Real Kyper & Bourne - Playoff Outlooks with Eddie Olczyk + Golden Knights Slide

Episode Date: March 12, 2026

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by former NHLer and NHL on TNT analyst Eddie Olczyk (7:39) to discuss if the Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres are the real deal for the Stanley Cup, New York Islanders' trade deadline moves and their playoff outlook with Matthew Schaefer, why the Maple Leafs and Canucks needed to be aggressive at the deadline, and if he has any concerns for the Oilers' post-season run despite their blueline and goaltending struggles. Then, the founder of Sin Bin Vegas, Ken Boehlke (32:42), jumps on to chat about the sliding Golden Knights, Mitch Marner's acclimation with the team, if goaltending is the sole factor for goals against, and why fans haven't ruled out Mark Stone's availability.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, let's get her going. It's a real Kipper and Bourne show. It is our national edition of our show. We're live on Sportsnet, 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary, and streaming always on Sportsnet Plus, also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, where we appreciate the chats and the thumbs up for our boy Sammy and J.B. None for me.

I've got to behave this today. Is that right? That's fine. Yeah. We got guests. We can let the guests do the talking. And we got a good one in Eddie Old Chuck. Former NHLer does a great job now on TNT.

He'll join us in a few minutes. As a reminder, this hour of real Kippron Bourne brought to by Bet365. Nickyapriot, Justin Born, Sammy McKee. All right, boys. Where do you want to go? I want to talk. Did you guys happen to watch Montreal Ottawa last night? I did, yeah.

It was a really good game. Great game. I mean, one, that electric scene. They're really, really good goalie in Montreal last night. Fowler was fantastic. It was great. I actually was going to bring up the other goalie who made some big saves early, wasn't overly tested.

That's second goal, the wrap around. Could you have had less equipment on the goal line? Could you have gotten out of the way any more than he did? I'm just saying. He's been good. Ottawa's been good. But this is the thing where it's like you just need. I didn't like the game winning goal for sure.

Demitoff. I know that they only gave up three goals or whatever. But it's like you just need that one more. And this is Ottawa season in a nutshell. Can't give out their rebound. No. Like to me that's the equivalent of being tied late

and getting three guys caught behind the net. Right. That's like one of those basic you can't do it. That's a bad pinch that caused a two on one. Like that's... Oh my God. That is... That's the mistake of that rebound.

What's worse about the rebound? is he acts like he's got it or he thinks he's got it, which might be even worse for so long because he's not feeling it right? Sammy, did you get, do we have any sound of his post-game interview? Of Omerk? Yeah. No.

I got to, I mean, we'll play it a little later. Okay. I mean, if you ask me, like, any time during the day. I know. I know. Like, literally. What did he say? I was just really standoffish with the media and the questions.

Yeah. Like it's like You just try to like I can't remember the term that he used But it was like a It was a reply I've never heard In any post game Interview in my life

And it was just like yeah good point Yeah that's a good point too And that was it They let him off the hook Well no I don't know if they let him off the hook Or it's just He's He's just one of those guys

where it's like you you'd rather be a million miles away than answering your question and no matter whether or not you threw him a softball or anything otherwise this was his answer that's a

Elias Pedersenitis. Yeah that's exactly what it was it was like I have no time for you guys let's get this over with and I'm moving on but boy was that game fast back and forth So we showed the, if you're watching on SportsCetter and YouTube,

they showed the crowd pop for the Montreal Canadians. Like, they make fun of the Leaf fans were taking over. But, I mean, that has fans. It's like, that's a joke. Like, I mean, that's... In Ottawa. In Ottawa. Well, they used to court those fans, right?

Like, they're close to go back and it's... You're in a playoff race. It's a big game. Everybody's talking about how big a game is your own building, and that's the pop. It's like, God, that's embarrassing. No wonder people make fun of the sense. Like, that's...

How do you let, like, that's crazy. It's tough. They've been not great. They're in a tough spot to get people in the building. They were the best, they're in the playoffs the first time in forever last year. They got good young players. That's a bad look. I know it was a tough loss, but they're still trending up and Detroit's trending down.

Oh, I know. Detroit, two weeks without Dylan Larkin. And cop. And two weeks without Andrews. Yeah. Yeah, that's two of your best centers right there. There's not a lot of time That's why last they bugged me for

There's not a lot of time for other teams But I look at Ottawa with their loss last night And I still go There's time here guys to make the playoffs There absolutely is And that's why it's tough to watch those games Where they just keep Like by expected everything

They're just one of the best teams Top five defensive team My buddy is a sense fan Just keeps texting me Valley was right Valley is right about Allmark. Valley, Valley called it before the season. Yeah, I'm pretty sure he called it last year.

When he signed there. Yes. Then he was like, this guy, if you get him away from the, the duo, see how it goes. Blah, blah, blah. He's like, I'm not sure he wants to be the guy, to be in the net. Blah, blah, blah. That didn't shouldn't say that about Valley. Yeah, no, but it's the yada yada.

