Real Kyper & Bourne - Panthers Push Oilers to the Brink

Episode Date: June 16, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee reflect on the Edmonton Oilers' loss to the Florida Panthers over the weekend to fall behind 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final. Hockey Night in Canada's Craig Simpson joins the show (8:10) to share his thoughts on Game 5 and the series as a whole - the Oilers' lack of urgency, Mattias Ekholm's lapses, Brad Marchand's tremendous series, why Sam Bennett is most productive in the playoffs and why Stuart Skinner should get the Oilers' net in Game 6. Later, Nick, Justin and Sam react to the initial six names announced for each Olympic hockey team, Connor Hellebuyck being left off Team USA's list and murmurs about John Tavares' next contract.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.

Live on Sportsnet Sportsnet 590 the fans Sportsnet 960 in Calgary and Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and of course Sportsnet plus this hour real Kipper and born brought to you by bet 365 Nick Kiprios Justin born Sammy McKee Jake Jake the Snake's Schultz, Derek Brendale. If my boy Sammy's got it right. It's Monday, buddy, I'm locked in. Locked in. Locked in. It's not Friday, so. Good weekend, good Father's Day.

Great, yeah, you know, didn't do much, watched golf, hung around, ate food. What else do you want? Got some unbelievable gifts from the kids at school. Uh, yeah. Not yet a father. Not yet yet. Well, I'm a dog dad. Yeah He's fantastic No, he didn't I took a big dump in the backyard. So um, uh It's great watching that golf term yesterday. I love the US Open course looked borderline unfair

So it's nice to see these guys look like you and me for once speaking of big dumps Okay Oilers Geez backs against the wall Look like you and me for once Speaking of big dumps Okay Oilers Geez backs against the wall Is There any way we can hedge what we could anticipate? tomorrow night based on the amount of comebacks that this team has had and

Their ability to to find it when their backs are against the wall? I mean, the last thing I would ever do is tell you the Edmonton Oilers are dead. All they do is punish people who make that statement. You can never say that. They never die easily. So, yeah, I mean, they lost a tough one, but they're in it here, boys. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Craig Simpson, former National Hockey League, or two-time Stanley Cup champion, and of course calling the games for Hockey Night in Canada on Sportsnet. Sammy, relentless is the word that you have to include every time you mention the Florida Panthers.

So, what do you anticipate tomorrow night? Like Borny said, like, it's hard to count out the Oilers, but it does feel that they have a lot more left to give than the Oilers do. And it just felt like that game on Saturday night. Didn't it just feel like you know, the these you mentioned the Oilers weren't great. Not a lot. I wouldn't say they exactly showed up, but Panthers kind of just went into expert mode, but they were on a different level. I don't know. And watching the panel Saturday night,

and the words that they used to describe the Oilers as hesitant and not there to start and all of it. It's like, how does that happen? Hesitant and not there to start and all of it. It's like, how does that happen? How does, it's a huge moment. I just think- How? How are they not ready? It looks that way when you can't get where you wanna go,

I feel like. In Florida's best game, if we've learned anything, is that when Florida's at their best, no one can beat them. When they play their best version, we saw what they did to the Leafs. We saw what they've done to everyone. Every time you're up against a game where it's like Florida needs this one, they win by a hat trick.

You know, it's they have another gear. I don't know. By the way, I wanted to read a James Duffy tweet here, which was just multiple people who are involved or close enough to hear it all say this is the nastiest trash talking Stanley Cup final they've ever seen. Usually some subjects are off limits, not here. Everything on the table, pure verbal hate. Wow.

Look at that. Marshand, Kachak, Perry, Kane. You're now going to compare that to what? 25, 30 years, 50 years of the game. It's just more people are down there now or people didn't have that access yeah 10 or 15 20 years ago so that's like it's all new to them and they're like whoo I can't believe he said that do you get a trophy for like you know that's doing the best but I mean you can see you're given the people involved and the back to back,

you know, the rematch, you can see they've got some history with one another. I'm sure it is. Yeah. They have all the talking in the world. Won't matter if you don't, you know, show up with your best. It's so tough for the oilers not having Hyman RNH is like, is he available? Is he not? They don't know which way to go with the goalie.

The fact that they're all that they have two wins in the series given all their circumstances It's impressive turn into Calvin Pickard in one of the biggest games in your like the last 25 years of your franchise is Not how you drew it up tough, and it's not it pickers been good for them He was seven or no going into that game, but you see those flying into the net. You're like oh boy Yeah, I don't know but a lot of boys would have been seven going into that game, but you see those flying into the net, you're like, oh boy. Yeah. I don't know, but a lot of goalies would have been seven. I'm gonna dry and, and Sammy, you'll probably be happy about this.

