Real Kyper & Bourne - Red-Hot Blues with Chris Pronger + Sens Are Playoff Bound

Episode Date: April 9, 2025

Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Chris Pronger joins Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne to kick off the second hour (3:40). They discuss what's spurred the Blues' scorching stretch, the increase of 'waterbug' defencemen, NHL leadership archetypes, realistic expectations for Ivan Demidov in Montreal and teams on 'upset watch' in the first round. Nick and Justin regroup with Daniele Franceschi to share their thoughts on the Senators clinching a playoff spot, Gabriel Landeskog on the precipice of a long-awaited NHL return and the Canucks' late rally against the Stars.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.

Welcome back in to the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We go national live on Sportsnet as well as Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by bet three, six, five. 6-5. Man, it's been a tough week in the National Hockey League as we lost another one in our world. Ray Schiro passed away at the age of 62. Schiro, of course, one of the top executives in all the last few years, the architect behind the Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup. Oh nine one. Yeah yeah really tough tough week man. Well that is I you know the another guy who everyone just seemed to love you know so much positivity sad stuff. Yeah yeah got a chance to have a few cold ones down when I covered the GM meetings in

Florida and just a fun guy to hang out with and talk hockey. Yeah, of course, a great family dad. Philadelphia Flyer great head coach. Yeah, ready to fog in prayers, you know, for the family there. It's you know, what a successful career he's had you mentioned the family too. So, um, yeah tough week Kip and in a few minutes we'll welcome in Chris Pronger Hall of Fame defenseman. Now the last time we had prongs was just before the tournament started or the just before the gold, the gold medal game or the gold championship game between Canada and US. But he was really good.

And one thing that I remember is like, whoa, kind of hockey, you know, we're going to see out of this game. And yeah, he didn't miss a beat on the intensity of it. Yeah, he thought it was going to be, I don't. Yeah. He thought it was gonna be, I don't want to say he thought it was gonna be a fight fest, but he thought, you know, you put on the jerseys for your country and it's been this long. He expected what we got essentially and he's got a lot of experience at it. This guy's, I also need to ask him about his Twitter feed these days. He's very active. Electric. Yeah. Electric. Basking in the glow of the

St. Louis Blues and among many other things. Yeah. He's doing a lot of motivational talking. Right? Yeah, he's busy. He's busy. He's even just texting me saying, good to go. I'm all good.

So we should be getting him shortly. But yeah, Chris Pronger. I mean, he's just on top of it all. Even yesterday, congratulating the Ottawa Senators for being back in the playoffs first time in eight years. So plenty of good stuff happening. And somewhere in the building, I'm told Glenn Healy is around and promised to stop by as well. So we're looking forward to that. Good hour. Good hour, I guess. Great news in Canadian hockey Montreal and Ottawa buzz

We got a before we get to prongs and maybe we'll talk to him as well about the Vancouver Canucks last night dead and buried after an empty net goal, yeah, what should have solidified a five to win and they score three times in under a minute, which has apparently never been done before. Is that right? 53 seconds. Against the Dallas Stars. Never happened. First time ever. Incredible. Huge for the Winnipeg Jets. Wow. All right, as promised, let's bring him in. Hall of Famer. Chris Pronger. Prongs, how are you, man?

Where are you these days? I'm in beautiful Philadelphia. Sunny day here, and the sun came up in sunny Philadelphia. Hey, how did the interview go? Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha! I hear they're looking for a coach. Allegedly. Yes. Allegedly. No, no. Too, too busy being an entrepreneur and a motivational speaker than to get back with a hockey club. Too much going on. Absolutely.

What do you have your fingers in these days. It feels like you're involved in several things Yeah, I'm doing actually here for a couple of speaking engagements. I had one this morning at River Rock Academy, which is you know first for kids that need a little special attention a little extra attention and And then tomorrow I'm doing, Snyder Hockey puts on what is called the Fit to Lead Conference. And I'll be a featured speaker there

with newly retired Brandon Graham with the Philadelphia Eagles. Very cool. Awesome stuff. The last time Prongs, we had you on, I think was just prior to the Canada USA game, if I'm not mistaken, in four nations. And you didn't waver at all in terms of what we thought we were going to see coming right

out of the gate. But we haven't talked to you since we the famous nine seconds and three fights and just and just maybe what that kind of did for hockey moving forward and the domino effect and How it resonated south of the border love to get your thoughts Yeah, I think it was fantastic I think it opened up hockey to a whole new group of people that maybe hadn't given it the time of day and I think it opened up hockey to a whole new group of people that maybe hadn't given it the time of day. And I think with, you know, some of the issues

that basketball and baseball are having with respect to their efforts, you know, I think hockey can build on what we believe is the greatest game and just the culture and as you know the willingness to sacrifice one's body to have the opportunity to win a championship. In that case you're talking about the Four Nations and soon to be we've got the Stanley Cup on the line. So it's exciting and it takes the full complement within the organization.

