Real Kyper & Bourne - Stolarz Sticking Around + Elliotte Friedman

Episode Date: September 29, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee share some thoughts on the Blue Jays clinching the AL East before getting into Anthony Stolarz's 4 x $3.75M extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman (7:02) stops by to go behind the scenes of Stolarz's negotiations, the situation with Joseph Woll, Mason McTavish's 6 x $7M extension in Anaheim, how cap increases are impacting contract talks around the league, and the latest around Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov. Later, Nick, Justin, and Sam discuss who the Panthers might target with cap freed up from Aleksander Barkov's injury, take a deeper dive into Stolarz's deal, and react to the Jets losing Dylan Samberg for 6-8 weeks due to a wrist injury.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.

After a weekend of television drama at its finest, we welcome you back in to the fastest hour in hockey. It's the real Kipper and Bourne show. Season 5, Jake the Snake Shultz, Derek Brandeo, Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, wherever you're watching. listening live on Sportsnet 590 the fans sports net 650 in vancouver 960 in calgary sportsnet plus and always if you can't catch us live we post on spotify apple and youtube right after the show so

wow great job bud did you wake up this morning and go okay jersey or hat on the real kipper in bourn show no jersey or hat jersey all day today all day all day but you didn't go with a hat No, I didn't go hat. Sometimes I go hat. Sometimes I don't go right. You know, I'm not going to go jersey and hat on the show. Fair enough. Not on the team. I did go to Jersey. I did go to Jersey today.

Yeah, I don't know what about you guys, but the couch took an absolute beating this weekend. It was. By many. It was gross the amount of time I spent on the couch. Is it sad how much our lives revolve around sports? That thought does cross my mind from time to time. You know, like July and August were bleak and all of a sudden yesterday I was like fulfilled as a person again.

And we did manage to get in an exhibition game on Sportsnet. Yeah, we even covered it. Did you? We covered it? Really? Yeah. Missed that one. That one went right over your head.

Here's what I'll say. I was flicking back and forth with Penn State and Oregon in the hockey game, but I didn't catch much of you guys. Yeah, that's fine. The Toronto May, or the Toronto Blue Jays punched their way into a division win. To the ALDS. They did not backdoor this thing. Win, win, win, win, baby.

Just win. you know, Schneider, the manager said it a few days ago that we are in control doesn't matter and I think he just nailed it. He just nailed the weekend. I mean

for the New York Yankees to win 11 of their last 12 games including eight in a row to finish and have it not matter is one of the most incredible statistics that you can ever imagine. What team does that towards the end of a season? And they just have to stuff it in a locker

and head to New York to play in a wildcard series against the Boston Red Sox. There's nothing more satisfying than hearing Buck Martinez's comments about the Yankees, just not being a very good team. You know? Like I love, it's very satisfying to just win your way through. I just, I'm over the moon about the Blue Jays. It was an incredible season.

I watched 150 games in their entirety. I watch every game. I love the Jays. I'm just, yeah, listen, like you guys said, I'm fulfilled. I'm like, I've been fulfilled all summer, brother, you know. The one thing that, is clear and you don't have to be

like an expert in baseball is just to watch this team long enough to understand and feel how much they care about each other. For sure. A lot of cool team. Connected team. How likable they are. They're almost like the year being golf team. I was just going to say that. Factor is

off the charts with this team. Like you look down the roster. It's the new guys. It's Clement and Lucas and Barger and you know. Yeah, they're bringing it all together. But it I don't want to be careful here. But I'm watching baseball and I'm watching my sport

that I've been around my whole life for. And I'm watching this Blue Jay team in particular act more like hockey players did in the past than today. Like. Commerodery wise? Yeah. And just everything's about the team. Nothing is about.

The clothes I wear to the game, the Instagramming, the branding, the YouTube channel. You know, granted, okay, I mean, Springer and, and Jr, they've got their peanut butter commercial. JMPB, yeah, which, and I'm not going to critique that commercial either. But it's minimal. It's not like, I don't know, I mean, they're just, it's just about the team, it's just about winning, even when they do their interviews, like they're just so likable. Yeah, I mean, most comebacks in Major League Baseball this year, you know, contributors up and down the lineup, great pitching.

And it has to be said, a legitimate chance to reach the World Series. Because the two teams that are coming in, they've won the season series against both the Red Sox and the Yankees, own the Yankees this year. Good matchup. I mean, Seattle will be a tough piece of business if they have to face them in the CES. But like, there is a real path. So it's pretty exciting times. And opening night for the Toronto Maple Leafs across from game four of the ALBS.

I'd definitely be watching every moment and doing an in-depth police talk after that. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. The Jays, wouldn't they give them like an 11 a.m. start? But they'll be playing the Yankees, so then they'll get the prime time. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Elliott Friedman Hockey Night in Canada, 32 thoughts. Celebrated his 65th birthday on the weekend. What the hell?

All right. What the hell are you talking? Elliot. You just missed by a decade. How old is he? He's 55. Oh, is he 55? That's it? Oh, my God. Okay. I'll never ask him to come on again. You're embarrassing. No, no, no, no.