Yeah, important information. The other news with the Ottawa senators is that they're getting their first round pick back. that was taken away from them in the Donov trade, which was done by Pierre Dorian. Dorian to Vegas. I'm going to file a claim to the league to get to least pick back from the Carlo trade. Pierre Dorian.

Pierre Dorian is very loyal. Pierre Dorian. Obviously, Mike Annlauer has been very public about this. Yes. And I guess stated a strong enough case to get them to change. their minds. I think it's a real win for Ann Lauer. You know, he was outspoken

about it. There was precedent with the Kovilchuk deal. They wielded it effectively. He's willing to pay the million dollars to get another pick. I think kudos to him. Got a pick back. Do you think there's a little bit of

we got to help these guys out? I think there's more a, we can't cut their legs out from under them. You know, they just paid, what do you pay almost a billion dollars for the franchise. You know, we can't then come in and say, you didn't do this, but I know. I like it for Ottawa, right? I like it for Ottawa.

It's still really hard, whether it's Ottawa or maybe some other teams in Canada, but I know they tried to get a few guys to come and they got shut out a little bit. Is that right? See, this is tough to run these teams where people don't want to come. And, yes. And I think the league threw them a bone a little bit here. And I got to be honest with you, I'm okay with it. Yeah, I am too.

I mean, it's tough hearing that, you know, because again, you want these to be loaded teams and competitive. The opposite of that is that, is that the next time we hear of somebody losing a pick, you're going to say, oh, you know, give it a couple years and we'll see. But you all, you need to make the case that, hey, it was someone else who did it. It wasn't me. Yeah, it's a different ownership. That's the, that's the smoking gun. that's the ability to be like, hey, look at this. It wasn't the same ownership.

But the same token, you're buying the team knowing that's there, right? Yeah, listen. I mean, I told him. All right. Let's welcome him in. Just give me a chance. Just give me a chance. Eddie Old Chuck, former national hockey leaguer, TNT hockey expert.

Give me a check. Where are you right now? If you can't see him, he's on Zoom, he looks like he's been bobbing for French fries. What, like, what, you've been in the sun all day? What the hell does that mean? Bobbing for French fries. What is that? Your face looks a little red.

Have you been out in the sun? Oh, no, I haven't, actually. I've been inside all in. Okay. Okay. I thought maybe you're in Florida, California. Well, I can't disclose where I am right now, so I'll just leave it at that. Okay, I'm pretty close then. No, not really, but, yeah, I can't. close where I am. What's going on? How are you guys doing? Borny. How are you, man? We're hanging in.

We're hanging in. Not you. I'm not talking to you, Kipper. I'm in the morning and Sammy right now. You know, who's in charge, whoever's in charge there, can you put Sammy where Kipper is? And I'm like to see Sammy and Borny. Oh, that's a hell of a line. That would be a hell of a line. You just fired us. You just fired me. Actually, we did play a pickup game earlier this year. We were a line. And I'm not, you know, I'm not tooting our own horn,

but I think we finished with 17 points that game. Yeah, we were pretty good. Put up some numbers. When was the last time you were on the ice? Oh, man. I'm going to say it was in the peg. I think when Edmonton was there for one of the heritage games, I think that was the last time.

So I think that might have been before I was sick, too. So, I mean, that's got to be probably seven, eight years ago, if I'm not mistaken. So that was the last time. And I'll probably just say this for the record. That will always be the last time. That's the retirement game. So the only thing you miss about the game is the 16th and the 31st then, right?

When you got paid. That's not funny at all. It's not funny. All right. Well, let me ask you about the National Hockey League, Eddie. All right, Barney. The fascinating team to us here in this show, Buffalo. Sabres. First place in the Atlantic Division, are they real? Is there something to this? Or is this

just a little, I don't know, flash in the pan as they turn things around? I mean, I think it's a great unknown. I think a lot of people felt coming off the Olympic break that would the break their momentum? And Lindy's got them going the same way. And they might even be better right now with how they're playing this last little while. And they've won. a lot of different ways, have they not? They've won some low-scoring games. They've won some high-scoring games. They've won some games that if you turned on the television

and there was no score bug or time in the corner of your television, you might have thought it was 1978 or 1980. Now, I know that Tampa Bay Lightning weren't around back in those days, but I think you guys know what I mean. They're standing up and you look at the trades that, you know, that Yarmo was able to make at the end. end and at the trade deadline and you've added some some grit and some leadership and a guy like Shen and then you bring in a guy like Stanley. So they've really, I don't, why would they

slow down? Now, maybe the playoffs are going to be a different animal, but I think that they answered the bell that the break wasn't going to be, you know, wasn't going to slow them down at all because the break has affected a couple of teams around the league. There's no doubt about it, both in a positive way and a negative way. But Buffalo has been obviously a great story, and I'm happy for so many people there. And I made mention the other night doing one of our TNT games down here in the States. We were talking about Buffalo.

