Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Top Six Shake Up + Stolarz Returns

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to the Leafs' matchup against the Seattle Kraken. They discuss Anthony Stolarz's return to action and whether it's the right time, the new second-line combination of William Nylander, John Tavares and Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews' outlook without Marner as a linemate, Morgan Rielly moving off the power play and much more. Later, Kraken announcer John Forslund (32:59) shares where Seattle stands ahead of the 4 Nations break, their player development progress, returns on Kaapo Kakko and players who could be on the move as they approach the deadline.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.

Right at the buzzer. I was going to take over, but you made it. I know I could just pass you right over and you wouldn't miss a beat here. Welcome aboard, it's the Real Kipper and Bourne Show. This is our Leaf Hour edition of our program. We are live on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet Plus. He's Justin Bourne, he's Sammy McKee.

I'm Nick Kiprios, Derek Brandeo, and Jake Schultz with you for the next two hours. We got another game day, albeit a late one. We are in Eastern time. 10 or 1030? I guess 10. I like the slightly later start. The 10 start is sub good.

I mean they had the San Jose game that's always 1030. And by the time the puck drops, it's like 1045. Like what the hell are we doing here? 10 is okay. 10 is okay. 1030 is not okay. That's whatever that it's a San Jose thing where they just need every ounce for people to get to the rink. I mean, it could be like traffic around there or something. Either way, it stinks for the rest of us Couple changes yeah as we anticipated Mitch Marner healthy to go back into the lineup. That's great. Good news the interesting one for me The decision on stole ours playing tonight. Yeah, and you're

well, yeah, I Mean you've been saying that you anticipated that you would get us start. I I did yes, you know, I've got Second thoughts on that you do I do I do a little bit but I don't like that. That's okay. It's alright Oh, we have we have so this is just a very rushed day here. The Raptors trade deadline, right? So we've been able to leisurely make our way in here to the studio, get organized, all this stuff. We used to do this all year last year. But it was a sprint into here. We were given a few takes with Blake and Matt,

and we were like, oh my God, it's time to go. Learning about the Raptors, Brandon Ingram in town. And so I barely plugged in. Because we've had this studio empty before our show. Yeah, for the whole year. And it's not really about us getting in there And so I barely plugged in because we've had this studio empty before our show Oh, yeah, it's not really about us getting in there and getting organized because we don't really get organized. Yeah fair But it's more of a relaxed feel yeah And now we're rushed and then the clips only came in because they was practiced later

So I literally just put this in right before the show started. It's been a. I don't even know what clips to call. Well guess what? Clips to come is on the line up today. Guess what? I have to do it. I am, I am leading it here. If you want to hear about Anthony Stoller. We do.

Okay. We'll get sound out of Seattle and then we'll, we'll follow it up. Sounds good. Number five, please, Darren. That's a good question. Who knows? I mean, you know, we'll see how the game goes.

But we've got to do a good job in front of them. We've got to make sure that we're tight tonight. We're eliminating their rush game. They have a very good rush game. We don't need to be giving those guys chances off the rush. So our job, defenders and forwards, is being real good defensively here tonight and tight and not giving that stuff up Like like, you know, we've got to check hard tonight All sounds help them out good. Yeah

Gary so before we get into we got to dive in on why you don't will you just gone to Murray here? What's the what's the thought? Yeah, yeah, that's the thought? Yeah. Yeah. That's the thought. The thought is that under normal circumstances, I could see a guy coming off surgery and going in there and hitting that target window of what you thought,

four to six weeks, but this isn't a normal circumstance. This is a guy that's had a handful of surgeries on that knee. I am this close to the finish line before the league shuts down for two weeks. I would have taken those two weeks and not put him in a scenario on a knee that is unlike almost any other knee right now. In the national hockey league.

I would have exercised a two week break before bringing him back. Would you say it's unique? That's all. Before bringing him back. Would you say it's unique? That's all and I could be full of crap and he could be great and yeah put pitch a shadow tonight and be fantastic And you know, I'm I'm full of it given the nature of the injury which was that he had some sort of Shale granite rock in his knee. We don't know a Person a body a body loose body and he could be like opening up the shark on jaws like a license plate could fall out and an old running shoe but this is the thing I don't think that playing a game will

create new bodies in the knee maybe it will what do I know absolutely nothing yeah exactly I don't know but I would like to get one under his belt So he goes into the break having felt the pace and the speed and feeling good. Okay, it stood up to a game Practice hard over the break. Hopefully. Yeah, but yeah, I get the idea of having the extra rest But if you get through the game healthy, it's a win. Got a lot of gifts this year for the trauma If some bots were candies and, every day would be Christmas. I hate to agree with you Kipper, but I do agree. The way you lay it out there.

