Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Weekend Sweep + The Parayko Pitch

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Leafs' pair of wins over the weekend over the Hurricanes and Blackhawks. They get into the play of Matthews, Marner and Nylander coming back from 4 Nations, Alex Steeves' role, concerns over the bottom D pair, Max Domi's uncertain role, Auston Matthews' even-strength scoring slump, and much more. Later, they discuss Colton Parayko as a potential target for the Leafs and what he would cost. 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. 

hoping everybody got a chance to catch their breath this past weekend still coming off that emotional high of a Canada US Championship game on Thursday Nick Kiprios Justin Bourne Sammy McKee Derek Brandeo Jake Schultz, Jen Rolnick's floating around somewhere in the building. Yeah, shout out to Jen for a great job tidying up the studio. What effort? Well, if you didn't make such a mess, you wouldn't have to. What is going on, guys?

Come on, a little respect around here. You can't be a rock star if you don't act like a rock star sometimes. Sometimes we got to flip over chairs. It's just the way we roll. If I didn't say that, you guys would have said I was a slob. So I beat you to it. Senior desk up. We are live on Sportsnet 590.

The fans Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet Plus. We are back, baby. Leaf Hour edition of our program. Then we go national The top of the hour Renault love what will join us lots of juicy tidbits out there as we get ever so closer to the trade Deadline it's let me just say Kip It's been really hard to not make the leafs the whole story for the last couple weeks here

They're not having a leaf sour stinks. I Don the last couple weeks here. Like not having a Leafs hour stinks. I don't know if I agree. No. I think and coming, you mentioned catching our breath still from last week. I think that was some of the most, I guess it's because Canada won, but- I'd say our shows were bad. But doing it and just talking about one team and not talking about contracts and not talking about transactions and just it felt like playoffs

Where we come in here and we do a show we talk about these huge games. They're emotionally involved. I I don't I really enjoyed it and we're back to the we're back to slogging it here I'm ready to talk least ready to talk trades ready to talk everything but last couple weeks was phenomenal boys. I loved it so before we get into a few smaller details, including the action this past weekend, how was the transition from that game Thursday night to getting back into the swing of NHL hockey on the weekend? Because it's kind of tough watching some of the games again for me personally. Yeah, you know, it's kind of tough watching some of the games again for me personally. Yeah, you know what's really funny is it was like, oh no, like we have to watch the Leafs bottom six,

like an NHL team bottom six, and then their bottom six was electric. It was, you know, Holmberg and Steve's and camp. And it was like, these guys all should have been in that tournament. What an unbelievable bottom six they have. Is that what you saw? I saw some bad hockey. I think there were some incredibly strange results over the weekend. If you look at a lot of the scores that were just very weird big leads for a lot of teams

getting out like the Sabres are leading the Rangers at one.5, nothing. Yeah, like the Washington beat the Penguins eight something. Edmonton's thinking it up. It just, it felt like there were some really weird results, but yeah, that first period was the first goal coming back was that Steve scores, Holmberg scores, and then Camp scores in the first period. Yeah, it was a bit of a shock to the system. So I got a kick out of Seth Jarvis because, of course, he was a member of Team Canada,

huge high. Sportsnet did a great job of finding his buddies who borrowed their mom's soccer van to drive in from Manitoba to Boston and arguably the best moment of his hockey career. And then Saturday night, he has to go on Carolina television and do an interview and, you know, give the host a lot of credit for kind of hanging in there. And she probably did what she was supposed to do and just try to get the capture to capture the still the mood and the excitement off of the Canada win for Seth Jarvis. is getting his lunch fed by the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 in the first period. Have a listen to Seth Jarvis trying to do an interview and being excited for Canada but dealing with 4-0 and Rod Brendemore in the first intermission.

Welcome back to Toronto where I am now joined by Kane's forward Seth Jarvis. Seth, I know you're fully dialed into this game here tonight but for Ken Keniak Nation, who has not heard from you maybe for the first time since winning gold in the Four Nations Faceoff Tournament, congratulations. How would you describe the emotions of the moment to win gold and represent your country? Yeah, it meant a lot for me. It was an awesome experience. I can't think of anything right now. We're battling. You guys are battling right now and we did show in the first period the picture of you and your friends that made the trek from Winnipeg and you and I talked this morning about how

special that was. If you could just describe the support that you have felt throughout the past two weeks and what you noticed from that experience. Yeah, it meant a lot. Those guys gave up a lot of their time to come support me. They got exams on Monday, and they took time out of their day, their days to come and watch your friends.

So it meant a lot. I know how much, how difficult this is after the first period. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. Good luck in the cycle. Sorry, Hannah. It's okay. That is good. It's okay.

