Real Kyper & Bourne - Tensions Rising in Vancouver

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by ESPN's Emily Kaplan (3:47) to give her thoughts on the ongoing tensions within the Vancouver Canucks, the potential of a J.T. Miller trade, the New York Rangers' turnaround and whether the New Jersey Devils are good suitors for the Canucks forward. Then, they get into Connor McDavid's suspension, whether the NHL can look at the NFL in protecting its' star players, which road the Boston Bruins will take ahead of the trade deadline, and the view of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off in the United States. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee dive into the Edmonton Oilers sending a press release on McDavid's 3-game suspension and Canucks' head coach Rick Tocchet's comments about his team's struggles. 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.

Alright, let's get her going on the national hour on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We're live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet 365, Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. In a few minutes we'll welcome in Emily Kaplan from ESPN. Does a terrific job covering the National Hockey League south of the border. She's been on the show before. We're looking forward to catching up with her and getting all the goods still coming out of Vancouver.

Tough night for them against the Buffalo Sabres. Tough night for a McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers in Washington. Good hockey game. Against the Capitals. So what is the latest guys that we're hearing out of Vancouver? I'm following my guy Taj here on Twitter and he just said that apparently talk had just ripped the players in the scrum and that should be posted fairly soon Just saying that seems a little frustrated with with the players talk it's starting to boil over a little bit

Maybe well, we'll have to have a listen at commercial and see if we can find some of that audio but Fascinating stuff. I know you can how could you not be yeah if you're him. Well, yeah Blue lady against the Buffalo Sabresres kids are fighting all the time Uh, not pretty yeah, not pretty and Demko doesn't look like Demko Patterson scored. That's all I know Lots of reports coming in in the last 24 48 hours, of course, Elliott kind of opened it up Saturday night with the thought that the Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks were closing in on some type of deal. Frank Cervelli from DailyFaceoff.com also reporting that the holdup may have been over withholding money off of Miller.

That maybe perhaps the New York Rangers do not want to pick up the whole five years left on his deal. It's one thing to trade a good player. It's another thing to retain on a good player. Points and nine straight for the Rangers by the way Really? Yeah, and they're back in. Oh, yeah, they're they're right there, right? They're knocking on the door so they were never dead to me, but I think I think the foregone conclusion here for the Vancouver Canucks and we'll wait to To get Emily Kaplan's thoughts as well. Is that

The Vancouver Canuck fans, you're not gonna be happy when this thing eventually happens, that there is no deal out there that will, I think, satisfy you because the pieces still out of New York seem to be revolved around Hedl. Right. And Ryan Lindgren and maybe a first round pick. He's a good player.

Fine, but they're trying to win now the Rangers and Hedl is not JT Miller, obviously. Correct. You know, looking at their team with Panarin and Trotschek and Lafrenier and Kulins, Banajad, go through the list, Fox and like they have lots of good players. The Rangers are in a soft conference. They could very well add Miller and be good. So you're not going to get a guy who's good this year. You're not going to get a guy that goes, okay, we got rid of Miller, but this guy is going to make us better. You're going to get whatever, three yeah on the dollar and off you go okay let's welcome in emily caplan from espn hockey reporter emily thanks for joining us uh you're as busy as

ever as well we had jody shelley on in our first hour leaf edition and uh you equally as busy i i caught your intermission the other day on ESPN and of course everybody's talking including yourself on JT Miller. What's the latest you've heard and when do you expect something to happen potentially? Well firstly great to see you guys and thanks for having me on. This is the story that everyone is talking about and obviously everyone in Vancouver is always talking about it, but it seems like it's trickled down here in the States

because it's a big one. Clearly what I've learned, and I think it's what everyone knows is that Vancouver management has come to a decision that the chemistry is just off in their locker room and they've got to do something about it. And they have communicated with JT Miller and he knows that a trade is possible

if not likely before the March 7th trade deadline. But it's a really difficult trade to get done. We know that the Rangers have been involved. This is a player they really covet. Everything I hear about what Chris Drury wants to do to reshape his team, he's looking for a different identity. Like meat and potatoes is a term I heard a lot. Jam and grit. Like the reason that there's all those like Brady Kachuck tampering rumors is because his name is brought up as just a style of player that they want. And he's such a unicorn, but JT Miller obviously fits that.

But it's a difficult deal. And so they're talking to other teams. I do believe the Carolina Hurricanes are involved. The New Jersey Devils, we know, you know, their name has popped up, but it's a difficult one because think of it, JT's got this no movement clause, he's got a big salary. If you look at the New Jersey Devils, yeah, of course they would love center depth and of course they'd love JT

Miller, but who are you moving out? And a lot of their guys have no movement clauses, so I'm not sure anyone is really close at this moment. This is a deal that typically would get done over the summer, but because Vancouver's so motivated, it should get done before March 7th, but when, I have no idea. So if we had had you on the show before Christmas, we'd be talking about the New York Rangers being a complete tire fire. Everything's a mess. Blow it all up. What's going on here? It kind of founded a little bit here. Which version of the Rangers is the real Rangers? Probably somewhere a little in the middle or tilted towards what we're seeing now. They're a team that I cover a ton. I have a lot of their games on national television. And we had

a bunch of those games where they were in that crisis of confidence. And you're like, Oh my goodness, they're just writing off this year. It's a lost year. You trade away your captain, you piss off the locker room. Everyone's factioned of the way that you're doing business. And they've been able to stabilize. And I think a large part of that is because they have one of the best goaltenders in the world, Egor Shosturkin. And there's a bunch of that guys on that roster that can play.

