Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Time For a Matthews Conversation

Episode Date: December 15, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. They discuss Auston Matthews' decline, the Leafs' decision to make him unavailable to the media post-game, and his response to Craig Berube calling out the team's leadership group. Later, they receive updates on Chris Tanev and Joseph Woll's injuries, share their thoughts on Connor McDavid's highlight-reel goal, and discuss the current uncertain status of Anthony Stolarz.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.

Come on in for another big week on the real Kipper and Bourne show. Nick Kippreel is Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, Jake the Snake Shills, Derek Brandale, with you next two hours. Of course, this is our leaf hour edition of our program. We're live on Sportsnet 360. Sportsnet 590, the fan in Toronto and street. Streaming always on SportsNet Plus, also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. All right, as we have stipulated over the course of what, our existence, 82 games is a lot.

But there are, sometimes you circle on the schedule, some marquee games, benchmark kind of games. We thought we had one Saturday night against the Edmonton Oilers. did. I think we did too. But I'm not sure I want to hear Sammy's answers on where the Leafs stand after that benchmark game. But let's give it a try, Sammy. Well, I mean, a lot has changed. I feel like I know we're going to talk some Leafs here, but since we've left the air on Friday, Quinn Hughes plays for a different team. And three hours before we came on air here, Kevin Adams was fired as the general manager of the Buffalo Sabers. Like, do we care? Do we care to address either of those quickly before? We go to do a national hour. I mean, give it.

to the big audience. I guess. Well, I mean, we'll just, we'll go in the Leafs, but, I mean, Sabres are in their division. They haven't had a whole lot of success in the last of a while here,

and they just fired their GM. Buddy, I'm sorry, but we got to go Saturday night first for me. Yeah. Over the Sabres. I know. I get Quinn Hughes is a big story. Just a big story.

Lots changed. Put it this way. I just delaying. If there was a Quinn Hughes type of player coming to play for a team in Canada, I'll give you that. Losing Quinn Hughes to Minnesota right now. I was just hoping for three minutes

not talking about the game on Saturday. No, no, no, no. And you did your Saturday night leaf line or? It's called Leaf Talk. Leaf Talk. Yep. All right. It's every night after the Leafs game.

Yeah, yeah. Did you get your two cents in on that? Yeah. Is that why you're a little exhausted for us? You saved nothing for us? You just crapped all over them post game? Well, what did you want me to do after the game? You always come in here,

and it feels like you've either seen a clip or watch something, and then you come in here with an ulterior mold. You want me to go on there and be like, yeah, they're great on Saturday. You're just trying to take our leaf hour edition and slice it over to the Buffalo Sabres right now. I can't get excited about the Sabres and their changes or their lack of change.

All right. So what do you want to talk about? Why we couldn't get a bigger push out of the Leafs? on a marquee night is where I'll start, J.B. Yeah, you know, I think, like you said, this is a game where we were hoping to get some answers about what the Leafs are, and I think we did. You know, I don't have the article up on Sportsnet.com yet,

but it's coming up. I wrote about the Leafs and how they no longer have that top gear. You know, they used to be one of the teams in the NHL that had this gear that, like, nobody could touch. The Oilers have had it. the Leafs have had it. Few teams have had it. The Leafs without Marner

and now without Matthews can't hang when the Edenton Oilers put the pedal down. They can't. Sammy and I are kind of the weight a little bit on the Leafs. We need you more

positive and optimistic. Are you, are you, are you, you've been, you've been fairly strong on them. Am I sensing a little bit of I don't want to say that you're coming to the dark side over here

but are you after Saturday nights lack of push against what should have been your biggest challenge of the season are you a little pessimistic this Monday? No nothing's changed for me I still have them as a middle of the pack team that can that will make the playoffs

well they're going to flirt with it I like the well part. Well, the article is literally like, when you're a middle of the pack team, here's what needs to go well. We know goal tending, you need to get goaltending. But you need your coaching to do a good job

in the places where coaching is visible, defensive structure, special teams, those sort of things. It hasn't been. And so that can improve. You need your leaders, your good players to be good.

That hasn't happened yet. That can certainly change. And then the other thing is you could add a new player or two and see if that makes a difference. but so 25 teams in the league are mid they need those things to be good and so far they haven't been okay let's get Craig Bruby's thoughts

on where the game kind of got away from the Leafs Saturday night well 30 seconds ago in the second period we throw a puck blind to the slot and first of all they should have changed but they don't and we get caught on the wrong side of it and

give up a goal late in the second period after playing pretty well for two periods. Just it's not smart hockey. And then the third period, a lot like San Jose game. I didn't feel we came out and took control of the period. We let them dictate how it was going to play.

