Real Kyper & Bourne - We're Back! Maple Leafs Expectations + Holdout Hysteria

Episode Date: September 21, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee are back for a new season! They catch up on the summer before jumping right into the storylines surrounding the Maple Leafs with the shortened preseason underway, including first impressions on Gavin McKenna, the expectations for the team, and Morgan Rielly's role. Then, they discuss how new coach Jim Hiller will orient his lines on Game 1/84 in eight days. Later, they touch on the biggest headlines around the NHL, including Connor Hellebuyck's holdout in Winnipeg, awkward answers from Dylan Larkin and Kirill Marchenko on their respective futures, and Mike Babcock's presence at Oilers' camp.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All right, quit bugging Sammy on when the show is returning, because we are back, baby, season six officially here for the real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportsnet 590, the fan. Sportsnet's 360, Sportsnet Plus and YouTube. And as always, can't catch up with us live. Find us on any platform where you get your pods. Nick Kiprio's Justin Bourne Sammy McKee

Jake the Snake Shultz Derek Brande same casting characters different season upon us and what a summer it's been guys what a summer it's been

reunited and it's so good oh Jesus I hate I apologize I apologize you know what it's this

it's the it's the exact time of day I'm getting ready for my second 18. It's just a bad habit. You know what's very funny is I legitimately took a golf glove out of my work bag today. So two peas and a pod, Kip. Did you bring an apple to the teacher today, first day of school? I don't know what to do.

I'd go what to do with my hands. How was your summer? It was really cool. Really good? Yeah, really good. You're on the golf course? Yeah, I played more golf than I ever have my whole life. and snuck in a couple of trips.

Ireland was the big one. Wow. And got to golf there for the very first time. Landed in Dublin, went to Port Marnik, who they're expected to play the British Open, I think, in 2013. The whole, 32. And then worked our way up on the other side, Northwest. I know you didn't pay for that.

Rose Apana. No, no, I did. And it was the best. That's why he had to come back to work. That was funny. It was money well spent. That's awesome. You know, so we snuck in a round or two, didn't we?

We did. We got out. We played on Long Island to start the summer. Yeah. Even played recently. And Sammy, I believe you, played 20 different golf courses. I did. I played 20 different golf courses, a bunch of the top 100, a corner to score golf, 45 times.

But I also worked. Unlike you guys, I did come to work around this time slot, actually. Two to four. How's covering the J's been? Really bad. I mean, I can only have the same Vlad conversation every single day. I am thrilled to be here talking Leafs. Because I couldn't actually this weekend

it was the first time where I was like, I don't have to do it this weekend. I can just get ready for the least. Watch the preseason game instead. How about you had to come off Matthews last season right into a summer where Vlad was just new Matthews? Yeah, but I mean, Vlad is way worse than Matthews was. Oh, yeah.

Like, I mean, Matthews at least like scored some goals and he was hurt and he had some excuses and decent for America and all this different stuff. Vlad has just been bad from start to finish. So anyways. All right, then. Well, on that note, no more baseball.

Tune in to the Jays in Baltimore tonight. Where they start, they're going to win six straight. Here we go. They got to win six straight. Just for just to clean up our schedule. Yeah. We will be three to four Eastern this week.

Okay. And we assume once the Jays are done next week, we move into our regularly scheduled 4 to 6 p.m. Eastern starting next Monday. So if the, if the, if the, Jay is going to Miracle Run and they make the playoffs by some grace of God. We end up in this time slot again, but I'm pretty sure we'll be talking to you four to six starting next month.

Last year we were three to four till November. So this will be good to get. Oh, yeah, I hadn't remembered. I forgot about that. And we'll continue the same format, a leaf hour edition in the first hour. And then we spread the love around the National Hockey League. So make sure you listen carefully to that because we don't want any messages to us that. that in our leaf hour edition,

we talk too much about the Leafs. These are separate hours. Although this week we're going to do a little blended mix, but if it was the Leaf 40-minute edition of our program, then you got an argument, but it is the hour, and we will have plenty to talk about on the Toronto Maple Leafs all season long.

Should we begin? I would love to. Let's begin with how quiet it was all summer and then boom, you got to watch two games at the same time. I don't think I've ever been in broadcasting for a very long time. I can't ever recall seeing anything like that

where it's like one game in Montreal, one game in Toronto, sent half your team in their respective spots. Did you notice Montreal sent their penalty killers and their checkers to Toronto to kind of play against Austin Matthews and they kept all their power play guys in Montreal.

Is that the plan? Yeah. I mean, I don't know. Typically, you keep your stars at home and don't make them travel. But preseason this year is so short. It is insane. These guys, like McKenna played the one game.

He's going to play another game. And then it's just 84 games. Like the most these guys are going to play. The stars in particular is two hockey games. practice for a week and change, a couple of weeks? You like that? Don't like it? I mean, I've thought even when it was 82 games, the season was 10 games too long.

