Real Kyper & Bourne - Oil Change in Net + Decision on Brandon Hagel

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by former NHL President, GM and Head Coach Doug MacLean (5:00) to chat about the Edmonton Oilers’ bold decision to start Calvin Pickard in Game 3, what this series could mean for Connor McDavid’s future, why the Ottawa Senators still aren’t built for postseason success, Mitch Marner’s motivation in Toronto, Brandon Hagel’s controversial hit on Aleksander Barkov, and what Barkov’s potential absence could mean for the Panthers’ Stanley Cup hopes. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee continue discussing Hagel's potential suspension and how the Oilers are hurting the prime years of McDavid.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.

Cranking it right back up on off the rails Friday. The Real Kipper and Bourne show. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo, Jake the Snake Schultz. Got another hour to go. Fast first hour. It'll even get faster. As we welcome in Doug McLean in a few minutes, we are live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 960. Hey, these hats are sick. They're really good.

In Calgary, let me finish. Oh, sorry. 615 Vancouver. And I don't know what the heck's going on. Like, if they know what it's on, like if they're listening to us already You know what it's on, but it's really our way of just saying Hi guys, we're everywhere. Oh, we're acknowledging you

Hoover hello Calgary we love you yeah, I know you just ruined it Yeah, it was now they're like that wasn't like it when I do it better than you Sammy cuz you're I saw not Genuine oh cuz you're such a Toronto guy. Yeah, it's true I mean problem is he's too I protect them a little bit from you. Yeah, that's fair. That's is over there You probably should As a reminder this hour real kipper and born brought to you by bet three six five Thank you to them. All right, so a lot of news coming out of Edmonton. Yeah. They're not happy.

Large story. And enough that they're gonna make a goaltending change. Crazy. Not that crazy. Skinner out, Pickard in. You know, you gotta do something different. You can't keep doing what you've been doing. I am tired.

I get the 12 goals in two games. I get it. Do it. But don't say don't blame other people. Can you like it's kind of over now for Skinner basically, isn't it? In Edmonton. Well, just the only way that Edmonton saves this series is through Pickard and it's kind of waving the white flag on Skinner. It's over. This is the guy that we kind of built up for the last couple of years and when we need them most right now, we're not going to you. Or you know, we've seen Braden Holt be get replaced by Grubauer.

We've seen Flurry get replaced by Murray and vice versa and Hill and Thompson and we saw them do nothing. We saw this last year critical. They did this last year in the second round. They did this. They went Vancouver. I mean, he had two putrid games against Vancouver and they put Pickard in for multiple games. They've done this Yeah, I

Think it's the right move. I get why they do it, but it feels like an early dice move It's not like this, you know Pickards also played 15 games or Last the sky 36 starts 36 starts and his numbers were decent 36 starts and his numbers were decent 900 save percentage and 36 starts he is decent league average Roughly get ready for a week average. Hey, buddy. They will take Lee average Oh in a lot of games at league average Skinner's in 896 this year in 51 starts You know not that much worse, but worse Yeah, just they got to do some things differently. They've changed their deep hairs

Yeah, just they gotta do some things differently. They've changed their D pairs More clingy. Please getting some line one treatment with Bouchard clingberg Bouchard. Oh the wild Talented is all heck, but it is scary You got it the general man you're looking at this is the prime of Connor McDavid and Leon drysidle and you're ripping out calvin pickard And you're starting goalie and john clingberg and evan like what is going on here? I I will say this and i'm i'm curious i'm curious. I don't want to do that on their game day, but good lord i'm curious to get doug mclean's thoughts on this because he lived it as a general manager, coach, president,

but there's not a snowball's chance that it's pickered tonight without the blessing of that guy who's hanging up on our wall right there. I'm not here to suggest that... He didn't do it. That Connor's making the call on who the goalie is tonight. But there's a very good chance they've asked him and Leon, maybe one other guy, what are your thoughts? And lo and behold, Pickard's in. So you connect the dots.

But this... You think... Does not happen without this man's blessing. and behold Pickers in so you connect the dots yeah but this you think does not happen without this this man's blessing a lot of coaches involved the leadership group for big decisions and this guy's been a big part of their team skin a big part of our show on Fridays is text messages no it's Doug McLean former NHL president GM and head coach. You good? You all right? How's everything in your?

Did Borny just say, and you just say that you would never make a goalie change unless you consulted with your leadership group? Are you guys, no, no, you talk to your GM and maybe your owner. For sure. You don't talk to the the leaders except McDavid. So he's not a leadership group by the way. He's the friend. Yes, he is. So where would,

where would Connor have been in on Pickard starting tonight in your opinion? Like, like, is it just a quick, Hey, Connor, what do you think? Are you, are you okay with this? Like where, where would you see it? I would think it was with the clip when they showed them on the bench rolling his eyes the other night, just having a look at those clips. By the way, I have to tell you, I'm back in Toronto for three, two or three days, spent some time. When?

