Real Kyper & Bourne - Rolling with the Playoff Punches with Blake Wheeler

Episode Date: May 14, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne welcome in former NHLer Blake Wheeler (5:35) to chat about his transition into working as an analyst for the Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage, Auston Matthews' playoff scoring struggles, the potential cause for Connor Hellebuyck's poor road-game performances, and the key to cutting out the outside noise. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee weigh in on the coaching changes with Rick Tocchet joining his former team in Philadelphia, while Adam Foote gets promoted in Vancouver. To wrap up, Pro Hockey Group and Sportsnet's Jason Bukala stops by (31:49) to chat about the Canucks signing Tom Willander to an entry-level contract, if the Flyers are ready for the playoffs next year, and if the Edmonton Oilers have risen back to Stanley Cup favourites.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

It's the National Hour on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet365. In a couple of minutes, we'll welcome in Blake Wheeler, former NHL-er. Did a terrific job moonlighting a little bit on Hockey Night in Canada. What's the origin of that term? Moonlighting, I don't know. Continue.

I think you're hiding. You're hiding doing a job. You think so? I don't know. Having a second job in addition to one's regular employment. There you go exactly What she nailed it? Yeah plenty to talk about off ice as well Including what's wrong? Oh your Jersey. You're so excited about police yesterday to you can leave it now. I'll leave it. That's okay

I'm usually all over you But that's okay large leaf'm usually all over you, but that's okay. Large Leafs match tonight large very large Jason Buchla will join us as well former NHL Scout Pro hockey group and sports net Always love his insights as well. So we're gonna get into a ton for sure in terms of Adam foot in Vancouver Rick talking in Philadelphia Ken Holland in LA. But I wanna start with Jet's talk.

Do you? Yeah, I do, I do. How do you feel about another road loss and their chances of coming back here? And where is this on Road loss and their chances of of coming back here and Where is Where is this on? potentially being a very Tough ending to a fantastic season

They're in real trouble They're in real trouble. Uh, it's not so much that the jets can't be dallas Not so much that I don't think to'll go back into Winnipeg and Get another game off them Beating the Dallas Stars three times who now have Miro Heisken and back and they're fully loaded right they got everyone Rantinens found himself as the best player in playoffs so far. It's they're in tough I don't know what else to say other than you know We talked about Leafs in the first hour trying to get through Florida it's hard to get through this Dallas team and

Boy, it's a they got some firepower, too. I thought they were good last night. Just yeah Was better. Where were you on? Grandland being a killer Hatrick in playoffs, I mean it's cool to see I will say I like boys I didn't like that first goal. We're just showing the first goal where he gains the blue line like it's nothing and then I'm sorry, but You do play I played a lot of games Practiced a lot of game a lot of days against really good NHL goalies

yeah none of them fell down on their ass after you know a 30-foot wrist shot I don't know yeah just watch the first one I watch him fall back is he does he have balance and I think you're on to something there look I don't see you don't see a goalie fall backwards on his ass after a 40-foot wrist shot a 30-foot wrist shot it's weird not even like off the inside of the poster it's it's like he is so he looked so uncomfortable for me. Connor Hellebuck. Finns dominating for the stars. They have 18 goals from Finnish players. Is that right?

18. Grannland, Hintz, Rantinen. Yes. And the rest of the NHL? 14. So there you go. Tons of Finns dominating for them. Yeah, that's crazy.

You know what I do like seeing? I like seeing deadline acquisitions make a difference for a team because I want to encourage that from GMs, but Rantanen and Grandland for them, pushing them through to some wins here should be encouraging. You know, the Jets stood pat at the deadline, you know, very minimal additions, Tanaev, Shen. Those are good, but they're not Grandland and Grandland. Yeah, almost impossible to replicate that. Grand grandlin they got from Nashville San Jose San Jose got CC with him too, right? Oh, yeah Yeah, that's right

One of those guys I think he was at five million. So it was like Somebody paid him thinking he was a very good player, right? But not one of those names at the trade deadline. You're like, we must have him. Yeah. He was not, he was not high on the trade talk. If I'm not mistaken, he went, I think it was maybe a week before that, like he was not on the day. He was a couple of days before, maybe a week before, but yeah, he was a sneaky Jim Nill pickup and it's looking that way right now. Yeah, no doubt about that. So they're finding a way Dallas to get through it.

You know, it's it's a long shot. Call it a what a 20% chance now for the Jets beating Dallas three straight times, but get a couple of two of the three games will be at home, which is encouraging. You just need you to stop Scott Arneal on. couple of two of the three games will be at home which is encouraging you just need each of us got our Neil on on the first on the opening goal obviously Connor Hellebuck wants the first one back the wrister yeah all right let's welcome him in Blake Wheeler 1,172 games, 943 points. But one of the highlights of your career has to be working with Elliot Friedman, no? Blake? That takes the cake guys, that takes the cake. Where are you right now?

You settled back in back home? Yeah, I'm back in Connecticut. I'm about to hop on the ice with my seven-year-old son we got practice tonight so it never stops guys. Alright so how did you enjoy the last few nights playing the part of broadcaster you know journalist insider all of that stuff that you dreaded facing and how many times did you hang up on Elliot when you played? I had an absolute blast. You know, we had a good time. Those guys are such pros. They actually made it really easy on me. So I couldn't have had a better time.

