Real Kyper & Bourne - Oilers-Ducks Assessment with Stanley Cup Champion Kevin Lowe

Episode Date: April 30, 2026

Hockey Hall of Famer and Stanley Cup Champion Kevin Lowe (4:10) joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to chat about the Oilers-Ducks First Round series, playing through injuries in the playoffs, Evan Bouchard's growth in his game, Paul Coffey's impact behind the bench, his thoughts on Chris Pronger's recollection of his 2006 exit in Edmonton while Kevin was the general manager, and Connor Ingram's backing of his head coach. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee preview Game 6, Minnesota Wild pushing the Dallas Stars on the brink of elimination, Vancouver Canucks' GM search, and the Montreal Canadiens taking a commanding series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, let's get her going. It's the national hour on the Real Kipperman Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver. Sportsnet 960 in Calgary and streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. Also available Spotify, Apple podcast and YouTube. Nick Kippreos, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, this hour of Real Kippenborn born brought to by Bet,

365. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Kevin Lowe, six-time Stanley Cup champion, hockey Hall of Famer. And where did he? last time we had him on our show, where was he? He was in Mexico. Mexico. I wonder if he's still there.

I hope not. I can't take the background. I don't know if he will be. I think it's... I gotta tell you, anyone calls me to go on their show when I'm in Mexico? It's a no. But if you live there. Yeah, he's got a spot.

You're thinking he's not just a... Hey, is this too much of an East Coast bias gripe here? Depends what you're about to say. I think Connor McDavid, with his back against the wall, should not be at 10.15 tonight. So, like, screw Western Canada, is what you're saying? I mean, it's late for them, too. Wouldn't it be an 8-15 start for them, right?

It would be one hour ahead of even when they're... Was there in Anaheim? Yeah, it's in Anaheim. No, three hours behind us. No, it'll be eight there. Oh, eight, eight. Yeah, he's right, two hours. Yeah, so it's three and...

How about six? Time zone starts, okay? Talk here. It's... I'm not good at time zone talks. It's three hours ahead in Anaheim, and it would be two hours ahead of here in Edmonton. Oh, I see a point.

So it would be eight-fteen still. there. I don't know. There's a big part of the country that this is a huge moment for the best player in the game. So what time local Edmonton puck drop would you like for them? Seven. I'm on board. Seven o'clock? Yes. 7 p.m.

Edmonton start. 6 p.m. Anaheim. 9 o'clock for I wonder where they care more. Anaheim or Edmonton. I'd go for that. Okay. Everybody wins on that one. Yes. Nine's a perfect number. The one hour of sleep with the old boys here just can't do it.

Oh, good. I don't know. I just goes to O.T. I just, I feel like it's a missed opportunity to have Connor McDavid in prime time. It feels like these late nights. So, maybe I'm just an old guy. I liked it great. Thanks, man.

Connor, last time we did this and the Oilers were playing, we called Connor a game time decision. And he disagreed post game. Yeah, he was like, okay, where did that come from? That was an official announcement from the Everton Oilers. that maybe there was some gamesmanship going into that game. That maybe they were saying, hey, he might play. It ended up being really strange that it didn't,

it didn't feel like a game time decision. He ended up playing five or six more minutes than he did the previous game. Would you want to hear him? We had the clip from yesterday when he got asked about the game time. Yes. Play that, please. Chris, in your game time decision today, was there any like who you? No, there's never a doubt, obviously.

It's coming. Maybe don't have it. No. No, my David. Anyways, he was basically just, he just scoffed at the... Chris, if you were a big time decision today, was there any like... No, there's never a doubt, obviously. Oh.

Never a doubt, obviously. Yeah, never a doubt, obviously. Well, seems like there was a bit of a doubt. Yes. Because your team said that you were questionable, which implies some doubt. But I think that happens in playoffs, sir. It's like, we're not telling you who a goal is playing for best guys. 24, 25 minutes.

Two points. Two points. Easy dub. for the oil. I don't know, big, big game for Anaheim tonight. That's it. If Anaheim's going to get it, they better get it tonight.

I am going to be a lot. They look the other night like deer in headlights. They did. And you're just wondering now, is it just too much too soon yet for this group? Can they, can Joel Quenville, and I think you or Sammy brought this up,

that I don't know if you want another coach back there to give them a chance to settle down? We talk about hearing footsteps on the ice. This is hearing footsteps in the series. Like, oh, boy. Okay, let's welcome him in. Hopefully not from Mexico where I'll be incredibly jealous. Kevin Lowe, six times Stanley Cup champion.