Obviously, I went for last week for Greg Mellon celebration of life. And I'll tell you what, it was spectacular. But you know what? So it was a terrific day honoring Greg. And I loved the guys did a masterful job organizing and putting it on. And it was a wonderful event to honor a great friend. But as I wandered around Toronto, it was like, when did they think I'm working full time at Sportsnet again? Like, it was bizarre. I said, no, no, I only do a half hour a week, guys.

No, no, they, I only do a half hour a week, guys. No, no, they think I'm full time. And I was wandering around downtown. That's a good thing for you, by the way. People asking me for my autograph, it reminded me when Borny asked me for my autograph, and I think it was Sam Cosentino that asked me for my autograph. I hope he doesn't take my spot on the panel like Borny did. Anyway, we had a great day.

Thanks for the call. You're here. It's great to catch up. Yeah. Well, you know what? By the time I go to Morton's Steakhouse to a meeting that Kipy organized, I had to go there. I was pretty well tied up with Kipy's PR moves.

Anyway, it was good. Can we get this back on the rails? Before we get into our meeting and session here, I had coffee this morning with the Dead GM Society, Dale Talon, Ron Hextall, and myself at Starbucks here in Delray. And of course, Jeff Rimmer asks if he could come with us and join us so that he could be like he was interviewing us, you know, because he doesn't interview anymore since he'd been fired from Columbus

or retired, whatever he did. So anyway, we had a great hockey session with those guys. It was spectacular really listening to old stories and new stories and our thoughts on everything with the, you know, it should be a podcast. It was really a session that probably could have helped Bettman with a lot of his decisions. Which, which ones, which, all right, you're going down this path, which decision's going down. No, no, I'm not going. Oh, okay. You're going down this path which decisions going down. No, no, I'm not going. Oh All right, so can we just get back to Edmonton for one second here see by the way Hexey told me to tell you he remembers you at Hershey's training camp and he said to say hello

It was really no Hershey's training camp. It was the Philadelphia flyer training camp Okay, and Hexey never made it down there when I was there. He was the Philadelphia Flyer training camp. And Hexey never made it down there when I was there. He was too good. Okay. I said to Hexey, I said, I'll never forget being on the Washington Capitals bench when he scored a playoff goal against us. A playoff goal Ron Exdall scored against us. And I looked over at Brian Murray and I said, things aren't going good, Brian. And then of course Hexy says to me, he said, yeah, and I remember when you were coaching the Panthers and you beat us in six games and it wasn't fun with Lindros and company.

So it was just a great session. Of course, Dale, you know, he's still taking credit for the Blackhawks, Stanley Cups and the Panthers Stanley Cup. So it was a real good session. So anyway, I'm going to take another attempt at like getting this thing back. Good luck, man. Good luck. Can Pickard save this series? Wow. I guess it's a rallying cry here. I think I said on the show six weeks ago, I thought LA would win this series and you guys laughed at me and mocked me and no, I think it was what you were wearing.

Anyway, I got dressed up today. But anyway, look, yeah, you know, if they can get a win and a bit of a rallying cry, they're too good a team to go down in a whimper like this. They really are too good a team guys. And I know, you know, the guy, I know at Combs, a big loss in the backend, especially for Boucher. Look, I know they've got issues there. They're thin up front.

It's the same problems they've had for two, three, four years. And yet they went to the Stanley Cup finals. I would never underestimate Connor McDavid and Dry Seidel and Pickert maybe the rally and cry they need. But you know what, LA is a good team. They're a good team and Copa Tarr is still a star. He's still a star, which is hard to believe that he's still that good. So it's not going to be an easy comeback for them to say the least.

So just to set the stakes a little bit for the Oilers, you know what were to happen and for the record, I think they're winning tonight. I think this is not going to be a walk of a series by any means, but if they lose in this first round to the Kings, is there any fallout? Is there anyone in management or players? What do you think becomes of you know a team that was so close last year and this year is not as close it doesn't appear?

Well, they can't fire another coach. I mean, they've done that. They've been there down that road too many times. They've got a new general manager in there that's one Stanley Cops, although Dale, as I said, Dale takes credit for that. So I just, you know, what do they do? What do they do? Except the last thing you want to do when this, if the series ends in that vein, you

don't want to run into the owner for a while. I'll tell you that as a new management team, Jeff Jackson will be under the gun next year. Like you can't believe I, people were raving what they did in the off season. I thought it was not Arvidsson, Skinner, guys are you kidding me? That's the best they could come up with. It was not pretty. What they did with losing those two kids to St. Louis was devastating. That was devastating guys and we shook it off when it happened. Tough to match. They could have probably matched one of them at least but I'll tell you what, it changed St. Louis's team

and it really, really hurt the Oilers. So they've got, they're in tough right now. I really believe they are. Connor McDavid is eligible to sign a new contract July 1st. And- That's the pressure. That's the pressure.

