Real Kyper & Bourne - Leafs Narrowing in on GM + Game 1 Impressions

Episode Date: April 20, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee kick off with the latest on the Toronto Maple Leafs' ongoing GM search. They discuss the team's timeline, the latest candidates, including Ryan Martin from the Rangers, Evan Gold from the Bruins, Scott White from the Stars, and former Leaf Gary Roberts. Then, they share their thoughts on the first two days of Stanley Cup playoff action, including a captain vs. captain scrap to kick off the Sens/Hurricanes series. Later, Craig Simpson (32:17) joins the show to discuss Montreal's Game 1 win over the Lightning, Juraj Slafkovský's hat trick, Cole Caufield's maturity, Tampa's costly penalties, and the pressure on Andrei Vasilevskiy after a rough postseason opener.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.

All right, let's get her going here. Start of the week. And we are off and running in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Right. Nick Caprio's, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, Jake the Snake Shultz, Derek Brandeo. This is the part where you tell me I'm wrong. Nope, they're both up there. Nailed it.

I know all the names right. That is awesome. We are live on Sportsnet 360. Sportsnet 590, the fan in Toronto. Streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. Also available Spotify app. podcast and YouTube where the chats continue to run fast and furious all around of course I think still the Toronto Maple Leafs now leaps are long gone nowhere to be found but still got two hours we'll go

little Leafs we'll go around the league plenty still listen if you thought you're coming here and we weren't going to do leaves off the top you got the wrong show like that OT win did you yeah yeah you're a slat you're a slighted A hat trick? Throw it in the trash. Let's talk AGMs from losing teams. Safe to say, the Toronto Maple Leafs, search continues. Never short of information.

Our very own Elliot Friedman, Frank Sarvelli, all the big boys all around this with names that are still in the mix. And I don't know if they've shrunk or are they're. down to the nitty gritty. We had mentioned earlier that I had heard that there was some thought that it could move a little faster than what was once projected, I think, by Keith Pelly during his press conference that looking at something that could go as far as middle of May,

but it doesn't feel like it is. Does it, J.B? No. Before we get into the nitty gritty here, we should probably explain to people what the format of our show is going to be going forward. Oh. Because this is the leaf hour, right? People come here expecting it to be the leaf hour.

And I think we will, as Leif's news happens, we know they're going to hire a general manager, they're going to be doing whatever, president, coach, whatever. We will do it as it sees fit. If there's lots of leaps, we'll talk lots of leaps. There's not much leaps.

We won't talk a ton of leaps. But we will do some other NHL stuff in the first hour. It'll be our Leafs, maybe half hour. I'm not sure how exactly how it's going to work. We've never done this when the lease are under the playoffs. They've been the playoffs for the duration. So we're kind of learning on the fly here. So that's kind of how we'll work in the first hour of a show.

If you're coming here expecting all lease, it probably won't be all these. Anyways, continue. But for now, it's all leaves. Yes. And in terms of when the hires are going to happen, yes, it does sound like things are, I'm not going to say that they've been expedited,

but it does sound like, you know, people are talking about in the next week. It could be possible. Do you think that it could be that soon? Yes, I do. Okay. Yeah, I do get that feeling. And I don't know if the feeling is that maybe a team

of two or three people involved, obviously we've heard the name Matt Sundin involved. I don't believe for one second. He's up for a GM job or president of hockey ops or anything like that. But I think it's safe to say that he'll come in in some advisory type of role, a supporting role. So the question is, where are you on, again, a true architect, someone that can take the reins here? Well, you know, the names that are coming up, you know, it sounds like it's, kind of getting down.

Ryan Martin, who's an AGM from the New York Rangers, my understanding is he was the runner-up a couple of years ago to Verbeek in Anaheim. Like I think this is a guy that has been sort of sought after in the past. And, you know, a name that when the Rangers were winning a lot, people liked a whole lot more. Then there's Evan Gold from the Bruins and Scott White out of Dallas,

who's kind of between Nill and Peverley there is another interesting name. So, but all three of those names, I just mentioned are, have never been a GM in the league. So I would prefer to, if I'm taking a assistant general manager, the idea of Boston and Dallas would definitely interest me, maybe not from the Rangers at this point, but I mean, that's either here. He was there in their president's trophy winners too.

Okay. But we are in a, what have you done for me lately? Yeah. So wouldn't you really want to do your homework on what's going on in the Rangers in the last year and a half, two years? And, okay, tell us what was great, you know, about you when the things were going well, but the Rangers are not in a great position. And if I'm not mistaken, his watch is also Hartford, which is the affiliate of the New York Rangers.

And they're also in last place. Right. So, I mean, it's hard for those guys because you want to look at the positives throughout their careers, but you really kind of have to do your homework here. And for me, if I'm part of that search committee or Keith Pelley, I really want to hear what happened in New York. Well, sure. Yeah.

