Real Kyper & Bourne - The 4 Nations Face-Off Has Arrived

Episode Date: February 12, 2025

The 4 Nations Face-Off is finally here, and Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne welcome in Hockey Hall of Famer and Olympic Gold medalist Chris Pronger (1:32) to discuss international tournament dynamics. They get into the chemistry-building process on national squads, what to expect in terms of intensity, the state of Canadian hockey and more. Later, 4 Nations play-by-play announcer Chris Cuthbert (30:54) helps set the stage for the tournament's opening game between Canada and Sweden in Montreal tonight and reflects on the long-awaited return of international best-on-best hockey. Finally, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee discuss how the tournament can boost hockey's popularity and the pressure on Team Canada to hit the ground running.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, how long we waited for this? It's time. The buildup, the four nations face off. NHL's best on best. The league shut down for the start of what we hope is some, some great fast entertaining hockey. Welcome into the real Kipper and born show. Nick Kiprios, Justin born, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandeo and Jen roll neck all with you for the fastest hour in hockey coming up.

This is going to be a great show. It's a fast show. So don't blink don't leave We got Chris Pronger coming up in a few minutes. You think of a better guest to Start the 2025 Four Nations and Chris Pronger triple gold club guy who also played in the 98 Olympics the 02 Olympics The 06 Olympics the 2010 Olympics the only Canadian ever Canadian ever playing all or playing four Olympics as an oculaer. Also in about 35 minutes, Chris Cutbert, of course, of Vancouver gold medal fame. He called the golden goal. He called the golden goal.

Sidney Crosby. And these games. What an honor. Does he have any magic? Left in 2025 with Sid Participating in this tournament as well. Okay, Sammy, we'll get you and don't worry buddy. We're gonna I don't think anyone cares. We're gonna go to Hall of Famer Two-time Olympic gold medalist Stanley Cup champion, of course and

Suspended eight times in his National Hockey League career. Sorry, Prongs, I had to throw that in. How are you? I'm great. That's a wonderful opening. Thank you. Well, you're safe tonight from suspensions. I can assure you of that. First of all, how you been? I know and maybe we'll touch on this a little later, but you're you're you got a little bit of the circuit going. I catch your stuff on social media.

I absolutely love it. The leadership, the mindfulness, the discipline. It must be like one of the easiest topics for you because you're so darn good at it. That's through a lot of practice and a lot of failure and a lot of adversity in my own right. But yeah, no, it's it's I look at myself as a subject matter expert and a lot of the things I talk about because I've been through them time and time again, the ups and downs, as you know, it can be a little daunting at times, but you know, I think when you break it down and you know, we hear it all the time, we keep things simple and you just have to continually challenge

yourself to be better. And, you know, take a hard look in the mirror and make sure that you're doing what's necessary to achieve the goals that That you're looking to be successful in so prongs. Let's lean on some of that experience What would it be like? Joining a team like this and trying to get into harmony with all these other guys who've been leaders on other teams Who has the loudest voice? Is there a hierarchy? How does that work on a team like this? I their teams who has the loudest voice? Is there a hierarchy? How does that work on a team like this? I think at the beginning everybody's going to defer to Sid. He's the old Wiley veteran now and

you know I think from there I think a lot of times early on in these tournaments the chemistry's a little bit off. Players tend to defer. They don't want to take that initiative and be the punk hog or be the guy shooting all the time, and they're constantly looking to pass the puck in the net. I think if you see them shooting early and often and you see them taking advantage of opportunities and not looking for the better scoring chance, potentially being there, you'll see that the chemistry is there and they've figured out the line combinations and the fit. Or you'll see them kind of mix and match and try to try some different combinations to see how it works.

And you know, if they get up by a couple goals, you may see them switch it around just to see if they're down by a couple goals, they may switch it too. You know, I don't think in these first couple games, if things aren't clicking the way they potentially see them, they'll move guys around and try to find that right line combination. Because ultimately at the end of the day, if you're Canada in this situation, you're looking for game number four

as the one you want to be the best in. Chris, as we go into tonight's tournament, a lot of talk about what we can really expect out of these guys. And you know, the big question people want to know is like, how intense will it be right off the bat? And you know, you've got you've got you've got your background. I don't understand why people think that. I'm should you would, would you not be totally insulted by that?

