Real Kyper & Bourne - The Buds Are Back

Episode Date: February 10, 2023

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee begin off-the-rails Friday by reviewing Kyle Dubas' press conference where he addresses questions surrounding the goalie group, hints at targeting a non-rental blueliner like Jakob Chychrun at the deadline and the growth of the Leafs over his tenure as GM. Leafs Nation's Gord Stellick joins the conversation (42:21) and discusses the pressure on Dubas this season, who the Leafs should target at the deadline and who they can feel good about giving up. Next, Blue Jackets reporter for The Athletic Aaron Portzline joins the show (1:06:11) to tee up tonight and tommorrow's Leafs games against Columbus, and talks about the team's dissapointing season so far and how they turn it around in the coming years. The guys conclude with reactions to the Vladimir Tarasenko trade, Patrick Kane's comments about it and some fan questions.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.

This is Real Kipper and Born on Sportsnet 590 The Van. We are back after a day off yesterday. So, before we go anywhere, I want to send out a message to the Toronto Raptors. Oh boy. Yes. Okay. Did not see this coming. Will Lou just left.

I got a little bit, you know, I always get my little tidbit on the Raptors and what's going on. In passing. Transition in passing. But I want to tell the Toronto Raptors, if you're going to take us off the air for a full day, for your NBA trade deadline, the least you can do is do something. Something. Something. Sammy, something.

I actually think it's a bigger story that they did nothing than that they did something. Like, it's a bigger statement that they did nothing than the fact that if they had a trade with Gary Trent or Fred or one of these guys, like, it's pretty insane they they did nothing we don't need to get to the nuts and bolts of this but i'm pretty flabbergasted but which means they weren't sellers and they're yeah but they stink gonna make the playoffs yeah but they stink but they can make the playoffs yeah great i mean lots of crappy teams make the playoffs in the nba and then it's like oh yeah you get to

play your bitter rival boston celtics and watch them whoop you in the first round sounds like a really fun experience can't wait for that mlse probably likes a couple home gates hey yeah well it'll be more than a couple because if they get through the play-in maybe if they're higher in the play-in then they'll get a couple home games on that and then you'll get at least two so a little extra money i guess a little extra money to pay my size salary he's doing pretty well. Let's not get into it. Well, besides the Raptors, got a lot of people watching and listening because they are intrigued by the Toronto Maple Leafs going into this weekend. They're back.

Long break. As was well documented earlier in the week by us. Yes. It feels like earlier in the week was 10 years ago. I can't remember the last time we did a show. Wednesday? Wednesday. It feels like at least a year ago.

I know. And maybe it's just the fact that I lived a year of tweets from a lot of pissed off people about my fake traits, Kipper. I think we might have a hit on our hands here. Do people understand like we're just hypothetically throwing crap out there? Sammy cooked that up five minutes before the show. He was like, here's an idea. Yeah, he's like, maybe I'll put some fake

trades of you guys. And then it's literally our most interacted thing we've ever put out. 100,000 people interacting with that. If anything though, it does speak of the appetite that's out there and how emotionally vested they are in this thing. Yeah. It's just not a subtle conversation to them.

It is like life. It also makes you think about what's realistic right and like what you can do why things wouldn't work or would work and you know the common thread from the responses was that we're a bunch of know-nothing morons for suggesting it yes i i've just it's been remarkable that you know every so often a new reply has poured in and just put another smile on my face. The one we just got recently, it's just simple to the point, this is bad. You will never be a general manager ever.

The only replies to it are me going, I don't know who Stephen Lorenz is, and Kipper going, I'd do that if I were the Leafs. That's all we said about the trade. Oh, I love that I dragged you guys does that not give us some indication of what the next like what is it 18 19 days will be like that is i guess so which is great tubas is thinking about it he's being asked about it right this stuff's happening well we got a terrific show for you uh it is uh what we consider still uh off the rails friday oh yeah but no doug mclean in about 40 minutes sorry everybody can we get aaron port's

line to drink or something before he comes on just to keep it level we might have to but doug is down and out with uh a cold or laryngitis but uh laryngitis which i would think would absolutely thrill his wife oh jill's vacation is february 9th or whatever it is 10th congrats to jill not only just jill but maybe like his whole condo building the beach the pickleball court there you go the state of florida of Florida. The listeners to this show. Collectively happy in the next few days. Oh, we miss you, Doug. Yeah, we do. I know you're listening, for sure.

But we got... I love listening to you when I'm on. In his place, Gord Stelik's going to step in. We have not talked to Gord since he was in Florida. So we're going to...

We'll see if we can get him to throw it off the rails a little bit for us. You think he's got a tan? Yes, I do. Okay. I do. Maybe half his face because he fell asleep. He's the type of guy that would just be that guy.

Nap it out. For sure. Aaron Portsline will join us in the second hour as well. Blue Jackets coverage for the athletic. And we'll get his thoughts on where they're going. And yet again, they got a few pieces there. I think a few teams would be interested in. Jenner, Gavrikov.

I mean, the list is actually quite long. I don't know that there's many people they wouldn't trade. So wherever you are, Sportsnet 590, The Fan, Sportsnet YouTube channel, Sportsnet Now, iTunes, Spotify, we're glad you're aboard for the next couple hours. We're going to have some fun. Usually, this is the time of the day where we lean heavily, as we have all season long, on Sheldon Keefe.

Yeah, our guy. For Kippers Clippers. But Sheldon's taking a bit of a backseat. Why? Because his general manager spoke, which really is maybe the first time since, I don't know, training camp. I forgot about him.

We have not heard at all from Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas. And we went through that. Everything's great. At that hairy situation at the beginning of the year where everybody was like, oh my gosh, go get Barry Trotz. It's over for Sheldon Keefe.

But they've been able to kind of lay under the radar. Yep. And, yep, Kyle Dubas had to surface at some point before his trade deadline, and yesterday was it. This is the longest. Go ahead. He did do one. Did he? Yeah. Am I forgetting? Yeah. When? deadline and yesterday was it this is the longest go ahead he did he did do a one did he yeah am i forgetting yeah like when kind of after the crap storm settled he's gotten really good at not

seeing anything inflammatory while saying i don't think he said much because i don't remember it wasn't it like when he was he remember he gave an update on talking about like late october no yeah he did like an update on muzzin and talked about Muzzin a little bit during that time. Okay. No, but it's been a while. Yeah. It's not like. What a clip list today.

I know. This is unbelievable. I got in here earlier. It was pouring over the clips. At least it doesn't. Yeah, I know. Wasn't that the time where he said Sheldon actually performs better under pressure? Yeah, that's right.

He did. Yeah. God, it's so nice that you have a memory. Thank you. And sometimes a loose button on when to cut our mics off, but that's okay. That's okay, too. I'm not going to pass that buck. Because eventually a nice F-bomb out of JB keeps the show fresh.

Yeah, lets people know I'm a real dressing room guy. Okay, so let's start with just a general approach to the deadline from Kyle Duvis, the general manager. I think you, with where we're at as a team, and just in where we sit as a franchise, you look at everything, right? Is there any, whatever way we can improve the team, we'll look to do that. I think with the exception of of goaltender uh up front and on d if there's a way that we can improve the team and give ourselves a better

chance to uh um to make a run at it then then we'll do that uh some of it i think the larger focus is always on the the bigger names but we have to look at the the people who may improve us overall and not just the big names per se. All he did was put a rubber stamp on what we've been saying the last little while. We need help in multiple areas. I think there's a pretty big part of that quote that we're just glossing over, the exception of the goaltender, right? Where he says, like, you know, we'll look at anything to over, the exception of the goaltender, right? Where he says, like, you know, we'll look at anything to improve with the exception of the goaltender.

We're looking to improve our team. No goaltender? Matt Murray, we're sure? This is it? We're good? You guys are good? I was surprised he said that. I mean, that's a clear statement that we're going ahead.

We're going into playoffs with Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov. Well, maybe not Matt Murray. I mean, who knows how long it's gonna go he's back yeah he's back on the ice now and they say he's progressing but i i'm surprised he came out and said that i will say because i'm not in the camp that they need a no another goalie yeah three weeks to sort this the fact that he just comes out right and says that they're not even considering it i'm surprised i. I think he's saying that for the goalies,

to the goalies. Yeah, 100%. You can get away with sprinkling the defense in the fours, but tell me what general manager would come out three weeks before a trade deadline and say, we need help in that. It just doesn't happen. That's a very sensitive topic.

And JB, you nailed it. Like you come out, it's a big difference between talking to seven or eight guys on your roster on the blue line and 13 up front and two in net. So you nailed it. I don't take any stock in that in terms of showing cards maybe he's going to take another week and a half two weeks and see where samsonov is how many starts will samsonov have between now and the trade deadline yeah the only thing that i think has been established at this point is samsonov is the guy we have to get ready for game one.

I don't believe that there's enough time for Matt Murray to turn and make people believe that it's his net like he had just, what, a month ago, month and a half ago? Yeah. Like we were all towards the side that it was going to be matt murray's net to start anyways felt like they wanted it to be but the way they dished out starts if he's if he's not in the lineup for another 10 days two weeks how many starts do you think this guy's going to get to get ready for a game one scenario this is completely leaning towards grooming samsonov to at least start. It's leaning, but you mentioned a month and a half ago, like there's more than that to go.

It can flip again. There's 10 games before the deadline. Yeah. Including tonight's. With a guy who's on IR. Not enough time. No. No.

Nope. So Matt Murray is going to, I don't know, I'm not going to say he's the backup yet but they you know it seems like it is leaning towards samson on his way the other thing in that clip is him go ahead i was just gonna hit do we have a clip on him talking about goaltending we do we do we have a clip of him can we follow that up yeah and just stay on this for a split second 100 uh well i think matt matt got back out skating. He'll go on IR just because we just need the roster space, and he's past his seven-day window.

But I think the thing with Matt is that he had an injury early in the year, came back and played great for us. So this will let him get to work with Curtis Sanford and get back rolling. It's not a huge concern. I think it's not a huge concern for the reason that you stated. Number one, I think Matt's going to come back in great form. But number two, Joe has come off his injury at the end of last year, Lance. And, I mean, he's 14-1 now with the Marley State percentage over 930.