I mean, you've many times heard me say, I don't like when they hired the assistant coach that was on the bench of a losing team. They fired the head coach and they give it to the assistants. Like, if you had answers, why weren't you giving them to that guy? And I kind of feel that way about the AGM. You know, the Rangers could be going in the other direction. Maybe he was part of the decision to tear it down. But you're right.

There are real questions about what he been up to. Yeah. Yeah. So what's going on? Yeah. So in saying that. Sorry to interrupt. Yeah.

No, cool. So in your understanding then, I can't imagine coming out of this GM search, they hire one of these first-time GMs and that's it. Like to me, it would be like a president and then a first-time GM. I'm okay with that relationship. I'm totally with you. I cannot believe that they would just, they would substitute Brad Tree Living

for Ryan or Evan and go, we're good. You and Matt's, we're good. I mean, I can't believe they're thinking that. Do you think that's what they're thinking? Do you think they're thinking about the thinking? No, like, because there's... What are your thoughts on that thinking?

But there's two different conversations here. One where we're like, it's what they should. should do. Right. And we all agree that if you're going to hire one of these guys, it seemed like a forward thinking first time general manager, that that is a totally acceptable and fine hire. As long as you bring in somebody with some cachet at the top. But if they're thinking that they're going to do that without the cashet at the top,

that's when I start getting nervous, boys. Maybe if they tap, tape, I don't, you'll like that. I don't see a scenario where it's not without someone else. Okay. Okay. I don't. I don't. I'm not telling you what I know.

I'm not telling you inside information. I'm telling you, based on all my experience, have been around this game for a long time. They wouldn't do that to an Evan Gold or Ryan. Yeah. Martin. They wouldn't do that to them. And especially, and I've said this.

Is you sure about that? Yeah, I am quite confident. And especially, and I can't kind of emphasis this enough. in this particular market. You can get away. You may try to get away with it in Columbus and in New Jersey and possibly in south of Washington, D.C., but not here.

It won't fly here. I'm not sold that they're not going to try to make it fly. You know, it just feels like, you know, I've talked to people, I don't have the roll of decks you do, but trying to get feelers for this. And like, I used to be sure it was Gillis. I'm not as sure that it's Gillis.

And if it's not Gillis, I can't think of another name for president. Again, I can't argue with anything you're saying right now. I do believe that once you remove Mike Gillis off this list, it kind of gets a little thin. Yeah. Right? And like, give me the second name you like.

And I'm saying that to our listeners as well. So who's the next guy. you like. So why are we removing him off the list? I, because last week, last week it seemed like it was trending in that direction, multiple interviews, and now it's like we're not sure. Why are we not sure? People are saying they're not sure. Feels like something they should land the plane on here.

Yeah. Well, I think they're circling the airport. Evan Gold is more lawyer type of background. Yeah, he's, to me, he's Boston Pridham. Yes. That's correct. That's my, that's my. you know, with the MBA degrees and all of that. And CAF guy compliance, contract negotiations.

To now put him again in as the face of the decision making in this market would be challenging for a guy like that as well. So, you know, we're hearing Gary Roberts name come up. Yeah, Dragon mentioned that today, I think, on TSN Radio. So like, doesn't it feel like there's a chance? I'm okay with all of that. Me too, but I just. I don't even know, to be quite honest with you, if it's like they know that if they call up Gary Roberts,

they have something really in mind for him specifically. And I honestly believe that with Matt's as well, that there's just, there's nothing right there definitive to say that you're going to be my assistant general manager. We want you around. And here are your roles and responsibilities. and no, but to go back and to speak of guys that have been part of the history here and the pitfalls

and what do you see either from a talent perspective to culture perspective to the media, whatever the case is, they have a wealth of information and knowledge and tap into that, please tap into that. But to me it's like, and not to whatever here, if you're going to go that route, former player gets the market, whatever.

To me, that's you. You've been in the media and you understand this whole thing. What are you trying to get me a job? What are you, Neil Glassberg? Am I one of your clients? I got to tell you, I like this job, so maybe stop. I'm just saying if you're going to do that, you might as well just do that.

Well, honestly, to me, I don't see, you know, who's been paying more attention to the day to day. Do you have to pay you off right now? Do I need to give you something? But anyway, I do feel like there's a little bit of, could they try to make one of these first time GMs go over a little smoother by having them with their arms around Sundeen and Roberts or whatever, you know, as sort of a...

It doesn't hurt. I don't think it hurts. Right, you get the market. These guys can help you with that. I'll just go back to... And listen, you can say whatever you want about Stevie Eisenman, right? In Detroit, present, you know, time. But the guy came out of plane.

He waited a little bit. Then he worked with Kenny Holland in Detroit for about three or four years. And he just learned. He just shadowed Kenny and he got involved and he got to sit in on some privileged meetings and information. And he just went to work and he learned. And that's when Tampa Bay really went after him. Right? Oh, your mic.

