Real Kyper & Bourne - NHL-Ready Prospects with Jason Bukala + Canadian Actor Kevin Zegers

Episode Date: March 23, 2026

Pro Hockey Group and Sportsnet's Jason Bukala (9:40) joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to chat about Connor McDavid's post-game comments praising opposing coach Jon Cooper following the Oilers' loss to the Lightning, building consistency within a hockey team, the scouting report around Ivar Stenberg leading Bukala's 2026 draft board, potential Maple Leafs' draft picks, if any of the projected top-five prospects are NHL-ready, and the learning hurdles rookies face entering the league. Afterwards, Canadian actor Kevin Zegers, who stars in "The Madison," joins the show (34:55) to discuss his Leafs fandom, the 2025-26 season, and how the front office should approach the offseason.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, let's kick her nationally. It's the real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary. Streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. If you miss our show, catch it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts. And of course, there's YouTube. The lovely chat going on, the very passionate chat.

Doing our guitar riffs between segments. They're like changing it up every go now. Yeah, you might get some different tunes. Yeah. Give us a thumbs up. for Sammy's manifesto. We need a league-wide manifesto as well. Don't have it for you, boys.

This hour of Real Kippron-brought you by Bet365. All right, boys, lots of talk around the Edmonton Oilers with their recent loss to Tampa Bay. Inconsistencies? They're inconsistently bad. Continue to plague them.

We talked in our first hour, of course, about in our Leaf Edition on some of the frustrations. from Sammy's manifesto. But I imagine there'd be one for Edmonton too, Sammy, if you followed them as closely as you do the least because there's some consistency in perhaps star players focusing on their head coach.

Where would Leon Dreissel being pitched side at Bear Munich Stadium saying that he hopes they play long enough so that he can get back in time to play? Yeah, that starts some concern, I would say. A fascinating team this year, right? Like high expectations. McDavid calling the Pacific battle, which I think we have the quote. We have everything from McDavid.

Do you want to just start with that just because it's fun to hear the phrase he used about the Pacific? Very detailed, like post-game for Connor McDavid. This is not the one that we're going to get into, I don't think. But we have the pillow fight one. Yeah, we have them all. What's that? I lost my sheet. I think it's clip three.

All right, Connor McDavid. Obviously, we're fortunate to play in this division. A lot of teams are fortunate to play in this division. It's a bit of a pillow fight right now. But, yeah, thankful, obviously, to not have lost any ground. That being said, we've got to find a way to win some games here on the road. Two big ones, obviously, against Utah and Vegas. And we've got to make some ground, too.

So that's a good challenge. All right. I don't think I'll ever hear the term pillow fight again without thinking about Connor McDavid in the Pacific Division. The Pacific Division lost. They all six teams played Saturday and every team lost by multiple goals. The game before they went, or the day before they were they all played, or six of them played, sorry, they went 05 and 1.

They are, this is unbelievable. The entire division is almost underwater in terms of goals for and against. Only Vegas and Edmonton are pluses. It's a dumb league. Anaheim who is first in the division would be scrapping for a playoff spot outside the playoffs in the east. It's unbelievable.

Nobody ever wins. Yeah, it just feels like the Oilers lose every night and then you check the standing. Still second. Still a couple points out of first here, yeah. So they played the Lightning on Saturday and there were some comments made by the captain of the Oilers. I mean, there's two clips in there.

Derek, why don't you start with the first one from? A lot of great players over there. They got a great system. They're perfectly coached. They all know what they're doing all over the ice. It's impressive. They're a great team. Perfectly coached.

They all know what they're doing. This is uncomfortable. Yeah, that one's not hard to kind of read. Let's play the second clip, Derek. Is that just a bunch of time doing the same things over and over again? Like, how do you guys get to that, to be that rehearsed, and to have that system you can rely on and all those things? Where does that come from?

How do you guys get that? Yeah, well, that's a coaching question. We can ask Nobber that question. You know, obviously we've been playing together a long time, and we feel like we're somewhat rehearsed and organized, but not to their level. Somewhat. Somewhat.

Okay. So to be totally journalistic here and to finish it off. Let's do it. He followed up today with some comments about this. Let's play clip four. No, no, we're not taking shots. It's just everybody can be better, myself included. Everybody can be better.

It's not, it was more just complimentary of a great team in this league that came in and played a good game. Nothing more than that. So what do you make of it all? I'm going to sneeze. You sure about that? Yeah, I don't think it's not nothing. And I appreciate him toning it down. I don't think he has any other choice,

but to kind of tone down that narrative. But it's out there and it's not coming back anytime soon. And Kip, right before the Olympic break, Leon Drysettel gave a 45 second impassioned speech about go ask the coaches. The coaches are, you know, someone that you need to talk to about this. That's brutal. You're two-star players. We all have to be.

We all have to be better starting with coaching. And then this is the same year where they, likely your owner, imported a coach who was with you last year back from, I think he was up in Stowville and he's back in Edmonton to be on their bench. Yeah. I remember saying, like, for Knoblock, you're in trouble, Val. He's in real trouble. He was in trouble with dry sidel.

