Real Kyper & Bourne - Round 1 Goalie Grades with Marty Turco

Episode Date: May 7, 2024

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look at tonight's draft lottery and share who they would like to land Macklin Celebrini the most and which team fans would have the biggest issue with. Stars executive assistant Marty Turco (6:50) tees up Dallas' second-round series against the Avalanche with Game 1 kicking off tonight. He gets into Wyatt Johnston's playoff breakout, Oettinger's up-and-down year and goaltending across the playoffs in Round One. Finally, they regroup with Sam for news & notes - why VAN/EDM might be closer than most think, new coaches for the Sens & Blues, and the Kings' plan for PLD.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

all right let's get her going on our national hour the real kipper and born nick kiprios justin born sammy mckee a few minutes we'll welcome in marty turco should we do more leaf stock in the national no we shall not love that yesterday so we should do more wherever you are wherever you're watching and listening sports net sports, Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. Thanks for joining us. This hour, Real Kipper and Bourne, brought to you by Bet365.

As I said, former NHLer, Marty Turco, does a terrific job now. Special assistant to the president of the Dallas Stars. As we get ready for Stars Avalanche. You know what else we're getting ready for tonight? The NHL Draft Lottery. Oh, right.

That's tonight. And that is going to be a very exciting... Are you covering that? Are you doing anything? No, not tonight. I am going to be on alternate nights from the Edmonton-Vancouver series. I'll be on the television. Which game?

Boston, Florida with Carolyn Cameron and Sam Cosentino. Nice. Looking forward to that. NHL Draft Lottery odds number one pick. San Jose Sharks, 25.5% chance of landing Macklin Celebrini, followed by Chicago, Anaheim, Columbus, Montreal, then Utah. Oh, then Ottawa, too too another exciting name in there the flames have a five percent chance the sabers have the longest odds three percent but they do

have a chance montreal montreal is uh yeah they're eight and a half fifth um that would be a big deal sweet spot so big deal our friend uh from down south i think we've had him on our show before john buchigrass hey buchi yeah learn my book good dude yeah you should have him on again i he uh tweeted out a we have arrived in new jersey for tonight's festivities 6 30 eastern and he tweeted out a picture of a board with like results on it yeah so they they in everyone's going nuts about it, obviously. San Jose was the first overall pick. Salt Lake, whatever they're going to be called, was second overall.

Really? Yeah. Chicago third. They're clearly just rehearsing, but it's got people all hot and bothered. So yeah. I'm really hoping that, I don't know, like Chicago gets another one here.

You want Chicago to get it? 13.5? I don't know if I want them to get it, but I just kind of feel like they're going to. We should, the worst case scenario for me is again, I'm in Columbus. Everybody's going to scream fixed again now.

That's why. If Chicago gets it. I kind of feel like they're going to get it. There's two things that people will, there's two outcomes. I want to deal with that. Two outcomes that people will scream fixed. Salt Lake getting number one. Yes, they will. Montreal. No... I don't want to deal with that. Two outcomes that people will scream fixed. Salt Lake getting number one.

Yes, they will. Montreal. No, I don't think so. You don't think Montreal? No. They just get Slefkovski. No. I think Salt Lake as a new franchise

with the sexy new owner that everybody loves and they get the first overall pick. That's one for me. And then Chicago getting it are the only two ones where people will be like, frozen envelope, it was fixed. I think if I'm an Arizona Coyotes fan and the Utah

Utes win the number one overall pick I just eat a cactus. The whole thing I just ingest it. I'm done with life. You know what those Arizona Coyotes fans are like hockey? They don't care. They're so funny. Those Penn guys would be so pissed.

If they don't get the first pick Utah that owner is going to make a splash somewhere you think they're going to bring in a big name oh guaranteed yeah it's new owner syndrome guaranteed like it happens all the time this guy mitch is gonna be oh boy well if you think about it they've got they've got assets they've got prospects and they got room and that is the triple combo and i remember something at the all-star game of matthews and clayton keller playing very well together i don't know if they'd want to get rid of clayton keller team grabs good player trades their best player you don't uh you don't know if they'd want to get rid of Clayton Keller. Team grabs a good player, trades their best player. You don't trade for Marner and move Keller.

No. You don't. I know. Nice try. By the way, gotta love Clayton Keller's career. Gets to play in Arizona. He's like a one handicap or whatever he is. Salt Lake City, beautiful place to play golf.

Oh, really? Oh, yes. I didn't know that about it. Absolutely spectacular golf courses there. Really? And you can play. You know, they probably have a month or two you can't play in the winter but yeah he'll be happy i think it'd be fantastic oh yeah place mountains buddy you can ski and golf in the same day there it's great just can't drink well you can you just gotta be a member at the bar pay your

ten dollar fee and pour your own drink he knows i mean hockey players don't like to drink so they'll be fine. You can find anything you want. You can drive across straight state lines and bring it back. Can you do beers in the locker room after? Do they still do beers in the locker room after the NHL? I don't know where that would happen, yeah. I don't think so. No? No. Okay. How about the New York Islanders

built a card and drinking room off their dressing room while my dad was there? It was like an add-on. They needed the drinking and cards room while he was was there. It was like an add-on. They needed the drinking and cards room. Wives just waiting outside. How long has that been around? It's not around anymore, but at Nassau Coliseum, yeah. That's incredible. Guys just coming out

