Real Kyper & Bourne - Vegas' Game 1 Statement + Leafs Coach Search Update

Episode Date: June 3, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee look back on the Golden Knights' win over the Hurricanes to open the Stanley Cup Final. They discuss Shea Theodore's bounce-back after an early mistake, John Tortorella's effective timeout, and the Hurricanes' top line running out of time to get going. Hockey Night in Canada analyst Craig Simpson joins the show (11:10) to share his thoughts on Game 1, Vegas' star power, how the Canes can wake Sebastian Aho up, and whether Game 2 is a must-win for Carolina. Later, Nick, Justin and Sam assess Peter Laviolette and Patrick Roy's potential fit as head coach in Toronto. 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.

Are we waiting for the nod here? It's going on? There's a little red button here. And I don't talk until it magically turns on. And our good buddy, Derek Brandejo, said, sorry, I hit the wrong button. All right. But we're good to go now. Here we go.

We got the red light. We also got game one under our belt during the Stanley Cup final. Here to discuss Nick Pryos, Justin Boren, Sammy McKee, Jake the Snake Shilts and of course Derek Brandeale. We are live on Sportsnet 590, the fan. Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet Plus. Also available, Spotify, Apple, and YouTube,

where we love a thumbs up. This hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to by Bet365, this fastest hour in hockey brought to by Bet365. All right, boys, maybe not the way you kind of thought. it would plan out with Carolina at home. At least it did for the first, what, couple of minutes. And then, J.B., what happened? A lot more goals than I thought.

You know, I think I said coming out of yesterday's show that I thought it would be a low-scoring affair. 5-4 in regulation was not the outcome I saw. But interesting, you know, I think we learned a lot about how this series is going to look. Carolina looks like the rush team. had four rush chances to Vegas is zero, and Vegas looked like the cycle team, which you had talked about,

16 cycle chances to Carolina 6. So heavier, Vegas versus faster Carolina. Up to nothing that quick. And Sammy, you're thinking, what? I thought that the first period, the goal that,

I don't know if they ended up giving it to Colossar or Shea Theodore, but the one that made it to 1, I thought completely changed the game. I think they kind of, it woke them back up, got them back into that game because they were, I mean, for the first 10 minutes of that first period, I don't know how many times they got behind Vegas. Like it just felt like they were way faster. They couldn't handle the speed. And that goal kind of settled them in and they started playing their game a little bit. Love the time out by torts.

But yeah, I thought after that first 10 minutes, I was like, oh, man, maybe this will be a quicker series the other way. But I don't know. It's going to be a long one I feel like. In a few minutes, we'll welcome Craig Simpson, former national hockey league or two times. only cup champion. He, of course, is calling the game for SportsNet. We'll get his thoughts. As far as mine are concerned, to your point, a little bit

Sammy, with Carolina getting behind that Vegas D, I really thought Vegas's blue line just forgot to show up and they were going to give the game away. And it started with a flat

footed Shay Theodore. Who never made another mistake after that, basically? I mean, it's very rare you see a guy so bad so early and then turn around and be the best player on the ice but that's that's what happened and I think it's just a sign that hey Vegas has got like five or six of these guys that have that ability to break a game open yeah a theater goal and two assists I think McNabb had a career best three assists in that game as well so they got some offense from the back end the theater played a how it and it was pretty unbelievable

Freddie Anderson, not great for me. You know, the second goal, Carolina's up to one. Second period starts. Barbershev. Barbershev. Eichl was so good for me all night. Like, to me, just, you know, he played the most minutes. The forward he played the most was Jordan Stahl.

The D was Jacob Slavin. And I thought he was, he looked in control of the game. I thought he was okay. But I think there's such another level for him, too. And he was good. Yeah. I'm not taking away where you're saying. Yeah.

He was good, but he can even be better. And I think that's a bit of a scary thought. For me last night, I thought Vegas overall may have played one of their worst games in, like, the last three or four weeks. I think both teams are not sharp. If that may be the worst game Vegas plays in this series, which means I'm really hoping it's not going to be a short series. because I'd like to see it go six or seven games. I didn't see anything out of game one that tells me that Vegas can't put this thing away early.

Really? Yeah. Yeah. I just, the thing that I brought up yesterday when we did our picks, there's just stars. And like, I mean, we've talked about this with Moneyball over the years

when we've watched that movie where they conveniently left out like that they had Miguel DeHada and three of the best pitchers in the league where they forgot that part of the movie. Anyways, I digress. the point of that was was that like the stars when you get to the biggest time the stars are what matter and that's like the difference and like over a long sample

size money ball can work and I guess it's like a money puck situation it's more of a four-line thing but just when that game kind of it just was it's ikel and it's Theodore and it's hurdle who is not necessarily a star but he's a guy that's kind of paid to be one it's marner with the great pass it's just I don't know I don't know if Carolina has that factor and that part of it when these games get big, it worries me for Carolina. And they know, right? They've been trying to get the rant and the ginsle. It's tough to get it over the top. Tortorello with a timeout that was very telling last night on our telecast on Sportsnet.