Puck play wasn't good. Didn't kill any plays. You know, so that's basically the game. High danger chances through two periods were 21-9 for Edmonton. And that was, we played pretty good through two periods. bar way too low a bar for me i i get him singling out nick on the the puck through the slaughter you know a hopper pass but i've seen 50 of those since the beginning of the season okay what do

mean nick robertson on on the on the play behind the net yeah yeah we've seen a lot of that yeah a lot but now it gets singled out well he's talking about the game that he was asked about and, you know, throwing a blind pass into the middle of the ice. Seen a lot of those, yeah. Yeah, sure, sure. But he's asked about,

it wasn't asked about the full season. He was asked about the game and the turning point. And you know better than anybody, a goal in the last minute of any period that breaks a tie is a really hard one to come back from. It always kills you. And it was a brutal play. He said it was a brutal play.

I don't think he's talking about the rest of season. There's been tons of brutals. But he was asked about the game. So he asked where it was turned and that's where it turned. But to me, Sam, it's like, you know, you're talking about a moment when you're in a game, but like when you zoom out, like they're not, they're not in that game.

They're not as good as the team they're playing. They're not, you know, like, they need everything to go right. They need massive saves and no turnovers. And so, yeah, there's, if you aren't the better team for long enough, sometimes it's going to go the other way. So, they're scary. I mean, I mean, there's been a lot of scary stuff this year with the, the leaves in terms of, you know, just not looking that good

and potentially missing the playoffs the first time in a really long time. But the thing that sucked the most about Saturday is that this was a game that the Leaf Stars were always up for. That Austin Matthews, specifically, was always excellent in this game. He, I think, I mean, he had more goals

in McDavid over the time when they would play against each other. He would be really engaged for this. They're buddies, like they have the same agent. Like, he would always be up for this. This is never a game where you're like, oh, he's not going to show up tonight. Oh, he's not going to be there. He was always there for.

this game and he loved this game he cherished this game he talked with this game yeah but this isn't this isn't something that's snuck up no but he's not been good for a long time i know kipper and you thought that because 97 comes into town he's going to flick a switch and then turn into this guy that goes toe to toe with him i thought that you may see something the implication that you're making would be that it's motivation based maybe that which which this makes you think that it's worse than that Which, like, I know would not be good if it was motivation-based, which is not a good thing to talk about. I would much rather it be motivation-based than physically able to do it based. And watching him on Saturday night against his, you know, what was supposed to be his rival for a long time and the two faces of the league and Saturday night against the Oilers.

And just have them not really be part of it. He played 1733. Against him. No, total. In the total. Actually, the highest ice time among forwards was Nize is 1820. They were getting blown out towards the end, so they're probably rolling a little bit more,

so that's what happens. But that part shook me up a little bit. That part shook me up a little bit. Yeah, yeah. All right, let's get the head coach's thoughts on his captain, Austin Matthews. No? No. Which one?

Do the third period, the clip two from Saturday night on third periods. It's been two games in a row. um at home where we come out and we just look flat i don't like so that's bottom line for me but it's whatever it is you know we we should have been coming out and dictating how we're going to play that period in the way we wanted to play it and we didn't do it um you know it's you know i don't know i mean you know i talked to the team after the game and um It's, you know, our leader's got to take control of it a lot more than they are right now. And, you know, to me, that's all, it's all a mindset, you know, whether you're down a goal,

we're up in the San Jose game. Like, he's got to have more urgency and more, being more direct on how we want to play. We didn't do it in a third period, two games in a row. It's really hard to talk about that game without talking about Matthews. and Matthews didn't even do anything wrong. He just didn't do anything, really. You know, and that's, I think, what he means. That's the wrong part, though.

That's the wrong part. When you make 13, you're expected to do something right. You know, I showed you a clip before the game, and it'll be in my article, or before the show, where Nyes has a puck in the neutral zone, and he tries to pull it through his legs and dangle a guy, he doesn't work out, and he keeps skating. And then Matthews tries to get and pull it through his feet,

and it doesn't work out and he keeps skating. And then Domi tries to hack it, and they all just skated by the puck, and Edmonton went on a rush the other way. It's like, what are we doing? Yeah. And again, tons of examples over the course of, what are we at now? 32, 33 games?

Yeah. Like, there's been a ton now that has been needed correction. And now you can tell without naming names still, right? It's a leadership group. So still a little bit of protection there. Oh, yeah. for particularly Austin. Like he hasn't come out and he hasn't said we need Austin better.

There's now I don't know what happens tomorrow night. I don't know what happens Thursday or by next weekend. But it's inching closer to 34. That's just not good enough. Well, and that's fine. You can, like I think you're allowed to say that. He is the captain. So it makes it a little harder.

It's, it's, it's, it's never really happened before. No. Right? No, not common for sure. And you don't even know. Like here or in the history? Here. Oh, here.

Here. Okay. Right. Yeah. Never. Never. They've been, they've been protected and sheltered pretty good here. Yeah.