Great job. Did you bring in the Cupcake Saturday night? I did not. Well, I think it was that Matt Marstrom. Hillary brought him in. It was lovely. A little red velvet, vanilla icing. Plenty to get into with the insider, Elliot Friedman, including a signing by the Toronto Maple Leafs, one that probably felt a little bit more urgent with the news that Joseph Wall is

is what gone, left the hockey club with no feel and we'll get into this with Elliot on a possible return. Yeah, I mean, this is a great contract. This is a great contract. And I understand the concerns about age and longevity. You know, he hasn't played all these games, whatever. But he was paid as a result of those things. Right? If he played, he was the led the NHL and saved percentage last year.

If he played 60 games, he'd be worth $10 million. You know, so you're saving a lot of money in the fact that you're only going to get him half the time. And he gets a little security in terms of years. They get a good deal. I mean, you see the number, right? And I got to be honest, I'm trying hard to come up with like a zag on why this potentially could have, like, be bad at all. And I just can't come up with anything. Like if his knees are shredded cheese, it's just on LTIR.

It's four years. It's 3.75. It's a totally palatable number for a guy who's going to play half the game. I don't know. I thought it was awesome. But Elliot's it. Okay, let's welcome him in. Hockey Night in Canada's very own, Elliot Friedman.

Elliot, thanks for joining us, man. How are you recovered off your wild weekend of celebrating a birthday? Yeah, I got news for you, Nick. Those weekends aren't that wild anymore. Those days are long over. Long over. I'm too old for that now. We just moments ago talked about the Stolars contract.

Let's start there with you, Elliot. Just in terms of where it ended up, I would imagine the ask was a little higher over the stretch of the negotiations from the Stolars camp. They settle in on an AV which probably surprised a few people being under $4 million. But I imagine that was the carrot for the Leafs to dangle the fourth year on. Yeah, Nick, I think it's pretty clear here now, just talking to as many people as I could, that the key number for Stollars and his rep was, Alianawa was $15 million.

Like, let's try to get to $15 and let's see how we divvy it up. And I think it will. Lelis had a lot of say and how they got to that number and how it was all going to work. And I obviously, like the reaction, when I saw the reaction to the deal, you know, the leave fans were ecstatic. And I'm sure the Maple Leafs felt similar in the sense that if you look at a lot of the deal, you know, the league fans were ecstatic. the deals they've done with TANEV, with Tavares, they've stretched out the dollars over the term to, you know, limit some of the damage to them potentially. Like for Toronto, especially with the cap going up, it's only money, right?

So they don't have the same, they're not encumbered the same way they used to be. They've got a lot more flexibility. And, you know, I heard you guys talking and with whatever injury concerns you may have with Stollers, if it gets bad for whatever reason, this contract isn't going to hurt them. Like, this is not going to be a deal where they're going to be looking to trade and say, what are we going to have to give up to move this deal? I don't think it's going to hurt them that much at all. And obviously, you can see why Stollars would be happy with it.

It's the longest contract he's had since his ELC. Of course, he's going to love that kind of security. Yeah, fans in Toronto love getting a deal on a guy. It puts them in a good position to earn their favor on top of his great year last season. So I'm looking at the cap page. I'm on cap wages right now. Next year, him and Joseph Wohl will earn a combined $7.4 million, which I believe is about 19th in total cap hit in the NHL right now.

This year, it's $6.1 million combined. Going into this year, it's like, God, they have a cheap, wonderful goalie tandem. We think. What do we think, what do we know or what are you hearing about the? potential for them having both goalies fairly soon. Justin, the only thing we know is that we don't know. And to be honest, I'm not

sure the Maple Leafs know yet either. I think they were, you know, this is something that came up pretty quickly, I think. And I think everybody's still trying to grasp the timeline without being intrusive in terms of they ask for privacy and the player requested privacy.

And I think people are trying to respect that. And the only thing I can tell you I'm asking is, is there any indication for when he's going to be able to return? And as we were preparing for our exhibition broadcast on Saturday night, the responses I was getting were simply, they don't know. And so I just think, I think they're hoping for maybe a timeline at the start of the season just so that they have an understanding of what they're dealing with. But as of the weekend, Justin, the answer was they don't know. And I think, too, the interesting thing is going to be, like I saw today, they left Reimer with the Marley group kind of to get some work. And you expect he's going to play one of these two games against Detroit this week.

The question of me is, do they sign him or, you know, there's going to be some interesting goalies going on waivers. And the Leafs don't have a high waiver priority here. But depending on what some of these teams do, there's Nico Dawes in New Jersey. There's Clay Stevenson, Washington. There's Michael D. Pietro with the Boston Bruins. Unless some of these teams are going to keep three goalies or they're going to do a surprise or make a move, there's three goalies this week at least going on waivers, Justin.

