Real Kyper & Bourne - The Red (Hot) Wings with Darren McCarty + Amber's Canadian Check-In

Episode Date: January 15, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by former Detroit Red Wings and 4-time Stanley Cup Champion Darren McCarty (3:30) to chat about his former team's recent surge through the new calendar year, coaches holding players accountable, substantial changes implemented by new head coach Todd McLellan, how he views the current generation of hockey players and when to respond with dropping of the gloves. Then, Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada's David Amber (28:35) stops by to tee up Hockey Day in Canada, the chance to have all Canadian teams in the playoffs, Vancouver Canucks' trade deadline plans, Winnipeg Jets' top line, and the Montreal Canadiens' turnaround. 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.

Welcome into the national edition of the Real Kipper and Born show. I'm Nick Kiprios. He's Justin Born, Sammy McKee, Derek Brandale and Jake the Snake Schultz. And General Nick. And General? Oh, General Nick. Oh, Jake. and Jake the Snake Schultz. In general. In general? Yeah, oh, in general. Oh, Jake, Jake's, I don't know where Jake is today. Snaking it up.

He is. In a few minutes, we're gonna welcome in Darren McCarty, four-time Stanley Cup champion. But in the meantime, we're glad you're aboard this hour of real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by bet 365. Plenty going on on including my updated version on sportsnet.ca of potential trade players teams where it's all heading i gotta tell you your trade lists compared

to other people's trade lists are 10 times better. And I'll tell you why. I don't know if it's better. And I'll tell you why. I don't know. It is better. Why? Because anything can happen. I shouldn't say anything can happen.

Big names can get traded. The cap is about to move. It's a year where everyone is kind of the same and you could see teams taking a big swing. And even if it's a 10% chance that a star can move I'd like to hear that it's possible and I don't want to hear that Joel Edmondson is the top trade target I will draw on my good friend Doug McLean on I Don't know what's gonna happen, but I can just tell you what I'm hearing right so

In our world in my world. I don't know if you guys have noticed I just thought McDavid to Carolina was a crazy. I don't know if you've noticed but I Like to talk on the phone you are Yeah, you take more calls in a day than I do Total like here's not a guy that I like talking on the phone. I don't mind it. I just remember the last It's got to be hot JD Bunker's so on time I thought the phone but I don't mind it. I just remember the last It's got to be hot. I tried JD bunkers But it's got to be around the game For me, I can hold on to a conversation. You're not a small talk guy. You get me and anything else. It's like

Hurry up. I need an out. Where's my out? But yes, you do take a lot of phone calls So that's what this list is all about. You talk to as many people in as many markets and you just try to find out what the temperature of the water is. Is that why the wind chimes are going off every five minutes? Pretty much. They read your trade board.

Usually, this time of year is when you really start separating the pretenders from the contenders and then you really understand who the buyer and sellers are. This one's a little unique on a couple of different levels. One is where the Vancouver Canucks are with JT Miller and Patterson. And of course they're on my list as they are on many lists because the Vancouver Canucks have done nothing to curtail that both players are off limits. So that sets the temperature right away.

And the other one is that we have more teams involved. This is the time of year when they supposed to separate, yet we've got more teams involved in potential playoff positions than ever before. One of them of course now includes the Detroit Red Wings which means Darren McCarty is on our show to talk about it. Mac, how are you my friend? What's up Kipper? How you doing? I'll tell you what's up guys. Thanks for having me here on this absolutely freezing Wednesday afternoon. I'll tell you what's up for those of you watching. Your hair, bud.

What is it? Sick look. Yeah. How does it, how do you get there is my question. Okay, Keppri, you can appreciate this. When this is gone, it'll probably never come back. Right? So I decided, and I think I've had it red probably for a year now.

One of the many things I do, I got myself into a little bit of wrestling and, you know, with the band and stuff, performing. So hey, we're all feeling it in this town, but it's the power color and stuff like this. So it's easy to find me down at LCA. But it's just not the color. For me, it looks like the texture. I got to be honest with you, as I look at the top of your head, I would love to drop a Pro V1 in there and just hit a clean three iron.

Well, here's the truth, Kipper. You've never been able to hit a three iron. You know what? You know what? You know what? We all know that. Yes. Stick to your hybrid.

We've done too many charity golf events together, I think, me and you. Too much fun. Okay, so how much fun, how much fun are Red Wing fans having right now because they've waited a long time to see a team to move the needle and put themselves in a position. And yes, they are a handful of teams right now, including Ottawa, you know, whether or not you think Boston, Montreal, right. And yet a lot of people think Detroit's got the upper hand.

Where do you see things unfolding? Well, you know what? And I think you're a great guy. And this, you're gonna think this is a chert, but it's not. But you've played in a few spots. So you have some compassion for those clubs that you've been in the locker room that you've been in the locker room. You've been in the cities, you've known the fan base, you know, heck, you got a cup in

New York and stuff like this. So I think you and I were in the same places that you're saying what the heck's going on with the Rangers in the locker room. We were saying the same thing here in Detroit, pulling our hair out because what I saw the first part of the first half of the season is not redwing hockey especially coming off of what they did at the end of last year the exciting that they were playing bottom line is this it was just flat there was no emotion they're playing a dump and chase they're not hitting anybody and they're not skating so it was really tough for a while so

Stevie made the change. And when Steve Eisenman, when he talks, you listen. And when what he said is I had this lineup, the beginning of the year, a wild card contender if they played to their potential. Nobody's playing to their potential, let alone you, maybe Lucas Raymond, who got, who took a minute to get going and Dylan Larkin and Mo Sider and the evolution of Sider Edvison. But the whole point is bringing Todd McClellan in.

