Real Kyper & Bourne - On the Road Towards Milan 2026 with Pete DeBoer

Episode Date: December 1, 2025

Former NHL head coach and Team Canada assistant coach Pete DeBoer (4:57) joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to chat about the process leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympics, the rise of the young players across the NHL, how much of the 4 Nations Face-Off roster will stay the same or be different to the team headed to Milan, Sidney Crosby's leadership, how stressful it is for a head coach to construct a game day lineup including deciding who will be a healthy scratch, and the expectations for the ice rink and IIHF rules in February. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee take a look at the injured Tampa Bay Lightning riding a 7-game win streak, Adam Fox's injury in New York, and Mitch Marner's usage in Vegas vs. in Toronto.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.

The real Kipperman-Born show, we go national. The Kiprios, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee. We are live on SportsSat. SportsSat 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary, and streaming always on Sportsnet Plus. If you don't catch our show, don't worry. can download it right jb yep we're everywhere spotify apple podcast and youtube this hour of real kipper and bourne brought to by bet 365 in a few minutes we'll welcome in pete de boar 17th winning us head coach

in nchl history currently with hockey canada as they prep for what should be a very interesting announcement coming soon for the Team Canada Olympic. Yeah, we're about a month away. About a month away? Which some hockey to be played still, but I would imagine opinions are pretty crystallized. Not crystallized, but

getting there. Lots of debate, though, right? You want to be a debate? Well, you know, someone there seems to be a push and we saw a very good Jacob Chikrin in Washington Yeah.

He beat your Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday with a booming slap shot. He's got something like a five-game goal-scoring streak, which is, I think, maybe even a record in Washington. And when you think about it, they had like Kevin Hatcher, they had Silvan Cote, Alleyer-Fraidy. They had some big guys that could shoot a puck. Yeah, I think you're underselling what that stat was. I think it might have been like a 10-game point streak or something.

Yeah, but it's a five-game goal streak, I think. Okay. I don't know. For a defenseman, he's doing good. He's doing really, really well. Jacob Chikrin scores in five street games, second longest street by a capital's defenseman. In franchise, you're right.

You're right. Can you say that again? So where is, you've done this list for Sportsnet.com. I have. Which please go and see J.B's list when you can get a chance. Where was Jacob Chikran in your conversation? I had him in my list of four names that could take a spot. And I said, I think this guy is closer to the team than people think.

You know, what about his game do you not like? He's a big guy who gets points, shoots, hits. He can kind of do it all when he's on. And if you're looking for an offensive-minded guy with less downside than Evan Bouchard or even Matthew Schaefer, for that matter, I think Chickren's a very viable candidate. Who would mind having him at the top on a second power play, hammering away on the puck? he said really good i mean it made me think about why ottawa got rid of him but he wanted to leave there um i think it was just a money thing i just don't think ottawa was ready to step in

and and pay him north of nine million dollars when they had uh sanderson uh shabot and shabot guys making money on the left side and there was a lot there was a lot of talk about a lot of teams interested but I think at that point he was still kind of teetering on is he that good or is he not that good like which one are you going to get and of course now teams that have to contemplate giving a guy that type of money almost have to be guaranteed that they're still going to get the same player after he signs chikrin actually has gotten so much better since he's left to ottawa At least it appears that his game has gone to a complete another level. Yeah.

You think he's a real candidate there? Well, left-handed shots on a blue line to pound it for Team Canada is who for you? Harley. I don't know who's sure. Right. So. Theodore. Who am I missing?

Well, is McCar? Macar's a right-handed shot. I see this thing. So Tate. then yeah yeah like to me he's if if mccar can't be on that blue line I'm thinking chikrin with his shot yes you got macar taves Morrissey Theodore doughty Sanheim Pareko Harley is it is it Morrissey I don't know but Harley has not been great this year he's hurt he's been hurt he's been hurt yeah yeah you know if you think he's fine and

everyone else is healthy I can't see chickering getting on ahead of any of the eight names I just gave you um Schaefer Montour, Bouchard, check in there. There's other guys. Someone with some of that insight might be joining us right now.

Let's welcome in Peter DeBore, one of the most winningest coaches in NHL history with 662 and possibly adding to that depending on how some teams feel. Pete, how are you? Thanks for joining us. Great.

Kipper, how are you guys doing? We're good, we're good. So how's the gig with Hockey Canada here? You're along with John. Cooper, Rick Tockeet, Bruce Cassidy. You guys are like superheroes or something. Do you guys all like wear rings?