Losey, how are you, my friend? I'm doing great, guys. Yep. All right, no beach in the background. You get that tan in Edmonton? Actually, no, yes, a little bit in Edmondson. Okay. So, Losey,

playing Anaheim and there was talk about maybe playing a tougher opponent you know did this series end up being something that that ended up looking like a lot in your past where you're expected to win expected to roll over it just doesn't happen and and you know the feeling is still the Oilers have their backs against the wall here but can you relate to playing a team that you're supposed to win and maybe quite handily? Well, I think the only time I recall would be in 1990 when we were down 3-1 to the Winnipeg Jets. Now, I don't think the discrepancy in the talent of the teams was the same

because the Jets were a more veteran team. But I think the experience is the same. And I see this series unfolding similarly. I mean, obviously the Ducks. or team that are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the years that come. But I just think it's a little too early for them. The Oilers have not played a 60-minute game yet. And although they're down 3-2 in the series, they've got a chance if they can play a 60-minute game to get this thing back to Edmonton. And I suspect they'd win the series.

But no, I think, I guess on the reverse side, it reminds me a little bit when we played the Montreal Canadiens. And in 1981, we finished 14th overall. They finished third. And I mean, I thought they were going to kill us. And we were just young enough and dumb enough to go out there and just play the game and not feel any pressure. Now, we swept the Canadians. It was a three out of five series.

And, you know, that was a little foreshadowing for a team that would go on to be one of the greatest of all time in terms of, you know, speaking about the Oilers here. I'm not sure the ducks can be painted with that brush yet, but it's been a fun series, and it's nice to see the Oilers, you know, almost get out offense in this series, which we haven't seen before. You know, they've lost games because, you know, the other teams played good defense. So I'm pretty, pretty certain Eweros is going to win tonight, but they've got to play 60 minutes, and they can't. do like they did the other night in game five where, you know, they got out shot 13 to 3 in the third period because, again, that's a recipe for disaster. What did you make of the pregame talk last game that McDavid was kind of a game

time decision? Then he goes out, plays 25. He's awesome. He's like, I was never a game time decision. Yeah, I don't know where that came from. And I'm not close enough to the team just in the, or I didn't even want to ask anybody about it. But yeah, I'm not sure what the, what the rationale was there.

you know, if anything, everybody knew Connor was injured, so it's not like, maybe it was just a little bit of reverse psychology, I guess just leave it at that. So when you guys were going through all your playoff runs, like injuries play such a big part of it. Did you ever go through any of these things where you're dealing with something

and maybe you're not 100%, but like they're, you're supposed to be at your best, but everyone's more hurt than they've ever been throughout the season. Yeah, and, you know, maybe the ducks aren't that way because they're a young team, you know, they haven't gone through the wars yet. But, you know, most teams play with a bunch of injuries. I mean, I played a couple playoffs with significant injuries, but a lot easier for defensive

defensemen, you know, where you don't have to go out and lead the attack and expect to score goals like Connor McDavid does or dry saddle or, you know, I mean, how banged up is Zach Heim? And, uh, but I know that, I know the desire for those guys, they don't want to see the season an end this quickly. And, you know, they still see themselves as, you know, capable of winning a Stanley Cup. So we're going to see a heck of a game tonight.

You're watching and listening to six-time Stanley Cup champion, Kevin Lowe, five with the Oilers, one with me. Thought I throw that in, Losey. I'm sorry, but, you know, people tend to forget around here. You know, when it comes to Evan Bouchard, like my um the growth in terms of his game on me is is rather significant in the last little while but i'm not sure he still gets recognized outside of edmonton we watched paul coffee the other day on uh on hockey night talk about just at the end of the day just have more positive things

happening than negative ones and you'll be fine and what do you see in terms of his growth and and what he's provided. Like he's a point of game guy in the playoffs. And while Connor and Leon are a point in a half, I mean, his is quite significant as well. Yeah. And he's not,

he's not writing on their coattails. You could argue at times that they're writing on his coattails. And, you know, it's Paul Coffey all over again. You know, cough matured into a better defender as the seasons moved on.

You know, he saw the importance for it for winning cups. And, you know, he took pride in it. But, I mean, at the end of the day, he was an offensive machine. And that's what Evan Bouchard is. And he's really lucky that he has, you know, cough there coaching him, you know, to obviously, you know, be able to crack down on him when he needs to, to reel it in and, you know, to focus a little bit more. but hey listen I mean this is the whole debate going out through the hockey world you know the

Norse trophy vote and stuff and you know unfortunately Evan had a poor eastern swing early in the season and that that solidified is not being selected for the Canadian Olympic team but I've seen this guy in the playoffs man and that those are the players I want the guys that step up and he has not let this team down in fact he's been a machine so he's going to have have to be again tonight and I expect he's going to have a heck of a game. All right, Lozzi, I just need a little insight here. This is me and you talking. Forget about everybody else here.

Like, what's the deal with Koff? He leaves. He comes back. He goes again. Like, what was going on there? Well, I don't think that Koff really wanted a coach, to be honest. He enjoys it. You know, he's got a bad back and standing behind the benches is not the easiest thing in the world.

But, you know, he made it. such a major impact in the previous seasons. And when the team was, you know, swirling, you want to do something. So it, the fact that he was still in the organization in a senior management role, you know, it's, it's like when you're asked, hey, just tell me what you need me to do and I'll do it. And I'm sure that call came from, from way up. And, you know, they've, they've been a lot different since he's come in there. It's working.

question about that. Kevin, you can feel free to tell me to go kick rocks if you don't want to talk about this, but I just was wondering if we could get your thoughts on the pronger situation. Did you guys get that worked out? No, no. No. Were you drunk when you signed him?

