Real Kyper & Bourne - October Impressions with Doug MacLean

Episode Date: October 31, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to the Jays' potential World-Series clinching Game 6 before welcoming in former NHL President, GM and head coach Doug Maclean for his Off-the-Rails Friday appearance (10:37). Mac gets into Linus Ullmark's recent comments calling the Senators immature, the Leafs' concerning play, the surging Penguins' ceiling, and whether the Flames, Blues or Panthers will bounce back from their bad starts. Later, Nick, Justin and Sam take a closer look at Pittsburgh's hot start and whether it changes Kyle Dubas's goals for the season, as well as Ullmark's comments to the media.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Off the rails Friday on the real Kipper and Bourne show. I don't know if I should have opened up with that with a very important game six going on somewhere, but it is because it's Friday. We'll welcome in Doug McLean in a little while. Rick Tockett will join us in the second hour. In the meantime, we're glad everybody's on. board at kiprios justin born sammy mckee a very nervous sammy mckee jake the snake shultz and derrick brandale for the next two hours we're live on sports net 360 sports net 650 in vancouver

sports net 960 in calgary and streaming always on sports net plus and if you don't catch us live kick back at any point during the weekend and load up on spotify apple podcast and youtube will where you can find us. This hour of Real Kipperman Bourne brought to you by Bet365, boys. Can you tell them all in tonight for Game 6? Love it. Love it. This is not a Halloween costume.

This is a Game 6 costume. And Kip is it Vladdi Guerrero Jr. on the back? No, it's not. Take a look and tell me if you want to buy a vowel on this one. I'll try to read this. You have the hood in the way, but Andrew, can you move the hood? Andriopolis, Andriopolis, Andriopoulos. Yeah, we got it.

I will say, the name of a good restaurant on Danforth is. You Greek. You Greek? No, back in the line. Back in the line. Every time I go to the game, like I've gone to game one of the ALCS where they did the intros, all the times they've done the intros or whatever. Alex Andropolis.

Whenever they introduce that guy in the bullpen, I'm like, Kippers got to know that guy. It's just any Greek in Toronto. Listen, you got to have some time. You can give me a game worn like Vladdy shirt today or a trade jersey. Like, this is the one I'm wearing. That's awesome. This is the one I'm wearing. And remember Eddie Oldchuck when they left Winnipeg to go to Phoenix?

And he said, when we win the championship, it's coming back to Winnipeg. Well, when we win tonight, it's going to Greek Danforth for Suflaqui. As it should. That's awesome. Boys are all in the Jay's gear today. Yeah, you guys look good too. I got to tell you, Kip is in proper gear, handling it excited as a fan. Sam's not doing good.

No. We've seen Sam before like this during leaf runs. Yeah. And he's trying to draw, say, oh, it's not the same. The Leafs weren't as far or whatever. But he's still just off. You know, like he's preoccupied. So, like, take us to Sammyville for a second.

Okay. the one where I was just texting our boss to try to get a media pass to tonight's game Is that the guy? Just, you know, nothing too extravagant here But what's it like waking up Being you today on a day like this? I could do like a get ready with me

TikTok if you guys want No, I just, I just, I just woke up nervous Like here's the thing Morning and I discussed this before the show But I really really believe believe in this team. I believe that they are going to win. We've heard this.

Just, we've heard it with the Leaves. No, we've heard it with the Leaves. No, he's never believed in the Leaves. Oh, no, no, no. Yesterday it was like this I mean, yesterday. Last season, it was, this feels different for the Leafs. Yeah, but we had it. We did discuss it. I'm not talking about the Leafs right now. What I'm saying is this team has come through for me

more in this last month than the Toronto Maple Leaf has has in 10 years. Of course. So, were there one game away from a major championship you'd feel the same way about the leaps if they got to a conference final what i'm saying is i want to believe and i do believe i'm just horrified of believing like the the the anxiety i have from the belief that i have is very very hard to manage i just i don't know you're scared sammy of being hurt don't be afraid to love i am incredibly afraid of being hurt and i will there's not many things i want more like listen i'm on a hockey show with you guys

I talked about the Leafs. The Leafs will clearly always be my number one love. But Jay's aren't far behind, boys. It's my whole life. It's been Leafs all winter, all winter, Jay's all summer. I'm a diehard Jay's fan. They matter to me almost as much as the Leafs. The fact that they have a chance to win a championship tonight

is something that, quite frankly, I didn't know if I'd ever be able to see that. And being this close and having the possibility of it not happening is one of the most horrifying thoughts that I can think. So that's what I'm trying to back. back but I truly do believe I truly do believe but I just there's the back of my mind that is absolutely terrified that's where I'm at I think that's that's what makes sports so great is that this is my nightmare it's not my nightmare the jays are in game six of the world series with a chance

to win it it's that seeded doubt that everybody every every fan has at some point yeah and I think in Sam's case and I know he likes the raptors but it's different I love the raptors but it's not They're not even close to these two. In your life, every time as a sports fan, you've let yourself believe it hasn't happened yet. Yeah, mostly. Well, the only other thing that I will say, and you guys won't care about this,

but my beloved Oinsett attack won the OHL championship in Game 7 overtime, which I was present for, and that'll always be incredibly meaningful. But major sports, I don't really like to let myself believe because I've been let down a lot. And now I believe, and I'm horrified of it. Ah, that's the only way to live.