six beers in. Your wife's like, what are they doing? Are they in a parking lot? Did you ever see that one commercial where the guys, the wife's waiting for the hockey player. He's come off and he talks to her like he's being interviewed. Yes, I have. It's an excellent commercial. She's like

looking at him like he's got three heads. I'll be in the car. I mean, if my wife would never come to one of my hockey games, but if she was waiting, it would be an extremely long wait. Like me in the dressing room after that's the whole reason I go. You love the shower. That's the whole reason I go hang out all right game one what do we expect out of uh a dallas colorado this one

this one's going to be one that could easily be a stanley cup final as well my worry is that both teams are too good and it's going to be very defensive hockey but colorado did just score 300 goals against the winnipeg jets so maybe i can throw that theory out the window it's going to be fast tons of talent it's this will be hockey at its finest i'm really really excited for this series yeah this will be the best second round series yeah for sure it's interesting that uh you know we've we've been talking in our first hour about coaching of course and you know what happens with sheldon keith but going into that game seven it was also jim montgomery's who was feeling the heat i was i was in boston on the weekend and there's a lot of people saying that that guy will not survive with a game seven loss no being one of the first to blow consecutive 3-1 series back-to-back.

And I'm just wondering, as we welcome in Marty Chikudere-Board, Turco, to the Real Kipper and Boards show. Oh, God, what a day. Look, we got you on Zoom. You got the shades, flowers in the background. And where's the charcuterie board? That's what I want to know. It's some prosciutto and, you know, some goat cheese just for one today.

Nice. Well, we appreciate you coming on our show and helping us tee up Colorado and Dallas. And just to maybe put a bow on it for us in that first round against Vegas, Marty, because there's so much on the line. We're just talking about coaches feeling the heat, Jim Montgomery, Sheldon Keefe in their game seven in the first round.

But what about Peter DeBoer? Was he, was he feeling it a little bit too in game seven? Yeah, he was. But apparently the feelings were good. The guys was 7-0 coming in on game sevens and mopped up his old team. I mean, there's a ton of pressure on a lot of these guys.

And even though they seem to get the next job no matter what, he's a great coach. He was under the gun just being first playing against the Stanley Cup champs. They didn't really sneak into the playoffs, but they were one of the best teams that was playing in the tournament. Going down two games, that was where the pressure was at. When you get to

game seven, pressure's on everybody. You don't know what's going to happen. Bounces. Who's going to score the big goal? He makes a lineup change, and bam, here comes Roderick Fox, scores the game-winning goal so uh he seemed to have all the right moves marty tell us a little about the dallas stars roster construction because looking at the team from the outside it seems like a bunch of near retirees and teenagers that are playing together in the same team how are these young guys doing it's like a big brother program there right yeah we're just uh singing kumbaya holding hands

we got it's a dallas stars billet program we call it down here um hey you know what if we're gonna teach our young kids we got some really good bets to do so um you know even you know the ryan shooters benner you know these guys have seen a lot that the addition of Chris Tanneff at the end he's playing great hockey he's got a lot of future in front of him but he's a veteran so we're good but you're right man our best players might be our

youngest guys man holy snikies so our the team construction is you know this year was really fortunate for us to get to Shane on that buyout to come in and really solidify our third you know, this year was really fortunate for us to get Duchesne on that buyout to come in and really solidify our third, you know, our second line, third line, whatever you want to call it. They kind of all seem to play collectively well and really boost Marchman and Tyler Sagan

this year. Those guys have fantastic years. And obviously we have, you know, Pavelski anchoring, you know, Ruppe and Robo, but why Johnson, man? And even though during the year they had Dadunov and Benner and then Logan Stankoven comes along, I mean, these kids in the same draft, you know, for a couple of years ago, if not already, I mean, they will be our two best players.

Moving forward, we've got a few more minors coming. So the Billet program is alive and well here in Texas. What makes a 20-year-old Wyatt Johnson so good, so special? You know, that's a great question. He's got it all right, skill set. You know, he doesn't have blazing speed, but no one's catching him either. But he just has a knack for the big moments. He plays every shift hard.

His eye-eye coordination and the way he digs that box is fantastic. He's just got no quit in him. And clearly, just coming straight from junior in the NHL, the kid's got a lot of moxie, you know, and he holds himself in high regard. I think living at Joe Pavelski's house has helped him with his confidence. You know, when maybe nights he might be enjoying another refreshment, if he's even legal here in this country, after the steakhouse, he's playing video games, talking hockey. And, you know, Joe's the ultimate pro, so couldn't have went any better for us.

But this guy just, you know, he takes face-offs, he blocks shots, penalty kills, power play. He's a bang. He's a big cog in our wheel. We're very fortunate to get him late in that first round a few years ago, and then, bam, second round gets tank-oven. So we feel good about what our hockey ops has done recently in constructing this team, not just the forwards,

but adding Tanev at the deadline, having a great goalie tandem. It's a pretty good recipe and the deepest pool I've ever seen in the Stanley Cup playoffs. So I don't envy – it's a hard tournament to win. It's harder than ever, I would think. Winning the West was great, but we got our work cut out for us. Hopefully, home ice really has its advantages. So you mentioned the goaltending.