It was all this weeks ago. No, no, like I really want him to play and I've been a huge fan of him. But the circumstances aren't normal. But I guess the same things that could happen tonight could happen in two and a half weeks when they come back. So I guess that's just the risk to take. But with the two-week break it is tantalizing just to be like hey Matt Murray, can you handle the fourth worst team in the league and Give it to Joe Wall on Saturday night and away you go, but you're trying to get four points

I'm sorry for wins this trip. I don't know. It's you got it. He's got to play eventually I guess I'm talking myself in Sir in the business making these decisions So we'll see if it's the right one. It's certainly a risky decision so but it was no matter what they did the next big the next big story from practice today are the other lines and I put them there on the first page, but they read as follows Matthew Nye's Austin Matthews and Max Domi still together on the top line in the second line William Nylander on his off wing, John Tavares and Mitch Marner as your second line tonight.

I don't have a massive recollection of that trio spending a ton, like Matthews is always involved in some capacity. Kipper, do you remember them playing? They have done it. Have they played together a bit, those three? I really have a hard time remembering if they have. I don't have any memory of Nylander and Marner together. Have they played together a bit, those three? I really have a hard time remembering if they have.

I don't have any memory of Nylander and Marner together to any degree. Outside of loading up a line. Yeah, like last minute, we're down a goal. Correct, but to actually practice and start games together. You could see how it could work, right? Like Mitch has such great vision, Willie stretches it out. You could see how it could work, right? Like Mitch has such great vision, Willie stretches it out. You could see how they could connect. I think anytime you got really talented people, you could always envision.

Yeah. But, yeah, give it a try. John's at the net, he's a little more stationary. As Sammy alluded to, one of the worst teams in the league right now in Seattle. Where are they at? I think they're 29, 8? We're going to, in In 30 minutes we're going to welcome in John Forslund play by play man for Seattle Kraken and he's always real good

when it comes to honest assessments of any respective club he's covered. So looking forward to some feedback there. We have a clip, I believe it's clip number one as I'm looking here. Yeah, clip one on the lines for tonight well you know I kept that line together of Matthews Domi and nice thought they had a real good game I liked Max on the line she felt like he had more juice in the game you know so I want to keep him going and you know so I put talk to them guys about Willie going on left and Mitch on right and with JT. Mitch played some real good hockey with JT this year.

We know that. And so. Of all the words, that's a real Kipper and Bourne show word. Juice might be one of them. Yeah, definitely. Definitely have more juice there. Definitely more juice. Yeah, I like that.

Yeah. Jeff LeMorgz. Yeah, I like that. Yeah, I, again, when you got a very distinct line between your second line and your third line, it's still limited what you can do. They're limited. But I- They had six scores. All of last week, I talked about Domi and Matthews and why we haven't seen it. And I like the fact that He's coming off Calgary. He's coming off

Getting Mitch Marner back in the lineup and yet he'll stick with Matthews and Domi tonight. So that to me is a good sign for for Borubi looking at different looks now because Things can get stale sometimes. You need movement. You need players to come to the rink and look at the jersey colors in practice and go, yeah, I'm excited about that. Yeah, this is something new, something fresh to refocus to try. And to that point, you have a two-week break looming here where guys maybe are starting

to think about their beach plans, where it's like, hey, something to freshen me up and to keep me engaged before a big long break. So I got a couple of things here I think I'm gonna make you happy here Kip. So I had our sports and stats look at Matthews without Marner last year and this year and Marner without Matthews last year and this year and both of them have higher points per game without the other guy. So Matthews without Marner is 1.57 points per game and with him is 1.22. And Marner without Matthews, 1.5 points per game and with him is 1.25.

So they're both better without each other, that's cool. Here's the interesting part that I think you'll like. Matthews when he's with Marner has 80 goals and 48 assists. Hold on, Matthews with Marner. 80 goals and 48 assists. And over the last? Over the last two years. 48 assists. Yeah, 80 goals, 48 assists. Hold on, Matthews with Marner. 80 goals and 48 assists. And over the last? Over the last two years. 48 assists.

Yeah, 80 goals, 48 assists. Without him, so think of that ratio, almost two to one goals to assist ratio. Without him, he has nine goals and 13 assists, which is more assists than goals. Interesting. Marner with Matthews has 31 goals and 100 assists. And his numbers are up. His goal numbers.

And without Matthews, his goals are 11 goals, 13 assists. Almost a one to one ratio. Marner scores more. He's less of a deferral type of guy without Matthews. Matthews passes more when he's not with Marner. If you want to get the best out of these two guys, this is the thing we hear from people. Marner has to shoot the puck more Matthews need to be more of a distributor Separate the two of them and you do that. Mmm. It's there for you. Is this It's fascinating is this Is this a recipe to be Successful in the playoffs like if you're looking be sure isn't if you

Taste like crap. Are you looking at Domi and saying, can you run Shotgun with Auston Matthews now the rest of the season? I think that is a problem you're faced with here. And whether it's Domi or not Domi, I think it's reasonable to say, is it Ryan Donato? Is it, you know, these other names that come up? Is it someone else? And say, Matthews, we need you to drive this line it you know these other names that come up is it someone else and say Matthews we need you to drive this line you know without Mitch I I think you know some of the guys that Mitch played with over that time when it would have been without Matthews

I think even having Nylander on his line would probably lean to him being more of the passer as opposed to the shooter still But I think those are really interesting in terms of just what they bring. Like their points per game are both better without each other and both similar ratios and all that. It's just the type of points they get changes. What's gonna be interesting for Neil Anders, Varus and Marner is their own zone. And like Willie and John are deep guys.

