Real Kyper & Bourne - State of the Islanders with Cal Clutterbuck

Episode Date: January 28, 2026

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by former NHLer and current New York Islanders analyst Cal Clutterbuck (6:47) to chat about the impact Matthew Schaefer has on the team, recently acquiring Ondrej Palat and Carson Soucy to their blueline, how the team has adapted to Patrick Roy's style of play, his recent benching of his top line, why Ilya Sorokin should be in the front running for the Vezina Trophy and if the Isles could still enter the trade market before the deadline. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee look at the Florida Panthers' injuries, Buffalo Sabres' pace of play, and Artemi Panarin landing spots.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

All right, let's kick it up and notch on the national edition of our program. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. We're with you with the next two hours. We are live on Sportsnet, 650 in Vancouver, 960 in Calgary, and streaming always on Sportsnet Plus, Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube. This hour of Real Kipperman Born brought to by Bet365. I thought you said, and screaming always, which actually works for our show. considering the first hour.

I'm saying screaming instead of streaming for the rest of the year. I gotta tell you, I'm tired. At first hour, like, I mean, this is a conversation that the national hour or love, but, you know, Toronto's... Yeah, and bad.

We're burning a little bit here right now, and it's just... The Vancouver Canuck fans are sitting there going, Oh, misery loves company. Exactly. That's exactly why I'm bringing this up, that they love it. But it just, we're all pals.

We're in the sad club. Hey, find out from Brough. Can we be in the sad club now? I think we've got to lose a few more. They'll use a few more than that. In a couple of minutes, we'll welcome in Cal Clutterbuck, former NHLer, who just retired, what, J.B., a couple of years ago. Yeah, after running into every single person in the league.

Pretty good run. And really, just a beloved guy on the island and on MSG Plus. So he's got a lot of answers for us. Yeah, and a great participant of the Gillies tournament, which is your late father-in-law. Yeah, yeah, he's come down there every year, been a big part of it, hoping to get you out this year. I actually have a reminder of my phone to make those arrangements.

If we can make that happen, that would be fun. Yeah, yeah. Can I bring Sammy to carry my clubs? You can't. Nope, none of them. I don't like golf and hanging out with that extent of us anyway, so it's all good. Sorry, Sammy, not my call. You on tonight, Scotia Bank?

Not tonight. No, I'm on with you tomorrow covering Leafs cracking, though. 10 p.m. That'll be a crack in good time. Tonight on Scotia Bank, Wednesday night hockey, Colorado versus Ottawa. We just spent an hour on our Leaf edition, pretty much rating off the Leaf season. Where are we on Ottawa, who is actually below the Leafs here? Not by much.

If there's one thing you can say about Ottawa is that they've proven, at least J.B, the numbers have proven that they are a deeper team than many, including the Leafs above them, with the one exception of goal tending and, if I'm not mistaken, penalty killing. I think it's very frustrating for Sends fans because they win a lot of these games just not on the scoreboard. They outplay the opponent. I've got my sport logic quadrant of teams. They're one of six teams in the good good in terms of both offense and defense quadrant and they still are outside the playoffs. And I put a story in here

that Rimer is starting again and Allmark is going to back up again. Linus Allmark's return to the starters net will have to wait. James Reimer will get the crease for the Ottawa Senators tilt against Colorado Orange. Sports since Alex Adam reported. Allmark will be the backup

for the second straight game upon his return from personal leave. One thing I will note is, remember we had Valley on after the Islanders got rid of their goalie coach, and then Sorokin got hot. He was like, the goalie community is worried about this becoming a thing that, like, you know, can fix our goalie problems. Allmark, they just announced Allmark's mentor coming on full time, I guess, for him. New goalie coach and mentor is his old, yeah, they brought in his old goalie coach and mentor

to be his guy this year for his return to play. And you believe from a league-wide perspective, this is happening. I know, is it, there's a concern around it because Well, goalie coach is the one lose their job, that's all. Okay. Not that it's bad for teams. Montreal also fired their goalie coach today. So there's a third team now this year that's like,

we're going to fix our goalies, goalie coach gone. This is going to be new button for TM's to push. Do you buy into the thought that goalies get to hire their own guy now? That's an interesting point. Now, Sorokin's a big enough name that I get it. Allmark's making eight plus a million. financially they're invested in that guy. They don't have any other choice,

but to try to salvage the trade and the signing. Yeah, I can call it throwing good money after bad, but what's a goalie coach cost, you know, pretty cheap comparatively to try to fix the $8 million guy, so I get it. Or at least make him happy. That would help. Is he just got the call,

he's got the avalanche flu tonight? Oh, is that who they're planning? Yeah. I think it's not so much him as the team being like, we're not throwing them to the wolves to start things off here. And yet we watched earlier this week, the Leafs throw Stolars in, after what we thought should have been a start or two for the Marleys,

heck, I went on record and said a week. Yeah. And what did we say about that? Bad decision. It was a bad decision. They should not have done that to Stolars. That's not. any evidence of, you know, good process.

But we're talking about a team that we've written off or not yet. Well, they're fascinating, right? Because if the team is good, you don't want to sell a whole bunch and change the team for next year. So, like, are they better off to just kind of keep the pedal down and keep going? They need a St. Louis Blues, 2019 miracle. Yeah, that happened a month ago. That turned around. It's too late for that, isn't it?

