Real Kyper & Bourne - Preseason Impressions with Doug MacLean

Episode Date: September 26, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee kick off with some thoughts on Aleksander Barkov's potentially season-ending injury before getting to Doug MacLean (2:48) for his first Off-The-Rails Friday appearance of the season! Mac shares his predictions for the Atlantic Division, how the Leafs will manage without Mitch Marner, and the outlook for Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov's extensions. He also discusses the most improved teams from last year and what Jonathan Toews can bring to the Jets after missing the last two seasons. Later, Nick, Justin and Sam react to the Leafs signing James Reimer to a PTO and answer your questions on the text line!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.

It's here, our first off the rails Friday. I bet the Ryder Cup. I thought you were the weekend. Are you guys going to be able to pay attention for the full hour? No. It's really cool, eh, the Ryder Cup. Doesn't it look incredibly green? So green.

Oh, my God. That course is delicious and you played it. It's so good. Good. Do you watch every hole now going, okay, I know exactly what I did. I'm already obnoxious to Sam. I'm like, oh, much of a slopeier than it looks on TV. Can I tell you?

Go ahead and introduce the show, but then I'll tell a quick story. Introduce the show. Off the rails Friday can only mean one thing. Doug McLean, former NHL President, GM, head coach, the first of what many will be driven right into the ditch. Yeah. And I think he's got a lot to say right now because from Connor McDavid to Barcov news that we'll get into

Canadian teams who he likes who he doesn't It'll be a lot of fun here So Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne Sammy McKee Jake the Snake Shilts and Derek Brandeo with you That's Jen today We almost made it through a week I almost made it

It's Jen Roll Nick We'll join us I think for the first time this season Yeah it's Jen All right you're forgiven Sammy I've throwing you under the bus a couple times I don't get. I'm not doing it anymore. That's what I'm here for.

It makes it fun. All right. Plenty here. Wherever you're watching, listening, SportsNet 590 of the fan, 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, SportsNet Plus, Spotify,

YouTube, or wherever you want, you can find us. And on one note, the J's tonight, you can listen to them on... Yeah, on Sportsnet. SportsNight of the Fans, Sportsnet Radio Network. I was obviously not on TV tonight,

as everybody probably knows by now. Apple TV game. So listen to the... Just give everybody a little advice here. Go get Apple, watch the game and then cancel it. What's the big deal? I don't know if that works. I don't know.

Listen, I would never condone that. Or listen, there's lots of great... Apple probably do it. Half of you'll forget and we're in. There's lots of great establishments around the city that serve certain types of beverages that I'm sure are making lots of situations so that you can go in and watch it. Hey, quickly, before we go, before we move on to the hockey. I wanted to tell you, because we were talking about this Ryder Cup,

that Beth Page Flag, and, you know, as the new president of the Toronto Maple Police or whatever, Keith Pelly, whatever his title is, I talked to him at the Leafs Media Mix and Mingle event. Cool. And I was chatting with him, of course, golf, just talked with him golf. And I gave you the ultimate Leah. I told him that you shot that score at Beth Page Black. And he was over the moon in press. Yes.

Like, he lit up, like, the 4th of July. He's like, really? I was like, yes, he did. So there you go, buddy. If Keith ever listens to our show, that'll be the only time we've impressed him all season long. Are you sure that? This is 25 minutes from the Gilly's house here. There you go.

I just wanted to get that in before we were. We're not going to spend a lot of time on this, but you're good now. You're back on board because with the Toronto Blue Jays, with the big win last night. You didn't listen. Didn't watch, didn't listen. But like knowing you as a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, spraining ankles and breaking bones, jumping on and off bandwagons, you're back on.

I was never off, Kipper. I just am really, I'm just devastated. He puts one leg off and he just drags it and feels the pain. The reason I'm here is because I'm emotional about these things. If I was down the middle, I probably wouldn't be that interesting. And yeah, yeah, no, I found out that the Js were leading 6-0 because the PA announcer at Samlin Arena in Barry, Ontario last night said

George Springer hit a home run to make it 6-0, Blue Jays, and the crowd erupted. Love that. That's how I found out. Let's let us. We'll move on. Depending on how jam-packed we are with all our information and our entertainment, we may take text calls as well. Right, Sammy?

You got it. 590-5-90? You got it. Okay, before we get to Doug McLean, just a quick thought on the news of Barkov was given extra time. to come into training camp steps on the ice and blows his knee up. Yeah.

That's, you know, it's brutal. Brutal, terrible luck if you saw the play, it just looked like one of those weird Bambi on ice. Non-contact, semi-contact where your leg just kind of disappears for a sec, so. Lost is the Olympics, obviously.

Oh, yeah. That's a tough pill to swallow too. I mean, any chance of them. being a dark horse really goes up in flames there right there's a there's a lot of people confident he'll be ready for the playoffs is that right okay okay perfect fully rested for the uh season oh yeah the only hope for samis that they missed the playoffs entirely and i don't think they're doing and the playoffs began in sydney crosbie and barkov down the middle for the panthers sick uh kichuk is out till christmas as well for florida so yeah i mean they've got so

That's tough. That's a tough. You do think you'll be back for the playoffs. Yeah, he'll be back for the playoffs. Stay that confidently. Yeah, I am very confident. Okay. I don't know what the history.