That's changed everything in the way that this team plays hockey. And it's the biggest move because of a couple things. And I love Derek Wollan and anybody who knows Newsy, he's such a couple things. And I love Derek Willon and anybody knows Newsy. He's such a great guy is the same. Put him in the same category as Dave Lewis, who is our assistant coach for many years and all the Stanley Cups, the 97, 98, no two. He was the buffer. There's always a buffer guy. And sometimes the transitions not there. What

you get with Todd McClellan is the guy who's coached in this league, right? Not my league, not your league kipper in this league for the past 16 years with different teams and has taken some teams that have struggled, have been young, have had some leadership getting ready to take that next level. And he's just hold them accountable. So the best thing for them, even though they had to take these last night, it was, it was tough to lose the San Jose

at home, especially after winning seven straight. But to me and you understand this also is the fact that the price, the best thing to happen to him because he's just reaming guys up and down, you know, calling them out and being accountable in a good way, in a good way. So these guys, they have the potential, you know, they're playing up to the caliber, you know, resurges to Patrick Kane's career or this season anyways. So there's a lot of things that have gone right.

And it's really started with the effort of the guys and they're playing fast. You have to play fast in NHL. Just as back in our day, you had to play physical. Mack, when you look at your day as a player and you think of the coaches you had, you know, tell me about accountability because we just did our Leafs hour. We were talking about Craig Berube coming in here and is going to be the accountability guy.

We're you know, he has been stern at the bench on the bench on times. We don't see guys getting benched as much. What to you constitutes effective accountability? Well, it doesn't have to do with like some guy it's messages. So the best coach of all time, Scotty Bowman, right? Who's not the greatest. The greatest coach is also a psychologist, right? So the fact that they have to know each player

and even more so today, what makes them tick. So some guys need to need their ice time to be manipulated. Some guys need a kick in the pants. Some guys need to be let known that they're letting other guys down. So I can't commend Craig Barube enough for the job he's done to bring that a certain culture in the way that that Leaf team plays. We're chasing the same thing in Toronto or in Detroit. We're behind Toronto. And I always said when the Toronto, Montreal, Detroit rivalries get good again, they're

at the top of the league. Then the NHL will be back. But the best, I think the thing with coaching also is you got to know these players and they're different players. They don't do what we used to do to get ready. I mean, the science is there and everything else. At the end of the day, it's about being accountable to each other and certain guys with sort of a little bit of grit and pedigree as Greg Berube and Tom McClellan are known to get that out of players.

I can't recall anyone from your Stanley Cup team needing a kick in the ass. Can you? Well, you know what it would be different like how Scottie would He'd mess around like, you know, like with Shandy. Oh, give us a couple Shandy stories You're not moving your feet or you're not tough enough for you know, like with Shandy. Oh, give us a couple Shandy stories. If you're not moving your feet or you're not tough enough or you know, like something like that would bother him with Sergey. It had to be him knowing that yo bro, we need you. Like that's that's a misnomer about like Sergey is that like he didn't like when people would say that it was like, because he would go look at the room. These guys are so great. You don't need me and to be like, ah, yeah, bro. You're best player in the world. Come on Let's go. So

But you know how it is skipper as you grow you learn to govern yourself and when your room governs yourself and accountability Then then all it is coaching his exes and ohs Brendan shanahan didn't mess with scottie's parking space. Did he at the rink? Did you hear anything? The Brendan Shanahan mess with Scottie Bowman's parking spot at the rink. Did you hear anything? They used to mess with each other all the time You know like little like little subtle. Yes like that throw it. Oh, yeah the parking lot stuff Stories are all true. You see

the quotes that Scott used to put out like sticks or sweaters to the seekers after curfew and they'd all sign my name. You know, so, so there is always mental warfare, but you know that from being in the locker room when it's that way or there's just like that little needling going on and when you could do It from the top like but our guys were smart enough like you said her but that you thought it was Shani Allegedly it was Shani, but you could never put it pin it down So the coach you know coach can only do so much of, right? McClellan comes in and you talked about how, Iseman said they thought they're a wild card team if everything went right.