Yeah. It's, again, like the Leafs, it's not how many points they're out. It's how many teams they have to jump. Like, the Sends are cooked. The Sends are cooked. But I don't see them selling too much because they kind of like what they're doing outside of the goal tennis. And the battle for Ontario has turned into the battle for draft pick position.

Yeah. And it was the first round playoff matchup last year. I'm not a bad idea for the Sends who are very good to just grab a good pick. They're very good? Okay, they're good. Yeah. I disagree. I disagree.

I think they're good. What's missing, Sam? They're below the leaves. We just talked about how bad the leaves are that should blow it up. They're below them. But they can point at their goal tending more so than any other team I can remember in a long, long time. Yeah, yeah.

It's been ugly. All right. We talked about Cal Clutterbuck only being, what, two years removed from playing, if I'm not mistaken, Cal, 82 games. You ended your career after playing 80. two games. You're supposed to end it when you played like nine. I wasn't ready to go there. You know, I wasn't ready to go there.

I felt like I had a pretty good run. It was a good way to end it for me. So here we are. Appreciate you joining us. We were just mentioning your play in Justin Boren's late father-in-law's tournament. Last time I heard you're on the course giving it to me a little bit. And I just wanted to let you know I'm used to it based on working with Justin and Sammy up here, so no issues at all for my end, buddy. I don't recall.

I really don't recall. That's okay. I'm playing next year or this summer. I'll get you down there. I'm playing this summer. It's a common theme, I think, not remembering too much from that tournament in my estimation from what I've learned. But so far, how's it going on the television side?

We do have a lot in common. We both retired and jumped into this a little bit. But mine, I could tell you, no doubt, was a little rougher to get into it. I got fired after my first year of broadcasting. You won't have to worry about that. No, I mean, you're in that market in Toronto. They're a little more cut through. I'm down here.

So I think I'm okay. I'm just trying to stay out of the professionals way right now, trying to learn my way. So, can I tell us a little bit about State of the Islanders these days? I think fans are re-energized this season, pretty excited about the way things are going. A couple of trades here. How do you assess the state of the team? Well, I think it starts with Matthew Schaefer, obviously.

I think he gets talked about a lot, but I think he deserves it. He's really injected a lot of life into not only the franchise, the fans, but the team, the players. And he's just a. an incredible, youthful, exciting human being to not only be around, but to watch play hockey. So, you know, I think it's exciting for people. The excitement starts with a lottery draft win, right? You win the draft lottery.

Everyone thinks that their first overall pick is going to be their next franchise changing player. And the last one here, in fairness, was John Tavares. And he was. And so then he comes in and is changing the franchise and is clearly going to change the franchise and is clearly going to change the franchise for a long. time. So I think that just kind of solidifies adds to the excitement, especially the fact that he's already doing it at 18 years old is so impressive. And, you know, everyone else is starting to rally around it. Matthew Darsh has done a couple other things that are very exciting. You know, I think you could pinpoint the Noah Dobson trade in the summer. I don't know if there was some

foresight into Matthew Schaefer coming in and being the way that he is or if it was just a deal that he felt needed to get done from a cap crunch perspective. But, That being said, it worked out. Emil Heinemann's been really good for this team coming out of that trade. You get a couple other first rounders to add to a pretty barren prospect covered that was before this summer. And then there's a lot of things to sort of for Allen or fans to be very excited about. And then the product on the ice with the way that Patrick's been able to coach this team in particular with just a little bit of different players, different skill sets. He's allowed them to be a little more exciting to watch.

And so all of those things wrapped together, you know, add up to what's been an exciting year here on Long Island. You were drafted by Minnesota in 2006. Schaefer wasn't even born then. You've watched a lot of hockey. And have you ever... Have you ever seen anything, recall anything remotely, like the influence that he's had on the islanders and how important it was to reduce? this organization and and really excite the fans down there. I mean, you watch it nightly.

Yeah, it just, the only impact players I can think of that were drafted in that position are like Connor McDavid and Sydney Crosby, the immediate impact, immediate excitement for a franchise that was just kind of starving for a franchise that looked like they were going to struggle for a number of years. but to speak to him in particular, he's doing it at a different position. I think the defense position is very difficult for kids to come in and do what he's been able to do because not only is he in the rush all the time, we see a lot of young defensemen in the rush all the time.

We've seen a lot of defensemen have great ears in the rush and then have trouble solidifying themselves as NHL players. This is not the case. The kid knows how to play defense. He knows how to play hockey in general. And I think kids these days, a lot of them have trouble playing hockey. And you guys know what I mean. But for the people at home, there's a difference between having an immense skill set and a lot of talent and being able to actually play the game, especially at this level.

So his play away from the puck is playing his own zone is really what allows him to be out there for 27 minutes and be, you know, an impactful player. He's now eating minutes against the other team's best at the beginning. He's getting sheltered a little bit just to see how it was going to go. Now he's not being sheltered. He's getting Connor McDavid. He's getting Austin Matthews. He's getting Jack Eichle and Mitch Marner. So he's getting all those guys.

