Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: The Buds are Back

Episode Date: October 8, 2025

Ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs kicking off their 2025-26 season against the Montreal Canadiens, the Leafs Hour returns! Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee set the stage for the game, discuss Easton Cowan being a healthy scratch for the home opener, the new-look bottom six, and Matias Maccelli's outlook on the top line. Then, they take a wider view and share their expectations and biggest concerns for the Leafs' season. Later, they discuss the pressure on the team to win this season and what's at stake if the Leafs can't stay a Stanley-Cup competitor without Mitch Marner.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.

Welcome back to the studio. It's the real Kippin-Born show. Second hour. It is our Leaf edition. Nick Kippreel is Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo, Jake the Snake Schultz. We are, Sammy, back on Sportsnet 590, the fan. You got it.

And we are streaming on SportsNet Plus. J's are really throwing a wrench into our routines, boys. They really are. Yeah. The Jays are, yeah. And this hour, Real Kipper brought you by Bet, 365. All right. It's been a while.

Hey, sorry to interrupt you. Leaf Hour. But I was just going to, it's still Toronto Hour. And this Gosman news has got me shook that he could potentially be available tonight. Which means Trey will start game five. Well, hopefully you don't. May I ask? Like, you didn't think that he would.

would be? No, I mean, everything I had heard that tonight's bullpen game and you got go Gosmini Savage. When we left yesterday, that's what you said. I said, Goddney Savage would tag team game five. Depending on result.

And the fact that they let their starter go three and two thirds yesterday and had to use their entire bullpen in a non-bullpen game. Yeah. I think that kind of changes the outlook for things. Sure does. So I don't know.

We'll see. They're trying to keep it as close to best as they can. So maybe that's why they'd admit it. But I think that I don't know. I don't know. What did you guys think? think of the pulling Bieber? I didn't like it.

Didn't like it. 53 pitches? Yeah. What about you? Yeah, I think it was too early. A couple of drops, heard him. Yeah, yeah. He was fine, but I also don't like their pen that much.

I was on the side of it was the right call. And then I listened to Blake this morning on JSTock Plus, and he's usually the analytics guy who agrees with it. And he was saying that. Too early? It was two outs. It was Ryan McMahon coming up. It was one of their worst hitters.

You're near the bottom of the lineup. You're already stretching your bullpen that he probably would have given them one or two more hitters. Like, I mean, you end up hindsight, it's easy when you end up tying the game anyway. But looking back on it now, in the moment, it felt like he couldn't miss a bat. And I was like, okay, they got to get him out of there

because you're just panicking about it. But kind of looking back on you, like maybe it was a little quick. I don't hate that all those guys went in yesterday and felt the pressure in Yankee Stadium through a few and now you get another crack at it. The defense felt the pressure. That's for sure. Okay. Leafs.

Outside of game four in New York, it's the Toronto Maple Leaf Game Day. Montreal Canadiens visit Scotia Bank Arena to take on the Leafs, home opener. From the Leafs side, Jacob Quillan has been assigned to the Marley's. Easton Cowan has been recalled from the Toronto Maple Leafs. And we're seeing a lot of movement with a lineup in the last four. 48 hours that I did not anticipate. Yeah, it has been more complicated than we all thought it would be. Please tell me why.

Why it's this complicated? They don't like their depth. I don't know. They don't seem comfortable like Lawton got hurt and all of a sudden it was like TNT dynamite to the whole lineup. Why? I don't understand. I got to tell you, there's a few things.

So we'll do big picture leaves. and I am optimistic about the Leafs this season. But there are a few things I don't love right now. I don't love that Easton Cowan is up and bag skating with the healthy scratches today at 20 years old. Like he either play him or let him go play. Marley's open on Friday. Don't love that.

We end up with the line of Joshua, Domi, and Robertson in the opening the night lineup. How did that happen? What happened to the big line? It was going to be... A big third line. Right. You had Joshua and Waugh and have Micheli with

the little speed and skill in there. What's happened here? I'm baffled because it's essentially everything was fine and set coming off the full roster. Granted to your point, it's counting in, it's counting out, I don't know, but we saw.

He's out. No, I'm just saying back then, we didn't know. When we did the Montreal Canadian game last Thursday, he seemed very in. The whole lineup was pretty, or no, it was Tuesday, I think. Yeah, it was the second to last. Second to last.

It was the full lineup at home. Montreal won. Lane Hudson played amazing. But regardless, we thought that was the lineup. What happens? Scott Lawton, the fourth line centerman, gets hurt.

