Real Kyper & Bourne - Lineup Carousel in Boston

Episode Date: February 19, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee start with the latest injury news ahead of the 4 Nations final with Quinn Hughes officially ruled out and the US calling Tage Thompson and Brett Pesce into Boston. Hockey Hall of Famer Kevin Lowe (7:13) joins the show to discuss his impressions of 4 Nations, whether Team Canada regrets any roster decisions, his expectations for the style of play in Thursday's final, the rise of US hockey and much more. Later, Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman (27:44) weighs in on the roster circus at 4 Nations, Charlie McAvoy's injury and potential mistreatment, and whether the illness going around 4 Nations locker rooms will affect Thursday's final. Finally, Nick, Justin and Sam discuss Brad Marchand's mind games and Matthew Tkachuk exchanging barbs with Brandon Hagel through the media.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.

Big game. Welcome to the Real Kipper and Boring Show. Sammy, you look good. You ready? I just put an eye drops and it looks like I'm crying. Your mic was not when you started your intro there. Try again. Take two. Welcome into the Real Kipper and B intro there. Try again. Take two.

Welcome into the Real Kipper and Born Show, a little over 24 hours. Yes. Woo. Until we get puck drop here. He's Justin Bourne, he's Sammy McKee. In for Derek Brandeo, Andrew, Dutch Holland, Jen Rolnick. Abbreviated version once again,

but tomorrow, game day, two full hours, 4 PM Eastern to six. We will be there willing and ready to tee you up for a big matchup. In the meantime, glad you're aboard here. This hour, real Kipper and born brought to you by bet three, six, five. So off ice as we watch who's available, who's not available, it's really turned into a bit of a. A fiasco, a clown show.

Like what is going on here? How does a head coach of the USA tell the hockey world that Quinn Hughes is coming to Boston? Presumably he was told Quinn Hughes is coming to Boston. Someone told him that. So what happened? So for those of you that don't know, Quinn Hughes is not going to Boston. He has been deemed ineligible because he has not cleared medically. You sure about that? Hey, like they had a massive decision on their hands. Could you let Quinn Hughes play?

Even though they technically have enough bodies and he wasn't eligible, but he was named to the roster. It was so unclear. Should this guy be allowed to play or not? People were going to be mad. They were going to be mad whether they said yes or whether they said no. But now he's medically uncleared for one day.

I felt as soon as I saw a video of him at practice today in Vancouver, I thought that pretty much sealed the deal that he wasn't gonna be flying here to play in a game tomorrow. So I don't know. I guess I'm happy. They said he was cleared and then he skated today. They decided he was uncleared, but he's gonna be cleared for their first game when the Canucks come back So he's not he was more cleared with the contact jersey on today than he was yesterday with the non contact. Yeah, correct Okay, I'm picking it up

Let me throw another You know flaming bowling pin for you to juggle Oh, hold on. Let me throw another, you know, flaming bowling pin for you to juggle. Tage Thompson and Brett Pesci are on their way to join the U.S. team. Right out of the bullpen. Send in Tom Wilson for God's sake. Here it comes. Tage Thompson. Tage Lemieux, as we've called him on this show, who honestly watched that team. I can't believe he's not there.

But he will be. Are we Trochik unavailable? Austin Matthews misses the last game. He says he's good to go, but is he, like where do you see Thompson just going for the pom poms? No, it sounds like there's legitimate illness going around. Like the Swedish team now that they're done, everyone is saying how sick they were.

Kale McCarr was sick I think they got sick guys and if they all need IVs on the day of the game, so get my yeah might be in But are you gonna barf up a lung before you miss that game? You've either barf and lungs. I Don't know so the Sabres play their first game out of the break Saturday at 530 in Buffalo against the Rangers I guess it's a little bit less of an ask to go from Buffalo to Boston than it is to go from Vancouver to Boston One game, right? One game Yeah, so

Watch Tage get in and sprain an ankle or something. Yes, what does Buffalo care? In a minute or so we're gonna welcome in Kevin Low, Hall of Fame defenseman. Quiet guys, teeing up Lozey. Welcome in Kevin Lowe Hall of Fame defensemen fight guys I'm teeing up Lozi. Kevin Lowe in a couple of minutes and Elliott Friedman from Boston will join us in About 25 minutes and give us also the latest on what he's hearing as far as lineup matches are concerned and And who may or may not be in attendance ie Presidents.e. presidents.

Wow. Yeah, that's being reported as not happening. Not happening? That's Frank Stair Valley and someone else said that the TDR does not make plans for a presidential visit. He's sitting around just eating Big Macs, trying to go to every sporting event. I already was gonna be at TGL or something like that.