Oh, all right. We got someone else has joined us. Oh, Rory just made nothing. Okay. Is this the part where I just do an introduction to Doug McLean and then, I don't know, I go to the cafeteria and grab something to eat? Let's find out. Let's welcome him in.

It's been a long summer. Long summer. God, I've missed you. guys. Mac. Good summer, lots of golf, lots of I don't know what old people

do out there. Well, you know what? Actually, my summer, my golf, you know, it plateaued a little bit and then it'd come on. I played Dundarave the other day and I've hired a new pro Jimmy, Jimmy Tropicana. Have you heard of him?

That sounds made up. You got to look up Jim. Wrong Mexico. Isn't that a juice I can buy it? No, no. he's my golf pro I get out of the internet. Jimmy Tropicano, remember. So today I was working on a slice.

But, you know, it's plateaued, but it's been a great summer here. As a matter of fact, this is hard to believe. I went swimming yesterday in the ocean. That's hard to believe. That's how beautiful it's been in P.E.I. Was that by design or did Jill push you in? No, that was by design. I was trying to break a record.

Jill, by the way. What record? Jill is away on a five-day golf trip with her girlfriends. Where'd she go? Nova Scotia. Like, seriously. That's supposed to be me going on a five-day golf trip. You go on enough trips.

Should I even ask about a record? What record? I'm regretting this. What, oh, just being the latest I've swam in the ball. Oh, okay. record. I don't know. I thought you're swimming

to tell you up or something. But listen to this. I did do the Terry Fox walk, jog run last week, nine miles over the Confederation. I took the bus at 6.30

in the morning to New Brunswick and came back across the nine mile bridge in honor of Terry Fox. Do you also take the bus back? No, well, I took the bus over and I walked off. Oh, okay.

Okay, okay. So you're feeling good. That's great. You are in fighting shape for this season on the Real Kippur and Bourne show. Well, I'm very excited about the season starting. I mean, I look at Sammy's Leafs, and I've got them today. I've got them looking at ratings. I have them identical to the Ottawa senators in a tie.

From a perspective of looking at each player on both teams, Ottawa are lacking a little bit of depth, which would concern me if I was them. You know, they lose Bathurst in, and that's a big hole. But today I've got them 100% locked even going into the playoffs. And so is that at the top of the division or just making playoffs? I've got in their division,

I've got Florida, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, Boston, Buffalo. But I'll tell you what, if Toronto can add a top six forward, they would move ahead of Ottawa in my rankings. I'm enjoying this because Sam isn't. Without, you know, going in a great detail here, do you see four and four out of the east, meaning four playoff teams out of Atlanta, four out of Metro, or can it be five and three here? and possibly get Toronto and Ottawa in, and obviously Florida, Tampa Bay, and maybe Montreal. Well, here's the interesting thing.

The only teams in the metro I've got ahead of, I've got Carolina, Washington, and New Jersey ahead of the Leafs. And then it goes Islanders, CBJ. I've got the Rangers, like everybody's talking about how good the Rangers are going to be. when I go player by player and compare them to other teams I don't have them there I've got them just above Philly and Pitt

I've got Pitt as the worst Philly second worst and the Rangers right there I've got Columbus ahead of the Rangers right now we'll see if that changes but right now I mean look it's it to me it's it's a dog fight I love that you've got all these rankings should we just go through the divisions here

what you got Edmonton on top of the Pacific I really only did the year East because I knew all you guys would be concerned about with Toronto. So I wanted to make sure of that. And I do this in concert with a great friend of mine at West Bob Strum, who you know, I'm sure.

And he, I mean, he's, he watched 18 games in preseason already, just watching players. But why? Former Pro Scout. So I, it's so much fun to go through the ratings with him and look at each team you know, as to where

they really stand. So it's kind of a fun process. So like I say, I've got Toronto and Ottawa battling it out. Montreal, I don't, I mean, I don't have Montreal where everybody else has them. You know, I don't. I mean, we'll see there. By the way, they're desperate for a number two sentiment behind Suzuki, right? Well, I'll tell you who, I was talking to a guy last night, and they tell me the kid that Montreal were supposed to take first

overall, but ended up going to Seattle, the kid from Kingston. Do we know him? Shane Wright? Shane Wright. People tell me he went to the miners and became a man and they said right today, they would take him ahead of the kid in Montreal. Oh. That's what they're saying. They're telling me he is on the second half of last year and how he looks this year. They think he's going to be, he has a chance. to be a big time. That's one hell of a training program. So we will see, we will see as the season progresses who we like better. I could be wrong, but people are telling me this guy has a chance to be a big time, big time number two centermen.