You've got the Black Aces, you've got 23, 25-man roster, you've got all walks of life coming in to help out at a moment's notice when someone goes down with injury and guys are willing to step in and follow suit. It makes it really special when you're able to win. I know factor in the political scope of where we were between both countries at the time, maybe still today, but you know, the talk of the nine seconds and the three fights, did that bring fighting back in vogue? I think a little bit. You know, I did not hear one person.

And even though those green pieces that are against fighting, I did not hear one person say that it sucked or it was brutal or, oh my God, how dare we promote that? Nobody was promoting it. People were promoting the rivalry and the excitement and energy in the building and that translated back onto the TV with fans watching and just the build up and excitement to then round two, which was the championship game. So I think it's pretty hard to kind of lay your head on your pillow and worry about willing combatants and those that are fighting for their countries in that respect.

Yeah, absolutely. It was an absolute thrill ride. So Canada comes out on top, great success there. Now we're moving towards playoffs where, you know, we're going to get Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, five Canadian teams in the playoffs. The problem is we thought we were going to get more, but your blues got red hot. I think they're 18, three and two since the four nations face off. Did you see anything like that in that roster prior to this run?

Not this type of run. You know, I think you saw the makings of players coming into their own, obviously, the two opposite guys Dylan Holloway and Phil Broberg, Dylan Holloway, you know, kind of out of the gate, having a really, really strong year, and just getting better and better with each game. But Philip Broberg, you know, he doesn't have a large body of work. I think he had less than 100 games in the NHL prior to coming into St. Louis. So, you know, he doesn't have a large body of work. I think he had less than a hundred games in the NHL prior to coming into St.

Louis. So, you know, still very green, still a lot, a lot of maturation and development needed. But with the injury to Pranko, he's kind of pushed into a much bigger role and has really played really well for them. And as has Cam Fowler since his addition, which was, you know, in early December, you know, they've got three guys with over a thousand games and Pranko with about 700. So they've got a very experienced B-Corp with the likes of Jordan Binninkin coming

off a huge win at the four nations, former Stanley Cup winner. You know, they've got a lot of experience back there and it was just some of their younger guys now coming into their own. Bull Duke has been a breath of fresh air. You've got the two guys up front in in Cairo and Thomas, you've got Braden Shen and all the trade rumors that were surrounding him. and Thomas, you've got Braden Shen and all the trade rumors that were surrounding him. You know, as I mentioned, you got Holloway, you've got Jake Nabors has been really good since the four nations. Like just everybody's kind of come into their own. Everybody's they're getting offensive production up and down the lineup, all four lines, which

Navich has now caught fire again coming off injury and being productive. It's been really impressive to see the, you know, the next man up mentality as far as injuries. And then also from an offensive standpoint, they're getting, you know, goals and production from the back end. They're getting, you know, timely goal scoring from not only their top guys, but as I mentioned, the bottom the bottom six guys and you know, that's a recipe for success You're listening to Chris Pronger Hall of Fame defenseman

If you get a chance follow him on Instagram too because he's got some amazing Looks at the life of or the mindset of an athlete and how it could transition to every day in life which brings me to what's between the ears of some athletes and I'll stick with St. Louis for now and Jordan Bennington and I know he won the Stanley Cup but he still goes into four nations Chris and there are some doubters and what he was able to do in that gold medal game and what that could do for him moving forward. And maybe could you relate to that at all with your success internationally

before obviously solidifying your Stanley Cup? Yeah, I think with him, I think the past couple of years, I almost wanna say he's been a little distracted in some of the antics that have gone on with trying to start fights and bickering with players and just, you bump him and he wants to bump you back and he wants to hit guys, try to fight guys and all the rest of that.

And now he's gotten back to that stoic, he plays the puck extremely well, which allows their D to not have to go back and get their face plastered against the glass. They can now peel off into the corners and near the hash marks. And he's the first pass transitioning the puck north and south. And that's where they really made a huge change

in how they transition the puck north to south. They were doing it, they were playing a very east west game and I think at times for Jordan Bennington he was getting frustrated with the amount of shots he was getting, the amount of high quality scoring chances they're giving up and they just weren't playing very well and I don't think they're having any fun and now you just see Monty's come in it's a breath of fresh air, players coach, but he holds him accountable. He's got them firing in all cylinders, much like Chief did six years ago when he came in. So it's really fun to see. And I think you see him

going through what he went through at the Four Nations with all the question marks and everybody wondering if he was going to be able to resurrect himself and be the Jordan Bennington of old and certainly since since quieting the critics he has been on a nice little run and they also have a great backup goaltender Joel Hofer who plays the puck just as well as he does so they don't skip a beat back there when they when they give him a little time off. Rons I wanted to get your take on a sort of a newer archetype of D man I could be wrong and saying that maybe you think there's some from your day to fit the mold but I'm watching Lane Hudson with Montreal and the way that he moves laterally across the blue line and Quinn Hughes moves laterally now