It's like someone drowning after the Titanic's gone under and being like how was your dinner? Was your dinner good? Sorry Hannah. It's okay. It's okay. That's actually really good. Like come on. How do you go from that on Thursday to that Saturday night? That's a reality of we're right back in NHL hockey and that's hilarious whiplash man Oh god, I got a good chuckle out of that. You know what? I'm sorry, I can't think of anything. Ton of respect for Seth Jarvis for like not hiding at all. Like we are in the here and now world. You know, you're living in the past, you're getting too far into the future,

but that guy said, I am right here in this moment and we're down for nothing and it sucks right now. Yeah. I thought she was going in for the third question and I was like, Hannah, read the room. Hannah, he doesn't wanna be here. But no, she was saying goodbye. Well done, well done.

That's good stuff. Oh gosh, all right, so Toronto Maple Leafs in our Leaf our edition. Sorry Kipper. I don't know. Sorry Kipper. Sorry We've should have apologized to a lot of guests over the years on this show and we haven't done that yet Four points for the Toronto Maple Leafs on back-to-back games. I I haven't done that yet. Four points for the Toronto Maple Leafs on back to back games. I guess getting the job done, getting the points,

moving ahead of Florida and the Atlantic, all good. But like I said, not compelling hockey for me, but do we give them a pass because of coming off last week, particularly Matthews and Marner? But do we give them a pass because of coming off last week, particularly Matthews and Marner? I mean, I feel like, yes. Yeah, like I said, I wouldn't even played him this weekend and they took the weekend off essentially. Not to be dismissive, but like, I think really hard

after playing in games with stakes like that. You know, like after guys go to the Stanley Cup playoffs and then they start the next season in exhibition games, it's hard. You know, you watch these teams struggle out of the gates. The games don't mean as much. It kind of felt like that. These this for Matthews and Marner felt kind of like that. But like only Matthews only played three games and four games in in total it wasn't like they got beat up for three weeks

I get the emotional aspect of it, but Did you see the question Kevin McGran asked him? Yeah. Yeah, do you see that? I did see that Essentially Kevin who great reporter just asked him, you know Like will it haunt you you're so close to tipping that puck in overtime. And he was just like, sure, Kevin, two words. Sure, Kevin, obviously bothers him. And it was very recent. Yeah, we so we don't have it, do we?

All right. Sure, Kevin. Oh, there it is. Sure, Kevin. Yeah, there it is. Now we all know Kevin. He's been a veteran. He, Kevin. Yeah, there it is. Now, we all know Kevin. He's been a veteran. He's a pro.

And it's a good question. But yeah, he kind of caught himself. Maybe I shouldn't have, maybe I should have substitute haunted for another word. Yeah, it's a touchy subject. So I do think though that that does reflect. He's uncomfortable. There was some emotional damage

Yeah along the way. So anyway those guys aside. I think it was almost Refreshing to be like McCabe scores and Nick Robertson gets to and camp scores and Holmberg scores and you know Kind of Steve's is on the board. Yeah, so when they didn't have their best they got picked up And how often do we get to say that not that often? So just just to pick up on that I know on you you had mentioned somebody called me and said they were expecting a more of a celebration for Canada's win and Mitch Marner. But you made a comment with JD Bunkus last night about on Saturday on Saturday after the game. I would say that it was an after the game take where I was surprised that They didn't do more to honored Canada's win and you know

Give the the arena a chance to give Mitch Marner a standing ovation or whatever for being an integral part of a massive goal Yeah, I would say I've cooled off from the take I mean, it's two days later, but I am surprised that they didn't really they were playing off to Justin's point where you got a sensitive captain, US team, and, For sure, and Willie's part of it too, I understand that. And Willie's part of Sweden, so it's kind of like, celebrate all three of them for participating. Yeah, but I mean, there's celebrating,

and then there's putting up a thing in the TV timeout like it's a returning player, you know? Like, I think there could have been a little bit more I just if you're they treated it like it was an all-star kind of thing Yeah, where we all knew what the stakes were of that. We all know how it felt We know it the Four Nations face-off. It was way more than that. I thought they would have done something I don't care as much now I'm not as bent at a shape of it about it as I was

But I still think they could have spent two minutes before the anthem being like hey welcome home for nation's face-off champion Mitch Marner and they give the chance to celebrate what was an unbelievable moment literally two days before that's it okay as far as the weekend goes you want to go Saturday against Carolina you want to jump to Chicago where do you want to go JB well we got two overview clips skip why don't we play them do you want to do them in succession and talk with the whole weekend or do you want to go game by game?

Let's start with Carolina and play the clip. You know, we had real good firsts. You know, we got the lead and, you know, they made a push in the second, but I thought we did a lot of good things still. Third period, a lot of the same. I thought we probably backed up a little bit too much in the third and let them come at us and, you know, then, you know, we four-on-four situation and they pull their goalie so you know they made it interesting or they're good at that I've seen them do it numerous times where

they're gonna come no matter the score and they put pressure on you so I think we you know in the third I'd like to see your team a little bit more aggressive up ice and not backing in so much and letting them come at us. It was incredibly reminiscent of Finland, eh? Yes. A 4-0 final 10 minutes goal, goal, goal. All of a sudden it's like, wait, why is this a hockey game? You're saying that at one point.

