Real Kyper & Bourne - The Privilege of Postseason Pressure

Episode Date: April 17, 2023

It's day one of The Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee start with the Leafs's series, the pressure of being a series favourite, the coaching battle between Sheldon Keefe and Jon Cooper and the weight of Game 1. Sportsnet.ca's Luke Fox projects the Game 1 lineup, Keefe sticking with the defensive pairs and Ilya Samsonov confident for his head-to-head with Andrei Vasilevskiy (25:19). Then, former NHLer Brad May discusses the pressure on the Leafs and how they deal with it, wearing down an opponent and how Toronto matches Tampa's energy (45:04). Finally, Andrew Raycroft of NESN gives a full preview for the Bruins/Panthers series, Linus Ullmark's playoff outlook, where Boston is strongest and where they are weakest (1:06:45). The guys wrap with picks and previews for tonight's playoff action.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 Bourne on Sportsnet 590 The Van. Here we go. Day one. The Stanley Cup playoffs. Woo! Sportsnet. Hockey Night in Canada. Kipper and Bourne.

Van 590. Woo! Our YouTube channel. iTunes, Spotify. We have you completely covered from head to toe. Four games on tap tonight. Boston and Florida on Sportsnet East. Islanders and Carolina on Sportsnet 360.

That's followed up by Minnesota and Dallas at 9.30 Eastern. And your signature game tonight on Hockey Night in Canada, CBC, the Edmonton Oilers versus the LA Kings. Here locally, a little over 24 hours. Toronto Maple Leafs. Prepare. Sweet mercy, we're here. To slay the dragon of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

And you will not get a better place than right here on our show for the next two hours to tee you up on that one nick kiprios justin bourne frank the tank is this a cameo three days three days of frank the tank i gotta tell you if the leafs win while frank's here all sis boom bah might be somewhere else for game leaf two and nation will not let frank the tank leave they will glue his ass in that chair and of course sammy mckee representing leaf nation for you during these playoffs now sammy i mean sensing a little low energy out of you okay you're a little under the weather is this just nerves sammy it's setting in it's setting in i sensing a little low energy out of you. Are you okay? You're a little under the weather. Is this just nerves, Sammy? It's setting in.

It's setting in. I'm a little nervous. I am a touch under the weather. Nothing crazy. Fighting through for the fellas. But, yeah, I'm a little nervous, boys. I'd be lying if I said, you know, we've been talking about how meaningless the regular season is all year. And then you finally get here.

It's here. And it's just all the stuff in the regular season out the window and you just gotta win four hockey games before the tampa bay lightning went for so a great woman once said pressure is a privilege we may hear that again today but you know to get to root for a team that's in the important games what an honor what a delight please win i can't ask Sammy this because we know where he's going automatically because of Sammy and his belief of reverse psychology. But I'll throw this out to you. Okay. Did this somewhere go from a pick-em series to the Leafs being heavily favored. Well, you know, if you look at Sportsnet,

I don't know if you did a pick for every series, but, you know, a handful of people here did picks, and you go through the board and look at what everyone selected. It's pretty heavy Leafs. If there's 10 or 15 names, there's at least a dozen that pick the Leafs in this series. The betting odds are in the Leafs' favor. They have them as the favorite.

You know, it's one of those things. You either believe in ghosts and that the Leafs can't get through, or you believe in what we've seen all season, which is they're the better team. So, as everyone at home is saying. Sammy, I know what your answer is already, and it doesn't matter if everybody has them

that favored. You're still pooping in your pants. Well, I'm pooping in my pants more because everybody does have them. It's just the... Which sets them up even more. The narrative is flipping to that, like, oh, my God, the Leafs. How can the Leafs not beat them? And it's like that's the exact opposite scenario you want to have the Toronto Maple Leafs in. Yeah, coaches fight pre-series series like in their interviews to be the

underdog right they're like we got nothing to lose if we can take down this team but even as much as coaches trying to do that here there's no doubt the narrative at this point is that they got the edge eric uh eric francis and who else eric francis said the lightning and seven and who else? Eric Francis said the Lightning in seven. And who else did? Mark Spector said Lightning in seven. Rory Boylan said Lightning in six. Those are the only from Sportsnet that decided to not pick the Leafs. So a lot of Leafs buzz here, which just is as a Leaf fan,

and I got a DM from a couple of Lightning fans today saying, I'm loving how much momentum is for the Leafs. Everybody's picking the Leafs. You have a pedigree team, a wounded animal pedigree team up against you, and you're the – it's setting up to be a little bit scary. That's it. Yeah, you're justified, man. Just to set up the rest of the show in about 15 minutes,

we're going to go to Luke Fox, who went to the morning skate. He's going to do a little bit of a scene setter for us, a little over 24 hours until game one. We also have Brad May. Love his honest opinion constantly, and we're going to win another fight his mom yeah i heard this year he included his his brother in the mix wow so i mean he means it yeah he means it all right maybe neighbors i'm not sure we'll ask him andrew raycroft in the second hour will join us of

course he does a good job following the boston bruins they uh out of the corner of our eye will be real intriguing if you want to talk about uh pressure of living up to 82 games yeah no bigger story than the boston bruins there but just to add to the feeling of the Leafs being favorites, something needs to be said that at least out west in Edmonton, they have to be feeling much the same because they've mirrored the Leafs in so many ways with questionable goaltending around superstars.

But I will say this, there's not a lot of people that don't think that the oilers aren't headed towards a stanley oh my god i can't believe the amount of people picked him to win the cup no no no how about the number of people that are just picking for a toronto edmonton stanley cup final already and envisioning it envisioning it but you know whether or not it's a hockey expert predicting it or or is it just wishful thinking that you know there's going to be a lot of work for us send it out into the world or

whatever and it'll come back exactly how that works and the most important thing is if it happens i got a lot of work for the next right six to eight weeks, right? Yeah, for sure. But it's now being really envisioned a Toronto-Edmonton final. And it's not like it's far-fetched with the momentum of both these teams coming into this week. Again, it's only far-fetched because people, you don't want to believe a good thing can happen or you'll jinx it or something. These teams have the potential.

We did joke before the show that I'll just say the one thing that has, people have the most wrong about Toronto is when they go plan the parade, when the Leafs do well, no one believes in the Leafs. I know people are picking them to win, but no one actually believes they'll have success. You were quoting an article earlier today. Something that we haven't really looked at much. Yeah, not at all.

Well, you know what? Just searching through the clips. I think it was Alan Mitchell who writes for The Athletic. And he was talking or writing already about how a Stanley Cup would change the Oilers organization. Like it wouldn't change 15 other teams, by the way. Right. organization like it wouldn't change 15 other teams by the way right but you know in parts of it he he was talking about the parade route yeah what it would be what it would look like it would start at the rogers uh set uh place oh i was like you couldn't find the least right oh my god

wrote that right you gotta ask that's first question for Luke Fox. What would his mentions look like? I like Mitchell. It's not a comment on his work in general. Just imagine doing it here. Since the last parade the Oilers have had, their population has doubled. So, you know, it'll be a much bigger parade. So we better order more barricades.

Let's make, you know, it's like, wouldn't dare here. Everyone's just trying not to die. Sammy, if the Leafs were up 3-1 or 3-0, would you start, would you have a better understanding of where the route would go from? No. No? No.

I would not be thinking of any route. Just checking. I'm telling you, Kip, they could be up 3-0 in the cup final with a 6-0 lead in the third period. We could not get Sammy to talk about the parade. We couldn't do it. I wouldn't be watching like this. Still not.

Yeah. Wow. So we've gotten into 10 minutes into our first playoff show. We're talking about the parade route. That is pretty good for the. No, we're talking about others talking about the parade route. I know. Get the story straight.

I know. I know. Okay. All right. talking about the parade route get the story straight i know i know okay all right so do you think now the and i'll include edmonton in this because we're already starting to talk about it you you think both organizations are kind of feeling like a slow down on uh this overwhelming feel that like we're we're the odds on favorite here is is that starting to get felt a little bit, maybe even here? And we're going to hear Sheldon talk about the pressure

of going into the Stanley Cup playoffs. You want to go to these clips first and then we'll answer that? Yeah, I do. Okay, let's hear it. Sheldon Keefe. No, we've had lots of practice here just in getting ourselves prepared and focused on what matters. And that's really it. The things that we can control that are right in front of us, take care of everything else.

The pressure is a privilege. You know, there's a lot of teams that are not playing hockey this time of the year that have no pressure, and they have no privilege or opportunity to compete in the playoffs with the type of team that we have. So we're excited to get going. Privilege and opportunity, I bet you, comes up rather regularly in all his meetings with his players now.

I bet it does. I bet that is a major theme for them. I mean, how else do you push back on that pit in your stomach, those things you can't control, except saying, this is fun. Good things come if you do good. You know, like there is an opportunity here, and getting to feel like this is fun good things come if you do good you know like there is an opportunity here and getting to feel like this is an honor it was billy jean king who said that it's the name of her book too just a really great line and you know i'm sure a good way to frame what's ahead for the leafs here

but in terms of trying to feel good about it i think there's way more people putting the oilers in the final than the leafs oh my god way more i haven't seen anyone even a comparison i'm one person yeah mostly like it's not even close but but realistically i think yeah i agree with that you're a different team with no landis cog no cadre different starting goalie you know the oilers have the best chance to get there of any canadian team no doubt did you take that clip of someone asking him a follow-up and then him ending? I'm talking Sheldon Keefe kind of abruptly MDing his press conference. Do you have that?