This is not an all star game. I don't know why people are referring to this as an all star game. Just because it is in the slotted area of where an all star game would be. This is a Canada cup. This is a world cup. This is a four nations face up. These are the best players from these four countries playing for pride, playing for the right to win another championship, another award, whatever

you want to call the four nations. But it, they're able to compete at the highest level against the best players of the respective three countries they're playing against. And I don't understand how people think that players aren't going to play hard. They're not going to be worrying about their team back home. Now that they're there, they're not going to worry about Edmonton or Pittsburgh or wherever. They're focused on Team Canada and winning and playing to the best of their abilities in the given minutes they get. As far as style of play, throughout your career,

you had World Cups as well, right? And you had Olympics. The one that I always look back on that just completely shake my head at how vicious it was, was 96, I believe, right? Yeah, I didn't play in that one. You didn't play in that one? Yeah, I got the Heisman in that one

Oh, man, really? I think I think that was maybe the reason they took me in Different era different style of play but like how can you compare? Anything from a World Cup to an Olympics? Is it just, it doesn't really matter besides if a rink is bigger or smaller, but is it the same completely? No, it is different because the rules are different. You're playing under the NHL rules in this event. And obviously in the Olympics you're playing under those rules. So if you want to fight in this, if you want to do, as the rule book says for the NHL, you're playing under those rules. So if you want to fight in this, if you want to do as, as the rule book says for the NHL, you're allowed to, you're not going to get

suspended. You're not going to get thrown out of the game. You're going to serve your five minutes and you're going to come back. And so as you see, you know, especially the game on Saturday when they play the U S that's the, the marker, if you will, that's the one that they're working towards. I don't think they're going to overlook Sweden because they've got a very good team. But I think as they're trying to build towards that game, to see not only where the U S has is at, but where their game is at, speaking of Canada, so it'll be interesting to see, but I suspect the temperature will get Quite hot as we get further into the tournament. It's just a natural

Evolution of these types of tournaments. Yeah, I mean you play Canada us in a scrimmage in practice. It gets hot by the end of it I'm sure it's gonna get there at some point So let alone just being a Canadian playing against an American in practice. Yeah. For your respective team. Yeah. Pride kicks in, that competitive juices kick in, and you don't want to give an inch. It does feel inevitable. So how do you feel? It's been eight years since we've had any kind of our best guys against your best guys sort of thing.

How do you feel about Canadian hockey and the state of it? And has our place in the hockey world changed since then I Don't think it's Changed I think the other countries have caught up. I don't see us I think we've lost our way with respect to our identity and how we play And the style that has always worked for us You'll you know, I'm looking at the US roster thinking they're probably going to play a more physical brand of hockey than the Canadians will. Just with their roster construction and the players that they have.

That's not to say that Canada won't play hard and won't be physical, but just the name recognition for a lot of people watching will see these players and go and understand and remember how they play for their NHL club and have a, have an understanding of, oh, he plays hard, he plays hard, he plays hard. And when I say that it's more just from a physicality standpoint. Every player in this tournament is going to be hard on the puck. They're going to be dogged on loose pucks and in the corners in front of the net what have you because because it is such a short tournament and every game is so meaningful. Just follow up on that Kip. Is the physical play as relevant in a short-term tournament like this as the NHL? Not in that regard but if

you're constantly grinding on a team, you know, for instance, Saturday against the U S if you know, by all speculation, those teams meet in game number four for the championship, what happens in that game will carry over to the next game and who was dominant and from a physical standpoint, from a goal standpoint, who won, who lost, all those things will play a factor in how a team, their mindset going into that game or how they're feeling about themselves, you know, positive, negatively, et cetera, what they need to work on, the chemistry factor, all those things. Again, I always go back to, from a Canada perspective, a lot of these

players have never played together, have never been on the ice together, maybe skating in the summer or fooling around, but for the most part, not at all. So when you're with the Americans, you play in the development program, you play on all these things, you typically live near one another, Sweden, Finland, same thing. They go back and they skate together. They have chemistry, they have that innate ability to understand where other players are gonna be and they don't have to think they don't have to practice that stuff a Lot of these lines for Canada. This is the first time they'll have played together You're watching and listening to Chris Pronger hockey Hall of Fame or two-time Olympic gold medalist Stanley Cup champion

So prongs I've heard you use the word chemistry three times already since we've started this. Is there a way that you can speed up the process of chemistry? They've had a couple of days now together, whether it's dinners, who you're sitting beside, who you're rooming with. I think in 2010, if I'm not mistaken,

you roomed with Drew Doughty. I did, yep. Does that matter? I don't even know if I'm not mistaken, you roomed with Drew Doughty. I did. Yeah. Does that matter? I don't even know if they roomed together. Do they all get their own suites now? Yeah, I don't know. That'd be a good question.

But I don't necessarily think it's that, you know, who you're rooming with. I think a lot of it is the locker room construction, as stupid as that sounds, who you're sitting beside, the conversations you have, making the younger, you know, potentially younger guys might be a little nervous, you know, coming into this magnitude of the event, you know, being around Sydney Cross, we've been around McDavid, being around some of these guys that maybe they haven't been around. And as you go along, the reason why I say chemistry is in the years we won an O2 in 2010, our team struggled early on. We lost to Sweden in O2, we lost to the U S in 2010. And those losses

helped us come together and figure out how we needed to play, recognize the mistakes that we were making, who wasn't bought in and needed to buy into the style of play that we wanted to go out and dominate with and once that all came together and as we had a couple more games under our belt that final game culminated in our best effort and and you want to see that with this team they may come out and be absolutely dominant and run the table but they might, and I don't think people should get panicked about a first game and looking a little awkward.

