Real Kyper & Bourne - The Rise of No-Move Clauses + Robert Thomas to the Sabres?

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne start the second hour with a trip to the rumour mill as the Islanders lock in on Connor Garland and Tyler Myers from the Canucks, and the Sabres close in on Robert Thomas. Former NHL defenceman Jason Demers (4:07) shares his thoughts on Thomas' fit in Buffalo, the Leafs' trajectory, the Oilers' standing in the Pacific, the rise of no-trade clauses across the league, and the Stars' decision to make Jason Robertson available. Later, Nick and Justin regroup with Sam McKee to discuss where Nazem Kadri might land, how interested teams will be in Elias Pettersson's upside, and how teams will navigate around the newly patched LTIR loophole. 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 Hour, the Real Kipperman Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet. Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver. Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. And streaming always on Sportsnet. Can't catch us live, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, where we appreciate a thumbs up. Always available. This hour of Real Kippenborn brought to you by Bet365.

In a few minutes, we'll welcome in. Jason Demers. Does a great job former NHLer. And that job is on the NHL Network as one of the first. of their key analysts. In the meantime, we keep an eye on the clock. We keep an eye on our phones, the internet, see if anything comes down the pike, lots of talk, lots of rumblings. J.B., where do you want to start, my friend? Conner Garland potentially getting traded to the New York Islanders. I don't have anything on that being official, but that is the rumor online. He is a moment.

He is an islander type of guy, isn't he? He's a pro. He's a little undersized with a huge heart. Yes. He's, he very much fits what they are. You know, maybe you worry about the age or the term of that deal. Like he, no trade protection deal hasn't started yet, six times six million. But he just, he is a lot of things that I love. I love the way he plays. He's so smart. He works so hard. He gets in guys faces. Um, you know, there are other players for the Islanders that maybe I would love more. I think Kyru is a really good fit for them. You know, a speedy winger with some term and age. I think they could use something like that. but I like Garland a lot. The Tyler Myers addition to that is also being rumored and that I'm not sure about. I'm not sure how that works. Myers still weighing out his options in a total no move clause situation

where I think he's trying to weigh out his options. Detroit is still there as far as I've heard unless Detroit goes in another direction and closes that door. I think it remains open for Myers as well. I'd seen Dallas as well as the potential Myers destination. Well, we saw the demand on right-handed defensemen. Assumption I mentioned that in the first hour, five or six teams looking for that.

Edmonton Oilers scheduled to play the Ottawa Senators tonight. I haven't heard whether or not Connor Murphy will be in the lineup or not, but they'll try to get that guy in as fast as possible, I'm sure. You would think so. curious to see, you know, what else they do, what else they can do? I guess they got to move Monjipani before they can do anything. Well, he cleared waivers. They'll move 1.5, I think.

1.5? I think it's 1.15. 1.15, which isn't a ton. No, they need to get rid of them properly. And I think they will. They won't have any problem with the deadline finding someone to take them. You think maybe that he, if they were going to, somebody was going to take them, they probably would have done it already?

You know, the least tape a fourth to him or something Or, you know, some way to just say, Hey, take this money for the rest of the year and next. He's, he's fine. He's not terrible. He's had a pretty good run of games here. So, yeah, that's one move looking out for. The Thomas one, too, seems to be loom.

Thomas heating up to Buffalo. That one seems likely. The one thing that you had mentioned, I think Buchagros had tweeted that if that were to happen, one of the potential names in play is Owen Power. You know, obviously, six foot six, young guy, offensive upside, plays down the line up a bit for them. Buffalo needs to get rid of a defenseman. Yeah.

So that is totally possible. Powers, you know, if I'm St. Louis, you're kind of betting on, can this guy hit, you know, is it first round pick, not that their first overall pick. Can he get to the level? I don't know where his total upside is. I do know that he's playing a lot better now than probably a lot. first 100 games. Yeah. So I just know you go to Buffalo's fancy stats.

The one thing they don't do well is defend. And I think power is not awesome at that yet. All right, as promised, we deliver. Jason DeMeres joins us from the NHL Network, former National Hockey Leagueer, 700 games played with the shark, stars, Panthers, coyotes, hoilers, you name it. How are you, my friend? Well, I'm not Noel anymore, so I got out, guys.

That's awesome. Good to see you. Now I'm just, I'm blurry, but I thought. I thought I'd give a cool background this time for you. We love it. Is your phone as quiet as mine right now? It seems like it. It's eerily quiet.