And he's doing really well. And I was a little worried about his frame. I was a little worried about his size. I was a little worried about him getting pushed around. He has been pushed around. He has been targeted. Obviously, a point of contention on Long Island here is they don't have that guy that's going to deter people from taking liberties on him.

as Justin, you know, is so important. And Kipp are you too. You know, it's important for young guys to feel like they can go out there and play their game. But it hasn't, he's been durable and it hasn't seemed to bother him. So, you know, it's just been, it's been ACEs all the way around. Yeah, he makes mistakes, but he doesn't make young mistakes. He makes the same mistakes that Quinn Hughes would make, and he makes the same mistakes, you know, these elite defensemen would make.

And he's able to recover on a lot of them, too. So, you know, the blemishes that you don't. really see they don't stand out they're not that frequent all right i was going to ask you give me a flaw but uh i think you covered it pretty well the other than just he needs to physically get stronger i mean there's there's not much else uh terms of i got to get matt martin with the press box that's all i'm still looking for one i'm still i'm still i'm still looking for like a real real flaw a real hole in his game um you know i think there's been times where where he's in in tight uh in scheduling tight matches and playing consecutive days.

There's moments through Christmas where I felt like he got maybe a little fatigued, but he seemed to have bounced back from that. You know, you got to remember he only played 17 games last year and not at the NHL level. So, you know, I thought that was going to be an issue. I think him not going to the Olympics is a great thing for the Islanders. I think it's a great thing for the kid too. For him, he's going to go home, get to spend some time at home, kind of reassociate

himself with his regular life. And I think he's going to come back. shot out of a cannon at the end of February and I think he's going to have plenty of energy to get through this little stretch run that the Islanders have put themselves in. Yeah, that is going to be good for them. I think a lot of Canadians are disappointed that it's not going to happen and I think there's still people

hoping that it will happen but as a now that'll be great for them. So assessing, you know, like looking at this Islanders team here, I don't want to say they're punching above their weight but they're in third in the division right now and they've just made two trades and a couple of veteran guys that they've added. What do you make of why they added Sussi and Pilat and how they fit in there? Well, two season-ending injuries to Paul Merri and Alex Romanov, I think, are the impetus.

They've been doing a good job getting through that. The last, I think Kyle went down in November. Romney went down a couple weeks before that. So they've had a long stretch here where they've been kind of trying to mix and match and fit some guys in. I think they're fine at the forward group when it comes to having NHO players. You've got a couple of rookies in there, Sipulikov being one of those guys that they were trying to cycle in and out and get more out of that they didn't get.

And so that trade in particular, I think, is a good one because Andre Pallat, we know what he can do. He's just one of those Swiss Army knife all-around players. Most importantly, to me, he competes on a regular basis. I played against him a number of years. I played against him in playoff series, conference finals. He always has the ability to score a big one. He competes extremely hard. He can play in all situations.

And then, you know, Sousie is an NHL defenseman, and they were lacking an NHL defenseman for that sixth spot. Here on Long Island, they were cycling in some guys from the miners, guys who are trying to get an opportunity, but I don't think we're quite ready to fill that role. They're also having issues with the way that they shoot and filling that spot. So Sussi fits in there nicely. And I think the reason for it is that you've got a group

where you really want to see what they're capable of with the NHL guys that you do have. You've got a couple guys that are kind of important that are coming up on deals and J.G. Pazzo, Anders Lee, Tony DeAngelo. I think Matthew Darsh wanted to give these guys a chance with a full complement of guys to go down this road of trying to make the playoffs and then seeing what they can do when they get there just so they can measure up, you know, against the other teams that do have full rosters. Because, you know, if you don't make these moves and then you go through this, you're going to sit on the question of, you know, with Paul Mary, with Romanov, do we do better? Does it work out better? I think this sort of eliminates those questions.

and allows them to go out and play. And you guys know how it is. You add a couple NHL guys to your locker room. You add another boost. And in this dog days of January, February, March, it's nice to be able to give a room a boost. And so I think it's a great move. I don't think he gave up a whole lot.

Max Cipulikov obviously had fans had high hopes for him. I'm not sure I saw it working out here for him, to be completely honest. Just wasn't able to kind of find his role, his game, and how it fit into this particular lineup. And I'm sure with the devils, he'll get a fair shake. But, you know, in my eyes, he's added two NHL players without giving up a whole lot.

You're watching and listening to Cal Clutterbuck, former national hockey leader, now covering the New York Islanders for MSG Network. So behind the bench, Patrick Gwa, no question has had a major influence over this team the last few years. Just in terms of how you've watched progress over the last little while,

including a very controversial benching of one of his top players in Barzell and still finding a way to move this team forward. Talk to us a little bit about Patrick and his style and how the teams responded. Well, I think the skill players have responded very well to his style. I think the bottom six guys are going to respond to anyone's style if they get the opportunity to go out there and play,

which he's done a lot more of this year, which is why I think the team is a little more well-rounded, why I feel like they do better on the road. But the, you know, the Barzels of the world, the Horvettes of the world, I think for a number of years being under Lou and Barry or Barry-style Lane Lambert, you know, there were different parameters for what you weren't allowed to and not allowed to do what you were expected to do. And I come from that school of winning, I think, you know, being a solid standard.

consistent team is the best way to go about it. But when you kind of take, when your best players feel like you're taking a little bit away from them and their ability to go out there and do what they like to do, it starts to wear on them. So I think Patrick's come in and allow those guys to go out there and be creative. And again, his mindset is if you can make the play, make the play. But I think over a stretch, you talk about the Barzell benching.