He probably had a tea time you can't cancel. I'm glad he's not going. It wouldn't have helped things I don't think. It would have taken, we wouldn't need a bigger tent for the circus. Yeah, he'd had some Canadian players wasting all their time shooting pucks in the stands. Again, you just don't, he just doesn't travel 24 hours. Like airports get shut down down highways get shut down You got to go through security checks with employees at TD garden

Like it's not like you know now saying right now 24 hours notice But that said it does speak to the publicity this game is getting in the US that that was talked about you know it it's Apparently ESPN is making it like the hockey Super Bowl sort of thing. They're all in on their flagship station is going to be there. They're throwing everything at it. Okay, we got to win. Jesus. They're watching Sam. We got to win. So let's just you know, ESPN, hey hey stick around after it because we got lots of NHL hockey as well. There's other feature attractions.

Tons tons but yeah no question that the build up in this thing is you know it's it does take you back a little bit to right back to 1972 where that Summit series you guys were not born barely sperm back then. But no one knew what the Summit series was going to be. Some guys used it as a way to get in shape for their training camps. It was supposed to be just this fun exhibition of exhibition game when it turned to, we gotta win at all costs. Yeah, this is actually a World War now. And this kind of has mirrored a little bit where we went in, we weren't really sure

what we were gonna expect, but we thought, for the most part, the guys had an opportunity to show some pride, and then it just has escalated into Sammy's, like, winter death right now. I'm telling you, they got guys like Jack Eichel, who has won a Stanley Cup So this may be the biggest game of my career Yeah, you know you got guys putting some real weight on the single game. Okay a guy that's put some real weight

For team Canada over the years over careers joining us Kevin low hockey Hall of Fame defenseman six time Stanley Cup champion two-time gold medal, and knows a little bit about what's going on. Three-time gold medalist. Oh my gosh! I cut a finger. But who's counting? So I'm just reading what you wrote. And I told you right before the show it was actually three.

But I thought it was C3. And then I saw two. Lozi, I didn't want to cheat you out of that one, man. How are ya? But I'm doing great. But as you know Management and coaches don't get Olympic medals It's just the players and deservedly so but was part of four Olympics and and part of three gold medal winning teams with Canada awesome stuff, so

Just give me a little bit of your overview of what we've seen in the last week on and I just started talking about you know was it like 72 I mean you kind of grew up with 72 where nobody really knew what to expect that a Russian team was it going to be like a an exhibition look and then it becomes win at all costs and this one's kind of turned into this a similar situation. When it all costs and this one's kind of turned into this a similar situation Yeah, it certainly has I mean 72 is different because it evolved into our you know into our country's pride because we played so poorly at the start and of course that began the you know, the

the long history of international series the you know that what I couldn't believe is that people were actually downplaying this event. Like it wasn't gonna be intense. Like the players were just gonna go out there and play like it was an all-star game. People actually talked about that. And it was like, how ridiculous is that?

I mean, obviously they don't really know the intensity of the players when they put on their national jerseys, whether it's us, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Finland, any of the countries, there's so much pride when you play for your country. And you want to win, man, you don't want anyone, you don't want to not win. And particularly in our case, as Canadians, we're expected to win. So a lot of

pressure, but we've got a lot of guys with a ton of experience in there for that game tomorrow night. And hey, it's great for the game of hockey. It's just certainly in North America and Europe, and hopefully it's growing worldwide because it's the greatest game in the world. One thing people outside dressing rooms don't seem to know is how the dressing room is made up of these factions of, you know, the Swedes going out to lunch together and the Russia, like it is a real thing. No wonder there's so much national pride. I did want to get your thoughts on the, on how you build these teams.

Internally, once the event starts, how do you keep everyone happy? Who's so used to getting all the minutes and getting to be the top dog when not everyone can be that. Yeah, that's a good question. And the late Pat Quinn said it so, rightfully so in 2002, he said, the first meeting in Calgary that summer was gentlemen check your egos at the door.

Cause we're here for one thing and one thing only to win for Canada. And listen, everybody's got an opportunity, you got to play the game right. And we're here to try to win a championship. And when you got a guy like that and you have great leaders, Wayne was in charge of it all. Then you had of course had Mario and Joe Sack, and Steve Eisenman. Just like that's hockey royalty, some of the best players of all time, but also the greatest leaders

of all time. So, you know, that really puts everybody in their place, I guess. And then you got guys like Brad Marchand saying, hey, listen, I'll carry the sticks. I don't care. I just want to be a part of this. I want to try to win this, knowing again how important it is as it turned out. So really excited about the game tomorrow. You're watching and listening to Kevin Lowe, three time gold medalist and a big part of Team Canada's management team, which I want to get into now because you of course can forecast a potential style of play when you pick your team. But then there's another thing to kind of envision what we saw Saturday night in the first nine seconds.

And then where do you go as a management team, Lozi, when it comes to Hindsight's 2020, because now we're looking at a lineup with Seth Jarvis, who's 5'10 and a wonderful hockey player, but it really have no use for you if that's the kind of game that the US is going to come right back at us Thursday night. So where are you on reflection? And then once you're in and you know, just in terms of picking players and not necessarily

regretting, you knowting what you did? Well, I didn't follow the selection very closely, to be honest, other than checking the predictions and the players. We started getting closer to the Four Nations before they had to pick the team. And I kept seeing Tom Wilson's name on there, scored a lot of goals. And the first thing I thought of last Saturday night when the Kutchucks pulled off what they did, no question they don't do that if Tom Wilson's in the lineup.