Listen, I'm, the good thing is, is I ain't no insider. No, but you are an insider. You were in, it's. I was. I was inside the room. But, but I, I like to, I don't know, I like to kind of, I still love being a fan and enjoying and watching Elliott Friedman do what he does and all these other analysts and and but yeah we have some our NHL network

chat has been kind of buzzin. We heard the news about Robert Thomas potentially going to Buffalo. So we're all like, ooh. How do you how do you see that fit, Jason? I think, listen, I think if depending on what you're giving back, you know, I heard I heard power would be going back. So that's an interesting one. I know Michael Kessering is there. He would probably jump up and maybe that would mean if Owen Powers going to

the other way that they're probably looking to bring in another defenseman. Maybe Yarmah wouldn't be done and they'd look to bring in, let's say, Rasmus Rinalin or something like that to kind of shore up the back end with a more of a traditional righty-lefty. But Robert Thomas is a 200-foot centerman. And I think if you throw him in that lineup with what they already have, I mean, it's one of the best, if not the best forward groups in the NHL, I think. And especially at the center position, you know, Ryan McLeod's having an incredible year. and I think adding Robert Thomas at that piece only strengths

and I think they'd just be so so strong down the middle and in an Atlantic division with other than I'd say Tampa Bay who's consistently been the best team in the NHL I would kind of have them up there with Detroit maybe better than Detroit. It totally changes the look of their team if they're able to make something. See, this is the thing that has gone wrong for Buffalo

for so many years is that when you're good and your team buys and you get these assets, Like you're supposed to fill in around this eventually. And, you know, this is one of the reasons we talked with the Leafs in the last hour where you're starting to get left behind. You're really going to get left behind as these teams become buyers at the deadline. Yeah, I mean, if we're going to the Leafs, I mean, I watched that game last night between them and Philly. And if if you're a GM and you don't think both those teams are sellers in some capacity, I mean, you're kidding yourself. That was a pillow fight and nothing against the guys out there.

I just don't think they have what it takes to make it to the playoffs. And even if they do make it to the playoffs, what's the point to get ousted in the first round in four games or maybe win one in five? And I understand that you're trying to do right by the fan base for Toronto maybe. And they're the longest, you know, they have the longest active streak of making the playoffs. But I think it's time. They look slow. They need to get younger.

They need to refill kind of their prospect pool. And I just think it's, it's, we kind of all got to look in the mirror and say, they attempted something with bringing in Nick Waugh. and, you know, Lotton and OEL, and they tried to kind of get this veteran heavy team. And it just, they, they ran into a slew of injuries. Their goaltenders, which had great years last year, were both injured at different times.

They weren't able to get their footing. And it's like they just, they came out of the break listless. Like they don't look like they have anything. And it's, it's, if I'm a GM or if I'm tree there, I'm like, all right, it's time to kind of see what we can't get prospect wise. because they don't have the best prospect pool in the NHL, and they need to refill a lot. So I'm like, no better time than now.

If you wait, if you wait another year, to your point, I mean, the gap just widens and it continually widens. Like, you got to read, you got to, you got to think of the organization over the next five to 10 years, not just next year. You know, Jason, if we were to go back at the beginning of the season and start who's going to make and who's not. And today we woke up and we see the likes of, of the Rangers and the Leafs and Florida.

St. Louis, I had picked as a team to win the Stanley Cup based on what I saw against Winnipeg within a second of beating them. Where do we rank the Edmonton Oilers on this list of disappointments? Aren't they just so much fun to watch and criticize and support? Listen, I think they took the step in the right direction.

They went in. They tried to address the goalie position. I don't think they did it in the right way, but they tried to. It didn't really work out. So now they went to the second best thing, which is their decor. I think Connor Murphy is a big upgrade on the right side for them. I think he's going to help. I think I would keep trying to find whatever you can find if I'm Edmonton.

Because, again, I think I was on with you guys earlier in the season. And it's like when Connor signs that deal, the clock's ticking. And you should be swinging for the fences. And if this team's bad for the next 10 years, but they win a cup with Connor because of what they do now, I think it's worth it. And if you ask anybody in Edmonton, they take that, you know, nine times out of 10.

So I'd like to see them, they keep talking about getting a scoring winger. But I think decor, decor, decor, decor. And if there's something out there in the goaltending position like Binnington, that you can maybe finagle, I think you take that shot. but I think it's got to be decor. They got to get something so solid as a unit of six with two extras that you can plug in, a seven, eight that can veteran guys

that can come in at a moment's notice and fill that void because that's what you need for this team to go in a long run. And I just think that's been their Achilles Hill all season long. And they're going to score goals. Connor and Leon are going to get you goals. Zach Hyman's going to get you goals.

One way or another, they're going to at least get to a game. So you just need to figure out how to get under two or stay within that realm. And I think it's D-Corps and then, you know, goaltender. But they tried it and it hasn't panned out yet. But who knows?

Edmonton has a way of surprising us. And it will be in the, we'll be calling the series from Edmonton in the Stanley Cup finals. And we'll all be wondering how the hell did that happen with a lot, pulled it out somehow again. Yeah, you talk about pillow fights. That division is why. Who's going to win it?

So you got, Edmonton's by DeV, Seattle? Go Utah? Who wants it? I mean, who would win the Pacific? I mean, right now it's Anaheim to me is the team that's kind of the most exciting that I would, I had them making the playoffs this year. I didn't think they'd be within a stone's throw of first in the Pacific, but Vegas,

Vegas can't find a goalie. And I really, really doubt that Kelly McCriman is not going to address that position and go get somebody. And I would be shocked. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if like, Finnington ends up in Vegas. And we have heard some people talking about that on Twitter. I would not be surprised one Iota if he ends up there because, you know, they have a good

enough team and their structure. They just gotten sub-900 goaltending from everybody and they can't find anybody to be consistent. And so I could see that happening. And other than that, I think Anaheim is streaky enough to maybe do something crazy and finish first. And I love what they got, you know, in net and Dostal. I mean, Dostal is really emerging as a bona fide number one.