And you got to know that the legend himself, the great Rick Jenner, Rhett, would be smiling down on what his old team was doing right now because I think people have been waiting for this and give Lindy rough credit. they've turned this thing around and there looks like there's a lot of belief from the outside and that's obviously something that we all know something about is that when you got guys that can believe in one another and you start getting on this train going downhill you could put two teams out on the other side of the ice you're not going to beat us and that seems like they're playing with that kind of uh you know kind of an air or a mindset

right now you're watching and listening to Eddie old Chuck from parts unknown. Would you forget my name? I think he was going to call you Ed and then he realized he couldn't do it. I was going to get really big trouble. Really big trouble. Hey, one more on the Buffalo Sabres.

Do you have a vote on general manager of the year? And if you did, would Kevin Adams be on your list? Look at it. I think that there's a lot of meat on the bone there, considering before they went on this heater that they had won a couple in a row, and then, you know, Yarmo comes in, and he hires Berge, Mark Bergevin, and now they've been the best team in a national hockey league. I don't think that you can argue that.

And you could argue Tampa was until the break, and, you know, they've had a tough time here since the Olympic break. But, no, I would probably say no, just from the fact of, Not enough in that office, in that chair for this year, Kipper. It is incredible, though. I don't think we've ever seen this before. It is. It is uncharted.

It is. It is territory that you sit there and you shake your head and go, like, honestly, like, would they be a different team now if, if Kevin Adams was still in charge? Well, the thing that I would say is that, and I'd like to think the people that I've talked to that this is pretty close to being legit. I think that once that happened, it got everybody's attention, and then it was reaffirmed by the new management team to a lot of people within the front office and around the ice surface. and maybe that had something to do with it as well. So a commo of Yarmo and Kevin Adams, I would say I wouldn't have a problem with that at all because you see what's gone on here.

It's been pretty amazing. Very quick, Lindy Rough story. There's a time when the Islanders were spinning their wheels and just giving out like questionnaires to alumni to fill out for the next head coach. They're like, I don't know, we just need someone. Clark Gillies took one of them and he had Lindy fill it out. and it was so well done that they invited Clark for a head coaching job interview,

and he had no idea what had been on the sheet that he had filled out. So he didn't get the job. Borny, Borny, Borny, you know that Sammy filled out Kipper's questionnaire here when you guys got this gig. You know that, right? You know that, right? He's all over you today. He deserves it.

I don't expect anything less. I come on. I come on. I take some time out because I love you guys and somebody probably canceled on Kipper first off. Never. I don't mind coming out of the bullpen. I don't mind being that guy.

You're our starter. Okay? But then you attack the color of my face. That's not a good thing. I don't think that's a good thing. So for future, just in case, they don't rip on somebody's appearance when they get them. You should do it at the end of the show, not at the beginning.

Listen, I'm in my 26th year of broadcasting. I learned something new today. Oh, my gosh. Hold on. Hold on. Let me, let me, let me, let me, here, folks. This is what he's doing. Okay. 26 years. Okay. I was, here's Kipper. Bornie. He's an official in here. Get a ref. Get a ref between these guys, tens. But I was transitioning to Islanders because I do want your thoughts on the Islanders. They, uh, they've been fascinating, you know, with the Schaefer turn around. But they did kind of make a surprising move, getting Shen at the deadline.

Some people in Long Island think, a little soon, maybe not quite ready for, for that. sort of ad? What did you think of what they did there and the direction of things? Yeah. Yeah, why not? Okay. Well, you look at the doors open in the Eastern Conference. Is it not? I mean, look at the goalie, look at the goalies that they got there. Yeah. You play the Islanders in a seven-game series. Why can't, why can't Sorokin be that guy to go ahead and win, you know, win 13 of 15 or 16 games? Like, he has that ability. And all of a sudden, you're right there. So I like the aggressiveness. And when you, when you met, you mentioned Schaefer.

I mean, when you watch this young kid play, it just, it's so awesome to see, especially a guy on the back end to be able to just kind of control what goes on out there. And it forces them to play faster when he is on the ice. And we did, and I think we did two Islander games a little bit earlier in the season. So before the Olympic break and talking to Patrick Waugh about him. And just you could just see the excitement, Borny and Kipper, you know, talking about him and just how, you know, how much he has grown in a short period of time. But just to know that there's probably, you know, another couple of steps to be able to take because you get more experience and you do get around the league a couple of times. And he may be one of those guys where you go in the next year.

And I'm just thinking off the top of my head here, here's a young guy that comes into the. league and what are we playing an extra three quarters to seven eighths of a game more a week because of the condensity of the schedule and because of the Olympic break. Could you imagine him in a normal setting or in a normal season where he gets all this little extra time off and think about that like he would be the type of guy that like a lot of players because they're all great condition athletes. But to think that, well, wow, next year, man, this isn't as this isn't as hard as it was the last year. There's more to give, yeah. And all of a sudden, he may be even better just because of

the schedule. So I think there's a lot to it. But I like what the islanders have done. I think Lou Lamarillo deserves a lot of credit for going out there and doing some of the moves that he did and the signings he did, but also being able to convince Patrick Guad to come to the island. And you could say he's done a really, really good job. with this team and this is a team that I think becomes dangerous if they can stay in a spot that they are because I think that the east I think that the east has a chance to go sideways at some point very early in a playoffs and then why not just get in and I think that they can get in and with the goaltending why not and so when you talk about certain teams that maybe take a chance

that aren't quite ready to win there there is that danger of depleting the the the draft pool. That's what happened to the Toronto May beliefs. And they find themselves in quite the predicament right now. What would you do, you know, if you were, if they were smart enough to hire you? I said what I would have done three playoffs ago. I think it was the Nick Paul, the Nick Paul game. I think game seven, right?