They were like I said, they treated me very well. It's funny. I saw somebody made a comparison. Me doing that was like Roy Kent doing that. Ted Lasso, I thought that that was pretty funny and pretty fitting. So he did a great job. It was really enjoyable to watch. Love to tap into some of your expertise.

So you're a big guy. You know, you scored a lot of goals and points in the NHL in the regular season and your points for game in the playoffs are very similar to your regular season numbers but you know we just know it gets harder for these guys Austin Matthews is having trouble being the same guy he's been in the past in the postseason what gets harder as an offensive player in the postseason trying to be the guy you've always been it's time and space you know you got to keep in mind that you're playing a seven game series and the other team has spent a ton of time game planning against what you do well. So you're facing a team that's that's focused a ton of time and energy on limiting you feeling good on the ice.

So in a series like Florida, that is specifically what Florida does incredibly well. They make that game incredibly boring and incredibly frustrating to play against. So I made note of it the other night on TV that that's where the power play is so important. Because even if you're not scoring goals, you want your power play at least to have your best players touching the puck, feeling good, so that, you know, it's not bleeding into the five on five game. If that power play is stalled, if you're breaking it out, if you're trying to enter three times and those guys are getting back to the bench slam in the door and frustrated, it bleeds into their five on five games. So, you know, that's where I think that there could be opportunity for little adjustments and, and getting those leaf players in positions where they're most

effective so that even if they're not scoring on the power play, at least they're touching the puck, at least they're creating some scoring chances. At least maybe awesome Matthews is hitting a couple of one-timers so that he's feeling like, okay, that feels good. That feels normal again. So maybe he gets an opportunity five on five,

and that third opportunity that comes five on five goes in the back of the net. Blake, if there's by chance, you know, at game five, six or seven, and we don't see a lot of power play opportunities, you along with the greats, including Austin Matthews played on top lines. Is there anything else in terms of maybe talking to the coach, changing up a line mate or freeing you up a little bit, different system or for check? Is there other ways that a coach can help a player outside of just

trying harder or waiting for a power play to build some confidence up? Well, at home, you definitely can be helped out a lot because you control the matchup. So that's a great opportunity for, you know, Borubi to try to get that matchup, to maybe get him a couple more advantageous matchups. You know, he can maybe get them out on an ozone face off against the other team's third or fourth line. There's little things matchup wise at home that you can control to try to get your best players out and maybe get them a little better look. And, you know, my mindset in matchups like this, you know, if I was playing against a line that was maybe getting the better of me, maybe I was feeling a little bit frustrated. My mindset going into a game like that is I'm just going to make their life as miserable as possible. So maybe I don't factor in on the score sheet, but that other line, that other matchup that I'm going as they're going to feel me all night long. So that's, that's, that's a little subtle hack into it too. Like

the mindset in these series is, you know, am I making the other team's life hard? Am I making their life easy? You know, and those are the little games within the game that can show up, especially later in the series. Yeah, I love that. How much do you think it's like within your control to, you know, as I played wing and for me, it was like, you can't really go take the game by the horn sometimes. You just kind of have to wait for your spots and whatever. Is it tough when you're pushing and you want offense and you want to score to kind of remain patient and just kind of, I don't know, hope you get your chances?

Yeah, it is hard. Okay, next question. And especially when you're the captain of the team, especially in a Canadian market, especially in Toronto, especially with the narrative that's been going on around this team. You know, those are all heavy weights that you got to carry around. So factoring all those things in, the answer to that question is absolutely yes. So as much as you want to stay composed, you want to stay patient, you want to stay within yourself and let the game come to you, this is a massive moment in these guys is like window of opportunity

as far as this group being together. So game five of this round, I wouldn't use patience as maybe the word that I would go into this game with. Yeah. You're watching and listening to Blake Wheeler, former National Hockey Leaguer and now star of Sportsnet Hockey Night in Canada. Blake, in terms of the Winnipeg Jets, we had just briefly talked about the game last night

and maybe their chances of coming back into this series at all. But let's just start first and foremost, and I know you guys have talked about this the last couple of days as well, but this Jekyll and Hyde of winning and losing at home and on the road, and particularly Connor Hellebuck now losing all his magic on the road, like what are the first couple of thoughts

as to how that could possibly happen with a team that was well known for their consistent play on the road all season? It's one of those things that's kind of unexplainable to a certain extent. You know, I would almost use the same comparisons I just used with the Maple Leafs. This is such a narrative now that there's just no escaping it. Like there's, there's no way to not carry this with you into games. You know, like you go into a road game in Dallas, all you're thinking about is I just want to win this game so bad.

So nobody talks about these road playoff woes anymore. The thing I will say about Connor Hellebuck is it's very clear. He's the best goaltender in the world. And he has been the last few years. I mean, he's up for the heart trophy this year. That's very rare for a goaltender to be nominated for the heart trophy. You know, it wasn't too long ago.