I think what happens is that sometimes you've got to rein those guys in when they get a little too carried away with what they're trying to do. And if it's not working, you know, if you're turning the puck over all the time and your team's only scoring one or two goals a game, then there's something that's got to give. So I think that was the message that was sent. I'm not sure it was so much about an isolated play as it was a continuation of four or five games of costly, costly turnovers and goals against and potentially a lack of production on the other side. So he's given him freedom.

He talks a lot about joy and having fun at the rank. And, you know, you just got a different mix of guys in there. They've found their camaraderie with the new group because you've got to remember this group was together pretty well for a long time ever since about probably eight years of poor guys being there. And then off I went and now Matt Martin as well. So Josh Bailey retired as well. So you've got a little bit of a shift in the personalities and they're finding their way under Patrick.

Yeah, it's funny, I checked the stats. I don't know how long ago it was, but they were one of the teams that dumps the puck in the fewest now. They don't dump it in much at all. And that didn't used to be the case for a lot of years on the island. So certainly better for those skill guys, or at least something they enjoy more. Better or not, I don't know.

One other guy, I think, worth mentioning here, like there's the chance that some hardware gets handed out on the island between Schaefer and the Calder conversation. Patty Waugh could be in Jack Adams, but also the goaltender there. Ilya Seroken, they made a goal. coach change early in the year, but since then, basically, he's been the best goalie in the league. You've watched this guy for a long time.

Is it just kind of more of the same? Has anything changed that he's having such a great year? He was this way when he first came to New York. He had about a year and a half where he wasn't himself. And, you know, byproduct probably as well of the team, the team given up opportunities. shouldn't be given up on a regular basis. The quality of the team, you know, it's difficult for goaltenders. I make the comparison to Connor Hellebuck this year in Winnipeg.

The team isn't as good as the team's been for the last couple years. His numbers aren't the same. I think those two are related. It's not the Jets aren't worse because of Hellebuck, but Hellebuck's not worse because of the Jets either, but there's something there in between. Also, the Allen has hired his Ilias goalie coach from back in Moscow, and he's come in.

And I think what happens with that familiarity is just he can get back to his, his feels and kind of go back to with lesbian, less technical, being more a little reactive and using his instincts. And I'll tell you what, he's, in my mind, there's no one, there's no one better suited for the Vesna this year for me. He could be in the heart conversation. I know there's a lot of guys in the league having a monstrous years. And so that's a tough one to win.

But for goaltenders, he's won this. team, you know, off the top of my head, I could probably rattle off 10 games where if he wasn't between the pipes, they either only get a point or they get no points. So he's been their MVP. So, Cal, just, I don't know if you caught any of our conversation just before you came on, but was it your era where players were able to now hire their own coaches? Because it didn't happen when I played, man. I would have loved it if I, if anybody just listened to me for a second. But I know we're talking, I know we're talking goalie coaches right now, but, you know, just the whole thing with coaches in general. And in my area, they just physically and mentally just beat us up sometimes,

you know, they were just hard. Like, I don't know what's going on now where you think coach, you think players are less. And I know Patrick was there and benching Barzell was a big deal. I honestly believe some coaches out there are scared to do that. Right. Right. Right. I mean, do you see the same thing? Well, I see coaches are in a weird spot now. You see a lot of younger coaches. I feel like back in the day, it was a coaching carousel of somebody who was an established guy. He gets fired.

He goes to another team. There's a certain amount of respect between the coaches and the players. I think the players are also accustomed to holding themselves to a different standard as far as teammates go. So the shift in both of these things, you see a lot of young guys getting hired. out of the minor leagues and, you know, the guy in Pittsburgh, Spencer Carberry, they're all having success, but they're more of the mind of trying to get the best out of the player from a positive perspective. I think their mindset is how do I, what's this guy's personality like and what is he going

to respond to the best rather than just treating everyone, painting everyone with the same brush. And so, and, you know, individual coaches, just to talk on that, I mean, I hired Adam Oates like seven years before I retired, I was probably on my way out of the league just because the league changes and you need to, you need to improve. And I didn't know really how to improve or where to improve. I think most people just go to the gym and figure if their V-O-2 max goes up by a couple of percentages, they're going to become a better hockey player. We all know that's not true. Right. So, you know, he helped me tremendously just the little things of the game and

then being able to have an individual conversation about my game. Because when you're in a dressing room and you've got a coach coaching 22 players or 24 players. players, including the guys who aren't playing, he's not there giving instruction or trying to work on your individual game. And so guys have taken it upon themselves to try and improve that part of their game. And as OTSY says, if everybody on the team gets 5% better than your team as a whole is going to get a lot better without actually changing much of anything. So the problem that I have is when the guys pay attention to their individual coaches more than they pay attention to the coach behind the bench. I think you get a problem when that starts to happen. But I never did.

