Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Hour: Youthful Production + Pens in Town

Episode Date: November 3, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee begin the hour sharing their reactions to Chris Tanev's on-ice collision, how the Leafs could change the way they play after the incident, Easton Cowan finding the net for his first NHL goal, Nick Robertson's increased production, if Sammy Blais has convinced Craig Berube to become a mainstay, and David Kämpf's future in Toronto. Then, former NHLer and Monday Night Hockey analyst Jody Shelley (30:45) stops by to chat about the Pittsburgh Penguins' potential to sneak into the playoffs, Evgeni Malkin's biggest adjustment to his game, how Auston Matthews can learn from Sidney Crosby's experience in playing alongside different linemates throughout his career, and John Tavares' presence in the Leafs' locker room. 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.

There's a game day, and it ain't on the diamond. It's a leaf hour edition of the real Kipper and Bourne show. Yes, we will talk hockey, we promise. We are live on sports set 360s, sports at 590, the fan in Toronto, streaming always on sportsnet plus and if you miss our show you can always catch us on spotify apple podcast and youtube this hour of real kipper and bourne brought to by bet three six five that kippreel's justin born sammy mckee toronto maple leafs coming off a convincing win yeah let's just tell me just tell everyone if you want to hear our jays thoughts is in the first hour like a full half

hour yeah right yeah it was 25 minutes of us okay so that's done but we may draw a few comparables between now and April? Oh, I think that'll come up. I've already, every time someone does it as well, I'm like, you know, they gave Robertson a chance and he's doing well in the top line. I'm like, this is their like Addison Barger, this is Ernie Clement. This is Nathan Lucas. They found someone. They just needed

an opportunity. There you go. So we're not done. My question is, do you think that the J-Shop will discount the World Series jerseys now? That they didn't win. No. People are still proud to have those. I know. I know. that might tell the loser talk, it's still, how about new? I still would like to get a World Series jersey, like with the little patch on there.

I still would like to get that. You know, my next door neighbor gave his, like, young daughter, his cap from, like, the 93 one or whatever. And I was like, I would love to have a piece of that. So, yeah, I can see why it's still. Yeah. Where do you guys want to start? I think we've been kind of looking for a convincing win for 60 minutes in regulation. This clearly was it Saturday night.

Yeah. So I wrote an article. on sportsnet.ca, it's forever who's been paying attention to the Jays and wants to check in on the Leafs and get caught up. You want to be a lease fan again? Send me that link. Yeah, I'll send it to you. Thanks, brother. All the things that are going on.

You know, I think start with the big headline. Austin Matthews looked good. You know, skating downhill, five on five, shot a puck past a goalie. That was really encouraging. And then on the other side of the coin, Chris Tanev took another significant hit to the head, stretchered

off, and they'll lose him. So, Is that the biggest story here? I want to start with what stands out the most. Is it the fact that Chris Tannav is now back out of the lineup on IR and then what that does? Or do you guys want to get into the, let's just stick with TANF right now? Well, sure. Yeah, I mean, I think the fact that they looked like they did Saturday was the first time this year is a significant story for sure. But TANF is obviously a guy that last year they counted on as their number one shutdown guy near the league league in block.

shots i'll i'll start the conversation i'm nervous for him i totally agree after the last one that happened yes and happening it was it 10 days apart those two blows i mean that's that's pretty scary so uh i did watch it multiple times incidental contact you know like the response you know it's a significant hit. Everybody wants to kind of downplay it a little bit, but it was enough where you could get jarred, you could get twisted. It's coming from that kind of back side angle. And, you know, when you watch them being stretchered off the ice, the focus was the neck, guys, the neck. So I'm hoping it isn't concussion related and more precautionary on the neck. You know, there was a good

comparison made that i heard i want to say it was jonas seagull that um remind reminding of the jake muzzan situation remember he had a concussion came back and then shortly thereafter got another one his ended up being spine related if i recall he never played another game um and not to say that that's what this is but you worry anytime you have these things in tight succession and it's you're more susceptible um you know with smaller hits the more you have them and he did have have concussion issues earlier in his career. So, yeah, it's a significant concern, right? I mean, five more years in his contract,

obviously a human being here that we're concerned about, too. But from the least perspective, as a hockey perspective, you're going to see a lot of Philippe Myers now. And that ain't Chris Tanna. You know, that's for a decor that's not been very good. That's, uh, just, just, uh, good. You, I mean, just on that, though, you do have enough. NHL, NHL guys, you should be able to color it off.

But that's something that maybe, short term, not a huge problem. You're in a playoff series, you go, ugh. Yeah, no, but that kind of, if this is going to be a thing, it's something maybe Brad has to look at. The one thing that does scare me with Chris Tanov is the amount of physical abuse he's had the last little while. Yeah.

And I said it before this injury that I thought Florida just pounded the piss out of the Leafs. alliteration. And more specifically, the blue line. Now, I think it was in that Amazon where Mitch Marner or somebody on the bench said, R.D. are getting hammered. We got to go and hit their D.