And we've seen it in the last couple of playoff runs. Clearly management though, is just looking for a different DNA that they think that this core group might not have what it takes to get over the hump. And that's why they're looking for different types of players, looking to get younger, looking to get grittier. And I think that has affected the guys in the locker room. But I think at this moment, you got to give credit to this coaching staff because Peter

Lavillette and his coaches at some point are probably just like, why the hell is this happening? Why is this happening to us? And now the fact that the guys have all bought in it's like Okay, they can get going here But you know in the back of all these guys mind their names keep coming up in the trade rumors, rightfully So because I don't think chris durry is done You're watching and listening to emily caplan from esp and uh covering the national hockey league, so if

If not the rangers for jt mill JT Miller, we've heard Carolina, we've heard New Jersey, how much do you think they're legitimately in on this? Yeah, New Jersey, I checked in with them again today. And it was more of like, of course, like, I think we're making calls. And you know, we know Fitzgerald and Patrick Alveen known each other for years, they worked together on the Penguins staff that won a Stanley Cup. But like, does this really make sense for New Jersey right now?

Or are they able to do it right now? Are they able to move around that salary and no movement clauses? And I don't think so. Caroline is a team that's really intriguing to me. I actually caught up with Eric Tulski, their GM, this week. And I asked him, I was like, you know, with everything that went down last year with Jake Gensel,

you guys went against your typical mold. You gave up a lot for a rental. It didn't work out in the playoffs and you weren't able to resign him. Did that shape anything that you guys were trying to do at this year's deadline? And he basically was like, no, we're still always looking for these big swings

as long as that we find it at a price that we think makes sense. So if they're able to come up with a package that makes sense to the Vancouver Canucks, I think they're in it as much as anybody is. Just one point on an attractive name out of Carolina would be Martin Nakesh. And is there any chance at all you can see that happening or are they going to be stuck with maybe Akaki and Nemi? Yeah, I think that's a front office that's really open to anything. can see that happening or are they going to be stuck with maybe a Kaki and Nemi?

I think that's a front office. It's really open to anything. I think, I don't want to say like they don't have any star players on that team because I do think that's disrespectful, but you know, Jacob Slaven's an incredible defenseman. We know what Sebastian Ajo can do, but it really feels like so many players in the team that they'd be okay moving as long as they got a serious upgrade and for what JT Miller or a player like that can provide he's a serious upgrade over so many guys that they have so I would just say that's a team that's always looking to get in the mix

maybe Martin H.S. who's kind of cooled off after that really hot start could be a name that they consider but we shall see. Are you good on that topic? I'm gonna ask you about the Edmonton Oils. You don't want 10 more questions on JT Miller. We could do it. We could do it. The next hot topic in Canada here is the leak of the audacity to suspend Conor McDavid. The team put out a statement saying that they support Conor which was really profound. I thought that they are standing by their guy who cross-checked someone else. What were your thoughts on this and how this is played out? I know Oilers fans are pretty upset. Yeah, that's probably an understatement, Justin.

You're getting pretty good at euphemisms in this job. I think that there's like two separate conversations to go on here. One is about the way the game is officiated and the other is about the Department of Player Safety and really their system of checks and balances. I was absolutely shocked when I heard the stat the other day that about a third of NHL suspensions result from a play that was uncalled on the ice. Like that really shows that these are two separate entities going on. But to me, when I saw this play in its entirety, I'm like, this is a culmination of frustration

from Connor McDavid of just not getting calls this season. We know since he's entered the league, since 2016, he leads the leagues in drawn penalties, rightfully so, right? He's always got the puck, guys can't catch him. But this year, his rates are really down, and we've seen so many instances, like just a week earlier, Adrian Kempbe sleuths him,

not called in the game, but then Department of Player Safety does everything they can, which just a week earlier, Adrian Kempbe sleuths him, not called in the game, but then Department of Player Safety does everything they can, which is a $5,000 fine. So I think Connor in this moment was super frustrated because there's many uncalled penalties on Connor Garland before this happens. All of that said, it is indefensible ever to cross check an opponent in the head.

Like that's not cool. Three games was probably a little harsh. I thought it would be two, but when I first saw three, I was like, okay, maybe this just covers the rematch. But the fact that the rematch was in 2, I think maybe you could have landed there. But Connor's going to move on and any notion that like he's not going to participate in league events and promote the league because he's pissed off by this. I don't think that's true. Knowing Connor, he cares about winning a Stanley Cup first and foremost. But behind the scenes, there's two things he cares about. It's promoting star players better and international hockey.