I think some teams are really going to be looking hard at. And Boston signed D.P.F. to a two-year deal to try to prevent against this. But Stevenson and Dawes, I think, too, are going to be guys, teams are going to be taking a long look at. And I think these three teams involved are trying to figure out here if they're going to do waivers, what's

the easiest way to do it or the best chance to sneak someone by? But none of them have the experience of James Reimer. And we've seen in the past Elliot that whether it was Matt Murray or or Martin Jones, that's been an important thing for the

leaves. So how realistic is it that they're going to sign Reimer? Who had the most fun, like, in a long, long time at one practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Well, Nick, I mean, like, how do you, like, if you don't, if you're not grabbing one of these other guys, you're not going out and getting somebody else, how do you feel about, like, you were the one who laid it out. There's three back to backs in the first month, right? How comfortable are you going to be starting with Steylock and, or Stalach, and say,

Hildaby? I don't think they're going to be comfortable with that at all. So I would expect Rimer gets signed or they, or they go out and they go out and they go after one of some other goalie like one of these guys on waivers and do you have any sense which of those names you mentioned there might be a preference for or just not sure i i don't um you know stevenson um you know the rangers went really hard at him when he came out of college and they lost some of the capitals so i know they were a team that really really liked them um so stevenson to me is the one that you know when i mentioned his name he's got one more year at seven seventy five and then he's a the UFA, but he's absolutely roadblocked in Washington.

Like they've got Thompson and Linger, and it's a great combination. I know Stevenson is a guy that intrigues a few teams, but I can't say for sure on Toronto. All right. Moving on from goalies, you go to goalies? Yeah, we're good. Do you want to go to McTavish? Sure. Yeah.

Six years is it to $42 million. Do you get a sense for, was there a concession on either side to get that done? What movement had to happen to reach that pretty reasonable? deal for both sides. I think once the ducks got to seven, it was going to happen. That's my sense, Justin, that Anaheim just had to get there. You know, Nick, you know Pat Verbeek as well as anybody in the league would and or anybody in our business would. And I think at the end of the day, this is a huge year for the ducks. And you know, Verbeek and his lieutenant Jeff Sullivan, they're very fierce negotiators. But I think they realized, you know, you look at it today is on their second line center.

I think he's got Goce and Granland on his wing. This is a big year for the Ducks. Big year. I think everybody realized it wasn't, didn't make a lot of sense to keep McTavish out to the start of the season. And, hey, $42 million. It's great for McTavish. And it's not a backbreaking deal. You know, aside from Truba, who they brought in there, the biggest contracts they've given out are $7 million now for McTavish, Terry, and Granland.

So it's not like it blew up Anaheim's salary structure either. And I just think once they got to seven. and McTavish was like, okay, I'm more than satisfied with this. Yeah, the general feeling I got over that negotiation that the number started from McTavish at eight. So I'm with you. I think it's a pretty good deal for Anaheim. I'm actually kind of surprised that perhaps there wasn't a team out there

that would offer sheet him. Yeah. Because I think at around nine, even if it was for two or three years, it would have cost a first, a second, or a third, which I like McTavish a lot. I would have given up a first second and third for him. Based on what we saw last season with Edmonton and St. Louis around Broberg,

were you surprised that teams are still reluctant to go down that path? Yes and no. The only reason I would say no, Nick, is that I know teams are terrified of that Gavin McKenna picked this year. There's, you know, there were some teams that looked at that and said, what have we crater or what are we not that good? And, you know, we've given up the number one pick that becomes Gavin McKenna or the defenseman, who's really rising up the draft charts right now.

I know some teams are really scared at that. The one team, Nick, that wasn't afraid of it, and I, but I don't think they seriously considered this one was Carolina. Like, they almost offer sheet to Bouchard, and they basically did offer sheet Kianra Miller, but worked out a trade for him instead. I'll say this, though, someone did tell me in the last week there was a team out there, and I haven't figured out who it was, that it was trying to reacquire one of their draft picks to think about an offer sheet for McTavish.

And I thought my first immediate guess was Carolina, but they said that wasn't the team. So somebody did at least consider it, but Nick, I think the fear of that McKenna pick has terrified a number of teams. there and the other thing too is the ducks by the way they made it clear they weren't doing bridge here they were always doing terms so that made it a bit of a longer conversation well that that's kind of what i wanted to ask you about just in general i have been looking at these guys who are legitimately great players and i'm not so sure about the commitment to term all the time i understand that people like security and guaranteed money and all those sorts of things mcabish had 22 goals and 30 assists last year at 22 years old his ceiling is to be what an 80.2

115 pound centerman, you know, if he goes three years, four years, he could make 15 million. You know, like it just feels like these teams, I feel like teams are making great value deals right now. And I'm not so sure that agents have caught up to the idea that they're leaving a lot of money out there. No, I think, I think there are, like I said, I think in this case, Burbeek made it very clear they were not doing bridge. And I heard that in several places, that Anaheim made it very clear that they were going, for a term and they just had to get to, they just had to get to a place where both sides agreed. I think you're right. You know, Justin, I'll tell you this.

