Real Kyper & Bourne - Marner's Magical Streak Stays Alive!

Episode Date: December 1, 2022

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee break down the Maple Leafs win over the San Jose Sharks, Mitch Marner's point streak staying alive, Ilya Samsonov's performance in net and Mac Hollowell's addition to the blue line. Sportsnet hockey analyst Sam Cosentino weighs in on how Marner has evolved since entering the league, the approach athletes have with improving their individual games, and the depth of the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft (41:46). Then, hockey analyst for the New York Rangers Steve Valiquette (1:06:16) jumps on to break down the best performing goaltenders around the league this season, how goalies handle getting scored on, and Alexis Lafrenière's struggles on the ice. 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.

This is Real Kipper and Born on Sportsnet 590 The Van. Who the hell is Scott Lundy? I'm reading it. I can see it. I don't see a face. Show me Scott Lundy. We found a Scott Lundy. What's up? Hey. The Londonator.

The Londonator. Nice call, JB. And Sammy McKee. The Toronto Maple Leafs remain red hot five in a row. Sammy, I wish I could say the same about your our and say your our library there yeah soccer canada officially out of the world's best tournament they were out heading into the game today yeah we know that but now it's like it's now we can't watch him anymore yeah and feelings with it all behind us sammy are you better for the experience i don't know everyone is you know everyone in my life has been kind of texting me and i've been seeing all

the discourse on twitter and kind of gathering information from people and there's a lot of oh we're you know i'm just proud of proud i wouldn't necessarily say that i'm proud of being the only team that didn't get a point in the tournament and you know be having a minus five goal differential and getting beat up every game i'm not necessarily proud of that to be honest not every game i'm proud of them making it 100 proud of them making it but i'm not proud of these results so we got a good half set of six embarrassed alf not embarrassed alfonso gets the biggest goal in canadian men's soccer history correct and he takes flack oh yeah he i mean this is how much time do you have but just give me uh cold notes so he spoke to the um after the game he spoke to the rights holders,

which is something you have to do, right? Like he gave an interview to a couple of the rights holders, I believe TSN here, I don't know what it would have been, and the other ones. So he spoke to a couple people, and then he kind of blew past the mix zone, which is more of your general, like they would have with Sheldon Keefe at the podium. It was more like the mix zone, and he blew past that and went to the locker room.

And there was a few people within the Canadian sports media that were a little bit bent out of shape about that. How old's Davies? He's pretty young, I think. 21, 22. Biggest moment of his career there? I think we give him a pass. Listen. My God.

It's not the World Cup of writing. No. It's the World Cup of soccer. So I'm going to stick with my boy Davies on this one and be okay. But listen, I think it was a pretty frustrating time for everybody involved. I mean, you fly all the way over there as a writer hoping for something good, and they lose all three games. They don't really perform that well.

I guess they played well against Belgium. They couldn't finish. I don't know. I want to say I'm proud, but I'm not necessarily proud today. I hate to say that. The bar't know. I want to say I'm proud, but I'm not necessarily proud today. I hate to say that. The bar is high. That's why. This is good, though, because that comes from a place of legitimate expectation of not just being content to be there.

You know? You're talking to a guy that's been knocked out of the first round six years in a row, Sammy. Yeah. Not me personally, but. Yeah. No longer satisfied with making no longer this is what it's all about yeah and the bar is just really high i will say it was an education for someone like myself who doesn't watch a lot of soccer and followed the lead up when they played so well yes and and that was fun too yeah right the snow bank for sure it was all super fun and then so seeing the best in the world seeing croatia's midfield and being like oh a new

appreciation right like we have a couple of guys who can hang at that level but we don't have 11 i think it it comes down to the realization for me is that no matter how much money we spend and how many guys we develop and how many guys we bring in from other, you know, because there's guys with dual citizenships that you can kind of massage into playing for Team Canada and all this stuff. No matter how much we do that, we're never going to be like Croatia or we're never going to be one of these teams that like have us. No, no, no.

Excuse me. We'll never beat teams like Croatia? Is that what you're saying? Yeah. Like, listen, we're never going to be able to compete with English, sorry, with European powers. That's not what, our Super Bowl, our World Cup is making it. We can't find 11 good players to one day compete?

I think this is the start. I think this stokes a fire, gets more people involved. I fear that this, like, I have fears. The sheer numbers aren't there for us to drive a program that can. I just compared to, I was talking about this with a few of the guys at hockey this morning, and it's comparing it to us in hockey versus, like, we come up, our first thoughts, our sport is hockey. Croatia, they don't have nearly as many people, but the first thing they think of is we're going to play soccer. And the big thing, though, then, is enrollment numbers.

And so all of Croatia seems to be enrolled in soccer, but ours will go up. And by the way, I heard that argument for basketball. And hey, the Raptors win the championship, and them being relevant and everything, that helps. We keep pushing stars now in the NBA. That wasn't the case 20 years ago. I'm just dejected today, boys.

It was hard to watch that. We're going to pick you up, Sammy. We can talk Leafs? We are going to talk Leafs. That's a good sign. People on the YouTube, oh, great Leafs talk. Can you relax? Good Lord.

Once every four years, the biggest turn on the globe. Oh, step to the Leafs. Take a lap. And let them know we got like two hours. Two hours to talk about 20 guys. Every day, Monday through Friday. Sharks in game 24. Yeah.

Team Canada's out of the World Cup. Our nation played in the biggest competition in soccer. We have a five-minute chat. We're getting beaten up. All right. Where do we start from last night? Let's talk about the most important player on the ice last night. Talking about Samsonov?

No. Oh. Matt Colaba? No. Oh. The guy who just won the Hart Trophy? Nope. Oh.

Eric Carlson? No. Oh. I don't know where you want to go. Engvall. Engvall. He doesn't score the goal. Yeah.'t get the uh empty netter oh yeah right he gets an assist a and do you like the Leafs chances or Mitch's chances of getting a point in overtime these days good point by you no I do not no I

actually I was always the most important guy last night I really liked Kerfoot's play on that. He had nothing, right? He shot that for the pad. I had a really good play, and Engvall, you know, right place, right time. Smacks it at the net. Nice to see two really good Kerfoot moments within five minutes of each other, because it had been three weeks in between the last couple. What was the other one?

Well, the one where he shot it off the pad. That was was a good play it was a good shot pass i thought and then he made the nice pass breakout pass to marner to get him the uh point streak continued so it ties daryl sitler and edel chuck with a point streak uh consecutive 18 games uh before we get into that mitch marner i don't know if you guys noticed dronald star today wrote a little bit of a piece i'm sure you guys are going to rip on me momentarily i'm going to try to delay that as long as i can and uh and just talk about like the overall vibe i was at the game i was in the alumni box uh you've been in the seats they're they're really fantastic seats when it comes to kind of watching the plays develop premium uh and it wasn't a box of chocolates i'll be honest with you no from where i was sitting i don't think you sit anywhere and make that one a box of chocolates you're 100 right yeah but what impressed me was that when you're dealing with a 1-1, I didn't see the Leafs pressing.

I didn't see them doing something that is kind of out of their realm of what we've seen in the last two and a half, three weeks. They stayed fairly structured. A couple times in tight, Samsonov was there for them. And I think, again again when you're talking about sometimes you gotta dummy things down in the playoffs or just be patient and wait for your opportunities i saw a little bit of that last night for sure it has been a patient team i would say this has been the best you can play while being uninteresting to talk about because they're

just kind of doing the right things they waited out they're in the right spots can play while being uninteresting to talk about because they're just kind of doing the right things they waited out they're in the right spots oh babs would love this wouldn't he oh nowhere to stand in the right places a lot of that sort of stuff so it's it is it's not the most thrilling hockey last night in particular not a ton of chances being traded but it what's the the goals you get two points they're getting it done yeah i thought the first period was a vintage let down leafs let down spot the puck just didn't go in the net i thought i lost 10 bucks on uh betting on the sharks last night well it's a good bet i just oh you really thought they were gonna come in and uh and and catch the leaf sleeping yeah and

they were like plus 230 or something, they had a couple breakaways. By the way, Gregor's breakaway was at five minutes in or something like that, like the length of the ice so much you had to stop skating. That's the worst shot I've ever seen in my life. I was at the other end. Yeah. And where did it go? He missed the net by a foot and a half.

It looked to me more like a field goal than it did a normal shot on goal. And like if your shot selection, if you're going to just shoot it on a breakaway, good play. Like some deception, a little lean, a fake, and open the blade up. He just went down there and smacked it at the boards. Like get it in deep. It's as if he said to himself, I have no business being in this position. I'm just going to dump it in and change.

Dump and change from the hash marks extend my ozone time keep it deep anyway but yes uh they're not a great first period for the leafs but yeah samsonov made the same saves he had to make and they're just kind of hanging around man i don't know if you saw this in person or i texted this to the group last night but little little tentative with samson off looked like he might not that he rushed back they're never gonna rush him back to have all the all the he just looked like he was out a while yeah he just looked like he was not necessarily

trusting a push like a little bit worried about the knee still maybe thinking about it here and there you see that or am i am i out to lunch i you know i if i'm being honest i didn't see anything that doesn't mean it wasn't the case i'm also i watched the goalies you know last the least possible so uh very possible all right i was up around the alumni buffet probably on a few occasions so i didn't Atlantic salmon i don't think i saw what you saw Sammy uh but uh it's regardless i mean these bad goals are you know and soft goals aren't an issue right now for this team no matter who's in the net so you tell me what to prioritize we want to do the game and the team or do we want to do the marner streak well you got it you got to go jump right into a mitch marner at 18. It's still alive.

The one thing that I got out of that more than anything was just the emotion that he had. And, you know, there's something that's magical about anything. And we saw it with Austin last year on a run that can put you and your teammates up with history. There seems to be some real joy coming out of the team. We saw the viral image of Mitch getting doused in the dressing room after the game. How can this not be something that continues to build blocks for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

For sure. So did you write the article before or after that game, getting to see how beloved Marner was and cheered and hugged by his friends? So you think I'm going to the alumni box, I'm having three or four beers, and then I'm going to write an article? Really? Really? I just was like, I've never seen a guy showered with so much love and affection. It's just, if there was ever going to be a day for that one to come out.

