Real Kyper & Bourne - The Final is Finally Here!

Episode Date: June 4, 2025

The Stanley Cup Finals have finally arrived! Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look at the Game-1 injuries before welcoming in Oilers analyst Jason Gregor (5:36). He looks at the build-up to Game 1, Edmonton's path back to the Final, the pressure on Connor McDavid, who needs to step up in Zach Hyman's absence and much more. Later, Nick and Justin regroup with Sam to look at each team's keys to winning the Stanley Cup, the Colorado Avalanche extending Brock Nelson and what a John Tavares extension in Toronto could look like.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.

It's finally here. Stanley Cup final game day. Welcome into the real Kipper and born show. We are live on Sportsnet Sportsnet 590. The fan Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet plus the Kiprio's Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, technical directors Derek Brandeo, and Jake the Snake Shultz. As always, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet 365, game one on this June 4th.

Happy birthday, buddy. Happy birthday, Kipper. I'd sing sing but no one wants to hear that. I was referencing June 4th for game one. Oh, not my birthday. Me and Barney celebrated by wearing the exact same color. We know you love. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's true. It's true. 59 years ago. My mom was screaming, get this thing out of me. What do we want to do for 60 next year? What do we have in a big Sportsnet shindig or what? Yeah, there has to be a golf trip. Yeah, there has to be a golf trip.

Live from Cabot next year. And it's gonna be in June. We should legitimately have a show somewhere else if we're 60. I don't think that's allowed. St. Lucia, where do you want to go? Yes, that's where I want to go. They won't even get us out of this studio

We'll just leave yeah Call it it, you know, we'll we'll plan on it between the conference final and the Stanley Cup final We'll get ten days two weeks for sure It's a great actually, you know what we can do is we can have Brandeo and Jake do the show like they could be on the mics that day Yes, perfect to get us through that perfect awesome stuff. Okay in a couple of minutes Welcome in Jason Gregor. We've had him on the before he does an amazing job covering the Edmonton Oilers on

On his own show 1440 in Edmonton, and he's gonna help us tell everyone watching and listening why Conor McDavid is gonna finally join the best, the greats in history by simply winning the Stanley Cup. Because that's what he's supposed to do. That's what great players do. Tonight, he may or may not. I'm gonna go ahead and say he will have Connor Brown along with him.

Sounds like Brown is gonna warm up and is a game time decision for the Panthers. AJ Greer, not gonna play. He was really hurting. Oh, is that right? Yeah. Okay, so I was gonna say he was really effective against the Leafs anyway. He was, but at the end, he was, effective again. He was At the end He he was I don't know if it was a groin or what but he could barely come off the ice and I don't think

Seven seven days is getting it done for him. Jesper focused is gonna draw in They use him like four or five minutes a game when he plays but honestly, I kind of like the player He's fast good skater yeah so we're here I am really first of all cripplingly jealous just so jealous of the Oilers and their fans yeah then having this experience and then having McDavid and just I hate to say that I am rooting for them but I am but you're growing up you're maturing. Yeah, I just can't, can you picture us having to like

do this all again next year? And I went on with Ben and Gunner this morning and Ben was arguing with me that the better, the higher stakes would be for them to meet three straight years and have Connor not win something. But. What is he, a Buffalo Bill? Yeah.

I just. Catching a stray. You can't... To go to two straight and not win one is a horrifying feeling if you're a Coilera fan. It's an incredibly different feel because there is just no sense of accomplishment going to a Stanley Cup final like there was last year for them and yeah it was just very much business that there was no there's zero celebration it was just like the picture of Leon grabbing the conference trophy and just carrying it

to the dressing room and like he's carrying a bucket shower take a shower get on the plane and let's go because this will even suck more than it did last year if we don't find a way to win. Now can you say that this is actually a more impressive cup final run for them not just what they've done to their opponents but like from last year they lost Holloway and Broberg and Fogel and McCloud and guys who mattered for them. They added guys like Arvidson and Skinner they don't really use. You know like it's a lot of the same guy.

It may be a worse team than last year's my point. Still got Skinner whatever and they still just plowed through everyone on their way. I think it's an impressive run. Let me ask you something though. If there's a chance that they do lose this series, are you or anyone else gonna go, yeah, but they lost so and so and they lost so and so? I'm gonna be terribly critical,

which I think Oilers fans would say, yeah, we're pretty upset that we don't have a couple of those guys or some better replacements, but in fairness, Wallman and Klingberg, no, they didn't be huge for them. Huge. So they did. Fred made no ad.

Fredrick's been had some moments in the plants for his been decent too. So yeah, they, yeah, some wins, some losses. We ready for Jason? He is there. Jason Greger, host of the Jason Greger show on sports 1440 in Edmonton joins us now. Jace, thanks for doing this again. You are our man here as we go into game one, but just give us a sense of what the week's been like, you know, on and off

the ice and the build up up until game one. Honestly, I think it's like the calmest one that I can recall covering. The orders are very calm. They were here last year. I think it's also just their journey to the Cup final. Like they spanked Vegas, they spanked Dallas, they had almost a week off in between each series.