And that's, to me, that's what Matt has. to do. Now there was an article in the Toronto Sun a few days ago that said it's about time that the Leafs, you know, went after Matt's and it's like the headline was wrong. It wasn't, it was the other way around.

Credit to Simmons who acknowledged that he wrote the piece, he doesn't write the headlines. Correct. Correct. And it's like the headliner got it wrong. It's Matt's has been around for a year and a half two years. He went to rookie tournaments. He's been on road

trips. He's talked to the players. He's, it's like, even with Brendan Shanahan, it was like, Matt's, what do you want to do? I'm good right now. I'm good. I don't eat anymore on my plate. I got a still young family, you know, and now he's in a better position maybe to offer more. How much more remains to be seen. But Matt's needs to come in and learn the business in two, three, four years before I think he can have a real, real effect moving forward here. Well, that's, you know, to me, the Eisenman clearly wanted to do this. He wanted to be a GM. He wanted to learn the ins and outs.

He's competitive still. He wants he wanted to do. I don't really want someone to be a part of the Leafs management as someone who's got a pretty good life. And if it doesn't go great, whatever. and if I've got a fallback plan, like you kind of want someone hungry to like this is their world. This is their everything.

They're immersed in it. Otherwise, to me, you are more of an ambassador. And that's fine, special advisor, ambassador. That stuff is cool. I don't know. Can I just... You're talking about like Jason Spetsa when you're just describing someone like Iserman

who go in, learn it, hang around. It has to be... It has to be 24-7. you've got to live and breathe it here. Yeah. Okay. And if you don't have that mentality, and you also have to have an open mentality to say,

okay, I don't care about titles. I don't care what it says on the business card. You tell me what I need to learn and I'll go and learn it. Do I need to go on the road? Do I need to go meet with our prospects? Do I need to go meet with their parents? Do I need to talk to their agents? You tell me what I need to do to learn this business.

and I'll go. But if that's the job, it's irrelevant to how, that's a job training program and it doesn't have anything to do with how the Leafs are run next year. Like that's developing a future president of hockey or whatever.

That's not going to help the Leafs, you know, make the playoffs next year. But Matt can't come in here and help them make the playoffs. Maybe he can. I don't know. I'm not saying, but it's against the odds.

That's all I'm saying is that that's not really. the way it's supposed to work. You can always get lucky. You can always kind of, hey, did you ever think about this guy? Okay, great. He turned out great. But over the course of many years here,

the percentages tell you that you've got to learn the business. And, you know, there's no different than playing pro hockey. You got to put some training wheels on here. So I don't want to be, you know, I got this list in front of me. And I don't necessarily want to be disrespectful to the names on this list. but maybe I'm about to be. You know, there's been lots of talk if this job is still as sought after as it has been in years past and people have, you know, made the jokes that like no one would want to go there

and the situation that they're in right now. Like this whole process, I would say I'm a little bit underwhelmed in terms of like, it's the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's a huge opportunity. I know that they're not in the perfect spot, but like I feel like names used to come out of the woodwork when this would start and people would be clamoring for this job. And just like their list of names, and maybe they're doing that on purpose

to kind of change it up and have a younger, different type of view. But I just, I look at this list of names. I'm like, but the younger doesn't match up with, we want to come back here in 12 months and be the Boston Bruins. That's what I mean, though. But I look at this, I'm like, John Chica, like, you know, it's pridum, it's bonus.

Gregory Camp. I don't want to, like, throw these guys into the bus, but it's just. I do think that there was an interest in demonstrating that the search was exhaustive. I think they're making an effort to say, hey, we did talk to a whole bunch of people, and I do think that's part of it.

But one thing that does interest me... So that's optics, you're saying for optics? I do think that's part of it, yeah. Okay. The other thing is, you know, when Shanahan took over the job here, and at the start of sort of his tenure, they, he looked big.

We're the Toronto Maple Leafs. Go get Lou Lamarillo. You know, they ended up outbidding everyone for Mike Babcock. They, you know, they ended up, he went after the big fish. Dubus was kind of a sought after young guy. Oh, yeah. And Mark Hunter was the top dog.

And, you know, in Major Junior. This is my exact point. Like, they went at that. And actually, there's a good article today. In The Athletic again, Jonas Siegel, talking just about, that should be the target here. It's, can you go ask for Doug Armstrong?

Top guys around the NHL. I'm with you 100%. And if we would have just contemplated the day after Brad Tree Living was fired, I think everybody said Doug Armstrong. Number one name. It's been. amongst any way. So quiet around Doug Armstrong.

And I wrote last week that it's my understanding that they haven't asked for permission. They haven't knocked on his door. That's crazy to me. Yeah, it is crazy. And then also with that, and I don't want to derail because I want to go back to that. But like, what about Kelly McCriman in Vegas or, you know, whatever? If you like Breezebaw in Tampa Bay, what about these sort of names? I understand they're still actively.

playing but like i don't know can you go talk to those sort of names that doesn't interest me the the dog armstrong thing why would that be would it just be that the hype is too much it seems too obvious we don't want to do the obvious thing there be a number of reasons why we haven't really heard his name let's just have the chat let's see where you're at unless they're not interested in him which would be crazy well I don't know. If they, if they, if they, if they're going with a different philosophy on how to build a team, it's not as crazy as you think.