By the organization. Which, I think some would argue. To a fault. Is part of why we're here today. Can I ask you guys a question? Please. Okay. So the game's over.

The media goes in. They request Matthews. and Tavares, and they're unavailable. Both. Both. Captain and the former captain can't answer Saturday night game questions. So part of sheltering? I think I'm going to put Tavares out of this conversation because he was the captain of this team for seven years

and was there every single time taking every single question. But why not Saturday night? Because he's not the captain anymore. I don't care. He's requested. No, he doesn't need to go. He's done it for seven years. I don't care.

He needs to come out and he needs to look people in the eye. The captain needs to be there. They stripped the sea off of ours. He doesn't have to do it every single night. I got no problem with you being a lot more forward on the current captain. But he's still one of the leaders, whether it's a sea on his jersey or not. He's been there for a very long time. Go out there.

Look the media. in the eye and say something. But to hide or be behind a curtain, have your PR guy come out and say they're unavailable. Don't say why. Give me treatment. Give me an ice pack. Give me the doctors are looking at them.

Give me something. But just unavailable? Why? Why can't you come out? I wonder, Kip, you've often said that as a PR guy, you've got to read your guys and their emotional mood. and, you know, like you've said about goalies, like if they're that hot,

you just got to make sure they don't come out and, you know, tell them they're unavailable, anything. But I'm wondering if that's the case here where they're like... Can we imagine Tavares or Matthews being hot on anything? No. Okay, so I'm not lending towards that. Again, I'm not in the room. I don't know.

Maybe, maybe not. Maybe they needed to feel like it wasn't a good time for various reasons. but the consequences are not helping. The consequences are people are thinking that you're coddled and protected. And it's not good right now for them. I understand that, Kipper, but, you know, Tavares, we're never going to agree on this, but Tavares has been there for every bad loss,

and eaten the crap for seven years, stood out there every single time as the captain, and was never not available to the media after the games. And, like, I don't think you should have to do it anymore every night. He's not the captain anymore. Does he do it every night? I mean, he does it a lot of nights. Yeah. But he doesn't have to do it.

He does. Matthews has to do it. Matthews has to do it. We'll just disagree, okay? We'll disagree. All right? That's fine. And it's, you know, they did put $80 million in your pocket just seven years ago.

I understand. And now he makes four and he doesn't have to come out. anymore? I don't buy it, Sammy. Yeah, I don't buy it. I don't agree. Okay? You're still one of those guys. You're considered a veteran, a leader. C or no C, all those guys need to come out and at least look the media in the eye and say more. You know, if something. If we made this game about nothing on the personal level, like not about Matthews personally, not about those guys personally, and tried to break down

the hockey. These are, these were just two robot teams. out there, you know, they just don't look like even, they didn't look like even teams to me. You know, like the Leafs, all this stuff is, I agree there should be accountability. We got to figure out what's going on with Matthews, but the team right now to me is not good enough. I don't know what that means exactly, but like you can hold people accountable. You can try harder. You can be more direct as the coach says, whatever.

They don't have as much talent as they need to win in this league. their superpower before was that they had elite elite guys that were going to win their minutes against the best competition. Yeah. They had what Edmonton essentially has. Well, that's exactly what I'm seeing. Dry Ciddle and

McDavid can dig you out of any hole. They went over the boards and the leaves hung on to the sides and just tried not let the wind blow them over basically. So with Marner gone now and the drop off of Matthews, they are Willie was really sick.

Tavares is, you know, in a bit of a slump. They had no fastball. There's nothing, nothing. You know. I thought their fourth line was their best line. Scott Lotton's the best player in the Leafs. Right? But he plays 13 a night.

I know. Every time he's on the A, something good happens. They're a plus in the game. Can you get a look in the top six or now? Well, I don't know, but it does say something about where we're at. Did Matthews talk today? Matthew spoke today. Okay, let's finish the Matthews talk.

And so did Tavares. They both spoke today. All right. I mean, I didn't. Anything interesting, anything? Well, hold on. That Matthews, Burubi just said our leaders need to be better. And then so I think cloak, spoke.