I love that he gave them the stare down. Oh, when he didn't get drafted. Okay. We'll see where that goes. We'll definitely keep an eye on that, that storyline. As far as Sammy's Toronto Maple Leafs here and replacing Mitch Marner's points by committee, are you comfortable with Marcelli coming in and holding that spot or maybe rotating with Max Domey? How do you see this thing playing out for Austin Matthews and Matthew Nyes?

Hey, I like Marcelli. I do. We're not doing ours all year in Machelli, you guys. Machele, I've got him as a four right now, which is an NHL regular. If he can move up, if he can move up to a five, which is an NHL regular plus, that can be a major difference for the Leaps. I think I like the way he makes plays. I think he's a really smart player.

It'll be fun to watch how he develops. And like I said, they need a top six forward. If this kid can be, right today he's not for me. He's not a top six. He's a third liner right now. If he can move into that top six and be comfortable there and produce there and be able to play with Matthews and Nyes, then the Leafs are a better team. So I like him.

Hey, look, he's not Marner. Did anybody see, Sam, did you see the backhand saucer by Marner last night? I was sleeping, Doug. Yeah, Doug, Doug, I was sleeping. It's past 10 p.m. I don't watch preseason hockey. I don't even watch the Leafs game last night. Oh, okay.

I thought if you saw the Mariner one, you'd be using it as a highlight. I think he's seen the highlight. We all saw the highlight. Pretty good pass. I didn't even see that. You didn't see it? All right. It sounds like a hockey show or anything.

Hey, Sam, don't watch it. I think I think Eichl should have his stick ready for 50 of those passes there. Oh, man. It was pretty to watch. Did you guys find out the Marner's good? Was that? You guys learned that last night? it's fun to watch and see who's going to be good, bad.

I mean, I, I, that is, I, I, I'm really excited to watch the matchup between Kachuk in Ottawa and Matthews in Toronto. Who is the most valuable player to their team at season's end? That's the matchup. I'm really excited to watch. That'll be a good one. Do you, uh, do you buy the, the, the pressure on Austin and the eyeballs now and the focus on him now that, uh, you know, There's no murder there? Well, it's got to be on him.

I mean, he's a superstar. You know, when you score the way he can score, 69 goals, was it? I mean, look, he's got to bounce back. He's not injured. He's 100% healthy, so I'm hearing. So I'm reading. If that's the case, yeah, the pressure should be squarely on him to produce. And it is, hey, it isn't all.

And it's on McDavid. It's on everybody. That's the top guy to produce. It's on Kajuk in Ottawa. it's on Matthew, well, he's going to be out for a while. But, I mean, all the stars, you can pay the money, you pay the price. You know, you've got to be the guy. Petey in Vancouver.

Oh, that's a tough one. How many Canadians are on their team this year? I don't know, but I do love that game. But I've got to be careful. I took some serious heat in Vancouver. People there don't like me anymore because I made that comment, so I got to back up. Well, they don't like me in a lot of places. This show, this show, this show is killing my

popularity. My popularity is dwindle because of the show. Let's, you know, before we move on from the Leafs entirely, they got a weird spot going on their goal right now. Joe Wool, absent, and we're not exactly sure why, who will wish him well. James Reimer claimed, for a PTO, not claimed, signed to a PTO.

yeah let's let's really hope the wall thing is is you know short term and he's okay and whatever is going on you don't you wish him well i love the leaps goaltending going into the season i said the same thing about the other kid last year he's never done it long term he had a hell of a year last year so you know disappointed he get injured in the playoffs but their their goaltending is right there with with the good teams in the league so if they can get both them going and Rimer's not the answer. Look, you love Rimer for what the career he's had, but that's got to be a very, very short-term situation.

And they've got to have great goaltending right out of the shoe. You don't want to get behind. You don't want to get behind. You know, I mean, we always say it. The first 20 games, if you're not in the playoffs, you're toast. 90% of the time, that's the case. So we'll see what happens. All right.

By the way, I watched my old host Jeff Merrick, he's wearing sunglasses now on the show. I'm going to, I've got the tints going, but they're not full on dark like Merrick. Is that a new thing with TV and TV guys now or what? You should call him and ask him. By the way. Sam says Merrick was outside, Doug. Just a correction.

Berkey and he were on the other day. Just a simple correction. They talked about what the, they were talking about wealthy owners and what it's like to deal the owners and they asked what was the price Columbus and Minnesota paid for their expansion fee when they came in, the NHL and they said it was 200 million.

Columbus and Minnesota paid 80 million for their franchises in the year 2000, not 200 million. And I looked the other day, I looked it up. Columbus are now worth a little over a billion dollars. And Caprizov's going to get 80 million a year. So

dollar figures have changed around the league. well leopold Craig leopold said we're not going to lose them we're going to pay him so I would have probably waited until the contract was almost done before I said that but anyway that happens do you see do you see him turning down 16 but taking 18 million and everybody living happily ever after is that just as as simple as that

you know what are we moving in to the lebron james era where lebron goes to Cleveland, obviously, plays in Cleveland, doesn't win in Cleveland and finally moves on to Miami where he wins a championship. Then he goes to L.A. where he wins a little, you know, it was a little, you know, it was a bubble championship, but he still won. And then he goes back to Cleveland and wins in Cleveland. I mean, are we in this thing now where if guys are going to, guys, these superstars are going to say, I want to go where I have got a legitimate chance to win a cup. If you're going to have all that pressure on them, don't you go where you have the best chance to win?

