Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Vanquished in Vegas + Deadline Delay

Episode Date: March 6, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee start the show discussing the Leafs' lack of activity with less than 24 hours to the trade deadline. Then, they look back on the Leafs' 5-2 loss to the Golden Knights in Vegas and get into Joseph Woll's shaky stretch, Matthew Knies' fight, the blue line struggling without Chris Tanev and much more. Later, they chat about the Leafs' interest in Mikko Rantanen and why Knies is the key to a potential deal. Finally, they answer listener questions on a deadline edition of the Leafs Line!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Welcome to the program. It's the Real Kipper and The Bourne Show. Nick Kiprios, Sammy McKee, Justin Bourne, Derek Brandeo, and Jake Schultz. Jake the Snake. Here for the next two hours as we get ever so closer to a NHL trade deadline freeze. Are we? Yes. It doesn't feel like we're getting closer. No, no, we're getting close. We're getting close. We're under 24 hours.

We are. This, of course, coming off the heels of a 29 save performance by Aidan Hill in Las Vegas, where the Toronto Maple Leafs lost quite convincingly. Sure did. So I'll give you guys the choice. We go game, we go trade deadline, but I think you're going to have to do it on your own from now on. I'm not speaking until the Leafs make a trade starting now.

God, I hope you get to talk again soon. Please speak. until the Leafs make a trade starting now. God, I hope you get to talk again soon. Please speak. My Lord, you know, we're going to talk about the game. We have to, but I can't say the top of my mind isn't like, what's going on here with nothing, nothing for the Leafs. The Florida Panthers have made several trades in the last got no answer for you other than

They've got something going on there's just there's absolutely no chance that they do nothing or they do something of I Don't know, insignificance. Little consequence. Yeah, little. They waved Ryan Reeves, that's the first domino. They need a center man, they will end up with a center man. The only thing is last night.

Yeah, they need 2D after last night. What is last night? What is the message off of last night? Where you just go, we played a Stanley Cup contending team in Vegas, do they show us something? Is there more that we need? Do we not go as big as we thought we'd go and then spread it out to more two even ones? Is there a center, a winger, and a D-man out there? I know I'm more than ever just like on this they

need defense train. Like I just look at the teams that win cups and how good their D cores are But last night was very unusual for this Leafs team in the amount of players that got behind the D I don't remember seeing so many breakaways two-on-ones You know broken plays where the other team was just in alone. Yeah, not feel Unusual we've seen the Leafs on a stretch pass all season long hit Willie, especially Willie. But lots of guys been behind the opposite team. It was almost like it was like a role reversal last night where it's just Vegas had break after break and the gap between forwards and defense was the size of a football field. And the score could have been a lot uglier.

Yeah. I mean, I went back today and I watched all the Vegas chances again. Sport Logic has them that by, you know, A grade, B grade, I watched them all. And it's like, God, the Leafs goaltending as much as we're going to say they let in some squeakers here today, I'm sure we're going to get to that. They had to make a lot of saves breakaway saves tip saves So they put them in a tough spot last night and created nothing. Yeah, I think that there's a lot of

Schedule talk going on and I went through the audio today in preparation of our show cutting the clips like I usually do and I'm not sure which reporter it was asking was asking but every single Person or person from the game they asked like is this schedule? Are you guys feeling the schedule is the schedule and all them to a man not an excuse all this all that But I think there's two ways to look at last night's game And I'm sure the way, maybe not totally flush it, but I'm sure there's part of Craig Barubea that's like, yeah, part of it's a burn the tape situation,

part of it maybe not. Like, that's a tough game. Just come home, back on the road, Vegas, one of the best teams in the league, on fire, you're tired from all this travel. So that's sort of the glass half full. You know what, I'll take that for this show. That's a fair take. for this show that I take but

No, I'm not buying it. But yeah, I look at that Ross who they play last night. I'm like, yeah, that's a contender that's what a contending National Hockey League team looks like with that decor and With that, you know that forward depth and the size of that team So as much as you want to give them give Leafs a little bit of a break for the crazy schedule and it's a bit of a scheduled loss and all that stuff. I'm starting to really hate that term by the way. Scheduled loss? Yeah, I am.

Yeah. Anyways, I'm not using it. I'm just saying, I think that there's a big, big gap between the Leafs and Vegas Gold Knights. I do. You don't get the same sense? I don't know if it's a big gap. the Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights. Hmm. I do. You don't get the same sense? I don't know if it's a big gap. Really? No, but I, all that other stuff is true,

but Kip is about to- No, I'm fine. I look at the schedule and it's really goofy. It is, it's, where do they end up going? Chicago? They have 11 to 12 games on the road here. Boston, Rangers, Pitt, it's goofy. When are you ever going to cut him slack?

Ever? No. I'm not asking you specifically. Yeah. I'd feel a lot better about it if it didn't come off of a very healthy for nation's break for 90% of the lineup. Or how about off a loss to San Jose as well? Doesn't that maybe colors it a bit?