So adding an extra two regular season games, it already feels like a bit of a slog at times. But I'd rather regular season games earlier than preseason, so I guess I'll take it. What about the compressed schedule, only the four preseason games? J.B., who benefits and who doesn't? I think the veterans, right? Like the old guys who don't want to go through the abuse of the, The training camps in your day were what?

Three weeks. Two a day. Two a days. And grueling and you had to fight for six weeks. Like by the time you got to the season, you were like, thank God. It was crazy. But I mean, you guys were ready to go by this season. And I think we're all just kind of accepting of the fact that new coach for the Leafs,

how many new players, eight new players, new system for a lot of these guys, new special teams, units. Like, it's going to be ugly for a minute. I guess it does kind of suck if you're a, the thing is they sign. so many sort of bottom six guys that maybe that doesn't feel like there's necessarily a bubble. But it does feel kind of suck if you're one of the guys that was on the Marleys when they won the championship last year and trying to prove yourself in the preseason. Good luck, Beau grew.

Yeah, it's it's just kind of over. Like you're, you know, they kind of know who's going to be on the team. And there's not a lot of time to earn a spot. Play your way in as the season goes on. Yep. Okay, so Saturday night, what did you get out of it? It's really hard to sit there and critique a win or a loss. I don't think that's what anybody really did in a perfect world.

You always want to win. If you're there, you might as well win. But that wasn't the case in both games. But what was the first thing? I mean, obviously, everyone's talking Gavin McKenna, McKenna mania. Was that your ultimate first focus to watch him? I guess two things. One is teams who have been together and didn't have much turnover this year,

I think are going to look good early in the season. Montreal went to the conference final. I think they're just likely to get off to a good start this year. And Carolina, not much turnover. You'll see those teams start well. I think teams with turnover will struggle. But yeah, I tuned in to see what does McKenna look like. First thoughts.

I mean, a little fella, right? He's not on NHL ice. He's small. But I mean, the talent is there. The talent is there. I think it's going to be a battle. So where do you sit on this? Do you put him into the fire?

It's Matthews. Power play one, this is where you're going to be eventually, or do you try to work him into it, ease it? I would take the easing in part. And I would not thrust him in the home opener on the top line. But I don't know if it really matters to them in the big picture. Again, Saturday night, I saw a guy that looks like he has a chance to be special. Yeah.

The creativity is already. there. Right? And at times the dynamic skating, coming through the neutral zone, backing off a D, a little shimmy. And it's like now he's got another three, six feet to work with.

We just showed on a highlight for those of you that can't see that the two on one. Non-committal on that shot. And a muffin for a shot. I don't think he knew he was shooting until he shot. But like, it's there. To your point, it's super there.

It's still a boy's body going up against men right now. They got him clocked in at 5-11, 170. If he's 170, I will eat Sammy's hat right now. Yeah, you wake up in the morning and put him on a scale. No. It's likely. My guess is he's battling 160, 161. No.

Oh, they wouldn't have them in there 10 pounds heavier than the race. What do you mean? They wouldn't. You can't control that. You know, it's his body. It's... Oh, you think he's like... I think he's late.

I think he came in light. Yeah. You know? We had guys that used to go to the scale, though, taping weights to their inner thighs, drinking a gallon of water on the way there. Those weights weren't on in his pants Saturday night. Maybe they were.

Right? But it's okay. He's still a kid. He's developing. he's saying all the right things. He's doing all the right things. It's just you can't speed up going from 160 to, you know, 185, and I don't know where he's going to end up.

I think he plays. We know he's going to be a lot stronger in his career. But it showed, to your point, it showed that he is light, and you have to factor that in on where you want to start him and who's beside him and who's going to help him open up lanes. My big thing for him is not about who he plays with is who he's going to be playing against. And if you play him against Austin Matthews,

you're drawing Slavin and you're drawing top pair of shutdown guys where at least second line where they got him now, which is good. Hopefully you get to see a second pair and get a few more chances to do the things he does because obviously he's special. Yeah, from a fan's perspective, it all just seems like such a whirlwind

with them winning that first overall pick and then them drafting him and the Bieber thing and like Mr. McKenna and all this stuff. And then it all goes away and you're focusing on the Jays and thinking about other stuff. But seeing them out there, it is really unbelievable that the least won that lottery and that he ended up out there.

Because, yeah, looks small, looks slight, whatever. All those things are true. And I don't think it's going to be hard to take away from that this year. But you're right. You said that the skill and all this stuff, the little reeds, the small area plays and all this stuff, like there is clearly a very special player in there. Just going to be how they use them.

But yeah, I'm excited about it, man. It's sick that easily. Just go back, right? March, April, and what you thought that you didn't really have to look forward to. Right. And then you factor in all the changes. And then McKenna comes on.

