Real Kyper & Bourne - Shuffling Down the Stretch

Episode Date: March 31, 2023

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee open with the Leafs calling up Radim Zohorna, injuries on offence piling up and Michael Bunting becoming the team's 'whipping boy.' They are joined by Leafs Nation's Gord Stellick (17:50), who discusses Sheldon Keefe's lineup shuffling, what the bar is for a 'successful season' in Toronto and expectations for Matthew Knies. Afterward, Doug MacLean, on for his off-the-rails Friday visit (42:37), shares his thoughts on  old-school coaching and if theres still a place for it in today's game, what to expect from new NHLPA director Marty Walsh and what's holding up a sale for the Ottawa Senators. Finally, Sportsnet hockey analyst Colby Armstrong gives his take on the Pittsburgh Penguins' race for the postseason, what's in store for the team this offseason and the new leadership in the NHLPA from a player's perspective (1:06:42).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.

This is Real Kipper and Born on Sportsnet 590 The Van. This is Off the Rails Friday. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Derek Brandeo, David Sissboomba, and the legendary Sammy McKee. Next two hours. Lots of fun. Of course, what is Off the Rails Friday without Doug McClain? He'll be by in the next 45 minutes.

Between then and now, Gord Stelik will also join us. Leaf Nation pre- and post-game. And then Colby Armstrong in the second hour, man. This is a classic Friday for us. It's going to fly. It's going to fly. What a beast. How fast do you how what a beast how fast you want to get this off the rails uh hold on hold on yeah i never do this until we're up right against it so i'm gonna tell everybody that it's friday so text and tweet questions will come in

so warm them up i got a bunch let us know so far before sammy officially uh derails this thing right now boys i just went out to our kitchen here in the palatial studios of sports net yes and to fill up a water bottle that i found here because there's no cups and you saw mouse they i don't know if someone brought their raccoon into the kitchen in there. The smell in the kitchen right now, boys. Holy. Could gag a maggot out there. What an expression, man. You're not the least curious to search, to seek and search.

I walked in there. I was like, I got punched in the face with it. It was like, oh, boy. You know, I ate in the cafeteria today, and they were serving fish i thought i won't i won't bring that up to the desk i'm gonna eat that down here today to spare everyone so you so i'm thinking it wasn't as courteous as my guests no they serve fish at the caf and you got it yeah the finest tilapia caught in lake ontario if i'm an executive upstairs right now and I'm listening to you two, I'm having security usher you in right now.

What do you mean? I got the fish in the cafeteria. I support what's going on here. You're telling everybody our building stinks and the fish is no good. I did not comment on the quality. I enjoyed my fish. What did it come with? Artichoke and a little Mediterranean salad for a side.

Wow. Not too bad. It was good. Was it worth the juice? $29.95. It didn't come here to be interrogated in my lunch. All right. We got plenty to get into, including Radim Zohorna.

Can I say that right? I didn't know it. Radim Zohorna. Yeah. Radim Zohorna. What did I say? zahorna what i say zahorna oh zahorna will it be zahorny on the puck on the weekend that's what i want to know well sounds like you might play yeah the only za is gonna be for the pizza he's eating in the press box boys i don't think is he gonna get in well simmer's sick that's why he's called up wayne simmons is uh on the shelf well he's been sick so um they're you know they called up uh redeem on a emergency basis and you know if simmer can't go to ottawa you need a certain amount of forwards to play in a game you know you go 11 and 7 or whatever you're still short a guy so if simmons

can't go this guy's going. Get him in. He's played NHL games. Yeah, right. Do you want to hear the coach talk about him? I do. First, I want to hear Kipper. No, just did he recently come in off a trade with Hunt?

Hunt. Correct. He's a Malkin, right? Malkin for Hunt. Hunt for Zahorna. This is new. He's 6'6". Malkin grew a foot. He's 6'6"? Yeah. It's like a two for one. Two players. This is new. He's 6'6". Mulligan grew a foot. He's 6'6"? Yeah.

It's like a two for one. Two players for one. He's a lot of person. Okay. Let's hear Sheldon Keefe on our first off the rails Kippers Clipper. I don't know a lot. So I feel no guilt then. Start the clip again. I've derailed things.

Start the clip again. I don'tailed things. Start the clip again. I don't know a lot. That's it. Because of the Simmons situation. No, no, play, play, play. I don't know a lot. Because of the Simmons situation, it kind of crept up on us late, so he arrived here in the building late,

and it was kind of rushed getting him here and sort of diverting him from Marley's practice to here. But I know when they acquired him, the guy with skill has played in the league before in both Pittsburgh and Calgary. So we'll see how things go throughout today and tomorrow and make a determination in the lineup. But it certainly was nice if we are going to use him that we got him into a practice and get him familiar here.

I mean, he didn't even know how to get into the building and get to this side of the building, I should say, and how to get in. And so, you know, he's new for me and new for all of our staff on this side of the building. So a lot going on there with him, but it's certainly, you know, beneficial to get him into practice. Sounds like he'll be a different speaker. Just when you thought tryouts were over. Well reason i brought this up fellas and the reason i put the clip in there

and wanted to talk about it is feels a little thin up front for the leafs i know they got a couple guys out simmons is hurt but like you know simmons is now seems to be involved a lot like there was a stretch there where he didn't play at all for how long did he go between games three weeks where he wasn't playing at all i know o'reilly's hurt i know what charlie's hurt i think it's pretty standard now that you know he's just was always going to be this part-time player simmons yeah yeah but like don't you feel that he's a little bit more important than yeah well you know he should be yes i think they know what the guys that they have been calling up are think they know what the guys that they

have been calling up are like they know what holmberg is and steve's is and abruzzese like those guys still exist right they're still around so i i just think this is like okay zahorna has this year he's actually had good numbers guys he's got 30 points in 40 games in the american league you know at a six foot six guy putting up three quarters of a point a game six you know give him a chance 26 years old so you don't think three nhl games so if you don't think there's a couple injuries in a playoff game we're seeing old redeem in there i don't think there's any chance okay yeah i think you're can we get through the weekend first of all and just see well yeah i know we know more injuries how do you protect people achariari, O'Reilly. Yeah, Achari apparently has,

is dealing with some whiplash, neck issues. Oh, boy, that scares me. I'll be honest. That makes me uncomfortable. After that weird run-in, who was it that he ran into? Oh, Poole Yarvey. Remember when he had that collision

in the middle of the ice with Poole Yarvey against Carolina? So, yeah, neck. It's one of those ones that could be 10 minutes or 10 months. You know what the neck's connected to? The head. Yeah.

Don't like that. Muzzin's a cervical spine thing from a weird head hit. And if you want a guy that's going to be playing the way you want him to play, you want him feeling good up top. Like he hasn't been in a car accident? Correct. Should we listen to Sheldon talk about an update on the lineup? Sure. Okay. Let's go.

Simmons is just sick today so we'll just see how he is throughout the remainder of the day and make a decision on whether we can or if we should get him out to Ottawa. And then Achari, his plan today was just to get back implemented with the group

in the pre-practice setting and work with guys there, but there was never a plan for him to be in practice, so that was all scheduled today. And we'll just see. He's not going to be available this weekend, so we'll just continue to inch him along. And again, similar to O'Reilly, different injuries, but similar in the sense that we just want to be certain

that those guys are feeling 100% before back in. It is Noel's injury. Inch him along. Okay. So it seems precautionary. It seems like they have to be pretty cautious. And if you're being cautious this time of year, it's good because there's not a ton to play for.

It is interesting that they have a portion of ice time called pre-practice. Yeah, he's a part of the pre-practice. He's practicing for practice now. Yeah, they have a million employees, so they have to justify half of them. So they're like, go out there for pre-practice. Clifford's still in the mix, right? I'm just looking at their AHL lineup. He is, yeah?

Yeah. He's on their third line. Is he up? No. No. Why, did you get a indication that he might be no no i'm just he hasn't been up all year they've got an interesting lineup they got that of chinikov who just came across from overseas and to verberg just signed from uh sis's boy i see

him perk up over there from college from parts i just signed him yeah it's it's been interesting to watch this year with wayne simmons where there's about a thousand reasons why we thought he'd be out, but he constantly comes back in. It's not at a rate that you've seen ever before for me anyways. I've been around this game a long time. For someone to sit on the sidelines for like six weeks, three weeks, four weeks between games and then come in and play i mean it's unique maybe that's just the world of the salary cap now a flat one at

i'll be at a flat one but i just for me it probably stems more to i think the players around him to say yeah i feel better if you put Wayne in. I think that's what's happening. That's just my guess. I don't have any inside information on this that Matthews or Marner or Riley or any of the big boys are going up to Sheldon and say, hey, put Wayne in.

We want Wayne. But I think the vibe is there. For me, my guess is relationship management with simmons like when they agreed to a two-year 900k deal you know it was probably with some understanding that wayne wasn't going to be the most integral part of the second half of that deal but wayne doesn't want to go play for the marlies they're trying to they don't want to burn him at the end of his career i don't know just trying to keep him happy and yeah you need body sometimes so you know think wayne simmons has had a wonderful career don't knock him but i'm not sure right now he's better than any of the guys you know whether it's holmberg or whoever

you want to call up i think it's just a respect out of his career well no i think there's there has to be some value in there to suggest that sure he does something that tampa would look differently at wayne than they would aston reese or anyone else sure including like if you're on the ice with pat maroon and he's running around doing dumb stuff for at least at least wayne will go talk to him i mean for his eight minutes a night you're probably gonna feel more comfortable if you have wayne simmons in there doing the similar thing to their guys i would imagine yeah for sure exactly so we saw the senators are hurting a little bit last night i don't know if you caught any of that uh what a mess of a game that was yeah they had philly had no four shots like what

with 10 minutes to go in the third period or something i was flipping around all the different games and i wasn't paying a lot of attention to that one, and I flipped off of it when it was like the shots were 34 to 6 with like 15 minutes left in the third period. The Sens were up 4-1. I'm like, this one's done. And then I looked at it. They went, what is it, 5-4 in overtime?

Portz didn't coach. He just sat in the press box, let the assistant coach get some reps, and sit with Breer. That's a great job, eh? Your team's out of it you're like i'm just gonna watch tonight front row seats uh derrick broussard went down last i heard he was in surgery surgery yeah bad eh well just messed up ankle yeah yeah yeah yeah so he's lost ham and nick left never came back either so we'll see what kind of lineup they have against the Leafs tomorrow night.