And I don't think he's as progressive as Mike Gillis, or at least the perception of Mike Gillis because he's been out of the game for, he's been out of the executive NHL game for 14 years. But I think Gillis has a better chance of convincing them that he's more their, what they're looking for than maybe Doug Arms. strong. Well, hold on, though. I don't like the idea that they're going to dictate to a president or something the

way to build a team or what kind of team. Are they worried that Doug's going to be like blow it up? Yeah, well, maybe. That could certainly be part of it. But like, I don't like the idea that they would say, well, Doug's going to want to build it by

big guys on the bottom line so we don't want that or something. Like, you just got to talk to the best hockey people. Yeah. Doug's had a pretty good track record. with a place that not everyone wants to go in St. Louis. For me personally, I would I would smoke out Doug Armstrong if just make them say no, right? Make them say he's off limits. And if you want to, to your point, if you really want to do the optics thing and you already

know that you can't get them, do it. Do it anyways. 100%. We're the Toronto Maple Leafs. We are the Toronto Maple Leafs. We are in Columbus. We ain't Carolina. where the Toronto Maple Leafs.

And Vegas has been operating, like, give me that. Yeah, I want that. I want that. You know, for whatever, like, can Toronto do a little bit of, like, we're going to take that? We're going to outbid everyone. The last question I would have, I guess maybe before we move on to the playoffs, but you kind of alluded to it there with Tampa just sort of as an offhanded comment. Would there be any value in waiting to the end of the first round,

see if there's a surprising first round exit for a team, yeah, Tampa, like they're not freaking out. but breeze while I'll go to the Leafs or whatever, but maybe talk to them or just anything. Like, is there any value in waiting at the end of the first round? Or do you have to get this done? You know, I'm just racking my brain, like, who's going to lose in the first round or could lose,

and who would be appealing? So, I don't know. Who, if you... You have to offer more than what they have. If you choose to wait, like Sammy's suggesting, who are you scared you're going to lose right now? Mike Gillis, who's been out of work for 14 years? Really good part.

Ryan Martin, right? Brett Peterson. What if Carolina loses to Ottawa? Then we could have Tulski in Toronto and argue every single day. The show would be electric. But yeah, like it could be worth a weight. To your point, it doesn't feel like you're racing to steal. What if the penguins losing the first round and they got Kyle Dubus?

Hey, Brendan Chan, it is also available. That's interesting that that. It's not the worst idea. Just bring them back. Run it back. It would be an unbelievable. That didn't work. How many times did the Yankees bring back Billy Martin?

Right. He got fired in a press conference after just getting hired than me. Yeah, I guess I'm looking at these teams. And, like, maybe there's, you know, the Kings lose. Like, you're not Ken Holland or, like, you know, Bruins, Dawn Sweeney's not going to go anywhere. mammoth, Bill Armstrong's not going to go anywhere. Farland from Avalanche?

Colorado. I feel like him. They might have too deep. Doug raves about him, eh? He is very well respected. You would have to because typically you can't get these guys for the same job. They won't let you interview for the same job. But if you offer more, typically franchises won't limit you from a move up.

So you might have to say, do you have interest in president of GM? How about that's what happened in Vegas? right to Kelly McCriman is that George McPhee bumped himself up to give him to match the the general manager job that maybe

got a lot of teams to back off Kelly want to VGM here it's a lateral move George won't let him go President GM as long he's under contract I don't think they're losing in the first round boys

no they're not did you guys watch that game that was a heavy hockey game They were trying to try. Yeah, they were. Some real nastiness. Yeah. My boy, Dersie, head button?

Yeah, attempted. It's a headbutt. It's one of those things where... It was a love tap. Well, that's it. When the force isn't really there and you get a guy in the visor, we pretend it didn't happen. The guy was buried. It wasn't very good.

Anything else in the least? coaching. Rubey's still just chilling. How can he not be? Yeah. Right? And Pelly also said that that's going to be up to the general manager, right? Yeah, you're right.

You're right. Finalist is interesting. I'm curious what finalist means for the next week. Overall takeaways from the first weekend of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I think I'll let you give your take that you had in a group chat with me and someone else about... Some boring games. Ah, yeah. See, I didn't feel that way.

I thought the first day the games in particular weren't great. Like the Ottawa game was a snooze fast. To me, that was an unbelievably well-played hockey game. Saturday. Saturday between three games, there was one goal scored in the first period. Yeah, Minnesota game stunk. That Ottawa, Carolina game was not slow. There was just people everywhere.

You enjoy a pitcher's duel, 1-0 in the 7th or 8th inning. I don't want to see it seven times. I thought that was a really well-played hockey game. Like, where do you go? Like, it was fast, competitive. There just wasn't room. Every guy on the Carolina D-Core is the Leaf's best guy. I love that day.