And then you blow up the whole, you blow up all the lines. Why, like here's Lottin out Camp in Boom Done Like they really don't want to play David Camp

And I understand the money Made it tough here Why The money got weird too Because Rify was hurt And you had to keep his cap hit Wall you can't put on IR Or on long term IR

You have to keep his cap hits You got to add a goal And keep that one They may have been close to the cap But there was not a cap issue there was no cap issue i don't understand well i think i think it did get tighter than than they expected i but you're right i don't understand how it came to this where it's like we can't even use david camp but you can't put camp in tonight yeah you could if you wanted to

but they don't it's like they're they're just waiting to find a way to to move on from him they waived them like will someone take him in a trade here in a week or two did he play play play Like, he got scratched early in the playoffs. How many did he play? Did he play? He did play? He did play. Did he play?

He played. Not much. I think less than half the games. I think way less than half the games. I just, uh, I just, I don't know if this, all this juggling. He played one game. Oh, my. 24 hours before your home opener is a great thing.

Yeah. So, so Max. Yarncrocker, weird line. So Max Domi spends two weeks with Austin and now finds himself. centering the third line so I don't know I mean is he can't be happy about that well here's here's what I think has happened they want a defensive line they want wa to be their defensive shutdown center and they say they're going to relieve matthews of some of the defensive zone starts so waugh is going to take some heavier competition and some de zone starts lorence and yarn crock are pretty

good defensive wangers so I think the idea is that they're going to use this line more so to me you've just created this line in Joshua Domi Robertson that's like what's the use case what's the they're just the leftover parts it's like when you're done building your IKEA shelf and you're like I don't know I got two bolts and a wrench or something I don't know just put them in the drawer yeah I may need them when the table when the table falls I may need them totally they are I may need them that's where we're at with these guys but we're not sure for what we'll see if that situation arises so nice Matthews-Mchelli sure McMan DeVars Nealder definitely Anyway, and the one...

I do think that, you know, a lot of what you guys are saying in terms of, not negativity, we're just talking about how it's... It's weird. It's just different, boys. It's just a lot of new guys. And it's just, they've never really played together

and they did stuff in the preseason and they played them together in these games and they tried to throw stuff at the wall and whatever. I agree it's kind of weird that Lawton goes out and you're like, well, time to change the entire thing. but at the same time I don't think they know I don't think they have any idea

this is like five new guys in the forward core that they're trying to mix together I think they're I think they're searching too I think the Leafs are Mexican food hold on let's go Mexican food let's go let's go because they have a lot of things that they know they like a tortilla you got your rice

cheese you got your salsa and some meat they're like I don't know any way we put it together it's probably going to be good you can make an enchilada Chalupa, a taco, a burrito. It's all pretty good. As long as it's not the thing that comes flying into the kitchen, Simran, whatever that is.

Do you know when you pick it up the odds of it not falling apart between your plate and your mouth? Well, you don't. And I think they're assembling a few different Mexican dishes here. That's pretty good. And they're going to find out which one works best. Maybe we got the fajitas and it's not going to work and they're going to fall apart.

I don't know. But right now they seriously seem like they've combined the ingredients. They're like, try this? I don't know I think I just think it's really different and I think we're worried about

what it looks like right now and I do think that this team which I think will be okay but I do think there is slow start potential while these quote unquote strangers get to know each other here

and if I may push back against that if they don't make hay in October they're toast their schedule in October is baby soft It's baby powder. I think they play 11 games,

eight of which are against non-playoff teams from last year. I don't think even the teams that made playoffs are not. They have a very good opportunity to get their feet wet, get some wins, come out of this 11 games. I don't know. What do you want to be 7 and 4? Is that the math? Okay.

That's fair. But how about the process versus the results? Like if it looks a lot like it did at times last year where they're getting out shot, Anthony Stoller steal some gains for them. They get timely scoring. That's how it kind of looks. But maybe a little worse version of that. I just think there's going to have to take some time here.

And I know we love this word in Toronto. Patience. Do you guys not feel that? Like I know it doesn't look great looking at it. It does. It can look kind of, it can look not great if they can still muster wins and points. Biggest team in the league. It's 6-2-10 I learned today.

Yeah. And you've got Machelli and. and Domi and Robertson in there mucking up the number some. They're big otherwise. The one thing I'm going to be watching now is Machialli because you go through training camp, you have this idea that you're going to be playing with Nick Waugh and Dakota Joshua.

And it has to be a little bit of a comfort zone, at least. That, you know, I know what I can get away. way with out there. I know these guys now what I might be capable of creating with them. You got a mindset. And then all of a sudden you're like, oh, hey, by the way, you're starting tomorrow night, season opener with Austin Matthews. Hard trophy winner and a kid who scored 30.

So just imagine what it's now 24 hours later going from that line to now you're going to run shotgun with Austin Matthews and Nyes. We have a clip from the coach about that very thing. All right. Would you like to hear? Brubay, clip three, please, Derek, on Machelli playing on the top line. I think he had some good practice time with that line. And I've liked what I've seen in practice. You know, like I said, he's a good playmaker.