Something of that nature. And whoever it was, I think was specifically talking about the abuse that Chris Tannav took. Well, I wrote an article that maybe wasn't specifically on that, but certainly included it about hits taken last year.

And Chris Tanev took unbelievable amounts of contact last year because he's not a guy who throws hits. He's a guy who gets to the puck first, makes a small little play with the puck and takes the hit, which is a very valuable skill and a courageous attribute, but certainly does add up. So, yeah, I mean, the Leafs are counting on this guy to be a shutdown guy they can count on.

But because of the way he plays. And not only, but not just the way he plays, but the style of the Leafs defending I don't know if it's harder on him in Toronto than it was in Calgary or Vancouver or Dallas but it wasn't more but at his age now it is serious wear and wear and tear on him

and he's not Not 27 or 28. Nope. And something's going to have to give here or else this guy is just going to keep getting hurt. Something has to change with the amount of abuse that you had mentioned or the way they just defend in general. Well, the thing that sucks about it is, you know, it's not a traditional play for him where it happens. It's two totally freak Like a little weird collision in front of the net

That's head on head and then an incidental contact in the neutral zone It's not like it was a guy who got the puck in on him And just ran them in the endboards and got them It's two really weird awkward collisions that have really caused this So you hope it's I mean those those other ones start looking a little more scary But the one thing you can do As we talked about them not having an F3

And not you know not being great against rushes If you have guys back You can slow up the forecheck a bit You can cut off. You can just run interference and help your deal out. So it's certainly something they need to do more of. Do you want to hear Bruy, his overview of the game, start from the top there, and we can start picking apart.

Because to be honest, there's some real positives from this game. I don't agree. I think we should get to a few. Let's start with the overview. I thought we were a little slow at the start, but got to our game. You know, way more direct tonight. I thought that our forecheck was really good. Our ozone play was good.

Just our PK was really good tonight. I thought we had a lot of people contributing tonight in the game and our goalie was really good. You know, they gave up the first goal. Yeah, that's in two minutes into the game. Yeah, that wasn't great. But after that kind of shut it down, by and large, you know, for the first time, I think, saw them hold the puck in the offensive zone a little bit more, you know,

carry some of the high danger stuff at five on five. but hey I want to first thing I want to do is shout out because I talked about at one point that Cowan didn't look physically ready or whatever the last few games I've changed my mind it's a thing I do I reserve the right to watch hockey and he looks tenacious he's making plays where other guys in this team

don't see the ice like him he can do it I'm changing my mind he can do it this year I think to my earlier point about Schaefer there's going to be lulls It's just going to be those areas, those windows where it's three or five games or you've got to pull him out of the lineup or you've got to back his minutes off.

But he's going to have to go through that roller coaster. I think it's pretty clear here that he ain't going anywhere, right? They're just going to deal with whatever they need to do to hopefully progress his development without sending him to the Marley's or leaving long stretches where he's in the stands as a healthy scratch. So something that Simmer said in the broadcast that really stuck with me and something that I've noticed from him is that, you know, he's playing in the NHL for the first time.

He's playing with a lot of really great players. And, like, I think has deferred a lot and maybe passed in spots where he could shoot. And he just, Simmer said on the broadcast, like, there's a instinctual play where you remember what you are, you get the puck and you shoot it. Like, it just felt like those. was the first time where he kind of broke through something. He shot one like that about five minutes prior in the game, and it's almost like that triggered like a, oh, yeah, that's what I do.

I mean, I don't know if we have the clip of it or not. I didn't tell anybody to get it. But the reaction from Theravaris on that is one that was able to warm my heart after the worst loss I've ever witnessed. And I'm telling you, he's so happening, dude. He forechecked that puck. He tracked it down. He made a great play.

That's one of the best passes I've seen him make off the wall and into Cowan. that's that's what you want that's I know those are hard passes to make yeah that's the threat that I wish Tavares was more of yeah and listen he made a pass out of his own end through his legs on the Robertson goal also Cowan found Tavares he walked it up top and went back across the grain across the scene to Tavares I was like geez you know that's the first time I can remember Tavares and someone kind of having a little thing going since marner was on his line seven years ago Yeah, I mean, and the elephant in the room is that looks like Willie Nealander is going to play tonight, and Nick Robertson is not coming off the top line.

So let's make elephant. You guys want to hear Bruby on Cowan or Robertson? Cowan. Let's do Cowan. Yeah, he, you know, he had a hell of a game tonight. Just the way he hung on the puck and made plays and competed on the puck and his stick details. He had a lot of good things tonight. He was a really good player tonight for us.

Hell of a game. He's got an engine, too. I mean, that's, Bruy doesn't say. You heard me say that on a couple of players. He's got this motor, I think, that will keep him going. Yeah. And it's just, it's the youthful enthusiasm. It's just all of it.

