Real Kyper & Bourne - Pre-Winter Olympics Trade Market + Rasmus Andersson is a Knight

Episode Date: January 19, 2026

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by NHL insider and host of 'Frankly Speaking' on Victory+, Frank Seravalli (2:42), to chat about the Calgary Flames trading away Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, why the Boston Bruins may have backed out of the sweepstakes, how Kiefer Sherwood's market ultimately ended up landing with the San Jose Sharks, if the Vancouver Canucks could move Elias Pettersson before the Winter Olympics, who would be classified as the New York Rangers 'core', where could Artemi Panarin find himself playing to close the 2026 season, and potential hot head coaching seats across the league. Then, former coach of the Blue Jackets and Flames, Brad Larsen (30:08), takes a deeper dive into Rasmus Andersson's trade, coaching the defenceman, and working with Martin St. Louis and John Tortorella behind the same bench. 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, time to take it to another level on our national show. It's the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary and streaming, always on Sportsnet Plus. If you miss our show, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and of course, YouTube, where the chats are going well. And give us a thumbs up if you get a chance. This hour, Real Kipper and Born brought you by Bet365. In a few minutes, we'll get into the NHL.

trades with Frank Saravelli. In the meantime thoughts on what we may see as an artificial deadline before the Olympics where teams are pushing hard now.

Yeah. We saw two of probably the top names a cadry still out there, of course, with Calgary. We'll get into that a little bit more with Frank, but two big names. gone. You know, we had heard some

people, and I forget if it was on this show or not, but just talking about how oh, they may want to wait till after the Olympics or, but like the standings are tight and it's going to be a real fight for a very few assets out there. If you want to do something, you kind of got to do it now. So I like that some

shoes have dropped. Makes deadline maybe a little less thrilling, but you know, big move for Vegas, big move for the Sharkies who were getting serious about trying to hang. We talked about it on Friday about after watching that Vagas D. Corps being like at least a little bit to be designed.

Yeah, right? Totally. And I'm surprised they traded White Cloud. Like I don't, he's a guy that played a ton for them. Did you have the official trade? And then also we'll mention the key for. It was White Cloud a first and a second that turns into a first. If they win the Stanley Cup.

And a kid, a defenseman or another asset. I think that didn't know his name. Yeah. Okay. That is the most creative player name of her. Abram Weeb is the prospect's name. Or not even a prospect. He's like 27 or something, is he?

U.N.D. No, no respect to the guy. I just, I just don't know who he is. Yeah. I don't know. This sounded more like a shift of contracts than it does. Right. An actual player that's going to help us win the Stanley Cup.

It's a first. White Cloud and a second that can become a first. 22? Yeah. Okay. Now, White Cloud also could become a first at the deadline. Cheap deal, valuable defender. Right shot, big guy, tough.

Yeah. Good contract. I think they've got a few options there. All right, let's welcome in. Frank Saravelli, been on the show before. Of course, NHL Insider, host of frankly speaking on Victory Plus. Frank, how are you, buddy? Pretty good.

How are you guys doing? You get all your work done early before the trade deadline in March? We just mentioned about maybe an artificial trade deadline coming up here before the Olympics. How do you feel about that? Yeah, I think there's going to be a lot of teams that would like. to get some of their work done before then, particularly in guys that they could move out. Now, the push and pull is that with the Olympics coming up and obviously some high leverage hockey there, that you're going to be dealing with injuries.

And so I'm wondering if we see a flurry on the back end of it from the Olympic sprint and gold medal game wrapping up right to March 6 with the deadline that teams are going to have to reevaluate positions based on needs and what's coming out of the Olympics. So the Anderson deal finally gets done. What did you think of the return? Was there anything similar out there? Was this clearly the best of the bunch? I think this was the best of the situation, really,

and it's not the best of the bunch. I believe the Boston Bruins put a better offer on the table and in fact probably one that the Calgary Flames would have preferred. But in the end, the unwillingness from the Anderson camp to sign an extension with anyone at this point in time, the Boston Bruins backed out at that point. Other teams that had tried to get in the mix, I believe the Los Angeles Kings were another one

that he did not entertain a contract negotiation with, that certain teams had to either lessen their offer or were out completely leaving one team left standing with the goods to make a deal. And that's a team with maybe the most different risk profile of any in the NHL. And that's the Vegas Golden Knights. And so is he going to resign?

there. Sorry, Kip, to jump in, but you get the vibe that that will happen? Yeah, I think that's the expectation. I mean, a lot of people have viewed this as a fate accompli, maybe even a certain, to an certain extent that with the Boston Bruins, was all of this a smokescreen? Was this really the preferred destination all along? And how did they manage the situation and the messaging to get him to Vegas to then now turn around?

and the expectation is $63, $64 million on the open market, well, can he sign for a number that's the equivalent of that in Vegas on a long-term deal? I think that's what everyone's looking for. And if you look at the history of Brett or Kelly McCriman and George McPhee, like whether it's Eichel or Hannah Finn, they don't make these moves without getting their guy. I'm not saying it's done. I'm not saying it's in a drawer, but come on.

on. They have to have to have something in some type of an agreement of where that number is and we can get it done. I agree with you, Kipper. I think when you look at this situation, I mean, that's why their risk profile is the way that it is, because they have the confidence that even if Rasmus Anderson was unsure about the nature of coming to Vegas, which I think he was pretty set on, the idea that you'll come here and like it is probably a pretty strong one. I don't know, maybe for everyone except for Mitch Marner. So the, I'm just going to gloss over that. Boston Bruins then they don't get them.