Well, maybe it feels like a long time ago now, but I remember playing a game seven with him in Nashville. And, you know, he was a young player at the time and the poise and the confidence that he exuded. So it's in there. He's done it before. He's shown up in big moments in the past. We won a couple must-win playoff games in St. Louis the year

after that. We ended up losing that series, but our backs were against the wall at that point too. So there's no question it's in there. They're in a big rut here, the last couple of playoffs on the road. And it's just one of those things that I don't think anyone has a real easy answer to, you know, the team included. You know, one of the things you mentioned there is, you know, you want to go in the road game. So everyone kind of stops talking about this silly thing. Well, you know, we're in Toronto and everyone's talking about

Matthews and Marner not creating this and then Stu Skinner after the game the other day. They said, how do you quiet the noise? And he was like, what noise? He, you know, he was able to turn it out. How much did you hear from the outside and how much did it affect you and your teammates when you're in these playoffs series? I love that answer. And I would be curious how true that answer is.

Right. Yeah. Yeah. And so you can do all the things you want. You can delete the social media apps from your phone. You can turn off the radio. You can not turn the TV on. All those things are great. And then you lose a game, you walk into the dressing room and there's reporters in front of you asking those questions.

So the fact of the matter is it's real and it's part of the job and it's part of the pressure and the privilege of playing in a Canadian market. When you play in a Canadian market that people truly care about what you do for a living, that's why it's such a beautiful thing and that's why it's such a stressful thing at the same time. So it's really, really, I would say impossible to drown out the noise, especially in 2025. You can be proactive and do all these different things. But like I said, you know, when you lose,

what is it now, nine straight road playoff games, like you know that, and you know you're answering that question after practice, after games, day after day. You know, you bring up an interesting point and you along with Austin Matthews, an American player playing in Canada, was there anything you growing up watching, listening that could have prepare you for a Canadian market and the scrutiny that comes with it? And you played

another on markets, including New York. But is there anything that you could think of that that a player can do to prep himself that didn't really grow up in that culture? Or is it just something that you have to just learn year after year? I don't think there's really much you can do. It's something that how do you prepare yourself for that? You know, I think the best way to do it is to really look at it like I was trying to say before, like what an amazing opportunity to play in a market where people truly care about what you do for a living. And certainly there's moments where, you know, that feels very true and moments where it doesn't feel as true.

So it's like the human element of it that when times are good and you're playing in a market like Toronto or Winnipeg or Edmonton, I mean, there's no better place to play. And you know, when times are a little bit tougher, it can be tough because you feel like you can't leave your house. So, you know, that's just like any, you know, that goes for the Canadian markets, but it goes for, you know, the big US markets. It's just the way it is. And, you know, those are the teams you ultimately want to play for because you want to play in

front of, you know, sold out houses, you want to play in front of people who, who really love the game of hockey. Like one of the things that the Leafs fans here are hoping is different for their team this year is Craig Barube's a little bit more chill like he's just a little he doesn't seem to get too high too low too unaffected I'm sure you've seen different coaches deal with the same group of players and is it possible to really I don't know get them To react differently in these situations Or is it kind of like the guys in the room are who the guys are? No, I think so. I think the guys respond to the coach and their personality and you know, keep in mind

It's not too long ago. He won a Stanley Cup. So right he knows the blueprint like he has been in Adverse situations and then handled it and thrived and won. So I think if anything, those guys are really looking to him and they look behind the bench and they see a poised guy who's, you know, not disturbed by the moment. I think that they can draw a ton of confidence from that, especially in, you know, times like now where they've lost two games and now the noise gets a little bit turned up and when he's cool, calm and collected behind the bench, I think that that's something they can really draw on.

Blake, the Edmonton Oilers can advance to the conference final and consecutive post-seasons for the first time since 1990 to 1992. What's the biggest difference between the team that we saw in the Stanley Cup final last season to this one this year? I mean, last year felt like a surprise, I would say. And, you know, almost in the regular season this year, it felt like they were kind of biding their time. It felt like they were kind of getting through it. They were building slowly all year.

I think they learned a ton from that run last year, like what it takes, what it took out of them. And, you know, as they were ramping up for the post season, like the question I had in my mind was, are they able to get to that level again? Cause if you didn't really feel like during the regular season, they'd maybe gotten to that same Stanley Cup caliber level. Like, you know, they're kind of finding their game

a little bit all year. And that was the playoffs have gone on. You've seen, you know, that they've taken their game to another level. Like that last game in Edmonton, that was a team, when you watch that game, that looks like a team that can win the Stanley Cup. And the thing that honestly stood out for me

more than anything in that hockey game was I was watching 97, and I wasn't watching him with the puck going up the ice. I was watching him come back. And that was different. That's different with Connor McDavid. He was coming back, he was breaking up a ton of plays, he was stripping guys from behind.