Like they're very rested. Obviously, the Zach Hyman injuries out with the dislocated wrist and tore some tendons in his hand. So he might not even be ready for the start of next season but other than that like they're really healthy at home they got back in game five McDavid Drysettle who were banged up last year Darnell nurse only played 15 minutes a night last year he's fully healthy Kane barely played he's fully healthy so you know they they seem like a team that is very very much comfortable being in this situation. Cause they were here

last year, but also very driven, man. Like they got lots of guys who have been around a long time who haven't won. Like Corey Perry's won a cup, but it's been 18 years since he won a cup, right? And he's still playing. He's got seven goals. And you know, you got Henry and Kane and Nugent, Hopkins and echo have played a thousand games and don't have a cup. Like they've got a lot of experienced guys who I think don't want to waste this opportunity. So how is the, you know, we were just having the chat. I was saying that I feel like this was more impressive return to the cup final. A, they spanked everyone.

And B, I think that it maybe isn't quite as strong a rosters last year. Maybe you can correct me on that, but it feels like this has been more impressive accomplishment because I feel like if anything equal or less a roster and they've made short work everyone. Well I would agree with you that it's been impressive in the sense of how they've dominated but I actually think the roster is way better. You do. Their defense core Klingberg and Wallman moved the puck infinitely better than they did last year. Darnell Nurse is healthy, that makes a difference. Like Leon Drysaddle, people forget this, Drysaddle had 24 points in the first two series last year.

24, he was leading the NHL in scoring. Then he only had seven points in the final two series because he got banged up and just didn't have a goal. He wasn't himself, he's fully healthy. I really think that, you know, Frederick, I know people will look and say, ah, you know, he hasn't added a lot, but he's outscoring the, he outscores him five on five. He doesn't make a lot of defensive mistakes. Yanmar is in Edmonton. They call him playoff Yanmar. He elevates his game. Like the guy's got seven points already in Stanley Cup finals.

Like he, that guy knows how to score and produce when he wants to. So I actually think their team is better overall from the back end. And when I say better, because they're built, pod Coles and Perry Hyman, when he was in Kane Frederick, like they're a more physical forward group. And I was looking actually at NHL edge, their speed overall is actually actually slightly ahead of last year even without McLeod and Fogel. Jason when we when we look at the Oilers for sure that we we focus on on the depth that's around a guy like Connor McDavid and to a lesser degree Leon Dreisaitl but you know I can't walk out the door I can't go to the golf course without people telling me all week that there's there's just no way Connor McDavid's gonna lose the Stanley Cup

two years in a row and Is is that really kind of the sense that? That's pushed right out west from here in terms of when it's all said and done that that Connor is Is is the guy that's gonna said and done that that Connor is Is the guy that's gonna make sure that that doesn't happen Well, I think so, but you well look you were on teams One guy doesn't win right like the great teams have usually multiple Hall of Famers, right? Like you multiple Hall of Fame players And so when Gretzky finally won after losing, he had Messier who won the

Kahn Smythe and Crosby when he lost his first year, the next year he won and Malkin won the Kahn Smythe. So as good as they were and as good as I think McDavid's going to be, you know, you have Leon Dreisaitl, you know, they've got some other guys, their defense core with Evan Bouchard's putting up ridiculous numbers and now Ekholm's back. So their team is good, but yes, could McDavid win a game by himself in the series and be the difference? Yes. I think Connor McDavid, he puts more pressure on himself than anyone.

And I think if he wins that, I think next year or the year after, he might even be better because that weight of having a Stanley Cup and it's a big weight to carry for guys. It's harder to win cups now than it was when there was 21 teams, right? They just do the math, it's harder. So I think that for him they lost last year in game seven, everybody saw a speech after game two, you saw that I talked to him, I was there, you know the tears after losing game seven, it's real. And I think this team recognizes that they don't wanna waste this opportunity because there's no guarantee you'll get back.

I mean, like I know Florida has made it three in a row and Tampa has made it three in a row. So it's definitely doable, but you don't wanna roll that dice that you can get back here. And I think get back here and be as healthy and rested as they are right now. Jason, is there anything in this series

that you have your eye on that you feel like hinges on the outcome any particular matchup between what Florida does and Edmonton does that you feel like this has to go right for the Oilers? Well I want to get your guys opinion on this because I've been looking at this series I watched a lot of film for what Florida does and Florida doesn't change everybody knows what they're gonna do they for check very aggressively and they four check in sync. But they really dominated Carolina on the boards and on the wall.

And so I look at Edmonton. They've got a good breakout team. But I wonder, as a systemic kind of technical thing, are we going to see the right wingers, I want you guys' opinion on this, the right wingers play left wing in the D zone? Because now you're going to get that puck on rims on your forehand guys and be able to protect the puck from the defenseman because

they love to pinch down on guys. I don't know if you'll do it all the time, but I think we're going to see that at certain times and Chris Knobloch always thinks outside the box. So that's my little small thing to watch for, but obviously it's going to be, can the orders, they'll handle the forecheck, but can they force it into odd man rushes? Because if the orders get enough odd man rushes, they'll burn you. I'm interested to see how quickly the Oilers can get the pucks off the wall and into the middle of the ice, where at times the Panthers defense is vulnerable. They do give up breakaways and we had Valley verify that for us earlier in the week. Well and they do it and because of that pinch that you're talking about you know I watched in that leaf series that that was the