I think we do. Think about from us, the media, from the fans, a lot of the noise is they have to do it this year. They've got to not just get past the first round that's not enough we should end this a question we don't see you guys have a good day wanted nothing to do yeah with you feeling like you have to do it this year yeah i don't blame him but at the same time there could have been an easy token answer to that couldn't there have been probably maybe it's a good way of you know

uh warding it off from coming back again we haven't even started the series and people are are media have no problem telling him you have to win you have no choice you have to do it this year or else we have a pretty good understanding of consequences or repercussions yeah i think sheldon is an excellent coach you guys know that i have a history with him i think he does a great job my one fear is that if things don't go well and he feels like the end of the road is coming for the leafs for maybe him for what they've built here. I could see him getting a little panicky. You could see it imploding.

I could see the desperation. Remember the all or nothing, pushing all the buttons in game six. You could be a hero. This is it. Now or never. Make history. And then they don't win. It's like, damn, there's another game to go. I could see the pressure mounting. It's important for the leafs to get off to a good start is my point

it's a meandering way of saying they need a good start we we should see sheldon at his best here because for sure of that experience that you're talking about about maybe playing a card too early. This has to be his time now. And granted, we still don't talk about... I think we'd all believe that there is an advantage having John Cooper versus Sheldon Keefe. There's not too many people that... John's a cup champion. There's not too many people that would give the edge to Sheldon.

No. But he has to be better equipped to go up against a guy like john cooper now yeah yeah and he had some really good quotes about um controlling you know he can only control his team think about what's going on on his bench um he talked about how matchups are different than they used to be the way that it's not so much get this line out against that line it's get your offensive players on the ice in the offensive zone and d guys in the d zone so he he talked about just his own bench in his own team you can't except i watched an awful lot where i saw camp take offensive zone face-offs in the in in the back half of the season uh i'm not sure that you know, it's an automatic anymore.

Yeah, I mean. What do you think? Well, I think statistically he doesn't do it often, but I could see the way they feel about Kemp having changed. You're right. You talked about liking him fine as a third line center. He can't avoid it at some point, I guess. Okay, let's go to Keefe on what he expects out of Tampa tomorrow night.

I'm expecting a opponent more like we saw in the playoffs last year, more like you're used to seeing, and what you've seen of them through different times during the season where they were at their best and was elite and looked like the team that you're accustomed to seeing. I think the experience that they have, we would expect nothing but their absolute best. We're going to bring our best as well.

And like I said, look forward to competing. I get the different tone. What do you think is different? Well, first of all, his attention to detail is almost lost. Right. You're not getting nuances anymore you're getting the blanket we've stated all year long that we love our kippers clippers with sheldon because there's some times when you just think that he won't shut up yeah he'll be like oh the ankle flexion on his left skate on that two- one caught a rut. You know, like he'll give us the fine granular details. Yes.

But there's also the hockey side of us said it. We were on the team. We'd be like, Hey, Sheldon, just tone it down a little bit, a little bit too much information. It's been great.

It's been great, but you can hear in those answers. Do you think somebody, maybe Brendan or Kyle said, Hey, listen, more cliches. Don't give them anything. More less is more now.

For sure I do. I bet they said we're just, you know, we don't want to give anyone anything. Get in and out of these interviews as quick as possible. Win the hockey games. That's what we want to see from you, coach. I have a hard time believing that will continue. That he'll be able to continue doing that?

Yeah. Like if that is something that happened, like i just listening through his audio today like i do every day it just felt different felt shorter felt quicker to the point and as this series goes on more of the battle in the media that always happens with these coaches i just have a hard time believing that sheldon keefe's going to be able to quote unquote keep his mouth shut when cooper's running into his mouth. I do feel like there will be a war of words at some point throughout this, no? Yeah, I agree. They're both chatters.

Listen, based on their last game together, there will be an emotional series. How can it not be? Especially if we know Tampa, I don't think they're going to be as aggressive as we saw last week but there is a side of them that they also you could see them kind of pushing the

envelope with how how aggressive they want to be against the Leafs, scrums, potential fights. We do have Cooper on being underdogs, which might be an interesting juxtaposition here with Keefe. Do you want to skip ahead and hear a Cooper quote? Yeah, let's go for it. We've represented the Eastern Conference for three straight years and we plan

on doing it a fourth. We have some different players and got to do it different ways, but there's a core group there that wants to keep this train rolling. And so the problem, the Leafs are going to be a problem. And they're a heck of a team, two teams that know each other well. And I would expect a heck of a series, especially with the star power that both teams produce.

To be the best, you've got to beat some of the best teams in the league, and the Leafs are one of them. So we're going to accept this challenge and give them everything we have. But like I said, this group is, you know, until, I don't know, until somebody gets us, we're the team that wants to be on top and we're going to do everything we can to stay on top. He watches his words. Very low key on that.

That may be the lowest key we'll get out of him in this series. Well, that's kind of what i was thinking like the way he's going into this series is more like you know we're the underdogs i'm not going to say too much here because i don't want to change that status i want us to remain the underdogs it's funny though like his the way he because that was in amelie arena after they had practice there they're traveling today i assume and he was speaking with just you know four or five tampa bay reporters so it's very interesting to see the difference in tone than when he's in front of a throng of media here in toronto versus you know in front of the the friends and family down in tampa it's a very different thing

but i just you could tell it was a little bit different, way more complimentary of the Leafs that like that is not usually in his playbook. Well, hey, listen, Toronto is better than them over 82 games. You'd be crazy to not at least come off with that vibe a little bit. And he did there. Yeah. And at the same time, stake their claim that you know until they beat us we're it you know i think that's a and and little nugget he was trying not to big up his own team too much i could feel him catching himself yeah before being like oh i'm sorry do

we not have vasilevsky and headman and kudrow and point and stamkos are we not the team who's been to the cup final three years in a row like he's trying not to be that guy but he also knows he's closer to the that that the inevitable that we will get beat right eventually yeah eventually yeah it it may or may not be this first round it may be in the second or third round it may be even next year if they squeak another stanley cup final in yeah but he he knows based on probably what he's witnessed in the in the last three months since january that there's there's cracks in the plaster oh yeah for sure he he's hanging on he seemed like he was trying to convince himself throughout that clip that he really believed it and he knows and he said it like they're a different team like they've got their stars but he knows they're different and

i don't know where if it just lies on the blue line or the fact that vasilevsky's come down to earth i don't know where he thinks he's different yeah but he knows it yeah he does i mean they are for the first time i think in terms of expected goals against they're the worst team of the 16 in the playoffs. Like, that's different than how they've gone into this in the past. So I'm sure he's aware that it's a different group and doesn't want to be too high on him. Do you think he is more comfortable,

based on the way the team's finished, that he's on the road instead of at home? Or would you still have wanted home? I just think that it's a softer landing if you lose game one on the road. Yeah. I can see that. You know, they got to leave Toronto with a split.

That's all you're talking about. And you lose game one on the road, you know they're they got to leave toronto with a split that's all you're talking about and that's you lose game one on the road it's the easiest post-game speech from a coach of all time which is just we just came here for a split you know we just got to take care of business tomorrow it's a successful trip to toronto you get that luxury you lose at home and you're the leafs it's a little easier to go oh game one is massive she large massive it's just there's so much doubt that sets in if you i i i disagree with you i think uh i think uh a leaf loss wouldn't necessarily be

you know i mean say the Leafs come out flat, lose 4-1. I mean, you think people will jump off the bandwagon by then? I do think, no. There will be full panic mode. But I think what changes... What changes is game two.

Everybody stay calm. What's the procedure? Yeah, that's full panic. Do do do you see it do you see it here's where it's different for me is if it's you're losing game two you're down one nothing in game two if you lost the first game and you're down in game two at home that's that clip that derek just played panic if you win game one and it starts to get away from you game two it's like okay it's easier to stay in it you know so a four one leaf win in game one would that be enough the game's one's going overtime boys i hate to break it to you so then how can the whole series not be going into game seven overtime this is just going to be the samsonov series like is his headman or

sergachev going to sift a couple through his armpits or is he going to be the Samsonov series. Like is, is Hedman or Sergeyev going to sift a couple through his armpits or is he going to make the saves? If he makes the saves he needs to make, they'll get the result they should get. I'm confident there, but this is the one thing where you're like, Hey, you want to think I want to add on Samsonov.

We always talk about, Hey, this guy's got two playoff games. You know, he's, he's never been there. I wasn't aware that he had won the KHL championship. Oh yeah. He won the Gagarin cup like six years ago or something so he has played those games to him would have mattered

would have been pressure games it does make a difference to me that he's had some success at a level like that did we already play two cooper clips just one you want to do the underdog we did that one we haven't heard cooper's thoughts on the Leafs yet. Oh, okay. All right, let's go. The Leafs, to me, they just keep making positive strides every year. They went from a dynamic offensive team with dynamic players, but they've really grown into a bit of a defensive juggernaut as well. And so that's kind of a recipe you need to win in this league. And it's, like I said, you get some playoff series here that it's a shame. You know, when you get to this, one team's going to be out.

But it seems to happen every year where you've got some of these marquee matchups that hopefully you'd see down the line. But with only eight teams in the conference making the playoffs, a lot of these matchups happen in the first round. But they're good for hockey, and they're a lot of fun. Okay, let's welcome in Luke Fox, NHL writer for Sportsnet.ca. Luke, I'm not happy with Cooper starting the series. You're going to have to poke the bear a little bit for us. Well, I am looking forward to his press conference tomorrow after the morning skate because he never fails to bring it for the Toronto media.