So we'll see. I mean, I, you know, I know Kipper's going to be in the building tonight, I think. It's going to be electric down there. Yeah. It's nice that they're getting the real fans in there tonight. How'd you get a ticket? He's Kipper.

Listen, sometimes all you have to do is just ask. Just ask. Go try that, Sam. Just ask. Have you asked everybody? I've literally exhausted every possible option. I just, it's, well, that's the other part. I'm coming to grips. I'm not, I forgot to mention to you.

You're paying. You got to ask the right people. You want to ask them for me, too? Do you have any right people? I have lots of right people. I've been to lots of incredible. They've given you no. Buddy.

Then they're the wrong people. It's a $10,000 ticket that you're sitting in tonight, buddy. It's not like it's. So, anyways, I'll be watching maybe from my couch. Don't know yet. We're doing a projector on our street with our neighbors. Oh, it's not very nice out there. Well, no, it's not.

But we'll be out there trick or cheating anyway. That'll be kind of the end of the. trick-or-treat, little bonfire inside to watch it by third-fourth inning. My wife's down visiting her parents at the house alone, and it just dawned on me. It's Halloween, like five minutes before I left for the studio here. Lights out, dark house. No, no, the lights are automatic, so I'm not messing with those. But I just meant, you can't put out a jococcalantron anything.

No, no, no. I went straight to the napkin with a Sharpie. with Gone to the World Series. Carton of smokes, take one if they win. That's the sign on my door. Gone to the World Series. Hey, who would be upset at that? Sorry, kids.

You know, I just, I've seen so many people, like, on my Instagram and on Twitter and everywhere that are flying in from different parts of the country and different parts. cousin, Katie Juba, she'll be there. Bingo, you know, our boy Ken Weeb from Winnipeg, he's flying in, he's going to game six and seven. Canada's team, baby. It's just, it's a truly, truly beautiful thing. Tammy, I don't want to hear game seven out of you for the rest of the two hours.

It's game six, and then it's over, or else, if there's a set, if I go, first of all, I won with the Yankees, I went there, I won with the Mariners, I got to go. Oh, you're there for the, for one, for one, no, not that. the clinch. Oh, just to see a game. Yeah. Game six. Yeah. So I have to go three and oh. If they lose tonight, I'm with you in the basement. Well, we should actually see more night. That would be quite a scene. I think Ali's out of town. So just in that vein, I thought I should be journalistic and read this. In 2023, say his first name. Yoshinubo Yamamoto pitched in game six of the Japan series.

His team, the Orix Buffaloes, were trailing three, two in the series against the handshin tigers. Yamamoto threw a complete game with 138 pitches to force a game seven, setting a new Japan series record with 14 strikeouts. This is a man who was not afraid of this moment. This is the final boss, the final hurdle, the boogeyman. If they're going to win... You're missing the most important thing.

He gave up three runs that night. he gave up three wasn't untouchable that's right gosman's on the hill bud pretty good i'm telling you right now if they're going to win the world series tonight they're facing one pitcher and it's going to be yamamo they're going to have to beat them it'll only they're not going to bring in their bullpen with this guy in there it's going to be a close game it will just add to the already amazing story of their season

which could go down is one of the greatest in major league history you beat the dodgers you beat the mariner no no no no boys last play The last place to world championship. Like, the last place. Think about that for a second. They were 500 in May. Yeah. When half the people in the building weren't watching.

You know, and half the people in the building were watching the game. They were the Leafs in May. They were, well, listen, I said, What's wrong with them? Why don't they look good? Here's the theory. What's wrong with Vladdy?

The crossover theory was that all of the positive life force is the J's. And once the Js use it up and win, the Leafs can get it back. Vladdy can put the spirit of life back in Austin. We need Doug McLean here to prove to everybody that this is a hockey show. Today it's a combo at best. Our audience is Canadian, mostly.

What do you think it is? 80% Canadian? 60%? We got a lot of people all over the world. Well, we love you wherever you are. Okay. Off the rails Friday can only mean one thing. The next 15 minutes will end up in the ditch.

former NHL President, GM, head coach. The one, the only, Doug McLean. You're not going to believe this. That's a crispy white tea, man. Yeah, like, is that fruit of the loom, or is that actually a... That's fresh. Oh, that, oh, Polo. Polo.