And yeah, I like what Q's got going there in Anaheim. And they could sneak into that first spot if Vegas doesn't address the goaltending position. Yeah, it also feels like it's just like, hey, Oilers, like, wake up. Like, it is there for the taking, you know, go play Seattle in the first round. That seems like an option for them. One of the future thoughts on the evolution of no trade clauses in the NHL over your career from maybe, you know, where they were. then because it felt like to me very few players got them and they were very meaningful early on now i look at like the leafs roster and they had trouble moving like david camp

because he had one like everyone has a no trade clause now and everyone gets approached the team goes to them all the time and says hey you know sorry about your no trade clause we want to trade you how do you feel about how this is all worked should it be okay to ask these guys should you give so many out yeah i you know my thought on that is always like they can give you a no trade clause but if they want to trade you, they'll find a way to make you uncomfortable enough to waive it. If they really want to get you to wave that, you know,

a la Mitch Marner, you know, they'll get you to move it. I had a modified no trade. I don't know how the hell I got it. And it ended up working out in my favor. But I really do think that, like,

if you're willing to give a guy that, that's on you, that's on an organization, it's not on the player. It's a one time I'll, you know, now if he doesn't, that player doesn't live up to that,

I think you have every right to try to get him to waive it because it is kind of a two-way street. You're signing him thinking like you're going to be a guy that we're never going to think to move and you're going to be such an integral part of this organization that if we do decide to move you, we're going to talk to you and we have a good enough relationship. But if it, you know, melts down to the point where you're begging a guy to move it, I think that's on the organization as well as, you know, the player not owning up to his side of the bargain. But I think that's something that's got to be weighed by teams. and it makes it kind of fun for fans

because fans just get up in arms and hate them when they see them. And so it's crazy. You're right. Like in the league, like some guys that have it. I'm like, how the hell did that happen?

Like who's the agent? Why didn't I have that when I was playing to get those kind of thing? Jason, you had a partial. You mentioned that there was an incident maybe or something that worked in your favor for it. Anything specific you can tell us? Oh, I mean, I kind of told.

this I think a year or so. I think Pierre LeBron outed me on it. But I had it when I was in Florida when I signed. And I signed that five year deal. And after year one, I mean, it was one of the worst years of hockey for a franchise in terms of, that was the year that Galant got fired. They sent him in a taxi.

And that was like Vinnie Viola's first year as an owner. And I think it was like a learning curve. And we were just kind of the byproduct of it. And Tom Roe was like trying to get back the GM position from Dave Tallon. And it was just, just like this weird Dale Tallinn, sorry, and it was just this weird, like, power struggle that we suffered. So that that year in the offseason, they were trying to move a bunch of guys. And I had found out that I was one of the guys that wanted to get moved.

And they initially tried to move me to Calgary. And I think it was Calgary. And they ended up going to get Travis Hammondick. And I accepted it and was like, yeah, I'll go. It didn't work out. And we kind of had, we were at odds, you know, me to Dale Tallon. and Tom Row and I think I talked to Dale Town last year about it. We were laughing about it when I saw him in Florida.

But like it's just, you know, that's the brakes. That's just the way that the business side works. And I had waived it for it. The deal that ended up working out. Then they called me to wave it to Vancouver. And I called a buddy of mine that was in the scouting department. I was like, who are they trying to trade me for? And I found out it was like good Branson.

And I was like, well, I'm leaving this situation and go to a situation. It would be similar. I'm like, I don't think it's smart. You know, and I was like, I don't, I'm also like, it's a different, it was a different tax market. I was about to get a signing bonus. So I'm like, weighing all this with my family. And I'm like, I think I'll just wait till after the free agency July 1st. And then if they want to trade me, they can trade me.

And it just, we ended up, you know, there was a phone call that was had with Del Tal. And he said, I'll send your, I'll send your ass to Phoenix, Arizona. And I was like, all right, do it. And then he ended up doing it. So we have a win. That one. And golf, taxes.

That works fine out. But it was like no hard feelings of like it just was, it is what it's just the business side. Like you're as a player, you're your own business entity that you have to, you have to play for the team. And I understand that team is first always. And you're supporting the organization,

the fan base that, you know, that allows you the opportunity to make the money you're making. But at the end of the day, you also have a family. You have yourself, your best, your own personal interest.

at heart. So you got to weigh all that. And sometimes it leans more heavily on your side than it does the team side and their interests. And sometimes it's the opposite. So it's really it's the inner workings of it are wild. So I always say like beware a no movement clause if you're a player because it's great when you sign it. And it's, you feel so awesome when you're submitting your no trade, you know, the teams you don't want to go to every year. And then until they really want to get rid of you. and one of those teams is on that list and you're just, it's just so uncomfortable and it's almost not worth it at that point.

You'd rather just kind of have the fluidity and not be worried or bothered by it. But again, it's the business side of it and you're thinking about protecting your family first and foremost. So just on this, because I find this fascinating because I never had any list. It wasn't a big deal like at all.