So I expect Cooper will be in fine form tomorrow morning. Well, we're sure hoping he is because I know we get a lot of legs out of his clips. He's a fully entertaining guy. So in terms of setting the scene for us there, Luke, Matthew Nyes practicing on a different pad doesn't seem like he's going to be in game one. That fair to say? Fair to say that Nyes is out,

but no, he wasn't practicing on another pad. He was practicing with the whole group. But he was on a line with Wayne Simmons and Connor Timmons. Yeah, he was wearing the grey sweater. He's going to be scratched game one, and I actually agree with the decision. You know, Shelby

Keefe said, look, this guy hasn't even seen Scotiabank Arena ice before, let alone skate on it. And I think the fourth line has done such a nice job here over the last month or so. I think Zach Aston-Reese has been playing his tail off. I think he deserves to be in game one. I think it's easier to scratch the guy who just came fresh out of college. You can always turn to him if you need a boost or if you feel like you're not scoring enough

goals. I think it's harder to sit the veteran down and say, we're going with the kid who's never played in the NHL and just played three meaningless games. So I like the decision. And cool story that Nyes is living with John Tavares and his family. So he's carpooling with the captain. And John Tavares said that, you know, he talked to Kyle Dubas about it,

talked to his family about it, was happy to give Nyes his entire basement so it's bigger than a hotel room. And actually, Dougie Waite did the same thing for John Tavares when he was a youngster coming into the league, so he's just paying it forward here. But I think Nyes would be a great secondary option. He won't be playing game one. Which means also that, you know, the debate on whether you're not,

you wanted to go with your three top centermen in the first, second, and third slot has now shrunk to your top two lines as Tavares moves to the left wing on a line with O'Reilly and Nylander. Did that come to a surprise with many at the rink? Yeah, I don't know if it's a huge surprise because it's something that he's been toying with. I mean, he's pretty much tried every combination, Sheldon Key, for the last month or month and a half.

I think at home, when you can control the matchups, I like it. I think it's an aggressive approach. All of a sudden, you've got a second line of Ryan O'Reilly, John Tavares, and William Nylander who just scored 40 goals. I mean, as far as second lines go, that looks pretty deadly. The second line has been a question mark in so many of the Toronto Maple Leafs postseason series in the past. That looks deadly.

That looks like a second line that's going to go out and try and get you some goals. I think the bigger surprise might be that O'Reilly took Nylander's spot on the top power play unit. I wasn't sure if that was something Sheldon Keefe was just going to toy with in the regular season at the end when he was sitting some guys for load management, but it looks like that's what he's going to go with in game one to start and throw a bit of a different PP look at the Lightning. So that's more of a surprise to me.

I like the aggressive approach of loading up that second line and seeing what they can do. Did anybody ask Nylander how he feels about that? He says it's nice that we have different options. That's nice, Willie. Yeah, yeah. Of course, you know, given the truth serum, I would guess he'd rather be on the first unit That's nice, Willie. He was bumped down, so maybe it caught his attention a little bit. You know, we know that the power play has been a bit of a sore point for Leafs. And last season's series, I think it dropped all the way down to like 14-something percent

when in the regular season it was like 27 percent. And they can't afford to have a drop-off like that. So at least they're able to throw a few different looks. Shelly Kee keep explained it as they know what william nylander looks there they know that can work as well they have a huge sample size of it so this isn't in stone it's just giving them another look they can throw at them well they do have a variety of looks you know i would say more than other years they have good options on the back end um it looks like mor Riley is going to be paired with Luke Shin,

which I think is a surprise to some people, given how much time he spent with TJ Brody. What are you hearing? Any thoughts on the Leafs' decor and the pairs they're going to go with in Game 1? Yeah, the pairings will be the shutdown pair that he's been working on with McCabe and Brody. And that group has done a phenomenal job so far.

I mean, they're going to face the ultimate test going against Tampa Superstars. But in the regular season, those guys have gelled pretty quickly. To be fair, almost everyone gels with T.J. Brody. Yeah, Riley Shen will be the pairing. And then you got Giordano and Hall. I think what blew my mind just watching the practice today is they have a bonafide fourth pair. Like, Eric Gustafson has more points than any Leafs defenseman,

and he's going to be a healthy scratch. And Timothy Lilligren, like a month and a half ago, guys, I would have sworn he'd be in the top six for the Leafs. So just their depth on the blue line, like imagine that. We're talking about the Leafs scratching healthy, bonafide NHL defensemen. Before, you'd be scrounging to see if you had four or five guys you thought were worthy of a seven-game series against a real, legitimate, tough opponent. And now they have different looks they can throw at, or if some guy gets injured, God forbid, they have a guy ready to step up and shouldn't be afraid of the moment.

So just the depth on the blue line, I think, has impressed me most. We're talking to Luke Fox, writer for Sportsnet.ca. Luke, it sounds like whatever pressure might be on Samsonov, he doesn't really show it. He's said the right things in terms of how much he loves it here, from the chef to the therapist to the doctor. And he's not only set up to be the guy to carry them, but he sounds like he's setting himself up to be here for a very long time.

He loves it. And my sense is the fan base loves him too. His teammates love him. Let's see how he performs under the bright lights. But so far, so good. He's had a fabulous season. He's been a steal when you consider his cap hit. And he actually mentioned something that he's he hasn't felt this good

and comfortable on a team since he played for magnetagorsk uh which is you know really quite interesting when you consider how many russians fellow russians were on that washington capitals team you'd think he would feel quite at home there but he acts absolutely loves being in canada he says he prefers it to living in the states. He loves the city, loves his teammates. He's a really positive, interesting guy, and he's earned this job through his health, number one, and through his performance. He's had a fantastic year, and he deserves this shot at going on a run

and seeing if he can do it. And he's well-rested. They gave him those two games off last week. I think just the question is, can he really do it when the lights are brightest? He only has one playoff win, and I'm talking about games. And he's going up against a goalie that has two, and I'm talking about rings. So the vast difference there favors Tampa Bay. Well, he's also, to get in the net,

he had to beat out Matt Murray, who we know is unavailable due to injury. I kind of have a two-part question, which is like, how badly would he have to struggle for Wohl to come in? And would Matt Murray possibly be an option in this series, even to consider? I'm not there yet with Matt Murray yet i i don't think he's i

mean he's not even practicing with the team so i don't i don't see as a viable option to step in right now and i i think it's samson off's net he'd have to have i'd say two horrible performances to turn to wool just because of wool's inexperience, not because of his play, because I think this kid has been fantastic since getting called up. But he's still a little bit in awe. I had a good conversation with him today. He's a little bit in awe of just being in the playoffs.

Like, he's an NHLer now, and he's going to have to wrap his head around that. So it's definitely Sammy's net for the foreseeable future. Luke, was there any sense that he was skating on his own? Has he even touched the ice, Matt Murray? Yeah, he's been skating. He started skating on his own a little

bit when the Leafs were away last week in Florida and New York. But he's not out there with the regular group yet. All right, man. Listen, thanks for helping us tee it up a little bit today. A little over 24 hours to go. And we, of course, will be leaning on you throughout these playoffs.

Thanks for doing this, Luke. Yeah, it's the best time of year, guys. Sure is. And congrats on a really good regular season. You guys made it interesting. Really, all we were was waiting for this time of year. Thanks, pal. You're for this time of year. Thanks, pal.

You're a big part of that. Appreciate it. Hey, nobody cares about a regular season, Luke. Don't suck up to the regular season now, buddy. Bring it now. Just bring it now. Just bring it now. All right, Luke Fox, Sportsnet.ca. This pressure is a privilege, Nick.

Matt Murray would need, in my opinion, at least seven days from now from now seven to ten i gotta tell you even have him on the bench played so good for me that i just i i don't i'm done thinking murray for the year i know that that's it's worth talking about and other people disagree with me but personally that's where i'm where do you value experience that's, it's worth talking about, and other people disagree with me, but personally, that's where I'm at. Where do you value experience? That's all. Yeah. Right? Is it?

None, none, by the way. I do value it. Was it more important, like, in the past than it is today? Because the shift on what the expectations are. Yeah. Yeah. So, like, there's no doubt that, you know, to Luke's point, that Samsonov would have to, you'd have to be going back to Tampa down two.

And have lost, like, six, four. Lost two games at home to even contemplate Joseph Wall. You're not doing it. You don't think there's a scenario Wall gets in the net? For the game three in Tampa Bay? Yeah. Well...

No way! How much... Samsonov would really have, to JB's point, man, he needed to have been blown out for two games. He would have had to go out there without pads on

for this scenario. Yeah, that's not going to happen. It's not... Okay. It's not going to happen. not okay it's not gonna happen what i do want to talk about is this nice get hurt before that happens yeah i agree this nice thing's crazy to me not crazy but you know we all started having him out everyone remembers who's regular listener to our show sam nick and i all had nighs out after watching him one game i flipped i didn't and i

said i'd have him in sammy held firm and you i said i could i could see him playing game one you know what you and i kind of uh where we backed it off to not having him in was taught realizing when he got back to toronto he didn't have a place to live yet he didn't see he hadn't seen the ring he didn't know where to park. You know what my number one reason is? It's because there's 19, 20 other guys that have been in the trenches all year. And this guy swoops in and gets it handed to him on a platter.

That is the number one reason why. I agree with Nye's not starting not starting i do too based on that alone i think it sends a message that you all that have been here this matters exactly he can come in be an addendum to it he can help us yes but you guys are what matters i actually you know i wish i had been more on your side with that i do see now how crucial that would be for those those boys to not be like all right we don't know what we are we got a new guy who where's he gonna fit oh and now you know and now he's uh tavaris's little pet you know basement guy now and it's like

he's a blogger now right what's wrong with that oh no it's pretty sweet yeah it's pretty sweet unless you're sitting in the stands in a healthy scratch because of it yeah well i'm sure that i bet he plays game two though no i'll dig in on that not with a win you're talking about a loss and then maybe juggling the lines you come up with a solid win yeah and aston ruse has got eight ten minutes and he's hitting things in sight and they're not changing the winning lineup. You're right.