series was can you make can you have your wingers come back low enough and receive the first pass low enough that it puts those D pinching D in a tough spot where they're caught where they're caught because the Leafs tried to flip the puck out in the neutral zone for the whole series and Florida just went back on it and as what they call it, three-quarter iced them and they never, that doesn't work. The flip out's not the answer. No, it's not the answer. And like you watch, I can't remember what game it was when Marshawn scored like 15 seconds

into the second period. And if you go back and watch that play, when they dump dump it in Morgan Reilly goes back and he has it he has it but he elects to go behind the net on his backhand puts it up on the wall it's turned over three seconds later it's in the net had he spun on his forehand he would have had it wide open on that side I really think there's gonna be an onus even though it's NHL guys and they can all handle the puck they all handle it better maybe except dry sidle on their forehand than they do on their backhand. And so you can go back to pucks because the Oilers against Dallas and Vegas, they really

use the rims a lot. They would come in the corner, those two teams would forecheck and they would just rim it hard around the boards and Edmonton went out all the time. But Florida is much better at limiting that and then being pressure on that opposite side boards winger. And I think Edmonton is going gonna have to do a better job and I Don't think their defenseman can just blindly fired up the boards on the rims as much as they did the last series it worked Because of how Dallas and Vegas for check but Florida is a completely different beast

You're watching and listening to Jason Greger host of the Jason Greger show on sports at 1440 in Edmonton so Jason last year. I think I think Connor McDavid saw a lot of forzling this this series. There's a sense that maybe it might be Nico Michola and Seth Jones against him. How do you see the matchup on shutting down Connor? Well great question Nick because I actually looked that up beforehand. I've been writing like three articles today, I need a beer. But I was looking at the numbers and so last year in the Cup final, McDavid when he was on the ice against Ekblad outscored him 5-0.

When he was out against Forest Lane, it was 4-2. But both of those guys together, that was the pair the orders actually had the most success against. Ekblad and Forest Lane were each out against for eight goals against five on five in that series. So Jones and Mikola, it's interesting to me because they're a lot bigger and they're a lot longer, right? And so you naturally just take up a little bit more space. Forsling is great of a skater he is.

McDavid's speed against Ekblad, I don't love that matchup for Florida. So I wouldn't be surprised. I think we'll probably see it 50-50 a little bit here. Like Chris Knoblach, the one thing that, he's not scared of McDavid on any matchup. You want to put out your best defense and your best forward, fine. Like it's going to McDavid, we can handle it, right?

And, but how they do it at certain times, because I think as rested as McDavid and Dry Settle are heading into this series, the importance of game one tonight guys I won't be surprised if we see them play their most minutes that we've had In a playoff game this year excluding overtime because they want the win game one is massive for teams The orders is an organization have never lost it You look in the salary cap era when you go up one nothing a lot of times you win and you know

I think Vancouver is the only Canadian team since the Habs won in 93 who actually won game one of the cup final, but then ended up losing the series. All the other ones, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, pretty sure they even Edmonton again in 24. They all lost Montreal in 21. So you got to get up early in the Stanley Cup final. It's rare to come from behind. Yeah, teams with home ice who win first are 52 and 10, 839 winning percentage. It's a pretty key one, I would say. So the Hyman absence you mentioned is a concern. Who does that fall on to help pick up some slack?

Well, Corey Perry is tied for the team lead in goals. Are you kidding me? The ageless wonder here. So he'll play some of Hyman's minutes, but he can't play all those minutes at his age. Chris Knobloch knows that. So I think Hyman will do it. Evander Kane, to me, is the guy, even though he's

not on Hyman's line, he's playing with Leon Drysidle and Casperi Kaepernick. And Kaepernick, ever since he came in that game against Vegas in game four, he's been really good. He's got three goals. He's on the ice protecting leads guys in the final few minutes of a one goal game into Stanley cup playoffs. So the coach trusts him. He likes playing with dry subtle and, and Kane to me is guy who's got

to show up here and score some big goals for him to, and plus there's another matchup. If it's Kane and dry saddle against Bennett and Kachuk guys, because that means Kachuk and Kane Kachuk's playing right wing him and Kane line up against each other on the face-offs. And like I was selfishly saying, could we not see some foreign nations opening stuff tonight between them? It would be awesome. There's guys, Kane can do it, Bennett can do it, Kachuk can do it, Frederick, like they got guys to do it. This is a rivalry. maybe you know, maybe I'm delusional and no no no You're not you're not you're on the right It would be awesome. You're totally on the right path

you know the one guy on on Florida like if you if you think about true game breakers, it's easy to go to 97 and 29 on the Oilers, but if you go to game breakers on Florida you kind of have to think of a little bit about Sam Reinhardt and the one that always to me slides underneath the radar is Barkov. And I'm sure we're going to see a lot of Barkov versus McDavid, you know, in the latter part of last season, he shut them down, I guess, in the two games

that mattered the most at the end of the series. But you know, McDavid also found a way to end up with eight points, I think, in two of those games. So how do you see Barkov in this series, Jason? Well, it's a three time Hart Trophy winner versus a three time Selkie Trophy winner. It's like it's a great matchup, right? Like Barkov is he's an unbelievable player. Big, rangy, lean like that. And the other thing, the funny thing is on that line, as good as Ryan, Evan Rodri, he