They would be thinking better that, okay, we're gonna have to deal with that guy. And hey, listen, Konekny and Jarvis, Brad Marchand are all smaller guys, but they play with a lot of ferocity and they're going to give it everything they have. And it's not about, so not to confuse people, you know this as well as anyone, Kip, although you played the physical game, is the game is won by who wants to take the puck to the net, who wants to get to the hard places, not so much about who's the toughest

and who wants to fight and who wants to be the dirtiest. It's sucking it up and getting to the net to score goals. And I don't think Canada did that well in the first game against the Americans. It was very similar to 2002 and again, 2010. We lost that game in 2010 against the Americans it was a good wake-up call I think they probably weren't overconfident because they played a hell of a game but it's certainly that game

last Saturday for Team Canada you know was it was a quick shot across the bow of okay this is more than this is a hockey game. This is about the pride of the country. And although they went into that game probably thinking that way, it's hard to get up for a game the way they're going to get up to the game tomorrow. And we'll see what unfolds. Lozi, you've been a part of a lot of winner-take-all games. Is there any one thing or maybe a couple of things that dictate the winner of those games or is each one?

unique unto themselves Yeah, it's a good question again Thinking back, I mean you just you got to be confident in your game plan You know you by now it's a short tournament So you don't have a lot of runway to sort of look at, you know, past negatives and stuff. But I'm sure that the coaches would be emphasizing, not make it too complicated. Okay, these are the things we got to be precise about. In fact, that's everything. So all the simple things, right? Get it in, get it out. No retaliation. Don't get sucked into a bad

penalty. You know, that kind of stuff. I don't expect any of the guys to. And then again, it's winner take all. So you got to go to the net. You got to shoot the puck when you get an You know that kind of stuff. I don't I don't expect any of the guys too. And then again late its winner-take-all so you got to go to the net you got it you got to shoot the puck when you get an opportunity you got to go to the net and play hard and and believe in yourself believe you have the team believe that you have the destiny and and If Bennington can make he doesn't have to stand on his head just make make all the necessary saves That's all Canada typically needs in a goalie. I think they're going to be all right. I got to believe you're like many of us that watch a 37-year-old Sidney Crosby go out there

and go, man, this guy isn't ready to go off into the sunset just yet. Well, I don't know how old Mario was in 2002. I think he's probably about the same age, maybe even a little bit older. But I mean, it, it, it, we weren't even sure he was going to play. And then he goes out and does what he does. You know, that's, that's why those guys are the greatest of all time. And they, besides being great and great talent and great people, great leaders, they love the game. And Sid really exemplifies that. Just the way he approaches the game, he just appears to love the game as much as anyone, or maybe more than anyone.

It's so fun to see. I was so happy for him. But again, I'm sure he doesn't want a two-game losing streak for his own personal record with Canada. So he's going to make sure he doesn't want a two-game losing streak for his own personal record with Canada. So he's going to make sure that doesn't happen tomorrow. How do you feel about where the Americans are at now? There's a lot of people calling Canadians underdogs and you know, I that that's something that probably hasn't been said in your lifetime. It's a have they caught us? Well when I started in the league in 1979,

the NHL, I think it was 2% were American born players and now it's almost 30%. So the game has evolved. I guess we can blame all that on Wayne Gretzky for going down to Los Angeles and going to game. Traitor. And I'm joking of course, because it's been great for everybody involved in hockey.

Yeah, they've come along, it's to be expected. It's, you can't, you know, we, the Calgary Flames and the Battle of Alberta, they just kept getting better and better and they finally beat us once. But, and I don't think if the Americans are lucky enough to win the game tomorrow, and I don't think it'll happen all that often, but yeah, good for them. I mean, I've got a lot, I played a lot of great

American players, you know, Brian Leach and Mike Richter, just to name a couple. And, and they're as passionate as we are. Like we think we've cornered the market on passion. I mean, they're, they're pretty passionate. So that's, that's what makes the game so exciting. Kevin, you, you part of your management work over the years in Edmonton, very close to the ownership group there, led by Kate's of course in Edmonton. And then there's Jeremy Jacobs in Boston. And although I'm sure both owners would sit there

and say this is wonderful and we love it, but there might be a part of the Jacobs family that goes, well, I may not have McEvoy here for the next six weeks here, and we may miss the playoffs here because of it. Are we at the point now where between maybe Gary Bettman's office and the Players Association that, hey, this is just the way it is,

and you know, you're just gonna have to deal with it? Or is there something that we could look at moving forward here that that may leave the season ticket holder that's invested so much in their respective teams you know still still thinking that you know we still got a shot at winning a Stanley Cup yeah it's a good question for sure I I mean, I personally know people that feel that way, that feel like, you know, we invest a lot of dollars into watching the NHL game.