As I mentioned earlier, they might defer. They might not feel comfortable feeling like they should shoot in a position where they normally would. And I think those are the conversations you have in practice. Those are the conversations you have in the locker room. The D goalie exchanges, those types

of things. It takes a little bit of time to, to understand the verbiage that the goalie wants to hear over, back, reverse, whatever it is. So there's all kinds of little things that nuances the game that, that take a little bit of time, but they can, they could come pretty quickly. These guys are obviously world-class players and play at a high level. What did you teach Drew Doughty back then because he's the elder statesman right now going into tonight? Well hopefully he wakes up early enough to catch the second bus. I'm sure he'll be down there based on his injuries and his ankle. I'm sure he'll be down there, you know based on his injuries and His ankle I'm sure he will be down there much earlier than normal To to get that warmed up. Oh, that's funny any treatment that he needs just like a goofball, huh? Just loves to play hockey That he does

He did not seem to really be too worried about it either Good to be young I guess. Yeah fair enough. So when you get in these events, many of the guys will be playing somewhat different structurally than their NHL teams do. Is that a hard thing to wrap your heads around and kind of go back to thinking a little bit instead of just playing? Yeah, I think it's more read and react, play, play the game the way you know, how you'll see guys that typically are on the power play. They're going to be forced into penalty killing roles. And you look back at whether it be the Canada cup, the world cup, Olympics, these high level

best on best tournaments, players that have, you know, back then a hundred points, you know, players that have 70, 80 points now now 90 points that are offensive weapons on their respective teams are forced into defensive roles to go and kill penalties. And you'll see because of that, those are their prime minutes. Those are where they're going to get their most minutes. So they're out there giving it their all. They're blocking shots. They're doing what they can. But they have the wherewithal to jump on the attack and provide some offensive output while killing penalties.

How important is it, and you just touched on this a little earlier with the defense and the goalie on who likes to handle the puck and leave it, leave it, play it, like how difficult can that be? Because you also went through a transition where you had some of the best puck handlers in the world In Marty Brodeur, but then Luongo ends up mopping it up right in 2010 Yeah, yeah, I mean Louie's not exactly a Marty Brodeur with the puck no, but you'll see Jordan Binington is excellent with the puck

He gets out and plays it He's very mobile back there. I see him being a big part of their puck retrievals and allowing his defense to get off into the corner up to the hash mark to break the puck out, get that transition game going, get on the attack pretty quickly. Last one for me, we appreciate your time. Just just a thought on Guys in trying to put their egos aside for the logo. Is it easy to do when you play for your country? Oh Absolutely. You look at the guys that did not make the team the guys Who potentially could have made that made the roster all these guys are excited to be there You know just just looking at you know

Some of the quotes and in the paper when, just, just looking at, you know, some of the quotes in the paper when they were deciding on the team and you know, you look at drew Doughty, he was, you know, kind of throwing a petition out there because he wanted to be there so bad. So absolutely. And, and that you see what that means to the players to be able to wear the, the maple leaf on the front of their chest and go out and represent their country and you'll see them leave it all on the ice, I guarantee it. Can't think of a better guest to launch this thing than you, my friend. Thanks for doing this.

Thank you. My pleasure. Yeah, thanks a lot. That is Chris Pronger, one of the best in the game. We didn't have him in the 96 war on the ice, huh? That's too bad. Yeah, you know. He capitated someone for us.

Yeah. too bad. Yeah, you know, I just remember being very, very vicious. And he's the first guy that I thought of. But he first wore the the Maple Leaf in 93 for the world junior team. And then yeah, I was on the 2010 team that won. So he had, you know, like almost 20 years as a representative in the country. It's pretty. So I was in Hartford when he got drafted by Brian Burke. How was he as a young guy? First of all, he was like... He was a giant. Yeah.

I think he's 6'6". So you just... You saw him and once you stepped on the ice, you could see that he's... You're used to 6'6", being awkward, tripping over your feet. And was he not even young? No, I mean he had the body of an orange on a toothpick but you know... God he took so many penalties.

He quickly developed physically, mentally, emotionally, and the guy just took over on every aspect of the game. What was really hard, I think, it's like when Primes, Zdeno, Chara, and Pronger was better. Where it's like, who would you rather play? I would rather be on the ice against Donald Brashear or any of those heavyweights than Pronger. Pronger's on the ice 30 minutes, he sl he slashed he whacked and he cross-checked he scored and he you know he did it all man yeah I I mean I've taken heat for

this but I think he's the best defenseman ever I know I know you do yeah just pure size dominance physicality nasty the total package yeah five tool there's been more you know skilled or more like offensive minded Yeah, quieter guys clearly but just there was no game state where his coach wasn't like he's the guy I want on the ice Absolutely. Yeah, I in all scenarios till he Steps on your head and this is the next eight games That's just a cost of doing business funny'm just looking at his trades and you know in on July 27th 1995, how about that for a hockey trade?