The Leafs? Yeah, I'm gonna draw in a little Leaf comparison to the Edmonton Oilers, where you have your high, high end talent, and then when you get down to your 10th, 11th, 11th or 12th forward, there is a huge space. There's distance between one and four. And Florida doesn't have that problem. They don't have high, high end skill talent

like you would say McDavid or Dreisaitl or Matthews when he's at the top of his game or Marner or Willie Neelander but they don't need them at the complete height of their game because There isn't much distance between one and four in the way they play Well particularly one and three like you like you talking with the Leafs and what they spend on their third line. And it's like, who do you got? McMahon, Domi, you know, who? Patcherati mixed in there at times.

Combined probably makes six million. What's Lundell make? Maybe five of himself. What's Marchand make? Five for like three more years. And Marchand makes six. And you know, Lusterain makes two and a half, three. My point is they have money to spend

because they're not spending as much at the top, farther down the line, but all of a sudden we're deeper. It's just spending it on the right guys. To me it's not, okay, you're just better because you've been better with your salary cap. They're just getting better players at the end. Listen, they're picking out of a pool of better players and they've done great.

They've picked the right guys. But certainly they're not shopping at Big Lots or wherever the Leafs are shopping. That's American chain and it's not good. Never heard of it. Landell was a draft choice. Luster Rainin was a draft choice. They're making good picks.

They're just, that's got nothing to do with money. That's just having- But it does, because the Lightning make good picks too, but they have to trade Yanny, Gordon, Kalorn and all those guys, so they can't afford to keep them because they have to pay top end guys. Well, they had their run of trading assets

and it caught up to them a little bit more. It just has not caught up to Florida yet. Well, when you have to trade a conditional second round pick. Like Florida doesn't have a first rounder for the next three years, if I'm not mistaken. But now that they traded Marchand was a second and it turned into a first and he's just turned into one of their most, if not their most important guys. It's crazy.

It's, he's the best. Watching Saturday night, watching Saturday night, you go from McDavid to Dry Cytle and then it's like, okay, what's left? Lot of Perry. Lot of Perry. Lot of Perry. Like you need Perry to act like a top four forward in the NHL.

I also think that when you have a team built on having the elite top end guys at the top, they get pulled down. Like they can't sustain that gap between the rest of the league and playoff hockey. No one can. I understand these guys are unique, the two on Edmonton. And once Edmonton gets behind early

and they're talking about getting off to a great start is imperative, then it's upon themselves to try more, bigger individual efforts. McDavid coming through the neutral zone, one on three, one on four. It's like he's taking it upon himself going, I'm not getting that support anymore

that I had earlier in the playoffs Therefore I gotta I gotta try a little harder on my own But don't take my word for it. Let's bring in Craig Simpson. He's covered this game Playoffs the Oilers now in the Stanley Cup final simmer saying thanks for joining us making time man. How are you? Good, how are you guys doing? All right, just simply are you calling two more games in this series or one more game in this series? Well, if you want the drama that we've had for the last two Stanley Cups, of course we gotta go back. I gotta go back to Edmonton anyway,

so we might as well be doing it with a game seven. And you know what, it's been kind of a wild series and one that's had a few twists and turns but it wouldn't surprise me at all if we find a way to get ourselves back and have another classic game seven for back to back seasons. It would be something.

Simer, correct me if I'm seeing this series wrong but it looks to me like Florida kinda has their perfect team game going on. We know that they were up in the game that they lost. I believe it was game four there. But by and large have been pretty good and things are going by design. The Oilers know Hyman, no RNH, not sure what's up with their goalie. They seem to be spinning their wheels a little bit here. Is that how it feels to you calling these games? Well, you're, you're, you're playing catch up, you know, just

despite the fact that you win game one, and you feel like you got an opportunity to take control. The magic of game four and coming back, you know, down three was something. And I mean, that is kind of what the storyline for the Euler team has been a team that believes in itself has been a great comeback team all throughout the playoffs. But when you got into game five and you're down three and up and again, I just think there was no feeling that anything magical is going to happen there. And quite frankly, as you're saying, Florida had their, you know, if you check the box of their perfect

style game, I thought they played it in game five. I thought they really just after securing that lead and then adding to it to make it to nothing, they just didn't give you anything. And that's Florida Panthers hockey when they're playing at their best, they, they continue to pressure even when they were up, even when they're up four to one, not only do they continue to pressure, but they are so tight defensively when they're on their game that I heard Nick just before came on saying about Connor having to go one on three or one on four. And they're just, you know, your opponent so well by the time you get to game five, you know, the individuals and how you have to play against them and treat them defensively.

And quite frankly, game five was Florida's best in my opinion, overall, with the style play that they want to play and where they're really successful at. Simer, where are we between giving Florida all the credit in the world and the general feeling after game five was the Oilers came out flat and is there any excuse whatsoever in a second crack at a Stanley Cup that you would be at home and come out flat? Yeah, that was probably the most surprising and You know, it was interesting. I know it was a quick turnaround So with the one day in between just the way that the schedule went that that was that was gonna be a challenging game I thought but I also felt you know listening to Chris Knobloch in between games

He talked about urgency and you know, they didn't have it in game four But they got it when they got that first power play goal. And now all of a sudden we're down three to one, the urgency kicked in and you, you see a difference in any team, but when you've got the top guys and then the, uh, complimentary guys feed off the energy of the top guys, that urgency was there. It was there in game four. It was a task to, to win that game. That urgency was there. It was there in Game 4.