They you didn't have to move like that. You just whacked somebody over the head with your stick, right? Create my own space, right? But like, does this not feel like we're going to see more of these water bug guys back there playing defense than when you played? I don't know if we're going to see more. I think, you know, watching Lane Hudson, watching Quinn Hughes, the edge work, the, the, the speed, how quickly they can get past that first defender, how they can elude and how evasive they are changing, you know, stutter step or changing direction and, and turn three strides in their path.

That guy and creating that separation that they need to get their shot off. Um, you know, I, you know, we can talk about this all we want, but until we get into the playoffs and see how they do under duress, how they do in a more physical environment, you know, that will, I think, quiet the rest of the critics once they're able to get through a lot of that. And, you know, Quinn Hughes obviously answered the bell last year, was injured to a certain extent and still came through to play extremely well for the Vancouver Canucks. So it'll be interesting to see what Lane Hudson is going to be able to do in much real.

Prongs, last night we watched the Toronto Maple Leafs go into Florida. A lot was made out of this game in terms of who's going to win the Atlantic division. And the Leafs did not fare well at all. And it was, to me, it was almost like they looked like a team, like a deer with the headlights coming on them, right? Deer in the headlights. And, you know, getting back to the mindset of an athlete, is it possible that, you know, even 10-year athletes that have been around could still find their way to kind of

psych themselves out of certain games because it didn't look like the team that has led the Atlantic division in the Leafs at all. Yeah, you know, I think there can be some scar tissue. You know, and I think at times I think maybe we look a little bit too much in on the regular season and we look at the matchups and all we, you know, I know in Edmonton everybody was worried when we were going to play Detroit. They had 120 whatever points and you know had a President's Cup run and we went to and to against them in the regular season. So we weren't worried, but everybody else was. And fast forward a couple, a couple series and we played An and to get them in the regular season. So we weren't worried, but everybody else was. And fast forward a couple, a couple of series and we played Adaheim in the conference finals. We went, I think we played them eight times and we went six

and two. And so for whatever reason, there's certain matchups, certain things, the style, listically, the goal tender, uh, whatever it is with Florida, they seem to really struggle. They caught over that hurdle with Tampa Bay a few years ago. And so it'll be interesting to see. Sometimes it takes a otherworldly turn from one of their superstars to kind of lead them to the promised land, get past that, the team that's biting them. And it'll be interesting to see, I didn't like Matthew's game.

He just kind of looked a little off. Nylander was okay, Taveras is okay. Like, those guys, if they're gonna beat these teams that are elite or that have given them problems in the past, that are elite or that have given them problems in the past those are the guys that have to elevate rise to the occasion and and and be the superstars that they are in order for them to get past these things it's not gonna be the bottom six it's not gonna be the back end the goal goalie needs to be good you know if you have to rely on your goalie

to be great every game, then you have a problem with your roster construction. If your goalie has to make the saves that they need, that they should make. And when, as you know, timing and when they make them. You know, your goalie can give up a bad goal, but when you need them to make a save and it's a save they should be making, they have to make those. Otherwise, you know, it just, it's a save they should be making they have to make those otherwise you know it just it's a series crusher it's a game crusher and it's hard to rebound from those types of situations. I want to get your thoughts then on like what you know this is a very motivational speakey type topic but

like what themes do good leaders have because I look around the NHL and the types of people who are captains in the NHL are very different. Markov and Matthews have get votes for the Lady Bing trophy every year. Nathan McKinnon threw his helmet at someone's head or someone else's helmet at their head. You know, there's a different level. These guys are still leaders. So you know, can you be a successful leader without fitting into some certain archetype of what

a leader is, what we think of a leader? Absolutely. You have to be yourself. I mean, Scott Niedermeyer wasn't exactly rah rah, jump up and down, scream and yell. Very stoic, you know, very calm, much like you're talking about Matthews and Barcock. Nobody questioned his leadership. So you have to, everybody in the lobby, you have to be yourself.

You have to have a good group of leaders around you. There were moments in that where I would stand up, where Tayman would stand up, where Todd Marshall would stand up. And then the moments where Scotty felt like he needed, it was his time. And we have people like that that don't speak often, but when they do it means something and everybody listens and everybody follows along and

Those are the types of guys Those are the leaders that that are able to have a pulse on the room and know when they need to stand up and say something It is easier to be that raw raw guy prongs though. It is easier to stand up when You're playing well then when you're not, though. Is that fair to say? Absolutely. As a leader, absolutely. A lot of times, you're holding your teammates accountable, but you're holding yourself accountable.