All-star in the AHL, named the top goaltender in the skills competition at the All-Star Games. So Joe has been a guy that's put in a lot of work and a lot of effort and been a great lesson for us in goaltender development. Sometimes it takes time and patience, and with his work ethic and his attitude, it's been great to see him. Obviously, he's likely to get in action here on the weekend for us, so that'll be a lot of fun to see him back in net again.

He had a good stretch for us last year. Wow, that's a ton of information there. I mean, he was an all-star in the all-star thing so must be good top goalie top in the top goalie at the all ahl skills con contest if that doesn't oh my god i'm so excited if that doesn't scoop up samsonov's game one start nothing will i don't mean to make light of it it's just a funny thing to mention it really is top guy in the skills contest in the american league like mention mention his record and mention his say percentage in the hockey league well 100 yeah he's been amazing it's been excellent unbelievable

season for the guy but not sure so i think do you think there's a i think it's pretty clear here if i'm looking at it from the outside looking in that they're being way overly cautious with murray now i will get some starts here you know that's happening right wouldn't you think in case murray's gonna yeah maybe they gotta get wool in the net this is this is where i have a little bit of a concern on what kyle just shared with us that's a whole place tomorrow is number one is that he said uh Murray had an injury earlier in the year. Okay. That didn't come up.

How earlier in the year? And why wasn't it addressed then? And why is it crept back up? And, like, did you miss it earlier in the year? Did he not? Was he not as forthright in the information of he not did he not was he not as uh uh forthright in the information of how he was suffering earlier in the year like i i got nothing but like a little bit of red flags here on this earlier in the year was he talking about when he missed the month and a half

earlier in the year is that what he's getting I don't know. I don't know. But, like, the whole thing is still kind of stinky to me about the Friday versus Ottawa warming up and not starting yet staying on the bench and still not being in a position. I'm sorry, but this just does not happen every day in the NHL where a guy's not healthy enough to play, yet is healthy enough to sit on the bench, and then not healthy enough in the postgame comments to say that he could have gone back in.

The whole thing was weird beyond belief. Joe Wolt, baby, get to know him. You know, because there's no guarantee he's going to be good to go. And he's still not healthy. No. And it's been a good break. It's a goaltender with an ankle injury, which is a goaltender with a high ankle sprain.

That's trouble. Do you want to talk about the difference between me as a skater with a high ankle sprain and a goaltender with a high ankle sprain? It's like your support joint. Ankle seems very important. They don't necessarily go away very quickly. Yeah. That's not good.

Not good. Nope. Little bit of a concern. Kyle just said, not a huge concern, but a concern. Some concern. A little bit of a concern. It's not good.

You nailed it when you talked about the parallels between him and Freddie. It's eerie here now. Just not knowing what the guy status is maybe they know more about murray than they did about freddie but like it just feels very similar yeah the other thing in that comment that i was going to bring up is he mentioned you know it's not just the big fish we need to look at anyone who can improve us overall right all? All throughout the lineup. And I look at what previous Stanley Cup champions have done, you know, Tampa Bay doing Gaudreau and Coleman,

Colorado doing Manson and Lekanen. You know, those are names, but they're not the biggest names. And I look at right now who's available is O'Reilly and Kane and Taves. Chikrin. Chikrin. You know, the names, the older guys I just mentioned, I'm not sure if their values as big as their name, but to me,

here's what I see from Dubas managing expectations. Cause if you come out here and say, we're going big fish hunting or sorry, big, whatever game hunting, game hunting, that's it. And you don't hunt for fish.

You're starting to sound like me now. Two years, bro. Just make crap up. As my sound like me now. Two years, bro. Just make crap up. As my wife says. Yeah, two years now. But that is there. You know, I think it's just managing expectations so that for Leafs fans,

it's not like we're getting Meyer and Chikorin. Honestly, that horse left the barn. Lower expectations. He brought the horse back in. He said, we're just aiming lower. Don't you think? No. He can say anything he wants, but the expectations are,

you're getting out of the first round or you lose your job. How can you manage that? That's unmanageable. He's doing his best. Yeah. Right? It is. that's unmanageable he's doing his best yeah right it is that he can try to curtail everything but hey you you got a few issues yeah you better find a way to clean them up between now and uh march 3rd or it's over yeah like there's no managing that. No, I agree. And so, Sammy, he mentioned that he wants to improve at forward and D, but then we have a clip as well where he says he also doesn't want to trade their big pieces.

Which clip is that? On Matthew Nye's. You got asked about, you know, basically is Matthew Nye's, like when you're thinking about trade. Yes. He was alluded to. So you can play that clip here every single trade discussion that we have um we're at the part and where we're at as a franchise where you necessarily they don't

can't necessarily say no to anything right off the right off the hop having said that there are some some um players and some uh draft pick capital that we have that are extremely valuable that would be hard-pressed to move on from. Not just the one player you mentioned, but a whole group of prospects or younger players off our roster. So I think in regards to rentals, I can't see that happening. But with regards to other options, I don't think you say no off the hop to anything. But those are very important pieces to us for now and in the future. So those are important pieces.

We'd like to hang on to those, but we'd also like to add forward and D. It doesn't really add up, does it? Yeah, it can add up. Okay. Yeah. How does it make sense to you? Expectations, right?

Managing expectations. that up okay yeah how does it make sense to you expectations right managing expectations yeah but i mean if you just check that on the side here he basically said that we're not gonna spend uh first rounders for rentals but we will look at matthew Nyes for something more substantial. The other part of that, and I made this comparison to Sammy before the show, is like, it's like, you know, when a boxer says they're retired, and Conor McGregor, MMA guy, retired nine times,

and they're like, yeah, and then we'll pay you more to come out of retirement. That, to me, is what's happening with the Nyes and the First. It's him saying that we don't want to move those pieces, they're important pieces, just so that people who want them he'd have to pay up well now you're getting into reading tea leaves a little bit because there's there's two things that you you do when you go public like kyle did is that you send one message to your fan base but you also send a message to any other team that's listening.

And that's what I got out of it. And, you know, I mean, I talk. You hear in your inner circle of things. And one of the things that I had heard in the last, what, 24 hours is that the Leafs are obviously focusing on a D-man, and they're targeting Jacob Chikrin. I heard some things. So, really? For me,

very consistent from what I heard out of Kyle is that Jacob is not a rental. If I'm able to pull this off, we guarantee ourselves three more cracks at a Stanley Cup with Jacob Chikrin at 4.6, and that would be worth giving up a Matthew Knives for. That's what I heard yesterday.

Yeah. You know, I have an article coming out on Sportsnet today. That's juicy, Kipper. You take a day off and you hear juicy things. On Sportsnet.ca, I've got an article coming out on the Leafs' power play struggles and how, you know, you'd mentioned earlier in the year how it has gone down in the postseason the three years in a row. It's actually six of the seven past playoff years. Wow.

And it's declined considerably. You know, like it's gone down significantly in terms of that um one of the things that has happened and i thanks to sport logic for their help on this is uh passes completed as in puck movement has gone down in the playoffs and that to me is who facilitates the puck a lot it's the guy at the top riley going side to side and puck movement and i do i did think while i was writing that article if you had a had someone who could move it around a little bit more it opens up seams more and it keeps things it gives you those chances to get into the dangerous spots a bit more so i do think that someone like them would really help like really help their power play and knowing that

there would be a tremendous price to pay i think kyle again has left himself open with some of his comments uh in that matthew nize did he talk about the chances of somebody coming out of college and and being he mentioned i didn't get the clip but he was just basically talking about them going on a run to like the history isn't necessarily great or whatever but you know he's hoping that they can win the national championship as the number one ranked team or whatever. It wasn't that great a clip. No, no, but it was a good clip for the reason that he said you got to also temper expectations for a kid to come out of college

and be an impactful player. Yeah. So I think they're 100% on board knowing that if they wanted to get Jacob Chikrin, it would cost them Matthew Nyes. The other thing that I heard, if you want a little bit of, look at him perk up as soon as I said that. Kiffer, I'm all ears, buddy. Love this stuff. The other thing I heard was they'd like to get it done with Jacob Chikrin in Arizona

without giving up any more first-round picks. Like, those they want to protect. Yeah. Which means, for me, that if Matthew Nyes is involved, it would cost them something else of significance outside of a future asset like a first-rounder, like something on the roster. Okay. Now, my first thought is i'm doing it sandy sandy or lilligran yeah it could cost them lilligran and matthew knives

so chicken is it right or left shot left see you need lilligran on that right side don't you can you give them sandyine can you get them to do sandine and nyes let me go to cap friendly and see if i can figure that out no now listen if if you're arizona it's not even a question who you want right now is it between lilligren sandy yeah no you want the right-handed shot you want something that uh every team wants young puck moving right-handed shot i mean if i'm the leafs here's my response to that uh okay you make that move yeah nice and uh lilligran yes and uh a second rounder or third rounder but not my first rounder.

Yeah, I think so. I just think it like, you know, when you win a Stanley Cup, you have impact pieces and players. I've always been of the belief that game breakers and these sort of elite guys make the difference. You look at the best players in, you know, NHL history, they win cups.

Timothy Lilligren's an excellent hockey player. But, you know, what is he? A second pair the uh second pair right d who's gonna get 30 points and doesn't defend all that great like it's not that i don't think he's good i i'm a lilligren convert i've come around but to me he's a lot more replaceable if you can add someone at the top of the lineup i still have fear about nize like nize can easily be that guy that for a generation for a decade people are going but how do you trade nize but not in this window right now well that's the thing it doesn't line up but you can watch them score 35 goals as a power forward for all you know it could it can hurt that one so yes i would do it recognizing where they're at with their superstars and their

curve and all that with some trepidation but the lilligran thing would be i would be able to live with that i have a couple things on that because that is just so juicy buddy and i love hearing this kind of stuff but i think i would rather give up the first round picked in lilligran no like if it was a choice like that thought like if you're, if I was Kyle Dubas and I'm looking at my team and I want to win this year. Listen, if it's Lilligren or not that I'm doing it. Like the way we used to talk about Lilligren, I can't sit here and say I'm not trading him for Chikrin. But wouldn't you rather do it as a first round pick? Yeah, I don't disagree with you.

