Leafs/Kings, Berube Under Fire, Matthews & Stolarz OUT ft. Nate Thompson

Leafs/Kings, Berube Under Fire, Matthews & Stolarz OUT ft. Nate Thompson

You’re watching Leaf’s Morning Tape with host Nick Alber and former NHL Jay Rose. The show starts now. Now uh we go I guess the Toronto Maple Leafs all time without Austin Matthews in the lineup 4524 and two as we welcome you to the Wednesday edition excuse me Thursday edition of Lee Morning take presented by bet 365 Nick Albera Jay Rosel how we doing buddy I know it’s grim times here in Toronto the skies falling no stolie no Matthews but uh we hanging in there or what? Yeah, I’m still battling a cold, but um I don’t know what to make of this game. We’ve been talking back and forth, what about this? What about this? Talking about betting lines and whatnot, and I don’t know. Uh I don’t know what’s going to happen tonight. I could see them getting absolutely shelled, but it would be also be pretty leafy for them to, you know, be down Matthews and Stolley and Tanv and everybody else and just come out with just this fantastic 60-minute performance tonight. It’s uh I’m pretty eager for this one to be honest. Yeah, me too. I’m very very curious to see what the Leafs look like. Like do we see another defeated effort where they’re like we’re hooked, we’re done. They’re playing the Los Angeles Kings, fresh off a win against one of the best teams in hockey, pound-for-pound so far this year in Montreal. They destroyed them 5-1. I believe the Kings were on the town a bit last night. Feeling good. One of the best road teams in hockey and you’re playing just a depleted, wounded dog in the Maple Leafs. How many times have we seen this in the NHL, Rosie? Yeah, it happens. I don’t know. Maybe the Is this a trap game for the LA Kings? Isn’t that funny? It might be. It is. I think they’re rolling, man. Those guys are clicking. They got on the road. They go out, like you say, and have a dinner and have a beer and have a wine and see the sights and make a memory. And they come to the ring together and say, “I just love you boys. Let’s go to work.” And it’s working for them. So, again, I don’t know. I am flip-flopping on both sides of this game as far as what the Leafs are going to bring. Um, it’s funny like last year when Austin was out so much, like their record without him is phenomenal, right? which is kind of crazy. Um I I uh I think it’ll either be one of two things. It’ll be two extremes. I think they’re either going to get absolutely shelled and embarrassed or else they’re just going to put together this this fantastic effort and win the game and shock the LA Kings. Um I I don’t think it’s going to be anywhere in between, but uh that’s why we watch. We’ll call it the Albera guarantee because I really don’t care if I’m wrong. I think they win tonight. I I hate to say that because they’re playing like absolute trash, but this team’s better than this. These guys are better than this. You don’t think they want to win, okay? They’re up against it right now. We all know this, but as you um illustrated, I mean, 45 24-2 all time without Matthews, 15- 10 last year. I know there’s no Marner, so like you’re leaning heavily and you’re stacking that top line. We’ll get to that. Would not be shocked. Would not be shocked that the Maple Leafs found a way to win this game. They need this one badly. The other the the one the other night was a must-win. This is a you can’t lose pretty much. Our super chat charity partner is Sick Kids. Want to make sure that your question or comment gets on the show. Hit us up with a super chat. Proceeds from our super chat will go to Sick Kids. Ranked the number one research intensive children’s hospital in Canada and third in the world. So Austin Matthews, uh this is one of the big stories obviously on Thursday, but he’s expected to miss at least one week. Uh they’re saying it’s not serious. I don’t care what they’re saying. I I take everything with a grain of salt regarding the injury status of Austin Matthews, but when you see that come across the wire, especially after Wednesday, I know the team didn’t practice. They got an off day, so we weren’t going to find out anything and we didn’t hear anything on Wednesday. What goes through your head when you see Matthews down and out and missing a few games at least here? That he’s fuckered, that he’s got some chronic problem, whether it’s his wrist or his back, and he’ll never be the same. I mean, that goes through my mind. I don’t like it, but you know, we thought he looked a little better coming out of training camp and whatnot. And, you know, I’ve got chronic back stuff going on. And you can you can get on top of it and do a bunch of stuff in the summer or whatever and then feel pretty good. And then once you get playing back, just it just creeps right back in. And um sometimes there’s issues that you know, not everything this day and age, you can just snap your fingers, go get surgery, and you’re all fixed up. Some stuff is just like, you know, it’s a multitude of problems and this thing’s working on that thing and this thing’s buggering up that and I don’t know what the hell’s going on, but he’s hurt a lot and we don’t know where or what or why and here we go again. So, I don’t know. The the conversation is starting to creep in that this guy will never be the same and uh it’s hard to argue against it. Yeah. No, honestly to answer my own question there, I I just have resigned to the fact that he’ll never be the guy who scored 69 goals again. Like considering what I’ve seen to start this season, considering what I saw all of last season dating back, I just I that version of Austin Matthews, Fenito, it’s gone. I mean, he’s not getting any younger. I mean, people talk about this guy like he’s 23. He’s 28. And so, the longer you go, anybody who’s living right now will comprehend. it’s just harder to react and your body doesn’t react as effectively as you get older. Uh I still think he’s a great player. I still think he has obviously the ability to be a star, but we have not seen this guy take over a hockey game in a long long time. That is very concerning to me where in the past and a year ago, Rosie, um we looked at Matthews as a bonafide top 10 superstar in this league where it’s like, man, I would love to have that guy on my team. It’s just it’s it’s you know I hate to be negative about it but you sort of resign to the fact that he’s just not gonna be the same guy anymore. So we can’t think that way anymore. You know, has he ever taken over a playoff game? He’s had his moments. He’s had a couple a few I understand what you’re asking, but there’s been a few games where I’ve left impressed. Nine years of playoffs. It’s hard to It’s hard to say, man. And uh yeah. It’s so funny like we when Wool was gone we talk about you can you imagine if Stoleie goes down now we got a tenn of Campov or whatever and and and Hilde holding down the fort with just abysmal defense in front of him and a a wounded forward group and you know I’m not a big analytics guy but you go through their numbers about you know their defensive numbers and it’s like 32nd in the league 30th in the league 29th in the league whether it’s chances in the slot, chances off the cycle, chances off the rush. It’s just like every every category you can come to, they’re just abysmal. And um I’m so And then you and you just add on the fact that now Stoley and Matthews are not playing, they’re not part of the the the solution here now. Unbelievable. But uh you know, normally I would just say they’re you know, I don’t know. like they’re talking this this point coming up in the season. They’ve had it easy. They’ve been at home the whole time. They haven’t f faced these the juggernauts in the league yet and now it’s coming when they’re the most fragile. Now they’re banged up um mentally. I don’t know where they’re at, but the only saving grace is that the leafiest things that this team does all the time would be to come out and and just pound the LA Kings tonight against all