And so maybe McClellan can get them to that. What's the next step from there? How does Iseman get them beyond just a wild card team? Well that's that first it has to start within, right? And it's playing up to your potential accountability what Tom McClellan came in and what he does now is he moves the left side between Joe Valeno and Marco Casper on Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond's line you know he tries to get some different match up some different speed and stuff like that what Detroit's really done good is capitalized on the power play now they're

penalty killing is is getting better but it's still any dude, 70% penalty kill the NHL is garbage and they're under that. So that's just commitment, but they're improving in that way. Um, to me, it comes down to obviously, you know, camp Talbot's got to carry the load, Alex Lyons been in and out of the lineup injured. They can get the goal tending, but that's the big question around here. Are they buyers or sellers at the deadline? I think as it gets closer, Steve Iserman will always entertain any operas and stuff like

that, but I don't know if there's somebody out there that gets them over the next level if they're gonna have to figure it out with them So what we'll have to wait and see it seemed that there was so much upside out of Ville who so when he was in st. Louis and and Stevie eiserman targeted him no question about it But in hindsight was was that a miss on Stevie's part? And yes, Cam Talbot is finding ways to get it done here right now. But, you know, where's the short and long term situation in goal? Yeah, we've always it's always been buffers, right? Until Kosar Augustine, you know, Trey Augustine, who backstopped

this second world junior who's a Michigan state sophomore and Sebastian Kosa that you know, well, he said when one of those guys secures the net that's time for the big run. So they got to figure out a way to do it, you know, whether it's camp Talbot Alex Lyon, but the thing that hurt who saw a lot of injuries. So he just hasn't been away. Sometimes guys, do you know this is is they don't bounce back from injuries the way that they want to or they should. It just seems that, uh, for whatever reason, he's, he's struggling right now. So I know for a fact that Tom McClellan doesn't care. Just

somebody's gotta be able to make the saves they're supposed to make. When you watch the NHL today, um, you know, how do you feel about where the game is at? Like, maybe I'll just leave it there. You seem like you want some thoughts. Listen, for all us, get off our lawn old timers or whatever, it's not my game. No, I had to relearn how to watch the game and watch it differently. The talent in the game, and watch it differently. The talent in the game, right? I just got the chance to see Macklin Celebrini live. That kid's a player, man. You don't hear that much about him, but the one thing that that I hear more than anything is dog, right? And some of these kids are coming out and they get the right direction. They come out with so much talent and skill. I think the frustrating

part is the individuality. You don't see it as much. You see more of a robotic game. But there still is excitement. I mean, what's old? What's old we got? 22 to catch grass? I mean, come on. I mean, that is absolutely incredible.

Right? Like the record, you never thought that it'd be broken. So it's an exciting game. You got to change the way the mentality. the So but but again, it's the fans like it and you know, it's exciting It's as I always say good bad right wrong a difference Gary Batman hockey And Patrick Kane's another guy that all these years we would have paid big money to go see and he's now finally enjoying the best stretch of His run as a Detroit Red Wing with I think 13 points in what seven or eight games?

Yeah and leaders and he seems re-invigorated just even like the pursuit on the puck and his skating and stuff like that. So I mean sometimes like it's one of these things that in the initial spot in the arm of a change, whether it's a trade or a coaching decision or something, you know, the honeymoon is sort of over, as you say. The Red Wings got a huge road trip and then they got to go to Western Canada. So the rubber meets the road. If they want to continue to be one of these teams that you guys talk about, which is nice, you have to talk about them now because you haven't all year. You're gonna have to get it done away from LCA.

You know, we haven't talked to them all year out of mercy for them, but now they found it. Thank you, appreciate that a lot. Now they're starting to hum a little bit. So we had a chat in our last hour, Max Domi gets hit by Matt Dumba, and you know, the play just kind of ends nothing happens there's a play with the Leafs where McCabe gets knocked out

unintentionally in a fight with Hathaway talking about retribution in the game and should guys have to answer for these sort of hits you know Kip you don't feel like I should always have to fight which is I'm with Mac just in terms of I got to watch the game differently now. Yeah, I think that's a great line, by the way. Yeah, you know, and it's true. But they put, you know, Borubi puts Ryan Reeves in the next game, they play Hathaway, I think in hopes of there being something there and still nothing happens.

Do you still think that there's there's room and a time and a place and there should be some answer? So that's a thank you for that Jason because here's the thing about I think kipper can relate having to watch it differently right is what we get mad at guys that play the physical role the guys that was sticking for the teammates were that is accountability right so the fact the only accountability it seems nowadays is to your girlfriend, your wife, whatever in your paycheck and you're fine. Guys don't, it's not as personal.

Why isn't it as personal? Well, all these guys know each other. They played with each other. They've been around each other. The hatred or the fire that we had growing up not knowing only by reputation and something to prove, right? That's lost. So I don't know if that will never, you'll never get beyond that.

Something has to be answered, something has to be done because to me, that's a culture thing. And when things like that don't happen, I think it's a bigger problem in the locker room or down the road when it really does matter in a playoff series, you know, when it does matter. Now there's a time and a place for everything. But yeah, there's certain things to the code of the game that I think have been tarnished and to

me like I said I don't longer get mad I just you know it's unfortunate so you never want anybody to get hurt. That edge though still can sell though right it can still it can hold an audience. Oh my god Kipper you ever see anybody sit down during a fight? Yeah or just or the buildup of one even if it doesn't happen, right? As long as it's authentic and real and the emotions aren't kind of forced. Like people can read a situation, it can hold, even if you don't end up with the big fight.

But it has to, it has, there's a certain amount of animosity that has to stay in our game Or else we're completely screwed I absolutely there's got to be this and it's a respect thing So, you know, it's like it's hard to explain To somebody i've been there, but I have I got to stick up for my guys because it's about this. It's about the jersey I got to stick up for my guys because it's about this it's about the Jersey

It's about the representation about you know The crests on the front not the name on the back and you and that you're all in it together And to me it just sort of takes away from if you want to talk about like people still enjoy fights I mean we played the Shorsie game Against the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs Shorzy game against the Sudbury-Bluberry Bulldogs. And I had to find out if those gyms, their beauties, they set the tone, me and gym one, Marastie. How recently was that? Yeah, like in the last month.