We all know that. He can pass the puck. I think that suits that line for what they have on there and how they play. Like I said, it's just going to be, we'll see how it goes. goes and I can't predict the future, but, you know, for him, he doesn't need to complicate the game and, you know, think he's always got a pass to, you know, make a play. It's not about that. He just needs to play the game. He's got a good shot.

And he's showing us that he can fire a puck. He needs to shoot pucks. He needs to just play the game. It's, he doesn't have to overanalyze it. he doesn't have to overpass he just has to go and play he's got to be responsible defensively he's got to work he's got to compete all those things are going to determine if he can stick there and make that work or not easier said than done yeah i you know i've made this case on many different platforms now but the only reason i don't like it because i do think mitchellie's a fine fit there

the only reason i don't like it is because what you're talking about with like pressure and status of these guys and whatever it hasn't worked in toronto when you're You've taken the new shiny toy and put it there and been like, okay, Nick Ritchie, okay, Joe Thornton. Such a Sheldon Keith move to put him right on the top line immediately. Like, let's see who you are. And it's like, well, can just get his feet wet, you know, find his game a little bit. And then we'll put him up there.

Like, do me there made perfect sense to me from a let's all take some shifts out there before we try to do Machelli and Matthews. Because nothing works for 82 games. And so there'll be a stretch where it doesn't work. But, I mean, then who plays center? Well, you got options. Lorenz can play center. Yeah, but third line, like they want to go third line center, Stephen Lorenz on opening night.

Like, it just feels like it's more palatable to do domy, which you've seen him do. You don't love it, but they like him better there because he skates more. I don't know. Fair parts. Yeah. And there's no way knowing unless you probably are sitting beside Austin, either in the dressing room or on the bench on what he's feeling or how intense he is. is on turning a subpar season last year around. Yeah.

And you feel it. I mean, I've been in situations on a team where you look at a guy and it's like, buddy, I'm scoring tonight. And I don't care how I'm doing it. I'm scoring tonight. This is the way these goal scores act, right? They got to get their cookies.

It's like oxygen. They need it. And, you know, Mitelli's a good passer. but there's a tendency sometimes to play with these star players and overpass or feel the pressure to get them the puck. That's what I'm looking for. We should do just a quick zoom out on the whole thing

and, you know, first Leafs hour or whatever. Just what do you expect the Leafs to be this year? What do you think are they going to be better or worse than last year and why? Show your work. I was never good at Long Division, buddy. I'll get a little surprise here. Why are you guys looking at me?

Well, you're the other host of the show. He's technically a producer. It says real Kipper over there. Oh, yeah. Okay. I don't expect the points of last year, and I think they're going to be in the mix. I think they're a second-tier team for me for the Stanley Cup.

I don't have them in a top six, but a team that can improve over the season, maybe make a couple of changes, and get themselves in the, mix, but I see a drop off this year. I think it's going to take time for a chemistry and an identity to really truly come together here. A lot of new faces, still getting to know each other in terms of what they're capable

or not capable of doing. A couple things I worry about is, number one, is the goaltending for sure. And it's not worrying about how good Stolars is. You can still show this in the preseason. The guy can win a game by himself. But there's the age factor and the wear and tear on his body and what it can do to him over the course of a season. We're a pebble in the knee away from Caden Primo,

Dennis Hill to be a goaltending duo. Thank you. Right. Yeah, that's a worry. Right? So that's a concern. the other concern is the power play and what's it going to look like

and how many times have they gone back to Morgan Riley and said please please lead this thing on the back end here so is this the year that Morgan fits in nicely now and can score 50 or 60 points and get a bushel of them on the powerpoint is this the year and of course no Mitch no Mitch on who was a huge part of the power play I mean the the season it turned around for the power play the second they put him as the

fifth forward when they we all didn't love that but it immediately got all the way better so we'll see so those are those that's my overall obsession so in observations on yeah on going from last year to this year so in summation your worries are the goaltending uh power play and forwards i will say read the power play and morgan riley you guys know how i feel about him i he doesn't move the puck quickly enough for me i get frustrated whatever um you know prior to mitch taking over so last year they were 10th in the n hl with the power play of 23 5 for that they were 12th the year for that they're 6th the year before that they led the league like they've had good morgan riley led power plays 6 and led the league in 23 and 22 they can do it as the point so

i hope that that's the case that they're able to find there's enough place that there's enough players out there that it should be a good power play. For me, generally with this Leafs team, I'm with you that I see them as, you know, you got Colorado, Vegas, Tampa Bay, Florida, Edmonton, you know, this kind of group of teams that you're like, those teams could slash should win a Stanley Cup. The Leafs are right below that tier to me. But I have high hopes that they intend to add a guy because I do feel like they're one more dynamic player forward.