odds. But we’ll see. I also think there’s a chance that this thing goes goes south before it before it turns around. But I don’t know. It’s hard to get a feeling on this goddamn team, man. Really hard to get a feeling. Can you explain why they’re so good without their star players or when they’re missing like again 45 24 and two all time without Austin Matthews? Um the entire roster has to elevate. Maxi is going to be the two seed, but do you have an explanation as to why that’s the case? and and take us in the room as as a former player. Like when you see a big dog like your captain go down, what’s the initial reaction to that? Well, they’re used to it now, right? It’s not like this is a foreign feeling to them. He’s missed a lot of time, a lot of man games due to injury. And um it’s weird that their their numbers are better. You’d think that it’s it’s so weird. I think that without Mitch last year, too, they were really good. And it just it doesn’t make sense. Nothing like that. That’s where this leafy term comes from is stuff that doesn’t really make sense, but it happens all the time. You know, obviously the first thing you’d think of is everyone has to bear down and and pick up the slack without Matthews, right? Which just blows my mind because when you’re playing in the NHL, there’s no I’ll let them do it. I’ll let him do it. Oh, he he’ll he’ll handle that. it like you have to be you every single individual to a man has to bring as much as they possibly can to the table every single night to try to beat the other NHL team on the other side of the rank. But that that’s the only thing that kind of makes sense is everyone bears down and says I got to do more. I got to pick up the slack. But what pisses me off is how was there any slack? Like how are you leaving slack out there in the first place when this when you’re going through what this team has been going through, especially this past week here on this slide they’re on. Um, it’s just uh it doesn’t make sense. And again, I’m I don’t know what to think about this this team. I really don’t. The nothing makes sense. And it doesn’t make sense that they’re as bad as they are right now, to be honest. I think I said that yesterday. They’re not this bad. They shouldn’t be this bad, but uh but here we are at the Leafs Nation 401. Hit that like button, hit that subscribe button. Hot off the presses as well. heard Darren Dreger expects David Camp to be placed on waiverss for the purpose of termination of contracts. So if he clears waiverss tomorrow, he can sign with another NHL club. We we we saw this coming, right? I think we’re at a point where David Camp had played his last game as a Maple Leaf, right? I It’s weird how it went that south. Obviously, he’s real pissed off, right? Um he does not think he deserves to be in the minors. He does not he’s not pleased with the situation that happened after training camp this year. Okay, good for you. Um and and good for you again for terminating that contract and not not going to collect your millions. Like ballsy, dude. Like you’re not a you’re not a Hall of Famer where you’re, you know, just coming out of your years and you’ve had an $80 million contract and you can leave a couple million. You’re not that guy, David Camp, but he’s betting on himself. And honestly, to me, um I I don’t I never saw him as a difference maker. I know he could PK and win some faceoffs. Like, [ __ ] Okay, whatever, man. I I there’s a million guys that do that kind of thing. So, for for what he made, that was the one thing that Tree Living did where I was like, how the hell did you get to that number? He makes way too much money. And if he didn’t make that money, he’d probably be on this roster um instead of being in the minor and being talking about about terminating this big contract. So, the way I look at it is, hey, more cap room for the Maple Leafs. Uh best of luck. I hope that he gets back in the NHL and can make up the difference on on what he’s going to lose when this thing gets terminated because no one’s picking up that contract again. He’s he’s well he’s well overpaid and that’s why he’s in the position he is. So, more cap room for the Leafs. Uh best of luck. I’m already bracing for the day where David Camp makes his return to Toronto and I’m just going to hit that anytime goal. I’m going to swallow it and then just move on with life. But yeah, this was a Sheldon Keefe guy. It was a peculiar resigning when it happened. You know, going from Dubis to Bradree Living Gives him the extension. He had some moments. I mean, you got to give David Camp credit again to your point to throw away that much money because you want to play in the NHL that badly. I really, really respect that. Anybody else been like, you know what, I’ll ride the buses for millions of bucks. But the fact that he’s like, you know what, let’s move on. It gives a team some cap space. And and I want to commend David Camp too like for you know he had a couple moments especially in the playoffs against Tampa. I think he was a very sturdy solid uh you know an under the radar type guy for this Leaf’s team but I think it became crystal clear in say the last six to seven months that he didn’t really have a fit on this Maple Leafs roster. I mean, pretty reliable defensively going to give you nothing offensively. But once you become a liability and you’re supposed to be a defensive savant, like I think you’re in trouble. But I think it was pretty clear that it was time to move on from a camp. And it was also clear nobody wanted this guy via trade at that price tag. So now I’m curious to see where he goes, if he goes anywhere in the NHL. I know. Can you imagine he doesn’t get back to the NHL and he left that all that money on the table and just poof just vaporized it. Um, nonetheless, bigger problems on their plate, the Maple Leafs, than that. Uh, it’s interesting they can get out from under that contract and and most likely void it. But again, I got nothing against David Campin. I wish him the best. So, uh, maybe he’ll get in there and and find a team that needs his services and and he can get back on track and have a have a long career in the NHL because obviously he believes he deserves it and he’s betting on himself and I think that’s good for him. Imagine he goes to like Tampa or like the Florida Panthers. Like, you know, that’s coming, right? That’s the next news hit. This guy’s pissed off. I mean, it’s pretty clear. How do you get back at the Maple Leafs now? Let’s go to arrival. Let’s go to Boston. Let’s go to Tampa. Let’s get to Florida. Like, I don’t know. There’s a possibility of that. Anyways, we roll on here on lease morning take a lot of news off the top of today’s show, but we got Nate Thompson, former NHLer, now does uh great work with the NHL Network. does the Energy Line podcast as well with iHeart in the NHL with Julie Stewart Binks. So, he’s coming up in about uh 15 minutes and we’ve been going back and forth the last little while on this Leafs team. He’s in touch. He knows what’s going on. He’s a guy spent a lot of veteran days in this league and I’m curious to sort of pick his brain as a depth player when you see a team struggling. How do you fix that? Like what are the little things you can do in a room to to lighten sort of obviously everybody’s tense right now, right? Yeah, it’ll be good to talk to him because he played hockey the right way. Like he was uh you know, he was no heavyweight fighter or anything, but he stepped up and got out out of his comfort zone all the time. He was willing to do things that others weren’t and and that uh you know, that was a feather in his cap and it it it brought him, you know, more value to more teams and just did things that others weren’t willing to do. And you know, you look at Nate Thompson and the way he played and the Leafs don’t even have one of those guys and they’re supposed to. And we were supposed to get to a point where we were better in those departments and and better defensively and better more rugged and more