Real Kyper & Bourne - The Best Rivalry in Hockey

Episode Date: February 14, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look ahead to Saturday's 4 Nation showdown between Team Canada and USA. Joining the conversation, former NHL President and GM Doug MacLean (5:30) - on for his Off-The-Rails Friday appearance - gets into how the political landscape adds to the rivalry, Canada needing more from Connor McDavid's line, Team USA's chemistry and much more. Finally, Nick, Justin and Sam close out the week by dipping into The Canada Line to answer listener questions about the national team!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.

Right back at you for the fastest hour in hockey. It's the Real Kipper and Bourne show. Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Derek Randale, Jen Rollnick. We're live on Sportsnet 590. The fans, Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of Real Kipper and Bourborn is brought to you by Bet365. Closing out the week and what a week it's been. All four teams get a game under their belt and the four nations face off.

Four nations have faced off, you would say? They have. Four faces have nationed off. Four teams catch their breath tonight and go right back at it Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Eastern before the big anticipated matchup between Canada and the US. Rivalry day. Sammy, we go to you. How you feeling Sammy? I am cripplingly nervous about this. It's not just because of the game last night, thought USA looked good, thought Canada looked

good in their first game. Is it a Toronto Maple Leaf game seven kind of feel? Way higher. Way higher. Way higher. I was shocked to hear that too, I asked him the same question. Really? The stakes for this are different.

What are the stakes? All I know is it's like, they're playing for a made up trophy that was like manufactured three weeks ago. Kipper, that take is so far out the window, brother. Why, why though? I think with your Leaf fan, you're kind of going in expecting the worst and you're sort of expected to lose and everybody's kind of expecting you to lose.

As a Team Canada hockey fan, you're expected to win and the pressure of expecting to win is almost a bigger one than expecting to lose. And USA looked great last night. There's some intensity in the game. There hasn't been a high stakes Canada USA best on best in a really long time. I have not been looking forward more to a hockey game

than this in 11 years. What's the difference between this Canada and US game compared to the one in 2016 in Toronto? I just that team kind of stunk in Canada. Either team had all their best guys and you know Connor Mcdavis wasn't on our team We didn't you didn't get to say our best guys played your best guys. Okay I don't think that team wasn't very good though It's kind of in the middle of them changing their their era and it was just kind of a mishmash of guys,

Canada handled them easily. This is a different story. This is what they've been working towards for 10 years for two countries, lot of trash talk for 10 years about this and it's happening tomorrow night. It could happen again in Thursday. Yeah. It's just a big, big hockey game.

We've got an abbreviated version once again here on The Real Kipper and Bourne Show, which means that we'll find a Doug McLean who's bailed on us on a number of occasions. He's either been on the IR or he chased Shania Twain in Vegas. But I think we're gonna track him down here in a couple of minutes, so we'll get to him real quickly.

And then what, 435, we got a Canada line, don't we? 535, yes, it's 535, yeah, yeah, yeah. We do, I have about eight or nine different callers. We might not be able to get to all of them, but some stuff from the four nations, some couple leaf ones sprinkled in there. Sorry Vancouver, sorry Calgary, but mostly Canada stuff and we'll get all into it.

McKee said to me earlier, Kip, don't even play the game, just slip a coin. Yeah. He doesn't even want to watch the whole process. I have big plans to go out with a big group of guys, and as we get closer and closer, I'm thinking about canceling to just watch at home in case they lose so I can turn it off.

So added to this real nervous feel for you, where are we in terms of, there I say it, the political landscape of what has been going on between Canada and the US and now how booing has become a bit of more than just a bit of a story here. It's become a bit of a focal point. Players have been asked about it. But where is that in the equation for you Saturday night?

Well, I think it adds a ton to it. I think it adds a massive layer. The anthem was booed last night in Montreal when it's Finland and USA. Can only imagine how much louder the boos are gonna be on Saturday night. And I don't have any problem with it. If I was in the building and had a couple moles in exports,

guess what, boys, I'd probably be booing too. So it's gonna be a really, I think that's what kinda of adds to this this political Climate how good these two teams are the sort of hate for each other that USA and Canada does have in hockey Anyway, you can't have a bigger game than what's tomorrow night Like it's the biggest thing ever to me at least to you by the players that want to try to separate The game from the political scope. Yeah, I mean, I would like to too. I would love for us to just focus on the hockey team.

And I think we will by and large, but there's no avoiding the political confrontation that's happening right now. And, you know, as I've said to you guys, and I said to you before the show, I think it's okay. I don't think it's a huge deal. You know, I don't think, you know, we'll get more into it in the back of the show. I know we have Doug waiting for us

I won't go into my whole take but I can I think people with well within their rights to voice their opinion. All right the man the myth Legend Doug McLean former NHL president GM and head coach Returns to off-the-rail Fridays once again Yeah, it disappeared on us. I got to be honest with you. Like I'm getting every time you're not on, I get flooded with where's Doug. Where's Mack. You know, when you used to go in and play on the road against tough guys and used to get real butterflies in your stomach because you were scared to death. Yes.