Yeah. Oh, wait, because I think defensively, they're really solid. I mean, you look at Carlo Riley, McCabe Tanev, Ekman Larson, Benoit, really like their D. Goaltending concerns me quite a bit. There's noted about that speed and scoring. Like, that's why I want them to get one more guy. I just worry that they're going to be a little plotting in a league

where the game is getting faster. But I do think they're a playoff team. You know, they'll bounce between wild cards, second in the division. they're going to be in that kind of we'll see but that's first impressions haven't seen a game yet we may feel totally different come Friday or this worse or worse I don't know I I'm fighting I'm fighting the trying to fight the negativity of how I'm feeling a little bit about this team like you know I'm a fan after all and I don't want to like go into it with low expectations but almost better a lot of a lot of people myself included kind of buried our head in the sand in terms

of how important Mitch Marner was to his team because maybe certain people sitting in this room that I don't want to get into it too much with. But, you know, like, you know, I hear Valley talking about how, you know, I saw a stat today about the percentage of goals that he's assisted Mitch Marner on and the power play and the penalty kill

and all the stuff he does to this team. I do think that they are going to have to find a way to replace a lot of that stuff and they're not going to be able to do it perfectly, clearly, because you're not, he's not, anyone's not Mitch Marner. I think they can paper over some of it, but to get to,

to the point where they need to go. They need to make an addition. And to make an addition, they need to have assets, which is another thing that I worry about, where it's like a lack of assets. They have the 2028 first. How much worth does that have? Pretty thin next draft.

We'll see. But, like, I think they're going to be a good team. They have a lot of good players. I don't think they're going to stink, but I think they're going to be a lot different and maybe a little bit worse. People just want to just go to, how do you replace 102 points for murder?

It's the power play. There are special teams he's going to start. It was really good special teams. Their best defensive player. No question. Right? And he played the most minutes. Like, if he need, if Barubi or Sheldon ever needed 25 or 27 minutes out of anybody.

All right, Jay. Come on. We don't need the Mitch Marner highlights. If you need it 24. It was a turnover, though. That's great. Oh, thanks. You show them.

And he can play 25 minutes. You play 27 minutes. And that's... Tripp. Ending periods in your own zone with a key face-off. That's the first guy Craig Barrowby put on the ice. Yeah.

Totally. I mean, not just Craig Barubei. Sheldon Keith and Mike Babcock did too. I do think there's a chance that some of those minutes, you have the chance to make some other people, get them more involved and be like, okay. You know, because the divide sometimes, between the Leafs' top line or top six

and the bottom was sometimes really stark. I wonder if some guys getting some more regular reps feel a little better, play a little better. But there's no doubt. Anytime you lose and elite player, you're not better. Yeah. Okay, so we mentioned goal-tending, being a little bit of a concern for us.

Let's go to the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leaf's Brad Tree Living on claiming Caden Primu yesterday. Clip one. This allows us to have depth of the position. It allows us, if need be, the Dennis to come back and play. It allows him to keep playing. So really, at the end of the day, we felt it gave us depth at a position

with Joe's absence right now, with a goaltender we like. And with Anthony, Caden, and Dennis, double-aid. We've got some depth here at the time. Double A. They're not even trying to say that name. Bradshaw Living actually doing that scrum as he was trying to be the fifth goalie, standing in the net. That's great.

I like that. Sound of the hockey. And then the wall update? Do you want that too, just to follow up on the McCain Preamer thing? It's not substantial. Quickly. Yeah, play the wall update. Yeah, sure.

Yeah, no updates there. We think things are progressing well, but I can't give you a time frame right now. things are progressing well that sounds like an injury of some kind but don't know okay just hold on before we get into that just okay let's get into that before we get into it I mean before we get into it this is where we get into it this is where we get into it okay progressing well

so the last thing that they left with us is it was a family matter so has there been no official update since that? No there has not just a family matter so if it has to do with his family

and it's progressing well it should be time for him to come back soon you know if it is something with joseph wool personally i think you could say that it's affecting their family like i'm saying i don't think they're going to come out and go all right we're changing our story i think they're going to stick to this one way or the other whatever it may be yeah but yes i still don't think we're seeing them you took the over on november 21st the other day i believe you said almost i just uh but i i'm encouraged yeah by

progressing well. I really am. Yeah. I mean, that's, that sounds promising. You know, yeah. Can I not hold them to that? No, you should be able to. They said the words.

They're not politicians. They, we assume they're telling the truth. Why not? So. Okay. Yeah. All right. That's just, we only got this to work with.