Sell those at winters now. All right, what are we not going to believe? Well, you'll never believe who I had lunch with today. Oh, no. Jill? He said that you. are the guy that made him come up with his greatest quote of all time in hockey, as coach.

And I said, what was that? He said, I had this player that was constantly in my office wanting to know why he was always on the fourth line. Why am I always on the fourth line? Why am I always on the fourth line? And finally, he said to you, because you're on the fourth line because I don't have a fifth line. Okay, give them up.

Anyway, Mike Keenan says to say hello. Oh, my goodness. Mike, where are you hanging out with Mike these days? Well, we were at the sandbar for lunch, and I got a call from him this week, and I thought, where's this number coming from? Anyway, it was Key West. He was looking to move to Del Rey, so I was just giving him the goods on Delray Beach. So we had a great visit.

We had a great visit. And your name did come on. Well, I appreciate that. What do you think Iron Mike or even a guy like you from way back when dealing with goalies? We know Mike was known as Mr. Hook on the goalies, didn't have much patience for them. But there seems to be a bit of a thing going on right now with goalies and postgame comments talking about either doing their own job or what they'd like to see from. their team up front, and Allmark was the latest one that had to backpedal the other day on his comments about the Ottawa Senators being immature.

I've never seen this between Allmark, Stolars, Wolf, like enough already. Just stop the puck, you know, just stop the puck. And I mean, I guess, you know, I had, you know, I mean, I'm obviously. You know, I didn't have the greatest goaltenders, but I know one guy, John Van Beesbrook, I mean, Beezer was a sort of guy that if I didn't play him, you know, if I put Mark Fitzpatrick in, which Mark might have played 20 games a year,

and every time I'd put Mark in, Beezer wouldn't talk to me, which was okay, you know, because he was that competitive. But over the years, you know, I've never seen this from goaltenders talking so much. And I'm thinking, I'm watching Allmark last night, And I'm thinking like, you're the, when you have an 800 and something save percentage, just keep quiet and be a team guy, especially when you're a Nolmark guy or Stolars guy where you're supposed to be leaders on these teams. Wolf gets a big contract and he's the next one who this is the guy that was in the minors for whatever. And Elk had a great year last year. Great credit to him.

but come on keep quiet let let the let the main leaders or the coach or the GM talk about the group I'm I'm blown away by it to be quite honest I really am well and all the guys that have spoken out all Mark Wolfe stole ours all were about like an 880 save percentage or something like that so the timing was exactly it just it's not good and I mean I talked to somebody in Ottawa during the game last night I said like come on this guy this guy's got some big time pressure on him to get a win for this team

to get a win and all of a sudden I look today, they're back in the, you know, in the, you know, back in the playoffs. And it is a dogfight guys to make the playoffs. I mean, it is scary when you look at what's happened with the parody and so on. And, you know, to have these distractions, not only what they do to the coach and the management, you just don't need it. And I was thinking about the Leafs this morning, your team, and I'm thinking 92.6 savings. percentage last year, Stollers and Wall, 92.6 save percentage.

Let's not kid ourselves. They were two of the guys that got the Leafs in the playoffs last year. And they need Wall to come back now. And, you know, obviously he's not ready yet, but they need those two guys

to help them get in the playoffs right now, boys. It's that critical. That's where it is. And I mean, I'm hoping Wall's going to come back. I mean, look, he looked terrific last year. Even in the playoffs, this kid was really good. And I'm hoping he comes back and he and Stolars can regain and become what they have to be because this is a, this is not a good hockey

team right now. Like I watched that Columbus game the other night. That was terrifying watching that. So how can you know, Borny, you've coach, you've been a video guy and you've been a coach. Nick's been a player, analyst. How do you not know, how do you not know. how to play in the neutral zone. That's, yeah, you don't even have to be good for that part. I mean, you, I mean, neutral zone defense is one of the most critical coaching components that there is. When you don't have the puck, how do you play in the neutral zone?

And I'm watching this game the other night, and I'm, I'm thinking what in God's name is going on with this hockey team? Five on twos, you know, I mean, Mac, and coach, anyway. As a guy that's been behind the bench a long, long time, how big a challenge is it for some coaches now to turn this thing around? And there's the Leafs, there's Tampa, there's St. Louis, there's Edmonton. Like, these are high expectation hockey clubs right now. And they're off to a tough start here.

Which coach has the biggest challenge right now? Oh, you know, I mean, I look at, you know, watching the way Boucher is playing in Edmonton. And, I mean, the goal-tending situation. I, they've been to the finals two years in a row. They, you know, they're, they're just not playing inspired. But I think, I think Burubee's got the toughest job. I really do.

because I, this has become a team that looks disjointed and really slow. I said it on your show a couple weeks ago. I thought they were looking slow. But it didn't jump out at me until I watched them play Columbus the other night. So they've got to, they've got to figure this out as to how they're going to play. And it's a, you know, I happen to think Craig's a good coach. And I mean, they've got to, they've got to get this going. But, and everybody talks, Mariner, by the way.

