Real Kyper & Bourne - Quiet Coaching Search & Cats Look to Close

Episode Date: May 16, 2024

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee start with a look at the Leafs' coaching search and where other head-coach-needy teams might be leaning in their respective searches. Former Leafs' GM Gord Stellick (10:44) weighs in on why NHL coaching news has dried up, what would be at the top of a new Leafs coach's to-do list and where they might go in the free agency market. Later, Panthers analyst Ed Jovanovski (27:36) tees up tonight's Game 6 between Florida & Boston -  the Cats' dominant net-front game, Barkov changing his playoff narrative and Bobrovsky's shut-down play.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.

get her going the real kipper and born show the kiprios justin born sammy mckee derrick brandeo david sis boomba sportsnet 590 sportsnet 360 sportsnet plus from four to six you're off the ir but not 100 yeah what did you guys say yesterday? We definitely said you were faking it. No, we didn't, did we? We said we gave you credit for battling through the first two days. Did you? Yeah.

Because I got a few texts on my social. They weren't texts, they were tweets. Yeah, there's tweets. Like, where are you? Yeah, this show sucks. were tweets where are you no not the show sucks you're soft you're soft what do you got a headache a tummy ache

much like Austin Matthews he played game 1 game 2 game 3 got a little sketchy I woke up and I read that today I'm like I don't care if I come and You know, game three got a little sketchy. But I woke up and I read that today. And you're up. I'm like, I don't care if I come and throw up a lung on national television. I'm going to work.

I would care about that. I don't want to get sick for a long weekend. Well, listen, I can carry the verbal weight today. I'll do all the talking. Here's me filling time. Trying to buy some time. No, we'll be a lot better than that. Yeah, we'll be good.

We've got a great guest today, Kip. Great guest. Loaded. Gord Stellatricity will join us in about 10 minutes. Figure out what's going on. Coaching news coming this week for the Toronto Maple Leafs. What's going on? Yeah, what is going on?

That's a great question. Why is it? I would have sworn we were going to have this by now. I think a ton behind the scenes is going on? That's a great question. Why is it? I would have sworn we were going to have this by now. I think a ton behind the scenes is going on. And I think there's a race right now. Hmm. A race for Berube? Fill spots.

Yeah. Well, it doesn't feel like it's going to be clean. Like Berube was like, I want to be there. They want me. Let's negotiate the contract. Bing, bang, boom. This feels like it's not like that. So is this the Leafs not able

to lock in their guy as of yet? Or is this Brad Treliving who's notoriously known for doing his due diligence and a thorough inquiry on finding a coach. How many interviews have gone on? Is there any more planning?

It feels, you know, and I have no idea, but it feels like everyone kind of wants Berube. He has leverage over all of them because of that. And it makes sense when you're a UFA to hear the pitch of these other teams and what money is offered and sort of authority and all the rest, what's coming. So maybe he's just, it takes time to interview with every team.

Is that unreasonable? Not at all. Not at all. I just wonder where New Jersey is in all of this when it comes to, when it comes to looking for a head coach. I get the sense that there's some organizations that have no problem, whatever it takes to get a good head coach. That could mean spending between $3, $4, $5 million a year on a coach.

And then there's some organizations that just can't go there, don't want to go there. That's not what we're budgeted for. And I guess... And New Jersey, I think, has the means to go for $5 million. I also know...

Toronto does. I think Seattle is willing to spend on a guy that they like. Yeah. I also know New Jersey, they're a part of that group. Is it the Fenway Sports Group or it's... No, no, no, no. It's not Fenway.

Fenway's Pittsburgh. Yeah. And it's Harris. Harris. He has New Jersey and now the Washington Commanders. And maybe a European kick hockey team too. A football team? A footy team.

I don't know what team it would be. But anyway, they are a very analytics-focused, forward-thinking organization. That group is. Very forward. So I... So is that Craig Berube? Well, to me, that's more Sheldon Keefe than Craig Berube.

But I don't know. But I'm just assuming, based on the way I hear Berube talk about hockey, he's not going to be like, well, of course he... It's much more likely to be sheldon isn't it was that overplayed for the leafs all these years yeah with uh kyle dubas and analytics we we never really saw many decisions based on sheer numbers everyone look at their deadlines the last few years like it was like achari and shen and mccabe but it took him a long time

to get there for sure it did there were there's no doubt that the early days were like maybe patan and malgan can fix it how about more yanson again yeah it's just i i feel like there was sort of a a change in his philosophy i don't even think that was analytics as much as he believed that in his philosophy speed and skill would work eventually over this like brawn and toughness but that wasn't like possession-based metric driven decision yeah so and i'm just wondering if craig barubi even if he loves the thought of being less than an hour away from his home in philadelphia that that's i i can't work under those circumstances. I'm not, I'm a gut guy. I want to coach with my gut feeling, not what your analytics department's telling me. Yeah.

You know, I think a big complaint of the people I know who work in analytics for NHL teams is that you can provide them with all the stuff in the world, but if the coach doesn't care, which I would say most of them still don't entirely like like 10 out of the 32 will really consider it and read all the information whatever and the next 10 might go what do you got 10 of the 32 that's like uh five or six players need to get going here to talk it's like who do you think the 10 the middle 10 go you know okay if you got something really good tell me if you don you don't, I don't want to hear it. And then there's 10 or 12 guys that just throw it in the bin.