I'm not sure if it was three years ago or not. I'm not, I'm being totally honest. I'm not sure if it was three or four years ago. It doesn't matter. I thought that was the time to go ahead and make those hard decisions and figure out who your core was to be able to do a quick little rebuild and retool on the fly and go from there. That opportunity, I thought, presented itself then, and now you see what has ended up happening. And I think that anything should be on the table moving forward. That would be front and center.

Now, again, we understand with the way that players have their contracts, and there are certain things you can and can't do as a manager and whether or not you were the manager that gave out these contracts or not. I think that anything should be on the table moving forward for the Maple Leafies. Because think about how close they were last year. And I know Lee fans don't want to hear it. And you could be talking about LA too here, guys, right? Yep.

They had Edmonton over a barrel. They were up in their series. They were up two games and they weren't able to close them down. The Leafs were up on the Florida Panthers. They weren't able to shut them down and look at it's, look at all of a sudden where they are. Even go back two years ago to Vancouver. Think about it.

They had Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Rick Tocket, coach of the year. You had Pedersen there. And then my understanding was that Marty Natchez was available for the Vancouver Canucks to move Pedersen for Natchez. and some sort of a deal. And they didn't. And look at what has happened to Vancouver. And it's just, sometimes it just goes that way.

I understand that. Pedersen gets a long-term deal. Tuckett leaves. J.T. Miller is out for a lot of different reasons. And where's Quinn Hughes now? Well, you saw what he did at the Olympics. And now he's getting, you know, almost, you know, two-assisted game in Minnesota.

So it changes very quickly. But I think if you're able to have the right people and the right positions, regardless of where it is in the NHL, that have the autonomy and the ability to be able to go and do what they think, is that I think you'd rather be aggressive than to sit back and just say, well, it's going to get better, it's going to get better. So, Borny, go back to what you asked me about the Islanders. Like, I like the aggressiveness.

If you have to give up picks or whatever, when's the last time the Islanders have made a run? Like, it's been a long time. Like, they deserve it. The guys in the room deserve it. The fan base deserves it. Toronto was no different, Kippa. I'll go back to what we were talking about with the. the Leafs. I know what I would do. Nobody's asking me my opinion, which is fine, but at the end of

the day, anything should be on the table because I think that that window, the last couple of years, it's getting to the point where if you don't fix it quicker, that window's going to be completely shut. And all of a sudden, you're going to have guys leaving town and you're not going to get anything for them. You know, there's a lot of guys who have had opinions on a couple of teams. The Leafs are always one. There's lots of opinions on that. The other in Canada is the Oilers, right? everyone has had their solution. What should have happened, what might have happened. This year at the deadline, they get a couple defensive specialists.

Dickinson, Murphy, right, even Doc. I don't know. You've seen them in the postseason in big spots. Is this enough? Do they have enough to be better than they've been in the past in playoffs? I'm a little concerned with the journeys that they've been on the last couple of years. That's the first thing. I saw him the other night in their win in Colorado.

We did that game down here on the States on TMT. the Oilers avalanche game the other night. I saw them in person for the first time in a while. I like their team. I think obviously, like a lot of teams, there are some holes, but my biggest concern

would be with them, because the two big boys in Bouchard, they can say, okay, let's go, guys. We're going to make another run and what have you. But the only thing I would be concerned about is at some point, all the hockey you that the Oilers have played, and in particular, when you look at the Four Nations for Connor,

and I know he's the best player in the world, and sometimes it takes his toll. I would just be a little concerned as can they get through a couple of rounds in order to give themselves a chance to get back to the conference finals? I don't know. I don't know the answer to that, but I don't mind their team, because I think especially in the Pacific, if you get the right matchup, why can't, you know, why can't the go on another run when you look at the teams that they're going to be battling. Vegas has holes, Anaheim has holes. How about the job Joel Quinville's done in Anaheim? I mean, man, oh man, you talk about somebody that should be nominated for Coach of the Year.

How do you not start out with Joe Quinville and think about where Anaheim is and all the changes that they've made and all the injuries that they've had. Certainly his resume speaks for itself. So Edmonton, my biggest concern would be, yeah, you want to look at the goaltending. Jari has been not very good. but he came in a relief the other night and did a hell of a job when ingram got run over by Nathan McKinnon. So for me, I would be concerned about all the hockey, the Oilers have played, especially the big boys. Now, will Chris Knoblock continue to go to the big boys and play them together? Because when he does that, obviously, you know, they become a little bit more or a lot more short-handed when you put all your eggs in one basket.

but it's worked the last two years. Can it work for a third one? I would probably lean more no than yes just because of how much hockey the big boys have played here because at some point, it's just going to run out of gas. That's just my opinion. Still wide open here, Edzo, really appreciate it. Hey, we need a shout out for our buddy, Mike Hartman,

who had a bit of a health challenge here the last couple of weeks. So just thinking to him, you know. Absolutely. Hardy. One of the best in the inventor of, give me a chance, give me a chance. So Hardy, we love you, man. And also I do want to make mention of two things, one on a positive and one obviously on a big negative. But congratulations to Paul Coffey, back with the Oilers on the coaching staff. And going to be honored by the NHL Alumni Association.