And it's like a light switch with how they've rejuvenated the fan base here. They gave them a chance to be excited. I don't know. I don't know if it's, if it's going to get. get the job done and I don't know at the end of the day it's just what's the job lipstick on a pig great question right what are we going for but uh while you're going into compete for the Stanley Cup that's what you're going in for and anything less than the playoffs come on is yeah total disaster disaster hey well yeah I mean they finished fifth

last last year I mean it's uh all the money you changed you changed half your team. You got a new coach. You got a world-class Stanley Cup goalie. You're not in this to keep the interest. What's the line that non-playoff teams use? Oh. We just want to have meaningful games.

Meaningful games. Meaningful. Yeah. No, no, no. No. You need playoff games in April, not meaningful games in March. Yeah. I would agree.

Playoffs is the goal, which is certainly a lower goal than I think they've had in the past, but coming off last year. I just, to your point, they did so much that last year it felt so hopeless at times that this does feel like there's a chance. Something could grow out of this with a coach and management and players, massive turnover all around. Last year just felt moldy, so thank God. Yeah, like there is no doubt a renewed sense of just hope. And like anecdotally amongst my buddies and everybody like, you know, people were kind of convincing themselves last year that it was going to be great and that, you know, they were going to be able to replace Mitch Martin's production with

Machelli and Dakota Joshua and whoever else they signed. People were kind of convincing themselves on that. But I think that kind of hung over the team and everyone was feeling that. Going into this year, it seems like just kind of full joy ahead. Like it's not as, it's just a different feel, which is nice. I don't know. You think if they don't make the playoffs as the disaster tip, that's the word you're using disaster in this division?

It's bad. Yeah, it's not helpful. Yeah. And again, you know, I've been pretty consistent on this sometimes. it's just not about the wins and losses, but how you look and, you know, do they hit injuries? Do they lose players?

Are they fighting with whoever's out on the ice? It will leave a different feel on the season, but the kind of conversations do we have for two months, blow it up or retool or, you know, get yourself right back in it. We know the path that they chose. But is it going to be enough? Yeah.

And it does feel tied to, let's just do the show to Matthews, you know? It's like, okay, is this guy back? Is he not back? Is he the same old player? Is his contract? You know, it's all relevant how they look and how it's going. So there are stakes, as there are every year.

Yeah. I did the, what do they call it, Leaf and Legends, charity golf event maybe 10 days ago. How'd you play? Scramble? Yeah, it was Scramble and I think we finished second. Oh, boy. Yeah, we were to take one, one stroke back, 15 or 16 won.

Who won? 15. I don't know, cheaters. That's who won. They shoot a 52 or something? 22 under. Anyways, the first thing I said when I saw Matthews is like he looks leaner, lighter. Yeah.

And I hope it's quicker. Well, hey, he clocked a 35 kilometer per hour skate in the first exhibition game, which he only did twice last season. That's okay. These are good things. I know it's not the most meaningful thing in the world, but it's good to see his feet moving. You can skate.

Nice. Would you make him change in his tone in terms of, like, you know, at the end of last year it was we can't predict the future. And then at the opening this year, it was. I think he was threatening them to do this, to make changes. I couldn't agree with you more. And we'll get into this throughout the week for sure and maybe a little later on with certain.

But these guys have some power and authority and more influence more than ever. And I think it was just his way of saying, what are we doing here? What am I doing here? And what direction is this going? And I think once they told him, we're going to get you right back into a scenario

where we think we can compete for the Stanley Cup, that's when his tune changed. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, massive overhaul. Hiller, obviously, a guy that's been around him in the past. So he obviously likes that, which is good. And then there's just a bunch of new guys

that I'm curious to see what they're going to be. You know, preseason game number one probably doesn't tell us a ton. But Morgan Riley also went into the last. summer with a lot of us going what's going to become a him sounds like he's going to pair with Darren Radish and get a lot of offensive zone starts and the cave and tan have the D zone starts and Max oh oh we got that's not happening for me what do you mean I I don't think he's going to start with radish I really yeah I think Hiller said today that he intends to okay give it a look all right okay yeah take a look we're doing we're doing the thing here what's the thing with Riley

where end of last year, terrible. Everybody convinces themselves that it's over, comes back, didn't leave, saying the right things that everybody buys into because he's such a great speaker and he's such a great leader. And then it's just like, top here again. It's like, we're really going back through the rotation of Morgan Ryle here.

And I really can't believe we're here. How shocked are you guys that he's still in the least? Because I'm stunned by this. Stunned by it. Yeah, I mean, semi-stunned. I'm not. because, and I've said this and I've written it as well, there is value in Morgan Riley.

And if it's not here, it's somewhere else. And if you don't, if, listen, he submitted a list. I think, I think he was prepared under certain scenarios to be moved. But the Leafs never got any real value back in their mind. and there's still some upside that he can play top six and be in your lineup and at times look good. You know, he can skate. He can play a power play if certain guys are hurt or and it's like we're not giving him away, Sam. This just feels like an amnesia conversation to me that like we're forgetting again that like how bad it was.