I looked the other night, Dora Faeoff in Vegas has nine goals playing with Marner. He's on pace to score 70 goals. Score a day off is what his nickname is in Vegas, and he's playing with Marner. So we're going to really find him. Listen, I'm watching Matthews. Do you see him getting grade A scoring chances even on the power play, non-threat? Five on five, non-three. I don't see him getting quality one-time, great set-up type passes right now.

People are wondering what's wrong with them. Am I wrong on that? No, we've had a pretty good discussion over it yesterday as well. So as a coach, Mack, what player, what more talented players did you deal with that you said, oh my God, we got to get this guy going. And how do you go about it then if you're Barubi? every coach has to deal with it and you know right now everybody says well you know you're missing a top six forward yeah you're missing a top six forward who who was matthews number one support guy

that really every time mernard got the puck his number one option was where is matthews and how do i get him the puck nise i think i the other night when i watched them play i thought nise was their best player. I forget who that was against. I saw the Columbus, but even before that, against Buffalo. Against Buffalo. I thought he was their best player. So they got nyes with them. The question is, who do they get with them that can get them the puck? I know Domi, they tried the Macs there. You know, they tried Nylander there. I mean, I don't know, but they've got to have a skilled guy that can make plays. And they don't have the right guy right now. And I'm telling you what? If they don't get them going, they're not going to make the playoff.

That's how tough it is. They've got to get him going. And he's that good a player. He's that good a player. I mean, I heard your conversation, which I thought was a great conversation with Craig Simpson the other day about, you know, trying Robertson there. And it just so happened that he wasn't going to be there. And then because of Nealander's injury, he ended up there and he scored. He is a pure score.

I mean, he is a guy that can score. I mean, I think they've got to experiment to see if this guy can make play. I don't know them as well as you guys do, but when you've got a talent, you've got to try some of those guys. Marcelli, we talked about, I thought he looked good the other night, but he's not the guy.

He's not there yet. You know, I like him, but he's not there yet. And that is Burubi's number one issue right now is finding the right combo there. Neelander, I'm not sure he's that type of guy. Although he's probably their best player, you know. but I'm not sure he's the right fit there.

Doug, last thing on Toronto before we take it around the league a little bit, you know, like, first off, Marner has two assists on Dorfayev goals. Let's calm down on that part. My thing with Matthews is that... Oh, no, just a minute now. It's more than just... It's not always the assists that matter. It's this, you know, it's what...

He does a lot more than just get assists. I know. Listen, he's an all-around player. He got Selky votes. He's a fantastic player. You're starting to sound like Leif fans now. No, quite the opposite. Next thing you know, you'll be criticizing Trey.

I'm criticizing the captain, and I'm not taking the... Austin is the franchise player for the Leaves. Trey is the franchise player for my Blue Jays. I haven't watched the ball game in four years. Jill and I have not missed a game. Jill and I have not... We're in Hilton, Ned, and we have to watch the Jays play, you know? Where are you going to watch the Jays tonight?

Is it even, you just at home? I'm sitting at the same room I'm sitting and I'm going to watch the Jays. But the other night, I watched them until the end of the 9th. Jill woke me up after the 18th and said they won. Or they lost.

The 18th. So I missed nine minutes of it. Anyway. All right. Well, we'll turn the page on the leafy's here and take it across Canada a little bit. The Vancouver Canucks right now are just, they're hurt.

They're decimated with, with injuries and all that, but nine guys out of their lineup. Yeah, nine guys. And, you know, they needed everything to go perfectly this year to begin with. And Kiefer's that guy. Well, he got nine goals and no assess. Cy Young winner here. Demco, Demco has changed their team.

Yeah. I think there's two reasons. I think Demco has changed their season and Adam foot to me. I had Adam for two or three years in Columbus. He was a captain of Colorado. He was a captain in Columbus. I think Adam, just watching from afar, I think Adam has come in there and been a really, really good fit.

He's a solid hockey guy. He knows the game. I really like what he's doing there. But Demko has really been the difference maker there. There's no denying that. And, you know, so can the Leafs, if the Leafs get goaltending, and all of a sudden their defense doesn't look like they're stuck in mud. They look old.

they look old and slow seriously but anyway uh look uh i don't know how vancouver are doing it a big win last night for them um a lot of guys contribute in and you know sometimes when it's a first year coach you get that energy you get that jump but full marks to add them in the group there i want to circle back to edmonton but before i have a i have a goal today i want to leave this show positive and not have any aggravation for the rest of week i don't want tie domi mad at me i don't want anybody mad at me i'm going to happened last time over a new leave i don't anybody mad at me anymore it's not worth it so it's not worth it for me what happened there you you you question max last week and now you're i told you if tie gets if he if he starts looking for you man you're in big trouble i know i know don't tell him i live in jupiter forward um listen uh before we get to edmonton just calgary and nobody expected Calgary to challenge or be this team all of a sudden. No, no. Eric Francis did. Eric Francis did. Did he? Okay. But how do you manage that now at 2-8-1 here?