Yeah, well, I mean, Brubay followed up. They followed up with Brubay today on Matthews, which will play first before we play actual Matthews, but they followed up on Matthews and if they need to get more from him. This is the end. Yeah, it's not at the level that he wants at that or us. And, you know, not even just, it's not just, about scoring goals. It's just the whole game in general, I think. But I do believe,

and I know he believes it's going to get better here. And it's not just him. I think it's, you know, our team in general. I thought we, like him, was trending in the right direction on the road there in that road trip. And since we've been home, I think it's dropped a little bit our game. And not only him, but everybody's game. be better than that and he's like everybody else we've got to all be better and going forward here starting tomorrow

he's not like everybody else that's the biggest problem yeah thank you he's not the biggest he's not like everybody that is protection right there okay scared of hurting his feelings scared of losing him even more is he not strong enough of a person

to take some criticism here But this has been all of them before. It was when Mitch was here, too. They wouldn't say any mean thing about anyone. The one time Sheldon said a mean thing, he took it back. It's like none of these guys can handle any criticism. You know, it's just statistically in every regard. I sent you the evolving hockey charts or whatever where the last three years he's dropped

off from 99 overall to 77 to 54. Like he's, it's unequivocal. He has to know that it's not working. And for him, I would be, you would have to say it's obviously, it's not going as well right yeah so let's play matthews this is a it's a longer clip it's the first question then there's a follow-up question uh if you play the matthews clip that i put in there on saturday night coach said what's your what's your action you know about that goes your yeah i mean we can all be better obviously um the last two games you know it's frustrating

you go into a game uh against san Jose you got the lead and then you know the third period wasn't very good and then obviously on saturday um you know i think we're in a position where games right there. It's three to, you know, bad break on the third goal. But, you know, I just think that the third periods we came out and were just really flat and didn't have enough energy and just kind of let the game get out of hand. So, you know, I think rightfully so, it's going to fall on the leaders. And that is fine. I mean, we've got to be better in that area and make sure that when we're in these tight games that, you know, we just keep grinding and doing what was making us successful the first two periods. Overall, where are you with more than that? I mean, it's fine. It's

been a grind lately. I think, you know, for us, it's, you know, trying to string together points and wins. And, you know, I think we've done a pretty decent job of that, you know, over the last seven, eight, nine, ten games. And you just want to continue to put yourself in position to win games and do what you can to help the team win games. And, you know, I think over the last two games, I think some of the, you know, just details in our game and execution slipped a little bit, especially, like I said, in the third period. So just simple things that we want to clean up. But obviously, these games are very, very important. Why do you think this year?

Yeah, you could just cut it off. We can all be better. That's the reason I wanted that clip. He's asked personally about his play and says, we can all be better. So what he does is just take the focus off me and just put, I'm okay in the small group of leaders. I'm okay there.

I got a comfort zone there. It's just me, it's me, Willie, Morgan, and John Tavaris. Right? and I'm okay being criticized in that group, but I do not want to sit above them and take criticism. So I'm curious what happens now. Or at least call myself out and say, yeah, I need to be better. It's not good enough.

Yeah, I expect more of myself than that. I do. So I'm curious what happens. Because we've talked about whatever website you want to use. He's on pace for like 60 points, and that's probably on the generous side. So, you know, even his defensive numbers who have fallen way off from his very, very good form.

so what happens I just you guys want to me like the reason I don't cut that stuff is because I really feel that it's just almost like AI hockey end

like if I pumped in to like chat GPT give me an audio of a guy talking about him getting called out by the coach as a leader I feel like that's what it would come out no but that's the story the story is that he's just AI slop

I know it's not it just I don't he just doesn't He doesn't come across as he wants to be there. He's not taking personal responsibility. You remember Marner's rant at the end of the year and everybody called him a baby and crybaby and in the playoffs when he's like, wake up, wake up. Yeah.

It's like and everybody says, ah, he's just selfish and cry baby. Give me something like that. Somebody can't stand up and have, I'll take anything. I'll take a cry baby. I'll take whatever, but there is zero out of all of them. Well, they just all are so sick of doing. They're all so sick of giving the same answers that they've been giving for their failures for eight years. And they're just trying to get through it as quickly as possible every single time.

Change it up. I don't think they have the ability, or they're getting coached to not do it. Like, it's just been so consistent for so long that whatever he says, it just, this is a bad thing. Like you said, this is the story. None of it ever registers with anybody. No one ever cares about anything that the captain has said. Listen, and if you, the one thing about you can say that is critical of Tavares, he talked every night as the captain.

I know. But never said one not worthy thing. Never. So in many ways it was programmed. It was like obviously we need to learn from this. Does that not feel programmed? What he just said? But yeah, the problem is that it's not actually considered thoughtful.

And it's not the word. And it's the tone. It's not even the tone. it's look me in the eye that's what the internet can't do that's what a i can't do we have to go back to the very basics of relationships and you know where it starts look me in the eye and tell me that okay because people have problems with that in today's world they hide that's where you can't hide when you look one person to another in the eye and then tell me what you need to say well and that's why it's not the same

firing from a captain yeah totally that's you know you'd like to see more so i'm curious to see if this ends in him just getting removed from the lineup we got to figure this out because he's not the guy he's he can be i think that's another conversation here is that at some point somebody has to say something because we're all made to be idiots being like nothing's like he's healthy he's playing everything like well that's it's we all just feel like idiots it's like well Them first got no clothes. Somebody say something. Why did one of the best players in the world just become Jordan Stahl?

