Real Kyper & Bourne - Vally's View: The Final Four

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne are joined by Steve Valiquette (5:45) – CEO of Clear Sight Analytics to discuss who's the best goaltender amongst the final four teams left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, whether Sergei Bobrovsky can handle the Hurricanes' rush attack, Joseph Woll's performance after being thrust into the series against the Florida Panthers and what he needs to focus on during the offseason, and how pressure manifests for goalies. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam McKee look at the Boston Bruins re-signing general manager Don Sweeney to a two-year contract, and Connor Hellebuyck's comments on his game in the regular season compared to the post-season.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.

We are national on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. This hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet365, Nick Kipriels, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee in a few minutes. It's Tuesday, which means Steve Alliquette, analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG, also CEO of ClearSight Analytics. Some I like, some I don't like, but somehow, someway, he always hooks me in on the numbers. Yeah.

I don't know if you remember, but the other day we were talking about Bobrovsky and his shootout, or sorry and his breakaway save percentage. Basically I was saying, I think this guy's really good on breakaways. Florida gives up a pile of breakaways. It turns out Bob's not that great at it. Valley sent me a very thoughtful video to explain it to me, like the plebe that I am. And it's incredible the data this guy has.

The amount of things you can click it does help when Fourth liners are taking the break The forzling back check on the rents when it seemed like it was He took two strides and caught up to Lorenz gets the stick in there doesn't let him get a good shot away Like it was are you talking about the one game seven? Into Bob because there's also the Lorenz not the Lorenz the Larry's a good shot away. Like it was, are you talking about the one game seven that you shot into Bob? Because there's also the Lawrence, not the Lawrence one was a clean shoot into the chest. Right. But he also had one earlier in the series that I thought maybe you're talking about. No, the one that Lawton had

for Sling got back on the back check and disrupt through enough so he couldn't elevate it or whatever. That for Sling's such a good player. He made a good play on a Willy breakaway and on Lawton, I think too. Oh, on Lawton., not lorenzo. No lot and on the bad check stanley cup conference Just four teams left Uh and shout out to our own mark specter who noted that in the last three years That means there's 12 spots in the final four, right? Yeah, 10 of those have gone to these four teams Really? Yeah, 10 of those have gone to these four teams Really? Yeah, so it's Dallas's three straight years. Edmonton's been there three or four times three times Florida

Wow, and that starts to tonight game one Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes 8pm Eastern on Sportsnet and Already Matthew Kachuk's pissing people off. What do you do? You sent a tweet about the room. Yeah, the room.

The media room is right beside their workout area. So what did he do? He cost a ruckus. Yeah, as soon as the Jordan stall and I think Martinook Presser started, he was slinging the medicine ball against the wall to disrupt it because they're not pleased With where the the workout spot is nor should they or sorry where the pressure spot this guy'll do anything but score a goal To help his team. Oh boy

Sam he's probably playing with Half a groin. Oh just like just like Matthew said everybody's playing hurt this time of year Anyways, I just I can't stand I'm so sick of it. No passes. Yeah. A few sour grapes still there. Absolutely.

But I mean, that's just a whole bunch of them. A whole bunch of them. A bushel of grapes. A vineyard. Yeah. It's like a bushel of grapes. I think that would have worked. A bushel of the done.

So, I'll ask Steve Alliquette, but before he joins us just get your thoughts on the four goaltenders going into this conference has Skinner Skinner and Pickard and Edmonton giving you enough faith that now that No, they'll they'll go up against Antinger I Believe that their team is good enough to help them go up against them. And God, guys, Skinner's had... You know one thing I'm going to ask Valley when we get him on? Is what type of game works for Skinner and what type does Dallas play? Because Skinner, I believe, is a poor rush goaltender.

If I had listened to Valley correctly... I think you're right. That seems right. And Dallas to me doesn't seem like a streaky speeding It's ranting and then Ben and Sagan and Dushane and Robertson. I guess not Burners to me. So I think this may be a series that works for Skinner He may come out of this one looking like gold work last year Remember the member game six they scored I think they won one nothing then they give up 40 something shot

I think weird hockey brain. I don't you don't remember that I'm like that with like maybe golf courses. I've played I don't remember the oilers next game of the conference final McDavid toe drag into the middle backhand top corner only goal the game Yes, I do remember there. I have as a nice one to really last side into a pretty low I think I think I think Skinner had maybe a 50 or 40 save shutout in that game. So maybe okay. I don't know Bobrovsky versus Freddie Anderson on the other side If Freddie Anderson or Stu Skinner wins down the cup There's gonna be a lot of splaining to do for some people who really these guys off

You think this is the year do you really believe that this is the year that Freddie sees? Sees this like right through without disappearing? No. It's still way. Valley. I hopefully for one second Valley thinks he's going to make it. The one great thing about being a lifelong Freddie Anderson hater. How do you be a Freddie hater? That's a strong word. I'm different. I'm a h different. I'm a hater I'm a like I hate him as a person like I'm a hater I've been like you I dislike it dislikers not a class is this like girl Okay, I'm a disliker and as a career disliker. Thank you Freddy Anderson The advantage of it is all you really have to do is wait. Yeah, because eventually

Something something is coming true confidence that he can't come through. All right, let's welcome him in. Steve Alegket, CEO of ClearSight Analytics. Valley, how are you, pal? Thanks for joining us. Now, were you raised to know that hate's a strong word, and your parents preferred dislike? And you know what, Kipper? It's tough to bring the temperature up right now, so I wrote a eulogy for Sammy

This is a story Core for my god everybody somebody anybody and nobody there was a game seven to win and Everybody was sure that somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but nobody did. Somebody got angry on the bench because it was everybody's job. Everybody thought anybody could do it, but nobody realized that everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that everybody blamed somebody and when nobody did what anybody could have done.