But where it kind of holds up is Arizona may not want that first rounder. Yeah, it's fair. They want to is we'll take a guy that you groomed and is ready now that is cost control at 1.4 million uh this year or next year and i i saved myself uh five years of developing the next lily pad the leafs have been invested in the lily pad my concern is you know on the right side then you're left with brody who's a left shot justin hall yeah yeah and hopes and dreams you know like they signed timmons to a two-year deal and i think that yes so in all honesty more likely than him though it's Sandin on his offside is what it is. Which has not been good.

Not yet. Timmons comes in for Lilligren. I just can't see Timmons in, Sandin out in playoffs. I can't. But I get your point. As a 5-6. Yeah, yeah. Timmons is a 5-6.

Yeah, he's a 6. Yeah, okay. I'm just saying Sandin to me is a better player. It's Hall and Timmons with your right right-handed d how do you feel about that uh a lot better knowing that chick is one of four yeah me too you know that's true so you got you know at that point riley's second pair really his numbers with hall haven't been bad by the way that's just such a that's just such a team changer it pushes riley out of a spot but just having a guy like that immediately in the way. That's just such a team changer. It pushes Riley out of a spot. But just having a guy like that immediately in your top four, it's just such a team

changer. I wonder how it is coming out of an environment like Arizona, you know, playing in a college rink for trying to lose to suddenly being like... Out of the frying pan into the fire. You're the guy against Tampa in round one, fella. Yeah.

All right. Stop the show. Where do we go from here? the frying pan into the fire you're the guy against tampa in round one fella yeah all right we grab uh stop the show where do we go from here where do you go where do you want to go you want to go to uh what do we do the clip you liked about playing uh the opponent well we'll get that towards we go to uh columbus because they got uh oh yeah but let's not forget they play tonight hockey game sammy and i doing leaf stock after. Oh, yeah. Dubas now on the thought of matching up against the Tampa Bay Lightning. I like this one.

Yeah, I think, you know, our hope and how I look at it is we have to control those 30 games that we play. And we have to put ourselves in the best regards of who our opponent is and where we're at. We have to, number one, we have to put ourselves in the best, regardless of who our opponent is and where we're at. We have to, number one, we have to secure our spot. I think the minute that you start to take your focus off of being at your best night in and night out and competing night in and night out, like you see now Florida, they're firing on all cylinders and they're coming. Buffalo, they're coming. Ottawa went into the break hot and they're rolling along.

Detroit's had those stretches as well. So I think the minute that we start to lose our focus is the minute that we're going to really start to give it back, and that's not what we want to do. Our hope is to continue to chip away at it, put together a strong month here, and then stack that on with next month and see if we can chip away at the lead that Boston has. And I think as everyone knows, Tampa's right there on us.

So we can't take anything for granted for a second, especially in this division and this conference. You know what, Sammy, can we go right into his playing the lesser teams and then we'll just kind of overlook all of that. Well, I would like us to play really well against the non-playoff teams. Those are important points for us. And, you know, frankly speaking, you know, I think we've been a bit better this year,

but these are areas where I'm looking to see growth from our team, right? And, you know, going back to the previous question about what the rest of the stretch means, you're always looking for signs of growth, and I think this is a stretch for us to do that. These are important games for us. There are two points every night, whether we're playing Boston or Tampa or playing teams that are currently outside the playoff picture. So these are important for us and our own growth. And then with regards to Austin,

I think it's good to see him back on the ice and skating, but we're going to be very cautious, obviously, with him and where he's at. And he's obviously non-contact today. He'll need to be in contact before he gets back in. See, I got so much out of those two. So much. Good. Glad someone did.

And that is, like, we're not mailing in 30 games here. We're not cruising towards focusing on playing Tampa Bay. He hates his team the last few years giving up points to the Montreals and the Buffaloes and the Arizonas. It's driving him nuts. Yeah, it's driven us all nuts. We have that in common. And to sit there and say

that you're one of the top five teams in the nhl this year during the regular season and he thinks that they're a bit better than last year at that a bit better okay like come on. Like, he's pissed. Yeah. Which is a good thing. Yeah. But if they're just a bit better here, then something's wrong. You should be, it should be, we should have nipped this in the bud, is what he's saying. To not be able to play well against lesser teams, leaving points on the table here. So I think that was a stern warning to all of those players is that I'm watching you.

It's just for me, Kip, I'm so obsessed with playoffs right now. And I know it's February 10th. I know that's stupid. But, like, all those playoffs, these games, like, I kind of feel for the players going into playing Columbus, Columbus, Chicago or whatever it is. Like, you know, he's given them the warning, you know, we should be better. Be a pro. But does it tell us anything about their odds against Tampa Bay?

I think yes. Okay. I think if he doesn't see the growth, then it should be a bit of a warning to you is that you shouldn't trust them in the first round. Like you haven't trusted them for the past six seasons at that time of year. Yeah. He's looking for growth still. He hasn't seen it. Yeah. Here he is in his, what, fourth year as general manager?

And he's looking for growth against lesser teams? You know, people lose to these teams, though. It's the NHL. No, no, no. Boston's lost to Arizona this year. Seattle. Nobody's lost like they've lost. No, they've had their share of.

Yes. You can't, like, try to compare the Leafs to other teams in this fact. They cost themselves how many points last year? This really does, though. Just losing to Buffalo. Losing to Montreal. this really does though just losing a buffalo this really does feel like if you went around the league and looked at everyone's schedule and asked their fans you know tampa bay getting shelled by whoever it is boston's lost their share of games to bad teams like yeah i don't know i i agree that it's two playoff losses to columbus and

montreal yeah who you should have flat out beat with your eyes closed yeah easily yeah for sure and i feel like that that issue spoke to a bigger issue about lack of killer instinct right that was the theme after the postseason lack of killer instinct um you know i don't feel like that's as relevant to this team anyway that's all right we got a maybe uh we want any more of kyle dubas or we got what about his um his contract situation he was asked about being in toronto and staying here and all that does that interest you yeah okay what do you think kyle yeah i i mean tor Toronto's been great.

It's great for my family, and I think more than anything, it's the people here are... I love coming in every day and working with the people. So, you know, I never take for granted a day working in the league in any role whatsoever, and Toronto's been great for our family, and I don't focus on the end of it. I just focus on every single day giving my best for everybody inside the facility i hate the whole i don't

focus on the end of it what else can he say and in all honesty i mean it what else can he do it has to be true he has no choice but for that to be true yeah i mean he can only do what he can do right now but i it's hard not to think about it it's you know i don't know it feels like it's you've done it as a player everybody goes through it hey you just do your job every day and plow on i guess uh the other thing you're here you're here until you're not here yeah the other thing i wanted to hear him on was on the nba trade deadline when everyone's trading five first round picks to 2029 and his if he's jealous of the

nba in their deadline yeah let's hear it it's a different uh it's a different beast i think i mean just i don't i don't uh i mean i follow the lead but not closely if i don't really uh the valuation of the picks i think is a little bit different in the nba as well just in terms of what you can expect if you're picking lower in the first round i don't again i don't know well enough but i guess yeah there's a little bit of jealousy though so yesterday i wrote for the toronto star my my uh my column and it was based on that on the nhl being in a situation where it seems like everybody's thirsty and for for true bigger names available, and it's just not there. And with all due respect to Bo Horvat, in theory, was that a true blockbuster?

It's fringe, right? He's got 30 goals. He's not. He's a big deal. Or Netflix, I'd say. Just your eh is enough to know that answer. He's close. Yeah, wow.

As close as you can get for a guy that just scored 30 goals for the first time last year. I know he's going to do it again this year, but he's just now starting to get into that cut line of being a very good player to potentially a star. Is he Pascal Siakam in terms of league-wide importance? That's a hell of a parallel i have no idea it's really from left field you know a guy that you like who's fringe all-star sure anyway

hey pascal made the all-star team because a bunch of guys got hurt he made it i did uh throw it out there that uh the nba is probably kicking the nhl's ass in in that type of talk or that type of uh enthusiasm and why is it possible bigger names and the fact that uh you've got i don't know what the number was over 200 that either had no moves that blew my mind trades most interesting part of your article i think you said 231 players in the nhl have control over like not full but like some trade protection. Even limited. 230 players. It's a mind numbing number. And do you know how many in the NBA had it? Like two guys? One.

Bradley Beal right? Yes. So of course it's more interesting. No one knows where they're going to live. Does everyone rent in the NBA? Probably not. They have lots of money. So part of my article had two case scenarios in Leaf history with these type of clauses. One was with Daryl Sittler.

The other one was with Matt Sundin. One was handled by Punch Imlach. And that's... Well, Punch didn't come off great in the Ballard doc. Well, yes, exactly. So, and then Cliff, the professional, the class act that he is, handled it how you would expect to be. And that is players have options, negotiated in good faith.

Matt's had his rights. We respect those rights. End of story. That's great. So here we are in 2013, and with so many of these no trade or no movements, you just wonder if nothing changes with the cba and you're still dealing with these things where is that fine line between respecting them or giving some players uh some a good nudge to say i gotta get you out i don't care what your contract says you have to get out it's crazy too because the nhl you look at the big trade board that everyone has and every you know different

network it's uh the top five guys it was bo horvat tarasenko both had no move clauses kane taves o'reilly no move no move no move i mean all the tradable guys have protection which brought me to my last which brought me to my last point in my article, and you can find it on my Twitter account, Real Kipper, is if in fact the things may go a little sour again after their first round, where are the Leafs with Tavares with two years left at $11 million and a complete no move? Would they approach him to find another team?

I don't think that Kyle Dubas or Brendan Shanahan would. But depending who's here. Fresh set of eyes. Fresh set of eyes. Those eyes may be, you know, rinsed out. Emergency eyewash station. Fascinating. I don't think they would you know just in terms of having brought him here sold him on the place captain if he's mr toronto if you had a chance though to move his contract eat maybe 25 30 percent get somebody to bite at seven and a half

or eight million dollars for those two years at a point-game guy and a guy that can still show a high level. Blasphemy. To sign Willie Nylander. Yeah. Get his money, get Tavares' money out to sign Willie Nylander. You still think that the Leafs wouldn't approach him? Have I traded for Timo Meier in this instance? Honestly, John Tavares has been an unbelievable maple leaf an unbelievable maple leaf he has

produced it means he's produced he's a point again yes which he which he's done bank a point he's done with the new york islanders this is what his fifth year of being a point per game guy fifth year of of not getting out of the first round. I understand that, but it's just, to me, it would be so hard to say to a guy, we signed you on this vision, the vision is executed, you've lived up to your end of the bargain. He hasn't. They haven't gotten out of the first round.