I had butterflies in my stomach for eight days and it was called diverticulosis. Oh no, really? Whoa. But you know what, I'm down a crisp eight pounds. I'm down to my fighting weight. I feel good. I go down to the pool now and the women at the pool say,

man, you look good. I said, well, I've been in bed for eight days to get looking look good. I said, well, I've been in bed for eight days to get luck in this good. I've been in bed for eight days. Like give me a break, you know. So anyway, that's okay. Is that because you were too busy in Vegas running around like you're 22 years old? Well, you know, we did go to Shania Twain, which was a great concert. I was sort of caught off guard. I mean, I really am a Shania fan, but I mean, I really enjoyed it. Then we went to Nate Pragazzi, the great comedian. Oh man, did we have a great night.

1,400 people in the auditorium at the win with Nate Pragazzi. It was absolutely terrific. Then we went to a Vegas Columbus game and actually George McPhee come over and sat with me for 20 minutes in the warmup and we had a great chat. So it was kind of fun. I had a, there was Columbus were there. So I had a few Columbus fans come up and congratulate me on the great job I did there.

And then they'd walk away and say, what a jerk he is. But no, we had a great time. But then I come home and I'll tell you what, it hit me. It's been a grind. It really has. So I mean, as much as I enjoy doing this show, I haven't missed you. I believe that.

No kidding. I don't, by the way, what's with Sam with all his aunt? Does Sam know my two kids are American? Like, Sam, you can't be a total... You know, I mean, come on. Clark and McKee... You know? So let's dive into that a little bit.

I think the players are trying their best to kind of deescalate all of that. And with good reason, they're hockey players or they have nothing to do with anything else, but you can't tell that to 18, 19,000 Canadians in the stands, can you? Look, I went to Vancouver to the World Junior, okay? Years ago, I'm trying to think, I would say it was around 2004 or whatever year

the world junior was in Vancouver and there was there was a rivalry between Western Canada and Ontario at the time if you recall and the Vancouver fans were booing the Canadian national anthem so why would I be surprised? Canadians were booing the national anthem so you know I So why would I be surprised if we're getting... Not that big a deal. Not that thoughtful. The Canadians were booing the national anthem. So I remember going to games in Montreal when the Quebec fans wouldn't stand up for the national anthem. But look, here's what bothers me about this whole thing.

I understand we've got a new president. He's not the most popular guy you've ever run into. He does have a tendency to try to be a bit of a bully. I'm not a big fan of bullies, although I have been called one the odd time myself. But anyway, here's what bothers me. It's like every negotiation, and these are really tough negotiations I get that but you negotiate in good faith you you you put your your thing on you don't stand there and threaten and and Make fun of people like governor Trudeau and we're gonna win that we're gonna take over Canada like enough of the BS

Just get in and negotiate in good faith on both sides. Obviously, there's animosity between he and Trudeau for whatever reason. But look, it's like every negotiation, whether it's a National Hockey League contract or it's a property deal I'm trying to do in real estate, you negotiate in good faith and you give it everything you've got, but you don't act like children. And I just, I'm really disappointed. I saw Elon Musk last night, you know, Kennedy's walking into the FDA for his first day on the job, Senator Kennedy, and he's got a picture of a guy walking in with a bat. And I'm thinking like, I tweeted to Musk, I said,

can we not act this way? Do we have to act so childish? Go in. Hey, if your job, and Trump, he campaigned on Elon Musk was going to look at the efficiency of the government. So go in and do it. But what's with all the shots and the burbs leaking of all the information go in and do your job And then go back to Tesla, you know, let's seriously. Yeah, not already I think that's fantastic. And you know, I I carry an American passport, you know, I sit here and cheer for Canada My dad played for Canada. I married an American. I married an American myself too So got a lot of ties, but there's no doubt. It's like, you know, threatening to take over the country, make some Canadians upset. And I think they're allowed to voice their opinion.

And I don't blame Canadians for being upset when he comes with his smart ass comments. You know, I really don't like it. And Trudeau at the same time, like he said some things, you know, over the past year that didn't sit well on the other side. So enough already. Work in good faith and come up with the best deal that's good for both countries. And saying that international hockey that we've been accustomed to since really 72 series, put it on the map, was always personal. It was always about our way of life versus their way of life.

And we followed the trail and I hope tomorrow night it is a little personal. I wanna see it, I wanna see that emotion. I'm not gonna say I wanna to see that emotion. I'm, I'm not going to say I want to see, you know, a Donny brook here, but I expect between the Kachuk brothers and a, and a Brad Marshand and a Bennett, like there's going to be some fireworks tomorrow night. You know what? I, I, it's funny. I had some great memories this week watching the first game and thinking of I was playing in 1972, I was playing for the Montreal Junior Canadians.

And I remember being a Dave Logan, who was a great teammate friend of mine, I was at his home watching that the 72 series and the goosebumps and the animosity and the hatred we had for the Russian players and watching that series. And then I'm sitting watching this overtime the other night, and I had goose bumps during that overtime with the plays that were going from end to end and the great scoring opportunities. But you know what?