I can tell you what I don't miss. I don't miss the U.S. Thanksgiving coaches' heads getting chopped off speculation that goes on this time of year. So, you know, and I'm kind of enjoying the hockey candidate gig. It's actually been a great learning experience for me. We got together in Tampa with Coop and Rick Tock at last weekend. They were playing each other there for a couple days and had a little bit of fishing on the side to kind of clear our minds before we got down to some business. And then Doug Armstrong and the management team has been really good with me about allowing me to sit in all the management team. so we've got those next weekend in Florida and we'll have a little more idea where

everyone's at at them but but really I'm a fly in the wall it's just been a bit of fascinating process to be a part of okay so like we you know we don't want anybody fired we want everybody to keep their jobs forever but but as the involvement with hockey Canada got the juices flown again for you if a team was to come calling Pete would you be ready to jump in I drive around with my skates in the back seat of my car. Okay, we know the answer then. That's what coaches do. You're ready to go.

That's great. We appreciate you joining us today. I was looking forward to having you on to kind of pick your brain about watching the NHL this year. I know it can be a unique thing for a guy who's so typically behind the bench. How do you find what's the experience like for you just turning the TV on and watching different games around the league? Yeah, great question. It's totally a world I haven't been familiar with.

It's the first time someone pointed out in, I believe, 26 years, you know, that I haven't been at a training camp this year and started with a team. You know, I haven't always ended with a team. I think I got fired Christmas with New Jersey, one year and I think it was December, January with San Jose one year, but I've always started somewhere. So, you know, to not have to go to training camp and go through September, October

was a really different experience for me. It took a little bit of getting used to. I can tell you, I have really enjoyed watching other teams. It's a different perspective because I'm watching not only from a coach's point of view, trying to stay up on latest trends and things like that and who's playing well and what they're doing, but also with one eye on evaluation for the Olympic

team, you know, and when you're sitting in one of those head coaches seats, you're not evaluating other teams players. You're just dialing in on systems and team play and what you think you can expose and what you have to be careful or watch out for. So

it's been an interesting, process for me, and I think I'm a better coach for it. B, we've seen a great push by some of these young kids. Of course, it's led by Celebrini out in San Jose and Badard's coming on, and we can all look at the score sheets and see

great success from these guys and places where we once envisioned them, but doesn't necessarily mean that, you know, it's a gimmee that, you know, they're going to end up on a team here. So what is it you kind of look for? or in terms of that chemistry beyond just a score sheet?

Yeah, that's a great question, and that's the puzzle that the management group has to put together, you know, in conjunction with some coaches' opinions, on what's the best team we can put together? Because, as you know, I mean, Kipper, you won a Stanley Cup. You know, you don't have four lines of scoring forwards on a Stanley Cup. Cup team. You know, you've got to have different roles. You've got to have, you know, who can go out and win a face off at a critical time, who can kill a penalty, you know, who's willing to block a shot.

I mean, you know, who brings a physical presence and that type of element because what we saw at the Four Nations is it really is NHL playoff hockey. There's no room out there. It's tight checking. You know, there's premium. There's a premium on getting to interior ice at both net fronts. So all those things have to go into the bag. You know, having said that some of these young kids have been spectacular and are really making these decisions, are going to make these decisions really tough.

You know, the dart at four points the other night. Celebrini's been a lead all year. Wyatt Johnson had a hat trick last night in Dallas. So Schaefer, you know, every time he plays, I get a coach from another team, you know, calling me, telling me how electric he was. was so you know those kids are all all really pushing hard and that's the beauty of the depth of hockey Canada and the tough decisions we have to make yeah and if it's an hl playoff hockey

i got to believe uh handsome old tom wilson probably a great appeal to hockey Canada too he you know a lot of these names we mentioned haven't you know weren't on the four nations team how much will the four nations roster and success there uh influence the decision that are made for the Olympics? Well, I think you definitely have to consider it. You know, that team, you know, did something special over that tournament, especially when you consider how it started and that we lost to the U.S.

and how they rebounded and the chemistry they developed and some of the great hockey we played in that final against the U.S. team. So, you know, there's a lot of things you have to take from that. but you also know know that it's you know six or it's a full year later now from when the four nation started so it's a year later a lot of things change in a year you know got guys games fall off other guys step up some guys were healthy uh that maybe weren't uh when we're considering that team and and you know well we're smart enough to go hey we won them with that group We're also smart enough to know that, you know,

we're going to have to bring a better group to the Olympics in order to try and win again. And lo and behold, even though some players are getting along on the tooth, I mean, it's got to be a good feeling to have a guy like Sidney Crosby still leading this group. So impressive what he's doing, you know, at the age he's at. And, you know, I can't tell you how great he was at the Four Nations. And his leadership, you know, if that four nations team doesn't have that leadership group in that room, and when I talk about that group, you know, it's Sid and Drew Dowdy or Marchant and, you know, McKinnon and some of the veteran guys there, Biddington, that have been there before and won, you know, if that's a young group, you know, they're probably rattled after that game against the U.S. in Montreal.