I want to know. All right. All right. What's in that? What was it? What was in that? It's catering. You guys, I'm at BC. It's only 2 o'clock. I don't know if people know.

No problem. Yeah, okay. No, I'm happy to answer it, Justin. Hey, listen, I have nothing against prongs. He came in and had a heck of a season for us. You know, he's a warrior. He's a great player. He deserves all the awards.

The only thing I was disappointed was with how he reflected Edmonton within the excerpts in his book. You know, and that's all it was. It was like, hey, listen, I mean, you know, we're not, we're not a punching bag. You know, we're a legit championship city with championship people and a great place to live. And, you know, I mean, I mean, no offense to Dryden, Ontario where Chris was born. But I mean, I don't, you know, you grew up in Dryden, Ontario. So it's just, you know, it's sometimes easy when people are, you know, spewing stuff out of their mouth. And they just

got to think a little bit more and that's what I was disappointed with so yeah I didn't want to I felt I yeah stand up for Evanton felt that we you know we dealt with a lot of this prior to the you know in the decades previous that you know why would anyone want to go to Edmonton and as I touched on I was so touched when Billy Garon and Dougie Waite were there for

Dougie's Oiler Hall of Fame evening and they they spoke glowingly about the impact it made on their lives growing up as young people And, you know, a couple American guys, you know, cut their teeth in Edmonton, the city of champions. Well, certainly this time of year, we've seen it already a couple of times with visits to the final. It is spectacular. Like how it's almost like a light switch where the city and the community just come together. And we're seeing it in Montreal, too, like the wave of fans outside the building.

Losey, like, do you recall it ever being like that during your five runs there like that? No, no. It's, I mean, it's a new level now. But, of course, the, you know, the areas being created for fans, you know, gives them the opportunity. The ICE district I'm talking about, L.A. Live in Los Angeles, you know, the way the building in Montreal is designed it. And the teams are catering to the people that, that, you know, can't get into the building. so want to create an atmosphere. It's, you know, it's very, you know, very Mardi Gras-like.

You know, we do have, we do, we can't have a deep, dark winter to admit, but then, I'll be honest. And, you know, as I said, a number of times of people, you know, it never, it always seemed to happen. We'd be in the playoffs, of course, you know, it's April now. And the weather gets nice, you know, the patios are open. people are, we'd be driving to the games and looking at all the people hanging out. And it was exciting for us to see people, you know, enjoying themselves. And I know it is for the players, the present day players, they love to see, you know, the kind of excitement. They know that, at the end of the day, they're winning for themselves and for their teammates and for the Oilers.

But there's, you know, there's lots of pride in having success and having everyone share in the excitement. It's been, you know, for that to happen, they're going to need some goal to. I think that's been a bit of a roller coaster this year. But Ingram seems like the guy, how do you feel not about his goal tending, but about the idea that his coach came out and said, that's our guy. You know,

like this is, he really kind of drove a stake in the ground with Ingram even before playoffs. Well, he earned it. I mean, he, you know, ever since he,

he came in, Edmonton, he's, there's a calmness about his game. I mean, he's, he's certainly a likable guy. You know,

when you listen to him, interviewed and and talked to him. It's, you know, soft-spoken, intelligent. And, yeah, he's earned it. I think he's played well in all the games. And, I mean, that's the goaltending they need. They just need someone to make the saves when the saves need to be made. And they don't necessarily need anyone to steal a game.

Although, you know, like he did in game five in the third period, when he shut the door, didn't allow Anaheim to get any momentum. I mean, he's going to have to do that tonight for sure. But hopefully the owners play, you know, they're on their toes and they're playing in Anaheim's and more. That's what we haven't seen as much. And that'll go a long way to make Connor Ingram, obviously settle into a game.

But he's earned everything. And, you know, we're cheering hard for him. That's, Losey, that's where the foot soldiers kind of come in, right? And, you know, but Colson's come a long way as a regular and a guy that is now very important to the Oilers. Is he ever? He's played this way since he came here. I mean, even when he wasn't producing offensively,

I just loved the way they played. And, you know, I knew that the team was missing a player like that. They could, he reminds me of Adam Graves, actually, when Adam was, you know, when Adam went on to score 50 goals in the NHL. I'm not sure, you know, I don't know if Pod's going to do that or not, but very effective player, banging bodies. And, I mean, I mean, he's one-punched a few guys as well.

So he's legit. I mean, when he steps into someone, you know, they're not taking him lightly anymore. And we've got some size, you know, some of those younger guys have played well that showed a little inexperienced, taking some questionable penalties. They're going to have to stay out of the penalty box, obviously, the way Anaheim's our players. But, you know, and they learned that over the series. Like, you know, Samanski's taking a couple. I mean, it would be shocked that he takes one tonight and the same thing with Doc. But I like their size and they can play a heavy game. And typically when they're on

the ice are playing in the other team's end. You know, Anaheim's done a good job of, you know, getting in and getting in our face and getting us running around our own end. And the orders need to do a little more of that. Looking forward to the game tonight, Losey, always appreciate you coming on our show. We love it. Thanks for doing this. My pleasure, guys. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it. Kevin Lowe. Okay.