So again, if by chance they go down three nothing and they find a way to lose this series, money will not be an object to sign him, right? So does bowing out early here jeopardize anything for you in your mind on the future of Conor McDavid and Edmonton based on what he has gone through in the last week and a half two weeks here? Conor McDavid is a little bit like Sid Crosby going through Pittsburgh except there's one

thing missing. Yeah two things missing. Mario Lemieux was there as a guiding force number one. That was one thing that was missing in Edmonton. I think it opens up a whole can of worms that he's going to have to step back and say, you know, I'm this deep into my career. I haven't won the way other superstars. I mean, even Obi-Wan in Washington, guys, even guys even all be one in Washington and it took him a while But he he came through and look what he's accomplished in his career Sid look what he's accomplished McDavid's the next one and It's it's it's not pretty if they if they bow out in the first round. I I still think it's gonna be a long series

But it will not be pretty for the Oilers to try to get this guy redone and anything else on it No, I'm good. All right Let's let's go around the some of the other Canadian series type of the Montreal Canadians down to nothing as well But a pleasant surprise to be here. They've been close with Washington Interesting at the end of the game needing a goal line a sat on the bench I don't know if you saw that. They decided he wasn't quite worthy. What are your thoughts on where the Habs are and where they're going? Well, look, you're happy to make the playoffs and they did battle through it.

Lina has become a real enigma for me. He really has. This guy lets more people down at important times, whether it's in Winnipeg, whether it's in Columbus, whether it's in Montreal, he always becomes a bit of a problem. And I feel bad for him. I feel bad for him. But enough already. This is too important. I mean, do we have to talk about that series? like seriously? I really don't want to talk about that series I want to talk about Ottawa. Okay, that's what I want to talk about We try to avoid that here you guys talk about that in the next half hour if you want

But I don't really I'm not interested. Tell me about Ottawa Doug Okay, I I'm disappointed. They're down three nothing to say the least. I mean I'm disappointed they're down three nothing to say the least. I mean, but how do you win a round with a 840 save percentage from your goal-taker? No, what is it? 815. 840. 815? 840? I mean seriously guys, I mean Benoit said it himself he hasn't scored a goal since since Peewee and he gets the winner in overtime. I mean, come on. I mean, what is going on? Isn't there didn't play? I'm giving Toronto full marks. I'm giving Toronto full marks.

Ottawa are not ready to win. Look how long it took Toronto to get over the hump to win, you know, even a first round and the way they're Toronto are playing Ottawa have no chance. In my opinion, they've been closed games, but they're just not ready to win. They made the playoffs a great year. They've got a good solid base, but they're not playing desperate enough for me. When you move in, when you make the playoffs and then you get into the playoffs, Nick, you've been there, you know how the level changes. It is a whole new game and they're not ready to take that step in my opinion yet. And I, and I, I really

liked lots of things about their team. I liked lots of things about the organization, but they did not show me anywhere close to enough desperation last night to win that game. Am I wrong in that? No, that's, is that how you guys saw it? We were saying the stats Doug, I know you love the analytics. Puck battle wins the Leafs were over 60% and have been I think all three games in the series. How was the ice tilt? It's actually heavily in Ottawa's favor. Puck has been the Leafs end a lot. That's what I thought. I thought that but that's why I asked. But look, I agree. I just think I there's so many asked. But look, I agree. I just think

I there's so many good things. I'm telling you who I've been impressed with is Marner. I mean that play he made last night. This guy is on a mission. He has been for the last month or two. The play he made last night is is I don't know if I've ever seen a play that good in a critical playoff game in a long, ever. I don't know if I've ever seen a play that well. And you know, Matthews puts it home, but Marner's on a mission to not let this team lose. And with all, everything he's been through, with his lack of sick playoff success, with Matthews lack of playoff success,

I just, I'm enjoying watching them get some success. I really am. And like I said, with the tariffs on the Stanley Cup, they may win it. Mac, with another one Saturday night, being able to kind of watch out what happens next out of Florida, out of Tampa Bay and the Panthers are with another win.

Are the Leafs ready now to give a much bigger fight if Florida can win two more games? Well, you know what's going to be the interesting thing is what's Barkov status, you know, is he is he going to play Barkov? The little bit I know of Barkov, this guy doesn't like to play unless he's 100% healthy. So if he has to play banged up, it could really affect his game. And we know how important Barkov is. I know Kachuk is very important, Bobrosky, but Barkov is really the guy that makes this team go along with Kachuk is very important, Barbaroski, but Barkov is really the guy that makes this team go along with Kachuk.