with us not winning and you know how do you write the ship quickly and understand that you know we're just starting the tournament and the gold medal game's not till next week in boston and those guys did an exceptional job of uh of just calming the waters and focusing on the important part and that was the getting to the gold medal game and then delivering pita i'm curious you know because you're watching a lot of hockey right now and you said that when you're coaching you you're typically watching for system stuff and and patterns to look out for. And now you're watching personalities more. What would you say is more important in today's NHL? Like I'm watching Tampa Bay's defense who are not household names. They're so injured, but they keep winning because John Cooper has them playing a good system. So is it more important to have a team that plays the way you want them to play everyone in their structure? Or is it more important to have talent, to have the kind of game breakers that I think we think you can't really win without in this league?

Well, I don't think you can win without both those things. not not the not the big prize at the end of the day not not the not the not the Stanley Cup and not the Olympic gold medal you need both those things I mean you know coaching and structure and and adjustments can can can can make a difference particularly in in playoffs but they can overcome you know a severe lack of talent compared to the opponent so I I think you need both. And if that talent playing field is even,

then all those other little intangibles that we're talking about on the coaching front come into play. You're listening to Pete DeBore, 17th winning against head coach in the NHL with 662. So Pete, there was a pretty good discussion Saturday night on hockey night in Canada when it comes to who's in your lineup and who's not, who's a healthy scratch.

And I think Jennifer mentioned Botterol that, you know, it's important that, you know, at times you got to stay with a guy and help motivate him a little bit. And then there's, you know, more of an old school guy like Kevin BXA saying, hey, it's a business and sorry, next man up. I know from my personal experience, Pete, it's very stressful at times, not knowing whether you're going to play or not, right? But what about as a head coach? How hard is it on a head coach or stressful when you're filling out a lineup sheet? Really tough. And you know, I mean, you know the mental anguish that a player in one of those depth positions that shows up at the rink every morning and isn't sure if he's going to play that night goes through.

And I think we all have empathy for that as coaches. You know, a lot of coaches at whatever level we played for eventually became that guy. So we'd be crazy not to understand what he's going through. So you try and manage that the best you can. At the same time, it is a results business. And, you know, I always kind of use the measuring stuff. of you have to do what's best for the group to help you win tonight. What's going to help you win this game tonight?

And if that means scratching, you know, a really good player or a popular player or one of your depth guys that you love what he brings to the lineup, but, you know, isn't going to help you move that needle more than another guy tonight, then you have to make that decision. Same with starting goaltender. Who's going to help you win that game tonight? Because it is a tonight business in the NHL. We're not in the American League where we're developing players,

unless you're past the trade deadline and have unloaded and are giving guys experience for the teams that are heading down the stretch into the playoffs, it's a tonight business. And I think if you stick to that rule, you've been in those dressing rooms. I think the guys both getting scratched and the guys that are playing that night, respect the decision.

Is it still, Pete, the best card that you can play with a player and the only one that really matters is taking away their ice time? Is there anything else that can compare it? No, nothing else can compare it. And you know what? But there's different versions of that too.

You know, sometimes missing a shift can send as big a message to a player as sitting him out in the stands for a night. Sometimes taking him off the power of play, but continuing to play them five on five can send as big a message as sitting him out for a night. So, I mean, there's all kinds of variations of that, but at the end of the day,

that is what speaks most to the player is his ice time and your control of that is critical in how you're managing them. You know, I'm curious to get your thoughts on sort of the good teams from last year who are struggling this year. And I'm sure there's individual reasons why, but like, you know, Florida wins the Cup. Their third last in the Atlantic, Toronto wins the Atlantic, their second last in the conference right now.

Even the Winnipeg President's Trophy. They're well out of playoffs. You know, is it like an emotional come down from some of the deep playoff success that maybe it's tough to get back up and into the next season? You know what? It's a great question. I think I've lived a little bit of both.

You know, I've gone to, and coached in the conference finals, I think six of the last seven years with different teams. And, you know, I think some of those, we had a little bit of a hangover. I think it depends how you lose.

You know, sometimes how you lose the age of your team. Obviously, health is a huge part of it, you know, particularly I think in Florida and obviously in Toronto, you guys are seeing that, you know, that's always a big part. But I don't think there's a cookie cutter answer for that. I think it's situational. And, you know, I've seen a lot of different reasons for it.