Yeah, I mean. He's done everything too. He has. Have you been to Darden Ontario? No. It caught astray there. I stayed at the, I drove to across the country when I was younger, stayed at the Timberland Motel in Darden, Ontario on my way.

Yeah. Yeah. And thoughts, do you like to give us a review? Can't really remember a whole lot. I went to the beer store, went to the KFC, and that was it. So, and then I'd left the next morning at 6 a.m. But it was cold and it was May. Hometown is from.

Losey's got this, like, switch, too. Like, you wouldn't really think about it because he was never, like, a heavy guy. He never, he could catch you, too. Yeah. He could catch you, but he's, like, he was not this, like, this heavy, beasty guy, but he had a light, like a switch,

and he can go squirrely on you. Yeah. You know, it's funny looking back at his career when he was inducted to the Hall of Fame. I think we said this the other day, but like I never thought of him as like that. And then you watched the highlight packs of, and like all they were showing was him during the squirly moments. And I was like, oh, I wasn't aware of that element. So what are your sort of overall thoughts about this game tonight? Just like, what's, what are you looking for?

The one thing I know that our boy, Jason Bucola thinks that Anaheim is big, right? They've got a big size, big forward core that makes them a challenge. I just feel like tonight, tonight where experience comes into play. Edmonton goes on the road, gets the chance to kind of quiet a crowd. Anaheim has expectations, finish them off or at home, if not tonight. It's we're going to lose it. It's just a lot for Anaheim tonight. A couple of pucks enter the net in the first 10 minutes of the game.

That's it. That's it. Oilers give up for it. It's over. Like they've, they got to keep it. They got to keep Anaheim off the scoreboard or give up one, I think, in the first 35 minutes, 40 minutes. There is no number. Anaheim can score in the first period.

I know. That will make me think they're safe. Agree. Ain't nothing. I'll be like, Edmund is not done yet. They got to frustrate them offensively like they did the other night. Yeah. Certainly.

And, you know, it just. You can't win games, giving up four, four a night. No. Five a night. and they were good last game. Ingram was good. They've shown the ability to... Three or less, they'll be fine.

Three or less, they'll be fine. Sparee Kappan, leading the boys of the four goals, playoffs. I'm sick to admit this, and I don't know if my Lee fan brethren will be with me, but I do have some nerves going into this one. Because you want Edmonton to win. I really do. And when I did my bracket,

I chose the Sends out of pure John Freud, whatever that is, right? Is that the right word? No, definitely not, no. No? I feel like that's something. Is it something? I don't know.

It's taking pleasure in someone else's failure. Yeah, I was picking them out of that. But I really did believe that the Oilers would get past this and go all the way to the final. Yeah. I can't have Connor be going out in the first round. Like, he's got to get one of these soon. Yeah.

It's a big one tonight. I can't wait. I just do not want to deal with that whole, what are the Oilers do now, conversation tomorrow? I don't want that. I don't want that. I don't want it. No, no, no, no, no.

He doesn't want to do it April 30. No, sorry, May 1st. No. Already doing it in Ottawa. Yeah. Been doing it for like two months now in Toronto, three months in Toronto. Don't need it.

Vancouver, like, come on. This is the perfect year for Edmonton to go get their cup for me. Because it's like, I don't really, outside of the central teams, it's pretty unimpressive. and those teams are going to whittle themselves down to one. So that's your... The mammoth are given Vegas every little bit they could handle

and should have probably won the series in five games. But they blew two late leads and lost in double overtime twice. Vegas might just limp their way to the cup final too. Yeah. Who knows? I don't know. You want to talk about that game? Yeah, I do.

I do because he scored the go-ahead goal with, what, six minutes to go, seven minutes to go. And I don't know if you guys saw it. like the line change on the game time goal. No. I saw veggie. I think it was our flex foot. Flex.

What was it? Flexile. Alexerfeet. What did I call him? Flex foot. We also called them yarn foot or whatever it was. So they had a clean breakout. God, you killed me.

Yeah. They had a clean breakout with a minute to go. yard foot. And for whatever reason, flexial, turned the wrong way. And couldn't get his feet moving. And he just threw the puck up the middle of the ice. Yeah.

And then Anderson fires it right back in. Your boy. Yeah. It's just like. Also out there defending the lead in the final moments, it was Nate Schmidt. Nate Schmidt was out there with surrogate chap. And I was like, is that, what do they have?

for kind of lockdown shutdown d types i guess ian cole would be an option but like i don't know nates smith's good but he's a what six on panthers the one their decor is not seven on panthers i should say their decor is not really impressive and if you think about a team that's looking with all those prospects and all those picks if there's a team that like the arab fox team or like somebody they're a team that's looking for a big time go go get another d yeah you think that one's over no that one's going seven I don't know. They're going to Utah for game six. Probably goes seven.