I think there are more players, particularly younger players who are willing to do short-term deals right now. But we have a situation where the cap has really jumped and there's a bit of a battle being fought between the agents and players who want to take advantage of it and the teams we're trying to push back. Like, I've had a few managers tell me, and it's not collusion. Like the whole thing with Caprizov,

nobody's offering Caprizov 8 times 16 if there's collusion out there. But I think there is a feeling of we have to hold the line because the ass out there getting really, really high and commensurate with where the cap is gone. So I think what's one of the reasons,

like you take a look at all these extensions for UFAs this year. Eichael. McDavid, I think, is a bit of a separate situation, But Eichel, Caprizov, Alex Tuck, look at all the guys who are unsigned going into next year, and they haven't signed yet. And remember, everybody was talking about how dryside waited last year until the first week of September. Well, now we're headed into October and look at all of the uncertainty.

And Justin, I don't think that's a term issue, but I think it is a percentage of the cap issue. So I think they are trying to wield their power. And I will say this, Justin. I've asked players before about signing shorter term. I'll say this, that, you know, the one thing that they all say to me is that it's, they feel in hockey, there's just such a huge risk of injury. Total. That a lot of guys will take the security.

You're watching and listening to Hockey Nait in Canada and 32 thoughts, Elliot Friedman. So I would imagine between Carill the thrill and Connor, I don't know, the song and dance will continue. Carrille, and I get the sense right now, Nick, that the wilder kind of saying, this is where we are, eight times 16. I think they've wondered, I think they're wondering two things. Number one is anybody out, does he want to be here? And that's one thing they're trying to figure out. And number two, are we negotiating against ourselves? Like just say for argument's sake, they say, okay, we'll do eight times 18.

Do they really feel that there's anybody out there that's going to beat that? And if he wants to leave, he's going to leave for whatever anyway. So what's the point of raising the offer? So I think the wild kind of let this sit and percolate and see where this goes, if anywhere. The danger. Elliot, the danger with these superstars is trying to hold on to hope. And we've said it best on what hope is. Right?

And, you know, if the, it's the mariner and the leafs. Like, now that we've had a chance to really reflect, did you ever think that there was a chance that Mitch Marner was going to ever sign in Toronto? You know, the only thing I've said, Nick, is if they beat Florida, don't you think they find a way? I based a lot of my feeling on they're banking on a big run,

and he changes his mind. But it never came close. So I'm just wondering now, can Minnesota do the same thing? Can they just sit there and hope Carill changes his mind? Nick, I think it's, I think you're bang on. I mean, one of the challenges there, and we learned this last year, is that Marner had the hammer with the no move clause, right? And Caprizo's got the same thing.

So you're limited in what you can do. But I think the thing you're 100% bang on right about is it's like dating, right? It's like asking somebody out. If this person says no, do I go back to them and say, all right, I'm going to try to convince them to change their mind. Or as the movie goes, it's just not that into you. You have to be honest about what the truth is. We know you got plenty of experience there, right?

That's right. I understand, you know, I've heard the line. There's plenty of other fish in the sea. There's plenty of other fish in the sea. You know, with McDavid, I just think it's, I don't know, my whole feeling on McDavid has been pretty honest. I think he's going to sign for short term. I think the number is going to be lower than we think. I think it's going to be below 16 if he stays there.

That's a shock to me if that happens. Let Carill lead the league in AAV. I can see it. I could really see it. I think that I think if he stays, then he's, He's going to, I mean, he, look, he wants to win. I think he's well aware that if he stays in Edmonton, they've got Dry Settle making 14. They've got Bouchard making 10 a quarter.

They got nurse making 9.25. So 10 and a half, excuse me, for Bouchard. I think he's going to say I can't completely prevent them from building, right? So I still think he stays short term, and I'm willing to be proven wrong on that if it happens. My two cents is carill is going to get traded. on to the leaves here one more leaf related question and relates to the whole league at large which is how hard is it to make trades right now every team has players you're looking at the Leafs lineup today there are four lines forward lines leave out campth yarn crock Robertson and yeah I saw that you know like at some point those are good NHL players but I feel like every team has guys right now like it's really tough to make a trade this time of year. I think it's the one guy you mentioned, and I think it's a bit of a source of frustration for Robertson that it's lasted on this long. For me with Robertson, the issue has always been that they're, you know, I don't know if worries the right word, but he goes somewhere else and just scores, right?

And then you just sit there and you say, oh, we couldn't have that. But I, you know, I have sat next to you guys and I really like watching games with you guys because I, I find that the thing that you guys do is you pick apart the defensive, the defensive issues right away. Like you see the mistakes in the D zone right away. And if the Maple Leafs are not confident in Robertson as a defensive player, there's no point in holding on to him. Like just cut bait. So I, you know, I think the other, I think with guys like Camp and Yarncrog, the problem is is that teams are probably saying like, what can we do with the, what, can we get out of the

Maple Leafs for doing this, right? And I think Toronto doesn't really want to do that. So I think that's part of the issues with those guys. Robertson, to me, it's more of an issue of, hey, what's going to happen when he moves on?