It's needed right now on a team that sometimes has difficulty finding some emotion. There you go. You know, tracks it down for Tavares and fix a spot. It's a great shot. I wouldn't say that's a. finest highlight clip for Drysdale. No, it's a great shot, though. It's a great shot.

Right under the ball. Like, that's how you become one of the greatest scoring junior threats, you know, in the last hundred years. So I wrote my article today. If you're catching up on the Leafs, Cowan is a guy that, like, looks like he could do it now. I said, you know, I want to see him get some opportunity. And I said, I think he could be a guy that this year can get up to 40 points, 30, 40 point window.

And I said, but for that to happen, he'll need to get on the power play. morning skate today Riley Matthews Cowan Nealander Tavares is the top unit and it's he's the perfect fit he can track down pucks on rebounds

because he's tenacious he can see the ice a little bit more it's a big ass he passes the puck and almost defaults to that sometimes so I think it's a great fit you put nyes out there

with Machelli Domi Robertson on the other one with OEL up top give him a run man and speaking to give him a run Nick Robertson who you mentioned five points in his like last four game. Since Craig Simpson came on this show. Another Simmer

showed out. Since Simmer came on here and said, if you're so afraid to everyone of him going somewhere and lighten it up, give him a chance. Just at least confirm that he can't do it. To quote the great Eddie out, just give me a chance. Give him a chance. He's taking advantage. Give me a chance.

All right, let's get to Craig Bruby on Nick Robertson. I think, you know, Robbie, it's effort, right? you know if you look back and before he scored that goal he had two big blocks in our zone you know just the speed and his shot are dangerous obviously but uh his work work ethic drives everything for me with him now it's he had good puck touches and now it's Robbie Robbie Robbie's in didn't he always call Robbie I don't know a lot of naked that's the first I've heard of it yeah maybe he's warming up to him because I don't think he's a maybe we just didn't like

Positive Nick Robertson clips. In the past, he's portrayed not being the biggest fan of Nick Robertson. You think he's warming up to him? Shoot it in the net and win some games, right? They're three and one since Robertson's been there. I think that probably helps. I think on a team that we've talked about in here multiple times that lacks maybe some jam, some energy. I think when you throw him over the boards, regardless of what you want to say about him,

he's trying out there yeah looks like he's skating fast he's trying to run into people the puck lands on a stick in the sweet spot you know what can happen so you just wonder if he doesn't feel the desperation of like i'm going to play 12 minutes i have to get my goals right now if he's playing more if maybe he can make the odd pass too and look up a little bit and relax all right some skill and cowen and robertson and also sammy blaze you know i like this guy way too much I know he's been in the league I know I've seen him play hockey before but two games 10 hits

goal assist Oh he's you know Yeah that's that's the one that Bruby remembered I think in St. Louis Yeah he he made a pass to Domi He got a touch a stretch pass from the D zone He one touched it out to the wall To Domi who was streaking and hit Yarncrock back door

And he's like that's a NHL one touch To a streaking teammate like Yeah and his hits hurt guys He's not doing the you know Nick Robertson's actually fifth on the team and hits per game over the past two years. That's not the same hit as what Sammy Blaze doing. So I like him.

Skate's better than I thought he did. So interesting, if you'll look at the lines there on your lineup that they had McMahon not in the lineup tonight, they asked Baroubae about that at practice. And he said, nah, it's not for sure. Like, I got to make some decisions tonight before the game starts. Yeah, but I don't know if, I don't know what the decisions are. Maybe it's, is it Nielander, but Nielander said he's good to go. he's good to go so yeah they'll probably take out michelli oh do you think they will yeah mchelle yeah yeah i think i don't think he's i don't think he's getting his nose dirty enough

he's not getting in the areas he isn't he hasn't he hasn't progressed like a cowen or robertson right now and uh i think he needs a night off what's really fun for this group is you know lawton is coming back probably this week Lorentz is coming back probably this week Nealander's back tonight real competition to stay in the lineup and you're going to see guys like Bobby McMahon come out now McMahon

has zero points in his last eight games and that's in a spot where they've put them up at the top two lines and said this is your opportunity I compared it in business there's something called the Peter principle where everyone gets promoted up to a job where they're over or underqualified for and that's where they stay

they did that with McMahon HL, NHL, they kept promoting him and that top line, it's pretty clear he's not that guy, is he? He's not a 19, 20 minute a night forward. So now you can say, okay, we can correct that, which you can't do in business and say, put them back down.

These skilled guys, where they ever, wherever they come from, and, you know, Machelli, you got a, you need power play, and that's where Cowan they're hoping will be another shot of confidence for him.

But we said this even when we first heard about Machelli being traded. Where do you think Willie Nealander's coming off on a power play that you're going to go then and get some points here? You have to, you're going to have to score 15, 20 goals five on five. And that ain't easy, right? You know, look at Austin, one of the best shooters in the world and he just had his first five-on-five goal. Did he not?