You absolutely did not write that. and when nobody did what anybody could have done. Oh my God! You absolutely did not write that. Hey! Where is that from? That's great. Dr. Seuss! Oh my God! Wow!

Hey, listen guys. Green eggs and ham! We're not in the playoffs either, I've got lots of time on my hands. Fantastic. I found it, it's great. Charles Swindle, that's really good. What's the hat, hold on, what's the hat?

It's a great bucket. Oh, this is my son's high school, Fairfield Prep. Very cool, I like the under the brim too. Okay, so let's start where your expertise, I believe, is the strongest and that is between the pipes. We've got four goalies between Autinger and Skinner. Let's just say to start and Freddie and Bob, who's trending highest here going into the final four?

The hothouse plant, Frederick Anderson. Do you guys know what a hothouse plant is? Tomatoes? No, hot house plant. It's a saying that it's an expression, an old Italian expression, and you need perfect soil, sunlight, wind to grow. Is that for everybody? Is that for everybody or somebody? It's got to be your ball. I'm wondering, I heard you before I came on Kipper. I'm wondering if Freddie could push through here. I have had this in the back of my mind for 10 years.

Before he joined Toronto, I had heard from one of his goalie coaches that he was the weakest of all goalies he's ever coached mentally. So that's always been in my head. Always been in my head. Oh boy. And when I find, you know, these instances where he has relief to bail, I wonder if he's going to push through and I hope he does. I don't know. It's all mental for him.

It's not all mental for everybody, but for him it's all mental. But he's the highest performing goalie. He should believe in himself going into this. And it's going to be interesting to see if he can push through. But I don't think it's going to be a technical component that misses or misfires is the reason why Carolina gets eliminated it'll be mental but right now in the top three is Ottinger he's really come on now do you guys remember the save that he made from the slot against Kyle Connor in the

elimination game where he made it with his blocker and it was a really nice pass from the corner second period big blocker save. I'm sitting at home and I'm saying to myself, you know what that's what goaltending looks like. Now I back it up a little bit. I watch it again and I still have a little bit of a question mark which with how wide

he gets. Wide is really important to me because when you get too wide, pucks seem to go through you, under you. If you're pre-scouted really well by a goalie coach from the opposition, they will know that when the goalie gets wide before the release, it is time to pass off pads or pass the puck. If you have to shoot it, it's under the hands and that's where he's been weak a little bit, but overall he's been really the second strongest performing goalie that's still eligible.

Going down the list, everybody else seems to be about mid margin, but Stuart Skinner in the shutouts that he had, now the final game, game five, he only faced one high danger chance. So it wasn't much of a game. Now in the previous game, he had seven. That's the game where I watched at home and I said to myself, he has played deeper.

He's coming across different. He's moving better and he's moving less distance. But one thing that I thought that I saw that he changed was that he was instead of opening up his skate for a tee push, he was double shuffling. Now why is that important? Because you're always square. If there's a broken play the toe caps of your skates never open up, so you never have to close it back down. And he's getting across smoother. He's not a rush goalie Barney. As you said before we got on he's not one of the worst over the last five years.

But if he can help himself by backing up playing deeper beating pass and Edmonton and I can see why Connor McDavid was a little irked at the comment that you know, we don't know how to defend. They've defended really well in the last few games and specifically against shutting off the rush against. Is there a specific type of game where Stu Skinner can look the best? It'll be in zone. And does Dallas do that? Yeah, well Dallas, so you know what, I was relatively interested in this. Dallas, they had a pretty good series and a pretty good series off the rush as well as east to west So it's not like they're a team that you have to only worry about them in zone Their numbers are good. I've got papers coming out of my ears here, so I can't find it at this moment

But no, their numbers are very good. Dallas is not gonna be easy for him to play against Okay but if the if the Edmonton Oilers can bring the play into the zone and just let them settle in and play it that way, that would be advantageous for them for sure. No question, Autinger was the better goalie of the league MVP or close to in Hellebuck here. So there's got to be a huge advantage now

for Autinger over Skinner or maybe Pickard down the road. You know, look, I just found the sheet that I was looking for, which was east to west opportunities that have ended up in goals. And Dallas actually is leading, leading the playoffs with 36 east to west plays. And so Edmonton is second with 33. Both goalies are going to be moving in this series. You know, this could open up.