This is, for these, a lot of these players, this and and we've seen it said stated This is their biggest game of their lives the Kajaks I mean, I know the Stanley Cup is big but when you're Canada versus US and you know, there's animosity there It is it is real and you know, it's gonna be great sportsmanship, too But it will be vicious on the ice in my opinion. And I'm anxious. I like team Canada's game. I'm nervous about their goaltending. I got to tell you, I'm really nervous about that. I need McDavid's line to show me more. I want more from Reinhardt and McDavid and Marner. I know Marner had a good game, but I want more out of that line. That line, we need McDavid like he was the last three games or four games of the Panther

series. He's got to take charge. I thought he sat back a little bit. I loved Sid's game, which is special. McKinnon's game at times, but the big boys have got to step up here and I would be going after the US blue line like nobody's business. I'd be pounding McAvoy and Fox and Wurzinski.

I would be pounding them. So if McDavid did take a little bit of a step back because it just seemed like it was Sid Crosby's night. You can't really blame him. No, I'm not. Look, I'm as big a McDavid fan as there is, but I'm a bigger Sid Crosby fan since the kid was at Alan Andrews Hockey School

at 10 years of age. I've been a huge fan of his. And you know what? It was special to watch him the other age. I mean, I've been a huge fan of his. And you know what? It was special to watch him the other night. It really was special at 37 years of age. Okay. I need some 27 year olds to take a step. That's what I need for this game. And they're capable of it. You'd never criticize McKinnon. You'd never criticize McDavid because they bring it most of the time. I need Reinhardt to bring it more. And some of these other guys have got to just bring it a touch.

So I'll tell you what, the Kachucks and Eichel are going to bring it. I guarantee you that. So the Kachucks are going to bring it. We know that's coming. We know that, you know, this game has been built up and there's this animosity, this great layer of extra tension and all this physical play. How much should Canada get caught up in that? Do you want to see them being the aggressors on the Kachaks or should they be focusing on trying to put the puck in the net more?

No, I just think that when you're playing a game like this and you can get energized off the fork check, I love that as a coach and as a hockey guy, I love energy coming from the four check and look, this is a, this is a mobile blue line that the U S have. And I think that they've got to play in their end as much as possible. I'm a little nervous about Bennington. I am. And I know he, he made some great saves when the game was on the line the other night. I'm just a touch nervous about him. That's all. Hellebuck, he's never been able to do it but is he ready to come on? I mean, the goal last night was ugly and then he steps up and

makes a couple big saves at key times. But I think the Canadians game, I wish Wilson was in the game, I'd like Shifeley to be in the game maybe instead of a Jarvis and a couple of guys, because I think for checking has got to be really important. Just the size, the reputation, like what is it the most that you're not thrilled with out of maybe connect near or Jarvis? No, look, I, they're really good players. Jarvis is a great player. I just, I just found, you know, I think the will, the Wilson component, as long as he stays focused, which he's been for most of the year stays focused and brings that big body. I think it could be an element. Look, nobody can complain. I know Shife Lee didn't make the team but this guy's had a this guy has done it has had an unbelievable job at Winnipeg this year

He's had an unbelievable season and he's another big body type of guy that knows hella buck. Well, I Just but you know what all credit to the guys that are on the team. They're all very good players I know hagel's a good player. I know Hagel's a good player. I know Jarvis is a good player. Point's a good player. Marshawn's a good player. But I just want to see more from the biggest guys. That's what I want to see. And that's Marner, Reinhardt and McDavid for me. I need more from them. So one of the strengths of the Americans, the back end, they've got goaltending in good D. Canada's D is kind of in a bit of a weird spot here, right?

They're down a guy. Sandheim's coming in. What were your thoughts on game one and what to expect from game two? McCarr, by the way, ill today. Thomas Harley, a name that is now being bandied about. Yeah, like Taves, I mean, Devon Taves, I mean, I see he was on the ice half the game and I'm thinking like, geez, I Where did this guy come from? Every time I heard it everybody every time a defenseman had the puck. It was him I mean, that's how short they were they had to go they had to use these guys and he's a good player and he's you know a great partner

You know a great defensive partner, but yeah, it's not as mobile as, as the blue line. Theodore is a big loss for them. He's a big loss because he's a puck. He's a, he's a puck carrier and he, and he creates from the backend and he's got the big shot at it's it's a, they're, they're, they're banged up a little bit there. You're like Marshaan and Bennett together? I'm anxious to see Bennett. I really want to see Bennett get, get engaged. I really do.

I want to see Bennett act against the Americans like he did against Marshaan in the playoffs last year. Take that hatred he had for his line mate and bring it to the against the opposition to more than a couple of his teammates. But I'll tell you what the Americans have it look this the Americans have a very good team. They have a very good team. They are talented. They're well coached with Sullivan. Cooper's a solid coach and talk it. I just I think it's such a it's made for such a great a great for great theater to watch this tomorrow night. And I know the clouds of Canada, us is hanging over, which, which I know Sammy likes.