I'm still sticking with it. It's going to be really hard for him to get in. It also puts him in the best position to succeed. You know, like he coming in now, it's like no pressure. You're just the fill-in guy coming in for someone who wasn't doing well. I'll tell you what it really does.

From Kyle's perspective and Sheldon and Brandon, it's the safest decision. It protects your current roster. For sure. And it protects Matthew Nyes. It does protect Nyes. And you can sit with him and be like, look, get to know where the coffee maker is.

Watch a playoff game. Get a sense. You know, let's go over our system a couple times. Have a few practices. You're going to play, kid. You're going to be a part of this thing. Crush some of that sweet, sweet Scotiabank popcorn in the press box. Oh, my God.

The amount of popcorn I used to eat in that press box, boys, was not good for my health. Okay. An agreement on that. All right. Maybe for the first time, we've all agreed. No. No? Well, for the first time the other day, we all rode the elevator down to the cars for

the first time in two years. We're having first year two years. That was really weird, by the way. I'm looking around, and I'm like, I've been here for almost two years. We've never been in the same elevator together. We've never left at the same time somehow. That is mind-blowing. And there was a strange girl in there, and I think she's like, I don't belong here.

She's like, who are you guys? All right, we'll take a quick break. No, no, no. Fellas. Oh, no, go, go, go, go, go. I'm really proud about this. We got a new sponsor on the show, Bet365.

I use Bet365 quite a little bit here and there, as you'd like to know that. And we're doing picks. It's time for Playoff Picks, presented by bet 365 visit the app for the latest odds and i have a few things for you fellas today four series get underway tonight uh boston's one of them that we're gonna get into with andrew

raycroft uh boston's minus 360 to win that series which is a huge favorite and the panthers are plus 280 what i want to ask you fellas is there any world in which you can see the Florida Panthers sneaking by here and finding a way to get into this series? This guy called Boston a perfect team. I do, too. Do you see any way through, Kipper? I don't, and I know there's a flu going through the team, and actually, last time I had heard, Patrice Bergeron was under the weather and considered a game-time decision.

I can appreciate Alex Lyon coming in and holding the fort down the stretch. He's going to start. Yeah, of course he is. Make or break last two weeks for him and he deserves to play and i'm sure the team believes in him but there's not a world i see yeah the panthers beating it's crazy timing like they said several guys are sick and so there is one of the uh odds lines i looked at on bet 365 they have um you know boston to lose a game but win the series is one of the things it was plus 250 if you were looking for a way to make money on boston and really like boston i could see them in game one going out there without bergeron

is crechey's in but like dragging swayman may not one of their goalies isn't there i could see florida taking a game. I still think Boston wins the series, but kind of a sneaky way around it. I got a question for you guys. Who do you think the favorite for the Conn Smythe trophy is? So you got to know your team to win the cup.

Listen, anybody that says anybody but Conor McDavid, he is not the favorite. It's got to be Pasta. Yeah, Pasternak. David Pasternak is the favorite to win the cons might at 9-1. Is McDavid too? Yep, at 10-1.

I can see a world where Boston wins the cup and McDavid leads playoffs in scoring by like 20 points, gets the cons smite, and then smashes it on the ground. I don't want it. It's possible. How many guys have won it that have not? I only can think of Jaguar. Jaguar, right?

Hextall too. Yeah, Hexy. Yeah, Hextall too. And the closest Leaf is Austin Matthews, 25-1, and Marner is 28-1, so I know that'll make you really happy, Kipper. Those odds should be switched. Seriously.

And the last one I have for you today is the odds to win the Stanley Cup. Bruins are the heavy fave at plus 325. Maple Leafs are 8-1. And I looked down the list. The best value I could see was the Rangers at 14-1. For sure, the Rangers. 14-1 is a good number for them.

Devils, analytically, grade out pretty well. But Kane, Tarasenko, Big D. Yeah, I could see it. Yeah. All right. Physically, I don't think the Devils will hold up against a big team like the Rangers. And also, just like their best players have not been through it. The Rangers were just in the conference final last year.

So, good scene setter for tonight. There we go, boys. That was Playoff Picks presented by Bet365. Visit the app for the latest odds. Okay, when we come back, Brad May, we know what he'd do to his mom. What? Hey, Derek. Whoa.

Derek's not close to the button. Derek, push the button. Again. I'd fight my mom to win another stand. He'd fight his mom. Where were you guys going? Listen, I just needed some clarification. That's all I'm saying.

Tons of clarification, and we'll get even more after the break. You are watching and listening to Real Kipper and Born. Discussing the biggest stories that matter to Toronto sports fans. The Fan Morning Show with Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Real Kipper and Born on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. Bring it up to LaFontaine.

He gets tripped up. Gets it to May. And over the line. He's May to LaFontaine. He gets tripped up. Gets it to May. And over the line, he's May. Going in on goal. He shoots. He scores! Mayday! Mayday!

Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Brad May wins it in overtime! Into that. Let's bring him in right now. Brad May. Hey, that's got to feel like it just happened yesterday.

Kipper, Kipper, it's 30 years ago, but I'll tell you what. I'm so excited to hear it. Thank you. Oh, no. We're just getting going here. Listen, the start of the playoffs it's it's unbelievable it's the greatest time for hockey fans and hockey players and um you and i got an opportunity to play at that stage and there's nothing better what do you most remember about that moment seriously uh when when you when you on it, what is the one thing that stands out above all?

You know what? Honestly, just the fandom in Buffalo. Cut to where it's going to hopefully be in Toronto. The Sabres hadn't been out of the playoffs or out of the first round or past the first round in over 10 years. And, you know, that was almost like taking the air out of the balloon.

It was an incredible moment. It was as loud as a building that I've ever been in, and that's what I remember. I remember the people, and of course, Rick Generat's call has lived in infamy, and it's given me a nickname for the last 30 years, so pretty cool. I'll be excited when toronto wins this series and whoever scores that winning goal and if it's at a really you know um tenuous moment if it's an overtime goal that person is going to be immortalized for for the near future for sure

marnday marnday marnday i don't know hey that's up to that's up up to Joe Bowen and whoever else is calling the game to figure out what the call's going to be, but if it matches anywhere close to what Rick Jenneret did, it was wonderful and it's still wonderful and it's lived with me since that point.

I love this time of year. Brad, it is interesting. The Leafs have got into these elimination games, and they haven't found a way through, and their offense has dried up. You're a guy who's found a way in a big moment like that. Do you need to do anything different or think differently or play differently,

or is it one of those things that just maintain the same way you've always played and just hope it finds you at the right time? You know what i i think i think all of the above and and outside of the hoping i think for for players they just have to believe in in themselves obviously and not get caught up into all the rhetoric and and the conversations and and of course the demons right of of of past failures um the moment is now it's the time to shine um be confident and don't shrink under you know in the spotlight and you know what i i was fortunate it was a again a moment in time for for myself in overtime against the bruins and we were the underdog in that series um but i was ready for the stage. I was ready for the moment, and it happened. I think, you know, there's two things you can do with pressure, guys.

You either feel the pressure or you apply pressure. And I love that quote. And for Toronto, going into this series, listen, there's nothing to fear. You've been through that. You've had failures. This is your moment. You've got new players, a new identity. This is the nothing to fear. You've been through that. You've had failures. This is your moment. You've got new players, a new identity. This is a time to shine and apply pressure on them.

Tampa Bay Lightning, who really have been a mediocre team in the last few months. Now, maybe that's because they've been preparing for the Toronto Maple Leafs and playing a game plan that didn't suit their opposition down the stretch and truly trying to build the team to have success against Toronto. You never know, and we'll soon find out. You know, just to maybe just talk a little bit about maybe your goal compared to where the Leafs have been in the last few years of not making the most out of maybe closing out a series

like they'd had a couple of cracks last year in Tampa Bay. I mean, there's a fine line made between not forcing a moment and then taking advantage of one that presents itself. Is there anything on that game winning goal where that that speaks true? Yeah, 100 percent. Now, here's the thing. Alexander McGillney was on my line along with Pat LaFontaine. Those guys were the pure goal scorers, the true talented players.

Of course, we had talent to play at that level. Ray Bork, after the fact, after I met Ray that summer actually at a wedding, he actually looked at me and he said that, he goes, all I thought you were going to do when you slashed across the neutral zone was when I got the pass was I was going to chip it in the corner and go and try to hit him again. The whole idea was, you know, my presence on that line was to stop his momentum and just make it hard on him, make him tired, you know, as the longer the series went on. And in that one moment for Ray, his mental, you know, what the way he saw the play happening was I was going to chip it behind him

and try to do the same thing all over again. And I guess that's the idea about wearing down a defenseman. And know at that time it was an opportunity that presented itself so it's not like Brad May got on the ice at that moment was like I'm going to dangle Ray Bork and and have an opportunity to score the opportunity presented itself I was ready for it clearly but Ray was also not ready for that moment because the three or four games leading into it in the previous year playing against Boston probably 16 to 20 times I didn't attack Ray Bark I chipped it behind him and my whole mission was was to you know lay the body and for for that moment I'm looking at a guy like Sam Lafferty. I'm looking at a guy like Nola Chari.

I'm looking at even William Nylander. At the end of the day, you can't just attack and try to score every play. You've got to grit into the corners. You've got to grit it out. And when the opportunity presents itself to a great forecheck, a giveaway, a player coughing up a puck, now all of a sudden the puck's in the right hands. And for us, looking at this series,

the Toronto Maple Leafs have to capitalize. But you have to look at it three-dimensionally, not solely offensive. Brad, eventually things slow down in a playoff series i don't say slow down but kind of settle into hockey again but in game one there is this explosion of energy excitement anticipation and the way things kind of go in the first period can be chaotic does the team need to play any differently in your opinion like game one for this leafs team i just just feel like, you know, they've got Shen in the lineup.