As far as O'Reilly is concerned, do we think he's got the green light this weekend? Or we still think he'll sit him out? Today was his first full practice. He was wearing the red sweater. So I don't think they want any contact with him yet. so i'd be stunned if he played in any games this weekend but you had otto and detroit in columbus next wednesday you're at home versus columbus on wednesday that might be wednesday or tuesday uh whatever the fourth is yeah i think that's

a tuesday yeah so that sets up for a kerfoot Tavares Kneelander showing tomorrow night. Yeah. You okay with that? It's all right? All reliable? Oh, it's worked so great in the past. Might as well go back to it. I don't know.

Flex seal. I need a little flex seal right now. You need something better than flex seal. And stop leaks, man. It depends, Ed. We want to go to a clip from Sheldon talking about willie nylander yeah i do let's see what he has to say all right cool uh yeah i think he's i've seen signs of him you know skating well and being on the puck um i think he's got a much better understanding now at this stage of this of his career and certainly in this season with how it's gone for him,

his understanding of what he needs to do to succeed and how to reconnect with that. So it's just a matter of him continuing to work through it. I agree with that. Yeah. So I wrote an article today on managing your relationship with your coach and just like, you know, when you come off the ice, you remember bunting.

More lunches. What remember bunting more lunches what's that more lunches together i don't think so maybe a movie bunting comes off the ice the other day and keith yells at him and bunting doesn't really look at him whatever keith says that's fine you saw maurice lay into his guys you saw bonus roll his eyes at shifley you know there is some management of that relationship with your coach it's so different depending on who you are on the team though it's not house hockey it's not equal across the board like mckinnon yelled at bednar in playoffs last year remember like going right at him and bednar was like just do your job you know like they were fine because he's nathan mckinnon but you know

zach aston reese doesn't get to yell at his coach like that because of role on the team is relevant right yeah but that's been around for a long time it has it has but i'm saying there's this middle tier of guys who aren't the superstars and aren't the guys who don't matter because those guys you can't even bench them the guys don't care who are potential whipping boys my point here is willie used to be in that pocket but i think willie has become one of the superstars that doesn't take the abuse the coach doesn't beat him up like he used to well in that pocket, but I think Willie has become one of the superstars that doesn't take the abuse. The coach doesn't beat him up like he used to.

Well, he's been playing. He's had his best year and yeah, the most recent thought on Willie is, Hey, where you been for a dozen games right now? If, if he's got two goals,

maybe, but it's, you're right. But his coach says, I think he knows what, but you, you, you're not,

you're not discounting that he's had his best year of his career sure for that's relevant and numbers aside he has never looked better than this season when it comes to uh his overall look the skating yeah and now the element of of strength and power and at times attitude i don't know remember when he punched somebody or he stuck somebody behind the net oh yeah through an elbow through an elbow delightful just looks that we've never seen before that automatically takes you to another level and i think that's where where where sheld is, that he did move himself up into, yeah, you can be a star. You can be a superstar in this league. And we've seen signs of it for the first time, really, as a package.

So Willie's taken himself out of the whipping boy status. Pierre Engvall gets traded. You have to have someone as a coach. Bunting. Wow. Bunting is now your middle six guy that takes abuse. Yeah, but that, I really believe, too, that you've got to look at the big picture,

and Willie's a year away from being unrestricted. Bunting also has the option of going, hey, yeah, Sheldon and i've known each other for forever um but i don't know in two months does bunting go the guy took away my ice time he took away the my number one line play with good row why am i why am i signing here well according to frank cervella he's the number one free agent this offseason so Did Frank mention that it might be, and this is not to disrespect Bunting, but it's one of the weakest UFA lists, right? Yeah.

Maybe a long, long time. It's slim pickings. If you're Bunting, you're like, oh, thank God. I balked at the headline. He caught me with the headline. I was like, there is simply no way. And then I went and read through it. I'm like, hell, there's a case.

There is a way. Is he a bigger free agent than Patty Kane or Ryan O'Reilly? That's the two ones you wonder on. But anyways. But I don't think, like, it's a timing issue. If you have been beating up Bunting a little bit, Sheldon's got to time this thing now right yeah i'm feeling good for playoffs exactly if you if you've stripped them down where where when is the build up here

when is the hey we're going to the playoffs in two weeks here you know good bunts is lately that that has to come yeah and you cannot you cannot hang them out to dry like this uh going into game one. There has to be a turnaround of putting them in a position to succeed. I don't know if it means taking Yarncroft off a little bit, throwing him back up there with Matthews and Marner. Oh, yeah, it's coming. It's coming.

Yeah, I agree. We have Gord if you want to include him. Not yet. Not yet? Why is he so early? He's joined up. He's on his Brick Links, his little thing he's got in the basement. He's ready to rock.

All right, let's go to him. All right. Gord, I'd just leave if I were you. I feel like the Michael Bunting of this show. Gord. I'm going out with Bunting of the show. Gord. I'm going out with Bunkus next year. Every radio show needs a whipping boy. Yes.

Everything needs something. Are you on our first line or are you on our fourth line? Which one is it? First line, baby. First line, damn right. And the power play. And everything like that. But it's funny. You're chatting. Yeah, that's what this year is. First of all, someone last, damn right, and the power play and everything like that. But it's funny, you're chatting about, yeah, that's what this year is. First of all, someone last night just said,

Willie Nylander better not be on the third line. I love Willie Nylander when they do all the lines. And then, of course, Michael Bunting and what have you. So, yeah, these are the kind of happy, fun problems when you're kind of hopefully coasting towards a home ice advantage in the playoffs. So what strikes out in your mind in the next eight games when you think about how Sheldon wants to close this season out? Is it defensive pairs first?

Is it where Ryan O'Reilly fits in? It's how many road games will Samsonov get in? Where does your mind go first? So it's like I, probably all of us. You know, like you're Ernie the TV repairman's son. So at Christmas, you get like two gifts or something. You know, somebody else gets like 45 gifts. Three months later, they're trying to figure out which gift they want to play with, right,

or the 45. And you got two, and you're really happy with them, actually. They're good, right? So you're going. And the other person, like with the 45, can't figure it out. And that's what Sheldon Keefe has to figure it out right now about, okay, hey, they've checked all the boxes, whom they've added. How are you going to deploy everybody?

I mean, come on, please. It's not going to be 11 and 7, right, Kippy? No, right? We're saying no. I think that. Can't be. He's pretending he likes it, even though you know he doesn't. And I know what works for John Cooper. Hippie? No, right? We're saying no. I think that... Can't be. He's pretending he likes it, even though you know he doesn't.

And I know what works for John Cooper. I don't want to hear that. Anyway, so he's just, okay, get your lines, get whatever you want, and let's go, buddy. You don't have to, you know, the 37 defensemen, you can't fit them all in the last three, four, five games. What do you got? Who are you going with?

Let's do it. You know, the more we talk about this lineup and we look at who has played in the absence of O'Reilly and Achari, you know, Wayne Simmons has got in a couple times. You look at the American League and it's Pontus Holmberg, who they seem to have soured on a little bit. You know, Steve Zabruzisi. Like, do you think there's a chance that Wayne Simmons is a guy

playing two, three playoff games in the first round for the Leafs. Absolutely. Okay. He gives you another spice. Like, people seem to get annoyed. It's like in Toronto, you have to move forward because I didn't even know Wayne Simmons was still there, and all of a sudden he plays. And that second game against Tampa Bay last year,

he should have almost had a goal in the first period. Like, if they would have got that first goal instead of Victor Hedman getting the sneaky one with seven or eight seconds left, who knows? Then, unfortunately, everyone remembers, you know, he took an ill-advised penalty and Kyle Clifford took a terrible penalty. And they were gone. But he gives you another spice. So I just, you know, that toughness part used properly and that experience part as well.

It could be something you're going to need. Gordon, this time of year, for whatever reason, over the last few years, we've seen a power play like head south real quick. And just watching the other night, any concerns at all against Florida where they go 0 for 4 at home? Yeah, you know, and again, I don't know how to quantify the word

concerns i think the extreme was that year in the canadian division which let's face it is a is a is not not a whole season it was something that was put together they did a good job getting it all done but at least had a power play that was you know like one of the all-time greats and then it really really started going south and actually the actually until the start of next season for a while. So I would say, Kippy, yeah, again, I'm not panicking. I'm not what have you, but I just find in the playoffs, goaltending and special teams are really important. They're always important, but they're just really important in the playoffs.

And so that's something that hasn't always fired on the appropriate cylinders. So I got to say that if you want to use the word concerned or not, that's one of the things. I mean, it's been a great regular season, okay? But, you know, they're little things because we have a history here of things not going well, especially how the playoffs end. So I will acknowledge that, yeah, I'd rather see it all firing on all cylinders, but I'd rather see it all firing on all cylinders uh but i'd rather see it firing

on all cylinders game number 83 than you know game number whatever it is now 73 74 75 gordon it's funny how expectations for this leaves team have evolved over the season you know going into the year it's like ah it's copper bust and you know how that goes and then you know there's been moments now where it's went around and and everyone's happy. I don't, I actually have genuine trouble asking the question or answering the question when people ask me, like, if the Leafs lose in the second round to Boston, let's say they lose in five to Boston. Is that enough? Do people keep, what's the success for this team? What's the bar for them to clear?

Yeah, it's funny, Justin, because, you know, I did the radio broadcast with Joe Bowen. Again, people talk about the pressure of playing in Toronto. And then, Justin, the notoriety is the pressure. You can't constantly. And of course, nowadays, it's a whole different world with security and parking underground and all that, as far as walking out and going to Zeller's when they open their new store. Right, it's back. Yeah, yeah. So it's because you also get your butt kissed for very little

when expectations are low. So there was that rally at City Hall, I think the only time in the history of mankind for a team that lost to the LA Kings in the conference final. It was a rally just shy of what the Raptors had when they won a championship. There was a banner put up for the Norris division champions which even wasn't true because they didn't win the Norris

division the regular season but anyway it just was it just so much in 1993 because not much had happened we're kind of there again you know so like one round and you get your butt kissed and all this stuff and 25 year extensions for Sheldon Keefe and Brendan Shanahan and everybody you know like so a lot of, look what happened to Florida last year, and look what happened to the Raptors that one year. You get smoked in four games, okay, and that's just a bitter, sour taste. People keep forgetting the Florida Panthers did win one round of the playoffs last year, but it's how they went out.