Maybe you could fill us in a bit on the rollercoaster season that Jake Ottinger has had. You know, maybe the early part of the year wasn't up to expectations. In the first round, he's a 925 save percentage. He's fantastic as to be expected. Tell us about his season well you know most people you know don't recall nor care about to be honest he didn't skate much this summer uh he had very limited ice time coming into camp and the i'd say the initial week two three

maybe even month let's call it was pretty good actually you know he was in the vesna you know talk early season, October before American Thanksgiving. And then it slowed down, you know, missed some time in the net and just never really got it back. So the meat and potatoes part of the season wasn't what he, we would have liked, but still a top-notch goaltender. And as Daryl Ray eloquently puts it, you know, the kid has pedigree. He might not be playing like one of the best in the world at the moment,

but he has pedigree. And that part we do know. And so that just gives you confidence knowing that even if you don't think we limped into the postseason based off goaltending save percentage, well, it really wasn't the case. Wedgie played great when we needed him. We needed him too. I mean, at one point he played 10 games in a row,

and the first eight were just spectacular. So, you know, we cut these guys some slack slack and at the end of the day you just need to perform in the playoffs you need to get in the playoffs they got us in and i need to play uh well in the playoffs and so far jake's been great particularly the second half of all the games uh he has been nothing but uh the best goaltender uh in this tournament when you talk with the latter half of the games marty as as a goaltender, you must have such an appreciation for this time of year and what you guys have to go

through to prepare to roll off a bad goal or a bad loss. You got Ottinger there. Swayman is off the charts in Boston. They're all talented guys, Marty, but what is it about

a goalie this time of year that stands up above anything else for you uh it just says a lot about you know what they have between the years um yeah you're right Kipper it's not easy every guy in this league every guy in the AHL, most guys in junior, college, they're great goaltenders. They got the substance. They got the moves. They got size. They got something. And oftentimes, a lot of it. But this time of year, you're right.

It is difficult to be a duck and have that water roll off the back. It's just not the same. The people cheering a little louder. The lights are a little bit brighter. And you know those opportunities just – they don't just come and go. And when you think like that, but the guys who play well are playing well, that need to play well. You don't need to stay healthy. You need to stay on top of their game, watching the swingman's, even Bobrowski. I just love the way the old guy moves still. You know, Jake here, he's cooler and calmer and big, the way he plays.

I just, you've got to appreciate good goaltending. You just don't know when you're not going to have it. So when you have it, you've just got to ride it. And most importantly, these goaltenders give their team confidence. And even though the teams are good and they're expected to be or they're expected to win, all of them in this playoff is so tight that each goaltender gives their team, you know, they're expected to be, or they're expected to win all of them in this playoff. So tight that each goaltender gives their team, you know, a certain amount of confidence.

The one that usually gives the most by making big saves at the right time or saves that they shouldn't. Those are the teams that's, you know, usually end up passing on through. And, and unfortunately, this game's played to guys at a pace where there's more people in front of the net. There seems to be more shots coming from all over the place um that you know before when you had a good goaltender a guy playing out of his mind you can steal a game and i just find it a little bit harder to steal games but you got to make those saves that you need to make you got to make some that you shouldn't but you certainly can't let in that bad timely goal that really can cost your team a game and ultimately

serious and if that's not pressure i don't don't know what it was that's the only thing i miss about playing hockey other than boys and uh it is a great time of year and it's really good for the goaltenders just just on that thought marty and and what we've saw in the first round um i'm watching nashville surround sorrows it's like watching five goalies on the ice i'm watching dallas uh in the last eight minutes close out vegas and i'm watching the layers in front of ottinger was that something that has evolved i mean was it that way when you played where you had you had to go through eight pairs of legs before it got to you or is it would you still prefer hey get the hell out of my way and let me see the puck. Well, I always said, if you're going to blame me,

you might as well let me see it. If I can't, I can't see it. I can't stop it. But you really appreciate the guys making the sacrifice. And there's been plenty of awesome photos over the years and Stanley finals and the playoffs with just four stacked up, trying to block it, and all willing to take it in the face. And that's what makes this sport, this tournament, the Stanley Cup, winning and putting it over your head, why it's the greatest and the hardest.

The guys are willing literally to do whatever they can. And you appreciate it as a goaltender. You know, they're willing to do it. Obviously, there's a little – it looks like a lot of chaos sometimes but there's some uh some nuances to it i think this shot blocking has gotten um a bigger asset uh over the last 15 20 years and they just know the statistics know just getting in the way and stay tighter in there keep the shots moving it and then trying to create turnover but sacrificing is a huge part of our game the The guys do it to endless degree.

We have to do it just by occupational trade, but we have a big mask on, big cup on, big shoulder pads, so we can handle it. And I'm in awe sometimes of these guys, how they do it. But from a goalie's perspective, you know, I like to see the puck make the save. I'll tell you, I really appreciate it. They always get a pat on the rear end for me after the game.

You know, a lot of us fans kind of play the results with goalies. They don't let in many. We give them credit or the opposite. Connor Hellebuck, after the series against Colorado, he said in his interview, I was dialed. Like, I was in a flow state. I was feeling as good as I've ever felt in the net, and it just didn't go his way

i know sometimes as a player that happens where you feel like it's going well and won't go in or you're playing bad and it comes to you does that happen for a guy can you let in five every night and say i'm playing great that was a much shorter way to say it uh i mean i i can't say let in five like that we lost lost in the first round series. We should have won. And I was like, man, I felt pretty good. It's like – it does happen. You know, we had shin pads from behind the net, overtime goals and stuff.

So, you know, I really think taking that into context a little bit, I think he was referring to his whole body of work, including the season, where he probably won the Vezina Trophy the year that he had. And saying that, I think deep down he believed it. Like, I was moving great. I was tracking it good. And sometimes he just, even over a seven-game series, he gets smoked. And these guys are pretty good, too.