physical and stand up for each other and play playoff style of hockey. And it’s just too hilarious that they’re getting run out of buildings. They’re getting embarrassed. Guys are having their way with them. There is three, four, five, six clips of guys just embarrassingly not doing anything about players and teams taking liberties with them. And be interesting to talk to to Nate Thompson about what he thinks about that and and the state of the Maple Leafs at this point in time. I guess tonight’s about pride, plain and simple. So Nate Thompson’s coming up in about 15 minutes. Don’t forget as well following the final buzzer of that game, Leafs and Kings. The Leafs Nation Afterdark with Zack Phillips. I could only wonder what his encore what encore he has in place for this one after his lengthy 2hour and 6minute edition following the tough loss to the Boston Bruins. Uh here’s hoping Zach’s in a better mood in the Maple Leafs win because I just don’t know how much he has left in the tank. So make sure you check that out directly following tonight’s game at the Leafs Nation 41 on YouTube. Hit that like button, hit that subscribe button. Leafs want to take wherever you find your podcast. Make sure to leave us a fivestar review and don’t forget to visit the leafnation.com. This segment is brought to you by Tablefair and Social, your go-to pregame and postgame spot located right across the street from the arena and just steps from Union Station and the Metro Links bus terminal. Table Fair and Social has you covered with a wide selection of food, cold drinks, and great vibes. Whether you’re rolling in with the crew, grabbing a bite with the family, or meeting up for afterwork drinks, Table Fair and Social has a table ready for you. grab a pregame burger at table fair and social right across from the arena. So again, the numbers are not pretty. Dennis Hildebe is going to start this game, but the Leafs have dropped three in a row, outscored 15 to 10, the home record at 74-1. They surrendered three or more goals in 11 of their past 12 games. They’ve allowed five plus goals seven times in 17. And they’re playing one of the best road teams in the NHL. What do you want to see for the Maple Leafs tonight, Rosie? Oh boy. I I’d like to see their decor tighten it up a little bit. Um it’s they they sure as hell played better last year. I know that they had better goalending and it covered a few of the warts back there, but they weren’t even close to to this bad. They are disconnected, discombobulated. They are kind of all over the place. And I think Oel said we kind of got to do less. and you know, just simplify the game. Protect the middle. Play dots in. Keep [ __ ] to the outside. Um, read off your partner. Don’t take the silly chances. Don’t try to thread the needle. Just keep it real simple. Get it out of your end and see if you can start to to to get yourself a foundation that you can build things on. Right. Um, again, Hillbee’s back there. Not a ton of uh of experience in the NHL. Not only are they struggling right now and have they been, you know, a shell of themselves, now they’re depleted injury-wise. So, it’s going to take a a ri like you’re going to have to get on the bloody game plan that Craig Breub has been asking you to be on all season long. You’re gonna have to follow the game plan like you you should have been doing the whole year. And um you know, that’s simple hockey. that’s what he’s been preaching since Craig Breub got here and I feel like they played the system better last year. Um, and it’s just not it’s so hard to figure out what’s wrong with them. But yeah, it’s I think it starts with the D tonight. Help Hill to be out. Help him get his legs under him. Help him get, you know, some valuable experience and some confidence hopefully. Shut it down there. Let that trickle up to the forwards and just see if you can play a real simple, honest, hardworking 60 minutes and see if you can stifle stifle this hot LA Kings team, which is is going to be difficult. I want to leave that game being bored of life. All right, suck the life out of that building. If there’s any life remaining in that building, play a zero zero game. That’s my expectation as well. You just have to really hone in defensively, and I think LA would be happy to play that style, too. So, just be patient. Here are the lines from the morning skate. Rosie, nice Tavvarz, Nelander, Robertson, Doey McMahon, Joshua W Machelli, Bla Lorent, Yarncroak, then Riley Carlo, Benois McCabe, Mermis, Ecman Larson. So, Phil Myers, I think this has been a long time coming. Not to pick on this guy specifically, just hasn’t been as effective as last year. And looks like Phil Myers will be the healthy scratch tonight. And then Hillby starts. And uh off the top, we we talked about Anthony Stolars a bit. Not much of an update. We know it’s an upper body injury. Doesn’t sound serious. Again, take everything the leaf say with a grain of salt regarding the severity of injuries, but they’re saying it’s not serious. Serious. Uh Arthur Actamov, a 24y old Russian net miner recall. He’s 42 and0 2.82 and 894. Imagine I mean if I were to tell you a month ago the lease would play game and would be hill to be backed up by Actiamov, you’d call me insane. But that’s exactly what we’re looking at tonight. Yeah, I’d say that would be nightmare fuel. And uh here it is. Um like I hope it’s just like you know they talked about like did did Stoley kind of pull himself? You know it’s a very difficult position. Confidence is absolutely huge. And when you get down and and things are going south it can really snowball on you and you wonder if you know how much of that was stolie saying I need a freaking break here. I’m I’m out. I’m pulling myself. And then, you know, Chief really kind of tried to shed some light on that, saying, “I’m I hope he’s ready on Thursday and it doesn’t seem to be a big deal and I don’t even know where he got hurt or whatever he said.” Um, you know, maybe Sto’s kind of saving face a little bit. Just take another couple days and he’ll be ready to rock on Saturday. Um, wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case, but again, we have no idea and we’re never going to know about these injuries. Um, again, I wonder about Joseph Wall. He played for the Marlies yesterday. Um, so you’re playing in the American League and the team is falling apart at the seams and you’ve got the two goalenders you just referenced. Like if there’s any way you can get back in the crease, we need you there, Joseph Wool. So again, I don’t know what uh what the history of this season is for Joseph Wall, but I hope that we get his name on the roster sooner than later, and maybe he can be a a boost or a jolt to this team and and start off hot and play to the to to to his potential and like we’ve seen him before where he’s, you know, a calming presence in between the pipes there. I would would love to see that, but again, there’s just more shambles going on around this roster. My gut tells me uh one more outing for Joseph Wall and we’ll see him recalled from the American Hockey League. But as you talked about, played yesterday in Grand Rapids. Three goals on 28, 3-2 OT loss. Uh Grand Rapids off to a fantastic start. But uh you know, as somebody who played in the AHL, you cover them quite daily, right? So you know how Grand Rapids is doing. But I I I you just have to try to weather this storm. I think the concerning part too is that Joseph Wall has this pretty illustrious history. Never mind who knows what’s going on why he didn’t start the year, but the injury history. You can’t just give him like a game and a half and throw them in there. It just doesn’t work that way anymore with these guys. And by the way, it’s not just a lease thing. It’s across the league. Um it’s it’s become such a volatile position and I always have conversations like I always ripped huts on this show. I’m like you goalies like the old Don Cherry, you just can’t stay in the game. But I get it. It’s a different atmosphere, different