And we sometimes hope, especially in the case of Edmonton, that it's been such a long drought that, you know, we're getting closer. But having said that, having played in, you know, so many international tournaments and Stanley Cup finals and playoffs rather, the injuries don't happen often. If it happens to a McDavid or Matthews or those type of guys, it really can hurt the season.

But again, it's about the game and growing the game. And I think a tournament like this really does that. So everyone's got to sort of put their own personal objectives behind a bit in order to grow the game. I mean, if the NHL hadn't disordered Canada, I guess we can credit Alan Eagleson for that in 1972 for creating that Summit Series or being a part of it. And I don't know too many people want to credit Alan Eagleton with too many things, but I will credit him. He did a lot of good things.

Who knows where we'd be today, so. One more and then I'll let you go, pal, and then I'll get these guys to answer it after we let you go. But if all things being equal, And then I'll let you go pal and then I'll get these guys to answer it after we let you go, but If all things being equal would this have still worked and had the hype if it was in September Instead of today in the season And you've been part of a lot of September matches, right?

international matches Well the way that the way the the Americans came out on Saturday night It could be they could do that in July and it still would get everyone fired up I mean, I like what they're planning. I mean, I like the rotation of you know, World Cup World Championships World World Cup No, sorry World Championships World Cup Olympics. Yeah, I got that right. Anyways, every other year you got, once every four year cycle, you got the Olympics and you got the world cup. And I think that's great for the game.

Well, we'll let you bask in your 82 degree weather. That looks pretty good there. Where are you? Where are you? Southern part of Mexico, yeah. It's, weather never changes. It's plus 32 every day. I still have that open

invitation, right? Well, only if you bring Justin with you. All right. All right. All right. The whole crew. We do appreciate you taking your time away from that to join us today. Thanks so much. Yeah, no problem. You guys. All right. Enjoy it. Yeah, we will. Kevin Lowe, hockey Hall of Famer. Enjoy it. Yeah, we will Kevin Lowe hockey Hall of Famer McKee sent me his You know like his awards and his career accomplishments Yeah, and like I just I'm like I'm not reading all that like it's a 3,000 word document of the amount of winning that man has done this so let me ask you the same question that if he's right and It's about the Americans coming out and setting a tone in us and

it could work in July then wouldn't it protect teams better if it was in September than in the middle of the season? Well I mean if guys get hurt in September going into camp is that I mean that's still not great but I assume you think that's a better time better spot spot for it. Whatever happens, you can heal by Christmas and you're good to go the rest of the way. Is it not the, oh no, the NFL is back fear? That could be. It could be. College. Do you, I guess that's the, that answered my question.

I was going to say, I don't know if people will be less excited for it in September or now. But the only argument for it now, I guess, is just guys are in the flow in the in literal midseason form ready to rock kind of thing as opposed to like working themselves Come off the summer shinny rink. Yeah to that so I don't know if it would feel the same It just does feel like the NHL Loves post-superbowl hockey right like they to me the NHL schedule should start Puck dart drop should be when kids go back to school on the regular season. That makes sense, that's hockey season,

that's when hockey starts for all our kids. However, it's the NFL. Doesn't seem like, right now seems like part of the perfect storm of what's happening here. No NBA. No NBA. NFL's gone. A horrible NBA All-star weekend where everybody's

laughing at it universally lauded you NBA all-star weekend so lot it is a good thing I thought what's the what's the opposite a lot of a hand thought lot it was the bad one yeah that's a that's a that's another addition of me that's another addition of me not knowing English. But yeah, I'm staying right out of this conversation. Hey, you know my vocabulary. I get your point. Everything has gone right. There's no sports to compete with right now.

All right, we got a Kippers Clipper. Well, I mean. What do you wanna do? I thought we should probably do a game time break, get the fridge, and then after we go to fridge, we can do some of the clips. Also, quickly, Lozi mentioned Marillamu's age. They're the exact same age. No way. What a call by him. 37. And Sid's 37, right? So there you go.

At the time of the Olympics, he was 37 years old. So pretty interesting. I choose to believe that that means Sid's gonna have a big moment in the final game. He's gonna pretend to kick a puck up to a stick and let her yeah dummy through the lake God, that's one of my favorites ever but quick hockey fashion note. Yeah Mario were the worst bucket of all time in the old those Olympics that old Nike one He wore the worst bucket of all time and no the Joe boo was fine But remember that like Nike helmet and he keep her. I was so good in the Joe for though Mario's peaks as high size anyone's peak peak

Marriott Mario was Joe Valhalla. Yeah, anyways, it's game time presented by bet 365 visit the app for the stars and find out Why it's never ordinary at bet 365 must be 19 plus on terror only please play responsibly now we're gonna have to get creative fellas because it's the Canada USA game there has been no movement in the line. It has stayed at minus 110 for on both sides. So There's been no Quinn Hughes. That's so cool. There's been no Quinn Hughes change to it. There's been nothing it's just stayed as minus 110 dead even and The the one that I wanted to bring up which I think is interesting is the tournament MVP and I guess they're giving out The tournament's MVP and that's who do you think the favorite is the tournaments MVP and I guess they're giving out the tournaments MVP and that's who do you think the

favorite for the tournaments MVP is at this moment see I think what it is gonna be and what it should be isn't the same but I bet you it's it it's not said no it's Matthew or Brady wrong Connor Halliburke is the favorite right now plus 260 yeah he's given up three goals. Connor McDavid, second at plus 280. Sid at plus 500. McKinnon, plus the first American on this list is Jake Gensel at 10 to one. I mean, that's the goalie, the first American skater.