Like in the last day and so there's a right and a wrong way to do it also. Like back in our day, and you know this Kipper, because you and I used to be in the middle of like all the, all the grunt work and stuff like this. But the, but if Probie or Joey or name of heavyweight stepped out, they squared off on the drawer or whatever. It has the way to, okay, everybody go back and play.

And I don't know. It's, it's, it's not part of the game as much. And I just, what I hate to see that I'll reiterate again, it's the accountability of guys thinking that they can get away with certain hits or cheap shots or doing certain things like that and not having to answer the bell, right? The back in our day, the anticipation of death was worse than death itself and meeting the whoever that monster on the other bench was sitting there that you got to like, I'm gonna run this guy

and I'm gonna fight that guy, let's go. I can't believe you fought at 52, fought Marastie, that's crazy. Oh dude, that was so much fun. That was so much, like I said, it's not a it's not a hockey game It's an audition Hey, but like from love like and just we talk about Shorsie and we talk about that the hog why that works so well if you're ever around those guys

They are a hockey team. Yeah, they act like a hockey team. They chirp like a hockey. Oh, yeah It's real. It's so much fun They've really captured not only cinematically But in the essence of being around that was one of the most Fun things that I've done and I get to do a lot of fun stuff and that that I've done But that whole experience was awesome And that's why we all love the game of hockey Mac one more before I let you go And that's just the challenge to the Red Wings

and the Buffalo Sabres when they're up against the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions for a little love and attention here. But what's it like in Detroit watching the Lions these days? You know Kipper, it's as crazy as I can remember it being back in like 97 on the precipice of winning, you know, Stanley cups and stuff like this. And for anybody who has watched the Lions journey in the story is the authenticity and man to man. When you hear these guys talk about playing for each other. You feel it. They have this city as captive. If we had it at 10, they got it at 100. Wow. Right. And everybody living like

Ford field. If you turn on the game at eight 15 on Saturday night, we'll be absolutely electric. And if you've never been there for a game, I mean, it blows everything away. And, and as you know, from playing in some great barns, the energy of the people can be home field advantage. Yeah. Or Sammy would know that if he was sober when he went, Hey Mac, excellent stuff, man. Thanks for doing this. Anytime Anytime Kipper Borney. Thanks guys. He is out there and Here's to the Lava hockey for time brother Stanley Cup champion. He's a lot of fun. That's good stuff, man That's fantastic. I forgot that he fought Murasty. I'm like I want to write Murasty's book. It's his story is crazy

He's a fighter and obviously but Cardi's the fighter so and also scored a pretty nice goal for that against the Flyers against Ron Hextall toe drag in the middle cut it back to the back end and then the forehand you remember who a Finnish player can't remember I wouldn't be able to tell you but I've seen the clip a million times it's one of the like I can't imagine having that on film and film in that in that moment. Anyways I got two reads for you. Can we start? I got a new one today. Okay and it's four nations face-off related. It's time to get ready for the ultimate international showdown. The NHL four nation face-off from February 12th

to 20th, Canada, Finland, Sweden and the USA will face off in Montreal and Boston as the NHL's best player represents their countries on the world stage Rogers is a proud partner and a fan of Canada's team and they've got a special treat for you through their Beyond the Seat program Rogers is giving you a chance when a VIP trip to To the four nations face-off. That's right Four lucky winners will score a pair of tickets plus travel and accommodation with a new with a new winner selected every week until February 7th one in head to rogers.com For nation face-off for your chance to win. So I'll be entering that you read that like you were in the witness protection program

Why because you completely covered your face. I was i'll do it again I didn't hold mine up the amount of if I ever held mine up my doodle session Do you know people like send me notes saying like reading your doodle life. I guess Yeah, I doodle too. I got some doodles going on here. I can't not yeah and game time It's game time presented by bet 365 visit the app for the stars and find out why it's never ordinary at bet 365 That's when 18 plus on terror only please play responsibly It's a very

Light night on the ice tonight and God I gave out some picks yesterday that were horrendous That 365 loves me as a guy that I'm just making them all as my I got like two or three tweets being like you're The worst at this should we not keep a record no If you kept the record I honestly bet you I've made bet 365 people went off my picks a million dollars the last two years No, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Justin Bourne and our next guest right David Amber will be covering today on national television with guys and great panel tonight In Minnesota the Oilers are pretty heavy favorites makes sense. No Capri's of no Spurgeon favor favor, so it's a tough one for the Minnesota wild but any chance to watch Rick David's great minus 225 for the Oilers Plus 185 for the Minnesota wild on the money line and the other game tonight

Starting at 6 p.m. In Buffalo why not sure the Buffalo Sabres are hosting the Carolina Hurricanes You're right Buffalo Sabres gonna have a tough time getting much Chad on the old WGR down there There plus 160 on the Moneyline. Carolinas minus 190. I'm sure there's not a lot of time to people calling in on the old Sabres line to give their takes when the bills are going in. I think so. So yeah, big weekend.