Manage expectations and yet push these guys to show a lot more because last time I checked, there's a lot more hockey games to play this season. Like when you're at game 10 and you're looking ahead and you've got 70, two more games, it's a grind. And then you've got the Cadre situation. What do you do with Cadry? Where does Cadry end up? Does he decide he wants to go to a contender and how many people would be lined up for him? So, you know what, it's a tough situation for Craig Conroy. I watched them play Ottawa last night. I thought they really battled hard. I thought they did. To me, they're just in a rebuild and they got a little ahead of themselves because Wolf stood in his head,

last year. They thought they were better than they really are. Wolf will come back to reality this year and they're going to have a tough year. Another team coming up for the Leafs here, Philadelphia Flyers. We're going to talk to Rick Talkett later on in the show. But they got Trevor Zegris is kind of coming on a little bit. This guy, everyone thought he was just going to be an Instagram superstar. Have you seen players that can change their style of play after they come into the league and

mature and be someone different than they were? when they showed up? He was sort of an enigma, you know, for sure. You know, you just didn't know what was going to become of them. And I think it happens when guys get a break and they get traded. And I listened to him to talk, I think, I don't know if it was last night or today, I listened to him say, you know, when you get traded to a franchise like the Philadelphia Flyers, you don't want to embarrass yourself.

And I thought it was a great comment by a young player who, you know, has got big time talent. but hasn't been able to put it all together. I think a guy like Tocke is a real plus for a guy like that as well. You notice how complimentary I'm being of everybody today. I think everybody's great. I'm going to put an end to that, okay? Evan Bouchard.

Okay. Oh, man. Every coach has had challenges in terms of getting guys to play in certain areas of the ice better. We all know where that is with Evan Bouchard. But can you coach those blatant giveaways out of a player to a certain degree, Mac? Or is that just live with it when it comes to Bouchard? Look, you watch him in the playoffs last year, how good was he?

Sure. How good was he? And you know exactly what he's doing. He's got so much confidence in his ability. that he can make that extra move. We talked about him last week against the Islanders, you know, when he gets stripped of the puck against the Islanders. Then last night he's a minus three and really, you know,

given the puck away in some critical situations. I really believe he will come out of it. And I suspect, I think Knoblock's handling it pretty well. And he just basically says what I just said, you know, because he believes in his skill level of talent. But, you know, making those errors right now, and they're, they went through the very same thing last year of the Oilers. Very same thing.

You know, the gold hendom was average. Their blue line was average. You know, I mean, what's McDavid? How many goals has McDavid got to this point? I think he's at three. Yeah. So I guess Matthews is doing all right at five, you know. So I guess we don't have to panic because both them will probably end up having pretty good years, I would say, before it's over.

if they can figure it out, you know? Pretty good players, not too, too worried about them. Shocks of the year, Doug, looking through the first 10, 12 games, any team stand out to you where you went, wow, like, I guess Pittsburgh stands out to me is the one where you're like, wait, that's... What is happening there? Dan Mews is apparently Al Arbor? But, yeah, he's the new Al Arbor.

But more than that, look at Malkin's line. Malkin's 6 foot 3 Manta is 6 foot 6 Bresot is 6 foot 5 And all of a sudden Malkin is having the time of his life Playing with these guys And all of a sudden all of them have 12 14 points And I'm thinking this line is the biggest line in the NHL

And they're doing some serious damage And Malkin is having more fun Than he's had in three years And Pittsburgh we're going to go buy him after this year probably and now I'm saying well that's your best line and they've been unbelievable so you watch that line it's scary wouldn't it feel better Mac if not going to uh I'll exclude Crosby but at the end of the day yeah your you're your two best players are 40 and 38 like where so what's the exit strategy here for them to

push, maybe find themselves in the first round of the playoffs out, a conference final, can they be the Blue Jays and go from last to basically first and win a championship? Like, what is the end game for this team this season? Because it was before. There's nobody on their line up with the name Trey. By the way, I said on a show the other day, Troy and Jill screaming, it's Trey!

out of a way Jill keep them honest Doug you're always learning but you know what Pittsburgh I mean I don't see them making the playoffs but they're in first place today like seriously they're in first place and I've always been a big dubus guy

what are we doing here I just you know I don't know what to think of it I really don't they haven't had a goaltending for two years and all of a sudden they're playing hard the kid he remind the the coach reminds me a little bit of the guy that took over in Washington and did a heck of a job carberry I mean he he reminds me of that type of coach so I would never criticize a nobody that's coaching because I was at one time a nobody

coaching in the NHL and I won I didn't win coach of the year but I came close you know it's full circle you're an all-star it's full circle because we turned you into a nobody on this show The guy that beat me out for coach of the year. I was a hockey news coach of the year in my first year in the NHL, but the guy that beat me out, and I couldn't believe he beat me out. I couldn't believe Scotty Bowman beat me out. You was robbed.