So you mentioned something in the second round about if it's Boston, which it probably would be, and you get smoked, then it could be problematic. I do think if they win and compete in the second, that guys, and again, we're not out after people's jobs, so I would think that may be acceptable. Who knows? I don't

know. The bigger body work, though, Justin, it shouldn't be acceptable considering where we were five, six years ago and where we expected to be in 2023 and go, yippee-ki-yay, we've won one round. Let's, you know, no, that's not where we expected to be. Gordon, didn't they make them rings for the Norse? Yeah, yeah. Not really.

Absolutely. They got rings. No way. They got rings. Oh, that's embarrassing. That made me cringe. Rings on their fingers, bells on their toes, everything. Got bells.

Got bells as well, first time. Speaking of the market and maybe the expectations, Matthew Nyes we know is going to come in. We don't know when for sure, but we know he's coming. Is it treat them no differently than any other player coming in out of the NCAA in any market, or is there an element to feeling like in this market, the Leafs have to go above and beyond to make sure that this guy doesn't feel a necessary pressure to carry anything,

come in, be a hero. Does this market put more pressure on knives? You know, I, it shouldn't. And I'll tell you, like, the best, the example you'd love him to be is another very difficult market, Chris Kreider in New York, when he came and, like Nyes did, and then had that great playoff.

And he's really the last guy who's done that that comes and has a significant impact to that degree in the playoffs. So, and I know guys like Wendell. I don't know what it was like for you, Kipper, but he always said that when I was a rookie, everything was just fun. I really didn't feel any pressure. It was all kind of neat that there were other,

let's face it, Niles isn't wearing the badge of how many years without a Stanley Cup, how many years without a playoff round victory, how many consecutive years of deciding game defeats like these guys are. So there shouldn't be. And yeah, and you can help make sure that's not the case, whether it's internally in that

dressing room. And then you see what he can do. If he's another Spice, that's wonderful. People that think, oh my God, he's coming. This is great. No, no. It's Matthews, Marner, the goaltending, Samsonov, whatever, Morgan Rielly.

I mean, those are the ones that are going to be the difference makers. Those are the ones that have to be if you're going to go somewhere. But again, if he's able to inject, you know, something along the lines of being what made him a Hobie Baker finalist, then that's great. But I wonder, you know, I always found it interesting Wendell's line about that pressure, and I just think someone knew it should knew there's pressure about, yeah,

your first game and all that stuff, but it still should be somewhat conductable, and the pressure is really on those other people. His foot's not being held to the flames about those other losses in the past. Gordon, I wrote about it today, so I'm curious to get your take on Paul Maurice's sort of uh meltdown uh on his team and rick bonus also kind of had a little eye roll at mark shifley you know like what what's reasonable from coaches do you have a problem with either of those behaviors no no i like i

i'm a big mark shifley fan but what's what's wrong there two years in a row i mean i don't mean like just two years in a row and let's face it the't mean like just two years in a row. And let's face it, the way Paul Maurice left last year, something's really rotten in the state of Winnipeg. And, you know, we talk about it as well, that you got to pick and choose. I mean, Daryl Sutter in some ways is kind of, I mean, the bloom's gone off the bud there because he's kind of played his act a little bit too often.

When he, you know, talked about the guy's first career NHL game, it just seemed he jumped the shark a little bit and, you know, looked at the press sheet. And so you have to be a little bit careful. So there's no question about Winnipeg, something amiss. And I just, hey, what a bargain Scheifele is. I mean, they signed him at eight years at 6.125, whatever. And so, you know, if they get it back on, let's face it,

with his contract and Hellebuck's contract and a few contracts coming up, whether they trade him so he's not a, you know, like basically a free agent a year later and a distraction and what have you, we'll find out. But they got a two-year window at best. I think, you know, the Florida Panthers, and Paul Murray says he knew the goal was going to be called back, so he just thought it was a great time. And I don't know,

and Kippy, you're on the bench, and Justin, you've been on the bench, and I don't know how much that works, spewing. I think one of the best things was Keith Kachuk's dad calling the team soft. Keith Kachuk calling the team soft. Matthew Kachuk's dad. You have to go,

wow, this guy played real hard. This is one of the few dads out there that can walk the walk and can talk the talk. They should make him ambassador like Drake is for the Raptors or something. I don't know. I just found that one more telling. But I just think in both cases, Justin, you know, those guys, you can only go to the well so often,

and I think they were right in both cases to go to the well. But in Winnipeg, Shifley in particular, what is it? What is a miss? Talking to Gord Stelic, Leaf Nation pre and post, right here on the Sportsnet fan 590. You know, I made a reference in yesterday's show about players now having a 1-800 number and can call anonymously if they feel like they've been,

you know, verbally abused or whatever the case is. And I'm just wondering now when you watch, you know, Paul Maurice and, you know, some of the more critical guys, is tough love coming back to some degree? I'll start with you first, Gord. Yeah, well, it's, see, that's a good one. So really, can the Florida Panthers call the 1-800 number after the game?

Anytime. I'm surprised we didn't see a cell phone during the game. Yeah, yeah, just it's an interesting animal because that's been part of the game of sports. And I think rightfully so in society even we think of bosses that used to yell at our ass all the time right and generally to me that was a sign of incompetence you know that was a sign of somebody that was in over their head and the best people you work for that was that wasn't something part of their DNA now sports

there's a big part of emotion to it and and I do think tough love at times because, you know, you've got 32 NHL teams. In another business, all 32 could be making money and quite successful, right? There wouldn't be, you know, whatever. They could be in the tech business, whatever. But in sports, it's a pie, and some teams get points, some teams don't. I mean, you're competing to win, and if you don't, there's consequences, and there's jobs and other things. So I do still think, even though it's not part of our – man, with our kids sometimes, like sometimes you even look about, and I'm as guilty as anyone.

I mean, have we – where is it entitled? Where have we created entitlement versus, you know, getting rid of abuse that really was no part of society or no part of the game. Again, I smile when I think of John Brophy. I know he's kind of the rock age guy to think of. But, you know, you talk to people that played for him, and there's more that really think positively and even love him. They recognize his passion. That's why the way he was, right,

that even though he could go off the rails times, you talked about 95% of the PERS people. And so I do think, and that's what's tough about coaching. How do you sprinkle that into your makeup in 2023? But I still think it should be there. Well, you lived it in this market, Gord, as a general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, where there is uh there's reality and then there's perception and right now let's be honest the situation in calgary with daryl sutter the perception is every player hates him he's too hard it's not fun i want to get

out of here. Right. Where's the reality there? Well, you get an Alan Walsh tweet. It wasn't wrong in Vegas with his client, Marc-Andre Fleury, right, about the goaltending situation, even though they made nice for about a year after. And when he's, you know, like Jonathan Huberto, they've committed to eight years starting next year for him.

And that's his agent just, you know, kind of throwing throwing some things out there which his client would be very much aware but but when it comes to walsh and his client it's it's a it's a small window of a picture it doesn't represent necessarily 20 other guys yeah but you use the word perception and that and that's a big word and that's a even though it's not always accurate you're're right about that, Kippy, nowadays. Like, perception becomes reality. So that's just a piece of it that I think. And, hey, you've got to respect Daryl Sutter, what he did in Los Angeles. People thought they were crazy to hire him, and he won two Stanley Cups. And I give him all kinds of credit that way.

And, you know, to get back to, and whatever it may be nowadays, is if you can make it everyone played the game because it was fun right that's why you played the game and you got really good at the game you made the nhl but the more you kept having fun that was a big part of it and i'm not saying it's supposed to be like a you know a mcdonald's playground party or something like that you know when you're six and go in the playroom or but or dog park for you yeah the dog park yeah yeah our dog yeah blue has fun in the dog park too not getting the results i want though you know but anyway uh it's uh it's that that's a that's an ingredient that's still there i mean you go back roger nielsen captain

video and all that he did but he he understood yeah yeah mentally it had to be a thing it had to be an environment that you know that still came ahead of how you broke the game down on that so i agree in calgary uh and i got a lot of kinds of respect for for daryl sutter but it it seems like they've hit a wall here that there's a there's it's not even a disconnect because you just understand that no that style just doesn't seem to work right now or anymore you talk about hitting a wall you know i'm looking at the toronto maple leaf schedule right now they have eight games over the next two weeks a lot of of hockey, you know, heading into the postseason. You don't want

your older players, whether it be Tavares or Giordano or whoever it may be, you know, feeling exhausted. Where do you stand on the whole resting guys as you head towards the postseason, Gord? Well, I stand, can we end the season now and start the playoffs? Yeah. This show is

on board. Yeah, so we're not debating, did Mitch Marner actually intend to head the puck, okay? That's not our storyline after, was it? You know, like, I mean, so one thing, when the playoffs, when the regular season ends, nobody of any, because McKinnon got, excuse me, because McDavid got hurt game number 82, it seems like if you got tickets for game number 82,

you're screwed, man. You got Gord Stelic and Justin Bourne in the lineup. We're in, bud. You're in trouble. But so but you get a lot of days off before the playoffs. Like it's the one it's a bigger break than you get really aside from the all-star break during the season. So you do get a chance to kind of recharge and retool, you know, so saying that whether I think a lot of teams are doing it now, canceling skates, cutting down on practices, short practices.

The Bruins had three players that didn't go to Carolina. I mean, you can do that because it's, you know, if they, people that have families and they get to spend a day at home rather, you know, those are the kind of things. But yeah, it's the mental part

that if you can keep it up, then that's the key in the playoffs because Boston wins yesterday or last night. Last nine teams that won the President's Trophy haven't won the Stanley Cup. Eight of the nine haven't made it to the conference final. And it just showed the long, regular season and can you do it again in the playoffs

and win those 16 games and how difficult it is. So, Gord, I'm in the car the other day and I'm listening to you and Bruce Gabby Boudreaux. Oh, yeah. And Gabby's telling this story about being with the Leafs, and they're getting ready to start the playoffs, but he's not playing. So he goes to the opening game of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977

on a game day, on a playoff game day. I know. And I'm just just i almost pissed myself laughing and i'm thinking okay if we if we need to understand why he had an underwhelming career that's it right there yeah it's and he said about the fifth inning he started feeling guilty so they he kind of left because i gotta get i gotta get we got a a playoff game tonight. And he left and went and he, I think it was sitting in those crappy $2 seats and it was freezing out there. You remember? Snow.

Yeah. Doug Alt. I love it. Yes. And he also keeps talking about that, you know, Daryl Sittler chased him down the one time. And when he,

they said, why are you first off the ice all the time? You're last on first off. And you know, what have you? And he said, after Daryl did that, I never, I changed my, again, and that's part of internally a great team leadership.