I always just try to add it to the game plan that was that was on the board when I came in. That makes a lot of sense. Just one quick one for me before we let you go here. Do you think the aisles are done at the deadline or do you think they'll continue to add? I think there's maybe one more move coming. But, you know, I think they're at the spot now where like I said, I think Matthew Darsh has been very pleased with the product on the ice most nights. I feel like he is in a position where, again, you're in a playoff spot.

when you're in a retool or rebuild, you don't always get the opportunity to allow that team or especially the younger players, let's just say Matthew Schaefer, for example, to go out there and experience what it's like to play in a playoff series. I think that's very valuable experience for kids, especially when they're young.

It also ignites this kind of flame, like, you know, how hard it is to get in there because it's going to be difficult for the islanders to get in there. I think even down the stretch, it's going to come down to the last. week or two. So just that grind of, but again, having a full complement of players and a legit chance to go in there and get it done. I think, uh, I think that's what he's trying to do right now in this moment for the Islanders. And I think he'll see what he has after that. And in the summer,

he'll do what he has to do. But, uh, I really like those moves. Like I said, I really like him giving these guys a chance. And I think they appreciate it too. Cal, great stuff, man, for a guy that pissed off a lot of people when you played. Well, do what you're good at. Thanks, man. We're going to have you on again real soon, okay? Sounds good, thanks, guys. Cal Clutterbuck, great stuff. Appreciate it.

That was awesome. You know, it's funny. Very intelligent guy. He is. You know, if the Islanders get in in that 2-3 game, you're playing either Pittsburgh, Washington, or Philly. Like, any of those teams, scary all that much? I like, I mean, Pallot.

I mean, I have a few Devils things. Yeah, but the thing, Devil's fans, You always They can't stand them They can't stand them No They're there Couldn't be happy

To be rid of him Everyone on the team When he got traded He sheer was like That was the guy I went to the most For advice The guy who was our like

Emotional Whatever Sheldon Keith Was like That guy set the pace For us Every day in practice He was the most important Pally

Pally Pally I like that Depth Right Yeah Just And he

He's a good player He's a proven Playoff guy Just got to get him healthy and in a right frame of mind and he will he will make a difference for them and you know if you get next year he's got another year in his contract he's got a 16 team thing if you got to flip him next year at the

deadline that's an option too and ohiles are hoping that doesn't happen but but no I think and there's doing the thing where they're weaponizing their cab space they're acquiring picks and they get a guy that's good in the room like I think it's a pretty you know I don't know I'm not telling you that I pour over the Andre Palat tapes but you hear what the what the coach says and what the other players say, like, that's valuable. Yeah. Valuable.

Yep. Comes from a great organization in Tampa or they know how to develop people and win every year to part. Yes, sir. Game time. Game time. It's game time. Instead of at Bet365, visit the athlete of sods and see why it's ever ordinary at bet three 65. Must be 19 plus.

Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Only three games on the ice tonight. We're cramming like crazy and then on a Wednesday we only have three games. Yeah, I think it's like maybe 15 tomorrow. there's so many hockey games tomorrow. Yeah, yeah, and then one Friday. I don't know.

I don't have to say anything about that. I won't. But we just talked to Calcutterbuck. He'll be on the coverage tonight for the Isles and the Rangers at UBS Arena. The Susie Bowl. He would, yeah, that's what they put on the on the marquee actually. I think so. He was talking about Matthew Schaefer there, as everyone does who watches Matthew Schaefer.

Big night, bitter rival. Give me Matthew Schaefer to have two points tonight at. plus 500. Oof. And the other game that I wanted to bring up because we have it tonight on Scoster Bank Wednesday night hockey,

the Ottawa Senators are home to take on the juggernaut Colorado Avalanche. Avalanche, as you would imagine, minus 155 on the money line. Colorado Avalanche plus 130. Yeah. So do with that what you will.

But, God, that Colorado Avalanche team, they came in here. Was that Sunday afternoon in a snowstorm? And they were the snowstorm. They really were. Anyways, that was game time. I bet 365.

Visit the affidated stodds and see why it's never ordinary bet 365. It's been 19 plus. And Terry only, please play responsibly. All right, we'll take a quick break. When we return, we'll go around the National Hockey League a little bit, including the news that Barkov is back on the ice for the Florida Panthers. We spoke on the Leaf's chances, Ottawa's chances. When we return after the break, we'll talk about the Florida Panthers.

Have they got a chance? for the third Stanley Cup this season. That and more when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Everything you need to know about the Raptors and the biggest stories around the NBA. Smith and Jones. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

McIprio, it's Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Born, brought you by Bet365. Also, if you're watching on YouTube, make sure you subscribe and hit the like button because we like that. We were just having a discussion. One of sports guys' favorite things is just remember a dude. Yeah.

You know? Just, I remember we were just doing Mark Andre Bergeron. Remember Mark Andre Bergeron? I do, yeah. Sammy goes, yeah. The defenseman. Yeah. He really ripped it.

Left hand a shot. I don't know about that. You got a 50-50 chance being right. And the key goes, I think he played about 500 games. Looked it up. 490. What a call. Not too shabby. I just remember him because...