Yeah. But here we are now, much later, with Connor. To me, it's not even a debate anymore. They either win in a significant way, cup final again, whatever, or they're getting a new coach. Even if they don't win, feels like. I think it's just a winner bust. Yeah.

Yeah. And they've referred to that a couple times. I don't know if, just, more recently now with this I don't know I mean I can only recall one time you've changed to coach this late and it was Lou Lamarillo

Right with Larry With Larry Robertson Robinson yeah Robinson yeah Yeah he went down and did it That's wow Who did they fire do you remember Joe Lamar no he came in after No no

No no Because I do remember but I can't think Jacques de Mares Like it's I don't know some of the shock All the shocks over the years But you'd have to be bold. It wouldn't happen now.

I don't know. Are you kidding me? Can you imagine after Conner's comments and then Leon's prior to that, you're not having a conversation with boys. Can we win with this guy? Well, you know what they would do then in this hypothetical that we're just talking about? Is they just tell coffee to do it. Clearly, the boys think you have some impact.

You have a voice here? There's somebody else out there. You could fly in right now. Talking about DeBoer? Yeah. I don't know. Yeah. Would he do it?

Does he want to do it? He, we assume, did I hit my cough button or did I just put that into thousands of? You nailed it. Okay. We're just going through it here on air. We assume that Peter DeBore wants to coach again. And his preference would be to a cup contending team. Yeah.

At this point of his life, he's got enough money. What he doesn't have is a Stanley Cup, just like Connor. I don't know. I'm just, you're right. Probably not at this point. But you can't tell me behind the scenes, these types of conversations aren't going on. Yeah.

I mean, they have to. You know, we just talked about in the last hour. should management of the Leafs go to Austin Matthews and say, what do you think? What do you whatever? And Sam made an excellent point. It's kind of dangerous. It is.

To make a player the GM of your team essentially or dictate the, but with Connor McDavid, do you see that differently than Austin Matthews? Well, Austin's a lot of, lost a lot of clout, obviously, with two bad seasons, essentially. Yeah, by his standards.

But if it was like it would go a lot, long way for me to resign in a year and they believed them, then I think Austin could carry that type of power. And certainly McDavid could if they felt that they needed a new direction. McDavid could 100%

make that type of call at least throw out that energy that I think I think we could use a new voice at this point. All right. Let's not ask us. Let's ask Jason Bucola, who joins us now.

Bukes, how are you, my friend? Great, fellas. How are you today? We're good. Thanks for joining us. Just in terms of the Edmonton Oilers now and what they're going through and we all assume it's still a very good team, but a team that's headed to where we're not sure, but what do you make out of the recent comments

from Connor McDavid and talking, about how well-coached Tampa Bay is and how they can work on a few things themselves. Yeah, I've struggled with that statement a little bit, and I've kind of tried to look at it from both perspectives, one of them being that it's just respectful towards John Cooper, who's a hell of a coach. And, I mean, he's done a fantastic job in Tampa Bay for a long time, and Connor McDavid played for him at the Olympics.

But given the state of the Edmonton Oilers, and it's not great, guys. I mean, holy jump in the Toronto Maple Leafs, are equally as good as the Admetter northerers right now. Given the state of that organization, the team, I think it's a shot over the bow that he expects more there. The thing of it is that I don't know, don't you guys feel like star players in today's NHL

have a lot of pull even behind the scenes when things aren't going well to, like they're in the coach's office, maybe giving a little bit of a push here or there strategically. That's just my take. I think that that goes on a lot more today. day than it ever has in the past. And I, you know, I look at Knoblock and he doesn't exactly, I would say his doors open

all the time for communication that way and positive or negative. So it's, it's, if he does not survive the first round, which is not a given for me at this point in time, and it's not all on him, by the way, because I think it's an absolute travesty what's going on between the pipes there. I was speaking to somebody today and, and they said to me, can you believe that at the beginning of the year the goal was to make the goaltending better and the argument can certainly be made today

that it's worse. Like, you know, so there's a lot to unpack there. Bukes, where do you put the value of consistency? Like, you look at Tampa Bay, and I was going to ask you, what do you think Tampa Bay has going for it with John Cooper, that they're able to kind of keep the band together and keep having success.

But I look at the three longest tenured coaches in the league. It's John Cooper, Jared Bednar, and Rodney. Brindamore, all three organizations win constantly and consistently. You know, is it because of their consistency they're having success? Or are those guys just keeping their jobs for other reasons because of said success? No, I don't think they're keeping their jobs for other reasons. I think that they've adjusted and they've adapted, first of all. I think when you go to Carolina, Borny, the Carolina way, there's a DNA to that group there.

There's a way of thinking. What's interesting about Carolina, and I've been there, and I've seen it evolve over the years, is that there is a little bit of a disconnect outside of the room in terms of how they build their team a little bit. I don't think Rod Brindamore is always on the same page as management in terms of the bodies coming in and going out in a draft and develop model for certain, and then even maybe occasionally in trade.