Boy, the mic'd up, eh? Like the league's all over the mic'd up. They love the mic up. They do. And who doesn't outside of the team and coaches? That was amazing. We got to literally hear exactly what he said. That was awesome. our chances. Don't let him go east-west.

You're like, oh, I'm going to poo-poo on an amazing thing. Time for poo-poo-poo man over here. Yeah, I'm going to poop-poo. Yeah, poop-poo man coming on. I'm okay. No, no, no. I'm okay with all of that, Sammy, because, you know, you get educated. I get it.

But like, the referee before the game with a, before we get started, let me just say how lucky we are to be here. Grandma, Thanksgiving. Oh, my. Good day. Buddy. Just drop the pot. Could not agree more with that.

Please. That's what, now we're down to the referee giving us a little raw, raw. Are we like, what's better than this? I'll tell you what's better than this. Dropping it. A good officiating. No one knowing who you are. Exactly.

A better officiated game. That's what's better than this. Throw the disc on the ice and let's get out of the way, boys. Was it the Four Nations or the Olympics? I don't know. a ref like, let's get at her, boys. I don't know. I have such an appreciation how hard,

how hard they work and work. I love our official bread. They're great. But nobody wants to hear you talk. Yeah, I'm with you, man. Okay, I'm with you. All right. And how about, I mean, now that we're on the officiating,

that final draw in the third period in the offense of his own, put the puck on the ice. It's the biggest. moment of the game. Drop it, Superstar. No one's here to see you. All right.

All right. Other than that, we love you guys. We love you. You guys. Just to go back on Tortorella's timeout, very telling.

Let's have a listen. Tortorella clip three on his timeout. Yeah. Yeah. We talked about it. I think we have thoughts on how to play

this team. And we're down to nothing. I don't think we're playing that way. And so, we just discussed that. God, that's great. It's like, hey, we have a game plan. Can we play the game plan?

We might lose doing it, but let's play it. It's just like enough with the East West boys. And if you take away, if you take away Theodore's bad pinch, Jack Eichel throwing it up the middle, Hanuffin thrown up the middle, I don't know. Are we talking about a 5-1 game, a 5-2 game? They handed, they handed Carolina this. They didn't, like, make them work for it.

No credit to Carolina for making for the place. This is such a nice move. Oof. Back in fine. I thought Hart was a little stinky. Yeah, I didn't too. Right. Yeah.

And that to me is, is what he was talking. The moment they cleaned that up, yeah. It got a lot tougher. I thought early on, like as Carolina was trying to run some regroups and where they would get it in against Montreal

and they'd sort of establish that forecheck, I just thought Vegas was really well positioned in the neutral zone, really heavy, really tough to get through for a Carolina team that just had the puck the whole last series. So, you know, they made their adjustments game one after Montreal, learn how the other team's going to look, feel, and play, and they got to do that. But Kip, they need that Ajo, Jarvis and Svetikov line to do something.

True one in the net. You cannot have Jordan Stahl being your best player who's going to be 38 in a few weeks. They have one good shift? Was it that? They almost shot it in. That was it. That was it.

You can't, it's just like, and you can't have him eating up all those minutes. Well, you know, this actually brings up an interesting conversation because bunk and I were texting last night. Seth Jarvis,

you know, Team Canada, right? Four Nations, Olympics, big name now. He's a star. He's been in lots of playoff runs.

He's got to start having some moments. He's got to start separating himself. I like him a lot. I do too. Okay. But he's not a star. No, but if he can be, okay, Yankee Gord's not a star,

but can have big moments for Tampa Bay. Can you have some moments? No, you need stars. I understand. You need stars. And Sammy just mentioned it, and he's 100% right. And Seth Jarvis,

Blake, Nick Eelers, they're wonderful players, but they're supposed to be those great supporting guys that can hold the fort down for you when your big boys aren't going, and it's like it's they're running out of time fast on the Sebastian Ahio and the uh especially the Cobb and if those guys don't get going if they don't put up a night where they

got three points I it could be a very fast series and he I mean they coughed one up right in the center of the ice trying to stick handle all it's like man they're just not a factor and they need to be yeah big time okay let's welcome in Craig Simpson after calling game one on Sports Nets, two-time Stanley Cup champion. Always great to have you on the show. Zimmer, how are you, man? I'm doing great, Jets. How are these three doing?

Yeah, we're good. We got lots of, you know, thoughts on game one. Yep. You know, just overall, let's just start with your thoughts on a quick start out of Carolina and then it's as if, like, the roof caved in. Yeah, I think it's amazing how. I always find that it never ceases to amaze me how, you know, we have such great matchups and battles throughout the playoffs.

