Maple Leafs Decade In Review | Real Kyper & Bourne Full Episode

Maple Leafs Decade In Review | Real Kyper & Bourne Full Episode

[Music] Right back at you from the real Kipper and Bourne show leaf hour edition. Nick Giprio’s Justin Bourne, Sammy McKe, Derek Brando, and Jake the Snake Schultz. We are live on Sports 590 The Fan, Sports at 360 and Sportsnet Plus. Just prior to leaving the studio off air of course, a light bulb went off and I gave you guys homework to leave the studio and based on where we are with the Toronto Maple Leafs, I just said, “Guys, give me like five story lines on where maybe in the last 10 years the Leafs may have veered off. I don’t know if it’s an 18-wheeler like Brian Burke days, but it kind of veered a little bit. So, give me five. And then you guys looked at me and you’re so negative. And I said, “Oh, wait. Hey, give me five positive ones then, too.” There it is. And then you were like, “Now, okay. Now I’m on board.” So, I I believe Born’s response was, “No way.” Yes, that’s right. You’re right. In the end, it was Sam will do it. So, a little later on, we will go through the last decade of where we think it went well and where it it didn’t and maybe that’s why we are where we are with the Toronto Maple Leafs today. Yeah. So, it sounds okay. Yeah. So over the Shannier era basically basically uh good moves, bad moves over the Shanniiera. Sounds good to me. I have 13 bad ones and eight good ones. So you have enough. What’s that? I have 13 good ones. I have 13 bad ones, eight good ones. You know, it it wouldn’t be uh right to go right into them now without at least uh advancing the Leaf Toronto Maple Leaf storyline. And there are various reports out there including sportsnet sportset.ca where our Elliot Freriedman confirmed that the Maple Leafs have granted permission to the New York Islanders to speak to Brendan Shanahan. Wow. Yeah. Hard to imagine a world where you would let your team president speak to another team while you intended to keep him, right? like that doesn’t make sense. Um, yeah, I think you’re right on the surface, but if you I don’t know, go a little deeper. Mhm. I’ll I’ll I’ll expand my thoughts, but basically that’s that’s where you’re at. Like basically, you’re not going to keep a guy that you’re granting permission. Yeah. you’ve like mentally moved on from them if you’re saying, “Yeah, you can have them.” However, I guess there is a chance that it’s like there’s nothing better than what we have, so go take a look. Well, okay. It’s well documented now that he’s his contract’s coming up in June, I think I read. Yeah, June 30th, maybe. Yeah. So, like a player with a contract coming at the end of the term, is he treating himself like a free agent? And he wouldn’t be the first guy to cover his tracks like everybody does it. M we’ve we if we knew something was coming that was imminent with our jobs, the first thing we’d probably do is maybe I don’t know look for another job, right? So, could it just be as simple as Brendan going back to MLSC and saying, you know, my contract’s up. I I I got to cover myself. Would you would you would you mind if I look around? I I think the fact that he hasn’t been extended yet gives him full right to go ask that question. I think it’s probably easier to ask the question, but I do think if they were had concluded they wanted him to stay in the role with the Leafs, they’d just be like, “Well, hang on. We’re just going to let’s talk about your contract here first before we get to that. Let’s have a meeting.” Yeah. That they’re supposedly, you know, let’s sort through this. That’s going to be there in a week or what a few days. Can I give you another scenario? Okay. He’s coming he’s come Brendan’s coming off a very very uh lucrative contract. Exactly what I I don’t know but we know it’s was often referred to as one of the highest. Mhm. Could he be in a scenario where he wants another contract like that and the Leafs or MLSC is not prepared to give him that much, but they’d still like to keep him around, but we’re not we’re we’re not going to pay you that much, but we would pay you this on maybe a shorter term deal. Is that a scenario that Well, I mean, it’s possible. I I I don’t think that Scott Malcin and John Leiddki of the Islanders are going to give him $7 million to be a president or whatever he made here. I don’t know. I’m throwing numbers. But if you’re Brendan, wouldn’t you try? Wouldn’t you try? Kyle Dubis is making seven in Pittsburgh. Why? Why can’t I go to somewhere else? Yeah. Can I create a bidding war? Am I any different than any uh pending free agent to go out there and shop for my services? Well, I guess there’s an element of of the Marner situation here with Shanahan where it’s like you’re well within your right to do that and I see why other people cover you, but like it doesn’t work here anymore. You know, would would the team here just be like it doesn’t Well, I I think that’s fair for sure. And maybe that’s that’s what’s going on right now. Go ahead and take a look. Well, we’re going to talk tomorrow and this is going to be irrelevant anyway. He maybe they offered him a contract already and he’s trying to see if he could make it better. I mean, yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know. Can I just say something about all this? It sucks. Yeah. Shanny part. Yeah. Just that we’re even just here, you know. I But we are, Sam. We are. I watched I watched last night and you know I saw the Florida Panthers who at least fought tooth and nail with the seventh game of the series and they laid a big egg in games. Deon I realized that but they were close with this the the Panthers and I watched them walk into Carolina and just put an absolute beat down on the Carolina Hurricanes and it’s like I think back to game three where the Leafs hit the post with in the dying second or maybe dying minutes of that game Morgan Riley down the left wing. I think of the two separate two goal polies. Like I I think about all this stuff and it’s like we’re so close to coming in here on today where we would be breaking down the Toronto Maple Leafs game one and we’re like oh maybe Shannie’s talking to the I’m like oh my god. Like I know but Sam it’s it’s No, I just I’m sorry. I’m being honest. I just this sucks. I hate having this conversation. Do you not want to participate in this conversation? Hey, listen. I’ll give you some quiet time in the corner, Sam. I’m always in the corner anyway, but I I know that there are some Leaf fans listening to this that saw the result from last night or tried to even watch that game, which I’m sure there’s Oh, the Leafs are I’m sure there’s millions of people across this country that were like, I can’t bring myself to look at the Florida Panthers yet. But like, I just it really does suck that we’re here. And then we’re talking about the president leaving. We’re talking about the Marner contract now. It’s like it just you snap your finger and it’s like we’re right into offseason mode and they were close to not being it. That’s my only point. So, let me ask you JB, just prior to this this story out there about Brendan being granted permission. Yeah. Where were you on everything? Because I found it very quiet the last little while here. So, we know there’s stuff going on behind the scenes. What exactly? But where where was your gut going with today prior to hearing about Brendan having permission? You know, my gut aside just from talking to whomever. Listen, I’m like you. Everywhere everyone sees me right now, it’s Leaf’s talk, right? That’s every everyone does our job but for free on the outside right now basically. Yes. Oh yeah. And um yeah, it’s telling it’s just waiting for Brandon to get fired. That’s you know the assumption. I’m not saying that was my assumption. I’m saying that is the assumption generally and then from there what’s that going to mean and what happens after that that’s so in terms of quiet I guess it’s weird for them to lose on a Sunday night and the board to meet on Thursday to me that’s like a long time what are you up to you know this is a pretty big decision here that but I I would say I guess they’re busy from the conversations I’ve had with my friends and all the Leaf fans in my life that it would be a stunning development for them for Brandon Shanahan to return to the Toronto May police as president. Wouldn’t you agree? Like from the people that you’ve talked to, I think it would be a pretty stunning development. I I’ve made it very clear from the moment uh the Leafs lost game seven and I went on with Ivanka and and Ken on Sports Net Central. I did not expect Brendan back. And I still feel that way. Crazier things have happened in sport. But the tendency is that for for me anyways that uh there there needs to be a different look at the top. Here’s here’s my Sam McKe. Can I just say something? You guys mind if I just ask a question? Please. He’s so sweet. Can I Can I just get in? Um I wonder if that would affect Mitch Marty at all. Like if they did change leadership and they said Shanahan’s no longer there or whatever else happens if someone new wouldn’t come in and said stop. No no no. We’re not getting rid of the guy who just had 102 points and gets nominated for a selki. Stop. We already did this. I’m just saying I’m wondering if Yeah. Yeah. We already did this though with when Tivan came in. Yes. Right at the that the only opportunity you had to get anything in return for Mitch Mart. We already did this. Everyone comes to the Leafs at least and goes I just want to take a look before I do anything. Yeah. It’s like I need the stuff to be done. I’m always surprised by that. Like I mean there millions of people watch your games every night. Like do you not have cable? Did you not see how I feel about Barubia times this year? It’s like what do you mean you didn’t weren’t aware of what was happening here? You just don’t you don’t know what it’s like. I don’t know. I I think for Mitch Martner, regardless of Brendan being there or not being there, he just he just knows it doesn’t work. Yeah. Right. It just doesn’t work and there needs to be changes and I’ll volunteer myself. And I think one of the big defenders of the core four sort of ideal was Brandon Shanahan. Like I I don’t know the inner workings, but you’ve heard enough rumblings here and there. defender pal the number one guy reputation on it. So I think that is why it would be hard to believe that they would leave that they would let Shanahan go and then Mner’s like oh maybe I will stay the number one guy that defended and kept me here right so yeah I have a hard time so it sounds like from what you’re saying Kip that and nothing you’ve heard you you sounded more definitive there about the mner thing than you have Yes. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And I I think Elliott went on postgame Carolina and Florida and talked about, you know, is there still room for him and then and the Leafs to come together. Uh he he thinks as of last night, I’m not sure how he feels today, but as of last night, he thought he kept a small window open for maybe them giving Mitch a couple of days and revisiting it. But I I just don’t see that scenario after everything we’ve watched. Uh yeah, up until this point, it’s be really hard if any of these things don’t happen. They need to happen. Yeah, maybe they go to uh maybe goes to New York to the Islanders with Brennan. I can’t It’s not That would be great. Like as someone who likes the Islanders to do well, good. Adding a good player would be incredible. It would be amazing. I just like new characters in the plays that I watch. Feel like I’m watching reruns. But anyway, you’d be a welcome addition. The other thing I did mention that if if there seems to be a little bit of a delay here for maybe the MLSSE to make some sort of decision moving forward, maybe they’re looking a lot deeper past Brendan Shanahan. I’ve mentioned already earlier this week that if it’s not the biggest department, it’s definitely one of them with a lot of employees here. is are they also revisiting the structure of of the various departments? The last count I had was five assistant general managers with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Is that right? Five. That’s a lot. Yeah, it’s a lot. That’s a lot of cooks tasting the broth. Could they be spending time this week on revisiting exactly what is it you do around here? Well, usually I just sit at my desk for 15 minutes and about and just zone out till about 10:00 a.m. When you say zone out, what do you mean? Okay. Yeah. The assistant general managers are um Brennan Pridam. Uh there’s a special adviser to the general manager which is Shane Don. Okay. Uh Derek Clancy, player personnel, player development, Dr. Haley Wikcinheiser, hockey research and development, Daryl Metaf, assistant general manager, uh minor league ops and GM, uh Ryan Hardy. And yeah, so what would you say? There’s a lot you do here. Um that’s five. Six if you include don’t. Yeah. So you’re right. It’s a lot of guys. It’s a lot of people and women. It’s a lot of people. Yeah. So, so I I do think that if it is something now, first off, we’re waiting for the sale to be completed for MLSSE and Bell, right, for the portion of the team, but it’s in spirit. Everyone knows it’s happening. It’s a done deal that it’s going to be a Rogers, MLSSE, and so if there is some restructuring, you’d mentioned yesterday may not just be the Leafs, it could be the whole organization. My point is that it seems like they’re making large decisions here, not just, you know, which free agent do we like best. It’s who’s making the decision about who makes the decisions. Yeah. Yada yada yada. So maybe that’s why they’re when you’re when you’re coming off such an emotional loss, it’s a lot easier to do it now than if they were winning, right? Yeah. Yeah. You you have cart blanch right now. If you want to do something, go ahead. No one’s saying how dare you. Yeah. So that’s that’s where bas basically I I see things now. Could we see something as early as this week? Tomorrow, Friday with the board meetings tomorrow. Tomorrow. Could we You think that they’d want to do this? This week? Our show ends at 6 tomorrow. They’ll have a 605 presser. No, Friday. 605 Friday presser. We would be happy about Yeah. It wouldn’t be the best thing in the world, right? Nobody wants to hear us anymore than they have to. No, like I Yeah, I’m good. I mean, we’ll talk about it Monday, I guess. But anyways, all right. Well, we’ll just wait. We’ll wait. Before we get into uh I went on with uh Gunnar and Ben this morning and they we talked so many different angles yesterday, but Andis and Gunnar both brought up the Matthews thing to me yesterday and I wanted to get your guys’ take on this that he said, you know, four months of rehab or whatever, like he should be able to get back to 100%. Should they have put him on LTI and spent the money and you know like you think he would have pushed back against that his new first year as a captain but like you know this is all hindsight 2020 stuff clearly but like we’re captain hindsight right now the Leafs aren’t playing anymore like in hindsight maybe you should have considered it. Maybe a couple months off would have really done the trick for him. I Yeah, now it looks good. The other question is like if you want to spend that money to get better players at the deadline, you know, look at the assets they gave up to get Carlo and Lton, what else could you have fair take purchased with what you had, you know, to to use the the Matthews money, but they had to add extra to be able to retain and all this different stuff. So, I don’t know. We we had these conversations, guys. We talked about putting him on a long-term IR. We had the conversation of don’t go to foreign nations. Yeah. Don’t go. We had that conversation a lot. A lot. A lot. And what happens if me personally, I didn’t like him coming out and playing the injury card. I think he just should have been quiet about it. Oh, he was asked about it. He didn’t volunteer it. No, he’s asked about it. No, no. volunt when when you answer it, you volunteer your answer. He could have said, “No comment. I’m not going there. I’m not using it as an excuse, right? We just weren’t good enough.” I would have preferred him to be more forthcoming to help him his own perception to be honest with you. But anyways, we don’t have to go too deep into I just if if if you were if you were good enough to be on the ice, then just let your play stand alone. That’s my whole point. Yep. Sam sir, that’s all. Right. because everybody’s hurting. Everybody’s not 100%. I’m sure he wasn’t, of course, but anybody can turn around and say, “I’m hurt or not 100%.” Hey, are you hurt? And he said, “I don’t want to talk about it.” And then we’re saying, “Nah, how dare he talk about it.” It’s like what he he had to say words. I don’t know. Tough spot for Yeah. But you could have just said, “No, I was good enough to play.” Yeah. Okay, that’s all. Anyways, so yeah, that’s why I brought it up. You should have. Um, you want to start into this a little bit? Yeah, I do. I do. Okay. So, once again, let’s revisit the fact that I gave you a homework assignment. Yes. And I asked you for uh let’s just say for argument sake five top uh decisions made over the course of Brandon Shanahan’s uh tenure with the Leafs and five uh not so great. I I had a lot easier time with not so great. Do you want to start with not so great or great? I mean let’s start with not so great. Present present away 13 bad ones. Okay. But did you rank them from like least to the the worst? I wouldn’t I mean number one’s obvious. Okay, let’s go to Let’s start at the bottom first. What do you got for me? Okay, bottom. It’s not that obvious because I don’t know what it is. The bottom. We’ll start with the bottom. Uh Ryan Reeves signing 13th on the list. Yeah. Okay. I got zero issues for that. Okay. Yeah. Oh, really? Yeah. It’s not perfect. Yeah. uh a guy that’s making a million bucks. He he brought some attitude. You know what he brought? He brought the belief that we’re not going to get pushed around anymore. It wasn’t perfect, but and he he went more on reputation than actually dropping his gloves, but at least it showed that they’re kind of driving it to the right direction of we’re not going to be pushovers anymore. That was I mean to be fair I don’t want to spend too much time on this. That was my 13th one because you told me to start the I’m okay I’m okay with that. Okay. Uh Morgan Riley contract where we’re sitting here now. Mhm. Is not so great. Okay. But you know it’s not it’s lower at the bottom too. Yeah. Even that it’s not a negative trade value contract. You probably get back a for it or something. Sure about that. I you don’t have to add anything to your I’m I’m okay. I’m okay with it at seven and a half. If it was, you know, it’s like, boys, Seth Jones, okay, let’s just talk about that. Dead in the water in Chicago. Nobody wants him. Untradable contract. Blah blah blah blah blah. Okay, he stinks. He’s no good. He’s exposed. No one’s going to touch him. That’s all I heard from various people. Okay. What happens? They eat a little bit of his salary. Mhm. He goes from unworkable conditions in Chicago to a great scenario for the Florida Panthers who is arguably the best player on the ice in game seven and now he’s doing it for Florida now. Okay, that’s to me that that gives Morgan Riley and a bunch of those guys Carlson in in Pittsburgh. It gives pe teams hope that just because it doesn’t work here doesn’t mean I can’t make it work there, right? Uh how about a good move? Sprinkle it in. Uh the Jake Muzzin trade was a good Yeah, Muzzin’s pretty high on my list of trades. Yeah. Uh we’re going to look back at in the in in the Brendan Shanahan era. We we’re going to say what could it have looked like if he would have been able to stay healthy. He missed two playoff runs right when he was basically their best defenseman. Yep. You know, so he and if you had him, you wouldn’t have had to go out there and spend it on Jake McCabe. Yeah, he was. And the trade was Derzy, which hurts. I mean, he’s I mean, not terribly. Carl Gunstrom made up for that. Yeah. And a first round pick was which was Tobias Buornfoot. So that was a good trade for the Leafs. I love Jake Muzin and his first game I remember he hammered somebody and scored a goal and I was like, “Oh my god, I love him so much.” It was at home before at home. Yeah. Can I give you a positive one for me? Yeah, let’s do it. Okay. See if we have if I have him on my list. Stole ours. Yes. And I know at the very beginning we’re like, “Okay, can he stay healthy? Can he stay healthy?” And lo and behold, he couldn’t stay healthy. But what he gave the Leafs to win the Atlantic Division and solidify that they were going to get out of the first round was way more than I ever thought. And the the goalending was as spectacular as I’ve seen. I I don’t know how far I got to go back, but it’s it it it was right up there with Curtis Joseph and Ed Belffor. Can I can I ask Felix Podvan? Can I ask you a mean, unanswerable question? Yes. Do they beat Florida with him as a starting goal? I think it’s a fair question. If if if he would have been able to stay healthy, I think it’s a fair question. It’s worth asking, but they weren’t even close. I mean, they played like that game. It’s a fair question. Could he have stolen game three and game seven? I don’t know. No, it’s not. I don’t think game five or game seven are part of the equation for me. I really don’t. But it’s game Okay. Okay. Um, for me, remaking the decor like Carlo and Tanv have made the puzzle pieces fit for the first time. So, I I the good moves of the last 11 years are this past offse both. Yeah, a lot of them are. A lot of them are. But I I bypass Carlo and I go straight to Benois. Yeah. He brought in Benois to me was bigger than Carlo. I was shocked. I remember watching Benois in the first exhibition game going, “That guy can’t skate.” Yeah. Okay. And he ended up being as important as Chris Tanov. They They have a Yeah, it’s interesting. They have a He was a beast. A decor. He was excellent. And I’ll tell you another great move. They’ve got him. They had him three years for 4 million. If that guy was going into UFA right now, give him four a year. Someone’s going to give him four a year. Yeah. Um Okay. So those are things that happened recently. Good things like I have there’s some that are I can’t wait to find out where I have good or bad. I have the 20 this is a good good moves section and you may disagree with agree with this but I thought the 2023 tread trade deadline was really good getting Ryan O’Reilly, Jake McCabe, Shen and then having East for Sandy. I have it on bad. So I knew like I knew that you would have it on bad. Yeah, I have it on bad. But they got McCabe out of it. Like they still have McCabe and they signed him to that contract. Paid two million a year here. Ethan Cowan who is their top prospect and really the only hope for the future really outside of that is Nick Fino was not healthy. But he wasn’t that wasn’t that year. I know. But I have Okay. Then I have Nick Felino. Yeah. In in that. And I have Ryan O’Reilly who should never have been traded for unless you had him on an extension coming. You needed to lock him down. He’s the one guy that you could not afford giving up those pieces and having him walk out the door. That’s why it’s bad for me. There’s some big ticket stuff still to come. But I just think the