That looks like a guy who's committed to doing whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cup. And keep in mind, I think he's a couple points behind Ratanin, but I think he has 17 points in like 10 games or something like that. The offense is there, but like he's playing a 200 foot game. Yeah. Blake, like he's playing a 200-foot game. Yeah. Blake, I want to ask you a self-serving question

before I let you go, because you played in some of the coolest arenas. We would have played each other for a couple years in college. You were at Mariucci, and I was up in Alaska. I assisted on a game-winning overtime goal in playoffs. No big deal. Let's not talk about that. But you also played in Winnipeg. So you had the great vibes in Mariucci, the great vibes in Winnipeg. And I want to get your thoughts on playing

in unbelievable arenas and how it actually does impact energy levels and the vibes of a game. In an incredible way. I mean, we didn't have an NHL hockey team most of my childhood. So University of Minnesota, that was our NHL. So to play at that arena, Mariucci Arena, as a college kid in front of 10,000 fans every single night

was like a dream come true for me. To start my career in Boston, to play in front of those fans, the team that was ramping up to win a Stanley Cup, and then go right from there to, well, I guess I had a pit stop in Atlanta. That was a different story. We'll bookmark that one.

And then Winnipeg has just been like electricity since day one and to finish my career playing at Madison Square Garden, which was my favorite arena of them all. So I was very lucky to play in some of the really coolest atmospheres in pro hockey and really, really proud of being a part of like building what's been built in Winnipeg and establishing that culture

and establishing what you see now. I take a lot of pride in that. I know all the guys that played in my era in Winnipeg feel the same way. Blake, really appreciate your time. Welcomed on the show anytime, my friend. Thanks for doing this. Hey, thanks for having me, guys.

Thanks, man. That is Blake Wheeler. By the way. What's that? I was just gonna say it's funny because I was just like checking out the college hockey Rosh's from when we played each other and I was like, yeah him and I we were both pretty good players and I checked He's four and a half years younger than me Much of a different I was a 23 year old senior I really liked his comments that if it's not going well for me that I'm gonna make someone else I'm planning gates miserable

I love that me too and uh Austin's done a good job against Barkov the five on five but he's done it without Making him feel like he's miserable. Yeah. Right? Yep. That's the only difference.

Yeah, I also like his point that, you know, great to see these guys, you know, playing, doing all these other things. The power play would be a nice spot for them to just grab a couple of those points that make these guys feel better about things. I just love what he said about that. Even if you don't score, like, yes, you feel it. You don't go back to the bench slamming your stick and you're fresh and that's better

It's great point. That's good. Yeah, that's really good. He also mentioned, you know in this market Canada's Stop times you can't leave your house. You don't leave your house No, he's gonna be great. He's not he's not exaggerating. He's not you know, it's not tongue-in-cheek It's yeah guys. That's that's the difference between Our country and a lot of markets down south. Yeah. No, there's no doubt. Did you want to have a quick? Talk at combo before we do game time here before we get there or do you want to save that with yeah? We'll go after the break. We'll get into Rick Todd. We got books coming up So I just don't know if you want to do it with yeah, we'll go after the break. We'll get into Rick target We got books coming up. So I just know if you want to do it

All right, then just in terms of no announced it today. Yeah Rick talking officially a Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. It seemed too good to all no real surprise here. No and Our good buddy on Fridays Doug McLe, called this like three months ago. Oh God. He did. I'm telling you, he did. Friday is just gonna be a, he's just gonna be.

And I kind of feel a little bit for Vancouver fans. And I've said this as well, that there's many reasons. And like, it's just not about the money, but I think in this case, it was, it came down to, I'll say this, it came down to, it's always first and foremost about the money.

Really? Vancouver did not or would not step up when he knew that what was out there waiting for him was a market that put him now probably right behind Mike Sullivan guys. He is one of the highest paid coaches in the National Hockey League right now. Wow. I mean, he had just oodles of leverage based on six NHL openings in desirable markets, a year removed from winning a Jack Adams, where, yeah, if you don't want to match the other teams, I'll just go coach somewhere else. And I know there's various reports.

In Vancouver, I heard was at about $4 million, maybe times four or five, but it was four. And I gotta think he's up around six now. I have not heard the term, but I would imagine on a rebuilding team in Philadelphia, he could go five to seven years on a long-term deal if he chose that. And he's an easy guy to get along with. He's not gonna blow that up. Can I ask you though, I mean, the money matters, but he's Rick talking the flyers. Yeah, it's

Firing of torches partially got to be related. He's like that guy's available. I mean, he's a fire hall of famer He's you know, he's probably he's really tight with Jonesy and Brie air Like it just felt like it was most obvious thing ever It is it was for sure And that market and his history there and where his status now as a coach now has gone to another level, it made a ton of sense. And of course we gotta mention Adam Foote. Again, no real surprise here.

At the end of the day, if we're talking about strictly money, big difference between giving talk at five or six million dollars and Adam Foote at what could be considered a starting salary in the National Hockey League for a head coach with no head coaching experience yet at that level. One, two, one, four. That's the starting markup market for an NHL head coaching job with no experience So Vancouver fans could be more but I don't think so for an organization notoriously known for not paying Coaches top dollar exactly what I was gonna bring up because I know we're on in Vancouver and Vancouver fans are listening to this

Like I mean, I feel bad for Adam foot going in there and like having it be this perception but I feel bad for Adam Foote going in there and like having it be this perception. But I can tell you from the Vancouver people that I've sort of followed and reading this stuff on X and just kind of getting a feel for it. This does feel like what you're talking about with them not willing to pay a lot. It's the I hate to say it because you could do a good job. Is it where he says to his mommy wants to go to McDonald's? He's like, we have hamburger meat at home. Yeah, exactly make that burger.