So when they incubate inside that dressing room there, they know the way that they have to play, and it's the Rod Brindamore Way, and that's just the way it is. And I would say that in Colorado, it is an interesting dynamic there because on any given night, like, you know, some of those guys on that roster, they're very hungry, but they're very competitive, and they're outwardly competitive on the bench. I think it's a handful to coach some of those guys on that team there.

So Bednar's obviously got the patience to do that. But when it comes to Cooper, I just think this is the prime example. of a coach who's evolved over the long period of time. And Nikita Kutrov is arguably the best player in the NHL in any given night, but he would arguably be, and we've talked about it before, you know, kind of Kovalev like back in the day in Montreal, like all that skill. And he's going to frustrate you sometimes. But Cooper gets the best stud of him.

And I think, I think John Cooper is the best coach in the National Hockey League for a variety of reasons. You're watching and listening to Jason Buchla Pro Hockey Group, Sportsnet, of course, former NHL scout. Bookes, so we watch Tampa and at times they were like maybe a handful of other teams where you're like they're trending downward now.

There's going to be a and then lo and behold you look at that blue line and you see some fresh faces and Moser and radish. How much is that played into what we see out of Tampa compared to still the question marks of Edmonton's blue line and I can appreciate Connor

Murphy coming in, fought the other night, you know, blocked a few shots, trying to do what he can. But ultimately, it's not moving the needle on the blue line. Like those two guys, they just mentioned in Tampa Bay. Yeah, no. So in Tampa Bay, it's interesting, isn't it? Because when you look at that group of defense guys and then you look at the record, I think we all probably take a step back and go, how's that happening? Well, Vasilevsky's been Vasalesky like this year.

that's obviously a big part of it. But, you know, they have elevated their games and gone to a whole new level. Like Radish is going to get paid a lot of money in the offseason. It's been a journey for him to get this to this stage, but he's going to get paid. Moser, you know, they, it's incredible to me that for when you, when your goaltending goes to another level, Kipper, for me, the Murphys of the world or the Stashneys of the world or whoever you want to pick in Edmonton, Their game looks a lot better, looks a lot more buttoned up when somebody behind you is making two or three extra grade A saves in a game. Everybody looks a little bit better.

And I truly believe that those guys in Tampa Bay, part of the reason is, yes, they can outscore their opponents on any given night. But they got a ton of grit up front too. Haven't they adapted? Like, they're a hard out on any given night. They'll drop the flippers with anybody. They'll run you over. They'll play borderline dirty hockey. Or they'll skill you to death on the powerplane when they start picking.

ping pong in it around. So it's an interesting way that Tampa's built the roster, but it started with elite well-tending, the ability to run a power play out there that can be a difference maker. And then, you know, I just think that those guys, Radish, yeah, it's a career year, but you get the most out of them too when the people around you can insulate you to be the best version of yourself. You're not going to see that in Edmonton. They're going to chase it in my estimation from now to the end of the year. So, Bookes, at the other end of the spectrum from Tampa Bay, We just had our Leafs hour. We're talking about, you know, them trying to get into the top five of the draft this year,

losing enough hockey games to get into that spot. So actually paying some attention here to these names. You're bored right now. I believe you have Ivar Stenberg at number one. I'm going to say I know the least about him. You know, looking for the Leafs in particular, looking for a D if they could, haven't had a number one D in 100 years. Obviously, Gavin McKenna, a big name here in Canada.

So tell us a little bit about Stenberg. And then maybe what you think the Leafs would be after in a D if you do think D? Yeah. So Stenberg, let's start with him, playing in the SHL. And I've had a lot of conversation. First of all, I was splitting hairs a little bit in terms of who I was going to have, number one. And I really brought me back to my staples, my process, because McKenna is an elite offensive talent. There's no question about it.

And Borny, his ability to escape a check in small areas, like working out the half wall. You know those small area of pivots. You feel it on your back pocket. You can spin off a check and make plays. Whether you take it to the hole or not, like if he attracts attention from a second check, he's going to dish it off. It's super elite.

It really, really is. Stenberg, on the other hand, he's not as elite in small areas. I'd say he's got more power between the blue lines, not necessarily more quickness, but what he has is a complementary game that when he's not scoring, he's going to do all the other things very, very well.

And I don't say this lightly, but when we scouted Alexander Barkoff, and he's a centerment. So don't, I don't want anybody to misunderstand. But hockey, hockey sense is hockey sense. And the routes you take above the play when you don't have the puck or even if when your team does have the puck to find a seam for an outlet for your, for your group, Stenberg's is super elite.

Like you just can't teach that. As much as you can't teach McKenna's offense, you can't teach Stenberg's brain, if that makes sense. So I went to Stenberg one because I believe that he's going to be 15 or 20 points less than McKenna in the National Hockey League, but he's going to do a lot of things better than McKenna. So I go back to my staples and my scouting process when you're splitting hairs, and is it, can he skate at NHL pace?

Yes, because he think it at NHL level, absolutely, and is he a relentless competitor? McKenna in his last 10-game segment had 18 points, including an 8-point showing, which is ridiculous, not including his most recent playoff production. He was a minus 2 over that period of time. Not awful, 24 minutes a night, minus 2. Stenberg had three talks in the S.HL at the hardest time of year.