Do you think Berube is a bin man? I would be speculation to make that claim, but yes, I do. Well, I'm speculating. He's crumpling it up. Kobe. Yeah. I got to think, too, in his interviews, he's making that pretty clear to everybody that if you're going to come in you're going to spend

this money on me you're giving me a i make the decision fair long fairly long-term deal here then don't don't try to jam stuff down my throat here yeah well that's you know you can negotiate for different things when you're trying to get hired and it's not all money and some of it is who has the say on certain things and who do i have to answer to i'm sure he would not like to answer to the numbers guys also in 20 minutes ed jovanovsky will join us former nhl defenseman help us tee up boston and the panthers a series a lot extending a lot of Lots happening. Can I tell you guys a fun fact on that? Do you want to do a full host-like thing? Yeah.

And then at the top of the hour, Rob Brown, we've had him on before, does a great job as an oiler analyst for Ched out there. He'll join us at the top of the hour. And then Adam Graves to kind of top us off with Rangers Hurricanes as well. So fantastic lineup three former really good nhlers right there yes so there you go that's awesome really good um so i've been covering that florida series uh they had the two goaltender interference calls so i looked into goalie interference calls in the playoffs there's been five goalie interference

challenges all five involve florida and their guys just falling on the goal level the two against with tampa right where they challenged both three against tampa and then two against boston but also their goalie is dramatic and drops his stick and does the whole thing so florida's been involved in all five i wrote about it today in sports net but okay so um three in the three in the opposite and then two on well they've broski uh actually i think it's the opposite i then two on Bobrovsky? Actually, I think it's the opposite. I think it's three against Bobrovsky and two offensively. But they got the call every time that they wanted.

The first time, second time, third time, fourth time. The only time they didn't was the one they should have got the call. The most egregious one. Where they let McAvoy's goal stand when Heinen took out his skate. Yeah. So they almost got every call and that was the one game they lost. They won the other four games

and then they lost the one where they didn't get the call. So pivotal moments. But this is, I wrote about how that's a testament to the way Florida plays. They're in the crease. They're around there.

They're falling on people right there. They get to those areas and their goal is a little dramatic, but they defend hard too. So I think it speaks to the way they play that they're always in the thick of it i wonder what uh how are those numbers compared to the ones during the regular season are they did would they have led uh in increased crashing that is a unbelievably good question that i wish i had looked into i uh it should be your stat guy or something.

Well, you know what's funny is so I took that thesis that, okay, Florida is a physical team and they've been involved in five goalie interference challenges in two rounds. I wonder how many the Toronto Maple Leafs have been involved in since Marner and Matthews were in the league, eight years of whatever. And I actually just got the answer. Thank you to Richard Choi and our stats department. So they've had seven.

They've been involved in seven over the last eight years. Florida's been five this year. So maybe that tells you they're not around the crease as much. No, they like to score their goals. I mean, that's just such an easy thing to say. For sure. It's like the most confirmation biased thing ever. For sure.

Or? Or they don't ever go to the front of the net you can say both sides of that for sure for sure i i would have to look into how they've all played out in terms of it was for or against them but that's interesting yeah like i gotta think there was a few with bertuzzi that guy goes to the net. That guy's around the blue paint a lot. Yeah. I got work to do. Bunting. I got a follow-up on this. Bunting for sure. See if my goaltender interference theory holds up. He's a follow-on. Yeah. The most egregious is

Matthew Kachuk in the first round against Tampa Bay. He's skating by Vasilevsky and someone touches him and he's like, oh no, the goalie and fell on top of Vasilevsky and Bennett. I mean, the way these, I know we're going to getvsky and bennett i mean the way these i know we're gonna get gordo here in a second but the way these series are shaping up it's it's a thing of beauty because it started where there's a couple three ones you know the the rangers get out to the 3-0 and you're kind of concerned that it might be a quick second round but now you got the three you got game six got game six in the other city it's great i'm fired

up about this round all right let's bring him in we know him best as toronto maple leaf analyst for sports at 590 former general manager of the toronto maple leaves our number one guest ever on the real kip and born show wait gordo you there i i'm here sorry here. Sorry. Like I just had lunch with Brian Burke. So just exiting and catching up and talking fond things about the show and the Leafs and hockey. So excuse any background ambiance. Wow. That's awesome. So what did you have to eat?

Oh, a bunch of chicken dishes. You know, Brian ordered. He's part owner here of Moxie's. I'm not giving a plug. It's $2,000. He said he never is going to see back. He said guys like Shane Doan and Jerome McGill on that were partners, so he's been here for a while.