Was that the bargain? Well, you just assume that you got him to get you over the hump. We can't get over the hump, and we're not trending over the hump as is. I have to do something. I can't say that the logical brain in me doesn't hear and agree with what you're saying. However, the loyal human brain in me says, you just can't do it. Pajama boy. You just can't do it. Sammy,ama boy. You just can't do it. Sammy, what do you think?

I like it. If it means having to sign Willie Nylander, I'd do it. Absolutely. But I don't think the Leafs would. I really, I wish we were having these conversations

after multiple Stanley Cups. That's the one that truly breaks my mind. Like, you know, you think about the Blackhawks winning those Cups and having to break up the team and trade guys out and it's like we've had these conversations with nothing you don't uh you think that that the leafs would be interested in timo

meyer yeah i do i got an i got a proposal for you i just i i don't i i don't see it as, first of all, as being anywhere near as high of a priority as the blue line. Yeah. Chikrin changes things for sure. Okay. He defends pretty well too. If you are in a situation of picking one for Kyle to hit a home run, where are you going? Chikrin. Timo or Chikrin?

No, it's Chikrin. Okay. Yeah. Chikrin. Clean sweep, Chikrin. Yeah. Okay. All right.

So we're all on board there. Yeah. Meyer, you know, he's... Okay, we got to go. Let's break. We'll talk more with Glenn. We got more on this. Which will lead us to Gord Stelictricity,

Leaf Nation pre and post. He's joining us after the break. You're watching and listening to Real Kipper and Born. We're glad you're aboard. Discussing the biggest stories that matter to Toronto sports fans. The Fan Morning Show with Eilish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Stepping in on Off the Rails Friday for Doug Mc mclean none other than gordon stelic you were

the only one that could do this you know that right am i honored i should be i'm honored i'm honored you are for sure and and you're fresh off that incredible weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Miami. I don't know what you want to call it. All-Star weekend where you got to call the game. Now, is it true that you and Steve Koulias were nicknamed the Roxbury guys from the Saturday Night Live characters? Okay. Okay. At the end of the weekend. Is that true? You're half right. You're half right. You're half right, okay?

I went to the NHL function on Saturday night. We didn't get there until like 8-ish because we were covering the game. And it ended at 10.30. And then I went back. We were sharing an Airbnb to be cost-effective. So it was kind of like a big, it was kind of like a big brother episode, a reality show, but Coolius and Scott Laughlin on air guys and others went out to later

parties. And one of them was hosted by a guy named Dave Pagnotta from the fourth period. And all I can say is they should have come back one period earlier. Okay. That's all I can say. That's all I can say. And where were

you during all of this? I was thinking about my next appearance on Real Kipper and Born. So I was up studying and that on a Saturday night late. And then I went to bed early so I'd be refreshed. And finally on Friday I got the call from the bullpen from Sammy. So I'm excited. You gotta be ready. I'm like Mariana

Rivera. You gotta be. I'm ready all the time. Okay? Enter Sandman because you're sleepy. So I'm excited. You got to be ready. I'm like Mariano Rivera. You got to be, I'm ready all the time. Okay. Enter Sandman because you're sleepy. So I know we're going to get into the Leafs and the trade and talk and yada, yada, yada. But you've had a week to kind of digest all of it. Just your thoughts on maybe cleaning a few things up on All-Star weekend with that skills competition. Because you know that stuff ain't going to fly in Toronto next year, right? You know that. Yeah.

Now, you know, first of all, first of all, okay, if you don't like the All-Star game, and that's everyone's right. I mean All-Stars in every sport. You know, don't watch, don't listen, don't go to it. I mean that. I'm not, you know, whatever. To me, it's something I could take or leave on a national basis. But when you're there, there's a different vibe, different energy. And of course, being on the media side, we had media day.

So we get to talk, you know, whether it's Dylan Larkins and Johnny Goodrose and Seth Jones, I mean, that part's all really good, but get to your point, Kipper. Yeah, no question. You know, when they did it in 2000, they're, they had the bad format about the world versus North America. And that didn't work because the Leaf players were on the world team. So, okay, the game is the game. I think it's okay the way it is right now.

They had to do something after that debacle in Columbus, what, about eight or nine years ago where it was 127 to 119, and nobody blocked a shot. So the three-on-three is okay. You're right about the skills. There's this balance about, you know, skills, good environment, something new, novel, and something gimmicky. And, yeah, so I can acknowledge they missed on certain – you know, that way.

And this is a chance for Toronto with, you know, our environment, I think, you know, whatever, to do things maybe outdoors. I don't know. But you're 100% right a hundred percent, right. It's something that always is a work in progress. So on from that to the rest of the season, 30 some games left, we got 10 leaf games to the all-star break. Kyle Dubas spoke today. You know, not the most telling information,

but he did say something scored. One of those things was that, you know, not necessarily big game hunting, but looking for other ways to supplement their roster do you see that as managing expectations or a reality of what the Leafs fans should be expecting at the deadline by the way you know I'm filming in for off the rails and I gotta tell you Justin Doug McLean has successfully screwed up so many people about your name. Okay? You know, I almost, I have to catch myself. Honest to God, he's done that successfully. I have to say, first of all, Kyle Dubas' style. Jason or Justin, whatever your name is.

He's screwed everybody up. But, okay, do a split screen of Joe Biden's State of the Union address and Kyle Dubas talking to the media. It sounds the same, okay? Like, he's way younger. It's nothing to do about age and everything like that. I mean, it sounds like what Dion Phaneuf was captain. You know, it's just the same stuff keeps coming at you about the, you know, the process.

And I don't know. I just get, you know, whatever. I'm cool with whatever he does. He's in charge. I don't know the big deal about the last year of his contract. I hope he gets a 20-year contract. I hope you do. I hope in charge. I don't know the big deal about the last year of his contract. I hope he gets a 20-year contract. I hope you do.

I hope I do. I don't know. Whatever. So I'm just waiting to see what he does. I'm looking forward to it. Stop it. You cannot be cool with whatever he does. If he doesn't do anything that improves this hockey club and they don't find

a way to get out of the first round. How can you sit there on our show on Friday where we need you to just come on? Well, hey, I gave a pretty good Joe Biden doobus split screen thing. That was pretty good. He has to go, Gord. Gord, he has to go big game hunting here.

He has to. Okay. I'm just saying I don't want to hear the terminology, the sound bites. That's more what I meant. So I'm looking forward to seeing what he does, to be clear, because, you know, Kippy, am I on 60 Minutes? What show am I on? I thought this was Real Kipper and Bored. What is this?

Is this the late Mike Wallace reincarnated by Kippy? Holy mackerel. Hold your feet to the fire. Yes. Yes, it is. Anyway, there's no question. Like, it's a weird thing. Here's this great regular season, but if they don't get in the first round,

there has to be landmines going off somewhere. You don't have to blow the whole thing up, but there has to be. There's no question. There's no question. So, you know, whether – I mean, there's pressure every year about that. I don't believe he's trying harder because he's in the last year of his contract. But, you know, it can't be how Nick Foligno didn't work out, for example. And again, there was mitigating circumstances with injury and that.

You're right about Kippy. Man, you look at what the Rangers have done. You look at what the Islanders have done. What about Brendan Hagel? What about that deal last year? Like, I mean, 21 goals to get a guy who is on a $1.5 million contract this year and next year. And I guess the Leafs were in on that particular deal.

But that's the kind of thing Tampa Bay does. And that's a big part of why they have Stanley Cops beyond the headman, beyond the point, beyond the stamp coast. And yeah, you know, it's like, give us our Nick Paul guy. Give us our somebody, whatever that's going to come. If you can't get big game like you want, Kippy, or think he has to, and maybe we'll get, get someone who's at least big game in the playoffs for a change.

I know, but let's be reminded here, Hagel did cost them two first rounders, which he's not prepared to do. Well, hey, in Toronto, they gave up first rounders. First of all, first rounders are 30th and 31st for Tampa Bay. So that's one. They have given up first-rounders in the past, like in the Flano deal and other ones.

And, yeah, I get there's a certain price. But what I'm saying, what a great value that right away that guy, and again, it's your pro scouting, and the Leaf pro scouts that had him on the radar as well. So he comes. He's not a hired gun. He's a guy that cap-wise helps your situation. So that's a double whammy positive trade

beyond just the hired guns, like, say, a John Klingberg or someone like that. So how are you going to feel here about the Toronto Maple Leafs if after the deadline they've moved on from Matthew Nyes in that first rounder? Because there's a lot of people, and one thing, Kyle Dubas has mentioned that he doesn't want to do it,

but a lot of Leafs fans are just not comfortable with moving on from the whole future and kind of being so invested. Well, whatever the price is, is the price. And if it's not worth paying, you don't pay it. Okay? You don't pay it. Okay? And if you endure the criticism that you didn't successfully get big game hunting, well, you're doing your job as a general manager in small picture and big picture. This is a team that is good enough to win a playoff round,

that should have won a playoff round over the last five, six, seven years. I don't, again, want to hear that, oh, my God, it's Tampa Bay, because you had Montreal and Columbus in the past when it was set up for you, and it didn't happen. So you have to beat a team like Tampa Bay in the first round at some point. That is a reality. I have picked them, Justin, Jacob, John, or whatever your name is, I have picked them to win the Stanley Cup this year.

I just have a vibe. I have a feeling. I think there's seven or eight teams in the mix. I think this is going to be a year like the St. Louis had a few years ago. And the no-brainer is if they get by the first round, free at last, free at last. I think a lot of people will be jumping on that, that

all of a sudden, as far as that pressure being off, who knows? But that first round is key. And that's why they get paid the money. That's why they have the scouts evaluating what they can what they can do should do what price they should pay and yeah that's the way it goes nick caprios matt damon gorge stellick you're listening take it it's a real kipper and born here uh part of kyle dubas's press press conference included his choice words of, we're setting goal, we just got to figure the rest out.