The other guys don't get credit. Colorado was flying, guys. They were awesome. They deserved to win that series. I'm not sure how much, you know, Connor could have did, to be honest. I think he was being honest. I don't think it was just a fluff piece or some personal marketing to go make sure

he gets that Vesna because it's just a tough game. That's the way he plays. When he does get beat, that big guy, he's usually in the right spot at the right time. He's not making split saves that often. When they get around him, a bunch of rebound goals and back doors, it's like, you know,

I do believe him, but I don't envy his position. I understand the climate and temperatures, especially being in Canada. I know as a goaltender for Jake Ottinger, he's, he's focusing on all the shooters here, but man, it goes a long way if you can shut down Nate McKinnon and kill my car as a goaltender in your day, when you faced top teams, how much was the focus on one or two guys compared to the rest of the team?

And who did you fear? Who were you fearful in a series? Well, you got to think, like, just this series alone, it was a big rival of ours back, you know, early in my career from, you know, 99, 2000. We played them two more times. Sackick, Forsberg, right? These guys, you got.

But they also had Drury and Heyduke and, you know, a lot of other great, talented guys. And so you just kind of, I mean, Sackick shot it so good. It's passed it so well. And Forsberg was just a bear on skates. I just look forward to it, honestly. And I can't say they really own me but they just made you better because they made you just you know go to bed 10 minutes earlier wake up middle

of the night thinking about it you weren't had tension and you were nervous and you just know over your career like you're tense because you cared and you're nervous because you matter to you and you cared about your teammates and your fans. You wanted to win. So playing against those guys, and then, you know, we had Solani, and, you know, we had Getzloff and Perry and Anaheim in the playoffs. Those guys were fantastic. But the only guy I really had my number, and I was like, I don't know where he was shooting at, was Dadsuk. And I'm not even sure if he did score one or two of me in the 08 playoffs

and beat us in the conference finals. But I really enjoyed it. I love knowing that. And so for our goalie, I think the speed guys, you got to really know when they're on the ice because you just got to be a step ahead. You got to be outside a little bit quicker coming back, especially the way I played.

But Kael McCarran, like, how do you really plan for him? He's always coming from the back end. You know, gets a play, he dances the blue line, he comes down the boards, he's shooting, he's passing, he flies. It's hard to prepare for him, but I always, you know, I always knew any guy like that was on the ice and i think that is the most important thing and nonetheless just just being ready to rock and for for uh jake's sake you know we got mero askin and mero's uh this talented as he is offensively uh he's very underrated

defensively and so he he really he'll do a number on uh mckinnon in my books and as a goaltender that just gives me out of confidence knowing that my best player is going to handle theirs marty last one for me uh just if they were to get through this series it's possible they would play connor mcdavid you know that's a different type of animal that you're talking about would you ever watch a video or would the teams now watch a video for a goaltender on hey b here's some of the things guys like this do yeah you can and and i mean you certainly have to we'll watch a video on everybody and i mean there's enough video in the united states of connor mcgann but i just watched some commercials hl network you're gonna

see it all um he's he's flying he's good he's fun to watch we're gonna get him back to the mirror effect but but adversely on the video part um sometimes when you watch video and you see tendencies or you expect something it just takes you out of your reaction moment and so you just put the work in you know in the back you know in the back of your mind that there's something where you might load a little extra or step take a step back or take a step in that that guy's a passer and that and that shot's coming or this guy's got to move you know for me it was a quick poke check just to defend something uh but sometimes that video can be more like paralysis by analysis so it's a fine line you walk you get those nuances in a day you

get out there you're like hey i'm ready to go i trust myself and i think jake's well prepared we're good we'll be in good hands tonight against colorado yeah we're looking forward to it. It's 9.30 Eastern puck drop, Colorado and Dallas. Hey, Marty, great stuff, man. Hey, keep enjoying the playoff weather, I guess. I see the pool light shimmering on the tree. Looks great. Maybe take a plunge in the pool. He's gone.

We lost him. He's frozen. He dropped his laptop in the pool. That was perfect freeze timing right there on our Zoom call. What do you think? We haven't had any freezes all year. No. I haven't been hot this year.

Now you kabuki us. We're going to use that word from now on. Real kabuki and board? Yeah. Replaceable for. Who do you like in this series? I like Dallasallas i like hockey yeah i i do think that dallas is really tough to beat they're just so solid all over and

yeah so many weapons i know colorado has the top end guys but that's gonna be tough dallas team to beat just fun listening to marty talk about basing colorado in his day with sackick and Forsberg and Heyduke. Heyduke. Adam Deadmarsh. He was really good. Tangay, super underrated. Tangay was so good.

We know McKinnon takes all the credit, but how about this Nikushkin again? Beast mode again. On fire again. I only had seven in the first round. Did the Leafs have seven combined? Almost. We know Rantanen as well, but Lekanen,

what a pickup he's been since they brought him in from Montreal. And Middlestat, he had a heck of a series first round. I really like some of their depth, too. I was a little tough on him. There's some guy that tweets us every day, like, did you see Middlestat?

I'm like, God, we didn't even talk about that. We must have pissed him out. Listen, I'll take a good defenseman over a good forward anytime. They're just harder to find. Yeah. And they can be more impactful, but Middlestead's held his own. Yeah, he's been good. And this Colorado depth, I like Miles Wood, big and fast.