thing is I guess I look at that more of through a fans lens in terms of like what that meant at that time and the departure for Kyle Dubis and what like ultimately that kind of meant you know like remember we were on air that day and Pierall got traded Sandine got traded like it felt like half the roster was completely different and it was it was like seven guys they got Atari and L Yeah, right. like Shen’s on like what this is a completely it was a departure. It was exciting. That was the first time they got past the first round with that team. So like I do look back on that as a positive. There’s definitely negative spin you can put on it with the Ryan O’Reilly stuff, but I thought that was a really good trade deadline for the Lakers. Uh bad one. Yeah, let’s go. Okay, this is a this is the worst one. Not the worst one, but close to it. Spending seven half mill this is all in one off seasonason. spending seven half million dollars on Andre Kasha, Nick Richie, and Peter Morazzic instead of paying Zack Heyman $5.5 million. Uh I I I have not paying Zack Heyman5 million number two. Rich was great. Um number two that gave me the hebies. Kasha, Richie, and Morazzic 7 and a half million bucks instead of instead of Zack like could you had him for five and a half like he got? I’m sure that’s one that letting go was like you can make one of everything’s great the toughest decisions on and and watching him and what he’s been able to do with Leon and and Connor and how much he got better and do we think he do we look at him as a 50 goal scorer? No. But he is the real deal. But you you knew they knew that he was the type of guy who would have longevity by the way he takes care of himself off the ice. He’s a pro. He is in the gym. He’s a nutrition guy. Like you knew he was going to stay good. You know what I have as the top best thing that they did in 10 years. You traded for Zack Heyman for Greg McCabe. Greg McKG. McKG. Sorry. He’s got an arm for a leg. Sorry. That’s like come on. That’s a gift from the hockey gods. Yeah. Yeah. That’s the best thing you think they’ve done in the last 10 years. I mean, it’s the biggest clear win. Biggest clear win. I think signing Chris Panv is the number one best thing. Okay. For sure. You’re near one of six, pal. Let’s wait on that one. Um, okay. So I think the second worst thing that happened Jeez, which is like kind of encompasses two eras and two separate things that happened was signing Patrick Marlo and then what happened because of it. See, I have that as number three. Okay, so we have our two flipped. Yes. But I I I think I have that as number three. I think it was a disaster for Kyle Dubis to have given up a firstrounder to get Marlo off the books that cost you Seth Jarvis. And do you know why they got the you know why they got to get the money off the books? It was to pay Andreas Jansen and Casper Kaplan who neither of them were on the roster I think a year ago. But he he didn’t have to do it. Yeah. But didn’t have to do it. What he what ended up happening was Kyle rushed it. Eat Marlo for another year. Just eat it. You weren’t ready to win that year. Yeah. Why are you rushing that? That’s not your year to win. Believe that. Right. They didn’t believe that. And was that the year they lost Columbus? Sorry. They lost to Columbus that year or Montreal? No, it was it was before that earlier. Maybe one of the Boston ones. Maybe they thought they were ready to turn the page. They thought they were ready to turn the page and they weren’t. He just got too horny too fast. I do I do. But the other part of that is it was a bad signing by Lou. I have that when they signed him, they they picked the wrong mentory type guy where it’s like maybe in retrospect that wasn’t the right guy to bring in here and then they paid him way too much and Dubis made a mistake trading a f like pairing a first round pick to get rid of a six and a half is a terrible move. But I got to Lou has to have some fault in it because it was a bad signing from the start. I got you guys have these things at two and three. I have three things that I consider worse than anything. Really? Hold on a minute. I know. I know where you’re going to go. And m mine’s number two. Well, I mean I have a obvious like there’s there’s no comparison. Yeah. I mean obviously number one is Cadrick. Kadrick. There’s no I mean it’s the worst by far, right? No. Well, what? Well, hold on. Yeah. Not the worst. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. I think I have I know what you got. Do we need to go to break? Yeah. break. Okay, let’s go to break and we will tell you the number one reason why the Leafs are in this mess after the break. I know. Welcome back to the Real Kipper and Bourne show leaf hour edition of our program. I’m Nick Kipos, Justin Bor, Sammy McKe as we go over the best and the worst decisions over the last decade for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can I do a good one just because I feel like we’re Yeah, I’m going to do a good one, too. All right. Signing Jason Spencer was really good off of Dallas. He came in here and gave them a veteran element. He cared. Scored some big playoff goals. Need Neil Pianc in the head. Buddy, I I’ve I’m with you for sure. He was a good good signing. He gave everything he he had. Yeah. Great fake clapper. Then he would cut out to the outside, shoot it top stairs. I’m I’m okay for sure with with with Spetsza. Um you know, and I think Max Patre should be remembered in that kind of that that that same kind of feel. I didn’t want to do this whole offense. The guy the guy the guy you squeezed everything you could out of Max Patch ready. I tip my my cap to him. Yeah, he was for sure. Good year. Um Okay, one more positive. Sure. Drafting Matthew N. 57th pick overall. I had that a few years ago, right? And yeah, could have used a couple more of those guys. Yeah. But at least at least he’s there and he’s not going anywhere. I don’t see an offer sheet being a threat in any way, shape, or form. So he and I loved his comments in in the post interviews that I love it here and I don’t want to go anywhere not even thinking about that. Awesome. You know what’s funny is like other teams get they draft multiple of those guys. They get they get like three guys that are really good from the draft outside, you know, that is allowed. So okay, bad ones though. Uh do I just go straight to my Okay. Worst one. So, in 10 years, both of you guys don’t have Nasm Cadri as the worst move. No, I have him. I have like a list of three that he’s in there. Can I guess what yours is going to be? Can I guess? Sure. Letting Lou Lamarella go for Kyle Dubis? No. No. Okay. What is it? Tell me. Mark Hunter or Kyle Dubis? Wow. Mark Hunter uh would not as a thought really you did too. Mark Hunter would never have damaged the Toronto Maple Leafs as much as Kyle Dubis did. I can’t It’s hard to disagree with that now. I I I don’t know. I’m just telling you. You know me and the London Knights thing, man. I’m like, “Yeah, whatever.” I don’t know. buddy. This guy, this guy I don’t know that Dubus damaged them, but I I’m okay with the idea that maybe Hunter would have taken them farther. Yeah, damaged is the best word I can describe where they are today over 10 years. They are bruised fruit. Okay. And uh you know, does that trickle into the decision of Cadri for Keroot? Keroot and Barry. Yes. Like I mean it it trickles down a lot. Right. And we just you know a lot of the list was under his watch. Yeah. Yeah. It was a lot. Yeah. It was that’s my number one. I tried not to do just all related to to your point. My number one is the contract negotiations for Neander Martner their previous ones and Matthews if you want to lump him in there because it all went haywire after that. That was kneelander dug in and they caved at the 11th hour. They never should have caved. They should have said fine stay home and send a message that they the December one that went that play in December. December whatever the last second was he signed and he was horrendous when he came back. Useless when he came out. Didn’t even help. And now you’ve sent the message that just wait me out and I’ll get there. The next year Marner holds out. Not at the first day of camp. No, hold on, hold on, hold on. Mner never held out. He missed the first day of camp. I don’t think so. Yes, he did. Definitely. Okay. One day at camp. One day at camp. But if they had any He never held out. He never He didn’t He didn’t miss a game. No, he didn’t. But he didn’t show up to camp because he didn’t have his contract. But that’s fair. I need a contract. He didn’t hold out. So, it’s fair when Willie does it, too. My point is Willie went to December and he held out. But the only reason they caved to Mitch when they did is because they had this this precedent where they went with Willie as long as they did. And then Willie came back and was garbage. And they didn’t want to go another year with another star, young star who holds out till God knows when comes in and is garbage. He missed the He missed. He held up a day training camp. But is that a hold out or not a hold out? No, it’s not a hold out. Let’s see if I stop it. Okay. Okay. Whatever. Come on. And it’s embarrassing that you sit there and say you held out. Holding out means withholding your services because you want to get money. Withholding your services, you’re not showing up what everyone else does cuz you want more money. That’s what happened. Yes, he missed a day. Whatever it was. Oh my god. Okay. Semantics. It’s okay. It’s all right. Fine. Fine. If it’s semantics. So he at that point it felt like Marner grinded them for every nickel he could just the same way that Willie did. And in both cases they bent. And then it started to feel like it was everyone trying to get their own piece of the pie. It’s a very philosophical one. Good. I like that. I’m with you on Dubis screwing this whole thing up with the contracts for sure. And I’m not going to get into what you think these players deserved or what they didn’t or you know what they’re they were entitled to whatever. We can debate that all day long. But you are 100% on where it it it it took a turn. It took a turn. But I will go even further back and I’ll I’ll I’ll pin this on Lou right now. Okay. Okay. Is that when all of these kids came in at a young age, there were the the B bonuses. Do you remember this? Mhm. The B bonus. I only remember this because you’ve told me about it before. Blue didn’t give individual B bonuses out, right? No good. This is my philosophy. It’s a devil’s thing. It’s my thing. Don’t focus on individual things. Everything’s a team. I don’t want you going out there trying to score so you can get more money when it doesn’t bringing the team together. Right. Fair enough. Okay. So, it’s almost standard the top four and five guys get B bonuses. They’re built there because they’re only getting minimum wage 850 right at the time. I don’t know 8.25. Like it’s not fair that Eric Lindros when he was probably less than that. When Eric was a rookie, he came in and made more money than Wayne Gretzky who had 55 records at the time, right? So we can’t do that, but we can’t have him play for minimum. So we’re going to give you these B bonuses. But Lou didn’t want to give them out. So Mitch didn’t get them and was told no one’s getting them. Man, what happens a year later? Blue gives them to Austin Matthews. Well, he’s a first overall pick. So, the other guy was a fourth overall pick. Yeah. It’s the big difference between first and fourth. But if it’s But if it’s an onr thing, it’s a principal thing. All fourth pick overall guys got them. Yeah. But and it’s one thing. It’s one thing when you’re told though no one’s going to get them, so you’re not getting them. But