It was a task to win that game and it was shocking. I mean, he even said we have to come out in Game five with that same urgency and Nick. I agree with you. You know how these playoff journeys go? You you sometimes can't explain why you just

don't quite have it. And maybe you're just a little bit of nerves maybe there's fatigue maybe there's doubt I don't know but it was clear when something you know didn't go their way early on they did have a I think a pretty good start but that face-off goal from center ice just changed everything and it went to Florida's leg that took Edmonton's out I don't think they had a shot in the last 11 minutes of period one in game five. And it's kind of unexplainable. And you know, those are the things that as a team, you have to try to dig in and address and find out, you know, what do we need to do differently? How do we need to think differently going into this game six to change that?

But wow, you talk about opportunity missed. It was the opportunity that they were really waiting for with that home ice advantage to take control of game five. And quite frankly, Florida just took it away from them. The face off goal, the marchand off the face off, obviously put Coles in, gets a lot of heat for just a slow reaction off but then there's a comb who's on his off side was that a bigger factor than we were making it out to be or is that just

the second guy that got caught flat-footed or changing feet at the at the wrong time? Yeah it it compounds the problem, right? Like you make one mistake and then the second layer makes a second mistake. That's what can happen. Good players. And listen, Brad made a great move. He did everything that you expect a great player

to take advantage of those two little mistakes. And they are like, both face off goals are just devastating goals. the into it and they're focused and maybe the attention to detail is because you're ready to get started. And so you don't maybe have a lapse like that. If you're a veteran guy, pod calls and it was just, Oh, this is a face off. And I'm not worried about a guy jumping by me like it would be in the defensive zone. And that little lapse, a veteran guy who's having a hell of a series took advantage of it. And I do think being on his offside hurt at home I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing.

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I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's you know, Nick, when you've come back from injury, I've lived it too. You can get by on adrenaline for like the first maybe two games, maybe three. You get two weeks into that, and you've played in the Stanley Cup final, and you've had three long over times.

Sometimes you just the engine just can't get going. And I think a little bit for at home. You're seeing a bit of that now getting overly taxed at a time when, you know, he made good played 15 minutes in his first game. And then all of a sudden you're in that 2728 minutes because of the, uh, the overtimes. And that's one little lapse, but man, good teams make you pay for those lapses.

So we're talking about that goal off the face off on pod Coles and maybe on at home, but like Marsha and my God, Simmer, like that cut to the inside, the trapping of the stick of Ekholm. I thought it was slow, right? Wasn't it supposed to be slow? It's been unbelievable. I mean, that one was so good. Obviously the other one, two just beautiful goals.

So we see players in the playoffs at random times have great series who aren't necessarily great players. I don't know, Ville Lano, Fernando Pesani, whoever you want to chalk that up to. Is this still Marchand's level? Do you believe this is sustainable like he's still an elite offensive force at his age? Well I can guarantee you that he can't play that way for 82 regular season games. You get to 38 next year and you're going I can't do it. I said on the broadcast, I think after his second goal, and I agree with you, Justin, like that the

skill of protecting the puck without having the puck on your stick is really an exceptional talent. And that was just beautiful. Putting it to an area, slapping the stick, a wallman jumping around behind him, keeping his legs moving, protecting, like all those little things, you can't teach. It has to be an instinctive play. And I just think that it said in the broadcast, every Stanley Cup team loses guys. So when you get back the next year,

you try to bring in guys who either have never won and are good young players. Like for me as a 20 year old coming into Edmonton in my third year in the league, you're in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Now all of a sudden you're in the finals. The older guys love having somebody who is experiencing it for the first time and has that drive like this is what I've been dreaming about my whole life. It adds energy to guys who have been there before and have done it. But it also can be a guy at the end of the road and who has won before who knows what it's take he's lost before so he knows what that feels like too which quite frankly is important as well. You know what you didn't do the two times that you lost or the little thing that made a difference that changed the series. And you had a guy like that. And

that's what you're seeing from Brad that's going, this is my chance. And do I think he can play this well for 82? No, but man, he has looked like he's got an extra step. He looked like he knows that this might be his last chance ever in his life as a hockey player to win the Stanley Cup and good for him. Like he's playing like it. And it also then brings energy to the guys who have won it last year to go and oh my God, we got to win it for him too. Like that's why GMs do those kind of things. Either a younger player that has the spark for us. It was, you know, Adam Graves, Joe Murphy, Peter Klima coming in, guys who had never been there before in 1990. And they did