Were you surprised to kind of hear that they aren't looking for anything between now and the trade deadline when it comes to between the pipes? So, you know, Justin, you're big on this. Where's the analytics talk gone? that's what he was brought in initially and understand you got to grow as general manager and all i totally get that yeah so are they still like considered a number one or two or whatever like analytic driven team as far as assessing on ice stop assessing trades i think so yeah you know it is interesting though gourd because to your point,

people talk about Dubas and all the numbers stuff. And it's like, look who he's brought in. He brought in Jake Muzzin and Kyle Clifford and Ilya Labushkin and, you know, like a bunch of, you know, guys that the thumpers like. So it is, things have changed, haven't they? Yeah. Yeah. But Kippy, get back to your question is, so, okay. What, like, okay. First of all, Joe Wall. Is Joe Wall the Matt Murray like in Pittsburgh? Is he the guy that was killing it at Wilkes-Barre and came up in Pittsburgh when Fleury had issues and played well in the playoffs? Like this is intriguing now. They finally got a goalie they're developing who's playing extremely well.

So are you going to, like trade-wise, is there somebody available, you know, if it's Cam Tell, but I don't know, whatever, that you feel is better than Joe Wall? Is it a guy that, you know, if it's, well, Cam Tell, but I don't know, whatever, that you feel is better than Joe Wall? Is it a guy that, you know, costs a second-round pick or third-round pick to give you depth? I would be okay with that, particularly now Murray adding concerns to the injury to put the health department heading in the playoffs. I did find it, I don't know, a little interesting you said that. I don't think Kipper, it precludes him from making a move.

I think he just more was kind of giving a pat on the back or a little vote of confidence to the current goaltending. But anytime you can add goaltending depth, particularly when one of your two starters has significant, seemingly injury issues, and both have had injuries, you would have to do that if the price was reasonable, in my opinion. Gordon, you've sat as a general manager assistant general manager uh through trade uh deadlines is there pressure on on uh general

managers and do you feel like people inside the organization pressurize put pressure on you as well to to make a move would the fact that now the ball's rolling a little bit. We saw Tarasenko go to the New York Rangers. Internal pressure. Is that real this time of year for general managers? Kippy, most general managers will deny it, but it's 100% true. It's 100% true.

I know Brendan Shanahan is a free hand. Basically, the board lets him do whatever. The board isn't calling him or Kyle Dubas, I don't think, anyway, you know, about that. But it's human nature. And also, Kippy, you know the guys, like your run to the Stanley Cup, like it's in the dressing room. There's kind of like, wow, you know, they're doing some stuff.

They got expectations out of us. What we got to do, keep our game high at a certain level. But, wow wow they're actually doing stuff now i know bruce boudreaux will use an example that 2010 for you know and i think last year the florida panthers might have done the same when you make too many moves you that's not constructive because you know you're you're really knocking a lot of things out of whack as far as the depth chart goes but i think human nature it's it's it's there it's there and you know and hey it's good if you can do something if you can kind of get on that positive vibe and it it does help

like you know dave known as we're chatting with him uh he's a regular now on our show on serious and just you know anna brian burke added brad may in anaheim that wasn't a big trade but he needed a big personality and a quiet dressing room, right? And, you know, and those are the kind of ones, well, geez, think of your buddy, our buddy Steve Thomas years ago when Anaheim added him at the deadline, you know, he went on a tear there, you know, so, so Kippy, big game hunting is one thing, and I agree with you, but if you can get the ingredient, like identify the ingredient that's out there that really, that your team, maybe another team is not the same, right?

But that your team will add that kind of value. You know, that's another intangible. Oh, man, the year we won the Stanley Cup in 94, it was the pressure from Mike Keenan on Neil Smith to get things done. Like we were a first-place team, and Keenan would be the type of guy that would constantly tell Neil Smith, we can't win with this guy, we can't win with this guy,

we need this guy to win, we need this guy to win. And that was just almost, I'm sure, daily. Yeah, well, as you know, Kippy, and there's great books about it and stories, and that probably was, you know kippy and it's it's there's a great books about it stories and that probably was you know mike keenan seeing a seeing a power void there he could seize and he may have had neil smith's job if he and neil may have been out you know shortly thereafter if keenan hadn't done the st louis deal right you know basically that set up the modern day tampering rules about executives coaches or anybody moving from organization to organization that there's Louis deal, right? You know, basically that set up the modern day tampering rules about executives,

coaches, or anybody moving from organization to organization that there's, there's the strict, but he did that what days after, you know, days after or weeks after they won the cup. But yeah, that, that was that. I don't know. I don't know if there's another one quite now. Like, I mean, he was almost like Bill Belichick with a boss above him. It wasn't a boss Keenan was back then. So, you know, there, there, there's another element though, Kippy and Justin, about what coaches, you know, really have the GM's ear, what used to be more dangerous. I mean, now there's more corporate setups, but if a coach had the boss's ear, like the president or the owner's ear,

right, and all of a sudden, you know, that person's on the general manager kind of getting the, you know, getting the side information from the coach. But yeah, that was a good example of that. You're right. He's Gord Stelic, Leaf Nation pre and post. Tonight, Leafs jacket on Sportsnet 590. The fans, coverage starts at 630.

Gord Stelic, Gunnar, Koulias. I don't know. Who else do you want on the show? He's got them all. Gord Stelic. Hey. Yeah, we got them all. We Stelic yeah we got them all we're going to let Steve Koulias rest and all that stuff

relax and he can enjoy watching the game or listening to the game on our airwaves how about that fantastic job filling in for Doug McClain fantastic I didn't think you were going to be able to do it but I didn't bring up the guy that fired Doug

and then he talks about it all the time, right? I left that one alone. Doug can do that next Friday, okay? Have a great weekend, Gord. Have a great call tonight on your show. Will do. See you guys. Thanks, Gord. Hey, what has more value?

Matthew Nyes or the Leafs first? I'm telling you right now now everyone that I've talked to the stock that has gone up for Matthew Knives in a short period of time is been well received around the league I would hope that Kyle

would be using that I would hope that Kyle would be using that in the negotiations. I had someone DM me they'd rather see the Leafs trade their first. Yeah, no, no, no, 100%. And I would hope that Kyle would almost be leveraging the stock of Matthew Nyes as a top 10 pick yeah it's like this isn't the first this is a a guy who's panned out maybe maybe uh less question maybe one of the most uh dynamic power forward

not playing in the national hockey league today At least Sens wouldn't like that, would they? In a few years? Like to have that in the lineup, Sammy? You want this guy? I am giving you... Jeff Carter. I am giving you the best prospect, the best power forward prospect in the world.

What are you giving me? That's the way I hope Kyle's addressing negotiations. By the way, the Jeff Carter thing was an accident that i mentioned his name but uh you used you mentioned him in the well that potential sundin trade that was the story that uh back with matt sundin not lifting his no move that null uh nullified a trade for carter a carter and a first from the philadelphia flyers these fans can never have a big power forward here i don't know how the where the hell i found that out in whatever year that was but that was a big thing with leaf fans it's probably from kipper when

he was on hockey night in canada was it i don't remember what i had for breakfast but so there was a very weird time there with the sundine legacy because of that well it wasn't just matt's but then it kind of it it uh it grew to the muskoka five is that what we used to call them back then so i think there was cabaret involved darcy tucker involved matt's maybe mccabe i don't know but some of them had partial to full no moves and uh it it got a little frustrating uh towards that uh that that time where you could get something back for them but uh maybe some of them shut it down the mistoka five sounds like something criminal happened like it sounds terrible the one thing that i did stress in my uh my article yesterday for the toronto star was listen i get it i'm an ex-player who if you can get it get it don't

upset your family have control yeah all of it Like, I don't care. I understand giving up half a million dollars for it. Can't sell the sizzle? That's not on me. Right? Your league became a little bit more boring because of these? Not my problem. No. I currently have a mortgage and I know where I live and my kid's in school.

Negotiated in good faith. And usually in exchange for money off the deal. Sometimes, yes. You know? 100%. I'm sure for a guy like Horvat, you know, he didn't get a full no move from Lou all the way through. He got first four years and then partial after that. Tarasenko had one.

Still got traded to the Rangers, which was always one of his teams. Doug Armstrong always had the ability to trade him in the last year and a half to the New York Rangers. The problem was, like, he couldn't because of the cap issues. Now, has it come out at all on how much St. Louis is paying off his contract? Yes. I think they retained 25% or was 50 i heard 50 is 50 i think yeah so right that that was never off on the table doug armstrong hates retain hates no movements but it's for half a year and retaining money fifth of the season but the only way

doug armstrong was going to end up with a first rounder for Tarasenko was from the New York Rangers if he picked up 50% of his contract. And that's why he did the deal yesterday. Turned him into a first. Pretty good. I want to get to something before we go to break.

I ate a ton of pizza and wings and wedges and pizza nova was nice enough to send it our way uh you know big game this weekend uh a couple football teams playing football in a rather large game so if you're looking for uh something to get no pizza wings whatever you want pizza nova let me follow that up by saying my family, every Friday for the past five years, has ordered a pie from Pizza Nova. So shout out Pizza Nova. If you want to hook it up, we will be your loyal subscribers. Yeah, it's Pizza Friday. You don't have to cook.

The kids eat it. They love it. I'm happy. Pizza really is the best. It's a no-brainer. They should throw you a coupon or something, shouldn't they? Throw me a slap. They threw us literally 10 pounds of free pies and wings.

They already threw us lots. For the record, I saw you standing over the garbage trail mucking a wing, Kev. For the record, I found a wing on the floor. That's all that was left. I dusted it off. I assumed when I saw it, it was under five seconds. Therefore, the five-second rule, in my mind, had been fine. You assumed as you walked in, I threw it on the floor or something?

Yes. It was a phenomenal pie they sent away. So, if you're thinking about something for the large match this weekend, think about Pizza Nova. What does it deal with being unable to say? You just can't say it. You can't say it. Don't say it.