But that's interesting enough that they were willing to part with what seemed like significant assets for a guy. So they are a team that, I don't want to say going for it, but we expect the Bruins to make other moves then to get someone? Well, I don't know if get someone is the line of thinking for the Boston Bruins in the sense that we were talking about the premier rental defenseman available in Anderson. And the reason why the Bruins were so interested is because they didn't want to let him be a rental. They wanted to acquire a player with term attached to him.

And the only way to do that in their case is now to trade for someone with term or get an extension done. And I think part of the reason for that is this season has been up, down and all over the place for the Bruins. They were really good for a stretch of time. They've been really poor for a stretch of time. they've been sort of teetering on the edge of this mess that is the Eastern Conference standings, they're trying to figure out exactly what they are. Are we a team that is going to be, you know, pushing closer toward being aggressive? Should we sit back?

Or what is our posture moving forward? And that's really what they've been trying to figure out. So, Frank, we assume that with the Calgary trade to Vegas for Rasmus, there's a lot of things that you worry about if you're Calgary. and that includes an injury to what is regarded as maybe the number one trade chip, I think on most trade boards, right? And the Olympics coming up, and if he gets hurt, you'll lose a ton here. But Kiefer Shearwood isn't going to the Olympics last time I checked.

What was Vegas's rush to move him to San Jose now? Or Vancouver, sorry, Vancouver's rush to trade him to San Jose. This one, this one kind of, I don't know, doesn't bother me, but I'm like,

shop them around. Like, get the price up, get some bidding wars. Because this guy was a sought after piece as well. Well, they did do that and that's been ongoing for the last four to five weeks now. I mean,

essentially really coming out of the holidays, particularly right after New Year's, the Canucks and Sherwood's camp had engaged in talks again. Hey, just double checking to see if we're, close on an extension and they weren't. And so since then, they've been making a really concerted effort. They had presented to teams like they were pretty close on making a deal.

I'd say upwards of 10 days ago. It was essentially for a long time. It was first team to put a first round pick on the table gets Kiefer Sherwood. And they didn't get that to materialize. So they landed with the San Jose sharks and two second round picks plus a player to make the 50 contract limit work for San Jose. and there were a couple things that teams were concerned about. I reported 10 days ago that the teams in the mix for sure were Dallas, Anaheim, Boston,

well, the Rangers, not anymore, and San Jose. So in this case, some teams were concerned about shooting percentage uptick and is the results that we've seen from Sherwood, can he replicate those again? And then the other part of it connected to it was the next contract for Kiefer Sherwood. He's not exactly a young UFA. And so when you look at the market and how it's developed, teams have ballparked somewhere around five or six years north of $5 million per year.

And there were a number of teams that could have used the player. I think New Jersey was one of those teams. I think at a certain point Montreal was considering potentially dipping their toe in the Kiefer Sherwood sweepstakes. But they didn't or weren't comfortable with paying the contract on the back end of it, which is why you see a team like San Jose enter. they give up the two second round picks. And in exchange, I think we're all expecting at some point in time.

They don't have one in place now, but to work on a contract extension for Kiefer Sherwood to make him part of the fabric of their team moving forward. Yeah, it doesn't sound like a cheap deal, but if you're going to make that move, you sure better sign the guy. So Vancouver's doing stuff. You know, we've got Elias Pedersen's name is once again out there.

How much stuff are they doing? Is this going to happen this year, do you think? I think there's definitely a growing suspicion from teams that it does happen this year. And, I mean, there are some thinking maybe even potentially before the Olympics. Really? Now, that feels kind of quick. But the Canucks have been in the spot where they're ready and willing to consider anything and everything pretty much throughout the course of their organization. And I think the other part is the market that we've just talked about, which is look at the deal signed for Dvorak and Wendberg, 5.15.

million for Dvorak and six million for Wenberg. And all of a sudden you turn around and you look at Elias Pedersen and you say, if we believe this is a guy that we can rejuvenate, get his career going again with a change of scenery, all of a sudden 11.6 million a year doesn't sound like a crazy risk profile. What would Carolina would give up for him? I think Carolina is one of a handful of teams right now that has been burning up the Canucks.

I think the expressions of interest and significant interest at that has really ratcheted up in a significant way for Vancouver that they're trying to have to look at this in a serious way right now. Franklin, let's keep things moving around the National Hockey League, including a second letter out of the New York Rangers.

And in it, they spoke of a core that they'd like to build around. In your estimation, outside of Shisterkin, who is the core? That's it. What is the core? Yes, I think is a great question, Kipper. You know, it's, it's in my view, a pretty small group of individuals right now that you'd bolt down and say, this is who's going to be part of the New York Rangers moving forward.