The only heard maybe Matt Mario. I got traded in the East Coast League. I had none of that. So you, what was, what exactly? Exactly did you have in your contract? 10 teams, 15, 5, 8. It was 8. Buddy, I'd need the month of August to figure out my 8.

Like how easy did it come to you or how much did you have to think about your 8? Well, you know, now that I'm three years removed. Yeah. I can say it and be like, listen, as a guy signing that when I was, I think I was like 29. And at that point, I'd played at only nice cities and sunny cities and smaller markets. and, you know, looking back, I'm like, maybe I should have just, you know, went to Vancouver and taken that. And I tried to end up going to Vancouver near than my career anyway. But in that moment, I was like, no cold weather, no bad taxes.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, interesting. Players think of that. Because I was like, players think of that. So, you know, when players talk about it and I know that teams can find workarounds, but for me, I was just like, that was that year that I had done it. And unfortunately, the one year. year, you know, that I was able to exercise my no trade clause was like the first, my first year in the year they were trying to trade me. So my no movement clause didn't last that long. And they were like, what the hell are we thinking, given this guy eight teams, every team he want

to trade him to he put down there. So they shipped me to Phoenix. And, you know, I ended up, I mean, jokes on them. I live here now. And, and I, uh, I love it here. So it's like, you're a golfer. Oh, yeah. I mean, I, I, I get around. I'll, I'll give you money. I'm, I'm an easy, I'm an easy way. but I'm a fun time. It's an unbelievable place to play golf and live. So I know a lot of players want to see a team get back there at some point. Should be. Should be back here.

So one of the names on the trade block is Jason Robertson. I can't really make sense of it. Not often a team has a guy who's 26 who scores, I'm based for 95 points this year, has a 100 point season. And they're just like, we just, we don't think we want to do that. Is it competitiveness, not a playoff fit? What is it that I'm missing that this, it just seems kind of out there that you can have that guy for the Ray Price?

Yeah, well, as Keith Yandel so eloquently put it today, Jason Robinson. Yeah. And, but Roberts said, I listen, I was,

you know, this summer I was kind of critical on him and I thought his kind of season, that, you know, that big season he had that I think it was around 100 points was a fluke and was like, but I, this summer, and funny enough,

I told this story too, is I was filming something for body armor with the NHL. And one of the guys I had to film was Jason Robertson. And when I showed up to the skate, I didn't know that he had heard the podcast where I kind of said his ear was a fluke. And Dallas should trade him. So he's kind of pissed off. He was kind of pissed off.

I mean, that was kind of my first, like, that was like my first foray as into the world of, you know, you got to kind of own what you say. So, you know, he was very gracious. and I ended up talking with him. And we did like this whole segment on like the way he thinks the game and and the way he positions himself to score. And when I left that, you know, I was like, I called everybody.

It was like I was blown away at his hockey IQ and the way he thinks the game and the way he's so analytical to the point where I was like, he's convinced me. Like I, this is a guy you sign, you keep. You're not going to find too many guys like that in the NHL that are like these hockey nerds that just study the game. There's a lot of them now. but his level of detail is like next level of he's like the angle of like a shift of his foot is in the way he pushes off for his first step, you know, kind of dictates if he's going to get that half second extra to get a shot across out of the middle and how he gets to the middle of the ice different than other guys, not being the fastest guy.

And how he like, he's kind of listens to what everybody says and in the sense of like people say, and doesn't compete in it and it pisses him off. So like he does have a grind level to him that I think that most people don't see because he's so reserved and in the way he talks to the media. So I don't know why they haven't come to an agreement. I think with the cap going up, I think if you can make it work, you make it work. But sometimes when, you know, as a team, you don't know what you have until it's gone. And I know a lot of people are kind of hung up on that, his playoffs that, you know,

they might not. because they have a lot of big bodies up front, but they don't have a lot of like intense crazy grit other than Jamie Ben. Like if you look at Rand and he's a big body, he'll push you around, but he's not like a guy that's going to, you know, I don't want to say he doesn't strike fear in you on the offensive side,

but he's not going to take your head off for as big of a body. He is. Same thing with Rupert Hintz. Same thing with, you know, Wyatt Johnston. So you have all these high skill guys that can score, but I think they might be thinking that maybe we're missing just that touch bit of grit, but I do think

from interviewing Jason Robertson and spending a little time with him, I think he has it. And I think they got to give him an opportunity to see it through one more time and maybe add something around him, add something on the bottom six in Dallas, because that's where I think they could use a little bit more and maybe a touch more scoring on that

bottom six because they're very top heavy. So yeah, I just, it's tough. I was a hater on him. And now I kind of love him. So I, uh, Jason, 34 goals. Dallas is won nine in a row. Would you mess with the chemistry right now

with a blockbuster trade? I wouldn't. I would just add to the bottom six and I would add to potentially, you know, I'm thinking of a long stretch run for them and you know, you kind of know with what they have

that they're going to, you know, that first round, it's tough because you look at that central and it's been set for, feels like, nine months the whole season, that Minnesota is going to play Dallas, and then whoever wins that is going to get Colorado in round two. So you're kind of thinking, like, we've won nine straight. We have this great team.