No, second. Second? Okay. it's hard and he's been one of the best at it i think he had his 300th saturday night which is the most in history but he's battling hard still i mean it's it's hard for these guys to come in and produce if you're not getting power play time robertson's battle too and he's been managing 15 goals do you want to hear uh what broube has to say about McMahon because he talked about McMahon today at morning skate if you want to hear it or do you care yeah

I do care okay let's go to clip eight please well for me from Bobby like I saw early on I saw the player I wanted to see you know I thought he was very aggressive he was physical winning his battles and doing things like that and getting scoring opportunities I thought it's dipped off a little bit so it's just about a mindset for me with him he's playing a little too safe at times and he needs to play more aggressively and do what we need to what we need out of them you know what's hard for McMahon is baroubi has a clear picture of what he wants him to be and then McMahon has a clear picture of what he's been and they don't jive so the one thing when every time i think about McMahon is i go earlier years a few years ago to what he was

was before he came in to the Maple Leafs. Yeah. And you knew him through your, your days, right? No, he just played college hockey and I'm familiar. I've read some stuff. That's all. Yep. But the player that Broobie's trying to turn him into,

it doesn't come naturally to him is the one thing that I think you have stressed on our show. Yeah. And if that's the case, it's really hard. It's really hard to get any levels of consistency because sometimes guys are really good of getting out what you're asking for at the time

but when you don't pay attention to me then I'm taking my foot off the gas pedal. And that's what happens to McMahon. He has all the tools to go out and be this straight line hard four checker lean on guys break to the net have two guys hanging over him and be a mule to get there yeah but doesn't want to do it all the time yeah i think it's clear that it's there for him and it's not who he naturally is and so i i do think that that's a tough contrast what what really stinks for him is when you have a coach that decides you know the line

and the departed where he's like, there's guys who can be hit and there's guys who can't be hit. Now, there's not quite a guy who can't be hit. That's Bobby McMahon, but with scratches. It's like, this is a guy that Barubi has said, you can scratch him. There's guys that are off limits.

There's guys that we won't do it to. Bobby McMahon is unfortunately one of the guys eligible to be a whipping boy here for Barubi and he's just going to ride that roller coaster all year long. Keep the pedal down to your point, Kipp, or he's going to get the whipping. I don't know who else in this roster

takes it like him. I don't think there's, There's another name. Robertson's been in and out. Robertson does. But yeah, Robertson's almost exclusively getting the whip. All stick, no carrots for him.

McMahon at least get some opportunity. In the back half of our show, Jody Shelley will join us, former national hockey leaguer in town to call the Leaf pen game on Amazon. In terms of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Did you want to talk about camp before we get to that? Yes, I do.

Okay, before we get into. Pittsburgh, and we will with Jody Shelley. David Camp has left the Toronto Maple Leafs. I didn't watch Saturday night. I was doing something else. Did Elliot speak of Camp on headlines? Yeah, he did. He spoke of him on headlines.

There's a tweet, like a radio quote of someone talking about how the Leafs were still shopping, Camp and Robertson or something to that effect. And I retweeted it and basically said, I just don't understand the camp thing. you know this guy is an NHL center good face off man PK to fit like I yeah

I think he's a hockey player and and then it was made clear from Elliot that that camp has left the team and they've suspended him without pay yeah

I think that's voluntary in his case I think he yeah I mean he did but I think there's it's been on he's on notice that he's being suspended

without pay and that makes no sense to me for a guy that's making 2.5 million and 2.5 million next year. Yeah. Now the Leafs aren't paying him. And I suppose the next move on his part is to have his contract terminated. So that's the talk is that he is considering. Giving up $4 million.

Yeah, it's $2.4.2 this year and next. He's considering walking away from that. You assume that he's got a little bit of money off. year and then there's there's signing bonuses too i'm sure that's involved in his last deal the leifes could ask for some of that back it's like crazy so why would you do that well here's i think a very important question if you think that being in the american hockey league at age what is he 31 or something like that for the next two years voids your chances of getting NHL contracts after that.

He's not staying there for two years. You know, something's... I think, I agree with you. He's a serviceable player. Yeah. There's going to be a trade between now, March, offseason, draft, free agency, July 1st. There's going to be a window where the Leafs are going to do something and they're going to, the Leafs are, the team may say, you know, take 50% of a contract and they're like, no, a

we'll give you camp like there's going to be opportunities for him don't give up the cash buddy yeah you know i think part of what happened here with camp for them was a misunderstanding miscommunication or just straight up not telling the guy i think he thought that he was getting called back up and not that he was getting which is fine he's not okay but you're going to give up three and a half million dollars to be terminated on the chance i'm not that another team signs you for 950 you ain't getting two and a half you ain't getting two you're not even at 1.5 he must be really mad yeah like i i do think that he thought it was like they're gonna move some people whether they tried he'd be back and everything they did try hunky dory again and then

i think it's it's not out there he was getting increasingly so you stay patient and you wait and we thought with Scott Lotton hurt that he would have been called up they chose not to but a couple of injuries and maybe you would have found yourself back up don't know but I don't get this