Anyway. A little name recognition playing into it there. Yeah. I did tell Mike Keenan, I thought, you know, he was my idol when I was growing up. I told him that. But anyway. So we talked about a team we thought that was bad that ended up being good in Pittsburgh.

Good teams that are not off to great starts. Florida Panthers, we know they're injury related by and large. Minnesota Wild are 3, 6, and 3. The Blues are 3, 6, and 2. Those are supposed to be pretty good hockey clubs. Well, the Blues were really in a rebuild, you know, until they got the guys from Edmonton and all of a sudden it fast-tracked it there. You know, I'm not surprised that, you know, they're okay.

will they squeak in, will they not? To me, they're going to be a late seed. But Minnesota, you know, I thought they would be better than this. I know they're after Heinz now, big time. You know, Billy's starting to take a little bit of heat there. They looked like they were going to be a real good team at the end of last year. You know it's really bad when they're after the owner. And Craig Leopold is even starting to get some heat, you know.

So they're a team. that they're a team that doesn't really excite me, but the way they played late in last season, I thought they were going to take a big step this year, and they haven't for quite a while. So it'll be interesting to see if they can put it all together. But you're right, you know, between, you know, not Vegas, but Florida with injuries,

but Tampa Bay is another team that I'm shocked by. And the Rangers, I mean, I didn't pick the Rangers to make the playoffs, but seriously, they fired George Gallamp, they fired Labelette. now they got the next thing to God coaching them in Sullivan and they can't get out of their own way. I mean, the guy you have on the TV analytics guy, the goalie, Valicat, Valicat.

Even he's depressed. And he is the most optimistic guy. It was his Yankee cap that made him depressed. Even when he's talking about his scoring chance analytics, thinks he's even down in the dumps right now. He can't even find a positive thing to say. Little old Dave Maloney. One quick one here before we let you go.

I'll give you four teams that have done a great job out of the gate. Detroit, Seattle, Utah, and we'll throw Montreal in there. Which one, without a doubt, has the staying power to stay with the big boys? I said on this show, I wish you would save the tape. because you could go back and verify. We don't do tapes anymore. Everything's digital now. Oh, digital.

I forgot about that. Get with the times. I said Utah and no more excuses for Utah. No more excuses. We said that on this show a month ago. And look, they look like they've got a good looking team all of a sudden. I don't know they have this same power. I'm not a fan of Seattle.

I don't see them stick in there, but we'll see. And who was the other team? Montreal. Montreal is a pretty talented group. If their goal-tending holes up, I think they've got a chance to do some damage. Detroit, I'm glad. I mean, it's nine years out of the playoffs.

As my good friend Jimmy D. said, Doug, seriously, I can't even believe it that we're nine. He didn't say nine. He had another word in between nine years. He had a word in between nine years that I can't say that we haven't made the playoff. So, you know, Detroit, you know, is the Eiser plan finally coming true? They're playing well.

And you know what? I'll tell you another team that I watched them play Toronto. Buffalo, I know they're still scrambling, but Buffalo don't look bad. The game I watched, they played Florida. They beat Florida and Buffalo. I thought they played really well. I thought some of their kids had some great, you know, energy and jump and skill. So Buffalo has got to be better.

They've got to be better, and I think they have a chance to me. So it's going to be a dog fight to make the playoffs, guys. It really is. Very positive today, Mac. Charity, like I've never seen it. Okay. If you see Ty, and by the way, I was driving in North Carolina, and I listened to you with the Big E on,

and I never saw so much ass kissing in my life about, you know, hey, Biggie, or say, Biggie, hey, Biggie, and anyway. We're trying to raise money. I know, I know. He's a fairly accomplished guy, Doug. Yeah, and he can crush me still on the ice. I don't know. I was on the bench coaching against him, the Legion of Doom, and he's scared.

I was not only scared to him. I was scared of his mother. All right. We'll let you go here. Hey, when I first saw you, for those of you that can't see, he's got the white blinds in the back. He's got the white t-shirt. he's got a

like I thought I was interviewing the man from Glad for a second there these are these are outlet polos from Freeport Maine are you going to hand out any candy at all anywhere you are tonight I told you that I went to the Tangor Outlet Malls did I I think we missed that well Tangor Outlet Malls I played golf with this guy at Indian Creek and I introduced myself to him his name was Steve Tanger and I said oh you're yeah

a tangor outlet, and I was, oh, okay, yeah, Steve, nice to meet you. And the only thing I liked about him, he was a worst golfer than I was. But at the end of the game, I get into my blue, Royal Blue SUV, and he got into his Royal Blue Rolls-Royce. And he got in the back seat of his, and I was driving on. He threw a pack of those t-shirts at you and said, here, it looks like you could use some help. Well, listen, you're right.