And you have to be playing to the best of your abilities. You have to be leaving it all out there every single shift. If you're going to pull along everybody else and you're going to wanting other guys to elevate their play, you've got to be doing your role. You've got to be doing your job as well. It's hard to come into locker room and hold guys accountable to a standard when your standard is below par. Prongs, we're watching the Montreal Canadiens, you know, the second half of the season, get themselves in the playoffs. It's been a magical season for them so far. We hear news that Ivan Demidov,

which arguably could be the best prospect out there in the world. We had Jason Buchla, one of our key analysts, talking and raving about him. We assume that he's gonna be in the world where you had Jason Buchla, one of our key analysts talking and raving about him. We assume that he's gonna be in the lineup. We assume that they wanna put him in a position to succeed. But what may be some of the things that you gotta be weary about

if you're the Montreal Canadiens putting a 19 year old kid in a situation like this? Well, you definitely wanna get a few regular season games under the belt to get them acclimated You know, it's just a different style of play You know playing a rush into here big ice surface, you know a little smaller more intimate over here Throwing them right into the fire teams fighting for playoff playoff spot You know everything on the line not a lot of time to endear himself, albeit everybody's excited for him and

will be watching with bated breath for some highlight reel of sorts to come out of it. But a player of that caliber, I'm not too worried about. They've got a lot of talent up front they've got a lot of players that they can put him with to bring out the best in them and You know Marty savory. I'm sure is gonna have a game plan put in place to Maximize his talents and end and not you know put him in a position to fail You know put it and put all your eggs in one basket and be like, he's going to be the savior and lead us to the promise line. I think it's a little,

would be a little too much to ask at this stage of the young man's career. But we've seen funnier things happen though. However, it is Montreal and they are going to build them up. Yeah, that's unavoidable. So as we move towards playoffs, then, you know, trying to make sense of what teams are, you know, likely Cup contenders. I'm looking at the Oilers are crippled with injury right there without McDavid and Dry Seidel and go down the list. You look at Florida, they've been without guys all the way along. Do you worry about the teams that have been injured leading up to the playoffs if they

get healthy in time for game one? Not necessarily. For some of them, especially the Edmontons of the world with their star players, oh getting rest, you know they've had a long last couple years, you know, game seven Stanley Cup finals, Four Nations, on and on for McDavid, dry side a little less. But this rest probably couldn't come at a better time. But it also gives the other players an opportunity to get valuable power play time, showcase what they can do and get an opportunity. And once those other guys come back they're no longer okay I'm gonna watch this I'm gonna participate I'm gonna be involved I know where to go

I know what to do I want to you know provide some offensive production and and be a difference maker for for our team and get to that next level win a Stanley Cup you know a heartbreaker last year let's let's see if we can rebound from it one more for me prongs because we going to have you on at some point in the playoffs. We know that. But what do you like to see in the first round? Are we going to see an upset anywhere? And if it is, who's most likely to upset one of the top seeds? one of the top seeds? I I like.

Ottawa's chances. I just think they're they've just been chomping at the bit for this opportunity Washington, right? No currently. No Toronto. Okay. All right, Toronto currently which wouldn't bode well for Maple Leaf, but I just think the battle of Ontario, I think would be great for the game of hockey. It would suck for the two

fan bases that one of them is going to go home in the first round. You know, one of the Canadian teams, but I think just resurrecting that right anytime we can get these rivalries and and really just kind of get that hatred and electricity and energy back in the game and I like I love it I would say whoever st. Louis plays whether whether it be a Vegas or Winnipeg that would be tough you know even what you're Even Montreal, we'll see how the Demidov kid plays. I think defensively they've been a little bit better of late. I worry about overplaying Montalvo. It seems like they've been able to play the other kid a little bit and kind of give him a break.

I felt like when I saw him a few weeks ago in St. Louis, he looked a little tired, was a little deep in his net, you know and sometimes goalie just you know he's fairly new to being a starter. It can grind on you a little bit. So you know I think there's opportunities for some knockouts but then you look at you know the two three matchups are you got Colorado and Dallas that's going to be a heartbreaker you know both feel like they're a couple of bus this year. No and then it's let's just say it's Tampa Florida both made a lot of moves

you know in season and then at the deadline trying to solidify themselves Florida going for a repeat and Tampa trying to get back there again. There's a lot of intrigue and excitement with the matchups. I personally like the way it's set up. I know a lot of people don't, but I just love seeing good hockey and a lot of excitement and some fans are happy, some fans are mad. It just, any way you slice it, only one fan base is going to be happy at the end of the year. And that's the Sallie Cup winner.