I guess the question is like do you really believe that last season was a physical decline in the start of like he's 32 years. old. Do you think he no longer, and you do. I do. I think that he can't do it anymore. You know, or is he, it's tough for me because, you know, a lot of times when your team isn't good, like the Leafs weren't last year, you look at guys and go, can they still do it? Can they still play? It's like, he can play, but you don't just

want you be able to play. You want your top pair guy to be good, to be a difference maker. I don't know that he can be that. All right, let's give Morgan our very first Kippers, Clipper of the season. An interesting choice by us. Yes. Yeah. On his first clip, on

still being a leaf. Yeah, I think after a year like last year, I think there was lots of guys that maybe felt a little bit of uncertainty just with the future, but you know, that's part of the business and that's part of what happens, especially after a disappointing season.

So I'm extremely happy and grateful to be here now. This is my home. This is a team that I love and I would do anything for. so I feel very grateful to be here and just really excited to go home. Okay, before we touch on Morgan, did you guys order a pizza or something? Yeah, what's going on? Someone's knocking on our door.

I know. I don't know. We're back. Has anyone really knocked on our door during the show? It's the second half of a decade here. They've got to start a new way by knocking on them. Come in? Let's find out.

We're doing a show. We're doing a show. Yeah, let's go. Come on in. Okay. I think you scared him off. I think I scared him off. Fooked him a little bit.

You know, the Riley thing, like you said, he says the right thing. He's so good. He's going to be a great Leafs ambassador. Great. You know, for the rest of his life, I assume. But, you know, he needs to be a better player than he was last year. If he gets a ton of ozone starts and plays with their offensive players, can you get more out of them?

Maybe. It is definitely still a question mark for this year. There's just, like, I hate saying this stuff because of all the things that he represents. But, like, there's a huge part of me to things that would have been addition by subtraction. that just like not having to have this conversation. And I just think that the relationship that he has already with Hiller and they like each other and he's a top, one of the top paid guys. And Hillers seen him be effective.

They just have to use them and they have to put him out there. And it's just the only, the record is so good. The only thing I can draw back on is I experienced the Larry Murphy situation in Toronto where this guy was the highest paid defenseman. He was supposed to be Mr. Everything for the Leafs. And we know how that it. ended ugly here in Toronto. And he was done.

He was beat up. He was, you know, not feeling great. If I'm not mistaken, Cliff Fletcher, late Cliffletcher, God rest of soul, moved him to Detroit. And. Mercifully. What happened? Back to backups.

But different scenario. Not the guy, right? Not the main guy. We knew who their main guys were. but tremendous value and logged key minutes. Morgan almost in the right scenario can be effective. Do you think of the Leafs? The Leafs know that if he moves somewhere else and finds that sweet spot.

If they gave him away for free, they're going to look like idiots. So could they acquire a top pair guy somehow? Let's say it's Nyes and they get Niketian from Carolina who turns into a stock. Is there a way to, on this team, slot him better? I think on the Leafs slot Morgan better. Is it possible for them to acquire someone so he could be that guy here? Or is it just not going to happen? I don't know where he'd fit in at this point.

If you acquired someone of significance here. And, you know, when I, and again, I don't claim to have watched Radish a lot in Tampa Bay. But we know where strengths are. Yep. And I'm not sure you can say it's in the defensive zone. So have a pair for that. If Morgan struggled last year defensively and Rattish is maybe average or slightly above average, but not known for his ability to check in his own zone.

How can I put these two guys together? You're setting them both up for failure to put them together. Like it's just not. I it's just I the demoting Riley playing on it he just means too much like as a leaf like he he's a different guy to the Leafs than he is to any other team where he can go somewhere else and play less minutes and it's just like he's been Larry Murphy only played here for two years Riley's been here since I don't know what 2014 was he drafted like it's a different relationship fans have with one of the criticism by I've had of this team in the past is they've

had guys who don't fit the puzzles and fit Joe Thornton on your fourth line Jason bets on your fourth line. It never really made sense. And that's the spot you've got Morgan in now where you go, okay, he's going to be a third pair guy. It's like, well, that doesn't really you'd rather just have a third pair guy if that's the plan. No, no, no. I think putting Morgan with Andre

to start the season. It's fine. It's fine. It's fine. And your shutdown, we know it's TANF and McCabe is the shutdown guys. Yeah. And now you got OEL, who's a reliable veteran. and can play a heavy game and a smart game in his own zone, kind of protect radish a little bit.

That's your three peers. It's like OEL with radish. Oh, 100%. Really? That's where it's headed. Or that's where it should head. I would be, I would, it's more likely that they go McCabe with him with radish at some point,

don't they? And just, I don't know, do like the old. Yeah, maybe, maybe, but. OEL Tanev. I'm not, we're not far off from each other. Somewhere in that ballpark. Other top dogs, Tane of his back, he's healthy. He looked pretty good first night.