Like Mitch will be third man high, he'll be the first man back. When it comes to a key defensive zone faceoff, is it Mitch's line with Tavares and Nylander that is going to go now take defensive zone faceoffs, the majority of them? Or do you go back to Matthew's nice and Domi or defensive draws. Yeah. Oh, I think I think those are now key questions for Yes, Craig Brody, you know the Willie's been playing with Tavares and whoever that winger is is not better defensively than Mitch Right like Mitch is a responsible defensive guy I was worried about that line defense Those guys tend to though like get offensive zone face-offs and not

Make them go 200 feet right the whole idea is to keep your best offensive players, especially those guys You're not asking them to go 200 feet off a defensive zone face-off So now but Mitch has been asked that all season long So I don't I mean it'll be interesting to see if they they go down a goal or two Stay with it. Yeah, like how committed are you to this buddy? If you can't keep them together down a couple goals to Seattle and game 53 when can you do it? Yeah for whatever and also like if you learn some things if you're protecting a lead at the end of the game I don't think like it's illegal to put Mitch and Matthews to go and also those guys those guys do go out there. End of the game, like Willie had the empty net last game, Mitch is out there, Austin

is out there, these guys all, even Tavares plays at the end of the game. Barube had a comment on Willie playing on his offside, if you wanted to mention that before we move on from the lines. It would be Clip2 please, Darren. A little bit of different luck for him with his shot for sure. And also, just in his own end, I think he can be the type of guy that can take pucks off the wall, you know, on his forehand, get to middle ice, make some plays, come out of our zone. That was the other thing I was thinking about. And just the way it worked out with Mitch playing there with those guys,

with JT I mean on the right side. I wanted to keep Willie on that line so I moved him to the left. I also said to Sam before the show, I've never seen Willie get a puck on the wall in the D zone in his career. So what's the matter with side he plays? Did you have to get him in the defensive zone first?

Not really worried about his handedness. He's never touching it there. Physically make sure he's in there. And not doing figure eights for that breakaway. Mitch will handle the puck in the D-zone, Willie won't, so not really a hard decision for me. Three above. That's what I know about him. Three feet above the circle counts as the defensive zone, boys. He's there a lot. He's fine. I moment before he takes off camp Lorenz and patch ready. I think patches Noses a little out of joint here a little bit. I think patches has any ability to have a nose at a joint Does he have any no?

I Think he'd like to at least be in the top nine right now. Yeah. Well, that's life top nine right now. Yeah. Well, that's life. McMahon Holberg, Holberg Robertson. So heavy line. The only thing is, yeah, could Holberg go down and patch go up and then who's going to play center not McMahon Robertson or patch ready.

So it's it's not there for him. Unfortunately, big team a team be night tonight. Yeah, the way the lines look. It depends what you think like McMahon and Robertson We're supposed to shoot it in McMahon. Yeah, yeah can Robertson be you know God It's killing me that he's played and he's healthy Hey, you're not shooting it in the net and they're like I talked about this a little bit on least talked to their night but

Yeah, there's moments from like him Wow It just never enters the net like how many does He, wow! He's dynamic. But he just never enters the net. Like how many goals does he have? Seven. Just seven? Yeah.

I thought that number was higher. No it's not. It's not eh? Well maybe it's eight. I thought it was like ten or eleven. It feels like ten or eleven. He has eight goals. Eight goals.

Eight goals in forty-five games. He just still can get to fifteen, twenty? Yeah. No, not twenty. Twenty! Okay, I'm sorry. He can get to fifteen. If he gets on the Ovi diet search shooting an empty head every night Yeah, I don't think it's a great chase

Hey So I saw today that they had Mitch back at the top of the power play Move replacing Morgan Riley who had his best game or just chewing just chewing on the knob of his stick on the bench. We have a clip, clip three on if they thought about it. There's always a conversation, yes. It's just a matter of fitting everybody. I think if you look at JT this year, he's been a very good bumper for us. You know, scored a lot of goals, but he's great at, you know, release plays and things

like that and making plays from there and Nyes is that a great job at the net. So I just go back that, you know, that, that five forges has been good for us. And Mo did a great job up top. I really liked his game all around. But there's always conversations for sure. JT's forehand backhand Calgary was pretty nice. Oh baby. Yeah.

That was awesome. Johnny. Nyes kind of stole his net front spot though. Like this bumper thing is not because they think John's great there so much as Nyes' bigger stronger net front guy. You know like they didn't start the year, they started the year with John. If you take a look, there are times when if JT is there before nice, he'll stay. He'll just stay. So it's a race to the blue paper.