Colton is mean. Yakov Trennan can hit. Duhame is big. Like, I like their depth, guys, a lot. The other thing, too, is, you know, as Winnipeg found out, like, that blue line is much more than just Cale McCarr. Devin Taves, Sam Gerrard, Josh Manson, Walker. And Manson had a heck of a series.

Yeah. But at Taves, the moment he left the Islanders, it didn't help. Bad trade. That was a terrible trade. Terrible trade. You mean two second round pick for Canada's top pairing defenseman was a bad idea?

Yeah. I do mean that. That was one that got away from Lou and also don't you love he he was who is he sassing off this year on his own team that we got some problems oh yeah something like that like he was some guys that he's so competitive right yeah wasn't there's some guys that think they're working hard here and they have no idea what hard work is or something like that like he was you know he's a guy who'll speak up. Wasn't it Lekkonen? Wasn't it Lekkonen? No, not Lekkonen. Lekkonen's dad said something.

Lekkonen's dad said something, I think. They had a little Finnish dad fight. That involved ranting at some point? It was. Lekkonen's dad was a media guy in Finland. He was burying and ranting or something. I don't know. They had a couple weeks in Colorado where they were in the news. Yeah. Alright, we got

a little game time, Sammy, or you want to go to break? I was just looking at the stars. Like what you said to Turco is great. It made me laugh very hard. But like the borderline out of the league and teenager guys? Yeah. It's a fascinating roster construction. Very few mid-20s players.

It's very, very cool. And like... On off days days, I think the old guys pick up the young guys to take them to the park. Yeah. Dushane and Sagan and Ben and Pavelski, you know, Suter. Old guys. I'm wondering now, like, if going seven against Vegas might have, you know, the wear and tear on the older guys. It helps you in the short term. It doesn't help you in the long term.

I do think it helps you getting into that next series. Kind of like the Bruins. Yeah, the Bruins. Where they came in hot. Rolled over Florida feeling, you know, you're used to that intensity, and it's much easier to just find that level again. I think it's harder when you've been, I don't know,

eating grapes for a week or whatever people do when they relax. Eating grapes? Isn't that like an old eating grapes kind of thing? I don't know. Yeah, you're kabuki'd, pal. Alright, it's game time. Presented by Bet365. Visit the app for the latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Must be 19+. Ontario only.

Please play responsibly. Now, I was just really interested to see what the win for the Boston Bruins did last night in that series. So I went to the series correct score here. The Florida Panthers to win in seven games is the favorite here now, which is surprising to me because if we had looked at this beforehand, I'm sure that would have been far from the favorite. I'm sure in five or six would have been probably the favorite here now which is surprising to me because if we had looked at this beforehand i'm sure that would have been far from the favorite i'm sure in five or six would have been probably the favorite so florida to win in seven games is plus 320 now on bet 365 uh you can get the

bruins to win in six at plus 450 you can get the what's florida gentlemen's sweep it's great question loss followed by four straight wins that's a great question it is plus 600 ah it's not enough for me no but to me that is definitely one where they got caught a little bit by a hot team coming in so i thought that was interesting to look at we're going to talk more about edmonton and vancouver coming up after this year but uh edmonton to win in six as i'm looking here is the favorite according to bet 365 edmonton to win in six, as I'm looking here, is the favorite according to Bet365. Edmonton in six. Edmonton does come in as the favorite, no question,

but I think this one's going to be close. I think it depends. They're talking about Demco possibly being ready for games like 5-6-7 where they needed. Well, we'll see where the kid is at. You're going to find out it's connor mcdavid and leon dry sidle so i think every once in a while there could be some magic the preds the preds i don't think the oilers defend like the preds do but the preds don't score like

it's a different it's a different animal so there were signs from the la kings that they there were pockets in that series that they could push edmonton yep for sure so um i think vancouver will push and just looking at the at the two games tonight uh the carolina hurricanes are favorites at madison square garden minus 125 if you're liking the rangers great odds the r Rangers win the President's Trophy. They win game one. They're at home, and they're underdogs. Plus 105 for the Rangers. So plus money on the Rangers at home.

I really like Carolina. Yeah, the dorks at Bet365 are like we like them. I tell you, dorks love the Canes. They play in the offensive zone. They get a ton of shots. And for the late game, Colorado is a plus 100 underdog. So just, you know, double your money there, and the Dallas Stars are minus 120. So even matchup there, and going to be an excellent series

that I cannot wait to watch. That was Game Time, presented by Bet365. Visit the app, play the stars, and find out why it's never ordinary at Bet365. Must be 19-plus, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Okay, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we'll get into some news and notes.

We got some sound from Paul Maurice on Jeremy Swayman, Chris Knobloch, head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, and some news out of the LA Kings and Rob Blake. All right, that and more when we return to real Kipper and born. Teeing up the biggest games of the night. It's the fan pregame with Ailish for far and Justin Cuthbert weekdays at 6 PM on sports, that sports at five 90,

the fan and wherever you get your podcast. Two games on top tonight carolina at the rangers seven o'clock hook drop colorado and dallas and last night kind of surprising was yes kinda uh sammy's convinced now that maybe the Leafs aren't so bad I don't know Swayman's a monster he's a monster he's got that kinda

Tim Thomas feel for Boston what year did they win great observation yeah I love that draw that's dry saddle right great observation he's so confident like insanely confident and that helps florida you know maybe not quite ready to jump

back into that playoff pace but you got it it's almost what nine days ten days off what was that it's a lot of time yeah a lot of time didn't, didn't hurt that Mason Lorai and Brandon Carlo put two right off the bottom of the bar. Lorai's starting to really look like a good defenseman to me. I think I wrote you guys in our group chat he's going to get lit up cheating or something, and that doesn't happen. He's carrying the puck like Bobby Orr some shifts. Yeah. Whoa.