Shoots. He shoots. What way did you say? Left. I'm just quickly pulling up hockey deep here. That's spin it. The wheel of death. Well, the reason we brought it up is because we were talking about Rick DiPietro,

who you scored on in an interest squad game. I did. Off him. Shoes left, yeah. Bergeron hit me in the wrist with the slap shot, and I spun and fired it. Wow. Yeah. Do you remember the announcement of a 15-year deal, which was just...

For Rick DiPietro? Yeah. heard of. Yeah. He's still making bank on that, I think. That was, you know, everyone says, like it. Well, if it was bought out, then it was stretched out, right? Yeah, I'm going to quickly look that up.

Hold on. I think he's still being paid. Bobby Bonilla. Yeah, I think he's. Bonilla? What was it, Benella? Benia. I think he's, like a year or two left to getting paid on that deal, if I'm not mistaken.

Yeah, I don't know how to look this up. I don't know how to figure this out. That's what we need out of sports debt. What's that? Like a deal like that. Bobby Bonnier. Yeah. 15-year deal.

Sounds great. Buy me out of it. So he signed it in 2006, and it was a 15-year, $67.5 million contract. So if I'm trying to figure out how it got bought out here, but it's not showing it. Anyways, don't worry. He's probably still getting paid.

All right. Let's ask him. Yeah, we'll get them on. I'll have a chat with them. Okay. Early in their program, we discussed Toronto and Ottawa. but Florida is in a situation where

if we were talking about any other team except the Stanley Cup champions from back to back we would have written them off by now, correct? Well, yeah. They're sniffing now, though. They're the team just on the outside of the... They've got Kachuk.

They've got Kachuk back. Barkov, I don't think, is scheduled. to come back anytime soon. What is that? That means. Like, could be back in March? Week, two weeks before the season.

Oh, for the end of the season. He's not representing Finland. So, I mean, if you're going to be doing that, though, you better be damn sure that you're going to be in a playoff spot. If you're bringing him back somewhat before the time that he was supposed to be coming back and he's supposed to be your cat. You better be in a playoff spot. He's not going to mess around with coming back too early for the sake.

of saving the season and jeopardizing anything he does in the future. I don't believe that's going to happen for a second. I wonder how that affects their trade deadline. I guess they know he's coming back. Well, the new CBA affects the deadline because he would have shut it down and they would have hired somebody or traded for somebody of significance and then piled them all on at the end. This exact rule may have prevented Florida from a third straight cup

because they definitely would have got a $10 million. Panarin would be a panther by now. He'd got a healthy. Oh, for sure. Panarin would be a panther by now. But now you can only dress on any given playoff game the salary cap number. So you can have these guys, but you got to put one of them in the press box. Can I ask you a question?

Yeah. Why did it take so long for that? Like what? It's absurd. They denied that it was a thing for a while. It's absurd. It took so long as it needed to come up in a new collective bargaining agreement. But it was, that should have been.

the rule from the very beginning. What was Coutrauby wore? The shirt that said 100 million or whatever. Talking about what their actual salary. And I wonder they won. In the way. Yeah, they weren't playing by the rules. I can't even say that.

But Vegas. Like all the teams that won. Well, Florida last year, too. Yes. I think they were well over. Yeah, Marchand. But the guys that did the original CBA and couldn't figure that out. They didn't see it.

that the cap would just disappear before a playoff. Yes. And everybody would load up if you, if you got, if you, if you, if you dragged an injured player in, you'd get him off the cap, you replace it with another guy. It was Kachuk last year, right? And then drop. And Marchand. And then drop the cap all together in the playoffs.

Like, whose idea was that? I think it's hard. A dumb lawyer. That's, that's whose idea. I was just going to say there's none of those. Hard to get through law school. They must all be smart. But it is a fascinating what if,

looking back on this era of hockey, what the different cup champions would be if that wasn't the case. Like, let me beat Toronto guy here. Let's have it. Let me beat Toronto guy last year. They don't beat the least without Marchand. And they don't have Marchand in their team

without the rules. He scores an OT winner and he's impactful in the series. And you're not going to get an argument out of me. It's, I mean, I'm not, it's was within the rules. so they're allowed to do that. I'm not going to... I mean, of course I have sour grapes. No question I have sour gas.

Sourst. The sourest of... Toxic waste. But it's just really interesting to look back. Like, would Vegas have won theirs? They had a million guys with the cap. And just one more thing. That rule now completely screws the...

The excitement of a trade deadline. But hear me out on this. You can... That's interesting. Yeah, it's... I think people are going... to be disappointed a little bit here with either

the lack of trades or especially the trade deadline, which has been between TSN and Sportsnet has been a signature signature day. Last year was a lot of. Like my era

of coming in in 1998, it has been like a day there were people would skip work, skip school to hang around. I didn't need an excuse to skip college classes, but boy, I had a few beers and watched you. You were glued to it. That thing is crazy to think I'm sitting here. That day's gone.

Guys, I have a nasty text from my dumb lawyer friends. Oh, no. No, no, not. Not all of them. Not all of them. Just a couple. But hear me out on this trade deadline thing. right now the roster max you can have 23 guys on your roster and you can still spend up to the salary caps at 92.5 million.