Yeah. Like what happened? What happened? Somebody tell us. Yeah, we can't. It's not happening. Oh, I'm at my wits end with it. I think Vancouver did this with Elias Pedersen, where everyone went,

he's a hundred and some, 104-point guy, and he ran into people, and then what happened? Does he still want? Let me ask you that. Can it happen? where guys just, I don't know, they hit their peak and their inspiration goes and... The answer is yes. Yeah, you can fall out of love for the game,

the passion can leave for various reasons. Only you truly would know. But yeah, the answer is yes. You can't fall out of love. Maybe that's what we're looking at. You know, where's his passion? Does he still want to be here? I...

You know, does he like it here? does is he is he like Matthew Kachuk where in two years he's like hey I appreciate everything but I want to go back home yes you know I want to go I'm done I think I think the implication you'd be making if that were true is that he's not trying his hardest because he doesn't

no no there's there's it can be a subconscious it could be um no I agree yes no no I don't think he's bailing out on the Toronto Maple Leafs. I don't. But, Justin, if your heart's not into it, it won't show the same way.

No. And I don't know what his motives are now. And it's like, buddy, they've hung the moon for you. They've given you everything. What's that thing? Oh, that's a classic. I've never heard that one. The Leafs have hung the moon for Austin since the moment he became a Toronto Maple Leaf.

They've given him everything. You are our man. We give you the franchise. We, you lead us the way. You are the guy. You are the chosen one. Okay? Yeah.

Money, contracts, no movements, captaincy, we've given you everything. Okay. Now when it's needed most to give back, he can't be found right now. And there has to be some sort of, at least, you know, to answer your question, what's happened might be okay for you to sit down with the Toronto media. and say, listen, I want nothing more to bring a Stanley Cup to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Okay, I'm not going anywhere.

This is where my heart is. This is what I want. And I'm going to do everything in my power. And yes, I'm not good enough right now. But that's not going to change me now from moving forward and trying my best to do whatever I can to get myself going and they get the team going. It would just be so out of context to have him have some interviews right now where he'd be like, I'm not going anywhere

I want to win a cup. So he could save... It would help. But he could save himself having to do some dramatic sit down by just answering the question where you're at with your play right now by going, I'm not happy. I'm not happy.

I'm working on some things. I feel like I don't have my step right now or whatever, my pace. Give the fans something to hang their hat on outside of we can all be better. All right? Now, if I'm the PR guy for the Toronto Maple Leaf Saturday night, I'm going to say, you know what?

I haven't asked a lot from you. But you need to go out there now, okay? My job is to protect you. I'm not doing my job if I tell you it's okay to hide. Get out there, answer the questions, and then we can move on, and tomorrow's another day. It's tough for the coach, because the coach has to answer the questions,

and he's like, I don't know, guys. Like, I want him to play good too. I don't know. like what does brooby know I mean he knows well maybe not you don't think he knows what's wrong with him I think he knows he's playing badly

and I think he no unless it's injury the only way he knows is if it's pure injury yeah if you're not healthy you don't feel like you can push and that's also after all this talk that could be the thing

that's what it is like dude my back kills Craig brooby is no different than you Sammy right now or any other leaf fan we're hoping tomorrow will be better. We're waiting patiently.

And you're running out of time here because you're not making any traction in the Eastern Conference. You lose to a Western Conference team. Look who's picking up points on the weekend. Pittsburgh, you know, they can't hold the lead, but they got two more points on the weekend.

Florida picked up points. Everybody's... Everybody's picking up points. And, you know, the Metro, the Metro, the Metro is going to send five teams which means the Leafs have to finish now in the top three in the Atlantic

to make the playoffs. There are five points back of the final playoffs. When you give up points, when you see Metropolitan teams win, it's just as bad for the Leafs now because they're going to lose the fourth spot in the Atlantic to make the playoffs and they're going to have to go in the top three. It's funny.

He's like, yeah, I think we've been getting points and wins over the last 7, 8, 9, 10 games. They have five wins in the last 10 games. No traction. I think they have 10 regulation wins all year. Yeah. So anyway, that was a lot on Matthews. We didn't expect this to be the Matthew show.

Can I ask you, can I ask you, like, you know, the relationship with Barubei and the way he's playing? Like, is there a world where they bring in, I don't know, whoever. Everybody says Pete DeBore, but does it say Pete DeBore. And it gets immediately better. Like, is there a quit factor? Like, I'm just looking for reasons. I know. Listen.

It's fair to ask. It's a radio show. Yeah. Is there any world right now where you look at your captain and brooby and whether or not they're on the same page right now? I don't know. I feels like they're not. I don't know.

Well, listen. Just because they don't play well. It's not even necessarily that they're not. It just seems to be not. It just doesn't mesh. It just doesn't mash. Yeah. Right?