I just. That's the burger with the green stuff sticking out, the onions, and it's like. One Wonder Bricks. As Eddie Murphy. Is that Adam Foote here? As Eddie Murphy was saying, that don't look like McDonald's.

Adam Foote is a awesome, like one of the great NHL-er. I just feel bad disparaging him on the first day he gets named the first time. Yeah, we're not. We're not. There's a perception among Vancouver fans about it. It's not about Adam Foote or what he can or can't do. He could be a great National Hockey League head coach. This is just the path that they chose.

Well, and Taka was an established guy. As an organization. And just to kind of advance this a little bit, advantage, Adam Foote, knowing all the issues going on instead of a new guy coming in and going, well, now I get a fresh start and let's bring in Patterson. And I got a chance to work with him and it's a clean slate here or does he pick up where? talk it left off in terms of Knowing where the real issues are off the ice. This is one of your least favorite things. Hey, you've always been

If you would you have done if you owned the Vancouver Canucks Would you have gone to a guy that knows what's going on and all the issues or was you started out with a guy that? Really knew nothing. Here's the thing going on and all the issues or was you started out with a guy that really knew nothing? Here's the thing I say all the time. He was here when the issues were happening. If he had solutions, we could have used them. Where were they then? You got a new solution? Like I don't like hiring assistant coaches purely because it's like the team failed so we fired the coach, but you were on the staff. Did you have a new breakout? You could have brought us perhaps a guy So again, I I've known everything I've heard about foot is great. Yeah, this is not about foot

I don't like hiring assistant coaches typically for the organization. They've been with after the head coach is gone and Yeah, it does feel it never feels right when they're like they saved money on the guy It's like well, no fan wants to hear or know that. Could Quinn Hughes love him? I think he does. I think that's, could that be part of like, hey, this is the kid Hughes here. If Hughes is like, I love this guy, he's hired.

Yeah. Like you're doing everything in your potential to get him on a long-term contract whenever he's eligible, which is next summer or is it this summer? I think it's two years, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, so it would be next summer that he would be eligible for a contract extension So you want to keep him as happy as possible? So good luck to

Conox fans out there crazy. I'd be crazy It's game time presented by bet 365 visit the outflatest odds and find out why is ever ordinary at bet 365 That's 19 plus until only please play responsibly So two games on the ice tonight fellas two big ones the Edmonton Oilers with a chance to move on to the conference finals They are in Vegas Plus 105 on the money line Vegas favorites minus 125 no mark stone tonight I don't think I think mark stone may be putt not playing think he's banged up So I'm so game changer too. I'm gonna say right now,

sitting here looking at that number, I'm surprised, I'm surprised that the Vegas Golden Knights are favorites in this one. I think that's a good spot if you're looking, if you're an Oilers better, that they had some pretty good value on them there, plus 105. And the one that all of Canada cares by far the most about,

the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Florida Panthers. Are you really trying to get people out west to like turn us off right now? Anyways, minus 140 the Florida Panthers tonight. Massive favorites in Toronto. Plus 120 the Toronto Maple Leafs on home ice tonight. It's just continuing with the trend this whole series on bet 365. They've been huge favorites in most of the games, they were huge favorites going into the series. They weren't even that big of underdogs when they were down two nothing. They're supposed to win the series, they're the favorites.

So the Leafs, those plucky underdogs, maybe they got a chance tonight against the big bad Florida Panthers. Oh yeah, it's just a great try. It's not a fork in the road moment at all for the Toronto Bay Police. I got no comment. Anyways, that was Game Time for ZedavidBet365.

Visit the app for the latest odds and find out why it's ever ordinary. Bet365 must be 19+, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Okay, off of that, we're going to take a quick break and when we return, I'm going to ask you guys with everything you've witnessed up until now, who is your Stanley Cup favorite? the question is, who is your favorite? Who is your favorite up until now? Who is your Stanley Cup favorite that and

Jason Buchla when we return to real kipper and born. Hey, it's a list for a fire and I'm Justin Cutford. Join us as we discuss the most important sports stories of the day and tee up the biggest games of the night. It's the fan pregame

six PM weekdays on sports that sports at five 90 the fan and wherever you get your podcasts Welcome back to the program is a reminder this hour of real kipper and born brought to you by bet 365 in a few seconds We'll welcome in Jason bukala Former NHL scout does a terrific job with us here at sports net and Sammy you got an update for us Yeah, so tomorrow the Toronto Blue Jays are playing a afternoon game work from dome game But instead of giving us the day off our bosses decided to make us come in after a game five four The demand for us yes, I know our fans would not allow that Absolutely thrilled to be doing it can't wait to talk about a big win tomorrow. SportsNet 360 will still be on.