It's perfect. He has never been given more appreciation than today. The last few months? No, today I think is the peak. We talked about this a little bit on Leafs Talk last night, but this is the moment to we talked about this a little bit on leafs talk last night but this is the moment to celebrate him right because last year matthews had the 60 goals and it was this big chase for that and rudy was talking about that this is kind of not the equivalent of that obviously it's not

the same but don't you feel like it's kind of now that they're showering all the appreciation on him like it's kind of the time for him to get his his spotlight here yeah yeah and i wonder here's a guy that's been the two-time first team all-star now and and yet he needed to do this to get the appreciation that you guys are talking about i don't know like what do you think he is a top two player in the league like how much is he he's not he's again 10 right now. You're talking about now, you know, something that's very subjective. For sure it is. Okay. So it's not about, okay, he slid into number two.

It's just he's starting to get the attention of top, top players. And it just seemed for me, and I try to uh articulate this in in the uh in the toronto star article i wrote today was that you know it's been a tough grind for him those first early years were not something normal top five guys go through. And just something as simple as your first training camp where, you know, you're buried into a throwaway exhibition game in London, Ontario. It's like old grudges to me.

No, it's not. It's not actually. It's, it's, uh, it just helps people understand the, the path that he needed to get to the point where he's getting doused and he's being beloved.

And that's just it. It's been a journey for him. It's just a reminder. It's not bringing up old wounds. And it's just putting it in perspective on how far this guy has come in six years to get to that place where, you know, maybe you should be talking to him like you talk about Pat Kane and McDavid and Matthews and, you know, a handful of these guys. Yeah, I just think, I feel like he has. He could be different than, you know, my perception,

how other people see it. I'm reading an article right now on The Athletic. Mitch Marner is a unique player in the NHL and Maple Leafs history. You're right. Today, there's a lot more praise than ever. Yeah, you never saw that. Even when he was named first-team all-star, you never got stuff like that. I also had a buddy text me saying that,

don't you think the Leafs could get over the playoff hump if they approach do-or-die games with the same team energy they put towards these individual milestones? They do seem to pour themselves as a team. The chase for matthew 60 was a big one the whole team last night seemed to be working to get it for marner i don't think that's any different than what uh gretzky's gone through or anybody uh ovechkin's going through now just trying to help your buddies get them over the hump yeah and it's like it's a nice distraction for teams, and maybe you tend to not focus on the mistakes I'm making

if all the attention is going to another guy. You know, it's fun to be around. I mean, I didn't really go on anybody's major run, but it's nice even being on the ice when a guy like Mark Messia scores his 500th nhl goal it's so just great energy it is so is mitch marner and his camps satisfaction with the amount of praise and adulation are we there now this is what it's about yeah i do no it's not it's not what this is totally not what it's all about. Then I don't really get it.

Like Gord was on our show yesterday going, I think people love this guy. You see him miss the empty net and fans are like distraught. Yeah. Over him not getting his appropriate flowers. It is a flower rain today. It is coming. But we know that it hasn't been the case in in those early years and it hasn't been the case

after every playoff round and he's gotten beat up more than anybody else after playoff runs well i mean the one after the habs won for i mean for good reason right like it's not like it was just complete you know he was good last year against the the bolts and i think he he played well, but they, it's not good against the Habs. And they lost to a historic rival in heartbreaking fashion. And you play for the most popular team in the league. Do you think there's a rivalry between Matthews and Marner? 100% there is. And it's no different than the early rivalry.

It's not about being besties. It's about creating a healthy competition and the both of them want to be lead team leaders yeah both of them want to win scoring titles on their teams respective teams there was one with crosby and malkin yeah until you figured out who the alpha dog was and once malkin figured it out he was he was in a happy place but prior to that they they were going at it is there any history of guys just making it work as two superstars trying to win a team through you know push a team through i feel like that's the only solution for this team right although they i mean it's not

like they haven't worked together great on the ice so i guess it's just like uh it does feel like fans have they pick a camp i guess to some extent my article today i love you guys i did but i don't remember yeah uh until the first game's over in game one yeah then all bets all bets are off. He wets the bed. They're all over him. They'll kill him again. They'll beat him up. That's part of being a pro athlete. And a superstar.

But they'll go to him first before Matthews and before Tavares. And what is the biggest difference? There was a build from the moment. And again, this is what I try to say in the article. We're talking about first pick overalls. There's just an aura that comes with that, right? For sure. And Mitch didn't get that one.

He was seen more of not a top, top 18-year-old, the very top. So there was always a little bit of a cushion for those guys as first pick overalls. And the tendency is that they've gotten a little bit more of a cushion around disappointments. Yeah. Can you see that at all or no? Yeah, I can see that at all.

You know, some of that at least is justified. Matthews took a beating too, guys. We're talking about the Habs playoff series. That's the one that I will think back on. Listen, they've had some disappointing ones. They've lost the Bruins, whatever. Yeah. But the vitriol was at its highest after that playoff series.

And I just saw just as much of Matthews smiling, getting ragdolled by Sherratt. Yeah, that's the image. People killing him for that. Listen, Marner, sure, maybe take a little bit more. But both of them have gotten, and the thing with Tavares is, Tavares is never going to take the beating that any of them take because of his decision to come home, his come to play here in Toronto, seemingly taking a discount, which is an insane sentence to say. Whatever that just said, pajama boy. I just, I think that the

narrative that is a little bit wrong. I do. I think Matthews takes a beating in the playoff stuff too. I really do. Austin Matthews missed the Connor McDavid, Eichel, Strom, Marner draft, if I'm not mistaken, by a few days. Oh, really? Yes, he does. January birthday or something? No, September. September, oh, yeah. So, if in fact mom delays it and he's in that draft

where does austin matthews end up getting drafted i have no idea well just behind mcdavid i guess oh for sure right yeah we know that yeah and so two jack eichel i i i mean he was chosen to had him in his own draft wasn't he that's sort of those were different years but yeah i still think he's the he'd go ahead go ahead uh are you judging that on on what you've seen up until this point are you perception at that time are you going back in that time and saying and this is where i think he was a held up as the above eichel don't you think at that time uh i know i think we had seen a lot more out of jack out of boston what we so what changes i think it it just would have felt differently as a third pick overall i think you look at leon dry saddle right now and that's know, he was third overall, right? I think he was lower than that, wasn't he?

Was he? I don't know. No, I think you're right. I think he is a third. I just never. But he played up to it. No one. Like, do you remember that early year where they, Leon was lost, man.

He was just, and people were talking about Leon being a bust in his first year. He looks slow sometimes, right? For being the best player on earth who isn't McDavid and Matthews, basically. Really? Yeah. Yeah. And then I remember watching Leon very closely in his rookie year and going, I don't see it. Yeah.

I don't see it. And now we are, now he's like one, two. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He's ridiculous. Ridiculous player. I just never, ever think of Matthews being like, I don't think of him being a first overall pick.

I don't think of the drafts. I just think of them being good players. I know you, but do you, but I mean, you hold them in high regard. Anybody really has a first overall pick. Yeah. I mean, that's a clout that few guys get to...

Do you think that's something that's ever talked about? To me, they're talked about as good players as opposed to where they're drafted, to me. I don't think it really matters where you're drafted if you turn into an incredible player. I do think first overall gives you a little bit of an extra sheen. Yeah, I guess. It's something I would... Usually because it's earned, right?

I haven't talked about him being first overall talk i have leaf fan conversations literally every day of my life and i haven't had that conversation since whatever day he was drafted yeah so i i just i don't know if it's in the vernacular of leaf fans maybe maybe to the guys who actually play it matters but the fans i don't think it's something that really comes up that often all right let's go to uh marner on tying the record on our first Kipper Clipper. Yeah, honestly, that was really special. That meant a lot. You know, like we were talking about

yesterday about family being here, and I got my family here, and it was a special moment. Obviously, they're not beside me, but I'm sure they're in the crowd loving that moment, too, and just taking it in with me. It was a special moment to grow up in this city, be a huge fan fan of this team and now have my name with a couple unbelievable players it's it's pretty special and um you know kid growing up would have never expected this and

now it's uh you know kind of a reality and it's it's a cool moment but obviously winning the game is more important and that's that was a great job by kerf and pierre there to get that second goal and get us going to you know lead to that opportunity buzzing man was buzzing the first period uh i i think i text the group that he was like the way he was hunting pucks was unbelievable like these he's playing in the neutral zone for check knocks one out of the air turns it over and goes the other way they get a chance it goes back the other way and he strips someone from behind to turn it back around like he was humming or in their phrasing now buzzing buzzing last night to start that game um so let's let's go to him on uh unless you want to add no you go oh just on him on on if he was relieved because it did get pretty hilarious at the end of the game when he had a

couple of cracks at it and didn't bury yeah i mean did mean, did you see me? I mean, I can't wait to talk to my father. He's going to be like, what the hell are you doing on that passing first one? And big Mike on the bench right away looked at me and couldn't believe I tried to pass it to him too. He was pissed at me, to be honest. But, you know, like I've been saying, these guys have been unbelievable. And without them, this isn't possible. And, you know, it was definitely a relief after it went in. And, you know, the first two were pretty ugly attempts there by me.

And, you know, for these guys just to keep trying to find me there and keep telling me that they're looking for me means a lot and, you know, shows how much we love each other in this locker room and want to try and, you know, accomplish great things together. Big Mike. We're doing Big Mike for bunting? Yeah, that's probably not the most appropriate. That's like calling me tiny.

Oh, little Sam. Little Sam. I couldn't, couldn't, couldn't believe he passed. That's just a natural subconscious reaction. Bingo. That's exactly. He's a playmaker at heart. That's what he does, and he was passing it.

I couldn't believe he passed. He was at the blue line with an open lane to an empty net. And he's like, I'm going to saucer it to a covered guy. And then he ended up going to the net. He was missing that. Over the last few years, we have heard references that these guys really love each other. Jack set that tone all of last year. Yeah.

Right? There is a genuine love for each other. Yeah. And there does seem to be you know it's so weird when things were squirrely there earlier in the season to get that sense right because it comes from the coach that he's trying to lift people up and but and i don't know it's just tough when you're losing so winning certainly makes that a whole lot easier and you know there's times when it you'd like to see that love a little more i think probably at those

times when they are leaving you'd like early you know that whole episode with austin and uh connect me yeah i mean i'd like to see more love there we saw it out of geo but geo's really not the first guy at soon to be 40 years of age that I'd like to see that much love from. This guy's a beauty, though. Right? Gio, what a season he's having. You're right. I get it.