Can you get them to sponsor our Real Kipper and Bourne show for Easter Seals? Well, I'll tell you what, you guys are becoming big. Oh, oh, I got the best story. Oh, no. You're not going to believe. Hurry, hurry. I walk into the Sanesta Hotel in Hilton Head.

I walk up and I'm checking in, and I give the guy my credit card and they said, I love listening to you on the real Kippburn, Dorn, so. And you're on. Can you believe that? And this is in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Did we get you a discount? And I said, where are you from? He said, I'm from Philadelphia,

but I catch you all the time when you're on the real Kipper and Bourne show. I said, you know, I'm pretty big still. Really big. Not a lot of people know this, but Doug McLean is very famous. All right, Mac. Thanks, guys.

Enjoy the ball game tonight. Thanks a lot for helping me on, guys. I told Keenan I was coming on. He was very excited. All right. You guys both pushing books, right? Doug McLean, everybody. All right, boy, he was talking about.

Let's go. All right, we're breaking. Yeah. We've got to catch our breath after that one. More real Kipprin-Born after these words. Hey, it's Aylish Forafar. And I'm Justin Cuthbert. Join us as we discuss the most important sports stories of the day

and tee up the biggest games of the night. It's the fan pre-game. 6 p.m. weekdays on Sportsnet, Sportsnet, the fan, and wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. Nick Caprios, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. Malkin has 17 points in 12 games. He is currently two points back of the league lead held by Jack Eichael.

Sheifley is at 18 points, and then it's Malkin McKinnon. Wouldn't you feel better? Trade him right the second. Wouldn't you be, wouldn't you feel better if like there was a couple of young kids there that and Kindle are kind of driving this thing? And then the Malkins and the Crosby. still can be great. Yeah, they have the one young kid in Kindle.

Other than that, it's not young. So, yes, that would feel much better. Malkin now is really not going anywhere. Or they should trade him while he's at his absolute highest value. Is that not a reasonable suggestion? Imagine Sid? I think he's got a complete no move, does he not? Oh, maybe.

but can you see on sure i can go on here dubus calls sid into his office hey yeah sid so uh i know that that guy that you've played with your whole career and is leading the team and scoring you guys have the best record in the league we traded them imagine having to tell mckinan you traded rantan yeah we're probably not be fun you know and then you get beat by rantan with a hat trick in the third period of the game seven got that happened eh that was tough oh this is uncomfortable i don't uh yeah since having fun again he is eight goals seven assists 15 points for him i think not too shabby yeah it's a cool leaderboard you can see some of the young guys coming up through it right macklin celebrini is 17 when you when you look at the league though and you see

a few teams that no move clause are supposed to be an n mc yeah so yeah he's not going anywhere especially now especially now um when you see so many teams and some of them of with higher expectations that are struggling and every team has warts. Yeah, that's the salary cap roll. But that's now even more of a lure for Pittsburgh to say, let's just see how far we can go with this thing. Like, in all honesty, I really believe that Kyle Dubus is sitting there going,

crap. Damn. Yeah. Like, why are we so good? good right now and why are we out of McKenna right now you know what's crazy if you think about us so they have 18 points through 12 games they're 8 2 and 2 so how many points to get in playoffs do you think call it 95 something like that is always historically been right around 93 96 right so they need another 75 points over 70 game they can basically play 500 hockey and make

the playoff. Well, yeah. And now all of a sudden, their odds of beating some other teams to spots have dramatically improved. Yeah. So, I mean, who they have been beating is also interesting. But how's their schedule been fairly easy? Yeah, they start, uh, they started with the Rangers. They beat the Rangers. They beat the Islanders. They beat the Kings. They beat the sharks. They beat the Canucks. They beat the Panthers. And then they beat the Blues. And they beat the wild. The site I use has the fourth easiest schedule so far. Habs number one on that list?

Easiest schedule. Second easiest is the Habs. Easiest is the Winnipeg Jet. I was going to say Leifes. Are they might be high? Leifes, so like 10th easiest. So though, I think we'll know a lot more. Saturday when they play the Jets.

Is it the Jets they play? Yeah, like this all balances out. This site I use up just on power rankings guru. of those sites and gives you the strength of schedule remaining. The penguins have the hardest remaining schedule in the NHL, according to this. So it's going to get hard for them. That is coming at some point. Easiest remaining schedule is the Colorado Avalanche who have the best hockey team in the league,

I think. Yeah. So that's a surprise. Did you see enough of the Rangers come from behind overtime win to say that this team should be in the mix. They're, I mean, they're totally in the, they're fine. Shusirkin was really good in the third, too, to kind of. He did give up, though, the one.