give us a spark to some of the guys who had won four Stanley Cups are like, let's win for those guys. It's even more valuable when you got 1000 point guy who's played. What did you played? 175 playoff games, and you go, Let's go win it for him, and it's just been a perfect marriage, hasn't it? And he's been. You know,

originally you're thinking it could be Bennett as the consmites. It could be Bobrosky. But all of a sudden you're looking at Marsha. You got six goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs and five in the Stanley Cup final in five games. Like how much more impact did you have as a player going into that role? Not much better. You're listening to Craig Simpson,

two-time Stanley Cup champion, hockey night in Canada analyst, which brings me to my next question on a guy like Sam Bennett. And you know to your point a little bit, and Simmer, we may have 20, 22 teams that have to play 82 games as if everyone will decide whether or not they go to the playoffs. Florida was not one of them. So could a guy like Bennett just pick and choose his spots

over 82 games because Justin and I have had a few conversations you know weeks ago maybe even a month ago going and Justin said it I'm not paying an eight or nine million dollars for this guy to go score 50 points but is he really a 50-point guy or is he better than that because he is looking like he is a legit top guy and Mr. Everything right now and we didn't really get to see that over 82 games. Is that just a guy just finding Reason to not bring it every night in the regular season. I don't think it's not bringing every night

It's it's what's your role? So I don't think there's any team and here's the danger of paying a guy more money than you should and Then coming in with the expectations always gonna be a first-line center or second line set the you had McDavid as the top, Dry Settle as the second, Bennett as the third, you're going, oh my gosh, but that's a, that's the spoils of riches. But I think that he's not an instinctively over offensive guy, but you know what it's like in playoff time when it gets tighter, it gets tougher to find open ice. There are guys who are, they play that way all throughout the regular season, but they don't have that maybe explosiveness that can break a game the game. They're not going to be. Tougher to find open ice. There are guys who are they

play that way all throughout the regular season, but they don't have that maybe explosiveness that can break a game open and game 47 and go on a 12 game point streak where all of a sudden you're a 75 point guy or an 80 point guy as

opposed to a 50.25 gold guy. but when the playoffs come, your game is so suited to that. Like I always said, not to focus on myself, but I would not be a guy in the regular season that's gonna break a game open. I can't skate very well, but when the game gets tighter, that's my comfort zone. Like it's all of a sudden the game is the way that I'd like it to be played. You win a battle out of the corner, you battle in front of the net, you tip one in, you get a rebound, you get a kick out for a one-timer. That's Sam Bennett's game. He can play that game throughout 82, but you're never really going to get the numbers.

But all of a sudden in a, what are they at now, 22 game span, you are just playing your game and it's not uncomfortable for you. If anything, it's uncomfortable for your opponent and you flourish in it. Now all of a sudden you stand out because the game is played in that very different way than as you guys both know game zero to 82. There aren't a whole lot of games that are similar to this, right? The attention to how you have to play and you got to win this game. I'm going to play 82. There aren't a whole lot of games that are similar to this, right? The attention to how you

have to play and you've got to win this battle. I've got to win a battle against the same guy each and every night or the same two or three guys that I'm going to play against, and I get a comfort zone because that's what I love. Like that's

part of what Sam Bennett. Uh focuses on and how he can be effective. So in a 20 either three or four games that they're going to play here, it's so suited to the style of game that he has, and you can get on that kind of role that he has now, and he's always

going to get a chance. And so I think the danger is overpaying and all of a sudden saying Sam Bantz going to be our number one center. I think he would struggle. I think he wouldn't like that feeling. I think he's totally comfortable in the role that he has during the regular season. And as you can see now for back to back, or I guess three in a row now, but he was effective last year as well in the final. But this year he's taken it to another level. You know, that I think that's the, not the danger you have of overpaying a guy like that. But if I'm Sam I go like I know my role

Uncomfortable with it and he is flourishing right now and and finds a way to be productive each and every night Simmer before we let you go we'd be remiss if we didn't ask you about the goaltending situation for the Oilers What factors do you think they're considering most while making their decision about who to put in the net in game six? considering most while making their decision about who to put in the net in game six? I don't know anything on that, but for me it's got to be Stuart Skinner. I just think I understand why you went with Pickard. I felt Pickard was okay, but you know you'd be kicking yourself as a coaching staff going you know we maybe should have gone back to Skinner. Uh, you look at the historical Skinner's like a home run hitter, right?

You go on a blast where you're getting dingers every night and then you strike a strike out. Like he, he is either a home run or a strikeout. And it's been that in the playoffs, you know, he had one goal against in five of six games for a stretch during the Dallas series Last year he went 14 straight games with two goals against or less and one went 14 and oh like That's a streaky guy and I think that Pickard it was probably the right call to go with them in game five I didn't think he was great And I don't think there's any question that you got to go with Skinner and if you don't go with them in game five, I didn't think he was great. And I don't think there's any question that you got to go with Skinner. And if you don't go with them, you probably can't have them back next year.