Traded to Hartford. I traded from Hartford to the Blues for Brandon Shanahan. One for one. No losers in that trade, I guess. That's crazy. I didn't realize that. I didn't know that. As much as you marvel at Brandon Shanahan's career and the goals and the toughness

You You have to value defense above a forward Yeah, and I'm not talking about Pronger and Shanahan I'm talking in general. Yeah, when you get a top guy That can munch minutes like that and control pace of play when he's out there They're way more valuable than a forward and I think if you believe that D is more valuable than forwards looking at Sweden's team tonight Hedman Brodin Forsling Dahlien Matisse Echolme Eric Carlson. Are there three pairs? Yeah better than Canada's D

without Matissek Homer Carlson, are there three pairs? Yeah, better than Canada's D without You know the automatic minus two for Carlson I gotta think I gotta think that Canada should be a little weary of of guys that could shut down an offense. Yeah. Kaves McCarth, Theodore Doughty, Morrissey Pereyko. I agree. It's the one thing, you know... That at home is a hell of a player.

Yeah. No, he's great. And I think going into this for Canada, and you play out what the worst case scenario looks like, it's that their D are very good defensively. Forsling's another smothering type D, and Canada can't get it going. All of a sudden Willie Nylander's behind your D, shooting it past Bennington, because Willie can shoot it, and he gets breakaways.

Book the Willie Nylander breakaway tonight, by the way. That is happening. I woke up today feeling really nervous. And it's not about the massive snowstorm that we're having in Toronto, where people outside of Toronto are like, well call in the Army. It's a big call the massive snowstorm that we're having in Toronto where people outside of trouble call in the army It's a big call in the army joke day for people outside of Toronto but I am

Feeling like leaf playoff game butterflies for this tonight because it's such a short tournament There's zero pressure on Sweden. This isn't about Sweden or Finland this tournament. This is about America and Canada Yeah, and there's I think even much just isn't gonna have a blast even more So it's about Canada than it is about even the USA like I think it's having all these guys together and they're there They're marketing it as Matthews versus McDavid all that stuff, but there's all the pressure on Canada Going into against a very good Sweden team Like you said no pressure none of these guys have played together. You lose one, turn Saturday into a must win. The stakes for this are automatic.

And I hear Chris Pronger talk about that. And there's still people in my life that are like, oh, how, why do you care? Why do you care? It's Canada's best guys versus America, Sweden. I can't imagine not caring. I can't imagine it. Who's on the show before us?

That let Charlie show so show, you know the last thing he I caught him in my ear, you know signing off Yes, and the last thing he mentioned was how hard will they play? Oh my god, that's been a narrative for the last little while here and I'm just starting to think it's the last little while here. And I'm just starting to think it's kind of unfair to the players. I do think that it's a little unfair and maybe they've just been set up by that stupid three on three All-Star the last few years.

Like that tournament's really set up people to go, okay, what are we gonna see here now? And it's like, that never happened to Chris Pronger. Nobody ever questioned Chris Pronger or anything prior to even 2016 that, how are they gonna play or do they really care? It's like, where is that narrative, where was that narrative like born? Where was that narrative like born?

Where was it? Where was that seed planted? Was it three on three all stars? Where is it? Let me give you Charlie McEvoy. He says, I heard I heard about that this morning and I try not to be unsocial, but when someone said that to me, they said it's going to be a glorified All-Star game. I couldn't believe it.

I mean, I really truly couldn't believe it. There's not one person here at this event that wouldn't do anything to win this tournament. And I think that's shared amongst everybody. Yeah, that's convincing. You can go from generation to generation and you can compare what you liked, what you didn't like. But the one thing that I think truly stays consistent is the competitiveness of you to get to this level in any era.

Well said, yeah. And it's still there. Now you got 32 teams and there's some nights it doesn't look great and you can pick it apart, which we often do. I mean, we got nothing better to do. Thank you, Bady. Two great efforts. Exactly.

But there is a, there's a burn in these guys to hit this level that it's not a switch on and off and I keep telling people this story of me and Mike liute On a Commercial flight when I broke into the league and we're playing cribbage on a commercial flight and I missed a peg and the guy punched me. Punched me.