Yeah. Why is it gross again? And what do you attribute? Is it just that Carolina woke up, they got the jump on them early? It's a good start to get some bounces around there. Some of those ends up on Slaven's stick, God knows how. Yeah, I can't escape that. It's part of the part that I didn't like about the Toronto Maple Leafs this weekend. First

of all, what did they score on? Two goals on two shots and four nothing by the first period on like six shots. I have no idea but that Kuchachkov there was just like you can't win with that goal tending. And then I think Carolina actually started playing a little better and they woke up a little bit but it was far too late. But once again, pretty good goaltending by wall, or I'm sorry, by Stolarz, and then pretty good goaltending last night against Chicago. And I don't know, you replaced those two guys with Sampsonov or somebody else else and I'm not sure how many points

the Leafs would have got this weekend. Yeah. You know, it's, it is funny. You look at some of these teams like, will Carolina do something before playoffs with how good they are? We'll get you in the second hour. Will Edmonton do something? It is nice that the Leafs kind of feel secure in both guys.

And actually I kind of felt bad for stole ours who great all game Yeah, but they really hung about to dry They had 11 shots in the first then nine then three the Leafs so they just you know, you know, Ruby's point They just stopped playing stop three in the third. Yeah Wow. Yeah, that's two 15 for Carolina Wow. Yeah, yeah A bit of score effects there though in terms of back it up. Yeah, and the other thing that's make of it what you will and if you just want to just throw it to... The fact that the guys are coming off an emotional week. And I'm talking about Matthews and Marner that the secondary scoring helped out a lot. Saturday night, Alex Steeves comes in, scores his first NHL goal, gets multiple points.

And secondary scoring followed them into Chicago as well. Yeah, you know, he's a tough one for me because it wasn't just the goals this weekend that I liked or the offense that I liked. He actually got in on the forecheck really well to turn that puck over. He does, you know, as much as people are excited about this guy, and I hate being like the rain on things guy, I just what is he gonna do in playoffs like maybe he's becoming an NHL er and that's the bright spot for him and for whatever but like I

just can't see him well he's not gonna be top six he's not gonna grind in your bottom six it's like again and I've used this term the last few years, but what is the ask that he goes from half a season in the American Hockey League leading goal scoring to come up now and help a team contending for Stanley Cup to be an integral part of the roster. It's like, no, that's not the way it really works. No, he is showing he could play in the league for a team. So is he just in a position now where if you need

a trade asset, someone could get excited about Alex Steeves and his future and say, I'm willing to take a chance on him, throw him in a package. To me, that makes more sense for the Toronto Maple Leafs where they are right now than to sit there and say, you know, Alex Steeves can be a great contributor right here if we go in a long run this spring. If you are having a player on your roster who could step into top six if they had to, could play in the bottom six if they had to, just a guy to have around, could you see him

if you had to move money out of the deadline that was Max Domi could he fill max's skates? No, not for me. No, I can't count on it. Like I need I need some Experience I need some savvy and regardless of how you feel about the inconsistency of Max Domi scoring there's a better chance that Max could step up in the playoffs and make major contributions than I feel that Alex Steves could. For sure. There's no doubt about it.

I don't think you have to really overthink it too much what he can be for the Leafs here. Just hey, good weekend? Not even that. Like, you know, they're clearly patch-readies banged up. You know, you know what you're gonna get from Ryan Reeves. Like, you know, there's, you know, doers coming back here. There's word of Yarncroc. You're gonna need to have guys

that mix in and out of your lineup. And if he plays, you know, 10 more games for you the rest of this year, maybe shoots a few more in the net before you get to the playoffs, it's like, it's fine to have- Can he help you get some points? This is exactly what you need from your AHL affiliate is a guy that can come up and look Semi-passable maybe shoot in the net two or three times for you Maybe get you enough points to win a game like he did on Saturday night. You know away you go

I don't think you need to overthink it and if a team wants him as a part of a package Yes, of course, but I think I think it was a nice weekend for him I mean scoring really good great weekend for him. I mean, scoring really good weekend. Do you want to play play a brew based clip clip to on Alex Dees? I thought he was hard in a four check. He you know, he plays a simple game. You know, he doesn't you know, it's a simple game, you know, it's direct and that's what I like

about it. And you know, Ford checked well with that line tonight. He worked hard, did a lot of good things like that. And then he has the ability to score a goal. I mean, he hit that one hard. Yeah. Great shot. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So I actually think that's a really good point, Sam. It's like, maybe don't overthink it.