Didn't you guys think the Colorado Dallas series was really wide open? You know, it was off the rush and it was go go go. I don't think we're going to you know what it's like. It's a these teams are going to try and come out in the first period feel each other out and then a hockey game breaks out. Everybody gets away from what the coaches want them to do, and they just want to go, because the egos, egos step up, and there's certainly a lot of high-powered offense

on both sides. If I was going to grade the best depth offense in the NHL through all four lines, I'd give it to Dallas. And I've been saying that since Christmas. And so that's saying that since Christmas. And so that's something to consider too. I mean, Edmonton's going to have to really shut it down because they're going to want it.

These are the top two teams, as I said, in East to West offense, looking for opportunities that way. Valley, you send me some really interesting stuff and I appreciate that. Thank you on Bobrovsky and breakaways and how he looks. Yeah. So he's not as great as I thought he was in conclusion. However, though Carolina, that's a fast team that creates a lot of action on there. Your thoughts on Bob versus Carolina here. Yeah. So I think that when you're talking about Bobrovsky, I think that sometimes you get surprised because he has the look, you know, he has the look where he's over his skates and he really looks like he's hovering over you

Yeah, and he did look commanding in that breakaway that he faced against the rents now the rents chose to shoot it But 30 feet too soon wasn't great, but like you know he looked the part But I also so I'm watching it again I'm sound cheese like he kind of looked like he was just standing up and guessing that the shot was going to come high and hit up and took a couple of notes there and I you know of course when I'm watching the game, I'm saying all right well what notes are going to reflect what's actually happening in the big piece of things and

oftentimes if I see a goalie poke checking that means they don't believe themselves on breakaways or a guy that stands up doesn't really believe on themselves on breakaways. And when the Lorenz shot was taken, if he had a shot five hole from there, certainly had he gotten closer, but had he shot five hole, he would have scored on that one. And Carolina, they give up a lot off the rush as well. And Florida, as we know, they want to shut down and suppress the rush. I think that this is going to be really the challenge of Anderson to outplay what Bobrovsky is going to be trying to accomplish with his game.

And if Carolina can sometimes find Florida with their pants down a little bit, they can counterpunch. They can have those jailbreak chances because, you know, they're pretty fast but not heavy. The way they play their volume game, it lends me to believe anyway that they're going to be able to open the ice up. They, they're a different team this year.

You know, like I was looking at this today here, fellas, in 18-19, this is going back six seasons, they were a team that was only scoring slot line chances about two per game. And this year they're up to 3.39 because, and that's a 51% increase. It's because they wear you down now and look for an east to west after you've been recovered

or have been late to recover pucks and that's their system. Everybody knows it's coming. So Bobrowski I think now becomes the 10th goaltender in NHL history to win each of his first three career game sevens. So you know Anderson and obviously to a lesser extent Joseph Wall, is that just really hard knowing that this guy is got the goods here when you look across 200 feet like did wall wasn't horrible but it's hard to go against a guy like that isn't it mentally no i i didn't like his game honestly you know it's hard to be hard on him because he's also thrust into a position that maybe he's not all the way ready for the way that I would have said last year Skinner was playing when you could have had Jack Campbell in that, but he's

he's pushed into a situation and he's playing his ass off. But you know, I don't like the goals against on Sunday. I don't I don't really like any of them. And for different reasons, it's like the two on one goal Jones's goal. It's a shot where as I was saying with Ottinger, you can't lock in on shooter before the shot comes. I'll tell you what guys the first day of retirement for me on my list of things to figure out was I want to go on the ice. I don't know why I didn't do this when I was a

player, but I thought of it as soon as I got into coaching. I wanted to know how much more vertical angle was on the short side versus the long side. And what I did, because my goalie coach when I was in Edmonton was Pete Peters, I took some fishing line and then I brought it down to the puck where I wanted shot from, the face-off dot, and that was on the left side,

goalies left beaming high glove. There's actually, it's's amazing because I've got a couple of tucks here. It's actually this much distance this rules two inches. Yeah, there's too much or sorry, two more inches on the short side than there is on the long side. Makes sense. So yeah, it's two inches. Now, the other thing that's really interesting is when you look at that Seth Jones goal, he drags the puck.

All right, so when you see that wool locks in on the shot, he'll go from his stance where his feet are under him and then he goes wide right before the release, but it's too soon because when Seth Jones drags the puck the other exercise I went through was how does a shooter open up the net on a goalie? Well, for every four inches, the shooter drags the puck from the outside to the middle of the ice. The net opens up an additional inch.

So quickly, 4, 8, 12, 16 inches is roughly what Seth Jones drags the puck because he's on the right side of the ice is in a right-handed shot, and he brings it across and he goes long side. Now for long side shots to go in, you have to make two mistakes as a goalie. You have to lose your angle, which Joseph Wall did because he didn't adjust across on the drag. He couldn't because he already got wide before the release. So he got stuck. So essentially, Seth Jones drags the puck for a 1216, which is room for a goal in an inch. And if you let this play long enough, you'll see the replay from the Fletch cam, which is behind the net TV term. And you'll see that he watched how he locks right there and he can't drag. He wasn't able to get across.