But for me, that's where the love has to show. Not in the dressing room or at a Christmas party or in Florida. It has to. West Coast swing to California, maybe. Has to be on the ice that's where the love really matters did you see the screenshot i tweeted the other day of the tampa bay lightning their goalie got hit someone in san i think barton's over here too four guys were mitts off there was three guys beating him up and whoever's the defensive was doing the old

throwing the mitts down like it was unbelievable like they haven't eaten for days and someone tossed a t-bone in the middle of the room like you know that that's a team that's been through it and you know it's certainly that element that you don't have to you don't have to fight all the time but good to have each other's backs speaking of having each other's backs matthews uh had some enjoyable comments on the point streak. Why don't we finish this topic? Oh, my God, yeah. Man, we were losing it a little bit there. Yeah, I'm just so happy he got it, honestly.

It was, yeah, it was getting a little scary there for a second. Then, you know, yeah, third time's a charm, I guess. But, yeah, we're also pumped from, obviously, during this stretch he's been playing unbelievable, leading our team on both sides of the puck and just uh just competing every night so we're all so happy for him and obviously uh you know took to the last last minute of the game and a few scares but we're happy he got it matthew's now up to 12 goals 15 assists through 25 games uh certainly a big part of now uh finishing off a hot november let's go to sheldon keith talking about uh the last 30 days in november i don't do a whole lot of looking back you know um i think we obviously we're in we're in a good

place here now and feeling good as a team we We've got a lot of confidence. We feel like we're where we should be. Obviously, if we started better, we'd be in an even better spot. But maybe if we didn't start the way we did, maybe we don't have as good a November. A lot of things happen over the course of 82 games. I feel good about this month, but the calendar is going to turn. The calendar turning is something I said when we turn from october november calendar calendar turns you know i think we're just getting through 10 games or so uh you know through october and we said we're gonna push on from there

and we're gonna push on from here you take a day off tomorrow good practice day get out to tampa there you go yeah i mean the calendar turns you like the way they played what a november 25 of a possible 30 points they picked up after starting as poorly as they did not too shabby fellas probably uh a good time to maybe go down to tampa and send another message to the lightning no i don't know you can go down there and like they're playing great hockey and uh sammy tells me they're they're playing in the first round it's true they are they are future uh playoff opponents a nice six two wins saturday night sammy will do nothing no it won't do nothing it's doing a lot i think honestly i think this is

the this is the biggest game of the year so far for sure is that is that a crazy is that a crazy obvious thing to say no they're i think it's a worthy observation like they they're going in there this is gonna be matt murray where now you have samsonov who played well last night you have a quote-unquote option behind him matt murray going in there is your number one mitch marner with a point streak record point streak on the line against a team that you hate it's an exciting one saturday night it's a big game it's a it's a that's a goalie's go game leafs talk after the game you're doing it oh yeah all right oh yeah so i'm i'm i'm excited for that one. That is a great spot.

They're going to be without Callie Yarncroft, who's out a while with a groin injury. Does this mean we get to see Nick Robertson? Did you see him? Did you see it? Period. I actually do kind of remember the play. You do?

It wasn't overly noticeable. It wasn't? Yeah, I don't think so. Okay, because I didn't see him come off the ice at all. Yeah. So I do wonder, though, if that earns Robertson some more luck. He almost scored. Shot one through, what's his name?

Aiden Hill? I don't remember the goalie's name. So he also had a chance where the puck landed on his stick, and he walked down to just below the circle, and he had a clean shot. Yeah. He bangs one off the glass. It's like, man.

Those are your moments, kid. What are you out there for? That's your time. If you're going to be Steph Curry and say you hit threes when you catch it behind the arc, we need you to hit one. So he just banged it off the glass. I'm sure he was thinking about that one. But yeah.

Trying to be too perfect. It's a big opportunity for him now because you think that he would slot in there where Yonkrok was playing, no? Do you think they'll just put him right back in that line? Probably. Yeah, that's i don't think it's a given yeah to be honest with you depends if they liked his game last night just who else can you watch the first five minutes in tampa bay saturday right yeah then make

the call i just who's coming up for the leafs so the forwards have been remarkably healthy this year but it's something to keep an eye on like take, take a look at the Marlies. It ain't Punchy Douglas coming up, so I don't know who it would be, but... All right, well, Sammy's already named Matt Murray starting Saturday night, but we got to get ourselves some Samsonov kippers-clippers, do we not? Yes, got a couple really good ones.

All right, let's go to Sammy 2. I'm so happy to be back uh nice win again today i'm happy for amici it's pretty funny was that ludka from taxi i love i love a quickie he talks like a machine gun so he got asked because apparently he called that the streak would keep going yesterday and then he got asked about his call. We got to look into the future one, Derek. It's so good. Yeah, I know, I know. I look to the future. How much longer can he go?

We'll see. Was that a Messier guarantee? We'll see. I thought I saw on Twitter he eventually settled on 50 games is what he said. Oh, did he? I didn't hear that part. No, but it's funny.

This guy is hilarious. Last one from him. Should we do one more? Yeah. I love him. On the early breakaways. It's a nice warm-up for me. Thank you, guys.

I like it. It's a nice breakaway. And for confidence after the Marchand shootout, yeah, I need a little bit of confidence back. For confidence after the Marchand shootout yeah i need it i need a little bit confidence back for confidence after the marchand shootout i needed it it's a nice warmer for me that's awesome i love it man he was pretty good uh you know oh i had no problem with uh anything out of him out of uh being off for so long. As of today, he's played 57 minutes. Murray's played 57 minutes. And Shalgren's played 56 minutes, I believe, in net for the goaltender

for the Leafs this year. So three guys have played about an hour of hockey. And if I would have told you that the Leafs would be 15-5-5? Times 10. On that? Yeah, I got what you're saying. Yeah.

What's that? And if I would have told you that it would be 15-5-5? Times 10. On that? Yeah, I got what you're saying. Yeah. What's that? And if I would have told you that it would be 15-5-5 at the beginning of the season? With all those guys. Not a chance. I know. Not a chance.

Absolutely crazy, the success they've had without really having a clear starting goaltender this whole way. So that's great. Do you want to hear what Sheldon had to say about Ilya?

Yes. All right, let's hear Keefe on Samsonov. He told told us he was ready so obviously let's find out yeah it's uh credit to him you know it's not an easy start there with some of those looks like you know say we're they got two in the first period that we shoot in the shin pads and they go the other way but uh he stood his ground on it and it's obviously similar type of plays that he got hurt on. It's not a penalty shot, of course, but one-on-one like that.

And he looked great, moved well, kept them out one in the game. You know, they had a chance in the third period, very similar to the one that they scored on in the second, very close in the crease, and he made the correction. You know, he made a mistake on the first one there, but he made the correction, made the save in a key moment. He was great. So really good to have him back and, you know,

for him to keep them out one and give us a chance to win. Obviously, that's huge. We've got Sam Cosentino coming up after the break. In about five minutes, we're going to take a little time off and then bring him in. Steve Alliquette also will join us in the second hour. Prior to that, I just want to talk a little Mac Halliwell.

Oh, you got the bell apparently. Like we're talking about a lot of love spreading around. Certainly, Matthews is pretty happy with the nice little slap pass.

Great play. Yeah, but what are we doing here? I mean, you know, do you think he's going to be used as a guy? All I know is that we knew nothing about him. Yeah. He comes up. He's got a couple of helpers. Smart player.

He skates well. Yeah yeah a heads-up play and next thing you know you got yourself an asset yeah he's showing himself able you know an asset yes what do you mean by that well what do you think i mean by that i i god love the guy but i don't mean i haven't seen that much i don't i'm just like keep going yeah i i it would be interesting throughout the course the season i don't know i mean can he turn himself into a six or seven instead of an eight or nine in the next couple of weeks. Can it get to the point where someone goes, Hey,

you don't have to be six feet back there. He's he's mobile. He's got a good head. He skates. Well, I think I got his dad in my mentions or maybe his uncle or something is all over me about hollow. Well,

if you need to make a bold move, could he be thrown into a deal now all of a sudden? So I don't think so. Okay. Yeah. It's just my take. I'm just, yeah,

we're doing takes. We're doing takes my take. I don't think so. Okay. Oh yeah. My DMS though. I got his uncle or someone being like, ah,

you guys are too hard in this kid. He's, you know, what do you play? Four games so far. Super good pass to Matthewsthews there he's been averaging 12 13 minutes yeah he's been capable not getting buried no he hasn't been you know i don't know where it goes have you ever and well of course you have seen this a million times where

there's a need in a lineup and a guy gets elevated beyond where they typically play and they have some great games and people go ah this guy you know like maybe he can do it and then you do it long enough and the sample size gets big enough you go oh that's why they were where they were you know i think there's some leveling out here he's been very good in a good situation i like not get too excited i like how he makes decisions somewhat quickly yes he doesn't i think he doesn't dust it off good feet for sure yeah move the puck up the ice he's like i think he's probably if you look around the league there probably aren't many better 10th defenseman than mac holland you're right i think you can also have

a conversation like okay uh there's a bunch of injuries it's game two of the playoffs you want mette or hollow well i'll have a conversation with you about which one you want because i'm not sure it's mette yeah but right-handed shot yeah does that not give him a leg up good point maybe it does yes so yeah good good start for uh for mac hollowell so i just wanted to go back to something because you chirped me about me putting murray in net you're obviously putting murray in net on saturday right kip i am yes okay i just wanted to you also read my Matt Murray article, right? Yeah, I know I did.

I did. I anointed him king of the Leaf net before the season started. I'm looking forward to talking to Valaket about him. So I messed up the numbers that everyone had played before. They've all played like 560 minutes is what I meant to say. Yeah, we knew that. Did you? Yeah, I just didn't want to embarrass you.

Thanks, man. You're a good guy. But, you know, nice. Nice. They got a couple of guys. It is funny that, you know, we never thought on this show, like, should they claim Cal Peterson? Like, no one had any hesitation about that.

Nobody claimed Cal Peterson and backloaded deal. He's going to the American Hockey League inario for uh for the london or for the la kings um and he is going to ontario just not here yeah that's a that's a tough pill to swallow if you're rob blake right now send him down after that contract now is that just to send a message to the rest of your team? Is that a wake-up call? He lets in, I think, four the other night. Yeah. And, I don't know, he's just reactionary.