So Sterkin, probably Adam Fox, likely Braden Schneider on the back end, will coolly up front. And then after that, I think you are seeking prices and values on just about every. else on your roster. And that's a really uncomfortable place to be because the blueprint with those players as the foundational pieces moving forward is not very sturdy. You wouldn't be building a skyscraper in Manhattan based off of that. And so I don't know if it's missed opportunity along the way. I don't know if it's an aborted rebuild from the other letter that you referenced from

2018 from Jeff Gordon that they kind of got halfway through it and decided to pivot and contend. I mean, this is a team that did win a president's trophy along the way. And I think they've got some real questions to answer about how the state of things moving forward, who's going to be there and who's not. It's an uncomfortable time for the New York Rangers. And just want to get a sense for coaching hot seats around the league. This is maybe the time of year if it happens.

I just wanted to ask about Panarin. Oh, okay. Sorry. I'll go second. Yeah, just one more on the Rangers before we, we, we, pivot. Panarin and up against a no move and your thoughts on whether or not he'll decide to stay and play it out to his free agency or will he accept a trade? Oh, I think he'll be accepting a trade. I don't see any incentive to want to stay for a team that's going in the opposite direction where

if anything, your numbers may be stifled a bit. And by the way, Panarin, point per game player in every season in New York, outside of Zadano Chara, I'd say one of the very best, and most productive free agent signings we've ever seen in the salary cap era when you look at his numbers. And when you look at the teams around the league that are looking for high-end skill, I think there's a few teams that stand out. Washington and their general manager, Chris Patrick, on the record last week, saying we want a high-skilled winger. Hello, Washington.

The Minnesota Wild, could you imagine putting Artemi Panarin opposite Karel Kaprizov and the magic that they could make there? I think there's a number of teams that are looking at this situation going, I don't know if we're in for the long haul with Panarin, and by long haul I mean legitimately that in the sense that the belief is around the league that Panarin is looking for a longer term deal, potentially one that even takes him 240. I don't know how much teams have a stomach for that.

Someone will, because it only takes one. But even as a rental, he's viewed as a very attractive option where maybe outside of New York, he doesn't have to be the guy for the first time and could be that really nice supporting piece. Do you want me just to reiterate that question? Do you remember it? I just remember you guys bantering.

Coaching hot seats. Is there anyone around the league? It feels like we've had minimal changes this year, but a lot of rumors about coaches that could be in trouble. But, you know, we're kind of getting to that point, aren't we? We are. And I think there's that opportunity potentially even before the Olympics to get everyone on the same page before a break.

Guys get a vacation. some of them, some of them are going to Milan, and to set a standard and an expectation before you get to the crunch time of March, I think would be really helpful from a scheduling perspective. And I also think same thing for potential trades. Why wait till the last minute when you can have a guy be able to use the Olympic break to get his family settled if he's interested

or to understand what the scheme is, to be able to find his way around the city or the rink or even team structure and how things work, all really important things. But when it comes to coaching hot seats in general, I think a few of them stand out, and it's kind of amazing that Dean Eveson ended up being the first one fired this year because, I mean, think about all the various names

that have floated through that mill over the course of this season. I mean, Craig Barubi was on that hot seat for a while. Sheldon Keefe in New Jersey. We've talked about Jim Hiller. At a point in time, people were calling for Scott Arneal. I mean, it has been a whole whack of different coaches this season. But right now, I'd be focusing squarely on Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings who feel like they're running out of patience. Speaking of which the Rangers aren't the only team struggling in the greater New York area,

you mentioned the Devils. Sheldon Keith, Tom Fitzgerald, had a press conference that many people were feeling like he needed to step up at the podium. how much are they feeling it, including what to do with Dougie Hamilton now? And what's realistic for a guy that still has another two years, I think, at $9 million? What are you hearing on that? Well, it's not an easy transaction.

We know that. And I do believe there's a handful of teams that are interested if the devils are willing to retain a little bit. And by a little bit, I mean knock two million or two, and a half million off of that number and I think they're ready to take on the Dougie Hamilton experiment at seven or seven and a half. But at the same time, they're not really willing to give you anything of substance or value in order to make that happen. So what's the incentive for the devils? It's to clear the deck. It's to get what has been a festering situation. I don't mean

Hamilton specifically, I mean that whole aura hovering over their dressing room, which I think has enabled their season to spiral here. And then the other part of this is who is part of this core on the back end? Who's staying, who's going, who's getting the ice time, who's getting the opportunity, and then figure out the rest from there. But make no mistake, the New Jersey Devils as a whole from top to bottom, including Tom Fitzgerald as general manager, are very much under evaluation from Harris Blitzer sports entertainment as to whether or not the general manager and the coaching staff moving forward

are going to be back. Frank, I think a tweet that maybe most got my ire up of all time might have been CJ just tweeting that in Italy that they were back at work after the weekend on the rink or feverishly at work, you know, after the weekend. I was like, they weren't working on the weekend? What is happening? Is it going to be built? What's the amenities?