He goes, I changed my DNA and I was like Daryl. I was last on the ice. But again, you mentioned perception. He goes, everyone perceives I wasn't a good practice player and I was lazy. He said, I actually came around because of Daryl. But I got to give that story, Kiffer. You're 100% right. If you want to see how times

have changed and things have changed, there was no team meal a lot of teams back then, so I remember the bus going back to the hotel, and there'd be a crappy snack bar there, or just a regular and you got guys lined up waiting to go in for some crappy fish and chips, you know, and

then probably getting back for the game, but yeah,, Bruce has some good stories. Hey, one more serious question on Gabby. How long will it take you and Elliott Friedman to find him another job? Well, it's probably quicker than finding me another job, right? I think so. You're like that Roger Stone guy who just goes and gets votes for politicians. Oh, my God.

What? Whoa. Whoa. I might get the perp walk out of here someday in shackles, right, or something like that for, like, my influence going different places. He called you a fourth liner, called you Roger Stone on the way out. Gosh. I wonder if Bruce has one more kick at it.

It's not what he would want to do. And, like, he's very quiet now because of the Vancouver situation. He's not stupid. He wants to get that. Probably his lip is bleeding from wanting to talk, but he's got to keep quiet until June 30th, you know. But I wonder, like, I just think he would be a great assistant for one year in the right situation.

He could never be an assistant not a chance you never want we always say that you always you'll be the first coach and assistant coach in NHL history where the building is chanting your name you will never bury your head coach like that it's either big or go home with him I think there's an owner out there that would gladly take him for a couple of years oh I think there should be yeah he's a guy that'll help but no but keep in mind you know anyway things change if the one place he would have been an assistant is here and i'm not gonna be i'm not shilling for him with the toronto may police or lie he just and he actually loved that he loved the canadian experience in vancouver which you know why did ron will why was ron wilson ever hired here after in calgary he

you know tore a strip off jermermaine Franklin when he got asked a question about when Joe Thornton, when San Jose came to town, he goes, Canadian media, the bloody Canadian media. So we hire him here, okay? Mr. Chuckles, okay? So that is part of what a coach in a Canadian-based team has to do.

You know, Gord, 4 L's in April, all Brucey might be looking at an open bench. Like I'm annoyed at you. What do you think, Justin? What do you think as far as Bruce goes? Oh, I am a big, big fan. You know, I disagree with Kip that he couldn't be an assistant. I think guys love him. I think he's a good communicator.

I'd like him in that role. I know he's famous, but okay. He overshadowed the head coach. So what? No, it's like Don Mattingly coming to Toronto now. Like the time is okay for Don Mattingly to come. No, what do you mean not even close? Not even close.

Yeah, don't pull that crap. Don Mattingly, like five years ago, it would have been a threat. Right after the game, it's Bruce, what do you think? I'd love to hear what Bruce thinks. I know. Why can't we hear what Bruce thinks? Okay, Bruce, you know what Bruce would say? I'm not dumb.

There's the head coach over there. You go talk to him. Bruce has no history, no history of undermining people within the organization. No, it's not that. I would never accuse him of doing that. No, no, but he's an assistant coach. Why do you think he's going to under... I'm kidding, Kip.

I'm kidding. He's too big. He's too big of a personality at an assistant coach. Times change. Kippy, we were bigger personalities 10 years ago yeah look at us now i know i know justin's on the look at us now justin justin is he on tv tonight looking like a million bucks right we don't know we we just sit back huh you come on our show on a 320 hit at 314 because you got nothing better to do i was here at 114

i just wait you're on the on-deck circle. Stelectricity. Always awesome, bud. Paul Beeston was at the Consmite dinner. Loves your show. Especially when I'm on, by the way. But he made a point of mentioning he loves you guys. Who's that? Paul Beeston.

Paul Beeston. Paul Beeston didn't say my name. He asked about Sammy. No, he didn't. No? Paul Beeston didn't say my name. He asked about Sammy. No, he didn't. No, I don't believe you, Gordo. He did. Oh, I'm starstruck, boys. Let's get a foursome going.

The three of us and Beeston. If only we knew where he was a member, we could make it happen. Yeah. I know where he's a member. He was asking about Sammy Sosa. Anyway, I agree. Because this is what... Anyway.

Gord Stelic on Off the Rails Friday, man. Usually that's just left for Doug McClain, but you kind of took it that way a little bit, too. Thanks, buddy. Let's get back on the rails. I got curling tonight. Big curling game, mixed game, guys, tonight. Wish me luck.

Go get them. All right, go get them. Stelicricity. Leaf Nation pre and post. Never want to miss it. Gord Stelic. Okay, we're going to take a quick break. Get out of here.

Come back with Doug McClain, former NHL president, GM. You're watching and listening to Real Kipper and Born. Everything Raptors, before and after the games. The Raptor Show with Will Liu. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Real Kipper and Born on Sportsnet 590 The Van. Doug McClain's got his work cut out for him because Gord was really good. Gord was good.

Really good. All right, it's Friday. I was down there, as you know, for five days. Florida, yes, you saw Doug. Saw Doug. Spent a good portion of the day with Doug. Set us up on the beach. Get some oysters.

He's got a good thing going there. I got to be honest with you. Better than us up here? Way better than us. I'm coming back home home and I'm like, Doug McClain and Matthew Kachuk got it right. Got it figured out, eh? Yeah, they got it figured out.

When did you figure it out, by the way? And you didn't come up with that plan all on your own, did you? Florida. No, I figured that when I walked into Rogers, they fired me. No, that's not true.

You were set up there long ago. Welcome back to my... Sammy did not check on your connection. Calling from a ham radio today. And Sammy's disappeared. Have you got me there all right? Yeah, what are you doing? Are the birds above you again?

I just took my headset over. I got a knuckle. Sam, does he have a clue what he's doing or what? That's up for debate. Where are you? Well, I was going to go out in the patio, but it was so damn windy there. Okay. Don't move.

Whatever you do, don't move. I'm going to put my headset back in my case and see if it works. Better. Much better. You've got to clean those things every once in a while, by the way. By the way, Jason. Come on, Doug. Justin, I mean.

Yes. I go out to dinner with Kip Rios and his lovely wife, Anne Marie. Yes. And he buys dinner. I did, yeah. And I said, I can't believe this. I bought it. And then Kip, he said said no, you've done me

a favor. You've come on my show every Friday for two years. And I said, Jill, I just got paid for the real Kipper show because Jill asked me regularly what I'm getting paid. I said, I just got $7 a segment in the last few years.

Well, I'm happy to hear I'm happy here he did that I owe you a couple too so were you interested in the last eight games or are you just going to completely check out to the first round you know what I'm kind of interested in the Pittsburgh Florida battle you know to see who kind of interested in the pittsburgh florida battle

you know to see who's going to get in there um intrigued with the rangers and jersey last night it was a great game so there's some exciting races did did florida convince you that they're they're still in the thick of things. And if they get in, was that pivotal moment when Paul Maurice just tore a strip off of them? Like, seriously, you played in the NHL. The players would go to the bar after and say, did you hear that guy yelling and screaming at us? Like, what was that all about?

Oh, excuse me, you were one of those guys. Oh, excuse me. You were one of those guys. Seriously? Yeah, I was. I was one of those guys. And the guy eventually be rolling their eyes. Yeah, get real. But anyway. Agreed. You want to call him back? Alright, listen. Sammy's going to call you back on another line.

Alright? Oh, Sam's there. I thought he left. Okay. I think we should call him back. Okay, let's call him back. So he's not with me then. He's in your camp. So I'm like a bit of a cynical guy sometimes. So when my coach would do that sort of thing,

I just remember being like, ah, come on. Like, really? But you know what? I talked to a couple people who thought that the Kachuk comments during the day influenced Maurice.ice like the very public statement that your team is soft your team doesn't bring it every night you're talking about keith yeah matt chuck yesterday matt matt's uh father keith kachuk uh great player uh had those comments before the leaf game afternoon hit like 1 30 oh i didn't know that it comes out that you

know you know kachuk says matt's very disappointed with where the team's at they don't bring it every night they're soft whatever maurice goes into this game they show some soft play for a little bit and all of a sudden it's like oh i better he they thought you know that there's see i thought those comments came before the game yeah Yeah, they did. Oh, without a doubt, you are, in my opinion, you're 100% right. That helped trigger that. You know, you don't want to look like the coach who, God, publicly,

your stars are saying that you're not soft and you're not tough enough, and then you don't bring it. All right. So, Doug, we were just, JB just mentioned Keith Kachuk's comments publicly about calling his son Matthew's team soft. And, you know, did that play into Paul Maurice snapping? You know, I don't know about that. You know, I guess Keith can get away with that because Keith can back it up.

He had a great career, and he was a star in the league. I didn't like the comments. I thought it put his kid in a horrible situation with his teammates and with everybody. I didn't really like it. I mean, look, those are conversations you have if you want to talk about that with your son or buddies. But to go into the media with that, I didn't really like it,

unless did he think it was going to motivate them? I don't know. I think Keith might have just got caught. I think maybe he got talking, and you know how sometimes you're in the media and you say things you wish you didn't say. I've got to believe that's one he'd like to take back, but maybe not. I mean, he's a pretty, you know, I always liked Keith and found him to be a straight shooter,

but I just, I found those a little, you know, you got enough trouble going on with the team trying to battle for a playoff race. You don't need that from the outside. You don't need that outside noise affecting your team. And maybe he did it. I don't know. Did Paul Maurice yell at them, change it?

No, I think what did is toronto screwed up in the overtime and blew a game that's what really happened i don't think it was paul maurice i think it was more morgan riley and nylander and taveras is what i think that's what changed the game yeah no i agree with that and you know we talked a little bit about this stuff before uh in the first block but you know rick bonus also had a post game uh you know where he said that is if his team thinks they're giving it they're all they're diluting themselves or whatever whatever he said but then shifley's name comes up a reporter says you know mark shifley says he likes to hang on to the puck to create offense and his eyes rolled back in his head

you know what do you thought bonus is a respected guy. You measured thoughtful person. Like, there seems to be some real tension there, doesn't there? Well, you know what happened? Like, you know, people, when you've been in the trenches and you feel what the pressure's like when you're stumbling, when you're in a playoff race, and all of a sudden things are going south. And Paul Maurice has had a tough year all year in Florida with, you know bad

goaltending and you know just just not a very good performances from his group and rick starts out in first place and who's that analytics guy in toronto there mike kelly i mean he did this great thing on this great defensive system that paul maurice is or the the new coaching staff have put in place and i sort of question him on that. And I'm thinking, well, it's not working that well right now. But you know what? You get carried away because the pressure is overwhelming in Winnipeg to make the playoffs, and internally in Florida it is.

