a long time for Morgan to be more consistent, look like the guy that played in the first round a few seasons ago against Tampa Bay. You and I were talking about plus minusminus last night and it and it is He's having a weird year like, you know Can't have in the cave plus 23 plus 22 minus 20 minus 20 and you mentioned that a lot of empties on that 15 empty netters again, but even if you're dash 5 and other guys are plus 20. Well says something I mean Matthews and Marner are on the ice when there's an empty net goal too.

They're not minus 20. No, they're eating those same dashes. Absolutely. So yeah, listen, I would say the noise around that's getting louder, Morgan is helped by the fact that he is a great guy, good team guy, and says the right things and all that, no doubt. But yeah, there's some smoke around it for sure.

It will hit a fork in the road this spring. the right things and all that, no doubt. But yeah, there's some smoke around it for sure. It will hit a fork in the road this spring. And if he can regain it and there's just, there's no world even with really good goaltending and a hot Matthews or Marner or Nylander that Morgan doesn't play well, right? So he's going to have to find it for the Leafs to have success in the playoffs. And if he does, then everything's okay moving forward. If it doesn't, it will be addressed in the off season. I've heard that too. I could talk to him.

It doesn't go well. I think there's one quick one left here. John Doe from Huntsville. Enjoy the show very much. Calling from Huntsville, Ontario. I'm wondering if the third man on the deck could leave his hat at home. Instead of wearing it on air. Thanks and have a great day.

on air. Thanks and have a great day. You know who could have used that hat yesterday was Doug Armstrong. He was. Yeah, he's cocked. He was a lobster. My man got still hanging out on the beach because of the general manager meetings. He joked about it. He's like, I got a little son yesterday. I was like, do you need you need medical help? So Sam and why do people like people care I don't really not like you in a hat

I don't know. I I've always were hat we're hat every day in my life basically Like my whole life. I don't know. Sometimes I don't wear a hat. I'm usually I do wear a hat I was told is this a professional job or no? I was told specifically that When the show started that I didn't have to change anything and I didn't change anything, so I wear a hat. And I like wear a hat. It's really not that complicated.

I've never gave it two seconds. You've never thought about it? About Sammy in a hat? No. No. Because you guys have exclusively seen me like 85% of days wearing a chapeau. I also think your chapeau is not randomly selected.

It's often a reference to some current sporting event. For sure. I usually like represents. Next week, Blue Jays. A lot of Blue Jays. Big win. A lot of Blue Jays next week with the opening coming up. They're literally, oh, okay.

We love the Jays. Come on, Vlad. Vlad is signing. I mean, Mark said he was going to so I hope he does. On with us next Mark Shapiro. You're gonna tell us now and along with Lance from Whitby. Yeah, right. Deathmatch. Lance from Whitby, Doug from Florida on a Friday.

All right. Don't not move. We go national with off the rails Friday, Doug McLean next.