killed the orders last year in the cup final, right? Like he led them. He had four goals. He was awesome. So I look at as much as it's Barkov, you know, there's Nugent Hopkins and then Reinhart and, you know, McDavid versus Barkov. I think obviously McDavid's speed is where it can beat him but Barkov's so smart positionally and I think where McDavid can have success

against them is if they get a little too aggressive on the forecheck and you can counter attack because in the zone when Barkov and Reinhart are set up it is rare that they make a mistake on like a psycho play that's sure sometimes the other team will make a good play but I was talking to some some people in Florida they're like Barkoff and Reinhardt when the opposition is cycling sometimes they might beat you because they make a great play but rarely do those guys make mistakes now the advantage is McDavid can beat anybody because of his quickness when if he can cut underneath that's his move he likes to come up up to the hash marks and then a quick spin move and cut underneath guys. And I've seen him beat some of the best skaters

in the world. So if he can get off a bark off there, he might have success. This is probably a dumb question because I know a couple of the superstars there, but I just, I'm trying to make sense of how the Oilers offense always makes good defenses look bad. Like the, we watched the Leafs in playoffs here for the first hour of our show, and for years, they come up against, well, you can't expect them to score against Philip DeNoe. You can't expect them to score against Alexander Barkov.

And for some reason, no matter who the Oilers play, they just put them in a shredder. Is it just the Superstars, or is there something more we're missing? Well, obviously, the Superstars helped. Look at those guys. They're third and fourth all time in points per game in the playoffs. Is it just the superstars or is there something more we're missing? Well obviously the superstars help. Look at those guys. They're third and fourth all time in points per game in the playoffs.

Like Leon Dreisteadel's average was 1.46 coming in. He's at 1.56. He's actually better. So obviously they play a big role and they usually face the other team. But what the orders do well with their depth guys is they especially now with their defense they really can beat you off the rush like Connor Brown could really skate like he's got five goals Mattias Yanmar might be the most underrated skater in the game guys like watch him he is a fantastic skater up the ice and so that's where Edmonton I found has

success on teams because as the playoffs go along you got to be able to skate and move. Edmonton doesn't necessarily grind you down a ton in the offensive zone. They can cycle, right? Like especially Dry Settle. Dry Settle's like a superstar who's really good at cycling. He likes to, he reminds me of Forsberg, Nick, where you know what the Swarbrick and Yarger, they look over their shoulder. Oh, are you getting close to me? Okay, good Yeah, now I want you now. I feel you and I'm gonna go around here. There's my big ass Exactly, and that's what dry saddle does so they can beat you in different ways And then the other the other wild card is you know with their defense now

They move the puck so much better like Stan Bowman I talked to him the other day and he said a month two months into the season He felt we don't generate enough outside of Bouchard and Ekholm to our forwards. And that's why I went and got Walman and Klingberg and then Kulak and Nurse as a pair. That gives them every pairing with guys who can either transport the puck or move the puck.

And that really helps any forwards will tell you, if I get the puck more, my chances of scoring increase. Hey, with the time off between the conference final and game one, how did Knobloch do on the quote machine versus Maurice this week? Oh, that's a lopsided affair. Yeah, that's a tough one. Nick, that's like you and me going into hair growing competition right now. Might be a little one sided for you. Chris Knobloch, it's funny. He's not the articulate words of a Paul

Maurice, but the thing I really respect about Knobloch, he doesn't BS you. Right? Like I know he said Connor Brown's a game time decision, but that's about as far as he'll go. Usually if you ask him about a technical question, he will give you an answer. You know, he's always kind of told told people who is starting goalie is he doesn't worry about those little mind games. And I think Chris is, he's not going to get to the John Cooper Palmer. Well, maybe he's only a second year in league for goodness sake. So maybe in a decade, right? Like I guess I'd have to go back and think was Paul Maurice, a great speaker when he was 29 and a rookie head coach. Maybe not. Yeah. Awesome

stuff. You good? All good. Jason, really appreciate your time as always. Enjoy game one and let's catch up again at some point during the series. Okay. You betcha boys. Anytime. Love coming on. Enjoy the game. Thanks man. Appreciate it. Yeah. Awesome stuff. Jason Greger. Yeah, the wheelers, man. Connor McDavid is tied with Joe Pivelsky for the fifth most playoff points by a player without a Stanley Cup before winning their first, or before winning their first, Pivelsky number one.

That list is taught by Ray Bork, Adam Oates, Denis Savard, Dennis Savard, and Brian Pop. There you go. 143 games, 143 points in 90 games played for McDavid. I don't want an NHL with a Connor McDavid over two in a Stanley Cup final. I don't want that NHL. Yeah, I don't want an NHL in 2030 with a Connor McDavid

who's Joe Thornton on some team trying to like hang on and get a cup, you know, like 2035 it's it's a little early there. I know I'm just saying let's just get her done here I know you check that box and and that's where and that's exactly Because it's going against every Take I've ever had really in my life about wanting the only way I want the cup back in trial and Canada's down Yonge Street and all these things that I've said but I know for me at least and maybe like we fancy hearing this or screaming the

Four-nations thing and seeing him play for Canada and having him have that huge moment for us shooting in the net there to Beat the states and just how proud he was to do that to beat the states and just how proud he was to do that. It was very similar to the relationship I had with Sid before the 2010 Olympics. Like, it wasn't the hugest Sid guy, there's all the crybaby stuff and like, you know, a lot of parallels with the grumpiness. I'm sorry, you're the crybaby or Sid was the crybaby?