We'll be on TV for both hours. We'll be on SportsNet Plus, streaming on the alt stream on the website. So you can go there. There's two streams there. And we're on the SportsNet app as well for all the both hours. So SportsNet 360, SportsNet Plus, streaming on the alt stream and on the app. So we're all over the place still tomorrow

and we're ready to rock. In the. So we're all over the place Phil tomorrow and we're ready to rock. In the meantime, we're all over the place, coast to coast on Sportsnet. Therefore we bring in Jason Buchla right now, former NHL scout, pro hockey group, and of course, major contributor here at Sportsnet. Buchs, thanks for joining us. So, you know, we had Wendell Clark

earlier on we talked Blake Wheeler to just these guys in terms of The anticipation and the feel when you had when you're a player and then even Wendell years later what about scouts on on big nights and Having some of your fingerprints all over a club. These games can't be easy for scouts now watching, especially one like in Toronto, for instance. You're dying on the vine every stoppage,

every back goal, every big goal. These are the, these can be the most enjoyable times of year and the most stressful. And the higher up you get, you know the way it is in sports guys, the higher up you get in organization, the closer you get to the door. Well, that's exactly what happened to me, right?

So we, you know, we were getting so good in Florida until, you know, they made the change. And trust me, as we were climbing that mountain and you know, they still got a lot of pieces there left from from our previous staff with Scott Luce and Aaron Janela and a whole bunch of guys that really contributed out to her but you're dying every time because behind closed doors you're gonna have scouting meetings you're gonna be prepping for the combine you're gonna have hard conversations with your general manager and if things don't go well, they're not very fun. They're not in a good mood. And it puts you on a notice. That's for sure. So books, was there one particular game where you

felt like maybe your job was on the line? Do you remember it? Do you remember watching certain players going, you're going to get me fired? I don't remember it that way, but I got to tell you this. Like when I first got to Florida, Brian Skroolyn, you guys know Skroolyn? Oh yeah. Okay. So Skroolyn, one of the most fascinating human beings you will ever meet. Somebody take a minute to look it up. He's awesome.

When I first got to Florida from Nashville and we had a good run of playoff success there, or at least being in playoffs and Florida hadn't made it for a while. You remember the Adam Henry double, I think it was double overtime, the overtime goal to eliminate us in Florida. Peter DeBoer was coaching Jersey. Scrooge was all over me leading it up. He's like, this is great. We brought the guy who were from national to make playoffs.

Then we get scored on in overtime. And he's like, forget about it. I don't want to talk about it anymore. You know what I mean? Just like that, it went to a new level. We don't care about making it. We want to have success, you know Beat it. You're no good anymore. Oh gosh. It's chaos. It's chaos for everyone watching We did talk before we had young we talked a little bit about the Canucks getting Adam foot hired

And there was a they made another move today You seem like the right guy to tell our Canucks fans a little bit of what happened here. Tom V lander, I believe it's pronounced has signed his contract. Yeah, this is great news for the Canucks. It sounded like in the last couple of weeks, they were negotiating the a bonuses and they're coming so close to getting a deal done based on in my mind, in the big picture, if you're going to sign a really good player long term, this is nickels and dimes at this point, right guys? And I always hate when you have your A prospects who are already getting kind of ground out for these types of contractual situations.

The good news is he's signed. Here's my comparable for you guys. When we drafted Mike Matheson back in the day out of the USHL and the Buick he went to Boston College and Mike Matheson I think he both would agree is an outstanding skater he thinks he tracks pucks he's generally first on the puck and then sometimes things kind of break down a little bit there it might be you know not taking the easiest out that are skating it into traffic well Lander is very similar in a lot of ways. He's an outstanding skater. So when the puck gets dumped in behind him, like the Leafs Panther Series, he's not going to be absorbing contact as much because he's on it so quick that when he's on time, he'll

move it to spaces that are safe. That's a great attribute in today's NHL. Offensively, he's a second tier guy for me, maybe second unit power play. But what they have going for them there right now in Vancouver with Elias Pettersson, the defenseman, the big rig on the left side, and now Willander coming on the right side. This is good news for the Canucks. And I believe both those guys are top four statues, if you will, going forward for several years if things go well. He might make the team out of camp, but it won't be a straight line.

But he'll be much better than Timothy Lillagran was. It won't be that long a process for him as a comparable. So with Vancouver, we'll start with Adam Foote. And in terms of his challenges moving forward and making the playoffs, how far is that away? And then, you know what, Bukz just slide it right into Philadelphia for talk it and his challenges and how soon both Vancouver and Philly

could be looking at potentially challenge for a playoff spot or making even noise in them. Yeah, so I think Vancouver is very close. I mean, all things considered that tire fire that went off the rails this year was still hanging around for the last two weeks to make playoffs. And that to me speaks to the value of that coaching staff.

I thought Rick Pocket did as good a job this year, perhaps better than he did when he was named Coach of the Year, let's be honest, with all the distractions that were going on. I was sitting on the fence, I did my thing in Vancouver yesterday, I was sitting on the fence when I was put on the spot. Do you go outside the organization or do you hire Foote?