The one thing is it's tough. It's tough to make up ground with the three-point game, you know, if you get too far behind this time of year. And I think there's a desperation level that everyone in those dressing rooms understands. Just one more for me, and I just want to circle back to the Olympics again because it is coming up and there's so much attention on it. But as a coaching staff, is there much thought or at least collectively talked about that we're going to the double

double iHF and their rules and headshots and it's much different than the NHL and four nations you guys discuss that at all or do you have to just hope and pray that uh you know the guys adapt yeah no it's a great question kipper and actually uh the the ice surface it looks like it's going to be smaller than NHL rink standards by probably four it looks like three or four feet I don't understand how that happened someone so you just heard that because we have not heard any of this that's wild oh maybe maybe I should have said that but I don't we like it

when we get good news here or at least interesting anyway it's not I don't I don't believe it's a huge difference but but I believe there is a difference and it's on the smaller not the bigger side um and And as far as the referees go, from my understanding, it's going to be half NHL referees, half IHF referees. And if you've got so many NHL players in the game, it has to be NHL reps. So I think what the bottom line of that is, is if Canada is playing Sweden or Canada is playing U.S. or, you know, one of those countries where both teams are loaded with NHL players, it's going to be NHL referee.

So you can take Wilson and Bennett, that's what you're saying. How much do you, how much do you, I guess, chime in on who you think you should take, given that maybe that's not your exact role with the team there? Yeah. Honestly, honestly, I'm a fly on the wall. I've watched a ton of hockey and Army and his group to their credit, you know, has included me. You know, I went to the first meeting and thought I would just quietly sit in the background and listen and they dragged me in into it for my opinion, which was really, I was really appreciative of. But at the end of the day, those guys are the guys that see all the games.

They write all the reports. And, you know, what I'd love for people to see is the pride and the manpower that Canada puts in, you know, behind the scenes. I mean, these guys, when, I haven't sat in a meeting like this, but when they're, when they're planning out their schedule, all these GMs of teams, you know, Jim Nill, Kyle Dubas, Julian Breezebaw, Doug Armstrong, they've all got their own team games to play. And then they're going through their schedule. and almost every night their team isn't playing, they're going somewhere to watch a hockey can or a potential hockey Canada player play somewhere else. It's incredible the commitment that these guys have put in.

So I guess my plug is to the people of Canada is that there's been a ton of work and thought put into this. And, you know, that none of these decisions are easy. and, you know, I would hope that they would appreciate that. Pete, this was awesome, man. Can't thank you enough for making time for us. We know you've got a busy schedule. And by chance, if the NHL doesn't come calling,

we could open up something for you every Friday at 5 p.m. Doug McClain's getting a little, you know, stale. He's a little long in the tooth, isn't he? best of luck with everything pete thanks guys yeah thanks for your time we appreciate it hopefully do that again real soon that was good what do you got what do you got sorry what do you got to clear my throat all right yeah i don't want to disclose the amount of money

i would spend to sit in that room and listen to those guys talk i you know what This is a silly comparison to make But just getting to coach kids hockey For the first time in my life Like a nine-year-olds My favorite thing is like making lines and deep hairs And I love it Like I did when I was with the Marleys

Just getting to sit there and listen to Shanahan Babcock I love that stuff Yeah I'm with you I think I would bankrupt my family To be a part of those cards Yeah be like hey Here's an uncomfortable amount Will you do I'm like yes

Just to sit there and like I mean even for DeBore Who's like you know 17th winning his coach He said the last seven years in the conference finals insane but like even for him that are like he's like they ask my opinion like it's like it's such a huge deal 17th winning his coach in nchl history is calling himself a fly on the wall i know if you don't have a voice but that's you know i did think as he's talking i'm like thomas harley's going because if they ask him what do you think

of harley's game he's like there's not that many guys that big uh that can move and skate like that so it really it really doesn't matter you got to really fall off the face of the earth not to get picked pete um your thoughts on on harley is he good enough yes you know like yes yes yes my god i've seen him be exceptional so many times six or seven years in the conference final that's high pressure hockey he did talk about how how many teams would without saying that like we want to win the stanley cup how many would just take that oh my god well let's just give us a chance, you know, run our team in a way that gets us in the fight. And he's been deep in those series.

And, you know, he said that systems play and that sort of stuff does matter more in playoffs, right? Where you're making game-by-game adjustments. And he's a pro at that. Regular season to playoffs is a different brand of hockey. Your whole system, your power play units from one game done next. Guys get, like, locked in assignments. Yeah. Don't care for you to ever score.

You see that guy. That's your guy. doesn't score tonight you're all over him and that's your job yeah you can't play the way that you do in playoffs for 82 games you physically cannot ask guys to do what you ask them to do in the postseason yeah so it it is different and that's it can't be the same which is a bizarre thing to say i'm sure people are like why don't just do that all the time you can't no you can't guys will over under on when he pete the poor games comes back to the n hl behind an NHL bench.