I hope he signs in Edmonton. I hope Capri Soap signs in many, but, you know, they will be short-term deals, in my opinion. So we've gone this far and haven't talked about the Connor McDavid situation. Are you of the belief that he'll stay in Edmonton? I don't know. I'm really surprised that it hasn't happened. You're paid to know on this show.

I think he does a short-term deal, but I don't think he ties up long-term. I think he's going to watch this. Look, Connor McDavid has got to win a Stanley Cup in his career. And, you know, if he doesn't win a Stanley Cup, he's not going to be perceived as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He's not as simple as that because a lot of it is now tied to winning. and, you know,

Kenny win, he'll make an observation if they're good enough to win. By the same token, Connor McDavid scored seven goals last year in the playoffs. Seven. That's not enough. If you're trying to lead your team to win a Stanley Cup, now he had a lot of assists,

but seven goals, he's got to do better than that. And, you know, he's obviously very capable of it. But I just, I was surprised. What is the bat signal for him to be comfortable to sign a short-term deal compared to July 1st? What is that? A new goalie, a better defenseman, Isaac Howard getting off to a great start? Like, what is it?

I don't know what it is, to be quite honest. It's a tough, tough question because, you know, when I listen to, you know, I don't know them. but I really admire him as a player and what he does, you know, the way he plays the game. I don't know what it is. I think he wants to believe they're a big-time contender. That's what I think. That's what I think he wants to see, a big-kind contender. They are already two Stanley Cup finals.

That's been covered. Now, there's a big difference between teams that. that are competitive for the Stanley Cup and then actually winning it, but nobody knows what that difference is. Is it one player, two players, or is it all of them collectively just playing better? You can go somewhere else and be in the same boat.

I mean, you could go to five teams you think are better than Edmonton and be in the same boat and not win. You were on a Stanley Cup champion. It's a major, major hurdle to overcome. Crapshoot. That's what it is. Just rolled it on you. You're in one of the few teams that can do it.

One of five. One of five. That's what you've got to be. That's where you've got to be. And today, you would say he is. Now, you know, are they close to Florida today? No, they're not close to Florida. If Barkoff's healthy, they're not close to Florida again.

But who else is? Who else in the league is? I got Tampa Bay as one of the closest teams still to them. Still to them. Yeah. Lots to like there. And after that, there's not many in the league that are. Well, we're hitting on all the big ones.

What about your boy? You got an East Coast champ there and Sidney Crosby's names coming up. His agents talking about him. I'm sure you and Sid have had some scotches late at night this summer, heart to hearts, and he's told you what's going on. What are you learning? I can't say, guys. I just can't.

I haven't seen them. I'll tell you what. And tell me I'm crazy. We will for sure, but go on. He's a top, he's still a top. player in the world, Sidney Crosby, top 10 player in the world.

And at Christmas, if they're going nowhere, which I suspect they'll be, I've got to believe he's walking in the office and asking, here's my teams, I want to be traded. I would suspect that's what's

going to be the case if Pittsburgh really stumble. I've got to believe Sid wants to win another championship and he's still that good, that good. It'll be set up. after the Olympics.

So we're talking February 28th to March 7th. Between February and March, I think we'll have a, I think the leg work should have, should be dealt by then. Doug talked to Montreal needing a two C. I don't want to be an insider on this show, guys. I'm on here for knowledge,

not an insider. If you want an insider, bring Elliot on, you know, I'm more of a hockey purist. I'm not an insider. or a podcast critic hockey critic's a good label Doug McLean hockey critic it's entitled to your next book there

Grisham and you do have a book don't you you're working on something else now is that draft day bestseller by the way it's still selling I just got a royalty check the other day yeah anyway so we are paying you in in some way

you're benefiting from our show I like the new book I interviewed 25 guys this summer GMs, current GMs, former GMs and hockey people all summer and I think it's going to be a fun

book. It's, you know, it's really a day, I don't have a title for you yet, but a day in the life of an NHL GM, I think it's going to be pretty good actually. So I've had some great chats with a lot of great guys. And tell us about the ones that just hang up on you

right away. They all can't be great calls. Knowing you, they can all be great calls. There's got to be few that go click you know what i i found out that a couple i found out that a couple people hate my god's not in service we all learn that along the way care to share which ones no i i i can't i was caught off guard by it but anyway i wish them well i wish them well i hope he doesn't use me as a reference but i guarantee he won't Good to know.