They've got a heavier group. I don't know that that's always how they'll want to present. But do you think game one is different in terms of tone setting for a playoff series? Well, I think, you know what, it's the best series or best of all of them. Obviously, you get great matchups. But round one is always exciting. I mean, it always presents itself for the upset

or for these uncommon things to happen. I just think for these players to understand exactly who they are, what they can do, and what their limits are. Luke Shen, we don't want Luke trying to dangle down in the middle of the ice, right? We want him to finish checks, outlet passes, clear down the middle of the ice, right? We want him to finish checks, outlet passes, clear out the front of the net. And if he does that, he's doing his job. And I played with Luke when he was a young guy. I'm really excited that Luke's back in Toronto,

by the way. For all these other players, identify who you are, where your strengths are, but learn how to put a different hat on at the special moments, whether that's blocking a shot for a player that doesn't typically get in the shot lane. It's a guy that doesn't throw the big hit and finds himself in the position where he can lay a guy out behind the net. All those physical interactions, they pay off in a series down the line. And then skill takes over. Your goaltender has to be better than the other guy at the other end of the ice.

And your top players have to, you know, once you draw a penalty, you need your big boys to step on the ice and go score. And this, again, I think this series is going to come down to, I think goaltending can be good on both ends. It's going to come down to special teams. Once again, a weak penalty, a selfish penalty may end up hurting either team. And because really, if you look at both these teams, their strengths, the biggest strength of each team is their top four, five, six forwards.

And that can actually apply pressure on the power play. Got to defend. But you know what? If you don't match the other team's energy, I just don't think you have a chance. We're talking to Brad May, former National Hockey League player and Stanley Cup champion. Mayday, is Tampa Bay going to try to drag the Leafs into the alley here? And, you know, if you were on the Leaf coaching staff, what would you be telling an Aston Reese or a Chari or a Lafferty

or Luke Shen on what to expect and how to handle it? Well, I think if I'm coaching, and by the way, you and I were both those types of players, Nick. And we were the guys that were kind of, you know, the catalyst to the physical movement. But all those players you just spoke of, if I'm in that locker room or they're listening to me, you've got to play between the whistles, enough of the nonsense.

Forget the glove washing and the scrums after whistles. It does nothing. It distracts you. It distracts your teammates. And quite honestly, it could put your team behind the eight ball. So play within the whistles as hard as you possibly can. Be willing to hurt the opposition with the best hits. Don't lay up.

At this point in time, truly, Nick, I said it, and you love this quote, but I'd fight my mom to win the Stanley Cup. You need a group of – and obviously that's a joke, guys, but you need a team full of guys. I'd fight my mom to win another Stanley Cup. It's our favorite, by the way. I know that. But you need your whole team to be willing to do something unordinary

or extraordinary to actually advance and move on in the playoffs and kind of take on a different identity, but play within your own game. Toronto, they have their identity. They've bolstered certain positions to be bigger, a little faster, more robust on the forecheck. They've got two defensemen now with McCabe and Shen that gives them a different look and a different confidence. But you've just got to play within yourselves.

Do not take the stupid penalty because, really, that's the threat. The threat of the fight back in our day was a fight. The threat on a team losing, in many cases, it's a stupid penalty and the other team capitalizing. You know, one of the threats for the Toronto Maple Leafs is just that their goaltending is not up to par. And Ilya Samsonov, is there a way to insulate a guy like that i understand you want to play good defense but at some point here that guy's got to be there for them right no 100 and it's going to be back and forth listen tampa's a well-oiled team they're not playing great or they haven't

over the few months but guess what that's almost a rope-a-dope for me. I think they're going to show up and they're going to be ready to play at this stage, at this moment. Imagine both teams knew they were playing each other for the last six weeks for the most part, and you're not going to step in the way of a shot that actually would have tied a game, won a game, or prevented a loss four weeks ago because you didn't want to break your foot

or get in harm's way. So I'd scrap the records coming into the playoffs. It's a new season, clearly. And your goaltender has to be great. The way to insulate them is to score more goals, obviously, and have the puck in the offensive zone. But it's not like you can keep it there all game long. In so many ways, I think this series, it sets up.

It's going to be a barn burner. I think it is Toronto's time, though. And they have other players that have won. Ryan O'Reilly, for me, is a difference maker. And he also makes the Toronto Maple Leafs forward core a lot deeper. And you can spot Ryan O'Reilly, put him on the third line, have him, you know, have great matchups, but you can always move him up and down and throughout the lineup at different times.

He's a responsible guy. He's a consmite winner, and he's a Stanley Cup winner. And that's one of these veteran players that I think you need to move on in the playoffs. And I think it's Toronto's time. I think it's their time to make a move to get past the first round. You know what? Don't even think of the Boston Bruins or whoever else is beyond that.

You've got a massive series in front of you, and you've got to stay in the moment. Your Buffalo Sabres on your game-winning goal got through a Boston Bruins team that had arguably the best defenseman in the league in Ray Bork. I can't recall your blue line group um in in buffalo that year but you know who led that charge or is it more by committee i look at the toronto maple leafs right now and possibly there's a another level for

morgan riley but if they need to do it by committee it does appear like you know there might be enough there to to prolong a very uh healthy playoff run here uh in anaheim there was scott niedermeyer but uh you know speak speak of the team that uh beat ray bork and what you guys had on the blue line well just before i get there um the anaheim ducks we were built built to win. We had Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermeyer. I mean, two Hall of Fame players that quite honestly, you know, as a coach, you could have one of them on the ice at all times throughout a game. And that's a real big benefit.

And not to mention you have Tamu Slaney and a young Ryan Getzlaff and Corey Perry and Chris Kunitz, three superstars as young guys, that, you know, were on entry-level deals. That's why we were able to win the Stanley Cup, not to mention having, you know, a cast of other guys that were hungry. Our Buffalo team against Boston back in 1993, we had Peter Svoboda, we had Doug Bodger,

we had Keith Carney, and obviously they're not all household names, but they're all very capable. Here's the thing. You have to be defensive. You have to be able to defend against the top players on the other team, and you have to be able to absorb the physicality from them as well. That's what a playoffs are.

For me, the Stanley Cup playoffs is the best sporting tournament that we are able to watch because there's so many dynamics and elements that can present themselves. Nick Paul scored two goals in Game 7 last year to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs. Where was Toronto's bottom six? It's not just about your stars. It's about the depth of your organization. And who wants to take that mantle, that label of being the hero, to be the guy that actually,

you know, advances the Toronto Maple Leafs to the, you know, the second round don't wilt, don't wilt under that pressure, embrace it, take it and make a difference. And I'll tell you what I, tonight would be a sleepless night, but you're excited for that. You're so fired up to play tomorrow. And I'm really excited because I'm going to be in the building too. As we are too.

Hey, Mayday, love having you. Loved your insight on your goal and rising to the moment when it presents itself. Great stuff. We're going to be leaning on you as well very heavily during these playoffs. Thanks for doing this, pal. There you go. Thanks so much.

The hair stood up on the back of my neck, Nick. I love it. Thank you. We didn't even score it, and ours did too. Hey, guys, let's have some fun. And hopefully the Toronto Maple Leafs are able to do something very special. Sounds good. Thanks so much.

Appreciate it. Brad May, Stanley Cup champion, knows it, lived it, and is on our show to talk about it. I got to tell you, I love the line. You either feel the pressure or you apply the pressure. It takes some of the pressure off you to take it to the opponent and say, you answer the question. Are you good enough to answer the question?

It's funny. I wonder how scoring a big goal like that is obviously incredible. Like there's nothing that would compare to scoring an overtime winner in the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's just the elite of the elite feelings. But then to have the call by a legendary play-by-play guy with such an iconic thing to be able to live it again and hear that every time, I can't imagine how much better that makes it.

That's just... Every time Brad gets to hear that, like you said, the hair sticks up, that never gets old. No, never. I don't hear the call for my triple OT ECHL playoff winner very often.

It doesn't seem to come up as much as Mayday. The intern that was calling the game didn't. It doesn't get played randomly. When I go all by morning. And the one thing that, you know, if you can even, and I'm envisioning this as I asked him, is that you know, it was up against the Boston Bruins,

but it was up against Ray Bork. Oh, yeah. Do you envision an Aston Reese or a Lafferty going up against Victor Hedman in this series and slaying the dragon? I mean, it's... But that's what these moments are all about. Yeah, for sure. There's a very realistic chance like the leafs don't win a stanley cup

this year without someone going who can forget the david camp goal you know like there is there's those moments there's whether it be chris kunitz or max talbot or nick paul or whatever you know like there's guys who have to get those goals and he mentioned ryan o'reilly i feel like we haven't talked about him enough as a playoff guy and i do want to mention that too i looked into this today at random his points per game in the regular season is 0.70 like just 0.7 in the playoffs it's 0.88 so his points per game goes up significantly in the postseason the leafs stars the four guys you're thinking about all of them see significant drops so far it's early in their careers but o'reilly it's not that early i'm trying to cut him slack doing a great job of being a nice guy right yeah but o'reilly's

been the opposite yeah so i think that's great you know this is a chance for those guys to you know to have someone else in the lineup who can do it. By the way, 0.88, which Ryan O'Reilly has is a breath better than what Matthews and Marner have in their career. So ours drops as well. Does he not?

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Significantly. You know, that's so this is an, and Nylander is the closest to maintaining his pace. I think Ryan O'Reilly is going to score multiple big goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Alrighty. In the first round and beyond. I like him O'Reilly is going to score multiple big goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs. All righty. In the first round and beyond. Yeah, I like him on the power play too. And it's going to be a fine line because you just cannot leave a 40-goal pure shooter like Willie Nylander the last 15 seconds on every power play. We know that. He's going to have to find a way to get him in there and involved and happy.