Awesome stuff, Prongs. You know, often people come up to me and say, how can you be friends with Pronger? You almost broke your back on a cross check. And I'm like, no, he's a really good guy when he's not stepping on your head. Like, no, he's a really good guy when he's not stepping on your head. Accidentally on purpose. Yeah, glad you guys were the best, my friend. Thanks for joining us again. All right. We'll see you in here for me in the playoffs.

Thanks so much. That is the one, the only Chris Pronger. He knows his stuff. Oh, and he did a rainier right from behind. He knows his stuff. Oh my gosh. He did A, ran you right from behind. Cheap. Tough. Yeah. Like, vicious tough.

It's, you know, McKee has some random, like, bad takes. His take, though, that pronger at his best is, helps your team win as much as any defenseman in NHL history. Oh. It's pretty reasonable. Yeah. Oh, no No, pretty good, you know peak pronger. Yeah as good a demons you can have Definitely controlled the play for 30 minutes a night Yeah half the game when he was on the ice hit he would tell you

Where you're gonna go if you had the puck like that's how good he was It's like you're not going this way You're going that way and I'm gonna meet you here and then I'm gonna take the puck. Like that's how good he was. It's like you're not going this way, you're going that way, and I'm going to meet you here and then I'm going to take the puck off of you. For me, the barometer always is when you get to best on best setting, in that setting competition, who really separates and is head and shoulders so much better still than everybody else around them? And I remember the 2010 Olympic Games in particular and thinking, boy, oh boy, when Chris Pronger was on the ice,

my heart rate went down a few notches because I was more calm and comfortable seeing number 20 on the ice. And then this year, for example, Four Nations, the one guy that did it for me consistently, Kale McCarr. And that's the type of impact your best offencement has. It makes a world of difference. Do some game time.

Game time. Yeah, absolutely. It's game time presented by bet three, six, five, visit the app for the latest odds. Find a why it's never ordinary. A bet three, six, five must be 19 plus Ontario only play responsibly five games in the NHL tonight. I got my eye on a couple that I think are interesting. We mentioned Edmonton is really banged up still. No

McDavid. No dry-cidal again tonight. St. Louis for some reason plus 125 on the road. Only plus one into like I think honestly the fact that they're dogs in general going on the road they just just had their 12 game winning streak snap I don't mind that at all. I understand it's in Edmonton. You're on the West Coast, but the Blues They've just been so darn good. So darn hot. Yeah, the the Oilers I think are dressing 11 forwards tonight They got Henry can Perry on the top line. No, a Philps in they got Not their best not the best look they have going on tonight. The other thing I was looking at, I don't know if you guys saw this or caught this yet, but Minnesota is getting Kaprizov and Erickson Eck back today.

Heavy favorites of course tonight, they're playing San Jose, but I wouldn't mind sprinkling a little bit on the spread, minus one and a half at minus 115. And you want to sneak in some golf masters? Because we won't be on. So we... Before the tourney. minus one and a half at minus 115. And you want to sneak in some golf masters? Because we won't be on. So we- Before the tourney. The masters of course, round one,

teeing it up tomorrow down at Augusta. There's one guy in particular, everybody's talking about Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy. All right, give me all that fine good stuff. The one guy I'm circling, little Colin Morikawa action. He's so good. Plus 1500 to win. Even if you want to be a little bit more conservative top 5 plus 260 top 10 plus

125 to me that's that's solid. He's been a top 10 the last three years in this tournament I've got Like half a dozen friends right now on their way there right now. And they text me. You got the PJ crowd? And I'm like, don't text me that. Okay, I'm having an okay day. Have either of you guys been by chance?

No. Okay. I got Oberg. I got a text from Brian Leach a few months ago. I'm in a hut. A hut? A hut? A hut. Augusta has huts?

Yes, they have huts. No, really? Yes. I'm sleepy in a hut. So you got to play the course. I got my tee off. Wow. And I'm like, USOP.

I know one guy who knows a guy sort of thing, and it's my life goal. It's the only thing I want to accomplish in my life is playing that golf course That's all I want we have somebody at the station that has been once or twice. I know Ben Ennis Ben Ennis has been has been You have to you have to win No, no, no, no, I would just be If I hear Ben Ennis is played the master. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,

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Find out why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Play responsibly. Beautiful. Okay, let's take a quick break. And when we come back, we'll hunt for Glenn Healy. Hunt for heels.