Before Christmas? I don't think so. The only reason I think not before Christmas is because I looked at coach firings by year in November, December, way fewer than you think. It's two per year roughly.

So yes, it does happen every year. Yeah. But it's not that many. I mean, we're the candidates. We're just too close to Christmas. There's too many teams too close. Not Vancouver, too new. And, yeah, Vancouver's not going to do it.

There's two that you could say, both Canadian teams. Nashville's not going to do it. You don't need to go and get Pete DeBore for Nashville. It's two teams. Toronto are terrible. Edmonton. Toronto or Emmetton. Few teams.

Very few teams. One of those teams would have to falter now between now and the 23rd. And then it's a gutsy call. Maybe before Christmas was, I wasn't saying it. It's a gutsy call between Christmas. and New Year's. But you just... But you got to...

The Leifster Edmonton got to really sink here. When their bad teams are trying to be bad, you can't fire the coach, right? Like, Calgary's got that going on right now. They're not legitimate contenders. Vancouver hired foot 10 seconds ago.

Montgomery's done a good job in St. Louis. I think most people agree. Yeah. Pretty new there. Yeah, tough year this year, but they were great last year, yeah. Not San Jose, not Utah. Buffalo, sure.

Yeah, but he... No, no, no, Buffalo, sure. Toronto, it depends. Florida, no, Columbus, no, New York, no, Rangers, or sorry, Detroit, no. Maybe not, maybe I didn't mean but before Christmas, but like before the end of the year, I think maybe, I don't know, we'll see.

I think it's a contending team that goes and get Peter DeBoar. It's not Buffalo. Oh, really? It's not Nashville. Well, I shouldn't say that because Nashville, I don't know, do they think that they really need a two-year window to regroup? or do they think that they can turn around and win next year? There's no contenders for what you're talking about, basically.

L.A.? No, that's not happening. No. Vegas? No, no. He's already been there, DeBoard. Yeah. Anyway, game time?

Game time. All right, it's game time. Presented by Bet365, visit the app for the latest odds, and find out why it's ever ordinary at Bet365, most 19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Five games on the ice tonight. Pittsburgh in Philly, Columbus, New Jersey, Winnipeg, Buffalo,

Anaheim, St. Louis, Utah and San Jose. Utah and San Jose and Utah and Vegas are the only two games that ever happen out West. So those four teams play each other all the time. Let's look at the lone Canadian team in action. Winnipeg in Buffalo. Winnipeg, without Halibuck, it's been a bit of a struggle. Yeah.

bit of a struggle they're going into Buffalo tonight they are minus 105 on the money line Buffalo Sabers minus 115 I believe Josh Norris returning to the lineup tonight Really? I love that for them

They were talking about him skating on the top line and skating with Tage Thompson so him getting back into the lineup got my fingers crossed for this guy that whatever he's going through or gone through is just over like do you guys think if you, like I talked about Tampa Bay's

decor and all the winning they're doing despite it. Like, look at Buffaloes, Samuelson Dahlene, Byram, Timmons, Owen Power, Jacob Bryson. That's a good decor. A good one. If that was, if they were in Tampa Bay jerseys, you'd be like, good team. This team could be okay. Norris, Benson, Thompson, Zucker, McLeod. Like, they got players, guys.

And just to confirm, Judge Morris is back in the line up tonight. It's confirmed. So that's a, That's a good one for him. Give me a Tage Thompson goal tonight in that game, plus 140. See his fight on the weekend? Chalkin.

Got in a big scrap, so that was nice to see. Columbus in New Jersey, plus 125 on the money line. Devils, big favorites. They're rolling still without Jack Hughes, minus 150. And later on,

our sharkies, Macklin Celebrini, plus 140 on the money line. Mammoth, 165, minus 165 favorites. Give me a Macklin Celebrine. any goal at plus 150.

It was game time presented by Bet365. Visit the app for the latest odds and see why it's ever ordinary at Bet365 must be 19 plus and Terry only, please play responsibly. Okay, let's take a quick break. When we return, maybe a little bit deeper into the Tampa Bay Lightning, if they got what it takes to put away

this Atlantic division here. Feels like it. More injury front. Around the league. You see Kooley go down? I saw another person suffer a weird one. The Rangers lose their top defensemen as well. We'll get into that.

All when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Everything you need to know about the Raptors and the biggest stories around the NBA. Smith and Jones. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kippur and Bourne brought to you by Bet365, Nick Kiprios, Justin Boren. Sammy McKee, just a little follow up on our Pete DeBore conversation.