Just help, you know, he helps you get a couple of points here and there. That's great. Yep. But yeah, that's all. Yep. But yeah. That's all I got on Steve's. And Jarn Crook is sitting in the wings right now. I do have something on like... Jarn Crook! I have an article today on the Leafs at the Trade Deadline.

And one of my worries is that they're going to sell the fan base on this internal improvement from guys they already have. Like, oh, Jarn Crook is going to come back or Patcha Ready is going to sell the fan base on this internal improvement from guys they already have like oh Yarncroc is gonna come back or Patcher Eddie's gonna come back I don't trust Patcher Eddie for a second to me he's not on the on the team not he is obviously on the team but like you cannot count on him being there in playoffs can you and like is Yarncroc any different this guy hasn't been able to stay healthy you don't know where his games at I don't I would love for any of these guys to matter but I'm a little nervous that

You know teams have made big moves here. We're oh, don't you worry about that? Like if anything this weekend solidified that team cannot win the Leafs in the playoffs as is they need help Oh, but that's it kid like they see these guys out of the lineup They're like wait till yarn croc plays right wing. No, that's fine. Dep is fine. Everybody needs it. We've always mentioned on this show, eight if not nine defense that can step in at any given night and not kill you is a must. And they yeah, lots of stuff going on behind the scenes. Is there any chance my fantasy name that I put in my article, Pareko's available?

Could they get weird? I'm going to update the trade board, my trade board, on Sportsnet.ca this week. Stand by, stand by. So moving to Sunday night, I guess, because we talked with the Carolina. I think the thing that concerns me most coming out of the Sunday game is The bottom pair for the Leafs with Benoit and Timmons and I don't have a clip on it or whatever But if you're talking about going out and getting like they are one top four injury away

From having one of those guys be in the top four, right? Like there's no run. Like Riley Philippe Myers. There's no real depth to the Leafs decor right now. And watching them, I mean, against pretty bad competition. Your Luke Shen wouldn't do it either. No, in my article today. I don't think Luke Shen is good enough for what they need. The Four Nations Tournament changed

how I feel about the Leafs priorities. Like watching good D and I know that's embarrassing that I have to say this and had to see that to say it, but like I know they need another center. They need another D like a D. Like if you get a guy like Pareko and your pairs are Riley Pareko, McCabe, Tanev, Ouel, Benoit, you can win a cup with that decor. You can. And I don't know that without any addition and then a guy like Luke Shen, which makes you kind of the same team, and there's an injury along the way, all of a sudden you're going to have Myers, Benoit, Shen, Timmons in at the same time. To's like it to me that's scarier than not upgrading upfront

You are talking about One of the best shut down guys in per echo six one or sorry six six two thirty skates like a dream has 12 goals Love them in the four nations only make six and a half. Yeah, I know. Yeah, I know what I'm talking about That's a that's a That's a nice wish list. Where are you building from? I just don't know how realistic that is for Leafs fans right now. Probably not at all. Right, but yeah, that's a game changer.

Just watching him break pucks out, skate up the ice, slap the puck. Yeah, it changes things significantly. Third line, last night. Nick Robertson. Nick Robertson, Matt Stoomey, and Bobby McMahon. I think we have a clip from the coach on. Yeah, on the third line. Clip 6, please, Eric. Yeah, they were real good tonight, I thought.

Max, I thought, was on p pucks making good plays with the puck. Robbie was driving the net scored a nice goal they got a power play goal and Bobby was doing what he does he skates gets on top of people creates turnovers that line was really good for us I thought all the lines were solid tonight you know they all did what they needed to do to get the win. Toronto Maple Leafs in first place. I don't know, like, good on them and good on Nick for two goals, but this is, they played last night one of the worst teams. That team rocks.

No, they stink. Can I ask you guys a question about them? Yeah. When are they going to be? Half decent you know it's concerning is who's who's coming like no shit off nothing nothing and How do they not have more assets, but it's it's hard to really like judge that line Against that team last night. I'm sorry, but it's like division two hockey But that's's where a guy like Nick Robertson is going to thrive. And we've been saying that he's like meant to be on a team that can like. So as good as they were last night, do you envision them

winning two rounds in the Stanley Cup playoffs or helping you win two rounds? No. Bobby McMahon, yes. Bobby McMahon was awesome last night and the four check getting first touches moving the puck around he was excellent But you mentioned yeah, you're playing against bad competition But Kibber Domey has had a lot of off nights against bad competition too this year So I think you have to kind of take the good nights where you can get him and I thought he was really good really good like he was skating jump and I you know, he blows by Seth Jones like who had a big head start on him and he Because goes swimming a little bit on the goal to get right at the end of the second period But you know you need to take the positive nights with Max Domi and hope that he can build on it

I thought he was really good passing it. Yep fired one right off the post like he really did have some jump So do you at all feel like you don't know what Max Domi is at this point though? No Okay, I mean Kipp or can answer the question better than me, but I think you just need to have him be confident that he feels like he's part of it and feels like he's feeling good like I mean, what were they saying on the broadcast that he scored three goals in three straight games and those are the only three games he scored a goal in all year. It's like that's crazy. I've always had him as a guy that could move up and down, but never really a guy that you're going to sit there and lock in on a top six.