don’t worry, no one’s going to get them. And I think 12 months later, 12 months later, that guy got him. I didn’t. Yeah. And I’m out $1.5 million. And I think philosophically this this is where it got ugly. The the guys at the top kind of started to just frustrate the guys. Yes. And it’s like now I got to catch up. I didn’t get my money. You got your money. Why did he get his money? And it just caused like a a snowball effect where it’s like everybody’s out for their money now. And you remember the people have been tweeting the hockey hockey news cover of like you know these guys. Yeah. Playing the parade cover. Not you know it’s not if they win a cup it’s how many. And it never felt like those guys jelled. I don’t feel like they’re pals off the ice. I don’t feel like there’s you know. Yeah. It didn’t work. Correct. Um you want a couple more? Oh yeah. Uh protecting Justin Hall and Kerfoot and the letting Jared McCann go. Thank you. On my list. Good one. That’s on my list. What was that? Number seven. Traded for him. Had him and they scored 40 the next year or something, didn’t he? Justin Hall and Kerfoot. I’ll never forget that damn fish. They’re like, “Oh, I saw this fish with remember they were doing like the it was the fish and I was like they had the Keroot one. They’re letting Keroot go and it was Macan.” You remember that? I do remember it was Kevin Weekes. Ridiculous. Ridiculous. So funny that we’re this far along. We’ve done the worst. I feel like I’ve heard everyone’s bests. The name Mike Babcock or Sheldon Keith hasn’t come up and those are pretty pivotal voices in these in this era. I had letting Kee come back after they blew a 3-1 series lead to Montreal on my list. I I was torn to be like firing Babs was a mistake, you know, but he was kind of vindicated with a lot of his policies. I think it might have been the right. I didn’t get to it, but I had not letting Sheldon go with Kyle Dubis. Yeah. Keeping him for one more year. By the way, my Babs comment was not about Sheldon, who I obviously worked with, and I think he’s a great coach, but Babs did have a pretty good pulse on this team. It felt like um No, he Babs Babs was he I mean, he was just he was not a nice man. Yeah. No, I think and he did not treat Mitch Martyr well. No. And we know that obviously with the list. Yeah. I mean, we had remember we had Naz on when was that we interviewed Naz when he wrote his book talking about the the Babcock stuff with that list and how things went. Uh I got a couple I mean this go this one goes way back but signing Nikita Zitzv to a 7-year $31 million contract. Lamela, that was an interesting move. I forgot that happened. What year was that? Ah 84 years ago. Zaitv contract. He had like a half decent ear when they when he first came over here. Uh he signed that and then they 2017. 2017. Okay. 2017. Yeah. And then they had to tra then they traded him to um Ottawa. God, they struggled finding D. They did the Oja Ganov thing and they they did the uh who did they love? Marinson for years there. Can I throw you one more? I got like four. So, you Okay, I’ll throw you one more. That it’s regretful. Not bad decision, just regretful. Not signing Cory Perry. Yeah, I got it. Cory letting Was it Wayne? Was it Wayne Simmons? I think he went Wayne Simmons that year. I mean, I like Wayne Simmons. Me, too. It’s not about Simmons, but Cory Perry scored 20 times this year. It’s unbelievable what he’s still doing and how hungry he is and just he’s just a winner. Okay. He’s just a winner. He’s a wiener. Um this one I we’ve praised the recent I haven’t heard this one name yet. We’ve praised the recent moves. Uh a first round pick in Grabbank and for Scott Lotton we may not be looking back on fondly. I love sorry to say it but I mean he scored one time not or two times and one time on his own net in the post and that’s it. Offensive to Lahis. Sorry. I’m sorry. I love L too. I He cares. But remind me if we put Lton and Carlo together what the trade looks like. Two first rounders, a fourth. Grabbankin and Minton and and retention. A lot of retention. A lot of retention. Would you make that trade today for Carlo and Lton? Oh, they lost. No, no, no, no, no. Right now, I I’ll tell you what, I like Carlo a lot and I know more than you and I think he’s going to be here for years. I think they’re going to fair, you know, big Rach. Um hopefully getting a fist fight help. I I really love Lton and the presence that he brought. But Lton’s a guy that you have to find on waiverss. I guess he’s a guy that you have to find uh in the summer in August for a sixth round pick. He wasn’t good enough to be your addition to help at center. He wasn’t. He wasn’t. Um how can we not have Jack Campbell five-year contract? They didn’t sign him to give him the five, but Jack Campbell period. They traded for him and he was the the guy at the heart of the Montreal series in the end. Yeah, it was okay with the trade. Mentally abused himself. They didn’t they didn’t pay him. They didn’t pay him. They got away from it, you know. They got away from it. They didn’t I think what did they trade? Trevor Lewis for him, which is which hurts. Uh Trevor Moore. Trevor Moore. Trevor Moore. Trevor Moore. Only scor 30. No, Trevor Moore is a good player, but like he was okay, I guess. At the time they needed a goalie. They needed a goalie. Such a nice guy. They needed a goalie and he was out of this world for them. Cared about that. I know. Out of this world for them. He was like amazing for He had some stretches. He had some stretches where he was out of this world. We probably said Vzna in a couple conversations. I said Samson. I I compared him to Kujo the Cuda that we have. We need a before we break. No, I got another negative one. No, we need a positive. No, I don’t. I No, we’ll turn it into a positive. I’m going to go Oh, good luck. Malgan for Marchman. Malgan. That’s my worst one. Oh, buddy. I have that one, too. And I didn’t see it. Mason Marchman most upset about that. They they developed him. They put in years into his development and had no reason to move off of him. He wasn’t costing anything. He was big and young and could score and was He has a sense for the net. I want you to say it. Damage. Damage. That was Kyle Dubis’ Oh, sure. There’s a damage. Sure. Deal. Sure. Yeah, that’s damage. The I know why they traded him. They thought he couldn’t stay healthy. They believed he would never play with any consistency that they could trust he would be in the lineup. But they’re so hard to find those guys. But to me, it’s like if he plays at all, it’s a win. It’s a major bonus. Why don’t you just find out first? Find out. Let him let him get hurt a couple of times before you put him to the curb. Lighting it up with World Championships for Switzerland. Is that true? Um I don’t know. Uh okay, a good one. Joseph Wallace contract could be good. Has anyone mentioned John Tavvarz yet? Yeah, I think you could mention that as a bad one. Well, see that’s why he hasn’t been mentioned is that it’s not I feel so bad for him. It’s not clear. He never he What’s that? It’s clear. Coming to his defense. I’m saying if John Tvar is signing Yeah. You can’t say that the addition of a guy who left for no assets and scored 450 points and led the team as a captain and all that was a terrible move. Wasn’t terrible. No, it but it it’s not. No. And he never pret pretended to be anything he wasn’t. Yeah. But you overpaid him and it caused everybody else to get overpaid. That’s that there’s the domino effect of his contract. It wasn’t him. Yeah. It’s the the part of the same thing we talked about with the Knander Marner stuff where it’s like Yeah. And and and you needed to get Marner signed. What happened was is they offered MNER a contract that he turned down and instead of bumping it up, you left it alone. Then you went to go sign Tavvaris when you should have had him done before you signed Tavvaris. Yeah. You needed that deal done. So you think that affected? Yeah, buddy. He’s looking Mitch at that point went from 60 points to 94. Mhm. And now it’s like between Matthews and Marner it’s like I I let the team is scoring. How can you tell me that that guy’s worth more and they didn’t have a leg to stand on? They’re like you’re right so we’ll take you to 109. Right. Another bad one. Signing Joe Thornton. Yeah. Who’s that? Signing Joe Thornton. Yeah. Listen, it’s to your point like what what mentors did you bring in? Stunk. And I saw I I watched 24/7. What’s the big deal? We’re in first place. you’re first in the league for a reason. So, I’ll never give I’ll never come. We You would have liked the guys at the bottom of the lineup to have had more success because I like I liked Spettza. I liked Simmons. I liked Clifford. I liked Marlo. I liked Thornton, but they combined hadn’t won a ton of Stanley Cups. So, go out this summer and find some winners. Yeah. Uh yeah. So, and the Jake McCain contract’s really good. Okay. Wow. Wow. Sorry, we I did do a mailbag. I have literally 150 questions. I didn’t tomorrow. No, we don’t. We’re only 5 to six tomorrow. Oh, we are. Too bad we can’t golf. It’s winter here now. Okay. Were we more negative than positive? I think so. All right. We go national. Hey, Rick Tocket’s going to join us. And Hall of Famer Kevin Low. We go national next on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. Welcome to the national hour of the Real Kipper and Bourne show. We are live on Sportset 650 in Vancouver, Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, right across all your sports net platforms. This hour of real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet 365. Nick Gipri, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKe, [Music] [Laughter] Sammy, is that not gone platinum? Well done, Brando. Yeah, great drop in as Sammy once again just caught up in his maple leaf misery. We had a heck of a first hour if you want to leaf shoden. Is that how you say it? I don’t know. But there we walked through every mistake they made for a decade. So nothing tastes more delicious than Shoden Freud. Shoden Freud. But we have the Oilers to keep Canada’s hopes alive. Starting tonight, Oilers and Dallas Stars 8:00 PM Sportsnet and CBC. We’re going to welcome in in a few minutes Kevin Low, Hall of Famer. Sammy, you going to listen? You going to be cheering for Edmonton. I would like to make my official statement. Oh, I’m looking forward to that. Yeah, he doesn’t do that. No, no, I am. Oh, you are this time? You are? Yeah, I I am. You said the Leafs have to win the cup first. I That’s usually That’s usually Yeah. Like I’m really coming to grips with the fact that that’s probably never going to happen in my life. So we just need it back in Canada now. No, it’s not even that. It’s it’s all McDavid driven. He needs to get one. He is the guy in the league that needs it the most. He is the shining star of the league. He is the face of the league. All these guys always get one. He needs to get one. It breaks my heartache that all those stinky Oiler fans out there are gonna get it and they’re gonna rub it in my little face. They’re gonna make fun of Toronto. They’re going to talk about Toronto more than they’re going to talk about the Oilers getting the cup, but I have to say I want McDavid to have it. So, my official statement is yes, I am rooting for them. Wow. Yeah. Profound. Thank you for that. We We did on occasion uh in our Leaf Hour edition talk about the Leafs feeling different than years past, but do the Oilers not feel different this playoff than they did this time last year? The one reason I’ll I’ll I’ll just I’m hesitant to give it a hard yes is I don’t know that the decor is that much better. You know, it’s a lot of Whoa, whoa, whoa. Careful. Don’t let them hear that. Well, they