Playoffs in the SHL, Sweden's top pro league. He was even, and he was playing 18 minutes a night. I'm splitting hairs, but the complete player in Stenberg is where I went there. So I hope that people don't see him because he's out of sight, out of mind in the SHL. You see him at the World Juniors. I think he'll play for Sweden at the World Championships, the men. So keep an eye on that for viewers. But those guys are out of Toronto, Maple Leaf's range.

That's not going to happen. So if they are lucky enough to get inside the top. five. I mean, what do you want? Do you want a centerman or do you want a defenseman? Big D, please. Large D man. Large Dman. Okay. Well, you're going to look at Cam Reeder. You're going to look at Keaton Verhoff then, and they're both going to be right-shot guys. And actually, Kipper and I shared some back and forth a couple weeks ago, and I fired off

some video on Reader there. Kipper, you and I were sharing that. And this guy transports the puck with authority. He's got pushback defensively that's really evolving. He's killing plays physically. He's big. 6.2, 190 pounds. He's killing plays in his lane. He can play the left side and the right side. And he's a transitional guy who can quarterback the power play.

Really, really good player. He's number three. And he's in Sue St. Marie. He just came off an injury. He missed some time, but he's back now. Keaton Verhoff, 6'4, 215-pound guy now. He's going to be 225. You know, he's Aaron Echblad-like, for me.

I think that if he would have played junior this year instead of college, you would have well over 20 goals. He can shoot the puck a ton from distance. He's got real good agility. And when he plays the weak side as a right shot, especially on the power play, if they move the puck up top to him, whether it's a low to high cycle or on the power play,

and he takes one half step to the middle of the ice, he's pumping that thing at the net, and he's beating goalies from long range. His defensive awareness, he's more of a in-the-way guy than a total, you know, run-you-over guy. But when you're that big, just be in the way and be competitive enough

to kill plays. These guys are franchise elite type players, top paring D, top line forwards. Hey, Bukes, out of your say top five, who seems most NHL ready in your mind? And I only say this because Schaefer ruined it for everybody now. He did, right? If you're a top three pick,

you got to come in next year and help us right away. We need you now. If the Leafs are lucky enough to get a top five pick or even closer with a lottery pick. They're like, hey, come and help us now here. We need you tomorrow. How realistic is it for any of these guys to come in? You know, and especially McKenna for me,

because he's not a big guy. I don't know if he weighs a buck 60, a buck 65. Maybe he's like Jack Hughes, who may need two, three, four years to be a star. Tell me, what do you see out of the top five? Yeah, and when you bring up Hughes, which I think is fascinating. Kipper plays the middle of the ice.

He can free wheel, right? When you're a winger, as you guys know, depending on how good your D is to move a puck to the half wall or if you're just going to take it low and slow and break out the puck with speed, those fall into the categories of can you do it at the NHL when you're light. McKenna is not 170 pounds yet. The guy that can do it is.

What is he? The guy, Stenberg can do it. Absolutely do it right now. There's no question in my mind. He can step into the National Hockey League next. year and he can play a variety of roles for you responsibly a game, B game. Not sure where the offense will go right out of the box, but, you know, to your point, you got the Schafer's, and then before that, you got the Celebrini's, and you got the Bedard's.

You got different people who are doing different things. What are those guys have in common guys? Celebrini and Bedard, their centermen, it's a little bit different. Schaefer is a unicorn, as a defenseman. I think Keaton Verhoff can step right in as well. I really do. Chase Reed, I think he can step in and do it as well. If he fall to five, I've got Caleb Mahaltrow there.

Caleb Mahalchraltar will have the smarts, but he'll be out of the box, Fraser Minton-like with the Leafs before he becomes what he's really going to be, which is a top six guy who's going to score a lot more than Minton will, even though Minton's gone off this year. But you understand the comparison I'm making, like he'll survive for a year, but it'll take some time. Here's the danger. And I'm curious if you guys agree with this.

There's so much to unpack with the Toronto Maple Leafs right now in terms of DNA and what you're going to surround these youthful kids with. And, you know, what's the attitude of the group? What does it mean to be a Toronto Maple Leaf? Who's part of my leadership group to show me the way on the hardest days? And what's the expectation for you on the hardest days? You have to factor all that in there. Yeah, you want to look for a savior.

Matthew Schaper, again, like this guy, he's carried that team on his back. He really has. He's like, look at me, I'm going to lead the way. I don't know that Stenberg's necessarily going to do that. McKenna will have the swagger to do it, but he's going to fail a lot more. He's going to get punched in the nose once or twice, and he's going to have to learn how to come back from that. And, you know, it's just going to be hard for him because off the puck, he's light.