Well, listen, two years ago, he was the best defenseman, the Leafside. Yeah. Right? He was amazing. Can, after everything he's gone through, can he hit that high note early here? Can he get to that place at his age and what he's been through, which is, I don't know, a lot of other players, including in my era, would have shut up. it down probably after everything he's been through but we know how competitive he is he's a worker

and uh that's he's such a key here guys for not only the Leafs but Bobbovsky as well oh yeah Bob by the way I just had a notice pop up that says Hiller expects great year and a fresh slate from Riley that was the headline that just came up and he goes Sammy it's just I don't want to get better to shape but it's the first show but it's we're having amnesia We're all just forgetting what it's looked like for two full years here. And it's not going to... How about that graphic from last year of Bobrovsky being signed being real? They got Bob.

Yeah. How are we feeling? Bob stole ours? Yeah. I think it's worth the gamble. Okay. I think it's the pedigree. You know, and I think, I don't know,

Elliot was speaking about Barovsky, having a real voice, you know, and a go-to guy in the room. I'm not sure I completely buy all of that, but you can't deny that it's two Stanley Cups. Yeah. And everyone else in the room couldn't play meaningful games in a second round. Yeah, it's someone who has been around the block and can speak from experience.

Yeah, but I don't really recall hearing Povroski having this major voice in Florida or Columbus all these years. So I think he can look at. around the room and say I can lend a lot of help. Yeah. And again, with his pedigree. But if he is the true leader in this room, they're in big trouble. Yeah.

Ever when Vancouver had Luonga wearing a sea? Yeah. And he's the goalie. That's the thing. He's just stopping. He's there to stop the puck. He's playing a different sport than everybody is. He is.

Yeah. Right? It's like, come on. We know who the leaders are supposed to be. Yeah. And they need to. to step up this season more so than any time in their careers. So go ahead.

I was just going to talk about the second line with Willie and he's important. Well, I was just going to say the defense thing in Bobbiowski. Those two things are very much hand in hand for you in terms of like what they're going to look like. But Bob, doesn't he have a good record on like breakaways and stuff? Isn't he good against that stuff? We got to talk to Valley. Get Valley back. Yeah, we'll get Valley back and he's way better at this than us. He told us that he was going to retire last year.

So maybe we don't want to have that. It's the, I don't think it's the Brady. It's the back doors and how aggressive can you be and who lost their check. And I don't know if they got 20 games to feel that out. Well, that's the tough thing here. It's going to be meaningful games in, what, a week? We're eight days away from opening night here.

And, you know, I think Blankenberg is a guy they really like who I think is going to stay, it seems like to me. I like Blankinberg, but he's 20 pounds lighter than Emil Andre. You know, who's going to be that boss? Is it Stetcher on, as an extra guy? I am curious to see how that all shakes out. Well, we know what they did with their fourth line and there are extra bodies. But I think with such a short training camp,

what we're going to see guys is a bunch of guys kind of called up for a game, sat down, maybe another guy. You're going to see this movement. Like almost like a blended time of the year. that's not quite tryouts, or not quite the start of the season, where the games count, but you're still figuring out your team.

You're not allowed to claim a 25-man roster, but they're going to look at it like they have a 25, 26-man roster, and there's a number of guys that we can pull up from the Marleys and play if we need it. Joshua is not ready, and we're still not sure. He's practicing with the Marleys. He's on the ice.

That's unclear. Domi is still, pretty significantly failed as physical. Yeah. Not sure in that, what's that? It hasn't been much of an update on that. You know what's weird is that you don't necessarily hear say fail, right?

Yeah. He failed his, and I don't know if they needed to do that for insurance purposes or whatever, but like. Like, yeah, you know he's injured. It's like, yeah, he's, he's not, he's not, you know, he's, he's out indefinitely.

And if we, you know, with an update, but using the word failed. to me is yeah that's fine it's fine it's one of those things that's like so I mean it looks like something like Paul Sizzins Cowan

is a third line Roslovic playing top minutes I think that's the other thing worth worth noting here they got him on the first unit with Matthews how we feel about that um okay

somebody goes to me he got tommy who doesn't hit Roslavik do we believe is a top winger on a Stanley Cup contending team? No, we don't. But is he better than the next guy who would play in that spot?

Who else is it? To me, Paul is the only guy that you would use in those minutes? It's McKenna eventually. McKenna is on the second line. So Cowan, could Cowan do it? Are we ready for Cowan here after a great Marley's run

to become a top six everyday guy? No, no. I think there'll be flashes for sure, but there's going to be a level of consistency that he's going to battle and you know by Christmas or by March or April will we see a comfort zone like we've never seen before out of him

that's a possibility but I think it's still they're in their learning phase here and I don't know if the Cowan's and the McKenna's still need seasoning. I think Cowan's a 50 point guy for them this year. He had 30 points in 66 games last year.

You know, like if he is that involved offensively, I think he'll demand a little bit more. The other thing he does is hounds the puck, which they have trouble. They don't have enough of those guys. For years, Matthews is most effective when Bunting went and got it and Heimann went and got it

and someone went and did that sort of work. Bunting's still available, I think. Yeah, no, that's not crazy here. No, he hasn't been signed by anyone, has he? No, I don't think so. I've seen a little leaf fan yearning for old bunting, but not myself, but I've seen some leaf fans talking about him.