And he claims, anyway, he claims he owns two urinals. That's what that is. So anyway, that was, it was a good afternoon to talk hockey. I mean, they got a great PWHL final tomorrow night, right? Like a game five going on. So that part's good as far as that gig goes. And otherwise we're chatting about a great, what a great second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It is, it is. And we'll get into that, Gord. But as far as the coaching front, it's been a fairly quiet week. Are you surprised? Not really. I mean, it's quiet, but it's not quiet. It's kind of like they're, you know, let's face it, everyone, it's Todd McClellan or Craig Berube. So, you know, and nowadays, like it's even like Craig Berube interviewing in Winnipeg. And you've got to think they've got their coach in mind already. And, you know, Chicago Blackhawks, when they were looking for a general manager, they cast the net wide and they stayed with Kyle Davidson, who was the guy already there, you know know so i don't know you know how much his appearance is i don't know if that's the right word but i guess you want to check out what other options there are so there's one of two very

experienced very confident guys i i if i was betting i would say it'd be craig groovy um there's no rush rush but you also can't let it drag out forever. I think, obviously, this is the top job, right? So other hires, whether, you know, Berube or McClellan or candidates elsewhere, which I'm sure they both are, are waiting for the Toronto news. Gord, I don't know that you're going to get much out of this, but does how Boston looks against Florida change anything about how you feel about the Leafs from from round one? You know, they seem to be going down without much of a fight there, but fought back last game to get a win.

Has anything changed for you in your perception of the Leafs, given what their opponent looks like in round two? Yeah, you know, Justin, it's the same as we talked about through that series. The Boston's the Bruins could be had. I mean, the Bruins were right for the taking and that's not any disrespect. I mean, to lose the kind of players they have and still maintain, you know, staying where they are. And, you know, that cap era about hometown discounts is over with Charlie McEvoy and David Pasternak and that. So they've got, had problems there.

And, you know, yeah, it's just disappointing. It's, you know, it was dealt with a little bit at the press conference with the three guys, Keith Pelley and Brendan Shanahan and Brad Treliving. It's just too many years losing series like this, and this isn't the same Boston team that they lost in Game 7 five, six years ago. This isn't as good a Boston team. So I haven't changed it.

Jeremy Swayman played great in goal. You can look at certain things. Their depth guys got goals. Leafs took not great penalties. Special teams killed them. But they should be playing now. No question. I felt that back then.

I went over the top on your show about it. I really believed in it. So anyway, I don't feel any different. And the other part, I feel like, wow, the Florida Panthers are now what we thought the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to be. And that's kind of another dip of disappointment on top of not being in the second round of the playoffs that another team seems to have maybe developed more fully

from doing a bit of rebuild than the Maple Leafs did, say, seven years ago. We're talking to Gord Stelic, Toronto Maple Leaf analyst for Sportsnet 590, former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. So, Gord, a new coach, Berube McClelland, who knows? But what would be the top priority for a coach to come in now for the Leafs? Because there's specialty teams, There's defensive structure. There could be squeezing more out of your front line guys or your bottom six. What do you think the number one look has to have at the top of the list here for a new coach?

Yeah, so, you know, Kippy, and it's funny. I remember years ago, your buddy Rick Tockett was in doing some media stuff, and we went out for a bite after the three of us, and I just think about what he did in Vancouver, because it's not a slight against anybody else. And I don't like the overused word culture at times, but it really does apply here. And I think it started applying when the end-of-season presser

acknowledged that the process isn't working, and you can't keep parroting that line out and educating elite fans about what they uh what they should be seeing when they really don't see it so i i like that about what the expectations are and i think yeah you know what i think keith pelly saying the fans deserve a winner not that sheldon keith obviously didn't coach you know not to be a winner there were times when he had to walk back some criticism and i just think that's a part of what a new coach will have a little bit more of a free reign to the whole accountability thing okay so so that's the part of the coach thing the other part

the reality is they're they're not as good a team as they were two three years ago that doesn't mean you can't go deeper in the playoffs okay but there is a bit of a not a retool but some of the younger players which could be a positive being injected in the lineup easton talent just had a great series you know in the ohl with london he's not going to be the savior next year but just an element of that that you need to inject those kind of players as much for salary cap reasons being on entry-level contracts as anything else gordon, not sure if you happen to hear the talk, Rick Talkett comments about his team and how they got passengers and they can't win with 12 guys and pretty hard stuff, you know,

in the playoffs. You don't hear coaches be so hard on their guys in the playoffs that often. Do you feel like that would make a difference in Toronto? Like, do you feel if it is Berube and he's a little harder on them or, you know, hey, maybe it's Rod Brindamore. Do you feel like something is Berube and he's a little harder on them or hey, maybe it's Rod Brindamore. Do you feel like something like that would actually move the needle with the players? Well, Kipper used to do that with

me on the Sportsnet panel. Whatever. I would wallow with another Dante Fiesta big meal, but then I would try to bounce back with a stronger battle. It goes back to Jim Montgomery talking about pasta and expect more from him. Like Rick Talkin said, hey, you guys write or you cover the game.

Like, what are you seeing, you know? And so he just kind of said it afterwards. And I don't know. I just think he's stating the obvious. And I'd like to think, you know, first, as you guys know, being players about a coach having a good read about what works or doesn't work, but also, hey, you know what? Like, if I want to be a winner, I'd want the coach to say that

because, yeah, whichever guys are not doing it, they're affecting the other 14 guys that are doing it. And doing it means simply giving the kind of effort, not being a passenger. So it's funny. Just so much media scrutiny, so much nowadays the kid gloves crap, and I think that's been part of the problem about the Maple Leafs, that it's just been, oh, geez, they lost the playoffs.