So I don't like that goal It's listen the only way the only thing if it's post and in that's the only Right, but it's not even post. It's not a perfect shot and it didn't need to go I know it's a great shot, but it's great shot. Yeah too much net Yeah, he gave he gave him too much net on the on the drag you're talking about Yeah He gave he gave him too much net on the on the drag you're talking about Yeah So now what I'm saying to myself is how kid or what would I do to advise this young goalie to improve over the summer? All right in his four years as a leaf. He's faced 28 Two on ones where the puck carrier has shot it on him. All right. He has a 679 safe percentage that ranks

62nd out of 64 goalies that qualify with a minimum 25 two on ones faced with a puck carrier shoots it just like that goal. Lankan in 921 safe percentage. Logan Thompson 918 safe percentage compared to a 679. Do you know what we do now guys in this day and age because we have the access go and watch out what those guys are doing. What are they doing differently depth wise? How do they keep their feet under them so they can adjust their angle right because again, there's two

mistakes misses angle and then tracks back and the reason why he tracks back can't track down is because he's reaching now at a puck that no longer has the net in front of him. All right, so that was goal number one. Goal number two, bad rebound on Marshan's shot to start the play. That should have been dead puck right off the hop and setting expectations for goalies guys. You know what that means to me? All shots from the top of the circles out.

It's not just a save out. It's not just to save guys. It's controlled that Marsha and one comes in his belly. He needs a freeze there. It spits out comes around the net ends up in the back of the net. But to me again, I'm just track it back several seconds or three touches that one should be dead. Goal number threes off of the angle. He's not said he kicks out a bad rebound. That's a bad rebound. It's a pass off the rebound difficult scoring chance But again, he starts it goal number four is a low danger deflection off the ice should have it. That's NHL standard. So this year

That's when I knew the game was over. I mean it was already getting at a hand anyway But this year in the postseason it's 74% chance to lose if your goalie gives up a bad goal and the other guy doesn't Regular season was 74% chance to lose. If your goalie gives up a bad goal and the other guy doesn't. Regular season was 86%. But now you got the top guys going every night. Goal number five is step off the angle and he sets the screen on himself. He was off angle. So if I'm Joseph Wall, I've had a great season. I love my year. But man, is there a lot of learning here? And you know what kid? Don't take the summer off man. You don't have it figured out. Get to work, get ready because it's a big year next year and you don't want to rest on your laurels.

I had that thought with some of these guys who were just recently eliminated. It's like I can tell you who's gonna have a good year next year by the guys who get back at it soonest. That's certainly a big part of it. So quick question then is you know we talked a lot about pressure in the first hour for the Leafs. People have been talking about about the market For players that they tend to clam up under pressure. They don't skate as much they hesitate What does pressure look like for a goaltender? Is there a typical way it shows itself? But if I ran you through my first game in Toronto, oh my god like no, I mean pressure like and I get it I've been reading the headlines and there's so much attention that

you love it. It makes you rise up. It makes you play better maybe because you're on edge. I felt like personally, I don't know how you guys felt, but I struggled when I got complacent when I was complacent. I got smoked, you know, and if when I was on edge or pressure play better. So, you know, it's almost like what did I come across today? I was laughing about remember Devon Cooley two years ago. We're all going to die anyway. It was after his 49 saves against Seattle.

Anyway, I would like watching the game. I just wish the guys would have had a thought like that because when Borube says it's all mental, it is. Boys, like, can we back check? The back check is non-existent. If you don't back check, you can't set yourself up at all. The goalie has zero reads. It's just a complete cluster.

But I know, I know that I felt like it heightened my intentions. Like, I'll never forget it, we're coming out of the bus, right, we land, and Shani stands up at the back of the bus and he goes, hey, Valley, who's starting tomorrow? And this is my first start, guys, in the 16th game of the season.

I haven't even moved into my apartment yet because I haven't got the pink slip. I'm the last guy on the team. I sit next to Henrik. Henrik turns Hank turns around, he goes, Valley's playing. And then Shani goes, ooh. Thanks Shani, awesome.

Yeah, he goes, Matt Sundin's gonna be licking his chops. And then he's going through the whole thing where like we're going through his old neighborhood. He said, that's where I kissed so and so, my first kiss, going back to the hotel. And Glenn Sather comes in and he goes, hey guys, we're gonna go to the Hockey Hall of Fame right now, we gotta sign autographs.

I'm like, do I really need to sign 300 autographs for the next two hours, the night before my first start in Toronto? Got my parents calling me, telling me they've read the limo, they're already partying. I'm like, what are you guys partying about? It might not go right.