What's going on over there? Well, I feel. like this is a direct shot at someone whose last name ends in a vow and may or may not have some connections to the construction industry. But what I'll say is, my apologies, if that's true. No, it's great. One of the great stories from some of the stakeholders who have been involved in this Olympics is they've gone over there multiple times and part of the discussion points have been from the Italian authorities. What do you mean you guys need this rink done in January? The games don't start until February.

And so they've all been kind of like blown away by the response and the nonchalant attitude of the Italians in general, which it's a different way of life. That's for sure. But look, in the end, this is going to get done. It's not going to have all the creature comforts that NHL players are used to. But I want to remind everyone that the look and feel on TV for fans, it probably won't change and anyone can do anything for a 12-day tournament. Just in terms of who ultimately is on rosters here,

any word on Braden Point? Some are suggesting maybe he might not be ready. If so, what are you hearing on that front and possible replacements? Yeah, I would say that the glass is half empty, not half full on the Braden Point front. I believe Team Canada is trying to give him all the runway possible to show that he's making progress and healing up. I believe in a perfect world they'd like to be making this decision by February 1st or 2nd as to whether or not point is a go or no go. And I think they have a list of five players, five forwards that they're sort of actively considering at this exact moment in time as a replacement. And so they're going to work through that.

Wyatt Johnson, Connor Bedard, Sam Bennett, Zach Hyman. I mean, you go through that group of players, like, probably can't go wrong with any of them. Yeah. Do you want to stay on the Olympics? Okay, just last one for me, because we were not able to get you in our Leafs Hour and our NHL hour. The Leafs heading towards the deadline earlier in the year,

buyers, middle of the year, sellers, this year. Where are they at, Frank? they are the person at the table that's in the poker game but has a low chip stack. Okay. Yep, they're waiting for this, the perfect hand to get aggressive. Dougie Hamilton. Yeah, not so much perfect hand, but perfect, I'd say, opportunity and fit. Maybe that's the best way to say it.

Maybe you're right is that maybe someone like Hamilton does make a lot of sense. You'd still have to do some cap surgery and try and figure that out, but you'd give your team a boost and a shot in the arm, while also not really spending assets that you don't have to spend. So when I said low chip stack, I mean, they want to be in the game, they want to be aggressive, they want to make something happen,

but there's limitations into how big of a game they can get into, and that's really what they're sifting through right now. He is Frank Sarvelli with a vowel at the end of his name. Thanks for joining us, pal. See you guys. Thanks, buddy. Host of frankly speaking on victory plus It is where you can find them

It is crazy You know the whole Olympic situation for these hockey players Yes they're going to be fine Yes the games are going to go on Maybe they're going to be sitting on turned over buckets When they tie their skates I'm really like surprised at like the

Obsession over this rank still I don't know I have you know I've heard that there is this exactly what he said Where they're kind of like it'll be fine No it's a big deal to be ready for the games. And I think there's real chance

that it kind of is not great. You all smiles out there. I just think that's hilarious. It's January. It's third February. Yeah. What are you needed for? You're in January.

Relax, pal. Like, what did they find out? They got the game's 2018. Like, good to go, 2019. I think two weeks

after the Raptors won the championship, they found out. Bonkers. Can't screw up. Just freezing. Why do you not think it's a... I just think we're past that.

And at that point where, like, like we said, a few parents may show up without seats. Like, it's not the end of the world. They'll find folding chairs for them, but the game's going to get played. We're officially at the point of it is what it is.

Yeah, it is what it is. They're not going to pull the players out of there now. It's way too far in the process, and the rink's not going to be perfect, so maybe we don't have to talk about it anymore. Yeah. How about those owners who let their players go over there? They're like, can we get, like, a seat for the game?

We don't really have seats, so. I mean, if you want to, paid $3,000 euros, he can hop right in here. Did you, would you make of him mentioning Wyatt Johnson?

I think Dallas isn't playing really well right now. He's been red hot. Yeah, he's been really good. Him and Rantan and have looked really, really good. You know, Zach Hyman's an interesting name.

Like, there's a lot of very good options. Here's what I'll say, if they pick Wyatt Johnston, it will be because they watch Wyatt Johnston a lot more than I do. You know what I mean? Like this guy, we have famous people and names we know and all that. And it's like, that one's not as familiar. These guys watch the hell out of hockey.

And if they choose him, it's because he's awesome. It's a lot like Harley in the four nation. Totally. That's a great example. Harley's going in and it's like, oh, Harley's their best guy. Oh, that guy's awesome. Oh, my God. All of a sudden, he's the best guy on the ice. At some point, you have faith to Doug Armstrong and John Cooper,

no hockey, pretty good. For sure. And all the rest of the brass. Save that one, save that clip too. We've all watched Sam Beneplace a pretty good game. When they win the silver. Well, but listen, it's a one-game elimination tournament, right? Like, if you have the best team, you got a 55% chance of winning.

Like we said, we could send two teams over there. Sure. And our second team might beat the first team three out of seven games, you know? I know we touched on this briefly, but the Vancouver Canucks, do you really feel like there's just going to clean house here? they should. I don't know because I get the mixed messages from people where it's like, you know, they don't want to do that there.