get so prickly anytime. Clingberg, Walman, Stcher, Kulak, you know, like Wman’s added a lot for sure. And I’m not saying Clingberg’s been great for them. That is not meant to take away from them. I’m saying if you look at the teams who have won the cup over the past 10 years, they’ve been loaded on the back end. and the Oilers are just passable at best with Eholm backard nurse like then then I can see it like if they get him back here I don’t think that this decor could get you through two more rounds without Echol I think gets you over the top the forwards are better than they’ve been and that’s because Kane and Frederick have given them a physical net front edge to go with Perry and Dry Saddle and all those guys around the net and they’re scoring they’re all they’ve all been able to put the puck in the net And Connor Brown has just been such a presence. He’s a worker, man. He’s a worker. He’ll he’ll give you everything he’s got. You know, Heyman, we talked about him in the first hour, too. It’s kind of the same thing. So, we talked about him in the first hour. Yeah, there’s a lot of playoff built dudes on the Oilers up front. So, yeah, I can I mean, Dallas, I will say, is is loaded. It’s going to be a heck of a series. Yeah, I’m really looking forward to that. I mean, the thing is with Dallas is that they are better, too. And having Rantonin is just that’s a bit of a bit of an upgrade. They they’re they’re depth guy or not depth guys even they’re stars. Robertson you know why Johnson has not had uh Johnson has not had a lot of luck around the net. They’re going to have to get going here to match what is a team that could easily put up a five spot every night every game. the the Kings were the best or second best defensive team according to Sport Logic this year and they just couldn’t hold back the flood and Vegas was the other team that was definitely top three defensively all year long and same thing. So, good luck. This is the first Western Conference Finals rematch in more than a decade and just the 10th time in NHL’s expansion era that the teams will face off in at least two straight years during the Final Four. In the four in four of the previous nine instances, each side won at least once. So I think the last time that there was a rematch would have been uh Kings and Blackhawks. Mhm. Which would have been 2014 2013 era. So it’s uh they I mean Stars and Oilers have a lot of playoff history. Like I remember they used to play in the first round all the time. It would be like first first versus eighth. There was a lot of there’s a lot of history between these two teams. This would be a good special teams battle. you know how good the Oilers power play is. The both the you know both teams have been good. So the uh power play of Dallas in the first two rounds 30.4 and 30 31% and their PK was above uh 85% in both rounds. Their special teams have been awesome. Their goalending has been great. It’s going to be tight. In a few minutes we’ll welcome in Kevin Low, six time Stanley Cup champion, Hall of Famer. And then uh at 5:30 Eastern, Rick Tocket. We talk, we haven’t had talk on the show obviously for a while as a head coach. He’s made a couple of appearances on our show, but this one will be fun. Yeah, I you know as soon as he got he left Vancouver, I was like talk maybe could have been left a little longer and a couple texts went unrepiedly and that’s very unlike him. He usually used to get back to me a lot when he was an analyst. I was like getting another job. He’s not getting back to me. He’s getting another job. So there we go. I’m really looking forward to having him on. He was our favorite. We had him on at least once a month in the first couple years of our show. We had him on all the time and he’s one of our faves. So, I’m looking forward to getting him back on. I thought there was a chance he’d just take the TV thing for a year again. You know what I like about this though? I think Philly’s PR is pretty open, right? We had on, we had Jones on. Times throughout the year. So, like we could probably get talk a few times next year. Yeah. A little more challenging when he was with Vancouver. He’ll be he’ll be our Flyers analyst. Yeah, he could be. God, hey, the best Flyers analysis we got this year. Shout out Charlie O’Connor, but it was from Jones and Briier who were like, “We’re not a playoff team. We suck. We’re trading everyone we can.” They were in a playoff spot when we had them on. He’s like, “We’re not good.” In November, by the way, in November, he’s telling us, “We’re trading everybody.” All right. A guy that’s made a few trades of his own over his executive career. Kevin Low now joins us. Stanley Cup champion six times, one with me. Lozi, how are you, pal? Thanks for joining us. Hey, my pleasure, Kip. Always looking forward to coming on your show. So, where where are we on the uh the Oiler vibe out west here and uh you know, compared to last season or going back to your dynasties? Well, I would say I mean it depends who you’re talking to. If you’re asking me personally, I would say that uh this is as good a team uh as the Oders have had since the Dynasty years. And that would include the run in ‘ 06 when they went to game seven of the finals. I think uh what Jeff Jackson and Stan Bowman have done uh cobbling together some players to really fill out a real need in the in the in the um in the lineup. particularly for me which I always thought uh was lacking was the heaviness up front and they’ve addressed that and then you know one step even better than that they’ve they’ve added the puck moving on the back end which really complements the forward group we have so uh if I would have looked at the Oilers teams even last year’s team u they didn’t for me they didn’t have enough heaviness up front and that was a difference in the Florida series if you ask me uh they have heaviness up front they’re they’re they’re a heavy hard team, you know, evident to what they did to Vegas in that five game series. So, Lozi, do you believe that the type of goals that get scored in playoffs are different? Because it feels like the success that these guys are having offensively, it’s a lot of Kane and Heyman and Frederick and kind of guys around that blue paint. Yes, absolutely. Okay. You you have to go to the blue paint. Uh you know, there’s you know, everybody’s blocking shots. the goalies are, you know, especially when you get this time of year, the goalies are all good. Um, you you have to I mean, even in the glory years, I mean, we scored goals by the boatloads as as you guys would remember. And and uh when you’re playing against good teams, you got to go to the paint. You got to that’s where you got to score the goals. We’re watching and listening to sixtime Stanley Cup champion Kevin Low, hockey hall of famer. Solo, just going back to the blue line here and I I know we can talk about uh uh the addition of Wman and even Clingberg coming in, but the one thing that I’ve noticed more than anything is that that guys like Buchard and and Nurse have limited the the the gaps, the turnovers, and it’s they’re better. They’re they’re they’re there less of them. And where is the stability coming from from those two guys in particular for me? Well, I think Darnell, you know, if anything over the years, he’s in the regular season particularly, I think sometimes his his mind wanders a little bit, you know, uh I think he’s built for the playoffs. Uh, I remember the World Juniors in Canada a number of years ago when they played the Russians in the finals and that said a lot for me in terms of what Darnell Nurse can do is he he was a wreck machine in that game for anybody who remembers the game. I believe it was the gold medal game and and um you know he’s got great reach. He’s great great athletic ability and and uh lots of desires. So, I mean, he plays he plays his best hockey when when the game’s on the line. And relative to to Evan Bushard. Um, you know, it’s it’s it’s hard when you’re a skilled guy like that. Uh, I mean, Paul Coffeeoffe is a great example. I mean, during the regular season, he wasn’t the best defenseman uh in terms of defending, but he could. It’s just that, you know, the demand, the need for him was to be more offensive than than defensive. And I think you can I don’t want to compare Evan Bushard to Paul Coffee quite yet, but uh I mean Evan was really good last year in the playoffs. I believe he was good the year before. Yeah, his you know his defensive mind wanders a little bit in the regular season. But if you can get the kind of hockey from from those types of guys to get you in the playoffs and then they can raise the game then then then certainly you’re you’re able to win with those guys and and I believe you can win with them. So, so Bushard’s in his fifth year now and uh you know 25 years of age. Do you believe that there’s a certain number of games a guy needs no matter what to really fall into kind of what he is or who he is defensively as well? Yeah, I would say uh well defenseman you know what for me personally and I was a defensive defenseman. I mean started offensive but quickly realized watching Paul Coffee that I better learn something else other than And uh and uh I think it wasn’t until my third year in the league where I finally felt comfortable in the position and then you know it took a few more years where you you got to go through those learning experience like I you know unfortunately the kid for the Kings that turned the puck over um number 55 Quinton by Quinton you have to do that once and then you’ll know the next time like you’ll know you and it it takes time for those kinds of things and particularly with defenseman um you know the uh you know relative to to Bouch if we’re talking about Bouch he he knows how to play defense and and when he sets his mind to it he can and I for me a good comparison to Bushard is Larry Murphy you know and Larry Murphy was a guy that you know didn’t appear to be the best defensive defenseman but I mean the guy won Stanley Cups right uh uh I never worried too much about Evans play with the Oders I mean it if the player has it in their heart to want to win and learn. They’ll find a way to learn. They’ll find a way to do what they need eventually. And I think I think, you know, Bush is is uh he’s proven a lot of people wrong and and I again I think the any team can win with Evan Bushard on the in the lineup can win a Stanley Cup. So, as the league continues to expand and it’s up to 32 teams now, it just gets harder to win a Stanley Cup, right? It’s less common that individuals will be on cup winning teams. So, how important is it for McDavid to get his in terms of legacy at this point? We know what a great player and star and winner he is, but how much does he need to win a Stanley Cup? Uh, well, that’s a good question to ask him, but I think both you and I know the answer. I mean, he wants to win it desperate desperately. And and and Wayne was the same way. Wayne was, you know, he was three or four years into his career, winning scoring records, MVP, all that stuff. And I remember him saying to us, you know, at the end of the day, none of that matters really. And it wasn’t, you know, some people say that, but they don’t really mean it. They like being the MVP. Uh but but at the end of the day, if you know, if you want to be up there with the greats of all time, you have to have a Stanley Cup on your resume. and and I don’t think it’s I mean I think the Oilers have a you know the best chance they’ve had in a long well decades to win a Stanley Cup and and I believe in his time frame it’s going to happen. I mean they could run into a red hot aer right now or or or get to the next run you know and and play unbelievably outshoot him and not win a cup. I