I don't mind it. Um, you know, I'd like this, I just, I want to see a great hockey game. And uh, last night at times during Finland, uh, and the us, I thought it was Buffalo and Seattle playing at times. Compared to Canada. Sorry. It didn't get it going for me last night. I was expecting to see Colson stepping up, but anyway, it didn't get me.

It didn't get my juices going. And then I went to bed before they put the Kachuk line together so I missed any energy. And I'm listening to the Canadian media, Pierre Le Brunson, I knew the guys would be so pumped for this, I knew they'd bring it, I'm thinking bring it, this is Buffalo in Seattle on a Christmas night, give me a break. I knew they'd bring it. Bring it then! They'll go to bed if they don't bring it.

I thought Matthews and Jack Hughes looked good, relatively speaking, the fact that they only got one assist each, but there seemed to be some magic there. Oh, there's great magic there because they're just, I mean, Nick, remember when we coached Jack Hughes in the, in the band, I'm midget in the, in the, whatever was the midget.

Oh yeah. Oh, that's cool. And he, he, he was on my bench and I'm being on my bench as a 15 year old and I'm watching this kid. I was coaching the game and I'm thinking, Oh my God, how good is this kid? And you know what? He's the same player in the NHL as he was in that Bantam game that night, the prospects game. He was so down. He and Matthew's, you know, I, again, you know, Quinn,

they all seem to sit back a little bit because when they're with their own team, they know they're the guys they're the go-to guys and there's always a little hesitancy when you're around all these superstars. Saturday night I want to see them all take that big step on both sides and give us just a wonderful game. I will ask you in a little bit about the goaltending but I want to ask you about chemistry in a tournament like this. The US off the ice has had a couple of things one is and Matthews making a fat joke about Bill Garan, who then called and threatened to cut them. You know, they're

they're playful. They got a Ruzioni out there. Another miracle on ice guys. They got the Johnny Gredro jersey. There seems to be a real bond quickly with the American team. Do you believe that sort of thing can make a difference in a short tournament? Nobody likes to be called that. Where's the chemistry in that? I mean look at me at the pool today I'm walking around down eight pounds I feel like a billion dollars you know Billy Garen doesn't want to be he is a little chunky you know he could he could push away a little bit. But I'll tell you what's the magic with Team USA and the chemistry. And I'm so happy about it is the whole Johnny Goudreau thing.

I watched Matthews present the jersey last night, or I watched the highlight of him presenting the jersey last night or I watched the highlight of them presenting the jersey that means a lot to those players to be presented the Johnny Goudreau jersey after a game and you just saw the pride in in Matthews and you saw the pride in To Chook and you saw the pride in everybody in that room. So, you know what? It's it's it's really it's really good to see but you know, it going to come down to a great hockey game. A great hockey game. I mean, I get excited.

I watched a game on the NHL Network in Somerset, PEI the other night, Canada against the USA in the women's game. And it was the final game of that rivalry series. And I thought, God, I'm kind of really enjoying this, you know? And this, this takes it to a whole nother level. Every time the jerseys are on their face on their backs, it means a lot. You know, we liked having Billy Garren on the show, but I don't think he's coming on ever again.

We kind of ruined it there. Billy, we just crushed us right now with Billy Garron, one of our better guests. I guess Matthews is giving a birthday cake to someone who said, keep it away from Garron or something like that. Listen, I go to, I go to coffee with Dale Talon and Rimmer and these guys here. And like, you know, they're, they, they've had a great, I missed out on 10 years of the stakes on the road every night and the buff that you know I mean these guys, you know, it's just it's part of the deal, you know, you eat a lot Look I'm going over to the beach after Jill and I are going over get a little gonna have a little picnic on the beach

With the bottle of wine. Yeah, you're gonna look for those eight pounds that you lost. Yeah, exactly. So I mean, that's the light, you know, and I don't, you know, it's too bad, but he is a little chunky, Bill. He's not at his playing weight, we know that. Can you get him on goaltending and get him off Billy Garren, please?

Billy didn't start on chatter. By the way, by the way, that was a low blow you gave Hitchcock the other day about having four golf balls in his pocket when he plays golf. Well, listen, I wouldn't have come up with it unless you, you know, text me, stop texting me. I wish you would have told him it was me that said it because I've experienced it. He's the only guy I've ever played golf with that has never lost a golf ball.

He goes in the woods, I found it! Okay, alright, alright, alright. Billy Garen, Hitch, anyone else you want to take a run at? Kate Bennington, Saturday night? Yeah, you're okay with Canada not making a goalie switch Saturday night? Um, uh, you know what? I, you gotta come back with Bennington. Uh, you know, he won and, um, he made some big saves when the game was on the line. I think you gotta come back with them and, uh, Hill, I mean, I

don't hardly know Aiden Hill. I mean, you know, all right. So we need it. Thanks. I mean, that's not like goal tenants or strength. I got to say that, but Bennington, big Bennington stood in there well the other night. I got to give him full bark. He's one of Stanley Cup.