The other thing too is, again, I can appreciate some teams that they've played recently, non-playoff teams, but we've often talked on this show that you can play 82 games in a season, and how many true measuring stick games do you get? And this one was one of them and we're going to have another one Saturday night. These are good hockey clubs against world class talent. And that alone should say, boys, let's, let's see what we were made of.

Let's see what we're up against the very best here. And that's the disappointing part of last night, not how tired you are or looking at the schedule and trying to pick scheduled losses. This is like a rare game where you go up against the very best or one of the very best and you go boys Let's see what we're made of the other part of that though Kip is there's been a lot of nights not a lot

But there's been nights where they've been out played by teams where the goalies just make the same They just didn't get the saves last night. They have typically got all season long, right? Like here's a couple that go in you go. Oh Joe will usually makes that that save any concern that he's put together a couple performances in a row where you're like the concern isn't anywhere differently today than it was I think basically all season long where we go two components especially with ball is, can he

stay healthy? And then you bring in stole ours in the conversation, you're like, okay, what are these guys going to be like when, when the when the pressure is really on, and they don't have that, that experience, right, right? This, they're, they're, they're both don't have that experience. They're both going into territory where they've never really truly been before. And that's- Storrs has never started a playoff game.

Joe Wall is now eight games over his career high. So you can't underestimate right now the amount of now ongoing pressure on these guys. And in many ways, they've been relied on heavily. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Like there's some nights when they must be very tired.

I think that that last night was the first game for me where they've gotten into holes and I think especially Stoller's for me, he've gotten into holes. And I think, especially Stoller's for me, he's almost been near perfect where I said to myself, he can't let in the next goal. The Leafs need to get the next goal and they're right back in the hockey game. And to me, it's felt like he's done that a lot this year. Last night, Walls in, and they both gave up

that goal that they could not give up to keep their team in a hockey game. And that's just, hey, they're human. They can rebound and pick up where they left off, or maybe the weight of where they are and the pressure now to understand Florida got better Tampa Bay got better We got to win the division. I got to be there for them. They need me and that can start weighing

on Shoulders that have never experienced that before. Yeah, it could be. I don't have to speculate on that. The good news is we have the coaching staff. We have Mr. Berube several times on wall and the overview of the game and the travel and all these things we're talking about. If we're talking about wall, let's play the clip five on wall Well, I mean If you asked asked him he probably won the first two goals back the eichel shot's a pretty good shot

And he has a ripper top shelf. So I don't know what he can do on that one Yeah, I I agree. He's talking about eichels I thought the first one used women kind of, kind of got lost, leaves a wide open net. Second one's obviously has a big time stench to it, but. That's. The backhand. Yes, the Howden backhand. I haven't seen a goal like that all year.

Yeah. Well. Not that bad. I understand they're tricky, but. Pittsburgh, Sydney and Pittsburgh. That was pretty bad too. I'm talking all season long, just in the last. Okay week Yeah, we're starting to see some slide there with some going in. Yes

Um, I know we have a lot more to do on that But I know we have lots going on less to talk about so I just want to make sure we talk about Matthew Nye's off the top fights white cloud guy who hit him clean Yeah, we kind of slept on that history a little bit Yeah, we did but I think because it was a clean hit. Well, and there's people out there, maybe Sam doesn't like it or whatever, but...

I didn't like it. Right. I'm glad he had a memory on it. It's a hit to him. I'm glad he physically has a memory after that hit. But, holy smokes, he punctuosized White Cloud's face. I mean, I know that Knives is big, but he's a college guy. clouds face. I mean, I know that nice is big. These are college guys.

College guys have come out of college and learned how to fight real quick. Yeah, white clouds, a big guy and he went, Oh, oh, oh, no. He was just like, What have I done? Yeah, that was that was pretty impressive. Is that a second fight or third fight? Yeah, he fought in Pittsburgh. Right? Remember the one in Toronto? Please stop. Now, white cloud just was. Right? Remember the one in Toronto? Please stop. Now White Cloud just was like, I gotta get this guy to the ground.

It did. It, it did bring back memories of me being real early in my career. Lefty. Lefty. Oh my God. I've caught a few guys early and then they catch on. I'm a lefty and then the next fight's different. A few fights later are different, But yeah, I remember my dad. You wish you wish. You wish it would have had a better effect on that first period. That's all I actually saw, you know, particularly coming off like Canada, US game starts to the fight energy.

It felt like now we're in for one and then Vegas just breaks off. It's funny that you say that because we have a clip of Riley talking about the fight. Clip one Riley. Yeah, I thought it was great. I thought it was great. Obviously a great player and an important piece to what we're doing and a young guy making a statement like that I thought was powerful. I mean, wasn't that powerful? Just got filled in.