You mentioned that. Yeah, it felt like it. I mean, one of them is like from the goal line, he gets hit in the shoulder pad. It goes up in the air and falls behind his head. Like, it was just one of those games. I don't necessarily think the best way to uh boost the kids struggling confidence is to send them the waivers and have them clear yeah look that may not be the best nobody yeah he's like we don't

want you here and nobody else wants you so i guess no one else wants you at that much money have fun and have fun in the ahl there's got to be something there that's led them to five million times five or was it five three times 15 15 times three something yeah so anyways okay we'll take a quick break we got sam coming up after the break are you working with sam tonight i am no not sam no no cause tonight it's me sarah nurse see sarah nurse tonight awesome we'll bring in Sam after the break. You're watching and listening to Real Kipper and Born. This is Real Kipper and Born on Sportsnet 590 The Van. The Van. Sammy. We're back.

We're back. And as promised, Sam Constantino will join us now. Sportsnet hockey analyst covering the NHL, but a guy that has watched Mitch Marner over the years, watched him very closely in junior hockey. Sam, just what you saw, not only last night out of Mitch Marner, but throughout the whole streak, is this where you thought a fourth pick overall would end up back then?

Is he exceeding even your expectations after watching him and playing for the London Knights? You know, Kipper, he's exceeding even your expectations after watching him play for the London Knights? You know what, Kipper, he's exceeding my expectations. The only concern I had about him at that time was his size. And he's still kind of slight of frame, although he's obviously thickened up and strengthened up a little bit. But, man, that same lightness he had in his feet he had in junior, his ability to know where to go that was evident

in junior his hand-eye coordination is ridiculous uh the edge work crazy all those things were present in his game and in london but to think that he was going to play this well and become you know almost 100 point guy last year and on that pace again this year that's uh that's pretty amazing stuff for for a guy who's uh who's his size but uh there's no doubt the talent was there cause what have you seen in the evolution of young players playing in the nhl it feels like it used to be a such a different process trying to break in and now guys kind of get in sooner what has changed over the years for you i think a lot of individual training.

There's been such a focus on that. So everyone has a, you know, all these high end guys have skating coaches. They have skills coaches. They have nutritionists. They have mental, you know, mental health coaches or sports psychologists, if you will. So there's a plethora of things that they're doing now that in the days that you and Kipper grew up playing was, you know, let's go to camp. That's when we'll get in shape and then we'll be ready to rock and roll. Well, that's changed.

You know, it's an all year round thing now. It's dedication for a lot of these kids at the age of, you know, nine, even 10 years old. And it's no other sports on top of that. So all this individualized training, I think, is what has allowed this to happen. But you have to give credit to the coaches, too. There's a lot of really good people out there in terms of skill development, skating coaches that have used technology and have studied the craft that they're in

and really perfected it. So I'm impressed on that part. But for me, it's all about the individualized skill that people are utilizing coaches for now that they didn't use in your age. Sam, I just want to go back to 2015 for a second. That was Mitch Marner's draft. And I know that you've covered it for SportsCenter over the years. And I don't know how far back you ever went

in terms of looking at prospects to stars, stars to Hall of Famers in the last, what, 50, 60 years. But where would 2015 personally rank for you? Is it sometimes it's regarded as the best ever? Is that how it stands out to you? And we're talking, of course, Mcdavid eichel uh strome marner and then it goes down the list but there's some there's some seven eight million dollar players everywhere out of that draft yeah it's crazy how how how that depth worked right and

you know everyone was talking about mcdavid and eichel. You remember Tim Murray, who was the general manager at Buffalo at that time, and he made it pretty clear that he was in tank mode to get McDavid. And, of course, they lose the lottery. He ends up with Eichel, who's obviously still a good player, but I don't think he's the player that McDavid is. And then you go down that list. It's really impressive. I still think, though, Kipper, there's a lot of time left for that group

to continue to create their mark on the game. And I think the one thing is now when you look at that group of players, now you want to start talking about championships. You know, the individual stuff, that's great. But what makes a great player is his ability to take his team to the next level to win a cup. And, you know, when you're talking about McDavid, he's in that boat right now.

Yeah, they did pretty well last year. But until he raises a cup, kind of, I think everyone will think of him as Nathan McKinnon, as one of the greatest players in the world, if not. But to win, you really need to, you know, that solidifies things for me. And Mitch Marner's in the same boat. I mean, you know, to win a round would be huge for Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I think McDavid's a little bit further along with his team. But this Toronto Maple Leafs team is looking pretty good right now. I think, though, that 2015 group, you've got to add winning into the mix before you start talking about, you know, greatest players of all time. Because we're getting to the point of the season where you can look at the standings and kind of have some idea which teams are going to go which direction on purpose you know like it's doesn't doesn't make a lot of sense for a philly or a columbus to trade for someone and try to get better right now tell me about this draft class coming up right now compared to the

last few i know connor bedard's the top highly touted guy how is it uh depth wise beyond bedard it's really good uh yeah the next two guys in line who i believe are in the conversation are six 390 pound leo carlson who plays in sweden who's putting up you know really good numbers in the shl which is a tough league to play in at you know 17 18 years old he moves well more of a distributor than a shooter but i think that part in his game can develop still. Adam Fantilli is a freshman at the University of Michigan who at last look was two points a game.

I mean, you know, 18-year-old freshman in the NCAA ranks putting up two points per game, and at one point was leading the entire NCAA. That just doesn't happen. So those are the next two guys that are going to be in the conversation with Bedard. What differs about those guys for Fantilli, So those are the next two guys that are going to be in the conversation with Bedard. What differs about those guys for Fantilli, it's the size,

but the fact that he looks like a surefire center at the next level. Carlson more likely rates out as a winner, so that just kind of knocks down the value a little bit. And Bedard, if at that size he can play at center, then I don't think there's any question that he's going to be the guy who's most highly thought of at number one. But the depth goes further than that. Like Zach Benson plays in Winnipeg, really good play driver, super intelligent guy.

You're looking at Braden Yeager plays in Moose Jaw. I mean, really, there's a plethora of guys, maybe not quite as heavy on the D side, although we're starting to see some of the defensemen really come into the mix now. But definitely a lot of high-end skilled forwards. And just the demand for, if we're talking forwards,

center ice position, are all the top three centermen? Sam? Well, Fantilli for sure. Bedard, I think so. Carlson, no. Carlson will be, looks like he's going to read out to be a winger. But Braden Jaeger, he can play center.

I mean, Benson, he can play center. But again, Kipper, you know how it goes. Some of these smaller, skilled guys, if you're worried about putting them at center ice just because of how demanding the position is physically d zone you know that that sort of stuff that becomes a bit more of a challenge so uh fantilli for sure though he's a guy that you know six two whatever 190 pounds he rates out as that guy so that's why for me he challenges because some people might look at the dart and say okay with his ability to shoot the puck score from distance um maybe he does uh you know project

better on the wing as opposed to center at the next level looking at the toronto maple leafs right now you know not a ton of prospects on the way they do have nick robertson in the lineup uh there seems to be some debate should they just play this guy 10 games in a row you know what what do you what do you think the leafs should do with roberts? Is he someone you think is going to find a score in this league? We feel like we're running out of time here. Talk about him all the time. I know. The issue is this.

You're on the Toronto Maple Leafs. For the top six forward positions, they're done. They're not going to change your cook. You're not going to outlast the Tavares, the Marner, the Matthews, the Nylanders. So that essentially leaves two spots in your top six. For me, a guy like Robertson needs to play in your top six. And I'm not saying that Sheldon Keith is not,

that he deserves to play there. I think in order for that player to be successful, he has to play there. So, you know, maybe that extends a little bit in today's game into the third line. But for me, you know, you can see how he skates. You can see there's some warts and mistakes that he makes in his game. He saw it last night, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

But he does have that ability to score goals, and that's a tough thing to acquire. Most of the time, you either overpay for it, or if you draft it, you have to be patient with it. For me, though, that's the biggest issue facing Robertson and the Toronto Maple Leafs is and I'm not critical of them for not playing them in a top six role I do believe though if you could plug him into a third line role and give him a 10 or 12 game run where he can play 12 to 14

minutes a night I think you're going to see an effective player but you know again that's pretty tough who are you gonna who are you gonna get rid of there is it a Kerfoot is it, you know, again, that's pretty tough. Who are you going to, who are you going to get rid of there? Is it a Kerfoot? Is it camp? You know, this Holmberg starting to play well, there's a lot of guys that are vying for those positions. And if you have a bad game or two, sorry about your luck, but there's someone chomping at the bit to get that opportunity. So that's the challenge, right? That's, that's the big challenge with Robertson. Hey, Sam,

we're going to blink, and we're going to get through the holidays here, and then we're going to start hearing some real legitimate names out there. And there's no question that the Leafs are going to have to be amongst half a dozen teams that think that they have a chance to win a Stanley Cup, and they're going to be in on a lot of talk. Where are you with their number one prospect in Matthew Nyes? Is this a guy who has to be an untouchable for the Toronto Maple Leafs or under the right circumstances,

would you give him up for a chance to win the Stanley Cup this year? I think the most fascinating part of all this, if you're Kyle Dubas and you had to have been extended going into this year, you're probably looking at Nyes and saying, we need to keep this guy to keep the ball rolling with a guy who's you know living on his last dollar he can go all out i mean unless someone above blocks a trade but by all accounts he's been given all autonomy to do so so for me he's a guy who's in play um and again that's more probably a result of where the gm is in in in his career he has to win at least a round or he's done i mean we said that last year too but i truly believe it to be that case this time around and so if he needs you know if he

wants to get over that hump and acquire some sort of a big name he'll have to be part of a package i don't think he alone is going to bring you the guy that's going to put you over that hump and acquire some sort of big name, he'll have to be part of a package. I don't think he alone is going to bring you the guy that's going to put you over the hump and into the Stanley Cup, but he'd be a nice piece for somebody moving forward, one of those teams, you know, like Kane or Taves or whoever it is that you might talk about acquiring. But for me, I don't know. I think it's more a result that I'm the GM.

I need to win now. He's on the table for me. Wow. Sam, what do you think? Yeah, that is fascinating. And obviously big implications for the Leafs here. I think in general, I'm curious about what the best scenario is for a young player joining the NHL.