I know Foote's a fantastic communicator, he's got the ear of the captain and there's some continuity there. But I was sitting on the fence, guys, as to whether or not you needed a clean slate, so there would be no bias, coming back into training camp at the beginning of the year. They've gone this direction. I'm okay with either, I guess is my final answer on the whole projection. I think they're close. I don't bring back Brock Besser. He made 6-5 last year. He's too slow. He's a one-trick pony. He's fine between the hash marks. Tip pass on the power play. Continuation below the hash marks in the offensive zone. But tracking all three zone's fellas, it's not enough. I'm not going to eight million on that.

25 goals last year, minus 25 on the defensive side. So that's not happening. Poo Suter, I am gonna look at responding to his great year there. So I think that they're close. Like they're gonna be, but they need some growl in that lineup. They need more accountability in the dressing room.

When JT Miller walked out the door, eliminate all the stories and everything else. Let's be honest, when he walked out the door, that team was missing that, weren't they? So I would be overpaying on the market for somebody like a Sam Bennett, perhaps going after someone, you know, I don't know,

I don't have all the UFAs in my mind right now, but that type of player that's gonna hold people accountable in the room, they need more of that. Now going to Philly, let me just keep forming at the mouth here. I think there's still a ways away. I really do. I don't like their golfing that much, Kemp. I think they're going to have to shore that up. They do have some great young players on the horizon.

But Rick Tocket, there's history there. There's accountability as an ex-flyer, he's proven what he, like he turned over a leaf in Vancouver, built a culture there that did not exist. They were chasing that for a long time, so I think that he'll get them there sooner than later, but on balance right now they would have to overshoot their trajectory to be a playoff team next year for me. So I want to talk a little bit about playoff lineups and how tough it is for young guys, all these kids you're talking about to be involved, to get in the lineup.

If you're looking at Florida, who doesn't put Sam Miscavige in, I think you played one game in this series. Ryan Leonard is playing for Washington, but it takes a pretty special type of guy in the first year or two of your career to even be relevant in playoffs. Yeah, I totally agree with that. It's the hardest time of year and depending where you came from, so you talk about Leonard, you know, he was the captain at the World Juniors, best player, most viable player at the World Juniors, goes back to college.

You know, he's one of those Hobie Baker type finalists, but it's a heavy lift, fellas. You know that at this time of year. The good thing about Leonard is that that B game that he has, that heaviness, that he's in the trenches. So he doesn't necessarily have to handle it a lot to impact the game. That's similar to Matthew Nyes, right? Like when Matthew Nyes arrived in Toronto,

you know what he does? He's got that secondary game that if he's not producing offense, he's capable. Sam Skavich is the exact opposite. So he comes out of Michigan, goes to the minors for a little bit. I didn't think he played poorly when he got in the lineup here, to be honest with you.

I thought it was a unique element they had. He's got a little bit more burst. He's definitely got that offensive look to his game. But the Florida Panthers have a recipe and they don't need to have that in the lineup because the recipe appears to be on the cusp of wearing down the opponent. So that makes it even harder for that guy in his skill set because he doesn't necessarily

have the letter to be game to earn minutes in playoffs. Books just want to switch gears to the Winnipeg Jets and the incredible season that they've had and yet if they find a way to go quietly in this series against Dallas, Is this just going to be a Connor Hellebuck story? What else have you seen out of Winnipeg that spreads out for a better word, you know, using blame? Yeah, no, I, I don't know how I can portray it exactly like that. I have to say it. I really felt like the Winnipike Jets the other day

were close to the best version of themselves on the road or road game in the playoffs. I did. It wasn't that Hellevup was terrible, but he was clearly outgoal tendered by Ottinger in the other end. Three goals, you gotta score. They generated something like 72 shots on board,

shot attempts on net. Those stats mean absolutely nothing to me, by the way, unless you're getting in inside and battling for secondaries and stuff. The perimeter stuff, I wish we could, that stack can go by the wayside because it doesn't matter. I wanna know about all the quality. But having said that, yeah, it's been like that, guys.

And in the NFL, you need your start quarterback to be the best guy. If the Toronto Raptors don't have Kauai Leonard back in the day you know it doesn't happen and in hockey the goaltender he has the ability to be the difference maker one way or the other that's the job they signed up for. Hellebuck to me has not been good enough I think he's going to admit that he probably will continue to admit that they could turn this around but let's also give some credit to the Dallas Stars they're similar a little bit they're different but they're similar in terms of coming at you coming at you in ways like the Florida Panthers

they're a real good hockey team and they're a lot to handle they're only getting better now with Heskin and returning to the lineup. So Bucs we were going to talk about this we got talking about other stuff so where do we sit for the Stanley Cup like you know you're through the second round. All the chaos around one has kind of died down. Do we have a favorite at this point? Boy, oh, boy. I was... I thought the Edmonton Warriors were dead to rights.

I really did in the L.A. series. Me, too. Yeah, I thought they let them off the mat. They just lost their structure. They couldn't get it done for the entirety of the series, L.A. And you see what's happened to follow to that Since then Edmonton the other night against Vegas that start fellas that first ten minutes of that game might have been the quickest Most engaged hockey I've ever seen them, but can order this play think about it

They were running over the goalie and they were tracking up and down So what I'm trying to tell you is that the ball-tenning still scares the you-know-what out of me. And I don't just give them moments. But at the same time, what's going on in front of them, it brings me plus. I don't know how Edmonton can be beat right now. That's how I feel in the West. I'm with you.