So that's a... I think if you went with sentimental, it's a kachuk. If they win Thursday night and they're remotely involved in scoring I don't want I'm just gonna get I'm hopeful that people don't look at points over this tournament as a deciding thing It's like would you look at all the great names with like zero or one? There's three games played. Yeah, you know, it's like and they've been low scoring tight games It basically comes down to how'd you do against Finland? Yeah, you know and it's like and they've been low scoring tight games it basically comes down to how'd you do against Finland? Because everyone else has like Connor Adam Fox. These are all like guys that lead teams

Yeah, you know and I Austin I gotta tell you your rose He's got an assist Sid plus five hundred five to one if he they win and he has One or two points. He's auto MVP. Yeah, he'll have seven points in four games. To me, that's a good, that's a pretty good value. You gotta win it to win that MVP award. Absolutely. At this point, it's like, give us a great final game and you've got a great chance at it. To me, it's got like, McDavid McKinnon moved the needle more than anyone else on Canada

by a mile. The Chuck brothers are tantalizing. If you could pick them together. Plus 1600 for Matthew plus 1800 for Brady as a tournament's MVP So anyways those are good value bets right there that was game time presented by bet 365 is the app for the Sauds and find out why it's ever ordinary at bet 365 with 19 plus on terror only please play responsibly Okay, let's take a quick break. We will return Elliott Friedman hockey night in Canada 32 thoughts in Boston

he'll give us the latest on the Quinn Hughes saga and Let's take a quick break when we return Elliott Friedman, Hockey Night in Canada, 32 thoughts in Boston. He'll give us the latest on the Quinn Hughes saga and what we can expect going into tomorrow night's big game. That and more when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Blair and Barker, be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Kipper and Boran Show. The Kiprios, Justin Boran, Sammy McKee. We'll get Elliot teed up here. Just you had mentioned no penalties basically called in three games. How many power plays? Canada has had three power plays, actually four minutes and 12 seconds of power plays and they've only taken three minors, which is crazy.

But I think a good thing. Very good officiating is my point. It's been a perfect tournament from the official standpoint. We'll have a conversation on that. Oh, okay. All right. Elliot joins us now from Boston. Freage, what's going on, bud?

How are you? Thanks for combing your hair. It actually looks good today. It's as good as it gets, Nick. It does. It does. But certainly not pulling your hair out following who's playing and who's not, right? No, I mean, I didn't think Hughes was going to play. When he was

at someone said to me, if you see him at Canucks practice last night, he's not playing. And that turned out to be true. I don't really someday we'll find out Nick exactly how everything unfolded behind the scenes. Find out now, Elliot, find out now. And how does, how does coach Sullivan come out and say he's coming? You know what happened, Nick? I really believed like this, this event, they kind of played it by day by day with the rosters. Like to go back, the PA Nick didn't want guys sitting around doing nothing. So they limited the rosters at 23. I think if everybody could go back in time and the teams wanted it but it was blocked,

they would go to 25 like the Olympics are. And then once we got here, we realized that guys were playing hard. And if you look what happened with Harley, we went from, And, you know, if you look what happened with Harley, we went from, okay, can't touch the ice until my car is off the ice, hide behind the door, to, okay, you can come on, to, okay, you can play the game. And then we were unsure whether or not, you know, the same rules applied or he was on the roster, which he is, he's got no, nothing blocking him now.

And then I think the Americans just thought the same was gonna be the case for Hughes. And I think Sullivan was told Hughes is coming, he's our guy. And people said, wait a minute, not so fast. So I think that's, I don't think Hughes was ever coming here to play unless he knew he was playing. Now, Nick, there is talk here that maybe he wanted

to come and watch the game. I'm not sure if that's gonna happen but there was some of that. That's for certain. I always got the sense with the Old Guard media as I tried to break into it that there was some resentment over my cynicism so excuse me here as I be cynical. Quinn Hughes not medically cleared feels like a very conveniently timed lack of medical clearance so the NHL didn't have to make a decision here. It was going to upset people for each. If he could play or if he could not play there was going to be some very upset people on either side. Is that fair? In other words, JB saying they're lying. I think, yeah, I do.