If he's not healthy, I think they can play with the Panthers. I really do think they can play with the Panthers. I remember months ago saying I was impressed with Benoit because he brought some bite to the back end and then he really dropped off and struggled. But how impressive is this kid been? I know he's got made the two big Paul coffee rush and the big play last night. But, but listen, this guy's been, this guy's been an important guy in that backend for meanness and grit and some bite back there. So I think they can play with the Panthers. I really do

so You're the head coach of Florida and you watch Hagle take out your best player last night What's a Doug McLean saying the next day? I Remember saying on the bench one time when who was to two was running around in Nashville, you know, just running around. I was on the bench and I was losing my marbles. I said, when somebody broke his wrist, I might be a little more vicious than that.

And the guys are looking at me like I was crazy on the bench. Okay, so. Toot toot was running around trying to hurt me. I like, okay, come on. Somebody's got to you know, there's a hearing going on. I I'm not even sure if it's happened. But they're under the clock here because they play tomorrow at 1 p.m. for for game three here. So What has to happen here?

This is just not a late hit on just another player We are talking about the the heart and soul player doesn't matter though, right? Oh, no big time. It matters You're getting soft. No, tell me what you think. You're getting soft. I thought it was a, I thought it was a, I thought it was a late hit. I know the puck wasn't there. I mean it it's playoff hockey. It's vicious. It's boat. I mean, what is that? What seriously? I mean, is it, is it a, is it one game? It's more than one game. I don't think he, I don't think he should get a game for it. I think he should get a fine. Can you give him a fine? I'm sorry. I don't, I don't think it was, I don't think

it was anywhere as bad as you guys thought it was. I'm sorry. The issue here now is this This is not retcock. Other teams... Retcock, he's played at 11 o'clock at night in the rinks up in Toronto area. I'm telling you right now, if I played today, I'd go... Oh, that's a fine?

No, I'd go, okay, so if I can just time a little late hit and hit their best player. Is it a blind side hit? No, I, I'll try my best to mirror Hagel's hit on, on the other team's best player. I will take that trade all day long. And I watched Billy Lindsay and Fitzgerald do that in every game, in every game we played in the playoffs, every game. And Eddie Jovanovsky, I watched it every night. I'm sorry. I know it. I, I know it's, it's a little dirty. I get that, but this is a playoffs. I know, I know, but that's also 30 years ago.

Okay. I, yeah, I guess, I guess you're right. I I'm thinking hold on. I think about bunting on Chernak like he ends up with he gets suspended two games for that or something and then three games and then Chernak doesn't play again that whole series huge advantage for the Leafs and well worth it. If you can get away with that hit on Barkov for just a fine whoo. Is Barkov playing next game? Do we know? Don't know. I would call it highly unlikely.

So what do you think he's got? Kinkush. What did they? I don't know. I think it's Kinkush. Was there a head shot there? I didn't see a head shot. I don't think it's a head shot, but I think his head might have hit the ice or the boards or something.

Listen, at the end of the day, you took out their heart and soul franchise player. I know Barkhov's not McDavid, but think about if McDavid took that hit. Think about if McDavid took that hit. Out of the league. Okay, what if it was Lorenz that took that hit? What's the suspension? Great question. Different.

Different. But it shouldn't be. It shouldn't be, but is but it is it's a fourth-line guy what's he got yeah is there any precedent that we protect the Stars more than the other yeah yeah what's the precedent I don't think that's the case precedent is in the regular season we do in the regular season think so I mean I'd like to see the Stars. I don't see any signs of them doing it But we're talking about the difference between the Panthers

If I'm the Panthers, I'm going nuts. I'm gonna nuts nuts. Okay, but we're also yeah I didn't see blindside. I didn't see a headshot I saw a late hit a late hit with no puck That's what I saw and a player that was unsuspecting of a hit. What do you want Hagel to do? He should have bear hugged him, I guess. He should have bear hugged him. I don't know. He should have not hit him. It's just a player that could be the difference between winning a third Stanley Cup and not a second Stanley Cup.

Hagel's a Western League kid that means business at playoff time. Hegel rules. Oh yeah. He's a player. No doubt about it. Nick, you'll probably be right. You'll probably be right. And if I'm the Panthers, I'm losing my marbles. But I just I just didn't see enough think about Suspension think about the optics if Barkov doesn't come back the rest of the series and Hagel scores the game-winning goal in game six Right the Fulton Reed from Mighty Ducks well worth it comment. I get you almost Was a Boston in Vancouver where? What was it? What was it? Boston and Vancouver where Nathan Horton?

Yeah. Right? Didn't he? I was here in Rome on Sunday. Who'd he hit? Who'd he hit? Yeah. Rome.

Rome hit Horton. Horton. Yeah. Or was it the other way around? Don't remember. You're right. Yeah. And they didn't even give him a game back.

They didn't give him a number. They just kept him out. I was talking to Jody Hull. I was talking to Jody Hull at Greg's celebration of life there. And I said, Jody, remember when Lindros cross-checked you across the back and broke like two ribs with his... Because he had a heavy piece of lumber that Eric Lindros played with. Did you ever lift a stick, one of Lindros' sticks?