And so we're coming up with the Four Nations tournament, like to think that he's not going to go up there and give press conferences for Team Canada and promote this event for the NHL. I think that's absolutely ludicrous. Is there anything that in conversations south of the border about what the NFL was able to do with protecting their quarterbacks and if hockey can ever do anything to kind of work around the edges on that in your opinion? Yeah, I think those are definitely conversations that we have down here, especially because we see the way that those leaks have grown. The NBA didn't become what it is until these star players became entities of themselves,

like before Michael Jordan became the thing that dragged along the Chicago Bulls and then the TV deals and endorsement deals all followed or surrounding it. The NFL didn't become what it is until we all of a sudden have quarterbacks that are not just stars, but like celebrities here in the U.S. They're A-list celebrities. So you see the way that Patrick Mahomes get calls. And I know that a lot of the hockey players are like, okay, well, why aren't we doing that to our star players? Me personally, like I'm a huge fan of football. I cut my teeth covering football. I covered the NFL. I've noticed myself like watching NFL games on my couch this winter. I'm like, the game's almost unwatchable with just how many flags are thrown. Every single play seems like a flag. And I think in hockey, there's always been this code of just

let them play, especially with this situation with Connor McDavid. If you think of the refs on the ice, it's Wes McCauley. That's what he's notorious for. And I think there's got to be some kind of balance where we have to do a better job of protecting them because we are putting these star players in unsafe situations and we want to see them on the ice. Like we want to see them doing their thing, but I don't think we need to over index because the way that they protect and coddle them in the NBA and the NFL, that's not what hockey is about. So we've been, I would agree with that.

We've been kicking around potential teams You know that are gonna be interesting leading up to the trade deadline one of the names that I had brought up earlier was Trent Frederick Charlie coils on some trade lists, but the Boston Bruins are still the Boston Bruins and they have superstars and they're in the mix What what do you think about where they're at and what they're gonna do over the coming six weeks? I Think they're at a serious crossroads. I think this management group seems to have supportive ownership still, no matter what happens this season, at least through the season. I think it is going to be Don Sweeney and Cam Neely running the show. And you hear them spoke last week, saying, like, we have two paths we can go down. The one path that we've been doing the last couple years,

but that hasn't resulted in the Stanley Cup, and it results with a so-so record this year where we had to fire a really good coach. Or we're gonna have to think about retooling. And I think from what I'm hearing and the fact that so many teams do believe that Trent Frederick is gonna be available, they're not gonna come to agreement on a long-term contract,

and maybe some other names there, that a retool is the way they need to go and will probably go. They need to get younger. I said this on the broadcast, we had them, I don't know, a week or two ago, but another director of amateur scouting told me that Boston has the worst prospect pool in the entire NHL. He was like, there's no one really knocking on the door in Providence. They call Matt Potra, he looks okay, but really nobody else there. They've

whiffed on so many first round picks. Their first round pick from this past year is going to be a project. He's not really lighting it up in BC right now. He's a big guy. He's going to be a late developer. And I think they just need to restock their prospect pool and get much younger in order to make this not a full tear down, which they clearly don't want to do because they've got Jeremy Swainman and David Postronok, Charlie Mackleball, all these great players. But you got to do something to make this a little better and a little smoother. Maybe look like what the Washington Capitals did where all of a sudden they started targeting a bunch of guys in their early mid 20s and lo and behold you don't have to do the full teardown Emily were a few weeks away from the four nations face off

And I'm sure you're gonna be busy as heck as well throughout that tournament just the overall feel again south of the border We saw we're starting to see a little bit of a domination at the world junior level from USA hockey oh my poor Sammy here he's just a mess Emily he's a mess stop that I'm glad he's off camera I don't want to see what that looks like just the overall buzz down there in terms of you know there is some talk about maybe ticket sales being a little slower than they'd like, but overall, where do you see the momentum coming in in the next two weeks?

Yeah, I think the ticket sales are a little slower than they like, because some of these matches are just going to be hard to sell in those two markets, right, and especially, you know, we don't know who's going to be in the final. I think that if it's USA, Canada, the buzz is going to be absolutely outrageous. I expect these to be full arenas though, like this is going to be in the final. I think that if it's USA Canada, the buzz is going to be absolutely outrageous. I expect these to be full arenas though.

Like this is gonna be really cool. People in the US are starting to get excited because I think they're starting to realize what it means. Like the fact that we've never seen Austin Matthews or either Kachuk brother on the stage. The fact that we have such good goaltenders, such better goaltenders seemingly than your country in Canada or maybe the other two nations and that could win us the tournament. So I think there's starting

to be this tangible field of like, okay, cool, we could see something really good here in momentum, but I don't expect here in the US. I mean, like if I have to be completely frank, we're still in NFL, NFL, NFL in our general sports landscape. College football got their day to shine. It was NFL after that. So once the Super Bowl is over and once we can turn our full attention to this, I think it's really gonna amp up and be exciting. It is not a coincidence that they plan this tournament like starting two days after the Super Bowl, I imagine, Emily. No.

Benischel does something. Yeah, they got a good planner for sure. We had Betman on last week and one of the questions I asked him was about Utah and about the name of the team and kind of what we're waiting for, what's the hold up. Sounds like it's tough to get a name that people haven't picked already and don't have rights to, hey? Yeah, no, it's shocking. Obviously, Yeti, it leaked out. Clayton Keller came to the media tour, and that kid never says anything controversial.