Like, I think if there's an issue here, it's probably Vancouver's. I don't think Team Canada was, like, I had heard that Team Canada said they weren't going to throw up a stink one way or the other. Yeah, so you think that it's possible everyone's good with Quinn Hughes playing for the U.S.? Which, by the way, I saw on Twitter, you and I agree. I was good with Quinn Hughes playing for the US which by the way I saw on Twitter You and I agree. I'm good with it too as a Canadian like get its best on best. That's what we're doing here Yeah, I don't think I didn't get a sense that the candle was blocking it or anything like that I really didn't and I asked around like I said, well, especially when Thomas Harley got cleared to play I asked around, you know,

who got a big problem with this? And I received less pushback than I thought I was going to. I mean, you guys know how this works. Sometimes if you give people anonymity, they'll unleash their deepest demons. But that wasn't usually the case. And in this place, I didn't get a sense that team Canada was I My honest feeling Justin is that Vancouver had more of a problem with it than team candidate Interesting I got to ask you about Charlie McAvoy's injury and and the response I think from from the local

Fans there in Boston to maybe the management and what you're hearing on that. Me personally, I watched him Saturday night and thought that's as good as I've seen him ever with the physicality and just his overall presence. And we've watched a lot out of him over the last few years and how that could affect Thursday night. And if it wasn't Charlie McAvoy that suffered this injury, if it was Connor McDavid or Austin Matthews,

would Edmonton or Toronto be taking this as well as maybe Boston fans might be? Well, I think that people who are the angriest, Nick, is the team, the Bruins. Like, if you read their statement today, they make it very clear that they are unhappy with how this all went down, that they don't feel that their player was given the proper treatment. It seems now that McEvoy was originally injured in the opener against Finland. There's a play where UL Armia takes him hard into the post and

it sounds like, I don't know if he got a shot or something. I don't know exactly what happened, but he played Saturday. It looks like here with much more severe an injury than he was initially led to believe in. Everybody was initially led to believe, which makes his performance, as you mentioned, all that more impressive. And so from what I understand, on Monday, he was in a bit more pain and he was admitted to hospital and they realized the injury was more severe than believed or initially diagnosed and number two there was an infection there that had to be operated on and removed so I don't know if he was given a needle or something like that or a shot or something like that and it got infected but it was something along these lines

that the one thing is I remember yesterday when it was the Bruins and not Team USA that announced that McEvoy was out, there were people saying, how come the Bruins, whose GM is the GM of Team Canada, are announcing that Charlie McEvoy wouldn't play? And then it became pretty clear it's because the Bruins were extremely unhappy with the way this had been handled and that they felt that, you know, that in this particular case, McEvoy didn't get the proper care. And we'll see how this plays out over time

and we'll see if anybody disputes this. But it seems to me right now that Boston's very upset at the care that McEvoy got under team USA. Wow. Now I do think I do think one of the things that's going on here guys is that team USA's doctors I think are Minnesota doctors. And I do think what the teams the NHL teams have kind of indicated I don't know if to the end to the league or anything like that but privately it's from now on they want someone independent there. Players are gonna have to travel with their own doctors now. 20 doctors, a little milling about. Yeah if the treatment itself led to the infection that's a pretty

big deal. That's a big story. Yeah so the other thing that has us our attention is Tage Thompson and Brett Pesci show up. This story I think that maybe is going to be told post-tournament is about illness and how Sweden sounds like they were much more sick than we know. Obviously, Macar sounds like some Americans too. What are we looking at for Team USA and some of the health pitchers down there? Well, I'll tell you this one thing, Justin, it's going to be very interesting to see who's playing on Saturday. There's and maybe even a couple of games beyond that. Yes. Yes. I

can see a situation where teams either say to guys, you know, take a game off or two or players go back and they're like, you know, I wanted to play this game for the U S or Canada, but I need time now. Like I'm, I'm hurt. I, there's been some whispers in a couple of those, on a couple of these players that that's, that that's going to happen. So today the only guy who was missing was Brady Kachak and we all kind of wondered, okay, does that have anything to do with him going into the post against Sweden? And they said illness or he wasn't feeling well. So he's the guy we're looking at right now, but there's no question like for the Swedes on Monday night, is the Benadjad actually showed

up in the rink. He was in the room and then he had to go back like two hours before the game. And he went back to the hotel. Like he couldn't play. He tried to play and they sent them home. So, and as you know, Arvidsson and Colm weren't supposed to play and Raquel and Zbinejad couldn't. So they had to play. There's, there's definitely something here, but again, Breiter would have to be in the lineup and somebody else would have to be hurt for Thompson to play. And the same goes for Pesci. They have to go down below six.

And right now Sanderson's in the lineup. So in Detroit and Ottawa, I missed the playoffs by one point. You know, how are owners going to feel about that? Hey, remember Nick, remember John Tavares in 2014, right? Remember how Madgar snow got? And then he, he, he stayed, he came right out and said how he felt. And then the legal let him know, you're not going to talk like that again. I mean, look like this is, this is what everybody wanted. The players in the league. And you know, like it's amazing to me in hindsight that people were saying these players wouldn't play hard. Like these guys are killing each other and there is real

hate between the U S and Canada. Like this game tomorrow night, it's gonna be a fierce, fierce game. Great stuff, Elliot. Thanks for joining us, pal. Enjoy it. All right, guys, enjoy. See you later. Appreciate it, Freach, thanks. Boy. Wow.