I have in mind Alexi Lafreniere right now, who's kind of been played on the third and fourth line by and large versus a guy like Tim Stutzler or whoever. They make you the guy all of a sudden. Which is better for development path for these guys getting the NHL young? Would you rather see him sort of sheltered or just be like, hey, you're the guy

even though we're losing, which I have no idea to be honest. I think the player has to author it. So if he's playing really well then you elevate him and you play him more minutes and see if he can handle it. If not, then you bump him back. For me, sitting guys, playing them intermittently,

when they play, playing them Shane Wright six or seven minutes, that doesn't work. It doesn't work for me. It drags out. Look at Leon Dreisaitl. He played 37 games in the National Hockey League before he got sent back. And looked awful.

And looked awful, right? He was awful. And about midway through the next year, he came up from the American League, and he hasn't looked back ever since. But it just takes time. Look at Alex Petrangelo. I think he went back and forth to St. Louis three times

back to the Niagara Ice Dogs, if I'm not mistaken, before he actually was able to author his way the rest of the way. For me, you have to play. You have to play, especially in these times when you're looking at our prospects that at some point in the last four-year cycle, they've been impacted by COVID and haven't played either to the competition they should have played against or to the schedule they should have been playing.

These guys have to play games. And you know what? Sometimes it sucks because of the agreement. They have to go play in junior hockey, but it's better to go play 25 minutes and maybe pick up a few bad habits in junior hockey than playing six minutes once every three nights and trying to make it work. How does Shane Wright crack a lineup in a week that's 14-5-3 today? Yeah, you know where he goes?

His lineup is O Canada. That's his lineup. That's the lineup he's going to be cracking. Get to the World Juniors. I mean, you can't help but think that that's the way they wanted to time this out. Get him his five-game set. Get him his two-week conditioning stint. You know, maybe he jumps into that game.

I know Merrick's hypothesized that it's that one game in Montreal before he moves over to – He is playing in that game. He will play in that game. I know Merrick's hypothesized that it's that one game in Montreal before he moves over to, to, he is playing in that game. He will play in that game. The plan is for him to play in that game. Yeah.

Yeah. So, and then I don't see another path forward. I mean, Dave Haxtell is a guy who has to be thinking about winning too. And Shane Wright in the lineup at six minutes a night is not helping him win. And it's surely not helping the organization get to the world juniors that buys you a boat another month

and then figure it out after because by that time the world junior starts they're going to know whether they're in it to win it or whether they're going to be picking high again sam i know that to do your job you you know you got to follow these kids after they get to the nhl to sort of assess how your opinions uh worked for you is there anyone that surprised you where they were wildly off your opinion not that you were wrong maybe someone you thought was bad that was awesome or vice versa what are your any surprises in your career here recently well for me i mean tage thompson has turned into i think what surprises me about him is the skill. I mean, you see him pick up that puck along the boards against Detroit last night?

I did. Nasty. Oh, my goodness. Like, who at 6'7", first of all, you see him coming around, whether his head's up or down or whatever, you're not going to get in his way. So he was given a little bit of leeway because there was no one touching him coming up the boards like that.

But then to be able to just kind of chip it between the legs and exit the zone that easily. And to play with the skill he does, how he extends plays with that long reach and gets goalies to bite, he's probably a guy whose skill alone has surprised me. You know, I knew he was going to be a decent skater. You knew that the size was going to play. But for him to play with that kind of skill has been really, really impressive to me. And no surprise really about his impressive to me. No surprise, really,

about his ability to shoot the puck. It's more of the in-tight game for me that's really surprised. Hey, Sam, always a pleasure, man, having you on the show. We really appreciate your time. Thanks, Kipper. Thanks, Marnie. Take care, guys. Thanks, buddy. Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet Hockey Analyst.

It's one thing to talk about, like, Nick Robertson and Lafreniere in New York, but, like, it's the circumstance around it, too. He's got 10 points, this Lafreniere. We keep waiting for him to pop. But he's playing behind Panarin, and he's playing behind Kreider. So, you know, sometimes you get your numbers you get boxed in but i wonder if long term that's not best for him kind of not playing as much learning you know yeah you'd rather see him handle it and play and be in the thick of it yeah just yeah play 10 12 minutes and learn as you go along and these guys have been superstars on every team

that they've played for and they're like i can't get any goals or points this way. Maybe it makes you more well-rounded. Now you know how to chip it out. Why'd you draft him, right? Is he working for Nick Robertson? I mean, you're saying he needs top six. Everybody's saying, oh, no, no, he can't learn at three and four, and if he plays eight minutes, he's going to get lost, and it's like, can't learn at three and four and if he plays eight minutes he's gonna get lost and it's

like can't win yeah it's so funny how getting your cookies getting your few points on the power play a second assist because you play with good players makes you feel like you're you're getting your numbers so everyone can look at the stat sheet know you're an offensive guy and then you're allowed to like you feel i did anyway more comfortable to play defense, to do all the other little things. But when you're not getting the numbers, there's a desperation to get those numbers because you have your whole life and you know that's, not everyone watches you play every game.

So your buddies back home, they grab the stat sheet or, you know, I guess they use the interwebs and they go, grab the old newspaper. They go, what? You have four points in 38 games. What's going on? Yeah, so just talking about Robertson there, I didn't mind the idea of just putting him on the fourth line

instead of Mulligan. And, like, you know, you're in the lineup. Maybe you're not playing as much as you want. Maybe you're not playing with the right guys, but you're part of the team. You're playing. You're in the game. And now, I guess that was before Yarncroft got hurt,

so things are going to change a little bit here probably both of them are going to play i would imagine i guess simmons will get mixed in there too he probably plays on saturday night versus uh tampa oh yeah another another another lineup note that i'm uh penciling in there for sheldon but i just smart call like i would like to see robertson i know play on the play on the fourth line sheldon and sheldon's a lot more important than sammy is i know but do you like you really think there's that big a difference between malgan and robertson on the fourth line no so once again some ask sheldon and he says yes you want to talk about putting this on a fast forward and starting game one like it's not even a question for sheldon you know i think that coaches get into trouble when there becomes a divide with the gm

because like i wonder what kyle wants him to do with robertson and if that's happening i know you know what it's not happening there's no way that kyle needs nick yeah to step's no way he was like, yeah, you know what I want to see from Nick? Six healthy scratches, fourth line appearances, intermittent, you know, fits and starts in the second line. Like this isn't how he drew it out for Robertson. They, again, when you call people up and they have success, they turn to NHL assets. And every time we're going to start hearing some rumors

or some rumblings and Nick Robertson's in, it's one thing to hear his name, and it's another thing to have the team that we're speaking of slot him or where they value him. Frank Cervelli on our show basically said that outside this market he is not a no and i totally agree with him i've talked to other clubs and they're like what am i getting with that guy yeah undersized and a shooter and only a value when he shoots it in right now. Right. Maybe he'll be more than that.

Just a one-dimensional prospect. He has to create. In preseason, he created his own looks. He got opportunities. I was at 90 seconds into the game last night. He shot it through the goaltender's chest. Why can't I think of the goalie's name in San Jose? Dell.

Dell. Aaron Dell. Thank you. He was frozen. Dell. griffin quick quick thing uh just a a i know kipper's gonna not give a you know what about this but i want to bring it up uh i sent out a tweet last night asking if it was a hot take to say that the jerseys the leafs wore last night should be their primary jerseys love it and i got more response to that tweet than any people love them very listen like unsensitive i'm very sensitive but i know you don't care about jerseys and stuff i don't i like those jerseys they're beautiful and that's the last

time they're wearing them all year they're wearing them twice that's it two and oh and they're not wearing them past november and they're they're no longer doing the salming patch on the shoulder either for the rest of the year. Why? I don't know, Kipper. Why wouldn't that salming shoulder patch be there the rest of the year? I'm not sure. I don't know what the decision or we, I mean.

That was initials on the helmet. You need to find that out. I will do some digging. There must be some deal because they only wore that Aretna's jersey for like a minute. Like there must be some deal where we're the Toronto Maple Leafs. We only wear these thirds for two games. They wore the Black Leafs one a lot, didn't they? They wore it once or twice last year.

I just think that the way the one they wore last night, I don't know if this is a hot take. I think that's the nicest jersey they've ever worn. I agree. Does it not devalue the jersey because they don't take that jersey seriously what i think it's the opposite it's like it makes it more exclusive because they never use it so what is the point of the third jersey if you're not actually gonna use it it's weird i don't know that's what i'm asking you i'm gonna send some texts here in the in the break right try to figure

it out why do they go all the way to to make this such a big thing if they're not like legit jerseys? I think it's just like, hey, who wants to buy this and remember it? Well, you can do 10 of them. Do 20 of them. Yeah. Like, who cares? They basically do. Well, you look at the NBA now.

Oh, the NBA now. I mean, not to sound like an old guy, but I don't even know who's playing who on any given night. They have so many different jerseys. To be honest, I feel that way about soccer sometimes. Well, they change every year. Yeah. They get a new jersey every single season.

New colors, though. See? Yeah. And you said I didn't care. No, it's just, to me, it's crazy that they're not wearing that jersey again. Those San Jose Sharks jerseys are awful. It was a beautiful jersey matchup. Oh, the Seals? California Golden Seals? No, the one they wore last night with It was a beautiful jersey matchup Oh the Seals? California Golden

Seals? No the one they wore last night with the double stripes. Did you like the Seals? Oh is that the theme there? The Seals? Yeah. Yeah okay yeah they looked awesome whatever they were. They were awesome. I don't know Alright I'm going to do some digging on why they're not Thanks Chris Creamer. The two of us not jersey specialists here. I'll text

Chris in the break Oh okay there you go. It's not going to be called kids Okay we got to take a break Yeah we, there you go. Okay, we got to take a break? Yeah, we can take a break. We got Steve Allicat. Why did I say Jack? Because Daryl was with Jack down in Florida. That's why he did it. We got

we're going to get more on the Rangers. I want to talk about the Rangers. We're going to talk about Lafren talk about i want them to be bad why because the aisles thing it's forever oh yeah i'm not letting that go that's good do you see the uh the potvin sucks chant they they made potvin socks now for the islanders they're selling potvin socks for the potvin sucks chant oh it's a clever little spin on it they're making it their own wow Wow. I like that. Can it run with the Bab Socks?

Remember those? Yeah, I got a pair. I would be lying if I said I didn't have multiple pairs. I mean, they didn't last that long. I don't have them still, but I had a, there was a moment. Yeah. I believe Brent Gunning wore them at his wedding. All right.