Listen for bagpipes. Hopefully they're on their way in studio when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Diving deep into Leaps, Raptors, Jays and NFL. The JD Bunkett Podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. from born bought to you by bet three, six, five Kipper JB and disco. Dan, you know, I just saw before we came on that pay Oscar Hernandez has five homers, which is one less than the blue Jays this year. That hurts. Sammy is the only

one that could do baseball. Oh, Borny. Buddy. You soured me too. It's uncomfortable. For them. Anyway. Any luck with Glenn Healy? No. 7th by first place in the AL East. I don't mean to despair. Yeah, no. We're okay. We're okay. We're doing okay. We're doing okay., nothing yet. Nothing yet from heels. All right, we're gonna see if we'll see we'll see if we can sneak them in All right, the Ottawa Senators. Yeah clench and no question that The last few years of drafting and signing and commitment to some of these kids with the long contracts finally paid off. You know, it's the first year of a new owner there in Ottawa, and then the season started with some excitement that things could be different. And I just think it's really cool that things those positive vibes have kind of happened at the same time that could Chuck and Stutzel and these guys hit their prime

Sanderson came in into his own Shabbat. They got a goalie and all of a sudden here they are They are locked in and they got games to spare. We're looking at a battle of Ontario. I just think it's super exciting There are a lot of fun to watch Lot and a bright future to this this doesn't I don't look at them and see a flash in the pan Are you guaranteeing Canadians a battle of Ontario? The no Ottawa Ottawa Toronto. Yeah you're guaranteeing it? No.

That would mean guaranteeing the Leafs are going to be Tampa Bay tonight. Who would do that? I'm just checking. Yeah. You mentioned it. do that. I'm just checking. Yeah, otherwise Tampa Bay, Ottawa, in which case a night night Ottawa, but yeah, Toronto. We're starting to see already still a handful of games, team sitting players out Jack Eichel. Is he currently hurt? Like no, just taking a knee. Is he currently hurt? No, just taking a knee. They're calling it day to day, I think.

But we are seeing guys rest and the Senators are now in a position where I'll be shocked if Brady Kachuk plays another game before they regularly. I think Steyo sort of alluded to it. Game one. sort of alluded to it, game one, I mean, he did it in the in the most politically correct fashion of saying, ah, you know, if you can we can he play tomorrow? Maybe I don't know. But then game one for sure. He's like, absolutely. We'll have a do we know his issue? Brady's? No. I mean, he you and I saw him together run into a player graves graves I believe. I thought had you thought shoulder at the time and then we weren't sure. So well that remains to be seen. Why don't we listen? Not about that. But Steve Staus, we do have a clip from him on the positive first step here for the Ottawa Senators

in getting back to the playoffs. It's a good first step for this group. I mean, I'm really excited for our players. From day one when they came into training camp, you could see that there was this motivation. It's a good step for us. They're a motivated group. Last night was a little bit awkward to be quite honest. We played one of our poorest games of the season and yet clinched a playoff spot. And the reaction from the group was not quite satisfied. So that's, I think, the interesting thing with this group and how they're handling all these situations moving forward is that they're motivated. Now there is one very interesting game left on the

schedule and not tomorrow night but the next night Montreal and Ottawa play. Montreal is three points back of Ottawa. There is the possibility that Montreal could catch them you know you win that game and Ottawa end up in the bottom wild-card spot which would throw you into the metro with Washington in which case I don't think you hate that. Hmm in which case I don't think you hate that hmm right I don't think you're that worried about that are you is Washington any different than Tampa or whoever you think you're gonna play in the Atlantic and then if you were to upset a team New Jersey or Carolina has to look a lot better than Toronto or Florida I mean I

shouldn't say this because I just watched Florida just beat up the Leafs, but I've never been less worried about matchups because I just find there's so much unpredictability. Very true. You know, how's the goalie play? How's the team's health? How hot are you at the time? Yeah, and how good do you feel? Are you at your peak? We can beat anybody mode? Because when you are in this league, you can. Hey, let me ask you.

What do you think of the theory that some people suggest where you pick your opponent? So let's say, so eight teams make playoffs in the East. The first seed picks a team, then the second team, the third team, fourth team. So four teams pick an opponent. I guess three teams pick an opponent, the four teams left with one. How would you feel about that? Very nervous. Yeah. And I think that they would never vote for that from the just from

the mere perspective of I don't want to be wrong. Well, but that's the fun of it. It's a competition. It's one thing to lose a series. It's another one to lose it because you picked the wrong opponent. Isn't that awesome though? What are we doing here? Sports are reality TV. It's a fun idea. It does not help job security. No, it doesn't. But on the other hand, it does help if let's say you're the one seed

and all of a sudden some team like St. Louis in 2019 or this year even, and they climb all the way up and they sneak into the eight seed and you go, God, we got to play the hottest team in the league. Or you could look at, let's say it's Florida and Florida's still so hurt or they don't have any of their bodies. And they say, hey, we've earned the right to play the hottest team in the league, or you could look at, let's say it's Florida, and Florida's still so hurt, or they don't have any of their bodies, and they say, hey, we've earned the right

to play the softer opponent. The concept's been, we've talked about this over the years, and I just don't ever see them going. I think the PWHL does it. They do, they do, yes. It's obviously smaller scale, because it really ends up being one team kind of picking. Right?