If you did not catch it live, please give it a download, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube. Have a listen, especially what we found extremely interesting, Sammy. Yeah, he maybe broke some news to us potentially. the rink is actually might be smaller than what we're accustomed to here in the national hockey league only diehard hockey obsessives like ourselves would find that fascinating but if he is right and it's three or four feet smaller it'll feel smaller that's a big difference the boards come up quick brad mershan went yes yes i'm so much more relevant no way to hide boys nowhere to hide tom wilson too He's going to, you know, be the plowocks to just create a row behind him.

Poor German guy going back on a pod. He's like, oh my God. Sandus Ozilinch is still playing for Latvia going back. He's like, he'll have the hero refs in that game. Yeah, and if it's NHL refs. NHL refs. So we don't know if the rink will actually be ready on time, but now there's certain players. You're saving time by shortening it.

There's certain. No, there's certain players that hope that all the boards don't go up. Yeah. No kidding. Can we just play, like, football and just have sidelines, blow the whistle? That doesn't sound fun to play Tom Wilson and Sam Bennett, a small rink. I hope Sam Bennett. I hope Tom Wilson makes it.

I loved him on Friday against the Leafs. Hey, give me. He's a lock. He's come so far as a hockey player. He's a lock. Give me your, so you guys are a couple Ontario boys. If they make the same mistake they did at four nations and keep them off. Okay.

That was a mistake. Yeah, they won't. They won't make a same mistake twice. Ontario hockey rinks So there's a couple of rings growing up In BC that I played in That you know small rinks Smaller than usual weird dimensions

I think playing in Chilowack I don't know for my fans They're friends out there They had the boards And then at the top of the boards They had more boards Like an additional amount So it was like the concussion boards

There's got to be some around here Some old rinks with some wonky dimensions They're all gone Well there's I forget where it was that I played Oh when I played in a tournament the weird one was i played to the m&R tournament with my dad in pembrook where

Sheldon keef was the head coach forever with the lumber kings I think it's lumber kings is that right that's right and the benches were on the opposite sides of the ice yeah which is what's wrong with that it's a completely different sport like because you're looking across the ice at them and you're seeing where they're changing there's no real advantage either way in the period like it's doesn't that make more sense way more sense but it's it's very different there's lots of quirks

I mean, you've probably played at ones with, like, chicken wire instead of, instead of glass. I mean, the Allenford arena, and we had like a, just a tractor forever as a Zamboni. Like, there's lots of little quirks. That's what makes things great. Just before we went to break, I mentioned Tampa Bay Lightning,

and all of a sudden, like. Seven in a row. Seven in a row. And we mentioned, like, they're doing this without Headman, Ryan McDonough, and Chernock on the blue line. Yeah, they're decork. Like, name me some guys

So people can recognize them So there's 60 right now Are Moser Radish Dastuse Lilleberg Carlisle Santini Yep Which is name some guys for sure Credit to the coaching staff

The Syracuse Crunch Getting their boys ready to go For the NHL level Come on up and they're looking pretty good So seven straight wins for them And they are separating themselves The way Colorado is a little bit In the way or in the east

But they're also doing it with Brayden Point having an off year. Yeah. Like he's got, what does he have, three goals? Is it out? I think he's out now. Is he, he's not healthy. But that is someone who I believe was named to the team Canada as well, right?

Already named. He's 11 points and 21 games, three goals. Three goals in 21 games and minus 11. And his last, the three years before that were 42, 46, 51. Wow. Yeah. That is really strange. Well, he might be watching some hockey games for Canada

if he's not got his game put together. They love him. He played big minutes for them at the Four Nations. He was a go-to guy. He is one of my favorites in the league. For sure. If Sorelli was on the bubble, this run by Tampa Bay kind of solidifies him too, does it not? 17 points in 21 games, shut down center.

plus 16 he's Mr. everything, Mr. In the game, Mr. his coach has his coach is the coach. Coach is Binky. Yeah. He's his little security blanket. Yeah. So I'm really happy that

you know, John Coo, I've had a You're happy for Coupe? I've had a tortured relationship with John Cooper, I would say, over the years. You respect him and you fear him. Just sheer jealousy. Right. I like him more than I like Maurice. I'll say that.

Oh my God. But, but. Speaking of jealousy. Yeah, I know, but you're, you're talking. about coaches that personally pull on your heartstrings. They harm you. I just think that John Cooper should be the coach of the year.

Yeah. He's never won it. He's never won. They're going to be good. Jack Adams. They're going to be good enough this year where they're going to be in a playoff spot and he's doing this with this decor

where Darren Radish and Mosier is it? That's their top pair. How does Radish now become like? I actually love Radish. He's a really good player. He can shoot the puck. Undrafted. Uri Otters showed out.