Let's see what happens. All right. Anything else on USA Canada? Anywhere else you want to take them or did he just crush us? We're good. I'm glad you seem so, you seem well. Yeah. You seem like you're back, right?

You're crusty, you got a bit of a chip on your shoulder, you're back. You know what? When I'm at the pool and I was down doing some swimming there before the show and I'm trying to explain to people why I have to go up at five o'clock and do this. And they for the light, and I said, well, I'm going up to do a radio show,

but it's also a TV show and it's a hockey show. And like, it's just, and they, and I mean, they're blanked out by the time I'm finished trying to explain what the hell I'm doing, you know? And they really don't care. Just invite them up to your place Saturday night. The buzz at your building must be huge for this Canada US game. They don't even know it's on.

They don't know it's on. But they do know about the tariffs. They don't know about the whatever it's called. What's it called? The series? Four Nations. Four Nations. They don't know about the Four Nations, but they do know about the whatever it's called. What's it called the series or nation? Fournation they don't know about the four nations, but they do know about the tariff. They know they're tax. Yeah tariffs on at least four nations coming up All right Just like that. You're done. Go back to the bank Thanks for having me on guys. I really appreciate that is Doug. Thanks Maclaine in fine form

today on the real Paper Borschel. I thought really good, really insightful, really positive. And then he just set ablaze two bridges for us as guests. Yes, yeah. Two of our favorites. Like if I were to rank them, probably both top five. And more Americans know about it because I think they, did you just mention just prior, they did about a million people down there

Yeah, apparently I I saw the first Wednesday game for a Canada Sweden Yeah, apparently a million people watch which is that's like that good TNT numbers that we're done. Just yeah I just saw right I think I was I mean They got 333 million people down there, so it's not quite. Yeah, I mean, we're not really vying for the audience in New Mexico, you know. You know, the whole purpose is growth and reach.

And if a game like Wednesday and hopefully tomorrow night can get people to watch again and be engaged, then that's what this is all about. The start of more reach. And we're gonna hear from some callers today. And God, we've had them from all over the globe so far. It's game time. Presented by Bet365.

Visit the app, Play The Stods, and find out why it's ever ordinary at Bet365. That's for 19 plus. On Terrain Only, please play responsibly. So the two games on for tomorrow. The 1 p.m. Game I mean it's a wonderful appetizer to the evening game Finland and Sweden prime time in those countries by the way good Finland I thought it thought it was closer than a 2 1 6 1 finish

But they held up valiantly for the first two periods no they did kipper. What are you talking about? Yeah, no defense, but no they don't but like they help for who they're playing against with that decore I thought they had a pretty high two periods and sorrows and then he killed them I said it's nothing no good the last two killed anyway really hard when you're to something really hard when you're a team who needs Every body that you have and you're missing has skin and a wrist alignment. Yeah, tough desert. That's your top pair. Yeah. Yeah, so Finland is a underdog against Sweden as you would imagine but not that big one plus 175 against Sweden Sweden's minus 210 Don't mind the Sweden by more than one minus one and a half plus 135 get a plus number on Sweden We're gonna say something. Yeah, there's talk that ranting is not great either

So I don't know if he's gonna be a game time decision. He looked pretty good, I don't know. That line to me had their moments. He's far from 100%. They're heavy below the dots, that line. Anyways, and then the big game in the evening, USA versus Canada, minus 105 for the states on the money line, minus 115 for Canada on the money line.

Really close line, as you would imagine I really don't know I would never in a million years bet on this game I don't need those stakes but if you want to bet on something for for goal scorers I love Connor McDavid to score in this game I think Doug nailed it there he's gonna be more assertive he's gonna be really fired up for this game give me an anytime Connor McDavid go up plus 200 and if you wanted to look a little bit further down the list How about Sydney Crosby to score a goal against USA? He's USA's hockey grim reaper So give me a Sydney Crosby goal plus 300 guys. I got point on there I got everything in front of me here Braden point anytime goal as I'm trying to pull it up here

I'm looking I'm looking I'm looking I'm looking, I'm looking, I'm looking, I'm looking. I think he's plus 260. Point played 14 and changed the first game. I expect he'll get more minutes. I would imagine it'd be more too. So that was game time presented by bet365. Visit the app for latest odds and find out why it's ever ordinary at bet365. Must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Okay, let's take a quick break. When we return, we're going to Sammy's Canadian or Canada hotline. Your voice, your thoughts, even crazier than Sammy's will be heard after the break. You're watching and listening to Real Kipper and Born. Hey, it's Blake Murphy.

And I'm Matt Bonner. Join us weekday mornings at 11 as we break down all things Toronto Raptors It's the Raptor show on Sportsnet 590 the fan and wherever you get your podcasts We are back thank you for your stress and born McKee. If you're just joining us by chance and did not hear Doug McLean, give it a download, watch it on YouTube. He was in fine form. Doug was quite ill for a while. I'm glad he looks well.