That's all. He's a depth guy for me. Which is most of those depth guys are like, all right, we'll start on the D zone, put him against a good line. He's really good if you have enough depth, but when you don't have enough depth, he gets blamed for a big part of not being good enough at the depth role. And the fact that he's making almost $4 million a year

is now playing against him. Definitely. So that's the issue here. On a great year, maybe he can score you a 45, 50 points. And then on a tough year, maybe it's 30. Yeah. I think that's all fair. But I think that's relevant to note when someone can't do it without help You know when you're like, yeah

If you have enough other guys who are good that player can be good you want more guys that can make other players What did he make last year? It was a one-year Contract was it three even three even I think yeah Yeah, I think it's a lot different of a perception on that contract right well the years. I think yeah for sure That's what I mean. Like, were they, he got the longest commitment from living after that month that he had, where he was really, really hot. Listen, I was happy about the contract,

but it just, it hasn't been perfect this year for him, to say the least. Any concerns at all that Austin Matthews has not scored a goal against goalie in nine games now Yeah, night. Oh, yeah, including the four nations. Yeah, I didn't score the four nations Bennington would like a word with him on that one. God right. My he just must haunt his dreams. Anyways, no, you're right It's a long time. Okay. I

Mean all year. How'd you find him on the weekend? You know just like that all the sounds I made right there. Mid. Yeah. You know, like he has been 15% less dangerous than last year every game, you know, from start of the year and injuries and, you know, I might even be underselling the percentage on that. So yeah, no, it's a big a big concern You need him to be the guy it's encouraging the game against Canada like seeing like, okay, it's there still But yeah, you don't see it as often. He was dangerous in the championship game super day He was dangerous and that's kind of the guy that he got used to

when he was scoring 60 and 70 goals the one thing that It's really struck me all season long is that he was by far and away the greatest guy on the planet for catch and release. Like his shot on a split second where he's able to grab the puck, drag it, find those seams to beat a guy, a defender's ankle, and then go under the bar, or just all of that to shoot the puck. Snap it. Snap it. Catch and release is the best way I could describe

the way he could score goals. It's just like almost non-existent now. Yeah, no, I agree with that, And I don't have time, but I will look at this up while we're on the air. But in previous years, and I want to say last year, he was actually sneaky, high up the charts and hits. Like I want to say he had like four hits a game or per 60 or whatever it was. And this year, it's way down. Like I know his physicality is down. I haven't

looked in a long time, and I'm gonna look and I'll mention it after the break here but he that for me is not as physical. The only thing I can come up with is like he's just not mentally physically a hundred percent and I don't know which one it falls on more. Physically for sure sure I mean he flew to Germany we forget that he missed lots of hockey. I know so, you know, it's a definitely a He was pretty lifeless for most of the weekend and I thought specifically against Chicago They had one good shift in the offensive zone where they kind of cycled at him nice and Matt and Marner But I don't think you know, I don't Marner. But I don't think, you know,

I don't think I had the concern about Marner because, you know, he's been, he had a good tournament and he's gonna come off it. He's fourth in league score. Yeah, yeah, he's been good. I just, I do worry about Matthews a bit. So last year, Matthews averaged 3.14 hits per 60. The year before, 3.11 hits per 60.

This year it's 1.6 six Wow, that's a big Massive and a big mess and you know whether that's physical or mental or whatever It's real so it's something that is different about I didn't like that he missed The tune-up came to Thursday's championship for USA Yeah, see you and I differ on that because I think he's genuinely trying to rest something the tune-up came to Thursday's championship for USA. Yeah, see, you and I differ on that because I think he's genuinely trying to rest something. No, that's my point.

That he missed it because he's trying to cover something up that's bothering him. Yeah, do you think it would be best if he took three weeks off right now? I think they tried it. And the unfortunate part is, is that I think they tried it and it didn't necessarily work. So it's almost like-

I don't know. It could immediately come back and get hurt again. So why not just keep playing? It probably needs off season surgery. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know what the answer to that is, but he's not the same guy that we've been accustomed

to seeing. No, I know you've seen glimmers, but not consistently. I mean, when is the time this year where you, I guess kind of after the second absence, he came back and he was pretty good. Six and seven. Pardon? He scored six goals in like seven games. He was hot.

He looked like himself. He looked a little bit more. Yeah. And then it kind of went back. And then it kind of went back. But the jump and the shot and the ability to get it and let it go, where we are all going like, oh my God, that shot is amazing.