There's not one guy. And Taylor and Chadfield is immediately a top-air guy. Number one guy on the least, not even close. I don't know that you're wrong. I am right. Like, all their guys are so lanky. Sean Walker. Yeah, maybe not.

It is. Ghost, is up there. I mean, he'd be better in the power play, that's for sure. It is another example, though, on how things just tighten right up in the first round. Yeah. And Montreal last night was a prime example of five shots on goal. like into the second period, five. And sometimes I say,

okay, that's just really good tight checking hockey. And then there's other time it's like I go, and people are paying a lot of money. And you wouldn't go to a basketball game and just see like five attempted shots going into the second quarter. Brandon Ingram did that. Right?

Then he named the coach. And I don't know. Shots on goal are hard. to come by. Forget about goals now. I'm talking about getting pucks to the net. Either they're not. They refuse to do it because they're waiting for they're only shooting to score. They're not shooting to create anything secondary. There's no time.

Might not be any time, but I don't know. I mean, sometimes it bleeds into what guys like Sammy and maybe his buddies are thinking like, this is boring. Four shots on goal, five shots on goal. We're in the second period. What is going on? I thought the nastiness in the Montreal Lightning game elevated a bit. Those teams really don't like each other. So, I mean, the start of the game where Jordan Stahl caught Brady with a hard right hook, knocked them down.

I thought that was great. And I thought the Montreal game, I thought the Buffalo at the end was fantastic for a lot of that. I thought Pittsburgh, Philly, there was enough mistakes that it was fun. There was, I liked that one. You guys didn't enjoy that game? I watched every second of that game. I watched Jays and that game on a side-by-side. that an establishment that may serve beer.

I thought it was good. So would you find that the audience split on the fight between Stahl and Chichuk on, okay, what are they doing? Did it have an effect? Did it not have an effect? Is it a waste of time? I'll tell you what I said. Is it a showboating move?

To me, I saw Brady try to do the thing where you just establish dominance, you, you know, whatever. Say something of their guy. He doesn't want to. And all of a sudden you have the upper hand, right? You're already afraid of me. And Stahl will be like, I guess I can't not fight. And he just do the right thing. Okay.

Well, then, hey, if we're going to do this, if that's important to you. And, yeah, I'm in there. Brady. He forgot that he grew up in Thunder Bay with three brothers. It's a large animal. He caught him. I don't know. Did you feel differently about it?

Yeah, for the most part, I do. I just think that certain people that probably have never really been in that environment or felt being on a team, just get a little too dismissive on it. Yeah, right? Yeah, yeah. And it's... Like in terms of it matter.

Yeah, but how it matters. Okay. Right? And how it affects 19 or 20 other guys or... Like how... George is 40 and he's still doing it for the boys. They don't take into consideration on the effect that it has on a teammate or a coach or any...

anybody in the organization. And I just, I think that can't be lost in all of this. And yeah, on the surface, it may look like, did it matter? Did it change anything? Did it not? You can always make that argument. But what you can't,

what you can't argue is how it made the guy beside you feel. And they have no idea on that. And for a guy like Brady or Jordan to come out and do it, you know, maybe it was something that they, maybe it was something that they said before the game. And then to go out there to say certain things, like we won't back down, we won't give an inch, right? If you're, if you're saying that,

then you go out there and do it, it will have a lasting effect on the team. The rest of the series, the rest of the year. It's like, it's one thing to say something. And then it's another thing to be willing to do that. And it carries. It carries not just in the game, but it carries when you go back on the bus.

It carries when you sit together and have dinner the night before a game. And it just changes the way you feel about each other. And I don't know if anybody outside of being in that situation truly can understand that. I think a lot of people would say, okay, but both sides get that feeling. So where's the advantage? I think that Carolina would have got way more to that than Ottawa would have. To me, he's willing to stand in there with Brady. Yeah.

To me, I see Jordan Stahl scored 20 goals this year. He's not nobody and he is older. And the fact that he, you know, like I just think we've watched the Leafs in playoffs for the past nine, ten years. You know, who off an opening face off could Brady have said that to on the Leafs that have been like, all right, you know. And that's pretty cool. Yeah. He seems willing to go. All right.

Their guy's going to try to be a bully. Well, we're not, we're going to stand up to that. I think that's pretty valuable. But it would be the first game of the playoffs. You're just like, oh my God. Let's go. J.B., I think what you're saying is fair that you could sit there and go,

well, he did that and they did that, and maybe they just canceled each other out. But it's like, okay, but what's the follow-up? And what's the momentum off of that? And whose momentum dies eventually and whose goes right through the series and wins? Since the beginning, we answered the bell. Since the beginning.

And it made me look at myself. And if you're willing to do that, then I got to look in the mirror and say, I'm willing to do something else. And maybe it's not a fight. Maybe it's finishing a check. Maybe it's getting into a scrum. Maybe it's whatever it is.