mean that’s very that’s very possible but but um uh I I think in the in the coming years uh they’ve tasted it and uh you know management will continue to add players to to try to try to prolong these guys uh particularly the top guys on the team. They they’ve got a lot of runway still I think to win some more cups if they do happen to win it this year. Lozi, we know uh the challenge ahead of them is the Dallas Stars in particular U Miko Rantin and how much of a focus do you think it will be on if we shut this guy down, we shut the Dallas Stars down? Is there anyone that you guys came across in in your years where where you would look at one guy and say that’s the guy that we need to shut down and and and we’re going to win. I I can’t really uh I can’t really think anyone think of anyone. Well, we never played the Penguins in the finals, so I’m sure it would have been Lemieux or Yeah. or or Yogger or both. Uh I don’t I I think for us, and I think I could safe to say for the orers going in, they have a really good game plan right now. And if they execute it, they don’t have to worry about any player in particular. And that’s nothing against Miko Ranton or or or um you know, any of the other top forwards that they have. uh if if you’re if if you have that dogged attack like they had in the latter games of the LA series and the ve Vegas series then then you know it’s hard for those offensive guys to get any sustained pressure because you know you’re you’re having to defend as a group so much and I suspect that that’s that you know that game plan for the order is not going to change that heavy and hard and playing the other team’s end and and it was the same for us. I mean, we never we never had to look at any individual player on an opposition team. You know, we we had a really hard, heavy forch check, uh, relentless forch check and and typically we just kept the other team on the, you know, on their heels most of the game. So, your Oilers teams played, my dad’s Islanders teams in two cup finals, and I look at the way Edmonton’s going here. They played LA. How many times in a row have they played the Kings? Could be Florida again in the final. They played Dallas and this, you know, I What is it like? What’s the experience like when you’re playing a team you’re so familiar with? It’s almost like you know them as well as your own team, I imagine. Yeah. Yeah. Well, your your dad’s team was uh they were the gold standard for sure for just a unbelievable two-way game and and you know, we had to learn from them. Uh you know, they in fairness to them, they just they ran out of gas. I mean they had 19 straight series and stuff but but back to familiarity your question uh you know it’s a good thing uh you you understand the opposition uh the players individually you know what makes them tick uh you know their moves and stuff. So it’s if for the for the for the athletes that are you know studious and you know can absorb that information retain it and utilize in the game it’s a big big advantage to be playing the same teams every year. Uh Lozi we know that uh Stuart Skinner is going to come in with a lot of confidence and and and the goalending in general and what they were able to do with Pickard as well. Um, but you know, how important is it for Skinner to maintain the the confidence and and the look and how important is it that the team does it their best to kind of insulate that so so we’re not sitting here after game one questioning the Oilers goending again? Yeah. And just sort of this the answer is the same as I I just finished. Yeah. It’s it’s the Oilers game plan. It’s their their relentless attack. Playing in the other team’s end is always a good way to to have to worry less about the goalending. And I I don’t I’m not for a minute suggesting that the the plan is that way because they have no faith in Stuart Skinner. Uh because obviously Skinner got to them game seven in the finals last year and he’s he’s back to where his game was. And the the thing uh again about Stuart Skinner, I’ve seen enough of him over the years. I mean, as a kid, he grew up playing minor hockey here in Edmonton and then he played in the American in the Western Hockey League for Lethbridge and then played in the American League that that he can play high level hockey. Yeah. You know, like a lot of goalenders, he can have an off game, but but it doesn’t seem to bother him. He’s able to bounce back. So, um, you know, I think if Skinner does have an off night, um, I don’t think anybody in Everton’s, maybe the players, let’s put it this way, maybe the fans, uh, because they they all feel that, uh, in general, I mean, you don’t be, you don’t become a goalending hero, uh, until you’ve won. And, uh, I, you know, I hope that the Oders can go on to win because I think, you know, Skinner’s done a lot for that or if Pickard gets back in there. I remember Billy Ranford back in 1990. He won the Cons trophy. Well, we were down 3-1 in the first series and and the Oers management was questioning whether they were going to play Billy Ramford in the fifth game. It it and and the only reason why they didn’t is because the other guy had hadn’t played forever and wasn’t really a top goalie and and they went with back with Billy Ranford and he won the Consite Trophy. So, amazing. Um, yeah, it is really amazing when you think about and I I I remember that conversation going, “Oh, boy.” Like I I didn’t know what to think at the time because, you know, I I I’m glad they were making the decision and obviously they made the right one. Yeah. Fork in the road right there in history. Hey, Lozie, awesome stuff. The magic starts tonight 8:00 PM Sports CBC Oilers and the Stars. Thanks for doing this, pal. Okay, guys. Anytime. Thanks so much. Kevin Low. sixtime Stanley Cup champion, five with the Edmonton Oilers. Who will be the next player to win six Stanley Cups? There’s just Is it possible now? Like No, no. I don’t know. It is just Cory Perry’s been to what five cup finals or something? Four maybe. Yeah. Did I ever tell you the the game that I went to Edmonton with the Rangers and Kevin Loe’s on the Rangers and he we come off warm up and I’m following him off the ice and warm up and an Oiler fan starts kind of chirping him a little bit. Loi like a light switch goes off on this guy like I mean he’s like bombs coming back at him. Hey, when we win the cup in New York, I’ll bring it right down here and I’ll just I’m going jam it down here. And I’m like, oh my god, did that guy win five Stanley Cups here? Did he really? I’m like, but but he’s like competitive. No, that’s the competitiveness. And that’s like I’m wearing this jersey and I’m loyal to this jersey and you know, that’s it. It’s like that’s the fire. That’s awesome. In the belly that makes you win six Stanley Cups. Six is great. It’s funny how guys like when their career is over and they’ve played for a few teams kind of default back to, you know, the team, the team you had the most success with or whatever. You know, we chatting with BXA, I don’t know how many years he was in Anaheim, three years, four years, whatever it was. And it’s like, no, when it’s over, you’re still a kuck. You know, like he went there and he poured his heart out for Anaheim, did everything he could and lives there. When you pour blood in a uniform, man, it’s never comes off. Yeah. Like I don’t know if you guys even hear me ever mention the Kings who my dad played for for two years, right? He’s an island. Yeah. It’s just never really came up. There’s not King stuff in our house. No. No. Ah, I got a couple sweaters. Oh, nice. Gretzky stick. Do you think if I think it’s important for Skinner to get out of the gate here big time here. If he if there’s any lapse in goalending, I think I think people will bail on Edmonton’s chances. But he could also be that Bill Ranford story. Like he could easily be the guy, you know, I I got some stat here. In games one to four in the playoffs last couple years, he’s like an 860 save percentage. Games 5 to seven, he’s like a 927, you know, like he’s he could get this rep if he carries him on in. Now it’s like he got it done. He was a big game goalie. Like are they gonna go to Olivier Rodriguez? Still not daytoday. Is she an artist? Olivia Olivier Rodriguez or Oliver Rodrig. I don’t know which. He’s French. I think he’s French. He’s not an actor. No, that’s their backup goalie. Maybe he’s acting like a goalie, but he’s there. So like an opera performer. I think I think there’s probably some understanding from the Oiler fans that’s like love it or hate it, it’s Stew, baby. It’s Stew. Like I don’t think you’re going to go to Olivier. No. Rodrigue. That’s how it’s spelled. Don’t go with it. I think I’m right. Yeah. Okay, great. You’re right. You’re right. Uh, game time. Yeah, we’ll do game time. Uh, let me find my sheet. I think I can do without. It’s game time presented by bet 365. Visit the adlightest odds and find out why it’s ever ordinary at bet 365. Must be 19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Uh, won the easiest money of my life last night betting on the uh, the cats. I bet on the Cats and I paired it with Spetchnikov shots. Shots and didn’t even do that. Uh yeah, the uh the Florida Panthers were a the easiest bet of all time for me last night and I won. Uh tonight the uh Western Conference Final gets underway and the price on the Edmonton Oilers has gone up. Uh they are plus 115 underdogs tonight. Uh the Dallas Stars are minus 135. When I bet the Oilers yesterday, they were plus 105. So money has obviously come in on the Dallas Stars. Uh they’re the home team. Dallas at home is 6-1 on the road. They’re 2-4. Goal differential plus nine at home, minus 13 on the road. They’re a good home team. Okay. So they uh yeah, so they they’re pretty big favorites tonight. Um can’t say you hate the value with the Edmonton Oilers at plus 115 on that. And I’m just quickly looking um as I’m trying to pull this up here. Uh, give me Conor McDavid to have two assists tonight at plus 185. That’s a good bet. Really like that bet. Thank you. Yeah, thank you very much. And that was Game Time presented by Bet 365. Visit the apps and find out why it’s ever ordinary at Bet365. That’s 15 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. All right, we’ll take a quick break and when we return, the new head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, Rick Tocket, will join us. We’ll get into a few news and notes if we’ve got time, including Marand at it again last night in game one. That more when we return to Real Kipper and Bourne. Welcome back to the program. Nick Kipos, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKe. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kipper and Bourne brought to you by Bet 365. As promised, the new head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers joins us, Rick Talk. Talk, how are you, pal? How are you guys? We’re good. Um, what’s going on, man? Like, you know, few things have happened since we talked. You were once upon a time one of like our key guests. like you were a star on our show and then you’re gone and then you’re back and I thought now for sure you were going back with Biz on TNT for a year and a half because you know get out of a bit of a circus situation and now you’re right back in it with uh with Joan Keith Jonesy who’s now like a a star now executive star. Yeah. Um, yeah, I’ve been everywhere bouncing like a like a code here everywhere. But yeah, no, it’s uh it’s been quite a ride. Um, trying to figure a few things out, but I’m actually, Nick, I got I’m pretty excited about the opportunity uh working with Danny and Josie and uh you know, trying to turn the um turn around here. Like I know the Flyers uh you know, Joel is pretty forthright saying, “Hey, we’re kind of we’ve been the back page a lot lately the last few years and we’re trying to get back on the front page.” Uh so uh a lot of work to be done but kind of good bunch of guys to do it with you know talk uh you know following the the storylines in Vancouver with you there and then uh ultimately finding out whether you’re going to stay or not just in terms of the the year in general. How how emotionally draining was it? And would you ever have considered taking a year off before jumping back in? Yeah, if I thought it was uh, you know, going to hamper my hamper me and uh my energy level, but um, you know, listen, you know, head coaches, you have to deal with stuff and I, you know, you have to deal with your share share of stuff. Uh, but I still have the energy. I still have the drive to uh to be part of a puzzle. Um, and and um, so I’m excited about it. So yeah, I mean, obviously when you have opportunities, you think of everything uh to make sure you write the right decision. So you seems like you had a choice or at least there’s potentially an opportunity to to stay in Vancouver. You ended up going back to Philly. You are a flyer. That’s what we’ve heard from everyone there that you are a flyer. What was it that made you feel like this was the place for you to be? Yeah. Well, I know the area really well. You got to remember guys, I’ve been gone for 20 25 years. So it’s not, you know, like uh the old flyer narrative. Um, so I’ve I’ve been gone um I’ve been lucky enough to be uh you know uh rub elbows with uh with a lot of different hockey minds um you know with different ideas and learning from them. So hopefully I can come back and and and bring some knowledge to that. But also like you know listen the brand the Flyers the crest I mean it’s a you know it’s an iconic uh symbol. It’s a you know when you talk about the Flyers uh you know you want to bring back that identity hard place to play. Um, I know the the game has changed in the in the sense that entertainment value with with these highly skilled guys, which they have a guy like Mitchoff who anxious to work with who could be a very, you know, he’s actually a star now, but you know, could he go to a different level? So, there’s a lot of tools to work with. Obviously, you have some weaknesses that we have to shore up, but really excited about the challenge. uh talk in in terms of now as early as next year. Do you do you go about your business as if this is a team and why shouldn’t we be talking about a playoff spot and why shouldn’t we be driving for that and the expectation is we want to be in the mix not just playing meaningful games but actually thinking about starting in September making the playoffs. Yeah. I I think you know like you know like the one thing approached with Danny u and and then um just methodically looking at the team and where when he thinks that you should swing the bat and all that stuff. I think he’s really I think he’s got it down really uh Pat to be honest with you Nick I’ll be honest with you like there’s you know there’s certain you got I think there’s about 30 plus million in cap space next year. Um so they don’t want to do anything really crazy now. I think they’re uh just like I said, you got three first round picks this year. Um it’s really to me is is and I I’ve said this before, the process, it’s the most overused word in pro sports. I’m actually trying to I was joking with some other people. I got to think of a different word, but it’s true. You to me, you got to as coaches, you got to go in there and build the environment where players trust you and the system and uh and their career on you uh with with your staff. Um and then the results will come. Now Rick, you uh won a Jack Adams in Vancouver, had a lot of success, and um you know, you talked about your energy level this summer, like if you felt like you didn’t have it. I I think it’s reasonable to to just wonder, was last year exhausting with the Conucks. It felt like an awful lot was going on just from us being on the outside. Yeah, like I think Jim Rutherford stated it well three course throughout the year. There’s, you know, there’s a lot of things that we could never get some traction on. Um, and you look at the, you know, we’re a few points out of the playoffs. I’m I’m proud of the guys for that hanging in there, but for the most part, we couldn’t get traction. You know, you just couldn’t um there was always something that came up, whether it was injuries or obviously the situation with Pey and Millsy. Um, you know, it just we just couldn’t grab it together. And, you know, as a coach, you try harder and you know, is there something I could have did different? I, you know, I take a deep dive on myself. you know, could I have done something different earlier on? Um um so that’s something that um you know uh hopefully I’ll I’ll learn from if uh these these situations arise again. talk. Sometimes when I I talk to a few people, they they tell me Rick Talk gets tired of babysitting in Vancouver. And I’m just wondering now that um it was that the case or is this just the way it is today compared to maybe our days in the dressing room? Is it just is it more part for the course now that you’re just going to have to manage this generation a little bit more? That’s that’s the new kind of way that you got to coach here or you know is there a certain point where like I’m I’m paid to coach here just coach. Yeah. Well, I it’s it’s a great question. Um I think for me um communication is so big. Uh you got to communicate with these guys. These guys are high level athletes. Um they’re they’re they’re smart guys. there’s a lot of wise and you know why we do it this way, but they’re they’re they’re fun to work with. Obviously, you got to empower the leadership group. Um, and they can help you along the way, but to make to be honest with you, I think it’s just one it’s a communication thing. I think, you know, every year I got to try to even think better ways to communicate with with a player. You know what I’m saying? You know what I mean? I think that’s one something that I got to get better myself is to communicate. It’s so funny because you’re talking about like the evolution of the game and you know I don’t want to put words in your mouth but like when I watch playoff hockey it’s still hockey at the end of the day like it’s not that different. Hey like I felt like for a while the pendulum might swing to this crazy skill game but it feels like the type of game that you tend to preach still is what has success in the postseason. Well the league’s a copycat league. I I think all us coaches um do about 85% the same. It’s the 15% you get judged on, you know, on, you know, the way you practice, the way you you’re messaging, you know, the communication skills. But if you look at Florida, okay, they won, they got to the finals two years ago. They won the cup last year and now they’re in the final four uh one game up on Carolina. You know, what do they do? They play their identity. They play a north style. They play an abrasive style. I bet I bet you they rim the hard rim the puck on for more than any team. And you can probably look at analytics, they’ll tell you that. So, um I think that’s the key, but you know, obviously you gota, you know, there’s there’s time and place um for the talent and obviously you gota, you know, you got to promote that stuff, but you got to play your identity and and I I really respect Paul Maurice, the way he coaches that team. They play their their identity. They they’re hard for checking. They don’t they don’t they don’t apologize the way they play. They they they do what they do to win and it’s been pretty damn successful. So, I think a lot of teams will try to copy them. We’ve got Edmonton and Dallas tonight. Last night, uh, they they had a great showing against Carolina. I I imagine that you think that there isn’t any reason why the Panthers shouldn’t be able to repeat. Yeah. Well, you know what? You look at um I’ve actually really impressed Knoblock, especially after game three, uh, LA, um, using the bench. I mean, Edmonton’s really, they’re rolling. Uh, they got all four lines playing. K got the D play very well. you know, Skinner bouncing back with a couple of shout outs. So, they’re good. And big fan of Pete Dbor and Dallas, the system, the way they play, a lot of depth, uh, getting Hasten in back is huge. Um, lot of good storylines. Obviously, uh, you think Carolina, you know, they’re going to they’ll bounce back and Rod’s got that team belieing. So, a lot of great storylines. It’s going to be tough. If Florida does win, it’s going to be really tough, but uh, you know, any four teams can win in this thing when you when you get this far. Doc, you mentioned uh you know your team as you head into summer. Uh obviously UFA season comes around and also that draft. I just can’t even believe you mentioned the the first round picks or sorry just the picks that you guys have. Seven picks in the first two rounds this upcoming season. Do you get involved with the type of player you want to build your team or you just coach whoever they they send you? Yeah, I mean there’s not much like there’s really I don’t see these players. I mean, they they they might ask your your opinion um on, you know, what what do you think we need, the type of player, but you know, you you rely on your scouts and and then management and, you know, our job as a coach, but uh yeah, we’re having a draft party at down at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City and I and uh you’re going to be standing up a lot because there’s seven picks in the first round. That’s going to be kind of fun. Um, I don’t I don’t know who they’re picking to be honest with you, but uh it’ll be it’ll be fun to watch and seeing these young prospects and hopefully we can hit a bunch of these uh these stars. Hey Tuck, great having you back on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. And listen, we’ve got you pencled in every Thursday next year starting in the fall. Oh man. Uh yeah. Well, listen, I you know me what I was doing with you. I love coming on your show. Obviously, it’s a little different when you’re head coach, but uh yeah, if I’m coming on your show a lot, that means I got fired. So, let me I don’t think you have to worry about that for a while, my friend. Let me marinate a little bit. Let me marinate a little bit, you know. For sure. For sure. All right, catch your breath because uh before you know it, you’re right back in the thick of things uh at training camp. So, all the best, pal. Thanks for joining us. Thanks. Thanks so much. Thanks. Thanks for the support. Take care, boys. Rick, talk it, man. I know man. They got Flyers first, ABS first, Oilers first, Flyers second, Ducks second, Blue Jacket second, Flames second. That’s a lot of seconds and first. Yeah. And then they have their own. That’s more than the Leafs have in the next 15 years. Six. And you wonder at some point they’re going to flip them for Yes. something immediate assets that Mhm. you know, would look good on their back end. Morgan Riley. Great. It’s It’s tempting. Morgan Riley would be a perfect fit in Philly. But you know that backand’s funny because like if Dale could become who they hope he could become if that could happen. Yeah, it’d be really nice cuz Travis Sanheim is 29 and really good playing awesome at the world championships. Rasmus wristan I think has found himself a little bit. Who they trade tale for go cutter. But you know up front there how good do you think he’s going to be in Anaheim? No idea. I mean, he’s scored 20 times this year. I think he’s probably gonna be Yeah, I think he’s got a chance to be really good. And I think Dale’s coming along. I think, but I I don’t