Too bad. But here's what, you know, whatever. No, you know, it should be something that hurts, something you want to build from, something that challenges you, and something that, you know, challenges you to be better, challenges you to work harder, challenges you to do whatever is necessary to get to that next level. The next level for

them this summer, they've got 12 UFAs, Gord, and you look at who's coming back. We've talked about the big guys, and we talked to Vars and Marner, and we know that those are conversations that are going to be had. Is there anyone on the back end that you feel like needs to come back to be a part of the solution? You know, that is a bit of a sore spot for the Leafs every year,

trying to find more defensemen to fill in at the deadline. Well, again, so, I mean, needs is an interesting word. So I throw Joel Edmondson, that kind of thing out there. But then also there's others like, you know, is it Chris Tanav maybe hypothetically interested? Like what else is here? I thought last year in getting Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi on one-year contracts and ultimately what they did the end of the regular season in the playoffs was, you know,

a perfect kind of fit that way. And so I'll throw that name out there just like I like the way he played. I like his fact he's got some playoff success pedigree. Obviously, T.J. Brody's time has come and gone. And, you know, then you're, you know, Kippy and I, we've talked about it. And actually, I was texting Kippy a couple weeks ago thinking of one of my Toronto Star articles. Because, you know, Kippy now is like he's the Pierre Burton, you know, of whatever, the modern day for Canadian authors. So, you know, Justin, you write excellent stuff, but Kippy,

he's got his pipe there and he's got his jacket, his sweater with leather elbows. Unlimited elbow patches on the sweater. And a mascot and everything like that. But just, you know. Get on with it. Let's go. You're dripping right now. We're talking about all these forwards, young where the hell are the d like where are any young d you know now we at least have a goalie in

toronto and joe wall young goalies so that ends up being a problem but then there's other guys you could fill with and uh you know and and i thought joel edmondson was a great kind of guy to fill with. Gordon, you assume that the whole idea now is to go land a defenseman in free agency. But for that to happen, everybody's doing the math saying, okay, the core four, someone has to go free up the money, Marner, Tavares. If by chance nothing happens in September, October, and they're brought back, is there wiggle room of acceptance in Leaf Nation to start them in September, October for you?

Absolutely. I think the fact that there's an element that they've self-professed accountability is a start. You know, that, okay, we got to get better. So it's not like, oh, this is great. Okay. I'll see you in April saying, no, no, we got to get better. And the other part, you know, Kippy, like John, no one landed a bigger free agent than John Tavares and that July 1st. And you were one of the few people that brought up what happens in the cap

world about a free agent, just, you know, warning people about other things that maybe, you know, don't make it as great in the big picture and that's what's happened that's not that's no that's no indictment of him at all so there's no sexy d out there okay it's not like oh my goodness now maybe since i'm just talking about berkey if some reason the modern day chris pronger and scott niedermeyer can make it you know in one year like he did with anaheim that year would be different but uh it's it's just the kind of and one thing Brad for a living I know you guys discussed it many times in Calgary's had a

pretty good history about you know being involved in deals for defensemen and and you know focusing on that so yeah it's it's got to be addressed and and there is no savior there's no savior anywhere because it's anything you do is another spice and just making incrementally positive moves. Gord, go get some dessert with Berkey. Or did you have it already? Well, I got the souffle. It takes 15 minutes, Kippy, so it's all good. And it's 4-3, so I got two more spoons.

Guys, come on down, okay? Thanks, pal. Great stuff. Appreciate it. Okay, guys, take care. All right, Gord Stelic. Do you know how close Pronger came to being a Leaf? I do.

I do. It's heartbreaking, but I do know that. Would that have been like near prime Pronger? Do you know why he was in the Leaf? I vaguely remember, but please enlighten me. Yeah. Please break my heart all over again. Yeah.

A first rounder, I think Thomas Caberle and the Leafs and Edmonton asked for Alex Steen and the Leafs wouldn't give up Steen. Ouch. Ended up being a pretty good player. Yeah, but then they traded him like a year later for Lee Stepniak. Yeah, Lee Stepniak.

Oh, that's a crucial detail. Oopsies. Oopsies. That was Cliff Fletcher, right? They did that. That was like in between GMs. Yeah. Yeah.

Was that before Berkey? And Thomas Camberley. Amazing player. Great player, but not Pronger. Nobody's like Pronger. Chris Pronger is one of the, I don't know, 10 guys that influenced every shift. I mean, more than anyone else in hockey.

He just was a bully and long and could play and think. And he was just unbelievable. Gordo made a good point there, but where is the young defense? Oh, you mean Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Lilligren? Is that the young defense? I don't know. Is it Roni Hirvonen? Is he one?