Yeah. I am, on the other hand, encouraged by Valiquette yesterday saying that Caden Primo, who's not, numbers had not been great in the NHL, very good in the American League, not great in the NHL, has been in some of the hardest goaltending environments in the league. They'll have his last two seasons in the NHL. Like if the Leafs, you know, got Tanev and McCabe and all these guys blocking shots,

Carlo, Benoit, I assume that's a better environment for him. And at 26, maybe he's got a chance here to prove himself. We're seeing this more where goalies don't find themselves until this age. So I'm hopeful that maybe this is the year that Primo feels like, okay, I'm in a better spot now I can handle some more minutes. He just needs to kind of hold the fort. I think

he'll be he's going to play too. I think Bruby has gone on record of saying that Stolars is going to be asked to do more here. So, which means

can you get between 40 and 45 starts out of Stolars? I mean, I sure hope so, right? You're hoping he can play 25 play five playoff games in a row or whatever. that was the goal last year.

Yeah. And it wasn't like he fell apart. He took a bunk on the nog and got concussed, which I don't think is a career trend. So, yeah, I don't know, remains to be seen for sure, but I'm certainly hopeful that it can. Because I think if you just go by his career,

you're going to need 30 plus out of your backups, right? So whether it's Hildaby or Primo will assume Wall's out until he's not out, that you need, I don't know, 30 points out out out? Yeah. You know, you're playing, ideally you're playing less effective opponents and put those guys in the position to succeed, defend like crazy. It's Primo, by the way. Primo.

Primo. Primo. Primo. Isn't it, keep Primo's son? Yeah. Yeah. Primo. Well, it's Wayne and.

Oh, wrong. All right. And Keith. Question for you. Question for you. I'm looking at this Leafs opening night roster, okay? Okay. I got to tell you, I am stunned by this, and I'm going to ask you too how stunned you are by this,

that Nick Robertson's on the third line and Calli Yarn Croc is on the fourth line. That these two guys have survived whatever we thought was supposed to happen this season, and they are both in the opening night roster. For me, is a 10 out of 10 surprise. Your thoughts on that. Robertson being in is kudos to this guy. hung around just you can't get rid of him and that's fine expecting to leave yes sure go totally somewhere anywhere they would take them but they're not they haven't traded them and they're

not waving them and so like there's no kudos he's just going to work every day that's what guys they're supposed to do it felt like he would not do that you expect you're to cry and then roll up like a ball in a corner first rFA to say hey play me or i'm going somewhere else but oh he's not in a position to do that. Not even that. How did somebody not just say, here's the fourth and buy? Like, it's not so much him.

Obviously, he's going to show up. Obviously, he's going to play. Maybe we worded that badly. But the surprise that he's still in the roster for me is crazy. Yeah. Crazy. Not for you. He may play 67 games again.

Maybe 82. It's just they can't find a place for him to play. Yeah. They can't. And we had free John last week. And he said that part of the reason he thinks that he still may be around is because they're worried about what happens if they trade him away and maybe he's going to be an embarrassing guy that like lights it up oh get over that that's what he said but if you

somebody told phrege that that's what someone in the leaf organization said we're scared i don't know that you're going to embarrass us he said that to us soon that someone told frege that i don't know kipper regardless they said that to me at a dinner who who who would like is that the way we guys go on and just find different chemistry somewhere else. And yes, sometimes they can go on and have better success than you when they were here. Yeah. That's gone on for decades.

But now Elliot tells us they're worried about Nick Robertson actually having success somewhere else. You might have success here if they're not careful. Like you're putting them in the lineup. Oh, geez, he scored 20. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Okay.

That Nick Robertson is still a Maple Leaf because we're scared he's going to go score 20 goals somewhere else. I don't know. I'm not the messenger. You don't look at me like that. I don't think. You are the messenger. I meant to say, we should kill him.

I don't know what I meant to say. Anyways. Do you want to play Brubé on Robertson? Yes, of course. Let's go clip to Rubie on Robertson. Well, I think a lot like he did last year, I think if you look at him during training camp, the effort and the ability to score a goal when we need it,

he scored goals throughout camp is as well. work ethic, tenacity. He's just a noticeable player. You know, he came in and worked extremely hard and played well. Deserved to be on the team. There you go. Can't beat that. Yeah, just does this forward core look like a mix between Triliving and Dubas to you?

Because that's kind of what it looks like to me. Well, just a few smaller guys mixed in. Well, no, just like the old. like the old version of the lease versus the new version of the least like it's like a combination just feels like a forward core that's stuck between airs like where the two ocean could meet almost yeah yeah yeah anyways here's to here's the hope and that works out nick robertson still

trying to find his way and by all accounts uh yarn crock had you know a very good camp and healthy and fast is this lineup to you if if if the leaps needed to play the florida panthers like tampa did on the weekend in their exhibition game could this lineup do that What does that mean, though, Kip? I don't know. Like, do we know we're going into a street fight? Yeah, kind of thing.