No, no, Sid, Sid, early on, I'm a huge crybaby. Sid earlier in his career, as you guys would remember, like he, I mean, he was, that was one of the big knocks against him They were crying to the refs and Wayne just like Mario guys get abused. I get it I know so having CID have that moment in 2010 Completely made him one of my favorite players of all time immediately and I feel the same way about Connor now and it's just like It sucks so bad the cost It sucks so bad the cost

The stinky Oilers fans getting to rub it in my face, yeah, but it's just the price you got to pay for a week No a week In Alberta in July I'll cut them off after a week Rub it in Sammy's face and after that he's off limits The last couple stats the last three teams to return to the cup final after losing the first time did win that being the 2024 Panthers 20 2009 Penguins and the 84 Oilers yep Highest home powerplay percentage in a single postseason the Islanders in 81 42 percent Dallas Stars this year 43 percent Oilers are at fifty six point three percent at home on the power play this year. You mentioned those three. That's just gross. Yes

cheating you mentioned not the Panthers but the two teams before that the Oilers and the Penguins. Yep Gretzky Sid McDavid Wow It's just it's all fallen into place. It's extremely serendipitous. Yeah, we're done. We're talking serendipity here, boys. It's, it's happening. If it doesn't happen, it goes against everything that you would really not believe in, but just prior history. I know you guys don't care about that stuff. But to me, like, it's telling.

So Stu Skinner, prior to the Pickard getting the net was 0-3 with an 8-17 save percentage. Last seven starts 6-1, 1-4-1, goals against 9-4-4 save percentage with three shutouts. He's been very, very good. Okay, I'm done. Anything else on the final, Kip? No. Let's go to game time. Okay. You good? Yeah, sure. I'm all good It's game time is that about bet three six five visit the app play this dog to find out why it's never ordinary at bet

365 must be 19 plus Ontario only please play response plate All right, so we can finally get more into the game tonight because it's now happening We have the line has not moved much for the game tonight because it's now happening. We have, the line has not moved much for the game tonight. The Florida Panthers are plus money tonight, plus 100. The Edmonton Oilers are minus 120. That number that you read out to Greg about, what was the number for? 52 and 10.

52 and 10. For a year at home and win the first game. It really feels like a massive spot for the Oilers, especially at home. So Minus 120 there. I got to tell you you could talk me into minus a goal in the half tonight for the Edmonton Oh, you think there I think I? Just keep going back to I There there you can't teach desperation and in the back of the Panthers mind

They know that they have one I know it's the final I know they've gotten all the way there but this is a McDavid a complete scene setter tonight for what for the next 10 days so yeah so go ahead so one thing I know is talking to Gregor and our own Billy Duke upstairs or whatever people from Edmonton don't say the D huh Edmonton you know it's the Edmonton thing no yeah Edmonton yeah they say the D huh? Edmonton? You notice the Edmonton thing? No. Yeah. Edmonton.

Yeah they're from you know you know one thing about Edmonton. Anyway okay just me. Hit me up Oilers fans is that a thing in Edmonton? Or you just drop the D. Or you just say it quickly it's just Edmonton. Toronto. Toronto. I don't think you get the T at the end.

Not supposed to. By the way great story my wife told her Long Island York friends, you don't really say the tea. And one of her friends goes, Aronto? So that's really funny. So there's a bunch of different specials on here. Obviously, they got a ton of stuff on bet 365. But one of them is for Connor McDavid to have one shot on goal in every game of this series is minus 650 That's obviously a huge number to lay juice with two shots on goal in every game of the series is plus

103 shots on goal in every game of the series is plus five hard. Yeah two in every game though. I'll throw Oh, yeah, I do that's that's absolutely sure. He's on every power plays the dude He's gonna play 20 minutes. I you're rolling the dice as you like, you know, get hurt or something. And give me, as the last one here, a little of a prop, give me the team that wins game one to win the series at minus two 10. And it's gonna be the Oilers tonight

and they're gonna win the series. All right. So, yeah, that was Game Time presented by Bet365. Visit the app, Play the Stods, and find out why it's ever ordinary. Bet365 must be 19 plus, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. All right, we'll take a quick break. Before we go to break.

What do you got? Friday. We're doing the Canada line again. Yes. So the rest of Canada, I was extremely disappointed in you. It was all Leaf fans that called in, except Hunter in Toronto,

who was talking with the oilers But he's from Toronto. So call in if you're listening to this 4 1 6 4 1 3 4 1 4 1 and we'll play some more Canadian calls as opposed to leaf calls on Friday, which is all it's all Yes, you can sneak in a few now. He'll sneak in a few leaves Let's see, but I thought it. I generally want more Canadian calls. So there we go. So just remind, there you go. Perfect.