I don't know. Is it too simple of a style for him? Does he need more complex? X's and O's. I think sometimes you just get frustrated when it doesn't feel like there's a solution. Like it's just like, you know, keep banging your head against the wall. The thousandth time will break it. Craig Barubehockey.

To, you know, to come to a little bit of 34's defense here. Okay, I lost Marner. Who'd you bring in? Mcelli. He's been out eight in the last nine games, boys. Who do I got? Who do I have? Right?

Nice. I mean, now we'll talk, maybe we'll talk a little bit more about the practice today after the break or whatever, but once again, it's, they're putting Neander up on the top line. Yeah.

Their whole solution here is giving Nealander. Nealander's obviously been sick, but he's been slumping too, so. Less than 75% Saturday night. I mean. 13 men's and chains. Did you want to play that? I don't think he should have played.

I don't think he should have played. No, play Machelli at that point. Brubay, on Willie from Saturday night. Yeah, I mean, he played tonight, but obviously he wasn't even close to 75%. I mean, he was sick. But he played, but, you know, I didn't feel there was any reason to keep playing him. Yeah.

Fair enough. Shouldn't have played. I agree. Like, I said that after the game. I mean, they showed him on the bench. It looked like he had the black plague. It looked awful. He felt like you could barely put one foot in front of the other

At one, at some point you're compromised And the Micelli, I know he's not perfect, but like Yeah, he's got some, I mean, he'd have something to prove out there Probably, I mean, he missed practice today because he's sick too So maybe he was sick too Everyone is sick too. I mean, the whole world in general I can't believe how many people out there are sick right now.

A lot of folks. A lot of sick people. We should take a break. Yeah, let's take a break and then we'll come back. We have some TANV update. Sorry. Some audio from him. Good news, hopefully.

Talk about wool. Yep. Plenty more on our Leaf Edition hour of our program. Don't go away. Dive deep into Toronto Sports and the NFL, the J.D. Bunk is podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kiprios, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee.

Did we all catch our breath? Just tell us. I don't know. No. It's complex, Sammy. I just want to know. It's complex. What happened to the man I love?

I'll say this. I no longer am 50% plus on them making playoff. No, neither am I. How could you be? I'm officially skeptical now. This is 15th. This week, they have Chicago. no but dark so that helps okay need that one

caps Thursday Dallas on the second second half of back-to-back Sunday night at least two of those three boy I mean Chicago wash Nashville you'd like a nice little tidy three-game winning streak wash you see that recently? I know

I know I know but see they prior to this little mini meltdown here by the Leafs they won three out of four and then you lose three out of four I'll be it, you know, a couple overtime points.

But you can't go this way. No. You won't miss the playoffs if you go three up, three down. All right. They need six, they need five or six in a row. So they need 60 points to get to 93. They got 51 games left. So, you know, they got worked at you got to play at a, I don't know, 100 point pace from here.

And then just after Christmas, it's Ottawa and Detroit. You've given up points to Detroit already. You got to make them up You got to go on a little bit of a heater Well, the forwards are healthy And they could get back Chris Tanna They might be one guy from a fully healthy team Chris Tannav in a contact

Jersey of practice yesterday Sammy, did we get the official report Off of his MRI And second opinion We got an update from Let's play it All right Well, it's his first practice

And first practice with contact So we're going to need more and see where he's at. He's not playing tomorrow. Okay. I put in our group chat today a Toronto Raptors injury update, RJ Barrett.

Toronto Raptors are announced Monday that Guard Forward, RJ Barrett, diagnosed with a right knee sprain, continues to progress after receiving platelet-rich plasma injection. His schedule is to begin return to play activities this week.

Oh, my God. Why don't they just invite us into the room? You know, you know what's going on with the guy. Okay, I expect him. early this week to begin the return to play activities. We know his healing program. Is that MLSC's decision

that they're going to be more or is that an NBA? It's the same ownership. No, but is it NBA? Maybe NBA forces you to be open. Maybe. I don't know. Sammy, do you have that answer? Are there medical reports more available to the media?

Listen, I'm not going to be crazy if there's just a website. It was all there and we didn't know about it. The NBA's, you know, how to tough start when it comes to credibility stuff. So I don't know if you want to be like, I mean, they just had one of their head coaches was like part of like an illegal gambling ring. Ah, that was poker.

Yeah, like, I mean, they're just, maybe don't like a line or, but yeah, sure. Like that they told us what happened with his knee, but, you know. Well, yeah, if he could come in and be the same guy, that would help. RJ Barrett? No. Oh, kind of.

Okay. The Rapies are missing, RJ Barrett. You know, if he can. Coming back down to Earth. being in a week. You know, I sure hope he just makes the right decision for his own health.