Yeah, see, there's a lot of layers here coming out of this that it's gonna have to get flushed out. Do the owners get a piece of the money made from this whole thing? It's 50-50, it's all revenue driven. So the answer is yes, and they share it with the players. Lovely. So.

It makes up for a little of some guy's revenue, missed revenue. That McAvoy thing's a mess. A mess. Mess. Yeah, particularly if this happened That's revenue that McAvoy things a mess a mess mess Yeah, if particularly if this happened because of a bad treatment. Oh What's Boston's situation on the weekend Play them on Monday. It's Tuesday next Tuesday Play them. Yeah, I would bet a lot of money that Austin Matthews does not play for the Leafs this upcoming weekend

Um, so here do you want me he mentioned the statement you want me to some teams can afford to let their star players? Recover with a couple of games and others just can't know you're right I'm trying I'm reading through the do me to read the statement from the Bruins about McAvoy Sure Charlie McAvoy? Sure. Charlie McAvoy sustained an injury to his right shoulder, big word that I'm not going to say, joint in Team USA's four nation faceoff game against Finland on February 13th. He underwent treatment which was administered by Team USA's medical staff. Upon returning to Boston, he developed increasing pain which he was evaluated by the Boston

Bruins medical staff. After undergoing x-rays, MRIs and blood blood work he was diagnosed as having an infection in his right shoulder as well as a significant injury to his AC joint. So basically there it's I mean to talk a little bit further but they made it very clear at the top of that statement. Team USA's Docs. Team USA's Docs which he said is thes docks, which would make sense because it's Bill Garen's team.

Yeah. Yeah. So, craziness. Okay, where do you want to go? We got a few papers. Hold on. Before you, we do have to talk about Matthews. You mentioned over under one and a half games played this weekend for Austin Matthews.

Yeah, it feels like a no brainer under for me. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, but I actually feel like that's also the right answer I don't feel like that's you know some like a black mark on the tournament no necessarily I what it's given us here I would say that even if they were totally healthy you were it would be within your rights to give Marner and Matthews maybe not so much B lander he went home. Florida you think Tampa's in a situation right now they could let their guys relax? The only hard thing with Tampa is what I say yesterday I think they got five guys there at least it might be

more than that so they got a lot of bodies there so you can't tell five guys to take the weekend off It's not really five. No, it's point headman and it's it's just the guys Thursday night. It's headman's already relaxing. Mm-hmm. That's true Uh, I want to play this clip because Brad March and you know as one of my least favorite he's not my least favorite player. I shouldn't say that He's I respect him. I love to hate him He's one of those guys, but he had a clip today that felt very familiar and I've heard this player before. Dutch, if you could play Marshaan's clip on the USA from today. They're by far the best that I've played.

No disrespect for the previous teams, but the way that the game has evolved in the last ten years, some of the players on their team won't be some of the best that the game has evolved in the last 10 years, some of the players on their team will be some of the best that ever play the game of hockey. And they embody a team that competes at the highest level. They have everything. They check well. They play physical.

They have incredible talent. The defensemen on the team can all skate. They're physical, they have incredible talent, you know the defensemen on the team can all skate, they're all good size, you know and it's just their goal-taning is always incredible so they don't have any weaknesses and their skill level is incredible to watch. So you look at them and you look at that team and there's nothing wrong with it. So it's definitely the best team that I've seen really that I think I've ever played against. Well, just give them the win now. Marshawn, he does this just setting them right. Mitch Mars, my favorite player right before the playoffs series. Let's just hope he's setting them up. Yeah, but I mean he does that he's like

It like Cooper any of those other guys are just so good. No one could beat them there. That is whole air That's a minute of the most glowing review of any team Okay, you get to something that matters really matters. It's just I'm saying I'll never get back in my life. No, oh my it's just it's a waste why cuz I don't believe anything. He's really saying He doesn't either don't waste their time. I Think that's you know intense. That's games now. You know what doesn't waste my time Matthew Kachuk's clip coming up, okay You want to hear it? Yes, I do. Okay, Matthew Jack, please Well, maybe their team doesn't like each other then if they don't have group chats, but Magic Jack, please. There's been a lot of chatter and talk from individuals, but you know, we care about one thing in this room And we have millions of people that are watching us and supporting us around this country and we're very prideful and playing for them

And the guys in the room so It's an opportunity of a lifetime for us. That's way better than what we just oh Brad Marshad Way better Chuck's really good at that stuff to the whole you know The most dismissive part of that is that's just a guy just enjoying his opportunity as in like he's got a moment of the mic Here he's not gonna get another one this life. Yeah, that's good Chuck gonna be in dismissive I mean he also yeah, they went out for a guy with how many career fights is Hagel have it Yeah, and I'll do great. Yeah stood in there a gamer not not an easy kind of picking for Matthew Kachuk And Hagle did great. Yeah, he stood in there. A gamer? Not, not...