So way to go, Coff is man of the year. And just got a chance to play with Coff for a short period of time. And just a world-class guy both on and off the ice. We lost a great one in Troy Murray, a longtime NHL or Selke Trophy back in the 85-86 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, longtime broadcaster, Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche. We lost Troy a few days ago, and I've known Troy Murray for 44 years of my life and was a mentor, a great teammate. We were in each other's weddings. We both married former flight attendants.

We were broadcasters with the Blackhawks for 16 years, and we both. both battled the Big Sea and he was there for me for day one. And I sent my well-washes to his family out there and, in the suburbs of Edmonton and all his family and friends and former teammates. Played in Ottawa, played in Winnipeg, former captain of the Jets, and just a tremendous guy and more importantly, a great person. So we're going to miss Troy. And I loved them.

I loved them like a brother. And this was a hard one. This was a bad loss for, for the National Hockey League in the community. Troy was one of the best. So thanks for letting me give those shoutouts and thinking about Hardy and you guys keep up the great work.

And when somebody cancels again on you, Kipper, just to make sure you give me a call, all right? Edzo. Thanks so much, pal. You're a class act, man. You're a class act. That's all I got for you, buddy. Thanks for doing this.

Thanks, Edzo. Have a great day. Thanks, pal. Love you. Love you guys too. Eddie Old Chuck. One of the best. A real Kipper I'm born holiday.

Oh, yeah. First ballot. First line. No greater emotional range during our interviews with him than we said. The man. Eyes and lows. So. Just picture that all season long.

I know. Every day. Morning stretch. Relentless. Buses. Hotel lobbies. After the game. Would you ever tell them just to leave you a little?

Just turn it off. I couldn't keep up. He's too sharp. He is as sharp as the guy. We had seven of them. We had Glenn Healy. Oh, my God. We had, um, we had Phil Bork.

Yeah. We had Mike Richter who would never shut up. God, that must have been some dressing. Oh my God. It was amazing. It was so much fun. Not enough microphone to go around in there. Like, it was, uh, it was the best.

That's how, that's how you get thick skin quickly. Oh, yeah. That's how you can handle a market like Toronto and Edmonton and Vancouver. You just don't get away with anything in those rooms. Probably my strongest memory of hockey dressing rooms and vibe is just like, you just don't get away with anything. Not a thing. No one cuts you any slides.

Game time? Game time. So I just want to put this out there. I was talking about this a little bit at the end of the lease hour, but my foot is an extreme plane. And Borny gave me some stuff. And I forgot I had a foot. It's just. Advil and or ibuprofen, which is the same thing.

No, no, actually. It's an extra strength cocktail. It's all we're saying. It was the stuff that put you under a bridge, I think, about, what, seven years ago? I forgot. I forgot. I could have got into that below. I don't know.

I'm sure what I gave him. Anyways, it's game time. Presented by Bet 365. Visit the Afflead of Sons, Mr. 19 plus. And Terry only. Please play responsibly. The Leafs hosting the Ducks tonight. And I just want to give this one out.

because I have not been more sure about an anytime goal score. Beckett Seneca played for the Oshua Generals, Toronto, Ontario native. First game back here in the NHL, well, first game here in the NHL period. He thinks got 20 goals already this year. He's going to be super excited tonight. Leaves can't defend,

and he's going to shoot one in the net. The number there is plus 240, so I really like that number. Can't bet on Pizzetta PIMS, can I? Probably could, but I'm in no mind set to dig that up right now. Looking elsewhere, the Edmonton Oilers are in Dallas to take on the Stars. Really good game there tonight. The Oilers schedule recently has been pretty tough, and this is another one for them.

They are plus 105 on the money line. Dallas Stars minus 125. Oilers have looked really good in two games in a row. Don't mind the Oilers at plus money there. Jari is the starter. Ingram actually on the bench backing up, so he's alive after getting his head knocked off. That's a great sign.

By McDavid. What is the first of the other? Carolina, Colorado. Vegas, Dallas. Big one for the Detroit Red Wings to get back on track tonight. They're playing Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is huge favorites in that game.

Minas, 220 on the money line. Detroit is plus 180 on the road. That was game time. I bet 365. Visit the app for the latest Osmos for 19 plus and Tara only. Please play responsibly. All right.

I just pulled this out of my ear. I've done like three quarters of the show with this thing in my ear. I didn't even notice. I did a hit on with a sports center or no sports central. Like this morning. I can't even remember what they're called anymore.