Do we have enough to get through Minnesota, Colorado, and have enough left in the tank to get to the finals and not kind of fizzle out to, let's say, Edmonton who sneaks through an easy path and gets some kind of beat up again in the conference finals. So I think if I'm Jim Nill, it's such a hard spot to be in. You're like, do we mess with this?

But do I think that this team can get through these two teams of Minnesota? Who's going to add? You know, Jim, I've talked to a couple of guys in that organization, and they are kicking the tires and trying to bring on a couple pieces up front. And I just think they're going to push their chips in. I think we could potentially see a cadre reunion in Colorado. So I think they're probably thinking, like, if we stand Pat and these guys add, To your guy's point of the gap widens after the trade deadline,

do we want to hold or do we want to try to add something and maybe improve just ever so slightly? So that's the thing Jim Nell is going to have to deal with. I don't think they will. I think they're probably going to weigh the options. And I'd be surprised if they do trade Jason Robertson. And only if they do, it's going to be for something so sizable that pushes them over the top. But I don't know if there's anything that's really out there that can, that would be worth it. Yeah.

in the short term. Yeah, yeah, fair enough. Last one for me, and then we'll send you on your way. Elias Patterson, I don't know if you saw his interview in the yesterday. He doesn't seem overly inspiring to listen to. I don't think that he wants to do this. I mean, is his team going to trade for him? Carolina kind of comes up once in a while.

I, yeah, he's a tough one because, you know, they, I don't know what's, you know, I never want to assume on, like, certain guys' characters, because I don't know what you got going on and if something's happened in your personal life, but like what I see I test on the ice of like Vancouver chose him over, you know, Beau Horvatt, him and J.T. Miller. And then they chose him over J.T. Miller. And then basically borderline chose him over Quinn Hughes of sorts, even though I know that, you know, they did their own job, Alvin, and them of messing that up with Quinn Hughes. But he's kind of his team. And it just worries me that a guy that's kind of been rolled out the red carpet, so to speak, by an organization hasn't taken way more ownership and at least shown something.

And, you know, I thought in the Olympics, I was kind of watching the Olympics to see how he would perform. And he played well. But again, I just think maybe it's one of those things of we're maybe just overvaluing him. And he's a good player. He's a really good player. But he's not going to be that jump off the page. that he was, you know, before he kind of started on that decline. So to me, I'm like, you know, maybe it's teams are realizing that and teams are kicking

the tires, but they're like, he's not worth a, you know, a prospect and a couple first round picks. Like, if we can get him on the cheap, he's a great addition. You know, I think in Detroit, if they can get him for the right price, I think he's a, he's a great addition alongside Larkin and those guys and he would really help that team. But I don't know if you're giving up prospects and picks. and the hall's too big. I just don't think it's worth it.

Just from what we've seen in the last few years, not just his play, but like his demeanor. Like I think, you know, I always tell guys, and was told when I was a young guy in the league, like everybody's always watching. There's somebody watching every game,

every interview, and they're looking for things to pick apart, like a scout, a GM, anybody is looking at every little thing you do. So you got to make sure that you're on the ball with with the way you're presenting yourself at the rink and away from the rink and not just during the game, but like in every facet. And it took me a lot to learn that. But it's once that kind of reputation of yours gets shot, it's hard to get it back. And I mean, do I think he's fine with that deal in Vancouver?

I think he'll survive. But if he wants more, I think he's going to have to change a lot in terms of his demeanor and the way he plays. Jason, we, we go with the opposite principle. on this show. We do it every day on the assumption no one's watching. I'm always listening to you guys. Every now and again, I got every now and again, I got the Twitter lined up and say, what the hell are these guys

saying? But I delete it. We're always listening. Everybody is. Yeah, I'm in my car after the show saying the same thing. Hey, really great stuff, man. Thanks for doing this. We'll stay in touch. We're going to be leaning on you a lot. You don't know this,

but you got a no move on our show. Oh, I love it. And now I get a better background, so I might go back to the well here. Awesome stuff. I'll keep you guys guessing a bit. No, thanks, guys, and happy trade deadline day. You too, man.

Jason DeBarris from the NHL Network. That's great stuff. Yeah. He's fun. Fantastic stuff. The Pedersen thing is bizarre. The one thing that we, to his point, you know, in that whole discussion,

boys, no moves. no trade lists. They're really a mess for the league. Well, this has only recently become a thing because you used to have one. Remember Brian Burke's big thing was that you give one, you got to honor it. You don't, whatever.

Like, it's, that's, and often players pay for them, right? Some guys are taking a million bucks less to get a no move. But now so many players have them. They mean nothing. Like, I've never, you no longer hear anyone say. Oh, you can't. John Crock has a 10 team no trade list. Like you no longer hear people say,

ah, you can't approach him, he's got a no trade. It's like, well, and it's, it's really, it's really tough on the Canadian teams the most. Ottawa is having a heck of a time right now where they like a guy. And then someone pipes up in the room, he won't come here. Yeah.

And it's like, oh. So Jordan Bennington has, 14 teams on his contract. And Canada. With the exception of Toronto, everybody's on his no trade list. Toronto's not on his no trade.