I used to call it replaceable parts and if you're there, be there. Okay, there are times when like, I'd be on my fourth line and I'm like you I'm going in first. Yeah tell Alan May or Joey I'm going in first. Yeah. So put it put it somewhere where I'm going in first. Because I'm going in regardless. That's when I really wanted to kill somebody too though but that's besides the point but it's like. Coming from a zone behind I got it. Right now it doesn't seem to be much of an issue they don't look like they're fighting for space But you know John's so good though. He can be in good tight, but he can also be good six seven feet out

Yeah, you're right to that to that bumper position. He's got that wrist. Oh spinning fire wrist I don't see any I don't see much issues there But they got pucks where they needed to get them Which is hasn't always been there for them on the power play mm-hmm I just would have given Riley another night up there I think you know he's what do you do what do you do because Marner's been you know kept him afloat on that power play for a lot of the year I think it's just you know you know Marner can do it you just got to keep you got to keep the good field goal here with Riley

No, it's it's good. But you you cannot you can't wish for something that hasn't been there for a very long time and It's it hasn't been like a bad Two weeks. It hasn't been a bad month. It's been a questionable year and a half two years the power play. Yeah, and him on it So I don't know how much more you wanna push it. You're never gonna get that guy now. I don't think you'll ever get Morgan Riley quarterbacking any type of power play from here on in. Can he play there?

Of course he can play there. Can he get a puck through with a quick release? Yeah, but I don't think there's Can he get a puck through with a quick release? Yeah. But I don't think there's ever going to be a better look than what we've already seen in the past. I agree. I agree. But the question that they have in front of them is how much better is the power play going to be with Marner at the top than Riley at the top? Marner's going to be on it regardless. But five forwards versus a Riley run power play, is it going to be a goal or two better? Because the trade-off is you're gonna play

Florida or Tampa Bay and it's gonna be Barkov Reinhardt Bennett it's gonna be Sorelli Hegel these guys killing penalties do you care about having a guy who can skate backwards and defend a one-on-one versus making a forward do it in the playoffs who who leads the league in short-handed goals I actually don't know Florida. I think Sam Reinhardt. Yeah. If I'm not mistaken.

Right, right, right. So it's like, are you worried about that? Yeah, you are worried. And if you're thinking about that, then maybe Riley or OEL should figure it out if that's a concern. Because yeah, less of a concern if you're playing Detroit. The league leader in short handed goals is Sam Reinhardt with five and the second is Anthony's reality with that cool cool That's what guys that you might want you can skate backwards in a playoff series six short-handed points for Reinhardt six

Winner points for straight at least you're going in the first or second round thinking don't give up Uh, yeah, don't give up a rush Well, they have the power to give up a goal on your power play It's not fair to ask six short- to be, you know, through-doubting. I mean, is he worse than Riley at defending a 2-on-1? Well, I think that's a fair question. Like maybe a little bit, probably a bit worse. There's a lot of times where it's a 2-on-1 with Riley, I'm like, I had to just let him

shoot. I don't know. Anyways, I just, you know, like you mentioned that the game whatever against Seattle after your You know much maligned number one paid D man has his best game and yeah He's got like you just maybe throw him a little bone. You know you know Margaret can do it anyways It's not a big deal. It's something I thought did you want to hear what? Brube liked about Riley on Saturday night or oh sorry what day is it? It's Thursday on Tuesday night. It isn't absolutely Yeah

Skeet and getting up the ice being involved in the Russian offensively moving in the offensive zone None of power play move the puck quick shot it from the top just direct direct Yeah, quicker just faster quicker, right? That's all we said basically the last We can have two weeks. Just good puck to move faster. Mm-hmm, right? Yep Riley OEL just trying to make that job. All right Would you like to hear? Craig Berubez thoughts on the Seattle Kraken at the least are facing tonight. They're a good club. I don't have to yeah My guess is this is the Sheldon Keefe clip

where he finds a specific thing about the team that they do well and says, well, actually, they're a pretty good X team. And they can be dangerous. And we can't take them lightly. So you want to hear the clip? Yeah. All right. And we have not heard it.

Clip six, please. They got a good rush game. We're not really involved up in the game and the play. They're a fast team, they transition quick and you know so again we gotta we gotta have the puck here tonight we got to hang on to it and force them to play in their own zone as much as we can so that'll be a key and also just reloading and getting above people and checking from behind you you know, not giving those opportunities for them.

They have some good players, a lot of speed, a lot of speed. That's the coaching playbook. When you're playing a bad team, it's like- I thought it was just Keith. People don't realize this team's actually a very good double screen team or you know, whatever the obscure thing is. If my team that loves to lay eggs in these type of Games it's not them lay at an egg. It's the other team

Undeniably great. It is that old school No Billboard material for the opposite. Yeah, your opposition just like we come in after Winning the playoffs and there'd be two or three veterans going boys Remember, they're the best.'" Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Really? I like that. I like that.

"'Remember, when you're talking to the media, they're the best.'" Wow. That's really good. I love that. It is funny though, cause like, the Leafs had, they've had a bit of a reputation,

not this year so much, but of losing games they should win. And it would almost be nice to have heard the coach before those games be like, we should win this game. We're a better team than that team. You know, like there's no excuses here because it does seem to be like pre-excuse making. They're the best. But you know, the moment that those words get uttered. Oh yeah. Seattle's like, oh, oh really?