That's what you spend for your 23 guys. In the playoffs, you can only have 92.5 million. Yes. Dressed for the game, which means 20 players. Yes. So you have three guys in the press box who don't count towards your cap. So could Barkov, in theory, come back after their season, they spend whatever, What's Panarin make?

10 million. Is it that much? Maybe get some retention there or something. And you swap them out. Yeah, you got a few guys up in the press box, maybe, you know, make a million dollars or whatever those guys make. I still think teams are going to go,

I think we can still cheat. Like, it's going to be harder, but I think we can find a way here. And if you're the Florida Panthers, you're the perfect team to cheat. You got it. You're right there. You get it.

Zito's like, what's the next? The Lord of Tampa, round one. But you trade for Panarin, but there's some nights he's going to be a healthy, scratch. Well, that's what you're telling me. So if Panarin puts them at $100 million, you would have to have $7.5 million in the press box.

Yes. So that could be Aaron Eckblad one night. That could be, you know, however you want to find a way to get seven and a half up there. That is a very, very expensive, like, insurance policy. Yeah, I don't think you put that guy in the press box. You just find a way you could dress, you could put four guys up there and dress 19 one night, go 11 forwards and 60. You know, you could have ways...

With the beer league lineup? Just the best guys? Just the best guys? And then October rolls around him. What do you do with these guys? Yeah, I don't know. I don't know, but you've won a cup. Florida, you're three P.

Oh, yeah, you're hoping. Yeah. You're hoping that it all, it solves all the problems. You know who should trade for Panarin? Buffalo. You think the sabers are... Can we watch last night? I know we talked briefly about them.

but they were very impressive. I was, like, I mean, I haven't watched a ton of them. I was blown away by how good they looked. Fast, aggressive. Their best players. So their forwards are their best. No, no, no, no. No, you're underselling it.

Okay. No, I'm sorry. I like you in that. But, uh, I watched Alex Tuck and Tage Mario Lemieux. Tage Lemieux. They competed, man. they played hard. They're talented, but they played hard.

And you know what else I'll say is the only little guys who really make it stay effective in the NHL are guys who got a little bit of bite, a little bit of competitiveness. That Benson great screen on the one goal. You see him punch the odd guy and he got into it with Scott Mayfield against the aisle the other night, toe to toe, six foot four Mayfield. Yeah. And Dahlene's always been greasy. He's a guy that's not afraid to do it.

They're just big. I thought it was funny that Dahlene and Matthews taking the ceremonial face off with Daryl Sittler dropping the puck. I'm like, that's the only guy that Matthews actually hates is Dallene. No, he may be the only guy he's ever cross-checked. Yes, that's what I mean. Oh, he also fought Stamcoast. But yeah, he hates him, I think. That Beck Malinstein, Malinstein, whatever it is, he is one of the five fastest guys.

He shoots at 100 miles an hour. Like, he's a very toolsy guy. If you're Tampa or Detroit who sit at the top, would you want to play Buffalo? No, no, they're too talented. And I feel that way about Montreal too. Would not want to play Montreal. If Colton Ellis is playing that, I wouldn't mind.

Like, I, uh, Oka-Pecan and got hurt early in that game last night on the math. He's goal. He stretched out and left the game and had to put in Colton Ellis. I wouldn't say he was exactly, I mean, at least got 10 shots on him the rest of the game, but he didn't look great. So goaltending could still be a question.

Like, they've gotten Alex Lyons, been unbelievable for them. But I think watching them and seeing where they're at in the stand, I think you see them add too. I think it's like... Well, this is fun. Who should the savers get? Panarin. Yeah.

They should get Panarin. I like that. He's not going to Buffalo. He doesn't even have to get a new driver's license. He'd be fine. Same state. Fine. Buffalo, New York City?

They're close. He's picking his spot. And he's picking Florida. No. Tampa? Florida can't make Panarin work. Tampa? Minnesota with Caprizov and...

Yeah. Possibly. Now we're talking. Dallas. How about Patrick Kane and Los Angeles? Yeah, L.A. They still doing stuff? Los Angeles.

I forgot about them. They need scoring. Yeah, but they stink. Aren't they? No, they're not. They're not. They're right in the thick of things. Oh, geez.

They're tied for the final. There's five. There's five of them in there, isn't there? Seattle. Seattle, L.A. Utah. Utah is the best of that group by 10,000 miles. I cannot believe Utah has a three-point lead on San Jose.

They are a plus-21 goal differential team right behind them through by three points. The Sharks, minus 15. They're eight one-and-one in their last 10, the Utah man. Utah is going to be sneaky at the trade deadline. You know, for Utah, if you like Utah, the Don't Castle Ring thing doesn't feel good. You know, like you had a couple of guys there. Yeah. You know, that was a good.

That isn't one that even with all their. They've done great. They're war chest of assets and picks. You got this stuff right here. It's, you know, Petrka's got 34 points or something. He's a skilled guy. Maybe there's a higher upside. I don't know.

Sammy, what do you got going with Tom Wilson here? It was just a funny clip. They got stark last night. They kind of stink, too. They're out of the playoff picture right now. And Tom Wilson just, you know, let's play the clip. It's funny. Derek, let's play the clip from Tom Wilson.