He's such a hockey player. And he just starts referring to them as the Yetis. And I'm like, Clayton, really? Did you go there? So I think everyone had the assumption that that was going to be it. And then we find out about legal battles that go on behind the scenes.

And sometimes it's juicy, and sometimes it's really boring. But it seems like this is dragged on longer than anyone would have liked. Maybe not for the Utah hockey club because they can sell a bunch more merch and maybe extend this and just sell then another wave of merch. But I think by this point, we're ready for them to be fully legitimate. It's cool they're there, but let's treat them like a real team and not a temporary one. Emily, if we're going to talk about Utah, we got to talk a little bit about maybe expansion

opportunities south of the border and the world's completely changed where I think Gary Bettman and Bill Daley, they just sit with their feet up on their desk and they wait for applications. What market grabs your attention because we've have heard Atlanta coming back in and Houston but in your opinion over the last few years Where do you see this thing going? I? Mean it does seem inevitable right just because we know that Gary Batman and Bill Daley and entirely they listen to their owners and their Owners really like money and they like the checks that have been coming in and see the valuations and know that they could be getting even more. So I think we'd all be ignorant to say that this is not a real possibility. Where is the really big question? I think here, especially in the U.S., there's a lot of skepticism

about Atlanta saying like, okay, if you did it twice, like, why is it going to work out this time? It seems like these ownership groups have a good plan, you know, maybe not doing some of the mistakes that they did last. I think Atlanta has changed a lot as a city. It's grown. But I'm, I'm, I'm feeling like there's a lot of momentum there, but I too would like to see it to believe it and know that it will be different this time. And then Houston is another one that just really captivates me and just the way the Dallas has built such a good hockey market. and it took time, but there's so many learn to play and youth hockey programs going on there. When I go to games there, it's amongst the loudest arenas and they're passionate and knowledgeable hockey fans and just the sheer size of Houston, the fact that

it's very Hispanic, the proximity to Mexico. I know there's so many teams now saying like, Hey, why are we doing that preseason game in Australia two years ago? Can we do Mexico City? Like that's way more feasible growing our audience here in North America. So that's the city that I'd be really curious about as well. Emily, the race for the final playoff spot in the East

is absolute mayhem for all my time covering hockey. I can't remember it looking like this with so many teams in it. Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, Columbus, the Rangers, Flyers, Penguins, Red Wings, Islanders. Who you got? Yeah, I know. It feels like everyone I've talked to in the last two weeks just feels like the Rangers will get one of those spots because of who they are coming into form.

Yeah, there's probably more changes before they settle out, but I'm thinking it's gonna be them. I really wanna believe in Detroit. It's a really important market here in the US. When the Red Wings are good, it matters. There's energy, it's hockey town. I had one of their games when they're on that win streak with Todd McClellan, or it was right afterwards. And I'm like, holy cow, they figured it out.

I think it's still some bumps in the road. I think that this is still a group that probably needs something, but that's kind of the team that I'm rooting for. But I look at Ottawa and Montreal, and I'm like, there are no longer easy outs. And both of them have so much juice and energy that I have a really hard time handicapping who's

going to finally secure that spot. But it does feel like I've been able to at least eliminate some teams Like I don't think the Islanders are getting there and unfortunately for the Sabres you got next year. Yeah I take it. It's a rare night off for you. Where you headed next It's actually like a week and a half off I was in Connecticut yesterday Here in Chicago chillin, please. Don't tell my bosses that I'm relaxing too much But we got back that weekends in Boston before the four nations, so I'm excited for that and in Chicago Better and mommy but better for Badaar these days too, right?

Yeah, you know like I talked to so many people in that organization and they get really frustrated You know and I don't want to blame Canadian media But obviously like they're concerned about you, their prodigal son and like, what are you guys doing to him? Are you ruining him? Like he, he just looks so pissed off and angry and everyone in Chicago is like, that's not what's going on here. Like he's so into into what we're doing.

Our prospect pool is amazing. He's super invested. He's dial into the plan and like, do you want him to be okay with losing? Like remember Connor McDavid is for his couple couple years Nate McKinnon when they were going through it like it would be weird if he wasn't pissed off so I think Connor is gonna be okay as long as their prospects are all as good as they think they are and from what I've seen of what you know they've been able to produce that some of these younger there's different levels like they should have a good wave

coming in that's gonna be able to grow with them Excellent stuff Emily really appreciate your time. Enjoy the rest of the week and we'll catch up with you down the road. I Appreciate it. I'm gonna go clean my computer. I'm a little blurry here That is Emily Kaplan who does a terrific job reporting for the National Hockey League on ESPN Hmm, the Devils would be interesting for JT Miller, wouldn't he? Yeah, you were even talking with that for a while. Why you just anything come through? What are you reading? What are you looking at?