You don't want this guy pouting. It's one thing to say all the right things. It's one thing to say all the right things before game one, but once you start living in it and, you know, if there's a level of frustration, the first thing is like, hey, I'm here, let's go. For sure. I think it's great for them to have that option

if things don't go perfectly right away. Okay, let's take a quick break, and we'll bring back Andrew Raycroft, retired NHL goalie working at Nessun, covering the Boston Bruins. We're going to get into what's going on with the Bruins as they face the Florida Panthers. It all starts tonight.

Stanley Cup playoffs. We're back after the break. The best Blue Jays show out there, period. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Real Kipper and Born on Sportsnet 590, The Van. Intriguing storyline with the Boston Bruins tonight,

how healthy they are. You know who's healthy, Kipidane ochara congratulations to him for finishing the boston marathon three minutes and 38 seconds 3 38 pretty quick three minutes oh sorry three hours and 38 minutes so i ran the new york marathon oh geez i think i did it and i remember four and a half that's still great great listen i'm like i was running and then all of a sudden i'm down the stretch in central park and there's a guy in a batman suit juggling two basketballs and i'm like i never wanted to punch anyone so hard in my life you know you don't have a marathoner build, though, Kip. You have a hockey player build.

Let's welcome in Andrew Wacroft to find out if he ever ran a marathon. Razor, are you there? Yeah, I'm here. No marathons for me. No marathons for me. I was down there today. The route doesn't go too far past my house. So I went and cheered on a few friends and saw Big Z go flying by.

He was in peak condition. Oh, man. Now, what's going on with the Boston Bruins? Is there a flute bug? And can you get Chara back in the lineup? The big boy ran right to the garden. He probably could play 25 minutes the way that guy is incredible. I, I don't know what to make of all this guys. I really don't.

Obviously there's something going around, but we all know how it works in playoffs and you never get the right answer. And it's hard to find someone find someone with any truth coming out of them. I have a hard time imagining anyone missing games, but we haven't seen any games played yet. So maybe this is all something that's not precautionary. The word that I've been hearing for the last month out of this team is all precautionary. And here we are on the eve of game one and not really sure where anyone's at. So it currently stands are there any injuries anything anyone out or is this going to be a fully loaded boston bruins team well burfe run's the big one right now because he hasn't skated in two days and and he two days ago it was some paul and Foligno are in, according...

Forbert is also back in today, according to Jim Montgomery today. But then beyond that, there was some sickness that has gone through. Swayman mispracticed yesterday. Allmark was out the last game of the season, so they didn't really touch on the goaltending. But again, I think that's more gamesmanship than anything else. Yeah. Well, they are fully set's more gamesmanship than anything else. Yeah. Well, they are fully set up here with a fairly deep lineup.

So is there any concern at all about this Florida Panthers team? The Bruins locked and loaded here should be able to handle pretty much anyone. They should be able to handle anyone. But again, it's playoff time. And I think everyone, that ramps up. And until you actually see it out on the ice, Florida can score goals. They have Barkov, they have Kachuk, they have Ekblad. So they present somewhat of a threat in that they can get out to a two

or three goal lead in games, and they can push the pace. I'm not sure if they have enough depth, or they shouldn't have enough depth, and they shouldn't be able to play defense enough against this Bruins team, but they do have a puncher's chance because of some of the superstars they have in their lineup. As far as the, the chemistry inserting Hall and Foligno, they've been off for such a long time.

I mean, is it, is it, is it going to be seamless for them to come back? So it should be seamless for Foligno. He locks in, fills in on that fourth line left wing with Nosek and Hathaway quite nicely. You got to imagine they're all playing a very similar game,

North-South battling physicality. The interesting one's Hall. He has played a few games, but no one has – Krejci hasn't played. So Bertuzzi's been on the second line with Zaka and Pasternak. Now, if Krejci comes back, he's taking that spot. You assume Bertuzzi bumps to the third line with Hall and Coyle, and that takes Frederick out of the lineup. We haven't seen any of that combination at all.

Hall and Bertuzzi haven't really played together at all since the deadline. So that's where the chemistry issue comes in. And that's where the question mark for all of us here is, who and what does the third line actually look like? It's incredible. Like, just going through the Boston Bruins lineup, like, the quality players they have at depth position. How has Garnett Hathaway been as an addition to the fourth line? Well, he's checked all the boxes that this team's needed

the last few playoff runs. With his being able to play on the edge, his physicality, he's a good player. He can skate. He can get in on the forecheck physicality he's a good player he can skate he can get in on the forecheck and he's a heavy body and again with him playing with a guy like nosek who's so smart takes so many defensive zones face off hathaway is more than responsible to get that puck out of the zone and change momentum shift to shift when they're out there so he's been an ideal fit he

can drop the gloves he has dropped the gloves and he's added that extra body out there that won't allow cheap shots to happen. Razor, as an ex-goalie, you must have really appreciated what Swayman and Allmark were able to do all season

and we all waited. Come on, when's Cinderella's shoe going to fall off, you know? And it's like, it didn't happen, did it? It never did. And I think what a testament. And I'm going to talk, Allmark, just because it's a little easier, that he went 40-4-0, 6-1 on the season.

And, I mean1 on the season. And, I mean, that's nuts. That's never going to happen again. No goalie will ever have that stat line again in this league. And there was never any complacency. You play and you have that kind of a record as a goaltender. It's easy to take the Tuesday night off in Chicago or the Tuesday night off in St. Louis when the season's kind of in the

books you've already scored a goalie goal you've had everything go your way and you know what no big deal if I don't play great one random and he hasn't allowed that to creep into his game he's been rock solid almost every single start and that's what's impressed me the most and with both guys really but especially Allmark you know's going to have his hands full. Just looking at the Florida Panthers, like a major strength of theirs is creating offense. They, they get a ton of chances and you know,

obviously Boston's D is very good and should be able to handle that. What would you call Boston's signature? Like, is this just a complete team? Do you think they're better offensively defensively? Is there anywhere where you're like, okay, this is the thing this team does exceptionally well well i think they do everything really well

or they have up until this point they've they've been able to win all different ways but i look at their ability to roll out charlie mcavoy hampus lindholm and dimitri orlovlov, and add Brandon Carlo in there as your top four defenseman, you can roll those guys out every night. Essentially, at this point, without injuries, you could technically have McAvoy, Orlov, or Lindholm on the ice every second of the playoffs. And I just can't look away from that being the absolute strength and where this team's foundation's really built.

As far as what jim montgomery's been able to do all season long um you know there's it was questionable whether or not this guy could even get back into the league and then you turn around and have one of the most successful coaching seasons in history um and and being able to kind of maintain it all year long. Like, what is his secret? What did he do exceptionally well that maybe even what you saw, Razor, you didn't anticipate? Well, I think it's his ability to connect with this group so quickly. Cassidy was here for six years and was extremely successful.

Obviously, the players felt like the message got a little stale at the end, but that happens with all NHL coaches after six years especially. It's just going to be falling on deaf ears, and they felt like they needed a change. I didn't think that Montgomery was going to be able to connect with everyone and get the defense. He talks so much. Defense is going to get more offensive as the season goes on.

They're going to jump in the rush more. And they were able to do it right out of the gates without taking anything away from the system that they play defensively. And his idea, his vision for this team is what's impressed me the most because he he had it spot on with the the personnel that he has here and just the way they played defense he was able to allow those guys a little more leash going forward and it's been such a difference for guys like campus lindholm to have career seasons like they have. Can I ask one more follow-up on Montgomery? Yep.

Just in terms of this load management, we saw quite a bit of it, didn't we see with Boston? Were you also surprised that there was no lulls really in their game or maybe there were that we didn't really see? But, I mean, was it successful in terms of what he was able to do down the stretch here? It was, and it does surprise me. It did surprise me. I didn't think they had a chance at the record with four weeks left,

just going through that five straight weekends of back-to-back Saturday, Sunday games. And they had everything locked up. You knew there was going to be load management. You knew they were going to stick guys out. But guys won, even despite that. They went to Carolina, in Carolina, on the second half of a back-to-back without Bergeron, Marchand, and Lindholm. And they come out with a victory there.

And they did that every week. And the last Pittsburgh-St. Louis, Patrice Bergeron doesn't even go on the road trip. They win both of those games. So I was surprised at how well they performed while resting players. And I just go to the depth that this team has. And I think some of the, also the reason why we're hearing the injuries and the sickness, but not a lot of concern out of the Bruins the last couple of days,

because they just feel like they can win with up every night. So they currently have the, they're the heaviest favorite in a playoff series in round one. Awaiting on the other side of that would be the winner of Tampa, Toronto. Obviously we're spending a lot of time on that. As someone outside of the city of Toronto,

what's your perspective on what will be a very exciting first-round matchup? I can't wait to watch, of course. And my buddies who are all in Toronto right now are keeping me very informed on a minute-to-minute basis of who's playing goal and what everyone's saying up there. So I'm getting lots of scoop. If Tampa Bay can flip the switch from the way they have played the last six weeks,

that will be the most impressive thing they've done over the last three years. I don't see how they beat Toronto. I don't see Toronto losing this. They are too good up front. They are now playing a good, solid defensive game. And they just seem to be the much better team than Tampa right now, even with Andre Vasilevsky. But if this team can flip the switch,

like they seem to have felt like they were able to do the last six weeks, it'll be really quite impressive. But I have a hard time looking away from a Bruins-Toronto-Maple Leafs series in round two. One question on the Bruins is just the work of Pasternak. He finishes with 113 points. What is most surprising to me is that he did it without the likes of Marchand or Bergeron, you know, getting over 70 points.