Yeah, I think this is a kick in the teeth. So, you know, we got one game left. on this trip and it's the biggest game of the year. So if we're not desperate after this one, then I don't know, I don't know what to say. I think our group understands what's going on here. And, you know, this is a big wake-up call coming in here and getting our handed to us.

So, you know, we got to be better and we will be better. That is Thursday in Detroit. That's a big game. A lot of biggest games of the year happening for teams because the standings are so close. You're starting to see separation, and you don't want to go the wrong way here. They are in it just as tough as the latest in terms of big the playoffs. Does the Washington Capitals missing the playoffs make OV's decision next year

a little easier if he wants to shut it down? You don't think there's a chance he'd shut it down, do you? Well, I think there's a chance he's a star forward for the Dynamout Moscow next year. That's called shutting it down. Yeah, that's what I mean. But you're saying shutting it down, like, was that what you meant to? No, no, no. I meant out of the league.

Okay. Yeah, I do believe it. Yeah. I do believe that there's a chance. Zero D-Zone starts this year. They clearly are like, we cannot use this man on that half of the rank. Maybe he's got one or two this year.

I haven't looked in a while. Yeah, but it is getting to the point where you kind of start looking forward a bit in terms of not having him around, but it's crazy. I'm curious to what they do with their power play. Something different. watching their power play it's just this he's just standing there still like yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah you got me

they're gonna go like what do we do the four guys if he's not there next year it's like yeah just play what do we do yeah it's true it dillen's drums would be like oh i get to hold pass it i get to shoot i get to uh canucks sock really bad and tom billander talked about it let's play the clip there darrett's funny to get a quote from him yeah yeah let's play the clip i don't know i don't think we played good anywhere today. I think pretty much every detail was bad. Can't name anything good today. How frustrating is that with the way things have been going lately to have another game where you're not pleased with the way things ended ultimately? Yeah, I don't know. It's annoying. I think, you know, at least like the last few times we had results like this. I think we did a decent job in many

parts of our game, but today I thought it was awful. We now cut to our 20, year old with 40 NHL games experience annoying. Do you think some reporters are like, I got to ask something, but I have no idea what to so I'll just go to how frustrating

is that? That seems to be a very popular kind of question. I think it's a slightly more refined. Talk about as a question. Yeah. I like a guy to answer it like this. What are you frustrated about? Very.

and then he leaves and go, no, no, no, come back, come back. Very, very. Yeah. Listen, they got. What is the guy supposed to say? It's a transactional thing. He said exactly what he did. He's like, it's very annoying.

Like, everybody knows, like, it's very rare that these guys are so professional. I've talked about this on the show before, but they're so professional. How do they not snap every night? Like, I just, I always blows my mind that these guys have all these writers coming in the room. I'm not crapping on the writers. but after you've played at the highest level of one of the hardest sports in the world and you've lost and a guy comes just like

talking about that turnover. Boy, how bad did you guys suck tonight? And they're like, wow, yeah, we suck too really bad. Like, it's very remarkable. I know how professional these guys are. But I also, to your point, I think that a lot of guys realize it's almost like the question doesn't matter. No, they're just like, we need you to say something about the game.

This is true, yes. You know? I know. And some guys are better at it than others. Which is why when guys, are like short about it. It's like, you know, you're being a jerk because you know what the reporter's looking for.

Just give them some. Yeah, there's leading the witness for sure. When I was the producer of Least Nation Post game after the games, when I'd go down, I used to go to the games, 25 home games a year. I had to go down in the intermission and do like a two-question interview with one of the players coming off the ice and then we played on the broadcast or whatever.

And I love doing it with the veteran guys. Like we had Patrick Marlowe come down there. I can't believe we sent you to do that. I know. It's amazing. You don't have someone to do that. I was doing it. It was me.

I was heard of a suit. I was doing. And the funniest part about it is the veteran guys, me and Marlowe, I don't even know. Hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey and deep hockey, very much hockey. Thanks, man. Let's go. Did you guys go for beers after? No, they were just like transactional.

They just knew exactly how to do it. That's what it's come down to. Willander's been in the league for a week and a half. But anyways, it's just fun. I don't know how I feel about that. If I'm the organization, I'm like, I don't think you get to say that we're terrible at everything. Like we are, but

Like, I think, is he the guy? No. I don't think he gets to say that. Teams have their own now reporters that get to ask questions. Yeah. Like, you hire your own guy now. That's a little too loosey, goosey for me. I'm like, all right, new guy.

I get it. We're not, we're struggling here, but you're part of the problem right now. Hey, Mr. Marlow. When you're not a part of the problem, then you tell us we sign. I think our coverage stinks. That's what the players should say. Yeah. Mr. Marlowe, hockey?

Hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey. All right. Just like that, two hours, and we've solved nothing on the real Kippenberg-Born show. Our thanks to Cal Clutterbuck, who joined us on our national hour. What do we got tomorrow, Sammy? Luke Fox and Jason Buchlin studio. Ooh. Is that good?

Yes. All right. I don't know. You be the judge. I think it's great. Scotia Bank, Wednesday night hockey on Sportsnet, Colorado and Ottawa. We're back tomorrow. If you get a chance, give us a rating and review, we'd love to hear from you.

Have a great night, everybody.