They want to keep, you know, butts and seats. But, yeah, to Sam's point, Pety's not a part of the solution. I like San Jose ending up. Like when we talk about some teams with low chips at the poker table, as Frank alluded to, and in Toronto being one of them, there's also another GM there with a pile. and that is San Jose, that's Utah, that's Montreal. These are the new players at the trade deadline now.

Yeah, they got the big stack at the table, for sure. They got the chips. Right. And for Vancouver, I don't think it's a bad trade to potential or two seconds. It's good, but it's not good now. You also might have got two guys who have never played in the NHL. where the rush was when if things continue

and you've got 20 teams within the last 10 days, say you come out of the Olympics and there's 20 legitimate teams that think that they're going to get in with one trade, why wouldn't you hold him

tell 20 teams I've got two second rounders, okay? And I will trade them. today if you can't beat it. This doesn't make any sense to me January 19th to get rid of one of the higher named guys on the trade board. Couple of things that come to mind is...

And get maybe that first rounder. Is potential injury to Sherwood. Right now you're trading a healthy asset for sure. The other thing is, you know, we don't know, you know, San Jose could say, we're doing something now. We have to get better today. I can live with that. Two seconds for you today.

And if not, we're going to get... At least they established the marketplace, right? For me, anyways. I would have, that one I would have played harder on it. I feel wishy-washy about the return for San Jose for doing that, for giving up two seconds and being like, yeah. You know what, though? He's 29.

You've mentioned this multiple times before. Yeah. That you just have to get. At some point, you've got to start trying to play. Totally, totally, totally. You maybe have like the third best player in the league on your team now. Yeah. And he's just unbelievable.

They're in a playoff race and a soft division. you get a chance to be in the fight. Good pro. I get it all. Game time. Game time. It's game time. It's set by Bet365.

Visit the app for the latest odds and see why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Ten games on the ice tonight. A few of them have, one of them has been played.

A couple of them are being played as we speak. Just going to quickly look at the Leafs hosting the wild. Pretty even game here. Minus 110 on both sides of the money line. The first game back from a long road trip. We know how that one you used. usually goes. We've talked about this in the past.

Sometimes a letdown spot. I don't mind the Minnesota wild at minus 110 tonight. I mean, no, Nealander, and if there's no nyes, you like that. I know Minnesota's pretty banged up too. Yep. Later on, the New York Islanders in Vancouver to take on the Canucks that we were just talking about. Canucks are struggling. New York Islanders fighting for a playoffs.

They need one. Minus 140 on the money line, like the Islanders, after watching what I watched on Saturday night after the lease game. Yeah. It's going to be a long rest of the year in Vancouver. You wanted the rebuild. You're about to watch Rebuild hockey. But I think fans are smart.

You're 100%. You know, like, I'm sure Hallford and Brefford, you'll know this all the time. It's like at least they're starting to move towards a plan here. But watching the Oilers fire six in your net still sucks. Yeah, the Oilers hung five on someone the next night. Back-to-back shutouts, blues. What do you hold on? You got Vancouver skepticism all over your face.

I'm okay. Let me finish this. We should go. Go. That was game time presented by Bet-3-65. Visit the Athletest Odds and C-Wi. It's Ever Ordinary at Bet-Ref, 6-5, must be a team plus.

Ontario only. Please play responsibly. No, I'm good. I'm good with Vancouver, wiping the slate clean a little bit. But it's tough, man. It's hard to watch. I don't know what it could mean.

Two, three years before you're ready to compete again. Maybe it's longer. Like, it's a hard sell. But hey, Montreal, been done it. And then they're here. You know, this is the process. Taking a while. Okay, let's take a quick break when we return.

We still got to get into Jake Sanderson's comments, eh, in Ottawa. We've got to dive into that. Plus, Brad Larson will join us. You got a chance to work with him last week. Awesome. Former head coach, tell us a little bit about Rasmus Anderson. When we return to Real Kipper and Born. Get smarter when you listen to Hockey Talk, the HockeyPEDEOCast with Dmitri

Filipovich. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder, this hour, Real Kipprin-Borne brought to by Bet365. Nick Kipreel's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. Let's welcome in Brad Larson, former NHL coach, Columbus and Calgary. How are you? Thanks for joining us. No problem. Just in terms of what you're seeing right now with the two latest trades, particularly Rasmus Anderson.

I know when you saw him in Calgary, you knew what he was about and just maybe what Vegas is getting now out of, out of Rasmus based on what you saw over the year? Well, I mean, he's a warrior. Let's call it what he is. He's going to really add to that group. When you start plugging in players like this to establish teams and teams that are ready to win, and that's really where Vegas is at,

they're trying to win every year, man, is he going to add some serious depth for them? And they've been starving for that right-hand shot defenseman, obviously, with some key injuries that they have sustained. and with Petro Angelo out, I think he's going to fill a need. He's going to fill a need. And he can log tons of minutes.

He'll eat a ton of shots again. And he can give you a little spark offensively too. So they got themselves a real good defenseman for a push year. What kind of guy was he like to, first off, thanks for joining us. I should say hello. Hi. What kind of guy was he like to be around? He seems like he's got this big personality.