One of him and Toby Niemeyer are a D for sure. It's just they don't have that no but it's like they don't have a a stud guy on defense coming up i guess that noah chadwick and the i know you traded a lot of assets away the last little while but not have one hit eight eight ten years to not develop one guy but i remember the draft year that the leafs were like we're just gonna get all the biggest D on earth. And it was Keaton Middleton. And there was like all these guys that were like six,

eight and none of them could play, you know? And like, there has to be some balance between get a big D and get a guy. I'm not even, I'm not even saying get a big guy. I just, but they did sign this,

that Cade, Cade Weber, this season, they traded Carolina to get his rights and signed him. So I don't know. He'll probably play in the American League next year, but maybe he's a guy one day. I don't know. I'm just throwing stuff at the wall, fellas. It is weird, though.

Because they have had development of their forwards. They have Nyes coming up and contributing. Yeah, Holmberg, McMahon. These are guys that they've kind of drafted and developed or whatever. It's that blue line, though. Look at Carolina right now. We're going to get into it uh

later on in the show but a lot of a lot of teams that win the cup are based on a incredibly solid back end look at Dallas turns out Topi Niemel is the demon not Roni yeah yeah I mean gone to my head I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between those two guys. How big is he? He's 1.83 meters high. According to Google, does that help? Why did they do that to us? He just goes 6'1". I need a ruler. He's 6 feet tall and 180.

5'11". Yeah, so he's 5'11", 179. I've referred to them as the Topes and the ronies many times i just it sucks because you know even every general manager it feels like has a hit on one guy that's like not outside the third round outside the fourth round like you find a d-man you find somebody that comes up and contributes and it just they haven't really had it on the back end so it's a good point by gordo there all right we'll take a quick break yep and then we'll come back with ed jovanovsky former nhl defenseman covering the panthers for bally we'll get his thoughts on the bruins and the panthers including

paul maurice's antics at the podium all right all right ed jovsky, when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Breaking down the top stories in the NHL every day. The Jeff Merrick Show. Subscribe and downloadoren show. How surprised are you that Sears is going back to Boston? You know, I thought they kind of looked dead in the water. You lose Brad Marchand. It was tough to see that they had a leg to stand on outside Jeremy Swayman,

but they do have Jeremy Swayman, and that goes a long way. I mean, that guy is, has he been the best goalie in playoffs so far? I mean. So the last couple of years, him and Omar have been like lights out. And you're just, you're thinking, okay, like, The last couple of years, him and Omar have been like lights out. And you're just thinking, okay, they're good, but how good are they really? And now you're understanding that that run is no fluke. Nope.

They're legit. They're legit. All right. Let's welcome in Joe Vanosky, who covers the Panthers on Valley Sports. How are you, pal? I'm good, man. Everything good. Okay, so I'll ask you the same question I just asked JB. Like, how surprised are you that this thing's going back to Boston?

Well, I tell you what, I think, you know, most guys, obviously you want to finish this, you know, at home. It hasn't been the story around the league, you know, but it is what it is. It's always tough, you know tough to win that fourth game. And I think if you look at the Panthers game in that situation, probably could be better. Maybe a little bit of disconnect in that game.

And, yeah, listen, you're going back to Boston. And as much as you like to finish it on home ice, it didn't happen. But the team has been a very good road team so we'll see what happens uh tomorrow Joe boy I was uh looking into goalie interference calls throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs and there's been five Florida's been involved in five do you think do you think that's a coincidence or is it reflect just the way they play around the crease of both ends? I think so. I mean, you look at Florida, you know, especially we talk so much

and you hear a lot about it around the league, you know, how good they are on the four check and in that blue paint area. I think they're all instructed. We got a handful of guys, Bennett, Kachuk, these guys that like going on the front of the net and you want pucks and traffic going there. And, you know know unfortunately or fortunately there's been you know a couple of those incidents where it went their way and it didn't but it's one of those areas i think we as you both know

it's one of the areas where goals are scored the league it's a high traffic area and you want bodies there and you know and sometimes uh you know things don't go your way and they do but uh you're gonna see florida continually kind of going to that blue paint area which makes them very effective we got another glimpse of uh paul maurice blowing a gasket uh behind the bench here he's just he's starting to get legendary status on it um and then to watch it and then see a goal produced right away like does he really think he's that good right i pushing the right buttons in those situations um during that second period i found myself maybe enjoying one or two too many drinks there during that period so i missed that fiasco. But I did see it the next day.

And, you know, listen, I think when he has that pulse and the team is not performing the way it should perform, you know, you want to let him know. He heard Barkov talk about it. It wasn't so much that he was mad. I think he was just kind of letting the guys know that it just wasn't good enough and get yourselves into the game. And they responded in that situation situation obviously right after but um

it seems to like kind of pick and choose his right spots and and i guess good on him for probably not have i guess good on the players for not having the coach remind them how you need to play because they've been fairly consistent throughout the playoffs and throughout the season but i think always a little reminder is always it was good to the guys letting them know i was talking letting his players know it is the playoffs so there was a like a run of years i want to say two seasons where barkov didn't have the greatest postseason run and it was kind of like almost becoming a reputation thing where like this guy struggles a bit in the postseason this season that has not been the case he's been wonderful for florida do you think there was anything to the

previous stuff or is it sometimes it just you know you get luckier than others well i think for him each and every year you're seeing kind of that next step and i think you look at last year the taste that they got so close to being you know what can you do differently you know in the playoffs he is the captain of the team and um you know he's the leader of the group and i think when he's going on all cylinders like he has been i mean it rubs down the lineup and i think it takes so much pride on him his game not so much i guess scoring points or whatever the case may be that's been really nice to see on his part. But just his 200-foot game, the way he tracks back, the way he breaks up plays, the way how hard he is to take the puck off,

the way he defends in the offensive zone, protecting the puck, and most of all, making his linemates better. He's a special player, man, I tell you. Does he ever get mad, Jovo? I don't think, no. I'm sure inside it does boil in him. I think he takes his frustration out and just wants to be better that next year. But he's a quiet guy.