know how high his ceiling is just yet. I will say on the flyers, the guys I like Mitchkov is going to be interesting. That Tyson Forester, I like him. I think he’s a nice player, but like they’re they’re thin. They need Couturier, Tippet, Kneknney. They need big years out of those guys, and they need to find a way to get the top end guys. They need some topend talent. Okay. Hardest thing to get. What do you got for us, Sammy? Oh, it’s least related, so believe it. At least they’re a real team. What do you got? Uh, no, it’s just one of the mailbag questions with the presidency question that’s been, you know, that was on the front page of sports.ca today. You Kipper looks like he wants to change. No, I just uh I’m okay. I just wanted to get a little bit into last night. Okay, we can talk about it in a second, but Okay, go ahead. Uh, this guy named Paul sent me a tweet and said, “Sammy, let’s go completely off the board and gives the give the keys president to John Cooper and then just get out of his way.” Okay, thank you for for that thought. I’m in favor of just giving jobs smart people and there you go. I think I think I think teams are going to reassess the president’s job. Mhm. I think it’s so no John Cooper. No president’s job. Okay. No president’s job. It is something that owners now have just been like, “Wait, so we just added a like $3 million position that if you got a general manager on a day-to-day oper uh day-to-day operations and they’re paid to make key decisions, then let them make decisions. Let them let give give it give them the job.” That’s the way it was like 20, 30 years ago. There’s no president. It has felt like a bit of a handheld job now. Like there’s someone over you as a GM being like, I wouldn’t do that. Okay. Yeah. I just thought it was an interesting thought, one that hadn’t crossed my mind. Panthers. Okay. Panthers. Game one. 52. Really? 5-1. Now, uh, did any of their fans throw jerseys on the ice at all or Oh, here we go. Did they um the fans? Did they call Did they call Carolina quitters or anything or are they just okay? Because they’ve lost 13 straight conference final games. Last time I checked, Florida was really good. Florida’s a very good hockey club. 13 straight conference final games. Is that all? Carolina. Yeah, but their fans don’t care. The difference is that all we saw last night was just another example of how good, as Rick Taka told us, Florida is. Yes. You know what’s really funny is postgame um Paul Marie said he didn’t really like his team’s game but he said he understood why like right they had a day off between theories so he says you know weren’t they supposed to come in and just get the pass for stinking and being tired. Yeah but no he said he didn’t really like how they played but they got the win that’s great and Britmore on the other said other hand said he he liked his team’s game they were okay with how it went. Yeah when you five on 20 for the goalie. Yeah, that’s Freddy Anderson looked like who he was. The Bears are who we thought they were. Like what I say about being a disliker. Yeah. All you got to do is wait. Just wait. Your chance. Listen, Carolina had an easy path. I’ll say it. They played against the Devils who had no offense and were banged up. No defense either. Everyone and then they played against the Carol against uh the Capitals who we thought never beat. I I was I I thought they were going to be good. I thought they were going to beat Carolina. And then I watched I’m like, “Oh, they have nothing against a good team. They beat the crap out of the crappy Habs and whatever.” Carolina had a very easy path and now they are playing a real team and they got filled last night. I’m torn I’m torn on this like whether Carolina just is going to mount a series out of this. The Hurricanes by all underlying shot metrics are like the team. They have the puck all the time. They get all the shots. They just don’t score on the shots because they don’t have elite talent. So I’m curious. It’s basically up to Bob. It’s like, well, Bob, if they’re going to get 35 shots a game, can Bob have a couple of games where he looks like he did against the Leafs and in their wins? Because if Bob’s good, Carolina’s got no shot. Yep. Um, Carter Haggy, by the way, we forgot to include that in the worst moves the last 10 years at least. He was on the lease at one point. Yeah. Was he though? Yeah. Tampa also gave up on him, too, so you can’t really include it. What were you gonna say about Marand? Yes. Ejected from the game last night. Nice little exchange. He hit Gossar. Gossess Bepare uh shot a puck at him. Shot a puck at him in a hilarious fashion. A big winding Matt Sundine wrist shot. A very Alfredson versus um There you go. Little bit of a run. Yeah. Ghost isn’t happy. Hya. And Marian’s like, “Oh, oh no, you didn’t.” That’s exactly the type of Get your mitts off. Absolutely loved every second of that. Right. I I’ve come around a lot of Marshand, but that’s the exact type of guy he goes after. Yeah, I agree with that. But I also think it’s the right reaction, Sam. Sure, it’s the right reaction. I get it 100% Tom Wilson. No, but if like anyone with any toughness shoots that puck at him, he’s not doing that. He’s doing something. Sure, maybe he said something mean to them or gives him a little cross check, but the gloves aren’t coming off. So, it’s just I mean, that’s a lot of the Panthers. Gossip hit him with a pretty good glove on But he’s been like this his whole career. I know too. I know. It’s great. So, it’s great. They’re up 4-1. There’s 11 minutes left in the third. It’s a perfect time to do that. Perfect time. Starting a side show has nothing to do with the game. Uh there there’s no there’s no league involvement on They didn’t say anything, did they? I think if you’re Goss Bear, you can make the claim that you try to dump it in. Yeah. Ice it. Shoot it down the ice off his head. Yeah. I mean, I mean, if he did shoot it at him, pretty bad, right? Like that’s a not cool thing. Just cuz it hits him in the padding doesn’t mean it’s I would have snapped too. What was the What was the one? Didn’t it happen at some point this year where a guy a shot at the length of the ice? Oh yeah. I mean someone at the end of the game and I made the case that there’s time on the clock. He ripped he ripped a shot towards the net. Are we going to see another sweep here or No. I think Carolina’s all right. Carolina’s all right. I said I said Panthers in five. So Oh, you did? I did. Yeah, I did. I think I did. I feel like I wanted to say that. I just think the Panthers are way better and that Carolina has an easy path to the conference finals every year. And if they had to go in the Atlantic, they’d have a very similar record to the Toronto Maples. Meow. Gustav Forsling. Uh pretty effective player. Eblad scores for them. You know, the same recipe last night. Who? Or Miko. Nikol. What’s his name? Niko. Niko. Mika. Mika. Miko Nicola. But this guy looks like Headman. Do that. You’re not helping. He looks like Headman out there. Yeah, I know. Well, uh, by the way, shout out Chris Pronger on the Sportsnet panelite. He was wonderful. Really did a great job. And he basically used himself as a reference. Like Mikola is a pretty good skater now. He’s getting around pretty good. He’s he’s looking like the real deal. But is he ever tried to step on someone’s head? Uh, did Ponger try to step on someone’s head? buddy. Almost every game. Uh, do you know how do you know how much Oh my god. They just get to cheat down there. No, they have good contracts. No. Yeah, they just get to cheat. They sign contracts for way under market value. Love one was not under market value at the time. What’s he making? $2.5 million. For how long? For this year and next year. Three-year contract. Two and a half million. St. Louis. You could have had him for a song. No, they was He went to the Rangers, right? They traded him to the Rangers. He played there. Uh, was he How did he get down there? He was St. Louis and then he traded to the Rangers at the deadline. What a find. And then they tra they signed him to a to a cheater contract. They signed him not as UFA. Yeah. What are the Leafs doing? I think he was UFA. Yeah. Both sides. All right. Give me a score tonight. Who gets out ahead here? Who’s who’s jumping out of the gate tonight? The Dallas Stars have lost their last like six straight home openers in these sort of series. I have the stats somewhere. So, I’m gonna give it to the the Oil. I’m going to say the Oil go ahead and get the first one tonight. Four to three. Four to three. Oil time. Score some goals. Oil. You going to bet on Dallas? Yeah, I think I’ll I’ll go with Dallas. This one’s going 72, I think. Is that right? Yeah, I think it’s going the distance. the this team has struggled. Dallas has struggled in the first period of a lot of games. Um I got a great stat. Distance cover in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. Who skated the furthest? Farthest. Furthest. I don’t know. Um McDavid is third. He’s skated 75 kilometers in playoffs so far. Holy smokes. Kyle Connor has skated all the way to Ashawa. is Kyle Connor Connor 75.7 and he’s a winger and the number one most distance skated 80.9 km Thomas Harley man for the Dallas Stars is doing the distance out there love me some Harles he’s going to make a lot of money he’s he’s I mean two guys team Canada future on the Dallas Stars right Harley and Wyatt Johnson they’re studs I love that team highest percentage of team goals involved in in a single postseason since 1997 7. Third place, Marty St. Louis. Second, Wayne Gretzky, 55.6. Number one, Mo Ranton has been in on 55.9% of Dallas’s goals. Wow. In the playoffs. That’s unbelievable. Good, good trade, Colorado. Good trade. Oh my god. How’s Marty Nes treating you? Oh my god. That’s what we’re leaving. He’s going to leave, too. No, he’s a huge miss. He’s got another year. He’s got another year, but they’re going to trade him. I mean, you gotta You can’t have any remnants of that on the roster. You just have to be like, “Sorry, sorry, Marty. You’re gone. We can’t have Nate looking at you.” Back to the Future. You got to go, bro. Remember that Back to the Future when he’s looking at his picture and his like legs are disappearing. That’s what they got to do with natures. They got to go back to the future and then you got to watch him kind of erase from the picture. Oh, that’s funny. So, last year they met in the conference final. The Oilers won in six. Not sure what you guys remember about it, but uh power play percentage for the Stars 0%. Didn’t score a goal. Goalie was way worse than Edin. All right, just like that, two hours gone. And once again, we’ve solved nothing. Thank you to Jason Murdoch for those stats. One hour tomorrow, five to six. All right, so I’m going to come here and just wait. Yeah. Okay, exactly right. Our thanks to Kevin Low and Rick Tockett. Enjoy game one Western Conference final right here on Sportset.

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee review Brendan Shanahan’s tenure in Toronto amidst reports that the team president has been granted access to meet with the New York Islanders. Kevin Lowe chats about the Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup odds, and Rick Tocchet weighs in on his new gig in Philadelphia and the fallout in Vancouver.

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0:00 – Brendan Shanahan’s Decade in Review
49:26 – Kevin Lowe on the Edmonton Oilers and What It Takes to Win the Cup
1:15:08 – Rick Tocchet on His New Job in Philadelphia & Fallout in Vancouver

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Maple Leafs Decade In Review | Real Kyper & Bourne Full Episode

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