You've seen him going back and forth with Tom Wilson and the big head stuff and staring down fans. he seems like a lot of personality. I'll tell you what, he's a riot to coach. He really is. He's fun to be around. He's got great energy. This is a guy, like you said, he goes into the corners and he's staring fans down after he scores a goal. I mean, he's fun.

He enjoys to play the game. He enjoys to compete. And I think you feel that energy from him. So that's one of his best assets. And he can play. He can log the minutes. I think they're going to just, they're going to love them there. I really do.

Now there's going to be an adjust, but you're going to understand. You make a move like this for a guy who's been in one organization, it's going to take some time. I think the one benefit that they have is he has some chemistry with his, you know, I guess we're anticipating his partner, who it's going to be there in Vegas. But, you know, it's going to be different. You know, when you're taking the same path to the rink every day, you're talking to your same team, it's the same coach, same management. All of a sudden, it's going to be brand new for him. So I think you'll be able to adjust.

I think doing this move ahead of the Olympics is a great idea. It allows him time to settle in and gives him, even though he's going to be in the Olympics, I think it just lets his head kind of process this. So they're getting a real good player and he brings fantastic energy. He's going to fit right in with that group. You're watching and listening to Brad Larson, former NHL coach Columbus Calgary. What is that like for a coach when you know that a shoe is going to drop with certain players here

and yet you still got to go out there and do a good job. I think everybody under the hockey world knew that Anderson wasn't long for Calgary, but it didn't seem to affect them too too much, but it can't be easy coaching those circumstances as well. No, it's tough. I think the best thing you can do is address it right away. You know, coaching in Columbus, we went through that when we had, Artemis Fineran and

Barbrowski and one thing that you learn from John Tortarillo is we get the elephant out of the room right away and we address that and so you move forward and again their players or performers they have ambitions too and whether it's playing for a contract or trade whatever that is it's really important that you get rid of those distractions

but you have to address it and I think I know Calgary they did you know you heard back when talk about it early and even before the season started so it was addressed I know Ryan Huska and his staff management. It's an outstanding group there. I think Rasmus handled it like a true pro.

He came to play. Lots to play for with an Olympic year. And he knew what was at stake, but he performed. And that's what you want. You just want the player to give his best every night. And they did that. And I think as a group, the team itself, the players, the coaching staff, I think everybody handled it really, really well in a tough situation.

Brad, when we worked together the other night, I saw a picture you, you're coaching. and it was you, Torts, and who was the other coach in that pitcher? Marty St. Louis. I was quite a bit taller in, if you saw that. Yeah. You were a giant in the photo, as I recall it.

So that's a pretty crazy coaching staff. You know, what's it like managing different personalities and styles? I cannot believe that Marty St. Louis and John Tortorella would want their guys to play the same way. So how do you manage that as the coach? Well, that's the whole. secret sauce, right? Like how do you get to every guy? How do you help them out? How do you build relationships? These are all the kind of the nuances of coaching and how do you do it. And it's not

just one guy. It's your whole staff, right? The head guy leads it, of course, because he has to make all the hard decisions. You know, we generally talk about it as a staff. But if there's a guy sitting out, if there's a guy, that's the guy who's making the hard message all the time. So your assistants are really important for kind of connecting that message and maybe helping him through. a situation. So it's, it's challenging, but it's, that's the fun of it. You know, it never gets bored because even when you're winning, there's lots of things that need to be sort of through. There's fires to be put out. There's guys you need help. There's guys that are on a, on a heater. And you're trying to help them through it. So you're always kind of every day aligning as a

staff and going, hey, who needs to be talked to today? Who needs to be communicated to? And then, you know, you collaborate and you help these guys out as best you can. Brad, you mentioned Rasmus going into Vegas and having plenty of time to be acclimated now with his surroundings and getting ready for what this should be another spectacular Stanley Cup playoffs. I believe at the March trade deadline, there's roughly 40 days for a player to get traded at the deadline and go in there and feel at home, whether it's on the ice or off the ice. Is that enough time? Is that not enough time in your estimation? as a coach to work with it? Should it get revisited that late?

Yeah, who knows, right? And to every individual is different on how they handle it. I think it's tougher when guys who haven't been through the process get traded. There's an adjustment period. And I think what we can't disregard is the human element because everybody's going to handle it a little bit different. You know, there's families involved, whether they're coming or they staying back behind and going to visit.

It's new surroundings. So I've always admired the GMs that were able to kind of pull the trigger earlier because it just helps them settle in, right? It gives them, just gives them more time, more games to find out what the new normal feels like. So I, you know, and again, it's easy to say here playing armchair GM. They all would want to do it earlier, but, you know, it's dollars in, dollars out. It's you need a willing partner. It's all those things.