I got to tell you take your net and go home I'm inclined to agree with you here that there's nothing to be gained from from picking up your stuff and leaving whether you know whatever you think

happened this is just kind of play well enough and they'd keep you if you if you were so good they wouldn't let you go right so play a little better hang around i do think though he's gotten a pretty raw deal some bad luck with the roster situation the salary cap situation suck it up we all had raw deals at some point from team suck it up yeah but he's not right but the thing is it's like to your point of play better he's never going to go out there and like start firing him under the bar no he has a pretty boring style of play that like if the coach has a very very particular set of skills. He's a natural settlement and he can kill penalties.

There's 32 teams. There's got to be somebody that's going to need him. Like Vancouver couldn't use him. They're hanging on by a thread. But you know what he doesn't have and for Ruby I think really requires is a pulse. You know, that like competitive, punch guy in the face, frustration. I think Burby just said we don't. Did you watch your first hanging games? There's a few guys that we're wondering about a pulse.

Yeah. Yeah. And I think the coach has not enjoyed that. Before we move on, Real Kipper and Bourne are playing in the Eric Lindrauss Celebrity Classic in support of Easter Seals, Ontario. Nick and Justin, along with other SportsCet personalities, will be taking to the ice to raise money for this great cause.

You can support our team by fundraising by scanning this QR code on your screen right now if you're watching on SportsSat Plus, Sportsnet, YouTube. Kipper said that we're in last. He's one of the most competitive people I've ever met my life. I don't like being in the bottom. I'm of a...

It's not great. No, it's not good. So he's going to come out and fight our listeners, so... A dollar would help. And honestly, the cause is amazing. This is a fantastic event. Get your tax receipt. Yeah, just donate to us.

And, yeah, I haven't played hockey. The Blue Jays, I haven't played hockey in three weeks, so... Oh, yeah, you're actually, for once, you're out of... Oh, I'm out of shape. I'm going Thursday morning to my usual 10.01 to get warmed up, but... We saw... It'd be worse the next day for. for it.

We saw Ernie Clement's hockey go viral. Yeah. Right? High school hockey days go viral. Like, maybe we'll get him on the team by Friday. Yeah, I don't think so. He's cancunned up for sure. No, no.

He's ready to give more. Andy Pahas. I'll never forgive you. Yeah, I can't hit a baseball. No, but boy, can he reach? Game time. Yeah, let's do game time. It's game time.

Presented by Bet365. Visit the Affleast's Odds and C. Why, it's never ordinary at Bet 365. must be a team plus Ontario only please play responsibly so now that I don't get to talk about the blue jays anymore I got to talk about hockey now um the uh leaps tonight I forget what the numbers are for sydney crosbie against the leaps but it is complete and utter ownership as most stars who were really good during the like 2010s they really lit up some crappy leaves teams so a lot of them have a lot of good success but particularly sick

give me a Sidney Crosby anytime goal tonight at plus 160. He's leading their team in goals. He's red hot. He loves to play against the Leafs. So give me a Sid goal tonight, for sure. And the Leafs are pretty big favorites tonight. What do you think the line is the Leafs tonight?

They should be plus 160. Who, the Leafs? Yeah. Like, they should be the underdog? Oh, sorry, minus 160. They are minus 185 tonight on Home Ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins, plus 155 on the other side of the money line.

Edmonton in St. Louis to take on the Blues. They're minus 130 favorites, Vancouver in Nashville, taking on the Predators plus 100. And Seattle, taking on the Blackhawks at home, plus 130 on the money line for the Blackhawks, minus 155 for the Seattle Crackin. So there you go. That was game time.

Presented by Bet365, visit the app for latest odds and see why it's ever ordinary. At Bet, 365, that's 19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. This is a big game for the Toronto Maple Leafs. I actually agree with that. Oh, no, I'm telling you right now, With now the Blue Jays done, people are going to just jump right in.

They've given themselves a little bit of wiggle room Saturday night to follow it up with another good game, convincing game, that they're heading in the right direction. A loss puts them right back where they were before the Philly game. And let's talk about all that next with Jody Shelley. You heard the man. Bye-bye. Everything you need to know about the Raptors

and the biggest stories around the NBA. Smith and Jones. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kippoorin-Born, brought to by Bet365. Nick Kippers, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. Closing out.