And everything is built on the four of them, right? Like they can't have one guy not there, one guy bad. So you mentioned, I don't know how long ago this was when we were talking about this, but that does that change your outlook on how good they can actually be this season in terms of how they address the deadline and what they and what they look to actually give up? I actually, the only reason I say it doesn't change how they address the deadline is because he's your number one centerman. Yeah.

He's your one C. You're not gonna get a better player than him. So you're never gonna just like go get a different one C. So he's the one C. You just have to hope he's healthier and better. He's 100% right that you're just hoping that he wakes up tomorrow and you see that- No, I'm a little more range of motion today that threat is back on a

consistent basis. And the energy is back and the jump is back and the catch and release is back. And you're still going to trade or push this team harder than they've ever been pushed in 10 years because this is the break year for everybody. Well, and the thing I wrote in my article today is that it's not just about the Leafs, it's look around. Pre-pandemic, Tampa Bay had a season with 128 points. Boston, three years ago, 135 points.

Two years ago, Florida, 114. Like, there's no one like that. Florida's on pace for 100, Tampa's on pace for 99. So it's not just that the Leafs have a chance. They're the same, they're as good as they've been, but no one else is as good as they've been. So if you finish first in the division this year, you probably draw Detroit or Ottawa. If you finish second, you draw Florida or Tampa Bay. Yeah. There's no question to me which one of those outcomes is better. Although the

senators think could be interesting, but if I could pick one team in the entire league to have a playoffs series against would probably be Detroit Yeah, like truly like I think that's a team that they've shown they've had no problems with and I mean you can clip this one Detroit if it comes back and I think it's like either obviously not as good as the teams are talking about hundred So yeah, you're fair to say okay. We'll take a quick break. Let's do it and when we return we'll keep Keep going on our leaf our addition of our program And when we return, we'll keep going on our Leaf Hour edition of our program, The Leaf's Biggest Need. You've got an article out on sportsnet.ca.

I want to get into that. You broke it down into a few different categories, including wants and needs. So we'll get that going when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Diving deep into Leaps, Raptors, Jays and NFL. The JD Bunkets Podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back into the program. Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. A reminder this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by bet three, six, five. How about that?

Lengthy, offside challenge in like, can we just get this over with time of the game? Yeah. Last night Leafs in Chicago. That was, that was tough, tough sledding. You know, after watching the four nations with no challenge in particular You know that in itself Was a minor miracle buddy. There were no penalties. No penalties Challenges one penalty in the final final game clear trip had to call it rest of their nothing else with with the attention of That game Thursday night Like leading right back into the White House

Can you imagine if there was a controversial offside or goaltender interference? Thank bringing back the way it did bringing back a US goal to keep the overtime going Trump would have declared that it was Fake news Stolen trophy Yeah, declared that it was Stolen Rigged You would have elon make a meme about it and then and then we go right back to this horrific delay Now I just want to say I actually love

That that counted like I I love, because technically, like Tavares doesn't touch it once it's over. So it's like he's put it in so. Are you sure? No one's sure. No, definitely not. No one's sure. No, I'm not.

But I kind of love the like logic of it. It's just because they, he didn't think he did, if he would have called it offside, it would have stood offside. It was up to the official because I don't think video's that no it's not it reminded me do you guys remember the Kale mccarr one that started some of this yeah years ago

in playoffs I think you watched that play hundred times you guys played hockey your whole lives that's offside it's on side yeah it's offside to me too 100% outside that puck I show my issue by the spirit of offside it's offside to me to 100% outside that puck. I Branch you by the spirit of offside itself and show to Mike Johnson all over it like right away He called it. He said this is the Kailh McCarty and he was like right all over it but I Watched it a hundred times and I can't convince my hockey brain that that's not outside You know It's like if Tavares were stopped at the blue line and put the puck in the zone this much

Huh and let Willie come out and tag And then he touched it that's onside. Yeah, you're yeah, okay, and that's kind of idea that he doesn't touch it But he's trying to touch it. He just doesn't get there in time. So by the spirit It's like we get rid of it somehow some way is it just it's over I think time limits are best bet Kipper you at you talk to people has there has there any Momentum with the league to be like we got to put a time limit on this The only thing that I know of it is like when does it start to the happy replays? They need because they only feel that that would compromise their ability to get it right get it right, which is the point

So you just if you're gonna put a time limit on it, you might as well not have it, right? Yeah, it's not two minutes is fine. It's not beat the clock well, it should be prizes for the referees if they Get it with you see a MLB There's their test in the strike zone and they're making the umps call balls and strikes and then embarrassing them when they're wrong What is the point of that? I hate that I hate that the robots call it then either either have it be that they're still calling balls and strikes and I don't know why we're doing this right now but I'll say it have them say strike or stoop and then go to the board like the guy

has to be like challenge that was not a strike and they go up and they do the tennis thing that's the only system that could potentially work but it's just like let the robot do it and then have the guy do safe and out. I'm already picturing in my head things I'd rather do than watch that. What it includes? Cut the grass? Cut the grass, go into the fridge, organize my sock drawer. Anyways.