And his detail is emerging, but it's got a long way to go. Buxa, last one for me. Of all the college signings you've seen in the NHL so far, this season. Are there any that have much of a chance of being impactful? I know it's pretty rare for these guys, but it happens sometimes. Yeah. I don't want to sit here and make something up, so I'm not going to go there. I think that these are depth guys. Like, we all get caught up in the vortex of this time of year, guys. A couple of things, NCAA free agents, or how about this one, when the men's world championships come around and somebody pipes off at the world and then

you sign them to some deal and then he's going home. Like look at the kid from Tomlack or the kid in Edmonton this year who led the SHs. He's one of the top scores in the SHL last year. Yeah, Thomas Suck and he ends up, you know, Gonzo. So I'm not here to put any pressure on any of those guys, those college guys. I'm not seeing it. I think they'll compete for jobs.

But, you know, Toronto took a swing at a couple of guys. We'll see how it goes. The good thing about the kid from Union beer, I think beer is that how I say it. great you got significant leadership skills like he he plays really really hard so a game b game yeah but it's not an a it's not an a n hl game borny so you know it's it's it's uh it's mucker like at the n hl level we'll see where it goes all right i just want to follow up books of what you said earlier about kids coming into an environment and how strong is the environment and who are the leaders and and all of that um just your experience as a director did

you guys talk about like if if if if I'm not comfortable with what's going on at the n hl level no matter how good a kid is maybe he's better going back to junior for another year or stick to whatever program that he's in that rather than bring him in or is there too much upside still for a kid who's beyond that and and just needs to kind of get used to his surroundings for the next 15 years hopefully no we talked about at Kipper and we made some huge mistakes, I have to say. Like, Henrik Borkstrom was one of the most dynamic college players. We drafted him in the first round in Buffalo in 2016.

He wanted to come out. We finally caved to the agent. We weren't ready. We weren't ready to insulate him from the draft and development side of things. And what I mean by that is that the athlete, when they come out, they think they're going to be bona fide NHL players right away. They're not. There's going to be some learning that has to go on.

So what happens then is he end up sending the back down to the American League. they lose momentum if you haven't got them buttoned up properly. And we lost momentum with that kid. He should have went back to Denver for another year, probably won the Hobie Baker, and he would have been a much better NHL player when he arrived. It's very, very delicate. And that's where it comes back to your staples on your drafting.

So, like, you know, we go back to the Stembroke discussion here. And I can tell you, like, we even had it going back to in the Barkoff drafts and other drafts that have come through, even Owen Tippett when we draft the Tippett. Look at Los Angeles. and cross. We drafted cross. You know, we needed to get bigger, stronger, harder. And we drafted him for a reason because we thought that on our team's worst days that he would be, he would be able to provide that for us.

But we also knew he was a type of personality when he arrived that he would be able to fight through his hardest days. And it's all part of your process. And when you talk about Toronto right now, and Mark Leach is going to do the very, very best he can. There's no question. But they're chasing DNA, guys. This is going to be, this is going to be delicate.

here for the next little bit and I'm curious to see how it unfolds. Bukes, always love your feedback, man. Thanks for doing this. Of course, fellas. I'm in the shop in a few days. I might come over and say hi. It sounds good. Thanks, Bookes.

Appreciate your time, man. All right, see you, see, Sammy. See, Bookes. Yeah, I mean, I find it fascinating to hear from a guy who's been in that position and the conversations that no matter how good you think of a player is, you've got to factor in what kind of environment I'm putting him in.

And to listen to him, talk about some mistakes that they made, it shows you how tough it is. Yeah. You know, I'm of a couple minds of it. Like, I think it's really tough to predict how a human being is going to react to certain circumstances, you know?

But if you get to know them and you've interviewed them and you've followed them and you've watched the patterns of, his season either in junior or college, there's, there's, you can lean towards your prediction being a lot clear if you get to know the guy.

Yeah, I mean, if, if, if it was a science, then we wouldn't go through last, you know, a draft from 10 years ago and all the games played totals would be in the first 45 guys pick, but it's not. So, you know, for some reason, certain guys take steps where others don't, handle things where others don't and vice versa.

But yeah, I do think it's important. I think if you're a team like the Leafs, and that's kind of the backdrop of what we're talking about here, you can't predict what it's going to feel like one year from now and pick a kid based on that. You don't know who the GM is. You know who the...

If the captain's here, you don't know who the coach is, all you do is you take the best player you can. You can... Like, outcast one said, you can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather. Yeah, exactly. It's just really tough to say, I think that kid has resilience and that kid doesn't.

And I'm not saying it's impossible. I agree with you that there are some kids you get the sense for it better than others. Yeah. I mean, you look at that 2016 draft that he's talking about, right? Like the first overall is Austin Matthews. He's clearly, you know, got the most points in that draft. But then the third most is the brinket who's taken in the 39th overall.

Jasper Bratt was taken 162. He's fifth, a hundred and sixty second overall. Hagel was taken in the sixth. Sixth round. It's just hard to know, man. It is tough to know. Anyways, it's game time. Presented by Bet365, an official partner of the NHL must be 19 plus.

Interior only please play responsibly. One singular hockey game on the schedule tonight, boys. And how many tomorrow? I think 15. And then the next day. I think two. If I had to guess, those are the correct numbers. They are.

So I'm not going to talk about the NHL because there's only one game. just looking at the NCAA March Mass. You guys watch it over the weekend? Yeah, what was the game Sunday where it's the layup won the game? St. John's Red Store, baby. Get them on the Kipper and Borger. Shout out Ken Juba. Shout out St. John.