And he broke with a cross check behind the back. We lost Jody Hall for the series. And you know, they didn't suspend Lindros for that. But look, I know it was Jody. Jody, we love you, bud, but you're not Barkov. So that, so you're going back to who the player is? 100% because this player could be the difference between another Stanley Cup final for Florida or getting knocked out. What happened last year in the Bruins-Panthers series when they knocked Marshawn basically out of the

series? What happened there? What did Bennett get for that? I can't remember. Remember that? I think he got nothing, right? He got nothing. Nothing. Yeah, and he knocked, he basically knocked Marchand out of the series.

A little sneaky. So anyway, I will, look, I didn't like the hit. I didn't like the hit. But I'm not on the soap box like you are. No, I'm not, it's not a soap box. I'm, I just think it's a slippery. I'm not on the soapbox like you are. No, I'm not. It's not a soapbox. I just understand that if it's a fine, as a player who wants to help my hockey club the best I can, I will think about taking out their best player in a retaliation just to even it up Yeah, this is the guy telling me talking me down off the ledge who took out the goaltender in the playoffs

But it also doesn't happen anymore what you're talking about when's the last time you saw some retaliatory target the other team star Yeah, you know what did he did he really go? Hagel's a star too. Absolutely. Hagel's a star guy. He gets 90 points this year and he's on Selkie Bell. It's not like Nick Kiprios took out Barkov. No. I'd be in jail today. This is Hagel who's one of the best players on Tampa Bay.

Anyway, you know, I mean we can beat a dead horse. I didn't see it as bad as you guys and I know kippies an expert on these things I know that and I appreciate I'm not I'm just giving you my opinion Oh, you got a better feel for it than I do I just think I like to see some viciousness in the playoffs. I really don't mind it either. I just yeah Just don't want to see Great players out. That's all. All right.

So I don't like what like that's you can't make that that can't be a defining factor because he's the best player. I'm sorry. In my opinion, it can't be. I'm with him. And in my opinion, it can be. It's just different rules for different players. Yeah. And you'll probably I mean, Gary will be it's just different rules for different players Hope yeah, and you and you'll probably I mean Gary will be listening and Coley be they I'm sure they don't miss this show

Yeah in a game and at least yeah at least the games the best all day long trade-off Yeah, right Farcov misses more than one. Yes for sure Can't let you go without asking you of thinking of unsuspecting Winnipeg getting lit up in St. Louis and Hellebuck having a bit of a rough night. I've never seen a team with, you know, so far in the playoffs that has for checked as ferociously as I watched St. Louis for check last night. It wasn't even close that game. They for checked like they were on a mission and they looked fast and Winnipeg who are a fast team

looked really slow. Cam Fowler, where's he been? Did you see how good he was last night at times? I mean he was unbelievable. And that was one of the most unheralded trades all year long. And last night he was a difference maker in that game. Bennington versus Hellebuck, as the series progresses, it's gonna be, it'll be interesting. But I don't wanna talk about this series.

I wanna talk about Vegas. Okay, hurry up, we gotta go. And your Four your four nations tournament who you know, they lose. Theodore or gets hurt in that series. You're talking about getting hurt. You know, Theodore's banged up. And I mean, did you see that way that pair played McNabb, Theodore last night, and even Hannah and Petrangelo were horrible. And then you got Brodean and Faber who were stars in the other end. And you got Capri soft and Brody or whatever his name is.

Boldy. And you got Eichel and and Eichel and stone doing nothing. I mean, it's scary right now, the way Vegas are looking, you know, and the goaltender Gustafson, I mean, it's, it's, it's got a chance to be a heck of a series, Minnesota healthy. Everybody forgets their one. They were as good as Winnipeg before they got all their injuries halfway through the season They're gonna be top Minnesota's a hundred and thirteen point team last year that just suddenly didn't have it this year

There's there's some underlying talent there that boldies. Yes. All right I'm so like I'm gonna get roasted over this park I think so because I'm in Florida may not be safe be safe to go to dinner while they don't even know the Panthers are in the playoff. But anyway, I'm, I'm, I'm really, I hope, I really hope that Barkov plays. I really hope he does. And I hope Hagle plays too. Yeah, sure. I mean, maybe we can see Kachuk and, and Hagle go again, you know? No, you can't fight. It's a playoff. Kachuk played 13 minutes last game. 11, the one before. It's crazy. Yeah. All right, Matt. Thanks for doing this, pal. Thanks a lot for having

me. How many more shows have we got guys to listen to? Who's asking you or Jill? July. Jill is asking. Tell Jill we're taking you right to July. Thanks for having me guys. I really enjoy the show when I'm on. Yeah. Thanks, Mac. All right, everybody. Doug McLean.