Round one is usually the most exciting, most compelling. I always find game one of the final. It's just there's too much unfamiliarity and not a lot pent-up anger between the two teams. They've battled so hard to get to this moment, and let's face it, like that game one is different than any game they've played all year. even though they played through three rounds of the playoffs, it's the bloody standing cup. And it feels different.

Nick, as you know, it's just a whole different dynamics for the game. So I always find it's a kind of feel it out game. And often it's not anywhere near the best one of the final. But, you know, Carolina couldn't have asked for a better start. I was just listening to you guys before. You know, a veteran in Theodore gets caught. The Euler shows his speed.

first shot on heart, you know, the pressure of being in the finals, bang. Couldn't have anything go wrong. And so I do think Carolina's got to be feeling, you know, where did we let that game go? And, you know, that Tortarella time was in the first TV timeout. So he didn't even have to waste his timeout, but it just shows you just how much runway is left in these games and how quickly games can change. We've seen it. Vegas has the most comeback victory. of teams in the in the playoffs so they they're comfortable with that they just got back from being down three nothing to Colorado in game three and won that so you know that it's a it's a calmness that they have I always say you know the the two one situation where stan

coven got a breakaway to me that's the game right there if that kid scores on that breakaway all of a sudden, hearts given up three in the first, you know, 13 minutes of game one. They're back on their heels again after settling it down with the Theodore goal. And I think those are the little moments that get you through a shaky first period. And as we saw, it was the, you know, reverse opposite where it was the early goal in the, what, first 30 seconds by Barbachev. I agree.

Not a real great one. than a great play by Marner to Carlson, and all of a sudden it's like, oh my gosh, what happened to our game? So I often feel, guys, you have to, as a player, get into this series and understand what it is like playing these guys live.

You know, they haven't played Vegas since October 20th and 28th. So you have no familiarity. You have no context to go. He just played series against a different type of team, different types of individuals. you have to experience early in a series that you go, oh, I didn't realize Jack Eichael was so strong around the puck. I didn't realize how fast he was.

You know, the Deagle, I can't believe how Stone gets his stick in the way and strips puck. You know, it's all those little battles now that you have to get your brain and your body aware of and you have to change course from what your other series were like. And I always think that takes about four periods of hockey. and hopefully we'll see what that brings for game number two. Do you think that matchups will have, you know, be an interesting thing to follow in the series?

Like I just, you know, looking at some of the numbers who played head-to-head. Eichel played a lot against Stahl and Martinook, Slavin and Chatfield. You know, those are kind of their bigger, heavier guys, you know, which kind of freed up some other Vegas lines. Do you think Brindamor will continue to chase those matchups or maybe try to get his own guys away from, you know, certain guys on Vegas? Well, I think it all depends on, you know, I think you guys were talking about how good you thought. And again, seeing it live, seeing Ico live, you get a greater appreciation, the things away from the puck,

and the things he does with the puck and the confidence. So if I'm Rod, you know, your mindset is to say, okay, can stall, shut them down. I think everything changes if the top line for Vegas becomes all of a sudden just way too much to handle. Then you do really need to hard match and say, I got to have Slavin out there every time. Or if that's not working, maybe you've got to change a pairing to try to deal with what you're handling. You know, coming in to this, the highest scoring line was the Stancovin line. They had 19 goals. The Carlson line had 18 and the Iko line had 17.

Well, you know, it changes after game one. You sort of put your stamp on this final. and that's something, Justin, that in the conference final, Brindamore didn't really have to worry about a matchup at all. And for Torts, when you've got the Aho line not doing anything and even Rodson, yeah, like our top guys have to find a way to be better and score, then Torts can roll his guys. Let the other guy dictate.

Even when you're on the road, I don't think he's all that worried or concerned. and, you know, I know that Aho, I heard you talking before about the star players. I take the view of the highly skilled guys are tilted towards Vegas, and they're more dangerous, and they have more game breakers, even Barbashev, who, you know, you wouldn't consider a star. He's a playoff performer. You had in these lineups, you know, 13 guys from Vegas who have been in the Stanley Cup compared to, in the finals compared to three for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Vegas has more goals in the Stanley Cup finals collectively than Carolina has games played. So that does make a difference. I think you saw it in game one how they handle it. And I just think you've got to find a way to get that Aho line going. Didn't play a whole lot. You know, Aho was, what, 1731, Svetchnikov, who's got to be. be a big player, 1524. I know that's Rod. When it's clicking and everyone's going, you play kind of a four-line game. I think you're going to be forced to get out of it and almost not embarrass

your top guys, but push your top guys and put them in situations to say, hey, we've got to find a way to get in this series. And if you can't find a way to score, we're not going to win. You're listening to Craig Simpson, former National Hockey League, two-time Stanley Cup champion, calling games for Sportsnet. Game one, game two goes tomorrow night. Zimmer, just to touch base on Sebastian Aho, like you ran shotgun with some of the best players in the world with Mess and Mario playoff games.