Just because he's wearing black and gold doesn't mean he's Bobby Orr, KB. He's standing out to me. He's going to have to recalibrate this risk-reward meter of his. He's very confident, too. Somebody tell him he's Laurie, not Bobby. He's talented as hell.

But Carlo, I saw that he had a kid in between the two series. Yeah, he showed up day of. And then he goes back in and goes bar down in the game one round two yeah awesome that is i mean i mean it's awesome for you yeah it's great uh and the other thing everything's great like florida's defense like uncharacteristic bad night ekblad bad night a lot of middle of the ice for the... Who had the best plus minus all year?

Forsling? Mm-hmm. By a country mile? Mm-hmm. Was he minus three? I don't know. Yeah. That's not great, though.

No, no, no. No, no. So that's the one benefit of the doubt, but... Do you guys want to hear... Now it's almost like a must win, is it not, for Florida's second game at home? Do you want to hear? Now it's almost like a must win, is it not, for Florida? Second game at home? Do you want to hear a really sour Paul Maurice talk about Jeremy Swayman?

Yes. Okay, let's hear it. Swayman obviously came into this series feeling good about his game. What's it going to take to maybe disrupt what he's doing out there? Well, you're not getting a bad goalie, but if I pronounce it right, Vasilevsky, He wasn't bad. Good goaltenders here. So it's not if you do it right, you get seven.

It doesn't work like that. He made some really nice saves. We missed some things around the net. He was quick to respond. Immediately sour. When you almost interrupt with a yop. Yop. Yop.

Sure, pal. Okay, buddy. Foursling plus 56. Plus 56. Plus 56 for the season. Second was DeMello at 46. DeMello? Dylan

DeMello. Not Carl DeMello? That's pretty good. At home, plus 44, but like Jordan DeMello. Not Carl DeMello? That's pretty good. All right. Eckholm, plus 44, but like minus three. I bet you he didn't have a minus three all year. Yeah, that's unusual. Eckblad maybe not having a great night probably contributes to that somewhat. So it's going to be a good series.

Want to do Canucks Edmonton? Want to go in? Want to pick it apart? Yes. Let's talk about how during the regular season, the Vancouver Canucks kind of owned the Oilers. Did they not? They did.

I think they swept them. Early in the year. They had a bunch of games. Early in the year. It was like a shocker. And then it was like, nah, it was just a one-off. And then they did it again. Then they did it again in Edmonton.

And then they threw Jay Woodcroft out of the building immediately after. Let's listen to Chris Knobloch, who had thoughts on the regular season series versus the Canucks. You know, it is in past. But obviously when the series has been as lopsided as it was, that we need to address some things and change some things. You know, we were swept in this series and outscored pretty badly. So it would be pretty naive saying that we didn't need to change anything

and everything's smoothly and we're just going to play the Vancouver Canucks how we played. So we do have some adjustments that we need to address and try and limit their strengths. But, yeah yeah we'll see how we do on that i i will say that people are going into this and i think there's a lot of you know thought that edmonton's just gonna kill vancouver oh it's the harlem gold trotters versus the generals i i don't i don't agree i think these are divisional matchups and like these guys they play each other they're not gonna you know they beat them four times in a row i don't really think that means a ton but like you know one team has to slow down the other team of course but and you

do that by making each other all the time these guys know each other it's a divisional matchup like i think it's gonna be a lot closer than people think i really do oh i'm with you yeah i think the oilers are going to handle their business pretty... Five? Yeah. Really? I do. Fast as five.

Yeah. I disagree. Here, you know... Somebody in seven to me. Since Nalbach took over, the Oilers are the best team in the NHL. Just so Canucks fans know I'm not being hard on them, this Oilers team has mopped up everybody since then, essentially. You know, they score goals.

Their power play scores goals at, like, an absolutely absurd rate. Can't take many penalties. gold goals at like an absolutely absurd rate can't take many penalties no you can't take many many penalties and vancouver has to slow edmonton down they have to keep the goal totals down they want to play a slog rope a dope a rope a dope slow and they don't have demko you know i know the she loves might be great but they don't have one of the guys that makes them special. Pedersen, since the All-Star break, I think he had 13 points, maybe like a goal and 12 assists or something like that. He really struggled and in the first round looked off. It's going to take like a Binnington kind of feel that something special is going on here. And he missed practice today too, Pedersen.

With Shelovs. Pedersen's sick, yeah. Illness. He missed the skate. Illness is sick, yeah. He missed the skate. Illness is a touchy word around here. Yeah, he's got an illnery or an injurness. We have no idea what it is. But so, you know, then you look at the Oilers who just added players,

got better. They, you know, they had guys. Yeah. He might not play. I don't think he's going to play. So he's injured too. Okay. I just think that it's going to,

I'm not just pandering to my beloved Vancouver. I do think this is going to be a series. Yeah. And I want to be wrong. I want it to be a series, but listen, I'm an analyst here. I don't see what they're,

they're in tough. They're in tough. But Knobloch and Paul Coffey have done a nice job of at least settling down that blue line, too. And Evan Bouchard, we know he's a very gifted player offensively, but he was challenged in his own zone. He's much more quiet now. He's never going to be a stellar guy.