Right in to tonight's. Action. Four games, guys. Sammy. Four games on tap, I believe. Pittsburgh, Toronto, Edmonton, St. Louis, Vancouver, Nashville, and Chicago, and Seattle. Our next guest will focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins covering tonight for Amazon. Let's welcome in, Jody Shelley. Hey, buddy. Okay. Hi, guys. You are forbidden to talk baseball because we're going to, we're not, all our hockey fans have, I think, left the last three weeks. I don't want to talk baseball. I mean, it's just, let's move on. Okay, so let's move on to if, you know, unlikely scenarios like we saw in the weekend continue,

then Pittsburgh will make the playoffs this year. Like what is going on here? Jody, we had them destined as a team that was. going to be in the sweepstakes for a top young player to take over for Sidney Crosby in this McKenna, and it's not happening. Why? You know what? I think they found a little bit what Washington found a couple years ago around Ovechkin, where they put some youth, some speed, a new voice in Dan Muse, and they're having a lot of fun. I was in the locker room today. I mean, that Kindle,

kid, he didn't have on his bingo card to make the Pittsburgh Penguins this year. And he's looking around the room. He's got Crosby, Malkin, Latang, and he's a part of the power play with these guys and he's just brought this great, youthful enthusiasm into that locker room.

And they've got a really interesting group of superstar players who've been around a long time that have now been rejuvenated by the combination of the voice of Dan Mews, his preparation. He includes them in some of the preparation.

And when you have young guys make the team and impact the way they have and key ingredients on lines that, you know, Rust is important to Crosby and Malkin has found a couple big boys with him and Manta and Brazo, who I don't think is playing tonight.

But I can say whatever I want, Kipper, it's goaltending. It's the gold thing and he's shirt up a little bit. You know, you look at any team around the league, you can plan and do whatever you want. If you don't have a goaltender, that's helping you stay in games and helping you steal games or at least keeping you where you want to be throughout the game

to execute your game plan, then, you know, you can do whatever you want. And, you know, they're playing well in front of them. But Jari has rejuvenated himself and Shilos has been a bright spot. So it's, no one saw it coming. But I think a couple of years ago, we were wondering about the capitals the same way. And, you know, they turned themselves into it more of a team game

and it's been buy-in from everyone. So do you think it's an aberration? Do we think that, like, okay, they got great saves early on and everything's going right, maybe Malkin falls off, the goaltending changes. Do you think they're going to be there at the end of the year? I think if they stay healthy, they can. I think they have enough pieces and enough skill. I mean, you look at Eric Carlson, he went there and he was a terrible fit.

We all were sitting back. We didn't see that power play just be a highlight reel every single night, and it just didn't work. And now he's kind of found his simple game. I think if they can stay healthy, I think they can have an impact. Those players like Crosby, and again, talking to Kindle and just him, him being around Sydney Crosby, anybody that's around Sydney Crosby, whether it's for two minutes, two days, two hours, I don't care. There is an impact of how hard he prepares and what the expectations are. And I think that that is something that, I mean, that's a luxury in itself.

So I would not count them out if they can stay healthy. You're watching and listening to Jody Shelley, former national hockey leaguer analyst for Prime Amazon covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, tonight nationally or, yeah, nationally. Yeah. Jody, Malkin was supposed to be this guy that was like one foot into retirement based on last season. And he's put himself in a position now to be a key contributor here to their start. And I mean, how surprised are you so far out of it and whether or not this guy's got any more jam to, like, continue after this season? Or is this still a feeling like he's done one way or another, like a Kopitar? I don't sense that being around him today and watching him play hockey.

I, you know, Malkin's a player that likes to get the puck with speeds. he can pick through players. And I think there was a lot of times where he would arrive in the last couple of years and not have that chemistry with whoever he was playing with. And then they got in a situation where they were forcing plays. But now it looks like he's just playing hockey. He's reading off his linemates. He understands their size.

Manta has good enough hands to get him the puck at certain times. You know, you watch him. If he's moving and gets the puck, you can't stop him because he's got the range. He's got the base with his legs. he's got the skill to make the move. He makes the quick play. And the way those three are playing, plus the defense involved, I just see him playing hockey.

So when I see a player like that with that kind of pedigree, he's healthy. And being able to play the game the way he wants to, I don't know why you would ever stop. You know, I think that there's kind of a refreshment in Malkin's game, and he needs the line mates around him. And I think that's why we're seeing this. I don't know if he's going to retire, but here we are a dozen games into the season.

and we're talking about Malkin and Crosby, leading their team and leading the way and this team being one of the tops in the national hockey league, it's great for them. But it's even more exciting in that locker room. I really am impressed and got a really good sense of just kind of the spirit of what they have going on right now. And, I mean, when you see an athlete at that stage in their career having that much fun, I think it puts doubt in his mind

as to whether he should hang him up or not. Well, and, you know, it's curious because you're looking at Pittsburgh, they're having great success, and you're saying they're doing it on the back, of these superstars, their most important people. They're going to go up against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. And tonight, like Matthew scores last game, these 12 games into the year he's got nine points. You know, this is for a guy who's had multiple 100 plus points seasons,

won a heart trophy. Is it a vibes thing where just Pittsburgh has a good vibe going and that kind of helps everyone out? Because Toronto still seems to be kind of searching for their own good vibes right now. You know what? It's interesting because I remember watching Sid a couple years ago and they were searching

for line mates for him remember Russ was hurt and he had Gensel was gone and you can see in Cid's game there was times where he would take the long change

and that kind of frustration was grown over him where it was like he's trying to make the play he makes the play to someone else the puck ends up out of his own he's back checking it's a waste of a shift

almost where I feel like with Austin you know Marner's good that's a big of adjustment for him to lose Mitch Marner and the times that he had him on the ice to carry the puck. And I mean, Matthews is a centerman and centermen generally are puck distributors, not just the shooters. And you need to have a guy that can draw the attention, find and get to the dirty areas so he could find that kind of soft spot that he's scored all those goals from.