What would he be going through right now? And to get going, like, what does he need to do? Is there internal pressure in the dressing room? Would someone challenge him? would like how does how does he get going simmer yeah well the coaches challenged them enough in the last two three days leading up here was just acknowledging that they're not been good enough and they you know you have to find a way i i do think the onus is on rod if i'm a ho you know guys i think everybody looks at carolina and how they weren't able to get past the conference final

for three straight tries is because of this factor they're a good team, but they're not a dynamic team that can take over a game or doesn't have an individual like our, you know, Captain Mark Messy or Wayne Greggikiu, or even a Yari Curry, like you name it to different guys that can change a game. And I think if I am Maho, you know, you've got enough, you've played over 100 games in the playoffs now, your first goal at the Stanley Cup final, I'd be going into Rod and say, Rod, I know we're not going well, but you've got to play me. You got to play the hell out of me.

And you've got to get me and force me to get into this game. I know for me personally, those big games in a final, I think of game four in 1990. We were up two to one to the Bruins, but the Bruins just beat us in a two one game on home ice. Just the mode that you go into as a player, as you say, I have to be more physical. I have to get in and every single shift I have to win my battle. I have to find a way to get to the net. And if I'm not scoring, I'd better be in those areas where at least I have an opportunity. And you go into that game with a different determination than maybe you've ever had at all.

And, you know, I've been blessed to play with two Hall of Famers in Mark Messy and Glenn Anderson. And just the whole personality that you have that day is just saying this game is different. And this game is relying on our line to take us to that next level. has to be the one that sets the toll. And so you, in every single shift, and every single moment you have, I know who I'm going to go up against. I know what winger I'm going to be playing against.

I know what deep hair I'm going to be playing against. And I am going to win every battle that I can. I'm just not going to be denied. And, you know, watching Carolina and not, they don't have a lot of guys with that kind of personality. And I would say, Ajo doesn't fall in to that kind of personality. Maybe Svetnikov can. He can be an authority.

in the side and that. But guys, that's what you have to have. And I'm looking for that tomorrow, saying if I'm Carolina, and I think Rod's words today even were, hey, if we don't start score and start playing better and executing better, you know, we don't have a chance to win against these guys. This is a, you know, as early as you can get,

it's a must win, I think, for Carolina. Yeah, couldn't agree more. And one of those things is Freddie Anderson's got to be better. I think both goaltenders, Simmer, might look at game one and go, okay, you know, dove into the deep end of the pool here and might be a little more ready for game two. Yeah, I think they were both nervous. They were both a little off.

That's why, Justin, I go back to the heart breakaway stop on staying cold. I think that game is over. I know there is still two periods left, but it just would have changed everything again that, you know, not allowed Vegas to say, hey, we didn't have a very good first year. but we're only down by one. Like, let's get back and play. I thought both goaltenders had a little bit Stanley Cup final nerves

and didn't play their best. I agree with you that I don't think from the way Vegas has played in their six-game winning street coming in, he would, courts would probably say that was one of our, you know, worse executed games, but we got through it and we won. And that's what the fine line of winning a cup is. You know, Rod Brindromer said it was a four-four, game and Jarvis had a very similar shot that Hurdle scored on. Jarvis didn't score.

They go back at the other end, make two great plays and Hurdle does. And, you know, that's the difference between being up one-nothing in the Stanley Cup final and not. You know, sometimes it's just those one little moments that just changed the landscape. And every time you lose one of those games, you don't have the ability to recover from more mistakes as you go along. And that's why I think the game is imperative for Carolina to just be a much better team and find a way to win that. So let me leave you with this. How imperative is tomorrow night, Simmer? Is there a world where Carolina goes down to nothing on their way to Vegas here and still has a chance to make a series out of this thing? Well, I can see a chance where they do go down to nothing. You know,

I think Vegas is going to be a much better team tomorrow and you just hope and expect the Carolina will. But, you know, we've seen this movie too many times. You get down two nothing, and especially when you lose the two on your home ice. It's just so hard. I watched, you know, Edmonton two years ago go down three nothing and fought valiantly. And I lived it in 06 as an assistant coach. You know, we went down 3-1 and fought valiantly. You come back and you lose a one goal game in game seven. You know, that you just, you can't allow yourself. to be put in those situations where the margin for any mistake at all is just taken away. And trust me, if Carolina loses tomorrow night, you're feeling going into a Vegas arena

and a team that has experience, has confidence, has guys who have won, have a real hunger for putting a team under, I think it's far too much to try to overcome. Isn't this funny, Simmer, like I watched that Barbachev last night. I think he threw eight hits, which was a game high by a good distance. He was a heat-seeking missile. And it just feels like when you're talking about the playoffs, you can't play 82 games like that. Like, you just have to know that certain guys like that have value

when you get to these moments because you can't do that all the time. So when you're doing that as the left winger, when you've got a guy like Jack Eichel who retrieves the puck on the one, you know, the play he made for the Barbershev goal, you know when you're a wrecking ball you know that a defenseman's looking over his shoulder every time he goes oh god i'm going to get nailed again here you know it's coming and you've got the skill of an icel who just you know sifts in and grabs the puck makes something happen you got dorfia who's a legitimate goal scorer now you know an incredible regular season 37 goals and he's been a good playoff performer too those are the things

I'm saying that when you talk as a line, you all know what your role has. And when you have a guy who can score like Barbashev does, but just literally wreak havoc and bring some fear. Like no defenseman wants to get plastered to the glass every time he touches the puck. And over the course of the series, it becomes an issue and it becomes a weakness.