I think the Oilers might get Ekholm back tonight. Yeah, the puck line's not a terrible bet on Ekholm. If you wanted to go minus one and a half for the Oilers tonight, it's plus 110. So plus money on a good team there and That was game time presented by bet three six five is the app for latest odds and find out why it's never ordinary at bet Three six five must be 19 plus Ontario only please play responsibly It's the third and four nights for Minnesota to so oh When I go to break we got David Amber do

Yeah, and he's coming in here He's waiting up a door. Yes Our version of the Rock next when we return to real kipper and born Get smarter when you listen to hockey talk the hockey PDO cast with Demetri Filipovich Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, let's welcome everyone in for the national hour of the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on

Sportsnet 615 Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour Real Kipper and Bouran brought to you by bet 365 as promised, we deliver. Let's welcome in. Pizza, pizza. Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet host. Does it all here at the network. It's got a fresh haircut too.

David Amber. Looking good, yeah. You should have gone with the McCarty cut. They took a lot off. It wasn't much. Oh no. Thanks should have gone with the McCarty cut. They took a lot off. Wasn't much. Oh no. Thanks for joining us because you're going to be real busy real soon. Why are you on our show?

Why are you not packing for Kenmore, Alberta for hockey day in Canada Saturday? We're pumped. That's a big day. Well, we got tonight. We have Oilers wild first tonight. Our pre-game is at 8 o'clock and 8.30 Eastern or maybe 8 8.40 Eastern's gonna be puck drop and that's gonna be an interesting one. The top player in the league right now in Leon Dreisaitl, he's been just phenomenal. So we're pumped up for that and then tomorrow morning taking off to Canmore.

And hockey day is a big day, right? It's 12 hours of coverage, we have all seven Canadian teams in action. Leafs in Montreal, Winnipeg-Calgary, Ottawa's taking on Boston, which is actually a very important game if you look at the standings. And of course, the Nightcaps admitted to Vancouver. I'm a bit concerned, I'll be honest guys, because Elliot Friedman's out there with Kevin Bixsa and they're doing something called biathlon,

which is like where you cross country ski. Shoot and ski? Yeah, they're doing that and you guys. He's gonna shoot Elliot. Well. You know Kevin's gonna shoot Elliot. But they're giving that and you guys he's gonna shoot Elliot well Kevin's gonna shoot Elliot but they're giving Elliot a gun and we know what's more likely that he accidentally shoots Kevin yeah that's you listen we work with them and we get those mic packs that go on our on our belt yeah every dual leaf regional show doesn't it yeah on the floor every night inevitably

drops the mic pack what's gonna happen he has a gun in his hand that's what I'm concerned yeah well here's a question why Why? You know, like the Olympics, it's like every time I watch that event in the Olympics, I'm like, why is this an event? I think it's the oldest traditional Olympic event. Right. But it's probably aged out a little bit. I didn't think anyone did it recreationally. Didn't Elliot earlier in his career, like, ride a camel or something in Arizona?

Shane Doane rode a horse in it, it was awesome. It was great. And he was a camel. No, maybe, I don't know what he rode. And whatever he rode, he did it with hushpuppies on. Hey, give it up to Elliot though, like he'll put himself out there. Full willingness.

He said to me, or actually he said on Matt Marchese, he said, yeah, I've been cross country skied in 40 years, I'm gonna put in a practice session. I'm like, wow, that's some guts. So over the years we've watched Ron McLean like on skates, you know, everywhere over 12 and a half hours. What about your role, what do you got planned? Well, Ron's still gonna be obviously headlining the coverage

and we're gonna bring in a lot of local luminaries in the Canmore area and that's a great backdrop. It's the 25th anniversary of it. So Ron will give the great, you know, history of all the, you know, the Canmore Eagles, which is their Alberta Junior Hockey Club. And I'm sure there'll be a lot of guests appearing throughout the day. And my role is to sort of offset Ron and I'm gonna be doing sort of intermissions. The Ottawa Boston games in the afternoon. Jennifer Baudrill and I will be doing the intermissions there and Ron's on location down at the the Canmore Golf and curling club, which supposed to be a beautiful venue

They have this beautiful ice sheet an incredible backdrop the mountains and everything else and while Ron's out there doing that I'll be Hosting the panel and discussing the games with Kevin Kelly Elliott, you know sort of between periods and Jennifer, so that's basically it. And then the night game, I'll be doing the host night game. They start after 10 hours, they say, all right, Ron, you've earned your money and more at this day.

And listen, Ron's the only one who could do that day and give it the justice it deserves. And he's also remember from Red Deer, so he's kind of back in his own old stomping grounds. So it's exciting for him. 25th anniversary, exciting for us. It'll be a fun day. Make sure you catch Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada.

As David just said, 12 and a half hours marathon, seven teams in action around the country, and it all starts at 1 p.m. Eastern. And what are you doing? You need to go to the bathroom out there. That's a good question. I'm gonna have snow pants on, so you won't know what's going on.