An easy kind of picking for Matthew Kachuk. Very easy. But you can't have Sam Bennett fight him. Right? Why? They're teammates. Teammates. Oh, yeah.

Florida teammates. It's just... Just a bad look. Now, me personally, I wouldn't mind it. I think you could. But outside of Sam Bennett, all Canada has really is Hagel. Like unless, I don't know, give me another name. Drew Doughty. He talked about possibly doing it and being willing.

Yeah. But if I'm Hagel, I go right back at Matthew Kachuk. Right away. Go, listen, you started something Saturday, I'll dictate, I'm coming right back at you, and Matthew has to accept that fight. You cannot, you can't turtle on your home soil. You cannot do what you did Saturday night on Canadian soil and then not accept the challenge

in front of your fans, your president. Totally agree. If you're able- The president's not going, he doesn't even care about the goal. You're going right back at it and saying, listen, this is to be continued. But the last thing for me Canada needs to do is think, well, that's not going to happen again and we're just going to settle in and we're just gonna settle in, and we're gonna play our game, and we're gonna just find a way to score in the power play,

and I'm like, no, no. Like, and Kachooks, I don't care if he's injured. I don't care if he's hurt, okay? You don't, you gotta accept this challenge. And I go to Brady too, what's bothering Brady? Okay, Sam Bennett, round two, buddy. Round two. I think it's an interesting question of like, what you prioritize in this winner take all single game.

You know, how important is it to have this sort of chest puff off, you know, silverback gorilla. But the testing. Okay, that's fine. That's a great answer. It doesn't. It's not fight or nothing. There's a trickle down effect throughout your roster.

Yeah, yeah. So if you believe that's integral, then yeah. A hundred percent, I think it's integral. So it's not... it's putting everybody on high alert. And then eventually it doesn't turn into fighting. It turns into a McAvoy running the sh** out of Conor McDavid and I'm sorry I use that language but it's the first word that came to my head yeah and that's what I I want to avoid yeah what's the next step for avoid yeah is that my best player does

not take a hit like that again. And the effect of what is started will trickle into that. And then eventually you get to the guys that aren't comfortable playing like that. So if I have to go through the roster and I go right down to who's comfortable or uncomfortable playing this, and I lead it right down to Crosby

and McKinnon I'll take Crosby and McKinnon all day long over Austin Matthews and Jack Hughes. I do think that the US has some guys like that and you know a Kyle Connor Jake Gensel. Come on he throws throws pillows. I mean, he will throw them. He will throw them. But hey, that Pareco, if I go back and watch that. But I'll be scaring anybody. Pareco ragdolled them pretty good. Going back to watch that. Totally.

But I'm telling you, for Thursday night, I hope Canada feels kind of this way. And if they wanna just say that's a one-off, Saturday night, we're gonna settle in, we're gonna outskate them, and we're gonna wait. Yeah, I'm torn though, because they are the more talented team, in my opinion.

And I think, in most people's opinion. So do you wanna get down in the muck and play to, you know? I don't know if they have that. Get away from your game. Ultimately, they may not, because they don't have that lineup. But if you're gonna go down, go down like your way, not their way.

Well, that's the question, is it their way? You know, like the- Yeah, it is their way. It was their way Saturday night. They owned ya, they owned ya. Well, that's their way. They got the fights in and then everything settled in. That's why it feels like their way, not Canada's way.

That's how US wanted to do it and it worked for the US. I mean, McKinnon, McDavid, McCarr, these guys are going to create in a way the top end scores on the US can't hang with those guys. Maybe healthy Matthews can have a night but you know most of them can't. I know, I listen, I respect that opinion and I don't think it's wrong. I don't know what the right answer is and I think it I'd love to see it. Got to tell you Mac was a huge loss for them. Now now and huge loss now is and his Sanderson for me this is a big swing defending the net which is something they've done so

well is now it's Sanderson, Wurinski, Fox. It's not even Slaven is a great defenders not heavy like it's Mac always set the tone for that whole he did he changed the feel for the American Defend putting Sid's face through the boards hammering McDavid like he was setting the tone for them if the Kachuk brothers are hurting a Little bit make them pay right off the start make them hurt more make them hurt more I don't even have to know what your injury is, but I'm challenging you and you better accept it. Yeah Well, we'll talk more about it tomorrow. We got another full day before the game. Just played it. My heart's not gonna make it. Wow. Scott Niedermann tomorrow.

All right. Thanks to Hall of Famer Kevin Low, all the way from Mexico and Elliott Frege, our own Elliott Friedman, joining us as well. Have a great night, everybody. We're doing this all again tomorrow, 4 p.m. Eastern. Join us.