He's feeling good. Emotionally or physically? Well, he's physically better. Yeah. That's all we can ask. 50% there. And when you're coming in off a couple of compliments at By the Pool, that'll heat you or physically? Well, he's physically better. That's all we can ask. 50% there. And when you're coming in off a couple compliments at By the Pool, that'll heat you up anytime.

You're just feeling good. Feel good, play good, baby. By the way, Nate Bargazzi, that's a good standup show to go to. I'm jealous of that. Good for him. Nate Bargazzi is hilarious. Hilarious. Doesn't even swear.

It's amazing. All right, Sammy, what do you have for us? All right, I guess we went from the Canada line, I mean from the Leaf line to the Canada line. We're now in the national hour. Let's start with Costas from Oakville. Oh Pa Now I'm a longtime listener first time caller to the show love the show last night Watch the US game versus Finland and the Brady the Kachak boys rather had a big game

Even though some of couple goals were stinkers regardless speaking with the brother Topic If the Leafs were able to add a pair of brothers and they had a choice between the Tamas brothers and or The Shen brothers which one would be a better fit for them and take them further in the playoffs?

Would adding Shen's offense and destabilization playing with Riley on the back help or would keeping Tanneth and adding his brother and making the top six a little bit better? Anyways, think about it and I would be wondering what you would think. Yasu Costa, Lavendi. I had to play that one. It's a great question. Are the Leafs better with Chris Tanev and Brandon Tanev or with Luke Shen and Braden Shen?

Luke Shen and Braden Shen. Yeah. Because you have Braden Shen. Yeah. I mean, you'll block more shots with the Tanevs. Yeah, like Chris Tanev to Luke Shen is a step down. Oh yeah, yeah. Pretty significant.

Yeah. But Braden Shen. That's the thing with Luke Shen is that, you know, myself have asked for him. I'm a card holding member of Luke's Troops. I love Luke Shen. But, you know, the idea of him, it's been two years since he's been here and right expensive now And he's more expensive, and it's like maybe lost even a step plane in Nashville

We'll see but I don't know top priority is Got to put the puck in the net when you need it And when you're your big boys aren't doing it and that's that's got to be the focus of the Maple Leafs It feels like Braden is gonna get traded only because I'm seeing of his Name surface and other fans bases. Maybe there's just other fan bases are salivating over potentially adding someone that awesome. Let's go to Jake in Vancouver via Burlington my question for the group is based on all the talk that's about the matchup between is based on all the talk that's about the matchup between Canada and the US, talking about the players, talking about the goalies, which team is better, which team is the better matchup.

So what I'm wondering is, does either team have an advantage in the coaching matchup? Is one coach clearly better than the other? And if so, how much does that advantage actually impact the outcome of the game? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Well, both of them have great reputations, Mike Sullivan and Cooper. So, yeah, it can influence it, but ultimately does it mean that, you know, at the last second you've got somebody on the ice that you could easily had somebody else and then hindsight's 2020 but it's it's such a fine line for me. Both of them are well established. Both of them could

coach any of my teams if I ever had a team and There's just no definitive answer saying Cooper's just way better. What's actually really hard in hockey is you don't always know what the choice is being a coach is facing. Like in the NFL, it's second and 12 from the 42 yard line and all the fans go, here's what they should do. Here's what you can be thinking, whatever on the bench. You don't really know this guy's scape blade is getting replaced right now.

He's gassed after a long shift. These two aren't clicking tonight. Guys in the penalty box. It's really tough for us to real time assess how a coach is doing. So to me, these two guys are great coaches. They've both won Stanley cups. Their teams respect them. I think they're the two longest tenured coaches in the NHL. That seems right. Bednar? Yeah, maybe Bednar's in there. Yeah, he's in there. But either way, it'd be impossible to say

one has an advantage over the other. You know, I love Coop because I love his interviews and I think he's a thoughtful guy. Don't hear from Sullivan as much, but really tough to know. There are like those little details that you don't necessarily watch either. And matchups are big

We know what they've meant over the course of the history of our game and there's a feel for it and there's tendencies where sometimes We saw Us go to the kachuk brothers with jack eichel right in the latter part of the game. There seems to be some magic there Uh, there's line changing too, when to do it, when to get in an offensive zone, face off with certain guys. When to go back to a line that was just out there. I'm watching the discipline on Canada Wednesday night on line changes, like minute off.

There's no two and a half minutes. There's no one hanging out there. Like the roster's too good for you to be sucking wind out there longer than a minute and 10 seconds. Yeah, no excuse. And that's where your coaches are like, no excuses guys, good line changes. Here's one thing I don't know is who or how are they

deciding who is the home team in these games? Is it while they're in Montreal? I believe it's Montreal. Sweden was the home game, home team in the first game. So they, I don't know how they determine that. Interesting. From Finland, I'm like, how do you determine, I play Thursday and then one o'clock Saturday.