He's going through a major adjustment. And I know I think, of course, Nize is back on his line tonight. Robertson's up there who has potential, but he can't try to be Mitchie. Marner, but there's an element of Austin Matthews, which I think is just a little bit off. I wouldn't call him heartbroken, but I think it's just like, oh, you know, like, geez, he's missing a dynamic spark that he's going to have to find himself. You know, I think there's a part of his game that he's going to have to adjust like we've seen other superstars. I think even McKinnon went through it last year when NACIS wasn't really settled in there

and he lost rant in it, you know, that dynamic duo, it's, there's a lot that goes into that from all from both parts of it but when you lose it the adjustment period it doesn't need to be an adjustment period it needs to be a realization that you have to change your game a little bit not just score goals from that dead area and also not just play defense as a defensive center and he's a dynamic guy that can break over the game he's just not in that gear yet that's what i'm seeing one of the bright start uh spots early uh has been john tovaris and the ability still uh to score points, get goals. He looks like he's on his way to another solid season,

whether that ends up being around his average of 80 points a year. But it's a good sign early and a lot of Leaf fans really excited and especially our Sammy here that it's a fraction of the cost of the $11 million they've been paying for in the past. You know what? You're lucky to have John DeVaris. I mean, it's a lot to be a Toronto Maple Leaf. I've never been a Maple Leaf, but I've always been a guy that's coming to this market

and you feel the pressure on these players, but you also see what comes with being a Toronto Maple Leaf. There's a lot of great that comes being a member of anyone that's been a member of this team. And I know a lot of players that have played here, and they love it. They love the way they're treated. They love the way the locker room is. They love the way it's a special and a different vibe. And I think John Tavares being a local guy and wanting to be here and wanting to bring Stanley Cup.

I mean, his passion and the way he works at his game and the way he understands, everyone's always watching him, you know, it's one of those athletes that you don't, you see come around once in a while, and his value will be tremendous while he's here. But when he's gone, you know, he will affect other players in a positive way because even watching him today at practice, taking face-offs, working on his stride, working on little parts of the game, getting out there early on working at it. You know, he's a guy that wants to do right and wants these, these headlines and everything to be talked about in a positive way and get things turned around. And I think that's the real, I guess the temperature teller for Craig Barube is John Tavares, you know.

He knows he doesn't have to worry about John's effort, what he's going to do in the defensive zone, how he's going to be responsible. And it's good for the young kids they have here, or some of the young kids they have here. And I think that, you know, that's an important piece here. And it's good that he's having success because his voice, it will always be loud, but it's even a little louder and they'll even a little more impressionable when he plays that way.

And we've all played with guys like that, where it's just like, you know, you always have that, the guy in the locker room that you can always look at and wonder if things are going right or how you should act or what you're thinking of the situation. It's good to see him having that success, but I think his value is still so high with the media and with everything that goes on

with the Toronto Maple Leafs. For sure. Jody, last one for me, just wanted to get your thoughts on playing on a team where there's internal competition. Right now, the Leafs have added Sammy Blaze, Robertson wants to be in, and Machelli might come out, and McMahon might come out, Lorenz, Lawton, they have all these depth guys, and they're fighting for not that many spots. You know, we always hear that it's a positive. Have you felt that there's something that's good for the team typically?

It's hard when you're the guy on the fourth line. They'll tell you that that's just trying to stay in the lineup. But it is really good. It keeps you sharp. I mean, it's something that, you know, I played 12 years. You know, I had to battle for every day of practice and every day in the game. And I knew there was always someone that could take that spot in my lineup. So I would leave the rink and shut it off briefly.

But then, you know, I would be in conversations or at dinners. But my engine was still turning about, okay, like, I got to, you got to be ready for whatever's to come the next day. And I always like competition within the lineup to a certain point for the top end guys on power plays and minutes because once the wrong guy gets put in a situation where you know, the whole team knows he should be there, then it affects the whole team. There's a trickle-down effect with that.