Cribbage can get pretty intense. There had to be some layers between the missed peg and the punch. There was a few, you know, every once in a while he'd accuse me of like, you know, looking at his cards, which is like, I'm in one A or he's in one M and like one B. Like, it's tough not to catch a glance. We're not sitting at a nice table here,

but my point of it is, yeah, I didn't want to lose. Then we're playing cribbage. And that's the nature. And I think, I don't playing cribbage. Yeah, and that's that's the nature and I think I I don't think that they would ever ever even contemplate or messing with that that history of

Competitiveness to this point is a perfect segue into the clip. I cut from March and today and It has a lot of what you said there. Let's go to March and clip one on the pride and planning in this journey It's incredible. It's something that I think we've always really enjoyed The fans enjoyed it as a player. We're still fans. We enjoy love. We really love watching it I really love being part of it And it's it's such an honor It's the highest achievement you can achieve personally as a hockey player to be part of one of these teams obviously, you know taking out the Stanley Cup and stuff like that, but highest achievement you can achieve personally as an hockey player to be part of one of these teams. Obviously, taking out the Stanley Cup and stuff like that, but it's another level of

making it to the NHL. So there's a tremendous amount of pride that goes with it, and guys really look forward to it. And they've spent their entire lives working to get this level and then you know working to get to another level and that's where you play so to be able to know that we have this with the Olympics another World Cup coming and it's going to go on after that it'll be it'll be great for the for the game. And I also think Kip like these guys are not often going to get to be teammates together but they're going to play in golf tournaments as alumni when they're retired, whatever.

And there's going to be a lot of, Hey, we got four games together when we were 30 years old or whatever. Remember those games. You make that impression as a teammate on someone in the short window, guys are going to go embarrass themselves. Be like, Oh yeah, remember we took that one guy and he dogged it. You know, like that, you know, like that. Almost do it now. And everybody's got their own individual story that doesn't, like, reflect team. And Brad Marchand is in his late 30s.

He's been used to a very successful program in Boston. He's the captain. He's got a team now that may miss the playoffs. He wants to retire a brun, but to what degree will you get a contract or commit to a contract that may be not be quite the reflection that you would have hoped? So where's his motivation to look good in this tournament? No shortage of it.

And everybody's kind of got a little bit of that some way, somehow. Whether it's Sam Bennett, who unfortunately is a healthy scratch tonight, or Mitch Marner, who's got to prove that to Sammy and every other naysayer that you can show up at a pretty big game. Sydney Crosby, like, like Sid's gonna be a babysitter for the Pittsburgh Penguins for the next two years. Yeah, he gets to play four meaningful games over the next year.

He's never gonna play another playoff game again if he stays in Pittsburgh. So like, you know, what's driving him to have a good tournament? There's a number of those internal pressure points for these guys to perform. And when Chris Pronger comes on real kipper and born and literally scoffs at the fact that these guys won't take it serious that's all you move on from that game time it's game time is that I bet three six five visit the app latest

odds and find out why it's ever ordinary at bet three six five must be 19 plus on terror only please play responsibly so the Canada in Sweden tonight Canada is a pretty heavy favorite. They are minus 260 on the money line sweet Sweden is plus 210 The total in the game is six Over that is minus 120 under that is plus 100 like the Sweden bets the better bet I was going to say that there is some excellent value on On Sweden at plus 210 10 a lot of good players Is that is that equivalent to a Vegas versus San Jose or Chicago? No, that would be a bigger line

That'd be a bigger line. I'd be like that. Yeah, I'd be like Montreal versus I Don't know. You know, you're right. It's around there. Okay, I Couldn't think of something so I agreed. A couple of the goal scores I like tonight. I do like a Willie Nylander goal. I feel like he's going to get a breakaway tonight. And you could even you could even convince me on him scoring the first goal tonight just to kind of stick it to Leaf fans. Not just for that reason, but you know, Leaf fans watching this. Plus 1400 as William Nylander is the first goal scorer in the game tonight.

And I also like a Sam Reinhardt anytime goal, potentially on the power play plus 145 tonight. One thing I will say just about, you know, the odds of Sweden winning tonight. This year, I don't have it all in front of me. I wrote it down before, but Chicago, the Blackhawks like worst team in the NHL Blackhawks have beat Colorado, Washington Toronto Vegas Dallas Edmonton, you know Bad teams can be good teams. It's hockey. So man hold on to your butts. Can't wait boys. Let's go Anyways, that was game time Is that about 365 visit the app for latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary at bat

365 must be 19 plus Ontario only please play responsibly all right as a reminder this our real kipper brought to you by bet 365 when we return Chris Cutbert called the golden goal in Vancouver does he have another one 2025 is he is our play-by-play man in Montreal calling Four Nations face-off. Chris, CC next after the break. Everything you need to know about the Raptors and the biggest stories around the NBA. Smith and Jones.

Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. ["Spring Day"] A reminder that this hour, real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by bet three, six, five. All right. Play by play man tonight in Montreal to call all the action tonight. Chris Cutberg joins us now. CC, how are you, man? I'm well. I hope you can hear me. They're rehearsing the opening ceremony here. So it's a little bit of a buzz behind me, but good to be with you guys. That's okay. A buzz is good. Yeah. Any, any type of energy that we get through you, it's a, it sets up

our night here. So just, just your thoughts since arriving in Montreal and, and the feel and the buildup towards puck drop at 8 PM. Give us your thoughts. Yeah, I'm excited. I think everybody is here. I think this is going to be a legit, where all the teams are, are, are going for gold. They're, this is not an all-star game. There's no costume here. And you can tell there's a buzz amongst the Canadian players. Nobody wears it more than Drew Dowdy. I mean, he has been the poster boy for being excited to be involved in international hockey again.