Oh really? I mean you could walk a billboard through the squids dressing room and say hey you guys suck They're still gonna stink. It would be good to see a team that would do that well, Florida's kind of been doing that but I do believe in the extra motivation that someone could Would make someone Ultra focused ultra this ultra that yeah that guy does part of my job in the playoffs when I was with the Marlies We were playing Bridgeport in Albany and I would go through the other team's clips They see if you can find something see if you can find something in their papers that they said and then I'd print it and

Highlight it and with our like days You know breakouts and whatever it'd be like the other teams D being like they can't break the puck out When we four check hard or whatever like, you know, they said about us So we had like actively searching for that. So how many clips are real kipper and born if they played in the Leafs dressing room? That's like Should be on their side. They don't listen to this show sure about that Not everyone.

Barubei had a clip about the last clip there Derek about the upcoming break and the effect on the team. So the Four Nations faceoff starts next week. Last game Saturday Barubei address that clip seven please Derek. Yeah, that's something we discussed before we went on this trip and continually discussing it, you know going into Hamilton, Calgary and then today like you know That's something we discussed before we went on this trip and continually Discussing it, you know going in to Hamilton Calgary and then today like, you know Being emotionally invested in what we need to do here. Take care of business, you know, it's tight The league's tight divisions tight. So we need points Justin born has an article in sportsnet.ca today about the Atlantic division and

What you can expect for this race, how I see it playing out, who has the greatest odds of making playoffs. I really picked through with a fine-tooth comb 12 thoughts in there. I don't know where it's going to go. So yeah, check that out. I also wrote today. Yes. Good for you. Toronto Star. My article was around Matthews Marner and Nylander going to the Four Nations while everybody still focuses on, God, I hope they don't get hurt. It's like, no, we're well beyond that.

It's now like, what can they get out of this tournament that could maybe help them a little bit? I wrote my article, which you can find on my Twitter account or my ex account or at the Toronto Star that there there's still three three of the best superstars at the tournament and only a few of them have never been to a conference final let alone a Stanley Cup final. Is it literally just the Leafs, guys? No, there was only Travis Koneckny with Marner. I think there's like 24 cups on the Leafs on Canada's team. On forwards. Just Travis Koneckny.

You know what might be the best thing for the Leafs? The very best thing is that it's 2-2 Canada-USA going into the third period. And those Marner and Matthews just have to be around guys who've won cups and how they handle it in those moments preparing for that third period. That's basically the gist of my article is that I don't expect a Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, 1987 kind of... Don't even need it. But there was in 2016 that Brad Marchand is a super pest.

Should he even be in the league? He does, he licks people's faces, right? He's no good for the league. And that tournament sent him as one of the best left wingers in the game today. Game winner for Marchand? Maybe. It was. Maybe.

It was against Team Europe. But Those type of moments could could happen like Marner's expected to play with McDavid and and Sam Reinhardt. Yeah He's not looking over there and seeing Malgin Malgin it's not looking over there and breaking in a college, you know player in Matthew Nye's it's like these guys are world best now already like Where can this take your game moving forward and even Willie Willie's like, you know, we oh that's just Willie being Willie Willie's got an amazing opportunity to look like a real leader here for a sweater, right? I Yeah, they win good that's cool. don't care. Sweden? Yeah the only result I can have like only result I can have is America winning against Canada that's it Sweden wins good

for them. That's not happening. No it's gonna be Canada USA in the final. You don't think so? No buddy they should rename this the two nation tournament. So disrespectful. Did you guys see what I sent you yesterday? I wanted to bring this up about the Easton Cowan points streak drama. Yes, I did see what you sent. Did you read a kipper? I did. But I don't I don't know per se what was said other than a kitchen arranger reporter questioning if you actually got a point in one of these games yeah and me and Borny we reviewed the tape today vigorously and you really got a squint for it to be an assist so how many games in a row is it now 65 65 games straight for Easton Cowan. Do you want to go back in the history of the game and find out how many squints you had to have made over the years for assists.

For sure. So like what is the big deal here? I don't know. It's a little greasy. So what happened? Mark Hunter shut him down? I think maybe Hunter, one of them, didn't let him go into the locker room to do like a usual interview or whatever.

That's turned into a major story. Well, it's in the record of Waterloo, boys. It's a pretty big story. I'm fired up about it. I love it. I'm a pretty big story. I'm fired up about it. I love it. I'm a junior hockey guy. I just love this stuff. I think it's great.

Take a little cut out of the London Knights. It's a Leafs prospect who has a historic thing going. And there's people that are questioning if it's real. I had to bring it up. I don't know. I'm starting to think they may have punched the records a little bit. Don't go back to my junior career

and review the tape for all the assists. That's all I gotta say. Yeah. When I played junior A games games when the referee is in our pile while we're celebrating Give me a number 16 16 yeah, it sounds like my beer league 24 go who passed it to him I did yeah, okay, no goal and without two assists a junior hockey I can tell you that go question those

That was the biggest accusation you could make to a teammate in junior hockey. I love tell you that. Hey, go question those. That was the biggest accusation you could make through a teammate in junior hockey. I love it. Also, I'm gonna chisel. Chiseling assists. Chiseling? Yeah. Really? Chiseling assists is a big thing.