I don't know. I just feels like such a big chance. Or Vegas just five nothing. Young team. That was such a great opportunity for them to go up three, two. I don't know. Carter Hertz hit and miss for me. Yeah.

Yeah. He's, I mean, I don't know. I don't know what to say. Just puck's enter the net. Like no goalie really has blown me away in these playoffs outside of Frederick Anderson. And I know Allmark was good too, but just puck's flying. in the net most of these. I got to say the number one guy that I watched play in the minors

during my years there that I cannot believe has had a great career as Michael Carconi who fine in the minors. He's fine. I was like, he's okay.

He's just been... It's not the biggest guy, ain't? He's just consistently, well, not that he's short. He's just lean and he's just, I don't know, he's been quite good for Utah, become quite an NHLer.

Like Coleman kind of did that. Anyway, anyways, game time. Game time. It's game time. It's got about a bet three, six, an official partner of the NHL must be 19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly.

Let's go to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Toronto Blue Jays head out on the road after a four and two homestand, which is nice. Going to heading back towards the 500 median. I think they're 14 and 16 now. So creeping their way back into it, starting to get healthy. George Springer back at the top of the lineup tonight. Is that better than Miles Straw or no?

I think probably, probably, yes. Don't you dare to disparage my boy Straw. I like. I love straw. I love straw. I get a straw jersey. Only guy in the team I get a jersey of. They are in...

Kind of look like a little bit. Okay. You know, white with a beard. They are in Minnesota to take on the twins. There's been this weird thing with Kevin Gosman and the twins over his career. They've had something on them. Really? Struggled against the twins.

There's been times that they've been like accused of them of tipping against the twins. They have something on them. So I don't necessarily love this matchup for the Js tonight and the, the, the twins are underdogs in this game, as you would imagine. Plus 1-15 on the money line. Don't mind a little happiness hedge on the twins tonight because they've always had a little something on Gosman. Yeah, it was a former, you know, manager,

so maybe they don't have as much as they used to. But, you know, it's within that organization. People talk, and he's always struggled against them. You'll think back to the wild card game where he gave up a bond. Anyways, you probably wouldn't know. You're a new fan. You want a fun fact, when they won the World Series in 93, my friend was swinging a baseball bat and let it go

and the first time it broke my nose like right. Really? Yeah, it was fun. Good time. Wow, that sounds great. And the other game I'll bring up, Oilers in Anaheim tonight, Oilers, as you would imagine,

their faves tonight. Minus 130 on the money line. Anaheim Ducks plus 110. Bet 365 thinks this baby is going back to Alberta for game seven. And that was game time presented by Bet365, an official partner of the NHL must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly.

at a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Born is brought to you by Bet365. All right. Okay, let's take a quick break and when we return a little Tampa Montreal talk. Yeah, we still got some clips from there, Gallagher and Marty St. Louis. One game away from eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning

as the Montreal Canadiens go in last night, take a commanding 3-2 series lead. That more when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Everything you need to know about the Blue Jays. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back in studio.

Nick Caprio's Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee. Time now for the Accura Performance Matchup, 2026 Accura MDX, precisely, Framium. And big one tonight again, these gains are just so good. Yeah, but I will say, though, I'm kind of sad tonight.

It's like two games. Which honestly, tonight's the first night of playoffs where it's like, oh, it's going to be like this. We're getting there. Like the first week of this, you're like, it's never going to end. And it's like, oh my God, there's two games. Anyways, looking at Dallas, Minnesota, game six, 7.30 p.m. Eastern on SportsNet 360. Stars franchise has forced a game seven after trailing three, two in a series nine prior times in their history. So they've done this a ton.

Miko Ranton has found the score sheet in each of a series. his last 11 games when facing potential elimination dating back to game seven of the 2019 second round. So this guy is an absolute horse in these games. So good. Yeah. So, I mean, that's, that's a big one. It just feels. No, I just think that's like if you're doing, like looking for a player to have a big night, it's kind of like is Rantinan going to drag them through. Robertson has given him, what, five goals or something already, but I don't know that you'll look to him as much as Rantan in tonight. Come down to Ottinger again. What do you think? him in the last one. Last

game. It doesn't really matter. He has to win the series or else it's just the same question all over again and can this guy, can this guy get the job done? Can he win? Can he? Can't even beat now someone other

than the Edmonton Oilers. How will Gulletson act after the post game? He'll be be careful. Be careful. He won't be saying anything mean about him. There'll be no challenging Jake. He's going in six points in five games.

He's been real good. Matt Dushan, eight points for the Dallas stars. Yeah, he's had a real resurrection of his career. I hope this goes seven. I really do. He's like doing prep for the game right now, so he's not listening. He never loved how he plays. I know he's talented.

Everyone. Flashy. Yeah. 95. Tinted visor. A little bit of a hot dog. Ultimately, though, ultimately though, super talented.