Those first five minutes, like that's maybe the worst he's ever been taking our show hostage. Hostage. I was cutting the Chris Knoblock and Paul Marie stuff I didn't hear where it but it just seemed like it was completely I didn't even know where he's going He's just happened He's right I mean, it's It's interference. It's not it's interference. It's interference. Yeah, it's an NHL play a Stanley Cup playoffs. You're admiring your path

You got a hammer not admiring anything Checking and he never touched the puck the pucks around get your head up He knows it's bark off and he Licking on him. Okay. Yes pucks right there, but it's not never touches it It's not even close Beat him by a foot, but you might just drop a random guy He's going for it. He doesn't touch it. He's not even close. You hit the guy. You hit the guy. I had to beat him by a foot, bud. You might as well just drop a random guy out there.

He's got him in the trolley tracks. Bad hit. Okay. Where he is eligible to be hit, he thinks there's a chance the puck is going to be on his stick. He's digging for the puck there. He's going to stick to this. He places a chance.

He rolls the dice and he's wrong. For sure. He knows it's Barkov. It's a bang, bang play play it's the fastest game on earth and he hammered. Okay, it's bang bang, but it's interference Bang, it's it's interference. It's a two-minute penalty. No head contact. Oh my god. No, it's not I'm Sammy stop stop stop stop. Doug's right No, he's not you're not that's just a that's getting a lick on a, on a guy on a vulnerable player. Again, like he is the best player, the best player that guy out of the game. He knew a hit like that could take him out of the game.

If that's Luster Annen for checking, he doesn't even throw that hit. That's I don't think that's true. It's a hundred percent true. He, he just probably angles with the player and keeps playing hockey, but it's bark off hammered Oh, it's game time. It's game time Is it about bet three six five is it the absolute odds and find out why it's ever ordinary at bet three six five? That's 19 plus until only please play responsibly Alright, so some action on the ice tonight the Montreal Canadians return home to the Bell Center

Their best chance to get back their only chance to get back in this series They are minus one oh 105 on home ice tonight, the Washington Capitals minus 115. So the books, given that they have a pretty good chance tonight to get back into it. I like the Washington Capitals by a goal and a half at plus 210 tonight. I like Montreal.

No. Yeah, they get one tonight? They do not. I think that there were signs enough out of Washington that they could make them nervous. St. Louis, what an effort against Winnipeg last night at home. Shows you what going home can do. Montreal can pick up that energy as well and take their game up a notch. I'm curious this line I think.

Weird to get healthy and then not skate the next day with a maintenance day and What's going on there? He's been is the body's broken down on him, but yeah the Devils return home trying to get back into their series plus 145 against the Carolina Hurricanes are minus 170 on the money line of the road against Devils and the Edmonton Oilers They're looking for a big-time win tonight, a franchise changing win for them tonight, minus 150 on home ice tonight. The LA Kings, you could do worse than the LA Kings at plus 125 tonight on the Moneyline. You gotta think that the Oilers get one tonight. How do you bet minus 150? You can't.

The Klingberg-Bouchard top. Yeah., it's a great question. How do you do it? But I just, I have a hard time believing. I do think the Oilers are winning tonight. Yes. I would never stake money on that particular bet. Nope, neither would I. And anyways, that was Game Time. Please go to my bet 365, visit the app,

Play the Saws and find out why it's never ordinary. At bet 365, it's 19 plus. On Terran Only, please play responsibly. All right, let's take a quick break and we'll get into some news and notes and also some of your text messages as well. Sammy, you got any? $5.90, $5.90? We'll see if they come in. All right. All right, more.

When Real Kipper and Born continues. Dive deep into Toronto sports and the NFL. The JD Bunkus podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Beth 365, Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, who just wanted a two minute penalty for interference on Hagel. Two minutes. Listen, I say a ton of stuff on this show and you never care.

Are you friends with Barkov? Sammy, what are you talking about with this one? I'm getting a million texts. You can never be wrong on a cake. At the end of the day, there's, let's, let's cut to the chase here, okay? Oh, if it was Matthews, he'd be so mad. Yeah, probably, I'm a fan.

Listen, you only speak of a fan. Yeah. But we're a little bit more objective. Sure, but I'm not, I don't hate, I don't hate Barkov. I don't hate Hegel your hate your your thought process Only stems from one thing Your vision of watching the Leafs play, Florida in the next round without

It doesn't clean Clean All right, that's it. That's all you're about right now. You can yell at me Alright, that's it. That's all you're about right now. You can yell at me Just hey listen, I thought I'd have a lot more respect right now if you just said yeah, you're right. I mean it helps But I don't think that's not what it helps I guess I just love violent hockey and I thought the puck was around there and he had his head down Right looking for the puck. I just don't think that you want to set the precedent

now of guys targeting best players. The fights at the Four Nations guys getting hammered. They love this stuff. This is what they want. They want hatred. They want good players in the games too. You can't eliminate what are the games best.

You can't target other teams best players. It's a wonderful trade off if Hagel gets a game and you've knocked Barkov out of the series. I mean, I think Barkov will play. Yeah, Doctor now. At some point. We've got one. His name is Jason Smith.