Huh. Because you always had guys, and I can nickel on teammate, and I won't name it, but legit skating away from the pile to the ref, and 16, or whatever the number, yeah. Starting to sound like the zigzags, too. Boys begging for assists. So, when you sent it, I read it that somebody from London Starting to sound like the zigzags to boys boys bagging persist. So

When you sent it I read it that Somebody from London just wouldn't give them access to the room. Yeah. Yeah, I'm like Dale and Mark Hunter way to go Just shut them right down you want to mess with my team. Hey, yeah, same politics ain't the free Press what a league god. Love the OHL. Anyways, I thought it was a funny story. Good for them. Yeah. All right Take a quick break here. Yeah, let's take a break. We'll get the John Forrest on the other side There you go. Sammy just said it more when we return to real kipper and born Hey, it's Matt Marchese and I'm Mike feuda We're discussing the top stories of the day across the NHL and the hockey world. Weekdays at noon.

It's the Fan Hockey Show on Sportsnet 590 The Fan and wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. That kid brails Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee as a reminder tomorrow is Friday off the rails Friday we've tracked down Doug McClain I haven't texted him have you talked to him I don't know I haven't talked okay we'll send him a note yes I don't care if he's in Vegas is he at the sphere again like what's going on I don't care where he is 12th hole tomorrow he's coming on the show he's all right and what else we got leaf yes that's the Leafs line in the first hour, as we've been doing for I think three or four Fridays now,

and it's been a rousing success. So if you're wanting to get a Leafs thought, call the Leafs line, it's 416-413-4141, and you can leave a message, you'll hear my voice, name your name and location, and we'll play you on the show if you're any good So I'm a one six four one three four one four one Thanks, and as we've proven in almost four years now, even if you're not any good, you can still make it on this show Yeah

All right, let's go from the worst to the best Bringing John Forslund play-by-play man for Seattle and one of the best nationally on TNT. John, how are you, pal? I was just gonna say, I hope I meet the criteria for this show, and I guess I do. Buddy, the bar's so low on this show. You're right, that's why we're all comfortable boys.

This is good, this is good. It is, it is. How are you, how's the schedule been? You must be gearing up for for nations as well, right? Yeah, no work for me for nations. I'm going to take no, I'm gonna take the two weeks and, and get some rest and head back east and just rest up for the stretch run here in the playoffs and all that. So, but I'll be watching like everybody else and Kipper to answer your question. Things are, things are great. I'm in a good place and battling through this schedule. It's been busy, but thank goodness it is. It's good. It's Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, facing off against a Seattle Kraken team where John,

we thought this team would be more in a in a situation where they're still very much in the hunt it's gonna be really hard I'm not sure how much we want to write them off just as of yet but got to be a little disappointing Oh it is. It's a team that I think is closer to the line, where they're at. It's been hard to try and figure out exactly, what they're trying to do defensively. I think that's been their eyesore most of the season. They've been able to open up their game offensively,

but they kind of robbed Peter to pay Paul. So this has been a situation that I think they're trying to get more and more connected with their team game. It hasn't worked out. There are ways off. They haven't proven that they can string together a long winning streak, which is what they need to get back into this.

So yeah, it's early to kind of write things off, but I think it's realistic to look at it and say, what are the reasons for this? And where do they need to go moving forward as a team and as a franchise? John, they have some interesting names of guys that you feel like could have high ceilings and you're just not sure where it's going to go for them. I'm thinking of Matty Biniers as a guy like that. Shane Wright, you weren't sure what he could become. Tolvinen, you know, what has sort of slowed? I don't want

to see the progress because they're learning and getting better and all that, but where are they compared to particularly Beniers and Wright compared to where you thought they might be at this point? Well, Beniers had the bad second year, right? And so I think that put him in a spot where he probably mentally wasn't exactly where he needed to be. I'm not going to speak for his confidence, but we can all look at his outsiders and say that, yeah, probably he lost a little bit of confidence after winning rookie of the year. Once the contract was put to bed, the hope was that, you know, that would be in the rear

view and he could attack things positively and continue to grow as a player. I will tell you, Justin, that over the last month or so, the best line they've had has been Biniers with Jaden Schwartz and the newcomer Kapo Kako. Kako has been very good for Biniers. He's a big body presence, as you know, and he's been able to kind of reshape his game and they kind of work in concert off each other. Schwartz has been probably in and out their best player all year. He's had a real good solid season and brings a pros pros mentality to that line. So Maddie continues to grow and take ownership of his own game and leadership. I think what we all need to see moving forward is exactly what is the kind of player he's going to be. Is he a frontline guy?