He's been down that path before. Yeah. You know, find a, I don't know, Marchenko. Ooh, do it to me day one. That's a game changer. That's a game changer. He's like one of my favorite guys to watch in the league. He's electric.

Keep your powder dry for something like that. Do you have powder for something like that? Because I would undry that powder for me. Marchenko. Let's go. Yeah. Is this a, is this the nice conversation? Uh, gosh, we've got all week.

We're too soon. Got all week. But it does, it does feel like a whole. They need them. They need Cowan to go to another level. No question. Yeah. But it does feel like the top, having Jack Rosswick on your top line to start a season

probably isn't. I looked at the Islanders roster yesterday and they have Machelli on the second line. And I was like, you just immediately know your team's going to struggle. Good luck. You know, that's, I feel like that way about Ross. I don't mind the battle for a fourth line position, too. And Lorenz will be right in the thick of things there. I don't think it's a given.

No. Some is a healthy scratch, I think, a little bit last year. So. Blugher, DuHame, Zizons. You know. The real bottom six guys, which I love. Yeah. And I think there's times when one, if not two of those guys,

on quiet, sleepy nights have to find a way to drag their team into a fight. Something you took pride in as a player reading the game. You just can't go along for the ride. No. And I don't know which players will shine

in the first half a dozen games, but I think that's what's expected of them. I don't know if they've got it in them or they just need to develop it real quick. but that to me is what's expected out of the I hope they're healthy so that they can have competition for those spots like have a couple sleepy nights you're out we'll go with this guy like every day I need to earn those bottom six minutes would be really good it just can't be like last year where they brought in quote unquote size and it's like the bottom six was supposed to be

harder to play against and all this different stuff and they're just slow it didn't hit any listen Lorenz is Morgan Riley for me I hate saying anything negative about him because I love the guy but like you can't be six four on the bottom line never get mad never hit anyone never have an impact it just feels like we're just having a very similar conversation that we had going into last the years and about the bottom six the positive vibe around it well it's all new it's all different well none of these guys we've ever played together like you know you need her and joshua well yeah i guess that's true but i mean joshua's with the marlies right now so it just you hope that it works out differently but it feels kind of like we had these conversations a bit last year

us. Nick Paul, I don't know if he caught his interview on the internet. I mean, he's in love. He's loving being a Leaf. I got to say, like, of all the things they did, this one, I can't, I couldn't stand. Nick Paul. Nick Paul was in my least shirt.

Wow, he hurt you, Sammy. Big time. Many times, Leaf's killer. Went to the net in big games and big moments. Just scored huge, yeah, maybe get me that one. I'm having a hard, like, hard time convincing myself. to love. And then I saw the clip with Leslie and he's just going on

and on about his brothers and going. Yeah. All right, I'm in, man. He's laid it on. He's laid it on. He's got an energy about him. Literally. And I think it can be infectious.

It's got to be better than he was actually. I think he's, I think he's got a personality in the room where he's going to have to pull some quiet guys, including Matthews, and just find a, a way to fire him up, right? That would be great.

I would love it. He's a guy who's the most versatile guy on the roster. Put him anywhere for me and I'm okay. We should break. Before we go, you know, it's an annual tradition of us. To go along in the first block. To talk about some sort of expectation for one Nick Robertson. He's not here anymore. This is the Nick Robertson Memorial.

I hear Nick's flying. He's playing on the top line with Sid. Flying. He's on Sid. Flying. Oh, yeah. Finally, you're 25 goals. This is my ear.

Oh, yeah. Nick Robertson fan club. Oh, my God. No one. Nicky boy. It's like, Nicky boy. Outside Austin.

Sid's going to be like, could you mix in a pass? Oh, God. Just head down. Ripping. Nick, Nick, can you mix it a pass, please? All right. We have 300 shots this year.

Fast block. Yeah, well. Oh, crap. 35 minutes. Hey, we're back. Yeah. We're back. We're back.

Okay. Still some catching up to do in terms of, of what happened throughout this summer. There's Hellebuck, Larkin, Marchenko, we mentioned, Babcock in Alberta. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Plenty more when we return to Real Kippin-Borne. Hey, it's Ben Ennis.

And I'm Brent Cunning. We got you covered on all things, Leifes, Raptors, and Blue Jays. Every weekday morning, 6 to 9. It's the fan morning show. Sportsnet 590 The Fan and wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee, Season.

Six, real Kipper and Boren show. What do you got for me, Sammy? Nothing. I was just having shower thoughts today thinking about how insane it is. We're in the second half of our decade together. Yeah. We did. Six years, man.

It just feels like yesterday you were doing one from your car with COVID. What a wild start, man. That was really weird. Really weird. Really weird. I was like, we're done. We're done. We're done.