Yeah, the team got filled in after, but I, you know, maybe it's more powerful statement about him. Here's what I'll say, and I know Kip, that you think this is how it should be, but I like that he at least will do it. There are some big guys who just still, they just won't ever do it. There's no situation, Austin Matthews is not going to fight you. do it. There are some big guys who just still they just won't ever do it. They there was no situation. Austin Matthews is not going to fight you. Like I understand that he had that Stan coast thing or whatever. But like there's no amount of he can't get there. And nice can get there. And I like that he can get there. Even if he got to talk himself

into a pregame, whatever I like that. I think that helps. Yeah, for me again, I don't want to get bogged down on the actual having to drop your gloves and fight. I want to get into being a physical presence most nights. And you don't have to do what he did last night to go to a next level. What you have to do is give your opponents the idea that I can get there if I have to. So don't mess around But I do say this helps and doesn't do that yet No, he can get lost for a week ten days and it's like but he's gonna score 30 goals at 22 years old He's not just gonna run around and show people

I bet you have to score 30 goals and you have to you're big enough strong enough where you need to be And we're talking about now turning yourself into one of the best What our forward and again, that's your expectation right fine But you're talking about a ten million dollar guy or whatever an eight million dollar guy We're already talking about him people are already talking about him as his next contract being eight million dollars, okay, then yes, right? but that's that's his next level and

But that's his next level. And if he does that a few more times and you gain the reputation, then you don't have to do it all the time, but you need to send people that message that I can and I will if I have to. Yeah, I agree with that. And not get lost for long stretches. You want a ruby on that? Yeah, let's play it. get lost for first long stretches.

You want a Ruby on that? Yeah, let's play it. Clip four, please. You know, I think going back to that hit, you know, he wanted some redemption, you know? I, you know, I give him a lot of credit to do that and get it out of the way early and then go play hockey. Yeah, I give White Cloud credit, too. Giving him the take. Yeah, Yeah taking I guess you have to there

I mean, it's a tough spot But you know I had to fight a massive mule of a guy punched him four times in the face So they think the last laugh they win whatever but I wish they didn't go quite as quietly to Really like I'm watching but did you think they were that bad at the start of that game? I thought they had I thought they had some job did eight shots on goal four of them were on the first power play They were down one nothing, but they had eight or nine quality shots on goal, but camper They were the concerning version of themselves where it looks like years past with a control play control play control play Oh, yeah defense control play control play. control play, control play, oh yeah defense. Control play, control play, oh yeah crap defense.

You know like mistakes, whatever you wanna call it. Yeah, the one that kinda sucked was, you got an offensive zone face off, you won it, and I think it was Myers that went, tried to go D to D and McBagg There buried McCabe I had no shot to do it. Yeah, no chance to do anything I think it was sod that blocked it and then he's camped. It's like a Lazy fly ball that's lost in the Sun

You look like an outfielder that couldn't pick it up got e1 written all over it I didn't hate the idea though, that he was like recognized a two on one, but you got to err on the side of not letting the guy go to the net. Pick one, though. Don't get caught flat-footed and then just sit in the middle

because now you've given up on the net front presence and you're not close enough to pick up the trailer. Yeah, it didn't work out. If he's a step towards the guy with the puck, I like him more. Go back to Myers. Down the wall, my friend. Yeah.

Myers should be down the wall all the time. Like I understand he loves to shoot it. He's an irrational confidence guy, and he's the worst. That's not the type of guy he wanna have be that. That's, again, the biggest thing that stuck out to me is like, okay, look at that defense, and then look at that defense.

To your point on Myers is just Timmons and Benoit, that's half your blue line right there. Can't have Myers, Timmons and Benoit. And that's where you gotta seriously think about stepping up. Is it Ritsalainen? Is it Ritz-Aleinon? Is it You know someone else like Not Lindgren that the Rangers got rid of you know sure I mean

You needed but yeah, I just but you need it. You need another guy that could maybe go 18 minutes you do that's what they need an 18 minute guy, not a third pair, 10 to 12 minutes. My guy Colton Perico's got he's off too. He's out for six weeks with an e-scope after last night. But you know, you mentioned you can't have Myers, Benoit and Timmons be half of your decor. You especially can't have it when the way Riley and Oliver Echman-Larson are playing together. Like you just if you're gonna have those three guys you have to have confidence in your high-paid guys

and it's another dash two night from Riley and Oliver Echman-Larson. Not having Tanevin kills this team. It does. They totally got killed. I don't know which goal it was but like All recommend larsen loses a battle on the boards. Riley's already been rubbed out to just wide open right in front of the net. It's just That pairing is a problem and they keep going back to it because they have no other options but like You need I guess we talked about Riley enough, but it's just it's a problem. But Riley is Better offensively I find the last month. He's getting points again He's involved in the offense. But yeah the defense he's never been like lock it down D guy

But he could be better Tanev comes back you bring in a guy all of a sudden It's a totally different feeling decor, but boy it needs to be a guy and not Here's another player who can play a 13 minutes on the third pair. Yeah All right. Yeah, I got to think that the focus as we speak probably is much on the blue line than it is the centerman right now. I hope so. So my belief right now, Kip, it feels like they have something with a team, something sort of tentatively agreed to, and they're just waiting to see if that other team does something else?