Is he a real good number two center? I kind of think that's what he's going to be. And that's quite all right, you know, because he has improved his defensive game this year. That's one thing that fell off in his second year was a defensive aspect of his game. That's been okay. Shane Wright's progress has been dynamite. This has been a steady progression from the very beginning of the season, very quietly without a lot of pressure or attention. He's been able to acclimate himself to his first full season in the NHL. I like what I'm seeing. He's on pace right now for 60, 65 point year. There's potential

here. There's potential for him to make a bigger leap with his game. And if so, they're going to be, they being the crack and they're going to be okay. These two players, obviously with their draft position, second overall, Baniers fourth, fourth overall for right. They have to hit, right? They have to be really good players for the Kraken to do what they want to do. You're listening to John Forslund, play-by-play man with the Seattle Kraken as they host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. So I want to get into trade deadlines soon upon us after Four Nations here, John. But before I do that, just the thoughts of

Keppo Kecko and what he's brought to the table here at one time, untouchable for the New York Rangers. And obviously that did not work out well for him in New York. But what's it meant to Seattle up until this point? Well, it's been a good trade kipper for both teams. Borgen goes to the Rangers, they like them, they give them a contract extension.ipper for both teams of Borgen goes to the Rangers. They like them. They give them a contract extension. He seems to fit, you know, their back end moving forward. And Kako has come in here and I think relaxed.

I think whatever pressure he may have had on himself or whatever fit he was trying to find or the slot he was looking for the Rangers that wasn't there, it's here. So he gets plenty of ice time. He's utilized in a lot of different areas. But he goes to the net, he goes there with a purpose, utilizes his body to make plays and there's synergy, as I mentioned before, between he and his two line mates. So they seem to have something going there. Now for Kako there there's a possible contract extension they're gonna have to get to I would think at his age as a player they're

gonna retain they're gonna move forward with otherwise they don't make the deal but I think they're happy with them and I believe he has 17 points in 22 games you know going into tonight so that's good production yeah that's great so you know I know here in Toronto, a lot of what happens leading up to the trade deadline is like, who can we get? And you look around the league and there's a couple of names that people like in Toronto,

Yanni Gord being one and Oleksiaks one. Do you think Seattle, what do you think their strategy is going to be? Would guys like that become available around the deadline? Well, that's a million dollar question. You know, you know, you've got to be careful. Now I'll just say this. Johnny Gord, you know, as you know, had sports hernia surgery last week. And so it was a five to seven week recovery period, which puts him in and around the deadline, you know, for his return. Yeah. period, which puts them in and around the deadline, you know, for his return. Yeah.

I don't, I can't tell you a Borny, what they're, what they're expecting to do with him, I would think that he's a piece that a lot of teams would like to add. There's no question selfishly as I, as I look here and look at this team from day one, I would hate to think that they're going to move forward, you know, without Yanni Gordon, the room, like, if you're gonna transition again to get younger, and I think the Kraken are gonna have to do that at some point and infuse some of these prospects, you're gonna have to keep a player that has the fabric of what you're looking for in all of your players

within the confines of your locker room, right? So to me, he's that guy. I gotta think they're talking to him to see if they can come up with something that makes sense. You know, Yanni's won two cups. I know he loves it here. I'm not going to speak for him, but I don't know if he's interested in doing that and

moving on and going somewhere else. But if he is, they can't come up with something that makes sense. Then by all means, I think everything's going to be in play again. And Ron, Ron's going to have to get after it. He's going to have to do what he needs to do. I mean, it doesn't look like they're going to make the playoffs. So, um, there'll be some pieces here that he might be able to put in play, but he already did that once in a couple of times, really to, uh, crew draft choices

and, and stockpile the prospect pool. And I think he's pretty comfortable where that's at right now John for what was deemed just a short while ago an expansion franchise some bold moves including Grubauer who just got recently sent down Stevenson and Montour last year. So yeah, there's definitely the disappointment here of not being in a present Playoff run right now, but like My question to you is did Vegas kind of ruin it a little bit for for Seattle with maybe expectations

Coming too fast too soon based on, getting to a Stanley Cup final? Yeah, I think they did from, and it's a good question, from the outside perception, right? If you talk to hockey people and the scouts and managers and so on, as we all do, they'll tell you that, hats off to Vegas, they've been remarkable. They've done a tremendous job with their team. They came in, they hit tell you that, hats off to Vegas. They've been remarkable. They've done a tremendous job with their team. They came in, they hit the ground running

and they made bold, bold moves to win in the now. Ron came in under a little different framework of rules. It wasn't as easy to put together the roster. I don't think he did too badly right out of the shoot. But then I think he also wanted to put into place a plan for long range success, which means you gotta be patient with your draft choices. You have to draft, you have to accrue draft picks,

you have to make sure they develop at the right pace. But then the outside noise creeps in, Nikki. And when that happens, it's hard, right? And it's happening in Nikki. And when that happens, you know, it's hard, right. And it's happening in Seattle. You know, the NBA might be coming here in a couple of years and the cracker want to make sure they have a relevant place on the landscape here when that happens. So there's, there's pressure. And I think there was pressure on Ron to go into free agency, go hard. There's commitment from ownership to win.