Yeah, like Tampa did. I mean, I'll give you two answers. They're physically big enough to do it. They don't have the mentality of fighters. They have huge guys who aren't angry. So this is just a lean on me lineup. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. That means that we're not necessarily fighters per se. Totally. We'll be big and heavy and we'll lean on. on you. There are guys Anthony Mantha, Nick Bustan. There are guys in the league who are 6-6 who don't

want to punch people and that's Matthews. You know, Nyes did it a little bit last year. I don't think Joshua wants to fight. I think Lawrence wants to fight. We got excited when Nyes did it in Vegas. Yeah. We got really excited. And it also did it against.

He also did it against Pittsburgh. Yeah. Gordy Hal Hatrick. I didn't beat the crap out of somebody against Pittsburgh. It's a nice backhand. But also, he's a guy who's had head issues. I don't want him doing it either. Yeah, Joshua's fought.

Yeah. Not much, though. Carlos big, and he handled his business pretty good against someone in L.A. I wouldn't say, I mean, he stood in there for a few good ones. He did great. Yeah, he stood in there. McCabe willing to go? Benoit, Superman punched someone last year.

They're okay, they're okay. He fought the guy that was the UFC fighter's brother. That's right. I guess we'll do game time, and then we'll do the column conversation off of the break. All right. It's game time, presented by Bet365. Visit the athlete of stock. and find out what it's ever ordinary.

I bet 365 must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. I was thinking about doing a nightmare parlay for the Toronto fans tonight. Just for a little bit of a mini happiness hedge. Nightmare did you say? The nightmare parley. You're not just be happy to root for your favorite teams.

The nightmare parley. Your two favorite teams on the planet play tonight. The nightmare parley. So a Yankees, Canadians, parley. This is my nightmare. There you go. You parlay those two. together they pay plus 281 so a nice little happiness hedge there if you're a leafs and blue jays fan

watching tonight on your dual screen just give me the individual numbers uh the yankees are minus 180 favorites minus 180 favorites and the montreal canadians are plus 145 in Montreal so uh in Toronto sorry so they're they're a big underdog hey what's up um thanks pal and then um oh we're distributing copies. Oh, boy. Here, give me one of these. Let's face it to the camera. Ken Reed the next one.

Look how cool. We're all super excited about this. Kenny's been telling me about it. Best selling author of Hockey, hometown hockey heroes. Thanks, Kenny. And on Bet365 as I'm looking here, thanks, Ken. There's a Ovechkin thing,

like just an Ovechkin category. And I guess the special is who he scores his 900th gold against. So the lightning are plus 500. Minnesota Wild plus 550. It obviously all has to do with the schedule. But if you want to bet on when OV. How many a way?

Can I be such a hater here? Three, right? 897. Who cares? Who do you know that cares? Not me. Oh, it's another round number. He's done, he's got the most in history.

He already broke the record. I don't care. That's an big number. Yeah, but so was 897. That's the biggest. It's a big round number. Yeah. It's like, yeah, 899's amazing too.

Yeah. So was nice. 901 and 902. All right, all right. Who's this for? Anyways, that was game time. Anyways, you can go to Bet365 and bet on it if you want. That was game time to visit by Bet365.

Visit the Affleadistahs and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365. It's 19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Nice job, Sammy. Okay, we'll take a quick break. And when we return plenty more as we help you tee up game day, Maple Leaf Edition here. Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens. It doesn't get much better than that.

when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. The best Blue Jays show out there, period. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Caprio's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. A reminder of this hour of real Kipper and Bourne

brought to by Bet365. We got we still got a few Kippers, clippers, do we not? Right before we went back on air, you asked me no one of them. Yeah, I did. Okay, we'll get to it. We'll get to it because we did tee up

Easton Cowan. I don't know, you may be a little bit more bent out of shape than me on this. I had him all along. as a guy that would start on the roster he's not starting tonight right

but I'm okay with that but why because it's still a big deal for a guy coming out of junior hockey to make an NHL team to let it seems a little no it's not a you know he's good he's good I know he's really good

they're not gifting him anything okay yeah I mean let's hear the coach talk about it then we'll come off that clip one on easton relax and play just go play you know um so he he won't be playing tonight yeah but um he's up here with us so we're great we were happy about that he's here you know like i talked before about easton um you know we we don't want him sitting out we want him playing But we chose tonight that he will not play. Okay, so he's going to play.

This is like a night one could be crazy against Montreal. We want to get a win tonight. You got to get a win. You know, put our playoff best foot forward here. And then we'll break the kid in and start kind of like he's going to play Friday, 100%. They play Friday, right? Saturday. He's going to play Saturday for sure then.

Like if they want them to play, you can't bring him off. I would think he's, he's. I don't know if you just don't overthink about the weekend until you get through tonight. But I would think that if he's up, he's going to see some action before he goes back down. And this is a team that is in dire need of youthful enthusiasm. Exuberance, if you will. Okay? They need it.