He's not a go-to guy. just falls right underneath. And he has to, if it's not ranting it, and Y. Johnson and Robertson not leading the way, like he's fourth or fifth guy. Right. He's not a star.

I don't think if you asked him that, he would agree with you. No. He also was on the 2014 Olympic team. No, but. He only makes four and a half. He's not making. Well, I know, he's towards the end of his career,

and he's bounced around a few times, and he's made his money, but not the, not a go-to guy as a one-two. But good support guy, eight points in five games, not bad. Yeah, really good. Anyways, that was the Accura performance matchup, the 26 Accura MDX, precisely premium.

Okay. Quick mention of the Vancouver Canucks. They're doing a GM search interviewing. I just saw the story on the website. Brett Peterson. Was he a Florida guy? I think it's imperative for teams like Toronto and Vancouver to really show that you're taking this seriously

and you're looking under every rock and you've covered yourself. The last thing you want to be accused of is just not taking the time that is needed for something so important. Yeah, you didn't put the thought into it or consider other possibilities. But you think they maybe have someone in mind.

I go with Ryan Johnson. Yeah. They come back to him. Talk to lots of people. Yeah. We love this guy. He's in the organization. He's got relationships.

I think people around there that have sticking around and will include Adam foot there. I don't know about Jimmy in terms of how long he ultimately stays, but there's comfort. There's comfort there. Familiarity. 55 points last year. Now the question is, where's Francesco on it? Is he like, okay, we got Ryan here and that's good,

but show me some other options. Let me see some other names. Let me hear resumes and experience. And ultimately he'll decide, right? It's like my family ordering off a menu at a fancy restaurant. Oh, yeah, it looks interesting. Burger. Give me the smash burger.

You guys got a chicken sandwich. Sandwich, my chance. How about a chicken sandwich or a bird? Here's a question, maybe the two inside baseball, but how often is that the case? Where, like, a general manager, or sorry, a president or an owner or whatever, where they're like, we know who we're hiring. But we better let our fans think that we're doing everything.

Because that a lot. It feels like you're going to tell me that happens all the time. They know out of the gate? Yeah. I think they have some idea. Okay. Which is not against the law. And I'm sure there's examples where they thought they were also going one way

and maybe somebody comes in at the last minute and wow somebody. I don't think that hasn't happened. I do think everyone looks at Toronto at times. And Toronto kind of took a lot of heat for being like, okay, we moved on from Dubis, the first guy everyone thought of a tree. It's tree. He's the obvious name is tree. It's like, they go good.

But there was a big experience. Yeah, there was also just a good. just a feel of sense of urgency too there that I just let's just get somebody else in someone with experience someone has been around the corner

Trees never like been a guy that didn't have a great reputation for work ethic and we hear how many times forget about like if he's slow to ever pull the trigger the guy's never not on the phone he works hard

there's just so many reasons why Brandon could go, yeah, let's just get him in here. He's safe. Great relationships with everybody around the league, like you've said multiple times. So, yeah. Yeah. Oh, go ahead. Nope.

Did you want to do some talk about the HAB? Yeah, I do because pretty impressive win, boys, last night for them to go back into Tampa after a disappointing overtime loss. Yeah, we did talk about that, like going into last night, you know, that we would learn a lot about Montreal. all. And I think we did. You know, this is, they are not, they don't go away easy. They're leaving themselves.

They're a true threat. And you saw like post, like a bunch of their interviews and all that, like the boys are, they're into it. This is a good group it looks like. This is a disgusting, disgusting admission for a Lee fan to make, but I have always liked Brennan Gallagher. Oh yeah. Yeah, he's a guy that

he's a guy that should. He always thought about Marchand, too, or it's like, I respect. He's just a gamer. And they put him back in that game on the, and you know, he hasn't played. I don't played. I don't know when the last time he played a game was that gets in there, lands on a stick in the slot, pokes at home. It's just awesome.

Exactly the type of goal he was always going to score. Did you want to hear from him? Sort of talking about being in and out of the lineup. Let's play Gallagher on playing on and off there, Derek. Clip one. I mean, it's the same now as it was my first year in the league. You just take nothing for granted.

And I know how good this group is, I know how deep they are. And so you know, opportunities are going to be limited. Doesn't mean they're not going to come. have you ready when they do. And, you know, like I said, this is a, it's a really talented group. It's a very deep group. And we have a lot of guys that, you know, can get the job done.

And when your number is called, you just want to make sure that you're accountable to your teammates and, you know, get the job done as well. That's just a pro. Little borderline French accent there, kind of those close? Like, is he picking something out that was like somebody backpacking through Australia coming back? It just seems to me, like overall Montreal is just faster. They're just quicker. They're more precise with their.

the puck fast. I wish I had a stat for that. They pass. I appreciate Ryan McDonough and, and, Charnaq. Charnack. But like, you guys don't move

like that other guy named Hudson. Oh, my gosh. You don't have one of those. No, not many people do, bud. Not many people do. And it's a game changer. Yeah.