And I mean, that's sincerely. Sure. I couldn't care less about the least. Our boy, Luke Fox, asked him about such things, about like his long-term outlook, and this was his answer. Kristanaev clip, please.

Derek. Well, that's his first practice. The actual Kristanaf clip. I don't see it. Oh, yeah. Last one. Christian Fip won. Maybe I didn't put it in. Oh, yeah, but it is.

Oh, we don't have it. All right. Can you summarize it? Yeah. Let's just do it like, no, don't even say it. Just do charades and we'll guess. Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Is he feel healthy? What happens? You get so excited that you actually forget to put the clip in? Well, no, I put in every other clip. I don't know what I did. I don't know what happened. But we don't have it. I think you just get excited.

I am excited. Yeah, we're not going to have it. Okay. So anyways, he was talking about how he did kind of have some, you know, you think about. your future you think about that kind of stuff and you think and then they asked him how many doctors he saw and he said a few so this is like something they've put a lot of time and thought into he obviously wants to make it work pros and cons he's a warrior right of of risk reward kind of

thing i think it's like you'll know based on pain like if my vague guest understanding is this will be nerve related for him and if it hurts or not and so if he's able to to withstand the punishment? Do you guys want to hear it? Oh, you pulled it off? I pulled it off. Sam, you're the best. Oh, yeah, right.

It's, let's play it. It is now. You always think about things, and, yeah, and initially when that happened, you talk to talk to doctors, and you have to determine the next steps, and obviously what's best for yourself and the game. in hockey and your team and your family. But, as I said, really happy to be here and skate today,

and it was great to be around the guys. I don't know a few. I don't really want to get into specifics, but yeah, spoken to a few, and as I said, we're here right now. What was the last question? I missed it. How many doctors have you spoken to? Best friends with Troy Stetcher.

Oh, yeah, they were together in Calgary? And Vancouver. Both. Yeah, both. Both. He was the best man in Troy Stetcher's wedding. Really? Yep.

And they're both right shot guys, which is so, yeah, not a lot of actually played together experience. They don't play together, I guess, on the bench here and there. Statcher's, like, my career would be way better if you weren't on all my teams. That's true. Get way more ice time. Stetscher on with J.D. tomorrow. Oh, no.

Yeah, yeah. Troy's voice. Yeah, Troy's voice. Stetcher led the Leafs in Ice Time last year. Plus one. They struggled. a little bit. I mean,

but everybody did. But everybody did. Have ever played. He also, everybody did. He mean, shot one literally. The blue line looked.

I know Connor does make a lot of people look bad, but I don't know what happened to Oliver Ekman Larson on that, that one goal in the neutral zone where he turned completely the wrong way. I don't know, but Connor McDavid hitting that scene like

C-Basket when there's an opening on the backstretch is as great of viewing experiences. electrifying as you can find. It is like a NCAA kid coming home for summer and playing with a bunch of beer leaguers. Like, can't even touch him. It's a, it's a father-son game there.

If the game were touch football, you would not have taken this man down. Like, you can't get a hand on him. I was sitting on my couch alone, and I went, whoa. Like, I exclaimed. But even, even, like, Nick. Nick Waugh. But even Waugh, it's like, do you know who's on the ice, but you can't turn it over there?

No, let's put a little sauce under that one, pal. I think he's trying to. I mean, they... Get it in deep. There's little ways to kind of like slow McDavid down. You watch what the Panthers have done to him in the last two finals. You chip at him, you kind of knock him down, you get in his way, you slow him down. They're called cutoffs.

It's interference. You know what you don't do? Turn it over to him with momentum. No, he got off the bench as he turned that puck over with a full ten. You know, the one thing that we got to talk a little bit about is the goal tending, of course, and Craig Bruby talking about the Hildebeast's workload. Let's have a clip. Yeah, there's two.

Did you put that one in, Sammy? Yes, I did. There's two different ones. Let's play the clip three first. This is one on Saturday night. You know, it's a lot, been a lot for him. Like, I think probably was a little tired tonight. I would, you know, just from watching them and watching his buck handles and stuff.

But he's played really well for us. you know he played well again tonight he gave us a chance to win I agree with that it's pretty clear after 30 plus games here if the Leafs are going to still find a way to be in that mix it's going to be off the backs of whoever's in that when you're constantly being outshot and the

analytics and the matrix are not in your favor all all the data all the data Keanu coming out here I know he advertised Rod you better better hope that these guys

do what they've basically done up until this point like Chief said at least keep us in the game that feels like a good time to get a Joe Wall update it's gonna be hard you know

you're not handed at the Hill to be and say first star every night yeah all right let's get Joe Wall update clip six possible is that an NFL word or questionable or doubtful

no he's did well today there's a chance yeah he could be ready yeah I think you know he had a good practice he feels good so well I'll you know sit down and talk to him he's playing

buying he is but what are you going to do run him out now again no he's not he's him and the beast Well, I mean, yeah. Two starts each this week. Better. You got to be careful here.