Right. Yeah. You see you go with them and you give them a given the opportunity. Can you win two games in a row? Yeah. He's done that numerous times. Can he, you know, pitch a shout out? I wouldn't even be surprised if that happens.

I mean, that really has been his MO, especially during this playoffs. You look at the numbers in the wins and you look at the numbers in the losses and I guess the best analogy is like a great home run hitter who goes cold. That's been his MO and I think you got to give him the chance to try to win two games in a row. Yeah, you got to go down, you got to go down with the ship on that one. And I totally agree with you, Simmer, that you seal his fate if you go with Pickard tomorrow night. OK, pal, thanks for the time. As always, have a great call.

And let's just hope you've got two great calls this week coming up. Yeah, you know, Nick, I gotta go back to Edmonton anyway. So we might as well be starting again. Exactly. Thanks, Simmer. All right, guys. Thanks, Simmer. This is Craig Simpson, Hiking in Canada.

Yeah, that's such a good point. I love the analogy of Skinner as a home run hitter. I think three true outcomes, just two true outcomes with him. Win or lose? It's going over the wall or he ain't touching a pitch. Yeah. So, gotta hit a couple home runs. You gotta send Barry Bonds up there in these games don't you I think a

Loss seals his fate to right. Yeah, we can't win with him. You can't go two in a row You cannot lose can't lose can't lose two finals in a row as a as a as a starting goalie born and I talked with him on Friday though, Kipper. Even if he wins these next two games, if they win the cup, do you have to consider getting another guy too? We had to go to Calvin Pickard in the Stanley Cup final. How many times have they had to pull in?

I know those, but like- Really good problem to have. For sure, but don't you need another option? These playoffs are such a roller coaster ride with these two goalies every year but you you don't have to make that one in in August no of course Christmas you can take it but I'm just saying 60 games top ufa is Jake Allen this is a Samson off it's just a high through they would continue the Leafs former Leafs thing it's just a high stress situation at all times like when you're asking who you're starting in that in game six and they're both Stanley Cup final, it's like holy

You're good. I just think that While the focus will for sure be on Goaltending as much as anything else. They just got some cleaning up to do in front of whoever's in that. Yeah. And I really like Bouchard. I do. Absolutely. I can't believe how much I've come around on him. I get the value, but oh my God, was he horrible in game five. I mean, anytime your top guy plays a ton against a good team, there's going to be nights that

ain't pretty. But there were some times when I would watch him, even on a power play, go back and I don't know who the penalty killer was, but he's like, he's giving up the inside to go get the puck first. And he actually peeled on the outside and watched a Panther go get the puck first. And I'm like, that you'll you cannot find one Florida Panther that would ever bail on going to get the puck first, not one. And that to me was just not a good sign.

It feels remarkable that it's just three, two. Like it feels like Florida has controlled so much of the series. You know, it feels like three, one because of that insane comeback. Like that felt like the series was over after the first period of the series. It, you know, it feels like 3-1 because of that insane comeback. Like that, felt like the series was over after the first period of game four. It feels like 4-1. Yeah, it feels like it should be.

But we're heading back to Florida and I'm sure, I don't know. Win one game, man. Hockey's stupid. Win one game and then you have a game seven on home ice. Boston won game six in St. Louis to bring it back to Boston. Well, and you know to make it about the Leafs again they went in they they won a huge game there to nothing this right is playing out there nobody saw that nobody saw the Leafs

going in coming off an embarrassing game five to shut them out to nothing. Maybe the best game in the Matthews Marner era. Without a doubt. You know, Kachak said today. Yeah, I did. He said that he they knew outside of the oil rematch in the final that their toughest series would be the first one against Tampa Bay. And it's like, I respect that.

So six teams in NHL history of one game, six in the road to force a game, seven in the Stanley Cup final with the most recent instance being the 2019, uh, Bruins, uh, the lightning in 2004, 2001, avalanche, 64, least 45 red wings and 42 leaves. And the other one is, uh, for those teams that on the, when the cup, the oilers can be the cup, become the second team in Stanley Cup playoff history To force a game seven and consecutive Stanley Cup finals The only other team to do it is Montreal versus the Red Wings in 54 and 55 So there's a little bit of what's at stake

55 yeah, who could forget them? Oh, you know the star and New Zealand So yeah, there's that hasn't happened a lot. So there you go. Anyways game time So yeah, there's that hasn't happened a lot. So there you go. Anyways game time Game time. It's game time because it about bet 365 visit the app for the stars and find out why it's ever ordinary at bet 365 mr. 19 plus until only Hey, what do you think please play responsibly? JJ spawn was pre u.s. Open I could probably look that up But I mean I would probably say in the 60 to 1 70 to 1 range. Yeah, do you watch any of that? I fell asleep