Like I'm trying to get everybody to slow down. Yeah, pump the brakes here. Oh, big time. They're already partying. I'm like, what are you guys partying about? It might not go right. Yeah, pump the brakes here. Oh big time. The next day it was the elementary school going to the pregame skate. Every time I went in in pregame, I got 11,000 kids behind me cheering. Before the game, I run into one of the girls that's working there that I used to date in high school. That was a distraction. Like it was everywhere. It was a complete gong show but the funny thing is is we go to overtime into a shootout who's the last shooter Matt Sundin righty oh I know this I remember that my whole life yeah it was the Hall of Fame game you must have been there Kipper oh yeah and he he brings it back and Barney I dropped my glove like below my kneecap

I know he's going high glove if he he goes anywhere else, it's in. He goes high glove and I get a piece of it, it goes to the air. Anyhow, Shandy comes up to me first, he's like, I knew you had this. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's awesome. And then we go into the locker room

and we had the Hall of Fame guys, we're all in the room and I got a standing ovation. One of the best days of my life. But when I look at that game afterwards, I'm saying, all right, I did it once, but can I do that? 50 times a year, right? That's what I wonder sometimes I mean, that's the pressure these guys are dealing with and that's why I think

Sometimes you get a ripcord because you can't fail if you don't play and that's why my antenna is always up when you know, you see a guy get touched a little bit and you know, I Well, you guys know me. I always wonder about bit. And, you know, I, well, you guys know me. I always wonder about stuff like that. You know, I just watching these playoffs Valley and I know maybe it's just me because I've watched the Leafs so much, but like passing's really hard in dangerous areas here.

And maybe it's just more of players being told to dump and chase, but the block shots are gone to another level this time of year and it's just it's so hard to get pucks to the net and through these days like what what are the numbers say comparing the playoffs to the regular season? Well I'll start with just seeing the last game because as I was watching the last game, now the Leafs had four high danger chances in the first period. They had five in the game overall. Okay. In the first period, they had the patch ready one that was net front where Bob gets an arm on it. It was a good save. The Nylander one where he kind of fades away and he's just misses it. But those two guys to me, they're on their heels a little bit. They're not as kipper. You'd

want them to be like, maybe even Nylander stop on the puck there and play it, you know, drive it home. We saw Edmonton advance on Aiden Hill like that, right? Just stop on a play and hammer it. I think it was happening. So we also saw the Scott Lawton breakaway and the Steve Lawrence breakaway. And I thought this was interesting. Okay, we've already sort of talked about the breakaway he shot too soon, right? So what do you think I look up?

Are these guys even good on breakaways? Like it could have been maybe somebody else in the team, right? So Scotty Lawton, not bad actually. He's had 31 breakaways in the last three years. Yes, well, you know, Philly led the league in breakaways last year. I know this one offhand, cause it's a funny one,

but they had 40, this is not this past season, two seasons ago, they had 42 breakaway goals two years ago and the Rangers had nine. Oh wow. So sorry, you're talking Lawton. Lawton had 31 breakaways. Okay. Yeah, Lawton.

So Lawton, the league's company comes from Philly and all that, but they do run and gun, they lead in rush and all that jazz. So 31 goal, excuse me, chances over the last three years, nine goals. Steve Lorenz, 15 breakaway chances over the last three years, two goals. So maybe not your best guy to go, right?

Anyhow, as I went through it, I'm saying to myself, okay, so who's getting inside? Who's getting inside the most? Who's getting high danger chances? And of course, after the loss, the the morning after you're looking at this type of stuff So second round versus Florida high danger slot area scoring chances in the series in the series Matthew Nyes six and then you got to go all the way down the list and it's Marner with two

Matthews with two, you know and that one hurts me because those are the guys that need to get each other in, you know, get each other in and just didn't see it. Tavares had two as well. So there's three of your big boys. Nylander had four. Alright so that's where your big boys are and then you're looking at what it was against, because I'm watching the same game as you guys, and I'm seeing a lot of the same characters out there for the big chances against.

And Tavares was on during the series for 11 high dangers against. And this is all at 5 on 5. Nylander, 11 high danger against. Riley led in a bad way in the second round with 21 high danger against. Riley led in a bad way in the second round with 21 high danger against. I mean, and Carlo was 18. Yeah. Yeah. So those guys just got smoked. But I mean, yeah, it's hard to get inside. But typically, when you're looking at a good team

that's getting through right now, you're seeing a lot of eights and a lot of sevens and sixes over the course of the series. Where with the big boys here, we're just seeing twos. now you're seeing a lot of eights and a lot of sevens and sixes over the course of the series where with the big boys here we're just seeing twos and that's a big deal for me. So would you have the numbers across the league on who what names are the big boys across the league getting those numbers? I don't have it in front of me but I saw it today and it is it's like it's Connor it's Rantanen it's the guys that are getting through I mean, I'll send it to you guys later on but it's everybody else's big boys played big you don't get through and yes You know kind of oftentimes just looks this way. Sorry, you know, and and I get it there's you know guys are gonna take a lot of heat for this and

You know, I even heard a few things like sometimes it's even tough to leave the house. I live that too boys I was in Russia one year when I had an 897. I thought I was going to get shot. Oh my God. You know, stop laughing. He's not joking. No, it's a fair concern. Hey, hey, Borny, when I would carry my bag at the Red Army through the entrance, okay, because we got to carry our own stuff. We don't have that in the KHL. Yeah. There are two guys at the doorway with m16s I'm trying not to bump them with my pads because that thing might go off. Oh my god, man Stop it. Yeah, I mean I heard some stories. It sounds sounds terrifying But you made it you made it to get to tell us all these great stories. I made it

Hey, we all die anyway, right? Well exactly You know what all I learned today about you is you're somebody, you're nobody, and you're everybody. Sammy, I hope you're doing all right, pal. That was a tough one. All good, brother. Heading in the right direction. Hey, Valley, as always, thanks for doing this, pal.