Like one is such dangerous for it. They're dangerous games because what you think you might have on the line could disappear for you in a moment's notice. So we're saying it just feels like the deadline they get Luke Kuhn and no one else. No, no, I cannot believe that for a second. I'd be dumbfounded. Before we move on from, towards more trade stuff, I wanted to ask you both about something in that game

last night that stunned me. And Leaster down five nothing, they go on the power play, and Awesome Matthews shoots one in the net. Yeah. they go on the power play and awesome Matthews shoots one in the net. Yeah, and Does a like pretty big fist pump and I'm not mad at him for doing that but Awesome Matthews frowns when he scores most goals Like if it's not a big moment or a big goal, like he's not showing any emotion. He scores so many goals

Mm-hmm. I thought that was a little thing that's a peek inside what's going on with him right now. Frustrated. Like you saw him slam the gate a little bit. Like you never ever see that from him. I don't know if it's just because it's not entering the net for him. If he's hurt, if he's not there mentally, but like that to me was a bit of a peek inside. I don't know if I'm reading too much into it, but I was surprised to see him do that. Well, for the record, I had my morning skate today, and yeah, we were down four nothing in the game. I made it four one, and I was really excited. Down to a knee?

Yeah, no, I gave it a pump. I gave it a couple of months. It feels good to shoot it in the net. It didn't even shoot in the net. It was a slight redirect, short side. The goaltender, I think it was Mike, that had his toe on the post, I snuck it in and I was like I was Austin and you know if you go long enough as a guy who lives on scoring goals

I'm sure it is bugging them But do you know what I mean though like unless it's a big moment big goal where he'll do a really exaggerated celebration Years past he's not even like looking he he's just head down off the ice. It's just having him, maybe I'm reading too much. Well, I don't know what you're reading into. Well, no, it's just like, this guy is really, really at a frustrating point of his season that we've never seen from him.

And it was, I think he found on the shot. Yeah, like. And it threw off Hill, and Hill couldn't even corral it. It was a bit of a gift. Yeah, I think he found on the shot and it threw off Hill and Hill couldn't even corral it. It was a bit of a gift. Yeah, I think. It was not a typical Austin Matthews. No, but he still has that score. Puck lands on his stick.

Pull and release. But I do think, Sam, that when you struggle as much as he struggled, and again, people are upset at that online that we're saying he's struggling and he's gonna score 40 goals But this is a different type of player you make more than Connor McDavid and and and Nathan McKinnon Yeah, and his expectations are a lot higher than this I think when you've struggled like that, you know this these are the little ones that you hope can get the ball rolling

I watched him last night earlier. He's handling the puck like it's a grenade. It's jumping off a stick I know not even close. Yeah, see that's a weird thing. Okay, it's a bit of a weird thing used to be glued to his yes and a Stick of steel he could lift it up couldn't check it off of them and he It's it's got to be confidence or lack of it Well, maybe this one will get him rolling. Get them rolling in the right direction. So what you're telling me is that

I read too much into that. No, I'm not. I'm saying that when you put yourself at the mercy of the public judging your reactions to things and trying to guess your mental state when you struggle. Yeah, you're fine to read into that, I think. By the way, camper, I scored a couple this morning. Did you?

Yeah. You wanna hear about them or not? I'm an organized hockeyan. I can tell you about them. Do we? You haven't played organized hockey in four years. Did you do Borubi on wall? You want to get-

We did do it. We did do it. We did two clips. Well, the one on the pole, the one on the pole was he just basically said that he was trying to wake the guys up. First time he's ever been pulled in his career due to non-like performance.

Really? Yeah. And he's obviously been pulled because he's been hurt a few times and he's come out of the game. But it's the first time ever that he's been pulled in his career due to non like performance really yeah he's been obviously been pulled because he's been hurt a few times he's come out of the game but it's the first time ever that he's been pulled yeah did he comment on that did we know he he didn't say he looked a little bothered by it on the bench little rattled you know his his season numbers are climbing do you think the Leafs do you think the Leafs yes he. He's a 9.05 save percentage and a 2.78 goals against. That's pretty good. Is it?

Do you think the Leafs, whatever their peak bests that you've seen them this year, that they can compete against a team like that over seven games? Yeah, I do. I mean, assuming they're gonna add a couple players. No, no, no, no. Oh, as president Lee constituting? Just now. Yeah, I do. I do.

I don't think they're better than them. Do I get Tanev? Sure you do. Yeah, okay, then yeah, I do. Okay, but they get Theodore. Oh, and that, well, you're talking about, oh, I thought you were talking about it in general, but against Vegas?