60 to 170 to one range. Yeah, do you watch any of that? I fell asleep Couple days, you know, you know, it was the stupid rain delay. They came back at 540 p.m How long was the rain delay like an hour long? Yeah plenty of time to fall asleep Yeah, but it's funny like Gunnar. I did a golf show with him today and shameless plug He said he woke up from a nap and they were showing Tiger Woods at the US. Oh, yeah What the hell what year is that? I forgot the tiger made like a six-year-old Eagle putt to win. Yes Yeah, and he was plus two at the time or something yeah anyways checking in on the cons might because Simmer mentioned that the

Marchand March and is now the second favorite at plus 450 Sam Bennett is minus money minus 200 for Sam Bennett if you think that the Edmonton Oilers are gonna come back in the series You'd have to think that either one of Connor McDavid early on dry side are gonna be otherworldly in these next two games You're never gonna see a better price for Connor McDavid than this at plus 700 for the con smith Leon Dreissel plus 750 and then it falls off a cliff. So bet 365 is thinking it's either gonna be Bennett, Marshaan, Connor or Leon and that seems right. So that's that. And then the line for tomorrow night, the Florida Panthers are heavy favorites minus 150 tomorrow night the Edmonton Oilers plus 125 on the other side of the

money line so that three the oilers that 365 is thinking that tomorrow night could be the night anyways that was game time presented by about 365 visit the app for the stars and find out why it's never ordinary. Bet 365, it's 19 plus, and Terrav only, please play responsibly. So, for cons my quick conversation before we go to break. Yeah. Okay, if we were to split up four rounds and we were to give a percentage of importance in each, each.

Love this question. Is it 25, 25, 25 25 25 25 is it? 15 and then a gradual up to the final so where where is Marchand to? Steal this cons might if in fact they win in game six Where is he with his performance in the final that he could actually? Steal it from Sam Bennett who basically had it wrapped up prior to Saturday night. Love that question. 15, 25, 30, 40. I think my math is good on that. Like are we, is that, does that get us there? It does. You nailed it. No. I think I might be 110.

I'm not here because I was a math lead. Should a Stanley Cup final have as much as half baked into a Con Smythe announcement? I think that's reasonable. Yeah. 50. Jake just buzzed me here and said your math was 115. So. How about 10, 20, 30, 40?

Yeah, that's right. Okay. I think that that's severely underselling that how long of a grind it is to play off when all those, like I think I think that That's severely underselling That how long of a grind it is the playoff win all those like I think maybe it should be 40 30 percent in the final I think the thing that you with the NBA that I hate it's like, oh, it's the finals MVP and that's like the That's the they do the Eastern Conference MVP in the final thing. But like I liked how Every round is incredibly important. You do know I I think it really matters how every round is incredibly important. You do? No, I think it really matters.

Like every round is so hard to get there. I don't know. First round, maybe the hardest round of times. I lean towards Sammy. Like Florida wins tomorrow night. Marshawn's got another goal. Bennett doesn't. Two points.

I'm still leaning towardsing it towards Sam Bennett You know, I think it's Bennett to Bennett to me has he has been the bulldozer Clearing the way for them to file in behind him to me over two months their personality. He has defined who they are Yeah, I agree and he also eliminated stole ours early which helped. Oh, yeah All right. Let's take a quick break and And when we return, we'll chat up a little bit on the Olympic rosters that have been released, at least the first six names. And I got a beef with one guy not being there. Oh, I'm sure you do.

Can you guess? Yes, I can. That when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Hey, it's Ben Ennis. And I'm Brent Gunning. We got you covered on all things Leafs, Raptors and Blue Jays every weekday morning, six to nine. It's the fan morning show Sportsnet 590, the fan and wherever you get your

podcasts. As a reminder, this hour, Real Kipper and born brought to you by bet three, six, five, Nick Kipper, Justin born Sammy McKee. All right, Sammy, you love this stuff, right? The Olympics, baby. 2026, just around the corner. And 12 of the countries that have qualified February have revealed six of their rostered players. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. A lot of big names. Why? Because they, I don't know, want to sell t-shirts, t-shirts, hats, buttons. Buttons big anymore? I think they were when I played junior hockey. I don't know. Like, name the guys that are surprising that ahead of time.

It's like, oh yeah, Sid and Connor McKinnon are gonna get the team Wow. All right, I Kind of teased a little bit that one One name that was missing. I wasn't very happy with Can you guys guess we were well, I think you want us to guess Mitch Marner, but I think you're gonna say Bennett I think Marshawn. No who USA oh, oh Yeah Marner Bennett I get it I mean I thought Josh Morris he should have been one of the first buddy

Where on the USA team is the MVP of the league? No Hellebuck? No Hellebuck. Oh, there we go. Oh, thank you. Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Matthews, McEvoy, Brady Ketchum. What kind of message are we sending?