I played with him a handful of years. He's a quiet guy. He just goes out there and tries to lead by example. But he's the first guy on the ice, the last guy off the ice. He spends a lot of time at the rink and just working on his craft, and he's been excellent. You know, he's never had a 40-goal season, Jovo. Is that because he's not pushing for one?

Like, is he good enough where if he said, I'm going to score 45 or 50 this year, it happens? I think so, Kip. I think you look at him, he's so unselfish. I think you almost want to be a little bit selfish sometimes shooting the puck. He's got a twisted wrist or that. He can be a goaltender for Mount. But he likes to set up his line mates.

He's a pass, almost first type guy. But yeah, I think there's no question. I think if he made that, you know, hey, listen, I'm going to get 35 to 45 goals. You know, I think he's a player obviously capable of it. He's a big body. He's tough to handle. He shoots the puck a ton. And he's got moves, too.

We've seen a handful of those this year, the way he can dangle through guys finish he can finish and um but yeah i think he he he gets more satisfaction probably in setting up guys and breaking up plays yeah so unbelievable quote not sure if you saw it from brad marshand yesterday or today today where today where he said um that he's not mad about the bennett thing he basically said that you know you as much as no one wants to say it you try to hurt the other players on the other team when you play which is you know every we all know it we just it's kind of been like you're not supposed to say it how do you feel about that statement and also sam bennett right well you know you're gonna get out of sam bennett he's

i mean that's why a lot of the time he is banged up because he only knows one speed and he plays that physical game and um i don't i don't like i'm not disagreeing with with marchie on this i don't know if you go out and publicly say that i think in our league the respect factor is there probably more than any other league i think guys truly care you know you don't want no one wants to hurt each other i think it's when you get into the playoffs when you have an opportunity to really smoke someone yeah you're not hesitating um do you want him to get hurt no i mean you want to be a hard-nosed hockey player and you want it to be physical um i would think the more proper way to say it is probably, you know,

we just hate each other. You know, I think the hatred develops, especially these two teams, obviously what happened last year. And now we're in a series. So could be fireworks tomorrow. Well, when you think about two goalies going head-to-head, I'm not sure you can find a better matchup than swayman or bobrovsky here but uh you know for the most part goalie bob has continued to to turn his career around like it's phenomenal that we were talking about

those first three years in philadelphia in Florida about does he get bought out? Who would buy that? Who would trade for that contract? But, you know, he's been money for them for quite a while right now. And this really could come down to the last save between Swayman and Bobrovsky. Yeah, it could. And they've both been excellent. You know, even with Florida putting up six in a couple games there,

you can't look at the goaltender being the issue there. For Bob, yeah, you're right. He's been consistent. He's given his team to, even if you look at game four, I think it was three breakaways that he did stop kind of right in the

heat as the game was close. So he's been dialed in. He's given his, he so square square to the play right now he's not leaving too much in front of him deflecting things off and when Bob's in this zone he's very difficult to beat you got to give credit to what's going on in front of him I think the guy's second and third opportunities have done a nice job in front and Swayman as well I mean he's taking the ball and run with it they both both have excellent seasons, the Boston goaltender. But I think running with Swayman has been a pretty good decision

on the coach's part. And he's delivered for Boston. Get your take on the opposition here in that Boston Bruins team. We obviously watched them here in Toronto in a seven-game series. And it didn't feel like they had a ton of firepower. But they just play really solid team defense i give some credit to jim montgomery there is florida having a tough time with it as much as toronto was trying to produce well just kind of reflecting on that you look in the lineup that there's posting before

last game and you're like you know florida really has an opportunity here to expose this lineup you take marshall and all lineup, it really looks different. I think you get in these situations, I think as a team, you've just got to clamp down, and I think that's what Boston has done. They really clog up the middle and kind of force you into those areas, and they're turning pucks over and going back the other way. Defensively, they have a great back end. They're a big back end.

They're mobile. Lorai has been a big surprise who probably didn't hear much of. I mean, this kid moves around pretty good for a big man. But, yeah, I think this time of year, crunch time, especially back up against the wall, you're going to get your best defensive effort. I think for the Florida Panthers side, you just can to get your best defensive effort i think for the florida panthers side you just can't get too um i guess frustrated in those situations where what has been the

backbone of this team is getting the puck behind the d and working below the goal line and doing a great job in that area you'd like to see matthew pick it up a little bit more in that area kind of nothing in the last couple games like to'd like to get him back going. But overall, I think you just look at this game as an individual game. Forget what happened and just try to look at tape where you can expose Boston. Anybody up front for Boston that stands out for you because past Pasternak and Marchand, who hasn't been in the lineup. I think Coyle.