I won't. But what happens? You talk about the really superb, the owl. A big laser comes down and goes you can't say don't talk the name of the big game this weekend in print anyway i'm sure we can talk i'm sure it'd be fine but i don't look at me like that just don't say it you can't say super bowl it's a laser it's a laser just cost what. What does that mean? I don't know. $5.95, $9. He's now in debt.

Why? Why? I honestly don't. When did this happen? This is like in the last five years. It's been around that you can't. You got to write a talk about it as the big game because only the people who pay for the rights to use that can like NBC, ESPN, Sportsnet, maybe.

I don't know. Are you allowed to say NBC? I got to pay NBC now. I'm out of money. Anyways. Are you allowed to say NBC? I gotta pay NBC now I'm out of money Anyways Are we allowed to say Toronto Maple Leafs? Yeah

Anyways Poor beat timing You've had a beat this whole time? Your fingers have been slower than anything I've ever seen my whole life And hey Try your toes

They could be faster than your fingers Make sure your fingers aren't slow when grabbing some pizza nova this weekend Or as early as tonight when the Toronto Maple Leafs They could be faster than your fingers. Make sure your fingers aren't slow when grabbing some pizza Nova this weekend. Or as early as tonight when the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Columbus Blue Jackets. How's that?

Sounds great. Great segue into Aaron Port's line after the break. We'll tee up the Blue Jackets and what they may be doing come trade deadline. That and a ton more as we continue on the Real Kipper and Bourne Show. Toronto Maple Leafs ready to get back at it. Back to back with the Columbus Blue Jackets, which brings us in Aaron Portsline doing terrific work for the athletic all over what may happen in the next three weeks out of Columbus. Aaron, thanks for joining us.

Yeah, my pleasure. Thanks for having me. Hey, it's, I mean, been a tough year, eh, in Columbus? Oh, yeah. I mean, where do you start in terms of, Aaron, I don't know if, yeah, I'm not looking for a huge long answer just to put you on the spot, but, like, what does the disappointment of this season mean for the next three weeks? Well, yeah, I mean, I think when the season started,

if everything went right, they saw themselves as a team that potentially could be, you know, in a playoff picture, a playoff chase. And that scenario, they wouldn't be, you know, ushering UFAs out the door and maybe doing more. The way that the season's gone, for sure, that's the case now. Vladislav Gavrikov, unsigned. He's not going to just be allowed to leave without a return.

They're going to trade him for sure if they can't get him signed. I think they still want to get him signed. I think that's getting ever unlikely as we get closer to March 3rd. And so instead of being a team that's adding or fortifying, it's a team that's kind of shedding and, and loading up on young assets for the drafts and beyond. So, you know, Gavrikov is an interesting name. It feels like every year there's a pretty good defenseman who ends up going

for how much, you know, he's the names like a David Savard fetched what and that feels like where gabrikov is heading tell us about him as a player obviously here in toronto he's someone of great interest given their needs yeah well he's for sure a top four guy the thing that's so unfortunate here is you know he and warrenki are really the only bona fide top four guys they have. And so now they've got some young defensemen coming, but they need a bridge to the first-round draft pick. So it's a tough guy for them to move. They don't want to move him, but, again, he's not going to resign here. If he's not going to sign an extension, that's where it's at. He's a very polished defensive defenseman

i think back to david savard a couple of years ago one of the guys you may be referencing who went for a first and a third to tampa bay that would be a reasonable i think start i think that's what the blue jackets would be looking for uh gavrikov is at least as good a player as Savard was then, three years younger than Savard was then. More offensive upside, not an offensive defenseman at all, but not a liability with the puck on his stick. He's a pretty good all-around player. I think he's underappreciated.

I think he's a guy that if he played at a slightly bigger market, Toronto would be obviously more than a slightly bigger market, might have a bit more status throughout the league? He's very highly regarded here in Columbus and would be a big loss to them if they lose him. As far as moving forward here, we saw Johnny Goudreau signing there last season. Patrick Laine has signed an extension here.

Are these surefire guys that they want to build around here for the next few years and does that line up with any type of window well i think gadreau is for sure linea is is is a bit more uncertain to me i don't know what the grade mark is for him but but I think he's a guy they'd listen on. It has been a weird fit here. He has not been great with Goudreau in their defense. They don't have a number one center on this team. In their defense, they don't have a number two center on this team. They've got Boone Jenner playing there. By default, nothing against Boone Jenner, but probably a second or third line left winger.

And Ross has expanded and now Cole Sillinger has backpedaled in his second year. So maybe there's something to that. But those two, Goudreau and Laine, have not really ever made magic at any point this season. And Laine came here, Bill, as one of the great goal scorers in the league, and he's not that right now. Hasn't been that for a few years. So there are elements of his game that are attractive, sure, but I don't think he's by any means untouchable.

I think you look at Wierenski as an untouchable, Gaudreau for sure. And then you look at the cadre of young players that they've got. They're still high on Zillinger. Marc Chenko's been an eye-opener this year, maybe a little ahead of schedule. They're really high on Kent Johnson. And I don't need to tell you guys this,

but what this season has been about now for a few months is this year's lottery and the hope that several teams have of landing at Conor Bedard, a transformative type player. Even if they end up with Fantilli, I think they would be completely delighted. They desperately need center help, something they've really never fixed long-term here. They've had a couple of players that they've not been able to hold on to. Pierre-Luc Dubois has moved along quickly. Boy, that's a big hole in this roster and has been ever since Dubois left.

And they need to fill it and perhaps more. So with the whole season kind of being geared toward Conor Bedard or Fantilli even, you know, I'm trying to get a sense for what this Columbus team is playing for right now, and you hope it's not to lose games, but Jonas Corposalo seems like a guy who's in the way of some of the losing, right? I mean, he's a 908 save percentage, which is above league average.

Is he someone that's a part of the long-term plans there, another name that could potentially be on the way out? Well, I think he's on the way out, and it's an awkward situation. They've got their wagon hitched to Elvis Merzlikens, who's in the first year of a five-year contract. He's been really not good this year.

There's talk around him of work ethic issues that need to get straightened out as well. That's not a pretty picture. The young guy that's coming, the Ilterasov, is probably the future goal. They're in a weird spot where their best goalie,

Corposalo, and you're right, his numbers are above league average, but they're way above this team. Look at all the other goalies on this team,

and then look how Corposalo's numbers really jump out. I think he's played his way into being a tradable asset, which was not the case last year. Ended with hip surgery. The other guy that they would move, and it's going to be similar to a Riley Nash trade a year or so,

a couple years ago where Nash was injured and they traded him, I believe, to Toronto, is Gus Nyquist, who's got a shoulder injury, is not going to play again for the Blue Jackets this season, but could be back very late in the season or in the postseason for a team. So he'd be traded to a competitor. We're talking to Aaron Portsline from The Athletic, who covers the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It's a blink of an eye, and it's been 10 years for Jararmulke Kekulane in Columbus. And I'm just wondering, does he get another 10 years to try to fix this? Or is some people going, you know, 10 years is a long time. Maybe we need somebody else to try. Yeah, well, Kimber, I don't know if it's 10 years. That seems rather bold. Another 10 years.

But I just talked to John Davidson recently about Decalina, and I don't see any sign of discord or disfavor with the direction of the franchise. I think, you know, for Brad Larson and Yarmulke Kalanidze's injuries this year have given them cover largely. They got off to just a horrendous start, even when they were mostly healthy, worrying start. And then came the injuries at a rather alarming rate. But there's some fundamental flaws with this roster.

I think they thought this was going to be a quick rebuild. They even pushed back against the use of the word rebuild. It was restart. They would correct you. This was just going to be a quick one. And that was all on course until this season, where it's all really fallen to pieces. We'll find out next year.

There's always next year, right? Yeah. You look at the team. There's center depth, major issues at center, major issues, top four defense, and the goaltending is wildly unsettled. Other than that, they're in great shape. The only good thing going for Yarmou is you could still blame Doug McClain. You can always blame Doug.

It's been a number of years since I've heard that, but it's never out of season. He's a regular on our show, and we just blame him for everything we can. And the good part is we know he doesn't listen to us when he's not on the show. Never. Yeah. Well, that's great the um you know looking at this the struggles of the columbus blue jackets so far this season and you know trying to make sense of where they go from here like it okay so they trade one or sorry they get one high draft pick

you know there's a lot on the plate of brad larson how do you judge larson's performance as a coach as a first year guy he's had injuries the team has holes it's just so hard to know going forward what they have in their new coach isn't it it is and this is the second year last year you looked at him and you thought okay so many young players and this is and this is a teaching job strictly. I think it changes. I think the roster changes when you put Goudreau lining. This becomes a performance-type job. They're still very young,

but I think Fred Larson's going to be evaluated after this season. I think they recognize where this season is going a long time ago and decided not to make a move. I think they're still looking at their young players and seeing, okay, Kent Johnson's on pace for like mid-30s, 40 points as a full-fledged rookie. Marchenko's probably going to push for 20 goals down the stretch. There's some stuff here, if you

look at it, some of the young players are finding their way in a difficult league under difficult circumstances. But I think it's a job that's got to be evaluated after the season, especially if you land a Bedard type. It's becoming a different team. You're asking the driver of your truck now to drive a race car, if you want to look at it that way. And is that the same driver? I think it sometimes is a different person. I think all of that's going to be evaluated after the season. But I don't think Larson's a job that's in question right now.

I think this is, again, fully the players aren't tanking. Players never tank. But management has been fully on board with this finally being the year where Columbus does it. If you look even through the Doug McClain years, one of the complaints you hear about McClain and after is they were never quite bad enough to land the Crosbys, the Malkins, those guys. They were

always in the 6-7-8 range. And the years that they've been really bad was the Ryan Murray draft. We know where Ryan Murray's career has been. So the only number one pick they've ever had was Rick Nash, and they traded, Doug McClain traded up to get Rick Nash.

They've never landed that number one pick, so maybe this is their year. Aaron, the other thing that stands out to me in this organization, and, you know, all kidding aside with Doug or Jeff Rimmer or John Davidson, Yarmul, and certain players, is what a great place it is to live, be, to support all of it. Yet there seems to be an issue with keeping guys or keeping names from the Breadman to Goalie Bob to Pierre-Luc Dubois to Seth Jones. Where is the disconnect between how great it is to be there and why players can't or don't want to stay?