So talking about the oilers and Stanley Cup contention, they let Calvin Pickard, or sorry, they have Calvin Pickard, and they let Ingram go through waivers the other day. Any thoughts on if they should have grabbed Ingram there? No, I wouldn't. I still think they have, you know, I think they've got to do better than that. And I mean, look, he was fine last year.

Just on that, I've got the two most improved teams in the NHL this year, Utah and Anaheim. Utah have got some great, they've got a lot of good things going on with that team and the organization. And I'll tell you what, if Anaheim get the kid signed, you know, that's holding out, they're going to be a tough out, Anaheim.

I think Q will help there big time as far as a more of a defensive style game. And I think Utah and Anahein are going to make some noise in the West. I really do. Can I ask you about Winnipeg and Jonathan Taves and being off for a couple years and coming in a commitment of $7 million. I know only two of it is on the AAV, but he does have bonuses of $5 million here. And what you expect out of, I guess, a 37-year-old who's been off for two years. Look, Jonathan Taves may have been my favorite player over a 12-year run in the NHL for what he,

what he accomplished in Chicago, how he carried himself. I remember watching him play in his draft year. I was sick to my stomach when I didn't get him. You know, we were praying we'd get him or stall or one of those big centermen, you know. Anyway, we got Bersard, who played a thousand games, but big drop-off after three or four. But I love Jonathan Taze. I like the signing. I think that I think Edmonton need a little bit of, or Winnipeg need a little bit of

that. They got Kyle Conner. They got Sheffley. Leadership, to me, has been a bit of a void with that group there. I think it's been a little bit of a void there. And I think that Jonathan Dave, I mean, I've got to believe that as long as he can play, he's going to garner a ton of respect in that room. And I think it could be a good pickup for Chevy. I like it. Yeah, I do believe he gives them a real presence, right? And I think they need it, too. I think they need it. When you're a team like them, especially after the year they had last year. It's a little bit like Washington. You know, you have a big year like that, big expectations to come back and and be a top

team in the regular season, but do some damage in the playoffs. So I see them right there. I mean, Kyle Conner's a heck of a player. Yeah. I think he can help Hellebuck, too, around April. Yeah. I think his influence can really help Connor. I agree.

I agree. I agree. He's feeling good, right? Who knows? I don't know, but I don't know about your show this year, boys. You seem to be taking things way too serious. I don't know. I don't know if I like it.

Have you been watching the Blue Jays? Okay, that's like, come on. Life and death around here. Yes. We're hanging on by a thread here. How are they doing? Well, they big win last night. I see people on Twitter going nuts, but, you know, they're mad when they don't hit.

I mean, anyway, I hope they get in. I really, really hope they go as long as they can. and that means I'm on this show less, right? We don't really know what it means. Yeah, we honestly, yeah, we're not sure. We're just cheering for him. Playing it by here. Anything else you want to get off your chest?

No, I don't think so. I think, you know, I think, you know, I was disappointed to see Montreal kid get injured. Demetov, I'm anxious to see what he becomes. You know, they're raving about Montreal. It will be interesting to see how they bounce back. You know, Dobson, I'm really interested in. He's a Somersight kid, anxious to see how he's going to play.

I see he got injured last night. So hopefully he's going to bounce back and have a solid year, you know. How about your buddy, Kenny Holland in L.A. now with the clock ticking on Copatar and replacing him. I just want Copa tar to retire and go away. That's all I want. Oh, no. Why? Oh, yes.

Okay. Because I'm still in trouble for not drafting him. I just want to see them, like, disappear, you know? Then I'll have to go through his Hall of Fame induction. I'll get ripped again for that. Yes, we're not taking him. Is Kenny the right guy at the right time now to plug that hole in the next little while? You know, I really thought they were a good team last year going into the playoffs.

I really did. I thought they'd beat Edmonton, and I was wrong on that. I look at what they've done this summer. You know, Cody Cici and Dumlin don't do it for me on the back end. And I'm not sure they're, I'm not sure they're going to be there. I hope so, but I'm not sure. All right. I think we've exhausted you.

I mean, you're going back to the pool. You're going back to the ocean. You know what? I'm going to just have a relax. it's devastating Jill's away for five days golfing, but it is kind of relaxing around here without her. So I might have a,

you know, crack open a nice bottle. I've got a nice bottle of Portuguese red wine. I might crack that open and I just try to relax and look at the stars, you know, and look at the ocean and look at the stars and dream about the NHL. You're notorious for your serenity and peace, so that sounds awesome.

All right. Well, good start. Good start to our season with you. tell Sammy to give up the ghosts, man. Give it up. Which ghost? Which ghost? We got a lot of ghosts here in Toronto. The ghost of 67. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Doug McLean, everybody. Thanks, Mac. Big care, guys. GM, head coach, blah, blah, blah, blah, author. Yes, sir. So we all love our respective wives a lot. But when they, when the, when the

The goal, like, my wife's away this weekend and, like, a girl's weekend at a cottage. It's just like, it's junk food, my underwear all weekend. Me and Lou Dog. It's a dream. Anything about you in underwear. Just stick with the junk food. Yeah.