It's the domino effect that energy has on your hockey club. And who can outlast who, right? Who's got the intestinal fortitude to see it through from beginning to the end of the series? You know who's a dog is that stanky boy? He's a dog. He's good. I mean, listen, all their players outside of Jordan Stahl

and Sveshnikov could be the same player. I can't tell any of them apart. They're all the same height. They all fly around. They forechecked. It's like who is. Stankov and Blake? I don't know any of these guys.

Sammy, did you recognize Freddie Anderson playing? I, the stakes. All 915. Stakes weren't nearly big enough in that one. How about the goal line save? Oh, my God. How did they call that a goal? The guy, the ref got tricked by Brady

call on a goal. But it wasn't even close. Well, it was close. I mean, it was close. What I think what everybody got and got tricked was that the glove went back, but the puck didn't. And the assumption was, the puck was in his glove, and it wasn't.

We should go. Get to, we got to, we got to Samson, talk about Habs, Lightning on the other side. Ooh, all right, Stanley Cup champion, Craig Simpson. He's doing a great job already. Out of game one of Montreal, Tampa Bay. We'll get into that and so much more. when we return to real Kipper and Bourne.

Diving deep into Leif's, Raptors, Jays, and NFL, the Jady Bunkett podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kippreos, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, and joining us now, Craig Simpson, Stanley Cup champion,

Hockey Night in Canada. We're right into it, Simmer. Game one, baby. Didn't disappoint me. Your early thoughts on the Montreal Canadians getting a big jump out of the gate. Yeah, you know what? I think everybody came into this series

feeling like, you know, a little different vibe for Montreal than last year, a much more mature team, a team that last year never really got themselves into the Washington series and, you know, went pretty easily in five. So I think the anticipation was there.

You know, ironically, guys, though, even John Cooper said today, you know, not a whole lot happened in the game. You know, neither team had 10 shots in a period. It was only a 2319 shot game. So in that respect, I thought it was a tightly played game that I thought maybe five on five there'd be a lot more happening. And in the end end up being, you know, the special teams that were really the only thing that was able to grab hold of the game. And fortunately for Montreal, you know, what a big win. To go on the road in a tough building and get scored on two quick goals in 29 seconds, it's not often that you win those games,

and especially in playoffs when momentum can change so much. And I think Montreal's got to be feeling confident and pretty happy with their overall performance, going into a tough barn and getting the all-important first game of the series. You know, and it's fascinating watching it all kind of come together for Montreal over the past year, that confidence included. But boy, Slavkovsky's the dude, right? Like that confidence has grown. The Olympic performances we've seen, you know, as we headed into the postseason, they're not all big.

But this guy is, you know, we were joking earlier that he was accused of being Pierre Engval when he was drafted by some people on this show. But he has certainly become something different. Is he not? Thank God. It was you. You know what he has. And he's a classic example of a big young kid that had to learn to grow into his body and learned to get his speed up to NHL levels.

I talked to C.C. and Kyle before this series. And, you know, as you're preparing and looking at stats, I look at Slap and I said immediately, I went to Leon Drysettel. You know, Drysettled, third overall pick, a big guy, maybe not the fastest, took a little while to grow into his body. Look at the numbers, guys. Rookie year, Slovkowski, four goals, 10 points, and 39 games. Drys title, two goals, nine points in 37.

Second year, Drysiddle, 1951. Second year, Slavkowski, 20 goals, 50 points. Third year, 29 and 77 for dry, a little bit of a slip with 18 and 51 for Slavkowski. But all of a sudden, this year, 30 goals, 73. Guess what the fourth year was for Leon Drysiddle? 25 goals, 70 points. Wow. Guys, you know what the fifth year for Drysadle was 50 goals and 105 points?

Do you not get a little bit of a vibe and a feeling that I wouldn't be shocked if you've got Caulfield scored on one side? You've got a hundred point man now in Suzuki in the middle. Why can't Slavkowski take that next jump too? I just thought the similarities were so similar to me. and a guy that now can play at a higher speed. He thinks at a higher speed than he did in his first year, than he did in his second year,

than he did in his third year. And I think now with that confidence and understanding, hey, man, this game can be on my stick. I can take control of it. I think there's really such a huge upside form, and I just couldn't help but looking at dry, having watched him all the way through and say, you know, why not?

Very similar. Sokosky is even an inch taller than him. And now he's understanding how to use that body to protect the puck, how to get into those tight areas and make place. That goal he scored in overtime. I know that it shocked Vasilevsky that he was able to turn his body quickly and get that kind of release off. And I think the sky's the limit.

And what a start to your playoff run when now you feel like your potential star in the league. Now you feel like you're a difference maker and you want to talk about a little bit of a confidence boost in game one as Slavkowski certainly got it. You're listening to Craig Simpson, former National Hockey League or two-time Stanley Cup champion. Hockey Night in Canada covering the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay, Game 2 set for tomorrow night, 7 p.m. on Sportsnet.