And, but that one, like, putting all these guys on waivers, um, so you're doing it anyway. Yep. You can't, you have no room to play them. you assigned him to $1.8 million

and you're worried about him scoring on another team. It's also very funny that they have an opening on the right wing in the top six and they're like if only we had somewhere to give him a chance, we just can't see it. There's just, there's no place for him on this hockey club. Can he get a shift beside Matthews and eyes? I don't know.

No, no, no, I agree, no. I'm just saying if it doesn't work, then there's nowhere. You don't want him anywhere. So cut bait, you're right. Eli, I remember Berkey. Remember what he did with Ilya Brazgalov? He said, we got nothing for him here.

We got to put him on waivers and give him a chance somewhere else. Eventually, you reached that point. Got to ask you, we also watched Mark Andre Fleury with a pretty emotional night in Pittsburgh. And I don't, I mean, I've lost the counts of goodbyes. Hey, listen, it's, it's not something that, like, it was near and dear to watch for me personally, but it touched a lot of people in Pittsburgh.

For an organization that may not have a lot of upside moving forward, I think it was a real important connection between these guys and that city that has been so loyal to all these players from the moment Mario got drafted. Like they deserved that night. It wasn't for me, but it was certainly for them. But I don't know what the immediate future looks for all of them,

including a challenging, you know, not only rebuild, but maybe a transition into new ownership. Well, I mean, the one thing that someone said to me, Nick, is that they wonder if there's going to be more of this. Like, the one name someone mentioned me was Clod Giroux. Like, could you see a situation if Claude Giroux retires, it's not a sadder where Philly brings him back for, one extra because it was hugely attended.

They was like more some more fans in a building than for a normal exhibition game. I'm sure they did a killing on concessions and merch and stuff like that. The only thing that might save everyone from that happening is that there's going to be fewer exhibition games. But there were people who looked at that and said, I guarantee you that it's not the last time we're going to see that. Yeah. It's Mark Andre Fleury.

He's a Hall of Famer. the Stanley Cops, like Kludgeru, love them, but come on, you can't touch that and compare it to Drew back in Philly who didn't win a thing. Yeah.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I'm just saying, I'm just saying it's interesting to me. It's interesting. Like someone, like I said, like I had a couple people say, this isn't the last time we're going to see this happen. It's very funny. The penguins have the

goodwill machine, like just overdraft. They had the Hall of Fame thing. They inducted Scotty Bowman, Ron Francis, Eddie Johnson, Kevin Stevens, bringing back the old guys, Mark Andre Fleury. They're just generating as much goodwill before they're just terrible for Gavin McKenna and hopefully a sale. It's all part of the time. It makes sense. That's the thing, too.

That's the thing, too. If you imagine you're a new owner, first thing go in there, okay, like that's what happened to Fenway Sports Group. They were supposed to move on from Malkin and Lattang. And then when the moment came, they got close. cold feet. Ron Hextall was hired with that plan and then they got cold feet. Oh, we can't do this. So that's a challenge for a new ownership group. Big challenge. All right. Let's let him go. Great stuff, Elliot. Happy birthday again. We keep you any longer. You'll be celebrating a new birthday. See you guys on Thursday night for the third of our exhibition trials. Can't

wait. Thanks for each. I say that sarcastically. I actually do love this stuff. I'm so happy to leave us are back. And the Js also do us a huge favor because they keep us on the air all the week. So here's what I was going to say. I didn't want to do it right off the top. But yeah, you guys, you guys were, wouldn't have been upset about it a wild card game.

We left the studio on Friday and you're like, oh, the wild card wouldn't be the worst thing. We would have had a few rounds of the goal. The middle of the day would have broke my ribs. and that's been shut down for a very long time. Oh, you'll have three other months of the summer to do it. That's the only reason I thought maybe. I will happily be here. Oh, yeah.

The, I've been seeing a little bit of this on Twitter about potentially Bill Zito making a big trade. And, you know, because they have all that extra cabs face, right? Is it? Oh, yeah, Barkoff. Malkin? Oh, does that make sense? Does that make sense?

Like a big Russian centerman? Florida. Always had good Russians there. I don't know. I just thought that that was something nice. I thought it would be interesting. I've heard some people mention Crosby. No way.

No, I don't think it's doable. I don't think it's doable. No way. He's not going to go to Florida. Come on. First of all. He's a legacy. I still believe that, and I think at the end of March,

it could be all seven months if my math is correct yes right you it takes you to april seven it takes yeah it takes you to april they said seven to nine months there's a sense that that like first of all like we're under that cap so his 10 million is he a 10 yeah yeah well we'll have to be included there so what's malkin at six and a half seven yep but then you get to playoffs you know there is some chicanery they can do to people get hurt like they never know who's going to be in the lineup. Like I just... Like, just to get you where you're going

and figure it out in playoffs, I don't know. I can just picture Malcolm in that jersey. You're not in horrible shape with Bennett and Lendell. That Lendell's sneaky. He's a legit number two, in my opinion, right now.