He left Toronto alone, right? Huh. And he's got Montreal. He's not afraid of the spot. He's got Edmonton. He's got no other spot. Just Toronto. God, if I didn't love Vinner already.

I know it's heating up. We're hearing. his name a lot, but he's in a kind of a unique spot here where people were dumping on him, including one on this panel

because he was having a horrible year and absolutely justified. Absolutely. He goes to the Olympics and he lights out, meaning he can come back, he can come back and he could lose every game with St. Louis.

It won't matter. Well, I, and that's, is insane too. If I'm in there with our team's GM, be like, this isn't the Olympics, right? We're still in the NHL.

Are we sure? You can do this for two months? This is the way I see it. So if he chooses to lift his no trades and he goes to a team like Edmonton and by chance there is bad defensively as they've portrayed the last month and he loses in the first round,

he does lose a little bit of that credibility coming out of the Olympics. and he's looking for a new contract next season. And this year and next. And you're just, if you're him now, you have to decide whether I'm better off just riding this season out and getting traded in the off season.

And then being in a position to say, if so-and-so wants me at the trade or at the June draft, then you're going to sign me July 1st and I get a brand new contract out of it. This way, you're in a position. Now, if you go to Montreal, if you get straight into Montreal, they got their 24-year-old Dobish.

And Fowler in the minors. And there's no real future for him there. There's just kind of like this small window. And Busey signed in Carolina. So if he goes to Carolina, Bucie's the future there. Not necessarily him. Does he want to go in there and plug a hole for a year,

year and a half and then look for another new team? Here's what I think. I think Jordan Bittington is a winner and cares about winning. And I think he's made $40 million in his career. Yeah. And I think he's confident that he'll, I think he wants to win a cup. I think he'll want to go somewhere where he has a chance.

One already? Yeah, go win another cup. I think that's what he'll care about. And I think if he's on a good team, they'll probably have a good defense. He'll probably look good. And I'll have a great chance to sign another contract coming out of that. Maybe.

I don't think maybe where you stay in St. Louis and lose a bunch and have bad numbers. Maybe we just listen to a guy with a note. We just listened to a guy who just told you. Jason. We just heard from a guy. We heard from a guy on the TV. We heard from a guy on the TV who happened to be on our show 30 seconds ago. Who said cold weather and taxes.

You didn't think about winning. Yeah, that certainly would be part of it for me. I know those factors would all matter. It depends what people's priority. We're just trying to guess with these guys. By the way, you know where taxes are decent and the weather's pretty warm? Vegas.

Vegas would make a ton of sense. What are you talking about? They just signed Aidan Hill to 6.25 million for the next gazillion years. Where do they think they're getting rid that. Maybe the two of them. The two of them combined only a 12 million cap hit.

You got two team Canada caliber goalies in your net. You're good to go. You're set. I don't know. I don't know how they make it work. Well, I mean, can St. Louis retain half? And now you're looking at $9 million in your crease for the two of them? Yeah.

I don't know. You got to get rid of Aden Hill before you get to Jordan Binnington. And you got Carter Hart there, too. Who? No, you don't. I mean, I know he's there, but one more year at $2 million or something. It adds up, though. make that disappear.

What is wrong with Vegas, by the way? I think they don't get a lot of saves. Yeah, yeah. Their goaltending is right there, but they can't win against, like, yeah, good teams right now. They are struggling. Let's do game time.

Yeah. Okay. It's game time. Presented by Bet365. Visit the app for the latest odds. It must be 19 plus on terror only. Please play responsibly. 11 games on tap tonight, boys.

And there is some good ones, including Pittsburgh at Boston, which is a good one. We've got some playoff implications in that. Particularly like Vegas at Buffalo, maybe Vegas will be able to beat a good team. They're in Buffalo tonight. Ottawa in Edmonton is another good one for me tonight. Tampa and Minnesota, Montreal, San Jose, Colorado, at Anaheim. A lot of really good hockey games tonight on the schedule. I'm going to circle the first one that I brought up, the Boston Bruins.

It's on Sportsnet, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Boston is minus 120 in that game, plus 100 on the other side of the money line for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who haven't necessarily looked like they're about to give it up now that kids out of there. They're still playing pretty well. So that's a big one for both teams. They're all kind of big ones for the Bruins now

as they cling to that last playoff spot. Going out west, the sharks, hosting the halves tonight. The sharks are plus 115 underdogs in that game. Montreal minus 135 on the money line and the Colorado avalanche going into Anaheim to take on the ducks. Ducks are underdogs as you would imagine plus 125 in the money line. Colorado minus 150 there. That'll be a great game.

That'll be an up and down game. That's the one I'm interested in. A lot of colors in that. Yeah. Purple and orange. I'd rather watch that one in black and white. I think. Yeah.

Anyways, that was game time instead of by Bet 365. Visit the app for the latest odds. Must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play it responsibly. Okay, let's take a quick break when we return. Maybe we'll have a trade. I don't know.

Oh, my goodness. What do you think? Do it. I got something funny to read after the break that we can talk about. Perfect. All right. Plenty more on the bone here. Real Kipper and Bourne.