Like, does this not speak how talented this guy really is? Yeah, it really does. I think everyone in the hockey world knew how good he was and how great of a goal scorer he was going into this season, but he's taken it to a whole other level. There was many nights where he was the first one in on the four check. He was the one leading with 10 shots on goal and really putting this team on their backs. And I would add that

the way David Krejci has come back to the NHL after taking a full season off has helped as well. It's amazing how a 36-year-old guy has been able to leave the league and come back and play this way with a guy like David Pasternak. But certainly David's ability to take his game, his leadership, his physicality to another level has been impressive this year. And he's put himself in that next level of superstar player in this league. Do you have a cup champ pick? Have you done a bracket? Where are you at for the

house all going to play out outside of the boston bruins uh division there i i didn't really touch a bracket just because the bruins have been so good and and i'm assuming that i'm gonna i've been telling my wife we can't go on vacation for a few more months yeah she's not too happy about it in any way whatsoever uh but it's going to be, you know, if you back into it and you see the Leafs in round two and then you see Carolina or the Rangers in round three, it's not easy.

The Eastern Conference is stacked. It's going to be so much fun to watch starting tonight. And then, of course, the West seems so wide open. But I would love to see a Connor McDavid ridden horse all the way to the finals and get that Canadian team in the finals as well.

Razor, Leafs in five was trending like in the last 24 hours. So make plans for a Toronto-Boston series, bud. Yeah, believe me, I don't know if my Twitter messages are ready for it but I'm certainly excited for a Bruins Leafs matchup in round two if it comes to that Sammy's rolling his eyes

our producers like you're such an idiot Kipper all right Razor thanks for doing this pal we look forward to it starting tonight all right sounds great guys enjoy tomorrow night yeah you bet Andrew Raycroft Razor, thanks for doing this, pal. We look forward to it starting tonight. Alright, sounds great, guys. Enjoy tomorrow night. Yeah, you bet. Enjoy tonight.

Good stuff on the Boston Bruins. Sammy wants nothing to do with hearing Leafs in five. Trending. Is that true? Really? Everybody's just looking like, oh yeah, the Leafs just dispatched Is that true? Really? Everybody's just looking

like, oh yeah, if the Leafs just dispatched the three-time defending Eastern Conference champions who have a ton of pedigree who win every big game they've been in for the last three years, if they just dispatched them then the second round should be easy. Their goalie's like a 9.30 postseason goalie with a hundred games experience. First

ballot hall of famer. And it's the same people that just crapped all over them when they lost to Tampa last year that are the reason why Leafs in five was trending. Yeah, I believe that. I see that overlap. To be honest, fellas, that is my pick. Leafs in five.

Oh my god, really? First off, I can't believe we got it today at 430. I mean, whatever. Yeah, no, it's fine. I'm not opposed to having it out. I just, I don't think they can beat them if it goes to 6 or 7. Well, I will say this. I looked at some gambly, gambly odds, and Leafs in 6, like 4 to 2, and Leafs in 5, 4 to 1, pay decent.

I'm not touching Leafs in 7. No chance they win a game 7. I don't agree with that entirely, but because it's tampa it's hard the only thing is there's just well i expect i expect tampa to go down but i expect them to go down fighting so you have the leafs winning the series i do have the leafs winning the series. But the full distance? Well, I just think it's, there's Stanley Cup pedigree there. There's a tremendous amount of character. Could the Leafs win in five? Absolutely.

Do I give the credit of the character on that team to go seven maybe? Yeah, I do. Yeah. I do. I just think, I think to Cooper's point, and we heard him at the beginning of the show listen it's it's still ours until the leafs take it away from us yeah and i don't think i don't think they're just gonna lie down over five games and if they do they're going down swinging still i i think i think it's gonna be a a series that's gonna take something out of the leafs a

little bit here before before they get a chance to move on. You know, the one thing when I looked at this series, I spent some time today just quietly thinking about this series. The Leafs are really stout defensively. And I mean their forward group, like Achari being added to that bottom six camp. Like they defend. They're going to be hard. It's going to be hard for Tampa to work their way through. And to get to the middle of the ice.

To get to the middle. The Leafs defend really, really well. And that's going to be hard for Tampa to work their way through. And to get to the middle of the ice. To get to the middle. The Leafs defend really, really well. And that's going to be a challenge. And they block a ton of shots. So all that, I fully believe. And so it's Samsonov. And I started the show, I think, by saying, you know, are Hedman and Sergeyev going to sift any through his armpits?

Like, that's what it comes down to. I think they're going to have trouble creating against the Leafs. But this kid's never done it. And until he has, it comes down to. I think they're going to have trouble creating against the Leafs, but this kid's never done it. And until he has, it's tough to be like, yeah, he'll be Vasilevsky. So I do have reservations still about the goaltending. I think that's fair. And I think that going into this season,

you'd have said that was at least a concern. Sorry, Sam. So Sam, you have the leafs sprinting they can win the race in a sprint but they cannot if it turns into a marathon exactly i would if i they will not win a game seven against oh come on now oh come on like, yeah, they've shown so much. They don't, well, they score one goal every game, seven or zero. Paul McLean. Demons. That's right. I forgot about the ghost line, right?

The demons. Demons. Yeah. Under the bed. Oh, everywhere. In their head. Yeah. You turn into Dr. Seuss talking about the demons.

Under the bed, in their head. I don't know. All right. Are we going to go around the other series? Well, let's start with your New York Islanders against Carolina. All right. Carolina, the favorite, correct? Yes, they are pretty heavily.

Heavily. Heavily. The Islanders are plus 175 last I saw. I really believe that losing a game breaker like Sveshnikov will hurt Carolina. I think that they don't have have they did not add the depth they they they have that tom dundon philosophy as an owner and that's to squeeze out on minimal costs yeah and i don't think this team's covered to uh overcome that you know, it's going to be really interesting. It's just, so I,

I do think the, the Islanders got a, a fighting chance at the very least here. Veteran team, you know, Carolina has been struggling. No fetch, no, uh,

patch ready. They've been struggling since no fetch, but just can the Islander score? Like they don't score. Generally. Carolina is one of the best defending teams in the NHL. Can score at all do they have to a lot with uh this i mean under under under bet the under in these games i i don't expect a lot of offense anti-ranta is starting tonight what freddie on Freddie on the bench. Yep. Yep. Wow. Freddie on the bench.

Andy Ranch is like really good. He's just never healthy. He has shown the ability to get on a run. Yeah, he can be a goalie. They just, you can't. He's like Matt Murray, doesn't play. He was 19-3-3 with a 2.23 goals against average and a 9-10 save percentage and four shutouts in 27 games this

year smocking smocking hot carolina has some and they know good defense they know freddie oh that's the thing it's like yeah okay it's slavin and it's pesci and it's who else they got there it's uh shay burns oh brent burns heard of him before jaylen chatfield's underrated big yeah they're just quiet defensively yeah that's slave and everybody says he's the most underrated guy in the league every time so he leads them in time on ice this year gets norris trophy votes every year one of the best defenders in the league guess how many pims this year two yeah four that's it somebody step on a stick well you know if you don't take penalties like

that that's how they happen like a missed call or a how do you feel about that don't love it but i mean it's impressive like in theory it's great you don't you'd probably rather a guy who's a little more physical and whoops he's a guy once in a while but didn't ryan o'reilly have a year where he had two penalty minutes or something oh probably yeah i think you're right anja kopitar i think had two pims this year and 80 games as a big physical selkie type center yeah uh oh yeah with the sabers in 2017 2018 ryan o'reilly had two penalty minutes in 81 games. Kopitar, all 82 games, four penalty minutes. That's amazing. I mean, it's tough to pull that off

as a guy who's not relevant and doesn't play. Islanders in six or seven for you, JB. You know, it's such a... I'll say seven, but I hate when people do that. It's such a hedge. I wish I wasn't saying seven, but I think it's such a i'll say seven but i hate when people do that it's such a hedge i wish i wasn't saying seven but i think it's close yeah yeah i'll take them in six okay the idea when you make a pick is like pick someone pick someone in four or seven you know like pick a team seven such a hedge sorry sorry to your beloved i don't know it's gonna be maybe five canes and five?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm not offended. They're just fast, deep, big. I just think that they went too cheap at the trade deadline the last few years, and it's going to bite them in the ass again. I think that you win with depth. In the lineup for this team, Kipper. It seems like Toronto should get rewarded for it because they they went and got it

sure you know they're going forward here with cock and the emmy and nason on their second line and you know stastny and derrick step in and jack drury on the fourth line like they could have added a little bit of something something to help this group out for sure i know the injuries hurt them but anyway so yeah all right that was our first series i got aisles we got two aisles and one carolina yeah okay and five mini dallas mini this is a pick them is it not i don't know but i like dallas i feel like i haven't seen a ton of either of these teams this year i feel like dallas may be my most my least watched team all year i and i feel badly because they've been a wagon they've been really really good yeah i agree this is a super hard one to pick i like minnesota like i just like the players i

like the city i like belgarin i like and he's but they just don't score. He's done a remarkable job of making them really competitive in a year where they probably should have been taking a step back. Yeah, they found it partway through the year, which does not always happen. You know, Kaprizov going to be in. He's so good. Boldy's been good. Zuccarello.