So all of a sudden you say things. That's not Rick Bonas' style. It's not his style. And I just think you get so damn frustrated that you lose it. You know, it's funny, too, because we still have old school mentality and there's no one leading the charge more than Daryl Sutter. And he stays consistent. And at times the media find it charming, and then they find it tiresome.

But it's always intertwined with winning or losing, right? You're charismatic and charming and funny and a great highlight reel for us when you're winning, us when you're winning, but when you're not, you're the problem. Yeah, I get such a charge of that. Like I've chuckled at Daryl for years because of the, you know, the dry shots and, you know, here and, you know, he gives the media shots. He gives his players shots. And you're 100% right.

When you're winning, it's right. When you're winning, it's great. When you're losing, all of a sudden you start getting blamed. And, you know, so I get a kick out of it both ways. But I'll tell you what, guys, when you walk out of your dressing room as a head coach and you've got to go to that podium after a devastating loss, it is without a doubt the worst part of the job, The worst part of the job. And there's always one clown in the group that is out to get you.

And you've got to walk out there and say, oh, I've got to deal with that bozo again today and I know he's going to be coming after me. Or Luke Fox. It drives you back. I'm just kidding. I'm kidding, Luke. Who'd you say?

I just named a couple people here. The nicest guy on the Leafs beat? There's also guys that try to hold people accountable, too. And there's nothing wrong with that. I mean, I like Speck. I love Speck in Edmonton. He gets mad at the team when they lose because he's a cheerleader. And then he takes it out. Then he writes. He's so damn mad at the team when they lose because he's a cheerleader and then he then he takes it out

then he gets he right he's so damn mad at the team when they lose and i get such a chocolate but anyway so you get it all different but it's you know i remember one time i was going up the going down the escalator in vancouver and the panther writer was going up the escalator and i started he said something and I started yelling at him. And here we are at a yelling match on an escalator, and the best thing that happened is he was going down, and I was going up, and I couldn't stay yelling at him because he disappeared, you know?

So, you know, lots of fun with it. But it's hard in the head. It really is. And I listen to these coaches, and I'm like, you poor buggers. You know, I've lived it when it's been good and lived it when it's been bad. And they just love. But anyway, that's fine.

That's their job. That's their job. It's like you when you do that article in the newspaper there. I mean, you become a bit of a nitpicker yourself. You're a bit of an expert. I bought you dinner and that's the shot you want to give me before I go to my next question.

You didn't buy me dinner. You paid him what he was owed. Eight games to go for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and, Mac, when you coached... Oh, first of all, I got to tell you an Elliott story. I'm telling Elliott today that I finally got paid for this. Sportsman paid you? Sportsman paid you? And then I told him that you bought me dinner.

Well, he was devastated, you know? So anyway, okay. Well, there's the official off the rails right there. Hey, do you remember your last 10 games, regardless of where you were in the standings, on focus and concentration, lines, pairings, getting your players in a good frame of mind? How individual does your coaching change

when you start preparing for the playoffs? You know, I don't know. It sort of does change the last 10 if you know you're in the playoffs. If you're not in and you don't sort of have a good clue on your position and you're trying to win home ice, it's real. You know, it's day-to-day grinding out. But if you're in and you're comfortable, yeah, you start trying to get your lines together.

And I look at the Leafs and I keep seeing these extra defensemen and one less forward. I'm thinking, boys, get it together. You've got a great chance. If they're focused and if they're ready, they have a chance to beat Tampa this year. I'm telling you that. They do.

Tampa has not been good. Their penalty killing is horrendous right now. And Toronto's power play is that good. So this is a great opportunity. So figure it out. Get your lines together. Get Riley healthy. Get this back on the rails and get it to a point where you can go in

and beat this hockey team because it is critical. Obviously, you know how critical is a win, but they've got a chance with the way Tampa have faltered this year. They certainly do. You know, we were looking at some interesting stuff that we wanted to get you to weigh in on today, Doug. And one of the things is the NHLPA has introduced the new head of the PA, Marty Walsh.

You know, a unique background, was the mayor of Boston, worked for the Biden administration. What are your thoughts on what to expect from Marty Walsh? You know, I know some, actually, I know a few people that know him well. And I get rave reviews about him, rave reviews. He's a union man, first and foremost. That's his life. Strong beliefs in it. I hear he's a real solid guy. I knew I met a guy that was, you know,

a businessman in Boston when he was a mayor. Talks highly about him. I know other people that have known him for years. As I said in my tweet yesterday, the PA finally, finally have a leader. And I mean that. Finally, they have a leader. And they haven't had one for, what, 10 years? In my opinion. So I think it's going to be real interesting. I think he'll be a formidable battler with Gary Bettman. And I think that he will stand up big time. What would his first priority be?

Well, he said his first priority is to get to know his constituents. And that, you know, he's a hockey fan, but he doesn't really, you know, know that, you know, he hasn't followed it that closely i suspect so get to know the players and i mean the biggest challenge is there's a handful of it i mean we know that the pa has been a gong show nick for how i mean can you say that nick or not oh no mac it's yeah it's been a build-up right from early 2000s 100 so he's got to get a percent. So he's got to get a team is what he's got to get in place. He's got to get his team in place.

And you know that more than anybody. You need a loyal group of guys with you for these battles that he's going to have. And, you know, it's going to be fun to watch. I'm really interested in watching it. And I sat in the Board of Governors meetings when it was only 30 people in Bettman and Daly sitting there when we were making the decision to go out on strike

because my owner was sick and I was the guy voting for Columbus. And I'll tell you what, they were a united group. He's got to unite the players. That's not easy when you've got 750 players. But I think this guy is going to do a hell of a job i really believe it mac one more just uh the ottawa sale and you've been through a couple of scenarios one was the build-up of the columbus blue jackets you were also in a situation where i think you were involved with a a purchase that didn't go through with Tampa Bay, correct?

Yeah. Is this thing going slower than it should? Is it just due diligence? What do you think is going on behind the scenes with the sale of the Ottawa Senators? Well, first of all, we've got a love fest going on between Bruce Garriott and Ryan Reynolds. That's getting hard to handle. I mean, that's getting hard to handle.

Like seriously, he said out of tweet last night, he's having a hard time getting a good picture of, of Ryan Reynolds. And I thought, Oh, I should send something out, but maybe I won't. You know what?

It's just, there's, there's a number of groups. There's, there's a lot of work. We, when we were doing the Tampa deal, it was actually the same banker,

the Sal guy that runs that company that did our due diligence. Bettman is going to push this rate to the limit. Bettman wants to maximize this price. That's obviously the number one goal. He is dying to say this is a billion-dollar deal. I don't know if it's going to get that high. I can't believe it will, but he's dying to push it to the limit. So, you know, I don't think it's going slow.

I think it's it'll move a little bit quicker now because people have had a chance to look at the numbers and do the due diligence and see the building and see the potential of the downtown site. And so I suspect it'll start to move a little quicker. Hopefully when they put a new building in, they won't have a restaurant that charges as much as yours charged me. What'd you get, Doug? Oh, you got a seafood platter that was the size of the CN Tower. Yes, correct. I felt terrible because I was expecting at least to split it with you.

I said to Jill, maybe Kippy will step up. I don't expect him to, but I wouldn't be surprised he might try. And then I was going to battle you. But I did go – you know what I said to Jill? I didn't even look at the price of that item. I felt terrible the next day. You don't need to, Doug. You've earned it.

I was so full of food and wine that I just felt terrible. What a life. I knew I was in Florida because I saw crocodile arms at the table. They don't reach the pockets. All right, Mac. Hey, look, I really appreciate Sportsnet picking up the tab. I really, really do. And they would be thrilled to buy. Tell Corté I really appreciate it.

I will. I will. Send him your love. All right, Doug McClain on Off the Rail Fridays. Never a disappointment. Thanks for doing this, Mac. Thanks, Doug. Good dinner? Yeah, Mac. Okay, boys. Thanks, Doug. Good dinner? Yeah, it was a good dinner.

Nice. Yeah, they're not short of great restaurants. Seafood restaurants in Miami. You know, I thought you might be able to find a couple. Pretty fresh. Grab it off the dock. Yeah. Just want to get a little bit more into what Doug said.

And, like, I totally get what he's saying here is as teammates of the florida panthers you you know whatever's coming from dad has to be connected to you right oh yeah about yeah about math kachuk and i agree it did put it would have put him in an uh awkward place to me it's the same as walsh and huberto i mean the same thing where it's you know it's coming from huberto who's not happy with whatever you know it's coming from kachuk the truth and it's different if kachuk has said this it's not a comparable to alan walsh and uh mark andre flurry no alan walsh and jonathan huber, I mean. Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Yeah. You know, I forget exactly what it was that he said about Calgary and Huberto. Yeah, not being a fun place, basically. Not being a fun place. And like, you know, that comes from the guy. But the root of Alan Walsh is to question the head coach. Keith Kachuk questioned 20 guys. Big difference guys or was he questioning the head coach because he in the context was he said that ottawa brings it every night like dj smith has those guys going but when

you call a team soft you're not call you're not calling out the coach that you're coaching soft right you're calling out 20 guys and their character which is a big difference for me yeah i can see that there's a big deal here when keith said soft and purposeless right like that was a direct and doug's right i mean you're not just anybody's throwing that out there it's not me you or sammy saying that on our show this is a guy who's played the game hard considered a u.s legend right olympics all of it and it carries so much weight but i wonder if because of the player Kachuk is, where he can say, I do bring that every night. And I don't see it from you guys. Like, I wonder if that's okay.

If he's okay with taking on that role within that team, that this is my team. You know, I know he's new this year, but. You know, yeah, you make a valid point that, like, even more so than Barkov, this is more Matthew Kachuk's team right now i'm younger than him i'm a bigger star than he is even barkoff and thank you you know he's backed up everything this year yeah so if if the message is from him

and his dad that uh you guys are soft then so what deal it. There's no doubt that if, you know, my dad went in the newspaper and was like, I hear there's some tension on the Kiprios Bourne show, I'd be like, hey, dad. Maybe keep that to you, you know? Shut your pie hole. Yeah, you know, we don't need that in the media. Scram beat it.

It's a crazy thing to say in the media. I do. I agree with Dougoug but he's probably just chatting got a little loose happens that's a good job by the uh the three letter to get that quote good on him yeah oh yeah absolutely we've had him on a couple times he didn't give us that didn't get him to savage his son's team okay we're gonna take a quick break and colby armstrong former nhl or Sportsnet hockey analyst, co-host of Chicklets and what, Game Notes?