And I had them in my whole time. And I, do you ever do that? Yeah, I have to come on my wife and be like, is your fly been open all day? And I'm like, probably. I hadn't thought about it until this second.

All right, all right. Okay, we'll take a quick break here. Do some Vegas after the break. Ken Bulki. Bulki. From what, Sinbin, Vegas. You got it, buddy. We'll catch up on.

the golden nights and what is going on with them. That more when we return. The best Blue Js show out there, period. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder of this hour of Real Kippron Bourne brought to by Bet365. At Kiprios, Justin Bourne's Hemi.

McKee. Yeah, Eddie Olchick's favorite animal. But he wants you in my chair. What is that? You did say he was bobbing for French fries before you said hello. He looked like he was in the sun. Listen, I'm staying out of. You also said that to Doug Armstrong once.

So you're not afraid to say it to people. That was legit, though. Yeah, he was cooked. He was cooked. He was cooked. He was cooked. He was cooked. All right, let's go to Ken Bullkey, who covers the Vegas Golden.

Knights does a terrific job. Sinbin, Vegas. Ken, we look at the standings. It went from first to third to a situation now where the Golden Knights have a four-game homestead is, dare I say it, could the playoffs be in jeopardy here? They still play in the Pacific Division. Okay. We're getting there.

We're getting there. But either the kings or the sharks have to knock them out. and like, is that realistic? I don't think so. Right. Yeah, it's been fascinating. I think a lot of us just thought, you know, addition to Marner and then addition to Rasmus Anderson,

that this thing was kind of going to be taking it to the next level. And it hasn't quite happened yet. Why is that? I still think they're trying to kind of figure out how all these pieces fit together. And I think there might be a legitimate argument that they don't. They don't have a bona fide legitimate score. and then their defense is kind of repetitive, I would say. Anderson, Theodore, Hanifin, they're all kind of good at the same things.

And they're all kind of not great at some of the same things. And I think that's kind of what we're seeing to this point. As far as Mitch Marner is concerned, everybody knows him as one of the key guys for the Leafs all these years. Now he's in Vegas. He's playing center, which we didn't really see throughout his. career. He's not necessarily on the ice a lot with Jack Eichel or Stone over the years. Yet he's finding himself as a pointed game guy. But overall, what's it looked like for you watching him, Trent, make the transition from being a leaf to a Vegas golden night?

I really thought you'd get more dominance more often. There are certain times where you do see it. There are certain times where he does take over the game and really is key in every single situation. They get the puck across the offensive blue line. But then there's other games that it's like, is Mitch playing tonight? And to me, it's like you would have thought for the amount of money they spent for what the plan was. They exited last playoffs with 127 consecutive minutes of not scoring against Edmonton

and then went out and bought a scorer or at least an assistor, I guess is probably more likely. And they're not scoring. They have scored seven or 13 goals in the last seven games. So they're still trying to kind of figure out exactly how he fits. And again, kind of similar to what I said at the beginning, 65 games in, there might be an argument that it doesn't fit that well. The fascinating thing with Vegas is like their defensive metrics are fantastic. You know, like they look like one of the best teams by expected goals against.

I think Sport Logic has them as the best team. So they're not the best in terms of pure goals against. The goaltending then gets called into question. How is this going to end up shaking out as they head towards playoffs? It's definitely not been good enough. But I do think we have to have some context in that number that the Golden Knights are 31st in the league and times spent trailing. Like that goes a long way in expected goals and shot share and a lot of that because they're behind more often than not. They very rarely have the lead.

So a lot of times it ends up being them pushing late in these games. And now, does that go back to goaltending? Yeah, probably. Why are you down all the time? Well, your goalie doesn't stop the puck from going in the net. That's a good way to get down more often than not. I do think, like, Hill's been kind of getting better over time. I think Akira Schmidt kind of is what Akira Schmidt is.

And then they've had the other guys that have been in their heart was in there and got injured, wasn't particularly great. I just think they are similar to. to what it was before when they were great. When you're an excellent defensive team, when you're an excellent team, Aden Hill can do it. When you're not,

he's kind of just another one of the guys that are in the mix of being halfway decent to good goalies in the NHL. He's not Bobrovsky, Vasilefsky, whoever, Sorokin, pick a great goalie. He's not that. You're watching and listening to Ken Bullke, who covers Vegas,

founder and writer of Sinbin Vegas. So, okay, he's not Bobrofski, and he's not Vasilevsky, but he is a guy that got a six-year deal, I think, at six and a half million. And we've seen Vegas over the course of, you know, their inception to be, what have you done for me lately?

If it's not good enough, we find a way to move on. Was there any inklinged at all that they were looking at it, maybe a shorter-term goal-tending scenario here, or even they couldn't pull something like that off? Well, they already did one. They did the Carter Hart thing, so I don't know what we're going to say about that other than he got injured fairly quickly.

It wasn't particularly great in his 12 games. But like when there's smoke, there's got to be some fire. I know Kelly McCriman kind of came out here and threw some insiders under the bus saying they had to justify their existence, which that he likes to make comments like that anyway. But there's no doubt. They were looking at goalie. They had to be looking at goalie. Nobody looks at the metrics this season and doesn't think at least it has something to do with what's going wrong.