Marcus Foligno's a lot of fun. You know, Spurgeon, Brody, and dumb but they're they're pretty good team but i still agree with kip i still think dallas gets through too many players tough to play sam you want to make a pick yeah i'll go minnesota in six all right we got kipper and i on the same page twice did they announce their goalie uh gustafson did they announce it i don't know right now i'm not sure if they did or not but i'll take jake under pottinger yeah that's that's kind of the decision maker he's one i think there's just the upsides there with jake to i don't even think he has to stand on his head like he did against uh calgary last year or is it uh no they went to the cup final against tampa two years ago right that's right yeah but that was with uh oh hood open filled in that's right yeah but this dallas team i mean

robertson and hints pavelski jamie ben m Mason Marchman, Max Domi, Tyler Sagan, like Faxa, they got guys. I like Pavelski this time of year too. Heisken and Lindell, Hockenpah, Suter. Pavelski has not, like, really dropped off yet. He's still, he's like a Tavares to me. Just so good around the net, does the right things. Pavelski is the best tipper in the game

he is well established in that role you're a horrible tipper i heard wow who told you that is it true no boston florida 15 percent i'm a i'm a base 18 18 if you blow me away 22 i'll go up yeah good for you oh then i take it back. You're a great tipper. But you got to really wow me to get above 18. Okay. Oh, wow. Yeah. All right.

There you go. Like the water glass does not hit below the halfway mark. No, it's more about just, you know, it's hard to explain, but I just... Okay. I don't want to get into it. All right. He's got a whole philosophy. I do.

I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do.

I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do.

I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do.

I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do.

I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do.

I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do.

I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. I do. They've got a written manuscript on this. I look forward to the time that you pick up a tab. Then I'll know for sure. Sincerity has a lot to do with it. Sure. There you go. All right.

Boston, Florida. We're all taking Boston. How many games are we doing as a debate here? Unless Sammy wants to take Florida. Yeah, I'll take Boston in five. Okay. You got five. I'll take six. I'd love to zag here but i just can't i'll go four

you sweep it yeah i'll sweep it okay what one other series tonight marquee oh yeah big one that one oilers kings taking copertaro over mcdavid no i don't think anybody is i will say this king's team probably not getting enough credit for how good they are like really really good defensively one of the best in the league by expected goals against they are the best in the league um can they grind hard can they shut down matthews can they grind them down can they just wear and tear edmonton well yeah you remember last year they went seven last year at the kings before they won but they didn't have drew dowdy last year and drew dowdy came out today and said you know if we get the chance to smack

mcdavid we're gonna smack him jesus they're gonna smack jesus is what they said i believe with a bible so i think the oilers power play is enough to get them through the king's penalty kill so i got edmonton in six kempe had a very quiet 41 goal season yeah that is quiet 41 that's so many that's like 41 yeah that's a lot he is uh he is a game breaker he is yeah he's a great player he's dangerous out there but i don't know but they also got a lot of these guys kipper it's dono you know plays d and kopitar plays d and trevor moore's in your face and arvidson is a little rat and drew dowdy's annoying like they're just annoying annoying team the kings i think i think it's going to be a lot

closer than people think though yeah you still taking edmonton i'm taking edmonton yeah their their stretch was really impressive i got nine straight to finish the regular i don't ever recall a team looking so bad at the beginning of the season and so good at the end. Yeah. Like, it was an incredible 180. For sure. They found it, man. And curious to see, you know,

we all agree that we're not sure about their D and their goaltending, but we think they're good enough to overcome those shortcomings. Is anyone good enough in the West to expose their weaknesses? Sam, you got a pick? I will go Oilers in seven.

All right. You think it's... Yeah, I think the Kings are really... They'll drag them in the alley. They will. I think the Kings are really good. They got better in net with Corpus Allo. They're good defensively.

They're familiar with that. They've played them a lot. They're in the division. I just think that it's going, they've played them a lot. They're in, like, the division. I just think that it's going to be tight. So give me the Oilers in seven. It depends how they call penalties to me. Like, Philip Deneau being as good as he is at shutting guys down. And Doughty.

Like, are they going to let them hold Connor McDavid? Are they going to let them run interference in picks? How did all the drop penalty list?cdavid was first in the nhl i i'm really wondering if if the league is gonna really focus on making calls that mcdavid's been used to getting now because if mcdavid if they get on that power play so first in the nhl and drawn penalties with conor mcdavid in 82 games he drew 45 penalties so more than one every other game second in the nhl michael bunting and then behind not lately no not as many behind him is duboisois. Okay, how many with Bunting?

43. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Brad Marchand, and Brady Kachuk making the top five. Do you see a theme? Yeah. One of them, the one guy is an alien, and the rest are just a-holes. And a fascinating one right behind that is Elias Pettersson. All those guys I just mentioned.

So McDavid has taken 18, and then Bunting took 42. Dubois took 37. Marchand took 37. Kachuk took 39. So you said that Bunting drew 43? Drew 43, took 42. So he was plus one on the year after all those histrionics. How many in the last month has he drawn i feel like like i'm

really gonna watch with great anticipation to see how this dynamic now unfolds in the playoffs between referees and michael bunting yeah like there are some there there will be legitimate calls where he doesn't have to embellish or sell at all and it's like at least i would think that they would call those or are they completely i don't trust this guy so i'm not giving it to him it's a great question it's fascinating it's a it's a human case study it is no i agree this is very much like the rest are going to have to have a chat about how they call this um so the nhl's diving leaderboard i came across the other day i was just gonna say i'm sure the i'm sure the king's brass loves doughty saying that they're gonna smack mcdavid i'm sure the refs haven't paid attention to that at all so probably not

ideal to highlight that i wouldn't i don't think they play into that. They know they got to sell the rivalry. They got to sell the hate. They got to build up. It's nothing. Well, Sheldon Keefe last year said that there was going to be violence, and then they called eight penalties per game for seven games. So maybe it does have an effect.

I checked out one stat the other day at NHL dives. So the most dives, diving penalties in the NHL this year. First in the NHL was Tampa Bay. The guy who has the most diving penalties is Ross Colton. He got called three times this year for diving. Corey Perry has one and Nick Paul has one. The Leafs had three dives called on him. All Bunting?

No, actually, no. Bunting, Aston Reese, and Marner all had one. But yeah, so it's keep an eye on Ross Colton and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Didn't Marner just have one like two weeks ago or something? I actually don't remember. I don't remember it. No, don't remember it.

All right. Calgary? News around the league. Oh, yeah. Brad Tree Living will not be back as general manager parted ways his contract expired didn't take him long to announce that no he could not wait to part ways it sounds like no surprise there yeah clearly without any detail we all assume it was me or Daryl, but one of us has to go.

Well, the guy who owns the Flames, isn't he like an oil baron cowboy type? He chose the farmer. Like, I feel like it made sense, but Tree didn't want to be there for another Daryl Sutter season. Yeah, I'm sure it kind of helped the owner to decide when you one guy's got four million dollars on multi-years left and the other guy you don't have to pay a dime yeah you're right yeah yeah it's not exactly same consequences if you pick this guy or that guy so sure they've mutually agreed to part ways how do you like that just trade

math you could chuck hand out how much how many millions in contracts to wieger and uh huberdo i don't know what it was 100 and some 120 bye-bye the news is now don maloney steps in as uh president of hockey operations and interim general manager. Is that correct, Sammy? Is that what they announced? Yep. That's what they... That one, let me put my surprise face on.

None at all? No, it is. Oh, genuine. Genuine. Genuine surprise face on. Yeah. Because Don's been around a long time and sounds like a recycled job to me.

Like, really has dropped off since his heyday as a general manager. Yeah. And now to resurface like this surprises me. I had mentioned on this show, Craig Conroy and where was he in the mix could still be named general manager i i imagine so don was last with the coyotes yes yes and brad i think was with the coyotes i think they they didn't come together, maybe it was under Brad that Don came and followed him to Calgary.

Oh. Because, yeah, Don was a scout at one point, a pro scout or something like that. So, yeah, that is quite the leap. Now you're the president of the Flames here. Interim. Interim's always weird. Yeah. Hire a guy to make a short-term amount of decisions i don't think you have to

be a genius to figure out that the still the person with the most clout right now would be daryl sutter he'd have the most power in there would he not i guess i wonder how that affects how the players feel you know like it doesn't sound like i had an awesome time with old coach daryl they're probably like crap as soon as they saw true living go they're like well yeah guess that means got another year daryl so who's who's hiring the general manager i guess maloney hires i don't know yeah with a little help from daryl. I think Daryl's got input there, yeah. How can he not? Yeah, I guess. Right?

Yeah. Oh, fascinating times in Calgary. It is. His idea. More 2012 Kings, please. Yes. Other news around the NHL. Mark Stone's back healed.

He's back? And he's ready for game one. Unrelated to the salary cap, he is now ready to play for the Vegas Golden Knights. He says who? He hasn't played in three months. Says who? Everyone's tweeted. Who's everyone?

The Vegas B-Riders. He's in. It had nothing to do with the salary cap. Is that what they're saying? I'm saying. Oh, you're saying that. Okay. No, he's just healthy, Nick.

It's just pure coincidence. Yeah. What a miracle. Koocherov. They kooched him. It's just pure coincidence. Yeah. What a miracle. Kooch-a-rob. They kooched him. He got kooched. He got kooched. And now the...

I did write last week in my article in Toronto Star that the league will try and restructure the language to make it harder for gentlemen to LT down the stretch. Just get us luxury tax. It's the same thing. You're just going into a luxury tax. While you're going into a luxury tax, you're talking about really changing a key component in the CBA, and now you've got to

drag in the NHLPA, and that's a negotiation. Come on, Marty Walsh. You can do it, pal. You can do it. Not happening. Team Marty Walsh. At least it doesn't appear. Come on, Marty Walsh. You can do it, pal. You can do it. Not happening. Team Marty Walsh. At least it doesn't appear. Come on, Marty. Okay, just like that, as we gear up towards day one, Stanley Cup

playoffs, four games on tap. Check your local listings, where to find them. Our thanks to Brad May, Luke Fox, and Andrew Raycroft. Have a great night, everybody. Enjoy game one. We're back tomorrow.

Real Kipper and Born.