It's gonna be like minus 15, or it's gonna be cold. It'll be really cold. It'll feel very, you know, a touch of Canadiana. But it's good, you know, it's a day to celebrate the game, and I should mention this. We're broadcasting Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday in nine different languages. So I mean, this is the one thing thing hockey galvanizes communities together right new kick new Canadians old Canadians

Whatever the case may be right they have it in they don't have it in Greek, but they do have a they you know I'm working on it. Yeah, you get your mom or dad to call the game. I'm sure they'd awesome simulcast I just know the bad words Check in with you after this segment. Well, thanks for making time. I know it's going to be a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you. In the meantime, you're awesome.

Every time you come on our show, we get a little feel for what's going on across the country. Let's start here in Toronto because it's a five game winning streak within seven days feeling like it's a distant memory. And the Leafs now on a current three game losing streak. What's the difference between what you saw eight games ago and what you've seen in the past seven days?

One thing I noticed is during the five game winning streak, those games were on Sportsnet. I also noticed that. Where was last night's game? No, listen, we had the Flyers wins, and we had the Islanders wins, and they weren't pretty wins. I mean, they were wins, and they were getting just enough done

to beat some of the bottom feeders in the Eastern Conference. And let's face facts. Who have they faced in the last three games, right? Carolina, a very good team who was coming off a loss themselves. Dallas, who's now 9-1 and won in their last 11 and Vancouver and Vancouver stumbled of late, but there's still we consider them, you know a top tier team or one of the upper echelon teams I think what we've noticed maybe with the Leafs guys and you guys touched on this in your first hour you guys touched on

Most the issues here There's probably a lack of depth as far as real true offensive weapons and a lack of depth on the blue line, which has been revealed with this injury to Jake McCabe, which you outlined when we did Hockey Central last night, Justin. I mean, they're a very good team when they're all healthy, but they still have these deficiencies.

And it's funny, we've talked at great lengths about how great Stolarz and Wall have been, and that's true, but Wall in the last two starts has looked pretty pedestrian. And maybe it's because he's been the steady feeding of games as opposed to playing a little bit less and having Stolarz there to offset it. So, you know, I'm simplifying things,

but I do think you guys touched on Nylander and the fact he is not producing the top line. And let's go back to Carolina. What, minus 17 Marner, Matthews, and Knives? Nylander and the fact he is not producing the top line. And let's go back to Carolina. What minus 17 Marner, Matthews and Nyes. Nylander is not producing. We saw Tavares got injured today in practice. Like there's, there's a legitimate concern there. You want to have a bit more depth scoring, a bit more depth defensively.

And that's something I'm sure Brad Trelevian will try to address before the Tre deadline. For sure. And so, you know, when you zoom out beyond Toronto and talk, looking at these Canadian teams, it's a good day for hockey day in Canada. The timing is right as for the first time, well, it's not quite every Canadian team inside playoffs, but all Canadian teams are inside the top 18. And I want to say the last time that happened, that all seven teams made playoffs was 1986. We're on the cusp of it. There's a couple teams

at the top of divisions. Edmonton's right there as well. How do you handicap the odds of a Canadian team of this being the year where we get a playoff run, a cup final run, or even every team in? How do you like their odds? Well, one thing I'll say is we're past the midway point of the season now, and to have all seven Canadian teams

playing relevant hockey, I'm not sure any of us would have bet on that in the beginning of the season. So I think that's something in itself. The likelihood of all seven teams making the playoffs, you're asking a lot, right? I mean, look at the Western Conference, for Calgary and Vancouver to make it, so who's coming out? Is Colorado coming out?

Is LA coming out? Right, is Minnesota gonna have that kind of a deep dive? You're asking a lot for both Canadian teams, Vancouver and Calgary, to be able to make the postseason this year. In the Eastern Conference, it's a bit more of a crapshoot. I mean, I don't know, I keep waiting for the bubble, this new little bubble with Montreal to burst,

but they are playing disciplined hockey. They're finding balance up and down their lineup. They have these opportunistic players. I mean, Nick Suzuki in overtime's as good as you get in overtime, right? He's just one of those clutch guys. Linais been a perfect fit for them, even though he's been mostly a power play assassin. He's scored an even strength goal last night, his first of the 10. And they're getting great goal-tenning. You know, to handicap how many Canadian teams, I think realistically five is a pretty fair number.

We would take that here. We would take that here. Of course, that would be happy. We've had zero before. Yeah. And six, I think, would be like a pretty fair number. We would take that here. We would take that here. Or we'd had zero before. Yeah. And six I think would be like a cherry on top. You said zero one year? Second year of the TV deal here at Rogers. It's not a single Canadian teammate.

You remember it, Nick. It was a tough time. I don't even think they sent us to the final. No. Just like forget it. Canada's out. I think we came close to just canceling. Oh, yeah. Go to colored bars. I mean just like forget it. Canada's out. We came close to just canceling.