Seven game series right now, do you like that the Leafs could compete with that team? I think it would be a fight. The Leafs came in, I don't know what they were, fourth overall? Yeah. Like, that's a top five team all season long. I'm asking you, do you think that in a seven game series that the Leafs, as is, can compete against that team? I will not let a one game bias ruin me to the fact that this is a good team. Yeah, I do.

I think so too. I mean, and if they're competing against them in a seven game series, it means it's in the Stanley Cup final. So I'm pretty happy with a lot of outcomes there. But the biggest thing we need to hear from is you don't and why. They're not big enough. And the Leafs are big enough. The Leafs are not big enough to go against that team.

I think I saw last night the biggest team I've seen all year. They're heavy, they're fast. I like that team nearly as much as you. You don't like Vegas? I like their D. I like Vegas and I think they're really big. And I don't know if they've got one guy the size of

Marner let alone Nick Robertson. Yeah Yeah, no and Domi's not very big either But they I mean the least I will say the one thing with the Leafs they have big guys that are not that physical Lorenz is not a mean guy I didn't see anything that said we want to, other than nice to start the game, I didn't see anybody go toe to toe, toe to toe, shoulder to shoulder and get that hard four check. But that's the only concerning part. And does it trickle down to? What do you think about going up against Florida now? Because, you know, Leaf fans will take up probably a five

game series loss against Vegas if it means you're in the Stanley Cup final. Listen, it would be the most heartbreak thing of my life, but I'd kill for that heartbreak. It's not Vegas. You're thinking about like the physicalities of a Florida Panthers team now and Whether or not the Leafs will be prepared to play that Borubi kind of heavy Style would they be ready for that? Can they can they go to that level? Okay, oh, sorry bad, you know for looking at Florida's lineup

it's a lot like Like Florida should have to worry about the Leafs lineup up front, because obviously Barkov is Barkov and Reinhardt is Reinhardt. But the second line with Sam Miscavige and Evan Rodriguez and beyond that it's Finland with Lutzer Reinhardt and Lundell. They play heavy though. They do. That's what I mean by Finland.

That's what I mean by Finland. Yeah. But those guys should have to worry about are they going to be able to catch Willie and stop Matthews and Contain Marner and you know, like it's but past that I know like I'm watching McMahon Last night and yeah, I don't I think you got to go back Six games before he had a shot on goal. I think he had one shot on goal last night. He's he's two two weeks

He's not tricky. He needs a very good game where he on goal last night. He's he's two two weeks. He's not He needs a very good game where he's where he's not scoring and he's helping You know, this may be blasphemy, but I'd rather face Florida in the first round in Tampa I would do for sure no doubt about well, particularly with Kachaka Yeah, Kachaka back changes that math and listen like people can clip that and play Like they did the we want Florida thing and in and when they actually chanted they wanted Boston too. But they'd like to pick the one that they had in Florida. Florida, scary, no question, a lot of miles. They've played a ton of hockey.

That one scares me less than Tampa right now. A six-three guy, like, Brad Tree Living. Six-three, a forward six-three. Kipper just wants some units. Get a winger, get a center man get somebody minimal and fresh six three Lawson Lawson Krauss

Go get going for it. Go go get that guy Go get that guy. I want horsey Yeah, he is big. He is big. What's the other guy you like from there? He does four points out of playoffs. McBain. You like McBain? I like McBain.

Yeah, yeah. McBain. Can you get McBain? You just want to build the biggest team ever. I just want big. I just want big. I don't, I do just look at that third line and it does feel... The third line's not going to be the third line.

It cannot be the third line. Like right now for the Leafs, you've got McMahon, who had been driving that line, who's not playing well with Domi and Robertson. By the time you're in playoffs, I like to think it's McMahon and, I think I said the other day, who's a good center that you like out there?

Lawton and Pacioretty, or it's different, it's bigger. Yeah. Like, Patch, patch like you gotta remember, too Max patch already gave you everything he had for about 45 games and then the guy ran out of gas boy Did he but in those 40? He was a mule, but can he give it to you for no? No, he's done 20 more He's done. No, you're not gonna play in this. I don't know if he's gonna play this anymore. But can you count on it? No, right. So you know the biggest hits the least have seen and since enough was here. I don't he He broke He broke down. Yeah, so where are you now with 20 games thinking you're gonna count on that in the Stanley Cup playoffs?

Yeah and I give him full credit because and account on that in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And I give him full credit because he didn't even come close his whole career to giving what he gave physically to the Toronto Maple Leafs. And it'd be fun to get him back in the lineup if he could keep doing it. But I don't know where he is with his shoulders and his back. They could be done. All things equal right now.