We don't need another Doctor. If he's out for the... Scarborough's own. I don't know. doctor if he's out for his own. I Listen, we're not gonna agree so we can yell at each other some more if you want but We got think we covered it I got so many texts I can't keep up all of them agreeing with me by the way It's a charge it's a split there's lots of people saying I'm an absolute idiot lots of people saying that they agree It's what's a good topic We do want me to read the ones that agree. That's here. No, I don't okay Okay, hey kipper Borny and Sammy Connor McDavid is 20 10 years into his career basically halfway through and no cup

How worried are you that he will be the best player in the history of the game to not win a cup? Me those offer sheets for Hallway and Broberg feel like they shifted us into another dimension. With those guys, I feel like the Oilers get it done. PS, the Leafs are looking good, Sammy. It's not about how worried we are. It's how worried Connor is. That's all that matters. And I would think that going out in four or five or even six games right now would be a look, a reflection situation starting the moment you get knocked out right to the end of the summer on what am I doing here because I've how many prime years does he have left and what am I doing here? Because I've, how many prime years does he have left?

Here's what I think. Connor McDavid has earned 82,430,945 dollars so far. That's pretty good. And he's on track to make another 25 over the next couple seasons, or sorry, 12 and a half next year and the remainder this year, whatever. You know, if you're a guy like that

and you are the best player in the league and you are dead set on winning a cup what stops you from doing like LeBron James has done and some guys later in their careers and just signing one-year contracts every year that's not happening what stops you just a loss of potential money if you get hurt well what would stop you is the Edmonton Oilers would have to pull a Calgary Flames where it means that you you can't have him on just a one-year deal next year and or what though he has the cards kept and he walks you got a walk because he doesn't

you got it you got to trade him you got to trade him he's not gonna want to stay and bury one year at a time. One with a one year option. On a team that you don't believe that can win now. Okay, it's not about one or two year deals. A guy like that, a guy like Sidney Crosby, it's irrelevant what's left on his contract or what he has or doesn't have on his contract.

It's irrelevant. It only works for everybody else. Because he can leave wherever he wants to leave. These guys can dictate. He can go back up. Matthew Kachuk did it in Calgary. I'm not resigning. So you want to play out one more year, I'll stay here. But at least Matthew Kachuk had the cojones to go back up to Calgary and say, this is my intentions. It's not, will you stay, will you not stay? It's not Tavares and the Islanders, it's not even Mitch Marner now with the Leafs,

where you don't get a definitive answer. Matthew gave them a definitive answer in Calgary. But I think you can be definitive and say, I wanna be here in Edmonton, and I wanna win here in Edmonton. As long as we're competitive, I'm gonna be here. But who's- Give me a two-year deal scary I don't think he's interested in that in that I don't I at this point he doesn't have another two years to waste

It's whether or not you believe but he may believe in the short term and let's see it I want to make sure that we're still in the mix If this guy Needs another six months to decide It's gonna be mayhem Yeah in Edmonton if this guy plays out next year I should think it kind of matters how far the series goes and I hate to even be having this conversation

There's two nothing. Yeah, it's two nothing. They can use no no no no no. no this is a conversation That's real people may not like to hear it, but it's real yeah, okay, and Those are the stakes Whether your ownership whether your management whether your season ticket holder this conversation is real and It's happening behind the scenes, but I do think it's real and it's happening behind the scenes. But I do think it's influenced greatly by Leon signing and staying because I don't think Leon signs and stays though going to Connor, you're gonna sign and stay right?

No, no, no, I don't believe that for one second. You don't think they had those conversations? Of course they've had those conversations. I don't believe for one second that if Connor doesn't believe that this team can win a cup in the next few years, that he's willing to stay because he told Leon that we're in this together. Don't buy that. I appreciate relationships, but... Leon, in 15 or 20 years, could go that way, Conor's going that way and Conor doesn't

have a cup. There's tough questions too with like legacy stuff, right? You know, I feel for John Tavares and the way the Islanders thing played out and I'm not saying he handled it right. You know, there could have been better ways to handle it, but he was a good captain and a good player for the New York Islanders for what, nine years and mattered to the community, good off the ice. And he burned it all down.

No one, he's persona non grata around there. And if Connor says he wants to leave at some point, does that affect what he's done in Edmonton, which is far greater and far more than DeVos ever did for Long Island? I know. I'll be sour the other field Ripped off and I think part of definitely depends on destination part of the math though for him is how you need to preserve that reputation and that The years you had there there was a like and we'll have I think by the way, that's not I don't think he's going

there was a, up until even Tavares, you could get away with pretending you were going to stay when you really weren't going to stay, and then you could leave, and there used to be like this acceptance, but now it's kind of gone. And maybe Matthew Kachuk kind of sped that up, but fanbases really feel ripped off.