And those kind of guys, that combination of a line, are what can take advantage of it. And that's what I said. When I look at the Carolina side, I just I don't see that. You know, I don't see the combination there. And I think that's what's always kind of been lacking with them in these deep series when, you know, everything is so tight.

And that's something they're going to have to find in their game, I think, to come back and make it a really good series. Zimmer, always great having you on the show with tremendous insight. Thanks for doing this, pal. All right. Thanks, guys. Take care. Thanks, Simmer.

Appreciate it. Greg Simpson. And we should take a moment to acknowledge that his, partner, Chris Cuthbert, won the Foster Hewitt Award, which is fantastic and well-deserved. Congratulations. D.C. does an awesome job. Great call on the first goal, too. It's really exciting. Barbershev is a truck. He's a truck. He's a big dude. And it's so funny to see him turn it on like that, where he's just like,

I'm just going to run into absolutely everything. So Sammy may not want to hear this, but when the Leafs traded for Ryan O'Reilly, they try to get Brian O'Reilly. and Barbashev. That'd have been a difference maker. They couldn't do it. They couldn't do it. And then they ended up going and getting Achari at that same time?

Achari was a similar style player. Poor man's. Just doesn't have the offensive upside that Barbertschev has. They pound. They pound. I thought Carolina did a good job. Martinuk had a couple of big hits.

They didn't carry a destroyed Lauson. They couldn't keep up. They can't keep up. Carolina cannot keep up. I don't know. So they're cooked. You have this short series and totally don't. I'm really, I'd be, yeah, concerned.

Like, I. Yeah. They looked tiny to me last night, Carolina. I think that's so crazy. I don't, you know, like I definitely think Vegas, it looks bigger. Yeah. But I thought there's a couple of heavy hits from Carolina last night. A couple, yep, a couple, but I think they out hit them two to one.

Yeah. The forwards. I don't know what the numbers were. Yeah. at least it felt that way Shall we? I hate to agree with Kipper But I totally agree with Kipper

Why do you hate to agree with Kipper? Because I don't want the Golden Nights To win in four or five games But after watching that game last night I think it could be I said Vegas in 6 I don't know I don't know

Big one to more night Big one of more night All right what are you got for us Sammy I have game time It's game time Presented by Bet 365 An official partner of the NHL Must be 19 plus Ontario only

Please play responsibly just looking at the Kahn Smyth Trophy odds Mitch Marner is minus 115 to win the Konsmite. He is now a minus money. That's Frederick Anderson still the second favorite plus 375. Don't understand that one. Yeah. Oh, that short side goal I didn't like it all, I? Barbersheves? No. No. Jack Eichel

plus 850. Don't mind the value on that. That's a good value. I feel like he's going to start getting a little bit hot here. Taylor Hall is the next closest hurricane at 10 to 1. Stank, Govan 12 to 1. 8.50, eh? The odds for the series have shifted significantly. After one game, it is now Carolina plus 130. Vegas is minus 155. So they saw that game last night and they're like,

that one game out on, that's a big swing for one game. Well, you know, you're down in the series. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, but that's still, I think they were minus 160 favorites in the series. That's a really, I was. surprised at that. I thought that would be the favorite for sure. But yeah.

Guess not. And Blue Jays look to continue their slog of a season. They were so close to getting to 500, were they? Jeff Hoffman, that Saturday afternoon game. Poison in the water. Just a tough one. Just a tough one. They are plus 125 underdogs night with Patrick Corbyn on the mound going up against the league

leading Atlanta Braves. Now is game time presented by Bet365, an official partner of the NHL. Must be 19 plus, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. And as a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Born is brought to you by Bet365. Okay, catch our breath when we return, maybe a little update on Sammy's Maple Leafs, on coaches. Man, it's about time. Yeah, about damn time.

I'd like for this to happen at some point. Gary Bettman had lots to say yesterday. We'll get into that as well. Plenty more when we return to Real Kipper and Born. The best Blue Js show out there, period. Blair and Barker. Be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome back in studio, Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee, what do you got for, Sammy? Time now for the Accura Performance Matchup, the 2026 Accura MDX, precisely premium. Game two. Tomorrow night. A few stats coming off of game one. Okay.