McMahon Domi Robertson is not the Leafs third line in playoffs. Mark my words. That was kind of proven last night. Yes. It definitely will not. Yeah, they can play against bad teams. Like they look good against Chicago and Pittsburgh. You need to win those games too. But when it comes to the big boy hockey, I don't necessarily think that they have a time. Miko Rantinen, is there any thought update, whatever? We had a small chat in the group where I was saying, you know, in my fantasy brain, I've cooked up this world for the Leafs where it's like, the bar is money comes off the books, you cap goes up, you could have

Marner and Randon. I said that on the morning show. You did. I did. I mean, it's mathematically possible. To like help Gunner up off the floor, he was a mess, he was a puddle, he was worse than you, Sammy. Yeah, he is worse than me.

Yeah, he's worse than you. No question. Relax, there's still time, buddy. Yeah, he's worse than you. No question. Relax, there's still time, buddy. Yeah. The last thing I heard coming into this show was there was two or three legit teams right now

talking to Carolina and the Leafs were one of them. So I don't know where it goes. I don't know how serious it gets, but Dallas I heard, Vegas. Oh my God heard Vegas. Oh my Florida oh my and Toronto with the four teams that I that I had heard you know the problem is is They need a player. I don't I don't think Carolina is gonna get what they think that they can get

and then they got to make a hard decision on keeping him or just get what we can get. But the Leafs aren't- I think they keep him. The Leafs are not in a position right now to strip roster players off to get him. No. Because then it becomes a little counterproductive, right?

Yeah, no, you need it as an addition not a instead of you know Go ahead unless they would take Tavara's plus prospects or whatever and then you're just won't go No He won't go and then you've asked him to and it's awkward and even if you bring ranting and in with Tavara's here Then Tavara's knows he's gone after the season. That's no good either It's not happening. it's it's fantasy unless unless unless i love that word you commit to a eight-year deal and you give up nice that's the only way i see

it i don't think they would take mcmahon and then think about it outside of the core four. Who else is there to give? I did have the thought like, would they like if you could guarantee like Marner would extend there or something, would they flip those two? It's like that's not happening. Why would Marner do that? He'll just go to UFA. That's right.

That's right. So there's no, there's's right. So there's no no choice There's nothing yeah, even McMahon wouldn't even be coming close to maybe what someone thought of a maybe two weeks ago No, you're right. But I think we're all in agreement here that if Miko Ranton would commit eight years to the Toronto Maple Leafs if you had to include Matthew Nyes in that deal That's a deal you make 10 times out of 10. That I think would excite Carolina. Well, it should.

That's a nice hockey player talking about who's 22 years old. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. Outside of that, I like Dallas. I like Dallas. Ben's coming off the books. They've got lots of room to

To bring them in and keep them as well and no tax high-skinned in him finish boys. Oh boy I got I gotta ask though cuz I Got trade, you know, I'm just been thinking but what's the word I'm looking for not fatigue. What's the other one? I'm looking for envy trade envy thinking but what's the word I'm looking for? Fatigue. Not fatigue. What's the other one I'm looking for? Envy. Trade envy. The Toronto May Police, the one year that they really got splashy and Kyle Dubas seemed like he was a little bit at his wits end and who was actually calling the shots and then he ends up leaving. Rhyno Riley comes in. Luke Shen comes in.

Noel Achari comes in. They took some big swings and that was really exciting as a fan and it just, could they just make the big swing? Like can they just put their you-know- what on the table and make the big crazy decision? It's just been so safe for eight years where it's like we'll stick with these guys, we'll stick with these guys, okay we'll fire the general manager, okay we'll stick with these guys, we'll stick with these guys. Okay, we'll fire the general manager. Okay, we'll fire the coach. Okay, we'll do this. Put your on the table and make the big, big swing. And it's funny, you look at Tampa Bay,

and yesterday everyone shared their first round picks over the past eight years. One guy, no one cares. Vegas, their first round picks that they've made over the past whatever, eight, nine years, they've traded every single one they draft. Yes, you know save for maybe one so it's like yeah These guys have made big moves. They've had success. They've won cups. They've been contenders It would be nice Trying and failing will yield less regret than failing to try. Oh, thank you Confucius Where is that from? I've never seen anyone Google less regret than failing to try. Oh, thank you, Confucius.

Where is that from? Kimber was, Ryan, I've never seen anyone Google harder. This guy's just. I love that saying. It's a fantastic saying. Marcus Aurelius, who was that? Love that saying. But do you know what I mean?

Lee fans have had to watch specifically. Loved and lost? Specifically in their division, Florida make big swings, Tampa make big swings. In the one year, like I said, their division Florida make big swings Tampa make big swings in the one year Like I said, the least made big swings they had their most success they've ever had and it was awesome and it was exciting It wasn't a ton of success. Don't get me wrong What do you mean Tampa that's Tampa? Yes, Tampa. That's yeah, but why can't that be the Leafs?