If you're giving us the impression you want to stay, but you never really wanted to stay. Let us trade you at least. It got really, really sour for fan bases now. They, it will, no question, and Tavares is going through that with the Islanders. They feel ripped off. And that's at stake with Marner in Toronto Not that he's said he wanted, you know this or that or whatever but it is it all plays into the

legacies and reputations at the end of the day they're doing what they feel is right for themselves and their families and that's they're entitled to that but it doesn't diminish the the Backlash of what the fan base is. They can't control the perception. No, they can't. They can't control the perception. They can't, but Conor's at a critical time right now

in his tenure as an Edmonton Oiler here, and there's a fork in the road right now going into tonight. Three nothing down, three nothing, or two one. Like this is huge tonight You know what sucks for the Oilers? What changes a lot of this here is it's happening right when the salary cap goes kaboom and everyone has caps tons of caps buddy Connor at 15 percent 16 percent of the salary cap next year. Let me he's

17 18 what's your number, pal? And teams that line up to put this, write that check. Caril the Thrill and Mitch Marner now, they're looking at 15, 14 and a half, 15 million a year. The numbers have changed. The numbers have changed. Yeah, big game tonight for the Oilers. And their top pair is Klingberg and Evan Bouchard with Calvin Picker between the pipes. Which I just know. Catch the Oilers and I would say top pair is Klingberg and Evan

Bouchard with Calvin Picker between the pipes which I just catch the Oilers fever baby. What's so hard is you look at the Leafs and all their failings in the past in the playoffs and all the sudden they get Brandon Carlo and Chris Tanev on the back end and they lock it down on D and defend like crazy get a few more more saves. And all of a sudden everyone's like, Marner and Matthews, really? Look at them. They're doing great. It's like, kind of looked like this a lot of the time. Yeah, they're just getting production. They're just getting, but they're getting help from the back end. Yeah. So it was a little less about how they stunk this time of year and maybe how they

built a better team around them. They are definitely better supported to suddenly look like they have taken a step individually when I don't know that there's anything that shows me they look better than they have. I mean, people, there's a ton of people on the text line that are clearly from Edmonton and there's some, listen, there's some 780 area codes texting Matt about this conversation because we're, they think we're relating it to Toronto and him coming here. No, absolutely not. there's lots of really good destinations out there it's not just Toronto this is like just about a guy

ready to commit potentially July eight more years but it has to be in a program that he believes in that can help him get over that hump so he can be amongst the greatest players in the game that won a championship. He's one of the few guys that is playing for more than, it's like Tiger Woods isn't playing golf against people in tournaments all those years. He was playing Jack Nicklaus, right? Like and that's, that's Connors. Like he's going to be a Mount Rushmore guy of this sport.

He's playing historical legends for his place in that Pantheon. It drops without a Stanley Cup right whatever he's gonna be remembered for it has to be with a Stanley Cup championship there there's there's no way about it now people like myself even if he doesn't win one would be like he did his part his points for game in the playoffs is through the roof but he did he's not a choker an under performer but he couldn't win couldn't win a Stanley Cup game so hard in hockey. If you couldn't lead, you couldn't lead

to a Stanley Cup. But that's it. You got to have the horses around you. You know, you can't lead me, you and Sam to a Stanley Cup. You got to have players. And that's what he's he knows. He knows that. And so, you, you know moving forward a Stan Bowman Jeff Jackson, I believe in you. I believe that you're gonna get me the guys. So let's stroke the stroke the contract right now

But he's got to believe. Mm-hmm, right? I mean fantastic text. That was a 20 minute Sneak another one in. There's too many. I'm overwhelmed. There's two minutes. There's a minute left in the show. We're talking about Dylan Larkin. We got a Dylan Larkin question. What did he do? He MF'd Stevie Iseman at the podium last week. That was a little weird.

Oh, I think the team was really disheartened that they didn't make a push. Well, they misplayed us by another two points or something. Yeah, I know. It's okay disheartened that they didn't make a push. Well, they misplayed us by another two points or something. I know, but it's OK to feel that way. But going public against your president and general manager. We're talking about McDavid, Dylan Larkin's twenty seven or something now. He's been spinning his wheels in Detroit. He's frustrated, too. Yeah. I just want to win. Oh, no, I get it, man. Yeah.

All right. Give us a score tonight. Edmonton, LA. 2-1, 3-1? No, no, big numbers. Nine goals, 10 goals. I think 5-3 oil tonight. All I'm saying is McDavid, three points minimum. That Kemp is turning into one of my favorite players too. Nasty.

Oh, God, is he good. All right, just like that. Fastest hour gone once again on our national program here. Have a great weekend, everybody. Enjoy the games and we're back on Monday. If you get a chance, download us, give us a rating and review. And Nick Blackmore does the best of real kipper. Can you believe he can actually find the best of?

It's over now, but thanks. Have a great weekend, everybody.