One of my, you know, one of the concerns was when looking at making team Canada was Brandon Hegel playing himself onto the bubble a little bit early in the year. Here's his last six games. Two and two for four, two and one for three,

one and one for two, one and one and one of, two, two and oh. So he has checking eight goals in five games now. He's playing. He's so good dog. He's so good. Plus three, plus three, plus two, plus one plus three. One of the, I mean, not to do Leafs in the National Hour, but one of the more fascinating what ifs in,

leaf's history that he was almost a leaf right nyes and two first round picks plus him it was him and flurry nyes two first round picks that was like the reported deal yeah yeah it's not a game changer though what it honestly if you take nize out and you put him in how much better are the leaves i don't know i think for that at that time i mean nize has got the points so but at that time it was a lot about salary retention too and yeah yeah yeah it's yeah it's To your point, if it would have happened then, I'm talking about what the Leafs would look like today. Today they're not better.

They could have beaten Florida with Hegel. Can I ask you a question? Chicago couldn't use Hegel? Yeah, that one bugs me. Because there's a lot of people like, he doesn't fit with our timeline. It's like, how about just keep great, great players? Yeah, like you're not going to suck for 10 years.

How old is he? 28? Yeah, it's still pretty good. 27. Yeah, like that was so dumb. That's so dumb. But I guess they got two first, and maybe they thought they were...

Anyways, I thought that was stupid. So the Rangers lost Adam Fox on the weekend. Ouchy. Who hit him? I think it was... He took a hit on the corner. Was it Rangers in Tampa by chance?

Not sure. Okay, look at the results. Why am I thinking of Hegel as we speak? Oh, you thought it might have been him? Anyways, the Rangers of everybody believes... They played the Rangers, yeah. Yeah, it was Hagell. And it was one of those Tom Wilson hits where, like, it's just, I'm going to crunch you like an accordion.

Yeah. Everybody believes that it's four to six weeks, but the Rangers have gone with week to week. Oh, helpful. Oh, no. Why are they doing that? Yes. The old dreaded week to week. Oh, LTIR.

I'll never understand what they're doing. People say, very slim chance. We'll see him before Christmas. But by all accounts, he is still good for Olympics, from what I've seen, that he's supposed to be okay. Yeah. Yeah, I don't think, when are we talking to February? Yeah, plenty of time.

Interesting news around the league. Carter Hart, set to play some hockey. Cal Foot has been signed to play in the American Hockey League. Where? Chicago. Chicago Wolf. All right. Yep.

So clearly I think that market's not overly worried. It's a big city. Yeah. Even though it's minor league hockey, it's not NHL. They clearly... They're not signing him with the intention of him playing for the wolves, I don't think, though. Right? Like, he's probably going to start there.

And then if he's good there, I would imagine that he'd probably go to the NHL. Well, wouldn't it make sense if he's in Chicago there already, that Chicago would take him? Who, I'm just looking at who's Chicago's. That's Chicago Wolves. No, Carolina. Oh, I thought Chicago was... Chicago Wolves are affiliated with Carolina? I thought there was Chicago with Chicago.

You would think. Maybe I'm wrong. If it's independent, though, like, it's... I don't know how it works. If you sign him to an AHL deal, is it under the impression that Carolina would have access to him, or would he still be free to sign? An A.HL-only contract, he could go play anywhere.

So wouldn't it make sense if the city of... Chicago kind of embraces them a little bit, then he just stays there to go to the NHL. I guess that is one of the potential outcomes. That would be interesting. Yeah, it's Rockford is Chicago's age out. So it's like, I thought forever that they were, that doesn't make any sense.

Nope, sure doesn't. But I think the more newsworthy one is the fact that Carter Hart now, who's been playing for the, you know, whatever the, was it, the Silver Knights? Yep. Is now, is set to play apparently, according to multiple reports, Tuesday night. Ever first is passed, so these guys are eligible to play.

I saw a couple goals go in on Vegas short side that might be screaming for a little bit of attention. Yeah, it'd be curious to see how he's able to, certainly something we're going to keep an eye on. Yeah, I just, I don't know what the response is going to be to that, but we'll see. Vegas is, you know, sneaky, not great so far this year. Yeah, what's going on there. If you got answers? They had the same amount of wins as the Leafs, so. You know what, too?

I think, like, people expected Mitch Martyr to go in there and set the house on fire. That's not happening right now. I had an unbelievable goal the other night to wrap around. You know, I got to think, too, the way he was used in Toronto and the way he's being used in Vegas is probably night and day to him. Like in terms of what? Well, I just think that. What's his ice time? Well, I don't know.