Yeah, their second line is their third line from the final last year. And then you didn't have to move Rodriguez. There's another serviceable player, though I'm sure can kind of play top nine. so I don't see a big panic right now to go and plug a hole in anytime soon that Mackey Samiskevich

what do you have 1520 last year he's going to get more than that this year they're it's a good team guys I don't have you heard about them Ryan Hart still play Ryan Hart can play center for Haggy Bennett Luster Ryan and Marchand they get a lot of guys

I do back end I do like Lendell that's a good point Oh he's a really like Mickelah Jones He's solid solid solid solid solid Let's take a break. All right. You heard the man. Catch his breath.

Blue Jays, Rider Cup, man. You're exhausted. Rider Cup was unbelievable. Did a hockey game break out there or what? That was something else, man. That was very Long Island, New York. Yeah, I mean, humanity.

I don't do people care. Should we do golf takes? No. Okay. Well, okay. Give me one before we go to break. People were just, you know, people love piling on the states.

myself included and everybody was just immediately taking Justin Rose's side in that like the line thing with his caddy or whatever but Bryson's catty legitimately thought that he was away like he's like he's not going to go in Justin Rose's line and be like he just he thought he was away and Rose was pompous about it he was rude and he deserved to have something said to him so that's that he didn't apologize though didn't he yeah he kind of after they had like a little you know and they said it was over and you know Ted Scott and Francisco Molinari did the weirdest video together saying that there's no beef or whatever but I just think that, like, everybody gets blinded.

I didn't have a big of a problem with that. No, I loved it. Awesome. I loved it. It makes it great. It's, it's, it's incredibly intense. You can have a weak moment where you snap for an innocent, an innocent situation with the caddy. It was innocent.

I agree with you. He didn't do anything. He wasn't trying to throw anybody off. But if Rose snapped at him for five seconds, it's okay. Also, it's got to be frustrating for DeCambo that, like, he can't just, like, Donkey Kong ballot, like Donald and Fleetwood and just, like, put them away. Lunatic. Like, he made that put to have on the 18th. And he forgot to shake Fitzpatrick hand because he was like, ah, like, he just didn't know what to do with his body.

So, anyway. Well, he made the put on nine to win that hole. And he looked like he just scored a touchdown. He's unbelievable. Like, yeah. Anyways, there's golf. Okay. We'll take a quick break.

When we return, plenty more, especially here in Canada, the Jets with a key injury. For the next four to six weeks, McDavid and Dryside will have a new winger. Plenty more when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Hey, it's Aylish Forafar. And I'm Justin Cuthbert. Join us as we discuss the most important sports stories of the day and tee up the biggest games of the night.

It's the fan pregame. 6 p.m. weekdays on Sportsnet, SportsSat 590, The Fan, and wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back into the studio. studio, Nick Kemprio, Justin Boren, Sammy McKeigh, Sammy with his Blue Jay jersey. Yes, buddy. Yes, yes, yes, yes. I hope you're not peeking early here.

We got a whole week. Honestly. Do you know how many Blue Jays hats he has? Like, at least a dozen? At least. He'll have fresh gear all the way through. Should it have like one closet or the hats scattered all over the place? Please don't.

Let's ask Allie. Because sometimes the Allie listens to the show. Yeah. It's a point of way. Also source attention at my house. My wife is regularly trying to throw hats out. They're like, some of the. doors have like hats hanging on like the on like the handle you got to do better than that no i know i know

go home and leave one on the couch you'll hear it too oh i they're not it's not organized my nothing in my life is very organized frankly sammy you got some uh kippers clippers yeah yeah actually so we talked about this a little bit uh last week was stolars and remember you saying with even you even did bring this up to tree about stolers potentially betting on himself this season and as his press conference this morning, because he addressed the media after practice. Somebody asked him about that? Not your question, but the thing. Derek, if we could get Stoller's clip two on him potentially betting on himself this season?

I mean, you obviously have those thoughts, but I mean, at the end of the day, this is where I wanted to be. You know, last summer, or two summers, I guess, this organization showed a lot of faith in me to sign me to a two-year contract, and, you know, everything has been first class, and I've really enjoyed my stay here. So for me, if something could be worked out where I could stay long term and be a part of this group, you know, I thought it was a win-win for both sides. Yeah, this whole thing, betting on yourself is that people should do a study on it. Why is that? To me, you bet on making $15 million. It's all about, I guess, personality and the type of person you are and how aggressive you are.

and to your point, how much are you willing to mess with $15 million to turn it into $30 million? Yeah. It's a big question. You know, I wonder if, you know, we're hoping to talk to him at some point, and I don't know if we will or not,

but you know, you wonder if he has worries too, right? Like his health more than other people's health is like, am I sure this is going to hold up? Maybe I should sign someone paper here. I think, yeah, I think there's for sure a lot of truth to that. I think in this instance, though, I think it has more to do with him just kind of where his comfort zone is

and what he thinks he is. He's found he's a starter. He's a starter. No, he's not a starter. He's not, but he's a starter on the Leafs. Oh, that's insulting. It is, but it's still, it's the 34th best goal in the league.

Why is that insulting? Well, because he had the best save percentage in the NHL last year and he's their guy who's going to start. But you're getting caught up been, like, what is the true sign of a number one goalie, in your opinion? Well, he hasn't been one, though. I understand he's an interest.