Nailed it. See him on commercials, selling insurance, babysitting. What doesn't Colby Armstrong do? Armdog, after the break, you're watching, listening, Real Kipper and Born. Diving deep into Leafs, Raptors, Jays, the jd bunk is podcast subscribe and download the show on apple spotify or wherever you get your podcasts this is real kipper and born on Sportsnet 590 The Van. Tons to get into with Colby Armstrong.

Paul Maurice. Wonder if anybody yelled at Colby. I am interested to know about that. Would Colby be a guy to have issues like Bunting would maybe? Too nice a guy, Colby. Yeah, too nice. Too well-liked. He'd turn around. He'd turn around and yell at his coach?

No. Oh, he'd turn around and listen to the coach. Yeah, yeah, yeah, coach, yeah. Whatever you say. It's game time. It's game time. It is game time. Sammy, we got him or are you finding him? They're just chit-chatting on the finer aspects.

I thought Sammy on a Friday was going to drop the ball with Doug McClain. I thought we lost him. Well, he salvaged it. Yeah, he salvaged it. Yeah, fixed it. Fixed it. Let's hear Colby's connection. Come in, Colby. What's going on?

What's going on? Dougie, shocker. He doesn't get any service in the RV, hey? I know, buddy. I know. How are things going, man? Good. Good, buddy. A little rainy day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We're getting used to this right now in the spring, but like always,

we're usually used to playoff hockey. We'll see what happens, all right? It didn't rain on Pitt the other night. No. There's a big win. Yeah, that was huge, and I don't know. They've been dealing with a lot of injuries, right? Jari's been out for a little while, then came back

and then floundered, and then they lost four of their top 60, and got Petrie back here the last few games. Jari came back last night. And, you know, I don't know. It's just like with the Pens, I'm just like going into the rink to work the game. I'm like, what's going to happen tonight? I don't know.

You know, that's the kind of vibe I get. I'm just like, what are we going to see tonight? What team are they? So a little bit up and down right now, but hoping to get a few more guys back from injury here in the next few games at least. Do you get a sense that there's any sort of panic here? Like everyone I talk to is like, it's Pittsburgh, it's Crosby.

They never miss, but does it start to feel like it's slipping away a little bit? Well, I don't know if it's slipping away, but, you know, you look at the team and you're like, this is this team gonna you know challenge for the cup and of course anything's possible i mean jari gets hot he plays all-star form which we've seen him be able to do before they get guys back healthy again and uh you know i think they're top six when they're when they're rolling can can go with a lot of teams but i don't know through the depths of their lineup of of if they can do it. And honestly, the health issues this year has been crazy.

Like, they've been banged up quite a bit to significant key guys also. So, look, I think they can make some noise. Like, I think no matter what, that Penguins logo, just due to Crosby, Malkin, LeTang, but that Penguins logo, I think, you know, it holds some standing in the league where teams, you know, are always kind of ready to play them a little bit and, you know, come the playoffs, you know, anything can happen.

So, like, look at the Rangers last year. Like, they, you know, they knocked Troubadou, Crosby out, goaltender, injury issues, Raquel gets knocked out, like, you know, and they had them right on the ropes. They had them right where they wanted. So, you know, anything can happen and, you know, and they had him right on the ropes. They had him right where they wanted. So, you know, anything can happen. And, you know, we won't be talking about the Rangers like we would have going into the season had that happened, had they got knocked off by the Penguins in the first round.

But, yeah, the Pens have their work ahead of them here. It's the theme around here, guys, is embrace the race. And that's what they're doing right now. They're just trying to battle to get in with that three-team gong show right to the race. And that's what they're doing right now. They're just trying to battle to get in with that three-team gong show right to the end. Colby, there's some markets that could look at going through the summer or early fall where they know where their team's at.

So where are the Penguin fans' mindset or mentality on where this team is at? Do they look at this team and say, yeah, this is probably where we should be battling for a spot? Or are a lot of them going, come on, we still have Sid at the height of his career and Malkin. How are we even in this predicament? Well, we've got, what do they have here?

I think the fans know. Well, to take it back to the beginning, I think it was interesting because I think a lot of people expected either no Malkin, no Letang, or the possibility of both leaving in the summer. They got them both signed, and then I think the expectations went back up again. I think the fan base expects, you know, to win. They expect to have the big three back. You're expected to win.

Now, you know, Ron Hexall and company have to do their job to, you know, be on the same page as the fans, I guess. And it made for a, you know, noisy last couple weeks leading up to the trade deadline and into the trade deadline and post-trade deadline and looking at some of the moves they made and if it was good or not. Like Granlund, two more years at 5 mil, you know, has people looking at it now with Jari's contract coming up, Dumoulin's up, you know, several other guys through the depths of the lineups are up as well

and bringing back the big guys and going, you know, Zucker's up as well. You got to find room to fit him in. Are you going to keep Jari? So there there's, I think there's a little bit of uneasiness about what the team might look like, how much they're willing to pay for certain guys and what the prices of certain guys were going to be interested in Jari is obviously a big one,

right? Like he's, he's a number one guy. We've seen him. He's when he's at the top, he's, he's pretty darn good. And you know, this year he's he's the number one guy we've seen him he's when he's at the top he's he's pretty darn good and uh you know this year he's been uh inconsistent and had injuries and at times shined like an all-star so you know i don't know if you can get better than him um more consistent than him or what they're looking at for price tag come this summer but there's definitely guys that you want around and there's definitely guys that i think you're looking at it going oh well those are those are tough on the salary cap we've been talking

quite a bit today colbs about um murray's freaking out on the panthers and bonus rolling his eyes at shifley won't ask you exactly those questions but i do want to get your uh if you if you were a guy whoever got yelled at like every team's got their guy that they pick on. The coach is a little bit rough too. Were you someone who ever suffered that abuse? Oh yeah, I can take it. I can take it. Then you know how dumb I am. I would go out and make them look good and respond the correct way.

And they go, I always hated that myself. I know. I'm like, ah, God, after the game, when you're out after dinner and you're like, ah, all the guys know too. All the guys are like, oh, Army, you made it look so good. You know, that's a trick he's going to use on you now. But I was comfortable. I think I needed the little pokes here and there.

You know, looking back at it, I think it was good for me. I think, you know, I was a guy that needed to be on the edge, right? It was easy to get a little comfortable sometimes, and I think I played better when I was a little angry, a little bit on edge and a little bit scared. So it wasn't always easy, but I, you know, I love seeing the fire in the game. I think, you know, emotion and passion for me in hockey lately is, you know, like dropped off probably 50%. It's, it's, it bugs me sometimes to watch and, you know, Kipper, I sat with you next to you, and we had discussions about this years ago, years ago.

So it's gone down quite a bit since then. And, you know, I love seeing the reaction and bluster from the coaches and the purple face on the bench yelling. And Derek Lalonde in the Pens game the other day on a goalie, and he got ejected for that one, giving it to the refs too. It was pretty good. So I like that it's starting to get heated up. I like that we're starting to see a little more passion,

desperation, and emotion in our game. You buy into the theory that a third love their coach, a third hate them, and a third are indifferent? Yeah. And you know what? It was funny. I interviewed and talked to at the All-Star game in Vegas. When was that?

Two years ago, last year? I don't even know. And I was talking to Rod Brindamore, and he's, like, as genuine as it comes. And just, like, he talks to you not like an everyday coach, you know. He's, like, one of the boys. And I was asking him about being a players coach and what that means. And he had the best answers. He's like, what does it mean when a guy says a guy's a good coach?

What does it mean when he says that? Like, if you're a player, ask any player, who's their favorite coach? It's the guy that played them the most. And that's so true. I'm like, that is 100% true. You talk to any guy, they're like, hey, that guy, do you like him as a coach? Well, he liked me and he played me. So, yeah, he was good.

Yeah, but that's also the end result. What comes before that is he likes you. He respects you. He goes to you more often. He believes in you. He knows what he can get out of you. He trusts you. Yeah, it's like he knows when you're against the wall what you're going to do.

You know, I think that takes some time to build that. I think it takes some time to understand each other in regards to that. Yeah, so, yeah, you're right. There's definitely steps that go into getting to that point. It doesn't just happen like that. But, you know, to say that you earn it, yeah, maybe. But to also say that, you know, the coach maybe has a soft spot for you because he trusts you, that's a whole other thing.

And I think, you know, you see a lot of young guys coming in the game. And, you know, we've heard Torch's comments's comments right like it's a young dumb game and um you know and i think i think for a lot of coaches it takes you know that those steps throughout to earn trust and earn you know in his eyes consistency of play in certain situations and uh playing with certain players and you know the list goes on and on so that's that's a major factor that takes time well how do you feel about stuff getting out to the media you know whether through like we were talking about uh keith kachuk's comments yesterday about florida being soft you know this is matthew's disappointed or he might even said devastated about where they're at it's like okay well that obviously came from matthew originally um you know we're talking Shifley we're talking you know

some of this stuff just finds a way out it's not the worst thing necessarily but if you're a guy in the room and you know your teammate is talking about the team like that where are you shocked do you care do you go to them well no I think I think I don't know I think a lot of the guys would know about it already I think it's probably discussed the back of the bus on the way to the airport after a tough game. I think it's just like those frustration venting talks where I think it's always kind of front and center. Like, you know, you guys have been on the buses and been in the dressing rooms and been on the planes where, where it is, it's going tough or, you know, it's, it's,

you know, expected to be more and, you know, everyone's pretty open. I mean, it's pretty open conversation too. It come trade deadline where guys, you know, it's expected to be more, and, you know, everyone's pretty open. I mean, it's a pretty open conversation, too. It comes trade deadline where guys, you know, are hearing murmurs or talking to their agent or what's being said or what the team is saying about contract negotiations. All that stuff is kind of shared at the back and shared amongst each other. So, honestly, I think the lines of communication between, you know, players are pretty open.

And if it came from Kachuk, rightfully so. I mean, that guy came into that situation and went there just loving, wanting to go to Florida. Obviously pushed his way there a little bit, but he's gone in there and thrown together another 100-point season and plays it any way you want to play it. Who wouldn't love to have that guy on their team? Passion and desire and honestly love for being there. At times it can probably be in a tough place to play.