Now, you have to be able to find that match and then it has to be a better goalie than Aden Hill. And I think there's an argument that Jordan Bennington's not. Maybe he's similar, but I don't know that he's like a massive upgrade over Aden Hill. But Brofsky probably would have been, but we don't know what the cost would have been on that. And don't forget, the Golden Knights don't have a first round pick this year, next year, or maybe the following year if they win the cup. That one's going to Calgary too. So there's not a lot in the cupboard to deal with. plus all the other first round picks are gone too.

You know, it's weird watching Vegas, who always makes the big move, always gets the player at the deadline be like, Nick Dowd, that's going to be, but I do want to know how has it fit? Does it plug a hole that you feel like Vegas had? I don't think it plugs a hole necessarily because Colton Sizzins kind of is Nick Dowd.

He was just injured. They're very similar, solid to good fourth liners. I think they were looking to do something. We got to get better. some way. Let's try and do something. It reminds me a little of last year with Riley Smith, the year they won the cup. They did Teddy Bluger. You know, they've looked at kind of try and upgrade that. I don't think it's gone great or poorly. He doesn't really score. He's not going to generate offense. They've been a little bit better for checking since the deadline, but they're also one and

six in their last seven games. So how much better has it actually been? It happened. It's Nick doubt it's not the splashy one but it's also they also did rasmus Anderson about a month before and that one not really working all that well and he doesn't have a contract yet can the payoff for trading for mark stone with with ottawa years ago it certainly is paid off and we know that but this is the time of year that looks familiar right where he just kind of disappears and then comes back into the playoffs and looks fantastic are we just to assume that that will happen again. He's got one more year left,

one more year left on his deal. I think that would open up another chance to go and get another $10 million player. But in the meantime, can he come back and still be a key cog here? Man, he's been awesome this year. Like when he's been on the ice, he has been so good. He scores a point in like 90% of games.

He did it in the Olympics. Like the guy's been phenomenal all year. But like you said, it's March, he usually disappears for a little while. And it happened. And now today he comes back to morning skate wearing a red no contact jersey, but then participates as if he's playing. So I don't even know what's happening tonight later today. He might play. He might not play. Cassidy's answer was not particularly good. We haven't ruled him in and we haven't ruled him out. It's like, well, that's not helpful at all, Bruce. So, you know, I still think if he's in the line, lineup, Mark Stone's going to be great.

As long as he is at least close to the full health. Now, is he rushing himself back? I don't know. We really don't have a lot of information because the NHL doesn't like to give it. I actually asked specifically, is it his back? And the answer that was given was, and I quote, its upper body. A back is in the upper body, a good portion of it.

But can I get a no? Or yes. What, come on. If you figure out how to get a no, or yes to those questions. You let us know. We would love it. Last one for me, as you mentioned, the Anderson thing, that he doesn't have a contract yet. Are we at the point where we're concerned that that that, that he might not stick or not that concern? I don't think so. I mean, it hasn't, it hasn't been like the perfect fit. You look at the offensive numbers, not been all that great.

Defensively, it's been a bit of a struggle. But, you know, he's got to figure in, figure out how to deal with four fewer minutes. I think the bigger piece is like he's just not going to get power play time here. He's not going to get six on five time here. They use. a five forward unit and he's just not going to be that guy. So can you get the same impact out of Arasmus Anderson when you're not getting that offensive impact? I don't know. But the Golden Knights knew that going in.

They knew where he was going to slot in. They knew what they were going to get. I would be shocked. They've really never had a guy that they wanted to hang on to or done this type of deadline deal and not been able to get the extension across the line. Rasmus, it's pretty well-known secret. He wants to be in Vegas. Now he's here.

I don't see why it wouldn't happen. There has been some questions of like, does he deserve more than Theodore and Anathan, which is probably what it's going to have to be. And I think that's a fair argument because I don't know that he does. I would argue he probably does not. Just one more on the lineup. It looks like Mitch Martner maybe going back out to the wing

with hurdle in the middle here. Bruce Cassidy, like how much is he feeling to find that, rhythm, that mix, that chemistry here. We're getting down a crunch time here. Yeah, he likes Marner as a center and he goes out of his way to say how much he likes Mitch Marner as a center.

And to a degree, I get it. He's really good defensively. He's not good in the circle, but he's always in the right place. He's always the highest forward. He's never on the wrong side of the puck. Like, I get it. But he does seem to have much more impact. You guys have seen it for years in Toronto. He's way more

impact on the wing. He's going to generate more offense on his wing and he should be there probably more than likely. I think the bigger problem is like hurdles been bad at five on five. Like I don't have a better way to say it. He just isn't very good at five on five. It's not a power play. He's not doing anything. So they're trying to find like, all right, can we get him going with Marner back on the wing? But then now you've got Sizzins and doubt as your other two centers. That's not exactly the best depth down the middle that they've used to have in the past. And also, Howden's playing on a wing and he can play center. So I do think they're kind of still searching for answers. And then also Mark Stone in the lineup, Mark Stone out of the

lineup. Do you want Stone with Eichol? Like there's a lot of moving parts here. And meanwhile, they can't keep losing because otherwise you start the question by asking me if they're going to miss the playoffs. You got to win at some point. Yeah. Well, you got to win at home for at home. This is a big home stand starting tonight against Pittsburgh. Hey, Ken, great stuff, man. Thanks for joining us. And best of luck the rest of the way. Yeah, thanks for having me. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it, man. Ken Bolke, founder and writer of Sin Ben Vegas.