I mean, it's tough, though. I mean, Canadian teams. Yeah, you need Canadian teams. And here's the thing. 10 years ago, we talked a little bit about 1993. As these years of progress, 11 years ago, we've been progressing like 99.3 is a long time ago. I was in university you were probably hair Yeah, I mean so it's been a long long time and you won the cup the fall think about how long ago you won the Stanley Cup Right My memories are in black and white In 1993 is a long time and I think I maybe I overreach here because when I do speak to specific fans of teams like, you know Sam wouldn't say yeah

I hope the Montreal Canadians win the cup. It's Leafs or busts for yeah I get him in the background its Leafs or busts for lots of fans or its Canucks or busts for some fans But I do think there's a group of fans in the country myself included Just like to see a Canadian team win it and whatever fan base that is get to celebrate a moment We haven't seen in 30 plus years. You're watching and listening to David Amber, studio host, Hockey Night in Canada, NHL on Sportsnet. So I don't want to bury the lead of Kyle Connors' hat trick last night. But does that loss last night to Vancouver, in your opinion, speed anything up when it comes to maybe Jimmy Rutherford, Patrick Alveen and their thought

process moving forward. Yeah, I very well could. The whole road trip. And it was a really tough road trip, right? Started in Montreal, Carolina, Washington, Toronto and Winnipeg, right? That's a murderers row. It's a pretty tough road trip and they only won one of those five games. Everything went right for the Vancouver Canucks last year, fair to say.

Everything Tocket did, he got guys like, whether it was Hoaglander, or whether it was Joshua or Garland having career years, he had a Norris winner. Everything went right and this year it seems like, and it's not a Tocket thing, nothing's changed in his approach to the game, but it just all the injuries all the drama, right? They've only had Demko start nine games this year kept like it's hard to win in those circumstances And I wonder how much of it Patrick Alveen and Jimmy Rutherford are saying Is circumstantial and if we get everyone healthy we got Roenick back last night and Hughes and Petters and we're finally getting our guys together You know, we did the game last Wednesday.

It was the 41st game of the year, so the exact midway point. It was the fifth time all year that they've had Hughes, Pederson, Dempko, Miller in the lineup at the same game. Fifth time out of 41 games. So if I'm Alveen and I'm that management group, I'm at least taking the time right now to really properly assess. You don't need to do anything knee-jerk. You have until March 7th.

But you have to ask yourself, is it the drama of this group and they just can't coexist? Or was it injuries and circumstantial things that maybe they could find that magic again? And that's a big question. Yeah, you know, they've been a surprise in a negative way. The Flames, the, you know, Canadian Z teams have been a surprise in a positive way.

To me, Edmonton has been exactly what we expected them to be. One of the best teams in the league. Last year they go to the Cup Final. Do you expect them to be any different than last year? Are they gonna make changes to Skinner? Are they gonna add D? Because right now it feels like they're good enough to get back to the Cup Final doing nothing.

I mean, I really believe in the Soilers team. Yeah, I mean, they thought believe in the Zoilers team. Yeah, I mean, they thought they fortified their scoring balance. Ardvidsson, now Skinner, I believe is going to be a healthy scratch tonight. You know, but they did add some pieces. They obviously retained Corey Perry and a few other guys. Do I think they miss a little, you know, Holloway, Warren Fogel, Broberg? I do think they miss a little bit of that youth, a little bit of that speed. I wouldn't sleep on Edmonton. I don't think they're going to sit still.

I think they're going to do something. I think it'd be behoove them to sort of just say we've got this group and let's go. I think they're feeling more and more comfortable with Skinner. I was having this conversation with Luke Gastic in studio a few days ago and he was remarking to me like Skinner has really turned the corner. They had that horrible first month and he's corrected himself. He had the shutout against LA last game. Pickard's in that tonight.

Goaltending hasn't been a huge issue but I'm sure they'd love to add another defenseman. Kulak and Nurse together has worked okay but I think they'd probably want to take some of the heat off at home and at home is a game time decision tonight. We're not even sure if he's in the lineup tonight. I think Edmonton's going to do, but I think they've positioned themselves quite nicely like they did a year ago, and they're ready to do a four round run, as we saw last year.

Is there a better line in the NHL right now than Kyle Conner, Mark Shifely, and Elardi? What do you guys think? Oh my God, they looked awfully good last night. Offhand, tough to think of one. I mean, they're dying. They're McKinnon They're yeah, I mean McKinnon and ranton is always something and obviously when Tampa when you get Kucha Robin point together There's some fun things there. But yeah, I would say they've been probably the best line and Gabe Velarde

He stays healthy. He's always been this kind of point-per-game producing guys He's always gotten injured gotten injured at the at the worst time if he can stay healthy That Jets team look really like a force right now. Yeah. Just a reminder, I've got my trade board updated today on sportsnets.ca. I also talk about the Winnipeg Jets and their thought process,

if they would be interested in another centerman. Who's the top of your trade board? would be interested in another center man if the top of your tree. We're Carolina for me and Martin and they cash. Yeah, he's really interesting because he can be a guy that Carolina can dangle to a Vancouver Canucks to a Colorado and say listen, if you don't have any plans on ranting in Or you want to move JT Miller you can have this guy back and he's got another year Next season at six point five before you got to talk about ten or eleven million dollars to resign them And remember when there was all that kerfuffle about purse Pederson trying to sign his contract extension

What team was he linked to? He was linked in fact I think what kind of got them over the hump was we might have something brewing here in Carolina and then Pederson signed his deal. And imagine if it was Nateshess for Pederson or Nateshess Plus for Pederson. I also have on the board, if Shifely and Lowry hold, if Lowry holds that second spot and plays much like

a Jordan Stahl does in Carolina, Winnipeg could be in play for a third centerman, i.e. Brock Nelson. I mean, it makes a lot of sense. Winnipeg has had some success at the deadline. Last year they got Monahan, was it? To Foley? A couple years ago, yeah. But you know, Brock Nelson would probably be maybe a small step up for them in that spot

And I think he's a big step do ya yeah, yeah, he's a he's legit. He's I think a six-time 30 goal scorer He's just a guy you know what you're getting with him Yeah, what remains to be seen though is like Winnipeg in the second half of the year for many years has started the nose dive It's gotten a bit worse and thenllebuck let them down playoffs last year even though he said he didn't play poorly. So I guess it's like, can Hellebuck find it? Can you have a guy in his 30s find it and become, you know, we're talking about him for heart trophy on the show last night, and everything kind of hinges. They need to have him be the best player in the game most nights.