Anyways. We're going to take one more break here. Steve Alliquette, analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG. We're going to figure out what's going on in the Big Apple, and we're going to get his thoughts on Matt Murray now. Was he a fan of Matt Murray? Do we recall? Have we had a conversation with him? I don't know.

I remember McKenna wasn't. We're going to find out after the break his thoughts on a very good Matt Murray up until this point. Is there? Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, right back after these messages. This is Real Kipper and Bourne onne, Steve Balliquette. Are you there?

I'm there, buddy. How are you? See, I have to ask sometimes because I think you're there or anyone's there, and then, like, Sammy's scrambling on the phone, and I sound and look like an idiot. I'm a long, long time listener. I know what goes on at your show. It is the most unprofessional show in the history of podcasts and radio. How are you?

How's your schedule? How's more importantly, how's the King Lundqvist? He's doing really well. He's got a pretty neat job right now. He's an ambassador. So he works 20 games on the television side. He attends a lot of events, Garden of Dreams. I'm sure they pay him handsomely.

Yes, they do. And we slug it out. I'm grinding for him. He just calls me when he needs a couple of tips. You want to dive into the Matt Murray and what you've seen out of him here in Toronto? I mean, I want to get into the Rangers as well. And just your thoughts and maybe around the league on the goaltending fronts on a few

of the guys but got to get your thoughts on Matt Murray and just the whole thing about the injuries and how not only have they overcome it man they thrived yeah you know really interesting is

sometimes in some seasons your goalies get a pretty awkward split where depending on what nights they play, they get the easier shots. And on some nights, the other guys in where it's a really difficult night, even though you're on the same team, the array of chances you have over the course of the year can really divide two goalies. And I thought this was interesting because it really reminds me of three years ago when Tuka Rask was playing with Yaroslav Halak in Boston. Halak was getting the easier version

of the NHL, whereas Tuka Rask in every game he played, he got the hard version. And sometimes it's pretty amazing. Like it really splits. And that's where you guys are at right now. Damsenov in the games that he's played, they have had an easier array of chances against him. And in the games Murray's played, he's at the other end of the spectrum. Out of all of the goalies in the NHL that have faced more than

200 chances, only Eric Comrie has faced harder chances than Matt Murray. So I think that's pretty outstanding for him to get off to that kind of a start so far for the Leafs. I think that's pretty outstanding for him to get off to that kind of a start so far for the Leafs. Yeah, that's fascinating. You know, you've got such an interesting database there and so much information that the average hockey fan

wouldn't know about goaltending. Is there anything in your numbers that stand out to you, a goaltender who's maybe better than people think or worse than their reputation that way? Well, I guess it would depend on who you think. And I'll start with Stuart Skinner. His expected save percentage is 903, and he's an 899. So to say that he's not performing at average,

that's sort of where you begin. That's an example of somebody that's just playing somewhere. But if you wanted to ask me, let me just flip a page. I actually have my computer so I can take a look for you. But honestly, I don't always get on here and look exactly for stuff like that. But not good radio right now, but I'm working with you here. It's great. It's fascinating. It's great as far as I'm concerned.

Well, there's just so much information. In fact, right now the highest performing and best performing goalie is Sorokin, and then it's Hellebuck, and then it's Murray. Wow. Goalies that are, I'm just going to name some names off here, and maybe you think one of those guys isn't doing as well as you may think, but Georgiev is fourth, and then Linus Allmark, and then Carter Hart, and Ottinger, and Saros.

Vimalka maybe probably piques a little interest. Yeah. Performing about seven goals better than he should have right now on 443 chances. So, yeah, and then Montalbán. But, yeah, no, there's so much to look at. Believe me, I fall into black holes some days. Depending on what – I could be listening to your podcast and hear you guys talking about something

and then looking into it a little bit deeper and seeing if that's actually happening or you know and sometimes it does definitely validate the conversation and it's it's kind of neat to kind of kill the trash can kicking conversation which could be something like this uh do the rangers ever score on breakaways you know and i would say well let me a look. They've had 37 breakaways this year. They've only scored five. And that's sixth in the NHL. And Kako, Panera, and Kreider, and Trocek have had 21 combined. And they've only scored twice.

So that's wild to me. And when I see something like that, I print the page off. And I usually use it in something, intermission or game notes for the pregame show. So, Valley, did Matt Murray get that much better basically overnight out of Ottawa, or did the team in front of him get that much better overnight out of Ottawa? Well, yeah, I don't really

think that, no, because I remember we talked about this at the beginning of the year. He didn't have that hard of chances last year in Ottawa. I think Ottawa, we just saw them last night, fellas. That's not a bad team. They just don't know how to win. They're not a bad team. They have a really good offense.

They have, in a lot of categories, they're in top five, greens, deflections. They get their odd man rushes. They're not a bad team offensively. Defensively, they're not that bad either. They're really not. They're just, they make dumb mistakes.

They just make ill-advised mistakes at the wrong times that hurt them. And look, it was first goal last night. First goal last night, Stutzler sticks his stick out in the high slot for no reason when Lindgren's just throwing a sifter in from the blue line. It breaks off his stick. And now you look at poor Cam Talbot. He's like a contestant on the price is right trying to play plinko goes off of his pad goes to the back door vz tabs it in

it's like they have a lot of those one-offs they're just they're not very good in front of their own net but other than that that's a good team so i didn't really see kipper when i looked at that hard before we got on at the beginning of the year when i was i think i was getting kicked out of my hotel room i was looking at that and it wasn't it wasn't really a big discrepancy between what he was going to face in Toronto from what he faced in the games that he played in the games that he played in Ottawa it wasn't that hard last year Forsberg had a harder array of games and like I mean you know sometimes it just falls that way guys it's the third game in four nights and you happen to be the guy that's in Pittsburgh that night.

So you have a really hard night. And sometimes teams shield their goalies against that. That happens, and I'm aware of it. It happens. Yeah. So what about with the Rangers? And I can't help but notice I don't think you mentioned Shesterkin in any of that top ten list.

The guy's a 9-13. He's been very good. And last year you would have. Yeah. How's it going for old 913. He's been very good. And last year you would have. Yeah. How's it going for old Shesty? Shesty's 16 right now. He referred to his performance as, I can't even say it because we're on radio,

but he referred to his last performance as SH something. And he's not happy with himself. And, you know, I wish he wouldn't have said that because the thing about drawing more attention to yourself when it's not going well is that you just spin the narrative out of control. I remember giving up a goal in Ottawa, or no, excuse me, in Atlanta once, where I slammed my stick afterwards and, like, the ice chips came up and everything, and it was a broken play that went off a guy that backed

or similar to last night's VZ goal. And Benoit Allaire tells me after the game, he's like, look, the coaches are all talking because they think you should have had that now because of the way you responded after it went in. And if you don't do that, the guys aren't going to think behind that door over there that you should have had it, so you're not drawing that attention on yourself.

And that's a real big thing for the young athlete to learn. It's keep your composure. I shouldn't be able to tell whether that's the biggest save of your season or the worst goal you've ever allowed. Same routine after you get scored on. Take a drink from your water bottle from the top of the net like every goalie does. Everyone's thirsty after they get scored on. And then just get on with your routine and let the puck drop

and play next puck mentality. But as far as theusterkin, guys, I don't know if you saw the Thomas Tatar goal the other night against the Devils, and he comes in on his backhand. He's from outside the slot, and he's looking to Heischer on the back door, but he was far away. And Shusterkin leans. He gives up short side shelf.

It's a low-danger goal because it's outside slot, backhand, sharp angle. But in the previous game, Dreisaitl scores in the back door where Edmonton comes from behind and beats the Rangers. So now he doesn't think his back door is covered. And you guys know what hockey is like. It's first couple months of season, build trust, build trust. And right now he doesn't know that his back door is covered. He's given up five goals on 12 of those types of passes.

So now he's not sure. He's tracking towards giving up 20 low east-west goals this year for a guy last year that gave up seven all season. Like, it's not him. If he would have just tracked that pass to Heischer and just played it true from the stick of Tatar, he would have got across compact. It would have been a routine save.

I've seen it a million times with him. He's got to just get back to playing his game and controlling what he can control and stop trying to do everyone else's job because ultimately you end up giving up the clear view shot that you should have had when you're trying to be responsible for other guys on your team. Are goalies today having a lot more trouble uh looking like you had just mentioned after a bad goal just go

same routine same water bottle drink uh we've had conversations about jack campbell and uh you know not leading the narrative after a game or the body language? Is it a personality flaw? Is it a character flaw? Can you teach someone to look like it's just any other goal? Kipper, I know that you're on the same page with me here. Half the league shouldn't even be in the NHL right now. Honestly, they should have been in the minors longer. And you learn these things by going through those experiences

when the lights aren't on you so bright. You know, I wonder, have you guys ever seen anybody that was a prospect that was overcooked in the minors? No, I don't think that's a thing. You know what I mean? I haven't. I was in the American League for eight years. I never once looked across the locker room and, oh, man, that guy's got to be up right now.

He's been here too long. No, everybody is where they're supposed to be in their development at that time. And I just think the salary cap is killing the NHL with having too many young guys that aren't ready yet. Emotionally, emotionally, you could be the best guy in training camp, but you're still not emotionally mature enough to be in the National Hockey League. And you've got to go through it. Now, this conversation isn't pertaining to Shusterkin because he's had his 200 games of development between the American League, and he did start the American Hockey League, dominated.

He was too good to be there, so they had to pull him out. But before that in the KHL. You know, it's just one of those things, too, where Shusterkin never embarrasses his teammates, okay? He is so positionally sound. I felt like Henrik had this problem, too, where somebody would say to me, oh, he should have had it.

He was there. I'm like, yeah, no crap. He should have had it. He was there because he's one of 10 guys that could be there. So many other guys would be laid out, and I see John Gibson do this a lot, where he lies out and scrambles, and it's sometimes

in a way, showing up your teammates like, hey man, it wasn't that hard of a chance. Relax. With the rollover and the extra extended theatrics. You know what I mean? And Shosturkin's always there, so he's always physically going to get beat by the puck, because he's really good at reading it, and so now that he's kind of

going through this, it just seems to me like it's one of those things that I think it's about what you guys talk about a lot in your show, man. It's dealing with the pressure of right now being a contender. And the Rangers, when they woke up yesterday morning, they weren't a contender anymore. You know, that's a team now that should have a chip back on their shoulder. They're an underdog. They're outside the playoffs.