This is a meat and potatoes lineup, isn't it? It is. You know, every time it seems like Coyle's on the ice, he's just so low to the ice. He's a good skater, bright shot. He can play physical. He can finish. Even a guy like Trent Frederick, I mean, a guy that's been involved.

And obviously, we know Pasternak put in those situations. I mean, he can beat you so i think collectively everybody's got to chip in just like every other group but uh i'm impressed with uh with coil as a player i think he he kind of adds every element to that group you know who stands out to me in florida that i didn't know a ton about and nothing i didn't know about him but lundell lundell seems to be involved in just about everything these days. Yeah, he's one of those Swiss Army knife type players where the coaches really put him in key situations, key face-offs.

You can use him on the power play when guys aren't there. I think experience, he's eventually going to get there. He's that smart of a player. But a PK guy just kind of feeds off Barkie a little bit. I think he stays pretty close to Barky and watches how he handles himself but yeah he's every year he's gone better and then when he kind of slips a little bit you're like you know you're wondering kind of what's going on on there but you got to remember he's still a young guy still learning and I think Maurice

does an excellent job kind of controlling him in situations where we see him on the ice. And just one more. I wanted to ask about, does Brandon Montour slap shot everything? Does it, every time the puck comes to him, does he hit a slap shot? Like, it doesn't seem like he has a wrister, a snapper. He just wants to bomb it, doesn't he? He does have a bomb. And we almost want him to shoot more because he gets going on that power play

and he does have that look right in the middle of the ice yeah um they they seem to always kind of look for that half board play bring it down low and now with maddie and and sammy reinhardt working that play um yeah he's got a bomb why not use it i think in that situation um you like them see a shoot a little bit more on the power play but i gotta believe he's got a wrister in there too those are loud yeah i guess so jovo this is technically a leaf hour edition of the real kipper and born show so i'm just gonna throw it out there oh yeah montour is a toronto maple leaf next year signed as a power play for us what do you think well i tell you what man he's uh he's sitting in a pretty good position

there you know just watching these guys even a guy like forsling who three years ago was brought here on waivers he's done an exceptional job and i i think when you look at montour what can he do he can skate he's a great first pass he plays against top lines he's a minute muncher. Plays both situations, PK and power play. He's one of those defensemen you look at. I think he's going to be highly sought after. We'd love to have him here. I'm sure being in this situation here, just like Sammy Reinhart, I think there's decisions got to be made,

but hopefully we can keep them all. Well, listen, those questions won't get answered until after we find out what happens with the Stanley Cup here, but enjoy game six tomorrow, Jovo. We always appreciate your time and your wisdom on our

show. Thanks for doing this. Yeah, go get a 10 now, Jovo. All right, buddy. I'm jealous. How are you hitting them? It's the Mediterranean in me. I'm jealous. And how are you hitting them it's the mediterranean in me hey i'm jealous and how are you hitting them these days uh all right all right i keep it right around a four can't lose too much all right we got to get them up here yeah we're gonna have a game all right thanks yeah thanks pal thanks guys thanks jovenoski so uh four like i heard he's all these hockey guys just sticks hey they got nothing to do all summer Thanks, Joe. Joe Vanosky. So. Four. Damn.

I heard he's a good player. All these hockey guys, just sticks, eh? They got nothing to do all summer. So you want to talk about a little bit of a late developer? Like Brandon Montour. You know he's only 30? Like for a D-man, you got good years ahead. Well, if you're a good skier. So I don't know if you guys were born when I was asked on Sportsnet.

Oh, I remember. Willie Nylander did not sign, went through the hole, and then we said, let's make trades. And I loved Montour back then. It's come up. And everybody ripped on me. Oh. Right?

Did they ever, Kip? It was over Nick Ritchie, who was a top ten pick at that point. He's a giant. I mean, everybody wanted to. Remember, Grapes went crazy. They didn't take him in the first round. Without Willie playing a game in the NHL, Willie was what, fifth pick overall?

Eighth. Eighth? Yeah. Eighth? Yeah, maybe we got it right. Eighth for a 10th pick. Not crazy. No.

And then you throw in Brandon Montour. Yeah. Who? At the time, wasn't that scary. Now it's not great. Sorry? It's not great now.

At the time, it was actually fine. And I was like, yeah, that looks pretty good. It was fine. But now, now it's,

it's one that is very easy to throw in your face. And it sucks. No, no, no, it's not easy at all. Brandon Montour is a top defenseman. Yeah. What are you talking about? I mean, yeah. It's not easy at all. Brandon Montour is a top defenseman. What are you talking about?

I mean, yeah. I could argue that Brandon Montour the last two years, three years as a Toronto Maple Leafs would have helped you advance past a first round a lot more than Willie did. I'm just telling you. Brandon Montour's last two seasons have brought the idea back to me a little bit. You get Brandon Montour on the Leafs a few years ago,

and they're getting past Montreal. They're getting past Columbus. The good news is you can have both. I'm just telling you. But Willie is literally the only one on the court that scored any big goals for them the entire time. Let's be honest. You've only been out of the first round once in 10 years.