It can be no it can't because it is the market is so critical every single guy that comes out They're like that's gonna cost that might cost ownership of the Leafs to get that guy on the Leafs It's like it's just so concentrated here with all the values and all the stuff that these little Florida teams It's it's good to make all these little decisions And I will say if you're another team and you're gonna trade a big name and it's Miko Ranton or whatever You don't want to get the trade wrong to Toronto for sure. It is going to be ten times more highlighted Scrutinized great point. It's like that's not the place you want to take your risk to I'd rather make it over there, Florida Let's see if David Dwork picks it up from the Florida Sentinel

If he doesn't we're in the clear I just think I got his name wrong. Sorry, David I'm gonna be sick if Brandon ends up in Florida. Like that will look I think it's a long shot, too I think it's a long shot that he goes anywhere, but they've pulled stuff off. I know I hear you just do something big The fans are dying for it. Who cares about picks man Cares all the 2027 first a guy that's gonna contribute in eight years who cares We're gonna be covered. It's bad You're the GM buddy. I'm gonna be in a hut in the forest in eight years. I don't care just trade it Are you our first caller on leave?

I just I just watch everybody else make all the trades. Anyways, I'm done. Okay Yeah, we got some we got we got we got some good call. Are we not do we have after the break? watching and listening to Crying sorry After the break watching and listening to Sam crying Back after these words Everything you need to know about the Blue Jays Blair and Barker be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts Yeah. I, Tammy, I, I do believe that, uh, the Leafs are not out of it. And they, they're like a number of teams right now, I believe that are trying to convince Carolina

that we'd like to help you out, we're willing to give you pieces, we just don't want to upset our team. And there isn't, we don't have a Nacash. Nacchus. Nacchus. We don't have a nake cash. Natures. Natures. We don't have a nature's to give you like no like you did for ranting in but it can be nice is a younger version of a guy who's like this the Leafs.

I don't think are going to go there. No for the record. I wouldn't have traded right and Yeah in a in short term you could look at and say ranting in this better than nice today and He may have given us a better chance today with his experience and just, you know, where he is? Or can we get him and keep Nye's and now, how much better are we?

So much. So much. But. So it's like, are you gonna push hard for that margin or do you want the bigger margin? I want the big margin. Yeah, everybody, every Lee fan wants the bigger margin. It depends now on, for the Leafs,

it depends on not so much what they're offering Carolina, but what others are. And if they're in the ballpark, and they all, not collude, but they all go back to Carolina and say, you're not getting what you thought, but there's still enough here. So you don't feel like you got nothing when he leaves in July, then we're in the game. And I stand by the point I made to Sam though, if it is Dallas, Vegas and Toronto, and all

the whatever, and all the whatever and all the packages are close, you don't want to make the deal with Toronto, you don't want that smoke, you don't want to hear about it every day. Right? I mean, you would have to like the package more than the other packages. All things equal. Yeah, it all depends on your scouting staff and how much you feel like you love Cowan or Minton or anything Dallas or Florida or Vegas need to throw to you. You know, then you start to think, could the Leafs trade Cowan and or Minton to another team for someone that Carolina likes?

You know what I mean? Like you go out and you trade those guys for who's Carolina like that's a good player you know someone off a bad team a high end guy Brock Nelson but not Brock Nelson a younger version make a three-way deal feels like a lot in 24 hours boys you're hoping you're not been 24 hours you're hoping it's been the last 72 or 96 and then the Leafs would have to sign Rantanen, which I would think, Good. 13 million, 13 to five, 13 five.

Matching contracts, him and Mark are bing bing. Day after the trade deadline. Done. Day after the trade deadline, bang. And Taurus goes, Oh, more for money. And you go, keep playing. that's where that is right now With tick tick tick tick tick tick tick. I know I have something to say here. Oh boy. That's a little bit

It's a cross-border reference. So baseball reference here. I am getting a bit of Jays offseason vibes from Brad for living right now where in on it shooting for the moon we're talking Otani, Rantnan, we're talking Juan Soto, Brock Nelson, we're talking these big names and Corey Bellinger really like Corey Bellinger, second choice Brayden Shen yeah and they get none of those guys and it's like I hope you like Justin Turner Luke Coonan You know, it's like I really feel like they're focusing on the high high end Yeah, and if that doesn't work out you're left holding The fourth line left winger of the San Jose Sharks or Brandon Tanneff. We're like but you know, yeah

Doesn't change the outlook. Anyways, that was my last thought. Uh, let's go to a call. This is a great call Let's go to Bruce in Scarborough So this message is meant directly for one particular Canadian chief Chief I think that the team is starting to play Chief, I think that the team is starting to play like the old Maple Leafs used to play. And it's up to you to change this. They're shooting on empty nets when they should be defending. They're showing up and not trying to chase down pucks, rather trying to easily take pucks and go score on the other goal

This is not make-believe hockey that Craig Barube would Appreciate we saw what you can do at the beginning of the year and when the team was suffering Because they didn't have an often Matthews we saw the team come together Roll four lines and play Craig Barube hockey now. They're extending shifts Now they're out there trying to get their cookies. You have four lines Craig We have a playoff series coming up Craig. We need Craig Barube hockey Thanks to kid for that one Bruce used a cookie

reference I Heard that call today and I think there's something to that. I think they've played, they played at the start of the year, a lot of Borubi hockey. Craig. Craig. Craig. But I just thought there's something to that. I did. Do you guys agree? I think the part that I take away from it is that what we have seen from Ruby so far this year is maybe different from what we thought we would see. And some of that was that there was a little team A and team B that's been a common criticism on this show.