He hasn't been for his whole, well, last year, I'd call him the tandem. Why would you do that? Why would you do what? Why wouldn't you call him, instead of calling him a legit starter, why wouldn't you say he's, he's one of the best second kind of guys in the league? He's as good as starters in the NHL, and I know he hasn't played games, but this contract doesn't reflect that. This reflects a tandem guy.

This, exactly. Yeah. And it's, it's, it's why he's like, if we would, if you, if I would ask you, would he was, would his Aav end up being less than four million bucks? You probably would have told me I'm crazy. I actually, I said to some insider at some point not that long ago. I was like, I think it was like, like 4.5. Will you get four times 4.5 and they say higher?

This contract doesn't reflect a. starting goalie in the NHL. Well, maybe it's an excellent contract then. Because if he gives him 40 games of what he gave him last year, it's an incredible deal. Yeah. Can he give him 45? 46, 46.

But that's what's so incredible. But according to this contract, the answer is no. Well, he's being paid for it to be no. Five million dollars, even on guys that we question, like $5 million went to Joey DeCord. in Seattle Like nobody would look at Joey Decord and say

You know This is This is the future of Seattle And he's going to lead them to the promised land Jari Who has had stints in the minors last year Is making $5 million Do you know why they're making $5 million

Because they have shown an ability To play 50 plus games. Yeah. I want to know what your point is. Yes, me too. My point is that Stolar signed this because he knows what he is. Okay.

That's fair. I think that's fair. I don't have anything to rebuttal with that. It's not reflective of a legit number one goalie on a Stanley Cup team. Now, here's what's complicated with this. I'm not saying you can't get there. I'm saying in all probability, he's not that guy. And that's based on over 10 years of proof.

Right, but he was a backup for years and years. Yeah. He was a backup. So, you know, guys get better. They earn their starting job, whatever. So I don't think it's like he's tried to be a starter 10 times and has been injured 10 times. Why? Why?

He was a backup for a lot of years. Of course he tried to be a starter. Now he's good enough to be a starter. He has been probably the last few years. And last year is really, like, what makes you say he's good enough to be a starter? Well, last year, I mean, his numbers and everything have indicated he's ready. Over 34 games. Sure.

And so last year was. really the first time he went to a team and they said let's see how many games you can play and if you can stop enough pucks whatever so what's different about stolars is when you get to the playoffs they tried to play him like a starter they played him seven straight times in the opening round and he was very good until he got bonked on the head something which has never happened to him before and when they get to playoffs this year kip they're going to try the same thing they're going to try to have him be a starter he's not going to be a part of a tandem he's going to be a tandem in the regular season and then they get to the playoffs it's you hope that he is

showing himself to be the best of the tandem and you start him for the playoffs like he's and he's 0 for 1 in being able to do that he's not 0 for 11 or whatever over 10 he's oh for 1 and being able to do that we'll see we'll see I think it's a great contract for the Leafs no question I think it's a good contract for him because he gets he gets four years of of at least being what he has proven to be anything above that is a bonus he will not see any upside now because he chose not to if he got 40 plus games gives you the similar stats

now he's bumping up in the 5-6 range he's doubling his salary it is funny because he's not he was not willing to do that yeah he's not incentivized to try to play 60 games or so because I don't think he thinks he can or 50 but how many guys are though that do that now it's a great question

how many guys how many goalies played 50 games 55 games 50 games whatever last year this is that we can find we have that guess for me 20 20 I don't think 17 all 15 how many how many do you want to know how many do you literally 20 guys in the natchel played sort of 50 games really those those are that's they're all perceived they're all perceived as number one goalies on the respective club to you I am stunned by that number. Hear your names. Skinner, Hill, Kemper, Merslikens, Wolf, Blackwood, Bennington, Bobrovsky, Lukinen, Decord,

Vigmelka, Swamen, Ottinger, Gustavson, Saros, Montembo, Seroch, Schisturkin, Hellebuk, Fasilev. Outside in numbers. It got hot there at the end, but I went from bottom to talk. I'm going to tell you, I'm taking stole orders over a lot of those guys. Yes, straight up. I am, especially at his number.

March, I don't know what that means. Over course of a season? just to get half on my team his numbers that were excellent last year and he was really good in the playoffs until he got attacked by Sam Bennett he played the 36 most games he got attacked he got bumped he got attacked

it was a vicious act of violence stop it my sweet boy the 36 most amount of games last year so you know that's not I think he's in his wheelhouse at 3.75 yeah that's all and I think I think, like you said, great for him, where he gets the security, and it's a great gamble for the least.

What if he ends up playing 50 this year? Yeah. What if this is the year? That is, right? But you have zero belief that that can happen. I just, I'm basing it over. For sure. I know what you're basing it on.

No proof right now. Like 40 games would be, I think, a great milestone for him. 40, half. Yeah. So right now you're left with Notcher of Wool is going to be around. and James Reimer for half their NHL schedule. It's an issue.

You know, like, we went into this season being like at least the goal tending solid and one thing. And it's like, oh God. Yeah. Okay. Dylan Sandberg. Get stock. Out for...