And for the young guys, it's so long overdue that we can't wait. Chris, where does this fall, these sort of events fall on the really fun for you and also really challenging for you scale? I imagine new teams with different line combinations has to be hard. At the same time, this must be really exciting. Well, this is fun. Now hard is when you're getting ready for the 2018 or 2022 Olympic Games and you're trying to figure out the Chinese or the Korean lineup.

Fair, fair, fair. But these guys, we know everybody here and again, it's going to be special. I thought there was something very interesting from Sam Hallam, the coach of Sweden today, who reflected back on 2016 and said that Team North America changed the way the game is played and Here we are what nine years later We've been waiting for the evolution of the game to continue on but he really made a point today that Sweden might have in the past tried to shut this thing down and made a one nothing to one game but since team

North America in 2016, now everybody's trying to play the right way and trying to play, you know, high octane hockey. You know, in saying that, and we just did the odds and, you know, Sweden's kind of looking like maybe San Jose against Vegas a little bit to odds makers, but you think they come in feeling like everything to gain and nothing to lose. You look at, you know, Patterson in Vancouver, not having a great season, Zabana jazz, not having a great season, but these guys can be very dangerous, you know, in a 60 minute hockey game at any point. Absolutely. You know, the fins had that reputation of being

underdogs and a team that can play the spoiler role. I, I think Sweden's capable of that here. How about you mentioned the two guys that really could get a whole new lease on life here for sure. They down the middle of the bandaged and Setterson, but how about that blue line? It has almost has almost 5000 games of experience and i don't victor headman said yesterday we're playing canada and much real we're playing the usa in boston and we can't wait so you know i think they've embraced it then i don't think this is give me here and i've always had this theory about international hockey and team canada we always do better when we struggle early, but you don't have a whole lot of time to struggle early in this setup.

Speaker 0.(1h 10m 20s): CC. We were talking about the golden goal. You got to call that game. Would you call that for your highlight career pinnacle? Where does that rank in your career games called? Speaker 3.(1h 10m 30s): I I've always said that if there's something better than that coming, I can't wait whether or not that happens. I'm not sure. And it probably doesn't happen here, but you know what? Let's keep an open mind. If, if Carter McDavid goes in to end a double overtime to beat team USA, I'll take it. But, but yeah, I, I think what everybody's anxious about

here is sizing up, you know, for the teams before the Olympic games next year. G you, you, you went to McDavid. I'm sitting there going, you're there. Crosby's there. Why not just just do a repeat? So I'm good on that. I'm good. And Nathan McKinnon's probably saying that, wait a minute. I'm in line for that. So where, where is Crosby in your estimation here? Because we've seen him still today with the Pittsburgh penguins at a very high level. Yet he comes in now with the thought that maybe his best years in Pittsburgh are behind him. Where do you see him, especially coming off a recent injury to pick up tonight?

He's the leader. And there's no question when you're here, you can see that he's the, he's the leader and, and down, he's playing that role as well in a different way. But I think, I think since still a very important guy who's got a lot of great hockey left in him. And you know, if he can't be Sidney Crosby, I don't think he can stay on the line with with Nathan McKinnon in this tournament. But but I fully expect him to be one of Canada's best players. And and it's funny that I think there was a concern even two days ago. Can he play in the tournament? Will he be ready even by Saturday?

But it's all systems go, which is pretty exciting. CC feel like Bennington can get the job done for Canadians. It's a, you know, maybe not what it used to be, but he's, he's had some success. That is the big question. You know, we did the Leaf game in St. Louis about two weeks before they, they named the team and Don sweetie was in the building and I, I chatted with him and of course we're talking about his pedigree and sweetie kind of abruptly interrupted me and said, I don't need to be reminded of what Jordan Bittington did in the Stanley cup final because of course he

did it against Boston. But that night, Bittington made 40 stops against the Leafs, I think it was 40 and 41. Colt Brick also scored two goals in that game and he's on the team too. But I always, I got the impression both games Bittington played against Toronto. I think he used those games as a bit of a showcase and he was exceptional at both. And I think it's

a big reason he's, he's their guy. Any, any talk at all or anybody questioning Sweden going to Gustafson over all Mark or is it basically all Mark didn't have enough time to, to, to get ready to start. You know, their, their coach did say that if he was picking the team in September, it's obvious. All Mark was the starter, but they weren't even sure a week ago if all Mark was still going to be able to play in the tournament. So it is, it is Gustafson and funny because the late ad was Samuel Harrison, who might be the hottest of any of the goaltenders involved in tonight's game, but he's not even going to dress.