Who did we have on that questioned him? I forget who it was, but maybe it wasn't even here. Maybe it was a private conversation. I don't remember anything. I remember just sewering it off the record. I didn't give him much credit in his own zone, that's for sure. There's some games I watched earlier in the year. I'm like, did he just let that guy get the puck off of him?

Well, we talk about underrated guys for, you know, like we always talk about who are the classic underrated guys. Oh, Barkov. Barkov. You ever off of him. Well, we talk about underrated guys for, you know, like we always talk about who are the classic underrated guys. Oh, Barkov. Barkov. You ever heard of him? Yossi. You know, all the classic ones. I actually think Ekholm is underrated as like one of the best guys in the league.

I'm going to go ahead and tell you guys something. I had him fifth on my Norris Trophy ballot this year. He's unbelievable. Love him. All these years in Nashville, he was always like the third banana there. Right. Oh, they had Weber and Subban and Yossi. And it was always.

And I'm telling you, if it's one thing that Kenny Holland did. Nailed it. It was getting this guy. This guy was the difference. Yeah. Outbidding other teams, whatever. He was absolutely the key to saving this season for the edmonton orders in my opinion jake muzzin if jake muzzin could play you know the bearded

zone defending steady guy that he's got a presence yeah and a leadership presence too and every time he speaks you're like i want to hear that guy here is where the oilers could go off the rails and to me that second pair of cc and nurse is going to make some mistakes you know if you're the canucks have enough down though yeah they have to keep her pretty simple yes i still think it's a risk well that's where if vancouver can expose them a little bit and then obviously skinner skinner is not by any means you know jake ottinger or whoever else we've talked about as he's Swayman type. He's not in that class.

He's good. But, you know, it's not like Vancouver's not going to get opportunities. They are. But, yeah, you just, I mean, Hyman had like 60 goals this year. He's like your fourth or fifth most concerning guy on the Oilers. Yeah, for sure. Fogle scores. I mean, he's decent.

McLeod, Perry, Holloway, Brown. Their depth is pretty good, too. I'm picking Canucks. Oh, boy. An outright picking. Yeah, I'm going to pick them. I think they're going to shock the world here. I might even bet on it.

I like that. I like what you're doing. That would be a shock. Yeah. For sure. That would be a big shock. For sure. That's what we do, baby.

Shock value. A shock jock action for you. I'm what you're doing. That would be a shock. Yeah. For sure. That would be a big shock. For sure. That's what we do, baby. Shock value. A shock jock action for you. I'm picking them. All right. In our earlier hour of our show, we spoke of where Sheldon Keefe's future is. Craig Berube, we've mentioned. Some news and notes around. Drew Bannister signs a two-year contract to remain the Blues head coach.

Went 30-19-5 after replacing Berube. Early for you. I mean, there's still some moving parts. We saw Ottawa tie up Travis Green. Is this Doug Armstrong looking around going, I can't do anything better than Drew Bannister. Let's sign him right now. You know, I do think there's a thing

where we fall in love with name coaches, and I don't know that they're necessarily better than someone who just coaches the system and does a good job and isn't necessarily a celebrity to go along with it. So maybe Drew Bannister is that. Maybe he's a great coach. It does feel, it feels cheap, right, maybe he's a great coach it does feel it

feels cheap right when it's a guy you haven't heard of and they're like didn't they want to get one of the guys the bigger names but i know we just recycled the same coaches so often if they like the guy then go ahead with the guy who had some success with your team yeah i think if you fire a guy mid-season like they do with berube and then you have a guy that's been in your like how i think he was the coach of their ahl team for a few years wasn't he i want to say because yeah like springfield that was that's their team so he was a you know what it is put me on what's their east coastly team don't know but i know what their ahl team is for some reason but i i think it's an easier

sell when he was there for half the season and they had a good success and the guys must like them and i just the one thing I hate about that, I always hate the hire the guy who was on the bench because if he had any new ideas, could he not have saved them or shared them with the head coach? No, because he needed them fired. Well, that's it. If you

had solutions, what were you doing before? I've never liked to bring, just hire the guy who's already on the bench move personally but blues are a weird you look at that cat friendly page and you're just like i don't know what the direction that's i if i'm true they look stuck in the middle to me if i'm true living i'm picking up the phone about pareko again this offseason for sure you need to get him a bacchiotomy too no he's not that he's okay just worry about his back other new news uh around the league when it

comes to coaches and managerial jobs we heard from rob blake there was some noise out there that maybe the heat was on rob blake whether or not he deserves to come back or not he's back not gonna buy it's a big market la is a big market from a from a revenue i think driven point of view for the league but it's not that big of a market for the coverage there and whoever is covering them out there a lot of them are scratching their heads that a either rob blake coming back or this talk about buying out pierre luke de bois which is that had to be brought to attention here because how do you sign up i don't know what was it 60 million dollar contract yeah and then bail on it in 12 months like who does that five times seven all

right who does that i hope no one i mean i i can't believe like i was going through sportsnet.ca looking for stuff like to talk about news and notes. I saw that as a headline. I'm like, how is this a conversation? Yeah. It's like that, he had to clarify that? He had such a bad season that, how old is he? Like, 28?

Dubois is? And it was 68, I think. 25. Oh, my God. Dubois is 25? So it's like he's been on 10 teams already. It's in the prime of his career, and he just signed a one-year, sorry, eight-year deal.