Yeah, oh I know. Like Canada goes Wednesday night, Saturday night. Yeah, because too bad, I guess. Oh listen, we all know, like, this thing's built for Canada and the US. They want Canada and the US. We don't want you to do well. No, just to be clear.

Just to be clear. We're not worried about equality. We don't really care about you. Yeah. It should be the two nations face off. Did you see the schedule coming out of this? And I know this is not our Leafs hour, but the Leafs play on Saturday. So they play Thursday night this game. Leafs will play Saturday. You'll have

Marner and Matthews with a day off between someone celebrating and Connor McDavid's team, the Oilers, play at 1 o'clock on Saturday in Philly. So I mean presumably they'll have a couple of Mick Ultras after winning a title or losing a title. So Canada goes Saturday night, tomorrow night. Yeah. And then. Monday. Monday at one.

Yep. And then Thursday. So Monday at eight. Monday to Thursday's, there's some recovery there. That Thursday night though, win or lose the boys booze. Yes. That's just the way it's gonna be, they're together. So they're gonna wake up Friday morning at whatever time and then Connor's gonna catch a plane to Philly and I mean

I'm just saying it kind of socks. Hey, listen You're you're doing this so you can make 20 or 25 million dollars one day Outside of that and maybe knocking on doors to do it. I just don't deliver season tickets If I were the Leafs And maybe knocking on doors to deliver season tickets is what you wanted. If I were the Leafs, Marner and Matthews wouldn't play on Saturday and maybe not Sunday. Because they have a back-to-back. I don't know if they would play that right away. Depends.

And just to the coaching point, the first real adjustment I get for Cooper, outside of the in-game thing where he put the lightning together, looks like Bennett is drawing in for Konekne. Yeah. So. Give us ourselves a pat on the back for calling that yesterday. A little bit of a crash and bang situation.

If you have, hey, if you have Marchand, Bennett, and Jarvis out there against the Kachaks, it could just be an explosion of gloves and sticks. I said it's like Diet Coke and Mentos. Is that what it is? Coke and Mentos? It's like, good luck, boys. Oh, go ahead.

No, I'm just, I'm thinking probably McDavid would go up against. The Kachaks. Yeah, for sure. Jack Eichlin. Well, I don't know if I would, if I had last change, I don't think I would do that. I think you'd rather have, was it McKinnon's playing with? Yeah, Sid and Stone. I'd rather put them out there against the Kachaks, I think, and try to free up Marner

and Reinhardt a bit. Let's go to Jake in Toronto. First off, Sammy, Kipper, Borny, great hair, great salad, all three of you, fantastic elite. My question here today is what player over the past we call it what eight years that we haven't had best on best what Canadian player has missed out the most would love to hear your thoughts love the show shout out to my wife Courtney and her mom Linda who listen every day and watch anyways great stuff guys take. Big Valentine's Day guy there, Jake. That's a huge one.

That's a huge one. Big one. Attaboy. I'm going to get your answer. Sid. Stamco. Who missed out? Sid.

Yeah, but I don't think that's the question. Like who didn't get to go to one that... I'm thinking Stamcoast right now. Good one. Very good one. Okay, that's the one that... That's actually the highest scoring Canadian who's not at this. He missed the window

That the age of his prime stamp Coast years Missed the window so here here or going back eight years the top scoring Canadians who aren't in an event that we're missing Jonathan over though mark Shifely Claude Giroux missing Jonathan Uber dough mark Shifely Claude Giroux Ryan Nugent Hopkins Matt Barzol Marches so do Shane do Shane was in one Sam Coase I feel bad for damn goes is the guy because the rest of it it's you know McDavid McKinnon Marner March and Stan you know that the guys that are here but there's guys who just

missed out on getting to wear the jersey. I guess my Sid thought was like... Stamber did wear the jersey though. Yeah. Yes. I guess his legacy is already so ironclad that it doesn't necessarily... For Sid. For Sid that it doesn't necessarily matter. But like having the potential to have two more gold medals in...

That puts you from on the Mount Rushmore to potentially like on the left side of the Mount Rushmore Like that's like you're you're in you're you're just behind Gretzky kind of but I I totally agree with you But did Claude Giroux ever wear a team Canada jersey at a big event? I don't think so. I don't think so. He was supposed to in 2014 Everybody thought he would go in 2014 the end of high scoring Canadian over the last years never got to play for Canada They've been in on many of the rosters. I think he probably was in the Olympics that they canceled. I don't think they hadn't named a team yet. They hadn't named officially. Yeah. Anyway, good question Jake. Great question. Let's go to Joe from Mitchell. Just had a comment about your

talk this week about having international hockey every other year. I Remember back in the 80s and early 90s. It did get a little stale with the Challenge Cup and rendezvous 87 somebody like Scott Morrison or even Gord Stelick could give you a little bit more insight Because I know the players even got a little bored with it Second thing Canadian defense without Shane Theodore. Back in 76, the Canada Cup, Canadian team, probably the best Canadian team ever built,

played two games and then they lost Jimmy Watson. They played the rest of the tournament with only five guys. But those five were Bobby Orr, Dennis Potfan, Larry Robinson, Serge Savard and Gila Point. So pretty good guys to carry on a tournament. And Bobby Orr won the MVP that year. So just those two comments. Keep doing a great job guys love

watching you afternoon okay see ya appreciate that see he makes a good point too because part of the appeal of Wednesday night is the fact that we haven't had it in eight years we're all starving we're starving for it so it's like whoa yeah he was going so fast and they're starving for it. So it's like, whoa! Yeah, yeah. It was going so fast! And they're all together! Yeah. We've never seen that in like nine years. Yeah, totally agree.