They blew a huge lead. They needed that. And that was that kid's first bucket of the game, by the way, who scored the... Anyways, just looking at the futures for the rest of the tournament. The favorite remaining is the Michigan Wolverines at plus 300, Arizona plus 325, Duke plus 4. And for your Johnny's, the Red Storm, if you think they're going to come out of that bracket,

they're going to have to play Duke, I believe, right? They are plus 3,000, third from the bottom. So if you like them on that number, there you go, buddy, they're right there. I don't mind Purdue at plus 1,400. Everybody's been talking about them as a sexy pick. Got a lot of seniors I've heard. As someone who knows absolutely nothing. Same, but I've heard people who know stuff say Purdue has a chance.

They're plus 1,400. So anyways, that was game time, presented by bet 365. an official partner of the NHL, but it's 19, plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Sammy mentions the only game tonight, Ottawa and the New York Rangers,

where James Reimer's scheduled to start tonight. The James Reimer. Yeah. He's been good. Let's give him tons of credit. Leaves's going to use them. Caden Prima was fine. I forgot to put that in the same festival.

Oh, yeah. This late in the season. Yeah. Huge game. Ottawa. Ottawa has back-to-back. So clearly, all marks.

is for Detroit tomorrow. We can handle the Rangers. But at this point, would you have been tempted to just play your number one goalie back to back? New York Islanders just went Soroken, Soroken.

Back to back, baby. Second game, he got a shut out. Like, I don't know when this kid. I get the analytics. Like, it's harder the second night. Numbers go down a little to the second night. Player, good players, for God's sake. You're in a playoff race.

Paying him $8.5 million. Playoff race. 11 games left. I couldn't never imagine like a guy like Henrik Lundquist going to him saying, we're not in the playoffs yet. We have to win every game here, but we're not going to play you tonight. What should be fresh for tomorrow?

And he'd look at you and go. But in Valley. No. Give me the ball. Give me the ball. That kid on St. Johns who got that bucket, he told Patino run the play for me with zero points on the night. That's confidence.

I mean, if he says that, you've got to be like, I'm giving him the heart. This guy's feeling it. But it, like, Rimer has to win. Like, you look at the Rangers and I don't know. They could give them a. Zabinajad's 1,000th game tonight, maybe a little bit of horned up Rangers team. They got still a little bit of skill there.

I think if Rimer's no good and you lose that game, it reflects on Allmark as well. Totally. As the people making the decision. Dr. Season off doesn't let him play two games in a row. Let's break to our boy Kevin Zegers on the other side. All right. Kevin Zegers. It's got a brand new series out.

The Madison. with my favorite Taylor Sheridan creation Michelle Pfeiffer and he's also just text me with the lease all the time. Oh my gosh. Just sit back. All right. That more when we return to Real Kippenborn. Everything you need to know about the Raptors

and the biggest stories around the NBA. Smith and Jones. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipperingborn brought to you by Better. 365. Now focus, focus. Sorry. I don't know if this

is a thing that this happens every break now. But there's just a new song every YouTube break now. It's actually just three guys upstairs in a jam band, freestyling. Do we have fish up there? What's going on? I love it. I love it. What's going on? All right, let's welcome him back to the program. We've had him on before. Canadian actor, Kevin Ziegers, star of the all-new Madison. which is on Paramount.

Yes. Look at the bucket, too. He's looking sharp. Looking sharp. Another Taylor Sheridan series out now. Ziegs, what's going on, my friend? How are you doing, Kip? By the way, Sammy, has he started using a little product in his hair?

I've noticed that. He's all done up today. Who me? Yeah, look at this. I just got a haircut. Nobody's got better hair than Sammy. I just got a haircut, boys. Yeah, but he covers it with that hat all the time.

Yeah, I got to show up my hat. Actually, I was at a restaurant the other day and someone said, oh, nice hat. I was wearing this one. And I said, it takes a real fan to wear this hat right now as opposed to when they're winning because they're dogs breakfast right now. So how long did it take you to say yes to Taylor Sheridan? Before the phone rang. He could have told me I needed to push a dolly on the show and I was going to say yes. So your character is, I remember,

Chase Harris? Is that it? Yeah, Cowboy. All right. So listen, I'm in a couple episodes. Your character's the nicest, sweetest guy ever. So Michelle Pfeiffer,

like, you need a cup of sugar, I'll bring you over a cup of sugar. So sweet. But where would your character be if he was on the ice? And Radis Goudis just took out the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Where is your character there, my friend? I mean, I think I'd probably be a little more like the Barzal guy who, you know,

tried to saw that beat off. But, you know, I think everyone who was on the ice when that happened should not have played the rest of the year. That's just, including the goalie, I would have just shut them all down. But, you know, I think it's a symptom. A friend of mine was asking me about the Leafs and he was like, what is, I'm like, it's like this girl treats you really badly all the time. And they're like, I think maybe if we get back together, it'll be different this time. We just constantly think that they're not soft and have no character and have no leadership.