I mean, there's no good sports on this weekend. Once you have multiple kids that are in the house, they don't take weekends away. That's true. And when they do, it's a nightmare. Yeah. Anyway, it's a pretty good weekend, though, between the golf and all. I mean, Mike has. Pray for my couch this weekend.

There is nothing going to get done. If you didn't say the underwear thing, I'd invite myself over. I mean, you could go over. Hang in your underwear, too, if you want, like that. Oh, this is uncomfortable. Text. 590, 590. Are we taking a break or what are we doing?

Yeah, we can take a break. We can take a break and then we'll come back to some text. Quick break. Pay some bills around here and we return your tax, 590, 590. So we return to Real Kipper and Born. dive deep into Toronto sports and the NFL the JD Bunk is podcast Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify

or wherever you get your podcasts Welcome back to the program Nick Kippreuss, Justin Borns Sammy McKee So Brian Leach Not the Hall of Famer but Oh Someone that follows our show

Is it Brian Leach? Is it Brian Leach? Well, Brian, it looks like it's spelled like that, so yeah, I'm going to say it. He's got some funny, he's got some funny stuff on our show, especially with around Doug. Yeah, yeah. He sent a picture of his backdrop saying, is that an antique netty pot collection?

Well, you know, I mean, swimming in the ocean can stuff you up. Do some damage. Do some damage. Rimer? James Reimer, back with the Leafs. Yeah. Wow. I mean,

would you have... A weekend of the season, that was not what anyone saw coming. Yeah. That's a knuckle curveball. R.A. Dickie, I had a swung over that one by three feet. I see a lot of people in Least Nation specifically pretty excited

because of the nostalgia and kind of looking back. But like, he's at the core of one of my by far worst sports memories where he couldn't stop a damn beach ball. Like he was one of the main... Shot from the point. just going straight in grapes after the show going point it's from the point i'm like oh my god listen sure you can be happy about nostalgia but like he was at the center of one of my

least favorite sports memories of all time like i just i'm not really excited they brought pain back into the and it means that like joe wall's probably gone for longer than we want him to be so that's i don't love this that's the first thing i thought of and you know i i'd heard right away they were looking around for sure as they should because I said they're not doing their job if they're not but this is clearly a sign that they don't expect Joe Wall back

anytime soon you know yeah I'm concerned I'm very concerned about it I know and I've you know you have you don't want to speculate but like the amount of things it could be with wool like none of them are great and none of them make it feel like he's going to come back soon so

you just sit here go well I mean it's I they just described it as a family matter, which, listen, I'm not, it can mean a ton of things. It can mean a ton of things. Yeah. And they, no, I mean, they've kind of painted a picture,

but they're not getting in specifics. They came out right away with Joseph Wall and say, we please respect his privacy. We want to do that for the most part, but we have to speculate when we think he's, when he's going to come back or when he's not coming back. And what is an injury, due to coming back?

What does a family matter do to coming back? What does mental health have to do with coming back? Substance abuse? Like, without getting into specifics, I mean, we're not doing our jobs if we don't sit there and try to have a perspective on what

this could mean and how long it could take possibly. The part that I guess is a little confusing is like Rimer, you know, was he, is he better than Dennis Hildeby today? If they both play 30 NHL games is we sure he's better he's better okay he's better between the years than he'll be is okay yeah like you just can't you can't just take a

a guy like the hilda beast and put him in there and say you're going to be a backup goalie now and that you're ready oh you may not be ready but we're putting you in there anyways yeah like there's there's a process to bringing guys along and developing in them and nowhere does it say that you have to throw them to the sharks as early as next week? I put them in against the sharks but no one else. I get you.

Yeah, not the actual San Jose Sharks. I'm calling about the pool of sharks. I mean, if we're sure that Rimer is better, you know, materially better. I'm not. I'm not either. It's about just having a guy in there that's been there before. It's just

about the experience right now. Here's what else it is. He's a good pro and people like him. And that matters. If you're going to be average, which maybe he's league average at this point and that's maybe generous, everyone likes him.

He's easy to get along with. He has no problems. And I'll just say the Connor Ingram thing. I get the impression. Teams don't want to claim him. Pretty good goalie. Pretty prime age. I get the impression they don't want to claim him.

Rimer seems like they know they can trust a good pro here. Does Ingram have another year at $2 million? or is it just the remaining year? Because money's a factor for Ingram compared to... Yep, that's certainly. And that's part of it too, Kip. That could be... It's 1.9 this year.

I think it's just this year. Okay. But if he gets sent down, it's... If he gets sent down, though, there's a HL number. So you wouldn't need anything to send him down. Oh, he's... He does have a two-way. He has a number in the American League that's like 800 or something like that.