game. They’re going side to side. The players are better these days. The puck’s being moved faster. The shots being shot harder. I get that. You can make all the excuses in the world. Like you you can’t rely on these guys anymore is what I’m telling you. Like I’m watching the game last night, Jersey Chicago, and Jacob Marstrom. He got dangled and you heard you you knew his pride was hurt a bit. It was Sam Lafery, a former Leaf. his first porn of the year just danced Marstrom and like almost ripped him out of his jock strap. But he’s limping. He’s moping around. Who do you think set up Simone Neich for the OT winner for New Jersey? Just take one wild guess who set him up with a crazy sauce pass from his own end. The goalie Marstrom. Yes, it was Jacob Marstrom after he was you could tell he was begging like, “Take me out. I’m done. I’m done.” Like I I hate that in this day and age of the NHL. Like just [ __ ] stay in the crease, make a save. But it’s not that way anymore. Well, even Haggel last night got kind of put on his back and pride hurt, right? And then, oh, down the tunnel we go down the can’t can’t play anymore. Got my feelings hurt. I And maybe that’s not fair, but it just seems like that all the time. Uh, so many times guys stand up and walk down the [ __ ] tunnel. Can’t do it. Like, really? How many times do you go in the tunnel in your career? [ __ ] zero. Like for an injury. Not like again if you’re injured like I tore my knee and you go and get it. Like I dislocated my thumb. I went down the tunnel, got it popped back in and then went back to the bench. I tore my fingers off sideways and you put a splint on and you go back to the bench. And like not everyone’s got to be that way and I I had to be that way out of necessity to the most part. But like again so many times guys go down the tunnel and I’m just like you got bonked. Like you you kind of have a boo boo. Like, don’t you feel bad like when Craig Barube or or whoever this old school coach is? Like, don’t you worry about what he thinks? Don’t you want to prove to your teammates you’ll do [ __ ] that others won’t? Or is it almost like look at me, look at me? Is it like poor me? Is it more of that attitude like this generation has? I don’t know. I don’t need to go off on a rant right now, but like sometimes I’m just like, where are you going? Get your ass on the bench and go [ __ ] bury someone and do something and, you know, get pissed off. fine, but instead of getting pissed off, these guys shut down and it’s kind of embarrassing to watch. And yeah, I’m an old man and I’m a dinosaur or whatever. Say what you want, but I mean, I just look and I laugh and I go, how do you how do you have pride at the end of the day? Like driving home going, I feel good about my day. I just don’t get it. It’s uh to me, you know, and I understand it’s the regular season, but then you see like for example, Sado is a freak of nature, but the way he was not missing time in the playoffs and he had like a broken face. But we heard, you know, in your day of playing, there was so many different stories where one guy was playing with a broken foot in regular season hockey and just he played through it. He got ripped, he got hammered one game, got stitched up, came back on the ice the next shift or two shifts after, went about his job. But now it just seems it’s always precautionary and maybe it’s a bigger story about these guys getting paid so much money that it’s more of like an insurance thing. I guess you’d think you’d want to stick around for doing it, but guys are in the playoffs all the time. But like I said, sometimes I see a play and a guy goes down the tunnel and I’m like, where the [ __ ] are you going? But times change. Yes. Yeah, that that’s that’s well put. So we got Nate Thompson coming up at the Leafs Nation 401. Hit that like button, hit that subscribe button. Um, you know, to tease our betting segment later on, 15 of 17 Leafs games have hit the over this season. But I I think one guy specifically I’m looking at to elevate has to be Max Stoi because you talk about the center ice position, right? Pretty grim to begin with um with Matthews out, but they need some they they need an, you know, a team effort if you will, Rosie. But Max Stoi is a guy who I thought had some pretty good moments in Boston the other night if you remembered with Matthews out. He was a guy who was playing a lot more, especially in the six on five, six on four late, which is great to see. But like many other guys in this league, consistency has been an issue with Max and and discipline, too. But I I’m zoning in on DOI tonight to have a big night. Yeah, we’ll see. Obviously, they stack that top line and uh that second line is has got their work cut out for them, but uh these this team does leafy things and sometimes when you least expect it, they come out and show you something. And we’ve been begging for it for a long time. Again, I don’t know what to expect out of this game, but uh they are depleted and and you got some opportunity for some guys like Max Doi. So, we’ll see if they got it in them and if they can uh come up with the right stuff and start playing that Barube hockey, which is what they’ve been trying to play all year, I guess. Love the lunch pale, guys. And without further ado, we welcome in former NHL now doing the energy line podcast with Nate and JSB, of course, with the NHL network as well. It is Nate Thompson. How’s it going, buddy? How are you? What’s up, boys? How you doing, Nate? How are you? Uh, wish we were a bit better. Uh, it’s a [ __ ] storm here in Toronto, but uh, is this a trap game for the LA Kings? Can we say that? Uh, it’s it’s an interesting one, isn’t it? Right. I mean, um, way the way the Leafs played the last two games, um, coming off uh, that loss against Boston and the Kings, you know, they they they’ve been playing a lot better as of late. Big win against Montreal. So, um, yeah, I would agree with you. It is a little bit of a trap game, I think, for the Kings because they have to be they have to be ready because, you know, Toronto, I would hope, uh, would come out and respond after last game and and with Matthews being out now, um, some guys are going to get a chance to step up. I mean, you guys were talking about it. Uh, you know, my good buddy, I played with him, Max Doi, like he at one point he was a, you know, second line guy, you know, who put up over 70 points. So, this is a good opportunity for him. I love the way Max plays. He plays hard. He was, you know, one of the guys that got in there was a door off. It should have been a lot of other guys uh before before him the other night. Um but he was in there. So, u they’re going to need some some contributions obviously. Uh and they’re going to have to play a a stingy style of hockey uh to make up for a guy like Austin Matthews being out of the lineup. Yeah. Yeah, Nate, you know, we’ve talked at Nauseium throughout this season. Oh, here’s an opportunity to respond. Here you got to respond and time to respond. And just it seems like they never respond. And they’re they’re in the hole they are right now because of a lack of response. And you know, for a guy that played the way you played, you did things that were out of your comfort zone and you stepped up and you defended your teammates and you tried to go out of the outside of the box to try to impose your will on a game and get physical or whatever it called for. And I just watch over and over opportunity for anyone on this roster to step up and do something out of their comfort zone and respond and they never do it and it’s just flat and it blows my mind. Like there’s opportunity out the ass is all an athlete can ask for and no one seems to be able to go and grasp it. What are your thoughts on that when you watch this kind of hockey? Rosie, you said it perfect, man. I mean I I think that’s what it is is getting outside of your comfort zone. Like, do you think both of us, you and myself, do you think sometimes like I wanted to grab Adam McQuade and