Simmer, you've been in this scenario this time of year where you're expected to produce and especially for Caulfield coming off a 50-goal season here. Just talk about Caulfield's challenges a little bit now moving forward. It sure helps that Slavkowski can open up some lanes for him. But just in terms of what it's like and what he might be feeling this time of year, especially when we went into a game where there wasn't much happening, no shots on goal, no shot attempts.

what could he be thinking about going into this spring? Well, I think what really kind of surprised me a bit, but also impressed me a lot, was that top line. You know how important it is for them to be productive because, you know, they have 110 goals. The next highest line for Montreal has 42. So you know going in that, you know, John Cooper's got either Sorrelli line now he started with.

It might be gored at different times. you know you're going to get all kinds of attention. I really felt that line showed a lot of maturity in a game where, as I said, Cooper said nothing was really happening. So five on five, Nick, you weren't getting any real good looks. You weren't touching the puck maybe as much as you normally do in a game. And I think even last year, that line might have got frustrated, might have got off their game, might have taken chances,

and might have, you know, opened up Hooteroff if they had to go out against or even look at Hegel how effective he was and given up a lot defensively. And I think that showed a lot of maturity. You have to know you go in as the responsibility to score. You know that's paramount. But I think what they're also learning is, but it can't be at the expense of giving up two or three against. And I think that's the biggest takeaway I had coming out of that top line

that really didn't get anything going five on five. They used their opportunity on the power play. and correct me if I'm wrong, you know, you don't get penalized for scoring on the power play. That's part of your job, too. And I thought the frustration they had five on five, they took it to a better level on the power play and said, okay, this is our chance, guys. We got some open ice. Caulfield made a beautiful play on the Slovkowski goal at the end of the second. And so you can find a way to be productive without putting the puck in the net, knowing, though, that, hey, I've got to keep my engine running.

I've got to keep skating. To me, when Caulfield's playing at sets a high energy level and he gets first to the puck or gets inside position, he is so hard to take the puck away from because, much like his head coach, Marty St. Louis, low center of gravity, gets underneath you, got quick little fast twitch muscles, can create some separation, and if you give him a chance to shoot, he can beat you.

So I think it was a really interesting game in that way that I think they showed a lot of maturity and growth in their overall understanding of what they needed to be as a line. They got, you know, the Sorelli line scored that quick goal that gave the 2-1 lead, but it didn't fall off. Their game defensively was solid. They did what they had to do. And then when they got their chances,

they showed their skill when it mattered most. And that was on the power play to win the game. Cooper sure was hard on his team for the stupid penalties. And that won by Geeky was, extremely stupid. So I'm sure they'll be... Unbelievable, hey? When you see those four offensive zone penalties that were just absolutely needless.

And the geeky one, you feel bad for a kid that hadn't played much hockey, only 14 games here during the year. But again, you look at Montreal and you had two horrible penalties. The geeky one, you score on it. You tie the game, you go into the third. Against the one, I just don't know what you're doing there. Like I'm a guy who I'm all for the tips and that, but you can't take a swing like that when you know that you're in tight quarters.

That one for me would have been a long night for a veteran guy like Gensel. And I can tell you, Nick, you know the feeling. You take a penalty and you give a team an opportunity. You're sitting in that box going, I can't believe what I just did. And, you know, lo and behold, a brilliant move by Marty to, you know, he kept his time out in that second period when he, He delayed so much after the second goal. It was almost as good as the timeout.

And I thought he used it to perfection there to just say, hey, they'd already been out a minute and 59 seconds of the period. You had 40 seconds left on the power play. There wasn't a whole lot of talk. It was just gather yourselves, get your game together. And lo and behold, his team goes out and wins the game for him. It's interesting. You say that, Simmer.

And, you know, we've played in enough series, me and you, where you know that you just hope that when the series over and hopefully you win that you're on the right side because that's the type of penalty that could cost you a series early as game one. Absolutely. You know the pendulum swings of belief or doubt, you know, and I do believe there, you know, as ironic as it seems,

okay, there's a penalty that gives two penalties. One, you're in complete control after being down 1-0. You're up to you go finish off the second period and instead a last-minute power play goal off of a terrible penalty, right? That's a killer. And then all of a sudden you're in a position where now despite you've got a goaltender at one end who, you know, playing his fourth game, Dovish, I thought was spectacular on the night. I think incredibly there's an incredible amount of pressure on Vasselowski. This has been a three-year span where he's won four games and now lost 13 in that span.