Well, I think the biggest issue is the biggest issue that the fan base has with the organization. The city is, no one's ever left because of the city. No one's ever said, I can't live here. This place is just too boring for me. Most people get here and think, well, this is bigger than I thought it was. It's better than I thought it was.

The question is, can you win here? And as great as it's been to have an NHL team here, and as above average as the support has been, it's really an incredible level of support when you realize they've never gone on a playoff run here. They've won one series in 23 years, right? They've not picked the team up, the city up, and carried it with them for two months in the postseason. People still talk about 2019 as the,

as the, the playoff run, they want a series. They got beat in the second round. They beat Tampa. It was great story in the first round, but they didn't make it past the second round. We call that the glory year in Columbus.

I mean, it's, it's, it's tough because, you know, people will, will, will constantly say, geez, what's the crowd support been like that? And I look around and I think there's a lot of markets that you put this success in front of the people for 20 plus years, where it would be a graveyard in the arena. And if they've sold the place out several nights this season. The crowd's been very engaged.

They want it desperately. But I think players feel like they want to win. Seth Jones left, wanted to play in a very large market. He'd been in Nashville. He'd been in Columbus. He wanted a different taste. Artemi Panarin dreamed of being a New York Ranger from the time he was a little kid in Korkino, Russia. There are different reasons.

We still don't know why Pierre-Luc Dubois had to leave. Still, years later. But there's different reasons for everybody. I think the biggest thing is if they felt like this team was going to take an annual run at the Stanley Cup, I don't think you'd see players leaving like that. But I think they see it as a pit stop on the way to championships, not a place where you can win it. Aaron, thanks for doing this, man.

I really appreciate it. Have fun covering the game tonight. Will do. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. See, one round in 23 years. I could play in Columbus. Oh, yeah. No problem at all.

Yeah, no problem in Columbus at all. I would think it would be a great place to play. By the way, we had one playoff game in 23 years in Vancouver. All us Canadians talking about how you can see how it goes in Vancouver, how many fans are there. If you ask me, that's the team that needs Conor Bedard the most. Columbus. Yes. That's my ideal landing spot for him. And that's the team that needs Conor Bedard the most. Columbus.

Yes. That's my ideal landing spot for him. I actually left that interview hoping for that and went into it hoping for Chicago or Philly or something. Let's have a Columbus run. All that market needs is one player that someone could say, I want to play with him. And that would be Conor Bedard. And that would change everythingor Bedard, and that would change everything

because we saw it. We've lived through it already. If you go back to 2004 with Sid, right? Remember how bad Pittsburgh was? Remember bordering bankruptcy and can't get people to go, and then Sid. the rest is history. Just a bunch of dry tinder laying around Columbus. And, you know, he could be the spark and just set that place on fire.

No joke about Vancouver, but anywhere. One playoff round in 23 years. The glory year. The glory year. It's very funny. Hilarious. You can't put that in many places in the NHL and not have dysfunction. I mean, look at the Buffalo Sabres.

They have great fans in Buffalo. They struggle. Yeah, I think Columbus is a great spot for him to land. East Coast, playing in a really relevant division against lots of good teams. You see him a lot. I think that would be a really good spot. I really do. Yeah, I mean, the league would like that, too, because you're playing the Rangers, the Islanders,

and the Devils in Pittsburgh and Capitals. You know, it's great. Okay. Team Columbus. Go, Lumbus. Yeah, our show's on that. Anything we want to add to Tarasenko deal? I think we should talk about the Patrick Kane quote today.

Did you see that? I did, yeah. Would you like me to read it? I just want to, as far as teresanko anything you want to add or anything to it uh do you think that this was a huge coup by the new york rangers to get him i do yeah you do i don't know what coup but a boy you know with the money that top line right now is panarin's advantage ed teresanko who do you want to have the puck nobody no no no it's it's got a chance for sure i just they can win a cup that i just i don't know i he's a little

strange for me tarasenko i don't trust him i just don't trust him i will say he's got like 37 points in 48 games or something he's a talented guy yeah like if he gets it in the slot he can shoot it in the net he's finicky he just needs to he needs to be loved he's high maintenance for me i got a touch light in my basement that you can touch and it won't turn on but some days what's that got perfect got some insight on tarasenko here no it just seems to me like he he's the type of guy who sometimes he thinks he's way better than he is that's dangerous and you know i i know he's kind of the guy sometimes he's like you know people should be looking at me like people look at ovechkin well i think what would help that is when you're playing beside two guys who are better than you and maybe he won't believe

they're better than him but statistically by basically any metric the two guys who are better than you. And maybe he won't believe they're better than him, but statistically, by basically any metric, the two guys he'll be playing with are the better players on his line. That might be a little bit of a reality check. He's the type of guy that he thinks in his mind he's going to make $9 million next year. And what is he going to make?

For me? Yeah. I mean, certainly a great playoff run and get to the rangers to a final and you're a big part of being in a number one line would get you on a short-term deal maybe eight eight and a half but he's actually a fascinating case right now honestly if the rangers were to go out in a first or second round i don't know if i'd price him much higher on a short-term deal than six is six and a half someone will give like five years times seven see that to me is crazy he's also had three shoulder surgeries yeah for sure but the blue jackets would love to have

them the blue jackets yeah the jackets to go play alongside carter bernard okay you want me to read this cane quote yeah let's go to pat cane because uh he had some uh real interesting words so come on today you gotta ask about ask for questions before yeah i got a bunch already oh you do yeah i put it on the youtube and i got we got a few texts got a few tweets so i got some stuff my guy so patrick cane on the vladimir tarasenko trade who's obviously asked he said it's not like the happiest i've been to hear about a trade which is a very weird way to word that I think the Rangers are a team that you definitely pay attention to

and definitely intrigued by for obvious reasons Patrick Kane on whether the Rangers were on his radar if things were going to happen that was a team I was definitely looking at it seems that they kind of filled their void and went ahead and made a deal so it is what it is i guess she's going on a date with him you know just like that that he was he wanted to be a ranger huh that's pretty eye-opening for a guy on another team to say that i'm surprised i don't think that maybe they... We got sick of waiting around hearing him decide.

Yeah, but he's also, if I'm not mistaken, almost $4 million more expensive than Tarasenko. Plus, he makes a lot more. I don't know if Chicago is willing to pay 50% of his salary. I would think that the Rangers just said, we can't make that work. It's a, maybe it's eyeopening for Kane though,

that like, this is not going to be sit back and cherry pick the organization. You want to go into cup run. You're going to cost someone a lot on their cap hit. You need to let your team know now. So they get to work. You've been humming and hawing a bit here. If you're going to do it, you should probably,

they said in the stream of quotes, that he hasn't officially let Davidson know what his intentions are. Well, okay, then you don't get to. Hold on for a second. Hold on. Where is Davidson's responsibility here? What do you, like, if he's not coming to you, then, like, are you being clear with him?

Have you had the lines of communication open? Are you constantly talking to him? Does he understand where you're coming from? I think Davidson hasn't played this thing. From what I can see from the outside looking in, I'm not sure how Davidson's really handled this situation. Is he intimidated by him? Does he want to go and get autographs when he sees them?

They're terrified to mess up the departure of the two biggest names in the past 30 years of Blackhawk history. Just the mere fact that he's coming out like this, and it sounds like he's never been in the loop on this, and he's just like a super fan watching from the outside looking in. Tells me everything I need to know about the Chicago Blackhawk management and how this has gone down. I feel like there's a lot of assumptions being made there

about what's happening. Right? Like, I don't know. It's just my opinion on how it looks like it's played out. It sounds to me like Pat Kane hasn't got a clue what's going on above him in management. I think that's an interesting thought. It hadn't crossed my mind,

but having him come out and be like, holy crap, the Rangers got him. They would have had conversations with him. Where is Davidson or anyone else in Chicago to be on top of the Rangers situation so they can go back to Pat Kane and say, hey, listen, I talked to the rangers and right now they think it's a money issue uh maybe they did and but he wouldn't say that if

exactly yeah then he wouldn't be so surprised yeah i wonder if someone will do double retention like there's a lack of communication here going on between kane taves and the chicago blackhawks probably more complicated with kane and taves because the teams that are competing for a stanley cup may need another team to retain to acquire guys with cap hits that are 10 and a half million you know you're gonna have to go through a third party to also eat some salary and now it's like let me just get tarasenko what's the difference maybe he wants to play in another team that wears blue and is an original six franchise do you want that to happen i don't know i think so he's still left wing need i think he also spoke

today if i'm not mistaken about uh his health situation because that is out there and it's real he is not healthy him i think he said it's overblown says the guy who would like to get traded it sounds like he's trying to manage whatever the issues he's going on and i'll tell you another thing jonathan taves not healthy really not healthy god you do not want to trade for nick Foligno again. So here's... JB just hit it. He just hit it. You want to be careful of damaged goods. Right. Want the quote from Kane?

Yes, please. He said... I just had it here. Patrick Kane feels his hip injury is overblown. Yeah, I think so. I'm not sure what the story is, to be honest with you. But I feel better than I did last year. It's just one of those things that maybe the story leaks out

and it piles up a little bit. How bad do you feel last year, Pat? He had 92 points last year, so if he feels better than that, he should be really good this year. Here's the risk of Taves and Kane if they decide to get traded and move on is that if they aren't healthy and they find themselves in a Nick Foligno situation, it could really hurt them moving forward.

How so? You look bad. You don't look like you're an impactful player, that you cannot hit the levels that you've had in the past. You want to sign a new contract next year. You want a fourth year, a fifth year, a sixth year.

Maybe people are going to watch you moving forward. And you know, some nights you need off. Why would I go and sign you to a, a, a big contract in the summer? If you've spent the last month and a half, two months showing everybody that there's been wear and tear

on you and you know who else that hurts that hurts kyle davidson that hurts davidson and the black cox the other team saying you were aware of his health issues you traded me a damaged goods traded me someone you knew was hurt listen okay we all sat and with her attention you know they're this is going to be a tough deal to make these guys. Nick Foligno. If the Leafs were able to have a re-signed Nick Foligno, a healthy Nick Foligno today for the Leafs, man, would have solved a lot of issues. Wouldn't want him at 3 mil, though.