And that's why the least need to get that fifth overall picks. Maybe they can get one. Someone who can move the puck from the back end. Yeah, we also have. have Martan St. Louis weighing in on Braden Gallagher who got back in the game. Let's listen to that. I was, I mean, I was happy for him, happy

for us, but happy for him that he's able to give us an early lead like that. You know, and it's, you know, you know, where Galli's going to go. He's going to go right where he score his goal. That's where he's going to go. And I think we I think it came time in the street where I felt like we probably need

a little more of that, you know, and I know Galley's going to give you that. So really happy the way he's he's handled everything and not surprised the way, how he did tonight. Yeah, it's a large seven minutes. Yeah. But it's just having him out

there and just having him on the bench, like, it just matters. He just knows he's smart, he's an experienced player, it's the perfect guy to pull out of your press box, basically. It's absolutely perfect. It's a really good fit. And just watching Kutrov. It just

when he's when he zags it zigs and it's he's not nothing gets through there's a lot of hopers and at times

he's so dangerous because he can still throw a puck at the net and we saw the hegel goal the other day but like you can tell like it's just he's not feeling it

it's just not rolling for him right now I will say though if you watch that last 80 seconds with the goalie pulled watch Tampa Bay move that puck around Yeah. Oh, I know.

Blinding. I know. I can't believe they didn't score. I was ready for the big eruption. Haggle the top one in. This guy was like three or four points going down the stretch too. Yeah. Her game.

Right? And it's he's fighting tooth and nail. I saw this from Ethan Budowski on Twitter that Kucharov has scored one goal in his last 19 playoff games and Andre Vasileski is 6 and 15 with an 8-8-1, say, percentage in the playoffs since the lightning lost the avalanche in the Stanley Cup line. The game winning goal. Like, oh my gosh, brutal. You're going to catch a puck.

Brutal. You're one of the best goalies in history this time of year. And you never saw that. Let's ask the best talker in the national hockey. Coach John Cooper about Vastelowski. You sort of alluded over the last couple of days that one mistake could be the difference in the series. Like, obviously that's one Andre's probably going to want to have back.

Like, what do you say to him in a situation like that, you know, when that one goes in? Listen, I don't play the position. I think that's one of the toughest positions in the sports. And the fact that we had ample time to get another one back, but it stems way before that. It doesn't stem by the time Texiate gets down the ice. It stems from the change and how we went about it and the mistakes we made on the way there.

And forever, like all Vassie does is bail us out of those when we has them. I think the rare time, sometimes he doesn't. But that, you know, we let, that he should have never got that deep into our zone. And, you know, he got a lot on it. So it wasn't like, you know, Vasi got beat. He had it.

It just took a Montreal bounce. And so it was a little unfortunate for us. But like I said, we had ample time and ample chances to tie it. And we didn't. Sure about that? So in other words, What he really said was the guy's giving me Stanley Cup rings

and I'm not crapping all over him. I'm going to sit up here and be like he didn't catch what next he's not. Next question, please. It's the same cast of characters. So, I don't know if this is an uncomfortable question to ask, but I'm going to ask it. They've been brutal in the playoffs for a long time here

and they've spent a lot of first-on picks to make this team and a lot of money and they've lost. Is there a chance here? I saw you just The Leafs just signed John Cooper. Not even the Leafs. I mean, listen, sure, the Leafs are looking for a coach. Actually, they're not because they're just going to bring Craig Broube back for 100 years because he's perfect.

But is there a chance that this is the end? No. No chance. What does that mean? Is it the end for him in Tampa? John Cooper? Yes. How can we not have this conversation?

They've been brutal for five years in the playoffs. He's like an old university coach at a college. He's been the coach for 40 years. He's an institution. You read Barron's maybe. But like they're still really good and they're still in their prime. They're going to. They're going to come back and compete for a Stanley Cup next year.

All right. I guess I'm not allowed to ask the question. But man, they just. You ask you, you're getting your answer. You may. They stink right now. They stink in the playoffs. Every year.

They get filled in. They didn't get eliminated yet, son. Well, if they do one, if they do, when is it, Friday night or when do they play next? Must be Friday. Saturday, whenever it is. I just. They're still good. And they're, there's not like.

Guess who else was good? The Leafs when they fired Sheldon Keefe. Like, teams are good. Teams have fired Stanley Cup champion coaches after five years of ineptitude. He's one of the highest paid guys. They owe money. It is, it is a funny thing, though. Like, you know.

Just he's untouchable? Well, I guess the thing. Raptors fired Nick Nurse right after. Who are you going to go get? They're like, ah, this is an upgrade from John Cooper. Meanwhile,

all, every team of the league's falling all over themselves to get Cooper. That's the best point. You'd have to have the Kutrov's points. You know, unfortunately he's lost headmints, but if he's planning on coming back, would have a voice.

And there'd have to be like six of them going, we need a change to ownership. Yeah. And it doesn't sound like he, it's heading there. You could trade for a head coach. The headman thing. The headman thing has hurt the ball club. I, yes, I said that one team lost Dobson, one team lost Headman.