A lot of teams, a lot of teams, we're seeing. a lot of first time NHLers now coming in. Montreal is the youngest team in the NHL coming in tonight. Yep. So I think it's important that he's around it.

If he's not playing, he's around it. So, okay, don't start him. I get it. John Kroke comes in. He can kill a penalty. He can,

he can forecheck. I don't know if he gets 10, 12 minutes tonight. We'll see where Nick Robertson is. I bet they play that long. I betcha they move them up by the end of the night. Yarncrook. Yeah. Yeah.

But I think they see that as the third line. They have it listed is the fourth line. You know, typically everywhere you see it because Domi is typically a 3C or whatever. But Lorenz-Wa Yarncrock is a much better line than Joshua at Domi Robertson. So I think they'll play 14 minutes. Can I, I think this is a situation of a coach where this is a media market. This is a market that loves shiny new toys. that is a prospect hugging fan base

that always gets excited about new guys. I think this is a disconnect between the fan base and the coach in terms of like, so you're just going to have him here. Brumet doesn't look at him as top prospect. He just looks at a guy that can contribute and help him win here and there or whatever.

But in reality, all the fans, this is going to be a question every single day where's like, when's Cowan playing? Where's Easton at? Where's this? Where's that? This is going to be a storyline if he's in and out of the lineup every night

and he's playing and he's not playing. I don't think it's any different from any, other team albeit disagree you know there's well of course there's a hundred questions on east in cowan compared to one in columbus yeah but it's still a scenario that all teams have to deal with i just think it's so much easier not unique if you're not going to play them no just just start them with the marley but your point is right that it's not unique to teams and i think yours is more about the coverage of it or whatever but i do wonder for cowan like if next

year, in the middle of next season, his sophomore season, will he be a better player for having been with the Leafs all year and played 50 times or having been with the Marleys for their whole season? I think if teams or scouts can definitively answer that, then we're in a different world. Right. If I had those answers, I would not be here. That's always the million dollar question is like how much, how much is physical, mental, and emotional from here on end when it comes to

developing a young player like this. I personally have no doubt that the more you handle the puck and play and become the man and all that the better. Yeah. He's not going to sit long. And also Kip, it can be a bit of both, right? Like he

can stick around the team for the first six months and get a feel of being a pro and the systems and the guys and be comfortable when you're here and then go do that. So I know that when I was around the Leafs and They wanted to make a change from the previous administration there when it became Dubis and Keefe and those guys.

They wanted to not yo-yo prospects. They just said, call them up only when it's time. And they're going to be there and we don't intend for them to go back. You know, and I kind of like that. But we'll see with Cowan what they choose to do. I'm just, yeah. I just think it's not going to be a circus, obviously. That's too strong of a word.

But I do think that all the fans are going to be like, where's Cowan, where's Cowan, where's Cowan, where's Cowan, every single day. And I think that's going to be a thing. And I think it's just so easy. It's just so easy to avoid that. If you're not going to play him anyway, if you're going to play him other than I,

just start him with the marlin. The other factor, it makes so much more sense. The other factor you got to stress too here going into this season. What Dallelston was Stankovin. They kept him in the marley and the minors all year and he came up. He was great. The other thing,

I think, differently from last season when it comes to the pressure of this organization to win now is it more less or the same i'll start with you i think it's less i feel like every year we've come in here and it's been like the pressure of oh my god we might lose some part of the core four has always hung over it and almost that a piece has been lost there's all it even felt in the past like this is a you know sort of a evaluation of Kyle dubus or like this is his last stand this is the core four's last stand this is someone's last stand and i believe it was jonah seagull wrote a little something about that too but this year it kind of feels like a lot of new guys

almost like a new turn of the page here i get the impression you don't agree with that oh i'm so opposite you yeah because uh because the window to win now like we've been in this for like four or five years they'll be here next year uh a coach a general manager yeah that's i feel like that's up there for every team every year i don't know no no no no it's not it's not so i i believe that there's a tremendous amount of pressure on brad country living and to a lesser extent you know, Craig Broomie to keep the fan base

and everybody believing that you can compete for Stanley Cup. So if let's play out this scenario where they okay they score 100 points I guess they finish in the top three in the Atlantic they lose either in the first round or in the second round like does

everybody gets to keep their jobs? You know I think it's fair to say Kip that that's, they should be held to a higher standard than that, right? Like there's, they walked into a situation with a lot of talent. Like I said, here is a 40 goal score in Nylander and a 50 goal score in Matthews and Marner was here and he's a hundred point guy and Tavares is here. They walked into a pretty good scenario. So the expectations are real and should, they should be held to that. And I do think it matters how it happens. Are we seeing progress? Does it feel like they've stagnated? They

haven't improved upon it. That's relevant for sure. This is your three. I agree with you on that. I guess it depends the way it looks, but... Like if they're, if they lose around two and they just get god-awful goal-tending because it's Caden Primo because both their goal is get hurt, it's like...