But it's just, that's the way it is. And I think we need to just cut the head off and start fresh. I think that's the best way forward. So you're a, I mean, you're a diehard fan here. And like Sam, like it's like part of your identity. So how has the, I guess the whiplash been of like how good they've been, how competitive they've been this year has been generally shocking for Leafs fans. I mean, I think yes.

I think they've been really good. But I don't think they were ever great. I think they were always like, I think we all knew, if you know enough, a little bit about hockey. like they were never going to win a game set. Like they just didn't, they don't have that juice. They don't have that guy. And I don't. So I never thought that, let's say they beat Florida.

Like they would have found a way to lose the next series. They just would have. Like I never thought that if they beat Florida last year, they were going to run through and win the Stanley. Like I just didn't, they just don't have the horses. They're not like, I want someone who's going to saw your head off. And they just don't have that guy. They don't have closers.

They're not closers. So there must be out west, especially where you are in California. Like you're not the only leaf diehard out there. I mean, you find yourself defending the team no matter what, like Sammy sometimes? No, I'm like Sammy now.

I just, I think I just, I've sort of gone the other way. I'm like they're terrible. Yeah. No, I've stopped defending them. But yes, there are a few guys actually on my team that I play here on Monday nights tonight.

are big leaf skies. And we've all collectively decided they need to trade everybody. And, you know. Is there, like, a hockey playing community of actors that you're skating with? Oh, I don't, I don't mess around. I don't play. I don't hang out with actors. So I don't know.

These are, these are, these are, mostly like Russian and carpenters. Canadian, like, plumbers. And, you know, there's some Canadian guys, but they're like, you know, yeah, no, they don't have, I don't, I don't mess around with actors. Do you get to Kings games out? I do. Yeah, yeah, yeah, although they're really bad this year too. But, and I was going to go, the Leafs are coming here in a few weeks. My daughter wants to go. I was like, just save your time. It's not worth it. It's a mess. Watch a two dogs breakfast team.

Can you look around the league now and cheer for somebody else? Heaven forbid, it's Florida, Tampa Bay. I love San Jose. I love. And my kid, my daughter Blake, is like the biggest celebrini fan. And so I think for the time being, that's going to be, you know, they're out of the conference. It's okay for us to cheer for them for a few years while they rebuild, hopefully. So, you know, I don't know if this is good to pin you down like this, but like when you say cut the head off talking about the Leafs, are you on board with a trade the best players sort of thing? Are we talking about maybe coaching?

Well, I think you need to, I think the, you need a real boss. I think Trees proven that he's not. that guy. It seems like a really nice guy, but like he's made too many mistakes in my mind. And I think he's too much associated with like the old guys. I think you need like a voice. I think you got to trade Willie. I said that for a few years. He's super talented and probably has a ton of value. But like I can't you can't build around a guy who you know is not going to back check and a guy who's not going to stand up for like it's just I'll fill in the gaps where I can. I'll take cowboy over him who, you know, he's not going to score 40 goals or score 100 points.

but he at least seems like he wants to be there. And I, but yeah, and then I would check with Matthews, and if he's not into it, like I'd trade him too. This is why it's nice to have someone who's not in the hockey community on because he'll tell you what he really thinks. For sure. Yeah, no, I say get rid of, get rid of domy, get rid of yarn croak, get rid of everybody.

Start over. Just blow it up, Sammy, blow it up. You're watching and listening to Kevin Zeger's Canadian actor starring and they all knew the Madison on Paramount Plus. All right. I'm three episodes in. Like your character, something's happening here. I can just feel it.

Don't give away anything, but what can I expect out of your character moving forward here? I mean, I think he's, I actually think you were right. I think he's just there to help. I mean, we've shot a couple of seasons now. In true Taylor shared fashion, he just decides. like we're just going to keep making them before they come out. He's just like, yeah, I'm writing. And so we're going to go back and film more.

But for the most part, though, he's just a really good guy. I mean, he's married. There's no like tension between him and Michelle, at least that is going to be sort of seen through as of now. I mean, I hope it does at some point. You know, I'm going to have to wait until we go back and see what season three holds. But no, I mean, he's, there's no. I don't think there's a ton of subtext.

For now, he's just there to help her set up her life. Awesome stuff. Congratulations on the series. And, you know, good luck with everything else. And if you get a chance, say hi to Michelle for me. Prior to me getting married, I did have a little bit of a thing for her. Okay. All right.

That's allowed. That's all. I don't think your wife would mind that. I think most people's wife is acceptable. I would agree. All right. Great stuff. Thanks for joining.

us, pal. Thanks so much, man. Appreciate the time. Kevin Zegers. Oh, he said something about Sam. I would say that Chad is agreeing with. Like, that's guys I play hockey with. Like, that's what they say.

That is exactly what they say. Those words that he said, just trade them all, blow it up. That is a popular take. I'm saying, man. Yeah. I think that's something. Just not sure, like they have any other choice. Then that.

Yeah. Yeah. hard to do that. Rebuilds pick you. You don't pick them. That's an interesting. We have so much time to talk about at least tomorrow and the rest of the season. What did you think of the three-gamer for AJ Greer on Connor, sorry? I'm not surprised.