This one I love a lot, actually. Shea Theodore and Brayne McNab, who both had three points, became the first teammate defenseman to record three points in game one of the Stanley Cup final. It was just a third time a defensive dude has teamed up in any game. Brian Leach and Sergei Zubov did it in game four of 1994 final. And Charlie Huddy and Paul Koffey did it in game four of the 1985 final. So very rare that two defensive teammates get. three points each in a final.

So there you go. Hurdle gave Vegas the lead with 324 remaining in regulation, marking the latest go-ahug goal in any Stanley Cup final contest since game six in 2017 when Patrick Hornquist scored at the 5825 mark. Two things about that goal. First off, the past by Sizzins. Oh, my God. It's got to be the best of his career.

Behind the back to the slot right on the tape. But Hurdle's coming into that one in the slot. That shot was I mean, just absolutely wired it into a pocket. Look at this play. Back in. He kind of felt bad for Gostis Bear just overmatched. Like,

he said he took a rest for a second there. Kind of got warm. I mean, the past. You know, and hurdle to me has got like Marion Hosa-like qualities. Yeah. And if you're just a big mule,

that's all you are out there, which is a really. What a play. good thing to be. Yeah. Vegas became the first road team ever to stage a multi-goal comeback in a win in game one of the Stanley Cup final. I saw, yeah.

That's, ever. That's crazy. Saw someone say, and look forward to Vegas unceremoniously trading hurdle 48 hours after they win the cup because this caps too much. And even if they weren't, Sammy, who's going to look it up, you know? It's good point.

Say whatever you want, Sam. Who's going to search for that? On a Monday. Yeah. I mean, that is an incredibly relevant stat to what we're talking about. The first time ever a team in the game one of the final has had a multi-goal come back and won. Yeah. That's not like a random weird stat.

No, that's impressive. He's just saying we don't. I'm just saying. I'm just, you're actually listening now. That's nice. The Golden Knights Thomas Hurdle, four goals in his last eight games. Before that, he had four goals in his last 43.

Yeah. So getting hot at the right time. Actually, we have a great torts clip on Hurtle. I think it's the first clip I put in there. Derek, play that clip for us on hurdle. Clip one. Yeah, I haven't coached him for long, and a lot of those games weren't that good. So I think he's grown.

I think he never stopped working. I thought there were some major struggles in his game, but he never stopped working at his game. And it's just great timing just to try to balance our lines. up. He's given us some very important minutes. Oh, I can't believe this guy wears out as welcome. Like, he's talked the whole time and it's good time he got hot. What a brutal quote to give.

Buddy, like the last thing I want to hear from a head coach describing me with major struggles. This guy's been not. He's been not very good. He works hard, but God, he sucks. He finally shot one in. It's like a doctor saying, you need major surgery. What do you mean major? Yeah, yeah.

You had a good day yesterday. You need major surgery. Oh my God. It made the tricks to hire torts with eight games left in the season. Have you had nine, the guys might have turned him on. Hurtle, though. Like, you've been killing him too. You've been killing Dora Faye.

Dora Faye have got straightened out, but he was a disaster all season. Even though he was shooting in the net, he was causing just as many goals. That got cleaned up. Hurtle now is on your third line. Stone. A little trouble with this. pace of play for Stone, but still so smart. And that guy's now on your third line,

slotted in tough, tough challenge for Carolina looking at those three lines with hurdle, Marner and Eichel and Barbashev on the front lines. Yeah. Yeah, and if Quentin Howlton is going to, or Brett, who's Quentin Howden? Is that a person too? He's also an NHL player.

Okay, if Brett Howlens is going to shoot in the net every night too, you're going to have a tough time being. They're just everyone's course. Anyways, that was the Accura Performance Matchup, the 2026 Accura MDX Precisely, premium. Who's Quentin Houddon? I played before him.

I assume it's a brother. Okay. I'm going to look that up what you guys thought. Leaves? Coaching. Thank God. All right, Sammy, you could start lighting up like a Christmas tree now.

It's your time, baby. Quint Houten played 97 crew games. You like some of the names of Peter Laviolette? or Patrick Waugh. You liking Patrick? I'm a big Patrick fan. I know you are. Absolutely.

So tell us. What are your thoughts? Yeah. How's the thing? Yeah. My thoughts are usually with Peter Laveolette, that guy is Tortorella. That's what he is. He's going to come in and he's going to help you try to win kind of now.

So that's not a good thing for the Leafs. if they can't get Cassidy in Edmonton, then I think Peter Lavio Letts, the guy. In Edmonton? Yes. Oh, wow. For me. Yeah.

Petroquois kind of reinvented himself with the juniors and the Memorial Cup in the queue. Can he work with McKenna, or however that turns out at the draft and be that guy that can. groom these some of these younger kids including you know still matthew nize is fairly young easton cowen maybe there's a marley in there for sammy next year marley's minute but i have a chance

to go up three one in the series tonight but for for those two names now to come in thinking like you're going to get this team to win now i think you got to be leaning towards those kids for me is more important. Or someone that's committed to, it's okay, we got to develop these. You don't think Patrick Wall would have that patience? Yeah. I don't know.