Oh, you wrote, I remember you wrote that like three or four weeks ago. It's kind of been out there ever since that. I think they need something. I've not been impressed with them the last little while and. I think they've won two of their last 11 boys. Listen, this was a team a lot of people had very high before the season started in terms of being a team

that will legitimately contend in the East. I remember us doing the bet 365 segments in the first week when I was doing some lookahead stuff and I'm pretty sure at one point they were the odds on favorite before any games were played but they might have been like the favorite to win the cup. Sheldon Keefe was the favorite for Jack Adams. They were really, really, really up there. Which is crazy because last year the Devils had 81 points in 82 games They were really not very good

So and a lot of that came down to not having a goalie and the goaltending killed them a lot So they got Jacob Markstrom so people thought they were maybe getting on the right track, but yeah, I don't know They're on a totally different pace now on pace for you know more like more like a hundred points So yeah, that would be a pretty good jump game time game time It's game time. Is it about bet 365 visit the app latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary at bet 365 I'm a 19 plus on terror only please play responsibly Some good at games on the ice tonight Including the one on sports net Leafs and Columbus Leafs big faves on home ice minus 205 against the Columbus Blue Jackets

Seems like a scary number with Dennis Hill to be in net. I don't know I think some goals could enter the net tonight neither team having very great goaltending I think we were talking about them being the second worst team save percentage in the league the Columbus Blue Jackets Dennis Hill to be a net tonight The the total reflects that it's at six and a half, but I'd be willing to go over on that total. Six and a half. Yeah, but what's a minus 110 on both sides. So I think there's definitely value in that. Winnipeg in Colorado, excellent game tonight. Winnipeg is slight underdog plus 100 on the road to take on the Avs. Big Central

Division tilt. And later on, Florida in LA to take on the Avs big central division tilt and later on Florida in LA to take on the Kings LA scuffling a little bit recently. They're one and four in their last five games Florida just got a big win over the over the Anaheim Ducks last night Sam Bennett's first goal Since before the day before the team Canada was named so good for him. You cut him off him off Team Canada. I didn't cut him. Like last week. No, emotionally. Yeah, you just said he's no good. Do we have, maybe we won't do this in game time, but maybe we have a time for reflections

on Team Canada's choosing. But this Logan Thompson thing's horrifying. Yeah, the Logan Thompson thing. Let's do that after the break, because I do feel like that was a full dive into that. And the last game tonight is Boston in New Jersey to take on the Devils. We were just talking about New Jersey, huge favorites on home ice, minus 220. Pretty good value there with the Boston Bruins.

They're not great, but plus 180 in the Devils. Devils are playing great. So anyways, that was game time. Presented by bet 365. Visit the Yacht Flayers Dodds and find out why it's never ordinary. Bet 365 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Okay. we'll take a quick break catch our breath and as Sammy and JB just mentioned we'll get into Logan Thompson

and I don't know if it was a shot to team Canada but clearly he's not too happy right now we'll get into what we saw out of the Edmonton Oilers being McDavid lists last night. And the Washington Capitals were directly involved with that win last night against the Oilers. What are the chances of this team continuing to be a top team in the Eastern Conference? That, when we return and more to Real Kipper and Bourne. A reminder this hour of Real Kipper and Boran brought to you by Bet365, Nick Kiprios, Justin Boran, Sammy McKee. All right. Where do you want to start?

You want to start? We got Rick Tucket sound from today, which is quite interesting. We've got the Edmonton Oilers No, McDavid last night a loss but prior to that you did not like the team's press release And I I'm I'm excited to hear why embarrassing Guys, this is embarrassed. Well, are they gonna wear some... That's a strong word.

Are they gonna wear jerseys that say Conor Strong on them in the next warm-up? Guy Cross checked the guy in the mouth! The Oilers organization is disappointed and we share in our fans' frustration over the three-game suspension of our captain, Conor McDavid. We support him through this process and the organization and our fans look forward to having him back in the lineup next week. It's embarrassing, it really is embarrassing. Did we need that? Did we need to know that they support McDavid? Can I defend them a little bit here? Please. Okay. Please, God. This is not an average suspension. This is against the best hockey player in the world. So here you are on an off day

and you got everybody calling for a reaction. Everybody, like local or nationally. Then you got people screaming, when's McDavid gonna talk? And they don't make them available. And they're just clamoring for something. So, I don't know, put an obvious press release together and just send it out there. No one was clamoring for

anything. Everyone knows where the team stands. They don't want their captain suspended. They were asking for responses. They were asking for interviews. They were asking for something. I don't know who this they is. Media. I knew that the Oilers, I also think it's hilarious to put out a statement saying we support the guy who did the cross checking in the face, but nothing for Evan Bouchard who wore one in the lips. It's a dumb league. Well, he's not signed long term.

He literally skated up to a guy, wore one in the face, the game ended, and the team put out a statement that said, we support the guy who did the cross-checking. Let's play a really fun game called, what would happen if the Leafs did this? Can you imagine how much you would be making fun of them? All of the media would be making fun of them. Oh my god. They them all of the media would be making fun. Oh my god They're all of Canada was if it was Matthews if it was And you were top player you would bury them you would absolutely

Very it just says we're on his side. It's not that big of a deal. It's not it's just come on. It's embarrassing Absolutely embarrassing sorry anyway anyway, it's the greatest player in It's just, come on. It's embarrassing. It's absolutely embarrassing. Sorry it is. Anyway, anyway, anyway. It's the greatest player in our generation right now. Who didn't, you know, like. RZ Nick Kiprios running over Grant Fuhrer. He's, okay. Yeah, best player in the league.