And he has been this year. Yeah. I mean, I think he's he has put himself right there in that Hart Trophy conversation. I wouldn't go as far as to say he let them down. I think it was, you know, it was kind of shocking. They won that game, the game won, I want to say eight-six, and I think maybe in their minds, Winnipeg did, they were like, okay, we can run and gun with Colorado,

and then Colorado just stomp them into the ground. Something just went, you Bonas probably could speak to this much better than I can, but Hellebuck was part of it, but it was the whole team just seemed to cave in under the rest of going up against McCarr and Ranton and McKinnon. And that's a team you want to take into the trenches.

That's not a team you want to be on the track meet with. But yeah, that went a big team. You talked about the promise and hope of a cup coming to Canada. They might be the best Bet right now certainly Edmonton a lot of people I think would say they're right there But I love it and you said this yesterday the Calgary Flames might be the hardest team to play against they just their formulas just Will and tenacity just pure heart and hustle out there. That Ryan Huska's gotta be in the conversation for the Jack Adams, I would think.

Ottawa Senators, we all kind of thought, okay, waiting, waiting, waiting. Now they're in a position where, I don't know if it's that big a surprise, although, you know, give Elliott credit, he's got them locked in for one of the playoff spots. I picked him too, like preseason. I thought that was maybe blind hope more than anything.

So most people saw that coming, but did anybody see Montreal now on the run that they've had and being in a similar position for a wild card spot? Listen, if I'd said to you guys at the beginning of the year, Montreal will either make the playoffs or finish dead last in the NHL. You gotta bet on one or the other.

What are you betting on? Yeah, it's dead last. And I would have said the same. And that's not a disrespect, but it's just I figured there was certainly another year of building and maturation. There were so many question marks. I couldn't have predicted Lane Hudson being this player. Lane Hudson's been really, and it's funny, there was a lot of razzle dazzle, and I've

heard on your show, and I know you weren't as impressed. But he wasn't producing with the razzle dazzle. Now he's producing with the razzle dazzdazzle. Yes such boys with the puck. He's well, he's he's got the Quinn Hughes kale macar waterbug He can face you he can he can face you square and still have the option to go left or right which Nobody can really pull that off except the guys like Hughes and McCarr. He's got that it factor.

He does. He does. And you know, Marten San Luis, and it's funny, people were calling for his job three, four weeks ago. The guys like playing for him. I think they believe in what he's saying. And it just maybe took some time to like, how do we play the way he's asking us to play? How do we physically do what he's asking us to play? How do we physically do what he's asking us to do?

It's been fun to watch. This Cole Caulfield's gonna be their first 40 goal scorer since Vinny Damn Foose, right? Like, he's that good. Nick Suzuki, they put the C on him at a young age and some people questioned and I think that's paying off. This Mike Matheson, I don't wanna overstretch here but that goal he scored last night was, that's a-

I don't overstretch but he's Bobby Orr. Yeah. That's how I play with confidence, right? It's been fun to watch and they're getting great goal-tenning. I won't be shocked. Listen, I think Binnington is going to get the first run at the Four Nations for Canada, but I won't be shocked. We kept saying, well, Montalvo is just a lip service.

Montalvo is playing really well, guys. Really well. He's legit. I believe in him. And he, you know what? The first four games and the first two Canadian games versus Sweden and the US are at the Bell Center. You know who knows that ranked the best of anyone?

You don't make your decision just based on that, but listen. If all things are equal, it might be a tiebreaker. If all things are equal, you know, Sam Malan-Tempo gives Canada's good shot to win a game as Hill or Binnington. He's played that well, and that's a big part of the reason for their success. It's been fun to watch, so who knows how long they'll hold it

but I didn't see that, I had no vision of this happening. Meanwhile, Logan Thompson is prime Martin Berter right now but we'll just pretend that that's not happening. In the meantime, just a toothbrush, one change of underwear and you're good to go. Canmore, Alberta. It all starts Saturday, 1 PM Eastern. David Amber, Ron McLean, Hockey Day in Canada is going to be great.

The crew is going to be there. And then it tees up a terrific matchup. Follow your favorite game. And then we're back here on Monday to discuss it all. Hey, David, great stuff, man. Big week for the Leafs, by the way, right? You got Sheldon Keefe on Thursday, and then Montreal on Saturday.

And if they don't beat Sheldon Keefe on Thursday, they're going to be playing that hockey game in Canada on a four-game lose streak in that role. The stakes will be much higher. But thanks for having me, fellas. All right, don't go away. It's Justin Bourne all night on the network. Enjoy it, everybody.

We're back tomorrow on The real Kipper and Bourne show