Two starts each. We're Stolli the goalie. All right. Who knows? Okay. I have no knowledge, right? This is not me with any inside anything here. But Stolars is starting to shape up to me a little bit like Tanev, where it's, I don't know.

sure they know exactly what's going on and there's a lot of questions and they're I don't know what kind of answers they're getting and if he's in a position of now needing second opinions it's really weird like do you think they're physically talking to him about this or like there's something's going on behind the scenes obviously between him the leaves and doctors and why can't he participate in anything right now. It'd be crazy to go back to listen to the audio clips from around the time he went out because it was like... See you tomorrow.

Yeah. It was like the night he got hurt. Somebody else got hurt too in that game. I think maybe even was Matthews that got hurt in that game. But he definitely said that he'll be, it's not a big deal. He'll be all right. So he's symptomatic on something. And I don't know if it comes in.

goes if it's bad all the time if it looks like it's getting better and then it regresses but something in that little wheelhouse is is keeping him from from practicing right now well tough to know just more guessing so um couple other what else did we got to do for two hours because we solve nothing else couple little details willie going up to the top line to help matthews does that interest you or do you want to talk east and cowan we play Let's play the Matthews, the Willie. Willie's going up, okay, let's start there. Well, I just, I, like, I'm not seeing enough from that line in general,

offensively or defensively. Like, you know, it's so going to move Willie up there. And, you know, it has a, it could be a real good line. You know, they're going to work together and do things right, but it could be a real good line. And, yeah, that's why I did it. the new NHL now is legit two lines that's why we got Connor and Leon if they can carry their own lines Edmonton shoots up yes it's when you don't have one good line and that's the unfortunate part

for the Leafs they have to put their two best players together and we know who they are chief's got no choice he needs one good line two gets you back in the mix to compete for a division and they ain't there like it doesn't really matter now with Tavares on the second line he just needs one good line that's why he's putting them together yeah makes sense and you have a couple guys who both need to get going might as will give them both the best chance to have success next game in Chicago too a little weaker defensively should be a few seams god you'd like I would love to see these guys go out have You know, one and two for three plus two, you know.

Five, two, six, two. Boom out. Yeah, well, just, you know, be good and get some points and feel good about the direction. And then you do have Cowan with Tavares, which the kids done an amazing job so far and provides energy. And yes, he makes a few turnovers here and there, but he's trending in the right direction. Yeah, they had him with Lawrence a lot in last game, like the preseason line that we really liked. And he, yeah, he does a lot of good time. things he's uh bexa had a good feature on him at intermission where there's still

little things right he's but he's a rookie of course and that's but that's the tradeoff is that he's good enough that you're just going to have to live with some of these little things whether it's turnovers or he highlighted like one hand on the stick entering a puck battle just little things like that but he'll he's getting there and one of the guys that reads it well sees it well and connected i just you know you talked for years about how this team doesn't pass the puck particularly well and minus marner And with the addition, you know, of, well, I don't know, they didn't even add anyone. I guess Joshua and Waugh dishes it a bit.

But, like, they're just nobody passed the puck. And that's why I tweeted the video of those guys all trying to do it on their own. It's just one guy takes a rush, then the next guy's turn. But I think the game was a little late too, right? What's that? For that play? Yeah, for that particular clip you showed me. I don't care.

I know. I know. And you're right. You're absolutely right. But you know what happens when the game's six two and you know it's over? I just need a cookie I just need a cookie But that's not even the way to get cookies

And you have to pass your teammates You're not wrong my friend It's just in his very young kid Where it's like I'm going to take my rush You're not wrong But let me Let me salvage something out of tonight I know

Here's how you get points Pass it Ultimate Frisbee A couple of steps passed to him A couple of steps pass it back All right Kibber playoffs Beliefs Playoffs Playoffs

playoffs playoffs oh gosh sammy no not right now no i i'm like playoffs 50 point zero zero one i said i i'm gonna say yes

because i'm the optimistic guy on the show but it's like a hair like if one guy gets a hang nail before next game they lose all they lose Chicago can maybe can joseph wall still win the vesna you have to start how many times no they'll

don't put them in there enough to find out they're going to need a The second half, Sammy. I'm concerned, boys. Do you yes or no? You're a no. I don't think so. You're a no.

It's just scary. All right. Has been mentioned many times on our program. It's been a good hour, but we've solved nothing. And we're about to do it again nationally. When it comes to big trades in the National Hockey League, we'll get all over Vancouver and Minnesota. And Quinn Hughes.

and news out of Buffalo. And yes, we do care in the national hour. And we'll get into that as well. Stick around. More real Kippinburne after these words.