All right, pal. Listen, we know you got a big night ahead of you. We can't wait to kick it up. Grab a couple of cold ones and listen to you and simmer, man. Thanks for doing this. Have a one or two for us too. Yep. You appreciate it. That is Chris Cutbert hockey night in Canada play-by-play man in Montreal getting ready little over two hours to putt drop His reports now that Betman and Walsh are gonna have a press conference at 615 basically to announce a international play schedule There's going to be international play pretty much every two years World Cup Olympics World Cup Olympics. Is that news or no? Well, no, because that's what they

They laid out for us a while back. Yeah, I'm just not completely sold on Shutting down the NHL every two years every two years shutting down the NHL every two years. Every two years. Like think about that. It's like, it's a big commitment, man. Totally disagree. Yeah.

They do it in soccer, like multiple times, they commit to it being important, and it's important. And we've just never had it. I do think globally the game has suffered from not having something. And you know. You can't ever, ever compare soccer to hockey. No, they're not the same.

Ever. No, but I think you can compare the idea that people do things in season. Why would you try to do something that the most popular sport in the world does? That's a terrible idea. Because we'll never get that level. I just, I.

We'll never get that level. I'm, you know, there's a lot of Canadian hockey fans that would be, you know, I guess they'd be eight years old, that have never seen like this like there's people that are in their early 20s that barely remember any best on best like it just occurred to me, my son would not have been alive for any you've lost a complete era and now they're making a commitment to it. I can't say anything but great. Thanks. I think it's just If you're gonna do it you have to do it right, okay And I don't know whether or not they truly have the vision to make this a real World Cup. Mm-hmm. It's not a World Cup

World Cup is a series of events that... To qualify. To qualify. Yeah. We are invitational. We are having an invitational tournament where they pick and choose who they want to come. That's not a real World Cup. You know, though, Kim.

It's not. No, okay, it's not. It's not a real World Cup. It's not a World Cup. Fine. Okay. But we know which countries have the's not no, okay. It's not it's not a little world cup. It's not a World Cup fine Okay, but we know which countries have the best hockey teams roughly we get the best of the best from those countries. They're there That's not good enough. We had the best on best in 1976 We had it in 81 and we haven't moved the needle one iota We're still back to 76 and 81 invite six Same teams same players same country the meat that needle hasn't moved at all back to 76 and 81, invite six, same teams,

same players, same country. The needle hasn't moved at all. You want real growth in World Cup? You don't go to Canada and say, we wanna grow more. You don't go to the US, you go to Germany. You go to other places, you go back to China and you build it there and you put money in there, big money, to develop their programs.

You help them. You build ranks. You do this, you do that. And then you see in 25 years if you got it real growth as a World Cup. Until then, all you have is the same tournament you had 40 years ago. It's good enough for you. It's good enough for you because you're Canada. You don't care.

But it's good enough for all the It's good enough for you because you're Canada You don't care, but it's good enough for all the big teams that are gonna play you get your cheerleader Pom-poms on and you go and you and you go it's it's not growth. Okay, it's not growth And it will say it's not growth But it is entertainment and that's the business that the NHL is in and that's something that matters to hockey fans And we have been denied something wonderful and we're getting to have it here and they're gonna get to have it back and that's a good thing. Hockey fans deserve something good

that is another celery cap doesn't fit. This team's too good, trade your players. This is good. So would you prefer just the every four year Olympics? That's it, that's what you want. I wanna see the owners step up and build an international department that full timers, that your job for the NHL is international hockey. Not part timers.

And so this is the case kind of against what you're saying where it's like, yeah, you don't want to break up the NHL season or whatever. And it's like, because it might come at the cost of the owners, the owners pocketbooks, like who cares? Like it's not fans don't probably they don't. We're still dipping our toe in it a little bit. Yeah. Well, I mean, there sounds like there's we weren't dipping our toe in. We were desert dry.

So at least they can get the toe in here, get up to the knee. Let's see. Wait into the water a little bit. Let's see if we can do better. I'll agree with that. I think every two years is a totally reasonable time to play. I think every four years you miss some peaks of guys that are special. For sure, every two years is,

I mean, I have to give Marty Walsh a ton of credit here because, Marty Walsh rules. You know, I don't know who it was before, I forget off the top of my head, but there's always this issue with no best on best and COVID killed them clearly when they went to, they were gonna go to the Olympics and it didn't happen and that was supposed to happen.

But Marty Walsh has just come in here and just been like, yeah, cap's going up, we got a best on best, we're getting to hockey tournaments, it's just like all the things that hockey fans can ask for. That was gonna happen even if Marty didn't join the NHLPA. The timing's been good for sure, but. So you think like the- Everything he's done from day one has been a productive,

moving everything in a positive direction. Everything he said since he came in was exactly what most hockey fans wanted to hear, and they have, and they delivered. I don't know the man, I've never never met him before it seems like everybody's positive it's moving in the right direction well you're not gonna you're not gonna decide anything on Marty Walsh's contributions until we see you know a couple years here where it's like real growth here so 2028 World, let's say it's eight teams.