I don't even know if it's the. ice time per se than it's just at times when he's used to being on the ice on every important defensive zone or last minute it just seems like Cassidy is way more comfortable going through four lines than at times we saw the Leafs shorten the bench with with the use of Mitch martner i think it's just a it's an adjustment for him yeah i you know i really was curious to see how it would work you know with a different team with a different coach in a different you know environment and he's on pace to score 80 points but i think people wanted i think a hundred well and i think yeah he had 102 last year and i think the goal pace too he's on pace for 16 goals he'll end up with

90 somehow for sure minimal 90 yeah and if yeah i mean tough to complain about what you're getting but I know Vegas fans are starting to be more vocal. There's a bit of a turn. Stone is back too, which we know he's a top offensive type of guy. So that adds to Cassidy's stable. Stable. What are the odds of Mark Stone being available in February for the Olympics? I don't know how they keep him off.

He's so good. So good. I would keep him off. Just don't. There's-injury reasons. Awesome players who are super fast having great seasons ahead of him. I mean, he was good. Yeah, it might be a case where he has to play well here.

And I thought, you know, he did have some moments of the Four Nations, but there were times where I was like, oh, boy, he's looking a little behind the pace here for me. But St. Louis, hit hard too. Yeah. So they had the bizarre one where Torbchenko need Cooley. Yes. And then a week later, he had a bizarre house. hold incident burns on his

legs, which seems like something the mafia did in his redemption for what he did to Cooley or something. Weird. But crazy how, I don't know exactly the details, but he's, he's weak to week with burns. Burns. That's Jack Hughes. That's

Torpchenko. I have no idea. The Florida guy. Listerinen. Listerainen. Barbecue. Bazaar. Cooking bacon and shorts? It happened. Thanksgiving. I have no idea. You've seen people deep fried turkeys.

It's like cooking a bomb. Can't do it, man. Oh, my God. It's not safe. Don't come. Just order. Order in. No, we have no idea.

We have no idea. They're not. Cooking a bomb. They're not saying anything, though, right? Okay, here's a take. Deep fried turkey, not worth the hassle. No, not worth that. Like, have you had deep fried turkey before?

I saw Joe Bowen doing it on Instagram. And he lived. Yes. If you've seen the face. videos. Holy mack and all that bird is perfect. Doesn't make a nice, moist turkey. I just, you know, put in the oven, cheesecloth, butter, and wine, baby. That's fine. Why do you need to stick in a boiling? We don't know if that's what happened, but. When are you coming out with your cookbook?

Cheesecloth. You know who would be five things with saying the key that he has every week. You like sausages and rice? I got that down. You can make a hell of a marginal salad. Oh, yeah. Oh my gosh, can we get off Sorry Certainly get hungry

That's the problem Is what I want to talk about Oh yeah The assist of the decade Yeah the year Torn ACL Limping to the bench Worried about

Where we got it Look at he's coming off the ice He just got hit He's against the end boards He's torn his ACL here folks I don't know for those not watching home He needs help to get to the bench He's going to try to hobble his way there

Philly D-Man backpedaling Doesn't know he's behind him Still lifts the stick Backhand dish gets the second assist. And he won't play again until April. I think it's six to eight months. Yeah.

It did remind me of a baseball play with Buck Martinez where he had a broken leg. And he just sat double play at he just sat at home plate and someone threw him a bomb and he tagged a guy out with the broken leg. That's awesome. This is good. This is good. But I'll give Buck. the edge. I'm going to

Paul Mary to have the presence of mine. This is this is Buck Martinez worthy. But that backhand sauce the torn ACL is unbelievable. I changed my mind. It's tied with Buck Martinez. The boys love that. Oh my God.

Yeah. It's really good. I like Paul Mary. He's had a good career. He has a great career. Islanders. This stings the Islanders. It does. And who's the other guy? They had another injury.

Anyway, they're hurting too. Injuries, man. A lot of them right now. Concerning amounts. Teams are playing a ton of games. To Kippers' point, to feed the beast over there. They're playing a ton of games. Including the Ted Reed tornadoes to play tonight.

Oh, quick shout-out. My brother-in-law is 50th birthday today. Anthony, shout out. Happy birthday, Anthony. I had a wonderful dinner last night in honor of him. So it was nice. So happy birthday, Anthony. You guys get the tree up this weekend?

No. Lights anything yet? I put up a little string out front. But, like, I don't know. The tree thing is, I don't know. I'm gone for the whole holiday season. I'm on a magic. mystery tour all across Ontario so it's like

I don't really get to enjoy it at the time and it's supposed to all right and I did mention Toronto Canada ball hockey it's George the legend Gortzos Gorsos all right ball hockey's no joke man that's a different sport I miss my calling I love ball hockey our thanks to Pete DeBoore

we're just getting started here all week you know where to find us Fally back tomorrow Eastern Tuesday with Steve Valacette. Have a great night, everybody.