fight him? No. Absolutely [ __ ] not. I didn’t. I I like, but you know, those are things that And you too, Rosie, you you fought some heavy tough guys and guys that, you know, probably we had no business fighting. Maybe you, but not me. Uh, but you know, it was those are things that make you a better team, make you a better player, is you get you have to get uncomfortable, right? And even like like I said, Max Doi like the guy’s under 5’10”, he’s fighting Zidorov or trying to fight Zidorov like and the thing is in that game like when that happened, yeah, they got into scuffles later on in the game, but it’s too little too late. Like that’s the opportune time you you know, you have to make the most of your opportunity at that moment, right? And I think that’s the biggest thing is like they they they’re missing on these moments these moments of opportunities, moments to to grab it or to you know even if they’re losing like we both know like in in losses where you get embarrassed but the team comes and everyone’s sticking up for each other and it doesn’t and I’m not saying fighting. It doesn’t have to be fighting you know just get in there like you saw the the instance with the Islanders and Matthew Schaefer like every single guy was in there. Not every guy had their gloves off, but those are things that galvanize a team and bring bring them together and you gain chemistry that way. And those are things that help a team throughout the season and make them get better. So, I love what you said, Rosie. It is it’s about getting outside your comfort zone. It’s about doing things that are outside yourself. And and you know, a lot of their top guys like Knander, uh, Tiveras, like these guys are these guys have been good, right? I I don’t I don’t have any fault in those guys, you know, but like guys like that are bigger, these bottom six guys, these big defenseman, like no offense, fellas, but you weren’t you weren’t brought here to score goals. Like you guys are a big tough team. Like play like it. Zero identity. And and so I transitioned the conversation to Austin Matthews. It’s timely obviously, but he’s out at least a week is what they’re saying. A few games, not serious. take everything in Toronto with a grain of salt when it comes to severity of injuries because last year the captain was on a bird to Germany and on a different continent. So, we’ll leave it there. But h has your opinion or view on Austin Matthews changed in say the last 9 to 12 months from where it was where this guy had 69 rips in in one season? Has it changed? Should we change it for the better moving forward? I think so. I I think you know from when I saw him play especially at uh you know first n or four nations faceoffs I I I thought you know Austin Matthew his game has uh it’s evolved like I don’t think Austin Matthews is that guy that’s going to get 70 goals. Like he’s he’s capable but I don’t know if he’s that guy anymore because of his allound game. Like I I look at his game. I look at the game against uh Pittsburgh, you know, when they were down three nothing and and in the third period like he took over. I mean, he was great the whole game. I thought overall, faceoffs, defensively, everything. But in the third period, it was like, you know, it was a man man amongst boys. And when he does that, and if he can elevate that level more, I I I think it’s constantly he’s leaving us, you know, wanting more sometimes with from that style of play. But I think that now I mean he has turned himself into a you know cliche 200 foot player can win faceoffs you know can play a full complete game and we know what he can do when he uh when he has the puck in the slot. Yeah. And the back end has struggled this year. Uh you could point to that maybe contributing to maybe the goalending like Stoley’s been left on his own this year and his numbers aren’t great. You can kind of pinpoint a point in time. It was only four games into the season, but he calls out his team publicly. And you know, I thought rightfully so, as far as the it being correct, what he was talking about, but doing it in public, what was your take on that? And now looking back, the fact that he hasn’t really responded either. Um, do you do you look at that as something that never should have happened? You talk about Stallers calling calling his teammate out. Yeah. Um, yeah. I I didn’t like it. I I thought it was um just early. I mean, it was, you know, early in the season. Um, you know, they’re still trying to figure some things out. Um, I understand. I mean, he’s, you know, trying to hold guys accountable, I get, but I mean, it just I think the timing of it, um, you know, if I think to himself, like if he’s lighting it on fire and he’s the guy, you know, may maybe you’re you’re okay to say some things. But in in that sense, maybe maybe too a little overzealous and you know that they had some conversations about it. They talked about it after. So, uh it it’s it’s a team sport, right? And I I think that you know this especially for the Leafs like they need every guy like they need everybody all hands on deck. Uh this I think this is a different team. Right. Right. But we and I’m sure you guys have talked about in nausea, you know, like they are not the same team without Mitch Mner, 100 point guy. Um, you know, the makeup of their team. I I I just think, you know, they’re a different style of team that I think are still trying to find out who they are. Like they are not the high-flying Leafs they were in the past that they’re just not that. Yeah, they they have zero identity right now. and and looking forward to this LA Kings game. I mean, we’re both very very curious how as to how it could look. I mean, no Stallars, no Austin Matthews. How does that impact a team emotionally and and mentally, especially when you’re already struggling? Like, how how do you approach a game like this when your big dog’s out, your number one goalie’s out? Well, you can go two ways with it. and Rosie knows um you know it’s it’s feel sorry for yourself and try and get through the game or it’s hey boys like here’s our chance here’s an opportunity to um get things going here and get things going without our big guys and we can still win games and we can still win games uh the right way. I I think these are the games where you really have to lean in to playing a certain style of game. Like Rosie said, Baruby hockey. If you’re not going to have your top guys to, you know, maybe score opportun opportunistic goals at, you know, key moments of the game, you’re going to have to lean on your quote unquote system and culture and how you play the game. And these are the games that are great opportunity for the Leafs to hopefully uh win tonight with some big names out of the lineup. Yeah. And it’s funny, you know, you look at this team that won the Atlantic Division last year and now they’re they’re struggling mightily and and now talk about rebuilds and firing everybody and missing the playoffs is talking. Do you think when you look at it from the outside that this team’s going to figure this out and turn it around or do you think they got some some pretty serious problems? Um, I think they could figure it out. I I think with their talent they have you know obviously with Matthews N you know Tiveres Knander you know Riley like they have still a lot of talent and a lot of guys that can you know make plays and and get the job done. I I think you know with the new faces they have hopefully that they can start get you know get going too with the bottom six like Wah and you know Dakota Joshua these guys Michelli um they need everybody like I said they need everybody but I think I do believe that you know this team’s only a year removed and a lot of these guys were were there last year of going to game seven against Florida in the second round. Um, I think this team, they’re still they’re still right there. And it’s not like they’ve they’re they’re completely out of it. And I still think this team could pull it together at some point. It’s