Great stuff. Appreciate it, Valley. My pleasure, guys. Have a great rest of your week. Steve, Valley Cat, CEO, Clear Sight Analytics. 21 high danger chances against. Yeah, it's not the Leafs Hour, but I'm ready to have that conversation at some point. If you can't be better with Brandon Carlos, like, they're out of guys to make you better,

you might be the problem. 21 is crazy. And DeVaris and Willie, I mean, if you're sorry to do that this national hour, but like if you're Offering to bars a contract. That's like look at this number. I hope you listen to valleys deep in the valley on Tuesdays cuz We heard some things about official name of the Sigma. I don't sell that next year Deep in the valley. valley yeah maybe outdoor company or something anyways it's game time is there by bet 365 is the app for the thoughts and find out why is ever ordinary at bet 365 must 19 plus

until only please play responsibly so as you guys are talking to Valley there I was getting a little creative on that 365 and you can bet on in the specific series so let's say for example you think that Leon dry saddle is gonna have and you can bet on in the specific series. Let's say for example, you think that Leon Dreisaitl is gonna have a monster series against the Dallas Stars to propel them into the Stanley Cup Final. You can bet on Leon Dreisaitl to have four plus, four plus goals in the series,

three plus goals in the series, or five plus goals in the series. You can bet them on two or whatever. So it's kind of fun to look through these but I'm looking at the number here for Leon dry saddle who is plus 130 to have four goals in the series to play in a seven game series against these guys I actually think that's a pretty good number You're making the bet on how long for guys four out of a potential six or seven games So you're getting a lot of goals. Yeah, I don't know if you've seen his playoff numbers Four guys four out of a potential six or seven games

Lot of goals. Yeah, I don't know if you've seen his playoff numbers I know I know a bit of a horse for them, but now you're up against a okay But three per blue line and a hot goaltender three three three three three is minus 190 Yeah, see they they There's a big difference to bet 365 between... Three to four is huge. Leon come up and have two tonight and all of a sudden it changes. But all he needs is one hat trick. In a game. What about five goals?

Can I interest you in five goals for Leon Dressaddle? Let's hear the number. Plus 400. Five goals. Funky. Miko Rantan has, you can bet him plus 550 at that number. Conor McDavid plus 650. So just

Just an interesting way to bet on the on that series and I'm just quickly looking at the line for tonight The Florida Panthers are plus 110 tonight for the Carolina hurt against the Carolina Hurricanes were minus 130 I think some money has come in on the Carolina Hurricanes because when I placed a wager earlier today on the Florida Panthers They were at plus 105. So people are betting on the Carolina Hurricanes because when I placed a wager earlier today on the Florida Panthers, they were at plus 105, so people are betting on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. And looking ahead to tomorrow night for the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars, Edmonton slight underdogs at plus 105 Dallas, the favorites in that game at minus 125.

And that was Game Time presented by Bet 365. Visit the AfroLatestOz and find out why it's ever ordinary at Bet 365, Mr. 19+, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. OK, let's take a quick break. And when we return, we'll get into some NHL news and notes, including a general manager who's got a nice extension. The question is, did he deserve it?

That and more when we return to Real Kipper and Born. Everything you need to know about the Blue Jays. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to the program. As a reminder, this hour real Kipper and born brought to you by bet 365 Nick Kiprios Justin born Sammy McKee as I mentioned before the break Boston Bruins signed General Manager Don Sweeney to a two-year contract extension is coming off the heels of the Boston Bruins and missing the playoffs I didn't see that coming I wonder if this was like he bet on Florida to get to the third round so they could get the first pick your first round of for Marchand he got the first rounder, great job.

Here's here's an extension. I mean, what went well? Why else would he be getting an extension other than them getting a first for Marchand? If you if you look at that roster right now, I don't think many people would believe that they're going to come back and make the playoffs to you. I mean, I kept looking at the daily face-off, just as a list of forwards. Top line is Geeky on it.

Kuznetonov on the second line with Lysel. Kepke-Mittlestadt-Lateri. Like the Lindholm deal didn't work. I watch hockey every day and talk about hockey every day. I've never heard of two guys in their second line. Farinacci. I'm just wondering what, if they miss the playoffs again next year, what does a two year deal do for them?

It's like severance, right? Sure. But I mean, this could be a three or four year, five year program here. Do you think they're that? Do you think they're that? To get back into contention? You know, what on their roster makes you think they're that? To get back into contention? You know what on their roster makes you think they're gonna do that? You're right, like Mason Lower-I top pairs at aura.

Fraser Minton better be real good. I hope he's bad. Sorry Fraser, but I like him. I really hope you don't turn into a pressure. I like Carlo Oton and I don't have regrets for the Leafs there, but I like Mitten a lot. Yeah. Lindholm. I think it's a safe pickup. I did mention in yesterday's program, I'm not sure if I did it in the Leaf edition or the National Hour, that and you're, I think you said, oh, now you say that, but Brad Marshand in terms of resigning in Florida, I think it'll be too

challenging knowing that you may want to take another crack at Sam Bennett but there's if he's out there and he didn't get that extension from the Boston Bruins somebody may may give it to him. Who are you talking about? Brad Marchand. I know, but what team? You're saying Florida won't? I don't know. Or someone will.