All right, we'll take a quick break and when we return we'll pick up on game one. I want to, I'm giving you an assignment during commercial break, okay? You're gonna both give me a, like, strong points, reasons why Edmonton will win the Stanley Cup or Lose the Stanley Cup and that includes for both Florida Panthers as well. Okay All right. I'm on it. All right, and some NHL news and notes including a new head coach in Pittsburgh and

Who resigned in Colorado Brock Nelson Nelson All right, plenty more still to chew on on the real Kipper and born show. Everything you need to know about the blue Jays, Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program as a reminder of this hour real Kipper and born brought to you by bet 365 Nick Caprio's Justin born Sammy McKee. I rarely do this, but I have a commute story from today. Did you lose anything on the bus?

I did not, but I was usually ride my bike, but it was a little too hot today. And I just didn't feel like getting changed here. And the whole sweat situation is just a lot. So I decided to take the subway like I do a lot of the time. And I was sitting there. And this woman sat down beside me. And she reached into her like, I guess tote bag or whatever, and and pulled out a container, a to-go container. I'm like, hmm. And she opened it up. It was a steaming hot pile of asparagus.

A freshly cooked condensate. Just a heap of asparagus. When she took it off, condensation came out. Nothing, just asparagus? And it was me to you. She just started mucking it. Just hammering it away. And like the whole subway car immediately reaped

those asparagus. And I looked at her, I was just like, what the hell? Listen, it's asparagus season in Ontario right now. I have asparagus at least twice a week. It's popping right now, I get it. But subway asparagus is one of the most insane things I've ever witnessed. Listen, I ride the Subway a lot,

I see a lot of crazy things. Insane move. Just a grip of asparagus. Just like whoa, whoa, asparagus. Give me a sprig lady, I gotta help. It won't be a problem until your pee smells. Yeah, that's it, that's fine. As long as I'm just, anyways.

At least she wasn't just holding it in her hand. At least she had a to-go container. Oh, God. So there you go. So, Tales from the Subway. Well, you didn't lose a jersey on it. No, I didn't. I didn't. I didn't. I go past Dufferin. Every time I go past Dufferin and blow her on my bike, I think about the old Don Waddallan jersey. So good.

Alright, let's start with you. A reason why the Oilers will win, reason a reason why the oilers will win or reason why the oilers will lose Can I be really dull on this? I mean the reason why is they have the best players in the series and the reason why they'll lose is that their goalie is Less than the other goalie Am I under thinking it? When you speak of just two two game breakers two guys there if you put everyone in a pile and said who are the best? two players the oil has got them I

Think they're gonna get in behind the Panthers a lot Yeah And we saw the Leafs do it and the Leafs aren't nearly as fast as the Oilers forwards are I? Really do think that there's gonna be some breakaways gonna be some odd man's and they're gonna take advantage of that That's been a good good fit for them because he'd like odd mans, and they're gonna take advantage of that. And that's gonna be the difference. Can't believe it's been a good fit for them, cause he like replacing, you know, Holloway, whatever, McCloud, he can go.

Yeah, so. Is it as simple as the Oilers lose because of Skinner as it is for JB? I hate to do it, but I really don't feel like, I feel like that's their biggest weak spot, right? Like we talked with Gregor about their D-Core, three good pairs their forward lines are going if

If he turns into a pumpkin they probably can have some issues. I guess he could pull the pickered level Lever if it gets mm-hmm bad, but I think it really does come down to skin and that's bad to say It's sorry to him, but it really does feel like it comes down to him. No, I'm where you at I'm with you in terms of the desperation out of the two best game breakers and it comes down to him, no? And where are you at? I'm with you in terms of the desperation out of the two best game breakers. And McDavid and Leon have that ability to single-handedly make a great play. And I don't think Florida has that guy. As much as we saw

Barkov made it an incredible play behind the net on On one of the big goals in in the clinching game against Carolina Like a backpack. Yes wearing them like a backpack and then feeding it to Carter Vahegi Those are far and few for the Florida Panthers mostly Mostly bounce it in there and hope it goes through. And that's, those are moments like game five. Okay. Dallas scores within one. And then Connor goes on that breakaway and it's like, oh, you know what? You're eliminated.

You know, I do think watching, it's over now, you know, watching Leafs Panthers and the Leafs come out and they win the first two games and Florida along the way hammers their D and hammers their D and hammers their D Leafs win Leafs win game three hammer their D all sudden game five their Leafs D didn't look so great I am curious Evans with lots of praise for Wallman and Klingberg, you know our is Klingberg that Reliable in a whole team five after he's been You know under that same pressure when Sam Bennett and Gajdjiewicz and these big four every time you go back You need to find a relief valve quick. Okay, so Give me a reason why Florida will win the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive year

I think that for check to me It's like their ability to get on teams and make them and that includes the D down the wall. Like you just feel in your own end like we better go back and get that puck or else whatever you know where else we're screwed. And then if you that gives bad gaps and yeah, that's the four check. I don't want to say this and put it in the air but their ability to injure people too is a factor It's not nothing. I mean, oh, they know it's true. They take guys out. Yeah, they they're very good at it