Yeah, so now you start next season with, I don't know, Stolars and... Actiumov. Somebody. Hilda be. Right? But like...

Sorrows. If it just, if it, if it, if it continues to disappoint, like, how many true changes would you like to see? Like, I'm not getting ahead of myself, but I'm just, my whole point in all of this is that,

what's at stake here? What is at stake for this season? Last season, I'll tell you what was at stake, Brendan Chanahan's job. Yeah, that was at stake. We covered that. And it cost them. It also cost them,

Mitch Martin or not resigning. So it cost a very good player in his prime. That's the cost. I'm just saying, okay, what are the new costs here? I'll add something to the cost. Austin Matthews is no more staying in Toronto than Connor McDavid is in Edmonton if they're not good.

It is the exact same thing. Now we're having a conversation. Dude, if they play two years and they're not Cup competitive, you don't think he's going to go take 17 and go play for the coyotes? I don't need that. By the way, they're in the league in my new scenario.

It's show one boys. Oh, yeah. We're sitting at the table. It's a show. It's the first show. This is, leave it. This is the snake. This is what, this is a perfect conversation.

It's not a conversation that we're going to have like in, you know, soon as it's not relevant. This is relevant now before the season starts to ask what's at stake for the Toronto May beliefs. That they are going to continually be a team that can compete for the Stanley. And if they don't, could we see a retool or a rebuild or a blow up? yeah we're way too many pieces down there no we're not we're we're we're eight months we're 10 months away yeah i'm telling you they got to win now yeah they got to win that's my point is that

they they got to they got to go to a conference final or stanley cup final i'm sorry that this is the year that they got to go more kicks i'm sorry three yes one of 10 of 10 of 10 of 10 which means you have 10 you're going to lose 10 of the third year if he's not trade him. Let him walk in the door. Tannes is held by Elmer's glue right now. Like he's in his prime.

You got to, he's got a new Tannock coming. By then Ben Danford, it's going to be new Tanniff. When they talk about Toronto media, this is the conversation. This is, oh,

the first, it's opening night. A double header on sports. The future. The future of Morgan Riley's at stake here. Is it? Is this season the year that Morgan Riley either becomes still the defenseman that everybody thought or you move off of him?

That's at stake. Yeah, I think that's fair. Yeah. I think that's fair. But, I mean, they probably try to do. A lot at stake here. He's not becoming anything. He's 31 coming up in 32.

There's a lot of... You could have a career year, though. You got to hope that he's young enough that you can have a career year. That would be nice. I would have him to have a career preseason. I mean, there's a lot at stake. It's the Toronto Maple Leaf. It's always like this

I mean that's the way it is Either way they're going into the year With a good team And a lot of people with upside guys Who had down years last year They won the division last year They went seven games in round two With eventual cup champs

There's a lot here And they're deeper than they've been They're up game three one and two nothing And three one in game three Do you have Craig Bruby On the pressure on the stars That's Austin Matthews That's an awesome Matthews one

You want to play it? Yeah for sure We have literally two minutes Yeah let's hear it Okay. Is it short? We'll cut out of it if we need to. Okay.

Yeah, Matthews scoop two on stars, pressure to take less. Oh. Yeah, I mean, I think everybody's situation's different, obviously. Get out, get out, get out. I didn't know it was on the contract. I thought it was on the pressure to perform. Sorry, I misread that. On pressure, on star players to take less.

How many goals is Austin Matthews score this year? Thank you. That's where I was going to lead. 50 from producer Sam McKee. I don't think, I don't think he. has to get to 50, but 40, 40 plus on a good season where he scores

100 points, 110 points would be nice. Like that. Where is your expectations of Tavares going from an $11 million player to a $4 million dollar player? Yeah, he scored 38 times that's here. Can you get 28? Yeah, 25 to 30.

No, he scores more. Matthew scores more. McHellie has 80 points. Good to go. Ooh. 80. Joshua and Wlock could go ahead and get you 30 between them. That'd be nice. Why can't Machelli light it up? He's playing one of the best lines in the HAL.

He's talented. He's 24 years old. Buddy, I'm telling you, I'm buying stock. It could look really bad, but. Funny because your first text to me was not one of a stock purchaser. Listen, my off-the-air text don't necessarily need to be brought up here. Because my off-the-air text is very emotional. About the Js last night would probably get me fired from this company. Yeah.

You had a tough moment there. You can get emotional. There's the music. I just got nervous about the Jay's Day. All right, everybody. Stay glued to SportsNet. Good night to have two TV. We have no problem with you flipping back and forth

from the Jays to the Leafs. Enjoy your night. It's going to be spectacular. Can't wait for it. Our thanks to David Amber in our first hour. And we're back tomorrow for two more hours. Enjoy your night, everybody. Thank you.