But for Tampa, that's a bigger. And Headman's game is catching up to him a little bit, right? Father time too. Yeah. But he's still very effective. But like I said, they don't have a Hudson. No. Okay.

Okay, that was questioning John Cooper hour. Yeah. Sorry, guys. It's okay. We're to offend you. No, we're not offended. We know you want him behind the leaf bench. We know that.

Can I zag on that? If you want to. I don't know. Does he want to do that? Like, does that a good mix here? Listen, if he's got patience and he wants to wait a few years for a potential turnaround? I clearly would want it for sure. But I think some of the.

my wear thin quickly. I don't think Kip got the memo that they're turning it around next year. Did you not know that that's their plan? They can have any plan they want, but I don't think it'll come that quickly personally. How many more points to at least have this year if John Cooper is behind the bench? I don't want to play that game. We don't have to. If you do want to play that game, call it a leaf line tomorrow.

416, 413, 4141, 4141. And you can play that game there. So one thing we don't do a ton of on this show is bring up our old. takes and stuff, but one day removed from being hard on Dorofae, him to have a hat trick. We have to at least bring it up. I told you he could shoot it in the net like the best of them. But the game before, he benched him in the third period. He didn't put him out on the ice, basically.

We do have torts. Yeah, I mean, yeah, let's hear it. Did he refer to it? He back hip up. Listen to the clip. I haven't really talked to him that much, quite honestly. We just, he knows what to expect. and players make big plays of key times. He's done that far as the past couple of games,

and should have had four. Perfect timing. It's good timing. He was fighting it a little bit. He's found his game. Hopefully it'll continue. Have you ever heard of a last complimentary guy? He saw a goal with 30 seconds left in regulation

to take it to OT in the game of your team won. He was like, I don't know, he's been fighting it. He's fighting. Should have had more. You guys, like, speak towards. You see the story about Seattle Cracken letting Jessica Campbell, or not go, but she's exploring other opportunities.

I did. Like, no question. Like, they, the PR on being the first woman, it was a big deal. And, like, this is strange to me, because they went through firing last year, Bilesma, a few of the assistant coach, but they specifically kept her.

And I get it, right? I get it. They made a big commitment to this. And for obvious historic reasons, it was a really big deal. And I get that. For her to just, like, leave now. Seems really strange to me.

Well, but to your point, is it not a new coaching staff that was handed a hire that they didn't make? isn't that a bit of a conflict or a challenge? We've talked about how... You want to hire your own people and maybe Lambert's, right? Just... Yeah.

Yeah, I think man or woman, they stunk last year. They stunked out. There's... Yeah. I mean, like, a lot of... Strictly, there's no fit for her there. They have... They can't...

There's no place for her now. Like, how many teams across the league, regardless of man or woman, lose... Assistant coaches lose... their job all the time when teams just suck. But then she should have lost her job when others lost their job. And when she lost her job now. Are they blaming

her more than anything now? I don't know. It's just strange. The timing's strange to me. The Leafs did that this year where they were like, I don't know, fire an assistant. We got to do something. You know, she's running the power play. They're 20-something than power play. The 31st and PK, I don't know what her responsibilities were. They were awful. The one thing I did take on. Bobby McMahon to like

make the playoffs and then they finished six last. I do think anyone who claims to have a clue about the performance of an assistant coach of any team in the NHL is talking out of their whatever. I don't think we talk about any assistant coaches anywhere. I can tell you any staff I've seen their very different roles and responsibilities and like watch the Leafs. I watch the Leafs every day. I know every staff member. I can't claim to know the detail of the responsibility of the assistant coaches. You'll probably figure out savvy this year.

Yeah, fair enough. That one was pretty. But like when I worked with Sheldon Keith, he wrote, like took the teams in our division and said, you're responsible. I got Bridgeport in Hartford and someone else got whatever. We specialized in an opponent. You had to watch 14 games of that opponent and then give a briefing to the, you know, like, who would have known that outside?

Nobody. Nobody. So I just think anyone's saying they know how good or bad and assistant coaches is talking about. You know what? Two games tonight. Are there going to be game sevens in these two series? Or they're going to be ending? How do you see it happening?

You're going to Edmonton's going to win. Edmonton's winning. I think the Wild have a great chance to get her done tonight. Oh, I'd like to see that go seven games too. Oh, me too. I love to see that. Okay, so pick Dallas. No.

No? I picked Dallas to win it. Oh, you did? I did, yeah, the series. Did you guys go Dallas to win the series? I think I'm going to go one parade in my first round. If Edmonton wins this tonight. That sounds about right.

If Emmington Lewis wins. It's a tough year. It's a tough year in general. Our thanks to Steve Peters as we talked, Arizona, Phoenix. John Chike, if you got a chance to download that. Also, Keith Jones, president of the Philadelphia Flyers. And Kevin Lowe made it a terrific two hours. Awesome.

Great show, boys. Two games on tap, as our Sammy alluded to, everything gets started at 730 on Sportsnet. Enjoy your game. and we're back tomorrow on the Real Kipper and Bourne show.