So I think the consistency, not to just keep those guys happy, but to let them work through some things, I think that's important for a team dynamic in those situations for sure. One more, Jody. And we know during your telecast, you won't get Chris Tann of tonight to call during the hockey game. We all saw him get carted off on a stretcher here. We know how important he is to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He'll be turning 36, I think, in a little over a month here. This is the second injury we've seen. We know he's been a battler, his whole career. There's a lot of wear and tear here. How concerned should Leaf fans be? about Chris Tann of moving forward here? Well, I just think right now we're all really concerned because it was a scary hit for a guy

who surprisingly made it most of the way through the season last year healthy, and that's his value. If he's out, that's a major loss. That is something that is hard to replace around the National Hockey League as well because defensively, we show some packages of him blocking shots and playing through pain

and he always seems like he's got something going on, but he's just one of those guys that the opposition knows is hard to play against and makes your night miserable because he has a certain level of frustration he can bring. So if he's out, that's something that, yeah, I think that is a major hole for this team, especially looking at their defense. He's the one to me that brings an element of kind of intellectual jam, if you will, where it's always just positional and brings guys into the fight. and there's no dodging, blocking a shot

or putting yourself in a situation where it's team first when you see a guy like that doing it. So that's something that's extremely valuable here. Jody, great stuff, man. Have a great call tonight, okay? Thanks for having me on, guys. Thanks for your time, man. Appreciate it. Former National Hockey Leagueer now analyst on Amazon, Jody Shelley.

He talked about fighting for his ice time in three straight seasons for the Columbus Blue Jackets. 206 pims in 52 games, 249 and 68 and 276 games in three straight seasons. Tough. That's doing it. Just really genuinely tough. Yes.

You know, guys who are like fluffers or do it because they have to, that was never him, boy. And in 96, 97 with the Halifax Moose heads, in 59 games, 25 goals, 19 assists, 420 pims. How is there enough ice time? Just fighting a guy with one hand while you're sure. Shooting with the other.

4.20 is crazy. So the Toronto Maple Leafs right back at it tonight, if I'm not mistaken, this is a four-game homestand? For the Leafs? Yeah, all they do is play at home. They never live. It's really weird. It is really weird.

I'm not going to help them later in the year, but that flip side's going to hit. So tell me what they need to go to, what record they need when this four homestand is over. It's a curious schedule. Is it, it's Pittsburgh, Mammoth, Boston, who? Hurricanes. Two and two. That one feels like an L. Two and two for me.

No, that's not going to cut it, though. No. I think three out of four else people are going to start. Oh, you're asking me what I think they're going to do or what I want them to do. Yeah, what they need to prove that this thing's going to move forward. And we are in November, by the way. I think the hot month. Yeah, the hot month has to start on this homestand.

The weather outside today, boy, could have fooled me. Yeah. That's the nice thing about the Jay's losing. At least the weather's uplifting. It only gets dark at 4.30 p.m. Yeah, I think. We needed that hour that night, though.

Yeah. Our house, anyway. I think you would hope that they win the first three and the loss would be in the back-to-back to Carolina, right? Yeah. I mean, listen, the vibes are pretty decent right now. I feel like they played their best game of the season against Philly. It would be great to see a good show against Pittsburgh.

Utah's been playing well. going to be a good game and then the Bruins that's a Monday Wednesday Saturday schedule oh and then Sunday yeah Sunday night loss of hockey yeah busy week good distraction yeah so it goes Pittsburgh Utah Boston Carolina Boston and they'll have Lawrence back by Wednesday

they'll have Lawton back by Wednesday I believe they're gonna have to make some decisions yarn crock just keeps shooting it in the net and getting scratched like killing penalties when he's out there they pretty good player to not play sometimes some tough decisions to be made and then here you see what they do with backup goal tending uh joseph wool presumably not ready

haven't heard any updates on that has he talked yet no uh tree living did say he would talk when he's ready to talk uh so i assume we're going to get kaden primo on sunday which means we're going to get three games and six days here or four four and eight from stolars is that too much kip

yep uh i'll tell you after tonight if it's too much or not maybe wednesday night is another backup start against utah oh boy they're flying around we might see hill to be buddy listen uh i would prefer take a look at what's happening here i mean there's there's there's some transitions going right around the league in divisions and i'm looking at the alantic right now and i'm like feel i don't know how Montreal Detroit and Tampa is going to end up

but like if it was February March I'm not I wouldn't be as surprised if those three teams kind of hang in there you wouldn't be surprised wouldn't be surprised at this point by goal differential it's weird Montreal is plus eight

which is fine but Detroit's only plus three at nine and four Tampa take a look Five wins in a row. Five straight wins for Tampa to get to six and four. I got to tell you, that Gensel's a gamer. Terrifying me.

Can the Leafs get on a little bit of a heater starting tonight? Please. I need it. Yes. One win and they'd be in third of the division. Make Sammy forget all about his Blue J. Woes. Never. Never.

Listen to that stuff in the first hour. I feel so much better, though. Our thanks to Jody Shelley and in the first hour, John Michael Liles. All right. Valley tomorrow. And we're back to our normal time. 4 to 6 p.m. 6. 4 to 6.

4 to 6.m. Eastern. Now on. Have a great night, everybody.