just it has to happen. You guys know they can’t wait. Like it has to happen soon. Sooner rather later. They need to rip off some games. They need to get in a little bit of a, you know, sweet spot of playing well. Yeah. I mean, that’s just it. I mean, 17 games into this thing, I think it’s important to stress that. I know people are losing their minds. three straight losses, two against Boston, fire this guy, fire the assistant coach, like everybody wants everybody fired. But I want to ask you specifically like being in the room when you know it’s a [ __ ] show. It’s it’s a storm out there. I mean, people are calling for Baruby’s head. It’s it’s like what’s it like inside that room? Are guys talking about it? And like how do you how do you focus? Like what kind of things can you do even as a depth guy to get the morale a bit higher with the team? I think, you know, uh, speaking from experience, you know, I’ve been on different teams where, you know, there is a lot of noise outside the room and and there has and I’m sure there’s been closed door meetings. They’ve had those. Uh, I can almost guarantee they have um, you know, those you know those you talk about it, you know, you keep the noise on the outside. It all all the only thing that matters is in this room and that’s the way they have to look at it. And I think um there is no other way and and you always talk about during the season if you’re going no one’s feeling sorry for you. No one in the league is feeling sorry. You think the Kings are coming in tonight. They want to get two points and get out. They want to keep your woes going. So it’s all about what’s what’s in that room. And you know, you have to like I said, you have to lean on guys. Like guys have to step up. You need every single player. And coaches will stress that. And it’s not on Craig Baruby. It’s just not on him. it’s on these guys. It’s it’s it’s what’s in that room. So, um you know, that’s the biggest thing is I think you have to you have to keep that noise out of the room. Uh Rosie and I have both been in those situations on teams where, you know, everyone’s looking for some kind of excuse or some kind of answer that’s not in that room. That’s the problem. And they have to uh they got to figure that out inside their own locker room and find out the solution. How do you save that trust? Go ahead, Rosie. Just saying there’s nobody coming to save him. Like it’s there’s only one way out of this and dig in. The groups that’s there is the group that’s there and you haven’t been cutting it. And now you got injury wos too. Like it’s time to just bear down and pull yourself out of this thing together because like you said, no one feels sorry for you and no one’s coming to save you. And I remember being in those situations like you say and they’re just like it’s it’s going to come from inside of here. I’m I’m excited uh to see this game. I mean, depleted minus Stoley minus Matthews. Like, is someone gonna step up and and and be that guy and pull this team out of out of the [ __ ] and say, “I I won’t accept this. I’m going to do something for this team because again, they’ve had ample opportunity and they haven’t done it.” Uh Nate, what what’s your prediction on tonight? Do they do they look like a different team or is this going to get worse before it gets better? I think it’ll be a good game tonight. I mean, they’re playing the Kings. Uh, well, I I’m going to go out of limb and say the Toronto Leaf Leafs are going to play a good game. Are they going to win the hockey game? I don’t know. But I’ll say that they’re going to play a good game tonight. They’re going to respond. I mean, I I I I speak to experience a little bit like when I was in Anaheim, uh, I think it was 20 2016, 2015, 2016. You know, we started the season, uh, I think by end of November, we were in last place. We were in end of November, we were in last place. Well, we ended up winning the division that year. you know, we we went on a run in, you know, December, January, but I remember being in the room and guys like Ryan Gets, Corey Perry, these guys are like, “Hey, like, you know, it’s us. It’s not the coach. It’s not the GM. It’s us. Like, we have to get this done.” And guys like that, you know, they they had, you know, solo performances certain games where guys are like, “Shit, like we we got to get together. These guys are, you know, you know, they’re carrying the weight for us right now.” So, that’s what it’s going to take. Maybe it takes a a a Willie Knander five-point game tonight for them to be like, “All right, we we got to get going.” You You never know. Like these things, that’s what can catapult a team. Or maybe it’s a Max Doi two goal night. Who knows? But it just t it takes one of these guys to step up and everyone to just follow lead. Got to elevate, baby. 4524 and two all time without Austin Matthews in the lineup. Nate, excellent stuff. Thank you so much for doing this. We’ll talk soon. Thanks, boys. Thanks, man. Anytime. That is our guy Nate Thompson. and check out Energy Line with Nate and JSB. Does great work over at the NHL Network. And I I just love the approach and the mentality. Like I think some of your questioning was really really strong where it’s like you’re a former depth guy. You would go through a wall for your teammates. How do you get that out of this Maple Leaf team? I mean, don’t kid ourselves. It’s not just the Leafs that ask these questions in their fan base on a daily basis why they can’t get more out of their guys, but plain and simple. Uh well, what’s the old saying? [ __ ] or get off the pot? Like it’s it’s that type of moment right now for the Maple Leafs. What do you want to do? Like do you want to just mail it in for the rest of the season, call it a year, and maybe come back strong next year, or are you going to do something about this little [ __ ] show? Well, time’s ticking and uh yeah, I mean, maybe maybe the sky is falling a little bit more than it should be because it is Toronto. But I I just look over that lineup and just say what an opportunity for someone to step up and say, “Fuck this. I am. You just just watch me buzz this game and and you just see it leaping off the screen like just forchecking like a maniac digging. Some guy gives him a shot in the face. Boom. Like like Nate said like yeah Doy tried to go after Zad up there and I love it and respect it and and I love that he has that in him but like the timing of it was terrible and it seemed like it was overthought and then just it wasn’t natural. And when you have a team that does that naturally, it’s it’s just like it’s just a hair trigger, right? That something happens, a guy gets hit, boom, like the guys are crawling over each other to get to the guy to get in his ear even. And again, you don’t have to drop your gloves and fight. Not everyone, it’s not 2005, but like the pride and the the integrity of of the players and the team and what they what they the stock they put into each other, it just hasn’t been there. And it’s why they are sitting where they are right now. And I just again I if I was the agent or the dad of some of these guys on the team I would be like why don’t you just go out there and just throw caution to the wind and just empty your [ __ ] tank and show the whole world and the whole market and your team and bre and everybody that you’re a guy that doesn’t accept this kind of [ __ ] You’re a guy that’s willing to get out of your comfort zone to do things that others aren’t willing to do and just lay it out there and you could crawl out of this thing and imagine 20 guys are [ __ ] doing that. Like that’s championship type of teams and they’ve they’re so far away from it so far this year that it blows my mind that we haven’t seen a little bit of that push back and we haven’t seen at least a handful of guys step up and do things that that that stand out. It’s just been a whole lot of weird body language and odd facial expressions and guys looking at each other like no wonder they’re in the spot they’re in. Yeah, it’s