What did you hear about the island? Was it a fairly decent experience for some of the younger kids? I think that's the question for Leafs fans is like, how is he different than Craig Barubi, right? They're both kind of motivators, old school, type of guys. For me, he is someone who holds people accountable in a way that Barubi didn't.

But I'll tell you, the numbers there were gross. Like they were not much better than here in Toronto in terms of controlling play, possession, trying to have the puck. So I think he would need some support with X's and O's. But I think they can provide that. And I do think that, again, he is someone, he sat down Matthew Barzal,

and he'll sit guys down. So I don't know. Can I ask about the labia, that thing about the win now? Like, what indication have they given you that they're not trying to win now? No, no. The indication is there that they're trying to win now. Yeah.

That's not the problem. The problem is I don't see it. Like, they see it. Okay. Well, I mean, that's fair. That's a different conversation. But, like, if John Chica and co are looking at this team that, like, we want to win when we have Austin Matthews under contract.

Yes. Then I guess Peter Lavielette would make sense. Totally. Right? Like, I think you guys are talking about different things, even though you're aware of what each other is saying. Yeah. I mean, I'm okay with it, but I don't think it'll be a very...

You don't think it'll work? I don't think it'll work, and I don't think it's a smart hire for even Peter Lavio Let. So you think the Leafs are going to stink next year? I'm not saying stink, Sammy, but I don't think that they can legitimately challenge for Stanley Cup. Okay. If that's what we're all insinuating, that still is the goal for the Leafs. But you think it may be a playoff team next year? I think there's a chance that they could be one of those teams that can just get.

in and then where do you go after that? Yeah. Lose to six games in Buffalo like Boston did or something. You know, what's really tough is just the division is so good. Florida's coming back. Buffalo's way better. Montreal's better. Tampa's not going away.

Like, Leif's going to get better. Ottawa is still there. Tell me what kind of summer they have, Sammy. Tell me how the UFA. Trochecker Barzell? Can I ask before, I just think that this coaching search and the reported names and everything that's come up here, I just, I don't know what the direction is. It's like, maybe nobody knows anything and that's just like people are just throwing stuff

at a wall and it's, but like it's David Carl and it's Patrick Waugh and it's Jay Woodcroft still in the midst, apparently. It just feels like they're going in a hundred different directions. They said they were going to cast a widespread net, but like. Which they apparently are doing. Seems like it because of every name that you've heard. I just think it'll tell you a lot about Darrell Sutter in here. Buddy, I would be good for book sales. Wouldn't hurt.

Want to know his philosophy? I got it. I just, I think you'll learn a lot about what they're trying to do with this team when they actually hire a coach. Like if they hire Peter Laviolette, then picks are on the table. They're going to try to be better.

They're going to try to trade for, I just don't know. Patrick Wall would be fun. Patrick Wall would by far be our best, Kippers Clippers. we would be to the moon as a show if we could track down Patrick. Do you have any indication of what they're trying to do

with a coaching search? It just feels so random these names. I don't, Sammy. I think it's as wide open as it appears. Listen to everyone. You know, have the conversation, see what people are thinking, see who's a good fit. Our very own Elliot Friedman,

I think, reported that he has no indications that David Carl's out, even though some others are saying he's out. And what does that mean? Does that mean he wants more money? Yeah, as we said yesterday, I sure hope not. Yeah, you hope it's trying to figure out logistics or something. But I do, I think the fundamental question is,

are they trying to hire someone who's going to execute the strategy from above? Or are they trying to hire the best guy and then going to provide that person with the players they need for their strategy? So I think the frustrating part for you is there is no, no indication to go back to our question to Brad Tree Living a long time ago. What's the plan? There will be a plan. There will be a plan.

We, nope, nobody knows based on the names that we hear. There's no way to Sammy's point, can you read into what the game plan is. And is that on purpose? Yes. Okay. Well, I also think that part of it is like what's available. Right? You go into the offseason going, okay, we want to be awesome. What can we get? Like if we can't be awesome, maybe we have to think differently.

I think even with the coaching search, with UFAs, with trades, a lot of it's just figuring out what your options are before you can make a choice. And so right now I'm sure there's a lot of figuring out what's available to us. Who's available to us? Decisions are going to have to be made one way or the other. and I know the reports are that Austin seems to be okay right now, but I wonder why that is. Please just read the T-Leafs, guys, you know, on two years left on his contract. And the windows, Austin's window and the Leafs window, do they meet?

Do they not meet? God, he's a good hockey player. Who's got? The ability to leave in two years. Yeah. You know, they hire... Two years, though. You know, that's a big risk to hire John Chica and, like, all the stuff that comes with him

and the surrounding sort of narrative. Like, he's just going to come in and hire Peter Lavioette. No. You know? I don't believe it. Neither do I. Like, I really, I don't see that. Or, like, even Patrick Waugh.