His goals against average is the lowest was 3-2-2. The highest was 356. Say percent of 8-7-2, highest is 897. As crazy as it sounds, I think tomorrow, you know, and it said, Gensl's going, I let my team down. I allowed them a win on the road in the first game. I now look and say, hey, there's a... a huge amount of pressure on those veteran guys for Tampa. And I don't think any more than Vasilevsky to say you had a bounce back season in the

regular season. But this playoff run for them is horrible. Like they are 1 in 10 on home ice in their last 11 games and they're one and they're 1 in 12 in overtime. I mean, it's just, it's mind boggling. And you know how it goes, Nick, the pressure suddenly comes because you know Montreal's on, hey, we've planted to see the doubt. Our goaltender, you know, proved that he's not looking like a rookie there. He's got some good confidence.

I think there's a huge amount of focus tomorrow on Vaselowski saying, I'm shutting the door, guys, I'm going to get you a win. And if that doesn't happen, you know the pressure that just keeps on this group. I did a post game hit with Ivanka and Ken after, and

I hated the overtime goal when Solvacost He's on the left side, on his strong side, and he's at the dot, and he beats him. Vesilevsky lost his net. There's no question that it was a good shot. I give him that. But you look at that angle, and all of a sudden, you're really questioning what Vasselowski is going to show up the rest of this series.

So I'll analyze all four goals, Nick. The first one from Anderson, he cheated on the one time. He thought it was going to be a passover to Evans. he was already moving, great little adjustment by Anderson to go short side up. So there you're overplaying. The beauty play by Caulfield. Hey, I said on the broadcast, you know, information is so critical and pre-scouts is critical to understand what your opponent can do.

But sometimes it can be dangerous too because Vatsalewski bit hard that this was going to be a short side shot. If you watch the replay, he's leaning up against the post to his right when the shot isn't come and now when it goes back the other way he overplays and slovsky didn't really make his shot there but his pad wasn't down on the ice because he wasn't controlled he he wasn't balanced in his move and his push across so there's goal number two the five on the power play at the end of the second period the one-timer by slavkoski same thing got overplaying thinking the shot was coming from demidoff demadov did a great job of of faith

it but didn't get there in time. And then, as you said, that that game winner, I think, shocked him how, hey, how quickly, So Skotsky got the shot away, but it's another shot just underneath the arm over the pad. And I think he's left feeling all four of them. I think he was overreacting and overplaying all four of them. Simmer, great stuff, man. We're going to be leaning on you heavily in this series. I hope you're okay with that. I was glad it was only a half hour leaf hour because I was going, I'm not sure I got much to add. No, we're good, buddy. We're good.

Enjoy game two tomorrow night. Thanks, Zimmer. All right. Take care. Thanks so much. Craig Simpson. Leafs broke Vaselowski. He's never been the same. The Anderson first goal. The Anderson first goal. Have you ever seen more net on an NHL show? Where are you going?

No. No. And I know you guys are watching. Does it feel like every point shot's going in? Yes. He's doing this. And it feels like everything's going going in. And our boy, Steve Aliquette, constantly refers to those big men who stretch up, right?

Yep. And start looking overheads. No, he just, I mean, listen, that series at least beat Tampa in six. The number one reason they beat them was Vaseleski. They got outplayed for long stretch of that series. Samsonov outplayed him. Wow. I mean, that's all you need to say.

What is Samsonoff? You're right. So he playing for Minsk? He said that. I was like, who? Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, multiple five goal games in that series,

like beat them from the point of multiple huge. It just, I don't know. That's actually kind of reminds me of the Morgan Riley O-T winner now, the Slavkovsky one, right? Distance from out. He was out further. It was like out from the far board. But it's a left shot, left point.

Short side, maybe. Can't remember exactly that. Anyways, it's just, the aura has worn off with. That is a must win. But this is, tomorrow night. That was Mark Andre Fleury, too. Like, you know, It's a hard position.

You can't go back into that building. But one in ten at home in their last 11. They lose every overtime game. The least beat them in three straight overall. The power play was like one in 32 down the stretch. Geez. Their power play still looks so good, though. Yeah, it does.

It does. How nasty is Cooch at the top of that day? Well, you know what's funny is that power play, they scored on to tie it up, the Hegel goal. Everyone was touching it and doing stuff, and eventually they got it to Cooch, and it was like, oh, like just get it. to 80s.

Radish with another bomb. Yeah. Oh, he heated that. That actually hit the blocker. When he signed Sammy with your Leafs, he's got to bring Kutrave with him, though, for the one-timers. I know it's not going to work out well, but I'm watching that game last.

I said, I'm like, oh, baby, bring them to the Leafs. I'm just like, bring them in. Yeah. That was an odd display. This Tampa Bay team does have to get it sorted out. They can't go back to the Bell Center too. If I'm geeky and I take that. penalty, 200 feet from my net

when we're up. I'm like throwing up that night. I'm telling you. For a role player and cross-checked him in the mouth. For a role player in that scenario, I'm

praying right now that we don't lose the series because that one will haunt me. All right, our thanks to Craig Simpson. Coming up next. So we go national on the real Kipper and Born show.

Bob Brown, former National Hockey League forward, will tee up the Edmonton Oilers. Game one tonight, Sportsnet and CBC, 1020 Eastern. You're not going to want to miss that.