Best player in the world. Best player in the world. He's coming back. He put a statement out. Next week. Regarding the best player in the world. He didn't lose a hand. He's playing hockey next week. Like.

It's not. But you don't treat. You don't treat them like any other suspension. You just don't treat it like any other suspension is my point. It's a Conor McDavid. I mean, he crushed the guy in the middle. This is cross. All right.

We have McDavid on this by the way. All right. Let's hear it. And for the record, just to run the tape back on yesterday, I thought two or one games was the right amount for McDavid. Two. I thought it was two. Yeah. Yeah, we thought it was two.

So this is not a hockey play. I don't think it's a three game suspension either. I just think it's a ridiculous overreaction. He'll be back in a few days. McDavid. Clip, yeah. How do I see that? I mean, I'm just trying to tie the game. I'm not really looking to engage with him.

Obviously there's lots of holding and holding now he holds my head down for a little bit and stuff like that. But you know I can't have that reaction. Obviously I know that. Everyone knows that not the reaction that I'm proud of or that that anyone wants to see out of me and I understand that and that being said obviously there's lots of infractions going on there you know maybe the whole thing is avoided with a blow of the whistle or something like that. So but again, I can't have that reaction. Okay, this is where I disagree with him. Hold on.

Let me guess what part you are proud of him. Be proud of him. I knew it. I'm proud too. Be proud. Yes. Be like, yeah, you sit on me in the final 30 seconds or I'll cross check you in the face.

You want to maul me? Yeah. Okay. This is what's coming. Mm-hmm. Okay, and it's been going on for generations and decades and I am now part of that group. You once played with a guy named Mark Messier. Mark Messier got a lot of points, very good offensive player. He knocked a lot of teeth out. He was fairly well known for not taking a whole bunch of BS. A zero. My Instagram algorithm somehow has become

all Messier cheat shots. It just shows you Messier being a criminal. He just hammered guys. Elbows are plenty. And people knew when mark was on the ice. Yep, and they treated him with respect It's not like you can turn these guys into that. No one wants it, but you can have a moment like that And it's okay. It's like it's okay. The reaction is okay Two games three games games, who cares? Really, at the end of the day, where Connor is right now in his career and in his world,

who cares? Three, two, whatever. Whatever. Totally. They're a great team, it doesn't change their season any. Right? Yeah. And hopefully someone's paying attention that goes, oh.

And so if this is the team, the statement is the team pandering to the fans, why shouldn't they? It's their fans, their player. I get it. And is there one player that would think about, I could get a cross check again if I hold on to them a little too tight? Could help them out. Maybe. Maybe there's that one guy. And for everyone in their car in Vancouver listening to this, does everyone just ignore the fact that he lied on Conor Garland for two minutes before he had? I think his stick was caught under Garland.

I mean he's lying on top of him. He's engaged with him before the... His stick is under Garland. He can't get it free. Is it like... If he would have said what he could have? That's a dumb Everyone's acting like mr. Oh, mr. Innocent. Mr. That's like he start like it was a two-way street

They were fighting they were battling and then the Edmonton Oilers like it was not right. No two-way street No, two-way street Garland is doing everything he can did. Yeah, that's like them. Yeah, but he was By the way, if I'm a Vancouver Canuck, I'm liking Garland too. Yeah. Oh man, that's exactly what you want Garland to do. I gotta tell you, Garland's high on my list of guys I would have on my team. He's a hockey player to me. He really thinks it well.

High hockey IQ. That turtleneck, the the helmets too big. It's all Yeah, what are you thinking of his head coach today after Meeting the press. Yeah, so talk not not thrilled with his team and they're not having a lot of fun in Vancouver these days Did we end up getting a? So talk it held a presser today and I guess voiced some of that frustration about how it's going in Vancouver. Do we have? Yeah, we do.

All right. Let's check out what Tauke had to say. Well, what did Tom Brady say? If you want to have fun, go to Disneyland. Winning is fun. Competing is fun. You know, listen, if you compete and you lose and you're competing and you're part of the process, yeah, you should smile and feel good about yourself.

But I'm not sure we're happy with the process. That's why you got some frowns and people aren't happy. You shouldn't be happy. And I do, I love that line. Go to Disneyland if you want to have fun. We're in the business of winning, but saying that, it's the process of it,

and I don't think we've liked our process. It's been a roller coaster ride all year. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but you're going to Disneyland, aren't you soon? Take the kids and never be in debt until I'm 60. Buddy, how are you? You're so exotic. You're never gonna financially recover from that. You'll never play for talk, I can tell you that.

No. Yeah. No, I'm dreading. Anyway. Yeah, I haven't heard from anyone, any parent who says if you want to have fun, go to Disneyland. That doesn't, sounds like work. But to his point I guess the point he's making is he doesn't think they're working because he says competing is fun and They don't seem to be having fun. So that means they're not competing It just seems like when it rains it pours when things can go wrong It's just that the season snowballs in whatever direction. I've written about this.