exactly it. And I think Randy makes a good point here in the chat. All hands on deck. Um throw out all your buzzwords. Rip them out, man. Desperation, urgency, just leave it on the ice tonight is quite frankly what I want to see. Craig Bubby talking to the media right now says he’s hopeful Austin Matthews could be back within a week. said injury occurred in the Boston game but was not a result of Zadarov’s hit and uh he yet he left the game the shift after he got hit by the guy and it’s an upper body to see that okay I plead the fifth I plead the fifth nothing to see here okay they’re the best at they’re the best at just smoking mirrors when it comes to injuries especially with Austin Matthews so I’ll just take it as he’s on the shelf and he is not coming back until they announce he’s coming back either a week. Like, how what a weird time. Like, what a weird what a weird time slot. Like, in one week, he’ll be ready. So, what the hell is that? Like, a strain or a tweak or it just so happens he got piled from behind from Zidorov and didn’t play the next shift, but it wasn’t that. I don’t know. They I I feel like they put too much into like throwing shade and keeping it quiet and not letting any information out with that guy to the point where it’s just like frustrating to even hear anything about him. But, nonetheless, he’s not playing. Um it is very leafy that their record is phenomenal without him. Uh again, we’ll see who steps up here. And maybe that second line with with the doi and the McMahon and the Robertson, I could like those are guys that could 100%, you know, just with their attitude and their work ethic and their no [ __ ] given at some point in time, throw caution to the wind and just unload and and and pull this team out of this this spot that they’re in and get them a win. And you know, it’s going to take a line or a player or a forward group or a top six or a bottom six to to do something out of the ordinary. And I hope we see it tonight. Honest question, a week from now, the Thursday edition of Lease Morning Take, we’re teeing up a home date with uh the Columbus Blue Jackets. What’s the likelihood that we’re talking about Austin Matthews playing in that hockey game? I would give it about 6%. It’s in a week. Yeah, that’s a week from now, right? A week. I I wish we could go back because maybe it was last year when he when they’re doing the same [ __ ] like uh it’s not serious and he’s just getting it scares me. I’m scared. I’m concerned. I’m worried. Yeah, he’s in Germany talking to specialists about god knows what. Um yeah, again I they’ve done it enough where just I don’t even care if they say anything. I don’t I don’t listen to it or put any stock into it because uh they just whatever their reasoning protecting their players or not giving out information or whatever. Um they don’t they don’t give it to you the way it is. So he’s out until he’s in as far as I’m concerned. And um I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes past a week. Yeah. Again, I’m I’m I’m honestly scared. I’m concerned. I’m worried. I mean, this is the franchise player. this is everything to this team and they pay him a lot of money to do his thing and unfortunately he just can’t stay healthy and he’s hurt every year and I just don’t even if you want to explore the trade route I hate to get to that level but I don’t know who’s giving you as much as you should be getting for Austin Matthews because of everything that’s transpired in the last year. So hoping a speedy recovery here for the captain Austin Matthews and back in this lineup. But again like last year we had that conversation it’s an Olympic year the four nations whole convo like why did he play and get worse? I I don’t know. We we’ll just leave it at that with Matthews and uh Bruby also said on Stallar’s dayto day uh wasn’t on the ice for the morning skate. Again just sheer speculation on our part. To me this screams more like I you know stoleie we love you. just get away from the ring for a couple days and we’ll do a full reset here and find your game again kind of thing. That’s the way it screams, you know. Hopefully it gets ready for Saturday. Um Yeah. Yeah. It’s such I’m pulling for for Stoleie, man. Like you know him obviously well. You played with him. I think he’s a really good dude and I think right now such an important time in his career. Obviously signs the fresh contract, but I I I think it’s an important time for his tenure in Toronto. like we’re really going to see if if this guy’s made for this city or not. I mean, it’s his first bout with scrutiny, I would say. Yeah, it was clear sailing last year, wasn’t it? From from start to finish, he he was rock solid. And it’s it’s funny. He’s the same guy. and he’s capable of being that um that calming presence and just that wall of of proper angle, proper positioning um where it’s just like pepper him if you want. It’s not going in and he’s just he’s just calmly everywhere. Uh I want him to get back to that uh personally and professionally. Um I know he’s got it in him and yeah, maybe he needs a little reset here. Um, maybe he’s taken one tonight and maybe he’ll be ready to rock on Saturday. I hope so. But, you know, it’s as bad as things are right now, it is a it is a calamity of of errors as f as far as every position um every side of the ice, every stat category is just atrocious for this Toronto Maple Leafs team right now. And it you would think there’s only one way to go and that’s up. And I I wouldn’t be surprised if it was A Stoli who found his game and started kicking it out and giving the team a chance. And that allowed the the defense to breathe a little easier and start to settle into their game. And all of a sudden, you know, people it rubs off on each other and the forwards buy in and say, “Okay, this is how it looks.” Thank God I did not want to live in that in that way anymore. The way we were playing and the way we the [ __ ] we had to deal with off ice. And then just starts going again. and everyone’s talking about, oh, the here is the Leafs and what they’re supposed to be and they’re finding their identity. I could see that happening, but it’s not going to be easy and and people are going to have to do things that are difficult because their backs against the wall with the schedule, their opponents, injuries, um not having the full depth of their roster, man. So, it’s I honest I I I’m not predicting that it’s going to happen, but um I I certainly hope it does. The full quote from Buruby on Matthews, by the way, explains it a bit more. or he says, you know, I’m hoping a week maybe, but maybe sooner. We’ll just see. That’s kind of like one of those things. He could come in a couple days from now and feeling a lot better and hopefully he’s good to go, but we’ll see. Send. And then they asked him about the Zidorov hit. When asked if it was on the same shift, he said it doesn’t matter. So, doesn’t matter when he got hurt, he’s just hurt. Um, interesting. I’m getting I got a guy in the uh within the league who says the Toronto Maple Leafs are actively trying hard to get Rasmus Anderson out of Cal. They’re horny. Really? Yeah. Trying hard. Is that hot off the presses? Sources with seven S’s. Sources with seven S’s. I can’t reveal my sources, but um yeah, interesting man. Obviously, obviously the power, the trust that that is at the top of the Toronto Maple Leafs totem pole is not happy with what they’re watching. And uh I don’t know the it’s just so interesting on like how what they think would make the team better, who they think would do that, and how they intend to go about getting that because changing this roster is as difficult as ever with, you know, your your draft picks are all gone and you don’t have prospects that anyone’s too keen on. So to make an to make a a valuable change to this roster is just no easy task. So, we’ll keep we’ll keep tabs on that. But, uh, has been confirmed that, uh, Toronto is certainly interested in Calgary’s Rasmus Anderson. They’re calling you Jay Freriedman