You rather have a hire, a young hire that we don't know of that could just develop into something. Yes, 100%. I think that's safe to say that that's more his, I think, ammo right now is that I'm going to find something out there that's going to make

me look really good. I don't know that... You see why they want Carl, right? It checks every box for what they want. And I know Friege brought the name Halpern, right? Who's been on the bench with... Yes. And I don't know anything about any of these assistant coaches, but like...

That is the funniest thing in all this. What do you think of Jeff Halpern's? I don't know. Like Tampa wins, but what do I know about his impact on that? Correct. But the idea of a guy that's been on a bench with a pedigree coach, surrounded by a bunch of players in a great organization, who's ready to take the next step.

That on the paper on paper to me seems like a good idea. Will he be good? No idea. But I'd rather that than like, Laviolead, I guess. I think Lavielette's smart. I do too. And we've been a great interview on our show,

but I just, I don't know if it's the right. matchup like Kipper said. Okay. What do we know about Gary Bettman and some of the things that you pulled from his press conference? Do you have your... I do, yeah. So what strikes you?

You like the All-Star stuff, Sammy. Well, you're an international guy. I don't care about the All-Star game. Russia's in. I know, but can we just... No, Russian players are in, Russia the country's out. Also, the Olympic... What do you think about that?

The All-Star athletes for Russia? Do you think there's going to be some pushback there? I mean Are they done attacking Ukraine? No, that's still happening? So it's changed. Nothing? We're tired of it.

We just want them to play hockey. Can you see the fact that like if we If you're not taking a stance on them in your own league, how can you keep them out of this? No, no, it's just the hypocrisy of being like, now it's fine. Is funny? Not even funny, but it's glaring. They were just waiting for the IHF.

And the IHF has kind of made the decision. decision on it where and they're just kind of going but they're making for them to make the first move and they haven't yet right well we have it's the most silly thing even olympic athletes from russia like they did the one year is a ridiculous thing to me it's so it's going to be the all-star athletes from russia yeah what do they call them from everywhere else team the everywhere else team parts unknown part's unknown team boarding i just i i don't like all-star games can we play five on five. Can we play a hockey game? Why do we have to do three on three? I don't get everybody ready. I don't know. Let's not talk about the clip. Let me see my list of clips here.

Oh, can we have the decentralized draft? Sure. Is it not interesting? Yeah. Okay. Play that. Let's play it. Clips six. You know what? Unless we hear from a lot of clubs that they want to make a change, which is how the change came about in the first place, I don't see the need to to poll every year. If a bunch of clubs call, bill or me and say, you know what? We'll, like to go back, then we do that. But I don't anticipate that. I think the clubs like the format. We intend to put on a big event with the prospects and engage the community we're in.

We're expecting a big turnout. The clubs are more comfortable, particularly with more and more people involved behind the scenes in the draft in doing it that way. And we're okay with that. They're okay with everything. Yeah, but they're all. He's okay. case saying that because that's what he's been told, right, from the owners and that's what they're doing. But I think teams hate it.

I know that... No, no, they don't. Teams don't hate it. They like the money they save. Right. So owners like that. Yeah. But I think it sucks.

You know, like there's only so many things per year that are an NHL product. Like the draft at the sphere was memorable. It was a cool thing. It gave those kids a moment for life. What? Yeah, it was. For sure. It was awesome.

But what's funny? Nothing. Nothing. I just think it's something that, like, you have a chance to have a thing and you're passing it up to what? So Eisman can do it in his kitchen. I can have to look at his Venetian blinds. I do like getting a look at their houses.

I do like having to look at their houses. Are they good ones? Well, I love the cold. Do they pull up and then down both directions? Straight up. Straight up. He's got a remote control. Come on.

The 2020 NFL draft Like, Bella check with the dogs sitting at the table Like I just let's go look inside these guys' houses Yeah, you know, let's go look at the separate show Can we give me that show? Crips? The worst version of Crips of all time Everett has a modestly understated home in the suburbs

Yeah, yeah, it's just you know This is the breakfast nook So are they going to do the combine from remote too Where they watch a kid do pushups on a Zoom call? Yeah, just send me a. video of yourself doing it. You're heading down to Buffalo? I am.

I'm going to be at the combine. Wow. I know. How many chin-ups are you going to do? Oh, my God. More than Sam Bennett? No. Or Sam Reinhardt.

It'd be telling. No, Sam Bennett. It was Sam Ryder, wasn't it? No, it was Sam Bennett. Oh, right. Bennett. Zero. Bennett.

Who's now a mule. Who is like. That a lot should have killed all combine testing. Yeah. Hilarious. Hey, thanks. Have some wings. I'll learn some stuff for us.

All right. Thanks to Craig Simpson, who joined us. getting set for game two tomorrow night. Not a must win, but it's pretty darn close. Must win. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening. If you get a chance, give us a rating and review.

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