Like they play dirty and you know Sam Bennett's gonna be going hard to the front of the net Hoping to get Kelvin Pickard involved in the series elbowed stole ours elbowed Anderson like he's looking to do damage so that's a factor for me and Elbowed Stolarz, Elbowed Anderson, like he's looking to do damage. So that's a factor for me. And so if I go outside of your game breakers in Dry Saddle and McDavid, then the rest of the lineup for Florida is better at being a support cast than the Oilers. So I think one of the reasons why Edmonton

could lose this series is because, I don't know if it's midnight and Cinderella is running out of time here. So Corey Perry, Connor Brown, even put Coles in and yarn Mark who've come up with big plays. Does, does the magic wear off on those guys? Yeah, finally in the playoffs and then you go on the other side of Florida and they're

still kind of proven guys with Lindell and You know Marchand yeah coming out of nowhere now is a top nine guy and playing like he's a Huge part so who's who outlasts who you know the other part of that is Seth Jones has been I? Mean you can say he's been their best demon in the playoffs. He's been Unbelievable for them. Is he this good? You know, clock could strike midnight on him too. If you went back, just, I think that one small run

where Columbus was pretty good, I think 2019, Seth Jones was off the charts, top, top 10 D in the league. He was, he was that good. And it was like, He took five years off. And it was like, he's gonna stay the rest of his career there and they're gonna have to find a way to get rid of Rawinsky.

And obviously it never happened and it went downhill since he's been traded. But he was was he was in 2019 one of the best defensemen in the league. He's hit the highs before so yeah, we'll see is he this guy maybe maybe he is And in 2019 is the year I think that they is that the year they beat Tampa in the first round about them. Yeah, right, right. Yep, correct The glory year as they as their report sign came on. Yeah Tampa in the first round. Is that right? Correct. The glory year as their horse line came on.

Yeah. It's like aww. And then how good's goalie Bob going to be? He can have bad moments. He actually let in a few muffins last round too. Lot to be decided.

Talk to me about Rock Nelson and Colorado. I thought they were doing Mitch Marner. Can they do both? I think seven and a half, two years ago, would have been a huge number, but with the cap going up and a three year commitment, which isn't horrible, then let's face it, you gave up some serious assets to get him

There was a lot of pressure on Colorado to to come up with seven and a half That was always the number McKinnon Nelson coils pretty good one two three down the middle Nacius and a choose skin like his landiscage a guy now again like they could be Like I ran I think it you don't know about Landis Cog. Either way, it doesn't seem like that was like one of the Marner places and it doesn't seem like that's an option now. I think you pointed something there Kipper that's going to be really interesting is like the sticker shock now that the cap's going up.

Like when I saw that number, I mean, it's kind of a shocking number, do you think, seven and a half for Brock Johnson? Yes, I was like, oh, I don't want that at all. It's not. That's what I mean, with the cap going up and the percentages like- Well, but hold on, it's gonna- It's significant.

Was it a $5 million contract in years past? No, I mean, it's probably still six and something, you know, like it's real money they gave him here. It is, but it also like, look at the escalation in three years, JB. Yeah, for sure. And it'll still be 7.5, right? Yes, it's.

It's an artificial cap right now that should be, right now, it should be $102 million cap. When the season starts next year, Brock Nelson's gonna be 34 years old He just you know say what you want about Nelson and I think he's a fine player, but you know playoffs He had no goals I'm not scared anymore about 34 35 year olds. I think I think between Corey Perry and 26 goals this year I think I think between

Corey Perry and 26 goals this year Between Corey Perry and a few of the other guys at 40 Brad Merchant's, you know, not 40 But he's closing in they're playing at high levels But these are the elite elite guys the best guys can do it for a long time. It has been pretty elite He's been pretty good. He's been pretty good. Hey, yeah, he had three straight 30 goal years. Yeah, or this year Yeah, that's some that's some serious talent. He's been pretty good. He's been pretty good. Yeah, he had three straight 30 goal years. Yeah. Or this year. Yeah, that's some that's some serious talent. He's shooting it in the net. But I think, you know, you look at the 56.7 and a half million, it's not going to get better. I'm just saying, I don't know if that's Colorado's answer. That's all. But now you look at that free agent class that everyone was already talking about being thin

Nelson gone Gord got signed. I mean course not That big but he's a name that was on that list that teams would be trying to it's getting thin and hurt like The top end of these guys must love seeing these names go off the boards early like just drive up the price for July 1 I'll pull a Sammy McKee here and throw a little leaf talk in this. It's almost a foregone conclusion that John Tavares wants to stay and it's just a matter of like how much of a discount, right? All the talk around here is about John Tavares as a discount. But if he wasn't from Toronto and he'd be open to play anywhere like he's coming

off 38 goals. I know that's what I'm saying like you just gave Nelson a 26 and he got 7 and a half. What do you think John Tavares on? Hey everybody highest bid wins let's go. Top 10 face off guy in the NHL scores 38 goals. You know, he's hard on the puck. He's got more responsible like he's been a captain 34 years old like someone might give me eight or nine million. Not the Leafs.