Can you get eight teams that you can come up with? Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the growth has to be in Germany. That is the engine. That is the financial engine over on the other side. They got a pretty good team. OK, you have to you have to grow the program there. They got a pretty good team. Okay. They got a good team. You have to grow the program there.

It's kind of non-existent still. That's interesting. Well, I mean, you got Dry Cytal, Cider and who? Okay, if he's the seed you plant on, then use him and have him be the face of hockey there to grow the next 10, 15 years. Get him playing hockey over in London or what? Get England involved here?

That to me is moving a needle. You can start selling hockey in Germany. That sounds good to me. So they'll be in the next Olympics, I would imagine. I don't pretend to know what the qualifying thing is, but so you'll see Dry Settle in the Olympics in a year and he can score his one goal when they lose 8-1 and everybody be happy. Okay so where are we? We're constantly reminded including CC just moments

ago this is a very short tournament. Bennington's the guy in that. Yeah for now. Well if he's not if he's not forever in this tournament, then Canada's in real big trouble. The only way he comes out is if he loses tonight. Yeah, I mean, can you go two and one and get in the final? I think someone will, presumably. So unless it's 3030, 303. It'll be interesting to see if Canada has a tough game. You know, hearing Pronger saying they lost both the years they won the Olympics somewhere

along the way. Things don't just snap together. You know, it's never clean, but... Yeah, they lost to Sweden in 2002. They lost to Sweden. And then in the medal round, they didn't have to play Sweden. Sweden lost to Belarus, right? Yeah, some guy fired it in from center-ice. When Tommy said it was bean and into the back of the net, they didn't have to place we lost to Belarus yeah some guy fired it in from center-ice when all Tommy said I was being and into

the back of the net they didn't have to play them so I don't remember that they got that by into the final which was in my opinion my favorite hockey moment ever was them winning the 2002 Olympics so yeah I think you definitely have to guard against a little bit of KG not playing together with guys and get to lean on the chemistry within some of it It's just gonna be so fast. I think there's no chance Canada wins the some people are there's an Michael Traykos wrote an article about what they should name the four nations trophy and Suggestion he liked was the Johnny hockey trophy his dad's on the ace for USA I'm a bit a part of it, you know kind of a recent relevant guy

This is after a one-off because there's not gonna be another four nations Do you go to is it a called six nations next one or eight? Maybe it's the same trophy for the World Cup Maybe it becomes and then you change the name of it. Maybe it's a one-off Maybe it is and it's the Johnny hockey one-off and see who gets to have it. I saw someone say the quad Yeah name for the the quad. Yeah. Good name for the trophy too. Yeah, yeah. Either way, my point is in the final, if Canada is to win it, I very much doubt their lines

look the same as they do right now. Right? Like it seems like you'll have to have some learning experiences along the way. See who works, see who doesn't work. Likely to be some shuffling and it sounds like Cooper will have a pretty quick trigger on that. So no Cooper. Ah, we could listen to one. Let's have a Cooper's Clipper. Clipper clip one message to his team tonight. But I think your job as a coach is not to get in the way, put the players in the best position to succeed, give them the information that's needed, but don't go get

in their way and don't cloud the mind of the best players in the world. And that's it. And then, you know, when decisions have to be made, be assertive and do it. But you really ultimately got to let the guys play. And you know, as for walking in the locker room, it's kind of in the best part of everything, is just sitting around and whatever three or four guys are sitting in there and kind of hot-stovin' it with them and you leave and then there's another group and it's been a ton of fun. But they all are really focused and have a common goal and that's to win tonight and

like I said, for me not to get in the way. Until he sees Nick Paul doing an interview he says, Nick! And then he gets in the way. Until he sees Nick Paul doing an interview, he says, Nick! And then he gets in the way. Has Cooper been named the Olympic coach as well? Is that, do we know if that's? I think so. I don't know, but I would imagine. Do you think there's a world where they lose two games here,

don't make the final, and they're like, nope, new coach for the Olympics? I don't know if they've officially gone that far. Borubay for 2025 Olympics. Dump it in, boys. It's not personal. Get on the fore-check. North-South.

Wow. That was a fun show today. That was quick. It sure was quick. But it was a great one. Chris Pronger, our thanks to the Hockey Hall of Famer, one of the best. And Chris Cuthbert, also one of the best

when it comes to the voice of international hockey starting once again tonight. Please win. Canada versus Sweden, 8 p.m. Find your Sportsnet platform, sit back, enjoy the game, and we're back here tomorrow to talk four nations. Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee. Have a great night, everybody.

Enjoy it.