You know, it hasn't had the juice that, you know, some of their teams may be, you know, deserved and in conversation at times throughout, you know, the number of years, but he's a guy that went in there ready and locked and loaded to be a

difference maker and hoping he could, you know, after the season they had last year that he could take it over the top and it's kind of fallen flat in the total picture with this group we're talking to colby armstrong sportsnet hockey analyst co-host of chicklets game notes if we assume that pit is in and florida is out what happens with calgary do they uh they catch winnipeg game 79. I think they play against each other.

Yeah, that's huge. I, I can see them getting in. I'm, I'm so blown away at Winnipeg guys. I don't know. I like,

I can't believe they came to play Pittsburgh like two months ago here. And I was like, Oh my God, that team is sneakily going to win the Stanley cup this year. They're that good. They're big. They're like huge. They're huge. They're structured. They're huge. They're huge.

They're structured. They're strong. They're D or sneaky good all over the ice. They play this physical hockey. And then they've got Hellebuck on top of it. And I'm like, they came in and absolutely dominated the Penguins. Dominated them. It looked like another league.

And I was watching going, holy smokes, this team is nasty. And to see how much they've fallen and where they are right now boggles my mind. It boggles my mind to see the type of play that they're going through. So, yeah, a team that's leaving a lot on the table with how good they should be and where they should be at. But, you know, saying all of that, I'd like to see Calgary get in. And it would be great if it came down to the game where they played each other. It would be awesome. I'd be tuned in for that one big time absolutely um you know

one of the theme of our show today has been talking about the pa and i know kipper you and i are going to talk a little bit more about it uh post colby but i did want to get your thoughts on new leadership for the union are you someone who pays attention to that sort of thing i know some guys it's not their bag is that of interest to you well i did i did a few years ago and obviously the lockout when was at 13 and um you know a lot of things changed um you know with hockey um and kind of the younger guy older guy so it's more paying attention at that time uh new leadership i know you know in the last few years at the pa there there'd been kind of rumblings that they were looking for something new so um you know in in finding that and in search for that and and in you know taking steps internally with that group um you know it's

probably time for that as well with donaldleaf. So interesting times, interesting situation. I was actually just talking to him today about my email, my NHLPA email that may no longer be of use. So I'm trying to figure that out. Might have to go back to the old hotmail. Listen, me and you, we're nhlpa alumni uh and if i look back at the whole history of the nhlpa i would say that my arrow it was never stronger with the backing of gretzky lemieux eiserman all the big boys what do you remember about your uh time at the pa and where it was or where it

was headed were you one of those guys that cared or you know followed along or you know i'm just wondering what marty walsh has to do now to get it back uh to to being a powerful association or union again for the NHL. Yeah, so interesting mentioning that. And, of course, you know, your locker room in the 90s and then ours in 2005. I played in the minors that year. Coming out of that, too, I remember there was even conversation with that, you know, translating into the American League,

which made, you know, the veteran rule and everything and a lot of older guys being upset that they were going to lose their jobs because of limited play, even in the minors. So it not only caused us to lose a year of hockey at that time in the NHL, and I was in the minors, and it was my third complete season in the

minors, because there was no NHL, which made the hockey really good, but it really changed the landscape. But I remember when I finally went up to the NHL and hearing some of the actual stories from the guys in their fight during that lockout, like from Chelios to others, it was much different than when I went through it in that half-shortened season in, I believe it was 12-13, when that one happened.

So it seemed stronger, I would say then, Kipper. You're right in regards to the names of guys that you talked about before. And even in 05, like hearing some of the stories from some of those guys who I got to play with that were pretty strong and united inside of that one as well. And some of the stories in the fallout of some of the things that happened. So, look, they need strong leadership. They need good vision.

Like the guys are pretty preoccupied Kipper, you know, it's hard at times. And there seems to be a certain faction of on every team of guys that are more involved than others. And it's really on a lot of the players and a lot of those factions of the group to, you know, drag in, you know, probably half of the team uh into discussions into communication into keeping up with what's going on so if if the new leadership

can do that and and and you know set the tone with that with the guys and and and you know the the morale behind you know the players because kepper i'm like you i'm a player's guy to the to the death like i i'll push and and and have their back with a lot of the things and say they deserve all the salaries in the world. And I love that. So, you know, for me, I think, you know, it's just a turnover and a chance and an opportunity for them to kind of build something

as we approach all these craziness with best on best and World Cup of Hockey and all the things that come into it. When all those big boys, as you mentioned Gretzky and others who really, you know, in your time, and it's going to be the, that time for the,

for the big boys again here coming up. Yeah. Big challenges ahead. Hey, Cole, thanks for doing this pal. All right, boys.

Appreciate it. Always love coming on with you guys. Too bad. You guys have to work with Sammy. Have a good weekend, but I know we're getting through it. To the Sam dog. Sammy clipping them all off.

He's clipping them. He's clipping them, boy. Oh, what a beauty. All right, T-Boys, have a good weekend. Colby Armstrong. Yeah, it's going to be interesting. Of course, we're talking about Marty Walsh, introduced

as the executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association yesterday. U.S. Secretary of Labor to the hockey world. Pretty interesting. Career arc, isn't it?

Yeah. Did you watch any of his press conference? Just your initial thoughts? I mean, there's no question. He looked as green as can be up there. And for good reason. I mean, he's just been thrown into this world. Yeah.

I don't know. You know, it's of course he's not of this world and he does have learning to do. But a guy with his background has obviously handled some complicated issues he seems like a pretty strong personality um seems like the guys really are excited about him and i think those are all important parts of it now it's just a matter of making sure he's informed on the issues and what the players want and letting him know what to fight for right he he just looks like a guy that was like a talking head on like a serious political...

It's just like he looks like he'd be interviewed on CNN like he used to be. It feels like he's got a lot of cachet, but doesn't have any clue in terms of the actual ins and outs of hockey, which you'll learn. But I think at the top, he seems like a good

guy to have in charge is what I'm getting at here. We got a clip from him? We got a clip from him. Yeah, we do. Let's play it. Marty, welcome. Josh Clipperton with Canadian Press.

Just what's your view of the hard cap system as it stands and is a luxury tax something that players might look to entertain in the next round of negotiations? Yeah, this is where I'm going to pump in. I'm new on the job, so I've learned a little bit about, I mean, I certainly have learned a lot about the salary cap and moving forward.

I think it's still a little, it's too premature to talk about what we'll be talking about in negotiation. That's really going to be based on what the players want and the direction the players want to go in, and we have not been anywhere near having deep conversations about that yet. I mean, most of the conversations I've had with the players have been like getting to know each other. You know, obviously the search committee had a chance to get to know them pretty well. The executive board committee, executive board, I've had a chance to get to know them pretty well.

I'm still learning. The players are still, we're still meeting each other, I should say, not learning, meeting each other. So we're a little early on that one. Oh, there's going to be plenty of learning for him. A lot to learn. You know, the salary cap is a complicated thing, and really it's at the... See how thick it is? Yeah.

It's going to take him a year to read that thing. Drop that on your desk for homework, and then you have to understand it. I love the idea. Please, Marty, luxury tax, please, bubba, come on. It's funny, like, you're just impossible to see a world where the owners go, yeah, yeah, luxury tax. Please, Bubba. Come on. It's funny. You're just impossible to see a world where the owners go, yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's not going to happen. Let's let salaries balloon. It's not going to happen. With Marty in charge, it might. I don't. Marty, Marty. Really, I don't think people and fans should get caught up on the CBA needs to change or it needs to go to a new salary cap

or a new form of escrow. Like, nothing's going to change in that. It is locked in. The only thing I believe, if you want to tweak a few things, there might be, you asked me, are you nervous that there could be another lockout or a strike well is that do you think fans worry about that i think that donald's fair had been there through both of them the more recent ones and understands the harm

that happened to the game and the hurt that fans felt and that in a media world where there are more entertainment options than ever that i don't think you can afford to do it again my fear is that someone who hasn't seen the pain comes in and says we're digging in it's like wait you know we can't do it again we can't go there so i don't know his personality and i have no fear that he would be the cause of it. I would have a fear that any new guy, any, you know, this is your new stepdad coming in, that he's going to be a hard liner. Do you worry about that, Sammy, at all?

You think fans do? Oh my God, it keeps me up at night. Especially working on this role. Like if we're, I've said this to you guys off air, but there's a lockout, I quit. Absolutely. Immediately. Like I'm going to work at the beer store, boys.

I'm not, there's no chance. I'll be'm going to work at the beer store, boys. I'm not. There's no chance. I'll be reading the CBA if there's a lot. You don't have to worry about going to a beer store. There's never going to be another lockout or strike. Please. There isn't. No? No.

There's nothing. Nothing left to give the owners. There's nothing to fight for from the player's perspective to that. If you didn't fight for it originally, you're not going to fight for it from the player's perspective to that if you didn't fight for it originally you're not going to fight for it now it that you've missed that opportunity that is gone so what is left for the players you want to tweak a few things yes but you're gonna you're gonna tweak a few things and and threaten to not play? No.

Right. The priority to me outside of the cap, and you guys talked about this when I was gone, I think with the Otani thing, but it's best on best. It's got to, like, what are we doing here? Well, listen. That's a thing to me, but I don't, you know, like it should happen. You don't think the players are pushing that hard? Yeah.

Come on. We can sit here, including your best on best, and come up with 30 different things that they should focus on, but they all have one common denominator here, and that is finding ways to create revenue. And that's, to me, Marty walsh number one priority yeah is that he's got to get on gary and he's got to get on the nhl to continuously find ways to drive revenue up yeah everything gets solved the players have no problem with this system if the cap keeps going up that just means more money and then the fans

could be happy because here in toronto if the cap goes up there's no threat of is it austin matthews is it willie nylander is it mitch marner but who's leaving in two years, right? If the cap goes up, the fans are happy, the players are happy, and the system, it is what it is. It's all, for Marty Walsh right now, it's all about finding ways with the league to stay on where's new money coming in. A big-time World Cup of Hockey with all the best players playing at it might help that's a start for sure you know you're definitely an element of it well like obviously when they sit down with the players or who like the thing

is it's who's the players are they going to be involved in best on best and that's another conversation but like you don't think when they're listing out their top priorities of course make more money that's going to be number one no matter what but outside of that you don't think when they're listing out their top priorities, of course, make more money, that's going to be number one no matter what. But outside of that, you don't think best on best is going to be at the top of the list for these guys? I know the last World Cup, it did not register like they had hoped. Well, because it was stupid. I'm sorry.