68. 68 with a broken wrist. He became really important for them last year. Yeah. You know, going into last year, I don't know that I would have rated him nearly as highly as I do now. You know, they're still pretty good in the back end.

Morrissey, DeMello, Pionk, you know, can Stanley Tate, Shen? 6'4. It's nice back there. Nice to have. So, 6'8 weeks of the broken rest. This team still looks pretty good to me. Yeah, you know? Totally.

I think Taves is a total wild card, and I really don't really have any idea what it's forward. But, yeah, good bottom six, good decor. I mean, the best regular season goalie in the league. Defending President's trophy. Can't wait for him to start a big game against Canada in the Olympics. That's going to be awesome.

So now on it's Hellebuck, can't do the big game. No, no, no. He has to start. Like, no one else starts for America. Hella Buck starts. He's got to be the number one. Clearly. He was pretty good in that game.

Until McDavid rifted one top corner. Trent Frederick settles in alongside McDavid and Drysidal. Yeah. Good feeling after, Hoylars beat the Canucks? $8 million or sorry,

eight year contract, not $8 million, eight year contract for Trent Frederick. They think he's a player. I think he's a player. Could you have a little protection for Connor out there? Someone who can shoot the puck in the net? I don't know who else you're going to put there. I mean, I know that's part of the problem.

It's like Thomas Sack. So you're going to be one of those guys where he's there for two, three weeks, takes, hits a rut, backs off, back on, back off. or can can he can he be a constant for that's a powerful line Frederick McDaniel's the guy that drops off right for the balance when you need it but can Frederick hold I guess you're you're holding till Hyman can be back when is that I say November mid-November okay so and you can do a Hyman impression

yeah give you a six weeks guy goes to front of the net kind of play that role of you know and just standing there, cross-checking guys in front, having the two of the best players in the world bounce pucks off of you and in. I think he can do that. Yeah. Like, honestly, I just wondering where that contract is.

Earlier in the show, we had Elliot Friedman on. Are you as confident he is about the short-term deal? Elliot just kind of blew me out of the water with the, he'll sign for under, what do you say? Under 16. Under 16. McDavid, coming back, short-term, under 16. That's the current vibe from Fridge.

There'd be a lot of people unhappy. Who would that be? The Players Association. Players Association. Yeah, I can see that. You know, it's funny, Elliot said, you know, not that it's collusion, but they're kind of holding the line. I'm not wanting to this get away from them, but you look at the NBA and teams that

want to win, spend money to get good players. And they use that cap space and it's going to get there eventually. So you said, Krill's going to get traded. I think Krell's going to get traded, yeah, I do. Yeah, I agree with you. I don't, really, he wants to be there. And that's not, I like Minnesota and think they're a fine team. I have no reason to believe he wants to be there either.

But when someone offers you more than anyone in the league. That's a lot of money to say no. What's the no then? What's the no? Well, I don't really like you. Yeah. You know, if you're a manager of a team and you give a guy, offer a guy that much money and they say no, how else can you take that?

You point it, Leon Dry Saddle, and you go two-time hard trophy winner? or whatever, at least one, you know, back-to-back cup finals, Art Ross, you're two million per year better than him. No, you want more.

If I'm, by-bye. Bill Garan, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt of not knowing, but by Christmas, yeah,

before Christmas, I need three or four teams on a list that you would waive your no move. And if you don't, if you don't, oh, don't even. Hold on, I'm not finished.

Don't say bark off. If you don't, I'm sending you home to wait. You are not welcomed. Participating. Back to Dynamo. You're not welcomed in this dress room anymore without a commitment moving forward. I'll pay you to stay home. Yeah.

Yeah. No, that's the right thing to do there. The Russian players do love Florida. I'm not saying, just saying that's a thing. Malkin and Caprizov coming right up in Florida. Don't just get everybody. And then somehow they'll have. them all in.

Yeah, you see, I retweeted a thing the other day. Someone was like, you know, front runners for Evgeny Kuznetstoff are Toronto and Florida. Who said that? No. Someone trying to drum up the price of his KHL contract. Okay, I guess. Yeah, I can't see that.

No chance. They got way too many forwards currently. Yeah, why send this guy that was worse than all of them? Yeah. Like, he was done when he was here last time. Do you see any of those guys that got cleared from the World Juniors playing in Canada? because that seems to be a feel. Carter Hart, for instance.

Like, we're going to hear that it's been lifted. The band's been lifted or the suspension's been lifted. Yeah, they can sign in two days. In two days. Are we going to hear Carter Hart signing in this? Thanks. Do you think you could sign in Canada? None of them in Canada.

None of them in Canada. Quickly, before we go, shout out to my home done attack. Four and no start to the season. Just swept the weekend. Beat Barry twice. B. Hey, what a sports weekend for you. For my Bears. Let's go. Beware the Bear. Gray Bruce Hockey. Four and O. All right. Our thanks to Elliot Friedman. If you didn't get a chance to catch our full hour live,

download us or watch us on YouTube. Have a great night, everybody.