in the chat right now. Like, is that as easy as it is? Just get texts and talk about it. Pretty simple, pretty simple gig. Oh, just wait till this clip blows up. Then you’re going to have some things to answer to. But, uh, I mean, Anderson’s an intriguing one. Calgary’s a tire. We all know they’re going to go after Gavin McKenna. I mean, it makes no sense why you try to stick around at this point, even from the Anderson standpoint. A like the only way you’re making that deal is to resign Raspus Anderson. B, do you even have the assets to play ball for Rasmus Anderson, right? Like we all know the teams that are going to be involved, whether it’s Dallas or Vegas or everybody should be lining up for Rasmus Anderson, a right-handed shooting defenseman. I just don’t know if the Maple Leafs have the assets to make a deal like that. On top of that, he’s on the team, Brad Living’s former team. We’ve had that combo a billion times. We talked about Zidorov a couple years ago, Chris Tanv. I think you’re paying a premium on top of that because it’s Calgary. Yeah, it’s interesting. I uh they are uh sorry I was reading texts there so I didn’t hear totally what you said but yeah I got a lot of buddies that um are pretty close to uh the Calgary Flames and it is a it is a tire fire and wool is is or not wool uh wool why did I say wool I thinking wool wool is um you know it’s like hard to watch and you know maybe they I would be interesting like what are they going to do this year like do you want to be like last year where you squeak you just squeak and it’s like no, like if you’re going to be bad, you might as well be really bad and and see if you can make your team really good for when you get into that new building and whatnot. Um, lots of stuff happening here, man. Lots of stuff happening. I guess uh Deno wants out of LA um like packed [ __ ] and said bye to a bunch of people. I stuff’s coming in like crazy, man. So hopefully that’s a sign that um the LA Kings have got some internal struggles going on and they won’t be focused on the game tonight. Maybe even Maurice and the Pesky Leafs could uh do some leafy things tonight. Is that on like the wire right now or is that just like Jay Freriedman’s sources here? I think it’s just Jay Freriedman’s right now, but I don’t know. Someone uh someone decided to unload a bunch of info to me and I’m literally live on a show. So I’ll have to dissect it a little bit. But uh Interesting stuff happening. Interesting stuff. Yeah. Uh, good stuff. It’s time now for the last call brought to you by Bet 365. Whatever your bet is, it’s never ordinary at Bet 365. Download the app and get in on the game. Use code Nation. That’s nation natio n. Must be 19 or older, Ontario only. Please play responsibly. If you are someone you know has a gambling problem, visit conixon ontario.ca. Uh, I’m going to look at Matthew N tonight first and foremost. I I think he’s due for a big night. He needs a big night, especially with Poppy not in the lineup. So, I will play the shot prop at the very least for Matthew N, if not the anytime goal. And as I mentioned off the top, the Alberta guarantee. Don’t call me Mark Messier just yet. But, uh, I am calling a Maple Leafs win tonight. If I’m wrong, I’ll still be back tomorrow, so I don’t really care. It is what it is. Leafs win tonight. Money line. I’m calling Leafs win or Leafs get absolutely shelled. Um, I feel like it’s going to be one or the other. I hope it’s I hope it’s the uh the former. But um I’m going to take the over as usual and I’m going to take the first period over 1.5. I uh I just see I just see things happening. I don’t know who’s going to do them, but there’s going to be more than more than one goal scored in the first period is my prediction. Awesome. Okay, we’ll just uh we’ll sit back and see what happens. That’s all we can do at this point in time. Game 18 of the season. Don’t forget as well following the game, Zack Phillips, the Leafs Nation Afterdark. Again, if they lose, I could only wonder what that show is going to look like. And I don’t know what you can bring for an encore after 2 hours and 6 minutes of a recap after the Boston game. But nevertheless, win or loss, Zach has you covered. So, make sure you check that out. Uh Nate Thompson, thank you so much to the former NHL Now podcast host for dropping by. Uh coming up tomorrow, we got another fun one. Remember Dave Bolan played some time with the Toronto Maples? uh won a cup with Chicago. Dave Bolan’s coming on the show tomorrow. Sweet. I like it. Guests are just rolling as usual, so that’ll be nice. Uh who knows what we’ll be talking about after this game tonight, but uh I will be here and I’m looking forward to it. I love asking Google how many cups did Dave Bolan win and it said he won five Stanley Cups and two Vzna trophies. That’s that’s impossible. He won at least, right, Dave Bolan? I should probably know this getting the guest on, but he won. I remember him winning one. I remember him winning one with uh with the Blackhawks for sure. Yeah, at least one. So Dave Bowling because I remember that off seasonason I was fired up. I think it was Bolan and Verssteig they got I’m like a we’re remaking the Chicago Blackhawks. I’m so excited. And Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think he was on the game seven team. And what people are calling for them to do now, they’ve done before. Like bring in some veteran leadership and get guys who have won before. It’s [ __ ] getting crazy, man. Um, we’re calling for rebuild. 17 games in a rebuild in Toronto. 17 games in a rebuild. Yeah. How do you go through a rebuild when you got a bunch of guys on contract? Like it’s that’s my rebuttal to that Jay. It’s not doable. Anyways, game 18. They’re going to win. We’ll talk tomorrow. Dave Bowling coming up at the Leafs Nation 401. Hit that like button. Hit that subscribe button. Leafs won’t take wherever you find your podcast. Make sure to leave us a fivestar review. Don’t forget to visit the Leafsnation.com as well. Thank you to producer Vic for Jay Rosel. I’m Nick Alberto. We’ll talk tomorrow on Friday. Can’t wait. [Music] Make sure to check out more of our content right here on the Leafs Nation YouTube page. We got long form interviews, we got clips, you got epic rants by Jay Roso. We simply have it all. And don’t forget, you can find out much more at the leafnation.com. Thanks so much for watching.

Toronto is reeling, and Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill are back to break down a massive home showdown between the Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings. The Leafs have dropped three straight, surrendered 5+ goals in seven of their first 17 games, and now sit in one of the worst slumps of the Auston Matthews era. With fans already calling for Craig Berube’s job and emotions boiling over, the pressure is reaching a breaking point.

And now the bombshell: Auston Matthews and Anthony Stolarz have been officially ruled out for tonight’s game. Nick & Rosey dig into what losing their franchise center and newly elevated starting goaltender means for Toronto’s lineup, how the Leafs can patch the holes, and whether this becomes the breaking point in an already fragile season.

They’ll also examine Joseph Woll’s AHL conditioning game, how he looked, what it means for the Leafs’ short-term plans, and when he could realistically return to the NHL crease.

Plus, former NHLer — and Energy Line with Nate & JSB co-host — Nate Thompson joins the show to give his perspective on the Leafs’ slump, the Kings matchup, and the rising heat on Berube.

Tune in live for full analysis, reaction, and fan takes as the Leafs stare down another must-watch moment in a season already overflowing with drama.

#LeafsForever #TorontoMapleLeafs #GoLeafsGo #MapleLeafs #LeafsNation #LAKings #NHL #NHLHockey #AustonMatthews #AnthonyStolarz #CraigBerube #JosephWoll #NHLNews #NHLLive #NickAlberga #JayRosehill #NateThompson #EnergyLine #DailyFaceoff

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