If you're asking the league now, which there seems to be a hard push on ramping it up, okay, I'm okay with that. But there's been a consistency over the last few years, which, would run into the three or four game range here. And if people have had enough of it and want it raised, it ain't coming from the media and it ain't coming from the fans. You know where it has to come from? Gary.

No. Oh, wrong. Players on the ice. If they decide they want it called tighter and harsher penalties, then just say so, speak up. I think the very popular thing for me to say is just it wasn't enough and I didn't like it. But I thought that was about right. I thought there was some distance between it's a bad hit.

It's a suspension. I hate it. I've been on hits from behind this year fighting you about it tooth and nail. They suspended him three games. I thought he deserved three games. I don't know. Make it four. Okay.

Can I ask? Just stop pointing it at the league too. Okay. It's not the league. It's the players. If they want it changed, they're the ones on the ice. Gary doesn't play. Okay, the owners don't play.

If you guys feel that strongly, and we did hear from Connor McDavid a little earlier about maybe we should revisit it, but like, okay, so do it then, call for it, demand it. And you have a players association, too, that sits on the competition committee that controls a lot of this environment.

Push for it then. Don't just let it die on the vine. it's you guys on the ice so you decide and you know what the decision is probably we're fine with it can I ask you guys a question just in terms of the way they

tweet out the in person or phone or whatever like can we just get rid of that so that they're all just it's like a Zoom it's just if you're going to do it so immediately you put out this message and every reporter saying oh it's a phone hearing

versus a in person hearing So that gives everybody this opportunity to be like, oh, the league, not going to give them enough. It's like this weird barrier that way. Why does there have to be a determination between the phone and not the phone? It's also funny. It's audio versus video.

It's like when I'm trying to book a guest and they can only do phone, and it's like, I'm not doing it. It's just, why do we need to do that? But it's also like you would assume that suspensions fall into particular buckets. This one to three or this is two to four. Sure, yeah.

Presumably some are four to six. Yeah. Or three to seven. So why? I have no understanding. Just have a meeting. Or you can just ask the player, what do you want to do? What do you want to do?

Flying people in. In person hearing, flying people in, it's like time and money. My point is, do you want to come in or not? My point is, why do they have, I mean, I have meetings, you know, people have just doing on the Zoom regardless. Well, I think there is. What's the difference between being there and not being there? I don't know.

Maybe it's the subtle message of, we're taking this one really seriously now. But I also, there is a difference between being in person, being on Zoom. There just is. I thought it should have been maybe one or two more, but I'm not going to do. Few confusing goal or no goal with the goaltending interference. Lee, Lee, Islander game. We have a great walk. My secret, like, hockey thing is that everyone complains about goaltender interference,

but I actually think I get it. And I'm always like, I get it. I understand that call. I feel like I have like a 90-some percent hit rate on when they get it right and wrong. That Islander's one. and maybe I had my Islanders blowing orange goggles on. Yeah.

Didn't get it at all. Anders Leans, Andy's got Olivier on his back because he's going to the net. But he's going to the net hard. He's going to the net hard, but you're allowed to go to the net hard. And if someone,

he has no chance to stop. So the three, the three catch words now are push, shoved, or, um, fond, no,

not fondled. Fowled. Fowled. Much more likely. He was, Fonnelled into the net. Fowled. Yes.

Right? Yes. And which one was he? Well, I think you can take fouled or pushed if you want. He doesn't have the chance to not go into the net. He went in hard and he already had his own, he had his own momentum going to the next. He's trying to stop. He's trying to stop.

He listened to Patrick Waugh. And they don't touch the goal. Derek, can we play that Patrick Waugh clip quick before we go? They said that Anders went on his own. Well, we have, I guess I have a. different opinion, but I mean, why Olivier was so mad? Because he knew he pushed Sanders

in the net, and he put the puck himself in the net. And at first, it hit the stick before, anyway. But, hey, goaling interference, if you don't mind, can we change subject? Derek, please save that as a drop. Goal interference, if you don't mind. But, hey, goalie interference.

So that's it. Now, you know, you're around, push, shoved, or fouled. But we've had, we've had, you know, Elliot on. here who's talking to the NHL and all that. They don't want to take goals off the board. You've got a goaltender who's then out of the blue paint. You don't want goalies run at, too.

It's not goalie interference. It's just not. He's not interfering with the goal. They're trying to protect the goalies, too. Kiffy League office. My God. No, I'm not. This is contrarian for contrarianism.

That's not goalie interference. I know what goalie interference is. I mean, I've interfered with the goalie. A few, a few. If you can't stop because another person's pushing you in, then it's not goal interference. You didn't go in under your involition.

All right, all right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Give me the job, folks. You're going full Islanders. Sammy on this one. Sounds like me talking about the Leafs. Well, I'm right here. You are.

I'm wrong. Our thanks to Jason Buchala, pro hockey group, Kevin Ziegers. This series is the Madison. Catches act. It's a good one. Thanks for watching, everybody. Have a great night.