That you're- Could this be out of McEvoy? Where you're MVP of the National Hockey League, your best player all season long, the most valuable guy in the league, can't make the USA top six. This is why you make the big bucks buddy, I never even thought of it. What kind of statement is Bill Guerin making? Ridiculous. Is it Bill Garan you got to imagine teams that have five goalies named five but we can't add the MVP to the NHL this season and it won't sell

he was bad in the four nations by any stretch so this is what it's gonna stop you can't look great on the winner you you can't you can't name a goalie MVP anymore you can't just because youie MVP anymore. You can't. Just because you think people don't trust that it's real, that they're sustainably great. Correct. This is a huge message by keeping them off that just... Yay, we won the heart trophy. This is why we don't give the award to goalies very often because, you know, we don't really like now the US has the unique predicament that Jake Ottinger is elite that your Demko can be elite hmm is

there another one I would dream dream VP MVP not on Jer not anybody else listen first MVP to win playoff blemishes that are impossible to ignore Is there a chance that he's not gonna make the team? Well, let's just Buddy I just gave you two guys that they could outplay him until Christmas and easily make the team ahead of them So what is there a third American goalie? Give him the Vezna and keep him off the MVP list if you can't add him to you to the to the face of this tournament All right. Let's look for me. I hope they start him. That's my day You hope they start him. Well, that's probably what they're thinking too. I hope he starts who we got for other Americans boys

Swamen Swamen Dustin Wolf He's not a lock Not a lock an MVP of the National Hockey League in the year 25 24 25 is not a lock a couple of yucky right off performances If he has a bad start to the next year and three other guys are great. The people are gonna go Why would you lock him in Elvis? Mersley kens is a lock?

Well, yeah, who's he play for? Luxembourg all right Yeah, who's he play for? Luxembourg all right Seros is a lock lock. Yeah, but hella buck. We're not too sure of we surprised Bennington to get there the courtesy Yeah, I'm not overly surprised, okay, yeah that one he doesn't have the clout of I just or the attention of we are waiting for a canadian goaltender to emerge And really take the reins for canada. I know hell about the one thing with bennington though He has shown he can handle the pressure which to me is half the battle

After that, you know aiden hilt their scamper logan thompson sam montembeau blackwood bennington skinner Let's do skinner, you like him? Anyway. Canada, no real, Sam Reinhardt didn't have a great Four Nations, but he's in the Stanley Cup final right now, so Braden Point. Braden Point. Mitch Marner could, listen, Marner played great in that Four Nations tournament. He could easily be in on Team Canada's top six.

Sure. Yeah, I mean, but if you're looking at big game players and whatever, Reinhardt's been in that that four nations tournament he couldn't easily be a non team Canada's top six sure Yeah, I mean, but if you're looking at big game players And whatever Reinhardt's been in all these events and all these games and all these finals and you know scores a couple last night You know selkie trophy votes to go with the how many goals he got in the last couple years Barners 90 performance in the last game. It wasn't big enough You know, it's so funny because I didn't think Marner played well in the four nations face I thought he had two massive moments. I was good and I thought he was yeah Good in the second half of the final and good in the overtime against Sweden

But I mean it was hard to be good in that tournament quite frankly like there's a lot of really good hockey being played So yeah, you know at least one time with Elise So what are you hearing now? Sammy just I saw a tweet from somebody who was listening to CJ on TSN radio talking about like that they're looking at this the Tavares deal like the yanny gore deal like for six years but like it's definitely going to be more than million dollars. I think I saw like Can we just take a quick? Breath and a step and a step back. It's like is that

That's too much and too long It's just I'd rather pay him high AV for a short period of time It is come kind of off the Chris Tan of, they gave Chris Tan of six years, did they not? Yeah, but like for four and a half. Yeah, for four and a half. Oh, it's always the- But who is the more important to the Leafs?

Yeah, Tan of. Oh my God, not even close. You can't take away, would he end up with 70, 38 goals and 70 points? Buddy, you can't sign Tavares to a six-year contract. I'm not thrilled about it either. And it's a message to me, whether Marner leaves or not, we all know that it's very close to him leaving,

you're not gonna win a cup with Tavares being a top player, but he's also gonna help you make the playoffs. So which one? To me, it's more of a message of protecting a playoff spot than it is thinking that you're going to win with him in the next few years. I'd rather they paid him too much for two years or three years or something. Good Lord. How can you say we're going to change the DNA of this team and then bring back one of

the core pieces of DNA that has been there when they can't get it done. It's not even about that. It's like the whole DNA thing is like giving into these guys needs and not being tough negotiators and you know, don't the least have all the leverage here? Doesn't he want to desperately to stay like to me? it can't be, it can't start with a five for me to be satisfied. It's me, I'm not even sure about the importance

of term or money than I am that if this thing goes south, JT, if we wanna commit this money to me, to you, you can't lock us in. If this thing goes sour next year, you need to be tradable. I need 10 teams on the list. And if you want to play until you're 38 or 39, you got to allow me to come back to you and say,

we gave it a try, but I need younger players. I need picks. I need to use that space for something that we're rebuilding on and you have to move. Are you willing to do that? And if the answer is yes, then work on a trade because Tavares, if his game falls off, it will still be in the Brad Marshand, I can get a first, a second, a prospect, I can get some real value here. You think?