Okay. Yeah. Dex? Dex. This is... We're just coming at how. right away. What do you guys make of Marchand's candid comments about no state tax and how it plays

significant roles in where free agents decide to go, Marty from BC? He's not giving up the Cadbury secret here. So what do we care? We know. We know. He's stating the obvious. Yeah, but when you have the commissioner of the league come out and scoff at anybody who ever brings it up, and then you have one of the stars of the Stanley Cup final winning,

Florida Panthers come out and say, that we all were staying here because of state tax. Totally. Tough look for the league. There's nothing to stay here. Tough look for the league. You don't think? I don't think anybody needs to.

It is what it is. But it is the, this getting publicized and being talked about and every player in the NHL hearing about it, it's just being such a part of the consciousness. It didn't used to be that way, even if it has always been this way. And it's making the advantage bigger.

More teams, more players are like, oh yeah, no, no tax. As long as you pick the right guys. Yeah, that's right. But they do, the advantage is growing as people have become more aware of it, for sure. Well, especially with the cap going up every year, it's just more of a percentage that you could take advantage of. It's true. So it's not going anywhere, that's for sure.

Yeah. Anytime soon. But can the commissioner acknowledge it? You know what really stinks? Because that's what bothers me. I can acknowledge it. Because it opens up a can of worms for him. But if he comes out and says,

we acknowledge that it is a bit of a problem or something like that. Then it's, what are you going to do about it? Immediately, yeah. What are you going to do? You say it's a problem. They should do something about it. He's not going to, though.

What stinks right now for fans is that you have to understand the salary cap to understand player movement to understand the NHL. And that's no good. So if you start with like a salary cap, we are like, oh, this percentage, this team gets this much because it attacks dollars. it just gets even more complicated. I wonder if we get to a place with the salary cap is so high

that it doesn't matter in the way it's mattered for the past five years of us doing this show where it's not like every move is how do you fit it under a nip and tuck. And like when there was a much higher salary cap and not everyone, you know, spent up to it, I don't feel like it mattered as much. Like could the cap matter less as it gets higher? Because there's going to be internal caps. How many teams are going to spend to the cap?

when it's $150 million. For sure. You're 15, 18 teams to say, okay, the cap's 115, but my cap isn't. Yeah, my cap's 105. My owner won't allow me to spend more than 95 million or 100 million or like, yeah. I'm working with Darrell Sutter in this book. He said that the Red Wings had a $85 million cap when they played them in the playoffs. They were, they had a internal cap of like 34.

That's right. That was just. That's a big difference. Yeah. And it's probably going to happen again. It's probably. are you going to happen again. Yeah.

Where those teams, like the Rangers and the Leafs. Oh, you mean the teams that make the most money get to spend more on their players? I know. What a concept. And listen, you reward the big markets and that way, which, you know, it's horrible for the league that the Dodgers are so good. So bad. Oh, no, the Yankees are in the mix.

Oh, no. Dodgers, Yankees, World Series. What a nightmare. Who would like that? Anyways. Anyways. Question for Borny. You played with my cousin in Alaska, Curtis Glenn Cross.

Oh. You've had a different road to the NHL, never played AAA, never drafted or played in the WHL, made the Brooks Bandits at 18 who were an expansion in the AJ at that time, eventually to out of Alaska for two years and then on to the NHL for a decent career. Is it possible for a player today to take a similar route or path to the NHL or is hockey two regimented today? Looking forward to hearing from all of you. Great question and showed out to Glenner, one of the best skaters I've ever seen. Good career too in the NHLF.

Really good. And now he's a proper cowboy family there in Alberta. Yeah, I think it's really hard. You know, I've been shocked having a young kid in hockey who's now nine years old. He's only played house hockey up to now. He's going to play select this upcoming year. But hearing all the parents who kids are six and seven and defecting leagues and going to play for other organizations and skills training. And these kids are professionalized from such a young age to get the best coaching.

If you fall behind and all of a sudden you come into your own at 12 or 13, I don't know how you catch up now. Oh, yeah, I'm the opposite. Yeah, you think it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. If you're good, you're good. I hope you're right. I want you to be right, because I was that way too, right? I totally believe that it could not look great at 14 or 15, 16, and it can turn around on you.

It just depends on where you are mentally and where your frame of mind is in terms of wanting to still prove people wrong. Like some people just buy into the, oh, he says I'm no good and he says I'm cut and they're telling me I'm no good and I'm no good. Like there's always going to be exceptions. I'm not saying people can't make it. I'm just saying it feels like the deck is stacked. You have to live off of that. That you're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong, I'm going to prove you wrong. Yeah.

There's. And like I wrote a book on my path undrafted, which meant I wasn't a blue chip prospect. I was not a can't miss guy and you just find you just find different ways you find different ways to get there and sometimes it's later and we've got now

rookies coming in at 26, 27, 28 and it's only up to you to say was it worth it hanging in all that time but like yeah like it's it all depends on where you are mentally on whether or not you're behind the eight ball or not or it's just part of the process

You know what was hard for me is like, so I went to, you know, NHL camp and AHL camps and I was undrafted, undrafted at every level and found myself at that level. And they don't want you to be the guy. Like, they've messed up if you beat out their prospects, right? They wanted to be the 18-year-old they picked. A lot of people stake their jobs on picking that kid, that kid, that kid, that kid. And he gets six times, eight times the chances that you do.