So sometimes those deals don't come down. until the final buzzer, really. They're coming in right under the wire. So more time is better, but I think at the end of the day, you do what you've got to do to improve your team. So one of my favorite things on your hockey DB page is you played for the,

was it the 0-2-03 Colorado Avalanche, who went head-to-head with those Detroit teams. So you're in a dressing room with Forsberg, Hayduke, Sackick, Rob Blake. Like, I mean, just an incredible group. You know, these teams that are good and are welcoming new players into the fold, I imagine having those type of guys makes it easier.

You know, having a culture already set, it's much easier to just import a new personality into that room. Oh, absolutely. And you notice when you mentioned all those names, one guy doesn't fit in that group. I won't say who, but... You're there. You're there.

Yeah, that's right. You look back on your career and sometimes you don't realize what you're in until you're out of it, right? And so I was the benefactor of being around a bunch of tremendous players and Hall of Famers, and that was my normal. So when you come into a winning room and the standard's so high, like Vegas is right now, they, you know what the goal is.

It's not playoffs. It's win the Stanley Cup. I think, you know, they all want to win. They all want to welcome this guy. They want him to feel as comfortable as quickly as possible because they want to win, right? So I don't think it's going to be hard that way. The one thing about hockey, you guys have been around. Oh, sorry here.

We're good. You're good. All right. We got a call. We're back. We're back. I think having that winning culture, it happens organically, right? Brasmus is going to be excited and nervous and all those things.

And he'll sort through that. But he's going to have a ton of guys that are going to help them through that process. It's going to be fun to watch. Brad, really appreciate your time, man. Thanks for doing this. Hey bad, thanks for having me, guys. Thanks, Brad. I appreciate it.

Brad Marson. That team was so stacked. Dude, these, the Colorado teams he's on. They're just absolutely loaded. What year? So, 2002, 02, 02. And then, so he was actually with them for 50 games in 01, 02 as well. And then he, from there, he got picked up in the expansion draft by Atlanta.

Tough. And so he's telling me, you know, the difference in culture between the Atlanta Thrasher's expansion team. And the Colorado Avalanche of 03. Correct. Just multiple. Hall of Famers everywhere. He said, though, as soon as he got into that room in Atlanta, because he had only been in Colorado in the NHL prior,

he just went, oh, like he had a better appreciation for what it was before when you're like, oh, that's not normal. No. What they had there. Not that what they had in Atlanta was normal either. Very high bar. Yeah. Did you want to talk about Ottawa?

I do, yes. We all do. Yep. The Ottawa Senators, yeah, tough weekend, I think. Well, I mean, everyone's sharing around the, like, best expected goals in a single game, like 2.16, and then the worst goals, you know, actual goals to expected goals the same night. They're just, they can't get a safe. They're playing good. If goaltending wasn't enough of a topic of conversation in Ottawa, it went to another level when Jake Sanderson spoke Saturday.

Okay. Do we have that clip? We have two different clips. We have one from Sanderson. We have one from the head coach as well. So Derek, you want to play Sanderson first, please? Yeah, I think, you know, Lavey made some good saves.

But, you know, I think at the end of the day, you got to make more than 10 saves to win the game. Yeah. You know what, though? Okay, go ahead. I want your take. He made some good saves, but he's got to be more than 10. My take is pretty consistent with what you've heard for me

all year long, whether it was Stolars or Wolf earlier in this. season where you just hope some of these things don't need to surface publicly. But this is so uncharacteristic of

Jake Sanderson. He's not that guy. Right? We've never seen signs of him to remotely challenge or rock the boat with anything he said. So I think it speaks to the level of frustration that he had more so than anything. I also, in my opinion, which is why I'm on the show,

so I should just give it. I think if you don't look this in the face, you'd look inauthentic. Like eventually, like we all know what's happening. Everybody knows. And so if you're like, he was great again, you know, we just got to do more for him. You know, it hurts to lie.

Everyone knows you're lying. It's like you've got to get some stops. And I think there are times where through it the year, we accept players saying, this guy's you know we need a little better here or there whatever the goal is not exempt from that when i first heard it my first thought is okay like on the surface it looks like he's just he's speaking to marilyn yeah where it's like buddy you're to your point we all know you it's not good enough and you you're you're not good enough right now and we need a safe but then there was the other

part of me that said that jake wasn't just talking to marilyn in there he was talking to Steve Stales, the general manager of the Ottawa Senators. And it's like, I will remind you that we've been as good as Detroit and Tampa. And we should be up there right now, but you guys have not addressed our goaltending issues. And I'm reminding you with this comment that 10 saves doesn't get it done. Like just see, go ahead if you guys said that.

But then they did address the. goaltending issues. Rimer? No. They traded or signed Allmark and paid him. But they got it wrong. But either they got it wrong or they haven't fixed it yet. Okay.

They haven't fixed him yet. But it's hard to go out and find another starting goalie after your goalie who was paying a two. I'm not going to try to. No, no. They took a tough bounce there for sure. But listen, we not everyone loved the Allmark signing out of the gates. I know.

I know. Valley didn't. I think you had some hesitancy. with it. They picked the wrong guy. They may have picked the wrong guy. They may have picked the wrong guy. But they did address it.

They just gone really back. No, no. He's not back. He's not back. Yeah. He left. He left. It never got resolved in terms of it's out there.