Yeah, but like for years, could he potentially be looking for a Stamcoast type of contract? And we know it didn't work out well in Nashville, but that's not to say that Stamcoast can't have a rebound year in Nashville. And maybe it was too much of something else that Nashville's got to rebalance. But Marchand went from a guy that was, put it this way, I talked to maybe two or three teams after Four Nations and they told me flat out, he can't skate anymore. Can't keep up. Watching Four Nations, it was tough not to leave with that conclusion.

For sure. But we are also talking about like the best on the planet getting together to play a hockey game here. And although that we can we can level of that was This world it's the playoffs aren't as fast as that. No, there's nothing like what that was There's there's still like legitimate fourth line guys Yeah in the playoffs in the final four and it's not as fast and now Marchand looks really good again

Hmm that line killed the Leafs, killed the Leafs. I'm trying to find where, here we go, on hockey reference where they've got heart trophy votes. Marchand got heart trophy votes one, two, three, four, five separate seasons in the NHL, and he's been underpaid his whole career, right? He's made $68 million. I know that's a lot of money and he's been underpaid his whole career, right? He's made $68 million. I know that's a lot of money.

He's been worth double that. He's not participated in the new money and he got caught up in the, I can't get paid past Bergeron. The internal cap they had. Who set the Boston? It was Bergeron. Bergeron, right. Right? Who set the Boston, it was Bergeron. Bergeron, right?

So he did it, he signed it, he lived with it, didn't complain, didn't whine, kept playing hard. But when he asked for the money that he thinks he could possibly make up in Boston, they told him, go pound salt. So I think what choice he'll face then is do you want to play your dying years in the NHL, wrong word, and years in the NHL chasing Stanley Cups? Do you want to be part of good teams? Do you want to be in the hunt or do you want to get as much money as you can? And you know, to me, Steven Stamkos made a decision.

He was insulted. I think Tampa Bay tried to sign him for what, like eight years at three million a year. They wanted to give him like some, you know, we'll get to the dollar amount, just retire partway through to injury. I wanted the Ilya Kovalchuk devil's deal. That's what they wanted. And he ends up, he got, he went where he get the very most money. And it didn't go good.

So what's Marchand gonna want to be? He's too competitive to just go play for money in Anaheim. The one thing I believe that is gonna happen again, because of the salary cap rising is that there seems to be a level of belief that if you're Marchand or maybe Bennett or certainly Marner that if you want to go chase your money, you're going to have to go to Chicago, you're going to have to go to all these lower teams. And it's like, it's not true. There's going to be opportunities for these guys to sign a big number on contending teams.

Yeah, but if I'm looking at Brad Marchand, and I'm a contendingending team No chance this four years on the guy who you think is slowing down considerably makes sense I you know, what did he have for points this year? It's 47 points this year. Do you think do you think it makes sense for the Leafs to give him four years? Absolutely not No, he's God do it. Yeah, see see see the difference. Yeah. Yeah, I'm a dumb fan. He's smart Okay outside of Marlon leaving Yeah, how competitive can you be with a guy like Marchand and and Austin and and Willie and You and you've been missing that component for ten years in Toronto of a guy that's willing to get Greasy down and dirty greasy. Yeah, do you think?

down and dirty, greasy. Yeah. Do you think that he would sign here? Didn't the... Hold on. Didn't the Leafs have like a decade where they went and got expired superstars? Yes. Okay, I'm sorry. Which one was greasy and dirty?

Didn't they get like... Wayne Simmons was pretty greasy and dirty. No, no. I'm not talking about recent Leafs. Oh. Aren't you talking about pure-era Leafs? You mean like, yo, little Gwen Wesley Wesley in their little Phil Housley little Frank Yes, little Lindros come here Roberts, you know, what's funny? I'll bring those years back

Let's give it a try. Like you can't just get a guy cuz they've been awesome. Like you want to look forward not back Like you want to look forward, not back. Ah! Bring him in! Bring him in! And then you're doing Locker Cleanout April 17th into May 17th, and we got a lot of shows to do after that. Sammy would be content for just seeing him cross-check someone and knocking out some teeth. Yeah, but then he gets suspended for 50 games because he's a Leaf.

It still would be worth it. Wait till Sam Bennett's here and playing for 8.5 per season concussing guys. Sammy, the suspensions are going to be Chris Simonette. Till Sam Bennett's here and playing for eight and a half per season concussing guys Suspensions are gonna be Chris Simon Anyhow, I think he would sign here I do you I Think he'll go anywhere. He could make money and have fun. You mentioned Montreal yesterday for who? March and yeah, yeah. Canada boy. I totally see that.

And also his entire essence has been crushing the spirit of Leafs fans. Going to Montreal would be... I could see it. ...the resistance. I could see it. I cut... I think the Jets cleaned out their lockers today as well. And I was interested in what Connor Halbuck had to say because last year he

made some news I would say at the A-Locker clean out and I cut a clip from him about playoff goal tending and I don't know if it's bad or not. I cut it and I... Okay. Let's play... It's in there. Hellebuck clip one on playoff... I don't know if the idea that goal tending in the playoffs is clip one on playoff. Oh, sorry.