That's part of it. Now you go from that to every other year. Look at the winter classic. The winter classic was, oh my God, turn this on. This is incredible. Look at this. I'm just saying. They did eight in a year and it was like.

Now outdoor international hockey's best. Yeah, and don't hate it. You're asking your best players every other year to give up two weeks, three weeks. Every other year. Sammy just had a great point though. If they had done at the Big House Canada USA one game, could the NHL have made more money?

Listen, it should have been probably a rivalry series. Three out of five. A little bit better. Three to five, imagine they played five times. That would be insane. By the way. Kill each other for five games. Drew left your team.

Drew was on the 2016 team. 2016 team, he was there. When they wore the worst jerseys They never nice of Finland to show up, but like you know there's still time guys if you want to go run on the beach Oh Finland here you're being hard on Finland that line of Barkov ranting and leckonin I mean not much juice that well that line they were good for two periods. They're okay And then our cops world-class they were in it then sorrow sewered them immediately and they had nothing left. But that those five guys, it's the most absurd

thing ever. Oh, yeah. It's true to Bobby. Yeah. Let's go to Noah in. Did I do this? No, no, no. In Tennessee via New Brunswick. My question has to do with Mitch Marner and more the thought process of not what maybe he'll learn from the players, but what do you think he's going to take away from John Cooper that maybe he brings back to the team? Do you think sitting under a coach like that, that maybe has a little more, I don't know, dynamic thinking will help him anyway? Thanks boys.

I listen every day. Well, first of all, he, he, he was under Cooper when thanks boys. I listen every day. Well, first of all, he he he was under Cooper when he was I don't know when he went to the World Championships, but he was he was with Cooper. I think they won a silver medal if I'm not mistaken. Yeah. So he's experienced the whole John Cooper thing already. Yeah. But since then, Cooper has done all his winning in the NHL, right? He's won his cups and all that. Yeah, it can't be bad for him. Get another point of view, another fresh perspective from a guy who's had success.

I imagine it would be a good thing. He seems to like him a lot too. I think what he can bring of him is confidence in the fact that playing almost, was he played the second most amongst forwards on one of the best hockey teams assembled in a really long time gotta be confident let's go to the spoke a sophisticated Lee fan from Pickering anyway I'm calling in the hopes that the following message gets out to the team Canada fans

that will be at the Canada US game game this weekend in Montreal. Instead of booing the US anthem, which frankly isn't a good look and maybe even fires up the US team, how about all the fans just stay absolutely silent during and after the US anthem? Imagine hearing a pin drop followed by the loudest pop, the loudest roar we've ever heard when the Canadian anthem starts. Anyway, great job, boys. Love the show. Take it easy.

I love that so much. Sophisticated Leaf fan. That's a pretty sophisticated idea, buddy. If you could coordinate that, I love that. The thing that, listen, I would boo. I would 100% boo from there on Saturday night, but the thing that does terrify me exactly what he said is how much that just fires up

those squirrely guys on America. That's a huge aspect of it for me, right? Like those guys are gonna go nuclear out there and they're running around. That scares me. Just every... make your decision. As a fan, you paid, you want to boo, you boo, you don't, you don't. That's way out of our hands. Yeah, I think people are like,

ah, it's a reflection, poor reflection on Canadians or whatever, it's like. Give me a break. You know, it's some hockey fans. We probably don't. And people are mad. We probably don't have time for anything more, I don't think.

So, this is what I got at the end of the week. Hey Kipper, I hope you're well. I love the real Kipper and born and McKee show Seriously, I basically listen to every show on the podcast working out walking the dog. It's my soundtrack to winter Anyways, I hope you guys try my easy Monday t-shirts. So he sent us t-shirts. I gave you guys a couple. Thank you but you know Jeremy you make a great, and that is that we can be bought. So, like, if you're out there, or Jeremy, send us stuff. Right?

Absolutely. I love you, man. I am the most for sale anyone has ever been. Okay, give me a score tomorrow night. Oh my God, they're gonna score? 3-2 Canada, regulation. It's tough to pick a number different than that, honestly. I don't think anyone's better than anyone by a lot,

so sure, 3-2 Canada's good. Third period goal, slot tip, Sydney Crosby for the win. 3-2. Our thanks to Doug McLean for finding us once again on a Friday. Off the rails Friday, baby. Enjoy the weekend, enjoy the game. We're back on Monday. Two hours.