Why he's, they refuse to go any further with behind the scenes. So everybody is just left with the impression of he'll just come back when he feels like it. And that's, It's not addressing it exactly, Sam. That's there. I do think that they had horrible goaltending for a bunch of years

where it did cost them again. And they're like, all right, enough of this. Let's go get the top guy that we can get. And they went and got him. They did it with Matt Murray too. They're like, Markstrom will fix it. And it's like, oh, goalies are weird. You can't get guys at 30 whatever, I don't think.

I just, you look at. He's a Vesna winner. You reach a point where. He won the Vesna, right? He did, yeah. You reach a point as a team where you look at your goaltending, the others go, all right, Ingram and Jari, let's see if you guys can be better. Or, you know, Colorado obviously set the precedent with Wedgwood and Blackwood, but the

sends are there now. By the way, Jake Sanderson, let's just take a moment to acknowledge. He has gone from one of the league's better D to like, I got McCarrey Hughes Werenski. He's in that next pack for me. He's really good. He is exceptional. Making eight mill. You know, there's some guys.

Why has he? 2032. That's a bad. There's some guys that. that they just talk and it's like, oh, okay, just whatever. And then there's others where you're like, whoa. Yeah, that matters. He's a whoa.

That matters. He's like, okay, if you said it, I don't really care, but you said it. So now I'm taking it seriously. Everyone has to care now. Because he just doesn't, he's not that guy. No, he's not an everyday coat. I'll bet it'll be a very long time before we see him critique any of his teammates in that fashion.

anytime soon. And the thing with doing it is you have to look that guy in the face and he'll look, Barrelein in the face. They're in the same room. Like, Maralinen shouldn't even be on the roster. He should be in the minors getting better. Okay? So you want to talk about putting guys in a position to succeed.

That's not it for that kid. Sure. He's not. That's another thing that they need to address, right? Is whether or not you're doing this guy, any favors at all for putting him in a scenario where this team has to win now. And you're not quite ready there. And guess what?

The guy that's supposed to be mentoring you and leading you disappears. So where is he? What's going on? Kipp, what do you got? Did you have you looked at Merrill Linen's numbers? No, please read them to me. In 20 games, he has a goals against average of 351 and a save percentage of 860. Oh, yeah, I saw.

We did a thing last Wednesday We had the Ottawa Rangers game And we did a preseason thing Where the worst combined Like team save percentage In the NHL ever Get this late in the year It was this is it

They were tied for like the worst ever It was them and the sharks So it's probably worse And now you got a big brimer And he was okay He was fine He didn't embarrass himself I saw a clip today on Twitter

Of Hank Getting ready for there's an alumni game the Rangers are playing in and he was like putting out his new pads I'm like Ah, Steyo's putting in a call. You're ready to come back? There's a lot of talk early in the year.

You're playing in that game? You're playing in that game? When is that? This upcoming weekend? Sunday. Is it next weekend? Yeah, next week? Next Sunday. Yeah. Oh yeah, so I guess it's Monday. So this week. Yeah.

That's awesome, Kip. That's fantastic. Well, he looked really good, warming up. Oh, my gosh. You got to draw on him? I don't know. Valley slandered him as an alumni goalie just last show. No, he didn't.

He's landed. Oh, yeah. I think he said, you look like an alumni goalie now. No, not, I think still do it? He's better than Maryland.

Yeah, listen, he's got his health issues. No way. There's a heart issue there, but outside of that, he could, I'd take him.

Hank v. Maryland in full season, who's got better numbers? You're telling me right now, you have one game to win tomorrow. And you're like, I'm going Hank or I'm going Maryland. Give me. No way.

Give me Hank. Give me Hank. It actually does remind me that early in this year, there's a lot of talk about Will. Rivers did it. Yeah. Will Mark Andre Fleury will someone ask him out of retirement at the deadline?

Is there any chance? Is he on skates and you've got a beat on old Flurry? Where's he at? I don't know. I'm sure Hank wants to leave New York. No, but like. Best life ever. No, I'm not saying Hank.

I know. Flower and flower loves hockey, man. That's a goaltending thing, right? Yeah. It's kind of changed on us in the last few years. And that no one knows is good? Yeah. Yeah.

860. Everyone kind of agrees. It's like Sorokin, Schisturkin, maybe Vasilevsky, Babrovsky, Demko is good. After that, everyone's like, I don't know. Can one of those guys just switch to be a Canadian? No, Sorokan.

Our thanks to Frank Sarvelli and Brad Larson in this national hour. Mike Russo, of course, in the Leaf Hour edition. Katrina say we suck and we didn't play it? He does say that we suck. He went full torts we suck. Really? They do suck.

We can play tomorrow. Yeah, we'll play tomorrow. We'll see you tomorrow with that. All right. Choose your game. It's a busy Monday night. You got us new pens, didn't you? Ted Reeve Hockey Association, great minor hockey association here in Canada.

We're grateful to that. Does that get you free something? A hot dog? I'm going to ask. Rick coffee. Drink coffee. Can I get a call? Enjoy your games and we're back tomorrow to do it all over again on the real Kipper and Boren Show.