Okay, but if we did that exercise with what the playoff format and how it looks now. 16 teams. Yeah, you do all 16? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. All in. One through eight.

All in. That'd be fun. If you're in the East right now though. You can sell that show. Oh my God. And that's all you need is the networks and say to the owners, hey, we got another moneymaker here for you. If you did this exercise right now and you looked at

the teams and you're Washington, is there the number one right now? Who are you picking? And you're looking at teams just in the east? Right now. If you're, if you're, if we, if we applied this idea to the current playoff structure, what we're seeing right now in this landscape, who's Washington picking to into playing round one? It's still bring me the habs. I think so too. Yeah. Yeah. They still get the team they probably should get.

You gotta, you gotta almost protect yourself and say, who's in that spot? I'm going to take the one that I would have got anyways. Unless a team that's like one ahead of them has like five injuries or something. You're like, all right, well they're banked up. Or I mean, Montreal owns the Florida Panthers this year. That's a great point too.

Yeah. Like, do you read into your regular season games and say, hey, they're way below us in standings, but they beat us four times. Anyway, that's that. Back to Ottawa. Let's listen to the players. We have a couple of clips. Stucla has his thoughts on them making the playoff. Yeah obviously after a game

like that it doesn't feel as good but we've been through some **** here and some tough years so yeah I'm just really proud of the guys how we all hanging in here and yeah I couldn't be prouder of all the guys I don't think there's a team who deserves it more than us I think we really worked really hard this year and we just got to keep fighting our game he is a very talented guy yeah he's electric hey he though he Lee he's the most shocking point total guy for me every year where I'm like that that's all like I think he's at 70 No, I think 80 or he's a point 81 something like that. Yeah, but it's always like you think you should be a hundred

Yeah, hmm. I feel like they don't there's a great scoring team. They're not Let's see if I can find her I think you had even written a born I think there are 20 points and 78 games like as a team to Yeah, I think even you had written out as a team their 20th in scoring around the National Hockey League Yeah, kind of on track then at that point 72 seems kind of it. He's just so talented to me I've always expected him to be a bigger number guy and maybe it still waits for him I find this interesting I see an interesting parallel right now because the two teams were talking about that are really knocking on that door Ottawa gets in Finally Montreal is going to get in.

But then you look at the trajectory and the developmental cycle that they've gone through. I'm kind of surprised we got both in the same year, right? Like we've been going through this now for a few years where conversation about Ottawa's got to do something eventually, Montreal's got to do something eventually. And both of them have had such similar seasons in terms of all of a sudden they get hot,

their best players that you've been thinking are their best players actually start delivering in a big way, Suzuki, Caulfield, here comes Lane Hudson. And then of course, Ottawa, it's your Kachucks, it's your Shane Pintos, it's all these younger guys that you've been waiting on now delivering. I'm just fascinated that we're getting this with those two teams right now in the same season.

And no year have we seen more teams disappoint, which helps. Like the Rangers won the president's trophy last year. They're going to miss playoffs. Detroit was supposed to make the eiser plan, has him in by now. Islanders made playoffs last year. Boston. Boston absolutely blew it up. Pittsburgh tried. You know like how Buffalo was supposed to be a team this year. Just a ton of things went wrong for it to go right for a couple of teams. Hernandez-Cogg getting a little closer to I guess giving it a try as he's Colorado

announced that he'll be assigned for a conditioning stint in the American Hockey League with their Colorado Eagles and you know we've all season long we've had the segment Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Jason Smith, and we talked about how unique his injury is replacement of something I can't even remember. And sorry, the knee cartilage for landis gawk. Okay. Yeah. And really, I think the way the doctor described it was a Hail Mary chance here. And we're all pulling for him and we'd all love to see him because he hasn't played a game since 2022 and he's at his prime and he thankfully experienced winning a Stanley Cup

but this guy wants to play. I mean, I just can't imagine being his wife with their kids and have watched this rehab struggle and surgeries and years and commitment he made a documentary about it and he's gonna go back and play and just watching those games through your fingers like oh God and that like please let it go. Well with with this injury. You can correct me if I'm wrong on this I think it's kind of similar like they basically remade the cartilage in the knee, right? Where they kind of transplanted, if I remember correctly.