Goal tending in the playoffs is different than goal tending in the regular season. Not a whole lot. I mean, every team is plays a different and, you know, I think there's just the way the NHL goes, like sometimes goals are going to happen and goals go in. And, you know, there's not always something you can do about it. As far as my game goes I'm always trying to do something about it but you don't want to do too much and that's a big takeaway that I have is I

can't focus on doing everything. I just got to stick to my game and play my game and I know it's kind of in the long run even things out Bad bounces happen and sometimes you can't control them and playoffs a lot of chaos happens just trying to control that chaos was some big takeaways this year and You know, I maybe added a little bit of depth for playoffs, but you know when I finally started Realizing that my game works and I want to play my game I started having fun a lot more fun and you know at the end of the day that's when I play my best is when I'm having a lot of fun out there

and that's no it's not bad okay it's not bad okay okay compared to last year is pretty good I don't I I believe that he shouldn't kill himself. I mean, in terms of beating himself up in a press conference. He redeemed himself a little bit at times. He's right. It's sport. There's bounces. There's this time next year if he has another one. I hope it's a lot better sounding than this in terms of feeling maybe worse.

But I'm okay with what he said. I'd be interested in hearing what Jets fans think of that. Like if they wanted more ownership from him, you know, kind of giving them a self the pass on there. You can't stop them all. And there's bad bounces and a lot of bad bounces in the first round. The ice is bouncy in St. Louis. He got through.. He got through this isn't a team that's gonna get dismantled They're gonna get another crack at it. I like the guy like the gold they're gonna they're gonna team if it's not Nick

Healers back. It'll be someone close like that. I Think they can go get Brock Nelson. I think he would gladly go there and they'd be happy to give him seven or eight million bucks. I think though, the answer to is playoff hockey different from regular season hockey. How can you say no? Like there's more, yes, there's more traffic and bumping and screens and shots from the point

and desperation, it's definitely different. Every meeting starts with take the goalie's eyes away. Yes. And so if you're a goalie who has success playing deep in your net, maybe you need to make a small adjustment and try to be on top of those tips more before they have more room to change direction. It's different. Puck just kept pointing the net.

I don't think it was anything terrible. I just think you'd like a little bit more. Yeah And he's a really good student He's the best in the world. He watches anyone on the planet and also more Would you send him to summer school though? No, he doesn't need it. He does it himself can't one man summer school Morrissey Says today at the clean out that he would have been sidelined for the rest of the Jets playoff run with his knee injury. Yeah, that was awkward.

Awkward. He's so good. I basically knew kind of right away that I was injured and I obviously left some so just frustration. Remember my knee doing the old wobble. You probably know pretty quick. So that's the one time that you it's like legit like yeah He's hurt. Yeah

I do I just go to that way too much in general I'm not talking about Austin Matthews today in Toronto But in general the media just loves going to find out who was hurt and what they were hurt But LeBron James couldn't go to the Met Gala's hammy hurt so much. So hammy I don't know what the hell wasBron James couldn't even go to the Met Gala as Hammy hurt so much. So Hammy. I don't know what the hell it was, but he said he couldn't go to the Met Gala. So yeah, you mentioned Morrissey being so good. I think we talk about the most underrated guys. I think he does get underrated in terms of how good he is.

I mean, him at that Four Nations when he wasn't playing in the finals, oh boy, that's a huge blow. He was really good for Canada. So I like Morrissey. Me too. But the pounding some of these guys have taken in just even half a playoff round, let's face it. They're not even halfway, like they are halfway through,

but that's the kind of feeling, and I went to a conference final with the Washington Capitals and you're like, still look around, there's only four teams left, and you're like, wow, we're really close to a Stanley Cup. So far. So far. You're not. Still need to get more.

You're not. The same thing you just did twice? Yeah. You gotta do it two more times. So the Chris Tanev hits taken thing, I tweeted yesterday. 100 and what? It was 107, 106, 107, and then the second highest was 57.

12. It was like half though. He's a pinata. It was like7, 106, 107, and then the second highest was 57. It was like half though. He's a pinata. It was like just under half. And like, you know, I got a lot of different responses to that. And a lot of that is, and I want to ask you, that's a massive disparity. A lot of people are too slow or he can't, you know, they were blaming him for taking all those hits where a lot of people like to say willing to take the hit to

make a play warrior you know I think you can kind of see what I want on that but I think if they would have found a way to beat Florida he would have recovered nicely against Carolina compared to Florida Florida like they're one of the most physical teams probably in the like I know there were their Broad Street bully days yeah but that was different This this team is as physical without I think, you know, the Dave Schultz of the world tells the last season. Yeah, tell Jacob Slaven to keep his head up this time and Sam Bennett on the ice. Oh, yeah. Love that. All right. Just like that. Two hours and solved nothing on our show. Thanks for watching. Thanks for

listening. Enjoy the game tonight. 8pm on Sportsnet.