Back after these words. Hey, it's Blake Murphy. And I'm Matt Bonner. Join us weekday mornings at 11 as we break down all things Toronto Raptors. It's the Raptor show on Sportsnet 590. 90 the fan and wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder of this hour of Real Kibber and Bourne brought to by Bet365. Nick Cabris, Justin Biber.

Bieber. Just a B. Bean. Too late for me, sorry. J.B. Sammy. What do you got? So this is just funny. This is from Jayfresh on Twitter. Because we've been talking about the Buffalo Sabres being in contention and, you know, potentially making some moves at the deadline to make the playoffs. Would you like to hear some players who got traded at the time? the deadline in the last season the Sabres made the playoffs.

Oh, yes. Let's do it. Were you guys born? Let's start with, let's start hot with Jason Arnott. Yeah, okay. Dustin Penner, Sergey Sampsonov. Loved Sampsonov. Frederick Modeen.

Freddie, that's my buddy. Really? Oh, yeah. I liked him on the least. Samsonov was great in video game. Brian McCabe. Corey Stillman, Alex Kovil, Brent Sopel and Yark

Ruto. Prince Soaple. It's been a man. Yeah. All of those guys are eligible for a discount at Shoppers Drug Mart. It's got to be really, like, I mean, you know, the Sabres were for a long time in my youth, like a proud hockey, like in the playoff huge. It's got to be a hockey. Like the building there, you think of some of the overtime, Palm Inville, like the building rocking.

It's been so long. That was great. Trade for Robert Thomas. Yes. It's like good, do it. Treat yourself. Treat yourself. Yeah, man.

It's been too long. Go get yourself a little RT. You've stunk. You haven't been close. All right. You're talking about Buffalo trading. Yes. Go get them.

Oh, they got to sign. They're not going to sign. Oh, my God. If you let that deter you from signing a rug, you trade for Thomas. Tuck at 10 million. Robert Thomas is 6.25 or something. Oh, I thought you were talking about a trade for Thomas.

Yes. Okay, I thought you meant Jason Robertson. Oh, no. Oh, Tom's 8.1. 8.1's fine. 8.1 until the cows come home. Oh, yeah, do that all day long. He's a, like, Toronto area kid, too, right?

Yeah. So he's been close to home. 120 pounds, 80 point guy. Do you know, uh, addition magician. So it was debatable now his draft year for the Leafs, because the Leafs, Because the Leafs had that pick before St. Louis had that pick. Oh, I love this stuff. Okay.

I hate this stuff. And the word is that Mark Hunter at the last second said Robert Thomas, Robert Thomas. And apparently some of the scouts said, no, Timothy Lilligrin, Timothy Lilligran. Why do you have to do this stuff to that? And I think. That's so neat. Mark Hunter broke and they went the lily pad oh lily is struggling in san josie hiking and he was a london night right so that's just that's just hunter maybe obviously pushing

for his player at the time which probably got a few eyeballs rolled probably part of the perception yeah so all my guys are great Josh Josh Norris but he looks pretty good right now No, no kid. Josh Norris went one pick ahead of him. It's an interesting draft, actually. Nico Heeshire first overall. Miro Heiskin and Kiel McCar fourth. It's an interesting one.

Yeah, I want to say the flames had like the best odds for the first pick, dropped to four and then McCar dropped to them or something. Like there was some randomness there that they ended up with, or sorry. Colorado. Yeah. Speaking of Colorado, Lekinen, how bad is that injury? I think a couple, like what's his name, Bednar said?

It's going to be some time. Going to miss some time. So, you know, we thought for, I don't know when that was, but somebody texted in and asked us over under, remember 10 regulation win or 10 regulation losses all year for them? And we're all like, I don't know if they're going to find it. They've really come back down to the pack in that, I mean, that division's crazy. I think Colorado could do, they can find a way to make cadry work as is with his contract.

Really? But I think that they'd like to offer a little bit more of a package to bring his AV down. It's just if you get him for five instead of seven, five and a half, it's so much more tolerable as he ages and the deal goes on. You know, like if he's carrying less of the load. Calgary shouldn't care. I don't like. About retaining.

Yeah. Yeah, because it's not going to matter. It won't matter. It won't matter because they're not spending to the cap. They're not spending. They're a floor team anyway. So spend it on. dead cap space or spend it on an actual body,

it doesn't really matter. You still have to hit that number. And in my humble opinion, if you're an ownership group that's not willing to spend $2 million a year to improve your assets and the quality of it on it. It's a direct core. Sell the team. Totally.

To me, you have to always be willing to spend to the cap. If you want to have a team, there's a chance to win it can't stay on the cup. So where's Vancouver? Should Vancouver not have that same attitude for the next couple of years? Yes, they should. So if it's Pedersen, so eat a couple of million and get a better asset. This is just so long. This is so long.

I got to tell you. I don't think we buried that guy enough yesterday. That was tough to watch. What's the stat you sent in our group chat that he hasn't got a shot? Yeah, Drans. Thomas Drans, too, I had that in 50 minutes of gameplay since the Olympic, zero shots. If I was thinking about trading for him, I'd have him do interviews like every five minutes because just to lower the value yes yes just keep going keep going i would sit down i would try to

steal that guy right if you're in detroit you got to get darren mccardy be like get him on the show yeah i would try to steal him so you think there's still value to be gained from him i know there's value even if i don't i'm willing to take the chance on a 27 year old who who had 100 points had 100 points like yesterday what happened Well, think about Huberto. Like sometimes the stars align. You know, everything works out. Your line's perfect.