I think they actually did transplant. Yeah, and now if there's any evidence to say this might work, there's actually a really recent example in sports. Lonzo Ball of the Chicago Bulls, almost literally almost identical timeline, sat for two full years, right? Went through this, the NIC, entire like multiple procedures,

same sort of deal and is able to play and has played in the NBA this year and hasn't missed time either. Has he been effective? Has been fairly effective. Not occupying the same role as he did previously where he was like a starting point guard and playing 30 minutes, but it's possible.

So I think if there's any reason to hold out hope, it's to say, we've actually seen this done somewhat recently in pro sports. And I mean, I know there's the idea of saying, you could go out on top. You won the cup. That's the last thing you did. That's cool. Awesome. But deep down, you're still saying, I didn't do it on my own terms.

He's also 32 years old 32 You know like it's tough to just watch at that point when the rest of your body feels as good as it probably does We wish him the best of luck when we Opened up the the national hour. We did talk about the Vancouver Canucks making history in the first hour I talked about The the Leafs losing a game that could leave a mark moving forward. Can we say the same thing about the Dallas Stars blowing a game like that on a team that

is supposed to be one of the favorites to win the cup, a team that traded for Rantanen. Are we gonna look back and say that they never recovered off of giving up three goals? What's crazy about that too, is how big the difference between finishing in the two, three matchup in the central versus getting a wildcard team is massive. And had they won that game, they'd have been three points behind the Winnipeg Jets

and they play tomorrow night so they had the chance to really narrow that gap and Yeah, Vancouver saved the Jets. The Jets are up four points Four games to go President's trophy leading team right now right? Just talk correct Yeah, so the three points on the capital on the capital's capital's have one extra game on them But so yeah, that was pretty bizarre. Is there any part of you that thinks you know what maybe maybe at this point That's actually not the worst thing. I say that in the sense of hey you get a

As a coaching staff you get a very easy little convenient way of giving your team a kick in the rear end With a few games left before you go into the postseason. Hey, look what happens if you have five minutes about hey easy little convenient way of giving your team a kick in the rear end with a few games left before you go into the postseason. Hey look what happens if you have five minutes of bad eye. Hey look what happens if you have 60 seconds of bad hockey. Right? Yes except for you need those points on the standings. Yes coaching wise I get it buddy man that that hurt him in the standings in a big way. It did for sure. Elliot in his recent 32 thoughts column writes about expansion and he doesn't says he doesn't know but his prediction would be that we

would get another team by 28-29. Yeah it's common. Houston. Atlanta seems to be still in the mix. Yeah. I was it just one? He thinks two. But Houston going first and by 28-29 being the ambitious timeline. I don't know how many teams we're at now. Two billion. We're at 32 teams. 32. Oh yeah. Doesn't seem to matter to them. Well he does reference too. The reason that he thinks they'll go one at a time as opposed to doing what you said Kipper which is maybe maybe in Atlanta Houston sort of

the next two in line is they are concerned to some degree about the dilution of talent right the fact that there isn't enough to go around and now you have a franchise for the sake of having a franchise yeah JB told me the other show that his signature shot was pull it in and go high glove. Me? Yeah. Yeah, okay. I like that shot. Yeah. So, I mean... You like my odds of getting that?

Yeah, I do. I do, yeah. Yeah, you like... I like to shoot it by the ear. You know, I would get killed by today's goalie with a shoulder shrug. So, I like to aim at the helmet. We had Brian Burke on. He's not a fan. No. I mean, you hear people say, I like to aim at the hell. We had Brian Burke on. He's not a fan. No. I mean, you hear people say, why don't you just make sure all 32 are healthy?

Do you have a team or two that needs help? I don't know. He was worried about Utah. You know, eventually being sustainable. You factor Gary Bepman's 7.7 billion US check to the owners and 2 billion for expansion. That's that's 10 bill. Good to see them have some financial success. The owners really, you know, scrappy underdogs that they are really happy for them to break through. By the way, Phoenix still needs to get a team for Atlanta.

They love you. You think so? Yeah, They love Phoenix. I know. I would. Phoenix and Houston, the two hockey hotbeds. Houston feels weird to me. I don't know. Is it? I'm not too right? Like, it's not. Houston Arrows. Market share? I know. That's how I remember Gordy. Giant City. Gordy Howe. I watched Gordy. Giant city. I think I watched Gordy how I may believe gardens. They'd have to be the arrows. WHA Toronto Toros. I couldn't get to a leaf game. I couldn't touch my dad. I went to one game with him at seven and it was like winning the lottery. That's pretty cool. Getting leaf tickets. But no problem to go see the Toros down at Maple Leaf Gardens.

All right. Just like that. Two hours, and we've solved nothing. Thanks to some guests. Our thanks to Craig Simpson. Our thanks to Chris Pronger and Glenn Healy owes us one. It was great to think of them. I liked them. Oh my gosh.

Alright, enjoy your games tonight. We're back on Friday.