I truly believe in the season-long snowball. Last year, the Canucks had every good thing built into the next good thing, and this year it is coming unraveled. So I can't blame the coach for feeling a little frustrated here. But Vancouver Canucks fans will be if this thing goes sour and they miss the playoffs, this will all stem on JT Miller and Patterson and not handling it and not handling it. Right. When this reared its ugly head, it became on the team to sort it out. And not only did it not get sorted out. It's dragged on now for

months maybe to the to the detriment of the team who is a point behind the Calgary flames who were not trying to make playoffs this year. Yeah. So, you know, obviously a lot goes into that but so we had Dolly Wall. I think they'll wear it for sure. We had Dolly Wall on Monday and he was talking about his contract and like him just couldn't you just see Him in like I'm good man. Like I TNT pays well, too I go there and then come back and find another job when one opens. Yeah, this is a nightmare It's every day where she just hope you remove one element and it gets better open to another door It's another horror rate waiting for you. Like it's just it's not been good

It's not been good it's not been good so I just don't know what he can do as a coach until this gets sorted out so do you think it's at the point Kip where you're better off not getting full value on a return to make the move sooner or do you think it's it's like you can't lose a trade here for a great player. I would be trying everything in my power to fix it first. I wouldn't give up on it and it would scare the heck out of me to let JT Miller walk out the door and get a minimal return, watch him go help the Rangers or New Jersey and go, what was I thinking?

Well, you know exactly what he's going to look like when he goes to another team and he's motivated. Reinvigorated. Right? We've seen him at his best. He's going somewhere, chip on his shoulder, how it didn't work out there, ready to prove everybody that it wasn't all him. You know, you know how that's going to look. Yeah. I've been given praise to

Harmond Dale lately because he wrote something I really liked about Miller and said that in his years at Vancouver, he found him to be an amplifier. And so that can be for the good and the bad. So when your team is doing well, and you start to get that swagger and he brings that out of your team and blows it up and amplifies that energy. But it's the same for the negatives. You know how I felt about Miller like even last year, like he won me over. Won me over. Yeah. Right. And everything that you had heard about him prior to going to Vancouver in New York and then Tampa Bay, he seemed to have straightened out, and maturity or whatever,

like it just seemed like the light switch went off where this guy was now a true player, and he was hitting all the high notes. He's playing D. And then, like I don't know when, but soon as it got public a little bit, you're like, now I'm starting to hear the stuff about him that you heard in New York and Tampa.

This is maturity. To me, it's like if you're an amplifier, you don't have the ability to step back to zoom out to be a leader and say things are going poorly. I need to help raise the guys up in the other direction. We're getting too high here. Let's pull it back down. You're just kind of, you know, going with it. And so if that was criticism of him before he found Vancouver

and that success, it doesn't seem fixed to me. It still seems like someone who is tied to the success of what's going on around him rather than the cause of it. I got to think the Calgary Flames right now who hold one of the two playoff spots in the west. They're the good vibes team. I think they're just going. You're the opposite of the Canucks.

It's like watching, it's like winning your round and waiting for the next two teams. While they're beating each other up. Beating the crap out of each other and you're saying keep going, keep going, keep Yeah. And it seems to me like Calgary's just punching themselves in the face every day and they're just like whoa. They're going oh don't trade them don't trade them just keep these two good to trade just keep beating the crap out of each other. That's true for sure. You love what's going on there. I feel bad. We don't

talk about the flames nearly enough Ron and Cal Calgary like, what are they going to do? They're going to be in a tough spot. They lost Walker Dewar on waivers, which I don't love. He's a pretty good player. I just... They do nothing. They do nothing. I think that's what they're going to do. Nothing. They just... They're going to be like, God, this is all gravy. You know, like we didn't anticipate being where we are. We're having success. Our veterans have been good. Young kids are coming along. Let's just get in some good games and call it a win of a season.

I don't think they need to do anything. They're not going to win the cup. They're not going to pick in the lottery. They might as well be competitive and get some games that matter under their belt. You're finding ways for Jonathan Hubertow to help. Kadri's still Cadry Blake Coleman like and your young kids are coming along like there's they don't have a ton of ufas like they're Anderson's got another year so like four points behind the Kings for third

nothing you do nothing you keep putting a shovel in the ground and keep building your new arena. Yeah, yeah, I agree. I like that. And I've said since day one, they just work and they're getting great goal-tending. We know Valakett loves Dustin Wolf. And you start pushing him for best rookie in the league. That's what you do. The Calder, make that happen.

Three first round picks this year for the Calgary Flames. They have their own they have they have Florida's and they have I guess New Jersey's from the From the Markstrom deal and they also have two next year as well They have Vegas is two or two two second rounders this year. They're stocked up pretty good. So You know, they're not far off being Washington that if they bought a couple of players it's like god it feels like anyone could win. And there is oh so hold on a second here there's a condition on their first that they have this year if Calgary 2024 first round is between the 20 and

32 Montreal can take that pick instead. Okay so there you go anyways. So I did mention that I watched Washington beat the Edmonton Oilers and like it's just not going away. Logan Thompson. So he was not happy I guess someone asked him about was it someone specifically asked him about Team Canada reaching out to him. He was on the fan hockey show today with Marquesi and Futa, and he basically said that they never reached out. They didn't call him.