And then Stevie Sullivan came on and swore. No, it wasn't Steve Sullivan. It was... or Steve Thomas. Steve Thomas came on and swore and we were off. All right. Major storylines this summer. I mean, God, where do you even begin?

Did you begin with... The American hockey team. American, okay. Players not reporting or players asking for trades. Salaries up around $20 million right now. Leo Carlson's pretty relevant. Let's start with you, J.B. I guess Connor Hellebuck, probably the most relevant one here in Canada.

I mean, been a Vesna final. finalist four of the last five seasons, I think. Pretty big deal. Holding out, not even just not even show up. It went from like maybe just a thought to like, wow. Well, he was doing these like softball interviews. Like I think Sarah Orleski was at his home and he was talking about how much he loved Winnipeg

and then it was just here we are. I don't get the not reporting to camp. I don't understand why he wouldn't. show up. I don't know. To me, if you've asked for a trade, do your team wants you around? Like, he genuinely wants out.

What's the gain for being there? I mean, Larkin did it. Least Larkin. Well, and then they're like, yeah, he's going to be at home. Upper body. Come on. I've seen some people say it's a spine injury.

Oh, who. I think, for me, it's a different beast, too, when we're talking about a goalie. compared to like a forward. Yep. I think as short as camp is, not being in it,

and every day you stay home, makes it that much tougher for me to maybe trade for you. And do you even think that as a goalie, you've made a pretty big commitment to your team, not just the city, but to your teammates that like I'm the backbone, I'm going to be there and then to not be there. Yeah, that's a different dynamic.

I'm in the camp where if this is what you want, right, you got to work with me here. And I don't know the number of teams Hela Bucks opened up to, but we do know that Larkin was always about three. And like, no. Minnesota, Florida, Dallas. Give me 10. Vegas. Give me 12. But like.

Yeah. If you want to break an agreement we had, you have to give me some. flexibility to help ourselves. Total flexibility. Yeah. It's year three of eight. It's not year seven of eight. I think of five years left.

And is that Larkin too? Is he? Five years left for Larkin. I mean, it's that's, it's pretty brutal. And so I don't know. Fan bases have a strong argument to say, what the?

Yeah. You know, I can't help but feel like that Olympic experience was, you know, some major turning point for a lot of guys. The next Olympics, so this never happens again. No, it's not. the point. We're just talking about the Kachucks too.

Brady Kachuck superstar. Two goals, a fight and assist. Cordy how? I'm not ready for that yet. We've got to stick on hell of buck. But like do you think that event, how long is this going to take

until he ends up somewhere else, boys? I think they've got to find a way to move on, don't you? Yeah, but like where's their break point? They've had offers. They just don't like them. And also I think they don't seem as willing to get futures. Like they don't seem like an organization

that wants to tear it down Well, you got Mark Schifley and Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey and these sort of like guys in their 30s who are still stars. They don't want to move on. So who wants to, who's good enough to win a cup who wants to give up current talent? The answer is nobody. So if you're a Connor Hellebuck and I'm asking and I'm like, why do you want to leave? Is it because it's Winnipeg?

Is that it? Is that the only explanation is because they don't have a chance to win? Because I would argue that the main reason they didn't win anything in the playoffs the last three years is him. like he has to look himself in the mirror and look at his numbers from the last three playoff years and be like, oh boy, that might have been partly my fault. Like, what's the explanation?

I don't know if he felt that his family was treated poorly in Winnipeg, which I highly doubt. I think it's very difficult for those, these guys to get up on a podium and explain anything. And I think we've seen some really bad examples.

Do we have larkin at all? So, Larkin and now interim general manager, Horcoff went on a podium the other day. And I'm listening to Larkin. I'm like, buddy, you could have a better game plan than this on your message setting. And he tried to convey that the fans deserve an answer.

And then just let's listen to some of the answers. Dylan, let's go to, sorry, Dylan. Derek, let's go to Larkin clip on why demanded a trade. There's a lot there. I, you know, like, a lot of personal stuff and that. And, you know, to be honest with you, I'm going to try and be honest with you guys today, and I'm not ready to go there yet.

I understand that there's answers that fans and people that care about this organization around the world, you know, want to know. But, you know, I'm really not ready to go there. and, you know, it's maybe something that I may never be, you know, and it wasn't easy to get to that decision. It was very hard. It wasn't a spur of the moment thing,

but, you know, I don't take what I did lightly, and, you know, I got to that point, and, you know, I'm not quite ready to talk about it. But I'm going to come up here and tell you that instead of just put out a statement. Yeah. Just put out a statement. It's clean. And I'm not discussing this.

And that's it. But to put them up there with the hums and the oos and the, it's like, terrified up there. Terrified. What's hard is when he says the phrase, I'm going to try and be honest with you guys. I'm not ready to talk about it.

It's like, well, that's not, you're being honest. You're being evasive. And listen, there may be something behind the scenes terrible. Maybe his wife went through X, Y, Z, a family thing. Who knows?