You haven't really scored any big goals. I mean, how many times has Montour been out first? Don't give me that crap, Sammy. Please. Come on. There's no real big goals. I'm just saying. So he played with the Ducks. Okay, he's been around.

Okay, three times. He is a phenomenal D right now who's got an edge to him. There's not that many of them out there. He has some real fu to his game which i like you know i want i'm curious what what a number would look like for him probably seven oh god i think someone's gonna overpay more than that yeah more than that what really for how long i think he's eight I think he's eight. I think he's eight. I think he can get in the eights. That's a scary contract. We do not agree.

I think he's really good. What's he currently earning? I don't know. And he hammers the puck too, eh? He hammers the puck. He plays 25 minutes a night. He can be physical. He is currently earning three and a half.

He's going to get a raise, I'd say. Seven and a half he's gonna get a raise i'd say seven and a half eight yeah times six given the morgan riley contract i'm hesitant to do that what seven and a half seven and a half eight for six years i don't like it that much either no i mean i think he's really good but he's 30 years i'd rather give him 8.25 for four years he's coming to his own no question and he's 30 years old. I'd rather give him 8.25 for four years. He's coming to his own, no question, and he's really developed. Even less than that. But that's a lot of money, man. For a long time. Four years, eight million. But he'll probably

get it. I mean, that's the thing, though. Like, that's why going into free agency and, like, building a team through free agency and trying to add guys. It's a really dangerous game. It really is. But don't you feel like you'd prefer a Pesci or someone who does...

If I had my choice of all the guys... Chatfield, but better than Pesci. I don't think it's better than Pesci, but it would be cheaper. Tan Ev is the guy I'd choose. I love Tan. Heavier, tougher, faster, better. All right. Bring me Jalen Chatfield.

The Chatfield man. I am pro-tan. Every time I come up with a name... Jalen has entered the Chatfield man I am pro every time I come up with a name Jalen has entered the Chatfield Sam Bennett I told you guys

well before we met yes go get Sam Bennett I know everybody laughed at that one too I did not I did not

I liked that idea you wanted to trade Nick Ritchie nobody in Leafland wanted to trade Nick Robertson for Sam Bennett Nick Ritchie now is in the finish league yeah Nobody in Leaf land wanted to trade Nick Robertson for Sam Bennett.

Nick Rich, you know, is in the finish league. Yeah. He's in some trouble, I think. Anyways. Yeah. So, no, Kippy. It's come around a little bit. The take that everyone loves to throw in your face, Montour is very good.

So, it's come around a little bit. Yeah, it's come around. A little bit. Come around. I wouldn't say fully all the way around. When's Bennett done? What's his deal? He's got two more years.

No, after this year, he'll do his one more year at 4.4. Do you want to play the Marchand clip here? Yes. Talking about the Bennett thing? Yeah. Okay. Beautiful. Let's play that clip there. I think that it was, he plays hard.

You know, he's an extremely physical player. Great player for the group. I think he got away with a shot, but, you know, I'm not going to complain. You know, that's part of especially playoff hockey. You know, I've been on the other side of a lot of plays, and, you know, I think he got away with one. But, I mean, that's part of the game and and uh definitely part of playoff hockey uh you know that sucks to be on the other side of it but

uh you know that that stuff happens um so i'm not gonna sit here and complain about it that's part of the game i like that i applaud marsh and right thing. It breaks my heart how much I love that clip. He's like, yeah, I'm a dirt bag too. And I do dirty stuff and a guy got me. I got got. I try to get people. Try to hurt people. Yeah.

I mean. I'm applauding him for saying that he tries to get people and he got got. Not necessarily the idea of trying to hurt people. But, I mean, are you going to have some high and mighty moment where you say you don't try to? No, I'm saying that that's the way it is. Yes. That's the way it is.

Yes. Try to hurt people. Even Jovo, you know, you say now you hit the guy and you hope he's not hurt. That's hard. You hope he's not permanently hurt. You would like him to have a bruise so bad he can't walk for a week. Maybe a little crack rib.

Yeah, just something that limits you for this series. Something where tape's not going to cut it and you can't play and then doesn't affect the rest of your life. That's what you would like to happen. It's hard for people that never play to hear that. It is very hard.

I accept that. Because there's people that say I don't want I don't want to win that badly, that I want to hurt someone. And there's others that have played that way and say, no, we're trying to hurt you. There's others that said they'd fight their mom to win a Stanley Cup. I really enjoyed hurting people.

I got to be honest with you. I did. When I saw you crawling off the ice, I brought a smile to my face. Psychopathic thing to say. And I love it. I with you. I did. When I saw you crawling off the ice, I brought a smile to my face. Psychopathic thing to say. And I love it. I love you for it. It makes me like you more.

What can I say? Playing the NHL, it's incredible. What can I say? All within the rules. The door to this room doesn't lock, does it? All within the rules. He's pissed off at me about the Montour thing. He wants to hurt me.

I had a split second where I could have jammed my fist down your throat. Just a split second. That's good. All right, plenty more. We promise not to hurt anyone moving forward. The rest of the show, I'm on my best behavior. Okay, when we return, we go national.

Rob Brown, Adam Graves, plenty more on the Real K. Burnborn show I'd fight my mom to win another Stanley Cup