Condition my hair. I was definitely predicting Derek to hit me with that guy. Sammy, no more baseball. No more baseball. All right, so where do you want to start on your Sportsset.ca article? So just, you know, the quick perusal was for me, Pareco is the right fit. Domi's money is probably one place they might look to. My concern is about them

justifying the internal sort of help. I'm worried that they're not going to think big enough. And this is the year where you have a chance with all these guys around. So where are you at? Who wouldn't love Pareko? And my first thought is, what would you be willing to give up?

All of it. Like Minton and Cowan? Sure, done deal. Pick up the phone and start dialing. Would you be willing to give up? All of it? Like Minton and Cowan? Sure, done deal. Pick up the phone and start dialing. But now you've got to move money out, right? It's just not about... And they wouldn't retain...

Would you give up McMahon? Would McMahon and the Prospect? So a lot of... Would you give up Knies and the Prospect? Absolutely not. Well, then do you rather have Knies than Pareko? Absolutely not. Well then, do you rather have Knies than Perreco? Yeah. No, no, that's not true. I would rather have Knies and whatever.

Yes, yes, yes. No, no, don't separate. If you had to go in the first round, and I'm giving you the choice of starting a series with Knies or Perreco, who would give you the better chance to get out of the first round? Preco preco and why wouldn't you trade nice because can we do nice for preco fine? That's what I'm saying nice plus Pareto's value has never been higher Trag Armstrong will hit a home run with this guy Yeah, these are the names that he wants to hear out of the Toronto Maple Leafs. For me, it's like the Leafs are trying...

We're not taking off roster, guys. That doesn't even help with the money. Nice doesn't make any money. So for me, it's, you know, can you give them the prospect? He's talked about having five firsts on the way. I got to think that if Doug Armstrong gets those type of players or prospects or like a roster player plus a Prospect like he'll he'll take money on he'll take Maybe a max Domi or he'll take right a camp

Yeah, you're talking he'll balance the money out. Yeah, I Gotta tell you like if Bobby McMahon is has to be part of it. Yes. Yeah one no question Yeah, like that is a no quite. I love Bobby Oh my god, so loud And it no question. I love them been a huge contributor the least this year I've even called him an X Factor at times, but if they're like, you know, Bobby McMahon's the key to This deal outside of the prospects. It's like yeah yeah, I'll get the Uber to the airport. Tough to see that happening though, right?

Like being McMahon's age. Braco, there is just the concern, I think, that teams will probably bring up in these conversations that he is older. Had back issues. Had back issues. You know, like you're not sure. The one thing that I think is comforting is his salary is 6'5". The cap's about to go to the moon

You know, you're fine with that on your second pair. Yeah. Yeah You also like the fact that he's six foot six and 230 pounds rangey Did the Leafs have 12 goals from their D combined this year? Not a question last night help it all with 10 of two of them. Yeah, yeah, man, maybe a bus cave Yeah, it's his 13 goals That's here 13 goals 17 assess for 30 points this year break. No, that's sneaky good Top not even D goals Jacob chicken good bud. Oh my god that guy's on fire But so yeah, that's that's an ideal scenario

Should we what else listen to the coach on McCabe and Tanev who both scored last night? Sure. Let's do that. Okay, just Defended well, I mean they defend well block shots, you know simple plays of the puck You know and then they're in good position to you know be in the offensive side of things and be plus players So but it starts at our end with those guys, just how hard they are to play against. They have such good chemistry together and are so connected with each other, making little plays and moving the puck well.

But it's the dirty work that they do with physical play, the blocking the shots, you know, defending the front of our net. They're very good at it. The blocking shots is, to me, like I've never seen it before. With 10-0. Yes. Yeah.

Like- It came at five last night. Very seldom. He's not standing where he shouldn't be You know, you have to think he'd have been a good goalie like to know how to get in the way that much He probably would have been a pretty good goal Like The angles that he takes or the lines that he read stands in to read it to

shortest distance between two points that all that geometry like he must have batted a thousand in high school. I imagine that the the goaltenders like him quite a bit. I'm pretty sure they're pretty grateful to have him out there. So, Sam, you could have seen him on TV. Between the goaltending and that type of work, it really is the story of the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, their captain has not had his best season. Tavares is, you know, getting older, not to take away from everyone, but the reason they've

had as much success as previous years is they're getting better D in goaltending. Well, better goaltending, really. Well, and a way better top pair than they've had in this era with Tan, Evan McCabe. They haven't had this type of... So that's, to go back to your Pareco thing, that's why if you could add another legit impact defenseman, you have two real pairs. Well, and then you have to think of like, what are the D groups who've won the cup recently? And you go through that Vegas team was loaded.