68 million. It's crazy. Two years ago, he had 60 points, then 63, you know, almost 30 goals in both seasons. Boy, what a tough. Yeah, just move on. I mean, they were a good team. He's minus nine.

He gets 16 goals in 82 games this year. For eight and a half, Schmill? That's not what you sign up for. No. I mean, they were a good team. He's minus nine. He gets 16 goals in 82 games this year. For eight and a half, Schmill? That's not what you sign up for. No. Jim Hiller came in and finished the season there. I get the sense that he might be in that similar situation as Sheldon in Toronto where it's like, we'll get back to you.

It might be pointing in the direction that he could be back as a permanent guy, but someone mentioned to me that they might be inquiring on Craig Bruby. Another option for Chief. There's Jersey out there that's looking for a coach. There's possibly L.A. sniffing. There's the Leafs sniffing. It's going to be a bunch of teams. It's a good time to be Craig Berube, I can tell you.

Yeah, he's going to be rich. I remember this was the Babs fiasco when it was, you know, oh, he was seen in Buffalo and it's, you know, the whole thing. We're doing that for Berube, are we? That's not Craig Berube's style. No, I know. I can assure you. Yeah.

Babcock would have loved that. Well, I'm going to tell you the difference in the ego between the two guys having spoken to both of them. You know, I was reminded here in Luke Fox today, talking about how Babs left and said, Mike Babcock's always going to bet on Mike Babcock. Yeah. Well, I mean, it's funny, just like from a producer standpoint,

you know, when we booked Craig Berube on the show and he was the head coach of the Blues, I got in touch with like the pr guy and they're like why are you telling me here's his number text text okay like you know it's like that as soon as i said i was like okay that's that's rare yeah that text seems like yeah sure okay didn't jim montgomery after game seven defeating the Leafs mentioned that he got a call from yeah Babs Babs he did so I had this conversation I did Calgary radio this morning and Coop and my point was what what could that call possibly have consisted of I don't know like it's not like some tactical like switch a system hey go get him well you know like what do you think he said? Started good tonight. Whose phone did he steal to get the number?

Oh. I think he would have, I mean, big time Babcock impression coming up here. They'll beat themselves. It's going to start on time. They'll beat themselves. I mean, that's. Started good tonight. Started good.

That's what it would consist of. Those guys are chokers. They'll beat themselves. mean that's started good tonight started good that's what it would consist of those guys are chokers they'll beat themselves i was right about everything hangs on he was he was right that's the problem minus the phones thing the phone thing's bad he's wrong about that very wrong i gotta think he still wants in who babs to where the league you know oh my god you're not the perfect fit for him. It was perfect. You're nuts. You don't think he wants to coach anymore? That's what I'm saying.

He wants in. You can't. You would never get back in. I want to be a member at St. George's, pal, but it's not going to happen. It could. Based on finances. You're Sammy McKee from the Real Younger Unborn show. You'll get famous enough.

Yeah, sure. Yeah, yeah. I'll be at Lakeview, Palo Alto in 50. That's kind of quiet too. Columbus is kind of quiet. That's two days in a row mentioned Columbus.

We can't do it. It's playoffs. Then we can't. No. They exist. They're real. They're a franchise apparently. Well, tonight they could get

the number one overall pick and all of a sudden we'll have to follow them because Macklin Celebrini will be dishing it or getting it from Goodrow because Lord knows Goodrow doesn't shoot it. That's right.

NHL draft tonight. So who's your pick for the, who's getting first? Your pick. I'd like to see it go to Chicago. Wow. I would. Because San Jose, I'll be honest, guys.

I just, that team's not going to be good for six years. Yeah. They're so bad so bad I know but they got to start somewhere and the league's got to bring them back to like being a team yeah being an actual NHL team watch that as all at least if he's on Chicago I also get to watch 10 p.m you're not watching them now you're right it's another reason for me in Chicago is there some connection with the Sharks? Like his dad was involved with the Sharks?

His dad worked for Golden State. Oh, right. So it's like the Bay Area or whatever. Loose tie. David Siss-Boomba buzzed in my ear and said that he grew up and played minor hockey there. Oh, really? Yeah. I think it's going to be Salt Lake City.

I can't say. I think they're going to rig it and get Salt Lake a first overall pick for their sexy new owner. $1.2 billion. Here's Macklin Celebrini. Start selling some sweaters. Yeah. Oh, boy. If they get Celebrini, Utah's not in a position to make any money on it.

They don't have a kit. Oh, you got to get a jersey. Yeah, you're right. They got to have something ready for tonight. Ryan, you listening? Ryan Smith? What are they going to do tonight? Are they going to get a logo by 8 p.m. tonight. So they got

a soccer team there? What are they? A jazz? You can get it on jazz jerseys. Jazz jerseys. They're nice jazz jerseys. They're jerseys. Sleeveless hockey shirt. Well, that was off the rails, boys. Real solid. All right.

Our thanks to Luke Fox from sportsnet.ca and Marty Turco helped us tee up Dallas and Colorado two games on tap Rangers and Carolina start in about a little over an hour

enjoy your game tonight we're back tomorrow on Real Kipper and Boyd one hour five to six tomorrow that's a producer for you good job Sammy have a great night everybody Kipper and Boyd. Oh, one hour, 5 to 6 tomorrow. That's a producer for you. Good job, Sammy. Have a great night, everybody.