So maybe they're more comfortable being an underdog. And hopefully, because I cover them, and you guys know what it's like to cover a team when they're going through it a little bit, it makes work harder. I'm hoping they use that as a springboard and start going here, because they're going to have to get on a roll

of five, six, or seven to get comfortably back in it to the point where, before you know it, you're in March and you're looking at the trade deadline and you're hoping your GM pulls the trigger on some pieces. So the next time you're a contender, now you've gone through it and maybe you build off of the experience of failing as a contender and having that tag the first time through. We're talking to Steve Allocat, analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG.

We had an earlier conversation about Nick Robertson and how it's hard to find your place. You know, does he need top six minutes? Can he manage to stay in the lineup in the bottom six? In New York, there's Lafreniere, who's a first pick overall and should be and is ahead of a development scale much more than Nick Robertson. Yet he's still trying to find a place here with the New York Rangers. Is he not? No, it's fair.

And Kipper, it goes back to the conversation. It's just the league is just not fundamentally set up the way it was when we're playing. So guys are just going to start earlier in the NHL. And I understand there's more money at stake and all of these things. They're all small factors and small pieces to this. But I'll never forget Scott Gomez saying to me once, he goes, man, if you're just going to play me 12 minutes, don't even play me. Don't even play me.

You know what I mean? He's like, I got no legs. I got nothing to give you. I haven't felt the puck in a period. And, you know, that's one thing that oftentimes comes back because at what role can you play in where you're in the NHL is not a development league. It's not.

What role can you play in? I feel it's unfortunate for some of these guys, and then for some young guys you're getting paid too soon, so then complacency sets in earlier in your career than it ever should. But what, you know, what's the answer to that? I mean,

I, if I'm running a team, I still want my guys to start in the minors. I'm sorry. Even if you're the best player in training camp, you can be the best player in training camp. I still want you to start in the minors. If you're a rookie,

because it makes such an excellent point. Well, now, you know, talking about a Robertson, right? Yes. Like,, talking about it, Robertson should have, right? Yes. Well, like, listen, he's got skills, right? It's what you can see.

And, yeah, your scouts are going to push for him to be there. But at the end of the day, he's not emotionally set yet. He's maybe coming from overseas. He maybe needs to understand how to live on his own. There's so much to learn from it. The American Hockey League is there for a reason. Use it. Yeah.

You know, looking at this Leaf leaf situation going into the playoffs i think a lot of fans look at the goaltending situation go murray and samsonov okay you know like we're going to do the tandem thing hopefully one of the guys take the reins what has changed the goaltending position like it doesn't feel like you you have to have the one guy anymore like a one two everyone's doing this sort of tandem thing you know last year Kemper and Fransos and Binnington was a third guy in the the blues before he ends up being the guy so what's what's going on here that makes me makes Leafs fans think that maybe they have a chance with a tandem it might be a little bit of analytics because the last time I looked at this it was was 30 years. In the last 30 years,

the NHL Stanley Cup winner that had more than 60 games only won once. And it might've been Tim Thomas. It might've been Tim Thomas. So that's, that starts the conversation. Here's what I found out recently. And this is another one where, you know, Henrik and I are talking about at the point of going into the Devils game, he was saying to me on the phone, Valley, what do you think about Shusterkin? Maybe is there a little bit too much pressure on him to deliver points? Because at that point, Halak was 0-5-1.

And I was like, Hank, you know what, man? The last time I looked at this, you need 25 points from your backup to get in because guys aren't eating 65 games like you used to. He's like, oh no, that seems like a lot. And as he's saying that we're going to be on the tube together at night, I'm like, I better get my crap together. I got to get my numbers. So I spent 10 minutes and went through every team. You know how that exercise goes on nhl.com. And at any rate, there was only one goalie last year that got his team in the playoffs when the goaltenders that were his grouping of backups didn't supply 25 points.

That was UC Soros. He played 67 games. And guess what? Wasn't available for the playoffs. So if it's important for us to understand that the best ability is availability, you're not going to have an available goaltender. Sure, he'll get you in, but he won't be available for those waste of eight days. And by the time you get to the playoffs, you're playing Calgary or Colorado in the first round.

You know? Yes, sir. Steve, one more for me on my former team, the New York Rangers. And that is a pretty big signing, Trochek, coming in. The decision for Strom to be let go and sign in Anaheim. And, you know, Ryan Strom isn't the first guy I would think of as being this, you know, dynamic player. But he had something going on with Panarin. And Panarin was happy.

And there just seemed to be a good thing overall. Now Trochek comes in, Strom's gone, and I don't know. I mean, I like Trochek. There's not much not to like about him. He plays hard. He drives the middle of the ice. But the chemistry's not there, is it, right now? You know, not yet, Kipper, but I wouldn't give up on it yet either.

Trochek's been really good. Trochek's been really good. Trochek's been really good. Tomorrow night on MSG, we're actually doing a spotlight on him, highlighting his season up until this point. So looked into him pretty hard today. He's had 30 grade A chances this year. He's got six goals on those 30. But even if you were watching the game last night, he's got a two-on-one.

He comes right down and hits the post. He's hit the post on grade-A chances seven times this year. An inch over, and he's got another one. He's going to continue to score. I like the way that he plays. I think he's a playoff player. He's really hard to play against in front of the opposing team's net. He gets a lot of those broken plays.

But he's also good where if the coverage gets really dense, he can spot out, and he's got a really effective one-timer. He's smart. He knows where to be. He's got really good timing. So I'd imagine that it's going to turn a little bit. It just hasn't happened like fireworks yet, but maybe that's a little bit on Panarin, too. He hasn't really played his best

yet. It can't be sitting well with New York Ranger fans. Panarin at just six goals right now. Yeah. No, there's a lot not sitting well. But, Kipper, it's everybody, man. Like, I've not seen this. They're actually going to sink my expected goals model for my company.

Okay? Because they're so down on everything. I'm not kidding. Really? The craziest one, so down. Like, this is the most absurd shooting percentage I've ever seen. I'm looking at broken plays. You know, I talk a lot about the broken play because those are really hard

to stop if you're a goalie. It hits the shin pad, ricochets backdoor. Those types of plays, they have the most in the NHL. They've had the most luck at getting that type of a chance. They've had 72 of them. They've only scored 13 goals. They should have scored 21 goals.

That's the one that I really measure as lucky. When you talk about people saying puck luck, goals they should have scored 21 goals yeah you know they're they're leaving but that's just a that's the one that i really measure as lucky like when you talk about people saying puck luck like there's a lot there but i'm looking at everything here guys one timers they've had 74 one timers like in and just outside slot four goals screens thought area shots from getting in themselves and shooting they've had 58 times. I know this from Panarin, too, because he's got nine of them. But 58 times, the guys walked into slot to shoot and try and beat a goalie clean. 58 times, three goals.

You know? Flotline, the one that I always talk about, the East-West, 68 of them. That's fifth best in the league. They've had 24 goals. So they're overperforming in one area. They've scored four more than they should have there, but that's it. Other than that, they're underperforming in every single shot type that we carry. So I haven't seen this. That's why I'm bullish on a turnaround for them.

I think they're going to hit a tear at some point. But as you guys know, in hockey, and Kipper, I liked what you said the other day when you were talking about sometimes you've got to change the energy in hockey. And that's like guys like us talking about analytics, but quickly going back to our playing experience, which is, yeah, I know what changes energy, coaching change, a core player getting traded, a core player getting traded, maybe two or three guys going to the American League, something to get everybody's attention and shake it up

because they have to change the energy of the group. And maybe it was last night with a great performance from your backup goalie sometimes that sets you off i know i've been in that position and i i heard that at the end of the year twice in my playing career with uh the rangers which was you came up big for us when we were down as a backup and then we went on a run then hank ran the table you know so you guys know the game and there's so much energy there and um i'm a big believer in that kipper and i i believe i listened to what you guys are talking, and there's so much energy there. And I'm a big believer in that, Kipper. And I believe me. I listen to what you guys are talking about, and it's pertinent. Well, listen, I want to say goodbye to you, but you're so damn good,

I want to ask you one more question, okay? Sure. Cal Peterson, what surprised you more, that he was put on waivers or that he cleared? Not surprised by either, Kipper. Not surprised by either. That contract contract he was going to clear and by the way he's performed for the last three years maybe it should have happened sooner and he would have saved him so he's another one then he's another one that you just mentioned about about development

yep yep and uh too soon too too soon. He came up hot. You guys know this one, too. I used to always say it as a player when I was in the American League and we'd have a guy come up from the East Coast League. I always said 12 games. Like, those guys come out, they come out guns a-blazin', and then if you're a goalie, you can get through a season. You can get through a season if you're started on the right nights,

if they really care for you and maybe spot you the ones that you know you're safe in but no too soon man just too soon i for the last three years he's really underperformed and they just couldn't do anything sooner saying goodbye to you is just too soon for us in the real you're just saying that because you know i'm a loyal supporter, listener. I love it that you listen. I love it that you listen, man. Really appreciate it. Sorry I don't give the Rangers more love. Only because I love you, Valley.

No, no. I got all the love in the world for you guys. All good, man. You guys are doing a great job. I'll talk to you soon. He is at Valley's View. Steve Valliquette. Awesome job, MSG, New York Rangers.

It is unbelievable how good shisterkin was last year and now that he's not i don't know just is it exposed the rangers a little bit and be it they're battling here truba's they're a better team than the record i think truba i don't think should be playing there's some people and speculating that you know he's done something to his wrist or i don't know if it's ligaments i don't know if it's uh he's playing with maybe a slight crack somewhere but he is he's not anywhere near where he should be yeah and you look at this team like it felt like everything went right for them last year and Valley's right. Expectations change things.

They've been unlucky by any number of metrics. You know, they have a goaltender who won the Vesna last year, who still has more to give. Like I said yesterday on our show, like in passing, I think I muttered like good team to bet on. I still feel that way.

Cause they've been unlucky. They have the talent. I expect them to come on. Still a playoff team. He did kind of, I don't know if he was insinuating the Rangers or just in general, but mentioned you get rid of a coach, you make a trade, you send somebody down. And I don't know if he's leaning towards that now. You mentioned Gallant in your column. I did, yes.