And I appreciate Brantanen. And I appreciate the Dallas Stars being up 3-1. But as far as the look right now, as a team that will take no for an answer, it's the Edmonton Oilers. And to me, the biggest reason why I didn't have them where I thought they could get to is at home. And now there's talk about him coming back

in the next series. And if they do get him, even at 60% or 65 will take them to another level but they have the it factor for me right now. That's well put. That's absolutely well put. They have the it factor. They're feeling it. It's like a giant snowball rolling down Mount Everest. You know like they're really feeling it right now and in the honestly, I know it's right in front of us, but the Florida Panthers are starting to look like they might not get beat again. And they might, they might try, you know, Toronto could come back. They got home ice advantage, best two out of three. I get it. But listen, Borny, remember last week I was texting you, like I was in Florida when we

signed Bob Robsky. Okay. And we had good days and bad days with Bob good Bob bad Bob and on the on the bad days because he's remember when Samsonov was here guys he's six foot two and a bit but he played small he was so active in his crease a lot of fast switch unnecessary movement Bob Rofsky if you look at some of the goals he allowed at the beginning of the series and his freeze composure he was a lot like that he was far too busy fast forward to the other day.

Remember that back door feed to Matthews on the flank? He not only came across and now I'd like to see Austin get that to the net quicker, maybe a bobble, it doesn't matter. But then my point is that Bob Roski didn't go outside the post. He was inside it at time to stand up to make a glove save. He's looking like a brick wall. Like catching flies. up to make a glove save. He's looking like a brick wall. Like catching flies. Yeah, it just looks like, you know, you may be looking at one team different from

the year before their Washington or Carolina Carolina surprise you that they're got the caps on the ropes. Yeah, they have surprised me they have their relentless right they keep coming their coaches is he coaches a great style for what he has to work with there. And this is interesting because there is a path to the Carolina Hurricanes playing the Dallas Stars somehow here. And that would be fascinating if that ever happened. But I just don't see out of that series,

again, them coming through, if it ends up being Florida. I'll put it this way, if the Leafs get through, I think that that matchup is more attractive for Carolina or Washington if they come back. But I don't think Florida is attractive to anybody if they get through this series as well. And if they're relatively healthy, because this team, like they get kind of suspended, they poke you in the eyeball, they do whatever it takes and it doesn't take them off their game plan ever. It's fascinating to watch. But Carolina, I feel like nobody's really watching, but, but they're sneaky good right now, for sure. Can Vegas extend at all here or is this thing over? Over, over. Okay. All

right. You over, it might be over in the next swing here. I it's fascinating to me how dry saddle got moved with moved to the line with Pod Polzin and Kaepernick and how they were shutting down Eichel. Now Jack Eichel, by the way, has had a fascinating year. He would have been on my ticket for the selfie. That's how good he's been in all three zones. He's totally flipped the script. But I see a rattled Vegas team. I see them engaging after whistles. McNabb looked like he wanted to fight everybody in the arena early in the game the other night. Aiden Hills looking like Bennington jumping out of his grease. All that stuff. Not that I blame them. I'm all for it. Don't get me wrong,

but I'm just saying that they're, they're in their heads. And I don't see that that's a, that's going to be a comeback on the horizon. Well books you took the sale right out of Sammy but we still appreciate is you're coming on a Sammy at least I haven't seen any Owen sound attack guys Signing up to go play at the University of Michigan next year. Like it seems like the rest of the CHL is doing Yeah, thank God. That's good. Thank God. Maybe they just don't have enough Books thanks buddy. Enjoy the games tonight. All right, boys.

Keep your phones on. I'll be blowing you up. Yes. All right, pal. Let's chat soon. Pro hockey group, former NHL scout, and sports sets finest right there.

Mm-hmm. Love that guy. Love that guy, XF46. Yeah. See, I loved dry saddle with Pitt Goldsend and Kaepernick. Like, I love that. Switch it up up. I have different looks. It's okay Marner Matthews with

Lorenz and Yarn croc give me something change it up Yeah, hey listen, I am the foremost Beater of that drum throughout the regular season Matthews you'll forget you a lot of people man I remember last year was Domi and Bertuzzi were his line mates in the playoffs as anybody can drive a line Is anybody on the Leafs gonna have a shift like Kaepernick did if Kaepernick played like that on the Leafs You might have seen him stick around. Kaepernick's feeling is high. He can do some things. He's a very talented guy. He was running around

Yeah, like he was not just fast can be physical hammering. Yeah, so we'll see All right. Oh, it's too close A reminder Florida and Toronto may believe 7 p.m. Eastern Sportsnet CBC oilers Vegas Golden Knights 930 Eastern Sportsnet CBC is there any reason not to watch any answer? Crippling anxiety? No. Okay.

No. It's coach time. Enjoy it. And we're back tomorrow. If you get a chance, give us a ratings and review. We'd love to hear from you. Enjoy your games. Have a great night everybody.