If, buddy, 38 goals. I understand, but he's not. 38 goals. I know, but I would like, I know Tavares has had an unbelievable career, but I'm not gonna put him in the same conversation as Brad Marshand. I'm not talking about player-wise, I'm talking about what value you could get back

Sure, or Shane got greatly under value. He got under value because he picked a spot Yes, that's why yeah, and Tavares may pick a spot too. And maybe that could force a lesser of a All I'm saying is that you better be willing to Forget about a no move or we're not going through that again. Yeah, that's all. I like your idea of like, hey, we'll do 10 teams for you or something. You know, you can pick it pretty narrow here, but we'll start the season off.

We'll see how it goes. And after that, if I if I got to move you, you got to you got to be able to give me some teams to move you. We didn't have you on on Friday when we talked about the Andy Strickland thing that Marner is 100% not coming back he's not coming back and you know people had different feelings on that I think more than anything it's just people reading the tea leaves so I mean is mean, is it definitive? Did the Marner camp go to the Leafs and say, we're not coming back? Did the Leafs go to Marner's camp and say, we don't want you back? No, they did not.

Yeah. Like Elliot on his 32 thoughts said that the Leafs tried to talk to Marner. Marner's camp has not engaged with them. And he said, I think we know where this is headed. he's gonna hit the market, he's gonna pick a team, he's not coming back to Toronto. And listen, I don't think that they were ever clear on their intentions, no free agent is. Right? Like, Tavares with the Islanders, you kind of, you fudge Yeah, you lie a little bit in the media or you just I love it here or you know, whatever But you just do whatever you have to at the time to kind of move on for so people can kind of forget And they did for the most part they did until

until it leaked that the Leafs and Tried desperately to go to Carolina on trade Deadline Day when his wife's expecting in a month then it's like Nice try guys, but you got a they also try to do Vegas though. Wasn't that a thing? No, not really No, no good three-way thing. Well, there was some talk about Theodore, but it was never that last year That was last summer. Yeah, I thought what there was something with it in the trade deadline that they That Vegas was part of a three-way thing or something at the end of the day. No, I think it was really clear that once Marner's

no move kicked in, it was gonna take him right to July 1st. Last Leafs question, there's a lot of smoke. I saw you write about it in the Toronto Star. Maybe you guys talked about it the day I was off, but Marshaan and the Leafanda lease I'm watching him dominate do you know what can happen everything I Heard is that If Bennett and Marchand are in the same ballpark at 8 plus

You're gonna go to the younger better than Bennett for sure. It's pretty close. Right? Bennett's the priority. If it's an option, Bennett, 100%. 100%. Agree. Totally agree. And I believe Bennett wants to stay.

Yeah. So I think it's just a matter of finding that sweet spot. But Marchand and Elliott talked to him and he said, I'm open to anything and anyone. He's going to get his money. He's not apologizing for saying money's important here. So that's where the Leafs can overpay here a little bit and have a vision, I think, for the next year anyways, two years of him grooming Austin Matthews

who desperately needs help in leadership. Knives too. Knives, Easton Cowan. All these guys. So all these guys could use a little Marchand kind of attitude. Yeah, it's a... It is funny that like if you do the Marchand thing for the Leafs, like you are once again all in.

Like you know, this is not some sort of long game, whatever. It's like... No, it is a long game. To me, it's a long game. It's like... Well, Matthew Smith, 30. Martian's not... He's not...

He's not going to solve a Stanley Cup drought next year. They're not good enough. They're still not good enough. But what he can do is he can start spreading the word here a little bit on what it takes to win and how to show up and Willie and Willie, you can't win playing like that. You can't just go and do whatever you want to do. You got to, whatever it is, he's got the voice that can do that. Tanev started something, but TANF needs help in that room.

Yeah. Marshan can help TANF a lot. Yeah. Be curious to see who else is available via trade for the Leafs, right? Because UFA-wise, it's not... I don't love... You're not replacing Marner just with UFAs, so it depends who's out there. You got a trade board out or what? I think in a couple of days. Okay. Well, we were going to wait for the Stanley Cup final, I think.

I don't overshadow Kipper's trade board, so. No, you gotta stand alone. Gary put in a call to Sportsnet, he's like, Kipper can't put that out right now. We're trying to have a final here. Our thanks to Craig Simpson. He's calling the game tomorrow night, game six. Stanley Cup final.

Alright, boys, quick hour, eh? Fast. Fastest in hockey baby. Game five NBA finals on Sportsnet tonight if you want something to watch. Enjoy your night. Right back at it tomorrow night game six. Thanks for watching, thanks for listening.