So he had a uh three-year guaranteed deal okay with a club option that needs to be addressed by the end of this season on a fourth year the old club option huh yes and uh i i gotta think that uh you know if they don't feel like they're gonna pick it up then that changes everything right if they're not gonna pick it up then can you bring them back for another year yeah you can of course the toronto maples but if they're also in this rut i guess not if they're also in this rut does this make him uh you know uh an easier target to to to be you know fired you know i i do think that now one thing that has changed for that helps out a guy like galant is you can take some of these stats and their their stat department would be

aware as valleys and just say you know we're creating a lot of chances and it's been unlucky. What do you say? They scored on a tiny percentage of breakaway chances. And like, I wonder if that buys him time that like we're playing better than our results. Give it time. It's going to come or, or they'll just say, wow, you got to win at the end of the day. We don't care about expected wins. Valley says that he expects them to get on a run

here too and chester can should find some sort of rhythm in his game that he's struggled with up until this point all right uh another uh human highlight reel by connor mcdavid last night yeah it's just like a hot knife through butter watching him well him on a flat-footed jack johnson not a fair fight oh my god can you imagine seeing that coming out yeah oh boy you know i i want to do a research project for an article but i don't know how to look into it there are more times when he beats guys who don't even touch him like the best defenseman in the world who can't even he's like a ghost at the blue line and i'm trying to figure out how to do like zone entries or something i don't know what to search for it until that that's what you brought

up right there that these guys that he plays against are the cream of the crop guys that have worked their entire life been the best player on every team they've played on, got drafted, played at the pinnacle of the... Getting paid millions. So good. And then this guy is such a freak, he just barbecues them all constantly. And they can't even touch him.

No, because he's gone. I played against defensemen that will rather... Murder you. chop you down like like paul bunyan yeah then let you go around them like that i just can't get a piece to do it no i don't think they i think they'd rather let him go than have that perception of... I'm not saying... Schoolyard trip him to stick out your leg. I'm not saying baseball swing him.

Yeah. But take... Just trip him. Blatantly trip him. Blatantly trip him. You know what? You should. Jack Johnson's best bet there is to stick his stick out.

Brian McCabe. That's it. Right to the feet. I'm taking the two for the good of the team. Take your chances. Killing the penalty. Killing the penalty. You're going to kill a the two for the good of the team your chances killing the penalty because you know why you're gonna kill a penalty 75 80 percent of the time mcdavid's bearing that yeah you already got a 30 percent chance of scoring yeah mcdavid's scoring more than that on a breakaway so you're right haul them down haul them down we're at hack a

shack now with mcdavid put this guy on the mat so he can't shoot it in your net uh chicago losers of eight in a row right where they thought they'd be yeah right where does this leave kane and taves not in illinois soon i don't know. I can't believe these guys want to stick around. Both inspiring contracts. You know, it's not just their contracts this year. It's like, what are the Blackhawks going to look like for the duration of their time in the NHL? Do you want to be Ryan Getzlaff, win your cup, and play it out?

You know, one team, team loses, you mentor guys. Or do you still have that competitive fire to win more cups? Because you're not doing it in Chicago. Leafs third line center, Jonathan Tave, sound good to you? I can't imagine a better fit. And I'm not saying that anything other than I just can't imagine a better fit than a veteran proven guy who can put in the net when he's close to it. He can defend, he can yada yada.

I know some of the analytics people will be mad at me for that because he's questionable numbers. Probably better than Patrick Kane in terms of fit, you'd say. Be close. Oh, Patrick Kane shoots the net from the left wing? Yeah, it's pretty good too. What would you have to give up? Kane and James package?

To get both or just one? I think you'd have to go nick robertson and a third round pick for both that's a great idea i think tase has got a pretty good chance to end up in colorado really yes that would be an interesting one they makes a ton of sense of a second line guy that will not fill in Kadri's spot until you've squeezed out the salary cap which will be March

and he will be no different than Claude Giroux. He will have Chicago completely over a barrel just like Claude Giroux did when he ended up in florida you won't probably get the value that you you should otherwise and this is the only place i'm gonna go i see that scenario taves for at 50 for you know whatever it's like you're

like the flyers they will you've earned the right to, you know, call your shot. You have, but I also think if you're Chicago, you're not going to take nothing. We'd rather, you know, I don't think that's a good. I don't think Colorado would embarrass Chicago like that. Right. What was it for Claude Giroux again? It was nothing. It was a second and.

No, it was first round pick. That was a first, I think. Owen Tippett, right? Owen Tippett. Yeah. Yeah. And a first It was a second. No, it was first-round pick. It was Owen Tippett, right? Owen Tippett, yeah. And a first. I think it was just Owen Tippett and a first for Claude Giroux. Yeah, okay. So first-round pick and Tippett. And Tippett is...

He plays. He's on their team. That's about my analysis of what he is. Yeah, they suck very badly. Tave just got eight goals Last night Playing pretty well isn't he It's always hard to tell You can imagine

You can imagine what a kick in the ass Would be to go play for the Colorado Avalanche After stewing away with the crappy Blackhawks For a few years here Kane on the other hand I still see him telling Chicago, thanks, but no thanks. I'm staying the rest of the year.

Really? Yeah. I just can't see him wanting to do this for four more years. I'm not telling you that it's going to happen. I'm just telling you I could totally see it. Explain why. Freed? telling you i could totally see it um explain why freed uh just wants to finish out the season as a chicago blackhawk uh perhaps he doesn't want to choose his own well he's going to choose it

anyways but do you want to choose it as your second team or do you want to choose choose it as your third team interesting right do i want to bounce around now for the next little while here or do i just want to stay here think about the team i'm going to resign with next year and pick my one spot and i'm going to play for two teams in my career i'm not playing with three um our own elliot friedman had an interview on tnt last night where he did connect Kane with Boston. Oh, great. As a potential fit. Perfect. Someone that...

Perfect. Yeah. And again... That'd be fun. You're already just paying Bergeron and Krejci like three million bucks. So true. Oh, my God.

So you got a lot of room to play with here. Yeah. Dom Lucision puts out his yearly front runners for trophies and all the statistics have bergeron as the selkie leader again great it's like great yeah this guy's still just best in the league at it my weekly uh request please retire you've done enough go paint houses or something just go be rich yeah they gotta go on a losing streak, the Bruins. Do they not? You know what's surprising with the Bruins is they have the best

goaltending, the best team save percentage in the National Hockey League. Allmark and Swayman, I wouldn't have said going into the year that they had the best duo, but they're getting, I would say, better goaltending than the true talent of their goaltenders. When does Toronto go into Boston, Sammy? Good question. Do you want me to look that up right now? Remember last year, Toronto and Florida?

You know, like, yeah, Boston doesn't have room. No, it's not that they don't have space. It's that they have more flexibility in moving people out that can help. It's not like you're locked in to four-star players. There's also the sneaky thing that, like, if you're below the salary cap by $1,000, it accrues. And by the time you get to the deadline, a lot of these teams that look like they have no space

suddenly have some available money. I'm not saying that's possible. Yeah, that's not much. I'm just looking at the Leafs schedule coming up here. And, you know know i was talking about january they are playing a lot of hockey god they're already leading the nhl in games played when do they not just playing so many games of hockey in january so the first the first matchup with the bruins in boston is saturday january 14th i think their schedule tends to be so weird.

Remember last year they played Florida three times in like March? Stupid. And that was it for the year? It's like the hottest competition in the division. At least they get Tampa. Yeah, but you understand like Florida wants the Leafs around March break, right? That's when they make a lot of money. Oh, no, I didn't understand that but now i do yeah that

makes sense snowbirds canadians in the winter go watch your leafers it's a it's a home game do you think like a team like florida wants that wants to give them the leafs a home game they will take cash any way they can yeah we'll take an extra game with a lot of blue and white in the building for the money. Yeah. Okay. All right, what else do we have? Sammy. Sorry, I was just counting how many games. We are about to pass a deadline for Alex Formington to sign a contract with

the Ottawa Senators. They've had that hard rule there for the last little while. Remember, William Nylander came up against it, didn't he, and signed like now, like right this very minute, six years, didn't he? And signed, like, now. Like, right this very minute. Six years ago. I remember that very well.

Five years ago. That was a... Did you buy into the Ottawa's way better? Than last year? Well, our buddy Valley said that... I buy into... They should be way better. They have more talent. They used to say, you know,

the pesky Sens thing felt like an under-talented team that over-performed. This feels like a more talented group with some of the young guys being a little older. I really like Shane Pinto. He gets asked for a lot. Pinto. Yeah.

Yeah. With Peard Dorian. Oh, really? Do you think if Eugene Melnick was still alive, he would have fired Dorian oh really? do you think if Eugene Melnick was still alive he would have fired Dorian by now? I think Pierre Maguire would be the GM I think a little Pierre Dorian

Pierre Dorian was very loyal like think about the bold move the brinket like Claude Giroux those are big decisions and you turn around and still at the bottom like well that one would have been a tough one you know it's funny maybe it speaks to how close they he thought they were remember the two years ago he said that's all

part of it but that's still part of it but then they could get two forwards and think they fixed it and it's like you got a whole other position to worry about. You know, Artem Zub can only do so much for you. The D situation is okay. Claude Giroux is humming along. He's got 20 points in 22 games. I don't think he's disappointed. I do think you'd be disappointed that Dabrinkit's only got six in 22 games,

and he's been a 40-goal guy. And what's his qualifying offer? Oh, $6 billion? No, $9. Oh, my God, really? How about Timo what's this qualifying offer oh six billion i don't know nine nine god really how about timo meyers qualifying offer this offseason 10 million yes those are big numbers so just quickly before we go i just got a tweet from um who said jason at leaf fan jp said i was listening to your pod and uh the least would still play tampa in the old 1-8 format right now does that make you feel better no no all right what about 116 i don't

know just do anyone so they have to play an atlantic team for one you gotta catch boston good lord to hit a bit of a ditch here and then oh no ditch they're gonna have other like no ditch for the no ditch for boston keep going good hockey our thanks to sam cosentino sports now hockey analysts and uh steve aliquette what do you got tonight you on there yep i'm covering all the canadian teams talking hockey your job tonight on sports net yeah is to drop real kippern born twice i don't know how you're gonna do it i accept your challenge but you've got to drop Real Kipper and Bourne twice. I don't know how you're going to do it. I accept your challenge. But you've got to drop our name.

If the morning show can do it, damn it, you can too. Advertising. All right. Have a great night, everybody. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next time.