They didn't call him. Which is crazy, because they made a lot of calls, the guys who were close, and I believe. Yeah, but they also made calls to guys that... Courtesy calls. Yeah, I know, but they were courtesy calls to guys deeper, more seasoned, like Tavares and Stampp Coase and I'm not sure Logan Thompson

falls into that category. But don't you think a guy with the best numbers at the position probably should get an explanation for why he wasn't chosen? Or no? Yeah, maybe just send him an email, maybe a text. Page him. I'm all right with it but I gotta tell you Kip there are a lot of Canadian hockey fans who are perturbed yeah by Logan Thompson's

success and I read you listen he could still end up in the Olympics can read you a tweet this is from Stephen Ellison's Canada's Ross was announced for the four nations face-off Logan Thompson has posted a 12 1 and 1 right now. I know he's having a great year with a 938 save percentage and 18 goals save above expected Only huh only hellebuck has more wins Thompson is first in everything else. It's pretty good first And we it's like I watch a lot of ball on Saturday night. It's like they I mean, I guess he was pretty good last night, but jeez Mm-hmm. You know, I think

Go ahead. Why why why why do you think he wasn't shows? Wow? Indeed I don't know. He's he's good. He's really good and It's not a fan of nachos either last night. No, that was actually very funny but there has to be something and There's a reason they chose Aiden Hill and Sam Montembeau Perhaps or I mean there's got relationships play into it. I mean, so if you're looking around here Cassidy is on the bench who has he's an assistant coach with with John Cooper Aiden Hill is probably

the person when it when it was chosen. Correct. Was his teammate was his teammate. If you're deducting here, there's obviously something there some friction, but you're trying to win a hockey tournament here. He's just been way better than any of the Canadian goalies. But he has no I mean, a lot of that has happened since he wasn't the runaway best in the league But he should have been on it at that time too. They needed the body-borne speech clearly. We don't get along So let's just try to make the best of it and win for our country but I do wonder then if this damages relationships if he is the best guy heading into the Olympics if he's offended at being left off or

or how that works but I do get the impression that there is a reason he wasn't selected and it wasn't just thinking everyone else is better. You know what Bennington's say percentages is here? 898. You know what Aidan Hill say percentages? 901. In saying all of this for Logan Thompson. Okay there's still a lot of people that think like Midnight's gonna strike on the Washington Capitals Really? Yeah, you're one of them. I have been thinking that that would happen at some point But there's only there's the sample gets big enough to go. I misread this team They're better than I thought and I'll wear that I'll say I they're better than I thought

misread this team they're better than I thought and I'll wear that I'll say I they're better than I thought but yeah I mean I you know one of the teams you look at the lineup and try to squint and go I guess big though and yeah but they're dear their top pair Sandeen Carlson you got Chikrin who's been defensively fond of TBR Carlson is sneaky good and very underrated. Okay, that's fine. The U.S. didn't want him on their team. They don't think he's one of the six bestie in their country.

I know, and Washington's real happy about that. Dylan Strowman's a top line center with Connor McMichael and 39 year old Ovi. McMichael is sneaky good too. I know, and this pro-tess is good too, but do flaws turn into a pumpkin plenty of times? Tom Wilson going down the ice radish. Eller Frank do hame But I watched that game last night. They looked like I've watched them a lot of times this year

He's good. Hey, they just look good except for Ovi who's Ovi dogging it up and down the oh my gosh Ovi Looked incredibly slow last There for two minutes every two minutes on the power play Was there an empty net last night? How do you do that score? I don't know drives me nuts Anyway, I wonder what he's gonna be like if they go April May. Yeah, like well, this is the thing like Look like through several playoff rounds Yeah

If we think this is a legit contender and then you're leaning on McMichael and Protass and Dubois in your top six like, fine. Good team. You're good. Being well coach, getting great goal-tending. Great goal-tending. The best in the league. Almost like they should be playing for Canada.

Anybody that gets out of the East in that Atlantic division goes straight to the favorite to come out and represent. Out of the Atlantic? Yes. You think, yeah, over the top Metro teams? Oh yeah, yeah, without a doubt in my mind. You know, Florida, Florida's probably still

gonna Florida it up. Yeah, it's gonna be Florida. Yeah. Yeah. I do like the idea though, as a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, if you're potentially getting past the first round God forbid That you're gonna have to play one of Tampa or Florida as opposed to right both Last night the Predators came back from down four goals, which is the first time they've done that Sammy

You said they were oh and 173. Yes. I know David Amber is in a survivor pool and he picked Nashville last night Oh my god, he witnessed it on his behalf. Got the comeback. Props to him. Kaprizov Spurgeon could return Thursday versus Utah. Help coming for the wild. They've held their head above water. Our thanks to Jody Shelley who does a terrific job on Sportsnet or Fox Story Ohio.

Four games on tap. Also Emily Kaplan from ESPN, of course. I gotta mention that. Four games on tap tonight, including a signature one here on Sportsnet, our national coverage begins at 7 p.m. Eastern, Columbus versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thanks for watching, thanks for listening.

We're back again tomorrow on The Real Kipper and Bourne Show. Have a great night, everybody.