Absolutely. That's why guys still get first-round picks, still get picked up by teams, two times after even they can't show they can't play. So like, you know, if I got a run on a line with a good line and one hops over my stick. Bye-bye. Yeah, see ya. Yeah.

I told you he stunk. Yeah, exactly. But they're looking to get those guys. So it does, it is harder. But, you know, to Kipp's point, people do develop later. You can use it as people will get there. But I do think it's hard. Good question.

Yeah. But she left her name, but good question. This is from Wayne and Milton. Projections for the Flyers this year. Miss or make the playoffs can talk it, bring the best out of them. thanks Wayne good question on the flyers I don't know

I don't know who their goalies are they never do Earson and what's it what is it with the flyers and goals I don't know I guess they had one how far do they have to go back to where you were truly saying Ron Hextall

or Carter Hart up until the point where he left not a big Robert Ash guy no Roman Chechman yeah Michael Waiton yeah Leighton they went to the final

at the final yeah anti-Ramette and Leighton or the two goalies in that final. That's right. I like a lot of how they're building. I think they're doing a great job there. You know, Mitchkov, Zegra's Tippet is fascinating as a line. Getting Zegris is a good pickup.

And Mischkov, I think is going to turn around? Is Grubankin going to be anything? Connect knee, Keturier, those guys, they're still okay. They're okay, but I just, they're not ready yet. Which sure like Drysdale, they have a good year or two. That would go a long way to feeling better about them. And that was the guy It says it was Clay from Ontario that asked that question

So there you go Got a Flyers guy No that was the other one about Glenn Cross There you go Gotcha Yeah That's pretty much it for text boys When we come in on Monday

Because a lot is to be decided Before we do our next show Will the Toronto Blue Jays be playing In a wild card On the following Tuesday Or will they be off for six days Before the when they win the ALEC this weekend So we set this stage for people

So they know what's going Do you just have three games left And the Yankees have three years games left. They need some combination of three wins or three two out of three and a Yankee loss. Done. Gets are the ALEs champions. They are the ALEs. That's how I see it playing out. I don't think

I don't think the Yankees will sweep Oakland. I think Baltimore. They're playing. Baltimore. Sorry, I don't think they'll I don't think they'll sweep Baltimore. I think Baltimore will stick it to them one game. Please God. And the Jays they'll win two out of three at home. Come on. You got it. This team that's coming in here I think they're at least 14 games behind you. Santander hit a couple balls hard.

Yeah, I watched Jason 30 this morning. It was an enjoyable watch. It was back on my favorite show. If I don't watch your own... If you need Sunday to decide... Please, yeah, you don't want to have to pitch Gossman on Sunday. Who's pitching? It's Gossman lined up to pitch Sunday.

But you're hoping that you don't have to worry about that. If he loses, then you don't get them... For the wild card game. For the wild card games. Yes. It's a really dangerous... It's a dangerous... It's a dangerous dance.

And he won't start both games. I think in that... situation you got to pitch them. Oh, like on three days, four days rest? No, I think you got to pitch them in the game, 18, 162. Of course. Oh, of course. Of course he did.

Yeah. Yeah. Anyways, high stress. What do you need, Blair and Barker for? Yeah, it's pretty good stuff. Oh, by the way, I saw a thing today quickly before we go. We haven't mentioned Ovechkin yet in the show. He practiced with the caps the first time this week.

I had a lower body in dream. I'm not sure what that was from. Yeah. Hey, does his belly count his lower body yet? I saw him ringing in groceries. some, you know, promote charity thing they were doing? That's quite a fall from Grace. Dude is, that boiler of his,

there is no greater phenomenon than that man with that physique. What did he score last year? Another 40? He's got a cereal out. What is it? Lots of sugar butter cups? I don't know. I don't know.

But I'd like to know the sugar content. Dude, that he scored 40 goals last year, whatever number of us, 35, is the greatest season in old 40-year-old man history. Look up his cereal on. eBay. He scored 44 times last year. How does he get around out there? So is he under contract this year and then that's it?

So this is his last year in the NHL. A lot of people are speculating that he'll be going to play for Dynamo. Yeah, go go do that. It's Dynamo time for seven years. 100%. He's New York. New York. Claude, no.

Is he still doing it? I think he might be. Did you find the cereal? Oh, yeah. I mean, I just do, just Google it. Mexican cereal. I mean, it's not really good for her. Feudy flakes.

OV flakes? Quickly, quickly. Ovios. Ovi. They're legitimately called obios. Okay, we got to get a box. There's a box on eBay for $39.99. Well, that's regular price now in grocery stores, isn't it?

Yeah. Yes, that's well said. All right. What a week, boys. Thanks to Doug McLean on our first edition of off the rails. All right, what do you think? Good week. Great week. Great start.

Like our training camp still, though. Yeah. Have a great weekend, everybody.