The Avalanche traded for Josh Manson the one year and that set them up and they were loaded on the back end. Like Florida last year was maybe not quite as good, but good. Typically these teams that win cups, really good back there. And probably like you're waiting for Matthews to kind of Light it up again you you wait for Morgan Riley. Yep. Yeah, sure

He's got more to give to I know you didn't think you had the best weekend, right? No, no, no, but you I Think he had it going pretty well before the Four Nations. He's good on that road trip. Yep, he's good on the road trip. You know, we got to give some credit here to Mitch Marner. We got to give him a little love.

They announced that they're having a baby. Oh, yeah. And it's not going to be in season. Right? How great is that? Important. Could help with the move the potential move Some remove. Yeah makes it all lines up. That's how hockey players are supposed to plan it out. That's well done So yeah, I saw some stuff about martyrs contract being talked about on Twitter today. Yeah, that's coming around again. Anything here anything getting close?

No, okay. No. No. I think when I... I think there's a feeling of, again, it's... There's so many dynamics to being a UFA right now that, you know, even Rantanen or Marchand, did you hear Don Sweeney's quote on Marchand? No. Just, I don't know, can you dig it up?

It was, he kind of, he finished his last sentence with basically Marchand's, I'm paraphrasing, but he's gonna have to kind of make a decision or he'll come to a conclusion to, and I'm not doing it justice because I can't remember it but it was it was he kind of left it open-ended. Yeah, is this will address the the Brad one so everybody's a little bit in the same boat at this point in time but it's that it's unlikely that we'll move forward with things other

than maybe Brad's but you never know because obviously it takes one phone call and things can change around. Is that the one? No. No? Okay. I think there's another one but regardless it's probably even more complex today for Marchand moving forward than it was even before the Four Nations tournament because I've got another one here. They're dropping bodies. McEvoy now Lindholm out for the rest of the year. What happened? Is he? Yeah. Oh, geez. The defenseman. Yeah, yeah. Right? Oh, that's, they're done. Yeah. They're done. Done. McEvoy and Lindholm are done. See you later. Like a Burger King Whopper with grill marks on their ass. Done.

Wow. Do you? That's always been my ultimate goal. Sweeney responded to a question about wanting Marshawn to be a lifelong Bruins player. We've been in negotiations with Brad and communicating with him throughout the year. We'll have to have a conversation now that the Four Nations is over and sit down with Brad and his representatives and have a clear path in the next two weeks on to what his final outcome will be.

That the one you're looking for? Yeah, I am. What his final outcome will be. 20 goals and 45 points this season. Still pretty damn good. Anyways, the question was about Mitch Marner and if he was close to signing a contract because it's the Leafs Hour, I know.

I'm trying to get 11 days quietly gone here, all right? Move this along. UFA. I've always read the tea leaves as that it's just, this isn't just about money, it's about the fit moving forward, not only for Mitch Marner, but for the Leafs as well. Like you, heaven forbid this team gets knocked out in the first round again.

Who's going to be happy that Mitch Marner's signed an eight year deal? Not you Sammy, who plugged your nose at it. I still signed it. Would you, any indication or any thought of where he would like other than Toronto? Ever hear anything? I haven't. No.

Why? I just wonder. Like I just know where it's gonna be able to give him as much, this hometown. I don't know, I know that's another relation. That's not true that no one can give him more money. Well they give, I guess it's the years. You can give them more years here.

So, like is someone gonna give them 15 16 I guess the open market like I don't know. That that eighth year is overrated. Okay. Okay. If they get the sense that no move unless he wanted to Set up a sign and trade which Ain't happening. No. Yeah. Okay. No no with ranting in and then the rest of them. I think Sam Bennett's another one as well like Seems that these guys are in the driver's seat. Feels like Rantan is definitely going to get traded again.

I mean, they said they made a big offer to him. He's mulling it over, but he hasn't. It doesn't look like it's going great. And they're a pretty smart management team there. I can't see them just seeing them walk away. Really? I've got the opposite of really smart. I know all the Neanderthals do I will say I did you mentioned Sam better like Jake Gensel smart, too

What's that were they really smart? I agree Jake get so last year They didn't have to give my first didn't have to trade a first round pick to get him. So that was pretty smart Yeah, I liked Sam Bennett cheering for experience. Oh yeah. That was enjoyable. I'd like to do that again. That'd be fun. All right we just picked apart the league a little bit. We'll get into more details when we return at the top of the hour. Renaud Lavoie will join us hockey reporter for TVA. He's got a thing or two to say about Matthew Kachuk. And we'll talk about his injury and how nervous are the Florida Panthers right now with no Matthew Kachuk. I'll talk about the word on the street on this guy as well. What the actual injury

is. Okay. All right, don't go away. Real Kipper and Bourne.