And I don't know that I sit here today feeling like there's been some uniting of that force. You know, we talked early in the season about how it was a much heavier dump and chase team. I don't feel like they're quite as dump and chase oriented of late. So I think there's something to this. Craig Barube hockey.

Yeah, I think there's something to that call. Yeah, I thought it was a good call. Yeah, very good call. That was a good call. Yeah. Very good call. I think that what probably Craig and the guys were able to do in November and December is kind of maybe too much of the same now in March.

Teams adjust, teams watch, they see patterns, they see. And for me, I think patterns, they see, and for me, I think the caller's right, Bruce, that I'd like to see some adjustments, I'd like to see different looks, I'd like to see at times less dump and chase. Okay. And right now, I think the Leafs are very predictable. I mean, he didn't use that word,

but I think that's what he was probably leaning towards. I do wonder now too, if they're kind of waiting for help, right? They know they're tied for first in the Atlantic. They know it's the deadline. They know Matthew said they need a pop. They've gotten a pop every year from someone. I wonder if some of these guys right now are going,

okay, we need, what are you doing? And the other thing he mentioned, the other thing he mentioned, the extended shifts, I'm like, I'm watching it again, guys. Power play cookies are out of control. And I'm like, it's, he's relying on his four guys way too much and then I know he's made comments like, oh, I kind of

got guilty of, of overplaying them a little bit. It's like that should not happen. Yeah. At this time of year. No, I think you're right. And I do think that there's something it's so important to leave the next line in a good spot. And I think when you change early, you know, you can get the puck in deep and even if you have some legs, I think that there's something to that too. So yeah, I'm on board with the call We have one more quick one. We have a lot more but we talked a lot today. Sorry, it's newsy time leaf So I'm gonna get back into it next week But let's go to John do John Doe from Prince George I just want to say you guys snickered at the kid that they signed out of Prince George

Don't be sleeping on that kid because he's a fun kid to watch that they signed out of Prince George, don't be sleeping on that kid. He's a fun kid to watch. But also I'm reading that the Leafs are willing to trade Matthew Nyes if Mikko Rantinen is willing to commit long term. I just don't know if that makes sense. Like you're trying to add to your bottom six, not trying to upgrade the top six. I just, I don't know. I just don't like the fact that we'd give away knives for Mikko Rantinen, who's not been the same since he left Nathan McKinnon, but who knows, that's probably why I'm not a GM. Anyway, I just wanna hear your guys' thoughts.

Yeah, I think we kinda covered this, did we not? But Matthew Knives is, the reason I wanna play that, he is beloved by the fan base. He has really appreciated himself as like the first non-Core 4 guy to come in here and make an impact. Yeah. And like that call from John Doe and Prince George.

I'm just assuming it's Prince George because Prince George was where that kid plays that the Leafs signed. Yeah. Still don't know his name, unfortunately. But... Boria Valis. Yeah. You know, it... You know, you're talking about taking a risk?

That's a big risk. I would love them to do it. That's a big one. I think a big one. I think I Can safely say that if the Leafs find a way to get ranting in it won't be at the expense of moving knives Okay and I'll say that You would like to upgrade the bottom six, but if you can improve the top six you do that first I think that's something you would willingly do

I think that's something you would willingly do Yeah, no, I think that's all I need to say about that Boria Valles 59 games played 30 and 44 for 74 points 44 PIMS for the Prince George Cougars. Nice Stolars in Colorado, right? Start? Yeah. Would you go back to wall? Joseph wall to kind of rectify? Corrective bad night. I think I need to know how Stoller's his knees holding up. Are we pushing this recovery?

Is it swelling up after he's playing? Is everything OK? He's OK. Go back. Yeah. Monday in Utah, that's screaming Joe Wall to me. Yeah. And yeah, I mean, Stoller has been the better goalie. It's a premier start against one of the best teams of the league hockey night in Canada. He's earned that. And it's another measuring stick game. He talked about those. The staff seems not messing around. Okay. Our thanks to no one. Well, except the three of us and John and John. Oh, what colors. Prince George and Bruce and Scarborough. Yes, though those are real guests. When we return top of the hour, we go national. Figure out what's going on with the Edmonton Oilers with our favorite analyst out in Alberta, Rob Brown. Yep. We'll join us. Why? What's going on in

Edmonton? What's going on in Edmonton? Love to know. We'll find out when we return real Kipper and Bourne