It was stupid. Oh, we had that one electric game with Team North America versus Sweden. That was incredible. But Team we like? Oh, we had that one electric game with Team North America versus Sweden. That was incredible. But like in Team Europe versus Canada in the final. We're going to take your good young players off your team. How about we just put Germany in there or like Switzerland? Like it was just so stupid that they did that. But, you know, the other thing that kind of bothers me a little bit too,

and again, if I want to talk about my experience of being a part of the NHL Players Association and having everybody all in, you know, nobody cares about me at the table, you know, back then or third or fourth liners. office and hold them a little bit accountable but you need to do it with connor mcdavid and sydney crosby and all these new young guns getting involved i'm watching these guys and you know you know the guys that basically hired marty walsh or marty's information in the last month or six weeks has come from guys that are 30 years of age and over right if you look at the guys that got involved in bringing marty walsh in we're talking about shattenkirk and uh okpozo and nate schmidt and van reams dyke with all due respect to those guys they're out of the league in two or three years and Akpozo and Nate Schmidt and Van Riemsdyk. With all due respect to those guys, they're out of the league in two or three years.

And they're not big names that create a lot of attention. Where are the big names to stay involved here? Like, Marty shouldn't be focusing on sydney crosby or ovechkin now they're they're done like they're done two years three years four years they got their money they they really care about the future of the next 10 or 15 years no go and talk to hughes go and get zegras on board oh no, I'm telling you, but that's the future. That's the next 10 or 15 years. I get it, but you know this as well as I do, that those guys have had everything handed to them,

and it's just worked out. They are not used to being like, oh, this could go wrong, and the union could fail us, and we could, like, those are not the guys I want to go to on union and worldly issues i get your point about their name cachet it is that middle pocket there of dry saddle mcdavid and matthews and marner and marner right uh matthews like those are big names that now can create what their world could look like in the next 10 or 15 years if you don't pay attention don't come crying to us is the basic message here yeah right they're all crying two years ago during the

year and a half ago in the pandemic they're all crying about escrow like where were you guys yeah hello my fly yeah yeah listen i'm on board i'm on board i just know that how my own evolution has gone as a young man to you know whatever i am now you know it's old guy old guy yeah i'm an old guy you know the evolution is real like you don't understand or care that you need to understand or care and those guys should so maybe they need to cough upside the ears by an old guy like me. Yeah. And, you know, Doug McClain has got some insight into Marty Welsh. You know, he knows people that know people. Speaks very highly of him. Maybe he's the one that can galvanize these guys together.

It doesn't sound like the players are fighting for that much. It's like they want the cap to go up. They want to make some more money. The NHL wants to make more money, too. So you start off as you're not an adversary. You're a partner, you know? And I got to remind everybody, like it's 50-50. Yeah.

Like there's really no. Let's create a buck and split it. There's really no wiggle room here. Can you imagine if Gary in the next. We want 51. Everyone would be like, beat it. Maybe Gary wants 55, 45. How would that go over i mean publicly there's no chance they they could not curry favor for making a bunch of money and saying we want 51 everyone

would be like uh you double birds you cannot there's nowhere to go nowhere to go on 50 50 yeah yeah it's just no no one can argue that they deserve a greater portion. So why would there ever be a striker lockout ever again? I agree with that. There is some comfort in that. Okay. Enough. Maybe we'll get Marty Walsh on next week. Maybe.

They said maybe, so. All right. We'll see. Cool. I was supposed to be today. Anyways, we'll continue. All right. Mario, I'll see you.

Tweets. I got a bunch of questions here. Okay. today anyways all right where else you uh tweets uh i got a bunch i got a bunch of questions here um okay this one's from giant pie 12 hell of a handle giant pie 12 who are the three players in the league that have exceeded your expectations either way this year i got two in edmonton i just could say rnh and probably hyman oh my gosh yeah uh yeah wow ryan and hopkins gonna get 100 points his career high is like what 65 or something if if skinner gives them any type of goaltending like he did last night they are going all the way how real are the edmonton oilers extremely extremely like maybe favorites real the other one for me is eric carlson who i had a career over like written off

this guy's not the player he once was the injury ruined him whatever he's got seven games to get nine points to hit a hundred that's ridiculous. 100 points, defenseman. It's ridiculous. From your team. It is. He'll be traded in the summer. Oh, yeah? Think so?

For sure? I don't know for sure. Well, you just tell me what you hear, not what you know. Yeah. Okay. Listen, think about it for a second. You're San Jose. You got a ton of money left on his deal.

He's once again at the height of how good he is yeah even if you get someone to take him like you're not trading him this summer oh is there a better time to trade him but if i have a no move clause and i don't care about winning and i live in san jose i ain't waving i'm tough to move well when they ask me to wave i'm waving back yeah i'll be right here i think what about quinn he was boys i'm tough to move well when they ask me to wave i'm waving back yeah i'll be right here i think what about quinn hughes boys i'm not leaving what's he got like uh 70 points that's 72 points he's a plus 18 on the talk it put him on the list on the vancouver canucks playing 25 minutes a night but the thing is they don't suck anymore they're not one of the best teams in the

league west has been rallying boys, they don't suck anymore. Okay. Another guy. Ulmark. Come on. Yeah, yeah. Buffalo gets rid of him. He should probably be number one, honestly.

37-6 is his record. That's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. Ridiculous. Yeah, he's got a 1-8-8. Come on. Yeah, 1-8-8. ridiculous it's ridiculous ridiculous yeah he's got a 188 come on yeah 188 is gonna really sting eh when he got when he sucks in the playoffs oh it's gonna hurt really bad guess what kipper there is no chance anything bad happens to the perfect boston ruins they won the president's trophy

they're going all no they're perfect they are the jerks right there they're perfect. They are perfect. Little speed wobbles, eh, boys? They just lost to Nashville. Columbus just took them no tea. They're just a little, huh, going awfully fast. Did you see the overtime last night? No. Oh, my God. The goal that Pasternak scored on poor old Michael Hutchison. On a Lindholm feed.

Unbelievable pass. Tape to tape. Like, sitting on my couch, I was like, oh, what a pass. Like, snapped it. Hutchison should have to give Conor Bedard 10% of every day's NHL pay he gets right now. And it was like a hair, a sliver, and somewhere there's offside. Right? It was just so perfect.

And then he just cut to the back end, and poor old Hutch was just lying on his back and pucks in the net. I'm going to go one more player here, boys. And I'm going to go Ilya Samsonov. Leafy. What are you talking about? I can hear that. This man was non-tendered.

Sent away by his team. Six and seven on the road. Six and seven on the road. He's got a top five goals against average in the league. Six and seven on the road. He's getting paid 1. goals against average in the league. Six and seven on the road. He's getting paid $1.8 million. Homer. That's all right.

They at least have home ice advantage in the first round. No problem. Second round, we'll talk about Murray. I would be right there with you if we just could have been two games over 500 on the road. Nah, he's a pleasant surprise. Okay. In Kyle Dubas' wettest of dreams, he wouldn't have played this well. I think that's fair.

Okay. What else do I got here? Sorry, just let me get my... I had a really good one queued up. Two seconds. Can you play the Jeopardy music for me? I used to be able to play it on my cheeks. No, it's okay.

This isn't really a question, but I wanted to make sure both of you guys saw the picture of Cam McDavid. Yes. What is that? That's real? Cam McDavid? Connor has a twidden brother? All he has to do is just go into the bars and just, you know, tell everybody he's Connor and he's never paying for anything. Oh, the shame if you did that.

The great shame. Okay. This is the one I wanted to ask. I picked it up. Who steps up and scores a big goal against Tampa Bay outside of the big four guys?

Engvall. Pardon? Yarn dog. Yarn dog. Yarn dog. Yeah. I don't know. Honestly.

Not Engvall. Yeah. Lafferty. Laffertyty you know what it probably is is the guy who's been played a ton all year and is like the book gets bullied now by the fan base probably he shot a couple in lately he's probably the guy hey i wanted to ask you guys a follow-up on brooks kepka because he went to a podium off of a live. Bubba Watson's behind him. And did you hear his comments?

No. He just, he basically doubled up on everything he did. He's like, do we have that? We have it. Oh, play it. Play it. Oh, my God. Amazing.

What's your beef with Aaron Ekblad? And did you bring the cone from home? I did not bring the cone. Did you do? And he gave up a bad goal. That was Bob Watson. It was a bad pass in the third. Diehard Pease fan.

And he gave up a bad goal. What sport is this? Hockey. Really? Yeah, that's all right. Yeah, he gave up a bad goal. At the, I think, midway through the third. And I just felt like if they didn't win that game,

they weren't going to make the playoffs. So, dedicated fan, man. So, what did you do? What is it? Cone he was talking about. It was Bubba Watson. It was a cone. There was a cone that was just outside.

Were you hydrated that night? Now we're getting to it absolutely yeah listen i'm a diehard fan whether they look the clip up is it good do it when uh your shirt on or off it's on i ain't gonna look at it then yeah um look i'm a diehard fan man man. When they do something good, I'm the first one to cheer them. I text these guys, but diehard, man. Did you not text him? I didn't text him, no. I didn't. I did not.

Ole Ekba did not like it. I got to say. I didn't know he was that dedicated, to be honest with you. I respect it a little, like not a lot more, but a touch more. There's no worse fan than I'm a real fan, so that's why I'm nasty to the players. He doesn't realize he just

thinks he's Joe Schmo at the game. That's endearing. Which is really strange, but you're right. Maybe a little endearing. Yeah, that he sees himself as a fan of the team or whatever, but that's the worst kind of fan who's like, oh, a thing went wrong, so an integral fan of the team or whatever, but that's the worst kind of fan who's like, oh, a thing went wrong, so an integral part of our team,

I buried the guy publicly and tried to embarrass him. I'd still punch him. Oh, yeah, no doubt. Well, and Ekblad is not pleased. No, not pleased. Anyways. Also, first time I've ever heard the Panthers called the Peas. Me too.

Which we may be doing on this show going forward. The Peas. The Peas. Go, Pe peas, go. Pittsburgh. It's a pee-pee chase over there. I don't know. Maybe we won't go like that.

You still should apologize to him and take him out golfing. He won't. If he apologizes to me, I'd like to play 18 holes with him. Yeah. I wouldn't mind watching him mash the ball. We'll shoot 78. All right. Gord Stelic, Doug McClain, Colby Armstrong on this Off the Rails Friday. with him. I wouldn't mind watching him mash the ball. Shoot 78. Gord Stelic, Doug McClain, Colby Armstrong

on this Off the Rails Friday. I think it proved to be true. Right? Yeah, it was not on the rails. Have a safe weekend, everybody. We're right back here on Monday. Real Kipper and Born.