No, definitely not the Leafs, but someone might if you said how am I not better than Brock Nelson at three years? I think on an open market John Tavares could hit Brock Nelson seven point five all day long sure for three years. What are you getting more from Brock Nelson? He's not fighting anyone But I saw today Feuds and Marquesi that Elliott was saying that the long they were talking with the long a

Elliot was saying that the long they were talking with the long a Bush lower AAV long contract for Tavaris like the kind of like they what they did with Caps going off just are we what he's worth and not we sure this for fun. No, are we sure here? Well, it's a deeper conversation We got the time we got three minutes here. Why not? It's a deeper. It's a deeper conversation because it's then it's just it's not Strictly about having the money. So just spend it. It's about is there a fit for him? Is he still? producing 6070 point seasons is he

Automatically on your first power play still is he a second line centerman in the playoffs or is he not? I've done this a hundred times. There's arsenic in the cake, but it's a cheap cake. It's like I don't care. I don't want that Quit serving it to me, you know, it's like the cake and matilda that's like full of like blood I don't know that reference. No, trust you never seen matilda. Oh wow. I'm thinking Matilda that's like full of like blood. No. I don't know that reference. I'll trust you. You've never seen Matilda? No. Oh, wow.

I'm surprised you have. Ah, a kid once. You know? It actually really terrified me. It's like this like kind of fact that eating like a bloody kid is bad. Anyways, continue. I've got both Byron on with the thought of Owen Power in Buffalo and Darlene. Darlene's not going anywhere.

I believe that Power's not going anywhere. You think this guy's... Riley for Byron. Set to be a top defenseman. How do you like that for the Leafs? All day long. How do you like it for Buffalo? No good. No good. No more Morgan's he's too old for them

You have Nick Robertson to Buffalo needs to be good at one point I got to love Buffalo dying for them to be it's it's time to be good boys Like you have to be good here, but it just feels like there's turkey Yeah, they just have no you have to have guys for guys to want to be there And so that's the problem and you'd well there are palm trees I mean, they just have no, you have to have guys for guys to want to be there. And so that's the problem. Well, they don't have palm trees. How do you get, yeah.

Bills have Josh Allen, so people want to come there. That's all it is. That's literally what the general. Can they be the Ottawa senators next year? And just get in a first round. Not a chance. But this, like, give the Sens credit. In years past, they showed flashes

of pushing towards something. It's just like. Boys, Buffalo could finish near the bottom next year. The top line right now is Benson and Coolidge. Yeah, they're not. With Thompson. Yeah. Peturka, McLeod, Quinn, Zucker, Krebs, Tuck,

Rosen, Ostlin, Lafferty. What are we doing here? It's bad. It's really bad. At least the D's good. Darlene, Samuelson, Byron, Lafferty. What are we doing here? It's bad. It's really bad. At least they're D's good. Dalleen, Samuelson, Byron, Clifton. I think I'm missing one there. No power. Yeah, like they're D's good. I do love Dalleen, but wasn't there a rumor about him being sour too? He was, yeah, he was like, don't, I didn't ask out.

Oh yeah, right. Yeah, there was a whole thing there. Did you? Ukapeka, the guy? Ukapeka Lukinen? Uka thing. Yeah Go Pekka the guy Is he the guy? No, the other guys must be the guy right? Devin Levi. He was a team Canada World Junior goalie He's got some pedigrees. You know, that is the type of guy that ends up on another team and then becomes a star He buddy was with Nico Mica. La Mica I love those days anytime you have multiple guys who you're waiting to be the guy you have no guys

Yeah, but you're right. I mean there's so many candidates for the next Sabres guy on the current Sabres roster They took all one to go break it go somewhere else and be great Like I mean Dylan cousins already went to auto Ottawa wasn't great in the playoffs for them, but like had some flashes Yeah, I mean if Dahlene Yeah. Meet up Dahlina. He needs a good summer Dylan Custin. They've got the, Buffalo's got the combine going on right now. Agents and teams are all down there right now

and they're all talking to each other. How exciting. They got Kekeleinen in there now. You gotta put a call in. Kekeleinen has a Kekeleu- He's got, they're collecting names. You should just do a finish show for an hour. So is Nico Mica a finish?

Yeah, for sure he is. So who does Kevin Adams report to? No, Yarmouk reports to Kevin. Correct. Yeah. Weird. Buffalo just really needs to get it together here. I'm sick of just having the conversation about them being sad sack every year.

What do we know about Dan Muse? Muse, I assume. Muse. New head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I know that he didn't really like his, he played some D3 hockey, but he's coached everywhere. He's an assistant for the, assistant for years. He coached at Yale, he's the US national. I think it's risky for Kyle Dubas to have another first time coach as your hire. But I think you're saying that we're rebuilding together and you say, look, Chris Nobler, you know, was a first time head coach.

He's back to back cup finals. I'm okay with. Keefe ended up being a good hire or at least he's still in the league. I'm okay with Kyle thinking outside the box. And you can only... He's supposed to do that. But Kyle get it right though. Yeah, he's got to. I hope you got a carberry.

Yes. Yeah, like I've said so many times in this show that you just got to try something new. You don't get Dubas as your guy to bring in Tortorella. I mean, I saw that Sid, your Dan Muse is going to in Tortorella. But that, I mean, I saw the thing. Sid, your damn muse is gonna tell what to do. I know, I know. But yeah, but you're entrusting it to an outside the box guy. Oh boy.

You're gonna get some outside the box hires. All right, here we go. Our hour's up. And once again, we've solved nothing. Series pick. I want the Oilers to win, but I picked Florida in September. I picked them before the playoffs. I'm not bailing on them now. So I got the Panthers in seven oilers and oilers in five.

There you go. All right. It all starts tonight on sports net Florida and Edmonton game one. Enjoy it. Thanks for listening.