We don't know. But unfortunately, when you don't, you create an information. vacuum and then people fill it with not good thing they put Marchenko and Columbus up on the podium did you catch that one too

I'm on the podium did they just like I think in an interview I had a mic in front of his face and pretty simple questions I don't know if it was a podium but it was just it was him speaking of the media and trying to convey another message let's just bear with the audio on this one

but it's the clip on not wanting to be in Columbus Carrillo Marchenco Derek do you like playing hockey here Yeah, I love to play hockey. Here. It's a good question. What can you say about your agent, letting it be known to, I believe it was Kevin Weeks of ESPN-N-HO Network,

that you don't plan to sign an extension when this contract is out? I didn't see it. Oh, guys, it's, I don't know. My goal, I told you, I play hockey. Like, I can talk only about hockey. It's not my side, business site. business side, it's on Don and then, and they figure out everything. My goal to be ready on the ice.

You can decide where you want to play. That's within you. Yes. Is this where you want to be? Do you want to be in Columbus? Oh, it's so many, too many good questions right now. I want to play hockey. It's what I can say right now.

Showed out Porty. Yeah. Putting his grinding him to dust. Fairly unintelligible from Marchenko. Just to a state. for the guy and just don't do that. Everybody just looks like idiots. But then the team.

Who's everyone? Just Marchenko? Yeah, Marchenko and us for like just having to listen to it. We're dumb for having to listen to it. But then the argument from the other side is it's like you're cowardly for not putting him out there. No, no, no. But hold on. He doesn't have to say anything.

Marchenko, do you want to be here? Yes. Yeah. You know, and they work to find a trade behind the scenes and they find a trade and you go, I get traded. How many guys have said they want to be there? then they got traded. Like, it happens five times a year.

Like, just say the right thing. You know, in the end, if something came up, there's a good opportunity. We agreed to be best for both parties. You think a guy like Larkin still saves something in Detroit? No. There's no going back. No.

I don't. Well, taking the C away is a pretty big statement. I mean, he just in the middle of the deal is just piecing out. Like when things are kind of turning for him here, they're supposed to be good now. I don't know. I mean. Sometimes you wonder if they could pull it off.

But like if they got a massive return and then they found out six months from now why Larkin wanted out. And it was something that was like, oh, yeah, I get it. Like he had to get out of here for whatever reason. That's possible. Yeah. I'm skeptical. Those two items are going to come together. To go back to your point on Hellebuck, is it personal, is it family?

Is it like what only he knows? These guys can't come out and go, my wife hates it here. You know, but that is often a real reason behind the scene. I think Pronger did that. Did he? In Edmonton? Did he not? Did he not?

Like you guys. Wasn't she kind of blamed her? Pronger said some stuff during the middle of the last year and then our boy Lowe was he got out. Yeah, Kevin Lowe went after it. Okay. Yeah, it got a little hot. Sorry, Prongs, I brought that up. He's got a little hot in a little last year.

Speaking of Edmonton. Yes. Oh, man. Mike Babcock. I don't know we got time for the real conversation here. We might have to save this for tomorrow. You got two minutes. Do you want to hear Babs?

Sure. Listen, you guys told me to pick out a Babbs thing. You just want to hear Babbs. We're back. Let's finish the show off on a strong Babs. His first press conference, I was like, let me just find something. And I was like, this is the most Babcock answer I can possibly find.

So let's play Mike Babcock, clip one, on working on details. Well, I guess what we're trying to do is going to send the message out we want to play. and create that as much as we can. We've asked them to learn the details and then find your game within our game. So if you know the details

and everyone's detailed, everybody on the team can be important. Sometimes when you're not detailed enough, no one knows where to go and only the best guys get to be important. Details. It's not the most bad. That's Babs.

Started good tonight. It's all in the details. Oh, my God. I don't care what you guys say. He's a good coach. This is going to be really fascinating. Listen, he's better than the other guy. Now Block.

Yeah, he'll be better. He's just, he'll, he'll just have a bigger presence, more authority in terms of getting the guys to push harder. I need a big personality to handle the guys who currently run that room, which is the players. They're going to be really good, I think. And he'll be. I think they've been crap out of the gates for years.

And I don't think they'll be crap out of the gates. And I think the novelty of Babs is all of us being like, oh, it's Babbs will wear off. And it'll just be the way. Who's their goalie? Good question. Connor Ingram. Oh, he retired.

He retired. Oh, he retired. That's bad. Jari and Levi and Levi. Levi. That might be a tough start. No. There's pain coming.

No. No, they're fine. No. They're fine. They're NFL goalies. I don't worry about this at all. Can't wait to hear Babs on the goalies one day. Jari's going to be fun.

All right. Just like that. Show 1 in season 6. Off the books. The rest of the week, 3 p.m. Eastern. Before we kick it up next week, two hours. Sammy? How that goes today? No Vladdy talked for you. You must be so happy. Love talking mechanic. Thanks for watching. Thanks for listening. We're back tomorrow.