Didn't they try pretty hard to get him back? No, listen. I'll take Nick Foligno 3 million all day long, the way he can play now for the Boston Bruins. Would you rather have Kerfoot at 3 million or Nick Foligno $3 million all day long the way he can play now for the Boston Bruins. Would you rather have Kerfoot at $3 million or Nick Foligno at $3 million? Are you sure Nick Foligno's not going to have a back problem in the playoffs?

I know, but it seems like he's been able to show everybody that it's a non-issue right now. Still scares me. Okay, that's fair. Yeah. You guys want a couple questions? Of course. We also have lots of quotes.. You guys want a couple questions? Of course. We also have lots of quotes.

Do you have any, do you guys have the standings in front of you? Yes. Yes, we do. Okay. So here's the question, a great question from Fractured Wolf on YouTube. Bit of a dark name there. Oh. What's one team out of the playoffs that you guys think will make it in and one team that's

in that will fall out. Alrighty. One team out of the playoffs that I think will make it in. I know what you're going to say. Calgary Flames? Oh, no. Islanders? Yeah. Islanders are currently sniffing around. Boy.

They've played so many games, the Islanders. They only got 27 left. I think the Flames are going to get in. They're not in right now. They're tied for a playoff spot with Minnesota, but they have an extra game. You know, one of these L.A., Seattle teams, I still think is going to fall out.

I still think Seattle might miss, guys. I know they've been awesome. I still think they might miss. Wow. Minnesota's leaking oil right now. They big time. Minnesota lost three in a row four six and oh in their last 10 squids are four five and one in the last 10 never ever and i'm an idiot because i've done this in the past underestimated sid

and mike sullivan and i shouldn't but come, there has to be one year where I'm right, where it's just, it's over in Pitt. Those caps are, the capitals are kind of there too, right? Where it's injuries and age and signing, who are they? They signed Sonny Milano and Dylan Strome. How about Buffalo is a dark horse? I'm saying my picks are Buffalo in and sorry, Sid.

God, Pittsburgh out. Pittsburgh out over the Caps, both of you. Really? They're one point behind Caps with three games in hand. I'm sorry, Sid. I just, no, you're right. I can't do it. Caps.

I'll say Caps. I don't want to betray my boy, Sid. Come on, Ovi. No, yes, Ovi. Yeah, back to Ufa. I don't want you. John Carlson has really hurt them. Big time.

I hear he's not. He'd be lucky to get back in by the first round. Really? LA is really, they are kind of smoking. You see those goal differentials, and you see the teams that are in the playoffs. Everyone's at least, you know least plus five as the lowest. Minus 10, that usually is a pretty good indicator. So I'll say LA out and Calgary in, which isn't that exciting.

Who are you going to pick? Nashville in or St. Louis? There's only a couple options in the West. Can only go so far. The Florida in is not that outlandish a pick either. Yeah, they just had a bad start. Feels like they are way better than... 1-3 in a row, 6-2-2 in the last last 10 all right uh what do we got here another playoff question which team and

this is very similar which team do you think will give boston the hardest time in round one and that's from john mitchell on youtube so i think boston's gonna have a tough time any of the teams at that bottom wild card spot the islanders the penguins and capitals probably capitals or islanders but the islanders are a big disciplined you know they're not going to be fun to play in the playoffs we're going to play the isle seven times so i'm gonna take the islanders give the bruins a hard time yeah i don't see anybody just walking through i do sabers sabers give the bruins a hard time they can score love it they can score it listen what's hard time six games yeah but they can't

outscore their mistakes i think they could take them to five or six games and that's as hard a time as you're gonna have in the first round so i'm saying sabers i have this like small fantasy of the sabers getting white hot and catching Tampa Bay. No way. The year we won the cup, I told you, like Steve Thomas says, we didn't touch the puck the whole series. I don't think they scored a goal until like game three, like in the middle of game three. Way to go, guys. Thanks for showing up.

Might be the same thing against Boston. Fair enough. Hey, that president's trophy curse, boys. Might be the same thing against Boston. Fair enough. Hey, that President's Trophy curse, boys. It's a real thing. Well, and then Nick Foligno's back goes out. Hallmark turns into the pumpkin that he really is. Pergeron's lung collapses again. David Pasternak.

Jokes, jokes, jokes. He holds out. What else do I got here for you guys? Here's one. Afternoon, boys. Trenton, Calgary. Love the show. Great way to get your text read

do you think barry trotz is waiting for not sheldon keith's job but kyle dubas's job no i think uh i think he does have aspirations of a managerial position but i think he's open to coach again yeah i can't imagine hiring barry that's from the text line by the way be like yeah he had some success as a coach oh sorry why am i hiring you as the gm because people you got a big coaching name i don't know like am i crazy and thinking that's a different job significantly different job yeah but others have done it, right? Yeah, I just can't think of anyone recently, more recently, who's done that. But, yeah, no, I think he's still probably waiting for Sheldon's job first.

Hey, Kipper, before we go, didn't you want to have a quick chat about your – Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. So the Super Bowl. No. Yeah, you can't say that. Oh, my God, you said it. You can't link it with a company. That's right. We were about to talk about it. So the big game. No. Yeah, you can't say that. Oh, my God, you said it. You can't link it with a company. That's right.

We're about to talk about it. So it's the big game this weekend. So I want you guys to play an app that I took almost two years to build. Yes. Just close your eyes right now and envision me wearing a white lab coat. And having a pocket protector. It's that golden retriever. I have no idea what I'm doing.

And building an app. So it's an app called Next. With a hammer and nails. Exactly. So I want you to play this weekend on the big game. You're going to get like eight questions sent to you while the game is on. Next rewards. Next rewards.

Download Next Rewards on iOS or Android. You get questions sent to you. And they're like no different than, you know, an engagement app for prop bets. Except when you answer them, you get reward points. You don't get, it's not a money thing. No credit cards, no nothing. It's free to play. There are brands involved that will subsidize your points.

So it's a penny a point, real money, that you can turn into a catalog. So you can go get your pizza. You can go get your coffee. Sam's already got $10 of Starbucks from playing it. Listen, I've been grinding for a while. I'm one of the OGs. So I got $10. Kipper's going to give me $10.

So we started with the NFL, which was kind of a low-key kind of thing. And next week, we go into the NHL. Oh, baby. NHL coming. Love it. So you get your free coffees way faster than anything else. Do you know the average Canadian has like six or seven reward loyalty point cards? Oh, I'm not surprised.

Yeah. Like Canadians love their reward points so during the game you're sitting there yeah you're on your phone what happens the question pops up yes you when you download you you granted uh permission to notify you yeah so it doesn't even matter if you're watching the game or not a notification will come down and it'll ask you do you think that kansas city is going to kick a field goal you answer yes and no if you answer watching the game or not, a notification will come down and it'll ask you, do you think that Kansas City is going to kick a field goal? You answer yes and no. If you answer yes, you get 20 points.

If you answer no, you don't get any points. But there's nothing lost, just the opportunity. You get points. Yeah. And then the whole idea for me was to have a fan engagement without real betting money. We knew where it was all going with the betting money, but there's a very large portion of people

that don't want to put up money. Not yet, or not at all. And we wanted to build something that gave them the option. Yeah, it's a really cool idea. And then, yeah, the... So how does one build an app? Like, I don't mean to be whatever, but you don't strike me as a guy who's writing code.

How many people in the whole town does this happen? There are companies out there, and there's a prominent one in Toronto that will build your app. And it takes about close to a year. And you've been troubleshooting it and working on it. You're in the ballpark of a million dollars to develop an app.

Wow. And this is what I've also been doing for the last year and a half. People're in the ballpark of a million dollars to develop an app. Wow. And this is what I've also been doing for the last year and a half. People got to click a lot of buttons to get that back on. I'm like,

okay, don't look at me. Don't look at me. So if you do download, there is a bonus code, Kipper19. Yeah. That'll get you

250 points to start. Out of the gate. Love it. So I want you to play it, Sammy, this weekend. I've been playing for six, seven weeks. I play this every night. I play a few times. What are you at now, Sammy?

I'm at like 1,800 points. What kind of questions will there be for hockey? Power play opportunities, shots on goal, coaches challenge. Oh, yeah. That's a good one. Goal interference is anyone's guess. We're working on that one. That's fun. Yeah.'ll uh shorthanded it's very easy to use comeback wins just yeah so

listen it's been a lot of fun i appreciate you giving me a couple minutes to tell you what i've been up to uh outside of uh arguing with you or telling sammy's full of crap on his trades so they're like i said the, the enormous match is this weekend. Do you guys have a lean? Who are you taking? I think it's, with the exception of the Philadelphia Flyers, man, it's the Phillies year. Okay, so you're going Eagles.

I had a rather large bet on the Cincinnati cincinnati bangles in the afc championship game yeah and betting against patrick mahomes is exactly zero fun yeah he just feel like he's always going to execute so i am not doing that again and i'm just going to bet on patrick mahomes and just hope that that i also feel like the n is a crooked league, and star-making is a big part of what they do. And with Brady leaving, they need the next, you know, guy who wins six Super Bowls. I feel like Patty Mahomes is going to be the dude on Sunday. Love Patty Mahomes.

And what about the other two big matches this weekend? Columbus, four points for the Leafs? Leafs versus Columbus. Leafs versus Columbus again. Sammy and I are doing Leafs talk after the game tonight. Yes, four points. Nothing but's going to cut it. They'll get them all.

All right. Big start for Joe Wall tomorrow night. Enjoy. Definitely a Joe Wall game coming, folks. Just one final note on my app. We're just in Canada, but we're hoping real soon to bring it to the U.S. and then worldwide. That would be kind of cool.

Global baby. Dominate. How about cricket? That would be a fun sport. That would be, actually. I'm in. I gotta learn it first, though. Alright, our thanks to Gord Stelic and Aaron Portsline from The Athletic.

Have a safe weekend, everybody. Enjoy the hockey games. Enjoy the Super Bowl.