Pittsburgh tonight for Vegas, followed by Chicago, Buffalo, Utah, at home. I just remember this detail. Remember when Eddie said that they almost traded Natchez for Patterson? Yeah, is that it out there? Was I crazy that I was like, wait, what? Is that news? I certainly never heard of it.

So Eddie just dropped a nice little nugget on our show. Max fans, NACCHIS for Petterson was there. Did you know that? Maybe they're all going to be like, yeah, we all knew that. I don't know. I mean, I think NACIS is a great player. That makes total sense, by the way. A few years ago, for sure, it would have been like, yeah.

Total sense. Yeah. I just think that NACIS, I mean, him and McKinnon is such a dynamic pair that I'm not sure NACIS is the same guy without McKinnon. Buddy, Natchezis pretty decent in Carolina. You have lots of points. I'm on the playoffs. I don't know.

I've, you know, that's the thing that I keep pointing to with that trade is that everyone always takes the victory lap and then rant and has a half. hat trick in the seventh game to put you out. Right. Right? Yeah, yeah. So, that hurts. How do we go from like two games yesterday to 14 tonight?

That's how we roll. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. Unbelievable. That's a lot of hockey games. And, you know, I think it was a good show. Okay. I was fairly focused, right? Yeah, of course, man.

But I am watching the golf. Oh, the players is so beautiful. I'm watching the golf out of the corner of my eye. And if I shot around there, I would shoot a thousand. Every hole shaped like this. There's water on the left, bunkers on the left there. It's nothing but water and sand everywhere. And it's like circling every green that looks like a posted stamp to me.

You two lefties would have been a nightmare. My boy, Zander's dialing up the darts out today. He's got a good start. Yeah, it wouldn't be, it would not be fun out there. No, it looks like it, of course, not well suited for amateurs like us. So the Buffalo Sabres going for their ninth. straight victory tonight at home against the Washington Capitals. God, man, how long was the other streak they had?

9. 10-11, what was it? Lindy rough, Jack Adams. How open is this Stanley Cup? November, November, December, we're talking about like five teams, six teams, but you're like, somebody gets on a roll, somebody gets hurt, bad goaltending. Totally.

You know, we had tears of teams, and it was like Florida, maybe Tampa. David Amber was in yesterday. If Ottawa finds a way to catch Detroit, and by the way, like, one game in hand, they're just four points out.

Yeah. Like, lots of time here still. Lots of time. But big, big hockey game. But if I offered you, like you say it's wide open,

but like, if I offered you, I'm like, yeah, to be Tampa in Colorado. Yeah. I mean, I don't think it's like,

there's really great teams that are going to be likely. But, you know, when we've seen teams with 130 points losing the first round. All it takes is one weird sideways bounce and it's no Colorado or no Tampa.

Who would Colorado play in the first round this year? See, to me, the West is different because one of Dallas, Colorado or Minnesota is going to be in the conference final. Yeah. So you're going to have a very legitimate cup contender in deep and whoever comes out of the Pacific

is going to be in tough. But injuries happen, who knows, man? I look at Boston and I know to your point, can you, can you win now? Arguably their best line is middle stat, Zaka and Ardvetson. I know.

Right. Back end, great goal. But they work their asses off and they play hard. Yeah. They're totally a good team that is fine to me. You know what I mean? Like they don't blow me away. They're not bad.

So, yeah, it would be tough to beat them in a series. but if playoffs started today, they'd be playing Carolina in the first round. Yeah. I like that for six or seven games. Yeah. You know why? It's because a lot of people, yourself included, questioned Carolinas. Yeah, I do.

But this has got to be Carolinas here. There's no Florida? Boston would. No Florida. Carolina is going to win the east. So presumably have home ice the whole way through. No Florida has been their boogey man. And Anderson in playoffs?

What do you think? Is it going to be bussy? I'm trying to think if I've had any memories of Anderson in big games to the leaves if he's gone well. Did you ever have a bus driver in your entire career

that wasn't called bussy? Like everything is just hey bussey what's time we leaving like every you they were always bussy I thought it was auto I don't think it's been auto

always bussy and Hershey our bus driver was like was like an adopted trainer too like he yeah oh load the bus no no I'm talking

track suit everything on the bench on the bench sometimes really yes God I can't remember Oh, I miss those days, except on the 16th and 31st. Minor league pay, no good, not fun. Yeah, I got more experience of that.

Wow, jam-packed today. Our thanks in our first hour to Scott Niedemeyer, Edzo, Eddie O'Huck, and Ken Bulki. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening. Back tomorrow with Doug McLean.