Your team's good. You know, your high percentage of points, they call individual points percentage. When your line gets a goal, sometimes things just go really right for guys. I will say, if you're a team like Carolina who has trouble getting stars to come and stay, and he's willing to do that,

I'm more willing to take that risk. I'm Carolina than if I am the Kings. You know? The only problem with Carolina is that they're a little soft for me. Yeah? Yeah. You said that before. I mean,

they always kind of have it. I just need. Yeah. I don't know. It's off the top of my head that sometimes I think they could just be a little heavier and grittier. There are definitely some lines of it. There's some guys who aren't. I mean, yeah, if that's something they lack.

I'm sure Rod Brindamore makes that case. Even on, like, you were talking about the. retaining thing with with Patterson you say sure two million or whatever like you sure you're still convinced at nine and a half well the cap's going up so much can he scores 55 60 points at nine and a half you know it's not a bad point that if he's a 70 point guy and the cap was up and you're paying nine and a better team it's just going down that's totals 102 89 45 35 this I got to bring him up around dash 17 I got to get him 65 he's got to give me 65 70 points.

He's making 11 schmill. Like, I don't know if you guys saw Broff this morning, but like, does he not have any fight? Like he was talking to, he don't want to prove anybody wrong? I got, I... He wants to rough door there. Talk to the media, that's for sure. But, I mean, so then send him somewhere

where he doesn't have to talk to the media? I don't know. I wonder if you could offer a guy a no media clause. A no media clause. That's a different word for NMC. We're going to pay you two million less, but you'll never have to do media.

I think Pedy would be like, yeah, done. Let's do it. Time. Restructure my... Sports says asking or they're asking Spector

if he could have a note talking to us clause in Edmonton. Here's the deal though when they do the no media clause the team has to pay that money to the media that they're not given the players.

So you keep the player happy, we get some money, everyone's happy, see? I just solved everyone's problem. Mark Stone, heard again. Did you see the play that it supposedly happened on? Just a little butter.

I don't believe it's the arm where he took like a little bump. It's not the arm. No, like made him wiggle his groin or something. Yeah. Ankle. You know what's funny for them? Back. You know it's a lit.

He's got back issues. I got back issues in the show. I'm thinking about what they would be doing right now if it was the old rules. What old rules? Where they just shut them down and they'd spend the money. Totally. He'd be like, yeah, all back, back. Gone.

Thank God. See you, see a game one. and we'll just trade for the top guy. And he's going to come back a week before the end of playoffs because he wants to be ready for playoffs where they used to not. There is a lot of talk right now about all these new rules, including double retention, gone. And to Sammy's point, what they used to be able to do

is really, really screwing up so far the trade market. But I will say, you can still finagle this thing. There is some finagling to be had. You have to dress the salad. recap. That means 20 bodies. You can have 25 guys in your 23 guys on your roster or whatever. I still

think you can exceed the cap as long as you can dress the cap in the playoffs. They could still sit stoneouts. I think there's some some GMs nervous because I'm not sure they understand all the rules. I bet you're right. Everyone who played in the NHL and became a GM's like, wait, carry the one.

Somebody called Pritam. But you can have more like Stone could sit out they could acquire guys in excess of the cap and then when it comes to playoffs they just have to dress the cap that night

so you can scratch Aden Hill put them in the press box now you got 6.25 in the press box this is it they're gonna they're gonna LT I bet just Stone doesn't play till the end of the year Hill doesn't play and play out

I would definitely say if there's somebody that's gonna understand how to grease the wheels it'll be the vagus front of office. I have full belief of them to grease it up because that's what they love to do. You know why? Because they're competitors. Yeah. They compete. They try to win. I'm from Owensown, Ontario. I love Greece. Don't get me wrong. I, you know, I get it. There are fans dying for a greasy owner here.

Oh my God. Take your cap off. We'll see Greece. Wow. Anyways, I just, I, they'll figure it out. But I think it's funny. You're right that that's a different, it's a different thing this year. Wednesday's the day that the floodgates will open up. Tomorrow? Yeah. You think? We might see a few things sneak in tonight,

but I think by tomorrow there'll be a sense of urgency. Some teams got to make a decision. I think if there are certain teams who know they want a guy, just go get the guy. Pay the price for the good one. Well, that's what teams are hoping. Yeah. And that's what they're waiting for right now.

Go pay the price for the quality furniture that's going to last. Don't wait to last minute by... Your wife must love you at the mall. Oh, yeah. This is a conversation we've had many times. Just pay for the good one. Do it once. Anyway.

Pay for the Robert Thomas. Pay for Thomas. Do it. Don't go get discount. Robert Thomas. It's not going to help. Our thanks to Gort Stelich in the first hour of our Leaf Edition. Jason Demerz from the NHL Network.

Also a big contributor today. All right. 11 games on tap tonight, pick yours, and we're back tomorrow to do it all over again on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. Have a great night, everybody.