Going to the cap has never been a problem here. He always has the authority to do that. So there's deep money, there's good ownership, but there's a mixed bag of results right now. And I would say there's a confused fan base, because they see what Vegas has done and they want it. Who wouldn't want it, right? So that's kind of the problem.

The catch 22, if you will, that the crackling management has been working under since inception is trying to do it the right way, the way they believe, and also trying to fend off knee jerks and trying to fend off impulse reactions, which can to fend off, you know, impulse reactions, which can decimate a franchise as we know. So they're kind of walking that line right now.

You know, I think part of it with Vegas too, is like they recognized, you know, when you get given every team's what is it eighth best player, it's really tough to get the top end guys. And I don't know, you know, you can perhaps summarize this better than I can. But is it fair to say that Seattle looks as good as any other team in the NHL throughout their roster? It's just struggling to find those top end guys that Vegas kind of had to do some weird

things to get. Right. And they've been reluctant, they being the Kraken, have been reluctant to give up the pieces, the draft choices that you would have to mortgage in order to get there. Vegas continues, you know, at some point, I guess it runs out, but maybe it doesn't. Maybe this is a philosophy that other teams will adapt to and get more into the now and understand that that's where you need to be. But I really believe that the, the, the Ron's banking on, his philosophy of, of,

of how you need to build a team and make it, make it solid for long-term success. And I still think it's year four. It's early for that. I do think the team, as I said, at the top of the interview, has performed under expectation. I think everybody thought they'd be closer to a playoff spot. Not saying they're ready to take a round again or two rounds or be in that mix. No, no, no. But they are closer than being 10, 12 points out.

Whatever it's going to be when we hit the break, that's a disappointment. John really appreciate your time and enjoy the game tonight. Enjoy your two weeks and we'll catch up to you soon. Thanks fellas. Thanks for having me keep up the great work. Thanks, John. Appreciate it. John Forslund play by play man with the Seattle Kraken. You nailed it. Vegas ruined it.

Yeah, totally. It's just like this is like what happens with with no It's laid out of a map a roadmap, but it wasn't no no no no Go ahead. Yeah, can't hit that roadmap. It's just too Too hard it was Seattle was much more aware than or other teams were prepared for Seattle in the way They weren't prepared for Vegas. Like, God-handed, Marchesot and Riley Smith from Florida. O'Shea Theodore's not bad. William Carlson was a giveaway from Columbus, if I'm not mistaken. He turned into a top six centerman or top two lines. That's fair.

That's fair. So it was different. It was different. And then Hey, Mark Andre Fleury, come on, right out of the gate. Yeah. Yeah. Stanley Cup champion Hall of Famer took him to the final. Winnipeg still cries about that series where they were the much better team and Mark Andre Fleury just stole it from him. Stole it from him. But this that team didn't become that team until that team got Alex Petrangelo and they got Mark Stone. He went to a Stanley Cup final. They went to a final with Petrangelo. No, no like in their first year. Oh in their first year Yeah, they went to a Stanley Cup final. They did. They had a hell of a year. Absolutely I do feel like there's a difference between the team who has that sort of hot run. Yeah, and I take your point you're right. But Seattle needs Mark Stone, Petrangelo, Eichel,

you need these guys. And we joked all the time about like, treat yourself. Could have had, grab a Tarasenko, you know, it's high risk. Grab a Matt Duchenne. Marjolaiso ended up being a special guy. Stud. Right? Riley Smith you mentioned, but these guys turned into

like legit winners from being a cast off. And they had that, they also had that, the whole thing with them was the Misfits and they had like this chip on their shoulder that they were not wanted by these other teams. They turned it and they had, you know, Derek Eglin was the captain at the time and it just he was from there. They had the shooting the tragedy. It was like a perfect storm. The whole community. Yeah it was

out of the gate. Yeah like that's a crazy crazy story. The story of the Vegas Knights is really an unbelievable first spot. It is. I'll never forget going there last year and I was in an uber and I was wearing my Leafs. He's like ah you like big hockey fan. He's like, yeah, I'm a hockey fan. He was wearing his nights hat I'm like, yeah, I see you guys get the cup. He's like, yeah, we had to wait six years You did drop the name Jamie Alexiak. Yeah, You want a six foot seven monster back there? Who wouldn't want that guy in a playoff run? He's 32 years old, plays both sides.

A bit of an issue at 4.6 million next year. He's a needy though. Right? 4.6 next year? Yeah. And then it's done? Well, he'll retain half that, it's a 2.3. Oh gosh.

But like, you throw out 2.3 like it's handing out candy. That's a second or first rounder. Yes, it is. On top of trading for him. There's two assets. The retention is worth an asset. Well, it's not worth a first, but I'll give you a tie. Wasn't it the third in the McCabe deal?

Was it third or a second to retain? Patrick Marlowe 6.5 million. That's not that's not we do that. We gotta go. It's worth something. We gotta go All right, we go national next When we return hall of famer Luke robota lucky Luke Thanks for watching!