I know, I know, but towards the end, when Edmonton was still kind of pushing to put the game away, he did not allow it. Yeah. There are a few really flashy star goal he's left in the NHL. He is like your vintage flashy. He's got the effect. That just, you know, he makes the saves.

You don't expect them. to have some flashy glove save cross-eye like he's i don't really like goalies has been pretty well documented on this show i mean i like our guests who are goalies but i don't really like talking about them i think it should just be a board in there and then everybody should play hockey and just be the same as four holes we we never have to worry about anything speaking of goalies we did discuss um mark with doug mclean if you're just joining us now download us and catch his thoughts on

Almar calling his team immature, but... We do have both the clips. Yeah, let's... Do you want to listen to the first one? Okay, so Derek, I put the... This is after a loss, right? Yeah, after loss. It's actually Clip 2 is the first one, sorry to be confusing, but if you could play the first Allmark clip, which is actually clip 2.

Unfortunately, a little bit of immaturity today. It's not easy winning in this league. You can't go out there and put up seven two nights in a row and then expect to do it a third time it has to come especially on a back-to-back there's a there's a skill playing in back-to-backs especially in the second game it's really tough especially when you're doing a travel as well and there's a lot of things today I think that we could have done better we just have to look at ourselves in the mirror and and come to terms

of what we did learn from it and move on that's pretty direct man coming off two wins to call your team immature and then would you like to hear last night's comments yes and then comments from last night which is clip one please derrick you know i came out a little hard last game i've been saying some things that i might you know afterwards we read it and i got to eat them up today because i felt that we played a mature game today really like we that's what we did you know we were down three times in the game and we came back all three times and grabbed the win and and shoot out that shows some guts and some maturity right there sounds like their PR team that sounded almost as good as Stolars when he went back to the media.

But Stolars didn't address it as directly as that. No, no. He didn't say I basically ate my words. Allmark was like, my bad, my bad. Mendez got to me. I just find it like almost unbelievable that Allmark, who's been around a little bit now, would just not know the consequences of calling out your team as being

immature i mean people see it as a motivational tool at your disposal i get sometimes you go and and you want to say certain things but you just don't frame them in the right way and you're still ways of getting that point across but you've got to be really smart about it yeah i think it also depends too like do you want to give authentic answers to the media when they ask you questions No, you don't. You don't because it gets you in trouble. Yeah. You run the risk of getting yourself in trouble.

For sure. So the answer is not all the time. Pick and choose when you want to be authentic and when it's needed. Authentic in praise. There are PR departments. There are people there who are paid full time to help you. Like does the PR guy go and take a list? week after the game

and then just forget that these players are going out there. Help them. Who's fired up or who's feeling. That's your job. In there, you should have biometric scanners and all the players. That is 100% your job. I do think that it's kind of selected on the principles of the game

in terms of, you know, it's the captain and then it's a guy that scored a goal. It's, you know, if the goalie had a good game. And the goalie. Well, it's not always the goalie. Every press guy wants the goalie. Yeah, but you don't always have to give them to them. You don't always have to give them to them. Correct.

Yeah. You're 100% correct. Yeah, pick and choose. But they also, you know, like, not to be in defense of PR departments, but, okay. Like, you're going to come across, if a goalie has a bad game and he just called out his team, and you don't put them back out there, you're going to come across as unjournalistic. I don't care.

You can live with that for a day or two. But I'm just saying what the perception of the team would be. Stolars gave it to his team after the game. Yeah. Where is the PR guy going? Okay. All right. He's a little hot right now.

I got to go talk to him before he goes and sees the media. Yeah. Maybe they did that. And he still blasted through it. I think it's hard to know when a guy's about a... Maybe they did. But if that's the case, then you didn't do a good enough job because he still did it anyway. And is really, is any of this a big problem at all?

I mean, you know, like it's... Yeah, it is a big problem. I mean, they went out the next day and won and he played well. No, he's not played well. There are 860 and 870 save percentages since the blow-up here. And he's feeling stress. But his expected goals. Right?

And they're stressed because of it. I don't know. Like, everybody's sitting there going, oh, you know what? First 10 games, 12 games, no problem. They'll get the chemistry in 20 games. But it's the stress of the first 10 or 15. that may come as wear and tear mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually,

has a toll on you over 82 games. Our coach used to let us practice with three tennis balls for a scrimmage. There you go. I used to loosen things up. Love it. All right. We've got to do another hour. We got another hour to go.

It's the Leaf Edition hour. Our thanks to Doug McLean. Rick Talkett will help us tee up the Toronto Maple Leafs. and the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday night. Hopefully it's not up against a game seven, Sammy. You're telling me, brother. I'll do my part tonight. We're back after these words.

Don't go away.